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 marshaled 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 of these eight squares takes its name from such officer.
Bear in mind that White names every square on the board, in accordance with its relative position to one of his eight Pieces, and that Black does the same. Hence it follows that Black's first squares are White's eighth, and vice versa.
Before proceeding further, it will be desirable for the student to familiarize himself with the respective moves of the Pieces, names of the squares, etc. A very little practice will enable him to do so, especially with the aid of any friend acquainted with them. He should, in the first place, accustom himself to the setting up the men in order of battle; after a few repetitions of the process, and comparing their position with diagram No. 1, he will soon have no difficulty whatever in arranging them correctly without referring to the book. It will then be well to clear the board of all but a single Piece, and practice with that until perfect in its movements; another, and then another, may be added, until the action of every one is as familiar as the alphabet.
Suppose, as a first exercise, you begin by placing your Queen on her square (i.e., her first square), then play her to Q's 5th square, then (diagonally, observe) to Q. Rook's 8th square, then to King's Rook's 8th square, then to Q. R's square, and then home again to her square. It is proper to mention that the directions for moving a Piece are not usually printed in full, and that, according to the modern abbreviations in the present and other chess-books, these several instructions would be given thus:—
| 1. Q. to her sq. |
| 2. Q. to her 5th. |
| 3. Q. to her R's 8th. |
| 4. Q. to K. R's 8th. |
| 5. Q. to her R's sq. |
| 6. Q. to her sq. |
As a next exercise, put the Queen's Bishop on his square, beside the Queen, and play him as follows:—
| 1. Q. B. to K. R's 6th. |
| 2. Q. B. to K. B's 8th. |
| 3. Q. B. to Q. R's 3d. |
| 4. Q. B. to his sq. |
To these two Pieces now add the Queen's Knight, on his own square, and play as follows:—
| 1. Q. Kt. to Q's 2d. |
| 2. Q. Kt. to K's 4th. |
| 3. Q. Kt. to K. B's 6th. |
| 4. Q. Kt. to K's 8th. |
| 5. Q. Kt. to Q. B's 7th. |
| 6. Q. Kt. to Q. Kt's 5th. |
| 7. Q. Kt. to Q. B's 3d. |
| 8. Q. Kt. to his sq. |
By taking all the Pieces in succession thus, you will speedily obtain sufficient knowledge of their movements to commence the opening of a game; but before attempting this, it is needful for you to be acquainted with the technical terms in use among chess-players, and the code of laws which governs the game.
Study this! Study this! Study this! It is imperative that you have total command of the chess language. The next lesson will describe the various chess definitions so you will have complete mastery of the game when you finish this online chess class.
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