CHESS THREE years after he retired from competitive chess, Garry Kasparov returned to the board to play exhibition games in the Czech Republic.
Kasparov won all 26 games in the simul at a Bohemian castle and later had a harder time winning a 54-move exhibition game against a 2260-rated player, Martin Vaculik.
The former champion, who turns 45 on April 13, left tournament play in 2005 to launch a political career that has registered few successes.
A poll conducted last year by the respected Public Opinion Foundation found that 69 percent of Russians were unlikely to vote for him for Russian president in the future. Only 10 percent said they could see themselves voting for him.
But even if he becomes the Russian version of Dennis Kucinich, Kasparov has a strong following among chessplayers.
His book on the first two Kasparov-Karpov world championship matches is due out in June, and sure to be a best seller. His fans agree with his publicists’ claim that he is “the greatest player in history.”
However, few of Kasparov’s former rivals would agree.
After Vishy Anand of India became world champion last fall, he was asked to name the greatest of his predecessors. “Morphy, Capablanca, Tal, Fischer,” he replied. “No. 5? I don’t know, possibly Alekhine.”
BRIDGE THE human body is a wondrous thing: You can pat it on the back and its head will swell. Not everyone is blessed with the ability to accept a compliment gracefully.
When I watched today’s deal at the club, South was Rose, our member whose consideration for partners and opponents alike is admirable. At four spades, Rose ruffed the first club and was no doubt tempted to play for overtricks by taking dummy’s king of trumps, returning to the queen of hearts, and leading the ace and jack of trumps.
But Rose saw a risk in that line of play: Instead, she took the ace of trumps, crashing the king, and led the jack. East won and led another club, but Rose ruffed, drew trumps and ran the hearts. East won the last two tricks with the A-Q of diamonds, but Rose made her contract.
“Very well played,” said East.
I know Souths who would have replied with false modesty (“I was lucky.”) or with true ego (“Naturally.”) or by trivializing their opponent’s compliment (“It wasn’t that hard.”) But Rose responded with simple grace:
“I’m happy to have found that good play. Thank you.”
South would go down if she took the king of trumps, returned a heart to the queen and led the A-J of trumps. East could win and return a heart, killing dummy. South could pitch one diamond on the hearts, but East would ruff the fourth heart with his last low trump. South could overruff and start the diamonds but would be forced out of trump control before they were established.
