Ruy Lopez Closed Defense: Ed Lasker-Abe Kupchik

Edward Lasker (1885-1981) has already been introduced in a previous article. His opponent in this game is Abraham Kupchik (1892-1970). Kupchik was born in Brest in the Russian Empire. In 1903, his family came to America where he became an accountant. Kupchik won the Manhattan Chess Club Championship eleven times, coming in clear first ten times. He won the New York State Championship in 1915 and 1919. In 1923, he tied with Marshall for first in the American Chess Congress. He lost a match to Bogoljubow in 1924 and drew a match with Torre in 1925. In several tournaments, he finished one or two places behind Capablanca, who won. He won the bronze medal on board three playing in the Warsaw Olympiad of 1935. His performance won the gold medal on the US team. Just as I knew Ed Lasker, I also knew Abe Kupchik.To me, they seemed to be well behaved little old gentlemen. Abe played casual chess at the Flea House, where he demonstrated that he could still play a strong game. Unfortunately, Abe was mugged and became one of those men whose lives I believed were shortened as a result.