The Royal Game of CHESS.

A Defcription of the GAME.

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HE Game is performed by Two little Armies drawn up, in Order of Battle, oppofite to each other; each Army is commanded by a King, and feveral great Officers, tho' when you come to examine them clofe, This King is no more than a Piece of Stick, or Ivory, as are all under his Command.

II. The Officers (including the King) confift of Eight principal Perfons, who are fized according to their Dignity, and have their particular Titles and Qualities.

III. The common Sort confift of eight Pioneers, one ftands before every Officer; thefe are called Pawns, and are but low of Stature.

IV. The King is the firft, and whenever he is Loft, the Battle is at an End.

V. The Queen is next in Degree, who bears her Royal Hufband Company in the War; fhe does not only animate him with her beautiful Afpect, but likewife defends him when in Danger, and attacks his Enemies.

VI. The two Rooks are next in Degree to the Queen.

VII. The two Knights are next to them, who do great Service generally in the Beginning of

an

an Action, and are very furious for fome Time; but towards the End they are not fo ferviceable.

VIII.There are two Bishops likewife (for the Army must not be without Chaplains) which are of moft Service towards the End of an Action: Perhaps the Reader may think it is to affift the dying Men, but we fhall give him to understand presently, that they have fomething else to do.

IX. These in French are called les Fous, that is, the Fools; but who it was that first Gallicized that Word for Bishops, I cannot tell.

X. The next are the Pawns; who, tho' they are no other than common Soldiers, yet when they are well commanded, they fometimes perform great Actions.

XI. The Method of Drawing up this little Army, is as follows: The Eight principal Figures are to be placed in the lowest Rank of the Board, next to the Gamefter, in this Manner; Firft, the King upon the fourth Spot from the Corner, which is White; his Queen is to be placed upon the Black Spot on his Right-Hand; the two Bishops are to stand one next the King, the other next the Queen; the Knights upon the Sides of the Bishops; and the two Rooks, one in each Corner. The Pawns are placed juft in the Rank before them, to ferve as their Rampart: G2

Thus

Thus the Poor are only made Use of to defend the Great.

XII. The other Army must be drawn up on the oppofite End of the Board in the fame Manner; and left they should not be diftin guished when they come to be mixed, one Army is always cloathed in Black, the other in White.

I.

RULES to be observed in playing the GAME.

Byour Pawns, and then fupport them

EFORE you ftir your Pieces, move

with your Pieces; and therefore, to open the Game well, you should play the Kings, Queens, and Bishops Pawns first.

II. Your Pieces therefore are not to be played out early in the Game; because if your Adversary has it in his Power to play a Pawn upon them, to make them retire, you lofe Moves, and at the fame Time he opens Game; but especially be cautious, till your Game be pretty well open'd, that you do not play out your Queen.

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III. Be careful not to give useless Checks, nor indeed any, but when you have fome Advantage in View, because if he can take or drive your Piece away, you lofe a Move.

IV. Your Game must not be crouded with too many Pieces together, left the Paffage fhould be fo choak'd up as to hinder your

Men

Men from advancing or retreating, as there is occafion.

V. If your Game fhould be too much crouded, the Way to free it, is to make Exchange of Pieces or Pawns, and to castle your King with all Expedition.

VI. You will find an Advantage in crouding your Adverfary's Game, which you may do thus: If he brings out his Pieces before his Pawns, attack him with your Pawns as foon as you can, which will force him to lofe his Moves, which muft neceffarily croud him.

VII. You are never to attack your Adverfary's King unless you can do it powerfully; but fhould he attack your King, and you have not fufficient Strength to attack his, you must offer Exchanges with him; and if he draws off when you prefent him with an Exchange, he may lose a Move, and fo miss his Advantage, which you gain.

VIII. In playing, let your Men fo well guard one another, that if you lose an advanced Man, the oppofite Piece may likewise be taken by that which guarded yours; and therefore as many Pieces as you fee your Adversary advance, fo many Guards must you have about your Piece, and, if you can fo contrive it, let them be of less Value than thofe he brings against you. But if your Piece is likely to be loft, you may try to fave

it by attacking one of his that is as good, if not better.

IX. When you intend to make an Attack, be fure be well prepared for it; give no use. lefs Checks, which may open your Adverfary's Game, and give him an Opportunity, by the Weakness of your Attack, to make a vigorous one upon you.

X. Before you play your Man, observe whether you are not in Danger from your Adverfary's laft Move; and before you attack him, confider whether his next Moves, in Confequence of yours, may not be to your Prejudice; fo it may be in your Power, before it is too late, to prevent the Mischief he defigns you.

XI. When you obferve your Attack is likely to fucceed, purfue your Scheme (if poffible) till you give him Mate; fear not to take any Piece, or any Advantage that your Adversary may throw in your Way to tempt you, with a Design to defeat your Purpose.

XII. If you are in the Purfuit of an Attack well-laid, and find yourself under a Neceffity of forcing your Way thro' his Defence, in which you must lofe fome Pieces; if upon a View of the Situation of the Enemy, you fee a Profpect of Succefs, don't be afraid to facrifice a Piece or two, to gain your End; for it is a bold Play, that gives the most diverting Turns to the Game.