Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1929-12-08

"CHEss has become almost an exact science.
1t has been boiled down to a mathemati-
cal analysis, and for many of its devoteeS does
not hold the glamour that it had in the DAYS
when 1t was more of an art said Dr. Lederer
who has done more than any other one person
IN furthering interest in the game in America
during the last decade. This chess enthusiast
Is interested primarily, he says, from the point
of view of psychological study of the players
He believes that chess develops the mind and
promotes logical thinking, and should, there
FORE be encouraged in the young but within
reason.
I'm the days of Paul -Aorphy who is still the
patron saint of chess the world over the game
was an art rather than a science" declared
DR. Lederer. But even then it was becoming
more scientific. It was that distinguished and
aristocratic gentleman of New Orleans who
said: Chess is great game, but the chess
players have spoiled it.
There are very few really great active chess
players in the world today, according to this
chess authority, who. lists in his who's Who"
among the great in the game today the already
mentioned DR.. Alekhine, who recently success
fully defended his world title against E. D,
Bogoljubow; Capablanca and Dr. Vidmar To
these he would add the present American
champion, Frank j. Marshall, who has held
the American championship for ID years; Ru-
dolph Spielman Of Austria, Aaron Nimzowitsch,
one of the most original of the chess masters
All of these players are grand masters, and,
with the exception of DR.. Vidmar, they are all
professionals.
DR.. Emanuel Lasker of Berlin doctor of
philosophy, formerly professor of mathematics
at Manchester and The Hague and interna-
tionally known through his profound books on
philosophy, is the deepest chess thinker who
has ever lived according to DR.. Lederer
Besides Morphy and Marshall, America has
produced only one other great chess player"
said DR.. Lederer, land that was Harry pills
bury, the first of the great blindfold players.
His limit OF % blindfold games, which he
played about 1900, has since been raised by
DR.. Alekhine to 80 blindfold games played
simultaneously.
1T was the immortal chess master Philidor
who added to his glory by reviving the blind
fold play which had been practiced first by
the Persians and Arabs. This French master,
when exiled during the French revolution, did
much to revive interest in the game.
1t Is interesting to study the approach OF
four great players like Morphy DIR. Lasker,
Capablanca and DIR. Alekhine The approach
OF Morphy was from the purely artistic stand
point and some of his most famous games were
played when he was able to give free rein to
his esthetic sense against inferior opponents.
DIR. Lasker attempts to realize in the game
the philosophy of his book, Der Kampf ("The
BattleD. which is based on the biological neces-
sity of fighting in the human race. He believes
that chess Is neither an art nor science, but
truly battle; that from beginning to end it
is a fighting game. There is more psychology
in his playing than in that of any of the Others
and in actual results he is the greatest player
of all time.
"Capablanca is what one might call an eff
cheney expert. He rarely takes chances and
always plays the board and never his oppo-
nent. His great strength is his uncanny posi-