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Evans On Chess Sun, May 14, 1972 – Page 42 · The Indianapolis Star (Indianapolis, Indiana) · Newspapers.com
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May 14, 1972 Evans on Chess, Indianapolis Star, Indianapolis, Indiana
Evans On Chess Sun, May 14, 1972 – Page 42 · The Indianapolis Star (Indianapolis, Indiana) · Newspapers.com
July 31 1932 Los Angeles Times Chess by Clif Sherwood
Chess by Clif Sherwood Sun, Jul 31, 1932 – 66 · The Los Angeles Times (Los Angeles, California) · Newspapers.com
L.A. Times Problem No. 301 by Arnaldo Ellerman, Argentine. Sports Referee, 1932. White mates in two.
FEN 1qNbn1b1/1Q3R2/8/4k1n1/3RPp2/4P1rB/1K1p4/B7 w - - 0 1
Key: K-N3/Kb3
Several gave K-B2 which is defeated by QxNch, while R-N4 is defeated by P-Q8(N).
The recent tourney at Sliac, Czecho-Slovakia, furnished the following.
Karel Opocensky vs Efim Bogoljubov
Bad Sliac (1932), Sliac CSR, rd 4, Jun-??
Rat Defense: See also: Modern Defense (for lines with …g6) (A41) 0-1
July 24 1932 Los Angeles Times Chess by Clif Sherwood
Chess by Cliff Sherwood Sun, Jul 24, 1932 – 32 · The Los Angeles Times (Los Angeles, California) · Newspapers.com
L.A. Times Problem No. 299 by T. Vesz, Hungary. Brisbane Courier, 1932. White mates in two.
FEN 2K1n3/3p1pqB/2Pk1p2/5P2/1NRp1N1p/Q3RP2/br5B/1r2n3 w - - 0 1
Key: R-N3/Rb3
L.A. Times Problem No. 300 by Percy Bowater, Pasadena, California. White mates in three.
FEN 4R3/4p3/6p1/1N2kPB1/1K6/8/6B1/8 w - - 0 1
Key: N-Q4/Nd4
If KxN; 2. R-Q8ch, etc. If P-K3 or PxP; 2. K-B5, etc. If K-Q3; 2. B-B4ch, and then if P-K4; 3. PxP e.p.! Charles Broughton writes: “Delightful! The PxP en passant variation is especially pleasing.”
A few months ago World Champion Alekhine gave a mammoth exhibition in Paris—five players consulting at each of sixty tables representing different clubs. Here's how he treated the Tennis Club Russe.
Alexander Alekhine vs Russian Tennis Club
Simul, 60b (1932) (exhibition), Paris FRA, Feb-28
Queen's Gambit Declined: Modern. Knight Defense (D51) 1-0
Here's how Alekhine flirted with L'Echiquier Feminin at his Paris exhibition.
Alexander Alekhine vs L'Echiquier Feminin
Simul, 60b (1932) (exhibition), Paris FRA, Feb-28
Caro-Kann Defense: Main Line (B15) 1-0
July 17 1932 Los Angeles Times Chess by Clif Sherwood
Chess by Clif Sherwood Sun, Jul 17, 1932 – 54 · The Los Angeles Times (Los Angeles, California) · Newspapers.com
L.A. Times Problem No. 298 by C. Gavrilov, Rumania. Brisbane Courier, 1931. White mates in two.
FEN 3K2b1/3Q4/p3p3/R2rk3/8/2N1PR2/2q3r1/BB6 w - - 0 1
Key: K-B7/Kc7
This game between two great masters at the recent tourney at Sliac, Czecho-Slovakia, is another example of how not to play the black forces (after the few regular opening moves.) Flohr shared first prize with Vidmar and is showing all the earmarks of a comping world champion.
Salomon Flohr vs Efim Bogoljubov
Bad Sliac (1932), Sliac CSR, rd 8, Jun-??
King's Indian Defense: Orthodox Variation. Positional Defense Closed Line (E94) 1-0
July 10 1932 Los Angeles Times Chess by Clif Sherwood
Chess by Clif Sherwood Sun, Jul 10, 1932 – 39 · The Los Angeles Times (Los Angeles, California) · Newspapers.com
L.A. Times Problem No. 296 by A.D. Gibbs, Long Beach, California. First publication. White mates in two.
FEN 4nQ2/2PB2q1/8/K3k2r/3RN1bN/2P1pr1p/8/8 w - - 0 1
Key: N-B6/Nf6
1. QxQch doesn't work; look again!
L.A. Times Problem No. 297 by Percy Bowater, Pasadena, California. First publication. White mates in three.
FEN 1Bn5/2b5/1p6/1P6/1p4k1/1P1P1NN1/QK1P2PP/8 w - - 0 1
Key: Q-R7/Qa7
If NxQ; 2. BxB. If N-Q3; 2. QxB. If B-K4ch; 2. BxB. If B-B5; 2. Q-N7ch. If B-Q3; 2. Q-N7ch.
This is just one of many entertaining games found in “Every Game Checkmate,” which recently came off the press. In the passing of Julius Breyer the chess world loses a potential world champion.
Lajos Asztalos vs Gyula Breyer
Debrecen (1913), Debrecen AUH, rd 2, Jul-08
Semi-Slav Defense: Main Lines (D45) 0-1
July 03 1932 Los Angeles Times Chess by Clif Sherwood
Chess by Clif Sherwood Sun, Jul 3, 1932 – 38 · The Los Angeles Times (Los Angeles, California) · Newspapers.com
L.A. Times Game No. 295 by A.D. Gibbs, Long Beach, Cal. First publication. White mates in two.
FEN 2b5/1Npr1q2/prpR4/2Bnk1N1/8/Q2BpRP1/1b2P3/5K2 w - - 0 1
Key: N-R5/Na5
Frank Marshall vs David Gladstone
Manhattan CC v Marshall CC (1932), New York, NY USA
Queen's Gambit Declined: Orthodox Defense. Main Line (D63) 1-0
This brevity is from a recent Russian tourney.
L.A. Times Game No. 300
Kirilloff (white) vs. Grigorieff (black)
Caro-Kann Defense: Maróczy Variation, Maróczy Gambit
May 14, 1972 Bangor Daily News Chess by George Cunningham & Gerry Dullea
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Chess Sun, May 14, 1972 – 25 · The Bangor Daily News (Bangor, Maine) · Newspapers.com
Fischer-Spassky is on again!
After four months of ugly political and financial wrangling and bickering, Bobby Fischer and Boris Spassky have agreed to play a 24-game match for the world championship. The entire series will be played in Reykjavik, Iceland, starting July 2. The winner will receive $78,125 and the loser the remainder of a $125,000 prize fund.
Iceland was Spassky's first choice for the playing site, but Fischer had held it unacceptable, largely, he says, because limited technical facilities there would make TV and film coverage difficult. But now he says that he is willing to meet Spassky there “or anywhere else in the free world.”
We, and all chess players, are very glad to see that the controversy will finally be settled over the board and not by political and journalistic haggling.
May 14, 1972 Courier Journal The King's Men by Merrill Dowden
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The King's Men Sun, May 14, 1972 – Page 49 · The Courier-Journal (Louisville, Kentucky) · Newspapers.com
Fischer May Give America First Official Championship by Merrill Dowden
Q.—We have heard that if Bobby Fischer defeats Boris Spassky in their forthcoming title match, he would become America's first world chess champion. What about Paul Morphy? Wasn't this American world champion more than a century ago?
A.—There was no official world chess champion until 1886, when Wilhelm Steinitz, a native of Prague, won the title by defeating Dr. J.H. Zukertort. But Morphy, who as born and bred in New Orleans, was undoubtedly the strongest player of his time, and in the opinion of many the greatest player that ever lived. In 1858, he went to Europe and defeated all the leading masters, including the great Adolph Anderssen of Germany. Morphy then returned to the United States and offered to meet any player in the world, giving the considerable odds of move and Pawn. No one would accept the challenge.
Before Morphy, however, Howard Staunton of Great Britain established himself as unofficial champion in 1843 by defeating Pierre de Saint-Amant of France, in a match that was generally considered as the first to be held under the strict conditions of championship competition. Anderssen displaced Staunton by winning the first international chess tournament at London in 1851.
Winning the championship today is a vastly more complicated affair. One must successfully go through a series of challenge matches, just to earn the right to play the world champion.
May 14, 1972 The Sacramento Bee, The Chess Column
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This week's column is littered with a strongly worded Political Zionism Slant on things not true about neither Fischer nor Spassky, but often repeated as if it is. Fischer was not and never was part of the Jewish religion. Fischer grew to resent false claims identifying him as part of Israeli-Palestinian colonization cult. He was born non religious like his mother, then joined a fundamentalist Christian cult sect led by Herbert W. Armstrong in the 1960s. Unbeknownst to most, Fundamentalist Christians who are the primary participants in yielding both political and financial support behind the Zionist movement to colonize Palestine, via military occupation and apartheid, first started the myth that Jews are part of a “separate race” and this racial mythology was carried to its extreme and popularized by both Zionists and Adolf Hitler. True Jews refuse to embrace the false ideology, acknowledging Judaism is a religion and adherents come from ALL racial backgrounds. For those reasons the wording in this column is strongly denounced for its racism.
The Chess Column Sun, May 14, 1972 – 94 · The Sacramento Bee (Sacramento, California) · Newspapers.com
May 13, 1972 Chess Ottawa Journal by D.M. LeDain
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Chess Sat, May 13, 1972 – Page 28 · The Ottawa Journal (Ottawa, Ontario, Canada) · Newspapers.com
Dr. Max Euwe, FIDE president, on arrival home at Amsterdam from his Australian and East Asian goodwill tour, laid it on the line in settling matters of the Fischer-Spassky world championship match, conditions of which have been disputed for three months. Iceland was offered, and accepted, responsibility for the whole 24 games on their original bid of $125,000 prize fund. With disqualification facing them, both Spassky and Fischer, along with their representative USSR and USA federations, have accepted the president's rulings. Play will be in a large sports centre in Reykjavik, with three completed games per week on Sundays, Tuesdays and Thursdays, starting July 2. Unfinished games will be completed in between regular sessions. Lothar Schmid, West German master, will be referee-in-chief. He acted with satisfaction in that capacity in the Fischer-Petrosian match last fall. As to the possibility of TV and film coverage for the 80 countries which are members of the International Chess Federation (FIDE), Dr. Euwe will handle all financial arrangements.
May 13, 1972 Chess Master Times Colonist by George Koltanowski
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Chess Master Sat, May 13, 1972 – 7 · Times Colonist (Victoria, British Columbia, Canada) · Newspapers.com
A Fischer Variation
Bobby Fischer leans mostly to 1. P-K4 when he has the White pieces, and as Black he chooses the Sicilian Defence (1. P-K4, P-QB4) and after 1. P-Q4, N-KB3; 2. P-QB4, P-KN3; 3. N-QB3 P-Q4 (the Grunfeld Defence) is his favorite.
He is able to play any line of attack or defence. No one knows the opening better than Fischer, but the above are certainly his most often used lines of play. Twice against Boris Spassky, he has played the Grunfeld Defence — and lost both games.
For this reason, it is interesting to see the following game as White introduces a new thought to White's play against the Fischer line. This against an opponent who was not prepared for it! Fischer surely has seen this game by now and must have something against it.
Played in the Athens, Greece tournament 1971.
May 13, 1972 Montreal Gazette The Game of Kings by D.M. LeDain
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The Game of Kings Sat, May 13, 1972 – 60 · The Gazette (Montreal, Quebec, Canada) · Newspapers.com
Life Styles
Viktor Khenkin writing on the two outstanding chess personalities, Spassky and Fischer, in “Soviet Union To-day”, comments:
“What then do the two best chess players of the times represent in the general human aspect? Here they differ to an even greater extent than in their game styles.
Boris Spassky is an educated person. he is an alumnus of Leningrad University, having finished its journalism faculty. Robert Fischer left school at an early age, declaring that studies hampered him from taking up chess seriously. Spassky is sociable, bubbling with life and his heart is open to all earthly joys. Fischer is enclosed within himself, unsociable and extremely religious. Spassky always knows what he is striving for, and goes confidently and openly towards it. Fischer, however, is now and then tortured by doubts, and can all of a sudden stop halfway.
As a personality, Spassky is much more attractive than his rival. But at the same time there is something in Fischer's character that compels the chess world to view him with secret sympathy. Spassky himself expressed these sentiments in one of his interviews.”
“I respect Fischer. I see in him a man passionately in love with chess, a man who in general has nothing in life except chess. All his efforts at times even unconsciously, are bent on making the labor of the chess player esteemed and appreciated.
“I believe that much harm is caused Fischer by the people surrounding him, who are striving to create a halo of exclusiveness around him and to take advantage of the American grandmaster's success for their own purposes. Fischer himself is a modest, serious and conscientious chess toiler. He has tremendous chess talent, and works hard at it. For me this is the main thing.
“By nature Fischer is ingenuous and proud. He always says what he thinks. But it is hard for such people to live in modern society and, it seems to me, Fischer is very lonely. That is one of his tragedies.”
May 07, 1972 Press Democrat Chess Chats by George Koltanowski
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Chess Chats 07 May 1972, Sun The Press Democrat (Santa Rosa, California) Newspapers.com
FROM THE SIDELINES by Paul Keres, USSR
…
Curious New Idea
… another Grandmaster, Eduard Gufeld, came out with a curious new idea. He added on the original position … Here the Geller maneuver 1. Q-B 5ch, P-N3; 2. Q-Q7 would not win anymore because of the defense 2. … Q-B2, etc. But instead of it, Black's extra Rook on B1 enables White to decide the game by means of a surprising combination, found by Grandmaster Gufeld. Would you like to try your skill on this interesting position?
Gufeld showed this position to Bobby Fischer during the International tournament at Sousse in 1967. It took Bobby seven minutes to discover the surprising winning line for White. Think you can solve it faster? We wish you good luck!!!
Solution below
June 26 1932 Los Angeles Times Chess by Clif Sherwood
Chess by Clif Sherwood Sun, Jun 26, 1932 – 34 · The Los Angeles Times (Los Angeles, California) · Newspapers.com
L.A. Times Problem No. 294 by M. Wrobel, Warsaw. Fourth Prize, Bristol Times-Mirror, 1931. White mates in two.
FEN 3R4/3N3p/4B3/nRN2p1r/KQbk1p2/1p3qn1/2pBp3/8 w - - 0 1
Key: N-K4/Ne4
June 12 1932 Los Angeles Times Chess by Clif Sherwood
Chess by Clif Sherwood Sun, Jun 12, 1932 – 64 · The Los Angeles Times (Los Angeles, California) · Newspapers.com
L.A. Times Problem No. 293 by H.V. Tuxen, Java. Third Prize, Bristol Times-Mirror, 1931. White mates in two.
FEN 5K2/3p2pb/1p1Q4/3R2P1/4k1n1/2p2N2/4pqBN/2B3b1 w - - 0 1
Key: R-N5/Rb5
June 05 1932 Los Angeles Times Chess by Clif Sherwood
Chess by Clif Sherwood Sun, Jun 5, 1932 – 39 · The Los Angeles Times (Los Angeles, California) · Newspapers.com
L.A. Times Problem No. 292 by J. Peris, Valencia, Spain. Brisbane Courier, 1931. Why no other move of the keypiece? White mates in two.
FEN qb3N2/4r3/1Q1n2B1/8/1NR1Pk1P/R4PnK/4r1P1/Bb6 w - - 0 1
Key: B-R7/Bh7
Max Euwe vs Johannes van den Bosch
DD-ASC (1931), The Hague NED, Dec-13
Gruenfeld Defense: Three Knights. Vienna Variation (D95) 0-1
May 05, 1972 Deseret News Chess by Harold Lundstrom
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Let's Play Chess Fri, May 5, 1972 – 25 · Deseret News (Salt Lake City, Utah) · Newspapers.com
…As of our last report, Fischer had not yet replied.
Dr. Euwe also said that Fischer would lose the right to play for the title if he failed to accept.
Under an earlier agreement, half the 24-game match was to have been played in Belgrade and the other half in Reykjavik. But Belgrade withdrew as a sponsor after Fischer demanded a share of the profits in addition to [Belgrade organizers demanding] a guarantee.
Iceland has offered to stage both matches in the title series.
The Soviet newspapers have let loose a series of charges against both Fischer and Dr. Euwe.
Despite Fischer's “caprices,” the USSR Sport said, “Euwe continues to engage in an endless exchange of telegrams and wants the world to accept a new round of negotiations.”
The FIDE President is on a tour of the Asia. The “USSR Sport” attacked him for “hiding in the bushes while the fate of the match dangles on a thread.”
The paper said Euwe's conduct leads to a possibility that the match may be “torpedoed.” ([Yes, of course, by Soviet troublemakers.])
The Russian newspaper also called Fischer “an unworthy challenger” to Spassky. It recalled Fischer's strongly anti-Russian comments said through the years and said the American's aim was “super-high fees” for matches. ([Which is better than maintaining a monopoly over world sports through an imbalanced and unfair “state-subsidized” system of payouts while foreign players are at a disadvantage and expected to fork up expenses from their own pockets.)]
May 29 1932 Los Angeles Times Chess by Clif Sherwood
Chess by Clif Sherwood Sun, May 29, 1932 – 32 · The Los Angeles Times (Los Angeles, California) · Newspapers.com
L.A. Times Problem No. 290 by Percy Bowater, Pasadena, California. First publication. White mates in two.
FEN 6B1/8/3N2P1/3pk1PK/2p5/Qn6/3P2N1/6B1 w - - 0 1
Key: N-K/Ne1
L.A. Times Problem No. 290 by Percy Bowater, Pasadena, California. First publication. White mates in two.
FEN 6B1/8/3N2P1/3pk1PK/2p5/Qn6/3P2N1/6B1 w - - 0 1
Key: N-K/Ne1
L.A. Times Problem No. 291 by C.D. Locock, England. The Problemist, 1930. White mates in three.
FEN K1k1q3/2Pprp2/1B1P4/p2p4/8/8/2R5/1B6 w - - 0 1
Key: 1. R-K2/Re2
If R-K6; 2. B-Q3, etc. 1. R-QN2 defeated by R-K8; 2. B-Q3, Q-K7!
May 22 1932 Los Angeles Times Chess by Clif Sherwood
Chess by Clif Sherwood Sun, May 22, 1932 – 32 · The Los Angeles Times (Los Angeles, California) · Newspapers.com
L.A. Times Problem No. 289 by J.F. Tracy, Ontario, California. Dubuque Chess Journal, 1892. White mates in two.
FEN q2kr2R/p3p3/1bR5/4Q3/K1N2nB1/4B3/8/8 w - - 0 1
Key: N-R5/Na5
May 15, 1932 Los Angeles Times Chess by Clif Sherwood
Chess by Clif Sherwood Sun, May 15, 1932 – 35 · The Los Angeles Times (Los Angeles, California) · Newspapers.com
L.A. Times Problem No. 288 by A.W. Daniel, England. British Chess Federation Solving Contest, August, 1904. White mates in two.
FEN 3q1r2/3r1n2/Q6b/4NRn1/4k3/4Nb2/1B2B2K/4R3 w - - 0 1
Key: N-Q5/Nd5
May 08, 1932 Los Angeles Times Chess by Clif Sherwood
Chess by Clif Sherwood Sun, May 8, 1932 – 36 · The Los Angeles Times (Los Angeles, California) · Newspapers.com
L.A. Times Problem No. 287 by Percy Bowater, Pasadena, California. First publication. White mates in two.
FEN 3R1n2/1n6/2Pq1p2/PpkB1R2/1p1NQPN1/1Pr3P1/1B5K/8 w - - 0 1
Key: Q-K7/Qe7
May 01, 1932 Los Angeles Times Chess by Clif Sherwood
Chess by Clif Sherwood Sun, May 1, 1932 – 37 · The Los Angeles Times (Los Angeles, California) · Newspapers.com
L.A. Times Problem No. 286 by J. Bunting, England. Second prize, Bristol Times & Mirror, 1931. White mates in two.
FEN 4R3/7N/5N1n/7p/4Bk1q/K2Q2r1/7B/3n1r2 w - - 0 1
Key: B-B5/Bf5
May 03, 1972 The Signal, Chess by George Koltanowski, Santa Clarita, California
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Chess by George Koltanowski Wed, May 3, 1972 – 4 · The Signal (Santa Clarita, California) · Newspapers.com
Chickens And Chess
It is 6 months away, yes chess fans should be alerted to what promises to be the greatest tournament ever held in these United States. It will last nearly a month, from November 18 to December 13, and will be held in the San Antonio, Texas, Fair Grounds.
In Europe, it has been commonplace for large business concerns to sponsor chess events. There are, for example, Amsterdam's IBM International and other tournaments sponsored by Naturel, a big Swiss firm, and by Schweppes, International.
Up until now, it has been a different story in the U.S. where sponsors scramble for the chance to back football games, auto races, boxing matches — but would not put out a penny for chess. But things have changed. George William Church, Jr., president of Church's Fried Chicken and once sponsor of the San Antonio Open Golf Tournament, has entered the world of chess and has planned a spectacular match which should draw the very best players in the world. There will be $15,000 in prize money, and 18 major masters, most of whom have already accepted, will receive both travel and living allowances.
It is already almost certain that this San Antonio Tournament will receive the greatest press and TV coverage ever accorded chess in the United States. Boris Spassky, presently the World Champion, has said he wants to attend. Such other Grandmasters as Russia's Petrosian, Czechoslovakia's Hort, Yugoslavia's Gligoric, Hungary's Portisch, Brazil's Mecking, Australia's Browne, Denmark's Larsen, the U.S.'s Kavalek and Evans, all plan to be on deck.
Bobby Fischer who, by that time, may very well be the World's Champion, is expected there, too. George Church's timing cannot be faulted.
I expect to be there both as a reporter and as one of the tournament directors.
May 01, 1972 Guardian Chess by Leonard Barden
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Chess 01 May 1972, Mon The Guardian (London, Greater London, England) Newspapers.com
It's Tough At The Top by Leonard Barden
The prolonged haggle over the 1972 world championship match has ranged from discussions over tens of thousands of dollars to an argument whether Spassky and Fischer should be permitted to have sandwiches, coffee, and apple juice at the chess table. Fischer's Russo-phobia and the prickliness of Russian chess officials about losing “their” title provide, between them, plenty of needle in the coming match, but a survey of world championship history suggests that not many holders and challengers keep their cool during the preliminary discussion or when their cherished dreams are soured by defeat.
Morphy's withdrawal from chess after ([CORRECTION: some among northern chess circles ostracized Morphy due to his southern geography vs. northern citizens, loyal to the Union, 1861 to 1865, after which time, Morphy returned to his old chess haunts in New York and Washington DC and was promptly threatened by old colleagues, to 'cut him [Morphy] so dead'. Newspapers reported Morphy left in disgust, for they had spread false rumors earlier on that he had served as a Confederate soldier and was a “secessionist”. Family and friends testified Morphy had been living in France during the days of the war. Facts made no difference to prejudices of Union loyalists. Subtle hints of threats were insinuated, and circulated from Northern newspapers making light of Morphy's untimely death. False reports circulated of his death, while he yet lived and was yet a young man. Just as they refused to “forgive” the American Indian for being born on soil which white colonists wished to appropriate as their own.[/CORRECTION.])… Zukertort's health collapse after his defeat by Steinitz were two early instances which illustrated the nervous tension of both championship play and the negotiations leading up to it. ([CORRECTION: But let's not forget that Steinitz, in his boundless malevolence expressed only the highest scorn and derision for Morphy. Himself, eventually succumbing to defeat at the hands of Lasker, Steinitz then quickly deteriorated, alas finding himself penniless and at the mercy of public charity and ward of an asylum. The very thing Steinitz often, publicly, FALSELY spread in campaign to eternally tarnish the reputation of Paul Morphy. As it is written in the The Age Melbourne, Victoria, Australia Saturday, June 19, 1897: “Paul Morphy was his bête noire. He attempted to undermine the pedestal upon which Morphy's glory is everlastingly established. But he did not succeed. If Blackburne makes a brilliant combination, he calls it a “bit of Morphy.” But no one ever heard anybody call a brilliant finish a bit of Steinitz…”[/CORRECTION.])
Alekhine and Capablanca, good friends before their 1927 match, were not on speaking terms in later years after Alekhine refused a return encounter; when they played at Nottingham in 1936, they each left the board when it was the other's turn to move.
There is a general impression that the matches since the International Chess Federation (FIDE) took control of the match organization after the war have been well-behaved affairs with friendly relations between the players. However, the latest volume in the excellent Batsford series, THE WORLD CHESS CHAMPIONSHIP by S. Gligoric and R.G. Wade (191 pages, £2.30), shows in fuller detail than ever before the interpersonal conflicts, usually subtle, occasionally more overt, which accompanied the encounters between Botvinnik and his challengers and successors.
Gligoric's first-hand observations of incidents and characters reveal Botvinnik as the scientific technocrat, distrustful of referees, opponents, and even his own trainers. He was fussily concerned to keep to his daily training routine (“…every day at noon he would walk for two hours … He looked at his watch and told the crowd of journalists and cameramen that he would have to leave them. He always went the same way, counting his breaths”) and was irritated by Bronstein's untiring passion for chess: contemporary photographs of their match show Botvinnik, at difficult moments, shading his eyes so as not to see Bronstein drinking his tea and holding his cup with both hands while still gazing at the board.
Gligoric singles out assurance as the special characteristic of Smyslov, and a fascinating youthful virtuosity, tinged with a streak of unsound play, as the hallmark of the style of Mikhail Tal. Tal's “incandescent gaze” got on his opponents' nerves, and in one Candidates' tournament Benko put on dark glasses to show that he did not want to see Tal across the board. “Tal loved humor (at university his subject was satire) and he too put on dark glasses of grotesque shape. Benko's ‘protest’ became transformed into a comedy which aroused general laughter in the hall.”
Anyone who has met the world champions will recognize Gligoric's pen portraits as shrewd and true-to-life analyses of character. His surprising omission is an account of the personal tension between Botvinnik and Petrosian, whose prematch negotiations included a two-hour debate on the siting of the players' personal loo. After their match Botvinnik commented on his defeat in an American magazine, the short-lived Chessworld. His article, written in his peculiarly pedantic and quietly ironic style, included one phrase which was notably outspoken, coming as it did from a Soviet grandmaster writing in a foreign magazine about the world champion: “The opening (a Queen's Gambit Accepted), as with other openings of the match, is typical of the negative … development of Petrosian.” Botvinnik implied in the article that Petrosian was like a computer programmed to play defensively; in private, he was even more caustic about his conqueror.
THE WORLD CHESS CHAMPIONSHIP also includes all the games of the tournaments and matches for the title from 1948 to 1969, edited with full annotations by Bob Wade. Though Gligoric is mainly writing about the Soviet world champions and challengers, he also provides both reference and insight into the background of the dramatic encounter between Spassky and Fischer scheduled for this summer. Gligoric relates how Ed Edmondson, executive director of the United States Chess Federation, and until recently Fischer's negotiator, acted as doorkeeper during the Taimanov match, keeping out the noise while Fischer though over his next move. Asked by a reporter why he bothered with chess, he replied “Fischer is a genius. Nobody will remember our millionaires when they die.”
THE WORLD CHESS CHAMPIONSHIP is a fine book, which should interest anyone following the struggle for the world title.
April 24, 1932 Los Angeles Times Chess by Clif Sherwood
Chess by Clif Sherwood Sun, Apr 24, 1932 – 33 · The Los Angeles Times (Los Angeles, California) · Newspapers.com
L.A. Times Problem No. 284 by A.D. Gibbs, Long Beach, California. First publication. White mates in two.
FEN 1n1b2K1/7p/2n2p2/R2N1kpQ/B7/1b2RPBr/4pp2/5q2 w - - 0 1
Key: Q-B7/Qf7
The White N is pinned by the Black bishop, making 1. N-K7 double check impossible. 1. K-N2 defeated by N-K4.
L.A. Times Problem No. 285 by S. Mlotkowski, Camden, New Jersey. Bethlehem Globe-Times, February, 1930. White mates in three.
FEN 8/8/6B1/8/2P5/pP6/PpRP1N2/bk2K3 w - - 0 1
Key: N-Q3/Nd3
If KxR; 2. N-B4ch. If KxP; 2. N-Bch.
April 17, 1932 Los Angeles Times Chess by Clif Sherwood
Chess by Clif Sherwood Sun, Apr 17, 1932 – 66 · The Los Angeles Times (Los Angeles, California) · Newspapers.com
L.A. Times Problem No. 283 by H. Beechey, Abbotsford, New South Wales, Australia. This fine problem just arrived, all the way from the Antipodes, for first publication. White mates in two.
FEN 4N3/2n2pB1/1pp2r1r/2k5/1R1R4/7b/2P3P1/K1Q5 w - - 0 1
Key: Q-R3/Qa3
April 10, 1932 Los Angeles Times Chess by Clif Sherwood
Chess by Clif Sherwood 10 Apr 1932, Sun The Los Angeles Times (Los Angeles, California) Newspapers.com
L.A. Times Problem No. 282 by J.F. Tracy, Ontario, California. Norwich Mercury, 1905. White mates in two.
FEN B7/b7/2N5/PNkq3R/b7/3P4/nQ6/6K1 w - - 0 1
Key: No. 282 had all of three key moves;
1. Q-K2/Qe2 (the composer's intention)
2. RxQ and
3. NxB/Ncxa7. Mr. Tracy evidently left something off his diagram.
April 03, 1932 Los Angeles Times Chess by Clif Sherwood
Chess by Clif Sherwood Sun, Apr 3, 1932 – 33 · The Los Angeles Times (Los Angeles, California) · Newspapers.com
L.A. Times Problem No. 281 by F.W. Watson, England. British Chess Magazine, January 1932. White mates in two.
FEN 4b3/4p3/2n5/1P1knQR1/p2pNRP1/Bp2p3/1K2B3/8 w - - 0 1
Key: N-N3/Ng3
Dana Teague says 1. Q-QB8 defeated by N-R4; 1. N-B5 by K-Q3. The British Chess Magazine stated this gave their solvers the most trouble out of many shown.
April 30, 1972 Courier Journal The King's Men by Merrill Dowden
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The King's Men Sun, Apr 30, 1972 – Page 52 · The Courier-Journal (Louisville, Kentucky) · Newspapers.com
Challenge! That's the key word in the fascination chess holds by Merrill Dowden
What is the secret of the fascination that the royal game held among men down through the ages? I think it is mainly the great challenge of chess, the same sort of challenge that makes men set out to scale the highest mountain.
The goal is an illusion, of course, for no one has yet really mastered the game. The world's greatest players, living or dead, have known the sting of defeat. Some years ago, when Mikhail Botvinnik was champion of the world and at the height of his powers, someone wrote a book and in his enthusiasm named it “Botvinnik the Invincible.” That was the kiss of death. Soon after the book was published Botvinnik lost his title and his star has been receding ever since.
Even America's world-famous grand-master, Bobby Fischer, now rated by many experts as the greatest player of all time, occasionally drops a game.
If chess were ever completely conquered, it no doubt would lose much of its glamour. That, however, is an unlikely eventuality. Mankind's vision of domination over chess is a mirage, ever beckoning, ever disappearing as the search for conquest goes on and on.
Dr. Max Euwe of The Netherlands defeated Dr. Alexander Alekhine for the world championship in 1935. Two years later Alekhine won back the title, proving once again that the invincible player is non-existent.
April 29, 1972 Montreal Gazette The Game of Kings by D.M. LeDain
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The Game of Kings Sat, Apr 29, 1972 – 54 · The Gazette (Montreal, Quebec, Canada) · Newspapers.com
Doctor's New Prescription
With Belgrade backing out and Reykjavik insisting that they now be given preference for the first twelve games, plus Fischer's financial maneuvers for his world championship match with Boris Spassky, FIDE president, Dr. Max Euwe, has thrown open bidding to all countries interested, not just those who had previously submitted bids. In other words back to where we started four months ago.
In fairness to the International Chess Federation it needs to be said that they are grappling with a problem of this nature for the first time, at least for the all-important final match.
Organized competitive chess only dates back to 1851 when the first important tourney was held in London, and it was not until 1886 that Steinitz dared to announce that his match with Zukertort would be for the world championship. In the next sixty years Dr. Em. Lasker, Capablanca, Dr. Alekhine, Dr. Euwe and again Dr. Alekhine held the title in succession and set the conditions that the challenger would have to meet. Not very satisfactory, although some regard was given to common sense, precedent, and world opinion. Nonetheless, a number of worthy aspirants were given no chance because of their inability to secure the required financial backing. Now all this is changed with FIDE taking over control on the death of Alekhine in 1946. Since then the Russians have dominated the event by sheer superiority supplying both champion and challenger and there has been no problem in organizing it. Now the picture has changed radically with the challenger coming from outside for the first time. Which is the reason for the enormously increased public interest, and who can blame Fischer for wanting to make the most of it, the key figure in the situation.
April 29, 1972 Chess Ottawa Journal by D.M. LeDain
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Chess Sat, Apr 29, 1972 – Page 40 · The Ottawa Journal (Ottawa, Ontario, Canada) · Newspapers.com
CHESS OR PARCHEESI
Because of the difficulties encountered in getting general agreement on site, time and finances of the Fischer-Spassky world championship match, FIDE President Dr. Max Euwe, has thrown the whole project open once more for new bids from any country, not just previous bidders. So that we are back to square once again.
ONE-EYED MONSTER WANTS IN
In the meanwhile, Bobby Fischer, having given up sharing entry fees to the playing bill, has engaged a lawyer to negotiate for him with organizers of the match on the question of television rights for world distribution. Nearly 80 countries are members of the International Chess Federation and many should be prospective customers for the service. And with the long pauses between moves think of the possibilities for commercial advertising!
SPEEDSTER WITHOUT A PEER
In his rapid games Fischer shows the same probing aggressiveness and accuracy that he displays in his more serious encounters, as in the following from the strong speed tourney at the Manhattan C.C., NY last fall, which he won with the score of 21½-½ pts.!
Alexander Kevitz vs Robert James Fischer
Manhattan blitz (1971) (blitz), New York, NY USA, rd 2, Aug-08
Gruenfeld Defense: Three Knights. Hungarian Variation (D93) 0-1
Paul Brandts vs Robert James Fischer
Manhattan blitz (1971) (blitz), New York, NY USA, rd 2, Aug-08
King's Indian Defense: Orthodox Variation. Classical System Misc. Lines (E98) 0-1
March 27, 1932 Los Angeles Times Chess by Clif Sherwood
Chess by Cliff Sherwood Sun, Mar 27, 1932 – 72 · The Los Angeles Times (Los Angeles, California) · Newspapers.com
L.A. Times Problem No. 279 by H.S. Pike, Long Beach, California. First publication. White mates in two.
FEN 8/2n2NB1/3p4/1Qp2pp1/3p1k2/5P2/2N2PK1/8 w - - 0 1
Key: N-K3/Ne3
1. QxP defeated by N-N4.
L.A. Times Problem No. 280 by W.A. Beers, Rochester, Minnesota. White mates in three.
FEN 8/3p4/8/3k4/1BR1R3/K2B4/8/8 w - - 0 1
Key: 1. B-B; 2. R-K2; 3. R-Q2mate.
1. Bf1 d6 2. Re2 Kxc4 3. Rd2#
Can women play chess? Oh, some of them! The following brevity is from the women's tournament of the last British Chess Congress. The first prize winner playfully sacrifices to get a “speedy mate.”
L.A. Times Game No. 286
Mrs. Pattison (white) vs. Mrs. Stevenson (black)
Semi-Slav Defense: Main Line
March 20, 1932 Los Angeles Times Chess by Clif Sherwood
Chess by Clif Sherwood Sun, Mar 20, 1932 – 76 · The Los Angeles Times (Los Angeles, California) · Newspapers.com
L.A. Times Problem No. 278 by J.F. Tracey, Ontario, California. Pittsburgh Dispatch, 1895. White mates in two.
FEN 3rb3/2R1Q1K1/3r1p2/6N1/pP1k1Pp1/N2p3R/B4nn1/8 w - - 0 1
Key: R-B/Rc1
1. B-K6 defeated by PxR. 1. R-B2 by P-Q7! 1. R-B6 by BxR.
March 13, 1932 Los Angeles Times Chess by Clif Sherwood
Chess by Clif Sherwood Sun, Mar 13, 1932 – 41 · The Los Angeles Times (Los Angeles, California) · Newspapers.com
L.A. Times Problem No. 277 by P.H. Williams. From this late English composer's book, “The Modern Chess Problem,”. White mates in two.
FEN 2N4B/3p4/2PR1RKp/rn4pr/4k1NP/1B1p2P1/6q1/8 w - - 0 1
Key: R-B2/Rf2
1. R-B5 defeated by Q-QR7.
March 06, 1932 Los Angeles Times Chess by Clif Sherwood
Chess by Clif Sherwood Sun, Mar 6, 1932 – 70 · The Los Angeles Times (Los Angeles, California) · Newspapers.com
L.A. Times Problem No. 276 by B. Restad, Norway. Third prize, Brisbane Courier, 1931. White mates in two.
FEN KN1R4/pP2n3/N2B4/q6r/3kB3/r7/nP2Q3/8 w - - 0 1
Key: B-Q5/Bd5
1. B-N2, B2, B5 all defeated by R-K6; 1. B-Q3 by RxB.
February 28, 1932 Los Angeles Times Chess by Clif Sherwood
Chess by Clif Sherwood Sun, Feb 28, 1932 – 70 · The Los Angeles Times (Los Angeles, California) · Newspapers.com
L.A. Times Problem No. 274 by H.S. Pike, Long Beach, California. First publication. White mates in two.
FEN b5B1/2n5/Q1r5/R2nkNbP/2rpN1P1/2pPBK2/8/8 w - - 0 1
Key: N-B5/Nc5
L.A. Times Problem No. 275 by T.R. Dawson, England. Falkirk Herald, June 1914. White mates in three.
FEN 8/8/4N3/2P1b1P1/1P1p1p1P/3PkP2/4P3/4K3 w - - 0 1
Key: P-R5/h5
If B-B3, etc.; 2. N-B7. If B-Q3, etc.; 2. N-N7. The “try” 1. P-N5 is defeated by B-B2; 2. N-N7 B-R4ch!
L.A. Times Game No. 282
Pray (White) Borochow (Black)
Q.P. Opening
(a) This sacrifice was to avoid KN moves; 12. NxP
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'til the world understands why Robert J. Fischer criticised the U.S./British and Russian military industry imperial alliance and their own Israeli Apartheid. Sarah Wilkinson explains: Tweets by swilkinsonbc |
 “What a sad story Fischer was,” typed a racist, pro-imperialist colonial troll who supports mega-corporation entities over human rights, police state policies & white supremacy. |
To which I replied: “Really? I think he [Bob Fischer] stood up to the broken system of corruption and raised awareness! Whether on the Palestinian/Israel-British-U.S. Imperial Apartheid scam, the Bush wars of ‘7 countries in 5 years,’ illegally, unconstitutionally which constituted mass xenocide or his run in with police brutality in Pasadena, California-- right here in the U.S., police run rampant over the Constitution of the U.S., on oath they swore to uphold, but when Americans don't know the law, and the cops either don't know or worse, “don't care” -- then I think that's pretty darn “sad”. I think Mr. Fischer held out and fought the good fight, steadfast til the day he died, and may he Rest In Peace. Educate yourself about U.S./State Laws -- https://www.youtube.com/@AuditTheAudit/videos After which the troll posted a string of profanities, confirming there was never any genuine sentiment of “compassion” for Mr. Fischer, rather an intent to inflict further defamatory remarks. |
This ongoing work is a tribute to the life and accomplishments of Robert “Bobby” Fischer who passionately loved and studied chess history. May his life continue to inspire many other future generations of chess enthusiasts and kibitzers, alike.
March 9, 1943 - January 17, 2008The photograph of Bobby Fischer (above) from the March 02, 1956 The Tampa Times was discovered by Sharon Mooney (Bobby Fischer Newspaper Archive editor) on February 01, 2018 while gathering research materials for this ongoing newspaper archive project. Along with lost games now being translated into Algebraic notation and extractions from over two centuries of newspapers, it is but one of the many lost treasures to be found in the pages of old newspapers since our social media presence was first established November 11, 2017.
