FunMasterMike Breaks The Fortress!

 

Sometimes you can win a big tournament, even if you are not the favorite. That happened a few years after I graduated high school.

Most high school state champions from North Carolina were usually at least rated 2000+, but one year, a 1600-rated student won the whole thing! His name was Diego Ubiera, and we faced off when I was in college.

I didn't know Diego at all. He did something that no other chess player has even done against me. He came to the board with a framed picture of Jose Capablanca, and then before the game began, he turned it to face me the whole game!

Jose Capablanca, the Third World Chess Champion, in 1919. (Photo: Wikipedia)

Ubiera certainly loved his Cuban roots. But the idea of using a picture as intimidation was a unique twist!

I guess I could have complained, but instead, I pretended I actually had the chance to beat Capablanca himself! It gave me more motivation to win this ending, even though it seemed equal. How did I break through the fortress?

 

Want to learn about how to build, or how to break down fortresses? We don't have Capablanca to teach you, but hopefully you can learn fortresses from FunMasterMike!

See you next Wednesday for "FunMasterMike's Most Fun Moments!"