Does the former World Champion Dr. Emanuel Lasker sometimes play badly, perhaps even deliberately, in order to lull his opponents into a false sense of security? At any rate, in bad positions Lasker is amazingly tenacious and resourceful. As he showed once again in round 12 against Dawid Janowsky. After the opening Lasker soon drifted into a very bad position but he then was careful to parry all threats by his opponent until Janowsky finally lost patience and blundered. Lasker then gained the upper hand and converted his advantage without too much trouble.
Or do his beloved cigars help Lasker to concentrate better?
Before the game Dr. Lasker likes to take a walk in New York's Central Park to relax. He is often joined by Edward Lasker, who also plays in the tournament and who is a distant relative of Emanuel. However, the two Laskers fare quite differently in the tournament: Emanuel is sole first with 8½/11 while Edward is last with 3.0/11 – in round 12 he lost against Frederick Yates, who until then was half a point behind him.
Edward Lasker
But it was Richard Reti who played the best game of the round – if not the tournament: he defeated Efim Bogoljubow with seemingly easy, elegant play which he crowned with a fine and pleasant combination. After this win Reti now shares place two with Alexander Alekhine who quickly drew with World Champion José Raúl Capablanca.
Richard Réti's pet opening 1.Nf3!? brought him another fine victory.
Em. Lasker 1-0 D. Janowsky
Ed. Lasker 0-1 F. Yates
G. Maroczy ½-½ S. Tartakower
A. Alekhine ½-½ J.R. Capablanca
R. Reti 1-0 Efim Bogoljubow
Bye: Frank Marshall
| Rk. | Name | 1 | 2 | 3 | 4 | 5 | 6 | 7 | 8 | 9 | 10 | 11 | Pts. |
| 1 | Emanuel Lasker | 1 | 1 | ½ | ½ | 1 | ½ | 1 | ½ | 11 | ½ | 8.5 | |
| 2 | Alexander Alekhine | 0 | 1 | ½½ | ½ | 1 | ½ | ½ | 1 | 1 | ½ | 7.0 | |
| 3 | Richard Reti | 0 | 0 | 1 | 1 | ½ | ½ | 01 | 1 | 1 | 1 | 7.0 | |
| 4 | Jose Raul Capablanca | ½ | ½½ | 0 | 1 | ½ | ½ | 1 | 1 | ½ | ½ | 6.5 | |
| 5 | Savielly Tartakower | ½ | ½ | 0 | 0 | ½½ | ½ | 1 | 1 | ½ | ½ | 5.5 | |
| 6 | Geza Maroczy | 0 | 0 | ½ | ½ | ½½ | 1 | 0 | 1 | 1 | ½ | 5.5 | |
| 7 | Frank James Marshall | ½ | ½ | ½ | ½ | ½ | 0 | 0 | ½ | 1 | 1 | 5.0 | |
| 8 | Efim Bogoljubow | 0 | ½ | 10 | 0 | 0 | 1 | 1 | 1 | 0 | ½ | 5.0 | |
| 9 | Frederick Dewhurst Yates | ½ | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | ½ | 0 | ½ | 11 | 3.5 | |
| 10 | Dawid Markelowicz Janowski | 00 | 0 | 0 | ½ | ½ | 0 | 0 | 1 | ½ | 1 | 3.5 | |
| 11 | Edward Lasker | ½ | ½ | 0 | ½ | ½ | ½ | 0 | ½ | 00 | 0 | 3.0 |
