Gioachino Greco (c. 1600 – c. 1634), surnamed Cusentino and more frequently il Calabrese,[2] was an Italian chess player and writer. He recorded some of the earliest chess games known in their entirety. His games, which never indicated players, were quite possibly constructs,[3] but served as examples of brilliant combinations.[4]
Greco was very likely the strongest player of his time, having played (and defeated) the best players of Rome, Paris, London, and Madrid.[5] Greco's writing was in the form of manuscripts for his patrons, in which he outlined the rules of chess, gave playing advice, and presented instructive games.[6] These manuscripts were later published to a wide audience and became massively influential after his death.[4]
- ^ Beale 1656.
- ^ Murray 1913, p. 827.
- ^ Hooper & Whyld 1996, p. 158.
- ^ a b Murray 1913, p. 830.
- ^ Leon 1900, p. x.
- ^ Beale 1656, p. 1.