Evening star., 1941-09-28
5CHESS4
The Game and Its
Players
Bv Paul J. Miller, J.

column. II you haze question, prite
the Chess Editor. The Star; y you
aasson ansT saf . coamn to pa 4" pu5
question and dnsDer Please rerfft all
ANSWERS submitted.
@. Is there an honor society OF
chess players?
A. Yes. On January IT, 1929, the
chess honor society, Chi Eta Sigma,
was founded at Mississippi State
College and its charter approved by
the fraternity council of that in
stitution. Since 1929 the chess honor
society, regarded as the Phi Beta
Kappa. ".of chess champions, authors,
writer's, stellar players and eminent
patrons of the game, has developed
active chapters in many colleges and
universities and elected many hon.
oraxy members at large. AS a mat
ter of policy the honorary vice presi-
dents are usually national or inter-
national chess champions. Chi Eta
Sigma elects honorary members an
nually throughout the world. Its
emblem is a gold crown; its organ
Caissa; its motto, PLAY Chess-the
Game of Kings, the King of Games" "
Its object is to reward merit wher-
ever found, to foster chess educa-
tion and the program of social
chess" Inquiries should be ad-
dressed to Chi Eta Sigma, Ma
tional Honorary Chess Fraternity,
Meridian, Miss.
@. What was the first chess mag
azine published in England?
A. The first chess magazine to be
published in England was the Phili-
dorian, by George Walker, London
December, 1887. Only six issues ap-
peared, the last being dated May
1888. The magazine was named
after the great French musician
and chess champion, Andre Dani-
can Philidor, who was born al
Dreux, France. in 1925, and died in
London in 1795, where his ashes still
rest. In 1841 Howard Stauntor
published the Chess Players Chron-
lcle. chiefly a magazine of British
games that ran through II volumes
King & Horwitz published the
Chess Player in London during this
period.
! @. Where did the term "socia,
chess" originate and what is it,
significance?
A. To our knowledge, the term
social chess" was first used over lO(
years ago by w. G. Head in the title
OF his treatise, The New Game oi
Social Chess" publishes in London
In 1884. However, the game de.
scribed in the 16-page brochure wa.
an innovation of chess for four play.
ers. Today social chess" has 9
peculiar educational meaning of re.
stricted status, and the term ha.
been protected by the Intercollegi.
ate Chess Association of America
since 1882. Social chess clubs" ar,
those special clubs that meet ths
educational standards of I. c. A
and the American Academy oi
Chess.
@. Who invented chess notation
algebraic style?
A. Philippe Stamina is credited
with inventing the Continental O,
Algebraic Chess Notation. Stamina
OF Aleppo. Syria, first published in
1877, at Paris, his book, "Essai SUI
lie jeu des Echecs, etc." containing
146 pages.
English and American players
however, prefer the Descriptive
English or British Notation (P-K4
KtCB3)-Kt5, PxP, for exampIe)
Andre Danican Philidor is usually
regarded as the inventor of the De.
scriptive Notation He published ir
l749 at Londres his classic, 'L' An
alyze des Echecs, etc." ITO pages.
Q. What is the highest price ever
paid for set of chessmen?
A. According to Donald M. Lid
dell in his book entitled Chess
men published by Harcourt, Brace
& Co.. New York, 1881 $1,000 was
paid for Mozarabic piece of the
10th century. The sale was made
at the American Art Galleries. New
York, in 1927. On June 10, 1881
at an auction at Hotel Drouout
Paris. a single Rook piece of 11th
century craftsmanship sold for the
high bid Of $4,000 francs. The
highest price ever to be paid for
q complete set of chessmen is moi
known.
@. Who invented the tabular ar.
rangement for comparative ANALYSIS
OF chess openings?
A. Johann Allgaier of Vienna
published his treatise. "Neut
theoretisch praktische Anweisunp
zum Schach-spiele," in 1795, at
Vienna, and was the first chess
player-author to make use of the
tabular arrangement in printing the
results Of analyses of chess OPEN
1ngs. Algaier was the German
Philidor. His ability as q PLAYER
surpassed his excellence as a chess
analyst and author.
@. How old was Sir William Jone.
when he wrote the chess poem
"Caissa"?
A. He wrote the poem in 1853
when he was is years of age. The
poem has 1874 lines and the idea is
taken from Marcus Hieronymus
Vida's Latin poem on chess, called
"Scacchia Ludus," published al
Rome, in 1927, and from Marino',