reading through the manuscript of this book. They have given me
many valuable hints in pointing out all that did not seem readily
intelligible to the mind of the beginner.

In explaining the game of Checkers, to which the second part of
the book is devoted, I have also tried to develop general
principles of strategy, rather than to offer a mere
classification of analyzed lines of play, which the reader would
have to memorize in order to be able to compete with experts.

I was fortunate enough to secure the collaboration of the Checker
Champion, Alfred Jordan, who enthusiastically adopted the new
idea of teaching and furnished most of the material which I have
used in illustrating the vital points of the game.

EDWARD LASKER.



INTRODUCTION



The History of Chess


The game of Chess in the form in which it is played to-day is
usually assumed to be of a much older date than can be proved
with certainty by documents in our possession. The earliest
reference to the game is contained in a Persian romance written