Many players prefer this game to draughts. It may also be played by four persons, taking partners as in ‘whist,’ when each player receives six men. Odds can be given in this game, a superior player having eleven against twelve men.
Whenever a player has three men in an open line the opponent must stop him, for should he get four, then the adversary could block him on only one end. This blocking, however, is not necessary if the second player can first make ‘five.’
The student will learn the method of playing from the games we shall give with explanations. The system of description is the International Chess Notation, as will be shown on the frame of the diagram to follow. The letters in brackets after the moves will refer to the explanatory notes.
The following two games were played between G. W. S. and H. F. L. M.:—
| White. | Black. | |||
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1. | d4. | d5. | ||
| 2. | e4. | e5. | ([i]). | |
| 3. | f4. | c4. | ([j]). | |
| 4. | f5. | e6. | ||
| 5. | f7. | ([k]). | f6. | |
| 6. | g6. | d3. | ||
| 7. | g4. | h4. | ||
| 8. | g4. | g3. | ||
| 9. | e3. | d2. | ||
| 10. | c5. | f2. | ([l]). | |
| 11. | e2. | f3. | ([m]). | |
| 12. | b3. | g7. | ([n]). | |
The men are now placed as shown in this [diagram]:—
Now the moving begins:—