Emanuel had an older brother Berthold and, when sent to attend school in Berlin when he was eleven years old, Emanuel was taught to play chess by Berthold who was a student in the medical faculty there.
Emanuel nagkaroon ng isang mas lumang mga kapatid na lalaki Berthold at, kapag ipinadala na dumalo sa paaralan sa Berlin kapag siya ay labing-years old, Emanuel ay tinuturuan sa paglalaro ng chess Berthold na noon ay isang mag-aaral sa mga medikal na mga guro doon.