Average Players Slug it Out

    It was said of this game that back in the mid-1800s it might have been hailed as an immortal game because sacrificial play triumphed. Jump forward to the mid-1900s when it was played and it was recognized that white’s triumph was only the result of his opponent’s feeble defense. Moving even further forward to the days of Stockfish we find the play of both players was pretty feeble. Nevertheless, it’s a fun game to play over. 

    The game was played in an unknown tournament in an unknown city in Ohio. The names of the players are known, but they are not, if you know what I mean. The 1951 USCF rating list did not have a rating for Wetman, but there was an R. Schaeffer from Ohio listed with a rating of 1611.

 

 

ChessBase

M. Wetman–R. Schaeffer1–0A03Ohio1949Stockfish 16

A03: Bird's Opening 1.f4 The Bird is rare and has little theory and it does offer white some attacking chances. d5 After this the game can become a reversed version of the Dutch Defense, but not in this game. 2.e3 c6 More ususal are either 2...Nf6 or 2...c5 3.b5 d7 4.f3 f6 5.b3 e6 5...g6 6.b2 g7 7.0-0 0-0 8.xc6 xc6 9.e5 equals. Silva,M (2207)-D'Arruda, R (2271) chess.com INT 2022 6.b2 a6 7.xc6 xc6 8.d3 8.e5 c5 9.xc6 bxc6 10.0-0 equals. Vahtra,T-Kaniak,M Budva 2003 8.0-0 d6 9.d3 e7 10.bd2 0-0-0 11.e5 equals. Merle, S-Geronimi,P (1708) Calvi 2007 8...c5 9.e2 0-0 10.e5 b5 Better was the immediate 10...Be8. The text allows white to gain a tempo. 11.a4 e8! 12.d2 d7 13.0-0 f6 14.ef3 h5 15.d4 Apparently white wanted to prevent ...e5, but 15.h3 would have allowed him to met 15...e5 with 16.g4 and play on the K-side. d6 16.c4 b6 17.e1 e8 18.h4 h8 19.e4 g8 This move eventually causes black a lot of problems because his K gets trapped on h8. He can keep things even with 19...Bb4 19...b4 20.cxd5 exd5 21.e5 fxe5 22.dxe5 g6 offers equal chances. 20.g4 20.cxd5 offers excellent chances. exd5 21.e5 g5 22.f2 e7 23.f5 c8 24.ac1 c5 25.exf6 xf6 26.fe1 d8 27.e5 with a promising position. 20...f7 21.e5± g5 22.fxg5 fxe5 23.xe5 White would have done better to keep the N and play instead 23.dxe5 xe5 24.dxe5 c5+ 25.g2 dxc4 26.xc4 d8 27.ad1 This move attacking the Q is quite logical looking, but it is seriously flawed. Instead, white missed a nice tactical shot. 27.d6 Instead of this he could have also played it safe with the benign 27.Qg3 cxd6 28.g6 xg6 29.f6+ g7 30.exd6 g8 31.ad1 The position is rife with complications, but the chances are equal. Shootouts were Inconclusive! White scored +1 -1 =3 27...c6+ 27...xd1 is an alternative that is equally good. 28.xd1 c6+ 29.g3 and only now g6 30.f1 d8 31.f3 31.d6 cxd6 32.exd6+ g8 leaves white with a lost position. 31...d1 The Rs penetration is decisive. 32.e3 g1+ 33.g2 e4 34.h3 e1+ 35.f4 d2+ 28.g3 g6 Questionable play on both sides has brought about a unique position in which both Kings are insecurely posted. White is the first to take advantage of the situation. 28...xd1 practically secures the win. 29.xd1 e4 and it's white who is in serious difficulties. 30.g6 xg6 31.h3 g7 32.c1 c2 33.f1 xb3+ wins 29.d6 cxd6 Black is much too obliging! 29...df8 30.h3 e3 31.g2 xg2+ 32.xg2 xf1 33.xf1 d8 33...cxd6 34.exd6+ d4 35.xd4+ e5 36.xe5+ g7 37.f8# 34.f3 c5 35.f7+ xf7 36.xf7 d2+ with a decisive advantage. 30.exd6+ g7 This is a very tricky position! 31.h6 31.xg7+ looks reasonable, but it would be a mistake. xg7 32.h6+ g8 and white is out of plausible moves. 33.h3 xd6+ 34.h4 c2 35.b4 b2 36.b5 axb5 37.axb5 d7 Much better than taking the b-Pawn. 37...xb5 38.e3 f7 39.f2 e8 40.xb6 38.f6 f4 39.xf4 39.xd7 f2+ 39...xd1 and black is clearly winning. 31.h3 is his only defense. After g8 32.e1 xd6 33.e5 c7 and the position is even. 31...xd6+ 32.h4 dg8 33.d2 This prevents ...Qg2 c7 Missing his chance to strike at the exposed white K. Black drifts into the main line of his opponent's tactical idea. 33...e5 34.f6 e4 35.dxd6 e2 The threat of mate (...Qxh2#) is too much to handle. 36.d2 xd2 37.xe5 h2 is covered, but... e1+ 38.g3 e2 White is out of reasonable moves. 34.c1 Once again we are back to equal chances...if black plays his cards right. b8 ...which he does not! Instead, he commits suicide. 34...f7 35.xg7+ xg7 36.c8+ f8 37.dd8 f2+ 38.h3 f1+ draws 35.xd6 Decisive. xd6 The threat is mate with ...Qxh2 36.xg7+ The right way. 36.xg7+ is the wrong way. xg7 37.c8+ g8 Black wins. 36...xg7 37.c8+ Black resigned. A see-saw battle that's typical of most non-master games. 1–0

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Bagby Bashes Fink

    A lot of bad things happened in 1939; most notably World War II began on September 1, 1939, with the German invasion of Poland. But, before that the year started with the great Hungarian GM Laszlo Szabo taking first at the 1938/39 Hastings tournament. He was undefeated and finished head of Dr. Max Euwe who was a full point behind. 

    In April an international tournament was held in Margate, England; there it was the legendary Paul Keres who finished ahead of Jose Capablanca and Salo Flohr. The USSR Chess Championship, held in Leningrad, was won by Mikhail Botvinnik. The US Open, held in New York, was won by another legend, Reuben Fine ahead of Samuel Reshevsky and I. A. Horowitz. 

    The Chess Olympiad in Buenos Aires, Argentina was held between August 21 and September 19. The finals commenced on September 1st, the same day the war broke out. The English team was the only team to return home immediately. The US was not playing. 

    Germany (Eliskases, Michel, Engels, Becker, Reinhardt) won the gold medal, Poland silver, and Estonia bronze. Vera Menchik-Stevenson won the Women’s World Championship. At the conclusion of the Olympiad many participants decided to stay in Argentina or moved elsewhere in South America. 

    On December 27, 1939, the American Chess Federation and the National Chess Federation formed the United States Chess Federation. 

    In a far away land called California, a couple of neglected and long forgotten masters played a match that ended up tied. They were Adolph J. Fink (1890-1956) and Charles Bagby (1903-1975), both of San Francisco.

 

 

    Both were largely neglected "minor" masters, but Fink was an internationally known problem composer and both were prominent figures in California chess for many years. 

    During World War One Fink served as a Corporal in the Army in France and upon his return was Vice-President of the Good Companion Chess Problem Club. Like many problemists Fink excelled in the ending and for many years he performed adjudications for California events. 

    He won the California State Championship in 1922, 1928, and 1929, tied for first in 1945 and finished in second place in 1923, 1925, 1926 and tied in 1948.

    In 1932, in the Pasadena international tournament Fink finished last, scoring 3-8, but that was a creditable score against players like Alekhine, Kashdan, Dake, Reshevsky and Fine. 

    In1906, there was a great earthquake and fire in San Francisco in which the death toll was estimated at over 3,000 and about 200,000 people were left homeless. After the earthquake Fink and his family, along with thousands of others, sought refuge and camped out in the hills surrounding the city. It was during that time that he began studying chess. 

    Upon return to normalcy Fink improved his play by joining the Mechanics' Institute. He was strong enough to have drawn Capablanca, Marshall and Kostic in simultaneous games. 

    Charles L. Bagby was a San Francisco lawyer. His victories included the Mechanics' Institute Chess Club championship in 1923, the Northern California Championship in 1949 and 1950, and the California championship in 1958. He served on the Board of Trustees of the Mechanics’ Institute starting in 1940 and served until his death, longer than any Trustee in the history of the Institute. 

    “Mr. Bagby” as he was always known in his later years was a native of Charleston, South Carolina, a graduate of the University of Washington and he practiced law in San Francisco for nearly 40 years. Besides chess, Bagby had interest in mathematics, classical languages and the American Civil War. 

    As mentioned, Bagny was an underappreciated player. In 1971, while he was still alive, the then USCF Executive Director Ed Edmonson was approached and asked about honoring Bagby with the title Master Emeritus. Edmonson’s haughty reply was, "Not a chance! Don't waste your time applying for it." 

ChessBase

Charles L Bagby–Adolf J. Fink1–0D57Match, San Francisco226.04.1939Stockfish 16

D57: Queen's Gambit Declined: Lasker Defense 1.d4 This game is pretty boring for a while, but there is some excitement coming. f6 2.f3 e6 3.c4 b4+ 4.d2 e7 5.c3 d5 6.g5 0-0 7.e3 h6 8.h4 e4 This is Lasker's Defense; it's a solid variation that often leading to the exchange of two sets of minor pieces. 9.xe7 xe7 10.cxd5 xc3 11.bxc3 exd5 12.b3 c6 13.d3 d7 13...b6 14.0-0 d7 15.c4 dxc4 16.xc4 c5 17.a4 cxd4 18.xd4 c5 and the players shook hands. Unzicker,W (2510)-Spassky,B (2615) Bad Kissingen 1980 14.0-0 14.a4 f6 15.a3 xa3 16.xa3 e8 17.0-0 is equal. Supi,L (2546)-Matsuura,F (2248) Florianopolis BRA 2019 14...e8 Equally playable was 14...Nf6 15.c4 dxc4 16.xc4 b6 17.d3 e6 18.b2 d5 19.a4 c4 20.c2 xf3 21.gxf3 d6 22.h1 White has plans involving the g-file. f6 23.e2 f5 24.ab1 e7 25.g1 ae8 A microscopic slip. The Rs have no future on the e-file, so the more active. 25...c5 would have been better. 26.g4 The strong threat is Rf4 h4 Not a good move at all. 26...xe3 Thus little tactical shot is probably better than a passive defense with 26...g6 27.fxe3 xe3 28.g2 xd4 29.xb7 xf3 and after 30.Rb1 or 30.Qb2 black can fight on. White must avoi playing 30.xf3 e1+ 31.g1 xg1# 27.bg1 g6 Suddenly black has landed in serious difficulties. 28.f4 This dissipates all of white's advantage. 28.c4 keeps up the pressure. h8 29.f4 f5 30.d3 30.e4 runs into xd4 30...g8 31.gg4 ee8 32.h4 with a dnferous attack brewing. 28...f5 28...h8 29.d3 f3 30.1g3 e1 31.b1 xd3 32.xd3 and black has survived. 29.xf5 xf5 30.d3 h7 30...d6 31.xg6 fxg6 32.xg6+ 30...g7 31.f5 d7 32.fxg6 f6 33.h4 is decisive. 31.h4 Even with the Qs off white still has an attack, but black still may be able to survive. 31.xf5 would be a terrible mistake. After gxf5 32.g7+ h8 33.7g3 c7 Black’s Q-side P-majority assures him of at least equal chances. 31...g7 31...h5 was a better defense. 32.g5 xe3 33.fxe3 xe3 34.b1 g7 35.f5 h3+ 36.g2 xh4 37.fxg6 fxg6 38.xg6+ f7 39.f1+ e7 40.g7+ d6 41.f6+ d5 42.xb7 g8+ 43.f1 h1+ 44.e2 h2+ 45.f2 e8+ 46.f1 xf2+ 47.xf2 xd4 48.xa7 c5 and black might survive after all. 32.h5 xh5 33.f5 gxf5 34.xf5+ h8 35.h4 g7 36.xh6+ g8 37.d3 d7 38.h7 f6 39.h6 Black resigned. 39.h6 f8 40.c4+ ff7 41.xf6 etc. 1–0

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Anthony Guest, Amateur Champion

    Anthony Guest (1856 – January 29, 1925, 68 years old) was a strong British amateur and the 1888 British Amateur Champion. 

    Guest was the best of the British amateur players players of his day and at the time was well known because of his popular chess column in the Morning Post. He was also editor for a short time of the chess columns in several other publications.

    In about 1876 he was receiving Rook odds from Isadore Gunsberg and J.H. Blackburne and Knight odds from master and chess journalist William Potter. However, it wasn’t long before he improved to the point that such odds were not necessary. 

    He gained his practice playing sped chess at local chess clubs where local businessmen met for lunch and a few quicjk games. Guest found it relaxation from business on the Stock Exchange where he was at one time a member. 

    His first attempt at serious play was an unsuccessful appearance in a handicap at the City of London Chess Club. Later he won two handicaps at a local club. 

    In 1884, receiving Pawn and move, he finished second behind James Mason in the handicap at the famous Simpson's Divan. In that even Blackburne was among the participants. 

    In 885, Guest played top board in the first match played in Paris between representatives of England and France. Guesst had a superior position, but let is slip. The game was unfinished and was eventually adjudicated as a draw. 

    The following year after he won the Amateur Championship, Guest started the Bohemian, a paper which dealt with all matters of current interest and, also, featured chess. He resigned as editor after about six months, and was succeeded by James Mortimer. The paper, although very popular among chess players, did not find support from the general public and was discontinued. 

    Over the years Guest took part in a number of competitions, both masters and amateurs. with varying success. He also composed several problems. 

    Guest was also an artist and some of his drawings appeared in various magazines. He wrote many articles for photography magazines and he published (or had his stories published) in many books including some children's books. 

 

 

    n the following game he defeats Wordsworth Donisthorpe (1847-1914, 66 years old). In addition to being a chess enthusiast, he was an English barrister, individualist anarchist, inventor, and pioneer of cinematography. In 1885, he co-founded both the British Chess Association and the British Chess Club. He died in Shottermill, England. 

ChessBase

Antony Guest–Wordsworth Donisthorpe1–0B00B.C.A Amateur Chp, Bradford1886Stockfish 16

B00: Owen's Defense 1.e4 b6 This is aka as the Queen's Fianchetto Defense, today it has a dubious reputation. At the time, the strong British amateur Rev. Joh n Owen (1827-1901) played it on a regular basis as his main defense for mosty of his career. 2.d4 b7 3.d3 e6 4.e3 d5 4...c5 5.dxc5 bxc5 6.c4 d6 7.c3 c6 8.f4 f6 equals. Petakov,U (2346)-Bokros,A (2483) Novi Sad 2017 4...d6 5.e2 g6 6.c4 g7 7.bc3 c6 8.c2 f6 equals. Nukin,T (2093)-Isanzhulov,A (2305) Almaty KAZ 2019 5.e5 c5 5...a6 6.f3 c5 7.c3 xd3 8.xd3 c6 9.0-0 d7 equals. Rodrigo Yanguas,M (1999) -Mestre Bellido,H (2284) Padrun 2008 6.c3 c4 This move, releasing pressure on white's center, is not a very good idea. Simply 6...Nc5 was OK. 7.c2± b5 8.f3 One already suspects that trouble is brewing for black. a5 9.0-0 c6 10.g5 h6 This unfortunate little move loses outright. 10...g6 is a must. White will get a string attack going, but at least it avoids the immediate disaster that follows. 11.f3 d7 12.a3 h6 13.h3 a4 14.d2 0-0-0 15.ae1 b8 16.f4 White is better, but he cannot lay claim to a huge advantage. 11.h5 Effectively ending the game. There is no defense to the attack on f7. g6 11...d7 12.xf7 xf7 13.g6 11...hxg5 12.xh8 h6 just loses a R with no compensation. 12.xg6 hxg5 12...fxg6 13.xg6+ d7 14.xe6+ c7 15.f7 and there is no reason for black to play on. 13.xf7+ d7 14.xh8 h6 Black could resign here, but nobody likes to to victim of a miniature so he plays on. 15.h5 15.xe6+ was also quite good, but it requires a bit of calculation to arrive at xe6 16.f4 f5 17.fxg5 g7 18.h7 ce7 19.xf5 xf5 20.g6+ e7 21.xf5 15...e7 16.f6 xf6 17.exf6 d6 18.xg5 f5 19.d2 h8 20.g4 e5 21.g6 h4 22.xh4 xh4 23.f5+ c7 24.f3 h6 25.g5 h8 26.g6 e4 27.g7 Black finally resigned. 27.g7 g8 28.g5 c8 29.h7 etc. 1–0

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Sydney T. Sharp

    It’s unlikely that the name Sydney T. Sharp (1885-1953, 68 years old) will be familiar to anyone, but he was long recognized as one of the country’s best players and his record in Pennsylvania was unequaled. 

    He won the state championship 10 times (1908, 1913, 1915, 1916, 1921, 1924, 1925, 1930, 1932 and 1937). Thee merit of that achievement is enhanced by the fact that in those days it was a knockout affair in which the loss of a point-and-a-half meant elimination. 

    A steady player with a thorough knowledge of opening theory, his style was positional and he was content with minute advantages. But, when the time came he could engage in tactics with the best. 

    Sharp learned the game at the age of 15 from his father. In 1900, chess in Philadelphia was flourishing and the Franklin Chess Club was the gathering place for all the notable enthusiasts who met almost daily. Sharp entered this scene in 1900 and some of his progress was attributed to playing against the club’s best players.

    Sharp played a lot of visiting luminaries in simultaneous play and he scored victories against Lasker, Capablanca and Marshall. 

    In the following game a rising young star named Isaac Kashdan fell to Sharp in the 1926 Manhattan vs Philadelphia team match. 

ChessBase

Isaac Kashdan–Sydney T. Sharp0–1C43Manhattan CC - Franklin CCNew York, NY USA22.02.1926Stockfish 16

C43: Petroff Defense 1.e4 e5 2.f3 f6 Black avoids several white openings and counterattacks the centrer. This defense has has a drawish reputation, but there are a few sharp lines. 3.d4 The Classical Variation is .Nxe5 while the text is the Steinitz Variation although it was known long before him. Statistically there's not much difference between the two. xe4 Black can capture either Pawn. 3...d6 transposes into the Philidor Defense. 4.dxe5 d5 5.exd6 Very benign and typical of Kashdan's circumspect style. xd6 6.c4 0-0 7.0-0 c6 In this position it appears that nothing is happening and white's next move occupying the open file and chasing the N away looks plausible, but it's a slight mistake that allows black to get slightly the better of it. White should play 8.Nbd2 8.e1 g4 This is annoying to white; the threat is ... Ne5. It's somewhat surorising, but this position is very tricky for white. 9.h3 A tactical blooper! 9.bd2 Watch this... xd2 10.xd2 xf3 11.xf3 h4 12.b3 xh2+ 13.f1 h1+ 0-1 Gibbs,J-Cunningham,T Lincoln 1969 9.e3 is white's best defense, but black stands well after f6 10.d5 ae8 11.xe4 11.xc6 bxc6 12.d4 g6 13.bd2 f5 with a good game. 11...xe4 12.bd2 e7 13.c3 g6 Black stands well. 9...xf2 An unexpected gut punch. 9...xf3 This is probablt what Kashdan expected with equality resulting after 10.xf3 f6 10.e2 10.xf2 is met by xf3 11.xf3 h4+ 12.f1 xc4+ 13.e2 h4 with a winning position. 10...xh3+ 11.gxh3 Sharp conducts the remainder of the game with great precision. d4 What a great move! 12.hxg4 This is the best he has, but he is still lost no matter what he plays. 12.e4 xf3+ 13.g2 xe1+ 14.xe1 xh3+ 15.xh3 d7+ 16.g2 g4+ 17.f1 h3+ 18.g1 h2+ 19.f2 g3+ 12...xe2+ 13.xe2 White has three pieces for the Q (not counting black;s two extra Ps), but his K is exposed and three of his pieces are undeveloped. Black is winning. d7 14.g2 c5+ 15.h2 d1 White is bound hand and foot. 16.bd2 ad8 17.d3 fe8 18.e4 xf3 19.xc5 e1 The threat is ...Rd4 20.b3 c5 21.g5 xa1 22.xa1 e8 23.b3 Kashdan has finally managed to get all his pieces into play, but Dharp now demonstrates that he has everything under control. d5 Threatening ...c4 24.f5 g6 The B has to retreat and we're back to black playing ...c4, right? 25.h6 No! White sets an trap...obvious, but it's still a trap. e1 25...gxf5 26.gxf5+ xg2+ The snag in white's trick. 26...h8 27.g7+ g8 28.h6+ h8 29.g7+ g8 30.h6+ Draw by 3-fold repitition. 27.xg2 e2+ 28.f3 xc2 29.a3 xb2 and black has an easy win. 26.c4 d8 27.g3 Prevents ...Qh4+. 27.c2 h4# 27...gxf5 28.gxf5 Kashdan has one more trick up his sleeve. h8 Prudent! 28...f6 And the tables are turned. 29.f2+ f7 30.g7+ e8 31.g8+ e7 32.xd8 xd8 33.xe1 White wins. 29.d2 Prevents ... Qd3+. f6 30.f4 h5 31.d5 g7+ Forcing mate so white resigneed. 31...g7+ 32.f2 g1+ 33.f3 g4+ 34.f2 e2+ 35.f1 g2# 0–1

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1856 New York City Chess Club Championship

    This knock-out tournament charges a $3.00 entry fee which made up the prize fund. The entry fee in 1856 was equivalent to about $108.0 today. The competitors were paired by lot. The winner of a match was the player who scored three wins. Draws had to be replayed and the second result stood. There was the stipulation that in the last match the winner had to win five games. The games were played at the chess club and at least one game per week had to be played. Unless a player could prove he was sick, not showing up for a game meant a forfeit. 

    The eight participants were: C.E. Anderson, William J.A. Fuller, Albert R. Gallantin, Adelmour W. King, Thomas Loyd, Napoleon Marache, Frederick Perrin, and W.S. Wheelwright. 

    The tournament took months. In April of 1856, Marache and Perrin were the finlist, but the match was not concluded until August of1856, Marache won a silver cup. 

 

    Frederick Perrin (December 5,1815 – January 27m 1889) was born in London; he moved to the United States in 1845. He played in the American Chess Congress at New York 1857 (Morphy won) and om Chicago in 1874 (George H. Mackenzie won). He participated several times in the New York Chess Club tournament, winning in 1859. 

    Perrin, who was fluent in English, French and German ,was a professor of languages at Princeton College. In the 1850s he was president of the New York Chess Club and in his later years he was an honorary member of the Brooklyn Chess Club. 

Location of Perrin's home today

    He died of pneumonia at home in Brooklyn after having been ill for three weeks. 

    Napoleon Marache (June 15, 1818 – May 11, 1875) was a player, problem composer and journalist. He was born in France and moved to the United States at around age of 12. 

    He learned to ply chess around the late age of 26. It was said his progress was so rapid that within 3 weeks he was giving his tutor odds of a Rook! Within a year began composing problems and writing about the game the following year. 

    In 1866, he published Marache's Manual of Chess, which was one of the country's first chess books; it also had a section on backgammon making it one of the country’s first books on that game also. 

    In 1846, he started publishing the periodical The Chess Palladium and Mathematical Sphinx. At approximately the same time, Charles Stanley started publishing The American Chess Magazine. 

    A brazen feud erupted between the two. Stanley called the rival magazine, "a most ridiculous jumble of unintelligible nonsense" and "sixteen pages of soiled waste-paper." He might have been right; only three issues of Marache's magazine were published (October, November, and December 1846). Stanley’s magazine did better; it ceased publication in 1847. 

    In the 1850s and 1860s, Marache was the chess editor and chess columnist for several newspapers. In 1865, he wrote the chess section for a Hoyle's guide to games. 

    After the end of the Civil War, Morphy went to New York to work on a collection of his games and was assisted by Marache and Charles A. Gilberg, but the book was never published owing to a dispute between Morphy and the publishers. 

ChessBase

Frederick Perrin–Napoleon Marache1–0C40New York City CC Champ (Finals)1856Stockfish 16

Latvian Gambit 1.e4 e5 2.f3 f5 Marache played this (the Latvian Gambit) several times in this match. Im the old daysit was known as the Greco Countergambit. While aggressive, it has long been condemned by authorities as weak and unsound. However, it's one of the oldest openings, having been analysed in the 16th century by Polerio and then the 17th century Greco. Dutch GM Paul van der Sterren observed that what is needed to play the Latvian is a sharp eye for tactics and a mental attitude of total contempt for whatever theory has to say about it. The main, and best, line is 3,Nxe5 3.exf5 f6 While this move is frequently played here in the main line, in this variation it is a very poor choice. 3...c6 4.d4 exd4 5.xd4 xd4 6.xd4 f6 7.g5 e7 8.c3 0-0 9.c4+ h8 10.0-0-0 c6 11.he1 1/2-1/2 (30) Mayet,C-Von Heydebrand und der Lasa,T Berlin 1839 3...e4 is black's best response. 4.d4 f6 Goos now ...it attacks the N/ 5.h5+ This should favor black. 5. Nb5 leaves white with a slight edge. g6 6.fxg6 hxg6 7.d5 e7 8.xe4 h4 Black went on to lose even at this point he has a significant advantage. Larry Evans-Kon Grivainis, Munich 1958 4.e2 d6 5.d4 c6 6.dxe5 dxe5 6...xe5 was of about equal value. 7.g4 7.g5 xf5 with only a slight edge for white. 7...e7 8.c3 xf3+ 9.xf3 h5 10.h3 g6 and white's advantage is practically decisive. 7.g4 h5 Slightly better would have been 7...h6 8.g5 d6 9.c3 f6 10.b5 There can be little doubt that black's opening strategy has been a total bust. e7 11.h4 Well played; after this move, we cannot say much in favor of Black's game. d4 12.xd4 exd4 13.xe7+ xe7 14.g6 h7 15.0-0-0 d6 16.xf6 16.b5+ was an even more solid blow d7 17.he1+ d8 18.xd7 xd7 19.e5+ c8 20.c4 b4 21.c3 b5 21...dxc3 22.e8+ xe8 23.d8# 22.cxb4 bxc4 23.xd4 with a winning position. 16...gxf6 Now practically any reasonable move leaves white with a won position. 17.f3 hxg4 18.fxg4 d7 As is often the case, white's ganme will ot win itself and care must be taken. For example, the good looking 19.Rxd4 would be horrible! 19.g2 19.xd4 c6 20.g1 xh2 wins the exchange and leaves black better. 19...0-0-0 20.h4 20.xd4 is not as bad as it would have been last move, but it would diminish white's advantage. xh2 21.xh2 xh2 White has an endgame advantage, but black is far from being ready to resign. 20...c5 21.h5 b5 22.he1 d3 23.cxd3 xd3 24.f4 hd7 25.e6 The knockout punch. 25.xd3 is much less strong. xd3 26.xd3 xd3± 27.g5 fxg5 28.f6 e3 29.h1 e8 30.h6 h8 31.h7 g4 and black can hold out for a long time. In Shoorouts white scored +4 -0 =1, but the games were long (some well over 100 moves) and arduous. 25...f8 26.xf8 26.xd8 As mentioned previouisly, having a winning position does mean one can relax! h6+ 27.d2 xf5 and black has equalized after either 28.Red1 or 28. Ree2. But he must not play... 28.gxf5 xd2+ 29.d1 xe1+ 30.xe1 xd8 and black should win. 26...xf8 27.e3 c4 Another oversight...not that it matters because after 27...Rfd8 he is still lost. 28.xb7+ d8 29.xd7+ xd7 30.g2 g8 31.f3 xa2 Trapping his own B...not that it matters. 32.b3 xb3 33.xb3 e7 34.b7 d6 35.xa7 g7 36.d2 Black resigned. It will take a while, but the ending is hopeless. 36.d2 c5 37.a6 d4 38.e6 f7 39.e4+ c5 40.e3 b5 41.e2+ a5 42.d4 b4 43.d5+ c3 44.e6 f8 45.e7 b8 46.xf6 etc. 1–0

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A Lucky Win for Lionel Joyner

    In California in 1952, Larry Evans retained his US title when he smashed his predecessor Herman Steiner 10-4 in a match. Yugoslav GM Svetozar Gligoric won the Hollywood International. 

    The North won the annual North-South team match by a score of 32-27; Vladimir Pafnutieff of the North lost to Herman Steiner of the South. Henry Gross and Irving Rivise tied for the California State Championship and Sven Almgren won the California Open Championship. The Santa Monica CC beat Long Beach CC in a match by a score of 10.5-9.5. 

    The Los Angeles County Championship whet to Lionel Joyner after he defeated Morris Gordon 3-1 in the playoff. Here’s a Joyner win from that event. 

 

    Lionel Joyner ( 1932 – 2001) was born on the 28th of March 1932 in Montreal, Canada. He was Canada's representative to the first World Junior Championship in 1951. 

    He scored 5-4, tying for fourth, in the 1952 Hollywood International and in 1958, he played on the Canadian team as alternate at the Chess Olympiad where he scored 7-6. 

    Joyner shared first place in the 1975 Paul Keres Memorial Tournament in Vancouver. He was Canadian Closed Champion in 1961 and the Canadian Open Champion in 1955, 1957, 1959 and 1960. 

    He was a strong postal player and won the prestigious Chess Review’s Golden Knights Postal Tournament in 1961-62. 

    I could not locate anything on his opponent, Morris Gordon, other than he was the Los Angeles City Champion in 1946. 

     In his annotations Joyner did not think Gordon handled the opening well, but, in fact, the chances were quite equal until move 21 when Gordon launched an ill conceived K-side attack After a few vicissitudes by both sides Joyner managed to secure a clearly won position. But...at move 37 he blundered when he overlooked a tactical shot that would have won the game for Gordon. As for Gordon, he counterblundered and overlooked the same tactical shot and so ended up losing.

ChessBase

Morris Gordon–Lionel Joyner0–1C0251-52 Los Angeles County Champ1951Stockfish 16

C02: French: Advance Variation 1.e4 e6 2.d4 d5 3.e5 The Advance (sometimes called the Steinitz) Variation offers white no particular advantage. It's quiet and solid and it's a good choice for players who don’t know a lot theory on the French or those who prefer strategic battles over tactical ones. c5 4.c3 c6 5.f3 b6 The alternative is 5...Bd7. There's not much difference between them. 6.e2 6.a3 h6 7.b4 cxd4 8.cxd4 f5 is considered the Main Line. Note that the difference between this position and the one reached in the game after 8... Nf5 is that here white has expanded on the Q-side which gives him more play. 6...cxd4 7.cxd4 ge7 8.c3 f5 9.b5 9.a4 While white's text move is not bad and is not new, this seems more precise. a5+ Here white has a choice of equalizing moves: 10.Kf1, 10. Bd2 and 10.Nc3 9...b4 9...d7 10.xc6 bxc6 11.0-0 c5 12.a4 a5 13.xc5 xc5 14.dxc5 xc5 with equalk chances as in Keitlinghaus,L (2515)-Hoang Thanh Trang (2360) Budapest 1996 10.xc6+ bxc6 11.0-0 c5 This is premature because it should have allowed white to seize the initiative and obtain a strong position on the Q-side. 11...a6 and Black has nothing to worry. 12.e1 0-0 is equal. 12.a3 White misses a chance to grab an advantage. 12.a4 c7 13.a3 a5 14.xc5 14.dxc5 threatening to trap the B is equally good. d7 15.b4 c7 and white is clearly better. 14...b6 15.b4 12...xc3 13.bxc3 a6 14.e1 0-0 15.a4 White wants to occupy the diagonal and eyes d6 as a potential square for his B. fc8 15...fb8 16.g4 h6 17.xh6 gxh6 as in Kieran,R (2084)-Shaw,D (2165) London 2004 where white is better. 16.a3 cxd4 17.cxd4 c3 An attemot to seize the initiative. It succeeds because white doe snot find the best defense. 18.b1 c6 19.c5 d3 20.c1 xa4 21.g5 This is not really a blunder, but the action is on the Q-side and white really has no more than slender chances of launching a successfull attack on black's K. 21.a1 c4 22.b2 is equal. Black's extra P on a7 is superfluous. 21...d7 This is overreaction to a preceived threat! 21...xf3 A clever reply. After 22.gxf3 h6 23.d2 c4 24.a1 b3 25.a3 b8 26.ea1 a6 A dicey position! In Shootouts white scored +o -2 =3 22.h3 Here ot on the next move Qf4 was a safer alternative, but white is intent on attacking. c4 23.h2 xd4 This results in needless complications. The straightforward advance of the a-Pawn was much better. 23...a5 24.g4 c7 24...a4 25.f6+ wins 25.f6+ h8 26.h5 h6 27.f4 The attack has been beaten back anbd black can proceed with... a4 with a clear advantage. 24.g4 h8 25.xd4 After this white's positionnis clearly inferior. 25.e7 keeps him in the game. For example... f5 26.f6 gxf6 27.xf6+ g8 28.g5+ draws by repetition. But not... f8 29.f6 c6 30.xh7+ e8 31.f6+ f8 31...e7 32.ec1 Whits has all kinds of tricks. a5 33.b6 xb6 34.xd5+ 32.h4 with a decisive advantage. 25...xd4 26.e3 d8 27.h5 d3 White is lost because of the threat ...Bg6 trapping his Q. 28.xd3 Eliminating the B was his only feasible option. xd3 29.xf7 e8 30.c7 c8 31.f7 g8 32.c7 Of course white cannot afford to trade Qs. Now the attack on black's K is over. ..or is it?! d4 33.b7 a5 34.e7 f4 35.g3 ff8 36.h4 a4 37.h5 Threatens to win with h6. a3 The chess term for this kind of move is "blundering in a won position." We'v all done it. 37...h6 eliminates all danger. 38.a7 xa7 39.xa7 a8 advances the a-Pawn and wraps it up. 38.f6 When he annotated this game for Chess Life it's surprising that Joyner completely missed this move. In fact. he was sure he was winning and all he had to do was advance yje a-Pawn. 38.h6 ...and wins! gxh6 39.f6 is mate in f7 40.xf7 xf7 41.xf7 a7 42.xa7 a2 43.xh7# 38...gxf6 Things now are a bit tricky, but black has the win in hand. 39.exf6 39.b1 holds out a wee bit longer, but it, too, is hopeless. f7 40.b4 a2 41.a1 fxe5 42.b2 xh5 39...f7 Of course 39...a2 also wins. 40.xf7 xf7 41.xf7 h6 Even better was 41...a2 42.e7 a2 43.f7 a1+ White resigned 0–1

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The Amazing Edith Price

    Edith Price (1872-1956, 84 years old) won the British Women's Championship five times: 1922, 1923, 1924, 1928,\ and 1948). When she won the championship in 1948, at the age of 76 she became the oldest player ever to win a national championship. 

    She played in her first Ladies Championship in 1912, finishing second and almost took the title in 1920 and 1921, when she narrowly missed out in the playoffs, after tying for first. 

    In 1898 she founded the Gambit Chess Room for men only except for waitresses. The club was open every day except for two days in 1940 when it was bombed during a Nazi air raid. 

    In addition to here chess she was a prolific author and illustrator of children's books. In the field of children’s books she was best known for the imaginative stories and illustrations she created for 37 different books and stories. 

 

 

    Her grandfather was landscape painter William Trost Richards, who first inspired her to draw. Price received her training in the United States at the Boston's School of the Museum of Fine Arts and the New York Art Students League and the National Academy of Design. Her early works were often published in in general interest magazines and those aimed at children. 

    Around 1914, she was the chief founders of the Brownies, a version of the Girl Scouts for younger girls of around the age of 7 or 8. Price also recorded a large number of folk songs in 1945. 

ChessBase

Edith Price–Rosa Banting1–0A04British Ladies' Chp, SouthportSouthport21.08.1924Stockfish 16

C41: Philidor Defence 1.e4 d6 2.f3 g4 3.d4 e5 4.c3 f6 This is questionable because it loses a P and white gets a superior ending. 4...d7 5.h3 h5 6.c4 gf6 7.bd2 e7 8.0-0 0-0 9.e1 c6 equals. Pichot,A (2638) -Goroshkov,M (2278) chess.com INT 2023 5.dxe5 dxe5 6.xd8+ xd8 7.xe5 e6 8.d3 White is clearly better. d6 9.f3 c6 10.0-0 e5 11.xe5 xe5 It looks like a long, boring ending is coming, but that turns out npot to be the case. 12.e3 But this logical developing move is a tactical mistake that should have allowed black to equalize. 12.Bd2 would gave kept a good advantage. c6 12...g4 and Black has nothing to worry. 13.h3 13.d4 xh2+ 13...h2+ 14.h1 xe3 15.fxe3 g3 13.h3 h6 14.d2 f4 is the strong threat. b6 Black ignores the threat to her detriment. 14...g5 15.c4 d7 15...xc4 16.xc4 c7 17.f4 gxf4 18.xf4 xe4 19.ad1+ c8 20.xc7 xc7 21.xf7+ c8 22.dd7 ...and wins 16.xe6 fxe6 17.fd1 c7 18.b3 e7 and black has some chance of surviving. 15.f4 c7 16.f5 d7 17.ad1 b5 Black has no really satisfactory defensive plan. All she can do is wait. 18.b3 e8 19.c5 b6 20.fe1 xc5 21.xc5 c7 22.c2 g8 23.e5 Moving in for the kill! ad8 24.g4 a5 25.b3 f6 26.e6 c8 27.xd8 xd8 28.b6+ e7 29.xa5 f8 30.d1 e7 30...e7 avoids mate, but black would still be hopelessly lost after 31.b4 g6 32.f2 gxf5 33.gxf5 h5 34.e3 h4 35.c5 Black is pretty much out of moves. b7 36.d7 c8 37.c7 a6 38.xc6 etc. 31.b4+ It's mate after 31...c5 32. Bxc5# and so black resigned. 1–0

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Richter’s Double Rook Sacrifice

    A major advantage of the fianchettoed King’s position is its ability to resist an attack. However, if the fianchettoed Bishop is exchanged the King’s position is seriously weakened. And, without the fianchettoed Bishop, the opening of the g-file and the weakness of f6 and g6 (or f3 and g3) can be significant. 

    Also, remember that the position of the g-Pawn can make the attacker's task of opening up the h-file by the advance of his h-Pawn a dangerous possibility. 

    Short version...without the Bishop the castled position becomes weak and vulnerable and the squares that the missing Bishop covered result in a serious weakness. 

    An attack against the fianchettoed position is typically carried out by a Pawn advance and, hopefully, the elimination of the Bishop and the breaking up of the Pawn structure in front of the King. 

Kurt Richter

    The following ame by the great attacking genius Kurt Richter shows him sacrifices both Rooks for the fianchettoed Bishop in order to finish the game by an attack on the weakened dark-squares around the King. The game is not only a delight to play over, but it’s also very instructive. Note: some sources give slight opening transpositionm but they do not affect the game. 

    Kurt Richter (1900-1969) was born in Berlin in 1900 and was awarded the IM title in 1950 on the first designation of titleholders. He was a sharp attacking player and theoretician. 

    His opponent, Leonhard Abramavisius (1900 (?) -1960) was a Lithuanian master. In 1950, he tied for 1st in the Lithuanian championship. 

ChessBase

Kurt Richter (Germany)–Leonardas Abramavicius (Lith)1–0C11Hamburg Olympiad8Hamburg GER18.07.1930Stockfish 15

Vereson Attack 1.d4 d5 2.c3 f6 3.g5 In the Veresov white plays for fast development. He will often play e2-e4. And, frequently players castle on opposides making for some interesting play. Here the game reached a what appears to be a rather benign position from the French Defense. As will be seemn, appearances can be deceptive. e6 4.e4 dxe4 5.xe4 e7 6.xf6 xf6 7.f3 d7 8.d3 0-0 9.e2 c5 10.0-0-0 cxd4 11.g4 11.h4 e7 12.eg5 12.b1 b6 13.a1 c5 14.xc5 xc5 15.g5 g6 16.f4 as in Negi,P (2634)-Ghane, S (2375) Dubai UAE 2010. Whie has a promising position. 12...f6 13.e5 c7 14.g4 d6 15.f4 b6 16.hf1 b7 17.c4 with equal chances. Sutovsky,E (2660)-Ivanchuk,V (2711) Moscow 2002 11.xf6+ is playable' it results in equality. xf6 11...xf6 12.xd4 d7 12.e4 h6+ 13.b1 f6 14.xd4 11...g6 11...e7 12.h4 12.g5 a5 13.b1 c5 14.xc5 xc5 15.hg1 Philippe,C (2392)-De Val,D (2149) Pula 2005. White's position us the more active. 12...c7 13.b1 b6 14.fg5 b7 15.xh7 xh7 16.f6+ White is considerably better. Sutovsky,E (2661)-Kovacevic,A (2559) Neum 2004 12.h4 Black's position is quite solid and his next move looks plausible. But, it is, in fact, a seriuous mistake. g7 12...b6 An odd looking way to defend against the K-side attacck, but what ot does is allow black to escange off some attacking minor pieces. 13.h5 c5 14.hxg6 14.xc5 bxc5 15.hxg6 hxg6 14...xd3+ 15.xd3 fxg6 The position is equal. 13.h5 Black is now facing a dangerous attack. e8 14.hxg6 hxg6 15.g5 It's hard to imagine the lurking danger on the h-file thanks to the defending B on g7. e5 16.h4 f8 16...b6 is still his best defensive chance. 17.c4 c5 18.f6+ xf6 19.gxf6 xf6 20.dh1 f5 and black can probably survive. 17.dh1 f5 18.f1 Planning toi sacrifice on h8 c8 Poor Abranavicius! He doesn't suspect a thing. 18...d7 had to be played. 19.h8+ 19.fd2 f8 leaves white clearly better, but there is no forced win. 19...xh8 20.xh8+ xh8 21.h1+ g8 as in the game does not work because the N on d7 covers f6. 19.h8+ Brilliant! xh8 20.xh8+ This is the only followup that does not leave black winning! xh8 21.h1+ h7? 21...g8 is a better defense. 22.f6+ xf6 23.gxf6 c6 24.xf5 xf6 Black is lost here, too, but he can at least make white work for the point. Here's how a Shootout variation went... 25.d3 g7 26.g5 e7 27.d5 c6 28.f4 exf4 29.xd4+ f6 30.f3 g5 31.xa7 d6 32.c5 ed7 33.f5 e7 34.b4 e3 35.d2 d4 36.c4 e7 37.b2 c7 38.b3 cd7 39.a4 7d5 40.c8 d7 41.e8 xd3+ 42.cxd3 xd3+ 43.c2 d7 44.d6 b6 45.f5+ g8 46.c3 c7+ 47.d2 h7 48.e1 d7 49.a5 bxa5 50.bxa5 a7 51.d8 f7 52.b6 d7 53.a6 g6 54.d6 g4 55.b1+ g7 56.f5+ f7 57.h6+ g7 58.xg4 g6 59.b6 f3 60.a7 xa7 61.xa7+ f8 62.d4 f2+ 63.xf2 e5 64.d8+ f7 65.xf6+ e8 66.e6+ d8 67.xe5 c7 68.c6+ b8 69.d7+ a7 70.b6+ a8 71.a6# 22.f6 g7 23.h6+ It's mate next move so black resigned. 1–0

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Leopold Hoffer

 

    Leopold Hoffer (1842 in Hungary – August 28,1913 in England) was an English player and journalist who was born in Budapest, left for Paris at the end of 1866 and for the rest of his life he resided in London after 1870. 

    He founded the British Chess Club, was an honorary member of the City of London Chess Club, founder and honorary secretary of the British Chess Association. 

    As a chess journalist he worked for The Field, Standard and Westminster Gazette. He is most famous for founding the Chess Monthly magazine and running it together with Zukertort. You can read issues of the magazine (as well as many others) at the outstanding site Chess Archaeology. 

    While living in Paris, he won matches against, among others, Ignatz von Kolisch, Samuel Rosenthal and Jules Arnous de Riviere. 

    At his death he was Europe's supreme chess commentator who was known for his verbal brickbats and and at least one admirer claimed he was the greatest chess editor the world had ever seen! 

    His opponent in the following delightful minature was James I. Minchin (1825-1903) who was born in Madras, India and died in Parkstone, England. He was one of the main promoters of the London 1883 international tournament and edited the tournament book. After Minchin’s slip on move 11 he got slaughtered. 

ChessBase

James I. Minchin–Leopold Hoffer0–1C33LondonLondon ENG1876Stockfish 16

C33: King's Gambit Accepted 1.e4 e5 2.f4 exf4 3.c4 This is second in popularity to 3.Nf3. The text can lead to several extremely sharp lines. Compared to 3. Nf3 there is very little theory on this move. h4+ 4.f1 White has lost the possibility of castling and his K looks precariously placed, but it's actually safe on f1. White can now gain several tempi because of the position of black's Q. White's plan is usually to develop quickly and start an attack on the K-side using the half-open f-file and the B on c4. d5 This move, attacking the B, is only one of black's defensive possibilities. Black gives back the P for a rapid development. 4...g5 is usual and statistically brings black th emost success. 5.c3 g7 6.d4 Black usually continues with 6...Ne7, but 6...d6 isslightly better. Either way the chances are about even. 5.xd5 Best. It avoids the B being blocked by the P on d5. 5.exd5 This favors black after d6 6.f3 and the retreat to either h5 or h6 leave black well off. 5...e7 6.c3 6.b3 preserves the B, but black is solid after g5 7.f3 h5 8.d4 bc6 6...g5 6...xd5 Gains the two Bs, but black's development is disrupted after 7.xd5 d6 8.f3 h6 9.e5 7.d4 7.f3 is more accurate, Then after h5 8.h4 chances are even. 7...g7 7...g4 leaves black a bit better. 8.f3 xf3 9.xf3 bc6 8.f3+- 8.g3 is not to be recommended even though it's whan the great Capablanca played in Capablanca,J-Beckman,A, Philadelphia 1924 fxg3 9.g2 xd5 10.hxg3 xc3 11.bxc3 xe4+ 12.f3 g4 13.e1 xf3+ 14.xf3 xe1 and black won in a few more moves. 8...h5 9.e2 9.h4 is correct. h6 10.f2 10.g1 g6 11.e5 xe5 12.dxe5 g8 with equal chances. Paulsen,L-Anderssen,A Baden-Baden 1870 10.e5 did not work out well for white in Mortimer,J-Steinitz,W London 1883 0-0 11.g1 g4 12.e1 d8 Black has what should amount to a decisive advantae, but in the game he let it slip and only managed to draw. 10...g4 11.e1 bc6 12.xf4 xd4+ 13.f1 Black is better. Swiderski, R-Marshall,F Vienna 1903 9...xd5 10.exd5 Black now has a strong initiative and white finds himself on the defensive. g4 11.e1 A fatal slip. Correct was 11.Qd3 so as to recapture with the Q if black plays ...Bxf3 11.d3 xf3 12.xf3 xf3+ 13.gxf3 Black has no more than a slight advantage. 11...0-0 A necessary precaution. 11...xf3 12.xf4+ e2+ 13.xe2+ xe2+ 14.xe2 White is solid P up. 12.f2 d7 This N will strengthen the attack. 13.c4 ae8 14.d2 f6 The threat of Ne4 cannot be met in any satisfactory way. 15.c3 15.a3 This a pass just to illustrate the danger if the N remains on e5 e4 16.e1 xf3 17.gxf3 xf3+ 18.g1 xd2 19.xd2 xe2 15...e4 16.xe4 xe4 17.c3 fe8 White's position is hopeless. 18.d1 e3 19.g1 xf3 20.gxf3 xf3 21.g2 White is quite lost and Stockfish is announcing mate in 11 moves. xc3 White resigned. A nearly flawless game by Hoffer. 21...xc3 22.bxc3 xd1+ 23.f1 e1 24.f2 d2+ 25.f3 f5 26.f2 d1+ 27.g2 g4+ 28.g3 e2+ 29.f1 fxg3 30.hxg3 f3+ 31.g1 g2# 0–1

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Bruno E. Siegheim

    Here is a name from out of the past that you have probably never heard of: Bruno E. Siegheim (May 24, 1875 in Berlin, Germany - November 5, 1952 in Johannesburg, South Africa).

    Born in Berlin, in 1895 he went to South Africa. At that time, though he knew something about chess, he was totally unacquainted with its deeper mysteries. He joined the Johannesburg Chess Club in January of 1898, but in April he migrated to Quebec in Canada, where he lived for nine months. 

    While there he met Professor Isaac Rice (1850-1915), the Bavaria-born master and inventor of the Rice Gambit who had moved to the US together with his parents at the age of six. Rice introduced Siegheim, who by that time had developed into a strong player, to the Rice Gambit germ. 

    Seigheim's next experience was with the Manhattan Club in New York where he worked his way up to one of their strongest players, even taking third place in a Rice Gambit tournament in 1903. In the Manhattan Chess Club Championship of 1903, David Baird took first and Seigheim finished second. 

    In October of 1904, Seigheim returned to South Africa and returned to the Johannesburg C.C. At that time a player named Dr. Nax Blieden was acknowledged to be the strongest player in the country. Seigheim was strong enough that a match with Blieden was arranged.

    Seigheim scored +6 -2 =2 in the first ten games, but then Blieden scored four straight wins to even the score! According to the match arrangements the match was to be continued until one of the players score 9 points which Seigheim succeeded in doing. 

    Seigheim won the championship of South Africa in 1906 at Capetown, scoring +5 -0 =2. In 1910, he lost a challenge to Dr. Blieden, he defeated Harry Duhan in a challenge in 1911, then defeated Henk Meihuizen in challenge in1912. Also in 1912, he captured his second South African championship. 

    After World War I, he tied for 5-6th in th British Championship at Malvern (F.D. Yates won). At the annual Hastings Christmas Congress of 1922/23 he shared 2nd with Richard Réti, behind Akiba Rubinstein. He also is reported to have played a match against Mir Sultan Khan at London in 1929, but I was unable to find any details.

 

ChessBase

Bruno Siegheim–A. Frere1–0D52Offhand Game Johannesburg CC1910Stockfish 16

D52: Queen's Gambit Declined: Cambridge Springs Variation 1.d4 d5 2.c4 e6 3.c3 f6 4.g5 bd7 The Cambridge Springs Defense has been around for over a century and is still one of the most popular ways of meeting the Queen's Gambit, second only to 4...Be7. It also sets what is known as the Elephant Trap. 5.e3 5.cxd5 This is quite playable. exd5 White should now play either 6.Nf3 or 6.e3 6.xd5 Falling for the Elephant Trap. xd5 7.xd8 b4+ 8.d2 xd2+ 9.xd2 xd8 and black has won a piece. 5...c6 6.f3 a5 At the time of this gme this move had been abandoned as insatisfactory. However, that opinion has changed and today 6...Qa4 is the main line. Black intends ...Bb4 and possibly ...Ne4 with pressure along the a5–e1 diagonal. 7.d2 e4 7...b4 This is the modern way. 8.c2 0-0 9.e2 c5 White has a wide choice of replies. 8.cxd5 8.dxe4 dxe4 9.h4 Akso playable is 9. Bf4 b4 10.b3 e5 11.a3 exd4 12.xb4 xb4 13.axb4 dxc3 14.bxc3 Dobrev,N (2179)-Hristov,A (2259) Albena BUL 2010. Chances are equal. 8...xc3N 8...xd2 9.xd2 exd5 10.d3 b4 11.0-0 0-0 Marshall,F-Teichmann,R Cambridge Springs 1904. White is slightly better. 9.bxc3 xd5 10.h4 f5 Much too weakening. 10...e5 11.f3 exd4 12.exd4 12.cxd4 is inferior. After b4+ 13.e2 Black is better. 12...e7 13.xe7 e4+ 14.e2 xe7 15.0-0 f6 16.e1 0-0 17.c4 c7 equals. 11.h5+ g6 12.g5 a5 12...b6 to hinder Bc4 is not any better. 13.a4 a5 14.e2 and black is still at a positional disadvantage. 13.c4 f7 13...g8 14.xe6 h6 15.g3 g7 16.xd7+ xd7 17.f6 f7 18.xg6 is also unfavorable for black. 14.0-0 d6 15.e4 White already has a decisive advantage and must figure out how to dig out black's King which Siegheim does quite efficiently. h6 16.xe6+ g7 16...xe6 17.xg6+ f6 18.xf6+ d7 19.f7+ e7 20.xe7# 17.e3 f4 17...g5 runs into 18.xf5 gxh4 19.h3 So that he can check on g4. Black's K is exposed and is totally helpless. A samll line.. b6 20.g4+ f8 21.xc8 xc8 22.e5 e7 23.h3 d5 24.f4 c5 25.f5 cxd4 26.f6 c5 27.h1 dxc3 28.f3 b6 29.xh4 h7 30.g6+ e8 31.e6 c2 32.f7+ d8 33.ac1 c7 34.xc2 a4 35.b3 xb3 36.axb3 18.f3 g5 This wins a piece, but further weakens his position. 19.c4 c7 20.e5 e7 21.h5 f8 21...gxh4 22.f7# 22.d6 The purpose of this move is to lure the B away from the defense of the g-Pawn. 22.xg5 is also playable. Here is just a sampke of how play could go. hxg5 23.d6 xe5 24.xc8 axc8 25.xc8 xc8 26.dxe5 e6 27.ad1 d8 28.xd8 xd8 29.d1 e7 30.h4 gxh4 31.d4 f7 32.g4+ g6 33.xg6+ xg6 34.xf4 22...xd6 22...xe5 would have given him a fighting chance. 23.xc8 xd6 24.dxe5 g6 25.xg6+ xg6 26.xb7 ab8 27.xc6 gxh4 28.fd1 b6 29.e4+ g5 30.d5 c8 31.e6+ f6 32.f5+ xe6 33.e1 xc3 34.xf4 White is better and should be able to win. 23.xg5 hxg5 24.xg5+ h7 25.f5+ The last words of Hamlet, "The rest is silence" is appropriate here! xf5 26.xf5+ g7 27.g5+ h7 28.exd6 xd6 29.fe1 f6 30.e5 d7 31.xf4 f8 32.ae1 Black resigned. Forceful plat by Siegjeim! 1–0

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1904 - Chicago Players Were Best in Country

    Life expectancy in the US in 1904 was only 46.2 for men and 49.1 for women. Short story writer O. Henry was visiting Honduras whe he came up with the term Banana Republic to describe a politically unstable country with an economy dependent upon exporting a limited-resource product like bananas. 

    Thomas Sullivan, a New York tea merchant, invented tea bags by accident. He wanted the small bags to be samples of the tea. People started dunking them instead. King C. Gillette patented his Gillette razor blade. On December 31, the first New Year’s Eve celebration was held in Times Square (then Longacre Square), New York City. And, the term “hangover” came into the vernacular. Before that, people felt “crapulous.” 

    If you lived in Chicago in 1904, you started paying the Bottled Water Tax. It applied to the retail sale of bottled water in the city at a rate of $0.05 per bottle. However, the tax did not apply to sale of bottled water to passengers on an interstate carrier. 

    In 1904, it appeared that Chicago might possibly be emerging as the new power in American chess. Teams from the Chicago Chess and Checker Club had won victories in telegraph matches against Brooklyn, Philadelphia, Boston and they also overwhelmed a team from the Twin Cities of St. Paul and Minneapolis, Minnesota. 

    In the match against the Twin Cities the outcome of one of the games was disputed owing to inability of the players to agree upon the correct position at time of adjournment. It didn’t matter; Chicago won by 10 points anyway. 

    The winner of the following game from the match was Chicago’s little known Carl Medinus (August 4, 1873 – December 6, 1941). Medinus played a match against Frank Marshall ib Chicago in 1900, with Marshall winning 4-2. 

    On the other hand, Horace Bigelow (March 6, 1898 – April 18, 1980) was a well known master and organizer. He learned to play chess at age ten in Lucerne, Switzerland. Eventually he found his way to New York City where he was a prominent member of the Manhattan Chess Club, one of organizers of the New York 1924 tournament. In 1928-29, he won the Marshall Chess Club Championship. He edited a chess column in the New York Evening Post and the Liberty magazine.

ChessBase

Carl Medinus (Chicago)–Horace Bigelow (Twin Cities)1–0C29Team Match01.1904Stockfish 16

C29: Vienna Game 1.e4 e5 2.c3 Originally the idea behind the was to play a delayed King's Gambit, but in modern play qhite often plays more quietly. Weaver Adams once claimed the Vienn led to a forced win, but of course it does not. f6 3.f4 d5 Best. It strikes in the center. 3...exf4 4.e5 is rarely played. White almost always replies with 4.Bc4, but the best movr appears to be... g8 Best because after 4...Qe7 5.Qe2 black has to retreat the N anyway. 5.f3 d6 6.d4 dxe5 7.b5+ c6 8.c4 White is better developed. 4.fxe5 xe4 5.f3 c6 6.d4 More exact os 6.Bb5 b4 7.d2 f5N 7...g4 8.e2 xf3 9.xf3 xd2 10.xd2 h4+ 11.f2 xd4 12.xd4 xd4 with a clear advantage. 8.e2 xd2 8...f6 Challenging white in this was assures black of equality. For example... 9.xe4 dxe4 10.h4 e6 11.xb4 xb4 12.0-0 fxe5 9.xd2 e4 10.0-0 10.0-0-0 is somewhat stronger. f6 11.a3 xc3 12.xc3 0-0 13.he1 White is slightly better. 10...0-0 11.ad1 b6 Black is wasting time with this pointless move. Once again, challenging white's cenbter with 11...f6 is correct. 12.a3 e7 13.b5 xf3 14.xc6 14.gxf3 would be bad. xd4 15.a6 15.xd4 c5 15...c6 16.h1 f5 Black is slightly better. 14...xd1 15.xd1 15.xa8 is a misstep. xa8 16.xd1 c6 with an even position. 15...b8 16.xd5 f6 17.g4 White's position has reached the point where he can be considered to be winning. f5 Apparently Bigelow hoped the elimination of Rs would ease his defensive burden, but that is not the case. 17...fxe5 is technically speaking no better though because of 18.e6+ h8 19.xe7 xe7 20.xe7 exd4 However, practically speaking, this is probably black's best chance. 18.xf5 xf5 19.xf5 g5 20.c3 a5 21.g3 h8 22.h4 c1 23.e6 Decisive. d6 Medinus now executes a nifty finish. 24.e7 xg3+ 24...xb2 was worth a try. 25.g2 xa3 26.e8+ xe8 27.xe8 d8 28.b5 d6 White is winning, but he still has some work to do. 25.f1 d6 26.e8+ xe8 27.xe8 xb2 28.h5 xa3 29.c8+ Black resigned . A fine finale by Medinus. 29.c8+ f8+ 30.xf8+ xf8 31.xc7 is hopeless for black. 1–0

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The First Ladies' International Tournament

    The first ladies’ international tournament was held in London from June 23 through July 3, 1897. The tournament was organized to celebrate the 60th anniversary of Queen Victoria’s accession to the throne. The event attracted the best female players in the world. 

    The idea that women could play a decent game of chess was a fairly new concept. Many men believed women made up rules as the game progressed and they would do things like castle ou of check and ignore the touch-move rule. Of course, that was not the case and this tournament proved women really could play chess even if they were not on a par with the best men players. 

    Playing hours were from 1:00pm until 5:00pm and after a dinner break games were resumed from &:pm until 11:00pm Monday through Saturday. 

    English players were: Eschwege, Field, Fox, Gooding, Hooke, Rudge, Sidney, Thomas, Thorold and Watson. 

    Others were: Berry and Finn (Ireland), Forbes-Sharp (Scotland), Bonnefin (Belgium), de la Vingne (France), Fagan (Italy), Hertzsch and Muller-Hartung,S. Stevenson (Canada) and Worrall (Unitetd States). 

    Two of the ladies representing other countries actually lived in England. Madame Bonnefin lived in London and Mrs. Fagan was also living in England. Additionally, the US representative, Harriet Worral, who was living in Brooklyn, was of English origin. 

 

    Alice Hooke was a substitute for Eliza Campbell Foot of the United States who was expected to attend but failed to put in an appearance. Little is known of Mrs. Foot outside her chess related activities. She was born February 23, 1851. She was reported to have been a cousin to Wilhelm Steinitz. On December 6, 1914 near the Manhattan Chess Club during a stormy evening, she was carrying an umbrella which apparently blocked her view of an oncoming vehicle as it came around the corner. She was struck and killed instantly; the driver never stopped.

    Gertrue Field Anderson was British Women's Champion in 1909, 1912 and 1921. She later married player named Donald L. Anderson. Born in 1880, she passed away in 1924 after having been in ill health for some time. 

    Alice Elizabeth Hooke was the sister of noted British player George Archer Hooke (a857-1934). She never married and lived most of her life in London. where she was born in 1862. 

    For most of her life she worked as a Civil Servant clerk. As a very keen player, for forty years she was one of the leaders in the development of women's chess in England. 

    She shared first place in two British Ladies' Championships in her late 1860s. The following game is an interesting one. 

    The following game was pretty routine for a while. Field was on the attack and on move 25 she sacrificed a Bishop. The sacrifice was not bad, but against correct play it offered no more than equal chances. 

    On her 26th move Hooke retreated her Queen to the wrong square and should have lost, but Field didn’t find the refutation which left the chances still balanced.  Even so, Hooke’s position was difficult to defend. As often happens in such situations Hooke finally cracked and lost quickly. The complications were enormous and Stockfish quibbled with several moves, but that was just nitpicking.

 

ChessBase

Gertrude Field–Alice E. Hoole1–0C51Ladies' First Int’l Tmt., London1897Stockfish 16

C51: Evans Gambit: Declined 1.e4 e5 2.f3 c6 3.c4 c5 4.b4 b6 n My System Nimzovich claimed that 4...Bb6 does not lost a tempo because 4.b4 is unproductive because it does nothing for white's developemnt. Although far less popular than accepting the gambit, declining it is probably safer. I 5.c3 a6 5...f6 6.d3 d6 7.a4 and now either 7...a6 or 7...a5 6.b3 f6 6...e7 7.d3 f6 8.g5 h6 9.h4 d6 is equal. Da Castro,J-Williams,A Abuja 2003 7.d3 h6 8.0-0 d6 9.e3 ge7 10.bd2 0-0 11.xb6 cxb6 12.h3 White should have played 12.a4 as a measure against 12...b5! (if not here, then on the next few moves) which would have been to black's advantage. g6 13.h4 f6 14.hf3 d7 15.d1 ac8 16.h2 h8 17.g4 g6 18.f4 White is mistakenly playing for a K-side attack when her real prospects are on the Q-side and so 18.a4 was the proper course. h5 18...exf4 is advantageous for black. 19.xf4 Actually 19.d4 is better, but this is likely what white intended. e5 20.xe5 dxe5 21.f2 b5 22.b3 xh3 and black has the advantage. 19.f5 After this white has a strong attack. h7 20.e3 h6 21.f3 b5 22.d5 g8 23.g3 23.g4 packed more punch. g6 24.g3 f6 25.fxg6 h4 26.f3 is excellent prospecys. Black should now play 28...Nge7, but not... xg6 27.e1 g5 28.f1 Vacating fe for the N. ce7 29.f3 h6 30.xh4 xd5 31.xd5 with a strong attack. 23...f6 24.e1 g6 25.xf7 xf7 26.xg6 h7 This retreat loses rather quickly. 26...f8 and Black is OK. 27.h4 e7 Now white has to find 28.Rf1 to avoid getting an inferior position. 28.f1 Things are getting tactical nad both sides have plenty of room for errors tht lead to a loss! e8 28...xg6 loses to 29.fxg6 e7 30.xf6 29.f3 h7 29...xg6 30.fxg6 e7 31.d4 exd4 32.xf6 g8 33.f5 is winning for white. 30.xh5 g7 31.h4 g8 32.h6 xg6 33.fxg6 xg6 34.xg6+ xg6 35.f6 e8 Wgite's advantage is minimal. 27.h4 27.f3 at once was necessary. e7 27...e7 28.xf6 wins 28.g5 and black must surrender her Q. 27...cf8 28.f3 One move to late to do any damage, but black's position is still precarious and she must find the right move every move. g7 Which she does not. 28...e7 29.g5 xg6 and now it's black who is winning no matter if white plays 30.Nxf7+ or 30.fxg6 30.xf7+ xf7 31.fxg6 xg6 with a piece up. 28...e7 29.g3 Black now equalizes as follows... g7 30.xg7 xg7 29.xf6 Game over. xf6 30.xf6 g8 31.xd6 e8 32.h4 g3 33.h6+ g8 34.g6 Intending Qh8+ and mate follows. d8 34... Bxf5avoids the immediate mate, but itt's equally hopelless. 34...a5 A pass to demonstrate the mate threat. 35.h8+ f7 36.h7+ f6 37.d5+ g5 38.h4+ g4 39.f6# 35.h8+ White mates in this line, too. f7 36.h7+ f6 37.d5+ g5 38.h8 1-0 Missing the mate, but black's position is so bad that she resigned anyway. 38.h4+ g4 39.h6 f3 39...a5 40.xe5+ xe5 41.f4# 40.h2 40.gxf3+ g3 41.e3 h3 42.f4+ g4 43.e2+ h3 44.g2# 40...a5 41.gxf3+ xf3 42.e3+ g4 43.e2# 1–0

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