A notable figure in the London Tournament 1862 was Louis Paulsen. On that occasion
he lost but two games - those to Anderssen and to Dubois - and won the second prize.
He had previously distinguished himself by winning the second prize in the first
American Congress, held in 1857; also in 1861, when he visited this country, he
took part in the Bristol tourney, and, beating Boden and others, won the first
prize. That same year he played a match with Kolisch, which, after a prolonged
contest, was abandoned as drawn; at one time Paulsen's score was 6 to 1, but,
greatly to his credit, Kolisch fought on bravely, and eventually scored 5 to his
opponent's 6, with 14 draws. It was reported at time that when the score was 6
to 1 against Kolisch, he was greatly encouraged to exert himself to the utmost
by the back-pats and promises of pecuniary reward given to him by the late
Mr. N. Strode, of Chiselhurst, a well-known member of the St. George's Chess Club.
It was said Mr. Strode gave him 5 pounds for every game he drew, and a still
larger sum for every game he won.
In 1861 Louis Paulsen gave a grand blindfold performance at Simpson's Divan, when
he conducted 10 games simultaneously, of which he won 6, lost 3, and drew 1. His
conquering Captain Mackenzie on that occasion has been paraded as a wonderful
victory. But it was really nothing of the kind. I was present at the Divan shortly
after the commencement of the contests, and learnt that Mackenzie had made - what
some one calls a finger-slip - a mistake in the opening, whereupon, after a few
more moves, Mackenzie, being obliged by appointment to leave the Divan, resigned
the game.
That memorable seance lasted from 2 p. m. to 12 a. m., and during that period
Paulsen occupied a chair on the platform, with his face to the wall and his back
to the players. He never left his seat but once for about five minutes, and never
took any refreshment except one bottle of lemonade. This story has been mistakenly
told of Blackburne by a recent writer on blindfold play.
Mackenzie encountered Paulsen in off-hand games over the board in 1862, when the
German scored a slight majority against him. The same year Paulsen played Steinitz
two or three games, giving him the odds of pawn and move as an experiment, Paulsen
at the time holding that the odds did not mean defeat between equal players. Needless
to say Steinitz won easily all the games so played. In 1873, I am credibly informed
that Paulsen and Steinitz played a series of games together, after Steinitz had
won the first prize in the Vienna tournament, the result being that the German
beat Steinitz by the odd game. The score, as reported to me, was 3 to 2, exclusive
of draws.
Herr L. Paulsen was a player of great strength and profundity. He loved chess and
devoted much time in private to the study of the game. He invented many beautiful
and ingenious moves in the openings which have long since been awarded places
among the classics, notably so in the Evans, Allgaier, and Muzio Gambits. He was
undoubtedly one of our greatest duellists. Steinitz used to say that he would
dread a match with him more than with any other man. He wore on such occasions a
countenance of imperturbable gravity - I might say - solemnity - that startled,
nay, almost terrified, an opponent. The late Mr. Boden told me that he couldn't
stand it - I mean sit it out. As you sat fighting with him he looked pregnant
with reproaches for the man who would beat him and thereby intensify his melancholy.
"As I saw him opposite to me," added Boden, "I felt as if he was driving me mad,
and so I lost first my senses and then the game".
For many years past Louis Paulsen seldom took part in grand tournaments. This was
owing to the introduction of the time limit rather than pressure of business
engagements. He may have been quick-sighted over the board, as he certainly was
away from it, but he was undoubtedly very slow in his moves. When on one occasion
a provincial youth watched him for three-quarters of an hour considering his move,
which was pawn to rook's third, "Well", said the youth, turning to a friend and
heaving a sigh, "what a long time for such a short move".
Herr Louis Paulsen was a very simple-minded, unworldly-wise man, always absorbed
in the work upon which he was engaged, and forgetful of everything else. Some
years ago he visited Baden, and entered his name for the tourney there. He took
lodgings for the first night, but not finding himself comfortable in them, resolved
to change his quarters. Accordingly he started early next morning on a voyage of
discovery; and, after inspecting many apartments, at last succeeded in obtaining
what he thought would be a suitable lodging. He engaged it and told the attendant
he would send in his portmanteau in the afternoon. "Oh!", said the girl, "your
luggage is here. It is in one of the rooms on the opposite side of the house. Don't
you know you slept here last night, and I gave you your breakfast this morning?"
He had only wandered about the town in a circle, and was now returning to the house
whence he had started.
On another occasion - towards the end of a tournament game - an unmistakable
draw - he pored and pored over the board until at last his opponent, seeing that
the sand-glass was just running out, pointed to it, and asked him what he was
thinking of, for that nothing could be done, the game being draw by its nature. "
Thinking of?" exclaimed Paulsen "why, if we draw, I have the move next game, and
I was thinking what opening I should play." Then his glass ran out before the completion
of the required number of moves, and the game was scored against him.
Louis Paulsen was born at Blumberg, in Germany, on June 15th, 1833, and at an
early age was taught to play chess by his father, Dr. Carl Paulsen. In 1854 he
emigrated to America, and with his brother Ernest established a business at Dubuque,
in Iowa. In 1857 he took part in the first American Congress, and won the second
prize, Paul Morphy winning the first. In 1860 he returned to Germany, and the following
year visited England and won the first prize in the Bristol tourney, beating Horwitz,
Boden, and Kolisch. His subsequent career is well known to the students of chess
history. He died in Germany on July 19th, 1891.
Louis Paulsen looked, and I believe was, a very fine fellow. Tall and with a massive
head, he was the picture of thought and amiability. He was very gentle in all his
actions, and, though he seldom opened his lips, yet he was never wanting in kindliness
or courtesy. In short, no foreign chess player was ever in this country more
respected for his character or admired for his skill.
G. A. Macdonnell
"The Knights and Kings of Chess"
Copyright Adam Umiastowski & Tomasz Lissowski 2001
Pismo utworzone dnia 26-12-1997