Book review by James Schroeder
The Art of Bisguier Volume Two
One Hundred Selected Games 1961 – 2003
© 2008; 267 pp.; figurine algebraic
The introduction by Berry is atrocious. He is incredibly egotistic and stupid and not qualified to make any comment about master play, much less grandmaster play. He is especially insulting by saying: “Lubosh certainly must have thought …” I hate damn mind-readers. He is a very poor writer: “One possible move” instead of “one legal move”.
There are too many draws, which are dull and uninteresting, as usual.
Why did Bisguier lie? “I won the U.S. Open outright three times (1950, 1956 and 1959).” I said in my review of Vol. One that in 1956 Busguier tied for first with James Sherwin. I sent copies of my review to Bisguier and Berry.
The proof reading is poor and there are many more factual errors, for which the two moronic “Researchers: Allen Becker & David Granik” should be shot.
Art is a poor writer, using insulting childish words: “horse” & “cavalier” instead of knight, “infantryman”, “fortress”, “monarch”, and assorted garbage, “his own king” and the incredibly stupid “three-fold repetition.”
Art makes the asinine mistake of reciting the list of “best players” as compiled by Keene and Divinsky, which is insane crap. He also makes the inane mistake of mentioning analysis by computers, which proves he is lazy and incompetent. “Fritz says Black has the advantage, but I think he’s wrong.” WHO CARES? NO INTELLIGENT PERSON!
“Benko and Robert Byrne tied for first in the 1966 U.S. Open.” With Milan Vukcevich, who beat Bisguier in their game.
“Boris Spassky trained first with Tolush and then Bondarevsky.” WRONG! His first trainer was Vladimir Zak.
“Tony Miles played an entire tournament lying flat on his back.” WRONG! At Tilburg 1985 Miles scored 4-3 while sitting in a chair. Persistent back pain caused him to ask the organizers for help. From round eight on he lay on his stomach while playing and tied for first with 8-1/2 – 5-1/2.
“I collaborated with Soltis on the book American Masters from Morphy to Fischer.” Soltis says Bisguier was so lazy and irresponsible he did not write ONE word of that book, which is an abomination.
1 PK4 PK4; 2 NKB3 NQB3; 3 BN5 NB3; 4 O-O NxP “The Rio de Janeiro Variation.” WRONG! That can come later but Art NEVER played it.
“Two Knights Opening” instead of “Two Knights Defense”.
“David Bronstein’s play is very careful and cautious, hoping that his opponents will become careless or too aggressive.” Bisguier is a damn imbecile. That is exactly the opposite of Bronstein’s style. He was the greatest combinational player of his time with a very risky, daring, creative style.
A serious defect is the lack of lists of Bisguier’s tournament and match results. Volume One ends with Log Cabin 1960. The photo-copy of one of Art’s columns from Chess Review has print so tiny it is worthless.
Why are there so many mistakes in this book? Bisguier is notorious for being indifferent to the truth. Berry is a terrible editor. If ignorance is bliss, he must be ecstatic. The “researchers” are hopelessly ignorant and stupid. Hanon Russell is a selfish ego-mainiac who is ultimately responsible for all errors. He refused to put “Volume Two” as part of the title. That is insulting to Bisguier and to Berry, the publisher of Volume One. Hanon Russell is a jackass.
The quality of play and players is much higher than in Volume One. Art is more creative and his moves are hard to predict and you should NOT try to copy most of his play in openings.
Of great interest is the comments Art makes about the various players.
:”A Los Angeles County doctor, Anthony Saidy is an International Master who won the American Open twice, in 1967 and 1992, a quarter-century apart.” Typically inane writing. TWENTY-FIVE YEARS, which is no where near one hundred years. “Dr. Saidy also authored a couple notable books: The March of Chess Ideas and The World of Chess.” WRONG! The first book is good but The World of Chess is completely worthless garbage. Saidy once won a tournament game from Samuel Reshevsky.
Arthur Bisguier won the 1950 U.S. Open and the 1954 U.S. Championship and became a grandmaster when there were only 40 in the world. He’s an amateur who has been successful in international chess. His style in these games is aggressive and tactical, but with a strong emphasis on positionally safe moves, based upon much experience. An excellent book.
© 2008 James Schroeder
Selected from Confidential Chess Lessons
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James Schroeder
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