Georg Rotlewi
“A brilliant career cut tragically short”
His strong showing at Carlsbad 1911 — and as White in 'Rubinstein's Immortal'
Gersz (Georg) Rotlewi (1889 – 1920) was a Polish chess master of Jewish origin, born in Łódź, then part of the Russian Empire. A pupil and frequent sparring partner of Akiba Rubinstein, he showed exceptional talent from an early age and rose quickly through the ranks of Polish and Russian chess.
He took second place, behind the young Alexander Alekhine, at the All-Russian Amateur tournament in Saint Petersburg in 1909, then won the Hamburg tournament of 1910, earning the master title and qualification for the great international tournament at Carlsbad in 1911.
Carlsbad 1911 was the high point of his brief career. Rotlewi finished fourth, ahead of established stars such as Frank Marshall, Aron Nimzowitsch, Savielly Tartakower, Milan Vidmar, Alexander Alekhine and Rudolf Spielmann — a remarkable result for so young a player.
Soon afterward a nervous disorder forced him to give up serious chess, and he later contracted tuberculosis. He died in Łódź in 1920, only around thirty-one years old, his enormous promise unfulfilled.
Today Rotlewi is remembered chiefly as the opponent on the losing side of one of the most beautiful games ever played: Rubinstein's combination against him in Łódź in 1907 is known the world over as 'Rubinstein's Immortal'.
Playing style
A gifted, sharp attacking player of the classical school, comfortable in open positions — though it was his ill fortune to face one of the greatest combinations in chess history.
Signature openings
Rivalries & key opponents
- Akiba Rubinstein
Career highlights
- 2nd place, All-Russian Amateur tournament, Saint Petersburg (1909)
- Won the Hamburg tournament (1910), earning the master title
- 4th place at Carlsbad 1911, ahead of Marshall, Nimzowitsch, Alekhine and Tartakower
- White in 'Rubinstein's Immortal' (Rotlewi–Rubinstein, Łódź 1907)
Famous games on BetterChess
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Biographical summary compiled by BetterChess. BetterChess is a practice tool — we make no guarantee you'll reach 1800 or any rating.