MARK RUBERY CHESS

‘In the years that I had known Capa he had never played in private, he had never practised, nor even had a chess set at home. Ever so different from the chess masters all over the world! This was, however, a very special occasion. It happened in Paris. I believe the year was 1938. We stayed in the Hotel Regina, Place Jeanne D’Arc, quite near the Louvre Museum. I had one of my frequent bad colds and stayed in bed to recuperate, when Savielly Tartakower, one of our good friends, came over for a visit. He stayed quite a while. Then suddenly he said to Capa: “I have a chess set with me. Why not play a game?” Much to my astonishment, Capa smiled. “Why not? We are in good company.” He grabbed some of the hotel stationery, a small table was moved close to my bed and the two masters sat down to play. How long the game lasted I couldn’t quite tell, as here and there I slept a little. I remember Capa woke me up by gently touching my shoulder, to give me a few folded sheets naturedly. “Take it and of Regina stationery, on which he had written the score of Capa v Tartakower. Of course he won. “Here is a present for you, chérie.” Gingerly I took the folded stationery. “But you know I don’t understand a thing about chess.” Both he and Tartakower laughed good – hide it well. Some day in years to come it will buy you a beautiful bijou”, Capa said. “Ever since I was a child everything I did was written down. And this is the only chess game that is only yours.” (Reminisces from Olga Capablanca) According to the chess historian, Edward Winter, she was prepared to sell the score-sheet for a minimum of $10,000. No bids were received and Olga passed away in 1994. In 2012 it was revealed that it had been acquired by the collector, David DeLucia, and he generously shared it with the chess world …