Re: The Match That Wasn't

On May 2, 9:36 am, The Historian <neil.thehistor...@[EMAIL PROTECTED]
> wrote:

> > >. Alas, his selfmate returned the title to the Soviets without a
fight.

> > That is not a selfmate, it is a helpmate. Doesn't Evans at least know
> > how to use chess language properly?

> I believe Evans is using "selfmate" as a word-play on "suicide", the
> old name for such problems. He means Fischer killed himself as
> Champion through his actions. I think it's hair-splitting to argue
> over the subtleties of the term as used here. But you appear to be
> correct. Technically a self-mate requires White to force Black to mate
> him against Black's will - the moves are forced.  I don't think the
> Soviets were unwilling to take the Champion****p title.


  Can you explain the part about "against his will"?
What sort of opponent in chess would have the will
to not win?  In a chess problem, how is there any
"will" involved whatever?


  One other term which springs to mind is a "duck";
this term may be even older than "suicide", and it
certainly applies in many cases with regard to the
world chess champion****p.  Just look, for instance,
at the real reason BF never wrote any more chess
books: *fear* of getting caught in an analytical error.
This kind of irrationality and exaggerated fear may
have been the true culprit; the silly demands and
antics merely the visible signs.


  -- help bot