numbers may be written upon the board itself, near a corner of each square, so as to be easily seen when the men are placed. Or a table may be drawn upon paper or card, and the squares numbered, as in the following figure, and such a table will be a ready guide to any move directed.

DRAUGHT TABLE.

OBSERVATIONS ON THE GAME OF DRAUGHTS.

THE learner should select a few games for practice, and become master of such variations as can be made from them; and in respect to any games he may wish to reverse, let the following

instructions be attended to. Write down those figures required to make the numbers played from and to exactly 33, as in the example stated below.. The game is begun by black moving from 11 to 15, and as 22 added to 11, and 18 to 15, each form 33; set down 22, 18, which, in reversing the game, must be white's first move; by acting in a similar manner with every succeeding move, the game will be com pletely reversed.

Having the move is a decided advantage even over a skilful opponent, in particular cases, and

means possessing that situation on the board, which will eventually enable you to drive your adversary into a confined position, and thereby finally secure the last move to yourself; but where your men are in a confined state, the move would not only be of no service to you, but might cause the loss of the game. Number the men and squares; and if one of them prove even, and the other odd, you have got the move: when both are even, or both odd, you have not the move; exemplified in this critical situation, in which white is to play first.

Here the adverse men are even, but the white squares are odd, as, from 26, a white king, to 28, a black king, there are three white squares, iz. 31, 27, and 24; and between 32, a white, and 19, a black man, are two, 27 and 23, in all five; this may be reckoned otherways, but take it what way you will, they still prove odd; consequently white, so situated, has the move. The player who wants, and has not got the move, should endeavour to obtain the same by giving man for man. There is a shorter method to determine who has the move; for instance, if white should wish to know whether any one particular man of his has the move over any other particular man of black; let him examine the situations of both, and if there be a black square on the right angle under the black man, white has the move; that is, suppose white is to play, and his man is at 30, when black is at 3; the right angle is then in the black square directly under 3, between 31 and 32, therefore white at that time has the move. This rule will hold good in regard to any number of men, and in all cases whatsoever.

No advantage is derived from being first player for as the men and squares are then both even, he cannot have the move; and though the other player has it, it is of no use to him in that stage of the game: while the combatants give man for man, the move will alternately belong to each; the first player will obtain it at odd numbers, 11, 9, 7, 5, 3, 1; the second will gain it at even, 12, 10, 8, 6, 4, 2, and some error must first be committed before the move can be driven out of these directions..

LAWS OF THE GAME OF DRAUGHTS.

1. THE first move of every game must be taken alternately by each player, whether the last be won or drawn.

2. Pointing over the board, or using any action to interrupt the adversary in having a full view of the men, is not to be allowed.

3. The men may be properly arranged in any part of the game; and after they are so placed,. which ever player touches a man, must play him somewhere; but if the man have been so moved as to be visibly over the angle separating the squares. the party is playing from and to, that move must be completed.

4. In case of standing the huff, it is optional with the opponent either to take the man, or insist that the antagonist take his, so omitted by the huff.

5. If either party, when it is his turn to move, hesitate above three minutes, the other may call upon him to play; and if, after that, he delay: above five minutes longer, then he loses the game: