下棋只是為了消遣，其所以能使這樣多人嗜此不疲者，是因為它頗合于人類好斗的本能，這是一種“斗智不斗力”的游戲。所以瓜棚豆架之下，與世無爭的村夫野老不免一枰相對，消此永晝；鬧市茶寮之中，常有有閑階級的人士下棋消遣，“不為無益之事，何以遣此有涯之生？”宦海里翻過身最后退隱東山的大人先生們，髀肉復生，而英雄無用武之地，也只好閑來對奕，了此殘生，下棋全是“剩馀精力”的發泄。人總是要斗的，總是要鉤心斗角的和人爭逐的。與其和人爭權奪利，還不如在棋盤上多占幾個官，與其招搖撞騙，還不如在棋盤上抽上一車。宋人筆記曾載有一段故事：“李訥仆射，性卞急，酷好奕棋，每下子安詳，極于寬緩，往往躁怒作，家人輩則密以奕具陳于前，訥賭，便忻然改容，以取其子布弄，都忘其恚矣。”《南部新書》下棋，有沒有這樣陶冶性情之功，我不敢說，不過有人下起棋來確實是把性命都可置諸度外。我有兩個朋友下棋，警報作，不動聲色，俄而彈落，棋子被震得在盤上跳蕩，屋瓦亂飛，其中一位棋癮較小者變色而起，被對方一把拉住，“你走！那就算是你輸了”。此公深得棋中之趣。

　　Most players of chess play just for diversion. Chess has so many enthusiasts only because it suits man's bellicosity. It is a contest "of wits, not of strength". So you may find country folks, who stand aloof from worldly success, seated at the chessboard in the melon shed or under the legume trellis, you may also find members of the leisured class locked in chess, passing the time in teahouses or pubs on busy streets―"If not to do something senseless, how to beguile the long life?" Also, VIPs in retirement from setbacks in their official careers now living in clover, having no other scope to exercise their abilities, cannot but while away their remaining years with chess. Thus we say it is to give vent to one's "spare energy" to play chess. Men are born bellicose. They have never ceased intriguing against each other. It is far better to occupy more position on the chessboard than to jockey for more power and profit in real life. It is also far better to take a chariot of your opponent's than to swindle and cheat others. A man of the Song Dynasty had the following story recorded in one of his books: "Prime Minister Li Ne, a keen lover of chess, was a man of no patience and impetuosity, whose anger would give way to smiles once engaged in a game of chess. Every time he got angry, his wife or some other member of his family would have the game of chess brought out and placed before him quietly. Seeing the game, Li would calm down. Forgetting all the unpleasantness, he would take up a piece and turn his mind to chess （see: Nan Bu Xin Shu, i.e., New Book of the South）". Whether it is true that playing chess can exert such a favorable influence on one's temperament, I am not sure. Yet it is quite true that there are people who will give no thought to their lives when engaged in games of chess. Two friends of mine were locked up in a game one day, and neither of them turned a hair when an air raid siren suddenly sounded. A bomb exploded on the ground not far away a moment later, setting the pieces on the chessboard dancing and the tiles on the roof shaking. The one not quite so absorbed was somewhat alarmed and rose from the table but was stopped by his opponent. "You leave? Then it is you that lose the game" You see, what pleasure he has found in chess!

　　“抽車”―a frequently used term in Chinese chess, refers to a situation when a chariot（車） of one side is under attack by the other at the same time as the king （or帥） is threatened to be checkmate. As it is more urgent to make a move to save the king, the chariot is left to be taken away（抽） by the opponent.

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