Pedro Damiano

, Also called Damiano de Odemira Pedro Damiano (* unknown in Odemira, † 1544 ), was an important Portuguese chess writer of the 16th century.

Life

By profession, Damiano was a pharmacist and came from Odemira in southern Portugal. About circumstances of his life almost nothing is known. It is believed that it originally was called Pedro Damiao and found in 1497 as a Jew refuge in Rome, after King Manuel had ordered the expulsion of Jews from Portugal I. under penalty of death.

He worked in Rome again as a pharmacist and was called Damiano ( the name similarity to the medieval Bishop Peter Damian has in the past led to misunderstandings ). In addition, however, is not ruled out that it is only a pseudonym of an unidentified author. Saint Damian was the patron saint of pharmacists.

A portrait is not known. Nevertheless, his hometown has Odemira built him a few years ago a monument.

The chess book

He achieved fame by his basic chess textbook ( Questo libro e da giocare a imparare scachi et de le partite ), which was published in Rome in 1512. The more bilingual (Italian - Spanish ) edition is available among others in the British Library. Until 1564 a total of eight editions were printed, of which several pirated editions. The first French translation appeared in 1560, the first English 1562nd In German the work was first 1855/56 published in the Berliner Zeitung chess.

The radiation emanating from Italy dissemination of the book benefited from the fact that Pope Leo X in 1513 abolished the Church's prohibition of chess. Only with the appearance of the Spaniard Ruy Lopez ended a half-century later, the primacy of the book by Damiano.

In addition to Luis Ramirez Lucena, whose already in 1497 published in the Spanish language chess factory found much less attention, Damianos book is the second document on the reform of the rules of the game of chess, which had just taken place. The figure of the lady has been introduced. Instead of castling, the ausprägte only during the course of the 16th century, Damiano knows of the medieval king jump. The new game with the advanced possible moves for queen and bishop called Damiano in Italian alla rabiosa ( "on Forces of Nature " ), in Spanish de la Dama.

Not applicable were the conjectures Damianos about the origin of chess, which he attributed to the Persian king Xerxes because of it has adopted Etymology of the Spanish word Axedrez.

Notes on Opening and Positioning

After the introduction, he commented first beginnings of the game under the new rules and analyzed individual Abspiele, such as the eponymous opening, Damianos defense ( 1 e2- e4 e7 - e5 2 f3 - f7 - f6 Sg1 ). Damiano, advised in his book on its use and instead recommended 2 ... Sb8 - c6. The later of Philidor recommended train 2 ... d7 - d6 Damiano also considered inferior because he imprisons the king runners.

In addition to opening treatment Damiano gave some general instructions for positional play. Is in positions in which you attack nor attacked, the figures should be considered that are unfavorable. If one is at the material advantage, you should aim for Abtausch. Each train should pursue the intention to strengthen the cohesion of the figures. Timeless validity can take his advice: If your stones have occupied a superior position, you can not sit through the rape of a unimportant farmers on the game. These strategic considerations, the notes on the position of the game and the principle of harmony were the really revolutionary thing about the book. An often repeated psychological advice Damianos is: If you have more than a good train, make sure whether there is not yet a better one.

Collection of artificial playoffs

Damianos book contained detailed information on default roles; an appendix also included a guide to the already practiced at that time blind game.

However, the majority of the work took a collection of 72 chess compositions, which almost completely Lucena - drew or other source from which both authors - was borrowed. Became famous named after him Matt with double rook sacrifice:

Solution: 1 Th1 - h8 clearance Kg8xh8 2 Tf1 -h1 Kh8 - g8 facilitation 3 Th1 - h8 clearance Kg8xh8 4 Dd1 -h1 Kh8 - g8 5 Dh1 - h7 #

Werkausgaben

• Damiano as Odemira: Questo libro e da giocare a imparare scachi et de le partite, Rome 1512 ( digitized at Gallica )
• Robert Franz and Tassilo von der Lasa and Heydebrand: The Chess Lots [sic ] and finals of the Portuguese Damiano, together with the art of playing from memory, Veit & Comp, Berlin 1857 ( German translation ).