The Bobby
Fischer I knew and other stories is a classic. "This Damon Runyan like work will
inform future generations about such greats as Bobby Fischer as well as the New
York Chess scene during the Golden Era of the 1930s and 1940s. In the
introduction Larry Evans writes that the authors capture "some of the most
raucous and colorful figures in 20th century chess" with a
"Dickensian precision". There
are over 300 games and positions, many never before published. The games are at the end of each chapter and
have light notes and are of no instructional value.
Anyone who
loves chess and is interested in its history especially in its golden age of
the 1930s and 1940s and the quirks and mannerisms of giants like Alexander
Alehkine, Max Euwe, Isaac Kashdan, Fred Reinfeld, Reuben Fine, Samuel Reshevsky
will love this book.
As on e
reviewer put is, “Reading about life at the Manhattan Chess Club in the early
20th century can only make a reader nostalgic for a time before data bases and
the need to memorize hundreds and thousands of openings.” That’s because Denker
writes about the human side of chess: its history and colorful characters.
One thing though: the chapter on Fischer was included to justify the
title of the book and offers nothing new or illuminating. Also, I have a gut
feeling that some facts presented the way Denker remembered them may not be quite the way things actually were, but
that doesn’t really matter. He gives his
opinions about everyone he came in contact with and makes himself out to be a really
nice guy. Jeremy Silman who had contact
with the real life Denker on several occasions said, “I have to admit that this
‘Saint Denker’ version of reality is something I've missed out on.”
All in all, a great read.
I loved this book. No chess instruction, but it was a lot of fun to read.
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