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CHESS. |
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tion that study alone will never form a chess player, I have in the present suppressed a great proportion of the illustrations given in the former editions of this work; enough, however, remain for all the purposes of study, which, after all, imparts but a mere mechanical skill.* The essential point is to make the learner thoroughly acquainted with the fundamental principles of the game, when practice with good players will soon lead to their skilful application.
The fundamental principles of Chess are very simple, and consist—
1st. In discovering the tactical or wreak point of the adversary's position.
2nd. In a rapid concentration and skilful direction of the mass of your forces upon that tactical point.
The first depends in a great measure upon the coup d'ceil of the player ; and when this quality is possessed in an eminent degree, it is rather intuitive than acquired.
The second must depend upon his practical skill, and upon his knowledge of the mechanism of each piece, in order to play them so as to combine their simultaneous action, according to the qualities inherent in each, for which ample instruction will be found in Mr. Hoyle's Directions. Confining myself, therefore, to general principles, I shall lay it down as a maxim, that the offensive is the most advantageous strategy ; for if the fundamental principle of the game consists in directing the mass of your forces upon the adversary's tactical point, it must follow as a necessary conse-
* Rousseau, in his Confessions, bears out this assertion ; the philosopher shut himself up for six weeks, and pored over in vain the most scientific treatises of his day—for on his first trial he was beaten by a mere tyro. |
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