# Chess Player's Chronicle/Series 3/Volume 1/Number 1/Introduction

The Chess Player's Chronicle.
THIRD SERIES.
INTRODUCTION.
The Chess Player's Chronicle need not say much respecting British Chess. It would not avail us to point to our Clubs, our places of public resort, our list of strong players, to prove that we must furnish matter for no common class of readers. Such topics might be suitable to a new journal struggling into existence, and predisposed to court, in an indirect manner, general favor. They are not adapted to the old representative of Chess in this country. It was after the death of M'Donnel, and the retirement of Lewis and Fraser, that the publication of this magazine was first contemplated. What was the state of British Chess at that time? "Poor England almost afraid to know herself," (her best and bravest champion defeated in an encounter with a foreign combatant; another of her finest amateurs, beaten by a leader of the same foreign school) looked with longing eyes for some rallying-point, some centre of gravitation, towards which the falling bodies of her players might be attracted. Such a centre was offered by this magazine. The prospects of English Chess, notwithstanding the adversity it had suffered, were disposed to brighten, if the opportunity were seized with promptness and decision. The skilful amateur, of foreign extraction (to whom had been assigned by general consent the superiority over his fellows in this country), had, after a very arduous contest, been defeated by an English player by the odd game. That English player—ambitious of success, over-jealous of reputation, by the style of his game, free from what was flashy, preferring solidity to brilliancy, depth to ingenuity—seemed likely to enhance the fame of a rising school, and to maintain its pretensions against able rivals. Starting with somewhat of a miscellaneous character, the Chess Player's Chronicle soon found it necessary to devote the whole of its attention to pure Chess. Club after Club rose in the provinces, not a little aided, we may say boldly, by the existence of a central ​organ in the metropolis. The London Chess Societies regained their pristine vigour; practical play assumed a more and more definite form; analytical play obtained a new-born appreciation; the composition of problems, not content any longer with mere invention, demanded the higher qualifications of depth and soundness of principle. Matchplay, in other words, play in which each man does his best, became the rule, rather than the exception. Thereupon ensued, on a foreign soil, a contest between an eminent English player and an able leader of a continental school, with success attending our comparatively recent institutions. Such, we feel, was the legitimate result, when the energy of our country was fairly awakened. In the mean time, side by side with our own, another school, destined to fill no mean place in the annals of Chess, had arisen to dispute the superiority claimed by one of the continental nations. Profound in its leaders, brilliant in its followers, with greater erudition but less exactness and self-reliance than the British, this school, by its analysis, its constant practice, with seven amateurs of distinction continually playing against one another, challenged public notice. We, satisfied with previous successes, and contented with observing the skilful manner in which an English master defeated two able disciples of this school, rested upon our laurels. Our national habit has been the same in every pursuit. A British navy never shows itself to advantage until the decks of its ships are cleared for action. In spite, however, of all our national carelessness in practice—in spite of the obvious fact that our best players had ceased to play against one another—we pursued our analytical course, with a fitful rivalry, sometimes at home, sometimes abroad; but perceiving, with the greatest satisfaction, that the illustrious school to which we have alluded, at length founded an organ of their own. With this journal at once the most friendly communications were established—our continental friends borrowing English matter of importance from us, and we, of course, with due acknowledgment, inserting occasionally the best specimens of play of foreign masters. English players, however, did not avoid coming into collision with this important school; and it is satisfactory to state, that they have not been worsted when they engaged in set matches. What, then, occasioned for a time the suspension of the Chess Player's Chronicle? The illness of those engaged on the first two series, and the impossibility of finding, at the last moment, successors with proper qualifications, were necessary causes of our temporary retirement ​from the scene of action. Even as it was, an accomplished Cambridge scholar, if coadjutors could have been found in the hurry and confusion which attend ill health, would have undertaken for a time the management of this magazine. We need not, therefore, be asked, what will be the policy of our new series? It will be the development of the ideas of its predecessors—the organization of British Chess; not unaccompanied by attention to the skill displayed in our game by Continental and American players. In a marked manner we shall give notice of the gradual progress of Chess in our Colonial dependencies, considering them to form part of our own school. Besides the games and problems, we shall publish leading articles, reviews of books, and other literary matter. These articles being independent of one another, will be written by different hands, and be intended to defend the general interests of Chess. In this department we shall strictly consult the wish of the writer, whether he prefer to give his name to the public or remain anonymous. It is certainly time that a central organ should be restored to Great Britain and Ireland. Prussia retains her Magazine; America has established upon a firm basis her own Chess monthly; whilst the voice of the British Chess circle, taken as a whole, is silent. True it is that we have many excellent games and problems published in our weekly newspapers, which are not affected by an incompetent acquaintance, to be found in some instances, with the British language, but paper competing with paper. We want that union between condensed and diffused matter that can be cemented by a monthly magazine alone. To the British school we offer our main services: the games of its clubs and subscription rooms, whether in London or in the country, the problems of its composers, and original matter of a literary nature, will be welcomed cordially by us, and, when carefully sifted, be published, if salutary to the interests of Chess. The only standard by which we shall judge, is that of excellence, our motto shall ever be
Palmam qui meruit ferat.
This work is in the public domain in the United States because it was published before January 1, 1930.
This work may be in the public domain in countries and areas with longer native copyright terms that apply the rule of the shorter term to foreign works.
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