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

March 01, 1959 Chess Chats by George Koltanowski, Press-Democrat, Santa Rosa, California

< Prev Index Next >

Chess ChatsChess Chats 01 Mar 1959, Sun The Press Democrat (Santa Rosa, California) Newspapers.com

Chess Chats By George Koltanowski
International Cbess Master

Problem No. 169
White to play and mate in two moves.
FEN K5B1/8/QN4PB/4p3/Pp5r/2k5/3R1Prp/1n3bR1 w - - 0 1
Solution: 1. Qe2 Bxe2 2. Rc1#

The Press Democrat Chess Chats by George Koltanowski, Sunday, February 22, 1959, Santa Rosa, California Problem No....

Posted by Bobby Fischer's True History on Sunday, March 13, 2022

LILIENTHAL DISCUSSES BOTVINNIK
I have known Mikhail Botvinnik personally for almost a quarter of a century. I met him first in 1934 aboard a ship going to Britain for the traditional International Christmas tournament in Hastings. Botvinnik was making his debut abroad. It was not very successful (he was placed fourth). He was a lean, bespectacled young man of average stature, with a broad open forehead and a winning smile. This is how Botvinnik looks now, too, buoyant and seemingly not aging at all.

Tournaments Played
Hastings was followed by Moscow, where a major international tournament was held in 1935. In this tournament in which Capablanca, Lasker and other “chess luminaries” played, Botvinnik shared first place with Flohr. For this great achievement 24-year-old Botvinnik was awarded the title of Grandmaster.
The following year, in the British city of Nottingham, the world's top players gathered again. They included Alekhine, Capablanca, Lasker, Reshevsky, Fine, Flohr. Again on British soil, Botvinnik shared first place with Capablanca. “Botvinnik's tremendous success” Alexander Alekhine wrote after the tournament, “is not unexpected. In my opinion he has the biggest chance of becoming champion of the world in the next few years.”

Forecast Realized
The forecast of the great Alekhine came true. Then followed a series of international victories for Botvinnik. He has defended his chess crown successfully ever since, and it was only last year that he was dethroned. But less than a year later, he regained his title. Botvinnik has been champion of the USSR seven times!
But do not think that chess is his only love. Without abandoning his favorite pastime, he successfully graduated with an electrical engineer's diploma. He continued scientific work and got his master's degree of doctor of technical sciences. He has written a number of books on chess and electrical engineering.
On board 3 at the chess Olympics in Munich, Toran, Spain beat Bisguier, USA. When Bisguier congratulated him, Toran said “Thank you, sir, for this nice birthday present!” Whereupon, Bisguier with a wry smile answered, “Many happy returns…But it's my birthday, too!”
Toran became 27, Bisguier 29.

Arthur Bisguier vs Roman Toran Albero
Munich Olympiad qual-2 (1958), Munich FRG, rd 8, Oct-08
Spanish Game: Berlin Defense (C65) 0-1

(a) Both have left well-known paths. 4. 0-0 is more usual here.
(b) Leaves his opponent with the two bishops. 10. B-B4 was better.
(c) If 13. B-N2 NxQP; 14. PxN B-KB3 etc. That is why 13. Q-Q3 first would have been better.
(d) The Bishops need open diagonals, and Black gets them too.
(e) Interesting pawn sacrifice.
(f) Slightly better was N-B4.
(g) If 23. Q-B3 Q-Q5.
(h) After 26. NxQ, RxPch.
White will lose heavy material. Well played by “Terero” as Toran is fondly called by his friends.

Chess Quote of the Day
“There is a widespread assumption today that chess is too scientific a game to afford relaxation after the occupations and preoccupations of the day. This amounts to denying oneself an addition to the beauties of life.”—J. S. Tartakower in “A Brevity of Chess.”

'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