W.H.K. Pollock

Olimpiu G. Urcan is a Singapore-based chess historian. He contributes regularly to Edward Winter’s Chess Notes and is the author of several chess biographies published by McFarland. John S. Hilbert, a retired senior attorney with the Social Security Administration living in Buffalo, New York, has written 16 chess books and over 100 articles on chess biography and history, winning multiple national and international awards.

“I'm a great fan of books by [Hilbert]. They are always incredibly well researched and deep, usually uncovering material you will not find in any other book.”—American Chess Magazine; “A perfect marriage of subject, author and publisher. Open at random and be entertained.”—Jonathan Manley, editor, Kingpin Chess Magazine; “I recommend the book highly”—ChessCafe; “The Pollock book is one of the finest in the entire McFarland catalogue.”—Edward Winter, Chess Notes; “wonderful...a highly interesting biography and unbelievable amount of over 500 games...superb...one of the most amazing McFarland chess reads that I have ever seen”—Chessbooks.nl; “helps to expand our knowledge of European and American chess throughout the late 19th century. More significantly, the book provides the chess community with many unindexed games from an existing and creative player.”—Mind’s Eye Press; “Een prachtband, honderden pagina’s mooi papier en wat de inhoud betreft: geen partij wordt vergeten...die zo’n monument...dankzij de heren Urcan en Hilbert.”—Bab Wilders, Nederlands Dagblad.

• Table of ContentsPreface and AcknowledgmentsAbbreviations and Annotation SymbolsPart One: Life and Chess Career (1859–1896)1. The Irish Connection, 1859–18812. Early Chess Play, 1882–18853. In England and Ireland, 1886–18884. Two Months in New York, March 25–May 25, 18895. A Baltimore Man, June 1889–May 18906. Going West, May 1890–June 18917. Six Days in Skaneateles, July 20–25, 18918. In Bluegrass Country, August–December 18919. With the Holy Trinity: Chigorin, Steinitz and Lasker, January–December 189210. Moving Up North, January–August 189311. An Impromptu Misadventure, September–October 189312. In Montreal, May 1894–July 189513. At Hastings, July 1895–February 189614. Towards an Early Endgame, March–October 1896Part Two (1882–1896): Games 1–518Section I (January 1882–October 1885)Section II (January 1886–March 7, 1889)Section III (March 25–May 1889)Section IV (May 31, 1889–March 1890)Section V (May 1890–April 1891)Section VI (July 1891)Section VII (August–December 1891)Section VIII (January–December 1892)Section IX (January–August 1893)Section X (October 1893)Section XI (May 1894–July 1895)Section XII (August 1895–September 2, 1895)Section XIII (September 18, 1895–May 1896)Part Three: Appendices, Bibliography, IndicesAppendix A.Pollock and the 1890s American Chess ClubsAppendix B.Pollock ObituariesAppendix C.Pollock Memories: Inception and ReceptionAppendix D.A Pollock Essay on Time LimitsAppendix E.A Question of OriginalityAppendix F.Pollock’s Chess ProblemsAppendix G.Pollock’s Review of SteinitzAppendix H.Reviewing MasonAppendix I.A Call for Original ResearchAppendix J.War WhoopsAppendix K.Undated Games (519–530)Appendix L.Six Pollock EndgamesAppendix M.Pollock’s Tournament and Match RecordBibliographyIndex of Pollock Opponents (by Game Number)Index of Historical Annotators (by Game Number)Index of Openings—Traditional Names (by Game Number)Index of Openings—ECO Codes (by Game Number)General Index (to Page Numbers)