May 1, 1886.] 



♦ KNOWLEDGE ♦ 



231 



small ones is far less objectionable than a lead from Knave or Ten 

 and three small ones. 



As the above results do not include my own opinions, I hope that, 

 having had the advantage of learning the ideas of other players, I 

 may, without presumption, submit for criticism my own ultimate 

 views on the various leads. 



1. The chance of bringing in the long suit is so remote that it 

 ought not to affect the original lead ; the lead of the Knave of 

 Diamonds and afterwards of the ten might be so very useful to 

 partner that I should at the score of love all commence with the 

 D. Knave, but at 4 love should lead out Hearts at once, as delay 

 would increase the chance of their being trumped. 



2. The chance of getting in the long suit is so good that I should 

 commence with a trump or from long suit at score of love all, but 

 at score of 4 love should make a rush to secure making the two tierce 

 majors. 



3. The Heart King at both scores (there is only one dissentient to 

 this). 



■t. As there is no reasonable chance of winning the game, an 

 original lead of Spades or Clubs would, in my judgment, be 

 absolutely wrong, the Hearts should at both scores be led out in the 

 hopes of getting some intimation from partner or adver.'^aries. If 

 none obtained, then lead out Ace and Knave of Diamonds, so that 

 partner need only hold one honour and win one trick to save game. 



5. I should lead the D. Queen because it may do much good, and 

 cannot do much harm, and it would be so much better if the other 

 suits were opened by the adversaries. 



6. In this hand also the expectation of bringing in Clubs is too 

 small to justify opening that suit. I should therefore lead Queen of 

 Hearts or Knave of Diamonds, preferring the latter so as to better 

 secure the opportunity on getting in with the Hearts of leading the 

 ten of Diamonds. As this reason has not struck anj' other player, it 

 may be far-fetched, but I fancy it is sound. 



7. I should not like to lead from either four suit, which might 

 terribly weaken partner without any benefit to oneself, but would 

 try to assist him by leading Knave D. 



8. This hand is very similar to No. 6, the distinction being that 

 there is somewhat less risk in leading a Club, and somewhat more 

 chance of making a long one, still, as only one long Club could 

 possibly be made, the best lead at both scores would be the Queen 

 of Hearts or Knave of Diamonds — for reasons given at trick six I 

 should somewhat prefer the latter. 



9. The strength in plain suits justifies, nay demands, a lead of 

 ' trumps at the score of love all, but hirdly so at the score of four 



love, when I should start with the Diamonds ; the player with 

 whose opinion I least like to differ would, at score of four love, 

 play Club t^ueen ; but, I must confess, that if I did not lead the 

 Diamonds, I should prefer Heart Knave, and for this reason, that if 

 anybody else opens Clubs, one is almost sure to make a trick in the 

 suit, but the chances of doing so are diminished by opening it oneself. 



10. The strength in trumps, coupled with the strength in plain 

 suits, makes a trump lead at score of love all Imt imperative, but it 

 seems to me that at score of four love the lead should be Heart 

 King, as that ofifere the best chance of making ones own good cards 

 without damage to partner, and of thus securing the odd trick. If 

 one opened the Club suit, and partner had nothing in it, the chance 

 of making the odd trick would be materially diminished, much 

 more so than if Clubs opened by either adversary. 



#ur CI)f6£J Column. 



By " ilEPHISTO." 



A Haed-fought Game. 

 The following game was contested in a recent handicap tourna- 

 ment between Messrs. Gunsberg and Fenton, the former yielding the 

 odds of pawn and two moves. The game abounds in intricate 

 positions and fine points. We therefore append to the game full 

 explanations and notes, which will render this game a useful, and, 

 let us hope, also an agreeable study. 



Eemove Black's KBP. 



1. P to Kt. 



2. P to Q4. 2. P to K Kt3. 



This, we believe, is considered inferior to P to K3, but there is 

 really no good move. Judgment is all-important in giving odds, and 

 against a player who^thoroughly knows the ordinary game it is best, 

 even at some risk, to play an unusual opening. 



3. B to Q3 3. B to Kt3 



4. PtoQBS 4.'P toQ4 



5. P to Ko 5. r to B4 



6. P to KR4 



Black's weak spot is on his K side. White threatens a great deal 

 by P to Eo ; for if Black takes the P, the Q checks, and disarranges 

 Black's position considerably. If Black does not take, then White 

 exchanges his RP for Black's KtP, and we do not see how Black can 

 defend it. If Black plays P to K3 with a view to protecting his 1', 

 then 7. P to R.l. Kt to K2 ; 8. B to KKt5, &c. ; besides, P to K3 shuts 

 in Bkck'sQB. 



6. PxP 



White might, however, have got 

 . P to U5 at once, supposing P x 



7. P X P 

 This is safe, and unobjectionable, 

 a considerable attack bv playing 

 BP. 8. Kt X P or P X Kt P, kc. 



7. Q to Kto 



8. Kt to QB3 



This also is rea.sonable, for the Kt attacks the Black QP. While, 

 however, receives odds, which should induce him to play with 

 energy, for with every move Black gains time for development. 



8. P to R5 would have been difficult to meet. If Black's P becomes 

 isolated, he will fall very soon. S. Kt to QB3, ho%vever, seems a verj' 

 good move, as apparently Black cannot defend the QP by the B 

 without cutting off his Q from defending the P on Kt3. P to Q3 

 would not do at all on account of both P to R.5 or Kt to Ktj. 



8. Kt to QB3 

 It is of paramount importance not to be restricted to mere 

 defending moves. Black hereby gains time at a critical moment in 

 the opening. The complication of a mantcuvre helps towards its 

 success, a fact which must never be lost sight of by a player giving 

 odds. Kt to QB3 was a perfectlv sound move. If White plays 



9. KtxQP, Q to E5 (ch). 10. Kt "to B3, Kt x QP. 11. BxP(ch), 

 P X B. 12. Q X Kt, B X P, and Black has got rid of his difficultie.-, 

 although he ha.s not gained anything. 



!l. KKt to K2 9. B to Q3 



10. P to Eo 10. P X P 



Again straining a point in order to develop his game, Black could 

 also have defended his KtP by B to B2, but thea'foUows II. P x P 

 with a strong game. 



11. RxP 11. Castles 



The only other alternative was P to KR3. 12. E. to Kt6 (ch), 

 K to Q2. Black, in giving up the EP, also had certain. faint hopes 

 of attack on his E's file, hopes which soon assumed a real form. 



12. ExP 



After 12. B x P, White w-as needlessly afraid of his B remaining 

 pinned. 



12. Kt to R3 ! 



A very bold bid on the part of 

 Black to take advantage of his 

 development to create complica- 

 tions, and at the same time a per- 

 fectly sound move. If 13. K x B, 

 Kt to B4. 14. B X Kt, B to ES (ch ), 

 winning the Q. Again, in reply to 



13. E X E, E X E. 14. B to K3, Kt 

 to KKto. 1.5. Kt to Kt3, Black 

 can pla}' Kt x (^P, or against other 

 moves in this interesting po^ition 

 some attack will alwavs result for 

 Black. FinaUy, if "l3. B x Kt, 

 B X B, Black again has a good 



game. 



White. 



13. Q to Kt3. 



No doubt the best reply, as now the command of the R file is of 

 less advantage to Black. 



13. Kt to QKto 



14. B to Kt sq. 



This seems preferable to R x B. A very ingenious defence, involving 

 the temporary sacrifice of a piece, was pointed out to us, as follows : 



14. Kt to E4, KtxB(ch). 15. Q x Kt, Q to R4 (ch). 16. B to Q2 ! 

 Q X Kt. 17. R X R, E X E. 18. Q to Kt6, with a good game. 



14. Kt to KB4 



It was an open question whether this move or K x B should have 

 been played first ; perhaps the latter. 



15. R X E 15. R X R 



16. B to K3 



B X Kt would give Black command of the square on QB7. 



16. Kt X B 



17. P X Kt 17. B X P I 



At last the tactical advantages have turned into something sub- 

 stantial, and Black has one P back. Should White play 18. P x B, 

 then Black plays Q x P I and White is threatened with the mate by 

 E to E8. 



18. Kto K2 18. B to Q3 



19. P to E3 19. Q to E4 



