500 Mr. G. Walker o« the KnigMs Move at Chess. 



rous different plans of action which have come under my ob- 

 servation relatively to the subject. I take it from the most 

 voluminous work extant upon the subject, being the Ger- 

 man treatise of Warnsdorf. 



Place the knight to commence on any square of the board 

 you please, marking such square with a wafer or counter to 

 show it has been used, and marking in a similar manner each 

 square on to which the knight leaps in succession. The 

 knight being at his post as agreed on, let his first move be to 

 that square from which, in play, he would command the 

 fewest points, observing that if on two or more squares his 

 power would be equal, he may go indifferently to either of those 

 squares ; and that, as matter of course, a square once covered 

 is not to be reckoned amongst those he commands, but must 

 be dismissed altogether as done with. Continue moving him 

 on this principle, and he will traverse the sixty-four squares 

 in as many moves; reckoning the setting him down originally 

 on the square chosen for the starting-point as the first move. 

 To exemplify this, suppose the knight to start upon the 

 king's bishop's second square. In this case his first move 

 must be of necessity to the corner ; since upon the rook's 

 squai'e he would then command but one point, viz. the 

 knight's third ; the king's bishop's second, on which he start- 

 ed, not to be again counted, but as a caput mortuum. Further 

 explanation of matter so simple cannot be necessai'y. 



Permit me. Gentlemen, to express my gratification at 

 seeing chess at length take its legitimate place among the 

 higher branches of science, and its mysteries allowed to de- 

 velop themselves upon your pages. The king of games is, 

 indeed, now fully appreciated as the only rational mental re- 

 creaticm, — the strongest auxiliary in the way of sedentary sport 

 towards weaning the young from frivolous and exceptionable 

 amusements, and furnishing their minds with healthy exercise. 

 It has been recently enacted that chess may be played in the 

 Royal Institution ( Albemarle-street); and I cannot but hope 

 the example will be followed, until chess-boards and chess-men 

 will be found placed in the halls of meeting of every learned 

 and scientific association throughout the kingdom. 

 I have the honour to be. 



Gentlemen, your obedient servant, 

 1, Devonshire Place, Haverstock Hill, George Walker. 



April 1840. 



List of Works and Writers above referred to. 

 R. Willis. Attempt to analyse the Automaton Chess-player. 

 Lond. 1821. 8vo, pp. 40. 



