The chess games of Cecil John Seddon Purdy

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Cecil John Seddon Purdy

Purdy

Number of games in database: 83
Years covered: 1926 to 1979

Overall record: +39 -25 =18 (58.5%)*
* Overall winning percentage = (wins+draws/2) / total games in the database. 1 exhibition game, blitz/rapid, odds game, etc. is excluded from this statistic.

MOST PLAYED OPENINGS

With the White pieces:

Nimzo Indian (6)
    E43 E49 E32 E26
Ruy Lopez (6)
    C97 C99 C75 C65
English, 1 c4 e5 (5)
    A28 A25 A27
French Defense (4)
    C12 C18 C07 C05
Ruy Lopez, Closed (4)
    C97 C99

With the Black pieces:

Ruy Lopez (9)
    C91 C78 C99 C86 C84
Nimzo Indian (6)
    E32 E24 E34 E28 E47
Ruy Lopez, Closed (6)
    C91 C99 C86 C84
French Defense (5)
    C14 C13 C09
Sicilian (4)
    B96 B90 B32 B60
Queen's Pawn Game (4)
    D04 A41 E10

Repertoire Explorer

NOTABLE GAMES: [what is this?]
   F L Vaughan vs Purdy, 1945 1/2-1/2
   F Crowl vs Purdy, 1936 0-1
   A Cuadrado vs Purdy, 1950 0-1
   A L Miller vs Purdy, 1946 0-1
   O Sarapu vs Purdy, 1952 0-1
   Purdy vs L Baijot, 1947 1-0
   L Bigot vs Purdy, 1947 0-1
   Purdy vs M Napolitano, 1950 1-0
   C Nielsen vs Purdy, 1947 0-1
   Purdy vs F Crowl, 1934 1-0

NOTABLE TOURNAMENTS: [what is this?]
   1st World Correspondence Chess Championship (1950)
   Sarapu - Purdy Australasian Championship (1952)

GAME COLLECTIONS: [what is this?]
   1st World Correspondence Chess Championship by Benzol
   Purdy; Cecil John Seddon (1906-1979) by fredthebear
   Sarapu - Purdy Match, Australasian Championship by Chessical

GAMES ANNOTATED BY PURDY: [what is this?]
Keene vs Purdy, 1979

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CECIL JOHN SEDDON PURDY
(born Mar-27-1906, died Nov-06-1979, 73 years old) Australia

[what is this?]

Cecil John Seddon Purdy was born in Port Said, Egypt.

His father was Dr. J. S. Purdy, England's representative on the International Quarantine Board for the Suez Canal. Hobart was his first Australian home and at the age of nine he went to Sydney where he has lived thereafter. He did not take up chess until he was nearly 15 years of age. During a rainy school holiday in the country he looked up "Chess" in the "Encyclopaedia Britannica." He copied out the rules carefully and after returning home started to pursue his new hobby.1

Other accounts stated he was 13 when he took up chess: "He was 13 when he began chess. He received useful instruction from from Mr. L. S. Crakanthorp father of Mr. Spencer Crakanthorp, ex-champion of New South Wales and New Zealand, and present champion of Australia. Only a year after Mr. Purdy learned the moves he was encouraged by the late A.E.N. Wallace, then Suite champion to enter for the State tourney of 1923." 2

Awarded the IM title in 1951 and the GMC title in 1953 he won the 1st World Correspondence Chess Championship (1950) - (1953). He won the New Zealand Championship twice, 1924-25 and 1935-36 and was Australian Champion on four occasions, 1934-35, 1936-37 (after a play-off), 1948-49 and 1951. He was also Australian Correspondence Champion in 1940 and 1948.

In 1952, Purdy played the New Zealand Champion Ortvin Sarapu in a 10-game match for the Sarapu - Purdy Match, Australasian Championship (1952). After nine games, the score was 5-4 in Sarapu's favour. Purdy won the 10th and final game to tie the match (+4, =2, -4).

He was the founder, editor, and publisher of a splendid chess magazine from 1929 to 1967 which went through three incarnations, 'Australasian Chess Review' (1929 - 1944), 'Check' (1944 - 1945) and 'Chess World' (1946 - 1967) and his writings are considered first class.

His father-in-law Spencer Crakanthorp and his son John Spencer Purdy have both been Australian Champions.

Sadly whilst playing at a tournament in Sydney in 1979 he suffered an aneurysm leading to his death. His last words to his son (who was also competing in the same tournament) were allegedly "I have a win, but it will take time".

1. "The West Australian" (Perth), Monday 13th July 1953, p.16

2. "Evening News" (Sydney, NSW), Friday 15th November 1929, p.2

Wikipedia article: Cecil Purdy

page 1 of 4; games 1-25 of 83

Game	Result	Moves	Year	Event/Locale	Opening
1. Purdy vs A Burr	½-½	25	1926	NSW versus Victoria correspondence match	C65 Ruy Lopez, Berlin Defense
2. J Sayers vs Purdy	0-1	55	1926	AUS-ch	C13 French
3. Purdy vs B Hill	1-0	59	1926	AUS-ch	D37 Queen's Gambit Declined
4. S Crakanthorp vs Purdy	1-0	26	1926	AUS-ch	C14 French, Classical
5. C Boyce vs Purdy	1-0	38	1926	AUS-ch	C13 French
6. Purdy vs J Kinman	1-0	36	1928	AUS-ch+	D30 Queen's Gambit Declined
7. F Crowl vs Purdy	0-1	68	1932	corr	A00 Uncommon Opening
8. G Koshnitsky vs Purdy	1-0	39	1932	Sydney	D04 Queen's Pawn Game
9. G Koshnitsky vs Purdy	1-0	22	1932	Sydney	D04 Queen's Pawn Game
10. Purdy vs G Koshnitsky	0-1	47	1932	Sydney	A13 English
11. Purdy vs G Koshnitsky	1-0	45	1934	Practice m	D51 Queen's Gambit Declined
12. G Koshnitsky vs Purdy	1-0	36	1934	Practice m	A25 English
13. Purdy vs F Crowl	1-0	46	1934	Correspondence	E32 Nimzo-Indian, Classical
14. M E Goldstein vs Purdy	0-1	26	1934	AUS-ch	D39 Queen's Gambit Declined, Ragozin, Vienna Variation
15. Purdy vs G McIntosh	0-1	22	1936	Correspondence Game	D17 Queen's Gambit Declined Slav
16. F Crowl vs Purdy	0-1	11	1936	corr	C33 King's Gambit Accepted
17. L Steiner vs Purdy	1-0	43	1936	Simultaneous clock exhibition	B60 Sicilian, Richter-Rauzer
18. J W Cornforth vs Purdy	0-1	17	1937	Australian Correspondence championship	E34 Nimzo-Indian, Classical, Noa Variation
19. Purdy vs G McIntosh	0-1	18	1937	Australia	D10 Queen's Gambit Declined Slav
20. F Crowl vs Purdy	1-0	57	1939	Australian Championship	A06 Reti Opening
21. G Koshnitsky vs Purdy	½-½	40	1945	AUS-corr ch	A17 English
22. F L Vaughan vs Purdy	½-½	13	1945	corr AU	D82 Grunfeld, 4.Bf4
23. H Klass vs Purdy	1-0	47	1945	New South Wales-ch	C61 Ruy Lopez, Bird's Defense
24. B Y Mills vs Purdy	0-1	48	1946	Australian Ch	E47 Nimzo-Indian, 4.e3 O-O 5.Bd3
25. A L Miller vs Purdy	0-1	29	1946	Australian Ch	C52 Evans Gambit


page 1 of 4; games 1-25 of 83

REFINE SEARCH: White wins (1-0) | Black wins (0-1) | Draws (1/2-1/2) | Purdy wins | Purdy loses

< Earlier Kibitzing · PAGE 4 OF 4 · Later Kibitzing>
Mar-27-13		JimNorCal: He gave much excellent practical advice. I don't have an exact quote, but he said something like: "If you can't find a move, then at least find a way to make your least valuable piece more active."

Mar-27-13		IndigoViolet: Does he give any advice on figuring out what one's least valuable/most inactive piece might be?

Mar-27-13		IndigoViolet: <Amazon sells some used exemplars of the book which summarizes his legacy but not US residents cannot haveaccess to it.> You can order second hand books from anywhere, but I'm staggered by the prices for a paperback that's only 15 years old: http://www.amazon.co.uk/gp/offer-li...

Mar-27-13		TheFocus: Actually, you can get a lot of Purdy's books at http://isbndb.com/d/publisher/think.... Bob Long has been reprinting Purdy's books. You may have to get on his mailing list though.

Nov-21-13		Penguincw: ♔ Quote of the Day ♔ < "In endings with bishops of opposite color, material means NOTHING, position EVERYTHING." > -Purdy I like the use of CAPITALS.

Oct-24-14		ljfyffe: As the home nation of the first CC World Champion, C.J.S. Purdy, Australia will always have a special place in CC history. <lCCF Gold>

Feb-10-15		Chessical: <CHESS CHAMPION> Mr Cecil J. S Purdy, who won the NSW Chess Championship at the School of Arts Club last night is only 22 years of age. He is a son of Dr. J. S. Purdy. Metropolitan Medical Officer of Health, and was born at Port Said. After several years in New Zealand he came to Sydney, and was 13 when he began chess. He received useful instruction from from Mr. L.S.Crakanthorp father of Mr. Spencer Crakanthorp, ex-champion of New South Wales and New Zealand, and present champion of Australia. Only a year after Mr. Purdy learned the moves he was encouraged by the late A.E.N. Wallace, then Suite champion to enter for the State tourney of 1923. The youth finished halfway up the list. Mr. Wallace and Mr. Purdy drew in a game which lasted seven hours. He returned to New Zealand, to win at Nelson The Dominion Championship of 1924 at the age of 17. He competed twice for the championship of Australia � Sydney 1926 and Perth 1928. Both events were won by Mr. Spencer Crakanthorp, and each time Mr. Purdy took third prize, with only one point behind the top. His interstate telegraphic record is five wins, one draw, two losses. He has given exhibitions of simultaneous chess in Wellington, N.Z, Melbourne. Perth, and Sydney, taking on 12 opponents at once without ever losing a game. He will compete in the next New Zealand Championship tourney,which starts Boxing Day at Wanganul. Mr. Purdy has other activities besides chess. He is a tennis enthusiast, is editor of the 'Australian Chess Review' and is completing an arts course at Sydney University. <Source: "Evening News" (Sydney, NSW) Friday 15th November 1929. Page 2.>

Apr-08-15		TheFocus: <Chess is as much a mystery as women> - Purdy.

May-11-15		TheFocus: <Any material change in a position must come about by mate, a capture, or a Pawn � promotion> - Cecil Purdy

May-11-15		TheFocus: <Pawn endings are to chess what putting is to golf> - Cecil Purdy.

May-15-15		TheFocus: <I maintain that in every position that arises, we should deliberately search, among other things, for pieces which have no retreat. If we see one, we automatically look to see if it can be netted> - C.J.S. Purdy.

May-16-15		TheFocus: <Methodical thinking is of more use in chess than inspiration> - Cecil Purdey.

May-16-15		TheFocus: <If the student forces himself to examine all the moves that smite, however absurd they look at first glance, he is on his way to becoming a master of tactics> - Cecil Purdy.

May-21-15		TheFocus: <An open game can never be forced upon you, whether you are Black or White; a close game always can> - Cecil Purdy, Chess World.

May-21-15		diceman: His wife was Purdy!

May-22-15		TheFocus: <Chess players may be divided into three classes: those who don�t know the principles, and are therefore very weak; those who know the principles and are less weak; and those who know how weak the principles are, and are strong> - C. J. S. Purdy.

May-26-15		TheFocus: <You will never avoid oversights by grim determination; what is needed is a trained eye> - Cecil Purdy.

May-26-15		TheFocus: <It is even more important to look around than to look ahead> - Cecil Purdy.

May-28-15		TheFocus: <Examine moves that smite! A good eye for smites is far more important than a knowledge of strategical principles> - Cecil Purdy.

May-29-15		TheFocus: <If the student forces himself to examine all moves that smite, however absurd they may look at first glance, he is on the way to becoming a master of tactics> - Cecil Purdy.

May-30-15		TheFocus: <Methodical thinking is of more use in Chess than inspiration> - Cecil Purdy.

Nov-03-15		offramp: Chess Note 9571, Purdy and Fischer, reveals that by the 1970s Cecil John Seddon Purdy had taken to wearing a brobdingnagian syrup which can be seen in all its glimmering, sentient glory in this picture: http://www.chesshistory.com/winter/.... The gigantic postiche had a rating of 2120.

Mar-27-16		TheFocus: Happy birthday, CJS Purdy. One of chess's greatest writers.

Oct-06-16		Gottschalk: "In endings with bishops of opposite color, material means NOTHING, position EVERYTHING." Purdy This phrase contains a terrible logic She reminds me of Hitler speaking to not back down on the Russian front, despite the equipment failure. This is of course a endgame concept. Someone who make this their motto in his life or in their chess games he should not be considered mad or stubborn. Rather, it is an idiot who never will gain success as chessplayer.

Oct-06-16		JimNorCal: From 2013: JimNorCal: ... he said something like: "If you can't find a move, then at least find a way to make your least valuable piece more active." IndigoViolet: Does he give any advice on figuring out what one's least valuable/most inactive piece might be? Yes. Purdy's books, imho, have enormous value for beginners because they are so practical and contain numerous concrete examples. One is left feeling that, while you may never rise to a level where you can take on the top players, you can certainly achieve a level where you need feel no shame for your play.

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