This book was a gift from my mom. I believe that she got it not only because it is a good read, but also specifically because it is centered around chess, knowing that I love the game. Not completely obsessed with it as some people are, including the major characters in this book. Nevertheless, it is an enjoyable game, and reviewing the strategies and learning more about the game has always been a point of interest for me, even if my commitment clearly would pale in comparison to the major characters here.
Obviously, chess is a major and continuing theme throughout this book, although in fact, there is a lot which the author, Paolo Maurensig, manages to juggle. Instantly, that earns my personal respect as a reader.
This is a slim book, which has it's conveniences. First of all, it is easy and light to transport. Secondly, it is a quick read. Not sure if this one is a book that most people could get through in one sitting, because it nevertheless is about 145 -150 or so pages, give or take. But before you know it, you have made some serious progress while reading this book.
And since I usually give my nod of approval (or in some cases, a lack thereof) at the end of the review which has spoilers, let me say that I would highly recommend this book. That is particularly true for any fans of chess, as well as people interested in the Holocaust, as both of these issues are prominent themes throughout this story.
SPOILER ALERT
SPOILER ALERT
SPOILER ALERT
Okay, so by now if you are still reading this, I have to imagine that you either are familiar with this story already, or perhaps you do not mind the spoilers. Please just don't say that you were not given advanced warning.
So let me just say, right off the bat, that Maurensig did something with the importance of chess for these characters that really blew me away as a reader. As already mentioned, I love the game of chess. But not like these characters in this book love it. For them, their lives seem almost to revolve around chess. They find meaning and fulfillment in it, although one of the characters also recognizes, perhaps paradoxically, that his obsession with chess also detracts from his life, and the other possibilities which were denied him because of this singular obsession.
There is some kernel of truth to this. I have met some people who are really, really, really into chess, far more than me. And it does seem to me that much of their lives do revolve around chess. There was one guy in particular, he loved chess to the point where he read books and watched videos and had parts of historical matches memorized. Other than when my grandfather and my father first taught me, the period when I learned absolutely the most about chess was while this man and I worked together. He taught me different ways of looking at the board, emphasized certain strategies to open a chess match, and even would point out - loudly and without any sense of being patronizing - whenever I made a mistake.
"Oh my God, Charles! What are you doing? Why would you make that move?"
Now, I have played many people in chess, and some were almost borderline geniuses at it. And some of them might have said that, or something similar, in a mocking tone. But this guy was not like that. He was not actually being insulting, even if it was a bit embarrassing to have such glaring mistakes (which were only obvious in hindsight) pointed out, and for all within earshot to hear. It still kind of makes me laugh to reflect on it.
Then again, he did not approach the game with the level of severity and seriousness that the characters in this book do. I beat him from time to time. It did not happen often, and when it did, it usually was more of a product of him making some glaring mistake at some point. But he was casual about it, and did not seem to take it too seriously when he lost. He was kind of a hyper guy, and so win or lose, he was almost always ready to get the board set up again quickly in order to play again. Nothing will calm your excitement over a big win quicker than getting your butt kicked in the very next game, believe me.
With the characters in this book, you really get the feeling that the stakes are much, much higher. Ridiculously high, probably. And since this centers around the Holocaust, there is one player who is in a dominant position in real life, and uses this to his advantage in regards to chess.
Okay, so let's get a bit into this book.
We first meet Dr. Dieter Frisch, a German who works in Munich but travels to his very comfortable home outside of Vienna every weekend. The description of his lifestyle shows that this is a man who believes strongly in order and discipline. His everyday habits are predictable and desirable. The one fixation which he has is chess. We learn that he owns a large library of books on chess, that he has amassed a large collection of rare and fancy chess boards, and writes in his magazine all about chess on a regular basis.
However, there is one unusual thing which occurs with this man. On what appears to otherwise be a very normal weekend trip from Munich to Vienna, this man displays some very unusual behaviors, all of which leads to his inexplicable suicide. As a sort of suicide note, there is a very complicated chess position, although the authorities do not grasp the significance and toss it out. The reason for the suicide, then, is what the rest of this book covers.
It is no surprise then, that Frisch occupies his time on the train by playing chess matches with Baum, his travel companion. Usually, they find a compartment in the train where they are left to themselves, to play chess in peace, and with full focus. But on this last particular trip, they are joined by a mysterious young man. Frisch clearly is perturbed by the presence of the young intruder, who seems not to notice, and is instead fixated on the game. The young man eventually asks if he can draw the pair playing chess, but Frisch unkindly refuses. In fact, Frisch took a hostile approach towards this young man, with varying degrees of subtlety, right from the beginning. Still, Frisch notices that the young man seems unbothered, and remains fixated on the chess match, during which Frisch, usually highly disciplined and sticking to proven methods, unsuccessfully experiments with different variations which, ultimately, prove to be his undoing in the match.
Eventually, the young man engages with the pair. His name is Hans Meyer, and he is a student at the Academy of Fine Arts in Vienna. It becomes clear that this young man has more than just a passing interest in chess, as he offers commentary which betrays a certain expertise. Frisch, despite his early reticence, becomes more and more intrigued by the young man and, almost half in jest, invites him to play a match. But Hans says that he no longer plays chess. However, he begins to tell the two older men a story. Frisch, again uncharacteristically, finds himself increasingly absorbed in the young man' story, which in time reveals itself to be about Frisch himself.
Yet, we also begin to notice something else about Frisch and his mannerisms towards Hans. At first, we sense that his dislike was instinctive, and perhaps self-protective. An extension of his self-discipline, perhaps. Then, he seems almost to open himself up, showing vulnerabilities which he very likely feels uncomfortable with. We read Hans regarding this man and almost being surprised by how quickly Frisch seemed to age literally as soon as he showed some interest - and thus vulnerability - to the story which Hans imparts.
Hans tells them - but particularly Frisch, whom the story is obviously meant for - that he has always appreciated the game of chess. However, he really learned and elevated the game thanks to a mysterious figure in his past by the name of Tabori. Tabori, like Hans now, also seemed to be a master in chess, even though his playing days are behind him. Still, he takes young Hans under his wings and teaches him to become virtually unbeatable.
The mystery of how Tabori, and ultimately Hans as well, got so good at chess is revealed. Tabori's family has passed down a very special chess set. It is an unusual one, and not a particularly charming or beautiful one at that. But what it does is provide an electrical shock anytime the player makes a mistake. It is mental more than anything else. Yet, the players become so entrenched with this punishment, that they have no choice than to pay very close attention, to look at all options, and most importantly, to avoid mistakes at all costs. When Frisch learns about this chess set, he remains understandably dubious, but suggests to young Hans that he would be willing to do anything to obtain such a chess set.
It is at this point that the narrative turns away from Hans, and is told from the perspective of Tabori. This occurs just as the young man begins to reveal to Frisch just how Tabori is, and what his relation to Hans is, as well as his relation to the man now known as Frisch, who continues to listen to this story intently. By now, it is obvious that this seemingly at first chance meeting was no accident. In fact, Hans specifically sought Frisch out once Tabori, on his death bed, told him who Frisch really is, after many years of searching.
Now here's the thing: we learn more about Tabori, who begins his narrative, as well as Frisch. And it becomes clear that there is far more than meets the eye with each man, to say nothing of the history between the two men. This story takes place decades after the end of World War II and the Holocaust. It began with the two meeting early on, when both were still very young. Tabori instinctively does not like, much less trust, this young man who later in life is known as Frisch (an assumed identity when this man goes into relative hiding, as we learn).There is something about Frisch which Tabori simply does not like, and the reasons become clear once the young man enters a chess tournament fully in SS uniform. Tabori dreads any kind of a showdown in chess between the two. He is sure that, under normal circumstances, he is a superior chess player to the young Nazi. But circumstances are not favorable, and it becomes clear that the tournament organizers, as well as the hotel which is hosting it, all favor the young Nazi, and are hostile to Tabori, a Jew.
Tabori's life soon is turned upside down. His family is forced to go into hiding. Yet inevitably, they are caught and forced on one of the cattle cars which brings them to one of the infamous concentration camps. Tabori catches one last glimpse of his parents. His mother seems resigned to her fate, yet his father is defiant to the last, before being forced to submit to the will of the German guards. That is the last time that he ever sees his parents, who do not survive.
Indeed, Tabori himself almost does not survive. He injures his leg and grows weak, and then actually is taken to the firing line. Yet, he survives, and is taken to the infirmary. There, he is given unusual attention and uncharacteristically decent medical attention. His leg is healed and he is brought back to relative good health. Still, he knows he is at death's door, since he is still a Jew inside of a concentration camp at the height of the Holocaust. So why they went to such extraordinary lengths to revive him is a mystery to him at first.
We soon learn the reason why. A kapo brings him to one of the buildings that houses some higher ups of the camp. Specifically, he is brought to the office of a powerful man. That man, of course, is the one whom we first met as Frisch. By now, he is a grown man in a position of power, and he fully intends to lord it over Tabori, although it will take Tabori quite some time to understand just how this was done. But it becomes clear that Tabori was singled out to be taken care of, to be brought back to health, so that he could provide this high-ranking Nazi some intriguing chess matches.
Of course, they are not on equal footing. Much like the then young SS officer held pretty much all of the advantages - other than the actual chess match - during the tournament where the two men first met, he still holds all of the advantages. After all, he is a high-ranking Nazi official in charge of a concentration camp. Meanwhile, Tabori is a prisoner, a Jew, and he understands that his life is thus rendered almost meaningless. So he knows better than to play his best and actually defeat the SS officer. He has an opportunity to win the first match, but deliberately avoids doing do. In the second match, he has a chance to force a draw, but opts to lose. In the third match, he plays poorly, deliberately. All of this in an effort to please the SS officer, since he understands that surely, it is dangerous to do otherwise.
But the SS officer is displeased nonetheless. He understands what Tabori is doing. So he effectively tortures Tabori, making him bear witness to tortures and deaths, even sometimes waking him in the middle of the night to witness these cruelties, these crimes against humanity. Before long, the SS officer makes Tabori understand that this is being done to him in order for him to understand the stakes of these chess matches. He wants Tabori to play to win, in hopes that he can best him. Once Tabori finally understands that he has no choice but to play his best chess, the intensity obviously grows, along with the stakes. By now, both sides fully understand the stakes. They are to play a series of chess matches, with the winner in this series being the first to win six matches. Draws do not count. Tabori is forced to try and play his best to defeat the SS officer, because he now is made to understand the enormity of what is at stake. Quite literally, this mentally ill and inhumanly cruel SS officer has made Tabori an accomplice of sorts to his not insignificant role in the Holocaust. Tabori is now forced to play his very best chess, as the stakes cannot be any higher. Quite literally, it is life and death. And Tabori does not go undefeated, which means that he has not saved many of the people on the list that the SS officer has provided him of the lives he intends to take should Tabori lose.
Still, Tabori manages to win the series. Before long, the Allies ultimately liberating the camp before the Nazis get to accomplish their goal of fully liquidating all of the Jews in the camp. Tabori is one of the survivors. Yet, he does not feel like a typical victim. In the back of his mind, he feels at least partially responsible for the torments and ultimate deaths of at least two dozen people. That is why he is determined to find this SS officer and get some measure of revenge. Ultimately, he clearly finds the man and identifies him as the man now under an assumed identity, Dr. Dieter Frisch.
There are several things that I particularly appreciated in this book. One of which was taking the oft used phrase "put on a clinic" for games and sports to a literal level, making the game of chess itself seem almost like a living thing, every now and then requiring precision surgery. That felt like a powerful description. Again, chess takes on a seminal importance for many people, who allow themselves to be completely taken by the game. Obviously the characters in this book would be lumped into this group.
Also, this book clearly puts chess at the center. We see that there are figurative chess matches outside of the actual chess matches. The three main characters - Hans, Tabori, and the man we only know by his assumed identity as Dr. Frisch - play a chess match of sorts against each other at different stages in their lives, and in very different manners. They all seem to be both powerful and vulnerable at different points in time. And their approach in each position is quite fascinating.
Again, a highly recommended read. Pick up a copy at your local library. Or if you cannot obtain a copy that way, go ahead and pick up a copy by purchasing it. It will be worth it.
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