Henri Grob
Encyclopedia
Henri Grob was a Swiss chess
master.
Grob represented Switzerland in Chess Olympiads.
He also played for Switzerland in some friendly matches.
Grob played several matches.
In 1926, he tied for 10-12th in Meran (Edgar Colle won). In 1932, he tied for 9-12th in Bern (Alexander Alekhine
won). In 1934, he tied for 13-14th in Zurich (Alekhine won). In 1935, he took 3rd, behind Flohr and Koltanowski, in Barcelona, took 3rd in Rosas (Flohr won), and took 10th in Bad Nauheim (Bogoljubow won). In 1936, he took 10th in Dresden (Alekhine won), tied for 3rd-4th in Reus, and took 2nd, behind Erik Lundin
, in Ostend. In 1937, he tied for 1st-3rd with Reuben Fine
and Paul Keres
in Ostend. In 1939, he took 9th in Stuttgart (Europa Turnier; Bogoljubow won).
He was Swiss Champion
in 1939 and 1951. He pioneered eccentric chess openings, such as 1.g4 (book Angriff g2–g4, Zurich 1942), sometimes known as Grob's Attack
. He was an artist and painter.
In 1947, he tied for 2nd-3rd, behind Savielly Tartakower
in Baarn, and took 5th in Venice (Tartakower won). In 1947/48 he tied for 2nd-4th, behind László Szabó
, in Hastings. In 1948, he took 8th in Venice (Miguel Najdorf
won). In 1949/50 he took 4th in Lucerne (Blau won). In 1951, he took 10th in Bad Pyrmont (zonal; Svetozar Gligorić
won).
Between 1946 and 1972, Grob played 3,614 correspondence chess games. He won 2,703, lost 430, and drew 481 games. All of the games were played against readers of the Neue Zürcher Zeitung
, a leading Swiss newspaper.
He was awarded the International Master title in 1950.
Grob married nine times. When once asked if he were married he replied "Fast immer" ("Almost always.")
Chess
Chess is a two-player board game played on a chessboard, a square-checkered board with 64 squares arranged in an eight-by-eight grid. It is one of the world's most popular games, played by millions of people worldwide at home, in clubs, online, by correspondence, and in tournaments.Each player...
master.
Grob represented Switzerland in Chess Olympiads.
- In 1927, at fourth board in 1st Chess Olympiad1st Chess OlympiadThe 1st Chess Olympiad, organized by the FIDE and comprising an open and women's tournament, as well as several events designed to promote the game of chess, took place between July 18 and July 30, 1927, in London, United Kingdom...
in London (+2 –5 =7); - In 1935, at second board in 6th Chess Olympiad6th Chess OlympiadThe 6th Chess Olympiad, organized by the FIDE and comprising an open and women's tournament, as well as several events designed to promote the game of chess, took place between August 16 and August 31, 1935, in Warsaw, Poland...
in Warsaw (+2 –8 =5); - In 1936, at third board in 3rd unofficial Chess Olympiad3rd unofficial Chess OlympiadThe 3rd unofficial Chess Olympiad was held by German Chess Federation as a counterpart of the 1936 Summer Olympics in Berlin with reference to 1924 and 1928 events....
in Munich (+4 –7 =6); - In 1952, at first board in 10th Chess Olympiad10th Chess OlympiadThe 10th Chess Olympiad, organized by the FIDE and comprising an open and women's tournament, as well as several events designed to promote the game of chess, took place between August 9 and August 31, 1952, in Helsinki, Finland.-References:* OlimpBase...
in Helsinki (+6 –6 =1).
He also played for Switzerland in some friendly matches.
- In 1950, he lost to Carlos GuimardCarlos GuimardCarlos Enrique Guimard was an Argentine chess Grandmaster. He was born in Santiago del Estero.-Biography:Guimard was thrice Argentine Champion. In 1936, he won the ARG-ch 15 Mayor, and in 1937 a match for the title against Roberto Grau . In 1937/38, he won a match against Luis Piazzini...
0,5 : 1,5 in Zurich (SUI – ARG); - In 1951, he drew with Eugenio SzabadosEugenio SzabadosEugenio Szabados was a Hungarian–Italian chess master.In 1921, he won in Società Scacchistica Torinese Championship. In 1921, he tied for 5-7th in Viareggio. In 1923, he took 3rd, behind Ferrari and Formanek, in Triest . In 1928, he took 5th in Venice. In 1929, he took 8th in Venice...
1 : 1 in Venice (SUI – ITA); - In 1952, he drew with Rudolf TeschnerRudolf TeschnerRudolf Teschner was a German chess master and writer.Teschner was seven times Champion of Berlin. In 1948, he won an East-Zones Championship in Bad Doberan, and later in 1951 took the German Championship .Teschner was leading member of the German Chess Olympic team in 1952 and 1956...
1 : 1 in Lucerne (SUI – FRG); - In 1955, he won against Weichselbaumer 1 : 0 in Zurich (SUI – Saar).
Grob played several matches.
- In 1933, he lost to Salo FlohrSalo FlohrSalomon Mikhailovich Flohr was a leading Czech and later Soviet chess grandmaster of the mid-20th century, who became a national hero in Czechoslovakia during the 1930s. His name was used to sell many of the luxury products of the time, including Salo Flohr cigarettes, slippers and eau-de-cologne...
(+1 –4 =1) - In 1934, he won against Jacques MiesesJacques Mieses----Jacques Mieses was a German-born Jewish chess Grandmaster and writer. He became a naturalized British citizen after World War II.p258-Chess career:...
(+4 –1 =1) - In 1935, he lost to Lajos SteinerLajos SteinerLajos Steiner was a Hungarian–born Australian chess master.Steiner was one of four children of Bernat Steiner, a mathematics teacher, and his wife Cecilia,, and a younger brother of Endre Steiner...
(+1 –3 =0) - In 1937, he drew with George KoltanowskiGeorge KoltanowskiGeorge Koltanowski was a Belgian-born American chess player, promoter, and writer. He was informally known as "Kolty". Koltanowski set the world's blindfold record on 20 September 1937, in Edinburgh, by playing 34 chess games simultaneously while blindfolded, making headline news around the world...
(+1 –1 =2) - In 1947, he lost to Max EuweMax EuweMachgielis Euwe was a Dutch chess Grandmaster, mathematician, and author. He was the fifth player to become World Chess Champion . Euwe also served as President of FIDE, the World Chess Federation, from 1970 to 1978.- Early years :Euwe was born in Watergraafsmeer, near Amsterdam...
(+0 –5 =1) - In 1948, he lost to Miguel NajdorfMiguel NajdorfMiguel Najdorf was a Polish-born Argentine chess grandmaster of Jewish origin, famous for his Najdorf Variation....
(+1 –5 =0) - In 1949, he lost to Efim BogoljubowEfim BogoljubowEfim Dmitriyevich Bogolyubov was a Russo-German chess grandmaster who won numerous events and played two matches with Alexander Alekhine for the world championship.-Early career:...
(+2 –4 =1) - In 1950, he lost to Lodewijk PrinsLodewijk PrinsLodewijk Prins was a Dutch chess player and referee of chess competitions.Prins was awarded the International Master title in 1950, and was made an International Arbiter in 1960. In 1982 FIDE made him an honorary Grandmaster.Prins represented the Netherlands twelve times in all Chess Olympiads...
(+1 –4 =1).
In 1926, he tied for 10-12th in Meran (Edgar Colle won). In 1932, he tied for 9-12th in Bern (Alexander Alekhine
Alexander Alekhine
Alexander Alexandrovich Alekhine was the fourth World Chess Champion. He is often considered one of the greatest chess players ever.By the age of twenty-two, he was already among the strongest chess players in the world. During the 1920s, he won most of the tournaments in which he played...
won). In 1934, he tied for 13-14th in Zurich (Alekhine won). In 1935, he took 3rd, behind Flohr and Koltanowski, in Barcelona, took 3rd in Rosas (Flohr won), and took 10th in Bad Nauheim (Bogoljubow won). In 1936, he took 10th in Dresden (Alekhine won), tied for 3rd-4th in Reus, and took 2nd, behind Erik Lundin
Erik Lundin
Erik Lundin a Swedish chess master.In 1928, he won in Oslo, took 5th in Helsingborg, tied for 2nd-3rd in Stockholm . In 1929, he took 2nd in Göteborg , and took 3rd in Västerås...
, in Ostend. In 1937, he tied for 1st-3rd with Reuben Fine
Reuben Fine
Reuben Fine was one of the strongest chess players in the world from the early 1930s through the 1940s, an International Grandmaster, psychologist, university professor, and author of many books on both chess and psychology.Fine won five medals in three chess Olympiads. Fine won the U.S...
and Paul Keres
Paul Keres
Paul Keres , was an Estonian chess grandmaster, and a renowned chess writer. He was among the world's top players from the mid-1930s to the mid-1960s....
in Ostend. In 1939, he took 9th in Stuttgart (Europa Turnier; Bogoljubow won).
He was Swiss Champion
Swiss Chess Championship
The Swiss Chess Championship is held annually during two weeks of July. It is organised by the Swiss Chess Federation , which has been a member of the overall governing body, Swiss Olympic, since 2000...
in 1939 and 1951. He pioneered eccentric chess openings, such as 1.g4 (book Angriff g2–g4, Zurich 1942), sometimes known as Grob's Attack
Grob's Attack
Grob's Attack is an unconventional chess opening where White immediately moves the king knight's pawn two squares ahead:-Discussion:The opening takes its name from Swiss International Master Henri Grob who analyzed it extensively and played hundreds of correspondence games with it...
. He was an artist and painter.
In 1947, he tied for 2nd-3rd, behind Savielly Tartakower
Savielly Tartakower
Ksawery Tartakower was a leading Polish and French chess Grandmaster. He was also a leading chess journalist of the 1920s and 30s...
in Baarn, and took 5th in Venice (Tartakower won). In 1947/48 he tied for 2nd-4th, behind László Szabó
László Szabó (chess player)
László Szabó was a prominent Hungarian Grandmaster of chess.Born in Budapest, he burst onto the international chess scene in 1935, at the unusually young age of 18...
, in Hastings. In 1948, he took 8th in Venice (Miguel Najdorf
Miguel Najdorf
Miguel Najdorf was a Polish-born Argentine chess grandmaster of Jewish origin, famous for his Najdorf Variation....
won). In 1949/50 he took 4th in Lucerne (Blau won). In 1951, he took 10th in Bad Pyrmont (zonal; Svetozar Gligorić
Svetozar Gligoric
Svetozar Gligorić is a Serbian chess grandmaster. He won the championship of Yugoslavia a record twelve times, and is considered the best player ever from Serbia...
won).
Between 1946 and 1972, Grob played 3,614 correspondence chess games. He won 2,703, lost 430, and drew 481 games. All of the games were played against readers of the Neue Zürcher Zeitung
Neue Zürcher Zeitung
The Neue Zürcher Zeitung is a major German language Swiss daily newspaper based in Zurich.One of the oldest newspapers still published, it originally appeared as Zürcher Zeitung, edited by Salomon Gessner, from January 12, 1780, and was renamed to Neue Zürcher Zeitung in 1821...
, a leading Swiss newspaper.
He was awarded the International Master title in 1950.
Grob married nine times. When once asked if he were married he replied "Fast immer" ("Almost always.")