QUIZ8

***** Quiz 8 *****

ICC Chess History and Trivia Quiz #8-By Naisortep

    I recently heard a funny story about GM Vassily Ivanchuk.Before 
Vassily had become a famous chessplayer he was a little known chess 
junior in one of the more rural parts of the Soviet Union.His trainer 
could see what tremendous talent Vassily had and decided to enter him 
in one of the strong National Soviet Tournaments.On the way to this 
tournament he explained to Vassily that it was a great advantage that 
no one knew of him.This way he could prepare for his well known 
opponents but no one could prepare for Vassily.The trainer told  
Vassily that he should not let anyone know what openings he plays.

    Upon arrival Vassily and his trainer ran into GM Suetin.Trying to 
make conversation GM Suetin said "so tell me Vassily how do you open 
with the white pieces?"

    Vassily replied, "Well I like to play 1.e4 or 1.d4 but i've 
recently  started playing 1.nf3.However, 1.c4 is my real favorite."

    Perplexed GM Suetin said "Well if I play 1.d4 how would you 
respond?"

    Vassily said "I'd play either 1..d5 or 1..nf6.... or maybe 1..d6 or 
1.. e6."

    GM Suetin thought Ivanchuk would be crushed in the tournament. 
Afterall, the poor kid obviously didnt have a real opening repetoire.So 
the he decided to show Vassily a rare variation of the Queen's Gambit 
Accepted. Once he was done explaing the opening to Vassily he decided 
to play some speed games with him to enable Vassily to get a 'feel' for 
the opening.In the mean time, Vassily's trainer excused himself so he 
could say hello to some old acquaintances. About an hour later the 
trainer returned to see GM Suetin playing blitz with Ivanchuk. The 
trainer asked GM Suetin what the match score swas so far.

    GM Suetin, who looked as if he had just been through a war, 
muttered, "We have played ten games."

    The trainer said "Yes, but what is the score?"

    GM Suetin turned to the trainer and shouted "WE HAVE PLAYED TEN 
GAMES!" It didnt take a genius to realize that Vassily Ivanchuk had won 
all ten :).

Chess Anniversaries This Week(Source:1996 International Chess 
Calendar,P.O. Box 30, Milford, C.T., 06460)
10/1 Keres is first at Semmering-Baden over Capablanca, Fine, Reshevsky 
and Flohr
Deaths(+)Marcel Duchamp(1968)
10/2 Nicolau wins International Women's Tournament at Emmen(1964)
Birthdates(*)Ossip Bernstein(1882), Johnathan Speelman(1956)
10/3 Start of the first World Championship match between Alekhine and 
Euwe.Euwe won.(1935)
*Victor Palciauskas(1941),David Norwood(1968)
+Alberic O'kelly, Gia Nadareishvilli(1991)
10/4 Start of the International Tournament at Venice.Won by Najdorf 
over Barcza and Canal.
* Norman Weinstein(1950)
10/5 Matanovic first at Abbazia Yugoslavia over Fuderer and Rabar
*A.N. Panchenko(1953)
10/6 Morphy wins the First American Chess Congress(1857)
10/7 *Johnathan Penrose(1933)
10/8 *Vyacheslav Ragozin(1908),Arthur Bisguier(1929)
10/9 Gilgoric wins the West European Zonal at the Hague over Bilek, 
Kavalek, Donner, and Velimirovic(1966)
*William Lewis(1787), Jeremy Gaige(1927)
+Milan Vidmar(1962)
10/10 +Emil Diemar(1990)
10/11 *Reuben Fine(1914)
10/12 *Akiba Rubenstein(1882)Jay Whitehead(1961)
10/13 Uhlmann first at Erfurt over Kolarov and Troianescu
*Nona Alexandria(1949)
10/14 *Karl Robatsch(1928) Jaan Ehlvest(1962)

CHESS TRIVIA QUESTION(Message Naisortep With Answers):What is the 
nickname of GM Bent Larsen?

ANSWER AND WINNERS OF THE PREVIOUS QUIZ:Karpov Kasparov 1984 and before 
that Capablanca-Alekhine 1927.(Many people picked Karpov-Korchnoi 
1974.However, this only had 19 draws compared to 25 for 
Capablanca-Alekhine).Congratulations OLDTIMER,TASSILOLASA(4 in a 
row-Neruda has a rival!)and Neruda(7 in a row)

My thanks to Oldtimer for pointing out that I misspelled Schlechter in 
the previous column.