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THE CHESS-PLAYER'S



CHAPTER IV.

THE KING'S GAMBIT.

THE Italian word "Gambit" was before explained to mean a feint in wrestling by which an adversary is tripped up. It is applied in Chess-playing to those openings of the game in which the first player sacrifices a Pawn for the purpose of more rapidly liberating his Pieces, and gaining an attack. Of all openings the Gambits are the general favourites. They afford so many opportunities for brilliant and daring strategy, and several such infinite and admirable combinations, that their study will always prove a source of advantage and delight.

There are several varieties of Gambits, as the K. Kt.'s Gambit ; the Cunningham Gambit ; the Salvio and Cochrane Gambits ; the Muzio Gambit ; the Algaier Gambit ; the King's Bishop's Gambit ; the Evan's Gambit ; the Lopez Gambit ; and the Queen's Gambit ; but the majority of these are only modifications of the King's Gambit.

GAME I.

WHITE. BLACK.
1. P. to K.'s 4th. 1. P. to K.'s 4th.
2. P. to K. B. s 4th. 2. P. takes K. B. P.[1]
3. K. Kt. to B.'s 3rd. 3. P. to K. Kt.'s 4th (best).

Instead of playing the K. Kt. out at this juncture you may move your K. B. to Q. B.'s 4th. which constitutes the K. B.'s Gambit, for the leading moves of which see Game VI.

  1. ↑ Black may refuse to take the Pawn ; if so, his best more is probably 2. B. to Q. B.'s 4th, or 2. P. to Q.'s 4th, but it usually happens that, by declining the Gambit, the second player subjects himself to a disadvantageous position.
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