A Phenomenal Move And A Giant Killer. Some Correspondence Chess Stuff.

Good afternoon to all my friends around the world. 

''Meanwhile, far away, in another part of town'' as Bob Dylan wrote, I mentioned a move that is regarded as one of the most amazing ever played. I think Tim Krabbe, who has a website devoted to such things, ranks it at number three of all time. I posted in in one of my blogs, and Edward Winter has an article about it, iirc. The game.

In my head was another example, but - you guys know how my memory works - I couldn't remember the details of the game. Well, I eventually found it in this wonderful book.

in the section written by the Lithuanian c.c. federation. Obviously!! It has probably never been seen elsewhere, which is a shame, so let's put that right. I know nothing about the players involved, and, as this will be quite a long blog, I didn't take the time to dig. Just enjoy the game.

While I was there, I did game files for the other two games in that section, so I will throw them in here. Again, I have not researched the players.

A couple of things in my head with this one. It was played in a tournament dedicated to my late friend the wonderful Reg Gillman - a tireless worker for correspondence chess. Much missed.

Secondly it reminds me of a game from the 1936 Nottingham tournament - first one to name it gets a special 'chess games student geek award! I had to consult the engine on this one - it's a bit complicated.

The third game - the loser called it ''the best lost game of my career''.

And part two! Perhaps I should have spared your patience and done individual blogs, but I am enjoying myself here!

Getting to Lithuania - in the book - I went through Latvia, which reminded me of a little project I never got round to ( I have MASSES of those)

Karlis Betins. (other transliterations are available - don't start me on the 'you spelled his name wrong, my database says' guys - I first knew of him 45 years ago as Karl/Carl Behting)

The pioneer of the Latvian Gambit, and a seriously strong c.c. player. He beat Tchigorin and Schiffers - Russia's two elite class players at the time - as well as Niemzowitsch. Not so shabby! The ICCF Gold paragraph.

As it's mentioned there, let's start with his win over Tchigorin. Sadly, just when things were getting interesting, Tchigorin - who had the reputation of being the world's strongest c.c. player (there's a debate!) made an inexplicable mistake.

The incredible Encyclopedia Of Latvian Chessplayers - imho the best rights free chess resource I know of ( no - pirated pdfs of 'in print' books don't count - the people behind them, and those who quote them, should be ashamed of themselves for just stealing other people's work. Rant over!) has lots on him. I will give it here, with my humble thanks for putting together the most incredible resource. I would suggest joining me in my old school ways by getting out a chessboard to go through the games given.

Lebedev was a pretty good player, by the way. Good enough to beat guys like Tchigorin and Romanovsky in over the board play.

While I am there, a picture of his brother - seen in that picture - from the Latvian Encyclopedia.

So, his wins over Schiffers.

A nice picture to finish up with.
Have a great rest of the weekend every. Speak soon.