Studies of chess : Containing Caïssa, a poem, by Sir William Jones;…
QR code
"Studies of chess" by F. D. Philidor is a chess treatise written in the early 19th century. It blends a systematic introduction to the rules with strategic maxims, annotated examples, and an extended analysis of play, framed by the allegorical poem Caïssa. The volume aims to teach both fundamentals and practical strategy through clear explanations, revised terminology, and step‑by‑step games. The opening of this volume provides transcriber and editorial notes, then a
preface that praises chess as a gymnasium of the mind and explains revisions to the Analysis, including clearer notation (“two squares” for a pawn), dropping “retake” for “take,” and distinguishing “divergent check” from “double check.” It presents the contents and the poem Caïssa, which mythologizes the invention of chess through Mars and the nymph Caïssa, personifies the pieces, and dramatizes a narrated game to checkmate. A Systematic Introduction follows, defining the board, pieces, movement, castling, promotion by replacement to the highest vacant dignity, check and check‑mate, stalemate (counted as a loss for the side that gives it), draw conditions, and simple laws like touch‑move. General Maxims then outline sound openings, pawn structure, development discipline, king safety, and tactical cautions about forks, ambushes, and futile checks. The opening section closes with move‑by‑move “Progressive Examples,” back‑games, and a “Scale of Powers” that assigns relative piece values to guide exchanges. (This is an automatically generated summary.)
Download for free
For your e-reader or reading app — Kindle, Kobo, Apple Books, Calibre etc.
Kindle → Use Send-to-Kindle
- Download the EPUB3 file above
- Upload it on the Amazon site your Kindle is registered with: amazon.com/sendtokindle for the US, amazon.co.uk/sendtokindle for the UK etc.
- It appears on your Kindle and in the Kindle app
Kobo, Nook etc. → Transfer via USB
- Download the EPUB3 file on your computer
- Connect your e-reader by USB and tap "Connect" on its screen
- Drag the file onto the e-reader drive
Phone, Tablet or Computer → Online or Reading App
Easiest: read online in your browser. Nothing to install.
Or use a reading app:
- Find and install one you like, for example Apple Books, ReadEra or Thorium Reader
- Download the EPUB3 file above
- Open it in the app
More help: iPhone / iPad · Android · Computer
Other formats & older devices
There may be more files related to this item.
About this eBook
| Author | Philidor, F. D. (François Danican), 1726-1795 |
|---|---|
| Contributor | Jones, William, 1746-1794 |
| Editor | Pratt, Peter, active 1799-1822 |
| Title | Studies of chess : Containing Caïssa, a poem, by Sir William Jones; a systematic introduction to the game; and the whole Analysis of chess |
| Original Publication | London: Printed for Samuel Bagster, 1803. |
| Credits | Aaron Adrignola and the Online Distributed Proofreading Team at www.pgdp.net (This book was produced from images made available by the HathiTrust Digital Library.) |
| Language | English |
| LoC Class | GV: Geography, Anthropology, Recreation: Recreation, Leisure |
| Subject | Chess |
| Category | Text |
| eBook-No. | 78804 |
| ISBN (HTML) | 979-8-238-78804-3 |
| Release Date | Jun 2, 2026 |
| Copyright | Public domain in the USA. |
| Downloads | 541 downloads in the last 30 days. |
Project Gutenberg eBooks are always free!