Chess-Themed Unit Symbols

Photo: A. P.

Another rarer example of chess in the IDF is when unit symbols have a chess theme. Here, a certain unit has a "black knight" themed patch. It is, in this photo, worn by a major in the said unit on his uniform. 

Chess pieces, while not common, are not unheard of as part of a unit's insignia. Engineering units sometimes have a chess rook (or at least, an old turret that looks similar to the Staunton chess rook) as an emblem. Another example of a knight in the insignia is that of the US Army Psychological Operations.

Chess in War

Photo: A. P.

Now that the (latest) war in the Middle East seems to be over, I post one example of what soldiers in all of Israel's wars had done - as well as in the pre-state mandatory Palestine. Here are two soldiers during a pause in the fighting - playing chess. 

Chess on Reserve Duty

 

Source: see below

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. 

From the 8th IDF Championship, February 1959

A frequent commentator notes the following game, played in the 8th IDF championship in 1959. The annotator's slightly dismissive remarks are below.

Richter  - Warshevsky (ph. spelling for both players)

Semi-Slav [D46]

8th IDF championship, February 1959

Source: Kol Ha'am, 6 March 1959, p. 6

Annotations: Amos Sa'ar

"This game was played by two of the players whose final ranking were in the middle of the ladder, which gives an idea of the level of this championship." 

1.d4 d5 2.c4 e6 3.Nc3 Bb4 4.Nf3 Nf6 5.e3 0–0 6.Bd3 c6 7.0–0 Nbd7 8.Ne2 Re8 9.Qc2 e5 10.dxe5 Nxe5 11.Nxe5 Rxe5 12.c5 Ne4 13.a3 Ba5 14.b4 Bc7 15.Bb2 Rh5

 16.Ng3 Qh4 17.h3 Bxh3 18.Nxh5 Bxg2 19.Kxg2 Qh2+ White resigns (0-1). 

Snapshot, 1955

 

Source: see below

A frequent correspondent points out that in Ha'aretz, 25 March 1955 (p. 5) it is noted that a new chess club will is to be opened 91 Hayarkon St., Tel Aviv. There will be an 8-game match between two of the IDF's champions - the previous, Bernstein, and the current one, Shiyovich. It also notes that for the upcoming Independence Day, there will a tournament dedicated to all those who lost their lives in the IDF. Finally, there is going to be a blitz championship on 2 April "open to all soldiers." Does anyone have more information about this club?