Introduction
Aside from being a world renowned scientist and touted as the father of modern physics many are unfamiliar with the skill Albert Einstein had in the field of chess and his proximity to the world chess champion of the day. Genius in one field of academia doesn’t always translate to greatness in other fields of academics like chess and although Albert Einstein’s genius in the field of science, physics in particular greatly overshadowed his skill in chess he was nonetheless a very strong chess player. The amount of recorded chess games belonging to Albert Einstein are few in number however the games that have been preserved demonstrate he had an excellent understanding of basic chess principles and was a skilled strategist. Einstein almost rarely ever played chess due to his devotion to physics however his games undoubtedly show he had unfulfilled potential.
Einstein was very familiar with chess from a young age and reported to have played chess as a young boy in Germany. The political upheaval caused by the Nazi party in Germany was of great concern for Einstein and this concern was also shared by the world chess champion Emmanuel Lasker who was a good friend of Einstein’s and a fellow jew. There are no chess games between Einstein and Lasker that have been recorded however it’s more than likely they played chess against one another in their spare time which may account for some of Einstein’s skill at chess. Albert Einstein’s work in the field of science lead to his crossing paths with fellow physicist Robert Oppenheimer who’s remembered as the father of the atomic bomb. The chess match between Oppenheimer and Einstein is one of the only chess games of Einstein that has been recorded and preserved and showcases Einstein winning against Oppenheimer in a dynamic game.
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Did Einstein Ever Play Any Games?
Einstein was a well established physicist whose days consisted mostly of solving scientific equations a task that although brought him fulfilment and provided an avenue to express his genius was nonetheless mentally draining. When free from the stresses of work and at home Einstein was averse to anything that would overwork his mind and although he was skilled at chess he preferred to engage in activities that required minimal thought like music and sailing.
The life Einstein lived consisted of years of research and study whilst pondering the mysteries of the universe. Whilst somewhat unsuccessful in his earlier years his life changed dramatically after experiencing his miracle year in which his first breakthroughs in physics were achieved. Einstein was deeply immersed in his scientific studies especially after gaining worldwide recognition for his work which lead to further successes later in his life. The prototypical day of the average scientist let alone an Albert Einstein would consist of the constant calculation of scientific and mathematical formulas in an attempt to gain some insight into the questions that plagued the scientific community and mankind at large about the mysteries of the universe.
The nature of Einstein’s work and the constant demand for his energy and brain power played a major role in his decisions when choosing activities to enjoy in his free time. Instead of indulging in activities that would require him to think he preferred much simpler hobbies. Einstein did play games if you consider sailing a game however those that knew Einstein would frequently see him enjoying leisurely strolls around the town when he wasn’t playing the violin. Einstein also played chess and he demonstrated an above average level of skill although he had some disputes regarding the morality of the game. Einstein disliked the competitive aspect of chess and is quoted to have regarded chess as a vice which shackles the mind of the chess player inhibiting their inner freedom. There are two recorded chess games belonging to Albert Einstein and he was the winner of both games.
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Was Albert Einstein Good At Chess?
Albert Einstein was a strong chess player considering the fact that he disliked the game and rarely played it as an adult although he played chess as a child. There are two recorded chess games belonging to Albert Einstein in which he was the winner of both. Einstein had an excellent understanding of basic chess principles and played chess at a level which was arguably above average.
Einstein has stated to reporters that although he rarely played chess as an adult he played chess as a child and was very familiar with the game. Einstein however disliked the competitive aspects of chess and had disputes on the morality of chess stating that he also disliked employing tactics and tricks to defeat his opponent. The number of recorded chess games from Einstein can be counted on one hand however the few games that can be salvaged demonstrate Einstein’s inherent and unfulfilled potential in chess. In both of the chess games Einstein played first in 1913 against Sell whilst teaching and later in 1933 against Oppenheimer Einstein displayed great skill in employing tactics and tricks to defeat his opponents even though he would of considered the talent immoral.
Einstein’s proximity to Emmanuel Lasker the world chess champion who held the championship title for 27 years seemingly had little to no effect on his stance regarding chess and there are no recorded chess games between Albert Einstein and Emmanuel Lasker even though over the years they became good friends. Although Einstein may have been a genius in regard to science and his studies in physics in particular these talents didn’t transfer to his chess games and even though he was a strong chess player with a good understanding of the game in addition to being in close proximity to the world class chess champion Emmanuel Lasker he was by no means a professional nor did he want to be.
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Did Einstein Say He Didn’t Like Chess?
Einstein’s statements regarding chess highlights the aspects of chess he disliked and there is little to no reports to the contrary. Einstein disliked the competitive aspect of chess and regarded the use of tactics and tricks to defeat an opponent as immoral. Einstein is also quoted as referring to chess as a “vice that holds its masters in its own bond, shackling the mind and brain so that the inner freedom of the very strongest must suffer.”
The meaning of this quote from Einstein clearly refers to the perceived time wasted an individual may spend learning and mastering chess as opposed to the more meaningful endeavours one could spend their time on. When juxtaposed against other activities one could spend their time and effort mastering Einstein considered chess of a lesser status. Both on a personal and professional level Einstein clearly regarded chess as a waste of time and immoral which may explain why he rarely played later into his adult years. When looked at from the perspective of Einstein it’s obvious to see why he may have regarded chess as a vice. Albert Einstein viewed his mission to uncover the secrets of the universe a much more productive use of his time than the mastery of chess.
The competitive nature of chess was also a characteristic Albert Einstein had an issue with. The immorality of chess and the use of one’s mind as a tool for deceit and the manipulation of others even through the use of games like chess was seen as distasteful from Einstein’s paradigm. Einstein’s unfavourable stance on chess developed as he grew into his adult years as he’s stated to have played chess as a child though his opinion of chess when questioned on later in his life reflected his disdain for the game. The overall opinion Einstein held in regards to chess was of an unfavourable nature and the lasting impression that can be garnered from his quotes is that chess was a waste of time and immoral. If Einstein did have any positive opinions on chess those opinions were rarely if ever included in his discussions regarding chess when interviewed on the topic.
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What Was Albert Einstein‘s Elo Rating In Chess?
The Approximate Elo Rating of Albert Einstein ranges from 1400-1500. Accurately determining the Elo rating of Albert Einstein is difficult because of the inadequate amount of surviving games and the difficulty in determining the authenticity of his games.
The few chess games that have survived belonging to Albert Einstein have allowed us to estimate his most probable Elo rating however there are many factors that impact the accurateness of these estimates. There are only two surviving chess games belonging to Albert Einstein and the absence of proper testing against formidable opponents makes it difficult to sufficiently measure his skill in chess. The estimated rating of Albert Einstein that has been determined according to the information learned from his surviving games doesn’t take into account the strength of his opponents in chess. Whether Einstein’s opponents were strong chess players or not would also play a significant role when determining his Elo rating. For instance having two wins against grandmasters would result in a much higher Elo rating than if his opponents were beginners.
In addition to the few surviving games from Albert Einstein many question the authenticity of his games. The informal nature of Einstein’s chess games made them difficult to validate in any substantial way and so this leaves room for speculation as to whether Einstein’s chess games actually belonged to him. It’s well known that Einstein did play and win against Robert Oppenheimer in 1933 at Princeton University and the use of the theoretical Ruy Lopes opening for many is a strong indication of Einstein’s presence in the game. The use of a theoretical opening like the Ruy Lopes by a theoretical genius such as Einstein and ultimately winning the game with it is more than enough justification to prove the authenticity of Einstein’s chess game against Oppenheimer in the absence of modern technology.
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Conclusion
Ultimately Albert Einstein was a strong chess player according to the surviving chess games that can be studied. The few games that have survived and the lack of authenticity around Einstein’s ownership of the chess games that have been reported to belong to Einstein make it difficult to determine his actual ownership of the games. The lack of chess games that have survived belonging to Einstein can be accounted for the fact that Einstein has been quoted many times expressing his dislike for chess. The lack of positive remarks Einstein reported to the public regarding chess is likely the reason for such a low number of surviving chess games belonging to Einstein.
