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68 be gone. Today, conditions have changed and now there is a rule that each player must make a given number of moves within a certain period, and if a player fails to do this he forfeits the game. For this reason, the student should learn, from the very beginning, to think quickly and be ready to make his move when his turn comes. Quick playing sustains the interest of the game and adds to the pleasure of the players, as well as to that of the spectators.

In Chess Clubs and in match and tournament games, a system of clocks or watches is used so that the length of time it takes each player to make a move can be recorded, just as time is taken in races and other contests of skill and speed. When a beginner is hurried, however, he becomes nervous and makes unnecessary mistakes; and to avoid this, he should learn to play by time and then he will not be embarrassed by keeping his opponent waiting for him to make his move.