SIMPSON'S
1N-THE-STRAND
SIMPSON'S
1N•THE•STRAND
CHESS
Chairman of the board
Raymond Keene
AS YOU enter Simpson's-in-the-Strand, which used to be the mecca of 19th-century chess, there is a chessboard of antique mien encased in glass on the right-hand side of the vestibule. On this board games were played by many of the greats of chess history. Earlier I promised an occasional series, giving thumbnail sketches of those grandmasters who appear in this hallowed pantheon, and their best games.
The outstanding British player whose name appears amongst this select group is Howard Staunton (1810-1874), frequent denizen of Simpson's, Shakespearean scholar, historian of the British educational system and the world's top player for eight years from 1843, when he defeated the leading Frenchman St Amant in a match in Paris. Of course, the Staunton chess pieces, used as standard in all competitions, are also named after him.
Staunton was not just a superb player but also a prolific author and theoretician, who introduced the strategy of developing bish- ops in fianchetto on the flank. He was an indefatigable columnist for the Illustrated London News, as well as being an instigator and organiser of chess events. The first ever international tournament, held in London in 1851, was entirely his brainchild. Here is a sample of Staunton's play at its resilient best.
St Amant–Staunton: Paris, 1st Match Game, 1843; Sicilian Defence.
1 e4 c5 2 f4 e6 3 NO Nc6 4 c3 White prepares to transpose into a variation of the French Defence, but the early move f4 does not fit well into this structure. 4 ... d5 5 e5 Nh6 6 Na3 Be7 7 Net f5 8 d4 This leaves White with a rigid posi- tion. He would have more chances after 8 exf6 in order to prise open the 'e' file and undermine Black's kingside. 8 ...0-0 9 Bet Bd7 10 0.0 Re8 11 Khl cxd4 12 cxd4 Nf7 13 Rgl Starting a faulty plan. Believing the centre to be quiet, White Imagines that he can blast down the 'g' file in safety. Unfortunately for him, Black's defensive resource turn out to be more than adequate to meet this. 13 ...Kb8 14 g4 (Diagram) A tremen- dous mistake. If White wanted to play g4 he should, at least, have prepared it with h3, in order to recapture on g4 with a pawn. 14 ... fxg4 15 Rxg4 Nh6 16 Rg3 Bell Now White's kingside is full of holes, and a particular consequence of White's strategic blunder on move 14 is that Black's queen's bishop can take over complete control of the complex of light squares on the king's flank. 17 Bd3 Bh5 18 Qgl Bh4 19 Nxh4 Qxh4 20 Nel 20 Rxg7? would be instantly refut- ed by 20 ...Bf3+. 20 ...Nb4 21 Bd2 White's position has become desperate. If he tries to pre- serve his king's bishop, the principal guardian of his light squares, with 21 Bfl Black wins with 21 ...Rxcl 22 Rxcl Qxf4 23 Nd3 Nxd3 24 Bxd3 Bf3+ 25 Rg2 Bxg2+ 26 Qxg2 Qxcl+. 21 ... Nxd3 22 Rxd3 Bg6 23 Qg3 Qh5 24 Rb3 Qe2 25 Qe3 Qfl+ 26 Qgl Be4+ (Diagram) The revenge of the light squares. Black's criss-cross attack
Position after 26 . . . Be4+ emanating from his queen and bishop now forces a massive gain of material. 27 Rf3 Bxf3+ 28 Nxf3 Qxf3+ 29 Qg2 Qxg2+ 30 Kxg2 Rc2 31 Rd1 Rxf4 32 Kg3 Rxd4 33 Bxh6 Rxd1 White resigns.
One of the tragedies of chess history is that Staunton, our greatest master and the only British player who might be consid- ered to have been world champion, lies in an unmarked grave in Kensal Green ceme- tery, north London.
In order to rectify this injustice I have joined with Nigel Short, Barry Martin, the chess-playing artist, and Brian Clivaz, the manager of Simpson's, to found the Staunton Society. The object of this society is to raise sufficient funds to erect a suit- able memorial to Staunton in Kensal Green. Membership costs £25 per year, and those wishing to join should send their sub- scriptions to the Staunton Society, eft' Brian Clivaz, Simpson's-in-the-Strand, 100 Strand, London WC2. Benefits to members include distribution of books and articles on Staunton as well as regular dinners and lectures about the man himself and the 19th-century chess environment. Our goal is to have a memorial in place by next year.
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