GM George Koltanowski, simply known as Kolty to his many friends, was the most passionate chess player I have ever met. He was always sharing his love for chess through his daily San Francisco chess column that ran for over five decades straight. His blindfold simultaneous exhibitions set world records and many new chess fans were created every time Kolty performed his famous blindfold knight’s tour while reciting the audiences’ addresses/phone numbers instead of square names. Koltanowski breathed life into California chess and we are still thriving because of it.
In the position below, Koltanowski uses a pretty move to conclude his game winning combination over Erling Tholfsen from round 9 of the 1928 Chess Olympiad. Can you white’s winning move?
What to move and mate in 4 (Georges Koltanowski vs Erling Tholfsen, R9 of the 1928 Chess Olympiad, The Hague).
Chris Torres is a nationally renowned scholastic chess coach working in the San Francisco Bay Area. His classes have attracted players of strengths ranging from rank beginners to world champions. A chess professional since 1998, Chris is widely recognized as one of the main driving forces behind the explosion in popularity and sudden rise in quality of scholastic chess in California. Chris Torres served as the President of the Torres Chess and Music Academy from 2005-2020 and currently is recognized as a correspondence chess master with the United States Chess Federation. Since 1998 Chris Torres has taught 6 individual national champions as well as led multiple school teams to win national championship titles. In addition, Chris Torres has directed and taught at 10 different schools which have been California State Champions at chess. In 2011 and 2012, several former and current students of Chris Torres have been selected to represent the United States at the World Youth Chess Championships. Mr. Torres’ hobbies include playing classical guitar and getting his students to appear on the national top 100 chess rating lists.
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