Убийство на улице Морг

           Deprivedofordinaryresources,theanalystthrowshimselfintothespiritofhisopponent,identifieshimselftherewith,andnotunfrequentlyseesthus,ataglance,thesolemethods(sometimesindeedabsurdlysimpleones)bywhichhemayseduceintoerrororhurryintomiscalculation. 

           Whisthaslongbeennotedforitsinfluenceuponwhatistermedthecalculatingpower;andmenofthehighestorderofintellecthavebeenknowntotakeanapparentlyunaccountabledelightinit,whileeschewingchessasfrivolous. Beyonddoubtthereisnothingofasimilarnaturesogreatlytaskingthefacultyofanalysis. Thebestchess-playerinChristendommaybelittlemorethanthebestplayerofchess;butproficiencyinwhistimpliescapacityforsuccessinallthesemoreimportantundertakingswheremindstruggleswithmind. WhenIsayproficiency,Imeanthatperfectioninthegamewhichincludesacomprehensionofallthesourceswhencelegitimateadvantagemaybederived. Thesearenotonlymanifoldbutmultiform,andliefrequentlyamongrecessesofthoughtaltogetherinaccessibletotheordinaryunderstanding. Toobserveattentivelyistorememberdistinctly;and,sofar,theconcentrativechess-playerwilldoverywellatwhist;whiletherulesofHoyle(themselvesbaseduponthemeremechanismofthegame)aresufficientlyandgenerallycomprehensible. Thustohavearetentivememory,andtoproceedby“thebook,”arepointscommonlyregardedasthesumtotalofgoodplaying.