ON CHESS
X - Chess Writers and Players
THE year during which Carrera's Treatise on Chess appeared, was productive also of the work of Gustavus Selenus. This is a fictitious name adopted by the author, Augustus, duke of Brunswick Lunenberg. This work which is a large quarto of 550 pages, was printed at Leipsig, in 1616. He appears to have been an indefatigable player: he has analysed with great perseverance and attention some of his favourite games; and he occasionally displays considerable skill in his deviations from the models laid down by other players. He strongly reproves several of Damiano's moves; but Sarratt is of opinion that the duke has committed the same mistake as Ruy Lopez in venturing to criticise a better player than himself.
A considerable portion of his work is occupied by a long and uninteresting description of the game called the Battle of Numbers, or Rhythmomachai.
It also contains some futile attempts to improve the game of chess; and, among these, there is one which is as remarkable as it is ridiculous. It is extracted from a work (deservedly consigned to oblivion), written in German verse by James Mennels, and published at Costentz in 1507. Mennels has favoured the world with many situations in which check-mate is effected by a pawn: some of these present a ludicrous appearance one party having six, and sometimes seven queens; but it must be observed, that this same Mennels has deemed it meet to deprive the queen of her horizontal and perpendicular powers: he allows her to move only in a diagonal direction; so that supposing the king to be on his own square, if the adversary's queen, properly supported should take the king's bishop's pawn, giving check, the king by removing to his bishop's square, or to his own second square, will be secure from all danger ! SARRATT.
Gustavus Selenus also mentions the method of playing the courier game as practised at Ströbeck, a village situated between Halberstadt and Brunswick, at a distance of about six miles from the former place; and celebrated for some centuries on account of its inhabitants being good chess-players.
The introduction of chess into this village, is due to the following circumstance: Towards the end of the fifteenth century, a dignitary of the cathedral at Halberstadt was exiled to Ströbeck; and being deserted by his former friends, he became the more attached to the inhabitants of the village, who had received him so kindly that he was at a loss how to testify his gratitude. After much consideration he determined on teaching them the game of chess. He did so, and was delighted to find that they became partial to it, and made great progress in it. He soon felt amply rewarded for the trouble he had taken, for not only did they become proficients in the game, but it afforded him many opportunities of improving their morals and behaviour, which improvement became apparent in their intercourse with their neighbours. After some time, the exile was honourably recalled to his cathedral, and eventually became Bishop of Halberstadt. His prosperity did not make him forget his village friends his Ströbeck, as he used to say but on the contrary, he often went there and conferred many benefits on the community, amongst which he founded a free-school. A special injunction was laid on the masters of this school, to instruct all their pupils in chess, and to distribute prizes (consisting of chess boards and sets of pieces) at the end of every year, to the best players. In thus encouraging the game of chess, the worthy bishop had a higher object than mere amusement: he saw that by encouraging a game which draws so largely on the mental powers, his villagers would not be attracted by games of chance, nor injured by the vices and dissipations which accompany them. His object was happily gained; and we cannot but express a hope that ere long, the study of chess will be considered a necessary part of education, and, as such, introduced universally into schools of every description. It would be indeed delightful to see the same effect produced in our villages by the introduction of this game, as was witnessed at Ströbeck. The villagers devoted most of their leisure time to chess: the knowledge of the game became hereditary: mothers taught it to their daughters; fathers to their sons; the old men bequeathed the paternal chess-board to their children; there was an innocent emulation among families, each trying to surpass the other. The fame of Ströbeck extended throughout Germany, and many a chess player visited it to try his skill. It is said that the villagers generally proved victorious. After a time the evil custom of playing for money was introduced the villagers grew vain of their skill, and wanted such a lesson as was given to them by the celebrated Silberschmidt, who visited them as a stranger, and agreed to play a match for a considerable sum of money. He vanquished their champion elect, and the villagers paid the money, but would not grant a certificate required by the conqueror attesting their defeat. "Take the gold," said they, "but leave us our glory." "Good people," replied Silberschmidt, "the money I have won from you I give to your poor and to your school; but on one condition, namely you must swear that you will never more play for money. The noble science of chess carries its interest in itself; a single game won, is a treasure of satisfaction to the winner." The villagers took the oath, gave the certificate, distributed the money as was proposed, and never again staked any thing but their skill on the chess board.
Mr. Lewis visited this interesting village in 1831. He describes it as lying in a hollow about a mile from the high road, and containing about one hundred and twenty houses. Mr. Lewis walked to the village and introduced himself to the resident clergyman, whom he found an obliging and well educated man: the inhabitants were then in the fields gathering in the harvest, but a subsequent day was named for a trial of skill.
He informed me, (says Mr. Lewis,) that the game is still much played there, and that they have several strong players; though himself no player of the game, yet he is so persuaded of the advantage of cultivating it, that he encourages the children who attend the school, to practise it at proper times, and has succeeded in obtaining the grant of a small sum annually from the community, for the purchase of six chess boards and men to be given to the best six players,
|
|
among the scholars the number of whom amounts to forty-eight; the method of ascertaining who are the best is, in the first instance, to have two sets of tickets, each numbered from one to twenty-four; these are drawn by the boys; then the two ones, two twos, &c., &c., play together; those who lose go out, and the remaining twenty four draw numbers in a similar way, and so on until only six winners remain, to whom the boards are given.
In part of the village public house, Mr. Lewis observed the sign of a chess-board in the wall; it was rudely made up of stone: in the public room were hung up three boards, one the common chess-board, and the others larger for the use of those who play the courier game.
At his next visit, Mr. Lewis called on the syndic of the village, who accompanied him to the public house and showed him the old chess-board and men, which were kept carefully locked up.
The board is of large size, being above two feet square, including the border, which ia about four inches broad; on the border is a representation of the village of Stropcke (it is spelt thus,) but not in bas relief, according to Mr! Silberschmidt's account, but rather in rude Mosaic; there appear to have been at that time three towers or steeples in the village, two only of which now remain, the third having been taken down, and the building converted into a saw mill. According to an inscription on the board, it appears to have been presented to the village by the Elector of Brandenburg, on the 13th of May 1651; on the other side, the board is divided into ninety-six squares, (twelve by eight,) this is intended for the courier game, which is played with the usual chess-men, to which are added for each player, four pawns, two couriers, a man and a fool, which last two are now called state counsellors.
The said elector also made them a present of two sets of chess-men, one of ivory, and the other of silver, half of which were gilt; the latter set is lost, having been lent to the dean and chapter at Halberstadt, who forgot to return them; this occurred so long since, that no one now living recollects having seen them: the ivory set is much too small for the board; the pieces are in tolerable preservation, and have nearly the same shape as those commonly played with; the upper part of the bishop, instead of being shaped like a mitre, has the form of a scoop. They have only two works on chess, one of them an imperfect copy of Gustavus Selenus, the other Koch's Codex der Schachspielkunst, in two volumes; the former they have had a long time; the latter was presented to them some years since by their present worthy pastor.
Mr. Lewis played three games of chess with one of the villagers of Ströbeck, and won them all. He considered his antagonist a weak player, and, from what fell in course of conversation, doubted whether there are any players in Ströbeck to whom a first rate player could not give a knight.
One of the most distinguished players that we have next to notice in the order of time is Gioachino Greco, commonly called the Calabrian, from Calabria, the place of his birth. He was of very low extraction; but having accidently learned the game of chess, he improved so rapidly, that Don Mariano Marano, a celebrated player, being informed of his aptitude for chess, received him into his house, and treated him as one of his family; and under his tuition, Greco soon improved so much as nearly to equal his master. Bayle speaks of him in these terms:
Greco played at chess so skilfully that it cannot be thought strange that I consecrate to him a little article. All those who excel in their profession to a certain degree, deserve that distinction. This player did not find his match anywhere. He went to all the courts in Europe, and signalized himself there at chess in a most surprising manner. He found famous players at the court of France, such as the Duke of Nemours, M. Arnaud, Chaumont, and La Salle; but though they pretended to know more than others, none of them were able to play with him, nor could they cope with him altogether. He was at chess a bravo, who sought in all countries some famous knight with whom he might fight and break a lance, and he found none whom he did not overcome.
Mr. Lewis (whose edition of Greco is the best) things this is certainly an exaggerated account of Greco's skill; but his work exhibits so much skill and ingenuity, and abounds with so many brilliant and instructive situations; that we know of no more fascinating Work for the student in chess:
It does not often happen (says Mr. Lewis), that Greco's method of attacking can be much improved, for in that part of the game lie is eminently skilful, but the like praise cannot be given to his system of defence; it must, indeed be evident that, as most of his games are won by brilliant moves, the defence is necessarily imperfect.
There have been many editions of Greco's work. The first English edition was published in London, by Herringman, in 1656, and is very imperfect. In 1750 appeared an edition, "so contrived that any person may learn to play in a few days without any further assistance." On this assurance, Mr. Lewis very properly remarks:
Let not any one be led, by this promising title, to suppose that so difficult a game as chess is to be learned in a few days; considerable practice is necessary to form even a moderate player, but to become a first-rate player, genius and much study are indispensable requisites.
Greco died in the East Indies at an advanced age and bequeathed all his property to the Jesuits.
In 1672 was published "The famous game of chesse-play, being a princely exercise, whereby the learner may profit more, by reading of this small book than by playing of a thousand mates." The author of this book; one Arthur Saul, introduces some doggrel terses laudatory of his game :
All you that tit the famous game
Of chesse desire to play,
Come and peruse this little bookc,
Wherein is taught the way.
The hidden slights to understand
That no man yet hath shonne,
Which other authors speak not of
And still remained unknown.
Even all things that concern this game,
And may thee excellent make,
Therein was cause that me did move
This paincs to undertake.
... ... ...
Among his rules and laws of the game is the following advice:
Doe not at no time that them playest at this game (out of & conceit as I said, that anything becomes thee well) stand sinking, whistling, knocking or tinkering, whereby to disturbe the minde of thy adversary, and hinder his projects: neither keepe thou a calling on him to playe, or hastening of him thereunto, or a shewing of much dislike that hee playeth not fast enough; remembering with thyselfe, that besides that this is a silent game, when thy turne is to play, thou wilt take thy owne leasure; and that it is the royall law so to deal with another, as thyself wouldst be dealt withall.
|
Chess Archeology 
