MARK RUBERY CHESS
Sao Flohr (1908-83) was a journalist and one of the top players in the world during the 1930s. From 1928-1937 he played in 50 tournaments, winning or sharing first prize in 24 of them ahead of such players as Alekhine, Capablanca and Botvinnik. Flohr had no trainers or seconds and all he attained in chess was achieved thanks to his natural talent and the experience he acquired through practice. In 1937 FIDE designated Flohr as the ‘official’ challenger for the world title against Alekhine, but the political uncertainties of the time prevented such a match taking place. Earlier in 1933 he drew a match with Botvinnik 6-6 after initially leading with two wins. When World War 2 began Flohr fled to Sweden and then the USSR where he became naturalised. He entered the Soviet championship nine times between 1944 and 1955 without great success and concentrated more on his journalism. In contrast to his dour positional style with the emphasis on the endgame, he was a writer of considerable wit- his major works being his books on the Petrosian-Spassky matches of 1966 and 1969.
Flohr,Salo - Lasker,Emanuel [E14]
Moscow, 1936
1.Nf3 d5 2.e3 Nf6 3.c4 e6 4.b3 Be7 5.Bb2 0–0 6.d4 b6 7.Nbd2 Bb7 8.Bd3 c5 9.0–0 Nbd7 10.Qe2 Rc8 11.Rfd1 Qc7 12.Rac1 Qb8 13.Ne5 Nxe5 14.dxe5 Ne4 15.cxd5 exd5 16.Nxe4 dxe4 17.Bc4 Rcd8 18.Qg4 Bc6 19.Rxd8 Qxd8 20.Rd1 Qa8 21.a4 a6 22.e6 f6 23.Rd7! Bxd7 24.exd7+ Kh8 25.Qe6 Qd8 26.Bxa6 f5 27.Be5 c4 28.Bxc4 Bc5 29.g3 Qe7 30.Bc7 Qxe6 31.Bxe6 Be7 32.b4 h6 33.a5 bxa5 34.bxa5 g6 35.Bd5 1–0 ‘Particularly noticeable is the correspondent from Prague, whose appearance makes one compassionately want to offer him the odds of a rook. He, however, does not attach any significance to this courtesy, but on the contrary, he happily agrees to raise the stakes and wins with irritating consistency. A hundred times they have told him, cried, that he is a miserable fop, and he wins only thanks to incredible luck. But this correspondent is deaf, he smiles, continues to play indefatigably, defeating even the most constant habitués…They sit down stronger opponents against him - and he continues winning. Then they want one of the masters to do battle with him, but the masters are not very willing, and as far as possible they avoid playing him. Those brave enough will soon realise they are dealing with a terribly tough nut.’ (Hans Kmoch describing Sao Flohr at the crowded Konig Café in Berlin 1928)