Howard Staunton Quotes:

After black's reply to 1.e4 with 1..e5, leaves him always trying to get into the game

Topics: Games, Black, Trying

Each player, it will be observed, has eight superior Pieces or officers, and eight minor ones which are called Pawns; and, for the purpose of distinction, the Pieces and Pawns of one party are of a different color from those of the other.

source: - Howard Staunton (1848). “The Chess-player's Handbook: A Popular and Scientific Introduction to the Game of Chess”, p.2

Topics: Party, Player, Eight, Different Colors

For playing a man to a square to which it cannot be legally moved, the adversary, at his option, may require him to move the man legally, or to move the King.

Topics: Kings, Moving, Men

For touching an adversary's man, when it cannot be captured, the offender must move his King.

Topics: Kings, Moving, Men

In Castling, the King must be moved first, or before the Rook is quitted. If the Rook be quitted before the King is touched, the opposing player may demand that the move of the Rook shall stand without the Castling being completed.

Topics: Kings, Moving, Player

The Bishop and Knight, in contradistinction to the Queen and Rook, are called Minor Pieces.

source: - Howard Staunton (1847). “The chess-player's handbook”, p.24

Topics: Queens, Knights, Bishops

The Bishop moves diagonally forwards or backwards, to the extent of the Board.

source: - Howard Staunton (1847). “The chess-player's handbook ...: with frontispiece”, p.5

Topics: Moving, Boards, Bishops

The Pawn moves only one square at a time, and that straight forward, except in the act of capturing, when it takes one step diagonally to the right or left file on to the square occupied by the man taken, and continues on that file until it captures another man.

source: - Howard Staunton (1848). “The Chess-player's Handbook: A Popular and Scientific Introduction to the Game of Chess”, p.7

Topics: Moving, Taken, Men

The Queen is usually reckoned equal, in average situations, to two Rooks and a Pawn, but towards the end of a game she is hardly so valuable as two Rooks.

source: - Howard Staunton (1873). “The Chess-player's Handbook: A Popular and Scientific Introduction to the Game of Chess, Exemplified in Games Actually Played by the Greatest Masters, and Illustrated by Numerous Diagrams of Original and Remarkable Positions”, p.34

Topics: Queens, Average, Games

A Rook is of the value of five Pawns and a fraction, and may be exchanged for a minor Piece and two Pawns. Two Rooks may be exchanged for three minor Pieces.

source: - Howard Staunton (1873). “The Chess-player's Handbook: A Popular and Scientific Introduction to the Game of Chess, Exemplified in Games Actually Played by the Greatest Masters, and Illustrated by Numerous Diagrams of Original and Remarkable Positions”, p.34

Topics: Two, Three, Pieces

A player is said to have the opposition when he can place his King directly in front of the adverse King, with only one square between them. This is often an important advantage in ending games.

source: - Howard Staunton (1876). “The American Chess-player's Handbook: Teaching the Rudiments of the Game, and Giving an Analysis of All the Recognised Openings : Exemplified by Appropriate Games Actually Played by Morphy, Harrwitz, Anderssen, Staunton, Paulsen, Montgomery, Meek and Others : from the Work of Staunton”, p.22

Topics: Kings, Player, Squares, Adverse

Be cautious of playing your Queen in front of your King and in subjecting yourself to a discovered check. It is better when check is given to your King to interpose a man that attacks the checking Piece than with one that does not.

source: - Howard Staunton (1872). “The Chess-player's Handbook: A Popular and Scientific Introduction to the Game of Chess, Exemplified in Games Actually Played by the Greatest Masters and Illustrated by Numerous Diagrams of Original and Remarkable Positions”, p.40

Topics: Kings, Queens, Men, Be Cautious

To play with correctness and skill the ends of games, is an important but a very rare accomplishment, expect among the magnates of the game.

Topics: Games, Play, Skills

After white's reply to 1.e4 e5 with 2.f4 the game is in its last throes

Topics: Games, White, Chess

The Chess-board must be placed with a white square at the right-hand corner.

Topics: Squares, Hands, White

If either player abandon the game by quitting the table in anger, or in an otherwise offensive manner; or by momentarily resigning the game; or refuses to abide by the decision of the Umpire, the game must be scored against him.

Topics: Anger, Player, Games, Resigning

The Queen is by much the most powerful of the forces.

source: - Howard Staunton (1847). “The chess-player's handbook ...: with frontispiece”, p.4

Topics: Queens, Powerful, Most Powerful

If, during the course of the game, it be discovered that any error or illegality has been committed in the moves of the pieces, the moves must be retraced, and the necessary correction made, without penalty.

Topics: Moving, Errors, Games

When neither party can give checkmate, the game is drawn

source: - Howard Staunton (1873). “The Chess-player's Handbook: A Popular and Scientific Introduction to the Game of Chess, Exemplified in Games Actually Played by the Greatest Masters, and Illustrated by Numerous Diagrams of Original and Remarkable Positions”, p.21

Topics: Party, Games, Giving, Checkmate

It is the duty of the Umpire to determine all questions submitted to him according to these laws, when they apply, and according to his best judgment when they do not apply.

Topics: Law, Umpires, Judgment

When a Piece or Pawn is in a situation to be taken by the enemy, it is said to be en prise. To put a piece en prise, is to play it so that it may be captured.

source: - Howard Staunton (1847). “The chess-player's handbook ...: with frontispiece”, p.21

Topics: Taken, Play, Enemy

The game of chess is the most fascinating and intellectual pastime which the wisdom of antiquity has bequeathed to us.

Topics: Games, Intellectual, Chess, Antiquity