July 26, 1959 Chess Chats by George Koltanowski, Press-Democrat, Santa Rosa, California

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Chess Chats 26 Jul 1959, Sun The Press Democrat (Santa Rosa, California) Newspapers.com

Chess Chats by George Koltanowski
International Chess Master

For The Student
In the following game, the first moves made were: 1. P-Q4 N-KB3; 2. N-KB3 P-KN3; 3. P-B4 P-Q4; 4. PxP.

FEN N1K3bN/3pp2n/R1p1k3/5p2/3P3Q/8/8/BB1Rr3 w - - 0 1

From now on, you cover the Black moves. Try to find out what you would do, and then compare your move with the move actually made, and see the number of points you have earned. The total number of points will tell you how well you play!
… . B-N2—You deduc…oints from your total score if you guessed this move. Correct i… …xP (2 points). Fo… …xP (1 point).
5. P-K3 With 5. Q-R4ch, white would keep the pawn he has won, Just see… …-Q2; 6. Q-N3 etc. or 5… . Q-Q2: 6. QxQch NxQ; 7. N-B3 followed by P-K4.
… 0-0—Three points. If you played 5… . NxP, you get onl…oints. The pawn cannot be held by White, so castling is best.
6. N-B3 NxP—1 point. Anything else and you take off two points.
7. Q-N3 NxN—2 points. Als…oints, for bot…hellip; P-K3 o… . Q-B3.
8. PxN P-B4—4 points. It shows initiative. White can't afford to take the pawn. If 8 … P-B3; 2 points.
9. B-N2 N-B3—2 points. If 9… PxP; 1 point. If 10. PxP Q-R4 is contemplated.
10. B-K2 B-K3-4 points. Only because it is hard to know if the move is good or bad. If ll. QxP B-Q4; 12. Q-R6 PxP; with all kinds of possibilities. For 10. … . PxP; 2 points.
11. Q-R4 PxP—2 points. If any thing else, you lose two points.
12. BPxP Q-R4ch-4 points. Plays for two against one on the Q's side, ending. For 12… B-Q4 with P-K4 in mind, you get 3 points. For 12. … P-QR3; 1 point.
13. QxQ NxQ.
14. B-B3 N-B3—2 points. If 14. … P-N3; you lose 4 points. For 14. … N-B5 you get 1 point.
15. P-KR3 B-Q4—2 points. P-K4 may eventually help the game.
16. K-Q2 KR-Q1—3 points. A natural as now P-K4 is a very strong threat. You keep the QR for eventual going to QB1. If 16. … P-K4; 1 point.
17. K-B2 QR-B1—2 points.
18. K-N2 P-K4—3 points. Black pieces are all set for attacking the White King, so the position must be broken open if possible. If 18. … P-QN4; 1 point.
19. PxP BxN—1 point. If BxKP or NxKP you lose 2 points.
20. PxB NxP—2 points. Black threatens N-Q6ch and BxBeh. If 20. … BxP, you get 4 points! If 21. QR-QB1 R-Q7 ch wins, or 21.BxB R-Q7ch etc. or 21. KR-Q1 BxBch; 22. KxB N-Q5 d.ch. etc.
21. QR-B1 N-Q6ch—4 points. If 21. … N-B5ch, you lose 3 points. Same goes for 21. … RxB.
22. BxN RxBB6—3 points. That connects with black's last move. If 22. … RxBQ6, 1 point.
23. RxR RxB
24. R-QB1 RxR
25. RxR K-B1—2 points. Nothing for BxRch, as the text-move gains a move.
26. P-B4 K-K2—1 point.
27. P-K4 BxR plus.
28. KxB K-Q3
29. K-Q4 P-QN4—2 points. Black strength lies on the Queen's side, so he must get that strength lined, up for action as soon as possible. For 29. … P-B3; 30. P-K5ch you give White counter-chances. You lose 3 points for 29. P-B3.
30. P-K5ch K-B3—3 points. If 30. … K-K3; 31. K-B5 gives white drawing chances.
31. P-K6 PxP
32. K-K5 P-QR4—1 point. White resigned. After 33. KxP P-N5; 34. K-K5 K-B4, 35. K-K4 K-B4; the game is over. Now let's count the points:
If you scored 55-57 points you are a Master player.
48-54 gives you Expert rating.
40-47 and you are an A player.
34-39 you are in the B class.
If you have less points, then continue to study and play and you will soon improve.

July 20, 1959 Chess Chats by George Koltanowski, Press-Democrat, Santa Rosa, California

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Chess Chats 20 Jul 1959, Mon The Press Democrat (Santa Rosa, California) Newspapers.com

Chess Chats by George Koltanowski
International Chess Master

Problem No. 189
White to play and mate in two moves.
FEN 4R3/n1rRB1p1/Qb6/3p1p1N/1N1kp3/8/b2PP1n1/5BK1 w - - 0 1
Solution: 1. Qa4 Rxd7 2. Nc6#

CHESS AND HUMOR
Chess is a very inexpensive hobby. A few dollars invested in a chess set throughout one's life. Furthermore, unlike other sports or games in which stamina is all important, one can continue to play chess no matter how old one may be. Some twenty years ago, the feature film Grand Hotel opened with a scene showing the hotel lobby, in one alcove of which would be seen two men facing one another over a chess-board. During the course of the picture, the audience caught occasional glimpses of these men seated at the board. At the end of the picture, one of these men looked up and said to his opponent: “Well?” Whereupon the other exclaimed: “But I thought it was your move!”

Youthful Title Holder
The present champion of the United States is Bobby Fischer, who won the title at the tender age of 14 and has repeated it again this year. As yet, he is too young to have had many stories written about him. But it is known that as recently as two or three years ago, whenever he would lose a game, he would retire to a corner of the room and cry. He now has better control over his feelings and much more confidence in his ability, so that when he was queried beforehand as to what he thought of his chances against the Russian players in the Challengers' Tournament, he shrugged his shoulders and replied, “They're good too.”
Which reminds me of the following: In an exhibition given in Antwerp by George Koltanowski and Alexander Alekhine, blindfolded, conducted eight games simultaneously against consulting teams. It is difficult enough for one blindfolded person to play a number of games simultaneously. Imagine how much more difficult it is if he not only has to do this, also has to fathom the plans of another blindfold expert who is playing on his side - but with whom he cannot consult.
The two experts won five games, drew two and lost one — a remarkable achievement. At the end of the exhibition, Alekhine was heard to say that he considered Koltanowski to be “the second-best blindfold player in the world.”

Opponent Defeated
During one of his many exhibitions, after he had polished off an opponent with dispatch, one of the spectators called out to Koltanowski, who was blindfolded, and asked him: “How do you do it?”
“Well” came the quick reply, “it wasn't difficult against that player, for early this evening he showed me his large-size set of men and it's always easier to play blindfold chess with larger chess pieces.”
Popular opinion to the contrary, men have no monopoly in chess. Vera Menchik was a full-fledged chess master from Czechoslovakia, who won the first world women's championship (London, 1936) and defended her title twice without losing a single game. During the course of her career, the “Vera Menchik Club” was formed in London, unwilling members of this (males), whom she had beaten, Capablanca, Euwe, Flohr were just a few of the famous members.

Attracts Thousands
Correspondence chess attracts thousands of players, who transmit their moves by postcard. A correspondence player usually consults a chess book before sending off his move, or he may discuss the game with a friend who will help him analyze a number of variations. Frank J. Marshall, who was U.S. Champion from 1909 to 1936, once related the story of two players who had never met one another and who approached him on different occasions for assistance in a correspondence game they were playing against one another.
Marshall took on the job, and spent a great deal of time with each player, thoroughly analyzing variations until a decision was arrived at as to what was the best move to send each time. The game continued for so many moves that each player was convinced his opponent was of master strength to be able to hold out so long against a player of Marshall's ability.
A book was once published with the title Advice to Spectators at Chess Tournaments. All the pages, with one exception, were completely blank. On this page were the words: “Keep your mouth shut!”

Rudolf Spielmann vs Robert Wahle
Vienna (1926), Vienna AUT, Feb-17
French Defense: Exchange. Svenonius Variation (C01) 1-0

July 12, 1959 Chess Chats by George Koltanowski, Press-Democrat, Santa Rosa, California

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Chess Chats 12 Jul 1959, Sun The Press Democrat (Santa Rosa, California) Newspapers.com

Chess Chats by George Koltanowski
International Chess Master

Problem No. 188
White to play and mate in two moves.
FEN 6n1/4p3/4PpKp/2pPRp1P/2Qb1k2/4R1Nb/4PNp1/6B1 w - - 0 1
Solution: 1. Nge4 fxe5 2. Rf3#

CHECK AND DOUBLE-CHECK:
To play correspondence chess without the latest on the openings is rather a waste of stamps. But you must treat the book as a slave, not a master. Treat its analysis as a starting-point for your own. Or at least check for a possible error. How could there ever possibly be a book on the chess openings without errors be it English, German or even Russian? And we don't mean misprints just errors.
Take the case of X. Playing Black in a King's Gambit Declined, he played into Column 17, p. 67 of the 9th, edition of M.C.O.
The first nine moves are:
1. P-K4 P-K4
2. P-KB4 B-B4
3. N-KB3 P-Q3
4. N-B3 N-KB3
5. B-B4 N-KB3
6. P-Q3 B-KN5
7. N-QR4 BxN
8. QxB N-Q5
9. Q-N3 PxP;

Move Omitted
Here X noticed that at 10 white had the possibility of QxNP; but as M.C.O. and Barden's “Guide” both omitted it he gave it only a cursory examination at move 6 (the crisis; assuming that such an obvious move must have a refutation if it were omitted).
But why was it omitted? It was omitted, as X found out too late, because all writers on the opening, to save time, follow predecessors to a limited extent, and as grandmaster Reuben Fine, in “Practical Chess Openings” (published in 1948 and now in most respects obsolete) had mentioned 10. QxNP but had given it query, because of 10. … R-KBl; 11. K-Q1 P-N4; with advantage to black. Fine gave further moves but they are all beside the point, as 11. K-Ql is silly. X opponent played: 10. QxNP R-KBl; 11. NxB, PxN; 12. BxP, offering the exchange and because of White's B-KN5 Black has a losing position. If 12. … NxPch, then 13. K-Ql (better than Q2.) Fine's line in P.C.O. was based on a game Enive-Fine, New York. 1940. Fine was Black, and he was just dead lucky that Enive didn't see the right play. So take my advice and check even the safest of lines.

Enive (white) vs. Reuben Fine (black)
Russian Game: Kaufmann Attack

Descriptive 1. P-K4 P-K4 2. N-KB3 N-KB3 3. NxP P-Q3 4. N-KB3 NxP 5. P-B4 P-Q4 6. N-B3 B-QB4 7. P-Q4 B-QN5 8. Q-N3 P-QB4 9. B-Q3 Q-R4 10. O-O NxN 11. PxN BxP 12. B-N2 BxB 13. QR-K1ch K-B1 14. QxB PxQP 15. PxP N-Q2 16. QxQP N-B3 17. Q-K5 Q-B4 18. N-N5 B-Q2 19. N-K4 NxN 20. RxN R-K1 21. Q-B4 QxP 22. KR-K1 RxR 23. BxR Q-K3 24. Q-N8ch B-K1 25. QxRP P-QN3 26. Q-R3ch Q-K2 27. B-B6 Resigns

Algebraic 1. e4 e5 2. Nf3 Nf6 3. Nxe5 d6 4. Nf3 Nxe4 5. c4 d5 6. Nc3 Bc5 7. d4 Bb4 8. Qb3 c5 9. Bd3 Qa5 10. 0-0 Nxc3 11. bxc3 Bxc3 12. Bb2 Bxb2 13. Re1+ Kf8 14. Qxb2 cxd4 15. cxd5 Nd7 16. Qxd4 Nf6 17. Qe5 Qc5 18. Ng5 Bd7 19. Ne4 Nxe4 20. Rxe4 Re8 21. Qf4 Qxd5 22. Re1 Rxe4 23. Bxe4 Qe6 24. Qb8+ Be8 25. Qxa7 b6 26. Qa3+ Qe7 27. Bc6 1-0

(a) Currently 3. P-Q4 is regarded as giving better chances for the initiative.
(b) Kaufman's variation which is now rarely seen. Like all little-played openings, its sting lies in its surprise.
(c) Sounder is … B-K2.
(d) After this loss of time, Black's troubles increase. 6. … NxN: 7. PxN P-OB3 with equal position.
(e) White is way ahead in development.
(f) In 12. … B-QN5; 13. P-QR3.
(g) After 13. … B-K3; 14. PxQP gives White an easy game.
(h) If 15. … QxP; 16. Q-N4ch etc.
(i) Again if 22. … QxB; 23. RxRch, BxR; 24. Q-N4ch.
(j) Loses at once.
(k) A pretty finish. If 27. … QxQ; 28. RxB mate.

July 05, 1959 Chess Chats by George Koltanowski, Press-Democrat, Santa Rosa, California

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Chess Chats 05 Jul 1959, Sun The Press Democrat (Santa Rosa, California) Newspapers.com

Chess Chats by George Koltanowski
International Chess Master

Problem No. 187.
White to play and mate in two moves.
FEN 8/4p3/K2p4/1P5r/3k1N2/Q2B2R1/1R6/6b1 w - - 0 1
Solution: 1. Qa1 Be3 2. Rc2#

LINE CLEARANCE
There will be times when you have some kind of threat of a rank, file, or diagonal, but the threat cannot be carried out, due to the fact that you or your opponent, or both of you have other men on the same line, making communications impossible. Line clearance is a means of removing all pieces off the line that have nothing to do with the threat.
It is simple to remove your own men off the important line, but it takes skill and foresight to remove the enemy. The only way to get enemy men off the line is by forcing or forceful moves. Once you accomplish this, then your threat is ready to be sprung.

Advantages
The advantages of a line clearance are great for winning material, since moves that have nothing to do with the threat, often produce smaller threats and if not answered correctly, will give you a winning advantage. Here is sample from a game played in Pittsburgh recently.

Andrew Schoene (white) vs. Fred Foreman (black)
Benoni Defense: French Benoni

Descriptive 1. P-Q4 P-QB4 2. P-Q5 P-K3 3. P-K4 N-KB3 4. N-QB3 PxP 5. PxP P-QR3 6. P-QR4 P-Q3 7. N-B3 B-K2 8. B-Q3 O-O 9. O-O R-K1 10. P-R3 P-KN3 11. B-KB4 N-R4 12. B-R2 B-B3 13. N-K4 B-K4 14. BxB PxB 15. B-B4 P-N3 16. N-R2 P-B4 17. N-QB3 N-B5 18. R-K1 Q-N4 19. Q-B3 P-K5 20. Q-N3 Q-R3 21. R-K3 N-Q2 22. P-B3 N-K4 23. B-R2 NxRPch 24. QxN QxRch 25. K-R1 PxP 26. PxP P-KB5 27. P-Q6ch P-B5 28. Q-B1 B-K3 29. R-K1 Q-B4 30. N-K4 Q-R4 31. N-B6ch K-N2 32. NxRch RxN 33. Q-K2 NxP 34. NxN B-Q4 35. QxR BxNch Resigns

Algebraic 1. d4 c5 2. d5 e6 3. e4 Nf6 4. Nc3 exd5 5. exd5 a6 6. a4 d6 7. Nf3 Be7 8. Bd3 0-0 9. 0-0 Re8 10. h3 g6 11. Bf4 Nh5 12. Bh2 Bf6 13. Ne4 Be5 14. Bxe5 dxe5 15. Bc4 b6 16. Nh2 f5 17. Nc3 Nf4 18. Re1 Qg5 19. Qf3 e4 20. Qg3 Qh6 21. Re3 Nd7 22. f3 Ne5 23. Ba2 Nxh3+ 24. Qxh3 Qxe3+ 25. Kh1 exf3 26. gxf3 f4 27. d6+ c4 28. Qf1 Be6 29. Re1 Qc5 30. Ne4 Qa5 31. Nf6+ Kg7 32. Nxe8+ Rxe8 33. Qe2 Nxf3 34. Nxf3 Bd5 35. Qxe8 Bxf3+ 0-1

Played in a simultaneous exhibition, Russia, 1914.

Jose Raul Capablanca vs Masyutin
Simul, 30b (1914) (exhibition), Kiev RUE, Mar-02
Dutch Defense: Staunton Gambit. Chigorin Variation (A83) 1-0

(a) The Staunton Gambit.
(b) 10. … NxB was obviously necessary.
(c) The chess machine knew how to make combinations when needed!

J. Gordon (white) vs. Elihu S. Maguire (black)

Unresolved Chess Game: Can you solve it?

Descriptive 1. P-K4 P-Q3 2. P-K4 P-KB4 3. N-QB3 N-KB3 4. B-Q3 PxP 5. NxP B-K3 6. P-QB4 ?-Q2 7. Q-K2 B-KN5 8. N-KB3 Q-K3 9. P-KR3 NxN 10. BxN BxN 11. B-B6ch NxB 12. QxQ NxP Resigns

Algebraic

(a) White played to win the queen in, what looked like, simple fashion. With an open board there is still no safe retreat for his own queen. If 13. Q-K3 N-B7ch, etc. and Black comes out of the melee a piece up.

June 28, 1959 Chess Chats by George Koltanowski, Press-Democrat, Santa Rosa, California

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Chess Chats 28 Jun 1959, Sun The Press Democrat (Santa Rosa, California) Newspapers.com

Chess Chats by George Koltanowski
International Chess Master

FRENCH RENAISSANCE
Tournaments during the past year have lowered the reputation of the Sicilian Defense, but enhanced that of the French. It is curious that whereas the world champion, Botvinnik, who used to be the lone protagonist of the French has practically abandoned it, several other strong masters now adopt it regularly.
One reply which used to be greatly feared is 3. N-Q2, with which Keres obtained many successes before the war; but it is now recognized as giving Black plenty of chances. The following game by the winner at Hastings is a typical example; Uhlmann, incidentally plays nothing else but the French in reply to 1.P-K4.

Leonard William Barden vs Wolfgang Uhlmann
Hastings (1958/59), Hastings ENG, rd 8, Jan-06
French Defense: Tarrasch. Closed Variation (C05) 0-1

(a) 3. P-QB4; 4. KPxP KPxP; 5. KN-B3 N-KB3; 6 B-N5ch B-Q2; 7. Q-K2ch B-K2; 8. PxP 0-0; has also been shown, by a number of master games, to be sufficient to equalize.
(b) This is the usual line of play nowadays; Black eliminates White's spearhead and prepares to free his game completely by an eventual …P-K4.
(c) The other main idea for White is 12. B-Q2 0-0; 13. B-B3, so as to restrict Black's chance of achieving …P-K4. But after 13. B-Q2; the line is harmless.
(d) Better was 13. B-K3.
(e) Gets more play with 19. N-K5.
(f) 24. P-N3, would lead to immediate defeat by 24. QxP; 25. QxB N-K4.
(g) The final mistake. But White is lost anyway.

Played in Romania, 1948.

Eugen Rusenescu (white) vs. Andriolu (black)
Queen's Gambit Declined: Vienna Variation, Quiet Variation

Descriptive 1. P-Q4 P-Q4 2. N-KB3 N-KB3 3. P-B4 P-K3 4. N-B3 PxP 5. P-K3 P-B4 6. BxP P-QR3 7. O-O N-B3 8. Q-K2 P-QN4 9. B-N3 B-N2 10. R-Q1 Q-N3 11. P-Q5 PxP 12. P-K4 PxP 13. NxP NxN 14. QxNch N-K2 15. Q-Q3 B-B1 16. N-K5 B-K3 17. Q-KB3 R-Q1 18. QxPch BxQ 19. BxB mate

Algebraic 1. d4 d5 2. Nf3 Nf6 3. c4 e6 4. Nc3 dxc4 5. e3 c5 6. Bxc4 a6 7. 0-0 Nc6 8. Qe2 b5 9. Bb3 Bb7 10. Rd1 Qb6 11. d5 exd5 12. e4 dxe4 13. Nxe4 Nxe4 14. Qxe4+ Ne7 15. Qd3 Bc8 16. Ne5 Be6 17. Qf3 Rd8 18. Qxf7+ Bxf7 19. Bxf7#

(a) Better is P-B4 immediately.
(b) Does not care for the pawn, as he fears the better development of the White pieces.
(c) Well played.
(d) As good as forced. If 12. …P-Q5; 13. P-K5 N-Q2; 14. P-K6, etc.
(e) Threatens mate in one (Q-Q7).
(f) If 16. … P-B5; 17. Q-B3, etc.
(g) Black was lost anyway. Now follows a cute finish.

June 21, 1959 Chess Chats by George Koltanowski, Press-Democrat, Santa Rosa, California

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Chess Chats 21 Jun 1959, Sun The Press Democrat (Santa Rosa, California) Newspapers.com

Chess Chats by George Koltanowski
International Chess Master

Problem No. 185
White to play and mate in two moves.
FEN 8/4K3/8/3Bkp2/8/3Q4/5P2/b7 w - - 0 1
Solution: 1. Be6 Bb2 2. Qe3#

Played in two-game blindfold exhibition at Atlanta; November, 1958.

Georges Koltanowski vs Napoles
Blindfold simul (1958) (blindfold), Atlanta, GA USA
Italian Game: Scotch Gambit. Max Lange Attack Spielmann Defense (C56) 1-0

(a) Better Is 7. … P-Q3.
(b) Doubtful. Correct Is 8. … N-R3; 9. BxN PxB; 10. Q-Q2 K-N2 etc.
(c) Home Sweet Home.
(d) Dangerous and he's out to beat the blindfold player…fast.
(e) The blindfold player has “seen” further than his opponent. If 19. … QxB; 20. QxBPch followed by a mate in two moves.

Played In the Dayton, Ohio, Open, recently.

N.N. vs. N.N.
French Defense: Alapin Gambit

Descriptive 1. P-K4 P-K3 2. P-Q4 P-Q4 3. B-K3 PxP 4. N-Q2 N-QB3 5. NxP N-B3 6. NxNch QxN 7. N-B3 P-KR3 8. B-QN5 B-Q2 9. O-O B-Q3 10. P-B4 B-B5 11. P-Q5 N-K4 12. PxP PxP 13. NxN BxB 14. BxB QxB 15. Q-R5ch Resigns

Algebraic 1. e4 e6 2. d4 d5 3. Be3 dxe4 4. Nd2 Nc6 5. Nxe4 Nf6 6. Nxf6+ Qxf6 7. Nf3 h6 8. Bb5 Bd7 9. 0-0 Bd6 10. c4 Bf4 11. d5 Ne5 12. dxe6 fxe6 13. Nxe5 Bxb5 14. Bxf4 Qxf4 15. Qh5+ 1-0

BOTH BLUNDER … with the last blunder losing: Played In France recently.

Dr. Bey (white) vs. Baptizet (black)
Scandinavian Defense: Modern Variation

Descriptive 1. P-K4 P-Q4 2. PxP N-KB3 3. N-QB3 NxP 4. NxN QxN 5. N-B3 N-B3 6. P-QN3 B-N5 7. B-K2 BxN 8. BxB Q-K4ch 9. Q-K2 QxR 10. O-O Q-KB3 11. BxNch Resigns

Algebraic 1. e4 d5 2. exd5 Nf6 3. Nc3 Nxd5 4. Nxd5 Qxd5 5. Nf3 Nc6 6. b3 Bg4 7. Be2 Bxf3 8. Bxf3 Qe5+ 9. Qe2 Qxa1 10. 0-0 Qf6 11. Bxc6+ 1-0

(a) Parbleu…Pourquoi c'est coup la?
(b) Ici les Blancs pouvont abondonner—une tour des moins …
(c) As lonq as there's hope …
(d) Non—c'est impossible—une gaffe de troiseme classe. 10. … Q-B3 was the move.
(e) Pourquol me reveille…?

CHESS QUOTE OF THE DAY: “The first piece of advice I would offer to his young student who wishes to improve his chess, is that in the formation of his style he should try to follow his own aptitude and temperament. One player derives pleasure from working out a game accurately like a sum in mathematics.
Another cares for nothing but ingenious combinations and brilliant attack. It it by far the best for each to develop his own qualities.—J. Blackburne, 1900.

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Chess Festival 22 Jun 1959, Mon The Press Democrat (Santa Rosa, California) Newspapers.com

…request by the Chamber of Commerce to use the Plaza for the Aug. 9 Chess Festival…

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Ninth Annual Valley of the Moon Chess Festival 23 Jun 1959, Tue The Press Democrat (Santa Rosa, California) Newspapers.com

It was voted to approve a request by the Sonoma Valley Chamber of Commercce for the use of the Plaza on Sunday, Aug 9, 1959 for the Ninth Annual Valley of the Moon Chess Festival.

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June 14, 1959 Chess Chats by George Koltanowski, Press-Democrat, Santa Rosa, California

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Chess Chats 14 Jun 1959, Sun The Press Democrat (Santa Rosa, California) Newspapers.com

Chess Chats by George Koltanowski
International Chess Master

Problem No. 184
White to play and mate in two moves.
FEN 5b2/5pq1/8/3K1pp1/5k2/3RRN1P/7P/Q7 w - - 0 1
Solution: 1. Qc1 Bc5 2. Re4#

A game wherein check-mate was the only goal!

Played in the Toronto Chess League recently.

E. Rose (white) vs. Keith Kerns (black)
King's Indian Defense: Normal Variation, King's Knight Variation

Descriptive 1. P-Q4 N-KB3 2. P-QB4 P-KN3 3. N-KB3 P-Q3 4. P-KN3 B-N2 5. B-N2 O-O 6. O-O QN-Q2 7. N-B3 P-B3 8. Q-B2 P-K4 9. R-Q1 Q-B2 10. P-QN4 N-R4 11. R-N1 P-KB4 12. N-KN5 N(2)-B3 13. P-Q5 P-B5 14. QPxP NPxP 15. P-N5 B-B4 16. Q-N3 P-KR3 17. N(5)-K4 K-R2 18. P-N4 NxP 19. RxP QR-Q1 20. RxQBP Q-K2 21. B-QR3 Q-R5 22. BxR QxRPch 23. K-B1 RxB 24. N-Q1 N-K6ch 25. NxN BxN 26. BxB N-N6ch 27. PxN PxNch 28. K-K1 Q-N8mate

Algebraic 1. d4 Nf6 2. c4 g6 3. Nf3 d6 4. g3 Bg7 5. Bg2 0-0 6. 0-0 Nbd7 7. Nc3 c6 8. Qc2 e5 9. Rd1 Qc7 10. b4 Nh5 11. Rb1 f5 12. Ng5 Ndf6 13. d5 f4 14. dxc6 bxc6 15. b5 Bf5 16. Qb3 h6 17. Ne4 Kh7 18. g4 Nxg4 19. Rxd6 Rd8 20. Rxc6 Qe7 21. Ba3 Qh4 22. Bxf8 Qxh2+ 23. Kf1 Rxf8 24. Nd1 Ne3+ 25. Nxe3 Bxe4 26. Bxe4 Ng3+ 27. fxg3 fxe3+ 28. Ke1 Qg1#

(a) First 13. … R-N1 would avoid a lot of difficulties.
(b) Does not care for 16. … BxR; 17. N-K6 etc.
(c) Weakens his king's side. 18. PxP gives him the better game.
(d) Should consider P-KR3.
(e) Best was 24. B-B3.
(f) If the King moves, 27. … NxB gives Black a winning attack.
(g) Well played.

Played in the recent Hastings Congress.

Klaus Darga vs Miroslav Radojcic
Hastings (1958/59), Hastings ENG, rd 4, Jan-01
Dutch Defense: Classical. Ilyin-Zhenevsky Variation Modern Main Line (A99) 1-0

(a) Loses time. QN-Q2 is much better. Black has two ideas at the same time King's and Queen's side attacks … never recommended.
(b) Decides to sacrifice the pawn so as to get freedom of action for his minor pieces.
(c) This he had not counted with. 15. … NxR there follows: 16. PxB R-K1; 17. N-K5 (or even 17. Q-Q4), 17. QxQch; 18. RxQ N-B; 19. R-Q8 B-K3; 20. RxR RxR; 21. BxP R-K1; 22. B-R3 etc.
(d) Leads to a merry chase.
(e) 26. … R-Q1; 27.BxB etc.

CHESS QUOTE OF THE DAY: “Chess is a very complex game but how much more complex is the game of war, which must be played within certain limits of time, in which there is not one will controlling lifeless toys, in which the whole is the innumerable collisions of diverse individual wills.”—Leo Tolstoy, 1868.

June 07, 1959 Chess Chats by George Koltanowski, Press-Democrat, Santa Rosa, California

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Chess Chats 07 Jun 1959, Sun The Press Democrat (Santa Rosa, California) Newspapers.com

Chess Chats by George Koltanowski
International Chess Master

Problem No. 183
White to play and mate in two moves.
FEN 4q3/7r/3R1R2/2PpkNn1/r7/p1P1P1N1/6bB/2K4B w - - 0 1
Solution: 1. Ne7 Rxh2 2. Rf5#

Played at Munich Olympics.

Sieghart Dittmann vs Gedeon Barcza
Munich Olympiad qual-3 (1958), Munich FRG, rd 6, Oct-06
Nimzo-Indian Defense: Normal Variation. Bishop Attack (E47) 1-0

(a) Surprising move for Barcza. White can always undermine the position with P-KB3.
(b) Wishes to get the White Queen out of place on QR4, White has other ideas.
(c) Well played. If 11. Q-K2 N-N6.
(d) What's a pawn for quick development.
(e) The rook can get into action fast from here.
(f) If 13. …NxP; 14. N-N5 NxN; 15. BxPch, KxB; 16. QxNch K-Nl; l7. QxPch K-Rl; 18. R-B5 R-K3; 19. P-K4 Q-Nl; 20. Q-R5ch etc.
(g) Prepares finely for the final assault.
(h) Grandmaster Barcza doesn't know what's hitting him anymore.
(i) Well played game.

Played in the recent Beverwyck, Holland tourney.

Landeweg (white) vs. Fridrik Olafsson (black)
Neo-Grünfeld Defense: Classical Variation, Original Defense

Descriptive 1. N-KB3 N-KB3 2. P-KN3 P-KN3 3. B-N2 B-N2 4. O-O O-O 5. P-B4 P-Q4 6. P-Q4 P-B3 7. PxP NxP 8. P-K4 N-N3 9. P-KR3 N-R3 10. P-QR4 P-QB4 11. P-Q5 P-K3 12. KN-Q2 PxP 13. P-R5 N-B5 14. NxN PxN 15. Q-R4 N-N5 16. Q-N5 B-K3 17. N-B3 Q-Q2 18. QxP N-Q6 19. Q-N5 QxQ 20. NxQ NxNP 21. R-N N-Q6 22. N-B7 QR-N 23. B-K3 P-B6 24. NxB PxN 25. BxP P-B7 26. BxR PxR(Q) 27. RxQ RxB Resigns

Algebraic 1. Nf3 Nf6 2. g3 g6 3. Bg2 Bg7 4. 0-0 0-0 5. c4 d5 6. d4 c6 7. cxd5 Nxd5 8. e4 Nb6 9. h3 Na6 10. a4 c5 11. d5 e6 12. Nfd2 exd5 13. a5 Nc4 14. Nxc4 dxc4 15. Qa4 Nb4 16. Qb5 Be6 17. Nc3 Qd7 18. Qxc5 Nd3 19. Qb5 Qxb5 20. Nxb5 Nxb2 21. Rb1 Nd3 22. Nc7 Rb8 23. Be3 c3 24. Nxe6 fxe6 25. Bxa7 c2 26. Bxb8 cxb1=Q 27. Rxb1 Rxb8 0-1

(a) Better is 8. QN-Q2.
(b) Should have considered 12. N-B3; if then PxP; 13. PxP BxN; 14. PxB QxP; 15. P-R5 QxQ; 16. RxQ N-Q2; 17. B-R6, etc.
(c) Now the win is only a matter of time.

“PLEASE BE SERIOUS!”
Bogoljubov on one occasion announced mate in four moves in a game against Tartakower, who called the tournament director over, and told him to tell his opponent (Bogoljubov) not to bother him during the game!

Three-Day Tournament 10 Jun 1959, Wed The Press Democrat (Santa Rosa, California) Newspapers.com

Among other business discussed at the meeting was the chess tournament Aug. 9.
A three-day tournament is being planned by George Koltanowski for Aug. 6, 7 and 8. This will be between four state champions and four topnotch northern California players.
Prizes to be awarded will be cheeses, wines, fruits, turkeys and chickens.
Don Parsons has been requested to act as chairman again this year.

May 31, 1959 Chess Chats by George Koltanowski, Press-Democrat, Santa Rosa, California

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Chess Chats 31 May 1959, Sun The Press Democrat (Santa Rosa, California) Newspapers.com

Chess Chats by George Koltanowski
International Chess Master

Problem No. 182
White to play and mate in two moves.
FEN 8/2R5/6K1/3p1Pn1/Qp1kPB2/bp4n1/2b1r3/2r1N1N1 w - - 0 1
Solution: 1. Qa8 Kxe4 2. Rc4#

Played at Beverwyk, Holland. Tournament won by Iceland Grandmaster Olafsson, 7½, ahead of Eliskases, Argentina 5½, Donner, Holland 5; O'Kelly, Belgium; Barendregt, Holland; J. Van Scheltinga, Holland, and Toran, Spain 4½ each; Larsen, Denmark 4; Van den Berg, Holland, 3, and Langeweg, Holland 2.

Fridrik Olafsson vs Theo D van Scheltinga
Beverwijk, The Netherlands (1959), Beverwijk NED, rd 8, Jan-17
English Opening: Agincourt Defense (A13) 1-0

(a) This may not be the best line against White's setup.
(b) Wants to stop White from playing P-Q4.
(c) Again aimed at stopping P-Q4.
(d) Does not mind the loss of a pawn, as long as he can break the Black King side position.
(e) If 19. B-K3, 20. Q-R6 and evt. B-K4. If 19. BxP; 20. Q-R6 B-K2; 21. NxPch BxN; 22. B-K4 etc.
(f) If 24. K-R1; 25. BxP. The threat 25. R-Nlch is just too hard to meet.

Played in the recent USSR Championship. The winner is a newcomer to the Russian Chess Firmament.

Anatoly S Lutikov vs Eduard Gufeld
USSR Championship (1959), Tbilisi URS, rd 10, Jan-25
King's Indian Defense: Saemisch Variation (E80) 1-0

(a) Must stop White's N-Q5.
(b) This puts strong pressure on the center.
(c) Unexpected.
(d) The pressure is getting unbearable.
(e) Forced. If 25. N-K3; 26. N-N5ch K-B3; 27. RxNch KxN; 28. RxR wins.
(f) After 27. R-Q1; 28. R-B7ch and mate next move. A neat game.

CHESS QUOTE OF THE DAY:
“Man is a frivolous, a specious creature, and, like the chessplayer, cares more for the process of attaining his goal than for the goal itself.”—Fedor Dostoievsky, 1864.

May 24, 1959 Chess Chats by George Koltanowski, Press-Democrat, Santa Rosa, California

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Chess Chats 24 May 1959, Sun The Press Democrat (Santa Rosa, California) Newspapers.com

Chess Chats by George Koltanowski
International Chess Master

BRILLIANCY PRIZE
The following game played in the recent New York State championship won the brilliancy prize. The winner was Harold M. Phillips, 84-year-old New Yorker.

Harold Meyer Phillips (white) vs. Edward Epp (black)

Unresolved Chess Game: Can you solve it?

Descriptive 1. P-K4 P-QB4 2. P-KB4 N-QB3 3. N-KB3 P-KN3 4. B-K2 B-N2 5. P-B3 P-Q4 6. P-Q3 P-K4 7. O-O KPxP 8. PxP QxP 9. BxP B-B4 10. N-R3 O-O-O 11. N-B4 N-B3 12. N-K1 Q-K3 13. Q-R4 QxB 14. QxP N-Q4 15. Q-R8ch K-Q2 16. QxPch K-K1 17. QxNch K-B1 18. B-Q6ch N-K2 19. QxP BxP 20. R-B3 B-N4 21. RxNch BxB 22. Q-K5 QxQ 23. NxQ R-Q4 24. P-Q4 Resigns

Algebraic 1. e4 c5 2. f4 Nc6 3. Nf3 g6 4. Be2 Bg7 5. c3 d5 6. d3 e5 7. 0-0 exf4 8. exd5 Qxd5 9. Bxf4 Bf5 10. Na3 0-0-0 11. Nc4 Nf6 12. Ne1 Qe6 13. Qa4 Qxe2 14. Qxa7 Nd5 15. Qa8+ Kd7 16. Qxb7+ Ke8 17. Qxc6+ Kf8 18. Bd6+ Ne7 19. Qxc5 Bxc3 20. Rf3 Bb4

(a) White goes his own way theory or not.
(b) If White won't come to him—Mohammed—sorry Black goes to White.
(c) With 6. PxP; 7. PxP QxQch; Black might have avoided a lot of trouble. But feeling that his opponent is avoiding conflict, Black tries to complicate matters.
(d) Better was QPxP.
(e) Not ll. BxP; 12. BxB QxB; 13. N-Q6ch RxN; 14. BxR etc.
(f) Falls into a neat trap. 13. N-Q4 was better.
(g) And Black resigned soon afterwards.

CURIOUS DILEMMA
In a recent tourney a player mated his opponent on the fortieth move, but just failed to stop his clock before the flag fell.
Clearly, the game ended (in mate) an instant before the time limit came into question, and on that reasoning it did not matter if the time limit was exceeded. But, it could be asked, can a player mate with an incomplete move? Here we must look at the wording of the rule itself: “When considering whether the prescribed number of moves has been made in the given time, the last move is not considered as made until after the player has stopped his clock.”

Game Ended
In other words, we are only to regard the move as incomplete when considering whether the time limit has been exceeded. But in this case we ought not to be considering such thing at all, since the game ended an instant before there was any such thing to consider.
However, the F.I.D.E. may decide otherwise, and if it does, its decision will be binding on affiliated nations for any such case in the future. The F.I.D.E. may say a case could arise where it was doubtful whether the mate did actually occur before the flag fell, and since the rule quoted is designed especially to prevent such arguments, it is better to rule that even in the case quoted the player should lose on the time limit.

CHESS QUOTE OF THE DAY
“A game which does the greatest honor to human faculties is incontestably the royal game of chess.” — Francois de Voltaire, 1750.

CHESS FESTIVAL
The Ninth Annual Sonoma Chess Festival will take place on Sunday, Aug. 9, and will be dedicated to George Koltanowski, International Chess Master and director of the Sonoma Chess Festivals. Main feature of the festival is the short tournaments played in groups of four players, with each group having its own prizes. There are also simultaneous exhibitions and problem solving competitions.
This festival is held outdoors on the Plaza and annually attracts hundreds of players and their families, who picnic and play chess under the trees. It is the only chess festival of its kind in the US where the merchants and city officials cooperate in giving numerous trophies, book prizes and, last but not least, bottles of wine galore.
For complete information, write to Mrs. Lois McVeigh, secretary manager, Sonoma Valley Chamber of Commerce, Sonoma, Calif. The yearly Sonoma Chess Festival is sponsored by the Sonoma Valley Chamber of Commerce.

May 18, 1959 Chess Chats by George Koltanowski, Press-Democrat, Santa Rosa, California

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Chess Chats 18 May 1959, Mon The Press Democrat (Santa Rosa, California) Newspapers.com

Chess Chats by George Koltanowski
International Chess Master

Problem No. 180
White to play and mate in two moves.
FEN k7/P2p4/K3p3/8/8/b7/8/4Q3 w - - 0 1
Solution: 1. Qe5 d6 2. Qh8#

Pour Mieux Sauter
There are various reasons why, despite the many giants now bestriding Caissa's Parnassos, Emanuel Lasker may still rank as the greatest chess player of all times. And the main reason is that Lasker was not merely a tough fighter—so was Alekhine, so is Botvinnik, so are a good many others when put on their mettle.
But Lasker sought a fight for its own sake. After all, he was a professional psychologist and the propounder of his very own Philosophy of Struggle. He knew that, so as to disturb the equilibrium and to tip the balance in his favor, he must take the risk of mixing things up. And what a mixer-up he was on the chessboard!

Remarkable Game
Let us look at a most remarkable (and relatively little known) game, played over thirty years ago in the great New York tournament where Lasker, aged 56, and a post world champion, emerged l½ points ahead of the reigning champion Capablanca and future champion and third-prize winner of that tournament. The loser of the following game was Tartakower who considered it one of Lasker's best, most remarkable for the manner in which while submitting to a fierce attack, he calmly regroups his forces and then, all of a sudden, springs his own counterattack.

Savielly Tartakower vs Emanuel Lasker
New York (1924), New York, NY USA, rd 21, Apr-15
English Opening: King's English Variation. General (A20) 0-1

14. P-B4 This was rather too dashing against so wily a tactician. See how Lasker regroups completely, in preparation for his counterblow.

21. N-K3 B-N4 With his next move White prepares to sacrifice the exchange to some considerable positional advantage. Note how Lasker accepts the gift, but very much in his own way.

Scores Clear Win
White had hoped for B-R5 which would have given him the chance of RxPch. Note now how Lasker, at the expense of a P, simplifies matters to obtain a clear-cut end game.

The ending after a Q-swop would be hopeless and if 41. QxKP Q-B8ch and Q-B5ch finishes matters as well. So Tartakower committed; hari-kari by grabbing the QNP and permitting mate in ten. Starts with Q-B8ch and R-B7.

May 10, 1959 Chess Chats by George Koltanowski, Press-Democrat, Santa Rosa, California

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Chess Chats 10 May 1959, Sun The Press Democrat (Santa Rosa, California) Newspapers.com

Chess Chats by George Koltanowski
International Chess Master

Problem No. 179
White to play and mate in two moves.
Solution to Problem No. 178 is: 1. B-Q5.

WILHELM STEINITZ
Here is a game played 25 years later at Hastings (1895). It was the year after he had lost the title to Lasker. But Steinitz could still bare the lion's claws. It is, indeed, one of his most celebrated games. The victim was v. Bardeleben.

Wilhelm Steinitz vs Curt von Bardeleben
Hastings (1895), Hastings ENG, rd 10, Aug-17
Italian Game: Classical Variation. Greco Gambit Traditional Line (C54) 1-0

For mate in at most nine moves can no longer be avoided. What a game! Any modern master would give his eye-tooth to finish off any opponent in the above “Steinitz manner.” The story that von Bardeleben actually never resigned the game. He just got up on the 26th move of White and went to the cloak-room, and wasn't seen or heard of at the tournament hall again. A hand-shake would have been much more simple and sportsmanlike.

Played in the St. Louis District Championship, 1958.

Robert Henry Steinmeyer (white) vs. J. Donald Define (black)

Unresolved Chess Game: Can you solve it?

Descriptive 1. P-K4 P-K4 2. N-KB3 N-QB3 3. B-N5 P-QR3 4. B-R4 N-B3 5. O-O B-K2 6. R-K1 P-QN4 7. B-N3 O-O 8. P-B3 P-Q4 9. PxP NxP 10. NxN NxN 11. RxN P-QB3 12. BxN PxB 13. P-Q4 B-Q3 14. R-K3 Q-R5 15. P-KN3 Q-R6 16. P-QR4 B-KN5 17. Q-B1 Q-R4 18. PxP QR-K1 19. PxP B-KR6 20. RxR RxR 21. P-R7 BxQ 22. P-R8(Q) RxQ 23. RxRch B-B1 24. N-Q2 B-KR6 25. P-B3 Q-B4 26. K-B2 ?-?? 27. R-R1 P-N3 28. P-KN4 B-R3 29. K-K2 B-N7 30. P-R4 BxPch 31. KxB BxN 32. BxB QxB 33. R-R8ch K-N2 Resigns

Algebraic 1. e4 e5 2. Nf3 Nc6 3. Bb5 a6 4. Ba4 Nf6 5. 0-0 Be7 6. Re1 b5 7. Bb3 0-0 8. c3 d5 9. exd5 Nxd5 10. Nxe5 Nxe5 11. Rxe5 c6 12. Bxd5 cxd5 13. d4 Bd6 14. Re3 Qh4 15. g3 Qh3 16. a4 Bg4 17. Qf1 Qh5 18. axb5 Re8 19. bxa6 Bh3 20. Rxe8 Rxe8 21. a7 Bxf1 22. a8=Q Rxa8 23. Rxa8+ Bf8 24. Nd2 Bh3 25. f3 Qf5 26. Kf2 ?-??

(a) Live dangerously.
(b) Feels he is a pawn to the good, so, by eliminating pieces from the board, the win must be a question of time.
(c) Prefer P-KR3 here.
(d) If 17. P-B3 BxNP; 18. K-K2 QR-K1; and there might be some doubt in the position.
(e) Gobbles too much.
(f) After 20. Q-1 Q-B6; and it's all over.
(g) Might have resigned here. After 24. KxB Q-Q8ch ends matter, too.

May 03, 1959 Chess Chats by George Koltanowski, Press-Democrat, Santa Rosa, California

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03 May 1959, Sun The Press Democrat (Santa Rosa, California) Newspapers.com

Chess Chats by George Koltanowski
International Chess Master

Problem No. 178
White to play and mate in two moves.
FEN k7/b7/1pK1B3/4R3/8/8/8/8 w - - 0 1
Solution: 1. Bd5 b5 2. Kc7#

FATHER, OF MODERN CHESS
May 14 is the 123rd anniversary of the day Wilhelm Steinitz was born. He came to England in 1862 merely to play in a tournament, and stayed for 20 years; then he went to America for what again was meant to be a few weeks, but he stayed for nearly another 20 years, and died here as unhappily as he had lived most of his time.
Still, he had held the world title for 28 years, just a year longer than Lasker did after him; and he probably gave to chess more than anybody before or after him. Not as if his predecessors (way back to Philidor) had been unaware of the principle of “positional” chess, but it was Steinitz who made a system of it; at any rate he laid the groundwork.

Center's Importance
It was Steinitz who first saw and taught the importance of the “center,” it was he who saw clearer than anybody before him that an attack must be positionally justified and that such a positional advantage, if not thrown in one's lap by an obliging opponent, can be piled up methodically. Note the thoroughly “positional” character of his sacrifice on the 22nd move of this game he won against Paulson in 1870. The opening was a “Steinitz Gambit” now (deservedly) obsolete.

Wilhelm Steinitz vs Louis Paulsen
Baden-Baden (1870), Baden-Baden GER, rd 13, Jul-30
Vienna Game: Vienna Gambit. Steinitz Gambit Paulsen Defense (C25) 1-0

Obviously the Bishop was tabu on Black's 27th move, on account of R-R8ch followed by Q-B3ch, etc.; nor could Black take the KBP on his 29th move. The threat Q-N4 had to be countered.
A brevity from a Russian tournament of 1947.

Igor Bondarevsky (white) vs. Oceaniaian (black)
Slav Defense: Three Knights Variation

Descriptive 1. P-Q4 P-Q4 2. P-QB4 P-QB3 3. N-KB3 N-B3 4. N-B3 B-N5 5. N-K5 B-B4 6. PxP PxP 7. P-K4 NxP 8. NxN PxN 9. Q-N3 B-K3 10. QxNP N-Q2 11. N-B6 Q-B1 12. B-QR6 Resigns

Algebraic 1. d4 d5 2. c4 c6 3. Nf3 Nf6 4. Nc3 Bg4 5. Ne5 Bf5 6. cxd5 cxd5 7. e4 Nxe4 8. Nxe4 dxe4 9. Qb3 Be6 10. Qxb7 Nd7 11. Nc6 Qc8 12. Ba6 1-0

The London Times competition for school teams has attracted enrollment from 241 schools. The British Chess Federation has charge of conducting it and there is a controller in each of 16 zones. The Chess Education Society is also helping with its administrative experience. Teams are grouped according to average age of players, and an older team must beat a younger one by at least the difference between their group age numbers!

April 26, 1959 Chess Chats by George Koltanowski, Press-Democrat, Santa Rosa, California

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Chess Chats 26 Apr 1959, Sun The Press Democrat (Santa Rosa, California) Newspapers.com

Chess Chats by George Koltanowski
International Chess Master

Problem No. 177
White to play and mate in two moves.
FEN 7Q/2qR4/2rnP3/2B2p2/BPkNp1N1/2p1pp2/2rn4/2bR3K w - - 0 1
Solution: 1. Ne2 fxg4 2. Qd4#

BLISSFUL BLUNDERS
The blunders as Tartakower, wisely observed are all there, they're just waiting to be made. Even grandmasters, fortunately, are not immune, and that's how a reader of ours escaped losing in seven moves against Keres in an exhibition.

Descriptive 1. P-K4 P-K4 2. P-KB4 PxP 3. N-KB3 N-KB3 4. P-K5 N-R4 5. Q-K2 P-KN3 6. P-Q4 P-KN3?? 7. P-Q4?? B-N2 8. N-B3

Algebraic 1. e4 e5 2. f4 exf4 3. Nf3 Nf6 4. e5 Nh5 5. Qe2 g6 6. d4 ??

But what would you say to a blunder made without making a move? That happened in the following game from the Southwestern Open at Houston, wherein Black resigned…and that was the BLUNDER!

William A Bills (white) vs. R. Terry, Jr. (black)
English Opening: Symmetrical Variation, Hedgehog Defense

Descriptive 1. N-KB3 N-KB3 2. P-KN3 P-QN3 3. B-N2 B-N2 4. O-O P-K3 5. P-B4 P-B4 6. N-B3 B-K2 7. P-K3 O-O 8. Q-K2 P-Q4 9. P-Q3 N-B3 10. R-Q1 P-Q5 11. N-QN5 P-QR3 12. N-R3 Q-Q2 13. P-N3 P-K4 14. B-N2 N-K1 15. N-B2 P-QR4 16. P-QR3 N-B2 17. NxKP NxN 18. BxB QR-N1 19. B-N2 N-B3 20. PxP B-B3 21. P-Q5 BxB 22. PxN Q-Q3 23. R-R2 KR-K1 24. N-K3 B-Q5 25. Q-B3 P-N3 26. R-K2 P-QN4 27. N-B2 PxP 28. RxRch RxR 29. QPxP N-K3 30. P-QN4 RPxP 31. PxP PxP 32. NxB NxN 33. Q-Q3 R-Q1 34. QxQN QxQ 35. RxQ Resigns

Algebraic 1. Nf3 Nf6 2. g3 b6 3. Bg2 Bb7 4. 0-0 e6 5. c4 c5 6. Nc3 Be7 7. e3 0-0 8. Qe2 d5 9. d3 Nc6 10. Rd1 d4 11. Nb5 a6 12. Na3 Qd7 13. b3 e5 14. Bb2 Ne8 15. Nc2 a5 16. a3 Nc7 17. Nxe5 Nxe5 18. Bxb7 Rb8 19. Bg2 Nc6 20. exd4 Bf6 21. d5 Bxb2 22. dxc6 Qd6 23. Ra2 Re8 24. Ne3 Bd4 25. Qf3 g6 26. Re2 b5 27. Nc2 bxc4 28. Rxe8+ Rxe8 29. dxc4 Ne6 30. b4 axb4 31. axb4 cxb4 32. Nxd4 Nxd4 33. Qd3 Rd8 34. Qxd4 Qxd4 35. Rxd4 1-0

(a) Feels that after 35. … RxR; 36. P-B6 wins … but 36. RxP wins for Black.

George Koltanowski (white) vs. D. Simpson (black)
Sicilian Defense: Dragon Variation, Classical Variation

Descriptive 1. P-K4 P-QB4 2. N-KB3 N-QB3 3. P-Q4 PxP 4. NxP N-KB3 5. N-QB3 P-Q3 6. B-K2 P-KN3 7. O-O B-N2 8. B-K3 O-O 9. K-R1 P-Q4 10. PxP NxP 11. QN3xQN3/Q5 QxN 12. B-B3 Q-B5 13. NxN PxN 14. P-B3 B-K3 15. P-QN3 Q-R3 16. Q-K2 Q-N2 17. QR-B1 KR-Q1 18. P-B4 B-B4 19. KR-Q1 QR-B1 20. B-B5 P-K4 21. Q-K3 Q-B2 22. BxRP B-R3 23. QxB QxB 24. Q-K3 RxRch 25. RxR QxP 26. QxP QxNP 27. P-B5 B-Q6 28. Q-Q4 B-R3 29. Q-B6 B-Q6 30. P-KR3 P-KR4 31. R-K1 Q-R6 32. R-K7 B-B5 33. BxBP QxBP 34. B-K8 R-B2 35. BxPch Resigns

Algebraic 1. e4 c5 2. Nf3 Nc6 3. d4 cxd4 4. Nxd4 Nf6 5. Nc3 d6 6. Be2 g6 7. 0-0 Bg7 8. Be3 0-0 9. Kh1 d5 10. exd5 Nxd5 11. Nxd5 Qxd5 12. Bf3 Qc4 13. Nxc6 bxc6 14. c3 Be6 15. b3 Qa6 16. Qe2 Qb7 17. Rc1 Rfd8 18. c4 Bf5 19. Rd1 Rc8 20. Bc5 e5 21. Qe3 Qc7 22. Bxa7 Bh6 23. Qxh6 Qxa7 24. Qe3 Rxd1+ 25. Rxd1 Qxa2 26. Qxe5 Qxb3 27. c5 Bd3 28. Qd4 Ba6 29. Qf6 Bd3 30. h3 h5 31. Re1 Qa3 32. Re7 Bc4 33. Bxc6 Qxc5 34. Be8 Rc7 35. Bxf7+ 1-0

(a) Did not care for 16. … QxQ; 17. BxQ BxBP; 18. QR-B1, etc. But this would have been best.
(b) Better was 21. … P-QR3.
(c) This does it. Black cannot get out of the pressure that follows.
(d) Black must play 34. … Q-Q4; and after 35. … BxB; 36. QxBch and hopes for a draw.
(e) If 35. … mate next move and after 35. … K-B1; 36. BxB mates.

April 12, 1959 Chess Chats by George Koltanowski, Press-Democrat, Santa Rosa, California

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Chess Chats 12 Apr 1959, Sun The Press Democrat (Santa Rosa, California) Newspapers.com

Chess Chats by George Koltanowski
International Chess Master

Problem No. 175
White to play and mate in two moves.
FEN 7N/8/6B1/6k1/2p3Np/1pB4n/1K1p1P2/3Q4 w - - 0 1
Solution: 1. Nh6 Kxh6 2. Qh5#

LONG AND SHORT OF IT
There are those who maintain that “brevities” in chess are more freaks caused by the accident of a mistake or the design of players coveting an early draw. Others insist that a short game may contain all the elements of a long one and does indeed present the best possible guide for the student of tactics (if not strategy).
Most prominent exponent of that school of thought is Kurt Richter who, to prove his point, published a book containing 623 admirably selected and annotated “shorts.” (Hohe Schule der Schachtaktiki). Obviously, it contains a good many amusing “records,” such as the shortest ever draw by repetition.

Hans Rodatz (white) vs. Paul Hallbauer (black)
Hamburg, 1938
Old Indian Defense

Descriptive 1. P-Q4 N-KB3 2. P-QB4 P-Q3 3. N-QB3 N-QB3 4. P-KN3 P-K4 5. P-Q5 N-Q5 6. P-K3 B-N5 7. Q-R4ch B-Q2 8. Q-Q1 B-N5 1/2-1/2

Algebraic 1. d4 Nf6 2. c4 d6 3. Nc3 Nc6 4. g3 e5 5. d5 Nd4 6. e3 Bg4 7. Qa4+ Bd7 8. Qd1 Bg4 1/2-1/2

Shortest Ever
Here is what is alleged to be the shortest ever win after a Q-swap.

Engels (white) vs. May (black)
1937
Caro-Kann Defense: Panov Attack

Descriptive 1. P-K4 P-QB3 2. P-Q4 P-Q4 3. PxP PxP 4. P-QB4 B-B4 5. PxP QxP 6. N-QB3 Q-R4 7. Q-N3 Q-N3 8. N-Q5 QxQ 9. PxQ Resigns

Algebraic 1. e4 c6 2. d4 d5 3. exd5 cxd5 4. c4 Bf5 5. cxd5 Qxd5 6. Nc3 Qa5 7. Qb3 Qb6 8. Nd5 Qxb3 9. axb3 1-0

As a most significant example for an immediate blitzkrieg on the uncastled King the author has picked Cochrane-Walker, London, 1841.

John Cochrane vs George Walker
Casual game (1841), London ENG
Scotch Game: Lolli Variation (C44) 1-0

Played in the England-Scotland match, 1958.

Michael Fallone, Scotland (white) vs. Leonard W. Barden (black)
Benoni Defense: Hromádka System

Descriptive 1. P-Q4 P-QB4 2. P-Q5 P-Q3 3. P-QB4 N-KB3 4. N-QB3 P-KN3 5. B-N5 B-N2 6. P-K4 O-O 7. Q-Q2 R-K1 8. N-B3 P-K3 9. B-K2 PxP 10. KPxP Q-N3 11. O-O B-B4 12. B-Q3 BxB 13. QxB QN-Q2 14. P-KR3 R-K2 15. QR-N1 QR-K1 16. P-R3 P-KR3 17. B-Q2 Q-N6 18. B-B4 N-K5 19. N-Q2 NxN 20. QxN N-K4 21. BxP NxP 22. Q-B4 BxB 23. QxB NxRP 24. P-B4 NxR 25. P-B5 R-K8 26. RxR RxRch 27. K-B2 PxP 28. Q-N5ch K-B1 29. Q-Q8ch K-N2 30. Q-N5ch K-B1 31. Q-Q8ch R-K1 32. QxPch K-N1 33. Q-N3ch K-B1 34. Q-Q6ch R-K2 35. Q-Q8ch R-K1 36. Q-Q6ch R-K2 1/2-1/2

Algebraic 1. d4 c5 2. d5 d6 3. c4 Nf6 4. Nc3 g6 5. Bg5 Bg7 6. e4 0-0 7. Qd2 Re8 8. Nf3 e6 9. Be2 exd5 10. exd5 Qb6 11. 0-0 Bf5 12. Bd3 Bxd3 13. Qxd3 Nd7 14. h3 Re7 15. Rb1 Re8 16. a3 h6 17. Bd2 Qb3 18. Bf4 Ne4 19. Nd2 Nxd2 20. Qxd2 Ne5 21. Bxh6 Nxc4 22. Qf4 Bxh6 23. Qxh6 Nxa3 24. f4 Nxb1 25. f5 Re1 26. Rxe1 Rxe1+ 27. Kf2 gxf5 28. Qg5+ Kf8 29. Qd8+ Kg7 30. Qg5+ Kf8 31. Qd8+ Re8 32. Qxd6+ Kg8 33. Qg3+ Kf8 34. Qd6+ Re7 35. Qd8+ Re8 36. Qd6+ Re7 1/2-1/2

(a) Black feels that he has a strong pull on the Queen's side, so no use spoiling it by playing 13. QxP; 14. QR-N1, etc.
(b) With the weak white square in his control, it all looks like easy sailing … but Barden doesn't know his Scotch!
(c) This saves the situation for the moment!
(d) That ought to have done it. If 2. BPxN QxN, etc. White does not ken defeat and plays …
(e) Threatens P-B6. If 25. PxP; 26. Q-N5ch leads to a draw.
(f) Not 26. P-B6 RxRch; 27. KxR Q-B5ch; 28. K-N1 Q-Q5ch followed by 29. QxKBP.
(g) The draw was forced. The young Scotchman deserves a word of praise for saving his game!

April 05, 1959 Chess Chats by George Koltanowski, Press-Democrat, Santa Rosa, California

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Chess Chats 05 Apr 1959, Sun The Press Democrat (Santa Rosa, California) Newspapers.com

Chess Chats by George Koltanowski
International Chess Master

Problem No. 174
White to play and mate in two moves.
FEN 8/8/1pB1N3/1Ppn2p1/2R3P1/3k4/p2P4/K2QB3 w - - 0 1
Solution: 1. Re4 Kxe4 2. Qe2#

STICKLER FOR PUNCTUALITY
“He certainly was, and particularly at meal-times,” my old friend Jacques Mieses used to tell us when in a reminiscent mood. “Never varied them—breakfast at 7, lunch at 12, supper at 8.” And then, with a chuckle, he would add that breakfast, of course, was at 7 p.m., lunch at midnight, and supper at 8 a.m.
The man he referred to was Mikhail Ivanovitch Tchigorin, who died 50 years ago. He was undoubtedly one of the most interesting personalities in the history of chess. It is by no means for merely sentimental reasons that the only Russian grandmaster of the 19th Century is revered by contemporary Soviet players. More so, because he was the great tactician to hold his own against a hyperdogmatic interpretation of the “Steinitz School.”

Correspondence Games
To prove the point, nothing could be more significant than the two correspondence games he won against Steinitz in 1890-91, both of them arranged to test certain opening variations. Here's the first one, with some of Steinitz's comments while the game was still in progress.

Mikhail Chigorin vs Wilhelm Steinitz
Steinitz - Chigorin Telegraph Match (1890), Telegraphic match, rd 2
Italian Game: Evans Gambit. Slow Variation (C52) 1-0

13. N-B4 Q-B1; (Here Steinitz wrote: “I prefer Black's game against anybody, and I certainly would refuse a draw here”)
17. B-B1 N-N1; (Here Steinitz was willing to bet anyone 2-1 that he would win.)
38. P-Q6 … Black resigns. After the game Steinitz gave lavish praise to his opponent's 12th, 14th, and 17th moves.

Boy's Talent
In Taschent (USSR) there's a five-year-old boy who is becoming a legend in Russian chess. His name is Ernest Kim, and he is beating a good number of B players already. He shows combinational talent. Visitors to the city insist on playing with the boy, and recently the editor of the “Michigan Telegraph” got beaten soundly in 15 moves. Here is a recent game by Kim.

Ernest Kim (white) vs. Suworow (black)
French Defense: Two Knights Variation

Descriptive 1. P-K4 P-K3 2. N-QB3 P-Q4 3. N-B3 B-N5 4. PxP BxN 5. QPxB PxP 6. B-K2 N-KB3 7. O-O Q-K2 8. R-K1 B-K3 9. B-KN5 QN-Q2 10. Q-Q4 P-QN3 11. N-K5 P-B4 12. Q-QR4 O-O 13. NxN BxN 14. BxN PxB 15. B-N5 Q-Q3 16. BxB P-QR3 17. Q-N4ch K-R1 18. B-B5 R-KN1 19. Q-R5 R-N2 20. QR-Q1 R1-KN1 21. P-KN3 Q-Q1 22. P-QB4 P-Q5 23. P-QB3 Q-Q3 24. R-K4 Resigns

Algebraic 1. e4 e6 2. Nc3 d5 3. Nf3 Bb4 4. exd5 Bxc3 5. dxc3 exd5 6. Be2 Nf6 7. 0-0 Qe7 8. Re1 Be6 9. Bg5 Nd7 10. Qd4 b6 11. Ne5 c5 12. Qa4 0-0 13. Nxd7 Bxd7 14. Bxf6 gxf6 15. Bb5 Qd6 16. Bxd7 a6 17. Qg4+ Kh8 18. Bf5 Rg8 19. Qh5 Rg7 20. Rd1 Rag8 21. g3 Qd8 22. c4 d4 23. c3 Qd6 24. Re4 1-0

(a) Well played. If 15. BxB; 16. Q-N4ch and 17. RxQ.
(b) Black could resign here. He didn't because he had boasted that he would beat “the kid” and if he would lose by accident, he would never play chess anymore.
(c) About time. Wonder if Suworow is still playing chess?

Vacaville Chess Club invites all chess fans to the chess festival on Sunday, April 12 at 2 p.m. at the Monte Vista School. George Koltanowski will play all comers after a match between visitors versus hometowners.

March 29, 1959 Chess Chats by George Koltanowski, Press-Democrat, Santa Rosa, California

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Chess Chats 29 Mar 1959, Sun The Press Democrat (Santa Rosa, California) Newspapers.com

Chess Chats by George Koltanowski
International Chess Master

Problem No. 173
White to play and mate in two moves.
FEN 3r4/1R1p1B2/2Pkn1P1/1P2R3/8/8/1BQ5/6K1 w - - 0 1
Solution: 1. Re1 Nc5 2. Qh2#

CHALLENGED TO A DUEL
Of all the irascible, moody, exasperating and yet altogether lovable chess masters, past and present, I could think of no one to equal the oddities, the whims, the irritability of the great Aaron Nimzowitsch. Uncompromisingly apodictic in his theories, he was equally outspoken in his personal likes and dislikes. On one occasion, having to play a certain German master (who shall remain nameless) he showed his contempt by staring at his opponent's 1. P-K4 as if he had never seen such a thing.
Then, with an insolent shrug, he got up and went for a leisurely walk round the tournament hall. When he came back to sit opposite his irate opponent, he gave the board another haughty stare and then took out some newspapers and spent well over an hour reading them and yet another ten or fifteen minutes, appearing to be wrapped up in the crossword puzzle.

Only 20 Minutes
When finally turning to the board he had barely twenty minutes left until the time-control, but that was quite sufficient to give him a winning position. His irate opponent might well have resigned, but he protracted game another 30 to 40 moves; right up to the mate. Next morning he sent his seconds. “Swords or pistols?” they wished to know.
“Neither,” said Nimzo, grinning and flexing his muscles, “Bare fists will have to do, you can tell your man, that's just as hopeless for him as the chess board.”
We found this (along with other and better-known Nimzo anecdotes) in Dr. Hannak's interesting biographical introduction to a new German edition of “Mein System.”
Here is one of the master's favorites to illustrate the sin of pawn-snatching:
French Defense: Classical Variation, Delayed Exchange Variation

Descriptive 1. P-K4 P-K3 2. P-Q4 P-Q4 3. N-QB3 N-KB3 4. PxP NxP 5. N-B3 P-QB4 6. NxN QxN 7. B-K3 PxP 8. NxP P-QR3 9. B-K2 QxNP 10. B-B3 Q-N3 11. Q-Q2 P-K4 12. O-O-O PxN 13. BxQP N-B3 14. B-B6 QxB 15. BxNch PxB 16. KR-K1ch Resigns

Algebraic 1. e4 e6 2. d4 d5 3. Nc3 Nf6 4. exd5 Nxd5 5. Nf3 c5 6. Nxd5 Qxd5 7. Be3 cxd4 8. Nxd4 a6 9. Be2 Qxg2 10. Bf3 Qg6 11. Qd2 e5 12. 0-0-0 exd4 13. Bxd4 Nc6 14. Bf6 Qxf6 15. Bxc6+ bxc6 16. Re1+ 1-0

(Mate is unavoidable).

Played In the European Cup Finals, by mail, 1958.

D. H. Butler, England vs. Dr. F. Coni Arregui, Spain
Bird Opening: From's Gambit, Lasker Variation

Descriptive 1. P-KB4 P-K4 2. PxP P-Q3 3. PxP BxP 4. N-KB3 P-KN4 5. P-Q4 P-N5 6. N-N5 Q-K2 7. Q-Q3 P-KB4 8. P-KR3 N-QB3 9. PxP N-B3 10. P-QR3 B-Q2 11. N-QB3 O-O-O 12. PxP NxP 13. B-Q2 BxBP 14. P-K4 B-K4 15. PxB NxPch 16. K-Q1 QxP Resigns

Algebraic 1. f4 e5 2. fxe5 d6 3. exd6 Bxd6 4. Nf3 g5 5. d4 g4 6. Ng5 Qe7 7. Qd3 f5 8. h3 Nc6 9. hxg4 Nf6 10. a3 Bd7 11. Nc3 0-0-0 12. gxf5 Nxd4 13. Bd2 Bxf5 14. e4 Be5 15. exf5 Nxc2+ 16. Kd1 Qxa3 0-1

(a) The usual line is 6. N-K5 BxN; 7. PxB QxQch; 8. KxQ, N-QB3 etc.
(b) Avoiding the escape of the knight via K4.
(c) It 8. P-K4 P-KR3; 9. P-K5 PxN etc.
(d) Wishes to avoid N-QN5 for Black. So he is three pawns up, but no development.
(f) That's one back. If 13. QxN B-N6ch; 14. K-Q1 BxBP etc.
(g) If 16. QxN BxNd.ch; 17. B-K2 BxBch followed by BxN etc.
(h) After 17. KxN RxBch; 18. KxR B-B5ch followed by BxN and it's all over but the shouting.

GAMBITS GALORE
The Rt. Hon. Mr. Harold Macmillan. Prime Minister of Great Britain, speaking at the Lord Mayor's banquet in London: “We must not forget that the Russians are probably the best chess players in the world. It is a game in which the keen player does not mind how long it lasts, and in which he experiments with different openings. So we must be patient and enduring.”

March 22, 1959 Chess Chats by George Koltanowski, Press-Democrat, Santa Rosa, California

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Chess Chats 22 Mar 1959, Sun The Press Democrat (Santa Rosa, California) Newspapers.com

Chess Chats By George Koltanowski
International Chess Master

Problem No. 172
White to Play and mate in two moves.
FEN b4b2/3r4/3pr3/8/1K5N/2PR4/Q3p3/5kBR w - - 0 1
Solution: 1. Qa6 Bxh1 2. Rd1#

MUCH ADO ABOUT NOTHING
“That's just it, stormed the irascible grandmaster when the kindly tournament director explained that, forewarned about his irritability the committee had seen to it that he wouldn't have the slightest grounds for complaint; and spluttering on in his quaint mixture of English, Polish and French the master explained that he had never been so insulted in his life.
With nothing at all to complain about, how could he relieve nervous tension? He was being gravely handicapped. It was most unfair. It was altogether insufferable. Such was David Yanowski, most hot-tempered and one of the most lovable of all chess masters. He died well over 30 years ago. He was born almost exactly 90 years ago, as good a pretext as any to remember him.

Brooded Over Cards
When he wasn't playing (or arguing) chess he could be seen brooding over cards or the roulette wheel. He was for ever working out the most ingenious systems how to break the bank of Monte Carlo, but he was singularly unsuccessful in that respect; and having won first and third respectively in the two strong Monte Carlo tournaments of 1901 and 1902 he promptly lost every sou of the prize-money there and then. He was one of the most dashing players ever, and quite a collector of brilliancy prizes. Here's one of them (the victim being Schallop at Nuremberg, 1896).

David Janowski vs Emil Schallopp
Nuremberg (1896), Nuremberg GER, rd 9, Jul-29
Queen's Gambit Accepted: Gunsberg Defense (D21) 1-0

And here is how he beat Samisch at Marienbad, 1925.

David Janowski vs Friedrich Saemisch
Marienbad (1925), Marianske Lazne CSR, rd 13, Jun-05
Torre Attack: Classical Defense (A46) 1-0

QUESTION OF RULES
A Chess Fan from New York writes:
“In the important match recently played in New York between the Manhattan Chess Club and the Marshall Chess Club, Arthur B. Bisguier, the Manhattan Club champion, claimed his game on board three against Carl Pilnik, the flag on whose clock had fallen.
The dial indicated that he had one minute and a half left to make his move. The early departure of the referee, Kenneth Harkness, complicated matters. A joint committee will try to solve the problem. How would you decide?
Answer: In all tournaments and matches I referee, I make it a habit to start all the chess clocks two minutes before the allotted time. (For example if 40 moves in two hours of play, I will ask the contestants to set their clocks at 2 minutes to 10. Thus they have until 12 to make their forty moves.) On that basis, I have no problems if through no ones fault a chess clock acts up and loses or gains 1½ minutes. If the referee in New York started the clocks, with the two minutes advance, then the game is a win for Bisguier, no matter what the hands show. (Unless the difference was more than two minutes.) If they started on a regular basis, then I am happy that it is a New York problem!

SHORT AND SHARP
Played in the Golden Knight Correspondence tourney, 1957-58.

J. Donald Define (white) vs. Jack Kolesar (black)
Vienna Game: Anderssen Defense

Descriptive 1. P-K4 P-K4 2. N-QB3 B-B4 3. B-B4 N-K2 4. P-Q3 QN-B3 5. B-KN5 O-O 6. KN-K2 P-Q3 7. N-Q5 B-KN5 8. P-KB3 B-K3 9. N(2)-B3 P-QR3 10. Q-Q2 Q-Q2 11. N-B6ch PxN 12. BxBP N-R4 13. Q-R6 Resigns

Algebraic 1. e4 e5 2. Nc3 Bc5 3. Bc4 Ne7 4. d3 Nc6 5. Bg5 0-0 6. Ne2 d6 7. Nd5 Bg4 8. f3 Be6 9. Nc3 a6 10. Qd2 Qd7 11. Nf6+ gxf6 12. Bxf6 Na5 13. Qh6 1-0