Salvio's Proverb

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Ziryab

"Gambitto a giuocator: non farsi lice."

 

J.H. Sarratt claims this proverb of Salvio is well known (Treatise on the Game of Chess, 1808). What does it mean? Who can offer a clear English translation?

Crazychessplaya

"We're shutting down the reactor; Iranians don't lie."

Ziryab

Nice try, but I don't think that Salvio was writing about nukes.

klfay1

"Take your chances - I have lice."

EDIT:  When I tried to look it up it came back as "Gambitto a giuocator farsi non lice."  I think it sort of translates to ("The King's) Gambit may not work against a player."

Xeelfiar

It should be: the gambit to a player isn't allowed. It's really old italian.

Crazychessplaya

What does it mean?

Tripp_H

"I tried to get Giada to cater, but she doesn't speak Farsi."

supershinigami

It roughly means to avoid playing aggressive gambits. Some gambits are deemed unplayable or "cannot be played aginst a player".

Translations:

"Gambit player: hold(cup) not these stupidities" -Archaic

"Gambit player to not get lice(contention)" -Modern

LoekBergman

If you play rough, expect tough.

isaiahjhonson

It's an advise to gambit players that with proper defense, the attacker has the disadvantage...

Xeelfiar

But at the time the thoughts on the gambit were different. Probably he would mean that the player shouldn't allow that his opponent play a gambit (I think that's the right interpretation since gambits were considered dangerous because almost nobody could defend well, so you should't allow that a strong attacker plays a gambit)

isaiahjhonson

I think defending gambit's still pretty hard! But if you know...Smile