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Chess and War

The venerable Irving Yaffee relates a story about the origins of chess occurring when the king of India wanted to replace war with an activity that would distract and consume men’s minds. One of his wise men invented this war game and legend states in payment he simply asked for some rice: beginning with one grain on the first day and then a daily doubling of grains for each of the 64 squares. The exponentially growing amount of grains grows to 1.84 to the power of 1019 grains of rice (18 million trillion grains). When the king had some of his other wisemen figure out the cost, he had the inventor of chess put to death. Creating the business rule: make sure you arrange your payment schedule in such a way you will have time to collect.

Then there is the story about the revolutionary war in Delaware (December 25, 1776) commanding British Hessian General Rahl in Trenton being so engrossed in a chess game that he stuffed unopened into his pocket the message warning that Washington and his men were approaching. Legend has it that after the battle they found the note on this general’s body still unopened . It’s nice to know that chess played an important part in our Revolutionary war.

Another favorite story of mine about chess and war; is about the WWII code breakers of Bletchley Park who developed the computers and system to intercept and break the German codes. C. H. O. D. Alexander, British Chess Champion, was one of a collection of polymaths whose brainpower was harnessed by the UK in its battle of Britain. Usually the military doesn’t play to people’s strengths, but in this case fortunately Britain had. I think in the current Era of the Geek there is an opportunity for a way cool WWII movie, something in the tone of The Dirty Dozen: The Nerdy Dozen (? perhaps).

So as you can see in both myth, math and reality chess has played an important role. Do you have any other stories either legendary or historical that show how chess and war sometimes interact?

Have you been so engrossed in a game that you over looked something you shouldn’t have?

Please Comment. Mike Griffin 08/05/2008

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curacao chess festival

CHRISTIANSEN, Larry          USA   2577     7 BERNAL MORO, Luis Javier     ESP   2424     7   BENJAMIN, Joel               USA   2577     7      

Source: Susan Polgar Blog

2008 World Junior Championship

Leaders after 4 rounds:

1 GM SAFARLI Eltaj 2527 AZE 4

2 GM LI Chao B 2590 CHN 3½
GM HOWELL David 2561 ENG 3½
WGM HOU Yifan 2557 CHN 3½
GM BRKIC Ante 2530 CRO 3½
LIN Chen 2417 CHN 3½

Here is the full standings.

Source: Susan Polgar Blog

Source: Susan Polgar Blog

2008 World Girl’s Chess Championship

Standings after 4 rounds:

1 WFM ABRAHAMYAN Tatev 2277 USA 4

2 IM HARIKA Dronavalli 2461 IND 3½
WGM MUZYCHUK Mariya 2413 UKR 3½
WIM DAULETOVA Gulmira 2267 KAZ 3½
WIM GOMES Mary Ann 2316 IND 3½

6 WIM MIKADZE Miranda 2258 GEO 3
ISGANDAROVA Khayala 2207 AZE 3
WFM OZTURK Kubra 2188 TUR 3
WIM PADMINI Rout 2257 IND 3
MUMINOVA Nafisa 2242 UZB 3
WIM IVAKHINOVA Inna 2248 RUS 3
WFM HOOLT Sarah 2298 GER 3
WFM NIKOLOVA Adriana 2242 BUL 3
WFM NAKHBAYEVA Guliskhan 2170 KAZ 3

Official website: http://wjcc2008.tsf.org.tr/

Source: Susan Polgar Blog

Source: Susan Polgar Blog

White to move. Can you win this game? Is this a win or draw for White?

8/8/8/8/3k2P1/4R2P/2r5/4K3 w - - 0 0

Source: Susan Polgar Blog

Source: Susan Polgar Blog

Dr. Korenman teaches chess in Orland Park
Russian Native Now Lives In Orland Park
submitted by Margie
August 05, 2008 12:09 PM

ORLAND PARK, IL – Dr. Mikhail Korenman, a native of Voronezh, Russia, returns to the Orland Park Cultural Center to share his love for the game of chess. The Village of Orland Park Recreation Department will offer chess lessons and chess tournaments during its fall season.

Dr. Korenman, who moved to Orland Park in 2006, has played and taught chess all over the world. The department’s fall offerings include a number of chess classes being offered for residents of all ages.

In 2004, the United States Chess Federation named Korenman its Organizer of the Year. Korenman, the founder and former director of the famed Anatoly Karpov School of Chess in Londsborg, Kansas, is director of the Chess for Peace initiate that recently brought former Soviet President Mikhail Gorbachev to Lindsborg to participate in a weekend of Chess for Peace activities.

“Chess is taught in more than 30 countries, mostly as part of classroom curricula,” Korenman said. “Scholastic chess is popular among educators and parents because of the demonstrated positive impact of chess on students’ classroom achievements, especially in math problem solving, science and reading comprehension,” he added, noting, “The value of developing strategic thought patterns in young people is immeasurable.”

Korenman received a Master of Science Degree in chemistry from Voronezh State University before moving to Manhattan, Kansas with his wife, Tamara and their children. He earned his Doctor of Philosophy in Curriculum and Instruction in Education from Kansas State University.

Here is the full article.

Source: Susan Polgar Blog

Source: United States Chess Federation http://main.uschess.org/index2.php?option=com_rss&feed=RSS2.0&no_html=1
In the August Open at the Marshall Chess Club, IM Robert Hess defeated GM Leonid Yudasin en route to first place.

Source: Susan Polgar Blog

Who is this strong female chess player? Can you name her without Googling for info?

Source: Susan Polgar Blog

Source: United States Chess Federation http://main.uschess.org/index2.php?option=com_rss&feed=RSS2.0&no_html=1
There are 11 3-0’s in the U.S. Open, including Mitchell Powell, who upset a master in round three. Hanken writes about his loss to top-seed IM Doug Root. Meanwhile, Fernandez leads the Collegiate and Parry leads the Denker.

Source: Susan Polgar Blog

Teimour Radjabov: We played like amateurs
[05 Aug 2008 17:52]

Baku. Kenan Hasanov - APA-SPORT. Azerbaijani chess player Teimour Radjabov has expressed his tiredness after the 5th round of Grand-Prix in Sochi, Russia.The 21-year-old stated that he made some mistakes in last round.“It is good that it is a rest day today. I have a jetlag. It is strange but we played like amateurs”, he said.

Source: Susan Polgar Blog