140 



KNOWLEDGE 



[Feb. 13, 1885. 



By Mephisto. 



THE SICILIAN DEFENCE. 



THE consensus of opinion of players having the requisite 

 analytical knowledge is that, as a defence, the Sicilian suffers 

 in comparison with the French. In most variations of the Sicilian 

 the second player will incur ash'ght iuferiority of position, whereas 

 in most variations of the French Defence, the second player will be 

 able to equalise matters. The only variation in the Preach Defence 

 in regard to which wo as yet do not feci justified in denying the 

 verdict to the lirst player, is White's continuation of 2. P to K5, 

 although wo are opposed to this move, whereas the only variation 

 in the Sicilian defence which seems to give the second player some 

 hope of holding his own, is Black's continuation of 5. Kt to B3. A 

 general rule in this opening is to play both White Knights to B3 

 and then play P to Qt, also B to QR3 when such ia possible, in con- 

 sequence of tlie exchange of Black's KB for the White QKt. 

 Endeavour slioulJ also be directed to prevent Black from playing 

 P to Q4, in which case the square on Q6 offers a strong position for 

 a White Kt or B. Failing in all this points. White, with sufficient 

 cire and attention, should bo able to gain oth°r small advantages, 

 such as a good centre position, a good position for his pieces, &o. 

 1. P to K4, P to QB4. 2. QKt to B3, QKt to B3. 3. Kt to B3, 

 P to K3. 4. P to Q4, P X P. 5. Kt X P. 

 In this, the normal jiosition, Black has tho following moves at 



his disposal, viz ; — 

 Bi.ici. .5. Kt to B3, 



5. B to Kt.j, and 

 5. P to QR3. 

 ( If these, the first is the best, and 

 may be met as follows : — 

 5. Kt to B3 



G. B to K2 

 There seems to be more solidity 

 in this move than in tho continua- 

 tion of G. Kt X Kt, KtP X Kt, as, 

 in order to prevent Black from 

 playing P to Q4, it seems 

 necessary to play 7. P to K5, 

 Kt to Q 4. 8. Kt to K4, &c., with 

 perhaps equal advantage, but we 

 are (perhaps prejudicially) dis- 

 ^^'^^* inclined to favour the advance of 



P to K5 early in the game. 



C. P to Q t 



7. P X P Kt X P 



8. Kt X Kt Q v< Kt 



Now for the End Game. White can obtain an advantage by 

 either 9. B to B3 or by 11. Kt to Kt5. If ag.ain 



i I I I t I 

 ^1 'I 





G. Kt X Kt 



7. Q to Q4 



8. PxB 



B to Kt5 

 KtP X Kt 

 B X Kt (ch) 



with the better position, as B to I!3 will bo very powerful. Finally, 

 if 5. P to QR3, Bl.ack has simply lost time, and White may proceed 

 to develop by B to K2. P to QR3 was formerly played to prevent 

 KKt to Kt5, which sometimes will become dangerous in this 

 opening. But in reply to either 5. B to Kt,j or Kt to B3, White's 

 attack of 6. Kt to Kto does not lead to much, as the following 

 interesting variation — which has an American origin — will show i — 



■ 6. KKt to Kt5 



7. Kt to Qfl (ch) 



8. QB to KBl 



a Kt to B3 (ch) 



10. QB to KKt5 



11. PxP 



Kt to B3 

 B to Kt5 

 K to K2 ! 

 P to K4 

 K to B sq. 

 P to Q4 ! 

 QxP 



with a promising position. With regard to Black's move of 

 5. P to KKt3, we do not think that White need do anything better 

 than develop by G. B to K3, threatening, if B to Kt2, 7. KKt to Kt.'>, 

 or if P to Q,R3, 8. Kt x Kt, and probably 9. B to Q4, &c. In any 

 case White will obtain a speedy development and a commanding 

 position for his pieces, which advantage should enable him to 

 combat successfully the .antiquated mode of adv.ancing P.awn3 

 against pieces — worst of all K or QKtP — embodied in the Silician 

 Defence. 



PROBLEM No. 147. 



BV 0. U. L.\B0NE. 

 Black, 



^m ^ 



'^' '^ W W 



White. 

 White to play and mate in thi'ee moves. 



ANSWERS TO CORRESPONDENTS. 



^*^ Please address Chess Editor. 



C. Planck.— Thanks, but already corrected last Saturday. 

 Edw. Carter. — Problem received with thanks. 

 Enquirer. — Address of the "Chess-players Chronicle," 17, Medina- 

 road, N; address of the " Chess Monthly," 18, Tavistock-street, W.C. 



Settlement ix M.^sonrv. — Next to the Washington Monument, 

 the highest structure in the United States is the tower of the 

 new public building at Philadelphia. It is reported that the out- 

 side has become cracked, and that the cause has been ascribed to 

 tho contraction of the brick masonry at the back of the marble 

 facing. The mean pressure at the section showing this distress is 

 estimated at 9 tons per square foot. The base of tho tower of * the 

 capital at Hartford, Conn., shivered a few years ago because the 

 builders, in their desire to make good joints in stone masonry, 

 laid them with contact at the edges. The difficulty was repaired 

 by pouring a number of tons of melted type-metal at the back 

 of this masonry; the alloy, expanding as it cooled, transferred the 

 presstire from the front edges towards the middle of the tower 

 foundation ; the surface blocks were dressed over again, and in 

 some instances new atones were laid in. — Engineerinrj. 



.' Contents op No. 171. 



PiGS 



Od Some Causes of Earthquakes. 

 By Richard A. Proctor 99 



The Philosophy of Clothing. I. By 

 W. Mattieu Williams 100 



Our Two Brains. By Richard A. 

 Proctor 101 



The Young Electrician. {Iltus.) 

 By W. Slingo 102 



On Termites. By Surgeon-General 

 Hutchinson 103 



Other Worlds than Ours 103 



Chapters on Modern Domestic Eco- 

 nomy 105 



The Weight of Engines 100 



Thought and Language. III. By 



Adas. Ballin 107 



The Reformation in Time-Keeping, 



(Illm.) By W. F. Allen 108 



Editorial Gossip 109 



Reviews 110 



The Influence of Civilisation on 



Eyesight 112 



Miscel anea 112 



Correspondence ; The Psychology of 

 Instinct— Our Two Brains — Ques- 

 tion from Flatland, &c 11:} 



Our Inventors' Column 11 



Our Chess Column 11 



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