Another entry in the "You Go, Girl" Hall of Fame!

Sudiegirl sez: I remember learning how to play chess because my sister was learning how, but she was 11 and I was 7. Our dad taught us. I am so impressed with this woman's skills and her entry into the "Guinness Book of World Records". I'd like to ask a question of all my readers...if you wanted to set a world record, what would it be for? Think about it...the usual comments will be inserted.

Checkmate!

Woman to Play 300 Chess Games for Record

By JILL BARTON, Associated Press Writer

Mon Aug 1, 4:38 PM ET
PALM BEACH GARDENS, Fla. - Seven-year-old Hunter Boshell studied the white and black chess pieces before her. Her strategy was simple, to make plays exactly as her 85-year-old great grandfather, "Boppy," taught her. (Good job, kid! You know, I think that chess is a great way for young and older people to connect. It teaches discipline to younger people, and patience to older people. Also, most people I know that play chess are open to learning. Notice I said "most". There are always a few exceptions to the rule, like Hitler. He played chess and was the most closed-minded person on the planet, and many many people paid for his prejudice.)

But three moves later, Hunter knew she was no match for the world champion standing in front of her. With a swift, "check mate," Hunter became the first of hundreds to fall to Susan Polgar, a four-time women's world chess champion. (Wow...that kid must have been shocked. I mean, it must have just been quickly done! I know my head would have been spinning.)

Polgar was out to set a world record for the largest number of simultaneous games played. By Monday afternoon, she had 326 games going — enough to break the record of 321 listed in the Guinness Book of World Records. (Right there...that impresses me. It's bad enough to have one book to read on the Metro and another one to read at home, so 326 games that require concentration is MIND-BLOWING!)

She expected to play 18 hours or more to finish the games and to make a run for another record of the most consecutive games played. (That's what I admire; someone who wants to break her own record. That's cool!)

Her opponents ranged from 4-year-old Hannah Boshell, who lasted one more round than her older sister, Hunter, to 95-year-old Jona Lerman, who's been playing the game for more than eight decades. (She's equal opportunity at least!)

"Every Monday night, ever since my wife told me I was too old for tennis, we have 20 people get together for a friendly game," Lerman said. (That's cool...maybe I can get myself on the guest list the next time I'm in Florida.)

Lerman and the other opponents sat at long rows of tables set up in a shopping mall. They wore matching white "Susan Polgar" T-shirts, tagged with numbers, and played at identical chess boards with anything but identical strategies. (That must have been a sight to see coming out of JC Penneys. I know the mall in my neighborhood has an informal chess group that hangs out in the food court.)

The pre-game warm-up for 8-year-old Alex Venarchick consisted of trying a few surprise moves on his mother, Rebecca Venarchick. (Wow...mother/son chess! That's also cool.)

"I know that I'm going to lose to the grandmaster," Alex said. "Everybody's going to lose." (Aw, poor kid. He seems to be OK with it, though...)

Polgar was just about as confident in her ability to win each game. But she looked at the possibility of losing a match or two optimistically: "At least I will make their day," she said. (Very interesting strategy! And it's not inconsistent with her goal, because she's not out to win all 326 games! That would be a trip to beat a chess master, wouldn't it?)

That attitude has helped her consistently win a game that once was dominated by men. Now 36 and living in New York City, Polgar started playing at age four in her native Hungary and was ranked No. 1 in the world by the time she was 15. In 1986, she became the first woman to qualify for the "Men's World Championship," forcing organizers to drop "Men's" from the tournament title. In 1991, she earned the Men's Grandmaster title, and she has won the Chess Olympiad five times. (Wow. Very interesting stuff, and she's my age! Nowhere to go but up, you know?)

She said her longest matches stretched to 16 hours in the mid-1980s before tournaments imposed a seven-hour time limit. But she said Monday's exercise would be the most grueling.
"I have to combine the physical as well as the mental," Polgar said before playing her first pawn. "That (16-hour match) was one game, but here I'm playing 350 and walking. And it's likely to be an eight-mile walk." (I never thought of that. Shopping malls are pretty big when you think about it...let's just hope she hits the Easy Spirit store before too long!)

Polgar remained standing throughout the event on Monday. She walks along the rows of opponents, watching one person make a move, then moving her own piece, before taking a step over to the next board. (What I want to know is how she keeps it all straight. Does she compartmentalize everything? I'd have to write it all down.)

Most players knew they had little chance of victory, and many set more realistic goals for themselves. (Sounds reasonable to me...)

"I don't expect to put up a tough fight. But I would like to get through 20 moves," said Neil Bauman, 50, who was visiting from California. "One thing I know for sure is that she's going to have a powerful headache." (Amen and pass the Advil.)
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On the Net:
Susan Polgar: http://susanpolgar.com/

Sudiegirl's final opinion?

You go, girl! (which goes without saying!)