While working on his doctorate at the University of Southern California, Reuben Fine, among other chess activities, played an informal six-game exhibition match with Herman Steiner. Held in late 1947, the match was meant as a tune-up for Fine's participation in the upcoming world championship tournament.

The first three games were played at the homes of local chess patrons Alex Bisno and Everett Freeman, (cosponsors of the match), and the final three at the newly renovated Hollywood Chess Club. Games were played on Tuesday evenings from October 14 - December 9, with three weeks having no game..

Steiner presented brief reports in his weekly Sunday chess column in the "Los Angeles Times."

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GAME ONE (Tuesday, October 14)

"Reuben Fine drew first blood in his informal six-game match with Herman Steiner last Tuesday at the home of Alex Bisno, chess patron. The second game will be played Tuesday, Oct. 28, at the home of Everett Freeman, cosponsor of the match." -- Los Angeles Times, October 19, 1947, p. 10.

"We both thought that the threat to win a Pawn was real; the result was that my opponent sacrificed the Pawn, which was the only way the :threat" could be carried out." -- Reuben Fine, "Chess Review", December 1947, p. 10.

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GAME TWO (Tuesday, October 28)

"In a wide open game in which first one side had a pawn advantage and then the other, Reuben Fine defeated Herman Steiner last Tuesday in the second game of their informal six-game match. The encounter took place at the home of Everett Freeman, cinema writer, who with Alex Bisno is sponsoring the match. The third game will be played Tuesday." -- Los Angeles Times, November 2, 1947, p. 13.

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GAME THREE (Tuesday, November 4)

"Reuben Fine kept his record clean by winning the third game of his six-game informal match with Herman Steiner last Tuesday. The game was played at the home of Everett Freeman, motion picture writer, and cosponsor with Alex Bisno of the match. The fourth game will be played Tuesday in the newly decorated clubrooms of the Hollywood Chess Group, 108 N. Formosa Ave. ..." -- Los Angeles Times, November 9, 1947, p. 15.

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GAME FOUR (Tuesday, November 11)

"The fourth game in the informal six-game match between Herman Steiner and Reuben Fine, played last Tuesday, resulted in a draw. The fifth game will be played Dec. 2." -- Los Angeles Times, November 16, 1947, p. 11.

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GAME FIVE (Tuesday, December 2

"Fireworks marked the fifth game of the informal match between Reuben Fine and Herman Steiner last Tuesday. Several times refusing Fine's offer of a draw, your editor, fighting for a win, was the exchange ahead but ran into time trouble, and blinded by excitement over his material advantage, stumbled--and lost.

"The sixth and final round in this match, which is a tune-up for Fine's participation in a world's championship tournament next year in Europe, will be played Tuesday at the Hollywood Chess Group's headquarters, 108 N. Formosa Ave." -- Los Angeles Times, December 7, 1947.

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GAME SIX (Tuesday, December 9)

"A draw was agreed on in the final game between Herman Steiner and Reuben Fine last Tuesday. This match, a tune-up for Fine's forthcoming participation in a world's championship tournament next year, was sponsored by Alex Bisno and Everett Freeman. Fine won four and two were drawn." -- Los Angeles Times, December 14, 1947, p. 26.

               1 2 3 4 5 6
Reuben Fine    1 1 1 = 1 = 5.0
Herman Steiner 0 0 0 = 0 = 1.0