The Los Angeles Times Los Angeles, California Thursday, July 20, 1972 - Page 187
Fischer-Spassky Moves: Valley Chess Club to Replay Icelandic Games for Analysis by Pat Bryant
SUN VALLEY—Russian chess champion Boris Spassky's games with American Bobby Fischer will be replayed with magnetic pieces on a four-foot-metal board—and then analyzed—on Mondays, Thursdays and Fridays at 8 p.m. at the Valley Chess Club.
The Iceland world championship matches will last a maximum of 24 games.
That's hardly an evening's work for the Valley group. It plays up to 60 games three nights a week, starting at 7 p.m. and lasting beyond midnight at the club headquarters, 10919 Saticoy St.
The club, with 250 members between the ages of 5 and 95, originally met for its game sessions at a city park which was an unsatisfactory arrangement because the park lights went off at 10 p.m.
Now the club meets in an old warehouse donated by one of the members, and the $12 annual dues pay for utilities and the purchase of chess pieces, chairs and books on chess strategy.
The members made their own tables and boards. Sigmund Goldstein, club spokesman, said that the historical significance of the Iceland games will be explained as the large chess pieces are moved across the board. Valley players, who Goldstein described as a heterogeneous group of students, lawyers, carpenters, salesmen and musicians, will practice their own maneuvers before and after the championship demonstrations.
Goldstein explained the growing popularity of chess because “it is a fight in which no one is hit. You get rid of your aggressions by checkmating.
“The skill of the game is to force your opponent to play according to your plans which you plotted before the game began. The game is all over when your opponent starts making his own decisions.”
He said beginners tend to play chess by moving their pawns like checker pieces instead of plotting long-range strategy.
“You move the pawns just to get the bishops out,” he said.
Premature Attack
“Beginners also make the mistake of attacking too soon, using only the queen for power while most of the other pieces are left in the background.”
Beginner's tournaments with free lessons are held at the club on Thursdays.
Tre Valley group is headquarters of the Southern California Chess League comprised of 109 clubs with more than 6,000 members.
Following Through 20 Jul 1972, Thu The Los Angeles Times (Los Angeles, California) Newspapers.com
Valley Chess Club to Replay Icelandic Games for Analysis 20 Jul 1972, Thu The Los Angeles Times (Los Angeles, California) Newspapers.com
Icelandic Games 20 Jul 1972, Thu The Los Angeles Times (Los Angeles, California) Newspapers.com
