2 | ^P | ^P | ^P | | | ^P | ^P | ^P |
|---------------------------------------|
1 | ^R | | ^B | ^Q | | ^R | ^K | |
+---------------------------------------+
a b c d e f g h

DIAGRAM 46.

If Black is ready to admit that Kt-d5 is a disagreeable threat he
will either exchange the Knight for his Bishop b4 or he will play
Kt-e7 in order to take White's Knight should he go to d5.
Ordinarily Black plays first Bxc3 and then Kt-e7. The reason is
that this maneuver enables Black to get his Queen's Knight over
to the King's wing while White's Bishop b5 is rather out of
action, so that Black has a good chance to enter the battle on
the King's wing with one piece more than White. Of course, White
can get his Bishop into play again by placing him on c4. But he
has to spend a move in doing so, which does not add to the
completion of the development.

In the position of Diagram 46 Black would not take any steps to
prevent Kt-d5 unless a threat is involved in this move which
cannot be counteracted by the most natural continuation, which is
the development of the Bishop c8. Indeed, there seems to be no
reason why Black should not answer (1) B-g5 with B-g4 and (2) Kt-
d5 with Kt-d4; for the Knight f6, who after Kt-d5 is attacked
twice, is defended twice, and there is no possibility for White
to attack the Knight again. On the other hand, the attack on the
Bishop b4 is balanced by the attack on the Bishop b5, and if
White were to withdraw his Bishop to c4 Black could withdraw his