any other Pawn beyond the King's side, and also a Rook cannot checkmate.

The Queen's Knight's Pawn, with either of the Rook's Pawns, and a Rook, cannot checkmate.

The Queen's Knight's Pawn, with the Queen's Pawn, and any other Pawn, beyond the Queen's side, and also a Rook, cannot checkmate.

The King's Rook's Pawn, with K. B. Pawn and any other Pawn beyond, and also a Rook, cannot checkmate. The Queen's Rook's Pawn, with Q. B. Pawn, and any other Pawn beyond, and also a Rook, cannot checkmate. The King's Pawn, with another Pawn on the same file, and a Queen, cannot checkmate.

The Queen's Pawn, with another Pawn on the same file, and a Queen, cannot checkmate.

The King's Pawn, with both the Bishops, cannot checkmate.

The Queen's Pawn with both the Bishops, cannot check

mate.

The King's Pawn, with a Knight and Bishop, cannot checkmate.

The Queen's Pawn, with a Knight and Bishop, cannot checkmate.

Either of the Bishop's Pawns, Knight's Pawns, or Rook's Pawns, with a Knight and Bishop, cannot check

mate.

Although the Kings are not named, it must be understood, that they are on the board. Many of the above can be won, if the adversary play ill, and others cannot.

The means of checkmating, drawing the game, &c. hitherto given, may give rise to many others very differ

ent, and which I have not mentioned, intending to give only those general examples which will enable the student to descend to others more particular and minute.

In the following Chapter I shall give some account of the art of playing without seeing the board, not that I wish it to be supposed that the player cannot become perfect without it, but because the opinion of men seemed to require it, by whom it has always been considered a most surprizing and wonderful talent; and also that nothing may remain untouched relating to the game.

CHAPTER II.

On the Art of playing without seeing the Board.

THOSE who are desirous of learning the art of playing without seeing the board, must have in their mind all the squares of the Chess board, and all the Pieces that are or were on them. It is not sufficient, as some think, to know that such a square belongs to such a Piece, or has such a number, because much more than this must be learned. In the first place, the player may take as a certain rule, that on the perpendicular lines all the odd numbers are of the same colour; for example; if the first square of a line be White, then the third, fifth, and seventh squares, will also be White; if the first be Black, the third, fifth, and seventh will be Black. It is different

with the oblique lines which are either all White or all Black; for example; the oblique line which begins at the White King's Rook's square is entirely White, and that beginning at the White Queen's Rook's square, entirely Black; and as all the straight lines have neither more nor less than eight squares, it is not necessary to say any thing more respecting them, but it is very different with the oblique lines, only two of these contain eight squares, namely, those which begin at the Rook's squares, one of which is White and the other Black; those lines which begin at the Knight's squares have only seven squares, one line is Black, the other White, moreover from the Knight's White square on the left hand is another line containing only two squares, and from the Knight's Black square on the right hand, is also a line containing only two squares, but it would be tedious to mention all the squares of the oblique lines; suffice it to say, that all the squares whether Black or White, on the right hand, or on the left, should be remembered by the student. This is the more required, because it is not only necessary to know the squares from the beginning, but also from the middle and end of the lines, for example; the third square of the White Queen is White, which branches into an oblique line of four squares forwards on the King's side, and backwards on the same line two squares on the Queen's side; forwards to the left is another line of three squares and backwards on the King's side two squares, it is also necessary to know which of these squares is the King's fourth, adversary's Bishop's fourth, Knight's third, and Rook's second, &c. &c.

With regard to the Pieces and Pawns it is necessary to

have well fixed in the mind their position when on their own squares, in order to know what squares they attack, for example; it is not sufficient to know the situation of the King's Pawn at its own square, you must also know that it attacks the Queen's third, and King's Bishop's third square: the same with the Pieces; the White King's Knight on its own square attacks the King's second, Bishop's and Rook's third square; it is much more difficult, when the Pieces have quitted their own squares, to know what squares they attack, so that the essence of playing without seeing the board consists in the knowledge of the relative position of the squares, and of one's own, and one's adversary's pieces, so that the player may not mistake, when he checks the adversary, if he can give him checkmate, or if he can interpose any Piece or Pawn, &c. &c. ; all which requires too, a perfect knowledge of the Pieces exchanged and taken, for without it one cannot possibly play without seeing the board.

Of the Pieces, the Knight is considered the most difficult to remember, on account of the peculiarity of its move, and therefore I shall make a few remarks on it: from the square on which the Knight is, counting two squares forward, backwards or sideways, the Knight attacks the square adjoining the third square to the right and left; the smallest number of squares that the Knight can attack, is when it is on one of the Rook's squares, as it attacks only two squares; if it be on its own square it attacks three squares; four squares, if it be placed on the Bishop's, King's, Queen's, Knight's second, or Rook's third or fourth square; if it be placed on the King's third, or fourth, Queen's third or fourth, or

Bishop's third or fourth it attacks eight squares; if it be placed on the remaining squares it attacks only six squares.

The Pawns are more easy to keep in mind, because they never attack more than two squares, and the Rook's Pawns only one; after the Pawns the Piece the easiest to remember, is the King, then the Rook, then the Bishop, (because it is easier to remember the perpendicular, than the oblique line,) then the Queen. Besides, to play well without seeing the board, it is necessary to play often, which is not a little fatiguing; no one can play so well from memory as if he saw the board: this is allowed by all who profess to play without seeing the board; I grant that some succeed better than others, but none so well as if they saw the Pieces. It is not necessary to be very skilful in order to play without seeing the board, for com-. mon players succeed in it; allowing the difference in play between seeing and not seeing the Pieces.