A 'Blackburne Blindfold Brilliancy' and Some Bonuses.
Afternoon everyone. Small world! last week I posted a game from a Blackburne blindfold simultaneous, and a couple of days later Tim Harding posted another such game over on the ecforums site. That got me to dig out Blackburne's own games collection and have a browse through the chapter of blindfold games.
I have picked out a few which caught my eye for various reasons to share here. I will save the game which Blackburne says that many considered his best in that field, to which I have added some notes, until last. At one time he was preparing a book to be titled 'Blackburne's Blindfold Brilliancies, but it was never published.
In my view he was one of the very best simultaneous blindfold players who ever lived - he just seemed to have had a special natural gift for it. Harding, in his book on Blackburne gives a nice interview from The Sheffield Evening telegraph, Nov. 26th, 1887, from which I take the following:-
''I was at Baden-Baden in 1870, and I was talking to Baron Kolisch about blindfold play. I said I could play any number of games simultaneously, and he asked if I would try with twenty.
I replied that I would match myself with forty if he liked, on condition that we should play only six hours a day, and then adjourn. I can't imagine how long the contest would have lasted - perhaps some of my opponents would have been dead before the conclusion, but it never came to anything ....
It's a strain, of course, and I can not sleep for six or seven hours after a contest; so it is my custom on those occasions, before going to bed, to make myself comfortable with a glass of whisky, a little light reading, and the most consoling of my old companions, my old wood briar pipe. When I begin to feel drowsy I consider it time to turn in, but it is no use doing so until my mind is composed and quiet again''.
O.K. Some games and some pictures.
Blackburne met a lot of very strong players during his blindfold exhibitions. His opponent in this first game
O'Hanlon. Undated. Ulsterchess.org.
was many times Irish champion. There is a story about the game - O'Hanlon offered a draw, saying that he had to leave to catch the last train, and Blackburne announced mate, say 'now the gentleman can leave to catch his train!'
There has been some debate over both the name of Blackburnes opponent in this next one, and the year it was played. Harding gives it as Jebson ( Jetson has been suggested) and as 1862 ( 1861 has been given) and as being from his first public blindfold exhibition. It's a nice game!
As mentioned last time, Blackburne understood the value of being an entertainer. Having been given a piece here, he gives back the material to pull off a pretty finish.
A game played not so far from where I am sitting now, against a perfectly decent player, who was a respected local figure who later went to New Zealand. Even under the circumstances this is a men against boys game.
A couple of the images here are from Winsen's chessarch.com accounts of Blackburne blindfold play in London. Winsen is a delight!
I love empty square sacrifices!! This one is a little beauty!
Black in this next game was an important figure in Bristol chess circles for many years. Blackburne describes the game as 'well known' Blackburne refuses to take his opponent's Queen until it is the last move of an announced mate in six.
O.K. To the feature game - thanks for staying with me this far whilst I have been having some fun!! Black in this game was a really good player, and a long time committee member of the City of London Chess Club. I have a number of pictures of him, as well as quite a few of his games. Dr. W. Ballard. a cut from a paining in one of my article - google simaginfan a painting to find it ( forgot to dig out the link whilst keeping an eye on the cricket!!)
What a game it is! When I first saw it in Blackburne's book I knew how to defend, and spent a whole 6 hour head in a chess book session trying to refute White's attack - some of my notes here are based on my margin notes from that work - without managing it. So, Dr Ballard - having to make a move whenever the teller came to him - did pretty well imho. Sometimes special talent overcomes all. A real chess delight.
Blackburne in a relevant picture. I hope you have had fun with this look at Blackburne, with his remarkable gifts for blindfold play, providing some entertainment. I have had great fun even if you haven't! Cheers guys!
