King's Bishop's Opening.
1 P-K4
P-K4
2 B-B4
Kt-KB3
Black develops aggressively.
3 P-Q4
Kt-B3
Black now develops while defending at the same time. But 3 ... PxP may be played, to reply to
4 P-K5 with
4 ... P-Q4.
4 Kt-KB3 ...
With 4 PxP
QKtxP;
5 B-Kt3
B-B4;
6 P-KB4
QKt-Kt5;
7 P-K5
Kt-B7;
8 Q-K2
Kt-Kt1; White brandishes his sword in vain and gets hurt himself.
4 ... PxP
5 O-O ...
This position that can arise in a variety of ways leads to a variety of continuations, and is therefore of consequence.
Black may choose between 5 ... B-B4, which allows the Max Lange attack that is treated under this heading later on, and 5 ... KtxP, which has been treated of in the section of the Two Knights Defence. Also 5 ... P-Q3 or 5 ... B-K2 are good enough to develop Black, for instance, 5 ... B-K2;
6 P-K5
Kt-KKt5;
7 R-K1
P-Q3;
8 PxP
QxP;
9 P-KR3
Kt-B3; or 6 R-K1
P-Q3;
7 KtxP
O-O, whereupon Black is well enough developed.
White may, of course, choose a slow development, for instance, by 3 P-Q3
Kt-B3;
4 Kt-QB3
B-Kt5;
5 Kt-K2
P-Q4;
6 PxP
KtxP;
7 O-O
B-K3; but then Black has no difficulties to overcome.