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George Nelson Cheney

Number of games in database: 2
Years covered: 1857 to 1859


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GEORGE NELSON CHENEY
(born Apr-02-1837, died Jul-21-1861, 24 years old) United States of America

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George Nelson Cheney was a chess problemist from Syracuse, New York. When Paul Morphy returned from Europe, he spent time in New York where he played two games with Cheney, giving knight-odds. Each player won a game, but only Morphy's loss has been preserved.

Cheney died during the first battle at Bull Run. By July of 1859, he was assisting with editorial correspondence(1) of the Syracuse Daily Standard for the remainder of the summer.

References / Sources

(1) http://www.chessarch.com/excavation...

Last updated: 2021-02-27 20:41:10

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 page 1 of 1; 2 games  PGN Download 
Game  ResultMoves YearEvent/LocaleOpening
1. G Cheney vs T Lichtenhein 1-0271857OffhandC33 King's Gambit Accepted
2. Morphy vs G Cheney 0-1461859Knight Odds game000 Chess variants
  REFINE SEARCH:   White wins (1-0) | Black wins (0-1) | Draws (1/2-1/2) | Cheney wins | Cheney loses  

Kibitzer's Corner
Feb-21-09  whiteshark: George N. Cheney (* 2.4.1837 - † 21.7.1861)
Apr-02-09  WhiteRook48: he defeated Morphy?!
Apr-08-09  vonKrolock: W. R. Henry, in the 1860's: <..."In August, 1858, Syracuse received another visit from Mr. Fiske. On this occasion Cheney succeeded in winning a majority of games from him. About this time many telegraphic matches were played between Syracuse and neighboring cities, and the uniform success of the former was due solely to Mr. Cheney's skill. A year later, when in ill health, Cheney made a short visit to New York City, and made even games with its best player, Mr. Theodore <sic> Lichtenbein (note: Theodore Lichtenhein). Some twenty games were contested between them, the later ones, if we remember correctly, being all won by Cheney. Afterwards, when in better health, the latter was very much dissatisfied with these games, and greatly desired to have another encounter with the same player.

During this visit he played two games with Morphy, at the Knight, of which he won one and lost one. ">

... <Upon the breaking out of the great Southern Rebellion of 1861, in response to the President's call for volunteers, Cheney enlisted in the Onondaga regiment, and was killed in the disastrous battle at Bull Run. He was one of a very small number selected from his regiment to do skirmishing duty in that unfortunate engagement. He was last seen considerably in advance of his party, for, as skirmishers, they were fighting every man for himself. A companion observed that he was loading without being sufficiently protected, and called out to him : "For God's sake, Cheney, get behind a tree; you'll get shot !" His only reply was, "Well !" He was soon lost sight of in the smoke of the battle, and was never seen afterward. >

More in this nice tribute to Cheney by <SBC> http://blog.chess.com/view/an-ameri...

Apr-10-09  Calli: The wrong Cheney joined the military.
Apr-11-09  vonKrolock: <Calli> show us another game: <"Here is trivial game by Cheney given in "Brevity and brilliancy in Chess" by Miron James Hazeltine

Cheney,G - NN [C34]
1.e4 e5 2.f4 exf4 3.Nf3 Bc5 4.Bc4 Nf6 5.Ng5 0-0 6.e5 Ne8 7.Qh5 h6 8.Nxf7 Qe7 1-0 Mate in 2">
he adds <"Hardly worth mentioning!"> Even so, it's a rarity ...great find, Sir!

Apr-14-09  vonKrolock: In some morning the readers of a newspaper from New Your city found themselves challenged by following chess problem:

G. N. Cheney
"Brooklyn Standard, 1860"


click for larger view

#3 white to play and mate in three

Apr-18-09  vonKrolock: Black can move only the 'f' pawn - with so strong white power, it would be advisable to search for sacrifices - and this was Cheney's style and the taste of that time solvers too... But in this instance a different kind of sacrifice is displayed, not a piece being offered for capture, but being - so to say - eclipsed... (If You're still not seeing the solution, submit the FEN to Your chess program and it will find - or see it online here where many other problems by Cheney can be searched too http://www.bstephen.me.uk/cgi-bin/m...
Apr-18-09  vonKrolock: Sam Loyd, circa 1880: <..."My crude idea for rearing a little Indian was this:


click for larger view

(three moves, 1.Bb1, 2.Sc2). A slight examination revealed several mates in one, many in two, and more in threee"> Then follows, in this interesting passage of <"Chess Strategy">, quoted by A. C. White in Loyd's bio, a series of sketches that arrives to this famous composition:

S. Loyd
"Cleveland Leader"
24th August 1876


click for larger view

#3

Jan-16-14  Susan Harris: vonKrolok, I an a writer and would like to speak to you about your posts here about Mr. Cheney. Could you please contact me?
Jan-16-14  RedShield: At first sight, I thought this was George Clooney.
Oct-18-14  ljfyffe: His oldest brother taught him the game, but isolated as he was in the heartland of New York State, his chance for rapid improvement would have been small, but for one happy meeting. In 1856, Cheney's sister, Nellie, introduced him to Daniel Willard Fiske, the future co-editor, with Paul Morphy, of the Chess Monthly. (Writings in Chess History).

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