BCC LEGENDS OF CHESS: EDWARD LASKER 4SS

THIS SATURDAY, MARCH 23, 2013, THE BCC WILL HOST A 4 ROUND SWISS [time control: 60/SD (+5" delay)]. THIS EVENT IS ONE IN A SERIES OF BCC TOURNAMENTS WHICH HONORS GREAT CHESS PERSONALITIES THROUGHOUT THE AGES.

Ed Lasker was born in Poland on December 3, 1885 and died in New York City, on March 25, 1981, at the ripe old age of 95. Ed Lasker earned the title International Master (IM) as well as a degree in electrical engineering. He became known as the "chest" player. Why? Because he invented a mechanical breast pump which saved the lives of many babies born prematurely. Cultivating an interest in Chess, Checkers and Go, Ed published many books on these games. He also won the US Open Chess Championship in 1916, 1917, 1919, 1920 and 1921 and narrowly lost a match to Frank Marshall 8.5-9.5, in 1923, for the title of US Champion.  Chessmetrics has Ed Lasker at a 2583 peak elo rating strength, which is certainly grandmaster level in today's chess world. Ed claims relation to Emanuel Lasker, through Rabbi Samuel Lasker of Lask, a Polish village in the Province of Lodz, central Poland. Rabbi Lasker was greatgrandfather of Ed's greatgrandfather. His firstborn son moved to Jarotschin, Poland and Emanuel Lasker was one of his greatgrandsons. It is clear that the Lasker family had the brains, not only for Talmud but also mathematics. It may be noted that Emanuel Lasker and his brother Berthold were also PhD level professionals in the field of mathematics. And Ed Lasker's fascination with Go, as well as his prowess in engineering, also reflects this special analytical cognitive capability which he possessed. Four professional chess games that Ed Lasker played are notable and offered below. The first for its amusement; and the 2nd, 3rd and 4th for their technical excellence.

Edward Lasker v George Alan Thomas, London, 1912, A40 Opening

 1. d4 e6 2. Nf3 f5 3. Nc3 Nf6 4. Bg5 Be7 5. Bxf6 Bxf6 6. e4 fxe4 7. Nxe4 b6 8. Ne5 O-O 9. Bd3 Bb7 10. Qh5 Qe7 11. Qxh7+ Kxh7 12. Nxf6+ Kh6 13. Neg4+ Kg5 14. h4+ Kf4 15. g3+ Kf3 16. Be2+ Kg2 17. Rh2+ Kg1 18. Kd2# 1-0 

Tartakower plays white vs Edward Lasker. New York, 1924

(Note: New York, 1924 was a 2RR affair)

Savielly Tartakower vs Edward Lasker, New York, 1924, R=8, C45 Opening

1. e4 e5 2. Nf3 Nc6 3. d4 exd4 4. Nxd4 Nf6 5. Nxc6 bxc6 6. Nd2 Bc5 7. e5 Qe7 8. Qe2 Nd5 9. Nb3 Bb6 10. Bd2 a5 11. a4 O-O 12. O-O-O d6 13. exd6 cxd6 14. Qxe7 Nxe7 15. Bf4 d5 16. Bd6 Re8 17. Bc5 Bxc5 18. Nxc5 Ng6 19. Bd3 Nf4 20. g3 Ne6 21. Rhe1 Kf8 22. Nxe6+ Bxe6 23. Re3 h6 24. Rde1 Rab8 25. b3 Bd7 26. Kd2 Rxe3 27. Rxe3 Re8 28. c3 Rb8 29. Bc2 f6 30. Bd1 c5 31. Bc2 Rb6 32. Kc1 Rb8 33. Bd1 Bf5 1/2-1/2 

Edward Lasker vs Savielly Tartakower, New York, 1924, R=13, D48 Opening

1.d4 Nf6 2. c4 e6 3. Nf3 d5 4. Nc3 c6 5. e3 Nbd7 6. Bd3 dxc4 7. Bxc4 b5 8. Bd3 a6 9. O-O c5 10. a4 b4 11. Ne4 Bb7 12. Nxf6+ Nxf6 13. Qe2 cxd4 14. Nxd4 Qd5 15. f3 Bd6 16. Rd1 O-O 17. Bc4 Qc5 18. Bd2 Qc7 19. g3 Qa5 20. e4 Rfd8 21. Nb3 Qh5 22. Rac1 Nd7 23. Qf2 Bc6 24. Nd4 Bxa4 25. b3 Bb5 26. g4 Qg6 27. Bxb5 axb5 28. Nc6 Rdc8 29. Be3 e5 30. Qd2 Qf6 31. Kg2 Bc5 32. Qxd7 Bxe3 33. Ne7+ Qxe7 34. Rxc8+ Rxc8 35. Qxc8+ Qf8 36. Rd8 1-0 

Emanuel Lasker vs Edward Lasker, New York, 1924, R=6 C99 Opening

1.e4 e5 2.Nf3 Nc6 3.Bb5 a6 4.Ba4 Nf6 5.O-O Be7 6.Re1 b5 7.Bb3 O-O 8.c3 d6 9.h3 Na5 10.Bc2 c5 11.d4 Qc7 12.Nbd2 cxd4 13.cxd4 Bd7 14.Nf1 Rfc8 15.Re2 Nh5 16.dxe5 dxe5 17.Nxe5 Bxh3 18.Nxf7 Be6 19.Ng5 Bc4 20.Bd3 Rd8 21.Rc2 Nf4 22.Bxf4 Qxf4 23.Nh3 Qe5 24.Bxc4+ Nxc4 25.Qe2 Rd4 26.f3 Rad8 27.Rac1 Bc5 28.Kh1 Bb4 29.b3 Nd2 30.Ne3 Ba3 31.Rd1 Bb4 32.a3 Ba5 33.b4 Bc7 34.f4 Nxe4 35.Kh2 Rxd1 36.Nxd1 Qe7 37.Rxc7 Qxc7 38.Qxe4 Qc4 39.Qe7 Qc8 40.Ndf2 h6 41.Qa7 Qe6 42.Qb7 Qd5 43.Qb6 Rd6 44.Qe3 Re6 45.Qc3 Qc4 46.Qf3 Qc6 47.Qd3 Rd6 48.Qb3+ Qd5 49.Qb1 Re6 50.Ng4 Re2 51.Nxh6+ gxh6 52.Qg6+ Kf8 53.Qxh6+ Ke8 54.Qg6+ Kd8 55.Qg3 Re8 56.Qf2 Rg8 57.Qb2 Qd6 58.Qc3 Kd7 59.Qf3 Kc7 60.Qe4 Rg7 61.Qf5 Re7 62.Ng5 Re3 63.Ne4 Qe7 64.Nf6 Kb8 65.g3 Rxa3 66.Kh3 Ra1 67.Nd5 Rh1+ 68.Kg2 Qh7 69.Qxh7 Rxh7 70.Kf3 Kb7 71.g4 Kc6 72.Ke4 Rh8 73.Ne3 Re8+ 74.Kd4 Rd8+ 75.Ke4 a5 76.bxa5 b4 77.a6 Kc5 78.a7 b3 79.Nd1 Ra8 80.g5 Rxa7 81.g6 Rd7 82.Nb2 Rd2 83.Kf3 Rd8 84.Ke4 Rd2 85.Kf3 Rd8 86.Ke4 Kd6 87.Kd4 Rc8 88.g7 Ke6 89.g8=Q+ Rxg8 90.Kc4 Rg3 91.Na4 Kf5 92.Kb4 Kxf4 93.Nb2 Ke4 94.Na4 Kd4 95.Nb2 Rf3 96.Na4 Re3 97.Nb2 Ke4 98.Na4 Kf3 99.Ka3 Ke4 100.Kb4 Kd4 101.Nb2 Rh3 102.Na4 Kd3 103.Kxb3 Kd4+ 1/2-1/2 

The snow will be melting. Spring is just around the corner. The weather forecast for this Saturday anticipates sun and temperatures in the 40's F. So come on over to the Boylston Chess Club for some good chess and good fun.  [As always, it is advisable to check the specifics of this tournament on the Boylston Chess Club Home Page, on the "Calendar of BCC Events."]

See you this Saturday!