I first met and played Susan Polgar in 2003 at the U.S. Open in Los Angeles. I had, of course, heard her name before and knew she was a strong player, but I also knew something else just as clearly: I loved her father László’s book, Chess: 5334 Problems, Combinations, and Games. I carried it everywhere.

Eventually it became too much of a nuisance to set the pieces up, so I started doing the puzzles in my head. It was basically my pre smartphone version of Chess.com, only bulkier and a lot heavier. I owe a lot of my progress in chess to that book.

I was lucky enough to play Susan in a simul. I was the last player remaining, but she beat us all. Years later I would meet her again in Lindsborg, Kansas, at the Karpov School of Chess, but I’ll leave that story for another time.

For now, I want to highlight one of her games here. She is a true pioneer of women’s chess and a titan of American chess.