Price, 10 C $1.20 Per \. \ ^^^^Lfy^9ijt^u*^^^ir^^^%jt^Lf*^^r^'Kr%^ %^ ...SPALDING'S... lilustrated Catalogue OF SPRING SPORTS PUBLISHED'aBOUT FEBRUARY FIRST. SUMMER. BASE BALL, LA>XnM TENNIS, GOLF, ATHLETIC GOODSe^ BICYCLE SUNDRIES^ UNIFORMS and ACCESSORIES Handsomely and profusely illustrated, the recognized authority for standard goods, and the most complete cata- iugue of its kind published. Mailed free to any address. A. G. SPALDING & BROS. NEW YORK CHICAGO PHILADELPHIA 4i^l^jt^^<%^^'<<-N(2n <^^ /\/\ /\~X^ \ . >ooo^ 4 /\ ^~^ /\ ^^ /\ ^^/\ X *^/\ ^^/\ ^^/\ ^^ / ^ \^cd\/c^\/cz>\^ CHECKER BOARD Invented by the French author, Lallemont, whose name it bearF. This cut shows that a checkered board is not absolutely essential to play the game, and, moreover, that it contains thirty-two unnecessary squares. c^ PUBLISHED BY THE f a»P 181 AMERICAN SPORTS PUBLISHINGnQQMPAN 241 BROADWAY, NEW YORK. . _ NEW YORK. Copyright, 1896, bj^ the American Sports Publishing Co. \ .■^'3 preface. 1 Notwithstanding the innumerable Murks treating of draughts, there seems always room for one more, and it is hoped that this little vol- ume will find its place in the empty niche. This book, it must be candidly acknowledged, does not profess to be the work of one mind, but the compilation rather of the theories and practices of various writers and players, who have made a thorough study of this most in- teresting and absorbing game. It is not possible in the small space alloted to go into elaborate details, either of instruction or illustra- tion ; therefore it has been my aim to cull the best and most essential and to present the game in its divers forms in as attractive a manner as dry facts and the necessary technique will permit. On another page have been given the names of the celebrated play- ers and authors who have done so much to bring draughts into promi- nence, and their works will prove invaluable to the student if, after mastering the elementary laws and problems between these covers, he desires to acquire a more scientific knowledge of the game. Xkw York, Tvlarch, i8g6. A. II. (".. ®rauGbt0 or Cbecftere. The Primitive Game in its Several Varieties, xl: HERE are so many ways of looking at a game, so many methods for study- ing it from the possible epoch of its invention, and through its various evolutions into the varie- ties known and played to-day, that it is often puzzling to decide in which direction to turn — which particular line of research to pursue. To begin at the beginning, therefore, and follow the direc- Lady and gentleman of the fourteenth cen- ^-^^^ pointed out by the chroni- tury playing at z/awi'i- or Draughts. ^ •'.... clers or the most primitive form of the game, is probably the safest course, as thus, at least, one has a distinct point to start from. The deeper we go into games th-; more interesting, the more intricate we find them, and it is curious to note how the different pastiiiies of the mediaeval ages seem to be based on the same principle, though varying in form and execution, according to the method of play adopted by the several races or nations by whom they were invented or where they were received. This applies to both card and table games respectively, and in each instance the origin of the given types of games will be found to be similar in character at the beginning, although dififering from one another, as presented in different places and at various epochs. This is especially true of card games, discussed at some length in a preceding number, and applies also to so-called "table-games," as chess, backgammon, draughts, etc., may be classed under the 4 CHECKKRS. same head. They have undouhtedly sprung from the same family, and a study of them, individually and collectively, will disclose many points in common. Just to what particular period of antiquity the invention* of draughts belongs, it is difficult to say. Some claim for it a Chinese, others an Egyptian, and others still a Grecian origin, to say nothing of the minor efforts to place it. By some writers it is said to be a modified form of chess, while other authorities on games think that chess Avas evolved from the simpler variation of draughts. According to Sir William Jones chess can be traced back four thousand years, and as by many draughts is considered to have preceded 't, this latter may, indeed, claim great antiquity. Be that as it may, all board-games, as they are called, from the simplest form up to the most scientific, which is acknowledged to be chess, are generally of a " war-like nature," that is to say, the men (or pieces) are placed upon the table to unite their forces or capture the enemy. The idea of "mimic Avar" was doubtless the key to the invention of this class of diversion. The simplest of all these board-games, that is, the one played with- out lots or dice, and depending altogether upon the skilful move or draw of the pieces, is draughts, which, under this name, includes numerous varieties of the ancient and modern pastime. It is as difficult to fix the period of its invention as it is to name the country where it originated, hence it has been suggested by one writer at least that the probabilities are that draughts may have been "invented in a dozen places, and then combined with dice;" "that the original elements, the combination and the various improvements on it, might all occur to separate minds." Then, by way of emphasizing his statement, the author adds : "It is a well-known fact, which causes much scientific hatred, that different people are constantly hitting on and patenting the same invention In the spread of games some will recognize more of fatalism than of prehistoric intercourse between distant peoples ; others, more of prehistoric intercourse than ot fatalism." Antiquarians all agree that among the native trih>es of the in- terior of New Zealand this game is known and is played there under the name of E'?)ni. This fact seems to lend force to the statement regarding its great age. It is not asserted, however, that it was in- vented by them. Taylor, in his essay on ''Historical Games,'' says : "It is a curious inquiry what led people to the by no means obvious idea of finding .-port in placing stones or pieces on a diagram and moving them by a rule The word abax, or abacus, is used both for the reckoning-board, with its counters, and the play board, with its pieces, whence a plausible guess has been made, that playing on the ruled board came from a sportive use of the serious counting instrument." CHECKERS. 5 Among the innumerable varieties of draught games played the world over is the very elaborate Chinese one called PVei-chi, or " 'game of circumvention,' the honored pastime of the learned classes." In this variety the object is to take the enemy by surrounding him by four of his adversary's men, thus making what is called an "eye.'* This seems to show that the game belonged historically to the same group in the simpler classic draughts, where the 7)ia}i is taken between two opponents ; but does not help to show in any way, however, that it originated in the land of the " Celestials^" or among the classics. There are several theories as to what the "sacred line," or, as sometimes called, "sacred barrier, " was in the Greek game named Five Lines, and mentioned by Sophocles. No one seems to have arrived at a very distinct conclusion regard- ing it ; but it is generally assumed, however, to be connected with some phase of the table game known as /'^j-j-^z'^ which is similar to draughts. In looking further into the numerous mentions of ihe many varieties of the pastime, it appears that in the one known as Plinthion or Folis, the pieces, or " dogs," were half of one color and half of another, and were moved on the squares of the board, the game consisting in the effort and success of getting one of one color between two of the other, thus taking or capturing the enemy. It is not possible at this late date to reason out the exact rules of the classic game, but research shows that one very like it still exists and is played to-day by the donkey-boys at Cairo. Of this we shall speak more at length later. Judging from certain passages of Ovid's, one of the varieties of the Roman games of Latriinculi was evidently of the same family. Note, for instance, where he says: "Cum medius gemino calculus hoste perit, " which refers to the stone being taken between two enemies a few lines further on he speaks of "the little table with its three stones, where the game is, continuasse stias,'' i.e., "to put the men into a line" — a species, says Tylor, of the childish pastime known as tit-tat-to. In Latrunculi the men were moved diagonally, " capturing by leap- ing over and obtaining superior power when they arrived at the fur- therest row of squares," the board consisting of only sixteen squares. Another form of the pastime, which Strutt in his " English Spo?ts and Pastimes" describes, is one known as "The Philosopher's Game." He obtained his account of it from an old MS. in the Sloanian Library in the British Museum. By some it is said to have been in- vented by Pythagcras, by others to be of still more ancient origin. It is called a "number fight," says the writer of the account, because its men fight and stand together by the art of counting or numbering how one may take his adversary's king and erect a triumph upon the deficiency of his calculation. CHECKERS. The author continues : "You may make your triumph as well with your enemy's men taken as with your own not taken." The Ijoard or table for playing this game is made in the form of a parallelogram, just as long again as it is broad ; it is divided into eight squares one way, and apparently sixteen the other, looking like a cliess-board fastened together. The draughts (checkers) are l)lack and white, and two persons only can properly play the game at one time. Each one receives twenty- four soldiers, which constitute his army (^hoste in the original), and No. IV. 289 69 .81 25 9 \( \i^^^\ i'li) 155 91 '\h 15 (S)Qf ley H 00fOf2 one of them is called the Pyramis, or King; one-third of these pieces are circular, which form two rows in front of the army ; one-third are triangular, and are placed in the middle ; another, and the last third, are square, and bring up the rear. One of the "men" placed in the fifth row is the Pyramis. As already stated, the men of the two sides are distinguished by being black and white respectively, and each one is marked with an appropriate numl)er. The board is long enough to permit of the pieces of both sides being placed as on a draughts-board, i. c, the black and white CHECKERS. facing each other, the circular pieces coming together in the centre. Sometimes curious signs or algebraic figures, called "cossical sign- ings," were added, thus increasing the intricacy of the game. The side (or army) presenting a front of even numbers was called the even hoste, and the other the odd hoste. The two armies, at the beginning, were drawn up in the order rep- resented on page 6. Strutt is unable to give an outline even of the method of playing the game, for, according to him, the author of the account is "ob- scure in his phraseology and negligent in his explanations." Strutt assumes, however, and doubtless is right, that the main ob- ject of each player was to take the king from his opponent, " because he who succeeds may make his triumph and erect his trophy." In his "Anatomy of Melancholy," Burton speaks of it, calling it the Philosophy Game, and expresses his views thereon, somewhat after this fashion: ". . . . it is not convenient for students," and adds, "the like I say of Dr. Fulk's Metro/iiachia and his Otiroiiojiia- chia, with the rest of those intricate, astrological and geometrical fictions, for such as are mathematically given and other curious games." No. V. a a b b SEE'GA. It may be mentioned parenthetically that Dr. Fulk was a Cam- bridge man, and the book alluded to by Burton was published in Lon- don in 1566. In an interesting work by A. W. Lane, entitled "Modern Egypt- ians," we have descriptions of the various customs, amusements, etc., of that people, and among these latter draughts, or, in the native, da' VI eh, is mentioned, and certain varieties of the game discussed at length. O CHECKERS. He tells us that many of the fella'hhee'n of Egypt frequentlyamu.se themselves with a game called that of the see'ga, which may be de- scribed in a few words. The see'ga used in this game is different from that of the ta'b. It consists of a number of holes, generally made in the ground, usually of five rows of five holes each, or seven rows of seven holes each; or, finally, nine rows of nine holes each. The first is called kJnimsa^wee see'ga; the second, seh'a'wee, and the third, tis'a'ivee. A khunisa 'luec see' ga is represented on page 7. The holes are called 'oyoo'n (or eyes) ; in the singular, ey'n. In this see'ga there are twenty-five in number. The players have each twelve kelbs (pieces of red brick or tile about the size of a walnut) similar to those used in tab ("dogs"), the game already described in Home Library No. 5 — Backgammon, The large see'gas, in like manner, require a suflicient number of kelbs to occupy all the 'ey'n save one. One of the players places two of his kelbs in the 'ey'n marked, a a; they then alternately place two kelbs in any of the 'ey'n of the see'ga. All the 'ey'n but the centre one being thus occupied — most of the pieces played at random — the game is begun. The player who begins moves one of the kelbs from a contiguous 'ey'n into the centre. The other player, if the 'ey'n now made vacant be next to any one occu- pied by his kelbs, desires his adversary to give him, or open to hjm a way; and the latter must do so l^y removing (and thus losing) one of his own kelbs. This is also done on subsequent occasions, Avhen required by similar circumstances. The aim of each player, after the first disposal of the kelbs, is to place any one of his kelbs in such a situation that there shall be between it and another of his one of the adversary's. Thus, by so doing, he "takes"; and so long as he can immediately make another capture by this means he does so, without allowing his opponent to move. These are really the only rules of the game. Incidentally it will be observed that as most of the kelbs are placed at random, foresight is requisite in the disposal of the remainder. Several see'gas, by the way, have been cut upon the stones of the summit of the great Pyramid by Arabs who served as guides to travel- ers. Of course it is impossible to ascertain just when the see'ga came into existence, but it is doubtless the outcome of some very ancient game. In Cook's "Third Voyage" it is mentioned that the Sandwich Islanders played at a game similar to draughts, and with black and white pebbles on a board of fourteen by seventeen squares. It has been suggested by one writer on games that if the explorers had spent an hour in learning it perhaps we should know to-day whether it was the Chinese or the Malay game, or, if neither of these, what it was, wlience derived, etc., and thus we might have had a clue, lost to CHECKERS. 9 native memory evidently, as to the "connection of the Polynesians with a higher Asiatic culture in the ages before a European ship had come within their coral reefs. . ." This same writer goes on to say: "If, in comparing Greek draughts and English draughts, we were to jump to the conclusion that the one was simply a further development of the other this would be wrong, for the real course ap- pears to have been that some old draught-game rose into chess, and then, again, a lower form of chess came down to be a game of draughts." In another place this same writer says: "In modern Europe the older games of this class have been superseded by one of a different principle. The history of what we call draughts is diclosed by the French dictionary, which shows how the men used to be called pious, or pawns, till they reached the other side of the board, then became dames, or queens." Thus, by some the modern game of draughts is recognized as being, in fact, "a low variety of chess," in which the pieces are all pawns, turned into queens in chess-fashion when they gain the enemy's line. It is further stated that the earliest plain accounts of the game are to be found in Spanish books of the middle ages, and the theory of its development through mediaeval chess problems are worked out by that admirable authority on chess, Dr. A. van der Linde, in his Geschichte des Schachspiel. One scholar has said quite pertinently that draughts is to chess what arithmetic is to algebra, and this seems a very fitting definition of the distinction between the two games. According to some writers draughts does not appear to have been played in Europe prior to the aniddle of the sixteenth century and has been called by many the " Chess of Ladies." Indeed in foreign tongues generally it is thus classed; as, for instance, in French, y^z^ des Dames; in German, Damenspiel or Damenbrett; in Italian, // Giuco delle Damej in Portuguese, Jago das Damas ; in Turkey and Persia, Daaina, while in Gaelic there is one word only for both chess and draughts, Taileasg. The Scotch call the draught-board a Dam- brod, having adopted the term perhaps from the German. Tlie first elaborate and really important treatise on the game was published at Paris two centuries and a quarter ago (1668) and was the work of a noted professor of mathematics, M. Mallet byname. About a hundred years thereafter Mr. William Pryne, also an instructor in mathematics, published his famous "Instruction to the Game of Draughts," and eleven years later (1767) W. Painter issued his " Companion for the Draught Player. " Other essays on the subject followed, but none that bore any comparison Math the very able work of Joshua Sturges, entitled " The Guide to the Game of Draughts." printed first in 1800. In 1835 Mr. Walker re-edited the work and since then it has been reprinted, the last publicaiion bea»-ing the date of 1892, and edited by Kean, London. lO CHECKERS. The fact lliat, despite all the modern works on the game, Sturges' l)ook still liolds its own at the close of the century in which it first ap- peared is praise unneedful of comment or qualification. Following the ])ublication of 1800 came one l^y J. Sinclair, and it is worthy of note that the author of this treatise was the first of the Scottish school of writers and players who have done so much to make a popular study of a really scientific diversion. After this appeared Drummond's Mork, and in the same year Hay's. . Then, in 1848, An- derson's first edition, followed in 1852 by the second, and so on through the latter half of the nineteenth century, including the works of such noted players and writers as Eowen, Janvier, Robertson, Spayth, vScattergood, Berkeley, Dunne and others. All capital works these, according to their individual and respective methods or treating the game, . /om an historical, literary or practical standpoint in turn ; those of the practical and illustrative character being, perhaps, the most popular. None of these writings, however, solve the question of its inven- tion, and we can simply infer from Mallet's book that whatever and whenever its origin may have been, it had probably been played more or less in Europe a century prior to the composition of his treatise. Strutt calls it a "modern invention," and certain it is tHarit was not mentioned in the older editions of the Academic des Jctix, nor in the Conipleat Gamester. Perhaps it was not considered of sufficient importance among the Europeans at that period. To-day it has a firm foothold and nothing can disturb it. Mr. Blackburn, the English chess champion, regards chess, it ap- pears, as "a dangerous intellectual vice which is spreading to rather an alarming extent." Discussing the matter with Mr. Bardeleben some time ago, he said : " . . . . Chess is a kind of mental alcho- hol. It inebriates the man who plays it constantly. He lives in a chess atmosphere, and his dreams are of gambits and the end of games Unless a man has supreme self-control, it is better that he should not learn to play chess Draughts is a better game." Mr. H. C. White, of New York, took up this statement of Mr. Blackburn, and while disagreeing with him on many points, for he regarded draughts as far more "fascinating," hence more dangerous than chess, he said, however, that draughts was " the better game," and proceeded forthwith to give his reasons. In his statement Mr. White says: ". . . Draughts is a better game. . . . It is an olden game. There has been no change in it since the building of the Pyramids There are more openings in checkers than in chess. . . . Checkers is an exact mathematical problem Compare the best chess problem you ever saw, consisting of two pieces against two (first position, for CHECKERS. II instance), and see the difference in the real (not the apparent) depth of the game Finally, I assert that it is far easier to become a fine chess player than an equally good checkers player." Then, after naming some of the famous draughts-players of to-day, as, for instance, Barker, Stewart, Freeman, Fleffner, Read, Wiley, Jordan, Ferrie and so on, adds : " . . . . There is a far wider gap between the good and the best players at checkers than there is between the good and the best players in chess. I would rather be able to draw a game of checkers with Barker than win a game of chess from Steinitz." Bayard Taylor has given an account of the game as played in Japan, and comparison shows that it was played by the aborigines after the Japanese method. It is also played by the natives — as already shown — in various parts of China and India, all of which goes to prove that it has been, throughout the ages, and in all places, a very popular game always. In the foregoing pages have been given descriptions of the vari- ous forms of the game, from the earliest period to which it can be traced until to-day, the ancient and modern ideas regarding it as to its actual interest and value in itself, or as compared to chess and kindred pastimes. The student, however, will decide this question for himself. %^ 12 CHECKERS. Zbc /iDobetn Games. Of the varieties of Draughts recognized as standard games and played all over the world to-day are the English, Polish, Spanish, Italian and Turkish. Taking them up in turn and treating of them in their various phases, Ave shall note in them many characteristics peculiar to the ancient forms described in preceding pages. THE ENGLISH GAME. The game is played by two persons occupying positions opposite to each other, as shown in diagram No. VI. Each player has twelve " men," of adverse colors — black and white or red and white — and these are moved on a board of sixty-four squares of alternate colors — black and whi'e or red and wdiite. The j^ieces, technically termed No. YL □ D m °a D i p g, consists the chief arts of the game — the grand object being to hem in the enemy in such a nvanner that he cannot move his men. When the men of either opponent have made their way to the opposite end of the board, either by taking or through an open path left by preceding moves, they receive increased power ; they are then ' crowned,' which is performed by placing one of the enemy's captured ' men on the top of the piece which has penetrated to the enemy's first row of squares, and thus ' crowned ' the piece may be moved back- wards as well as forwards, but still diagonally only, and one square at a time. To get a man crowned is therefore of the first importance, as the more pieces either player has thus invested, with the privilege of backward or forward movement, the greater are his chances of- beating his adversary's men off the board and winning the game." The directions given above are so distinct and simple, that it will be an advantage to the student to carry them in his mind as he pro- ceeds deeper into the intricacies of the game. Allowing, therefore, as already said, that the board is so placed that the double white square is at the lower right hand — the method, by the way, which prevails in the continental varieties also — the men must be placed as follows : At the beginning of the game they are placed on the first three rows of white squares of !he board on their respective sides. (See illustration No. VI., ist.) The manner in which the squares are conveniently numbered, for the sake of reference, is shown in No. VI., 2d. The player who uses the dark pieces, which must always be placed upon the lowest numbered square, makes the first move, and it is the custom, therefore, to change pieces every new game, as thus each player will have the opportunity in turn to begin. Regarding the choice of men at the beginning, that can be decided by mutual u CHECKERS. agreement, or any other method, such as drawing lots, casting dice, etc., if preferred. • i. j • , i At the risk of repeating information already given with admirable conciseness by Hoyle, I shall touch again upon the " method of moving," " capturing," etc., hoping by an even fuller explanation to impress these details upon the student. MOVING. A move consists in pushing a man from the square on which it stands to another adjacent square which is unoccupied, along the white diagonal on which the player's man is posted. The novice must be particular to bear in mind that the men can only move for- ward, either to the right or to the left, one square at a time, until they reach one of the four-squares on the opposite end of the board to that from which the start was made. No. VII. ■ "'■^" X D D ■ ■ P 9 ••■';"'" r ■ ■ ■ * When this is accomplished the men become kings and have then the right to move either forward or backward, but still on/j' one square at a time. For instance : Black (or red) wishes to move his man placed on square lO, and this he may do 1^' pushing it to either 14 or 15, and when any of his men arrives at 29, 30, 31 or 32 they become kings. Likewise, White, in moving, must play along a white diagonal, either to right or to left, and in the direction approaching the squares I, 2, 3 and 4, on any of which the white piece becomes king. CAPTURING. The men can take (capture) in the direction in which they arc mov- ing by leaping over any hostile piece that is on an adjoining square CHECKERS. 15 provided, naturally, that there he a vacant white square beyond it. The captor is placed on the vacant square, and the man taken is re- moved from the board. If a number of pieces on forward diagonals should be exposed by having oj)en squares behind them, they may be taken all together at one capture, and the capturing man is then placed on the square beyond the last piece taken. Example: A White man is placed, as shown in diagram on page 14 (No. 7), on square 25, and could capture Black (or red) men on 22, 14 and 6 in a zig-zag line, or on 22, 15, 8; or, still again, on 22, 15 and 7, provided, of course, as seen by this cut, a vacant space should be be- hind each of them. HUFFING. When a player neglects, through oversight or otherwise, to avail himself of an opportunity to take a man, his adversary has three alternatives: I. He may allow the move to "hold good." 2. He may make the plaj'er in fault capture the man or men en prise — that is, liable to be taken. 3. He \ViZ.y huff — that is, remove from the board the piece which could have made the capture, but failed to do so. Example : Black is obliged to begin by moving one of the pieces placed on 9, 10, 11 or 12. He moves the man from 11 to 15 and White responds by moving his man from 22 to 18. Black can capture White by leaping his piece from 15 to 22, and remove the man thus taken off the board. Should Black, however, not capture White, but, on the contrary, move in a different direction, say from 12 to 16, he is liable to be huffed, that is. White may remove from the board the man with which Black ought have made the capture, as a penalty for not having done so. Again, White may, if he prefers, leave the offending man on the board without requiring a penalty, or he may oblige Black to replace the piece played to 16, and play from 15 to 22, and thus capture the white piece on 18. When one player "huffs " the other, rather compelling the capture, he does not put back the man his opponent moved in error, but simply removes the one huffed from off the board, and then plays his own move. In draught language it is called huffing and vioving. Another example of huffing is worth citing here : A W^hite man is placed on 28, and three Blacks on 24, 15 and 6, or 24, 16 and 8, with unoccupied intervals ; he may take all three and make a king, or be huffed for failing to capture them all. Frequently a novice will take one piece and overlook a second or third man which is en prise. A player having the right to huff must do so before he moves, or else he forfeits said right during that turn ; if, however, his opponent again neglects to capture the man en prise, he can exact the penalty when his turn comes round again. k l6 CHECKERS. When a player can take a piece in more than one way, he may choose which he prefers, notwithstanding that he may take three men in one way and only one in another. KING. When a piece belonging to either of the players reaches one of the squares farthest from his own end of the board, whether it be by moving or taking, he is, as already shown, made a king ; that is, another man of the same color is placed on him, an operation called " crowning him." A king can move forward or backward, keeping, naturally, on the white diagonals. A king, like any other piece, can capture any number of pieces which are eii prise, and also is quite as likely to be huffed for not doing so. Example : White, by reaching one of the black squares on his opponent's side of the board — let us say No. 2 — would gain a king, and on next having the move, and the black pieces (kings or men) being conveniently placed on 7, 16, 24, 23 and 14, with, of course, the intervening blank square, he could take them all ^\ith one move, remaining himself at g. The man, on arriving at one of the extreme squares and being made a king, finishes the move, and cannot take any piece which may be en prise. He is obliged to first wait for his opponent's move, and should the latter omit to remove or fortify an exposed piece it may then be cap- tured. The game is won by the player who can first succeed in taking or blocking up all his antagonist's men, so that he has nothing left to move. When the pieces are so reduced that there remains on the board but a very small number to each player^ and these being equal on either side, neither one or the other can hope to gain anything de- cided from his opponent, the game is given up as drazvn. If this were not done, and should each side have one or two kings, the game could be prolonged indefinitely, with the same hopeless possibility of natural ending as when tlie pieces were first being resolved into the position in question. HINTS AND GENERAL RULES. I. A player should never touch a man until he has decided to move it. II. A piece should never be moved without a motive. The ques- tion, "What will be the result of such and such a move?" should be kept in the mind and applied at every stage of the game. An effort to answer it by the mental calculation of the efTect of any and every plausible move at the point under discussion will be found of great advantage, although in the beginning it will doubtless seem very irksome. CHECKERS. 17 III^ The student must accustom himself to playing slowly at first, and, when possible, playing with people who are willing to allow an unconditional time for consideration of a difficult position, rather than with people who insist upon the strict observance of the law. IV. When a player has gained an advantage in the number of his men he will increase the proportion by exchange. In forcing them, however, he must be careful not to injure his own position. V. The player must keep strictly to the laws of the game at all times and oblige his adversary to do the same, as otherwise the game would be too trivial for serious consideration. VI. The student should always play with fine players rather than those with whom he can win, and he should, moreover, take every chance he can of looking on when good players are engaged at it. VII. A player should never engage with a player better than him- self without offering to take svich odds as he may wish to give. If, on the contrary, the player finds himself so superior to his adversary that he can get no amusement out of the game when played on even terms, he should offer him odds, and if he declines, cease playing with him. The stronger player should always give odds, thereby making the game equally interesting to both. VIII. The player should never touch the squares with his fingers when calculating, nor let his hand hover over the board. He should avoid, also, incessant talking during the progress of the game, and avoid any display of impatience if his adversary happens to be slow in deciding upon a move. Finally, he must bear in mind and try and practice always what are termed the three golden rules to be observed in all games of calculation: First — Avoid all l:)oasting and loud talking about his skill. Second — Lose with good temper. Third — Win with silence and modesty. l8 CHECKERS. Ube %a\v5 ot tbe (3ame» I. The standard board shall be of light and dark squares, not less than fourteen inches nor more than fifteen inches across said squares. II. The standard pieces, technically called men, and generally de- scribed as White and Black, must be light and dark (for instance, White and Red or White and Black), round in shape, not less than one inch nor more than one and one-eighth inches in diameter. ■ III. The board must be so placed that the bottom corner square on the left hand shall be black, IV. The men shall be placed on the black squares, (See Laws III. and IV.) After substituting the word White for Black these two laws become binding upon the players of any place where it is customary to play on the White Squares. [Author's Note. — Throughout this treatise the white squares will be used to play on.] V. The Black men shall invariably be placed upon the real or sup- posed first twelve squares of the board ; the White, upon the last twelve squares. VI. Each player shall play alternately with White and Black men, and lots shall be cast for the color only once, viz., at the beginning of the play, the winner to have his choice of playing with Black or White. VII. The first play must be invariably made by the person having the Black men, and that alternately until the end of the play. VIII. Time. — At the end of five minutes (if the play has not been previously made), time must be called by the person appointed for that purpose, in a distinct manner, and if the play be not completed on the expiring of another minute, the game shall be adjudged to be lost through improper delay. IX. When there is only one u ffi ■M i ^■f* ^MLM BLACK. Black to move and draw. 3—7, 10—3, 24—27. Drawn. No. XVII. — Known as "First Position.*' WHITE (Payne). 17- -13 10- -15 5 1 9 5 13- - 9 15- -18 1 5 (a)5 9 9 6 1- - 5 5 1 (b)9 6 14- -10 18- -15 1 21- -17 6- - 1 5- - 1 5 9 6 9 15- -18 5- - 1 (c)17 13 25 22 18- -15 1- - 6 9 14 22 25 1- - 5 6- -10 14 17 25 22 15- -10 10- -15 17 22 22 25 10- -14 15- -18 22 25 Black wins BLACK. (a) 21—17, 18—22, 17—14, 1—6, 6—2, 1—5, 22—17, etc. Black wins. (b) 9—13, 18—22, 21—17, 5—1, 17—14, 1—5, 14—10, 22—18, 10—6, 5—1, etc. Black 'ins. (c) 9—5, 18—22, 17—14, 1—6, 5-1, 6—2, 1—5, 22—17, 14—9, etc. Black wins. 32 CHECKERS. No. XVIII. — Second Position. WHITE. 1- - 5 32 28 8 11 24- -27 5- - 9 28 32 11 15 27- -31 9- -14 32 28 15 11 31- -27 14- -18 28 32 11 16 27- -23 18- -15 32 28 16 20 23- -18 15- -11 28 24 20 24 18- -14 3- - 7 24 19 24 19 6- -10 7- -10 19 23 19 23 10- -15 10- -15 23 27 28 27 15- -19 15- -19 27 32 27 32 19- -24 19- -24 32 28 ■ ■ ■ ■ ■ ■ ■ O •• ' i ■ ■ ■ ■ D m n ■ ^^^^ y 24- -27 28 32 28 24 19—24 27- -32 32 28 24 28 11—16 32- -27 28 19 28 32 16 23 2;- -24 12 8 32 28 23-18 24- -19 8— 4 28 32 18—14 19- -15 4— 8 32 28 6— 1 15- -10 14— 9 28 24 13 6 10- - 6 1-10 24 19 11 16 14- -10 10-15 19 24 16 i:o 10- -15 15—19 24 28 Black 15- -19 wins BLACK. Black to move and win. 13- - 9 25—22 22 18 15 10 9- - 6 22—26 18 22 14 18 6 1 5— 9 22 18 10 6 21- -25 9—13 18 15 6 10 1- - 6 26—31 14 17 10 14 6- -2 31—27 17 14 18 22 No. XIX.— Third Position WHITE (Avery). ■ 1 li ■ ■ ■ m LJ ■ ■ ■ g| U ■ ■ • ■ ■ 27- -23 24—20 22 25 22 26 2- - 7 20-16 25 22 26 22 7 11 16—12 22 25 22 26 11- -15 12— 8 25 22 26 22 23- -27 8- 3 22 26 14 9 27- -24 15—10 26 22 Black wins BLACK. Black to move and win. The main point in this, according to an authority on the subject, is to avoid the draw. CHECKERS. 33 B ack moves. 28- -24 32 27 32 28 24- -28 24- -20 27 32 28 32 18- -22 22- -18 31 27 31 27 22- -26 23- -19 30 23 27 31 28- -24 19— 24 Black wins No. XX. — Fourth Position. WHITE (Sturges.) White moves. 31-27 31 27 23—19 27 31 19—24 32 27 24—20 27 32 22—18 BLACK. Black to move and win ; White to move and draw. 28—24 27 31 18—2:3 31 26 Drawn. THE LOSING GAME. As the title implies, this variety is the exact reverse of the ordinary- game, the player's object being to lose all his men, or otherwise have them so fixed that he is unable to move. When he succeeds in doing this he wins the game. The laws for the play here are the same as in the ordinary game, to which are added the following : I. The player who gives away the whole of his pieces wins the game. II. Provided that the player has given away the whole of his legally movable men, the number that remains is considered off the board and he wins the game. T. Dale, of Sheffield, published a book in i866 called the Sheffield Draughts Flayer, which discloses the fact that the game is as full of intricate points as when ordinarily played, and is lively and amusing also. Although not ranking as scientific, it requires attention and does afford great scope for the intellectual and reflective faculties. He gives what he describes as a "Mathematical Rule" for playing the game, as in diagram on page 34. 34 CHECKERS. No. XXI, ■ ■ .1 ■ /5 ■ ■ /^ ■ /s ■ /6 ■ ■ ■ ■ 9 ■ ■ /o ■ // ■ /.^ ■ 1 ■ ■ ■ 5 ^ 6 ■ 7 ■ 8 ■ H ■ ■ i / ■ ^ ■ 3 ■ ^ ■ By this rule each player has sixteen good squares to play on, and in the majority of cases loses the game by being forced out of it. It is an advantage to a player to get one of his opponent's men fixed in his fifth good square, and he must carefully avoid allowing him to have a similar opportunity. It is best to open the game freely during the first four or or five moves by v(\?^\Vi^ j udi cious exchanges. PROBLEM IN LOSING GAME. No. XXII. WHITE (Allen). 3— 7 32 27 7—10 27 23 2— 6 31 27 6- 2 27 24 2— 7 9 ■ ■ ■ ■ ■ ■ ■ ■ ■ y Q ■ 24 20 7— 2 20 16 2— 6 29 25 6— 2 25 21 (a) 2— 6 Drawn. BLACK. Black to move and draw, (a) Black having constructed an impregnable fortress, White cannot approacli near enpugh to come within range without being obliged to capture both men. CHECKERS. 35 11—15 24 19 15-24 27 20 8—11 20 16 EXAMPLES OF LOSING GAME. "SECOND DOUBLE CORNER." 11-20 9—14 13—22 12—16 32 27 18 9 26 17 23 19 4— 8 6—13 8— 9 16—32 28 24 25 22 17 13 31 27 8—11 1—6 3-8 32—23 22 18 22 17 29 25 21 17 PROBLEMS OF CRITICAL END GAMES» No. XXIII. WHITE (F. D. James). 20—27 30 26 23—14 White wins. *23— 19 7 3 19—15 40—10 21 17 No. XXIV. WHITE (Robinson, U. S. A.) BLACK. 10 7 17 14 7—11 12—46 8 3 14 9 No. XXV. WHITE (T. J. Reiley) 16—19 Black wins ■ ■ ■ r V ■ ra m O ■ y ■ ■ , '■ - ■ El W u n "'• -"" ■ Q u □ D ■ ^ m p i ■ ■ u Q ■ ■ ■ ■ ■ ■ ■ ■ ■ ■ ■ D • 1 ■ ■ J BLACK. Black to move and win. *14— 17, 13—9, *18— 23, 27—18, 17—14, 26— 22, 14—5, etc. Black wins. BLACK. Black to move and draw. -10, 11—8, *10— 15, 8—12, *22— 16, etc. Drawn ^6 CHECKERS. The description, rules, tables and illustrations given in the preced- ing pages will furnish the student with the information and practical instruction he requires for learning to play the English variety of draughts, as, after mastering these simpler rudiments he can pass on to a more scientific and exhaustive treatise on the same. From the English game we naturally turn to the Polish variation, as that seems to come next in point of importance. POLISH DRAUGHTS. No. I. DO a n n D D D □ m\ a a n a ^ B Q B M \Q n U □ □ m mn M El Bl w w 3 M B B B I @ B ra ra ra / z :> ^ 5 G 7 e 9 Of the many varieties of the game this is probably the most com- plex in character, and owing to the fact, moreover, that a. board of one hundred squares and forty men are used to play with, it stands to reason that it offers an almost illimitable scope for the player's skill It is played almost altogether on the continent, where it is said to have quite superseded the English game, which latter, it may be in- cidentally observed, is often referred to as, and by many considered, the old French game. i, i • i As seen by above diagrams (cut 25, Nos. I. and II.) the lolisli draughts board is divided into horizontal and vertical columns, and its topography may be briefly described asfoUows : . I. Side sqtiares is the name given to the squares on the side of the board, while the diagonal line of ten squares, o to 9, is called "great line," or "central line," and the two lines of nine' squares ending at the double corners are known as the "double diagonal." II. The rectangles of squares, the paralled sides of which are made by diagonal lines of the same length, and which end at the borders, CHECKERS. 37 are known as slides. These are four in number, each one having a circuit of eighteen squares. These slides are very important in end games of three Kings to one, forming as they do, the basis of the various squares or traps for cap- turing the single King, and are : First Slide — The "2 — 9," limited by the dojible co7'7iers, and con- sisting of the "double diagonal." Second Slide — The "4 — 7," which is made by the four lines which end on 06, 60, 93 and 39. Third Slide — The 5 — 6, which is formed by the four lines ending on the squares 04, 40, 95 and 59. Fourth Slide — The 3 — 8, formed by the lines which end on 02, 20, 97 and 79. To thoroughly undersfand the description of the ' ' slides, " the student must familiarize himself with the board and remember that in the notation of the games the Jirst figtire refers to the lines, the second to the cohnnns. For instance, the square designated by the figures 08 he will find located in the 8th column of line o ; or, again, 64 is at the intersection of the 6th line and 4th column. N. B. — The sole "exception '' is found in \.\\q great ox central line, where the squares are numbered from o diagonally up to 9. In the arrangement of the men on the board, it \\\\\ be noticed that the White occupies the lowest number of squares and always takes first move. As will be observed, furthermore, the even-numbered squares are all in one system and the odd in the other, the position of each square being indicated by its numbers. Example : 75 — the 5th square in the 7th rank, counting upward from o. There are two different styles of play in Polish Draughts — one for position, the other strokes ; the first being generally regarded by good players as the most sound principle of play. The ' 'good player" is, how- ever, able to see and profit by "strokes " when they occur, but will never interrupt any combination to pursue them. No matter what the strength of the adversary is, the opening moves should always be playe 68- 7 75 64 ( — - 8 64 5 8- - 9 5 46 9- - 4 46 37 4- -17 hite wins 0f25&567&9 40 CHECKERS. No. III. No. IV. □ ■ ■ ■ ■ ■ ■ n □ s □ ■ ■^ ■ B □ □ n opl ■ ■ ■ o 2M □ □ □ V ■■ ■ ■ ■ V ■ ■ ■ ■ . 1 1 □ □ □ ■ ■ ■ □ □ • ■ • ■ ■ ■ D ■ ■ ■ ■ ■ ■ ■ ■ ■ ■ ■ ■ ■ ■ ■ ■ ■ •**r-- • 0JZ3iS6rdS 1 Z 3 "i 5 6 7 8 3 51—60 68 46 59—68 15 3 73 51 42—53 7 59 31—42 60-42 64 42 37-48 3 51 80 62 31—97X5 59 37 2—31 46—57 White wins. 15—26 40 2 37 15 1— 9X6 13—24 White wins. ^ lo. V. 9 ■ / ■LP & m ■ ■ uTu '. 7 a arm^^' ■ H ■ ■ 6 H Z D ■ ■ ■ ■ ■ • ■ ■ ■ P 1 ¥ I 1 ■ B B B B ■ V — ■1 ■ No. VI. /23i56739 3—42 15 3 13— 2 24-35 51 15 2- 6X4 31 13 02 46 13-24 White wins. 02—24 37—9X5 20 03 White wins CHECKERS. No. VII. —(Van Vught.) 41 No. VIII.— (BOU-IIGNY.) 46- 5 57 59 5- 6 75 57 73—84 93. 75 42—51 40 62 59—68 (a) 57 48 19 28 39 35X2 68—39X5 White wins. 86—97 46 37 97—64 37 26 40—51 62 40 64—53 White wins. i) 2-13, 68-02, 62—53, 02-1 , etc. White wins THREE KINGS AGAINST ONE. No. IX. S (^ 7 & S White to move; Black draws. 4^ CHECKERS. SOLUTION TO PROBLEM IX. ♦'"When tlie King occupies the long diagonal, the game, after two moves a side have been played to show that no coup was at maturity, is relinquished as drawn. With beginners only is this end-game ever played, and to them one or two experiments suffice to teach the whole secret and enable them to defend the position and draw against the most skilful player. To any learner the following will at once make clear the reason of the precept never to venture beyond the square next to either single corner. At the same time the traps successively pointed out, which he baffles in this instance by simply remaining on his four squares of safety, will give him a first insight into the snares against which, when he has to move on otlier lines, he will have to exert great care and vigilance." 04—26 1 9 8 93—48 06—39 8 (a) 8 48—59 39-93 (c) 1 (b) 1 08-17 26—35 8 17-06 9 57— 4G (e) 8 9 9 59—37 9 46—37 35—24 9 28-19 9 8 1 37—04 9 60— C6 24-57 (d) 9 8 04—15 (f) 8 9 9 39—28 15 60 Drawn 06—39 8 9 (a) If he moved to 3 he would avoid the threatened shot 39 — 6, but fall into a trap by 26—15, 08—17. (b) Trap on 5 by 93—82, 08—19. (c) Trar on 2 by 35—13, 08— 5i6. (d) Trap on 7 by 57—68, 39—4. (e) Trap on 4 by 60—71, 19—08. (f) Trap on 6 by 37—48, 19—28. POLISH GAMES. Our" attention is drawn to the fact here that in these following games the names of the openings refer to some characteristic position formed after a few moves are made, regardless of the exact order or direction in which they are played. No. X. — The "Merchant of the Wood." 9 6 1 6 35— 4 57 35 S 4— 6 75 57 i 26—62 71 53 5 3- 4 I 1 n u □ D □ D □ □ □ U D □ ;:/ n □ • • ■ ■ o ■ n □ D D o o ■ Q B B B o^ o B B B O o O O O • o i 53 35 24—46 57 35 42—51 60 42 31—97 White wins. 0/23^56785 CHECKERS. 43 THE "MERCHANT OF THE WOOD." 31—40 68 59 2—31 0— 1 6 5 35—46 7 6 26—35 9 8 17—26 8 7 08—17 62 53 (a) 3-42 (a) Forms the opening. PIONEER, 68—57. (By I\rr. J. Wyllie, champion of the world at English draughts.) 35—46 46-68 3— 4 17-26 48-59 39—48 60 51 7 59 53 35 80 71 82 73 84 75 31—42 37—48 24—46 13—24 24-35 51 40 59 37 6 5 62 53 91 82 20—31 26—48 28—37 02 13 13—24 (a) 68 57 62 53 71 62 73 6-: 75 6 Position : (a) Forms th e opening. No. XL 2— 3 40 4 42—51 62 40 48—57 6 48 V • B B B D □ D D D ■ D ■ D D □ □ ■ ■ i o □ B B B ■ B B fl B B B B fl i" oB O D B B B 59—68 79 57 37—59 5 37 28—80X5 White wins. y .0 3 "f s 6_ 7 a 9 EXCHANGE, " .;— ." Played at the Amiens Tourney, September, 1887, by Messrs. Leclercq and Moj'encont. 3.5— 4 2— 3 37—48 02—13 39—57 59-68 6 5 68 59 93 84 82 73 80 71 7 59 4— C 1— 2 28-37 37-^6 28—39 57- 6 7 5 59 37 62 53 5 37 71 62 75 37 3— 4 26—48 08—17 26—48 19 28 46—68 5 3 79 68 71 62 53 42 62 51 59 7 2— 4 48—57 24—35 31—53 28—37 2-31 8 7 68 46 80 71 62 26 51 40 40 2 1— 2 4— 5 13—24 15-37 24—35 13—93 9 8 6 4 91 80 71 62 73 62 0— 1 3—37 48— .59 37—46 06—15 7 6 75 6 64 5 62 53 62 51 37-^8 17—26 17—28 48-.57 15 24 8 7 84 75 73 64 48 (a) .53 42 White wins (a) Falling into the trap ; 84 — 73 was the proper move. 44 CHECKERS. SPANISH DRAUGHTS. This variation is played on a board exactly like the English draughts board, and with, of course, the same number of pieces. It is generally played, however, with the double corner to the left of the player, and there are several important points in which the m " ,- :'m c m m - . ,: - D c ■ D J - .- f O 1/- .'.. ' ' '' ■ # ■ d ^ J Black to move and win. 0—14 30-26 1—5 14—27 4 29 29 4 4 8 B. wins BLACK 2- -11 25—21 32— 5 11—20 1 28 28 1 1 28 32 18 12- -16 21— 4 5— 1 20—27 28 1 1 28 28 32 18 32 29- -25 14—32 16—19 1- 5 1 28 28 1 20 16 B. wins CHECKERS* 47 No. V. — (Canalejas.) WHITE. No. VI.— (Canalejas.) WHITE. IS - -. ■ o m -:> ■ 8 ■ ^- ■ ■ ■ n ■ ■ ■ o ■ ;. i 8 ■ o ■ V'- • • 8 b D D :r. - ■ ■ 9 -' ■ BLACK. 4—8 12—16 3—8 13 4 20 11 B. wins BLACK. 2.3—26 31 22 5—18 29 15 7—11 15 8 21—3 B. wins 4—25 2 16 13— 2 16 26 2—20 26 17 25—11 17 14 11—15 14 9 15—25 9 14 20—11 (1) 14 21 No. VII. — Lorenzo Valls. A useful end-game often occurring in actual play, WHITE. ■ ■ '■ ■ ■ ■ ■ ■ ■ ■ ■ ■ ■ 8 ■ ■ ■ o ■ ^ ■ ■ ■ y p m ■ 25—30 21 17 30—21 17 31 3—7 (2)31 13 21—30 13 2 11—20 2 11 20— 7 12 8 30—25 B. wins BLACK. Black to move and win. 48 CHECKERS. (a) 14 17 25—21 17 13 3- 7 (4) 13 2 11—20 2 10 20— 7 12 8 21—25 B. wln.s. (a) If 14- 25—30, etc., -20, B 25—21, 10- (5 wins. , 3 — 7, etc., B wins ; or if 11 —9, 11—2, 9- -14, 2—6, 14- 31 24 11—18 24 19 21—17 19 6 17—22 6 13 22—31 (3) 13 2 7—10 2 6 10—14 3. 4. 6 9 31—13 9 5 13— 9 5 1 18—25 1 5 25— 4 then 14—17 B. wins. 13 G 18— 4 6 19 31—27 19 6 27— 5 6 1 4—25 1 19 19 30 2.5— 4 30 21 1—10 21 30 then 7—11 B. wins. 13 6 21—30 6 24 11— 4 24 6 30—23 (b) 6 24 23— 5 24 1 4—25 1 19 5— 1 19 30 25— 4 30 21 1—10 21 30 7—11 B. wins. No . VIII.— (Garcez.) No. IX. — (Canai.ejas.) WHITE. WHITE. -21, % ■«■ A ■r ■ o ■ o ^1 f ^M O ^wi ■ ■ ■ ■ mm < i ■ ■ i • s PL, H pj jp ^^^nj arVVf a ■ □ ■ 1 HH vM • Bl ack to move and wir . 2—16 4 8 14- -21 25 21 4 8 16- -26 25 30 17—26 5—14 8 4 26- -12 30 16 8 4 13- -22 29 25 12—26 31—13 4 25 21- -17 B. wins 11—16 21 ■ 17 4- -11 23 18 14—21 30 26 (1) 10—14 18 14 21- -30 26 23 9 18 26 22 8—11 22 8 30- -19 BLACK. Black to move and win. 20—24 19 10 1— 6 B. wins 28 19 3- 7 3 17 11—15 10 3 6—31 24 8 6—10 28 24 l((-20 24 19 7—11 22 18 10—14 18 9 5 14 19 15 11 18 W. CHECKERS. 49 (2) 16—20 (a) 8—11 10—19 9—18 4—11 24 19 19 15 18 14 22 8 27 24 W. wins, la) This problem is identical with Problem No. 445, bj- J. Robertson in " Gould's Problems," and both Garcez and Canalejas give it. 2. 16—19 7—10 12-16 7—16 8—12 (3j 5— 9 24 15 27 24 24 20 25 2'i, 17 13 29 25 10—19 9—14 3— 7 16—20 4— 8 18 15 22 17 20 11 31 27 22 17 Position: No. X. WHITE. (b) 8—11 15 8 10—15 17 10 19—24 28 19 1.5—31 (c) 8 3 31—29 21 17 IL ■ i ^^^H -^^^H ■ ■ i^ 1 ■^pC ■ ■ ■ K 6—15 13 6 2- 9 17 13 15—19 13 6 1—10 3 21 Equal Game BLACK. Black to move and win. (b) Garcez continues with 1 — 5 or 2-^7 or 12 — 10, and White wins in every case. (c) 25—22, 6—15, 13—6, 2—9, 22— 18, 15-22, 26—17, 31—13, etc. ter game. 3. Black has the bet- 14—18 (4 ) 6- - 9 17 14 13 6 10—17 1- -17 21 14 26 22 1) 2—7, 10- -•3, 12- -16, 18—22 6- - 9 26 17 13 6 11^15 15- -18 23 19 26 23 8—11 13- -17 22 17 19 15 9—13 4- -8 17 14 31 26 10—17 6- - 9 21 14 15 10 19—23 26—30 21—16 14 10 27 24 20 4 23—26 (d) 30—21 32 27 15 11 W. wins 17—26 30 14 20—24 27 20 3—23, 30—1, 24—19, 1—24, 28—19, etc. W. wins. 4. 2—18 18—22 22—29 29—11 17 14 29 25 30 26 27 24 W. wins. THE "LAIRD AND LADY." 9—13 25 22 18—25 29 22 17—21 24 20 2— 6 28 24 6—15 14 10 7— 4 23 18 14—23 26 10 11—15 27 2ii 8-11 32 28 5— 9 24 19 15—24 38 19 11—15 20 16 15—24 16 11 24—27 11 7 12—16 Position: 6o CHECKIERS. No. XI. BLACK. 10 6 3 10 30 25 21 30 22 17 ■ •■■ ■ • ■ ■ ■ S O 1 ■ ■ 9 ■ B • ■^H E ■ ■ ■ "j^~ ■ • ■ m^M ■ ■ 13 22 6 2 30 19 (a) 2 28 W. win' WHITE. White to move and win. (a) 7>za squares 20, 31, 13, G to 28, capturing six pieces and winning the game. ITALIAN DRAUGHTS. This game is exactly like both the English and Spanish variations, as far as the hoard and the number of pieces used are concerned, but from them of course differs in certain points regarding method of play. Like the Spanish game, the Italian is played with the "double corner "of the board to the left. This variation, however, will re- ceive the same treatment given to the Spanish, the method of play being transferred simply to the English table. N. B. — The student who desires to practice the game according to the strict Italian method can easily do so by following the instructions given with the Spanish variety (page 4^) and studying the diagram of the same. The laws, few, but necessary, may be summed up thus: 1. A single piece is not allowed to take a king. 2. When there are several men in a position to be taken, it is com- pulsory to capture the greatest number and most powerful. 3. In situations similar to those in the English ganie, v\''here it is optional with the player to capture with king or man, it is compul- sory in the Italian variation to make the capture with the king. In everything else the laws of the English game govern the Italian. The few games and illustrations of the same' given belovv are selected from among the numerous examples presented by Mr. Dunne from his collection of the works of Zonono, Michael Angelo Lanci. Dr. C. Mancini and others. CHECKERS. 51 Italian Problems and Illustrative End-Games, Accompanied bv Solu- tions for the Same. No. I. No. II. BLACK. BLACK. ■ ■ ■ • ■ i 8 ■ ■ ■H ■ ■ ji ■ ■ ■ bC ■ ■ ■ ■ ■ ^ WHITE. White to move and draw, (a) 12 8 8 11 11 8 8 11 9—18 18 14 14—19 Drawn (a) 14—10 9—6, l(>-7 4— 8 12—3, 6—2 10 26 B. wins. No. III. BLACK. tajB . ' •m • jBI^B s n ■LJH8 ■ ^:' i ■jM.- s ■ .--'■.•I -1 w • ■ i I ■ ■ B ■ WHITE. White to move and win. 15 11 3-17 22 29 8—15 26 22 IT- 2:. 21—25 29 25 No. IV. BLACK. 5— 9 2.5 22 W. wins ■ ■ ■ □ mS ■ ■ ■ ■ ■ ■ i ■ p ■ ■ ■ ni ■ □ >, ■/■v '■^ -;- ■ B g| ■ u ■ □ El 1^ m ■ ■ ■ ■ ■ ■ W ■ ■ ■ ■ ■ m ■ WHITE. WHITE White to move and win. Wh te to move and win. 18 15 r— 16 18 9 13—22 18 15 17 14 30 14 14 9 23- -30 31 26 6—13 25 11 10- -19 10—17 13— 9 6- -13 15 11 30—23 22 25 W. wins 3 8 8 12 22 18 18 14 1 10 21—25 9- 6 W. wins 52 CHECKERS. No. V. BLACK. No. VI. BLACK. D :? s ^^^ ■ ■ ■ ■ m ■ ■ ■ ■ m o • ■ ■ o BBr^^ ■ •■ • ■ ■ ■ • ■ U m ■ ■ ■ ■ i i o ■ i ■ ■ ■ H -\, " £m o ■ ■ mo WHITE. WHITE. Wh ite to move and win. Whif. to move and win. 31 26 2 6 9 14 23 27 23 26 6 9 15 11 30 25 22 29 5— 9 10—15 24- -28 22—29 5—14 16— 7 W. wins 26 22 6 13 14 18 27 32 - 18 25 ]— 6 15—19 w. wins 13 9 13 9 18 23 14 5 6—10 19—24 No. VII. BLACK. No. VIII. WHITE. ■ ■ •■ ■ ■ D D ■ ■J".^ . ■ •■ H □ B B ■ ■ T|oH D G ■ ■ o mSJjm WHITE. White to move and win. 16 11 10—10 3 1 24—28 23—16 26 3 19—24 27 32 30 2G 16— 7 31 27 W. wins ■ 9 Ji ■ ■ --' jHj y m ^ £ ""-'-' - U M m ■ J • ■ OB ■ o Q i BLACK. White to move and draw. 11 7 i7._io 30 26 16—20 10— 3 27 24 12—16 31 27 32 27 26—17 26 23 Drawn CHECKERS. 53 "KELSO." 10—18 7—11 1—19 16—20 16—19 18— 9 24 19 29 25 23 16 31 27 17 13 7 3 18-24 16-20 8—29 4- 8 20—24 24-27 28 19 21 17 16 11 27 23 13 9 3 8 9—13 11-16 3— 7 12—16 6-13 19—24 22 18 17 14 26 22 23 18 14 :o 8 15 6— 9 20— -^4 7—16 8—11 25-22 27-31 £5 22 27 11 30 25 25 21 18 14 28 19 11—16 13-17 2— 6 29—25 22—18 13—17 19—15 22 6 32 28 22 17 10 7 B. wins. "CROSS." 11—15 18 15 12—16 23 16 9—13 2 11 23 18 9—14 24 20 15—19 24 20 32—28 15—19 27 24 7—11 26 2:3 13—22 16 12 24 15 5— 9 31 27 19—26 27 2i 28—19 10—19 32 27 11—18 30 23 18—27 11 15 22 17 2— 7 20 11 •3^-7 25 2 W. wins 7 10 27 23 8-15 28 24 27—32 TURKISH DRAUGHTS. Thi.s is different from all the rest, for two reasons ; it is played on a plain (uncheckered) board, and the pawns move forward and side- ways — either to right or left — but ne^er backwards or diagonally. No. I. 61 S>Z 83 SH S>5 66 d>7 6 8 7/ 11 73 7^ IS 76 7 78 7 6/ GZ 63 6i 6S (o 67 68 6 S/ 52 f5 5-H S St S7 sa S i/ ^2 ^5 7 7i- f6 H7 7(3 H 3/ 31 3 37 35- 56 67 ^6 5 2.1. z 23 27 Z5 26 27 28 Z / /£ /3 /7' /£■ /6 /7 /a 1 J 1 • • • • • • • • • •' •' • • • • • o o o' o o o o o o o o o o o o / 2. In connection with this latter fact, it must be noted that the men have greater liberty of action, for they are able to move in three directions instead of two, as is the case in the other games ; and. also, they have a far more extended field to M'ork in, their boards beih'g of 64 squares, as against 32 in English and 50 in Polish draughts. The so-called elementary principles, however, are the 54 CHECKERS. same as in the preceding varieties, and offer as extensive and scien- tific a development, if considered with proper care and interest. The diagrams on page 53 show the board numlicred in the first one, and in the second the position of the men thereon : Like the ancient varieties of the game, it is always a "mimic battle," in Avhich the soldiers "advance," "extend" and "close"; advance in "line," "echelon," or in "columns," and also can be " massed " for an attack in the centre, or, again, extend themselves to the right or left in an endeavor to outflank the enemy, and at last, when one of the lines is broken, and a king is gained and brought into the scene of action, he may be said to literally "swoop" down upon the scattered forces (/'. e., pawns) and complete their devasta- tion. The game is governed by the rules of the English game, excepting those which conflicts with certain points named below. 'No. II 6 7 • • 6 ® • m 5 4 5 X / i 8 The White King clears the board by 18— 78, 78— 75, 75— 15, 15— 17, 17— 17, 7— 71, and is careful to take off each piece separately from the board when captured, as otherwise he would be unable to take Pawn 07. White ah^ays moves first. The pawns move only one square at a time, and stiaight forward, as 8 to 43, for instance, or to the right (4—45), or to the left (4—43)- The men capture in the direction in which they are moving, ac- complishing this l)y leaping over any of the adverse men adjoining and with unoccupied scjuare on the other side. The movements of the pawns are found to be l)ased on exactly the same principles as those prevailing in the English game, save, of CHECKERS. 55 Course, they are made in a vertical and horizontal direction, instead of the ordinary diagonal one. A pawn, or man, is made a king un- der the very same conditions that obtain in the English game, and when they have attained this rank can move in every direction, back- wards, forwards and sideways. A king is not obliged to confine liimself to moving one square only at a time ; on the contrary, he can jump several, a complete column, either in " capturing " or otherwise. In this regard his power is like that of the king in the Polish and Spanish games. Here, again, capturing is compulsory, and where the various pieces en prise are scattered in different directions, it is obligatory to take the greatest number. A special feature in the Turkish game is that the men are removed from the board one at a time, as they are captured, thus often open- ing up fresh loopholes for the taking of the other men in the same way. For example see diagram on page 54. TURKISH PROBLEMS. No. III. 23— £1 2.5 23 43—43 (1)4.5 48 a 8 7 m 6 • s H • 5 Z • • I 45 — 17 82—28 81— 1 48 41 1— 2 1 2 3 4 5 6 7 8 White to move and win. 1. 07—67 28—78 G 63 76—68 W. wins ^6 CHRCKKR^^. No. IV. 8 7 • • • • # # 6 • • • • % 5 o • 4 O o o 5 O o o o o 1 o o o 1 53— G3 (a) 64 54 4—64 6 67 34—4 76 6 41—51 61 45 / z 5 ^ s 6 7 a ' White to move and win. (a) If 75—65 or 6—65, White wins by 41—51, etc. 63—81 57 58 35— 5 6 65 64— 6 67 45 81—85 W. wins. No. V. No. VI. 8 7 • # • 6 # # • % • • 5 • • 4 o o o o 5 o o o t X o o o o I I I J^ ^ S 6 7 Q White to move and win. 8 7 • • • 6 % « • • • • • • 5 • -• 4 O o o o 5 O o o o o l o o o o 1 / ^ 3 ^ ^ 6 7 8 AVhite to move and win. 45— 5 25—35 37—38 17—43 65 47 45 25 57 17 3— 7 43-53 24—86 26—27 W. wins 63 45 W. wins. CHECKERS. 57- 3—43 65 5 36—46 5 36 37—36 75 65 35—45 64 54 (a) 38—37 67 57 45— 4 65 64 28—38 61 51 "CENTRE GUARD." 3-42 52 51 24—23 51 52 7 67 21-31 73 74 (b) 25—24 2-32 74 75 26-25 51 52 2.5—35 54 53 23- 3 75 65 23— 2 71 61 35—45 53 54 31-41 68 58 27-26 (a) Threatening a three-for-two stroke by 45, etc. lb) And the position is now as follows : No. VII. 58 48 38—58 65 5 45 — 65 67 68 65 -67 68 48 46 86 78- 7 67—87 48 38 87-47 8 7 • • • • 6 • • • • • 5 • • • • # 4 o o o o o o o 5 o o o o o o 2 o o o 1 61 51 41-61 63 53 61—65 38 28 4—84 28 18 42—82 18 48 (c) 13 06 B. wins / 2 5 4- 5 6 7 8 (c) Black captures all the pieces, touching square 43, 23, 25, 27, 87, 85, 35, 3, aS, 81, 26, 86 and 82. , • ^ <-u„f Mr Dunne savs of the above: "We can scarcely conceive that this complicated'' stroke' could be seen through m cross-board pla,y; t is more likely the result of analysis. That it is a practical pos i- t on however, is beyond doubt, and can be formed from several dif- ferent openings ; and it is a good illustration of the possibilities of ^Yn^Sud'^-Ingt^e^-five varieties of draughts presented here, the stu den^ w Ifind his time and mind most agreeably employed He must be careful however, not to allow this fascinating game, with its many and varied phases, to absorb his attention to the exclusion of all other Occupations^ diversions, as thus he would once for al lose the TosXlity even of the genuine good wdiich -^^l^^/^: ^ '^ • 1 i.- ^f cr-ic^nrp in nnv form. JN o one wno nas e\ei i-ip«;l- rnnmderation oi science lu a-ny iwnxi. aken up draughts seriously will deny its scientific tendency, and the larf^us^' openings" into deeper and more "f-^J^^f^^^^y/Xed" search the clifferent forms of the game suggest. It can be played however , in the simplest manner, and thus_ is accessible to al the members'of the familf, from the oldest, who is o^^^^^^^^^_ over some minor pastime, to the youngest who will find entertain ment in the arranging of the pieces on the board, ifk¥¥¥¥¥¥¥¥¥¥¥¥¥¥¥¥¥¥¥¥¥¥¥¥¥¥¥¥¥¥¥¥¥'* ennis Racket RAME of finest quality white ash, handsomely polished, the stringing of the highest quality gut and specially made for this Racket; throat-piece of rosewood, handle cane spliced and cane extending through throat-piece, giving additional strength and greatly increasing the resiliency and driving'power. It is hand-made throughout and of the finest workmanship, as indicated by our special trade mark of " Highest Quality." .-Price, $8.00 Illustrated Catalogue of Spring and Summer Sports Free to Any Address. A. G. SPALDING & BROS., NEW YORK. CHICAGO. PHILADELPHIA in |^^1^1^l^1^1^l^l^!^l^1^1^1^l^l^l^1^1^1^1^1^l^l^l^1^5^1^1^^^1^1^1^l^ I i i OAT e-» Me Builb... 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