Once upon a time a young boy named Johnny learned how to play chess. He didn't have frequent opportunities to play, but he acquired a few chess books and played occasionally with friends. Once he visited his great-uncle Clark. Clark had a truly remarkable library, the likes of which Johnny had never seen. Johnny hoped to have a library like his great-uncle some day (a wish which has never come quite true).
Clark had a number of books about chess, and generously gave several to Johnny. Johnny read the books and practiced the openings and endgames shown in them. Johnny never forgot Great-Uncle Clark!
A few years later Johnny's family moved. Across the street lived a family with twin daughters a year younger than Johnny. The girls' father (we'll call him Mr. W) was a good chess player, and Johnny finally had a regular chess partner. Johnny couldn't beat Mr. W in those days; Mr. W was a patient chess partner and gave Johnny valuable pointers about the art of chess. At some point Johnny was able to beat Mr. W, but their games were still close.
A few years later John (as we'll call him now) was in high school, and his high school had a chess team. John joined the team, which had several talented players. This was around the time of the Fischer-Spassky match, chess was going through a boom. John read many chess books, memorized openings from Modern Chess Openings, and attended chess tournaments in the Seattle area. John's team won the state championship, and John had some nice results at the local chess tournaments. He wasn't a star, but was on his way to being an excellent player.
For some reason John lost interest in chess around the age of sixteen - school, working part time, a variety of musical activities reduced the amount of time available for chess. Most of the good players graduated from Mariner High School, and chess simply fell by the wayside. Around this time John learned how to play bridge; when John was in his twenties bridge had the importance that chess did earlier.
Years later John moved to Germany and got married to Anja. Anja's sister Charlotte had two sons; the older of the two,
Randolf, showed some interest in chess. It became a ritual at family gatherings for Randolf to challenge John to a game of chess. Randolf was never able to beat John, even though John wasn't in practice anymore. There were some good games, but a fatal blunder would usually end things.
This year at Christmas Randolf (now sixteen years old and in the 12th grade) again challenged John to a game of chess. Randolf had been practicing. John gladly accepted the challenge, drew the white pieces, and found himself in an uncomfortable position under a blistering attack. Down over a piece and with his king in danger, he resigned. The next day a rematch with the black pieces; Randolf checkmated him. The third game. John drew the white pieces again. Early on Randolf made a mistake and John was up two pawns. But he couldn't maintain the advantage, again his king fell victim to Randolf's merciless attack. This was clearly no fluke - Randolf's chess game had improved while John's stagnated. The story of Johnny had come full circle with Randolf.
Perhaps the story doesn't end here - John has now ordered a chess program for his computer, we'll see what happens at the next family gathering!
Clark had a number of books about chess, and generously gave several to Johnny. Johnny read the books and practiced the openings and endgames shown in them. Johnny never forgot Great-Uncle Clark!
A few years later Johnny's family moved. Across the street lived a family with twin daughters a year younger than Johnny. The girls' father (we'll call him Mr. W) was a good chess player, and Johnny finally had a regular chess partner. Johnny couldn't beat Mr. W in those days; Mr. W was a patient chess partner and gave Johnny valuable pointers about the art of chess. At some point Johnny was able to beat Mr. W, but their games were still close.
A few years later John (as we'll call him now) was in high school, and his high school had a chess team. John joined the team, which had several talented players. This was around the time of the Fischer-Spassky match, chess was going through a boom. John read many chess books, memorized openings from Modern Chess Openings, and attended chess tournaments in the Seattle area. John's team won the state championship, and John had some nice results at the local chess tournaments. He wasn't a star, but was on his way to being an excellent player.
For some reason John lost interest in chess around the age of sixteen - school, working part time, a variety of musical activities reduced the amount of time available for chess. Most of the good players graduated from Mariner High School, and chess simply fell by the wayside. Around this time John learned how to play bridge; when John was in his twenties bridge had the importance that chess did earlier.
Years later John moved to Germany and got married to Anja. Anja's sister Charlotte had two sons; the older of the two,
Randolf, showed some interest in chess. It became a ritual at family gatherings for Randolf to challenge John to a game of chess. Randolf was never able to beat John, even though John wasn't in practice anymore. There were some good games, but a fatal blunder would usually end things.This year at Christmas Randolf (now sixteen years old and in the 12th grade) again challenged John to a game of chess. Randolf had been practicing. John gladly accepted the challenge, drew the white pieces, and found himself in an uncomfortable position under a blistering attack. Down over a piece and with his king in danger, he resigned. The next day a rematch with the black pieces; Randolf checkmated him. The third game. John drew the white pieces again. Early on Randolf made a mistake and John was up two pawns. But he couldn't maintain the advantage, again his king fell victim to Randolf's merciless attack. This was clearly no fluke - Randolf's chess game had improved while John's stagnated. The story of Johnny had come full circle with Randolf.
Perhaps the story doesn't end here - John has now ordered a chess program for his computer, we'll see what happens at the next family gathering!
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