II. (4) ... P-c5 If White now Plays P-e3, holding his Pawn-center, a symmetrical development follows on both sides. If, however, White takes his opportunity to develop the Queen's Bishop, a game of entirely different character ensues. The following variations show typical examples of the way these two variations are liable to develop: A. (5) P-e3 (6) P-a3 Kt-c6
If White played (6) P-b3 before castling he would get into trouble because Black could pin his Queen's Knight with Pxd4 and B-b4. For this reason the maneuver P-a3, Pxc5, P-b4 and B-b2 is usually adopted to develop the Queen's Bishop. It is true that this maneuver involves two Pawn moves, which mean a loss of time, instead of only one, as for instance when playing (6) B-d3, (7) o-o, (8) P-b3, (9) B-b2. But Black can hardly avoid a similar loss of time. For if he plays (6) ..., B-d6, he loses two moves with his Bishop through recapturing on c5 (after (7) Pxc5) and going back to d6; and if he first exchanges on d4 and then develops the Bishop to d6, White has an open diagonal for his Queen's Bishop and need not make any more Pawn moves to develop him while Black still must move his Queen's Knight's Pawn to get his Queen's Bishop into play. (6) (7) (8) (9) (10) (11) ... Pxc5 P-b4 B-b2 Bxc4 B-d3 P-a6 Bxc5 B-d6 Pxc4 P-b5 B-b7 Pxd5
B. (5) Pxd5
The idea of this exchange is to create a weak Pawn on d5 against which later on an attack can be instituted. However, it is very doubtful whether the Pawn on d5 is really weak. Experience has shown that Black wins just as many games as White in this opening; the reason is probably that White, in order to open the Queen's file for attack on d5, has to give away his center-Pawn so that Black has more freedom for his pieces in the center. (6) (7) (8) (9) (10) (11) (12) P-g3 B-g2 B-g5 o-o Pxc5 R-c1 Kt-d4 or Q-a4 Kt-c6 B-e6 B-e7 o-o Bxc5 B-e7 followed by
R-f1-d1. Instead of developing the King's Bishop to g2 White can just as well play (6) B-g5 or f4, (7) P-e3 and (8) B-d3. In either case the success depends rather on clever maneuvering in the middlegame than on an advantage inherent to the opening. What has been said of irregular replies which Black may try in King's Pawn openings holds good in Queen's Pawn openings too. There is no series of opening moves which needs to be memorized. The principles of speedy development and of the maintenance of a Pawn center lead the right way in all novel openings which a player might try to avoid the well-known paths which have been studied out by the masters of many generations. Following are again a few examples which show the application of the principles: I. (1) P-d4 (2) P-e3 P-c5
With Pxc5 White would give away his center-Pawn, and Black would regain the Gambit-Pawn easily after (2) ..., P-e6. White could play (2) P-d5, thereby depriving Black's Queen's Knight of his best developing square. But in doing so he would lose time with a Pawn move which does not improve the mobility of his own pieces, and consequently (2) P-e3 is preferable.