Play Chess Against Akiba Rubinstein

Akiba Rubinstein (1880-1961), the Polish endgame artist often called the strongest player never to become world champion, sits across the board. Set the strength, clock, color and starting position, then press Start game.

Play Rubinstein now

Portrait of Akiba Rubinstein — Akiba Rubinstein, 1880-1961.

Black · Akiba Rubinstein10:00

Choose the settings, then press Start game.

White · You10:00

Akiba Rubinsteinhistorical player

Preparing the board.

Set the game on the right. Start unlocks the board and starts the side-to-move clock.

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Akiba Rubinstein stays selected. Choose the playing strength, clock, color and starting position.

OpponentAkiba RubinsteinStrength1500Clock10+5You playWhite

Opponent

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Akiba Rubinstein1880-1961

Playing strength

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1500

1500Rubinstein, 1500 Elo target2600

Time control

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About Akiba Rubinstein

Akiba Rubinstein playing Efim Bogoljubov in 1925

Akiba Rubinstein (1880-1961) came from a poor family in Russian Poland, learned chess at sixteen and still reached the very top. Between 1907 and 1912 he won elite events from Carlsbad to San Sebastian and earned the right to challenge Emanuel Lasker, only for the First World War to wipe the match off the calendar. His rook endgames set a standard that endgame books still teach, and his opening analysis gave his name to whole systems in the Nimzo-Indian, the French and the Tarrasch Defense. A severe nervous illness ended his career early, but his games never lost their standing.

Carlsbad 1907 championWon the elite Carlsbad tournament of 1907, finishing ahead of Geza Maroczy

Five straight wins in 1912Won five consecutive tournaments in 1912, starting with San Sebastian

Openings bear his nameRubinstein Variations still live in the Nimzo-Indian, French and Tarrasch Defense

Endgame standard setterHis rook endgames were long considered the finest ever played and remain textbook models

1880
Born in Stawiski
Born into a large, poor family in Stawiski, in Russian Poland. He learned chess at sixteen, late for a future master.
1907
Wins Carlsbad
Won the great Carlsbad tournament ahead of Maroczy, announcing himself as a future challenger.
1907
The Rubinstein Immortal
Against Georg Rotlewi in Lodz he produced his most famous game, a cascade of sacrifices crowned by a queen offer.
1912
The golden season
Won five consecutive tournaments, including San Sebastian ahead of Nimzowitsch, and stood as the clear next challenger.
1914
The match that vanished
A title match with Lasker was agreed for October 1914. The outbreak of the First World War canceled it, and it never came back.
1922
Wins Vienna
Won the strong Vienna tournament ahead of Alekhine, proof that he was still among the world's best after the war.
1930
Olympic gold with Poland
Led Poland to team gold on top board at the Hamburg Olympiad, one of his last great results.
1933
Career ends early
By the early 1930s a worsening nervous illness forced him out of serious play. He survived the Second World War in Belgium.
1961
Death in Antwerp
Died in Antwerp in March 1961. Generations of masters, from Botvinnik onward, studied his technique.