English Chess Forum

Richard James has reviewed How to Swindle in Chess by Andrew Soltis


How to Swindle in Chess

"little is written about swindling in chess"

There's a chapter in Simon Webb's celebrated Chess for Tigers.

JustinHorton wrote: ↑

Wed Jan 27, 2021 12:19 am

"little is written about swindling in chess"

There's a chapter in Simon Webb's celebrated Chess for Tigers.

There is plus the recent book by David Smerdon

plus this one which, perhaps, is less well known:

And also http://www.gambitbooks.com/books/How_to ... Chess.html.

I can also recall, I think,a longish piece, I think by Larsen himself, about his organising a convoluted swindle in a game of his. I can't unfortunately recall the opponent or whether it was part of a longer examination of swindling as a technique, does anybody else know what I'm on about?

I had an article on swindling published in "Kingpin" years ago, based on my games. Obviously, that's not the same as a book!

yes on Kingpin. LeMoir too is top of my bed side table. as Richard James favours Smerdon that will be my easter treat.

Bizarre indeed but no doubt some mug will end up buying it. What if I spent a year on a 300 page+ publication entitled 'Secrets of Fools Mate!' That could become a nice little earner that.

MJMcCready wrote: ↑

Thu Jan 28, 2021 2:12 am

What if I spent a year on a 300 page+ publication entitled 'Secrets of Fools Mate!'

I think you should do that.

MJMcCready wrote: ↑

Thu Jan 28, 2021 2:12 am

Bizarre indeed but no doubt some mug will end up buying it. What if I spent a year on a 300 page+ publication entitled 'Secrets of Fools Mate!' That could become a nice little earner that.

Your most creative work appears to emerge during the early hours of the morning so that would be the best time of the day for you to work on this project.

JustinHorton wrote: ↑

Wed Jan 27, 2021 12:19 am

"little is written about swindling in chess"

There's a chapter in Simon Webb's celebrated Chess for Tigers.

Ali Mortazavi brought out a book back in 1996 called:
The Fine Art of Swindling

112 pages by Cadogan Chess. It's a little gem.

Simon Rogers wrote: ↑

Thu Jan 28, 2021 8:05 pm

Ali Mortazavi brought out a book back in 1996 called:
The Fine Art of Swindling

112 pages by Cadogan Chess. It's a little gem.

It is certainly little. I recall it being said over lunch ( the author was present and didn't put up a fight ) that the primary victim of the swindle was Cadogan Chess. I did feel that I had to buy it, but tragically my copy fell into the hands of corrupt police officers.

Maybe they should organize some sort of swingers convention...oops I mean swindlers convention where they can hold seminars on springing traps on unsuspecting opponents, perhaps discuss the pros and cons of becoming a notorious swindler both on and off the board?

Hi all,

Not sure you need a whole book on swindling. All you have to know it can be and has been done.

Arm yourself with one pearl of wisdom from Simon Webb.

Do not be afraid of losing:
"Once you've accepted that your position is lost, you should be in a position of psychological strength.
The worst that can happen is that you'll lose the game. The pressure is on your opponent to win a
won game, and it is your opponent who will be embarrassed if unable to do so."

(I'll add: Just relax and think of the sheer joy if you manage to win.)

This wiki article https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Swindle_(chess) has loads of examples.
Do not let the wiki tag put you off, Is one of the best I've seen on the subject and others agree.

The author Frederick Rhine https://www.chessgames.com/perl/chessuser?uname=FSR says it's his best work and it's free!

Recall someone in the Edinburgh Club saying there is no coincidence that the last 5 letters
of 'Chandler' and 'Swindler' are the same after I had pulled yet another game out of the fire.
Though to be honest in most cases I had not accepted I was losing because I did not realise I was!

I don't mind losing if I've been outplayed and set a trap or two.
What I hated was having a theoretical won game. A huge OTB plus and your opponent has
counterplay and wriggling. The pressure of not to lose in that case is immense.
The positions that pop into our minds just before we nod off are those won games with winning
moves we have missed and ended up losing. That is give up chess forever territory.

It makes me wonder whether there has been a publication with an even narrower focus than the rare act of swindling. We haven't had a publication on 'Mouse slips' yet I see.