Fischer Thoughts-Rothbard Follow Up

Murray Rothbard's piece on Fischer is a mixture of the good and the bad. To the best of my knowledge, Rothbard's understanding of chess and its history wasn't too extensive but he makes some valid points. Its never bothered me that Fischer violated U.N. sanctions in Yugoslavia so I'm on board when Rothbard defends him.

When asked about the "sanctions" against him, Bobby heroically pulled out a letter from the U.S. Treasury, warning him that if he went through with the match, he would be violating UN sanctions and subject to fine and imprisonment. Bobby met this challenge by heroically spitting on the Treasury letter, and declaring that he doesn't recognize the sovereignty of the United Nations in fact, that the world would be a lot better without the UN.

On the other hand, Rothbard is too quick to dismiss charges against him at times.

Two: Bobby makes excessive, trivial, and loony demands of tournament directors. And yet, virtually all of these supposedly wacko demands have now been adopted, and chess experts have begun to see their merits. For example: It was Bobby's correct charges of Soviet conspiracy that forced the international chess authorities to change the way they pick championship contenders, turning from tournaments (where deliberate draws can be concocted) to one-on-one matches, where such conspiracies cannot take place. Bobby has also pioneered in changing tournament time clocks, to guard against being rushed to beat the time clock. This innovation showed a principled regard for the good of the game, since one of Bobby's attributes as a chess player is that he himself was virtually never in time trouble.

So, Fischer isn't always wrong but his demands on tournament directors, not to mention other players, have reached ridiculous heights at times. For proof, a great book to turn too is Bobby Fischer Goes to War: How the Soviets Lost the Most Extraordinary Chess Match of All Time that deserves quoting here:

Just before midnight on 9 May, the thirty-three-old Benko came looking for Bisguier in Fischer's room; he needed some help in analyzing his adjourned game with Petrosian. Fischer and Benko started scrapping- What Bisguier calls "fisticuffs". The following day, Fischer wrote to the tournament organizing committee, saying Benko should be fined and/or expelled from the tournament. It was a letter they chose to ignore.
Pg.14

This passage is included in a paragraph documenting Fischer's desire to have Bisguier only assist him.

Apologizes and More to Come

I promised to write much more in this blog, and apologize for taking so long to finally getting around to it.

Look for more frequent posting this week!

Under Renovation

I've switched to a new and improved look for the chess blog and thanks to the people behind blogger.com for offering more features.

Chess in New York City

To begin the lack of neglect I spoke of here; A piece I've had collecting dust for awhile is offered. I also have a three part series of posts on the Missouri Chess Festival planned. General commentary, annotated games, and a take on the Missouri Chess Association bulletin report will be posted.

Its often been a habit of mine to call New York City the chess capital of America. A recent family trip to the city left me with this favorable impression intact. From risking cash or wagering push-ups in Union Square to visiting the Marshall Chess Club, a good time was always had. Next to the above, a stop at the infamous Washington Square Park of Searching for Bobby Fischer fame was also made. My results in all three of these venues was mixed. On the first stop in Union Square, a lost match of first to win six games left me 30 dollars less in spending allowance. The opponent I faced was a very friendly guy who provided enjoyable conversation. In a second trip, he was kind enough to play me with the time odds of 3:1.40 in my favor. Enough games were won to garner 4 dollars but there was no repeat of this in Washington Square. Here, I lost both of two attempts to triumph over a local player. While these excursions into NYC park playing were fun, visiting the Marshall turned out to be the real highlight of my chess experiences. Being able to catch glimpses of chess history captured in many photographs was worth the visit alone.

On the Move Again

The Westport Chess Club makes a move back to the Westport Flea Market next Tuesday. Be sure to drop by!

Back in Action

More posting on here is about to come. My long neglect of the chess blog will end.

Chess Life Redesign-Follow Up

Many thanks to all of those who left comments on my Chess Life Redesign post. It managed to be my first post (to the best of my knowledge) mentioned elsewhere on the net at the Boylston Chess Club Weblog. On a similiar note, my blog is linked at All the King's Men.

Chess Life Redesign

Chess Life has a new look! Perhaps, they decided the old format was too stale for the times. There is quite the contrast between the old design and the new. They've upped the ante with a flashier presentation likely designed to make it easier on the eyes. The old format, despite being kind of bland, never really bothered me much though. Being a hardcore chess enthusiast, content takes precedence over style for me. I'm sad to see Larry Evans column disappear but it's my hope that we'll get to see it online. Speaking of which, I've got mixed feelings about the shift of more content to the net. We do live in an age where net access is becoming increasingly widespread but those without a taste for the web would be left out in this change. Not that it's possible for the USCF to completely please everyone but accommodations for those without a net connection could be made. Two versions of Chess Life could be published with one retaining more content in print form. Of course, there's the issue of increased costs and thus USCF dues (not really knowledgeable on how the current revenue is spent or whether it's mostly spent in a good way) but offering two deals with any extra costs added in could solve that. Anyway, that's my take.

What's yours?

Update: It's a shame to see David L. Brown's Key Kracker's column disappear.

Fischer Thoughts-Another Perspective

I've written a fairly critical essay on Bobby Fischer in the past and I'd like to provide a link to a more complimentary piece written by the late Murray Rothbard. There are some similar areas of concern but the points in time that our respective writings were put together are very far apart.

Judge for yourself! I'll be doing a follow up post with my thoughts on it eventually.

Favorite Tourney

Let me know about the tournament that made your day.

Mine would have to be the 2005 North American Open.

Chess Buzz

Is blitz chess an adrenaline rush for you?

Share your thoughts!

Game of the Day-Spectacular Attack

Young Bobby Fischer played more than one game that awed chess players. One of my favorites is Fischer-Bent Larsen that was played at the 1958 Interzonal held in Portoroz, Slovenia.

Game of the Day-Artistic Finish

Today, I'll promote a game that has an absolutely sparkling finish. It's the fifth match game between Capablanca and Marshall from their 21 game series played in 1909. Those interested in an annotation should track down a copy of Capablanca's Best Chess Endings:60 Complete Games that contains it, along with several other battles of the event.

An Intense Tournament-The 2006 Chess Club Championship

Intensity! Chess is often a quiet game on the surface but it can be quite different inside the inner worlds of the players. I had an experience that is to be treasured in my last game when intense calculations were made. No doubt, others have their own memorable moments from this event. Once again, I'm at a loss to poke holes in the running of a Chess Club tourney. If anyone has a grievance to air than here's one forum to do so.

Memorable Moments

What's your most memorable chess moment?

My piece on the 2006 Chess Club Championship will be up sometime this week.

Sorry for the delay!

Surprise Surprise

Chess can be a limitless game that manages to keep us on our toes.

It can throw new and exciting situations at us even when we think we've seen it all.

What kind of surprises has chess provided for you?

Place Your Bets

Topalov or Kramnik?

Take your pick!

I'll confess to not knowing enough about either for much of a judgment.

Therapeutic Chess

Do you find solace in chess?

I love to get lost in it when my life feels chaotic.

What's it do for you?

Drop me a note!

How Kooky Are We?

"There is nothing abnormal about a chess player being abnormal. This is normal."
-Vladimir Nabokov

Speak to you?

Let me know!

Revisions Alert

I've been going through most of my old writings and making tweaks to spruce them up.The changes make them much more concise.

Disputing Mr.Soltis

The March issue of Chess Life contains sentiments by GM Andrew Soltis that I've got to take issue with....

"There are people who like to compete but don't like to think a lot.They often find fufillment in sports..."
-GM Andrew Soltis on pg.10 of the March 2006 Chess Life.

I can't claim to be especially knowledgeable about sports like football,basketball,baseball,and so on but it seems like they can contain their own fair share of heavy thinking.

Just some thoughts.

The Aura of Mikhail Tal

I heart this picture!

What can I say?

I love a determined looking and nicely dressed chess warrior!

This image captures the intensity and absorption I like to feel at the board during a tournament game.

A Reflective Time at the Chess Club-The Third Kansas City Open

Site Of Chess Tournament

It's becoming hard to view myself as a genuinely independent commentator on Riverside tournaments since I can't ever discover operational errors! I just may not be looking hard enough though and this is only my second report on a tourney there so I've got ample opportunity for criticism in the future. This event did spark a whirlwind of reflective thoughts on the nature of the chessic struggle and it's peculiarities that made it quite the topsy turvey time. I walked away from it pondering the limitless capacity for improvement that marks our royal game that's been acknowleged by folks with incredible chessic talent like the infamous Alexander Alekhine....

"In the precisely enunciated,beautifully modulated dicton of the day,the interviewer asks whether Alekhine does not by now know all of the combinations in chess. His voice high-pitched and heavily accented,Alekhine replies, "Oh no, believe me, a lifetime is not enough to learn everything about chess."

-Bobby Fischer Goes to War: How the Soviets Lost the Most Extraordinary Chess Match of All Time by David Edmonds and John Eidinow on pgs. 70-71

It seems like there's always something you can work on to improve your chess whether it's curing a lack of concentration at the board or trying to supercharge your attacking prowess. I was reminded of this when I fell into the Noah's Ark Trap in quite the bizarre incident since I took my time on the fatal move but blundered away a piece anyway.

Here's a link for folks who aren't in the know on what the Noah's Ark Trap is.

It might be apt to put a chessic spin on Thomas Jefferson, and say that eternal vigilance is the price of victory in our timeless game. A consistency of alertness has to be maintained in the face of the countless unrelated thoughts that may be swirling in your head.

The Manley Nick Takes a Trip Down Chessic Memory Lane

I rummaged through my stack of notation sheets in my room and managed to find some games that I particularly like so I wanted to post them on here for any kind of critical feedback readers might have.

They'll be posted in algebraic notation and the first one was played on August 27th,2005.
Roman Bonzon 1596-Nicholas Manley 1515
U.S. Class Championships-Class C Section-Round 2-Board 28

1.d4 d5 2.Nf3 Nf6 3.e3 e6 4.Bd3 Be7 5.Nbd2 0-0 6.0-0 Nbd7 7.c3 b6 8.e4 de4 9.Ne4 Bb7 10.Nf6+ Nf6 11.Qe2 c5 12.Bg5 cd4 13.Nd4 Rc8 14.Rad1 Qc7 15.Bf6 Bf6 16.Be4 Rfd8 17.Bb7 Qb7 18.Qe3 Rd7 19.Nb5 Rcd8 20.Qe2 Qa6 21.Rd7 Rd7 22.a3 Qa4 23.Rc1 g6 24.g3 a6 25.Nd4 Bd4 26.cd4 Rd5 27.Rc4 Qd7 28.Qc2 Kg7 29.Qe4 b5 30.Rc5 Rd4 31.Qe5+ f6 32.Qc7 Kh6 33.Qd7 Rd7 34.Rc6 Rd2 35.Re6 Rb2 36.Ra6 Ra2 37.Rf6 Ra3 38.Rb6 Rb3 39.Kf1 Kg5 40.h3 Kf5 41.Ke2 Ke4 42.Re6+ Kd4 43.Re7 b4 44.Rb7 Rc3 45.Rd7+ Kc4 46.Rg7 b3 47.Rc7+ Kb4 48.Rb7+ Ka3 49.Ra7+ Kb2 50.Kd2 Rc2+ 51.Ke3 Kb1 52.Rg7 Rc6 53.Kd2 b2 54.Ra7 Rd6+ 55.Ke2 Rd5 56.f4 Kc2 57.Rc7+ Kb3 58.Rb7+ Kc3 59.Rc7+ Kb4 60.Rb7+ Rb5 0-1

This was the first and so far only rated tournament game in which I've made use of the Lucena's position to squeeze out a win in a rook endgame so it's one of my favorites.

The second game was played on May 29th,2005.
Nicholas Manley 1340-National Master Mike Langer 2291
North American Open-Open Section-Round 5-Board 7

1.e4 c5 2.d4 cd4 3.c3 dc3 4.Nc3 d6 5.Nf3 e6 6.Bc4 a6 7.0-0 Nf6 8.Qe2 Nbd7 9.Bf4 b5 10.Bb3 Be7 11.Rfd1 Qb6 12.Rac1 0-0 13.Rd2 Nc5 14.Bc2 b4 15.Na4 Na4 16.Ba4 Bb7 17.Bc2 Rac8 18.Rcd1 Qc5 19.Bb1 Rfd8 20.h3 h6 21.Bg3 Qc4 22.Qc4 Rc4 23.e5 Nd5 24.ed6 Bd6 25.Bd6 Rd6 26.Ne5 Rc7 27.Be4 Rdd8 28.Kh2 Rdc8 29.Nd3 a5 30.Bf3 g5 31.g3 Kg7 32.Bg2 Ba8 33.Rde1 Rc2 34.Ree2 Rd2 35.Rd2 Kf6 36.Be4 Ne3 37.fe3 Be4 38.Rf2 Ke7 39.Ne5 f6 40.Ng4 Rc1 0-1

This game also qualifies as a memorable one because my far far more experienced opponent congratulated me on my play afterwards and I'd striven to play to the utmost of my ability.

I played the Smith Morra Gambit against the Sicilian Defense which my opponent accepted so I was down a pawn against a National Master with my compensation being slowly eroded but I hunkered down to fight on!

It was a double whammy of a joyful feeling to know I had tried to do my best in a tough situation and also get told I had played well by my opponent afterwards.

Here's a link for those interested in viewing the games online.

The 2006 New Year Open-A Weekend and a Monday at the Chess Club

I've used the same format I employed in my comments on the 32nd Annual Eastern Open so the entry is split into 3 days with my impressions on anything and everything to do with the tournament that I experienced on those particular days.

Day 1: The first day of the biggest (to the best of my knowledge) open tournament to happen in Kansas City in awhile showed promise for a smoothly run event. My first game was an exhausting 3-4 hour 84 move marathon in which I barely managed to squeeze out a win but definitely an interesting battle! This was followed by a complete screw up in the second game which I managed to lose in a mere 23 moves but that provides an important lesson in playing to your strengths since I chose the Two Knights Defense when my track record with it is very poor. These long time controls have been brutal but allow for some very interesting games since you generally have the time to find creative moves.

Day 2: This was another smoothly run day with no major hiccups that I was able to notice and my play was fairly decent although I didn't play particularly well after gaining the advantage of a pawn in the second game but managed to rise to the occasion in a tense rook endgame with careful play to garner the point. The first game provided a reminder that one quick inaccurate move can kill an otherwise meticulously played slow paced game since a wrong relocating of the rook after easing the pressure in a tough position left me down a pawn with a subsequent loss of the game. There's been a phenomenal level of sportsmanship displayed by all of my opponents and I noticed this trend in observation of other player's encounters as well. This day was also marked by feverish bughouse activity in the skittles room that provided for a lively spectacle apart from the main event.

Day 3: The last day of the tournament wasn't nearly as packed as the first two because of the beginning of the work week and thus many people took byes to be at their respective places of employment but there was still a decent number of players. I ended up being reminded of the importance of having a fighting spirit and playing tough even in the face of what may appear as a hopelessly lost situation when I was faced with a bishop vs knight endgame with 3 pawns down but managed to create an outside passer. This led to a pawn race with both sides queening but I had the move and was thus able to continuously check my opponent's king with the outcome being a draw by perpetual check with proper play but I traded queens on the basis of visualizing the resulting king/pawn endgame as drawn but this turned out to be a misvisualization leading to a loss. There appeared to be no major problems in the operation of the tournament and the atmosphere was just as pleasant as the previous two days with excellent sportsmanship being displayed as far as I could tell.

The Manley Nick Takes a Stab at Annotating a Capablanca Classic

This represents my first attempt to seriously annotate a historical game and I put forth the best effort I could but a much more comprehensive analysis can be found here.

My source for this famous game is The Most Instructive Games Of Chess Ever Played:62 Masterpieces Of Chess Strategy by the late Irving Chernev who was and continues to be one of the most prolific chess authors of all time.The comments I make on moves will reflect the fact that my understanding of what is occurring is a combination of my own perceptions and what I have absorbed from Chernev's own annotations of this classic battle but the wording is always entirely my own unless otherwise indicated.

"Rook On The Seventh Rank"

Jose Raul Capablanca-Savielly Tartakower

New York 1924

Dutch Defense

1.d4 f5
2.Nf3 e6
I think Capablanca was aiming to prevent any ...e5 breaks in the center on black's part with Nf3 but my knowledge of the subtleties of the Dutch Defense is severely limited so I'll let Ray's comments inform..."2. Nf3 is mainly to prevent Bb4+ (or pin) lines that were popular at the time after the "usual" 2. c4. This is why sometimes it is better to go into a classical Dutch by way of 1...e6, then 2...f5, so White may already have committed to 2.c4...if that is an option you want to keep."

3.c4 Nf6
It's best to play c4 before Nc3 since it allows more pressure on the central d5 square while leaving the option of Nc3 open as a possibility for further pressure.
4.Bg5 Be7
The most active square for the bishop since it pins the knight which makes it superior to 4.Bf4
5.Nc3 0-0
The queenside knight hops into the fray with additional pressure on the central d5 square.
6.e3 b6
The black bishop has no scope along the c8-h3 diagonal so black opts for the b7-h1 diagonal while e3 creates an outlet for the light squared bishop while simultaneously propping up the central d4 pawn.
7.Bd3 Bb7
The kingside bishop takes up it's most active post.
8.0-0 Qe8
The logical and crystal clear play of Capablanca in this game is a pleasure to behold!
9.Qe2 Ne4
The queen moves to support an advance of white's king pawn that will accentuate his edge in central space.
10.Be7 Nc3
11.bc3 Qe7
The important feature about this position is that Capablanca possesses an edge in central space and he should restrict black's ability to challenge this.
12.a4 Bf3
The newly weakened pawn on c3 would have come under fire after ...Qa3 so Capa puts an end to that idea.
13.Qf3 Nc6
There is another significant positional feature on the board now in the form of the different minor pieces possessed by white and black.
14.Rfb1 Rae8
The black rook is positioned to support an ...e5 break in the center that would diminish the space edge white holds.
15.Qh3 Rf6
But Capa puts an end to this notion! The advance of the e-pawn will now be met by Bf5 with advantage to white
16.f4 Na5
This leaves a backward pawn on e3 but solidifies white's control of e5 thus securing white's superior center control for the time being.
17.Qf3 d6
The queen will support an e4 advance which should open up b1-h7 diagonal for white's bishop at some point.
18.Rbe1 Qd7
The battle rages in the center with both sides aiming for central breaks.
19.e4 fe4
and Capa beats Tartakover to the punch!
20.Qe4 g6
The scope of the bishop along the b1-h7 diagonal has been tremendously improved while black's knight languishes on the sidelines.
21.g3 Kf8
The important f4 pawn is given further support.
22.Kg2 Rf7
It seems that black has trouble finding a worthwhile plan.
23.h4 d5
This move lashes out at black's pawn on g6 with the intention of opening the h-file or weakening black's kingside pawn structure and this idea is helped by the fact that white's bishop points in the same direction so the feature of bishop vs knight seems to be taken into consideration in the choice of plan by Capablanca.
24.cd5 ed5
25.Qe8+ Qe8
26.Re8+ Ke8
The exchanges have left Capablanca with a kingside pawn majority and the plan of attack on that side of the board initiated by 23.h4 is still in the air.
27.h5 Rf6
The rook hastens to defend the twice attacked g6 pawn but Capablanca gains the h-file in the ensuing exchanges.
28.hg6 hg6
29.The h-file is immediately seized and an attempt to prevent the penetration of the rook to the seventh rank by ...Rf7 is met by the winning pin Bg6
30.Rh7 Rc6
The late but still great Irving Chernev had some wise words of wisdom to say about this move.
"Rook to the seventh-the magic move in Rook and Pawn endings.What is the secret in the strength of this move? It is this:
(a) The Rook is in perfect position to attack any Pawns that have not yet moved-those still standing on the second rank.
(b) The Rook is prepared to attack any Pawns that have moved,by getting behind them without loss of time. The Pawns would be under constant threat of capture,no matter how many squares they advanced on the file.
(c) The Rook's domination of the seventh rank confines the opposing King to the last rank,preventing him from taking any part in the fighting."
-Irving Chernev from The Most Instructive Games Of Chess Ever Played on pg.19
31.g4 Nc4
The c-pawn is still taboo because of Bg6 in response and the resulting connected passed pawns would be a force to be reckoned with.
32.g5 Ne3+
The g-pawn is locked down and is now a fixed target.
33.Kf3 Nf5
34.Bf5 gf5
A combined attack on the g-pawn by bishop and rook has been prevented but the exchange of bishop for knight has left white with a protected passed pawn.
35.Kg3 Rc3+
This is considered a particularly brilliant move on Capablanca's part as he willingly gives up a host of pawns for the purpose of obtaining a superior position.
36.Kh4 Rf3
The black rook is now far more active!
37.g6 Rf4+
The great Capa gives up another pawn but a spot for the king's journey to the tasty square f6 is vacated.
38.Kg5 Re4
The capture ...Rd4 leaves the rook on the wrong file to deal with the oncoming threats of mate.
39.Kf6 Kg8
The classic rook and king mate is threatened!
40.Rg7+ Kh8
Capa checks before threatening mate again.
41.Rc7 Re8
This rook retreat by black is forced as Rc8+ ...Re8 Re8++ was threatened if black took a tempo to capture the d-pawn or make an alternative move of any kind.
42.Kf5 Re4
The passed pawn must not be allowed to queen! So Capa snaps it off.
43.Kf6 Rf4+
The black rook is still given no time to capture the d-pawn as Rc8+ ...Re8 Re8++ is once again threatened
44.Ke5 Rg4
The king readies to snatch a black pawn to add a second passed pawn to his list of advantages.
45.g7+ Kg8
The variation ...Rg7 Rg7 ...Kg7 Kd5 is not pleasant for black as he will have trouble stopping white from queening his passed d-pawn.
46.Ra7 Rg1
The correct pawn to take first since the d-pawn is blockaded and not moving anytime soon.
47.Kd5 Rc1
The d-pawn falls and Capa is blessed with a pretty much won game.
48.Kd6 Rc2
The king gives the d-pawn some breathing room so it can triumphantly march up the board.
49.d5 Rc1
The d-pawn inches forward but the king will have to step out of the way for further progress to be made.
50.Rc7 Ra1
The exchange ...Rc7 Kc7 would be instantly disastrous for black as the d-pawn would quickly queen.
51.Kc6 Ra4
A passed pawn appears on the board for black but alas it is too late to change the outcome.
52.d6 Resigns

It won't be possible for black to stop the queening of the d-pawn without decisive material loss so Tartakower tipped over his king.

A Tribute to Mikhail Tal "The Magician from Riga"-8th World Champion of Chess From 1960 to 1961

The late Mikhail Tal (Nov.9th 1936-June 28th 1992) or Misha as he was affectionately called was known for his combinative flair, insatiable appetite for chess, and warm likeable personality which makes him a hell of a guy in my book. It's a pleasure to read about a man who treated the game of chess in a serious and professional manner while simultaneously exhibiting an ability to have a light hearted attitude towards it.

"His enthusiasm for the game he loved was unquenchable,In his later years he was afflicted by severe health problems which would have crushed a lesser man,but he never complained about his difficulties and continued to play chess right up to his death.Misha hated to postpone a game;even if he had to slip out of his doctor's grasp,he would try to make it somehow."
- Pg. 6 of The Life And Games Of Mikhail Tal-Everyman Chess Edition.

What a wonderful passion for Cassia!

"Generosity of spirit was natural to Tal.He seemed interested only in creating the fantastic on the chessboard,not in using the influence his achievements could have given him to wield power among his colleagues.Unlike many of his fellow chess Olympians,he remained unpresuming,accessible and good humored,willing to play chess with all comers.When other world champions would be too conscious of their ranking to indulge relative patzers,Tal would play blitz with nearly anyone.Since the universal club tradition at speed-chess sessions is that the winner keeps playing and the loser gives up his place,Tal was often to be seen at the board with a long line of players queued up behind his opponent,waiting for their turn against the legend.When he was relaxing in a local cafe or tavern between rounds wherever chess took him,he was both celebrity and one of the group.Complete strangers would recognize him of course,and invite him to their table.It would have been more than enough to shake hands and be pleasant but Tal would routinely join the group,swapping stories,and sharing laughs.No wonder he was loved by the public.
-Three Days With Bobby Fischer and other Chess Essays: How to Meet Champions and Choose Your Openings by GM Lev Alburt and Al Lawrence pg.37-38

It's truly a tragedy that heavy consumption of acholol and frequent smoking likely led to an early demise at age 56 for this terror on the chessboard.These bouts of ill health and kidney problems were thankfully never able to diminish his passion for the royal game and he continued to create interesting pieces on the board right up to his death.

Thank you Misha for your exciting play at the board and passionate commitment to chess!

R.I.P. Mikhail Tal

Chess as Art, Science, Sport, and War Combined

The inspiration for this piece was a shirt worn by a fellow chessplayer I made the acquaintance of at the 32nd Annual Eastern Open in DC which read "Chess is not Art, Science, or Sport-Chess is War" or something along those lines that led me to realize chess can represent a constellation of all of the above.

I am not trying to make the argument that one can't think of other apt descriptive terms for our beloved game but the above four are the exclusive focus of this post.

Chess as Art:

"From my close contact with artists and chess players I have come to the conclusion that while all artists are not chess players,all chess players are artists"
- Surrealist Artist Marcel Duchamp from pg.75 of Bobby Fischer Goes to War: How the Soviets Lost the Most Extraordinary Chess Match of All Time by David Edmonds and John Eidinow

There's a need to add the caveat that not all chessplayers are equally able artistically since the positions I create on the board are not of the same quality as say a Fischer or Capablanca creation but the quote has significance nonetheless.

It's true that the beauty of the positions and ideas that can potentially arise on the chessboard fully make the game deserving of the label artistic although not all positions are created equal artistically speaking.

I've taken the liberty of going through my game collections and selecting some choice positions that I find supportive of chess as an art form.

1. The end position of the fifth match game between Frank James Marshall and Jose Raul Capablanca is very picturesque since Capablanca's king is in the open but is impervious to all checks while mate in two is threatened with only the short delaying of the inevitable possible to white.

2. The final position of the second game from the classic text Three Hundred Chess Games that was played between the famous German player Siegbert Tarrasch and a fellow by the name of Mendelsohn.

Chess as Science: The game of chess can't be described as an exact science because of the immense complexities involved but it's possible to isolate a scientific element in the discovery and articulation of general principles to aid players in making decisions on the board. It's not possible to engage in a dogmatic application of abstract guidelines because the concrete or specific nature of the position before you must always be taken into account but they can certainly be useful in conjunction with specificity.

Chess as War:
The origins of the game of chess as a bloodless imitation of human warfare make this connection an obvious one to make but I'd like to discuss it within the specific context of the ideal of what I perceive as civilized chessic warfare.

I like to think of chess as a kind of civilized warfare when both players exhibit good sportsmanship and manners in dealing with one another while still retaining a warrior like resolve to win at the board. It's important to have a fighting spirit and strive to make things difficult for your opponent with the aim of defeating them in the war occurring on the 64 squares that make up the chessic battlefield but this can be done in an overall humane setting.There shouldn't be any diminishing of one's willingness to trimuph over their opponent but simply the practice of appropriate maturity, civility, and victory achieved within the boundaries of the game.