The Discart-Bonetti
Chess Match, 1863

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A Versatile Chess Composer

Discart was the chess columnist of the Illustrazione Universale of Milan, from 1864 to 1868, and of the Settimana Illustrata, also of Milan, from 1866 to 1868. In these columns, as well as in Austrian and German newspapers (such as the Wiener Salonblatt and the Deutsche Sportzeitung), he published his problems. As a composer, Discart demonstrates great versatility. He was nearer to Phillip Stamma of Aleppo than to his Modenese background in a few elaborate, artificial compositions with many pieces on the board – so far from the economy of forces advocated by Ercole del Rio and the so-called Neoclassic School. Yet he was nearer to the Modenese School in many other respects, often making his compositions seem to arise from actual play. In all cases the solutions are so beautiful and so astonishing, that we feel only a first-rate problemist could produce similar effects. In addition, he also composed helpmates, called in those times "Ganapierde" (who wins loses), and conditional problems, which he called "Problemi di Sottilità" (problems of subtlety).

Problems.htm

The Trattato Sopra il Giuoco degli Scacchi

We should make it clear that Discart was a strong supporter of Italian "free castling," and of two other Italian laws of chess: that of not allowing en passant capture, and of pawn promotion only to an already captured piece. He was, however, soon to be disillusioned in this matter – already the Italian laws were living on borrowed time. Serafino Dubois, another "free castling" supporter, often quoted Discart's analyses in his opening books, and he had a high opinion of the Modenese Master. Between the years 1840-1890 (exact date unknown), broken by long periods of chess inactivity and various travels due to his employment, he composed a splendid treatise on our beloved game, never published, titled Trattato Sopra il Giuoco degli Scacchi del Cavaliere Francesco Discart di Modena. He wrote it with the noble aim of lighting again in Italy the love for chess, and to continue the great chess tradition of that country. This fascinating work, completely unknown for nearly 140 years, has only been recently discovered, together with many other of his papers and documents. An outstanding specimen of 19th century chess erudition, the Trattato should be considered the heir and sequel to the works of Ercole del Rio, Giambattista Lolli, and Domenico Lorenzo Ponziani – the first three great Modenese Masters. We hope to eventually publish all of Discart's papers and manuscripts, but this may take quite some time. Until then, please see the excellent games and compositions offered above, some of them never published before now.

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