“With commitment and faith I may become more than I can imagine.”

“I am allowing God to mold me so that I can change to be a better person.”

“Everyone falls short and makes mistakes but God helps us to be strong and have a better life.”

“When things get difficult I just think back and say this beautiful world reminds me that God loves me.”

“I can’t wait to get a fresh new start and it feels so good to be able to start over.”

“I agreed that I needed treatment and let myself be helped even when I didn’t want to. That’s what I call faith in ‘letting go.’”

“I think leadership is one of the hardest things to do for me but I have faith now that I have something to say that matters.”

“When I help someone I feel hopeful, and I also feel happiness deep down inside.”

“When I am sad or scared, I have learned that Jesus is with me. We all need to remember that He is with us every day.”

“God helped me to forgive people when I thought it was impossible.”

MAY THIS HOLY SEASON WARM YOUR HEARTH AND GIVE JOY, PEACE, AND LOVE IN ABUNDANCE FOR ALL – REMEMBERING THE CHEERFUL NATURE OF THE SPIRIT THAT IS CHRISTMAS!! AND BIRTH OF THE CHRIST CHILD.

GOD BLESS EVERYONE IN ACCORDANCE WITH PERSONAL WORSHIP AND BELIEFS.

Openings are often classified as “open”, “semi-open”, or “closed” to provide a literary explanation of the type of game normally developing from the first few turns. Sometimes these variations may come from actual game play or through investigative analysis during opening study.  Regardless how they emerge, such generalization of theory and potence largely is secondary to what plans are unleashed. Such is the play I present here for your study and enjoyment.

The study opens featuring the Giuoco Piano–”The Quiet Game.”

1. e4  e5  2. Nf3  Nc3  3. Bc4  Bc5  4. O-O  Nf6  5. d3 d6  This position was reached in the game for the Rochester City Championship, Dr. Max Herzberger vs. Don Reithel 1952.  Dr. Herzberger played probably more correctly with 6. Be3 and I won a nice game perhaps because he carelessly assumed that one so young could not hold out for long against an expert.  Dr. Herzberger was defending the city title he won previously.  But lets say he decided to play a more aggressive continuation as often my lessons suggest to dig into the enemy position, getting the Bishop to a more aggressive role. How might the game go?

6. Bg5  h6  Putting the question to the Bishop to capture the Knight, retreat to h4 or to e3.  Best would be to challenge the black Bishop with the retreat 7. Be3.  But supposing he ventures to keep the Knight pin by 7. Bh4  g5  8. Bg3.  Now, here is the crux of opening strategy.  White has castled; Black has not castled and White has not challenged the excellent Bishop located on c5 that points to the f2 square, one of the inherent weak points in chess. In reality both of us were aware of the coming sequence of previously published material but I would have loved to see him adopt this line of play.

8. … h5  9. Nxg5  h4!!  10. Nxf7  hxg3!! Another shot whose cannon fodder shatters the wall of defense around the King.

11. Nxd8  Shocked by Black’s sharp counterplay, he finds nothing better than to grab the Queen.

11. … Bg4  12. Qd2  Nd4!  Black has to keep the attack going full force and brings new pieces into the fray.

13. Nc3  Nf3+!! Threatening a mate if the King runs to h1.

14. gxf3  Bxf3  15. Re1 gxh2+ 16. Kf1  h1(Q) mate.

This is  truly a gem illustrating a number of features discussed within my series.

Mary Weiser Bain lived to the age 68 when she died in 1972. She was first recognized as a talent to watch when she defeated in 11-moves, Jose R. Capablanca during a simultaneous exhibition. She progressed and went on to play in the 1937 Womens’ World Championship, finishing 5th behind the winner Vera Menchik.  She became US Womens’ Chess Champion in 1951. She was invited by the USSR to participate in the International Tournament to determine the challenger to face Womens’ World Chess Champion of that period, Ludmilla Rudenko. The Soviet chess machine pulled out all the stops on providing for all the ladies a wonderful vacation in Moscow and well organized tournament which included cash for excursions, restaurants and gift purchases.  I imagine the clothing establishments provided a number of interesting garments  like dresses and hats to select from.

What is most noteworthy covering this period of history was the fact that the US and USSR were in the Cold War era.  Despite this, the Soviets did their best to lavish Miss Bain with all the qualities of friendship could muster and she conducted several correspondence– letters to a chess historian and researcher David Lawson and to the USCF President, Harold Phillips.  In these exchanges, she wrote about the quality and dedication to chess excellence shown by the organizers whose eventual theme was to spread friendship among nations.  She also felt some resentment to the US Chess Federation for it being rather disorganized as the American chess power.  She told of this when she found out that the Soviet invite included all expense paid trip for each entry and a master assistant aide. All the federations pursued this except the USA which somehow overlooked the invitation to include an aide. Hence, she was the only one without a second to help her with her preparations and study of adjourned games. Harry Golombek of Britain related to her, ”It is such a sad thing  how a great country like the USA has such a weak chess federation.”

She was invited to a banquet upon arrival in Moscow of mountains of caviar, fish, flowl, vintage wines and ever-present vodka. A number of wonderful shows and tickets were given to participants.  As the tournament progressed, her mood was down especially when finding out about the USCF missing the boat about having an aide accompany her and losing close games due to no help in analysis of adjourned games having good positions and little sleep.

The stress of competition and no backup support clearly affected Mary Bain. She wrote to Lawson, “By November 6th I had only one win and felt devastated by her perceived failure. I would  like not to mention the great disappointment. I am still suffering. I didn’t sleep nor eat for the last 10 days. Good old Lidia, my standy, is very attentive and without her I probably would not be alive by now. Sees to it that I get some nourishment by force. She has taken me to the doctor several times. Now I am trying very hard to get back on my feet to salvage something, but I am afraid it is too late.”

Mary Bain’s correspondence with both Lawson and Phillips highlights the status of chess in America.  Women were probably not given much support by their male counterparts. Of course, maybe no one was willing to take the time to attend the event since most chessplayers needed to work for a living and likely had families to support. That is the most likely reason, not that the USCF fell down on giving her the support she required to do well. Emotionally however was her biggest problem, expressing fears even before they evolved on the board.

Like most Californians, the beautiful weather and beauty of California attracted the Grumette family settling in Los Angeles where she ran a public relations firm. After her husband’s death, she decided to open a chess club in her beautiful home for entertaining many friends in show business and soon was drawing many chess fans.  Lina was known to entertain and encourage many of the masters in the region and was perhaps best known for her series of Futurity Tournaments held during the 1970s-80s– events that introduced many masters to international play and FIDE ratings.

She used her talents to promote various humane undertakings, pursuading Chevron among others to help with financial aid when she started the Chess Set Educational Trust–a non-profit venture to promote chess and help kids who had alcohol problems. Like many who brave the unknown, Lina had faith that her efforts in organizing  the lst Memorial Day Classic , 1980, refusing the skepticism of some friends that Los Angeles was not yet ready to support a big-money prize tournament. She skillfully made it a success. And she spearheaded interest of corporations to lend their support to her projects.

Perhaps the chessworld owes her many thanks for her contribution to the success of the World Championship Match between Boris Spassky and Robert J. Fischer in 1972. After Fischer had forfeited the 2nd game by not showing up to play, Lina who had known Fischer and shared respect for her managed by several hours of talking things out with him, convinced him with this exchange of comments (according to Lina), “But I am right!” Bobby declared, to which Lina simply replied, “So be right–and be ruined.”

Sometimes it takes a woman to rule the roost, even in chess. Her expertise of quality performances dealing with public relations she found most useful in her efforts to make chess be more than just a game of inert pieces– but a sport where the symbolic power of those wooden pieces brought forth the aesthetic beauty of both set, board and mental drama.

God Bless you dear friend of chess!

• Avoid looking at the chessboard and set at least 5- days prior to entering the event. During that time frame try to select what equipment to take–board, set, clock, score pad;
• Rest up. Try to get at least 7-9 hours relaxation–walking for exercise, sleeping, fun with family and friends;
• Eat balanced meals and favorite liquids in moderation;
• Select clothes that are comfortable and pants with deep pockets;
• Keep your wallet in your left side pocket, never in your hip pocket or sportcoat as these are a pickpocket’s best friend;
• If possible, familiarize yourself with the rules and chess programs offered.  If not clear, telephone ahead to get some sort of activity schedule for both players and non-players;
• Shop for the most economic means of travel–car, plane, bus, and best to enter by phone if credit cards are acceptable;
• Location is important for restaurant dining, and public transportation like bus or taxi for those without vehicles;
• At the site, communicate if with family or friends scheduling to avoid getting separated;
• Play with good sportsmanship and enjoy the art of chess battle!
• Leave quarters neat and clean when departing to return home.

Fact!  It is difficult to earn a living. For the professional chessplayer – doubly so.  To  attempt such a venture requires sheer guts, and belief in one’s skill; I add another as being spirit driven where mind and body act in unison with goal setting levels toward achievement that depends entirely upon accumulative successes.  Today the numbers game (ratings) largely determine invitations to international tournaments so that the aspiring player must continue to play at a high winning percentage just to remain in the pool of eligibilty.

The single chess professional and amateur can financially absorb the total cost of tournament participation; the married player has financial woes to worry about not to mention arriving home and finding the spouse with hand out for the loot earned.  Often times the professional has to fall back on tours for chess exhibitions if they can even be arranged or add a journalist tag on his hat. For some–the pen is mightier than the sword!

Times change of course.  Go back to the 1936 International Nottingham Tournament which may well never had become part of the glorious history in British Chess had it not been the British Alderman and chess lover Derbyshire.  Such patrons in the past came forth to honor the chessworld with such sparkling arrays of tournaments across the world and thus brought tons of joy to the chess masses.  Even in those cases, it was the willing chess star to compete that brought forth the energies to stimulate locals to chip in time, energies and even financial donation toward success.  This has been the long journey of chess organizers throughout chess history. Every tournament before and since has been built around this common theme.  Still, the prize funds and distributions were most likely to find shortages in the pants pockets of the entry field.

For the modern era player and devotee, things changed largely due to the efforts and demands of Bobby Fischer who fought to raise the level of value to chess professionalism not only for himself but the whole herd of those who were able to keep pace in such a hectic world having uncertain returns.  All the bloodsuckers came out of the woodwork to cash in on the Fischer Boom as it was called by the United States Chess Federation (USCF).  In reality foreign players replaced the top cream of past American Championships as entry permits were based upon an established rating and only the highest need apply.  It was a natural since foreign Grandmasters far outpaced the ratings of American amateurs.  Samuel Reshevsky, Larry Evans, Bill Lombardy, Robert Byrne–just to name a handful of past American champions, left the active playing field.  Part of it, if not most of it, was FINANCIAL. The incentive of esprit de corps of America’s Championship Tournament was annexed by a new breed.

Bitter struggles within the FIDE body for power as well as in USCF where both are slowly being infiltrated within by socialist promotion standards is criminal.  What I mean by that is that the youth movement in chess where kids are taught the merits of self esteem over all else and that every child deserves a handsome trophy for just showing up to participate is sickening to this KindredSpirit. This weakens the morale fabric that was and is American values.

Should I get hate mail from readers, let me just say, “If you can’t stand the heat of truth, you are the problem.” Liberalism as described by Dr. Michael Savage in his radio broadcasts and in his writings tell a tale.  That reminds me.  I wanted to tell you to get a copy and read ABUSIVE POWER by Michael. A brilliant piece of mystery fiction. You will love it; I could not put the book aside until I read it all.

This, the  11th game obviously met with some dispair by Kashdan who managed to tie Reshevsky for the US Championship title and through a questionable time forfeiture during the Denker game, -was awarded lst-2nd place tie with Kashdan.  Both agreed to play a 14- game match as both did not like having co-champions in the US Championship believing there should be only one champion.  Although Kashdan went on to perform well in tournaments, his best years were the 1920s and 30s, after which he slowly declined due to age and his parental responsibilities and work except for a few major victories and high scoring tournaments but never again reached the zenith of his younger years. For a few years, he was editor of CCLA’s The Chess Correspondent.

White: Samuel Reshevsky     vs.     Black:  Isaac Kashdan          Opening:  Slav Defence

1. d4  d5  2. c4  c6  3. Nf3  Nf6  4. Nc3  dxc4  5. e3  Computers generally suggest 5. a4, the variation often seen in the Euwe – Alekine WCC match of 1937. Reshevsky adopted this 5. e3 as Kashdan favored it.

5. … b5  6. a4  b4  7. Na2  e6  8. Bxc4  Nbd7  Here Black seems happy to have driven back the Knight and will likely make getting his pieces into active play but this assault has weakened the Q-side pawns.

9. O-O  Bb7  10. Qe2  c5  11. Rd1  cxd4  Posing an interesting problem for White. For example, should he recapture with the pawn, he opens the diagonal for his Bishop but finds the Rook blocked by the isolani and a strong point on d5 for Black’s pieces.

12. Nxd4  Bc5  13. Nb3  There are other ideas here to consider. 13. Bxe6  fxe6 14. Nxe6  Qb6  15. Nxg7+ Kf7 16. Nf5 which is speculative due to the difficulty in developing the white Q-side forces. Should he venture into say, 13. b3 intending Bb2, then the c3 square and b3 pawn/square may prove weak during endgame play.  Here again, note the influence and value of square count.

13. … Be7  14.  a5!  Positionally a very wise move because it stops support by …a6-a5 of the b-pawn and zeros out the b6 square for piece action.

14. … O-O  15. Bd2  Qb8 16. a6  Bd5  A better choice again looking at square count theory suggests 16…Be4 and if 17. f3, then Bg6 with things like 18…Ne5 or 18…Bd6.

17. Bxd5  exd5  18. Nd4  Qb6  19. Nc1  Nc5  20. Ncb3 Rfd8?! 21. Na5  While this seems a good plan for White follow up play, better looks to be 21. Ra5 positionally speaking. For example, should Black then capture …Nxb3, 22. Nxb3  Rac8  23. Be1>f3>Bf2 jump moves look to give White a favorable position.

21. … Rdc8 22. Rdc1 Should 22. Bxb4 be considered good here?  The answer is no. 22.  … Qxb4  23. Nac6 Rxc6 24. Nxc6 Qe4 turns a plus to Kashdan.

22. … Bf8  23. Nab3  Ne4 24. Be1 Nxb3  Worth considering was 24…g6 >Bg7 striking the long diagonal.

25. Nxb3  Nc5  26. Nd4  Ne3 27. Nb3  Rc7  28. Rxc7  Nxc7 29. Qd3  Rd8 30. Qd4 Qb8 31. h3!  It is wise to give the King air and the pawn proves useful later on.

31. … Ne6 32. Qd3  Qe5 33. Nd4  Nxd4  Here, Kashdan goes astray missing 33…Rc1 34. Rd1 Nxd4 35. Qxd4 Qxd4 36. Rxd4  Rc8  37. Kf1 Ra8 38. Rxd5 Rxa6 leading to a drawish position. As played, Reshevsky gets to keep some pressure and Kashdan falters. Such microscopic edges, when combined, often lead to positions that become harder and harder to defend.

34. Qxe4  Qxe4  35. exd4 Rc1  36. Ra5  Rc7 Best was 36. …Rc6 with a likely drawish finish in the offering.

37. Rxd5 Rxb2  38. Rd7 Rxd7  39. Kf1  b3 40. Rxa7  g6  41. Rb7  Ra1  42. Rxb3  Rxa6  43. Rb8  Kg7  44. ke2  Ra2+ 45. Kd3  Ra3+ 46. Bc3  Bd6  47. Rb2 Be7  48. Kc4  Ra4+ 49. Kb5 Ra1  50. d5+ Kf8 51. Kc6  Ra8  52. Be5  Rc8+  53. Bc7  Bf6  54. Rb8  Rxb8  55. Bxb8  Bd4  56. Bd6+ Kg7  57. Bc5  Kashdan resigns and also the match.

Because of the war years, chess was in slight decline with pockets round the world of continued enthused interest just to perhaps block out the horrors of war, rationing, etc. This pressure chess match pinpoints age factors which ratings feature now various plateaus of current skill levels.  In Isaac Kashdan’s active chess through his prime to beginning dessent his rating is measured at 2700+, second in the world behind Alekhine.

This match followed on the heels of the regular championship that was perhaps flawed by the mistake of awarding a win to Reshevsky in his game with Denker when Denker felt he won on time forfeit. It caused Denker to never forgive Reshevsky because he knew Reshevsky lost on time. Whether chess archives on the championship proves this either way is past now. In any case, this match produced some very tight games and reflects the fighting spirit of both players.

Enjoy.

White:  Isaac Kashdan      vs.    Black:  Samuel Reshevsky     Opening:  Gruenfeld Defence

1. d4  This is the first time he opened with the QP.

1. … Nf6  2. c4  g6  3. Nc3  d5  4. Bf4  Bg7  5. e3  c6 Pursuing his his desire to avoid unnecessary risks, Reshevsky continues his strategy off the board of just playing safe. A more tactical game could be achieved by playing 5. … c5 which might play into the hands of his opponent who desperately needs to win this game with having the white pieces.

6. Nf3  O-O  7. Qb3  dxc4  8. Bxc4  Nbd7  9. O-O  Perhaps this is a place where my square count would dictate as a spacial edge the interesting move 9. e4! as it appears he has an initiative and added advantage that Black has some problems finding good squares for his pieces.

9. … Nb6  10. Be2  Be6  11. Qc2  Nbd5 12. Be5  Bf5  13. Qb3  Qb6  14. Bc4  Nxc3  15. bxc3  Ne4  16. Qa3  Bxe5  17. Nxe5  Qc7  18. Rad1  It would be harder to combat the white position had he gone instead 18. f3!! Nd3  19. e4 or Be2 with a good center and possible tactical chances.

18. …Nd6  19. Bb3  Since the bishop cannot remain on this diagonal because of the following chase by the a-pawn, it would have saved time by playing directly to d3.

19. … a5!  20. Qc1  a4  21. Bc2  c5  Striking at the center and creates an unfavorable situation for Kashdan.

22. Bxf5  Nxf5  23. e4?  This idea is wrong and deserves a ? because a more straightforward 23. Qa3  b6 and 24. Rb1 looks good again with square count leading the way. One mistake compounds often into another which occurs here.

23. … cxd4! 24. Ng4? His failure to grasp the best from the position stalls Kashdan’s tactical chances of which two present themselves here.  The tactic Knight shot 24. Nxf7!? Rxf7 25. exf5 dxc3 26. fxg6 hxg6 27. Qc2 keeps threats alive like the g-pawn and Rook jump move threats of Rd3 >Rc1. It was probably Kashdan’s best chance to score a full point in this game.

24. … Nd6  25. Rxd4  Rac8  26. Ne3  Nb5  27. Rc4  Qe5  28. f4?!  Qe6  29. f5  Qb6  30. Rxc8  Rxc8  31. c4  Nd6  32. Kh1 Nxe4 33. Nd5  Qd6  34. fxg6  hxg6  35. Qb1 Rxc4  36. Qxb7  Nf2+ 37. Kg1 Ng4 38. Nxe7+ Kg7  39. Qb2+ f6  White Resigns.

The next, game 11 seals Black’s fate as Reshevsky grinds his opponent with positional and tactical finesse.  Victory was a must in game 11 to continue the 14 scheduled game match. It was not to be. So Reshevsky repeats as the US Chess Champion once again, a position he held much of the time until Bobby Fischer emerged on the scene many years later.

White: Samuel Reshevsky     vs.    Black:  Isaac Kashdan     Opening: Grunfeld Defence

1. d4  Nf6  2. c4  g6  3. Nc3  d5  4. Qb3  c6  5. Nf3  Bg7  6. Bf4  O-O  7. e3  dxc4  8. Bxc4  Nbd7  9. O-O  Nb6  10. Be2  Be6  11. Qc2  Nbd5  12. Be5 Bf5  13. Qd2 Nxc3  14. Qxc3  Ne4  15. Qb4  f6!  Playing to secure his beloved bishop-pair, Kashdan tries to achieve some decent play in an otherwise equal position. For the student, it is worth noting how Reshevsky and Kashdan both work the battlefield to good account. Neither side appears to find any noticeable weakness on the front.

16. Bg3  Qd7  17. Rfd1  Kh8  18. Nd2  Nxg3  19. hxg3  Rfd8  20. Rac1 Bf8  21. Qc3  Bg4  22. Qc4  I think this simply plays it safe. More adventureous but perhaps having some more interesting and active play for both sides would be 22. f3 > 23. Kf2 with the thought that square count considerations in move plans might prevail here. Still, Reshevsky remains content to play for the draw and only go for more should Kashdan try to force play where White may benefit.

22….Bxe2  23. Qxe2 e6  24. Ne4  Qf7  25. Nc5  Here for example, Reshevsky is so in tune with drawing that he misses a slightly better turn with 25. Qf3 first. Not that the Knight move is inferior but Kashdan takes the opportunity to gain absolute equality and assures the draw which, by now, he must have resigned himself to splitting the point.

25. … e5 26. dxe5 fxe5 27. b3 Rd5 28. Rxd5 cxd5 29. Nd3 Bg7 30. e4! Rd8 31. exd5 Qxd5 32. Nb2  e4  33. Nc4  Bd4  34. Ne3  Qe5  35. Ng4  Qe7  36. Re1  Re8  37. Qc4  Qg7  38. Qd5  h5!  39. Ne3 40. Nc4  Qc3!! Almost forcing White to accept a draw outcome.

41. Rxe4  Rxe4  42. Qxe4  Qa1+ 43. Kh2  Bxf2  44. Qe8+  Kg7  45. Qd7+  Kg8  46. Qc8+ Kh7  47. Qd7+ Trying one more trick should Black play 47. … Kh6? 48. Qd2+.

47. …Qg7 48. Qe6 Bd4  49.Nd6  Kh7  52.Ne4  Kh6 Draw agreed.

Please note: For some reason from 47…Qg7 on was not recorded in my original script of the game due to the line being dropped on my PC for some reason. And I did not catch the deletion.

A good game to study the psychological factors in playing a match.