Saturday, August 12, 2006
Greatest Enjoyment
If I had to choose one book that has given me the most enjoyment, I would have to think, but not for too long. Irving Chernev's 1,000 Best Short Games of Chess wins hands down.
I have enjoyed this book immensely since I inherited a copy in 1973 from my grandfather, Charles K. Dickson, a guy who really knew how to be a grandfather.
For the last 33 years I have been replaying games from this book, and when I have visitors I show them the "bolt of lightning from a cloudless sky," which illustrates the power of the double check: either one of the attacking pieces could be taken -- both are "en prise" as the French say -- but not both at once, so the king has to move, and if he can't, it's checkmate.
I also show them the shortest game ever played between tournament masters, and a "classic trap by Costics in the opening." Then we play a game by Napoleon and one by Tolstoy when he was 81.
Chernev had an appreciation for the elegance of chess that you will not find in any other chess writer. I have read many and they are all boring and no fun at all. Chernev wrote a bunch of books and they're all great. I don't like long drawn-out pawn endings, and neither does he. These games are discussed in his works, but his goal is like mine -- to have fun.
Chernev gives you games where players sacrifice the queen and mate with a pawn and you can choose from books with a lot of commentary to others with just a little. 1.000 Best Short Games of Chess has just a little, so I have old notes from 1983 asking "What about B-KB4?"
Has one third of a century of replaying these historic games improved my game?
No!!!
I played my friend Kenny the other day and he forked two pieces with a pawn in the opening -- I was trying the Colle. Then he did it again on the very next move! I was down two pieces. I fought on bravely but ultimately resigned.
I think you will enjoy chess if you like losing as much as you like winning. If someone beats you, they're showing you a way to win, and I think you have to appreciate that. I know I do.
And if you want to replay a thousand beautiful games of chess -- they're all in this one book. ¶ 8:49 PM
I have enjoyed this book immensely since I inherited a copy in 1973 from my grandfather, Charles K. Dickson, a guy who really knew how to be a grandfather.
For the last 33 years I have been replaying games from this book, and when I have visitors I show them the "bolt of lightning from a cloudless sky," which illustrates the power of the double check: either one of the attacking pieces could be taken -- both are "en prise" as the French say -- but not both at once, so the king has to move, and if he can't, it's checkmate.
I also show them the shortest game ever played between tournament masters, and a "classic trap by Costics in the opening." Then we play a game by Napoleon and one by Tolstoy when he was 81.
Chernev had an appreciation for the elegance of chess that you will not find in any other chess writer. I have read many and they are all boring and no fun at all. Chernev wrote a bunch of books and they're all great. I don't like long drawn-out pawn endings, and neither does he. These games are discussed in his works, but his goal is like mine -- to have fun.
Chernev gives you games where players sacrifice the queen and mate with a pawn and you can choose from books with a lot of commentary to others with just a little. 1.000 Best Short Games of Chess has just a little, so I have old notes from 1983 asking "What about B-KB4?"
Has one third of a century of replaying these historic games improved my game?
No!!!
I played my friend Kenny the other day and he forked two pieces with a pawn in the opening -- I was trying the Colle. Then he did it again on the very next move! I was down two pieces. I fought on bravely but ultimately resigned.
I think you will enjoy chess if you like losing as much as you like winning. If someone beats you, they're showing you a way to win, and I think you have to appreciate that. I know I do.
And if you want to replay a thousand beautiful games of chess -- they're all in this one book. ¶ 8:49 PM
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So you play chess and like reading about chess! I can play very basic stuff and I am told my game is too defensive for my own good.
And though I read all kind of stuff, I think I will stop short of reading a book about the game of chess :) And you seem to enjoy it so much. It showed through your post.
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And though I read all kind of stuff, I think I will stop short of reading a book about the game of chess :) And you seem to enjoy it so much. It showed through your post.
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