When Chess Records went out of business, Taylor signed with Alligator Records.

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Mr Gates's single-minded focus on winning everything, whether a chess game or a vital business deal, was complemented by his partner's ability to see the bigger picture an ability reinforced by Mr Allen's eclectic set of outside interests, ranging from music to sport and science fiction.

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The complicated business-model considerations for driverless cars have already kicked off an intense game of three-dimensional chess, and Google could obviously lose.

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