OLD-TIMERS STORIES CHESS AND OTHERWISE

Must be age 50 or other.  Post here old-timers stories. can be chess or otherwise.

[I have many but already posted-let's hear other interesting stories]

I'm not 50 yet, (still in mid-thirties), but the true story I have to share with you is about a gentleman who was age 73.

He was pulled over by the policeman for going about 20 miles over the speed limit.

The officer asked him where he was in such a hurry to get to this late at night.

(It was 3am)

The man explained to the officer he was late for a lecture on the dangers of drinking, smoking and fast living.

The officer wasn't really buying the story, so he asked him, "And just who in the world would be giving this lecture at 3:00 o' clock in the morning?"

The man answered,

"My wife."

Badda bing badda boom.

bah doom ch!

          I'm watching this latest active shooter at the Maryland mall on CNN, and they have stressed the point that the police are making people exit the mall, in single file. I understand the reasoning for this. We saw it at Columbine and other places. Suddenly, I'm transported back 50 yrs. At my Catholic school, you went to the bathroom in single file. You entered the building, in single file. You practiced fire drills, in single file, etc,etc.  Who knew those dam nuns would be RIGHT about everything in life, 50 yrs later. I think I will now exit the forums; in single file!

My first chess tournament. It was the US Open in Omaha Nebraska in 1959.

It was a strong tournament with experts, masters, and grandmasters making up over half the field. Grandmaster Arthur Bisguier won the tournament and his cousin [or 2nd cousin] grandmaster Pal Benko tied for 2nd place.

 I was unrated, of course, and the first game I had Black and played a defense to the Ruy Lopez.  I won from an expert and somebody told me "You just beat the champion of Puerto Rico!"

 Then, I played a  well known master [Marchand] and the game lasted about 13 moves as I overlooked a tactic and lost my queen.

Later on, about the 5th round, I was playing Clark Harmon. He was the Junior champion of Oregon. [i think]

Clark was getting the best of me.  However, I noticed GM Pal Benko glancing at our game from a couple of tables away.

Thought to myself--Why would GM Pal Benko, who was fighting for first place, be interested in a game by an unrated player?

And then, I saw it!. I sacrificed my knight for two pawns. I was left with a lone king. Clark had  his king and a bishop and a pawn. But it was a rook pawn and his bishop was on the wrong color to control the queening square.

 Clark looked a little confused. At this point Pal Benko [he was and is a well known  endgame expert] Pal Benko annouced to everybody that the game was a draw.  Clark quickly agreed to a draw.

[I wonder if Pal Benko remembers this?]

Wouldn't it be awesome if he did

Here is a add on to the story. The next [and last] time I played in a U S Open was in Chicago 1973.

I got to play GM Bisguier  [remember he won the US Open in Omaha in 1959 that I participated in.]  and I won the game.