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Interactive E-Magazine Volume 1 • Issue 2 November/December 2010

hISTORY OF FIDE

The Fischer : The Illusive Life of Pt 2 Principles of Chess ODDITIES IN CHESS In Memoriam: Bent Larson White Review November/December 2010 White Knight My Move [email protected] Review editorial -Jerry Wall e are excited about Chess E-Magazine Wreleasing our second issue of White Knight Review. Chess is a sport that is enjoyed by Table of Contents contents every sector of life, from EDITORIAL-”My Move” 3 young to old, male and White Knight female, rich or poor and Review FEATURE- Free Online Chess Sites 4 INTERACTIVE entails people on a variety of levels and yet it CONTENT is a great facilitator of the skills and strengths Chess E-Magazine of two opposing people. Though chess is BOOK REVIEW-: The Pride 6 called a game it is far more than that. It can be a fierce competitive war of intellect or a Executive Editor/Writer and Sorrow of Chess ______relaxing personal pastime. It is a game that Bill Wall [email protected] 7 • Click on title in can be played singularly or with a formable HUMOR-You Might be a Chess addict if... Table of Contents opponent be it man or computer.. to move directly to Our feature article about Online chess page. Publisher /Editor/ Creative FEATURE- Chess Variants 8 opens the world of chess to myriads of people Director • Click on “White who through their computers, iPads or smart Gerald Wall Knight Review” on phones can find link up with one or many [email protected] HISTORY-The World Chess Federation-FIDE 10 the top of each opponents on just about any level. Chess has page to return to the incredible power to enrich your thinking Table of Contents. BIOGRAPHY-The Fischer King: The Illusive 12 whether your playing someone below your Production/ Marketing Life of Bobby Fischer Pt. 2 • Click on red type to level or far above it. There is so much to learn Steve Wall continue to next from your opponents blunders or your own. [email protected] page You can equally learn from brilliant moves FEATURE-Principles of Chess 22 regardless of who is on either side of the • Click on ads to go For Subscription to their websites board. IN MEMORIAM- The Life of Bent Larson 24 Chess can be strategic, brutal, mentally [email protected] • Click on email to stimulating or heart pounding. Whether open chess is passive or pensive, serious or just For Advertising Rates up email program NEWS - Chess News around the world 27 plain fun it should always be enjoyed! If we [email protected] • Click up URLs to loose the fun than all other motivations will FEATURE-Oddities in Chess 28 go to be lame and all other arguments moot. So go websites. find a player and enjoy the ride.

ANNOTATED GAME - Petersson-Larsen 30 Gerald (Jerry) Wall © Copyright 2010 Editor All Rights Reserved. COMMENTARY- “Ask Bill” 31 Unauthorized reproduction, in any manner is prohibited without expressed permission from the Author or Editor.

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3 White Knight Review November/December 2010 White Knight Review November/December 2010 written more chess articles than Membership is$4.99 a month, or Chess.com - Free internet Chess anyone in history. He just wrote and only $2.49 a month when you pay posted another one on Oct. 29, 2010 annually ($29.88). For that you get FREE by Steve Wall faster play, click Live Chess. You positions by setting you up to play about the late Bill Addison. Click full use of the Openings & Game here are many online chess can set it to play quick one minute these key positions against the on Chessopedia, an online chess Explorer, and can use the Tactics Online Tsites, so I thought I would games, on up to 15 minute games computer. There is a daily puzzle encyclopedia. Take the Endless Trainer 25 times a day. You get write an article on one of the more with or without bonus seconds for to solve. You can choose to have a Chess Quiz, a huge database of chess unlimited use of the popular ones and see why people go each move. You can play rated or super computer analyze one of your trivia, and compare your scores. Workout. The Platinum Membership there to play chess. Just yesterday, non rated games. If you prefer, games each week and give you a Each day chess.com publishes an is $5.99 a month, or only $3.99 when Sites my son Jonathan told me that he you can play against a computer or fully annotated game that shows educational and entertaining article paid annually ($47.88). With that usually plays chess with his friend compete with opponents in online you the mistakes made by both by a top chess professional. Chess you get unlimited access to all site There are hundreds of web- Chris, and in fact had beaten him tournaments. Play anywhere as players. Get access to hundreds News provides relevant news features except two. The Diamond sites out there that offer Free 10 times in a row. Then Chris you can get a free app for most cell of articles on strategy and tactics articles about current chess events Membership is for serious players Chess playing. Some with joined chess.com and started using phones. There are social sites to play which contain interactive chess and big games from around the who want to improve quickly and people and some with com- the tactics trainer. Chris has since on with your friends such as igoogle diagrams to help improve your world. You can watch chess videos costs $12.99 a month, or only $7.99 puters. Many are exclusivly beaten Jonathan the last five times and facebook. You can play alone game. You can buy chess books on You Tube, from funny shows to a month paid annually ($95.88). chess sites while others are they played. Jonathan now wants or join online chess clubs or use the and get free downloads on this site. game analysis. There is even chess. The two extra features you get are multigame sites. Here are a the tactics trainer also. There must directory to find a local You can hire a chess coach from the com TV, live broadcasts of ongoing Video Lessons and Chess Mentor. few site you might want to be something to it. That being said, I nearby. many that are listed and get one on chess events and the weekly chess. One of the most powerful learning out. will start my search with chess.com. If you want to try something one personal instruction. com Podcast. You can participate methods is watching and listening www.chessmaniac.com/ new, you can play Chess960 (also Just for fun and for your own in Chess Surveys and Vote Chess. to top Grandmasters explain their Chess.com is the #1 chess site on known as Fischer random). The personal amusement, chess.com If you want to talk about chess, thoughts while at the . www.playfin.com/chess the internet. If you google the word rules are the same, but the starting offers many benefits. They have you can use the chess Blog or Video Lessons are in-depth chess www.chessfriends.com chess, it is the first site that comes position of the pieces is one of 960 articles on amazing games, fun & chess Forums available. Get a free lectures that cover all topics from www.alilg.com/games/free-online- up. They have over 2,500,000 randomly generated possibilities. If trivia, and famous chess players. YOURNAME@ chess.com email openings to endings with awesome chess-challenge/ members and approximately 10,000 you love chess but hate memorized In fact, my brother Bill Wall has address to show others how much analysis and insight. Chess Mentor are playing 24/7 from all around the openings, then Chess960 is for you. you like chess. is the most effective interactive www.chess.com/ world. You will never have a problem Never lose to opening traps again. You might be interested in the chess training system ever created! www.chess.com/play/computer\ finding someone to play with and at You can play single games or 960 number of chess masters that play You receive custom feedback on www.chesshere.com/ any level. Interesting enough, my tournaments. here at chess.com. My brother Bill every possible move so you not www.geekswithchess.com/ brother, Bill Wall was the very first Chess.com comes with a number compiled the list for me. There are only know the right answer, but why member to join on 5/18/2007 and of learning features to help you FEATURES 25 Grandmasters, including the top other moves were wrong. Lessons www.chesszone.org/ played the very first day. Their basic improve your game. If you are new ranked chess player in the world, are written by chess professionals www.freechess.org/ membership is free, but at any time to chess you can click on Chess • Play chess GM Magnus Carlson at 2826. and teachers and you will learn www.chessanytime.com/ you can upgrade with a paid Gold, Rules and Basics to get started or There are 30 International Masters how Grandmasters think about each • Learn Chess www.sparkchess.com/ Platinum, or Diamond Membership simply watch a video. You can and over 150 masters. The top move. and get more features and benefits. search millions of games in their • Chess openings Grandmasters are Carlson, Hikaru Chess.com has something to www.redhotpawn.com/ More on that later; let’s talk about data base and explore games played Namamura, Maxime Vachier- offer for the novice or seasoned www.chessworld.net/ what you get for free. You don’t • Tournements by masters and see the most popular Lagrave, Judit Polgar, Victor player and I suggest you join for www.chessboss.com/ have to download anything; just openings and moves. The free basic Mokhalevski, , free to play or pay to get better. In • Chess Clubs www.caissa.com/ sign up and start playing. membership gives you limited , Jon Hammer, the next issue I will explore other If you like to take your time access to Tactics Trainer (3 a day) • Chess Videos Vladimir Belov, Julio Becerra web sites for playing chess. www.postcardchess.com/ and play at your own pace, then whereby you are given a tactical Mobile Chess (from Miami where I live), Alex If you have a favorite site, www.chesskid.com/ click Online Chess. You can play • problem to solve, which will help Lenderman, , Gregory drop me an email at stevewall@ www.wildchess.org/ correspondence-style chess and set you learn how to recognize the • Forums Serper, Nigel Davis, and Raymond offthewallchess.com and tell me www.worldchesschampions.com/ it so that you move once or more critical positions that come from • Downloads Keene. why you play there. You might get a day or once a week. You will pins, forks, overworked pieces, At any time you can upgrade mentioned in the next issue. Until www.chesshounds.com/ receive an alert when it is your turn. and other tactical scenarios. The • Articles from the basic membership to a next time, keep playing chess. www.chessgames.com/ You can also set parameters to play Computer Workout tool helps you • Resourses paid membership and receive more www.chesshotel.com/ someone close to your rating. For improve your knowledge of key features and more value. The Gold Steve Wall (knightonrimdim)

4 5 White Knight Review November/December 2010 White Knight Review November/December 2010 Book Review Humor Paul Morphy: The Pride and Sorrow of Chess, New Edition You Might be a By David Lawson and edited by Thomas Aiello life. He qualified Chess addict if... Published by the University of Louisiana at at age 20 for the Lafayette Press, September 2010 American Legal Bar, but was still too • You bump into someone or something and say “J’adoube.” The original edition of Paul Morphy: The Pride and young to practice Sorrow of Chess, was published in 1976, authored law. He occupied his And you don’t even know French. by David Lawson and published by the David McKay time playing chess Company, New York. It was the definitive and only and winning the first • When you sit at a checkered tablecloth you set up a full-length biography of the 19th century’s greatest and American Congress most celebrated chess player (Bobby Fischer considered at New York in 1857. with salt and pepper shakers and food items. Morphy to be the greatest player of all time), Paul He was challenged Morphy (1837-1884). Lawson was 89 years old when to go to Europe • You calculate 8x8 faster than 7x7 and navigate like a knight - his edition was first published, which he spent over 35 and play the best one up and two blocks over. years researching (starting in 1938). The original book is in Europe. Howard a collectible and now out of print and costs over $100 on Staunton wouldn’t • You use the as a kitchen timer. eBay and other online outlets. The new edition includes pay him, but Morphy new material, editor’s notes to correct some of Lawson’s beat all the other old text, and some background on Lawson’s life (born Charles world champions, • Mate, mating positions, exposed bishops, and forking the have nothing to do with sex. Whipple in 1886 and died in 1980). Lawson also included including Adolph a large number of pictures and photographs in his original Anderssen, winner • You take a chess set and chess book to the bathroom, and forget to go to the bathroom. book. This new edition omits some pictures but contains of the first international at some new images. in 1851. Morphy’s law practice was disrupted by the • You meet someone, your first question is, “What’s your Elo rating?” The original edition also included a collection of 60 American Civil War (1861-1865) and he may have been Morphy chess games. The new edition contains no chess a Confederate spy during that period. Due to Morphy’s • You still think Bobby Fischer is the greatest person ever, and you don’t really believe he his dead. games. The editor explains that he could provide nothing fame as a chess player, no one would take him seriously that could not be found in other Morphy books or in as a qualified lawyer. He then had increasing mental • You have more chess books than any other book or magazine combined. databases or online through the Internet. Sources such problems of paranoia, and died after taking a cold bath, as www.chessgames.com carry all the chess games cited perhaps of a stroke, in New Orleans in 1884, at the age of • You spot the chessboard set up wrong in every movie with a chess scene. by Lawson and more, each annotated with contemporary 47. commentary to make them far more understandable to Some interesting facts are included in the editor’s • You name any of your pets Fischer, Tal, Karpov, Kasparov, , Chess or Alekhine. modern players. notes. For example, the chess publisher Dale Brandreth The contents of the book are broken down into purchased Lawson’s Morphy memorabilia in 1978. He • You have checkered underwear with “It’s your move” on the front. acknowledgments, editor’s introduction, a note on then donated the bulk of Lawson’s letters and Morphy the text, author’s introduction (Lawson’s introduction documents to the , Ohio Public Library (which • You have a crush on . with editor’s notes for corrections), Lawson’s photo houses one of the largest chess book collection in the gallery, Morphy image gallery, 26 chapters on Morphy, world). To this day, these documents are uncatalogued • Your favorite snack is Pepperidge Farm’s Chessmen cookies. tournament and match record, an appendix including a and unavailable to public researchers. comparison of Paul Morphy and Bobby Fischer, author’s This book tells the full known story of the life of Paul • You know what BCO, ECO, MCO, NCO, PCO, UCO all mean and have all these books. bibliography, editor’s annotated bibliography or sources Morphy, from the origin of the Morphy (Murphy) clan of since Lawson’s original book in 1976, and an alphabetical mixed Irish/Spanish/French stock, to his grandparents • You ask an attractive (or any) girl what her rating is before you ask her out for a date. index. arriving in America, to his privileged upbringing in This newer edition, edited by Thomas Aiello, assistant New Orleans (his father was an influential judge of the • And if it didn’t work out, you explain the two of you were “like bishops of opposite color.” professor of history at Valdosta State University, fixes Supreme Court in Louisiana), to his complete dominance grammatical mistakes and awkward word choice that of the chess world in just a few short years, to the later was found in Lawson’s original edition to make the tragedy of possible mental illness and demise. • You end your letters and email with “P.S. 1.P-K4 (or 1.e4)” hoping to start a game. book easier to read. Explanatory notes were added As a biography, this book is unmatchable. Lawson where appropriate. Some copies of the original book researched all primary sources thoroughly, making • You know exactly where all the chess books are located at Borders and Barnes & Noble. had an errata list. Others did not. This edition includes it the fullest and most accurate account available of Lawson’s desired changes in the body of the text where Paul Morphy’s life, and updated with a new annotated • You say good knight to your girlfriend. appropriate. bibliography. This new edition of Paul Morphy: The Pride In addition to the text and 398 pages, there are a and Sorrow of Chess, edited by Thomas Aiello, is a very • When the cashier says, “Check?” you wink and say “mate.” few chess diagrams and two chess games (in descriptive good high-quality chess book that chess player and notation). Each chapter highlights an aspect of Morphy’s non chess player would enjoy. 6 7 White Knight Review November/December 2010 White Knight Review November/December 2010

Courier Chess - This is a game played on an 8x12 chess board. Players have 24 pieces: 12 pawns, a king, a queen, a counselor, a spy (or fool), two couriers, two bishops, two knights and two rooks. The counselor moves one square at a time like a king, but without being hindered by check, etc. The spy moves one There are hundreds of variants to the normal game of chess. square horizontally or vertically. The courier moves like a modern . The Here are just some of the chess variants. bishop jumps two squares diagonally. The game was played in in the middle ages. 3D Chess or Star Trek Chess– The three dimensional board consists of seven different levels. Three of these levels have size 4x4 and have a fixed position. Giveaway Chess – Pieces must be taken if possible, so capturing is compulsory. The four other levels have size 2x2 and can be moved by the players. The There is no check or . The king plays no special role in the game and position of the fixed levels looks like a staircase. can be taken as any other piece. The first player that loses all his pieces wins. Accelerated Chess – Each player makes two non-capturing moves or one The game is also known as or Suicide Chess. capturing move in each turn. Chess or Chess With Odds – One player will play without a or a – Two are used. One is set up normally and the other knight or a or a queen, It is a game of chess that enables a weaker player is empty. After moving a piece, the piece is transferred to the corresponding to have a chance of winning against a stronger player. Various permutations square on the other board. Each player makes a single move on either board. include things like “Pawn and two moves,” are also possible. A move must be legal on the board where it is played. A piece can only move or capture if the corresponding destination square on the other board is vacant. Hexagonal Chess – The game is played on a hexagonal board. The board has 91 hexes with three different colors. There is an extra bishop and pawn for each - Two orthodox chess boards are set up for four players. One player. player on team A has White and one player on team A has Black. Team B then has someone playing Black on one board and another player playing White on – This is a battle between two players. However, a third person is the other board. All captured pieces are given to one’s partner. Once received, needed to act as a referee. One needs three boards for the game. The main they become reserved pieces which can be dropped onto an empty square on idea is that players only get to see their own pieces, but not see the pieces of the board to be used as one’s own pieces. You may not advise your partner, but their opponent, and do not know what moves the opponents has made. Only you can ask him to capture a certain piece that you need. You can say, “Partner, the referee knows exactly the real position of both sets of pieces. Players move I need a knight.” like normal chess. Each turn, a player attempts a move. When the move is legal, the referee announces that the player has moved, and the turn is done. Checkers Chess – The normal apply, but pieces can only move When the move is illegal, the referee says so and the player must make a new forwards until they have reached the last rank. attempt to move until a legal move has been made.

Checkless Chess – Players are forbidden from giving check except for Four-handed chess (also known as Chess 4 and 4-way chess) typically played checkmate. with four people. It is played on a special board, which is made of standard 8x8 board with an additional 3 rows of 8 cells extending from each side. Four sets of Chess960 or – The initial setup of the pieces are chosen different colored pieces are needed to play this game. Four way chess follows randomly. The pawns are placed on their normal squares. The remaining the same basic rules as regular two way chess. pieces are placed on the first rank. The king is placed somewhere between two white rooks. The bishops are placed on opposite-colored squares. The black Marseilles Chess or Two-move chess – After the first turn of the game by White pieces are placed equal-and-opposite the white pieces. being a single move, each player moves twice per turn. – The player with White moves once, the player with Black - The game is played on a circular board made of 4 rings of 16 moves twice, the White player then moves three times, etc. squares each. A normal set of pieces are used and the standard setup is folded along the round board. For more on chess variants, see http://www.chessvariants.com/ 8 9 White Knight Review November/December 2010 White Knight Review November/December 2010 was won by , with 16 teams champion was elected History competing. president of FIDE. He served for 8 FIDE Member countries include: In 1947 the USSR joined FIDE for years. The World Chess Federation – FIDE Afghanistan, , , , , the first time. It joined only under The first official FIDE ratings list was , , Aruba, , , the condition that , a founding in 1971. , Bahamas, , Bangladesh, The Federation Internationale Sports Olympics considered chess as Dr. (1882-1959) member, be ejected from FIDE. In 1978, Fridrik Olafsson, Barbados, Belarus, , Belize, , des Echecs (FIDE) or World Chess a sport, but they demanded that only of Holland and President of the Dutch In 1948 FIDE from , was Bolivia, Bosnia and Herzegovina, , , Federation is the international amateurs be permitted to take part in Federation. He was also a Dutch lawyer , Brunei Darussalam, , organized the World elected president of FIDE. He Burundi, Cambodia, , , , organization for chess federations the chess competition. and diplomat. Chess Championship. served for 4 years. , Costa Rica, Côte d’Ivoire, , , around the world. Its motto is Gens una The winner of this event Istvan Abonyi (1886-1942) of In 1949, Folke In 1982, Florencio , Czech Republic, , Dominican sumus, meaning “We are one people.” was Hermannis Mattison of Latvia, , Hungary. Rogard was elected Campomanes of the Republic, , , El Salvador, Estonia, Its headquarters is currently in Athens, followed by Apscheneek, then Colle. Florenziano Marusi (1860-1936) of Ethiopia, , Fiji, , , president of FIDE. He was elected president of FIDE. Georgia, Germany, Ghana, , , Greece. It has 158 national associations The team championship was won Milan, . served for 21 years. He served for 13 years. , Haiti, , , Hungary, or countries that are members. Its web by . Mattison was T. Toubin (Towbin) of . In 1950 FIDE In 1995, Iceland, , , , Iraq, Ireland, , site is www..com proclaimed amateur World Chess Lt. Jon Gudju (1897- ?) of . awarded its first was elected FIDE President. He Italy, , , , , Kazakhstan, FIDE organizes the World Chess Champion. Marc Nicolet (1876-1942) of Biel, Grandmaster (GM) title is the president of , a , Kuwait, Kyrgyzstan, Laos, Latvia, , Championship for men, women, and The event was directed by Alexander . , Liechtenstein, Lithuania, , to 27 players. The first republic in southern Russua. Macau, Macedonia, Madagascar, Malawi, , juniors. It also organizes regional Alekhine. Dr. Karel Skalicka (1896-1979) of list also included 94 In June, 1999, FIDE was , Mauritius, , Moldova, , championships and the The Frenchman Pierre Vincent Czechoslovakia. International Masters recognized by the International , Morocco, Mozambique, Myanmar, every two years. FIDE calculates the Elo was the first to put forward the idea of Jakov M. Ovadia (Ovadija) (1878- and 17 International Olympic Committee (IOC) Namibia, Nepal, , , ratings or chess ratings of players and an international chess federation. He 1941) of , . , Nicaragua, , , , Women Masters. as an International Sports Palau, Palestine, Panama, , uses these to award titles such as FIDE had the support of the French Chess Other people who participated in The first GMs were Federation. , Peru, Philippines, Poland, , Master (FM), International Master (IM), Federation to start a larger, world chess the first FIDE organization included Bernstein, Boleslavsky, In 2004 there are 159 , Qatar, Romania, , Rwanda, and International Grandmaster (IGM or federation. and George Bondarevsky, national chess federations, with San Marino, Serbia, Seychelles, Sierra Leone, GM). The Federation Internationale des Koltanowski. Botvinnik, Bronstein, Duras, Euwe, over 5 million registered chess players, , Slovakia, Slovenia, Somalia, South The purpose and aim of FIDE are Echecs (FIDE) was formed on Sunday, The motto selected for FIDE was Africa, South Korea, Spain, , Sudan, Fine, Flohr, Gruenfeld, Keres, Kostic, that are members of FIDE. Surinam, , Switzerland, , Taiwan, the diffusion and development of chess July 20, 1924. It was the closing day of Gens una sumas, meaning “We are one Kotov, Levenfish, Lilienthal, Maroczy, In 2010, Kirsan Ilyumzhinov was re- Tajikistan, , , , among all nations in the world, as well the Paris Chess . people.” Mieses, Najdorf, Ragozin, Reshevsky, elected was FIDE president. He defeated , Turkmenistan, , , United as the raising of the level of chess culture The principles of FIDE (pronounced Dr Rueb served as President of FIDE Saemisch, Smyslov, Stahlberg, Szabo, , former world chess Arab Emirates, of Great Britain and knowledge on a sporting, scientific, fee-day) were to be an association of for 25 years, from 1924 to 1949. He was and Northern Ireland, of America, Tartakower, and Vidmar. champion, by a vote of 95 to 55. The , US Virgin Islands, Uzbekistan, , creative and cultural basis. national federations of chess, with any an amateur player and wrote books on In 1957 FIDE introduced norms to election was held in Khanty-Mansiysk, Vietnam, Yemen, , and . In April 1914 an was taken national chess federation able to join endgame studies. gain FIDE titles. Siberia, where the biennial Chess in St. Petersburg, Russia to form an it. The cost of joining was an annual In 1949 of Sweden was In 1970, former world chess Olympiad was being played. international chess federation. contribution 300 francs. elected FIDE President and served until In July, 1914 an attempt was made The first President of FIDE was Dr. 1970. to organize an international chess Alexander Rueb of Holland. The first In 1970 Dr. Max Euwe was of the federation during the Mannheim registered office of FIDE was in The Netherlands elected FIDE President and International Hague, Switzerland served until 1978. Chess in 1925. In 1978 Fridrik Olafsson of Iceland Tournament. The first Vice- was elected FIDE President and served Mobile In 1920 President of FIDE until 1982. another attempt was Leonard Percy In 1982 Chess? to organize an Rees (1862-1944) of the Philippines was elected FIDE international of Surrey, . President and served until 1995. chess federation At the time, he was In 1995 Kirsan Ilyumzhinov was was made at the the Secretary of the elected FIDE President. He is also the Tournament. British Chess Federation. president of Kalmykia, a small republic Move In 1922 an international tournament The first Treasurer of FIDE was within Russia. was held in London (won by Professor A. Nicolet of Switzerland. In 1925 FIDE held its 2nd FIDE Capablanca) as part of the British Chess The original signers in the formation congress in Zurich. Congress. One of the participants of of FIDE included the following from 15 In 1926 FIDE had its third FIDE In this tournament was the Russian chess countries: congress in Budapest. Invitations master Eugene Znosko-Borovsky, who Roberto Gabriel Grau (1900-1944) of for a Chess Olympiad were late was living in Paris. He announced to , Argentina. in being sent out, so that only 4 the chess world that a chess tournament Leon Willem Weltjens (1887-1975) of countries participated. As a result, Motion would be held during the 8th Sports Anvers, Belgium. the competition was called the Little Olympic Games in Paris in 1924 and Dr. Steven Francis Smith (1861-1928) Olympiad. The winner was Hungary, hosted by the . of British Columbia, Canada. followed by Yugoslavia, Romania, and From July 13 to July 24, 1924, the Count Ignacio de Penalver (y Germany. first world team competition took place Zamora) (1857-1933) of Spain. In 1927 FIDE began organizing the at the Hotel Majestic in Paris. It was Anatol A. Tscherpurnoff (1871-1942) First Chess Olympiad during its 4th reported as the Chess Olympic Games. of , Finland. Congress in London. The official title There were 54 players from 18 countries Pierre Vincent (1878-1956) of of the tournament was known as the that participated. It was supposed to be France. Tournament of Nations, or World Team the first International Team Tournament Major Francis Hooper Rawlins Championship, but Chess Olympiads of Amateurs. The organizers of the (1861-1925) of England. became a more popular title. The event 10 11 White Knight Review November/December 2010 White Knight Review November/December 2010 1959, issue of . the event appeared in the August 20, lived in a four-room apartment with Biography Bobby Fischer (1959-2008) At the end of 1959, Fischer’s 1960 issue of Chess Life. over 200 chess books, thousands of USCF rating was 2636, behind The August 5, 1960 issue of Chess chess magazines, and an inlaid chess Reshevsky’s 2693 rating. Life published supplement No. 4 of table he had made for him in The Fischer King: The illusive life of Bobby Fischer Pt. 2 On December 16, 1959, just the USCF National Rating List. Switzerland. By Bill Wall before the 1959-60 US Fischer led the list with 2640, In early 1961 he told journalist Championship, Fischer decided not followed by Reshevsky at 2620. Robert Cantwell (1908-1978), “I am Editor’s Note: Last month an Part kids. Half of them are crazy. If behind Tal and Gligoric, with 8 they’d have let me, I would have quit wins, 5 draws, and 2 losses. Max to play at the last minute. He had In 1960, Fischer’s mother, going to win the World one of Bobby Fisher we covered his demanded a public drawing of the Regina, staged a five-hour protest in Championship. Anyway, Tal hasn’t early life from his birth in 1943 till before I was 16.” Euwe, in an interview in Swiss Barbra (Barbara) Streisand, who Schachzeitung, said of Fischer, “His pairings. was front of the urging been playing so good and he may 1958 when by the age of 13 he was substituted for Fischer. On President Eisenhower to send an not even be World Champion by the astounding players across the world attended Erasmus Hall at the same chess technique is nearly a miracle. time as Fischer, had a crush on In their youth, only a few players December 19, after it was agreed American team to the chess time the next match is held.” To a with his prodigious playing. Fischer that the drawing would be made Olympiad in , . reporter for , he said, at the age of 13 was the youngest Bobby. Every day they had lunch could handle the endgame so together. Barbra said that Fischer precisely. Only two such players are public in the future, Fischer decided Fischer took first place at “Give me two years. I will win it.” player to win the U.S. to defend his title. Reykjavik, Iceland in October. (Brady, p. 41) Championship. He would hold the was “always alone and very peculiar. known to me, Smyslov and But I found him very sexy.” Capablanca.” (Brady, p. 29) The Fischer, for the first time, showed In November, 1960, he played In June, 1961, the American title at 15 as the youngest up in a suit. He wore a white shirt board 1 for the United States at the Chess Foundation announced plans grandmaster in history (until 1991). (, Barbra The Zurich tournament was staged to Way She Is, page 41) celebrate the 150th anniversary of and a white tie. He had been Chess Olympiad in Leipzig, East for a match between Fischer and encouraged by to dress Germany, winning 10 games, Reshevsky. It was to consist of 16 In January 1959, Bobby Fischer Around this time, Mrs. Fischer the founding of the Zurich Chess and Bobby visited , who Club (Schachgesellschaft). The well. drawing 6, and losing 2. The USA games. again won the U.S. Championship In 1959, Fischer published Bobby took 2nd, behind the . In July he started a match with (Rosenwald Trophy) with 6 wins was working event was covered in with the U.S. the July 5, 1959 issue Fischer’s Games of Chess. In the He won the silver medal for Sam Reshevsky and tied it with 2 and 5 draws. His USCF rating was introduction, he wrote that “Mr. individual result. The USA won a wins, 7 draws, and 2 losses before 2665. The event was covered in the Chess of Chess Life. Federation. During the Nigro was possibly not the best silver medal for team result. His negotiations broke down to January 5, 1959 issue of Chess Life. player in the world, but he was a rating was 2641. The event was continue the match over the playing The February 5, 1959 issue of She was summer of 1959, looking for Regina Fischer was very good teacher.” covered in the December 5, 1960 schedule and time of the start of Chess Life published its National From December 18, 1959 issue of Chess Life. each game. The games were played Chess Ratings, led by Reshevsky at any financial trying to sell Bobby aid that the Fischer chess wallets. through January 4, 1960, Fischer In an interview in Leipzig, in New York and Los Angeles. 2693 and followed by Fischer at again won the U.S. Championship Fischer was asked when he would be Bobby forfeited the match 2636. USCF could She had them made give. Down in Argentina and was with 7 wins, 4 draws, and no losses. the world champion. Fischer because the 12th game of the series After Fischer’s U.S. It was his 3rd year in a row that he replied, “Perhaps in 1963. Why not.” was set at 11 a.m., and Bobby was Championship win, the student the hall from advertising them in the USCF The New York Times. won the U.S. championship. His (Brady, p. 40) not told of this time change. The council at Erasmus Hall had voted rating was 2636. The event was During the Leipzig Olympiad, game had been scheduled for play at him a gold medal for his office was the It had Bobby’s office of Dr. profile and signature covered in the February 5, 1960, Fischer played Tal a blitz match and the Beverly Hilton Hotel in Los accomplishments. issue of Chess Life. lost 1-4. Angeles on Sunday, August 13 at He attended Erasmus Hall High Albrecht stamped in gold. She Buschke, who wanted to sell them In April, 1960 he tied for 1st-2nd Against his game with Najdorf, 1:30 pm. At 10 am that morning, he School in (Flatbush and with at Mar del Plata, Bobby had an easily won game, but received a call that the playing time Church) with Barbara (later specialized in at the U.S. Open in chess Omaha that summer, Argentina. He won 13 games, drew made a mistake and Najdorf was had been moved up to 11 am to changed to Barbra) Streisand and 1 (to Bronstein), and lost 1 (to able to . Bobby then swept the accommodate the wishes of the they were good friends. Neil literature. He offered Bobby to but Bobby was against it. choose a number of chess books free Mrs. Fischer also wrote a letter to Spassky, who played the King’s pieces off the table in disgust. principal patron, Mrs. Jacqueline Diamond also attended this school ). The event was covered in Najdorf then told Fischer, “You’ll Piatigorsky. She wanted the game to at the same time as Fischer and of charge. It took Bobby over a year the New York Herald Tribune to make his selection. (Brady, p. 27) appealing to people for funds to the May 5, 1960 issue of Chess Life. never play in South America again.” be over in time for her to attend a Streisand. From June 23 through July 23, This account appeared in the Soviet concert to be given that night by her Bobby later dropped out of In Yugoslavia, a chess club was help finance U.S. participation in named after Fischer. overseas tournaments. She asked for Fischer played in an international chess press by Yugoslav journalist husband, . Bobby school to become a professional tournament in Buenos Aires. He Dmitrije Bjelica. refused to play at 11 a.m. and cited a chess player. Fischer’s academic In April 1959 he took 3rd-4th at contributions to be sent to the the annual international USCF. About $3,000 was received, scored 8.5-10.5. He only won 3 In January 1961, Bobby again clause in his playing contract which records indicated an I.Q. of 180 games in 19 rounds. It was the worst won the U.S. Championship with 7 stated that playing time had to be with an incredibly retentive tournament in Mar del Plata, including a $2,000 check from Argentina. The expenses of this trip Sports Illustrated. Bobby Fischer result of his career. When asked to wins, 4 draws, and no losses. His acceptable to both parties. memory. Erasmus High School is explain his results, he said the prize was $1,000 and he qualified On August 25, 1961, Bobby gave the second oldest secondary school were handled by the sponsoring refused any of this money. organization. It was Bobby’s first The manufacturers of Fischer lighting was poor. The crosstable of for the next . His rating a controversial 5 hour interview in the United States, established in was 2660. with for Harpers 1787. also attended trip to South America. pianos offered Bobby $500 to pose From April 20 to May 6, 1959, he for one photo of him standing next In 1961, he wrote his famous magazine. It appeared in January, Erasmus High. “Bust to the King’s Gambit,” which 1962. The March 5, 1959 issue of Chess went to , Chile (Arturo to one of their pianos with a chess Alessandri Palma International set on top. Fischer turned this offer appeared in the first issue of The In that interview, he said, Life was dedicated to Bobby Fischer. American Chess Quarterly. “They’re all weak, all women. Fischer may have dropped out of Tournament) where he placed 4th- down. He said, “It was just a cheap 7th. Fischer withdrew from the gimmick.” (Brady, p. 32). On March 9, 1961, Fischer They’re stupid compared to men. school when he turned 16 on March turned 18. He was living alone in a They shouldn’t play chess, you 9, 1959. He said he hated school tournament for a short while, In September-October, 1959, he stating that he had gone there with took 5th-6th at the Bled/Zagrev/ Brooklyn flat. His rent, food, and know. They’re like beginners. They except for Spanish and geometry. clothing bills (he was now dressing lose every single game against a In a 1961 interview with Ralph the understanding that there was Belgrade , $2,000 in cash prizes. It turned out won by , age 22. Tal up in suit and tie) were being paid man. There isn’t a woman player in Ginzburg, he said, “My two and a by his mother. He lived in an area of the world I can’t give knight-odds to half years in Erasmus High I wasted. that there was $1,000 in cash prizes received $1,000 for 1st place. and $1,000 in trophies. He was Fischer received $200 for two Brooklyn (Bedford-Stuyvesant all and still beat.” I didn’t like the whole thing. You district) where the homicide and He was asked if he considered have to mix with all those stupid eventually persuaded to re-enter. months work. Tal beat Fischer in all In May, 1959 he took 3rd-4th 4 games that they played. The event general crime rate was among the himself the greatest player that ever kids. The teachers are even stupider highest in the city of New York. He than the kids. They talk down to the (with Keres) at Zurich, Switzerland was covered in the November 20, Continued on Page 14 12 13 White Knight Review November/December 2010 White Knight Review November/December 2010 lived, even better than Capablanca, Fischer said, “I read a book lately by champion.” (Brady, p. 49) was to play over 400 opponents at During the exhibition months, Steinitz, or Morphy. He replied, Nietzsche and he says religion is just After Bled, Fischer was confined once in an exhibition, but was Fischer carried a Bible with him “Well, I don’t like to put things like too dull the senses of the people. I for a few days at a hospital in postponed because of President during his travels and read it that in print, it sounds so a g re e .” Bosnia, due to an appendicitis Kennedy’s assassination (November regularly. (The Chess egotistical. But to answer your Finally, Ginzburg asked him attack. However, he did not have any 22, 1963) and a fire at the Astor Correspondent, July, 1964) question, Yes.” what he was going to do when he surgery and waited out the pain. hotel where the event was to have On March 9, 1964, he turned 21. Ginzburg noted that quite a few becomes world chess champion. In December, 1961, Fischer was taken place. He was attempting to His mother sent him a number of number of were in the upper Fischer said, “I’ll make a tour of the in London. He appeared in the break Gideon Stahlberg’s record of chess books from the Soviet Union. echelons of chess. Fischer replied, whole world, giving exhibitions. I’ll BBC’s “Chess Treasure of the Air.” 400 opponents. Stahlberg played He had just completed a 65 board “Yeah, there are too many Jews in set new standards. I’ll write a couple Fischer and played 400 opponents in Buenos Aires in in chess. They seem to have taken away of chess books and start to a game against 1941, winning 364, 14 draws, and 22 Washington, DC the day before. the class of the game. They don’t reorganize the whole game. I’ll have and P. H. Clarke. The game was losses. It was only $3 to play and $1 In the first issue of Chessworld, seem to dress so nicely, you know. my own club. It’ll be class. I’ll hold adjudicated as a draw by Max Euwe. to watch. he wrote an article called, “The Ten That’s what I don’t like.” Fischer big international tournaments in Bobby Fischer chose not to play On December 31, 1963, Bobby Greatest Masters in History.” The admitted he was part Jewish, that my club with big cash prizes. Then in the 1961-62 U.S. Chess Fischer was at a New Year’s Eve players he included were Paul his mother was Jewish. In reality, I’ll build me a house. I’m going to Championship. That event was won party at the home of Jack Collins. Morphy, , William both his mother and his father hire the best architect and have him by Larry Evans. Right after ringing in the new year, Steinitz, , Mikhail (either Hans-Gerhadt Fischer or build it in the shape of a rook. I In 1962 Bobby became involved Bobby played several blindfold Chigorin, Alexander Alekhine, Jose ) were Jewish. want to live the rest of my life in a in the Worldwide Church of God. games at the party with Capablanca, Boris Spassky, Mikhail In the interview, Fischer said he house built exactly like a rook.” In March, 1962, he won the International Master Bill Addison Tal, and . wanted to learn judo, but the judo In October, 1961, he took 2nd at Interzonal in with 13 under conditions where Addison The first international rating list schools in New York were too low the in Bled, wins, 9 draws, and no losses. This had sight of a chess board and was published by in 1964. class for him. He said he used to do Yugoslavia, behind Tal. He defeated was the first interzonal that a Soviet pieces. Addison also had White in The top two players were Fischer weight lifting to keep himself in Tal in the 2nd round. Fischer’s player did not take first place. every game. In addition, Bobby and Petrosian at 2690. His USCF shape, but gave it up as too boring. rating was 2675. Fischer’s rating was 2713. took off his king’s bishop pawn at rating was 2734. He chose not to He was also interested in palmistry Of Fischer’s performance at Bled, After Stockholm, Gideon the start of each game. Each player play in the 1964 but not astrology. He said his Larry Evans said, “He has shown Stahlberg and Jostein Westberg During the Candidates had only five minutes per game. Interzonal, missing the world favorite actor was Marlon Brando beyond the shadow of a doubt that issued the first book about him, tournament, Tal was hospitalized. Addison barely managed to break championship cycle. He was still but didn’t watch television because he is a contender for the world title. called Bobby Fischer. It contained a His only visitor was Bobby Fischer. even in their series. (Brady, p. 76) protesting the Soviets and their he feared it was giving off radiation. Fischer has single-handedly broken short biographical sketch and 50 None of the Soviets or any other On January 2, 1964, Bobby cheating in events like the He said he liked Tennessee the Russian iron grip on chess selected games. It was published in participant visited Tal while he was Fischer won the U.S. Championship . Williams’ pictures. supremacy.” Svetozar Gligoric said, Stockholm in 1962. in the hospital. with a perfect score of 11 wins. First Perhaps in 1964, Bobby Fischer When asked about religion, “Bobby is going to be world In May 1962, he took 4th place at In October 1962, he played Board prize was $2,000. took a physical examination for the the Curacao, Dutch West Indies, 1 for the United States at the 15th In 1964, he began a nationwide military. For some reason, he was Candidates tournament, won by Chess Olympiad in Varna, Bulgaria simultaneous exhibition for the rest rejected. Petrosian. He later accused the and scored 8 wins, 6 draws, and 3 of the year. His fee was $250 for a Fischer refused to play in the of cheating in this event losses. The USA took 4th place, 50-board simul and a lecture. Harry 1965 Interzonal in Amsterdam. He and that interview was published in behind the Soviet Union, Evans, father of Larry Evans, was in told Holiday editor Peter that the August 20, 1962 edition of Yugoslavia, and Argentina. His charge of putting it together. From “FIDE is a crooked organization, Sports Illustrated under the title USCF rating was 2659 after the February to May, he played in 40 run by the Communists from “The Russians Have Fixed World event. cities. He played 1,882 games, . (Brady, p. 81) Chess.” During this tournament, In January 1963, Bobby won the winning 1,719, drawing 102, and From October through U.S. Championship with 6 wins, 4 was there as a losing 61 games. Continued on Page 16 second to Pal Benko and Fischer. draws, and 1 loss (to Edmar On May 9, Benko came looking for Mednis). His rating was 2664. Bisguier in Fischer’s room to get He announced he was boycotting some help in analyzing his FIDE tournaments until the adjourned game with Petrosian. Russians stopped fixing chess. Fischer told Benko to leave and they In July, 1963 he won the Western both got in a fist fight. The next day Open in Bay City, Michigan, Fischer wrote a letter to the winning $750. His USCF rating was organizing committee to fine and/or 2674. expel Benko from the tournament. In September he won the New The letter was ignored. After the York State Open with a perfect score event, Fischer’s USCF rating was of 7 wins, no draws, and no losses. 2687. His USCF rating was 2685. Bisguier wrote, “Apparently he In the September 1963 issue of [Benko] developed this feeling of Chess Life, there was an righteousness after he got off to announcement that Bobby Fischer such a good start [he defeated Tal was compiling his early games, from and Fischer in rounds 1 and 2]. I 1955 through 1957, for publication. was willing to give my services to If anyone had any scores that they both but Fischer wanted a second all played against Fischer, to send them to himself and it was so agreed in to Chess Life in care of J.F. advance.” (Brady, p. 57) Reinhardt. On November 27, 1963, Fischer 14 15 White Knight Review November/December 2010 White Knight Review November/December 2010 December, 1964, Fischer gave chess 42nd Street, near the United In 1967, a review copy of My lectures at the . Nations building. Memorable Games: 52 Tournament In May, 1965, he gave a In December, 1966, Fischer Games, was printed but never simultaneous exhibition at the started writing a chess column for published. . Boys’ Life, the official publication of In the spring of 1968 Bobby In August 1965, Bobby the Boy Scouts of America. He moved to Ambrose Avenue in Los participated in the 4th Capablanca wrote a column until December, Angeles and followed the Memorial in Cuba by playing 1969. Worldwide Church of God. through a teletype machine at the In April 1967, Fischer took 1st In July he took 1st place at Marshall Chess Club in New York. place at Monaco. His USCF rating Nathanya, Israel. His USCF rating He tied for 2nd-4th with 12 wins, 6 was 2762. He received an was 2739. draws, and 3 losses. The United In July, 1968, he gave a 5 States did not have diplomatic board clock simul in Athens, relations with Cuba, and the winning 4 and drawing one State Department would not game. authorize him to travel to In September he took 1st . Fischer thus had to place at , Yugoslavia. play by teletype and the Cuban His USCF rating was 2745. government paid for the In 1969 Bobby finished his services, over $10,000. Fischer’s book, MY 60 MEMORABLE USCF rating was 2706. GAMES. It included 9 draws In 1965 Frank Brady and 3 losses. published Profile of a Prodigy, He played Board 1 in a a biography of Bobby Fischer. New York Metropolitan In late 1965, Fischer spent League and defeated Anthony his time writing Bobby Fischer Saidy. Teaches Chess. In April 1970, he played In December 1965, he won Board 2 in the USSR vs. REST the U.S. Chess Championship OF THE WORLD match in with 8 wins, 1 draw, and 2 Belgrade, beating Petrosian losses. His 1st place prize was with 2 wins and 2 draws. $2,000. Fischer’s USCF rating Fischer asked for and received after the event was 2708. He a $2,500 appearance fee. All also qualified for the 1967 the other players were given a Interzonal in , Tunisia. $500 honorarium. The prize In April, 1966, Bobby for the winner of board 1 was Fischer was the official an Italian-built Fiat. The adjudicator at the Greater New prize for the winner of board York Open Championship. 2 was a Russian-built In July 1966, Bobby took Moskvich. The Soviets won 2nd place at the Piatigorsky 20.5 to 19.5. His USCF rating Cup in Santa Monica, behind appearance fee of $2,000 and a 5,000 was 2755. Spassky. Over 1,000 people watched franc first prize. The trophy was He then went on to Herceg Novi, his game with Boris Spassky, the presented to him by Prince Rainier Yugoslavia and won the unofficial largest audience for a chess game in and Princess Grace. world 5-minute championship with U.S. history. His USCF rating was In the summer of 1967, he went 17 wins, 4 draws, and 1 loss (to 2713. to the Philippines for a series of Korchnoi). He score 4.5 points more In , he played simultaneous and clock exhibitions. than 2nd place finisher Mikhail Tal. Board 1 for the U.S. at the 17th In August 1967, he won at Fischer spent no more than 2 Chess Olympiad in Havana, scoring , Yugoslavia. His USCF rating minutes on any game. After the 14 wins, 2 draws, and 1 loss. His was 2741. tournament he called off from USCF rating was 2748. In October he participated in the memory all of the moves from his In December 1966, he won the Sousse Interzonal, but withdrew 22 games, involving over 1,000 U.S. Championship with 8 wins, 3 after leading the event with 7 wins moves. In May, 1970, he took 1st at draws, and no losses. This was his and 3 draws. He forfeited his game Rovinj/. His USCF rating was 8th U.S. Championship title. His with the Soviet international master 2748. USCF rating was 2758. Gipslis because of too many games In June, 1970, Fischer flew to In 1966, Bobby’s mother started he had to play in succession as a to be the guest of Dimitrije her medical school degree in the result of the tournament organizers Bjelica. They produced a series of 10 Freidrich Schiller University in East re-scheduling his games around his television shows, each devoted to a Germany. She completed her religious holidays and Sabbath. famous chess master. medical degree two years later, at Since the organizers would not let In August 1970, he took 1st place the age of 55. him replay the forfeited game, at Buenos Aires. His USCF rating At this time, Bobby was living in Fischer withdrew. His USCF rating was 2762. a suite at the Tudor Hotel on East was 2754 after this event. Continued on Page 18

16 17 White Knight Review November/December 2010 White Knight Review November/December 2010 In September he played Board 1 defeated with 5 Productions about doing a limit. for the U.S. at the 19th Olympiad in wins, 3 draws, and 1 loss in Buenos documentary based on his life. He Fischer insisted that the Siegen, Switzerland. His USCF Aires for the Candidates finals. He told the press that he eats sensibly championship be decided by 10 rating was 2755. now became challenger for the and sleeps 10 hours a night. For wins, draws not counting, and that In November, Pal Benko gave up . His USCF relaxation he said he plays the number of games be unlimited. his spot at the rating was 2824. His FIDE rating racquetball and tennis and takes Also, Fischer insisted that if the Interzonal for $2,000 so that Fischer was 2785. During the match with walks. (Lima News, Jan 2, 1973) score reached 9 wins apiece, the could play. Bobby won the event Petrosian, someone threw a stink Bobby Fischer’s last published champion should retain the title. with 15 wins, 7 draws, and 1 loss. bomb in the playing hall. USCF rating was 2810. His FIDE On June 21, 1974, Fischer His USCF rating was 2771. His In January 1972 Bobby appeared rating was 2785. telegrammed a message to the FIDE December 1970 FIDE rating was on the show and talked In 1973, Las Vegas offered delegates at on the match 2740. about chess. Fischer $1 million to play a chess conditions he wanted for the world Fischer won the for Just before the match with Boris match in Las Vegas. championship match. 1970, 1971, and 1972. Spassky, he told the Washington In 1973 Bobby moved to Los In June, 1974, the FIDE Congress In 1971, Fischer proposed that Post “I don’t believe in psychology. I Angeles. His mother Regina sent in Nice approved the 10-win the world championship match be believe in good moves.” him her Social Security checks to regulation and the elimination of decided on the first player winning On , 1972 he began his survive on. draws from the scoring, but 10 games. match with Boris Spassky in In 1973, Fischer traveled to imposed a 36-game limit and In June 1971, Bobby Fischer Reykjavik (Smoky Bay), Iceland for Tokyo to meet with the Japan Chess rejected the 9-9 proposal. Fred defeated with 6 the world championship. On Association and met Miss Miyoko Cramer telephoned FIDE’s decision wins, no draws, no losses in the , 1972 Bobby became Watai, who gave him a tour of to Fischer. Candidates quarterfinals in world champion after winning 7 Tokyo. They later became very good On June 27, 1974, Fischer sent a , Canada. Fischer wanted games, drawing 11 games, and friends and lived together in 2000. telegram from Pasadena, California Larry Evans to be his second, but losing 3 games (one on ). In September, 1973, Fred to the FIDE Congress: “As I made Evans refused when Fischer Fischer received $160,000 for his Cramer, Vice President (Zone 5) of clear in my telegram to the FIDE demanded that Evans abstain from efforts and another $40,000 in FIDE, proposed that the world delegates, the match conditions I with Fischer three times, in Tokyo, played at least 17 blitz games and any journalism and for him to leave royalties. President Nixon sent him championship match be decided on proposed were non-negotiable... Japan, in Washington, DC, and in Fischer won every game. his wife, Ingred, back home in a telegram congratulating him for 10 wins, draws not counting. He FIDE has decided against my , to discuss an unofficial In 1982 Fischer published, “I . Fischer’s USCF rating was his fine efforts. Fischer donated also proposed that the champion participation in the 1975 World match or possible world WAS TORTURED IN THE 2801. His FIDE rating was 2760. $61,200 of his winnings to the retains his title if it were a 9-9 tie. Chess Championship. I therefore championship match. PASADENA JAILHOUSE.” He used In July 1971, he defeated Bent Worldwide Church of God. His This became known as the Cramer resign my FIDE World In 1977 Bobby played three the pseudonym Robert D. James. Larsen also with a perfect 6-0 score USCF rating after the event was proposal, or Annex 43 by FIDE. In Championship title.” games against the MIT Greenblatt The pamphlet was 14 pages on how in the Candidates semi-final in 2810. This would be his last USCF September, Bobby Fischer In 1974, Fischer wrote to Larry computer program and won all he was treated in jail for 48 hours. , Colorado. His performance rating. His FIDE rating was 2780. telegrammed the FIDE Congress Evans about not counting draws in a three games. In 1984 Bobby Fischer wrote to rating was 3060. His USCF rating This would be his last FIDE rating. being held in Helsinki that FIDE match. Larry Evans wrote: “The In 1977, Fischer played a training the editors of the Encyclopedia peaked at 2825. Of interest is that Bobby Fischer adopt the Cramer proposal. The whole idea of not counting draws is match with Jack Collins and won Judaica requesting his name be In August Bobby won the once wanted to be a singer. He did FIDE Congress voted that the match to eliminate a draw match.” Fischer with 16 wins, one loss, and three removed from their encyclopedia. Chess Club 5-minute sing for Saemund Paisson, the should be based on 6 games, not 10 responded: “Nonsense! The whole draws. He claimed he was not a Jew and blitz with 21 wins and 1 draw. Icelandic policeman assigned to games. idea is to make sure the players Fischer turned down $250,000 to had never been circumcised. In September, 1971, Bobby guard him in Reykjavik. When In November, 1973, Bobby draw blood by winning games, and play one chess game at Caesar’s In 1987 the House of Paisson was asked how Fischer Fischer was the guest of Philippine the spectators get their money’s Palace in Las Vegas and $3 million Representatives passed House sounded, he said, “Not very President Ferdinand Marcos. He worth. And most importantly as an to play in a tournament in the Resolution Bill 545 recognizing beautiful because Bobby was not a made an appearance at the accurate test of who is the world’s Philippines. At the end of 1977 he Bobby Fischer as the world chess very musical voice.” (by Harold Philippines International best player.” cut all ties with the Worldwide champion. Schoenberg. New York Times, 1972) Tournament, won by . In January, 1975, the Philippines Church of God. He claimed that the In 1988 Bobby patented the On September 22, 1972, the Fischer played an exhibition game were offering $5 million for Fischer church was taking orders from a Fischer digital chess clock which mayor of New York declared that with President Marcos, which was to play Karpov in the Philippines. satanical secret world government. adds 2 minutes per move (the patent day as Bobby Fischer day. broadcast on television. It lasted 5 In March, 1975, an extraordinary In 1978 Bobby Fischer filed a expired in November, 2001). In 1972 Frank Brady wrote a new minutes after 8 moves and a draw FIDE Congress was held in $3.2 million lawsuit against the In 1991 Bill Wall delivered to edition of Profile of a Prodigy. agreed. Fischer then played Osterbek, Netherlands, and it was publishers of a magazine critical of Bobby Fischer, via Joan Targ, a large In 1972, Fischer showed up for Florencio Campomanes, President agreed to have an unlimited number the Worldwide Church of God. He number of chess magazines and 15 minutes at the Church’s Fried of the Philippines Chess Federation, of world championship games, but claimed the writers taped his chess books provided to him by Chicken tournament in San in a blitz game on television. refused Fischer’s 9-9 rule (32 votes conversations without his consent. International Master John Antonio. Fischer won on time. Fischer was for it, and 35 votes against it). He then accused the church of Donaldson. Every issue of Inside Bobby Fischer appeared on the paid $20,000 for appearance fee. On , 1975 Bobby Fischer reneging on their promise to finance Chess by was Johnny Carson show on November In 1974, Fischer asked for forfeited his title as world chess the lawsuit. included, as requested by Fischer. 8, 1972. $150,000 in appearance fee to play champion to Anatoly Karpov On May 26, 1981, Fischer was In early 1992 Fischer started a In December, 1972, Bobby in the Nice Olympiad. without playing a single chess game arrested in Pasadena under relationship with 18-year old Zita Fischer met the press at a luncheon In early 1974, FIDE’s rules since winning the world suspicion of a bank robber. He was Rajcsansyi of Hungary. She may in his honor at the home of his committee issued a 14-page championship. Fischer had been stopped by a police officer who said have persuaded him to play a chess attorney, Stanley Radar, in Beverly document with 179 numbered living in an apartment in South he fit the description of a bank match with Boris Spassky. Plans Hills. A few producers had already paragraphs of regulations for the Pasadena owned by the Worldwide robber. Fischer refused to answer were being made to have Spassky contacted him with a variety of film world championship match. Fischer Church of God since the world some questions as he was arrested. play a re-match with Fischer in and television appearances. He had agreed to all the regulations except championship. In 1981 Fischer stayed with Yugoslavia. been discussing with Wolper one. He did not agree to a 36-game In 1976, Karpov met secretly grandmaster Peter Biyiasis. They Continued on Page 20 18 19 White Knight Review November/December 2010 White Knight Review November/December 2010 On August 21, 1992 the Argentina to promote his random Philippine Grandmaster Eugene In May, 2002 Frank Berry posted Fischer was going to , Department of the Treasury ordered chess (Fischerandomchess), where Torre. Fischer was living his an Internet article in ChessCafe Philippines to give another radio Bobby Fischer to stop his activities you set up the pieces in a random girlfriend, Justine Young. She was entitled, “Was Fischer’s mother a interview for Radio Bomba. in the planning of a chess match in manner. This would take away the 22 years-old and a Chinese-Filipino. Communist Spy?” He implied that After two weeks of incarceration, Yugoslavia. He was subject to the book knowledge of regular chess. She had a daughter, Jinky Young, Bobby Fisher’s mother was a he agreed to hire a lawyer (Masako prohibitions under Executive Order The President of FIDE offered born in 2000 in Manila. Justine communist spy and that his father Suzuki and Takeshi O’Hashi) to 12810, signed by George Bush on Fischer $100,000 and a piece of land Young claimed that Fischer was the may have been a leading German appeal the Japanese government’s June 5, 1992 (rescinded in 2003), in the Kalmyk Republic in redress father of Jinky Young. spy. decision to deport him. He has been imposing sanctions against Serbia for copyright violations by former Later that year, Fischer traveled In November, 2002, the telling Japanese authorities that he and . Soviet publishers. to Japan and was living with Miyoko Philadelphia Inquirer published a is a German citizen, invoking his On September 1, 1992, Bobby On January 24, 1997 Fischer was Watai, President of the Japanese story that identifies the real father lineage to a German-born father Fischer came out of his 20 year issued a U.S. (#27792702) Chess Association and former of Bobby Fischer. The article (Hans-Gerhardt Fischer, born in retirement and gave a press at the American Embassy at , Japanese women’s chess champion. identifies the real father to be Paul Berlin in 1908). conference in Yugoslavia. He pulled Switzerland. The passport should In 2001, Fischer worked for Nemenyi, a Hungarian physicist. He On August 10, 2003, Fischer was out an order from the U.S. Treasury have been valid until 2007. awhile as a disc jockey for DZSR, an died in 1952. He was at the transferred from Narita airport Department warning him that he On July 27, 1997 Bobby Fischer’s AM station in Manila. In University of in 1942 (east of Tokyo) to Ushiku, an hour would be violating U.N. sanctions if mother died in Palo Alto, for exclusive interviews, Fischer was working on the Manhattan Project north of Tokyo. he played chess in Yugoslavia. He California. She was 84. allowed to spin his favorite Rhythm to develop the first nuclear bomb. On August 16, 2004, Bobby spit on the order and now faces 10 On June 2, 1998, Bobby Fischer’s & Blues records and discuss politics. Paul Nemenyi worked on the Fischer appealed to US Secretary of years in prison and a $250,000 fine only sister, Joan Fischer Targ, died On September 11, 2001, Bobby mechanism which triggered the State to help him if he returns to the U.S. In addition, of a cerebral hemorrhage at the age Fischer spoke on Philippine radio atomic bomb. Bobby was born in renounce US citizenship. He also physical problems. He remained in he must forfeit his $3.65 million to of 60. She lived in Portola Valley, (Radio Bomba in Baguio) while in Chicago on March 9, 1943. Russell announced plans to marry Miyoko the hospital until November and the U.S. Treasury and forfeit 10% of California and was married to Japan, applauding the New York Targ, Bobby’s brother-in-law, Watai, the returned to his home in December. any match royalties earned. On Stanford physicist Russell Targ. terrorist and Pentagon attacks. disputes this suggestion that President. On January 17, 2008, Bobby September 30, Bobby Fischer began In 1998 all of Bobby Fischer’s On October 28, 2001 the US Nemenyi was Fischer’s real father. In September, 2004, a Japanese Fischer died from kidney failure his re-match with Boris Spassky valuables and belongings kept at the Chess Federation put out a Hans-Gerhardt Fischer is listed on court granted an injunction (degenerative renal failure) in a (ranked 99 in the world) in Sveti Bekins Moving and Storage newsletter disassociating itself from Bobby’s birth certificate. preventing Fischer from being Reykjavik hospital. He was 64. His Stefan (Montenagro), Yugoslavia. Company in Pasadena, California the remarks of Fischer about the On December 11, 2003 the U.S. deported until it had ruled on his last words were “Nothing is as The match was organized by banker were sold when the storage bill was terrorist actions and threatening to Embassy in Manila sent a letter by lawsuit seeking to have the healing as the human touch.” Jedzimir Vasiljevic. On November not paid by Bob Ellsworth of revoke his USCF membership. the U.S. Consul General (Thomas deportation order thrown out. The last movie Fischer saw before 11, Fischer won the match with 10 Pasadena, who was supposed to pay In 2001 Grandmaster Allegra) to the Japanese authorities In January, 2005, Fischer wrote a his death was American Gangster. wins, 5 losses, and 15 draws. He his bills. was convinced that Bobby Fischer that Fischer’s U.S. passport letter to the government of Iceland, On January 21, 2008, he was received $3.65 million for his On January 13, 1999 Fischer was playing chess on the Internet. (#27792702) had been revoked asking for Icelandic citizenship. The buried in the small Christian winnings and Spassky received $1.5 granted a live radio interview to a An unknown player easily defeated pursuant to Section 51.70(a) Icelandic authorities granted him cemetery of Laugardaelir church in million. The match used the new radio station in Budapest, Hungary. Short, one of the world’s strongest (Denial of ) of Title 22 of an alien’s passport, but that was , Iceland. Bobby Fischer chess clock. Fischer’s It was the first of over 20 radio chess grandmasters, in an 8-game the Code of Federal Regulations. insufficient for the Japanese Fischer’s estate was estimated at 2nd during the match was Eugene interviews he would make in the match. The unknown player Fischer was still being charged with government to release him. So the $2 million. Four parties claimed Torre of the Philippines. next 3 years. answered all of Short’s questions violating Title 50, US Code 1701, Icelandic government unanimously the money: , who On December 15, 1992 the State On January 14, 1999 Fischer about chess in the 1960s and knew 1702, and 1705 and Executive Order granted Fischer full citizenship in claims she is the wife of Fischer, Department indicted Bobby Fischer granted an interview to Baguio all the answers to several Bobby 12810. The crime was performing a March, 2005. The U.S. government Marilyn Young who says that for violating Radio in the Fischer trivia questions (who did contract in support of a commercial filed charges of tax evasion against Fischer is the father of her Title 50, US Philippines. He Fischer play in round 3 of the 1967 project in a banned country Fischer in an effort to prevent him Philippine daughter Jinky Young, Code 1701, accused the Sousse interzonal, how many moves, (Federal Republic of Yugoslavia). from traveling to Iceland. the Targ family – his two American 1702, and 1705 Jewish and what was the opening). Others On March 9, 2004 Fischer turned The Japanese released Fischer on nephews Alexander and Nicholas and Executive community of speculate that the player was using a 61. March 23, 2005. Fischer then flew to Targ and their father Russell Targ, Order 12810 conspiring computer, but others have analyzed On April 15, 2004 Bobby Fischer Iceland. and the U.S. government, claiming (Prohibiting against him and the moves and the time between flew to Japan. He cleared Japanese Fischer was issued an Icelandic unpaid taxes. Transaction denied the moves to show that it was a human immigration at the time. passport on April 27, 2005. It will In December 2009, the Supreme with holocaust of the playing. On July 13, 2004 at about 5:30 expire on April 27, 2015. Court of Iceland ruled that Watai’s Yugoslavia), Nazis. He has On January 27, 2002 Fischer did pm, Bobby Fischer was arrested by In May, 2005, Boris Spassky claim of marriage was invalidated signed by since made 9 a radio interview from Reykjavik, the Japanese immigration visited Iceland with the intent of because of her failure to present the President interviews over Iceland. He encouraged the authorities at Narita International getting Fischer to return to chess. original of their alleged marriage George Bush on the radio. Icelandic government to close the Airport in Tokyo, Japan during a In December, 2005, eBay opened certificate. June 2, 1992. On May 24, local U.S. naval base. He then said, rough struggle. Fischer was headed a bid on Bobby Fischer’s belongings On July 5, 2010, DNA samples The crime was performing a 1999, in Baguio, Fischer said: “If they refuse to go, send them to Manila, Philippines at the time that had been stored in a Pasadena were taken of Bobby Fischer due to contract in support of a commercial “America is totally under control of some letters with anthrax. They’ll on a flight (JL 745). storage lot. The starting bid was a filed paternity lawsuit from project in a banned country the Jews... The Secretary of State get the message.” He was then going to fly to Hong $15,000. Marilyn Young that Fischer was a (Federal Republic of Yugoslavia). and the Secretary of Defense are In 2002, it was reported that Kong. Fischer was told that he On December 10, 2006, Fischer father of Jinky Young. On August He was ordered to be arrested by dirty Jews.” Bobby Fischer was living in Tokyo, would be deported to the United phoned in to an Icelandic television 17, 2010, the DNS tests determined any U.S. Marshall or any authorized Fischer was living in Budapest in Japan working on a new chess clock States to face charges. Japan and the station and pointed out a winning that Fischer was not the father of agent for violating the International the 1990s. He has been frequented for Seiko that could also be used in United States have an extradition which was missed in a Jinky Young. Emergency Economic Powers Act. by the Polgar family and other games like go and . He treaty. Fischer could go to prison for chess game that was televised in In 1993 the movie, “Searching for Grandmaster . had previously lived in Germany, 10 years and pay a $250,000 fine for Iceland. http://www.geocities.com/ Bobby Fischer,” was released. In 2000 Fischer traveled to the Hungary, Hong Kong, Switzerland, violating the Trading with the In October, 2007, Fischer was SiliconValley/Lab/7378/fischer3. In 1996 Bobby traveled to Philippines and stayed with and the Philippines. Enemy Act and income tax evasion. admitted to a Reykjavik hospital for htm

20 21 White Knight Review November/December 2010 White Knight Review November/December 2010

32. Don’t castle if it brings your king into greater danger from attack. Principles of Chess 33. After , keep a good pawn formation around your king. 34. If you only have one bishop, put your pawns on its opposite color. 1. Develop your chess pieces quickly. 35. Trade pieces when ahead in material or when under attack. 2. Control the center squares. 36. If cramped, free your game by exchanging material. 3. Try to put your chess pieces on squares that give them maximum 37. If your opponent is cramped, don’t let him get any freeing exchanges. space. 38. Study openings you are comfortable with. 4. Try to develop your knights towards the center. 39. Play over entire chess games, not just the opening. 5. A knight on the rim is dim. 40. Blitz chess is helpful in recognizing chess patterns. Play often. 6. Don’t take unnecessary chances with your moves. 41. Study annotated games and try to guess each move before playing the 7. Play aggressive and not passive. next move. 8. Calculate forced moves first. 42. Stick with just a few openings with White, and a few openings with 9. Always ask yourself, “Can he put me in check or win a piece?” Black. 10. Have a plan. Every move and idea should have a purpose. 43. Record your games and go over them, especially the games you lost. 11. Assume your opponent’s move is the best move or he will play the best 44. Show your games to higher rated opponents and get feedback from move. them. 12. Ask yourself, “Why did he move there?” after each opponent move. 45. Use strong chess engines and databases to help you study and play more. 13. Play for the initiative and controlling the board. 46. Avoid blunders if you can. Everyone blunders. Strong players just 14. If you must lose a piece, get something for it if you can. less often. 15. When behind in material, exchange pawns. When ahead, exchange 47. When it is not your move, look for tactics and combinations. pieces. 48. Try to double rooks or double rook and queen on open files. 16. If you are losing, don’t give up fighting. Look for counter-play and tactics. 49. Always ask yourself, “Does my next move overlook something simple?” 17. Don’t play unsound moves. 50. Don’t make your own plans without the exclusion of the opponent’s 18. Don’t a piece without good reason. threats. 19. If you are in doubt of an opponent’s sacrifice, accept it. 51. Watch out for captures by retreat of an opponent’s piece. 20. Attack with more than just one or two pieces. 52. Do not focus on one sector of the board. View the whole board. 21. Do not make careless pawn moves. They cannot move back. 53. Write down your move first before making that move if it helps. 22. Do not block in your bishops. 54. Try to solve chess puzzles with diagrams from books and magazines. 23. Bishops of opposite colors have the greatest chance of drawing. 55. It is less likely that an opponent is prepared for off-beat openings. 24. Try not to move the same piece twice or more times in a row. 56. Recognize of moves from main-line play. 25. Exchange pieces if it helps your development or uncramps your 57. Watch your time and avoid . Do not rush your game. position. 58. Bishops are worth more than knights except when they are pinned in. 26. Don’t bring your queen out too early. 59. A knight works better with a bishop than another knight. 27. Castle soon to protect your king and develop your rook. 60. It is usually a good idea to trade down into a pawn up endgame. 28. Develop rooks to open files. 61. Have confidence in your game. 29. Put rooks behind passed pawns. 62. Play in as many tournaments and matches as you can. 30. Study rook endgames. They are the most common and most complicated. 63. Try not to look at your opponent’s rating until after the game. 31. Don’t let your king get caught in the center. 64. Always play for a win.

22 23 White Knight Review November/December 2010 White Knight Review November/December 2010 In Memoriam tournament. In 1968, he defeated Portisch in In 1962, he was drafted in the the Candidates’ matches, but then Danish army and did military lost to Spassky, who went on to service for two years. become world champion. Don’t Get Bent!- The life of Bent Larson In 1963, he finished 2nd at the In 1968, he wrote 50 Udvalgte Editor’s note: The great Danish grandmaster Bent Larsen died in Buenos Aires on September 9, 2010. He was Zonal, behind GM Lajos Partier, 1948-69, which was 75 years old. Larsen was a determined and spirited player who was famous for his unusual openings. Throughout Portisch. later translated, Bent Larsen: 50 his career, he beat seven world champions: , , Mikhail Tal, Tigran Petrosian, In 1964, he tied for 1st at the Selected Games. Boris Spassky, Bobby Fischer and Anatoly Karpov. The following is a brief summery of his chess career. Amsterdam Interzonal, with Boris In the late 1960s, he first moved Spassky, Mikhail Tal, and Vasily to Spain, then to Buenos Aires, Bent Jorgen Larsen was born on Smyslov. saying that Denmark had too many March 4, 1935 in Tilsted, Denmark. In 1965, he defeated Ivkov in taxes. He divided his time between In 1941, Larsen took up chess the Candidates’ matches, but then Buenos Aires and . His while lying sick in bed as a child. lost to Tal. second wife was from Argentina. He was 6 years old. In 1966, when Larsen defeated In 1970, he won the Canadian In 1947, at the age of 12, he in a match, it was Open at St. John and the U.S. Open joined the local chess club in the first time in a match that a at . . Soviet grandmaster ever lost to a In 1970, he played first board for In the 1950s, he attended foreigner. Larsen won 3, lost 2, the World side in the USSR vs. Aalborg Cathedral School. and drew 4. Rest of the World at Belgrade, shortest games in the Olympiad. In 1951, he represented In 1966, he placed 3rd at the Yugoslavia. He scored 2.5/4 Sursock – Larsen, Siegen 1970, Denmark in the World Junior Santa Monica, against Spassky and . 1.d4 e6 2.e4 c5 3.Nf3 cxd4 4.Nxd4 Championship, held in behind Spassky and Fischer. He He won one game, drew one game, Nc6 5.Nc3 d6 6.Bc4 Nf6 7.Bg5 Birmingham, England. He placed twice defeated reigning world and lost one game to Spassky. Qb6 8.Bxf6 gxf6 9.Ndb5 Ne5 5th. champion, Tigran Petrosian. He won one game against Stein. 10.Bb3 Rg8 11.O-O a6 12.Nd4? In 1952, he moved to In 1967, he won a strong Bobby Fischer played Board 2 for Qxd4! (if 13.Qxd4 Nf3+ and 14… Copenhagen to study civil tournament in Havana. the Rest of the World. The USSR Nxd4 wins) and White resigned engineering, but decided to become In 1967, he won the Sousse team narrowly won the overall 0-1 a chess professional and chess Interzonal (Bobby Fischer was match, 20.5 to 19.5. In 1970, he shared 2nd place in journalist instead. leading the event the Palma de Mallorca In 1953, he represented until he withdrew). Interzonal, behind the Denmark in the World Junior In 1967, he was “ I am a self-made man. I didn’t have an tournament winner, Championship, held in awarded the first Bobby Fischer. Copenhagen. He finished 8th. Chess Oscar for instructor, and I wasn’t engrossed in chess In 1971, he was the In 1953, he labored all night on his performance 3rd highest rated player an adjourned game, and finally that year. manuals except the books of Nimzovitch, I just in the world, behind In 1968, he won found the winning line. He then 1956, 1959, 1963, 1964, and 1989. Candidates tournament. Larsen Fischer and Spassky. the Canadian Open worked a lot playing chess.” Bent Larsen tried to get a few hours of sleep. In 1956, he became an said that Fischer managed to drive His rating was 2660. at and the He lost the game because he International Grandmaster after his him almost desperate by sitting In 1971 he defeated U.S. Open at Aspen. Larsen’s loss to Spassky was overslept and failed to appear on performance in the Moscow Chess alone in his room with a chess set, in the In 1967-68, he set the modern quick. time. Olympiad. He took the gold medal not eating very much and sleeping Candidates matches, but then lost record of most consecutive Larsen-Spassky, USSR vs Rest In 1954, at the age of 19, he on board one, scoring 11 wins, 6 little. Larsen tried to change to Bobby Fischer with the score of tournament victories, winning of the World, Belgrade, Larsen’s became an International Master draws, and one loss. Fischer’s openings, but to no avail. 0-6 in Denver in July. Fischer’s 5 major events in a row and 9 Opening 1.b3 e5 2.Bb2 Nc6 3.c4 after his performance in the In 1956-57, he tied for 1st at In 1960, he tied for 1st at performance rating was 3080 out of 10 from 1967 to 1970 Nf6 4.Nf3 e4 5.Nd4 Bc5 6.Nxc6 Amsterdam Chess Olympiad. He with GM Svetozar Beverwijk with GM Tigran when he defeated Larsen. Larsen (Havana 1967, 1967, dxc6 7.e3 Bf5 8.Qc2 Qe7 9.Be2 took the bronze medal on board Gligoric. Petrosian. could have drawn the last game by Sousse Interzonal 1967, Palma O-O-O 10.f4 Ng4 11.g3 h5 12.h3 one. In 1958, he qualified for his first In 1961, he tied for 1st at but elected to play de Mallorca 1967, Monte Carlo h4 13.hxg4 hxg3 14.Rg1 Rh1 He represented Denmark 6 times Interzonal at Portoroz. Beverwijk with GM Borislav on. Larsen blamed his loss on the 1968, and the US Open in Aspen 15.Rxh1 g2 16.Rf1 Qh4+ 17.Kd1 in Olympiad play, always on first In 1958, he won his first Ivkov. hot climate and the high altitude of 1968,Busum 1969, Palma de gxf1=Q+ and Larsen resigned 0-1 board, winning one gold and two international tournament at Mar del In the early 1960s, Larsen got Denver. Mallorca 1969, and 1970). In 1970, he won the bronze bronze medals. Plata. married before a chess tournament. In 1972/73, he won at Hastings. At Palma de Mallorca in 1968, he medal for board one at the Siegen He won the Danish In 1959, Bent Larsen was Bobby Mikhail was his best man. Tal In 1973, he wrote took 2nd. Olympiad. He played one of the Championship 6 times: 1954, 1955, Fischer’s second at the Bled then went on to beat Larsen in the Church’s Fried Chicken 24 25 White Knight Review November/December 2010 White Knight Review November/December 2010 International Chess Tournament taking 1st place in 25 events and Larsen refused to shave. As soon ’72. taking 2nd place in 10 events. He as he lost, he shaved. Chess News Chess News from Around the World In 1973, he won the Nordic was known as “the tournament Larsen’s nickname was The Championship. world champion.” Great Dane and The Danish Prince. In 1973, he won at Manila. In 1992, Larsen’s book was Larsen was the first native-born Albany, New York – The 132nd New York State New York – The RAW World Chess Challenge under the In 1974, he won the second reprinted by Batsford under Danish grandmaster in chess Championship took place September 3-6, 2010. In tag line “Can you beat ?” took place at annual World Open in New York. the title Bent Larsen: Master of history. Nimozwitsch was a the Open section, Grandmaster and the Cooper Star Hotel in on September International Master Mark Esserman tied forst 1 , but 10. The challenge saw Carlsen take on viewers from In 1976, he won the Biel Counter-Attack. Larsen refused Danish grandmaster, but he was rd Interzonal. to autograph that book for anyone, born in , Latvia. neither were New York residents. In 3 place was throughout the world as they voted on a move from In 1977, he lost his Candidates’ stating that is was an unauthorized At one time, to supplement his Aleksandr Ostrovsky from Brooklyn, so he is the new either from the USA or Judit Polgar match to Portisch. reprint of his book. income, Larsen translated detective state champion. from Hungary or Maxime Vachier-Lagrtave from France. Carlsen won in 44 moves. In 1982, he wrote Larsen’s Good In 2009, his Elo rating was stories into Danish. Belgium – On October 12th, 2010, former world chess Move Guide. 2415. Larsen won the Interzonal three champion played a chess simul against New York – 12-year-old Justus Williams went over 2200 In 1988 he lost a chess game to times (Amsterdam 1964, Sousse 20 of the top Belgium CEOs and politicians ,and a at a tournament held at the Marshall Chess Club in Deep Thought chess computer, From 1948 to 1985, he defeated 1967, Biel 1976). The only other selection of children (10 kids selected out of more New York in September. In doing so, he became the becoming the first Grandmaster seven World Champions: person to win three Interzonals was than 300 candidates). Kasparov won all his games. youngest African-American player to ever reach the and the player with the highest Botvinnik, Smyslov, Tal, Petrosian, Mikhail Tal. master rating. Elo rating (2560) to be defeated Spassky, Fischer, and Karpov. For many years, he wrote a Bilbao, Spain – won the Bilbao by a computer in tournament play. The opening 1.b3 is known as chess column for Clarin, a Buenos Masters Final ahead of world champion Viswanathan Pittsburgh – The 2010 US Blind championship was Larsen lost in 43 moves at the Larsen’s Opening. Aires newspaper. Anand, , and world’s highest rated held October 11-12 in Pittsburgh. The winner was Software Toolworks Open (US Grandmaster Bent Larsen is survived by his player, magnus Carlsen. The event took Daniel Steininger of Indiana, with a perfect Open) in Long Beach. He had considered Bent Larsen as the most second wife, Laura Beatriz place in Bilbao, Spain Oct 9th-15th, 4-0 score. White and played the English cultured grandmaster. Benedini. 2010. opening 1.c4 e5 2.g3 Nf6 3.Bg2 c6 When Larsen gave simultaneous He once observed: “To win, it is – Chess promoter and 4.Nf3. Deep Thought tied for 1st exhibitions, he allowed half the necessary to accept lost positions.” Japan – The program , California Chess Hall of Famer Miked place with . games as White and half the games Bent is a common name in authored by International Master Goodall died on October 5, 2010. He as Black. Most grandmasters only Denmark. It is short for , won the World was 64. I knew him for many years From 1958 to 1990, Larsen took play White. Benedictus. Computer Chess Championship. when I lived in the Bay area. He was part in over 60 chess tournaments, When on a , Rybka won 7 games, drew 2 a National Tournament Director and games and lost none. The event . He directed took place September 25th through hundreds of chess tournaments in October 1st. Northern California since 1965. He directed over a dozen California chess Khanty-Mansiysak, Siberia – The Ukraine championships and several Golden Gate won the 39th Chess Olympiad, edging out Opens. Russia 1. 3rd place went to Israel on tie break over Hungary. Vassily Ivanchuk won the individual gold Spain – Grandmaster Illescas Cordoba won the Spanish medal on board 1. The USA, ranked 9th, ended up Championship, held in El Sauzal, Tenerife on September in 9th place on tie break. There were 150 men’s 4th through September 12th. teams. For the women’s teams, Russia 1 won with a perfect 11-0 score. 2nd went to China and 3rd went to Tokyo – For the first time, a computer beat a Georgia. The USA women’s team, ranked 6th, ended professional shogi (Japanese chess) player. A computer up in 5th place on tie break. There were 116 women’s program called Akara 2010 defeated the women’s top teams. The event took place from September 21st shogi player, Ichiyo Shumizu in 6 hours, over the course through October 3rd. During the Olympiad, the World of 86 moves. Shogi is considered more complicated Chess Federation (FIDE) met and re-elected Kirsan and complex than chess. Ilyumzhinov as FIDE President. He won over former world chess champion Anatoly Karpov, 95-55. Zurich – The 11th World University Chess Championship took place in Zurich, Switzerland on September 5th Moscow – The Women’s World Blitz Chess through September 11th. of China won the Championship took place in Moscow September 17- men’s section. Batkhuyag Munguntuul of Mongolia Bent Jorgen Larsen 18. Kateryna Lahno took clear first place, followed by won the women’s section. 1935-2010 and . 26 27 White Knight Review November/December 2010 White Knight Review November/December 2010 ODDITIES IN CHESS ODDITIES IN CHESS (Continued) In the 1950s, a Louisiana law barred blacks The 1980 Italian Chess Championship was In the 19th century, Cardinal from chess playing rooms in New Orleans. This postponed until 1981 because of an earthquake. Constantino In 1939, Hollywood had prevented blacks from playing in the U.S. Open in The 1980 Irpinia earthquake took place in the Patrizi (1798- an anti-Nazi chess league, 1954, which was held in New Orleans. (Chess Life, Irpina region in southern Italy on November 23, 1876) challenged five other mostly made up of Jewish July 20, 1954) 1980, measuring 6.89 on the Richter Scale. (Chess nobles to a pistol duel because they denied players (, Life, September 1981, p. 13) him membership in the Noble Chess Circle May 1939, p. 104) In 1954, the of Rome. (Chess Review, February 1951, p. 50) Argentine Chess In 1982, the Belle chess computer (PDP-11/23) Benjamin Blumenfeld Federation called was confiscated by the U.S. State Department while In 1916, during World War I, Siegbert Tarrasch (1884-1947) was one of off the national on a plane at Kennedy Airport and played a chess match in Berlin the best chess players in tournament after going to the USSR to compete in in which the prize was ½ pound of butter. Tarrasch Moscow between the First and Second World Wars. a chess player a computer chess tournament. won the match and the butter with 7 wins, 2 losses, He studied law at Moscow and Berlin Universities, punched a referee. It was considered too high tech and 4 draws. At a New York chess tournament then gave up law to devote himself to chess. He (Chess Review, December 1954, p. 358) for the Soviets to see. It took during the Depression, the first prize was a keg of received a PhD in chess psychology from Moscow over a month and a $600 fine to schmaltz herring. (Chess Review, December 1947, University. His dissertation was on the nature of The Rosenwald Trophy for the U.S. get Belle out of customs. (Chess p. 16) blunders in chess. (Chess Review, May 1947, p. 8) championship in the 1950s was engraved Life, September 1982, p. 12) incorrectly. The engraving says Lavore Praetium Honoris (washing is the price of honor) instead In 1986, Alex Chang took 1st Grandmaster Samuel Reshevsky (1911-1992) was During World War II, it was reported that of Labore Praetium Honoris (labor is the price place in the National Elementary Championship. a child prodigy in chess. He made his debut on grandmaster (1916-1975) of Estonia was of honor). Some chess players thought the prize His older sister, Angela, took 2nd place. (Chess radio singing a love song. His original name was bombed by the Germans and had to have his leg might be a bar of soap. (Chess Life, January 5, Life, August 1986, p. 24) Szmul Rzeszewski, but nobody could pronounce amputated. Keres saved the lives of several radio 1955, p. 2) it. He was an accountant by profession. (Chess operators after warning them that the NKVD (the In 1988, Jesse Tuggle (1928-1991) of Houston, Review, October 1951, p. 288) Russian People’s Commissariat for Internal Affairs) Arkadijs Strazdins won the New Britain, played 771 USCF-rated games, the most rated were looking for them. (Chess Review, February Connecticut Chess Championship 23 years in a games ever in on year. He was the most active chess During the Bled 1931 International Chess 1945, p. 9) row. He also had been president of the chess club player in the U.S. from 1985 to 1990. Tournament, Geza Maroczy challenged Aron for over 25 years. He was a member of the club Nimzowitsch to a pistol duel at dawn after the During World War for over 50 years. His son, Andris, was the club John Penquite (1935-2007) had the highest chess two got in an argument. Nimzowitsch refused. II, postal chess was not treasurer for over 34 years. (Chess Life, June 1975, rating ever recorded by the United States Chess Nimzowitsch took 3rd place (won by Alekhine). allowed between civilians p. 379 Federation. In the 1990s his correspondence Maroczy took 11th place. (Chess Life, March 1988, and servicemen because rating was 2939 with a perfect 58-0-0 score from p. 11) censors thought it might The wife of grandmaster (1905- correspondence play. He won the Iowa State Chess be secret code. (Chess 1985) was asked to join a harem for 150 English Championship 8 times between 1951 and 1973. World champion Alexander Review, June 1946, p. 6) pounds by Umar Khan during one of the chess (Chess Life, April 1993, p. 36) Alekhine (1892-1946) once was Olympiads. (Chess Life, May 1985, p. 12) concentrating so hard on During one of the later rounds of the U.S. chess 44% of all chess grandmasters speak four or more his game that he absent championship, a room that was normally used Kashdan appeared on You languages. (Chess Life, March 1988, p. 10) mindedly stirred his coffee for the tournament was reserved for a wedding. Bet Your Life with Groucho with a pawn , then Someone posted on the door the following note for Marx and partnered with the Perhaps the oldest person to finally make master dropped a white pawn the chess players: “You will have to have your fun mother of Tony Curtis, but (rated over 2200) was Bernard Friend of New in his coffee, thinking it was somewhere else tonight as the Bishop is mating…” lost. Groucho kept calling Jersey. In 1991, at the age of 71, he became a a sugar cube. (Chess Review, (Chess Review, May 1955, p. 146) him Mr. Ash Can. master for the first time. (Chess Life, September March 1949, p. 74) 1991, p. 37)

28 29 White Knight Review November/December 2010 White Knight Review November/December 2010 Annotated Game also play 11.Bxe7 Qxe7 12.Nxd7 Qxd7 13.Qe2] 11...Qxd7 JMR: When is it a good time to castle and when With the recent death of Bent Ask Bill Bill Wall can you not castle? Which side should I castle? Larsen, I wanted to find a good 12.Qc2?! [White attacks the Black JMR, you should castle as soon as possible to get ASK BILL: [email protected] your king to safety and get your rook out in the game that involved a Queen e-pawn, but loses a as Black game. If you are in check (king being attacked), sacrifice to show his tactical skill. attacks the bishop, then defends the you cannot castle. In fact, you cannot castle if From chesskia: How do you decide when to your king moves either into or across check (it’s Here is a nice game where Larsen threatened e4 pawn. 12.Bxe7 Qxe7 take a knight with a bishop? OK if the rook moves across attacking squares, wins in 18 moves with a Queen sac. 13.h5 may be best] 12...f6 but not the king). You can castle if there are Chesskia,if it weakens the , take no other pieces between the king and the rook. -Bill Wall the knight. If the bishops are open, keep the You cannot castle if you had already moved your bishops, but trade a bishop for knight if the king or the rook that you want to castle with. 13.Bf4 Qc6 [Black could also play bishop is locked. If pawns are on both sides Make sure you touch the king first when moving. Magnus Petersson – Bent Larsen 13…e5 14.dxe5 fxe5 15.Bxe5 Rad8 of the board, keep the knight. If pawns are Castling is a king’s move, so slide it over two all on one side of the board, keep the bishop. squares to the right if you are castling kingside Reykjavik, 1989 and have a good game] Knights are harder for weaker players to see (written as O-O), or two squares to the left if and visualize, so keep the knight against weaker you are castling queenside (written as O-O-O). Click on ads to visit websites players. Mostly, I would avoid taking knights The question as which side to castle depends 1.d4 Nf6 2.c3 [An unusual or rare 14.g4 [White is trying to get a unless I have a clear endgame. on your opening. Generally you want to castle opening move. Usual is 2.c4] kingside if that is the fastest way to castle and kingside attack. Also playable are From Peter L: What are the ideas on the your developed your kingside pieces. Some 14.h5 and 14.0–0–0] 14...a5 [Black center squares of a chessboard? What does it openings develop the queenside pieces first, and mean by controlling the center? you may want to castle queenside. Some people 2…b6 [I have played 2…e6. There counters with a queenside attack] wait to see which side his opponent is castling, followed 3.f3? Nh5 4.e4? Qh4 5.g3? Peter, the center squares are the d4, e4, d5, then castle the opposite side. Then they try e5 squares of a chessboard. The first opening to attack the castled king while protecting Nxg3! And Black won, Tony – Wall, 15.0–0–0?! [It seems that White is principle should be controlling the center, with his castled king. If the queens come off the Internet 1999] such moves as 1.e4 or 1.d4 for White and 1.e4 board and there is no mate threat, you may castling into the queenside attack. e5 or 1.e4 c5 and 1.d4 d5 or 1.d4 Nf6 for Black. not want to castle at all. Castling queenside is Better may be 15.g5] 15...a4 Controlling the center allows more mobility of sometimes more difficult as it takes more pieces the pieces such as knight and bishop, as well to clear the squares for castling and the a2/a7 3.Bg5 [3.Nf3 is a good alternative] as easy access to all parts of the chess board. pawn most probably needs defending with an 3...e6 [most common and natural is 16.Rdf1?! [Looks like a wasted Control of the center by one player helps him to additional king move towards it. It is also more position his chess pieces more effectively while likely that the enemy pawns on the queenside 3…Bb7 first.] move as the rook can be attacked preventing the development of your opponent’s will advance while the kingside pawns stay on pieces. Attacks in the center also tend to be their original squares or close to it. and has to move again. 16.g5 or more effective. You can also control the center 4.Nd2 [4.e4] 4...Bb7 16.a3 looks better] 16...Ba6 [Black and attack the center in a hypermodern way, Charvando: I was wondering how emotion such as 1.b3 followed by 2.Bb2 or 1.g3 and affects your game. Can emotion enhance is threatening 17…Bd3, which 2.Bg2. The bishops are not controlling the performance or have a positive effect in chess? 5.e3 [5.e4; 5.Ngf3; 5.Qc2] 5...Be7 White does not see.] center and attacking the long diagonal. These factors often turn your opening into a battle for Charvando, I have been playing chess over central control between the two sides. 40 years and there is always emotion in the 6.Ngf3 [6.f4 has also been played] game that may effect my play, especially with 17.Rfg1?? [The losing move. Best From Danny H: Bill, I love your 500 Miniature stronger players (I peaked at 2215, or weak 6…0–0 may be 17.Qxe4 Qxe4 18.Nxe4 series books. Why haven’t you published more master). I think emotion is good as it gets you of your miniature books? And are they available directly involved in a good move or not. I am Bxf1 19.Rxf1] 17...Bd3! in database format? not an ice cool, rational player, which may 7.Bd3 [7.h3 is another alternative] prevent me from getting better (or it may Danny, the problem is with the publishers have helped me get where I am). Misplaced d5 18.Qd1 Diagram and demand for databases, not chess book emotion may affect my thinking process, but collections. After my books were published I do think positions in my mind are lousy or by Chess Enterprises in the 1980s and early good or beautiful or yucky or bad. This may 8.h4 [8.Ne5 looks best; White can 1990s, the databases came out and no one was come from intuition and pattern recognitions buying any more chess book collections, at least of thousands of patterns I have played or seen also castle] 8...Nbd7 [8…Ne4 not mine. I tried to get other publishers, and over the years. I play tactical chess, which is 9.Bf4 Nd7 10.Ne5, Trifan-Micsa, had hard copy, ready-to-print, as well as soft more emotional then positional chess where copy, pdf, and pgn files (and ChessBase fomat), you must be cold and rational. Maybe I don’t Romania 1999] but there wasn’t any interest. I probably have a killer instinct, and I know I don’t mind have collected over 100,000 miniatures, and losing a good game. I have very few draws and published over 10,000 miniatures from my books would rather play a move that is risky and I had 9.Ne5 [9.Qb1 Re8 10.Ne5 h6, and web sites. I could put all my miniatures some emotional attachment to the move and from my books in pgn format, but it would lose than play a boring, drawish game. Does Wittman-Grossmann, Germany take some time. I could also add thousands of emotion enhance performance? Perhaps not, 1989] 9…Ne4 new ones that have never been in a database but it makes the game more fun and enjoyable as I have thousands of old chess books and and not feel like work and drudgery. However, magazines around the world full of short games emotion does make me find moves and play then 10.Bxe4 [A new move. Other moves that have never made it in a database. I put that I would otherwise not. I have won (and a few of my books online for free at db books, lost) several brilliancy prize games because of that have been played include 10.f3, but it was without annotations. However, I am my emotion, combinational, tactical move that trying a new format with e-books and recently would not have been played if I was cold as ice 10.Bf4, and 10.Bxe7] 10…dxe4 wrote 200 King’s Gambit Declined Miniatures and logical. Mistakes in chess don’t embarrass and 200 King’s Gambit Accepted Miniatures. If me, it makes me feel human - and the game can they turn out successful, I can start creating be funny or sad, depending if I won it or not. 11.Nxd7?! [11.Qg4 looks best, and 18...Qxc3+!! [after 19.bxc3 Ba3 some more miniature series chess books. Hope that helps. if 11…f5, then 12.Qg3; White could checkmate] and White resigns 0–1

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