The Chess Games of Che Guevara

The "radical revolutionary," it turns out, played chess, and played it very well. He once told his friend, "I'd like to be either a chess player, or start a revolution." Well, it turns out Che either didn't think he was good enough at chess or thought he was better at revolutions, because that's what he did, start them. Few people have indifferent feelings about Che, whose real name is Ernesto Che Guavera. Feelings about him will depend on one's feelings about leftist politics. Born in Argentina in 1928 he didn't live long, he was killed in 1967. But for having lived so short a time he did have a huge impact on the world. The image of him in this photo has come to symbolize the political and social dreams of many, and the fears of many as well. A more polarizing figure I cannot imagine unless it is Karl Marx himself. But on the chess board, being polarizing is the name of the game. Let's take a look at how he played.

Che was taught chess by his father, and began playing in chess tournaments at age 12. Najdorf ended up in Argentina by a coincidence that saved his life. He was playing in a chess torunament in Buenos Aires when Germany invaded Poland. Najdorf, being a Jew, wisely decided not to return to his home in Poland, and survived. Every member of his family died in a concentration camp. Najdorf often played famous politicians and celebrities, offering the draws out of politeness. It is said that both Castro and Guavera declined the draw offer, preferring to see the actual results of the game. They both lost. But these stories are contradicted and it is difficult to know what really happened. At any rate, Che played well. The game is appropriately a Spanish opening or Ruy Lopez, and there just isn't much to say about it, except that Che played book moves, pretty much. This game seems more like a formal handshake than a chess game. I guess you could say that Che, not being a capitalist, didn't seem too interested in property and consequently Najdorf gained more space? But that may be pushing it. Among the comments on Chessgames.com was the statement that Che could have taken the pawn on e4. Perhaps he wasn't interested in material? No, that can't be it.