I was in jail in Afghanistan in July, 1978. I was at first held in Shinwar Military Base near to Torkham where I had been arrested. Just before coming to Afghanistan, I had been in Yerevan Armenia where I had been playing chess at the Chess Palace there. Therefore, I had the names and addresses of some chess players in my pockets, written in Russian of course.
A Communist Government had taken over Afghanistan on April 28, 1978, and the Soviets were in strong influence if not control. I was held in a jail cell near the front gate and I could see Russians arriving. I knew they were Russians because of their surprising attire. They were not dressed like Russians. They were dressed like Americans wearing Hawaiian Style shirts!! The reason I knew they were Russians is they were all carrying AK-47 Kalashnikovs. Americans would never do that.
They were led in to see the commander in the headquarters of the military base. After a while one of the guards came to get me and bring me to the headquarters. When I arrived at the headquarters, the commander yelled at the guard, saying he did want me brought. Rather he wanted to show the papers in my pockets to the Russians. The guard went through my pockets and took all my papers in Russian and led me back to my jail cell.
I knew they suspected me if being a CIA agent (which I was not) but I was expecting they were going to interrogate me about the names and addresses in my pocket. I was going to tell the truth, which was that these were the names and addresses of chess players, nothing more than that. Then I thought that the Russian military officers might demand that I prove this, by playing me a game of chess. (As we know, all Russians play chess, some at a high level.)
So, the question on my mind was: If I have to play a game of chess to save my life, would it be better to win the game or lose the game? If I win the game, that might convince them that I really was a CIA Agent and therefore they might shoot me.
Thousands of the American military–not to mention other US operatives–have been trained to use Kalashnikovs (the rifle 
). In some situations, in some parts of the world, it would be the weapon of choice for the sake of being inconspicuous and due to the availability of ammunition.
Have you recently been to see Walter Mitty?
Sam, I think you should arrive at a winning position, then let him draw by the skin of his teeth, and praise his defensive resourcefulness.
Bill Smythe
Just don’t use that Damiano Defense!
Players can tell for the most part when you are throwing a game. You should play and play your best. This would also explain why the Russian players, whose names you had on you, deemed you worthy enough an opponent to provide you with them. What an adventure!
I can’t wait for Sam to publish his autobiography. I’ll look for it in the Fiction section.
If “Ishi Press” publishes this autobiography I will buy it ( at a reasonable price)because the book will have to be thicker than War and Peace to do justice to the life of Sam Sloan.