~Benson Chess Book Collection~

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Berkeley, CA

Lone Pine 1976 Original Scoresheets

GM Walter Browne (on the left) having some fun with the then
current World Chess Champion GM Boris Spassky (on the right).
This an old one taken from the Siegen Chess Olympics 1970.

GM Walter Browne vs. IM John Grefe

Louis D. Statham
Master Chess Tournament
Result: 1-0, Round #7, Board #3
Saturday, March 13th, 1976

These scoresheets "SOLD" at eBay auction.

Note: This scoresheet scan is in black & white...

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"The Big Game"

GM Walter Browne vs. IM John Grefe

Louis D. Statham
Master Chess Tournament
Lone Pine, CA
Round #7, Board #3
Time Control: 45 // 2 & 1/2
March 13, 1976

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***********************

  1. e4 c5

  2. Nf3 d6

  3. d4 cd

  4. Nd4 Nf6

  5. Nc3 a6

  6. Bg5 e6

  7. f4 Be7

  8. Qf3 Qc7

  9. 0-0-0 Nbd7

  10. Bd3 h6

  11. Qh3 Nb6

  12. f5 e5

  13. Nde2 Bd7

  14. Kb1 Bc6

  15. Be3 Nbd7

  16. g4 0-0-0

  17. Qf3 Nc5

  18. Bc5 de

  19. Bc4 Rd1+

  20. Rd1 Rd8

  21. Ng3 Rd1+

  22. Qd1 Bd8

  23. Bd5 Be8

  24. h4 c4

  25. g5 hg

  26. hg Nd5

  27. ed Bg5

  28. Nge4 Bd8

  29. d6 Qc6

  30. Qg4 Bf6

  31. a3 Kb8

  32. Nf6 gf

  33. Qg8+ Ka7

  34. Qh8 Bd7

  35. Qf6 Qc5

  36. Qf7 Qd6

  37. f6 Bf5

  38. Qe7 Qb6

  39. Ne4 Qb3

  40. Qc5+ Kb8

  41. Qe5+ Resigns

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**********************************************

I'll quote from the chess book: "The Best of LONE PINE"
by IM John Grefe and NM Dennis Waterman (forward by
GM Florin Gheorghiu):

The chapter: "Good Grefe, Walter Browne!"

"...Now only Grefe could equal Petrosian's score by beating
Browne. A win would give Grefe a $6,500 share of the top
prize money, whereas a draw would be worth $1,500 and a
loss would 'earn' a miserable sixty-seven dollars and change.

The game opened with Grefe defending the black side of
one of the sharpest openings in chess--the Najdorf Sicilian.
Browne, in the middlegame sacrificed a pawn to create a
dangerous passed pawn supported by his Queen, and as
the time control approached it looked as if he had the win
in hand. But, Grefe refused to fold. With both players in
desperate time trouble and crushed by spectators, Browne
made a couple of inaccurate Queen moves. Suddenly the
perpetual check that Grefe needed to salvage the game
was there: a Bishop sacrifice to force the White King
into the open. Instead, Grefe grabbed his Queen and
gave a check which allowed Browne to sequester his
King, and after a few more rapid fire moves -- Grefe
was forced to tip his King in resignation. The crowd
responded to the players' heroic efforts with tumul-
tuous applause."

Wow -- I was right there on the scene and can tell you
that's exactly the way it went down... Instead if Walter
had played 38. Qg7! it would have made things really
tough for JG. Then just a moment later Walter again
played the second best move with 39. Na4? Instead
39. Qe5! Qg1+ 40. Ka2 Bc2 41. a4! and the "f pawn"
is unstoppable. The last chance occurred when John
missed 39...Bc2+ ! which would have led to a draw.
The old story of my two good friends playing and I
was indeed happy for Walter and very sad for John...

Both original scoresheets are in very good shape (they
remained boxed & fully protected for over twenty-seven
years). One scoresheet is signed by Browne (signed on
John's scoresheet), and both scores are signed by Grefe.
Suitable for framing... :-)

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