Chess

CHESS. The game of chess is a warfare in miniature.

If we accept one tradition, it was invented in India to divert men from the attractions of actual war. In chess two opposing forces—consisting on each side of the king and queen, two bishops, two knights, two rooks (or castles), and eight pawns (foot soldiers), are drawn up in battle array, and the strategy of the conflict lies in making a successful attack on the enemy's king. When one player or the other is unable to protect his king from capture on the next move he is " checkmated," and the game is over.

In the hands of masters chess becomes one of the most intricate and interesting games ever invented.

Its value as mental training has often been urged, and some experts have developed such ability that they can play 10 to 14 games at the same time, and with their eyes blindfolded.