The Damiano Gambit : King's Knight's Openings - Part 2

Welcome to Part 2 of King's Knight's opening moves. This lesson will explain the Damiano Gambit opening.

GAME THE FIRST.

The Damiano Gambit.

WHITE.	BLACK.
1. P. to K's 4th.	1. P. to K's 4th.
2. K's Kt. to B's 3d.	2. P. to K. B's 3d.
3. Kt. takes K's P.	3. P. takes Kt.
4. Q. to K. R's 5th. (ch.)	4. P. to K. Kt's 3d.
5. Q. takes K's P. (ch.)	5. Q. to K's 2d.
6. Q. takes R.	6. K's Kt. to B's 3d.
7. P. to Q's 4th. (best.)	7. Q. takes P. (ch.)
8. Q's B. to K's 3d.	8. Q. takes Q. B's P.
9. Q. takes Kt.	9. Q. takes Q. Kt's P.
10. K's B. to Q. B's 4th.	10. K. B. to Q. Kt's 5th. (ch.)
11. Q's Kt. to Q's 2d.	11. Q. takes R. (ch.)
12. K. to his 2d.	12. Q. takes K's R.
and you give mate in two moves.

The foregoing moves are dependent on Black's taking the Kt., which is very bad play. His proper move, under the circumstances, is 3. Q. to K's 2d, as in the following example:—

WHITE.	BLACK.
1. P. to K's 4th.	1. P. to K's 4th.
2. K's Kt. to B's 3d.	2. P. to K. B's 3d.
3. K's Kt. takes P.	3. Q. to K's 2d.
4. K. Kt. to B's 3d. (best)	4. P. to Q's 4th.
5. P. to Q's 3d.	5. P. takes K's P.
6. P. takes P.	6. Q. takes P. (ch.)
7. B. to K's 2d.	7. Q's B. to K. B's 4th.
8. Kt. to Q's 4th.	8. Q's Kt. to B's 3d.
9. Kt. takes B.	9. Q. takes Kt.
10. Castles.	10. B. to Q's 3d.
11. B. to Q's 3d.
You have an excellent position.

GAME THE SECOND.

WHITE.	BLACK.
1. P. to K's 4th.	1. P. to K's 4th.
2. K's Kt. to B's 3d.	2. K's B. to Q's 3d.
3. B. to Q. B's 4th.	3. K. Kt. to B's 3d.
4. P. to Q's 4th.	4. Q. Kt. to B's 3d.
5. P. takes K. P.	5. B. takes P.
6. K. Kt. to his 5th.	6. Castles.
7. P. to K. B's 4th.	7. B. to Q's 5th.
8. P. to K's 5th.	8. Q. to K's 2d.
9. Q. to K's 2d.	9. K. Kt. to K's sq.
10. B. to Q's 5th.	10. K. B. to Q. Kt's 3d.
11. Q. Kt. to B's 3d.	11. P. to K. R's 3d.

In reply, you may now play P. to K. R's 4th, having a capital game. If, instead of 11. P. to R's 3d, he play 11. Q. Kt. to Q's 5th, you move 12. Q. to her 3d, then B. to Q's 2d, and finally castle on the Q's side. If, however, in lieu of that move, he play 11. B. to Q. R's 4th, you can move 12. B. to Q's 2d, and presently castle on the Q's side; and lastly, if he play 11. K. to R's sq., then you take your Queen to K. R's 5th, and he cannot save the game.

GAME THE THIRD.

WHITE.	BLACK.
1. P. to K's 4th.	1. P. to K's 4th.
2. K. Kt. to B's 3d.	2. Q. to K. B's 3d.

It is seldom good to bring the Q. into play early in the game, unless for some decisive blow, because she is so easily assailable by the opponent's minor Pieces, and in attacking her he brings his forces into action.

3. K. B. to Q. B's 4th.	3. Q. to K. Kt's 3d.

Black now attacks two undefended Pawns, but he can take neither without ruinous loss to him; for suppose on your playing P. to Q's 3d, to protect the K. P., he ventures to take the K. Kt. P., you immediately take the K. B. P. with your Bishop (ch.). If he then take the Bishop with his King, you attack his Queen with your Rook, and on her retiring to R. 6th, you win her by K. Kt. to his 5th (ch.). On the other hand, you can leave the King's Pawn, and castle safely.

4. Castles.	4. Q. takes K. P.
5. K. B. takes B. P. (ch.)	5. K. to Q's sq.

It is quite obvious that he would lose his Queen by the check of the Knight, if he took the Bishop.

6. Kt. takes K's P.	6. K. Kt. to B's 3d.

If he take the Kt., you will play R. to K's sq., compelling him either to take it with his Q. or be mated.

7. K. R. to K's sq.	7. Q. to K. B's 4th.
8. K. B. to K. Kt's 6th.	8. Q. to K's 3d.
9. Kt. to B's 7th. (ch.), and gains the Queen.

The next lesson will focus on Philidor's Defense as I continue with my 11 part series of King's Knight's Opening on the Learn to Play Chess blog.