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110 The Queen's Bishop's Pawn's Defense.—

The Queen's Bishop's Pawn's Opening was a great favorite with European Chess players in the sixteenth century, and Ruy Lopez has devoted much space to it in his oft-quoted work on Chess. Philidor, however, condemned it, but the Italian school has proved that it can safely be adopted, though it offers comparatively few opportunities for striking or instructive combinations of play. The object of the opening, on the part of the first player, is to occupy the center of the board with his Pawns rather than to develop his Pieces. The variations have no specific names, but to illustrate this opening the student should study the following preliminary moves from games played by famous Chess players. Only the first four moves of each player are given.