Chess Strategy and Tactics: Emanuel Lasker's Amazing Games from Udemy

Journey through the legendary games of Emanuel Lasker, the German chess genius who reigned supreme as World Chess Champion for an unparalleled 27 years (1894-1921). A mathematician and philosopher, Lasker's innovative strategies and tactics laid the groundwork for modern chess.

This course, meticulously curated by Kingscrusher, focuses on Lasker's most instructive games from 1889 to 1899, a period that witnessed his meteoric rise to the pinnacle of global chess. Kingscrusher's expert analyses of Lasker's games provide unique insights, revealing Lasker's groundbreaking approach to chess as a dynamic, multi-dimensional battle rather than a rigid game of set principles.

Witness the clarity of Lasker's ideas and marvel at his mastery over intricate chess maneuvers, tactics, and strategies. His profound influence extends to grandmasters of later generations, including chess luminaries like Mikhail Tal and Vladimir Kramnik. Kramnik, in fact, has praised Lasker for discovering 'global' chess, where various positional elements interact and balance each other out, a stark contrast to the more one-dimensional strategies of his predecessor, Steinitz.

The course also highlights Lasker's remarkable accuracy even in simultaneous exhibitions, with many of his moves standing the test against modern, high-tech engines like Stockfish. Uncover the rich essence of Lasker's chess philosophy, which emphasizes the game as a 'fight' and incorporates psychological insights about the opponent into the game plan, aligning with timeless strategies outlined in Sun Tzu's 'The Art of War'.

Delve into Lasker's pivotal matches against Steinitz, revealing his smart strategy to draw Steinitz into less familiar, queenless positions, leading to his spectacular victories. This course illuminates how Lasker's pursuit of credibility, coupled with his exceptional skills, made him one of the most respected World Chess Champions.

Join Kingscrusher on this fascinating exploration of Lasker's games and brace yourself for a treasure trove of chess wisdom and inspiration. Whether you're a beginner, an amateur, or an aspiring grandmaster, you'll find invaluable lessons and insights in every move of these timeless masterpieces.

What's inside

Learning objectives

Ability to appreciate the strength and accuracy of lasker
Ability to make use of lasker's openings and strategies and tactics
Ability to see how lasker's openings vary according to importance of tournament, simul or world championship event
Ability to judge of lasker was a "poker chess player" or just had a better understanding of opening theory than his peers
Ability to improve classical opening knowledge as lasker played 1...e5 a lot to 1.e4 and 1...d5 to 1.d4
Ability to understand how to tradeoff structure for central control and development e.g. allowing nxc5 giving bishop up
Ability to see more lasker's influence on mikhail tal and viktor korchnoi - especially as a fight - to win
Ability to apply more lasker's concept of the truth in relation to it's contrast - e.g. morphy provided contrast too
Ability to improve understanding of the king's gambit as lasker played this quite a bit
Ability to understand more why mikhail tal considered lasker as the greatest of the champions
Ability to understand more why vladimir kramnik considered lasker a pioneer of modern chess
Ability to appreciate that lasker was also a master of the "meta game" making particular opponents feel uncomfortable in particular situations
Ability to appreciate the berlin defence old variation as a fantastic solid and potentially advantageous opening foundation for later play with the bishop pair
Ability to appreciate the berlin defence as often the bishop without counterpart advantage in exchange for some structural damage which is often not exploitable
Ability to appreciate statistically anomoly of both vladimir kramnik and emanuel lasker actually having a positive win % with black using berlin defence
Ability to improve endgames greatly from seeing amazing world championship titanic games getting a variety of endgame tips and strategies
Ability to train your evaluation of chess positions through the rich experiences of the games and the underlying variations

Ability to create evocative ideas and concepts and emotions from these games by gaining empathy from the insights and variations to use in one's own games
Ability to appreciate lasker on chessmetrics best players ever 2 year period #2 behind kasparov and 20 year period ranked #3 just behind kasparov and karpov
Ability to appreciate the evolution of chess style has an early link to modern chess in the form of lasker who often had better tournaments than his successors
Ability to see influence to world champion capablanca taking defensive skill and endgame mastery as the specialist subset of lasker's style
Ability to see influence of alexander alekhine in terms of attacking chess and the art of attack
Ability to see influence to world champion max euwe in terms of tactical resourcefulness and solid opening variations
Ability to see influence of world mikhail botvinnik in terms of professional preparation for events - e.g. kept lots of stamina in events and often won in end
Ability to see influence to world champion mikhail tal in terms of being able to create complexity and win from seemingly bad positions
Ability to see influence to world champion tigran petrosian in terms of logic, precision and strong tactical abilities
Ability to see influence to world champion bobby fischer in terms of universal style and chess as as fight- two cats that are very alike indeed!
Ability to see infleunce to world champion anatoly karpov in terms of universal style and playing the position appropriately and the value of practical moves
Ability to see influence to world champion garry kasparov in terms of exploiting the opponent's weaknesses in openings, middlegame style and personality general
Ability to see influence of world champion vladimir kramnik in terms of solid aggressive dynamic style and sharing love of berlin defence :)
Ability to see influence of current world champion magnus carlsen in terms of chess as a fight - not a sport, science or art - but a fight primarily
Ability to appreciate albert einstein's comments including lasker "one of the most interesting people i came to know in my later life"
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Ability to appreciate the strength and accuracy of lasker
Ability to make use of lasker's openings and strategies and tactics
Ability to see how lasker's openings vary according to importance of tournament, simul or world championship event
Ability to judge of lasker was a "poker chess player" or just had a better understanding of opening theory than his peers
Ability to improve classical opening knowledge as lasker played 1...e5 a lot to 1.e4 and 1...d5 to 1.d4
Ability to understand how to tradeoff structure for central control and development e.g. allowing nxc5 giving bishop up
Ability to see more lasker's influence on mikhail tal and viktor korchnoi - especially as a fight - to win
Ability to apply more lasker's concept of the truth in relation to it's contrast - e.g. morphy provided contrast too
Ability to improve understanding of the king's gambit as lasker played this quite a bit
Ability to understand more why mikhail tal considered lasker as the greatest of the champions
Ability to understand more why vladimir kramnik considered lasker a pioneer of modern chess
Ability to appreciate that lasker was also a master of the "meta game" making particular opponents feel uncomfortable in particular situations
Ability to appreciate the berlin defence old variation as a fantastic solid and potentially advantageous opening foundation for later play with the bishop pair
Ability to appreciate the berlin defence as often the bishop without counterpart advantage in exchange for some structural damage which is often not exploitable
Ability to appreciate statistically anomoly of both vladimir kramnik and emanuel lasker actually having a positive win % with black using berlin defence
Ability to improve endgames greatly from seeing amazing world championship titanic games getting a variety of endgame tips and strategies
Ability to train your evaluation of chess positions through the rich experiences of the games and the underlying variations
Ability to create evocative ideas and concepts and emotions from these games by gaining empathy from the insights and variations to use in one's own games
Ability to appreciate lasker on chessmetrics best players ever 2 year period #2 behind kasparov and 20 year period ranked #3 just behind kasparov and karpov
Ability to appreciate the evolution of chess style has an early link to modern chess in the form of lasker who often had better tournaments than his successors
Ability to see influence to world champion capablanca taking defensive skill and endgame mastery as the specialist subset of lasker's style
Ability to see influence of alexander alekhine in terms of attacking chess and the art of attack
Ability to see influence to world champion max euwe in terms of tactical resourcefulness and solid opening variations
Ability to see influence of world mikhail botvinnik in terms of professional preparation for events - e.g. kept lots of stamina in events and often won in end
Ability to see influence to world champion mikhail tal in terms of being able to create complexity and win from seemingly bad positions
Ability to see influence to world champion tigran petrosian in terms of logic, precision and strong tactical abilities
Ability to see influence to world champion bobby fischer in terms of universal style and chess as as fight- two cats that are very alike indeed!
Ability to see infleunce to world champion anatoly karpov in terms of universal style and playing the position appropriately and the value of practical moves
Ability to see influence to world champion garry kasparov in terms of exploiting the opponent's weaknesses in openings, middlegame style and personality general
Ability to see influence of world champion vladimir kramnik in terms of solid aggressive dynamic style and sharing love of berlin defence :)
Ability to see influence of current world champion magnus carlsen in terms of chess as a fight - not a sport, science or art - but a fight primarily
Ability to appreciate albert einstein's comments including lasker "one of the most interesting people i came to know in my later life"
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Show less

Syllabus

Introduction

Lasker Quotations - Part 1 of 3

Lasker Quotations - Part 2 of 3

Lasker Quotations - Part 3 of 3

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Read about what's good

what should give you pause

and possible dealbreakers

Explores Lasker's games, offering insights into his strategies, tactics, and psychological approach, which can be valuable for players seeking to improve their understanding of chess principles

Examines Lasker's matches against Steinitz, revealing his strategies and solidifying his position as one of the most respected World Chess Champions, which is great for chess history buffs

Improves classical opening knowledge, as Lasker frequently played 1...e5 in response to 1.e4 and 1...d5 in response to 1.d4, which is useful for players looking to expand their repertoire

Teaches how to tradeoff structure for central control and development, such as allowing Nxc5 and giving up a bishop, which is a key strategic concept in chess

Highlights Lasker's influence on later grandmasters like Mikhail Tal and Viktor Korchnoi, particularly his emphasis on chess as a fight, which provides historical context and inspiration

Appreciates the Berlin Defence as a solid and potentially advantageous opening foundation, which is useful for players looking to expand their knowledge of chess openings

Reviews summary

Deep dive into lasker's chess mastery

According to learners, this course offers a deep and insightful analysis of Emanuel Lasker's strategic and tactical genius. Many appreciate Kingscrusher's passionate commentary and the detailed breakdown of Lasker's historic games. The course provides valuable historical context, showing Lasker's influence on modern chess. While some find the focus on classical games requires effort to translate to modern play, the depth of analysis and strategic insights are widely praised, making it a highly rewarding experience for those interested in the foundations of strategic chess.

Level of material presented.

"Maybe a bit challenging if you're just starting out with advanced chess strategy."

"Assumes a decent level of understanding of chess principles and tactical motifs."

"I benefited most from this course having reached at least an intermediate or advanced beginner level already."

Applying classical ideas today.

"While historically rich, applying some of Lasker's specific opening or middlegame ideas directly to modern games takes work and adaptation."

"The focus is heavily on classical games, which is great, but doesn't cover current theoretical trends."

"Needed some extra study to bridge the gap between Lasker's era tactics and contemporary game structures."

Kingscrusher's commentary style.

"Kingscrusher's passion for Lasker's games makes the complex analysis engaging and easy to follow."

"Found the instructor's unique perspective and enthusiasm really valuable throughout the course."

"His explanations helped clarify many dense positional ideas and tactical sequences."

Understanding Lasker's era and impact.

"Fascinating dive into the history of chess strategy and how Lasker's ideas shaped the game."

"Loved seeing how Lasker's approach influenced later world champions like Tal and Kramnik."

"Provides valuable context on the evolution of chess style, connecting classical play to modern theory."

Detailed breakdown of historic games.

"Kingscrusher's analysis of these classic games is incredibly deep and reveals layers I would never have seen on my own."

"Loved how thoroughly each game was dissected; it really showed Lasker's strategic depth and tactical brilliance."

"I gained so many insights into Lasker's strategic thinking from the detailed analysis of his games."

Activities

Be better prepared before your course. Deepen your understanding during and after it. Supplement your coursework and achieve mastery of the topics covered in Chess Strategy and Tactics: Emanuel Lasker's Amazing Games with these activities:

Review 'Lasker's Manual of Chess'

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Gain a foundational understanding of Lasker's chess principles by studying his own manual.

View Melania on Amazon

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Obtain a copy of 'Lasker's Manual of Chess'.
Read the sections on basic strategy and tactics.
Annotate key concepts and principles.

Review Basic Chess Openings

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Strengthen your understanding of common chess openings to better appreciate Lasker's innovative approaches.

Browse courses on Chess Openings

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Identify common chess openings (e.g., King's Gambit, Sicilian Defense).
Review the basic principles and variations of each opening.
Practice playing these openings against a chess engine or opponent.

Analyze Lasker's Games with a Peer

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Deepen your understanding of Lasker's strategies by discussing his games with a fellow chess enthusiast.

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Select a few of Lasker's games from the course material.
Independently analyze the games, noting key moves and strategies.
Meet with a peer to discuss your analyses and compare insights.
Debate alternative moves and strategies.

Four other activities

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Create a Video Analysis of a Lasker Game

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Solidify your understanding of Lasker's tactics by creating a video explaining his moves and strategies in a specific game.

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Choose a Lasker game from the course.
Analyze the game thoroughly, identifying key moments and strategic decisions.
Record a video explaining your analysis, using chess notation and diagrams.
Share your video with other students for feedback.

Lasker's Opening Repertoire Project

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Develop a practical understanding of Lasker's opening choices by building a repertoire based on his games.

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Identify the openings Lasker frequently played.
Research the theory behind these openings.
Create a repertoire of variations you can use in your own games.
Practice playing these openings in online or over-the-board games.

Review 'The Art of the Attack in Chess' by Vuković

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Enhance your understanding of attacking chess principles, a key element of Lasker's playing style, by studying Vuković's classic.

View Art of Attack in Chess on Amazon

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Obtain a copy of 'The Art of Attack in Chess'.
Read the chapters on attacking the king and exploiting weaknesses.
Relate the concepts to Lasker's games.

Endgame Practice with Lasker's Endgames

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Improve your endgame skills by practicing positions that arose in Lasker's games.

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Extract endgame positions from Lasker's games.
Set up the positions on a chessboard or online platform.
Practice playing both sides of the endgame, trying to find the best moves.

Career center

Learners who complete Chess Strategy and Tactics: Emanuel Lasker's Amazing Games will develop knowledge and skills that may be useful to these careers:

Strategic Consultant

A strategic consultant helps organizations improve their performance by analyzing problems and developing plans for improvement. The ability to understand dynamic systems, as emphasized in this course by studying Lasker's games, may be very useful for a strategic consultant aiming to see the big picture and how all the elements of a system interact. Additionally, Lasker's approach to chess as a 'fight' and the focus on psychology in strategy are relevant for a strategic consultant aiming to anticipate a business opponent's moves.

See salaries and explore the career path for Strategic Consultant

Game Designer

Game designers create the rules and gameplay of a video game. The study of chess, especially the strategies and tactics employed by masters like Emanuel Lasker as seen in this course, may help a game designer with ideas for strategy and balancing mechanics. Learning about the dynamic, multi-dimensional nature of Lasker’s approach can inform the creation of compelling and intricate game systems. Furthermore, this course's focus on how to implement dynamic imbalances and psychological tactics in chess can translate into the creation of more complex and engaging player experiences. Studying Lasker can provide a broad foundation for strategic game design.

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Risk Analyst

A risk analyst identifies and analyzes potential risks to an organization. The study of Emanuel Lasker's chess games in this course showcases methods for anticipating and mitigating risks by strategically evaluating the board's state and making well-considered decisions, which may be quite useful for an individual in this role. This course may help a risk analyst learn to foresee and prepare for risks effectively. The course's emphasis on understanding the opponent's potential moves might be helpful for a risk analyst in predicting future challenges.

See salaries and explore the career path for Risk Analyst

Financial Trading Analyst

A financial trading analyst researches market trends and creates trading strategies. The ability to recognize patterns, anticipate market shifts, and evaluate risks, as presented in this course through the analysis of Emanuel Lasker's chess games, may be very useful for a financial trading analyst. This course uses a study of Lasker's approach to 'global chess' involving multiple elements, which applies to the complex interaction of market factors. Furthermore, the focus on strategic thinking and developing plans under pressure, like Lasker's approach to the game, could help an analyst thrive in the fast-paced trading environment.

See salaries and explore the career path for Financial Trading Analyst

Operations Research Analyst

Operations research analysts use mathematical and analytical methods to help organizations solve problems and make better decisions. The approach utilized by Emanuel Lasker, explored in this course, demonstrates methods for analyzing a complex environment, identifying key advantages, and developing a winning strategy. This course may help an operations research analyst to adopt an innovative mindset and understand the dynamic nature of complex problems. The course highlights how Lasker's unique approach to the game as a 'fight' can align with effective problem solving in a wide range of fields.

See salaries and explore the career path for Operations Research Analyst

Intelligence Analyst

An intelligence analyst gathers and interprets information to support decision-making in the public and private sectors. This course on Lasker's chess games emphasizes methods of strategic thinking, pattern recognition, and understanding an opponent's motivations, all of which may be very useful to an intelligence analyst. In a similar way to how Lasker would assess a position, an intelligence analyst may also need to build a picture of a situation. Further, this course's focus on the psychological aspects of the game mirrors the human element in intelligence analysis, making it relevant to those in this role.

See salaries and explore the career path for Intelligence Analyst

Business Analyst

Business analysts work with organizations to improve processes and systems by analyzing data and creating solutions. The course's focus on Emanuel Lasker's strategic thinking and ability to assess complex situations may be very useful. This course can help build a foundation in how to evaluate a broad range of factors and develop effective plans. The course's emphasis on understanding the interplay of different factors and balancing them aligns with the work of business analysis. A business analyst may find value in understanding this type of strategic approach.

See salaries and explore the career path for Business Analyst

Project Manager

A project manager plans and oversees projects to ensure they are completed on time and within budget. A project manager, like the chess grandmaster Emanuel Lasker, must plan for all eventualities and understand the ways that different aspects of a process interact, so the strategic insight offered by this course may be very useful for a project manager. The ability to strategize and adapt, as exemplified by Lasker's approach to chess as a 'fight,' can be valuable for project managers. Further, the course may help a project manager approach unpredictable situations by learning to evaluate position with an eye to maximizing success.

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Market Research Analyst

Market research analysts study consumer behavior and market trends to advise companies on how to improve products and services. This course, which highlights Lasker's ability to identify patterns and develop winning strategies, may be quite useful for a market research analyst. The analytic framework of chess could help someone apply structured thinking to market trends. Moreover, Lasker's approach to chess as a strategic match may help a market research analyst anticipate market changes in the same way a chess grandmaster might adapt their strategy to the strengths and weaknesses of their opponent.

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Software Developer

A software developer designs, develops, and tests software applications. While the course is not directly about programming, the approach to strategy, problem-solving, and understanding complex systems, as demonstrated by Emanuel Lasker's approach to chess described in this course, may be of particular use. Thinking through many layers of complex systems is needed both to play chess and to develop software. This course, with its emphasis on the dynamic nature of the game, may help a developer create more robust software. A software developer may find some value in studying the strategic thinking of a master.

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Logistics Coordinator

Logistics coordinators manage the transportation and storage of goods. The abilities to plan strategically, adapt to changing situations, and optimize resource allocation, all of which are present in Emanuel Lasker's chess style as seen in this course, may help a logistics coordinator to be successful. Logistics is a large and complex undertaking. This course may be particularly useful for gaining a deeper understanding of the interplay of various factors in a larger context, mirroring the kind of thinking that Lasker applied to chess. The dynamic aspect of planning in chess may help a logistics coordinator in a volatile environment.

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Data Analyst

Data analysts interpret data to identify trends and patterns. Though this course focuses on chess rather than data, the emphasis on analyzing complex scenarios and identifying winning strategies may be very useful to a data analyst. The course's discussion of Lasker's accuracy, even when facing modern computer engines, is also illustrative of strong analytical practices. Learning how Lasker would assess positions and develop a plan could transfer to the world of data analysis. This course may be helpful for building skills in strategy, deduction, and evaluation.

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Urban Planner

An urban planner is involved in the design and development of cities, towns, and regions. The strategic and multi-dimensional approach to chess presented in this course through the games of Emanuel Lasker may be very useful since it introduces the idea of building a robust system. Lasker's focus on dynamics and the balance of different aspects of a chess position, such as opening preparation and endgame planning, could help inform an urban planner. This course may help an urban planner consider how different elements of a city fit together and how to adapt plans to changing circumstances, thus providing some value in this role.

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Technical Writer

Technical writers create documentation and user guides for complex products. The study of chess, and particularly the approach of Emanuel Lasker, may be useful for a technical writer seeking to clarify complex processes and ideas. The course includes analysis of games and moves, which can act as a model for organizing large amounts of information into a clear format. This course may help a technical writer learn to break down complex topics step-by-step, as seen in the detailed analyses of Lasker's moves, though the subject is different.

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Teacher

A teacher educates students in a variety of subject areas. The process of in-depth analysis, pattern recognition, and the articulation of strategy, which are highlighted in this course by looking at Emanuel Lasker's games, may be helpful for a teacher. This course emphasizes the ability to understand complex concepts as well as methods of communication which are useful in teaching. The careful study of Lasker's chess philosophy may be useful to a teacher.

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Reading list

We've selected two books that we think will supplement your learning. Use these to develop background knowledge, enrich your coursework, and gain a deeper understanding of the topics covered in Chess Strategy and Tactics: Emanuel Lasker's Amazing Games.

The Art of Attack in Chess

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Provides a detailed analysis of attacking techniques in chess. While not specifically about Lasker, it complements the course by providing a broader understanding of attacking principles that Lasker frequently employed. It is useful as additional reading to deepen your understanding of chess tactics. This book is commonly used by chess instructors and players looking to improve their attacking skills.

Art of Attack in Chess

Paperback

Art of Attack in Chess

Kindle Edition

Chess Strategy and Tactics

Emanuel Lasker's Amazing Games

What's inside

Learning objectives

Syllabus

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Reviews summary

Deep dive into lasker's chess mastery

Activities

Career center

Reading list

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