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Le blog de la Batgirl

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This blog, like most of what I write, focuses on the historical and cultural aspects of chess - with a few rants thrown in for good measure.

I don't accept friend requests; I don't play chess here; and I don't generally respond to notes, but I will respond to messages if they seem to have a purpose other than meaningless chat.  I'm only mentioning this so everyone knows there's nothing personal in my lack of response to any of the above.



    • Morphy's Muzios

      The Muzio Gambit: 1.e4 e5 2.f4 exf4 3.Nf3 g5 4.Bc4 g4 5.0-0      The Muzio Gambit was quite popular during the 18th and 19th century, although it was most often employed as a tool of strong players against weaker ones.For an overview of s... | Read More

      • batgirl
      • | Jun 17, 2013
      • | 501 views
      • | 4 comments
    • Petrov's Defense in the King's Gambit

           In the King's Gambit (after 1.e4 e5 2.f4) there are many ways to decline the free pawn. Some are:The Classical variation: 2...Bc5Norwalde Variation 2...Qf6Panteldakis Counter Gambit 2...f5Nimzowitsch Counter Gambit  2...d5 3 exd5 c6Adel... | Read More

      • batgirl
      • | Jun 10, 2013
      • | 1381 views
      • | 14 comments
    • Shadow Pictures of Chess Masters

           The Vienna Chess Tournament of 1898 ran from May 31 to July 25.  Tarrasch and Pillsbury ended with a tied score of 27½ - 8½.  In the play-off Tarrasch defeated Pillsbury 2½ - 1½.  The final game was a draw, after which the two men... | Read More

      • batgirl
      • | Jun 4, 2013
      • | 1475 views
      • | 6 comments
    • King's Gambit Talk

      — from "The Chess Players' Compendium: A Practical Guide to the Openings" By William Cook in 1907   The King's Gambit: "This opening gives birth to the most ingenious and complicated combinations that can arise in Chess." (Carl Jaenis... | Read More

      • batgirl
      • | May 30, 2013
      • | 1546 views
      • | 10 comments
    • The King's Gambit, Classically Declined

           The King's Gambit has been declined at least as far back as Greco in the early 17th century. In fact, the "Oxford Companion to Chess" (OCC) claims that Polerio introduced the moves later called the Falkbeer Counter Gambit (1.e4 e5  2.f4... | Read More

      • batgirl
      • | May 24, 2013
      • | 2418 views
      • | 16 comments
    • Steinitz's Memory

      STEINITZ'S GREAT MEMORY He Wins Three out of Four Games of Chess Blindfolded.      The rooms of the Manhattan Chess Club were crowded last evening with lovers of chess.  They had assembled to see Steinitz, the Austrian champion, play, blin... | Read More

      • batgirl
      • | May 17, 2013
      • | 2774 views
      • | 11 comments
    • Villemson's Gambit in the KGA

           Many openings go by various names. The opening(s) we'll be looking at in this presentation not only go by many names, the situation, like gambits themselves, gets very messy, muddy and uncertain very quickly.      The title of this ... | Read More

      • batgirl
      • | May 11, 2013
      • | 1961 views
      • | 9 comments
    • Bertin Gambit: What Would You Give for an Attack?

           The Cunningham Defense in the King's Gambit Accepted begins 1. e4 e5 2. f4 exf4 3. Nf3 Be7.  White moves the Bishop to give his King a place to go with 4. Bc4.  If Black continues with the threatened 4... Bh4+ and White replies with 5.... | Read More

      • batgirl
      • | May 5, 2013
      • | 2760 views
      • | 21 comments
    • Combinations by the Dozen

      Below are 12 beautiful combinations from games by various players throughout time. I've incorporated the entire games but displayed them from the point where the combination seems to originate. Game 1The first game is between the Kiev champi... | Read More

      • batgirl
      • | Apr 28, 2013
      • | 2447 views
      • | 29 comments
    • The Dreaded Cunningham

      Here's a rather long and involved posting on the Cunningham that I had created for another forum a while back and which I'm reposting now for anyone who might be interested in such things:       When I first started playing the King's Gambi... | Read More

      • batgirl
      • | Apr 21, 2013
      • | 2917 views
      • | 14 comments