GAMES
Reading edition
Played without seeing the Board.
Mr. Philidor being of opinion that an entire collection of the games he has played without looking over the chess-board would not be of any service to amateurs, he will only publish a few parties which he has played against three players at once, subjoining the names of his respectable adversaries, in order to prove, and transmit to posterity, a fact, of which future ages might otherwise entertain some doubt.
The following Account appeared in the London News-papers, the 9th of May, 1783:
"Yesterday, at the Chess-club in St. James’s Street, Mr. Philidor performed one of those wonderful exhibitions for which he is so much celebrated. He played at the same time three different games, without seeing either of the tables. His opponents were Count Bruhl, Mr. Bowdler, and Mr. Maseres. To those who understand chess, this exertion of Mr. Philidor’s abilities, must appear one of the greatest of which the human memory is susceptible. He goes through it with astonishing accuracy, and often corrects mistakes in those who have the board before them. Mr. Philidor sits with his back to the tables, and some gentleman present, who takes his part, informs him of the move of his antagonist, and then, by his direction, plays his pieces."
In the triple party before mentioned, Mr. Philidor gave the move to Count Bruhl and Mr. Bowdler, and the advantage of a pawn and the move to Mr. Maseres: the moves of each party were played alternately.
Count BRUHL’s Party.
1.
W. King’s pawn 2 squares.
B. The same.
2.
W. King’s bishop at his queen’s knight’s 4th.
B. Queen’s bishop’s pawn 1 square.
3.
W. The queen at her king’s 2d.
B. Queen’s pawn 1 square.
4.
W. Queen’s bishop’s pawn 1 square.
B. King’s bishop’s pawn 2 squares.
5.
W. Queen’s pawn 1 square.
B. King’s knight at his bishop’s 3d.
6.
W. The king’s pawn takes the bishop’s pawn.
B. The queen’s bishop takes the king’s pawn.
7.
W. Queen’s pawn 1 square.
B. King’s pawn 1 square.
8.
W. Queen’s bishop at the adverse king’s knight’s 4th.
B. Queen’s pawn 1 square.
9.
W. King’s bishop at the queen’s knight’s 3d.
B. King’s bishop at his queen’s 3d.
10.
W. Queen’s knight at his queen’s 2d.
B. The same.
11.
W. King’s rook’s pawn 1 square.
B. The same.
12.
W. Queen’s bishop at his king’s 3d.
B. The queen at her king’s 2d.
13.
W. King’s bishop’s pawn 2 squares.
B. King’s rook’s pawn 1 square.
14.
W. Queen’s bishop’s pawn 1 square.
B. Queen’s rook’s pawn 1 square.
15.
W. The queen’s bishop’s pawn takes the pawn.
B. The queen’s bishop’s pawn takes the pawn.
16.
W. The queen at her king’s bishop’s 2d.
B. The king castles with his rook.
17.
W. King’s knight at his king’s 2d.
B. Queen’s knight’s pawn 2 squares.
18.
W. The king castles with his rook.
B. Queen’s knight at his 3d square.
19.
W. King’s knight at his 3d square.
B. King’s knight’s pawn 1 square.
20.
W. Queen’s rook at its bishop’s square.
B. Queen’s knight at the adverse queen’s bishop’s 4th.
21.
W. The king’s knight takes the bishop.
B. The king’s knight’s pawn takes the knight.
22.
W. The queen gives check at the king’s knight’s 3d.
B. The queen covers the check.
23.
W. The queen takes the queen.
B. The king takes the queen.
24.
W. The king’s bishop takes the queen’s knight.
B. The queen’s knight’s pawn takes the bishop.
25.
W. King’s knight’s pawn 1 square.
B. Queen’s rook at its knight’s square.
26.
W. Queen’s knight’s pawn 1 square.
B. King’s bishop at the adverse queen’s rook’s 3d.
27.
W. Queen’s rook at its queen’s bishop’s 2d.
B. The queen’s knight’s pawn takes the queen’s knight’s pawn.
28.
W. The queen’s rook’s pawn takes the pawn.
B. King’s rook at his queen’s bishop’s square.
29.
W. The queen’s rook takes the king’s rook.
B. The rook takes the rook.
30.
W. The rook at the queen’s rook’s square.
B. The bishop at the adverse queen’s knight’s 4th.
31.
W. The rook takes the queen’s rook’s pawn.
B. The rook at the adverse queen’s bishop’s 3d.
32.
W. The king at his bishop’s 2d.
B. The rook at the adverse queen’s 3d.
33.
W. The rook at its queen’s rook’s 2d.
B. The bishop takes the knight.
34.
W. The rook takes the bishop.
B. The rook takes the queen’s knight’s pawn.
35.
W. The rook at the queen’s bishop’s 2d.
B. King’s rook’s pawn 1 square.
36.
W. The rook gives check at the adverse queen’s bishop’s 2d.
B. The king at his knight’s 3d.
37.
W. The king’s knight’s pawn takes the rook’s pawn.
B. The knight at his rook’s 4th.
38.
W. The rook at the adverse queen’s 2d.
B. The knight takes the king’s bishop’s pawn.
39.
W. The bishop takes the knight.
B. The rook gives check at the adverse king’s bishop’s 3d.
40.
W. The king at his knight’s 2d.
B. The rook takes the bishop.
41.
W. The rook takes the queen’s pawn.
B. The rook at the adverse king’s bishop’s 3d.
42.
W. The rook at the adverse queen’s square.
B. The rook at the adverse queen’s 3d.
43.
W. Queen’s pawn 1 square.
B. King’s bishop’s pawn 1 square.
44.
W. Queen’s pawn 1 square.
B. The rook gives check at the adverse queen’s 2d.
45.
W. The king at his bishop’s square.
B. The king at his bishop’s 2d.
46.
W. King’s rook’s pawn 1 square.
B. King’s pawn 1 square.
47.
W. King’s rook’s pawn 1 square.
B. The king’s bishop’s pawn 1 square, and wins the game.
Mr. BOWDLER’s Party.
1.
W. King’s pawn 2 squares.
B. Queen’s bishop’s pawn 2 squares.
2.
W. King’s bishop at his queen’s bishop’s 4th.
B. King’s pawn 1 square.
3.
W. The queen at her king’s 2d.
B. Queen’s knight at his bishop’s 3d.
4.
W. Queen’s bishop’s pawn 1 square.
B. Queen’s rook’s pawn 1 square.
5.
W. Queen’s rook’s pawn 2 squares.
B. Queen’s knight’s pawn 1 square.
6.
W. King’s bishop’s pawn 2 squares.
B. Queen’s pawn 1 square.
7.
W. King’s knight at his bishop’s 3d.
B. King’s knight at his king’s 2d.
8.
W. King’s bishop at his queen’s rook’s 2d.
B. King’s knight’s pawn 1 square.
9.
W. Queen’s pawn 1 square.
B. King’s bishop at his knight’s 2d.
10.
W. Queen’s bishop at his king’s 3d.
B. Queen’s pawn 1 square.
11.
W. Queen’s knight at his queen’s 2d.
B. The king castles.
12.
W. The king castles with his rook.
B. King’s bishop’s pawn 2 squares.
13.
W. King’s pawn 1 square.
B. King’s rook’s pawn 1 square.
14.
W. Queen’s pawn 1 square.
B. Queen’s bishop’s pawn 1 square.
15.
W. Queen’s knight’s pawn 2 squares.
B. Queen’s knight’s pawn 1 square.
16.
W. King’s bishop at his queen’s knight’s square.
B. Queen’s bishop at his queen’s 2d.
17.
W. King’s bishop at his queen’s bishop’s 2d.
B. The queen at her bishop’s 2d.
18.
W. King’s rook’s pawn 1 square.
B. The king at his rook’s 2d.
19.
W. The king at his rook’s 2d.
B. Queen’s knight at his rook’s 2d.
20.
W. King’s knight’s pawn 2 squares.
B. The queen’s knight’s pawn takes the queen’s rook’s pawn.
21.
W. The king’s bishop takes the queen’s knight’s pawn.
B. Queen’s knight at its 4th square.
22.
W. The king’s bishop takes the knight.
B. The queen’s bishop takes the bishop.
23.
W. King’s rook at its knight’s square.
B. The same.
24.
W. King’s rook at its king’s knight’s 3d.
B. Queen’s rook’s pawn 1 square.
25.
W. The queen’s knight’s pawn takes the pawn.
B. The queen’s rook takes the pawn.
26.
W. King’s rook at its king’s knight’s square.
B. King’s rook at its queen’s rook’s square.
27.
W. The queen’s rook takes the rook.
B. The queen takes the rook.
28.
W. The rook at his queen’s bishop’s square.
B. The queen at the adverse queen’s rook’s 3d.
29.
W. Queen’s knight at his king’s bishop’s square.
B. The queen at the adverse queen’s knight’s 3d.
30.
W. The queen at her square.
B. The rook gives check, at the adverse queen’s rook’s 2d.
31.
W. The bishop covers the check, at his queen’s 2d.
B. The queen takes the queen.
32.
W. The rook takes the queen.
B. The bishop at the adverse queen’s rook’s 4th.
33.
W. The rook at its queen’s knight’s square.
B. Queen’s bishop at the adverse queen’s knight’s 3d.
34.
W. The king at his knight’s 3d.
B. The knight at his queen’s bishop’s 3d.
35.
W. Queen’s knight at his king’s 3d.
B. King’s bishop at his square.
36.
W. Queen’s bishop at his square.
B. King’s bishop at the adverse queen’s rook’s 3d.
37.
W. King’s rook’s pawn 1 square.
B. The bishop takes the bishop.
38.
W. The rook takes the bishop.
B. The knight at his king’s 2d.
39.
W. King’s rook’s pawn 1 square.
B. The rook at the adverse king’s 2d.
40.
W. The rook at his king’s square.
B. The rook takes the rook.
41.
W. The knight takes the rook.
B. The king’s bishop’s pawn takes the pawn.
42.
W. The king takes the pawn.
B. The knight at his king’s bishop’s 4th.
43.
W. The knight takes the knight.
B. The king’s knight’s pawn takes the knight, and gives check.
44.
W. The king at his knight’s 3d.
B. The bishop at the adverse queen’s square.
45.
W. The knight at his king’s bishop’s 3d.
B. The bishop takes the knight.
46.
W. The king takes the bishop.
B. The king at his knight’s 2d.
47.
W. The king at his 3d square.
B. The king at his bishop’s 2d.
48.
W. The king at his queen’s 2d.
B. The king at his 2d square.
49.
W. The king at his queen’s bishop’s 2d.
B. The king at his queen’s 2d.
50.
W. The king at his queen’s knight’s 2d.
B. The king at his queen’s bishop’s 3d.
51.
W. The king at his queen’s rook’s 3d.
B. The king at his queen’s knight’s 4th,
and makes a drawn game.
Mr. MASERES’ Party.
He received the King’s Bishop’s Pawn, and the Move.
1.
W. King’s pawn 2 squares.
B. King’s knight at his rook’s 3d.
2.
W. Queen’s pawn 2 squares.
B. King’s knight at his bishop’s 2d.
3.
W. King’s bishop at his queen’s 3d.
B. King’s pawn 1 square.
4.
W. King’s knight at his bishop’s 3d.
B. Queen’s pawn 2 squares.
5.
W. King’s pawn 1 square.
B. Queen’s bishop’s pawn 2 squares.
6.
W. Queen’s bishop’s pawn 1 square.
B. Queen’s knight at his bishop’s 3d.
7.
W. Queen’s bishop at his king’s 3d.
B. Queen’s knight’s pawn 1 square.
8.
W. King’s bishop at the adverse queen’s knight’s 4th.
B. Queen’s bishop at his queen’s 2d.
9.
W. Queen’s rook’s pawn 2 squares.
B. Queen’s rook’s pawn 1 square.
10.
W. King’s bishop at his queen’s 3d.
B. King’s knight’s pawn 1 square.
11.
W. The king castles.
B. The queen at her bishop’s 2d.
12.
W. The queen at her king’s 2d.
B. Queen’s bishop’s pawn 1 square.
13.
W. King’s bishop at his queen’s bishop’s 2d.
B. Queen’s rook at its knight’s square.
14.
W. Queen’s knight at his rook’s 3d.
B. King’s bishop at his king’s 2d.
15.
W. King’s rook’s pawn 1 square.
B. The king castles with his rook.
16.
W. King’s knight at his rook’s 2d.
B. Queen’s knight’s pawn 1 square.
17.
W. The queen’s rook’s pawn takes the pawn.
B. The queen’s rook’s pawn takes the pawn.
18.
W. The queen at her king’s knight’s 4th.
B. The king at his knight’s 2d.
19.
W. King’s bishop’s pawn 2 squares.
B. King’s knight at his rook’s 3d.
20.
W. The queen at her king’s knight’s 3d.
B. King’s knight at his king’s bishop’s 4th.
21.
W. The king’s bishop takes the knight.
B. The king’s rook takes the bishop.
22.
W. The queen at her king’s bishop’s 3d.
B. Queen’s knight’s pawn 1 square.
23.
W. The queen’s bishop’s pawn takes the pawn.
B. The knight takes the pawn.
24.
W. King’s knight’s pawn 2 squares.
B. King’s rook at his bishop’s square.
25.
W. The queen at her king’s knight’s 2d.
B. The knight at the adverse queen’s 3d.
26.
W. Queen’s bishop at his square.
B. The queen at her knight’s 3d.
27.
W. Queen’s knight at his queen’s bishop’s 2d.
B. The knight takes the bishop.
28.
W. The queen’s rook takes the knight.
B. The queen takes the queen’s knight’s pawn.
29.
W. Queen’s knight at his king’s 3d.
B. The queen takes the queen.
30.
W. The king takes the queen.
B. Queen’s rook at the adverse queen’s knight’s 3d.
31.
W. King’s rook at its bishop’s 3d.
B. Queen’s rook at the adverse queen’s 3d.
32.
W. Queen’s rook at its queen’s square.
B. Queen’s bishop at the adverse queen’s rook’s 4th.
33.
W. The queen’s rook takes the rook.
B. The queen’s bishop’s pawn takes the rook.
34.
W. King’s knight at his bishop’s square.
B. King’s bishop at the adverse queen’s knight’s 4th.
35.
W. The rook at his king’s bishop’s 2d.
B. King’s bishop at the adverse queen’s bishop’s 3d.
36.
W. The rook at its queen’s rook’s 2d.
B. Queen’s bishop at the adverse queen’s knight’s 3d.
37.
W. The rook at its king’s bishop’s 2d.
B. The king’s bishop takes the queen’s pawn.
38.
W. The rook at its queen’s 2d.
B. The rook takes the king’s bishop’s pawn.
39.
W. The rook takes the pawn.
B. Queen’s bishop at the adverse queen’s bishop’s 4th.
40.
W. The knight takes the bishop.
B. The queen’s pawn takes the knight.
41.
W. The rook at its king’s bishop’s 3d.
B. The rook takes the rook.
42.
W. The king takes the rook.
B. The bishop takes the king’s pawn.
43.
W. The king at his 4th square.
B. The bishop at his king’s bishop’s 3d.
44.
W. The knight at his king’s 3d.
B. Queen’s bishop’s pawn 1 square.
45.
W. The king at his queen’s 3d.
B. The king at his bishop’s 2d.
46.
W. The knight at his queen’s square.
B. The king at his 2d square.
47.
W. The knight takes the pawn.
B. The bishop takes the knight.
48.
W. The king takes the bishop.
B. The king at his queen’s 3d.
49.
W. The king at his queen’s 4th.
B. The king’s pawn 1 square, giving check.
50.
W. The king at his 4th square.
B. The king at his 3d square.
51.
W. King’s rook’s pawn 1 square.
B. The same.
52.
W. The king at his 3d square.
B. The king at his queen’s 4th.
53.
W. The king at his queen’s 3d.
B. The king’s pawn 1 square, giving check.
54.
W. The king at his 3d square.
B. The king at his 4th square.
55.
W. King’s knight’s pawn 1 square.
B. King’s rook’s pawn 1 square.
56.
W. The king at his 2d square.
B. The king at the adverse king’s bishop’s 4th.
57.
W. The king at his bishop’s 2d square.
B. The king at the adverse king’s knight’s 4th.
58.
W. The king at his 3d square.
B. The king takes the rook’s pawn.
59.
W. The king takes the pawn.
B. The king takes the knight’s pawn, and wins the game.