Chess and Checkers: The Way to Mastership

Edward Lasker (1885-1981) was a leading American chess and Go player. He was awarded the title of International Master of chess by FIDE. Lasker earned undergraduate degrees at the University of Berlin in mechanical and electrical engineering. He also invented the breast pump, which saved many premature infants' lives and made Lasker a lot of money. His best result was his narrow 8.5-9.5 loss in a match with Frank Marshall for the U. S. Championship in 1923. For that, Lasker was invited to participate in the legendary New York chess tournament in 1924, facing worldclass masters like Alekhine, Capablanca, Rubinstein, Emanuel Lasker, and Réti. Lasker was also instrumental in developing Go in the USA, and together with Karl Davis Robinson and Lee Hartman founded the American Go Association. Edward Lasker published several books on American checkers, chess, and Go. Among his famous works are: Chess Strategy (1915), Chess and Checkers: The Way to Mastership (1918), Chess for Fun and Chess for Blood (1942), and The Adventure of Chess (1950).