coregames
Posts: 470
Joined: 8/12/2004 Status: offline
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quote:
ORIGINAL: Shannon V. OKeets I am guessing here but I suspect that Lasker is the famous chess player and he is talking about himself making a brilliant move in chess (creative combination) which reveals his opponent's error in believing (presumption) that he (Lasker) had previously made an unsound move (a lie). Emmanuel Lasker was chess champion of the world longer than any other player in history (28 years) and is widely thought to be the first world champion who used what he knew of his opponent's tendencies when formulating a plan of action over the board. He was famous for fighting on and salvaging a losing position. Lasker remained a world-class player well into his sixties, winning and placing in major events against the strongest players in the world. He was also one of the world's strongest players of both dominoes and bridge, and was an early proponent of 'go' in the west. All of this while having the truer passions of math and philosophy, in which he accomplished some things of note that he is seldom recognized for, due to his legendary status in the chess community. I don't believe he was talking merely about himself in the quote you mention. His 'Manual of Chess' attempts to be artistic in its language, as well as practical in its advice. I think the quote can be applied to all games, and in fact, to life in general. Many logically flawed arguments are accepted because they seem to make sense, but under scrutiny, their less obvious weak points can be discovered and exposed. This process is often more creative than it is rigorous. I like it when fallacies aren't allowed to stand as truth, and Lasker's faith in the power of creativity to expose them (naive though it might be) appeals to my sensibilities. And to Neilster, I am fond of Capablanca's games. If he had given Lasker a rematch (when the latter wasn't ill and was in practice), then perhaps he would have been deserving of a rematch with Alekhine when his turn came.
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"The creative combination lays bare the presumption of a lie." -- Lasker Keith Henderson
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