Britbase Updates

Gerard Killoran · Post by **Gerard Killoran** » Tue Jan 03, 2023 9:28 pm

IM Jack Rudd wrote: ↑
Tue Jan 03, 2023 9:25 pm
I would probably play 11...Nc6; don't know if it's best.

Too sensible.

John Saunders · Post by **John Saunders** » Wed Jan 04, 2023 9:26 am

Many thanks for the two 1925 BCF Congress games, Gerard. Added to the collection...

1925 British Championship

John Saunders · Post by **John Saunders** » Wed Jan 04, 2023 9:58 am

Looking again at the W.Watts-F.Short game, I happened to look this line up in an old book (Alekhine's Defence by RG Eales & AH Williams, Batsford 1973, page 118)...

However, Stockfish 15 has other ideas. It decides the loose knight on b4 is edible...

The silicon monster has seen that White will win at least a piece while Black is engaged on the time-consuming task of extracting the queen from the corner. Stockfish 15 gives 8 Qe2 as the best move for White, offering a pawn for a lead in development and reaching approximate equality.

As for the question posed by Gerard above, the engine solution (which I won't reveal) did occur to me though I confess I didn't see all the ramifications which follow.

John Saunders · Post by **John Saunders** » Fri Jan 13, 2023 6:34 pm

John Saunders wrote: ↑
Mon Sep 05, 2022 6:14 pm

I think Francis George Butcher (1874-1961) was the father of twins Cecil George Butcher (1900-1990) and Alfred Joseph Butcher (1900-1982). Some of the usual genealogical jigsaw pieces are missing (birth records, 1901 census for the two boys, etc) but I found FG domiciled with CG and AJ in Sparkbrook, Birmingham, in 1924 which strongly suggests he was their father. He was apparently born in the USA and a widower by 1911, which might explain why they are not together at an earlier date (children farmed out to relatives to be brought up). CG and AJ were regular congress competitors either side of the war while FG had chess problems published in regional newspapers.

I have since received a message from a great-grandson of Francis George Butcher who confirms that FG was the father of CG and AJ. He tells me that FG was born in Albany, NY, and enjoyed painting. His wife had died in childbirth in 1905. He (the great-grandson) remembers seeing one of his great-grandfather's paintings when visiting his grandparents in Birmingham. He met both his great-uncles CG and AJ Butcher in the 1970s though he was unaware at the time that they were competition chess players, though he recalls AJ playing his sister and letting her win.

Gerard Killoran · Post by **Gerard Killoran** » Fri Jan 13, 2023 10:32 pm

From

http://microscopist.net/Photos_of_Microscopists.html

Oil painting of Francis George Butcher (1874-1961), seated before a microscope. Dated 1910. By John Charles Allcot (1888-1973).

Photo_Painting_Butcher_FrancisGeorge.jpg

Christopher Kreuzer · Post by **Christopher Kreuzer** » Fri Jan 13, 2023 11:04 pm

John Saunders wrote: ↑
Wed Jan 04, 2023 9:58 am
As for the question posed by Gerard above, the engine solution (which I won't reveal) did occur to me though I confess I didn't see all the ramifications which follow.

This refers to this game:

With the position after 11.Kd1 being:

Gerard's question was: "What does the computer suggest for Black on move 11 rather than allowing mate in one?"

I haven't manged to find this yet...

Gerard Killoran · Post by **Gerard Killoran** » Thu Feb 09, 2023 7:38 pm

Some Hastings additions.

Confirmation of first 12 moves in this game:

Birmingham Daily Post - Monday 02 January 1933 p.3.png

John Saunders · Post by **John Saunders** » Fri Feb 10, 2023 9:06 am

Many thanks, Gerard. I've added these to BritBase. Please note that I have amended the opening moves of Koltanowski-Price to conform to the Birmingham Daily Post score; they had previously been deduced from the part-game (starting on move 12) given in BCM.

Gerard Killoran · Post by **Gerard Killoran** » Tue Feb 14, 2023 1:03 am

Two Atkins draws

Kevin Thurlow · Post by **Kevin Thurlow** » Tue Feb 14, 2023 8:38 am

Frank Hollins sounds familiar - was he the score sheet printer?

John Saunders · Post by **John Saunders** » Tue Feb 14, 2023 10:41 am

Many thanks, Gerard. I've added these to the H.E.Atkins file at BritBase.info which now has 365 game entries.

John Saunders · Post by **John Saunders** » Tue Feb 14, 2023 10:58 am

Kevin Thurlow wrote: ↑
Tue Feb 14, 2023 8:38 am
Frank Hollins sounds familiar - was he the score sheet printer?

There is a biography of Frank Hollins at Steve Mann's Yorkshire Chess History website.

The name you remember from scoresheets was Frank Hollings. It was a made-up name. Edward Winter has written about it.

Kevin Thurlow · Post by **Kevin Thurlow** » Tue Feb 14, 2023 12:25 pm

Ah, thanks for that.

I had spotted a Frank Hollins in New Zealand (thanks to Google), and wondered if it were the same one. I note Hollings under the name Shepherd had a business partner called "Cornelius Desormeaux Saunders", which sounds very distinguished!

John Saunders · Post by **John Saunders** » Tue Feb 14, 2023 2:53 pm

By a strange (almost Plaskettian) coincidence, a few hours after the above forum exchange re Hollins/Hollings, a package arrived for me with some 2nd-hand chess books. Used as a bookmark in one them, was the following: a record of a 1926 study... on Hollings stationery. I think it dates from that time as the book was the 1927 BCM bound volume (previous owner Bob Wade).

1926-ee-zepler-0001.jpg

Gerard Killoran · Post by **Gerard Killoran** » Tue Feb 21, 2023 12:41 am

Richmond 1912

English Chess Forum

Britbase Updates

Re: Britbase Updates

Re: Britbase Updates

Re: Britbase Updates

Re: Britbase Updates

Re: Britbase Updates

Re: Britbase Updates

Re: Britbase Updates

Re: Britbase Updates

Re: Britbase Updates

Re: Britbase Updates

Re: Britbase Updates

Re: Britbase Updates

Re: Britbase Updates

Re: Britbase Updates

Re: Britbase Updates