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 […]
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 […]
Spielmann Life and Games: King of Gambits
Rudolf Spielmann competed at the top level of chess for the first few decades of the 20th century, and wrote the famous book The Art of Sacrifice in Chess. Below, I explore his life and games. Photo: http://www.audiovis.nac.gov.pl/obraz/185211/, Public domain, via Wikimedia Commons Table of contents: Biography Early life Rudolf Spielmann was born in Vienna, […]
Réti Life and Games: Player, Composer, Author
Richard Réti was one of the strongest players in the 1920s, and a leader of hypermodern ideas which were introduced to chess in that decade. Below, I explore his life and games. Photo: ÖNB, Bildarchiv Austria, Public domain, via Wikimedia Commons Table of contents: Biography Early life Richard Réti was born in 1889 in Bösing, […]
Bogoljubow Life and Games: Forgotten Star of the 1920s
Efim Bogoljubow was one of the world’s strongest players in the 1920s and played two World Championship matches. Below, I explore his life and games. Photo: Public domain, via Wikimedia Commons Table of contents: Biography Early life Efim Bogoljubow was born in 1889 in Stanislavchyk, Kiev. He learned chess relatively late for someone who goes […]