My friend Francisco Anchondo sent me a story from one of his recent chess adventures in Mexico. The story is fantastic and the game is even better. Enjoy!
From Francisco:
On my way to Ensenada at 2:30 AM my vehicle was having some electrical problems. l waited at 7/11 /Pemex service station right before the Rosarito Caseta (Toll gate.) l took a siesta till 5:15 AM awoke to see 2 mexicans engaged in a chess game. I saw one who was clearly better than the other and he was just cannon fodder. I checked it out while an electrician checked my van. He came back stated my pedal stop switch was out along with several fuses and gave me a decent estimate of 350 to400 pesos( $23.40 / $30 US) compared to $60 US just for a diagnostic. l saw the winner boast as to how he could whoop up on everyone seated at the small cafe inside 7/11 for 200 pesos a game. Jose Manuel Ruelas Alvarez boasted no one wants to lose their hard earned pesos.
“Ja ! Ja! Ja!,” I interrupted.
“Ok l stated look let’s do this for 300 pesos since l am bound to lose”, I said.
“Ok ! On one condition l play white Jose stated.”
1. e4 e5, 2.Nf3 Nc6,3. Bc4 Nf6, 4. d3 Bc5, 5. O+O, d6 6. Bg5 h6, 7.Bh4 g5, 8.Bg3 pondered my next move. I played 8….h5?! Jose couldn’t resist. He snapped it off and hollered now l got some $ to take my girl to the movies. What you gonna do Americano? 9.Nxg5 h4!, 10. Nxf7 hxg3,11. NxQd8 Jose jeered, talked trash, and said, “If l lose this game l will buy y’all 5 rounds of Tecate.”
I said, “does that include me?”
“Yeah, yeah. Just resign and get over it.”
11…..Bg4, 12.Qe1 Nd4!, 13. c3?? Nf3+!,14.gxf3 Bxf3, Jose looked and looked to no avail. At that moment the mechanic walked in and said 350 pesos Senor. Your van is ready. I looked at Jose, pay the man and my coffee.
As l left with my coffee l could hear everyone laugh and cheer that Jose the swindler had been manhandled by an unknown and everyone was happy and saying thanks. Jose did not look to happy since everyone cheered,” beers are on Jose tonight. Ha! Ha! Ha! ”
Francisco Anchondo is a regular chess teacher at Torres Chess and Music Academy Camps. He will be joining Susan Polgar and Chris Torres for the 2014 Fremont Summer Chess Camp at Mission San Jose Elementary School. Don’t miss out on the best summer camp in Norcal, sign your child up today.
Fantastic game and fantastic story!
I saw Francisco at the Reno tournament this weekend, and he told me to look his name up on your blog. I found this story, and I assume that is what he wanted me to see. He is right to be proud of this game.
Could I ask you a favor? Francisco reminded me about a game we played last year. He said it was the first time he had ever lost as Black in the King’s Gambit. Unfortunately I have lost the notebook where I kept all my games from about 2010 to 2013. I would be grateful if he could send me a copy of the game score. I don’t know his e-mail address, otherwise I would ask him myself. Could you pass this message on to him?
You have my permission to give him my e-mail address. Alternatively, he could send me the score in a comment on my blog, which he knows about (www.danamackenzie.com/blog).
Thanks!
I will let Francisco know of your inquiry when I see him tomorrow. Thanks for stopping by my blog