134. - A chess game miraculous .- known issue, Mr. Victor Barthe, has two twin problems embedded in a medieval tale that is this:
Paolo Boi, the largest player in the sixteenth century , poet, soldier and sailor, the most curious personality and engaging, a turbulent life, is characterized by the Bourdonnais as "a complete existences belonging to the happy and powerful organizations." Single with impeccable manners, dressed elegantly, as a young man with a beautiful face with hair all white, a tall, well made and well proportioned, capricious, whimsical, wonderful, liberal, eloquent and affable man by his gentleness and his enigmatic character, endowed with different capacities, we recall his greatest compatriot and near contemporary, Leonardo da Vinci. Legend has it that in his wandering life, he once played chess with the devil.
A Problem V. BARTHE
 |
| White plays and mates in 2 moves. |
front door of the church of Santa Maria C. .., the small town of C. .., Calabria, a beautiful morning in the year 1570, Paolo Boi was observed all religious rites , met once a girl of dazzling beauty, very dark and strong. His eyes shone with penetrating and enigmatic flame feverish. The conversation that immediately tied them will soon turn into friendship and Paolo Boi, to his astonishment, learned that the girl was playing chess. His astonishment was even greater when one party involved in, he saw that his partner was a bit mundane power, making moves extraordinary. The struggle became increasingly fierce, and after some time, the Syracusan, thinking already winner would declare mate in two moves to his opponent (see diag. A).
But at this moment, to his amazement, he saw the white lady of the party turned into a black lady and the brunette said with a laugh
- No, Paolo, you will not win, because now I have a lady, and thou hast none.
- O Santa Maria! Paolo whispered scared.
And with these words, he noticed that despite this transformation, he could still win Part two moves (see diag. B).
The girl understood, knit his brows, left the room without saying a word and disappeared. Paolo Boi saw that he had played with the devil ...
B
Problem V. BARTHE
 |
| White plays and mates in 2 moves. |
Problem solving twins!
A - 1.Cxe6. Four variants.
B - 1.Cb5. Five variants.
Diagrams via Apronus.com
Reprinted from endearing Breviary of Chess - Editions Stock, Paris, 1937. (book tone so special, remains in print, with whom I ' I learned to play, like many others) of Xavier Tartakower , 1887 - Rostov-on-Don, Russia, 1956 - Paris
"Do not play chess so as to distract you c 'is the most beautiful game, but it is a game Its laurels are misleading, his ambition is unhealthy. XT "
[Also casino player, Xavier Tartakower , humor but irascible, died alone in the flat broke]
