LCCC 2024 960 Tournament Rolls On - and Chess Writers That Have Changed Chess History - Part 1

 

The Livingston County Chess Club meets every Monday night between

4pm and 10pm

at the Buffalo Wild Wings in the Green Oak Mall in Brighton, MI. 

Stop in for some friendly chess, good food and 'refreshments'.

Everyone of all ages and playing strength are welcome to attend. And free lessons to all beginners!

Our Chess 960 tournament is in full swing with 13 participants right now. But it is never too late to join in. Here are the pairings - 1st player has White:

Charlie S - Pete B

Ken L - Ken T

Sam T - Vince V

Mike N - Tom V

Paul M - Jim G

Jon C - John O

Desmond W  - Bye

Now - Writers Who Have Changed Chess History

An autobiography. 

Just kidding.

Certain books stand out as great landmarks in the history of chess literature. There are not many. You can probably count them on both your hands, or maybe your hands and one foot.

In choosing the books for a list of the best, we could go all the way back to Alfonso the Wise, back in 1280 AD. Or we could stay fairly modern and choose the books of Damiano and Ruy Lopez in the 1560's. These books were popular in the writer's lifetimes but faded over time.

The first book that captured the public's interest and retained it for many years after the author's death was Analysis of Chess by Francois-Andre Danican Philidor in 1749. Editions of this book were still being published and read in the 1860's!

Philidor (yes, the same one the Phildor's Defence is named after) was born in 1726 and was already one of the strongest players in France at age 14. He was also a gifted musician and performed at the prestigious Chapel Royal in Versailles when he was a mere 11 years old. At that time he was equally celebrated as a musician and a chess player.

It is said by many chess book reviewers, that it is the quality of understanding that made this book so remarkable. In clear, simple language Philidor presented the reader with a complete picture of the game as it should be played by a master. 

Philidor had an intense preoccupation with pawns. He was fond of saying "Pawns are the soul of chess. They are the very life of the game. They can attack or defend." Hans Kmoch published a book called Pawn Power in Chess, which is an updated Philidor mantra.

But Analysis of Chess was more than a pawn essay or opening workbook. It was also the first scientific study of the endgame. The work Philidor did intrigues endgame experts to this day.