Philidor’s Gambits. FIRST GAMBIT,
Reading edition
WITH SEVEN BACK GAMES;
Two on the Fourth Move, One on the Fifth, One on the Sixth, Two on the Seventh, the last on the Eighth.
1.
W. The king’s pawn 2 squares.
B. The same.
2.
W. King’s bishop’s pawn 2 squares.
B. The king’s pawn takes the pawn.
3.
W. King’s knight at his bishop’s 3d.
B. King’s knight’s pawn 2 squares.
4.
W. King’s bishop at his queen’s bishop’s 4th.(a)
B. King’s bishop at his knight’s 2d.(b)
(a): Instead of that move, you might have pushed your king’s rook’s pawn two squares. This will be the subject of a back game.
(b) Instead of playing this bishop, he might have moved his king’s knight’s pawn one square. A subject for another back game.
5.
W. King’s rook’s pawn 2 squares.(c)
B. King’s rook’s pawn 1 square.(d) ☜
6.
W. The queen’s pawn 2 squares.
B. The queen’s pawn 1 square.(e) ☜
(c) By playing this pawn you force him to defend his king’s knight’s pawn with that of his rook; by drawing out his rook’s pawn, you keep his king’s knight confined; nor can he then sally without exposing his pawns to be taken.
(d) He had two other ways of playing; he might push his king’s bishop’s pawn a square, in which case you sacrifice your knight, in order afterwards to give check with your queen, which insures you the game; or, he might push his king’s knight’s pawn a square upon your knight. The latter is made the subject of a third back game.
(e) If, instead, he had advanced his queen’s bishop’s pawn a square, you must have played that of your king, in order afterwards to take his queen’s pawn in passing, in case he was to push it two moves, with a design to obstruct your king’s bishop. Another subject for a back game.
N. B. You are to observe, that in the attack of Gambits, the king’s bishop is the best superior piece, and the king’s pawn the best pawn.
7.
W. Queen’s bishop’s pawn 1 square. ☜
B. Queen’s bishop’s pawn 1 square.(f) ☜
8.
W. The queen at her king’s 2d square.
B. Queen’s bishop at the adverse king’s knight’s 4th.(g) ☜
9.
W. King’s knight’s pawn 1 square.(h)
B. The king’s pawn takes the pawn.
(f) If, instead of moving this pawn, he had played his queen’s bishop either to his king’s third square, or to your king’s knight’s fourth square, he might have been made to lose two different ways. Both experiments are traced to their consequences, in two back games, beginning at this seventh move.
(g) He may now without danger play his bishop on this square, as your queen can no more double with your king’s bishop by attacking two of his pawns; but if, instead of moving this bishop so, he had moved him to his king’s third square, he would have lost the game. The result of such play is seen in the last back game.
(h) It is very material in the attack of Gambits, not to spare your pawns on the king’s side, and even to sacrifice them all, if it be requisite, though merely for the sake of the adversary’s king’s pawn, because that pawn hinders your queen’s bishop from coming into play, and co-operating with the pieces that form your attack.
10.
W. The King’s rook’s pawn takes the pawn.
B. The rook’s pawn takes the pawn.
11.
W. The rook takes the rook.
B. The bishop takes the rook.
12.
W. The queen’s bishop takes the king’s knight’s pawn.
B. The king’s bishop at his 3d square.(i)
13.
W. The bishop takes the bishop.
B. The queen takes the bishop.
14.
W. The queen’s knight at his queen’s 2d.
B. The same.
15.
W. The king castles.
B. The same.
16.
W. The rook at his king’s knight’s square.
B. The queen at the adverse king’s bishop’s 4th.
(i) If, instead of exposing this bishop, he had taken yours with his queen, or had taken your knight with his queen’s bishop, he would have lost the game.
17.
W. The queen at her king’s knight’s 2d.
B. King’s bishop’s pawn 2 squares.
18.
W. The queen takes the pawn.
B. The queen takes the queen.
19.
W. The rook takes the queen.
B. The pawn takes the pawn.
20.
W. The king’s bishop takes the knight.
B. The queen’s bishop takes the knight.
21.
W. The queen’s knight takes the bishop.
B. The pawn takes the knight.
22.
W. The bishop at the adverse king’s bishop’s 2d.
B. The rook at his king’s bishop’s square.
23.
W. The rook takes the pawn.
B. The king at his queen’s bishop’s 2d.
24.
W. The king at his queen’s 2d.(k)
B. Queen’s bishop’s pawn 1 square.
(k) If you had pushed your queen’s bishop’s pawn, you would have lost the game; because your adversary by pushing his queen’s bishop’s pawn, would have forced you to remove your queen’s pawn, to take it, and have afterwards attacked at once your rook and your bishop with his knight.
25.
W. The bishop at the adverse king’s rook’s 4th.
B. The rook takes the rook.
26.
W. The bishop takes the rook.(l)
(l) From the manner in which the two parties are balanced, as to position, and the number of pieces, it is evident that it is become a draw game, unless some very great error is committed. This game shews, that a Gambit equally well attacked and defended, will not be decisive on either side; it is true that he who gives the pawn has the pleasure of uniformly attacking, and a prospect of winning, which would be realized, if he on the defensive did not maintain the most undeviating good play for the first ten or twelve moves.
STRICTURE BY THE EDITOR.
At the 17th move, there is an oversight in each player, one giving, and one overlooking a material advantage. Though one white knight, at the first view, seems protected by the other, the king’s knight is exposed to the bishop, on account of the ambuscaded action of the queen upon the king. Were the bishop to take, as he should, a train of involved movements might arise. The plain course, suggested by the position, would be best for the white player, though it leave the rival party the majority of a knight.
FIRST BACK GAME,
TO THE FIRST GAMBIT,
On the Fourth Move of the White.
4.
W. The king’s rook’s pawn 2 squares.
B. The king’s knight’s pawn 1 square.
5.
W. The king’s knight at the adversary’s king’s 4th.
B. The king’s rook’s pawn 2 squares.
6.
W. The king’s bishop at his queen’s bishop’s 4th.
B. The king’s rook at its 2d square.
7.
W. The queen’s pawn 2 squares.
B. The queen’s pawn 1 square.
8.
W. The queen’s knight at his queen’s 3d.
B. The queen at her king’s 2d square.
9.
W. The queen’s knight at his bishop’s 3d.
B. The king’s knight at his bishop’s 3d.
10.
W. The queen at her king’s 2d.
B. The king’s pawn 1 square
11.
W. The king’s knight’s pawn takes the pawn.
B. The king’s knight’s pawn takes the pawn.
12.
W. The queen takes the pawn.
B. The queen’s bishop at the adverse king’s knight’s 4th.
13.
W. The queen at her king’s 3d square.
B. The king’s bishop at his rook’s 3d.
14.
W. The king’s knight at his king’s bishop’s 4th.
B. The queen’s bishop’s pawn 1 square.
15.
W. The queen’s bishop at his queen’s 2d.
B. The king’s bishop takes the knight.
16.
W. The queen takes the bishop.
B. The queen’s pawn 1 square.
17.
W. The king’s bishop at his queen’s 3d.
B. The king’s knight takes the king’s pawn.
18.
W. The knight or the bishop takes the knight.
B. The king’s bishop’s pawn 2 squares.
SECOND BACK GAME,
TO THE FIRST GAMBIT,
On the Fourth Move of the Black.
4.
W. King’s bishop at his queen’s bishop’s 4th.
B. King’s knight’s pawn 1 square.
5.
W. King’s knight at the adversary’s king’s 4th.
B. The queen gives check.
6.
W. The king at his bishop’s square.
B. King’s knight at his rook’s 3d.
7.
W. Queen’s pawn 2 squares.
B. Queen’s pawn 1 square.
8.
W. King’s knight at his queen’s 3d.
B. King’s pawn 1 square.
9.
W. King’s knight’s pawn 1 square.
B. The queen gives check.
10.
W. The king at his bishop’s 2d.
B. The queen gives check.
11.
W. The king at his 3d square.
B. King’s knight at his own square.
12.
W. King’s knight at his king’s bishop’s 4th.
B. King’s bishop at his rook 3d.
13.
W. King’s bishop at his own square, attacking the queen.
B. The queen takes the rook.
14.
W. The king’s bishop gives check, and the queen is lost.
THIRD BACK GAME,
TO THE FIRST GAMBIT,
On the Fifth Move of the Black.
5.
W. King’s rook’s pawn 2 squares.
B. King’s knight’s pawn 1 square.
6.
W. King’s knight at the adverse king’s knight’s 4th.
B. King’s knight at his rook’s 3d.
7.
W. Queen’s pawn 2 squares.
B. King’s bishop’s pawn 1 square.
8.
W. The queen’s bishop takes the gambit pawn.
B. Queen’s pawn 1 square.
9.
W. Queen’s bishop’s pawn 1 square.
B. The pawn takes the knight.
10.
W. The rook’s pawn takes the pawn.
B. King’s knight at his own square.
11.
W. The queen at her knight’s 3d.
B. The queen at her king’s 2d.
12.
W. Queen’s knight at his queen’s 2d.
B. The queen at her queen’s bishop’s square.
13.
W. The king castles with his rook.
B. Loses the game.
On a review of the board where the gambit ceased, the white pieces appear very judiciously placed.
FOURTH BACK GAME,
TO THE FIRST GAMBIT,
On the Sixth Move of the Black.
6.
W. Queen’s pawn 2 squares.
B. Queen’s bishop’s pawn 1 square.
7.
W. King’s pawn 1 square.
B. Queen’s knight’s pawn 2 squares.
8.
W. King’s bishop at his queen’s knight’s 3d.
B. Queen’s rook’s pawn 2 squares.
9.
W. Queen’s rook’s pawn 2 squares.
B. Queen’s knight’s pawn 1 square.
10.
W. Queen’s knight at his queen’s 2d.
B. Queen’s bishop at his rook’s 3d.
11.
W. The queen’s knight at his king’s 4th square.
B. The queen at her knight’s 3d square, or any where.[28]
12.
W. The knight gives check at the adverse queen’s 3d square.
FIFTH BACK GAME,
TO THE FIRST GAMBIT,
On the Seventh Move of the Black.
7.
W. Queen’s bishop’s pawn 1 square.
B. Queen’s bishop at the adverse king’s knight’s 4th.
8.
W. The queen at her knight’s 3d square.
B. Queen’s bishop at his king’s rook’s 4th.
9.
W. The king’s rook’s pawn takes the pawn.
B. The pawn takes the pawn.
10.
W. The rook takes the bishop.
B. The rook takes the rook.
11.
W. The king’s bishop takes the pawn, giving check
to the king and rook; wins the latter powerful piece,
and consequently the game.
SIXTH BACK GAME,
TO THE FIRST GAMBIT.
On the Seventh Move of the Black.
7.
W. Queen’s bishop’s pawn 1 square.
B. Queen’s bishop at his king’s 3d square.
8.
W. The bishop takes the bishop.
B. The pawn takes the bishop.
9.
W. The queen at her knight’s 3d.
B. The queen at her bishop’s square, to defend the 2 pawns.
10.
W. The rook’s pawn takes the pawn.
B. The rook’s pawn takes the pawn.
11.
W. The rook takes the rook.
B. The bishop takes the rook.
12.
W. The king’s knight takes the pawn.
B. The king at his 2d square.
13.
W. The queen’s bishop takes the pawn.
B. The queen’s knight at his bishop’s 3d.
14.
W. Queen’s knight at his queen’s 2d.
B. Queen’s rook’s pawn 2 squares.
15.
W. The king castles.
B. Queen’s knight’s pawn 2 squares.
16.
W. The rook at his king’s rook’s square.
B. The king’s knight at his bishop’s 3d.
17.
W. The rook takes the bishop.
B. The queen takes the rook.
18.
W. The queen takes the king’s pawn and gives check.
B. The king retires where he pleases, the game is lost.
VARIATION on the 16th Move.
Return the black king’s knight to his square, the black queen to her bishop’s first, the black bishop to his rook’s square, the black pawn to his king’s third, the white queen to her knight’s third, the white rook to its king’s rook’s square—and the resources of the black player will be found not exhausted. As Scipio saved Rome by attacking Carthage; so a counter stroke in Chess, is often the best defence.
Instead of regarding the assault of the white rook on the bishop, which is to draw the black queen, by an exchange, from the square where she supports the king’s pawn; at the countermove, let the black player assail the white queen with his rook’s pawn; when he has obliged her to quit a square from which she has an aspect on his king’s pawn, he may protect his bishop, by moving his knight, and the party will not be circumvented, as a necessary consequence of the preceding moves. The white queen may not retire, but persevere in taking the king’s pawn, though defeated in her design of removing the rival queen; the train of changes to which this will lead, will leave the white party a majority of two pawns, added to the difference between a knight and a bishop; as one of the pawns will stand alone, and the black pieces will be well disposed for manœuvring, this superiority cannot be considered decisive.
SEVENTH BACK GAME,
TO THE FIRST GAMBIT,
On the Eighth Move of the Black.
8.
W. The queen at her king’s 2d.
B. Queen’s bishop at his king’s 3d.
9.
W. The bishop takes the bishop.
B. The pawn takes the bishop.
10.
W. The king’s pawn 1 move.
B. The pawn takes the pawn.
11.
W. The pawn takes the pawn.
B. Queen’s knight at his queen’s 2d.
12.
W. King’s knight’s pawn 1 square.
B. The same.
13.
W. The knight’s pawn takes the pawn.
B. The pawn takes the knight.
14.
W. The queen takes the pawn.
B. The queen at her king’s 2d.
15.
W. Queen’s knight at his queen’s 2d.
B. The king castles.
16.
W. Queen’s knight’s pawn 2 squares.
B. King’s rook’s pawn 1 square.
17.
W. Queen’s knight at his king’s 4th.
B. Queen’s knight at his 3d square.
18.
W. The bishop at his king’s 3d.
B. King’s knight at his rook’s 3d.
19.
W. The bishop at the adverse queen’s bishop’s 4th.
B. The queen at her bishop’s 2d.
20.
W. Queen’s rook’s pawn 2 squares.
B. The king’s bishop at his own square.
21.
W. Queen’s rook’s pawn 1 square.
B. The bishop takes the bishop.
22.
W. The pawn takes the bishop.
B. Queen’s knight at his queen’s 2d.
23.
W. The knight gives check.
B. The king retires.
24.
W. Queen’s rook at its knight’s own square.
B. The queen’s knight takes the pawn.
25.
W. The knight takes the queen’s knight’s pawn.
B. The knight takes the knight.
26.
W. Queen’s rook’s pawn 1 square.
B. The king at his queen’s rook’s square.
27.
W. The rook takes the knight.
B. The queen at her bishop’s 1st square.
28.
W. The king’s rook at its 2d square.
B. The queen’s rook at its queen’s 2d square.
29.
W. The king’s rook at its queen’s knight’s 2d square.
B. The king’s rook at its 2d square.
30.
W. The queen takes the adverse queen’s bishop’s pawn,
and wins the game.
The science of Philidor has kept the balance critically suspended to the last.