Stepan Levitsky
Encyclopedia
Stepan Levitsky (Levitski, Lewitzki) (25 April 1876, Serpukhov – 21 March 1924, Glubokaya) was a Russian
chess master
and national chess champion.
In 1899 he took third place in Moscow
(All Russian Masters’ Tournament, first Russian Championship, Mikhail Chigorin
won).
In 1903 he took eighth in Kiev
(third Russian Championship, Chigorin won).
In 1905/06 he tied for 8-11th in St Petersburg (fourth Russian Championship, Gersz Salwe
won).
In 1907 he took second, behind Eugene Znosko-Borovsky
, in St Petersburg.
He lost a match to Simon Alapin 0-5 at St Petersburg 1907.
Levitsky won at St Petersburg 1911 (All-Russian Amateur Tournament), thus becoming Russian national chess champion (for one year). In July–August 1912, he tied for 13-14th in Breslau (18th DBS–Congress, Akiba Rubinstein
and Oldřich Duras
won).
In August–September 1912, he took third in Vilna (eighth RUS-ch, Rubinstein won).
In 1913 he lost a match to Alexander Alekhine
3-7 in St Petersburg. In 1913/14, he took 13th in St Petersburg (ninth Russian Championship, Alekhine and Aron Nimzowitsch
won).
He introduced the Queen's Bishop Attack, known as the Levitsky Attack (1.d4 d5 2.Bg5) in the Queen's Pawn Game
(ECO code D00).
But Levitsky is perhaps best remembered by chess players today as the loser in a famous game against Frank Marshall at Breslau 1912. Marshall (with the Black pieces) concluded with the stunning 23...Qg3!!, which would have forced White to capture Black's Queen to prevent immediate checkmate
. Unfortunately for Levitsky, this would have left Marshall with a choice of three different forced mates in the next one, two or three moves. Levitsky resigned. According to legend, the beauty of Marshall's final combination so moved the spectators that they showered the board with gold pieces.
Russians
The Russian people are an East Slavic ethnic group native to Russia, speaking the Russian language and primarily living in Russia and neighboring countries....
chess master
Chess master
A chess master is a chess player of such skill that he/she can usually beat chess experts, who themselves typically prevail against most amateurs. Among chess players, the term is often abbreviated to master, the meaning being clear from context....
and national chess champion.
In 1899 he took third place in Moscow
Moscow
Moscow is the capital, the most populous city, and the most populous federal subject of Russia. The city is a major political, economic, cultural, scientific, religious, financial, educational, and transportation centre of Russia and the continent...
(All Russian Masters’ Tournament, first Russian Championship, Mikhail Chigorin
Mikhail Chigorin
Mikhail Ivanovich Chigorin also was a leading Russian chess player...
won).
In 1903 he took eighth in Kiev
Kiev
Kiev or Kyiv is the capital and the largest city of Ukraine, located in the north central part of the country on the Dnieper River. The population as of the 2001 census was 2,611,300. However, higher numbers have been cited in the press....
(third Russian Championship, Chigorin won).
In 1905/06 he tied for 8-11th in St Petersburg (fourth Russian Championship, Gersz Salwe
Gersz Salwe
Gersz Salwe was a Polish chess player.-Biography:Salwe was born into a Jewish family in Warsaw ....
won).
In 1907 he took second, behind Eugene Znosko-Borovsky
Eugene Znosko-Borovsky
Eugene Alexandrovich Znosko-Borovsky was a Russian chess master, music and drama critic, teacher and author. Born in Saint Petersburg, he settled in Paris in 1920, and lived there for the rest of his life.-Biography:...
, in St Petersburg.
He lost a match to Simon Alapin 0-5 at St Petersburg 1907.
Levitsky won at St Petersburg 1911 (All-Russian Amateur Tournament), thus becoming Russian national chess champion (for one year). In July–August 1912, he tied for 13-14th in Breslau (18th DBS–Congress, Akiba Rubinstein
Akiba Rubinstein
Akiba Kiwelowicz Rubinstein was a famous Polish chess Grandmaster at the beginning of the 20th century. He was scheduled to play a match with Emanuel Lasker for the world championship in 1914, but it was cancelled because of the outbreak of World War I...
and Oldřich Duras
Oldrich Duras
Oldřich Duras was a leading Czech chess master of the early 20th century...
won).
In August–September 1912, he took third in Vilna (eighth RUS-ch, Rubinstein won).
In 1913 he lost a match to Alexander Alekhine
Alexander Alekhine
Alexander Alexandrovich Alekhine was the fourth World Chess Champion. He is often considered one of the greatest chess players ever.By the age of twenty-two, he was already among the strongest chess players in the world. During the 1920s, he won most of the tournaments in which he played...
3-7 in St Petersburg. In 1913/14, he took 13th in St Petersburg (ninth Russian Championship, Alekhine and Aron Nimzowitsch
Aron Nimzowitsch
Aron Nimzowitsch was a Russian-born Danish unofficial chess grandmaster and a very influential chess writer...
won).
He introduced the Queen's Bishop Attack, known as the Levitsky Attack (1.d4 d5 2.Bg5) in the Queen's Pawn Game
Queen's Pawn Game
In the most general sense the term Queen's Pawn Game can refer to any chess opening which starts with the move:It is the second most popular opening move. The name is now usually used to describe openings beginning with the moves 1.d4 d5 where White does not follow through with an early pawn...
(ECO code D00).
But Levitsky is perhaps best remembered by chess players today as the loser in a famous game against Frank Marshall at Breslau 1912. Marshall (with the Black pieces) concluded with the stunning 23...Qg3!!, which would have forced White to capture Black's Queen to prevent immediate checkmate
Checkmate
Checkmate is a situation in chess in which one player's king is threatened with capture and there is no way to meet that threat. Or, simply put, the king is under direct attack and cannot avoid being captured...
. Unfortunately for Levitsky, this would have left Marshall with a choice of three different forced mates in the next one, two or three moves. Levitsky resigned. According to legend, the beauty of Marshall's final combination so moved the spectators that they showered the board with gold pieces.