Akiba Rubinstein and Polish Chess 1/3

Polish Chess History 2/3 http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=PQQOjlEFYLo

This series examines Polish chess history from the Medieval period to the end of the Second World War. Part one discusses the origins of chess in Poland, and the rise of world class masters such as Szymon Winawer and Johannes Zukertort. The segment concludes with a discussion of Gerz Salwe and his good pal, Akiva Rubinstein.

Written by Jessica Fischer
Narrated by Richard Dewoskin

Invaluable research assistance from my chessgames.com friends Larry Crawford, Chancho, Annie Kappel, A.J. Goldsby, David Moody, and Scott Thompson.

Primary web sources:

Anita Sikora: "Akiva Rubinstein" http://rubina.yfw24.de/

Tomasz Lissowski: "Vistula miesięcznik szachowy" http://www.astercity.net/~vistula/

Category:

Education

Tags:

• Akiba Rubinstein
• chess
• Poland
• Tartakower
• Winawer
• Najdorf
• Zukertort
• Steinitz
• szachy

[ianjames537]

The "chess puzzle" in the poem is absurd. Black has a million ways to win the game without sacrificing pieces, e.g. ...c2+ Kc1 b2+ Kd2 c1=Q+ Ke2 Qe3+, etc.

[jessicafischerqueen]

@ianjames537 Point of the puzzle was to be a parable- the original writer of the poem was not a chess expert.

[renumeratedfrog]

They were all Jews, and as such, most Poles don't consider them as their own.... Tartakower didn't even speak Polish.

[jessicafischerqueen]

@renumeratedfrog That's an extremely interesting point- are you one of those Poles who don't consider the historical Jewish chess masters to be "one of your own"? The pre-Holocaust enmity between Polish Gentile and Jew has been well-documented in Lanzmann's epic film "Shoah." However, I must remind you that Gentile Polish chess masters and chess fans were- and still are- very happy about the success of their Jewish compadres in Poland. Just read some Tomasz Lissowski if you don't believe me.

[kingscrusher]

Very nice series! Well done! :)

[LifeMasterAJ]

Very nicely done. I approve. Well presented, good narration. (I don't think I could have done better myself.) - LM A.J. Goldsby I

[jessicafischerqueen]

@ianjames537 Yes- agreed. Thanks for doing that historical detective work, and especially thanks for sharing it with us. The poet indeed may have neglected whether he had accidentally introduced a simpler way to mate, but you certainly didn't!

[ianjames537]

@ianjames537 ...(cont.)

Wikipedia says that the problem of the poem was adapted from a famous Shatranj puzzle known as the "Dilaram problem". In that light, it seems likely to me that the poet adapted the mating theme and checked to see that it still worked (which it did), but neglected to check whether he had accidentally introduced a simpler way to mate (which he had).

[ianjames537]

@jessicafischerqueen OK, but don't you think it weakens the parable if the guy *didn't* have sacrifice something dear to him to win the game, and don't you think it weakens the story if instead of needing Anna's advice, and to interpret her cryptic riddle to find a tricky mate, he could just have tried the obvious plan that a beginner would come up with and still won the game?

If the problem were to find mate in 3, it would work, but then the extra White pieces would be irrelevant.

...

[indurnuguri1]

@renumeratedfrog ...

Why do you think that is the case?

[indurnuguri1]

jessicafishcerqueen--- You are doing great service to us chess enthusiasts by uploading great chess videos.

Many Thanks for your efforts.

[deepfuture]

@renumeratedfrog Speak for yourself mate, I consider Jews born in Poland as a Polish. Most of them could speak Polish and they knew Polish history and art better than many Poles.

[manenir]

thats one good chess video

[elfanel]

WTF!, in 2:27 the chess table is wrong, the withe scaque must be in right hand.