The Two-Move Chess Problem #224047

IN any book on Chess Problems — even the most element ary treatise — the student must be assumed to possess a full knowledge Of the names and moves Of the chess pieces, a familiarity with chess notation, and a fairly comprehensive grasp of the relative powers Of the men, acquired by actual play over the board. It is even desirable to have at least mastered thoroughly the volume in this series on the Game of Chess before attempting to construct a problem, or even to solve one. In fact, without some experience in chess play the true nature Of a problem can hardly be realized, even apart from its innate technicality. Chess Problems are the cream Of chess. They contain the highest class Of chess play within the limits of a few moves; and in their composition there has been evolved an unwritten code of rules which from time to time has been modified by the refining process it has undergone in the minds of composers. This code has given to the art Of composition characteristics distinct from those of chess playing, A Chess Problem is an arrangement of the chess pieces illustrating chess strategy. Its purposes are to act explicitly as'a challenge to the solver, and implicitly as an appeal for appreciation when the solution has disclosed its merits.