Osservazioni teorico-pratiche sopra il giuoco degli scacchi [] opera novissima, contenente le leggi fondamentali, i precetti più purgati, le migliori aperture

Author: Giovanni Battista Lolli (1698-1769)

Year: 1763

Publisher: Stamperia di S. Tommaso d'Aquino

Place: Bologna

Description:

[4]+632 pages with typographic ornaments and vignettes in the text.  Folio (12" x  8 1/2") bound in contemporary full vellum, and spine title label lettered in gilt with  edges stained red,  (Bibliotheca Van der Linde-Niemeijeriana: 372. Choix 319 & 2600. Chicco-Sanvito 489) First edition.

Giambattista Lolli was an Italian chess player and one of the most important chess theoreticians of his time. He is most famous for his book Osservazioni teorico-pratiche sopra il giuoco degli scacchi (English: Theoretical-practical views on the game of chess), published 1763 in Bologna.

Lolli's book contains analyses of chess openings, in particular the Giuoco Piano. Against the Two Knights Defense, the line 1.e4 e5 2.Nf3 Nc6 3.Bc4 Nf6 4.Ng5 d5 5.exd5 Nxd5 6. d4 is named the Lolli Variation. In the King's Gambit the variation 1.e4 e5 2.f4 exf4 3.Nf3 g5 4.Bc4 g4 5.Bxf7+ is designated the Lolli Gambit. It illustrates the Italian masters' style of uncompromising attack, which clearly differs from the rather more strategic considerations taken by, for example, the French chess player Philidor. However, it is considered obsolete as Black can obtain the advantage by 5...Kxf7 6.Ne5+ Ke8 7.Qxg4 Nf6 8.Qxf4 d6, and White does not have enough for the piece. (The Muzio Gambit, 5.O-O, is more promising).

In addition, the book contains listings of 100 chess endgames. One of these positions was used by Wilhelm Heinse in his novel Anastasia und das Schachspiel (English: Anastasia and the game of chess). This Lolli Position is from the pawnless endgame of a rook and bishop versus a rook. Although this endgame is a draw in general, White to move wins in this position. Lolli also studied some defensive fortresses and the queen versus pawn endgame.

Condition:

Contemporary ownership inscription in brown ink to title, old description and inscription to front paste down, final few gatherings damp-stained, scattered spotting, 20th-century chess board diagrams tipped-in or mounted to some leaves, some occasional marginalia, some foxing, corners bumped and boards somewhat bowed else about very good.