The Bishop may also retire to R 4, to Q 3, or to K 2. The two last mentioned moves cannot be recommended, and may be dismissed; but it is desirable to know the variations arising from 5. ... B to R 4, which is preferred by many eminent players.
| 6. | P to Q 4 | 6. | P takes P |
| 7. | Castles | ... |
White may also play here 7. P takes P, to which Black's best reply is 7. ... B to Kt 3, and not 7. ... B to Kt 5; ch.
| ... | 7. | P to Q 3 |
This is the only safe move in this variation. 7. ... P takes P, would be bad unless, on the fifth move, Black had played B to R 4, when the so-called "compromised" defence would have ensued.
7. ... Kt to B 3, which seems a plausible move here, would involve the probable loss of the game—e.g.:
7. ... 7. Kt to B 3 8. P takes P 8. B to Kt 3 9. P to K 5 9. P to Q 4 10. P takes Kt 10. P takes B 11. R to K sq.: ch. 11. K to B sq. 12. B to R 3: ch. 12. K to Kt sq. 13. P to Q 5 13. Kt to R 4 14. B to K 7 14. Q to Q 2 15. P takes P 15. K takes P 16. Q to Q 2 16. Q to Kt 5 17. Q to B 3: ch. 17. K to Kt sq. 18. Q takes R: ch. 18. K takes Q 19. B to B 6: ch. 19. K to Kt sq. (or Q to Kt 2) 20. R to K 8: checkmate
| 7. | ... | 7. | Kt to B 3 |
| 8. | P takes P | 8. | B to Kt 3 |
| 9. | P to K 5 | 9. | P to Q 4 |
| 10. | P takes Kt | 10. | P takes B |
| 11. | R to K sq.: ch. | 11. | K to B sq. |
| 12. | B to R 3: ch. | 12. | K to Kt sq. |
| 13. | P to Q 5 | 13. | Kt to R 4 |
| 14. | B to K 7 | 14. | Q to Q 2 |
| 15. | P takes P | 15. | K takes P |
| 16. | Q to Q 2 | 16. | Q to Kt 5 |
| 17. | Q to B 3: ch. | 17. | K to Kt sq. |
| 18. | Q takes R: ch. | 18. | K takes Q |
| 19. | B to B 6: ch. | 19. | K to Kt sq. (or Q to Kt 2) |
| 20. | R to K 8: checkmate |
| 8. | P takes P | 8. | B to Kt 3 |
| 9. | P to Q 5 | 9. | Kt to R 4 |
The best move. It is the Normal Defence to the previous move, which constitutes the Normal Attack.