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Lisa Lane
L Lane 
 

Number of games in database: 52
Years covered: 1958 to 1966
Overall record: +16 -27 =9 (39.4%)*
   * Overall winning percentage = (wins+draws/2) / total games.

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Most played openings
B32 Sicilian (7 games)
C77 Ruy Lopez (3 games)
B41 Sicilian, Kan (3 games)
B18 Caro-Kann, Classical (2 games)
B01 Scandinavian (2 games)
A07 King's Indian Attack (2 games)
C47 Four Knights (2 games)
A02 Bird's Opening (2 games)

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LISA LANE
(born Apr-25-1938, died Feb-28-2024, 85 years old) United States of America

[what is this?]

Lisa Lane was born in Philadelphia on April 25, 1938. She was a two-time U.S. women's champion (1959, equal first in 1966). In 1960, she was awarded the International Woman Master (WIM) title by FIDE. In 1961, Lane appeared on "What's My Line" (Season 12, Episode 38, May 21, 1961) and was featured in "Look" magazine, as well as on the cover of "Sports Illustrated." In 1961, she took 12th-14th place at the Women's Candidates Tournament in Vrnjacka Banja. Lane played four games in the Hastings Reserve tournament in 1961-62, then withdrew after one draw, two losses, and an adjourned game. She said she could not concentrate because she was "homesick and in love." In 1963, Lane opened a chess club, Queen's Pawn Chess Emporium, in New York. In 1964, she took 12th place at the Women's Candidates Tournament in Sukhumi. In 1966, Lane tied for 1st place with Gisela Gresser in the U.S. Women's Chess Championship. She married Neil Hickey, editor-at-large of the Columbia Journalism Review, who was a friend of Bobby Fischer and assisted Fischer in some chess articles. For many years, Lane owned a natural food business, Amber Waves of Grain, in Carmel, New York. She later owned a gift shop, Earth Lore Gems and Minerals, originally in Pawling, New York and then in Kent, Connecticut.

Wikipedia article: Lisa Lane

Last updated: 2024-11-22 01:29:29

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 page 1 of 3; games 1-25 of 52  PGN Download
Game  ResultMoves YearEvent/LocaleOpening
1. L Lane vs T Bullockus  0-132195859th US OpenB04 Alekhine's Defense, Modern
2. L Lane vs S Van Gelder  1-028196061st US OpenB06 Robatsch
3. L Lane vs G Baumanis  1-046196061st US OpenB62 Sicilian, Richter-Rauzer
4. L Lane vs M Rohland  0-131196061st US OpenB41 Sicilian, Kan
5. E E Hand vs L Lane  ½-½38196061st US OpenB32 Sicilian
6. L Lane vs M DiLillo  1-043196061st US OpenB95 Sicilian, Najdorf, 6...e6
7. Santasiere vs L Lane  1-040196061st US OpenA07 King's Indian Attack
8. James M Wright vs L Lane  0-138196061st US OpenA02 Bird's Opening
9. G Gresser vs L Lane 1-0281961Candidates Tournament (Women)B32 Sicilian
10. L Lane vs C Chaude de Silans 1-0411961Candidates Tournament (Women)C77 Ruy Lopez
11. H Konarkowska-Sokolov vs L Lane ½-½631961Candidates Tournament (Women)B32 Sicilian
12. L Lane vs F Heemskerk 1-0401961Candidates Tournament (Women)B18 Caro-Kann, Classical
13. L Volpert vs L Lane 1-0401961Candidates Tournament (Women)E30 Nimzo-Indian, Leningrad
14. L Lane vs T Zatulovskaya 0-1651961Candidates Tournament (Women)B43 Sicilian, Kan, 5.Nc3
15. K Zvorykina vs L Lane  1-0411961Candidates Tournament (Women)B31 Sicilian, Rossolimo Variation
16. L Lane vs N Gaprindashvili ½-½371961Candidates Tournament (Women)C61 Ruy Lopez, Bird's Defense
17. V Borisenko vs L Lane  1-0411961Candidates Tournament (Women)A02 Bird's Opening
18. L Lane vs A van der Mije-Nicolau 1-0311961Candidates Tournament (Women)B68 Sicilian, Richter-Rauzer Attack, 7...a6 Defense, 9...Be7
19. M Lazarevic vs L Lane 1-01011961Candidates Tournament (Women)B23 Sicilian, Closed
20. L Lane vs E Karakas  ½-½691961Candidates Tournament (Women)C77 Ruy Lopez
21. S Handsuren vs L Lane  0-1401961Candidates Tournament (Women)B35 Sicilian, Accelerated Fianchetto, Modern Variation with Bc4
22. L Lane vs E Rinder  0-1351961Candidates Tournament (Women)C73 Ruy Lopez, Modern Steinitz Defense
23. V Nedeljkovic vs L Lane  ½-½431961Candidates Tournament (Women)B32 Sicilian
24. L Lane vs E Polihroniade  0-1401961Candidates Tournament (Women)C47 Four Knights
25. G Gresser vs L Lane  1-0331962USA Championship (Women)B90 Sicilian, Najdorf
 page 1 of 3; games 1-25 of 52  PGN Download
  REFINE SEARCH:   White wins (1-0) | Black wins (0-1) | Draws (1/2-1/2) | Lane wins | Lane loses  

Kibitzer's Corner
< Earlier Kibitzing  · PAGE 2 OF 4 ·  Later Kibitzing>
Apr-01-10  Shams: Lisa Lane's son, Lang Lang, is a famous pianist in China.
Apr-01-10  Dravus: The two L's, so essential in Kryptonian folklore: Kal-el came to earth and, as Clark Kent and Superman, had two girlfriends, Lana Lang in boyhood, and Lois Lane in adulthood. Lori Lemaris was under the sea in an impossible relationship, a mermaid wheelchair-bound on land. Supergirl's secret identity was Linda Lee Danvers; she was Superman's first cousin.
Apr-02-10
Premium Chessgames Member
  HeMateMe: Baby Kal-el had a special pet--a panda named Ling Ling.
Apr-02-10  wordfunph: she was once quoted "I hate anyone who beats me."
Apr-25-10
Premium Chessgames Member
  HeMateMe: In Jen Shahade's book "ChessBitch" she describes a former american champion who abruptly quit the game and refused to talk about chess or play another game the rest of her life. I think it is this woman.
Apr-25-10  Albertan: Wikipedia has a page concerning Lisa Lane which you can access at:

http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Lisa_L...

Joshka not many, two years according to:
http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/U.S._W... and

In 1966, Lisa Lane shared the U.S. Women's Chess Champion title with Gisela Kahn Gresser. (source:http://www.all-science-fair-project...)

Lisa Lane made it on the cover of Sports Illustrated, I don't think Kasparov ever did, did he? See: http://sportsillustrated.cnn.com/va...

Sadly Bobby Fischer used Lisa Lane to put down women:see:http://www.bobby-fischer.net/Bobby_...

"Lisa Lane has said-and lots of other people agree-that you're (Bobby Fischer) probably the greatest chess player alive."

"That statement is accurate, but Lisa Lane really wouldn't be in a position to know. They're all weak, all women. They're stupid compared to men. They shouldn't play chess, you know. They're like beginners. They lose every single game against a man. There isn't a woman player in the world I can't give knight-odds to and still beat."

Here is a link to a photo of
Lisa Lane playing in a tournament at the Marshall Chess Club in 1962. She was US Women's champion at the time. http://files.chesscomfiles.com/imag...

Here is a link to an August, 7th, 1961 Sports Illustrated article about Lisa Lane:

http://sportsillustrated.cnn.com/va...

I hate anyone who beats me." -- LISA LANE

Lisa Lane is mentioned in this article:

http://www.westernpeople.com/news/s...

Here is a link to a newspaper article about her:The Milwaukee Sentinel - Mar 20, 1960

http://news.google.com/newspapers?n...

batgirl:Lisa Lane learned to play at 19 (1957) and became the US women's champion at 21 (1959). (source: http://www.chess.com/article/view/t...)

Apr-25-10  BobCrisp: <"That statement is accurate, but Lisa Lane really wouldn't be in a position to know. They're all weak, all women. They're stupid compared to men. They shouldn't play chess, you know. They're like beginners. They lose every single game against a man. There isn't a woman player in the world I can't give knight-odds to and still beat.">

But in the <Sports Illustrated> article you cite, we read: <What chance will Lisa have against such opponents? "I think Lisa can go to Yugoslavia and win the candidates' tournament," said Bobby Fischer, after analyzing Lisa's games, "and then go on to Moscow and win the women's championship of the world.">

Everything in that Harper's interview should be taken with a large pinch of salt.

Apr-25-10  talisman: happy birthday Lisa.
Oct-21-10
Premium Chessgames Member
  tamar: "The First Chess Beauty Queen" http://www.chessbase.com/newsdetail...

Interesting article about Lisa Lane from our own User: SBC

Oct-28-10  vonKrolock: From that very interesting article by <SBC> a Robert James Fischer quote <"They're all fish. Lisa, you might say, is the best of the American fish.">
Dec-15-10
Premium Chessgames Member
  GrahamClayton: Lane withdrew from the Hastings tournament so that she could be with Neil Hickey, a US newspaper journalist. When approached to comment, Hickey said that he knew Lane only slightly, and declined to make any further comment.
Apr-25-11  wordfunph: <Bio: She said she could not concentrate because she was "homesick and in love.">

<Graham>, Neil Hickey --- he's the man! :)

Apr-25-12  talisman: happy birthday Lisa!
Jun-11-12  Petrosianic: <Caissanist>: <She was probably a rated expert, but she could not have been a master. Diane Savereide was the first American woman to make master, I believe in the early eighties.>

I'm not positive, but I think both Gisela Gresser and Mona Karff held the master title before Saveride did. Possibly Lisa Lane also.

Jun-11-12  Petrosianic: I may have been mistaken. I've glanced through several rating lists from the 50's, and haven't seen Gresser over 2200 in any of them. I could have sworn I'd read somewhere that she'd made Master, but I can't find it at the moment. Ditto with Karf.
Jun-11-12  Marmot PFL: <Petrosianic> Savereide could be the first to make 2200. USCF started inflating their ratings about that time, to try to halt the membership decline in the post-Fischer era. Lots of bonus points were given out for unusually good (or lucky) tournaments.
Jun-12-12  Petrosianic: I didn't know there was a decline after Fischer, though it might have grown slower than they'd hoped.

But I thought ratings might have been inflated very early on. I'm pretty sure that both Fine and Reshevsky were well over 2700 in the very early 1950's, though I haven't dug that list up yet.

Sonja Graf is another one to check out as a possible early woman master. I don't know if she made it or not. People were very unconcerned about ratings in those days, and they were rarely mentioned outside of a rating list.

Does anyone know for sure that Savereid was the first to hit 2200, or are we guessing? I do know that there was a time when she was the ONLY American woman over 2200. But whether she was also the first, I'm not sure.

Jun-12-12  Kolyas: Gresser was first woman to become a US master. See Chess Life, March 2001 article. She was also given a WIM title in 1950 by FIDE.

Lane was never rated as a master, but had a low Expert's rating.

Graf was a German master before moving to the US.

Jun-12-12  Marmot PFL: <I didn't know there was a decline after Fischer, though it might have grown slower than they'd hoped.>

There was, but not as large as I thought. By 1992 they had passed the 1974 peak. Evidently this was largely due to an infusion of low cost scholastic memberships, which didn't cover their costs to USCF. How many of these eventually became full-paying adult members I don't know. The number of former Soviet and Eastern European players in the US also increased radidly in the 80s and 90s.

USCF membership Year Members
1940 1,000 (approx)
1952 1,127
1955 2,408
1960 4,579
1965 8,625
1970 22,623
1971 26,536
1972 30,844
1973 59,250
1974 59,779
1975 51,842
1976 49,179
1977 46,179
1978 48,837
1979 48,707
1980 47,800
1985 54,599
1990 52,898
1995 81,808
2000 85,396
2005 82,846
2010 80,000 (approx)

Jun-27-12  SBC:

<"The First Chess Beauty Queen" http://www.chessbase.com/newsdetail... Interesting article about Lisa Lane from our own User: SBC>

Thanks Tamar!

I recently published an article called, The Village Gambit," from Prof. Frank Brady's "Chessworld" magazine. It highlights the chess scene in NYC in 1964. Rossolimo's and Lisa Lane's chess venues are featured in it and anyone interested in that time might really enjoy it: http://blog.chess.com/batgirl/the-g...

Aug-07-12
Premium Chessgames Member
  perfidious: < kramputz: ....Rossolimo also had a studio in the neighborhood. Good old times for chess...>

My first time in Rossolimo's was to play in a simultaneous against the old master himself at Memorial Day 1975, a few weeks before his accident.

Aug-07-12
Premium Chessgames Member
  gezafan: It's too bad Lane stopped playing.

The derogatory comment attributed to Fischer reflects badly on Fischer, if he actually said it. One wonders what kind of effect Fischer's comments had on Lane.

Fischer should have encouraged Lane rather than insult her. Perhaps he was jealous of the attention she was getting.

Aug-07-12  diceman: <gezafan:
Perhaps he was jealous of the attention she was getting.>

Yeah, there were a few rumors:

Fischer Spassky 1972,
was going to be,
Lane Spassky 1972.

Aug-14-12  SBC: .

Fischer and Lisa Lane, I was told, actually got along very well. An acquaintance of mine told me he was in the Queen's Pawn when Fischer came in. At the time RJF was trying to set up a record-breaking 400 bd simul planned to take place on Nov. 27 of 1963 in the Grand Ballroom of the Hotel Astor. Kennedy, who was supposed to be in NYC that day received an invitation, but was assassinated on the 22nd and the simul was postponed. Before the simul could take place, the Grand Ballroom was gutted by fire and the simul plans fizzled out and it never took place. My acquainance actually met Fischer who personally signed him up for the simul and left him a sheet of rules, time, etc.

Aug-16-12  technical draw: <<perfidious> < kramputz: ....Rossolimo also had a studio in the neighborhood. Good old times for chess...> My first time in Rossolimo's was to play in a simultaneous against the old master himself at Memorial Day 1975, a few weeks before his accident.>

I was there in 1967. I played someone for a dollar a game. I lost 3 bucks.

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