Inside Chess
One of my favourite players in history was Harry Nelson Pillsbury (1872-1906) born in Massachusetts in 1872. What a short but colourful life he led. Please do look him up if you can. A late bloomer to chess, allegedly learning only at the age of 16, he was an unbelievable blindfold chess player, and at Hanover in 1902, he took on 21 opponents blindfolded, winning three, drawing 11 and losing seven.
He shocked the world in 1895 by winning the first ever Hastings Chess tournament in England, coming ahead of legends such as Lasker, Tarrasch, Chigorin, Steinitz and more. He was only 22 when he did this. He had an incredible memory and a liking for cigars, which he smoked from a young age. Pillsbury sometimes lived in poverty because chess was his only income. He actually has some chess opening variations named after him. The world will never see the likes of him again. Sadly, he died of syphilis in Philadelphia at the age of 33, but he should not be remembered for this – but for his dashing, attacking play at the board. He played to win and he was imaginative, creative and determined. I find today that there are so few real characters in chess, and one has to go way back in time to enjoy the really interesting stories from the chessboard. Here’s to you, Harry.
This month’s problem sees the Black king very exposed, but at least the rook is protecting it on the g-file. That aside, it is White to play and win – checkmate in three moves. Can you solve it?
Write to me with your answer, Carl S. Portman MBE (Chess Correspondent), C/O Inside Time ‘CHESS’, Botley Mills, Botley, Southampton SO30 2GB. Also, please include your name, prison number, your prison address, and the month of the puzzle you are entering. The first correct answer drawn wins a back issue of ‘Chess Magazine’ donated by the Chess & Bridge shop, London.
The answer to April’s puzzle was 1.Ng6+ hxg6 2.Qh3+ Bh6 3.Qh6#
The winner will be announced next month.
March’s winner was David from HMP Grendon.
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