The Charleston daily news. [volume] (Charleston, S.C.) 1865-1873, 1866-07-26
Book Notices.

BnEv1TY AND BRILLIANCY IN CHESS is the very
appropriate titlo OF a new work on this favorite
and scientific game, from the pen OF M1RoN j.
HAzELTINE. Esq, chess editor of the New York
Clipper. Tho book consists of a collection of
games played by celebrated artists which hayo
| ended in problems, which, if they had been con-
structed as such, would have been considered re-
markably ingenious. The idea of tho work is en-
tirely new, and could have originated only in the
brain Of man who, like Mr. HAZELTtNE has
mnda the rOVot pdsine a fe-ong study and Dur
suit Usually in chess books, games are arrungea
in sets to illustrate tho principal openings, and
problems arc collected together in division en-
tirely separate from tho games; and indeed al
most all the problems arc constructed merely to
test the ingenuity of the player, aud without any
reference to previous moves which M ght have
brought the pieces into the position chosen. In
| this book, on the contrary, games are selected
which have been actually played by the best mas
| ters of chess and have been scientifically con-
Quoted by tho winner that, at tho close of the
game, he has been ablo to announce a forced
mate several moves in advance. These games
carefully and skfuly arranged according to the
experience and analytical power required to COM
prehend them; and while in the course OF the Sc
ries almost every opening known to the science is
carefully illustrated yet the particular gambit in
The first games of the series end in two-moye
problems OF chaste simplicity, while their whole
strategy, though original and striking, can be
comprehended by the veriest tyro, who is capa-
bio of ever being anything else. The games
gradually increase in difficulty, and the last fow
illustrate some OF the most abstruse chess calcu-
lations which have ever been reduced to practice.
and end in forced mates of ten, eleven and even
twelve moves, which none but the most scientific
players can calculate. AS the title indicates care
| has been taken to select those games in which
brilliant combinations have enabled the winner to
obtain the victory in the smallest possible number
or moves, or in which thorough knowledge Of
| the game has enabled him to punish the igno-
rance or careessness Of his adversary with speedy
defeat. Consequently the number of moves on
each side previous to the commencement of the
| forced mate never exceeds forty, is seldom as
| many as thirty, and s often not more than ten or
twelve.
Another feature of Mr.. HAzELTINE's collection,
which is particularly w,rthy OF remark, is, that
| small portion Of the 'york is devoted to iustrat
ing the very important, but greatly neglected art,
ofcapturing piece independently of any matur-
| ed plan for obtaining a mate. III the racy Ian
| guage OF the author, "It sounds very lofty, and
| has, perhaps, an air of devotion to high art to
aver-'Oh, play for the mattel Very we'll, Mr..
or Herr or sgnor Magnoqnensl But have
not yet seen player who despised winning
piece as means to an end, unless, indeed that
end were in very near and certain prospect" To
this collection OF games are appended few choice
problems from tournament inaugurated by the
author for his own pleasure, on novel and unioue
plan.
After careful perusal OF this welcome addition
TO the ohess players library, we are of opinion
that there is not, in the VIII lie range OF zatri.
hsoto9scdt literature, o volume better calculated
TO improve the learner and entertain the adept.
ihls volume is neatly gotten up by D. APPLETON
q Co., the publishers, and for sale in this city by
JOHN RUSSELL.
0udgo ABELL, OF the First District Court of Or
i In L