Cordingley front cover

Thanks to Edward Winter, whose chess notes website is pre-eminent for chess history, I've learnt that the position on the front cover of Cordingley's book is from a game played in 1936.

In an earlier Chess Notes, Edward asks his readers if anyone has the full game score, because the position does have some feel of being composed. No-one answered his query; when I looked in Megabase, there is no such game in it, but maybe someone one day will find the moves, and be able to confirm it was an actual game played.

When I first saw the authenticity being questioned, it centred on all the pieces being in perfect positions for a study like position, including in particular the B on g2, which prevents Rg2+ after Kg5: but seeing the above page, there is logic in moving the attacked B from h3, to g2, where it attacks the e4, and the finish, with the deflecting sacrifice Be8+! would have been hard for black to foresee.

Posted with Blogsy