If you can find a copy of Marshall's Best Games of Chess (formerly titled My Fifty Years of Chess) that was published in 1960, it is probably the better of the two books and is a much more enjoyable read. I wish I still had my copy because I see it's selling on Amazon for $150!! I would never, ever, pay that for it, but you never know when you might stumble on it some place for a reasonable price.
Andy Soltis' book on Marshall got good reviews on Amazon. Call me cheap, but I would never pay $40 for a chess book either.
In the introduction Marshall explained why he used the title “Marshall’s Swindles.” Swindle is a term of derision that some of his opponents used to describe his wins over them when “their fond preconceived notions (were) demolished over the open board.” He added that when he, a man not tied to book chess, smashed those gentlemen (as he referred to them) they claimed they got swindled. Marshall invited the reader to be the judge of whether or not victory involved chance, luck or trickery or if a move was successful because it was based on sound play.
The following game was played in Paris between May 17th and June 20th 1900 in a tournament which was held in conjunction with the Exposition Universelle, one of the world's most notable fairs or exhibitions up to that time. The time limit was 30 moves in two hours, followed by 15 moves in one hour. Draws had to be replayed once. This tournament also marked Marshall’s international debut.
Lasker suffered only one defeat, to Marshall while Pillsbury was beaten by Lasker, Marshall and Burn. Marshall lost game to Maroczy, Showalter and Janowski. He dew with Chigorin and Schlechter.
1) Lasker 14.5
2) Pillsbury 12.5
3-4) Marshall and Maroczy 12.0
5) Burn 11.0
6) Chigorin 10.5
7-9) Schlechter, Marco and Mieses 10.0
10-11) Showalter and Janowski 9.0
12) Mason 4.5 13) Brody 4.0
14) Rosen 3.0
15) Mortimer 2.0
16-17) Sterling and Didier 1.0
Who were the tailenders, Sterling and Didier? Manuel Marquez Sterling was actually born Carlos Manuel Agustin Marquez Sterling y Loret de Mola to Cuban parents on August 28, 1872 in Lima, Peru.
At the age of 16 he began a career in journalism writing for publications founded by his father. Suffering from asthma, part of his adolescence was spent in Merida, Mexico when he was sent there by his father because it was believed the climate would help with the asthma attacks. While in Mexico he met Jose Marti (1853 – 1895) a Cuban poet, essayist, journalist, translator, professor, and publisher, who is considered a Cuban national hero and an important figure in Latin American literature.
Eventually Sterling found himself in Spain and was a contributor to Steinitz’ The International Chess Magazine. The magazine, based in the United States, was established in 1885 and published until 1891. While in Spain, Sterling let it be known that he favored Cuban independence, a position that lead to his pending arrest and his hightailing it back to Cuba.
After his return, he served in various political capacities and in 1934, when the President of Cuba was forced to resign, Sterling accepted the presidency from six in the morning until noon when he transferred power. The same year he was appointed ambassador to the United States and died there on December 9, 1934. He wrote about 15 books on diverse topics such as politics, history and chess.
Marshall’s opponent in this game, M. Didier, is something of an enigma and I refer you to the discussion about him on Chessgames.com.
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| Didier |
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