Rubinstein vs World Champions Decisive Games

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Rubinstein vs World Champions Decisive Games
Compiled by Okavango

The Almost World Champions.

Always the second but should have been first. They who in another time and place could have been Chess World Champions.

Akiba Rubinstein

All serious chess players know who the great Akiba Rubinstein is. At some point in the decade before World War I, the chess world thought he had good chances to take Lasker's Title, had they only played a World Championship match.

The debate can go on forever but IMO Rubinstein deserved a Title Match more than Janowski and Marshall. If there had been an official Candidates cycle back then, he would in all probability gained a WC Match Title shot.

Rubinstein is world renowned, until today, for his clear and straightforward style and top of the class endgame play, a treasure trove for chess players who want to develop their positional game. His apparent chess-the-positionally-simple-way reputation IMO is quite misleading. A review of his games clearly shows that Rubinstein was also a superb calculator of detailed variations.

Emanuel Lasker beat Akiba Rubinstein 2 to 1, with 4 draws

Akiba Rubinstein tied Jose Raul Capablanca 1 to 1, with 7 draws

Alexander Alekhine beat Akiba Rubinstein 8 to 3, with 2 draws

Max Euwe tied Akiba Rubinstein 2 to 2, with 1 draw

Bonus - Rubinstein vs Challengers Decisive Games:

Rubinstein's record against chess masters who were able challenge for the Title was amazing; he had a winning record against almost all of them that he played. Against Tarasch in particular, he was totally dominating.

Surely the man who beat up most of the Challengers of his time deserved a World Championship Title shot!

Rubinstein beat Marshall (Challenger to Lasker) 11 to 9, with 15 draws

Rubinstein beat Tarrasch (Challenger to Lasker) 8 to 0, with 12 draws

Rubinstein beat Schlechter (Challenger to Lasker) 6 to 2, with 13 draws

Rubinstein beat Janowski (Challenger to Lasker) 5 to 3

Rubinstein tied Bogoljubov (Challenger to Alekhine) 14 to 14, with 10 draws

Bonus: The most beautiful brilliancy I have ever seen (vs Rotlewi).

The most beautiful brilliancy I have ever seen
Rotlewi vs Rubinstein, 1907
(D32) Queen's Gambit Declined, Tarrasch, 25 moves, 0-1
Rubinstein vs World Champions Decisive Games Lasker
Rubinstein vs Lasker, 1909
(D30) Queen's Gambit Declined, 40 moves, 1-0
Rubinstein vs World Champions Decisive Games Lasker
Lasker vs Rubinstein, 1914
(C82) Ruy Lopez, Open, 66 moves, 1-0
Rubinstein vs World Champions Decisive Games Lasker
Rubinstein vs Lasker, 1925
(D47) Queen's Gambit Declined Semi-Slav, 57 moves, 0-1
Rubinstein vs World Champions Decisive Games Capablanca
Rubinstein vs Capablanca, 1911
(D33) Queen's Gambit Declined, Tarrasch, 42 moves, 1-0
Rubinstein vs World Champions Decisive Games Capablanca
Capablanca vs Rubinstein, 1928
(D02) Queen's Pawn Game, 44 moves, 1-0
Rubinstein vs World Champions Decisive Games Alekhine
Rubinstein vs Alekhine, 1911
(D15) Queen's Gambit Declined Slav, 76 moves, 1-0
Rubinstein vs World Champions Decisive Games Alekhine
Alekhine vs Rubinstein, 1912
(C83) Ruy Lopez, Open, 27 moves, 0-1
Rubinstein vs World Champions Decisive Games Alekhine
Rubinstein vs Alekhine, 1914
(E43) Nimzo-Indian, Fischer Variation, 28 moves, 0-1
Rubinstein vs World Champions Decisive Games Alekhine
Alekhine vs Rubinstein, 1921
(D02) Queen's Pawn Game, 51 moves, 1-0
Rubinstein vs World Champions Decisive Games Alekhine
Rubinstein vs Alekhine, 1922
(D18) Queen's Gambit Declined Slav, Dutch, 60 moves, 0-1
Rubinstein vs World Champions Decisive Games Alekhine
Rubinstein vs Alekhine, 1922
(D63) Queen's Gambit Declined, Orthodox Defense, 34 moves, 0-1
Rubinstein vs World Champions Decisive Games Alekhine
Rubinstein vs Alekhine, 1922
(D94) Grunfeld, 26 moves, 1-0
Rubinstein vs World Champions Decisive Games Alekhine
Alekhine vs Rubinstein, 1923
(D64) Queen's Gambit Declined, Orthodox, Rubinstein Attack, 32 moves, 1-0
Rubinstein vs World Champions Decisive Games Euwe
Euwe vs Rubinstein, 1921
(B29) Sicilian, Nimzovich-Rubinstein, 33 moves, 0-1
Rubinstein vs World Champions Decisive Games Euwe
Rubinstein vs Euwe, 1922
(A48) King's Indian, 42 moves, 1-0
Rubinstein vs World Champions Decisive Games Euwe
Euwe vs Rubinstein, 1923
(D05) Queen's Pawn Game, 37 moves, 1-0
Rubinstein vs World Champions Decisive Games Euwe
Euwe vs Rubinstein, 1928
(D63) Queen's Gambit Declined, Orthodox Defense, 55 moves, 1-0
Rubinstein vs Challengers Decisive Games Marshall
Marshall vs Rubinstein, 1906
(D61) Queen's Gambit Declined, Orthodox, Rubinstein Attack, 43 moves, 0-1
Rubinstein vs Challengers Decisive Games Marshall
Marshall vs Rubinstein, 1907
(D32) Queen's Gambit Declined, Tarrasch, 52 moves, 0-1
Rubinstein vs Challengers Decisive Games Marshall
Marshall vs Rubinstein, 1908
(D31) Queen's Gambit Declined, 48 moves, 0-1
Rubinstein vs Challengers Decisive Games Marshall
Rubinstein vs Marshall, 1908
(C49) Four Knights, 49 moves, 1-0
Rubinstein vs Challengers Decisive Games Marshall
Marshall vs Rubinstein, 1908
(D00) Queen's Pawn Game, 54 moves, 1-0
Rubinstein vs Challengers Decisive Games Marshall
Rubinstein vs Marshall, 1908
(D02) Queen's Pawn Game, 28 moves, 0-1
Rubinstein vs Challengers Decisive Games Marshall
Marshall vs Rubinstein, 1908
(D31) Queen's Gambit Declined, 47 moves, 1-0
Rubinstein vs Challengers Decisive Games Marshall
Rubinstein vs Marshall, 1908
(D11) Queen's Gambit Declined Slav, 25 moves, 1-0
Rubinstein vs Challengers Decisive Games Marshall
Rubinstein vs Marshall, 1908
(D11) Queen's Gambit Declined Slav, 32 moves, 1-0
Rubinstein vs Challengers Decisive Games Marshall
Marshall vs Rubinstein, 1908
(D02) Queen's Pawn Game, 43 moves, 0-1
Rubinstein vs Challengers Decisive Games Marshall
Rubinstein vs Marshall, 1908
(C49) Four Knights, 38 moves, 1-0
Rubinstein vs Challengers Decisive Games Marshall
Marshall vs Rubinstein, 1908
(D32) Queen's Gambit Declined, Tarrasch, 44 moves, 1-0
Rubinstein vs Challengers Decisive Games Marshall
Marshall vs Rubinstein, 1908
(D32) Queen's Gambit Declined, Tarrasch, 24 moves, 1-0
Rubinstein vs Challengers Decisive Games Marshall
Marshall vs Rubinstein, 1911
(D34) Queen's Gambit Declined, Tarrasch, 20 moves, 1-0
Rubinstein vs Challengers Decisive Games Marshall
Rubinstein vs Marshall, 1912
(D15) Queen's Gambit Declined Slav, 49 moves, 1-0
Rubinstein vs Challengers Decisive Games Marshall
Rubinstein vs Marshall, 1912
(D33) Queen's Gambit Declined, Tarrasch, 56 moves, 1-0
Rubinstein vs Challengers Decisive Games Marshall
Marshall vs Rubinstein, 1925
(D60) Queen's Gambit Declined, Orthodox Defense, 25 moves, 1-0
Rubinstein vs Challengers Decisive Games Marshall
Marshall vs Rubinstein, 1928
(D31) Queen's Gambit Declined, 58 moves, 0-1
Rubinstein vs Challengers Decisive Games Marshall
Marshall vs Rubinstein, 1928
(D52) Queen's Gambit Declined, 30 moves, 1-0
Rubinstein vs Challengers Decisive Games Marshall
Marshall vs Rubinstein, 1930
(D20) Queen's Gambit Accepted, 55 moves, 1-0
Rubinstein vs Challengers Decisive Games Tarrasch
Tarrasch vs Rubinstein, 1912
(C48) Four Knights, 56 moves, 0-1
Rubinstein vs Challengers Decisive Games Tarrasch
Rubinstein vs Tarrasch, 1918
(A43) Old Benoni, 51 moves, 1-0
Rubinstein vs Challengers Decisive Games Tarrasch
Rubinstein vs Tarrasch, 1920
(A84) Dutch, 37 moves, 1-0
Rubinstein vs Challengers Decisive Games Tarrasch
Rubinstein vs Tarrasch, 1922
(A84) Dutch, 33 moves, 1-0
Rubinstein vs Challengers Decisive Games Tarrasch
Rubinstein vs Tarrasch, 1922
(D34) Queen's Gambit Declined, Tarrasch, 53 moves, 1-0
Rubinstein vs Challengers Decisive Games Tarrasch
Tarrasch vs Rubinstein, 1923
(C49) Four Knights, 39 moves, 0-1
Rubinstein vs Challengers Decisive Games Tarrasch
Rubinstein vs Tarrasch, 1923
(D34) Queen's Gambit Declined, Tarrasch, 45 moves, 1-0
Rubinstein vs Challengers Decisive Games Tarrasch
Rubinstein vs Tarrasch, 1928
(A31) English, Symmetrical, Benoni Formation, 37 moves, 1-0
Rubinstein vs Challengers Decisive Games Schlechter
Rubinstein vs Schlechter, 1906
(D00) Queen's Pawn Game, 33 moves, 0-1
Rubinstein vs Challengers Decisive Games Schlechter
Rubinstein vs Schlechter, 1909
(D67) Queen's Gambit Declined, Orthodox Defense, Bd3 line, 59 moves, 1-0
Rubinstein vs Challengers Decisive Games Schlechter
Rubinstein vs Schlechter, 1912
(D41) Queen's Gambit Declined, Semi-Tarrasch, 39 moves, 1-0
Rubinstein vs Challengers Decisive Games Schlechter
Schlechter vs Rubinstein, 1912
(C11) French, 41 moves, 0-1
Rubinstein vs Challengers Decisive Games Schlechter
Schlechter vs Rubinstein, 1918
(C77) Ruy Lopez, 59 moves, 1-0
Rubinstein vs Challengers Decisive Games Schlechter
Rubinstein vs Schlechter, 1918
(D15) Queen's Gambit Declined Slav, 34 moves, 1-0
Rubinstein vs Challengers Decisive Games Schlechter
Rubinstein vs Schlechter, 1918
(A54) Old Indian, Ukrainian Variation, 4.Nf3, 49 moves, 1-0
Rubinstein vs Challengers Decisive Games Schlechter
Schlechter vs Rubinstein, 1918
(C68) Ruy Lopez, Exchange, 38 moves, 0-1
Rubinstein vs Challengers Decisive Games Janowski
Janowski vs Rubinstein, 1906
(D02) Queen's Pawn Game, 41 moves, 0-1
Rubinstein vs Challengers Decisive Games Janowski
Rubinstein vs Janowski, 1906
(D04) Queen's Pawn Game, 29 moves, 0-1
Rubinstein vs Challengers Decisive Games Janowski
Janowski vs Rubinstein, 1907
(C49) Four Knights, 78 moves, 0-1
Rubinstein vs Challengers Decisive Games Janowski
Janowski vs Rubinstein, 1908
(D05) Queen's Pawn Game, 47 moves, 1-0
Rubinstein vs Challengers Decisive Games Janowski
Rubinstein vs Janowski, 1911
(E00) Queen's Pawn Game, 45 moves, 1-0
Rubinstein vs Challengers Decisive Games Janowski
Janowski vs Rubinstein, 1914
(D30) Queen's Gambit Declined, 64 moves, 0-1
Rubinstein vs Challengers Decisive Games Janowski
Rubinstein vs Janowski, 1925
(A50) Queen's Pawn Game, 25 moves, 1-0
Rubinstein vs Challengers Decisive Games Janowski
Rubinstein vs Janowski, 1926
(D26) Queen's Gambit Accepted, 70 moves, 0-1
Rubinstein vs Challengers Decisive Games Bogoljubov
Rubinstein vs Bogoljubov, 1919
(A46) Queen's Pawn Game, 65 moves, 1-0
Rubinstein vs Challengers Decisive Games Bogoljubov
Bogoljubov vs Rubinstein, 1919
(D37) Queen's Gambit Declined, 37 moves, 1-0
Rubinstein vs Challengers Decisive Games Bogoljubov
Bogoljubov vs Rubinstein, 1919
(D30) Queen's Gambit Declined, 40 moves, 1-0
Rubinstein vs Challengers Decisive Games Bogoljubov
Rubinstein vs Bogoljubov, 1919
(A46) Queen's Pawn Game, 30 moves, 0-1
Rubinstein vs Challengers Decisive Games Bogoljubov
Bogoljubov vs Rubinstein, 1919
(C57) Two Knights, 60 moves, 0-1
Rubinstein vs Challengers Decisive Games Bogoljubov
Rubinstein vs Bogoljubov, 1920
(D05) Queen's Pawn Game, 33 moves, 0-1
Rubinstein vs Challengers Decisive Games Bogoljubov
Bogoljubov vs Rubinstein, 1920
(C48) Four Knights, 22 moves, 1-0
Rubinstein vs Challengers Decisive Games Bogoljubov
Rubinstein vs Bogoljubov, 1920
(D05) Queen's Pawn Game, 42 moves, 1-0
Rubinstein vs Challengers Decisive Games Bogoljubov
Rubinstein vs Bogoljubov, 1920
(E18) Queen's Indian, Old Main line, 7.Nc3, 23 moves, 0-1
Rubinstein vs Challengers Decisive Games Bogoljubov
Rubinstein vs Bogoljubov, 1920
(A46) Queen's Pawn Game, 45 moves, 1-0
Rubinstein vs Challengers Decisive Games Bogoljubov
Bogoljubov vs Rubinstein, 1920
(C77) Ruy Lopez, 43 moves, 0-1
Rubinstein vs Challengers Decisive Games Bogoljubov
Rubinstein vs Bogoljubov, 1920
(E20) Nimzo-Indian, 44 moves, 1-0
Rubinstein vs Challengers Decisive Games Bogoljubov
Bogoljubov vs Rubinstein, 1920
(C48) Four Knights, 31 moves, 1-0
Rubinstein vs Challengers Decisive Games Bogoljubov
Bogoljubov vs Rubinstein, 1920
(D30) Queen's Gambit Declined, 49 moves, 0-1
Rubinstein vs Challengers Decisive Games Bogoljubov
Bogoljubov vs Rubinstein, 1920
(C48) Four Knights, 83 moves, 1-0
Rubinstein vs Challengers Decisive Games Bogoljubov
Rubinstein vs Bogoljubov, 1921
(D46) Queen's Gambit Declined Semi-Slav, 17 moves, 1-0
Rubinstein vs Challengers Decisive Games Bogoljubov
Bogoljubov vs Rubinstein, 1921
(C79) Ruy Lopez, Steinitz Defense Deferred, 54 moves, 0-1
Rubinstein vs Challengers Decisive Games Bogoljubov
Bogoljubov vs Rubinstein, 1921
(D37) Queen's Gambit Declined, 26 moves, 1-0
Rubinstein vs Challengers Decisive Games Bogoljubov
Rubinstein vs Bogoljubov, 1921
(D46) Queen's Gambit Declined Semi-Slav, 44 moves, 0-1
Rubinstein vs Challengers Decisive Games Bogoljubov
Rubinstein vs Bogoljubov, 1922
(D10) Queen's Gambit Declined Slav, 47 moves, 1-0
Rubinstein vs Challengers Decisive Games Bogoljubov
Rubinstein vs Bogoljubov, 1922
(D10) Queen's Gambit Declined Slav, 30 moves, 1-0
Rubinstein vs Challengers Decisive Games Bogoljubov
Rubinstein vs Bogoljubov, 1923
(A81) Dutch, 43 moves, 0-1
Rubinstein vs Challengers Decisive Games Bogoljubov
Bogoljubov vs Rubinstein, 1923
(C98) Ruy Lopez, Closed, Chigorin, 55 moves, 1-0
Rubinstein vs Challengers Decisive Games Bogoljubov
Bogoljubov vs Rubinstein, 1928
(D29) Queen's Gambit Accepted, Classical, 34 moves, 1-0
Rubinstein vs Challengers Decisive Games Bogoljubov
Bogoljubov vs Rubinstein, 1930
(D63) Queen's Gambit Declined, Orthodox Defense, 77 moves, 1-0
Rubinstein vs Challengers Decisive Games Bogoljubov
Rubinstein vs Bogoljubov, 1931
(D10) Queen's Gambit Declined Slav, 49 moves, 1-0
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