<"Dake had already established himself as very strong, but at the time I write about, many at the Manhattan Chess Club didn't know this. One of us who did, however, approached one of the Manhattan powerhouses who was playing skittles. He was Lester Samuels, capable of beating the very top players at the club, including such well-known players as the legendary Abe Kupchik. Kupchik was an absolute standout at rapid-transit, yet I saw him finish second to Samuels in a rapids tourney, losing only to Samuels.

Someone suggested to Samuels that he take on a visiting newcomer who might give him a more interesting game than he was used to getting from his numerous inferiors. The genial Samuels looked up, but could not recognize anyone there as belonging in his league. He was introduced to Arthur Dake.

"Where are you from, Arthur?" asked Samuels.

"Portland, Oregon."

"Oregon?" echoed Samuels, and, with a half-serious blend of snobbishness and smugness, he smiled. "Oregon, eh? Oregon gets Knight odds!"

They set up the pieces—ALL the pieces. Dake insisted, modestly but firmly, that he would not accept odds.

They began to play speed chess, and guess who began to slow down. Already in the middlegame Lester Samuels proclaimed: "He's good!" To duffers like me, the position was equal, but Samuels recognized a loss coming, up and he soon resigned.

He was a highly educated young man, but he had just learned something: great players can come from anywhere.>