Bernstein Life and Games: Conquering Age
Ossip Bernstein was one of the world’s leading players in the early 20th century, and scored victories against many of the top players of his time. Below, I explore his life and games. Photo: Public Domain, via Wikimedia Commons Table of contents: Biography Early life Ossip Bernstein was born in 1882 in Zhitomir, the Russian […]
Winawer Life and Games: Hero of Nuremberg 1883
Szymon Winawer was one of the strongest players in the 1870s and early 1880s, and his name is attached to an important variation in the French Defence. Below, I explore his life and games. Photo: Cleveland Public Library, Public Domain, via Wikimedia Commons Table of contents: Biography Early life Szymon Winawer was born in 1838 […]
Mieses Life and Games: the First British Grandmaster
Jacques Mieses had a remarkably long and successful chess career, spanning more than eight decades. Below, I explore his life and games. Photo: Public domain, via Wikimedia Commons Table of contents: Biography Early life Jacques Mieses was born in 1865 in Leipzig. He gave notice of his talent when he won the Berlin Championship in […]
Colle Life and Games: Champion of Belgium
Edgard Colle competed at the top level of chess for most of the 1920s, and his name is attached to the Colle System, a popular opening even today. Below, I explore his life and games. Photo: Public Domain, via Wikimedia Commons Table of contents: Biography Early years Edgard Colle was born in Ghent, Belgium, in […]
Menchik Life and Games: The First Chess Queen
Vera Menchik was the first Women’s World Champion, and one of the leading English masters of her generation. Below, I explore her life and games. Photo: Public Domain, via Wikimedia Commons Table of contents: Biography Early life Vera Menchik was born in Moscow in 1906, to an English mother and a Czech father. She learned […]
Burn Life and Games: Champion of Cologne 1898
Amos Burn was one of the leading English masters in the late 19th and early 20th century. Below, I explore his life and games. Photo: Cleveland Public Library, Public Domain, via Wikimedia Commons Table of contents: Biography Early life Amos Burn was born in Hull, England, in 1848. He learned the game of chess around […]
Pillsbury Life and Games: Hero of Hastings
Harry Nelson Pillsbury was one of the world’s strongest players around the period 1895-1904, and is remembered as the hero of Hastings 1895, the strongest tournament of the 19th century. Below, I explore his life and games. Photo: Cleveland Public Library, Public Domain, via Wikimedia Commons Table of contents: Biography Early life Harry Nelson Pillsbury […]
Blackburne Life and Games: “The Black Death”
Joseph Henry Blackburne was one of the world’s strongest players in the 1880s, and his bold, uncompromising play earned him the nickname “The Black Death”. Below, I explore his life and games. Photo: Cleveland Public Library, Public domain, via Wikimedia Commons Table of contents: Biography Early life Joseph Henry Blackburne was born in Manchester, England […]
Teichmann Life and Games: Hero of Karlsbad 1911
Richard Teichmann won the famous tournament Karlsbad 1911, and is known for having achieved many 5th place finishes. Below, I explore his life and games. Photo: Cleveland Public Library, Public domain, via Wikimedia Commons Table of contents: Biography Early life Richard Teichmann was born in 1868 in Lehnitzsch Sachsen-Altenburg, Germany. After school, in 1890 he […]
Tartakower Life and Games: Champion and Author
Savielly Tartakower was one of the strongest players in the world in the late 1920s, and a highly respected author. Below, I explore his life and games. Photo: Adapted from Library of Congress, Prints & Photographs Division, George Grantham Bain Collection, [LC-DIG-ggbain-36710], Public Domain, via Wikimedia Commons Table of contents: Biography Early life Savielly Tartakower […]