In response to 11-16, 23-18 is held to give white a trifling advantage, but it is more apparent than real. With the exception of 23-19, which is weak, the other replies are of equal strength, and are only slightly, if at all, inferior to the more popular 23-18. 9-14 is most frequently encountered by 22-18, but all white’s replies are good, except of course 21-17 which loses a man, and 23-18 which weakens the centre of white’s position.
Against 10-14 the most popular move is 22-17, which gives white an advantage. Next in strength come 22-18 and 24-19. 23-18 is weak.
The strongest reply to 12-16 is 24-20. The others, except 23-19, which is weak, give no initial advantage to either side.
As already mentioned, 9-13 is black’s weakest opening move, both 22-18 and 24-19 giving white a distinct advantage. Nevertheless 9-13 is a favourite début with certain expert players, especially when playing with inferior opponents.
The term “opening” is frequently applied in a more restricted sense than that used above. When practically all games started with 11-15 it was convenient to assign names to the more popular lines of play. Thus 11-15, 23-19, 8-11, 22-17, if followed by 11-16, was called the “Glasgow”; if followed by 9-13, 17-14, the “Laird and Lady”; if by 3-8, the “Alma.”
The variety possible in the opening is a fair reply to the objection sometimes heard that the game does not afford sufficient scope for variation. As a matter of fact a practically unlimited number of different games might be played on any one opening.
The three following games are typical examples of the play arising from three of the most frequently played openings:—
Game No. 1.—“Ayrshire Lassie” Opening.
| a 11-15 | 25-18 | 10-15 | 22-17 | b 15-18 | 24-6 |
| a 24-20 | 3-8 | 23-19 | 13-22 | 24-20 | 2-9 |
| 8-11 | 26-22 | 6-10 | 26-17 | 18-27 | 17-10 |
| 28-24 | 5-9 | {c & d} 27-23 | 11-16 | 31-24 | 8-11 |
| 9-13 | 30-26 | 9-14 | 20-11 | 16-23 | Drawn. |
| 22-18 | 1-5 | 18-9 | 7-16 | 20-16 | R. Jordan. |
| 15-22 | 32-28 | 5-14 | 29-25 | 12-19 |