-Gedimins Salmins "Korespondence Sahs Latvija 1877-1944" Liepaja 2005

On Riga Senior Club

p. 71

1931. gada sākumā Rigas Šaha biedrība laikraksta Rigasche Rundschau šahs nodaļā publicēja paziņojumu par korespondencšaha turniru - 6 dalībnieku grupas - organizēšanu. Godalgas - 8, 6, un 4 lati, bet dalibas maksa - 3 lati. Ik turnīru uzsāks pēc sestā dalibnieka pieteikuma saņemšanas. Turnīrus vadīs Bodo fon Dens Bodo von Dehn .

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In early 1931, the Rigas Chess Society published a statement in the chess section of the Rigasche Rundschau newspaper about the organization of a correspondence chess tournament - a group of 6 players. Prizes - 8, 6 and 4 lats, but the participation fee - 3 lats. Each tournament will be launched upon receipt of the sixth participant application. The tournaments will be led by Bodo von Den Bodo von Dehn

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Laikā no 1931, gada marta līdz 1932. gada aprilim notika Latvijas Šaha savienības organizētais korespondencturnīrs komandā - pirmais šāda veida turnīrs neatkarīgajā Latvija. Ciņas uzsāka četras komandas: "Korespondencturnīrs, kurā pagaidām piedalās Sinioru klubs, Rigas Šacha klubs, Latvijas Valsts karoga apvienība un Jelgavas Latviešu biedrības šacha sekcija, sācies. Katrā partijā izdarīti 2-3 gājieni."

---

Between March 1931 and April 1932, a team correspondence tournament organized by the Latvian Chess Union - the first of its kind in independent Latvia - took place. The fight was started by four teams:

"A correspondence tournament, which is currently being contested by the Riga Senior Club, Riga Chess Club, Latvian National Flag Association and Jelgava Latvian Society Chess Section, has started. So far, 2-3 moves have been played in each game."-Jaunakas Zinas 17 March 1931

===

Nedaudz vēlāk spēli uzsāka Liepājas Šaha klubs, taču nepadeidzis nevienu partiju, pārtrauca atbildēt un saņēma pelnītus zaudējumus visās astoņās partijās.

Turnīrs beidzās ar Senioru kluba pārliecinošu uzvaru. Šo panākumu kaldināja H. Mattison, Arvids Kalnins, A. Kannenbrgs un vecmeistars K. Betins, kurš skaitās par vienu no pasaules spēcīgākajiem korespondencspēlētājiem. Senioru klubu nodibināja 1928. gadā un "kā karaliskās spēles cienītājs šis klubs vairākkārt veicinājis šacha uzplaukumu Riga."

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Soon after the tournament started, the Liepaja Chess Club joined, but did not finish any of their games, suffering a loss in all eight games.

The tournament ended with a convincing win for the Senior Club. This success was sparked by H. Mattison, Arvid Kalnin, A. Kannenberg and old master K. Betin, who is considered one of the world's most powerful correspondence players. The Senior Club was founded in 1928 and "as a fan of the royal game, this club has repeatedly promoted the growth of the chess in Riga."

===

Par turnīra rezultātiem Jaunako Zinu šaha nodaļas vadītājs H. Matison rakstīja: "Rigas šaha kluba spēles vadītājs stud. V. Hazenfuss viens pats uz saviem pleciem iznesa cīņas smagumu un padevās seniorum tikai pēc sīvākas pretestības."

---

On the results of the tournament, H. Matison, head of the Younger Zines Chess Division, wrote: "Rigas Chess Club Game Manager V. Hazenfuss alone carried the weight of the fight on his shoulders and succumbed to senior resistance."

===

Laimīgam zaudētājam Hazenfuss tomēr gandarījums, ka ar viņa ideju meistars Mations Pragas valstu turnīrā pārsteidza pasaules meistaru Alekhine un, kā zinams, guva sensacionāl uzvaru, jo Alekhine nebija vienīgo pareizo Senioru kluba atbildi. Organizētā korespondenc turnīra skaistās un pamācošās partijas pa dajai jau publicētas un ir interesantas arī ārpus Latvijas robežam.

---

For the lucky loser, Hazenfuss is pleased, however, that with his idea, Master Mations surprised world champion Alekhine at the Prague Tournament and is known to have won a sensational victory because Alekhine did not find the only correct answer from the Senior Club. The beautiful and instructive games of the organized correspondence tournament have already been published and are also of interest outside Latvia.

H Mattison vs Alekhine, 1931

1. e4 e5 2. Nc3 Nc6 3. Nf3 d6 4. d4 Bd7 5. Bc4 exd4 6. Nxd4 Nf6 7. O-O Be7 8. Nf5 Bxf5 9. exf5 O-O 10. g4 Nd7 11. f4 Nb6 12. Bd3 f6 13. a3 d5 14. h4 Nd4 15. Be3 c5 16. Bxd4 cxd4 17. Ne2 Nc4 18. Bxc4 dxc4 19. Qxd4 Qxd4+ 20. Nxd4 Bc5 21. Rad1 Rad8 22. c3 Rd5 23. Kf2 Rfd8 24. Ke3 h5 25. Ke4 hxg4 26. Rg1 R5d7 27. Rxg4 Re7+ 28. Kf3 b5 29. Rg2 Rd5 30. Rgd2 Kf7 31. h5 Bxd4 32. Rxd4 Rxf5 33. Rd5 Ree5 34. Rd7+ Re7 35. R1d5 Rxd5 36. Rxd5 a6 37. Rd6 Re6 38. Rxe6 Kxe6 39. Ke4 Kd6 40. Kf5 Ke7 41. Kg6 Kf8 42. f5

===

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Games

1931-1931 Latvian Club Corr tournament

Jelgavas Latviešu biedrības šaha sekcija (Chess section of Jelgava Latvian Society) vs Riga Senior Club

1931 (March) - 1932 (February)

Event "Latvian Club Corr tournament"
Site "Correspondence"
Date "1931.03.??"
EventDate "1931.03.??"
Round "?"
Result "0-1"
White "Jelgava Chess Society"
Black "Riga Senior Club"
Source "Salmins 'Korespondence Sahs Latvija 1877-1944' pp.72-73"

1. e4 e5 2. Nf3 f5 3. d4 fxe4 4. Nxe5 Nf6 5. Bc4 d5 6. Bb3 Nc6 7. Bg5 Bb4+ 8. c3 Bd6 9. Bxf6 Qxf6 10. Bxd5 Nxe5 11. dxe5 Qxe5 12. Qa4+ c6 13. Bxe4 O-O 14. Nd2 Be6 15. Nf3 Qf4 16. O-O Qg4 17. Qc2 Rxf3 18. Rfd1 Bc7 19. Bxf3 Qf4 20. Qe4 Qxh2+ 21. Kf1 Re8 22. g4 h5 23. b3 hxg4 24. Bxg4 Bd7 25. Qf3 Rf8 26. Qxf8+ Kxf8 27. Bxd7 Qh1+ 28. Ke2 Qe4+ 29. Kf1 Bb6 0-1

Jelgava Chess Society vs Riga Senior Club, 1931

===

Riga Chess Club vs Riga Senior Club

1931 (March - October)

Event "Latvian Club Corr tournament"
Site "Correspondence"
Date "1931.03.??"
EventDate "1931.03.??"
Round "?"
Result "1-0"
White "Riga Senior Club"
Black "Riga Chess Club"
Source "Salmins 'Korespondence Sahs Latvija 1877-1944' pp.74-75"

1. e4 c5 2. Nf3 Nf6 3. Nc3 d5 4. Bb5+ Bd7 5. e5 Ne4 6. Bxd7+ Nxd7 7. e6 fxe6 8. Qe2 Nef6 9. Ng5 e5 10. f4 Qb8 11. O-O h6 12. Ne6 Kf7 13. Nxc5 Nxc5 14. fxe5 d4 15. exf6 exf6 16. Qh5+ g6 17. Qd5+ Kg7 18. Qxd4 Qd8 19. Qxd8 Rxd8 20. b4 Ne6 21. Ne4 Rd4 22. Nxf6 Rxb4 23. Nd7 1-0

Riga Senior Club vs Riga Chess Club, 1931

===

Riga Chess Club vs Jelgava Chess Society

1931 (March) - 1932 (March)

Event "Latvian Club Corr tournament"
Site "Correspondence"
Date "1931.03.??"
EventDate "1931.03.??"
Round "?"
Result "1-0"
White "Riga Chess Club"
Black "Jelgava Chess Society"
Source "Salmins 'Korespondence Sahs Latvija 1877-1944' p.75"

1. f4 d5 2. e3 c5 3. Nf3 e6 4. b3 Bd6 5. Bb2 f6 6. Bd3 Nc6 7. O-O Nh6 8. Nc3 a6 9. a3 Qe7 10. Na4 Qc7 11. c4 dxc4 12. bxc4 O-O 13. Qc2 f5 14. Rab1 Ng4 15. h3 Nf6 16. Rf2 h6 17. Ba1 Nd7 18. g4 fxg4 19. hxg4 e5 20. Nh4 Rf6 21. Be4 Ne7 22. Nc3 Kf8 23. Nd5 Nxd5 24. Bxd5 Ke8 25. Nf5 Rg6 1-0

Riga Chess Club vs Jelgava Chess Society, 1931

===

Jelgava Chess Society vs Riga Chess Club

1931 (March) - 1932 (March)

Event "Latvian Club Corr tournament"
Site "Correspondence"
Date "1931.03.??"
EventDate "1931.03.??"
Round "?"
Result "0-1"
White "Jelgava Chess Society"
Black "Riga Chess Club"
Source "Salmins 'Korespondence Sahs Latvija 1877-1944' p.76"

1. e4 e6 2. d4 d5 3. Nc3 Bb4 4. e5 c5 5. Bd2 Nc6 6. Nb5 Bxd2+ 7. Qxd2 Nxd4 8. Nxd4 cxd4 9. Qxd4 Ne7 10. Bd3 Nc6 11. Qg4 Qa5+ 12. c3 Nxe5 13. Qxg7 Nxd3+ 14. Kd2 Rf8 15. Kxd3 Qb6 16. Nh3 Bd7 17. Kc2 O-O-O 18. Qd4 Qa6 19. Rad1 e5 20. Qc5+ Kb8 21. Qe3 Bf5+ 22. Kc1 f6 23. a3 Qa4 0-1

Jelgava Chess Society vs Riga Chess Club, 1931

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Latvijas Valsts karoga apvienības Rīgas nodaļas šaha sekcija (Chess section of Riga branch of the Latvian National Flag Association) aka LVKA

Riga National Flag Association vs Jelgava Chess Society

1931 (March)

Event "Latvian Club Corr tournament"
Site "Correspondence"
Date "1931.03.??"
EventDate "1931.03.??"
Round "?"
Result "1-0"
White "Riga National Flag Association"
Black "Jelgava Chess Society"
Source "Salmins 'Korespondence Sahs Latvija 1877-1944' p.76"

1. e4 e5 2. Nf3 Nc6 3. Bc4 Bc5 4. c3 Nf6 5. d4 exd4 6. cxd4 Bb4+ 7. Bd2 Bxd2+ 8. Nbxd2 d5 9. exd5 Nxd5 10. Qb3 Nce7 11. O-O O-O 12. Rfe1 c6 13. a4 Qb6 14. Qa3 Be6 15. Ne4 Rad8 16. Neg5 h6 17. Rxe6 fxe6 18. Nxe6 Rde8 19. Ne5 1-0

Riga National Flag Association vs Jelgava Chess Society, 1931

===

Riga Senior Club vs Riga National Flag Association

1931 (March) - 1932 (March)

Event "Latvian Club Corr tournament"
Site "Correspondence"
Date "1931.03.??"
EventDate "1931.03.??"
Round "?"
Result "1-0"
White "Riga Senior Club"
Black "Riga National Flag Association"
Source "Salmins 'Korespondence Sahs Latvija 1877-1944' p.77"

1. d4 Nf6 2. Nf3 e6 3. e3 c5 4. Bd3 Nc6 5. c3 d5 6. Nbd2 Qb6 7. O-O Nd7 8. e4 dxe4 9. Nc4 Qc7 10. Bxe4 Nf6 11. Bxc6+ bxc6 12. Qa4 Nd5 13. Nce5 Bb7 14. Ng5 f6 15. Nxe6 Qc8 16. Nf3 Kf7 17. Re1 cxd4 18. Qxd4 c5 19. Qh4 Qc6 20. Bd2 Bd6 21. Bh6 Bf8 22. Qh5+ g6 23. Qh4 Bd6 24. Bg7 h5 25. c4 g5 26. cxd5 Qxd5 27. Qa4 Bc6 28. Qc2 Rhe8 29. Rad1 1-0

Riga Senior Club vs Riga National Flag Association, 1931

===

Riga National Flag Association vs Riga Senior Club

1931 (March) - 1932 (March)

Event "Latvian Club Corr tournament"
Site "Correspondence"
Date "1931.03.??"
EventDate "1931.03.??"
Round "?"
Result "0-1"
White "Riga National Flag Association"
Black "Riga Senior Club"
Source "Salmins 'Korespondence Sahs Latvija 1877-1944' pp.77-78"

1. c4 e5 2. Nc3 Nc6 3. g3 f5 4. Bg2 Nf6 5. d3 Bc5 6. e3 O-O 7. Nge2 Re8 8. O-O Bf8 9. Nd5 Ne7 10. f4 Nexd5 11. cxd5 d6 12. Nc3 exf4 13. gxf4 g6 14. Qf3 Bg7 15. Bd2 Bd7 16. Rae1 c6 17. e4 Ng4 18. Kh1 Qb6 19. b3 Qa5 20. dxc6 Bxc6 21. h3 Nh6 22. Rc1 Re6 23. Qf2 Rae8 24. Nd5 Qxa2 25. Nc7 Qxb3 26. Nxe6 Rxe6 27. exf5 Nxf5 0-1

Riga National Flag Association vs Riga Senior Club, 1931

===

Riga Chess Club vs Riga Senior Club

1931 (March) - 1932 (April)

Event "Latvian Club Corr tournament"
Site "Correspondence"
Date "1931.03.??"
EventDate "1931.03.??"
Round "?"
Result "0-1"
White "Riga Chess Club"
Black "Riga Senior Club"
Source "Salmins 'Korespondence Sahs Latvija 1877-1944' pp.77-78"

1. e4 e5 2. Nf3 Nc6 3. Nc3 d6 4. d4 Bd7 5. Bc4 exd4 6. Nxd4 Nf6 7. O-O Be7 8. Nf5 Bxf5 9. exf5 Qd7 10. g4 Ne5 11. Be2 g5 12. f3 h6 13. Be3 c6 14. b4 Qc7 15. Rf2 d5 16. Rb1 h5 17. Qd4 hxg4 18. fxg4 Nfd7 19. Rg2 Nb6 20. Bf2 Nbc4 21. b5 f6 22. Rb3 Qa5 23. bxc6 bxc6 24. Rb7 Bd8 25. Rb3 Bb6 26. Qd1 Kf7 27. Bd4 Ne3 28. Bxe3 Bxe3+ 29. Kh1 Rab8 30. Nb5 Bc5 31. Nd4 Bxd4 32. Qxd4 Qxa2 33. Rgg3 Rhe8 34. Rbc3 Qa5 35. Kg2 Rb4 36. Qd1 Rf4 0-1

Riga Chess Club vs Riga Senior Club, 1931

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1934 - 1936 Latvian Gambit team tournament: Riga Senior Club vs. Various Stockholm Clubs

Salmins:

p.79

1934. gadā Latvijas Šaha savienības vēlākais priekšsēdētājs, prof. Arvids Kalnins (1894-1981) vērsās pie Zviedrijas Šaha savienības ar ierosinājumu sarīkot korespondencpartiju maču, lai pārbaudītu latviešu gambita 1.e4 e5 2.Nf3 f5 dažādus variantus.

"Zviedrijas Šacha savienība... laipnā kārtā izteica savu piekrišanu spēlēt četrās partijās ar baltiem kauliņiem, pielietojot dažādus turpinājumus, un uzticēja partiju vadību četriem astevišķiem Stokholmas klubiem, ar pazīstamiem zviedru meistariem priekšgalā."

- tām spēles laikā pievienojās vēl piektā -

---

In 1934 the latest Chairman of the Latvian Chess Union, prof. Arvid Kalnin (1894-1981) approached the Swedish Chess Union to propose a correspondence match to test different versions of the Latvian gambit 1.e4 e5 2.Nf3 f5.

"The Swedish Chess Union ... has kindly agreed to play four games with the white pieces against the Riga Senior club, with prominent Swedish masters at the forefront. Four Stockholm chess clubs would participate.

  - they were joined by a fifth club during the match -

===

Jau pieminētais Senioru klubs sastādīja spēles komiteju, kurā K. Betins, vadībā pret zviedru šahistiem spēlēja V. Petrovs, A. Kannenbergs, P. Dreimanis, A. Kalnins un komponists E. Melngailis. "Pēc divu gadu ilgas cīņas - mačs sākās 1934. gada nogalē - mačs noslēdzās ar negaidītu rezultātu: no piecām partijām Riga guva trīs uzvaras un divās panāca neizšķirtu."

Šis panākums un plašās analīzes bija galvenie argumenti, lai FIDE pieņemtu lēmumu par nosaukumu Latviešu gambits piešķiršanu Rigas šahistu spēlētajai atklātnei.

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The aforementioned Senior Club formed a game committee in which K. Betin, under the guidance of Swedish chess players, played V. Petrov, A. Kannenberg, P. Dreimanis, A. Kalnin and composer E. Melngailis. "After two years of fighting - the match began in late 1934 - the match ended with an unexpected result: Riga won three out of five games and drew two."

Riga Seniors club: Karl Behting, Arvids Kalnins, Pavils Dreimanis, Emilis Melngailis, and Alexander Kannenbergs .

This success and extensive analysis were the main arguments for FIDE's decision to officially recognize this variation as the Latvian gambit.

===

---

===

Games

Event "Riga Senior Club - Stockholm Clubs"
Site "Correspondence"
Date "1934.??.??"
Round "?"
Result "1/2-1/2"
White "Stockholm Vasa Club"
Black "Riga Senior Club"
Source "Salmins 'Korespondence Sahs Latvija 1877-1944' pp.80-81"

Primary source evidence:

http://www.periodika.lv/periodika2-...

Needs correction slip:
Stockholm Vasa Club vs Riga Senior Club, 1934

===

Event "Riga Senior Club - Stockholm Clubs"
Site "Correspondence"
Date "1934.10.??"
EventDate "?"
Round "?"
Result "0-1"
White "Stockholm Soedra Club"
Black "Riga Senior Club"
Source "Salmins 'Korespondence Sahs Latvija 1877-1944' pp.81-82"

Needs correction slip:
Stockholm Soedra Club vs Riga Senior Club, 1934

===

Event "Riga Senior Club - Stockholm Clubs"
Site "Correspondence"
Date "1934.10.??"
EventDate "?"
Round "?"
Result "0-1"
White "Stockholm Chess Club"
Black "Riga Senior Club"
Source "Salmins 'Korespondence Sahs Latvija 1877-1944' pp.83-85"

1. e4 e5 2. Nf3 f5 3. Nxe5 Qf6 4. d4 d6 5. Nc4 fxe4 6. Ne3 Nc6 7. Nd5 Qf7 8. Nbc3 Be6 9. Nxc7+ Qxc7 10. d5 Nf6 11. dxe6 d5 12. Bg5 O-O-O 13. Bb5 d4 14. Bxc6 Qxc6 15. Bxf6 gxf6 16. e7 Bxe7 17. Qg4+ Kb8 18. Nxe4 Bb4+ 19. Kd1 Rhe8 20. f3 Rc8 21. Rc1 d3 22. c3 Qa4+ 23. Kd2 Qxa2 24. Rb1 Rg8 25. Qf4+ Ka8 26. g3 Ba3 0-1

Stockholm vs Riga Senior Club, 1934

Primary source evidence:
http://www.periodika.lv/periodika2-...

===

(1 November 1934 - 25 March 1936)

Incorrect header:

Event "Riga Senior Club - Stockholm Clubs"
Site "Correspondence"
Date "1934.??.??"
EventDate "?"
Round "?"
Result "0-1"
White "Stockholm Chess Club"
Black "City of Riga"
ECO "C40"
WhiteElo "?"
BlackElo "?"
PlyCount "78"

Correct header:

Event "Riga Senior Club - Stockholm Clubs"
Site "Correspondence"
Date "1934.11.01"
EventDate "?"
Result "0-1"
White "Stockholm Almanna Club"
Black "Riga Senior Club"
Source "Salmins 'Korespondence Sahs Latvija 1877-1944' pp.85-87"

1.e4 e5 2.Nf3 f5 3.d4 fxe4 4.Nxe5 Nf6 5.Bc4 d5 6.Bb3 Be6 7.Bg5 Be7 8.O-O O-O 9.Nd2 Nc6 10.Nxc6 bxc6 11.c4 Rb8 12.Rc1 a5 13.Qc2 Bd6 14.f3 h6 15.Bh4 e3 16.cxd5 exd2 17.dxe6 Rxb3 18.e7 Bxe7 19.Qxb3+ Nd5 20.Rcd1 Bxh4 21.Rxd2 Bf6 22.Qa4 Qe8 23.Qxa5 Bxd4+ 24.Kh1 Qe3 25.Rfd1 Bb6 26.Qa4 Re8 27.h3 Re6 28.Qc2 Qf4 29.Re2 Be3 30.Rde1 Re5 31.Qb3 Kh8 32.Qb8+ Kh7 33.Qb3 c5 34.Qd3+ Kh8 35.Qb5 Qg3 36.Rxe3 Nxe3 37.Re2 c4 38.Qb8+ Kh7 39.Qxc7 Qf4 0-1

Needs correction slip:
Stockholm Allmanna Club vs Riga Senior Club, 1934

Second source:

Source "Aizsargs. Nr.5 (15.05.1936)"
http://www.periodika.lv/periodika2-...

===

Event "Riga Senior Club - Stockholm Clubs"
Site "Correspondence"
Date "1934.10.??"
EventDate "?"
Round "?"
Result "1/2-1/2"
White "Stockholm Almanna Club"
Black "Riga Senior Club"
Source "Salmins 'Korespondence Sahs Latvija 1877-1944' p.87"

1. e4 e5 2. Nf3 f5 3. d4 fxe4 4. Nxe5 Nf6 5. Bc4 d5 6. Bb3 Be6 7. Bg5 Be7 8. O-O O-O 9. Nd2 Nc6 10. Nxc6 bxc6 11. c4 Rb8 12. Rc1 a5 13. Qc2 Bd6 14. f3 h6 15. Bh4 Bf4 16. cxd5 Bxd5 17. fxe4 Be3+ 18. Kh1 Bxd2 19. Qxd2 Nxe4 20. Rxf8+ Qxf8 21. Bxd5+ cxd5 22. Qxa5 Qf4 23. Qxc7 Qxc7 24. Rxc7 Rxb2 25. g4 Rxa2 26. Rc8+ Kf7 27. Rc7+ Kg8 28. Rc8+ Kh7 29. Rd8 g5 30. Bg3 Nf6 31. h3 Ne4 32. Be5 Nf2+ 33. Kg2 Nxg4+ 34. Kf3 Nxe5+ 35. dxe5 Kg6 36. Rxd5 Kf5 37. Rd3 1/2-1/2

Stockholm Allmanna Club vs Riga Senior Club, 1934

Primary source evidence:
http://www.periodika.lv/periodika2-...

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