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2023, Books, Middlegame, Reviews, Richard James, Thinkers Publishing


SUPREME CHESS UNDERSTANDING – STATICS & DYNAMICS

November 28, 2024 Richard James 1 Comment
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From the Publisher:

“The distinction between strategy and tactics is one of the first things any
chess player learns about, but have you ever heard about statics and dynamics
before? Did you know that nearly every critical decision you take in a game of
chess is governed by the rules of the so-called static/dynamic balance? If not,
for the sake of your own chess development, you might want learn more about it
from this very book!

In Supreme Chess Understanding: Statics & Dynamics, GM Moranda meticulously
explains rules governing the physics of the game, focusing in particular on the
interplay between static and dynamic factors. In today’s dog-eat-dog chess world
it is namely not enough to know the general principles, but rather to grasp
when, how and why can these be bent… or even broken. Thanks to the knowledge
gained by studying this work, navigating through the maze of positional
transformations is going to become a piece of cake!

The 65 (there are actually 60, not 65) carefully selected exercises are going to
make your chess senses tingle with learning excitement. Apart from that, you
shall also benefit from the massive amount of practical advice and psychological
tips provided by the author. Finally, the book’s quiz format will make the study
process not only fruitful, but above all fun!”

About the author:

“Wojciech Moranda (1988), Grandmaster since 2009, highest FIDE rating 2636 and
Poland’s TOP 3 player (August 2022). His most notable recent results include,
i.a. silver at the Polish Individuals (Bydgoszcz 2021) as well as team bronze at
the European Teams (Čatež 2021), together with individual silver on Board 4 at
the very same event. Professional chess coach training students all over the
world, focused on helping talented juniors and adult improvers ascend past their
previous limitations. In his work as a trainer, GM Moranda puts special emphasis
on deep strategic understanding of the game, improving his students’
thought-process as well as flawless opening preparation. As an author, GM
Moranda begun his adventure with writing in 2020 by publishing the best-selling
Universal Chess Training with Thinkers Publishing. The book quickly became a
favorite among amateurs and titled players alike, gaining high acclaim from
critics too.”

GM Wojciech Moranda, Photo courtesy of GM Moranda

A few months ago I saw some research into the optimum average score which makes
a test effective. I don’t remember the exact figure offhand, but I seem to
recall it was something like 70% or 75%. If they get everything right they’ve
wasted their time taking the test but if they make a significant number of
mistakes they haven’t fully understood the material. Interesting, but you might
or might not consider it relevant to books of this nature.

Here we have three chapters, each containing 20 quiz questions, alternating
between statics (positional play) and dynamics (tactical play). In each question
the best continuation wasn’t found over the board. The questions in the first
chapter (Bedtime solving for kids… with 10 years of experience) score 2 points
each, for solving a puzzle in the second chapter (Buy this book, they said. It
will be fun, they said) you’ll receive 3 points, with 5 points awarded for
correct solutions in Chapter 3 (Even MC can’t touch these). Moranda helpfully
includes a chart which tells you that you would expect to score 70-79% if your
playing strength is 2500-2599. If your playing strength is 1800-1899, you’d
expect to score 0-9%.

But he also writes that “Although I believe that this book will mostly benefit
+1800 players, I do wish to encourage those rated below this threshold to try
their hand.” Even though you wouldn’t be surprised if you failed to solve any of
the questions? Well, perhaps. Regular readers of my reviews will know that I
think authors and publishers often claim books are suitable for lower rated
players than they really are, and that chess players often buy books that are
too hard for them to really benefit from.

Let’s take a look inside. I’ll show you one position from each chapter.

I was looking for something to use for the Puzzle of the Week on my club website
which would link up with both this book and the World Championship match, and
was pleased to find this position where Ding, playing black against Artemiev in
a 2021 rapidplay game, failed to come up with the optimal plan.



You must activate JavaScript to enhance chess diagram visualization.
12345678abcdefgh



What you get here, as in Moranda’s previous book, which I reviewed here, is a
discussion of the position and the move chosen in the game followed by a
(computer generated/checked) variation demonstrating what might have happened if
the correct plan had been selected.

Here, Ding should have played 13… Bxc4, followed by Na5, Nb3 and c4, with a
slight advantage. Of course, as Moranda points out,  you need to see the whole
plan in order to justify giving up what looks like your better bishop for a
knight.

Out of curiosity, I left the position on Stockfish for a bit. It soon decided
that Black’s advantage was just above 0.5, but leaving it on longer saw this
dwindling to 0.27, although you might consider that the practical advantage is
somewhat greater as his position is perhaps easier to play.

Ding instead chose 13… Bg4, and, as he eventually won the game, no harm was
done. Stockfish considers this, Bd7 and Bc8 (which Moranda doesn’t like after
Bh3) all equal, but leaving the bishop to be captured on e6 would be a serious
error giving White a large (1.5 or thereabouts) positional edge.

Here’s a position from the second chapter: something more challenging taken from
the game Anand – Karjakin (Gashimov Memorial Rapid 2021).



You must activate JavaScript to enhance chess diagram visualization.
12345678abcdefgh



Again you have to find a continuation for Black.

Karjakin was awarded one point for sacrificing his h-pawn: 22… g6, but after 23.
Nxh6+ Kg7 24. Rf1 he failed to receive the remaining two points as he missed 24…
Qd8, a very difficult move to find, especially in a rapid game, according to
Moranda, with f5 to follow.

Again, though, we’re talking about small margins. 25. Ng4 f5 26. Qxe5 + Rxe5 27.
Nxe5 gives White RNP against Q, with Stockfish assessing the position as about
0.35 in Black’s favour.

The game continued with 24… Rh8 which is assessed as about equal, but again
Karjakin won anyway after Anand miscalculated.

Chapter 3 offers puzzles that ‘even MC can’t touch’: I presume he means Magnus
Carlsen rather than MC Hammer.

This one’s about dynamics rather than statics. You’ll really have to calculate.

Black to play once again in Vachier-Lagrave – Duda (Zagreb Rapid 2021).



You must activate JavaScript to enhance chess diagram visualization.
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White has sacrificed a knight for an attack against the black king. There’s a
threat of Rc5, with a possible mate on h7 to follow. How are you going to
defend?

The correct move, which Duda failed to find, is 33… Rfe8, which earns you three
points. You’ll get an extra point for meeting Rc5 with Re1 (although Qxc5 also
leads to equality), and another extra point for meeting Rg5 with Re4. If you
want to see the analysis you’ll have to buy the book!

(Here’s a strange thing. Moranda tells us that after Duda’s 33… Ne3, ‘White
converted his advantage in a rather confident manner by … transposing cleverly
into a winning rook endgame. Well, yes, but then he traded rooks into an
apparently simple pawn ending that should have been drawn, but won after several
blunders by both players. But that’s a story for another time and place.)

This is, in many ways, an outstanding book. Moranda is an excellent teacher with
a gift for finding interesting and instructive positions, all taken from games
played between 2020 and 2022. He also writes engagingly and humorously (not
always totally idiomatically, but no matter) while explaining difficult concepts
clearly. I really enjoyed reading it, and perhaps you will too.

The book is handsomely produced, like everything from Thinkers Publishing,
looking good on both the outside and the inside. The hardback edition received
by British Chess News seems to be currently unavailable according to the
publisher’s website, but you can still order the paperback there.

If you’re a traditionalist who objects as a matter of principle to
computer-generated analysis this probably isn’t the book for you. It’s also
probably not a good choice for novice or intermediate players: the title of the
first chapter suggests, not entirely seriously, that ten years’ experience may
be required. Ambitious players of, say, 2200+ strength will benefit from working
through the book sequentially, spending the recommended 15 minutes on each
question. Below that level, from about 1800 upwards, if you find the questions
too hard you’ll learn a lot from just reading through the answers. I don’t have
a FIDE rating but my national rating is currently 1938. I found the puzzles in
the first chapter about the right level for me, but those in the second and
third chapters too hard, which sounds about right from the chart in the
introduction.

If you’re a strong player with time to spare who is looking for a book which
will add something extra to your play, this could be just what you’re looking
for. If you just want an enjoyable read showing you some fascinating positions
from recent games, this book can also be highly recommended. Congratulations to
the author and publisher on an excellent publication.

 

You can discover more, and see some further reviews here. You’ll find some
sample pages here.

 

 

Richard James, Twickenham 28th November 2024

. Richard James

Book Details:

 * Hardback: 256 pages
 * Publisher: Thinkers Publishing; 1st edition (2 May 2023)
 * Language: English
 * ISBN-10: 9464201770
 * ISBN-13: 978-9464201772
 * Product Dimensions: 17.15 x 1.91 x 23.5 cm

Official web site of Thinkers Publishing

Supreme Chess Understanding: Statics and Dynamics, Wojciech Moranda, Thinker’s
Publishing, ISBN-13 ‏ : ‎ 978-9464201772
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2023BooksMiddlegameReviewsThinkers Publishing
Biographies, Composer, Composition, Congress, English, Games Analysis, History,
Journalism, Minor Pieces, Player, Players, Problems, Richard James


MINOR PIECES 81: HARRY JACKSON

November 9, 2024 Richard James 2 Comments
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If you share my interest in the subject of child prodigies, I’d probably start
by referring you to this article by Edward Winter.

One name missing from this article, though, is that of Harry Jackson, who, in
the late 1870s, was billed as the Yorkshire Morphy.

You might have met him briefly in my previous Minor Piece, but I’m sure you want
to know where he came from, and what happened next.

Our story starts in what was in the 19th century the thriving mill town of
Dewsbury in West Yorkshire, south of Leeds and Bradford, north east of
Huddersfield.

Among those working in the cloth industry in the middle of the century was John
Jackson. He and his wife Hannah had four sons and a daughter. While two of his
sons, Samuel and Joshua, graduated into the middle classes, becoming solicitor’s
clerks, the other boys pursued different careers. Abraham worked as a labourer
before emigrating to Canada where he became a farmer. John, the youngest son,
became (like my paternal grandfather in Leicester) a painter and decorator.

It was John who was the chess player, although I’d guess the whole family played
socially. He and his wife, another Hannah, had a large family, three of whom
played competitive chess. Harry, the Yorkshire Morphy, was his oldest son, born
16th December 1863. We’ll return to him later.

The next chess player in the family was William Ewart Jackson (1867-1951), his
name suggesting that the family were supporters of the Liberal Party.

William (known as Willie) played for Dewsbury in the 1880s before moving to
Leeds, where he worked for William Pape, a firm of glass merchants, and joining
the local club. He was active in Leeds chess, both over the board and
correspondence, until at least 1918.

Huddersfield Daily Examiner 15 February 1915

In what may have been one of his last matches (the Woodhouse Cup was suspended
between 1916 and 1919) he was privileged to watch Atkins beating Yates in
masterly fashion on top board.

Here are two games. Click on any move in any game in this article for a pop-up
window.



You must activate JavaScript to enhance chess game visualization.
Tate, Thomas William
Jackson, William Ewart
West Yorkshire Chess Association Leeds
26 April 1884
Annotated by Stockfish 17
1.e4e52.Bc4Bc53.Nf3d64.d3h6
12345678abcdefgh
5.d4NPredecessor:5.Be3Bb66.c3Be67.Nbd2Nf68.O-OO-O9.Bb3Nc610.d4Bxb311.axb3exd412.Nxd4Nxd413.cxd40-1
Stanley,C-Marache,N New York Casual Games New York (New York CC)
18665…exd46.Nxd4C23: Bishop’s Opening: 2…Bc5.6…Nf67.Qd37.Nc3=7…Nbd7Threatens to
win with …Ne5.8.Be38.Nf3∓8…O-O9.Nf5?9.Nd2was called for.9…Ne5−+
12345678abcdefgh
Deflection10.Qd210.Qe2⌓Nxe411.Bxc5Bxf512.Be310…Nxe411.Nxh6+gxh612.Qe2Bxe313.Qxe3Nxc414.Qxh6Qf615.Qxf6Nxf616.O-ORe817.Nc3c618.b3Ne519.f4Neg420.h3Ne321.Rf2Bf522.Rc1Ned523.Ne2Ne424.Rf3Kh825.c4Ndf626.Nd4Bd727.f5c528.Nc2Nd229.Rf2Nfe430.Rf4Ng531.Rh4+Nh732.Rd1Re233.g4Bc634.Ne3Prevents
Rg2+.34…Nf3+35.Kf1Rxe336.Rh6Rae8
12345678abcdefgh
( -> …Nh2+)37.Rdxd6Nh2+Black
mates.38.Kf2Rf3+39.Kg1Rg3+40.Kxh2Rg2+41.Kh1Re1#White got outplayed after the
opening. Weighted Error Value: White=0.83/Black=0.26 (precise) Source: Chess
Player’s Chronicle 7 May 18840–1






You must activate JavaScript to enhance chess game visualization.
Skirrow, William
Jackson, William Ewart
Correspondence: Leeds Mercury Weekly Supplement
1904
Annotated by Stockfish 17
1.e4e52.Nf3Nc63.Bb5a64.Ba4d65.d4Bd76.c3Nge7
12345678abcdefgh
7.Bg5NPredecessor:7.Bb3h68.Nbd2Ng69.Nf1Be710.Ng3O-O11.Be3Bg412.Qd2Na513.h3Bxf314.gxf3Nxb315.axb3Nh416.Ke2½-½
Taubenhaus,J-Sittenfeld,S Paris 1901 (1)7…f6C75: Ruy Lopez: Deferred Steinitz: 5
c3 Bd7 6 d4 without …g6.8.Bh48.Bd2⩲8…Na58…g5∓9.Bg3h59.Nbd2b5The position is
equal.9…g5is more
complex.10.Nxg5fxg511.Bxg5Bg710.Bc2Qc811.a311.a4±11…Ng611…g5=keeps the
balance.12.Bg3h512.Bg3Be713.Nf1Better
is13.b413…Bd814.Ne3Nc614…O-O±15.Qd2Nce716.Rd1c617.O-OBe618.h3White should
try18.h418…Bc719.d519.h4±19…cxd5⩱20.exd5Bd721.Bb3O-O22.c4Bb623.Rc1Bxe323…Bc5∓24.fxe3⩲bxc425.Rxc4Qd8
12345678abcdefgh
Threatens to win with
…Bb5.26.Rfc1Rb827.Ba2Rb728.b4Qb829.R1c3?29.Kh2⩲29…Rc8?29…Bb5∓keeps the pressure
on.30.e4Rbc731.Bf2Nf432.Rxc7Rxc733.Rxc7Qxc734.Be3Neg635.Ne1
12345678abcdefgh
35.Kh2⩲keeps the upper hand.35…Bb5Black is more
active.35…Qc3!∓36.Kh2=Qc837.Qc237.Bb3!⩲37…Qxc238.Nxc2Bd339.a4?White does not
recover from this.39…Bxc2−+40.b5axb5Black is clearly
winning.40…Bxe4?perishes.41.bxa6Bxd541…Bxg2?too greedy.42.a7+−41…Nxg2?is the
wrong
capture.42.Bb6+−42.a7Bxa242…Kh843.Bxd5h544.a8=Q+Kh745.Qg8+Kh646.g3Pin46…Ne747.Qh8+Kg648.Qe8+Kf549.Qd7+Kg650.Be4+Kh651.Qxe743.a8=Q+43.a8=B?Bd5−+43…Kf744.Qb7+Skewer44…Ne745.Bxf4exf446.a5+−41.axb5Nf842.Ba7Bxe443.g3Bxd5Weighted
Error Value: White=0.63/Black=0.37 Source: Leeds Mercury 01 October 19040–1




White unnecessarily sacrificed a piece on move 39 when he might have held by
going after the a-pawn.

The youngest of the chess-playing Jackson brothers was Joshua (1878-1935).

Joshua had an unusual competitive chess career, most of it taking place towards
the end of his life.

There’s a J Jackson playing alongside Harry for Dewsbury in 1889, but it’s not
clear whether this was John or Joshua.

It seems, though, that he only really started to take chess seriously after the
First World War. In 1921 he entered the Yorkshire Championship, and also
ventured to Manchester for the Northern Counties championship, where he was
rather out of his depth, scoring only 1/7 against opponents such as Yates and
Wahltuch, who shared first prize.

He was also playing correspondence chess, in 1922 winning his game for Yorkshire
against Eric Augustus Coad-Pryor, whose father was at the time Vicar of Hampton
Hill.

In 1923 he played again in the Northern Counties Championship, this time in
Liverpool. That year the top section was a strong master tournament headed by
Mieses, Maroczy, Thomas and Yates. Joshua played in the Major section, scoring
4½/9. Much interest was caused by the participation of 15-year-old Gerald
Abrahams, who beat him in the first round.



You must activate JavaScript to enhance chess game visualization.
Abrahams, Gerald
Jackson, Joshua
NCCU Major: Liverpool
31 March 1923
Annotated by Stockfish 17
1.e4c52.Nf3e63.c3d5
12345678abcdefgh
4.Be2NPredecessor:4.exd5exd55.d4Nc66.g3Nf67.Bg2Be78.O-OO-O9.dxc5Bxc510.Bg5Be611.Nbd2h612.Bf4Bd613.Bxd6Qxd614.Nb3Rad815.Nfd4Nxd416.Nxd4Qb60-1
Jensen,T-Aalheim,T Goteborg SSK 40th Anniversary Group C Gothenburg 1920
(3)4…dxe45.Qa4+Bd76.Qxe4B40: Sicilian: 2…e6, Unusual lines.6…Nc67.d4h6Wards off
Bg58.Be3The position is equal.8…Qb69.Qc2Rc8Hoping for
…cxd4.10.Na310.Ne5=cxd411.Nxd710…cxd4⩱11.Nc4Qc711…Nb4!=12.cxb4dxe313.Nxb6Rxc214.Nxd7Kxd712.Nxd4⩲
12345678abcdefgh
Black must now prevent Nb5.12…Na5Better is12…a6⩲13.Nxa5±Qxa514.O-OWhite should
try14.Qb3±14…Nf6⩲15.Rfe1Bd616.h3b5?Black is on the road to
losing.16…O-O=17.Qd3Threatens to win with Nxe6!17…b4?
12345678abcdefgh
17…Bb8±18.c4?18.Nxe6!+−is the precise move to
win.18…fxe619.Qxd618…Ke7?18…Be7±19.c5Bb819…Qxc520.Bf3Qe521.Bf4Qxf422.g320.Bf3c6
would now be deadly.20…Qc720…Rhd8is a better
defense.21.Bb721.c6Be8±21…Rxc521.g3Rhd822.c6Bxc6?22…Be823.Qc423.Bf4Qb6+−23…Kf824.Qxb4+Kg823.Nxc6+Less
strong
is23.Bxc6Rxd424.Qxd4Qxc6+−23…Qxc624.Qxd8+Kxd825.Bxc6Rxc626.Rac1Kd726…Ra6⌓27.Bc5Bd627.Red1+Nd528.Rc5a629.Kf1Bd630.Rxc6Nxe3+31.fxe3Kxc6+−Endgame.
KR-KB32.Kf2a533.b3Kc734.e4Be535.g4Kc836.Ke2Kc737.Kd3Kb738.Kc4Kc839.Kb5Bc740.Kc6f541.gxf5exf5White
mates.42.exf5Bd843.Re1Kb844.Re8Kc845.Rh8Weighted Error Value:
White=0.38/Black=0.64 Source: Western Daily Press 03 April 19231–0




In 1925 Scarborough Chess Club decided to run what they hoped would be the first
of an annual series of tournaments over the Whitsun holiday. Joshua entered the
major tournament, which was split into  A and B sections along with another
group for late entrants. The top two players in each section advanced to the
play-offs.

Not all the results were recorded, but we know that he drew with Frank Schofield
of Leeds, who won both his section and the play-offs, and beat both Sydney
Meymott and Stephen Ludbrooke of Rotherham. As he didn’t qualify for the
play-offs, I’d guess he may well have been third in the Major A section. A
highly commendable result for someone in his late forties with, as far as I can
tell, little competitive experience.

The 1926 Scarborough tournament was graced by the presence of the great
Alekhine, who duly won the top section. Joshua again played in the Major, this
time coming second to Edith Holloway in his section, and, second again in the
play-off for 4th, 5th and 6th places. There were always several ladies competing
in Scarborough.

I note that J Jackson of Dewsbury’s Yorkshire Terriers won a lot of prizes in
the Belfast Dog Show that year. Is this also Joshua, I wonder?

He didn’t take part in 1927, but was back again in 1928, scoring 5/9 in his
section of the Major tournament.

In 1929 they were struggling for strong players, due, in part, to the local
corporation withdrawing their support, so the top section was very much a mixed
affair. There were two genuine masters, Tartakower and Sir George Thomas, two
strong amateurs in Harold Saunders and Victor Wahltuch, and four lesser players,
one of who was Joshua Jackson. Unexpectedly, he had made the big time late in
life.

While he was no match for the top players, he managed a win and two draws
against the other lesser lights of the tournament, scoring a respectable 2/7.

The games were all recorded by Tinsley and have now been published in a book by
Tony Gillam and by John Saunders (no relation to Harold) on BritBase.

Joshua played the Old Indian Defence too passively against both Saunders and
Wahltuch and was duly squashed.

Here’s the Saunders game.



You must activate JavaScript to enhance chess game visualization.
Saunders, Harold
Jackson, Joshua
Scarborough Premier2
20 May 1929 – Scarborough
1.d4Nf62.c4d63.Nc3Nbd74.e4e55.d5Be76.Bd3O-O7.Be3NA53: Old Indian Defence without
Nf3.Predecessor:7.Nge2Nc58.Bc2Nh59.h3Bg510.g4Nf411.Nxf4Bxf412.Bxf4exf413.Qf3Qf614.O-O-ONd715.Ne2½-½
Bernstein,J-Brunnemer,J New York Metropolitan-chT 19257…Nb68.h3h69.g4White is
better.9…Nbd710.Nf3g510…Nh7±might work better.11.Ne2b612.Ng3Re813.Qd2Weaker
is13.Nf5Bf8±13…Nf814.Nf5Bxf515.gxf5Nh516.Bc2Black is weak on the light
squares16…Bf617.Ba4Nd718.Bc6Rb819.Nh2Nf420.Ng4
12345678abcdefgh
Black must now prevent
Bxd7!20…Kg721.O-O-ONg2?21…Rg822.h4Nc522.Nxf622.Rdg1⌓Nh423.Nxf623.Bxd7Rg8+−23…Nxf624.Bxg5hxg525.Qxg5+Kf826.Qxh422…Kxf6+−
12345678abcdefgh
23.f4?Nxe323…Nxf4=24.h4Ke724.fxg5+±hxg525.Qxe3aiming for h4.25…Rh826.Rdg1→White
has some attack. White has more active pieces.26…Rh5A mistake that costs the
game.Better
is26…Ke7!⩲27.Qf3Rh828.Qg4Rg828…Ke729.Bxd729.Qxg5+Nf6=29…Kxd729.h4+−Ke730.hxg5Threatening
mate with f6+.30…f631.Rh7+Sources: Tinsley notebooks; Yorkshire Post, 22 May
1929; ‘Hastings 1928/29 & Scarborough 1929’ ed. AJ Gillam (1996). Skewer,
Deflection. Weighted Error Value: White=0.42/Black=0.801–0




Against both Tartakower and Thomas he sacrificed a piece unsoundly thinking he
was going to regain it but missing a fairly obvious tactic.

Here’s the Tartakower game.



You must activate JavaScript to enhance chess game visualization.
Jackson, Joshua
Tartakower, Saviely
Scarborough Premier5
23 May 1929 – Scarborough
1.e4c52.Nf3Nf63.e5Nd54.c4Nc75.d4cxd46.Nxd4Nc6B29: Sicilian: 2 Nf3 Nf6
(Nimzowitsch
Variation).7.Bf4NPredecessor:7.Nxc6bxc68.Be2g69.Bd2Bg710.Bc3Ne611.O-OQb612.Qd2a513.b3O-O14.Kh10-1
Mikulka,R-Hromadka,K CSR-ch10 Championship Ceske Budejovice 19277…g6White must
now prevent …Nxd4.8.Nc3Bg7Black is slightly
better.9.Nxc69.Nf3=9…bxc6⩱10.Qd2Ne6Threatens to win with
…Nxf4.11.Bg3Qa512.Ne4Qc712…Qxd2+⩱13.Nxd2f613.f4Rb814.Be2Qb615.O-O-OThis costs
White the game.15.Rb1!=and White is okay.15…O-OWeaker
is15…d516.Nc3=16.Bf2c5aiming for …d6!17.Nxc5?17.b3Bb718.Bf317…Nxc5−+Black is
clearly winning.18.b4
12345678abcdefgh
18…Nb3+Discovered Attack19.axb3Qxf220.g3
12345678abcdefgh
20…d6!21.exd621.c5dxe521…exd622.b5Bf523.Rdf1Qc5Sources: Tinsley notebooks;
Yorkshire Post, 25 May 1929; BCM, July 1929, p273; ‘Hastings 1928/29 &
Scarborough 1929’ ed. AJ Gillam (1996); Staffordshire Advertiser – Saturday 15
June 1929. Weighted Error Value: White=0.72/Black=0.20 (precise)0–1




He played out a steady, uneventful draw against Edith Holloway, concluding in a
level pawn ending. Against Bolland he seemed to agree a draw in a winning
position with two extra pawns.

His one win came from an instructive ending, when his opponent chose the wrong
queen trade, going for a lost rather than a drawn pawn ending. There were
further mutual blunders on move 42.



You must activate JavaScript to enhance chess game visualization.
Jackson, Joshua
Cadman, Henry Ashwell
Scarborough Premier7
25 May 1929 – Scarborough
1.e4e52.Nf3Nc63.Bb5a64.Ba4Nf65.O-Od66.Bxc6+bxc67.d4exd48.Nxd4Bd79.Nc3Be710.Bg5O-O11.Re1Re8C87:
Closed Ruy Lopez: Steinitz-type lines after 6 Re1
d6.12.f4N12.Qf3=Predecessor:12.Nf5Bxf513.exf5Nd714.Bxe7Rxe715.Qd3Qe816.Rxe7Qxe717.h3Qe518.Qf3d519.Rd1Re820.b3h621.Na4Nf622.Nc5a523.a4Qb224.Qd3Ne425.Nxe4Rxe426.Qd2½-½
Balla,Z-Barasz,Z Bad Pistyan Piestany 1912 (8)12…Rb8Black should
try12…h6⩱13.Bh4Qb813.b3=c5The position is
equal.14.Nf514.Nf3=14…Bxf5!⩱15.exf5Qd716.Qd3h616…d5⩱17.Bh417.Rxe7!=Qxe718.Nd517…Nh5?17…c6⩱stays
ahead.18.Bxe7?18.Rxe7!+−Rxe719.Qf319.Bxe7Qxe720.Nd5Qd7=18…Rxe7=19.Rxe719.Qxa6Rxe1+19…Nxf420.Qf1⩱20.Rxe1Qxf5∓19…Qxe720.Nd5Qd721.g4c622.gxh5cxd523.Qxd5Endgame.
KQR-KQR23…Qe724.Qd3Prevents
Qe3+24…Re825.Rd125.Qxa6?loses.25…Qe3+26.Kg2Qd2+26…Qxf427.Rf1∓27.Kh1Qd5+27…Qxf428.Qf1=27…Qxc2?28.Kg1−+28.Kg1Qd4+28…Qxf529.Qxd6Qg4+30.Kh1⩱29.Kg2Qxa1−+25…Qh426.Qf3Repels
Qg4+26…Re1+27.Rxe1Qxe1+KQ-KQ28.Kg2Qd2+29.Qf2Qd5+30.Kg3Qxf531.Qe2a532.Qe8+Kh733.Qe2d534.Qd3Qe4
12345678abcdefgh
Black is on the road to losing.34…g6=35.Qxe4+!+−dxe4
12345678abcdefgh
KP-KP36.f5!g637.hxg6+fxg638.fxg6+Kxg639.Kf4Kh540.c3Kh441.Kxe4Kh342.Kf5?White
should
play42.a3+−Kxh243.b4cxb444.cxb444.axb4a4+−44…axb445.axb4h546.b5h447.b642…h5?42…Kxh2=43.a3h543.Kg5h444.a3Black
must now prevent b4.44…Kxh245.Kxh4K3P-KPP45…Kg246.Kg4Kf247.Kf4Ke2White
mates.48.Ke4Kd249.b4axb450.axb4n.b. “this game was played in advance.” Sources:
Tinsley notebooks; ‘Hastings 1928/29 & Scarborough 1929’ ed. AJ Gillam (1996).
Weighted Error Value: White=0.29 (precise) /Black=0.321–0




Among the other competitors was the 15-year-old Maurice Winterburn, also from
Dewsbury, who may well have travelled there with Joshua.

Scarborough hosted the British Championships in 1930, although the championship
itself was replaced by an international tournament. Joshua didn’t take part this
time, but continued to play both over the board and by correspondence into the
1930s.

Chess was now becoming increasingly popular with teenage boys, and Joshua, as
Dewsbury’s star player, served as a mentor to  the youngsters coming through the
door.

One of those was Maurice Child, who joined as a 15-year-old in 1932, and, 75
years later, had very fond memories of Joshua Jackson.

The outstanding personality between the two world wars was Josh Jackson. A fine
player, among the top half-dozen in Yorkshire, and a great analyst. He was
always ready to teach any young player and could play several games simultaneous
and blindfold!

He was a barber and there was always on show in the shop a board with the latest
position in his current correspondence game.

But it’s Harry you really want to know about, so we need to return to Dewsbury.

His father John first attended the annual meeting of the West Yorkshire Chess
Association in 1876. Both John and Harry would also attend every year between
1877 and 1880.

In January 1877 John and Harry travelled to Lincolnshire, both taking part in
the Second Class section of the inaugural Lincoln County Chess Association
meeting.

The Chess Player’s Chronicle reported on this event.



The Westminster Papers added that “Master H Jackson is a young gentleman of
promise, aged 13, and is likely to be heard from again in the world of Chess”.
For the winner, Abraham Cockman, see this discussion.

It’s easy to forget, in these days of pre-teen grandmasters, how unusual it was
for even 13-year-olds to take part in chess competitions, and interesting to
note how much attention young Harry received at the time.

Inspired by this success, John was inspired to give young Harry a trial game
against Samuel Walter Earnshaw at Leeds Chess Club a few weeks later.

Leeds Mercury 15 February 1877



You must activate JavaScript to enhance chess game visualization.
Jackson, Harry
Earnshaw, Samuel Walter
Casual Game: Leeds Chess Club
1 February 1877
Annotated by Stockfish 17
1.e4e52.Nf3Nc63.Bc4Nf64.d3h65.O-OBc56.Nc3d67.h3O-O8.Ne2Ne7C50: Hungarian Defence
and Giuoco Pianissimo.9.Ng3Ng610.c3
12345678abcdefgh
10…Bb6NThe position is
equal.Predecessor:10…Be611.Bb3Qd712.d4exd413.cxd4Bxb314.axb3Bb615.Qd3Rae816.Re1c61-0
Williams,E-Henderson,J Souvenir of the Bristol Chess Club 1844 (44)11.Qb3White
should try11.Bb3=11…Qe711…c6⩱12.Be3Bd7aiming for …Bxe3.13.a4Bc614.Nf5Qe8
12345678abcdefgh
15.Nxh6+?gxh6∓16.Bxh6
12345678abcdefgh
16…Nh7?
12345678abcdefgh
17.Nh2?
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17.a5!±Bc518.d417…a518.Ng4
12345678abcdefgh
18.g3∓18.Kh1Qd718…Qe7!−+19.Bxf819.Kh2Nf619…Rxf820.Nh6+Kh821.Bxf7?21.Qd1is a
better
defense.21…Nf422.Nf521…Nf422.Bc4Qg522…Ne2+?23.Kh1Qh423…Rxf224.Rxf2Bxf225.Qd1±24.Nf7+Kg725.Qd1−+25.Nxd6Bxf226.Nf7Bd7−+23.Ng4Nf624.Be6d525.Bf5dxe426.dxe4Nxg4Deflection27.Bxg4Bxe4White
is weak on the dark squares28.Kh2Nxg229.f3
12345678abcdefgh
29…Qd2?30.Qd130.Rad1!=Ne3+31.Rxd2Nxf1+32.Kg2Nxd233.Qe6Bxf3+33…Nxf3?is the wrong
capture.34.Qh6+Kg835.Be6+Rf736.Kg3+−34.Bxf3Nxf335.Qh6+Kg836.Qg6+Kh837.Qh6+Kg838.Qg6+Kh839.Qh6+30…Qxb2⩱Black
has more active pieces.31.fxe4??31.Qc1⩱Qxc132.Rfxc1Rxf332…Bxf333.Bxf3Remove
Defender33…Rxf334.Kxg2±33.Bxf3Bxf334.Rf131…Nf4+?31…Ne3+−+has better winning
chances.32.Qe2Nxg4+Pin32…Nxf1+33.Rxf1Qxe2+34.Bxe2=33.Kg3Qxe234.Rxf8+Kg732.Be2A
fantastic game! Weighted Error Value: White=1.22/Black=0.800–1




At the gathering of the West Yorkshire Chess Association, there was concern that
the strain of match play was too much for one so young.

Bradford Daily Telegraph 30 April 1877

Try telling that to Bodhana or Ethan.

In December a delegation from Huddersfield Chess Club led by John Watkinson, who
would found the British Chess Magazine in 1881, visited the Dewsbury Working
Men’s Club to assess their chess players. Watkinson took on ten of them,
including  both John and Harry Jackson, in a simul.

Harry’s game was unfinished but Watkinson thought he could win. Stockfish agrees
with his assessment.



You must activate JavaScript to enhance chess game visualization.
Watkinson, John
Jackson, Harry
Simultaneous Display: Dewsbury
8 December 1877
Annotated by Stockfish 17
1.e4e52.Nf3Nc63.Bc4Bc54.b4Bxb45.c3Bc56.d4exd47.O-Odxc38.Bxf7+
12345678abcdefgh
8…Kxf7NPredecessor:8…Kf89.Nxc3d610.Bxg8Kxg811.Ng5Ne512.Kh1h613.Qd5+Kf814.f4Qf615.Bb21-0
Brenzinger,F-Badger,J Brooklyn blindfold Brooklyn (Brooklyn CC)
18699.Qd5+Kf8aiming for …d6. C51: Evans Gambit: Declined and Accepted without
5…Ba5.10.Qxc5+d611.Qxc3Qf6White is better.12.e5Better
is12.Qa3±12…Nxe5⩲13.Nxe5Qxe514.Qxc7Black must now prevent
Ba3!14…Qe714…Qxa1?15.Nc3Nf615…Bd7?16.Qxd6+Ne717.Nd5+−16.Ba3+−16.Qxd6+Kf7=16.Qxd6+Kf7=14…Nf6!⩲15.Ba3Ne815…Qxa116.Bxd6+Kg817.Qc4+15.Qc3±White
has strong compensation. White is more active.15…Qf6
12345678abcdefgh
16.Qc2Bf5⩲16…Qxa1?17.Bb2+−17.Qb317.Qd2!?17…Qf717…Qxa1?18.Bb2+−18.Qg3Qg618…Nf6⩲19.Qf3White
should try19.Nd2±19…Qf719…Nf6=20.Nc3Be420…Rc821.Bb2⩲21.Nxe4Qxe420.Nc3Hoping for
Nb5.20…Be6
12345678abcdefgh
20…Bg6±21.Qg3!+−Re1! is the strong threat.21…Qd7?21…Nf6was worth a
try.22.Re122.Qxd6+Kg8±22…Kg822.Ba3Kf722…Nh6was
necessary.23.Bxd6+23.Qxd6+Qxd624.Bxd6+Kf7=23…Kf723.Ne423.Qxd6Qxd624.Bxd6Rd8=23.Bxd6Nf624.Be5Rhd8±23…Nf624.Ng5+24.Nxd6+Kg825.Bb2Nh5+−24…Kg825.Bxd6?Inferior
is25.Qxd6Qxd626.Bxd6Bd5=25.Nxe6+−and White stays clearly on
top.25…Qxe626.Rae126.Qxd6Qxd627.Bxd6Kf7=26.Bxd6Ne4±25…h626.Nxe6Qxe6Weighted
Error Value: White=0.47/Black=0.59 Source: Dewsbury Reporter 15 December 18771–0




Harry played in Lincolnshire again over the New Year,  but this time was less
successful, as the Chess Player’s Chronicle reported.



The winner was Thomas Walter Marriott, not, as was reported in some sources,
Arthur Towle Marriott. You’ll also note that Mary Rudge finished 3rd.

An interesting feature of this event was a displacement tournament, where the
bishops and knights started on each other’s squares, an early precursor of
Chess960.

A chess club had now started in Dewsbury, with Harry finishing in second place
in their first tournament, and playing on top board in their first match,
against Huddersfield.

John Watkinson visited again for another simul: this time Harry put up rather
less resistance, inadvisedly choosing an unsound gambit as early as move 2..



You must activate JavaScript to enhance chess game visualization.
Watkinson, John
Jackson, Harry
Simultaneous Display: Dewsbury
25 February 1878
Annotated by Stockfish 17
1.e4e52.Nf3Bc53.Nxe5d64.Nf3Bg45.Bc4Nc66.c3Nf67.d4Bb68.Bg5White is clearly
better.But not8.h3?!Bh58…Qe79.O-ODon’t
take9.Nbd2?!h6±9…O-O-O10.Qd3h611.Bxf6Qxf612.Nbd2g513.b4h514.a4a515.Bd5Bd716.Bxc6Bxc617.bxa5Bxa518.Nc4Bb6
12345678abcdefgh
18…d519.Nxb6++−White is clearly
winning.19…cxb620.d5Bd721.Rfb1Kb822.Rxb6Rc823.Rab1Rc724.Nd4
12345678abcdefgh
White wants to mate with Qa6.24…Qe725.Nc6+Bxc626.dxc6Black got outplayed after
the opening. Weighted Error Value: White=0.15 (very precise) /Black=0.61 Source:
Huddersfield and Holmfirth Examiner 02 March 18781–0




After winning a prize in the West Yorkshire gathering, Harry ventured to London
for the Counties Chess Association meeting.



He did well to win both his games against Rev John De Soyres, a pretty strong
player (2146 on EdoChess at the time), who would later emigrate to Canada. You
can read more about him here.

In this game his opponent, whom I believe to be Frederick Orme Darvall, who had
been Auditor-General of Queensland 1867-77, but was by that time living in
London, overlooked a mate in one.



You must activate JavaScript to enhance chess game visualization.
Darvall, Frederick Orme
Jackson, Harry
Counties Chess Association London
August 1878
Annotated by Stockfish 17
1.e4e52.Nf3Nc63.Bc4Bc54.c3d65.h3Nf66.d3O-O7.Bg5
12345678abcdefgh
C54: Giuoco Piano: 4 c3 Nf6, main lines with 5 d4 and 5
d3.7…h6NPredecessor:7…Bb68.Nbd2Be69.O-Oh610.Bh4Kh811.Nh2g512.Bg3h513.Nhf3h414.Nxh4gxh415.Bxh40-1
Stanley,C-Morphy,P USA-01 Casuals Morphy-Stanley +12-1=0 New York
18578.Bh4Be69.Bxe6White is slightly better.9…fxe610.Qb310.b4=keeps the
balance.10…Bb611.Nbd210…Qd711.Qd1Rf7Black is more
active.11…Nh5∓12.b4Bb612.Nbd2Nh513.b4Bb614.a4a5 would now be deadly.14…a5
12345678abcdefgh
aiming for …Nf4.15.b5Ne7↑Black has the initiative.16.Bxe716.O-O=16…Qxe7∓17.Nxe5?
12345678abcdefgh
17.d4∓17…Qh417…Bxf2+!⌓18.Kf118.Ke2Ng3#18…Ng3#18.Nxf718.Qg4−+Bxf2+18…Qxf2+?19.Kd1−+19.Kd1dxe520.Kc218…Qxf2#Weighted
Error Value: White=1.19/Black=0.65 Source: Illustrated London News 10 August
18780–1




Harry’s participation must have caused quite a stir, not just because of his age
but because of his background as the son of a painter and decorator from
Yorkshire. It was also not without controversy.



Batley Reporter and Guardian 10 August 1878

I like the description of John here, who sounds very much like some (but, I
hasten to add, not all) chess parents today.

After this trip to the capital Harry continued playing locally, and also by
correspondence.

He lost this game against the blind player Henry Millard.



You must activate JavaScript to enhance chess game visualization.
Millard, Henry
Jackson, Harry
Correspondence
1879
Annotated by Stockfish 17
1.Nc3b62.e4Bb73.d3Predecessor:3.g3e64.Bg2Nf65.Nge2c56.d3Be77.O-Od68.e5Nd59.exd6Qxd610.Ne4Qd70-1
Paulsen,L-Neumann,G Berlin m3 1864 (7)3…e64.Bd2d55.exd5exd56.d4B00: Queen’s
Fianchetto Defence, Nimzowitsch Defence.6…Bd67.Nb5Nf6Prevents Qg4.8.Nxd6+White
is slightly better.8…Qxd69.Bb5+c610.Qe2+Kd811.Bd3Re8
12345678abcdefgh
Pin12.Be3Nbd713.O-O-ORc814.Nh3c515.Ba6Bxa616.Qxa6Qc616…Ke7simplifies17.Rhe1Kf818.dxc5Nxc519.Bxc5Qxc520.Rxe8+Kxe821.c3Kf817.dxc517.Qxa7?cxd417…Ra8?18.Qxa8+Qxa819.Kb1−+18.Kb1dxe3−+18…Qxc2+?19.Ka1−+17…Re4…Ra4
is the strong threat.18.Qd3
12345678abcdefgh
And now Ng5 would win.18.Qxa7?too
greedy.18…Ra4−+18…Nxc519.Bxc5Qxc520.c3=18…Nxc519.Bxc5Qxc520.c3=18…Ne5?18…Nxc5=and
Black is okay.19.Bxc5Qxc519.Qc3Hoping for Ng5.19…Qe8?19…Neg4±20.Ng5+−White is
clearly
winning.20…Ned721.Nxe4Qxe422.f3Qg623.c6Qf524.Rde1Nb825.g4Qg626.g5Nxc627.gxf6Nb4Weighted
Error Value: White=0.33/Black=0.74 White announced mate in 11. Source: Leeds
Mercury Weekly Supplement 27/09/18791–0




Stockfish thinks it’s mate in 15, not mate in 11, but never mind.

In November 1879 he took the top board in a match between Dewsbury and
Wakefield, winning two games and drawing one against schoolmaster John William
Young, who taught English and Music at Wakefield Grammar School. John played in
the same match, on bottom board, but was only able to conclude one game, which
he lost.

In this game Harry’s speculative sacrifice proved successful.



You must activate JavaScript to enhance chess game visualization.
Jackson, Harry
Young, John William
Dewsbury v Wakefield
29 November 1879
Annotated by Stockfish 17
1.e4ChessBase1…e52.Nf3Nc63.Bc4Nf64.Nc3Bc55.d3h66.Ne2C50: Hungarian Defence and
Giuoco Pianissimo.6…d67.c3
12345678abcdefgh
7…Bg4NPredecessor:7…O-O8.h3Kh89.Ng3Nh710.Qc2f511.exf5d512.Bb3e413.dxe4dxe40-1
Thompson,J-Morphy,P USA-01 Congress Grand Tournament New York 1857
(1.1)8.Ng3White is slightly
better.8…O-O9.h3Bxf39…Be6=10.Qxf3±a610…Kh7±11.Nf5+−Nh7?
12345678abcdefgh
11…Kh8keeps
fighting.12.b412.Qg3Ne8±12…Bb612.Bxh6?gxh6⩲13.Qg4+13.Nxh6+Kg714.Nf5+Kh8⩱13.h4⩲keeps
the upper hand.13…Qf614.Qh514.b4?Bb6∓13…Qg5∓14.Nxh6+Kg715.Nf5+Kf6?
12345678abcdefgh
15…Kh8∓and life is bright. White must now prevent …Rae8.16.g3Na516.f4?Really
sharp!16…exf4⩱16…Qxf417.Qg7#17.d4Repels
Ne517…Rae818.Bd318.O-O-O⩱18…Bb6?18…d5!−+19.Bc2dxe419.O-O-O=Hoping for
Qf3.19…Rh8?19…Ne7!=20.e5+Decoy20…dxe521.dxe5+Kxe522.Rhe1+Kf623.Rxe7f3+24.Qxg5+Remove
Defender24…Nxg525.Rxe825.h4?Rxe726.hxg5+Kxg5−+25…Rxe826.gxf3Nxh320.Qf3+−Strongly
threatening h4.20…Reg821.Rd2aiming for g3.21…Nf822.g3White is more active.White
should play22.h4Qg423.Qf122…fxg3?22…Ne6±23.Nxd6+Discovered Attack (Check),
Double Attack23…Ke724.Qxf7+Kxd625.e5+Nxe526.dxe5+Kxe527.Bc2?Weaker
is27.Bc4g227…Qe328.Rf128.Re1+Be329.Qxc7+Kf629…Kf5?30.Kc2+−30.Qf7+Ke5±27.Re1+Be3Pin28.Bc228.Qxc7+Kf6+−27…Rg7?And
not27…Ne628.Re1+Be329.Rxe3+Qxe330.Qf5#27…Bf2+−28.Re1+Be3
12345678abcdefgh
29.Rxe3+!Deflection. A fantastic game! Weighted Error Value:
White=0.89/Black=0.881–0




In 1880 Harry returned to Lincolnshire, this time to Boston, where he won the
2nd class tournament of the Counties Chess Association.

But now he was playing less as he’d taken up a new hobby: composing chess
problems. Between 1879 and 1881 many problems bearing his name appeared in a
wide variety of publications. Two of them even won first prizes.

Problem solutions can be found at the end of the article.



You must activate JavaScript to enhance chess diagram visualization.
12345678abcdefgh



Problem 1. #3 1st Prize (London) Brief 1880.



You must activate JavaScript to enhance chess diagram visualization.
12345678abcdefgh



Problem 2. #2 1st Prize The Boys’ Newspaper 1881.

By 1881 Harry was living in London and involved with the City of London Club,
taking on the role of librarian. In a match against St George’s he did very well
to beat the very strong William Hewison Gunston 2-0. On 31st May the Chess
Player’s Chronicle reported that ‘young Mr Jackson (lately Master Jackson of
Dewsbury)’ had reached the last three in a handicap tournament before being
eliminated.

I haven’t been able to locate him in that year’s census, but the rest of his
family were all present and correct back in Dewsbury.

He remained in London for a few more years, playing, alongside his old friend
Samuel Walter Earnshaw, in a simul against Mackenzie in 1882, and in 1883
beating Hugh William Sherrard in a match between the City of London 3rd team and
Cambridge University, although he seems to have taken a break from composition.

At this point he may have moved back to Yorkshire. A couple of problems appeared
in 1885, and then, in 1877, he turned up in York.

Yorkshire Evening Press 21 January 1887

Here he is at their 1887 AGM, resigning as secretary and being appointed
vice-president, as well as winning their club championship and guaranteeing
himself top board for the next year. Although this is the earliest mention I’ve
been able to find he must have been there for several months.

Later records give the club venue as at Mr Jackson’s Cocoa House in High
Ousegate, suggesting that this was Harry’s occupation at the time.

On 24 April 1889 the local unionist party held a major event. No less than 3000
people sat down for tea, followed by concerts, dancing, and a demonstration of
living chess. Although this was not Harry’s party (he also played for York
Liberals) he wasn’t above taking part. There was a pre-arranged game between two
local dignitaries, and then a more serious game between Charles George Bennett
and Harry Jackson.

York Herald 25 April 1889

The game was played to a pretty high standard considering the circumstances.



You must activate JavaScript to enhance chess game visualization.
Bennett, Charles George
Jackson, Harry
Exhibition Game: York
24 April 1889
Annotated by Stockfish 17
1.e4e52.Nf3Nc63.Bb5a64.Ba4d65.c3
12345678abcdefgh
5…g6NPredecessor:5…Bd76.O-Og67.d4Bg78.Be3Nge79.Qd2O-O10.Bh6Bg411.Na3Bxf312.gxf3d513.Rad1exd414.Bxg7Kxg715.cxd4f516.e5f40-1
MacKenzie,G-Blackburne,J Bradford m1 18876.d3C70: Ruy Lopez: 3…a6 4 Ba4,
Norwegian and Delayed
Schliemann.6…Bg77.O-ONe78.Be3b59.Bc2O-O10.h310.d4=10…Be610…f5⩱11.Qe211.Re1⩲11…Kh812.Nbd2Qd712…f5=13.Bg5h613.Ng5⩲Rae813…f5⩲14.a4Ra814…Nd8⩲15.Ndf315.Nxe6+−fxe616.b415…b416.Rad1?White
should
play16.Nxe6+−fxe617.d416…a5?16…Ba2!=17.d4h617.d4+−d5?17…exd418.cxd418.Nxd4Nxd419.cxd4f5⩲18…d518.dxe5Nxe519.Bd419.Nxe5⌓Bxe520.f419…N5c619…Nxf3+⌓20.Qxf3Qd620.Qe320.Bxg7+⌓Kxg721.exd5Bxd522.Be4bxc323.bxc320…Rad820…Nxd4⌓21.Nxd4Kg821.exd5Nxd522.Qc1White
should
try22.Bxg7++−Kxg723.Qc522…h6?22…Nxd4⩲23.Nxd4Be523.Ne4?23.Nxe6+−Nxd424.Nexd4bxc325.bxc323…Kh723…Nxd4⩲24.cxd4Qc824.Nc524.Bxg7⌓Kxg725.c424…Qc825.Be4?25.Bxg7+−Kxg726.Rfe125…Rfe8?25…Nxd4⩲26.Nxd4bxc326.Rfe1?26.Bxg7+−Kxg727.Rfe126…Nxd4±27.Nxd4c6?27…Bf5±might
work better.28.Rd3?28.Ndxe6+−fxe629.cxb428…bxc328…Bd7=29.bxc3White is more
active.29.Ndxe6±cxb230.Qb1Rxe630…fxe6?31.Bxg6+Double
Attack31…Kh832.Bxe8+−31.Nxe6fxe632.Bxg6+Kh833.Rb329…Bxd429…Bd7=keeps the
balance.30.cxd4Qb8?30…Kg7⩲31.Rb3?31.Bxg6++−is the precise move to
win.31…fxg631…Kxg6?too greedy.32.Rg3++−32.Nxe6Discovered
Attack31…Qf432.Rb732.Qxf4±Strongly threatening
Bxg6+!32…Nxf433.Rf333.Bxc6Bxb334.Bxe8Bc4±32…Qf632…Qxc1simplifies33.Rxc1Kg734.Kh2Nb433.Qb233.Bf3⩲33…Nb4=34.Rd1Bd535.f3Qf436.Qf2Rb837.Re1Rxb738.Nxb7
12345678abcdefgh
Bxg6+! would now be deadly.38…Bxe439.Rxe4The position is equal.39…Rxe440.fxe4Qc7
12345678abcdefgh
41.Nxa5Deflection41…Qxa542.Qxf7+Weighted Error Value: White=0.99/Black=0.94
Source: York Herald 27 April 1889½–½




He had returned to the role of secretary of the Ebor Chess Club, but in 1890 he
switched to the job of treasurer. The following year he resigned from that role
and didn’t enter the club championship because he was away from home. But the
1891 census found him living in lodgings and working as a clerk, which suggests
the cocoa house hadn’t been successful.

He continued to be very much involved with the Ebor club: as well as playing in
matches he was giving regular simuls and lectures up until November 1894. After
that, he seemed to disappear for a year or so.

In 1896 he turned up again – in another country.

Dundee Courier 24 February 1896

Here he is, having moved to Edinburgh. He would stay there some time.

The 1896/97  Scottish Electoral Register gives his address as 47 Comely Bank
Place, north west of the city centre and not far from the Royal Botanic Gardens.

In this game from 1899 he overlooked a tactic.



You must activate JavaScript to enhance chess game visualization.
Jackson, Harry
Baxter, Horatio Thomas
Richardson Cup: Dundee v Edinburgh
March 1899
Annotated by Stockfish 17
1.f4f52.Nf3Nf63.b3e64.Bb2
12345678abcdefgh
4…Nc6NPredecessor:4…b65.e3Bb76.Be2Be77.O-OO-O8.c4c59.Nc3Nc610.Qe1Qe811.Qg3Nh512.Qh3½-½
Mason,J-Walbrodt,C DSB Kongress-07 Meisterturnier Dresden 1892
(5.9)5.e3Be76.Bb5A02: Bird’s Opening.6…O-O7.O-ONe48.Na3White has an
edge.8…Bf69.d4Ne710.Bd3Nd511.Qe1b612.Bxe4fxe413.Nd2Qe814.Nxe4Qg615.Nxf6+Nxf616.Qe2Bb717.Nc4d618.Rac1a519.Nd2Ng419…a4⩱20.h3?
12345678abcdefgh
20.e4⩲stays ahead.20…Nxe3!∓Double Attack21.Rf2Nd5Black is much more active.Of
course not21…Nxc2?!22.a3=22.Nf1Nb4∓22.f5This move loses the game for
White.22.Rcf1∓22…Rxf5−+22…exf5?23.Qf3Rae824.Nf1∓23.Rxf5exf523…Qxf5?24.Rf1Nf424…Qxc2?25.Qxe6+Kh826.Qf5−+25.Qg4Qxg425…Qxc226.Qxf4h627.Qf7+Kh728.Bc1±26.hxg4Nxg227.c4−+24.Rf1
12345678abcdefgh
Against Nf424…Ne3!Double
Attack25.Rf225.Nf3Nxf125…Re8Not25…Nxc226.Qc4+Qf727.Qxc2±26.Nf3f427.Qd227.Bc1was
worth a try.27…Qg3Hoping for …Nxg2! Black is clearly
winning.28.d5Bxd529.c4Bb7…Nxg2! would now be
deadly.30.Qe2Re631.Bd4h632.Bxe3Rxe333.Qd1Bxf3Pin. A cool game by Baxter.
Weighted Error Value: White=0.60/Black=0.23 (precise) Source: Falkirk Herald 29
March 18990–1




In 1901 Harry was part of the Edinburgh team which won the Richardson Cup
(Scottish KO Championship) for the first time.

Bridge of Allan Gazette 16 February 1901

And here, thanks to Edinburgh Chess Club, is the winning squad.

From https://en.chessbase.com/post/edinburgh-chess-club-200-anniversary. The
1901 Richardson Cup team members (Whitelaw was not in the five-player final) |
John Moffat Studios, Edinburgh – courtesy of Edinburgh Chess Club

Harry Jackson is the burly (like his father) gentleman second from the left.

There’s no sign of Harry in the 1901 Scottish (or even the English) census.
However (thanks to Alan McGowan for the information) he was in the 1901 Irish
census, in Cork. He gave his occupation as a Commercial Traveller (Glass) and
was living in a boarding house along with a number of other commercial
travellers. He also said that he was married, but there was no sign of his wife.

In 1902 Edinburgh started two correspondence games against their counterparts in
Rome, with Harry being one of the team.

Here’s the game in which Edinburgh played the white pieces, which concluded in
early 1905.



You must activate JavaScript to enhance chess game visualization.
Edinburgh
Rome
Correspondence 1902-5
1902
Annotated by Stockfish 17
1.e4e52.Nf3Nc63.Bc4Bc54.b4Bxb45.c3Ba56.O-Od67.d4Bd7C52: Evans Gambit Accepted: 5
c3 Ba5.8.Qb3Qe79.dxe59.Qxb7?Rb810.Qa6Rb611.Bxf7+11.Bg5?f6−+11…Qxf7−+9…dxe5The
position is
equal.10.Rd110.Qxb7?Rb811.Qa6Rb6−+10…Rd811.Rd511.Qxb7Rb812.Qa6Rb6∓11…Bb6!Threatens
to win with
…Na5.11…Nf6?12.Ba3Nxd513.Bxe7Ndxe714.Bxf7+14.Qxb7?Rb8∓14…Kf815.Ng5+−12.Bb5
12345678abcdefgh
12.Ba3Qf6∓12…Na5N12…Nf6feels
hotter.13.Ba3Qe614.Nbd2Na5Predecessor:12…Nf613.Ba3Qe614.Nbd2Na515.Qb4Nxd516.exd5Qd617.Qb2Bxf2+18.Kxf2Qb6+1-0
Chigorin,M-Schiffers,E Match Chigorin-Schiffers +7-1=6 St Petersburg 1897
(6)13.Bxd7+Rxd714.Qa4↑White fights for an
advantage.14…Nc615.Nbd215.Ba3!?Qe616.c4=15…Qe616.c4c5 would now be
deadly.16…Nge716…Nf6⩱17.Ba3=Black must now prevent Nb3!17…O-O?This costs Black
the game.17…Nxd5?!18.exd5Qg619.Rd1+−19.dxc6Qxc620.Qxc6bxc6±17…f6=and Black is
okay.18.Ng5+−Qg4
12345678abcdefgh
19.h3!Deflection19…Qf419…Bxf2+20.Kxf2Qf4+20…Qxg5?21.Rxd7Nf522.Qb3+−21.Ndf3Nxd522.cxd519…Qxg5⌓20.Rxd7Qf620.Rxd7Bxf2+21.Kh121.Kf1Bd4+22.Ngf3Bxa1+−21…Qxg522.Nf3Qf623.Rxc7g523…Rd8⌓24.Rd124.Rxb7h6+−24…Bd425.Nxd425.Rxb7h6+−25…exd426.Bxe726.Rxb7Ng6+−26…Nxe727.Qxa7Ng628.Qxb728.Rxb7h6+−28…Qe624.Bxe724.Rxb7g4+−24…Nxe725.Qd7Against
Nf525.Rxb7Nc826.Qc2Nd6+−25…Ng626.Rf126.Rxb7Nf427.Qf5Nh528.Qxf628.Qxe5Qxe529.Nxe5Bd4⩲28.Qxg5+Qxg529.Nxg5Ng3+30.Kh2h6+−28…Nxf629.Nxg529.Nxe5Bd4=29…Be3+−26…Be327.g3Prevents
Nf427.Rxb7Qa628.Re1Bf2+−27…Rd828.Qf5White is clearly
winning.28.Rc8Rxc829.Qxc8+Kg7+−28…Rd6
12345678abcdefgh
29.Nd4!exd429…Nf430.c530.Qxf6Rxf631.Rxf6d332.Rfxf7d233.Rfd733.Rxb7is a self
mate.33…d1=Q+33…d1=R+34.Kg2=34.Kg2Nf4+34…Qg1+?35.Kf3−+35.Rxf4Qe2+36.Kh1gxf437.Rb8+Kg738.Rb7+Kh638…Kg6leads
to
mate.39.Rb6+axb640.h4Qf1+41.Kh2Qg1+42.Kh3Qxg3#38…Kg639.Rb6+axb640.h4Qf1+41.Kh2Qg1+42.Kh3Qxg3#33…b534.cxb5Magnificent
play by Edinburgh! Weighted Error Value: White=0.10 (very precise) /Black=0.58
Source: Mid-Lothian Journal 24 February 19051–0




Harry’s opponent in this game was an important figure in Scottish chess. The
rather unimpressive 1. d4 d5 2. Qd3, which had been tried once by Pollock,
seemed to have been his usual choice with White at this time.



You must activate JavaScript to enhance chess game visualization.
Jackson, Harry
Neilson, Archibald Johnston
Falkirk v Edinburgh
4 February 1905
Annotated by Stockfish 17
1.d4d52.Qd3b6Predecessor:2…Nf63.Bf4e64.Nc3a65.a3c56.dxc5Bxc57.e3Nc68.Nf3b59.Be2Bb70-1
Pollock,W-Weiss,M USA-06 Congress Grand Tournament New York 1889
(16)3.Bf4Nf64.Nd2e65.c3Be76.Ngf3D00: 1 d4 d5: Unusual
lines.6…Ba67.Qc2Nbd78.g4The position is
equal.8…c58…Nxg49.Rg1g510.Bxg5Bxg511.Rxg4Bxd2+12.Nxd2=9.Rg1h69…cxd4⩱10.cxd4Qc810.Qa4Qc811.Be511.h4=11…b5⩱12.Qb3c413.Qc2Nxe514.Nxe5Nd715.Nxd7Qxd715…Kxd716.e4⩱16.e4dxe417.Qxe4Bb718.Qe5Bf6This
pair of bishops is nice.19.Qg3Rd820.O-O-Oa521.h4g5Black should
try21…Be7∓22.hxg5=hxg523.Bg2Rc823…Bxg2=keeps the
balance.24.Qxg2b424.Bxb7±Qxb725.Rge1
12345678abcdefgh
Threatens to win with Ne4.25…b4?This move loses the game for
Black.25…Qd5±26.Ne4+−aiming for Nd6+.26…Be727.d5bxc3?27…Kf8was called
for.28.d6Bd828.Qxc3Kd729.d6Bd830.Qxh8c331.Nxc3Qf332.Qd432.Qe8+⌓Kxe833.d7+Kf834.dxc8=QDiscovered
Attack34.dxc8=BBe7+−34…Kg735.Rxd835.Qxd8Qf4+36.Kb1Qf637.Qxa5Qf438.Rh1Qxg439.Qd8Kg640.Qg8+Kf635…Kh736.Rh8+Kg637.Rg8+Skewer37.Qg8+Kf638.Ne4+Qxe439.Rxe4e540.Qd8+Skewer,
Double
Attack40…Kg741.Qf8+Kg642.Rh6#37…Kh738.Qf838.Rxg5Qf4+39.Kc2Qxg540.Rh1+Kg641.Qg8+Kf642.Ne4+Deflection,
Double
Attack42…Ke543.Qxg5+Kxe438…Qf4+39.Re339.Kb1Qf640.Rh1+Qh641.Rxh6#39…Qxe3+Remove
Defender40.fxe3e541.Qg7#32…Bf633.Rd3Weighted Error Value: White=0.16 (very
precise) /Black=0.79 Source: Mid-Lothian Journal 10 February 19051–0




Archibald Johnston Neilson might be considered Scotland’s answer to Antony
Guest. He contributed an excellent column, usually twice a week, to his local
paper, the Falkirk Herald, for 47 years, from 1895 right up to his death in
1942.

Perhaps he chatted with Harry after the game, asking him to contribute some
problems. Since his early enthusiasm between 1879 and 1881 he had only composed
occasionally, but now he entered the most prolific period of his chess problem
career. For the next three years he regularly contributed problems, not just to
the Falkirk Herald but also to the Mid-Lothian Journal.

His games from this period shine a light on both Harry’s strengths and
weaknesses.

He could lose horribly when his opening went wrong, as in these two games.
You’ll see in the first game that, although he was an Edinburgh player, he
sometimes represented Glasgow in matches against English club. (Coincidentally,
a Scotsman with the same name as his English opponent here wrote an excellent
book on the King’s Gambit some years ago.)



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Shaw, John Hepburn
Jackson, Harry
Glasgow v Liverpool
7 April 1906
Annotated by Stockfish 17
1.e4e52.f4exf43.Nf3d54.exd5Qxd55.Nc3Qa55…Qe6+=6.Kf2Nf66.d4±Black must now
prevent Qe2+. White has strong compensation. C36: King’s Gambit Accepted: 3 Nf3
d5.6…Bd6
12345678abcdefgh
7.Bc4Naiming for
0-0.Predecessor:7.Bd2Ne78.Bd3Bg49.O-OQh510.Ne4Nbc611.Nxd6+cxd612.c3g513.Qb30-1
Mortimer,J-Gunsberg,I British CA Congress-02 Masters London 1886
(3)7…Ne78.O-OWhite is slightly better.8…O-O9.Ne4And now Nfg5 would
win.9…Bg410.Nxd610.Qd3is
interesting.10…Bf511.Nfg5Nbc612.c310…cxd611.Bxf4d511…Qb6⌓12.Bd3!Bxh7+! would now
be deadly. A strong pair of Bishops.12…Nbc6
12345678abcdefgh
12…Ng6±13.Bxh7+!+−Decoy13…Kh8
12345678abcdefgh
13…Kxh7?is the wrong
capture.14.Ng5+Kg815.Qxg4Nxd416.Qh3+−16.Qh5Nf3+17.Rxf3Qb6+18.Be3Qg6+−16.Qh5Nf3+17.Rxf3Qb6+18.Be3Qg6+−14.c3!Hoping
for Qe1!14…g615.Qe1Weaker is15.b4Qb6=15…Bxf3?15…Nf516.Rxf3Nf5Against
Qh417.Rh3Kg718.g4Rae819.Qd2Rh820.Bh6+Kxh720…Nxh6+−21.Qxh6+Kf622.Rf1+Ke623.Rxf7Ne721.Bf8+White
mates.21…Kg822.Rxh8+Kxh823.gxf5Weighted Error Value: White=0.15 (very precise)
/Black=0.81 Source: Falkirk Herald 11 April 19061–0






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Jackson, Harry
Downey, Frederick Thomas
NCCU v Scotland: Newcastle
May 1907
Annotated by Stockfish 17
1.d4d52.Qd3g6Predecessor:2…Nf63.Bf4e64.Nc3a65.a3c56.dxc5Bxc57.e3Nc68.Nf3b59.Be2Bb70-1
Pollock,W-Weiss,M USA-06 Congress Grand Tournament New York 1889
(16)3.Bf4Bg74.c3c65.f3Qb66.b3D00: 1 d4 d5: Unusual
lines.6.Qd2∓6…Nd7−+7.e4e58.dxe5Black is clearly better.8…Nxe5Weaker
is8…Bxe59.Bxe5Nxe510.Qd4=9.Bxe59.Qd2⌓Ne710.h39…Bxe510.Nd2Ne711.Ne2Be612.Nd4O-O-O…dxe4
would now be deadly.13.Nxe6fxe614.O-O-OWhite is weak on the dark
squares14…Qa5…dxe4 is the strong threat.15.Kb2dxe4Black is clearly
winning.16.Qc2Nd517.Nxe4
12345678abcdefgh
17.Nc4⌓Qxc3+17…Bxc3+?18.Kb1−+18.Qxc3Bxc3+19.Kc217…Nxc3!Double
Attack18.Rxd8+Rxd819.Nxc3Bxc3+19…Qxc3+?20.Qxc3Rd2+21.Kc1Bxc322.Bc4−+20.Qxc3Rd2+Skewer21.Qxd2Qxd2+22.Kb1Qd1+White
did not feel at home in the position after the opening. Weighted Error Value:
White=0.58/Black=0.07 (flawless) Source: Falkirk Herald 29 May 19070–1




Given the opportunity, Harry could demonstrate skill in the ending: another
couple of games.



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Jackson, Harry
McKee, James Alexander
Edinburgh v Glasgow Richardson Cup
16 December 1905
Annotated by Stockfish 17
1.d4d52.Qd3Nf63.Bg5Predecessor:3.Bf4e64.Nc3a65.a3c56.dxc5Bxc57.e3Nc68.Nf3b59.Be2Bb70-1
Pollock,W-Weiss,M USA-06 Congress Grand Tournament New York 1889
(16)3…e64.Nd2Be75.Ngf3c56.c3D00: 1 d4 d5: Unusual lines.6…Nc67.dxc5Bxc58.e4Black
has an edge.8…Be79.Bxf6Bxf610.exd5exd511.Qe3+Be6aiming for
…0-0.12.Nb3O-O13.Bd3Re814.O-O
12345678abcdefgh
14…Bf5!Discovered Attack15.Qd2Be4…Bxf3 would now be deadly. This pair of bishops
is nice.16.Nfd416.Qe2=remains equal.16…Bxd416…Ne5∓17.Bxe4dxe417.cxd4Qb6Prevents
Bb518.Be2Rac819.Rfc1Rc720.Rc5Strongly threatening
Rb5.20…Ne721.Rac1Rxc522.Rxc5Bf523.Qe3Threatens to win with
Bb5.23…Be624.Bd3Qd625.f425.Qe5⩲Qb626.Rb525…Bd7And now …Ng6 would
win.26.Qe5Qxe5Black should try26…Qb6=27.dxe5±White stays focused until the
end.27…Bc628.Nd4Rc829.Kf2Kf830.g430.Bxh7?!g6±30…Bd731.Rxc8+Bxc8+−Endgame.
KBN-KBN32.g5Less strong
is32.Bxh7Bxg433.Bd3Nc6⩲32…Nc632…Bd7⌓33.b433.Bxh7g6∓33…g633.Ke3Be633…g6was worth
a
try.34.Be2Bd734.Bb534.Bxh7?perishes.34…Nxd435.Kxd4g6−+34.Nxc6⌓bxc635.f535.Bxh7?g6−+34…Ne735.Kd3g636.Kc3Nc8?36…Bh337.Be2Bd737.Nxe6+
12345678abcdefgh
Remove
Defender37…fxe6KB-KN38.Bd7!Nb639.Bxe6Ke740.Bg4Na4+41.Kc2Nc542.f5d4?42…gxf5was
necessary.43.Bxf5Ne644.Bxh7Nxg543.f6+White is clearly
winning.43…Kf844.e6d3+45.Kd2Ne4+46.Ke3!Not46.Kxd3Nf2+47.Kd4Nxg4=46…Nxg547.h4Weighted
Error Value: White=0.26 (precise) /Black=0.39 Source: Mid-Lothian Journal 22
December 19051–0






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Atkinson, Walter
Jackson, Harry
NCCU v Scotland: Manchester
June 1909
Annotated by Stockfish 17
1.e4d52.exd5Qxd53.Nc3Qa54.d4Bf55.Nf3Nc65…c6±6.Bc4B01: Scandinavian
Defence.Better is6.a3+−6…e6⩲7.O-O
12345678abcdefgh
Hoping for
Bd2.7…O-O-ONPredecessor:7…Nf68.Bd2Bb49.a3Bxc310.Bxc3Qb611.Re1O-O-O12.Qe2Nd513.a4Nxc314.bxc30-1
Hogewind,G-Gans,L NED Team-ch 1903/04 Netherlands (3.2)8.Be3Threatens to win
with a3. White is better.8…Nf69.Qe2Bg4
12345678abcdefgh
White must now prevent …Nxd4!10.Rfd110.Nb5!?10…Qh511.a3Dodges Bb411…Bd6…e5 is
the strong
threat.12.h3Bxf313.Qxf3Qxf314.gxf3Nh515.Ne4Bf416.Kg2Ne717.Ng5Bxg518.Bxg5Nf619.Be2h620.Be3Nf521.c4Dodges
Nd521…Rd7aiming for …Rhd8.22.Rd3Rhd823.Rad1
12345678abcdefgh
23…g5!24.Kh2Nh5Black is more
active.25.b425.d5∓25…c6−+26.b526.d5⌓exd527.cxd526…cxb527.cxb5Nf4A dynamic duo of
knights.28.Rc3+Kb829.Bf1Nxd430.Bxd4Rxd431.Rdc1Rd232.Kg3Nh5+33.Kg2Nf4+34.Kg3f635.a4Nd536.Rc4f537.R1c2?37.Rc537…f4+Black
is clearly
winning.38.Kh2Ne339.Rxd2Rxd2KRB-KRN40.Rc1Rxf2+41.Kg1Rxf1+42.Rxf1Nxf143.Kxf1Kc744.Ke2Kb6White
got outplayed after the opening. Weighted Error Value: White=0.46/Black=0.07
(flawless) Source: Linlithgowshire Gazette 18 June 19090–1




By way of contrast, here’s an exciting game featuring opposite side castling
with both kings seemingly in danger.



You must activate JavaScript to enhance chess game visualization.
Jackson, Harry
Young, James
Edinburgh v Athenaeum Richardson Cup
16 February 1907
Annotated by Stockfish 17
1.d4d52.Qd3g6Predecessor:2…Nf63.Bf4e64.Nc3a65.a3c56.dxc5Bxc57.e3Nc68.Nf3b59.Be2Bb70-1
Pollock,W-Weiss,M USA-06 Congress Grand Tournament New York 1889
(16)3.Bf4Bg74.c3Nf65.Nd2O-O6.Ngf3D00: 1 d4 d5: Unusual lines.6…a6Strongly
threatening …Bf5.7.h3Nh57…c5⩱8.Bh2⩲White is slightly better.8…f59.Ne5White
should play9.e3±9…Nf610.f3White is more
active.10…Nbd711.g4Nxe512.Bxe5Nd713.Bxg7Kxg714.gxf5Rxf515.e4dxe416.fxe416.Nxe4Nf6=16…Rf817.O-O-ONf617…c5⌓18.Be2±Be618…c5±19.c4c620.Kb1Bf720…b5±21.Rdg1?21.e5+−21…b521…e5!=22.h422.Qe3±22…bxc422…e5=23.Qe3Qb623…Qa5±keeps
fighting.24.h5!+−Hoping for hxg6!24.Nxc4Bxc425.Bxc4e5=24…Rab8
12345678abcdefgh
25.b325.Nxc4?Bxc426.b3Bxe227.Qxe2Qxd428.hxg6hxg6−+28…Qxe4+?29.Qxe4Nxe430.Rxh7+Kg831.Rxe7−+25…cxb3
12345678abcdefgh
26.a3hxg6 would now be
deadly.26.axb3?Bxb327.Nxb3Qxb3+28.Qxb3Rxb3+29.Kc2Re330.h6+Kh8−+26…Rh827.Nc4Bxc428.Bxc4e5Prevents
Qf428…b229.Qf4Rbd830.e530.hxg6h5±30…Qxd431.exf6+exf632.h6+32.Qc7+Qd7+−32…Kf833.Qf3+−33.Qc7Qe4+34.Kxb2Rd2+35.Kb3Qc2+36.Kb4Qb2+Deflection37.Ka5Qc3+38.Kb6Rb2+39.Ka7Qe3+40.Ka8Qe8+41.Ka7Qe3+42.Ka8Qe8+43.Ka7Qe3+=28…Qa529.Qg5c530.dxe5Artfully
played by Jackson. Weighted Error Value: White=0.32/Black=0.48 Source: Falkirk
Herald 27 February 1907And not30.hxg6h631.Qxe5Rbe8=1–0




Now for a few of his problems from this period of his life.



You must activate JavaScript to enhance chess diagram visualization.
12345678abcdefgh



Problem 3. #2 Mid-Lothian Journal 21 Apr 1905



You must activate JavaScript to enhance chess diagram visualization.
12345678abcdefgh



Problem 4. #3 Falkirk Herald (for Stirling solving contest) 15 May 1905



You must activate JavaScript to enhance chess diagram visualization.
12345678abcdefgh



Problem 5. #2 Falkirk Herald 31 May 1906

To conclude, an easy one with a very familiar theme.



You must activate JavaScript to enhance chess diagram visualization.
12345678abcdefgh



Problem 6. #3 Falkirk Herald 24 Apr 1907

The year 1911 brings us a surprise. Harry isn’t in the Scottish census, but
turns up in the English census, in Salford, near Manchester, visiting John Harry
Leyland and his family. He’s aged 47 and working on his own account as a dealer
in glass bottles. Perhaps there’s some connection there with his brother
William, who was also in the glass business.  He also has a wife, Ellen, aged
43: they’ve been married 17 years with one child, who is still alive, but not on
the census record. Later records will tell us that their child’s name was May.

It’s a reasonable guess that Ellen, also known as Nellie, was related to the
Leyland family, and we can locate an 1867 birth record which matches. The family
were from Lancashire, but spent the first few years of their marriage in
Smethwick. There’s no marriage record for Harry Jackson and Ellen Leyland from
round about 1893-94, but there is one from 1902 in Chorlton, not all that far
from Salford, so I’d guess that was where and when they married. There’s also a
birth record for May Leyland in York in 1895 (no mother’s maiden name given),
which was about the time he moved from York to Edinburgh. It seems like Harry
and Ellen had had an affair, and perhaps the birth of their daughter prompted
them to move to Scotland. They only got round to getting married some years
later. Although we know Harry was on the 1901 Irish Census, I haven’t yet been
able to find Ellen/Nellie and/or May on any of the England and Wales, Scottish
or Irish census for that year.

Harry seems to have been back in Scotland by June, when he was elected one of
the vice-presidents of the Scottish Chess Association. He was in august company:
one of his fellow VPs was future Prime Minister Andrew Bonar Law.

In February 1912 he returned to the Edinburgh team after an absence, facing
Percy Wenman of Glasgow in the Richardson Cup final, the game being drawn on
adjudication.

And that he seems to have taken a long break from chess, and it’s not for almost
a decade that we pick him up again.

The 1921 Scottish census goes some way to confirming my suspicions.



Here we have Harry, 57, born in Dewsbury, Nellie, 54, born in Smethwick, and
May, 26, born in York. Harry was still working as a glass dealer on his own
account, while Nellie and May were engaged in household duties. Their address
was 13 South Charlotte Street and their residence, right in the city centre,
just off Princes Street very close to the castle, had six rooms. Harry’s glass
dealing business must have been very successful: not bad for the son of a
painter and decorator from Dewsbury.

After an absence of more than a decade Harry returned to the fray in 1923,
continuing to play until late the following year, when, perhaps for health
reasons, he retired from competitive chess.

Again there was an unexpected move: back to London. They may have been somewhere
else first, but in 1927 Harry and Nellie showed up on the electoral roll in
Hampton Wick, which is just over Kingston Bridge. Their address was 1 Garden
Cottages, Park Road, which, I suspect is where Ingram House is now, just across
the road from the Timothy Bennet memorial and a gate into Bushy Park.



This was one of a pair of cottages: number 2 was occupied by John and Unity
Chatterton: the unusually named (after her mother) Unity was Nellie’s sister,
and it seems the families must have moved there at the same time.

He didn’t stay there very long, though, dying of heart disease just a few months
later.



The death record tells us he had been a Medical Bottle Merchant, perhaps
acquiring them from his brother William’s company and selling them to hospitals,
pharmacies and doctors. His daughter May had travelled down from Scotland where
she was living in a remote village on the shore of Loch Tay with her husband,
William Eric Graham Wilson.

His old friend Archibald Neilson wrote an obituary.

Falkirk Herald 12 October 1927

The British Chess Magazine noted his death in October, and published this
obituary in November.

British Chess Magazine November 1927

You’ll note that they mistakenly called him Henry rather than Harry, the same
error they would make a few years later by calling Fred Yates ‘Frederick’.

“A fine and striking personality, he was of a reserved, if not shy,
disposition.” “Generous to a fault, and of a quiet and modest demeanour.” A fine
way to be remembered by your friends. In the words of the cobbler Timothy
Bennet, whose memorial stands opposite where Harry spent his last days, “I am
unwilling to leave the world a worse place than I found it”. I’d like to think
Harry Jackson would have approved.

Blackburne’s prophecy wasn’t quite fulfilled, but he was still one of the best
players around, first in Yorkshire, and then in Scotland. If he hadn’t hampered
himself by playing ‘certain bizarre moves in the opening’ he might have ranked
higher still. He was also a skilled and, at times, prolific problem composer.

Nellie, John and Unity were still in Garden Cottages in 1928, and by 1929 John
and Unity’s son, also John, had reached voting age. By 1930, though, both
cottages were in different ownership.

One further thought: in 1928 a new shop opened not very far from there. Perhaps
Nellie walked up the road for a few minutes, turned right into Bushy Park Road,
crossed the railway line over the level crossing (there’s a footbridge there
now) and, coming to the end of the road, visited the Ham and Beef Store owned by
the Misses Ada and Louisa Padbury to stock up on provisions. Perhaps she saw a
young girl there as well: Ada and Louisa were juggling running the shop with
bringing up their irresponsible sister Florence’s illegitimate daughter Betty.
(Nellie, the mother of an illegitimate daughter herself, would have been
sympathetic.) Perhaps John Chatterton, who was a schoolmaster, taught at the
local primary school she attended. Perhaps the family also worshipped at St John
the Baptist, Hampton Wick, just a short walk from their homes in the other
direction. This was the church where, two decades later, Betty would marry, and
where her older son would be baptised. Many years further on, he would tell the
story of the chess career of Harry Jackson, the Yorkshire Morphy.

Another coincidence: Unity returned to Lancashire, dying in Ormskirk in 1961. At
round about that time, Betty and her family visited Ormskirk, where her
favourite cousin Marion, the bridesmaid at her wedding, lived for many years.

It’s another golden thread that binds us all together.

If you’re interested in my file of Jackson family games and problems, let me
know and I can send it to you. If you have any more information about this
family, I’d love to see it and perhaps incorporate it in this article. And don’t
forget to join me again soon for some more Minor Pieces.

Problem solutions

Problem 1.



You must activate JavaScript to enhance chess game visualization.
Jackson, Harry
#3 1st prize (London) Brief
1880
12345678abcdefgh
1.Re7exd21…Bxd22.Qf1Ng63.Qxf5#1…bxa52.Qxa5Qxa53.Nd7#1…Nf72.Rxe6+Bxe63.Nfg6#1…Bb22.Qf1exd23.Qxf5#1…Qc62.Bxc6Bxd23.Nd7#2.Qb1Bxb12…Qxb13.Nd7#2…d1=Q3.Qxf5#3.Rxe6#1–0




Problem 2.



You must activate JavaScript to enhance chess game visualization.
Jackson, Harry
#2 1st Prize The Boys' Newspaper
1881
12345678abcdefgh
1.Ng6Kc41…Bc42.Qh1#1…Ne42.Nfe7#1…Ne62.Qh1#1…Kxc62.Nge7#1…Ke42.Qh1#1…Bxc62.Qxd3#1…Nc12.Rxc5#1…Ne52.Rxc5#2.Be6#1–0




Problem 3.



You must activate JavaScript to enhance chess game visualization.
Jackson, Harry
#2 Mid-Lothian Journal
21 April 1905
12345678abcdefgh
1.Qg5Kxd41…Nxd42.Nd5#1…b42.Rd3#1…Kxb32.Qg3#1…Ne32.Ne2#1…Nxa12.Qc5#2.Ne2#1–0




Problem 4.



You must activate JavaScript to enhance chess game visualization.
Jackson, Harry
#3 Falkirk Herald (from Stirling solving contest)
17 May 1905
12345678abcdefgh
1.Bd6Kxd61…Kxd82.Be6Ke83.Rh8#1…Kc82.Be6+Kxd83.Rh8#2.Bxd5Kxd53.Rd7#1–0




Problem 5.



You must activate JavaScript to enhance chess game visualization.
Jackson, Harry
#2 Falkirk Herald
31 May 1906
12345678abcdefgh
1.Qd1Bd5+1…Nc3+2.Kf6#1…Nxg3+2.Ne3#1…Nxg5+2.Kf6#1…Nf6+2.Kxf6#1…Nd6+2.Ne5#1…Nf2+2.Kf6#1…Qxg82.Qxe2#1…Nd2+2.Kf6#1…Rxg32.Nh2#1…Qxf7+2.Kxf7#1…Qxe7+2.Kxe7#2.Kxd5#1–0




Problem 6.



You must activate JavaScript to enhance chess game visualization.
Jackson, Harry
#3 Falkirk Herald
24 April 1907
12345678abcdefgh
1.Ra1b21…Nxg62.Qh5b23.Qxg6#1…Nf72.gxf7#2.Qb1axb1=Q2…bxa1=Q3.Qb8#2…Nxg63.Qxg6#3.Ra8#1–0




Sources and Acknowledgements

I thought this might be a quick article to research, but it turned out to be
anything but. You have someone with a common name who moved around quite a lot
(Yorkshire, London, Edinburgh) and disappeared from the records for a time.
There are a lot of traps for the unwary and I hope I’ve avoided most of them.

Steve Mann’s Yorkshire Chess History is excellent on the Jackson family in
Yorkshire, but doesn’t pick up Harry’s time in Scotland. Rod Edwards (EdoChess)
picks up most of his English results, including some of his London matches, but
attributes at least one to a totally different Jackson, and also doesn’t record
his Scottish results. His Scottish problems are not to be found in the online
collections I’ve consulted, which sometimes give him a non-existent middle
initial: HS Jackson. Confusingly there was also an HB Jackson from, of all
places, Fiji, submitting problems to the Illustrated London News in the late
19th century, some of which have been incorrectly attributed to Harry. This was
the unrelated Henry Bower Jackson, whose aunt was married to a distant cousin of
Edmund and Eliza Thorold. He in turn was seemingly not related to Sir Henry
Moore Jackson, who became Governor-General of Fiji in 1902.

ancestry.co.uk
findmypast.co.uk/British Newspaper Library
Scotland’s People
Yorkshire Chess History (Harry Jackson here)
Alan McGowan (Chess Scotland historian/archivist)
New in Chess (Edinburgh CC 200th Anniversary here)
EdoChess (Rod Edwards: Harry Jackson here)
BritBase (John Saunders)
ChessBase/Stockfish 17
Yet Another Chess Problem Database (Harry Jackson here)
MESON chess problem database (Harry Jackson here)
Google Books and Hathi Trust Digital Library (Chess Player’s Chronicle)
British Chess Magazine November 1927
Geoff Steele website

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2023, Books, New in Chess, Reviews, Richard James, Tactics


CHESSBOARD COMBAT: THE GIVE AND TAKE OF CHESS TACTICS

October 30, 2024 Richard James 1 Comment
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From the back cover:

“Chess students love a Puzzle Rush. And solving tactics puzzles certainly helps
you improve your pattern recognition and will help you find good moves in
tournament games. But there is a downside to most tactics puzzles — we always
know who is supposed to win!

Chess in real life is different, not just because no one taps us on the shoulder
and tells us to look for a tactic. Sometimes tactics work, and sometimes they
don’t. Sometimes your opponent has a few tricks up their sleeve, too.

This book shows the reality of chess tactics. It explores a chess player’s
challenges over the board: attack, defense, and counterattack! It exposes the
actual give-and-take nature of chess tactics.

American grandmaster Joel Benjamin, a three-time U.S. Champion, was inspired by
the 20th-century classic Chess Traps, Pitfalls, and Swindles by legendary chess
authors Fred Reinfeld and Israel Albert Horowitz. With modern examples, Benjamin
arouses the same spirit of fun and enjoyment. With a generous amount of puzzles
in quiz form, this manual will help chess students sharpen their tactical skills
and be ready to strike – or counterstrike.”

About the Author:

“Joel Benjamin won the US Championship three times and has been a trainer for
almost three decades. His book Liquidation on the Chess Board won the Best Book
Award of the Chess Journalists of America (CJA), and his most recent book Better
Thinking, Better Chess is a world-wide bestseller.”

Joel Benjamin during the Lloyds Bank Masters

 

I’ve recently been reviewing books on endgames and grinding, and understandably
so as well.

Here’s something, as they say, completely different.

I’ve always liked the Tal quote: “You must take your opponent into a deep dark
forest where 2+2=5, and the path leading out is only wide enough for one.”.

That’s what we get here. 129 thrilling games in which the tactics could go
either way.  The author’s main source was his ‘Game of the Week’ series which
ran for several years on ICC, so if you followed that you’ll have seen some of
the games before. You may well enjoy meeting them again, though. While there are
a few familiar chestnuts, many of the games are likely to be new to most
readers.

Chapter 1 is Strike, Counterstrike, ‘the fundamental give-and-take nature of
chess tactics’.

Chapter 2 tells us that The King is a Fighting Piece, and bears some
similarities to the Steel Kings chapter of one of my all-time favourite chess
books, Tim Krabbé’s Chess Curiosities.



You must activate JavaScript to enhance chess diagram visualization.
12345678abcdefgh



Take this position, from Spassky – Polugaevsky (USSR Championship 1961).

White could have mated by marching his king further up the board, to f7, but
instead played Kh5. This should have led to a draw, but he later blundered and
lost.

Here’s the complete game. Click on any move for a pop-up window.



You must activate JavaScript to enhance chess game visualization.
Spassky, Boris Vasilievich
Polugaevsky, Lev
URS-ch28 Final & Zonal10
26 January 1961 – Moscow
1.d4Nf62.c4e63.Nf3b64.Nc3Bb75.Bg5Be76.e3Ne47.Nxe4Bxe48.Bf4O-O9.Bd3Bb4+10.Kf1Bxd3+11.Qxd3Be712.h4f513.Ke2d614.g4Nd715.Rag1fxg416.Rxg4Nf617.Rg5Qd718.h5Ne819.Rg2b520.c5dxc521.h6Rf522.Be5c423.Qe4Qd524.Qg4c325.b3b426.e4Qb5+27.Ke3Rf728.hxg7Nf629.Bxf6Rxf630.Rxh7Rxf3+31.Kxf3Qd3+32.Kf4Bd6+33.Kg5Kxh7
12345678abcdefgh
34.Kh5Qb5+35.Kh4Be7+36.Kh3Qg537.Qxg5Bxg538.Rxg5Rd839.f4Kg840.Rc5Rxd441.Rxc7Rxe442.Kg4e543.a3Rxf4+44.Kg5a545.Kg6Rg4+46.Kf6Kh747.g8=Q+Kxg848.Kxe5Rg149.Kf6Rf1+50.Ke5Rb10–1




Chapter 3, Dodging Defenses, is much shorter, looking at how the attacker with a
plethora of tempting continuations might choose the one that negates the
opponent’s attempt to escape.

Chapter 4, Staying Alive, is more David Smerdon than John Travolta. Here, we
look at how to maximise our chances of a successful defence, perhaps by looking
for swindles.

Here’s a position from a game in which an amateur threw all his pieces at his
500 point higher rated GM opponent.



You must activate JavaScript to enhance chess diagram visualization.
12345678abcdefgh



It proved effective, as Black erred with 29… Qc8, after which White demonstrated
the win, as you’ll see below. The winning move would have been 29… Nxd4, but
these things are never so easy over the board, even against a massively lower
rated  player.



You must activate JavaScript to enhance chess game visualization.
Formento, Paolo2133
Solodovnichenko, Yuri2629
Milan Crespi op-A 32nd1
3 December 2011 – Milan
1.e4d62.d4g63.Nf3Nf64.Nc3Bg75.Be2O-O6.O-ONa67.h3c68.a4Nb49.Be3a510.Nh2e511.f4exd412.Bxd4Re813.Bf3Be614.g4Bc415.Re1h616.h4d517.e5Nd718.g5Nf819.Bg4h520.Bh3Ne621.Bxe6fxe622.b3Ba623.Ne2b624.Ng3Rf825.f5exf526.Nxh5gxh527.Qxh5Nxc228.g6Re829.Ng4
12345678abcdefgh
29…Qc830.Nf6+Kf831.Qh7Qe632.Bxb6Re733.Bc5Ra734.h5Nxe135.h6Nf3+36.Kh1Bxf637.exf6Ke838.fxe7Ra839.Qh8+Kd740.Qxa8Bc841.Qxa51–0




Chapter 5 is another short one: Trying Too Hard to Win. In a complex position
you sometimes have to decide whether to take a draw (for instance by repetition)
or try for more. If you’re too ambitious it might well backfire.

It can work the other way as well.

In this position England’s new No. 1 Vitiugov missed a snap mate against
Svidler, taking a perpetual with 26… Nf3+?, when he might have preferred 26…
Qa5+! 27. b4 Qxb5!! 28. Qxb5 Nc2+ 29. Ke2 f3#.



You must activate JavaScript to enhance chess diagram visualization.
12345678abcdefgh



The complete game again:



You must activate JavaScript to enhance chess game visualization.
Svidler, Peter2749
Vitiugov, Nikita2705
RUS-ch 65th8
11 August 2012 – Moscow
1.e4e62.d4d53.e5c54.c3Qb65.Nf3Nc66.a3Nge77.dxc5Qc78.Bb5Bd79.Qe2f610.exf6gxf611.Nbd2O-O-O12.c4Rg813.g3e514.cxd5Nxd515.Nb3Bg416.Qc2Nf417.Nbd2Rxd218.Nxd2Nd419.Qa4Bxc520.gxf4exf421.Ne4Nf3+22.Kf1Bh3+23.Ke2Nd4+24.Ke1Bg225.Qc4Rd826.Nxc5
12345678abcdefgh
26…Nf3+27.Ke2Nd4+28.Ke1Nf3+29.Ke2Nd4+30.Ke1½–½




Chapter 6 looks at Back Rank Tactics, which might be the key to a winning
combination, or provide an unexpected defence. All players at all levels should
be familiar with these ideas.

Chapter 7, In the Beginning … and in the End, considers two very different
topics. First, we’re shown a couple of openings which often lead to tactical
mayhem: the King’s Indian Defence and the Marshall Attack in the Ruy Lopez.
Engines now consider the former close to unplayable and the latter more or less
a forced draw, but at anything below GM level they’re worth playing – and often
a lot of fun. Then we look briefly at some endgame tactics.

Finally, or almost finally, Chapter 8, Whoops!, looks, as you might expect, at
blunders, in particular the nature of mistakes and the misconceptions that cause
them.

The book concludes with Chapter 9, Tactical Tips, 30 useful suggestions to help
you improve your tactical play.

The first eight chapters open with some puzzles based on the games in that
chapter: a total of 78 in all, to provide interactive content for those who wish
to avail themselves.

The examples throughout have been expertly chosen, although I suppose another
author might have chosen different chapter headings or placed some of them in
different chapters. In a book of this nature there will be considerable overlap.
The annotations are excellent: Benjamin does a first class job in getting the
balance right between computer and human assessments, which, in complex
positions can be very different from each other. I’m pleased that the complete
games are always given, rather than just the tactics at the end.

The production is well up to this publisher’s customary high standards,
although, as everyone does, they fail the Yates test (he was Fred, not
Frederick).

You might not consider this an essential purchase, but, if you like games of
this nature, and who doesn’t?, you’ll enjoy and perhaps learn from this book.
It’s certainly enormous fun for all lovers of red-blooded tactical chess. The
names of the author and publisher are guarantees of excellence, and I’d consider
it suitable for everyone of average club standard or above.

If you’d like to see more before deciding whether it’s for you, you can read
some sample pages here.

 

Book Details:

 * Softcover: 224 pages
 * Publisher: New In Chess (5 April 2023)
 * Language: English
 * ISBN-10:9493257835
 * ISBN-13:978-9493257832
 * Product Dimensions: 17.22 x 1.42 x 23.01 cm

Official web site of New in Chess.

Chessboard Combat: The Give and Take of Chess Tactics, Joel Benjamin, New in
Chess, April 2023, ISBN-10 ‏ : ‎ 9493257835
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2024, Analysis, Biographies, English, Games Analysis, History, Journalism, Minor
Pieces, Player, Richard James, Uncategorized


MINOR PIECES 80: SAMUEL WALTER EARNSHAW (2)

October 25, 2024 Richard James 1 Comment
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My first Minor Piece, 3½ years ago, featured the Reverend Samuel Walter
Earnshaw, the missing link between Paul Morphy and my great grandmother Jane
Houghton.

I promised another article at some point demonstrating some more of his games.
It’s more than time I wrote it, so here it is.

Let me take you back first of all to 9 July 1858, when Earnshaw, a young chess
addict in his mid twenties in his first ministry, at St Mary’s Church Bromley St
Leonards in East London, just south of the Queen Elizabeth Olympic Park,
travelled into town to watch the young American star Paul Morphy in action
against Samuel Standidge Boden. He recorded the moves, and, in 1874/5, submitted
it for publication in the City of London Chess Magazine. You can read the first
volume online here (it’s on page 280, with extensive annotations by Steinitz).
The two Samuels became firm friends: I suggested in my previous article that
Earnshaw might have been considered Boden’s Mate.

Here’s what Stockfish thinks of the game. Click on any move for a pop-up window.



You must activate JavaScript to enhance chess game visualization.
Morphy, Paul Charles
Boden, Samuel Standidge
Casuals Morphy-Boden +6-1=3
9 July 1858 – London
Annotated by Stockfish 17
1.e4e52.f4Bc53.Nf3d64.c3Bg45.Bc4
12345678abcdefgh
5…Qe7N5…exf46.d4Bb67.Bxf4±Predecessor:5…Nc66.d3Nge77.h3Bxf38.Qxf3Qd79.b4Bb610.a4a511.b5Nd812.f5f613.g4Ng80-1
Anderssen,A-Harrwitz,D Chess Association-04 Casual Games Manchester 18576.d4C30:
King’s Gambit Declined.6…exd47.O-ONc6And now …Nf6 would
win.7…Qxe4?8.Re18.cxd4Bxf39.Qa4+Kf8∓8…dxc3+9.Kh1+−8.b4Black is slightly
better.8…Bb6Threatens to win with
…Nf6.8…dxc3+?9.bxc5O-O-O10.Bd5+−10.Nxc3d5+−Decoy9.a4dxc3+9…Qxe4?10.Re1dxc3+11.Kh1+−10.Kh1c2Deflection10…Qxe4?11.Re1+−11.Nxc3?Qxc412.Nd5Nf6−+11.Nxc3?Qxc412.Nd5Nf6−+10…Nxb4simplifies11.Nxc3a512.Bb5+c611.Qxc2Black
must now prevent a5.11…Bxf311…Nxb4?!12.Qb2Bxf313.gxf3⩱12.gxf3Strongly
threatening a5.12…Nxb413.Qb313.Qb2±keeps the pressure
on.13…d514.a513…a5∓14.Nc3Nf615.e5dxe516.fxe5Nh516…Qxe5?!17.Bxf7+Kf818.Ba3⩱17.Ne4?
12345678abcdefgh
17.e6=and White is
okay.17…O-O?17…Qxe518.Bxf7+Kf819.Bb2+−17…O-O-O!−+18.Ng5Qxe518.Bb218.e6=18…Nf4−+19.Rg1Rad8?
12345678abcdefgh
19…Bxg1−+20.Rxg1Ne620.e6!=Some like it hot20…Bd4Of course
not20…fxe621.Bxe6+21.Rxg7+Qxg722.Bxe6+Kh8±21…Kh821…Qxe6?22.Rxg7+Kh823.Ng5+−22.Rxg722.Bxg7+Qxg723.Rxg7Rd3±22…Qxg723.Bxg7+Kxg724.Bc4±20…Nxe6?21.Bf6Qd721…Qe8?22.Bxe6g623.Bc4+−22.Bxe6fxe623.Rxg7+Qxg724.Bxg7Kxg725.Ng5+−25.Qxe6Nc6+−20…Bxg121.Rxg121.exf7+Kh8aiming
for …Nbd3!22.Rg4?
12345678abcdefgh
22.Rad1⩲keeps the upper hand.22…c522…Bxg1?is the wrong
capture.23.Rxg1Ng624.Ng3+−23.Bxd4cxd424.Rg522…Bxb2?22…Nbd3!∓23.Bxd4Rxd423.Qxb2⩲Rxf724.Bxf7Qxf725.Ng5Qd525…Qf5!=and
Black stays safe.26.Rxf4+−Qxg527.Rg1→White has strong attack.27…Qh627…Qe7±was
worth a try.28.Rf7White is clearly winning.28…Rg829.Rxc7Nd330.Qd4Quite a
comeback for White. Artfully played by Morphy. Weighted Error Value:
White=0.58/Black=0.86Stronger than30.Qxb7Nf2+31.Kg2Qd2=1–0




Boden must have taught Earnshaw this variation, which would become his lifelong
pet defence to the King’s Gambit.

The following year, he obtained a second curacy at St Thomas’s Church
Birmingham, and, for some years, disappeared from the chess world.

His next job was in the small village of Nether Whitacre, 12 miles or so outside
Birmingham, where he baptised several members of my great grandmother Jane
Houghton’s family.

By 1865 he’d returned to chess, joining the Birmingham and Edgbaston Chess Club.
Here he is, winning their club championship.

The Era 31 December 1865

He was also submitting many of his games, losses as well as wins, to the
Birmingham Journal (editor unknown, appearing irregularly between 17 June 1865
and 26 December 1868, 57 articles in total, according to Tim Harding in British
Chess Literature to 1914). One wonders if Earnshaw himself wrote the column,
given that it published many of his games and stopped at the point when he left
Birmingham.

Let’s look at a few of them.



You must activate JavaScript to enhance chess game visualization.
Earnshaw, Samuel Walter
Campbell, Joseph Graham
Casual Game: Birmingham
August 1865
Annotated by Stockfish 17
1.e4e52.Nf3Nc63.Bc4Bc54.b4Bxb45.c3Bc56.O-Od67.d4exd48.cxd4Bb69.Nc3Bg4C51: Evans
Gambit: Declined and Accepted without 5…Ba5.10.Qb3?10.Bb5⩲stays
ahead.10…Bxf3NPredecessor:10…Na511.Qa4+Qd712.Bb5c613.Bd3Bxf314.gxf3Qh315.Be2Nf616.e5Nh517.Ne41-0
Arnous de Riviere,J-Von Carstanjen,W Paris Games 186011.Bxf7+Kf8Black is clearly
better.12.Bxg812.gxf3?Nxd413.Qd1Kxf7−+12…Rxg812…Nxd413.Qf7#13.gxf3Nxd414.Qd1Qf6↑Black
has strong initiative.15.f415.Rb1∓is a better defense.15…Ne6Black should
play15…g5−+16.Kh1gxf416.e5dxe5…Rd8 would now be
deadly.17.fxe517.Ba3+∓Bc518.Bxc5+Nxc519.Qd5Qg6+20.Kh117…Qg6+17…Qxe518.Ba3+Bc519.Qf3+Qf620.Qxb7⩱17…Qf5!−+White
must now prevent
…Rd8!18.Qd7Qg4+18…Qxe519.Ba3+Bc520.Rfe1=19.Kh1Qf3+20.Kg1Re820…Qxc321.Qxe6Qd322.Qg4⩱21.Ba3+c518.Kh1Rd819.Qb319.Qf3+∓keeps
fighting.19…Qf720.Qxb719…Qd319…Kf7−+…Rd3 is the strong
threat.20.Be3Rd320.Ba3+20.Be3∓only
move.20…Qf521.Rae120…Kf7!−+20…Bc521.Qxe6Bxa322.Rad1Qf3+23.Kg1=21.f4Threatens to
win with f5.21…Qf5Active counter
play!22.Rae122.Qb4Bc523.Qb3Bxa324.Qxa3Rd2−+24…Nxf4?25.Qb3+Kg626.Qc4+−22…Rd3!23.Qc223.Qb4Bc524.Qb1Bxa3−+23…Nd4?23…Nxf4?too
greedy.24.Rxf4Qxf425.Qxd3+−23…g6!−+Strongly threatening
…Rgd8!24.Bb2Ba524…Nxf4?25.Rxf4Qxf426.Qxd3+−24.e6+!=Kf6?
12345678abcdefgh
24…Ke8=and Black stays safe.25.Qa4+Nc625.Qxd3!!+−Deflection25…Qxd326.Nd5+Kg6?
12345678abcdefgh
26…Kf5±27.Re5+Kg428.Ne3+Kh427.f5+!Kh6Stronger
than27…Nxf528.Nf4+Kh629.Nxd327…Kg5⌓28.Rg1+Kxf529.Ne7+Kf430.Bc1+30.Nxg8?is the
wrong
capture.30…Qf3+31.Rg2Nxe6−+30…Kf328.Bc1+g529.e7Nxf530.Re6+Rg631.Rxg6+hxg632.Bxg5+Kxg533.Rg1+Kh434.e8=QQf3+Black
mates.35.Rg2Qf1+36.Rg1Qxg1#Superbly played by Campbell! Weighted Error Value:
White=0.78/Black=0.54 Source: Birmingham Journal 26 August 18650–1






You must activate JavaScript to enhance chess game visualization.
Earnshaw, Samuel Walter
NN
Casual Game: Birmingham
August 1865
Annotated by Stockfish 17
1.e4e52.Nf3Nc63.Bc4Bc54.b4Bxb45.c3Bc56.d4exd47.O-Od68.cxd4Bb69.Nc3Bg410.Qa4Black
must now prevent d5.10…Bd7C51: Evans Gambit: Declined and Accepted without
5…Ba5.11.Qb311.Qd1=11…Na5!⩱12.Bxf7+Kf8Black is slightly
better.13.Qc213.Qd5?Nf614.Qg5Kxf7−+13…Kxf714.e5Nd5 is the strong
threat.14…h6!15.d5Ne7NDon’t go
for15…dxe5?16.Nxe5+Kf817.Ng6+Ke818.Re1++−18.Nxh8Qf6+−18.Nxh8Qf6+−Black should
try15…Kf8∓…Ne7 would now be
deadly.16.e6Be8Predecessor:15…Bg416.e6+Bxe617.dxe6+Kxe618.Qg6+Qf619.Re1+Kd720.Qg4+Kd821.Nd5Qf71-0
Kolisch,I-Hirschfeld,P Match Hirschfeld-Kolisch (1) +4-4=0 Paris 1864
(7)16.e6+⩲Bxe617.dxe6+Kxe6
12345678abcdefgh
17…Kg8⌓18.Qe4+18.Re1+!⌓Kf719.Qd319.Qe4Qd7=18…Kf7±19.Re1Re8?
12345678abcdefgh
19…Qd7!=and Black has nothing to worry.20.Bg5?hxg5?20…Qd7=21.Nxg5+White
mates.21…Kg822.Qh7+Kf823.Ne6+Kf724.Qxg7#An interesting game. Weighted Error
Value: White=0.79/Black=0.69 Source: Birmingham Journal 26 August 18651–0






You must activate JavaScript to enhance chess game visualization.
Earnshaw, Samuel Walter
Hill, F S
Birmingham Championship R3
September 1865
Annotated by Stockfish 17
1.e4e52.Nf3Nc63.Bc4Bc54.b4Bxb45.c3Ba56.d4exd47.O-Oh6?7…Nf6=and Black has nothing
to worry.8.cxd4+−Qb3 would now be deadly. C52: Evans Gambit Accepted: 5 c3
Ba5.8…d6
12345678abcdefgh
9.d5NPredecessor:9.Qb3Qe710.Nc3Bxc311.Qxc3Bd712.e5dxe513.Ba3exd414.Nxd4Qf615.Rfe1+Nge716.Nxc6Qxc317.Rxe7+Kf818.Rxf7+Kg819.Ne7+Kh720.Bb2Be821.Bd3+Qxd322.Rxg7#1-0
Globus,S-Gross Riga Casual Games
18449…Nce79…Qf6?10.dxc6b510…Qxa1?loses.11.cxb7Bxb712.Qb3+−11.e5dxe512.Bxb5+−10.Qa4+White
is clearly better.10…c611.dxc6White is more active.11…bxc611…Nxc6±was
necessary.12.Rd1Ne712.Bf4?Better is12.Ba3+−12…Bb6?Loses the game.12…Nf6=13.Nc3
12345678abcdefgh
Black must now prevent
Rad1.13…Nf614.e5Nh514…dxe515.Rad115.Bxe5O-O⩲15…exf416.Rxd8+Bxd815.exd6Nxf416.dxe7Qd617.Ne4Qg6
12345678abcdefgh
17…Qc718.Rad1Kxe719.Qa3+19.g3Nh3+20.Kg2Bg4+−19…c518.Bxf7+!Decoy. White is
clearly winning.18…Qxf719.Nd6+Kxe720.Nxf7A dynamic duo of
knights.20…Ne2+21.Kh1Kxf722.Qc4+An interesting game. Weighted Error Value:
White=0.86/Black=1.19 Source: Birmingham Journal 23 September 18651–0








You must activate JavaScript to enhance chess game visualization.
Earnshaw, Samuel Walter
Hill, F H
Birmingham Championship R3
September 1865
Annotated by Stockfish 17
1.e4e52.Nf3Nc63.Bc4Bc54.b4Bxb45.c3Bc56.d4exd47.O-Od68.cxd4Bb69.Nc3
12345678abcdefgh
9…h6NC51: Evans Gambit: Declined and Accepted without 5…Ba5.9…Na5=remains
equal.Predecessor:9…Na510.Bd3Ne711.Qc2O-O12.e5Ng613.Re1dxe514.dxe5Be615.Bg5Qd716.Ne4Nc617.Nf6+gxf618.Bxf6Rfd819.Rad1Qe820.Qd2Ba521.Qh6Qf822.Qh5Rd423.Ng5h624.Bxg61-0
Hein,R-Knorre,V Berlin Casual Games 186410.Bb5White is more
active.10.d5±Na511.Bd310…Bd7=11.e511.d5=Nce712.Bxd7+Qxd713.e511…Nge7⩱Black is
slightly better.12.exd6cxd613.Ba3Bc7Black should
try13…O-O⩱14.Bxc6?14.d5⩲Na515.Rc114…Bxc614…bxc6−+15.d5c516.Bxc5dxc515.d5=Bd716.Rc1O-O17.Bb217.Qb3⩱17…Bb618.Qd218.Ne4⌓18…Nf518…Ba5⌓Hoping
for …Rc8.19.Ba1Rc819.Rfe119.Ne4⌓19…Ba5∓20.Nd420.h3∓20…Nh420…Qh4−+21.Nb3Bb621.Nb3
12345678abcdefgh
21…Bb6A strong pair of
Bishops.21…Qf6!∓22.Re322.Nxa5?Qg6−+22…Qg522.Ne4=Nf523.Rc3Threatens to win with
Rh3.23…a5Better is23…Re8∓24.g4Nh4…f5 would now be deadly.25.Rg3And now Bf6!
would win.25.Rh3!?f525…Bxg4?26.Nf6++−26.Qc3=25…f5
12345678abcdefgh
25…Qc7?26.g5h527.Nf6+Kh827…gxf628.gxf6+Bg429.Qg5+Ng630.Qh6Bxf2+31.Kh128.Re7+−28.Nxh5Bg4+−25…f6⩱26.Qc3!Rf727.Nxd6→Black
needs to defend precisely.27…Rf627…Rc8!=and Black stays
safe.28.Qe528.Nxc8Bxc829.Rc1Rc7⩲28.Nxf7Rxc329.Nxd8Rc2=28…Bc729.Nxf7Bxe530.Nxd8Bxg328.gxf5+−28.Nxb7Bxf2+29.Kxf2Qb6+30.N7c530.Qc5fxg4+31.Kg1Nf3+32.Rxf3gxf3=30…fxg4+31.Ke231.Kg1Nf3+32.Kg2Nxe1+33.Qxe1Re8⩲31…Nf3+−28…Kh7
12345678abcdefgh
29.Rxg7+!!Remove Defender,
Decoy29…Kxg730.Qg3+??30.Nxb7?Qg831.Qg3+31.Qxf6+?Kh7+−+31…Kh731…Kf7?32.Kh1−+32.Re7+Rf733.Rxf7+Qxf7−+30.Qxf6++−is
the narrow road to win.30…Qxf631.Re7+Deflection, Double
Attack31…Kg832.Bxf6Nxf533.Rxd7Nxd634.Rxd630…Kh7−+31.Qxh4Rxd6Don’t go
for31…Qg8+?32.Kf1Rf733.Re4+−33.Nxb7?perishes.33…Bb5+Discovered
Attack34.Re2Re8−+Pin33.Bc1Qg7+−31…Re6−+32.Re4Qxh432…Rxd633.Re7+Kg834.Qg4+33.Rxh4Rxd632.Re7+Kg833.Qg4+Never
resign too early! Beautiful play by Earnshaw! Weighted Error Value:
White=0.55/Black=0.86 Source: Birmingham Journal 30 September 18651–0




You can judge from these games that Earnshaw enjoyed attacking chess, being
particularly fond of the Evans Gambit.

He was also travelling down to London to play at the capital’s chess haunts,
where he was winning games against opponents such as the German endgame expert
Josef Kling.



You must activate JavaScript to enhance chess game visualization.
Kling, Josef
Earnshaw, Samuel Walter
Casual game
December 1865 – Simpson's Divan, London ENG
Annotated by Stockfish 17
1.e4e52.f4Bc53.Nf3d64.c3Bg45.Bc4Bxf35…Nd7⩲6.Qxf3±
12345678abcdefgh
Threatens to win with fxe5. C30: King’s Gambit Declined.6…Nc6N
12345678abcdefgh
Predecessor:6…Nf67.b4Bb68.d3Nbd79.f5Qe710.g4h611.Ke2c612.g5hxg513.Bxg51-0
Morphy,P-Loewenthal,J Match Morphy-Loewenthal +9-3=2 London 1858
(2)7.d4exd4⩱8.Bb5But
not8.Qh5Qe79.Qe2a6∓8.b4⩱Bb69.b59.Qh5?Qe7−+8…Ne79.a49.cxd4∓was called
for.9…Bxd410.Nc39…a6−+10.Bc4O-O11.Na3?11.Nd2was worth a try.11…Ng6?11…dxc3−+has
better winning chances. …d5! would now be
deadly.12.Nc2Re813.Qxc3Nc812.Nc212.b4∓is a better
defense.12…Bb613.a512…dxc313.bxc3Qe714.g3Rae815.Bd315.Kd1⌓15…f516.Kd1?16.Be316…fxe417.Bc4+Kh818.Qh5Qd7
12345678abcdefgh
And now …Rf5 would win.19.Re1Rf5Black is clearly
winning.20.Qe2d521.Bb3d422.cxd4Nxd423.Nxd4Qxd4+White did not feel at home in the
position after the opening. Weighted Error Value: White=0.95/Black=0.40 Source:
Birmingham Journal 23 December 18650–1




In this game he was successful on the white side of the King’s Gambit.



You must activate JavaScript to enhance chess game visualization.
Earnshaw, Samuel Walter
Dr E
Casual game
December 1865 – Simpson's Divan, London ENG
Annotated by Stockfish 17
1.e4e52.f4exf43.Nf3g54.h4g45.Ne5h56.Bc4Nh67.d4d68.Nd3f3!9.g3
12345678abcdefgh
C39: King’s Gambit Accepted: 3 Nf3 g5 4 h4.9.gxf3⩲stays
ahead.9…Nc610.Be39…Nc6NPredecessor:9…Be610.Bxe6fxe611.Nf4e512.dxe5dxe513.Qxd8+Kxd814.Nxh5Bc515.Bg5+Kc816.Nf6Nc61-0
Kieseritzky,L-Schulten,J Casual Kieseritzky-Schulten Oxford 1853 (1)10.c3White
should
try10.Nf4!⩱10…Bg710…Na5∓11.Bb3Bg711.Bf411.Nf4!⩱11…Bd711…Na5⌓12.Bb3Bd712.Nd2Qe712…Na5∓13.Bb3Ng813.Kf2O-O-O14.a4Na5?14…f5∓15.Re1fxe416.Nxe4Qf815.Re115.Bd5⩲15…Rhe8?15…Bf6!⩱keeps
the upper hand.16.Ba216.Bd5!±16…Qf8
12345678abcdefgh
16…Nc6⩲17.b4!±Nc618.a5White should play18.b5±18…f5↑Threatens to win with …fxe4.
Black fights for an advantage.19.Bd519.b5=keeps the balance.19…fxe4∓20.Bxe4Bf5?
12345678abcdefgh
20…Bxd4+21.cxd4Nxd422.a6⩲20…Nxd4∓keeps the pressure on. aiming for
…Ne2.21.cxd4Bxd4+22.Kf1Bxa122…Bb523.Rc1∓23.Qxa1Bb521.Bxc6??21.a6!+−was the only
winning move. axb7+ is the strong
threat.21…bxa622.Bxc6Bxd323.Bxe8Rxe824.Rxe8+24.Nxf3Rxe125.Nxe1Bb5±24…Qxe825.Nxf321…Bxd3??21…bxc6−+22.Nc4Rxe123.Kxe1Re8+24.Ne3Bg622.Rxe8+−Rxe823.Bxe8Qxe824.Qe1?24.Nxf3!+−Bc424…Qe4?25.Ng5+−25.Qe125.Nd2Bb5±24…Be2=Black
has compensation. A strong pair of Bishops.25.Qb1Prevents Nf525…Qh8?25…Bb5=and
Black stays
safe.26.Qe4Qf726.Qe4Qf827.Qe6+27.a6+−bxa627…Bxa6?perishes.28.Ra5+−28.Qa8+Kd729.Qxf829.Qxa7Qf5=29…Bxf830.Ra527…Kb8±Black
is weak on the dark squares28.Ne4Nxd6! would now be deadly. Really
sharp!28…Nf529.Qd7Strongly threatening a6!29…Nxd4?30.Nxd6+−White threatens Ne8
and mate.30…Ka831.Ne8Active counter play! White mates.31…Nc632.Qc8+Nb833.Nxc7#A
brilliant game! Weighted Error Value: White=0.74/Black=1.26 Source: Birmingham
Journal 23 December 18651–0




At this time, matches between clubs were starting to take place. In 1866 he
played for Birmingham in a match against Worcester. Although he lost both his
games, his team scored a narrow victory.

Illustrated London News 14 April 1866

You’ll spot some interesting names in the Worcester squad. There’s Lord
Lyttelton, Lord Lieutenant of Worcestershire and sometime President of the
British Chess Association. Then we have the future Sir Walter Parratt, whom you
might recall would, a few decades later, play in several Windsor – Twickenham
matches.

At some point that year Earnshaw played, as you will have seen in the earlier
article, a series of games against Steinitz. It’s uncertain whether these were
played in London or in Birmingham. I showed you the games last time, but have
now asked Stockfish for its opinion.



You must activate JavaScript to enhance chess game visualization.
Earnshaw, Samuel Walter
Steinitz, Wilhelm
Birmingham?
October 1866
Annotated by Stockfish 17
1.d4d52.c4e63.Bf4c5NPredecessor:3…Nf64.e3Bd65.Nh3O-O6.Nc3Bxf47.Nxf4b68.cxd5exd59.Bd3Bb710.Rc1c511.O-Ocxd412.exd40-1
Schurig,R-Paulsen,L Leipzig Cafe National 18644.e3Nc65.Nc3cxd46.exd4D30: Queen’s
Gambit Declined: Systems without Nc3.6…dxc47.Nf3Bd68.Bg3The position is
equal.8…Bxg39.hxg3Qb610.Rb110.Qd2=10…Bd711.Bxc4d5 would now be
deadly.11…Nf612.a3O-O13.Bd3Rfd814.Qc2h615.Rd1Rac815…Nxd4?16.Nxd416.Bh7+Nxh717.Rxd4Ng5∓16…e516…Qxd4?17.Bh7+Discovered
Attack17…Nxh718.Rxd4+−17.Nf5+−16.Qb1Be816…Nxd4?17.Nxd4a617…Qxd4?18.Bh7+Discovered
Attack18…Nxh719.Rxd4+−17…Be8?18.Nf3+−18.O-O+−17.Rh4Kf817…Nxd4?18.Rxd4Rxd419.Nxd4+−18.Bc2Ng818…Ne7∓aiming
for …Ned5.19.Kf1Ned520.Nxd5Nxd519.Qc1?This costs White the
game.19.d5=exd520.Rxd519…g5−+20.Nxg520.Re4⌓Nf6Deflection21.Re220…hxg521.Qxg5
12345678abcdefgh
White wants to mate with
Rh8.21…f6!21…Qxb222.Rh8Qxc3+23.Kf1f624.Qxg8+Ke725.Qf8+Kd726.Rh7+21…Nxd4?22.Rdxd422.Bh7?Qxb223.Qxg8+Ke7−+22…f522…Rxd4?23.Rh8+−23.Rb4+−22.Qe322.Qd222…Qxb223.Bh7Bxg8
is the strong
threat.23…Nxd423…Qxa3?24.Bxg8Kxg825.Kf1−+25.Qxe6+?Kg7−+24.Rg424.Rhxd4⌓Rxd424…Qxc3+?perishes.25.Qxc3Rxc326.Rxd8+−24…Rxc325.Qxe6Rxd426.Qxg8+Ke727.Qg7+Bf728.Rxd4∓25.Qxd4Qxc3+26.Qxc3Rxc327.Rd624…Rxc325.Rxg8+Kf7Black
mates.26.Qh6
12345678abcdefgh
26…Nf3+!27.gxf3Rxd1+28.Kxd1Ba4+Not28…Qxa329.Qg7#29.Ke1Qa1+Inferior
is29…Rxf330.Qg7#30.Kd2Qc1+Skewer31.Ke2Qd1#Magnificent play by Steinitz! Weighted
Error Value: White=0.99/Black=0.12 (very precise)0–1






You must activate JavaScript to enhance chess game visualization.
Steinitz, Wilhelm
Earnshaw, Samuel Walter
Birmingham?
October 1866
Annotated by Stockfish 17
1.e4e52.Nf3Nc63.Bc4Bc54.b4Bxb45.c3Bc56.O-Od67.d4exd48.cxd4Bb69.Nc3Na510.Bd3Bg4NC51:
Evans Gambit: Declined and Accepted without
5…Ba5.Predecessor:10…Ne711.d5f612.Ne2Ng613.Nfd4c514.Bb5+Kf715.Nf5a616.Ba4Bxf517.exf5Ne518.Nf41-0
Voigt-Asharin,A Dorpat 186511.Ne211.Nd5⩲11…Bxf3=12.gxf3Qf612…d5!=13.f4White
should play13.Qa4+!±Kf814.f413…O-O-O!⩱14.Bb2Qh415.Kh1Nf615…d5∓…dxe4 is the
strong threat.16.f3Nc616.f3=Rhg817.Ng3g6Against Nf517…Qxf4?too
greedy.18.Nf5Qg519.f4+−18.Qd218.d5=keeps the balance.18…d5!∓19.e5
12345678abcdefgh
19…Nh520.Nxh5Qxh521.Bc3Nc6Black should try21…Nc4∓22.Qf2Qh622.Bb5Ne7aiming for
…Nf5.23.a4Threatens to win with a5.23…c624.Bd3a6?
12345678abcdefgh
24…Nf5⩱25.Qf2Rde825.a5?25.Rab1!+−25…Bc7?25…Ba7!⩱stays ahead.26.Rab1↑White is on
the roll.26…Nf5And now …Ng3+ would
win.27.Rf2Rd727…Ng3+±28.Kg1Nf528.Qb2+−Ne7?28…Rdd829.Qxb7+Kd729.Qxb7+Kd830.Bxa6Qa8+
would now be deadly.30…Ke831.Qa8+Rd832.Qa7Qf533.Rb7Black is weak on the dark
squares33…Nc834.Qc5Kd735.Rfb2White wants to mate with Rxc7+!35…Rde8
12345678abcdefgh
36.Rxc7+!White mates.36…Kxc737.Rb7+Deflection37…Kd838.Rb8Kc739.Rxc8+Remove
Defender39…Rxc840.Qd6#Superbly played by Steinitz! Weighted Error Value:
White=0.43/Black=0.751–0




Another game between Earnshaw and Steinitz was published in 1879, without any
indication of when (except ‘some time ago’) or where it was played. It might, I
suppose, have been one of this series.



You must activate JavaScript to enhance chess game visualization.
Earnshaw, Samuel Walter
Steinitz, Wilhelm
Casual game
1879 – London ENG
Annotated by Stockfish 17
1.e4e52.f4exf43.Nf3g54.Bc4g45.Ne5Qh4+6.Kf16.g3fxg37.Bxf7+Ke78.Qxg4Qxg48…gxh2+?9.Qxh4+Nf610.Nc3+−9.Nxg4g29…Kxf7?10.hxg3d611.Ne3−+6…Nf6C37:
King’s Gambit Accepted: Muzio Gambit.7.Nc3N
12345678abcdefgh
7.d4⌓Nxe48.Qe1Qxe1+9.Kxe1Predecessor:7.Bxf7+Ke78.Bc4d69.Nd3f310.g3Qh3+11.Kf2Qg2+12.Ke3Bh6+13.Nf4Bxf4+14.gxf40-1
NN-Lewis,W England 18257…d67…Bc58.d48.Bxf7+Ke7⩱8…Bb49.Bxf7+9.Bxf4Bxc3Remove
Defender10.bxc3O-O±9…Kf810.Bxf4±7…Nc6!⌓8.Bxf7+Ke79.Nxc6+9.d4d6∓9…bxc69…Kxf710.Ne5+Kg711.Qe1⩱8.Nd3
12345678abcdefgh
8.Bxf7+?Ke79.d4dxe5−+8.Nxf7∓was worth a try.8…Rg89.e58…f3!−+Black is clearly
better.9.g39.Nf4Be69…Qh3+10.Ke1Bh611.Nf2
12345678abcdefgh
11…Qh5aiming for …Nc6. Black is more active.12.d4Nc6↑White must now prevent
…Bxc1. Black is on the roll.13.a3Now White is beyond
hope.13.Nb5∓Kd814.Bxf7Qxf714…Qxb515.Bxh6Ke716.Bg7∓15.Bxh613…Be614.Qd314.Bb5was
called for.14…a615.Bxc6+bxc616.Bxh6Qxh617.Qd214…O-O-OAnd now …Bxc4 would
win.15.Bxe6+fxe616.Bxh6Qxh617.h3Qg618.hxg4Nxg419.Nxg4Qxg420.Kf2e521.d5Nd422.Rh4Qg623.Rah1h524.b4Rdf825.Qe3a6Don’t
play25…Nxc226.Qxa7Nd427.Qa8+Kd728.Qa4+Ke729.Qd1−+26.Qd2
12345678abcdefgh
26…Ne2!27.Nxe2fxe2+28.Kxe2Qxg329.Kd1Rf230.Qe1Qf3+31.Kc1Re232.Qd132.Qf1was
necessary.32…Qxa3+33.Kd132…Qxa3+Black is clearly
winning.33.Kb1Qxb4+34.Kc1Rxe4Artfully played by Steinitz. Weighted Error Value:
White=0.54/Black=0.440–1




In the 1866-67 Birmingham Club Championship Earnshaw reached the semi-final,
where he was paired against John Halford. After 8 games the scores were level,
with three wins apiece and two draws, so lots were drawn, resulting in his
opponent proceeding to the final.

Here’s one of his wins.



You must activate JavaScript to enhance chess game visualization.
Halford, John
Earnshaw, Samuel Walter
Birmingham Championship R3
January 1867
Annotated by Stockfish 17
1.e4e52.Nf3Nc63.Bc4Nf64.d4exd45.e5d56.Bb5Ne47.O-OBc58.Nxd4
12345678abcdefgh
8…Bd7NPredecessor:8…O-O9.Nxc6bxc610.Bxc6Ba611.Bxa8Bxf112.Be3Bxe313.fxe3Qg514.Kxf1Qxe315.Qe2Qf4+16.Kg1Qc1+0-1
Dufresne,J-Anderssen,A Match Anderssen-Dufresne +4-1=0 Rotterdam 18619.Bxc6C56:
Two Knights: 4 d4 exd4 5 0-0 Nxe4.9…Bxc610.Be3Bb611.f4The position is
equal.11…Qd712.c3O-O13.f5?13.a4=13…f6?13…Rae8−+14.f6Rxe515.fxg7Rfe815…Kxg716.Nd2∓14.e6±Qe715.Rf4Kh816.Rh4Better
is16.Nd2±16…Be8!=17.Nd2Nxd217…Nd6=keeps the
balance.18.Qxd2±18.Bxd2?!c519.Nc2Rd8=18…Rg819.Kh1g620.g4?
12345678abcdefgh
20.Ne2±20…Bxd4??20…c5!−+avoids the disaster.21.Nf3Bc621.Bxd4?
12345678abcdefgh
21.Qxd4gxf522.gxf522.Qxd5?Bc6−+22…c5±21.cxd4+−aiming for
Rh3.21…b622.b321…c5!∓22.Be3
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22.Bf2⩱22…d4!23.cxd4Hoping for
d5.23…gxf524.gxf524.Re1∓24…Bc6+−+25.d5Rad826.Qc2Bxd5+27.Re4Qd627…Bxe4+?28.Qxe4Qd629.Re1−+28.Bg1Rg4Pin29.Re1Qc629…Rdg8⌓30.Bd4cxd431.Rf1Rxe431…Bxe4+is
a self mate.32.Qxe4Rxe433.h3Qg334.Rd1Qxh3#32.Qg2Re2Pin,
Skewer32…Rxg233.Kxg2Re2+Discovered Attack (Double check), Double
Attack34.Kh3Rxh2+35.Kg4h5#32…Rh4?33.Rf4Rxg234.Rxh4Rg4#33.h4Bxg2+34.Kg1Bf3#30.e7Re830…Rdg8⌓31.e8=QRxe8Pin31…Qxe8leads
to
mate.32.Bd4cxd433.Qg2Bxe4Pin34.h3Rxg235.Rxe4Qxe436.b4Rxa2#32.Qg2Bxe432…Rgxe4gets
mated.33.Rd132…Rxg233.Kxg2Bxe4+34.Kf2Qd535.Re2Rg836.Rxe4Qxe437.Kf1Rg238.Bf2Qf339.Ke1Qxf2+40.Kd1Rg1#33.Rxe4Rxg234.Kxg2Qxe4+34…Rxe435.Kf3Re8+36.Kg3Qe437.h3Rg8+38.Kf2Rg2+Skewer39.Kf1Qe2#35.Kg3Rg8+35…Qxf536.h3Rg8+37.Kh2Qf338.Bxc5Qg2#36.Kf2Rg2+Skewer37.Kf1Qe2#31.Bxc5Rxe432.Rxe4Bxe4+Black
used his chance. Weighted Error Value: White=1.63/Black=0.77 Source: Birmingham
Journal 19 January 18670–1




In April 1867 Earnshaw took part in another match, this time against a combined
team from two other clubs.

The Era 21 April 1867

Lord Lyttelton was again representing the opposing team. I guess he was an
honorary member of several clubs. Within a couple of decades exceedingly
pleasant meetings between chess clubs would become much more frequent,
strengthening the social bonds of friendship between Chess players. Long may
they continue.

But then there seems to have been a break in Earnshaw’s chess career. In August
1867, as reported in my previous article, he was involved in a tragic incident,
which must have affected him very much. Perhaps as a result, he left Nether
Whitacre at the end of the year. His last baptism was in November, and by 22
December a new incumbent had taken over.



And look! There, on the other side, is Maria Howton (Houghton)’s illegitimate
son, not, I should add, her first, fathered by a butcher in a neighbouring
village, being baptised. Maria was a sister of my great grandmother Jane
Houghton. Soon afterwards she’d finally marry, and Henry would take on his
step-father’s surname, becoming Henry Tomes.

Earnshaw then took on a chaplaincy in Tremadog in North Wales, before being
appointed headmaster of Archbishop Holgate School, Hemsworth, Yorkshire.

With a new job and five young children (born between 1861 and 1870) he must have
been too busy to devote much time to chess, but by the mid 1870s he had joined
both Sheffield and Leeds Chess Clubs. In 1874 he lost to Blackburne in a
Sheffield simul, and in 1877 he was matched against a child prodigy in a
friendly game.

Leeds Mercury 15 February 1877

Young Master Jackson didn’t exactly become a second Morphy, but his story is one
perhaps for another time.

Here’s the game.



You must activate JavaScript to enhance chess game visualization.
Jackson, Harry
Earnshaw, Samuel Walter
Casual Game: Leeds Chess Club
February 1877
Annotated by Stockfish 17
1.e4ChessBase1…e52.Nf3Nc63.Bc4Nf64.d3h65.O-OBc56.Nc3d67.h3O-O8.Ne2Ne7C50:
Hungarian Defence and Giuoco Pianissimo.9.Ng3Ng610.c3
12345678abcdefgh
10…Bb6NThe position is
equal.Predecessor:10…Be611.Bb3Qd712.d4exd413.cxd4Bxb314.axb3Bb615.Qd3Rae816.Re1c61-0
Williams,E-Henderson,J Souvenir of the Bristol Chess Club 1844 (44)11.Qb3White
should try11.Bb3=11…Qe711…c6⩱12.Be3Bd7aiming for …Bxe3.13.a4Bc614.Nf5Qe8
12345678abcdefgh
15.Nxh6+?gxh6∓16.Bxh6
12345678abcdefgh
16…Nh7?
12345678abcdefgh
17.Nh2?
12345678abcdefgh
17.a5!±Bc518.d417…a518.Ng4
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18.g3∓18.Kh1Qd718…Qe7!−+19.Bxf819.Kh2Nf619…Rxf820.Nh6+Kh821.Bxf7?21.Qd1is a
better
defense.21…Nf422.Nf521…Nf422.Bc4Qg522…Ne2+?23.Kh1Qh423…Rxf224.Rxf2Bxf225.Qd1±24.Nf7+Kg725.Qd1−+25.Nxd6Bxf226.Nf7Bd7−+23.Ng4Nf624.Be6d525.Bf5dxe426.dxe4Nxg4Deflection27.Bxg4Bxe4White
is weak on the dark squares28.Kh2Nxg229.f3
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29…Qd2?30.Qd130.Rad1!=Ne3+31.Rxd2Nxf1+32.Kg2Nxd233.Qe6Bxf3+33…Nxf3?is the wrong
capture.34.Qh6+Kg835.Be6+Rf736.Kg3+−34.Bxf3Nxf335.Qh6+Kg836.Qg6+Kh837.Qh6+Kg838.Qg6+Kh839.Qh6+30…Qxb2⩱Black
has more active pieces.31.fxe4??31.Qc1⩱Qxc132.Rfxc1Rxf332…Bxf333.Bxf3Remove
Defender33…Rxf334.Kxg2±33.Bxf3Bxf334.Rf131…Nf4+?31…Ne3+−+has better winning
chances.32.Qe2Nxg4+Pin32…Nxf1+33.Rxf1Qxe2+34.Bxe2=33.Kg3Qxe234.Rxf8+Kg732.Be2A
fantastic game! Weighted Error Value: White=1.22/Black=0.800–1




At the end of 1876, it appears that Earnshaw’s friend and fellow clergyman
George Alcock MacDonnell took over the chess column of the Illustrated Sporting
and Dramatic News. In 1877 Earnshaw returned to the ministry, becoming Rector of
Ellough, a tiny village near Beccles in Suffolk, which nevertheless boasted a
splendid church. His predecessor there, Richard Aldous Arnold, who had served
his few parishioners for more than 60 years, came from the same family as Thomas
Arnold of Rugby School and his poet son Matthew.

He now had more time for chess, travelling to London every seventh week to play
at Simpson’s and Purssell’s, crossing swords, usually unsuccessfully, with the
likes of Gunsberg, Blackburne, Mason and Bird, as well as winning miniatures
against fellow amateurs. He would have been able to take the Great Eastern
Railway from Beccles to their new Liverpool Street terminus, which had opened in
1874. He sent many of his games to Macdonnell, who was happy to publish them in
his magazine column.

He was winning at one point in both these games, but ended up losing.



You must activate JavaScript to enhance chess game visualization.
Gunsberg, Isidor Arthur
Earnshaw, Samuel Walter
Casual Game: Purssell's
December 1877
Annotated by Stockfish 17
1.e4e52.f4exf43.Bc4d54.Bxd5Nf65.Nc3c65…Nxd5⩱6.Nxd5g56.Bb3±
12345678abcdefgh
C33: King’s Gambit Accepted: 3 Nc3 and 3
Bc4.6…Bb4NPredecessor:6…Bd67.Nf3Bg48.O-OO-O9.d4Nh510.e5Bc711.Ne2Bxf312.Rxf3Bxe513.c3½-½
Mongredien,A-Blackburne,J British CA-05 Grand Tournament Remis London
18627.d3Bg48.Nf3White is clearly better.8…Bd68…Qc7±keeps
fighting.9.O-OO-O10.Ne210.h3+−Qb6+11.Kh210…Nh5Better
is10…Bxf3⩲11.gxf3Nh511.d4g511…c5±12.e5+−Bc712…Be7was worth a
try.13.h4a513.c3a513…Nd7is a better
defense.14.Bc2Qe714.a3?14.Qd3+−14…Nd7⩲15.Qc2With the idea
g3.15.h3simplifies15…Bxf316.Rxf3Kh817.h415…a415…Kh8!=16.Ba2±h4! is the strong
threat.16…Qe7
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16…Bxf3?17.Rxf3Bxe518.dxe5Nxe519.Rf1+−19.Rh3Nf6+−16…Kh8!⩲17.h4!Bxf318.Rxf3aiming
for hxg5.18…g4
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18…Nxe5±19.dxe5g420.Rxf420.Bb1f5=20…Qxh419.Rf1?→White wants a kill.19.Rxf4!+−is
the precise move to win.19…Nxf419…Qxh420.Rf5±20.Bxf419…Qxh419…Nxe5±was called
for.20.dxe5Qxh421.Rxf4Nxf421…Bxe522.Qf5⩲22.Bxf4g320.Nxf4?20.Bxf4+−Strongly
threatening Qf5.20…g321.Rf3Nxf422.Rxf4Qh2+23.Kf120…Ng3∓Prevents Qf5. Threatens
to win with
…Nxe5.21.Rd1?21.Re1∓21…Nxe522.dxe5Bb6+22…Bxe523.Ng6hxg624.Qxg6+Bg725.Re1=23.Rd4
12345678abcdefgh
23…h5??23…Bxd4+24.cxd4c525.Nd5±25.Kf2Nf5+Discovered Attack
(Check)26.Kg1Qe1+27.Kh2Ra6⩱23…Ra5!−+and life is good for
Black.24.Ng6hxg625.Qxg6+Kh826.Qh6+Qxh627.Bxh6Ne2+Pin27…Bxd4+28.cxd4Rd829.Kh2⩱28.Kf1Nxd429.Bxf8Nc224.Ng6Qh1+25.Kf2Qh225…Kg7+−26.Nxf8Bxd4+27.cxd4Qf1+28.Kxg3Qe1+29.Kf4Rxf826.Ne7+White
mates.26…Kh8
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27.Bg5!f627…Bxd4+28.cxd428.exf6An exciting game. Weighted Error Value:
White=0.73/Black=0.97 Source: Illustrated Sporting and Dramatic News 29 December
18771–0






You must activate JavaScript to enhance chess game visualization.
Bird, Henry Edward
Earnshaw, Samuel Walter
Casual Game: Simpson's Divan
April 1878
Annotated by Stockfish 17
1.e4e52.f4Bc53.Nf3d64.c3Bg45.d4Bxf35…exd4simplifies6.cxd4Bxf37.Qxf3Bxd48.Nc3Nf66.gxf3C30:
King’s Gambit Declined.6.Qxf3=keeps the
balance.6…exd47.Qg36…Qh4+7.Ke2exd48.cxd4Black is better.8…Bb6aiming for
…d5!9.Be3
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9…Nc6N9…d5∓Strongly threatening
…Ne7.10.Qa4+10.exd5Nf6⩱10…Nd7Predecessor:9…Ne710.Nc3O-O11.Qd2f512.Bf2Qh613.e5dxe514.fxe5f415.Qd3Nbc60-1
Szen,J-Harrwitz,D Match Harrwitz-Szen +1-1=1 London 185310.Nc3=O-O-O11.Nd5↑White
is pushing.11…Nge7?11…f5=and Black is
okay.12.Nxb6+!+−axb613.d5!Nb814.Rc1Ng614…Nd7±was
necessary.15.Qd215.Bxb6?!Nxf4+16.Ke3c5⩲15.Qc2c5±White should
play15.Rc3+−15…Rhe815…c5±is a better defense.16.Bxb6Na617.Be3f518.Kd1Black must
now prevent Bxa6.18.exf5Ne718…Nxf4+19.Kd1±19.Kd119.Qd3?Nb4−+Deflection, Double
Attack19…Qh5⩱18…fxe419.Bxa6bxa620.Qa5Rd721.Qxa6+Kd822.Qa8+?White should
try22.Rc4+−Qa8+ would now be
deadly.22…Qh322…exf3?23.Qa8+Ke724.Re4++−Skewer23.Re123.Rxe4?Qxf3+24.Kd2Rxe4−+23.Qa8+Ke7⩲23…Qxf3+24.Kc122…Ke7=23.Qa4Qh524.Rf124.Qxe4+?Kd825.Qd4Qxf3+26.Kd2Rde7−+24.Re1!=24…Qxd5+∓24…exf325.Qe4+Kf826.Qxf3⩱25.Ke125.Qd4∓was
forced.25…Qxa226.fxe425…exf3−+26.Kf2?26.Rc326…Qh526…Kd827.Rfd1Qb728.Qb3Qxb328…Qe429.Re1=29.axb3∓27.Rh1Qh4+28.Kxf3Ne5+29.Ke2Qg4+30.Kd2Qg2+30…Qf331.Rhg1Qd5+31…Ng432.Rce1±32.Ke2Qf3+33.Kd2Qd5+33…Ng434.Rce1±34.Ke2Qd3+34…Qf3+35.Kd2=35.Kf2∓30…Nf3+−+is
more deadly.31.Kc3Kf831.Kc3∓Ra8White is weak on the light
squares31…Qe2?!32.Qe4Qf333.Qxf3Nxf334.Rcf1⩲31…Rb832.b3Ra832…Qe233.Qe4+−Pin33.Qb533.Rhg1Qb7∓31…Nf3!∓Threatens
to win with …Kf8!32.Rhd1Qe232…Qxh2?33.Qe4+Kf834.Qxf3+−32…Rb833.Rc2=32.Qb5!⩱Wrong
is32.Rhg1?Qf3−+32…Qxh2?too greedy.33.Qxa8Qe234.Qe4+−Pin, Double
Attack32…Rxa433.Rxg2Re434.fxe5⩲32…Qxh2?33.Qxa8Qe234.fxe5+−32…Rxa433.Rxg2Ng634.f5⩲32…Qe433.Rhe1Dancing
on a razor blade.33…Rb8?
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34.fxe5!Qxe3+=35.Rxe3White threatens exd6+ and mate.35…Rxb536.exd6+Kxd6+−And now
…Rc5+ would win. KRR-KRR37.Rd1+Rd5?
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37…Kc6=and Black stays safe.38.Rxd7Kxd738.Rde1?White must
play38.Rxd5+!+−Kxd539.Rd3+Ke640.Rxd7Kxd741.Kd438…Kc6=39.b4Kb6An interesting
game. Weighted Error Value: White=0.65/Black=0.75. White won some moves later
after Black made a mistake. Source: Illustrated Sporting and Dramatic News 06
April 18781–0




In the summer of 1878 Earnshaw played what would be his only public tournament,
the Counties Chess Association meeting in London, but it didn’t go well for him.
He only managed one draw from eight games (one may have been a loss by default)
before withdrawing with four rounds still to play.

He threw away a good position again in this game.



You must activate JavaScript to enhance chess game visualization.
Earnshaw, Samuel Walter
Martin, William
Counties Chess Association London
August 1878
Annotated by Stockfish 17
1.e4e52.Nf3Nc63.Bc4Bc54.b4Bxb45.c3Bc56.d4exd47.O-Od68.cxd4Bb69.d5Nce710.e5Bg4
12345678abcdefgh
C51: Evans Gambit: Declined and Accepted without
5…Ba5.10…dxe5=11.Nxe5Nf611.exd6NWhite should
try11.Nbd2±Predecessor:11.Qa4+Kf812.Nbd2dxe513.Nxe5Bd414.Nxg4Bxa115.Ba3h516.Rxa1hxg417.Re1a618.Bb31-0
Neumann,G-Hirtler Berlin Casual Games 186611…Qxd6=12.Bb2f6?12…Nf6⩱stays
ahead.13.Qb3And now a4 would
win.13…Bxf314.Qxf3Ng614…O-O-O±15.Bb5++−Kf716.Nd2?16.Qb3+−16…N8e7?16…Qb4=and
Black has nothing to
worry.17.Qb3Qxb317…Qxd218.d6+Kf819.Rad1±18.Nxb3Ne518…N8e719.Bc4⩲17.Bc4A strong
pair of
Bishops.17…Kf817…Ne5?18.Bxe5Qxe519.d6+Kf820.dxe7+Qxe721.Rae1+−21.Qxb7Re8+−18.Rac1Rd819.Rfe1Nxd519…Qf4was
necessary.20.Ne4Qf4
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aiming for
…Qxf3.21.Qb321.Ba3+⌓c522.Qb322.Bxc5+Bxc523.Nxc5Qxf3±22.Nxc5Qxf323.Ne6+Kf7±21…c622.g3?22.Rcd1+−and
White stays clearly on
top.22…Qf522…Nge7?23.Bc1+−23.Bd422…Qg4?22…Qf5±23.Ba3+Kg824.Nd624.Rcd1⌓White
wants to mate with
Rxd5.24…Qf525.Nd6Rxd625…Qxf2+?26.Kh1+−26.Bxd624…h625.Bxd5+?25.Nxb7Rb8=25.Re4+−Qg526.Rd126.Nxb7Rd7⩱26…Rxd627.Bxd625…cxd5⩱26.Qxd5+Kh727.Re4?Reject27.Qxb7Qd428.Qf328.Ne4?Rhe8−+28…Rxd6∓27.Rc4⩱Qg528.Qd328.Qxb7?loses.28…Qd2−+28.Qxg5hxg529.Nf7Rhe8∓27…Qf3!−+28.Bc5
12345678abcdefgh
28…Rxd6!Weighted Error Value: White=0.97/Black=0.76 Source: Illustrated Sporting
and Dramatic News 17 August 18780–1




The tournament proved controversial in more ways than one. The second class
tournament included teenage prodigy Harry Jackson, whose father provoked some
anger by interfering in one of his son’s games. Yes, we’ve all known parents
like that. But that was a minor incident compared with the participation of the
automaton Mephisto (operated by Gunsberg, although this wasn’t known at the
time) in the Handicap Tournament confined to amateurs.

A few weeks later, Earnshaw tried a Fried Liver Attack against Mason when
Black’s pawn was already on a6. Stockfish, unlike MacDonnell in his annotations,
is happy with this, but again White lost the thread, ending up on the wrong end
of a brilliancy.



You must activate JavaScript to enhance chess game visualization.
Earnshaw, Samuel Walter
Mason, James
Casual Game: Simpson's Divan
August 1878
Annotated by Stockfish 17
1.e4e52.Nf3Nc63.Bb5a64.Bc4
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4…Nf6NPredecessor:4…Bc55.O-ONf66.c3d67.d4exd48.cxd4Bb69.h3h610.Nc3O-O11.Be3Ne712.e5Nh713.d5Bxe314.fxe3dxe515.Nxe5½-½
Bonnerjee,M-Cochrane,J Calcutta 18555.Ng5d56.exd5C68: Ruy Lopez: Exchange
Variation, sidelines.6…Nxd5
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6…Na5∓7.d3h67…Nxd58.Qf3±7.Nxf7!⩲Decoy7…Kxf78.Qf3+White is better.8…Ke6Strongly
threatening …b5.9.Nc3White has strong compensation.9…Ne710.d4Hoping for
Bg5.10…b5?10…c6±keeps fighting.11.Bb3Nxd5 is the strong
threat.11…Bb712.O-O12.Bg5?!c6±12…c613.Ne4Black must now prevent
Nc5+.13…Kd714.dxe5Threatens to win with
Nd6.14.Nc5+Kc8⩱14…Ng614…Kc715.Nd6Qd716.Rd1⩲15.Qf5+?15.Ng5±Qe816.e6+Kc817.Qh315…Kc7∓16.e6Be717.Bd217.Ng5∓17…Qf8−+18.Ba5+Kb819.Qh3Qf420.Rae1h521.c4Nf6Better
is21…bxc4−+22.Bxc4Ra722…Ne523.Bd2=22.Nxf622.Bc2!=was the only way to keep the
balance.22…Ne522…bxc4?23.Nxf6Discovered Attack,
Deflection23…Qxf624.Qg3+Nf425.Bc3+−Skewer23.Bd222…gxf6∓22…Bxf6?!23.Qd3bxc423…Be524.Rxe5Remove
Defender24…Nxe525.Qd6+Ka726.Qc5+Kb827.Qd6+Ka728.Qc5+Kb829.Qd6+±24.Bxc4=23.Qc323.Bc2∓Ne524.b323…Rg8−+23…Bd624.g3Qg525.Bb6=24.c5Ne524…Nh4⌓25.Kh1Rxg225.Bd125.Re3⌓25…Bc826.Qb3h426…Bxc527.Qc2Qg528.g3−+27.Bb6Qf528.f4Nd328…Bxe629.Qe3Qg630.Rf2=28…Qg629.Rf2Nc429…Nd3?30.f5+−30.Qc3∓29.Bc2?
12345678abcdefgh
29.Qc2−+h329…Bxe630.Rxe6Qxe631.Qxd3⩲29…Bxc5+30.Bxc5Qxc5+31.Qxc5∓30.g329…Rxg2+!!Decoy30.Kh1
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30.Kxg2Qg4+30…Qh3!An excellent game by Mason. Weighted Error Value:
White=0.67/Black=0.420–1




Back in Suffolk, he was doing his bit to promote chess in Beccles.

Norfolk Chronicle 07 December 1878

By 1880 he was even described as a ‘chess celebrity’.

Norwich Mercury 14 January 1880

Here are a couple of wins against lower level opposition from this period.



You must activate JavaScript to enhance chess game visualization.
Earnshaw, Samuel Walter
NN
Casual Game: Purssell's
June 1880
Annotated by Stockfish 17
1.e4e52.f4exf43.Nf3g54.Bc4Bg75.d4d66.h4h67.hxg5Better is7.Qd3⩱7…hxg5−+C38:
King’s Gambit Accepted: 3 Nf3 g5 4 Bc4 Bg7.8.Rxh8Bxh89.Nc3c6?
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9…Nc6∓Hoping for
…g4.10.e5Kf810…dxe511.Qd3⩱10.g3NPredecessor:10.Ne5dxe511.Qh5Qf612.dxe5Qg713.e6Nf614.exf7+Kf815.Bxf4Ke716.Bxg51-0
Staunton,H-NN London Casual 184010…Bg4Don’t
play10…fxg3?!11.Nxg5d512.exd5Qe7+13.Kf113.Qe2Bg4⩲Pin13…Qf6+13…b514.Bf4±14.Qf3Qxf3+15.Nxf3±11.gxf4gxf412.Bxf4?
12345678abcdefgh
12.Qd3=and White stays safe.12…Bxd4??13.Qxd4+−White is clearly
winning.13…Bxf314.Qh8Prevents Qh4+Not14.Qxd6Qxd615.Bxd6Nd7±Less strong
is14.Bxd6Nd7±14…Kd715.Qh3+Kc716.Qxf3Ne717.O-O-ONc818.e5d5
12345678abcdefgh
19.Bxd5!Weighted Error Value: White=0.55/Black=1.09 Source: Illustrated London
News 03 July 18801–0






You must activate JavaScript to enhance chess game visualization.
Earnshaw, Samuel Walter
NN
Casual Game
August 1880
Annotated by Stockfish 17
1.e4e52.Nf3Nc63.Bb5Nf64.Nc3Bb45.Nd5Nxd56.exd5Nd47.Nxd4exd48.O-OO-O
12345678abcdefgh
9.c3NPredecessor:9.d3Qh410.Qf3f511.Bc4d612.a3Ba513.Qf4Qf614.b4Bb615.Bd2h616.h4Kh71-0
Paulsen,L-Fleissig,M Wien International-01 Vienna 1873 (5)9…Bc510.d3C49: Four
Knights: 4 Bb5 Bb4.10.Qf3=10…a6⩱11.Ba4b512.Bb3Black is slightly
better.12…Bb6Better is12…Qf6⩱13.d6And now Qf3 would win.13…c6
12345678abcdefgh
13…Qf6=remains equal.14.Qg4White has more active pieces. The black rooks are
passive.14.Qf3!±14…Qf6⩲15.Bf4dxc316.bxc3Rae1 is the strong
threat.16…Qxc316…Ba5⩲17.Rae1↑White is really pushing.17…a5?This move loses the
game for Black.17…Qxd318.Re7Bd819.Re3±17…Qf6±18.Be5+−Bxf2+19.Kxf2Qd2+20.Kg1White
mates.20…Qh621.Rf6Qd2
12345678abcdefgh
22.Rxf7!Qxe1+22…Qxg2+23.Kxg223.Rf1+Discovered Attack (Check). Ingenious play by
Earnshaw! Weighted Error Value: White=0.19 (very precise) /Black=0.71 Source:
Burnley Express 28 August 18801–0




His friend Samuel Boden’s death in January 1882 hit him hard: perhaps this is
one reason why, by that time, his games were appearing less often in the press.

But in 1885 he turned up in an inter-club match. The St George’s team included
Marmaduke Wyvill, runner-up in the first ever international tournament back in
1851, and formerly Rishi Sunak’s predecessor as MP for Richmond, Yorkshire.



Illustrated Sporting and Dramatic News 24 January 1885

On the other side of the board, you’ll notice George Archer Hooke, who had
another half century of competitive chess ahead of him, two boards above
Earnshaw, with the splendidly named problemist Edward Nathan Frankenstein
sitting between them.

But the next we hear from Samuel Walter Earnshaw, sadly, is from this death
record, giving his name as Earnshaw-Wall (Wall was his mother’s maiden name, an
affectation used by his son Walter Ethelbert Stacey Earnshaw-Wall .



The cause of death is given as Gout (21 days) and Pericarditis (3 days).

You’ll have read MacDonnell’s warm tribute to his friend in the previous
article.

A true and enthusiastic lover of chess, we are told. Not a great player, but a
good enough player, and really that’s all that matters. He was, for his day,
well booked up, enjoying gambit play and demonstrating strong attacking skills,
but all too often he would miscalculate or make careless mistakes and throw away
his advantage. But he clearly enjoyed playing, whether against fellow amateurs
or against the leading masters of his time. He, and many others like him, over
the past 150 years or more, are what chess, in my opinion, is really all about.
I’m delighted that my great grandmother and her family had made his
acquaintance.

Join me again soon for more Minor Pieces.

 

Sources and Acknowledgements:

ancestry.co.uk
findmypast.co.uk/British Newspaper Library
Wikipedia
ChessBase 17/Stockfish 17
chessgames.com (Earnshaw here)
Yorkshire Chess History (Steve Mann: Earnshaw here)|
EdoChess (Rod Edwards: Earnshaw here)
British Chess Literature to 1914 (Tim Harding: McFarland 2018)
Steinitz in London (Tim Harding: McFarland 2020)
Other sources referenced and linked to above

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2023, Advanced, Books, Endgame, New in Chess, Reviews, Richard James


ENDGAME VIRTUOSO MAGNUS CARLSEN: THE WORLD CHAMPION SHOWS HIS SUPERIOR SKILLS

October 19, 2024 Richard James Leave a comment
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From the back cover:

“Magnus Carlsen’s brilliant endgame play is one of the key reasons for his
success. The World Chess Champion can win positions which look drawn to anybody
else. And more than any other player, he is able to save bad endings.

For this second volume of Magnus Carlsen Endgame Virtuoso, International Master
Tibor Karolyi has selected Carlsen’s best endgames from 2018-2022, whereas the
first volume covered 1999-2017. Reviewing these new games and explaining what
Magnus was doing, the author was thoroughly impressed. Even Carlsen, who in 2017
was already the best endgame player of all time with Anatoly Karpov, had managed
to improve his skills further.

Carlsen has it all. He can find deep ideas, play very technically, and is
exceptionally well-versed in strategic and tactical endgames. The author is
convinced that this new selection contains even better and more instructive
games than Volume one.

Karolyi explains the general ideas in the games and gives concrete variations.
Exploring these annotated endgames, you will soon get a good sense of what is
happening. You will find out that Carlsen does not rush unless it is necessary.
You will learn how Carlsen increases the pressure and uses all available
resources. And you will see that sooner or later, his opponents will start
playing second-best moves, feeling uncomfortable, following up with some dubious
decisions, and, finally, cracking.

Endgame Virtuoso Magnus Carlsen – Volume 2 is a highly instructive, inspiring
and entertaining book. It will help you appreciate Magnus’ endgame magic and
improve your skills in this important game phase.”

About the Author:

“International Master Tibor Károlyi was Hungarian Champion in 1984 and is
renowned as both an author and a trainer. He won the Guardian Chess Book of the
Year prize in 2007.”



 

You will probably agree that endings are increasingly important – at all levels
– in chess today, and that Magnus Carlsen is the strongest human endgame player
in the history of chess. So everyone will benefit from studying his endings.

It’s not quite as simple as that, though. The problem is that today’s top GM
games are played at a level way beyond the comprehension of average club
players. If you’re looking for a book that will do more to improve your endings,
I’d recommend this book which was the subject of my last review.

On the other hand, studying the games of the world’s leading players will give
you a wider appreciation of chess culture, and, with the guidance of a skilled
instructor to provide excellent annotations, you’ll undoubtedly learn something
as well as being inspired, in a more general way, to improve your chess.

In this book you’re in the safe hands of IM Tibor Karolyi, one of the best and
most experienced annotators in the business, and one who has a particular gift
for making difficult positional concepts comprehensible to the average player.

The first volume of this series covered Carlsen’s earlier career. Here we have
104 endgames from 2018 up to 2022, taken from games played at all time controls.
As in my last review, the author takes a pretty broad view of what constitutes
an ending.

Here, for example, is a position where Magnus missed the best continuation.



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12345678abcdefgh



This is taken from the first play-off game in the 2018 Carlsen – Caruana World
Championship match.

Carlsen played the obvious 24. Bxe6+, winning a pawn and, eventually, the game,
although Caruana missed drawing chances on a few occasions.

He missed the very difficult 24. Rxd4!! Kf7 25. Kh1!!, a great prophylactic move
according to Karolyi, so that an eventual Nxf3 won’t be check, when Black would
have had no defence to Red1 followed by Rd6. This fascinating ending is analysed
extensively over 3½ pages.

Black against Vallejo Pons (Karlsruhe/Baden-Baden 2019), Carlsen reached a
pawnless ending with RB against BN.



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You might think this is drawn, but Carlsen knew that, with the opposing bishops
on different colour squares, Black is winning. If you buy this book you can see
for yourself how he brought home the full point – and how his opponent could
have made it harder for him.

Karolyi tells us that Fischer could have reached a similar ending against Browne
(Rovinj/Zagreb 1970), but his annotations suggested that he believed the ending
to be drawn.

This game, from move 12 to its conclusion 60 moves later, is covered in 4½ pages
here.

It’s striking how often Magnus plays for mate with very limited material on the
board.



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12345678abcdefgh



Here,  our hero was black in an Armageddon game against Nepomniachtchi
(Stavanger 2021).

Nepo erred by playing 52. Bg7? here (Ke2 would have held), which Magnus met with
52… Rh1, with Rh2+ to follow.

Along with the games you also get a running commentary on Carlsen’s tournament
performances over the period, helpfully putting the games into context as well
as providing some gripping reading.

At the end of the book there’s an informative interview with Carlsen’s long-term
second Peter Heine Nielsen, along with a useful Endgame Classification index and
the expected index of names.

What you don’t get here is the opportunity for interactive learning. Unlike in
many books from this publisher, there are no quizzes at the start of each
chapter, nor does the author stop every few moves to ask you questions. You
might well consider this not to be a problem in a book of this nature.

As usual from New in Chess, the production values are excellent. The English,
although not always totally idiomatic, reads fluently. If you’re looking for a
book on Carlsen’s endgames, and there are many reasons why you should be, you
won’t be disappointed with this volume. You might also want to buy Volume 1 as
well, and, in a few years time, Volume 3.

I consider this a first class book written by one of the best annotators in the
business. While players of, say, 2000+ strength will perhaps learn most from it,
all club standard players will find Carlsen’s endgames, especially as explained
here, both instructive and inspirational.

If you want to look further before making up your mind you can find some sample
pages here.

Richard James, Twickenham 18th October 2024

. Richard James

Book Details:

 * Softcover: 256 pages
 * Publisher: New In Chess; 1st edition (23 March 2023)
 * Language: English
 * ISBN-10:9493257703
 * ISBN-13:978-9493257702
 * Product Dimensions: 17.22 x 1.63 x 22.99 cm

Official web site of New in Chess.

Endgame Virtuoso Magnus Carlsen Volume 2: The World Champion Shows His Superior
Skills, Tibor Karolyi, New in Chess, March 23rd 2023
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2024, Analysis, Biographies, Composer, Composition, English, Games Analysis,
History, Journalism, Minor Pieces, Player, Problems, Richard James, Writers


MINOR PIECES 79: ANTONY ALFRED GEOFFREY GUEST

September 30, 2024 Richard James 2 Comments
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Ralph Jackson won the Sydney Junior Championship back in 1976 and is currently
ranked 7th among players in Australia born before 1960.

He is also intrigued by family history, and his interest was piqued in 2015 when
a cousin showed him transcripts of letters his great grandfather’s brother had
been sent by an English nephew in 1874 and 1875 concerning his family’s
financial struggles, and his mother’s illness and subsequent death.

He idly, as one does, entered the name of his English relation, of whom he had
previously been unaware, into Google and was both startled and delighted to
discover that Antony Guest had been a prominent chess player and journalist. You
could even make the case that he was the Leonard Barden of his time, and that,
almost a century after his death, his influence can still be felt today.

When Ralph noticed that I’d mentioned Guest in an earlier Minor Piece he
contacted me to ask what more I could discover about him. As he was on my list
of future Minor Pieces, in part because of his local connections to me, I was
more than happy to oblige.

The birth of Antony Alfred Geoffrey Guest (he didn’t use his rather splendid
middle names for chess purposes) was registered in the second quarter of 1856 in
Staines, Middlesex. His father Augustus was a schoolmaster, classicist and
artist, the son of Thomas Douglas Guest. His mother Phoebe, also known as
Elizabeth or Mary, was the daughter of refugees, originally from Eastern Europe,
but who had arrived via Denmark. Although she was born in the Jewish faith she
later converted to Christianity.

Antony was baptised by cricketing clergyman Henry Vigne in St Mary’s Church
Sunbury on June 18 that year. Entirely coincidentally, I visited that church
recently and took a few photographs.



I don’t know the age of the font on the left: the inscription records when it
was moved, not when it was installed, but I’d guess it wasn’t the one in which
baby Antony was baptised.

By 1861 the family, now joined by Isabella Katherine Celia Guest (who would
later be known as Katherine or Kate), had moved to Thayer Street in central
London, conveniently situated just a few yards from the Chess & Bridge Shop in
Baker Street.

But on 20 June 1864 Augustus was admitted to Grove Hall Lunatic Asylum, where he
died on 19 March 1866. The family were now struggling to maintain their
previously affluent lifestyle, and Antony had to leave school early. By 1871 he
was working as a clerk, while his mother was now a lodging-house keeper.
Isabella was, for some reason, visiting a carter’s family in Hampshire.

Meanwhile, Phoebe’s three brothers, Abraham (who changed his name to Alfred
Lionel), Henry and Maurice had emigrated to Australia in the 1850s, seeking
their fortune in the Gold Rush.

Henry, in particular, did very well for himself. After visiting the gold fields
he took a job in public service, later rising to become Registrar-General of
Victoria as well as attaining the rank of Major in the volunteer forces.



It was Uncle Alfred who was the recipient of Antony’s surviving (in transcript)
letters.

The first letter Ralph has is from July 1874.

Circumstances have gone very hard with us of late, my mother has been very ill
lately, and has been unwell for the last two years, and find it very very
difficult to make ends meet-, especially since food and other necessities have
become so dear, a little assistance therefore now and then would be a very great
comfort to her.

In October he wrote again with the sad news that his mother had died of gastric
(typhoid) fever the previous month.

My poor mother left her affairs in a very unsettled condition, her debts
amounting to nearly 70 pounds, and my sister and myself would be greatly obliged
to you or our uncle Henry for any assistance you could give us. 

In December he informed Uncle Alfred that he had moved into a boarding house and
his employer had lent him enough money to pay off his mother’s debts, but it
appears that his family in Australia had been unable to help financially.

Ralph’s final letter, from April the following year, sees Antony telling his
uncle that his prospects were now good, but thanking him for his offer of a home
in Australia for his ‘delicate’ sister Isabella. If she took up the offer she
wasn’t there long as she was back in England by 1881.

Here, then, was a formerly prosperous family that, due to illness and death, and
perhaps also financial mismanagement, had hit hard times. Young Antony was doing
his best to sort things out.

He also developed an interest in chess, watching one of the games in the 1876
match between Steinitz and Blackburne, and remembering, almost a quarter of a
century later, how deeply absorbed he was.

We next pick him up in 1880, when he applied to become a member of the London
Stock Exchange. The 1881 census found him on holiday at the Grand Hotel in
Brighton, giving his occupation as Stock Jobber. A Stock Jobber was a private
trader in stocks and shares, as opposed to a Stock Broker who worked for
clients.  The Grand Hotel, according to Wikipedia, “was intended for members of
the upper classes visiting the town and remains one of Brighton’s most expensive
hotels”. He’d clearly turned round his family fortunes, then.

By this time, Antony was spending much of his spare time frequenting Purssell’s
and other places where the game was played socially.

He also acquired a new job, as a journalist for the Morning Post, a Conservative
daily newspaper which would be taken over by the Daily Telegraph in 1937. In
1883 a major international tournament took place in London and Antony was
dispatched to report on it. His reports must have proved very popular as the
paper commissioned him to start a weekly column, beginning on 28 May 1883.

The column would typically include a problem (sometimes two) for solving, a list
of successful solvers of the problem from two weeks earlier, a game, either
contemporary or historical, news from home and abroad, answers to readers’
questions and, on occasion, book reviews, such as this one.

Morning Post 16 July 1883

Guest was always very enthusiastic about promoting chess for ladies, so would
have been pleased to support Miss Beechey‘s venture.

Although he was not yet playing in public, he started publishing a few of his
own games later in the year. Here he gave his opponent odds of pawn and move (he
played black without his f-pawn). As always, click on any move in the game for a
pop-up window.



You must activate JavaScript to enhance chess game visualization.
Ledger, G.
Guest, Antony Alfred Geoffrey
Purssell's Handicap Tournament
November 1883
Annotated by Tactical Analysis 6.4
1.e4White is clearly
better.1…e62.d4c53.dxc5Qa5+4.c3Qxc55.Be3Qc76.Nd2Nc67.Ngf3Be78.Nc4Nd4 is the
strong threat.8…Nf69.e5Nd510.a410.Bd3+−10…O-O±11.Bd3Qb1 would now be
deadly.11…b612.Bd4?12.Qc2±keeps the pressure
on.12…Bb712…Ba6?!13.Ne3Nxd414.Nxd4Nxe315.fxe3Bxd316.Qxd3=Better
is12…Nf4!∓13.Ne3Bb713.O-O13.Be3!=keeps the balance.13…Nf4!∓Strongly threatening
…Nxg2!14.Be3
12345678abcdefgh
14…Nxg2!15.Kxg2
12345678abcdefgh
Hoping for Be4.But
not15.Bxh7+?Kxh716.Nfd216.Kxg2?Nxe517.Nd2Nxf3−+16…Kg816…Nxe5?17.Qh5+Kg818.Qxe5−+17.Kxg2Nxe5+Discovered
Attack (Check)18.f3Nxc4−+15…Rxf3?15…Nxe5!−+16.Nxe5Qxe516.Kg1?16.Kxf3?is the
wrong
capture.16…Nxe5+17.Ke2Bf3+17…Nxc418.Bxc4Qxc4+19.Kd2∓18.Ke1Bxd119.Nxe5Bb3−+19…Qxe5?20.Kxd1Bc521.Bd2−+16.Qxf3=Nxe517.Nxe5Bxf3+18.Nxf316…Nxe5Weighted
Error Value: White=0.88/Black=0.26 (precise) Source: Morning Post 12 November
18830–1




By 1884 he had also started to compose problems, at first in collaboration with
future BCF President John Thursby.

You’ll find the solution to all problems at the end of the article.



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Problem 1. #3 A Guest & J Thursby Morning Post 26-05-1884

At the same time he played in public for the first time, in a handicap
tournament at Simpson’s. Here he was accepting odds of pawn and move from the
masters, who, in his section, were Blackburne and Gunsberg. He won his section
with 7½/9, but was beaten by Mason, also giving him odds, in the play-off
between the winners of the two sections.

Buoyed by this success he took part in his first master tournament, an event run
by the British Chess Association in London. His performance, considering his
lack of experience, was rather remarkable.

Gunsberg, as expected, ran out a comfortable winner with 14/15, but Guest shared
second place with Bird on 12/15.

In his game against Wainwright (see earlier Minor Pieces) he gave up the
exchange in the opening but later trapped his opponent’s queen.



You must activate JavaScript to enhance chess game visualization.
Guest, Antony Alfred Geoffrey
Wainwright, George Edward
1st BCA Congress, London
1885 – London ENG
Annotated by Tactical Analysis 6.4
1.e4e52.Nc3Nf63.f4d54.fxe5Nxe45.Nf3Bb46.Be2c6C29: Vienna Game: 2…Nf6 3
f4.7.O-OQb6+7…O-O⩲8.Kh1?8.d4+−8…Nf2+⩱Black is slightly
better.9.Rxf2!Qxf210.d4Qd3 is the strong threat.10…Bg4!11.Bf4
12345678abcdefgh
11…Bxf3NPredecessor:11…Bxc312.bxc3c513.Qd2Nc614.Be3Qxe215.Qxe2c416.h3Bh517.Qf2O-O-O1-0
Clerc,A-Englisch,B Congres International Paris 1878 (3)12.Bxf3Hoping for
g3.12…Nd713.g3Qd3 would now be
deadly.13…Bxc3?13…Nf8!⩲14.Qd3Ne615.Nxd5Qxd416.Nc7+Double
Attack16…Kd716…Nxc7?loses.17.Qxd4Be718.Rd1+−17.Nxa8Qxd318.cxd3Rxa814.bxc3+−Rc815.Qd3c516.Bxd5White
is clearly winning.16…b517.Rf1
12345678abcdefgh
Trapped
Piece17…c418.Qd1Not18.Rxf2cxd319.cxd3f6±18…Qxf1+19.Qxf1O-O20.Qh3Nb621.Be4g622.Bg5f523.exf6Rce8
12345678abcdefgh
Inhibits Qe6+.24.Qh6!A cool game by Guest. Weighted Error Value: White=0.18
(very precise) /Black=0.681–0




He won very quickly against Hewitt, who wasn’t given the chance to recover from
a hesitation in the opening.



You must activate JavaScript to enhance chess game visualization.
Guest, Antony Alfred Geoffrey
Hewitt, Thomas
1st BCA Congress, London
1885 – London
Annotated by Tactical Analysis 6.4
1.e4e52.Nf3Nc63.d4exd44.Nxd4Bc55.Be3Qf66.c3Nge77.Qd2h6NBlack should
play7…O-O=Predecessor:7…Bxd48.cxd4d59.e5Qg610.f4O-O11.Nc3Bf512.a3Na513.Ra2Bb114.g4Bxa215.Nxa2Qb1+16.Nc10-1
Mackeson,W-Pollock,W Irish CA Congress-01 Masters Dublin 18858.Nb5C45: Scotch
Game.8…Bxe39.Qxe3Kd810.Nd2White is slightly better.10…d611.O-O-ONc4 is the
strong threat.11…Bd712.f4Kc813.Nc4White is more active.13…Ng6
12345678abcdefgh
13…Be6±14.g3!+−And now e5! would win.14…a6?
12345678abcdefgh
14…Be6is more
resistant.15.Ncxd6+15.f5Bxc416.Bxc4Nge5=15…cxd615.Nbxd6+!Deflection. White is
clearly
winning.15…cxd615…Kb816.Nxb716.Nb6+Kd817.Nd5Bg418.Qb6+Ke819.Nxf6+gxf620.Rxd6White
took control after the opening. Weighted Error Value: White=0.06 (flawless)
/Black=0.821–0




This was a most auspicious debut for a relatively young (by the standards of the
day) player. It was probably anticipated that he would have a big future in
master chess, but, as it turned out, his first high level tournament would also
be his best result.

Later that year Guest was involved in an interesting debate with John Ruskin.

Morning Post 14 September 1885

The debate as to whether chess should be on the school curriculum is still going
on today, almost 140 years later. Unlike many of my colleagues in the world of
junior chess, I’m very much in agreement with Guest here. Ralph Jackson shares
our views.

Here’s another problem, this time a joint composition with Louis Desanges.



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Problem 2. #3 A Guest & L Desanges Morning Post 16-11-1885

On the same day that this problem was published there was some important news.

Morning Post 16 November 1885

A few months later the new club ran a master tournament in which Guest took
part, but this time he was much less successful, only scoring 2/7, well behind
Blackburne (6½), Bird and Gunsberg (both 5), and not helped by defaulting his
game against Pollock.

I’m not sure whether or not this game was played in the tournament. Guest
attempted to play like Steinitz, but it didn’t end well.



You must activate JavaScript to enhance chess game visualization.
Guest, Antony Alfred Geoffrey
Bird, Henry Edward
London
1886 – London ENG
Annotated by Tactical Analysis 6.4
1.e4e52.Nc3Nc63.f4exf44.d4Qh4+5.Ke2g56.Nf3Prevents d6. C25: Vienna Game:
Alternatives to 2…Nf6.6…Qh57.Nd5
12345678abcdefgh
7…Bg7N7…Kd8∓keeps the pressure on. Strongly threatening
…Nce7.8.Kf2Nce79.Nxg5Qxd110.Nxf7+Ke811.Nxc7+Kxf712.Bc4+d513.Rxd1dxc414.Nxa8Nf6Predecessor:7…Kd88.g3Nce79.Nxe7Bxe710.gxf4g411.Ne1Nf612.Bg2d513.e5Ne414.Ke30-1
Dorrer,I-Chigorin,M Vsemirnoi Illustratsi corr
18848.c3?8.Nxc7+±Kf89.Nxa88…Nf6∓9.Nxc7+
12345678abcdefgh
9…Kd8!Some like it hot10.Nxa8Hoping for e5.10…Nxe4And now …Re8 would win. Black
is more
active.11.Qa411.Ke1∓Re812.Be211…Re812.Kd312.Kd1g412…Nf2+13.Kc2=13.Qb5Nf2+13…Qxb514.Bxb5Nf2+15.Kc2⩲14.Kc2Qg6+14…Qxb515.Bxb5gxf316.Bxf4±15.Kb315.Bd3Nxd316.Qxd3gxf3⩱15…gxf315…Nxh116.Nh4=16.Bxf412…Qg6−+Black
is clearly winning.13.Kc4
12345678abcdefgh
13…b5+!Decoy14.Kxb514.Qxb5Nd6+14…Nd6+15.Kc5Qe6( ->
…Ne4+)16.d5Nb7+17.Kc4Qe4+Ingenious play by Bird! Weighted Error Value:
White=1.06/Black=0.330–1




He had better luck later in the year in the British Chess Association Amateur
Championship, which was won by Gattie (15/18), Guest sharing second place with
previous Minor Piece subjects Hooke and Wainwright on 13½/18.

The eccentric Wordsworth Donisthorpe didn’t last long in this game.



You must activate JavaScript to enhance chess game visualization.
Guest, Antony Alfred Geoffrey
Donisthorpe, Wordsworth
B.C.A Amateur ch
1886 – London ENG
Annotated by Tactical Analysis 6.4
1.e4b62.d4Bb73.Bd3e64.Be3
12345678abcdefgh
4…d5NPredecessor:4…Nf65.Nd2Be76.Ne2d67.Ng3Nbd78.O-Oh59.h3c510.c3h411.Ne2Nh512.f4e513.fxe5dxe50-1
Sellman,A-Skipworth,A London International Masters 1883 (9)5.e5c56.c3White is
more active. B00: Queen’s Fianchetto Defence, Nimzowitsch
Defence.6…c46…Qd7⌓7.Bc2±b58.Nf3White is clearly better.8…a59.O-OWhite should
play9.Ng5+−9…Nc610.Ng5h6
12345678abcdefgh
Loses the game.10…g6±11.Qh5!+−g612.Bxg6hxg512…fxg6⌓13.Qxg6+Kd713.Bxf7+Don’t
take13.Qxh8fxg614.Qxg8Kd715.Qxg6Be7+−13…Kd714.Qxh8Nh615.Bh5Qe716.Qf6Qxf617.exf6Bd618.Bxg5Nf519.Nd2Rh820.g4White
is clearly
winning.20…e521.Bg6Nh422.Bxh4Rxh423.Bf5+Kc724.Nf3Rh625.g5Rh826.g6e427.g7Weighted
Error Value: White=0.10 (very precise) /Black=0.371–0




Guest’s next tournament was towards the end of 1887: the British Chess
Association Congress in London. He had originally entered a lower section, but,
on the withdrawal of Skipworth, was, at the last minute, promoted to the master
section, where he would face the likes of Blackburne, Burn, Gunsberg and the
ailing Zukertort.

He got off to a flying start, winning his first three games, against Bird,
Pollock and the perpetual backmarker Mortimer.

His game against Pollock wasn’t short of excitement. He defended the Evans
Gambit and, after various adventures, his extra pawn on the queenside eventually
turned into a queen.



You must activate JavaScript to enhance chess game visualization.
Pollock, William Henry Krause
Guest, Antony Alfred Geoffrey
British CA Congress-03 Masters2
30 November 1887 – London (British CC)
Annotated by Tactical Analysis 6.4
1.e4e52.Nf3Nc63.Bc4Bc54.b4Bxb45.c3Bc56.d4exd47.O-Od68.cxd4Bb6!9.Bg5C51: Evans
Gambit: Declined and Accepted without
5…Ba5.9.h3⩲9…Nge7=10.Nc3f6N10…h6⩱11.Be3O-OPredecessor:10…O-O11.Nd5Kh812.Nh4f613.Be3Nxd514.Bxd5Ne715.Bb3f516.Bg5fxe41-0
Riemann,F-Boehlke,H Match/Cons Riemann-Boehlke/Varain+2-2=1 Leipzig 1879
(3)11.Bh411.Be3=11…Bg4∓12.Ne212.Rb1⩱12…Ng612…d513.exd5Na513…Nxd514.Re1⩱14.Bb5+Kf815.Nf4⩱12…Qd7−+And
now …g5 would
win.13.Bg3Bxf314.gxf3O-O-O13.Bg3⩱Na514.Qd3Bxf315.gxf3Nxc415…Qd7!⩱16.Qxc4=Qd717.a4a5
is the strong threat. White has
compensation.17…c618.a5Bc719.Rfb1Rb820.f420.Ra2=20…Qf720…d5⩱21.Qc5b621…dxe422.Qxa7O-O23.Rxb7=21.Qc2⩲Ne722.f5g5?22…O-O⩲23.f4g424.a6?24.d5!±24…Bb6=25.axb725.Bf2=remains
equal.25…Rxb726.Kg2h526…O-O∓White must now prevent
…d5.27.Bh4d527.Bh4⩱O-O28.Rf128.Ng3⩱28…Rfb828…d5∓Hoping for
…dxe4.29.e5Qh729…fxe530.Bxe7Qxf531.Qxf5=30.Bxf6Nxf529.Rad1Better
is29.Rfb1⩱29…Bd830.Rb1Prevents
Rb230…Kg731.Rxb7Rxb732.Ng3Kh632…Kf8∓33.h3⩲Threatens to win with
hxg4.33…gxh3+34.Kh2a534…Ng8⌓35.Qe235.Rg1!±35…Ng835…a4⩲36.Rg1White should
play36.e5!±36…a4!
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37.Nxh5a3!⩱38.Kxh3?
12345678abcdefgh
38.Rg6+?Qxg639.fxg6Rb2−+38.Qg4⩱Qxh538…d539.Bg5+Kh740.Qxh3+−39.Qxg8Qe2+40.Kxh3Qf3+41.Bg3Qh5+42.Bh4Qf3+43.Rg3Qh1+43…Qxe444.Qg6#44.Kg4Qd1+44…Rg7+?45.Bg5+fxg546.Qh8+Skewer46…Rh747.Qf8+Rg748.Rh3++−45.Kh3Qh1+46.Kg4Qd1+46…Rg7+?47.Bg5+fxg548.Qh8+Skewer48…Rh749.Qf8+Rg750.Rh3++−47.Kh3Qh1+38…Rb2?38…a2!−+…Rb3+
would now be
deadly.39.Rg6+Qxg6Promotion40.fxg6a1=Q40…a1=B?41.f5+−40…Rb3+?41.Ng3−+39.Qg4a2↑Keeping
White busy. The board is on
fire.40.Qxg8??40.d5?Rb140…cxd5?41.e5−+40…Bb641.Nxf6Remove
Defender41…Nxf642.Bg5+Kh743.Bxf6=41.Qxg8Rb3+−+41…a1=R42.Qh8+Qh743.Rg6+Kxh544.Qxh7#41…Qxg842.Rxg8Kh743.Rxd8⩲41…a1=R42.Qh8+Qh743.Rg6+Kxh544.Qxh7#41…Qxg842.Rxg8Kh743.Rg7+Kh644.Rg8=40.e5∓Rb3+40…Qxh541.Qg7#41.Ng3dxe542.fxe540…Rb3+−+40…Qxh541.Qh8#40…Qxg8?41.Rxg8Kh741…a1=B42.Rh8#41…Rb3+?42.Kg4+−42.Rg7+42.Rxd8a1=Q±42.Rg1Rb3+43.Kh2Rb1=42…Kh643.Ra7+−43.Bxf6?Bxf644.Ra7Bxd4−+43.Bxf6?Bxf644.Ra7Bxd4−+41.Kh2Qxg841…Qxh542.Qh8#42.Rxg8Kxh542…a1=B43.Rh8#Avoid
the
trap42…Rb2+?43.Kh3Kh743…a1=B44.Rh8#43…Rb3+?44.Kg4+−44.Rg7+44.Rxd8a1=Q±44.Rg1Rb3+45.Kh2Rb2+46.Kh3Rb3+47.Kh2Rb2+48.Kh3=44…Kh645.Ra7+−45.Bxf6?Bxf646.Ra7Bxd4−+45.Bxf6?Bxf646.Ra7Bxd4−+43.Rxd8a1=QDodges
Ra8. Black
mates.Not43…a1=B44.Bxf6Kg445.Bh8=45.Rxd6Rb2+46.Kg1Kg3=44.Bf2Qa245.Kg2Kh646.Rxd6Rb247.Rxf6+Kg748.Rg6+Kf749.Kg1Rxf250.e5Rxf451.e6+Kf8Black
used his chance. An entertaining game by Guest. Weighted Error Value:
White=0.67/Black=0.350–1




In Round 3 Guest sacrificed two rooks to win Mortimer’s queen. He miscalculated
some later tactics, but his opponent failed to take advantage.



You must activate JavaScript to enhance chess game visualization.
Guest, Antony Alfred Geoffrey
Mortimer, James
British CA Congress-03 Masters3
1 December 1887 – London (British CC)
Annotated by Tactical Analysis 6.4
1.e4e52.Nf3Nc63.Bc4Bc54.Nc3Nf65.d3d66.Be3Bb67.h3Na5C50: Hungarian Defence and
Giuoco
Pianissimo.8.Bb5+NPredecessor:8.Bb3Nxb39.axb3Be610.Nb5Bxe311.fxe3c612.Nc3Qc713.g4a614.d4O-O-O15.d51-0
Loyd,S-Rosenthal,S Paris Congres International 18678…c69.Ba4Bxe3Black has an
edge.10.fxe3b511.Bb3Nxb312.axb3O-O13.O-OQc714.Qe1h615.Qg3Nh716.Nh4Kh817.Rf2Be618.Raf1→Black
needs to defend precisely.18…Rg8?
12345678abcdefgh
18…a5=and Black stays safe.19.Rxf7!!+−Remove Defender19…Bxf7
12345678abcdefgh
20.Rxf7Remove Defender20…Qxf721.Ng6+Qxg622.Qxg6Rad823.Ne2Rgf824.Ng3Strongly
threatening
Nf5.24…Rf625.Qg4g626.Qh4h527.Nf1Rdf828.Nd2Kg729.Nf3Kh630.Qg3g531.d4h431…g4⌓32.dxe532.hxg4Rg8±32…Rxf333.gxf3Rxf332.Qg4exd433.Nxd4aiming
for Nf5+.33…Rf1+34.Kh2Nf6
12345678abcdefgh
Prevents Qd7.34…c5⌓35.Nf5+?White has to play35.Qe6!+−35…Kg6=36.Nxh4+
12345678abcdefgh
36.Qe2!=Nxe437.Qxf1Rxf538.Qd336…Kh6?Loses the
game.36…Kh7!∓37.Qe637.Qxg5?perishes.37…Rg8−+37…gxh438.Qe7+Kg837.Nf5++−Kg638.Qe2Ra138…Nxe4was
called for.39.Qxf1Rxf539.Qd3White is clearly winning.39…d540.exd5cxd541.Nh4+An
excellent game by Guest. Weighted Error Value: White=0.22 (precise)
/Black=0.481–0




After a loss to Lee in the fourth round, his fifth round opponent, Mason, failed
to arrive because he had confused the start time. Guest was originally awarded a
win by default, but it was later decided that the game should be replayed, Mason
winning.

He then lost his last four games against some of the world’s strongest players.

Against Burn he played a totally unsound Greek Gift sacrifice in this position,
overlooking Black’s diagonal defence.



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The game continued 9. Bxh7+? Kxh7 10. Ng5+ Kg8 and now he must have realised
that 11. Qh5 fails to Bf5, while the move he tried, Qd3+, failed to g6. Regular
Minor Piece readers will recall Locock making the same mistake.

Here’s the tournament crosstable.



In August 1888 the British Chess Association Amateur Championship took place in
Bradford. I’m not sure how ‘amateur’ was defined (Guest was a professional chess
journalist, but not a professional player), but the 1888 event was a rather weak
affair compared to other years, notable for the participation of Eliza Thorold
in days when ladies very rarely competed against gentlemen. There was a master
tournament taking place at the same time in which some of the stronger amateurs,
such as Charles Dealtry Locock, participated. Guest won with a score of 10/12,
just half a point ahead of 20-year-old Bradford born mathematician George 
Adolphus Schott, who, however, defeated him in their individual game.

In this game, winning his opponent’s IQP proved decisive.



You must activate JavaScript to enhance chess game visualization.
Hussey, Edward Bishop
Guest, Antony Alfred Geoffrey
British Chess Association Amateur Championship
August 1888 – Bradford ENG
Annotated by Tactical Analysis 6.4
1.e4e52.Nf3Nc63.Bb5Nge74.O-Og6
12345678abcdefgh
5.d3NPredecessor:5.c3Bg76.d4exd47.cxd4a68.Ba4b59.Bb3d610.h3O-O11.Nc3Bb712.Bg5h613.Be3Kh714.Bc2f515.Ne2Nb416.Nd2Nxc217.Qxc2fxe418.Nxe40-1
Elson,J-Judd,M USA-04 Congress Grand Tournament Philadelphia 18765…Bg76.Nc3C60:
Ruy Lopez: Unusual Black 3rd moves and 3…g6.6…O-O7.Ne2h68.c3Black has an
edge.8…d69.h3f510.exf5Bxf511.Ng3Bd712.d4exd413.Nxd4Nxd414.Bxd714.cxd4=was the
only way to keep the
balance.14…Bxb515.Qb3+Kh716.Qxb514…Qxd714…Nf3+!∓15.gxf3Qxd715.cxd4=d516.Rb1Nc617.Be3Rae818.Ne2Ne719.Qd2Nf520.Rbd1Qe7Black
is more active.21.Nf4Qf722.g3?
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This costs White the
game.22.Nd3⩱22…c623.Ng2Re424.g424.Qc3⌓24…Nxd4−+25.Bxd4Rxd426.Qe2Rxd127.Rxd1Re828.Qd2Qf3
12345678abcdefgh
And now …Re2! would win.29.Qd329.Re1⌓Rxe1+30.Qxe129…Qxd330.Rxd3Endgame.
KRB-KRN30…Re230…Bxb2?31.Rb3Bd432.Rxb7−+31.Ra3a631…Bxb232.Re3Rxe333.fxe3−+31…Rxb232.Rxa7−+32.Nf4Rxb232…Re1+?33.Kg2∓33.Nxg6Bd4…Kf7!
is the strong threat.34.Rf3Bc5Inhibits
Ne7+.Not34…Rxa235.Ne7+Kh836.Ng6+Kg737.Nf4Ra1+38.Kg2−+35.h4Rxa236.Nf4Ra3Black is
clearly
winning.37.Kg2Rxf338.Kxf3KB-KN38…a539.Nd3Be740.h5b541.Ke2c542.f4a443.Kd1c444.Nc1b445.f5b3Weighted
Error Value: White=0.45/Black=0.16 (very precise)0–1




The Field 01 September 1888

In August 1889 Antony Guest reported some important news. A lady had won the
championship of the Bristol and Clifton Chess Club.



Morning Post 19 August 1889

“There is no reason why (ladies) should not excel at the game.” Guest’s views,
propounded in a Conservative-leaning newspaper, were quite enlightened for his
day. It was not until 1895, though, that another – very successful – Ladies’
Chess Club was started.

In November and December 1889 the British Chess Association Masters and Amateur
tournaments took place consecutively rather than simultaneously in London, so
George Wainwright was able to play in both events, while Guest only took part in
the latter event. In those days games in amateur tournaments were played on a
fairly casual basis with games often being postponed when one of the players was
unavailable.

It seems that this event ground to a halt just before Christmas once Wainwright
had guaranteed victory. Several of the other players, including Guest, had been
too busy to play many of their games.

It’s not known whether any further games were played after this incomplete
crosstable was published.

The Field 21 December 1889

As you’ll see, Guest was the only player to beat Wainwright, in an opening
variation still topical today.



You must activate JavaScript to enhance chess game visualization.
Guest, Antony Alfred Geoffrey
Wainwright, George Edward
British Chess Association Amateur Championship
December 1889
Annotated by Tactical Analysis 6.4
1.e4e52.Nf3Nc63.d4exd44.Nxd4Nf65.Nxc6bxc66.e5Nd57.Qe2Qe78.c4Ba69.b3O-O-O10.Bb2
12345678abcdefgh
10…Re8NC45: Scotch
Game.10…Qg5⩲Predecessor:10…Qg511.Qe4Bb4+12.Kd1Ne713.h4Qg614.Qxg6hxg615.Kc2Nf516.Nd2Nxh417.Ne4Be718.Rd1Kb80-1
Blackburne,J-Zukertort,J Match Zukertort-Blackburne (1) +7-2=5 London 1881
(14)11.Qd2±Nb612.Be2f6White is better.13.exf6gxf6…Rg8 would now be
deadly.14.Nc3Rg814…d5±was worth a try.15.O-O!+−Qe515…d5±is a better
defense.16.Bf316.Rae1+−16…Qf5±17.Kh1!Bd618.Ne2Qg618…Qg5±19.Qxg5fxg519.Nd4?19.Ng3+−has
better winning chances.19…Bb7And now …c5 would win.20.Ne2White should
try20.g3⩲20…h520…c5!=21.Bxb7+21.Ng3Bxf322.gxf3Be5⩱21…Kxb721.Ng1c5( ->
…Qxg2+!)22.Bxb7+Kxb723.f4h424.Rf224.f5seems
wilder.24…Qg725.Rae1Nc826.Nf324…Re4…Bxf4! is the strong threat.25.Nh325.f5looks
sharper.25…Qg726.a4Bf427.Qd325…Rge826.Raf1f527.Qd1Bf828.Ng5R4e7
12345678abcdefgh
28…Re3⩲29.Qf3+White should play29.h3!±29…c6
12345678abcdefgh
30.Qh3!Nc831.Qxh4White is more
active.31…Nd632.Be532.h3±32…Bg7⩲33.Bxd6Qxd634.Nf3Prevents Re134…Rh835.Qg5↑Black
is under
pressure.35…Bh636.Qxf5Bxf437.h3Be338.Re2Qg339.Rd1d639…Rhh7⩲40.Rd3Not40.Qf6Reh7=40…Reh7?This
move loses the game for Black.41.Rdxe3+−White is clearly
winning.41…Rxh3+42.gxh3Rxh3+43.Nh2Rxh2+44.Rxh2Qxe345.Qd7+Kb646.Rh7Qf3+47.Kh2Weighted
Error Value: White=0.24 (precise) /Black=0.46 Source: Morning Post 16 December
18891–0




He made a tactical oversight in his game against Thomas Gibbons. His opponent, a
disciple of Bird, opened with 1. f4 and sacrificed a pawn on the kingside for
nebulous attacking chances.



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In this position, 25… Ne7 would have kept him well in control, but he erred by
playing 25… Be7? 26. Rdg1! Qxh4? 27. Rxg7+ Kh8 28. Qxf5!!, after which he had to
resign.

From here on, Antony Guest was playing less frequently, perhaps by choice, or
perhaps because he was too busy with other activities.

The 1891 census found Guest and his fellow chess journalist Leopold Hoffer
living in lodgings in Fulham Road, right by Stamford Bridge stadium, which
would, in 1905, become the home of the newly founded Chelsea FC.

Just look at the name of their next door neighbour.



Yes, there he is: Raymond Keene. Not, to the best of my knowledge, related to
his grandmaster and author namesake, although this Raymond’s son and grandson
were also named Raymond Keene.

In an 1891 club match Guest’s temporary queen sacrifice brought victory against
a strong opponent who really should have spared himself the last 20 moves.



You must activate JavaScript to enhance chess game visualization.
Guest, Antony Alfred Geoffrey
Trenchard, Herbert William
British Chess Club v National Liberal Club
1891 – London ENG
Annotated by Tactical Analysis 6.4
1.e4e52.Bc4Bc53.f4d64.Nf3Nc65.c3Qe7
12345678abcdefgh
Hoping for …f5.5…exf4?!6.d4Bb67.Bxf4⩲6.a4NC30: King’s Gambit
Declined.6.d3=Predecessor:6.d3Nf67.f5h68.a4a69.b4Bb610.a5Ba711.Qb3O-O12.Nh4Kh713.g3½-½
Horwitz,B-Blackburne,J Match Horwitz- Blackburne +1-0=2 Manchester 1863
(2)6…a56…exf4?!7.d4Bb67…Qxe4+8.Kf2±8.O-O⩲6…f5∓7.exf5Bxf57…exf4+8.Qe2=7.d37.fxe5!?dxe57…Nxe58.Bb5+c69.d4=8.d3=7…Nf68.Qe2The
position is equal.8…O-O9.f5g6?9…d5⩲10.exd5Nb810.Bh6gxf511.Bxf8White should
try11.Nbd2!11…Qxf8±12.Ng512.Nbd2!±12…Nd812…Qg7!⩱13.Nxf713.Bxf7+Kh8⩱13…Kf813.exf513.Nd2!=13…Qh613…d5!∓aiming
for …Qh6.14.Bb314.Qxe5Qh6∓14…Nc614.h4
12345678abcdefgh
14.Ne4!=14…Bxf5?
12345678abcdefgh
14…d5!∓15.Bb515.Qxe5Bd6∓15…Bd615…c616.d4⩱15.Nd2Better
is15.Qf3!±Bg416.Qg315…Nh5?White stays focused until the
end.15…Bg4=16.Ndf3d516.Qf3+−Be616…Bg617.O-O-OQg717.Bxe6fxe618.Nde4Bb6
12345678abcdefgh
19.Qxh5!!Remove Defender, Decoy19…Qxh5Wrong
is19…Bf2+?20.Kxf2Qxh521.Nf6+Kf822.Nxh520.Nf6+Kg721.Nxh5+A dynamic duo of
knights.21…Kg622.Ng3Nc623.Rf1Re824.N3e4d525.Nf6Re726.Ng8Re827.Nf6Re728.Ke2h629.Nh3h530.g4hxg431.h5+Kg732.Nxg4d433.Rf6Intending
Raf1 and mate.33…dxc334.h6+Kh735.Ng5+White
mates.35…Kg836.bxc3Nd837.Raf1Re838.Rg6+Kh8
12345678abcdefgh
39.Rf7!Nxf740.Nxf7+Kh741.Rg7#Superbly played by Guest! Weighted Error Value:
White=0.39/Black=0.711–0




Later that year, Guest and Hoffer were both involved in a telephone chess match
against Liverpool.

Daily News (London) 14 December 1891

Liverpool won the first game, while the second game resulted in a draw.

In August 1892 Guest returned to tournament chess, taking part in the Counties
Chess Association tournament in Brighton.

It didn’t go well.

Illustrated Sporting and Dramatic News 13 August 1892

George MacDonnell was particularly scathing about his performance.

Illustrated Sporting and Dramatic News 13 August 1892

He should make due preparation and exert himself to the utmost. He didn’t pull
his punches, did he?

Guest went horribly wrong on move 10 against the eventual winner.



You must activate JavaScript to enhance chess game visualization.
Blake, Joseph Henry
Guest, Antony Alfred Geoffrey
Counties Chess Association Tournament: Brighton
1892 – Brighton
Annotated by Tactical Analysis 6.4
1.e4e52.Nf3Nc63.Bb5Nf64.d3d65.c3g66.Nbd2Bg7C65: Ruy Lopez: Berlin Defence
(3…Nf6), unusual lines and 4 0-0
Bc5.7.Nf1O-O8.Ng3NPredecessor:8.Ne3Ne79.Ba4d510.Qc2Ng411.Bb3c612.h3Nxe313.Bxe3h614.O-O-O½-½
Steinitz,W-Rosenthal,S London International Masters notcounted 1883
(13.1)8…Nd7The position is equal.9.h4h510.Ng5Bf6?
12345678abcdefgh
10…Nf6=11.Nxh5+−Bxg5?11…Be712.Ng3Rb812.hxg5White is clearly
winning.12…f513.Bc4+Rf714.exf5Ne715.fxg6Nxg616.Qf3
12345678abcdefgh
Pin16…Qe717.Nf6+Kf818.Bxf7Qxf719.Rh7White took control after the opening.
Weighted Error Value: White=0.03 (flawless) /Black=0.751–0




But he did manage to win a nice minature against Lambert.



You must activate JavaScript to enhance chess game visualization.
Guest, Antony Alfred Geoffrey
Lambert, Charles James
Counties Chess Association Tournament: Brighton
1892 – Brighton
Annotated by Tactical Analysis 6.4
1.e4e62.d4d53.Nc3Bb44.Bd3c55.Nf3Nc6N5…c4=6.Be26.Bg5?f6−+6…Nf6Predecessor:5…dxe46.Bxe4Nf67.Bd3Nd58.Bd2Nc69.dxc5Nxc310.Bxc3Bxc3+11.bxc3Qa512.O-OQxc513.Rb1Qxc30-1
MacKenzie,G-Hosmer,H USA-02 Congress Grand Tournament Cleveland 18716.exd5⩲C15:
French: 3 Nc3 Bb4: Unusual White 4th moves.6…cxd4
12345678abcdefgh
Pin7.dxc6dxc38.O-OWhite is
better.8…bxc69.Ne5Bb79…Bd6⩲10.Nc410.Nxc6Qc7=10…Bc710.Qg4+−Bf810…Bd6⌓11.bxc3→White
wants a kill.Stronger
than11.Nxf7Kxf712.Re112.bxc3?Nf6−+12…Qd6=11…g6?11…Nf612.Qd4Qc712.Re1Ne7?12…Qc713.Rb113.Bg5Bd6+−13…Nf613.Qf3f514.Rb1Rb815.Bc4Nd5
12345678abcdefgh
16.Nxc6!Discovered Attack16…Bxc617.Rxb8Qxb818.Rxe6+Be719.Bxd5Bd719…Bxd5might
work better.20.Qxd5Qd821.Qc6+21.c4Qxd522.cxd5Kd7+−21…Qd720.Re1Qd621.Bg5White
took control after the opening. Weighted Error Value: White=0.46/Black=0.901–0




The following month he reached this position in a game at Simpson’s against OC
Müller.



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Here, Guest played 27. Qg6!, an offer which can’t be accepted, and threatening
Qxh7+, an offer which can’t be refused. Black should now play 27… h6, when the
game is likely to be drawn by perpetual check after 28. Rh3 and a later Rxh6+.
Instead he erred with 27… Bg2?, and had to resign after 28. Rg4, as h6 would be
met by Rxg2.

This scathing criticism of his play in Brighton didn’t stop him playing in club
matches, such as this one against Twickenham.

The Field 21 January 1893

You can read more about the Humphreys family here and about Guest’s opponent
here.

He was also playing for Metropolitan, here losing a brilliancy against one of
the ‘fighting reverends’. He really should have known his chess history, though.
Wayte reached a winning position from the opening by transposing into a very
well known predecessor.



You must activate JavaScript to enhance chess game visualization.
Wayte, William
Guest, Antony Alfred Geoffrey
St. George's - Metropolitan
1893 – London ENG
Annotated by Tactical Analysis 6.4
1.e4e52.Nc3Nc63.f4exf44.Nf3g55.d4g46.Bc4gxf37.O-OBh68.Qxf3Nxd4?
12345678abcdefgh
C37: King’s Gambit Accepted: Muzio
Gambit.8…d6=9.Bxf4Qf69…Nxd4?10.Bxf7+Kf811.Qh5+−9.Bxf7+!+−
12345678abcdefgh
Decoy9…Kf8NPredecessor:9…Kxf710.Qh5+Kg711.Bxf4Bxf412.Rxf4Nf613.Qg5+Kf714.Raf1Ke815.Rxf6Qe716.Nd5Qc517.Kh1Ne618.Rxe6+dxe619.Nf6+1-0
McDonnell,A-De Labourdonnais,L Match Labourdonnais-McDonnell(4) +8-3=7 London
1834 (8)10.Qd3c5White is
winning.11.Bxf4Bxf412.Rxf4Qg513.Raf1d614.Be6+Ke715.Rf7+Kd816.Rf8+Kc717.Nd5+Deflection17…Kc618.Bxc8h519.c3Nb5
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20.Bxb7+!Discovered Attack, Double Attack. White took control after the opening.
Magnificent play by Wayte! Weighted Error Value: White=0.00 (flawless)
/Black=0.721–0




By now Antony Guest had resumed his problem composing career, now without
collaborators.



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Problem 3. #3 A Guest Morning Post 1893

(Source given in MESON: however I wasn’t able to find it in a quick look to
identify the date of publication.)



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Problem 4. #3 A Guest Illustrated London News 25-08-1894

In 1895 he took part in the cable match between the British and Manhattan Chess
Clubs, where he faced John ‘Paddy’ Ryan, capable, according to the press, of
producing ‘startling brilliancies’.



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Here, Ryan punted the speculative 21… Bxh3!?. What do you think? We’ll never
find out what would have happened as at that point time was called and the game
declared drawn.

The Ladies’ Chess Club had been founded in January 1895, and Guest used his
Morning Post column to promote their activities. He was invited to give a simul
at their prizegiving ceremony.

Morning Post 29 July 1895

Approaching his 40th birthday, it might have seemed like Antony Guest was a
confirmed bachelor, but in 1896 he married Violet Harrington Wyman, some eleven
years his junior. Violet’s brother Harrington Edward Hodson Wyman, was a knight
odds player at the British Chess Club, later becoming vice-president of Ealing
Chess Club. Her family firm were the publishers of Mortimer’s The Chess-Player’s
Pocket Book.

In January 1897 Guest returned to tournament chess, playing in a ten-player
selection tournament for that year’s Anglo-American cable match. Again he failed
to complete the event, withdrawing after only three games, two losses and a win
against Herbert Jacobs. Whether or not this was due solely to pressure of work
is unclear.

This would be his last tournament, although he continued playing club chess. His
performances, as you can see here (taken from EdoChess), show a steady downward
trajectory after a promising start.



The year 1897 was significant for the publication of FR Gittins’ volume The
Chess Bouquet.



As one of the Chief Chess Editors of the United Kingdom, Guest certainly
qualified for inclusion.

We’re offered a photograph, a biography, a game (against Pollock, see above) and
two problems. Here’s how Gittins describes him.

Physically, Mr. Guest is a perfect giant, his towering form and splendid
proportions being well in evidence at the recent Hastings Festival. Socially, he
is one of the best, full of bonhomie and good humour.



This is a charming mate in 2, which, unfortunately, had been anticipated by
Conrad Bayer, who had published a mirror image back in 1865. It’s been reprinted
on a number of occasions over the years.



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Problem 5. #2 A Guest The Chess Bouquet 1897

The second problem, number 3 above, was unfortunately given with a missing pawn
on c7, allowing an unwanted second solution.

He wasn’t the only Guest in The Chess Bouquet. There were also entries for Black
Country problemists Thomas Guest and his son Francis Hubert Guest, who were not,
as far as I can tell, related to Antony.

Here’s an exciting game played at Simpson’s against a French opponent.



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Rolland
Guest, Antony Alfred Geoffrey
Simpson's Divan
September 1897
Annotated by Tactical Analysis 6.4
1.e4e52.Nf3Nc63.Bc4Nf64.Ng5d55.exd5Na56.Bb5+c67.dxc6bxc68.Be2h69.Nf3e410.Ne5Qd411.f4Bc512.Rf1
12345678abcdefgh
12…Qd8NPredecessor:12…O-O13.c3Qd614.b4Bxb415.cxb4Qd416.Nc3Qxb417.Rb1Qd618.Qa41-0
Dupre,C-Siebenhaar,W NED SB-12 Gouda 188413.c3C59: Two Knights: 4 Ng5 d5 5 exd5
Na5 5 Bb5+ c6 6 dxc6 bxc6 7 Be2.13.d3±13…Nd513…Nb7=remains equal.14.g3Bh3
12345678abcdefgh
14…Bd6⩲15.b4!+−White is clearly
better.15…Bxf115…Bd616.bxa516.Kxf116.bxc5Bxe217.Qxe2O-O−+16.Bxf1?!Nxb417.cxb4Bxb4±16…Bd6Strongly
threatening
…Bxe5.16…f6?17.Bh5+17.bxc5fxe518.Bh5+Kf8∓17.Ng6Nxb418.cxb4Qd4+−17…Kf818.Ng6+18.bxc5fxe519.fxe5Nc4∓18…Kg819.bxc5+−19.Nxh8Kxh820.bxc5Nb7+−17.bxa5O-O18.d418.c4+−Qf619.cxd5Bxe520.Nc318…Qxa518…exd3!⩲19.Qxd319.Bxd3Bxe520.fxe5Re8±19.Nxd3Re8±19…Bxe519.Qc219.Nxc6Qc7+−19…f520.Nxc6Qc721.Ne5Kh722.a4Rac823.Bd223.Qb3+−is
more deadly.23…Nxc324.Nxc3Qxc325.Qxc3Rxc326.Bd223…Qb723…Bxe5±might work
better.24.fxe5Qb624.Nc4Bb825.Nba3?25.Qb2+−Qxb226.Nxb225…e3!=aiming for …Nxf4.
Decoy26.Nxe3?
12345678abcdefgh
26.Na5=Qb626…Qc727.N3c4⩲27.N3c4exd228.Qxd226…Rxc3!!−+27.Qxc327.Qd1Nxe3+27…Nxc328.Bxc3Qh1+29.Kf2Qxh2+30.Ng2g531.Rb1gxf432.Rb7+Kg633.gxf4Bxf434.d5Qg3+35.Kf1Qxc336.Nxf4+Kf6Hoping
for …Qc1+.37.Nh5+Kg538.Rg7+Kh439.Nb539.Rg3⌓Qc1+40.Kg239…Qh3+?Black should
try39…Qd2−+…f4 would now be
deadly.40.Rg2Qc1+40…Qxd541.Rh2+Kg542.Rg2+Kh443.Rh2+Kg544.Rg2+Kh4=41.Kf2f441…Re842.Rh2+Kg543.Rg2+Kh444.Rh2+Kg545.Rg2+Kh4=42.Rh2+Kg543.Rg2+Kf540.Kf2!⩱Qh2+41.Rg2Qe542.d6?42.Rg1⩱42…a643.Nc7
12345678abcdefgh
43…Qxd643…Rb8!−+44.Ne6Rb344…Qxe645.Rh2+Kg546.Rg2+Kh447.Rh2+Kg548.Rg2+Kh4=44…Qxd645.Nhf4=44.Nxa6?44.Ne6=44…Re845.Ng3
12345678abcdefgh
45…Rxe2+?46.Nxe2−+Qxa6KQ-KRN47.Rh2+Kg548.Rg2+Kf649.Rh2Ke5?49…Qa7+−+50.Kf3Kg650…Qxa4?51.Rxh6+Kg552.Rh2−+50.Rh4Qb6+51.Rd4?White
should play51.Kf3⩱Qd852.Rxh651…Qxd4+A brilliant game! Weighted Error Value:
White=0.81/Black=0.74 Source: Morning Post 06 September 18970–1




Although now retired from tournament play, Guest was still making occasional
appearances in consultation games, and club and county matches, both over the
board and by correspondence. He was also publishing the occasional problem, such
as this one, from 1900.



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Problem 6. #3 A Guest Morning Post 12-03-1900

Later that year, Guest wrote a very interesting article entitled Steinitz and
Other Chess-Players, first published in The Contemporary Review, and later
republished in the USA in The Living Age.

The last three paragraphs, which take a broader social view of the game, are
those which interest me most.

Here he is, celebrating the increasing popularity of chess among the working
classes.

The present extraordinary growth of the popularity of the game must surely have
some significance. Many of the players are young men engaged in offices, shops
and factories; that their numbers include several clergymen, doctors, lawyers
and members of other professions is not so remarkable. What strikes me as
important is that so many young clerks, and others of similar occupation, should
find their chief recreation, at least in the winter months, in the game of
chess.

And here again on the artistic side of chess.

But I believe that in most of us there is some kind of artistic instinct, some
aesthetic tendency, that finds no outlet in the humdrum of everyday life. If
this is true it would sufficiently account for the increasing popularity of
chess, for it is an art as well as a game. Its intricacies and combinations are
capable of affording aesthetic delight that may be compared with the emotions
produced by poetry, pictures or music — different, no doubt, but, to many,
similarly sufficing. One need not be an expert to enjoy the pleasure of play; to
the beginner it is like a voyage through an unknown country teeming with
beautiful surprises. Every sitting reveals some new and captivating feature,
suggests some tempting path, or affords some hint as to the best mode of
pursuing the journey.

They don’t write them like that any more, do they?

You can read the whole article, along with the chapter about Guest in The Chess
Bouquet, in this excellent article by Batgirl (Sarah Beth Cohen).

In  1901 it was time for another census. Strangely, Mr & Mrs Guest were not
together. Antony was lodging in Bayswater, while Violet and her parents were
lodging in Hastings, perhaps on holiday together.

He returned to the social aspect of chess in a 1901 article explaining how chess
can build friendships between people of different nationalities.

Bromley and West Kent Telegraph 12 October 1901

For a few years now, Guest seemed, apart from his column, to stop both playing
and composing, only resuming in 1907.

In this game against G Freeman from a Surrey v Essex county match he built up a
strong attack from the King’s Gambit Declined.



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Black had just blundered and now the rather neat 23. Rf5! forced resignation.



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Problem 7. #3 A Guest Morning Post 12-08-1907

His game annotations were also being syndicated across various newspapers.

In July 1909 Antony Guest was honoured to be the subject of a feature in the
British Chess Magazine, who published a photograph along with a biographical
sketch contributed by Frank Preston Wildman.





 





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Problem 8. #3 A Guest British Chess Magazine 07-1907

Here’s another photo from the same year taken by Emil Otto Hoppé (Wiki), who
remarkably lived on until 1972. One of his publishers was Sampson Low, Marston &
Co, founded by an ancestor and namesake of the current Richmond & Twickenham
Chess Club Secretary.



At some point during this decade, Antony and Violet moved out to 1 Anglesea
Road, Kingston, alongside the Thames half way between Kingston and Surbiton.
This was a sizeable property, with 12 rooms excluding bathrooms. (I’m not sure
whether or not it was the white building you can see behind the trees, which is
now Anglesea Lodge, 28 Portsmouth Road.)

This is the view from the Barge Walk on the other side of the river.



The 1911 census found them there, along with two servants, William and Marie
Wilkins, a married couple of about their age, and the Wilkins’ teenage daughter
Elsie.

Guest decided to join Surbiton Chess Club, playing in this match against
Wimbledon.

Wimbledon News 23 December 1911

He was now becoming less active in the chess world, but in 1914 had the
opportunity to express his views again on chess for schoolboys.

Cork Weekly News 25 July 1914

“In opening the way to friendships the practice of chess is very valuable to
young men.”

I totally agree, although these days we might want to refer to young people
instead. It worked for me, anyway.

Guest’s column continued through the war, although there was little chess action
to report.

Here, he took the lack of competitive chess during the hostilities to promote
the value of social chess in promoting friendship.

Cheltenham Chronicle 15 January 1916

His wife Violet sadly died in February 1921. That June the 1921 census found him
still the head of the household at 1 Anglesea Road, and still working as a
journalist. There was a resident housekeeper, but most of the property was taken
up by motor builder John Bambury, who ran his own business in Kingston, along
with his wife and five children aged between 17 and 22.

Guest was still seen regularly at major events such as Hastings and the British
Championship, but by the 1924-25 Hastings Congress he was clearly in poor health
and died after an operation on 29 January.



Linlithgowshire Gazette 13 February 1925



He didn’t leave that much money, compared to Hamilton Brooke Guernsey, one of
whose administrators, Leslie Dewing, – one for coincidence lovers here – would
have seen him at Hastings four weeks earlier, where he lost all his games in the
Premier Section 1. (Coincidentally again, or perhaps not, there’s currently a
marketing agency in Guernsey called Hamilton Brooke.)

The Morning Post was far from being Guest’s only chess outlet. At various times,
according to Tim Harding in British Chess Literature to 1914, he also wrote
columns for the Illustrated Sporting and Dramatic News, the Daily News,
Cassell’s Saturday Journal, Life and Tinsley’s Magazine.

Nor was chess the only subject on which he wrote. In 1891 Guest and barrister
Sylvain Mayer co-authored Captured in Court, a novel with a legal setting. Some
of the reviews were pretty harsh. “It is very unlikely to add to the reputation
of either as story writers”, according to the Glasgow Herald. “… the bundle of
incidents which does duty for a plot is as amateurish as the style”, proclaimed
the National Observer. According to the Weekly Dispatch, “The plot is
preposterous and the dialogue inane”. Preposterous plots and inane dialogues
were perhaps more suitable for children’s literature, and, from 1895 onwards, he
contributed to collections of short stories alongside such authors as E(dith)
Nesbit, still much loved and remembered today for books such as The Railway
Children.

In 1896 Antony Guest contributed an article on Some Old English Games to The
Badminton Magazine of Sports and Pastimes, describing games such as Pall Mall
and Shuffleboard, illustrated by Albert Ludovici., followed by More Notes on Old
English Games a year later, this time including Bandy-Ball and Nine Men’s
Morris.

In the early 20th century he developed (pun not intended) an interest in
photography, and in 1907 his book Art and the Camera was published by G Bell and
Sons, who of course also published chess  books.

Morning Post 10 August 1907

This time the critics were unanimous in their praise. Modern reprints are
readily available should you wish to read it.

In 1910 he turned his attention from cameras to cancer.

London Evening Standard 15 March 1910

It’s still a hot topic today, and the evidence is still inconclusive.

A man of many interests, as well as chess, then. Polymaths were probably more
common then than now.

There are a couple of family issues to clear up.

Antony and Violet had no children. His sister (Isabella) Katherine married a
wealthy man named Robert Edward McLeod in 1883. Robert’s brother Bentley was a
chess player, representing Surrey, Brixton and Metropolitan, through the last of
which he would have known Antony. Robert died in 1893, leaving his wife with two
young children. Neither of them had children, so that was the end of Augustus
Guest’s family. Katherine died, like her father, in a mental hospital, in
Brighton in 1941.

To find Antony’s closest relations, then, we have to travel to Australia. Henry,
whom you met at the start of this article, returned to England with some of his
many children after his retirement. The family was hit by tragedy when his
daughter Helen died in 1907. Helen and her older sister Ethel were very close,
and, 18 months later, Ethel, suffering from depression as a result of the loss
of her beloved sister, took her own life. There were mental health problems,
then, on both sides of the Guest family.

Henry’s son Stanley later returned to Australia, married and had six children,
the youngest of whom, Marisa, born in 1929, is still alive. Marisa, the closest
surviving relation of Antony Guest, is the mother of Ralph Jackson.

One of the wonderful things about chess is that, even if playing competitive
chess doesn’t appeal to you, there are many other ways of living your life
through your favourite game. For Guest’s contemporary and acquaintance Charles
Dealtry Locock it was through problems, writing and, in the last period of his
life, teaching. For Antony Guest himself, it was as a journalist and occasional
problemist. His record of almost 42 years might pale in comparison with Leonard
Barden’s records, but it’s still very impressive. You can see a lot in common:
both strong players who, finding competition a little bit too stressful,
concentrated on their, in both cases, excellent newspaper columns, and perhaps
did far more good in promoting chess in that way than they would have done by
just playing.

He was in many ways a man ahead of his time as well. Although he wrote for a
conservative newspaper, he was always very keen to promote chess for ladies, for
the lower middle and working classes, and for schoolboys (it would be left to
Locock to include schoolgirls). He also promoted chess for recreational and
social reasons, to establish friendships on a local, national and international
basis. I couldn’t agree more. Ralph Jackson is very lucky to be able to count
Antony Guest as a close relation.

Problem Solutions:

Problem 1:



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Guest, Antony Alfred Geoffrey
#3 Morning Post
26 May 1884
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1.Nc6Kd31…Kd52.Nbd4+Kd62…Ke43.d3#3.Bf4#1…Kf52.Nbd4+Kf62…Ke43.d3#3.Rf1#1…Kf32.Nbd4+Kf22…Ke43.d3#3.Be3#2.Nbd4Ke43.d3#Joint
composition with John Ormerod Scarlett Thursby1–0




Problem 2:



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Guest, Antony Alfred Geoffrey
#3 Morning Post
16 November 1885
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1.Ng4Threat:
Nc3+1…Kxd51…fxg42.Nc3+Kf33.Rd3#1…Nxg42.Nc3+Kf33.Rxf5#1…Bxg42.Nc3+Kf33.Rd3#1…Nc52.Nc3+Kf33.Nh2#2.Nf6+Kc62…Ke53.Bc3#2…Kd43.Bc3#3.Bd7#Joint
composition with Louis Desanges1–0




Problem 3:



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Guest, Antony Alfred Geoffrey
#3 Morning Post
1893
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1.Qa6Kxd51…Kc42.Qc6+Kd33.Qc2#1…Bd72.Bb3Nb63.Qxb6#1…Nb62.Qxb6+Kxd53.Qd4#2.Qa1Kd62…b33.Qd4#3.Qd4#1–0




Problem 4:



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Guest, Antony Alfred Geoffrey
#3 Illustrated London News
25 August 1894
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1.Ng5Ke52.Kh6Kxf62…Kf43.Nd3#2…Kd43.Nf3#2…Kd63.Nf7#3.Nd7#1–0




Problem 5.



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Guest, Antony Alfred Geoffrey
#2 The Chess Bouquet
1897
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1.Nc7Kxc71…Kxe72.Bc5#1…Bxc72.Nc8#1…Bxe72.Ne8#2.Bh2#Anticipated by Conrad Bayer
Illustrirtes Familien-Journal, 18651–0




Problem 6.



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Guest, Antony Alfred Geoffrey
#3 Morning Post
12 March 1900
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1.Ng2Ke51…Kd52.Bxb3+Ke52…Kd63.Qc7#2…Kd43.Qe3#2…Ke43.Qe3#3.Qf4#1…Kd32.Qe3+Kc43.Bxb3#1…Ke42.Qc5Kd33.Qd5#2.Bxb3Kd62…Kf63.Qg5#2…Ke43.Qe3#2…Kd43.Qe3#3.Qc7#1–0




Problem 7.



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Guest, Antony Alfred Geoffrey
#3 Morning Post
12 August 1907
12345678abcdefgh
1.Nc4Kd51…Kc32.Qxe2Kd42…Nxa53.Qd3#2…Nc53.Bf6#3.Qd3#1…Kxc42.Qe5Nxa53.Qc5#1…Nxa52.Qe5+Kxc43.Qc5#2.Ne3+Kd42…Ke63.Bf5#2…Kc63.Ba4#3.Qh8#1–0




Problem 8.



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Guest, Antony Alfred Geoffrey
#3 British Chess Magazine
July 1909
12345678abcdefgh
1.Qf2Bxb61…Bb82.Kf6f32…d43.Qxd4#3.Nb7#1…Ke72.Qxf4Bxb63.Qf8#1…Ke52.Qe2+2.Qe1+Kd42…Kd63.Nb7#3.Qc3#2…Kd42…Kd63.Nb7#3.Nb3#1…d42.Qxd4+Ke73.Qxd7#1…f32.Nb7+Ke53.Qe3#2.Qxf4+Kxc52…Ke73.Qf8#3.b4#1–0




Acknowledgements and sources.

Ralph Jackson – private correspondence
Batgirl (Sarah Beth Cohen) articles on Guest and Donisthorpe at chess.com
Krone Family website here
ancestry.co.uk
findmypast.co.uk/British Newspaper Library
ChessBase/MegaBase2023/Stockfish16.1
chessgames.com (Antony Guest here)
EdoChess (Antony Guest here)
British Chess Literature to 1914 (Tim Harding)
The Chess Bouquet (FR Gittins)
British Chess Magazine July 1909 (thanks to John Upham)
Wikipedia
Yet Another Chess Problem Database
MESON Chess Problem Database

Other sources referred and linked in the text.

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Endgame, Reviews, Richard James, Thinkers Publishing


THE PRACTICAL ENDGAME BIBLE – GUIDELINES FOR THE FUNDAMENTALS OF THE ENDGAME

September 10, 2024 Richard James 1 Comment
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From the Publisher:

“There are many books devoted to basic endgames, even from the Middle Ages.
Principles of typical endgames (such as keeping the rook behind a passed pawn,
not setting pawns on the same colored squares as your bishop’s, distant pawns
being more dangerous than central ones etc.) are well known too. But what about
“complex endgames”? I have in mind endgames with at least two pieces on each
side; well I don’t find them often nor sufficiently well-explained in the past!
It is exactly this fact (together with my passion and great endgame experience)
that has motivated me to write this book (many friends simply call me “Endgame
Wizard” ).

Over two decades of working as a coach has confirmed my opinion that endgames
are the biggest problem for young players. Today, in the computer era with a lot
of information easily provided, youngsters all over the world rather play blitz,
or solve some tactical puzzles in a manner that is “the faster the better” (or
even spend time on some other chess disciplines). All of this neglects the basis
of chess – the importance of endgames! It is not uncommon that everyday you can
be witness to some strange endgame misunderstanding, even at the top level.

This is why I consider some of my favorite endgame books based on logic as the
best I’ve ever read – I learned the endgame from some of the best endgame
players and authors. And this is why I want to fill that gap in chess literature
and to share my devotion, ideas, principles, opinions with you! I hope you will
enjoy this material and I am pretty sure you will broaden your endgame
horizons.”

About the author:



 * Born in Cuprija, Serbia, 05 August 1977
 * Started chess at four years old watching father and his brother playing
 * Entered first chess club “Radnicki” Cuprija at seven
 * Fide Master in 1994
 * Serbian youth champion in 1995
 * Champion of the Belgrade University in 2001 and 2002
 * Won countless times the Serbian team championship (in youth competition as
   well)
 * IM since 2014
 * FIDE TRAINER since 2015
 * Winner of many open, blitz, rapid and internet events
 * Professional coach for more than 15 years
 * Author and contributor for American Chess Magazine since 2019
 * This is his 4th book for Thinkers Publishing.

From the back cover:

IM Zlatanovic will bring something new to your chess library. In our computer
era, focus is usually on openings. Watching recent broadcasts, the new
generation would rather choose games of a certain opening and look for an
interesting idea or even a brilliant novelty. I offer, and recommend, a
different concept altogether, based on the famous Soviet school of chess. The
focus should be on understanding strategical concepts, principles and underlying
logic. Fashionable opening lines will be forgotten (or re-evaluated) sooner or
later, but understanding cannot be lost, and can only be upgraded. It is sad to
see some players that are well equipped with opening lines, who are unable to
realise a big positional advantage in an endgame. So, our advice is con
concentrate on Strategy and Logic.

This new series of books are highly recommended for club players, advanced
players and masters, although even higher rated players may also find it useful!
There is no doubt that lower rated players will learn a lot about thinking
processes and decision making, while some logical principles can be put to use
by more advanced players too.

 

What is an endgame? Engines tend to tell you you’re in the endgame when neither
player has more than two major/minor pieces on the board. You might, of course,
consider BNN v BNN to be more like an ending than QR v QR. Me, I have no very
strong views on the subject. Zlatanovic seems to take a very broad view of what
constitutes an ending.

This, then, is a practical, rather than a theoretical book. If you want to know
how to play KRB v KR, for example, you’ll need to look elsewhere. We have 188
positions, all of which start with at least two major/minor pieces, many with
three, and some with almost the whole complement of pieces. Most of the
positions come without queens. So what we have here is something much more than
just an endgame manual. You could see it as a guide to positional play in the
late middlegame, or even, in some cases, the opening.

The range of sources is impressively wide: from Steinitz in 1883 through to
Zlatanovic himself in 2021.  From grandmasters to amateurs. From world
championship matches to online blitz games. While there are a few very familiar
examples (although they’ll always be new to somebody) there will be a lot which
you almost certainly won’t have seen before. Here, then, is an author, unlike
many who only use a small number of sources for their books, who clearly has an
exceptional knowledge of chess and its literature.

He explains in the preface that he has divided the material into 15 chapters,
starting with the most important principles and gradually moving on to the most
specific principles.

We have:

 1.  The Center
 2.  The Active King
 3.  Open Files
 4.  The Bishop Pair
 5.  Activity & Harmony
 6.  Space Advantage
 7.  Key Squares
 8.  Pawn Majority
 9.  Pawn Weaknesses
 10. Two Weaknesses & Playing on Both Sides
 11. Opposite-Colored Bishops
 12. Exchange Problems
 13. Do Not Rush
 14. Schematic Thinking
 15. Restriction & Prophylaxis

These chapters represent an increasingly important aspect of chess. Even
relatively low rated amateurs these days can play the opening well and avoid
tactical oversights in relatively simple positions. Incremental time limits mean
that games are more likely to be decided by positional factors in the ending
than in the days of mad time scrambles or, when I was learning the game, by the
adjudicator.

I’d suggest, then, that this could be a very valuable book for anyone of average
club standard or above wanting to improve their game. Let’s take a look inside.

Each chapter starts with a brief introduction. Here, as a fairly random example,
is that for Chapter 8 (Pawn Majority).

Of course the natural goal of pawn play is the creation of a passed pawn and its
promotion! However, this does not happen often!

The logical prerequisite to creating a passed pawn is to have a majority. Of
course, with balanced material there would be majorities for both players, on
different wings. Which majority is better? Well generally, it is clear that a
2:1 majority is “the best one”. Not only because it can easily create a passer,
but even more importantly, it is because of the fact that the passer will be a
distant one – it should deflect the opponent’s army (and king!) which would lead
to progress and to gaining material on the opposite flank!

You may have already seen this approach a multitude of times. However what about
other majorities? Is a 3:2 always better than a 4:3 majority? What about doubled
pawns? What about exchanging pieces? Is it better to have more or fewer pieces
kept on the board in a situation with mutual majorities? All these answers can
be found in this chapter. And a lot of others besides!

I’ll quickly show you a few of Zlatanovic’s examples.



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This is Botvinnik – Rabinovich (Leningrad 1934).

Let’s start this chapter with a relatively simple example. White has the better
majority – 3:2, which is usually better than 4:3. However the point is that
Black has separated a- and c-pawns and it looks like the majority will soon
transform to an even better version for White: 2:1.

Later in the chapter: Smyslov – Szabo (Hastings 1955).



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White is dominant although it may look as if Black is okay. White’s queenside
majority is the key positional factor here, especially after fixing the b7-pawn.
Black cannot easily advance it to b6 because of c6, and even exchanging it would
create the a-passer. With his next move White opens up the key diagonal and
attacks b7.

For my final example, we’re still in the opening, with most of the pieces still
on the board. White has to decide on his 12th move in Erenburg – Murariu (Las
Palmas 2003).



You must activate JavaScript to enhance chess diagram visualization.
12345678abcdefgh



Here is a more complex example. White has many advantages: better development,
more space and a better majority. However the advantage is not large. Black
hasn’t made a single bad move – he is ready to place his king on e7 and finish
development soon. In such situations active play is extremely important.

Is this position really an ending? Probably not. Does it matter? Again, probably
not. If you want to see what happened next in these games, along with
Zlatanovic’s explanations you’ll have to buy the book.

You might think the title is slightly misleading, and I might well agree with
you, although I’m not sure I could come up with anything better. In some
respects this is a modern book on a modern subject but in other respects it
might be seem as slightly old-fashioned, and perhaps none the worse for that.
The annotations throughout are based on practical considerations rather than
computer analysis. Whereas other publishers promote active learning by offering
puzzles at the start of each chapter or stopping to ask questions after every
few moves, there’s nothing of that nature here.

You could just read the book, or, if you prefer, cover up the moves and try to
guess the continuation. You could also set up the positions and play them out
against a training partner, your chess coach or a computer.

The production standards are high, although, as you might have realised from the
brief quotes above, the English is not always as idiomatic as one might like.
There’s also some inconsistency in naming conventions – sometimes using just the
player’s initial, sometimes the first name, sometimes also the middle initial
and sometimes the full name. It probably won’t bother you but I find that sort
of thing slightly annoying. The book also, inevitably, fails the Yates test (he
was Fred Dewhirst, not Frederick Dewhurst). We have an index of games at the
end,  but an index of players might also have been useful.

In spite of these minor reservations I really enjoyed this book and think that,
if you’re an above average club standard player, it will add an extra dimension
to your play. Even stronger players will, I suspect, find much of value as well.
I’d also consider it an invaluable resource for chess coaches working at this
level: it’s evident from the book that the author must be an outstanding
teacher.

Zlatanovic has clearly put an enormous amount of thought into how the book
should be structured and done a lot of research into finding the most suitable
examples to include, and should be congratulated on having produced an excellent
book. If you agree with him (as I do) that, at least at club level,
understanding is much more important than memory, I’d recommend you to take a
look.

You can read some sample pages here.

 

Richard James, Twickenham 10th September 2024

. Richard James

Book Details:

 * Softcover : 496 pages
 * Publisher: Thinkers Publishing; 1st edition (2 May 2023)
 * Language: English
 * ISBN-10: 9464201746
 * ISBN-13: 978-9464201741
 * Product Dimensions: 15.88 x 3.18 x 22.86 cm

Official web site of Thinkers Publishing

The Practical Endgame Bible – Guidelines for the Fundamentals of the Endgame,
Boroljub Zlatanovic, Thinker’s Publishing, ISBN-13 ‏ : ‎ 978-9464201741

 

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2023EndgameReviewsThinkers Publishing
2024, Biographies, British Championships, English, Games Analysis, History,
Journalism, Minor Pieces, Player, Richard James


MINOR PIECES 78: JOHN EDWARD (JACK) REDON

August 19, 2024 Richard James 2 Comments
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Jack Redon was one of the elder statesmen at Richmond & Twickenham Chess Club
for the first 20 years or so of my membership. On completing my studies in 1972
I joined the committee and got to know him well.

Jack was a pretty strong player who was known for his artistic interests. He was
a commercial artist by profession, designing things like LP sleeves, but had a
particular interest in amateur dramatics and seemed to be involved with every
artistic society in the area.

He seemed to live a life of some affluence, sharing a large Victorian house near
Richmond Bridge with his wife and sister. Richmond Junior Chess Club would later
spend many years in another large house on the same estate, which had been
converted into a community centre.

(I also visited the house regularly years later, to teach a chess pupil whose
name, coincidentally, was also Jack.)

If you have an interest in 19th century domestic architecture it’s well worth a
stroll round these roads. You can also read more about the Twickenham Park
estate here and here.

The distinguished poet John Greening also knew Jack very well at about this
time, describing him well in a memoir.



He was indeed an extraordinary man, full of wise saws and anecdotes. He did tend
to repeat them time and time again at every committee meeting, but, given his
age and seniority within the club, we forgave him his eccentricities. He
generously made his residence available for these meetings in the mid 1970s,
and, when one of our younger members suggested we might meet in a pub instead,
he didn’t take kindly to the idea.

While John Greening recalls the unperformed playscripts, I recall the skirting
boards being lined with paintings, which, like his plays, were created for his
own pleasure rather than for profit. My recollection is that they may well have
been in the style of Odilon Redon: and he also told us that he was Odilon’s
great nephew. But was it true?

Almost certainly not. Odilon (Wiki) came from a wealthy slave-trading family
and, although born in Bordeaux, was conceived in New Orleans, like Paul Morphy
the son of a Creole mother. Jack’s family background was very different. It has
little to do with chess, so if you want to see some moves you’ll have to jump
ahead, but if you’re interested in social history you’ll want to read on. Or
even Redon!

Redon is a rather unusual French surname specifically associated with the South
West of the country. But let me take you back more than 300 years, to 1722. We
have a record of a clandestine marriage for one Peter Redon, a weaver living in
Stepney. If you see a weaver with a French surname in that part of London at
that time you’ll probably assume that he was a Huguenot. Maybe, but Jack’s
ancestors later embraced the Jewish religion, calling their children Elias,
Abraham and Reuben, Leah, Esther, Rachel and Rebecca.

By 1798 the Redons had crossed the river to Southwark, where Elias (a labourer)
and his wife Rachel were accused of running a brothel. In 1839 Abraham Redon,
perhaps a son of Elias and Rachel, was on the other side of the law, a victim of
a crime. He was working as a toll collector at the Cambridge Heath tollgate in
Hackney and, while he was sleeping, two of his assistants, Henry Walker and John
Hollingshead, stole his takings. Both were found guilty at the Old Bailey and
sent to prison.

In the 1841 census we have John and Leah Redon, along with their children Alfred
(20) and Esther (15), living in Woolwich, with John working as a toll collector.
Alfred’s occupation is not legible, but certainly not ‘toll collector’. Woolwich
is not all that near Hackney. Alfred was actually Abraham Alfred, so was John
actually Abraham John, or were Abraham and John brothers sharing an occupation?

Esther, who had an illegitimate daughter, spent much of her later years in and
out of the workhouse, their records describing her as a Jewess. Abraham Alfred,
showing the first sign of artistic talent in the family, worked as a painter and
signwriter. He married Rose Sawyer in about 1854 (or perhaps he didn’t: I
haven’t been able to find a marriage record), but, tragically, none of their
first six children lived to see their seventh birthday. Their two youngest sons
did survive, though: John Edward, born in 1867 (baptised in the Church of
England) and Reuben Alfred, born in 1869. Rose died in 1887, and by the time of
the 1891 census Abraham Alfred, unable to look after himself in old age, was in
the workhouse, where he died the following year.

So far, the Redon family history is one of poverty and tragedy, very different
from the affluent environment in which their namesake Odilon grew up. But Jack
gave the impression of being fairly affluent himself. What happened to change
the family’s fortunes?

Reuben Edward Redon, continuing the family’s artistic tradition, making a living
first as a glass embosser (in 1901 he was living in the road running alongside
my old school, Latymer Upper), and later as a designer of showcards, running a
business in Harrow for several years.

Harrow Observer 22 September 1911

He was married, but had no children, and died, by that time living near his
brother in Peckham, in 1927.

We need to follow John Edward Redon and see what happened in his life. In 1871
he was in Manor Place, Walworth (just south of Elephant and Castle) with his
parents, brother and aunt. In 1881 the family were still at the same address:
John had left school and was working as an office boy. In 1891, his mother
having died and his father in the workhouse, the two brothers were living in a
boarding house near the Old Kent Road, the cheapest place on the Monopoly board.
John was now, following in his father’s footsteps, working as a signwriter.

By the 1901 census John was working as a clerk for London County Council, and
boarding just south of Waterloo Station, right by Westminster Bridge. Also there
was a dressmaker named Bessie Emma Varney, and, in October that year they
married. Bessie’s family seems to have been London working class, and, her
mother having died when she was only 5 years old, she and her younger sister
were brought up by relatives. John and Bessie had three children, René Bessie
(1902), John Edward, named after his father, who would always be known as Jack
(1905) and Reuben Ernest (1908-1912).

At some point, I’d guess from circumstantial evidence, round about 1903, John
left his job with the council and formed a partnership with Danzig born Charles
Ernest Rokicki. They started two companies, a moneylending business based at
John’s home address in Lambeth, and a shop in the Old Kent Road.

In 1907, John, like his grandfather before him, fell victim to a robbery when a
habitual criminal named Reuben Vaughan (there are a lot of Reubens in this
story) paid for a gramophone and 46 records using a forged cheque, receiving a
sentence of six years penal servitude.

Their partnership was dissolved in 1910, with John apparently buying his partner
out.

London Gazette 5 July 1910

The family business of Musical Instrument and Cycle Factors and General
Furnishers must have been successful. In 1911 they were living above their Old
Kent Road shop. John, perhaps no longer involved in the moneylending business,
was described as a Dealer in Musical Instruments (Gramophones), while Bessie was
assisting in the business. They were able to afford to employ a Domestic Servant
(Mother’s Help) to give Bessie a hand in looking after the children. Young
Reuben, sadly, would die the following year.

Within the space of two decades the family had gone from workhouse poverty to
employing a servant. At some point between 1911 and 1921 they moved their shop
to 185 Queen’s Road, Peckham.

During the First World War John was called upon to serve his country as a clerk
in the Admiralty: he was still there in 1921. Bessie, who seems to have been a
remarkably strong and ambitious woman, was running the business on her own,
describing herself in the 1921 census as a Music Seller. René had no occupation
recorded, although I’d guess she was helping out in the shop, while 16-year-old
Jack was a part-time art student.

As well as studying art, Jack was becoming interested in the Art of Chess,
joining Battersea Chess Club.

Richmond Herald 29 September 1923

Here he is, in 1923, becoming the second ever winner of the Wernick Cup, which
is still, more than a century on, the fourth division of the Surrey individual
championship. In 1962 the name of another promising young player, RD Keene would
be engraved on the trophy. It’s easy to forget that, in these days of preteen
grandmasters, a century ago it was relatively unusual for teenagers to take part
in competitive chess against adults.

His would be a solid rather than a meteoric chess career, though, developing
into a strong club player who, by 1926, was good enough to be selected for an
important county match.

Birmingham Daily Post 11 October 1926

He lost his game, but Surrey’s greater strength on the higher boards saw them
through. Crossword addicts will notice an anagram on the other side.

While he continued playing chess, Jack soon took up a new interest, in amateur
dramatics, setting up a group in his local church. (By now the family were very
much Church of England.)

South London Observer 02 November 1929

You’ll note the name Florence Warden, also known, from what I recall, as
Flossie, who was living with her grandmother and step grandfather, having lost
her mother in childbirth when she was only one year old.

John died in early 1931, and it’s quite possible that Jack now had to take a
greater role in running the family business. He still had time to play chess,
though, and by 1935 had reached top board for Battersea.

South Western Star 29 November 1935

He had also reached the top section of the county championship, but in this game
from 1937 he was out of his depth against a strong opponent. (For this and all
games in this article, click on any move for a pop-up window.)



You must activate JavaScript to enhance chess game visualization.
Alexander, Frederick Forrest Lawrie
Redon, John Edward
Surrey Championship
1937
Annotated by Tactical Analysis 6.4
1.d4Nf62.c4c63.Nc3d54.Nf3e65.e3Nbd76.Bd3Be77.O-ONf8
12345678abcdefgh
D46: Semi-Slav: 5 e3 Nbd7 6 Bd3, Black avoids the
Meran.7…dxc4⩲8.Bxc4b58.e4NPredecessor:8.Ne5Ng69.f4O-O10.Qc2Nd711.c5f512.Nxg6hxg613.b4g514.Bd2g415.b51-0
Hoenlinger,B-Igel,F Wien Trebitsch Memorial-18 1934/35 Vienna
(10)8…dxe49.Nxe4Ng6White is
better.10.Qc2Nh510…Nxe4±11.Bxe4O-O11.g3Qc712.b3e512…O-O±13.Re1b613.dxe5Bh3
12345678abcdefgh
13…Bg4⌓14.Nd6+!+−Bxd615.exd6Qxd616.Re1+Ne717.Bb217.Bxh7Bg4+−17…O-O-O18.Rad118.Bxh7Nf619.Rad1Qc7+−18…Rhe819.c5Qh620.Ne5Weaker
is20.Bxh7Rxd121.Qxd121.Rxd1g6⩲21…Qxh7±20…Qf621.Nc4White is clearly winning.Don’t
take21.Bxh7Nd522.Nc4Qf3+−21…Qf322.Be4!Active counter
play!22.Bxh7?Qg2#22…Rxd123.Rxd123.Bxf3?Rxe1#23…Qg4Black is weak on the dark
squares24.Nd6+Kd825.Nxf7+Kc826.Qd3Nd527.Bf5+
12345678abcdefgh
Decoy27…Qxf528.Nd6+Black got outplayed after the opening. Artfully played by
Alexander. Weighted Error Value: White=0.18 (very precise) /Black=0.39 Source:
Linlithgowshire Gazette 01 October 19371–0




In this county match game from the same period against an electrician from
Brighton, he played an opening gambit and probably didn’t have enough for the
pawn, but when he threatened a queen sacrifice his opponent carelessly
overlooked it.



You must activate JavaScript to enhance chess game visualization.
Redon, John Edward
Ovenden, Edward David
Surrey v Sussex B17
10 September 1937
Annotated by Tactical Analysis 6.4
1.e4Nc62.d4e53.Nf3exd44.c3Bc55.Bc4d66.O-OBg47.Bb5
12345678abcdefgh
C44: Ponziani Opening and Scotch
Gambit.7…dxc3NPredecessor:7…Bxf38.Qxf3Qf69.Qd3Ne710.Kh1O-O11.f4d512.e5Qe613.Nd2dxc314.bxc3a60-1
Lasker,E-Rutenberg Lasker Emanuel sim Moscow 18998.Nxc3Ne79.Bg5
12345678abcdefgh
Hoping for Nd5. Black is slightly
better.9…f610.Bf4Bxf311.Qxf3O-O12.Bc4+Kh813.Qh3Ng614.Be3Bxe315.fxe315.Qxe3⩱f516.exf5Rxf517.Rad115…Nce5−+16.Be6c617.Rf5Intending
Qxh7+! and mate.17…Qe8?
12345678abcdefgh
17…h6∓18.Rh5Qc718.Qxh7+!!Decoy18…Kxh719.Rh5#Magnificent play by Redon! Weighted
Error Value: White=0.28 (precise) /Black=0.48 Source: Sussex Daily News, 14
October 1937. For White’s 13th move the score gives ‘Q-R4’, and it is impossible
therefore to tell if Redon played 13 Qh5 or Qh3. (Brian Denman Collection)1–0




and probably didn’t have enough for the pawn, but when he threatened a queen
sacrifice his opponent carelessly overlooked it.

The amateur dramatics must have been going well too, as in 1938 he married his
fellow thespian Florence Warden.



You’ll immediately note Jack’s artistic signature, appropriately for a member of
a family involved in signwriting. There are two other things to note as well.
The marriage took place not locally but in the City of London, at St Michael
Paternoster Royal, a church associated with Dick Whittington, which had been
rebuilt by Sir Christopher Wren after the Great Fire. He gave an address nearby,
which, I suspect, was a dummy address enabling him to marry there. You’ll also
see that his late father’s occupation was given as Accountant, which doesn’t tie
in with other records. Perhaps he did the accounts for the family shop, or maybe
it was a euphemism for Moneylender.

His marriage certainly didn’t stop his chess career: at this point he was very
active in both club and county chess, winning a prize for one of the best
performances in the Battersea first team. If you look at some of the other names
here you’ll observe that it was a very strong club at the time.

Streatham News 08 September 1939

Although marriage didn’t stop Jack playing chess, the war did. Just three days
before this report appeared, and with war just having broken out, a national
registration of the civilian population was taken.

Bessie, now in her late 60s, was still running her shop in Peckham, selling
gramophone records, musical instruments and cycles. Jack and Florence were
living there as well, as was Florence’s elderly grandmother Matilda, an old age
pensioner. Florence had a temporary job operating an Elliott-Fisher bookkeeping
machine. Jack was described as a designer of sight tests on glass, etching and
stencil cutting.

Most of London’s chess clubs, including Battersea, closed for the duration, so
there was little opportunity now for Jack to play chess. Matilda died in 1942,
and Bessie in 1943. I presume Jack and René would have inherited the business,
selling it and moving, along with Florence, to their new home in Twickenham.
They must have done pretty well for themselves: not only were they able to
afford a large house in a desirable area, but it seems that they no longer
needed to work for a living. Not quite Old Kent Road to Mayfair, but still
pretty impressive.

Jack threw himself enthusiastically into his theatre and chess hobbies, which
would dominate the rest of his life. In 1944 he was a member of the Twickenham
Community Players, writing and producing plays for them, just as he had done
back in Peckham. They even met for rehearsals at his house (was he the founder,
I wonder), but sought larger premises at the new Georgian Club in Richmond.

Jack joined Kingston and Thames Valley Chess Club, which, like Barnes Village,
continued meeting during the war. He also rejoined Battersea, who resumed their
activities in 1945, where he would win their club championship in 1960.  There
was now no active chess club in Richmond or Twickenham, though, and this was
something he wanted to change. He started a chess section at the Georgian Club,
which had modest beginnings.

Richmond Herald 02 June 1945

Retired schoolmaster Phillip Flower, who lived round the corner from Jack, had
been strong enough to play in the Major Open at the 1911 British Championships,
as well as the First Class in 1921 and 1922, where his victims included future
stars Fairhurst and Buerger. Jacob Zafransky ran (or at least he did in 1939) a
radio and cycle shop again just round the corner from Jack: there might have
been a work connection as his business was very similar to that of Jack’s
family.

By the following year they were able to raise a dozen players for a match
against an established club.

Richmond Herald 08 December 1945

Jack had managed to recruit two very strong players for the top boards:
eccentric philosopher, schoolteacher and much else Dr JD (John David) Solomon,
and civil servant Geoffrey Ashcroft, who, although he lived in East Sheen, was a
friend and colleague from Battersea Chess Club. It’s pleasing to see that
Reginald Tarrant (and it was lovely to hear from his son-in-law recently)
provided a link with the ‘Old Richmond and Kew Club’.

The following March, Jack gave a simultaneous display, which proved very
successful.

Richmond Herald 30 March 1946

The prizewinning Miss Nesbitt must have been Violet Ella Nesbitt Kemp, an
architect’s daughter, who would, some three decades later, rejoin what was by
that point Richmond & Twickenham Chess Club. Remarkably, being born in 1888 and
dying in 1992, she lived to the age of 103 . I was led to believe she was an
actress, but perhaps only on an amateur basis, which might have been where she
met Jack.

In 1947 a match was played against Twickenham Chess Club, which had recently
reformed, the previous club of that name having folded some years previously.
Richmond seem to have dropped ‘Georgian’ from their name, now established as
Richmond Chess Club.

Richmond Herald 01 February 1947

Captain Samuel Ould (a civil servant in 1939, although he always used his
military rank from the First World War) provided another link with the previous
Richmond and Kew Chess Club, while Ted Fairbrother would remain a member into
the 1970s.

A few months later Kingston and Thames Valley Chess Club staged a megamatch
against a combined Richmond and Twickenham team (just as they did again in
2022). The Teddington club would have been the NPL, the Sunbury club British
Thermostat and the Whitton club perhaps Old Latymerians.

Richmond Herald 14 June 1947

You’ll see that Jack, as their club champion, represented Kingston on this
occasion. By beating Blake, who had, many decades earlier, beaten Rev John Owen,
who had beaten Morphy, this gave him a Morphy Win number of 3.

Being a member of three chess clubs wasn’t enough for Jack Redon. He also played
for Twickenham in the London and Middlesex Leagues. (I haven’t found any online
information about the founding of the post-war Twickenham Chess Club, but I
suppose he might have been involved.)

Here he is, playing in a match against Uxbridge in 1950.

Uxbridge & W. Drayton Gazette 08 December 1950

His opponent here, Harry Bogdanor, was a rather dodgy pharmacist (see discussion
here) and the father of political scientist (and David Cameron’s tutor) Vernon
Bogdanor. FG (Griff) Griffiths was still involved with Richmond & Twickenham
Chess Club into the early 1970s. I also have an interest in SA Lester, who, I
hope, was precision tool maker and amateur musician Sydney Arthur Lester. At any
rate he was the only SA Lester I’ve been able to find in the Twickenham area at
the time. Perhaps I’ll tell you more in a future article.

Richmond and Twickenham Chess Clubs were clearly working closely together, in
1952 sending a combined team down for a friendly match at Hastings. Jack scored
a fortuitous win on top board against an English international.

Hastings and St Leonards Observer 06 September 1952

You’ll notice endgame study expert John Roycroft on Board 2. I ‘m sure AL
Fletcher was L Elliott Fletcher, author of Gambits Accepted, and Miss Fletcher
his daughter Lesley, who would later marry Richmond & Twickenham Chess Club’s
Robert Pinner. I lose to George Anslow in the corresponding fixture in 1974.

In 1954 the team visiting Hastings, although billed just as Twickenham, was
quite a lot stronger, seeming to have recruited some players from other
Middlesex clubs rather than Richmond for the match.

Hastings and St Leonards Observer 11 September 1954

I don’t know much about Edgar Brown, whose club was sometimes billed as Wembley
& Hampstead. He won the RAF Championship and 1944 and shared 1st place in the
1950-51 British Correspondence Championship. Another Twickenham player in this
match was was chess administrator and bigamist Alan Stammwitz (see this thread).

Playing on second board in the 1956 Hastings v Twickenham match he defeated a
highly respected opponent with an original sacrifice in the Max Lange Attack.
Although it wasn’t quite sound, his opponent, a bank official who, like all the
best chess players at the time, had retired to Hastings, was unable to cope,
rapidly going down in flames.



You must activate JavaScript to enhance chess game visualization.
Redon, John Edward
Damant, Charles Ambrose Scott
Twickenham v Hastings B2
9 September 1956
Annotated by Tactical Analysis 6.4
1.e4Myers1…e52.Nf3Nc63.Bc4Nf64.d4exd45.O-OBc56.e5d57.exf6dxc48.fxg7Rg89.Re1+Be610.Ng5Qd5!
12345678abcdefgh
10…Rxg7?11.Nxe6fxe612.Qh5+Rg613.Qxc5+−11.Rxe6+NC56: Two Knights: 4 d4 exd4 5 0-0
Nxe4.Predecessor:11.Nc3Qf512.Nce4Bb613.g4Qg614.Nxe6fxe615.Bg5Rxg716.Nf6+Kf717.f4d3+18.Kh1Bd419.Ne4dxc220.Qxc2b51-0
Trcala,S-Blanshard,C Anglo-Czech match 1st corr 190511…fxe6−+12.Qh5+Kd713.Qf7+
12345678abcdefgh
Black is clearly better.13…Ne7?13…Be7!−+Strongly threatening
…Ne5.14.Bf4Ne514…Qf5?15.Nd2−+15.Bxe5Qxe514.Nxh7±aiming for Nf6+. White is more
active.14…Kc6
12345678abcdefgh
White must now prevent …Rxg7!15.Nf6!Dancing on a razor
blade.15…Qf515…Qe5±16.Nd2Qe1+17.Nf1Rgd816.Nd2A dynamic duo of
knights.16.g4+−Qe517.Nd216…b5?16…b6±17.Nde4+−Bd618.Nxd6Kxd619.h4Less strong
is19.f3Nd520.Qd7+20.Qxg8?too
greedy.20…Rxg821.Nxg8Qf7−+20…Kc521.Nxg821.Nxd5Qxd522.Qxc7+Qc6+−21…Rxg822.b4+Kb6+−19…Rgd820.g4Qf3
12345678abcdefgh
21.Ne8+!Discovered Attack. Magnificent play by Redon! Weighted Error Value:
White=0.48/Black=1.36 Source: Hastings and St Leonards Observer, 22 September
1956 (Brian Denman Collection)1–0




Throughout this time, Jack remained very active in amateur dramatics. He never
had the looks of a leading man, but excelled in comic and character roles. In
1946 his portrayal of Sir Andrew Aguecheek in Twelfth Night was ‘handled with a
delightful touch and never over-played’, while in 1949 he was ‘well cast as the
cowardly Oswald’ in King Lear. I’m not sure whether that was a compliment or an
insult.

Although he was an enthusiastic participant in club and county chess,
tournaments were, with one exception, not for him. In 1957 he successfully
entered the qualifying tournament for the British Championship, held that year
in Plymouth.

In 1956 he’d appeared in the BCF Grading List at 5a, about 2050 Elo, and
remained round about that level for several years – a pretty strong amateur who
could – and did – hold down a high board in club matches and a low board in
county matches.

Here, he found the going tough, finishing on just 3 points out of 11.



He was well beaten in this game, where his opponent exploited his space
advantage with a central breakthrough.



You must activate JavaScript to enhance chess game visualization.
Mardle, Denis Victor
Redon, John Edward
British CF-44 Championship3
21 August 1957 – Plymouth/ Devon
Annotated by Tactical Analysis 6.4
1.Nf3Nf62.g3g63.Bg2Bg74.O-OO-O5.d3d66.e4Nc67.Nbd2NPredecessor:7.Nc3e58.Bg5h69.Be3Ng410.Bd2Ne711.h3Nf612.Kh2Kh713.Ng1Nfg814.f4f515.Nf3c61-0
Korning,P-Steengaard,M DEN-ch corr Denmark 19567…Bd7A05: Réti Opening: 1 Nf3
Nf6.8.h3Qc89.Kh2Nh5The position is
equal.10.Ng1e511.Nc4Nd412.Ne3Ne613.c3a514.Ne2Nf614…a4=15.f4±exf416.gxf4Nh516…Qd8⌓17.d4White
should play17.f5±17…Qd817…f5!⩲18.f5Ng519.Ng419.Nf4±19…Nf6
12345678abcdefgh
20.Ng320.Nxf6++−Qxf621.e5dxe522.dxe5Qxe5+23.Ng320…Nxg4+21.Qxg4f621…h6±was
necessary.22.e5!+−gxf523.Nxf5Bxg5 is the strong threat.23…Kh824.Qh4
12345678abcdefgh
Threatens to win with Nxg7.Less strong
is24.Bxb7Rb8±24.exd6Rg825.Bxb7Bf8+−24…Bxf525.Rxf5aiming for
exf6.25…dxe526.dxe5Inferior is26.Bxb7Rb827.Bg2exd4=26…Qd3?26…Rg8was worth a
try.27.Qd427.Bxb7Rb8+−27…Nf728.exf628.Bxb7Rb8+−28…Bf827.exf6!White is clearly
winning.27…Ne628.fxg7+Nxg729.Rxf8+Rxf830.Bf4Qc431.Rf1Weighted Error Value:
White=0.25 (precise) /Black=0.481–0




He demonstrated his tactical skills in this game, winning with a powerful
kingside attack.



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Redon, John Edward
Beaty, John Harold
British CF-44 Championship6
24 August 1957 – Plymouth/ Devon
Annotated by Tactical Analysis 6.4
1.e4c52.Nf3Nc63.c3Nf64.e5Nd55.Bc4Nb66.Bb3e67.d4cxd48.cxd4d69.O-Odxe5B22:
Sicilian: 2 c3.10.dxe5Be710…Qxd1=11.Rxd1Na511.Qe2±O-OWhite is
better.12.Rd1Qc713.Nc3a614.Be3Nd715.Bf4Nc516.Bc2Bd716…b5±17.Rac117.a3+−17…Rfd818.Ne4White
is much more active.18.Ng5±White threatens Qh5 and
mate.18…g619.a318…Nxe4!⩲19.Qxe4→White has some
attack.19…g620.h4Be820…Nb4!?21.Bd2Bf8
12345678abcdefgh
21…Qb6=22.h5!±Bg723.hxg6hxg624.Qh4Rac824…Bxe5±25.Ng5Qe725.Bb3+−Qb826.Ng526.Rc2+−26…Bxe5?26…Rxd2±27.Rxd2Qxe527.Qh7+White
mates.27…Kf8
12345678abcdefgh
28.Nxe6+!Double Attack28…Ke729.Bg5+Skewer29…Bf630.Bxf6+Kxf631.Qh4+Skewer. An
entertaining game by Redon. Weighted Error Value: White=0.22 (precise)
/Black=0.521–0




You can see him here, the bald-headed gentleman standing in the centre, with
Milner-Barry and Franklin seated in front of him



1958 saw a merger between Richmond and Twickenham Chess Clubs. The result,
Richmond & Twickenham Chess Club, is still thriving today. I’m not sure what
part Jack played in the merger, but he must surely have been involved and given
his blessing.

I’m not sure whether or not he was playing for Richmond & Twickenham in this
game, a clash between the 1923 and 1962 winners of the Wernick Cup.

A few years later, Ray would treat the opening in more restrained fashion. Here,
he gave Jack some difficult chances, but he was unable to take advantage.



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Keene, Raymond Dennis
Redon, John Edward
London Clubs
15 April 1964 – London (ENG)
Annotated by Tactical Analysis 6.4
1.d4f52.Nf3Nf63.Bf4g64.e3Bg7
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5.h4NPredecessor:5.Bc4e66.Nbd2O-O7.Qe2a58.c3a49.a3d610.Bg5h611.Bxf6Qxf612.e4Nc613.O-O½-½
Lokvenc,J-Ciocaltea,V Asztalos Memorial-04 Debrecen 1961 (8)5…b65…d6⩲6.Bd3A80:
Dutch Defence: Unusual White second moves.White should try6.Nc3±6…Bb7
12345678abcdefgh
7.h5!Deflection7…Nxh5
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8.Rxh5White is
better.8…gxh59.Bxf5Kf8?9…O-O!⩲10.Qd3Bxf311.Bxh7+Kh812.gxf3c510.Qd3Bxf311.gxf3e612.Bxh712.Nc3+−12…Nc613.Qg6?13.Nc3±13…Qe813…Ne7∓14.Qd3Nd514.Bxc7⩱Qxg615.Bxg6Ke7Wards
off Bd6+. Threatens to win with
…Rag8.16.Bh2?16.Nc3⩱16…Rac8?16…Rag8−+17.Bd3Bxd418.exd4Rg217.c317.Nd2=17…e5?17…Bxd4∓keeps
the pressure on. White must now prevent
…Rhg8!18.cxd4Rcg818.d518.Nd2±18…Na5=19.Nd2Bf619…Nc4=20.Bf5Rcg820…Nc4±21.Bh3Nb722.Ne4Black
is weak on the light squares22…Rh6
12345678abcdefgh
23.d6+Nxd6±24.Nxd6Kxd625.Rd1+Kc626.Rxd7And now f4! would
win.26…Rg726…Rg2!=remains equal.27.Bxg2Kxd727.Rd2White is more
active.27…Rhg628.f4exf429.Bf5?29.Bxf4+−Ke2 would now be
deadly.29…Rg1+30.Ke229…Rg5?29…fxe3!=30.Rd6+Kc531.Bxg6Rxg630.Be4++−30.exf4?too
greedy.30…Rxf531.Ke2Rd7−+30…Kc5?30…Kb5was called
for.31.Bxf431.exf4Rc5±31…Rg1+32.Ke2Ka631.Bxf4Weaker
is31.exf4Re732.fxg5Rxe4+33.Kd1Bxg5±31…Rg1+32.Ke2Kb533.Rd5+Kc4?33…Ka634.Bd3+34.Rxh5Ra1+−34…Kb734.Rxh5White
is clearly winning.34…Rd7Prevents Bd3+35.Bc2Repels Rgd135…Bxc336.Bb3+This pair
of bishops is nice.36…Kb437.bxc3+Kxc338.Be5+Kb439.Rh4+Kc540.Rc4+Weighted Error
Value: White=0.65/Black=0.861–0




It was only a few years later that Keene would publish his first book, Flank
Openings, which I bought and eagerly devoured. It influenced my choice of
opening when I faced Jack in the 1969 Richmond & Twickenham Club Championship. I
called this system, a cross between a Réti and an Orangutan, the Yeti Opening.

It worked well here (I think the opening was never Jack’s strong point) and soon
won a piece, but didn’t want to win hard enough against such an illustrious
opponent and let him escape with a perpetual check. (If I’d won, as I should
have done, it would have given me a Morphy Win number of 4, although I may well
have beaten him in a casual game at some point.)



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James, Richard
Redon, John Edward
Richmond Championship3
18 September 1969
Annotated by Tactical Analysis 6.4
1.Nf3Nf62.g3g63.b4Bg74.Bb2d65.Bg2Nbd76.c4A05: Réti Opening: 1 Nf3
Nf6.6…e57.d47.O-O⩲7…exd4NBlack should
try7…O-O⩱Predecessor:7…e48.Nfd2Qe79.Qb3O-O10.e3d511.cxd5Nb612.Nc3Bf513.O-ORfd80-1
Malashia-Petrosian,T Tbilisi-ch 1945 (2)8.Nxd4White has an
edge.8…O-O9.O-ONg49…h5=10.Qc2⩲Nde511.Nd2c612.h3Nh613.Kh213.f4+−13…Nf513…Re8±14.Nxf5!+−Bxf5
12345678abcdefgh
15.e4!Be615…Bc8⌓16.f4Nd716.f4Nxc417.Nxc4Bxc418.Bxg7Bxf119.Bxf8Qxf819…Bxg2⌓20.Bh6Qf620.Rxf1a521.a3axb422.axb4Qe723.Qb2h524.Ra1Rxa125.Qxa1h426.g4d526…g5⌓27.Qc1f627.Qd4Resist27.exd5cxd528.Qc328.Bxd5Qe3+−28…Qe227…dxe428.Qxe4Qc729.Qe8+Kh730.Qe5Qb631.Qc5Qc732.Qd4Repels
Qxf4+32…Qe733.Qe4Qd634.b5cxb5
12345678abcdefgh
35.Qxb7?35.Qe5!+−Qd236.Qxb535…Qxf4+=The position is
equal.36.Kg1Qe3+37.Kf1Qd3+38.Kg1Weighted Error Value: White=0.23 (precise)
/Black=0.30½–½




You might assume that chess players with artistic interests would play artistic
chess, while those with scientific interests would prefer scientific chess. It
doesn’t always work, but it was certainly true of Jack Redon. From the small
sample of games here we can see someone who, at least with the white pieces,
favoured dashing gambits and sacrifices, which, while not always sound, often
worked over the board.

By now well into his sixties, there was inevitably some decline in his playing
strength, but he continued to take part in club matches as well as serving on
the club committee. In 1981 he designed a new logo for what was then the British
Chess Federation.

His beloved wife Florence died in 1985, but he remained on the grading list
until 1988, his clubs listed as Richmond Community Centre as well as Richmond &
Twickenham. Suffering from dementia, he eventually moved to a care home in
nearby Hampton Hill, where he died in 1994 at the age of 89. It appears,
although there are some inconsistencies in the records, that his sister René
died in Hastings in 1996, bringing an end to that branch of the Redon family.

Jack may not have been, as he believed, or wanted us to believe, the great
nephew of Odilon, but I think he was something far more interesting. A man who
was fortunate enough to be able spend the last fifty years of his life indulging
in his favourite hobbies. He was a very good, but perhaps not brilliant, actor,
playwright and artist, but he wrote plays and painted pictures not with the
intention of making money but for the sheer joy of doing so. He played chess for
many decades for the same reason: not a great player, but certainly a good
enough player: champion of Kingston and Battersea, British Championship
contender, achievements not to be taken lightly. Perhaps many of us can learn
from the way Jack lived his life.

But more than that, he contributed an enormous amount to the local community in
Richmond and Twickenham by founding and organising clubs and societies so that
others had the opportunity to share his passions, and, through them, form
friendships and enhance their lives. I believe that hobby clubs, whether chess,
theatre or a thousand and one other wonderful things, are of vital importance
for social cohesion, mental health and many other reasons. All of us at Richmond
& Twickenham Chess Club have reason to be grateful to Jack Redon, who might
justifiably be seen as the club’s founder. I hope he’s looking on benignly,
delighted that, many years later, the club is still thriving.

Sources and Acknowledgements:

ancestry.co.uk
findmypast.co.uk/British Newspaper Archives
chessgames.com
BritBase
ChessBase/MegaBase
Surrey County Chess Association website
Battersea and Kingston Chess Club websites
Brian Denman
John Saunders

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2023, Books, Middlegame, New in Chess, Reviews, Richard James


ROCK SOLID CHESS: TIVIAKOV’S UNBEATABLE STRATEGIES: PAWN STRUCTURES

August 12, 2024 Richard James 1 Comment
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From the back cover:

“Sergei Tiviakov was unbeaten for a consecutive 110 professional chess games as
a grandmaster, a record that has only been broken by World Champion Magnus
Carlsen. Who better to teach you rock-solid chess strategy than Tiviakov. He was
born in Russia and trained in the famous Russian chess school. In his first
book, he explains everything he knows about the fundament of chess strategy:
pawn structures.

If chess players trust that their knowledge of opening theory and tactics is
enough to survive in tournament play, they are mistaken. Once you settle down
for your game and the first moves have been played, you will need a deeper
understanding of the middlegame. And one of the most challenging questions is:
how to navigate different pawn structures?

Sergei Tiviakov gives you all the answers in this first volume of his highly
instructive series on chess strategy. ‘Tivi’ is famous for his deep chess
knowledge and rock-solid positional play. He has gathered a rich collection of
strategic lessons he has been teaching worldwide, drawing mainly from his
personal experience. The examples and exercises will improve your chess
significantly and are suitable for any reader from club player to grandmaster
level.”

About the Author:

“Sergei Tiviakov is a grandmaster, winner of an Olympic Gold Medal, three times
Dutch Champion, and European Champion. Yulia Gökbulut is a Women’s FIDE Master,
chess author and sports writer from Turkey.”

GM Sergei Tiviakov drawn by Rupert van der Linden in 1995

Before we start, you might liked to inspect sample pages

 

This book has its origins in a recent series of lectures given by Tiviakov. His
co-author was responsible for shaping the material into a book.

We start with a long introduction about the difference  between human and
computer chess, which is interesting in itself, but not directly relevant to the
subject of the remainder of the book.

What you don’t get is a complete guide to pawn structures: if you want that
you’ll need to look elsewhere. Instead, you get something very much based on
Tiviakov’s own repertoire. In general you’d expect positional players to prefer
queen’s pawn openings, just as Tivi’s hero Tigran Petrosian did, while tactical
players will be more likely to choose king’s pawn openings. Tiviakov, though,
has been almost exclusively a 1. e4 player throughout his career. With White he
makes little attempt to secure an advantage, just aiming to reach a pawn
formation he understands better than his opponent.

In the first chapter we look at positions with a pawn majority on one flank.
Something like this formation, which Tiviakov often reaches after 1. e4 c5 2.
c3, or 1. e4 e6 2. d4 d5 3. Nd2 c5 4. exd5 Qxd5.



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12345678abcdefgh



He comments that he’s unaware of any book dealing specifically with this sort of
position, and neither am I. If you’re likely to reach this sort of pawn
formation in your games you’ll find this material very helpful and instructive.



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In this position, from a game Tiviakov – Romanov (White to play), he discusses
the idea of deciding, even this early in the game, which pieces you want to
trade off for the ending. His conclusion is that ideally you should retain the
dark squared bishops, so that you can attack Black’s queenside pawns, and try to
trade everything else off. He managed to realise his plan successfully in this
game, where he compared his style to that of Petrosian, Karpov and Carlsen.

I’ve thought for many years that perhaps the topic which, more than anything
else, needed a book was that of doubled pawns. Naturally, I was delighted to see
that Tiviakov devotes two chapters to this. Some of the examples were an
eye-opener for me.



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Here, he uses his game against Igor Efimov (Imperia 1993: it’s not in MegaBase)
to demonstrate how he plays against the Trompowsky.

At first glance you might think that Black’s bishop on e6 looks like a rather
useless Big Pawn, but Tiviakov explains that it’s actually more useful than its
white counterpart.

But it’s important to understand that in chess a piece is labelled ‘bad’ or
‘good’ not by how it stands, whether it is blocked by pawns or not, but on its
role in the actions that its army will carry out. 

He explains that Black plans to swing his knight to e4, followed by b6 and c5,
and, if White does nothing, by c4, b5, b4, Qd6 and Rb8.

A very instructive game, he claims, but you’ll have to buy the book to find out
why.

It’s grandmasterly insights such as this, sprinkled liberally throughout, which
make this book worthwhile.

Here’s another example. Tiviakov used to favour the Scotch against 1… e5, but
dropped it after a loss against Mamedyarov in 2006.

1. e4 e5 2. Nf3 Nc6 3. d4 exd4 4. Nxd4 Bc5 5. Nxc6 Qf6 6. Qd2 dxc6 7. Nc2 Bd4
(obligatory to prevent Qf4 according to Tivi) 8. Bc4 Be6! 9. Bxe6 fxe6



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12345678abcdefgh



Black has gone in for a deterioration of his pawn structure. From the viewpoint
of classical chess strategy, he should stand worse, because of the doubled
pawns, the isolated pawn on e6 and in general the three ‘islands’ against two
for White. But in concrete dynamic play, Black is not worse. This is something
you should understand.

We now move on to positions with semi-open files in the centre.



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This sort of pawn formation can arise from very many openings, for example the
Caro-Kann or Tiviakov’s favourite Scandinavian.



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Here’s another instructive example, with White to play in the 2006 game Godena –
Tiviakov. A Qd6 Scandi has resulted in an equal position. Now White chose the
apparently natural (to me anyway) 22. c4.

It is possible to place the pawns side by side on c4 and d4, if White has
definite dynamic prospects or if the opponent cannot organize an attack on them.
In this concrete example, I can prevent the pawn  advancing to d5 and organize
an attack on it.

After White’s 32nd move this position was reached. Objectively it’s completely
equal, but in practice it’s Black who’s pressing.



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12345678abcdefgh



Tiviakov again:

After the exchange of rooks, the queen and knight are stronger than the queen
and bishop team, because Black has certain secure squares available to him. For
example, the queen can come to d4 and then manoeuvre such that he can switch the
attack between the white king, the queenside pawns and the pawn on f2.

White’s position is very unpleasant.

Another insight into how a strong grandmaster will perceive a position which a
club player like me would think of as just being equal.

The next chapter is about positions with seven pawns each and an open d or
e-file.



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In this position from a Tiviakov – Kasimdzhanov game, we can deduce from a piece
comparison that White stands slightly better. His dark squared bishop is clearly
superior, especially after a future f3 and Bf2. It’s perhaps less immediately
obvious that his light squared bishop is also better than its opposite number as
it’s looking at Black’s slightly vulnerable queenside, while the bishop on b7,
once White’s played f3, will be ineffective. Furthermore, White has a potential
square on d5, while Black doesn’t have an equivalent square on d4.

Moving on again, we have, logically enough, Two Open Files in the Centre.



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Here’s a position from Tiviakov – Ibrahim (2015), with White to play.

If I had a position like this I’d be thinking about offering a draw and heading
to the bar, but in fact White is much better here. Black already has a weakness
on d5, and by playing Bg4+ now (as it happens Stockfish thinks the immediate Re1
is preferable) and provoking f5, he creates additional weaknesses on e5 and e6.

The final chapter is rather different, looking at the way Tiviakov defends
against flank openings, using a double fianchetto system. Again, interesting,
but it doesn’t quite fit in.

Summing up, we have four chapters, 1, 4, 5 and 6, which fit together logically,
and three chapters, 2, 3 and 7, which, although equally instructive and
interesting, don’t really fit in, as well as a long introductory chapter of only
tangential relevance. Although it might not make a coherent whole, the quality
of the material is very high.

However, contrary to Tiviakov’s claim in his preface that the book is aimed at
players of all strengths, from beginner to Grandmaster, it really isn’t.  At
lower levels games are usually decided by tactical oversights rather than subtle
positional advantages of the type we see in this book. I’d say it was suitable
for players of, say, 1750 upwards. Again, if you favour kingside attacks, sharp
tactics or heavy opening theory this might not be the book for you. But if
you’re a strong player with a preference for positional chess, and especially if
you share some of his opening choices, this is a book you really don’t want to
miss. A second volume has now been published, which I look forward to reading in
due course.

Production values are well up to this publisher’s usual high standards, even
though a final read through by a native English speaker might have helped. As
usual with books for New in Chess, active learning is encouraged: the reader is
asked questions every few moves.

Perhaps this isn’t a book for everyone, but the content is excellent throughout,
and, if you’re strong enough to appreciate grandmaster level positional
concepts, the book can be highly recommended.

 

Richard James, Twickenham 12th August 2024

. Richard James

Book Details:

 * Softcover: 264 pages
 * Publisher: New In Chess; 1st edition (31 Jan. 2023)
 * Language: English
 * ISBN-10:9493257851
 * ISBN-13:978-9493257856
 * Product Dimensions: 17.22 x 1.65 x 23.01 cm

Official web site of New in Chess.

Rock Solid Chess, Sergei Tiviakov, New In Chess; 1st edition (31 Jan. 2023),
ISBN-13 ‏ : ‎ 978-9493257856
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2023BooksNew in ChessReviews
2023, Books, New in Chess, Reviews, Richard James, Training


THE HOW TO STUDY CHESS ON YOUR OWN WORKBOOK: EXERCISES AND TRAINING FOR CLUB
PLAYERS (1800 – 2100 ELO)

July 25, 2024 Richard James 2 Comments
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From the back cover:

“The astounding success of How To Study Chess on Your Own made clear that there
are thousands of chess players who want to improve their game – and do (part of)
their training on their own. The bestselling book by GM Kuljasevic offered a
structured approach and provided the training plans. Kuljasevic now presents a
Workbook with the accompanying exercises and training tools a chess student can
use to immediately start his training.

Kuljasevic wanted his exercises to mimic the decision-making process of a real
game. His focus is on training methods that encourage analytical thinking. Most
workbooks offer puzzles and puzzles only. But with this book, you will be
challenged by tasks like:

 * Solve positional play exercises
 * 
 * Find the best move and find the mini-plan
 * Play out a typical middlegame structure against a friend or an engine
 * Simulation – study and replay a strategic model game
 * Analyze – try to understand a given middlegame position

The Workbook is designed for self-study, but is also useful for chess coaches
and teachers and can be applied in one-on-one lessons, as well as in study
groups in chess clubs, schools or online classes. This first volume is optimized
for chess players with an Elo rating between 1800 and 2100 but is very
accessible and useful for any ambitious chess player.”

About the Author:

“Davorin Kuljasevic is an International Grandmaster born in Croatia. He
graduated from Texas Tech University and is an experienced coach. His
bestselling books Beyond Material: Ignore the Face Value of Your Pieces and How
To Study Chess on Your Own were both finalists for the Boleslavsky-Averbakh
Award, the best book prize of FIDE, the International Chess Federation.”

GM Davorin Kuljasevic

Before we continue you might like to inspect this preview from the publisher’s
website (product page here), which will give you an idea of the layout and show
you some of the exercises. If you prefer, you can see sample pages from the
Kindle edition here.

A quick word first. I have a large backlog of books to review and little time in
which to review them, so, in an attempt to catch up, I will be writing much
shorter critiques on the titles in my in-tray than I have done in the past.

I reviewed the author’s previous volume with some enthusiasm here, so was eager
to see this workbook, especially given that, in terms of rating, but not
interest in improving my game, I’m within the book’s target range.

The main body of the book comprises fifteen sets of eight puzzles. We start with
five sets on tactics, gradually increasing in difficulty, each set including six
‘find the hidden tactic’ exercises, followed by two ‘tactical analysis’
exercises.

This seems excellent to me. My impression has always been that, at my level,
games are much more often decided by spotting or missing exactly this sort of
tactical point than by brilliant combinations and sacrifices. The Hidden Tactic
exercises present a position and a three-move sequence, in which you have to
find the tactical opportunity that was sometimes missed over the board. The
analysis questions invite you to analyse several different lines and decide
which is best.

Then we have five sets on Middlegame Training. Here we have six positions where
you have to find the correct mini-plan, followed by two simulation exercises
where you play through part of a game and are awarded points, in the style of
Daniel King’s How Good is Your Chess feature in CHESS, for finding good moves.

Finally, there are five sets on Endgame Training to test you on this most
important phase of the game. Here, each set gives you four endgame analysis
questions where you have to analyse several lines. Then you have two endgame
simulation exercises, followed by two positions for you to play out against a
training partner, coach or engine. I’m very much in favour of this and believe
that playing out endgame positions should be an important part of every player’s
training.

In my day, 50-60 years ago, reading books was, for most of us, just about the
only option for chess improvement. Now, of course, there are many more options.
As was clear from his previous book, Kuljasevic has put a lot of thought into
the most efficient training methods, and into what works best within the
framework of a book, and has done an excellent job in selecting material
appropriate for his target market.

If you think this book might appeal to you, again I’d refer you to the previews
linked to above.

As is usual from this publisher, production values are high. The layout could
have been more generous and easier to follow, but this would have necessitated
more pages and cost you more money.

If you’re rated between 1800 and 2100, ambitious to improve your rating, are
prepared to take time out for serious study and enjoy reading books, I can
strongly recommend adding this to your library. Further volumes for lower and
higher rated players are promised: I look forward to reading these in due
course.

 

 

Richard James, Twickenham 26th July 2024

. Richard James

Book Details:

 * Softcover: 224 pages
 * Publisher: New in Chess; Workbook edition (31 Jan. 2023)
 * Language: English
 * ISBN-10:949325755X
 * ISBN-13:978-9493257559
 * Product Dimensions: 17.15 x 1.5 x 23.01 cm

Official web site of New in Chess.

How to Study Chess on Your Own, Davorin Kuljasevic, New in Chess, Jan 2023,
ISBN-13 ‏ : ‎ 978-9493257559
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BIRTHDAY OF GM GAWAIN JONES (11-XII-1987)

Dec 11
All day Event Series


BIRTHDAY OF FM CHRISTOPHER WOOD (11-XII-1940)

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