
INFORMATION ABOUT THIS E-TEXT EDITION - INTRODUCTION - THE HISTORY OF CHESS THE HISTORY OF CHECKERS - PART I: THE GAME OF CHESS - I. THE RULES OF THE GAME
II. ELEMENTARY TACTICS
III. GENERAL PRINCIPLES OF CHESS STRATEGY
IV. ILLUSTRATIVE GAMES
V. PROBLEMS - PART II: THE GAME OF CHECKERS - I. THE RULES OF THE GAME - II. ELEMENTARY TACTICS - III. THE FIVE FUNDAMENTAL POSITIONS
IV. GENERAL PRINCIPLES AND ILLUSTRATIVE GAMES - V. PROBLEMS - INFORMATION ABOUT THIS E-TEXT EDITION
PREFACE
EDWARD LASKER. - INTRODUCTION
PART I: THE GAME OF CHESS - I - THE RULES OF THE GAME - BOARD AND MEN
DIAGRAM 1
This volume offers a thorough introduction to the classic board games of chess and checkers, beginning with concise histories that place each game in its cultural context. It walks listeners through the basic setup, movement rules, and essential terminology before moving on to elementary tactics such as basic endings, piece value, and simple sacrifices. The author then connects these fundamentals to broader strategic ideas, showing how opening principles and middle‑game plans mirror the thinking of historic military leaders.
Practical learning is reinforced with annotated examples from real matches, including a 1915 encounter between Edward Lasker and José Capablanca, and a selection of classic checkers positions. A series of problems and puzzles, accompanied by clear ASCII board diagrams, invites the audience to apply what they’ve heard and test their developing skills. Whether you are a complete novice or an intermediate player, the guide encourages deliberate thinking, foresight, and the confidence to plan each move.
Language
en
Duration
~4 hours (264K characters)
Publisher of text edition
Project Gutenberg
Release date
2004-01-01
Rights
Public domain in the USA.

1885–1981
Best known as a gifted chess master, he also helped introduce Go to American readers and wrote clear, lively books on both games. His life joined competitive play, engineering, and practical teaching in a way that still feels unusual today.
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