About a month ago, I shared my Chess Life Kids feature on chess and espionage in this newsletter. For those who aren’t already chessed-out, I’m sharing the other version of the piece, which I wrote for Chess Life (PDF format). Some characters and scenes in the story are similar to the other piece, but it’s a different story with different wrinkles.
The same caveat applies—that this is a publication otherwise behind a paywall, so I direct those who are interested to subscribe to Chess Life or Chess Life Kids via the website of the U.S. Chess Federation. (Here’s how to join.)
Here’s how the article begins:
In 1962, a game of broken telephone between two Washington chess partners likely prevented nuclear war amid the Cuban Missile Crisis. When National Press Club bartender Johnny Prokoff misheard reporters discussing a potential U.S. invasion of Cuba, he told chess partner Anatoly Gorsky an attack was imminent. A KGB officer working under the Russian news agency TASS cover, Gorsky ran the shoddy “intelligence” up the Soviet chain. Nikita Khrushchev quickly opted to respect the U.S. blockade; eavesdropping bungled, yet crisis averted.
Again, you can read the full article here.
Finally, I’m thankful to Jewish Insider wishing me a happy birthday today, and particularly for not sharing my age.
Hey happy birthday!