Book II: The Openings

THE importance of beginning a game well - that is, of rapidly bringing all the force on your own side into the best positions for mutual sustainment, either in attack or defence, is too evident to need insisting on. There are very many methods of opening the game, but the following are the principal : -

1st. The King's Knight's Opening. - In which each party begins by playing his King's Pawn to King's 4th sq., and the first player then moves his King's Knight to King's Bishop's 3rd sq.

2nd. The King's Bishop's Opening. - In which each side plays his King's Pawn to King's 4th, and then he who had the first move plays King's Bishop to Queen's Bishop 4th sq.

3rd. The Queen's Bishop's Pawn Opening. - In which each player moves his King's Pawn to King's 4th sq., and the first then plays his Queen's Bishop's Paun to B.'s 3rd sq.

4th. The King's Gambit. - In which each party plays the King's Pawn to King's 4th sq.; the first player then moves his King's Bishop's Pawn, and his opponent takes the Pawn with Pawn.

These Openings are all begun on the Kings side ; there are also many others which commence on the Queen's side, as the Queen's Gambit, the French Gambit, the Sicilian Gambit, and what are known as irregular openings ; but for these, as well as for several modifications of the débuts on the King's side, you must consult works intended for a more experienced player.