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/ 318
Teac eae Ue get tt
as the greatest chessplayer ever.
He was the thirteenth world champion.
holding the title between 1985 and 2000.
aE CL nat Me-tel as Me Ret tes) p teh Ge)
TSTMS Ua lal Male laa -lcele RT eae aT
world’s elite events, often by substantial
Cle Oh Um Mallee
Kasparov has taken first prize in ten
color (em Lita al CP
UU tel aE CURT Un a uta el
world champion together with chess
LAC lal Beltre la Baal tama 1 i) aa
for many years deputy editor-in-chief of
the magazine Shakhmaty v SSSR/Rossii,
ETT Ce TLL mele-M Lael Mal lag elles)
Ela ol eR UTM CM) a el)
File b sme OI la easy p)
EM et eee ace be Copyrighted Material
Hirst published! in 2004 by Gloucester Publisher ple (foemerty Everyman Publisher ple},
Norhiurglt House, 10 Norhburgh Street, Lardon ECLY OAT
Copyright © 2004 Garry Kasparov
Snglish translation © 2004 Ken Neat
First published 224M by Gloucester Publishers ple
‘Phe night of Garry Kasparov to be ielentified as the author of this work has been asserted in
accordance with the Copyrights, Designe and Parents Act 1988,
Allrights reserved. Ne panto this publication may be repeoduced, stored in a tetrieval system oF
tranarnitted in any form of by any means, electronic, electrostatic, magnctic tape, photocopying.
reconding of atherwise, without priog permission of the publisher.
British Library Cataloguing-in-Publication Data
Aeataleggae record for this bok ts available from the British abeury,
ISHN 1 AS74495 0
Distributed in North America tye The Globe Pequot Press, 70) Bow 480,
2440 Goose Lane, Guilford, CT dit 37-680,
All other sales enquiries should be directed co Eweryman Chess, Northbungh House,
10 Northburgh Strect, London [C1V OAT
ret: 020 75.99 Ted) fare; (120 7379 4060
email: infoiicverymancheecom
website: weww.everyinanchessecm
Everyman is the regrttcred trade mark of Rarwlorn House Inc, and is used in thes work under
heense from Ranelom house Ine.
EVERVMAN CHESS SERIES (formerly Cadogan Chess)
Chief adviser: Garry Kasparov
‘Commissinning edhine: Byron facols
Translation by Kiet Neat.
‘Typesetting and editing bry First Rank Publishing, Brightots,
Cover design by Horatio Mopreverde.
Pmeluction by Navigator Guides.
Printed and bevune itt the United States by Sheridan Bows fine,
Copyrighted Material Copyrighted Material
CONTENTS
Introduction: Stars of the West
Sammy, Miguel and Bent
Resheveky
‘Olympian Long-Liver
Second (
A hiner Pall
“The Fine
murs
Oh the World
apes
The last Chu
Sceven-Times Chat
Firnale
Tw
Najdort
Dior: Miguel
Fiche of Groningen
The last of the Mohicans
King's
Plawrad bir
Rewelariorns
Vercran
Chess tea Mirror of the Soul*
Copyrighted Material
ng
my
6
ia
mm”
ms
42 Copyrighted Material
Larsen
‘The Danish Prince
Jednsingy the Elite
Ar the Peak of his Carver
Lessee in the "Meran’
Aggabist hse rw *
Robert the Eleventh
‘The lone Genius
feared from God himeclil”
mapscan Diclur
Adult Games
Duel of the Prodigics
Hat-Trick im Bled
The Russian Pact”
Helle Americal
Hirance Test
Jarabe
He carne, bbe sam), he ex
A vertical Ascent
The first Viewn
Banle in Derweer
The Miracles continue
be af the Caoocls
Nbslicarions
The reat Rechise:
Bibliography
Index of Players
Index of Openings
Copyrighted Material
148
4
1s
te
ret
we
m6
ae
252
28!
ue
iM
He
A55
ia?
ie
#05
429
467
an Copyrighted Material
INTRODUCTION
Stars of the West
“The fives and jarics af ten chide hinge aif thee pant, frown Stetnios te Spasahiy, baie already boon
described, anal now: it is the run af the eleventh — the phericenenal Macher, whis itt the carly
1970s suctended on his oven in seashing the Swiet chess machine, Before him, unsucecsshul
atiempes had beer tusk ev ake this iy orhor Iaglet stats front the West ~ Resbevaky, Nakborf,
(Larsen... Narrative leq pethaps Caissa herself —suypested the solution of devoting an inci
viedual volume tu all Hess cuteesnelinys players
Itt 00 feritt that Pecher diel not erterpe cut of rothing, Not without reac was he
called the best pupil of the Sewict Chess School, the flourishing ef which ted whe rap devel:
apment of the game: itt the mid: 2th century, but with even more foundation he can be regarded
as the successor te the great traditions of American chess, shoreming from the keyperdary M
phr. Over the pericdd of mone than a hundred year separating their worl eritnypshs, an alien
continuous rive in the popularity af chess in Ameries has heen observes,
tt was here ghar Steieite accomplished his unparuliled! fear, playing fee matches for the
work! championship bowen 186 amd 14, and more emportatt —expourading in bis fever
tana Cher Migueerae (1885-91) and his fiatlatmertal work Maser Cfver bectnter (188%) the teach
ings of the new, positional school At the etd of the 1th century this wane swept Pilsbatry te
wards the tops, fiolorwed int the carly 2hh contary by Marshall. Armetica became a serous chess
fernire and i was no accion that Lasker fred here for several year, publishing: his famcass
Lasuker: Chose Magpectee (FAM-FR, just ay tt oras ro aceidcat that the genius Capablanca appeanced
anel prea up here, serlieye fer a bony tiene: is New Veork.
While the Fira World War was raging in Europe, in America tournament ftie continued, ancl
imperceptibly, Jietke-by dink, the foundation for anew brcakthrough was lied. In the (9206 this
Process wan geceleratod by the sctwational exhibitiegs of the child proctigy Sanioty Besheesky, a
tour by Alekhine, the challenger te the chess throne, ancl expecialhy the grandinse New York
tournaments (124 and N27). And, asa real, on the early 10s there appeared a whole jor
of wrong raster — Korhilan, Horowiry, Steiner, Deke, Denker and others, to aay nothing of the
aan of world magnitude — Reshevsky ard Fine (ro whom ec af the scetiens in this book x alse
devoted). ‘Together with rhe vetcram Marshall, the Americans won four successive ¢ Myrrepasels at
thar cme,
Copyrighted Material Copyrighted Materlal
Garry Kasparov en My Gr Predecessora
Maarwhile, behind the iron curtain’ bn the USSR, where chess enjoyed state and potitical
supper, the chess machine thar after the Second Worl War was for a long time to conquer the
whole world was rapidly: gatheriny speed. The first direct confromation, the WSSR-USA radio
match oe ter boards (1945) ered in a crishing defeat forr the Olympiad champions,
What has happened i American chess" wrote Arnold Denker ar thar cme. ‘ls it possible shat
the eouniry which proxkiced the beillians Marshall, the resourceful Reshevsky and the encyclo.
pacdic Fine has gone back as tich av the Russias trouncing would kndicate? About 1952 this
country had fiftoon or pwenty very talerned young masters. What has happened te all hese bud
ding star? Is it posible that so much talent can have dheindled sway disappointingly iy a few
year? The answer ti the second question bs a glear and unequivocal “Yes!” Why? Because poo
fessional chess requites a player's full time, andl yet it dees oo assure him anywhere near anode
quate incorme. Chess is 4 full tame pots, ae! we must treat it as sech if we are to held owt own in
vend competition. “The sooner the American chess public tealiecs this, the sooner we will regain
Gur prestige at the leasling nation in the world of chess!
‘Nias, the Amietieais chess public sas ii tics bniery to crnbcestarsd this — juscyginge at henst bry the
fact that Fine was fered to withelru fee the world championship march-toumament (148),
After this Heshevsky tomained practically alone against the Soviet cohort (subsequendy bis ex-
penence came in very useful to Fischer), Uno! the end of the 15s he oats the undispuned So.t
in the West, although in the USA a pew grosp of talented players had jown up: Evans, the
Hore brothers, Hisguice, Laarrhasdy.
The only player whe could conte: Reshevsky’s beaderhay was the Argentine yrancmaster
Miguel Najdorf. The point is thar in the postwar cra anceher super-power was creased on the
chew map ~ Argentina, where many tasters stapcl on ane settled! after the Cilytnpiad iv Ehieryos
Aires (139). ‘The stmewest of them was Naylor, who was the same age as Reshevsky and was
ales Lente ir Pesta Isat left at 20) years later.
These nwo — rhe modest, religious Ieshevsky, and the cheerful, sociable Najelort — introduood
western enlous into top rankiey chess, which was dominated by repeesencatives af the USSR. ar
the Laster Whee countries. Sericrly speaking, both of them were amateurs, since they earned a
livin oor from chess (ie sccens eo me that the 111 Reshewsky-Fischer match deserves to be
called ‘the last amateur against the first professional’). But the strength and natural alent of both
were ay yreat, that even when they were nearly G0) years okl they were among the ten best
prardiaisters selewtol for abe Rest of the Week team in the “Match af che Ceneury’ (1970).
Worthy sucossun to the mighty veterans of the West appeared only in the late 1950s to early
190, “Phe first ter announce himself was abe young Bobby Fischer, and then came the Dane
Bont Laren, Lamen's toumanent successes and his fresh, inventive play fiom 164 ta 1970 en.
abled han ever te take frees Fecher his lowful’ first board ie the aforementioned ‘Match of the
Cemnany’, that time only these een posed a threat iw the Soviet hegemeny, However, spon
Hecker brilleintly showed that itwas he who was clestined to become the new work! champion,
His revolutionary breakthrough and tragie depamare from chess ase the main topic of this book,
‘Sowerlscr 2004
1 hese Bike me expen ay hase ta chess cable Plamait acral, owemalirtt erger 1 nroaubme tal Michael!
Comengand, gramimarter | ludiwir Heder aed interactional manter Alanine Nothin, ana bomared 04K train
ors AMdesaander Niki ana Muri Dhwantidy for obvir bay persring the manuscriy for lication
6
Copyrighted Material Copyrighted Material
CH,
PTER ONE
Sammy, Miguel and Bent
‘Olympian Long-Liver
The legernbiry American perancieasecr Samuel
Rethewky (21 Newember MIT — 4 Apel
1992) was the most farticus chess. proxigy af
ter Capablanca, Mut it ts enenething efor that is
Gr more imporunr he beeame one of the few
links betwen the raw chess eras, separated by
the Second World War, Reshevsky was ane of
the strongest players inthe: woarkd booth aburieie
the fives of Lavker, Mekhine ancl Capablanca,
and churing the quarter century from Botvinnak
fo Fischer: He is the only player in Isistory ty
have played almost a hundred toumament
ames with even warkd champici!
Reshevaky was bitty inthe Dobisls willags ef
Choker, nor far from Leake, imme anon
lox Jewish family. He was the youngest «af six
children anal a8 the age af twee he was alecaly
displaying extanndinary abiliay, When Sammy
wus five years old, he leaned abe niles of
chews - like Capablanca and Bienes, simply bry
warchinig: members «af bit Eattuily polayityy. Soon
the chikll adbed bis father tre allow: harm ter play
fon int a position in which the lamer had aclmis-
ted defear, and be won the game ‘wo the great
amtonésbment oof my father ane his opponent.
"This story it sn eypical of the start of ebilel
prodigy’s carcer, thar | involuntarily recall an
actaising poke by Sicgbort Tanrasch, to im
Moone Carlo was once analysing, an acljeumied
Prniting it the presence of a woman with a
babe in anme “Bor more than an hour | Inoked
intensively ar the bean In despair, Fas
about to pur the pieces away, when sedklerly
the baby, which was sbspliying signe of dis-
comfort, expences ine little band én the direc-
Hen of Whine’s qucenside, lacked at ene with
intelligent eyes and cnc in a dderanding
wooo: “Awaal” The concerned mother picked
ap the baby and cariel him away; che obvi
ously did neve understate tir, Har W ysensedd
whe the elsihl wanted to say te erie. I wns an
though the scales had fallen from my eyes yea,
To tual to play ey nook po the a-file! Tiium,
phar, | rsslocd brite the trnamarnetat hall.”
Sammy was able ov aay oot only AY, but
alse “BY: ina short tite he had bearer all the
chowplyer in Grorkey and he was takin by
bis father ty Lode —awell-knewn chess centre
at the start of the Mich century. Hore he played
several eshilition games and delighted the
venerable macro Georg Salwe. And not only
hire the sight of a six-year-old aot giving a
Himaltancens disptyy against adubts on 20-25
7
Copyrighted Material Copyrighted Material
Garry Kasparov on My Great Predecessors
beards provoked a great hullabaloo. And
when the prodigy appeared in the Wanaw
Chess Chaib towanls the end of 1917, the prear
Akiba fubinstein expecssced his desire wo play
him! Understandably, Sarr head lint
chance, although the famous grandmaster
played Black ane blindtoddl
Ponunately, the scone of this any meeting
between Revhevsky and Rubimecin has been
premcreedt
Ved eB 2 O18 Se8 3 bed Bch 4 0-0
246 6 03 db 6 b3 hb 73 95 8 ds oF
8 Og6 SadS 10 exdS hagS 11 dec becB
12 hag’ d5 13 Wo? G6 14 Abo Whe 15
WxeS+ Le6 16 Wxho+ Waa 17 dxg5
ad? 18 c3 Ogh 19 ed Suga 20 Add
Ang 21 93
21. Sug3+ 22 tagd dned+ 23 512 Wg7
24 Lgt+ Wxg4 0-1
By formal standard a weak game, of
course, but one of exceptional historic énaer>
et
(esprite fas easy wie, Rusbiresteian poraisex! his
young oppinerit after the game: Une day you
will become work) champion.’ He thea
chewed him his classic gare with Tasker
(Vaio) Crome Niet) and Sarminy suppres
ceily olserved that the resulting rook ertclgarme
‘could have been won two mowes quicker
Resheviky’s mother and father were very
pred of their sen's successes ard took bin
round the whole of Poland giviry: public exh
hritons. ‘Tet they decked to show Samuy's
talents to other counties in Europe. In 1920,
wher Twas sight years old, my career asa
“chess prodigy” began in eamest,” Reshewsky
recalled. ‘Accompanied by my parene, 1
toured the capitals of Europe, giving extsilsi-
tions at Bertin, Vienna, Paris, London and
other cities.”
And also in Amsterdam, where on 2? Feb-
ruary 1921) another hiseoric meeting ook
place, Among the cight-yearold Samemy’s
teenty opponents in a simultaneous display
was a furure world champion = the 18-vear-
old Max Hunve, whe had already finished sec-
ond in the Duteh Championship at that time.
Many eats later he-was able po remember the
opening muvee of thar game (awe had
Fock): 104 0S 2 13 ch 3 kbs a6 4
Set O16 5 0-0 Sued 6 dé bo 7 Abo de
8 doh eG 9 c3 Se7 10 Sel 0-0 11
So? Boa 12 Sxe4 deed 13 Wxd8 Rondo
14 Exed?? Edt+ 18 Set Sat and Black
wor a piece,
Slightly later Huwe politely offered a alraw,
burt the hey, obstinaict griting his teeth, re-
plied im German: ‘Ich will siegen’ (‘1 want 1
win’, But be best, of course, afl this was
Sammy's only defeat in the display, which
ended with a score of +17=2-1 in his favour,
‘The next time that he and Huwe met at the
hoard was noe until 1036 — at the super.
teuatriament inv Novetingham..
‘There were alse oppancnes of a quite differ:
ent sort: a game with the Gerrun gowemor of
Copyrighted Material Copyrighted Material
Sammy, Miguel and Sone
Waraw vas rememberad for a tong time by
whe weuler chiki Generally speaking, interest
in Resheveky was net confined eo the chess
public, A esti peyehideggiss Prauiska
flamer comductol a cerice nf rests on him,
the reales af which were extremely interesiinys,
Samy whe hal never pote te schond oF sec
any books with Ghiseratinns, had practeally no
impression af arithmetic anal could pet recog.
fee poetics of arsimnabs, Cn the ener betel,
when he took spatial visualisation tests, Sarery
solved problore thar wore shifiiculs even for
children rwice his age aewl actually managod 1
solve ope which before what hed bece ton hand
fier dew chile! Meminey tears ale gerve an alin.
pether staggering: picture. Sammy wae given
four minutes to stay HF figuecs, cach ona
earl, Thon the cards were tlben ava,
The bey recalled all the puctunes without a sin
de mistake, and in dhe correct onder. Even
adults hail not produced such resin
The prvcholesiss commented specifically
con Hesheveky's, since he refused amy helfy dur
ing the testing process, When Sammy waa
asked what te would de if a widowe-Blind
shoud) sadclenly cateh fire, be sank“) will ake
a bucket of water atel pour it cm the blind."
And to the question, vouliin’s at be better 80
call the fine service, he replica “1 ean expe
‘wath it myself
A quarter oof a century later Reshevvky had
the following: to jay about this peries! of bis
life:
four years, {was on pabbbe view, Pen
ple stated at ne. tried ter fue ime, asker me
gqaceibors. Profcesor measuned my erarion
and prychosanalyend mic. Repeaters inner
tewed me and wrote fanciful stones about
my future. Photographers were forever aiming,
bein cameras at me
‘ht was, of cours, an unnatural life for a
chill, bur ir hael ins compensations arwl {can
nest aruthdully say that Fadil neve enjoy it. There
seas the eheill ef trvellitye From elny tes eley
with my family, the exciromenr of playing
hondteds of pares of chess and winning tomt
of them, the knowledge thar there was some-
thing “special” about the way | played chess,
althomygh Talachn’s know why,
‘L was comeanth Icing asked how [was
able so play such serong chess as 4 child, but
of course T did nor know the anewer, | eeu
fot answer their questions thon, aot can [de
sone, Chess-was, for me, a natural function,
Ghe breathing. [1 required no consoous effort.
‘The carrer moves it a gare oecurred ta rhe
as spontanoomly as | drew breath. If you con:
siuksr the difficulty vou might have in account:
tng for that cverysbay action, yom wall hae anh
inthdiv oof tniy clikeerteus iat tyne to exolaiey et’
chess ability.”
“The Resheveky family's travels then took
thon te America On the very fint cvcning
after his arial in New York, 3 November
1920, Sarmenny visited the Marshall Club, whene
he was presented to the manptimes USA
Chumpion Frank Marshall and the veteran of
Ameren ches Albert Hodges, and then
staggered the habitus by instantly sebving
seme problems he wax offered Cher the
erurse af several woeks the prodigy made
me amphal appearances, fully justifriye
the expectations of the local public, and then
be began an aliaoit ten-year tour of USA eat
ies = to the Western seaboard and hack. Re-
shevsky recalls that he gave simultanoous dis-
plays in chess clutss, public halls, theatres: and
even department stores. At a Philadelphia de-
Pattenent store more than three dheusand
peuple watched his exhibition. Foe some tea-
son the journalists were cepecially impressed
by a cligpelay: ley Santini ati the Weer Paine Mili-
tan Aeadey, where he won 1 games out sf
seth one abraw.
(thas become commonplace to talk abst
the flood ef interest in chess in the USA that
war caused by Fischer's victories in the 1d
and 1970, Bur in should not be forgoeiee thar
in the: firot half of the century Reshevsky pos:
ably did just as timuch te propalarise cnr gure
int the New World, According to his contem-
porate, many chess dubs were opened and
Copyrighted Material Copyrighted Material
thine thar were dragging out a pitiful existence
acquired new life thanks jr publee interest in
the wnigpue ability of the ton-year-cbel Saretty.
On his retum to New Work in October
122 Reshovsky fhord a serious test — the first
master tournament in his fife! And although
his result as rather modest (1. Ed Lasker ~4
out of 52 Jafie - 3; 34, J Bermanean, Bapelow,
Janowski ancl Reshevsky — 2), his game with
Udavidd Jarnracakd signified a rscw stage irs this
carer, The famous France Russian racstrey,
who had plryed twe ratehes with Lasker ancl
had wins ewer the wick champions from
Steinite co Alekhine to his eredit, wat then 54
years lel, His chief successes were itv the past,
bur in incividual games he could seill play ara
very sigh level: two years later, alo in New
York, Janmwski won a clinic game against
Bogeljubow, and in Semmoring (1926) he
forces the capsnulatson of Rubsinstetn.
Avery interesting observation was meade by
the toarnument winner Feward Lasher:
“ht was teally a shame to permit abbey of ten
years to phy in such a competition. The men
‘whe had arranged the tournament, unaware of
the cahawsting mental and physical strain
which the schedule of 4 master toumament
entails, dial pot realise that they were endan-
peerings the health of the bow... After two days
cof play, he appeared pale and his eyes seemed
hifeless— He did not fare very well ln our little
tournament, but he had a triumph which he
pred more than all the honors that had been
heaped upon him on his exhibition sours, He
defeat Girambnuster Jancwski, whe would
eet bechewe me that the chihl really playedl wel
enough to be chingerous to any ane of whe
contestants. In this game Samneny will handled
the opening badly. After techs moves Jue
twmwaki, who fad the Whine pieces in a
Queen's Gambit, said we me “What kind of
nonsense dial you rll mec? Thar bey ander:
stance as niuch of chess as | da of cope
abincing! Look at his position! Sone be-wson't
be able to move any picce! tle is completely
panlyzed” Wher | booked at the yume, [aw
row on My Great Predecessors
thar Sammy"s porision war indent almost
hopeless, Hur | warned Janewski rot to relax.
Mil the same, be played rather nonchalantly,
bet his attack gathered more and more me-
mentum uel Sameny wus left without de-
ferse..."
Cranmer I
D.Janowski-S.Reshevsky
New Work 1922
3a ha
Jencwoki spent a lory time calculating the
spectacular sacrifice 36 Sige! hogs 3 aps,
but decided 10 delay it. Although be could have
worn Wel Cokb6 40 Wa) 40 Ai
Waits 4) Waid Soft 42 Bagh Ragt 43 Rags
deph Hd, or WT 40 We, and Black
cannot save himself with 402g? 41 Ehs+
deyh 42 Bis Pied (42. 43 4) foedt
Eixgh 4 lng} Wp? 45 Bacé (Recher), or
$065 41 oobS cf 42 BhS+ thy? 43 WS Bhs,
44 chk Echi 45 7, or 402i 4t Ds
By 42 Wied Bhd 43 Bhd Babe 6 7 and
this paras will cont bhi a rack,
36...18c6 (8.807 is no bener: 9 Dy5e
hg 40 Bhp 1 WES, while if 39h,
then 40 Beal) 39 nS
Here too White could have wan by 39
Byhe! (Tanakerwer, Reshevaky) 39hags 40
Bags Wes at Ws Wire 42 7 Bae 43 Shs
Ser 44 WW 45 WS Bhs 46 Baha
Baha 47 hi,
to
Copyrighted Material Copyrighted Material
39.,.0nB 40 Dg5+7
Toss Late! New 40 iba! would have wv,
for exarnple: 4) Wiad (41 Slap 6 41 Eig? ay
abun bugectews) 41 Shi cxf 4? Haat Bayh
AD lag drawl 44 of
40. hegS 41 fxgS Sig6t
*Masterfully parrying the threat!” (Tara.
kower). “An uneapectod reseurce. Black's ex
j@lpe verges on the mireculous.* (Revheveky)
425g3
42 bagi (42 Wh Be! Tarakewer, Re
sheveky) 42 ib7! (42 iiagh 43 cd Bite
44 Bhs hy? 48 She What 44 Wet with
expuality) 43 2y3 Ende 44 End Bah would
have led tea pensition from the seam.
42.497 43 Bhd Sha!
“Heginainyr a struggle Gor control of the by
file which is finally reselved! int lacks fave”
(Resheveky)
94 hag 64 Wee Wot thore is abu no.
point in playing 4 Bla} £8, since the capeure
vf the knight docs net yer hone) 44, Stnh34+
Here the june wat adjaurned and then te
sumed after a rwochour dinner break.
45 Sxh3?
An unfortunate scaled meme. As Keshiveky
points our, by 45 Whit! Zhs 46 Whee! dyes
47g? Bh7 48 diet Balei 40) xls Wet 50 7
White eoulel have forces! a elnave.
Eaheard Ladker recalls: Yanewski tick din
her with ene, obvviensly quite prertutled! alsiat
the course the game had uke. He realited
that be had cveHookead the winttitig, rove,
Sammy, Miguel and Bont
and he sai “You know, Lasker, you were
ight. The boy is a wonder, 1 buve the fextityg
that Fs base ehar gare" Alsbosgh J flr har
Jartrweki had indeed many chances to. go
waren, f tried to perousde him nor tc. kee
coor. Not that! had. persinal ieterest its
the mater, But | felt pity for the off master
swith ucd again ruined a fine game, and who
ratueally clrcaded lowing: « serious enceunser an
a toumainetst against a child,
46..0h8+ 46 bg3 Han 47 Wa (7 Bl
Wot) 47f4et
Achicving the apcning of the flibe,
47 We siggeested itself, but after 48 Zhi!
Eahl 49 Wht White's threats are sufficiens
fora draw,
48 294 (4 Bait Ws) 48..8o2 4
Wixl4 We2+ 50 dg3 Waa+
Saminy beyine giving checks, evidenly in
ender to jain time on the clock, 20 51
Witte Rais 52 prvttert de 53 eT dag Se
WS nd —Wke5 would have been decisive.
Bt dg? Wezs (51S) 52 dg3 WH2+?
Again 83.200 would heave wort.
53 d43 S18 G4 WG+! (a saving chance)
54..bgB
of SA, Sistirt 55 untied Wl?
T Black cantet win becaiee of the stand.
ing thevat of ft-i7+ ene." (Reshersky). Fores:
anil: falT 58 de! (with the thneat af
Bbt) 5487 99 ded (or een 59 2 ad
Bact Was ot Bho di 62 Bhs Ws 63 hy
0.04 Gb yd We ol ud Wa 62 bed ad
G8 hat ht? 6 Bhd Wt 65 a Wie 66,
ds Wilde 67 dic? Whcas 8 Bl? with o
draw
55 d7/ SatG+ 56 gxfer!
Whute could have forcex! a draw more sist
ply by Ste enti! W257 SIN cop 57 7+ hig? 58
Hih!, and “Hack must content hirwclf with a
perpetual check, for if 58. WhuT? 5 Ente
agh ORS and wind!" Reshevsky) —
SH che.
56... fd?
Here we hive the last critieal moment of
the ba
m"
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Garry Kasparov on My Groat Predecessor
87 Shi?
A fatal erro: nowe White loses all his pawns.
Ofcourse, 1 was eesentil en play 57 7 Wud?
S82! (ef. the more to Black's S4th move},
87...Wd3+! (57 Wad? 5M 74) BR bgz
WagG+ 59 S12 WIS+ GO ag2 Wgd+ 61
Sh? We2+ 62 h3 Wdd+ 63 Sha Wad7
64 5g1+ 218 65 295 dd O71
‘Anal Saminy.. "twas sa excited add happy
that T mashedd footie a a tam! bo tell ery faehoor
and nether, DF couldin’: even eit boven inv thse
taxi | jumped up and dewe all the way: When
Fgot te the hotel, Tran up the stairs to our
race, withiaet waiting for the elevuter, and
teroke che mews tomy parents 1 bad won
fron Jancwski And then sang. 1 sayy so
emudly that moby could call, fr was ore af
happiest days of my life.”
Fifty years lier the parents of such an ex
cepounal chikl woukl probably not have had
any particular doohes about the choice nf ca-
feet for their chiki Bur in the Reshewsky fama
ily ie was quite reasonably choaght that it was
tune for Sammy 10 leave hes childish pursuits
Ichind him and ject down to some serious
study. It-was ne joke that befiore the ayge af 12
the boy had never been tr school! And bere
he was helped by an accident. In 1924, when
Reshorky was performing an exhibition in
Chicago, be was asked tc play an eshibision
match with a master player in the house of
Juin: Rosenwald, an inopertanr tracing mage
nate and philancheopiet (in the mid-1 9505
tattaments for the Rosenwakl Cup were
hekd in Sew York, and in ome ef chesc Re~
shcvaky fit met the young Fischer). ‘The
arenet of the house, charmed by the boy's
talent, promised to afer him every supper if
‘he would work at his education, ard he invited
Reshevaky to settle in Detroit, in the home of
Moms Steinberg, a wellknown businevuman
and official at the local chews and chequors
dub, Resheesky’s parents happily agreed, anc
that was the end to the touring,
After nevertheless playing in the summer of
1924 in the Westem Chess Association
‘Championship (I. Carlos Torre), Sammy got
down to his studies: during roughly six
months of lessons with a private tutor he went
throagh the entire middle school program and
was immediatly ed into the Norther
High School, During his school years he only
voper, if the summer of 1927, permitted him-
self to play ina chest tournament, seeing as
the next Western Championship Tournarnces
was held ot far from Detroit. ta 1929, after
irishing seheot (where, iv particular, he srud-
ied singing and Modem Heleew), he entered
the Accounting Faculty of Detroit University,
and two years later, when his family moved te
‘Chicago, he transferred to the university there,
Steinberg was his okt fend, jgaardian and
ahiser, Rewonwakd also had net forgotten
about him, and Sammy was a guest at his
summer reidence during the holidays. Here
he would sometimes play blndéedd against the
woner's men sons, and for a long time this was
the only thing that reminded him of bis for-
mer days, He led the life ef a normal Ameri-
can boy = he played tennis and baselall, he
yaar and he went po dances. As he hiresclt
pur in:
“Dined very hand to five down my neprata-
Son asa “boy wiran!”. Successfully, F might
axkd, Before wery lorie, the public had ony sire
recollections of the linke boy in a sailor suir
who used eo give chess exhibinons, Ohecasion-
ally, someone would ask whar had happened
to the bey wonder with the fongue-twisting
wm
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name ~ “the one whey beat everbody at chess
a few years po — but only a few imtiate
fends knew the answer. Young Sammy
Raeszewska was learnings to read and write!”
Here the won! “tongue-twisting” shoul! be
exphined, Wheres in Poland people have no
yaoblema i pronouncing Recwewski, in
‘America Sarmucl hal tr simplify his sumame.
As for the ‘dim recollections’, it i trac thar
here atal there pregile rercmbicred sumerhame,
but nee very firmly. ‘There was an arming
ineance, which was ientiined only in the
2st century by Genes Semeanker "In 1035
lobe made a tout of Palestine. “Aire you that
same Shimulik, who care here as a boy po give
vérmubtarscoas displays!” Sabor was ase (fe, ity
Naameern, sar aber ir atatirre — CoA), Ut goes withy
out sayiny that from chat point Sammy Re
shevsky rectained Shmulik to all his ool:
leagues.’
Second
The return of the fonmer prodigy inc tap
class chess began in the summer of 1431,
Samed] Factor, ane of the strongest players in
Chicagg, was setting off for the West Associa
Hon Championship, ancl he aed Reshewehy if
he would like to accompany him. During the
vacation Sammy had plenty of free time, and
in addition be wanted to check what remained
of his former ability, fly the end be took first
place, winhour a single slefeat! Vater, leet he
was already one of the stumgest players in the
wut, Reshewsbey write
“Moar prodigies are popularly supposed oo
be failures in tater life. 1 doubt that this belief
6 well-founded. Among musicians, mix the
rule, ruber thas tbe cxception, that the child
prodigy of ane prncration is the mature attist
ef the nest. There ate fewer cases in chess,
“This much, however, is clear if ene decides to:
make chest a prifession, a childhood devoted
to the gare cannot possibly be a handicap, [sv
my eran case, chesa has alveays been the me-
dium in whicl 9 feel most ar home; at a cbwees-
board J express myself in my mother tornac.
Sammy, vet and Gene
Hence the singe no play chess was sail wishin
ne durieye ey echool years, even theugh [had
dropped out of public sight as a chess player.”
‘The tate of victory prowed sweet, but nev
ertheless right up tn the successful cornplericns
of hit univenity course in 1733 Resbeveky
pled in om two tournaments — in the
summer of be nest Western Avene
cian Championships and inanmeaBistely after itm
Pasadena, where he cremated ewrrbs with the
world champine Abekhine for the fltst time.
Sarr foun! things very difficale in such a
Strong event anil was especially let deve by
fis lack eof opening: knevwtecke, He admired
hiv first five(?) james ard int the era etacke far
more meres than any of the other players
What his Wemeve bank: wich Mickhinc must
teave vas hte, kart after seubtvorns resisearice..
Te-stands wo reasen dhae the chanspion wen the
turret, Rashida was second, and
Sammy tevettiches ervitrived fo shane an
honourable thind place with Dake and Steiner,
year later Mickie published a review ar-
tele (Our succor’ in a Panwan Russtan
newspaper, where among the ether promising
yeneng talents he abe fomatel a plane for it~
sheevsky:
Some 15 years apo, immediately after the
eed of the was, a nincvearadd boy was taken
by his parcriey trot sewrme Polish vallage and
began courting the main European centres,
everwhere creating an unprecedented sera
Hon, This bey (his naroe is Santuel Reshevsky)
eae in fact a gemniine chore wunderkind, whe
Grused! amorishment not ante by the strenycth
of bis play (which could, wtthout exyyreration,
be determined as first carygery international),
but pethaps mainly by the rapadiy and sharp
fess af his thinking. In a few months
“Sam acquired the reputaion af being
one oof the bes simulancous paver and,
when he was then taken fo the United Stace,
he toured there: five ran juin wlth execs
artistic anal rraterial success, Then Reshevsky
vaklonly ciaappeated: he stopped playing anc
they stopped weritnge star heim, A than was
Lei
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Material
Garry Kasparov on My Greer Predecessors
kntrwn way that be had ieee sont tv schorl,
ane thar his “wunderkimnd”™ era was at an ctl,
"Thee wise (and also rare!) decision bry the par-
ent ofa peoigy can only be webromedt, bust
chess players ane still curious < is there still a
flenane for Samrmcl, will he again return to thie
game?
“And now after many years, at last year’s
rournamon in Pasadkria, | fire mct Resheveky
as One Of my toumament opponents, | will
first mention my “human” impression on
mecting him = it was most favourable, Not a
hint ef the arrogance that one might expect
from awunderkind, cven a formict one: a quict
digaity and chess “reticence” — incadentally,
wery Typical of representatives of the younget
peneration of masters. And at the same siepe —
the meat ploony impresslean rf Resherskey the
chess player! Ht was oor thar this siadent fren
Chicago University, whe is not a professional,
played badh; no, he even won a decent prin
in the teurmament and in strength he was
comparalile with the average American fats-
fer. Hut his até exudes such utter tour,
such lack ef imaginanon and = if'we were not
lealing ‘witty such amy initially: gifted indivichaal
— Dveoulill have said, ewer lack of taleme — that
all the neher players really did nee want to be-
eve thetr eyes.
“And hewerct paradoxical this phenome
non appeared, ie cowl) in fact be explained
fairly simph: Revhersky, who spent all bis
chikkhood at professional ches, at the age of
21 hor armed out to be chess-wise an old
man, tired, disillusioned and incapable of erca-
tive thinking. Chass yoisih ind yroath ba Mile are
nwo quite ihfforone things: this is fon often
fongitton by the pres and the public opinions
atkvat piles it.”
SMrong words! | think that pee of three
years later Alckhine would oo longer have put
‘his sagnamune to siach an article (ity 1934, on the
eve of the AVRO tournanient, he saick “Teo
sider the most dhingerous opponent te be Re.
shevsky’). Well, world champions are only
oman, which means thar they can ale be
mistaken. From a later period in history it can
be remembercd that initially Hotvinnik als
did not predict a brilliant fistare for Karpor_
Alekhine was tencknitteally staggered by Rie
shevaky"s manner of considering bis actions at
Jength, his constant Giene-croubles and the pro
tracted chatucter of his games. To imagene
something similat with, say, Morphy of the
young Capablanca was simply impossible. Bua
iis their times opening preparation was rut se
importnt And ic was here that Saruny wm
expemey werk, Paying almoer exchosively bey
intuition, he tite after time embed up in des-
perae positions and spent an enormous
ameunt OF time and effort, trying to repair the
consequences of his opesing errors.
Sach a ‘non-theoretical’ appeoach to the
initial arrangement of the game was also typi-
eal of Lasker — and ir was also developed in
the years of the great plaver’s youth, “Coffee
feiuse” chess, although euch maligned, is a
prime developer of chexs abality,” wrote Re-
shevelky in the late-140k. “The player whose
almost daily practice # iste playa half a doren
games which he can ill afford to lose, speedily
cams that pessimism docs sot pay. No mater
how bad his position may be in theory, he
knows that be must win the game. The player
who it consistonely successful ander these
conditions is a living proof that will porwer be
not a neghgible facing in success at the chess
ile. (0 might add thar seme observers have
anributed a goed part of emy oun sacoess te
this same Faceor.}*
However, the kewons of Pasidens fnrond
‘Sarmmy, for the firer ime in his life, wo sit down
andl study books on opening theory and read
chess magazines. The hand work soon began to
bear fruit, ‘Truc, be had mot yer decided which
of Iwo career to puri after finishing unger
sity, Isaac Kashdan, the airongcs USA player en
the late 12th cart 19Mbs, wrote inv the May
1933 fsa of Char Revit “Now Samneny is ar
the crossroads. If he contanaes in chess, he has
every prospect of repeating his echumphs at a
chil worwder, Hut as a young man Jookiny: for
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bis place im the bosmess workd, he weukd have
litte tise fear serious chess pllzvitay, The tense is
at hand when he must choose. The chess work!
is keenly interested! bn his decisions, as it mast be
in following the career of its moet famine
In 1038 and 19M Reshevaky plied nice
more in the Wester Championship, which
after the franformation of the Westen Chews
Asocianos inte the American Chess Fodera-
tow began tn be called the USA: Open Char:
Pinnship, Later he explained that this tourna
ment ‘is open te atty player, Thin haw the
excellent effeer of encouraging lange numbers
ff conmparatiodty unkncnen players ter compete
anal thus jain valable tourancnt expericnee.
Incidkeraally, thie who boeome interested in
teorrurent play soon discorer that love of
the game wall have ny comperate them for
the most pant, since pring money schlom pays
ever for the fond a contestant constancy abut
ing the course of a inirnammerit — het alee fins
thot! bill andl his fire te and from the ewent.
faa few toumamenn in the past, meroower,
misunderstanding of poor orpinization have
teduend the poze even farther, My price
“money fie winning, the Taka Tournament
an YAM consisted of a few cordial wonks! The
Western Championships affinded me the
most Convenient «apperrunity
stretgh aipainet some of the strongest Ameri:
cin players of he day."
(etwas in these tournaments that the many
years ef sharp tivalry between Reshevsky and
Reuben Fane began In 1752 are 1993 Fine
finished fire, aml Resbeveky seconel (although
an the second of these championukaps he cle-
feated his rival in their iruinvidial pone amd
went right thoogh the tourumen unde
feared), while in 196 they shared fire perize.
On the orher hand, Saremy finished alsead of
Reuben in Pasadena (1082) ate! inv Syracuse
(1934), where all vhe stronger Amencan play
is of the Bow wire eonmpeterk I, Reshovaky —
Tout ef 144i); 2 Kachin — 1: 24, Dhalke:
and Fine ~ 10 ete.
measure. rey
Sammy, Miguel ang Bent
“In a very real sense this tournament was a
turriing, point in rnp chess cateer,’ recalled Re-
shevely. “The question was whether { could
hold ey oer in competision wah my on
ternporarics. TET erik) riot, ip woudl be quite
char thar 7 could hanlly expect m coter on
chess asa life carer. Whee | eon the tour.
rament, and without kedag a game, H scrved
as encouragement to continoe serious atten:
tion tecches Mut for this encouragement, 1
swinuld haye nonounced serieus chess, although
Feud have continad to play the game oc:
catdonally with friends."
Avel although Samene, displaying workdiy
swiscdom, dial not give up his profession of ac
courttaney, im the spring of 1935 he artempecdd
4 second conquenng of European chess. \
tournament in Margate ended in a complete
trampls for bin: fire place with TV) our af 9,
half a point mere than the great Capablanca,
whem in acdstion he defeated in their individ:
sil parted! In bis Later years Reshevaley called
this game one of the reusct imposrtarst in bis
career: “I aas the youngest player in the tour
fument, and Capablanca wax considered ins:
vince.”
Indeed, Capablanca rarely bot, Thur be wan
even mote rarely curplaved int the way that
Reshevsky dict this, He surpassed the Cuban
genie in his comprehension of the clsaie
Penitioms of the Queen's Gambit, showin
thar aime when the understanding of chess
‘was sharply achvanciny, Capa remained tre te
the old impressions of the game. The ex-
chanipied overestimated the significance of
his protected pasod ofpawn, which in fact
coveted White's key pices, his knight ar 3,
againet frontal attacks, and he uncerestierested
the difficultics arising afner the exchange ef his,
queen's bishop amd the opponent's play
against the scomingly odepastcly defended d5-
pawn This pitt] bs one of these fanlamental:
cones, Le onc of those on which the edifice of
moatem chess strateyry is erected. fe forced the
meds of play in such positions tae recon
sidered It became clear that in the Chucen’s
1s
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Garry Kasparov on My Great Prev
Gamibir the dS-pawn can be weak, not only
when it is isolated,
Gane 2
5.Reshevsky-J.R.Capablanca
Margate 1935, 4b reaund
e's Gamilit Declined DAS
1 dé OG 2 04 06 3 c3 dS 4 29S TibdT
5 cadS ond5 6 03 Le? 7 £43 0-0 8 Wer
es
“| prefer S..0f here, because the teat, de-
spite ite apparently aggressive character, in-
variably leaves pawn weaknesses in its train,’
writes Reshevsky. Adter &.ch be alses played
{10 and imerpreted the populr Carlsbad
Variation quite successfully.
9503
A responsible decision, involving a reat
stritegic risk. ‘Since the d-pawn will be weak
in any event, [lack tries 10 prevent a direct
frontal ateack oon it, Hf instead Y..cad4 10 excl
Bes 111M) and White’s coming nccupation of
c5 will definieely ygive bien the better game.”
(Resbevaky), Or simply 10 Siuld. “The bess
commining 4..b6 10 Joh biG would take play
into normal Queen's Gambit pions.
10 215 Ses
Capablanca mechanically mnplements 9 ae
tangerine typical of the Carlsbad structure.
Hut insteac! of the rook move, which is point-
lows in the given situation, he should have
ensors
supported his hastions on the quecnside by
Hhogo 11 2h (one hundred pears aga twin
masters played 11 Stsd7 Wed 12 0.065 13
ef deed 14 Pived Ghd5 18 Bes Wic7 16 Sexe?
Wee? 17 Bact 265 with cqualiry, Marshall-
Janowski, Sth matchgame, Suresnes IMG)
U1 tbo!, or Uuab 12 of WS 13 040 bo!
14 dived Bawct, for example 15 eS dg? If
£4 ght, revaininga solid position.
110-0 96
Black canmot manage wahoo this mere.
After 11 AEH? 12 Sivclt Rac8 13 Sixt Bist
14 WG a pawn is lost (Mobr-Menchik, Hast-
ings 1931/32; Reshevsky- Dake, Chicago
19M).
12 Ghd
12...2087
Here this wandend Carlsbad’ manoeuvre
proves 10 be 9 serious positional méstake, al-
lowing White after twa subtle exchanges #0
beagn a lange: streggic operaiion, in
which the knight at fis out of play,
1LaG 1 oft SR? bs alse uttsuccessfule 14
Asc Back 15 sath Sti 1605 Se 17 BS
‘Was 18 Bit Be7 19 De ch WO ba! Bed 21
Pil Het 22 Wh 3 Gie7 23 Bet with a queen
aide bind Gpeciman-Solomen, Novi Sad
eH. Tei bemer to ply 1 WS? 14 bat
Sibsst 15 Savtis ext (15 sete 16 belt Wht
17 aSt Et? 18 SiS) 16 Wibod Sixth 17
Siwed Ec 18 Slet Zot or 17 Zabt fied 18
‘Wht! Eu! with a defensible position, al-
though the chronic weakness of the d5-pawn
16
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sranices White a long-term mutiative.
Therefore the most servis consideration
shouk! have boon given qo the immodaae
12s! Spemnuitting: Wack to utile abe
night to greater advantage,” writes Reshievsky
“Bllack’s ol-pawrs would have additional protec
dion, and in the event of b2-b5 folhiwed by
baoe4, Hlock could recapeure with the knight.
Aux atternpe by Wisite to wharves the: knight's
position with aut would be arewere! by
_aTaS*
13 Lach EecB 14 i xf6!
‘The start of a deep plar ter besiege back's
central pawn, “Highh imporrant, because it
prevents equalizatwan by hed an abs te
Mawes a vital protection af the dpawe." (Re
shevsky)
14,..6 18 B31 [his subele move isa hey
ink is White's plan) 15,8571
Acrapural reply, the menses of whack ane
far fom obrictm, 1Scub 3? bs clearly weaker,
as after (6 Wixi) Black josex a param The
lesser evil would appear to be Kashdan’s ree
onmmerstation 15.7 wath the ides of b7.
b5, bor even this would noe have relieved
Black e need 1 defend passively om the
queenside andl int the centre after Mi bact or
first 1 Hiei
16 4! (a tactical reseiuiree, erabslieys the Hf
fereive to be continued) 16... 88
White's activity is toe dangerous after
16 Wcbat 17 Bob) Wo 0% Beh7 of 19
Bab) Roi 20 Wet, Bur new it aypesrs thar
Samy, Mig
Hand dent
the movernert eof the pouwrs sruny BE 09 Bok ie
adhvantayouus to Black, since he has scxstrest a
peneriially dangerous passed cl-pawns.
17 Wed! G8 (an enforced weakening after
17_Bad? 14 WLS White wies 2 param) 18 BST
The crus of White's plan. The swift march
of the pawn feals ie the opening cf’ the
queensinle, after which the b7- and dS-pawns
becemne tangets.
18,,.e8
Whie’s plin canner he prevented by
THa5? on scrount of 19 bét Wb 2 hud
(Reshevsky), Nae fy feigced to adopt a passive
Maite.
49 Bab? Sbp (15? 20 bit) 20 Sb? de?
21 bxeG SaoG 22 We2 TeG 23 tb LaF
2404
be preverieal, since after 24..f% 25 cf! bncd 26
Wot Wack Lines ty ats amach inv the centre:
S67 27 Bed eT 2k Bet het 39 ds
Bet 0 Wed ete.
25 Ole (rhrestcning Slch) 25... 08 26 147
Resheweky is ultesconsistent in the imple-
mentation nf hin pin, ovetlooking that the
‘unplanned invasion 2f Sb! with the sorritle
threat of Dei! weukd have more quickly de
sired Black's akefences, Ter avoid a imam:
diate loss, be world have fesel too fined sacha
resource ac 26 a8, whieh, however, would
fot have saved! him from a bad endgame after
27 Dhetl Babs 28 Fina? Ws Wh Bad 0
7
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Garry Kasparov on My Grear Predec:
Wabe Whbe 41 Babi Bea? 0 bil, oe
HRA ad Dich Wh Piceth Beck M1 Sls
Wet 32 ct Hat 33 Sich cd M4 Sits Baad 35
Wicd Wed 36 Sicc3 Bad 97 Fibs ere.
26.,.16 27 Sigat
transpires that White hay conerived a
grandiose cavalry manccuvre. This knight is
heading for dl and then €3, ‘This square will
be vacated by the other Knight, which will
head 10 b5 and will be exchanged! for the black
kovighe, As a resale the d5-pawn must come
under anuick by supenor forces and the lark:
squired bishop will be ueuble ey dey arysbinge
‘The regrouping intended by White never
theless has a significane flaw, Eby meivinyg 10 i,
the fpr Has erased to support the e pawn,
and this factor could have wrecket Re
shevsky's pln
29...0037
Instead of this pendulan-like waiting ma
nocuvre, Capa coukl have played 29.13, in-
tending after 0 Evdt (the attempt to create
terion alo on the kimysade — Mb pt Wet M1
Wed be 32 WG does not prevent Mack from
comscdidating his defences: 52éka3 34 Bad
Se? M Bab? Bad ote. if M5 Sinhs
Sob5 Math 32 Se) dkaSt and the seermal
enikght carton be esiabtished at c3) 10 switch
the knight tre im ewsbomary and extrerricly: sine
ful defensive positions 30. Ste! 31 Ebs et
with cqualiry,
sore
‘The opponent's canteancs allows Re
sheveky to continue the ktiplorinatation af his
plan.
30 Ze2 206 31 S4d1! 15 32 Tbs!
A pair of knights disappears fmm the
board, and this is an undoubted achkewersont
for White.
32...5a5
Essential, since the white rook cannot be
allowed te gr to b5, After 32...Sub5 33 Eibs
Wou 64 Wi? Bek for 4 Wea 35 Fick Was
My Wd) 35 WH che d5-parwe falls ancl with it
Black's hopes of saving the pane: 35. Wed 36
Ead5 (36 Waxed dxet 37 cd in aber gonad)
3. WES 37 pes Bah 38 D4 dels 39 be?
Sips 40 Eic7 ere.
33 Onc? Axe? 34 03 Wd6 38 W12 bo
‘Here Capablanca offered «draw, | declined
the offer, F thought I could wie, and 1 coubd
net hope te become a grandmaster by accept
frig cdraws in winmieyy positions.” (Resheveky)
36 899 (hresening 37 BbS Heb 38 axbS
Hs 30 Ba? with win) 36.08 37 Sabz
Worl?
A dever tke, Capablitea’s evaluation of
the situation (and the draw offer assoctated
with it) soom= imote fealisie chan the refusal
of Reshevsky, who thought that his position
trap still strategically wor...
38 Eb!
White finds 2 way of suppressing the op-
porcat's contemplated activity and at the
ame time of sercrgthering his own position,
Copyrighted Material ‘The simple-minded 38 2b5? was fraught wah
danger after $8 Waal! J) Disal5 Haul! (te
shevakyy 4) Eads Hats 41 Whats Wet 42
ht Wt 43 het 3, for example: 44 Wot
Wh 45 Bi) fy) 6 Wet Whis 47 bet
‘Wb! 44 Wigs hs 49 he Wadd with an
oleic advantage for Black,
(38...2d7 (Hack is oblare! ey wait) 39 217
Wi hard 6b criticise decisions taken jane be~
fore the time control, However, Resboveky
hhirteclf cocsilered this anel his teat mowes tre
be dubbius and recommended 0 Gi fal-
fevwed boy pbtkdengy the: Airy toy ole) amd thse
rook to bS, which sooner or bser would have
led tr the fall of the d5.puwn,
39. 4d8
40947
Such w rockless move can be explained only
by the youth af the American charnpace. It
wera have been bertcr en return with abe kirye
faa gel anal chen ser it on the joumy to the
a2 saquaee,
40...fag4 47 hag’ Wd6 42 bg) Se7 43
12 BNF (with the threat of 6-25) 44 ge
Reshersky thouge thar this pawn chain
woukd cramp flack ever more, but be chearly
undererimared his vpppenent’s possible conn
terplay,
44.208 45 S02 Legh?!
Allowing the white tooks to break free:
‘Wack is desperate in the fee of the threat
cred Ebi, but he overocla the simagh of
4S Mob” (Reshovsky), Indeed, after 46 Zh5
WS! Black woubl have gained serious coun-
terplay on the light squares, Morcover, even
after the waititue terves 45 2505 46 Wh WRIT
47 Bhd yk an weuld net have been easy for
White to strergttiers his prositicnn,
However, the mowe made tn alsrentot yer fae
tal for Whack.
46 GxbG Wed 47 WdZ! Ae7 48 Sb7
“Fang up Black's pieces,” (Reshevsiey)
48... Sxad?
‘The decisive mistake, After 48.245 Mack
wkd hive temined a perfoely defensible
position:
1) 49 hs Boat (49, 2h52 30 Wes Hh2> 41
‘Mull) 50 Byt Bar 50 a5 BT 52 ob Este
(32. dubea= 49 Wats) 33 Sd b5 54 7 Han 55
SW (bus nor 55 WG? Baa? 56 Hlaa7 an ace
count of 56_ Whe! 57 dd Waed) 35. Eat
56 Sql Bah 57 Wahs Aba se Exits dei
50 Whi7+ (0 WiadSe? Beto Wicd Wh2+ Gl
‘Beis dined 62 Bal dad and it is Wack who
wins) 50k 60 What 297 with equaliny;
2) 40 Bay Hs 30 Wy? he 31 Ebb?
BhST (this inerobible resource is
instanely by Prine Rt) 52 Ribs dibay 53 hic
Wred 4G with adeow,
(One can ants guces what lewas that caused
Capallines tu abaridon the defence of the d5-
fern. Ue ds wichienltes ter stigeeet that belied
notundertand the difference in the valies of
the ad- and d3-pawnes. Possibly the Cuban was
tempted by an elementary trap, cr perhaps be:
gas samply tired ef conducting a jgruellinyg
m
Copyrighted Material Copyrighted Material
Garry Kasparov on My Great Predecessors
defence and decided to try this tuck in a
coninterattack, However, with the fall ef the
d5-pawn his position cnllapacs.
49 wxast (of course, not 4) Dade? Wie
So ict fiat 51 E0h2 ci) 49..5a5 50
Wacd
New the white king has a shelter at di} and
Whek’s prsition becomes hopeless
60. ,.2h5 (this resembles # ery of despair) 81
ae Wad 52 WoG Wo3 $3 Fd7! (winning a
picce) 53..5S $4 Sb3 Wel 55 Sao?
‘11+ 56 dd2 1.0
A grandiose game! Whar was the sale of
Rewheveky's talent tthe age of 23 he was
capable of coneciving ana) consistently inyple-
ericrititig, sich falarial?
“This gure,” werote Pyotr Romranoveky soon
aftorwands, ‘is a worelerfal yenek of chess art.
Init Resbevsky woukl scom to have embodied
all that has dooce prt furrwattel in reece years bye
modem ches. Non-noutne freebies aril
bokiness, subtle imagination, decp calculation:
are) accurately realistic thinking — this is thee
complex. of factors that characterises Re-
shevsky’s play. The type of defeat that Capaby-
lance suffered in this game is ome thar be has
not knew sittce the tne of hie meeting with
Alekhine, Int our epirtion, Capablanca eid eve-
rything of which he wan capable inv this highly
critical encounter with Resheveky. And even
wy tee was beaten. There is no dealer thar in
the person of Reshewsky the chess werkl has
found « major chess thinker, who has every
chance in the future of winning: the world
championship.” It would be interesting to
kenew: did Mckhine read these lanes?
Sammy also took first place in Yarmouth
and returned bore 0 America. bn the speing
of 1936 a new tee awaited him — the first
USA. Championship, staged by the meently
created Naponal Chess Federation (three years
later it was merged with the American (Chess
Federation into one organisation — the USA.
Chess Federation, and since then both the
woudl and the Open Championships of the
country have been held under irs auspices).
Previoushy any strong American muster,
whether he was Kashdan, Fine or Reshevsky,
had only onc chance of becomsng USA
Chasspbon — lay wereieys = march ssiner the
veteran Prank Marshall, who was by then over
00 (ele Last time Ihe Inaed defended his tile was
in 1924, by winning a match againet Exbwared
Lasher), Reshersky used! no meet him in the
Marshall Club, awocated with bim, played
blir and suggested playing a ranch, but the
champion declined the challenge
‘The youn stars were naturally exasperared
by this stare of affairs, and finally they jgained
an official opportunity to fight for the tithe of
the strongest player in the country, Marshall
magraninmeusly gave up his with w the Na-
fonal (Chess Federation, on condition that
from then on the champion would be deter
inined once every two years in a special tour
rament, anal he ammiunced that he wok new
longer take part, Before that be hast still played
on board 2 forthe USA team in the Obpmpr-
ads berween 1954) ard 1935, and later be alses
played on board 4 in Stockholm, marking: his:
‘Gihh birthday with a result of +357.
‘For me thi tournament will koag remain
something of a nightmare, Resbevsky re
member. about that championship, ‘After
‘winning. my fine round game, I had the mis-
fortune to draw the second one ard then lose
the third and fourth! There were few people
‘who would have taken seriously ney chance te
20
Copyrighted Material Copyrighted Material
swan the title, Somehow | managed re pall my:
sali together and by wrt: tound after
noureh | dowdy gained on the leaders.” in the
remabning rounds Sammy scored 10 out af
11(t) ard burst through inet Fire place, friday
ing half a point dha of hie unexpected rrval
Samonsen, but mere important ~ again alcad
cof his main oval Fine, wher shared third place.
How did the new USA. Charpion appear
to those around him? ‘The chess taster and
woter Fred Reinfeld, whe played Resheveky
several tities, wete: “Rerettably well keown
are his trad relatinns with the clock, the cause
‘of which are partly those difficult situations in
which he finds birmscif, and partly his tenacity
in defence and his fear nf becoming the initia
tor ofa plan lewting to defeat, The Ingacy of
fame atl pubbette that be bears from child,
haved is a heavy barabce.”
This pen portrait by Walter Hleuer, the bi:
agrpher of Paul Keres, bs alse of fnerese:
*A young man, with an already bald, ascetic
Gee uni a thoughefidl, noble look it his bhoe
ere: = he nn longer newembted in any way the
lirtle Sheri in a sailor suit, His play seemed
tense ard Lalor, ancl his games rarely
preval complet. His handling of rhe clock
was frankly scandalous it would happen thar
sity the sectrinnchy easy initial stage of the gore
he woukd sper Os of his shinking time.
More fervent critics maintained! thar He-
sheveky is the most tedious player, wher bs al
‘wavs terribly hacky.
ver so, te lirthe Shrewlik i preserved in
fam, ‘The tong freak fas Jeft an uneven trace
fiw his deweloprscat, laut ne lncak ears damage
eonginal thinking. Heshersky harlly ever took
eompecieising decisions. As a fearless fighrer,
he endeaveited te eahaust all possibaltics,
‘This belief, apparently, came from his chile
hood: “Tarn allowed mone than others” was
both Resheveky’s shield, and bis Achilles’
tech”
What is eve more inmerctinge bs how
Sammy hhamecli. to vehom in childhood “the
comect moves in a garke occurred oo me
Samy, Miguel and Ber
spontaneously.” explained his difficult, labo-
tious play — this will lift the curtain oe the
secret of Reshevsky the chessplayer's thinking:
“Today, spectators feel another kind off as-
tonishrmene, ft is my practice te epend the ma-
jor part of iy allorned time on the fire fiftoce
or twenty moves of a mrurnament game. As a
consequence | art often forced go play at
breakneck speed te aveid awerstepping the
time limet. After sack a game, | am frequently
asked why I took so hong eonidering “otnwvi-
fu” oeves. That's a question te whieh Pam
able to give a partial anawer,
“Toa chess mamter, there is ne such thing as
an “obvious” move, Experience has shown
that wins ot draws are then aay
by thoughties. play, Careful planning is the
esumner of chess strategy. Every move must be
scutinined with care. Each must be anahcred in
the light of the plan under considerarion. Noe
‘where is waste of time more severely punished
than in chess. Let me hasten t explain, how.
ever, that 1 do not mean inking twertty man-
ates for ome move but, rather, failing to male
each move play ite part in the scheme of
things. By playing slowly aburiny the earhy
Pluses arf a gare, | am able te raspy the: basac
Fequirerents of each position. Then, despine
being, it time preswute, have bile difficulty én
Finding the best continuation, leciderstally, iris
an odd fact thar mote often than ne it is em
oppencnt whe gets the jitters when | am con:
pelled to make these hurried moves, So, you
see, there are paychologieal considerations as
well”
Afier alll these successes Reshevsky wits
nine listed among the favourtes for the forth.
coming grandiose Nottingham toumament in
August, which had assembled a unique field
the work) champion Euwe, ox-champions
Lasker, Capablanca and Alekhine, the out-
sanding representatives of the older genera
sion — Boguljutarw, Tartakerwer and Vishraar,
and the young pretenikers ta dhe thantie — Bot
winnik, Flohr, Fine and Resheveky, as well as
several of the keading Emglisl masters.
ar
Copyrighted Material Copyrighted Material
Gory Kasparov on My Grear Pro sors
In this erent Sammy, ae he put i, wanted
te fear the trac value of roy ialert anal env
prospects of tiking part ina match for the
world championship,’ and he corsiderod thar
thint place would be a good tenalt for him.
And that 0 roughly what happened: after an
uncomment here strupyie, first place was
shared by (Capablanca and Betvinnik, whike
Resheveky shared Jrd-Sth places with Euwe
art Fine, half a point behind, defestong,
Aickhine and Lucker with Black!
Sex month later, when the star of the young
Keres alse began to shine, whereas Bohr bean
wo fall oway, iv finally becarne clear that the fur-
fure world champion, after Hanwe and Alekhine,
woud be one nf the magnificent four = eather
ne: of the three madketeers (Borvinnil, Fire ior
Reshevsky) or d'Artangan (Keres). Hur whe?
‘The ingrnament rivalry benween them crested
wickospread interest,
Resheveky particuluely distinguished himself
at ihe very strong tournament in Kemer
(sumniner TANT), where unisully he bean
without having to warm up — 64% out of 7,
defeating, among others, Keres and Fine. A
defeat in the Beh roninnl ony tatgesl Sarsieny on,
and he won a hunker three games! However,
be faked at the finish: be was sell the sole
leauler with 12 cnat cof 14, tesit int thee bast resattel
be overstepped the mark in trying to beat
With andl unexpectedly lost. As a tesubt Ihe
was caught by Flohr and Petro, with
Mekhine and Boeres half’ pois trebirad
A month later, for the first time ane
taraight away on board 1, Reshevsky played
forthe LISA team in the Olympiad in Stock
boi (+6-3=7). In those pears the Amicticarm
hood no equals in the world arene only: they
were able 0 field players of international stan-
din on all four beards. In the other teams the
difference in class berween the leaders and the
‘supporting cast” war very significant. And
whereas in Praga (F931) the LISA team took
fifa place by a small margin, in Folkestone
(1993) and Warsaw (1935) they had no rivals.
(Incickemtally, Reshevshy could well have
played inv the 1935 Cfympiad, but, according,
to Hanon Russell, for many yeam he was
afraid of travelling to Poland, thinking that
there he might be called up ine the army!)
In Stnekholn the powerful American stearn-
toller — Hesheveky, Fine, Kashdan, Marshall
and the reserve Horwitz —achiewed a record
ap over the second prize-winners (sie posts),
In Sopterber Sammiy tock part in a power:
ful dewble-round — supertournament itt
Semmenng, Baden, where the other pariopants
were Capablanca, Flobr, Fine, Kieres, Eliskases,
Petrov and Raguzin. The chief arbeter was the
famous Rudolf Spielmann, the winner of the
1926 tournament. As Sammy ironically ne-
marked, “The eight players who wene scloctod
to play in this toumament muy well have woe:
dered what they would be doing eleven years
from then, when their successes ax granchnas:
ter had faded.’ The USA Champion's result
was a long way shor of his success in Kerneri,
‘bur in cannot be called a failure: 1, Keres - 9
aut of 14; 2. Fine — 8, 4, Capablanca and Re-
shevaky— 7x 5, Ter,
He panty rchabiliganed! hiersclf in Heastingrs
(1937/38): 1, Reshevsky — 7 aut of 9 (umde-
feared}; 2-3, Alexaraler anal Keres — 6%) ete,
Nevertheless, Sarumy came to the pruly Bor
‘vintik-lilee conebusion that ‘a master cannot
do his bee in ceaschess competition.” And in
the subsequent decades be extremely rarcly
payed in more than three nurnaments « year,
Of course, whar told were his “main occupa
tion’ (he worked as an accountant until Ihe
retired) and a lack of worthy competitions,
Reshenky was never such an active fighter for
the rights of chessplayers, like Fischer, but he
valued his work, av is evident fron the follow-
ig lines about the life of a chess professional
“To those whe have never had oocasion i
do so, if must scem fascinating to wander
abou from one foreign country t aneaber,
observing many cities and men while practis-
ing one's chosen profession and enjoying
one's favourite pastime, Reality is bees roman-
ic. Secamohip lines, euibway companicy, ane
2
Copyrighted Material Copyrighted Material
hotels are smangers 10 the ancient and nayal
game af chess, ancl either leiffenent or hetile
tus je apsottes, Ty the elena: aut pets no owe
nugnent, a hot bath ane a comfortable bed are
fore desizable thar even the maar startillasiny:
competition at chews, And sighteccng is even
plore Gut af the question. Such discomforts
are tratteltary, brewer, baat the preodbuct «of the:
travels, the gases af tbe chess masters, de a
permanent contribution ou chess literanure,
“Ther peat chess. Wnitrasinetie have abies
cea abet ai thes cea nfs ipeineee's jer.
cenit. As be well known tor everynme sti has
dine any globe troning, insertional travel i
expemive, Moneuver, chess mastery are «asually
aft impecuninus Jot. Uiless the foumament
committee ix williny to advance them the
money for travelling anit liviry aocommintte
fine, ment nf them prefer ro stay in their sn
back yards — much to the detriment of the
game. And unlew the tnumuament comenitnee:
can find o paren o a group of pate, it cary
not Fumie the advances cle put fs prince calcu:
tate 10 temp the lest masters tes participa"
Art so, when be retuned to chess in the
coirly 195s, although he dbl nor achieve any
wdeciere smccess, Rethevky nevertheless very.
cconéuteritly mowed into the world elise. Irv the
spicing of FO, ina hiehly demmatic race wath
Fine, he succesfully deferred hix tile of USA
(Champion — [1 our of 14, without any clefears!
Fine finished hadf a pesne behind, unable to
dbefcan his rival in the deenive june fren the
ast pearl Altbough in meet of their pares in
whis tourer there was a rough senugde,
such a score can be achieved enly-when there is
adear superionty over the caber players,
A bitter Pill
On the auton of 134 both leaders ef Amer
can chess travelled nm Holland for the epoch
making AVEC) tournament, where for the
fire tame in history the strangest eight playen
in the world battled it our in a doubbe-reund
erent = Mlckhine, Capablanca, Fiwe, Hervin
nik, Flohr, Keres, Fine and Reshevsky, fr wos
Sammy, Migui nat Gi
the ibca of the organisers thar the winner oF
the seoorn! princvetmner df Alekhine should
finish first — shold galt the preferential right
wea mateh for the work! championship title,
hur Mekhine inmextutely trade it clear that be
sya ready tee play not andy the winner, bat alse
wn well-known jranibnaster whe coukd se
eure the neccesary prive fared.
1 have stready talked abour this and the
AVRO tournament in the chapters devoted 1
Alckhine, Earee, Hotcinmik and Kieres, Mere 1
should like te show how the two American
grandmaster were seen at thar time by the
chess world ane how they performed in real-
ity, There was nes shortage of fratecass,
“The eternal rival Reshevely aril Fine have
towther conquered TMunmpe, Reslevsky is
used ty beiryy seen at the top of toumarnent
tables, Here ton he will probably play well,
‘Foe him and for his “iricad™ Flohr che quce-
tion well be mainly to emsuare that ene clos net
fonisls higher than the oaher.* (Flolse)
‘Rehewky, anncipating ienporant bales,
thas semmewhan curler! ris ewrepleut stybe. After
all, he is the best practical player of modern
times, in ether words “a modernised Lasker”,
Fine, diwarisfied wath the mle of American
Werchampion and trying to renew Bis sar
eee of 1000, shuns the “medern style"
(Tarakcower)
"The penitios int the taumument of one of
the outeuauling reprseneurives of the Ameri.
cat chee school, pratelmastcr Fine, will be
difffeul, He weuld feel far mince conficbens iF
his tenacious senncing to wrest the USA cham-
Pionship front bis mast opponent, and to sory:
extent creative artipode (rbvis is the whee
prone!) Reshevsiy, cid mot eyncmatically end in
fiascrs, Hf tip eval in the bate for the American
championship: were Capablanca or Plohe, «cr
even Finwe, this would suit hire ener. ‘Then ir
aul bee cadet foe Thiers to tancherstearsel exert ts
tt hie play that preverste him fro beats his
opponent. Hut Reshevsky’s play demanch of
Vine that he rejects part of bie baske views,
which, of course, for Fine is unacceptable,
aa
Copyrighted Material Copyrighted Material
Garry & won My Gi it
“The bartle in Armsterdam aber demands ac
curate sclf-determanation by Resheowsky. The
Ieokdiness, resulting: from his tenackous starving
uy wint at all costs in every game, shoul as-
sume clearer forms than hitherto. The degree
ef nek, which with him semotimes becomes
tony great, ix justified only if be suceceds in
hurmeniously combining it with general stra-
tee dogger.’ (Momarscrsky)
Mote often than others, Borcinnil: and Re-
shevaky were pameal as the favourites, ‘They
have abeays played very consistently, and I
vate their play very highly,” Keres explained! his
foreeav (in nar, Borvinnik said that “much:
can be expected of Keres’), "Tam sire that
Heverrbrienibe weil wet, if Ihe plays ashe ied int
Nottingham,’ suse) Capablanca. ‘Reshersky
aisii has chances; be is youth anal energetic.”
Rogending this, if was even wrinten that The
AVRO tournament will possibly decide where
the sural chanspernshify is contested: in the
USA or in Sortet Ruissia!
Hut here ist Soviet press report about ant
incident that bears the stamp of those pre-war
yeare ‘Grandmasters Fine and Reshevsky,
who arrtved first, received “frienselhy™ warnings
from genuine “connomscurs” of chest. In
anonymous ketters, sent via the tournament
committer, wieiedians ef the “Aryan purity” of
chess recommended dhe American grandma
ters that they should at the feast... not win,
The lemer were handed to the police for in
vestigation.”
tris pot kneyin bir muck these malicienss
letters affected Sammy's general mooxl,, but
after an ultmnery finctround draw with
Alekhine in Revhevsky’s desperate time~
trouble the chumpion missed 2 clear win) he
ret hme successive defeats — against
inc, Botvinnih and Keres. “Reshevsky, ovet-
loaded with his birthing work, bs elaionsly tc
Irusy nu koeg egy with ches literarere: other
wine Ihe wendel ot heave cron apr se apaick ly be
a lowt positon against Keres,’ Tartakower
wrote in his report.
An unprecedented dur = Ys out of 4, bur
the most terrible thing was thas Fine wae three
points abead! However, Fishevsky, an un-
ecoimpeumising fighter, took himself in hand,
stopped ning and, after gaining two wins,
imoved up into the mide of the tournament
table.
Game I
M.Euwe-5.
Reshevsky
AVE, Holland 1934, 6th round
ce Defence B70
Vdd ONG 204 QB
In 1921 Ernst Grinfell first omployed the
defence with oT ef) and oafT