Of these two moves (2...f6 and 2...Nf6), which should you choose? Does it matter? Consider 2...f6 first. It blocks the line of the queen from f7, so it pretty much scotches White's plan to checkmate on that square after he moves 3.Bc4. On the other hand, the g8-knight would like to land on that square, as it's just a little closer to the centre of the board than e7 or h6. After 3.Bc4, too, White still has some attack along the light diagonal (c4-f7 and g8), which might make castling a bit hazardous on the K-side. Not fatal, these, but to be avoided if you have a better alternative. Now, 2...Nf6 also blocks the White Queen off from f7, but by placing the knight on a square where it can have most influence on the centre (the knight does something defensive, and something a little aggressive as well). Once the f8-bishop moves out, Black will have no difficulty castling, as the f-pawn covers the King's final destination. So then if White plays 3.Bc4 Black can respond in kind (3...Bc5) or play, with a possible counterattack in mind, 3...Nc6. Either move gives Black a fine game. But see how much freer to choose Black is after 2...Nf6.

I prefer Knight to f6 myself

This move isn't fatal, but, by deferring the defence of the f7-square, Black makes it a little bit harder if White were to attack it - a very likely continuation!

3...Qf6 is also playable. That move might be very annoying to White if he's the sort of player who relies heavily on his queen. 4.Qxf6 Nxf6 helps Black's development, and White's attack is finished, pretty much. Looking at the other alternatives: [A] In principle, 3...Be6 might be OK. Black shouldn't mind the doubled pawns after 4.Bxe6 fxe6 as this strengthens the centre. White could then play 5.Qb3 attacking both e- and b-pawns, which Black can defend only by 5...Qc8. Not an easy line. [B] 3...f6 ought to be avoided. White can at once start attacking through the central light squares: 4.Qb3 (attacks the knight on g8) 4...Nh6 (say) 5.Bf7+ forces the King to move, after which he can't castle. This could prove very dangerous later on. [C] 3...Nf6 looks the most "natural", but Black isn't out of the woods yet! 4.Qb3 Qe7. Black pretty much has to move the Queen to e7 or d7, to protect the f-pawn. On balance I prefer 4....Qe7. If 4...Qd7, it is all too easy to forget why the Queen moved there, and to play ...Be7??, when White's Bishop jumps in: Bxf7+!

This move saves Black from checkmate (the King can run to d7), but at a cost...

At once 4.Qxf7 won a pawn and displaced Black's King. Black's game would be very difficult after that, but I wouldn't go so far as to say it's all over. The move played, though not as good, has this virtue: how is f7 to be defended now?

a number of ways.. Be6, f6 etc..

This is the fatal mistake, after which Black has no defence. White's attack on f7 has to be dealt with, as best Black can. One possibility is 4...Be6, blocking the action of the White bishop, and also threatening to exchange off the bishops. If White plays 5.Bxe6 fxe6, Black's pawns are "doubled towards the centre", the centre is strengthed a little, and the slight weakness along the h5-e8 diagonal is near impossible for White to exploit effectively. No better for White would be 5.Bb5+ when Black can choose whether to block with pawn or knight. Either way, Black's game would be perfectly satisfactory.

I appreciate that the player of the Black pieces is a beginner, but I hope that by going into a little more detail one can clear away some of the fog that can descend when one isn't sure what's going on, or why. We have all been there!

Yes we have!! Baby steps!