The blue book of chess

by Howard Staunton

ILLUSTRATIVE OF PETROFF'S DEFENCE.

Game I.—Mr. Morphy plays without seeing the Chess-board or men, against M. Potier, at Paris.

WHITE. (Mr. M.)	BLACK. (M. P.)
1. P. to K's 4th.	1. P. to K's 4th.
2. K. Kt. to K. B's 3d.	2. K. Kt. to K. B's 3d.
3. K. B. to Q. B's 4th.	3. Kt. takes K. P.
4. Q. Kt. to Q. B's 3d.	4. K. Kt. to K. B's 3d.[A]
5. Kt. takes K. P.	5. P. to Q's 4th.
6. K. B. to Q. Kt's 3d.	6. K. B. to K's 2d.
7. P. to Q's 4th.	7. P. to Q. B's 3d.
8. Castles.	8. Q. Kt. to Q's 2d.
9. P. to K. B's 4th.	9. Q. Kt. to Q. Kt's 3d.
10. Q. to K. B's 3d.	10. P. to K. R's 4th.
11. P. to K. B's 5th.	11. Q. to Q. B's 2d.
12. Q. B. to K. B's 4th.	12. K. B. to Q's 3d.
13. Q. R. to K's sq.	13. K. to B's sq.
14. Q. to K. Kt's 3d.	14. P. to K. R's 5th.
15. K. Kt. to Kt's 6th. (ch.)[B]	15. K. to Kt's sq.
16. Q. B. takes B.	16. P. takes Q.
17. Q. B. takes Q.	17. P. takes Kt.
18. K. B. P. takes P.	18. P. takes K. R. P. (ch.)
19. K. to R's sq.	19. B. to K. Kt's 5th.
20. Q. R. to K's 7th.	20. Q. Kt. to Q's 2d.
21. Q. B. to K's 5th.	21. K. to B's sq.
22. Q. R. to K. B's 7th. (ch.)[C]	22. K. to Kt's sq.
23. Kt. takes Q. P.	23. P. takes Kt.
24. K. B. takes P.	24. Q. Kt. to Q. Kt's 3d.
25. K. B. to Q. Kt's 3d.
And Black abandons the game.

[A] It is to be regretted that Mr. Potier did not take the Kt. rather than retreat, as many amateurs would have been pleased to see Mr. Morphy carrying out the attack of this interesting and comparatively novel début.

[B] Finely played.

[C] The termination of this partie is remarkably elegant and finished.

Game II.—Skilfully conducted Partie played in 1837, by M. Petroff,
against three Russian Amateurs in council together.

WHITE. (M. Petroff.)	BLACK. (Amateurs.)
1. P. to K's 4th.	1. P. to K's 4th.
2. K. Kt. to K. B's 3d.	2. K. Kt. to B's 3d.
3. P. to Q's 4th.	3. Kt. takes K. P.
4. K. B. to Q's 3d.	4. P. to Q's 4th.
5. Kt. takes K. P.	5. K. B. to Q's 3d.
6. Castles.	6. Castles.
7. P. to Q. B's 4th.	7. P. to K. B's 4th.
8. P. to K. B's 4th.	8. P. to Q. B's 3d.
9. Q. B. to K's 3d.	9. Q. B. to K's 3d.
10. P. takes Q. P.	10. P. takes P.
11. Q. Kt. to B's 3d.	11. Q. Kt. to B's 3d.
12. Q. R. to Q. B's sq.	12. K. R. to B's 3d.[A]
13. B. takes Kt.	13. K. B. P. takes B.
14. Q. Kt. to his 5th.	14. Kt. to K's 2d.
15. Kt. takes B.	15. Q. takes Kt
16. P. to K. Kt's 4th.	16. P. to K. Kt's 3d.[B]
17. P. to K. B's 5th.[C]	17. P. takes P.
18. B. to K. Kt's 5th.	18. K. R. to B's sq.
19. B. to K. R's 6th.	19. K. R. to Q. B's sq.[D]
20. Q. to her 2d.	20. Q. to her square.
21. R. takes R.	21. R. takes R.
22. P. takes P.	22. Kt. takes P.
23. Q. to K. Kt's 2d. (ch.)	23. K. to R's sq.
24. R. takes Kt.	24. Q. to K. Kt's sq.
25. R. to B's 6th.	25. B. to K. R's 6th.
26. Q. to K. Kt's 3d.	26. Q. takes Q.
27. P. takes Q.
On this move, the Amateurs abandoned the game.

[A] This unfortunate counter attack is admirably taken advantage of by M. Petroff.

[B] They do not appear to have had a better move.

[C] Well played.

[D] It would have been better to leave the Rook en prise, and advance the Pawn to King's Bishop's 5th.

Game III.—Between M. Tchigorin and H. N. Pillsbury.

WHITE. (Mr. T.)	BLACK. (Mr. P.)
1. P. to K's 4th.	1. P. to K's 4th.
2. K. Kt. to B's 3d.	2. K. Kt. to B's 3d.
3. Kt. to B's 3d.	3. Kt. to B's 3d.
4. B. to Kt's 5th.	4. B. to Kt's 5th.
5. Castles.	5. Castles.
6. P. to Q's 3d.	6. P. to Q's 3d.
7. B. to Kt's 5th.[A]	7. B. takes Kt.
8. P. takes B.	8. Kt. to K's 2d.[B]
9. B. takes Kt.	9. P. takes B.
10. Q. to Q's 2d.	10. Kt. to Kt's 3d.
11. K. to R's sq.[C]	11. K. to R's sq.
12. P. to Q's 4th.	12. R. to K. Kt's sq.
13. B. to Q's 3d.	13. Q. to K's 2d.
14. Q. R. to Kt's sq.[D]	14. P. to Kt's 3d.
15. Kt. to Kt's sq.	15. B. to K's 3d.!
16. P. to Q's 5th.?	16. B. to Q's 2d.
17. P. to Kt's 3d.	17. R. to Kt's 2d.
18. Q. R. to K's sq.	18. Q. R. to K. Kt's sq.[E]
19. P. to B's 3d.[F]	19. P. to K. R's 4th.!
20. R. to K's 2d.	20. Kt. to B's sq.
21. P. to K. B's 4th.	21. P. takes P.
22. Q. takes P.	22. Kt. to R's 2d.
23. Kt. to B's 3d.	23. B. to Kt's 5th.
24. Kt. to Q's 4th.[G]	24. P. to R's 5th.!
25. R. to K's 3d.	25. Q. to K's 4th.
26. P. takes P.?	26. B. to B's 6th. (ch.)
27. Resigns.

[A] Notes by Jas. Mason.—In this familiar "double Lopez" predicament, 7. B. takes Kt. is highly recommended, if a dull but durable kind of game is desired.

[B] ... Something like a leap in the dark. If the doubled Pawn can be "dissolved" betimes, or the open file well used in attack, a safe landing may be confidently expected.

[C] More or less necessary, sooner or later. Black does not attempt to dissolve, just here; for then Q. to R's 6th, threatening Kt. to Kt's 5th, might be uncomfortable.

[D] Routine—indirectly including the questionable 16. P. to Q's 5th ? At once Kt. to Kt's sq., to be speedily followed by P. to Kt's 3d and P. to K. B's 4th, would have given the matter another and perhaps very different complexion.

[E] ... The difference is in favor of the young American representative, who presses it fully.

[F] Manifestly weakening. The Russian champion feels himself on the defensive, and at a loss how to continue. Thus the text move may be as good as any other.

[G] 24. Kt. to R's 4th would be much stronger, the importance of halting the advancing Rook Pawn duly considered. Going from bad to worse, the downright blunder two moves later caps the climax—and more need not be said.

GAME THE SIXTH.

WHITE.	BLACK.
1. P. to K's 4th.	1. P. to K's 4th.
2. K. Kt. to B's 3d.	2. K. B. to Q. B's 4th.
3. Kt. takes K. P.	3. Q. to K's 2d.
4. P. to Q's 4th.	4. B. to Q. Kt's 3d.
5. K. B. to Q. B's 4th.	5. K. Kt. to B's 3d.
6. B takes B. P. (ch.)	6. K. to B's sq.
7. B. to Q. Kt's 3d.	7. Kt. takes K's P
8. Castles,
And you have an excellent position.

GAME THE SEVENTH.
Counter Gambit in the Knight's Opening.

WHITE.	BLACK.
1. P. to K's 4th.	1. P. to K's 4th.
2. K. Kt. to B's 3d.	2. P. to K. B's 4th.
This second move of Black gives the name of Counter Gambit to this game.
3. K. Kt. takes P. (best.)	3. Q. to K. B's 3d. (best.)
4. P. to Q's 4th.	4. P. to Q's 3d.
5. Kt. to Q. B's 4th.	5. P. takes K's P.
6. Q. Kt. to B's 3d.	6. P. to Q. B's 3d. or First Variation.
7. Q. Kt. takes K's P. (best.)	7. Q. to K's 3d.
8. Q. to K's 2d.	8. P. to Q's 4th.
9. Q's Kt. to Q's 6th. (ch.)	9. K. to Q's 2d.
10. Q. Kt. to K. B's 7th.	10. Q. P. takes K's Kt.
11. Q. takes Q. (ch.)	11. K. takes Q.
12. K. B. takes P. (ch.)	12. K. to his 2d.
13. Kt. takes R.	13. Q. B. to K's 3d.
14. K. B. to Q's 3d.	14. K. Kt. to B's 3d.
15. Q. B. to K. Kt's 5th.	15. Q. B. to K. Kt's sq.
16. Castles, with a fine game.

First Variation,
Beginning at Black's 6th move.

WHITE.	BLACK.
1. P. to K's 4th.	1. P. to K's 4th.
2. K. Kt. to B's 3d.	2. P. to K. B's 4th.
3. K. Kt. takes P. (best)	3. Q. to K. B's 3d. (best)
4. P. to Q's 4th.	4. P. to Q's 3d.
5. Kt. to Q. B's 4th.	5. P. takes K. P.
6. Q. Kt. to B's 3d.	6. Q. B. to K. B's 4th.
7. P. to K. Kt's 4th.	7. Q. B. to K. Kt's 3d.
8. K. B. to Kt's 2d.	8. P. to Q. B's 3d.
9. B. takes K's P.	9. B. takes B.
10. Q. Kt. takes B.	10. Q. to K's 3d.
11. Q. to K's 2d.	11. P. to Q's 4th.
12. K. Kt. to Q's 6th. (ch.)

If now Black take the Knight with his Bishop, you retake with the Q. Kt. (ch.), then exchange Queens, and win the Q. Kt. P. He may, however, move 12. K. to his 2d, whereupon you check with K. Kt. at K. B's 5th, and afterwards liberate your other Kt.

Second Variation,
Beginning at Black's 6th move.

WHITE.	BLACK.
1. P. to K's 4th.	1. P. to K's 4th.
2. K. Kt. to B's 3d.	2. P. to K. B's 4th.
3. K. Kt. takes P. (best)	3. Q. to K. B's 3d. (best)
4. P. to Q's 4th.	4. P. to Q's 3d.
5. Kt. to Q. B's 4th.	5. P. takes K. P.
6. Q. Kt. to B's 3d.	6. K. Kt. to K's 2d.
7. P. to Q's 5th.	7. Q. to K. Kt's 3d.
8. Q. to her 4th.	8. Q. B. to K. B's 4th
9. Q. Kt. to his 5th, gaining a Pawn.

Third Variation,
From Black's 6th move.

WHITE.	BLACK.
1. P. to K's 4th.	1. P. to K's 4th.
2. K. Kt. to B's 3d.	2. P. to K. B's 4th.
3. K. Kt. takes P. (best)	3. Q. to K. B's 3d. (best)
4. P. to Q's 4th.	4. P. to Q's 3d.
5. Kt. to Q. B's 4th.	5. P. takes K's P.
6. Q. Kt. to B's 3d.	6. Q. to K. Kt's 3d.
7. P. to K. B's 3d. (best)	7. K. Kt. to B's 3d.
8. P. takes K's P.	8. Kt. takes P.
9. Q. to K's 2d.	9. Q. B. to K. B's 4th.
10. K. Kt. to Q's 2d.	10. Q. Kt. to B's 3d.
11. K. Kt. takes Kt.	11. Kt. takes Q. P.
12. Q. to her 3d, having won a Piece.

Fourth Variation of this Game,
Beginning at Black's 4th move.

WHITE.	BLACK.
1. P. to K's 4th.	1. P. to K's 4th.
2. K. Kt. to B's 3d.	2. P. to K. B's 4th.
3. Kt. takes K. P.	3. Q. to K. B's 3d.
4. P. to Q's 4th.	4. P. takes K. P.
5. K. B. to Q. B's 4th.	5. P. to Q. B's 3d.
6. B. to B's 7th. (ch.)	6. K. to his 2d.
7. P. to K. R's 4th.	7. P. to K. R's 3d.
8. Q. to K. R's 5th.	8. K. to Q's 3d.
9. Q. B. to K. Kt's 5th.	9. P. takes B.
10. Q. takes R., and you have an easy game.

Another Variation,
Beginning at the 3d move of White.

WHITE.	BLACK.
1. P. to K's 4th.	1. P. to K's 4th.
2. K. Kt. to B's 3d.	2. P. to K. B's 4th.
3. K. B. to Q. B's 4th.	3. P. takes K's P.
4. Kt. takes P.	4. Q. to K. Kt's 4th.
5. Kt. to K. B's 7th. (best)	5. Q. takes K. Kt. P.
6. R. to K. B's sq.	6. P. to Q's 4th.
7. Kt. takes R.	7. P. takes B.
8. Q. to K. R's 5th. (ch.)	8. P. to K. Kt's 3d.
9. Q. takes K. R. P.	9. Q. B. to K's 3d.
10. Q. takes K. Kt. P. (ch.)	10. Q. takes Q.
11. Kt. takes Q.,
and you have "the exchange" and a Pawn advantage.

Variation of this Game,
Beginning at White's 3d move.

WHITE.	BLACK.
1. P. to K's 4th.	1. P. to K's 4th.
2. K. Kt. to B's 3d.	2. P. to K. B's 4th.
3. P. takes P.	3. P. to Q's 3d.
4. P. to Q's 4th.	4. P. to K's 5th.
5. Kt. to his 5th.	5. Q. B. takes P.
6. Q. to K's 2d.	6. P. to Q's 4th.
7. Q. to her Kt's 5th. (ch.)	7. Q. Kt. to B's 3d.
8. Q. takes Q. Kt. P.	8. Q. Kt. takes Q. P.
9. B. to Q. Kt's 5th. (ch.)	9. Kt. takes B.
10. Q. takes Kt. (ch.)	10. Q. to her 2d.
11. Q. to Q. Kt's 7th.	11. Q. R. to B's sq.
12. Q. takes Q. R. P.	12. P. to K. R's 3d.
13. Kt. to K. R's 3d.	13. B. takes Kt.
14. K. Kt. P. takes B.	14. Q. takes P.
And he has the superiority in position.

GAME THE EIGHTH.

WHITE.	BLACK.
1. P. to K's 4th.	1. P. to K's 4th.
2. K. Kt. to B's 3d.	2. P. to Q's 4th.
3. P. takes P. (best)	3. Q. takes P.
4. Q. Kt. to B's 3d.	4. Q. to K's 3d.
5. B. to Q. Kt's 5th. (ch.)	5. B. to Q's 2d.
6. Castles.	6. B. takes B.
7. Kt. takes B.	7. K. B. to Q's 3d.
8. R. to K's sq.	8. P. to K. B's 3d.
9. P. to Q's 4th.	9. P. to Q. B's 3d.
10. Q. P. takes P.	10. P. takes P.
11. K. Kt. takes P.
Winning of course.

Variation.

WHITE.	BLACK.
1. P. to K's 4th.	1. P. to K's 4th.
2. K. Kt. to B's 3d.	2. P. to Q's 4th.
3. Kt. takes K's P.	3. Q. to K's 2d. (best).
4. P. to Q's 4th.	4. P. to K. B's 3d.
5. Kt. to his 4th.	5. B. takes Kt.
6. Q. takes B.	6. Q. takes P. (ch.)
7. Q. takes Q. (ch.)	7. P. takes Q.
There is no advantage on either side.

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