Skip to content
TheChessWorld.com
TheChessWorld Facebook TheChessWorld Twitter TheChessWorld Pinterest TheChessWorld YouTube
  • Start Here
  • Play
  • Learn
    • Training Techniques
    • Openings
    • Middlegame
    • Endgames
    • General Information
  • Tournaments
  • Academy
  • 21-Day Course
  • Store
    • TheChessWorld
    • iChess
    • ChessTeacher
    • Modern Chess
    • Roman`s Chess Lab
    • Foxy Series
    • Grandmaster Magazine
    • ChessLecture
    • ICC
  • Contact
TheChessWorld.com
Close

Learning from Chess Legends: Akiba Rubinstein’s Fine Technique

WGM Raluca Sgîrcea, IM Renier Castellanos
WGM Raluca Sgîrcea, IM Renier Castellanos
05.08.2017
Category: Middle Game
Tags: middlegame, Rubinstein, Technique,
Learning from Chess Legends: Akiba Rubinstein’s Fine Technique

Akiba Rubinstein is probably a familiar name to every chess player, having left behind a precious legacy of games that new generations of chess players still study and learn from. Born in 1880, Rubinstein is one of the players who never got to be a World Champion due to the simple fact that he never played a match for the title, but his strength is undeniable. Between 1907 and 1912 he won a number of strong events that established him as one of the best players in the world, but in those times it was usual for the World Champion to handpick his future challenger.

Because of this, it was not until 1914 that a match against Lasker was finally arranged to take place in October of the same year. However, it was one that he never got to play because when the World War I started, the chess scene started to fade away. The War had a big impact on him and, even though he was still a top player after it ended, his results weren’t so convincing anymore. Later on, in 1932, he withdrew from the chess scene due to a severe mental illness that prevented him from ever coming back to tournament play.

Even though Rubinstein hasn’t left behind any written legacy, his contribution to chess is undeniable in all three stages of the game. In the opening, there are a number of variations that carry his name, but also many others where he has brought significant improvements at that time. However, in this article, we are going to focus on his middlegame play and his fantastic technique. One first thing that you can’t help but noticing while going through his games is how he always took the time to improve his position before taking further actions. We could say that one of his guiding principles was “do not hurry!”.

Position 1  – Planning

That being said, let’s take a look at the following famous position and if you don’t know it already, try to find a suitable plan for black:

Chess evaluation Rubinstein technique

Janowski – Rubinstein, Karlsbad 1907

Black to play

It looks like black is enjoying a comfortable position, putting some pressure on white’s slightly weakened kingside. However, it seems like white has defended well and it’s not clear how black could improve his position.

Rubinstein continued with the move …Qd8! planning not to reroute his queen to the kingside, as white thought… but to the queenside! The queen is headed to c5, via b8-a7. A truly brilliant plan! Check out the full game below:

Position 2 – Positional Genious

In the second example Rubinstein, with the white pieces, has a great advantage – the bishop pair – but we will see again that he is in no hurry; he slowly improves his position, leaving his opponent in passivity:

Rubinstein improves chess positions

Rubinstein – Von Bardeleben, Vienna 1908

White to play

White continued here with Qh5, provoking black to move more pawns on the kingside and weaken his position. He will continue by putting pressure on the kingside and the d-file and black was soon forced to defend passively.

Position 3 – Attacking Genious

If the examples above led you to think that Rubinstein was only a positional player, you are wrong! As any strong player, he didn’t hesitate to attack when given the chance:

Alekhine attacks against Rubinstein

Alekhine – Rubinstein, Vilnius 1912

Black to play

Alekhine has just exchanged bishops on g6; how would you capture in this position? Contrary to the well-known rule, Rubinstein continued with …fxg6, opening the f file and preparing an attack against the white king. White probably underestimated black’s chances and soon fell victim to a deadly attack.

We hope that you have enjoyed the games we selected and going through them only opened your appetite of seeing more of this brilliant player’s masterpieces. He was a complete player and one of the classics that any player should study. Thank you for reading!

Find this post useful? Share it?
Become a Chess Player You've Meant to Be!
TCW Academy is the fast, fun & convenient way to become a MUCH better chess player.
Join Academy Today!

Related Posts

  • Chess Training According to GM Alex ColovicChess Training According to GM Alex Colovic
  • 10 Reasons to Study Chess Middlegame10 Reasons to Study Chess Middlegame
  • 5 Top Chess Principles According to Anatoly Karpov5 Top Chess Principles According to Anatoly Karpov
Related Products
0 0 votes
Article Rating
Login
1 Comment
Inline Feedbacks
View all comments
aymanwardeh
12.27.2019 04:32

thank you

0
Reply
Join the FREE Road to 2200 Masterclass (and learn how to Attack Like a Chess Master)
We value your privacy
Supercharge Your Chess in 21 Days!
Join Academy Today!
TheChessWorld.com
http://pogonina.com/
Company
  • About Us
  • Contact Us
  • F.A.Q.
  • Partnership
  • Blog
  • Grandmasters
  • Jobs
Chess Resources
  • TCW Academy
  • The Store
  • 21 Day Course
Top Resources
  • Opening Lab
  • Mastermind
  • Chess Mastery Series
  • Academy
100% Secure Purchase
Customer Support +1 (410) 656-9104
Email Us [email protected]
Contact Us
Facebook Twitter Mail Pinterest Youtube
Copyright 2007-2023 • TheChessWorld.com • All Rights Reserved
Cookie Policy | Acceptable Use Policy | Privacy Policy | Terms and Conditions
We use cookies on our website to give you the most relevant experience by remembering your preferences and repeat visits. By clicking “Accept”, you consent to the use of all the cookies.
Cookie SettingsAccept
Manage consent

Privacy Overview

This website uses cookies to improve your experience while you navigate through the website. Out of these, the cookies that are categorized as necessary are stored on your browser as they are essential for the working of basic functionalities of the website. We also use third-party cookies that help us analyze and understand how you use this website. These cookies will be stored in your browser only with your consent. You also have the option to opt-out of these cookies. But opting out of some of these cookies may affect your browsing experience.
Necessary
Always Enabled
Necessary cookies are absolutely essential for the website to function properly. These cookies ensure basic functionalities and security features of the website, anonymously.
CookieDurationDescription
cookielawinfo-checkbox-analytics11 monthsThis cookie is set by GDPR Cookie Consent plugin. The cookie is used to store the user consent for the cookies in the category "Analytics".
cookielawinfo-checkbox-functional11 monthsThe cookie is set by GDPR cookie consent to record the user consent for the cookies in the category "Functional".
cookielawinfo-checkbox-necessary11 monthsThis cookie is set by GDPR Cookie Consent plugin. The cookies is used to store the user consent for the cookies in the category "Necessary".
cookielawinfo-checkbox-others11 monthsThis cookie is set by GDPR Cookie Consent plugin. The cookie is used to store the user consent for the cookies in the category "Other.
cookielawinfo-checkbox-performance11 monthsThis cookie is set by GDPR Cookie Consent plugin. The cookie is used to store the user consent for the cookies in the category "Performance".
viewed_cookie_policy11 monthsThe cookie is set by the GDPR Cookie Consent plugin and is used to store whether or not user has consented to the use of cookies. It does not store any personal data.
Functional
Functional cookies help to perform certain functionalities like sharing the content of the website on social media platforms, collect feedbacks, and other third-party features.
Performance
Performance cookies are used to understand and analyze the key performance indexes of the website which helps in delivering a better user experience for the visitors.
Analytics
Analytical cookies are used to understand how visitors interact with the website. These cookies help provide information on metrics the number of visitors, bounce rate, traffic source, etc.
Advertisement
Advertisement cookies are used to provide visitors with relevant ads and marketing campaigns. These cookies track visitors across websites and collect information to provide customized ads.
Others
Other uncategorized cookies are those that are being analyzed and have not been classified into a category as yet.
SAVE & ACCEPT
wpDiscuz
wpDiscuz