http://www.ishipress.com/collins.htm

< Geniuses like Beethoven, Leonardo da Vinci, Shakespeare, and Fischer come out of the head of Zeus, seem to be genetically programmed, know before instructed.>

-- John W. Collins

Susan Howe

"Exchanging pieces and pawns to open a vital diagonal is a deadly device."

-- John W. Collins

William Lombardy: <Ich weiß es nicht mehr genau. Collins war es jedenfalls nicht. 1953, als ich 15 Jahre alt war, lud er mich zu sich nach Hause zu einer Turnierpartie ein. Ich schlug ihn in 25 Zügen, obwohl er damals als großer Meister galt. Es ist ein Mythos, dass Collins ein bedeutender Schachlehrer war. Er war nie mein Trainer, auch nicht von Robert und Donald Byrne oder Bobby Fischer, wie es bis heute immer heißt. Höchstens ein Mentor.>

(Question: Who discovered your talent in New York, John Collins? Answer: I don't know exactly. By all means not Collins. In 1953, when I was 15 years old, he asked me over for a tournament game. I beat him in 25 moves although he was regarded a great master back then. It's a myth that Collins was an important chess teacher. He was never my teacher, also not of Robert and Donald Byrne or Bobby Fischer, as is always claimed today. A mentor at most.)

There is a photo of Fischer giving Collins a big hug in Iceland, at the celebration after Fischer finished off Spassky, 1972 world championship. The fact that a troubled person like Fischer would keep up a relationship into adulthood seems remarkable to me. I guess he liked Jack Collins. Obviously JC wasn't a strong enough player to 'teach' Fischer anything but that wasn't the point. Guys grow up doing what they like to do, and chess players gravitated towards Jack's place.

A few years ago I spoke to Bill Lombardy at a chess club in Manhattan, asked him about Collins. He angrily said "I went to his [jack's] place REGULARLY and cleaned up, brought him groceries, and Fischer never did ANYTHING!"*

That makes 100% sense to me and is 100% believable because Bobby Fischer was a selfish and ungrateful man who never did anything extra, anything helpful, for anyone. Bobby Fischer never thanked anyone who helped him in life--EVER. Outside of studying chess Fischer was simply a lazy MoFo, a very poor role model.

________

Pretty sure Collins delivered some useful info to Fischer and Lombardy. Whether it was availability or suggestions of books or relevant games. Or just general thoughts on openings.

As is always the case, these folks are unhinged nutjobs,

...until they agree with you:

<William Lombardy:

I thought Collins said something to the effect that players of Fischer's strength don't really have teachers. I can't find the quote, though. I don't have Collins' book.