On the 120th birthday of Isaac Kashdan

Today would have been the 120th birthday of the American chess grandmaster, Isaac Kashdan. In the 1930s, he was widely regarded as one of the world's best players, almost on a par with Alekhine and Capablanca. He later made a name for himself as an author, referee and organiser.

Photo: Alexander Alekhine (left) and Isaac Kashdan playing blitz chess. José Araiza, Arthur Dake, Reuben Fine and Sammy Reshevsky in Pasadena in 1932.

After 1.d4 Nf6 2.c4 Nc6, Black takes the initiative, luring White into overextending their central pawns, only to dismantle them with precise counterplay. The Tango is not just an opening – it’s a weapon, designed for players who want to win as Black.

Among the strong U.S. chess players who enjoyed success in the first half of the 20th century — that is, before the Second World War — the names best known outside the United States are Frank Marshall, Reuben Fine and Samuel Reshevsky. Isaac Kashdan is less widely known, although in the early 1930s he was among the very best players in the world.

Jeff Sonas calculated a historical Elo rating of 2742 for Kashdan at his peak (in March 1932), placing him roughly on the same level as Alexander Alekhine and José Raúl Capablanca. Isaac Kashdan was born on 19 November 1905 in New York into a Jewish family. Today marks the 120th anniversary of his birth. Kashdan attended New York College and was a member of several New York chess clubs.

Isaac Kashdan (November 19, 1905, in New York City – February 20, 1985, in Los Angeles) was an American chess grandmaster and chess writer. He was twice U.S. Open champion (1938, 1947). He played five times for the United States in chess Olympiads, winning a total of nine medals, and his Olympiad record is the all-time best among American players.

Born Nov. 19, 1905, in New York City, Kashdan was educated in New York public schools and attended City College of New York. He worked for a time for a New York investment firm before coming to Los Angeles in 1948 and was named chess editor of The Times in 1955. Kashdan was also active in the Jewish Federation Council of Los Angeles, serving as administrative officer from 1949 to 1967.

Author’s note: The text preserves Kashdan’s prominence in the early 1930s, his peak rating, and his later roles in chess literature and administration, while noting his place among prewar American players and his lasting legacy in the sport.

Author’s summary: Isaac Kashdan was a top-tier American grandmaster of the early 20th century, renowned for his peak around 1932, contributions as a writer and organizer, and a career spanning elite competition and chronicling chess history [120th birthday summary].

Chess News | ChessBase — 2025-11-20

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