PROBLEM VII. White to move first, and to checkmate in three moves.

WE are now about to introduce the young student to a favourite and brilliant style of play, altogether different from the specimens given in the previous lessons. The King's Gambit offers greater variety than is to be found in the other openings, and therefore requires greater knowledge and practice to conduct it with success: hence, an expe

rienced player when he gives the odds of the Queen's Rook or Queen's Knight to an inferior antagonist often prefers this mode of play.

The word Gambit is derived from an Italian phrase used in wrestling, and signifies a peculiar movement by which the adversary is tripped up. In Chess the "peculiar movement” is, for the first player, early in the game, to sacrifice a pawn for the sake of gaining an attack. There are many ways in which this pawn may be sacrificed, and consequently there are many varieties of Gambit; but the King's Gambit includes the greatest part of them. In this gambit the first player moves K. P. two squares, and on the second move K. B. P. two squares, which is sacrificed. There is also the Queen's Gambit, which derives its name from the Q. P. being first moved two squares and the Q. B. P. being sacrificed on the second move.

The varieties of the King's Gambit are often known by the names of the players who invented, or first introduced them :-thus we have the Muzio Gambit, the Salvio Gambit, the Allgaier Gambit, the Cochrane Gambit, the Evans' Gambit, &c. Other varieties obtain their names from one of the early moves of the first player: thus we have the Bishop's Gambit, so called because the first player moves out his King's Bishop before his King's Knight.

The term Gambit Pawn is applied sometimes to the pawn you sacrifice on the second move, but more commonly to the pawn of your adversary which captures your pawn: thus in the King's Gambit the opening moves are,

WHITE.

1. K. P. two squares.

2. K. B. P. two squares.

BLACK.

1. K. P. two squares.

2. K. P. takes K. B. P.

In this case his K. P. is transferred to his K. B. file, and becomes the Gambit Pawn.

In the Queen's Gambit the opening moves are,

1. Q. P. two squares.

2. Q. B. P. two squares.

1. Q. P. two squares.
2. Q. P. takes Q. B. P.

In which case his Q. P. is transferred to his Q. B. file, and becomes the Gambit Pawn.

Authorities are divided in opinion as to the safety of this method of opening the game. Some contend that the loss of a pawn on the second move ought to entail upon the first player the loss of the game; others say that the attack acquired by the sacrifice of the pawn compensates for its loss; besides the second player in gaining the pawn must double a valuable pawn, and thus resign the centre of the

board to his adversary; disadvantages which take something from the value of the pawn thus gained.

Perhaps the most general opinion is, that the gambit when properly defended is unsound. In such a case the first player may hope to draw the game. Indeed, in all the common openings at chess, if the moves of both parties be strictly correct, the result ought to be a drawn game. This however is a height of perfection which will probably never be attained, and therefore the sacrifice of a pawn may be hazarded on account of the many favourable sources of attack thereby opened to the first player; while the position of the second player is frequently one of considerable restraint and embarrassment.

The following remarks on the King's Gambit by Ponziani will be read with interest by the amateur, and also by the young student, when he has fairly entered upon the brilliant and ingenious strokes of gambit play :

"The quality of this opening demonstrates that the inventor, whoever he might be, considered principally that the removal of the adverse King's Pawn from the fourth square, caused a good order of the game, because there he is of greatest importance; and especially prevents the King's and Queen's Pawns being posted equally at the fourth squares. To attack the said adverse King's Pawn, he found the King's Bishop's Pawn most convenient; since this often serves only to prevent or retard the attacks which might be made with the King's Rook placed in the Bishop's square; and therefore he judged it good play, at the second move, to push the said Bishop's Pawn to its extent, putting it en prise of the adverse King's Pawn with the confidence either of recovering it, or of becoming compensated in another shape with a superior situation. As, then, the adversary, after having taken the said Bishop's Pawn, threatens a pernicious check with the Queen at the first player's King's Rook's fourth; thus, he who plays the gambit ought, for his best, at the third move, to play out the King's Knight to the Bishop's third; whence succeeds a most animated conflict, full of dangers and vicissitudes, which, at every move, change the aspect of the battle, and promote a thousand artful stratagems on the one part, to preserve the pawn in advantage; and, on the other, to recover it with a better position.

"Although Philidor declares the King's Gambit to be an indifferent game which by its nature produces neither profit nor injury, yet Stamma and Salvio, with the best academicians of Italy, and recently the most accurate Anonymous

Modenese*, think differently: holding it a pernicious game for him who attempts it; since he necessarily remains a Pawn inferior, without compensation. It notwithstanding produces many moves of supreme skill and subtlety, which demand still greater study and circumspection than in the Piano Games.'

It may probably occur to the reader, that if the second player refuse, at the second move, to take the proffered pawn, the game does not become a gambit. Such is the case: for although it is to the advantage of the second player to accept the gambit, yet he may if he please evade it. The following are short, but brilliant specimens of the gambit evaded, and the gambit accepted.

1. THE GAMBIT EVADED.

WHITE.

1. K. P. two squares.
2. K.B. P. two squares.

BLACK.

1. The same.

2. Q. P. two squares.

This move is frequently played by those who desire to evade the gambit. It may be good when odds are given to the second player, but in even games it is much better to take the pawn.

3. K. P. takes Q. P.

It is much better to take this pawn than to defend your K. P. by playing Q. P. one square, which would only obstruct your game.

4. Q. Kt. to Q. B. third square.

3. Q. takes P.
4. Q. to K. third square.

He would have played quite as well in taking Q. home: he would have lost a move, it is true, since you played out your Q. Kt. in order to drive away his Q. We have already stated how dangerous it is to play out the Q. so early in the game; she may be attacked by several minor pieces, and in escaping therefrom many moves are lost which to the opposite party are as many moves gained.

5. K. Kt. to K. B. third square. 6. K. to K. B. second square.

5. P. takes P. chkg. by discovery.

* Ercole del Rio published at Modena, in 1750, his practical observations on the game of chess. As the work did not bear the author's name, it was referred to, by chess students, as the production of the Anonymous Modenese, a title by which that writer is now more frequently known than by his real name. Ponziani is also sometimes referred to as the Second Anonymous Modenese, from the circumstance that the first edition of his celebrated Analysis of Chess was published anonymously at Modena (1769).

This move is well played. It is often much better to move the K. when attacked, than interpose a piece. It is true that by moving the K. you are prevented from castling; but, whenever your adversary's K. and Q. are on the same file, you should endeavour to get a R. into play, so as to attack both and win the Q. Minor advantages may frequently be sacrificed for one great gain: the chief point to be regarded is, to play so as to command as large a portion of the field as possible: you thus acquire the most valuable facilities either for attack or defence.

7. Q. P. two squares.

6. K. B. to Q. B. fourth sq., chkg.

Young players can seldom resist the temptation to check wherever an opportunity occurs: it is a very bad habit and should be avoided. The present is an example of a useless check, for by the advance of your Q. P. the B. is driven away, and your own game improved. He ought to have played the B. to K. second square, or Q. B. P. one square. 7. K. B. to Q. third square.

8. K. B. to Q. Kt. fifth sq., chckg. 8. K. to K. B. square. If he had interposed Q. B. P. you would have played the K. R. to K. square, winning his Q.

9. K. R. to K. square.

9. Q. to K. B. fourth square. This attempt to save the Q. involves an immediate checkmate.

Black now plays best. The success of his defence will greatly depend on his being able to preserve the Gambit

Pawn.

3. K. Kt. to K. B. third square.

The object of this move is to prevent him checking with his Q. at his K. R. fifth square.

3. K. Kt. P. two squares.

This is the best method of defending the Gambit Pawn. 4. K. B. to Q. B. fourth square. 4. K. B. P. one square. Black loses the game by this move. It may be taken as a general rule in all gambits that it is bad play to move the K. B. P. one square.