Automaton Chess Player
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Automaton Chess Player
Hi all.
I've just started reading a book called:
The Turk by Tom Standage
However I noticed it doesn't feature any of the games by TheTurk(Mechanical Turk).
Does anyone know if there is any books featuring the games of The Turk?
Also, I know there was two famous games of The Turk, one against Napoleon Bonaparte and the other against Benjamin Franklin.
Does anyone know where I can find these games?
The game against Napoleon (I think he was white), I would like to show the new juniors and beginner adults and teach them not to fear anyone.
Many thanks.
I've just started reading a book called:
The Turk by Tom Standage
However I noticed it doesn't feature any of the games by TheTurk(Mechanical Turk).
Does anyone know if there is any books featuring the games of The Turk?
Also, I know there was two famous games of The Turk, one against Napoleon Bonaparte and the other against Benjamin Franklin.
Does anyone know where I can find these games?
The game against Napoleon (I think he was white), I would like to show the new juniors and beginner adults and teach them not to fear anyone.
Many thanks.
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Re: Automaton Chess Player
You will get games and more history about the Turk here.
https://www.chessgames.com/perl/chessplayer?pid=77026
https://www.chessgames.com/perl/chessplayer?pid=77026
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Re: Automaton Chess Player
I don't know the Standage book but you should look at the earlier history, published by McFarland in 2000: "The Turk, Chess Automaton" by Gerald M. Levitt.
It includes all the 50 known games played in London in 1820 when Mouret operated it. They were published in a book at the time which used to be free on Google Books but it's no longer available as a PDF download.
The game with Napoleon is on page 41 of Levitt's book. Napoleon was White and opened 1 e4 e5 2 Qf3. He was mated on move 24.
Levitt also mentions the Franklin game but the moves were apparently not preserved.
It includes all the 50 known games played in London in 1820 when Mouret operated it. They were published in a book at the time which used to be free on Google Books but it's no longer available as a PDF download.
The game with Napoleon is on page 41 of Levitt's book. Napoleon was White and opened 1 e4 e5 2 Qf3. He was mated on move 24.
Levitt also mentions the Franklin game but the moves were apparently not preserved.
Tim Harding
Historian and FIDE Arbiter
Author of 'Steinitz in London,' British Chess Literature to 1914', 'Joseph Henry Blackburne: A Chess Biography', and 'Eminent Victorian Chess Players'
http://www.chessmail.com
Historian and FIDE Arbiter
Author of 'Steinitz in London,' British Chess Literature to 1914', 'Joseph Henry Blackburne: A Chess Biography', and 'Eminent Victorian Chess Players'
http://www.chessmail.com
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Re: Automaton Chess Player
The book is available hereTim Harding wrote: ↑Sat Jun 06, 2020 2:23 pmI don't know the Standage book but you should look at the earlier history, published by McFarland in 2000: "The Turk, Chess Automaton" by Gerald M. Levitt.
It includes all the 50 known games played in London in 1820 when Mouret operated it. They were published in a book at the time which used to be free on Google Books but it's no longer available as a PDF download.
The game with Napoleon is on page 41 of Levitt's book. Napoleon was White and opened 1 e4 e5 2 Qf3. He was mated on move 24.
Levitt also mentions the Franklin game but the moves were apparently not preserved.
https://books.google.co.uk/books?id=iP5 ... q&f=false
Hover (do not click) your mouse pointer over the red rectangle EBOOK-FREE and then click on Download PDF
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Re: Automaton Chess Player
Some more here. https://www.chess.com/article/view/mouret
the book of 50 games is indeed online. Used it in one of my articles. Happy hunting!
the book of 50 games is indeed online. Used it in one of my articles. Happy hunting!
Re: Automaton Chess Player
The diagram is given on p. 165 with a caption that goes -
Can't see it myself.THE STARTING POSITION FOR THE ENDGAME...
BLACK CAN WIN IN SEVEN MOVES.
Last edited by John McKenna on Fri Jun 12, 2020 7:44 pm, edited 4 times in total.
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Re: Automaton Chess Player
Rcd8 seems to be the best move for black with threats on white back rank.
Re: Automaton Chess Player
Yes, Simon, but if 1... Rcd8 then 2.Qe6 (any other move by White seems not winning) and I cannot see how Black will win after that since the black squares around Black's king are weaker than White's back rank, or so it would appear.
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Re: Automaton Chess Player
How about
1. Qe6. Rd1
2. Ng1 Rxg1
3. Kxg1 e2+
If then Rf2 black plays e1Q+
If Qxb6 black plays e1Q+
not sure??
1. Qe6. Rd1
2. Ng1 Rxg1
3. Kxg1 e2+
If then Rf2 black plays e1Q+
If Qxb6 black plays e1Q+
not sure??
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Re: Automaton Chess Player
4. Qxb6 e1Q+ fails to Q(b6)- g1Simon Rogers wrote: ↑Tue Jun 09, 2020 5:43 pmHow about
1. Qe6. Rd1
2. Ng1 Rxg1
3. Kxg1 e2+
If then Rf2 black plays e1Q+
If Qxb6 black plays e1Q+
not sure??
4. ... axb6 and White can't stop the pawn from queening
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Re: Automaton Chess Player
Of course thanks Ian.
After Rcd8 looks like white has no option but to give up queen for rook.
After Rxd8 is white still ok?
After Rcd8 looks like white has no option but to give up queen for rook.
After Rxd8 is white still ok?
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Re: Automaton Chess Player
4.Kh1 in that line appears to be hard to meet.
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Re: Automaton Chess Player
Thanks for that Jack. Much appreciated
Re: Automaton Chess Player
I wonder if Jack & Ian mean this line of play by White ("The Turk") would have been hard for Black (Dr.Cohen) to meet, or some other line?
The diagram is given on p. 165 with a caption that goes -
It is futher explained there that he suspected it could have been an attempt to have him choose White because - the face of it - W is a Q & P for a R up and appears to be threatening to win. Since he thought that was intended to make choose to play White and consequently lose he did a shuffle over to Black and played the position from that side.
If you want to know what ensued - some of it still quite topical even today - you will have to peruse the book. Note though that no actual chess moves are given for this or any other game in the book (AFAIK).
The diagram is given on p. 165 with a caption that goes -
However, the context in which play proceeded from the set position is given on p. 163-4 and includes the fact that Dr. Joshua Cohen - "an acquaintance of Maezel's" (the then owner of the contraption) was offered the choice of playing Black and moving first, or playing White and moving second.THE STARTING POSITION FOR THE ENDGAME...
BLACK CAN WIN IN SEVEN MOVES.
It is futher explained there that he suspected it could have been an attempt to have him choose White because - the face of it - W is a Q & P for a R up and appears to be threatening to win. Since he thought that was intended to make choose to play White and consequently lose he did a shuffle over to Black and played the position from that side.
If you want to know what ensued - some of it still quite topical even today - you will have to peruse the book. Note though that no actual chess moves are given for this or any other game in the book (AFAIK).
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Re: Automaton Chess Player
Thanks for that John. Much appreciated.