PRINCIPLE
The King is the SOURCE from whence the Chess-pieces derive all power of movement; and from his ability to move, emanates ALL power for attack and for defence possessed by a Chessic army.
This faculty of mobility, derived from the existence of the kindred King, is the all essential element in Chess-play, and to increase the mobility of the kindred pieces and to reduce that of the adverse pieces is the simple, sure and only scientific road to victory; and by comparison of the Static with the Dynamic surface of the Chess-board, the desired principle readily is discovered, viz.,
The Static surface of the Chess-board being a square, its least division is into two great right angled triangles having a common hypothenuse.
The Dynamic surface being the quadrant of a circle, its least division also is into two great sections, one of which is a right angled triangle and the other a semi-circle.
Comparing the two surfaces of the Chess-board thus divided, it will be seen that these three great right angled triangles are equal, each containing thirty-six points; and having for their common vertices, the points KR1, QR1 and R8.
Furthermore, it will be seen that the hypothenuse common to these triangles, also is the chord of that semi-circle which appertains to the Dynamic surface.
Again, it will be perceived that this semi-circle, like the three right angled triangles, is composed of thirty-six points, and consequently that all of the four sub-divisions of the Static and Dynamic surfaces of the Chess-board are equal.
Thus it obviously follows, that:
- 1. The great central diagonal, always is one side of each of the four chief geometric figures into which the Chess board is divided; that:
- 2. It mathematically perfects each of these figures and harmonizes each to all, and that:
- 3. By means of it each figure becomes possessed of eight more points than it otherwise would contain.
Hence, the following is self-evident: