Hugh Alexander Kennedy (22 August 1809 – 22 October 1878) was an English chess master[1] and writer.[2]
Hugh Alexander Kennedy | |
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![]() H. A. Kennedy | |
Full name | Hugh Alexander Kennedy |
Country | England |
Born | 22 August 1809 Madras, British India |
Died | 22 October 1878(1878-10-22) (aged 69) Reading, England |
Hugh Alexander Kennedy was born in Madras, British India in 1809.[3] He was a British army captain and leading London chess player. He established the first chess club in Brighton in 1842.[4] In 1844, he lost a match to Howard Staunton (3–8).[5] In 1845, he teamed up with Staunton in Portsmouth in two telegraph games (lost and drew) against a team of Henry Thomas Buckle, George Walker, William Davies Evans, Perigal, and Tuckett in London.[6][7] He lost a match to Elijah Williams (+2 –4 =0) in 1846 and lost a match to Edward Löwe (+6 –7 =1) in 1849, both in London.[8]
Kennedy played in the great international London 1851 chess tournament and finished in sixth place of the sixteen competitors. He knocked out Carl Mayet in round 1 with two wins. In round 2, he lost to Marmaduke Wyvill (+3 –4 =1). In round 3, he defeated James Mucklow with four wins. Finally, he lost to József Szén (+0 –4 =1).[9]
In 1862, Kennedy lost perhaps the first international telegraphic game, against Serafino Dubois.[10]
Kennedy died in Reading, England, in 1878.[1]
In the story "Some Reminiscences of the Life of Augustus Fitzsnob, Esq." (inspired by Thackeray's The Book of Snobs), Kennedy gave the score of a chess game said to be played by Napoleon and Count Bertrand.[2] First published in 1860, it was later included in Waifs and Strays (2nd edition, 1876), a collection of Kennedy's writings.[2] It has been erroneously cited as a true Napoleon game many times since, although it is actually the score of a game between Kennedy and John Owen.[2]
This is the score given by Kennedy in the two-column notation that was common at the time,[11] and in modern algebraic notation.
a | b | c | d | e | f | g | h | ||
8 | ![]() ![]() ![]() ![]() ![]() ![]() ![]() ![]() ![]() ![]() ![]() ![]() ![]() ![]() ![]() ![]() ![]() ![]() ![]() ![]() ![]() ![]() ![]() ![]() | 8 | |||||||
7 | 7 | ||||||||
6 | 6 | ||||||||
5 | 5 | ||||||||
4 | 4 | ||||||||
3 | 3 | ||||||||
2 | 2 | ||||||||
1 | 1 | ||||||||
a | b | c | d | e | f | g | h |
Napoleon | Bertrand | Algebraic notation |
1. P to K fourth | 1. P to K fourth | 1. e4 e5 |
2. Kt to K B third | 2. Kt to Q B third | 2. Nf3 Nc6 |
3. P to Q fourth | 3. Kt takes P | 3. d4 Nxd4 |
4. Kt takes Kt | 4. P takes Kt | 4. Nxd4 exd4 |
5. K B to Q B fourth | 5. K B to Q B fourth | 5. Bc4 Bc5 |
6. P to Q B third | 6. Q to K second | 6. c3 Qe7 |
7. Castles | 7. Q to K fourth | 7. 0-0 Qe5 |
8. P to K B fourth | 8. P takes P (dis. check) | 8. f4 dxc3+ |
9. K to R square | 9. P takes P | 9. Kh1 cxb2 |
10. B takes K B P (check) | 10. K to Q square | 10. Bxf7+ Kd8 |
11. P takes Q | 11. P takes R (Queening) | 11. fxe5 bxa1=Q |
12. B takes Kt | 12. K B to K second | 12. Bxg8 Be7 |
13. Q to Q Kt third | 13. P to Q R fourth * | 13. Qb3 a5 |
And Napoleon forces mate in five moves (see diagram) |
* Kennedy writes of Black's thirteenth move: "This seems a courtier-like move on the part of Count Bertrand. He ought now have taken P at K fifth with Q, having the exchange and two Pawns in return for a formidable attack."
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