Dr. Thomas Bowdler
Number of games in database: 5
Years covered: 1783 to 1788
Overall record: +2 -1 =2 (60.0%)*
   * Overall winning percentage = (wins+draws/2) / total games
      Based on games in the database; may be incomplete.

Most played openings

C37

King's Gambit Accepted (2 games)

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DR. THOMAS BOWDLER (born Jul-11-1754, died Feb-24-1825) United Kingdom [what is this?] Bowdler was born near Bath, England in 1754. He was a physician and a strong amateur chess player, but was most famous for publishing an expurgated edition of William Shakespeare's works that he considered to be more appropriate for women and children. His expurgation was the subject of criticism, and--through the eponym bowdlerize--his name is now associated with censorship of art and media. He played François André Philidor eight times (in blindfold exhibitions and/or accepting odds), finishing +2 -2 =3. His game T Bowdler vs H Conway, 1788 is considered to be the first recorded example of a double rook sacrifice. http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Thomas...

page 1 of 1; 5 games    Game   Result Moves Year Event/Locale Opening 1. T Bowdler vs Philidor ½-½ 51 1783 London blind sim B20 Sicilian 2. T Bowdler vs De Beaurevoir 0-1 14 1788 Casual C37 King's Gambit Accepted 3. T Bowdler vs H Conway 1-0 23 1788 Casual Game C23 Bishop's Opening 4. T Bowdler vs De Beaurevoir ½-½ 14 1788 London m/7 C37 King's Gambit Accepted 5. Harrowby vs T Bowdler 0-1 54 1788 London C20 King's Pawn Game

Jul-02-04    ray keene: there is scope for believing that d bowdler is actually thomas bowdler 1754-1825- a member of the royal society who was known to play chess-to be an associate of philidor -as well as being the man who bowdlerised shakespeare-as editor of the family shakespeare he wrote-those words and expressions are omitted-ie from his edited version of shakespeare-which cannot with propriety be read aloud in a family. bowdlerising has become since then synonymous with prudish expurgation or censorship. however he was evidently no mean chess player and this game is undoubtedly a forerunner in the conceptual sense of the anderrssen v kieseritsky immortal game.i mention the relationship between bowdler-philidor and the astronomer sir william herschel in this weeks issue of the spectator-sadly it is not available on line. Jul-02-04    Lawrence: Googling around one discovers that on July 11th we'll be celebrating the 250th anniversary of the birth of the good doctor. Jul-03-04    vonKrolock: <i mention the relationship between bowdler-philidor and the astronomer sir william herschel in this weeks issue of the spectator-sadly it is not available on line.> great, <ray keene>!! this paper i would never find here in Krolocksheim over the breakfast-table - and there's another interesting material for some researches... Jul-03-04    ray keene: i can ask my typesetter to post it here Jul-03-04    vonKrolock: oh, it will be very nice - even if i was just trying somewhat awkwardly to express my gratitude for you letting me know of still another interesting off-line topic... ps: i saw en passant in a gas-station in Cândido Hartmann street your coleague GM J. Sunyé, now he knows that you and L. Day abrilhantam this site :-) Jan-20-06    morphyvsfischer: His bowdlerized Shakespear works suck. Get the authentic kind. Mar-12-08    offramp: <morphyvsfischer: His bowdlerized Shakespear works suck. Get the authentic kind.> The authentic kind is so hard to get though. Mar-12-08    brankat: No wonder. It'd be some four hundred years old :-) Apr-20-09    Dredge Rivers: Bleeeeeeeeeeeeep!

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