My tribute to Anders Tejler (April 13, 1920 - December 25, 2001) which was printed in Virginia Chess, Number 2, 2002 ...
In 1976, at a tournament in Atlanta, I happened across a Chess Digest booklet and discovered a chess opening and a gentleman that were both destined to become lifelong friends. The opening was the Blackmar-Diemer Gambit. The gentleman was Anders Tejler.
Between rounds of that Atlanta Swiss I studied Andy’s little book and alternately confused myself and any available skittles opponent with my newly discovered weapon. When Andy’s column appeared shortly thereafter in the American Postal Chess Tournaments News Bulletin I knew further resistance was futile. I wrote him and we began a correspondence that continued off and on over three decades.
Andy loved chess, correspondence chess, and just plain correspondence. I don’t know which he enjoyed the most. He came to chess a bit late. He was 14 before he learned the game from his father. And it was not until his service in the US Coast Guard in World War II that he discovered the Correspondence Chess League of America, and succumbed to the lure of that form of the game.
In 1954 Andy met Nikolajs Kampars in a CCLA correspondence section. “Nick trounced me royally with a BDG,” he wrote. “This encounter led to a long correspondence, which lasted until Nick’s untimely death in August 1972.” From 1962 to 1967 he assisted Kampars in writing his BDG newsletter (first Blackmar Diemer Gambit and then Opening Adventures). Andy then worked with Nick to put together the Chess Digest booklets on specific BDG variations. From 1970 to 1973 his column on the BDG appeared in Chess Digest magazine Later Andy served Virginia chess as editor of and contributor to its newsletter, and as vice president of its federation.
From the beginning of our correspondence 35 years ago Andy stimulated and encouraged my interest in the BDG, generously sharing his ideas and material, including games and original letters from Diemer, Kampars, and others. More than any other person or event, Andy’s influence was responsible for my little magazine, BDG World. Its model was admittedly Opening Adventures, and through Andy I have always felt a kinship and continuity with that paper. Although we corresponded for over three decades, and collaborated on a small book of his friend David Gedult’s BDGs, we never met face to face.
Andy once wrote me that “there is room in chess journalism for other than the analyst.” He never claimed to be one, and made that clear in the introductions to the Chess Digest booklets he wrote with Kampars. His approach was that of a true lover of the game, a fan. “For so we must count those who play and enjoy the Blackmar-Diemer Gambit: the true fans of chess, who play not for rating points or tournament glory, but for the thrill of a good fight, the adventure of an exciting game, the once-in-a-lifetime ecstasy of pulling off an immortal mating combination.” (Euwe Defense, Chess Enterprises, 1979).
From one fan to another, Andy, many thanks. Play on, old friend—as I know you will, for that immortal combination yet beckons.
Showing posts with label biography. Show all posts
Showing posts with label biography. Show all posts
Tuesday, October 7, 2008
Thursday, October 2, 2008
Georg Studier
In BDG World 20, Oct-Dec 1985, as one in a series on members of the Blackmar Gemeinde, Niels Jørgen Jensen presented the following article on a longtime friend of Diemer, Georg Studier.
Any chessplayer introducing himself to the BDG will very soon come across the name Georg Studier. As Diemer’s longtime analysis partner, originator and advocate of basic BDG lines like the Studier Attack against the Bogoljubov Defense, author of the most objective—you may say scientific—volume (on the Gunderam Defense) of the German BDG series, Studier is one of the key figures in the history of the BDG.
At the age of sixteen, Georg Studier got into tournament chess. It was in 1945, just after World War II. He was taught by the old players: strategy, positional play, etc. Tactics, not to speak of gambits, were neglected concepts in those circles. This, perhaps, is why Studier has always been the "positional" BDG player, in contrast to the “wild” Diemer.
During his education as a building engineer, Studier did not play chess, so the next important event is his participation in the championship of the south German town of Ratstatt in 1954. In a letter to me Studier describes that event:
“Was it the new face or the fact that I had come in third in the tournament that caused Diemer to demonstrate his BDG to me with great energy? Nevertheless, for several weeks my answer to Diemer was that White with this pawn sacrifice could expect no advantage. Today this statement sounds strange, but I was determined to prove it to him. However, at that time I did not know whom I was dealing with. We must remember that at that time Diemer was at the very top level of his chess career. He then showed me how quickly Black can get into trouble, and little by little I was convinced. From then on I played only the BDG. “In the years 1954-58 we would meet several hours twice a week, when we spent the time analyzing the gambit. Thirty years ago the foundation stones were laid for what today is fundamental knowledge of every BDG player. “Another interesting incident from those years was a correspondence match with Diemer which I won 3:5, and thereby proved the unsoundness of the ‘Vorpostenvariente’ (5...g6 6.Bc4 Bg7 7.Ne5?!) by means of 7.-..0-0 8.Bg5 Nc6!', followed by .-..Bf5. At the same time I worked out another strategy to build up a White attack, namely 7.0-0 0-0 8.Qe1."After 1958, when Georg Studier had moved to Freiburg, he lost contact with Diemer, who himself had almost retired from chess through the years 1960-1970. Studier kept playing the BDG, winning the Freiburg city championship in 1960. But fortunately, this was not the end of the Studier-Diemer relationship.
“Suddenly one day Diemer and Stapelfeldt came to me, and over the next years we worked on how to meet Gunderam’s recommendation 5.Nxf3 Bf5. It was as a result of this work that I had my book published in 1980.” (Das moderne Blackrnar-Diemer Gambit, Band 3, Schachverlag Schmaus, Heidelberg).In a letter to me Studier looks upon the history of the BDG as the succession of three different generations:
- The first generation is now about eighty years old. These players were maintaining their points of view uncompromisingly: “Play the BDG and the mate will come automatically” or "The BDG is absolutely incorrect.”
- The second generation has now reached the age of fifty. These players analyzed the variations without prejudice, thus building a bridge between the two poles of the first generation.
- The third generation consists of players in their twenties. They are characterized by a thorough, scientific approach, an in-depth study of every tiny variation in order to reach stable conclusions.
“After preliminary and intermediate groups, the Second BDG World Tourney was concluded with two final rounds, in which I came in second in one of them, one point afterButze of East Germany. The “Superfinal” (including the first four of each final round) is yet to come." “Also, I would like to conclude my BDG writings properly. In front of me lies my manuscript for a 5.Nxf3 Bg4 volume, in which I also intend to include the very interesting defense 5.Nxf3 c6.”I’m sure this last remark is of great interest to all BDG World readers, especially since Gunderam's contribution from July 1983 (Volume I, Number 7) has remained uncontradicted ever since. And so you see, Georg Studier is not just a second generation BDG player, but has his firm position established in the past, the present, and the future of the BDG.
# # #
Tuesday, August 5, 2008
Nikolajs Kampars
I wrote this for the August 1983 issue of BDG World. Today I reprint it on the 36th anniversary of Kampars' death. The sketch is by Rob Rittenhouse.
"The most imaginative player I ever corresponded with; a modest man; a truly great character." Nice words, and as they say, unsolicited -- all describing the man once called "the American Diemer," Nikolajs Kampars. Kampars died on August 5, 1972. This August issue seemed an appropriate time to remember him, his games, and a few of his contributions to the Blackmar-Diemer Gambit.
I have always regretted that I discovered the BDG too late to have known or corresponded with Kampars.
My information on his life is limited. Originally from Latvia, he evidently came to the United States in the early 1950s after having lived for a time in Austria. There he was acquainted with Alfred Freidl; in fact the two played together in a 1948 tournament which Kampars won. One paragraph in a 1967 letter from Kampars to Freidl tells some about his background, much about his character.
If you should publish my games, dear friend, than refer to me simply as N. Kampars. It is true that I am a lawyer, that I attended the university in Riga, and that I have my diploma. But I have not worked at my profession for thirty years, and what use is an academic title to me when I work in a bakery in the USA? I would also have difficulties with my friends at work if I were to say I am a doctor. Whoever wants to be known in chess circles as professor, architect, lawyer, and so forth--let them have their fun. Not I.
Kampars settled in Milwaukee, and apparently quickly became active in chess there, winning 'the city championship in 1955. In his book, Diemer included the first 16 moves of one of Kampars' games from that event, with the comment, "the first Blackmar Gambit, since A. E. Blackmar, in the USA?" Probably not, but was it Kampars' first here? His opponent, by the way, was also fond of playing the BDG.
N. Kampars - O. M. J. Wehrley, Milwaukee 1955, Vienna Defense.
In February 1962 Kampars began his magazine Blackmar - Diemer Gambit. It originally appeared as a four page insert in the Latvian magazine, Chess World, and concentrated on the BDG (and closely related openings) almost exclusively. With the January 1964 issue, Kampars began to publish independently of Chess World. At the same time he expanded his magazine to include openings other than the BDG, and renamed it Opening Adventures. From then until failing health forced him to discontinue publication with the May 1967 issue, Kampars insured that this modest little magazine was true to its name. There were indeed delightful adventures in its pages: gambits of all sorts and sizes, and still plenty of BDGs, of course.
Although by all accounts a modest man, Kampars nevertheless often published his own games, sometimes annotated by then Senior Master (now Grandmaster) Edmar Mednis.
N. Kampars - J. Blakeslee, Correspondence 1963, Rasa-Studier Gambit
In the next game Black defends well through 20 moves, but then locks himself out of any counterplay.
N. Kampars - C. C. C. Harding, Correspondence 1964/65, Bogoljubov Defense
Kampars did much to popularize the BDG through his writings, but he made other contributions as well. His name lives on in BDG literature in the gambit he originated in the Vienna Defense, one of the sharpest lines in an opening overrun with sharp lines. However, I suspect he might most wish to be remembered for yet another accomplishment: the First BDG World Correspondence Championship. It was his idea -- Anders Tejler has said it was his dream -- and it came to pass in September 1965, when 276 players from 25 countries began play in 40 preliminary sections. Seven years and over 2,000 games later, (now IM) Georg Danner of Austria emerged the winner. Kampars participated in the preliminary and intermediate rounds. Here is one of his games.
M. Peilen - N. Kampars, 1st BDG World, 1968/69 Gunderam Defense
Kampars did not live to see his dream concluded. When he died, almost three years before the final round ended, the tournament was renamed the Nikolajs Kampars Memorial Tourney. It was a fitting memorial to the man Alfred Freidl has rightly called "an enduring champion of the BDG."
"The most imaginative player I ever corresponded with; a modest man; a truly great character." Nice words, and as they say, unsolicited -- all describing the man once called "the American Diemer," Nikolajs Kampars. Kampars died on August 5, 1972. This August issue seemed an appropriate time to remember him, his games, and a few of his contributions to the Blackmar-Diemer Gambit.
I have always regretted that I discovered the BDG too late to have known or corresponded with Kampars.My information on his life is limited. Originally from Latvia, he evidently came to the United States in the early 1950s after having lived for a time in Austria. There he was acquainted with Alfred Freidl; in fact the two played together in a 1948 tournament which Kampars won. One paragraph in a 1967 letter from Kampars to Freidl tells some about his background, much about his character.
If you should publish my games, dear friend, than refer to me simply as N. Kampars. It is true that I am a lawyer, that I attended the university in Riga, and that I have my diploma. But I have not worked at my profession for thirty years, and what use is an academic title to me when I work in a bakery in the USA? I would also have difficulties with my friends at work if I were to say I am a doctor. Whoever wants to be known in chess circles as professor, architect, lawyer, and so forth--let them have their fun. Not I.
Kampars settled in Milwaukee, and apparently quickly became active in chess there, winning 'the city championship in 1955. In his book, Diemer included the first 16 moves of one of Kampars' games from that event, with the comment, "the first Blackmar Gambit, since A. E. Blackmar, in the USA?" Probably not, but was it Kampars' first here? His opponent, by the way, was also fond of playing the BDG.
N. Kampars - O. M. J. Wehrley, Milwaukee 1955, Vienna Defense.
In February 1962 Kampars began his magazine Blackmar - Diemer Gambit. It originally appeared as a four page insert in the Latvian magazine, Chess World, and concentrated on the BDG (and closely related openings) almost exclusively. With the January 1964 issue, Kampars began to publish independently of Chess World. At the same time he expanded his magazine to include openings other than the BDG, and renamed it Opening Adventures. From then until failing health forced him to discontinue publication with the May 1967 issue, Kampars insured that this modest little magazine was true to its name. There were indeed delightful adventures in its pages: gambits of all sorts and sizes, and still plenty of BDGs, of course.
Although by all accounts a modest man, Kampars nevertheless often published his own games, sometimes annotated by then Senior Master (now Grandmaster) Edmar Mednis.
N. Kampars - J. Blakeslee, Correspondence 1963, Rasa-Studier Gambit
In the next game Black defends well through 20 moves, but then locks himself out of any counterplay.
N. Kampars - C. C. C. Harding, Correspondence 1964/65, Bogoljubov Defense
Kampars did much to popularize the BDG through his writings, but he made other contributions as well. His name lives on in BDG literature in the gambit he originated in the Vienna Defense, one of the sharpest lines in an opening overrun with sharp lines. However, I suspect he might most wish to be remembered for yet another accomplishment: the First BDG World Correspondence Championship. It was his idea -- Anders Tejler has said it was his dream -- and it came to pass in September 1965, when 276 players from 25 countries began play in 40 preliminary sections. Seven years and over 2,000 games later, (now IM) Georg Danner of Austria emerged the winner. Kampars participated in the preliminary and intermediate rounds. Here is one of his games.
M. Peilen - N. Kampars, 1st BDG World, 1968/69 Gunderam Defense
Kampars did not live to see his dream concluded. When he died, almost three years before the final round ended, the tournament was renamed the Nikolajs Kampars Memorial Tourney. It was a fitting memorial to the man Alfred Freidl has rightly called "an enduring champion of the BDG."
Monday, August 4, 2008
Edgar Sneiders
Modesty is a virtue not often found among poets, for almost every one of them thinks himself the greatest...
Those words from Cervantes fit chessplayers equally well, but Edgar Sneiders was the exception. For a player of such skill he was uncharacteristically unassuming, often self-effacing. When I asked him for biographical data several years ago he replied, "you have to exhaust the list of the more prominent members of the Gemeinde first. I am bashful, you know."
Edgar was born in Rauna, Latvia on March 25, 1912, and grew up on a farm. He married while a young man and took a job in a sugar factory. But soon the chaos of World War II and the Russian occupation of Latvia were upon him. In 1943 he and his wife escaped to Germany, where later upon Allied occupation of Germany they lived for a time in a camp for displaced persons.
After the war the Sneiders came to the United States, at first working in the tobacco fields of Kentucky for $12 a week. Some of their old friends from Latvia had settled in Lansing, Michigan and the Sneiders soon joined them. In 1951, Edgar began work there as a laborer at the city sewage treatment plant. When he retired in 1977, he was the superintendent of a new $14 million plant.
Like many American fans of the BDG, Edgar was introduced to the opening by another Latvian-American, Nikolajs Kampars. In a 1972 letter to Kampars, Edgar wrote, "Remember, we were assigned to the same CCLA section some years ago. At that time you mentioned that such a gambit existed, and that I should try my hand at it. So I did, and got hooked forever:" In that letter, which was written under protest and only after much prompting from Kampars, Edgar noted that in the late 1950s he "played quite a bit over-the-board. At one time I had more than 2200 points accumulated, which was good enough for my Master's 'degree'." (Edgar was also fond of bridge.) "I also held the title of Lansing's champ for a number of years. Michigan Amateur champ was I once."
A 1963 issue of Opening Adventures carries the report of a simultaneous exhibition conducted by Sneiders following a tournament in Lansing. Competing against 24 of the tournament entrants, Edgar won 22 games, drew 2, and lost none. Since the exhibition lasted just over two hours, he spent only about five minutes per game. Edgar noted that he still enjoyed playing five-minute speed chess now and then, and that in his youth in Latvia he had won several speed championships. "About two years ago I by chance participated in one Michigan Speed Championship Tournament. To my astonishment I walked away with the champ's title. The result was 13-0." Time apparently had little effect on Edgar's abilities. In 1984 he and his wife Hildegarde attended a large reunion of Latvian exiles in West Germany, where one of many activities was a speed chess tourney. A report of the event in a German chess magazine noted that it was won by 72 year old Edgar Sneiders over 18 other participants.
The pages of Opening Adventures abound with many of Edgar's brilliancies in correspondence chess. He was the highest American finalist in the First BDG World Correspondence Championship, finishing eighth in a field of 21. For about ten years following that tourney Edgar essentially withdrew from chess, but when he returned to correspondence play in the early 1980s, he seemed still to overcome time itself. He recently came in clear first in a strong tournament organized by Walter Schneider, ahead of five finalists from the First BDG World (including the second and third place finishers) and a top finisher from the Second BDG World Finals.
It's impossible to choose Edgar's "best" games—he played so many, and so many are good ones. He wrote Kampars that "you are in a much better position to select. All my past games are in a hopeless mess somewhere among other junk. I do not have any system, therefore every new BDG game is also a new experience for me." And while Edgar was always ready to help a friend with analysis or comments on a variation, he was characteristically modest about his games. "I have never annotated a game in my life, and do not feel like starting now. One has to be rather precise in his comments in order to do a good job." That's okay. With or without notes, Edgar's games are a great joy. Playing over them provides some small appreciation for his great talents, together with the realization that when Edgar left us on June 7, 1988, the Blackmar Gemeinde lost one of its finest members.
Edgar was born in Rauna, Latvia on March 25, 1912, and grew up on a farm. He married while a young man and took a job in a sugar factory. But soon the chaos of World War II and the Russian occupation of Latvia were upon him. In 1943 he and his wife escaped to Germany, where later upon Allied occupation of Germany they lived for a time in a camp for displaced persons.After the war the Sneiders came to the United States, at first working in the tobacco fields of Kentucky for $12 a week. Some of their old friends from Latvia had settled in Lansing, Michigan and the Sneiders soon joined them. In 1951, Edgar began work there as a laborer at the city sewage treatment plant. When he retired in 1977, he was the superintendent of a new $14 million plant.
Like many American fans of the BDG, Edgar was introduced to the opening by another Latvian-American, Nikolajs Kampars. In a 1972 letter to Kampars, Edgar wrote, "Remember, we were assigned to the same CCLA section some years ago. At that time you mentioned that such a gambit existed, and that I should try my hand at it. So I did, and got hooked forever:" In that letter, which was written under protest and only after much prompting from Kampars, Edgar noted that in the late 1950s he "played quite a bit over-the-board. At one time I had more than 2200 points accumulated, which was good enough for my Master's 'degree'." (Edgar was also fond of bridge.) "I also held the title of Lansing's champ for a number of years. Michigan Amateur champ was I once."
A 1963 issue of Opening Adventures carries the report of a simultaneous exhibition conducted by Sneiders following a tournament in Lansing. Competing against 24 of the tournament entrants, Edgar won 22 games, drew 2, and lost none. Since the exhibition lasted just over two hours, he spent only about five minutes per game. Edgar noted that he still enjoyed playing five-minute speed chess now and then, and that in his youth in Latvia he had won several speed championships. "About two years ago I by chance participated in one Michigan Speed Championship Tournament. To my astonishment I walked away with the champ's title. The result was 13-0." Time apparently had little effect on Edgar's abilities. In 1984 he and his wife Hildegarde attended a large reunion of Latvian exiles in West Germany, where one of many activities was a speed chess tourney. A report of the event in a German chess magazine noted that it was won by 72 year old Edgar Sneiders over 18 other participants.
The pages of Opening Adventures abound with many of Edgar's brilliancies in correspondence chess. He was the highest American finalist in the First BDG World Correspondence Championship, finishing eighth in a field of 21. For about ten years following that tourney Edgar essentially withdrew from chess, but when he returned to correspondence play in the early 1980s, he seemed still to overcome time itself. He recently came in clear first in a strong tournament organized by Walter Schneider, ahead of five finalists from the First BDG World (including the second and third place finishers) and a top finisher from the Second BDG World Finals.
It's impossible to choose Edgar's "best" games—he played so many, and so many are good ones. He wrote Kampars that "you are in a much better position to select. All my past games are in a hopeless mess somewhere among other junk. I do not have any system, therefore every new BDG game is also a new experience for me." And while Edgar was always ready to help a friend with analysis or comments on a variation, he was characteristically modest about his games. "I have never annotated a game in my life, and do not feel like starting now. One has to be rather precise in his comments in order to do a good job." That's okay. With or without notes, Edgar's games are a great joy. Playing over them provides some small appreciation for his great talents, together with the realization that when Edgar left us on June 7, 1988, the Blackmar Gemeinde lost one of its finest members.
Tuesday, July 29, 2008
A. E. Blackmar
By Anders Tejler and Tom Purser
Although born in Bennington, Vermont on May 30, 1826, Armand Edward Blackmar became a Southerner by choice. From 1852 to 1855 he was professor of music at Centenary College in Jackson, Louisiana. In 1860 he and his brother established a music publishing house in New Orleans. However, the city was captured in 1862 in a naval attack led by Farragut, and occupied by Union forces. It became necessary to publish music for the Confederacy elsewhere. Armand's brother, H. C., opened a publishing house in Augusta, Georgia, where he continued to publish patriotic music. Armand continued business in New Orleans, where he died on October 28, 1888.
Armand was a very good violinist and pianist, a chess expert, and a charter member of the Chess, Checkers and Whist Club of New Orleans. In 1882, in the July issue of Brentanos Chess Monthly, he introduced his gambit to the chess world. In that issue he commented that he had been playing the gambit for more than a year, that he had never found it in any book or published game, and that White's second and third moves constituted the new gambit. (We emphasize the last point, since we still see 1.d4 d5 2.e4 dxe4-with f3 never played--referred to as the Blackmar--or worse yet, the Blackmar-Diemer--Gambit). In the August/September issue of Brentanos another example of Blackmar's gambit appeared: A. E. Blackmar - Love New Orleans Chess, Checkers and Whist Club Other examples of Blackmar's gambit are Blackmar - Lapeyre, Blackmar - Farrar, and Maurian - Daponte. These games are also in Diemer's book, pages 148-149.
There are still more of Blackmar's games which have not been as widely published, and with which readers may not be as familiar. The 1884 edition of Cook's Synopsis of Chess Openings contains a supplement, called American Inventions in the Chess Openings, which contains five pages of Blackmar's analysis of his openings. The introduction notes that "Mr. A. E. Blackmar, of New Orleans, sends to the editor the following analysis of winning positions in two interesting gambits invented by him, and which he has been playing for four years. The second gambit is not played much, because few make use of the Hollandish Defense... (Blackmar's thematic f2-f3 is also found in a line in the Staunton Gambit against the Dutch Defense (1.d4 f5 2.e4 fxe4 3.f3). This line, which often results in BDG-like positions, is referred to, appropriately enough, as Blackmar's second gambit. But that is another story, of which we will have more to tell in a future issue.
It is interesting to note that many of the thematic moves in the BDG (such as the routine attacking sequence Qd1-e1-h4) were already appearing in Blackmar's games. A. E. Blackmar - L. S. Atkinson Correspondence, 1884 A. E. Blackmar - D. Daponte. Still another game by Blackmar appeared in an article by Jacques Le Monnier in the February 1981 issue of Europe Echecs. The article has a number of errors (1.d4 d5 2.e4 as the Blackmar Gambit, Blackmar's first name as Abel--a mistake Diemer also made in his earlier writings, but corrected in his book), but does provide several interesting games. A. E. Blackmar - W. H. Lyons New Orleans, February 6, 1884.
So much for Blackmar's own games. But what happened to his gambit between his death in 1888 and Diemer's rediscovery of it in 1932? In his book, Diemer credits von Popiel for the pioneering work in the development of the zwischenzug 3.Nc3. Von Popiel's analysis appeared in Deutsches Wochenschach in 1893, and as Diemer notes, a reference there to the Blackmar Gambit indicates that von Popiel was familiar with Blackmar's analysis. Although Diemer reprinted much of von Popiel's analysis, we have few examples of his games.
Although born in Bennington, Vermont on May 30, 1826, Armand Edward Blackmar became a Southerner by choice. From 1852 to 1855 he was professor of music at Centenary College in Jackson, Louisiana. In 1860 he and his brother established a music publishing house in New Orleans. However, the city was captured in 1862 in a naval attack led by Farragut, and occupied by Union forces. It became necessary to publish music for the Confederacy elsewhere. Armand's brother, H. C., opened a publishing house in Augusta, Georgia, where he continued to publish patriotic music. Armand continued business in New Orleans, where he died on October 28, 1888.
Armand was a very good violinist and pianist, a chess expert, and a charter member of the Chess, Checkers and Whist Club of New Orleans. In 1882, in the July issue of Brentanos Chess Monthly, he introduced his gambit to the chess world. In that issue he commented that he had been playing the gambit for more than a year, that he had never found it in any book or published game, and that White's second and third moves constituted the new gambit. (We emphasize the last point, since we still see 1.d4 d5 2.e4 dxe4-with f3 never played--referred to as the Blackmar--or worse yet, the Blackmar-Diemer--Gambit). In the August/September issue of Brentanos another example of Blackmar's gambit appeared: A. E. Blackmar - Love New Orleans Chess, Checkers and Whist Club Other examples of Blackmar's gambit are Blackmar - Lapeyre, Blackmar - Farrar, and Maurian - Daponte. These games are also in Diemer's book, pages 148-149.
There are still more of Blackmar's games which have not been as widely published, and with which readers may not be as familiar. The 1884 edition of Cook's Synopsis of Chess Openings contains a supplement, called American Inventions in the Chess Openings, which contains five pages of Blackmar's analysis of his openings. The introduction notes that "Mr. A. E. Blackmar, of New Orleans, sends to the editor the following analysis of winning positions in two interesting gambits invented by him, and which he has been playing for four years. The second gambit is not played much, because few make use of the Hollandish Defense... (Blackmar's thematic f2-f3 is also found in a line in the Staunton Gambit against the Dutch Defense (1.d4 f5 2.e4 fxe4 3.f3). This line, which often results in BDG-like positions, is referred to, appropriately enough, as Blackmar's second gambit. But that is another story, of which we will have more to tell in a future issue.
It is interesting to note that many of the thematic moves in the BDG (such as the routine attacking sequence Qd1-e1-h4) were already appearing in Blackmar's games. A. E. Blackmar - L. S. Atkinson Correspondence, 1884 A. E. Blackmar - D. Daponte. Still another game by Blackmar appeared in an article by Jacques Le Monnier in the February 1981 issue of Europe Echecs. The article has a number of errors (1.d4 d5 2.e4 as the Blackmar Gambit, Blackmar's first name as Abel--a mistake Diemer also made in his earlier writings, but corrected in his book), but does provide several interesting games. A. E. Blackmar - W. H. Lyons New Orleans, February 6, 1884.
So much for Blackmar's own games. But what happened to his gambit between his death in 1888 and Diemer's rediscovery of it in 1932? In his book, Diemer credits von Popiel for the pioneering work in the development of the zwischenzug 3.Nc3. Von Popiel's analysis appeared in Deutsches Wochenschach in 1893, and as Diemer notes, a reference there to the Blackmar Gambit indicates that von Popiel was familiar with Blackmar's analysis. Although Diemer reprinted much of von Popiel's analysis, we have few examples of his games.
Monday, July 21, 2008
A Life for Chess
Gunter Müller, a well-know German player of the Blackmar-Diemer Gambit, was a finalist in the First BDG World Correspondence Tournament. He wrote this article for the May/June 1985 issue of BDG World. Diemer lived for another five years, until October 10, 1990. This article provides a brief overview of Diemer's career.
The BDG is a controversial and disputed opening, condemned by many, but held by its supporters to be the non plus extra. That it is under discussion at all is largely due to one man: Emil Josef Diemer. Born in 1908, Diemer began to play chess at the age of twelve. In the 1930s he participated in several international tournaments, where his aggressive style created a stir. During this time he discovered for himself the gambit (l. d4 d5 2. e4 dxe4 3. f3) of the American Master Armand Edward Blackmar (1826-1888). (EJD's first games were reprinted in Vol I, No 5, of BDG World.) Diemer's great service is that having recognized the danger of the strong reply 3 ... e5!, he decisively strengthened the White play with the insertion of 3. Nc3, and then 4. f3. Because of this, the designation Blackmar-Diemer Gambit is correct.
The Early Years
He attempted his form of the gambit next in correspondence tournaments, playing his first such game in 1934 against an opponent named Bernards. In 1936 followed his first game in an international tournament in Bad Podiebrad. His first BDG against Bogoljubov came in 1948 in an Open in Constance, from which the Bogoljubov Defense, an important variation of the BDG developed. Diemer developed into a feared opponent in international tournaments. In 1935/36 and again in 1936/37 he took first place in the Premier Reserve Major Tournament at Hastings.
Success in the 1950s
After the war years, Diemer won the Baden Cup in 1951 and 1953. In 1952 he was first at the Swiss national tournament in Zurich. Then in 1956 came his most successful year. He won the Premier Reserve tourney at Beverwijk, the Open Championship of Holland in Kampen, and an international tournament at Rapperswil in Switzerland. In addition, he finished second at Thun in the international Swiss Championships, and took the same place at Gent behind Grandmaster O'Kelly. There were more, if not quite so convincing, successes in 1950s, but then during the next decade, Diemer essentially withdrew from chess. Diemer returned to chess in the 1970s, and in 1976 he won the Senior Master tourney at the Baden Chess Congress. Today he still achieves good games, even though he must overcome a great handicap: he is almost blind, and as a game progresses it becomes more and more difficult for him to recognize the pieces. But with his distinguished features and long white beard, he is always the attraction of the tournament hall. He still plays team matches for the Chess Club Umkirch in the Black Forest, and is frequently in open tournaments. There he defrays his expenses through book sales and contributions from his supporters, for he does not stand very well financially since his residence in an old age home at Fußbach in the Black Forest. But his unflagging vitality will not permit his assignment to the scrap heap-again and again, to the joy of his supporters, he breaks out and plays as the Alterspräsident, the oldest player of the tournament.
A Personal Encounter
Personally, I had the opportunity to sit across the chessboard from EJD at Biel in 1975. The game evolved into a critical variation in the Studier Attack in the BDG, in which I was Black. Naturally, each of us wanted to win at any price. There were chances, but the game finally came to a conclusion that EJD, who plays from the first move on towards mate, certainly did not enjoy-it was a draw.
An Endearing Eccentricity
There is one side to Diemer which does not please every one of his supporters. He is a highly intelligent and well-studied man with many interests, among which are the prophecies of Nostradamus. On this basis he has more than once predicted the precise end of the world (thank God that it didn't occur), the bombing of Dresden, or the destruction of the Berlin wall. Contrary to many others, I regard this as an endearing eccentricity, and not as an indication that EJD, who once in his life was in a sanitarium, is somehow returned to that period. Howsoever: over the chessplayer Emil Josef Diemer let us hope that we can celebrate for a long time yet. It is only sad that because of his handicap he cannot leave the chess world additional books-this task his students must assume.
The BDG is a controversial and disputed opening, condemned by many, but held by its supporters to be the non plus extra. That it is under discussion at all is largely due to one man: Emil Josef Diemer. Born in 1908, Diemer began to play chess at the age of twelve. In the 1930s he participated in several international tournaments, where his aggressive style created a stir. During this time he discovered for himself the gambit (l. d4 d5 2. e4 dxe4 3. f3) of the American Master Armand Edward Blackmar (1826-1888). (EJD's first games were reprinted in Vol I, No 5, of BDG World.) Diemer's great service is that having recognized the danger of the strong reply 3 ... e5!, he decisively strengthened the White play with the insertion of 3. Nc3, and then 4. f3. Because of this, the designation Blackmar-Diemer Gambit is correct.
The Early Years
He attempted his form of the gambit next in correspondence tournaments, playing his first such game in 1934 against an opponent named Bernards. In 1936 followed his first game in an international tournament in Bad Podiebrad. His first BDG against Bogoljubov came in 1948 in an Open in Constance, from which the Bogoljubov Defense, an important variation of the BDG developed. Diemer developed into a feared opponent in international tournaments. In 1935/36 and again in 1936/37 he took first place in the Premier Reserve Major Tournament at Hastings.
Success in the 1950s
After the war years, Diemer won the Baden Cup in 1951 and 1953. In 1952 he was first at the Swiss national tournament in Zurich. Then in 1956 came his most successful year. He won the Premier Reserve tourney at Beverwijk, the Open Championship of Holland in Kampen, and an international tournament at Rapperswil in Switzerland. In addition, he finished second at Thun in the international Swiss Championships, and took the same place at Gent behind Grandmaster O'Kelly. There were more, if not quite so convincing, successes in 1950s, but then during the next decade, Diemer essentially withdrew from chess. Diemer returned to chess in the 1970s, and in 1976 he won the Senior Master tourney at the Baden Chess Congress. Today he still achieves good games, even though he must overcome a great handicap: he is almost blind, and as a game progresses it becomes more and more difficult for him to recognize the pieces. But with his distinguished features and long white beard, he is always the attraction of the tournament hall. He still plays team matches for the Chess Club Umkirch in the Black Forest, and is frequently in open tournaments. There he defrays his expenses through book sales and contributions from his supporters, for he does not stand very well financially since his residence in an old age home at Fußbach in the Black Forest. But his unflagging vitality will not permit his assignment to the scrap heap-again and again, to the joy of his supporters, he breaks out and plays as the Alterspräsident, the oldest player of the tournament.
A Personal Encounter
Personally, I had the opportunity to sit across the chessboard from EJD at Biel in 1975. The game evolved into a critical variation in the Studier Attack in the BDG, in which I was Black. Naturally, each of us wanted to win at any price. There were chances, but the game finally came to a conclusion that EJD, who plays from the first move on towards mate, certainly did not enjoy-it was a draw.
An Endearing Eccentricity
There is one side to Diemer which does not please every one of his supporters. He is a highly intelligent and well-studied man with many interests, among which are the prophecies of Nostradamus. On this basis he has more than once predicted the precise end of the world (thank God that it didn't occur), the bombing of Dresden, or the destruction of the Berlin wall. Contrary to many others, I regard this as an endearing eccentricity, and not as an indication that EJD, who once in his life was in a sanitarium, is somehow returned to that period. Howsoever: over the chessplayer Emil Josef Diemer let us hope that we can celebrate for a long time yet. It is only sad that because of his handicap he cannot leave the chess world additional books-this task his students must assume.
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