Some More Hungarian Chess History. Forgotten Games, Pictures And Drawings.

Good afternoon everyone.

Yeah, an unusual header picture for me - don't worry, I haven't gone all clickbait - all will be revealed as I go along.

So, would you believe that I have had my head in a chess book! I have finally managed to get my hands on one which I have been after for at least 40 years.

My long time readers will know that I am a big student of Hungarian chess history, and love the Magyar Sakktortenet series. I have just completed the set with volume 4.

It covers 1922-1942/3, and most of the work was done by the wonderful Arpad Foldeak. Lots of forgotten games, player records, tournament results and some incredible and rare pictures. Incredible work mate. Best get into it! The question is where to begin.

O.K. Hungary at the chess Olympiads.

Way back when those events first started Hungary took them seriously - they held a qualification tournament for those who wanted to take part. Eventually their team was this one.

For further along in this rambling article, A. - Andre - Steiner is the same as E. - Endre Steiner.

If I am reading the book correctly the great Geza Maroczy scored Hungary's first Olympiad win - how many of those have there been in the last 100 years? 

The game.

A picture with Vukovich to follow.

A picture from the book.

Right click and open in new window for the better version.

Elsewhere recently I mentioned Kashdan's amazing record at the Olympiads. At Stockholm he had  just the one loss - this one.

A relevant picture to follow.

The book also has nice chapters on studies and problems, plus one on correspondence chess. Here's a nice c.c. game, which isn't in my copy of the megacorr database. I have at least one picture of the winner somewhere, but forgot to look for it! I may find it and add it later. Anyway, it's a fascinating game.

A picture from the book - one of the series of what I call 'the balcony photos' from the Folkestone Olympiad in 1933. a wonderful copy!

The book also has a great group picture from 1930 with Lilienthal - the player with the film star looks, but I haven't included it here - maybe another time.

O.K. I previous blogs I have given Erno Gereben - originally Ernst Grunfeld - a hard time. Let's put that right with this very nice win from the book's coverage of him.

The picture from the book from that tournament, with Kashdan.

Apologies for the poor scan. Gereben 2nd from right in the back row.

So, let's explain the header picture. As my ever patient regulars will know, I am the guy who takes notice of obscure players who's names crop up along the way. Those I call 'The Forgotten'. Chess history is no more just the famous and the world champions than the history of my country is just the names of the kings and queens.

The book has two nice games by a Budapest amateur by the name of Bela Krivoss.

No, I had never heard of him before. He finished below half way in his one significant national tournament - but won a nice game in it against a recognised Master.

Doing some internet digging, it turns out that he was an artist and sculptor. Gaige and edochess give his tournament results.

I have 3 of his drawings which I will include here. First the header picure.

A game from the Budapest Amateur Championships, 1922. No, I know nothing about his opponent!

and a win against Arpad Vajda - pictured above. It's a fascinating, forgotten, game - not to be found in the databases. books have their uses!!!

Time for one more picture from the book.

That's it for now - thank you for joining me on another journey into the history of our great and beautiful game. Cheers guys!