Lasker vs his successors
When Lasker lost his title to José Rául Capablanca in 1921, he was 53 years old. Other World Champions no longer played at that age but even in his sixties Lasker was still one of the world's best players. This is shown by Lasker's games against his successors after he lost the title. The former World Champion had a positive overall score against the players who gained the title after him. 
After 1921, Lasker played 18 games against his successors Capablanca, Alexander Alekhine, Max Euwe and Mikhail Botvinnik. He won five and lost four, and nine ended in a draw, which results in an overall score of 9½-8½ in favour of Lasker.
Against Euwe, Lasker was particularly successful. They played three times and each time Lasker won.
But against Capablanca he had more trouble. After their World Championship match they played another seven games and with a score of 3-4 (+1, =4, -2, seen from Lasker's perspective) Capablanca again had the better of it.

Capablanca against Lasker | Photo: media2-web.britannica)
However, in the four tournaments in which they both participated (New York 1924, Moscow 1925, Moscow 1935, and Nottingham 1936) Lasker finished ahead of his rival twice. Only in Moscow 1936 and in Nottingham 1936, the last two tournaments Lasker played in his life, the Cuban was able to finish ahead of Lasker.
Perhaps Lasker's victory in New York 1924 was particularly sweet for the former World Champion. New York 1924 was a strong and prestigious tournament in which eleven of the best players of that time competed in a double-round-robin. Lasker won with 16.0 / 20, 1½ points ahead of the reigning World Champion, Capablanca, who finished second with 14½ / 20. Third place went to Alekhine who scored 12.0 / 20.
New York 1924
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Lasker lost only one game, against Capablanca of all people. But in a demonstration of his defensive skills Lasker managed to beat Alekhine, who three years later would defeat Capablanca in a World Championship.
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1.d4 d5 2.c4 e6 3.Nf3 Nf6 4.Nc3 Nbd7 5.cxd5 exd5 6.Bf4 c6 7.e3 Nh5 8.Bd3?! Nxf4 9.exf4 Bd6 10.g3 0-0 11.0-0 Re8! 12.Qc2 12.Bxh7+ Kxh7 13.Ng5+ Kg8 13...Kg6-+ 14.Qh5 Nf6 15.Qxf7+ Kh8 16.Qg6 Be6-+ 12...Nf8 13.Nd1? 13.Rfe1 13...f6 14.Ne3 Be6 15.Nh4? 15.Rfd1 15.f5 15.h4 15.Bf5 15...Bc7 15...Qb6 16.b4 16.Bf5 16.Qc3 16...Bb6 17.Nf3 Bf7! 18.b5 18.Rfd1 Bh5 19.Be2 Re4 18.Bf5 Bh5 19.Bg4 Rxe3! 19...Bxg4!? 20.Nxg4 Qd7 20.Bxh5 Re4 21.Bg4 g6 18.Qb2 Bh5 18...Ne6!? 19.Nd2 Qd7 20.b5 Ne6 21.bxc6 bxc6 22.Nb3 a5 18...Bh5! 19.g4 Bf7 20.bxc6 Rc8! 21.Qb2?! 21.Qd2 21.a4 21...bxc6 22.f5 22.Qd2 Ne6 23.Bf5 22...Qd6 22...c5! 23.dxc5 Bxc5 24.Nd4 Rb8 25.Nb3 Bd6 26.Rad1 Be5-+ 23.Ng2 23.Kg2 Qf4-+ 23...Bc7 24.Rfe1 24.Rac1 24...h5! 25.h3 25.g5 fxg5 26.Ne5 Nd7 27.f4 gxf4 28.Nxd7 28.Nf3-+ 28...Qxd7 29.Rxe8+ Rxe8 30.Rf1 Qe7-+ 25...Nh7! 26.Rxe8+ 26.Kf1 Ng5 27.Nxg5 fxg5 28.Rxe8+ Rxe8 29.Re1 Qh2 30.Rxe8+ Bxe8 31.Qb7 Qxh3 32.Qxc7 Qxd3+ 33.Kg1 Qxd4 34.Qb8 Qd1+ 35.Kh2 Qe2 36.Qxa7 Qxg4-+ 26...Rxe8 27.Re1 Rb8! 28.Qc1 Ng5! 29.Ne5!? 29.Nxg5 Qh2+ 30.Kf1 fxg5 31.Ne3 31.-- Qh1+ 32.Ke2 Qxg2-+ 31...Re8! 31...Qxh3+ 32.Ke2 hxg4-+ 32.Qxc6 Qxh3+ 33.Ke2 Qxg4+ 34.Kf1 Qh3+ 35.Ke2 Ba5!-+ 29...fxe5 29...Nxh3+ 30.Kf1 fxe5 31.dxe5-+ 29...hxg4! 30.Nxg4 Nf3+ 31.Kf1 Nxe1-+ 30.Qxg5 e4 31.f6 g6! 31...Qxf6-+ 31...Qh2+?? 32.Kf1 Qh1+ 33.Ke2 exd3+ 34.Kxd3 Qxh3+ 35.Ne3 Kf8 36.Qxg7+ Ke8 37.Kc2!+- 32.f4 hxg4! ≤32...exd3 33.gxh5 Bb6-+ ≤32...exf3 33.Re5 Bb6-+ 33.Be2 33.hxg4 exd3-+ 33...gxh3 34.Bh5 Rb2! 35.Nh4 Qxf4 36.Qxf4 Bxf4 0–1
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Alekhine,A | - | Lasker,E | - | 0–1 | 1924 | D35 | New York | 3 |
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The purpose of this DVD is to explain the viewer all main methods of defence: exchanging pieces, creating a fortress, eliminating dangerous enemy pieces, escaping the danger zone with the king, improving the position of the pieces.
After the loss of his title Lasker played four games against Alekhine: one win, one loss, two draws.

Alexander Alekhine | Photo: Public Domain via Wikimedia Commons
But after winning against Capablanca in St. Petersburg 1914, Lasker had to wait for 25 years and 11 games before he managed to inflict another loss on the Cuban — at the Moscow tournament 1935.
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1.e4 e6 2.d4 d5 3.Nc3 Bb4 4.Nge2 dxe4 5.a3 Be7 6.Nxe4 Nf6 7.N2c3 Nbd7 8.Bf4 Nxe4 9.Nxe4 Nf6 10.Bd3 0-0 10...Nxe4 11.Bxe4 c5?! 12.dxc5 Qxd1+ 13.Rxd1 Bxc5 14.Ke2± 11.Nxf6+ Bxf6 12.c3± Qd5?! 12...b6? 13.Qh5 g6 13...h6 14.Qf3 Rb8 15.Qe4+- 14.Qf3 Rb8 15.Bxc7+- 12...c5? 13.dxc5 Qd5 14.Qc2!± 12...c6!?± 12...Be7!?± 12...Bd7!?± 13.Qe2 13.Qc2!? Qxg2 13...c5 14.Bxh7++- 13...g6 14.Be4± 14.Bxh7+ 14.Be4 Qh3 15.Bxc7 a5 16.0-0-0 14...Kh8 15.Be4 Qg4 16.Bxc7 e5 17.h3 17.Bxe5 Bxe5 18.dxe5 Qf4? 19.Qd3!+- 17.dxe5 Re8! 18.Qd3!+- 17...Qg5 18.d5 Bd8 19.h4 Qf4 20.d6+- 13.0-0!? c5!? 14.dxc5 Rd8! 14...Qxc5? 15.Bd6! Qxd6 16.Bxh7++- 15.Bd6 b6 16.f3! 16.Be2 Bb7 17.Qxd5 Bxd5 18.Bc7!± 16.Qc2 Bb7! 17.f3 Qh5 18.b4± 16...Bb7 17.Be4 Qxd1 18.Raxd1 Bxe4 19.fxe4 Rac8 20.cxb6+- 13...c6 13...Qxg2 14.Be4 Qh3 15.Bxc7 a5 16.0-0-0± 13...c5? 14.Be4 Qd8 15.Qh5! g6 16.Qxc5+- 14.0-0!± 14.0-0-0 Bg5 14...Re8?! 14...Bd7!? 15.Rad1 Bd7 15...e5? 16.dxe5 Bxe5?? 17.Bxh7++- 16.Rfe1 16.Be5! Be7 16...Bxe5? 17.Bxh7+! Kxh7 18.dxe5 Qc5 19.Rxd7+- 17.Qc2 h6 18.b4! Bc8 19.Bh7+ Kh8 20.Be4 Qd8 21.Qe2+- 16...Qa5 17.Qc2 17.Be5!? Bxe5 18.dxe5 Rad8 19.c4 g6 20.Bc2 Qc7 21.Rd6+- 17...g6 17...h6 18.Re3 18.Be5! 18.Qe2 Rad8 19.Qe4± 18...Rad8 19.Be5 Bxe5 20.Rxe5+- 17...Qh5 18.Be5 Bg5 19.Be4 Rad8 20.Rd3 f5 21.Rh3+- 18.Be5! Bg7 18...Qd8!? 19.h4! Qd8 19...h5 20.Bxg6 fxg6 21.Qxg6 Re7 22.Rd3+- 20.h5 Qg5 21.Bxg7 Kxg7 22.Re5 Qe7 22...f5 23.Rde1 Qxh5 24.Bc4 Kf6 25.Qb3+- 22...Qh6!? 23.Be2!± 23.Rde1 Rg8 24.Qc1! Rad8 24...Kf8? 25.Qh6++- 25.R1e3 25.Qf4!? 25...Bc8 25...f6 26.Ra5 a6 27.hxg6 hxg6 28.Rg3 f5 28...g5 29.f4 Qd6 30.Qe3+- 28...Be8 29.Rh3!+- 29.Re5 Rdf8 30.Qf4 Rh8 31.Ree3+- 26.Rh3 Kf8 26...f6 27.hxg6 hxg6 28.Qh6+ Kf7 29.Rg3 g5 30.Rf3!+- 26...Rh8 27.Qf4! 27.h6+!+- 27...f6 28.Re1 e5 29.dxe5! 29.Rhe3? exf4 30.Rxe7+± 29...Bxh3 30.exf6+ Qxf6 31.h6+ Kf7 32.Bc4+ Be6 33.Bxe6+ Ke7 34.Bb3++- 27.Qh6+ Rg7 28.hxg6 hxg6 29.Bxg6! Qf6 29...fxg6? 30.Qh8+ Rg8 30...Kf7 31.Rf3++- 31.Rf3+ Qf7 32.Qh6+ Rg7 33.Ree3+- 30.Rg5! Ke7 30...Rd5? 31.Rxd5! 31.Rf3? Qxf3! 32.gxf3?? Rxg5+ 33.Qxg5 Rxg6-+ 31...cxd5 32.Qh8+ Ke7 33.Qxc8 Rxg6 34.Rh8+- 31.Rf3 Qxf3 32.gxf3 Rdg8 33.Kf1 33.Qh4! Kd7 34.Qf4 fxg6 35.c4+- 33...Rxg6 34.Rxg6 Rxg6 35.Qh2 35.Qh8 Kd7 36.c4 Rg5 37.Qf8 Rf5 38.c5 Rxf3 39.Qd6+ Ke8 40.Qc7+- 35.Qf4! Rg8 36.Qc7+ Kf6 37.Ke2+- 35...Kd7 36.Qf4 f6 37.c4 a6 38.Qh4 Rg5 38...Kd6? 39.c5+ Ke7 40.Qh7+ Kd8 41.Qxg6+- 39.Qh7+ Kd8 40.Qh8+ Kc7 41.Qxf6 Rf5 42.Qg7+ Bd7 43.Ke2 Kc8 44.Qh8+ Kc7 45.Qh2+ Kc8 46.Qd6 Rh5 47.Ke3 Rf5 48.Ke4 Rh5 49.Qf8+ Kc7 50.Qf4+ Kc8 51.Qd6 Rf5 52.Ke3 Rh5 53.Kd3 Rf5 54.Ke2 Rh5 55.Kd2 Rf5 56.Ke3 Rh5 57.Qf8+ Kc7 58.Qf4+ Kc8 59.Qd6 Rf5 60.Qg3 Rh5 61.Qg4 Rf5 62.Qg8+ Kc7 63.Qg3+ Kc8 64.Qg6 64.Qg6 Kc7 65.Qg3+ Kc8 66.Kd3 Rh5 67.Kc3 Rf5 68.Kb4 Rh5 69.c5! Rd5 70.Ka5 Rxd4 71.Kb6+- 1–0
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Lasker,E | - | Capablanca,J | - | 1–0 | 1935 | C15 | Moscow | 9 |
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This French Defence DVD is a complete attacking opening repertoire for black after 1.e4 e6. GM Nick Pert has played the French defence his whole life and provides all his la test and most up to date analysis crammed into 1 DVD.
However, against Botvinnik Lasker failed to win a single game. Maybe age finally took its toll. When they played their first game, on March 6, 1935, at the Moscow tournament, Botvinnik was 23 years old, Lasker 66. The game ended in a draw. In Moscow 1935, Lasker finished third with 12½ / 19, half a point behind Salo Flohr and Botvinnik, who shared first place with 13.0 / 19 each, but half a point ahead of Capablanca who scored 12.0 / 19 to finish fourth.
Moscow 1935
A year later, at the Moscow tournament 1936, Lasker scored 8.0 / 18, less than 50 percent, finishing sixth.
Moscow 1936
The tournament was a double-round-robin and, in the second half of the tournament, Botvinnik managed to win his first and only game against Lasker.
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1.Nf3 d5 2.c4 e6 3.g3 Nf6 4.Bg2 Be7 5.0-0 0-0 6.d4 Nbd7 7.Nc3 dxc4 8.e4 c6 9.a4 a5 10.Qe2 Nb6 11.Rd1 Bb4 12.Ne5 Qe7 13.Be3 Bd7 14.Nxc4 Nxc4 15.Qxc4 b5 16.Qe2 Rab8 17.axb5 cxb5 18.e5 Ne8 19.d5 exd5 20.Nxd5 Qxe5 21.Nxb4 1–0
- Start an analysis engine:
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Botvinnik,M | - | Lasker,E | - | 1–0 | 1936 | E07 | Moscow | 10 |
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Three months after the tournament in Moscow, Lasker went to Nottingham where he played the last tournament of his life. With 8½ / 14 he finished on place eight but won against Euwe — the last game of his career in which Lasker played against a World Champion.
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1.d4 d5 2.c4 c6 3.Nf3 Nf6 4.e3 Bf5 5.Bd3 e6 6.cxd5 Bxd3 7.Qxd3 exd5 8.Nc3 Bd6 9.0-0 0-0 10.Re1 Nbd7 11.e4 dxe4 12.Nxe4 Nxe4 13.Qxe4 Re8 14.Qxe8+ Qxe8 15.Rxe8+ Rxe8 16.Kf1 Nb6 17.Bd2 f6 18.Re1 Rxe1+ 19.Nxe1 Kf7 20.Ke2 Ke6 21.h3 Nc4 22.Bc1 Bc7 23.Kd3 Ba5? 24.b4! Bxb4 25.Nc2 Bd2 26.Bxd2 Nb2+ 27.Ke2 Kd5 28.Bc1 Nc4 29.Kd3 Nb6 30.Ne3+ Ke6 31.Nc4 Nc8 32.Na5 Nd6 33.Bf4 1–0
- Start an analysis engine:
- Try maximizing the board:
- Use the four cursor keys to replay the game. Make moves to analyse yourself.
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- Drag the split bars between window panes.
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Lasker,E | - | Euwe,M | - | 1–0 | 1936 | D12 | Nottingham | 13 |
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Nottingham 1936
This Slav DVD is a complete opening repertoire for black after 1.d4 d5 2.c4 c6. GM Nick Pert has played the Slav defence for over 10 years and provides all his latest and most up to date analysis crammed into one video series. Nick has spent many hours studying the best Slav lines, and he explains his favourite variations, plus includes some interactive clips where the viewer is tested on a range of theoretical questions and tactics arising from Slav games.
After the tournament in Nottingham 1936, Lasker still gave simuls and played casual games and in 1940 even a two-game match against his old rival Frank Marshall, but Nottingham 1936 was to remain his last serious tournament.
Lasker died on January 11, 1941, in New York
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