Dr. Al Lipkin

When I became active in North Carolina chess after returning from 4 years in Southeast Asia as an aircraft crew member and crew chief (refueling SR-71 Blackbirds), one of my first opponents was Dr. Alan Lipkin.  Big Al was a good friend of mine and we were both dedicated to chess organizing and playing unorthodox chess.  I first played him in Statesville, NC tournament in a Dogwood tournament and won in a miniature game.  He then beat me in a tournament in Winston-Salem.  I got him again at a Pewter Cup in Hickory.  Along the way, we both organized and directed tournaments.  I assisted and co-directed many of the earlier Lawrence Pfefferkorn Opens (LPO) first organized by Al.  We also traveled to many tournaments together.  We drove to the World Open in New York, trying to play blindfold chess.  We drove to Lexington, Kentucky were he organized and directed the Bluegrass Classic and I played (I went 5-0 in the under 2000 section).  He was a PhD biochemisty professor teaching at Winston-Salem State University and had a side job of blowing glassware at a little shop in NC.  I used to go to his house where his 3 kids were always watching TV (I think they all became doctors).  I used to get in front of the TV and say, "don't I make a good wall?"  He started the Southern Chess Administration, where he was the chairman and I was the vice-chairman, and we organized and ran a few tournaments throughout the South.  He was an average player who loved to play gambits and played for fun.  He directed all the early LPOs, and when Mr. Pfefferkorn died, I suggested that the name of LPO should stand for Lipkin-Pefferkorn Oprn.  Lipkin later sold the rights of the LPO to another friend of mine, Thad Rogers of Georgia.  There now have been 39 annual LPOs, thanks to Al.  It is still one of the oldest and biggest chess tournaments in NC.  I remember once between rounds, Al and I were relaxing in the hotel pool, when he sneaked around me and was able to pull my swim trunks completely off me and threw it ouside the pool.  All he could say was, "J'adoube.  I took en passant."

Here is one of my games against Al, who played a Ruy Lopez, Schliemman variation against me.  I pulled off a swindle when he should have easily won.

Thanks for the article Bill!

Thanks for the article and the game Bill!!  It's nice to have an official game played by dad.  Currently i'm writing down some of my best games to pass along to Marshall (my son) and it's great to have a game to show him from his grandpa.  As soon as i saw the 3.--,f5! move ilaughed and knew it was my dad!  the story of the pool is priceless!

I'll post one of my losses to him as soon as I get back from somewhere in the world securing important computers for the government.

Wow! A very flattering article! I'm surprised we're both still alive! Thank you!