I've been wondering about that mysterious Isle of Lewis "rook" ever since I first saw a picture of it a few years ago. Was it one of the originally pieces found (or faked) back in the 19th century?
I loved that game by Will Burt, though I disagree with your analysis of it. After 19. ... Nxg2 20. Kh1! I don't think Black has anything better than 20. ... Nxe1 21. Bxf8. Will's move of 19. ... f3 was much more tricky.
It's difficult concentrating on your own game when this sort of thing is going on next to you. In my game (I was playing two boards lower than Will due to his massive grade increase from 160 to 189) my opponent sacrificed a pawn for a bit of pressure and it took me sixty moves to grind out the win.
Thought I implied that Will's 19...f3 was the way to play OTB.
It was him spotting the tricky 22....Bg4 that decided it for him.
Sounds like Will rejected Nxg2 cos of Kh1,
I hit the discovered checks 'checker' (the parenial weakness in a
discovered check). Kh1 I thought just keeled over.
I never really look at other boards in a league game unless I'm
at a decision stage. (take the perpetual or play for the win).
For three years I played Bd.2 next to Keith on Bd.1
He could only see my game and put together an amazing run of
wins. 11 out of 11 one season always playing for a win because
it always looked as I was always lost.
(I usually was but managed to snatch more than my fair share of wins).
Originally posted by greenpawn34 What is the time control of your league?
All the moves in 90 minutes. A bit too fast for me nowadays, especially against younger players, but it's better than the old days with the horrible adjournments. Before I had a car it would sometimes take me two hours to get to a poxy village hall twenty miles away for an adjournment. The game would take less than an hour to finish off and then it would be another two hours to get home, arriving five minutes too late for last orders. Give me quick time controls any day.
Edinburgh has different time controls for different clubs depending
on when their venue closes but all have a quick play finish.
I was dragged out to a an away club in the old days of adjournments
once to play a mate in one move. True.
They abolished adjournments with the rise in computer strength.
So I'm glad for this reason these things got better.
99% of my play is OTB swindles and traps. Adjournments meant
players would hit move 36, I'd still be my traditional piece down.
they would take it home and analyse it to death.
Originally posted by Fat Lady I've been wondering about that mysterious Isle of Lewis "rook" ever since I first saw a picture of it a few years ago. Was it one of the originally pieces found (or faked) back in the 19th century?
I loved that game by Will Burt, though I disagree with your analysis of it. After 19. ... Nxg2 20. Kh1! I don't think Black has anything better than 20. ... N ...[text shortened]... t sacrificed a pawn for a bit of pressure and it took me sixty moves to grind out the win.
The explanation given for the new rooks in the sets I've seen is that the new rooks give the set a more traditional look. Also in these sets the warders are often reduced in size and used as pawns.
I know, but the last time I looked in the museum shop they had the
warders as Rooks. This is a recent attempt to con the public.
I can get them under the trades description act but I've become
bored with the whole thing now. Also it might cost some poor
lad who makes these things his job. I'm not up for that.
I see the myth is also printed there. I like this bit.
"He sold them to a local collector who realized they were chessmen."
They were never chessmen they have been turned into chessmen,
Isle of Lewis pieces - not Chessmen - Proof
20 Oct '09 23:47
Back to Top