THE SCOTCH GAMBIT.

No very prominent novelty in this Gambit has been presented within the last three years. The opening, as generally played now, is not a Gambit, the Pawn being recaptured on White's fourth move. Nearly all variations of the Scotch lead to highly interesting and often brilliant positions, and it is a game prolific of counter attacks for Black. The neglect of such openings in tournaments and matches is typical of the state of affairs which induced Mr. John Ruskin to write recently to an English periodical, “Chess, I urge pupils to learn, and enjoy it myself to the point of its becoming a temptation to waste of time often very difficult to resist; and I have really serious thoughts of publishing a selection of favorite old games by chessplayers of real genius and imagination, as opposed to the stupidity called chess-playing in modern days. Pleasant 'play,' truly in which the opponents sit calculating and analyzing for twelve hours, tire each other nearly into apoplexy or idiocy, and end in a draw or a victory by an odd Pawn." While Mr. Ruskin does not quite do justice to the modern time limit system in set encounters, he will find a multitude to agree with him that the favorite old games are more interesting than those of the present day.

Notes to page 171.

1 The usual continuation for White here is B-QB4, B-QKt5, or Q-Q2.

2 P-Q3 may also be played. Mr. Steinitz commended the Captain's move, as he obtained an open Rook's file later on when the Bishops were exchanged.

3 Mr. Steinitz would have preferred Kt-Q2. Black is able to defeat White's intention to exchange the B. and play Kt-Kt5.

4 White should rather have continued the advance on the K side with P-KR4.

5 Continued, 21 B-B3 21 R x P, and Black won.

Mr. Steinitz attributes the loss of

the game to White's failure to push on his KRP.

6 If 16 Q x Kt, 17 Kt-KB3, and White wins a piece.

7 Continued, 21 R-K7! 21 Q-Kt3, 22 R x B 22 KR-Q1, 23 B-K5ch 23 Kt x B, 24 P x Kt 24 R x R, 25 Q × R, and White won. In this game White made the best development in opening. His 21st move brought about a winning end game.

8 The approved move is B x Kt.

9 Losing a P. But if the B had not been moved, White's Kt would have taken it, greatly weakening Black's center.

10 Rev. W. Wayte says, Q-Q2, followed by B-Kt2 seems equally good.

11 Better have Castled with KR, says the same authority, and if 15 P-R5, 16 P-KK14 Black's development then would have been extremely difficult, and White would have had time for a decisive advance of the Pawns. The text play gave Black an opportunity to clear his game.

Notes to page 173.

1 An experimental move by Mr. Maurian.

2 White seems certain to win a piece, but Black saves it ingeniously.

3 Continued, 21 R-Q3 21 B-QB4, 22 R-QB3 22 K-Kt3, 23 P-QR3 23 Kt-Q2, 24 R-QKtich 24 K-B3, 25 Kt-R6 25 KR-K1, 26 P-B3 26 R-Q5, 27 B-KB2_27 R-Q4, 28 P-QR4 28 KR-K4, 29 P-KKt4 29 P-KKt4, 30 R-QKt5 30 P-KR4, 31 Rx QRP 31 P x KtP, 32 P x P 32 P-KB4, and this move permitted White to exchange off all the pieces, after which one of his passed Pawns won.

4 The Schachzeitung says this is hasty, and that P-KB5 would have been stronger.

5 This continuation is now preferred to 5 Kt x Kt, which soon results in an even end game.

6 Black could not extricate himself from the results of his 15th move. He resigned on the 36th move.

7 A move not much played recently.

8 Unusual.

9 Taking advantage of the novelty.

10 Not as good as Q x Q.

11 Sacrificing a P for a strong attack.

12 The remaining moves in this interesting game were 21 Kt x B 21 P x Kt, 22 R x P 22 P-QKt5, 23 Kt-QB4 23 Kt-Q5, 24 QR-K3 24 Kt x QBP, 25 Kt-QR5 25 R-QKt4, 26 Kt-B6ch 26 K-Q2, 27 Kt-QR7 (the Kt can not get out) 27 R-KKt4ch. White resigns.

13 Better, says Land and Water, than B x Kt, but this is not saying much.