Play Chess Against Rudolf Spielmann

Rudolf Spielmann (1883-1942), the last great romantic of the attack and author of The Art of Sacrifice in Chess, sits across the board. Set the strength, clock, color and starting position, then press Start game.

Play Spielmann now

Portrait of Rudolf Spielmann — Rudolf Spielmann, 1883-1942.

Black · Rudolf Spielmann10:00

Choose the settings, then press Start game.

White · You10:00

Rudolf Spielmannhistorical player

Preparing the board.

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

Set up your game against Rudolf Spielmann

Rudolf Spielmann stays selected. Choose the playing strength, clock, color and starting position.

OpponentRudolf SpielmannStrength1500Clock10+5You playWhite

Opponent

Rudolf Spielmann remains selected while you choose the settings for this game.

Rudolf Spielmann1883-1942

Playing strength

Legend playing strength100-point steps

1500

1500Spielmann, 1500 Elo target2600

Time control

The first number is the starting time in minutes. The second is the increment after each completed legal move.

Your color

Starting position optional

All chess legends

Start game locks these settings and begins the selected clock. Change setup unlocks them for a new game.

About Rudolf Spielmann

Rudolf Spielmann playing at the Militiezaal

Rudolf Spielmann (1883-1942) kept the attacking spirit of the 19th century alive deep into the hypermodern age. The Viennese master won strong tournaments after the First World War, most famously Semmering 1926, where he finished ahead of Alexander Alekhine. His book The Art of Sacrifice in Chess remains the standard work on giving material for the initiative. Of Jewish birth, he fled Nazi Austria for Sweden and died there in poverty in 1942.

Won Semmering 1926Finished ahead of Alekhine in one of the strongest fields of the decade

The sacrifice classicThe Art of Sacrifice in Chess is still the standard work on attacking material

Beat Alekhine at KarlsbadHis win over the future world champion at Karlsbad 1923 is an attacking model

Won Stockholm 1919Took first prize at the first major tournament after the First World War

1883
Born in Vienna
Rudolf Spielmann was born on 5 May 1883 in Vienna and grew up in the city's coffeehouse chess culture.
1912
First prize at Abbazia
Won the King's Gambit theme tournament at Abbazia on the Adriatic, announcing himself as a keeper of the romantic flame.
1919
Wins in Stockholm
Took first prize at Stockholm 1919, the first strong international tournament after the war.
1922
Shared first at Teplitz-Schönau
Divided first prize with Richard Réti at Teplitz-Schönau, one of the year's premier events.
1923
Beats Alekhine at Karlsbad
His attacking win over Alexander Alekhine at Karlsbad 1923 is still reprinted in books on the art of attack.
1926
Semmering triumph
Won Semmering 1926 ahead of Alekhine, Vidmar and Nimzowitsch, the greatest result of his career.
1935
The sacrifice manual
Published his sacrifice manual, known in English as The Art of Sacrifice in Chess, still the classic text on its theme.
1938
Flight from the Nazis
After Germany annexed Austria he escaped and eventually found refuge in Sweden, cut off from tournament chess.
1942
Death in exile
Died in Stockholm in August 1942, poor and alone at 59. He is remembered as the last great master of the open attack.