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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
The Press Democrat Chess Chats by George Koltanowski, Sunday, July 20, 1959, Santa Rosa, California Problem No....
Posted by Bobby Fischer's True History on Tuesday, March 22, 2022
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
