_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: