Lasker
In 1894 he became the second World Chess Champion by defeating Steinitz with 10 wins, 4 draws and 5 losses. He maintained this title for 27 years, the longest unbroken tenure of any officially recognised World Champion of chess. His great tournament wins include London (1899), St Petersburg (1896 and 1914), New York (1924). He would also take great risks.
Originally posted by leestaticBravo,leestatic! Lasker is also my favorite,because of his fighting spirit,and his view that chess,above all else,is a fight. His must win against Capa at St. Petersburg,1914,still rates as one of the greatest games in history,and one of the greatest pieces of chess "psyching out" that ever was. If I had to select the one player to play the game to save the universe,it would be Lasker,hands down.
Lasker
In 1894 he became the second World Chess Champion by defeating Steinitz with 10 wins, 4 draws and 5 losses. He maintained this title for 27 years, the longest unbroken tenure of any officially recognised World Champion of chess. His great tournament wins include London (1899), St Petersburg (1896 and 1914), New York (1924). He would also take great risks.
Lasker is a great player but as Fischer put it he is a coffee house player. (Fischer is just too accurate in whatever he spits out from his brilliant mind). He always played it for the man and he was able to win scientificly lost games by just playing against the temper of any given opponent. I am not saying Lasker is bad here, I admire him.Fischer thought he was a crappy player and could not survive if he lived today.
A comment from my favorite chess genius Alekhine: ''Lasker was my teacher, and without him I could not have become whom I became. The idea of chess art is unthinkable without Emanuel Lasker''.
Originally posted by mufin78manI think you are right and I reccomend everybody (who likes open games of course) to study his games. They are just really really really brilliant. Taking it to account that he played 100 years ago it is just impossible that a man like him lived then. Also I have read that he only took 5 minutes for his moves whereas his opponents took 10 hours for a single move since then there was no chess clock available.
Paul Morphy. He was the first player to use well founded positional principles in open positions. He kept his techniques secret (unlike Steinitz) so his genius was unappreciated until long after his death. Before him players played only combinatively, and were unable to match him.
But still I like the modern GM Alekhine the most among other alternatives I have mentioned. Namely Kasparov, Fischer, Tal and Morphy. He prepered well for his openings, his tactical blows are still unexplainable, his middle game and engame understanding and play is the best of his time. Most importantly, he out-calculculated everybody including Capa. He is the only World Champion who dies while holding the title. Truly, he is an all around modern GM example in my opinion.
Originally posted by obliterationI hardly know any GM's, but I happen to know one in person. I don't know if many up here ever heard of him, his name is Dimitri Reinderman. I guess he is a favorite if I 'have' to have one.
Out of all the GM's there have ever been, who has been your favorite and why?
Originally posted by AikoI recommend you buy Kasparov's last book. It is a 4 book set and *very expensive* but it is just great. You money will not be wasted as it will be a nice classic in your library for years to come.
I hardly know any GM's, but I happen to know one in person. I don't know if many up here ever heard of him, his name is Dimitri Reinderman. I guess he is a favorite if I 'have' to have one.