594 CHESS game, but striking an average, and taking the pawn as the unit, the following will be an estimate near enough for practical purposes : pawn 1, bishop 3 25, knight 3 25, rook 5, queen 9 50. Three minor pieces may more often than not be advantageously exchanged for the queen. The knight is generally stronger than the bishop in the end game, but tvo bishops are usually stronger than two knights, more especially in open positions. LAWS The laws of chess differ, although not very materially, in different countries. Various steps have been taken, but as yet without success, to secure the adoption of a universally authoritative code. In competitions among English players the particular laws to be observed are specially agreed on, the regulations most generally adopted being those laid down at length in Staunton s Chess Praxis, or the modification of the Prams laws issued in the name of the British Chess Association in 1862. The following rules may be here indicated. The board must be so placed that each combatant has a white square in his right hand corner. A player touching any of his own men or those of his adversary (except accidentally) without previously saying "fadoube ," or "I adjust/ or words to that effect, may be compelled to move or capture (as the case may be) the man so touched ; if this cannot be done he must move his king, but if that be likewise im possible, there is then no penalty. If a player make a false or illegal move or capture, he must, at the choice of his opponent, and according to the case, move his own man legally, capture the man legally, or move any other man legally movable. In practice, the usual demand is that the offender shall move his king. After four moves have been made on each side, any such illegality is waived, and the game must be played out as it stands. Should the king be left in check, all the moves subsequently made must be retraced and the check replied to. MODES OF NOTATION. The English and German systems of notation (i.e., the manner of describing the moves made in a game) are different. According to the English method each player counts from his own side of the board, and the moves are denoted according to the names of the files and the numbers of the squares. Thus when a player for his first move advances the king s pawn two squares, it is described as follows : " 1 P to K 4 ;" for the pawn has moved to the fourth square of the king s file. The following moves of the Giuoco Piano Opening, with the aid of diagram 2, will enable the reader to understand the principles of the British notation, wherein it may also be observed that only the initials of the pieces are now used: WHITE. 1. P to K 4 2. KKt toKBS (i.e., King s Knight to the third square of the King s Bishop s file.) 3. K B to Q B 4 (King s Bishop to the fourth square of the Queen s Bishop s file.) 4. P to Q B 3 (Pawn to the third square of the Q B file. ) 5. P to Q 4 (Pawn to the fourth square of the Queen s file,) C. P takes P (Queen s Bishop s Pawn takes Pawn at the fifth square of the adverse Queen s file.) BLACK. 1. P to K 4 2. Q Kt to Q B 3 (i.e., Queen s Knight to the third square of the Queeu s Bishop s file.) 3. K B to Q B 4 (same as "White s third move). 4. K Kt to K B 3 (same as "White s second move.) 5. P takes P (King s Pawn takes White s Queen s Pawn.) 6. K B to Q Kt 5 (ch) (King s Bishop to the fifth square of the Queen s Knight s file, giving check to the White King.) It is now usual to express the notation as concisely as possible ; thus, the third moves of White and Black would be given as 3 B to B 4, because it is clear that only the fourth square of the queen s bishop s file is intended. In like manner White s fourth move would be described as 4 P to B 3, and Black s fourth move as 4 Kt to B 3. Sometimes instead of the word " takes " a cross is used, thus 6 P x P. The German notation employs the alphabetical characters a, b, c, d, e, f, g, and h, proceeding from left to right, and the numerals 1, 2, 3, 4, 5, 6, 7, and 8, running upwards, these being always calculated from the White side of the board (see diagram 2). Thus the White Queen s Rook s square is al ; the Black Queen s Rook s square, a8 ; the White Queen s square is dl ; the Black Queen s square, c/8; the White King s square, el ; the Black King s square, <?8, and so with the other pieces and squares. The German names of the pieces are as follows : King, Konig; Queen, Dame; Rook, Thurm; Bishop, Laufer; Knight, Springer; Pawn, Bauer. The initals only of the pieces are given, the pawns (Bauern) being understood. The Germans use the follow ing signs in their notation, viz. : for " check " (t) ; " check mate "(); " takes "(:); "castles on King s side " (0-0) ; "castles on Queen s side " (0--0-0) ; for "best move 1 a note of admiration (!) ; for "weak move" a note of inter rogation (1). The Giuoco Piano Opening moves just ren dered in the English will now be given in the German nota tion, which will make the latter easily intelligible : WHITE. BLACK. 1. e2-e4 1. e7-e5 2. Sgl-f3 2. Sb8-c6 3. Lfl-c4 3. Lf8-c5 4. c2-c3 4. S g8-f 6 ! 5. d2-d.4 5. e5-d4: 6. c3~d4 : G. L c5-b4t Both in the English and German notations the moves are often rendered in a tabular form, thus : 1. ^, e2 e4 1. -., the moves above the line being White s and e7 eo below the line Black s. ILLUSTRATIVE GAMES. There are various text-books upon the beginnings and endings of games, to one or other of which the learner should have recourse. Some of them are mentioned further on; but it would be invidious to enter upon any comparison of merits, or to recommend any work in particular. The following are given as indicative illustrations of certain of the leading openings ; but, necessarily, no attempt can be made here to impart detailed instruction on this important branch of the game : Giuoco Piano. WHITE. BLACK. 1. P to K 4 1. P to K 4 2. K Kt to B 3 2. Q Kt to B 3 3. B to B 4 3. B to B 4 4. PtoB 3 4. Kt to K B 3 5. P to Q 4 5. P takes P 6. P takes P 6. B to Kt 5 (ch) r* B to Q 2 7. B takes B(ch) 8. Q Kt takes B 8. P to Q 4 9. P takes P 9. K Kt takes P 10. Q to Kt 3 10. Q Kt to K 2 11. Castles (K s side) 11. Castles Even game. WHITE. PtoK4 K Kt to B 3 B to Kt 5 Ruy Lopez. BLACK. 1. P to K 4 2. Q Kt to B 3
3. P to Q K 3