is the oldest opening the Scandinavian?
The OLDEST chess game
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how can someone record a chess game in 1475?
Feb 28, 2025
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#25
chessprodigyDa1 wrote:
how can someone record a chess game in 1475?
Most games then appear in manuscripts. Few are played games, but rather opening ideas or problems.
This one, for example, appeared in several manuscripts prior to 1450.
White to move and give mate in 12 moves or less moving the rook only once.
the oldest chessgame on record was played between Francesco di Castellvi and Narciso Vinyoles in 1475. Francesco was a lord of several towns in the area of Jativa and Valencia, Spain, and served as advisor in the Argonese court of King Ferdinand. He passed away in 1506.
Narcis was born between 1442 and 1447 and was a politician and writer. in 1495, King Ferdinand recommended him for the position of 'Justica Criminal'. he was married to Brianda de Santangel, niece of the banker who financed the voyage of Christopher Columbus.
Francisco and Narcis co-authored the 'scachs d'amor' (or the Chess of Love), a Catalan poem that describes the first modern game of chess.
the oldest game also features the oldest opening in history! can you guess what it is? (hint: it's not the ruy lopez) further reading: CHESS CAFE -Something Old...:
to complete the topic, here is a partial list of several of the oldest games and the openings they represent:
1. Castellvi - Vinoles, Barcelona 14901.e4 d5 2.exd5 Qxd5 3.Nc3 Qd8, etc.
2. (Ruy) Lopez - Leonardo, Rome 15601.e4 e5 2.Nf3 f6?! 3.Nxe5 fxe5?, etc.
3. Leonardo - (Ruy) Lopez, Madrid 15751.e4 e5 2.Nf3 Nc6 3.Bc4 Bc5, etc.
4. Leonardo - (Ruy) Lopez, Madrid 15751.e4 e5 2.Nf3 d6 3.Bc4 f5, etc.
--- and this 'interesting miniature':
In the second game white took advantage of black squares weakness and won.
BTW the games were really interesting.