My Favorite Game Of. Number 14. Akiba Rubinstein.
Another early morning, trying to get things done, and another change of plan! The game I was going to post has recently been given elsewhere, so I will come back to it, and go with this instead.
Akiba ( or Akiva) Rubinstein. A player in my all time top 5 favorites. I have always said that if you only study one of the old greats, then you should study Alekhine. If you only study two, add Rubinstein!
One of the old debates is 'Who is the greatest player never to become World Champion'. I don't do those kinds of lists particularly! I am a massive fan of Keres, Ivanchuck, once wore a jumper with 'SKORTCHNOI' to inspire me in my own games, etc.etc. In my view Rubinstein is simply one of the all time greats. Period.
His contemporaries, regardless of their style, 'school', or chess ideology, were admirers.
'Rubinstein has created the most perfect games of the epoch since Steinitz.' - Reti.
In the opening he was the player everyone studied.
You can find Vimar's thoughts here and Janowky's here.
I will come back to his opening play at some point.
In the middle game you can find Alekhine commenting on Rubinstein winning brilliancy prizes, and Nimzovich commenting on his depth of strategic vision. ( On that, one of my own observations; positions with just one open file tend to be quite drawish because of the tendency to exchanges. Not in Rubinstein's games! Somehow, if there is only one open file - this game is an illustration - Rubinstein is in control of it as if by magic.)
Endgames. I love endgames! Some players are just naturally good at them. De Vere, Sultan Khan, Capablanca, Smyslov, Carlsen and so on. Rubinstein was as least as good as anyone, in both strategic endings and technical ones.
The game! I have posted it before some time ago. It is probably not everyone's idea of brilliant chess, but I find it a staggering, beautiful piece of chess art.
Enjoy the game, and feel free, as usual, to post comments, favorite Rubinstein games, or suggestions for this series.
