MARK RUBERY CHESS

Edward Lasker’s ‘Chess Secrets I learned from the Masters’ has always been one of my favourite chess books and I would eagerly suggest one try to get hold of it-assuming it is still in print. The author gives an insider’s account of what it was to break into the chess scene during the early 20th century and is resplendent with anecdotes about Lasker (his illustrious namesake), Alekhine, Capablanca and many other chess personalities of the time. However, as has been pointed out on numerous occasions, Lasker had a somewhat cavalier attitude with the truth as the following article by chess historian, Edward Winter, has shown.

In Lasker’s book the author writes of the demise of the prominent English player F D Yates- ‘It made me very sad to learn, sometime during the last war, that Yates had committed suicide, apparently for financial reasons. He had probably been too modest to ask British chess players for help.’

From a number of sources that refute the above, the following by William Winter (forgive the overlap in names) is the most incisive.

‘An exhaustive enquiry was held by one of the most experienced coroners in London, and it was conclusively proved that death was due to a faulty gas fitting. Wynne-Williams, Yates’ pupil whom he had been teaching on the very night of his death, gave evidence of his cheerful demeanour, and the coroner went out of his way to state categorically that this was a case of a tragic accidental death. In spite of all this some of the vile calumniators I have mentioned before, who are always seeking for slime to throw at their betters, sank so low as to suggest that Yates committed suicide. I have even heard the report quite recently. No fouler lie could possibly be invented to besmirch the memory of a courageous and noble man.’

Frederick Yates (1884-1932) won the British Championship six times and combined his playing with chess journalism often writing reports while participating in a major tournament. It was remarked at the time that had his health been more robust he would have been a world championship contender.

Yates, Frederick - Rubinstein, Akiba [C77]

Budapest 1926

1.e4 e5 2.Nf3 Nc6 3.Bb5 a6 4.Ba4 Nf6 5.Qe2 b5 6.Bb3 Bc5 7.c3 0–0 8.0–0 d6 9.Rd1 Qe7 10.d4 Bb6 11.Bg5 Nd8 12.Nh4 Ne6?! 13.Nf5 Qe8? 14.Bxf6 gxf6 15.Bxe6 1–0

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