Friedrich Sämisch was a momentous German and Austrian chess Grandmaster, highly regarded as one of the world's leading players in the 1920s. Born on September 20, 1896, in Berlin, he was affiliated with the 'Hypermodern' school of chess theory.
Sämisch achieved notable victories against many world champions and contenders such as Alexander Alekhine, José Capablanca, and Aron Nimzowitsch. He particularly made considerable contributions to opening theory in variations of the Nimzo-Indian Defence and King's Indian Defence.
Sämisch enjoyed a very long career, spanning over six decades from the mid-1910s to the late 1970s, but had sporadic levels of activity. Despite his achievements, he's somewhat infamous in the chess world for holding the record for the highest number of lost games at first-class tournaments, and for the number of times he contravened the 50 move rule which led to alterations in this rule.
He passed away on August 16, 1975, in Berlin. His noteworthy games continue to be studied, and the opening maneuvers he developed remain as mainstays in contemporary competitive chess.