giving “check.” As the black King can move only one square at a time,
he cannot get out of check by moving, because the only squares to which
he could go would still leave him in check from the Rook. Neither the
Knight nor the Bishop can interpose to shut out the Rook’s attack;
neither of those pieces can capture the Rook; and the Pawns cannot move
backward; so the black King is mated, and White wins the game.
A mate may take place in the middle of the board, as shown in Diagram
No. 9.
[Illustration: _No. 9._
+---+---+---+---+---+---+---+---+
| | ♛ | ♚ | | | | | |
+---+---+---+---+---+---+---+---+
| | | | | | ♕ | | |
+---+---+---+---+---+---+---+---+
| | | | | ♔ | | | |
+---+---+---+---+---+---+---+---+
| | ♜ | | | | | | |
]
If the black Queen moves diagonally four squares, placing herself in
front of the white King, and on the same horizontal file as the black
Rook, it will be check-mate, because the white King cannot get out of
one check into another by taking the Queen, which is protected by the
Rook. For the same reason he cannot move, as the only squares open to
him would leave him in check from the Queen, or move him into check
from the black King.
_=Stalemate.=_ If the King is not in check, but cannot move without
going into check, and there is no other piece for the player to move,
it is called a stale-mate, and the game is drawn. In Diagram No. 10,
for instance,
[Illustration: _No. 10._
+---+---+---+---+---+---+---+---+
| | | | | | | | |
+---+---+---+---+---+---+---+---+
| | | | | | ♟ | | |
+---+---+---+---+---+---+---+---+
| | | | | | ♗ | | ♟ |
+---+---+---+---+---+---+---+---+
| | | | | | | ♜ | ♟ |
+---+---+---+---+---+---+---+---+
| | | | | | | | ♚ |
+---+---+---+---+---+---+---+---+
| | | | | | ♙ | ♟ | |
+---+---+---+---+---+---+---+---+
| | | | | | | ♔ | |
+---+---+---+---+---+---+---+---+
| | | | | | | | |
+---+---+---+---+---+---+---+---+
] the black King cannot move without going into check from the Pawn or
the King; none of the black Pawns can move, and Black cannot move the
Rook without putting his own King in check, (from the Bishop,) which is
not allowed.
_=Perpetual Check.=_ If a piece gives check to the adverse King, and
the King moves away, the check may be repeated, and the King must move
again, or interpose a piece, or capture the checking piece. If the
position is such that no matter how often the King moves or is covered
he cannot get out of check, and no matter how much the opposing pieces
move they cannot check-mate him, the game is drawn by perpetual check.
Diagram No. 11 is an illustration of such a position.
[Illustration: _No. 11._
BLACK.
+---+---+---+---+---+---+---+---+
| ♚ | ♛ | | | | | | |
+---+---+---+---+---+---+---+---+
| ♟ | | | | | | | |
+---+---+---+---+---+---+---+---+
| ♜ | ♟ | ♕ | | | | | |
+---+---+---+---+---+---+---+---+
| | ♔ | | | | | | |
]
The only way out of the check is to interpose the Queen, whereupon the
white Queen will move diagonally to the edge of the board and check
again, forcing the black Queen back where she came from, and drawing
the game by perpetual check. If the black Queen moves away from the
King, she will be captured, and White will give check-mate at the same
time.
_=NOTATION.=_ The various moves which take place in the course of a
game are recorded by a system of chess notation, the number of the move
being given first, and then the pieces moved and the direction of their
movement. The names of the pieces themselves are used to distinguish
the various files of squares running vertically from the piece itself
to the opposite side of the board, and the seven squares in front of
each piece are numbered from 2 to 8. No matter how much the pieces
may be moved, the various vertical files still retain the name of the
pieces which stood at the bottom of them when the men were first set
up. In chess notation, only the initials of the pieces are used, K
standing for King, and Kt for Knight. Although the files bear the same
names, the numbers count from the side on which the men are placed, so
that each square has a double name, depending on the colour of the man
placed upon it.
[Illustration: _No. 12._
|QR |QKt|QB | Q | K |KB |KKt|KR | Black.
+---+---+---+---+---+---+---+---+
8 | ♜ | ♞ | ♝ | ♛ | ♚ | ♝ | ♞ | ♜ |
+---+---+---+---+---+---+---+---+
7 | ♟ | ♟ | ♟ | ♟ | | ♟ | ♟ | ♟ | 2
+---+---+---+---+---+---+---+---+
6 | | | | | | | | | 3
+---+---+---+---+---+---+---+---+
5 | | | | | ♟ | | | | 4
+---+---+---+---+---+---+---+---+
4 | | | | | ♙ | | | | 5
+---+---+---+---+---+---+---+---+
3 | | | | | | ♘ | | | 6
+---+---+---+---+---+---+---+---+
2 | ♙ | ♙ | ♙ | ♙ | | ♙ | ♙ | ♙ | 7
+---+---+---+---+---+---+---+---+
| ♖ | ♘ | ♗ | ♕ | ♔ | ♗ | | ♖ | 8
+---+---+---+---+---+---+---+---+
White. |QR |QKt|QB | Q | K |KB |KKt|KR |
]
In Diagram No. 12, for instance, both the Pawns that have been moved
would be spoken of as on K 4. The Knight that has been moved is on K
B 3, because it is a white Knight. If it was a black Knight it would
be on K B 6, reckoning from the black side of the board for the black
pieces. In order to test your understanding of this system of notation,
which is very important in following published games or problems,
take the board and men, white side next you, and set up the following
position, remembering that when no number is given, the piece stands
upon the square originally occupied by the piece which gives its name
to the file:--
Black men;--King on Q R’s; Queen on Q Kt’s; Pawns on Q R 2, and Q Kt,
3; Rook on Q R 3.
White men;--King on Q Kt 5; Queen on Q B 6.
Now look at Diagram No 11, and see if you have it right.
In addition to the notation of position, there is that of action. If
a dash is placed between the initials of the piece and the definition
of the square, it shows first the piece moved, and then the square to
which it is moved. In Diagram No 11, for instance, Black’s only move
to cover the check would be given: Q-Q Kt 2; and White’s continuation
would be given; Q-K 8.
The first of these might be abbreviated by saying, Q-Kt 2, because
there is only one Kt 2 to which the Queen could be moved.
The moves of the white pieces are always given first, either in the
left hand of two vertical columns, which are headed “White,” and
“Black” respectively; or above a line which divides the white move from
the black, the latter form being used in text-books, the former in
newspapers. The moves in Diagram No. 11 would be as follows, supposing
the white Queen to arrive from K8 in the first place:--
_White._ _Black._
1. Q-B 6, ch Q-Kt 2 Q-B 6, ch
Or this; 1. ---------
2. Q-K 8, ch Q-Kt’s Q-Kt 2
When the abbreviation “ch.” is placed after a move, it means “check.”
If it is a mate, or a drawn game, or the player resigns, the word
follows the move. When the King castles with the King’s Rook, which is
the shorter move for the Rook, it is indicated by the sign O-O. When
the King is castled with the Queen’s Rook, which is the longer move for
the Rook, the sign O-O-O is used.
A cross, x, placed after the piece moved shows that it captured
something, and the letters following the cross do not give the square
to which the piece is moved, but show the piece that is captured. K B x
Q P, for instance, would mean that the adversary’s Queen’s Pawn was to
be taken from the board, and the King’s Bishop was to occupy the square
upon which the captured Queen’s Pawn had stood.
Beginners usually have some difficulty in following the moves of the
Knights, because it frequently happens that the same square can be
reached by either of them. The Bishops cannot be confused in this way,
because they never change the colour of the square they stand upon. In
some sets of chessmen the Knights are distinguished by putting a small
crown on the King’s Knight, but this is never done in the regulation
Staunton model. The beginner will find it very convenient, when
following out the play of published games, to screw off the bottom of
one white and one black Knight, and to exchange the bases. The white
King’s Knight will then have a black base, and the black King’s Knight
will have a white base, and they can be easily identified at any period
of the game.
_=GERMAN NOTATION.=_ Many of our standard chess books, and some of
the best edited chess columns, are in German, and the student should
be familiar with the German notation, which is much simpler than the
English.
The white men are always considered as the side nearer the player; the
vertical columns are designated from left to right by the letters a b
c d e f g h; and the horizontal rows by the numbers 1 2 3 4 5 6 7 8,
beginning at the bottom, or white side. The pieces are designated by
one capital letter only, as follows:--
K for König, or King.
D for Dame, or Queen.
T for Thurm, or Rook.
L for Läufer, or Bishop.
S for Springer, or Knight.
The Pawn is called a Bauer, but when it is moved no initial is given,
simply the square it comes from. In Diagram No. 12, for instance, the
English notation for the first two moves made by white would be:--P-K
4, and K Kt-B 3, or, Kt-K B 3. The German notation would be:--e 2-e 4;
and S g 1-f 3. The move of the Knight, it will be observed, gives the
initial of the piece and the square upon which it stands, and then the
square to which it is moved. A capture is indicated by the letter “n”
taking the place of the dash. If the white Knight took the black King’s
Pawn in Diagram No. 12, for instance, the move would be recorded: S f 3
n e 5, that is, the Springer at f 3 “nimmt” whatever it found at e 5.
A check is indicated by a plus sign, +, following the move. In Diagram
No. 11, for instance, the last move of the white Queen would be: D e
8-c 6 +; and Black’s reply would be: D b 8-b 7.
_=THE OPENINGS.=_ Time and experience have shown that it is best for
each player to adopt certain conventional openings, in order to develop
his pieces. White always has the advantage, usually believed to be
equal to 55%, counting drawn games as one half. This is because White
can usually take more risks in offering a gambit than Black can in
accepting it, and the best judges say that they would rather give a
Knight and take the white pieces, than give Pawn-and-move and take the
black. _=Gambit=_ is a term used in Italian wrestling, and means that
the adversary is given an apparent advantage at the start, in order
more successfully to trip him up later on.
There are a great many chess openings, all of which have been analysed
as far as the tenth move, including every possible variation on the
way. The student who wishes to study them in detail should procure
Freeborough’s “Chess Openings,” or Cook’s “Synopsis.” In these works,
if either side has an advantage before the tenth move, it is indicated
by a plus sign; if the position is equal, it is so marked.
In studying openings, the student should be careful always to play with
the winning side next him; that is, never study how to play a losing
game. If the variation ends with a plus sign, showing a win for the
white, play it over with the white men next you. In selecting openings
for general use in play, if it is one for the white men, take those
openings that have the greatest number of variations ending in favour
of white. The Ruy Lopez is a very good opening for beginners, and the
Evans’ Gambit may be studied later. The French Defence and the Petroff
are good openings for Black.
The theory of opening is to mobilise your forces for the attack in the
fewest possible moves. Lasker thinks six moves should be enough for
this purpose, and he recommends that only the King’s and Queen’s Pawns
should be moved, after which each piece should be placed at once upon
the square from which it can operate to the best advantage. He thinks
the Knights should be first brought out, and posted at B 3, and then
the K’s B, somewhere along his own diagonal. The great mistake made by
beginners is that they rush off to the attack and try to capture some
of the adverse pieces before they have properly prepared themselves for
re-inforcement or retreat. It should never be forgotten that the game
is not won by capturing the adversary’s pieces, but by check-mating his
King.
Take the board and pieces, arrange them with the white men next you,
and play over the following simple little game. Remember that the
figures above the line are for the white men; those below for the black.
P-K4 Kt-KB3 Kt-QB3 B-B4
1 ---- 2 ------ 3 ------ 4 -----
P-K4 P-Q3 P-KR3 B-Kt5
The third move made by Black accomplishes nothing, and is simply a
waste of time. He should have continued by bringing his Knights into
play. His fourth move is also a mistake; he should develop the Knights
before the Bishops.
KtxP BxKBP ch Kt-Q5 mate
5 ---- 6 -------- 7 ----------
BxQ K-K2
On his fifth move, Black jumps at the chance to win White’s Queen, but
this is not of the slightest benefit to him, because the object of the
game is not to win the Queen, but to mate the King. At the seventh move
the beginner will see that the black King cannot move out of check,
neither can he move into check by taking the Bishop. He has no piece
that can capture the Knight that gives the check, and nothing can be
interposed, so he is mated, and White wins.
Here is another simple little game. Take the black pieces this time,
but make the white men move first, of course.
P-K4 Kt-KB3 KtxP
1 ---- 2 ------ 3 ------
P-K4 Kt-KB3 Kt-QB3
You don’t take the King’s Pawn; it is much more important to develop
your pieces rapidly.
KtxKt P-Q3 B-Kt5
4 ----- 5 ----- 6 -----
QPxKt B-QB4 KtxP
White’s sixth move is bad, and you immediately take advantage of it. If
he takes your Knight with his Pawn, you will take his K B P with your
Bishop, and say “Check.” If he takes the Bishop you win his Queen. If
he moves his King you check again with your other Bishop, which will
force him to take your black Bishop, and lose his Queen.
BxQ K-K2
7 ------ 8 ----------
BxP ch K-Kt5 mate
If the beginner will examine the position, he will find that there is
no way of escape for the King, and Black wins.
Openings are usually divided into five principal classes: Those in
which the first piece developed is the _=King’s Knight=_; those in
which the _=King’s Bishop=_ is the first piece brought into play;
those in which a _=Gambit=_ is offered on the second move, usually a
sacrificed Pawn; those which are called _=Close=_ openings, securing
a good defensive game for the black pieces; and those which are
_=Irregular=_.
In the following outline of fifty of the openings, only the first four
moves are given, and usually only one variation is selected, the object
being more to give the student an idea of the development than to
exhaust the subject. The arrangement is alphabetical, that being more
convenient in a book of reference. For the continuations the student is
recommended to study “Freeborough,” or the “Handbuch des Schachspiels.”
Allgaier Gambit:--
P-K4 P-KB4 Kt-KB3 P-KR4
1 ---- 2 ----- 3 ------ 4 -----
P-K4 PxP P-KKt4 P-Kt5
Boden-Kieseritzky Gambit:--
P-K4 B-B4 Kt-KB3 Kt-B3
1 ---- 2 ------ 3 ------ 4 -----
P-K4 Kt-KB3 KtxP KtxKt
Berlin Defence:--
P-K4 B-B4 Q-K2 P-QB3
1 ---- 2 ------ 3 ------ 4 -----
P-K4 Kt-KB3 Kt-QB3 B-B4
Blackmar Gambit:--
P-Q4 P-K4 P-KB3 KtxP
1 ---- 2 ------ 3 ------ 4 -----
P-Q4 PxP PxP B-B4
Calabrese Counter Gambit:--
P-K4 B-B4 P-Q3 P-B4
1 ---- 2 ----- 3 ------ 4 ----
P-K4 P-KB4 Kt-KB3 P-Q4
Centre Gambit:--
P-K4 P-Q4 QxP Q-K3
1 ---- 2 ----- 3 ------ 4 --------
P-K4 PxP Kt-QB3 B-Kt5 ch
Centre Counter Gambit:--
P-K4 PxP Kt-QB3 P-Q4
1 ---- 2 ----- 3 ------ 4 ------
P-Q4 QxP Q-Q sq Kt-KB3
Classical Defence, to K. B. opening:--
P-K4 B-B4 P-QB3 P-Q4
1 ---- 2 ---- 3 ------ 4 ----
P-K4 B-B4 Kt-KB3 PxP
Cunningham Gambit:--
P-K4 P-KB4 Kt-KB3 B-B4
1 ---- 2 ----- 3 ------ 4 -------
P-K4 PxP B-K2 B-R5 ch
Cochrane Gambit:--
P-K4 P-KB4 Kt-KB3 B-B4
1 ---- 2 ----- 3 ------ 4 -----
P-K4 PxP P-KKt4 P-Kt5
Danish Gambit:--
P-K4 P-Q4 P-QB3 B-QB4
1 ---- 2 ----- 3 ----- 4 ------
P-K4 PxP PxP Kt-KB3
English Opening:--
P-QB4 P-B4 P-Q3 Kt-QB3
1 ----- 2 ---- 3 ------ 4 ------
P-QB4 P-B4 Kt-KB3 P-Q3
Evans’ Gambit:--
P-K4 Kt-KB3 B-B4 P-QKt4
1 ---- 2 ----- 3 ---- 4 -------
P-K4 Kt-QB3 B-B4 BxKtP
Evans’ Gambit Declined:--
P-K4 Kt-KB3 B-B4 P-QKt4
1 ---- 2 ------ 3 ---- 4 ------
P-K4 Kt-QB3 B-B4 B-Kt3
Fianchetto Opening:--
P-K3 P-QB4 Kt-QB3 PxP
1 ---- 2 ------ 3 ------ 4 ------
P-K4 Kt-KB3 P-Q4 KtxP
Fianchetto Defence:--
P-K4 P-Q4 B-Q3 Kt-K2
1 ------ 2 ---- 3 ----- 4 ------
P-QKt3 P-K3 B-Kt2 Kt-KB3
Four Knights:--
P-K4 Kt-KB3 Kt-B3 B-Kt5
1 ---- 2 ------ 3 ----- 4 ------
P-K4 Kt-QB3 Kt-B3 B-Kt5
French Defence:--
P-K4 P-Q4 Kt-QB3 B-KKt5
1 ---- 2 ---- 3 ------ 4 ------
P-K3 P-Q4 Kt-KB3 B-K2
From Gambit:--
P-KB4 PxP PxP Kt-KB3
1 ----- 2 ----- 3 ----- 4 ------
P-K4 P-Q3 BxP Kt-KB3
Giuoco Piano:--
P-K4 Kt-KB3 B-B4 P-B3
1 ---- 2 ------ 3 ---- 4 -----
P-K4 Kt-QB3 B-B4 Kt-B3
Greco-Counter Gambit:--
P-K4 Kt-KB3 KtxP P-Q4
1 ---- 2 ------ 3 ------ 4 ------
P-K4 P-KB4 Q-B3 P-Q3
Hamppe-Allgaier Gambit:--
P-K4 Kt-QB3 P-B4 Kt-B3
1 ---- 2 ------ 3 ----- 4 ------
P-K4 Kt-QB3 PxP P-KKt4
Hungarian Defence:--
P-K4 Kt-KB3 B-B4 P-Q4
1 ---- 2 ------ 3 ---- 4 ------
P-K4 Kt-QB3 B-K2 P-Q3
Irregular Openings:--
P-K4 P-QB3 Kt-B3 KtxP
1 ---- 2 ----- 3 ----- 4 ------
P-K4 P-Q4 PxP B-Q3
P-K4 P-Q4 B-Q3 P-QB3
1 ------ 2 ------ 3 ------- 4 --------
P-Q3 Kt-KB3 Kt-QB3 P-K4
P-K4 P-Q4 PxP B-Q3
1 ------ 2 ------ 3 ------- 4 --------
P-QB3 P-Q4 PxP Kt-QB3
P-K4 P-Q4 PxP P-KB4
1 ------ 2 ------ 3 ------- 4 --------
Kt-QB3 P-K4 KtxP Kt-Kt3
Jerome Gambit:--
P-K4 Kt-KB3 B-B4 BxP ch
1 ------ 2 ------ 3 ------- 4 --------
P-K4 Kt-QB3 B-B4 KxB
Kieseritzky Gambit:--
P-K4 P-KB4 Kt-KB3 P-KR4
1 ------ 2 ------ 3 ------- 4 --------
P-K4 PxP P-KKt4 P-Kt5
King’s Bishop’s Gambit:--
P-K4 P-KB4 B-B4 K-B sq
1 ------ 2 ------ 3 ------- 4 --------
P-K4 PxP Q-R5 ch B-B4
King’s Bishop’s Pawn Game:--
P-KB4 Kt-KB3 P-K3 B-K2
1 ------ 2 ------ 3 ------- 4 --------
P-K3 Kt-KB3 B-K2 P-QKt3
King’s Knight Opening. Irregular Defences:--
P-K4 Kt-KB3 KtxP Kt-KB3
1 ------ 2 ------ 3 ------- 4 --------
P-K4 P-KB3 Q-K2 P-Q4
P-K4 Kt-KB3 Kt-B3 P-Q4
1 ------ 2 ------ 3 ------- 4 --------
P-K4 Q-B3 P-B3 PxP
P-K4 Kt-KB3 B-B4 P-Q4
1 ------ 2 ------ 3 ------- 4 --------
P-K4 B-Q3 Kt-KB3 Kt-B3
P-K4 Kt-KB3 KtxP P-Q4
1 ------ 2 ------ 3 ------- 4 --------
P-K4 B-B4 Q-K2 B-Kt3
King’s Gambit:--
P-K4 P-KB4 P-Q4 K-K2
1 ------ 2 ------ 3 ------- 4 --------
P-K4 PxP Q-R5 ch P-Q4
P-K4 P-KB4 P-KR4 PxP
1 ------ 2 ------ 3 ------- 4 --------
P-K4 PxP P-Q4 QxP
P-K4 P-KB4 Kt-KB3 B-B4
1 ------ 2 ------ 3 ------- 4 --------
P-K4 PxP P-KKt4 B-Kt2
P-K4 P-KB4 P-KR4 Kt-KB3
1 ------ 2 ------ 3 ------- 4 --------
P-K4 PxP B-K2 Kt-KB3
King’s Gambit Declined:--
P-K4 P-KB4 PxQP Kt-QB3
1 ------ 2 ------ 3 ------- 4 --------
P-K4 P-Q4 QxP Q-K3
Max Lange’s Attack:--
P-K4 Kt-KB3 B-B4 Castles
1 ------ 2 ------ 3 ------- 4 --------
P-K4 Kt-QB3 B-B4 Kt-B3
Muzio Gambit:--
P-K4 P-KB4 Kt-KB3 B-B4
1 ------ 2 ------ 3 ------- 4 --------
P-K4 PxP P-KKt4 P-Kt5
Petroff’s Counter Attack:--
P-K4 Kt-KB3 KtxP K-KB3
1 ------ 2 ------ 3 ------- 4 --------
P-K4 Kt-KB3 P-Q3 KtxP
Philidor’s Defence:--
P-K4 Kt-KB3 P-Q4 KtxP
1 ------ 2 ------ 3 ------- 4 --------
P-K4 P-Q3 PxP P-Q4
Pierce Gambit:--
P-K4 Kt-QB3 P-B4 Kt-B3
1 ------ 2 ------ 3 ------- 4 --------
P-K4 Kt-QB3 PxP P-KKt4
Queen’s Pawn Counter Gambit:--
P-K4 Kt-KB3 PxP P-Q4
1 ------ 2 ------ 3 ------- 4 --------
P-K4 P-Q4 B-Q3 P-K5
Queen’s Gambit:--
P-Q4 P-QB4 P-K3 BxP
1 ------ 2 ------ 3 ------- 4 --------
P-Q4 PxP P-K4 PxP
P-Q4 P-QB4 P-K4 P-Q5
1 ------ 2 ------ 3 ------- 4 --------
P-Q4 PxP P-K4 P-KB4
P-Q4 P-QB4 Kt-KB3 P-K3
1 ------ 2 ------ 3 ------- 4 --------
P-Q4 PxP P-K3 Kt-KB3
Queen’s Pawn Game:--
P-Q4 P-K3 Kt-KB3 B-K2
1 ------ 2 ------ 3 ------- 4 --------
P-Q4 P-K3 Kt-KB3 B-K2
Ruy Lopez:--
P-K4 Kt-KB3 B-Kt5 B-R4
1 ------ 2 ------ 3 ------- 4 --------
P-K4 Kt-QB3 P-QR3 Kt-B3
Salvio Gambit:--
P-K4 P-KB4 Kt-KB3 B-B4
1 ------ 2 ------ 3 ------- 4 --------
P-K4 PxP P-KKt4 P-Kt5
Scotch Game:--
P-K4 Kt-KB3 P-Q4 KtxP
1 ------ 2 ------ 3 ------- 4 --------
P-K4 Kt-QB3 PxP B-B4
Sicilian Defence:--
P-K4 Kt-QB3 Kt-B3 P-Q4
1 ------ 2 ------ 3 ------- 4 --------
P-QB4 Kt-QB3 P-K3 PxP
Staunton’s Opening:--
P-K4 Kt-KB3 P-B3 P-Q4
1 ------ 2 ------ 3 ------- 4 --------
P-K4 Kt-QB3 P-B4 P-Q3
Steinitz Gambit:--
P-K4 Kt-QB3 P-KB4 P-Q4
1 ------ 2 ------ 3 ------- 4 --------
P-K4 Kt-QB3 PxP Q-R5 ch
Three Knights’ Game:--
P-K4 Kt-KB3 Kt-B3 P-Q4
1 ------ 2 ------ 3 ------- 4 --------
P-K4 Kt-KB3 P-Q3 PxP
Two Knights’ Defence:--
P-K4 Kt-KB3 B-B4 Kt-Kt5
1 ------ 2 ------ 3 ------- 4 --------
P-K4 Kt-QB3 Kt-B3 P-Q4
Vienna Opening:--
P-K4 Kt-QB3 P-B4 Kt-B3
1 ------ 2 ------ 3 ------- 4 --------
P-K4 B-B4 P-Q3 Kt-KB3
Zukertort’s Opening:--
Kt-KB3 P-Q4 P-K3 B-K2
1 ------ 2 ------ 3 ------- 4 --------
P-K3 Kt-KB3 P-QKt3 B-Kt2
_=GAMES AT ODDS.=_ Between unequal players it is a common practice for
the stronger to give the weaker some advantage. Very few are able to
give a Queen, or even a Rook, but a _=Knight=_ is quite common, and one
who can concede a Knight to the weakest players in a club is usually
spoken of as, “a Knight player.” The most common odds between nearly
equal players is _=Pawn and Move=_; and with a player not strong enough
to give a Knight, _=Pawn and Two Moves=_. The Pawn removed in each
instance is Black’s K B P, and the Knight is usually the Q Kt. Here are
a few examples of the openings in games at odds:--
Pawn and Move:--
P-K4 P-Q4 Q-R5 ch Q-K5
1 ------ 2 ------ 3 ------- 4 -------
P-K3 P-Q4 P-KKt3 Kt-KB3
P-K4 P-Q4 Kt-QB3 P-Q5
1 ------ 2 ------ 3 ------- 4 -------
P-Q3 Kt-KB3 Kt-B3 Kt-K4
P-K4 P-Q4 P-K5 B-QKt5
1 ------ 2 ------ 3 ------- 4 -------
Kt-QB3 P-Q4 B-B4 Q-Q2
P-K4 P-Q4 PxP P-KB4
1 ------ 2 ------ 3 ------- 4 -------
Kt-QB3 P-Q4 KtxP Kt-B2
Pawn and Two Moves:--
P-K4 P-Q4 B-Q3 P-Q5
1 ------ 2 ------ 3 ------- 4 -------
P-K3 P-B4 P-Q3
P-K4 P-Q4 P-QB4 P-Q5
1 ------ 2 ------ 3 ------- 4 -------
P-K3 P-B4 P-Q3
P-K4 P-Q4 P-KB4 B-Q3
1 ------ 2 ------ 3 ------- 4 -------
P-Q3 P-K3 Kt-K2
P-K4 P-Q4 P-Q5 P-KB4
1 ------ 2 ------ 3 ------- 4 -------
Kt-QB3 Kt-K4 Kt-B2
Odds of Queen’s Knight:--
P-K4 Kt-B3 PxP Kt-K5
1 ------ 2 ------ 3 ------- 4 -------
P-K4 P-Q4 P-K5 QxP
P-K4 P-KB4 PxQP Kt-B3
1 ------ 2 ------ 3 ------- 4 -------
P-K4 P-Q4 QxP P-K5
Odds of King’s Knight:--
P-K4 B-B4 Kt-B3 P-Q4
1 ------ 2 ------ 3 ------- 4 -------
P-K4 P-QB3 Kt-B3 P-Q4
P-K4 B-B2 P-Q2 0-0
1 ------ 2 ------ 3 ------- 4 -------
P-K4 Kt-KB3 B-B4 0-0
In order to give the student an idea of the value and popularity of the
various openings, the following table of the results of 1500 games may
be useful. It is from the chess columns of the New York _Sun_:--
---------------------+----------------+--------+---------+---------
| FIRST | TOTAL |PER CENT.|PER CENT.
OPENINGS. | PLAYER. | PLAYED.| WON BY | TOTAL
+----+-----+-----+ | FIRST | GAMES
|WON.|LOST.|DREW.| | PLAYER. | PLAYED.
---------------------+----+-----+-----+--------+---------+---------
Ruy Lopez |145 |103 | 58 | 306 | 57 | 20
Queen’s Pawn(a) | 97 | 63 | 39 | 199 | 48 | 13
French Defence | 84 | 48 | 39 | 171 | 60 | 11
Vienna | 47 | 34 | 15 | 96 | 57 | 6
Sicilian Defence | 40 | 29 | 10 | 79 | 57 | 5
King’s Gambit | 36 | 32 | 11 | 79 | 52 | 5
Giuoco Piano | 36 | 32 | 10 | 78 | 52 | 5
Evans | 34 | 20 | 12 | 66 | 61 | 4
Irregular | 29 | 31 | 14 | 74 | 49 | 5
Scotch | 22 | 26 | 9 | 57 | 47 | 4
Zukertort | 23 | 17 | 11 | 51 | 56 | 3
Two Knights Defence | 16 | 20 | 10 | 46 | 46 | 3
Staunton’s | 19 | 15 | 5 | 39 | 55 | 3
Fianchetto | 13 | 14 | 2 | 29 | 48 | 2
Petroff Defence | 15 | 9 | 3 | 27 | 61 | 2
Centre Gambit(b) | 11 | 11 | 4 | 26 | 50 | 2
Philidor Defence | 8 | 9 | 3 | 20 | 47 | 1
Miscellaneous | 22 | 29 | 6 | 57 | 44 | 4
+----+-----+-----+--------+---------+---------
Total |697 |542 | 261 | 1500 | |
---------------------+----+-----+-----+--------+---------+---------
The first player won 55.2 per cent. of games played, counting drawn
games as one-half.
(a). Includes Queen’s Gambits and Queen’s Gambits declined.
(b). Includes Centre and Counter Centre Gambits.