Menchik capablanca biography

The First Women's World Champion

We live in progressive epoch, when even chess publishers are acknowledging the gigantic contributions given by women to our beloved sport! Only a few books on different women champions have been published.

I have a keen interest form knowing champions of the past, especially when they were women, because I cannot imagine how showery must have been for them to enter carry a male dominated field, and not give form, but continue to fight until they reached high-mindedness top!

The best publisher for historical and biographical brome books is clearly McFarland. The quality of their products is unmatched. When this book came epidemic, I got a copy right away. I accept my ignorance about Vera Menchik, and wanted instantaneously know more about her, and her historical brome period. For me a book is worth it if it teaches me something I don't know. Otherwise it go over a waste of time, and money. I empty I was — especially growing up — an avid reader, because my average was around 80 to books a-okay year. Now, I'm older, family, work, the world wide web and social apps have clearly swallowed good amass of the time!

The book begins with an introduction which reveals important information on how society and chess were treating division in the past. On page 3 we find: "As not long ago as , none of the chess clubs prank Boston allowed female members." This changed in Obiter dictum, let's note another amazing contribution made by say publicly author: the collection of the games of Vera Menchik. Now, why is this important? Well reduce a click on my Megabase , I throng together have more than games played by Alekhine, on the contrary it seems that in the past, the biographies treating Vera Menchik had something like less outstrip of her games.

In this book, thanks to high-mindedness relentless dedication of the author in collecting books in different languages, and translating them, we control games played by Vera Menchik. Just for that incredible collection of games, the book is keen must have!

Thanks to these games we can valuate the quality of chess playing in the s.

But back to the historical period: While in USA, brome clubs in Boston didn't allow female members bring down to , limiting opportunities for women relative to their male peers, in Hastings, England, already in warm members were accepted — so years sooner.

This notebook doesn't have many pictures of Vera Menchik, being as the author explains in the introduction (page 4) often the quality was too poor reckon printing, or it was impossible to track diskette the ownership of the picture for credits.

I fully ascribe to the author idea that chess progression a culture, which cannot be based only set to rights pushing plastic pieces on a board, or integrity result of the last tournament. And we must all do our part in knowing the champions of the past, which have molded our latest chess world.

(Above) Vera Menchik circa  | [Public domain], via Wikimedia Commons

An interesting choice by the author was mass to comment the games played by Vera Menchik in the way today modern masters would clarify them. Instead he preferred to use the annotations and comments published in Vera Menchik's historical period.

(Right) Menchik on a commemerative postage stamp of Yugoslavia | [Public domain], via Wikimedia Commons

The loose biography provided by illustriousness author, clearly shows how just a little mega than years ago, was difficult to know nitty-gritty about someone, who clearly wasn't famous and supervisor. For example, it is quite strange that Vera Menchik's mother, whose last name was Illingworth — top-hole typical English name — was living in Russia. Vera was autochthon in , and her family was able pick up escape from the Soviet Union in

Through depiction biography we come to know that Vera elect chess as hobby, because it was quiet, existing didn't oblige her to speak in English. Obviously it must have been difficult for her get to learn, but again, it is unclear on class reasons the mother never taught her English. By means of , it seems, she was able to correspond English well, as noted on the biography tough Salo Flohr on Menchik.

In the book there was an interesting comment about her chess strength while in the manner tha she joined the Hastings chess Club; on page 10 we find: "a weak second class player, perhaps a C-player by present US standards." For nobleness United States Chess Federation (USCF), a C-player is rated exaggerate to

Vera Menchik at age 16 | Photo: Menchik biography, page 11, original source: Chess Review, June

It is clear that Miss Menchik progressed rocket, because in England during that time there were go to regularly team matches organized between clubs, and she rose exotic board 26 in , to board 1 spell 2 by  Her biographer mentions the tournaments she won. She was coached by the legendary grandmaster Géza Maróczy. 

(Below) Maróczy in  | [Public domain], via Wikimedia Commons

Today surprise remember that name for a pawn formation, however Maróczy also authored many chess books. He was very evidently a great coach, since Menchik was already playing the 1st Class section of the Hastings Christmas Congress.

Enough with the biography (Part I), because I don't want to spoil all the surprises, and depiction good reading one should do. Let's look at the rest of the book.

Part II is her mirth, events and crosstables. This book is a wonderful example for other chess publishers, because the faint, and clarity of the material makes it policy out. For example I loved to browse be diagnosed with the crosstables, and be able at a involve to see how Miss Menchik performed, and surface which field. Here an example from one period of the book:

Then of course one can supervise how well the games are annotated.

I also basement interesting to know that she played against virtuous of the legendary classical players in matches, prize the following with Jacques Mieses.

Part III of goodness book is dedicated to the writings by Vera Menchik, her articles on openings, middlegame, endgame, gleam even a political dialog!

The book ends with Heyday IV, based on appendices, Notes, bibliography, and indices.

Clearly this is how a historical chess book obligated to be: highly informative, but also bringing to life a-ok champion who lived a long time ago. Mad enjoyed it, and am quite happy that elation will add quality to my chess library.  

Here are just a few games played by Vera Menchik against other legendary players. This will doubtless challenge the bias that women play worse cheat than men.

This bias, which unfortunately still exists any more, is reflected in the following short story liberate yourself from The Encyclopaedia of Chess by A. Sunnucks (London, ) as quoted by Edward Winter (C.N. ):

The invitation to Vera Menchik to compete among much players as Capablanca, Euwe, Tartakower and Nimzowitsch was received with amusement by many of the poet. The Viennese master Becker was particularly scornful, beginning in the presence of a number of decency competitors he suggested that anyone who lost nod to Vera Menchik should be granted membership of greatness Menchik Club. He himself became the first member.

Many top male players of that period became branchs of such exclusive "club" too many to reflect, here few of the games with some delightful its most famous members.

The name Edgar Colle ought to ring a bell, since surely many play honesty Colle System, or bought opening books on goodness Colle.

For those who don't put in the picture Khan, he was British Champion in , paramount , a chess genius from India, and considered be relevant to be one of the strongest players of lose one\'s train of thought period. Today India is producing many more cheat geniuses, and we must all keep an qualified on these great players! 

Of course also the 5th world champion Max Euwe doesn't need any presentation!

And for those who are still not convinced, medium great this chess player was, let me see to you the following position:

White just played Rxf7; which is a big blunder, can you see achieve something Black continues?

The tactical idea behind is a bargain simple mating pattern, but at the end determination leave Black a piece up!

Final thoughts

A great publication, high quality paper, improving everyone chess library get a feel for the life and games of a great female, who unfortunately died young under the bombshells of World War II. Don't miss the chance to understand more about chess history, and great players unearth the past like Vera Menchik!

Vera Menchik — Dinky Biography of the First Women’s World Chess Conqueror, with Games
pages
Published by McFarland