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The Kennedy Kids: Mary Elizabeth, Jon & Matt by Jon, as retold by Rick Kennedy Along with an excerpt from the Prologue of Introduction to Chess Openings by B. Vainshtein, Translated by Dr. K.P. Neat, published in England in 1977 by The Chess Player, Ltd. Mzunga 1.e4 e5 2.Nf3 Nc6 3.Bc4 Bc5
“Mzunga! I did not know that you knew how to play the piano!” My opponent’s laughter exploded out of the room and echoed down the halls. He was intent on enjoying our off-hand game – and so was I. It had been
quite a summer. I was spending it in Uganda, working with a small
social service agency in Jinja. At the moment, I was in Kampala, to
meet up with a few friends to see a Wyclef Jean concert. Mzunga, by Kivuthi Mbuno
Introduction to Chess Openings In a shady town park above the Volga stand some tables, and on the tables there are chess boards. All day and all evening the clatter of pieces and the cheerful conversation between opponents can be heard. The play is such that on losing two games you give up your place to someone else. The players taunt each other, but don't take any offence. On the day
when our story begins a gingerish sharp-eyed lad in a jauntily-angled cap
was especially prominent. Not so much by his deep ideas, but rather by his
rapid play and cheerful asides, he defeated one opponent after another. With a few hours to spare before hand, of course, I had looked up the Kampala Chess Club. The members had been quite inviting. I was not in a mood for a Giuoco Piano, however, and quickly sacrificed two pieces. 4.Bxf7+ Kxf7 5.Nxe5+
- But what
would you have done if he had taken your pawn? The lad won one game and began a new one. - Didn't you
pin that knight rather early? - asked the little old man. Once again he
won, and the opponent had to give up his place. My new chessfriend touched his beard, thought for a moment, and recaptured. I pushed on. 5…Nxe5 6.Qh5+ “Do you know Kawuma?” he asked. “Moses and Stephen?” I answered. They were brothers, chess players, on Uganda’s Olympiad team, and currently living in Great Britain. “Good.” He played a move. “Here is a treat from an old countryman of their new country, known once upon a time as ‘The Black Death’.” 6…g6 7.Qxe5 d6
The young lad - he was called Sergey - began with White: 1.f4 e5 2.g3 - It was here
that i recommended taking the pawn, said the old man, and he quickly played
2...exf4 I had recaptured a piece, and now a Rook was hanging. Why not take it? 8.Qxh8 “Oh! Oh! Oh!” came the reply, along with a flying Queen. “You are a teacher? Here comes a lesson for you!” and he chuckled, threatening all kinds of danger. 8…Qh4 - Pawns capture diagonally, the lad answered jauntily, and he played 3.gxf4. There followed 3...Qh4 mate.
The lad in the cap froze for just a second, and then quickly turned the board round, taking the black pieces.
- To save time, he explained,
so as not to have to set the pieces up again. There wasn’t much to think about: I had to save my King. With his next move, though, my opponent planned to trap my Queen. 9.0-0 Nf6
What to do, what to do, what to do… I mumbled. But I was smiling, too.
- You're making that pin rather early, said the old man, and he played 6.dxe5. 10.Qd8 This move was met with a puzzled look, and then a piece banged down on h3. 10…Bh3
7.Nxe5 - There goes your queen, mister, said
the lad reproachfully, - You can't have the move back, and he
quickly took the queen with his bishop - 7...Bxd1 This uncovered an attack on my queen, but taking the rook on a8 was sure to be fatal. I shrugged my shoulders and continued, checking his king. 11.Qxc7+ Kf8 12.Qxb7 Qg4
- Did you have any forefathers then? I thought that you must be the original forefather yourself. 8...Ke7 - I'm talking about chess forefathers. 9.Nd5 mate
- Legal's mate! - announced the old man triumphantly.
The spectators stared at the board in silence. Again, this was played with the threat of checkmate, but I think we both knew how the game was going to finish. 13.Qxa8+ Kf7 14.Qb7+ Kf8 15.Qa8+
“Draw?” I offered. It was met with a pleased nod and a handshake. We had time for a couple of Niles before I had to head off
to the concert. - That turned out very nicely for you, - said the lad seriously, - Surely you didn't work it all out so quickly at the board? - There was no need. This combination has probably been known for more than two hundred years. It's called Légall's Mate, after the French player who discovered it. It's also possible in this form: 1.e4 e5 2.Nf3 d6 3.Bc4 Bg4 4.Nc3 g6 5.Nxe5 Bxd1 6.Bxf7+ and 7.Nd5 mate. - And do you
know many such traps, mister? - asked one of those waiting for his turn, a
student by the name of Nikolai. ###
Perry the PawnPusher Series Sherlock Holmes Series
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