Howard Staunton - The chess-player's handbook (1847)

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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.

Howard Staunton
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.

Howard Staunton
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.

Howard Staunton
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.

Howard Staunton
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.

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

Howard Staunton
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.

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

Howard Staunton
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.

Howard Staunton