Le blog de la Batgirl
* * * 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
on Sun Oct 18, 2009 5:32am.
CHESS RESORTS "Simpson's."By Charles Tomlinson, F. R. S., &c. The lights extinguished, closed is the Divan And weary Simpson and his wearier man Seek home and smili... Read more »
Submitted by
on Thu Oct 15, 2009 2:26pm.
I like 4/0 time control, I really do. But I wonder if liking it and having a knack for it are in any way related. I miss so many things I shouldn't miss - and usually, though not always, see them right after I move and I almost always end a gam... Read more »
Submitted by
on Tue Oct 13, 2009 6:35pm.
Everyone who knows me is aware that I only play blitz. So, it should be apparent that the re-introduction of Live Chess would be a feature in which I take personal interest.
After the long 20 hours downtime we experienced recently, I was very ... Read more »
Submitted by
on Mon Oct 12, 2009 12:17pm.
My friend, Deb, found this great article on Rosa Bradford Jefferson and Luella Mackenzie. Even after many months of searching, this is the first time I've seen Rosa Jefferson clearly.
American Chess Bulletin, January 1908
Woman's Sphere in t... Read more »
Submitted by
on Thu Oct 8, 2009 7:18pm.
Die Schachspieler and The Morphy Anecdote, Pt. I - the background
In 1888 there was an ongoing controversy over a Paul Morphy anecdote provided by Gilbert R. Frith (I had written on this anecdote in Paul Morphy - Back in New Orleans). The ... Read more »
Submitted by
on Thu Oct 8, 2009 7:17pm.
Gilbert R. Frith wrote an essay for the Columbia Chess Journal describing an incident in which Morphy offered to, and succeeded at, playing for "Man" in Retzsch's painting (below) and saving his seemingly lost game against Satan for which his sou... Read more »
Submitted by
on Wed Oct 7, 2009 3:09pm.
A few days ago I read an article by the nineteenth century chess commentator, Charles Tomlinson, in which he used some sketches of chessmen to illustrate his text. Each picture was credited to "Flaxman." I was unfamiliar with the name so... Read more »
Submitted by
on Tue Oct 6, 2009 7:27pm.
After the Great Tournament of 1851, there were some going-ons that were worth noting, as Kling and Horwitz did below:
Matches played at the St. George's Chess Club:—No. 1.—The match between Mr. Stanuton and Major Jacnisch has terminate... Read more »
Submitted by
on Mon Oct 5, 2009 5:19pm.
from the New York Times, March 2, 1907Women to Play for Chess Honors. Mrs. Charles P. Frey of Newark N. J. and Mrs. S. R. Burgess of St. Louis will begin their match for the women's chess championship of the United States in the parlor of the... Read more »
Submitted by
on Fri Oct 2, 2009 1:18pm.
In this facinating obituary of Louis Paulsen, Wiliam Steinitz gave full credit to Paulsen for his developmental ideas as well a deserved praise for his chess pioneering.
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" Herr Louis Paulsen,... Read more »