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very valuable qualities of the mind, useful in the course of human life, are to be acquired and strengthened by it, so as to become habits ready on all occasions: for life is a kind of Chess, in which we have often points to gain, and competitors or adversaries to contend with, and in which there is a vast variety of good and ill events that are, in some degree, the effect of prudence, or of the want of it. By playing at Chess, then, we may learn,

"First-Foresight, which looks a little into futurity, and considers the consequence that may attend an action; for it is continually occurring to the player, 'If I move this piece, what will be the advantage or disadvantage of my new situation? What use can my adversary make of it, to annoy me ?—What other moves can I make to support it, and to defend myself from his attacks?'

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Second-Circumspection, which surveys the whole Chess-board, or scene of action: the relation of the several pieces, and their situations; the dangers they are repeatedly exposed to; the several possibilities of their aiding each other; the probabilities that the adversary may make this or that move, and attack this or that piece; and what different means can be used to avoid his stroke, or turn its consequences against him.

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Third—Caution, not to make our moves too hastily. This habit is best acquired by observing strictly the laws of the game; such as, you touch a piece, you must move it somewhere; if you set it down, you must let it stand.

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'Therefore, never deviate from strict play; as the game becomes thereby more the image of human life, and particularly of war; in v `hich, if you have incautiously put yourself into a bad and dangerous position, you cannot obtain your enemy's leave to withdraw your troops and place them more securely; but you must abide all the consequences of your rashness.

“And Lastly, we learn by Chess the habit of not being discouraged

by present bad appearances in the state of our affairs; the habit of hoping for a favorable chance, and that of persevering in the search of resources. The game is so full of events, there is such a variety of turns in it, the fortune of it is so sudden to vicissitudes, and one so frequently, after contemplation, discovers the means of extricating oneself from a supposed insurmountable difficulty, that one is encouraged to continue the contest to the last, in hopes of victory from our skill; or, at least, from the negligence of our adversary. And whoever considers, what in Chess he often sees instances of, that success is apt to produce presumption and its consequent inattention, by which more is afterwards lost than was gained by the preceding advantage, while misfortunes produce more care and attention, by which the loss may be recovered, will learn not to be too much discouraged by any present successes of his adversary, nor to despair of final good fortune, upon every little check he receives in the pursuit of it."-FRANKLIN, Morals of Chess.

In the compilation and arrangement of the following pages, the Editor has had in view the twofold object of conveying instruction to the mere beginner, and offering matter of interest to the practised player. The former of these objects he thinks he has attained in the rudimentary portions of the work, extracted from the best elementary treatises in any language; viz., Lewis's Chess for Beginners, and Elements of Chess-Walker's Chess made Easy-and Tomlinson's Amusements in Chess; while the Games in Actual Play, by correspondence between clubs, or over the board between the most eminent players of every country, together with Staunton's masterly analyses of the King's and Queen's Gambits, will prove, it is hoped, both entertaining and instructive to that class of players sufficiently advanced to understand and appreciate their beauties.

The Games in Actual Play, illustrative of the Bishop's and Knight's Game, the most popular of all the openings, have been

selected from English, French, and German periodicals, exclusively devoted to the game, and in many cases the notes of their respective editors have been carefully collated and combined.

The four sketches comprising the "Chess Tales," appeared originally in the French Chess Magazine, "Le Palamède." In the translation of these, the Editor has taken some latitude, enlarging the text, and adding many games and positions, both selected and original. Indeed, these additions have been so numerous as to have required, in a measure, the re-writing of the sketches alluded to above, the originals of which contain collectively but two positions. and no games. In their present form, it will be observed they contain twelve positions, besides several games of interest.

In the selection of Problems, for many persons one of the most attractive departments of the game, the Editor has had in view excellence rather than mere novelty. For his own he solicits indulgence, while he feels confident that those selected from multifarious sources, are of the very highest order.

In conclusion, the Editor would say that his intention will have been fulfilled, if after a perusal of the cursory examination of the principal openings as offered in the following pages, the solitary student has been induced to explore the more regular treatises on this matchless game; and doubly will that intention have been fulfilled, if whatever labor he has brought to bear upon the task, prove at all conducive to intellectual pleasure and innocent amusement in the family circle.

West Point, N. Y., Dec. 9, 1847.

H. R. A.

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