"This is our new series devoted to those, who did not earn worldwide credit
adequate to their chess skills and Olympic achievements. One of them is
certainly Isaac Kashdan (born 1905), relatively unknown US player. In fact
he was one of strongest players of the world in early 30's. Even Alekhine
mentioned one day that Kashdan might be next World Champion. (...)"


Read more at http://www.olimpbase.org

Subject: Olympic Heroes: Isaac Kashdan

On 28 March 2004 "OlimpBase" wrote in
Message-id:

-snipped-

Even Alekhine mentioned one day that Kashdan might be next World Champion.

- - - - - - - - - - - - - - -

From The Oxford Companion to Chess, Hooper and Whyld:
"In1933 Kashdan founded the Chess Review, a magazine which he soon handed over
to Horowitz, and wrote a book of the Folkestone Olympiad in which he had
played.
Around this time Alekhine remarked that Kashdan might be the next world
champion..."

When and where exactly did Alekhine make this supposed remark? Is there any
documentary evidence?

George Mirijanian

In the mid 1950's Isaac Kashdan appeared as a contestant on a quiz show. Do
you know what quiz show this was?

Jon Haskel

Jon Haskel wrote:
In the mid 1950's Isaac Kashdan appeared as a contestant on a quiz show. Do
you know what quiz show this was?

Jon Haskel



Groucho Marx's "You Bet Your Life". Kashdan told Groucho he played
blindfold chess and Groucho commented that if Kashdan wore a blindfold
if he played him, he'd cheat!

/mark

Subject: Isaac Kashdan, Game Show Contestant Trivia Question

On 28 March 2004 "Mark T. Kennedy" wrote in
Message-id:

Jon Haskel wrote:
In the mid 1950's Isaac Kashdan appeared as a contestant on a quiz show.
Do
you know what quiz show this was?

Jon Haskel


Mark T. Kennedy replied:

Groucho Marx's "You Bet Your Life". Kashdan told Groucho he played
blindfold chess and Groucho commented that if Kashdan wore a blindfold
if he played him, he'd cheat!

/mark


It was also on that same show that Groucho facetiously called Kashdan "Mr. Ash
Can."

George Mirijanian

(Miriling) wrote:

It was also on that same show that Groucho facetiously called
Kashdan "Mr. Ash Can."

He also asked Isaac "Are you the Japanese Kashdan?", a facetious
reference to the pop song "The Japanese Sandman." On the whole,
Kashdan definitely got the better of the exchange, a rare
accomplishment for guests on Groucho's show. The idea that anyone
could play chess sans voir completely dumbfounded Marx.

Taylor Kingston