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Alexander Kevitz

Alexander Kevitz (September 1, 1902 – October 24, 1981) was an American chess master. Kevitz also played correspondence chess, and was a creative chess analyst and theoretician. He was a pharmacist by profession.

Early life edit

Kevitz was born in Brooklyn, New York. He graduated from Cornell University in 1923. He later earned degrees in law and pharmacy from Brooklyn College of Pharmacy.[1] His professional career was that of a pharmacist.

Major chess results edit

Kevitz defeated world champion José Raúl Capablanca in a simultaneous display at New York City 1924, and defeated former world champion Emanuel Lasker in a 1928 simultaneous, also in New York.[2] He won the Manhattan Chess Club Championship six times: in 1929, 1936, 1946, 1955, 1974, and 1977[3] (according to other sources: in 1929, 1933, 1935, 1936, 1946, 1947, and 1955,[4] and also in 1927, 1932, 1934, 1955, 1975, and 1977).[5][6] From the 1920s through the 1950s, the top section of Manhattan C.C. Championship was usually at the level of a strong International tournament.[7] Kevitz also represented the Manhattan Club in the "Metropolitan Chess League".

Kevitz made his international debut at Bradley Beach 1929, with 4/9 for 8th place; world champion Alexander Alekhine won. Kevitz scored 7/11 at New York City 1931 for 3rd place, as José Raúl Capablanca won.[8] In the 16th Marshall Chess Club Championship 1932, Kevitz scored 9/13 for 2nd place, behind Reuben Fine.[9] In the 17th Marshall Chess Club Championship 1933-34, Kevitz scored 8/11, tied 2nd-3rd, again behind Fine.[10] In the United States Chess Championship, New York 1936, Kevitz scored 7.5/15 for 8th place, as Samuel Reshevsky won. In the team match, USA vs USSR at Moscow 1946, Kevitz made the best American result with 1.5/2 against Igor Bondarevsky.[8] He drew both of his games against Borislav Milić in a 1950 radio match with Yugoslavia. He placed 13th at the U.S. Open at Milwaukee 1953. Kevitz lost to Paul Keres in a USA vs USSR team match at New York 1954, and he lost both his games against Alexander Kotov in a USA vs USSR team match at Moscow 1955.[2] In the Manhattan Chess Club Championship, 1955–56, Kevitz scored 8.5/15 for 6-7th place, and defeated his student, Arthur Bisguier, a future Grandmaster, who was then U.S. champion.[11]

On the first official United States Chess Federation rating list, July 31, 1950, Kevitz ranked third at 2610, behind only Reuben Fine and Samuel Reshevsky.[12][13]

In his later years, Kevitz was active in correspondence chess, often playing under the pseudonym 'Palmer Phar' (he worked at Palmer Pharmacy).

Theoretical contributions edit

Kevitz made important contributions to several chess openings. In the Réti Opening, he developed the line 1.Nf3 d5 2.c4 dxc4 3.e4.[14] The variation of the Symmetrical English Opening (A31) arising after 1.c4 c5 2.Nf3 Nf6 3.d4 cxd4 4.Nxd4 e5 5.Nb5 d5 is often referred to as the Kevitz Gambit.[15] In the English Opening, Flohr-Mikenas variation (A18), the line 1.c4 Nf6 2.Nc3 e6 3.e4 Nc6 is known as the Kevitz Variation. The variation 1.d4 Nf6 2.c4 Nc6 is sometimes called the Kevitz-Trajkovic Defence,[6] alternatively the Black Knights' Tango or Mexican Defence. In the Nimzowitsch Defence, 1.e4 Nc6, the Kevitz Variation continues 2.d4 e5.[6] In the 1940s, Kevitz analyzed a new idea in the Ruy Lopez, Marshall Attack, after 1.e4 e5 2.Nf3 Nc6 3.Bb5 a6 4.Ba4 Nf6 5.0-0 Be7 6.Re1 b5 7.Bb3 0-0 8.c3 d5 9.exd5 Nxd5 10.Nxe5 Nxe5 11.Rxe5 c6 12.Bxd5 cxd5 13.d4 Bd6 14.Re3, which prepares 15.h3 in the event of 14...Qh4. 1.e4 e5 2.Nf3 Nc6 3.Bb5 g6 4.c3 f5 – the so-called Kevitz Gambit!

Kevitz was respected by his chess rivals as an original player, thinker, and analyst.[1] He was active in tournament play until age 78 in 1980, the year before his death.

References edit

  1. ^ a b The New York Times, November 3, 1981.
  2. ^ a b http://www.mychess.com 2020-07-18 at the Wayback Machine, the Alexander Kevitz games file.
  3. ^ "The Fabulous 1980s: The 1989 Manhattan CC Championship". 15 January 2008. Retrieved 28 May 2023.
  4. ^ Chessgames.com :: Alexander Kevitz.
  5. ^ Bill Wall. . Archived from the original on 2013-06-28.
  6. ^ a b c . Archived from the original on 2007-11-23. Retrieved 2008-02-21.
  7. ^ The Bobby Fischer I Knew And Other Stories, by Arnold Denker and Larry Parr, San Francisco 1995, Hypermodern Press.
  8. ^ a b . Archived from the original on 2006-04-14. Retrieved 2012-02-19., the Alexander Kevitz results file.
  9. ^ . Archived from the original on 2009-01-02. Retrieved 2008-04-23..
  10. ^ . Archived from the original on 2007-08-07. Retrieved 2008-04-25..
  11. ^ . Archived from the original on 2006-04-14. Retrieved 2012-02-19., the Alexander Kevitz results file, http://www.mychess.com 2020-07-18 at the Wayback Machine, the Alexander Kevitz games file, and German wiki.
  12. ^ The top ratings on the July 31, 1950, list were Fine (2817), Reshevsky (2770), Kevitz (2610), Arthur Dake (2598), Albert Simonson (2596), Fred Reinfeld (2593), Arnold Denker (2575), Isaac Kashdan (2574), I. A. Horowitz (2558), and Abraham Kupchik (2538). "The United States Chess Federation National Chess Ratings (as of July 31, 1950)", Chess Life, November 20, 1950, p. 3. Also available on DVD (p. 93 in "Chess Life 1950" PDF file).
  13. ^ http://www.ishiipress.com/ratings.htm[permanent dead link].
  14. ^ The British Chess Magazine, March 1982, p. 101.
  15. ^ "ChessCafe McGrew" (PDF). chesscafe.com. Retrieved 28 May 2023.

External links edit

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Alexander Kevitz September 1 1902 October 24 1981 was an American chess master Kevitz also played correspondence chess and was a creative chess analyst and theoretician He was a pharmacist by profession Contents 1 Early life 2 Major chess results 3 Theoretical contributions 4 References 5 External linksEarly life editKevitz was born in Brooklyn New York He graduated from Cornell University in 1923 He later earned degrees in law and pharmacy from Brooklyn College of Pharmacy 1 His professional career was that of a pharmacist Major chess results editKevitz defeated world champion Jose Raul Capablanca in a simultaneous display at New York City 1924 and defeated former world champion Emanuel Lasker in a 1928 simultaneous also in New York 2 He won the Manhattan Chess Club Championship six times in 1929 1936 1946 1955 1974 and 1977 3 according to other sources in 1929 1933 1935 1936 1946 1947 and 1955 4 and also in 1927 1932 1934 1955 1975 and 1977 5 6 From the 1920s through the 1950s the top section of Manhattan C C Championship was usually at the level of a strong International tournament 7 Kevitz also represented the Manhattan Club in the Metropolitan Chess League Kevitz made his international debut at Bradley Beach 1929 with 4 9 for 8th place world champion Alexander Alekhine won Kevitz scored 7 11 at New York City 1931 for 3rd place as Jose Raul Capablanca won 8 In the 16th Marshall Chess Club Championship 1932 Kevitz scored 9 13 for 2nd place behind Reuben Fine 9 In the 17th Marshall Chess Club Championship 1933 34 Kevitz scored 8 11 tied 2nd 3rd again behind Fine 10 In the United States Chess Championship New York 1936 Kevitz scored 7 5 15 for 8th place as Samuel Reshevsky won In the team match USA vs USSR at Moscow 1946 Kevitz made the best American result with 1 5 2 against Igor Bondarevsky 8 He drew both of his games against Borislav Milic in a 1950 radio match with Yugoslavia He placed 13th at the U S Open at Milwaukee 1953 Kevitz lost to Paul Keres in a USA vs USSR team match at New York 1954 and he lost both his games against Alexander Kotov in a USA vs USSR team match at Moscow 1955 2 In the Manhattan Chess Club Championship 1955 56 Kevitz scored 8 5 15 for 6 7th place and defeated his student Arthur Bisguier a future Grandmaster who was then U S champion 11 On the first official United States Chess Federation rating list July 31 1950 Kevitz ranked third at 2610 behind only Reuben Fine and Samuel Reshevsky 12 13 In his later years Kevitz was active in correspondence chess often playing under the pseudonym Palmer Phar he worked at Palmer Pharmacy Theoretical contributions editThis section uses algebraic notation to describe chess moves Kevitz made important contributions to several chess openings In the Reti Opening he developed the line 1 Nf3 d5 2 c4 dxc4 3 e4 14 The variation of the Symmetrical English Opening A31 arising after 1 c4 c5 2 Nf3 Nf6 3 d4 cxd4 4 Nxd4 e5 5 Nb5 d5 is often referred to as the Kevitz Gambit 15 In the English Opening Flohr Mikenas variation A18 the line 1 c4 Nf6 2 Nc3 e6 3 e4 Nc6 is known as the Kevitz Variation The variation 1 d4 Nf6 2 c4 Nc6 is sometimes called the Kevitz Trajkovic Defence 6 alternatively the Black Knights Tango or Mexican Defence In the Nimzowitsch Defence 1 e4 Nc6 the Kevitz Variation continues 2 d4 e5 6 In the 1940s Kevitz analyzed a new idea in the Ruy Lopez Marshall Attack after 1 e4 e5 2 Nf3 Nc6 3 Bb5 a6 4 Ba4 Nf6 5 0 0 Be7 6 Re1 b5 7 Bb3 0 0 8 c3 d5 9 exd5 Nxd5 10 Nxe5 Nxe5 11 Rxe5 c6 12 Bxd5 cxd5 13 d4 Bd6 14 Re3 which prepares 15 h3 in the event of 14 Qh4 1 e4 e5 2 Nf3 Nc6 3 Bb5 g6 4 c3 f5 the so called Kevitz Gambit Kevitz was respected by his chess rivals as an original player thinker and analyst 1 He was active in tournament play until age 78 in 1980 the year before his death References edit a b The New York Times November 3 1981 a b http www mychess com Archived 2020 07 18 at the Wayback Machine the Alexander Kevitz games file The Fabulous 1980s The 1989 Manhattan CC Championship 15 January 2008 Retrieved 28 May 2023 Chessgames com Alexander Kevitz Bill Wall Manhattan Chess Club Archived from the original on 2013 06 28 a b c the Alexander Kevitz entry Archived from the original on 2007 11 23 Retrieved 2008 02 21 The Bobby Fischer I Knew And Other Stories by Arnold Denker and Larry Parr San Francisco 1995 Hypermodern Press a b Archived item Archived from the original on 2006 04 14 Retrieved 2012 02 19 the Alexander Kevitz results file Archived item Archived from the original on 2009 01 02 Retrieved 2008 04 23 Archived item Archived from the original on 2007 08 07 Retrieved 2008 04 25 Archived item Archived from the original on 2006 04 14 Retrieved 2012 02 19 the Alexander Kevitz results file http www mychess com Archived 2020 07 18 at the Wayback Machine the Alexander Kevitz games file and German wiki The top ratings on the July 31 1950 list were Fine 2817 Reshevsky 2770 Kevitz 2610 Arthur Dake 2598 Albert Simonson 2596 Fred Reinfeld 2593 Arnold Denker 2575 Isaac Kashdan 2574 I A Horowitz 2558 and Abraham Kupchik 2538 The United States Chess Federation National Chess Ratings as of July 31 1950 Chess Life November 20 1950 p 3 Also available on DVD p 93 in Chess Life 1950 PDF file http www ishiipress com ratings htm permanent dead link The British Chess Magazine March 1982 p 101 ChessCafe McGrew PDF chesscafe com Retrieved 28 May 2023 External links editAlexander Kevitz player profile and games at Chessgames com Retrieved from https en wikipedia org w index php title Alexander Kevitz amp oldid 1208389048, wikipedia, wiki, book, books, library,

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