THE Laws of Chess.

The Laws or Constitutions of a Game are originally established, either to prevent or decide contests; because, by defining what is in itself indefinite, by determining that which, without any explanation, would be uncertain, they put an end to all obstinacy and dispute. These statutes, founded at first in reason, consecrated afterwards by custom, confirmed at length by the practice of the best players, and the approbation of the most illustrious authors, may be reduced to the XVII following RULES, which the Society or Club of Chess in England have adopted for their code.

LAWS OF CHESS.

I.

The chess-board must be placed in such a manner, that each player may have a white square at his right hand.

II.

He that gives a piece is supposed to have the move, unless it be agreed otherwise. In games without odds, lots must be cast for the move, which afterwards becomes alternate.

III.

If a pawn or piece have been forgotten at the beginning of the game, it will be in the adversary’s choice, either to begin the game afresh, or to go on, permitting, nevertheless, the piece forgotten to be set in its place.

IV.

If it is agreed to give the advantage of a piece, or a pawn, and it have been forgotten at the beginning of a game, it will be left to the choice of him who has suffered by such a mistake, to proceed, or to recommence.

V.

A piece once touched must be played, unless it be said, in touching it, J’adoube: but if a piece be displaced or overturned by accident, the player in whose set it is, will be allowed to restore it to its place.

VI.

If you touch one of your adversary’s pieces without saying J’adoube, he has a right to oblige you to take it; and, in case you touch a piece not prizable, you, who have touched it, must play your king if you can.

VII.

When one has dismissed a piece from his hand, he cannot take it again, to play it to another place; but so long as he keeps his hold of it, he is at liberty to play it where he pleases.

VIII.

A player making a false move, must play his king, as in rule VI. but no false move can be recalled after the adversary’s succeeding move: so if the irregular move be not revoked in time, the position taken must remain as if it had been just.

IX.

Every pawn which has reached the eighth or last square of the chess-board, is entitled to make a queen, or any other piece that shall be thought proper; and this, even when all the pieces remain on the chess-board.

X.

Any pawn has the privilege of advancing two squares, at its first move: but, in this case, it may, in passing, be taken by any pawn which might have taken it if it had been pushed but one move.⁠[32]

XI.

The king, when he castles, cannot in his flight exceed two squares, that is, the rook with which he castles must take the square next to the original square of the king; and the latter, leaping over, must be posted close on the other side of the rook.⁠[33]

XII.

The king cannot castle when in check, nor after having been moved, nor if in passing he was exposed to a check, nor with a rook which has been removed from its place: and he that castles when he should not, must play his rook touched, or his king, at his own choice.

XIII.

If a player give check without warning, the adversary will not be bound to ward it off; and he may consequently play as if such check did not exist: but if the former, in playing the next move, were to say, Check, each must then retract his last move, as being false, and he that is under check is to obviate it in the prescribed form.

XIV.

If the adversary warn you of a check, without however giving it, and you in consequence touch, or move, either your king, or any other piece, you will then be allowed to retract, so long as your adversary has not completed his next move.

XV.

If any one touch a piece which he cannot play without exposing his king to check, he must then play his king; and if his king cannot be played, the fault is of no consequence.

XVI.

When one has nothing else to play, and his king being out of check, cannot stir without coming to a check, then the game is stale-mate. In England, he whose king is stale-mate wins the game⁠[34]; but in France, and several other countries, the stale-mate is a drawn game.

XVII.

At all conclusions of parties, when a player seems not to know how to give the difficult mates, as that of a knight and a bishop against the king, that of a rook and a bishop against a rook, &c. at the adversary’s request, fifty moves on each side must be appointed for the end of the game: these being accomplished, it will be a drawn game.

The Editor invites the experienced reader’s particular attention to the 9th, 10th, 11th, and 12th rules; as some points intended to be established by them, seem open to discussion.—vide Appendix.