Chapter V (23)
The duplicate pieces of each colour are distinguished by their position with regard to the King or Queen; those on the King’s side being called the King’s Bishop, the King’s Knight, and the King’s Rook. Those on the Queen’s side are the Queen’s Bishop, Queen’s Knight, and Queen’s Rook. The pawns are designated by the pieces in front of which they stand; King’s Pawn; Queen’s Knight’s Pawn, etc.
The comparative _=value of the pieces=_ changes a little in the course of play, the Rooks especially not being so valuable early in the game. Authorities differ a little as to the exact value of the pieces, but if we take the Pawn as a unit, the fighting value of the others will be about as follows:--
A Knight is worth 3½ Pawns.
A Bishop is worth 5¼ Pawns.
A Rook is worth 9½ Pawns.
A Queen is worth 15 Pawns.
A King is worth 4½ Pawns.
_=THE MOVES.=_ Each piece has a movement peculiar to itself, and, with the exception of the Pawns, any piece can capture and remove from the board any opposing piece which it finds in its line of movement. The captured piece is not jumped over, but the capturing piece simply occupies the square on which the captured piece stood. The movement of each piece should be studied separately.
♟ _=The Pawns=_ move straight forward, one square at a time, except on the first move, when they have the privilege of moving either one or two squares, at the option of the player. In capturing, the Pawn does not take the piece directly in its path, but the one diagonally in front of it on either side. Such a capture of course takes the Pawn from the file it originally occupied, and it must then continue to advance in a straight line on its new file. In Diagram No. 2, the white Pawns could not capture either of the black Bishops or Rooks, but the Pawn on the left could take either of the black Knights:--
| ♞ | | ♞ | | | | ♙ | ♜ |
+---+---+---+---+---+---+---+---+
| | ♙ | | | ♝ | | ♜ | |
+---+---+---+---+---+---+---+---+
| | | | | ♙ | ♝ | | |
+---+---+---+---+---+---+---+---+
| | | | | | | | |
+---+---+---+---+---+---+---+---+
WHITE.
]
After a Pawn has crossed the middle line of the board into the adversary’s territory, it is called a _=passed Pawn=_. If an adverse Pawn attempts to pass this Pawn by availing itself of the privilege of moving two squares the first time, that would not prevent the passed Pawn from capturing it _=en passant=_. In the position shown in Diagram No. 3, for instance, if the black Queen’s Pawn were to advance two squares, the white Pawn could capture it en passant, lifting it from the board, and taking the position that the black Pawn would have occupied if it had moved only one square the first time; that is, the first black square in front of the Queen. A Pawn can be taken en passant only by another pawn, never by any other piece.
BLACK.
+---+---+---+---+---+---+---+---+
| ♜ | ♞ | ♝ | ♛ | ♚ | ♝ | ♞ | ♜ |
+---+---+---+---+---+---+---+---+
| ♟ | ♟ | ♟ | ♟ | | ♟ | ♟ | ♟ |
+---+---+---+---+---+---+---+---+
| | | | | ♟ | | | |
+---+---+---+---+---+---+---+---+
| | | | | ♙ | | | |
]
♜ _=The Rook=_ can be moved any number of squares at a time, forward or backward, but only in vertical or horizontal lines, never diagonally. The Rook’s movement is of course limited by pieces obstructing its path, for it cannot jump over anything. At the beginning of the game, for instance, the Rook cannot move at all.
♝ _=The Bishop=_ can be moved any number of squares at a time, forward or backward, but only in diagonal lines, never horizontally or vertically. For this reason the Bishop never leaves the squares of the same colour as that on which it originally stood. A Bishop is often spoken of as a white Bishop or a black Bishop, which does not mean that it is one of White’s Bishops, or one of Black’s; but that it stands upon a white or black square. Like the Rook, the Bishop cannot jump over other pieces, and cannot be moved at all until one or other of the two Pawns diagonally in front of it have opened the way.
♛ _=The Queen=_ combines the movements of the Rook and Bishop, and can be moved horizontally, vertically, or diagonally, any number of squares at a time, provided that the path is clear. Like the Rook and Bishop, she cannot move at all until some of the adjoining pieces have made a way for her.
♚ _=The King=_ has the same movement as the Queen, but is limited to one square at a time. The King is not allowed to move to a square which would expose him to capture by adverse pieces, for reasons which will presently be explained.
♞ _=The Knight=_ has a very peculiar movement, which is L shaped, and necessitates his changing the colour of the square he stands on, every time he moves. The simplest way for the beginner to learn the Knight’s move is to observe that he must go two squares, neither more nor less, in a vertical or a horizontal direction, and must then change the colour of the square he stands on by going one square either to the right or left, which will complete the L shaped movement. Diagram No. 4 will show that when the Knight is away from the side of the board, he may go to any one of eight different squares; but when he is in a corner he can go to two only. For that reason Knights are much more powerful when placed near the centre of the board.
+---+---+---+---+---+---+---+---+
| | | | | 8 | | 1 | |
+---+---+---+---+---+---+---+---+
| | | | 7 | | | | 2 |
+---+---+---+---+---+---+---+---+
| | | | | | ♞ | | |
+---+---+---+---+---+---+---+---+
| | | | 6 | | | | 3 |
+---+---+---+---+---+---+---+---+
| | | | | 5 | | 4 | |
+---+---+---+---+---+---+---+---+
| | 1 | | | | | | |
+---+---+---+---+---+---+---+---+
| | | 2 | | | | | |
+---+---+---+---+---+---+---+---+
| ♞ | | | | | | | |
+---+---+---+---+---+---+---+---+
]
The peculiarity of the Knight’s move is that it is not retarded by other pieces, because the Knight can jump over them, a privilege which is not given to any other piece on the board. In Diagram No. 5, for instance, the Knights have been legitimately moved, but no other piece could be moved until the Pawns had made way for it.
| | | | | | | | |
+---+---+---+---+---+---+---+---+
| | | ♘ | | | ♘ | | |
+---+---+---+---+---+---+---+---+
| ♙ | ♙ | ♙ | ♙ | ♙ | ♙ | ♙ | ♙ |
+---+---+---+---+---+---+---+---+
| ♖ | | ♗ | ♕ | ♔ | ♗ | | ♖ |
+---+---+---+---+---+---+---+---+
]
There are one or two peculiar movements which are allowed only under certain conditions. One of these is _=Castling=_. If there are no pieces between the King and the Rook, and neither piece has been moved, the King may be moved two squares toward the Rook, and at the same time the Rook may be brought round to the other side of the King. The movement must be made with both hands, each manipulating a piece. In the position shown in Diagram No. 6, for instance, the King could castle on either side, with the King’s Rook, or with the Queen’s Rook:--
+---+---+---+---+---+---+---+---+
| ♜ | | | | ♚ | | | ♜ |
+---+---+---+---+---+---+---+---+
| ♟ | ♟ | ♟ | | ♛ | ♟ | ♟ | ♟ |
+---+---+---+---+---+---+---+---+
| | | ♞ | ♟ | ♝ | ♞ | | |
+---+---+---+---+---+---+---+---+
| | | ♝ | | ♟ | | | |
+---+---+---+---+---+---+---+---+
| | | ♗ | | ♙ | | | |
+---+---+---+---+---+---+---+---+
| | | ♘ | ♙ | ♗ | ♘ | | |
+---+---+---+---+---+---+---+---+
| ♙ | ♙ | ♙ | | ♕ | ♙ | ♙ | ♙ |
+---+---+---+---+---+---+---+---+
| ♖ | | | | ♔ | | | ♖ |
+---+---+---+---+---+---+---+---+
]
If an adverse piece commands the square that would be passed over by the King in castling, the move is not allowed; because a King must not move into check, nor cross a square that is checked by an adverse piece nor castle out of check.
In Diagram No. 7 the position that would result from castling with the Queen’s Rook is shown by the black men.
+---+---+---+---+---+---+---+---+
| | | ♚ | ♜ | | | | ♜ |
+---+---+---+---+---+---+---+---+
| ♟ | ♟ | ♟ | | ♛ | ♟ | | ♟ |
+---+---+---+---+---+---+---+---+
| | | ♞ | ♟ | ♝ | ♞ | | |
+---+---+---+---+---+---+---+---+
| | | ♝ | | ♟ | | | |
]
_=Queening Pawns.=_ If a passed Pawn succeeds in reaching the last or eighth square on any file, the player to whom the Pawn belongs may call it anything he chooses, from a Queen to a Knight. If the piece he chooses has already been captured, it must be replaced on the board, and on the square occupied by the Pawn, which is then removed. If not, some other piece must be put upon the board as a marker; a Rook upside down, or a Pawn with a ring on it, may represent a second Queen.
_=OBJECT OF THE GAME.=_ If all the pieces could be captured, the object of the game might be to clear the board of the adversary’s men, as in Checkers; but the peculiarity of Chess is that one piece, the King, cannot be captured, and the object is to get the adverse King in such a position that he could not escape capture if he were a capturable piece. When that is accomplished the King is said to be _=mated=_, and the player who first succeeds in giving mate to the adversary’s King wins the game, regardless of the number or value of the pieces either side may have on the board at the time the mate is accomplished.
When an adverse piece is moved so that it could capture the King on the next move, due notice must be given to the threatened King by announcing “_=Check=_,” and the player must immediately move his King out of check, interpose a piece or a Pawn, or capture the piece that gives the check. If he cannot do one of these three things he is mated, and loses the game. A very simple example of a mate is given in Diagram No. 8.
+---+---+---+---+---+---+---+---+
| | | ♖ | | | | ♚ | |
+---+---+---+---+---+---+---+---+
| ♝ | | | | | ♟ | ♟ | ♟ |
+---+---+---+---+---+---+---+---+
| ♞ | | | | | | | |
+---+---+---+---+---+---+---+---+
| | | | ♔ | | | | |
]
The white Rook has just been moved down to the edge of the board, giving “check.” As the black King can move only one square at a time, he cannot get out of check by moving, because the only squares to which he could go would still leave him in check from the Rook. Neither the Knight nor the Bishop can interpose to shut out the Rook’s attack; neither of those pieces can capture the Rook; and the Pawns cannot move backward; so the black King is mated, and White wins the game.
A mate may take place in the middle of the board, as shown in Diagram No. 9.
+---+---+---+---+---+---+---+---+
| | ♛ | ♚ | | | | | |
+---+---+---+---+---+---+---+---+
| | | | | | ♕ | | |
+---+---+---+---+---+---+---+---+
| | | | | ♔ | | | |
+---+---+---+---+---+---+---+---+
| | ♜ | | | | | | |
]
If the black Queen moves diagonally four squares, placing herself in front of the white King, and on the same horizontal file as the black Rook, it will be check-mate, because the white King cannot get out of one check into another by taking the Queen, which is protected by the Rook. For the same reason he cannot move, as the only squares open to him would leave him in check from the Queen, or move him into check from the black King.
_=Stalemate.=_ If the King is not in check, but cannot move without going into check, and there is no other piece for the player to move, it is called a stale-mate, and the game is drawn. In Diagram No. 10, for instance,
+---+---+---+---+---+---+---+---+
| | | | | | | | |
+---+---+---+---+---+---+---+---+
| | | | | | ♟ | | |
+---+---+---+---+---+---+---+---+
| | | | | | ♗ | | ♟ |
+---+---+---+---+---+---+---+---+
| | | | | | | ♜ | ♟ |
+---+---+---+---+---+---+---+---+
| | | | | | | | ♚ |
+---+---+---+---+---+---+---+---+
| | | | | | ♙ | ♟ | |
+---+---+---+---+---+---+---+---+
| | | | | | | ♔ | |
+---+---+---+---+---+---+---+---+
| | | | | | | | |
+---+---+---+---+---+---+---+---+
] the black King cannot move without going into check from the Pawn or
the King; none of the black Pawns can move, and Black cannot move the
Rook without putting his own King in check, (from the Bishop,) which is
not allowed.
_=Perpetual Check.=_ If a piece gives check to the adverse King, and the King moves away, the check may be repeated, and the King must move again, or interpose a piece, or capture the checking piece. If the position is such that no matter how often the King moves or is covered he cannot get out of check, and no matter how much the opposing pieces move they cannot check-mate him, the game is drawn by perpetual check. Diagram No. 11 is an illustration of such a position.
BLACK.
+---+---+---+---+---+---+---+---+
| ♚ | ♛ | | | | | | |
+---+---+---+---+---+---+---+---+
| ♟ | | | | | | | |
+---+---+---+---+---+---+---+---+
| ♜ | ♟ | ♕ | | | | | |
+---+---+---+---+---+---+---+---+
| | ♔ | | | | | | |
]
The only way out of the check is to interpose the Queen, whereupon the white Queen will move diagonally to the edge of the board and check again, forcing the black Queen back where she came from, and drawing the game by perpetual check. If the black Queen moves away from the King, she will be captured, and White will give check-mate at the same time.
_=NOTATION.=_ The various moves which take place in the course of a game are recorded by a system of chess notation, the number of the move being given first, and then the pieces moved and the direction of their movement. The names of the pieces themselves are used to distinguish the various files of squares running vertically from the piece itself to the opposite side of the board, and the seven squares in front of each piece are numbered from 2 to 8. No matter how much the pieces may be moved, the various vertical files still retain the name of the pieces which stood at the bottom of them when the men were first set up. In chess notation, only the initials of the pieces are used, K standing for King, and Kt for Knight. Although the files bear the same names, the numbers count from the side on which the men are placed, so that each square has a double name, depending on the colour of the man placed upon it.
|QR |QKt|QB | Q | K |KB |KKt|KR | Black.
+---+---+---+---+---+---+---+---+
8 | ♜ | ♞ | ♝ | ♛ | ♚ | ♝ | ♞ | ♜ |
+---+---+---+---+---+---+---+---+
7 | ♟ | ♟ | ♟ | ♟ | | ♟ | ♟ | ♟ | 2
+---+---+---+---+---+---+---+---+
6 | | | | | | | | | 3
+---+---+---+---+---+---+---+---+
5 | | | | | ♟ | | | | 4
+---+---+---+---+---+---+---+---+
4 | | | | | ♙ | | | | 5
+---+---+---+---+---+---+---+---+
3 | | | | | | ♘ | | | 6
+---+---+---+---+---+---+---+---+
2 | ♙ | ♙ | ♙ | ♙ | | ♙ | ♙ | ♙ | 7
+---+---+---+---+---+---+---+---+
| ♖ | ♘ | ♗ | ♕ | ♔ | ♗ | | ♖ | 8
+---+---+---+---+---+---+---+---+
White. |QR |QKt|QB | Q | K |KB |KKt|KR |
]
In Diagram No. 12, for instance, both the Pawns that have been moved would be spoken of as on K 4. The Knight that has been moved is on K B 3, because it is a white Knight. If it was a black Knight it would be on K B 6, reckoning from the black side of the board for the black pieces. In order to test your understanding of this system of notation, which is very important in following published games or problems, take the board and men, white side next you, and set up the following position, remembering that when no number is given, the piece stands upon the square originally occupied by the piece which gives its name to the file:--
Black men;--King on Q R’s; Queen on Q Kt’s; Pawns on Q R 2, and Q Kt, 3; Rook on Q R 3.
White men;--King on Q Kt 5; Queen on Q B 6.
Now look at Diagram No 11, and see if you have it right.
In addition to the notation of position, there is that of action. If a dash is placed between the initials of the piece and the definition of the square, it shows first the piece moved, and then the square to which it is moved. In Diagram No 11, for instance, Black’s only move to cover the check would be given: Q-Q Kt 2; and White’s continuation would be given; Q-K 8.
The first of these might be abbreviated by saying, Q-Kt 2, because there is only one Kt 2 to which the Queen could be moved.
The moves of the white pieces are always given first, either in the left hand of two vertical columns, which are headed “White,” and “Black” respectively; or above a line which divides the white move from the black, the latter form being used in text-books, the former in newspapers. The moves in Diagram No. 11 would be as follows, supposing the white Queen to arrive from K8 in the first place:--
_White._ _Black._
1. Q-B 6, ch Q-Kt 2 Q-B 6, ch
Or this; 1. ---------
2. Q-K 8, ch Q-Kt’s Q-Kt 2
When the abbreviation “ch.” is placed after a move, it means “check.” If it is a mate, or a drawn game, or the player resigns, the word follows the move. When the King castles with the King’s Rook, which is the shorter move for the Rook, it is indicated by the sign O-O. When the King is castled with the Queen’s Rook, which is the longer move for the Rook, the sign O-O-O is used.
A cross, x, placed after the piece moved shows that it captured something, and the letters following the cross do not give the square to which the piece is moved, but show the piece that is captured. K B x Q P, for instance, would mean that the adversary’s Queen’s Pawn was to be taken from the board, and the King’s Bishop was to occupy the square upon which the captured Queen’s Pawn had stood.
Beginners usually have some difficulty in following the moves of the Knights, because it frequently happens that the same square can be reached by either of them. The Bishops cannot be confused in this way, because they never change the colour of the square they stand upon. In some sets of chessmen the Knights are distinguished by putting a small crown on the King’s Knight, but this is never done in the regulation Staunton model. The beginner will find it very convenient, when following out the play of published games, to screw off the bottom of one white and one black Knight, and to exchange the bases. The white King’s Knight will then have a black base, and the black King’s Knight will have a white base, and they can be easily identified at any period of the game.
_=GERMAN NOTATION.=_ Many of our standard chess books, and some of the best edited chess columns, are in German, and the student should be familiar with the German notation, which is much simpler than the English.
The white men are always considered as the side nearer the player; the vertical columns are designated from left to right by the letters a b c d e f g h; and the horizontal rows by the numbers 1 2 3 4 5 6 7 8, beginning at the bottom, or white side. The pieces are designated by one capital letter only, as follows:--
K for König, or King.
D for Dame, or Queen.
T for Thurm, or Rook.
L for Läufer, or Bishop.
S for Springer, or Knight.
The Pawn is called a Bauer, but when it is moved no initial is given, simply the square it comes from. In Diagram No. 12, for instance, the English notation for the first two moves made by white would be:--P-K 4, and K Kt-B 3, or, Kt-K B 3. The German notation would be:--e 2-e 4; and S g 1-f 3. The move of the Knight, it will be observed, gives the initial of the piece and the square upon which it stands, and then the square to which it is moved. A capture is indicated by the letter “n” taking the place of the dash. If the white Knight took the black King’s Pawn in Diagram No. 12, for instance, the move would be recorded: S f 3 n e 5, that is, the Springer at f 3 “nimmt” whatever it found at e 5. A check is indicated by a plus sign, +, following the move. In Diagram No. 11, for instance, the last move of the white Queen would be: D e 8-c 6 +; and Black’s reply would be: D b 8-b 7.
_=THE OPENINGS.=_ Time and experience have shown that it is best for each player to adopt certain conventional openings, in order to develop his pieces. White always has the advantage, usually believed to be equal to 55%, counting drawn games as one half. This is because White can usually take more risks in offering a gambit than Black can in accepting it, and the best judges say that they would rather give a Knight and take the white pieces, than give Pawn-and-move and take the black. _=Gambit=_ is a term used in Italian wrestling, and means that the adversary is given an apparent advantage at the start, in order more successfully to trip him up later on.
There are a great many chess openings, all of which have been analysed as far as the tenth move, including every possible variation on the way. The student who wishes to study them in detail should procure Freeborough’s “Chess Openings,” or Cook’s “Synopsis.” In these works, if either side has an advantage before the tenth move, it is indicated by a plus sign; if the position is equal, it is so marked.
In studying openings, the student should be careful always to play with the winning side next him; that is, never study how to play a losing game. If the variation ends with a plus sign, showing a win for the white, play it over with the white men next you. In selecting openings for general use in play, if it is one for the white men, take those openings that have the greatest number of variations ending in favour of white. The Ruy Lopez is a very good opening for beginners, and the Evans’ Gambit may be studied later. The French Defence and the Petroff are good openings for Black.
The theory of opening is to mobilise your forces for the attack in the fewest possible moves. Lasker thinks six moves should be enough for this purpose, and he recommends that only the King’s and Queen’s Pawns should be moved, after which each piece should be placed at once upon the square from which it can operate to the best advantage. He thinks the Knights should be first brought out, and posted at B 3, and then the K’s B, somewhere along his own diagonal. The great mistake made by beginners is that they rush off to the attack and try to capture some of the adverse pieces before they have properly prepared themselves for re-inforcement or retreat. It should never be forgotten that the game is not won by capturing the adversary’s pieces, but by check-mating his King.
Take the board and pieces, arrange them with the white men next you, and play over the following simple little game. Remember that the figures above the line are for the white men; those below for the black.
P-K4 Kt-KB3 Kt-QB3 B-B4
1 ---- 2 ------ 3 ------ 4 -----
P-K4 P-Q3 P-KR3 B-Kt5
The third move made by Black accomplishes nothing, and is simply a waste of time. He should have continued by bringing his Knights into play. His fourth move is also a mistake; he should develop the Knights before the Bishops.
KtxP BxKBP ch Kt-Q5 mate
5 ---- 6 -------- 7 ----------
BxQ K-K2
On his fifth move, Black jumps at the chance to win White’s Queen, but this is not of the slightest benefit to him, because the object of the game is not to win the Queen, but to mate the King. At the seventh move the beginner will see that the black King cannot move out of check, neither can he move into check by taking the Bishop. He has no piece that can capture the Knight that gives the check, and nothing can be interposed, so he is mated, and White wins.
Here is another simple little game. Take the black pieces this time, but make the white men move first, of course.
P-K4 Kt-KB3 KtxP
1 ---- 2 ------ 3 ------
P-K4 Kt-KB3 Kt-QB3
You don’t take the King’s Pawn; it is much more important to develop your pieces rapidly.
KtxKt P-Q3 B-Kt5
4 ----- 5 ----- 6 -----
QPxKt B-QB4 KtxP
White’s sixth move is bad, and you immediately take advantage of it. If he takes your Knight with his Pawn, you will take his K B P with your Bishop, and say “Check.” If he takes the Bishop you win his Queen. If he moves his King you check again with your other Bishop, which will force him to take your black Bishop, and lose his Queen.
BxQ K-K2
7 ------ 8 ----------
BxP ch K-Kt5 mate
If the beginner will examine the position, he will find that there is no way of escape for the King, and Black wins.
Openings are usually divided into five principal classes: Those in which the first piece developed is the _=King’s Knight=_; those in which the _=King’s Bishop=_ is the first piece brought into play; those in which a _=Gambit=_ is offered on the second move, usually a sacrificed Pawn; those which are called _=Close=_ openings, securing a good defensive game for the black pieces; and those which are _=Irregular=_.
In the following outline of fifty of the openings, only the first four moves are given, and usually only one variation is selected, the object being more to give the student an idea of the development than to exhaust the subject. The arrangement is alphabetical, that being more convenient in a book of reference. For the continuations the student is recommended to study “Freeborough,” or the “Handbuch des Schachspiels.”
Allgaier Gambit:--
P-K4 P-KB4 Kt-KB3 P-KR4
1 ---- 2 ----- 3 ------ 4 -----
P-K4 PxP P-KKt4 P-Kt5
Boden-Kieseritzky Gambit:--
P-K4 B-B4 Kt-KB3 Kt-B3
1 ---- 2 ------ 3 ------ 4 -----
P-K4 Kt-KB3 KtxP KtxKt
Berlin Defence:--
P-K4 B-B4 Q-K2 P-QB3
1 ---- 2 ------ 3 ------ 4 -----
P-K4 Kt-KB3 Kt-QB3 B-B4
Blackmar Gambit:--
P-Q4 P-K4 P-KB3 KtxP
1 ---- 2 ------ 3 ------ 4 -----
P-Q4 PxP PxP B-B4
Calabrese Counter Gambit:--
P-K4 B-B4 P-Q3 P-B4
1 ---- 2 ----- 3 ------ 4 ----
P-K4 P-KB4 Kt-KB3 P-Q4
Centre Gambit:--
P-K4 P-Q4 QxP Q-K3
1 ---- 2 ----- 3 ------ 4 --------
P-K4 PxP Kt-QB3 B-Kt5 ch
Centre Counter Gambit:--
P-K4 PxP Kt-QB3 P-Q4
1 ---- 2 ----- 3 ------ 4 ------
P-Q4 QxP Q-Q sq Kt-KB3
Classical Defence, to K. B. opening:--
P-K4 B-B4 P-QB3 P-Q4
1 ---- 2 ---- 3 ------ 4 ----
P-K4 B-B4 Kt-KB3 PxP
Cunningham Gambit:--
P-K4 P-KB4 Kt-KB3 B-B4
1 ---- 2 ----- 3 ------ 4 -------
P-K4 PxP B-K2 B-R5 ch
Cochrane Gambit:--
P-K4 P-KB4 Kt-KB3 B-B4
1 ---- 2 ----- 3 ------ 4 -----
P-K4 PxP P-KKt4 P-Kt5
Danish Gambit:--
P-K4 P-Q4 P-QB3 B-QB4
1 ---- 2 ----- 3 ----- 4 ------
P-K4 PxP PxP Kt-KB3
English Opening:--
P-QB4 P-B4 P-Q3 Kt-QB3
1 ----- 2 ---- 3 ------ 4 ------
P-QB4 P-B4 Kt-KB3 P-Q3
Evans’ Gambit:--
P-K4 Kt-KB3 B-B4 P-QKt4
1 ---- 2 ----- 3 ---- 4 -------
P-K4 Kt-QB3 B-B4 BxKtP
Evans’ Gambit Declined:--
P-K4 Kt-KB3 B-B4 P-QKt4
1 ---- 2 ------ 3 ---- 4 ------
P-K4 Kt-QB3 B-B4 B-Kt3
Fianchetto Opening:--
P-K3 P-QB4 Kt-QB3 PxP
1 ---- 2 ------ 3 ------ 4 ------
P-K4 Kt-KB3 P-Q4 KtxP
Fianchetto Defence:--
P-K4 P-Q4 B-Q3 Kt-K2
1 ------ 2 ---- 3 ----- 4 ------
P-QKt3 P-K3 B-Kt2 Kt-KB3
Four Knights:--
P-K4 Kt-KB3 Kt-B3 B-Kt5
1 ---- 2 ------ 3 ----- 4 ------
P-K4 Kt-QB3 Kt-B3 B-Kt5
French Defence:--
P-K4 P-Q4 Kt-QB3 B-KKt5
1 ---- 2 ---- 3 ------ 4 ------
P-K3 P-Q4 Kt-KB3 B-K2
From Gambit:--
P-KB4 PxP PxP Kt-KB3
1 ----- 2 ----- 3 ----- 4 ------
P-K4 P-Q3 BxP Kt-KB3
Giuoco Piano:--
P-K4 Kt-KB3 B-B4 P-B3
1 ---- 2 ------ 3 ---- 4 -----
P-K4 Kt-QB3 B-B4 Kt-B3
Greco-Counter Gambit:--
P-K4 Kt-KB3 KtxP P-Q4
1 ---- 2 ------ 3 ------ 4 ------
P-K4 P-KB4 Q-B3 P-Q3
Hamppe-Allgaier Gambit:--
P-K4 Kt-QB3 P-B4 Kt-B3
1 ---- 2 ------ 3 ----- 4 ------
P-K4 Kt-QB3 PxP P-KKt4
Hungarian Defence:--
P-K4 Kt-KB3 B-B4 P-Q4
1 ---- 2 ------ 3 ---- 4 ------
P-K4 Kt-QB3 B-K2 P-Q3
Irregular Openings:--
P-K4 P-QB3 Kt-B3 KtxP
1 ---- 2 ----- 3 ----- 4 ------
P-K4 P-Q4 PxP B-Q3
P-K4 P-Q4 B-Q3 P-QB3
1 ------ 2 ------ 3 ------- 4 --------
P-Q3 Kt-KB3 Kt-QB3 P-K4
P-K4 P-Q4 PxP B-Q3
1 ------ 2 ------ 3 ------- 4 --------
P-QB3 P-Q4 PxP Kt-QB3
P-K4 P-Q4 PxP P-KB4
1 ------ 2 ------ 3 ------- 4 --------
Kt-QB3 P-K4 KtxP Kt-Kt3
Jerome Gambit:--
P-K4 Kt-KB3 B-B4 BxP ch
1 ------ 2 ------ 3 ------- 4 --------
P-K4 Kt-QB3 B-B4 KxB
Kieseritzky Gambit:--
P-K4 P-KB4 Kt-KB3 P-KR4
1 ------ 2 ------ 3 ------- 4 --------
P-K4 PxP P-KKt4 P-Kt5
King’s Bishop’s Gambit:--
P-K4 P-KB4 B-B4 K-B sq
1 ------ 2 ------ 3 ------- 4 --------
P-K4 PxP Q-R5 ch B-B4
King’s Bishop’s Pawn Game:--
P-KB4 Kt-KB3 P-K3 B-K2
1 ------ 2 ------ 3 ------- 4 --------
P-K3 Kt-KB3 B-K2 P-QKt3
King’s Knight Opening. Irregular Defences:--
P-K4 Kt-KB3 KtxP Kt-KB3
1 ------ 2 ------ 3 ------- 4 --------
P-K4 P-KB3 Q-K2 P-Q4
P-K4 Kt-KB3 Kt-B3 P-Q4
1 ------ 2 ------ 3 ------- 4 --------
P-K4 Q-B3 P-B3 PxP
P-K4 Kt-KB3 B-B4 P-Q4
1 ------ 2 ------ 3 ------- 4 --------
P-K4 B-Q3 Kt-KB3 Kt-B3
P-K4 Kt-KB3 KtxP P-Q4
1 ------ 2 ------ 3 ------- 4 --------
P-K4 B-B4 Q-K2 B-Kt3
King’s Gambit:--
P-K4 P-KB4 P-Q4 K-K2
1 ------ 2 ------ 3 ------- 4 --------
P-K4 PxP Q-R5 ch P-Q4
P-K4 P-KB4 P-KR4 PxP
1 ------ 2 ------ 3 ------- 4 --------
P-K4 PxP P-Q4 QxP
P-K4 P-KB4 Kt-KB3 B-B4
1 ------ 2 ------ 3 ------- 4 --------
P-K4 PxP P-KKt4 B-Kt2
P-K4 P-KB4 P-KR4 Kt-KB3
1 ------ 2 ------ 3 ------- 4 --------
P-K4 PxP B-K2 Kt-KB3
King’s Gambit Declined:--
P-K4 P-KB4 PxQP Kt-QB3
1 ------ 2 ------ 3 ------- 4 --------
P-K4 P-Q4 QxP Q-K3
Max Lange’s Attack:--
P-K4 Kt-KB3 B-B4 Castles
1 ------ 2 ------ 3 ------- 4 --------
P-K4 Kt-QB3 B-B4 Kt-B3
Muzio Gambit:--
P-K4 P-KB4 Kt-KB3 B-B4
1 ------ 2 ------ 3 ------- 4 --------
P-K4 PxP P-KKt4 P-Kt5
Petroff’s Counter Attack:--
P-K4 Kt-KB3 KtxP K-KB3
1 ------ 2 ------ 3 ------- 4 --------
P-K4 Kt-KB3 P-Q3 KtxP
Philidor’s Defence:--
P-K4 Kt-KB3 P-Q4 KtxP
1 ------ 2 ------ 3 ------- 4 --------
P-K4 P-Q3 PxP P-Q4
Pierce Gambit:--
P-K4 Kt-QB3 P-B4 Kt-B3
1 ------ 2 ------ 3 ------- 4 --------
P-K4 Kt-QB3 PxP P-KKt4
Queen’s Pawn Counter Gambit:--
P-K4 Kt-KB3 PxP P-Q4
1 ------ 2 ------ 3 ------- 4 --------
P-K4 P-Q4 B-Q3 P-K5
Queen’s Gambit:--
P-Q4 P-QB4 P-K3 BxP
1 ------ 2 ------ 3 ------- 4 --------
P-Q4 PxP P-K4 PxP
P-Q4 P-QB4 P-K4 P-Q5
1 ------ 2 ------ 3 ------- 4 --------
P-Q4 PxP P-K4 P-KB4
P-Q4 P-QB4 Kt-KB3 P-K3
1 ------ 2 ------ 3 ------- 4 --------
P-Q4 PxP P-K3 Kt-KB3
Queen’s Pawn Game:--
P-Q4 P-K3 Kt-KB3 B-K2
1 ------ 2 ------ 3 ------- 4 --------
P-Q4 P-K3 Kt-KB3 B-K2
Ruy Lopez:--
P-K4 Kt-KB3 B-Kt5 B-R4
1 ------ 2 ------ 3 ------- 4 --------
P-K4 Kt-QB3 P-QR3 Kt-B3
Salvio Gambit:--
P-K4 P-KB4 Kt-KB3 B-B4
1 ------ 2 ------ 3 ------- 4 --------
P-K4 PxP P-KKt4 P-Kt5
Scotch Game:--
P-K4 Kt-KB3 P-Q4 KtxP
1 ------ 2 ------ 3 ------- 4 --------
P-K4 Kt-QB3 PxP B-B4
Sicilian Defence:--
P-K4 Kt-QB3 Kt-B3 P-Q4
1 ------ 2 ------ 3 ------- 4 --------
P-QB4 Kt-QB3 P-K3 PxP
Staunton’s Opening:--
P-K4 Kt-KB3 P-B3 P-Q4
1 ------ 2 ------ 3 ------- 4 --------
P-K4 Kt-QB3 P-B4 P-Q3
Steinitz Gambit:--
P-K4 Kt-QB3 P-KB4 P-Q4
1 ------ 2 ------ 3 ------- 4 --------
P-K4 Kt-QB3 PxP Q-R5 ch
Three Knights’ Game:--
P-K4 Kt-KB3 Kt-B3 P-Q4
1 ------ 2 ------ 3 ------- 4 --------
P-K4 Kt-KB3 P-Q3 PxP
Two Knights’ Defence:--
P-K4 Kt-KB3 B-B4 Kt-Kt5
1 ------ 2 ------ 3 ------- 4 --------
P-K4 Kt-QB3 Kt-B3 P-Q4
Vienna Opening:--
P-K4 Kt-QB3 P-B4 Kt-B3
1 ------ 2 ------ 3 ------- 4 --------
P-K4 B-B4 P-Q3 Kt-KB3
Zukertort’s Opening:--
Kt-KB3 P-Q4 P-K3 B-K2
1 ------ 2 ------ 3 ------- 4 --------
P-K3 Kt-KB3 P-QKt3 B-Kt2
_=GAMES AT ODDS.=_ Between unequal players it is a common practice for the stronger to give the weaker some advantage. Very few are able to give a Queen, or even a Rook, but a _=Knight=_ is quite common, and one who can concede a Knight to the weakest players in a club is usually spoken of as, “a Knight player.” The most common odds between nearly equal players is _=Pawn and Move=_; and with a player not strong enough to give a Knight, _=Pawn and Two Moves=_. The Pawn removed in each instance is Black’s K B P, and the Knight is usually the Q Kt. Here are a few examples of the openings in games at odds:--
Pawn and Move:--
P-K4 P-Q4 Q-R5 ch Q-K5
1 ------ 2 ------ 3 ------- 4 -------
P-K3 P-Q4 P-KKt3 Kt-KB3
P-K4 P-Q4 Kt-QB3 P-Q5
1 ------ 2 ------ 3 ------- 4 -------
P-Q3 Kt-KB3 Kt-B3 Kt-K4
P-K4 P-Q4 P-K5 B-QKt5
1 ------ 2 ------ 3 ------- 4 -------
Kt-QB3 P-Q4 B-B4 Q-Q2
P-K4 P-Q4 PxP P-KB4
1 ------ 2 ------ 3 ------- 4 -------
Kt-QB3 P-Q4 KtxP Kt-B2
Pawn and Two Moves:--
P-K4 P-Q4 B-Q3 P-Q5
1 ------ 2 ------ 3 ------- 4 -------
P-K3 P-B4 P-Q3
P-K4 P-Q4 P-QB4 P-Q5
1 ------ 2 ------ 3 ------- 4 -------
P-K3 P-B4 P-Q3
P-K4 P-Q4 P-KB4 B-Q3
1 ------ 2 ------ 3 ------- 4 -------
P-Q3 P-K3 Kt-K2
P-K4 P-Q4 P-Q5 P-KB4
1 ------ 2 ------ 3 ------- 4 -------
Kt-QB3 Kt-K4 Kt-B2
Odds of Queen’s Knight:--
P-K4 Kt-B3 PxP Kt-K5
1 ------ 2 ------ 3 ------- 4 -------
P-K4 P-Q4 P-K5 QxP
P-K4 P-KB4 PxQP Kt-B3
1 ------ 2 ------ 3 ------- 4 -------
P-K4 P-Q4 QxP P-K5
Odds of King’s Knight:--
P-K4 B-B4 Kt-B3 P-Q4
1 ------ 2 ------ 3 ------- 4 -------
P-K4 P-QB3 Kt-B3 P-Q4
P-K4 B-B2 P-Q2 0-0
1 ------ 2 ------ 3 ------- 4 -------
P-K4 Kt-KB3 B-B4 0-0
In order to give the student an idea of the value and popularity of the various openings, the following table of the results of 1500 games may be useful. It is from the chess columns of the New York _Sun_:--
---------------------+----------------+--------+---------+---------
| FIRST | TOTAL |PER CENT.|PER CENT.
OPENINGS. | PLAYER. | PLAYED.| WON BY | TOTAL
+----+-----+-----+ | FIRST | GAMES
|WON.|LOST.|DREW.| | PLAYER. | PLAYED.
---------------------+----+-----+-----+--------+---------+---------
Ruy Lopez |145 |103 | 58 | 306 | 57 | 20
Queen’s Pawn(a) | 97 | 63 | 39 | 199 | 48 | 13
French Defence | 84 | 48 | 39 | 171 | 60 | 11
Vienna | 47 | 34 | 15 | 96 | 57 | 6
Sicilian Defence | 40 | 29 | 10 | 79 | 57 | 5
King’s Gambit | 36 | 32 | 11 | 79 | 52 | 5
Giuoco Piano | 36 | 32 | 10 | 78 | 52 | 5
Evans | 34 | 20 | 12 | 66 | 61 | 4
Irregular | 29 | 31 | 14 | 74 | 49 | 5
Scotch | 22 | 26 | 9 | 57 | 47 | 4
Zukertort | 23 | 17 | 11 | 51 | 56 | 3
Two Knights Defence | 16 | 20 | 10 | 46 | 46 | 3
Staunton’s | 19 | 15 | 5 | 39 | 55 | 3
Fianchetto | 13 | 14 | 2 | 29 | 48 | 2
Petroff Defence | 15 | 9 | 3 | 27 | 61 | 2
Centre Gambit(b) | 11 | 11 | 4 | 26 | 50 | 2
Philidor Defence | 8 | 9 | 3 | 20 | 47 | 1
Miscellaneous | 22 | 29 | 6 | 57 | 44 | 4
+----+-----+-----+--------+---------+---------
Total |697 |542 | 261 | 1500 | |
---------------------+----+-----+-----+--------+---------+---------
The first player won 55.2 per cent. of games played, counting drawn games as one-half.
(a). Includes Queen’s Gambits and Queen’s Gambits declined.
(b). Includes Centre and Counter Centre Gambits.
_=THE MIDDLE GAME.=_ After a little experience with openings, the player will usually select one or two which he feels that he can handle better than others, and will make a specialty of them. Having mastered a number of variations, and learned the object of them in forming his pieces for attack or defence, he will naturally be led to the study of the middle game. In this there are a few general principles which should be steadily kept in view. For attack, the player should secure command of a wide range of the board; but for defence he should concentrate his forces as much as possible. He should be careful not to get his pieces in one another’s way, and not to leave pieces where they can be attacked and driven back by inferior pieces, because that entails a loss of valuable time. A player should never exchange a man in active service for one that is doing nothing. If several lines of play are open, the one offering the most numerous good continuations should be selected. When a player is not ready for attack, he should develop his pieces, and remember that the more of them he can get to bear on the enemy’s King, the better. Supporting pieces should be placed where they are not easily attacked, because good players attack the supports first, so as to isolate the advance guard. Beginners are usually in too great a hurry to give check; the best players do not check until they are ready to follow it up with a mate, or a winning position, or can gain time in developing their pieces.
_=END GAMES.=_ There are certain positions in which apparently equal games are not necessarily drawn, and there are others in which a player with a decided advantage cannot win, within the fifty moves which are allowed him, unless he knows exactly how to proceed. If a player is not well up in endings he may lose many a game which could be won if he only knew how to win it. The following games may be abandoned as _=drawn=_:--
King and Bishop against a King.
King and Knight against a King.
King and two Knights against a King.
King and Queen against two Rooks.
King and Queen against King and two Bishops.
King and Rook against King, Rook and Pawn.
King and Rook against King and Bishop.
King and Rook against King and Knight.
King and Rook against King, Rook and Bishop.
The following games can be _=won=_:--
King and Queen, or King and Rook, against a King.
King and Queen against King and Rook.
King and Queen against King and Bishop.
King and Queen against King and Knight.
King and Queen against King and Pawn.
King and two Rooks against King and Rook.
King and two Bishops against a King.
King Bishop and Knight against a King.
In order to master all these endings, the student should take up Staunton’s Handbook, or the Lehrbuch des Schachspiels, in which they are given very fully. For the beginner only one or two of the most common and important are necessary.
K and Q, or K and R, against K. All that is necessary is to drive the King to the edge of the board, which may be done by holding him below a certain parallel with the Q or R, and then getting your own King in front of him; a check will then drive him one line further back, and when he arrives at the edge of the board, and can no longer go back, he is mated.
K and Q against K and R. Freeborough has devoted an entire volume to this ending, which may be very much prolonged by a skilful player. The object is to drive the King to the edge of the board, and then to get the Rook in such a position that it must be sacrificed to save the mate, or that the mate can be accomplished with the Rook on the board. The player with the Queen must be on his guard against stale-mate in this ending.
K and Q against K and B, K and Kt, or K and P. This is easy enough for the Queen if the player is careful to avoid stale-mate.
K and two R’s against K and R. This can be won easily by forcing an exchange of Rooks.
K and two B’s against K. In this position the King must be ruled off into a corner by getting the Bishops together, protected by their King. Start with the men in the following position:--
Black K on his own square. White King on K B 6; white Bishops on K B 4 and K B 5. White to move and win. The mate can be accomplished in six moves, as follows:--
B-B7 B-Q7 K-Kt6
1 --------- 2 -------- 3 ---------
K-B sq K-Kt sq K-B sq
B-Q6 ch B-K6 ch B-K5 mate
4 --------- 5 -------- 6 ---------
K-Kt sq K-R sq
K, B and Kt against K. This is one of the most difficult endings for a beginner, but is very instructive, and should be carefully studied. Set up the men as follows:--
Black King on K R sq. White King on K B 6, white Bishop on K B 5, and white Knight on K Kt 5; White to move and win. The object is to drive the King into a corner of the board which is commanded by the Bishop, as he cannot otherwise be mated.
Kt-B7 ch B-K4 B-R7 Kt-K5
1 --------- 2 -------- 3 --------- 4 --------
K-Kt sq K-B sq K-K sq K-B sq
Kt-Q7 ch K-K6 K-Q6 B-K6 ch
5 --------- 6 -------- 7 --------- 8 --------
K-K sq K-Q sq K-K sq K-Q sq
K-B6 B-B7 Kt-Kt7 ch K-B6
9 --------- 10 --------- 11 --------- 12 --------
K-B sq K-Q sq K-B sq K-Kt sq
K-Kt6 B-K6 ch Kt-B5 B-Q7
13 --------- 14 --------- 15 --------- 16 --------
K-B sq K-Kt sq K-R sq K-Kt sq
Kt-R6 ch B-B6 mate
17 --------- 18 ---------
K-R sq
If, at the fourth move, the black King does not go back to the Bishop’s square, but goes on to the Queen’s square, hoping to cut across to the other black corner of the board, the continuation will be as follows, beginning at White’s fifth move:--
K-K6 Kt-Q7 B-Q3 B-Kt5
5 --------- 6 --------- 7 --------- 8 --------
K-B2 K-B3 K-B2 K-Q sq
Kt-K5 Kt-B4 K-Q6 Kt-R5
9 --------- 10 --------- 11 --------- 12 --------
K-B2 K-Q sq K-B sq K-Q sq
Kt-Kt7 ch K-B6 Kt-Q6 K-B7
13 --------- 14 --------- 15 --------- 16 --------
K-B sq K-Kt sq K-R2 K-R sq
B-B4 Kt-B8 ch B-Q5 mate
17 --------- 18 --------- 19 ---------
K-R2 K-R sq
_=PAWN ENDINGS.=_ There are a great number of these, many being complicated by the addition of Pawns to other pieces. The following example, which is a position that often occurs, should be understood by the beginner:--
Put the black King on K B square; the white King on K B 6, and a white Pawn on K 6. If it is Black’s move, White can win easily; but if it is White’s move it is impossible to win, because whether he checks or not the black King gets in front of the Pawn and either wins it or secures a stale-mate.
Put the Pawn behind the King, on K B 5, and White wins, no matter which moves first, for if Black moves he allows the white King to advance to the seventh file, which will queen the Pawn. If White moves first, and the black King keeps opposite him, the Pawn advances. If Black goes in the other direction, the white King goes to the seventh file and wins by queening the Pawn.
If the white King and Pawn are both moved one square further back, the King on K B 5, and the Pawn on K B 4. the win will depend on the move. If it is White’s move he can win by advancing the King; but if it is Black’s move he can draw by keeping his King always opposite the white King. If the Pawn advances, he will get in front of it, and if the King is afterward advanced, he will get in front of it; winning the Pawn or securing a stale-mate.
_=THE KNIGHT’S TOUR.=_ Owing to the peculiarity of the Knight’s move, many persons have amused themselves in trying to cover the entire chess board with a Knight, touching the same square once only, and returning to the starting-point again. There are several ways of doing this, one of the simplest being the following:--
+--+--+--+--+--+--+--+--+
|14|29|34|55|12|27|24|49|
+--+--+--+--+--+--+--+--+
|35|56|13|28|33|50|11|26|
+--+--+--+--+--+--+--+--+
|30|15|54|51|58|25|48|23|
+--+--+--+--+--+--+--+--+
|41|36|57|32|61|52|63|10|
+--+--+--+--+--+--+--+--+
|16|31|40|53|64|59|22|47|
+--+--+--+--+--+--+--+--+
|37|42| 1|60|19|62| 9| 6|
+--+--+--+--+--+--+--+--+
| 2|17|44|39| 4| 7|46|21|
+--+--+--+--+--+--+--+--+
|43|38| 3|18|45|20| 5| 8|
+--+--+--+--+--+--+--+--+
]
_=TEXT BOOKS.=_ Among the very large number of works on Chess there is abundant room for choice, but the following works are considered standard authorities on the game:--
Freeborough’s Chess Openings, 1896.
Cook’s Synopsis.
Minor Tactics of Chess, by Young and Howell.
Modern Chess Instructor, by W. Steinitz.
Common Sense in Chess, by E. Lasker.
Walker’s Treatise on Chess, 1841.
Handbuch des Schachspiels.
Lehrbuch des Schachspiels, by J. Dufresne.
Teoria e Practica del Giuoco degli Schacchi.
British Chess Magazine.
Chess Player’s Chronicle.
Chess Monthly.
_Westminster Papers_, 1868 to 1879.
Of these works, “Minor Tactics” will be found most useful to the beginner, as it simplifies the openings by grouping them, and concentrates the attention on the essential points of chess strategy.
CODE OF CHESS LAWS. ADOPTED BY THE FIFTH AMERICAN CHESS CONGRESS.
_=Definitions of Terms Used.=_ Whenever the word “_Umpire_” is used herein, it stands for any Committee having charge of Matches or Tournaments, with power to determine questions of chess-law and rules; or for any duly appointed Referee, or Umpire; for the bystanders, when properly appealed to; or for any person, present or absent, to whom may be referred any disputed questions; or for any other authority whomsoever having power to determine such questions.
When the word “_move_” is used it is understood to mean a legal move or a move to be legally made according to these laws.
When the word “_man_” or “_men_” is used, it is understood that it embraces both Pieces and Pawns.
_=The Chess-Board and Men.=_ The Chess-board must be placed with a white square at the right-hand corner.
If the Chess-board be wrongly placed, it cannot be changed during the game in progress after a move shall have been made by each player, provided the men were correctly placed upon the board at the beginning, _i.e._, the Queens upon their own colours.
A deficiency in number, or a misplacement of the men, at the beginning of the game, when discovered, annuls the game.
The field of the Standard Chess-board shall be twenty-two inches square.
The Standard Chess-men shall be of the improved Staunton Club size and pattern.
_=First Move and Colour.=_ The right of first move must be determined by lot.
The player having the first move must always play with the white men.
The right of move shall alternate, whether the game be won, lost or drawn.
The game is legally begun when each player shall have made his first move.
Whenever a game shall be annulled, the party having the move in that game shall have it in the next game. An annulled game must be considered, in every respect, the same as if it had never been begun.
_=Concessions.=_ The concession of an indulgence by one player does not give him the right of a similar, or other, indulgence from his opponent.
_=Errors.=_ If, during the course of the game, it be discovered that any error or illegality has been committed, the moves must be retraced and the necessary correction made, without penalty. If the moves cannot be correctly retraced, the game must be annulled.
If a man be dropped from the board and moves made during its absence, such moves must be retraced and the man restored. If this cannot be done, to the satisfaction of the Umpire, the game must be annulled.
_=Castling.=_ The King can be Castled only:
When neither the King nor the Castling Rook has been moved, and
When the King is not in check, and
When all the squares between the King and Rook are unoccupied, and
When no hostile man attacks the square on which the King is to be placed, or the square he crosses.
In Castling, the King must be first moved.
The penalty of moving the King prohibits Castling.
_=En Passant.=_ Taking the Pawn “_en passant_,” when the only possible move, is compulsory.
_=Queening the Pawn.=_ A pawn reaching the eighth square must be at once exchanged for any piece (except the King) that the player of the Pawn may elect.
_=Check.=_ A player falsely announcing “check,” must retract the move upon which the announcement was based and make some other move, or the move made must stand at the option of the opponent.
No penalty can be enforced for any offence committed against these rules in consequence of a false announcement of “check,” nor in consequence of the omission of such announcement, when legal “check” be given.
_=“J’adoube.”=_ “J’adoube,” “I adjust,” or words to that effect, cannot protect a player from any of the penalties imposed by these laws, unless the man or men touched, obviously _need_ adjustment, and unless such notification be distinctly uttered _before_ the man, or men, be touched, and only the player whose turn it is to move is allowed so to adjust.
The hand having once quitted the man, but for an instant, the move must stand.
Men overturned or displaced accidentally may be replaced by either player, without notice.
A wilful displacement, or overturning of any of the men, forfeits the game.
_=Penalties.=_ Penalties can be enforced only at the time an offence is committed, and before any move is made thereafter.
A player touching one of his men, when it is his turn to play, must move it. If it cannot be moved he must move his King. If the King cannot move, no penalty can be enforced.
For playing two moves in succession, the adversary may elect which move shall stand.
For touching an adversary’s man, when it cannot be captured, the offender must move his King. If the King cannot move, no other penalty can be enforced. But if the man touched can be legally taken, it must be captured.
For playing a man to a square to which it cannot be legally moved, the adversary, at his option, may require him to move the man legally, or to move the King.
For illegally capturing an adversary’s man, the offender must move his King, or legally capture the man, as his opponent may elect.
Comments
Log in to leave a comment.
Foster's Complete Hoyle: An Encyclopedia of GamesChapter V (23)
0%35 min left in chapter