"If you look at Louis Paulsen’s games from Breslau 1889 against Tarrasch, Metger and Gossip you will discover he was a hypermodern well in advance of Breyer and Nimzovitch. In that event he anticipated Boleslavsky’s …e5 in the Sicilian and played the Scheveningen in thoroughly modern style -- rather impressive since the opening didn’t get its name until Scheveningen 1923. The late Imre Koenig pointed this out in long-forgotten articles that were published in the Chess Coresspondent and California Chess Reporter in the late 1950s." (source: http://www.jeremysilman.com/book_re...)

According to IM John Donaldson this game is Konig's most famous win:

[Event "?"]
[Site "?"]
[Date "????.??.??"]
[Round "?"]
[White "Konig"]
[Black "Weiss"]
[Result "*"]
[PlyCount "49"]

1.d4 e6 2.c3 d5 3.Bf4 Nf6 4.e3 c5
5.Bd3 Nc6 6.Nd2 Be7 7.Ngf3 O-O
8.Ne5 Re8 9.g4 Nxe5 10.dxe5 Nd7
11.g5 Nf8 12.h4 Bd7 13.Qg4 Bc6
14.O-O-O b5 15.h5 c4 16.Bxh7+ Nxh7
17.g6 Ng5 18. Ne4 Nxe4 19.gxf7+ Kxf7 20.Qg6+ Kf8 21.h6 Bf6 22.hxg7+ Bxg7 23.Rh8+ Bxh8 24.Bh6+ Ke7 25.Qh7+

He was one of the kindest old men that I've ever met. He befriended me back in 1962 (when I first went to the famous "Mechanics' Institute Chess Club" in San Francisco). He taught me so much and our many discussions of the past (he knew everyone) were both informative and enlightening. He would talk about the good old days when he spent time in the Vienna cafes with the likes of 'Gruenfeld, Wolf, Tartakower, Spielmann and Reti!' I would have *luved* to have been a fly on the wall! <grin> My only regret is wishing I'd asked him much more about his grand cherished memories... When he decided to relocate to Santa Monica (for his health) he choose me to be the one to help him after living in San Francisco since 1953. I was truly honored and what an adventure that was! Since I was only 17 years old at the time... ;)

A real treat for me was to visit him at his lovely apartment in San Francisco... He was so kind to first pour me a glass of wine and we would always listen to classical music that he had taped on his Reel-to Reel from the FM Radio, then we would sit down at his dinner table and discuss Chess and Chess books! He made a little extra income selling Chess books on the side and worked as a Postal Employee until he finally retired. I still remember how he kept time, of course that would be Chess Clock running on the mantle. When we were both at the Chess Club (MICC) he would show me Chess problems and endgame studies to solve. Still to this very day solving a variety of different types of Chess Problems and Endgame studies is something that I *luv* to do.

He lived a very long life from 1901 to 1992. He was awarded the "International Master" title back in 1951. The last time I was to see him was in Lone Pine during the famous Louis D. Statham International Masters' Tournaments. He looked great! :) I first became aware of his passing when reading the notice posted in "Inside Chess" by the publisher and editor my dear friend GM Yasser ("Yaz") Seirawan. The one thing that I shall always remember is that <"Twinkle in his eyes"> when he would greet me! :^)

R.I.P IM Imre König

Your dear old friend, - Mal
(aka: Alan Benson)

PS: There is a very nice and informative bio written by Imre König himself in the 'Mechanics' Institute Chess Room Newsletter # 98' - "Bio on Imre Konig" // http://www.chessdryad.com/articles/...

- Source of archive: ChessDryad.

Note: as you read this please note that he list his date of birth as '9th February 1901 in Kula, Hungary'. I'll do some further research on this and then contact <CG.com> with what I uncovered and verified, so we can get the correct info updated in his bio. Plus, I'll also see if a nice pic of him is available. :)

PPS: If you haven't read it yet - "Chess from Morphy to Botwinnik" is a classic and I highly recommend it. :) ...and IM John Donaldson has written an excellent Chess book simply titled "Imre König" with 294 games, including articles and photos. ;)

I'll wrap a brand new string around my pinkie finger and see what can be done about this (quite overdue by now for sure and I apologize for the delay). Recently, I just ran into my good friend IM John William Donaldson who's the Director of Mechanics' Institute Chess Room in San Francisco. John is quite busy right now with the USA team participation in the upcoming Chess Olympiad. However, when he gets back and can then attend to it, I'll see what the Mechanics' Institute has in their vast archives... I'm sure we can come up with something. <*grin*>

Meanwhile, while I'm here a 'tip of my cap' to the man who taught me so much about Chess and Chess history... :)

This one's for you Imre! :XD

All the Best,
Your old friend,
- Al
(aka: malthrope)
Berkeley, CA

PS: <BIDMONFA: Imre Koenig

[ http://www.bidmonfa.com/koenig_imre... ]>

Thanks! And, you're quite welcome <mike1> :)

<May I ask: did Imre Koenig stop playing in 1960 or is the collection on this page simply not complete?>

Imre was very strong in both OTB play and analysis well into his 50's and 60's and beyond (+2400 strength by my estimation on just by the way he manhandled the everyday Masters in the Bay Area and Los Angeles communities from 1950-1960!). ~lol~ Although, I'll have to do a little research with a couple of good friends of mine...

IM John Donaldson as already mentioned and Kerry Lawless who has an unequaled library of all things pertaining to Chess in California. In fact, much of my Chess library (anything that involved game scores, tournaments or news published here in CA) was donated to 'ChessDryad' the website which Kerry [ aka: User: ChessDryad ] is heavily involved with his tour de force labor of love. :D

Here is the direct link to the ChessDryad ('The Definitive History of California Chess: from San Francisco to Hollywood'): http://www.chessdryad.com/

However, I do recall that Imre played often in the North-South (San Francisco vs Los Angeles) matches on Board #1 ~lol~ It's the specific dates that I don't know without further research, etc.

However, when I'm locating a nice photo of him I'll pick John and Kerry's brains to see what they may know. As well as the various magazine materials like the 'California Chess Reporter' and 'Rank & File' which are the two main ones in CA for further research.

Feeling quite fortunate to have spent some quality time with him (as I've written about him here, there and elsewhere). Simply search kibitzes for <## Mal Koenig ##> (note: also the spelling 'Köing') and you'll discover a ton of things I've written about him over the many years right here on <CG.com> :XD I first met him as a teenager at 14 years of age. He was one of my first mentors, along with IM William G Addison Don't think I would have become the Chess player I finally became without their patience, expertise and guidance. :^)