flinn@seismo.UUCP (E. A. Flinn) (04/26/84)
The discussion of rule-varying in chess reminded me of a delightful book, 'My One Contribution to Chess,' by F. V. Morley (Stewart, New York, 1946), which is probably long out of print. Morley was the brother of the writer and the son of the man who discovered Morley's theorem. The 'contribution' of the title is to suggest that an extra file be added to the board on each side, from the second to seventh ranks. The book is actually an autobiography and description of family life, with about 10% devoted to chess. The author's father was a mathematician (for many years chairman of the department at Johns Hopkins), and a good chess player, who in his youth played at the old Simpson's Divan in London, against (among others) the Bird who came closest to defeating Steinitz when the latter was world champion (8-7-7). One of the games is recorded: White: Morley Black: Bird Scotch Gambit 1. P-K4 P-K4 11. P-K5 Kt-Kt1 2. Kt-KB3 Kt-QB3 12. O-O-O P-QR3? 3. P-Q4 PxP 13. B-Kt4 Q-QB3 4. KtxP B-B4 14. P-K6 Kt-B3 5. B-K3 Q-R5? 15. PxQPch BxP 6. Kt-QB3 BxKt 16. BxBch KtxB 7. BxB KtxB 17. KR-K1ch K-Q1 8. QxKt Kt-B3 18. QxKtP R-K1 9. KKtP-Kt3 Q-Kt5 19. RxRch KxR 10. B-K2 Q-K3 20. R-K1ch K-Q1 21. Q-Kt8ch and wins. B5. Steinitz won three times with this move against Blackburne, but the coming exchanges are a mistake. B8. Black's queen is going to get pushed around. 18. Black is helpless.