Chap ter 5 1907-1936: The Champion Who Enjoyed It

Frank James Marshall enjoyed being the always liked a wide open game and tried to United States champion. Like Morphy before knock our my opponent with a checkmate as him and after, he was easily rec­ quickly as possible. I subscribe to the old be­ ognized as the best American player of his day. lief that offense is the best form of defense." But, unlike his two peers, success at the game By the time Marshall had turned 11 he never seemed to haunt Marshall: to the con­ had outgrown his father's abilities and was trary, he revelled in his tide status, wearing it soon introduced to stiffer competition at Mon­ like a badge. Later champions would see the treal coffeehouses, and eventually joined the tournament primarily as a source of prize Montreal Club which he credits as a money. Gata Kamsky competed in part to es­ major, favorable influence. From then on, tablish his credentials as an American, and not Marshall had ample opportunity to develop just "former Soviet," star. But to Marshall, the his style, claiming that from the age of ten tide was more, a virtual facetof his personal­ until he had long since retired from competi­ ity. Indeed, a Frank Marshall signature was not tive chess he played at least one game a day - complete until he added, as a suffix, "United and then took the chess board to bed with him States Chess Champion." in case he got any middle-of-the-night inspi­ He was born in New Yo rk City on Au­ rations. "Only a pocket set, though," he added. gust 10, 1877, and lived there for eight years Marshall's monolithic, yet romantic, de­ before his family moved to Montreal, where votion to the game paid offwhe n, afterestab­ he began his life in chess by watching his fa­ lishing himself as a force in international com­ ther play casual evening games over the din­ petition and the strongest native-born player ing room table. The future champion did not then active in America, he traveled to Ken­ prove to be a master overnight. Upon learn­ tucky in 1909 and defeated the on-again, off­ ing the moves from his father, it took young again champion, Jackson Showalter. In retro­ Frank at least six months to play as well as he, spect, this act cleared up all confusion about and "quite a long time" beforehe won a game. the succession ofchampions since Mackenzie's Marshall describes his early chess style: "From day, and also gave Marshall the title left ap­ the very first, I was an attacking player, for­ parently vacant by the death of Pillsbury in ever on the offensive. This often got me into 1906. The American ChessBulletin reported at trouble. However, I am glad that my father the time a sentiment shared by many U.S. did not curb this instinct too much .... I have players: "It was indeed a pleasant surprise when

37 38 The United States Chess Championship word came from Lexington, Ky., rhe first of New Yo rk. Without much coaxing, Capa­ November, that play actually had begun in a blanca added to his reputation by a series of match between Frank J. Marshall and Jackson highly publicized simultaneous exhibitions W. Showalter for the championship of the tours in which he usually won about 90 per­ United States. The Bulletin had complete faith cent of his games. in the assertion that Showalter had not re­ Inevitably, comparisons between Mar­ tired .... But it remained forMarshall to track shall and Capablanca - the two best players in our chess lion to his lair." New York and also the two best players in the One reason it was a pleasant surprise was Western Hemisphere -were made. A match that the match also pur an end to the peculiar was also inevitable. Capablanca later recalled: dispure that had been raging in American clubs "Marshall was disposed to play in chis case for nearly a year: whether or not the title of where he naturally discounted his victory. How U.S. champion had been usurped by the young farhe was wrong, the result proved." dynamo Jose Raoul Capablanca. How could It did indeed, as Capa routed Marshall the Havana-born Capa be considered as Pills­ by winning eight games, losing only one and bury's successor? That requires a bit of digres­ drawing seven others. The match, held in early s10n: 1909, had ostensibly been for a match stakes After Pillsbury's fatal symptoms became and also forbragging rights. Bue the New Yo rk apparent, American chess hopes shifted to State Association had complicated matters by Marshall, who was only 22 when he garnered sanctioning the event as being for the U.S. an impressive tie forthird prize at the Paris in­ championship tide. After all, the state body ternational of 1900. That was his debut in reasoned, wasn't Marshall the champion? chess and although he finished Bue afterthe match Marshall counterat­ behind world champion and tacked. He argued chat the Cuban could not Pillsbury, Marshall had the pleasure of beat­ hold the U.S. title because he was not a United ing both of them in the course of event. Four States citizen (remember the difference be­ years later, in Pillsbury's last, somewhat pa­ tween Captain Mackenzie and James Mason?). thetic appearance, Marshall scored his great­ This argument sounded a bit self-serving, con­ est success by winning the Cambridge Springs sidering chat Cuba was then a United States International in western Pennsylvania, ahead territory and chat Capablanca had been living of Lasker, Pillsbury and a host of strong Eu­ in New Yo rk for more than three years and ropean and American masters. At the rime gave every indication ofremaining. Moreover, there was no doubt that Marshall had replaced the Cuban said he planned to take out citizen­ rhe soon mortally ill Bostonian as the best U.S. ship papers as soon as he came of legal age, player of the day. which would be in a few months. But by the time Pillsbury's death this was Capa told the American Chess Bulletin: "I no longer so clear. Jose Capablanca had come am the undisputed champion of Cuba, and to New Yo rk fromhis native Cuba to study at last spring I beat Marshall by the score of 8 to Columbia University and he quickly set the 1. Mr. Marshall has the greatest reputation and local chess scene on fire. Like Marshall, Capa the best score in tournaments of any living had learned the moves at an early age from his chess player in the U.S.A., and is therefore father and was naturally gifted with remark­ considered everywhere as the strongest repre­ able tactical intuition. But he also had an ex­ sentative of the United States .... Therefore, I ceptionally deep strategic sense and when he consider myself the 'champion of America,' met the New Yo rk masters who had styled them­ and stand ready to defend my tide within a selves after Pillsbury and Marshall, the Cuban year against any American of the U.S.A. or never had any difficulty. His renown at speed anywhere else, fora side bet of at least $1,000, chess - then becoming the new fadat the Man­ United States currency. Under these circum­ hattan Chess Club - quickly spread beyond stances the question whether I am a citizen of 1907-1936: The Champion Wh o Enjoyed It 39 the U.S.A. or not has nothing to do with the from of the Phoenix m the mid- and late matter under consideration." 1800s. The tradition has been carried over But Capablanca tended to overstate his today in the fo rm of an annual "Phoenix case - he was never "champion of Cuba," for Stakes" race each spring. example. Fans quickly took sides, some forMar­ But the stakes for the Showalter-Marshall shall, some for Capa. Once again the chess match were modest -$500 a side -and the community turned to a lawyer to sort out the only aspect of it that was in keeping with the facts and again their choice was Walter Penn Phoenix tradition was its speed. The match Shipley. His line of reasoning came as a sur­ was to consist of 15 games and was decided prise, but his conclusion was even more so. after12 - taking just 14 days to play. Marshall The real U.S. champion, Shipley said, was nei­ won two of the first three games, drew the ther Marshall, nor Capablanca. He wrote: "If other and coasted easily to victory with seven there is any chess champion of the United wins and three draws. Showalter scored only States, Jackson W Showalter of Kentucky is two wins and he seemed long out of shape. the holder of the tide. Since he won it he has never declined any challenge and until he does C21 Danish Gambit so, neither Marshall, Capablanca nor any other Match, Lexington, Ky., 1909; player has a valid claim." white Marshall, black Showalter Shipley went on to say that "to be the American champion one must be an American, 1 e4 eS 2 d4 exd4 3 c3!? either native or naturalized." Capa could be­ come a chaLlenger for the tide if he now be­ Marshall's choice of opening may seem comes a citizen, the lawyer ruled. ''And the man bizarre but this was his style at the time and he must challenge is Showalter." it didn't matter whether he was playing in a With that, the New York Chess Associa­ tournament or a match. In other matches with tion, which had given its authority to back European masters he offered the Muzio Gam­ Capa's claim, withdrew support. Marshall, act­ bit, which sacrifices a whole piece. ing with haste, took the train to Lexington and challenged Showalter. Capablanca, seeing his 3 ... d3 4 Bxd3 Nc6 5 Nf3 d6?! 6 Bc4 Nf6 bid thwarted, decided he didn't want to be an 7 Bf4 Be7 8 Nbd2 0-0 9 0-0 Bg4 10 Rel American citizen afterall . He consoled him­ self with a comfortable post in the Cuban diplomatic service and a career as a globe-trot­ ting, chess-playing goodwill ambassador for Havana. Marshall would get Showalter but eventually Capa got Lasker: Twelve years after After 10 Rel his legal and match-play struggle with the New Yorker, Capablanca became champion of the world.

Ma rshallvs. Showalter Ma rshall-Showalter, 1909 The first United States championship event of the 20th century took place in the Afterdeclining the gambit, Showalter has now-historic Phoenix Hotel in Lexington, developed just as simply as Marshall. But the during late 1909. To day the hotel is remem­ difference is that his pieces remain constricted bered for a different kind of competition: and he now seeks a series of exchanges to free Many a high-stakes horse race was begun in his game. 40 The United States Chess Championship

IO . . . Nh5 11 Bg3 Nxg3 12 hxg3 Ne5 with more pride than any titleholder (with the 13 BflBg5 14 Qb3 Bxd2 15 Nxd2 Be6? possible exception of Walcer Browne). Despice an almost free-spiritedattitude cowards chess It is difficulc for Whice co benefic from and life , che ride caused Marshall some im­ his superior pawn scruccure wichouc minor mediate discomfort. He even told a British pieces. Bue on che verge of equalizing Black newspaper, the Daily Sketch, in December has blundered, chinking he can crap che enemy 1909 that he was retiring. "The game is coo queen afcer16 Qxb7. absorbing," he said. "To play it one must de­ voce co it all of his rime. No game in che world 16 Qxb7! a6 17 Nf3 Nxf3+ 18 gxf3Qd7 calls forsuch deep scudy and devocion as chess, 19 Qb4 Rfb8 20 Qa3 a5 and while I love it, there are other things which muse occupy my attention. I have pri­ Black does gee some pressure againsc che vate business responsibilities which sufferfrom b-pawn and his ingenuicy over che nexc sev­ che game, so I have quit playing forgood ." eral moves deserves a better face. But Mar­ Ofcourse, he didn't retire. Marshall played shall's superioricy in chis march came fromhis chess professionally until che day he died, No­ abilicy co use taccics co consolidace macerial vember 10, 1944. The championship title en­ and positional advantages. Unlike his flashy abled him to consolidate a position of au­ sacrificial brilliancies from European courna­ chority in chess: He wrote several books of his ments, Marshall wins this game - and the own games and of che leading Europeans. He match - by watching and waiting. gave periodic exhibition cours of the U.S. and played privace matches with worchy (and 21 Rad] Qc6 22 Re3 f6 23 Rd4! Qb 6 sometimes unworthy bur wealchy) opponents. 24 b3 c5 25 Rd2 a4 26 c4 aXb3 27 Qxb3 And wich the help of friendshe had known at Qc7 28 Qd1 Rb6 29 f4 Qb8 30 Rb3 Rxb3 che , he founded an­ 31 axb3 Ra6 ocher club - che Marshall Chess Club - in New Yo rk's , where he lived wich Marshall spocs the tactical weakness - his wife Caroline. For perhaps the firstrime in Black's first rank - and ends che game quickly. American history, winning the U.S. chess ride had an important, beneficial effect on a man's life.

Marshall vs. Lasker After 31 ... Ra6 It's ironic char despite his possession of che ride for27 years and his excensive courna­ ment and match record, Frank Marshall only defended his championship once. This was against Edward Lasker in 1923 and proved co be of exceptional interest. There are no wric­ Ma rshall-Showalter, 1909 ten records but it seems likely chat more peo­ ple saw the challenge march of that year chan 32 e5! Qa7 33 Rxd6 g6 34 Rxa6 and Black any other U.S. championship until 1984. This resigns may nor be so surprising since it was the most closely contesced of any of che ride marches Now Marshall was officially the chess from 1891 to 1952 and because ic lasced a champion of che Uniced Stares, an honor he record two months and cook place before had doggedly sought and subsequendy wore crowds in New Yo rk, Chicago, Milwaukee, 1907-1936· The Champion Wh o Enjoyed It 41

Cleveland, Detroit, Baltimore, Washington, Marshall had not defended his ride in 14 D.C., and Long Island. years, largely because he seemed so far ahead It was hard foughtwith seven games last­ of anyone else. But Lasker noticed a flawin the ing more than 60 moves. And it was also an growing Marshall legend - the championship exciting match with the result in doubt until was decided by match play and Marshall was the 18th and final game. This in itself was a a "tournament player." Thar is, his risky style surprise because Marshall had been expected enabled him to score heavily against the minor co polish offhis challenger with ease. Yet while masters at the bottom of a scoretable, thereby both contestants wrote extensively about the offsetting his problems with his more solid match, it remains one of the secrets of U.S. peers. In matches, Marshall had had trouble. chess hisrory. Few people remember the most Against Capablanca and Emanuel Lasker, the evenly foughtchampionship march or chat the Great Swindler had scored only one win, 16 challenger in it was Edward Lasker. losses and 21 draws. Edward Lasker, eight years Lasker (1885-1981), a distant relative of younger than the champion, thought he had Emanuel Lasker, was one of the many new - a chance. and foreign- faces that populated the Amer­ After nearly two years of negotiation on ican chess scene in the 1920s. He was born in march conditions, play began at 8:30 P. M. Berlin of a German father and American March 15, 1923, before the muffied murmur mother and had come to the United States in of fansat the Marshall Chess Club, the cham­ the opening months of Wo rld War I. A small, pion's home ground. The club telephone had educated excitable man, he made his way to been disconnected to prevent interruption Chicago - by way of the New York clubs - to from the outside world, and a generally pro­ earn $18 a week in the shipping room of Sears, Marshall audience awaited the firstvictory of Roebuck and Co. their champion. But it wasn't to come easily­ But with chess lessons and his first En­ in fact, it didn't come at all in the three games glish chess primer he made ends meet and was held in New York. soon moving up in the business world, from Lasker adopted an unusual match strat­ mail order co manufacturingand eventually to egy, playing conservatively with White and ad­ inventing a breast pump for mother's milk. venturously with Black- and uncompromis­ His sudden affiuence left Lasker time for an ingly with both. The firstthree games took 28 occasional tournament and that usually meant hours and 235 moves to play, spread over six rhe We stern Chess Association's open cham­ days. (By contrast, it rook Bobby Fischer only pionship, the forerunner of the modern U.S. 415 moves to win all his 11 games in rhe 1963- Open. He won the event five years out of six, 64 championship). The biggest surprise came facing opposition from - among others - a in the second game when Marshall was caught Jackson Showalter then heading into his 60s. in a tactical opening he knew very well: During this period Lasker took out U.S. citizenship and tested his luck against the New C30 Vienna Game Yo rkers. At a small master tournament in 1922 Second Game, New Yo rk, March 1923 he finished clear first, even though the well­ white Marshall, black Lasker known European grandmaster, David Janow­ sky, was then living in America and was in­ 1 e4 e5 2 Nd Nf6 3 Bc4 Nc6 4 d3 Bc5 vited. To day the tournament is remembered 5 f4 d6 6 Nf3 Bg4 7 h3 Bxf3 8 Qxf3 Nd4 for rhe good showing by the "11-year-old wun­ 9 Qg3!? Qe7 10 Bb3 0-0-0!! 11 Rfl (s ee di­ derkind" Sammy Reshevsky, who knocked agram) Janowsky out of competition. Bue at the time its significance was to give Lasker an Eastern This variation had become famous- audience and the support he needed fora chal­ rather, notorious - after Mikhail T chigorin lenge to Marshall in 1923. won a brilliancy against Pillsbury at rhe great 42 The United States Chess Championship

the Ne w York Times chess reporter who criti­ cized his "showy" sacrifice as being made to "please the gallery." He also attacked the ana­ lyst forthe American Chess Bulletin, who den­ igrated the knight offer and suggested defenses After 11 RfI such as 21 Rdl, which loses a piece to 21 ... Rxe4+! What Lasker didn't say is rhat the Times-man and Bulletin annotator were the same persons - and that person was match ref­ eree Hermann Helms. Here Marshall misses his opportunity to Ma rshall-Lmker, 1923 make a fightof it with 21 Be6+! fx e6 22 fx e6 Qxe6 23 Bxf6 when Black has questionable Hastings tournament ofl895 when the Amer­ compensation after 23 ... Rxe4+ 24 Kd2 ican accepted the piece sacrifice (9 ...Nxc2+ Qd5+ 25 Qd3 Rg2+ and 26 ... Qxd3. 10 Kdl Nxal 11 Qxg? Rf8 12 fxe5 dxe5 13 Bh6). It had become a Marshall specialty, but Lasker was doing something very new.

After 11 ... Nf5!? 20 ..• Rd4

"I could see from the expression on Mar­ shall's face that the sacrifice came to him as a complete surprise," Lasker later recalled. "I re­ member there was tremendous excitement among the onlookers, most of whom probably saw only that Marshall could nor rake the Marshall-Lasker, 1923 {2nd) knight because the discovered check PxP would win the queen." After the referee re­ 21 Bd5? Re8! 22 Bxf6 Qxf6 23 Rdl c6! stored order, Marshall recovered his compo­ 24 Rxd4 Qxd4 25 a3 Bxc3+ 26 bxc3 Qxd5 sure and played: 27 Qd3 Qxe4+ 28 Qxe4 Rxe4+ 29 Kd2 Rh4 30 Rf3 Kd7 12 Qg5 g6! This is the adjourned position - and Another long think by Marshall, as he probably a lost one forMarshall because ofhis calculated 13 exf5 h6 14 Qh4 exf4+ 15 Kdl bad pawns. g5 16 Qel Qd7 and 17 ... Rhe8 with a strong attack along rhe open file. The next series was 31 Rg3 Rh5 32 Rg7 Ke? 33 Rg8 Rxf5 cleverly played by both sides, with Lasker seek­ 34 Rb8 Rd5+ 35 Kcl b6 36 Rc8 c5 ing open lines and pressure on e4 and Mar­ 37 Re?+ Rd? 38 Rc6 f5 39 Rh6 Kf8 shall defending as best he could. 40 Rh5 f4 ! 41 Rh4 f3 42 Rf4+ Rf? 43 Rxf7+ Kxf7 44 Kd2 Ke6 45 Ke3 Kd5 13 fxe5 Qxe5 14 Qf4 Qe7! 15 g4 d5 46 Kxf'3 Kc4 47 Kg4 Kxc3 48 Kg5 Kxc2 16 gxf5 g5! 17 Qf3 dxe4 18 dxe4 Bb4 49 Kh6 Kb3 50 Kxh7 c4 and White resigns 19 Bxg5! Rhg8 20 Bh4 Rd4 But when the match moved to the Mid­ In his memoirs Lasker hints that he was west in April Marshall came alive. At the slighted by the pro-Marshall press, including Hamilton Club in Chicago, Marshall began 1907-1936· The Champion Wh o Enjoyed It 43 with his two straight wins, including his most at rhe Marshall Club, May 11-12. Only then impressive victory of rhe match. Lasker re­ was it appreciated how critical was Marshall's gained the lead when Marshall tried too hard charge in April, when he scored five wins ro fora swindle in rhe sixth game bur lost in back Lasker's one. It began wirh rhis: in the seventh. Lasker's account of this last game paints ir as the turning point of the D34 Queen's Gambit Declined match: Fourth Game, Chicago, April 2, 1923 Having adjourned a slightly inferior po­ white Marshall, black Lasker sition as White the challenger had breakfast I d4 dS 2 Nf3 e6 3 c4 cS 4 cxdS exdS rhe next morning when "I was suddenly seized S Nc3 Nc6 6 g3 Nf6 7 Bg2 with the most excruciating abdominal pains." Rushed unconscious to Walter Reese Hospi­ The march seemed at times to be a de­ ra!, he found doctors diagnosing his condition bate on rhe merits of the Tarrasch (3 ... c5) as a kidney arrack and prescribing several days Defense, which Lasker championed. He equal­ in bed. From rhere he asked fora delay, citing ized easily wirh it in rhe sixrh game after 7 ... the march rules which allowed postponement Be7 8 0-0 0-0 9 Bg5 Be6 10 dxc5 Bxc5 of scheduled games for up to seven days be­ 11 Rel Be7 12 Nd4 Nxd4 13 Qxd4 Qa5 cause of certified illness. Bur according ro 14 a3 Rac8 15 Qd3 h6. Lasker, Marshall objected, saying rhar rhe Marshall then hallucinated with 16 b4? march rules did not apply to adjournments. Qxa3 17 Nxd5, thinking he would win ma­ When rhe match umpire, Alrick Man - terial with the rwin threats of Nxe7+ and a Marshall Chess Club official - did nor re­ Qxa3. Bur he overlooked 17 ... Bxb4!, pro­ spond to a wire from rhe Chicago organizers, tecting both, and then missed 18 Bxf6? Rxcl Lasker told his doctor "that I had to leave the which cost him an Exchange. Srill, he played hospital at all costs." His account, in Chess Se­ it our, seeking swindle, and very nearly had crets I Learned from the Masters, has him ig­ one: 19 Qe4 Rxfl+ 20 Bxfl Bxd5 21 Qg4! g6 noring doctor's advice, ordering a cab and 22 e4 Be6 23 Qh4 Qf3 24 Be2!? Qxe2! "barely" managing "to drag myself to the chess 25 Qxh6 Qe l+ 26 Kg2 Qxe4+ 27 Kg1 Qb1+ rable" for theadjournment, which he rhen lost. 28 Kg2 Bd5+ 29 f3 Bxf3+! and White resigns The account is slightly suspect since, ac­ (30 Kxf3Qfl+ and 31 ... Qxf6; 30 Kf2 Bc5+ ). cording ro other sources, including Helms' Lasker also got the edge in the eighth Bulletin, Lasker was in rhe hospital for rwo game bur couldn't convert his advantage and days and the adjournment was postponed for was ground down in the tenth. He never re­ three ar his request. In any event, rhe march turned ro rhe Ta rrasch again in the match. moved on and Marshall established a two­ point lead with victories in the 10th game at 7 ... Be6 8 0-0 Be7 9 dxcS BxcS IO BgS rhe Cleveland City Club and rhe 12th at rhe d4?! 11 Bxf6 Qxf6 12 Ne4 Qe7 13 NxcS Detroit Chess and Checker Club. Lasker said QxcS 14 Rel Qb6 15 NgS! (s ee diagram) his game and healrh continued to suffer in rhe match's final stages. Bur his greatest problem White's lead in development is substan­ may have been his endgame play, as Marshall tial and few men knew how to handle an ini­ repeatedly outplayed his opponent, scoring tiative as well as Marshall - even in a "posi­ wins from slightly favorable positions and tional" opening. Here he opens up his bishop's holding bad ones once queens were offthe diagonal and prepares to hop around with his board. knight. Lasker managed another victory in the After the game, Lasker said he should 14th game, in Baltimore, but couldn't find the have played 15 ... Bxa2 with a "doubtfulout­ tying point when the match wound up in early come" after 16 Qd3 h6 17 Bxc6+ bxc6 May ar Washington, Long Island, and, finally, 18 Qe4+ Kf8. Bur years later he decided 15 ... 44 The United States Chess Championship

wanted the challenger to deposit whatever stakes there were with a third party before play began. Lasker responded chat no one would put up cash beforehand- and chat a mere pledge fromthe various fundraiserswas all that After 15 Nb5 was needed in the 18-game marathon they had played earlier in the year. "Instead of making easier terms, you have made harder ones," Lasker wrote co him in November, "and most of the influential chess people I have inter­ viewed since the receipt of your letter are of Marshall-Lasker, 1923 {4th) the opinion chat your terms are equivalent co making a return match with you impossible." 0-0 was "the only continuation co consider." Bue Marshall was seeking his own rematch What he did, instead, was walk into a fine with world champion Capablanca, who in­ combination. sisted on the same cash-deposit terms for all his challengers. 15 ... Bf5? 16 e4!! dxe3? 17 Rxc6! bxc6 And that was chat. In succeeding months 18 Qd6 Bd7 19 Qe5+ Kf8 20 fxe3 all attention was focused on the great interna­ tional tournament held at New Yo rk's Alamac The threat is 21 Rxf7 + and if 20 ... Be8 Hotel in the spring of 1924 and the U.S. tide there is a knight check at e6. was forgotten. Marshall scored a solid fourth place at the Alamac and Lasker, invited almost 20 ... f6 21 Rxf6+! gxf6 22 Qxf6 + Ke8 entirely on the basis of the Marshall match, was 23 Qxh8+ Ke? 24 Qe 5+! Kd8 25 h4! Kc8 outclassed and finished 10th in a field of 11. 26 Nf7 a5? 27 Nd6+ Kb8 28 Nb5+? Kc8 The genial amateur lost interest in the 29 Nd6+ Kb8 30 Qe7? championship and played less and less. He was White could have finished off in style soon supplanted as Marshall's chief rival by a with 30 Nc4+ Qc7 31 Nb6! (or 28 Nc4+ for young man who first gained attention by win­ that matter). Afterthe text Black has survival ning a problem-solving contest held during chances with 30 ... Ra7. Lasker lacer claimed New Yo rk 1924. That 18-year-old problem he could have drawn with chat move but lacer solver was Isaac Kashdan. changed his mind. In any event, Marshall now Lasker was never again a major con­ chases the enemy king up the board. tender - although he did spark a good deal of controversy in 1946 when he and a fewocher 30 ... Qc7? 31 Qf8 + Ka? 32 Nb5+! Kb6 top players nearly cook personal control over 33 Qxa8 Kxb5 34 Bfl+ Kb4 35 Qf8 + c5 the new U.S. championship tournament. In 36 Qg7! c4 37 Kh2 Qc6 38 Qc3+ Kb5 his final years Lasker was a benign, grandfa­ 39 Qb3+! and Black resigns ther-like figure who took pride in his away­ from-board achievements - such as being M. 0 0 l/i 1 10 11/i 1/2 1 l/i l l/i 0 l/i Yi Yi=91Q president of the Marshall Chess Club. L. l 11/i 0 0 1 IQ 0 0IQ 1/2 0 1/2 l IQ l/i 1/2 Yi=Bl/i As forMarshall, there were no more chal­ lengers forthe tide. He abdicated in 1936, after Within months Lasker had rebounded in three decades and one defense as champion. health and spirits and wanted a rematch on Said Marshall of his decision: "Many youth­ about the same terms - which included at lease fulcontenders forthe crown had arisen, and I 50 percent of the proceeds forthe champion felt they had deserved a fairchance. It was time regardless of the match resulc if they managed to step aside and make way fornew blood ...." to raise more than $3,000. But Marshall He had enjoyed it all very much indeed.