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Oscar Chajes
O Chajes 
 

Number of games in database: 245
Years covered: 1905 to 1926
Overall record: +92 -101 =50 (48.1%)*
   * Overall winning percentage = (wins+draws/2) / total games in the database. 2 exhibition games, blitz/rapid, odds games, etc. are excluded from this statistic.

MOST PLAYED OPENINGS
With the White pieces:
 Ruy Lopez (23) 
    C83 C84 C66 C91 C65
 Queen's Pawn Game (21) 
    D00 A46 D02 D04 D05
 Four Knights (19) 
    C48 C49 C47
 Ruy Lopez, Closed (10) 
    C84 C91 C87 C90 C86
 Queen's Gambit Declined (5) 
    D37 D30
 French Defense (5) 
    C12 C14 C01 C11
With the Black pieces:
 Ruy Lopez (24) 
    C84 C83 C78 C77 C68
 Queen's Pawn Game (23) 
    A46 D02 A45 D05 E10
 Sicilian (13) 
    B73 B58 B32 B40 B24
 Queen's Gambit Declined (10) 
    D30 D37
 Orthodox Defense (9) 
    D51 D64 D63 D52 D55
 Ruy Lopez, Closed (8) 
    C84
Repertoire Explorer

NOTABLE GAMES: [what is this?]
   O Chajes vs Capablanca, 1916 1-0
   O Chajes vs J Perlis, 1911 1-0
   O Chajes vs Janowski, 1918 1-0
   O Chajes vs Capablanca, 1911 1/2-1/2
   O Chajes vs Tartakower, 1911 1-0
   O Chajes vs W Widmeyer, 1909 1-0
   A Kreymborg vs O Chajes, 1911 0-1
   R B Estera vs O Chajes, 1913 1/2-1/2
   O Chajes vs C Jaffe, 1911 1-0
   V Sournin vs O Chajes, 1923 0-1

NOTABLE TOURNAMENTS: [what is this?]
   Chajes - Janowski (1918)
   New York Masters (1911)
   Quadrangular Masters (1913)
   Rice Memorial (1916)
   New York Masters (1915)
   Rice CC Masters (1913)
   New York (1918)
   Havana (1913)
   American National (1913)
   9th American Chess Congress (1923)
   Karlsbad (1923)
   Karlsbad (1911)

GAME COLLECTIONS: [what is this?]
   0ZeR0's Favorite Games Volume 33 by 0ZeR0
   American Chess Bulletin 1913 by Phony Benoni
   American Chess Bulletin 1918 by Phony Benoni
   Chajes v Janowski Match by Chessical
   New York 1916 (Rice Memorial) by Phony Benoni
   New York 1915 (Masters' Tournament) by Phony Benoni
   New York 1918 by crawfb5
   1911 New York Masters by crawfb5
   Second American National Tournament (NY 1913) by Phony Benoni


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OSCAR CHAJES
(born Dec-14-1873, died Feb-28-1928, 54 years old) Austria (federation/nationality United States of America)

[what is this?]

Oscar Chajes was born in Brody, Galicia, Austria-Hungary, in what is now Ukraine. After emigrating to the United States in 1904 he lived first in Chicago, then settled in New York where he became secretary of the Isaac L. Rice Progressive Chess Club. He was champion at different times of New York State, Illinois and the Western Chess Association. He played in only two major European events, tying for last at both Karlsbad 1911 and Karlsbad 1923.

His best tournament result was probably his third place at New York Masters (1915) after Jose Raul Capablanca and Frank James Marshall. He defeated Capablanca in the second round of the finals - Rice Memorial (1916) . This was the Cuban's last defeat in serious play until New York (1924).

He also defeated Janowski in a match in 1918 - Chajes - Janowski (1918).

After this unexpected victory he challenged Marshall to a match (but they could not agree terms).

Wikipedia article: Oscar Chajes


 page 1 of 10; games 1-25 of 245  PGN Download
Game  ResultMoves YearEvent/LocaleOpening
1. Lasker vs O Chajes 0-1271905Simul, 37bC21 Center Game
2. A W Fox vs O Chajes 1-0651905Brooklyn CC-Chicago CCD55 Queen's Gambit Declined
3. L Uedemann vs O Chajes  1-0451908MatchC43 Petrov, Modern Attack
4. O Chajes vs L Uedemann  0-1421908MatchB56 Sicilian
5. L Uedemann vs O Chajes  1-0741908MatchD43 Queen's Gambit Declined Semi-Slav
6. O Chajes vs L Uedemann  1-0481908MatchC51 Evans Gambit
7. O Chajes vs L Uedemann  0-1491908Illinois S.C.A. chC51 Evans Gambit
8. Marshall vs O Chajes 0-1231909Simul, 18bC21 Center Game
9. O Chajes vs K Erdeky  1-016190910th Western ChampionshipC52 Evans Gambit
10. E F Schrader vs O Chajes  0-149190910th Western ChampionshipC48 Four Knights
11. G H Wolbrecht vs O Chajes  0-130190910th Western ChampionshipD63 Queen's Gambit Declined, Orthodox Defense
12. J F Cross vs O Chajes  0-143190910th Western ChampionshipC42 Petrov Defense
13. M Goldsmith vs O Chajes  0-157190910th Western ChampionshipB32 Sicilian
14. O Chajes vs W Widmeyer  1-026190910th Western ChampionshipC52 Evans Gambit
15. G H Wolbrecht vs O Chajes  1-078191011th Western ChampionshipC30 King's Gambit Declined
16. O Chajes vs G H Wolbrecht  0-142191011th Western ChampionshipC54 Giuoco Piano
17. L Uedemann vs O Chajes  1-039191011th Western ChampionshipD51 Queen's Gambit Declined
18. A Ameisen vs O Chajes  1-0311911KrakowC39 King's Gambit Accepted
19. O Chajes vs E Tenenwurzel  1-0431911New York MastersC49 Four Knights
20. A Kreymborg vs O Chajes 0-1511911New York MastersB73 Sicilian, Dragon, Classical
21. O Chajes vs G Walcott  1-0431911New York MastersD00 Queen's Pawn Game
22. M Smith vs O Chajes  0-1361911New York MastersB58 Sicilian
23. O Chajes vs D G Baird  1-0371911New York MastersC49 Four Knights
24. P Johner vs O Chajes 1-0391911New York MastersD05 Queen's Pawn Game
25. O Chajes vs Capablanca ½-½681911New York MastersD00 Queen's Pawn Game
 page 1 of 10; games 1-25 of 245  PGN Download
  REFINE SEARCH:   White wins (1-0) | Black wins (0-1) | Draws (1/2-1/2) | Chajes wins | Chajes loses  
 

Kibitzer's Corner
Dec-04-04  kostich in time: According to Kmoch, Chajes was born in Vienna, but spent most of his chess career in New York. He had wins over Capablanca and Nimzowitsch, and played in the great Carsbad Tournaments of 1911 and 1923.
Dec-07-05  vampiero: in his only european tournament, he finished last, but his best performance was at new york in 1916 when he got 3rd and gave capablanca his only defeat of 1914-1924
Aug-22-06  Mibelz: Oscar Chajes was born in Brody, Galicia, Austria-Hungary (now Ukraine).
Dec-20-06  biglo: Hans Kmoch told the story that an inebriated Frank Marshall gave a speech at a meeting held to honour Oscar Chajes. On that day at the Marshall club, Marshall concluded his speech by saying: "I think it is good that the man died, because we couldn't pronounce his name anyway."
Nov-08-07  Karpova: He won a Three-cornered masters' tournament in New York, July 1919.

1. Chajes 1.5/2
2. Jaffe 1.0/2
3. Kostic 0.5/2

This tournament took place after the Capablanca-Kostic match and before Kostic went to play at Hastings.

Source:
http://www.chesshistory.com/winter/... (I already submitted all the games there)

Oct-03-08  Karpova: That's the whole story about the pronounciation of Chajes' name told by Hans Kmoch:

<Marshall liked to drink, and although he never got drunk like Alekhine or Stoltz, he did have one too many now and then. On one such occasion, at his own chess club in New York City, he gave a speech at a meeting to honor Oscar Chajes, who had died in 1928. Chajes, who was born under the Austrian monarchy but lived in New York and was a member of the Marshall club, had one of the most often mispronounced names in chess history. It is correctly pronounced KHAH-yes (a form of the Hebrew word for "life"). Réti reported how amusing it was at the Karlsbad tournament of 1923 to hear the wild variety of attempts to get the name right. I had noticed the same thing when Chajes once visited Vienna. It seemed to be especially difficult for English- speakers. On that day at the Marshall club, Marshall concluded his speech by saying: "I think it is good that the man died, because we couldn't pronounce his name anyway.">

Told in "Grandmasters I Have Known" about Marshall - a manuscript which hasn't been published but was owned by Burt Hochberg. That's it: http://www.chesscafe.com/text/kmoch...

Jul-24-11  Phony Benoni: From the <New York Times>, July 21, 1923:

<Fischer is Eliminated>

Oh, wait, that's a tennis story. Just a minute.

<CHAJES HOME FROM ABROAD
Chess Star to Compete in Masters' Tourney Next Month>

"Oscar Chajes of the Rice-Progressive Chess Club of this city and former State champion, arrived yesterday from Bremen on board the George Washington. He at once declared his intention to enter the masters' tournament in connection with the Ninth American Chess Congress at the Hotel Alamac, Lake Hopatcong, August 6-20.

"Chajes had a wonderful experience at the international tournament at Carlsbad. His only complaint was that he was too well treated to be at his best and therefore did not carry off a prize. However, he defeated such famous players as Reti, Niemzowitsch, Spielmann and Wolf. He also drew his game with Rubinstein."

See: Game Collection: Karlsbad 1923. He must have been <very> well treated.

Aug-12-11  waustad: I'd never guessed that his name whould be pronounced in German. I'd assumed Spanish, so the 'j' would be treated quite differently. I probably thought of Spanish because of the Capa game.
Dec-14-11  brankat: One of the very few who defeated Capablanca.
Dec-14-11  TheFocus: For the others who beat Capablanca in tournament or match play:

http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/List_o...

May-31-12  Phony Benoni: The <Brooklyn Daily Eagle> of May 31, 1915, described him as "The Lion of Second Avenue". Could somebody more familiar with the geography of New York City explain if that implies anything special?
May-31-12  Calli: <Phony Benoni> He was long associated with the Rice CC. It was located at Cafe Monopole which, I think, was on 2nd avenue.
May-31-12  Phony Benoni: <Calli> Thanks; that seems simple enough. I think it might have been the Progressive Club who played at the Monopole at the time of the article; Chajes was their secretary. They appear to have merged with the Rice Club after Isaac Rice's death later in the year.
May-31-12
Premium Chessgames Member
  chancho: <Oscar Chajes (pronounced "HA-yes") was born on 14 December 1873. Some sources say he was born in the Ukraine while others list his birth place as Austria.>

<1909, won US Open
1911, 2nd in Chicago
1911, 3rd-4th in New York
1911, 23rd-26th in Karlsbad, but won brilliancy prizes for his victories over Tartakower and Perlis. 1913, 5th-6th in New York
1913, 4th-5th in New York
1913, 4th-5th in Havana
1913, 3rd in New York (Quadrangular)
1913, Lost match to David Janowsky in Havana (+0 −2 =1) 1914, 2nd-3rd in New York
1915, 3rd-4th in New York
1916, 3rd in New York (Rice Memorial
1917, Won New York State Championship
1918, 2nd, Rye Beach, N.Y.
1918, 4th in Manhattan Chess Club Championship
1918, Defeated David Janowsky in a match in New York (+7 −5 =10). 1919, 3rd in Troy, N.Y.
1920, Won New York
1920, 1st-2nd in New York
1923, 17th-18th in Karlovy Vary
1923, 7th-8th in Lake Hopatcong, New Jersey (9th American Chess Congress) 1923/24, won Manhattan Chess Club Championship
1926, 11th in Chicago
1926, 4th in New York.>

http://tartajubow.blogspot.com/2011...

May-31-12  Calli: <Phony Benoni> Yes, the Rice Progressive CC. A tidbit - starting her singing career at the Cafe Monopole about that time was none other than Sophie Tucker. Imagine Oscar coming down from the club rooms into the cafe and saying "Soph, sing me that 'Some of These Days' song. Could've happened!
Nov-05-14  ljfyffe: "Oscar Chajes was born on December 14, 1873, in Lwow, Glacia, in what was referred to as Austrian Poland .....As a young man he studied medicine at the University of Vienna, near the home of his uncle, Rabbi Chajes. In 1904, the then thirty-year-old Charjes emigrated to the United States, where in 1910 he would take United States citizenship." John Hilbert, Writings In Chess History, 2012.
Jul-20-15
Premium Chessgames Member
  Chessical: <Demise of Oscar Chajes.>

Oscar Chajes, for many years financial secretary of the I. L. Rice Progressive Chess Club of this city, of which he has held the championship in addition to being champion at different times of New York State, Illinois and the Western Chess Association, died early Tuesday at Bellevue Hospital in his 55th year.

He had only recently been convalescing from an illness and was found Monday unconscious in his room at 15 E.21st st., Manhattan. He died without regaining consciousness. The burial took place yesterday afternoon from the Alport Funeral Chapel, 216 Lenox Ave., Manhattan, with representatives of the leading chess clubs in attendance. The internment was in the plot of the Abraham Goldfader Mutual Benefit Association at the Riverside Cemetery, Rochelle Park, N. J.

Chajes was born in the city of Brody, Galicia, Austrian Poland, but had been a resident of this country since 1904 and a citizen since 1910. Abroad he studied medicine at the University of Vienna, where an uncle of his, Rabbi Chajes, died recently. He won the Western championship in 1909, and he was a participant in the international tournaments at Carlsbad in 1911 and 1923. When champion in the Manhattan Chess Club in 1918, Chajes defeated David Janowski in a match by 7 to 3, with 10 draws. Chajes was the only one of 14 competitors able to win a game from Jose R. Capablanca in the Rice-Memorial Tournament in 1916, in which he won third prize.

<Source: The Brookyln Daily Eagle, March 1st 1928, section A7.>

Jan-20-16  thegoodanarchist: <Ch-ch-ch-ch-chajes
(Turn and face the strange)
Ch-ch-chajes
Don't want to be a richer man
Ch-ch-ch-ch-chajes
(Turn and face the strange)
Ch-ch-chajes
Just gonna have to be a different man
Time may change me
But I can't trace time

RIP David Bowie

Feb-20-16  Erkostic: From the "Chicago Daily News' 17 Jan. 1913 an Oscar Chajes win over Abraham Kupchik.

[Event "Progressive Chess Club Championship"]
[Site "New York City"]
[Date "1913.01.??"]
[Round "-"]
[White "Oscar Chajes"]
[Black "Abraham Kupchik"]
[Result "1-0"]

1.e4 e5 2.d4 exd4 3.Qxd4 Nc6 4.Qe3 Nf6 5.Bd2 b6 6.Nc3 Bc5 7.Qg3 d6 8.O-O-O O-O 9.Bg5 Kh8 10.Nf3 Bd7 11.Qh4 Re8 12.Bc4 Kg8 13.Nd5 Rxe4 14.Nxf6+ gxf6 15.Qxe4 fxg5 16.Rd5 h6 17.Rxc5 bxc5 18.Qg6+ Kh8 19.Qxh6+ Kg8 20.Nxg5 Ne5 21.Bxf7+ (Chicago Daily ♘ews; 17 Jan. 1913) 1-0

Dec-14-16  TheFocus: Happy birthday, Oscar Chajes.
Feb-27-17
Premium Chessgames Member
  MissScarlett: #OscarsSoJewish
Feb-22-19
Premium Chessgames Member
  Telemus: Reading <ljfyffe>'s quote I wonder why Hilbert mentions Lwow as Chajes's birthplace. https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Lviv is 90 km away of https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Brody, which is usually mentioned (except of the very first comment above).

The Chajes family is a very old one with several famous members (many rabbis, a composer, several scholars etc). This one is from Brody: https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Zwi_P.... Judging from the year of birth he could be a brother or cousin.

Feb-25-19
Premium Chessgames Member
  Telemus: This is a position from Martin Desire Hago vs Chajes after 6.. ♘xh2:


click for larger view

That's definitely more entertaining than correct, but nevertheless Chajes clinched the full point after 60 moves. Game submitted.

Oct-17-22  BarakSaltz: I think Chajes in Yiddish or in the Ashkenazi pronunciation of Hebrew is "animals"/"beasts"/"creatures".

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