We are pleased to present an excerpt of the upcoming Quarterly for Chess History, Volume 6, No. 21. For ordering and subscription information, or to receive their newsletter, visit the Moravian Chess Publishing House website.
EMANUEL LASKER
LASKER041
Lasker in University Chess Club,
New York, 21 May 1924
After a surprising victory at the New York International Chess Masters Tournament in 1924, Emanuel Lasker gave a total of four simultaneous exhibitions in New York (University Chess Club, the Brooklyn Jewish Centre and at the New York Athletic Club – the final two simuls are missing from Whyld’s list of Lasker’s simultaneous displays) and Boston. Today we will look at his simuls played in New York’s chess clubs.
University Chess Club
21 May 1924
+19-1=0
A Win from Dr. Lasker
“More or less light-hearted parting with a pawn, which later on became passed and the deciding factor, cost Dr. Lasker a game in his exhibition against 20 opponents at the University Club in Manhattan. Maj. Albert W. Putnam was the fortunate player, who had the ability to turn this advantage to account and place the game with his famous adversary to his credit. The score (Brooklyn Daily Eagle, 30 May 1924):”
469. B44
Lasker, E. – Putnam, Albert W.
New York, Simul, May 21, 1924
1. e4 c5 2. Nf3 e6 3. d4 cxd4 4. Nxd4 Nc6 5. Be2 Nxd4 6. Qxd4 d5 7. exd5 Qxd5 8. Qxd5 exd5 9. Bb5+ Bd7 10. Bxd7+ Kxd7 11. O-O Nf6 12. Rd1 h6 13. c4 Kc6 14. cxd5+ Nxd5 15. Bd2 Bc5 16. Nc3 Rhd8 17. Ne4 b6 18. Rac1 f5 19. Nxc5 bxc5
[FEN “r2r4/p5p1/2k4p/2pn1p2/8/8/PP1B1PPP/2RR2K1 w – – 0 20”]
20. b4? Nxb4 21. a3 Na6 22. Kf1 Rd4 23. Bc3 Rxd1+ 24. Rxd1 g6 25. Be5 Kb5 26. Rd6 Rg8 27. h3 h5 28. Ke2 Re8 29. f4 Nb8 30. Kd3 Nc6 31. Bc3 Rd8 32. Rxd8 Nxd8 33. a4+ Kc6 34. Bf6 Ne6 35. g3 Kd5 36. Kc3 a6 37. Be7 Nd4 38. Kd3 c4+ 39. Kc3 Ne2 40. Kb4 c3 41. Ka5 Kc4 42. Ka6 c2 43.Ba3 Kb3 0:1 (Brooklyn Daily Eagle, May 30, 1924)
Brooklyn Jewish Centre Club 27
May 1924
+20-1=4
Brooklyn Physician Wrests Chess Game From Dr. Lasker
“Visiting Brooklyn for the first and probably the last time during his present stay here, Dr. Emanuel Lasker, winner of first prize in the New York International Chess Masters Tournament, provided an evening of exceptional entertainment for the members of the Brooklyn Jewish Centre in its splendid building at 667 Eastern Parkway. The scene of action was laid in the large and well-lighted dining room on the mezzanine floor, where tables, arranged in a hollow square, were spread for the accommodation of 25 players.
“The former world’s champion had a dinner engagement at the center with Samuel Rothenberg, president of the organization, and Harry Zirn, chairman of the chess committee. Not being familiar with the network of subway lines and having trusted to his own bump of location, the famous chess master lost himself in the underground labyrinth and was an hour late.
“Play, therefore, did not begin until 9 o’clock and with a brief intermission lasted until 1:30 a.m. When the final count was taken it was found that Dr. Lasker had won 20 games, drawn 4 and lost only 1.
“To Dr. A. Wechsler of Brooklyn fell the distinction of being the only one able to defeat the man who, aside from Capablanca, is recognized as the greatest exponent of chess alive today. Dr. Wechsler owned his success to ingenious handling of the ending, which brought Dr. Lasker face to face the only checkmate he encountered during the performance.
Young Mexican in a Draw.
“Carlos Torre, the young Mexican who recently arrived from New Orleans, was the first to draw his game. This he accomplished by sacrificing a rook, thereby forcing a perpetual check (see LSKR017). It is quite clear, therefore, that young Torre sooner or later will make his mark in chess circles here; Samuel Rothenberg, M. Peckar and I. Siegmeister were others who drew.
“The Brownsville Chess Club sent a delegation and had six in line, but they carried home none of the bacon. The secretary of that club, N. Nickelsberg, made the best showing. At one stage he was a piece ahead and had a good position as well. Being somewhat fatigued, he offered a draw to the master. Dr. Lasker, however, declined to consider the proposition on the ground that it would be unjust to Nickelsberg.
Master’s Stratagem Succeeds.
“So play went on and, after a spell, Nickelsberg began to lose his grip, until, finally, he succumbed to a stratagem than cost him a piece. Knights and pawns remained on the board, but Dr. Lasker worked out a very neat ending.
“Samuel Chugerman held out until the last and had a winning game in hand, but the sensation of having Dr. Lasker seated opposite, with no other boards to distract his attention, was probably too much for him. At any rate, he allowed a passed pawn to get beyond control and that at the last was his undoing.
“President Rothenberg of the Brooklyn Jewish Center made the speech of welcome and explained the rules governing the play. The following were Dr. Lasker’s opponents (Brooklyn Daily Eagle, 30 May 1924.):
Games Dr. Lasker Did not Win
“Until he returns here, as he expects to do in the not far distant future, Dr. Emanuel Lasker will give his last exhibition in this country at the New York Athletic Club, next Saturday afternoon. Wresting a game from him, even in simultaneous play, is so unique an experience that the sensation will linger long in the memory of the one accomplishing it. Such was the good fortune of Dr. A. H. Wechsler on the occasion of the former champion’s visit to the Brooklyn Jewish Center, last week.
“Carlos Torre, the young Mexican, recently arrived from New Orleans, was another opponent who did not lose. When the latter forced a draw by perpetual check after sacrificing a rook, Dr. Lasker shook his hand and made him very happy (game Lasker vs. Torre, see LSKR017 [Brooklyn Daily Eagle, 5 June 1924]).”
470. C33
Lasker, E. – Chugerman, Samuel
New York, Simul, May 27, 1924
1. e4 e5 2. f4 exf4 3. Bc4 Qh4+ 4. Kf1 Nc6 5. Nf3 Qe7 6. Nc3 Nf6 7. d3 d6 8. Bxf4 Bd7 9. Qd2 Ne5 10. Bb3 Nxf3 11. gxf3 O-O-O 12. Rg1 Bh3+ 13. Kf2 Nh5 14. Bg5 f6 15. Be3 Kb8 16. d4 c6 17. Bc4 Qd7 18. b4 Be7 19. d5 f5 20. Qd4 c5 21. bxc5 dxc5 22. Qd2 Qd6 23. f4 Qf6 24. e5 Qh4+ 25. Ke2 Bg4+ 26. Kd3 Qh3 27. Qf2 Bh4 28. Qf1 Qxh2 29. Qg2 Nxf4+ 30. Bxf4 Qxf4 31. Nb5 Qxe5 32. c3 Rhe8 33. Kc2 Qe4+ 34. Qxe4 Rxe4 35. Bd3 Rf4 36. c4 Rf2+ 37. Kb3 Bf6 38. Rab1 a5 39. Rgf1 Rxf1 40. Rxf1 b6 41. Nc3 Bxc3 42. Kxc3 Kc7 43. Kd2 Re8 44. a4 h5 45. Rh1 g5 46. Rf1 f4 47. Rh1 h4?? 48. Rg1 Bf3 49. Rxg5 Rh8 50. Rg7+ Kb8 51. Be2 Bxe2 52. Kxe2 h3 53. Rg1 Rh4 54. Kf3 Kc7 55. Rh1 Kd6 56. Rh2 Ke5 57. Rh1 b5 58. Re1 Kd4 59.d6 Kxc4 60. d7
[FEN “8/3P4/8/ppp5/P1k2p1r/5K1p/8/4R3 b – – 0 60”]
60… h2? 61. d8Q h1Q+ 62. Rh1 Rxh1 63. Kxf4 1:0 (Christian Science Monitor, July 15, 1924)
471. C80
Wechsler, A. H. – Lasker, Emanuel
New York, Simul, May 27, 1924
1. e4 e5 2. Nf3 Nc6 3. Bb5 a6 4. Ba4 Nf6 5. O-O Nxe4 6. Re1 Nc5 7. Bxc6 dxc6 8. Nxe5 Be7 9. d4 Ne6 10. c3 O-O 11. b4 a5 12. bxa5 Rxa5 13. Bb2 c5 14. d5 Nf4 15. c4 Bd6 16. Qf3 Qg5 17. Re4 Ng6 18. Nxg6 hxg6 19. Qc3 Qf6 20. Qxf6 gxf6 21. Bxf6 Ra6 22. Rh4
[FEN “2b2rk1/1pp2p2/r2b1Bp1/2pP4/2P4R/8/P4PPP/RN4K1 b – – 0 22”]
22… Bxh2+ 23. Kxh2 Rxf6 24. Kg3 Re8 25. Nc3 Re5 26. Ne4 Ra6 27. f3 Bf5 28. Kf4 Re7 29. Nxc5 Ra3 30. Kg5 Kg7 31. Rah1 f6+ 32. Kf4 g5+ 33. Kxf5 gxh4 34. Ne6+ Kf7 35. Rxh4 Rxa2 36. Rh7+ Ke8 37. Rh8+ 1:0 (Brooklyn Daily Eagle, June 5, 1924)
New York Athletic Club
7 June 1924
+17-0=1
Lasker Undefeated in Simultaneous Chess
“Dr. Emanuel Lasker, of Germany, winner of the recent international tournament in this city, played against eighteen members of the New York Athletic Club in a simultaneous exhibition in the Green Room, yesterday afternoon, and, after a session of three hours, emerged with a score of 17 wins and one draw. Not one of his opponents was able to defeat him.” (The Standard Union, 8 June 1924)
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