The 1998 Chess Cafe Holiday Quiz: Answers and Winners by Taylor Kingston and Hanon Russell Steve Wrinn Tops International Field American Steve Wrinn took top honors in the 1998 Chess Cafe Holiday Quiz. Scoring an impressive 88%, he clearly outdistanced the rest of the entrants and in doing so, will be awarded the splendid Players Series Chess Set crafted by the House of Staunton. There was a three-way tie for second through fourth places - here listed in tie-break order by virtue of when the entry was received - Pierre Bouget (Canada), Miquel Isart (Spain) and Daniele Ruggieri (Italy), all some distance behind Wrinn at 82%. Fifth place went to Dave Arganian, also from the U.S. Places 6-20: (6) Calle Erlandsson, Sweden; (7) Chris Holmes, France; (8) Richard Reich, USA; (9) Walter Hart, Australia; (10) Gunnar Finnlaugsson, Sweden; (11) Larry Tapper, USA; (12) John Pasco, USA; (13) Sarah Hurst, England; (14) Jim Johnston, USA; (15) Fred van Empel, The Netherlands; (16) Juan-Carlos Sanz, Spain; (17) Thomas Gant, USA; (18) T. Budiman, Indonesia; (19) Mark Rubery, South Africa; and (20) Birger Flindtholt, Denmark If you are among the winners - Congratulations! And if not, well, we hope you had some fun with the quiz anyway. All prizes will be mailed to winners on or before February 2, 1999. And now... THE ANSWERS: 1. In his tournament and match career, Capablanca lost only 37 games. Seven of these were to Alekhine. Aside from him, who else managed to defeat the Cuban genius more than once in serious games? (1 point) There were only 4 players: Juan Corzo (3 times in their 1901 match when Capablanca was only 13); Frank Marshall (twice, once in their 1909 match and once at Havana 1913); Emanuel Lasker (at St. Petersburg 1914 and Moscow 1935); and Rudolf Spielmann (at Bad Kissingen 1928 and at Carlsbad 1929). Thus 5 players account for 16 of Capa's 37 losses; the others are scattered among 21 different opponents. 2. It is well known that Capablanca's loss to Reti at New York 1924 was his first in 8 years. Who inflicted that previous defeat on Capa? (1 point) American Oscar Chajes, in the finals of the 1916 Rice memorial tournament at New York, defeated Capablanca. 3. Tigran Petrosian had the reputation of being one the hardest players ever to beat. Yet one man seemed to have his number, going undefeated and scoring a 62.5% average against him lifetime in serious games, among those who played him at least 10 times. Who was this? (Note: it was not Bobby Fischer.) (1 point) This question gave many people some trouble. Among the incorrect answers, Ulf Andersson was the most common. One entrant stated flatly that there was no player who had that kind of winning percentage against Petrosian. In fact, it was Ratmir Kholmov, who scored +3 -0 =9 against Petrosian from 1947 to 1980. The next section of questions, identifying the quote, caused the most problems for entrants. Not a single entrant answered all ten questions correctly... In questions 4-13, who is speaking of or to whom? As an example, to the quote "He lacks the passion that whips the blood ...", the answer would be Emanuel Lasker, of Siegbert Tarrasch. Or the quote "There are now two masters; the other is ----." The answer would be Siegbert Tarrasch, of Emanuel Lasker. (In other words, each correct answer will have two parts.) 4. "Strict rectitude, conscientiousness, punctuality, and love of truth were his special distinctions." (1 point) This was perhaps the most difficult of the quotes to identify. Few were able to identify the speaker as Wilfried Paulsen, talking about his chess master brother Louis Paulsen (1833-1891). 5. "In the first place, there is no such thing as a Hypermodern school; in the second place, --- is its founder!" (1 point) Another difficult one. Only one entrant identified Richard Teichmann speaking about Aron Nimzovitch, although a good number did know the quote was about Nimzovich. 6. "Goodbye, Mr. ---! I am going to drive Mr. ---'s car!" (1 point) 8-year old Sammy Reshevsky, to Julius Rosenwald, on the way to Edward Lasker's car. Those entrants familiar with the writings of Edward Lasker realized that this quote was given by Lasker in his book Chess Secrets. 7. "He hasn't a tooth left in his mouth, and this makes it difficult for him to hold on to the pipe in which he smokes broken cigars. In this respect, he is very much like the well-known character from an old cartoon. But spinach is no remedy for this old tar." (1 point) Many thought this quote was about Emanuel Lasker, spoken by Alekhine, Marshall or even B.H. Wood. It was by Jan Donner, about the aging GM Friedrich Saemisch. 8. "--- can see 5 or 6 times as much as I can, but I have a plan, and that plan sometimes permits me to win." (1 point) Max Euwe, about Alexander Alekhine is the correct answer, although several entrants thought it was a statement made by Kasparov about either Fischer or Karpov. 9. "--- is, in fact, the hardest-working of all the masters, continually searching out the flaws in his game and striving to eliminate them." (1 point) Most got this one right. Aron Nimzovitch, about Rudolf Spielmann, in his book about the Carlsbad 1929 tournament. 10. "From the period 1936 to 1975 he was probably the strongest tournament player." (1 point) Almost every entry had at least one part of this answer correct. Most knew that it was about Keres, but many missed that it was by Mikhail Botvinnik. 11. ---'s [games] show that he may stand to win six times but finds it regrettable that the game should end and that he finally manages to lose." (1 point) About half the entrants knew that it was Emanuel Lasker, talking about David Janowsky. One thought it might be Keene about Karpov. No, sorry. 12. "He looked truly like Wotan, holding forth in the company of minor gods." (1 point) Again from his Chess Secrets, it was Edward Lasker, about Richard Teichmann. 13. "For some reason journalists have always refrained from asking him awkward questions. Interviewers bounteously purvey opportunities for him to attack his supposed enemies, and --- can deliver a headline-snatching diatribe at the drop of a leading question. But his squalls are those of a man unaccustomed to being contradicted and unaware that 'freedom of expression' involves the responsibility of trying to get things right." (1 point) About half the entrants knew that this quote was by Edward Winter, from his book Chess Explorations, about Garry Kasparov. One entry guessed Steinitz about Hoffer... 14. The Hastings Christmas Chess Congress premier tournament of 1936-37 was won by Alekhine. What then little known, later famous player won that year's Hastings reserve tournament? (1 point) The answer we were looking for was Emil Diemer, later of Blackmar-Diemer Gambit fame. He won the 'Major A' tournament. However, a number of entrants pointed out that Prins won the 'Premier Reserves' section. Rather than debate whether Prins could be considered a "later famous player' we gave full credit for either answer. 15. A reason that GM Miguel Najdorf never attained his announced goal of becoming world champion is that he spent more time working on his prosperous insurance business than on chess. Another grandmaster was his partner in that business. Who was he? (1 point) Most knew it was Carlos Guimard. If the quotes section of the quiz was the most difficult, this section (actually one question, worth six points) was probably the easiest. All but two entrants scored the full six points, with no one scoring less than four points. 16. For how many players is each of the following hyphenated openings named? A. the von Hennig-Schara Gambit B. the Milner-Barry Gambit C. the Ilyin-Zhenevsky variation of the Dutch Defense D. the Kevitz-Trajkovic Defense E. the Stone- Ware Defense of the Evans Gambit F. the Franco-Benoni Defense (6 points, 1 for each part) A. von Hennig-Schara Gambit - 2 B. Milner-Barry Gambit - 1 C. Ilyin-Zhenevsky variation of the Dutch Defense - 1 D. Kevitz-Trajkovic Defense - 2 E. Stone-Ware Defense of the Evans Gambit - 2 F. Franco-Benoni Defense - None 17. What, when and where was the "Vizayanagaram tournament" and who won it? (1 point) In conjunction with the major London 1883 tournament (won by Zukertort over Steinitz), the Vizayanagaram (named for an Indian sponsor) was a reserve event won by von Bardeleben (21.5) over Fisher (20.5), MacDonnell (19.5) and Gunsberg (19) in a field of 26. Interestingly enough, many entries contained a full explanation of how the tournament was organized and sponsored, but with no answer to the question! One entrant thought the winner might have Tony Miles. No, that was wrong... 18. The story of how Lasker overtook Capablanca to win 1st place in the 1914 St. Petersburg tournament is one of the best known in chess. However, who finished last in that event? (1 point) Former world title challenger Isidor Gunsberg, then 60, scoring +0 -8 = 2, losing to everyone except Marshall and Janowsky. Few missed this one. 19. Name a major tournament where two brothers both competed, one finishing first and the other last? (1 point) The correct answer to this question is Leipzig 1877, with Louis Paulsen 1st (+9 -2) ahead of Anderssen, Zukertort, Winawer et al while his brother Wilfried (+1 -7 =3) tied for last in a field of 12. For some reason, several entries had the answer 1972 U.S. Championship. Robert Byrne did tie for first place in that championship, but his brother Donald did not play at all in it. 20. David Janowsky was for a time house pro at the famous Cafe de la Regence in Paris. His predecessor in that position was another Pole who had moved to France. Who was he? (1 point) Janowsky followed Simon Rosenthal at the Cafe de la Regence. Most incorrect answers thought it was Kieseritzky, who died in 1853. 21. What grandmaster was a contestant on Groucho Marx's TV show "You Bet Your Life" in the 1950s? (1 point) Denker, Rossolimo, Evans and Reshevsky were among the names given for this question. The correct answer is Isaac Kashdan, who, unlike most guests managed to get the better of Groucho in an exchange of banter and one-upmanship on the subject of chess. 22. What non-world champion player beat more reigning, future or ex-world champions than anyone else in the course of his career? (1 point) Paul Keres, who at various times defeated Capablanca, Alekhine, Euwe, Botvinnik, Smyslov, Tal, Petrosian, Spassky, and Fischer at least once each, a total of 9 world champions. Second probably is Yefim Geller, with 8 (all the above except Capablanca and Alekhine, but with the addition of Karpov). 23. The first Hastings tournament was held in 1895. These later became annual events. The 21st Congress was held over 50 years later, 1945-46, yet a player from the 1895 event also played in it, and ironically, finished in a similar position as before. Who was he? (1 point) Almost everyone named Jacques Mieses (1865-1954), who placed next-to-last in both events. One noted, "When you publish the answers, don't forget to add that shortly thereafter the 84-year-old Mieses beat an 86-year-old opponent and declared, 'Youth has triumphed!'" 24. What two grandmasters were made honorary officers in the Mexican army? (1 point) Answers were all over the lot on this one, Kostic & Fine, Fine & Dake, Alekhine & Torre, Alekhine & Kashdan, and Capablanca & Tartakower were all among the answers submitted. Correct is Reuben Fine & Isaac Kashdan. This status somehow facilitated their travels in Mexico in the 1930s, according to Irving Chernev. 25. Alekhine's famous "5 Queens game" is considered apocryphal, though a few real games with five queens are known. Has there ever been a serious grandmaster game with any of these 5-piece groups all on the board at the same time: A. 5 Bishops? B. 5 Rooks? C. 5 Knights? (3 points, 1 for each part) A & B: no, at least through 1993 according to Fox & James. Some entrants listed either Vondung-Lamprecht, Semeniuk-Sveshnikov or Tresling-Benima; none qualifies as a 'grandmaster game'. C: yes, due to underpromotion there were five knights in the game Szabo-Ivkov, Belgrade 1964. 26. If White began with the Meadow Hay Opening and Black responded with the Corn Stalk Defense, what would the opening moves be? (1 point) 1. a4 a5. 27. It is well known that David Janowsky was addicted to roulette. His most frequent chessic antagonist, Frank Marshall, was late in life also given to a form of gambling. What game was it? (1 point) Bingo. Marshall passed away when he was reportedly returning home from a night of bingo (not backgammon or poker as some entrants thought). 28. Who founded a chess club called "Knight Riders of the Air"? (1 point) Al Jolson - The membership consisted of radio performers. 29. For his novel The Chessmen of Mars Edgar Rice Burroughs invented a chess-like game called "Jetan", played with 40 pieces of 8 different types on a 10 x 10 board. Name those 8 different pieces. (4 points, « point for each piece named) Most people were able to name all eight (and although we give the movement of each piece, this was not part of the quiz answer): Panthan (soldier of fortune): one square any direction except backwards. Thoat (an 8-legged horse-like animal): One square horizontally or vertically and one diagonally. Warrior ("than" in Barsoomian): two squares in any horizontal or vertical direction. Padwar (lieutenant): two squares in any diagonal direction. Dwar (captain): 3 squares in any horizontal or vertical direction. Flier: 3 squares in any diagonal direction, able (like a knight) to pass over intervening pieces. Chief (Chieftain was also an acceptable answer): 3 squares in any direction. Princess: Same as chieftain, but allowed neither to capture nor to move into check. Permitted one 10-square move ("the escape") in extreme emergencies and able to leap over intervening pieces. The goal of the game was to capture the princess. Pieces (except of course the panthan) may "zig-zag," combining any of their permissible directions within one move, though none may land on or pass over the same square in a given move. Burroughs unfortunately never made clear whether maximum moves were obligatory, i.e. whether "three squares" meant only three, no more no less, or 1, 2, or 3 squares. 30. Among players who have never won the world title, who had the most career wins through 1993 against a reigning, future, or former world champion whom he has never played in a world title match? (1 point) The first 3 places go to Viktor Korchnoi, with 16 wins against Spassky, 13 vs. Tal, and 12 vs. Petrosian. Next comes a tie between Keres (11 vs. Euwe) and Geller (11 vs. Smyslov), then between Bogolyubov (10 vs. Euwe) and Blackburne (10 vs. Steinitz). 31. Who has the most lifetime wins against a reigning world champion in events other than world title matches? For this question exclude the still active champion Kasparov from consideration, consider Steinitz's reign to be 1886-1894, and consider Karpov's reign to extend from his taking the title by default in 1975 to his loss to Kasparov in 1985. (1 point) Harry Pillsbury, with 5 against Emanuel Lasker from 1895 to 1904 was the answer that we originally thought was correct. However, at least one entrant pointed out that this question could be construed to mean "against any player who then happened to be world champion" as opposed to the original intention, meant to be "the most lifetime wins against a single reigning world champion." With the former construction, both Geller (Botvinnik three times, Petrosian and Karpov) and Larsen (Petrosian twice, Karpov twice and Spassky - and four of Larsen's wins were with Black!) were also correct answers and anyone who submitted these as answers was given credit for a correct answer. 32. What two Hollywood stars supposedly played chess "incessantly" on their honeymoon "for want of better things to do"? (1 point) George Sanders and Zsa Zsa Gabor is the correct answer; Bogart and Bacall was the most common incorrect answer. Answer questions 33-40 True or False: 33. A stalemate position has never been actually played out on the board in a world championship match. (1 point) False. Korchnoy-Karpov, Game 5, 1978 World Championship Match. A 'gimme'. 34. Lucius Endzelins was born in Latvia but played in the 1937 and 1939 Olympiads for Austria. (1 point) False. He was indeed born in Latvia, but played for his native country in the 1937 and 1939 Olympiads. He also won the Australian championship in 1961. 35. The last game that Andre Philidor ever played was against a British opponent. (1 point) True. British mathematician George Atwood reportedly was Philidor's opponent in his last game. 36. Reuben Fine won the U.S. Championship twice. (1 point) False. Reuben Fine never won the U.S. Championship, something Sam Reshevsky took particular pleasure pointing out whenever asked. 37. One of the more popular books written by James Mason was titled "The Principles of Chess in Practice and Theory." (1 point) False. A few people got a little careless here. The correct title is "The Principles of Chess in Theory and Practice." 38. Steinitz expounded his theories in Part I of his Modern Chess Instructor, but never got around to writing the sequel, Part II. (1 point) False. Although much more difficult to find, the rare Modern Chess Instructor Part II was published in 1895. 39. In the later years of his life, Hans Kmoch suffered from debilitating melanpenia. (1 point) False. OK, so we pulled your leg a little bit here. Melanpenia (insufficient control of the black squares) is just one of many terms invented by Kmoch in his 1959 book Pawn Power in Chess. 40. Nigel Short was the first player born in the UK to play a match for the world championship. (1 point) True. Short, born in Leigh, England, was defeated by Kasparov in 1993. Although British citizen Isidor Gunsberg played a world championship match against Steinitz in 1890-91, Gunsberg was born in Budapest.