Batgirl's Blog
* * * Please Note * * *
This blog, like most of what I write, focuses on the historical and cultural aspects of chess - with a few rants thrown in for good measure.
I don't accept friend requests; I don't play chess here; and I don't generally respond to notes, but I will respond to messages if they seem to have a purpose other than meaningless chat. I'm only mentioning this so everyone knows there's nothing personal in my lack of response to any of the above.
Submitted by
batgirl on Fri May 9, 2008 11:05pm.
They wanted to test the chess strength of American high school students so they asked 2 high schools, ones that operated decent chess clubs, in each state to send their 2 top players to the tournament. When the entri... Read more »
Submitted by
batgirl on Sat May 3, 2008 8:05pm.
For the past couple of weeks I've been a stranger to Chess.com. Outside of a few hasty comments and some weak analysis (on my part) of a peculiar opening idea I had in the Ruy Lopez on Allygirl's blog, I really haven't had much time fo... Read more »
Submitted by
batgirl on Mon Apr 14, 2008 4:31pm.
It seems like forever-ago, but it was only last Summer. I had been reading about Frank Marshall, the Marshall Club and the foundation of the Official U.S. Chess Championship. I was vaguely aware of the women's versi... Read more »
Submitted by
batgirl on Thu Apr 10, 2008 7:54pm.
One of my favorite games was played between 19 year old Canadian Lawrence Day, future Canadian Champion and a student of the great Ukrainian expatriot, Fedor Bogatyrchuk, and the 55 year old Dutch IM and literary collaborator with Dr. Euwe, ... Read more »
Submitted by
batgirl on Fri Apr 4, 2008 10:32pm.
Jean Moore, a very lovely young lady at the time, was the daughter of Mr. and Mrs. Ernest Moore of Muscatine, Iowa. She later married Harold Grau and won the American Chess Federation Women's Championship in 1937, play... Read more »
Submitted by
batgirl on Mon Mar 31, 2008 6:52pm.
My special guest today is Charles Amédée de Maurian. Although he's been somewhat indisposed for nearly a century now, he hasn't lost a bit of his charm. Most of you who know of him, probably recogn... Read more »
Submitted by
batgirl on Thu Mar 27, 2008 2:09pm.
Chess in Advertising Although Chess isn't a common theme in advertising, the practice goes back at least a century and a half when Kaichen & Rothschild usurped Morphy's image to sell their cigars (made of th... Read more »
Submitted by
batgirl on Mon Mar 24, 2008 9:48pm.
In honor of the newly created All Women's Tournament I wanted to demonstrate my support by posting something appropriate to the occasion. I've decided, since I've written a good bit about women in chess over ... Read more »
Submitted by
batgirl on Fri Mar 21, 2008 9:28pm.
In serendipituous fashion I came across an article written by Dick Cavett of New York. Mr. Cavett, it seems, had a well-regarded television career as "the host of “The Dick Cavett Show” — which... Read more »
Submitted by
batgirl on Mon Mar 3, 2008 5:49pm.
Chess.com member, ADK, has created a set of descriptive vignettes about the pieces that comprise the army on the chess board. You may want to visit his blog and read his descriptions, comment or add your own! His work made me d... Read more »