An Italian boy, raised in poverty, leaves home with little education but the one he gave himself over the chessboard.  Just a few years later, he’s playing chess in the palaces of kings and queens.  The game this time is Greco (with the black pieces) against an unknown player (1620).   Study the game here before you listen:  https://www.chessgames.com/perl/chessgame?gid=1271130

Episode Resources:

• Article: Smothered Mate
• Training: Smothered Mate
• Book: On the Origin of Good Moves: A Skeptic's Guide to Getting Better at Chess by Willy Hendriks
• Book: A Short History of Chess by HJR Murray

Sign up for the newsletter: https://audiblechess.substack.com