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Herb Gurland, Former Giant, Passed Today

Posted By: Jake Jacobs
Date: Wednesday, 6 May 2015, at 5:14 a.m.

In Response To: Herb Gurland, Former Giant, Passed Today (Paul Weaver)

What a shame!

Herb was a very funny fellow. With his unprepossessing appearance he would often stun opponents who didn't know him, and even a few that did. Two stories about that.

A position arose in one of my matches, and - this was a long time ago - after the match Herb offered to prop my opponent that he had dropped a take. When I returned from dinner the opponent was down nearly two grand playing the prop for quarters. He was a perennial Giant with, even among Giants, an overabundance of confidence, but at this moment he looked at me in bafflement and said in a small voice: "I'm not sure I understand this position." I think I saw the flicker of a smile on Herb's face.

This second story came to me from Dean Muench. Details in Dean's stories were like balloons, not always tethered, so again I won't name the player, but he was not only an amazing wild talent at backgammon, when he played, which wasn't often, but was considered brilliant in his day job, something far removed from gambling. According to Dean the genius was playing Herb, when he looked up and remarked: "You know, you play pretty good for a guy giving up eighty IQ points!"

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