Chess Behind Bars
Posted: Wed Aug 30, 2017 4:02 pm
“Chess Behind Bars” by Carl Portman, Quality Chess, 2017
I must start with a disclaimer. The author has been a friend of mine for many years and we are currently locked at 6-6 in a 75-frame snooker match. Those who know me will know that I will still give an honest review.
The title refers to the author’s activities as “Manager of Chess in Prisons”. He starts with some disturbing autobiographical information about his childhood (about which I knew nothing), and one senses that although he kept to the straight and narrow, he could understand those who did not. He says that chess is good for taking your mind off prison, and clearly this means prison both actual and metaphorical. The book carries an interview with John Healy, who wrote an interesting book called “The Grass Arena”. The interview contains some contentious and revealing information.
Carl quotes some claims about the benefits of chess, e.g. that it can help in the fight with Alzheimer’s Disease or, perhaps even more controversially, that chess improves speech and coordination. One of the factors affecting chess in prison is of course funding, a familiar gripe in the public sector. Public opinion tends to be that murderers and bank robbers are in prison for a reason and why should anyone care about them. One can understand this of course, but some basic humanity is desirable. Self-esteem may improve prisoners. Apparently, when Chris Grayling was “Secretary of State for Justice” and in charge of prisons, he banned books, hobbies and gifts of clothing from families. Michael Gove took over and reversed this decision. The author has succeeded in making me approve of Michael Gove, well, once anyway.
The author visited various prisons and encouraged the prisoners to play chess, encountering a wide variety of characters as he did so. He reports on this and suggests means of encouraging chess in prisons, which he hopes will help their mental wellbeing in prison and improve their chances of getting on in the outside world when released. The book is not just about chess, it is partly life, the universe and everything.
There are a large number of instructive exercises in increasing difficulty, in three batches of 64 (of course!) with explanation of the solutions. The later exercises are not so easy. These are followed by thirteen annotated games, some very familiar, some unknown, which will help developing players. The actual chess in the book is aimed at improving players, for example some of the people he encountered. The analysis is clearly set out and the illustrative games are accompanied by biographical information on the players.
The author has an entertaining and enthusiastic style and readers may well find themselves viewing prisoners in a more sympathetic light. Even if this is not the case, at least perhaps we can reflect that chess might just be useful for improving lives.
I must start with a disclaimer. The author has been a friend of mine for many years and we are currently locked at 6-6 in a 75-frame snooker match. Those who know me will know that I will still give an honest review.
The title refers to the author’s activities as “Manager of Chess in Prisons”. He starts with some disturbing autobiographical information about his childhood (about which I knew nothing), and one senses that although he kept to the straight and narrow, he could understand those who did not. He says that chess is good for taking your mind off prison, and clearly this means prison both actual and metaphorical. The book carries an interview with John Healy, who wrote an interesting book called “The Grass Arena”. The interview contains some contentious and revealing information.
Carl quotes some claims about the benefits of chess, e.g. that it can help in the fight with Alzheimer’s Disease or, perhaps even more controversially, that chess improves speech and coordination. One of the factors affecting chess in prison is of course funding, a familiar gripe in the public sector. Public opinion tends to be that murderers and bank robbers are in prison for a reason and why should anyone care about them. One can understand this of course, but some basic humanity is desirable. Self-esteem may improve prisoners. Apparently, when Chris Grayling was “Secretary of State for Justice” and in charge of prisons, he banned books, hobbies and gifts of clothing from families. Michael Gove took over and reversed this decision. The author has succeeded in making me approve of Michael Gove, well, once anyway.
The author visited various prisons and encouraged the prisoners to play chess, encountering a wide variety of characters as he did so. He reports on this and suggests means of encouraging chess in prisons, which he hopes will help their mental wellbeing in prison and improve their chances of getting on in the outside world when released. The book is not just about chess, it is partly life, the universe and everything.
There are a large number of instructive exercises in increasing difficulty, in three batches of 64 (of course!) with explanation of the solutions. The later exercises are not so easy. These are followed by thirteen annotated games, some very familiar, some unknown, which will help developing players. The actual chess in the book is aimed at improving players, for example some of the people he encountered. The analysis is clearly set out and the illustrative games are accompanied by biographical information on the players.
The author has an entertaining and enthusiastic style and readers may well find themselves viewing prisoners in a more sympathetic light. Even if this is not the case, at least perhaps we can reflect that chess might just be useful for improving lives.