Chess player? A mystery.

I was out walking today, down by what the locals call "Lofty's Bridge", when I saw smoke coming from a copse of trees. I went in to investigate, and found the remains of a pathetic and unsuccessful attempt to light a fire. Among the damp sticks that had been gathered, was a bit of paper on which was written a plan for the opening of a chess match. Also nearby was a copy of "Teach yourself chess" by Gerald Abrahams (1948, English Universities Press.)

I'm from the city originally, and don't fully understand the ways of the countryside, so I stopped at the local pub to ask if anyone knew anything. One man told me that the aforementioned copse was a magnet to wandering chess players, and had been for centuries. So, I believe there's a chess player of some rank and species out there, practising openings and studying endgame theory in the fields near my home.

I enclose a picture of the paper I found; can anyone help me identify which chess player is a guest in our parish?

Staunton's ghost? Now I'm beginning to get frightened. If I can keep my nerve, I'll investigate further.

it sounds to me like you may have stumbled across a secret coded message? perhaps you've found a note from spooks of a different kind, if you know what I mean

:-0

Ah yes, back in 2007, when people posted multiple paragraphs, containing phrases like "a copse of trees."

Now all we have are braindead kids who post:

ohhhh F!!!!

Wow.