January 25, 1959 Chess Chats by George Koltanowski, Press-Democrat, Santa Rosa, California

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Chess Chats 25 Jan 1959, Sun The Press Democrat (Santa Rosa, California) Newspapers.com

Problem No. 164
White mates in two.
FEN 8/3Q2K1/5p2/2R1N3/5kp1/3b2b1/3pn3/7B w - - 0 1
Solution: 1. Qd6 d1=Q 2. Nc4#

“WAR AND PEACE”
Aylmer Maude, the English biographer in his “Life of Tolstoy” gives an interesting glimpse of the recreative activities of the Great Russian novelist.
“Tolstoy's favorite indoor game is chess which he plays in what seems to me to be the best possible way. I do not mean that he could often beat a strong club player, but that he takes this game just as recreation, and not as a study. He spends no time on chess literature, and willingly plays in a room full of people. To make a special study of chess would be impossible to a man with so many vivid and pressing interests in life. From lack of book-knowledge, he was often weak in the openings, but was sometimes very ingenious in snatching an advantage. In fact, in chess, as in all things, he displayed originality and great alertness.”

Difficult to Adjust
“…Like most people who came under his influence, I was violently swung from my former habits, and found it difficult to adjust myself to my new perceptions. For instance, on awakening the immensity and urgency of the reforms which could be accomplished if we utilized our opportunities, from being a frequent attendant at the chess club, I forswore it as a luxury and waste of time. But it so happened that Lasker and Steinitz came to Moscow that winter (1896), to play their match for the world's championship; and at Tolstoy's some one suggested that we should go to see them play.
“Tolstoy agreed, but I objected, on the score that professional chess, with its jealousies and bickerings and its diversion of ability to the service of a game, was contrary to the trend of his teachings. Without making any fuss about it, Tolstoy, just said to the others: “Do you know, I think I won't go. Maude, here, thinks it would not be good.” I am now ashamed to have hindered his seeing a first-class example of a game he had always been fond of; but nearly everyone who was swept into the strong current of his movement got things out of focus and proportion, at least for a while.”

Short and Bitter
Games played in the recent Southwestern Open, Houston.

W. T. Strange (white) vs. J. E. Nunnally (black)
Queen's Gambit Declined: Three Knights Variation

Descriptive 1. P-Q4 P-Q4 2. P-QB4 N-KB3 3. N-KB3 P-K3 4. N-B3 N-B3 5. P-K3 N-N5 6. Q-R4 Q-Q2 7. PxP PxP 8. B-N5 B-K2 9. N-K5 Resigns

Algebraic 1. d4 d5 2. c4 Nf6 3. Nf3 e6 4. Nc3 Nc6 5. e3 Ng4 6. Qa4 Qd7 7. cxd5 exd5 8. Bb5 Be7 9. Ne5 1-0

Jerry Spann (white) vs. Eric Dale Bone (black)
Queen's Pawn Game: Colle System

Descriptive 1. P-Q4 P-Q4 2. N-KB3 N-KB3 3. P-K3 P-B4 4. P-B3 B-B4 5. QN-Q2 N-B3 6. PxP P-K4 7. P-QN4 P-Q5 8. KPxP PxP 9. PxP NxP 10. NxN QxN 11. B-R3 O-O-O 12. N-N3 Q-B6ch Resigns

Algebraic 1. d4 d5 2. Nf3 Nf6 3. e3 c5 4. c3 Bf5 5. Nbd2 Nc6 6. dxc5 e5 7. b4 d4 8. exd4 exd4 9. cxd4 Nxd4 10. Nxd4 Qxd4 11. Ba3 0-0-0 12. Nb3 Qc3+ 0-1

Fred Tears (white) vs. Blake Stevens (black)
Sicilian Defense: Closed, Traditional

Descriptive 1. P-K4 P-QB4 2. N-QB3 N-QB3 3. P-Q3 N-B3 4. P-B4 P-Q4 5. P-K5 P-Q5 6. PxN PxN 1/2-1/2

Algebraic 1. e4 c5 2. Nc3 Nc6 3. d3 Nf6 4. f4 d5 5. e5 d4 6. exf6 dxc3 1/2-1/2

(a) A draw in real Grandmaster fashion!

Chess Quote of the Day:
Anything is weak which can be attacked and anything which cannot be attacked is not weak.
— W. Winter

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