RealityCheck classicsThe Chess-Player's Text BookHoward Staunton
1849 J. Jaques issue - Library of Congress copy
1849 J. Jaques issue - Library of Congress copy
Free public-domain editionCleared for declared scopeEN
The Chess-Player's Text Book
A Concise and Easy Introduction to the Game
Howard Staunton's compact course in the board, rules, practical principles, endings, and historical opening play, presented as source-faithful prose with independently verified native boards or semantic references for every printed diagram and notation table.
Start reading16 reading sections · 223 interactive positions
PPrefaceReading section4 min →1Description of the Chess-board and MenReading section16 min →2Technical Terms in Use among Chess-players4 interactive games12 min →3Relative Value of the Chess ForcesReading section3 min →4The Laws of the GameReading section10 min →5Hints for an Inexperienced PlayerReading section3 min →6General Rules and ObservationsReading section10 min →7Ending of Games17 interactive games55 min →8Endings of Games - Continued26 interactive games65 min →9Endings of Games - Continued6 interactive games20 min →IIBook II: The OpeningsReading section4 min →10The King's Knight's Opening48 interactive games28 min →11The King's Bishop's Opening8 interactive games5 min →12The Queen's Bishop's Pawn Opening6 interactive games3 min →13The King's Gambit58 interactive games22 min →CCautions to Chess-playersReading section5 min →