Chess pie and Fischer's cake

by Arne Kaehler
5/8/2020 – Many people are staying home now, more than ever. Baking bread has become a very popular activity in these times. Did you know that there is a cake recipe called the "chess pie"? Did you also know, that Robert Fischer has once received a cake, which looked like one of his played chess games? Chess can be such a sweet experience.

No other World Champion was more infamous both inside and outside the chess world than Bobby Fischer. On this DVD, a team of experts shows you the winning techniques and strategies employed by the 11th World Champion.

Grandmaster Dorian Rogozenco delves into Fischer’s openings, and retraces the development of his repertoire. What variations did Fischer play, and what sources did he use to arm himself against the best Soviet players? Mihail Marin explains Fischer’s particular style and his special strategic talent in annotated games against Spassky, Taimanov and other greats. Karsten Müller is not just a leading international endgame expert, but also a true Fischer connoisseur.

What is a chess pie?

John Denver - Take Me Home, Country Roads

The chess pie is a southern pie from the United States of America, and that might be the only thing we can say for sure about this piece of cake. Most of the sources on this pie lead to Martha Washington's Booke of Cookery and Booke of Sweetmeats. The former first lady probably got this book out of England, where it was written in the 17th century, according to culinary historian Karen Loft Hess.

There are several funny and interesting theories of why the pie is called chess pie:

  • It was traditionally served to the gentleman before they retreated to another room to play chess.
  • Due to the high amount of sugar, the cake was most commonly stored in chests at room temperature making it a chest pie. Those chests were pretty common back then.
  • One cook was asked where the delicious smell is coming from, and her answer was – “It's jes pie” leading to "chess pie"
  • Another cook was asked a similar question, as what the pie was made of - "Anything in our chest" was her answer.
  • It is an old tart coming from the English town Chester, where it was called Chesster pie.
  • It could also be, that the British cheese cake was pronounced differently in American English - more like Chess Cake.

The most popular explanation is this one, taken from Sarah Belk [Simon and Schuster:New York] 1991 (p. 367-8) from Lynne Olver's foodtimeline.org website:

The cheese etymology seems the most likely one, because in old cookbooks, cheesecakes and pies that were sometimes made with cheese sometimes without (referring to cheese in the textural sense - lemon card, for example, is often referred to as lemon cheese), are often included in a single category. A selection of cheeseless "cheese" pastries in Housekeeping in Old Virginia (1879) are made with egg yolks, sugar, butter, milk, and lemon juice - very much like chess pie filling. Sometimes called "Cheesecake Pudding" (the filling is made of yolks, brown sugar, butter, nutmeg, and brandy or rum) is baked in a crust in small tins..."

Whatever the mystery about the chess cake origin is, it is no secret that it tastes delicious! Probably because it is mostly made of sugar...

A friend of mine gave me this recipe:

From Thelma's Treasures by Susanna Thomas

1 9" pie crust

recipe in the book

Filling:

  • 3 eggs, separated
  • 3 whole eggs
  • 1 stick (8 tablespoons) butter, softened
  • 1 teaspoon white vinegar
  • 1/2 Half and Half cream

Meringue Topping:

  • 3 egg whites
  • 6 tablespoons sugar

Furthermore, here is a YouTube video by Southern Living:

The amount of sugar at 0:40 makes me cry

Fischer's chess cake

Let endgame expert Dr Karsten Müller show and explain the finesses of the world champions. Although they had different styles each and every one of them played the endgame exceptionally well, so take the opportunity to enjoy and learn from some of the best endgames in the history of chess.

Bobby Fischer won the US Championship 1963/64 with 11/11 points! He was just 20 years old when this extraordinary result was accomplished. Never again could this 100% perfect score be reached in the US Championship.

Game number ten against Pal Benko in particular is remarkable. So remarkable, that a chess cake with an actual position of the game was made for Fischer after the tournament.

Here is a tweet by Douglas Griffin with Bobby Fischer's chess cake.

Suren Aghabekyan tells us even more about the Bobby Fischer chess cake story:

The US Championship table from the ChessBase Mega Database

All the games played in the US Championship 1963

 
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MoveNResultEloPlayers
1.e41,168,43054%2421---
1.d4948,59355%2434---
1.Nf3282,13556%2441---
1.c4182,40456%2442---
1.g319,72456%2427---
1.b314,32154%2427---
1.f45,91348%2377---
1.Nc33,81451%2384---
1.b41,75948%2379---
1.a31,22154%2405---
1.e31,07349%2409---
1.d395450%2378---
1.g466646%2361---
1.h444953%2374---
1.c343551%2426---
1.h328356%2419---
1.a411259%2465---
1.f39346%2435---
1.Nh38966%2508---
1.Na34262%2482---
1.g3 c5 2.Bg2 Nc6 3.d3 d5 4.f4 Nf6 5.Nf3 g6 6.Nbd2 Bg7 7.e3 0-0 8.0-0 Ng4 9.Re1 d4 10.Nf1 dxe3 11.Nxe3 Nxe3 12.Rxe3 c4 13.Ne5 Nxe5 14.fxe5 cxd3 15.Qxd3 Qb6 16.Kh1 Rd8 17.Qe2 Be6 18.c3 Rd7 19.Re4 Bd5 20.Rb4 Bxg2+ 21.Kxg2 Qc6+ 22.Kg1 Qc5+ 23.Be3 Qxe5 24.Qf2 Qa5 25.a4 e5 26.g4 f6 27.h4 Qa6 28.h5 Rad8 29.hxg6 Rd1+ 30.Rxd1 Rxd1+ 31.Kh2 hxg6 32.Bxa7 Bh6 33.Rb6 Bf4+ 34.Kg2 Qxa7 35.Qc5 Rd2+ 36.Kf1 Rd8 37.Qc4+ Kh8 38.Qe6 Rf8 39.Qe7 0–1
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WhiteEloWBlackEloBResYearECOEventRnd
Byrne,D-Saidy,A-0–11963A03USA-ch10
Byrne,D-Weinstein,R-0–11963A17USA-ch3
Saidy,A-Addison,W-1–01963A25USA-ch9
Reshevsky,S-Addison,W-1–01963A29USA-ch6
Bisguier,A-Addison,W-1–01964A29USA-ch11
Saidy,A-Fischer,R-0–11964A32USA-ch11
Addison,W-Benko,P-½–½1963A34USA-ch3
Byrne,D-Reshevsky,S-½–½1963A36USA-ch7
Addison,W-Evans,L-0–11963A37USA-ch10
Steinmeyer,R-Weinstein,R-0–11963A53USA-ch7
Saidy,A-Evans,L-½–½1963A67USA-ch1
Steinmeyer,R-Evans,L-0–11963A69USA-ch4
Reshevsky,S-Saidy,A-1–01963A73USA-ch8
Byrne,R-Evans,L-½–½1963A77USA-ch8
Benko,P-Steinmeyer,R-½–½1963B01USA-ch8
Fischer,R-Benko,P-1–01963B09USA-ch10
Byrne,D-Bisguier,A-0–11963B14USA-ch1
Fischer,R-Steinmeyer,R-1–01963B19USA-ch6
Byrne,D-Fischer,R-0–11963B20USA-ch9
Bisguier,A-Saidy,A-0–11963B59USA-ch2
Mednis,E-Weinstein,R-1–01963B76USA-ch10
Mednis,E-Saidy,A-0–11963B94USA-ch6
Mednis,E-Byrne,R-0–11963C04USA-ch2
Bisguier,A-Byrne,R-½–½1963C04USA-ch9
Fischer,R-Evans,L-1–01963C33USA-ch2
Mednis,E-Fischer,R-0–11963C54USA-ch1
Weinstein,R-Bisguier,A-0–11963C65USA-ch6
Addison,W-Fischer,R-0–11963C70USA-ch7
Weinstein,R-Benko,P-0–11963C77USA-ch9
Mednis,E-Addison,W-½–½1963C86USA-ch4
Mednis,E-Bisguier,A-1–01963C90USA-ch8
Fischer,R-Weinstein,R-1–01963C96USA-ch8
Weinstein,R-Addison,W-0–11963C98USA-ch2
Fischer,R-Bisguier,A-1–01963C98USA-ch4
Reshevsky,S-Fischer,R-0–11963D32USA-ch5
Byrne,D-Mednis,E-½–½1963D36USA-ch5
Reshevsky,S-Bisguier,A-½–½1963D36USA-ch10
Evans,L-Weinstein,R-0–11963D38USA-ch5
Bisguier,A-Steinmeyer,R-½–½1963D47USA-ch5
Evans,L-Bisguier,A-1–01963D50USA-ch3
Evans,L-Byrne,D-1–01964D70USA-ch11
Byrne,R-Benko,P-0–11963D71USA-ch1
Steinmeyer,R-Reshevsky,S-0–11964D71USA-ch11
Byrne,R-Fischer,R-0–11963D71USA-ch3
Benko,P-Byrne,D-½–½1963D76USA-ch4
Benko,P-Evans,L-0–11963D78USA-ch6
Saidy,A-Benko,P-0–11963D91USA-ch5
Steinmeyer,R-Byrne,D-½–½1963D91USA-ch2
Saidy,A-Steinmeyer,R-½–½1963D91USA-ch3
Byrne,R-Steinmeyer,R-1–01963D94USA-ch10
Reshevsky,S-Weinstein,R-0–11963D95USA-ch1
Bisguier,A-Benko,P-0–11963D97USA-ch7
Byrne,R-Byrne,D-½–½1963D98USA-ch6
Benko,P-Mednis,E-1–01964E11USA-ch11
Benko,P-Reshevsky,S-½–½1963E19USA-ch2
Byrne,R-Reshevsky,S-½–½1963E21USA-ch4
Reshevsky,S-Mednis,E-1–01963E54USA-ch3
Evans,L-Reshevsky,S-½–½1963E55USA-ch9
Addison,W-Byrne,D-1–01963E60USA-ch8
Addison,W-Byrne,R-0–11963E61USA-ch5
Steinmeyer,R-Mednis,E-½–½1963E62USA-ch9
Saidy,A-Byrne,R-½–½1963E81USA-ch7
Evans,L-Mednis,E-1–01963E81USA-ch7
Weinstein,R-Saidy,A-0–11963E89USA-ch4
Addison,W-Steinmeyer,R-½–½1963E94USA-ch1
Weinstein,R-Byrne,R-1–01964E99USA-ch11

And the special "cake" game

 
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MoveNResultEloPlayers
Replay and check the LiveBook here
1.e4 g6 2.d4 Bg7 3.Nc3 3.c4 d6 4.Nc3 3.h4!? 3...d6 4.f4 4.Be3 Nf6 5.f3 4...Nf6 5.Nf3 0-0 6.Bd3 6.Be2 c5 7.dxc5 Qa5 8.0-0 Qxc5+ 9.Kh1 Nc6 10.Nd2 a5! 11.Nb3 Qb6 12.a4 Nb4 13.g4 Bxg4! Fischer,R-Korchnoi,V Curacao ct 1962 6...Bg4? 6...Na6!? Valvo,M 7.e5 dxe5 8.fxe5 Nd5 9.Nxd5 Qxd5= Bisguier,A-Benko,P m 1964 6...Nbd7 7.0-0 7.e5 >= 7...e5 8.dxe5 dxe5 9.fxe5 Nxe5 10.Nxe5 Qd4+ 11.Kh1 Qxe5 12.Bf4 Qc5 6...Nc6!? 7.e5 dxe5 8.fxe5 Nd5 8...Ng4 >=; Spassky,B 8...Nh5 >= 9.Nxd5 Qxd5 10.c3 Bg4 11.Qe2!± Fischer,R-Perez,F Habana 1965 7.h3 Bxf3 8.Qxf3 Nc6 9.Be3 e5 9...Nd7 10.e5 () 10.dxe5 dxe5 11.f5 /\ g2-g4-g5 +- gxf5 11...Nd4 12.Qf2 gxf5 13.exf5 b5 14.0-0 c5 15.Ne4 c4 16.Nxf6+ Qxf6 17.Be4 Rad8 18.c3 Rfe8 19.Kh1 Kh8 20.Rae1 b4 21.cxd4 exd4 22.Bc1 d3 23.b3 Bh6 24.Bxh6 Qxh6 25.Bf3 Rxe1 26.Qxe1 c3 27.Qe7+- Bednarski, J-Kraidman,Y Tel Aviv 1964 12.Qxf5 12.exf5 e4! 12...Nd4 12...Qd7 13.Qf2 13.Qxe5! Ng4 14.Qxg7+ Kxg7 15.hxg4 Ne6 15...Nc6∞ 16.e5 Rh8 17.Bh6+ Kg8 18.Ne4+- 13...Ne8 /\ Nd6, f7-f5; c7-c5-c4 13...Nd7 14.0-0-0 Nc5 15.Kb1 /\ Ne2, c2-c3 14.0-0 14.0-0-0 Nd6 15.Ne2 14...Nd6 14...c6 15.Ne2 >< f5, h5 15.Qg3 15.Nd5 f5 16.Bxd4 Nxe4! 17.Bxe4 fxe4 15.Ne2 f5 15...Kh8 15...f5 16.Bh6 Qf6 17.Bxg7 Qxg7 18.Qxg7+ Kxg7 19.exf5 N6xf5 20.Rae1 Rae8 21.Ne4± 16.Qg4 c6 16...c5! 17.Qh5 /\ Bxd4, e4-e5 Qe8? 17...Ne6 >= 17...c5 >= 18.Bxd4 exd4 19.Rf6!
19.e5 f5! 19...Kg8 19...dxc3 20.e5+- 19...Bxf6 20.e5+- 20.e5 h6 21.Ne2! 21.Rxd6 Qxe5! 21.Ne2! /\ Rxd6 Nb5 21...Bxf6 22.Qxh6+- 22.Qf5+-
1–0
  • Start an analysis engine:
  • Try maximizing the board:
  • Use the four cursor keys to replay the game. Make moves to analyse yourself.
  • Press Ctrl-B to rotate the board.
  • Drag the split bars between window panes.
  • Download&Clip PGN/GIF/FEN/QR Codes. Share the game.
  • Games viewed here will automatically be stored in your cloud clipboard (if you are logged in). Use the cloud clipboard also in ChessBase.
  • Create an account to access the games cloud.
WhiteEloWBlackEloBResYearECOEventRnd
Fischer,R-Benko,P-1–01963B09USA-ch10

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Arne Kaehler, a creative mind who is passionate about board games in general, was born in Hamburg and learned to play chess at a young age. By teaching chess to youth teams and creating chess-related videos on YouTube, Arne was able to expand this passion and has even created an online course for anyone who wants to learn how to play chess. Arne writes for the English and German news sites, but focuses mainly on content for the ChessBase media channels.

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