New York 1924, Round 20: Fortune favours the brave

by Klaus Besenthal
5/24/2020 – Former World Champion Dr. Emanuel Lasker and reigning World Champion José Raúl Capablanca lead at the New York Tournament 1924. However, in round 20 they both were lucky not to lose. But while Lasker managed to win a bad position against Geza Maroczy, Capablanca "only" drew a bad position against Frederick Yates which allowed Lasker to extend his lead. With two rounds to go Lasker is now almost certain to win the tournament: he leads with 14.0/18 and is 1½ points ahead of Capablanca who is sole second with 12½/18. | Photo: Emanuel Lasker

ChessBase 15 - Mega package ChessBase 15 - Mega package

Find the right combination! ChessBase 15 program + new Mega Database 2020 with 8 million games and more than 80,000 master analyses. Plus ChessBase Magazine (DVD + magazine) and CB Premium membership for 1 year!

More...

The art of saving bad positions

It is now almost exactly three years ago that Dr. Lasker lost his title of World Champion to José Raúl Capablanca in Havana. But anyone who had written Lasker off will have to revise his verdict: After yesterday's 20th round Lasker is the heavy favourite to win the New York tournament – ahead of Capablanca.

In his game against Geza Maroczy in round 20 Lasker had to survive some critical moments but as so often he managed to hold and to win in the end.

 

The 55-year old Lasker is close to another big triumph.

After miscalculating World Champion José Raúl Capablanca came into trouble against Frederick Yates but also managed to save his bad position. However, unlike Lasker he only drew and with two rounds to go he is now 1½ behind Lasker.

 

José Raúl Capablanca

Alexander Alekhine played a fine game against Frank Marshall but in the end had to content himself with a draw. The 31-year old Alekhine is the youngest participant in New  York and he can no longer win the tournament but with his ambition and his dedication to chess his time will certainly come.

 

Richard Reti started well into the tournament and played a number of remarkable games but against Edward Lasker he had a bad day.

 

At the end of the long tournament Reti seems tired.

Results of round 20

Yates ½-½ Capablanca
Marshall ½-½ Alekhine
Em. Lasker 1-0 Maroczy
Ed. Lasker 1-0 Réti
Janowsky 0-1 Bogoljubow 

Standings after round 20

Rk. Name 1 2 3 4 5 6 7 8 9 10 11 Pts.
1 Emanuel Lasker   ½0 1½ ½  11 11 11 ½  ½1 ½1 11 14.0
2 Jose Raul Capablanca ½1   ½½ ½½ 0  1  ½1 11 1½ ½1 ½1 12.5
3 Alexander Alekhine 0½ ½½   ½½ 10 ½½ 1½ ½  11 ½½ 11 11.5
4 Frank James Marshall ½  ½½ ½½   ½1 01 0½ ½0 ½  1½ 11 10.0
5 Richard Reti 00 1  01 ½0   01 ½½ 11 10 10 1  9.5
6 Efim Bogoljubow 00 0  ½½ 10 10   1  01 11 ½1 01 9.5
7 Geza Maroczy 00 ½0 0½ 1½ ½½ 0    ½½ 1  ½1 10 8.0
8 Savielly Tartakower ½  00 ½  ½1 00 10 ½½   10 ½0 ½1 7.5
9 Frederick Dewhurst Yates ½0 0½ 00 ½  01 00 0  01   11 ½1 7.0
10 Edward Lasker ½0 ½0 ½½ 0½ 01 ½0 ½0 ½1 00   0  6.0
11 Dawid Markelowicz Janowsky 00 ½0 00 00 0  10 01 ½0 ½0 1    4.5

Games

 

Links

Translation from German: Johannes Fischer

Klaus Besenthal is computer scientist, has followed and still follows the chess scene avidly since 1972 and since then has also regularly played in tournaments.