Alexandre Deschapelles
Encyclopedia
Alexandre Deschapelles was a French
chess
player who, between the death of Philidor
and the arrival of Louis de la Bourdonnais, was probably the strongest player in the world. He was considered the unofficial world champion from about 1800-1820.
) in 1741, and Marie Françoise Geneviève d'Hémeric des Cartouzières from Béziers
in the south of France. Louis Gatien served as an officer in a dragoon regiment and later became through the influence of his close friend, the future admiral Latouche-Tréville, an officer in the royal household (Maison du Roi) with a number of rooms near the king's chambers in the château of Versailles.
with his wife and two sisters of Alexandre. Soon after his father's emigration, Alexandre had to leave Brienne and to join the French Republican army." A soldier in Napoleon's army, Deschapelles lost his right hand in battle and was thereafter nicknamed "Manchot" (one-armed). He also received a massive sabre-wound down the entire length of his face, which caused the Phrenology
enthusiasts of his era to suggest "cranial sabre-wounds" were responsible for his amazing chess skill.
, he defeated the French champion of that game, and claimed to have learned all of his chess knowledge in just three days.
He was the teacher of Jacques François Mouret
and later, about 1820, he accepted Louis de la Bourdonnais as a student. After his defeats of John Cochrane and William Lewis
two years later, Deschapelles switched to playing Whist
(the Deschapelles coup
in Contract Bridge
is named after him). Returning to chess competition in the mid 1830s, Deschapelles continued his trademark of always giving his opponents "odds" (see chess handicap
).
Deschapelles reportedly once asked an opponent if they would play a game for stakes, to which they stated "My religion forbids me to play for money", Deschapelles replied "Mine forbids me to be absurd!"
France
The French Republic , The French Republic , The French Republic , (commonly known as France , is a unitary semi-presidential republic in Western Europe with several overseas territories and islands located on other continents and in the Indian, Pacific, and Atlantic oceans. Metropolitan France...
chess
Chess
Chess is a two-player board game played on a chessboard, a square-checkered board with 64 squares arranged in an eight-by-eight grid. It is one of the world's most popular games, played by millions of people worldwide at home, in clubs, online, by correspondence, and in tournaments.Each player...
player who, between the death of Philidor
François-André Danican Philidor
François-André Danican Philidor , often referred to as André Danican Philidor during his lifetime, was a French composer and chess player. He contributed to the early development of the opéra comique...
and the arrival of Louis de la Bourdonnais, was probably the strongest player in the world. He was considered the unofficial world champion from about 1800-1820.
Family background
His parents were Louis Gatien Le Breton Comte des Chapelles, born in New Orleans (LouisianaLouisiana
Louisiana is a state located in the southern region of the United States of America. Its capital is Baton Rouge and largest city is New Orleans. Louisiana is the only state in the U.S. with political subdivisions termed parishes, which are local governments equivalent to counties...
) in 1741, and Marie Françoise Geneviève d'Hémeric des Cartouzières from Béziers
Béziers
Béziers is a town in Languedoc in southern France. It is a sub-prefecture of the Hérault department. Béziers hosts the famous Feria de Béziers, centred around bullfighting, every August. A million visitors are attracted to the five-day event...
in the south of France. Louis Gatien served as an officer in a dragoon regiment and later became through the influence of his close friend, the future admiral Latouche-Tréville, an officer in the royal household (Maison du Roi) with a number of rooms near the king's chambers in the château of Versailles.
Military career
It was decided that Alexandre should start a military career, and so he was sent to the renowned military academy at Brienne. As the influence of his patron Latouche-Tréville ceased in 1791 and terror began to reign in France, Louis Gatien decided to emigrate to GermanyGermany
Germany , officially the Federal Republic of Germany , is a federal parliamentary republic in Europe. The country consists of 16 states while the capital and largest city is Berlin. Germany covers an area of 357,021 km2 and has a largely temperate seasonal climate...
with his wife and two sisters of Alexandre. Soon after his father's emigration, Alexandre had to leave Brienne and to join the French Republican army." A soldier in Napoleon's army, Deschapelles lost his right hand in battle and was thereafter nicknamed "Manchot" (one-armed). He also received a massive sabre-wound down the entire length of his face, which caused the Phrenology
Phrenology
Phrenology is a pseudoscience primarily focused on measurements of the human skull, based on the concept that the brain is the organ of the mind, and that certain brain areas have localized, specific functions or modules...
enthusiasts of his era to suggest "cranial sabre-wounds" were responsible for his amazing chess skill.
Career as a player of chess and other games
Deschapelles had an incredible aptitude for games. Three months after learning the moves of Polish DraughtsInternational draughts
International draughts is a board game, one of the variants of draughts. It is played on a 10×10 board with alternatingly dark and light squares, of which only the 50 dark ones are used. There are two players on opposite sides, with 20 pieces each, light for one player and dark for the other...
, he defeated the French champion of that game, and claimed to have learned all of his chess knowledge in just three days.
He was the teacher of Jacques François Mouret
Jacques François Mouret
Jacques François Mouret was a French chess master of the early 19th century and one of the operators of The Turk.-Brief Biography:...
and later, about 1820, he accepted Louis de la Bourdonnais as a student. After his defeats of John Cochrane and William Lewis
William Lewis (chess player)
William Lewis was an English chess player and author, nowadays best known for the Lewis Countergambit and for being the first player ever to be described as a Grandmaster of the game..-Life and works:...
two years later, Deschapelles switched to playing Whist
Whist
Whist is a classic English trick-taking card game which was played widely in the 18th and 19th centuries. It derives from the 16th century game of Trump or Ruff, via Ruff and Honours...
(the Deschapelles coup
Deschapelles coup
The Deschapelles Coup, named after a 19th-century French chess and whist player Alexandre Deschapelles, is the lead of an unsupported honor to create an entry in partner's hand; often confused with the Merrimac coup, the lead of an unsupported honor to kill an entry in an opponent's...
in Contract Bridge
Contract bridge
Contract bridge, usually known simply as bridge, is a trick-taking card game using a standard deck of 52 playing cards played by four players in two competing partnerships with partners sitting opposite each other around a small table...
is named after him). Returning to chess competition in the mid 1830s, Deschapelles continued his trademark of always giving his opponents "odds" (see chess handicap
Chess handicap
A handicap in chess is a way to enable a weaker player to have a chance of winning against a stronger one. There are many kinds of such handicaps, such as material odds, extra moves A handicap (or "odds") in chess is a way to enable a weaker player to have a chance of winning against a stronger...
).
Deschapelles reportedly once asked an opponent if they would play a game for stakes, to which they stated "My religion forbids me to play for money", Deschapelles replied "Mine forbids me to be absurd!"
Notable chess matches
- 1821 John Cochrane, 6-1, with Cochrane having odds of a pawn and two moves
- 1821 William Lewis, 1-2, with Lewis having odds of a pawn and a move
- 1836 Pierre Saint-Amant, 1½-1½
- 1842 Pierre de Saint-Amant, 3-2