The Year-Book of Chess 1908

In issuing the "Year-Book of Chess" for its second year, I wish to offer my best thanks to the many readers who have made such kind expressions of approval about the book. That an annual of its kind was wanted appears to be the general belief throughout the English-speaking chess world, and the support accorded to the work, in spite of its tardy arrival, is sufficient to justify its being continued.

The support for chess works is, however, nearly always of a necessarily limited character, and does not admit of sacrificing interests in another profession or business. It is this fact which is responsible for the unpunctuality for which I have to apologise again. The preparations for publication are obviously of a far more difficult nature than those required for most annuals, and their difficulty is easily underrated at the optimistic period, when one issue is just ready and the next looms far in the distance with apparently plenty of time for its production - a time which in reality proves to be all too short. Having twice miscalculated the time requisite for its production, and having the experience of the past in mind, I have every hope that the 1909 book will be ready in the early part of next year. With a big tournament ending late in December, January can safely be put aside as the probable month, but every effort will be made for the date to be a? near then as possible.

As far as the present volume is concerned, it will be noticed that the exceptionally heavy programme of 1907 necessitates an increase in the size of the " Year­book". The Problem Section has been given greater prominence and the leading problemists of the year have been drawn upon for examples of their Art as well as the leading players for theirs. This feature will be retained in future editions, and other new features are contemplated.

E. A. MICHELL, LONDON, June, 1908.

In issuing the "Year-Book of Chess" for its second year, I wish to offer my best thanks to the many readers who have made such kind expressions of approval about the book. That an annual of its kind was wanted appears to be the general belief throughout the English-speaking chess world, and the support accorded to the work, in spite of its tardy arrival, is sufficient to justify its being continued.

The support for chess works is, however, nearly always of a necessarily limited character, and does not admit of sacrificing interests in another profession or business. It is this fact which is responsible for the unpunctuality for which I have to apologise again. The preparations for publication are obviously of a far more difficult nature than those required for most annuals, and their difficulty is easily underrated at the optimistic period, when one issue is just ready and the next looms far in the distance with apparently plenty of time for its production - a time which in reality proves to be all too short. Having twice miscalculated the time requisite for its production, and having the experience of the past in mind, I have every hope that the 1909 book will be ready in the early part of next year. With a big tournament ending late in December, January can safely be put aside as the probable month, but every effort will be made for the date to be a? near then as possible.

As far as the present volume is concerned, it will be noticed that the exceptionally heavy programme of 1907 necessitates an increase in the size of the " Year­book". The Problem Section has been given greater prominence and the leading problemists of the year have been drawn upon for examples of their Art as well as the leading players for theirs. This feature will be retained in future editions, and other new features are contemplated.

E. A. MICHELL, LONDON, June, 1908.