Staunton’s celebrated stories about Lowenthal and Williams, though very amusing to chess ears, I omit for obvious reasons, though extremely funny as Staunton originally told them, and as MacDonnell repeats them, they are probably not strictly founded on fact, and are lacking of the respect to which the memories of two such amiable and chivalrous chess players as Williams and Lowenthal are entitled.

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STAKES AT CHESS

The question of stakes or money terms upon which chess is played is a question of the first importance in the interests of chess, and a few notes of my experience upon the subject may not be inappropriate.  After about three months looking on at chess play in 1844, at Raymond’s Coffee House near the City Road Gate, where Dr. Michaelson of the Morning Post, and Mr. Finley, a farrier, were the respective giants, and a cup of coffee the usual stake, I learned the moves at chess, and receiving the odds of a Queen for a few games, I happened one day to hear with astonishment that the gentleman conceding me the odds was not as I supposed, the champion of the world, but that better players could be found at Goodes, Ludgate Hill, and Simpson’s in the Strand.  To the former I soon resorted and found Kling, Kuiper and Muckle, the principal professionals there; a nominal fee of sixpence being the charge per game, and Staunton, the champion had played many games at that rate.  It was some weeks before I mustered resolution to visit Simpson’s spacious and handsome hall, but, once arrived there, I made myself at home.  Lowe, Williams and Finch were the attendant players there, and extensively they were supported.  From each received the Queen soon improving to the odds of the Knight, and then playing even with them.  Buckle alone, who did not mind hard work, essayed to give me Pawn and move, but for a short time only.  One shilling a game has always been the recognized stake at Simpson’s, and also at St. Georges the principal London Chess Club, but there have been exceptions, John Cochrane and Bird, the Rev. G. A. MacDonnell and Bird, and S. Boden and Bird never played for anything, and these ranked among the most popular of games, and the players were favourite opponents.  In 1873, Wisker was holder of the British Chess Association Challenge Cup, but had never seen or played with Bird, who had been for six years out of chess.  An accidental meeting by them, and the presence and intervention of Lowenthal and Boden, led to the Wisker and Bird four matches, the first for 5 pounds, and the other for credit of victory only.  Anderssen and Bird always played 5/- a game, Zukertort and Bird 2/6, Steinitz and Bird’s first sixteen games were without stakes, their match of 1866-7 for 25 pounds only.  Before the year 1866, 10 pounds or 20 pounds a side was a convenient and common stake for a match.  Staunton and Harrwitz, Staunton and Horwitz, Morphy and Anderssen, Steinitz and Blackburne, Steinitz and