chess puzzle 1

Mate in 2

Mate in 2

This problem was composed by Max Euwe, who was world champion from 1935 to 1937.  White to Play and Mate in two.

Chess information A to Z Part -A

Chess information A to Z

 Part -A

Aaron, Manual (1935- )

First International Master (1961) from India. He was

born in Toungoo, Burma and became an International

Arbiter in 1966.

Academy, Chess

The first chess academy was conducted at Fountainbleau,

France in 1680.

Active Chess

The first official Active Chess (30 minutes per game)

Tournament was held in Gijon, Spain in 1988 and won by

Karpov and Tukmakov. Karpov won the World Active

Championship in Mazatlan, Mexico and received

$50,000. The organizers of the event donated $100,000

for AIDS research.

Adams, Michael (1971- )

British Grandmaster who, in 1989, won the British Championship

at the age of 17 and became a Grandmaster.

Adams, Weaver (1901-1963)

US master who won the US Open in 1948. In 1939 he

wrote a book entitled, White to Play and Win. After publication

he played a tournament in Dallas. He lost all his

games as White and won all his games as Black!

Addison, William (1933- )

US International Master and considered the best Go

player among chess masters. He competed in the 1970

Interzonal in Palma de Mallorca then gave up chess for a

career in banking.

Adianto, Utut (1965- )

First Indonesian Grandmaster (1986). He was born in Jakarta,

Indonesia. He is a former World Junior Champion.

Adjournment

Closure of a playing session where a player seals his next

move. First introduced at Paris in 1878, adjournments are

now rare.

Agdestein, Simen (1967- )

Norwegian Grandmaster (1985) who tied for the World

Junior Championship with Arencibia in 1986. He has represented Norway on their soccer team. He has won the Norwegian

championship 4 times, the first when he was 15.

Ager chessmen

Chess pieces found in Ager, Spain carved in rock crystal.

They are an example of the earliest type of chessmen

used in Europe. It was a popular, although untrue, tradition

that this set belonged to Charlemagne.

Agzamov, Georgy (1954-1986)

Russian Grandmaster (1984) who was accidently killed

when he tried to take a short cut to go swimming and fell

down between two rocks.

AIPE

Association Internationale de la Presse Echiqueenne. It is

an organization of chess journalists founded in 1968 by

Jordi Puig. AIPE awards the chess Oscars to the outstanding

male and female players of the year. The 1997

chess Oscar went to Anand.

Aitken, James (1908-1983)

Won the Scottish chess championship 10 times.

Ajeeb

The name of the chess automaton built by Charles Hopper,

a Bristol cabinet-maker, in 1865. The life-size Indian

figure was operated by several chess and checker masters.

One opponent shot at Ajeeb after losing a game,

wounding the operator. One of the operators of Ajeeb

was chess and checker master Constant Ferdinand

Burille. During his years as operator, he played over 900

games of chess and only lost 3 games. He never lost a single

checker game. Pillsbury was its hidden operator from

1898 to 1904. When Ajeeb was on display in New York

at the Eden Musee, it played checkers for a dime and

chess for a quarter. Opponents included Theodore Roosevelt,

Houdini, Admiral Dewey, O. Henry and Sarah

Bernhardt. Ajeeb was 10 feet high. Ajeeb was first exhibited

at the Royal Polytechnical Institute in London in

1868. It was lodged at the Crystal Palace between 1868

and 1876 and then went to the Royal Aquarium at Westminster

until 1877. It was then taken to Berlin where over

100,000 saw it in three months. It came to New York in

1885. It was destroyed by fire at Coney Island in 1929.

Charles Barker, US checkers champion, also worked

Ajeeb, never losing a single game.

Akhmilovskaya, Elena (1957- )

Woman Grandmaster from the Soviet Union who was the

1986 World Women’s Championship challenger. In

1988 she eloped with American IM John Donaldson

while playing in the ches olympiad in Greece. She returned

to the Soviet Union almost a year later to get her 7

year-old daughter. It took three weeks to secure their exit

visas. Her mother, Lidia Akhmilovskaya, qualified several

times for the USSR Women’s Championship and

was a top-ranked correspondence player.

Akhsharumova-Gulko, Anna (1958- )

Finished first in the 1976 Soviet Women’s Championship.

Her husband, Boris Gulko, tied for first in the 1977

Soviet Men’s Championship. By all rights, she should

have won the 1983 Soviet Women’s title played in

Tallinn when she defeated her main competitor, Nona

Ioseliani after she won by time forfeit. It would have

given her 12 points to Nona’s 11 points. The next day,

Ioseliani filed a protest alleging a malfunction in the

clock. Anna refused to play. The result of her game was

arbitrarily reversed by the All-Union Board of Referees

in Moscow, thereby forfeiting her title and ending up in

3rd place. She regained the Soviet women’s crown in

1984. She won the U.S. Women’s championship in 1987

with a perfect 9-0 score.

Akins, Claude (1926-1993)

Movie actor and chess enthusiast. He taught Dean Martin

the game and always beat John Wayne.

Akopian, Vladimir (1971- )

World Under-16 Champion in 1986 and World Junior

Champion in 1991.

al-Adli (800?-860)

Father of opening analysis. He is credited with the use of

descriptive chess notation and a rating system (5 classes

of players). He was the strongest player of his time until

defeated by ar-Razi.

Alburt, Lev (1945- )

Russian Grandmaster who defected from the USSR in

1979. He has won the U.S. Championship 3 times and the

U.S. Open twice. He has a doctorate in physics and natural

philosophy. He was the first Grandmaster elected to

the governing body of the US Chess Federation.

Alekhine, Alexander (1892-1946)

Alexander Alekhine (Aljechin) was the son of a wealthy

landowner. He learned chess from his older brother

around age 11. At 17 he gained his master title after winning

a tournament in St Petersburg. He was a prisoner of

war like all the other chess contestants at an international

tournament in Mannheim in 1914. He was taken to

Rastatt, Germany but he feigned madness and the Germans

released him as unfit for military service. In 1915

and 1916 he served in the Russian Red Cross. He was

captured by the Austrians and was hospitalized in

Tarnapol due to a spinal injury. There, he developed his

blindfold skills. After World War I, the Russian government

decorated him for bravery. In 1918 he was a criminal

investigator in Moscow. In 1919 he was imprisoned

in the death cell at Odessa as a spy. In 1920 he was back

in Moscow intending to be a movie actor. He also served

as interpreter to the Communist party and was appointed

secretary to the Education Department. He won the first

Soviet chess championship in 1920. In 1921 he married a

foreign Communist delegate and left Russia for good. In

1925 he became a naturalized French citizen and entered

the Sorbonne Law School. At the Sorbonne his thesis

dealt with the Chinese prison system. He did not get his

doctorate from the Sorbonne as he claimed. In 1925 he

played 28 games blindfolded, winning 22, drawing 3,

losing 3. In 1927 he defeated Capablanca in Buenos Ai-

res for the world chess championship. In 1930 he scored

the first 100% score in the Chess Olympiad, winning 9

games on board 1 for France. In 1935 he lost his world

championship to Max Euwe, but regained it in a return

match in 1937. During World War II, he became a Nazi

collaborator and declared he was ready to sacrifice his

life for a Nazi Russia. He competed in seven tournaments

in Germany during the war and wrote several pro-Nazi

articles. He died in Estoril, Portugal after choking on an

unchewed piece of meat. The body was not buried for 3

weeks as no one claimed the body. The Portugese Chess

Federation took charge of the funeral. Only 10 people

showed up for his funeral. His remains were transferred

to Paris in 1956, paid by the French Chess Federation.

His tombstone has his birth and death date wrong.

Alekhine-Capablanca Match 1927

The entire match between Alekhine and Capablanca in

1927 took place behind closed doors in Buenos Aires.

There were no spectators or photographs. Alekhine won

the match with 6 wins, 3 losses, and 25 draws. Before this

match, Alekhine had not won a single game from

Capablanca. After the start of the match Alekhine was

suffering from an infection of the gums, and had to have

six teeth extracted.

Alexander, Conel Hugh O’Donel (1909-1974)

Won the British Championship in 1938 and 1956. During

World War II he was part of the British Government

Code and Cypher Code along with other English chess

masters who helped break the German Enigma Code. He

was prohibited from travelling to any country under Soviet

control or influence during his lifetime because of

his association with cryptography. He was given the Order

of the British Empire (OBE) for his wartime services.

Alexandre, Aaron (1766-1850)

Author of Encyclopedie des Echecs, the first book containing

the collection of all opening variations then

known. Published in 1837, he introduced the algebraic

notation and the castling symbols O-O and O-O-O. He

also wrote The Beauties of Chess in 1846, the first large

compilation of chess problems and endgames. He was a

Jewish rabbi who worked inside the automaton, the Turk.

Alfonsi, Petro

Physician of King Henry I and author of the Disciplina

Clericalis (Clerks Instruction). He included chess as one

of the seven knightly accomplishments to be mastered.

The other tasks included riding, swimming, archery, boxing,

hawking, and verse writing.

Alfonso Manuscript

A manuscript ordered by Alfonso the Wise (1221-1284),

King of Castile. It included chess, backgammon, and

games of chance with dice. Compiled in 1283, it is entitled

Juegos Diuersos de Axedrez, Dados, y Tablas con

sus Explications, Ordenudos por man Dado Del Rey don

Alonso el Sabio. It is the first source mentioning the

pawn’s double move on the first move.

Algebraic notation

The first use of algebraic notation is from a French manuscript

written in 1173. The first use of the figurine algebraic

notation occurred in Belgium in 1927. Algebraic

notation was introduced in Chess Life in 1969. It wasn’t

until 1974 that the first book employing the algebraic notation

was published by a major American publisher.

aliyat

Title given by caliph al-Ma’mun to the top four

chessplayers in the early ninth century. The top four players

were Jabir al-Kufi, Rabrab, al-Ansari, and

abu’n-Na’am. These are the first unofficial grandmasters

of chess. Their endgames survive today.

All-Russian Chess Federation

First Russian chess federation, formed in 1914. It had

865 members.

Alladin

The strongest chessplayer at the end of the 14th century.

He was also known as Ali Shatrangi (Ali the

Chessplayer). He could successfully give odds to all

other leading players. He was Chinese and a lawyer.

al-Lajlaj (the Stammerer)

First person to analyze and publish works on the openings

in 910. He was a pupil of as-Suli, the strongest

player of the 10th century. His analysis were carried

down from Arabic to Persian to Sanscrit to Turkish to

16th century Italian.

Allen, Woody

Actor who said that he wanted to be on his high school

chess team, but the team said he was too small.

Allen, George (1808-1876)

The grand-nephew of Ethan Allen, who wrote The Life

of Philidor, musician and chess-player, in 1858. He was

the first to reveal how The Turk operated, in a book on

the first American Chess Congress.

Allgaier, Johann (1763-1823)

Author of the first chess book published in German in

1795. He operated the chess automation The Turk, when

it beat Napoleon Bonaparte in 1809. He served as quartermaster

accountant in the Austrian army. He died of

dropsy, the accumulation of excessive watery fluid outside

the cells of the body.

al-Mutamid

Moorish poet-king who reigned over Seville in the late

11th century. He was regarded as a chess patron and kept

several chess masters in his kingdom. In 1078 Alfonso VI

and Ibn-Ammar, chess master in al-Mutamid’s court,

played a game of chess for the stake of Seville.

Ibn-Ammar won and the city was spared from siege.

Alfonso kept the chess set and board.

al-Rashid

Caliph of Baghdad who favored chess and granted liberal

pensions to chess masters in his court around 800 A.D.

America

The first mention of chess in America occurred in 1641

in Esther Singleton’s history of Dutch settlers. The

first American chess tournament was held in New

York in 1843.

American Chess Congress

The first American Chess Congress was won by Paul

Morphy in 1857. First prize was a silver service consisting

of a pitcher, four goblets, and a salver.

American Chess Federation

Forerunner of the US Chess Federation. In 1939 it

merged with the National Chess Federation to form the

USCF.

American Revolution

During the American Revolution, there was a strong effort

by the colonists to rename the pieces to Governor,

General, Colonel, Major, Captain, and Pioneer. A boy

gave General Rahl of the British Army a note from a spy

that George Washington was about to cross the Delaware

and attack. The general was so immersed in a chess game

that he put the note in his pocket unopened. There it was

found when he was mortally wounded in the subsequent

battle.

American Women’s Congress

The first American Women’s Congress was held in New

York in 1906.

Anand, Viswanathan (1969- )

Indian Grandmaster (1988) who won the World Junior

Championship in 1987. In 1995 he played Kasparov for

the PCA world championship and lost. In 1998 he played

Karpov for the FIDE world championship and lost. He

has been among the top 5 players in the world for many

years. His 1998 FIDE rating is 2795, second only to

Kasparov (2815).

Andersen, Eric (1904-1938)

Won the Danish Championship 12 times, including 8

times in a row.

Anderson, Frank (1928-1980)

Three-time Canadian Champion and International Master

(1954). He came closer to the Grandmaster title than

any other player. In 1958 he score 84% in the Munich

Olympiad. He became ill and was unable to play his final

round. He missed the Grandmaster title because of this.

Even if he had played and lost, he would have made the

final norm necessary for the Grandmaster title.

Anderson, Gerald (1893-1983)

British chess problemist who became an International

Judge of Composition in 1960 and an International Master

in Composition in 1975. He was the last person to play

Alekhine.

Andersson, Terry

One of the hostages held by terrorists during the Iran crises.

He credits chess with helping him survive the ordeal.

Anderssen, Adolf (1818-1879)

Strongest player in the world between 1859 and 1866.

When he died, his obituary was 19 pages long. In 1851 A.

Anderssen was recognized as the srongest chess player in

the world. That same year A. Anderson was recognized

as the strongest checker player in the world. In 1877 a

group of German chess fans organized a tournament to

commemorate the 50th anniversary of Anderssen’s

learning the chess moves. This is the only tournament in

chess history organized to commemorate a competitor.

He tied for second, behind Paulsen.

Andersson, Ulf (1951- )

Swedish Grandmaster (1972). In 1996 he set a world record

by playing 310 boards simultaneously, winning 268,

drawing 40, and losing 2 in 15 hours and 23 minutes.

Arabic

The first references of chess in Arabic occur in 720 in romantic

poems by Kutaiyira Azzata and al-Farazdaq. The

Arabicized name of the Persian Chatrang became

shatranj. The pieces were called Shah (king), Firz (minister

or queen), Fil (elephant or bishop), Faras (horse),

Rukh (chariot or boat), and Baidaq (foot-soldier).

Araiza, Jose (1897- )

Won the Mexican Chess Championship 15 times in a

row.

Arbiter

The director of a tournament or match. The youngest arbiter

of a major tournament was Sophia Gorman, who, at

age 19, was an arbiter at the World Candidates tournament.

FIDE created the International Arbiter title in

1951. An arbiter must have a working knowledge of two

official FIDE languages (English, French, German, Russian,

and Spanish).

Art

There are at least 20 paintings called “Checkmate.”

Ashley, Maurice (1966- )

First African-American International Master (1993). He

won the Marshall Chess Club Championship in 1993.

Ashtapada

A 64-square uncheckered gaming board used in India as

early as the 2nd century B.C. and borrowed for chess.

Asperling, B. (1650?-1710?)

Swiss author of the Traite du Ieu Royal des Eschets, or

the Traite de Lausanne, in 1690. It is the last book which

allows the medieval king’s leap and the first book to classify

openings in an orderly way.

as-Razi

Champion of Persia in 847 after defeating al-Aldi in the

presence of the caliph Matawakkil. He wrote a book of

chess problems of which two survive today.

Association

The Scottish Chess Association is the oldest in the world,

founded in 1884.

as-Suli (880-946)

Turkish player who defeated al-Mawardi, the resident

master of the caliph al-Muktafi, to become the champion

of the known world in the 10th century. His superiority

was recognized up to Renaissance times.

Atahualpa (1500-1533)

12th and last Inca emperor of Peru who was imprisoned

by Francisco Pizarro and the Spanish conquistadors in

1533. He was imprisoned in Cajamarca, Peru and learned

chess by watching his guards play, and before long was

beating them all. It is said that a certain Spanish captain

hated him for this and had him murdered. This informa-

tion is preserved in a letter from Don Gaspar de Espinosa

(1533) and the autobiography of Don Alonso Enriquez

de Guzman (1518-1543).

Atkins, Henry (1872-1955)

British schoolmaster who won the British Championship

9 times out of 11 appearances, 7 times in a row

(1905-1911, 1924, 1925). Only Penrose has won it more

often (10 times). He was known as ‘the little Steinitz’.

Ault, Robin (1941-1994)

The first person to win the U.S. Junior Championship

three times (1959-1961). He also lost all 11 games at the

1959-60 US Championship.

Auto da Fe

Novel written by Nobel Prize winner for Literature, Elias

Canetti. The main character is a man named Fischer who

dreams of becoming world chess champion and buying

clothes from the best tailors in the world. The book was

written in 1935.

Automatons

Machines that give the illusion of playing chess. The first

automaton was Kempelen’s The Turk (1769), followed

by Hooper’s Ajeeb (1868), then Gumpel’s Mephisto

(1878).

Averbakh, Yuri (1922- )

Endgame expert and grandmaster who did not know

about the proper rule of castling while playing in an international

tournament. He was the Soviet Chess Federation

president from 1972 to 1977. His daughter married

Grandmaster Mark Taimanov.

Avigad-Vernon, Ariel (1987- )

Youngest person (7 years, 237 days) to beat an expert in a

rated tournament.

AVRO

Algemeene Veerenigde Radio Oemrop, a Dutch broadcasting

company, which sponsored the world’s strongest

tournament held up to that time in 1938. The top eight

players in the world participated (Keres, Fine, Botvinnik,

Alekhine, Reshevsky, Euwe, Capablanca, and Flohr).

First place was equivalent to $550. Alekhine, for the first

time in his life, came ahead of Capablanca. Capablanca,

for the first time in his life, fell below 50%. He lost four

games in this event. Flohr, the official challenger who

was expected to play a world championship match with

Alekhine, came last without a single vicctory in 14

rounds.

Axedrez

The Spanish word for chess. The Portuguese player

Damiano wrote a Spanish book suggesting chess was invented

by Xerxes and should be named after Xerxes,

hence, the word Axedrez.