In the next position White sacrifices two Rooks in order to force a stale-mate. If Black refuse to capture one or both of the Rooks, White wins the game, but not easily.

PROBLEM IV. White moving first, forces Black to stalemate him in three moves.

In this position White must carefully abstain from playing his K., and he must likewise observe to keep his B.

on the great diagonal. If Black should capture the White B. with his Q. B. P. he will still be unable to win the game. For example:

WHITE.

1. B. to K. B. sixth.
2. B. to K. Kt. seventh.
3. B. to K. R. eighth.
4. B. to Q. Kt. second.
5. B. takes Q. B. P.

BLACK.

1. Q. B. P. one.

2. K. B. P. one.
3. K. to Q. sixth.
4. Q. B. P. one.

If the Black K. now captures the B. the White K. will be stale-mated, and if Black do not take the B., White by keeping the B. on the great diagonal, obviously draws the game.

PROBLEM VI. The following remarkable position is given by Sarratt, with the remark, that "though the White appears to have lost the game irretrievably, he may, by a skilful manœuvre, draw it."

The solution is as follows:

WHITE.

1. R. to K. B. eighth, chkg.
2. R. to Q. R. eighth, chkg.
3. Q. to K. B. eighth, chkg.
4. Q. to Q. B. fifth, chkg.
5. IS STALEMATED.

BLACK.

1. K. to Q. R. second.
2. K. takes R.

3. K. to Q. R. second.
4. Q. takes Q.

If, at the fourth move, Black move his K. to Q. R., you again check at the K. B. eighth square, and if he persist in moving his K., you draw by a perpetual check. You cannot, of course, capture his Q. on account of the mate with his R. If he cover check with Pawn you capture his Q. B. P., and draw by a perpetual check.

ANOTHER SOLUTION.

In the following solution the moves of Black are so far forced, that he loses the game unless he consent to give stalemate.

1. R. to K. B. eighth, chkg.
2. Q. to Q. B. fifth, chkg.
3. R. to Q. R. eighth, chkg.
4. R. takes P., chkg.

5. IS STALEMATED.

1. K. to Q. R. second.
2. Q. takes Q.

3. K. to Q. Kt. third.
4. K. or P. takes R.

If, at the third move, Black capture the R., the object of White is accomplished in a fewer number of moves than by the other methods.

It sometimes happens that in queening a pawn, stale-mate is given in consequence of the pawn being promoted to the rank of Q. instead of that of B., R., or Kt. It will be seen from the following positions that it is possible to have too much mating power; for the Q., combining the moves of the B., and R., leaves no move to the adverse K., and consequently he is stale-mated.

PROBLEM VII.

WHITE. K. at Q. R.

White to mate in two moves.

R. at Q. B. sixth.

B. at Q. fifth.

P. at K. B. seventh.

BLACK. K. at K. R. second.

White moving first advances P. to K. B. eighth; now if he claim a Q. Black is stale-mated; but if he take a B. he can checkmate next move.

PROBLEM VIII.

White to mate in two moves.

WHITE. K. at Q. B. sixth.

P. at Q. B. seventh.

BLACK. K. at Q. R. second.

If White take a Q. for the P. he gives stale-mate; but he take a R. he checkmates next move.

PROBLEM IX. White moves first, and forces Black to stale-mate him in nine moves.

PART III.

CURIOUS CHESS PROBLEMS;

OR,

ENDS OF GAMES

WON OR DRAWN BY BRILLIANT AND SCIENTIFIC

MOVES.

Although ends of games be not necessary to a knowledge of the game, yet on account of the ingenuity displayed in them, they cause much delight and are sought after by many amateurs. If the exact situation do not actually occur in a game, many similar ones do, and it has happened, that players of indifferent skill have acquired great celebrity from their know ledge of some position in which they have won, and have made better players ashamed; besides, who will deny that the mind is awakened and excited to victory by ingenious positions? I have therefore thought it proper to give several, nor should it be thought strange that some are merely curious and can never occur in a game; of these I might have given many more, but I have refrained from it

Ends of games should be short and ingenious: by short, I mean, in few moves, with few pieces and Pawns: Damiano holds certainly the first place in this respect. Those positions which have many pieces and Pawns, and require many moves, although very ingenious and deserving of praise, yet do not much please, because the mind of man is naturally satisfied with those things which are easy to learn and to remember; the ingenious situations of the same author, which are difficult to remember, on account of the length and intricacy of the moves, are little esteemed from their obscurity and difficulty.-CARRERA.