ØFKE

10/06/2024

https://ofke.nl/2024/06/11/chess-book-collection-of-zahari-stanchev/

At the beginning of 2024, I was contacted by the grandson of Zahari Stanchev (Захари Станчев) from Sofia, Bulgaria. His grandfather was a representative for Bulgaria at FIDE in the 1960s. In additi…

12/10/2022

Another new category added to the site: Chess tournament photos
https://ofke.nl/product-categorie/chess-products/chess-tournament-photos/

12/10/2022

We have added a new category to our website: Handmade Chess tables!
https://ofke.nl/product-categorie/chess-products

01/07/2022

Elegant vintage German Knight set with a slim bishop and rook.

Elegant wooden chess German Knight set, king’s height 87 mm. weighted. Box not included Condition: good, used #1

25/01/2022

https://ofke.nl/product/kagans-neueste-schachnachrichten-1921-1932-12-books/

This chess magazine first appeared as a quarterly and then monthly in the years 1921-32. It was published in Berlin and used as a vehicle for giving many master games and articles by such writers as Grunfeld, Tartakower, Tarrasch, Nimzowitsch, Reti and Spielman. Many of the great tournaments of the....

02/01/2021

27/11/2020

Author: Walter Tevis Publisher: Orion Publishing Co, United Kingdom, 2020. Binding: Paperback. Condition: New. Language: English. Brand new Book.

21/10/2020

New In Chess has its origins in the Dutch Schaakbulletin that has been published since 1968. Like that magazine, it was founded on the initiative of Wim Andriessen (1938-2017). Initially, the magazine mainly contained a list of parties. In 1970 Jan Timman and J.H. Donner joined the editorial team, after which more and more comments and party analyzes were included. In 1984, the last issue of Chess Bulletin appeared together with the first issue of New In Chess.
Complete All Year, very beautiful bound, as new, 16 books, 1st Edition.

19/06/2020

1878-1923: An Exeter Problemist: J Paul Taylor
His death was recorded by the British Chess Magazine in 1923. They explained that, while problem standards had since moved on, JPT had been at the forefront of developing the technique of the two-move problem in the late nineteenth century, and enjoyed a deserved reputation on the international stage.

He published two volumes in his life: in 1878 Chess Chips , a miscellany of games, essays and problems by himself and others, and in 1880 a collection of his own problems, Elementary Chess Problems.

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Elementary Chess Problems
128 pages + list of subscribers + 3 ads
1st Edition
Publisher: G.C. Heywood, 1880 LONDON
At Abebooks: https://bit.ly/2YJvleA

06/06/2020

"The loss of sustained by English Chess Amateurs in the recent death of Mr. Alexander M’Donnell, is the heavier from its having been so totally unexpected. At the comparatively early age of thirty-seven, during the last three years of which he had been ranked as the best player in Great Britain, Mr. M’Donnell was suddenly snatched away from the circle of friends, in which he was with so much justice equally esteemed for his talent and beloved for the fine qualities that may adorn man.”

Mr. Alexander M’Donnell died in September 1835 of Bright's Disease (acute or chronic nephritis) at the age of 37.

In July 1836 a beautiful book was printed with the title “A selection of the GAMES AT CHESS, actually played in London by the late Alexander M’Donnell.”

The book contains games of the match against Louis Charles de la Bourdonnais, but also some games that he played blindfolded.
The first game in the book shows the strength of M’Donnell, playing The Kings Gambit against Mr. J. Finch:

1.e4 e5 2.f4 exf4 3.Nf3 g5 4.Bc4 Bg7 5.O-O Qe7 6.Nc3 c6 7.e5 Qc5+ 8.d4 Qxc4 9.Ne4 Qe6 10.Nd6+ Kf8 11.Nxg5 Qg6 12.Ngxf7 Ne7 13.Nxh8 Bxh8 14.Rxf4+ Kg8 15.Rg4 1-0

On the first page of this copy, we’ll find a handwritten “Glasgow Chess Club 1889” and a handwritten game with comment. In the book the names of the opponent of M’Donnell are hidden, like Mr F**** for Mr Finch. A lot of names are released by the owner of the book. The old notation of the games is handwritten decorated with a lot of remarks and variations.

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“A selection of the GAMES AT CHESS, actually played in London by the late Alexander M’Donnell.”
280 pages, hardcover,
Publisher: Thomas Hurst, 1836 LONDON.
At Abebooks: https://bit.ly/2XBEiHI

18/05/2020

Today people buy magazines to entertain themselves. In 1851, the ones that could afford it bought a book like “The Family Friend”. To enjoy all kinds of subjects, such as plants, sewing, crafts, insect facts and some short stories. In “The Family Friend Volume 5” you also find some chess games and a chess problem, such as mate in two. They are provided by Daniël Harrwitz, German Grandmaster Herr Harrwitz (1821-1884).

Interested in buying this book? Send us a private message with your proposal and who knows, and maybe you’ll be the next owner of this book.

* The Family Friend Volume 5 (1851), Houlston & Stoneman, London, hardcover, 13 x 18.5 cm, 354 pages + 2 appendix, English, spine is fragile, pages darkened by age, no handwriting, 1st Edition. *