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

October 12, 1941 Los Angeles Times Chess by Herman Steiner

< Prev Index Next >

ChessChess 12 Oct 1941, Sun The Los Angeles Times (Los Angeles, California) Newspapers.com

OCR Text

CHESS HERMAN STEINER International Chess Master Address oil mail to Chess Editor LA. Oct. IS. 1941 TIMES PROBLEM By H. Cox NO. 384 Pairway Bird, Phone AX-11477. White mates in two. (Wh. S; Bl. 2.) L A, TIMES PROBLEM NO. 1234 Composed for the Los Angeles Timet Br N, Nussbaum, Los Angeles, Cl. Bertog, White mate In three. (Wh. 7: Bl. 3.1 SOLUTION TO PROBLEM 129: R-B8 SOLUTION TO PROBLEM 1230: R-K7 We received solutions from the following: R. Roshn, A. 8. Wells. J. Fon.sete, W. C. Nolting, C. P. Pord, G. A. Hall, J. Davidson, M. Rudholm, A. O. Karn, Mrs. A. Tovar, L. Wilcox, L. Sheppard, J. T. Watson, Rev. P. Prlchard. O. B. Oakes, O. Dodge. T. Duschik. L. O. Hartman. E. H. Schadee, H. Brnhn. W. Harmon, W. L. Koethen. J. E. Tyler. O. Francis. J. M. Melnhardt, A. D. Reynolds Sr., J. M. Blumebearn, L. A. Saleado, D. A. Innes, J. C. Drake. C. B. Collins. Welcome to our ladder.) W. B. Tudor. J. Davidson, J. A. Frank
CALIFORNIA STATE CHESS ASSOCIATION Requests have come In from Fresno, Sacramento, San Francisco and Los Angeles for the revival of a State association and plans are under way for a reorganization. Any groups Interested please communicate with the writer, care this column. be sent to Los Angeles. The Fairfax Chess Group will play an eight-game rapid transit match with the Los Angeles Chess Club at 124 W. Fourth St.. rooms 354-360. on Saturday evening. Oct. 18.
Each player must play two games with every player on the opposing team, a total of 16 games for each player or 128 tames during the evening. Each player must make all his moves In each game in nve minutes or forieit the gme. Chess players invited to gee this match.
LIGHT OF SOME OPENINGS Series by C. J. S. Purdy: No. li "While t Play ana Win" For review comes Weawer W. Adams' nnlnrinun work. "White to Play and Win." The value of the book for the chess world at large lies, above all. in the author's 21 pages of analysis of the Bishop's Opening il. P-K4. P-K4: 2. B-B4 In M. C. O. (Modern Chess Openings.i there are but three pages on this opening, so that eor-reiDnnrience slayers can well imagine what a lean of new ideas Adams' book holds for them. This younr American master has perhaps the best future of any outside the New York coterie. He belongs to Boston, which has traditionally bred creative plavers. as opposed to the intensely practical New York bruisers.
In Boston Pills-burv learned the chess that beat the world it Hastings 1895. nixrnverine seven years ago ft vital im provement for White in the Bishops Opening gave Adams the idea that in the first move White migm possess an aa-vantsge sufficient ultimately to win the tame. Seven years of further analysts, based partly on the researches of another Bostonian master, the late John F. Barry, strengthened his idea into a conviction. Adams certainly makes out a good ease for the Bishop's Game as a strong opening for White.
Equally as certainly, he does not prove that it wins. Although he thinks 2. B-B4 doe win. Adams nevertheless considers 1 . . . P-K4 Black's best reply to 1. P-K4, I.e.. the least evil. However, in his attempts to show how White can maintain an advantage against the close defenses he seems less happy, though be does give many new variations that should interest all competitive players.
We are most doubtful about hie discussion of the French Defense. His passion for free, open play leads him to rely on the unusual B-Q3. hoth against the Mac-Cutcheon and the Winawer. and we pick tout the following variation wnicn arises in both, as typical of his forthright style: ! I. P-K4.
P-K.'t! t. P-tt, P-Q4I 3. N-OBS, ! B-NSi 4. B-t:t. PiP: 5. BiP. N-KB.t; fl. B-NS talsa arising in the MacCiitrhenn after . B-Q.H. PiP: . BiP) ... P-KR3: BxS. QiB: 8. N-Kt, N-'.'i . O-O, O-Oi 1(1. P hi. (See diagram.) Diagram 1 UNITED STATES CHESS FEDERATION The ttnlieri .States Phexs Federation is contemplating a membership drive through out the country, we urge every cness player to Join this wonderful organisation. The membership is only 11 per year which gives a yearbook. In Itself $1, so one actually gets the membership gratis. No one should miss this opportunity.
For further information, send self-addressed envelope to the writer. CALIFORNIA STATE CHAMPIONSHIP TOl'RNAMENT Nathan Robinson from Fresno, Ca!.. while visiting in Los Angeles, brought the food news that the forthcoming State Championship Tournament may be held in Fresno either in November or December, and also that the Central California Chesa Association Is being formed on Oct. 21 at Modesto, Cal. Good work, Nathan!
NEWS OF THE CLUBS. Metropolitan Chess League Matches, 1MI-If)13 A meeting at which the Los Angeles, Fairfax, Hollywood, Arcadia and Highland Park Chess clubs were represented, plans were made to form the Metropolitan Chess League. Mr. S. Wolff will be the tournament director. There wlH be two classes, A and B.
The matches win start Nov. 7. Most of the matches win place Friday nights. Entrance be 13 per team. Teams will five players.
We would like many teams as possible take fee will consist of to see as compete. The closing date of entrance for the teams will be Oct. 25.
Entrance fee has to match, but we have been over Mr. Page's play carefully, and are of the opinion that it is sound. So in response to many requests we give his principle variations below. The asterisks are Mr. Page's, notes by M. L. on Pay ina Graham and H. W. Hicks. Mr. Hicks' play for a win was printed in our issue of June 22. I VARIATION' and White wins. a 30-25 would now allow a draw by the exchange, 27-23.
Against 32-27, however, 30-2o can be played. There are many more varia- Davis. Position after Whites 10. P-Bi. Here he stops.
Why has W'hlte a win or even an advantage? Black Is behind in development, but has the two bishops. We suegest: lo . . . P-B4; II. P-Q5 tor 11. P-B.V PxPi V!. PsP, QVi 1. NsP. Q-K4). 11 . . . N-N3!i It. PP, BiP! fusing against Adams his own favnrite weapon, the pawn sacrifice:) 1.1. BsP (or P-B.V B-B.V). l:i OR-Ot; 11. Q-KI. B-B4. White Is Dressed: to return the pawn for a level game must be the summit of his ambition.
Throuahout Adams' book an underlying motif seems to be: No concession in post tion in the opening, rsther concede mate' rial. This is very sound as a general prin ciple. but Adams carries It so far as to recommend the Albln Counter Gambit as a means of disDroving the Queen's Gambit He brings this in to show why 1. P-K4 alone is good enough to winl Let us examine one line. In which all Black's replies are given by Adams as best 1. P-04. P-0i 2. P-OB4, P-K4t 8. PjcKP P.Q.V 4. N-KB.t. N-OB:t: 5. P-OR3. P-QR4; . B-B4, B-KB4; 7. P-KN3, B-R4s . B-Nt, KN-Kti . O-O (if QN-Qt. P-R5 ha says) K . . . O-O. Here he stops. (Sea diagram.) Diagram 4. Position after Black a O-O This was ine improvement to the play submitted by Mr. Paere. but we believe the above gives the gist of the thing, and that Black cannot hold squares 23 and 31 for the draw. Reshevsky as joining the position at Note a at. trunk above, the position of forces are as follows: Black 13, 22, 25; king, 32. White 21, 30; kings, 14, 23. Black to move. 1 As we see the problem, the play below is a summary or condensation, of essentials.
If now 10. QN-Q1 (threat N-NS,) pre sumablv Black still plas lit . . . P-RA.
Then 11. P-QM, PxP e.D.i 13. NxNP, BxPi IS. KNsP. White is still a pawn up.
and Is no longer cramped: Black's gam looks lugubrious to us. In Chspter 1. Adams gives some general reasons why White "wins." He perpetrates some fallacies here. What he actually proves Is only that he himself has a firm faith In his theory: end certainly it Is a possibility. It cannot be disproved.
However. It has no bearing on practical chess. We challenge Adams to produce one game of chess ever played in which either side lost without a demonstrable error. The same challenge is open to our own rabid theorist, Prank Crowl. who holds the still more romantic theory that Black should win.
See Steiner a December article. More useful is Chapter II 140 pages,) "A New Way to Play Chess." Here Adams propounds a new system for finding best moves, by trying over different moves and testing them according to four criteria: 11) Power, (2) Mobility, 3) Options, t4t Weaknesses. That Is, (1) Increment of power to the unit moved. (2i Effect on mobility of other pieces. (3) Whether the move forfeits any useful options, i4i Whether it leaves the piece moved, or any other piece, vulnerable to attack by a i lesser or eaual unit.
We have not space here to discuss the system critically. The examples of it in operation are most instructive. This provocative and creative book is published by the David McKay Co. (It might he ordered through the writer, care of this column, for 75 cents plus postage 10 cents.) QUEEN'S GAMBIT DECLINED 1-P-Q4 2- P-OB4 3- KI-QB3 4- P-K3 5- P-QR3 fi-PxB 7- PxQP 8- B-Q3 -Kt-K2 10- Castle 11- BxB 12- Q-03 13- B-Kf2 14- BPsP 15- KR-B 1S-P-B3 17-KI-K13 10 0 V 7-32; 11-QR-Q , iriJT 20-R-2 -"' JI.Q.k't 22- Kt-B5 23- P-K4 24- R-Q3 rs-p-Qs 2K-KUK3 10-15 S27-R-Q2 ZH-K-W.l 20-R-O2 30- O-O 31- P-Kt3 Fine Reshevsky Black i White Kt-KB.132-P-B4 P-K3!33-Q-B3 B-Kt5!34-P-Kt4 P-Q4I35-PXP BxKtchi36-Kt-Kt4 P-B4 37-Kt-B6ch KPxP Castles P-OKt3 B-R3 KtxB Q-B PxP Kt-B2 O-O? Continue 27-32, 1744 and White goes on to win as shown by Mr. Page above.
This formation, with kings on 15, 18 and 22, seems to be the basic formation which enables White to release his last single piece and crown a fourth king after which the win becomes a mere matter technique. a The same position is shortly rpachpd whpthpr Rlack nlavs this move or 25-29. The latter isin;?" answered by 14-17, etc., as in(;;;J rage s trunk. b Because 3f 18-22, then 31-27. c Black attempts to control as far as possible squares 23 and 31 as suggested by Hill to draw.
3R-R-QB 39- PxR 40- R-K 41- P-OR4 42- R-KB2 43- R-B2 44- RiKl-OB 45- B-R3 4H-R-B8ch KR-KI47-B-B8ch Kt-K3 ! 4R-B-QHeh OR-B149-B-KS O-R5'50-R-R8 Q-B5 51-P-R3 Q-Kt652-QPxKt R-B3!53-RIB-BB KR-OBI54-P-KS Q-R5 i S.1-eP-K7 . Kt-Kifi-Q-03 -Kt457-R-B2 Q-K16 i S.R-R-K2 -Kt4iS!).R-Kt2 Q-R4lfiO-KxR Q-Kt4(61-xP , P-Kt3l Pine Black P-B4 R-Q KKt-Kt2 KKtxP R-B2 K-R RxKt B-KB RxP Q-Q2 Kt-B2 R-B2 Kt-K TU-B3 K-KI2 K-Kt Kt-K Kt.-K2 Kr-B3 KtxB QxORP R-B K-Kt2 RxP R-B4 Q-R5 R-Kt4ch RxRch OxP Drawn QUEEN'S GAMBIT DECLINED Denker ReshevskyiDenker Reshevsky White 1- P-Q4 2- KI-KB3 3- P-B4 4- Kt-B3 5- Q-KI3 B-P-K3 7-B-Q2 B-BXP O-rasflea Of 10-B-K2 1 1-I--WK 12- Kt-KS 13- Q-B2 14- KtxKt 15- VP.ft 1 1 Black White Kt-KB3,2R-B-Kt3 P-KKt3;29-B-QIS B-Kt2i.m-P-B3 P-Q4f.H-BxB P-B332-K-B2 Castles i33-K-Kt3 PxP34-QxBP Kt-Q23S-P-R4 . Kt-Kt3 B-B4 P-QR4 B-K3 CKt-CH BxKt G-B3 P-B4 20-PxKt 21-Kt-QS L'2-KtxBc.h 23- R-Q4 24- OR-Q 25- RxRrh 2K-Q-BJ 27-BXR 3H-K-R3 37- P-Kt4 38- PxP 39- O-BS . 40- QxPeh 41- P-R5 42- PxPch 43- Q-R5 . QPi44-K-R4 Q-B2:4S-K-Kt5 B-B34-K-R4 BB;47--B7ch C3-K4 4R-0-Cf OtKtl-K-R.I -, ' KR-Q M-K-R4 p-K4;51-P-KlSch RxR S2-Q-Q RxRch Rrsignt Q-Qi Black Q-KI4 O-KtS OxRP Q-Rflch OxPch PxB K-Kt2 P-R4 Q-Kt PxPch Q-Kt. P-R5 K-R2 Q-KI2 PxP Q-Btich Q-B7ch . QxPrh P-Rfi K-R3 Q-KAch Q-Bbch P-R7 K-R2 JP-R81Q).

'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