January 01, 1959 The Guardian Chess, London, Manchester

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Chess 01 Jan 1959, Thu The Guardian (London, Greater London, England) Newspapers.com

Chess

PROBLEM No. 506
By B. J. de C. Andrade (Woodford)
Black (6)
White (7)
White mates in two moves.
FEN 7n/2R2n2/2b1k1p1/1p5N/1K4P1/2NQ4/7B/8 w - - 0 1
Solution: 1. Ne2 Ne5 2. Nef4#

Fischer's great win
The 15-year-old United States champion, Bobby Fischer, has just brought off another astonishing victory in the current American championship by winning Reshevsky's queen in only twelve moves. Reshevsky is considered by many the world's greatest player outside Russia.

The game went (Fischer, White):
1. P-K4 P-QB4
2. N-KB3 N-QB3
3. P-Q4 PxP
4. NxP P-KN3
5. N-QB B-N2
6. B-K3 N-B3
7. B-QB4 Castles
8. B-N3 N-QR4? (correct is P-Q3)
9. P-K5 N-K1
10. BxPch KxB
11. N-K6 PxN (11. … KxN; 12. Q-Q5ch leads to mate);
12. QxQ. Reshevsky resigned 30 moves later.

Fischer leads the tournament with four out of five. The modern forms of the King's Indian Defence, in which Black combines the fianchetto of his KB with a general pawn advance on the queen's wing, are so popular nowadays that there is a tendency to underestimate White's opportunities for a central break-through if Black carries out his plans inaccurately. The following example was won by the young Hungarian champion, who is now competing at Hastings:

Lajos Portisch (white) vs. N.N. (black)
Benoni Defense: Four Pawns Attack, Main Line

Descriptive 1. P-Q4 N-KB3 2. P-QB4 P-K3 3. N-QB3 P-B4 4. P-Q5 PxP 5. PxP P-Q3 6. P-K4 P-KN3 7. P-B4 B-N2 8. N-B3 O-O 9. B-K2 R-K1 10. N-Q2 N-R3 11. O-O R-N1 12. R-K1 P-B5 13. B-B3 N-B4 14. NxP P-QN4 15. NxQP QxN 16. P-K5 Q-K2 17. P-Q6 Q-K3 18. B-K3 P-N5 19. BxN PxN 20. PxN QxRch 21. QxQ RxQch 22. RxR BxP 23. R-K8ch K-N2 24. P-Q7 B-K2 25. PxB(Q) Resigns

Algebraic 1. d4 Nf6 2. c4 e6 3. Nc3 c5 4. d5 exd5 5. cxd5 d6 6. e4 g6 7. f4 Bg7 8. Nf3 0-0 9. Be2 Re8 10. Nd2 Na6 11. 0-0 Rb8 12. Re1 c4 13. Bf3 Nc5 14. Nxc4 b5 15. Nxd6 Qxd6 16. e5 Qe7 17. d6 Qe6 18. Be3 b4 19. Bxc5 bxc3 20. exf6 Qxe1+ 21. Qxe1 Rxe1+ 22. Rxe1 Bxf6 23. Re8+ Kg7 24. d7 Be7 25. dxc8=Q 1-0

1. The modern form or the Benoni Defence is quite popular at present, since it leads in mutually sharp attacks in which the stronger player usually wins. Here White has set up an aggressive centre formation aiming at an early P-K5, and Black should in turn mobilise his queen's side pawn majority as soon as possible. The best way to do this was 9. … P-QN4; for if 10. NxP NxKP or 10. BxP NxN; 11. NxN Q-R4ch.
2. A well-known manoeuvre: from QB4 the knight controls the important squares Q6 and K5, as well as restraining Black's queen's side attack.
3. In the days of Steinitz and Tarrasch such a move, accenting doubled pawns, would have been condemned; it is a sign of the revolution in chess theory in the last 50 years that to-day it is almost a routine operation. If 11. BxN PxB; the weakness of the doubled pawns is outweighed by Black's enhanced prospects on the QN file and the white squares.
4. An interesting pawn sacrifice which White rightly declines, for if 13. BxP Q-N3ch; 14. K-R1 N-KN5; with a strong attack.
5. The pawn must now be defended by 13. P-QN4; although after 14. P-QR4, White has the initiative.
6. An excellently judged combination which results in a deceive central breakthrough.
7. Or. 16. … Q-N3; 17. B-K3 N(B3)-Q2; 18. P-QN4.
8. Justifiably, Black decides to play, for if l9. … N-Q2; 20. N-K4 wins easily.
9. There is no time for 22. … PxP; 23. R-K8ch R-B1; 24. RxBch KxR; 25. P-Q7 dis. ch., and mate next move.
10. Now, is 24. … PxP; 25. B-B8ch K-N1; 26. B-R6 mate.

Leading Scores 01 Jan 1959, Thu The Guardian (London, Greater London, England) Newspapers.com

The leading scores at the international chess tournament at Hastings are now: Duckstein, 2½; Darga, 2; Portisch and Uhlmann, 1½ and 1 adjourned.

Gereben In Top Form 02 Jan 1959, Fri The Guardian (London, Greater London, England) Newspapers.com

GEREBEN IN TOP FORM
Hastings chess match
From our Chess Correspondent
Hastings, January l.
The veteran former Hungarian master, Gereben, is putting up a fine fight against his younger rivals in the international chess tournament here. When the fourth round is completed he should be sharing the lead with Uhlmann of East Germany.
Gereben to-day played a good positional game against Duckstein, who accepted the Queen's Gambit but obtained a cramped position. Gereben won the exchange and although the game was adjourned Duckstein has little hope of saving it.
The two Germans, Uhlmann and Darga, were both in sparkling form. Uhlmann took only sixteen moves to defeat Wade, who fell into a bad variation of the Queen's Gambit Accepted and lost his queen. Radoicic's handling of the Dutch Defence was too loose and a pretty series of combinations gained a piece and the game for Darga.
Fuster had a good position against Portisch in the middle game, but although the Canadian master had made a New Year resolution to avoid time trouble, he found himself with some twenty moves to make in four minutes. He lost his advantage and the game was adjourned in a king and pawns ending which Portisch should win.
Barden and Clarke had an equal position from the Nimzo-Indian defence, but Barden made an unsound pawn sacrifice. Clarke quickly consolidated, and further exchanges made his advantage decisive. In adjourned games. Gereben drew with Wade, Uhlmann beat Clarke, and Portisch drew with, Barden.
The leading scores are Uhlmann 3½, Darga 3, Duckstein 2½ and 1 adjourned. Portisch 2 and 1 adjourned, Gereben l½ and 2 adjourned.

Portisch and Uhlmann Main Contenders For Chess Prize 05 Jan 1959, Mon The Guardian (London, Greater London, England) Newspapers.com

Portisch and Uhlmann Main Contenders For Chess Prize
From our Chess Correspondent
Hastings, Sunday.
Two further rounds of the international chess tournament here have made it virtually certain that first prize lies between Portisch of Hungary and Uhlmann of East Germany. The results in round five (first-named players having white) were:
Radoicic beat Barden (Sicilian Defence); Wade adjourned against Darga (Reti Opening);Clarke beat Fuster (Sicilian Defence); Portisch beat Gereben (King's Indian Defence); Duckstein lost to Uhlmann (French Defence).
In round six Wade beat Barden (French Defence). Fuster-Radoicic (Queen's Gambit Declined); Portisch-Clarke (King's Indian Defence); Gereben-Uhlmann (Grunfeld Defence) and Darga-Duckstein (Ruy Lopez) were adjourned. In adjourned games Fuster lost to Gereben, Fuster drew with Portisch, and Gereben beat Duckstein.
Uhlmann is rather lucky to be in the lead, for he made a mistake in the opening against Duckstein and permitted the Austrian a powerful bind on the king's side. However, Duckstein went badly wrong in the ending and gave away first the win and then the draw. Against Gereben, however, Uhlmann showed fine strategy, defending accurately in a difficult position and going over to counter-attack at the right moment. The adjourned position is clearly won for Uhlmann.
After an uncertain start to the tournament. Portisch has now run into his best form and his two games were both fine positional efforts. He outplayed Clarke, and although the British player defended well in time pressure Portisch adjourned with the advantage of the exchange for a pawn.
The British players have continued to be disappointing. The best result was Clarke's win against Fuster, in which he took advantage of the Canadian's inexact play in the openings to build up a strong king's side attack. Fuster resigned two pawns down in a hopeless position.
Wade played in excellent positional style against Darga in the first session but afterwards mishandled the end game, although he still has winning chances. Barden has suffered two bad defeats and is right out of form. The leading scores are Uhlmann 4½ and one adjourned; Portisch and Gereben 3½ and one adjourned; Darga 3 and two adjourned.

Uhlmann Still In Lead 06 Jan 1959, Tue The Guardian (London, Greater London, England) Newspapers.com

Geza Fuster (Canada) in contemplation at Hastings

UHLMANN STILL IN LEAD
Hastings chess match
From our Chess Correspondent
Hastings, Monday.
Uhlmann of East Germany continued on his winning way in the seventh round of the international chess tournament here with a brilliant combination against the West German player, Darga. He sacrificed a pawn in the opening, a Nimzo-Indian Defence, and in return had the two bishops and the attack. He broke through in the centre and decided the game with a fine queen sacrifice.
Uhlmann's rival, Portisch, was also in convincing form. He played the Sicilian Defence against Radoicic and gave an excellent demonstration of how two Knights can outplay two bishops when the position is blocked. Radoicic's pawns fell in profusion and he resigned at the adjournment.
Gereben played an interesting sacrifice of a knight for two pawns against Clarke in a King's Indian Defence. The sacrifice was probably not correct but the practical difficulties were too much for Clarke. His pieces were crushed beneath Gereben's wave of centre pawns.
Wade was lucky to draw against Fuster, who had a winning queen and pawns ending but allowed perpetual check. Barden is probably booked for another defeat against Duckstein, who took control of the board in the middle game and gradually increased his space advantage until the adjournment. In adjourned games, Wade beat Darga, Portisch beat Clarke, and Uhlmann beat Gereben.
The leading scores are: Uhlmann 6½, Portisch 5½, Gereben 4½. Wade 3½.

Chess Leaders Pull Ahead 07 Jan 1959, Wed The Guardian (London, Greater London, England) Newspapers.com

CHESS LEADERS PULL AHEAD
Eighth-round games
From our Chess Correspondent
Hastings, Monday.
Both Uhlmann and Portisch again won in the eighth national Chess Tournament here to-day and are now far ahead of all their rivals.
Barden had a reasonable position for some time against Uhlmann's French Defence but he was outplayed in the middle game and Uhlmann finally forced checkmate by a neat queen's sacrifice. Portisch was soon on the attack with his English Opening against Wade, who weakened his king's position. Wade had to give up his queen for rook and knight, and Portisch then quickly made sure of the win.
Gereben attacked in the centre against Darga's King Indian defence, but his pieces were driven back and Darga won a pawn. However, Darga missed a clear win and the adjourned position should be a pawn. However, Darga missed a clear king's side attack against Fuster, who played much too passively.
Clarke obtained the two bishops from his English Opening against Radoicic. Radoicic steadily lost around in the middle game and at the adjournment was two pawns down with a hopeless ending. In adjourned games Darga beat Duckstein and Duckstein beat Barden.
Leading scores are: Uhlmann 7½, Portisch 6½, Gereben 4½ and 1 adjourned, Duckstein 4½, and Darga 4 and 1 adjourned.

December 24, 1958 The Guardian Chess, London, Manchester

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Chess 24 Dec 1958, Wed The Guardian (London, Greater London, England) Newspapers.com

Chess

CHESS PROBLEM No. 505
By F. L. Baxter (Cheadle)
FEN 2N5/1np5/2q1nBPr/1P1k3p/N3R3/2pP3B/5P1b/4K3 w - - 0 1
Black (9)
White (10)
White mates in two moves.

British Players Bad Day 31 Dec 1958, Wed The Guardian (London, Greater London, England) Newspapers.com

BRITISH PLAYERS' BAD DAY
Chess at Hastings
From our Chess Correspondent

Hastings, Tuesday.
The British players had to struggle hard in the second round of the international chess tournament here to-day, and all three adjourned in inferior positions.
Clarke put up a stubborn fight with his Nimzo-Indian Defence against Uhlmann, but the East German master outplayed him in the middle game, and at the adjournment was a pawn up. However, the presence of bishops of opposite colours makes the win very difficult. Gereben did not make much of the openings against Wade's Sicilian Defence, but in trying for a king's side attack Wade lost ground. At the adjournment Gereben had much the better of an ending of queen knight and pawns, against queen, bishop and pawns.
Fuster's Slav Defence against Barden led to a complicated middle game. The Canadian became terribly short of time, with twenty moves to make in four minutes. He blundered away two pawns and Barden should have won, but he in turn became very short of time and lost both pawns. At the adjournment Fuster had the advantage in a knight and pawns ending.
The best game of the round, was Portisch's win with Black against Darga, which makes the young Hungarian favourite for first prize. Darga went pawn hunting with his queen on the queen's side and Portisch took impeccable advantage of this to build up a checkmating attack. Radoicic sacrificed a pawn against Duckstein's Ponziani Opening, but did not obtain adequate compensation and came into a lost ending. In adjourned games Portisch drew with Uhlmann and Radoicic drew with Wade.

January 03, 1960 Chess Chats by George Koltanowski, Press-Democrat, Santa Rosa, California

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Chess Chats 03 Jan 1960, Sun The Press Democrat (Santa Rosa, California) Newspapers.com

Chess Chats by George Koltanowski
International Chess Master

Problem No. 213
White to play and mate in two moves.
FEN 7n/KB6/3R4/6k1/5RP1/1p4P1/b7/q1B5 w - - 0 1
Solution: 1. Bf3 Qg7+ 2. Rf7#

TO BE OR NOT TO BE . . .
To have achieved what looks like a well-deserved brilliancy prize and then to have it snatched away by the jury's discovery that the victim could have saved himself after all that must be a galling experience. It happened to Dr. Vidmar after his win over Yates at London, 1922.

Milan Vidmar vs Fred Dewhirst Yates
London (1922), London ENG, rd 6, Aug-07
Queen's Gambit Declined: Orthodox Defense. Pillsbury Variation (D63) 1-0

(a) If he took the pawn he would be annihilated by 26. RxRP KxR; 27. Q-R3ch K-N1; 28. R-R4 K-B1; 29. R-R8ch Q-N1; 30. NxB etc.
(b) 30. … QxNP! would have saved the day. If 31. R4xPch K-N1; 32. R-R8ch K-B2; 33. RxPch QxR; 34. R-R7 QxR; 35. QxRch, K-B3 etc.!
(c) Must guard against R6-Pch.

Played in the eight-game blindfold exhibition at Los Altos.

George Koltanowski (white) vs. Ted Dana (black)

Unresolved Chess Game: Can you solve it?

Descriptive 1. P-Q4 N-KB3 2. N-KB3 P-K3 3. P-K3 P-B4 4. P-B4 P-Q4 5. N-B3 BPxP 6. PxPQ4 N-B3 7. P-B5 B-K2 8. B-Q3 O-O 9. O-O P-QN3 10. B-QN5 B-N2 11. BxN BxB 12. P-QN4 PxP 13. NPxP R-N1 14. N-K5 Q-B1 15. R-N1 N-Q2 16. P-B4 RxR 17. NxR NxN 18. BPxN Q-N2 19. B-K3 R-N1 20. N-B3 B-Q1 21. Q-N4 Q-K2 22. B-R6 Q-B1 23. R-B3 P-B4 24. PxPe.p. BxP 25. BxNP QxB 26. QxPch K-R1 27. QxKB R-QB1 28. K-B2 Resigns

Algebraic 1. d4 Nf6 2. Nf3 e6 3. e3 c5 4. c4 d5 5. Nc3 cxd4 6. cxd5 Nc6

(a) We are now in a well-known line of the Caro-Kann Defense.
(b) Wants to hold on to a passed pawn on QB5.
(c) Immediately 20. … Q-N7 is much stronger.
(d) Beginning to lose ground.
(e) 22. … P-N3 was needed. Now he loses fast.
(f) The threat was R-N3.
(g) Fine finish.
(h) Black's game is hopeless.

December 27, 1959 Chess Chats by George Koltanowski, Press-Democrat, Santa Rosa, California

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Chess Chats 27 Dec 1959, Sun The Press Democrat (Santa Rosa, California) Newspapers.com

Chess Chats by George Koltanowski
International Chess Master

Problem No. 212
White to play and mate in two moves.
FEN nq3b2/R1n1pPPK/p1B1k2N/2P5/5Pr1/1p4NQ/2pp4/B2b1r2 w - - 0 1
Solution: 1. Nh5 c1=Q 2. Qe3#

Richard Reti vs Akiba Rubinstein
Karlsbad (1923), Karlsbad CSR, rd 5, May-04
Zukertort Opening: Queen Pawn Defense (A06) 1-0

11. Having bided his time it will now be for white to establish his domination of the center!
27. The very move Reti wished to provoke, as now the Knight's position is unassailable and all the big guns can be trained on the weak Black QNP.
40. Black may not exchange rooks as White would then Queen first.

And here's a not so well known but altogether charming game which Reti won against Duras in the Abbazia Gambit tournament of 1912.

Richard Reti vs Oldrich Duras
Abbazia (1912), Abbazia (Opatija) AUH, rd 12, Jan-30
King's Gambit: Accepted. Abbazia Defense (C36) 1-0

17. (best)
19. Everything else such as . . . PxB; 20. Q-R5ch is equally hopeless.

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

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

Chess Chats by George Koltanowski
International Chess Master

Problem No. 211
White to play and mate in two moves.
FEN 8/2Np4/6N1/1p1rpkBK/1q5p/5P1P/7Q/8 w - - 0 1
Solution: 1. Qa2 Rd4 2. Qf7#

One of the Texans who attended the Mississippi-Louisiana Open in Natchez, Miss., early this spring, relates the following story:
At the end of the second round the tournament director was making arrangements to have a number of games adjudicated. Upon arriving at the table where a fine southern gentleman, John R. Poole, was playing, he informed John and his opponent that each should select someone to act as judge in their behalf at the adjudication.

Where To Go
The southern gentleman immediately posed this question to the director: “Who shall Ah select?”
“Look around and find one of your friends,” the director replied.
John very slowly looked over the room full of chess players, turned to the director and remarked: “Ah can't — everywhere Ah looks is enemies!”

One of a number of rapid transit blindfold games at 10 seconds a play recently at Kansas City, Mo.

George Koltanowski (white) vs. NN (black)
French Defense: Exchange Variation

Descriptive 1. P-K4 P-K3 2. P-Q4 P-Q4 3. PxP PxP 4. B-Q3 N-KB3 5. N-K2 B-Q3 6. B-KB4 O-O 7. O-O B-K3 8. N-Q2 BxB 9. NxB QN-Q2 10. NxB PxN 11. P-KB4 P-B3 12. P-B3 Q-K2 13. Q-K2 P-QR3 14. QR-K1 KR-K1 15. N-B3 N-N5 16. P-KR3 N(5)-B3 17. N-K5 NxN 18. BPxN N-Q2 19. Q-N4 RxRch 20. RxR P-KN3 21. BxNP PxB 22. QxNPch K-R1 23. R-B7 Resigns

Algebraic 1. e4 e6 2. d4 d5 3. exd5 exd5 4. Bd3 Nf6 5. Ne2 Bd6 6. Bf4 0-0 7. 0-0 Be6 8. Nd2 Bxf4 9. Nxf4 Nbd7 10. Nxe6 fxe6 11. f4 c6 12. c3 Qe7 13. Qe2 a6 14. Re1 Re8 15. Nf3 Ng4 16. h3 Nf6 17. Ne5 Nxe5 18. fxe5 Nd7 19. Qg4 Rxf1+ 20. Rxf1 g6 21. Bxg6 hxg6 22. Qxg6+ Kh8 23. Rf7 1-0

(a) Better Is 7. … B-KN5.
(b) This holds the King's pawn and now it's a matter of getting the pieces placed right to take advantage of Black's backward pawn!
(c) With 16. BxPch KxB; 17. N-N5ch K-Nl; 18. QxN, White win easy.
(d) Better is 20. … R-KB1 or 20. … N-B1.
(e) If 21. … Q-N2; 22. BxRPch KxB; 23. Q-R5ch K-N1; 24. QxRch, etc.

Played in the Southern Chess Tournament at Atlanta, 1944.

M. Southward (white) vs. William Nicoll Woodbury (black)
English Opening: King's English Variation, Two Knights Variation

Descriptive 1. P-QB4 P-K4 2. N-QB3 N-KB3 3. P-K3 P-Q4 4. N-KB3 P-K5 5. N-Q4 P-QB4 6. N-B2 P-Q5 7. N-N1 B-KN5 8. P-B3 PxKBP 9. PxKBP N-K5 10. P-KR4 B-Q3 11. PxP B-N6ch Resigns

Algebraic 1. c4 e5 2. Nc3 Nf6 3. e3 d5 4. Nf3 e4 5. Nd4 c5 6. Nc2 d4 7. Nb1 Bg4 8. f3 exf3 9. gxf3 Ne4 10. h4 Bd6 11. exd4 Bg3+ 0-1

(a) Better is P-Q4.
(b) Oh, mama!

December 13, 1959 Chess Chats by George Koltanowski, Press-Democrat, Santa Rosa, California

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Chess Chats 13 Dec 1959, Sun The Press Democrat (Santa Rosa, California) Newspapers.com

Chess Chats by George Koltanowski
International Chess Master

Problem No. 210
White to play and mate in two moves.
FEN n3Bn2/4pNK1/1b2k3/1N5R/p2p1P2/3B4/2r1rP2/Q7 w - - 0 1
Solution: 1. Qa2+ Rxa2 2. Bc4#

A. Eriksson (white) vs. A. Olsson (black)
Ruy Lopez: Morphy Defense, Wormald Attack

Descriptive 1. P-K4 P-K4 2. N-KB3 N-QB3 3. B-N5 P-QR3 4. B-R4 N-B3 5. Q-K2 P-QN4 6. B-N3 B-B4 7. P-QR4 R-QN1 8. PxP PxP 9. N-B3 O-O 10. NxNP P-Q4 11. N-B3 B-KN5 12. NxQP RxB 13. PxR NxN 14. PxN P-K5 15. Q-B4 PxN 16. O-O PxNP 17. KxP B-B6ch 18. K-R3 Q-Q2ch 19. K-N3 B-Q3ch 20. K-R4 N-K4 Resigns

Algebraic 1. e4 e5 2. Nf3 Nc6 3. Bb5 a6 4. Ba4 Nf6 5. Qe2 b5 6. Bb3 Bc5 7. a4 Rb8 8. axb5 axb5 9. Nc3 0-0 10. Nxb5 d5 11. Nc3 Bg4 12. Nxd5 Rxb3 13. cxb3 Nxd5 14. exd5 e4 15. Qc4 exf3 16. 0-0 fxg2 17. Kxg2 Bf3+ 18. Kh3 Qd7+ 19. Kg3 Bd6+ 20. Kh4 Ne5 0-1

(a) Goes for a small pawn, which means loss of time and gives his opponent a chance to free his game completely.
(b) And there you have it. White has problems to meet.
(c) 12. BxP N-Q5; 13. Q-Q1 BxN; 14. PxB N-R4; 15. P-Q3 Q-B3 with a win for Black.
(d) Fine and surprising continuation.
(e) 17. R-K1 BxPch; 18. KxB Q-R5ch; 19. KxP B-R6ch, followed by QxR. Now White who is under the impression that he is going to get his back with great ease, gets a shock, which costs him the game!
(f) If 18. KxB N-K4ch and Queen is lost.
(g) There's not much White can do against N-N3ch, which leads to mate.

Played in the Armenian championship a few years ago.

Golden (white) vs. Ambarijan (black)
Sicilian Defense: Najdorf Variation

Descriptive 1. P-K4 P-QB4 2. N-KB3 P-Q3 3. P-Q4 PxP 4. NxP N-KB3 5. N-QB3 P-QR3 6. B-KN5 QN-Q2 7. B-QB4 Q-B2 8. B-N3 P-N4 9. O-O B-N2 10. R-K1 N-N3 11. BxN KPxB 12. P-QR4 P-N5 13. P-R5 PxN 14. PxN Q-B4 15. B-R4ch K-Q1 16. Q-N4 Q-B1 17. Q-R5 P-N3 18. Q-Q5 BxQ 19. PxB Resigns

Algebraic 1. e4 c5 2. Nf3 d6 3. d4 cxd4 4. Nxd4 Nf6 5. Nc3 a6 6. Bg5 Nd7 7. Bc4 Qc7 8. Bb3 b5 9. 0-0 Bb7 10. Re1 Nb6 11. Bxf6 exf6 12. a4 b4 13. a5 bxc3 14. axb6 Qc5 15. Ba4+ Kd8 16. Qg4 Qc8 17. Qh5 g6 18. Qd5 Bxd5 19. exd5 1-0

(a) The wrong plan. Black should play P-KN3 and B-KN2.
(b) White had the strong threat of N-Q5 for if Black takes the knight there the king's file is opened to Black's disadvantage. N-N3 stops N-Q5, but leaves weaknesses elsewhere.
(c) If 14. … QxP then 15. B-R4ch followed by PxP.
(d) Threatening mate on the move. (e) A brilliant sacrifice.
(f) If 18. … K-K2 (to stop QxBP) then 19. N-B6ch wins.
(g) 19. … B-K2; 20. N-B6ch K-K1; 21. RxBch K-B1; 22. P-N7 etc.

CHESS QUOTE OF THE DAY
“The pleasure from a chess combination lies in the feeling that a human mind is behind the game, dominating the inanimate pieces with which the game is carried on.”

December 06, 1959 Chess Chats by George Koltanowski, Press-Democrat, Santa Rosa, California

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Chess Chats 06 Dec 1959, Sun The Press Democrat (Santa Rosa, California) Newspapers.com

Chess Chats by George Koltanowski
International Chess Master

Problem No. 209
White to play and mate in two moves.
FEN 4B3/1p2pK2/7Q/kNp5/6Rr/1RP5/b7/2N3b1 w - - 0 1
Solution: 1. Nc7 Rxh6 2. Ra4#

Speaking of Luck …
Played in simultaneous exhibition at the Marines Chess Club, San Francisco.

George Koltanowski (white) vs. Leif Magnusson (black)
Italian Game: Scotch Gambit, Canal Variation

Descriptive 1. P-K4 P-K4 2. N-KB3 N-QB3 3. B-B4 N-B3 4. O-O NxP 5. P-Q4 PxP 6. R-K1 P-Q4 7. N-B3 B-K3 8. BxP NxN 9. BxNch PxB 10. PxN P-QB4 11. PxP P-QB3 12. B-R3 Q-Q4 13. P-B4 QxP 14. PxP R-Q1 15. Q-N3 B-K2 16. Q-N7 Q-QR5 17. B-N2 BxP 18. BxP R-KN1 19. B-B6 RxPch 20. K-R1 Q-QN5 21. QxQ BxQ 22. KxR B-K2 23. BxB KxB 24. QR-Q1 Resigns

Algebraic 1. e4 e5 2. Nf3 Nc6 3. Bc4 Nf6 4. 0-0 Nxe4 5. d4 exd4 6. Re1 d5 7. Nc3 Be6 8. Bxd5 Nxc3 9. Bxc6+ bxc6 10. bxc3 c5 11. cxd4 c6 12. Ba3 Qd5 13. c4 Qxc4 14. dxc5 Rd8 15. Qb3 Be7 16. Qb7 Qa4 17. Bb2 Bxc5 18. Bxg7 Rg8 19. Bf6 Rxg2+ 20. Kh1 Qb4 21. Qxb4 Bxb4 22. Kxg2 Be7 23. Bxe7 Kxe7 24. Rd1 1-0

(a) More usual is 7. BxP QxB; 8. N-B3.
(b) As good as any move.
(c) Better was simple 10. … PxP.
(d) White gets rough, overlooking a fine point.
(e) With 14. … BxP; 15. R-QB1, BxPch; 16. KxB QxPch; 17. R-B2 QxB; White would have troubles.
(f) Q-N2 was needed. White is now in for a rude awakening!
(g) Well played! It should win the game.
(h) White cannot take the rook as after 20. KxR Q-N5ch; 21. K-B1 (Forced) QxN; wins easy.
(i) But this loses. With 20. … RxBP; 21. BxR RxN; 22. Q-N8 R-B8ch; 23. K-N2 (RxR? Q-K5ch leads to mate) Q-B7ch, and White gets mated. How lucky can you get?

David A. Keresey (white) vs. George Koltanowski (black)
Indian Defense: Pawn Push Variation

Descriptive 1. P-Q4 N-KB3 2. P-Q5 P-KN3 3. P-KN3 B-KN2 4. B-N2 O-O 5. P-K4 P-Q3 6. P-KR3 P-K3 7. P-QB4 PxP 8. BPxP NxKP 9. N-KB3 N-Q2 10. O-O N(2)-B4 11. N-Q4 P-QR4 12. N-QB3 R-K1 13. R-K1 NxN 14. RxRch QxR 15. PxN P-N3 16. B-K3 B-QR3 17. P-QR4 B-B5 18. B-KB1 BxP 19. P-QB4 B-N2 20. R-R3 Q-K2 21. B-N2 BxB 22. KxB R-K1 23. N-N5 P-B3 24. N-Q4 P-Q4 25. N-B3 PxP 26. B-N5 Q-Q2 27. QxQ NxQ 28. B-Q2 B-N7 29. R-R2 P-B6 Resigns

Algebraic 1. d4 Nf6 2. d5 g6 3. g3 Bg7 4. Bg2 0-0 5. e4 d6 6. h3 e6 7. c4 exd5 8. cxd5 Nxe4 9. Nf3 Nd7 10. 0-0 Nc5 11. Nd4 a5 12. Nc3 Re8 13. Re1 Nxc3 14. Rxe8+ Qxe8 15. bxc3 b6 16. Be3 Ba6 17. a4 Bc4 18. Bf1 Bxd5 19. c4 Bb7 20. Ra3 Qe7 21. Bg2 Bxg2 22. Kxg2 Re8 23. Nb5 c6 24. Nd4 d5 25. Nf3 dxc4 26. Bg5 Qd7 27. Qxd7 Nxd7 28. Bd2 Bb2 29. Ra2 c3 0-1

(a) Nothing wrong with this move, if white knows what he is after.
(b) Better is 7. PxP PxP; (if 7. BxP; 8. P-K5 etc.) 8. P-KB4 with a good game.
(c) Does not see Black's next move or he would have played KPxP.
(d) This loses a pawn for no reason at all. Needed was 9. BxN R-K1; 12. P-B3 P-KB4; 13. N-B3 BxN; (forced) 14. PxB PxB; 15. P-KB4, with some drawing chances.
(e) If 24. NxP R-Q1; 25. B-B4. (BxN PxB; R-Q3 B-Q5, etc.) 25. B-K4; 26. BxB QxB; 27. NxBP Q-K5ch; 28. P-B3 RxQ; 29. ?xi KxN; and wins.
(f) If 25. NxP Q-K5ch; 26. P-B3 Q-QBP, etc.
(g) The QBP for Black will march through with ease and then the threat of N-B4-Q6-N5 is just too much to stomach.

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

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

Chess Chats by George Koltanowski
International Chess Master

Problem No. 208
White to play and mate in two moves.
FEN 7k/1n6/7K/2p3Q1/1pr2p2/1qb5/8/1b6 w - - 0 1
Solution: Q-K7; 1. Qe7 Re4 2. Qh7#

CAN YOU SAVE BLACK?
White makes what looks like a good combination and finishes the camp in brilliant style. Yet one has the feeling that after gaining the piece sacrificed by White, Black does not find the right continuation.
Can you find the right line of play for Black starting with his 18th move? Let's see:

(a) So that he can play P-KB4 here without fearing Q-N3. Best here is 9. N-N3 or 9. Q-Q2.
(b) Misses a good equalizer; 9. …P-Q4; 10. PxP NxP; ll. NxNQ5 NxN-Q5!
(c) The move is considered strong here, but that is because the 18th move is not the best for Black!
(d) If correct this would be very brilliant…
(e) Correct was 18. … K-R1; 19. Q-R6 R-KN1; 20. R-B4 Q-KB1 or even 20. … P-KN4, etc. Did you find this?
(f) If 23. … QxR; 24. QxP mate or 23. … NxR; 24. Q-N7.

Alekhine and the Caro-Kann
From the Madrid tournament 1940, we bring you two games that show how Alekhine made short work against the Caro-Kann Defense.

Alexander Alekhine (white) vs. Vovara (black)
Caro-Kann Defense: Two Knights Attack

Alexander Alekhine vs Isidro Naharro
Madrid (1941), Club Real Madrid, Madrid ESP, rd 1, Dec-01
Caro-Kann Defense: Two Knights Attack (B10) 1-0

Descriptive 1. P-K4 P-QB3 2. N-QB3 P-Q4 3. N-B3 PxP 4. NxP B-B4 5. N-N3 B-N3 6. P-KR4 P-KR3 7. N-K5 N-Q2 8. NxB PxN 9. P-Q4 P-K4 10. Q-N4 Q-B3 11. B-K3 N-K2 12. N-K4 Resigns

Algebraic 1. e4 c6 2. Nc3 d5 3. Nf3 dxe4 4. Nxe4 Bf5 5. Ng3 Bg6 6. h4 h6 7. Ne5 Nd7 8. Nxg6 fxg6 9. d4 e5 10. Qg4 Qf6 11. Be3 Ne7 12. Ne4 1-0

(a) Black loses his Queen.

Alexander Alekhine vs Ronald MacKay Bruce
Plymouth (1938), Plymouth ENG, rd 3, Sep-06
Caro-Kann Defense: Two Knights Attack (B10) 1-0

(a) If 9. PxQ; 10. BxP mates.
(b) After 11. KxN; 12. QxPch K-N2; 13. Q-B7 mate.

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

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

Chess Chats by George Koltanowski
International Chess Master

Problem 207
White to play and mate in two moves.
FEN 8/4N3/3np2R/4k2b/3np1p1/4N1P1/8/3K4 w - - 0 1
Solution: 1. Rg6 Bxg6 2. Nxg4#

WHO INVENTED CHESS?
An encyclopedia would be needed to trace all the reference to chess in the world's literature, since the chessboard has been a stage-property storytellers for the last 1000 years.
Only recently, I was reading a murder mystery whose solution depended on whether the murderer had time to do the moves of a public game of chess. But on the whole, I prefer the lighter-hearted love matches of the Thousand and One Nights, Prince Sharkan Abriza or Anis Mawasif, which in Powys Mather's rare and beautiful translation:
“The game began; but Anis paid more attention to the beauty of his opponents' hands than to the pieces. ‘How can I play against such fingers?’ he cried; but she answered: ‘Check to your King, your king, Anis! You will lose!”
Then, seeing that he still paid little attention, she added: “Let us have a bet of 100 dinars; that will make you play more seriously.’
‘All right.’ he said, and he rearranged the pieces.

Lifts Silk Veil
“Zayn Al-Mawasif chose that to lift the silk veil which covered her hair, and thereafter Anis did not know what he was doing. He moved all the wrong pieces, and in the end lost five games with 100 dinars upon each…
“Then said the girl: ‘Let us play all your money against all mine.’ Anis accepted and lost. Finally, he played away his shops, gardens and slaves, until remained to him at all.’

Chess' Birthplace
In the jasmin—scented garden of Zayn Al-Mawasif, we are not far away from the birthplace of chess. More than 13 centuries ago, a game with pieces corresponding man for man with the modern pieces was played on a board of 64 squares in Persia and Northwest India. Some people have wished to carry the pedigree of the game still further back.
Certainly games played pieces on a board are as old as history. What was the Homeric game which Athene suitors playing, seated on rugs outside Odysseus' palace? An English scholar of the Middle Ages declared that Odysseus invented chess.
The Mohammedan conquerors found the game in Persia and carried it, with their advancing armies, across the African continent into Spain. But chess conquered many more countries than the Arabian Caliphs. It over Christian Europe faster than an epidemic. It was Europe which, towards the end of the 15 Century, gave the game its rules of play.
From Europe, the game fanned out over the five continents: Colonists planted it in the Amerisae; the Russians took it across Asia; the British re-exported to India, where it had arisen. Modern chess is a composite achievement of practically every country in the world.

E. Shafer (white) Menlo Park vs. George Koltanowski (black)
King's Gambit Declined: Falkbeer Countergambit, Milner-Barry Variation

Descriptive 1. P-K4 P-K4 2. P-KB4 P-Q4 3. N-QB3 KPxP 4. PxP Q-R5ch 5. P-N3 PxP 6. Q-K2ch B-K2 7. K-Q1 N-KB3 8. N-B3 Q-R4 9. B-N2 NxP 10. PxP NxNch 11. QPxN Q-QB4 12. B-K3 Q-Q3ch 13. N-Q4 N-B3 14. Q-N5 O-O 15. Q-Q3 P-KR3 16. NxN PxN 17. QxQ BxQ 18. BxP R-N1 19. K-B1 B-N2 20. BxB RxB 21. P-R3 R-K1 22. B-Q4 P-QB4 23. B-B2 R-K7 24. R-B1 P-B5 25. B-K1 R-N7 Resigns

Algebraic 1. e4 e5 2. f4 d5 3. Nc3 exf4 4. exd5 Qh4+ 5. g3 fxg3 6. Qe2+ Be7 7. Kd1 Nf6 8. Nf3 Qh5 9. Bg2 Nxd5 10. hxg3 Nxc3+ 11. dxc3 Qc5 12. Be3 Qd6+ 13. Nd4 Nc6 14. Qb5 0-0 15. Qd3 h6 16. Nxc6 bxc6 17. Qxd6 Bxd6 18. Bxc6 Rb8 19. Kc1 Bb7 20. Bxb7 Rxb7 21. a3 Re8 22. Bd4 c5 23. Bf2 Re2 24. Rf1 c4 25. Be1 Rg2 0-1

November 15, 1959 Chess Chats by George Koltanowski, Press-Democrat, Santa Rosa, California

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Chess Chats 15 Nov 1959, Sun The Press Democrat (Santa Rosa, California) Newspapers.com

Chess Chats by George Koltanowski
International Chess Master

Problem No. 206
White to play and mate in two moves.
FEN 8/KN1n4/pQ3b2/8/rr3RNp/3k1p2/2R2B2/3B1n1b w - - 0 1
Solution: 1. Bc5 Rxb6 2. Nf2#

Napoleon
The mechanical chess player, The Turk, has had many interesting tales told of it. The following is one of these.
When Napoleon entered Berlin in 1806, somebody thought of the neglected Turk and Mr. Maelzel, a clever mechanic, was ordered to inspect and repair the dusty old enigma. From cobwebbed dreams of King Fritz and the brave Empress, the veteran chess player awakened to encounter a greater man, fresh from the field of recent victories.
On this remarkable meeting we may dwell for a moment, since its history has been faithfully preserved by an eye-witness and has never before met the public view.

“Face to Face”
The emperor, on this occasion, signified his wish to do battle with the Turk and accordingly Maelzel arranged a second table, near that of the Turk, proposing to repeat the moves on both tables. This was Maelzel's usual mode of exhibition. Napoleon, characteristically over stepping the barrier which separated the Turk from the audience, struck his hand on the automaton's chess board and exclaimed “I will not contend at a distance! We fight face to face.” A grave nod indicated the Turk's assent and the game began.
The emperor was disastrously vanquished. Shortly afterward a second exhibition was ordered. On this memorable occasion the emperor placed a large magnet on the automaton's board. Maelzel smilingly moved the iron, so as not to embarrass the game. The Turk played on with his usual skill; the fatal echec (check) was heard again and again, and a second time Napoleon was defeated.
The pieces were no sooner arranged than the emperor quietly removed a shawl from the shoulders of a lady near by and with great care enveloped the face, the neck and the body of the Turk, completing his arrangements with an exclamation of satisfaction. With a muffled nod the Moslem agreed to the new conditions and this third time also victory declared itself for the Turk.
For a moment the emperor regarded his antagonist, then, with a gesture of scorn, he swept the chess-men from the board and, crying: “Bagatelle!”, strode over knight and pawn and so out of the room.

Two Shortcuts
Played in the Belgium Championship, 1959.

Alberic O'Kelly de Galway (white) vs. Franck (black)
Elephant Gambit: Paulsen Countergambit

Descriptive 1. P-K4 P-K4 2. N-KB3 P-Q4 3. PxP P-K5 4. Q-K2 Q-K2 5. N-Q4 P-KB4 6. N-QB3 P-KN3 7. Q-N5ch K-B2 8. B-B4 K-N2 9. N-K6ch K-B3 10. P-Q6 QxP 11. NxPch PxN 12. Q-N5ch K-B2 13. NxBPch K-N2 14. N-K8 mate

Algebraic 1. e4 e5 2. Nf3 d5 3. exd5 e4 4. Qe2 Qe7 5. Nd4 f5 6. Nc3 g6 7. Qb5+ Kf7 8. Bc4 Kg7 9. Ne6+ Kf6 10. d6 Qxd6 11. Nxe4+ fxe4 12. Qg5+ Kf7 13. Nxc7+ Kg7 14. Ne8#

Bernhard Horwitz vs Ludwig Bledow
Berlin (1837), Berlin GER
Italian Game: Classical. Center Holding Variation (C53) 0-1

November 08, 1959 Chess Chats by George Koltanowski, Press-Democrat, Santa Rosa, California

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Chess Chats 08 Nov 1959, Sun The Press Democrat (Santa Rosa, California) Newspapers.com

Chess Chats by George Koltanowski
International Chess Master

Problem No. 205
White to play and mate in two moves.
FEN 6n1/4ppRp/K1Bb4/2pP2P1/1p1p1P2/1P1Q3N/R1PP2kp/7b w - - 0 1
Solution: 1. c4 dxc3 2. dxc3#

Here is an “oldie” from Washington, D.C. 1901.

Albert Whiting Fox vs H E Bauer
Antwerp (1900), Antwerp BEL, Dec-11
Spanish Game: Berlin Defense. Rio Gambit Accepted (C67) 1-0

Even the high school players can reach glorious heights on occasion. Here a high school youth upsets the defending high school champion, Jerry Belzer, now a Los Angeles physician, the high school championship from 1949. A remarkable conception.

OMAHA, 19-9.
Played in Omaha, 1932.

Jerry Belzer (white) vs. R. Chizum (black)

Unresolved Chess Game: Can you solve it?

Descriptive 1. P-K4 P-K3 2. P-Q4 P-Q4 3. N-QB3 N-KB3 4. P-B4 KN-Q2 5. B-Q3 P-QB4 6. B-QN5 PxP 7. QxP N-QB3 8. BxN PxB 9. N-B3 P-QB4 10. Q-N5 Q-B2 11. B-B4 B-R3 12. P-QR3 Q-R4 13. O-O-O N-N3 14. N-KN5 N-B5 15. NxKP! NxNP 16. NxQP QxRP 17. N-QBch K-K2 18. B-N5ch P-B3 19. PxPch PxP 20. BxPch! KxB 21. Q-N5ch K-B2 22. R-Q7ch Resigns

Algebraic 1. e4 e6 2. d4 d5 3. Nc3 Nf6 4. f4 Nd7 5. Bd3 c5 6. Bb5 cxd4 7. Qxd4 Nc6 8. Bxc6 bxc6 9. Nf3 c5

Played in Omaha, 1932.

Howard Ohman vs G Buck
Omaha Nebraska (1931), Omaha, NE USA
King's Gambit: Accepted. Fischer Defense (C34) 1-0

Delmar Saxton, C.C.L.A. Grand National Champion of 1938 plays a mean over-the-board game. Many times Omaha city champion and twice Nebraska state champion, he gives another long-time ruler a rough time in this brevity.

Delmar Saxton vs Howard Ohman
Omaha Chess Team Playoff (1947), Omaha, NE
Indian Game: East Indian Defense (E00) 1-0

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

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

Chess Chats by George Koltanowski
International Chess Master

Problem No. 204.
White to play and mate in two moves.
FEN 1B1N4/2rp1R1b/3k1nn1/R5p1/2p1p2q/2K1N1r1/3P3Q/8 w - - 0 1
Solution: 1. d4 cxd3+ 2. Nc4#

David Sheffer, a government attorney for the Revenue Bureau, is usually found in the chess clubs in various parts of the country. At present he is in Cambridge, Mass. While in Omaha for three years he produced a number of brilliancies; however, in the present game he came out on the short end of an amazing conclusion, perpetrated by David Ackerman from the 1949 Omaha City Championship:

David Sheffer (white) vs. David Ackerman (black)
Italian Game: Two Knights Defense

Descriptive 1. P-K4 P-K4 2. N-KB3 N-QB3 3. B-B4 N-B3 4. O-O B-B4 5. P-Q3 P-Q3 6. B-KN5 P-KR3 7. B-R4 P-KN4 8. B-N3 B-KN5 9. KN-Q2 Q-Q2 10. P-B3 O-O-O 11. P-N4 B-N3 12. P-QR4 P-QR4 13. Q-N3 QR-B1 14. B-N5 N-R4 15. PxP BxRP 16. N-B4 BxN! 17. NxB N-B5! 18. BxN Q-R6 19. QxPch K-Q1 20. Q-N8ch K-K2 21. QxPch K-B3 22. QxQPch K-N2 23. QxKPch K-N1 Resigns

Algebraic 1. e4 e5 2. Nf3 Nc6 3. Bc4 Nf6 4. 0-0 Bc5 5. d3 d6 6. Bg5 h6 7. Bh4 g5 8. Bg3 Bg4 9. Nd2 Qd7 10. c3 0-0-0 11. b4 Bb6 12. a4 a5 13. Qb3 Rf8 14. Bb5 Nh5 15. bxa5 Bxa5 16. Nc4 Bxf3! 17. Nxa5 Nf4! 18. Bxc6 Qh3 19. Qxb7+ Kd8 20. Qb8+ Ke7 21. Qxc7+ Kf6 22. Qxd6+ Kg7 23. Qxe5+ Kg8 0-1

17. NxB (seemingly strong as 17. B-N5; 18. BxN PxB; 19. Q-N7ch K-Q1; 20. NxPch wins but Black is not finished yet!) N-B5! 18. BxNB6, Q-R6 (Of course PxQ PxB or BxN all lead to mate. The only reply is a series of checks which drive the Black King to safety on the other wing.)

The Warpath
An absence of ten years from tournament chess seemed to have little or no effect on Olly's game at Rochester in the U. S. Open. He drew a couple of games that he should have won, especially against Donald Byrne. Here is an old typical game played against young Rogan of Chicago.

Olaf Ulvestad vs Marvin Rogan
59th US Open (1958), Rochester, MN USA, rd 6, Aug-09
Budapest Defense: Alekhine Variation (A52) 1-0

(a) Typical Ulvestad, something new in the opening!
(b) No, time like the present. Let's attack.
(c) Well-played.
(d) If 16. RxP; 17. Q-QB3, and Black is lost.

A Prayer
Each night before a tournament,
These words that someone said
Keep on coming back to me
And running through my head:
God teach me how to play this game
So when it comes to end
If by chance I lose again
At least I win a friend.
by Nigel Dodge, Willits

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

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

Chess Chats by George Koltanowski
International Chess Master

Problem No. 203
White to play and mate in two moves.
FEN 3RR2q/2Q2b2/8/8/N1p1p2p/8/1P1P1bN1/1KBk1B2 w - - 0 1
Solution: 1. d4 Bxe8 2. Nc3#

From the letter written by Adolf Anderssen to H. Von des Lasa, one of the leading German authorities, after his return from his match with Morphy in Paris:
“I am not angry that I lost this match because this man plays like one out of this world.
“I not only believe that deeper combinations and brighter sparks of genius are at Morphy's disposition than were at LeBourdonnais', but that in infallible calculation and soundness he even surpasses the latter. He who plays with Morphy must not only renounce every hope of concealing even the subtlest traps, but he must also start with the idea that Morphy will clearly see through all and that there can be no question of a misstep.
“On the contrary, if you see Morphy make a move that at first glance seems to yield you some advantage, examine it carefully because you will find that it is correct and that trying to take advantage of it will lead to disaster. But most fatal, when opposed to him, is over-confidence on account of a better position and strong attacking game.
“I cannot describe better the impression that Morphy made on me than by saying that he treats chess with the earnestness and conscientiousness of an artist.”
One of these days we will have to write a study on the Paul Morphy of the Twentieth Century, namely Paul Keres.

Here is a game played in the correspondence tournament of the Deutsche Schachzeitung of 1932-33, when Paul Keres was a youngster from Estonia. It won the brilliancy prize!

von Feilitsch (white) vs. Paul Keres (black)
Center Game: Berger Variation

Descriptive 1. P-K4 P-K4 2. P-Q4 PxP 3. QxP N-QB3 4. Q-K3 N-B3 5. N-QB3 B-N5 6. B-Q2 O-O 7. O-O-O R-K1 8. B-B4 P-Q3 9. P-B3 N-QR4 10. B-Q3 P-Q4 11. Q-N5 P-KR3 12. Q-R4 P-Q5 13. N(3)-K2 BxBch 14. RxB P-B4 15. P-QB4 B-K3 16. P-QN3 P-QN4 17. N-B4 PxP 18. NxB RxN 19. PxP R-N1 20. N-K2 Q-N3 21. K-Q1 Q-N5 22. Q-N3 N-Q2 23. R-B2 Q-R6 24. P-B4 R-KN3 25. Q-B3 RxNP 26. P-K5 R-N8ch 27. R-B1 NxBP 28. RxR N-K6ch 29. QxN PxQ 30. B-B4 Q-R5ch Resigns

Algebraic 1. e4 e5 2. d4 exd4 3. Qxd4 Nc6 4. Qe3 Nf6 5. Nc3 Bb4 6. Bd2 0-0 7. 0-0-0 Re8 8. Bc4 d6 9. f3 Na5 10. Bd3 d5 11. Qg5 h6 12. Qh4 d4 13. Nce2 Bxd2+ 14. Rxd2 c5 15. c4 Be6 16. b3 b5 17. Nf4 bxc4 18. Nxe6 Rxe6 19. bxc4 Rb8 20. Ne2 Qb6 21. Kd1 Qb4 22. Qg3 Nd7 23. Rc2 Qa3 24. f4 Rg6 25. Qf3 Rxg2 26. e5 Rb1+ 27. Rc1 Nxc4 28. Rxb1 Ne3+ 29. Qxe3 dxe3 30. Bc4 Qa4+ 0-1

(a) Might have considered immediately 8. … N-QR4; 9. B-Q3 P-Q4.
(b) Threatens P-B5. Black is now swarming all over the place. Young Keres in his element.
(d) Threatens B-R7ch. If 26. QxR QxBch; and wins easily.
(e) Forced, as after 29. K-Q2 Q-B6 mates or if 29. K-K1 Q-R4ch, etc.

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

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

Chess Chats by George Koltanowski
International Chess Master

If anyone asked why one chess army was black and the opposing army white, you would probably think it was a pretty silly question. But is it?
In the late 18th century a Chinese set appeared in which all the pieces looked like Chinese soldiers, mandarins and the like, but all had the faces of rats!
Both sides were in white ivory and, although each side was slightly different in design, the only really distinctive difference between the two sides were the eyes of the rats, for one side had ruby eyes and the other had amber eyes.
But it was not the eyes that made it simple for the opponent to distinguish their men: it was the simple fact that one side faced one way and the other side the other way.
In other words, only in sets in which the pieces are symbols, facing all ways at one time, are the two colors really necessary.
This brings me to the suggestion, why not design a “penguin” chess set! Both sides could be exactly the same but there would rarely be any confusion because a player would always see the black side of his own penguins and the white sides of his opponents!

Played in Barcelona tournament Nov. 27, 1934.

J. Ribera, champion of Catalonia (white) vs. George Koltanowski (black)
King's Indian Defense: Sämisch Variation

Descriptive 1. P-Q4 N-KB3 2. P-QB4 P-KN3 3. N-QB3 B-N2 4. P-K4 P-Q3 5. P-B3 KN-Q2 6. B-K3 P-K4 7. P-Q5 P-KB4 8. PxP PxP 9. B-Q3 O-O 10. KN-K2 P-QR4 11. Q-B2 N-B4 12. BxN PxB 13. O-O R-R3 14. N-N3 Q-N4 15. QN-K2 R-R3 16. P-KR3 P-K5 17. PxP P-B5 18. Q-Q2 R-KN3 19. RxP RxR 20. NxR QxN 21. NxR PxN 22. R-KB1 B-Q5ch 23. K-R1 B-K4 24. K-N1 BxRP 25. R-B3 Q-R7ch 26. K-B1 Q-R8ch 27. K-K2 QxPch 28. R-B2 B-N5ch 29. K-K1 B-N6 Resigns

Algebraic 1. d4 Nf6 2. c4 g6 3. Nc3 Bg7 4. e4 d6 5. f3 Nd7 6. Be3 e5 7. d5 f5 8. exf5 gxf5 9. Bd3 0-0 10. Ne2 a5 11. Qc2 Nc5 12. Bxc5 dxc5 13. 0-0 Ra6 14. Ng3 Qg5 15. Nce2 Rh6 16. h3 e4 17. fxe4 f4 18. Qd2 Rg6 19. Rxf4 Rxf4 20. Nxf4 Qxg3 21. Nxg6 hxg6 22. Rf1 Bd4+ 23. Kh1 Be5 24. Kg1 Bxh3 25. Rf3 Qh2+ 26. Kf1 Qh1+ 27. Ke2 Qxg2+ 28. Rf2 Bg4+ 29. Ke1 Bg3 0-1

(a) The Samisch line considered one of the strongest lines for White against the King's Indian.
(b) A new idea, which morally upset my opponent immensely … he had never seen this line before. Black's idea is to start a center attack before full development. If that is advisable is another matter.
(c) This so as to place a Knight on B4.
(d) Forces the exchange of one of the Bishops.
(e) Might have considered casting Queen's side here.
(f) And what a quick way of bringing the rook in action.
(g) And there it is!
(h) White is lost now. His knight is pinned.

October 04, 1959 Chess Chats by George Koltanowski, Press-Democrat, Santa Rosa, California

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Chess Chats 04 Oct 1959, Sun The Press Democrat (Santa Rosa, California) Newspapers.com

Chess Chats by George Koltanowski
International Chess Master

Problem No. 200
White to play and mate in two moves.
FEN 1b6/1p3p1Q/p3NPp1/3R3P/n2Bk1K1/1B2P2n/5p2/1bN5 w - - 0 1
Solution: 1. Rf5 gxf5+ 2. Qxf5#

Erik Osbun (white) vs. David Krause (black)

Unresolved Chess Game: Can you solve it?

Descriptive 1. P-K4 P-KB4 2. P-KN3 P-K3 3. B-N2 N-KB3 4. N-KB3 B-K2 5. O-O O-O 6. P-B4 P-Q3 7. Q-B2 Q-K1 8. N-B3 QN-Q2 9. P-K5 PxP 10. NxP NxN 11. QxN B-B3 12. R-K1 Q-B2 13. B-K3 P-K4 14. Q-Q5 Q-Q 15. PxQ PxP 16. BxP N-N3 17. BxB RxB 18. N-Q4 N-R5 19. QR-B1 N-B4 20. B-B1 P-QR4 21. N-N5 P-B3 22. PxP PxP 23. NxP RxN 24. RxN B-K3 25. RxB RxR 26. B-B4 Resigns

Algebraic 1. e4 f5 2. g3 e6 3. Bg2 Nf6 4. Nf3 Be7 5. 0-0 0-0 6. c4 d6 7. Qc2 Qe8 8. Nc3 Nd7 9. e5 dxe5 10. Nxe5 Nxe5

(a) 7. N-B3 allows the option of R-K1 and P-K4.
(b) This development of the QN cramps Black's game. 8. … Q-R4; P-K4, PxP; 10. NxP N-B3 is more energetic. However, 8. … Q-N3; 9. B-N5 is better.
(c) If 11. … N-B3; 12. Q-K2 Q-R4; 13. B-B4 B-Q2; 14. QR-K1 and White stands better. Objectively, the text move is best.
(d) Not 13. QxP QxQ; 14. RxQ N-N3; 15. R-K2 NxP; 16. R-B2 N-R4; 17. RxP N-B3.
(e) If 13. … P-B3; 14. QR-Q1 P-K4; 15. PxP NxP; 16. P-N3, NxNch.; 17. QxN, and White stands better.
(f) 14. PxP; 15. BxP N-N3; 16. QxQch RxQ; 17. QR-B1 B-Q2; 18. BxB RxB; 19. N-Q4 P-B3; 20. P-QN4 favors White but is better than the text:
(1) l6. … KxQ; 17. BxB KxB; 18. QR-B1 B-Q2; 19. N-Q4 plus.
Or 18. … B-K3; 19. N-Q2 plus.
(2) 19. … R-N1; 20. N-N5 BxN; 21. PxN R-B2; 22. P-QR4 plus.
(g) If 18. … B-Q2; 19. QR-B1 R-QB1; 20. R-B2 plus.
(h) Black can resist longer with 24. … B-Q2.

Chess Is A Many Splendored Thing
A Chess Friend recently told me the following story:
Two beginners were playing a wildly murderous game at a club. Two amused masters watched them for a while until all the pieces had been cleared off the board except the Kings. Then, noticing that the duffers were still moving their Kings about the masters left.
Some time afterwards, the masters saw one of the duffers about to leave the club. “Who won the game you were playing?” one of them teased.
“Jones did,” the duffer replied. “He got his King to the eighth rank first, promoted it to a Queen, and mated me.”

September 27, 1959 Chess Chats by George Koltanowski, Press-Democrat, Santa Rosa, California

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Chess Chats 27 Sep 1959, Sun The Press Democrat (Santa Rosa, California) Newspapers.com

Chess Chats by George Koltanowski
International Chess Master

Problem No. 199
White to play and mate in two moves.
FEN 3B2K1/3p2p1/4p1kp/1Q6/6N1/4p1R1/6rr/5R2 w - - 0 1
Solution: Q-K2; 1. Qe2 Rxg3 2. Ne5#

Robert Dickinson (white) vs. David Bogdanoff (black)
Sicilian Defense: Classical Variation

Descriptive 1. P-K4 P-QB4 2. N-KB3 N-QB3 3. P-Q4 PxP 4. NxP N-B3 5. N-QB3 P-Q3 6. P-KB3 P-K3 7. B-K3 P-QR3 8. Q-Q2 B-Q2 9. P-QR4!? B-K2 10. N-N3 N-R4 11. NxN QxN 12. B-Q3 R-Q1 13. O-O B-B3 14. Q-B2! Q-R4 15. N-K2! P-Q4?? 16. P-KN4 Q-K4 17. B-KB4 Resigns

Algebraic 1. e4 c5 2. Nf3 Nc6 3. d4 cxd4 4. Nxd4 Nf6 5. Nc3 d6 6. f3 e6 7. Be3 a6 8. Qd2 Bd7 9. a4? Be7 10. Nb3 Na5 11. Nxa5 Qxa5 12. Bd3 Rd8 13. 0-0 Bc6 14. Qf2! Qh5 15. Ne2! d5?? 16. g4 Qe5 17. Bf4 1-0

(a) With this move, white initiates the Yugoslav Attack, which has enjoyed much success over the board.
(b) Alternatives are 6. P-K4, leading to a Fischer type position, and 6. P-KN3, allowing the regular Yugoslav Variation.
(c) Premature: B-K2 followed by 0-0 is probably better.
(d) 8. NxN; 9 BxN P-K4; 10. B-K3 B-K3 might be a better alternative for black.
(e) White's plan is N-N3 P-R5, N-R4, and N-N6. This, however, creates a terrible weakness at QN4.
(f) P-Q4 or N-QR4 might also be considered.
(g) Black must stop P-R5.
(h) The QR belongs on QB1 and the KR on Q1.
(i) Preparing for P-Q4, but too late.
(j) If 14. Q-N5; then follows, 15. B-N6 R-QB1; 16. N-R2, QxRP (16. QxNP; 17. B-Q4 Q-R6; 18. KR-N1, and white wins the black queen.) 17. P-B3 P-OR4; 18. N-N4 QxR; 19. RxQ PxN; 20. PxP, and white should win but not without some troubles.
(k) 15. P-K4 is forced.
(l) If 17. QxNP; 18. KR-N1 and the black queen is trapped.

Played at the Midwest Open at Lincoln, Nebraska, 1953.

Capt. Edmund B. Edmondson (white) vs. Lee Travis Magee (black)

Unresolved Chess Game: Can you solve it?

Descriptive 1. P-K4 P-K3 2. N-KB3 N-QB3 3. B-B4 N-B3 4. N-N5 P-Q4 5. PxP P-N3 6. BxP QxP 7. BxNch QxB 8. O-O B-N2 9. Q-B3 P-K5 10. Q-QN3 O-O-O 11. Q-KRch K-N1 12. NxBP R-Q4 13. NxP R-K4 14. Q-QB3 B-B4 15. K-R1 P-K6 16. P-KB3 N-N5 17. P-Q4 RxPch 18. K-N1 R-R8ch Resigns after 19. KxP Q-R3ch decided.

Algebraic 1. e4 e6 2. Nf3 Nc6 3. Bc4 Nf6 4. Ng5 d5 5. exd5 g6

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

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

Chess Chats by George Koltanowski
International Chess Master

Problem No. 198
White to play and mate in two moves.
FEN 8/8/2Q5/1p1p4/1B6/nN1k1P2/5K2/1n6 w - - 0 1
Solution: Q-B1 1. Qc1 Nd2 2. Qc3#

MANY-SPLENDORED
The last time I was in London I bought an elegant ivory French chess set of the design sometimes known as “the little Dieppe.” The men were white and brown, tall and slender, and the royals had a detail of delicate lacery. It cost a modest ten pounds and was certified to be “circa 1780.”
In the quiet of the evening, when the day's work is done, I bring out the set and weave dreams of its history; of the players of a bygone age who used it; of the settings wherein it rested, of the elegant hands that lifted and replaced the pieces; the joys and sorrows which surrounded it; how it fared during the successive wars, and who could have taken it from France to England.
All I was able to find out about such sets was that they were custom made for the more leisured classes of pre-Revolutionary France, by stud and button makers. For this reason, no two sets were exactly alike.

Historical Facets
Did the Du Barry and Louis XV while away some of their time with these pieces? Did Lafayette ever play with them? Undoubtedly the first users discussed the troubles England was having with her rebellious colonists in America.
Of one thing, however, we can be absolutely certain that many of the chess players who first handled these delicate ivory carvings later lost their heads on the guillotine in 1789 and maybe many hours of waiting for the journey on the tumbril were pleasantly whiled away playing with this set.
Robespierre was a chess player. Did he ever play with this set? Did Marat, the revolting Marat, play from his bath before receiving the final and deciding “pin” of Charlotte Corday? Or, instead, did the little set find its way to England in the baggage of an aristocrat or possibly in that of the “Scarlet Pimpernel” himself?

In Perfect Shape
Did Napoleon ever use the set? Dreams, dreams, dreams! Now the little pieces, still, in perfect condition, are in California. Where will they be tomorrow? On the moon?
Herbert Seidman at the age of 16 knocked off a seasoned master in the Manhattan Club championship, New York, of 1939. Today he is recognized as one of America's top group.

Herbert Seidman vs Anthony Santasiere
New York (1939)
Sicilian Defense: Nimzowitsch. Exchange Variation (B29) 1-0

14. Black innocently provokes a sacrifice.

★

September 13, 1959 Chess Chats by George Koltanowski, Press-Democrat, Santa Rosa, California

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Chess Chats 13 Sep 1959, Sun The Press Democrat (Santa Rosa, California) Newspapers.com

Chess Chats by George Koltanowski
International Chess Master

UNORTHODOX GAMBIT
Combinative players often find that it helps their style if they can begin a gambit attack right in the opening. The trouble with many of the gambit lines with Black is that their weak points are sufficiently well known to deprive them of all surprise value. This article is an analysis of a gambit which, although generally considered unsound, is much better than its reputation and which, judged by several master games of the last few years, offers real prospects of surprising your opponent.

Played in Budapest, 1956.

Gyula Kluger vs Karoly Honfi
Budapest Szikra (1956), Budapest HUN, May-??
Tarrasch Defense: Schara Gambit (D32) 0-1

(a) The so-called von Hennig-Schara gambit, which was much played in the 1930s and then abandoned because of the probably erroneous assumption that the following move deprives Black of counter-play.
(b) One strange fact about this gambit is that almost all published analysis of it have stated that it is better for White to play Q-R4ch before capturing the QP. In fact, the position after 5. QxP N-QB3; 6. Q-Q1 QPxP; 7. QxP BQ2; and 5. Q-R4ch B-Q2; 6. QxQP, PxP; 7. QxQP N-QB3 are identical.

Move Recommended
(c) Most books on chess theory recommend 9. Q-N3 here, although in practice 9. Q-Q1 is almost always played by White—an important consideration in deciding whether to use the gambit. However, 9. Q-N3 can also be met in an analogous way to the game given below: 9. B-QB4; 10. P-K3 (QxNP N-N5 is too dangerous), Q-K2; 11. B-K2 0-0-0; 12. 0-0; P-KN4.
White can then choose between three lines: 13. NxP KR-N1; 14. NxBP QR-B1; 15. N-R6 R-N3; and White loses material. 13. NxP KR-N1; 14. N-B3 R-N2; 15. P-N3 P-KR4; 16. R-Q1 P-R5; l7. NxP R-R1; 18. N-B3 N-KN5; with the threat of 19. … NxRP; 20. NxN Q-R5. If 13. P-KR3 N5; 14. PxP NxP; and Black can continue either by the advance of the KRP or by Q-B3-R3.
(d) A game Chanov-Gusev, USSR, 1955, ended abruptly with 11. B-Q2 0-0-0; 12. Q-N3 B-B4; 13. B1 K-N1; 14. N-QR4 B-QN5; 15. P-QR3 BxBch; 16. NxB N-Q5; 17. Q-B3 R-QB1; 18. B-B4 KR-Q1; 19. N-N3 N-K5; 20. Q-N4 QxQch; White resigns.

Russian's Game
(e) In a game Giberzon-Korolev, USSR, 1955, the continuation was: 12. B-Q2 P-KN4; 13. P-K3 P-N5; 14. PxP NxP; 15. R-QB1 K-N2; 16. N-Q5 Q-Q3; 17. Q-B2 P-N3; 18. N-B4, KR-N1; 19. N-Q3 B-B4; 20. Q-N3 BxB; 21. BxB QxB; 22. QxQ RxQ; White resigns.
(f) White's best line may be to sacrifice a pawn in his turn by 13. P-QN4. A game Miroshinchenko-Gurevich. USSR, '55, went on in White's favor: 13. … BxNP; 14. B-N2 P-N5; 15. N-Q4 P-KR4; 16. N3-N5 K-N1; 17. R-B1 B-QB4; 18. RxB QxR: 19. N-N3 Q-K2; 20. Q-Q6ch QxQ; 21. NxQ N-Q4; 22. NxBP. However, Black could improve his play by 15. … B-Q3; 16. N3-N5 B-N1; intending 17. … P-QR3, 18. N-OB3,Q-K4.
(g) This loses time and is obviously unsatisfactory. However, the more natural 14. P-QR3 also turned out in Black's favor game Borisenko-Spassky, Leningrad, 1954, after 14. … Q-K4; 15. P-N4 NxN; 16. PxB N-B6ch. If now 17. PxN PxP; 18. BxP QxN; 19. R-N1 KR-N1ch; 20. K-R1 B-B3; 21. Q-K2 Q-Q6.
(h) Black's attack now quickly becomes overwhelming.
(i) A fine finish. If 23. BxQ RxPch; 24. K-R1 NxB; and wins.

CHESS QUOTE OF THE DAY: “The way that he plays chess demonstrates a man's whole nature.”—E. Ellin.