Pedro Damiano
(born 1480, died 1544) Portugal, Pedro Damiano was a Portuguese chess player, and a pharmacist by trade. He wrote one of the oldest comprehensive chess books, Questo libro e da imparare giocare a scachi et de li partiti published in 1512. In this treatise, Damiano describes the rules of chess, offers advice on strategy, advice for playing blindfold chess, presents a selection of chess problems, and offers some opening analysis.
In the section on opening analysis, Damiano stated that 1.e4 and 1.d4 are the only good first moves, and that 1.e4 is better. He examined the Giuoco Piano, the Petroff Defense, and the Queen's Gambit Accepted. He also asserted that after 1.e4 e5 2.Nf3 the reply 2...Nc6 is best, and condemned 2...f6 as the worst reasonable defense. In spite of his denouncement of 2...f6, the opening 1.e4 e5 2.Nf3 f6 is now known as "Damiano's Defense".
In the section on opening analysis, Damiano stated that 1.e4 and 1.d4 are the only good first moves, and that 1.e4 is better. He examined the Giuoco Piano, the Petroff Defense, and the Queen's Gambit Accepted. He also asserted that after 1.e4 e5 2.Nf3 the reply 2...Nc6 is best, and condemned 2...f6 as the worst reasonable defense. In spite of his denouncement of 2...f6, the opening 1.e4 e5 2.Nf3 f6 is now known as "Damiano's Defense".