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Games of Vera Menchik (16 February 1906 - 27 June 1944) • Biography: Wikipedia • Remembering Vera Menchik
583 game entries* • Download PGN (including stubs) • Download PGN (excluding stubs) •
updated:
Tuesday 2 September, 2025 7:14 AM
* the total shown includes stub games (i.e. game entries showing players' names and other header data, etc, but with zero moves (or in some cases a handful of opening moves). Note that colour information is not known for some stub entries - where this is the case a note is included to this effect). The game viewer above excludes stub entries.
Miscellanea
Vera Menchik's Dutch Tour, March/April 1934
(from Tijdschrift van den Nederlandschen Schaakbond [Journal of the Dutch Chess Federation], Vol.42, April 1934, ppn 108-116, google-translated)
The world champion completed her tour of the Netherlands a few days ago. On 17 March [1934], she arrived in Vlissingen, where the magazine's play-study editor welcomed her and assisted her on her first visit to Dutch soil. For reasons of space, we will briefly follow the events here in chronological order, the program of which was very precise given the relatively short duration of the visit.
19 March 1934: Game against Dr. Euwe for the V.A.R.A. [Dutch radio station] The national champion convincingly demonstrated his superiority. With a positional advantage, born from the opening, he energetically converted it into a win, leaving his opponent no chance. Nevertheless, Miss Menchik has nothing to be ashamed of in this defeat! As she noted into the microphone, the score between her and Dr. Euwe was now 2-2. The V.A.R.A., which usually shows a gratifying interest in the performance of our national champion, acting in a national sense, has committed the Dutch chess world to itself by arranging this radio match. Thousands across the country, including non-chess players, tuned their sets to the V.A.R.A. that evening for special reasons!
20 March 1934: Zandvoort simul, 33 boards. Result: +25, =6, -2. 85%. The enthusiastic secretary of the Zandvoort Chess Club, where Miss Menchik enjoyed hospitality (and how!), assisted by the Z.S.C. tournament director, Mr. Janse, had arranged everything so that her first impression of the sportsmanship and hospitality of the Dutch chess community exceeded her wildest expectations. She rewarded this hospitality in her own way, namely, with strong, solid play. She was extremely ruthless towards her fellow women: all six players lost. The winners were Louis Blok and C. L. Bolwidt Jr.; draws were made by C. L. Bolwidt Sr., A. C. de Groot, H. v. d. Geer, Holtman, A. S. Katan, and P. Verdonck. Here follows one of the best games. [vs Louis Blok] A game played powerfully by the secretary of the Zandvoort Chess Club.
21-25 March 1934: four-game match against Miss Sonja Graf. Result: 3-1. The first game, like the other three, was played at the home of Dr. M. Euwe. The world champion was poor on the attack and lost. She won the second game, which was the best of the four. In the third game, the German player made a weak move in time-trouble, causing her to lose the exchange after initially a completely even game. Winning was merely a matter of technique for Menchik. The fourth game was played by Sonja Graf in very poor physical condition and was quickly lost. A match of 10 to 12 games is planned, to be played in London, probably in November. Sonja Graf will register for the Hastings Christmas Tournament following this match. She would cut a very good figure in the Premier Reserves! Dr. Euwe covered two of the games in this issue. Sonja Graf will remain in Holland for a few more weeks. More information about this will be provided in the May issue.
26 March 1934: Alkmaar simul. Result: +12, =11, -2. 70%. The winners were: C. de Heer and P. Hoekstra. The following drew: D. Weisenborn, P. de Deugd, E. de Waal, J. G. v. Burken, J. Kwadijk, D. Appel Jr., B. Veltman, P. Helder, J. de Groot, P. Pronk, and F. v. d. Vliet. A game from the session follows. [v Burken]
27 March 1934: Soest simul. Result: +16, =3, -6. 70%. The winners were: Dr. Veldhuizen van Zanten, De Regt, Everaars, Van Ingen, Blom, and Hilhorst. The draw was made by Drost, De Jong, and Floor (without an h). Dr. Veldhuizen van Zanten, with whom Miss Menchik was staying, let her admire the surroundings of Soest from a considerable distance. The London lady, not accustomed to our peculiar, picturesque landscape, enjoyed it immensely!
28 March 1934: Delft Student Chess Club simul. Result: +15, =1, -1. Over 91%. The winner was Mr. Strick van Linschoten, brother of Mr. Ir. H. Strick van Linschoten. The draw was made by Mr. G. C. A. Oskam. In Delft the world champion was given a most pleasant welcome, which she proved by achieving a high score! She was the guest of the Strick van Kinschoten family, and after the session, she was offered a convivial supper at the Student Society.
29 March 1934: Simul in Gorinchem at the N.G.S.V. Result: +16, =5, -5. Over 71%. The winners were: F. Lubienski, L. Verhoeven, G. Bergman (all from the N.G.S.V.), J. v. d. Lelie (G.S.C.), and Mr. G. C. Weidner (Vianen. Isn't it time for Vianen to join the Gorinchem and Surroundings Chess Federation!?!). Draws were made by J. Metzlar, L.A.W. Noorduyn, H. J. Roelfsema, J. de Vries (all G.S.C.), and P. de Lange (N.G.S.V.). The N.G.S.V. can look back on this evening with pleasure!
30 March 1934: Simul in Deventer, Chess Club "Pallas". Result: +17, =6, -7. Almost 67%. A relatively poor result, considering that the strongest chess power of Deventer and the surrounding area had shown up. Winners: G. Ordelman, E. Adelaar, A. J. Kraan, F. Naerebout, C. J. de Feijter, J. Bruins, and another who, overwhelmed with joy over his victory, fled without giving his name. Draws were not given. The Dr. Brutel de la Rivière family—coming from the Indies and not demonstrating perfection in hospitality is unthinkable!—hosted the world champion. Miss Menchik herself was more enthusiastic about the genuine Deventer cake that was offered to her as a souvenir than about her game.
31 March 1934: Game in Utrecht against Ed. Spanjaard. Draw. Spanjaard, who had an unfavourable endgame, managed to hold a draw through very cautious play. The game lasted about six hours.
1-2 April 1934: Main group V.A.S. Rapidplay tournament [Amsterdam]. Result: +1, =1, -1. (2nd-3rd).
| 1934 VAS CC Group A | 1 | 2 | 3 | 4 | Total | ||
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | Emile Adolf Mulder |
|
½ | ½ | 1 | 2 | |
| 2 | H W Felderhof | ½ |
|
1 | 0 | 1½ | |
| 3 | Vera Menchik | ½ | 0 |
|
1 | 1½ | |
| 4 | J Veerkamp | 0 | 1 | 0 |
|
1 | |
The world champion was far from lucky in this event! She had drawn against Mulder, then had to play against Felderhof, against whom, just as Felderhof was preparing to resign (he was a piece down, with no semblance of compensation), she made a blunder, which caused her to lose two moves. She won against Veerkamp. In the draw for second prize, Felderhof was even the lucky one!! Instead of receiving first prize, the world champion received nothing! An incredible example of bad luck!
3 April 1934: Simultaneous in D.D. Result: +10, =7, -8. 54%. A debacle! The English player was still deeply depressed by her disappointment in Amsterdam. The initial intention was to pit the less strong players from the larger Hague team against her. However, several very strong players participated, including Mr. W. G. Belinfante, K. J. Nieukerke, and Mr. Leembruggen, while consultations were conducted with vigorous diligence everywhere. All circumstances were against her. The winners were: Mr. W. G. Belinfante, Mr. C. J. Leembruggen, Miss L. Arrias + K. J. Nieukerke, H. B. Galema, Ir. J. Wessels, A. Moonen, Ir. H. de Munck, and the 13-year-old A. Wijnans. The following players drew: L. Weytlandt, J. Levie, H. Kick, R. Hammes, B. v. Berkel, J. Wouters, and H. van Veen. When we heard Miss Menchik raise the aforementioned mitigating circumstances, she very sportingly dismissed them with the words: "No, I played very badly!"
4 April 1934: Bloemendaal Simul. Result: +25, =7, -1. 86%. The winner was J. Vermeer. The following drew: Mrs. R. Onvlee-—Lans, P. H. C. v. d. Bronk, A. Hinlopen, G. Bolsenbroek, J. Lankamp, Wibo v. d. Werff, and J. A. Stals. While staying at the house of Mr. Caro in Vogelenzang, near Bennebroek, Miss Menchik had the opportunity to admire the surroundings of the "bulb city," which unfortunately only showed some promise for the very near future.
5 April 1934: Watergraafsmeer Simul. Result: +18, =5, -3. 79%. The winners were: J. Dargel, C. Dekker, and L. van Straten. The draw was made by T. M. de Hon, A. J. Boer, C. Kiert, J. Scliuerink, and N. de Ruyter. The "Watergraafsmeer" Chess Club found Miss Menchik willing to give each participant a signed commemorative card, a kind gesture greatly appreciated by all.
From Saturday to Monday [7-9 April 1934], Ms. Menchik was the guest of the Ermelo chess players, though only on the 64 squares on Saturday evenings; afterward, in the blossoming countryside of the unparalleled Veluwe. Monday morning, she left for the residence, reluctantly saying goodbye to the warm-hearted Over-Veluwers, and carrying with her fondest memories of their hospitality and sportsmanship.
9 April 1934: Simultaneous with limited time against the strongest players from Westerkwartier [The Hague]. Result: +8, =2, -0. 90%. Messrs. Dr. Holleman and Mr. Van Vaalen drew. Ms. Menchik was ready [finished the simul?] within three hours! An instructive evening! Analysis showed that Dr. Holleman had agreed to a draw in a winning position.
10 and 11 April 1934: Nijmegen simul at "Strijdt met Beleid". Result: +16, =5, -4. 74%. The winners were: Knoop, Offerhaus, Boessens, and Goedhart. The draws were: Meyers, Boers, Van Tuil, Dek, and Bertels. On April 11, the world champion played against the club's four strongest players with limited thinking time. Result: +4, =0, -0. 100%. Ms. Menchik expressed her high appreciation for the level of play and was delighted with the city and its surroundings!
12 April 1934: "Utrecht" Chess Club simul. Result: +12, =12, -4. over 64%. Winners were: L. M. Bruins, H. de Bruijn (Lasker), P. Th. Betera (Sticht) and S. Swaab. Making a draw: H. Th. C. Baljet, A. W. Bosschaart, W. E. J. Dominik, H. Gerritse (Oog in Al), Mrs. Keijser-Bronsveld, F. W. Kokje, A. M. Pigmans, E. Reiche, E. Scherpenhuijsen Rom, Dr. A. Schuckink Kool, Mr. G. C. Weidner and G. Wessels. The "Utrecht" Club invited the other local clubs to each send one of their strongest players, which they did.
13-17 April 1934. Sessions with the N.O.S.B.O. of Groningen. +11, = 5, - 8. 56%. The winners were: H. Bos, N.E. Fatten Jr., D. Ham, N. Ham, J.C. Lindenbergh, J. Niks, H. Poort, and P.J. Schreuder. The following drew: L.H. Deelman, H. Levie, H.W. Lenstra, H. Mulder, and E.M. Noordhoek. Groningen has always been a stumbling block in the field of simultaneous play, even for the very best! Ms. Menchik needn't worry about this relative failure!
| 1934 Groningen | 1 | 2 | 3 | 4 | 5 | Total | ||
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | Vera Menchik |
|
½ | 1 | 1 | 1 | 3½ | |
| 2 | Jan Aksel Wolthuis | ½ |
|
1 | ½ | 1 | 3 | |
| 3 | Christiaan Scholtens | 0 | 0 |
|
1 | 1 | 2 | |
| 4 | A Braam | 0 | ½ | 0 |
|
1 | 1½ | |
| 5 | J Groenevelt | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 |
|
0 | |
The preparation and leadership were in the trusted hands of the NOSBO tournament director, Mr. W. Kremer, who also hosted Miss Menchik. Mr. Kremer, assisted by the NOSBO secretary, Mr. J. A. Lichtman, performed his duties as director of these chess events in an exemplary manner, while the Kremer family, as hosts and hostesses, invited their guests to cherish their memories. It was a wonderful chess week! One would like to wish them a more abundant experience in the Netherlands!
18 April 1934. Departure. Miss Menchik travelled via The Hague to Hook of Holland to take the overnight ferry to Harwich. Not to rest properly in England from her strenuous tour of Holland, but to resume work, which demanded everyone's attention, at the Empire Social Chess Club on 19 April.
Conclusion. And so Miss Menchik's tour of our country is a thing of the past. Here follows a summary of her simultaneous performances.
| 1934 Menchik Simul Tour Netherlands |
Wins | Draws | Losses |
|---|---|---|---|
| Zandvoort | 25 | 6 | 2 |
| Alkmaar | 12 | 11 | 2 |
| Soest | 16 | 13 | 6 |
| Delft | 15 | 1 | 1 |
| Gorinchem | 16 | 5 | 5 |
| Deventer | 17 | 6 | 7 |
| Den Haag "D.D." | 10 | 7 | 8 |
| Bloemendaal | 25 | 7 | 1 |
| Watergraafsmeer | 18 | 5 | 3 |
| Zeist | 16 | 4 | 5 |
| Ermelo | 17 | 4 | 0 |
| The Hague, Westerkwartier | 8 | 2 | 0 |
| Nijmegen | 16 | 5 | 4 |
| 4 | 0 | 0 | |
| Utrecht | 12 | 12 | 4 |
| Groningen | 11 | 5 | 8 |
| Other Games | 7 | 3 | 3 |
| Total | 245 | 86 | 57 |
While we had the pleasure of being more closely involved with Miss Menchik's journey than others, we must write the following in connection with it. When we first met this remarkable woman in person, we were immediately struck by her kindness, modesty, and courage. This impression was reinforced by her visit to our country and has been shared by all who came into contact with her. Here is a woman who combines feminine charm with fortitude and aptitude for hard work; who needs no cigarettes, lipstick, or rouge, no eyebrow razor or cocktails, nor quasi-masculine manners, to assert herself with with both sexes, whom she manages to captivate with her humble, strong-willed personality without any special means. We repeat here, from one of the provincial towns where she gave a simultaneous performance, Averd wrote to us after her departure: "We will long fondly remember our meeting with this friendly lady, who has absolutely no 'star' airs, is extremely modest, and who, we sincerely hope, will return to England as healthy and resilient as she left!"
We wholeheartedly endorse this simply written "Avoorden Aran," Avij is convinced, also on behalf of many others, and offer the world champion a sincere "See you again!"
L. G. E.
It should be borne in mind that the above was google-translated - JS
File updated
| Date | Notes |
| 14 April 2023 | Original upload. This collection of Vera Menchik's chess games has 569 game entries of which 460 are either complete scores or else are part-games. I have made two PGN files available for download, one of which includes all game entries (including stubs); the other excludes stubs. The game viewer excludes stubs. I am grateful to Brian Denman for his help with this project; he made available to me the collection of games which he had made in collaboration with Tony Gillam. |
| 16 April 2023 | I am grateful to Ulrich for supplying some more Vera Menchik games: 2 complete games (VM 1-0 Skjoensberg, Worlch ch 1935, replacing a stub; Lauberte 0-1 VM, World ch 1937); 3 part-games (Roodzant 0-1 VM, Wch 1937; VM 1-0 Thomson, Wch 1937; A.Baert 1-0 VM, Belgium v World 1931); and five stubs. Running total: 578 game entries, 450 complete games, 15 part-games. |
| 25 April 2023 | Added a stub game: V.Menchik beat R.Michell (but colours not known), Sussex v Surrey, 13.02.1932. This alerted me to the fact that the last six rounds of the 'Sunday Referee' London tournament had been given the wrong dates, so I have also adjusted them on the Menchik files. |
| 15 May 2023 |  The game V.Menchik 1-0 F.Thomson, Stockholm 1937, previously given as a part-game, is now complete. Source for the game is Jan Kalendovsky and the score and image were sent to me by Labirinti E Casematte for which many thanks. I suspect that this was Black's copy of the score. |
| 16 May 2023 |  Another part-game from the 1937 Women's World Championship in Stockholm has been sent to me by Labirinti E Casematte for which many thanks. V.Menchik 1-0 M.D.Gilchrist, rd 14. Once again we have an image of the score, supplied by Jan Kalendovsky. I have tried to decipher the score, but it required rather a lot of assumptions. See what you think! |
| 10 September 2023 | Added a game: V.Menchik 1-0 E.Holloway (Major Open 1928, rd 1). Many thanks to Gerard Killoran (EC Forum, 9 September). Technically a part-game though resignation would have been justifiable in the final position. |
| 26 November 2023 | Name amendment: Barbara Flerow-Bulhak 0-1 V.Menchik, rd 12, Women's World Championship, August 1937. I am grateful to Philip Jurgens for pointing out the previous misspelling of Ms Flerow-Bulhak's name. |
| 22 November 2024 | A minor move order amendment has been applied to the game V Menchik 0-1 A Teller, Hastings, 03.01.1926, plus an extra primary source identified. My thanks to Michael Kühl for drawing my attention to this. |
| 6 April 2025 | Added the game V Menchik 0-1 D Ham, 24-board simul, Groningen, 14.04.1934. My thanks to Lorenzo Barsi for sending me the score which he found in a Dutch newspaper. The newspaper score is ambiguous and inaccurate, and my interpretation of the final sequence is tentative. |
| 2 September 2025 | Added the report of Vera Menchik's tour of the Netherlands in March/April 1934. |