(p. 9)
- 6 -
In Russia chess is thought of so highly that it
is taught in the public schools. Yet blindfold play
is forbidden by law! (Authority--Alekhine's "Aut
dem Wege zur Weltmeisterschaft").
Chernev, Irving. 1937. Curious Chess Facts. New York: The Black Knight Press.
(p. 9)
- 6 -
In Russia chess is thought of so highly that it
is taught in the public schools. Yet blindfold play
is forbidden by law! (Authority--Alekhine's "Aut
dem Wege zur Weltmeisterschaft").
Chernev, Irving. 1937. Curious Chess Facts. New York: The Black Knight Press.
5. In the 15th century, promotion to allow more than one Queen was considered improper because it symbolized adultery. In Spain and Italy in the 17th century, the Pawn could only be promoted to the rank of Queen. In France and Germany, promotion was limited to any piece which had been lost. In some countries a player could promote a Pawn to an enemy piece so as to force stalemate. The current law in Pawn promotion was established at the first International Tournament in 1851.
6. The longest time recorded for a chess player to make a move , goes to the International Grandmaster Trois from Brazil with 2 hours and 20 minutes on the 7th move.
7. The word "Checkmate" in chess comes from the Persian phrase "Shah Mat", which means "the King is dead."
Chessgames.com list four games between Max Weiss( Means white in German ) vs Jacques Schwartz ( Black in German ) from 1880-1890. Weiss played as White twice and Weiss was Black twice. Of course Black ( Schwartz ) was Black twice and back to White twice. All games ended in Draws... Nice! Now I am going to be singing Edelweiss and Black is Black at least thrice. LOL
8. Another fun fact - Blathy, Otto (1860-1939) , was credited for creating the longest chess problem, mate in 290 moves!
Why no blindfold? Is it because blindfolded chess can be very exhausting for the children?
Who knows. I thought it was a great statement about the absolute foolishness of government authorities. I've been pulling quotes from that same book even though it's quite old, so I'll post more quotes whenever I get a chance.
(p. 12)
- 19 -
When Philidor played three blindfold games
simultaneously in 1783, affidavits were drawn up
attesting the fact of this performance, as chess
players of that day doubted that future generations
would believe such an astounding tour de force
was possible. Yet Blackburne, a few years after
he had learned the moves, was able to play 10
games with ease! A little later he played as many
as 16--which record was subsequently equalled
(p. 13)
by Zukertort. This branch of the game reached
such a stage of perfection that Pillsbury played 12
and 16 games as a matter of routine. The highest
number he ever attained was 22 games (Moscow,
1902).
Chernev, Irving. 1937. Curious Chess Facts. New York: The Black Knight Press.
Sqod wrote: This branch of the game reached such a stage of perfection that Pillsbury played 12 and 16 games as a matter of routine. The highest number he ever attained was 22 games (Moscow,1902).Chernev, Irving. 1937. Curious Chess Facts. New York: The Black Knight Press.
wow. 22! Highest number I attained is zero. :D
Highest number I attained is zero. :D
Yes, I honestly don't know how a person can play even *one* game of blindfold chess. I suppose they have extra good memories. I would keep forgetting where all the units were. That's an example of a task where scratchpad / working memory is really important, such as typical of people with very high IQs. That's only one component of intelligence and chess skill, however.
Speaking of the foolishness of authorities, in this case probably the folks who decided where to hold a chess tournament, here's another fun fact...
(p. 31)
- 83 -
Nimzowitsch once took part in a tournament
where he was forbidden by law to enter the tourna-
ment room! This occurred at Ostend 1907, where
the play took place in the Casino. Since all under
21 were forbidden to enter the building, Nimzow-
itsch (who was 19 at the time) had to play his
games outside! The baby of the tournament fin-
ished 3rd in a field of 29.
Chernev, Irving. 1937. Curious Chess Facts. New York: The Black Knight Press.
In the documentary My Brilliant Brain with Susan Polgar, they talk about remembering positions and playing blindfolded.
It seems people remember positions not by the piece placement, but by the interaction between the pieces. So it is possible when some people are playing blindfolded, they may not be creating a mental image but, rather, remembering the activity on the board.
No doubt, there are probably multiple ways people are able to remember multiple games and/or play blindfolded.
Sqod wrote:
shine5 wrote:
Highest number I attained is zero. :D
Yes, I honestly don't know how a person can play even *one* game of blindfold chess. I suppose they have extra good memories. I would keep forgetting where all the units were. That's an example of a task where scratchpad / working memory is really important, such is typical of people with very high IQs. That's only one component of intelligence and chess skill, however.
Speaking of the foolishness of authorities, in this case probably the folks who decided where to hold a chess tournament...
(p. 31) - 83 - Nimzowitsch once took part in a tournamentwhere he was forbidden by law to enter the tourna-ment room! This occurred at Ostend 1907, wherethe play took place in the Casino. Since all under21 were forbidden to enter the building, Nimzow-itsch (who was 19 at the time) had to play hisgames outside! The baby of the tournament fin-ished 3rd in a field of 29.
Chernev, Irving. 1937. Curious Chess Facts. New York: The Black Knight Press.
Nice stories. I can tell this would be a really interesting book for any chess player to read.
In the documentary My Brilliant Brain with Susan Polgar, they talk about remembering positions and playing blindfolded.
It seems people remember positions not by the piece placement, but by the interaction between the pieces. So it is possible when some people are playing blindfolded, they may not be creating a mental image but, rather, remembering the activity on the board.
No doubt, there are probably multiple ways people are able to remember multiple games and/or play blindfolded.
The longest game ever played over the board under tournament conditions was Nikolic-Arsovic, Belgrade, 1989. The majority of the game was Nikolic trying to win with K+R+B vs. Arsovic's K+R. The game was declared drawn on the 269th move.
That more modern record certainly beats the record in that old 1939 book I've been quoting...
(p. 7)
- 2 -
The longest game ever played between masters
lasted 168 moves! The 1907 Carlsbad Tournament
was the scene of this gigantic struggle. Six sittings
consuming 22 1/2 hours were required before Oldrich
Duras, who had lost a Pawn at his seventh move
against Heinrich Wolf, capitulated. Even when
Wolf had two Queens against his lone King, Duras
hung on (hoping perhaps for an earthquake).
Other lengthy battles were: Duras-Janowski
(San Sebastian 1911), 161 moves; Lipschutz-Bird
(New York 1889), 159 moves; Mason-Tchigorin
(Monte Carlo 1902), 144 moves; Mackenzie-Mason
(London 1882), 144 moves; Pillsbury-Suchting (Han-
(p. 8)
over 1902), 139 moves; Tchigorin-Delmar (New
York 1889), 136 moves; Baird-Mason (London 1883),
121 moves.
Chernev, Irving. 1937. Curious Chess Facts. New York: The Black Knight Press.
Sanity is all about state of mind.
was that not once said by norman bates?
9. In 1985, Erik Knopert played five hundred 10 minutes games of chess for sixty eight hours!
10. In chess game between Mason and McKenzie in London in 1882, there were seventy-two consecutive moves with a queen.
According to the America’s Foundation for Chess, there are 169, 518, 829, 100, 544, 000, 000, 000, 000, 000 ways to play the first 10 moves of a game of Chess.
or as we write in denmark: (. instead of ,)
169.518.829.100.544.000.000.000.000.000
bobbyDK wrote:
According to the America’s Foundation for Chess, there are 169, 518, 829, 100, 544, 000, 000, 000, 000, 000 ways to play the first 10 moves of a game of Chess.
or as we write in denmark: (. instead of ,)
169.518.829.100.544.000.000.000.000.000
That's a lot. :). I don't know if chess can ever be solved.
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77% of films or TV shows featuring a chess game have the board the wrong way round. And 100% use chess playing as shorthand for the protaganist being clever and/or insane.