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The King's Gambit

P-K4 P-K4
P-KB4 ...

The intention of the proffered sacrifice is to remove the Black KP from its strong post and to open the KB file to the Rook.

2 ... PxP
Kt-KB3 ...

To hinder the Check of the Black Queen.

3 ... P-KKt4

To hold fast to the Pawn plus.

P-KR4 P-Kt5
Kt-K5 P-Q4

Black having many Pawns at stake must strive for rapid development so as to be able to strike hard blows with his pieces.

P-Q4 ...

White also must get quick action.

6 ... Kt-KB3
BxP KtxP
Kt-Q2 B-K3

Hereby Black guards the weak Pawn KB2 and fortifies himself.

White may regain the Pawn, but only at the expense of giving up his advance in development.

KtxKt PxKt
10 KtxKtP B-Q3!

Striking the vulnerable spot, White's KX3. Or else

10 B-B4 BxB
11 KtxB Kt-B3
12 P-Q5 Kt-Kt5
13 Kt-K3 B-B4
14 P-R3 BxKt
15 BxB KtxQP
16 Q-Q4 O-O
17 B-R6 Q-B3
18 QxQ KtxQ
19 BxR KxB
20 R-KB1 Kt-Q4

or

20 ... K-K2

Black holds on to his two Pawns for the exchange though the two Rooks with best play will be able to Draw. And again

12 P-B3 Q-Q4
13 Kt-K3 Q-QKt4
14 Q-Kt3 QxQ
15 PxQ B-Q3
16 BxB PxB ...
17 KtxP P-B4
18 Kt-K3 Kt-K2

A difficult Ending rather favourable for Black.

This interesting line of play, initiated by White's fifth move, was first analysed by Kieseritzky, a Polish master, and bears his name.

Another defence to it runs as follows:

5 ... B-Kt2
P-Q4 Kt-KB3
B-B4 P-Q4
PxP Kt-R4

Here the Knight stands safe and menacing. Black wants to Castle soon.

Kt-QB3 O-O
10 Kt-K2 ...

To neutralize the Knight on R4. If 10 KtxKtP Kt-Kt6; the King's file is opened to the advantage of Black. 11 R-R2 Q-K2ch.; 12 Kt-K5 BxKt; soon to be followed by R-K1.

10 ... P-QB4

In order to open up the centre.

If now 11 PxP in passing, 11 ... KtxP; Black gets quick development. After 11 QKtxP KtxKt; 12 BxKt PxP; the X loses its support 13 QxQP Kt-B3; 14 KtxKt PxKt.

11 P-B3 PxP
12 PxP Kt-Q2

(This line of play originated in a game - Steinitz against Zukertort, Vienna tournament, 1882.) Black is well developed.

Instead of the Kieseritzky Gambit, White may choose the bolder line of the Allgaier Gambit.

Kt-Kt5 P-KR3
KtxP KxKt
P-Q4 ...

White must not lose time taking Pawns. 7 QxP? Kt-KB3; 8 QxBP B-Q3; and the attack goes over to Black.

7 ... P-Q4
BxP Kt-KB3
Kt-B3 B-K3

How White should neutralize the loss of the piece by his two Pawns plus is not evident. For instance,

10 Q-Q3 Kt-B3
11 O-O-O PxP
12 KtxP KtxKt
13 QxKt Q-Q4

or

12 Q-K3 Kt-K2