Excerpt from Key to the Chess Openings, on a Novel Plan: Theoretically and Practically Considered, and Illustrated With Diagrams We ask for Chess, and we seek no more, that it should be allowed to take its turn, more generally than it does now, amongst the other amusements of mankind. It is a game which can be played by both sexes, young and old, and at all times of the year. Music and cricket, amusements also, are learned at most schools; why should not Chess, likewise? As there is a piano in almost every drawing room, Why should there not be a Chess-board in every parlor As cricket invigorates the body, and music charms the soul, why not add, in as universal a way, Chess to amuse the intelligent mind Life must have its pleasing and virtuous amusements, not as the business of life, but to alternate with its duties and its cares. The hardest worked men would find Chess eu agreeable change from their avocations. Mr. Buckle, the author of the stupendous History of Civilization, was accustomed almost daily, after several hours of literary work, to repair to a Chess resort in London, and suhati tute for his labors some most, what is technically called, difficult Chess, since he was one of the best players of his time. N 0 one need be deterred on account of age, sex, or occupation, from learning and practising the game. Mr. Morphy, under age, established his superiority over the veterans of America and Europe and many good players are amongst the gentler sex. To excel In the game depends upon one' s capacity and liking for it, coupled with moderate amount of study, and practice with strong players. N 0 game is easier to learn in its elements. A friend could teach the moves in a quarter of an hour. The general meaning of the principal openings can be understood In a few weeks, and then the student will acknowledge the beauty of the game, its wonderful and ever-changing combinations, the charm of those intricacies which never satiate, the depth, the variety of its infinite variations. He who has learned Chess has never regretted it; and few who have played it, with even a moderate degree of excellence, have ever abandoned it altogether. About the Publisher Forgotten Books publishes hundreds of thousands of rare and classic books. Find more at www.forgottenbooks.com This book is a reproduction of an important historical work. Forgotten Books uses state-of-the-art technology to digitally reconstruct the work, preserving the original format whilst repairing imperfections present in the aged copy. In rare cases, an imperfection in the original, such as a blemish or missing page, may be replicated in our edition. We do, however, repair the vast majority of imperfections successfully; any imperfections that remain are intentionally left to preserve the state of such historical works.