ON ODDS.

SIXTH BOOK.

SEVERAL OPENINGS OF GAMES AT THE ODDS OF

THE CASTLED KING, WITH REMARKS.

CHAPTER I.

On the odds of giving checkmate on a particular square.

THE difference in the skill of players has given rise to odds, in order to make the game equal. There are various kinds of odds; some frequently given, others but seldom, but all ought to be known by those who wish to excel in the game. In the first place, the odds of giving checkmate on a particular square, may be understood in two ways, either that the King, when checkmated, must be on the square named, or that the Piece that gives the checkmate must be on that particular square; the first of these is equal to giving a Knight, the second not quite so much. He who gives the checkmate on any other square than the one named, loses the game. The player who receives the odds should chuse one of the squares in the middle of the board which makes it more difficult to win, and should keep the King as far from it as possible. The King and Queen only at the end of the game are not sufficient to win.

CHAPTER II.

On the odds of checkmating with a particular Piece.

THESE odds are seldom given as they are very troublesome and difficult. If the checkmate is to be given with a Queen, and it be allowed that the Pawns may become Queens and checkmate, the odds are equal to rather less than a Knight; if the original Queen must give the mate, it is equal to giving a Rook: if one particular Rook is to win, it is equal to rather more than a Knight and Bishop; if either of the Rooks, then it is equal to giving a Rook; if one particular Knight or Bishop, it is equal to giving a Rook and Knight; if either of the Knights or Bishops, it is equal to rather more than a Rook. The player giving the odds must take especial care of the piece that is to win, without exposing his King; his adversary should endeavour, at the risk of all his Pieces, to win the marked Piece. The player who gives the odds, loses the game if he checkmate with any other Piece than the one named.

CHAPTER III.

On the odds of giving checkmate with a marked Pawn.

To give checkmate with a marked Pawn is more difficult than the others, and is considered equal to giving a Queen. He who gives the odds should select the King's

Knight's Pawn, as being the easiest to defend, and because, in defending it, you at the same time defend your own King, which ought to castle on that side. If the Pawn advances to Queen and checkmates, the conditions are not fulfilled; the same is to be understood of the other Pawns, though some hold a contrary opinion. Giving checkmate with any other Piece or Pieces loses the game.

CHAPTER IV.

On the odds of checkmating with a Pawn.

To give checkmate with any Pawn, though known only to a few, is not great odds, being equal to giving two Pawns. If the player who gives the odds loses all his Pawns, or checkmates with any other Piece, he loses the game; his adversary should therefore endeavour to exchange Pawns, but he must be very careful not to exchange a Piece for two Pawns, unless he be sure of exchanging all his Pawns, even with the loss of all his Pieces. It is not good play in him who receives the odds to expose his King to a checkmate from the Pieces, because his adversary will not checkmate him, but will force him, by checks or otherwise, to lose Pieces or Pawns, and thus, by weakening him, make it easier to win.

CHAPTER V.

On the odds of the drawn game.

THE player who allows every drawn game to be counted as won by his adversary, gives odds equal to the King's Pawn and move. We do not here include the stalemate as a drawn game, because it is a distinct kind of itself, although the result be the same as other drawn games. These odds are equal to the value of a Pawn between middling and good players, but if between those who know but little of the game, it may be considered as nearly equal to a Piece. The party giving the odds should guard his King so as to prevent perpetual checks, or other methods of drawing the game, for he has not only to avoid checkmate, but also drawn games. He who receives the odds should try to check the adverse King, or to bring the game into such a position, that if the adversary is determined to break through, he must lose some Pawns or Pieces; the inferior player should not break through, but play for the drawn game.

CHAPTER VI.

On the odds of betting two to one.

THESE odds are equivalent to giving the drawn game, that is, between middling or good players, equal to a Pawn and move, and betwen bad ones not less than a Piece.

CHAPTER VII.

On the odds of all the Pieces for two moves each time.

SOME persons are of opinion that one party taking off all his Pieces and remaining with the King and Pawns only, has an equal game with his adversary, provided he be allowed two moves each time. I do not agree with them, for I think that the player who has the Pieces has the better game, but he must play with caution, particularly the Pawns, examining if his adversary's two moves can gain any thing; moreover he should endeavour to prevent the advance of the Pawns by opposing his own Pawns and Pieces, for if he succeeds in blocking up his adversary's Pawns, the Pieces will unquestionably win. The Pawns will gain if either of them become a Queen, for in a few moves she will take all the adversary's Pieces. It is not material which party begins the game; he who has the pieces should always begin by playing a Pawn one square; the player of the Pawns should begin with a Pawn two squares. The player of the Pieces should endeavour to exchange two Pawns for one, or a minor Piece for two Pawns; before an exchange of Pawns has taken place, he should not move out the Queen or the other Pieces, nor give check, because the adversary may be able to interpose a Pawn and take the Piece that checked: when a Knight checks, it should be defended, because the King can take it in two moves.

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