February 02 1960
The Eugene Guard, Eugene, Oregon, Tuesday, February 02, 1960
U.S. Could Beat Soviet--At Chess-Says Expert
By Dan Wyant of the Register-Guard
Samuel Reshevsky, an international grand master of chess, said in Eugene Monday there's no reason why the United States can't beat Russia at its favorite game—chess.
“It's true they've beaten us every time we've played at tournaments,” said the small, intense chess expert, “but there's a good reason why. Chess players are supported by the government in Russia … they have the time for training and practice that is just not available to players in America.”
Reshevsky's solution: Let the government provide financial backing to a chess team here as it has financed other cultural endeavors in the cold war.
GOOD PLAYER HERE
“We have just as good players in this country as in Russia,” Reshevsky declared. “Lots of good players.” Five times the U.S. chess champion, Reshevsky has often been mentioned as the one American player capable of beating the present world champion, Michael Botvinnik, of the U.S.S.R., Reshevsky played Botwinnik to draw three times and beat him once in tournament play four years ago, he recalled. But he has never played him for the world championship.
To play in the qualifying tournaments requires several months time abroad, he said, and that is more than can spare from his insurance business.
Reshevsky said costs of backing a U.S.-sponsored chess team would be small compared to many of the country's expenditures in cultural endeavors.
COST WAS $10,000
The team on which he played when he met Botwinnik four years ago was privately sponsored, he said, at a cost of about $10,000.
Reshevsky is in Eugene for two days of lectures and chess demonstrations. Tuesday night he will meet some 40 Eugene chess devotees in simultaneous play, at 6:30 p.m. in ballroom of Erb Memorial Union. The public is welcome to watch.
Reshevsky has been making annual appearances in Eugene in recent years. He said Monday he spends about a month each year on tour.
NO BOARD AVAILABLE
An attempt by Register-Guard photographer Phil Wolcott to take a photo of Reshevsky at a chess board in his hotel room posed a minor problem.
Reshevsky doesn't carry a chessboard with him.
“Mine's right here,” he indicated, pointing to his head.
Wolcott borrowed a chessboard while Reshevsky discussed his ability to conduct a whole chess while blindfolded.
“It's an aptitude you must be born with,” he decided. “I don't think you can develop it. . . it's a form of photographic memory.”
INTELLECT FOR CHESS
Reshevsky demonstrated such ability early in life, combined with a fantastic intellect for chess. He started playing chess the age of four. When nine, he took on 21 West Point generals in a simultaneous match.
Reshevsky said there have been no real changes of style in all the years he has been playing.
“There are only two styles,” he declared, “a game of attack or a positional type of game.”
In the latter style, a chess player avoids sacrifices, builds up his position piece by piece, solidly and substantially to exert pressure on his opponents' pieces.
Reshevsky favors the positional type of play.
