Variation A. on White’s 5th Move.
White has another move at this point, which seems at least as good as 5. P. to Q’s 4th; viz., Q’s Kt. to B’s 3d.
| 3. | Kt. takes K’s P. | 3. | P. to Q’s 3d. |
| 5. | Q’s Kt. to B’s 3d. | 5. | Kt. takes Kt. |
| 6. | Q’s P. takes Kt. | 6. | B. to K’s 2d. |
| 7. | B. to Q’s 3d. | |
| White has the better opened game. |
Game III.—The Giuoco Piano.
| | WHITE. | | BLACK. |
|---|
| 1. | P. to K’s 4th. | 1. | P. to K’s 4th. |
| 2. | K’s Kt. to B’s 3d. | 2. | Q’s Kt. to B’s 3d. |
This is recommended by nearly all authors, as Black’s best reply. Of late, however, there has been an opinion prevalent among many of our best players, that it is inferior to K’s Kt. to B’s 3d, or even P. to Q’s 3d. For our own part, we incline to the old move of Q’s Kt. to B’s 3d, but doubt whether there is any defence by which Black can acquire a perfectly even game.
| 3. | B. to Q. B’s 4th. | 3. | B. to Q. B’s 4th. (best.) |
| 4. | P. to Q. B’s 3d. | 4. | K’s Kt. to B’s 3d. (best.) |
| 5. | P. to Q’s 4th. | 5. | P. takes P. |
| 6. | P. to K’s 5th, (or [Var. A.]) | 6. | P. to Q’s 4th. (best.) |
| 7. | K’s B. to Q. Kt.’s 5th. | 7. | K’s Kt. to K’s 5th. |
| 8. | P. takes P. | 8. | B. to Q. Kt.’s 3d. (best.) |
| 9. | Castles. | 9. | Q’s B. to K. Kt.’s 5th. |
| 10. | B. takes Kt. (ch.) | 10. | P. takes B. |
| 11. | Q’s B. to K’s 3d, or Q’s Kt. to B’s 3d. | 11. | Castles. |
These are the moves given in the Handbook, and the game is dismissed as equal. In actual play, however, we should take Black’s game for choice.
Variation A. on White’s 6th Move.
| | WHITE. | | BLACK. |
|---|
| 6. | P. takes P. | 6. | B. to Q. Kt.’s 5th (ch.) |