An Old Chess Book That I Bought

Kev Byard is a former member of our chess club who emigrated to New Zealand. He keeps in touch with current club members and participates in our club online tournaments. Kev Byard’s article, also published on the HCA website, relates to an old gem (a 1927 publication of an 1895 title!) that Kev purchased. It wasn’t only the book itself that fascinated him, but what he found within…

An Old Chess Book that I Bought

By Kev Byard

Who was the first person to be a British citizen and to have played in the final of the World Chess Championship? No, it was not our Nigel. However, our question is answered later.

First, though, let’s talk about me. I emigrated to New Zealand in 2004, after which I immediately gave up chess for reasons that are totally to do with the appalling state of chess clubs in Auckland and nothing to do with any waning interest in the game on my part. As a result I gave up the game. So, because I had been living in the chess wilderness for such a long time, the decision of Chandlers Ford Chess Club to move online was therefore a Godsend to me. And, following my first foray into competitive chess for seventeen years via the weekly online CFCC Arena and Swiss tournaments (I’m still shaking after my baptism of fire in my first ever game against Kev Lamb, whose style clashes completely with mine!), my interest has been thoroughly rekindled. [See previous Post about Kev Byard’s first Chandler’s Ford Online Tournament].

Indeed, immediately following my first such tournament on 19 November 2020, where I achieved a very proud third place and a much-treasured bronze cup, I ventured into the cold, dark, damp basement under my house to find my collection of chess books that had lain undisturbed for seventeen years in a large plastic box, in which also lies a signed non-chess autobiography by Brian Clough. I successfully retrieved all but one of my endgame books (the other is titled, ‘Tactical Chess Endings’ – the word ‘Tactical’ put me off!) and nothing else. However, after an online discussion about openings (Philidor’s Defence in particular) with djc202, john_zed, WillHeSac and KevLamb, I decided to have a further rummage and I found a few other books on the openings. It was during the retrieval of my four books on the Philidor Defence and my seven books on the Scandinavian Defence (which I didn’t open) that I stumbled on an absolute gem of a volume that I had long, long neglected. Now, I know most of us are guilty of not having read every book in our collections (my own copy of Staunton’s Chess Player’s Handbook remains virtually unopened) but I really should have made much more of an effort to delve into this particular 1927 publication.

An old Chess Book

Let’s look at my copy of Gunsberg’s book. Bearing in mind that the book is titled ‘The Chess Openings’ its 1927 content is fascinating. Each chapter provides a brief description (typically one page) of an opening, followed by columns of analysis, MCO-fashion. Each opening is afforded a number of such columns. The breakdown of the numbers of columns for each of the openings, and in order of appearance in the book, is as follows:

OpeningNumber of columns
French Defence: 4 columns
Sicilian Defence (N.B. 1. e4 c5 2. Nc3 – that’s all, no other 2nd moves for White!)4 (only 4 columns– unbelievable when one considers the statistics below)
Centre Counter: 4
Philidor’s Defence: 8 (yes, 8!)
Petroff’s Defence: 8
Ponziani’s Opening: 4
Scotch Opening: 16 (seeing any patterns?)
Ruy Lopez: 12
Two Knights’ 12
Giuoco Piano: 8
Evans Gambit Declined (yes, JUST the declined): 4
Evans Gambit (accepted): 10
Bishops Opening: 4
Centre Game: 4
Danish Gambit/Game: 4
King’s Gambit Declined: 8 (how DARE we decline?)
King’s Gambit Accepted; King’s Bishop Gambit (3. Bc4): 8
KGA Cunningham Gambit: 4
KGA King’s Knight Gambit: (3. Nf3): 4
KGA Salvio Gambit: 4
KGA Muzio Gambit: 4 (!!)
KGA Kieseritzky Gambit:  8
KGA Allgaier Gambit: 12 (!)
Vienna: 12
Bishop’s Opening: 4
From’s Gambit (NB NOT Bird’s Opening!): 3
English Opening: 8
Reti (called the Zukertort in Gunsberg’s book): 8
Queen’s Pawn opening (incl. Dutch)  8
Queen’s Gambit Declined: 8

What’s most interesting, I think, about this list is the complete dominance of lines that include an f4 gambit by White over almost anything else, in particular the King’s Gambit. Indeed, there are 68 columns that include the f4 move (52 being directly the KGA or KGD) out of only 209 columns in total (33% of all columns). Also the entirety of the Queen Pawn openings is dealt with in only 16 columns (8%). The French and Sicilian are relegated to mere sidelines in Gunsberg’s push for a White f4 and these openings are given the same space (5 columns) as the Muzio Gambit on its own, would you believe?

The French Defence, admittedly being the first opening addressed in Gunsberg’s book, is described disparagingly in its first paragraph thus: “It seems almost superfluous to explain that the French Defence is resorted to by players who do not care to face the attack which may result from Black’s reply of P-K4.” I hope, Graham, you are hanging your head in shame! That said, those who wish to play 1.d4 are also not let off the hook by Gunsberg who says,”…[players playing 1.d4] of even mediocre talent are often enabled to make a display of strength against better players than themselves.” Now that IS disparagement!

Intriguing extras

However, while the book itself is an absolute treasure, the real gems were to be found in the extras that were between the pages of the book upon my opening it when I arrived home. Between the leaves of this volume I found two newspaper cuttings and, far more importantly, a recorded game from a previous owner of the book (did I mention that when I bought the book it was second-hand?) who failed to retrieve his (her?) score sheet. Absolute gold!

The first cutting is a game played between a Max Green and a Martin Green, maybe two brothers, and won by Martin as Black. A note scribbled on the cutting it is a date: 18/10/40, more likely the date of the game than the actual date of the cutting, which appears to be from the 50’s or 60’s. The game itself is an Alekhine’s defence, as indicated by the title, which was a win for Black (take note john_zed). According to Stockfish, White’s decisive error was 20.Rc2. Stockfish gives 20.Rfd1 as equal (0.0). After Black’s error of 20.Rc2 a6 Stockfish recommends 21.a4 (-5.0) since 22.Nd4 loses to 22…Rfd8. Pity the players didn’t have access to Stockfish in those days – or is it? Are we really better off these days having access to the correct move at our fingertips without the satisfaction of having to have worked for it? I tried to find out the date of this cutting so I looked at the reverse to find a list of football fixtures from the South Regional and North Regional leagues. This seems to predate the football league but a Google search of the games themselves (e.g. Arsenal v Northampton) didn’t uncover the date of the cutting, which makes me doubt the veracity of Google searches. Therefore there seem to be no clues as to the real date or origin/paper the cutting came from but this adds to its fascination. That said, if there are any football geeks out there, I’d like to see evidence of the date – note that Southampton played away to Watford.

An End-game study

Cutting of Ending found within chess book
Cutting of Ending Kev found within an old chess book

The second cutting is an endgame study, again probably from the same era as the first cutting of the game between the Greens. This is a pawn ending with White to play and win. It’s really complicated so put it into Stockfish and don’t let anyone tell you that pawn endings are easy! The reverse of this is just a few adverts so no clue as to its date, although if anyone has an Austin, a Fiat, a Ford, a Hillman, an MG, a Morris, or a Riley then go to 336 New Cross Road, London S.E.14 and you can get cash for it, otherwise there are no other clues. Again, any information as to the date of this piece would be gratefully received.

Hollings score-sheet

Hollings scoresheet found in chess book
Hollings scoresheet Kev found in chess book

The third extra piece that I found is by far the best and is the stuff of chess dreams. It is a ‘Hollings Chess’ score-sheet from a game played on 20th February 1956 which was a Monday. The reverse of the score-sheet states that Hollings Chess was run by a Frank Hollings, Great Q. Street, Kingsway, London. I’ve never heard of Hollings. Has anyone else? Also, the reverse of the sheet advertises a number of books that can be purchased from Hollings, including ‘How to Play Chess Endings’ by Znosko-Borovsy. I actually have this book and would heartily recommend it, so if you are able to save up 12s 6d, the price listed for this book on the reverse of the score sheet, and send your postal order to 68 Great Queen St., Kingsway, London W.C.2 then you’ll be handsomely rewarded. Alternatively, telephone Holborn 8104. The game on the Hollings score-sheet itself is between a (Mr?) JWG and someone called Brown, which is a win for Brown as Black. After an Albin Counter Gambit, Black gradually builds up a slightly better position (Stockfish says -2.6 after 12… Rh3 but then White blunders with 13.Nd2 after which 13…Nxf3+ wins the white queen for a rook and knight and, soon after that the game, although Stockfish says that 13…Qd7 is just as good.

Yes, I know all these extras in a book, and their analyses, are irrelevant, superfluous and inconsequential, but to find such gems inside an already fascinating volume and be able to use modern technology to study them is highly interesting and great fun.

Has this ever happened when you buy a chess book? It has happened to me on other occasions and I’d be interested to hear of your experiences.

Kev Byard

Book Prize Tournament 2021 Round 2

Book Prize 2021 Tournament organiser Peter Przybycin reports on Round 1, and announces the Round 2 player pairings. Plus: tournament results update so far.

Round 1 Report:

We now have a full complement of ten players in each section, thanks to Ian Parker stepping in. This gave Rose an opponent in round 1 of the Minor section. Unfortunately for Rose, Ian won the game!

I extend a warm tournament welcome to two new members; Lee Mundy and Eric Jones.

Lee had what appeared to be a mouse malfunction in his minor section game against Geoff Parish, losing his queen and therefore the game. Unfortunately this is one of the hazards of playing online chess. It’s happened before to other players, myself included, and is akin to inadvertently touching the wrong piece in over-the-board games.

Eric impressed by beating Sam Murphy in the major section. Well done.

All the other games went in favour of the higher graded player.

All games in round 1 are now completed.

In the past few days, Manoj Chandar drew with Dick Meredith, and Keith Gregory beat Rob Sims. Both games were played online.

ROUND 1 Results:

Minor section:

  • Maha Chandar 1, Steve Dunleavy 0
  • Geoff Parish 1, Lee Mundy 0
  • Nobby George 1, Steve Saunders 0
  • Rob Strachan 0, John Kooner 1
  • Ian Parker 1, Rose Saunders 0
Steve Dunleavy and Maha Chandar in the first round of the Book Prize Tournament 2021
Steve Dunleavy and Maha Chandar in the first round of the Book Prize Tournament 2021

Major section:

  • Sam Murphy 0, Eric Jones 1
  • Graham Stuart 1, Keven Lamb 0
  • Mike Henbury 0, Peter Przybycin 1
  • Manoj Chandar ½, Dick Meredith ½
  • Keith Gregory 1, Rob Sims 0
Graham Stuart and Keven Lamb in the first round of the Book Prize Tournament 2021
Graham Stuart and Keven Lamb in the first round of the Book Prize Tournament 2021

Here are the pairings for round two of the second Book Prize Tournament:

Minor section:

  • Lee Mundy v John Kooner
  • Steve Saunders v Ian Parker
  • Rob Strachan v Nobby George
  • Maha Chandar v Rose Saunders
  • Steve Dunleavy v Geoff Parish

Major section:

  • Dick Meredith v Peter Przybycin
  • Keven Lamb v Keith Gregory
  • Mike Henbury v Graham Stuart
  • Sam Murphy v Rob Sims
  • Eric Jones v Manoj Chandar

All games in round 2 to be completed by 20th November.

I have added an extra week to allow for the fact that there won’t be an opportunity to play on the day of the Club AGM.

There is also an early result in round 2 of the Minor section: Geoff Parish beat Steve Dunleavy.

I was surprised to see that this was also played online, as there is plenty of time left before 20th November to play games over the board at our comfortable chess club. Don’t forget, online games will not be sent for grading.

Best wishes,

Peter.

Tournament latest – 7th November.

In the Minor section John Kooner beat Lee Mundy, Steve Saunders beat Ian Parker, and Maha Chandar beat Rose Saunders.

In the Major section Dick Meredith was unlucky to end up with a draw against me, after having much the better of it for most of our game.

As in round 1, the Minor section looks likely to finish this round early. The last remaining game is Nobby George v Rob Strachan, which is understandable as Rob is currently recovering from injury and unable to attend at club.

The Major section has three more games to play.

Peter