Chess is Fun: 5th World Correspondence Chess Championship

5th World Correspondence Chess Championship

Jon Edwards

"Corrrespondence chess can be nearly perfect chess,
and I am by nature a perfectionist."
Hans Berliner, 5th Correspondence Chess World Champion

The Fifth World Correspondence Chess Championship began on April 1, 1965 and ended three years later. The only American in the field, Hans Berliner, a systems analyst with IBM, emerged as the new World Correspondence Champion.

This exhibit may be the first of its kind. In conventional philatelic exhibits, one sees only one side of a postcard or letter, but both sides here contain useful information. There are the moves themselves and the different types of postcards, different forms and styles of notation, and different conventions for the recording of the amount of time used.

There is also much of philatelic interest. During the three year period, increased postal rates are reflected in the cards from deCarbonel and Endzelins. What stamps were used to cope with small increases in the postal rates? How long did it take for the delivery of cards between the different countries?

When completed, this exhibit will include more than 40 of the cards used during the event, all sent to J. Richter of Czechoslovakia. Ironically, though we will be able to follow his games and progress through the tournament, I have found no cards sent by him. But you will find the signatures of some of the greatest correspondence chess players of all time.

The tournament includes perhaps the most memorable correspondence game ever played, between Berliner and Y. Estrin. The latter was a well known theorist of the Two Knights' Defense. Berliner, playing Black, took on the grandmaster in his theoretical backyard and won a dramatic game well worth your study.

In addition to the postcards from the event, you will find the games as well. Enjoy!

The games of the 5th World Correspondence Chess Championship

Crosstable

Altschuler v Richter

move #36 front
back
move #40 front
back

Richter v Berliner

move #22 front
back
move #23 front
back

Borisenko v Richter

move #12 front
back
move #21 front
back

Richter v deCarbonel

move #16 front
back
move #35 front
back

Richter v Endzelins