tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-53423971304049280932024-03-18T02:47:45.855-07:00Jewish Chess HistoryChess History in Palestine and IsraelUnknownnoreply@blogger.comBlogger881125tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5342397130404928093.post-1331259633994558422024-02-21T09:59:00.000-08:002024-02-21T09:59:53.331-08:00More Memorial Problems<p> </p><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEggEWjHscxreYTSZFjBnvu57KTxG4dmCVyN6HjYdfWMij4hpbLSuyHH6rbwwOyq9JTCQ1V-ChjF2RhJYfbIdxPcTAG_reTkPvhWwHzy6oPJXn_oUaZPBj1lhCRI3qAgPfpionr4B9x5lriqrmb_RhalUoO8XAnV5rci2U925NHGk1mUvELfO2iOl3xylCq-/s435/Memorial.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="377" data-original-width="435" height="346" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEggEWjHscxreYTSZFjBnvu57KTxG4dmCVyN6HjYdfWMij4hpbLSuyHH6rbwwOyq9JTCQ1V-ChjF2RhJYfbIdxPcTAG_reTkPvhWwHzy6oPJXn_oUaZPBj1lhCRI3qAgPfpionr4B9x5lriqrmb_RhalUoO8XAnV5rci2U925NHGk1mUvELfO2iOl3xylCq-/w400-h346/Memorial.jpg" width="400" /></a></div><div dir="ltr" style="text-align: center;">Source: <i>Davar Ha'shavua</i>, 3 February 1950, p. 20</div><div dir="ltr" style="text-align: center;"><br /></div><div dir="ltr" style="text-align: justify;">A frequent correspondent points out another example of what, in Israel, is often the case: memorial problems which were composed in order to commemorate those who fell in war. Here is one example: a problem by <b>Yosef Goldschmidt </b>(a mate in three) in memory of <b>Abraham Feldklein</b>, who fell in the war of independence. </div><p></p>Unknownnoreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5342397130404928093.post-46716026536570459872024-02-21T05:46:00.000-08:002024-02-21T10:47:11.291-08:00Meir Shatil Caricature<p> </p><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjpTL9jFFr9efZXhFi8wHfCMbDMAX3TQKFKu7Dyl3LPHFMaNA44A5XUMn4YQSjHXiMjMjBU9fZir0N06za54YDnwYjAo1w9_MmW5YA7TGzQmtX0K5RxgDV1nFxy-AE0vzKl0sYagqeZQoWiKk0Qwo6gHL3ia-yapPSm0LVcMBi6cOhDj3SFpe_1pla0_yaH/s661/Shatil.jpg" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="661" data-original-width="382" height="400" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjpTL9jFFr9efZXhFi8wHfCMbDMAX3TQKFKu7Dyl3LPHFMaNA44A5XUMn4YQSjHXiMjMjBU9fZir0N06za54YDnwYjAo1w9_MmW5YA7TGzQmtX0K5RxgDV1nFxy-AE0vzKl0sYagqeZQoWiKk0Qwo6gHL3ia-yapPSm0LVcMBi6cOhDj3SFpe_1pla0_yaH/w231-h400/Shatil.jpg" width="231" /></a></div><div dir="ltr" style="text-align: center;">Source: <i>Al Ha'mishmar</i>, 2 December 1977, p. 10</div><div dir="ltr" style="text-align: center;"><br /></div><div dir="ltr" style="text-align: justify;">Above, from a frequent correspondent, is a caricature of <b>Meir Shatil</b>, a player from the Gal On kibbutz, playing in the inter-kibbutz championship. The artist is <b>Atalia Helman</b>, the wife of the player <b>Amir Helman</b>. </div><p></p><p><br /></p>Unknownnoreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5342397130404928093.post-16272382284947997022024-02-21T01:06:00.000-08:002024-02-21T01:06:47.946-08:00Chess for the People<p dir="ltr" style="text-align: center;"></p><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhwEsCrCqFc-H9dtO1mz-YZDyzWOcD-BPrE2YZV87nzdf6ulFirGw4xnImuwybZCVkKei3WTKpOvA50vzmYAEhB9qdCLAvXG2n-GRz9IMLSa10VlddAhyphenhyphenmOE00ClOLzKijBwN9AAX-K4ay8yKspJp57YAEKKzLgHq69xDrKAxPXFbk6Nl4TK6Ah_3EiZidk/s366/Chess%20for%20the%20people.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="366" data-original-width="332" height="320" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhwEsCrCqFc-H9dtO1mz-YZDyzWOcD-BPrE2YZV87nzdf6ulFirGw4xnImuwybZCVkKei3WTKpOvA50vzmYAEhB9qdCLAvXG2n-GRz9IMLSa10VlddAhyphenhyphenmOE00ClOLzKijBwN9AAX-K4ay8yKspJp57YAEKKzLgHq69xDrKAxPXFbk6Nl4TK6Ah_3EiZidk/w290-h320/Chess%20for%20the%20people.jpg" width="290" /></a></div><br /> <div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhgHSapvQdMgg32UvQIEPwb-InrCI7R1JXSME43lplWw6dIHSvAYARbzslxQy_HhY8L7e_G0HhCk5axb5NCrJEaYfLTybzXo6LCglviKr6Lf_lu-R2vK9C_oowmEvXMT-kZJzbQ5NUdM7g6d7cgUa54tdCy1aUIFNXNYeUR6RTxa5WNN-_-kJ2hiouO-E7w/s600/Chess%20for%20the%20people%202.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="600" data-original-width="318" height="400" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhgHSapvQdMgg32UvQIEPwb-InrCI7R1JXSME43lplWw6dIHSvAYARbzslxQy_HhY8L7e_G0HhCk5axb5NCrJEaYfLTybzXo6LCglviKr6Lf_lu-R2vK9C_oowmEvXMT-kZJzbQ5NUdM7g6d7cgUa54tdCy1aUIFNXNYeUR6RTxa5WNN-_-kJ2hiouO-E7w/w213-h400/Chess%20for%20the%20people%202.jpg" width="213" /></a></div><br /><p></p><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgcda8z-kuJ61a19MCeG0z8IR_CHFZpa7Jzogl_9Qn2dY-zjkWn8uUNjHGjNk_eirXZs6rCloLLnvPMf__tH0Lf_lo9OEt9AFERSEv-Ky4-14URO6H7QKBbgNzBiriTyMdaH-uBfJsobAGruaDfwa5VxoHe6CMP0fskTqMqQKt6km1QNkFv-w2RGaT57Ph5/s426/Chess%20for%20the%20people%203.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="426" data-original-width="311" height="320" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgcda8z-kuJ61a19MCeG0z8IR_CHFZpa7Jzogl_9Qn2dY-zjkWn8uUNjHGjNk_eirXZs6rCloLLnvPMf__tH0Lf_lo9OEt9AFERSEv-Ky4-14URO6H7QKBbgNzBiriTyMdaH-uBfJsobAGruaDfwa5VxoHe6CMP0fskTqMqQKt6km1QNkFv-w2RGaT57Ph5/s320/Chess%20for%20the%20people%203.jpg" width="234" /></a></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">source: see below</div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><br /></div><div class="separator" dir="ltr" style="clear: both; text-align: justify;">A frequent correspondent notes the above long article from <i>Al Ha'mishmar</i>. It starts with quoting a letter by <b>Ya'akov Gavish</b>, from Haderah, writing to <i>Al Ha'mishmar</i>, and published by <b>Eliahu Shahaf</b> on 27 October, 1950, p. 4. Gavish notes that much activity had been done by individuals in the country, while the center - the <b>Emanuel Lasker</b> club in Tel Aviv - had been rather inactive. Gavish also adds that this is done mostly by worker's unions and the <i>Histadrut</i> as a whole. </div><div class="separator" dir="ltr" style="clear: both; text-align: justify;"><br /></div><div class="separator" dir="ltr" style="clear: both; text-align: justify;">Shahaf agrees, and notes that only by such government or public action can chess be improved in Israel, in particular by the creation (or rather revival) of a national sports organization, as it was in the USSR, under the motto: "chess - for the people!" It adds that the Lasker club always saw all criticism as a personal attack and only did internal reforms, which amounted to nothing. </div><div class="separator" dir="ltr" style="clear: both; text-align: justify;"><br /></div><div class="separator" dir="ltr" style="clear: both; text-align: justify;">In fact, just what Shahaf says <i>was</i> done. Chess in the early state <i>was</i> taken over, in effect, by the <i>Histadrut</i> (through its sports section, <i>Ha'poel</i>) all over the country, leading to a great rise in the quality and quantity of chess in the country. </div><br />Unknownnoreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5342397130404928093.post-67546014989041539752024-01-19T10:12:00.000-08:002024-02-21T10:00:48.276-08:00Computer Chess<p dir="ltr" style="text-align: justify;"></p><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/a/AVvXsEg6hZfi2h97S3iOQOaPQl7YReC-YEiK3F0RcINJztcQGo-EzlPRBVI7p5S53hDE2DSlmAdH5iGDNlN8oH9KH-LteBhX7rz1wUVkNNP10wDh6toswp-_A4Mes36juNgtWUEB8qKt_-UBDeo1Dy-bM5_3Yh9irm0y7_ALXFnVqEQjTtGguUyM_bGqMROayoRQ" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img alt="" data-original-height="183" data-original-width="275" height="213" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/a/AVvXsEg6hZfi2h97S3iOQOaPQl7YReC-YEiK3F0RcINJztcQGo-EzlPRBVI7p5S53hDE2DSlmAdH5iGDNlN8oH9KH-LteBhX7rz1wUVkNNP10wDh6toswp-_A4Mes36juNgtWUEB8qKt_-UBDeo1Dy-bM5_3Yh9irm0y7_ALXFnVqEQjTtGguUyM_bGqMROayoRQ" width="320" /></a></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">Source: www.chess.com</div><p></p><p dir="ltr" style="text-align: justify;">Chess, a timeless game that transcends borders and cultures, has found a significant place within the Jewish community. Beyond being a strategic pastime, chess has woven itself into the rich tapestry of Jewish history, culture, and intellect. In this blog post, we'll explore the enduring legacy of Jews and chess, tracing its roots, examining notable figures, and contemplating the symbolic resonance that the game holds within this community.</p><p dir="ltr" style="text-align: justify;">The history of Jews and chess is a tale of intellectual resilience and cultural prominence. Chess, often referred to as the "game of kings," found itself embraced by a community known for its commitment to education and intellectual pursuits. From the streets of medieval Jewish quarters to the salons of contemporary Jewish intellectuals, chess has been a cultural beacon, reflecting the strategic acumen and love for intellectual challenges within the Jewish tradition.</p><p dir="ltr" style="text-align: justify;">Chess is a game of tactics, strategy, and foresight. In many ways, the chessboard becomes a metaphor for the challenges and triumphs of Jewish history. Whether navigating the complexities of diaspora life, facing adversity, or contributing to the fields of science and the arts, Jews have often drawn parallels between their experiences and the moves on a chessboard. The game becomes a symbolic reflection of the intricate dance between tradition and adaptation.</p><p dir="ltr" style="text-align: justify;">Throughout history, Jews have made significant contributions to the world of chess. <b>Akiba Rubinstein</b>, one of the strongest chess players of the early 20th century, left an indelible mark on the game. His strategic brilliance and innovative playstyle have inspired generations of chess enthusiasts.</p><p dir="ltr" style="text-align: justify;">Another prominent figure is Grandmaster <b>Bobby Fischer</b>, whose Jewish heritage became a notable aspect of his identity. Fischer's prodigious talent and eventual rise to become World Chess Champion in 1972 captured the imagination of the world and further cemented the connection between Jews and chess on the global stage.</p><p dir="ltr" style="text-align: justify;">Jewish literature and art have also embraced the symbolism and narrative potential of chess. From <b>Isaac Bashevis Singer</b>'s stories to the works of Jewish artists, the chessboard often appears as a backdrop for exploring themes of strategy, intellect, and the unfolding drama of life. It becomes a metaphorical stage where characters grapple with their destinies, much like the moves of a carefully orchestrated chess game. </p><p dir="ltr" style="text-align: justify;">Chess education has become an integral part of many Jewish communities. Schools and organizations recognize the cognitive benefits of chess, promoting it as a tool for intellectual development. The game fosters critical thinking, patience, and discipline—all values that resonate deeply within the Jewish cultural ethos.</p><p dir="ltr" style="text-align: justify;">The relationship between Jews and chess is a compelling narrative of intellectual prowess, cultural resonance, and the enduring spirit of a community. As the chess pieces move across the board, so too does the rich history of Jewish contributions to this game. Whether seen as a metaphor, a source of inspiration, or a tool for education, the enduring legacy of Jews and chess continues to shape the narrative of both the game and the community that has embraced it throughout the ages.</p><p dir="ltr" style="text-align: justify;"><i>(I hope you forgive my little joke. This is indeed computer chess -- that is, computer writing about chess. This is ChatGPT's reply to a request to write a blog post about Jewish Chess History.)</i></p>Unknownnoreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5342397130404928093.post-74523167412965592462024-01-11T09:36:00.000-08:002024-02-21T10:01:14.208-08:00Chess in Airplanes, 1937<p dir="ltr" style="text-align: center;"></p><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/a/AVvXsEhCQ5DD_oFnISrjHLiqPRCaZOB6i1UBQ7PPPkbCOoVxGYbKnOpTdTxmhBgjtP6THjE5d950LLo5mN16rvRSdPB641-TqkQOJT9VirvvkSzW5_4FlMkQgYnukIsL8UkTvDd98rl9mSG6qLT3QH2s2cEW_HQnDahOKd6OsyTZTrXpirvXURGFTSwTA1MnGBtP" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img alt="" data-original-height="465" data-original-width="1000" height="186" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/a/AVvXsEhCQ5DD_oFnISrjHLiqPRCaZOB6i1UBQ7PPPkbCOoVxGYbKnOpTdTxmhBgjtP6THjE5d950LLo5mN16rvRSdPB641-TqkQOJT9VirvvkSzW5_4FlMkQgYnukIsL8UkTvDd98rl9mSG6qLT3QH2s2cEW_HQnDahOKd6OsyTZTrXpirvXURGFTSwTA1MnGBtP=w400-h186" width="400" /></a></div><div dir="ltr" style="text-align: center;">Source: <i>The Sunday Star</i>, 17 January 1937, p. B-7</div><p></p><p dir="ltr" style="text-align: center;"></p><div dir="ltr" style="text-align: justify;">A frequent correspondent notes a chess item not related to Jews: that of airplanes, in 1937, having special magnetic chess sets for passengers. Of course, in those days, air travel was a real luxury, costing in real terms almost ten times as much as it does today. </div><br /><p></p>Unknownnoreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5342397130404928093.post-62630020436566516722024-01-11T09:17:00.000-08:002024-02-21T10:01:49.987-08:00Grave of Max Weiss<p dir="ltr" style="text-align: center;"> </p><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiRSQx9qHoCd252mHX-uDxRyHG3hqhfMMnck_WWuJ9pwz0CGUYZsHFhjwI2VbKhJJrV4R3Bg3qm2cuYWydWuRpoR7bGB-4GPD5qvXQDKHEl61JO59ZQkiYYOCrnm8odcgoawSyNzCBrvWD3qV7HtErIcw4yDt2bmVAOMf5xdlufqfKL_FIitnpUK_GeGXgI/s356/image001%20(6).png" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="356" data-original-width="232" height="400" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiRSQx9qHoCd252mHX-uDxRyHG3hqhfMMnck_WWuJ9pwz0CGUYZsHFhjwI2VbKhJJrV4R3Bg3qm2cuYWydWuRpoR7bGB-4GPD5qvXQDKHEl61JO59ZQkiYYOCrnm8odcgoawSyNzCBrvWD3qV7HtErIcw4yDt2bmVAOMf5xdlufqfKL_FIitnpUK_GeGXgI/w261-h400/image001%20(6).png" width="261" /></a></div><div dir="ltr" style="text-align: center;">Source: Wikipedia (in German)</div><p></p><p dir="ltr" style="text-align: justify;">Mr. Halsegger further informs us of the grave of <b>Max Weiss</b>, the Hungarian-Austrian master, 1857-1927. It is in the New Jewish cemetery in Vienna, is given in the German-language wikipedia entry for him, under his birth name of <a href="https://de.wikipedia.org/wiki/Miksa_Wei%C3%9F" target="_blank"><b>Miksa Weiß</b></a>.</p>Unknownnoreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5342397130404928093.post-88959572426951727632024-01-11T09:01:00.000-08:002024-02-21T10:02:31.266-08:00Alekhine's Speech<p dir="ltr" style="text-align: center;"> </p><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/a/AVvXsEiIjFHDOoe3QzNdxBpF0Bhgl3xacR0BsCF-sjKVx2WA_d6_m1Kx22MgO_Eb0am7CFBV8FSUEssyYLc1drZxm4zayzW-bNHeZia61RryKyfJuzWglur4aJyHrPLhKAFEm92MWAbyXQdWrUTTzH4LDXSMjrjCWvVcHO-a-f3-BFVpxsB5t-eUzy3gj94JdYhn" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img alt="" data-original-height="570" data-original-width="807" height="283" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/a/AVvXsEiIjFHDOoe3QzNdxBpF0Bhgl3xacR0BsCF-sjKVx2WA_d6_m1Kx22MgO_Eb0am7CFBV8FSUEssyYLc1drZxm4zayzW-bNHeZia61RryKyfJuzWglur4aJyHrPLhKAFEm92MWAbyXQdWrUTTzH4LDXSMjrjCWvVcHO-a-f3-BFVpxsB5t-eUzy3gj94JdYhn=w400-h283" width="400" /></a></div><div dir="ltr" style="text-align: center;">Source: <i>Der Tag</i>, 3 August 1945, p. 1 of English Section</div><p></p><p dir="ltr" style="text-align: justify;">In the above letter, brought to our attention by <b>Herbert Halsegger</b>, a letter by <b>Jacob Bernstein</b> (ex-NY champion), <b>Alekhine</b> is criticized among other things for giving a speech after his 1936 match with <b>Bogoljubow</b> in which he praised the Nazi system. Is this speech available in magazines from the time? One wonders to what degree this praise shows real enthusiasm for Nazism and to what degree it's a polite thank to the hosts, in this case the Germans. </p>Unknownnoreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5342397130404928093.post-59460254905365706222023-12-31T09:22:00.000-08:002023-12-31T09:23:29.856-08:00An Atypical Advertisement<p dir="ltr" style="text-align: center;"> </p><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/a/AVvXsEj9a35YywiXjuPXQKp4FaxB5fZHHiEFMFI1Z-NSYkItfboS00TSH5jXWh3joyMO3dIOiTA4lDNT9iIwKFrPZrQ5DiuPv5CRv9OPaCrQzfhzp9qjBmpF32GHj_4SVpW7sxT7fTNsuaVTaKt8N2Pt9kh4_Wg5_WQxlRFVrP93VQTfpg9PWEbfUPnez1_3HUne" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img alt="" data-original-height="443" data-original-width="527" height="336" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/a/AVvXsEj9a35YywiXjuPXQKp4FaxB5fZHHiEFMFI1Z-NSYkItfboS00TSH5jXWh3joyMO3dIOiTA4lDNT9iIwKFrPZrQ5DiuPv5CRv9OPaCrQzfhzp9qjBmpF32GHj_4SVpW7sxT7fTNsuaVTaKt8N2Pt9kh4_Wg5_WQxlRFVrP93VQTfpg9PWEbfUPnez1_3HUne=w400-h336" width="400" /></a></div><div dir="ltr" style="text-align: center;">Source: <i>Sunday Star</i>, 10 January 1926, Gravure Section (no page number)</div><p></p><p dir="ltr" style="text-align: justify;">The following is part of an advertisement for <a href="https://www.loc.gov/resource/sn83045462/1926-01-10/ed-1/?sp=96&q=evening+star+chess&r=-0.633,0.835,1.83,0.695,0" target="_blank">yeast as a cure-all</a> from the <i>Sunday Star</i>, brought to our attention by Mr. <b>Herbert Halsegger</b>. It is interesting since chess is sometimes used in advertisements as a metaphor for a difficult task which the product helps achieve (e.g., cigarettes help one's concentration in chess), or as a metaphor where the product is seen as the winning side of a chess game, it is not often one gets advertisements with testimonials where the product was <i>heard</i> about over the chess board, as in this case! </p>Unknownnoreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5342397130404928093.post-85892636403060834232023-12-31T09:11:00.000-08:002023-12-31T09:23:09.830-08:00Alekhine's Wife Denied Entry<p dir="ltr" style="text-align: center;"> </p><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/a/AVvXsEgdX24Ib6XyP3y6TeVKEZKzPsFzakqX6j_fQ_PeWsdCVjN4Wuorgd7LJJGbotqINvP6vao-BUR5ZZE3P9YFnWoWFbpD4_HTtI6zDyWzZhl3I9jGn0ZEIJsW3hvMPzr99bxOyNOq7QsR05BfocFJAT2iLwOSEDHZhrHsdVwQZS7_N5BbYvhgwd5ZdpKoGp7E" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img alt="" data-original-height="413" data-original-width="230" height="400" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/a/AVvXsEgdX24Ib6XyP3y6TeVKEZKzPsFzakqX6j_fQ_PeWsdCVjN4Wuorgd7LJJGbotqINvP6vao-BUR5ZZE3P9YFnWoWFbpD4_HTtI6zDyWzZhl3I9jGn0ZEIJsW3hvMPzr99bxOyNOq7QsR05BfocFJAT2iLwOSEDHZhrHsdVwQZS7_N5BbYvhgwd5ZdpKoGp7E=w223-h400" width="223" /></a></div><div dir="ltr" style="text-align: center;">Source: <i>Evening Star</i>, 25 January 1926, p. 13</div><p></p><p dir="ltr" style="text-align: justify;">An interesting item from <b>Herbert Halsegger</b> notes that <b>Alekhine</b>'s wife, <b>Anna Liese </b>[sic - <a href="https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Annelise_R%C3%BCegg" target="_blank">Annelise</a> is correct] <b>Ruegg-Alekhine</b>, was denied entry to the USA because she could not post a $500 bond to ensure her status as a temporary visitor. It is interesting that she was denied entry despite the fact that the American consul in Zurich granted her a visa. Also interesting is that Alekhine, not known as a teetotaler, married a woman who was a leader in the prohibition movement! </p><p dir="ltr" style="text-align: justify;">It should be added that she met and married Alekhine in Russia, and they had been married only a short time, in 1921, before Alekhine left Russia. As the link above notes, they divorced in 1926, so the paper's claim (in January of that year) that she was Alekhine's wife was correct. <b>Sergei Tkachenco</b>'s <i>Alekhine's Odessa Secrets</i> (see <a href="https://xpertchesslessons.wordpress.com/tag/anneliese-ruegg/" target="_blank">here</a> for a review) notes, as the review says, that the marriage fell apart almost immediately after the couple left Russia, him being obsessed with chess and her with politics. This is corroborated, again per the book's review, with the testimony of their son. </p><p dir="ltr" style="text-align: justify;">Whether the marriage was in fact a fictitious marriage for Alekhine to get out of Russia or simply a marriage that failed is, of course, very hard to determine. It is true that Ms. Ruegg was significantly older than Alekhine at the time - by 13 years - and the marriage didn't last long after they couple left Russia. But on the other hand they did have a son. In any case, merely failing in marriage is not in itself proof the marriages are sham marriages (<b>Folke Rogard</b>, for instance, FIDE's president, was married four times).</p>Unknownnoreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5342397130404928093.post-47895042367923035672023-12-27T10:46:00.000-08:002023-12-27T10:47:21.416-08:00Chess Memorabilia on Auction<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/a/AVvXsEi2NwcgEC2lFbllthH-bnKd3nBylqBIuEV2HdZj5EVaymkX3MHkQCVzhGLFalSctunnkkWhz9auTEX8gk1eB4IDqsLMw2AC0HdbB81AXc0LPh8NLEvHvYPJccfkYQCk9H0prN0bO1QE6QZPpCggdRZ2HHd3BOGIRTamJlR9ycYkI_CrGmtkiXUYO3DvQK2q" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img alt="" data-original-height="562" data-original-width="978" height="230" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/a/AVvXsEi2NwcgEC2lFbllthH-bnKd3nBylqBIuEV2HdZj5EVaymkX3MHkQCVzhGLFalSctunnkkWhz9auTEX8gk1eB4IDqsLMw2AC0HdbB81AXc0LPh8NLEvHvYPJccfkYQCk9H0prN0bO1QE6QZPpCggdRZ2HHd3BOGIRTamJlR9ycYkI_CrGmtkiXUYO3DvQK2q=w400-h230" width="400" /></a></div><div class="separator" dir="ltr" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">Source: see <a href="https://www.klittich-pfankuch.de/auktio40/AK33b.htm" target="_blank">here</a><div><p style="text-align: right;"></p></div></div><div><p dir="ltr" style="text-align: justify;"><b>Herbert Halsegger</b> notes the site in the link above, of an auction of chess items, which has an Israeli connection in some of the items offered for sale. One is the first-day envelope of the 1970 students' world chess championship - with a stamp of the 1964 Tel Aviv olympiad. Another is three photos of <b>Moshe Czerniak</b> - two from Mar de Plata, 1943, and another from Vienna, 1951: </p><p dir="ltr" style="text-align: center;"></p><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/a/AVvXsEjpsFHOyLFzMivBPzroNMrTCGABoYkBAGPxH31QUmdCmoAKVIASUIvCVuO4hHNqHdt548L3VtJHAOCJSIL-68hsspy0XsEjxSkBdulbvKvMzWkN-HTrGAXqAyo2kfuqNwdTlElhyNgS0HWKuAfDT-HouVUVEECW7Q_EI9QcEO5poUdPZ5M0LCfox_c2rcUa" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img alt="" data-original-height="862" data-original-width="1507" height="229" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/a/AVvXsEjpsFHOyLFzMivBPzroNMrTCGABoYkBAGPxH31QUmdCmoAKVIASUIvCVuO4hHNqHdt548L3VtJHAOCJSIL-68hsspy0XsEjxSkBdulbvKvMzWkN-HTrGAXqAyo2kfuqNwdTlElhyNgS0HWKuAfDT-HouVUVEECW7Q_EI9QcEO5poUdPZ5M0LCfox_c2rcUa=w400-h229" width="400" /></a></div><p dir="ltr" style="text-align: center;"></p><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/a/AVvXsEi31PHFTOoS9S9z9zW7YEhP4xepPel2AsIb-uruRxMo3Ymq_h_pY3V_xWlsVpgDflihUewfSlUf51bM0BWGj5C_XlfU5QQY-LFuPlouW9kN65f-p5Y5cNMMJN2KUr37OPMrgqrf44lYa_QnN-kwFDd5vqh0yRprnKCzigvclCZUBBECB6JNb8CJEWZY040l" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img alt="" data-original-height="803" data-original-width="1570" height="205" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/a/AVvXsEi31PHFTOoS9S9z9zW7YEhP4xepPel2AsIb-uruRxMo3Ymq_h_pY3V_xWlsVpgDflihUewfSlUf51bM0BWGj5C_XlfU5QQY-LFuPlouW9kN65f-p5Y5cNMMJN2KUr37OPMrgqrf44lYa_QnN-kwFDd5vqh0yRprnKCzigvclCZUBBECB6JNb8CJEWZY040l=w400-h205" width="400" /></a></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><br /></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/a/AVvXsEifJ6mSVoRzaaXtjAY5LtElLFYIoFTjohywYcfBgWJiG3NLIRMqBVuSRz30OQgAL6wd6K2MJnJ6Bhcny66D3Z1Plj1hNsbb6_aN_uhfa87LGHk9cT2DfI3o4-yAlBkay-ixMWrFvnS7yZ4jfJGotDpUydcPMKQtpyb6gPEdRftDbpRjkAq1Nw_8UljU_utE" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img alt="" data-original-height="757" data-original-width="992" height="305" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/a/AVvXsEifJ6mSVoRzaaXtjAY5LtElLFYIoFTjohywYcfBgWJiG3NLIRMqBVuSRz30OQgAL6wd6K2MJnJ6Bhcny66D3Z1Plj1hNsbb6_aN_uhfa87LGHk9cT2DfI3o4-yAlBkay-ixMWrFvnS7yZ4jfJGotDpUydcPMKQtpyb6gPEdRftDbpRjkAq1Nw_8UljU_utE=w400-h305" width="400" /></a></div><br /><br /></div><br /><br /><p></p><br /><p></p></div>Unknownnoreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5342397130404928093.post-64386721191452364272023-12-27T10:16:00.000-08:002023-12-27T10:47:50.487-08:00Winning Posthumously<p dir="ltr" style="text-align: center;"> </p><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/a/AVvXsEgtSERKIVIjIdwBSpLH_XB5Vdoh1RsYiHoQmavnzHcety7X6a3KtOnlNviyTDO8K26ZPAPjfObC9b0KsU5FioZYqMp0N0QJYKPOumb7yxiOYrC8OKIkRJuz8WW3VtNJ1uz6cyMOJzsCqlMOUpzIDg7XJw1vbW5pucCCmihkkAcyEKACpv1FiqEi9yd8GtC5" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img alt="" data-original-height="488" data-original-width="238" height="400" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/a/AVvXsEgtSERKIVIjIdwBSpLH_XB5Vdoh1RsYiHoQmavnzHcety7X6a3KtOnlNviyTDO8K26ZPAPjfObC9b0KsU5FioZYqMp0N0QJYKPOumb7yxiOYrC8OKIkRJuz8WW3VtNJ1uz6cyMOJzsCqlMOUpzIDg7XJw1vbW5pucCCmihkkAcyEKACpv1FiqEi9yd8GtC5=w195-h400" width="195" /></a></div><div dir="ltr" style="text-align: center;">Source: <i>The Sunday Star</i>, 30 March 1952, p. B-12</div><p></p><p dir="ltr" style="text-align: justify;">As this selection pointed out by <b>Herbert Halsegger </b>points out, <b>Juan Quesada</b>, the Cuban player, died after the 16th round but actually was awarded two points posthumously. This is the same tournament in which <b>Larry Evans</b> later claimed, falsely, that <b>Lodewijk Prins</b> adjourned in a lost position against Quesada since "anything can happen." See <b>Edward Winter</b>'s "<a href="https://www.chesshistory.com/winter/extra/evans.html" target="_blank">The Facts About Larry Evans</a>."</p><p dir="ltr" style="text-align: center;"><br /></p>Unknownnoreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5342397130404928093.post-88930831517337166552023-12-27T09:59:00.000-08:002023-12-27T10:48:18.335-08:00<p dir="ltr" style="text-align: center;"></p><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/a/AVvXsEhC7lx_lIP38linrCC6UQnNy6W9Zo9PQ9LjoRK8ikTqpUIDRNMmyQ6JvOHRWxTohX6hucgEg-auxytFk9VKBVHBUP-YAxAYGimD81wL_QmYQhpB9lckKthE9EEH2lq4kriQPqT-qTO3M0U2ESnFL5Wfyt5GUNhwGQV9VZG2X6_IpfK6BNXbmRmcAWjtk2Vu" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img alt="" data-original-height="677" data-original-width="292" height="400" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/a/AVvXsEhC7lx_lIP38linrCC6UQnNy6W9Zo9PQ9LjoRK8ikTqpUIDRNMmyQ6JvOHRWxTohX6hucgEg-auxytFk9VKBVHBUP-YAxAYGimD81wL_QmYQhpB9lckKthE9EEH2lq4kriQPqT-qTO3M0U2ESnFL5Wfyt5GUNhwGQV9VZG2X6_IpfK6BNXbmRmcAWjtk2Vu=w173-h400" width="173" /></a></div><div dir="ltr" style="text-align: center;">Source: <i>Sunday Star</i><i>,</i> 19 January 1936, B-11</div><p></p><p dir="ltr" style="text-align: justify;">The above photo is from a long article in the <i>Sunday Star</i> (the Sunday supplement of the <i>Evening Star</i>) brought to our attention by <b>Herbert Halsegger</b>. It has a good photo of <b><a href="https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Isador_Samuel_Turover" target="_blank">Isador Samuel Turover</a></b>, an American-Jewish master with particular connections to <b>Vladimir Sournin</b> and <b>Frank Marshall</b>. A chess philanthropist and organizer as well as a player, he among other things sponsored <b>Bobby Fischer</b>'s attendance in the 1962 Stockholm interzonal. </p>Unknownnoreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5342397130404928093.post-74086425121778629942023-12-27T09:48:00.000-08:002023-12-27T09:49:28.936-08:00Najdorf Playing the President of Mexico<p> </p><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/a/AVvXsEgYVhJYsPoWxLJpgvb4Rl5hWVGX1mNWtn5IQZCd-Vg5HsGh_xTuPvuFWqY9X2m3nF5NjGo_Mwlw4hmXcgYgEyN_dNNy3_yh16D9dYKCATkHMRE3H4W7qS6MxBtlC0j3X3dFx5xd8W22X6MsRLaeJ9ph08pOtcy81_EdnUIo7NksxG0iDf9IFYz2Xjos1CYu" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img alt="" data-original-height="357" data-original-width="332" height="400" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/a/AVvXsEgYVhJYsPoWxLJpgvb4Rl5hWVGX1mNWtn5IQZCd-Vg5HsGh_xTuPvuFWqY9X2m3nF5NjGo_Mwlw4hmXcgYgEyN_dNNy3_yh16D9dYKCATkHMRE3H4W7qS6MxBtlC0j3X3dFx5xd8W22X6MsRLaeJ9ph08pOtcy81_EdnUIo7NksxG0iDf9IFYz2Xjos1CYu=w372-h400" width="372" /></a></div><div dir="ltr" style="text-align: center;">Source: <i>The Southern Jewish Weekly</i><u>,</u> 27 July 1951, p. 7</div><div dir="ltr" style="text-align: center;"><br /></div><div dir="ltr" style="text-align: justify;">The above note - brought to our attention by <b>Herbert Halsegger</b>, our frequent correspondent - noted that <b>Najdorf</b> had played with Gen. <b>Solo Larrea</b> and will play with president of Mexico, <b>Aleman</b>. Not bad for an exhibition tour! </div><p></p>Unknownnoreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5342397130404928093.post-60010334265148112752023-11-28T13:12:00.000-08:002024-02-21T10:03:20.927-08:00Establishment of the Israeli League<p dir="ltr" style="text-align: center;"> </p><div class="separator" dir="ltr" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/a/AVvXsEjXnqXlrGqTKqrCVPZVYxxJ_c7eEJ0T1lJ1CsjDXmVWpDvcm_AAqFIy-zKta6nyqcMnqst846BF4sK4x_PFE8pPMeFnOBGZh2hjr3KmFmrxQtPSWL37gLBj_Bpx4byND35iK5vs9wyW6lTZ03JcA9Xu-K99WJW1Nv2B20huxhsV1pseu4EnUOBiYbfxmF1p" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img alt="" data-original-height="50" data-original-width="293" height="69" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/a/AVvXsEjXnqXlrGqTKqrCVPZVYxxJ_c7eEJ0T1lJ1CsjDXmVWpDvcm_AAqFIy-zKta6nyqcMnqst846BF4sK4x_PFE8pPMeFnOBGZh2hjr3KmFmrxQtPSWL37gLBj_Bpx4byND35iK5vs9wyW6lTZ03JcA9Xu-K99WJW1Nv2B20huxhsV1pseu4EnUOBiYbfxmF1p=w400-h69" width="400" /></a></div><div class="separator" dir="ltr" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">Source: see below</div><p dir="ltr" style="text-align: justify;">The above three-line note from <i>Ha'aretz</i>'s chess column of Aug. 14th, 1953 (p. 4) may not look not much. It merely says "in its meeting the ICF decided to arrange a national team championship soon." But as a frequent correspondent points out, this is the first public notice on the ICF's decision to establish league play - which still is going on, 70 years later. </p>Unknownnoreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5342397130404928093.post-1576865829457384902023-11-28T13:03:00.000-08:002023-11-30T06:34:11.546-08:00Judaism and Chess on Postcards<p dir="ltr" style="text-align: justify;">Our correspondent <b>Terje Christiansen </b>send us three chess related postcards found in the <a href="https://www.blavatnikarchive.org/search?search=chess&st=items" target="_blank">Blatatnik Archive Jewish Postcards collection</a>. The last one below is an antisemitic caricature describing chess as the "Game of Cohens" (a German pun on chess being the "Game of Kings"), but the other two are rather romantic pictures of, well, Jews playing chess, with no antisemitic overtones. The details of all the postcards are found by clicking on the images of the postcards in the link above. </p><p dir="ltr" style="text-align: justify;"></p><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/a/AVvXsEihaCVSvY9AOsJdMqYt195JqseweKMdwKn2a2qXKM4tk3vgNYgvzTChP7gLBQtnyyimkOxNbjt1puIv8jKTM1sLpBmiGM1FDXdLhM7KMWn2WLByF0O002mN6iLmJmf6Ray3N1lHN3AZM_D24FJNZiq2JE75ITgazcZWybnjV-PeRNGe_FPyyOA7UHwufPln" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img alt="" data-original-height="700" data-original-width="895" height="313" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/a/AVvXsEihaCVSvY9AOsJdMqYt195JqseweKMdwKn2a2qXKM4tk3vgNYgvzTChP7gLBQtnyyimkOxNbjt1puIv8jKTM1sLpBmiGM1FDXdLhM7KMWn2WLByF0O002mN6iLmJmf6Ray3N1lHN3AZM_D24FJNZiq2JE75ITgazcZWybnjV-PeRNGe_FPyyOA7UHwufPln=w400-h313" width="400" /></a></div><br /><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/a/AVvXsEioNUmdhzFRB9TluGl-k4ZO5Kw6XT9XIgp4hrvLnwgKhz5UzgDtBYfvttQqSWxKy-f3rjdgXNmWaa3_UVsaGTf8wyllgQ7IvEIJHAnTizKniZjM-UPA79XLN2fRcaRUkFYaU0EeAe5ipz16beJWXJ70ado0RcymDa4n8hUtmnNdADsPlJiGw0dRxkVLxM00" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img alt="" data-original-height="700" data-original-width="895" height="313" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/a/AVvXsEioNUmdhzFRB9TluGl-k4ZO5Kw6XT9XIgp4hrvLnwgKhz5UzgDtBYfvttQqSWxKy-f3rjdgXNmWaa3_UVsaGTf8wyllgQ7IvEIJHAnTizKniZjM-UPA79XLN2fRcaRUkFYaU0EeAe5ipz16beJWXJ70ado0RcymDa4n8hUtmnNdADsPlJiGw0dRxkVLxM00=w400-h313" width="400" /></a></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><br /></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/a/AVvXsEhM9CMWB6LCC-pKGd47bMqzAoM4QCneuR7FWNsZMDdC_uCsbWR3Snh-8-bIfl2p2ncdJjffxIQidjjuE8ddG_mwl3lArMbztF1qUqF1XGNL0_OVn8w2GQSXUvnjHQQ4NqspzHvl2eaWv6oYeWC9bZRJIYxdaHl-YRYSvGoAqcHK_KMQoaNEY_-WA1zz8cSF" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img alt="" data-original-height="700" data-original-width="895" height="313" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/a/AVvXsEhM9CMWB6LCC-pKGd47bMqzAoM4QCneuR7FWNsZMDdC_uCsbWR3Snh-8-bIfl2p2ncdJjffxIQidjjuE8ddG_mwl3lArMbztF1qUqF1XGNL0_OVn8w2GQSXUvnjHQQ4NqspzHvl2eaWv6oYeWC9bZRJIYxdaHl-YRYSvGoAqcHK_KMQoaNEY_-WA1zz8cSF=w400-h313" width="400" /></a></div><br /><br /><br /><p></p>Unknownnoreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5342397130404928093.post-38464892325183498532023-11-02T06:44:00.001-07:002023-11-02T06:44:11.105-07:00Doulingo and Chess<p> </p><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjuSjsPx6qZh2u3oZ71Pq4jx2vAsf7bE3xn9fH3NIdETU4UVeiY5LqP99aS4bSROhbURPZij78E29L0oUCd1ofxkeIuiU_LXiB4E2TKg9FWehJgQk45MK0KRLOkSz1myLxLoVOwAMwGra7QB_ZxphCHrTY4kGOHDkDgpVqv3eXj5cK-RMIqpN6J2zrED3e6/s2400/Screenshot_20231102_074959_Duolingo.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="2400" data-original-width="1080" height="400" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjuSjsPx6qZh2u3oZ71Pq4jx2vAsf7bE3xn9fH3NIdETU4UVeiY5LqP99aS4bSROhbURPZij78E29L0oUCd1ofxkeIuiU_LXiB4E2TKg9FWehJgQk45MK0KRLOkSz1myLxLoVOwAMwGra7QB_ZxphCHrTY4kGOHDkDgpVqv3eXj5cK-RMIqpN6J2zrED3e6/w180-h400/Screenshot_20231102_074959_Duolingo.jpg" width="180" /></a></div><div dir="ltr" style="text-align: center;">Credit: see below</div><div dir="ltr" style="text-align: justify;"><br /></div><div dir="ltr" style="text-align: justify;">The above picture, from my own cellphone, is this month's challenge on the popular language-learning application, <b><a href="https://www.duolingo.com/" target="_blank">Doulingo</a></b>. There is a one-month chess.com membership. Duolingo also has an interesting language-centered blog, which has an interesting post about <a href="https://blog.duolingo.com/language-history-of-chess-checkmate/" target="_blank">chess-related words</a>: chess, check, checkmate, etc. As is typical of Douligo's posts, the language is informal and intended to be humorous and fun, but, so far as I can tell, the facts are quite accurate. </div><p></p>Unknownnoreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5342397130404928093.post-68723881969223262582023-10-25T11:28:00.004-07:002023-10-25T12:27:28.593-07:00ICF Partiorism<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhFuNP5cT5uGRPCwKqjDxCXpbar-ShagQfp6tMKdV4CrEbvzdid7fJWNCTpUteTZjlQtkEedLwsnbWWuz_ICYlGRQqjsENQmxMHgJR3yvbXw_xUHHYa7xey4JlSjWvshPI42kQFlcDRWpExSOqxDgV0gDzqLyyAMTuyyyZgajeOnPRBSffnG103Zv8q2B96/s8192/202310182231203175433..jpg" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="5664" data-original-width="8192" height="276" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhFuNP5cT5uGRPCwKqjDxCXpbar-ShagQfp6tMKdV4CrEbvzdid7fJWNCTpUteTZjlQtkEedLwsnbWWuz_ICYlGRQqjsENQmxMHgJR3yvbXw_xUHHYa7xey4JlSjWvshPI42kQFlcDRWpExSOqxDgV0gDzqLyyAMTuyyyZgajeOnPRBSffnG103Zv8q2B96/w400-h276/202310182231203175433..jpg" width="400" /></a></div><div dir="ltr" style="text-align: center;">Credit: see below</div><p dir="ltr" style="text-align: left;"><span style="text-align: justify;">The </span><a href="https://www.chess.org.il/ContentPages/ContentPage.aspx?Id=4808" style="text-align: justify;" target="_blank">Israel Chess Federation</a><span style="text-align: justify;"> had posted a series of photos of Israeli players and teams, mostly in international events such as the </span><a href="https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/44th_Chess_Olympiad" style="text-align: justify;" target="_blank">2022 Olympiad</a><span style="text-align: justify;">. The photos are by </span><b style="text-align: justify;">Dr. Mark Liebschitz</b><span style="text-align: justify;"> [ph. spelling]. Of particular interest is the above image - what seems to be a (small) double blindfold simul (3 boards each) in the Israeli Knesset, or parliament. </span></p>Unknownnoreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5342397130404928093.post-50463495428319768282023-10-25T11:14:00.004-07:002023-10-25T12:26:54.076-07:00Chess on Reserve Duty<p dir="ltr" style="text-align: center;"> </p><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEh_hukdysgzzMF9EN2UrK88Fxb1OQfwDF349ss8I8Wu9rYVDCwEz1ElWWSKKSKp8LRWNyav_xaANNp1-ncpLMO5V20uh7WpzbLQghTuMvGTsuaQeVXPQCzLnNqViJWWYpzsShp5kQYTW-uhwxLIx0MF-F3orWsM4MXs1dUEiTWG51H7JQ6MrSZcWkpMfrF_/s1080/90ff1595-d978-4435-909f-64a01be284e1.jpeg" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="513" data-original-width="1080" height="190" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEh_hukdysgzzMF9EN2UrK88Fxb1OQfwDF349ss8I8Wu9rYVDCwEz1ElWWSKKSKp8LRWNyav_xaANNp1-ncpLMO5V20uh7WpzbLQghTuMvGTsuaQeVXPQCzLnNqViJWWYpzsShp5kQYTW-uhwxLIx0MF-F3orWsM4MXs1dUEiTWG51H7JQ6MrSZcWkpMfrF_/w400-h190/90ff1595-d978-4435-909f-64a01be284e1.jpeg" width="400" /></a></div><div dir="ltr" style="text-align: center;">Source: see below</div><p dir="ltr" style="text-align: left;"></p><p dir="ltr" style="text-align: justify;">I am now on reserve duty. I serve, unsurprisingly perhaps, as a history officer in the IDF's history department. My commanding officer sent me and others this photo of two IDF soldiers playing chess in a military base somewhere. Of course, the faces of the soldiers were hidden in the original image as well and it is an unclassified one. White (left) seems to be winning. </p>Unknownnoreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5342397130404928093.post-50658809582015996522023-10-03T10:23:00.004-07:002023-10-03T11:09:35.406-07:00Alekhine's World Trip Discrepancy<p dir="ltr" style="text-align: left;"> </p><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEh0qaDTgvFwbLBsN-kJzCi-SMPdfZxagDmU_4hNSvKwyxP-OK99eKfQeyHhb1ySxU9YpoV_0j0XmGH8kibIhmCp4wxeHET02IztwxLQVSV73e4tmP_e_t0yKbBSQ6LI4g-syx5v5RFsUdiKoUBxokqlK7_sMpGdwUKSfgAwjETz32PzvWag8V4RiQkubxh-/s620/World%20trip.jpg" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="581" data-original-width="620" height="375" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEh0qaDTgvFwbLBsN-kJzCi-SMPdfZxagDmU_4hNSvKwyxP-OK99eKfQeyHhb1ySxU9YpoV_0j0XmGH8kibIhmCp4wxeHET02IztwxLQVSV73e4tmP_e_t0yKbBSQ6LI4g-syx5v5RFsUdiKoUBxokqlK7_sMpGdwUKSfgAwjETz32PzvWag8V4RiQkubxh-/w400-h375/World%20trip.jpg" width="400" /></a></div><div style="text-align: center;">Credit: <a href="https://www.freepik.com/free-vector/world-trip_801807.htm" target="_blank">here</a>.</div><div style="text-align: center;"><br /></div><div style="text-align: justify;">Our correspondent, <b>Herbert Halsegger</b>, pointed out to us that the <i>Neues Preßburger Tagblatt</i> of 7 February 1932, p. 6, has an interview with <b>Alekhine</b> where he discusses his planned world trip. Alekhine explicitly mentions that he will also visit Palestine as well as many other countries and locations. Interestingly, <i>Davar</i>, on 31 December 1931, p. 3, mentions Alekhine's world trip and does <i>not</i> mention him visiting Palestine. Only later - 21 January 1932, p. 3 - does <i>Davar</i> mention that a "reliable source" notes that Alekhine will visit Palestine as well. </div><div style="text-align: justify;"><br /></div><div style="text-align: justify;">What is the reason for this discrepancy? Had Alekhine changed his mind about the trip's locations in January 1932? This seems unlikely since many of the countries mentioned in both articles are the same. In particular, the starting point (Marseilles) and the location Alekhine will visit just after Palestine according to the February interview (Port Said) are mentioned. </div><div style="text-align: justify;"><br /></div><div style="text-align: justify;">Another mystery is why, if Alekhine's trip was already publicly known in December 1931 and an interview about it was given in February 1932, did <i>Davar </i>need to use an anonymous "reliable source" instead of simply noting where the details of the trip were given. </div><div style="text-align: justify;"><br /></div><div style="text-align: justify;">Finally, that Alekhine had no problem planning a trip to Palestine doesn't prove Alekhine was <i>not</i> an antisemite. He also planned to visit India and Japan, and it would be no libel on his character if it turned out he happened to share the beliefs about the inferiority of Indians or Japanese which were almost universal for Europeans of his generation. Alekhine may have been prejudiced against Jews while still visiting Palestine.</div><div style="text-align: justify;"><br /></div><div style="text-align: justify;">But there is a big moral difference between Alekhine possibly sharing prejudices against Jews common to his place and time and Alekhine being a Nazi. If Alekhine were a true believer in Nazi ideology, it is highly unlikely he would have publicly declared his intention to visit Palestine in particular. </div><div style="text-align: justify;"><br /></div><div style="text-align: justify;"><br /></div><p></p>Unknownnoreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5342397130404928093.post-25246924512063697562023-10-03T09:20:00.001-07:002023-10-03T09:20:04.756-07:00The Start of the Israel Chess Federation<p dir="ltr" style="text-align: left;"> </p><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiYUNO44pzQUY6x-LxNyvdkBBLw3aXuLzp1tKtL8fvKcv-VmI9RzBwZssnetjFrMfrpFH6mgYbgOgC7aMmcGiohaPXZhrEd23SqDw7I5oKv5kd37XfdCK02e3fn4DnhVuyDYny8dDhVNbagd-yxfK6EbvGxFixHqEE2yPmoDHbGNqalUK43rgmwCbuVWb-o/s340/Chess%20federation.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="271" data-original-width="340" height="319" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiYUNO44pzQUY6x-LxNyvdkBBLw3aXuLzp1tKtL8fvKcv-VmI9RzBwZssnetjFrMfrpFH6mgYbgOgC7aMmcGiohaPXZhrEd23SqDw7I5oKv5kd37XfdCK02e3fn4DnhVuyDYny8dDhVNbagd-yxfK6EbvGxFixHqEE2yPmoDHbGNqalUK43rgmwCbuVWb-o/w400-h319/Chess%20federation.jpg" width="400" /></a></div><p style="text-align: center;">Credit: <i>Davar Ha'shavuah</i>, 7 October 1949, p. 18.</p><p style="text-align: justify;">A frequent correspondent notes that one of the first mentions of the relaunched chess federation in the new state - the Israel Chess Federation - is in the above 1949 note. As <i>La'merhav</i> notes (3 May 1968, p. 8) the Israel Chess Federation was in fact established that year. </p><p style="text-align: justify;">The above note informs that the suggestion came originally from the <b>Lasker</b> chess club in Tel Aviv, which contacted the clubs in Haifa and Jerusalem to come to a general meeting to establish the new national federation. In particular, <b>Israel Barav</b> (here mentioned under his old name, <b>Rabinovich</b>) is mentioned in asking the Haifa club to join, and that the constitution of the federation was ratified. </p><p></p>Unknownnoreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5342397130404928093.post-28037834136429247102023-10-03T08:58:00.003-07:002023-10-03T09:05:49.998-07:00Chess in the Newsreels, Part II<p dir="ltr" style="text-align: justify;"> </p><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhRGPZdcCpHc3ItW4HgplpD55BvLxoeC_AW2vBPUedh_IIsR6w_HFuHLY92u9psh_ZtGkCxgjnKdgEh9V8SdrvPL-QPbyRzI38GERGYAnkE3NteThXW8sal6uNv9ZiphS8oukMZUYYYANA2yuOvQVocyfDRDw0MBsComZTchBJLsm3Zd89VNW-pccnM_UT0/s1337/Chess%20newsreels.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="611" data-original-width="1337" height="183" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhRGPZdcCpHc3ItW4HgplpD55BvLxoeC_AW2vBPUedh_IIsR6w_HFuHLY92u9psh_ZtGkCxgjnKdgEh9V8SdrvPL-QPbyRzI38GERGYAnkE3NteThXW8sal6uNv9ZiphS8oukMZUYYYANA2yuOvQVocyfDRDw0MBsComZTchBJLsm3Zd89VNW-pccnM_UT0/w400-h183/Chess%20newsreels.jpg" width="400" /></a></div><div style="text-align: center;">Credit: see below</div><div style="text-align: center;"><br /></div><div style="text-align: justify;">We have <a href="http://jewishchesshistory.blogspot.com/search?q=newsreel" target="_blank">already noted</a> in the past that chess was occasionally featured in newsreels in Israel (and Mandatory Palestine) in pre-television days, but some of the links in posts about "movies" or "newsreels" are no longer active. Above is a screenshot from the <a href="https://jfc.org.il/en/search/?postType=archive&search=chess" target="_blank">Israeli film archive search for "chess"</a> (in English) which features all such newsreel items, with the titles in English. The newsreels themselves are in Hebrew but there are English subtitles. </div><p></p>Unknownnoreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5342397130404928093.post-57804824024941381062023-09-27T11:25:00.006-07:002023-09-28T10:03:32.881-07:00Porat - Larsen, anti-Turton<p dir="ltr" style="text-align: justify;"><b>Edward Winter</b> <a href="https://www.chesshistory.com/winter/extra/antiturton.html" target="_blank">notes</a> that<b> Yosef Porat</b> was the victim of an anti-Turton move (or combination) by <b>Bent Larsen</b> in the 1956 Olympiad. What is an anti-Turton? As <b>Heidenfeld</b> notes (see Winter's article for details):</p><p dir="ltr" style="text-align: justify;"><span style="text-align: right;"></span></p><blockquote style="text-align: justify;">It consists in forcing the attacker who wishes to double two pieces on the same gait in such a way as to have the stronger piece in front and the weaker behind (called the Turton in the jargon of problemists) into playing the weaker piece across the so-called “critical square”... and thus into reversing the planned line-up.</blockquote><p></p><p dir="ltr" style="text-align: justify;">The game is: </p><p dir="ltr" style="text-align: justify;">Porat, Yosef - Larsen, Bent</p><p dir="ltr" style="text-align: justify;">12th Chess Olympiad, Moscow, 1956, 6th round (preliminaries) </p><p dir="ltr" style="text-align: justify;">Source: <a href="https://www.olimpbase.org/pgn4web/analysis.html?pf=uscf&pd=https://www.olimpbase.org/1956/games/EBDK1IL2.PGN" target="_blank">Olimpbase</a>. </p><p dir="ltr" style="text-align: justify;"><span style="text-align: start;"><b>1.Nf3 f5 2.c4 Nf6 3.Nc3 g6 4.b3 Bg7 5.Bb2 d6 6.d4 c6 7.e3 Qa5 8.a3 O-O 9.Be2 e5 10.b4 Qc7 11.d5 h6 12.c5 e4 13.Nd4 dxc5 14.Qb3 cxd4 15.d6+</b></span></p><p dir="ltr" style="text-align: justify;"><span style="text-align: start;"></span></p><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><div class="separator" style="clear: both; font-weight: bold; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/a/AVvXsEhnfAn53PS1y9qMijZHpIdXi61I4WfDirj2B5jL1PdottPLkL5FzA83mgVE26tuK4pe4JGOuVkZl3upRcqmW4qUZ4jWdf6KGGpujHv3o2go8CjqaZsnZowo-x9lMDxf1rxDXUkDENrACc-3eh2GH8MfwBRVW-brP6drgUb6OtRrm-34uqSHokrbvOy4gBAd" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img alt="" data-original-height="682" data-original-width="681" height="330" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/a/AVvXsEhnfAn53PS1y9qMijZHpIdXi61I4WfDirj2B5jL1PdottPLkL5FzA83mgVE26tuK4pe4JGOuVkZl3upRcqmW4qUZ4jWdf6KGGpujHv3o2go8CjqaZsnZowo-x9lMDxf1rxDXUkDENrACc-3eh2GH8MfwBRVW-brP6drgUb6OtRrm-34uqSHokrbvOy4gBAd=w330-h330" width="330" /></a></div><br /><div style="direction: ltr; text-align: start;"><b>15...Be6</b></div><div style="direction: ltr; text-align: start;"><b><br /></b></div><div style="direction: ltr; text-align: justify;"><span>Anti-Turton. 15...Qf7 (the other possible move) allows 16.Bc4, to be followed by 16...dxc3 17.Bxf7+ Rxf7 18.Bxc3, when Black has three pieces for the queen. </span></div><div style="direction: ltr; text-align: start;"><span><br /></span></div><div style="direction: ltr; text-align: justify;"><b>16.Qxe6+</b></div><div style="direction: ltr; text-align: justify;"><b><br /></b></div><div style="direction: ltr; text-align: justify;">The point behind 15...Be6: the white queen was forced to move beyond the critical square (c4), so Bc4 will no longer pin the black queen to the king after Black plays Qf7.</div><div style="direction: ltr; text-align: justify;"><b><br /></b></div><div style="direction: ltr; text-align: justify;"><b>16...Qf7 17 Qxf7+ Rxf7 18 exd4 Rd7 19 d5 Nxd5 20 Bc4 Kh7 21 Bxd5 Bxc3+ 22 Bxc3 cxd5 23 g4 Rxd6 24 gxf5 gxf5 25 Rd1 Nc6 26 b5 Nd8 27 f3 Ne6 28 fxe4 fxe4 29 Rf1 Ng5 30 Rf5 d4 31 h4 Nf3+ 32 Ke2 Rc8 33 Bb4 Rg6 </b><span>White resigns</span><b> </b><span>(</span><b>0-1</b><span>)</span><span>.</span></div></div><p></p>Unknownnoreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5342397130404928093.post-86529867428354832852023-09-27T10:46:00.006-07:002023-09-27T11:52:33.440-07:00Jeremy Silman, 1954-2023<p dir="ltr" style="text-align: justify;"></p><div class="separator" style="clear: both; font-weight: bold; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/a/AVvXsEhZpQYnYxBDE89klD7tARyOYR2GmHTrUvC10mMRkH8qZKmIWvBYgp51ty6dH49Jy9MKdpLtVpA9pdWyze7bCODSQQqz7EEM9XXkrkIX1Z2FyORH8eKbGvms6qNw2nvPDuaLRXo5PMUkT1jgk6Ve8Cwkf8an-fnGohOP-s1XDgVaC-VkEDFK2hjIfTdz__fk" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img alt="" data-original-height="500" data-original-width="349" height="400" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/a/AVvXsEhZpQYnYxBDE89klD7tARyOYR2GmHTrUvC10mMRkH8qZKmIWvBYgp51ty6dH49Jy9MKdpLtVpA9pdWyze7bCODSQQqz7EEM9XXkrkIX1Z2FyORH8eKbGvms6qNw2nvPDuaLRXo5PMUkT1jgk6Ve8Cwkf8an-fnGohOP-s1XDgVaC-VkEDFK2hjIfTdz__fk=w280-h400" width="280" /></a></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">Source: <a href="https://www.amazon.com/Pal-Benko-Life-Games-Compositions/dp/1890085081" target="_blank">amazon.com</a></div><br /><div style="text-align: justify;"><b>Jeremy Silman </b>had just passed away at the age of 69. We have many of his books, from <i>How to Reassess Your Chess</i> and <i>The Amateur's Mind</i> to his co-authored (auto)biography of <b>Pal Benko</b>, which is an excellent book. Always original in his thinking, Silman never wrote a meretricious book. Some of his books are better than others, but he always did his best - some of his books are very good, like Benko's biography. </div><p></p><p dir="ltr" style="text-align: justify;"><b>Edward Winter</b>'s <a href="https://www.chesshistory.com/winter/extra/silman.html" target="_blank">obituary</a> adds that Silman was interested in chess history, and - like Winter himself - had great admiration for the games of the old masters, such as <span style="text-align: right;"><b>Gioacchino Greco</b>, who was in Silman's estimation, "centuries ahead of his time" in chess understanding, more so than any other player in history. Curiously, he thinks Greco would have easily defeated <b>Philidor</b>! </span></p><p dir="ltr" style="text-align: justify;"><span style="text-align: right;">One thing I noted about Silman's work is that when a new edition of his books came out, it was really new. It wasn't just the same book with minor changes. Silman always put a lot of work into improving the new edition over the older one. </span></p>Unknownnoreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5342397130404928093.post-56499320167338597632023-08-12T04:01:00.008-07:002023-08-13T01:27:38.487-07:00More on Walter Tevis and Chess<p dir="ltr" style="text-align: center;"></p><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEg7EkCxgjokXXv6A52Mn7JDyfPSBFLianSMLQRT0mBANrG9RJkBUbnLoUIEPiPeqhFCooJrZ7eUonTRAgfJt7zrRIqKpBFa46uNZfWPm9GhRyT77MDqxHixWzPF3siF5eT1dQvlhwvIOyWY9p4t3CMJnTofCejnXYVMhYEZ3irLyQggaJk9YWgRmRPHen5U/s706/Tevis%20.jpg" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="706" data-original-width="468" height="400" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEg7EkCxgjokXXv6A52Mn7JDyfPSBFLianSMLQRT0mBANrG9RJkBUbnLoUIEPiPeqhFCooJrZ7eUonTRAgfJt7zrRIqKpBFa46uNZfWPm9GhRyT77MDqxHixWzPF3siF5eT1dQvlhwvIOyWY9p4t3CMJnTofCejnXYVMhYEZ3irLyQggaJk9YWgRmRPHen5U/w265-h400/Tevis%20.jpg" width="265" /></a></div><div dir="ltr" style="text-align: center;">Credit: see below</div><p></p><p dir="ltr" style="text-align: center;"></p><div style="direction: ltr; text-align: justify;">Before <i>The Queen's Gambit</i> (1983) <b>Walter Tevis</b> had published a collection of short stories, <i>Far from Home</i> (Doubleday, 1981). It is - presumably due to <i>The Queen's Gambit</i> - now sold second hand in amazon at absurd prices. One copy in "new" condition is priced at over $1000!</div><div style="text-align: justify;"><br /></div><div style="direction: ltr; text-align: justify;">It is noteworthy that Tevis was interested in chess in other stories he wrote. In this collection, the short story "Echo" has an interesting chess connection. The hero used to play chess in school; the fact that another character also recognizes the "<b>Morphy</b> attack in the King's Gambit" is a key point for discovering the other character's identity. </div><div style="direction: ltr; text-align: justify;"><br /></div><div style="direction: ltr; text-align: justify;">It is not clear which variation Tevis has in mind. There <i>is</i> a Morphy variation in the King's Gambit (C33) but Morphy often played the King's Gambit in many other variations, too, with excellent results. Like in <i>The Queen's Gambit</i>, then, the chess description in "Echo" is, therefore, somewhat vague and not fully accurate. <b>Edward Winter</b> <a href="https://www.chesshistory.com/winter/extra/fiction.html" target="_blank">points out</a> the same is true about <i>The Queen's Gambit</i>, as <a href="http://jewishchesshistory.blogspot.com/2023/05/credit-see-link-below-same-publication.html" target="_blank">previously noted</a> on this blog. But in both cases, the description of chess play makes sense in a general way. </div><div style="direction: ltr; text-align: justify;"><br /></div><div style="direction: ltr; text-align: justify;">Tevis was a mediocre player and never claimed any special chess, or chess history, expertise. But at least was not an ignoramus about chess or its history. His use of chess in fiction, while not fully accurate, is at least much better than the low standards so often seen. He never described chess as, on the one hand, an incredibly difficult mind challenge only geniuses can play well, and, at the same time, as a trivial game that always ends in a few moves, with one side threatening check and the other replying with a cross-checkmate. <span style="text-align: right;"> </span></div><p></p>Unknownnoreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5342397130404928093.post-3033280100660932242023-08-12T02:43:00.006-07:002023-08-13T06:52:27.267-07:00A New Translation of a Classic Rubinstein Book<p dir="ltr" style="text-align: center;"> </p><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjAbcpTDpL8yK4nwQQ8REkK27uejt-BQVPDm0MbiPm8DEjeULV7C8WEvMGJ95ohK62wjsLkBgunlbJp-FET2tSr3uAytdXvDOK1TCtwfVbafx7aIBGd-VJw2e-yK5qXOsE24QOtXcaz4a8exVDJBD3DHOMIKQiw0KS-oaZcVyM2n7Gw3QLXLmCQc7IwiImg/s2631/Rubinstein%20book_000004.jpg" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="2631" data-original-width="1739" height="400" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjAbcpTDpL8yK4nwQQ8REkK27uejt-BQVPDm0MbiPm8DEjeULV7C8WEvMGJ95ohK62wjsLkBgunlbJp-FET2tSr3uAytdXvDOK1TCtwfVbafx7aIBGd-VJw2e-yK5qXOsE24QOtXcaz4a8exVDJBD3DHOMIKQiw0KS-oaZcVyM2n7Gw3QLXLmCQc7IwiImg/w265-h400/Rubinstein%20book_000004.jpg" width="265" /></a></div><div style="text-align: center;">Credit: see below</div><p></p><p dir="ltr" style="text-align: justify;">The above book, <i>Akiba Rubinstein</i>, by <b>Yuri Razuvaev</b> and <b>Valery Murakhveri</b>, originally published in 1980, has just (2023) been translated into English and published by <a href="https://verendel.com/" target="_blank">Verendel Publishing</a>. <b>Philip Jurgens</b>, who was involved in the translation project, had generously sent me a complimentary copy. The book is a classic of chess history and it is good to finally have an English version. </p>Unknownnoreply@blogger.com0