Richard Teichmann in Scotland

Teichmann in 1895. He suffered from persistent eye problems and later photographs usually show him with an eye patch.

The German-born master Richard Teichmann (1868-1925) visited Scotland on several occasions

1901-2

In September 1901, Teichmann commenced what was originally planned as a two month's engagement with Glasgow Chess Club. His coaching seesions involved playing with members of the club, singly and simultaneously, and giving a series of lectures on the openings.

In November 1901 it was announced that Teichmann's services were engaged to April 1902, and that he was being elected a member of the club.

On 21 November 1901 Teichmann visited the Falkirk Chess Club, the first ever such visit by a master of his standing. (A.J. Neilson, who edited the chess column in the Falkirk Herald and Midland Counties Journal was connected to the club, as well as Glasgow CC.) He gave a simultaneous display at the Railway Hotel over 31 boards (some players, whose games had finished quickly, chose to play again), scoring 28 wins, two draws (W. Clark and J. Weir) and only one loss (J.G. Muse).

Falkirk Herald and Midland Counties Journal, 23 November 1901, page 4.

On Thursday, 23 January 1902 Teichmann played 22 games simultaneously at Stirling, winning 17, drawing 4 (Messrs. D. Lindsay, Gray, Owen and Dickie) and losing 1 (R. Lindsay).

On Saturday, 25 January 1902 he visited the Helensburgh Chess Club, where he played four "blindfold" games simultaneously, winning them all.

Although it had previously been announced that he was engaged at the Glasgow CC until April, Teichmann's plans changed and he left Glasgow on 30 January, intending to play in the Monte Carlo international tournament.

1905
Teichmann faced William Ewart Napier (1881-1952), the 1904 British Champion, in a match held at the Glasgow Chess Club. The match of five games up, draws not counting, was for a stake of £50, presented by Mr F. G. Naumann, president of the British Chess Federation. Glasgow CC guaranteed a further sum to both masters. Play started on 14 February and Teichmann won conviincingly with a score of +5, -1, =5.

The last game of the match was on 4 March. Thereafter, Teichmann fulfilled engagements with the Glasgow CC, but he also made appearances at several other clubs. The Falkirk Herald of 15 March 1905 (page 8), provided some details:

 

Queen's Park CC, Glasgow
A simultaneous exhibition on Monday, 13 March resulted in a score of +15, =4.

Central CC, Glasgow
In a simultaneous display on 17 boards on Tuesday, 14 March Teichmann scored +13, =2, -2 (Dr R.C. Macdonald and W. Gibson)

Stirling
On Wednesday, 15 March Teichmann gave a lecture and a simultaneous display over 16 boards at the local club, scoring +14, =2 (Mr D. Lindsay and Mr R. Lindsay).

Falkirk CC
On Thursday, 16 March Teichman visited the Falkirk CC, his second visit to the town. This was likely at the instigation of A.J. Neilson, editor of the Falkirk Herald.chess column. A simultaneous display was held on eight boards, though 11 games were played in total [perhaps because some games ended quickly-Ed]. Teichmann scored +9, =1 (D. Simpson), -1 (J.C. Gilchrist).

Burns CC, Glasgow
On Friday, 17 March Teichmann was engaged at the Burns CC, which met in the Burns Tea Rooms, 245 Ingram Street, Glasgow.

Teichmann then travelled to Edinburgh for the East of Scotland v West of Scotland match on Saturday, 18 March, where he adjudicated the unfinished games.

At the conclusion of his Glasgow visit, Teichmann left for Dublin.

An particularly interesting discovery was recently made concerning one of Teichmann's games, played at the Burns Chess Club, Glasgow during this visit.

Teichmann - Allies
Glasgow 1905 (not 1902)

1. e4 e5 2. Nf3 Nc6 3. Bc4 Nf6 4. d4 exd4 5. O-O Nxe4 6. Re1 d5 7. Bxd5 Qxd5 8. Nc3 Qh5 9. Nxe4 Be6 10. Bg5 Be7 11. Bxe7 Nxe7 12. Qxd4 O-O 13. Ng3 Qh6 14. Rad1 Nc6 15. Qa4 Rad8 16. Nd4 Nxd4 17. Rxd4 Rxd4 18. Qxd4 b6 19. Qe5 c5 20. f4 Bc8 21. f5 Qc6 22. Qe7 Bb7 23. Re2 Qd5 24. h3 b5
25. Kh2 f6 26. Ne4 c4 27. Nd6 Bc6 28. c3 h6 29. Kg3 a6 30. Kh4 g6 31. Re3 Qxg2 32. Rg3 Qf2
33. fxg6 Qf4+ 34. Rg4 Qf2+ 35. Kh5 Qc5+ 36. Kxh6 Resigns.

The above game is in various books and databases as being played in Glasgow 1902, but it actually occurred during the 1905 visit. Teichmann's use of his king in the closing stages is a winning idea seen in the later Grandmaster game Short-Timman, Tilburg 1991.

There are slightly different versions of the game; for example, page 75 of L. Pachman’s Modern Chess Strategy (London, 1963) had 28. Kh2, 29. Kg3 and 30. Kh4, whereas the above score shows that White's king began its journey on move 25.

Somewhat ironically, A.J. Neilson, the chess editor of the Falkirk Herald and a member of Glasgow CC, only became aware of the game after seeing it in an Australian newspaper, and it in turn had received the game via two USA newspapers. The following report, it will be noted, states the game "occurred recently" in Glasgow.

From the Falkirk Herald column of 20 September 1905 (page 8):

Thie story was discussed in greater detail on Edward Winter's Chess Notes web site - item number 10798. Mr Winter included a reference to the original publication of the game in Napier's column in the Pittsburg Dispatch of 5 June 1905.

Sources:
Paisley and Renfrewshire Gazette, 28 September 1901, p. 3.
British Chess Magazine 1905, pages 101, 147, 149.
Falkirk Herald and Midland Counties Journal, 20 November 1901, p. 8; 23 November 1901, p. 4; 29 January 1902, p. 8; 15 and 22 March and 20 September 1905
Glasgow Herald, 17 March 1905, p. 8.

Alan McGowan
Historian, Chess Scotland

Updated 24/8/2019