Author of "Principles of Chess," "Art of Chess," "Chess Openings," &c. LONDON: HORACE COX, 1900. PREFACE. FIFTEEN years have gone since Mr. Ruskin declared himself almost persuaded to make a selection of pretty and easily read games, having the openings as varied as possible, for examples of chess style to beginners. His plea was for "social" chess, as distinguished from the arduous production of severe competition-for that kind of "easy but graceful game, well followed, wittily concluded," which forms the staple of this little book. Mr. Ruskin would never allow the number of moves to pass forty; in the following examples they have been kept well on the right side of his limit. Instances of what he calls radically bad style, "in which the combatants exchange first their Bishops, then their Queens, then a couple of Rooks, and pass the rest of their time in skulking about the board with their odd Rooks in chase of each other's Pawns," will be found conspicuous only by their absence. Possibly to many these brief and brilliant specimens of chess skill will appear too simple-too easily read. Then any such into whose hands they may come can resort to the notes on the play, which it is hoped will in many cases at least suggest the needful difficulty. For SOCIAL CHESS has a double aim-to be not only amusing, but also |