DIRECTIVE FACTORS IN CHESS.

Shannon News, 8 October 1929, Page 4

DIRECTIVE FACTORS IN CHESS.

The first advice to a chess player is to be honourable, open, arid manly in his play. These are qualities of which no superior skill can deprive him. Chess is a game of calculation, but the first error a learner is'likely to commit is to-mistake the place that calculation holds in it. However paradoxical it may seem to say so in regard to a game played on a limited board with, a small number of pieces, it is certainly true that observation holds the first place, calculation the second; or rather that the first comprehends the second, and that to observe is to calculate. A player who wishes to be thought very profound may pride himself on beimr able to calculate ten or twelve moves deer), but it is clear that if at any point of his calculation he omits a possible move of a single P. the'whole fabric of his vision is liabls to tumble ,iato ruin. On the other har.; 1 .. as a player is permitted to renew his calculation at each move, if he could rlways make himself certain of the soundness of ■ only a single move at a he would be a perfect player. Breadth ir chess calculation is the only sure way to depth. As all the forces in chess can co-operate to a common and, the strength of a superior player depends upon two thing 3 —power of combination and rapidity of movement. It is evident that the strength of pieces having such wide ranges as the superior pieces in chess must greatly depend upon the freedom' with which they are handled, and that even supposing equal powers of combination in other respects, a. player might very easily double or treble his force by mer© superiority in availing himself of the vast motive power of his forces- It is, this which enables skilful players to give such heavy odds to their inferiors. Chess, from this consideration, is especially a game of time. Position is of even greater value in :it than force. Command of the board is the first thing to be aimed at. To secure these advantages the player must, first of all learn to bring his men rapidly into action.