Hoyle's Games Modernized Part 64

[68] For further information as to the game and its chances, see the article on Backgammon in _The Book of Card and Table Games_ (Routledge), of which the present paper is an abridgment.

[69] For a description of other forms of the game, see _The Book of Card and Table Games_ (Routledge).

[70] See p. 296.

[71] Throughout these rules, "coloured b.a.l.l.s" mean the six b.a.l.l.s (not Red) specified in Rule 2.

[72] _Vide_ page 290, Definition 4.

[73] For fuller information on the subject of the game, see Mr. L. Hoffer's excellent treatise on Chess in _The Book of Card and Table Games_ (reprinted separately in the Oval Series, Routledge. 1"s."), of which this section is a much condensed abridgment.

[74] For the meaning of these letters and figures, see Chess Notation (p.

343).

[75] This is possible in case of a check with Queen, Rook, or Bishop, but not in case of check with a Knight or p.a.w.ns.

[76] From the Italian _Gambetto_, "a trip up."

[77] With two Bishops checkmate can be forced, whilst with two Knights only checkmate cannot be given against the best defence.

[78] Intending to establish a centre at once.

[79] Considered the best reply. Black develops a piece and attacks a p.a.w.n.

[80] Or 8. ... Kt takes P; 9. Kt takes Kt, P to Q 4; 10. B to Q 3; P takes Kt; 11. B takes P, Kt to K 2, &c.

[81] If 11., Kt takes R, Black would proceed with 11. ... Q to K 2; 12. Kt to B 7, B takes P; ch.; 13. R takes B, P takes R; ch.; 14. K takes P, Kt to Kt 5; ch.; 15. K to Kt 3, Q to B 3; 16. Q to B 3, Q to Kt 2, &c., with a powerful attack.

[82] A safe defence, though troublesome for a time.

[83] The best move, White threatening with 11. P to Q 5 to win a piece.

[84] 12. B to K 2 is a sounder move.

[85] The best move. 12. ... P to Q R 3 may also be played; but not 12. ...

P to Q R 4, because it weakens the p.a.w.ns on the Queen's side for the End game.

[86] Because Black threatens 15. ... Kt to K 4, and after 16. ... B or Kt takes Kt; 17. P takes Kt, Q to Kt 4: ch., winning the K P.

[87] This move is inferior to 9. P to K 5.

[88] The best move. 11. ... Kt to B 3 would be inferior.

[89] Black gives up a p.a.w.n for a temporary counter-attack: It is a safer defence than 5. ... Kt takes P.

[90] The only right square for the Bishop, because it secures a retreat for the Knight on both sides, as will be seen by the sequel.

[91] If 7. ... P takes B, White gets the piece back with 8. Kt takes Kt, P takes Kt; 9. R to K sq., &c.

[92] Here again, if 8. P takes B, White replies 9. Q to Q 5, &c.

[93] As before, if 9. ... P takes B; 10. Q to Q 5 follows.

[94] The original move upon which the opening was based. But it is unsound, as the two specimens given sufficiently prove. The alternative continuation is 3. ... B to K 2; 4. P to Q 3, followed by 5. Kt to B 3, &c.

[95] If 6. ... R takes Kt, then 7. Q to R 5: ch., K to Q 2; 8. B takes Kt, R takes B; 9. Q takes P: ch., and wherever the King moves the Queen mates.

[96] If instead of the text move 11. ... P to B 5, White wins with 12. R to K sq.

[97] Threatening 9. Q to Kt 5; ch., K to Q 3; 10. B to B 4: ch. and 11. Q to K 5: ch., &c.

[98] 10. ... P to B 4 would be immediately fatal.

[99] If 12. ... K takes B, then 13. Q takes K P: ch., K to Kt 4; 14. Kt to B 3. ch., K to Kt 3; 15. Q to Q 4; ch., &c.

[100] If 15. ... Q takes Q: then 16. R to R 4: ch., K moves; 17. Kt mates either at Kt 3 or at Kt sq. accordingly.

[101] Attacking the Rook.

[102] 11. P to K Kt 3 would be bad, because of 11. ... P takes P; 12. Q takes P, R to B sq.: ch.; 13. K to Kt 2, Q to R 4, threatening 14. ... B to R 5, winning.

[103] Not 12. P takes P, because in such case Black replies 12. ... P to Kt 6, and wins.

[104] If 7. Q to B 3, Black replies 7. ... P to Kt 7: ch.; 8. K takes P, P to K B 3; 9. B takes Kt, R takes B; 10. Q takes P, B to K 2; 11. Q to K B 3, R to B sq., with the better position.

[105] Meaning _Flank_.

[106] The work of which the present article is an abridgment. The Openings here given will be found treated in this book at much greater length, with others scarcely less valuable, and a fund of general Chess information.

[107] In England it was formerly the custom to play on the white squares, but the Scottish practice of using the black squares is now generally adopted. So far as the course of play is concerned, the one plan is as good as the other; and in all treatises on the game the men are, for typographical reasons, shown on the _white_ squares. This involves a corresponding alteration of the position of the board, which is shown with a _white_ bottom square on the left hand.

[108] A player may be huffed for not taking the full number of men he should have taken by the play adopted. Thus if he takes one man only, where by the same play, duly continued, he could have taken two, he is liable to the huff. If, however, he has the choice of two moves, by one of which he would take a larger number of men taken than by the other, he is under no obligation to adopt that move.

[109] See p. 469, footnote.

[110] This is a more common method of play at "Trente et Quarante" (see p.

468).

[111] A German mathematician is said to have calculated the percentage in favour of the Banks to be 1.28 per cent.

[112] It must be remembered that as the player is at liberty to withdraw half his stake when there is a _Refait_, he is really paying a premium of 1 per cent. to insure only _half_ his stake.

[113] If there were no limit every one could win at Monte Carlo, by the simple method of doubling up after each loss. Hence sans maximum, zero does not prevent the Bank from losing.

[114] Most system players try to win a percentage of their capital per diem. Having done so, they retire from the table. By "_grand coup_" is meant this amount of daily winnings. There is no reason why a player should not play his system _ad infinitum_. He, however, instinctively knows the grave risk he is running by continuing his game, and is generally very pleased to retire after having made a certain daily profit.

[115] In the series shown on p. 457, had a player been fortunate enough to have played a "_Labouchere_ reversed" on Black, he would have won 890 units.