Unpublished Files: The first two games played at the Gazebo (possibly)


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Photo credit: Keith Halonen

 

In our ongoing series, The Unpublished Files of Jude Acers, we recently unearthed what are likely the earliest known games played by Jude at The Gazebo on Decatur Street, New Orleans.

The Gazebo became Jude permanent residence in 1981. No sooner had Jude set up his chess table at this new location when his “in basket” quickly filled up with clients and visiting chess players. He enterprisingly had signage made for visibility so that all could easily spot him and play a fee game or take lessons. The red beret had not yet been adopted as his trademark. However, it wasn’t long after his arrival at the Gazebo that his signature moniker would be adopted.

Jude sent your author two games he played immediately after he settled in at the Gazebo. Jude had mentioned at the time that these individuals visited him at his “brand new location.” The scores of both games are handwritten manuscripts by Jude. He played versus “McKeever” and “Robin.” Nothing more is known of these players or the exact month in 1981 when the games were played.

The first game was lightly annotated by Jude. The second game exists only as a score sheet with several editorial markings by Jude which we will replicate.

For the first time in print, we present these two games (and his brief notes) played by the Man in the Red Beret from long ago at The Gazebo.

“Acers – McKeever, New Orleans, Louisiana

1.d4 d5 2.Nc3 Nf6 3.Bg5 Nbd7 4.e3 b6 5.Nf3 Bb7 6.Bd3 c5?! (6…g6; 6…e6) 7.Bxf6 Nxf6? (7…gxf6 White is better) 8.Bb5+! Nd7 9.Ne5 Bc8 10.Nxd5 e6 11.Nc6! Qg5 12.Nc7 # (Acers)”

“Acers – Robin, New Orleans, Richter-Veresov

1.d4 Nf6 2.Nc3 e6 3.e4 Bb4?! 4.e5 Ne4 5.Qg4 Nxc3 6.Qxg7 Rf8 7.a3 Nd5+ 8.axb4 Nxb4 9.Bg5! + – f6 10.exf6 (Decisive would have been 10.Bxf6 – ed.) …d5 11.f7+?! Rxf7 12.Qh8+ Rf8 13.Qxf8+ Kxf8 14.Bxd8 Nxc2+ 15.Kd1 Nxa1 16.Bxc7 Nc6 17.Nf3 Nb3 18.Bd3 Kg7? 19.h4…” White eventually won but the score sheet ends here

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