A
Chess 27 Mar 1943, Sat The Minneapolis Star (Minneapolis, Minnesota) Newspapers.com
The Pawn Pusher
by O. A. HOLT
Willmar, Minn.
Sometime ago, TIME magazine reported the outcome of the U. S. championship chess match, Reshevsky-Kashdan, with the following introduction:
“As wartime stay-at-homes took to their chessboards last week, Samuel Reshevsky, onetime child prodigy, for the fourth successive time won the biennial U. S. Chess Championship.
“If thin haired, bespectacled, 31-year old Reshevsky lived in present day Russia where chess is the national pastime and people jam the streets to watch the moves of championship matches on giant dummy boards—he would be a national hero.”
The February Chess Review reports an excellent interview with the U. S. Champion. To quote a few brief extracts:
“It is true that Reshevsky's extraordinary childhood career left its mark on him. Hailed as a boy wonder at the age of 5, he spent eight years of the most formative period of his life touring Europe, Great Britain and the U.S., giving simultaneous exhibitions. Constantly in public view, with no opportunities for a normal education until late in life, taught by his manager to consider himself invincible, is it any wonder Sammy developed a somewhat 'cocky' front to hide his true emotions. Underneath…Sammy is actually a shy and self-conscious person.
“ doesn't play chess, he works at it. He never plays chess of any kind for recreation. The game is part of his life. His recreations are table tennis and contract bridge. He loves the latter and plays it extremely well.
“Believe it or not, Reshevsky does not own a chess set!”
Reshevsky is employed in the personnel department of the Lummus Co., N. Y., is married, has a daughter, and spends most of his evenings at home.
CHECKERS
The finals game from the 1943 Southern Minnesota tourney. Played at Mankato YMCA Feb 22 (23?)
Dr. F. A. Scott (Black) M. Jenkins (White)
9-H 7-10 10-19 1B-19 1- fi 1-21 31-27 1K IS- 0 2S-19 1- S. il 10-19 2- 7 8- 1 5-H 20-24 27-1K 19-15 24-15 31-27 15- 8 29-2r, 30-26 19-15 11-18 3- 7 12-15 4-20 7-11 24-27 18-14 22-15 32-27 25-22 2H-23 25-22 26-23 B Win 10-19 7-10 9-13 fi-10 10-15 27-31 24-15 27-24 27-23 22-18 23-19 22-18 1.
GAME NO. 575
A nice game sent in by one of our strong correspondence players.
IRREGULAR OPENING
Clement Harold Simmer, St. Paul (white) vs. Robert P. Smith, Pittsburgh, (black)
Latvian Gambit: Fraser Defense
(a) If 29. … BxP; 30. P-R7ch KxP; 31. R-Rch.
SOLUTION TO PROBLEM
No. 773 by J. T. Wing
Key: Pe4 (P-K4)
This problem is a problem is a dandy. It has everything. Wing should get a medal or something for this one.—H. R. Tonning.
This unlooked for key unlocks a wealth of delightful surprises. We do not have to go out of Minnesota to get the best problems.—F. G. Gardner
A unique key, I liked it very much.—R. C. Beito.
A delicately balanced lock, which I twisted, turned and tugged in a vain search for Sesame's twin brother. No, he had none.— W. C. Nolting.
I liked the neat half-pip. The many near misses and pretty defenses make it a tough problem.—Randolph Johnson.
Plenty tough. I'm not sure about it yet.—N. Guttman.
I propose that this problem be called the “Whirlpool” for defenses. Mates sweep around the board enveloping the Bl King completely. A fine piece of work.—W. Wandel.
Fine half-pin 2er with good mainplay. Position seems a little heavy, but I think I found the reason for P at a7.—O. Aarhus
Good half-pinner with great variety by our ingenious schoolmaster.—J. M.
Good problem. Plenty variations. Good effects from both blocking, pinning and unpinning.—H. B. Gislason.
R. C. Beito of the state highway engineers presents a very fine 3er for your enjoyment today, in the work below you will find grand mates, some pure, but what I enjoyed especially is that one unusual Model mate which is a pip.
Problem No. 776
Original for the Minneapolis Star Journal by R. C. Beito, St. Paul
Black 2 Pieces
White 9 Pieces
FEN 8/3K4/1P1P4/1Pk1p3/2N1P1B1/2R5/3B4/8 w - - 0 1
White to play and mate in three moves.
