Chess history trivia
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Re: Chess history trivia
Yes, very good, David. Well done.
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Re: Chess history trivia
Rosemary Dorcas Jaques, who died in Marlborough, Wiltshire, in 2009 at the age of 99, was the last surviving grandchild of someone who wrote just one chess book, which was the first of its kind. Can you name them?
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Re: Chess history trivia
Perhaps it's Harriet Ingram Cooke, who wrote The ABC of Chess by a Lady. She married a Jaques, so I am guessing that RDJ was their grandchild.
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Re: Chess history trivia
Yes, that's right John. The ABC of Chess by a Lady was, of course, the first chess book written by a woman (or at least the first one published). Harriet's father, Nathaniel Cooke, was the person who patented the Staunton chess pieces design and her husband, John Jaques, was a member of the family who manufactured and sold the pieces (I haven't yet worked out if he was the John Jaques in the name of firm - "John Jaques of London").
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Re: Chess history trivia
The book was first published in 1860 by John Jaques. Her middle name, Ingram, must be in honour of Herbert Ingram, who was her father's business partner; they were for some time joint-proprietors of the Illustrated London News, and Howard Staunton's employer there.
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Re: Chess history trivia
Which member of the London Chess Club, noted for the rapidity of his play, originated a variation of the Scotch Game in the 1830s?
Postscript: His first name calls to mind someone who was successful against the French. His second name suggests efforts to attract the opposite sex.
Postscript: His first name calls to mind someone who was successful against the French. His second name suggests efforts to attract the opposite sex.
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Re: Chess history trivia
Wellington Pulling! I'd never heard of him until today and was going to guess John Cochrane until you added the clue.John Townsend wrote: ↑Thu Jan 11, 2024 11:05 amWhich member of the London Chess Club, noted for the rapidity of his play, originated a variation of the Scotch Game in the 1830s?
Postscript: His first name calls to mind someone who was successful against the French. His second name suggests efforts to attract the opposite sex.
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Re: Chess history trivia
Well done, Jon. Of course, it's the Pulling Counter-attack.
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Re: Chess history trivia
The forum had previous discussion about Wellington Pulling here:
viewtopic.php?f=27&t=8967&p=196114&hili ... ng#p196114
viewtopic.php?f=27&t=8967&p=196114&hili ... ng#p196114
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Re: Chess history trivia
Rather than resurrect the lovely thread on 'The Turk vs Mephisto' that John T linked above, I am going to quote the final post in that thread:
viewtopic.php?f=27&t=8967&hilit=Welling ... 30#p196821
What chess clubs would have been playing (against a team from Eton College!) in a basement off High Street Kensington in 1957? Apparently, 17 March 1957 (if LH-D is writing the same day) was a Sunday, so maybe this was a county match of some sort?
viewtopic.php?f=27&t=8967&hilit=Welling ... 30#p196821
Anyone up for trying to work that one out?John Clarke in March 2017 wrote:Adam Hart-Davis had an unpromising start to his competitive chess career, according to Volume 2 of The Lyttelton Hart-Davis Letters.
p56 (letter dated 10 Feb 1957): " ... Adam has been asked to play chess for the School! Fred [AH-D's housemaster at Eton] rightly forbade it, since the match was scheduled to last four hours."
p71 (17 March): "My youngest was eventually allowed to play chess for the School, but was defeated by an elderly lady in a basement off High Street Kensington!"
Wonder who she was , and where they played?
What chess clubs would have been playing (against a team from Eton College!) in a basement off High Street Kensington in 1957? Apparently, 17 March 1957 (if LH-D is writing the same day) was a Sunday, so maybe this was a county match of some sort?
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Re: Chess history trivia
?? Quiz Time ??
i Who worked at Westmorland County Council, played in an Olympiad for postal play and whilst in Germany spied on Russian planes at Gatow Airfield?
ii Who wrote - at the instigation of the Victoria and Albert - 'Notes on Carpet Weaving and Knotting'? We here may know him better for his books on endings, collaborative efforts.
iii Which Englishman beat Donner in the BUCA versus Dutch Universities Match in 1951 (and on top board!) ?
iv Fifty years ago 'First Theories of Hexagonal Chess' was published. Who wrote it ?
v Who won both the East Lancashire for juniors and adults championships in 1950-51?
James
i Who worked at Westmorland County Council, played in an Olympiad for postal play and whilst in Germany spied on Russian planes at Gatow Airfield?
ii Who wrote - at the instigation of the Victoria and Albert - 'Notes on Carpet Weaving and Knotting'? We here may know him better for his books on endings, collaborative efforts.
iii Which Englishman beat Donner in the BUCA versus Dutch Universities Match in 1951 (and on top board!) ?
iv Fifty years ago 'First Theories of Hexagonal Chess' was published. Who wrote it ?
v Who won both the East Lancashire for juniors and adults championships in 1950-51?
James
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Re: Chess history trivia
I not only know who the first one is, but played him several times.
Though he actually worked for Cumbria County Council (not Westmorland) and also for the Lake District authority.
Though he actually worked for Cumbria County Council (not Westmorland) and also for the Lake District authority.
"Set up your attacks so that when the fire is out, it isn't out!" (H N Pillsbury)
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Re: Chess history trivia
A quick search of the British Newspaper Archive suggests that there were a series of "Teenagers v Old Stagers" matches played during National Chess Week, 17-23 March 1957. There are matches mentioned in Croydon and elsewhere in the country; I can't find Kensington, but this might be a possibility. Doubtless the Forum's historians will be able to provide more information.Christopher Kreuzer wrote: ↑Fri Jan 12, 2024 12:16 pmAnyone up for trying to work that one out?John Clarke in March 2017 wrote:Adam Hart-Davis had an unpromising start to his competitive chess career, according to Volume 2 of The Lyttelton Hart-Davis Letters.
p56 (letter dated 10 Feb 1957): " ... Adam has been asked to play chess for the School! Fred [AH-D's housemaster at Eton] rightly forbade it, since the match was scheduled to last four hours."
p71 (17 March): "My youngest was eventually allowed to play chess for the School, but was defeated by an elderly lady in a basement off High Street Kensington!"
Wonder who she was , and where they played?
What chess clubs would have been playing (against a team from Eton College!) in a basement off High Street Kensington in 1957? Apparently, 17 March 1957 (if LH-D is writing the same day) was a Sunday, so maybe this was a county match of some sort?
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Re: Chess history trivia
Thank you! I hope more will be forthcoming on this.Pete Morriss wrote: ↑Sat Jan 13, 2024 5:13 pmA quick search of the British Newspaper Archive suggests that there were a series of "Teenagers v Old Stagers" matches played during National Chess Week, 17-23 March 1957. There are matches mentioned in Croydon and elsewhere in the country; I can't find Kensington, but this might be a possibility. Doubtless the Forum's historians will be able to provide more information.Christopher Kreuzer wrote: ↑Fri Jan 12, 2024 12:16 pmAnyone up for trying to work that one out?John Clarke in March 2017 wrote:Adam Hart-Davis had an unpromising start to his competitive chess career, according to Volume 2 of The Lyttelton Hart-Davis Letters.
p56 (letter dated 10 Feb 1957): " ... Adam has been asked to play chess for the School! Fred [AH-D's housemaster at Eton] rightly forbade it, since the match was scheduled to last four hours."
p71 (17 March): "My youngest was eventually allowed to play chess for the School, but was defeated by an elderly lady in a basement off High Street Kensington!"
Wonder who she was , and where they played?
What chess clubs would have been playing (against a team from Eton College!) in a basement off High Street Kensington in 1957? Apparently, 17 March 1957 (if LH-D is writing the same day) was a Sunday, so maybe this was a county match of some sort?
From 1959:
https://chesterfieldchessclub.weebly.co ... story.html
There is a lovely photo here on John Saunders's Britbase:And lastly - National Chess Week in March '59 featured what must have been a highly competitive 13 board match, Old Stagers 7.5 v Teenagers 5.5. OK, so we can accept the old timers included the Chesterfield regulars Saunderson, Hooton, Rodgers, Salt, Portman et al. But there on board one is a chap still playing among us - Otto Hardy reckoned he was already one of the veterans way back then.
https://www.saund.co.uk/britbase/pgn/19 ... iewer.html
Do we still have National Chess Week, and if not, when did it end?92-year-old aviator philosopher Douglas Fawcett (left) in play in the “Teenagers v Old Stagers Match” against 17-year-old June Beckett. Age won!" Photo published in CHESS, May 1957, page 205.
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Re: Chess history trivia
The answer to ii is Creassey Edward Cecil Tattersall. He also played in the 1904 City of London Chess Club invitational master tournament.James Pratt wrote: ↑Sat Jan 13, 2024 1:30 pm?? Quiz Time ??
i Who worked at Westmorland County Council, played in an Olympiad for postal play and whilst in Germany spied on Russian planes at Gatow Airfield?
ii Who wrote - at the instigation of the Victoria and Albert - 'Notes on Carpet Weaving and Knotting'? We here may know him better for his books on endings, collaborative efforts.
iii Which Englishman beat Donner in the BUCA versus Dutch Universities Match in 1951 (and on top board!) ?
iv Fifty years ago 'First Theories of Hexagonal Chess' was published. Who wrote it ?
v Who won both the East Lancashire for juniors and adults championships in 1950-51?
James
I await enlightenment on the other answers from fellow Forumites.
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