Italians, who, when in wrestling, give their opponents some apparent advantage for the purpose of tripping them up. In Chess it is used when a Pawn or Piece is purposely abandoned by the player who has the first move. There are various kinds of Gambits-as the King's Gambit, the Muzio Gambit, &c.-but of these we shall have to speak by-and-by. The Pawn sacrificed is called the Gambit Pawn.

J'ADOUBE. This term is used when a player touches a Piece or Pawn without the intention of moving it. It means, "I adjust, or replace."

CHESS NOTATION.

In the notation employed in Chess, the squares of each file are called after the superior pieces. Thus the King or Queen is said to be on his or her square; moving one pace forward, they are said to move to their second squares, and so on. The several pieces are thus designated-K. for King, Q. for Queen, R. for Rook, B. for Bishop, Kt. for Knight, Q. P. for Queen's Pawn, &c. The pieces on either side of the King are distinguished as K. B.,_Q._B., (King's Bishop, Queen's Bishop,) K. Kt. P., Q. R. P., (King's Knight's Pawn, Queen's Rook's Pawn,) and so forth.

In order that the young player may comprehend much that will follow, it is necessary that he should acquaint himself with the notation adopted by all English players, and generally in use throughout Europe. Having placed the men on the board, it will be seen that each side occupies two distinct ranks of men, on the first of which stand the Pieces, and on the second the Pawns. The eight squares on the first horizontal

line are distinguished by the names of the Pieces as they stand; and the Pawns take their names from the Pieces to which they belong. Thus we say, the King stands on his square, and moves one step forward at a time to King's second, third, &c.; and so of all the other Pieces. By a diligent study of the following diagram, it will be seen that the moves of both black and white are reckoned from their own sides of the board from their first squares to their eighth. Thus the White Queen's seventh square on her file is the Black Queen's second; the W. Kt.'s eighth is the B. Kt.'s first, and vice versâ throughout.

In some of the new styles of chessmen, the King's Knight and Rook are distinguished by a crown or other mark stamped on them, so that they may be known throughout the game. King's and Queen's Bishop are always known by the colour of the squares they occupy. Without a thorough knowledge of the above, or some other system of chess notation, it would be quite impossible for Herr Harwitz and Mr. Morphy to play, without seeing the board, or to play several games simultaneously, as they have done. But these feats are mere efforts of memory; and like Paganini on the violin with one string, are of little practical utility.

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CHAPTER II.

THE ACKNOWLEDGED LAWS OF THE GAME.

THE laws of Chess are few and easily remembered. They are the same, or nearly so, in all the principal Chess clubs, though the actual terms employed to express them vary considerably. In the following rules I have endeavoured to give the sense of the laws, and at the same time avoid the verbiage of the chess-books.

I. The chess-board to be so placed that each player has a white corner square at his right hand. [It is of no absolute consequence to the game whether

a white or black square be at the right hand, but for the sake of uniformity the players have agreed to this arrangement.]

II. If a Piece or Pawn be misplaced at starting, the mistake must be rectified before the fourth move, or the game must proceed as the pieces stand. [This also includes what is usually given as Law III. -namely: If a player has omitted to place all his Pieces or Pawns on the board, he may amend his error before four moves have been made, but not after.] III. A player undertaking to give the odds of a Pawn or Piece, must remove the man before four moves on either side have been made, or his adversary may elect to recommence the game or play it out as it stands.

[In giving the odds of a Pawn, the K. B. P. is usually removed from the board.]

IV. Where no odds are given the players draw

lots for the first move, and afterwards take the move alternately.

[It is usual for the White to commence; therefore, when Black wins the move, it is common to turn the board.]

V. If a piece be touched it must be moved. Having once left the piece it cannot be removed from the square it occupies.

[Except the player say j'adoube (I adjust). If the piece cannot be legally moved, the adversary may elect for the player to move his King or replace the piece.]

VI. The player giving the odds moves first.

VII. If a player take one of his own men by mistake, or touch a wrong man, or one of his opponent's men, or make an illegal move, his adversary may compel him to take the man, make the right move, move his King, or replace the piece and make a legal move.

VIII. A Pawn may be played either one or two squares at a time when first moved; but in the latter case it is liable to be taken en passant, with any Pawn that could have taken it had it been played only one square.

IX. A player cannot Castle under any of the following circumstances:-1. If he has moved either King or Rook. 2. If the King be in Check. 3. If there be any Piece between the King and Rook. 4. If the King in moving pass over any square commanded by any one of his adversary's forces.

X. If a player give Check without crying "Check," his adversary need not take notice of the Check.

[This law is subject to this exception: that two

moves only may be made before the King is obliged