The Scotch Opening.
1 P-K4
P-K4
2 Kt-KB3
Kt-QB3
3 P-Q4 ...
The idea of this Opening is to open the centre to the pieces as soon as possible.
3 ... PxP
Thus, it is almost obvious, the question of how to meet the assault upon the KP is most readily answered.
4 KtxP
Kt-B3
5 Kt-QB3
B-Kt5
It is not so easy now to guard the KP. For instance, 6 P-B3
O-O and soon P-Q4.
6 KtxKt
KtPxKt
7 B-Q3 ...
Or 7 Q-Q4
Q-K2;
8 P-B3
P-B4;
9 Q-B2, ... (not Q-K3 because of the impending P-Q4-Q5],
9 ... O-O;
10 B-Q2
P-Q4. Black is well developed.
7 ... P-Q4
8 PxP ...
Not 8 P-K5 which would be premature as an old game proves:
8 ... Kt-Kt5;
9 O-O
B-QB4;
10 P-KR3
KtxKP;
11 R-K1
Q-B3;
12 Q-K2
O-O;
13 QxKt
QxPch.;
14 K-R1
BxP;
15 PxB
Q-B6ch.;
16 K-R2
B-Q3 and wins. True, 10 P-KR3 is inferior, but also 10 B-KB4
P-Kt4;
11 B-Kt3
P-KR4;
12 P-KR3
P-R5;
13 B-R2
KtxB;
14 KxKt
B-Q5;
15 Q-K2
P-Kt5;
16 PxP
Q-Kt4 leaves the initiative to Black.
8 ... PxP
9 O-O
O-O
10 B-KKt5
P-B3
White has now some attack, Black, in compensation, a fine Pawn in the centre.
11 Q-B3
B-K2
12 R-K1
R-K1
Black will be able to drive the advanced White pieces off and to build up a firm position, for instance, 13 Q-Kt3
Kt-R4;
14 Q-R4
BxB;
15 QxKt
P-KR3.
The Opening takes a wholly different turn if White attempts to delay Black's Castling. To that end he must forego furthering his own development by 5 X-QB3 and harass Black as much as possible.
5 KtxKt
KtPxKt
6 B-Q3 ...
The sudden assault 6 P-K5 would fail if Black keeps cool. Black replies
6 ... Q-K2;
7 Q-K2
Kt-Q4. If White continues in the same hazardous style,
8 P-QB4
B-R3;
9 P-B4, ... Black obtains the advantage by
9 ... Q-Kt5ch. If White slows down, Black can placidly proceed with his development, say with P-Q3, B-Q2, Castling Queen's side, or perhaps PX4 and B-X2, disturbing the opponent on his part.
6 ... P-Q4
7 Q-K2
B-K2
8 P-K5
Kt-Q2
To push 9 P-K6, ... whereupon
9 ... Kt-B3, obviously causes no inconvenience to the opponent.
9 O-O
O-O
so as to reply to
10 P-KB4 with
10 ... P-KB4. Black stands prepared.
While these variations are not unsatisfactory to the second player, he may try to obtain even more than above by assuming the aggressive at once.
4 ... B-B4
5 B-K3 ...
The impertinent attempt 5 Kt-B5 can be punished by
5 ... P-Q4;
6 KtxPch.
K-B1;
7 Kt-B5
PxP;
8 QxQch.
KtxQ;
9 Kt-Kt3
P-B4; and Black is better developed than White.
5 ... Q-B3
6 P-QB3 ...
Instead of this defensive move Blumenfeld has proposed the attacking move 6 Kt-Kt5. Obviously, White thereby gets his KP doubled so that the point K5 becomes easily accessible to the opponent. Black will first of all exchange the Bishops
6 ... BxB;
7 PxB, then weaken the points KR6 and KB6 by
7 ... Q-R5ch.;
8 P-KKt3 and finally defend his QBP with
8 ... Q-Q1. Now White will resume the attack with
9 Q-Kt4, bearing down upon the XP which has to serve as protector of the KX that is bound to establish itself on B3. A good and safe reply to this is
9 ... K-B1. Now
10 Q-B4
P-Q3;
11 B-B4
Kt-B3;
12 O-O
P-KR4! which provides the needed outlet for the KR while it threatens to engage the White XP by P-R5 and thus to enlarge the scope of the Rook still further.
Black is well developed. After:-
13 QKt-B3
Kt-K4;
14 B-Kt3
P-B3;
15 Kt-Q4
P-R5 the task of White would be a hard one.
The main play proceeds
6 ... KKt-K2
Now 7 B-QB4 is not to be recommended, because Black counters by
7 ... Kt-K4. The aim of Black to advance P-Q4 is hard to prevent.
7 B-K2
P-Q4
8 B-B3
BxKt
9 PxB
PxP
thus isolating the QP which will soon be a target for a Black Rook.
Paulsen proposed as preparatory to 8 [!)X-X5
7 Q-Q2
P-Q4
8 Kt-Kt5
BxB
9 QxB
O-O
Black sacrifices the BP with good reason. 10 KtxBP
R-Kt1;
11 KtxP?
KtxKt;
12 PxKt
Kt-Kt5! with terrible threats against the exposed White King. Better 11 Kt-Q2
PxP;
12 KtxP
Q-K4;
13 Kt-QKt5
Kt-B4;
14 Q-K2
P-QR3;
15 Kt-R3
P-QKt4. The sacrifice of the Pawn is manifestly justified.
10 Kt-Q2
B-K3
In view of the splendid development of Black, no danger threatens from the attack of the Knight against the QB7. White will have his hands full to maintain the balance.
Again, another turn is given to the Opening if White defers or foregoes altogether the recapture of the Pawn he has given up.
4 B-QB4
B-B4
The move 4 Kt-B3 leads to the Max Lange attack or the Two Knights' Defence as previously outlined.
5 P-B3 ...
To attack at once before additional force is brought into play would be rather weak, even though a Pawn may thus be regained 5 Kt-Kt5
Kt-R3;
6 KtxBP
KtxKt;
7 BxKtch.
KxB;
8 Q-R5ch.
P-Kt3;
9 QxB
P-Q4! whereby Black assumes the aggressive
10 PxP
R-K1ch. If
11 K-B1
P-Kt3. White is in very bad shape.
5 ... PxP
Instead of this Black can decline the proffered bait and proceed with 5 ... Kt-B3 turning into a main line of play of the Giuoco Piano; but to accept a sacrifice and see the attack through is also good strategy.
6 KtxP
P-Q3
7 B-KKt5
Q-Q2
Black must safeguard the point KB2.
8 Q-Q2
P-KR3
9 B-R4
KKt-K2
10 O-O-O ...
The task for Black is no easy one. One of the possibilities runs as follows:
10 ... Kt-Kt3
11 B-KKt3
P-R3
12 Kt-Q5
P-Kt4
13 B-Kt3
B-Kt2
14 K-Kt1
O-O-O
15 R-QB1 ...
It would be difficult to foretell the chances of the fierce combat that is evidently approaching.