SANDS: Opposites attack: Great chess rivalry from century ago
By David R. Sands
The Washington Times
Tuesday, February 28, 2012
They were polar opposites at the chessboard and, because of that, produced one of the most intriguing collections of head-to-head battles in the history of the game.
Akiba Rubinstein was one of the greatest positional players of the first half of the 20th century, as well as one of the top endgame specialists of all time. Rudolf Spielmann, born just five months after Rubinstein in 1883, was by contrast a great attacking player who literally wrote the book on “The Art of the Sacrifice.” Rubinstein’s best games were masterpieces of precision and judgment, while Spielmann once famously remarked that “a good sacrifice is one that is not necessarily sound but leaves your opponent dazed and confused.”
In their 35 games over the years, Rubinstein won 15 and Spielmann 12, with eight draws. Some of the best games were played 100 years ago this year, when both were emerging as part of a new generation of players who would dominate the game nearly up until World War II.
Rubinstein had a monster year in 1912, winning five consecutive tournaments. He got the better of Spielmann while winning a strong all-master event in Breslau, for once besting his rival at his own tactical game.
Full article here.
He was an amazing tactician.