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with enthusiasts than gamblers. With the introduction of this game 

 into different countries, some changes no doubt have been made in 

 the names of the pieces, and their moves. As to its origin and 

 antiquity, doubts still seem to exist : in Hindoostan it is known 

 under the Sanscrit name of chaturonga, while the Persians have cor- 

 rupted the word into chatrange, and the Arabs into shatrange. 

 By the French it is called echecs, by the English chess, by the 

 Germans schach, and by the Burmese tsit-da-yin. On the next 

 page is given a drawing of the pieces and board, which will, with 

 the following description, most readily explain the moves. The 

 game is played by two persons, each having sixteen pieces, rendered 

 distinguishable by a difference in colour. The arrangement of the 

 board, at the set off, is generally as follows ; though some say it is 

 not imperative to place the y attars and gnas on the squares, and 

 that the remaining pieces may be placed at the discretion of the 

 players, provided they are neither in front of the gnas nor in line 

 with the yattars : — 



Arrangement of the Board. 

 Black. White. 



Yattars, Squares 1 and 8 Squares 57 and 64 



Sin „ 10 „ 19 



Shimbooyen,, 11 

 Tsakai „ 20 

 Min „ 12 „ 18 



Gnas „ 21 to 28 



The moves are almost identical with our 



at a time, but takes opponent diagonally. The only difference from 

 the English game here is that at the first move the gna has no power 

 of advancing more than one square. 



A min moves exactly in the same manner as a knight. 



A sin moves a square at a time, either diagonally or straight, 

 but retrograde moves must always be in a diagonal direction. 



A yattars move is similar to that of a castle. 



A tsahai can only move diagonally one move at a time, back- 

 ward or forward. 



A shimbooyen's move corresponds with that of a king, and he 

 cannot be taken. 



Check is called gna; double check, nulchot-gna; check-mate, 

 shorme-len ; signifying, lost ; stale-mate, tha-ya-the. 



Gnas in squares 25 to 28 and 21 to 24, reaching, respectively, 

 squares 57, 50, 43, 36, and 37, 46, 55, and 64 in the opponent's 

 quarter, can reclaim the tsakai, but no other piece. This rule 

 applies equally to either player, and the arrangement of the gnas 

 on one side will explain those on the other. 



When all the pieces have been captured but the shimbooyen, and 

 the opponent has one tsakai, b> y attar, and shimbooijen left, check-mate 



8 



46 „ 55 

 56 

 45 



47 ,, 53 

 37 „ 44 



own. A gna one square 



