Top 50 Chess Players: Reuben Fine
Coming in at the 28th spot on our list of the Top 50 Chess Players of all time is Reuben Fine!
The Basics of Reuben Fine
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Full Name: Reuben C. Fine
Life: October 11, 1914 (NYC, USA) – March 26, 1993 (NYC, USA)
Highest Fide Rating: N/A (Played before the incorporation of the Elo system)
The Story of Reuben Fine
Reuben Fine, an American chess Grandmaster, was renowned for his deep understanding of the game. He started playing chess at an early age, quickly rising through the ranks to earn the title of International Master by age 20.
His most notable achievement was in the AVRO tournament of 1938, where he tied for first place with Paul Keres. In one of the strongest tournaments ever held, Fine finished ahead of top players such as the current world champion Alexander Alekhine, former world champions Capablanca and Euwe, and future world champion Mikhail Botvinnik. Despite being considered one of the strongest players of his time, he never played in a formal match for the World Chess Championship. He declined an invitation to participate in the tournament after the death of the then-champion Alekhine in 1946, citing a rigorous academic schedule. However, it is speculated that he did not want to participate due to surmised collusion among Soviet players.
Fine’s understanding of the game was remarkable and he demonstrated this in his chess annotations and commentaries which are still widely read and studied today. He also authored several chess books, including a classic work on chess psychology, which provides insight into the mental aspect of the game. Fine helped to popularize the game by writing and promoting it.
Despite retiring from competitive chess in the early-50s to focus on his career in psychology, Fine’s contributions to the game of chess will always be remembered. He passed away on March 26, 1993, but his legacy in the chess world continues to live on.
The Extras of Reuben Fine
Funny Anecdote
Reuben Fine was commentating for a major chess match when an argument arose out about how much advantage one player had being a pawn up. Fine boldly proclaimed “I’d rather have a pawn than a finger.”
Cool Fact
Fine was among a small group of players who had the chance to play against both the legendary chess players Jose Raul Capablanca and Bobby Fischer. He faced Capablanca in the 1930s and Fischer in the 1960s. This gave Fine a unique perspective on the evolution of chess over a span of several decades.
You play like Reuben Fine if
- You prioritize positional play,
- You have a deep understanding of endgame strategies
- Small advantages turn into wins through your precise piece technique
Famous Game by Reuben Fine
In the 1938 ARVO tournament Reuben Fine defeated future world champion Mikhail Botvinnik through superb positional play (see notes below.)
Coming next time on our list of the Top 50 Chess Players of all time is Paul Morphy!
Featured image is in public domain
