The Chess Player's Magazine

This is a reproduction of a library book that was digitized by Google as part of an ongoing effort to preserve the information in books and make it universally accessible. https://books.google.com TheChessplayer'smagazine JohannJacobLöwenthal 'f W * « ^ u ^ M 'ai ai 'A dtt U £ U « M U tf\ I 77ie New York Public Librart/ I BEQUEST OF 1 GUSTAVUS A. PFEIFFER 1 j THE ^ MAGAZINE. ° JULY, 1863. CHESS STUDY, BY HERR HORWITZ. BLACK. Ill si WHITE. White having the move, wins. LONDON: 1 E. OWEN, 67, STRAND. PRICE ONE SHILLING. « L " Scilicit ingennas didicisse fideliter artes Emollit mores, neo sinit esse feros." Ottd. It would be false modesty on our part to apologise, to the public at large, or to the Chess-playing world in particular, for introducing a new Chess periodical, as in doing so we only supply a deficiency which already must have been strongly felt by every English Chess player, adept, amateur, or tyro. Thus, whilst Germany can boast of jts Schaclizeitung, France of its La Regence, Holland of its Sissa, the Anglo-Saxon race alone, whose rule predominates on two continents, has no Chess representative of its own in the republic of letters. Neither the United States nor England have, lately, had the advantage of a Chess organ. Our transatlantic brethren, it must be confessed, have strong and valid reasons for their momentary neglect of this noble game, in the fratricidal strife which rages in their country ; but we, here, on the shores of the Thames, where, as our Chancellor of the Exchequer assures us, peace and plenty reigns, have no such excuses to plead. Since the extinction of the once widely circulated Chess Player's Chronicle, which took place more than a year ago, Chess was only represented in England in a few scanty columns of weekly 1 7 9 4 03' 2 THE CHESS PLAYER'S MAGAZINE. papers, such as the Era, the Illustrated London News, the Field, and others. It was to fill this gap which existed in the literature of Chess that we undertook the arduous, and often sterile task, of publishing a Chess Magazine. We did it after full consideration of the difficulties we shall have to encounter, and with the firm determination, if not, to command success, at least to deserve it. We have carefully pondered over the causes which led to the downfall of former Chess periodicals, and shall try to steer clear of the hidden rocks and breakers which threaten grim dangers to the editorial Chess vessel. The patronage of the lovers of Chess being the conditio sine qua non of the success of every Chess work, we have spared no efforts to ensure it ; thus, price, form, and contents, which are the three essential points, are, we hope, such as to satisfy the most dainty. Impartiality being our motto, our criticisms will never extend to persons, but only to the games or problems, and contributions, if deserving a place in our columns, will be gratefully accepted from every part. To render our periodical useful not only to the adept or amateur, but also to the tyro, we shall begin with our first number, to give elementary lessons in Chess, which will gradually bring the student to a perfect knowledge of the game. We shall also give complete analyses of openings for the more advanced amateurs — a feature very prominent in the German Schachzeitung, but until now little cultivated in the English, and altogether neglected in La Regence and other French Chess periodicals. Studies of end games will be carefully attended to and given in systematic order, so as to enable our readers to obtain a comprehensive knowledge of the whole. Another feature— doubtless interesting to our provincial readers, which as yet has never been attempted in any Chess magazine, and which which we are going to introduce — is to give faithful and well executed portraits of Chess-players of renown ; and whilst thus render ing homage to the living, we shall not forget those who have created and enriched the literature of the royal game. The series of living Chess notabilities shall begin with the portrait of the young master who not long since startle'd the world with his extraordinary skill, and whose triumphs in Europe have, as yet, neither been rivalled nor THE CHESS PLACER'S MAGAZINE. 3 surpassed. Nor shall we spare any trouble or expense to procure the games which Paul Morphy. may be induced to play hereafter, when our readers will be enabled to form an opinion of his present strength, and that of others, who of late have gained their spurs in CaIssa's arena. The portraits of the defunct heroes will, we trust, also be welcome to our readers, especially that of him with which we shall begin our historical series, and whose loss the country still deeply deplores — we mean the late Henry Thomas Buckle, author of the History of Civilization in England, and who, though occupying a prominent niche in the temple of fame, was personally but little known to the many. There shall not be wanting in our magazine, interesting and graphic sketches of Chess writers of note, biographical and necrological notices of well-known amateurs, and other news interesting to lovers of Chess in general. Treatises upon openings and endings of games, as well as dissertations upon such laws of Chess as are not as yet settled to the satisfaction of the public, will equally find a space in our columns. With regard to the games, we shall make it a rule to give the whole of the matches contested between well-known players, with copious notes, and whilst explaining the intricacies of difficult positions, suggest the different variations which they give rise to. Works on the game, whether forwarded to us or not, will be reviewed with the strictest impartiality, and we shall lose no time in obtaining every new publication, let the author reside on the shores of the sacred Ganges, the frozen Newa, the castellated Rhine, the imperial Seine, or the fiercely-contested Mississippi. We shall have mnch pleasure to present our readers, from time to time, with historical and philosophical essays upon the noble game, which we hope will afford amusement and instruction, even if one or more of our contributors should be pleased to indulge in poetical effusions on the subject, and do homage to CaIssa on the heighth of Parnassus. We do not ignore the fact, that the fair sex, though averse, perhaps, to the study and application which even a moderate proficiency in the game renders absolutely necessary, is, nevertheless, not insensible to the superiority of this game over all others, and that in many an English home, wives and daughters are to be found, who not only 4 THE CHESS PLAYER'S MAGAZINE. themselves take a personal share in the dangers of the chequered field, but, from motives which it is unnecessary to explain, endeavour by their presence to encourage a love of Chess iu those who are their natural protectors. Such of our fair readers will find in our periodical a page or two devoted to a Chess novel, which we trust will prove acceptable, and contribute, in some measure to the continuance and increase of their acquaintance with this noble pastime. Problems will form a prominent feature in our columns ; not only those the solutions of which will require no ordinary abilities, but, in later numbers, such also will appear as may be solved without much difficulty, and are adapted to the acquirements of younger players. We have the satisfaction to state, that most of the celebrated problem composers have kindly promised their valuable co-operation in this branch, and we have already in our possession a collection of the finest enigmas not hitherto published. We beg to invite our readers far and near, kindly to aid us by communicating to us match and other games of sufficient interest to suit our columns, and shall be happy, on all occasions, to give insertion to matter which concerns the Chess world, such as challenges, meetings of Chess associations, existence and formation of clubs, with names of presidents and secretaries, and place of meeting. This is our programme — however feebly expressed in words, and our readers may confidently rely on its being carried out to the very letter. A periodical exclusively devoted to Chess can only prosper by the support of all lovers of the game, and we are not without hopes that our exertions to revive a magazine which, though under a different title and different management, has done good service in former years, will meet with a success adequate to our efforts and expense. THE PROPRIETORS. I THE CHE33 PJ.AYEK 5 MAGAZINE. 5 Match between Messrs. Deacon and Steinitz. A Match between these players has just been concluded at the London Chess Club, whose members arranged the preliminaries, which may briefly be stated to be that the winner of the first seven games was to be considered the victor, and that each player should make not less than twenty-four moves in two hours. In consequence of the indisposition of both of the competitors, the play was interrupted for some time, but was resumed, and brought to a conclusion last week, Mr. Deacon resigning. The score stood, Mr. Steinitz 5 ; Mr. Deacon 1 ; drawn 1. Game. I. (AUgaier Gambit.) White. (Herr Steinitz.) Black. (Mr. Deacon.) 1. P. to K. fourth 1. P. to K. fourth 2. P. to K. B. fourth 2. P. takes P. 3. K. Kt. to B. third 3. P.

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