Page:Journal of the Straits Branch of the Royal Asiatic Society (IA journalof495019071908roya).pdf/115

 on the right of his king, and is so opposite to the opposing king.

In the early days of European chess occasional modifica- tions appear to have been made in the position of the pieces at starting, before the game had settled to its present strict form. I have not seen any mention of the Malay method of arrang- ing the men, but we read of games starting with a "tabiyat" or battle array, which seems to have taken may forms, in which the pieces were arranged in positions quite different from the normal starting arrangement and it is probable that the relative positions of king and queen were not always in early days entirely settled.

However that may be, the next variation between Malay chess and ours is certainly a survival of a rule, now dead, which prevailed at one time in Europe.

The Malay king, provided he has not been checked or moved, has the privilege of once leaping like a knight, or of moving over two squares whether another piece intervenes a not, laterally but not forward or diagonally. He can thus practically castle, but in two moves instead of one. Castling as we know it is not a part of the Malay game.

The "king's leap" was recognised in Europe in mediaeval chess before the present method of castling was generally adopted.

The results of this power of the king are very disconcert- ing to a player unused to the Malay game. Thus an unguard- ed knight giving check can be taken by the king, or in a crowded position the king skips away from an otherwise fatal check by a knight's move or over another piece. In playing Malay chess at first, it is very common to overlook this curi- ous privilege of the king. The Malays frequently give what would otherwise be an aimless check in order to deprive the king of this power. I have not played the game sufficiently to be sure whether it would be generally advisable to do this between even players—whether the loss of one or two moves involved in giving the check is made up for by the king's loss of his privilege. But it is certainly advisable for a European skilful at his own form of chess, but a novice at Malay chess,