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

The Press Democrat Chess Chats by George Koltanowski, Sunday, November 15, 1959, Santa Rosa, California Problem No....

Posted by Bobby Fischer's True History on Thursday, April 28, 2022

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