CHAP. I.
Of the Antiquities and Inventors of this Game.

DIverse are the opinions of the antiquity of this game of Chess. Some thinke that it was inven­ted by Palamedes one of the chief Commanders of the Grae­cian forces at the siege of Troy. Others that Xerxes the great King of Persia devised it: but the most received opinion is, that at that siege or some other place blocked up by their adversaries, by some of the most learned and experienced besiegers, meeting and clubbing their inventions together, this in­imitable game was found out: and the rather, because who ever playes at it shall not be able to carry on any designe with any successe, or understand the plots of his adversary without his whole intention is fixed upon it, and he be ab­stracted from all other contemplation.

CHAP. II.
Of the shapes, names, and places of the Chesse-men.

ALthough in all Countries the shapes of the Chesse-men are not the same, yet are the figures framed so distinctly from one ano­ther, that they never breed any confusion: The Chesse-board therefore (which is divided into sixty foure square houses) standing (as usually) with the white corner to the right hand, the first and highest generally called the King, stan­deth in the fourth house from the corner of the board in the lower rank, with this observation, that the white King must stand in black, and the black King in the white: where note that every piece standeth right over his adversaries piece of the same sort.

The next in height is the Queen or Amazon, who is placed in the fourth house from the cor­ner of the field by the side of her King, and al­wayes in her owne colour; whence

Next to the Kings other side place a Bishop o [...] Archer, who is commonly figured with his hea [...] cloven, next to him the Knight, and in the corner of the field: the Rooke, Rock, or Duke who is sometimes fashioned with a round head sometimes like a Castle, &c. So also on the Queen [Page 3] side, place her Bishop Knight & Rook, who always stand in different colours to those of the King.

Lastly, before each Great man standeth their particular pawne or Serving-man, so that the King and Queen have three great men and four pawnes a piece.

CHAP. III.
Of the draught, guard, worth, and Prerogative of each plece, and first of a Pawne.

THe draught of a Pawne is only one house at a time streight forward in his owne file never retiring; but he differs from all other pieces, in that it doth not take the adverse pie­ces as it goeth, but that which standeth aslope in the next house forward of the next file on either hand, and then goeth forward upon occasion as at first; now as all other pieces doe, he guar­deth any piece of his owne side just as he taketh, that is, if a piece of his side standeth in that place where if it were an adverse piece he might take it, he then doth guard it, so also doth he check, that is, (give notice to) the adverse King that he can take him, which check if the King cannot avoid either by taking him up himselfe if he be unguarded (for a King can at no time remove into checke) or by causing him to be taken up by some other of his pieces, it is checke Mate, and [Page 4] the Game lost. This is the draught of the Pawne who though it be of least value, yet hath it thre, great priviledges.

The first is, that whereas his remove is but one house forward at a time, yet every pawne for his first draught, may remove two houses forward.

The second is, that if any pawne commeth up to the fourth ranke of the adverse party, if any of his pawnes of the next file on either side doe remove two houses at one time, that is beyond his guard, he may take him as if he had removed but one.

The third and greatest is, that if any Pawne can arrive unto any house of the uppermost ranke of the adversary, you may immediately make him a Queen, or what piece you have al­ready lost, (yea in forraigne Countries, and a­mongst the best players, here you may have two or three Queens at a time) who shall be able at that very instant, to check the adverse King, and use all power the Piece you make him hath.

CHAP. IV.
Of the Bishops, and Knights.

NEXt in value above a Pawne are Bishops and Knights. The Bishops walke is, al­wayes in the same colour he is first placed in, forward and backward aslope as far as you please, and the way is cleare betwixt him and the place you intend to remove him to, so doth he guard any piece of his own side; take any of the contrary, and check the adverse King, which unavoided by either taking or causing him to be taken up, or interposing some piece between him and the King, it is Check mate.

The Knights draught is forward and backward on either hand aslope from the place he stand­eth in, to the next save one of another colour, skipping over any piece that standeth in his way; and in the same manner doth he guard, take, and check; which check, because (as the Pawnes check) it cannot be covered, the King must either remove out of check, or cause him to be taken, for he cannot take him himselfe, it is Check mate. Now the difference of worth be­tweene the Bishops and Knights is uncertaine, some preferring one, some the other, as they play best with either of them themselves, or ob­serve it in their adversary: but generally the [Page 6] Knights are more esteemed, because their walks have more variety, that is, into all the sixty foure houses, but a Bishops walke is, but through thirty two of them: A Knight likewise guardeth three houses before he doth remove, and eight when he is from the side of the file, whereas the Bishop guardeth but two houses in his first place, and but foure afterward; Thirdly, the Knights can guard one another, which the Bi­shops cannot doe, because they move into one anothers colour: Fourthly, a Knights check cannot be covered, but a Bishops may, and I cannot see, but that the two Knights and a King may give a mate though not so well as the Bi­shops, but it is hard for either of them to doe it.

CHAP. V.
Of the Rookes, Queene, and King.

THe Rocks, Rookes or Dukes walk forward, backward, and side-wayes in any rank and file (but not aslope as the Bishops do) unto any place; so also doe they guard, take, and check, which check, if not avoided the game is lost: Now a Rookes worth is as great as both a Bi­shops and a Knights, because he goeth over all the board which the Bishop cannot, and though the Knight may, yet his remove is confined to a certaine distance, when the Rookes is unlimited where there is no interposition, and although he guards no more places then the Bishop doth, yet he can give mate with the King alone, which no piece else beside the Queen can doe; his Pri­viledge is to change with the King as you shall see in the Kings Prerogative.

But the Queen is in value equall to any two pieces: Her remove being forward, backward, side-waye, and aslope, but not as the Knight doth as far as she will if she meet no opposition, she in like manner doth guard the pieces of her owne side, take the enemy and check his King which unavoided is Mate: She guardeth five houses in her first place, and eight when she is from the side of the file.

[Page 8] The King removeth but one house at a time forward, backward, side-wayes, and aslope to any place not possessed by his owne men, or guarded by the enemy where he may take any piece of the enemies; but there must be alwayes the distance of one house between the two Kings, for they can neither check nor take one another, he guardeth as many places as the Queen doth. His Prerogative is

First, that no piece can take him, but must only salute him with the word check.

Secondly, whereas his draught is but one house at a time, yet for his greater safety, if nei­ther he nor either of the Rookes have as yet stirred out of their places, and there is no piece standing between them, he may change (or Ca­stle) with this Rooke, that is, he may goe two draughts at once towards this Rooke on which hand soever he standeth, causing the Rooke to stand next to him on either side; this may he doe at any time before check, or after check, In France the Rook when the King changeth, goeth into the Kings house.

CHAP. VI.
Observations in playing the game.

HAving now discovered the places, removes, guards, worth and Prerogative of each piece, I will now shew you some observations in the removall of them: but whereas there is 64 houses in the Chesse-board, there may be con­sequently as many varieties of games as 64 can be altered which are more then there have been minutes since the Creation, therefore there is no such rule found out at this game, as who shall play according to it, must necessarily win the game: however there may be such precepts and directions given, that whosoever shall carefully observe and remember upon occasion to put them in use, shall have great advantage against him that hath them not, so that the following advises and Gambetts well studied will be in­stead of a rule to direct you how to advance and retire, how to take opportunities, as also how to designe upon your adversary to foresee and prevent his stratagemes, with a returne upon himselfe: For certainly he that hath before his eyes & in his memorie many games well played shall be able to make such observations upon them, as may stand him in great stead when ever the enemy shall fall into such a posture of game [Page 10] as he hath formerly seen, and remembreth the disadvantage he is liable to.

The first thing therefore you are to indeavour is, to get the first remove, for it is of great ad­vantage: for which gamesters strive severall wayes according to their agreement between themselves, but when a game is ended he is to have it, who winneth it, unlesse you make it o­therwise. Now for the first draught it is gene­rally esteemed best to remove the Kings pawne two houses, because if not prevented (by the like play) you may still move that pawne for­ward with good guard, which will be very pre­judiciall to the adversary.

The second thing observable is to play your men in good guard of one another, that if any man you advance be taken, the adverse piece may be taken againe by the piece which guar­deth yours: and to this purpose be (of all things) sure to have as many guards upon one of your pieces, as thou seest the enemy doth ad­vance of his upon it.

Thirdly, that thy guardes be of lesse value then the pieces he assaileth withall, for then if either he or you begin to take you shall gaine something, if you finde you cannot well guard your piece, see whether you can advance some piece, of yours in guard to take a better piece for so you may many times save your endan­ger'd piece.

[Page 11] Fourthly, never change piece for piece untill you get the advantage either by taking a Pawne or Noble-man of his for nothing, or disordering a pawne or two of his which is of very materiall consequence.

Fiftly, take great heed that you doe not choak up your owne passage from advancing your men, and retiring on all occasions, but indea­vour by all meanes to take that liberty from your adversary.

Sixtly, never play any man untill you have examined whether you your selfe are free from danger, and to that end upon every remove of your adversary, consider of what consequence the advancing and retreating of your adversary may prove, and indeavour (if it may be hurt­full) to prevent it before it be too late.

Seventhly, consider the maine designe of the game, which is as suddenly as can be to give check mate, that is as I said before, so to check the adversary King, as that he can neither take the piece checking because it is guarded, nor cause it to be taken, nor cover the check, nor remove out of check, which may be done seve­rall wayes, so that sometimes by the losse of one or two of your great men, yea, sometimes of your Queen you may give an unexpected mate, as you may often observe in the following Gam­betts: I shall therefore omit to discover unto you the manner of the surprizing the Rookes, [Page 12] or a Queen, or the making a new Queen, of which you shall have plentifull examples in the Gambetts.

Lastly, never let your Queen stand so before your King, as that your adversary may bring a Rooke or Bishop to check your King if she were not there, for then you will hardly be able to save your Queen, nor let his Knight come so safely, that he cannot be taken up to check your Queen and King or your Rooke, and King at one time, for then you will loose your Queen or Rooke, since the King must be forced to remove out of check.

CHAP. VII.
Of some particular things to be observed, with the lawes of Chesse-play.

BEfore I come to the Gambetts, I will tell you what a Forke, a stale, a blind Mate and a dead Game is.

A Forke is, that when you see two of the ene­mies Noble-men standing in the same ranke, and but one house betwixt them, advance a pawne, guarded with an other, unto the middle house before them both, and you may commonly take one of them.

[Page 13] A stale is given when one King hath lost all his men, and hath but one place left to fly into, if then the adversary bar him of that place with­out checking him, so that he being now out of check cannot remove but into check, it is then a stale, and he that giveth it to the distressed King loseth the Game.

A blind Mate is, when one giveth check mate but seeth it not, yet it is neverthelesse a Mate, though a disgracefull one.

A dead Game is when only the two Kings are left: yea most Gamesters will draw the stakes, when they have but a Knight or Bishop left with their King, and the enemy only his King: For it is not possible then to give a Mate by force.