out their pawns being moved. All Philidor's games (except the queen's gambit, expressly so called from the queen's pawn moving first) begin thus ; and no affectation of novelty should induce the learner to do otherwise. If this pawn is threatened (which it will rarely be in the first instance, nothing but the king's knight being able so to do), the queen's or bishop's pawn may support it. The future moves are not to be defined by theory. The Calabrois generally brought out his king's knight to his king's bishop's third square, for his second move; but this mode is reprobated by Philidor, as will be seen by his third party.

GENERAL REMARKS.-The mode of capture by any piece, or pawn, is the taking off the captured piece, and placing himself in his stead. Any piece may be captured that stands on any one of the squares the piece ranges over, except in the case of the knight, who can only take on the third square, and not on the one he leaps over, and of the pawn who does not take on the square

he might have moved to, but on that lying diagonally before him on the right or left.

The power of taking is reciprocal; so that any adverse piece you can take, may take you. The goodness of play, therefore, consists in having the greatest number of pieces defending, so that in case of mutual exchanges you may gain more than your adversary. The power of taking is also general; and is inherent in the pawn as well as in the king, queen, &c. each taking every thing within its range. It is also optional; as the beautiful variety of the game would be lost were it otherwise, as at Draughts.

A piece guards another, when he is so placed that he might capture the one guarded were he an adversary; so that the protection arises from the fear of reprisal. The king alone must be defended by placing his guard between him and the danger, as he must not in any case be taken,

The arrangement of the pieces, according to their real powers, is as follows:-Pawn, Knight, King, Bishop, Rook, Queen. The power each may be said to possess is about

The value of each is commensurate with the power, except that of the pawn and the king. If the pawn's chance of promotion be taken into the question, his value will be And the nature of the game, making the king inviolable, his value is above all calculation.

The knowledge of these powers is necessary, in order to appreciate exchanges that may be offered. But, as every player's

mode must differ, the learner will himself fix an imaginary value, depending on his own and his adversary's prevailing method.

110

CHAP. VIII.

LAWS OF CHESS,

AND ELEMENTARY RULES FOR PLAYING.

THE

HE laws, as established under the authority of Philidor, are thus elegantly introduced by him:-"The laws, or constitutions of a game are originally established, either to prevent or decide contests; because, by defining what is in itself indefinite, by determining that which, without

any explanation, would be uncertain, they put an end to all obstinacy and dispute. These statutes, founded at first in reason, consecrated afterwards by custom, confirmed at length by the practice of the best players, and the approbation of the most illustrious authors, may be reduced to the XVII following Laws; which the Society or Club of Chess in England have adopted for their code."

LAWS.

I.

The chess-board must be turned in such a manner, that both players may have the white square at their right hands.

II.

He that gives a piece is supposed to have the move, unless it be agreed otherwise. In games without odds, lots must be cast for the move; afterwards it becomes alternate.

III.

If a pawn or piece has been forgotten at the beginning of the game, it will be in the adversary's choice, either to begin the game afresh, or to go on, permitting nevertheless the piece forgotten to be again set in its place.

IV.

If it is agreed to give the advantage of a piece or a pawn, and it has been forgotten at the beginning of the game, it will be left to the choice of him who has suffered by such a mistake, to go on with the or to begin it again.

game,