Charles Tomlinson

“ But no sooner is the opening got over, and the middle game entered upon, than Buckle shines forth as a player of extraordinary merit. He was however, so much accustomed to play with inferior men at various odds, that his fame is to a great extent erected on these brilliant encounters. But when he plays a serious game with such accomplished strategists as Boden and Williams ( whose imperturbable coolness is very different from Lowenthal's nervousness) , Buckle meets with his equals in the middle and end game, and his superiors in the opening. ”

“ But it is worth while to insist upon another most remarkable fact, namely, that it is possible for a man of high literary and scientific culture to attain the first rank in chess, so that in a short match with Staunton, the only odds that great player could give to Buckle was Pawn and move, and of the three games played, Buckle won two and lost one. ”

“ Buckle consented to serve on the committee of the great chess tournament, and even he paid his entrance fee as one of the combatants for a prize; but his biographer coolly adds that he "could not give the necessary time and did not play." In the second heat however, his name was drawn by lot in conjunction with that of Lowenthal, and he consented to play, provided an exception was made in his favor, that is, instead of having to win seven games, the victory was to be declared in favor of him who first scored four games. ”

“ In giving the odds of a Pawn his defense could not differ from the recognized one, at least in the early part of the game; but in giving a Knight his opening was peculiar, at least in the games that I have examined.
We must not judge of Buckle as a chess-player by such Divan [odds] games, because when heavy odds are given, the superior player reckons a good deal on the inferior skill of his opponent, and indulges in combinations which he knows to be unsound. ”

“ Buckle agreed. "Well, perhaps it would make a better game if we were to play for five scudi, if you like." But the man declined, probably suspected that he had a strong player before him. When at Dublin, the owner of a bookseller's shop told him of the fame of the Dublin Chess Club, that their chess players were far superior to the Saxons, and could easily beat Staunton. Buckle consented to visit the club in company with the bookseller, and it is needless to add that he beat their best player even, and then gave odds with a similar result. ”

“ It seems to me that chess loses much of its interest and beauty if a player, however skilful, persistently adopts a close game when defending, or only one form of play when he has the first move. Several of the editorial remarks on Buckle's reported games refer to his defective opening, such as "We can not congratulate Mr. ”

“ Hence we have but few published games of Philidor, or the early masters; and even in the best days of the old Westminister Club, it was thought and innovation when Mr. Lewis published Fifty Games as specimens of modern play, but withholding the names of the players and adding no notes. ”

“ Many of his best games are lost, and the large number that are preserved fail, I think, for the most part, adequately to represent his skill. He seems to have known little or nothing of the book openings. ”