“The Michigan Chess Association (MCA) has been supporting chess in Michigan continuously since its founding in 1931.” So reads the first sentence on the “About the MCA” webpage at www.michess.org, and no one in Michigan doubts the truth of the statement. However, there was chess in Michigan before 1931, and there was even a state association to support it.

What little we know of this predecessor group, the Michigan State Chess Association, we owe to New York Clipper chess columnist Miron J. Hazeltine. The chess editor not only featured material on Michigan chess in his column, he also carefully preserved a detailed report from an unidentified Michigan newspaper on the 1870 MSCA tournament on pages 126 to 128 of his Scrapbook number 65. I’ll use the phrase “scrapbook article” when referring to this newspaper tournament report.

The earliest known attempt at organizing the chess players of Michigan into a state group was in January of 1869, in Jackson, “where so many new and successful enterprises have been brought into existence”, according to the scrapbook article. The newspaper wrote that the MSCA’s goal “is to promote the cultivation of the game in this State, and it seeks to build up clubs, and, by an annual gathering of the players of the State, to increase the skill of all, and to advance the acquaintance and pleasant social interaction among the lovers of this game.”

Hazeltine’s January 16, 1869 New York Clipper chess column included the following announcement of the first MSCA tournament: “The meeting for organization is called for at the Board of Trade rooms, Jackson, Michigan, on the 19th, immediately after which the first Annual Tournament will begin, in two sections. The first class prizes are to be a gold medal valued at $50.00, and a set of chessmen and board worth $25.00. Second class prizes, a silver medal of the value of $15.00, and a set of chessmen and board worth $10.00. Membership tickets, entitling the holder to participate in either section of the tourney he may select, are fixed at the low price of $3.00.” Hazeltine also commented on the “proof of vitality” exhibited by the Michigan players amid the “comparative chess lethargy that prevails in American chess circles”, and gave his “best wishes for its present success, and future permanence and prosperity.”

On February 6, Hazeltine gave the results of the first MSCA tournament in his column. Otto E. Michaelis and Harsen D. Smith, the MSCA Secretary, were listed as the “successful competitors”, but Hazeltine said that a playoff game was to be held to determine first place. However, the result table published by Hazeltine shows Michaelis with seven wins to Smith’s six. The tournament appears to have been a round robin, with drawn games to be replayed till a decision is reached, thus explaining Michaelis’ seven draws.

Thanks to the likely second-place finisher Harsen Smith, a game from the MSCA tournament was published. Coincidentally, it happens to be a quick win for the MSCA Secretary. Smith announced a mate in five moves, but Gustavus Reichhelm, chess editor of the Philadelphia Evening Bulletin, pointed out in his column that with best play Black could hold out an additional two moves. The brief note at Black’s eleventh move was also taken from Reichhelm’s column.

H.D. Smith
John P. Swan
MSCA Championship
Jackson, January 1869
French: King’s Knight, C00

Notes by Gustavus Reichhelm

1.e4 e6 2.Nf3 a6 3.a4 b6 4.Nc3 Bb7 5.Be2 d5 6.exd5 exd5 7.d4 Nd7 8.0–0 Ngf6 9.Bg5 Be7 10.Bd3 0–0 11.Re1 Bb4

Feeble. 11...h6 should have been played.

12.Ne5 c5 13.Nxd7 Qxd7 14.Bxf6 c4

White to Move

White announced mate in five moves.

1–0

New York Clipper, March 27, 1869

The following year the MSCA again held a meeting and championship tournament in Jackson. The scrapbook article reports that the play began on Tuesday, January 18, and lasted five days. Fifteen players from all parts of the state took part, competing for five prizes, including a $100 gold medal for first place. During these five days the MSCA, in addition to the championship tournament, had its annual business meeting, held its second election of officers, and concluded its first problem tourney. The scrapbook article noted that the MSCA’s membership “did not much exceed 50” and that “it is hoped that during the present year the membership may be largely increased.” The newspaper added that “at the next annual gathering a greater number of prizes will undoubtedly be given that weaker players may be induced to take part in the play and have a fair chance of gaining something useful or nice.”

The first place medal, and with it the title Champion of Michigan, was won by Fred Elder of Detroit. The scrapbook article stated: “it was generally supposed” that first place would be taken by Elder, and his score of 13 wins shows the supposition to be justified. In fact, Elder never played his 14th opponent; after beating 13 players, his lead was unassailable, and he was given championship title with a round to spare.

The scrapbook article prints one of Elder’s games, a win against the second-place finisher H.H. Swan. Mr. Swan’s play was described in the article as “characterized by that directness, judgment, and steadiness that always prevails against ill-regulated brilliancy.” Unfortunately Swan did not prevail against Elder. The annotations are from the scrapbook article, and unfortunately they are uncredited to an author. Fans of opening theory might find the first few notes amusing in the light of present-day understanding of the Sicilian.

Fred Elder
H.H. Swan
MSCA Championship January 1870
Jackson, January 1870
Sicilian: Philidor, B20

1.e4 c5 2.Bc4

This is a good mode of continuing against the Sicilian defense, but if Black gets his pawn up to d5, White’s proper course is to be prepared to retreat his bishop without exchanging pawns or queens. See White’s seventh move, 7.Bd2, to avoid the exchanges if Black should play ...d5.

2...e6 3.Nc3 Nc6 4.d3 a6 5.a4

This is very necessary in answer to Black’s move of ...a6, to prevent the latter from swiftly developing his queen’s wing.

5...g6 6.Nge2

This is better than 6.Nf3, as it permits the attacking move of f4.

6...Bg7 7.Bd2 Nge7 8.0–0 Qc7 9.f4 d6 10.Rb1

A precaution against the range of Black’s bishop on g7.

10...0–0 11.Ng3 Nd4 12.Nce2 Ndc6

We hardly think this was necessary or wise.

13.Kh1 b6 14.Ng1 f6 15.c3 Kf7

With the idea of playing ...Rh8, ...h5, etc, to attack White’s castled king, but it subjected Black to an overwhelming attack instead.

16.f5 d5 17.Bf4 Qd8

If Black played 17...e5, White would have answered 18.exd5, gaining further advantage.

18.fxe6+ Bxe6 19.Nf3

Black to Move

19...h6

If Black takes the bishop, 19...dxc4, White plays 20.Ng5+. If the knight be taken, 20...fxg5, he plays 21.Bc7+ gaining the queen. If the knight be not taken, he captures the e6-bishop after the king retires, and wins the exchange at least.

20.Ba2 Rh8 21.Qe2 Ke8 22.Rbe1 Kf8

It is pretty much immaterial what Black does now. His king is too much exposed, and his pieces are fatally cramped.

23.d4 Ra7 24.dxc5 bxc5 25.Be3 dxe4 26.Bxe6 exf3 27.Qxf3 Ne5 28.Qe4 Qd6 29.Ba2 Rc7

This loses at once, but an examination of the position will show that there is no longer any defense.

30.Rd1 1–0

Unidentified Michigan newspaper clipping, Hazeltine Scrapbooks, John G. White Collection

Harsen Smith, the MSCA Secretary, secured fifth place and a silver medal despite “over confidence and consequent carelessness” in his play. He also managed to have another of this short wins published, this time in the scrapbook article.

Harsen D. Smith
E. Feldner
MSCA Championship
Jackson, January 1870
Spanish: Steinitz, C62

1.e4 e5 2.Nf3 Nc6 3.Bb5 d6 4.d4 Bg4 5.d5 a6 6.dxc6 axb5 7.cxb7 Ra7 8.Qd5 Qb8 9.Qxb5+ Bd7 10.Qd3 Rxb7 11.Nc3 Nf6 12.b3 h6 13.0–0 Be7 14.h3 0–0 15.Nh4 Bc6 16.Nf5 Re8

White to Move

17.Bxh6 gxh6 18.Qg3+ Ng4 19.Qxg4+ Bg5 20.Nxh6+ Kf8 21.Qxg5 Qa7 22.Qf6

and wins. 1–0

Unidentified Michigan newspaper clipping, Hazeltine Scrapbooks, John G. White Collection

Third and fourth place were shared at the time of publication of the scrapbook article, and were due to be settled by a playoff match. It’s here that the 1870 tournament rises above the position of historical curiosity, as one of the players, Max Judd, would go on to become one of the strongest American masters of the nineteenth century. Unfortunately to the average chessplayer Max Judd is as unfamiliar a name as that of E. Feldner, the player Judd tied with for third and fourth place, so perhaps a little background information is in order.

Max Judd was born Maximilian Jud¬kiewicz in Kraków, Poland, on December 27, 1851. He immigrated to the United States in 1862, and resided in the Washington, DC area for several years. On becoming a US citizen he shortened his name to Max Judd, and traveled west. When he arrived in Michigan isn’t clear; he’s described as “recently” moved to Detroit in the 1870 scrapbook article. He would move to Ohio in 1871 and then Missouri in 1873, eventually spending the rest of his life in St. Louis. Judd was a respected businessman in St. Louis, and eventually secured a political appointment as US Consul-general to Austria in 1893. His nomination caused strained relations between the United States and Austria, as the Austrians objected to the appointment of a Jewish man to the position. The United States, and Max Judd, did not back down to anti-Semitism, and Judd served four years in the post, returning to the US in 1897. Judd became active in chess organizing up until his death in 1905.

Judd’s chess resume is as impressive as his life was impressive. Among his tournament victories are the Second American Chess Congress in Cincinnati in 1872 and the Western tournament (the forerunner of the USCF’s U.S. Open) in 1903. Judd finished second in the Third American Chess Congress, in Philadelphia in 1876, and defeated U.S. Champion Jackson Showalter in a match in 1889. That same year, Judd played in the Sixth American Chess Congress, in New York. His win over Pollock managed to impress World Champion Wilhelm Steinitz. The notes below are Steinitz’s, taken from the 1889 tournament book.

William Pollock
Max Judd
6th American Congress
New York, NY, 1889
Evans Gambit: Declined (Lange), C51

Notes by Wilhelm Steinitz

1.e4 e5 2.Nf3 Nc6 3.Bc4 Bc5 4.b4 Bb6 5.b5 Na5 6.Nxe5 Nh6 7.d4 d6 8.Bxh6 dxe5 9.Bxg7 Qxd4

A new idea, and, as far as can be judged from the present game, a very good one, for it clearly and quickly equalizes forces and position, which, we believe, is not the case in most forms of this opening.

10.Qxd4 Bxd4 11.Bxh8 Bxa1 12.Bd3

Black likewise regains the pawn after 12.Bb3 Ke7 13.Bg7! Bd7 14.Bh6! Bxb5 etc.

12...Ke7 13.Bg7 Be6 14.Bh6 Bxa2 15.0 0 Bd4 16.Bd2 Nc4 17.Bb4+ Nd6 18.c3 Bb6 19.c4 Bxb1

19...Bd4 at once was decidedly better.

20.Rxb1 Bd4 21.c5 Ne8 22.Ba3 Kf6 23.Bc4 Ng7 24.Rb3 Ne6 25.Rf3+ Kg6 26.Rg3+ Kf6 27.Rf3+ Kg6

White is not satisfied with a draw, and the result does not justify his conclusion.

28.h4 h5 29.Rf5 Re8 30.Be2 Rh8 31.g3

Black to Move

31...c6

An excellent move which transfers the attack to Black.

32.bxc6 bxc6 33.Bc4 Rb8 34.Kg2 Rb1 35.Be2 Ng7 36.Rf3

If 36.Rg5+? Kh6 followed by 37...f6 and wins.

36...a5 37.Bd3 Rb3

We would have preferred 37...Ra1 38.Bc4 Ne6 39.Kh3 (or 39.Bxe6 fxe6 followed by 40...a4 then 41...Rb1 and 42...Rb3, winning.) 39...Nd8 followed by 40...f6 and 41...Nb7.

38.Bc4 Rxf3 39.Kxf3 Kf6 40.Ke2 Ne6 41.f3 Nxc5 42.Bxc5 Bxc5 43.g4 hxg4 44.fxg4 Be7 45.Bb3 Kg7 46.h5

46.Ba4 at once, followed immediately by 47.Kd3, would have drawn without difficulty.

46...f6 47.Ba4 c5 48.Kd3 Kh6 49.Kc4 Kg5 50.Bd7

The true cause of his disaster, whereas 50.Kd5 Kxg4 51.Ke6 Bf8 52.Kxf6 would have drawn with ease.

50...Bf8

The manner in which Black now wins, though bishops are of opposite colors and his own bishop is blocked, makes this ending one of the finest of that description.

51.Kb5 Kf4 52.Bf5 Ke3 53.h6 Kd4 54.h7 Bg7 55.Be6 Kxe4 56.Kxc5 Kf3 57.Bf5 e4 58.Kd5 e3 59.Ke6 e2 60.Kf7 Bh8 61.Kg8 e1Q 62.Kxh8 a4 63.Bg6 Qe7 64.Kg8 a3 65.Bf7 Kxg4 66.Kg7 f5 67.Kg8 Qe5 0–1

Steinitz was obviously impressed by that ending, and Judd’s play in that ending. However, Judd’s win over Pollock was nineteen years out, and Jackson is a distance from New York. The young man from Poland had to first pay his dues, and it was in Michigan in 1869 and 1870 that he paid them.

The biographical article on Max Judd in the Jewish Encyclopedia (available online at http://www.jewishencyclopedia.com/view.jsp?artid=673&letter=J) lists him as finishing fourth in the 1869 Michigan tournament, but as there is no record of Judd playing in the 1869 event. The notice is probably in error, and the 1870 tournament was meant.

The scrapbook article described the young Mr. Judd as “a fine player. His game is particularly characterized by its vigor, boldness, and brilliancy, and only needs a little more care and steadiness.” Judd’s two games in the article show both the positive and negative in that description. His win against Colburn is certainly vigorous and brilliant, but his loss to the eventual third-place finisher Feldner was decidedly unsteady.

Max Judd
W. Coburn
MSCA Championship
Jackson, January 1870
Giuoco Piano, C54

1.e4 e5 2.Nf3 Nc6 3.Bc4 Bc5 4.c3 Nf6 5.d4 exd4 6.e5 Ng4

The proper line of play is 6...d5, followed by ...Ng4.

7.cxd4 Bb6 8.0–0 d5 9.exd6 Qxd6 10.h3 Nf6 11.Re1+ Ne7 12.Qe2 c6 13.Bf4 Qd8 14.Ng5 Nfd5 15.Bxd5 cxd5 16.Nc3 Ba5 17.Nxd5 Bxe1 18.Rxe1

Black to Move

18...Be6 19.Nc7+ Kf8 20.Ncxe6+ fxe6 21.Nxe6+ 1–0

Unidentified Michigan newspaper clipping, Hazeltine Scrapbooks, John G. White Collection

E. Feldner
Max Judd
MSCA Championship
Jackson, January 1870
Evans Gambit: Counter-Gambit, C51

1.e4 e5 2.Nf3 Nc6 3.Bc4 Bc5 4.b4 d5 5.Bxd5 Nxb4 6.Bb3 Nc6 7.Bb2 Nf6 8.0–0 0–0 9.Nxe5 Nxe5 10.Bxe5 Nxe4 11.Qf3 Nf6 12.c3 Bd6 13.d4 Bxe5 14.dxe5 Ng4 15.e6 Ne5 16.Qg3 Qf6 17.Re1 Nc6 18.exf7+ Kh8 19.Qxc7 Bf5 20.Qxb7 Ne5 21.Nd2 Nxf7 22.Bxf7 Qxf7 23.Qxf7 Rxf7 24.Re5 Rd8 25.Rae1 h6 26.Re8+ Rxe8 27.Rxe8+ Kh7 28.Nb3 Bb1 29.Re2 Rc7 30.Rb2 Bd3 31.h3 Rxc3 32.Nd4 Ra3 33.Rb3 Rxb3 34.axb3 a6 35.f4 Kg6 36.g4 Kf6 37.Kf2 g6 38.h4 g5 39.hxg5+ hxg5 40.f5 Ke5 41.Ke3 Bf1 42.b4 Kf6 43.Ne6 Bg2 44.Nc5 Bh3 45.Kf3 Bf1 46.Ne4+ Kg7 47.Nxg5 1–0

Unidentified Michigan newspaper clipping, Hazeltine Scrapbooks, White Collection.

Alongside the over-the-board tournament the MSCA held a tournament for chess composition. Sets of three problems were submitted to the judges for review. First prize was won by John P. Swan of Detroit, with Harsen Smith taking second. Both Swan and Smith had exceptional luck in the ill-fortune that bedeviled fellow problemists William Shinkman and Charles Wheeler; second solutions were found in their problems, disqualifying them.

Harsen Smith may have finished second to Swan, but he had an honor Swan didn’t. A three-mover from Smith’s set was chosen to be engraved on the first-place medal in the tournament. Here is that problem:

Harsen D. Smith
Mate in Three
1870

White to Move

1–0

Unidentified Michigan newspaper clipping, Hazeltine Scrapbooks, John G. White Collection

The Smith problem may have been the best suited to appear on a medallion, but the best problem prize was awarded to J. P. Swan for the following two-mover. The motto Swan chose for his problem, a quotation from Sir Walter Scott’s verse-novel “Marmion”, underlines the solution.

John P. Swan
Mate in Two
“My castles are my King’s alone, From turret to foundation stone.”
1870

White to Move

1–0

New York Clipper, June 11, 1870

For solutions to the Compositions, see the end of this article.

One final game connected to the 1870 tournament has survived, thanks to the New York Clipper. Four of the combatants from the event joined forces for a consultation game. Consultation play is very much a stranger to modern chess, but such games were common in the nineteenth and early twentieth centuries, part of the means to “advance the acquaintance and pleasant social interaction among the lovers of this game” used by groups such as chess clubs and state associations such as the MSCA.

Hazeltine’s column included the following game played at the 1870 tournament, but didn’t include any other information. Unfortunately, the identity of the annotator “J.M.” has been lost. A reasonable conjecture would be, however, that “J.M.” is merely a careless transposition of the initials of Max Judd.

Colburn/Normandie
Smith/Judd [C25]
Consultation game, MSCA
Championship Jackson, January 1870
Vienna: Lange, C25

Notes by J.M.

1.e4 e5 2.Nc3 Nc6 3.Bc4 Bc5 4.Nf3 Nf6 5.a3 d6 6.h3 0–0 7.d3 h6 8.Bd2 a6 9.Ne2 Ne7 10.Ng3 Ng6 11.Qc1 Kh7 12.Nh2 d5 13.exd5 Nxd5 14.Ne4 b6 15.Bxd5 Qxd5 16.Bxh6

Black to Move

16...f5

A fine move.

17.Bxg7

Bad.

17...Kxg7 18.Ng3 f4 19.Ne4 Bf5 20.f3 Be3 21.Qd1 Qd8

This is a step well-taken.

22.Ng4

Another bad move.

22...Bxe4 23.Nxe3 fxe3 24.Qe2 Nf4 0–1

New York Clipper, April 9, 1870

And so ended the MSCA tournament for 1870. Unfortunately, the MSCA itself ended shortly thereafter, one of many chess organizations that flourished briefly in the nineteenth century. Michigan chessplayers would need to wait many years for a state association with staying power. And as we know, they unfortunately needed to wait till 1931.

Copyright 2005 Neil R. Brennen. All rights reserved.

MSCA COMPOSITON SOLUTIONS

Smith: 1. Be6+
Swan: 1. Rbg6