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WHITE.


THE NOTATION ADOPTED TO DESCRIBE
THE MOVES OF THE MEN.

There is no portion of an elementary work on Chess of so much importance
to the learner, and none which requires more resolute mastering than
this.

The notation may be called the language of the game and a knowledge of
it is absolutely indispensable to every one who is himself ambitious of
excelling, or who is desirous of appreciating the excellencies of other
players.

Having marshalled the men in battle order, as shown in the first
diagram, you will observe that each party has two _ranks_ of men, on the
first of which stand the superior Pieces, and on the next the eight
Pawns. The eight squares which compose the first rank are each
distinguished by the name of the Piece which occupies it when the men
are first arranged. There are, therefore, the King's square, the King's
Bishop's square, King's Knight's square, and King's Rook's square, and
in like manner, the Queen's square, Queen's Bishop's square, Queen's
Knight's and Queen's Rook's squares. The _files_, that is, the row of
squares running from top to bottom of the board, are also named by the
Pieces occupying the first square in each _file_. Thus each of the
superior officers has a file or row of eight squares running from his
end of the board to the corresponding Piece of the enemy, and every one