NOTATION ADOPTED BY ALEXANDRE, JAENISCH, "THE HANDBUCH." AND THE GERMAN WRITERS GENERALLY.

66

h

Here the Black corner square, which is occupied by the Q's Rook at the beginning of a game, is marked "a 1," Q. R's 2nd is a 2," and so on to Q. R's 8th, which is known as "a 8." Q. Kt.'s square, in like manner, is "b 1." Q. B's square is "c 1." Q's square is "dl." K's square is "e 1." K. B's square is "f1." K. Kt.'s square is "g 1," and K. R's square is "h 1," and each of these go on of course from the first square of the file to the 8th, in the same direction. In the adoption of this notation, it is usual to give merely the square from which a Piece is moved, and that to which it goes, a small sign (X) being used to denote check, o-o to denote castling on the King's side, and 0-0-0 to denote the same operation on the Queen's side.

The following will serve as an example of this description of notation :

e 2-c 3.

Ο

d4-c 3.

In the English notation these moves would be given thus:

о

We shall give the same opening in all our other specimens. In Alexandre and Jaenisch, taking is indicated by a small placed over the last cypher; thus the 3rd move of Black in the above, 3.

e

• would be

In the German "Handbuch" we find signifies takes; and in the same work the initials of the superior Pieces, but not of the Pawns, are alsc given. Taking the above example, and giving the English initials of the Pieces, the opening becomes

In our opinion, these initials are quite uncalled for, and appear to destroy, in some measure, the simplicity of the original notation. We now proceed to another method of denoting the squares. (See Diagram 2.)

Here we find, in place of a b c d e f g h, as given in the last system, the same squares are distinguished by 1 2 3 4 5 6 7 8. This notation is found in Koch's "Elementarbuch der Schachspielkunst," and, adopting the English initials of the Pieces, would give the previous opening as follows:

Kieseritzky has adopted this plan of denoting the squares, but with the difference of placing the figures which indicate the columns or files before those which denote the ranks. (See Diagram 3.) His method, however, of giving the moves is different to Koch's, and we think unquestionably preferable. He denotes the officers or Pieces by the capitals A B C D E F GH, beginning in order from Q. R., and the Pawns standing before them by the small letters a b c d, &c. He then gives the Piece or Pawn to be moved, and the square to which it goes, and if any capture is made, the Piece or Pawn taken is also mentioned. (e. g.)

This, it must be admitted, leaves nothing to be desired on the score of conciseness, but it would have been easier for players accustomed to our notation, if he had marked the squares as in Diagram 2, and grafted on that plan his own method of indicating the men.

K. P. to K's 4th

e 45

K. P. to the 4th of the K.

1.

but is 1.

e 54

and in this form is more intelligible to Englishmen, because 1. reads

But it is probably In this instance M. K. consulted the convenience of the French players, who express themselves in the manner objected to.

There is yet another manner of notation, in which the squares are rumbered 1 2 3 4 5, &c., up to 64, but this method seems to offer no advantages of any kind, and therefore needs no further mention.

In conclusion, we may remark, that it is easy enough to invent new chess notations, or vary the old, but extremely difficult to discover anything likely to supersede that already in use,-for our own notation, with some slight modifications or abbreviations, may be rendered almost as concise, and certainly more expressive. than any of the arbitrary, systems above described.

THE following ingenious stratagems, all of which are original, and were kindly presented to the author expressly for this little work, may afford the student occasional relaxation when his mind is bewildered by the inexhaustible variations which spring from the openings of games.

For the assistance of those readers who want leisure or patience to unravel the intricacies of these positions, the solutions are appended.

* For a more detailed description of M. Kieseritzky's method of indicating the moves, the student is referred to the prefatory address in his Cinquante Parties," and the opening chapters of Witcomb's translation of Mr. Lewis's last Chess Treatise,