Main
Date: 01 May 2005 19:23:37
From: Sam Sloan
Subject: Benko Himself Replies on the Benko Gambit
Dear Sam,

May I say something also about this debate on the Benko Gambit. I
quote first from my book. History of the Gambit

"It is hardly possible to state precisely who first adopted the
gambit. Some Swedish sources mention that it first occurred there in
the 1920s ........Stolz and Lundin also used it.

The earliest examples of the gambit in serious competition are the
games Bronstein-Lundin, Szabo-Lundin (1948) , and Tajmanov-Bronstein
(1953), which are analyzed below."

In those games the b5 pawn sacrifices happened, but Black did not
play the gambit like me. Therefore we have never found out who played
it first and so it is irrelevant. Alekhine said that: It is not
important who played it first, but who made it well known or popular.

Like the Alekhine Defence, which was played before him, and he played
it only 3 times, or the shall Gambit only once, not to mention
the Breyer Variation, which he never played but just recommended.

In my book (1973) you can find about 30 games from me playing the
Gambit even against GMs, like Portisch , Gligoric etc. consistently
and successfully.

The so called Volga Gambit (there is no such player or city) is also
explained in my book.

"Volga Gambit refers only to the treatment of the pawn sacrifice with
Black playing an early e6, which is rather similar to the old
Blumenfeld Gambit. ........

Taimanov's book , Damengambit bis Hollandish, published in German in
1970, and the Russian magazine Shakhmathny Bulletin (1971,#5) treats
only the Volga Gambit (with e6 by Black.) .......

It is pity to confuse these two openings which have completely
different goals. "

"In the beginning I tried to popularize this opening under the name
Benoni Countergambit , but the name did not stick as players began to
call it the Benko Gambit. I must add, of course, that I have never
claimed to have been the first to adopt it; in the chapter dealing
with the history of the gambit I explain its origins in international
chess. "

I hope you will stop this fruitless debate and just play the Gambit.

Best regards: Pal Benko





 
Date: 02 May 2005 17:00:46
From: Taylor Kingston
Subject: Re: Benko on Sloan on the Benko Gambit

J=FCrgen R. wrote:
> If you think Sloan considers this a correction then you have not
begun
> to understand this slob's psychology.
>
> Think of it: Benk=F6, a true past master of the game, wrote to Sam
Sloan
> personally. This proves that Sloan was right: Right is whatever
bloats
> his ego.

A lot of people communicate with GM Benko. He and I exchanged a
couple of e-mails last month. Maybe we shouldn't tell Sam?



 
Date: 01 May 2005 17:08:49
From: Taylor Kingston
Subject: Benko on Sloan on the Benko Gambit

Sam Sloan wrote:
> On Sun, 01 May 2005 19:55:09 GMT, "John J." <[email protected]>
> wrote:
> >Looks like even he says that he wasn't the first.
>
> Yes. I forwarded this entire debate to Benko in Budapest and he
> replied.
>
> Sam Sloan

So once again one of Sloan's erroneous beliefs and absolute claims is
refuted, in this case by one of the most authoritative sources
available on the subject.
That's quite a few, recently, isn't it Sam? We tried to warn you.
But to give credit where it is (barely) due, at least this time you did
publish at least a partial correction, by posting Benko's statement.
You should make a habit of this.



  
Date: 02 May 2005 14:25:58
From: J�rgen R.
Subject: Re: Benko on Sloan on the Benko Gambit
On 1 May 2005 17:08:49 -0700, "Taylor Kingston"
<[email protected] > wrote:

>
>Sam Sloan wrote:
>> On Sun, 01 May 2005 19:55:09 GMT, "John J." <[email protected]>
>> wrote:
>> >Looks like even he says that he wasn't the first.
>>
>> Yes. I forwarded this entire debate to Benko in Budapest and he
>> replied.
>>
>> Sam Sloan
>
> So once again one of Sloan's erroneous beliefs and absolute claims is
>refuted, in this case by one of the most authoritative sources
>available on the subject.
> That's quite a few, recently, isn't it Sam? We tried to warn you.
>But to give credit where it is (barely) due, at least this time you did
>publish at least a partial correction, by posting Benko's statement.
>You should make a habit of this.

If you think Sloan considers this a correction then you have not begun
to understand this slob's psychology.

Think of it: Benk�, a true past master of the game, wrote to Sam Sloan
personally. This proves that Sloan was right: Right is whatever bloats
his ego.



 
Date: 01 May 2005 20:48:00
From: Captain!
Subject: Re: Benko Himself Replies on the Benko Gambit

"Sam Sloan" <[email protected] > wrote in message
news:[email protected]...
> Dear Sam,
>
> May I say something also about this debate on the Benko Gambit. I
> quote first from my book. History of the Gambit
>
> "It is hardly possible to state precisely who first adopted the
> gambit. Some Swedish sources mention that it first occurred there in
> the 1920s ........Stolz and Lundin also used it.
>
> The earliest examples of the gambit in serious competition are the
> games Bronstein-Lundin, Szabo-Lundin (1948) , and Tajmanov-Bronstein
> (1953), which are analyzed below."
>
> In those games the b5 pawn sacrifices happened, but Black did not
> play the gambit like me. Therefore we have never found out who played
> it first and so it is irrelevant. Alekhine said that: It is not
> important who played it first, but who made it well known or popular.
>
> Like the Alekhine Defence, which was played before him, and he played
> it only 3 times, or the shall Gambit only once, not to mention
> the Breyer Variation, which he never played but just recommended.
>
> In my book (1973) you can find about 30 games from me playing the
> Gambit even against GMs, like Portisch , Gligoric etc. consistently
> and successfully.
>
> The so called Volga Gambit (there is no such player or city) is also
> explained in my book.
>
> "Volga Gambit refers only to the treatment of the pawn sacrifice with
> Black playing an early e6, which is rather similar to the old
> Blumenfeld Gambit. ........
>
> Taimanov's book , Damengambit bis Hollandish, published in German in
> 1970, and the Russian magazine Shakhmathny Bulletin (1971,#5) treats
> only the Volga Gambit (with e6 by Black.) .......
>
> It is pity to confuse these two openings which have completely
> different goals. "
>
> "In the beginning I tried to popularize this opening under the name
> Benoni Countergambit , but the name did not stick as players began to
> call it the Benko Gambit. I must add, of course, that I have never
> claimed to have been the first to adopt it; in the chapter dealing
> with the history of the gambit I explain its origins in international
> chess. "
>
> I hope you will stop this fruitless debate and just play the Gambit.
>
> Best regards: Pal Benko
>
the fruitless debate will never end




 
Date: 01 May 2005 13:33:22
From: David Ames
Subject: Re: Benko Himself Replies on the Benko Gambit
I wonder if Benko's two endgame books (prior to Basic Chess Endings)
are still available.

David Ames



 
Date: 01 May 2005 19:55:09
From: John J.
Subject: Did you contact him?
Or does Benko monitor this forum....

Looks like even he says that he wasn't the first.

John


"Sam Sloan" <[email protected] > wrote in message
news:[email protected]...
> Dear Sam,
>
> May I say something also about this debate on the Benko Gambit. I
> quote first from my book. History of the Gambit
>
> "It is hardly possible to state precisely who first adopted the
> gambit. Some Swedish sources mention that it first occurred there in
> the 1920s ........Stolz and Lundin also used it.
>
> The earliest examples of the gambit in serious competition are the
> games Bronstein-Lundin, Szabo-Lundin (1948) , and Tajmanov-Bronstein
> (1953), which are analyzed below."
>
> In those games the b5 pawn sacrifices happened, but Black did not
> play the gambit like me. Therefore we have never found out who played
> it first and so it is irrelevant. Alekhine said that: It is not
> important who played it first, but who made it well known or popular.
>
> Like the Alekhine Defence, which was played before him, and he played
> it only 3 times, or the shall Gambit only once, not to mention
> the Breyer Variation, which he never played but just recommended.
>
> In my book (1973) you can find about 30 games from me playing the
> Gambit even against GMs, like Portisch , Gligoric etc. consistently
> and successfully.
>
> The so called Volga Gambit (there is no such player or city) is also
> explained in my book.
>
> "Volga Gambit refers only to the treatment of the pawn sacrifice with
> Black playing an early e6, which is rather similar to the old
> Blumenfeld Gambit. ........
>
> Taimanov's book , Damengambit bis Hollandish, published in German in
> 1970, and the Russian magazine Shakhmathny Bulletin (1971,#5) treats
> only the Volga Gambit (with e6 by Black.) .......
>
> It is pity to confuse these two openings which have completely
> different goals. "
>
> "In the beginning I tried to popularize this opening under the name
> Benoni Countergambit , but the name did not stick as players began to
> call it the Benko Gambit. I must add, of course, that I have never
> claimed to have been the first to adopt it; in the chapter dealing
> with the history of the gambit I explain its origins in international
> chess. "
>
> I hope you will stop this fruitless debate and just play the Gambit.
>
> Best regards: Pal Benko
>




  
Date: 01 May 2005 21:06:32
From: Sam Sloan
Subject: Re: Did you contact him?
On Sun, 01 May 2005 19:55:09 GMT, "John J." <[email protected] >
wrote:

>Or does Benko monitor this forum....
>
>Looks like even he says that he wasn't the first.
>
>John

Yes. I forwarded this entire debate to Benko in Budapest and he
replied.

Sam Sloan


   
Date: 02 May 2005 22:39:40
From: Captain!
Subject: Re: Did you contact him?

"Sam Sloan" <[email protected] > wrote in message
news:[email protected]...
> On Sun, 01 May 2005 19:55:09 GMT, "John J." <[email protected]>
> wrote:
>
>>Or does Benko monitor this forum....
>>
>>Looks like even he says that he wasn't the first.
>>
>>John
>
> Yes. I forwarded this entire debate to Benko in Budapest and he
> replied.
>
> Sam Sloan

o...m...g... you actually communicated with the real, live benko? you are
one lucky man mr. sloan. you have 100% chess credibility with me now. thanks
for posting this in SCR!