Chess History And Reminiscences
opinion and description of him in every conceivable manner;
Staunton, Buckle, Anderssen, Steinitz and Blackburne followed
in rapid succession. All things temporal have an end and a
welcome pause came in this case. Taking up a chess book lying
by my side which happened to be a gilt copy of Chess Masterpieces,
just out, he said, "How much might that book be?" "Oh! about
a dollar," said I. He replied, "I guess that's a pretty tall book,
but times are bad and I guess I cannot invest a dollar on that ere
book." I found he was one of the non-purchasing class but had
the gambling element. "I will play you a game for a dollar if
you will give me the odds of a Rook." "I cannot give it you,"
said I, "but will try the Knight for the usual quarter." He
would take nothing less than a Rook and for half-a-dollar, so I
made the attempt and he seem'd to play far too well for the odds,
kept his advantage for a time well and my prospects or the
prospects of my half-dollar were not encouraging, the game
toughened, however, and I got a passed Pawn. It was as Monsieur
would say "nothing," but it seem'd to bother him immensely. He
brought four pieces to stop that poor little Pawn when one would
have done, utterly ignoring the policy of economy of force, his
game consequently got disarranged and he lost, after about an
hour's fighting, No. 1. He proposed another, played wretchedly,
and lost No. 2; worse and worse he played always wanting to
increase his stake, but I remained true to the classics and would
not deviate from the time-honoured stake. As it was I had to draw
seven dollars which my opponent parted with most pleasantly,
asked me to have a cigar and a nerver, and said I was a wonderful
player. He felt that he had a fair look in. Had he bought the
book the bare possibility of an injudicious purchase might have
preyed upon his mind; the book however was fairly priced. In
New York the ten dollar game arose in this way, receiving Rook,
Pawn and three moves, I lost on balance ten games, 5 dollars, and
demanded double or quits which I was forced to comply with.
Passed pawns bothered him also. I was New York Sun Chess
Editor and not a chess book investor.
Some have been known to accumulate chess libraries which
frequently get dispersed, a copy of Lolli sold for 5 pounds,
another equally good for 2/6. The difference between two-pence and
170 pounds for Caxton represents the largest profit yet recorded
on a chess book. A copy of Mr. Christie's little work on the Greek
and Roman Theory (1799) should be valuable.
------
STYLE IN CHESS
Some chess players make more lively games than others, and
more interesting to watch, and it is curious what different styles
can be discerned in the play of the greatest masters of assumed
equal ability, a proof of the great versatility of the game;
Anderssen was remarkable for ingenuity and invention, Morphy for
intuitive genius and grace, Zukertort for scientific development
and Staunton, Buckle, Steinitz and Mason for patience, care and
power of utilizing to the utmost the smallest advantages winning
by hairs breadth merely. The above represent distinctive schools
at chess. Blackburne's play shews little resemblance to that of
Bird, Tarrasch and Tchigorin are quite different in style, the
former most learned and profound the latter most enterprising.
Lasker's play partakes somewhat of the characteristics of both,
Burn and Gunsberg have each a style of their own, and Mackenzie
was particularly grand and irresistible in his attacks, Bird is
sometimes called the best player of bad games and he often makes a
capital middle and splendid end game from an unscientific and
erratic beginning. One enthusiast observed that there were only
three parts of the game he could not play, viz., the beginning, the
middle and the end.
The following is an illustration of four styles of play; the reader
can supply real names to satisfy his own taste and imagination.
------
STYLE AT CHESS
After a slumber of four years Bangs the fresh, the growing, the
vigorous, has risen from his lair, and shaking the dew from his
mane, has given utterance to a roar that no champion of chess can
hear without a shudder. There is no doubt that he has gained
at least a pawn in strength since 1868. Dr. Hooker too, the
lightning player, now gives where he once received a Castle.
Beach has returned to his native heath rich with the experience
of Morphy's old haunt the Cafe de la Regence. Hall has
toughened his sinews by many a desperate tug with the paladins
of New York. Mackenzie himself has felt the force of his genius
and gazed on his moves with astonishment. Between the styles of
these four great players there is a notable difference. Bangs,
like the lion, tears everything absolutely to fragments that comes
within the reach of his claws. Hooker, like the eagle, soars
screaming aloft sometimes to such a height that he loses himself
but only to return with a desperate sense which Bangs himself
can hardly withstand. Beach, more like the slow worm, insinuates
gradually into the bowels of the enemy making his presence only
felt by the effect, while Hall, on the contrary, rushes right
onward like the locomotive scattering obstacles to right and left,
and treating his antagonist with no more ceremony than if he were
a cow strayed accidentally upon the track.
------
© 101ChessTips.com. All Rights Reserved.
