The blue book of chess : teaching the rudiments of the game, and giving an…

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The blue book of chess : teaching the rudiments of the game, and giving an…

(13 User reviews) 6231

By Brenda Hill Posted on Dec 21, 2025

In Category - Medical Thrillers

Authors: Staunton, Howard, 1810-1874 Published By : Staunton, Howard, 1810-1874

Book Language: English

Ever wanted to learn chess but found modern guides overwhelming? Let me introduce you to a charming time capsule: Howard Staunton's "The Blue Book of Chess." Forget flashy apps and complex theory—this is chess stripped back to its elegant bones. Published in the 1860s, it's written by the man whose name is on the chess pieces we use today. It feels like sitting down with a brilliant, slightly formal Victorian uncle who patiently explains how the knight moves and why controlling the center matters. The real magic isn't just in learning the rules; it's in touching the origins of the game as we know it. If you've ever been curious about chess's history or want a pure, foundational start, this is your first move.

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CLEMENTS, 204. | 207, 210, 211, 212, 214. COCHRANE, 72, 111, 125, 166. | NEW YORK, 108, 109, 202. DANIELS, 126. | PERIGAL, 178. DER LAZA, 96, 140, 141, 159. | PETROFF, 66, 73. DESCHAPELLES, 111. | PHILADELPHIA, 108, 109, 202. DESLOGES, 180. | PHILIDOR, 60. EVANS, 114, 135, 136, 166. | PILLSBURY, 67, 188. GHULAM CASSIM, 161. | PINDAR, 201. HARRWITZ, 58, 59, 79, 86, 113, | POPERT, 85, 122, 141. 210, 211. | POTIER, 65. HENDERSON, 114. | PRETI, 203. HILLEL, 93. | ROUSSEAU, 131. HORWITZ, 80, 83, 114, 132. | SCHLECHTER, 188. JAENISCH, 73. | SCHULTEN, 132. JANOWSKY, 190. | ST. AMANT, 84, 136, 137. JONES, Dr., 208, 209. | STANLEY, 131. KIESERITZKY, 180. | STAUNTON, 72, 80, 83, 84, 113, KIPPING, 165. | 122, 125, 162, 179. LA BOURDONNAIS, 124, 161, 177, | STEINITZ, 99, 213. 178. | SZEN, 159. LASKER, 99, 199. | TARRASCH, 199. LEWIS, Dr., 204. | TCHIGORIN, 67. LEWIS, Mr., 158. | THOMPSON, 206. McADAM, 184. | VON BILGUER, 132. McCABE, 80. | WALKER, 126, 137. McDONNELL, 124, 161, 177, 178. | ZUKERTORT, 213. CONTENTS. CHAPTER I. INTRODUCTION Page 7 The Chess-Board and Men--Moves and Powers of the Pieces and Pawns--Notation Used to Describe their Movements--Technical Terms of Chess--Illustrations of Technical Terms--Relative Value of the Chess Forces--The Chess Code, or, Laws of the Game--General Rules and Observations--Maxims and Advice for an Inexperienced Player--Preliminary Game. II. KING'S KNIGHT'S OPENING 51-115 Damiano Gambit, 52; Philidor's Defence, 54; Petroff's Defence, 61; Counter Gambit in the Knight's Opening, 68; The Giuoco Piano, 74; Captain Evans's Gambit, 88; The Two Knights' Defence, 95; The Knight's Game of Ruy Lopez, 97; The Queen's Pawn Game, or Scotch Gambit, 101; The Queen's Bishop's Pawn Game in the King's Knight's Opening, 116. III. THE KING'S BISHOP'S OPENING 116-137 The Two Kings' Bishops' Game, 116; McDonnell's Double Gambit, 120; The Lopez Gambit, 121; The King's Knight's Defence in King's Bishop's Opening, 127; Counter Gambit in the King's Bishop's Opening, 128; The Queen's Bishop's Pawn's Defence in the King's Bishop's Opening, 130; Queen's Bishop's Pawn's Opening, 134. IV. THE KING'S GAMBIT 138-184 The King's Gambit proper, or King's Knight's Gambit, 138; The Cunningham Gambit, 142; The Salvio Gambit, 144; The Cochrane Gambit, 146; The Muzio Gambit 152; The Allgaier Gambit, 162; The King's Rook's Pawn Gambit, 164; The King's Bishop's Gambit, 166; The Gambit Declined, 180. V. THE QUEEN'S GAMBIT 185-191 The Gambit refused, 188. VI. IRREGULAR OPENINGS 192-214 The French Game, 192; The Sicilian Game, 193; The Wing Gambit, 194; The Centre Counter Gambit, 195; The Fianchetto, 196, Steinitz Gambit, 213. VII. ENDINGS OF GAMES 215 CHESS PROBLEMS 248 THE CHESS HANDBOOK. CHAPTER I. INTRODUCTION. DESCRIPTION OF THE CHESS-BOARD AND MEN--ARRANGEMENT OF THE MEN--THE KING--THE QUEEN--THE ROOKS OR CASTLES--THE BISHOPS--THE KNIGHTS--AND THE PAWNS--THEIR MOVEMENTS, POWERS, METHOD OF CAPTURING AN ADVERSE MAN, ETC. DESCRIPTION OF THE CHESS-BOARD AND MEN. The game of Chess is played by two persons, each having at command a little army of sixteen men, upon a board divided into sixty-four squares. The squares are usually colored white and black, or red and white, alternately; and custom has made it an indispensable regulation, that the board shall be so placed that each player has a white square at his right-hand corner. The following diagram represents the board with all the men arranged in proper order for the commencement of a game:-- No. 1. BLACK. +---+---+---+---+---+---+---+---+ | R*| N*| B*| Q*| K*| B*| N*| R*| +---+---+---+---+---+---+---+---+ | P*| P*| P*| P*| P*| P*| P*| P*| +---+---+---+---+---+---+---+---+ | | | | | | | | | +---+---+---+---+---+---+---+---+ | | | |...

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Don't go in expecting a novel—this is a chess manual through and through. But its story is the story of how chess was taught over 150 years ago. Howard Staunton, the world's best player at the time and the namesake for the standard chess set design, lays out the game step-by-step. He starts with the board and how each piece moves, then builds up to basic strategies, classic opening moves, and even a selection of famous checkmate patterns. It's a straightforward, logical progression from absolute beginner to someone who can play a real game.

Why You Should Read It

This book is a direct line to the past. Reading Staunton's explanations, you get a feel for how people thought about strategy and leisure in the Victorian era. His voice is clear and authoritative, yet there's a quaint formality to it that's utterly charming. You're not just learning chess; you're learning it from the source. It cuts through all the noise of modern, theory-heavy guides and gives you the sturdy foundation the game was built on. For me, it made the game feel more accessible and deeply rooted in history.

Final Verdict

This is the perfect starter book for a history lover who's chess-curious, or for a casual player who wants to appreciate the game's classic roots. It's also a fascinating artifact for any chess fan to own. It won't teach you hyper-modern opening theory, but it will teach you chess in its pure, timeless form. Think of it less as a textbook and more as a conversation with the grandfather of competitive chess.

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The copyright for this book has expired, making it public property. Use this text in your own projects freely.