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Chess 22 Oct 1960, Sat The Montreal Star (Montreal, Quebec, Canada) Newspapers.com
Let's Play Chess
U.S. Enters 'Olympics' Takes Early Round Lead
By Bill Oaker
The United States has finally decided to compete in the Chess Olympics in Leipzig and has actually taken the lead in its preliminary section after completion of three rounds.
No explanation has been forthcoming for the sudden change of heart. All that is known is that the American team showed up, thus bringing the total number of countries competing to 41.
Something must have been known before hand, since, for the first time in many years the United States has actually fielded a team worthy of the name. Too often, in the past, they have sent second raters.
The team consists entirely of International Grandmasters. Bobby Fischer is on first board. William Lombardy holds down second board. Robert Byrne is third. Arthur Bisguier is fourth and Nick Rossolimo, many times champion of France, and now living in New York, is a spare.
In round one the Americans defeated Romania by a score of 3-1, Lombardy suffering a loss by attempting to get too much out of a drawn position. Fischer, however, won his game by checkmating his opponent in only 14 moves.
Ecuador Defeated
In round two, they defeated Ecuador by 2½-1½. This time it was Fischer's turn to drop a point. He also lost by an attempt to win in a position in which it was not quite justified. Bisguier allowed a draw.
Round three sees the Americans leading 2-1 with one game adjourned against Cuba. Details on the games are not yet available.
It must be admitted that the team could be strengthened by Grandmasters Sammy Reshevsky, Pal Benko or Larry Evans. However, since chess players in the United States are not subsidized, as the Soviet players are, they must make a living.
The Soviet Union, which is playing in a different preliminary section, has beaten Monaco by 4-0, India 3-0 with one game adjourned, and is tied with The Netherlands 1-1 with two games adjourned.
They are playing without the services of World Champion Mikhail Tal, who is reported to have suffered a brain concussion due to a car accident, while en route to the tournament. His condition is reported as “good”, and it is possible that he may join the team in time for the finals.
How Good Are You?
FEN 1k6/1p3r2/pPp1Nr2/Q7/4n1pq/4P1p1/1PR2PK1/7R w - - 0 1
In this problem, it is the third move which is the toughy. The solution is as follows:
1. … RxPch
2. RxR RxRch
3. K-N1 Q-R7ch!
4. RxQ PxRch
5. K-R1 N-N6 mate!
