The best way to begin the Uncrowned Champions series is with the great Akiba Rubinstein. Whatever I do, I like to build my work on logical foundations, and therefore Akiba must be presented first. Why? Quite simply, there has never been a player in chess history who cared so persistently and profoundly about logic in chess.
Moreover, Akiba did not merely use logic to find good moves - he created chess logic itself. How? You have surely heard of centralizing and harmonizing the pieces as a fundamental strategic principle. Akiba was the first to apply this consistently. You have also heard that pawn action should only be undertaken once the pieces are optimally placed - again, Akiba was the pioneer. And what about the famous principle of “do not rush”? Once more, Akiba was the first to embody it fully.
As we can clearly see, we are fully justified in saying that Akiba Rubinstein was the first complete chess player - the first to master chess logic in its entirety. He was the first to play clear, plain, methodical chess. No unnecessary extravagance, no reckless risk-taking, no bluffs, no wild sacrifices - none of that. Only sound, logical moves, combined with a persistent striving for centralization and harmony.
Such a chess maestro must be your number-one mentor - especially if you have not yet reached master level. Everything starts with him. Your chess education, your journey from club or café player to master, should begin with Rubinstein. He is the leading mentor for many phases of the game, especially the middlegame and the endgame.
Every proper chess education should begin with the endgame, and therefore our first chapter is devoted to Rubinstein’s endgame masterpieces. Do not worry, however - most of the games presented in this book are also excellent tools for learning endgames. The next chapter focuses on centralization, where you will learn to appreciate its immense benefits. This is followed by a chapter on various strategic concepts, helping you become familiar with the foundations presented throughout the book.
Chapters on activity and harmony, and finally on logic and psychology, conclude the work. The emphasis throughout is on synthesizing these core concepts, without ever losing sight of activity, harmony, and logic. In the final section, psychological aspects are introduced to illustrate the real struggle of chess - the battle between two human beings, with emotions fully involved.
The 64 games presented here are my personal selection, chosen for their logic, instructive value, and beauty as I perceive it. I sincerely hope you will enjoy the material and develop your own appreciation and love for Akiba Rubinstein and his style. My lifelong mentor should become yours as well.
I truly believe that adopting his ideas, principles, and concepts is essential for reaching true master level. And if you are already a master, I am confident this book will still broaden your horizons and teach you many new and important things. Above all, I hope you will fall in love with Akiba’s style and discover how natural and effective it is to apply his concepts in your own games.
IM Boroljub Zlatanović
