The Gift of Chess

Notice to commercial publishers seeking use of images from this collection of chess-related archive blogs. For use of the many large color restorations, two conditions must be met: 1) It is YOUR responsibility to obtain written permissions for use from the current holders of rights over the original b/w photo. Then, 2) make a tax-deductible donation to The Gift of Chess in honor of Robert J. Fischer-Newspaper Archives. A donation in the amount of $250 USD or greater is requested for images above 2000 pixels and other special request items. For small images, such as for fair use on personal blogs, all credits must remain intact and a donation is still requested but negotiable. Please direct any photographs for restoration and special request (for best results, scanned and submitted at their highest possible resolution), including any additional questions to S. Mooney, at bobbynewspaperblogs•gmail. As highlighted in the ABC News feature, chess has numerous benefits for individuals, including enhancing critical thinking and problem-solving skills, improving concentration and memory, and promoting social interaction and community building. Initiatives like The Gift of Chess have the potential to bring these benefits to a wider audience, particularly in areas where access to educational and recreational resources is limited.

Best of Chess Fischer Newspaper Archives
• Robert J. Fischer, 1955 ➦
• Robert J. Fischer, 1956 ➦
• Robert J. Fischer, 1957 ➦
• Robert J. Fischer, 1958 ➦
• Robert J. Fischer, 1959 ➦
• Robert J. Fischer, 1960 ➦
• Robert J. Fischer, 1961 ➦
• Robert J. Fischer, 1962 ➦
• Robert J. Fischer, 1963 ➦
• Robert J. Fischer, 1964 ➦
• Robert J. Fischer, 1965 ➦
• Robert J. Fischer, 1966 ➦
• Robert J. Fischer, 1967 ➦
• Robert J. Fischer, 1968 ➦
• Robert J. Fischer, 1969 ➦
• Robert J. Fischer, 1970 ➦
• Robert J. Fischer, 1971 ➦
• Robert J. Fischer, 1972 ➦
• Robert J. Fischer, 1973 ➦
• Robert J. Fischer, 1974 ➦
• Robert J. Fischer, 1975 ➦
• Robert J. Fischer, 1976 ➦
• Robert J. Fischer, 1977 ➦
• Robert J. Fischer, 1978 ➦
• Robert J. Fischer, 1979 ➦
• Robert J. Fischer, 1980 ➦
• Robert J. Fischer, 1981 ➦
• Robert J. Fischer, 1982 ➦
• Robert J. Fischer, 1983 ➦
• Robert J. Fischer, 1984 ➦
• Robert J. Fischer, 1985 ➦
• Robert J. Fischer, 1986 ➦
• Robert J. Fischer, 1987 ➦
• Robert J. Fischer, 1988 ➦
• Robert J. Fischer, 1989 ➦
• Robert J. Fischer, 1990 ➦
• Robert J. Fischer, 1991 ➦
• Robert J. Fischer, 1992 ➦
• Robert J. Fischer, 1993 ➦
• Robert J. Fischer, 1994 ➦
• Robert J. Fischer, 1995 ➦
• Robert J. Fischer, 1996 ➦
• Robert J. Fischer, 1997 ➦
• Robert J. Fischer, 1998 ➦
• Robert J. Fischer, 1999 ➦
• Robert J. Fischer, 2000 ➦
• Robert J. Fischer, 2001 ➦
• Robert J. Fischer, 2002 ➦
• Robert J. Fischer, 2003 ➦
• Robert J. Fischer, 2004 ➦
• Robert J. Fischer, 2005 ➦
• Robert J. Fischer, 2006 ➦
• Robert J. Fischer, 2007 ➦
• Robert J. Fischer, 2008 ➦
Chess Columns Additional Archives/Social Media

July 26, 1959 Boston Globe, Chess Notebook by Lyman Burgess

< Prev Index Next >

Chess Notebook Chess NotebookChess Notebook 26 Jul 1959, Sun The Boston Globe (Boston, Massachusetts) Newspapers.com

Chess Notebook by Lyman Burgess
Chess, as the man said, is a difficult game. And one of the more foolhardy pursuits of analysts and pseudo-analysts is the practice of making final judgments in flexible positions.
CASE: Position #26 in Bouwmeester's “Modern End-Game Studies” is a composition of Jean de Villeneuve Escaplon. This much admired study goes like this: White K at KR3; B at KB8; N at QR7, P at KR6. Black: K at QN1; R at KR1; B at QN7; N at Q5. With Black having the heavier artillery but no pawns the stipulation is White to play and draw.
Escaplon's solution: 1. B-N7 R-R2; 2. K-N4, KxN; 3. K-R5! N-B4!; (Now if K-N6, RxB is decisive) 4. BxB, RxPch; 5. K-N5, R-R7!; 6. B-K5, R-KB7; 7. B-B4, N-Q5; 8. B-K3, R-B4ch; 9. K-N4, R-Q4; 10. K-B4, K-N3; 11. K-K4, K-B4; 12. K-Q3. “The draw is a fait accompli, as the Knight is perpetually pinned, a splendidly logical composition.”

The startling virtuosity of the interplay of Bishop vs. Rook and Knight was partially negated by Igor Bondarevsky who, 30 years ex post facto, found a flaw which led to a win for Black. Bondarevsky's findings appear as position No. 101 in the Boumeester book. Same position as above: 1. B-N7, R-R2: 2. K-N4, KxN; 3. K-R5, N-K3! (Bondarevsky's improvement) 4. BxB, R-QN2! now (A) 5. B-B6; N-Bl; 6. B-N7, R-N4ch; with 7. … N-R2, etc).
(B) 5. B-B1 N-B1; 6. K-N5 K-N1; 7. B-K3 K-B1 and Black wins.
(C) 5. B-R3 R-N6; 6. B-K7 R-R6ch; 7. K-N6 K-N2; 8. B-B6 K-B3; 9. B-N7 K-Q2; 10. K-B7 R-B6ch; 11. K-N8 R-KN6; 12. K-B7 N-N4ch; 13. K-N8 K-N8; 14. P-R7 NxP; 15. KxN K-B7 and Black wins.

The Escaplon study with Bondarevsky's correction together with 99 other fine endings comprise Modern End-Game studies for the Chess Player, by Hans Boumeester (translated and edited by H. Golombek, 128 pp. New York. Pitman Publishing Corp., $3.50).
This is the first collection of modern studies since Chernev's “Chessboard Magic” which dates back to 1943. The Bouwmeester-Golombek collection (Golombek added 25 studies to the original text), in the reviewer's cliche, is truly entertaining and instructive. Therefore: recommended for fun or blood.

Weaver W. Adams long-time proponent of the “White to Play and Win” theory met Robert Durkin's odd-ball defense with aplomb and originality. Durkin is the author of Durkin's Knightmare (1. N-QR3!). From Adams' game collection, “How to Play Chess.”

Weaver W. Adams (white) vs. Robert Durkin (black)
Pirc Defense

Descriptive
1. P-K4 P-Q3
2. P-Q4 P-KN3
3. P-KB4 B-N2
4. N-B3 P-K3
5. B-Q3 N-K2
6. B-K3 P-QB4
7. P-B3 P-N3
8. O-O O-O
9. Q-K2 B-N2
10. QN-Q2 N-Q2
11. P-B5 KPxP
12. KPxP N-Q4
13. PxP RPxP
14. B-KN5 Q-B2
15. QR-K QR-K
16. QxR RxQ
17. RxRch K-R2
18. B-Q8 Q-B3
19. N-N5ch K-R3
20. NxPch K-R2
21. N-K4 N-B
22. N(7)xP PxP
23. B-QN5 PxP
24. PxP QxR
25. BxQ B-QR3
26. R-B3 N-K3
27. R-R3ch B-R3
28. N-N5ch Resigns
Algebraic
1. e4 d6
2. d4 g6
3. f4 Bg7
4. Nf3 e6
5. Bd3 Ne7
6. Be3 c5
7. c3 b6
8. 0-0 0-0
9. Qe2 Bb7
10. Nd2 Nd7
11. f5 exf5
12. exf5 Nd5
13. fxg6 hxg6
14. Bg5 Qc7
15. Re1 Re8
16. Qxe8 Rxe8
17. Rxe8+ Kh7
18. Bd8 Qc6
19. Ng5+ Kh6
20. Nxf7+ Kh7
21. Ne4 Nf8
22. Nxd6 cxd4
23. Bb5 dxc3
24. bxc3 Qxe8
25. Bxe8 Ba6
26. Rf3 Ne6
27. Rh3+ Bh6
28. Ng5+ 1-0

Recommended Books

Understanding Chess by William Lombardy Chess Duels, My Games with the World Champions, by Yasser Seirawan No Regrets: Fischer-Spassky 1992, by Yasser Seirawan Chess Fundamentals, by Jose Capablanca Bobby Fischer Teaches Chess, by Bobby Fischer My 60 Memorable Games, by Bobby Fischer Bobby Fischer Games of Chess, by Bobby Fischer The Modern Chess Self Tutor, by David Bronstein Russians versus Fischer, by Mikhail Tal, Plisetsky, Taimanov, et al

'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:

Bobby Fischer, First Amendment, Freedom of Speech
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.

Robert J. Fischer, Kid Chess Wizard 1956March 9, 1943 - January 17, 2008

The 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.

Special Thanks