Isaac Kashdan was an American chess grandmaster, writer, and promoter. Known for his skill in endgame positions and speed of play, he was one of the world's leading players in the late 1920s and 1930s. He was known as "der Kleine Capablanca" (Little Capablanca) in European tournaments during the 1930s.
Kashdan was born in New York City on November 19, 1905. He began playing chess over-the-board tournaments in 1922 and headed the Manhattan Chess Club. He was widely considered the second best American player during the 1930s. He was an International Arbiter, serving as referee for several important events.
Kashdan participated in many international chess tournaments; from 1930 to 1933, he won twice, finished second four times, third once and fourth once in eight chess tournaments. He also played for the U.S. in five Chess Olympiads, winning many individual and team prizes. He won the U.S. Open Chess Championship twice, in 1938 and 1947.
He also contributed to the field of chess journalism and chess problem composing. He became the chess editor of the Los Angeles Times in 1955. As a player, he displayed a tendency for cautious, positional play, but could also play sharp tactical chess when the position warranted.
In the final decade of his life, Kashdan worked in the insurance business but continued to participate in chess events. He died of a heart attack on February 20, 1985.