Philidor. Two Games, Reminiscences And Pictures.

Afternoon everyone. Yep, It's been a few weeks since I posted. A holiday, my birthday, work catch-up and some research digging have rather taken up my time.

During that research I came across Fiala's collection of Philidor's known games, and so thought I would throw together some bits and pieces from my files - in a rather haphazard way, to be honest - to keep you entertained for an hour. O.K. The material as I come to it!

Firstly, from the January edition of The Westminster Papers of 1870, we have this article by the Great George Walker.

O.K. The lady in question.

And the image of Philidor mentioned.

Let's get to some chess. Sadly very few Philidor games exist - recording games was a rare thing back then. The Encyclopedia of Chess Games has 78, whilst Fiala speculates on a possible 80. They were played when he was in his 60's - pushing 70 in some cases, ( he was born in 1726) and in all of them he gives his opponent odds of some description, if you count blindfold exhibition games as 'odds giving' - it certainly conferred them some advantage.

Generally the games are what you would expect - pretty patchy, but with glimpses of what a fine player Philidor must have been in his prime, and in better times for him.

I have picked two with some pretty points.

Firstly one against one Joseph Wilson, who I have been able to discover virtually nothing about!! The newspaper archives have nothing, nor the ecclesiastical record. He was important as the one time owner of 'the Atwood Manuscripts'. See batgirl's excellent article https://www.chess.com/article/view/the-man-who-saved-philidor  which also has some more of his games. 

Fiske, in the New York 1857 Tournament book describes him as 'a devine', and the Morning Post, reporting on Philidor's June 1795 blindfold exhibition gives ' Mr Wilson, of the Minories'. One for someone with more resources than me to look into!!

And one of quite a few we have of Philidor against his friend and mentor 'John Maurice Bruhl/Bruehl' We know quite a bit about him ! He may well have first met Philidor in Paris, and the final edition of Philidor's book was dedicated to him, as i recall. There is one well known image of him, via the J. G. White collection, for example - this one.

It seems to have been based on a painting - or vice-versa - that I have found two versions of

Or like this, from the Petworth house collection, which, as I recall, has some other chess related material, but don't have time to check!!

Then I have found an earlier one which I believe is him. However, I can't definitely confirm that!

The game - It is one that I have scratched my head over for the last 43 years - I am convinced that the score is incorrect, but Walker does not question it. My theory is that the game was hastily reconstructed 'post mortem', and mistakes were made. However, the early part is interesting, and the winning idea - albeit, I am sure, in the wrong form, is pretty. It also teaches you a little about Philidor's ideas.

That's it for now. Hope you enjoyed this little offering.