Social Chess.

Otago Witness, Issue 2399, 22 February 1900, Page 52

Social Chess.

Under the title 01" " Social Chess," Mr James Mason has just published a collection of 131 short and brilliant games, introducing them by somp 30 pages of historical and practical illustrations ; and accompanying them with diagrams and analytical annotations. Mr Mason's purpose m the preparation of this book is indicated, as follows, in the preiace: —

" Fifteen years have gone by since Mr Ruskin declared himself almost persuaded to make a selection of pretty and easily-read games, having the openings as varied as possible, tor examples oi chess style to beginners. His plea was for 'social' chess, as distinguished from the arduous production of severe competition — for that kind of 'easy but graceful game, well followed, wittily concluded,' which forms the staple of tins little book. Mr Ruskin would never allow the number of moves to pass 40 ; in the faMowing examples they have been kept well on the right side of his limit. Instances of what he calls radically bad style, ' in which the combatants exchange first their bishops, then their queens, then a couple of rooks, and pass the rest of their time in skulking about the board with their odd rooks in chase of each other's pawns', will "be found conspicuous only by their absence.

" Possibly to many these brief and brilliant specimens of chess skill will appear too simple — two easily lead. Any such can resort to the notes on the play, which, it is hoped, will in many cases, at least, suggest the needful difficulty. For ' Social Chess ' has a double aim — to be not only amusing, but also instructive, and the matter in the notes comprises a deal of practical information as to the ' opening ' 01 the game. Attentive reading of such matter so placed is certainly the easiest and best way to 'learn the openings' — actual play over the board with a thorough master of the game always excepted.

" Anyone with an hour to spare, and a little healthy curiosity, may easily learn the moves and rules of the game; and one knowing these moves and rules becomes, ipso facto, a chess player; at once capable of deriving as much pleasure from chess as if this knowledge were a veteran acquisition. But curiosity is almost essential. With that chess will suit anybody ; without it — perhaps nobody. For all classes of mind, taking an interest in the game when once exxjlained to them, chess is a surpassing good thing, aji extremely useful acconrpli&hment. No one can i>os'sibly be the worse, in purse or person, for a knowledge of it; nor does time .'tale its infinite variety ; on the contrary, it may become all the more precious to its fortunate possessor as the days grow short."

" Social Chess " is a small book, but its author has had it in hand for several years. He states that there is no doubt as to the antiquity of the game of which chess is ihe development; but, on the other hand, no certainty as to the date of its origin. It was *yell 1" iowii in India at the beginning of the sixth centu-v; during the tenth it made its appeannce h» Spain, and by the middle of the eleventh it was flourishing all over the West. Five hundred years later the Queen and the Bishop acnuired the additional powers that belong 10 them fatill ; and the end of the sixteenth century saw the establishment of the present m-ide of cartling Mr Mason also brings oiit the point that of chess " as a game" there are no recoids excej)t those that since the days of William Caxton "have been founded in told Wpe. 1 ' 'Ihis, the "printers' chess," is our modern chr>ts-; and it is fast becoming the only chess — even in its original cast, where many of its ancient or inferior forms still survive. The sketch of the development of the game is succeeded by brief accounts of some early chess books ; and by sundry discursive notes. Odd and bizarre phrases occasionally occur + hrou*h3ut I his introductory chapter; and Mr Mason's English style is neither so crisp nor so charming as it need jm ba « <fc,va oj j£ore.— Au.66f»lasia«.