Chess Strategy
Resigns.
GAME No. 9
White: Salwe. Black: Marshall.
Two Knights' Defence
1. P-K4 P-K4
2. Kt-KB3 Kt-QB3
3. B-B4 Kt-B3
4. Kt-Kt5
This attack may be tempting, as the BP cannot be protected, but
it is against that elementary principle which says that no attack
should be undertaken in the opening until the minor pieces are
mobilised, provided of course that Black also has made sound
opening moves. There is every likelihood that the attack in the
present instance will lead to nothing. It has taken many years
to find the correct reply, but now that it is known, the opening
has practically disappeared from master practice. Instead of the
move in the text, White can play either P-Q3, leading almost
unavoidably to a drawing variation of the Giuoco piano, or
Castles which might bring about the Max Lange attack after 4. ...
B-B4; 5. P-Q4, PxP.
4. ... P-Q4
5. PxP Kt-QR4!
This is a typical position in the Two Knights' defence. The
former continuation 5. ... KtxQP has long been abandoned, as the
attack that White can initiate by 6. KtxBP, KxKt; 7. Q-B3ch,
forcing the Black King to K3, is dangerous though the result is
uncertain. The move in the text breaks the attack from the very
first, and Black gets the advantage
---------------------------------------
8 | #R | | #B | #Q | #K | #B | | #R |
|---------------------------------------|
7 | #P | #P | #P | | | #P | #P | #P |
|---------------------------------------|
6 | | | | | | #Kt| | |
|---------------------------------------|
5 | #Kt| | | ^P | #P | | ^Kt| |
|---------------------------------------|
4 | | | ^B | | | | | |
|---------------------------------------|
3 | | | | | | | | |
|---------------------------------------|
2 | ^P | ^P | ^P | ^P | | ^P | ^P | ^P |
|---------------------------------------|
1 | ^R | ^Kt| ^B | ^Q | ^K | | | ^R |
---------------------------------------
A B C D E F G H
Diag. 109
as he can gain time by attacking the two minor pieces which it
should be noted, are unsupported, and in addition obtain a speedy
development, worth more than the pawn given up for it.
6. P-Q3
B-Kt5ch is an alternative. The advantage is Black's in this case
also--e.g. P-B3; 7. PxP, PxP; 8. B-K2, P-KR3; 9. Kt-KB3, P-K5;
10. Kt-K5, Q-B2; 11. P-Q4, B-Q3 (or PxP e.p. followed by B-Q3);
12. P-KB4, PxP e.p.; 13. KtxP, Kt-Kt5 or 11. P-B4, B-Q3; 12. P-
Q4, PxP e.p.; 13 KtxP, Castles. Black has an easy game and open
lines.
6. ... P-KR3
7. Kt-KB3 P-K5
8. Q-K2 KtxB
9. PxKt B-QB4
10. KKt-Q2
The Knight must move sooner or later.
10. ... Castles
11. Kt-Kt3 B-KKt5
12. Q-B1
A sorry retreat, but the plausible Q-Q2 would be disastrous, e.g.
P-K6!; 13. PxP, Kt-K5 and Q-R5ch
12. ... B-Kt5ch
Black's superior development begins to tell in no uncertain
fashion. Now White can neither play 13. B-Q2 on account of BxBch;
14. QKtxB, R-K1, followed by P-K6, nor 13. Kt-B3 on account of
BxKt; 14. PXB, P-B3 regaining the pawn and maintaining positional
advantage. White has therefore no alternative but P-B3, which
weakens his Q3, where a Black Knight soon settles down.
13. P-B3 B-K2
14. P-KR3 B-R4
15. P-Kt4 B-Kt3
At last White can castle. He can, of course, only castle on the
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