Lasker vs Alekhine - 1914

Submitted by RookHouse on Wed, 06/11/2008 at 5:18am.

Today we bring you a game from the infamous St. Petersburg International Chess Tournament of 1914. Then world champion, Emanuel Lasker plays the young up and coming Russian player, Alexander Alekhine.

Lasker was 45 years old at the time of this match and Alekhine was only 22. The veteran Lasker would win the game and also go on to win the tournament. Alekhine would place third behind Lasker and Jose Raul Capablanca, but ahead of the impressive group of Bernstein, Blackburne, Gunsberg, Janowsky, Marshall, Nimzowitsch, Rubinstein and Tarrasch.

For pictures and game analysis from David Mitchell's "Chess" in 1917, visit the Rook House Chess Blog

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by killthequeen - 2 years ago
Mt Everest Australia

Member Since: Aug 2008
Member Points: 2010

More than just a win- a thrashing

by figrock - 3 years ago
United States

Member Since: Jul 2008
Member Points: 1438

All I can say is, "WOW"! Thanx Rookhouse for the post!

by ohlrick19 - 3 years ago
Baltimore, MD United States

Member Since: Mar 2008
Member Points: 276

nice

by normajeanyates - 3 years ago
london [often in calcutta india] England

Member Since: Jan 2008
Member Points: 2596

Alekhine was more interested here in reseaching what we now call hypermodern theory than in in *points* - these people were pioneers on a voyage, not capitalists using "games won" as currency.

A 'lesser' but more extreme example was Weaver Adams of the USA. He used to publish his variations before playing them in tournaments, so opponents were ready with the refutation. Sometimes he would take an hour on the 2nd move, working out variations - he was usually in time trouble by move 23-24 at the end of a variation he had recently published and had announced to opponent he would play it!

by Hakuoh - 3 years ago
International

Member Since: Mar 2008
Member Points: 685

wow nice trap

by JG27Pyth - 3 years ago
NYC United States

Member Since: Mar 2008
Member Points: 2720

Was Alekhine being cheeky or trying to gain some psychological edge with this opening. The Albin counter-gambit from the black side was one of Lasker's favorite weapons against weak players. The famous "Lasker trap" is an Albin counter-gambit line. Why would Alekhine play this not very sound line against Lasker of all people? Well, the young Russian was punished for his impertinence.

by micknek - 3 years ago
Cochabamba Bolivia

Member Since: Oct 2007
Member Points: 159

Simply amazing

by ChessMate12 - 3 years ago
Jersey Shore United States

Member Since: Mar 2008
Member Points: 79

amazing game. Surprising opening. You don't see that very often.

by RookHouse - 3 years ago
Ohio United States

Member Since: May 2008
Member Points: 186

I call it "infamous" due to the fact that the five finalists (Lasker, Capablanca, Alekhine, Tarrasch, Marshall) were given the title of "Grandmaster of Chess" by Czar Nicholas II of Russia.

Because of these events, those five chess players are considered to be the very first grandmasters in the history of chess.

by procyk - 3 years ago
Buffalo United States

Member Since: Dec 2007
Member Points: 55

Thanks for the posting. I just wonder wht they call it "infamous" tournament.

by BirdBrain - 3 years ago
KY United States

Member Since: Apr 2008
Member Points: 4961

If you look at the move, 2...e5, the Albin Countergambit, I do believe Morozevich is even employing it currently. It is definetely an aggressive move, and if you know the opening better than your opponent, then you are on stronger grounds.

by ClaypOT - 3 years ago
United States

Member Since: Feb 2008
Member Points: 5399

Two of the greats from an era of chess that may never be duplicated. Just the names Lasker and Alekhine command respect in the chess world.

2... e4 is a variation I've never seen before at this level of play.

Incredible game. Thanks for the post.

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