Player Profile: Samuel Reshevsky

Full Name: Samuel Herman Reshevsky

Peak FIDE Rating: 2565 (achieved in July 1972)

Highest Ranking: World No. 25 (July 1972)

Active From: 1922-1992

Federation:  Poland: 1922-1924 and United States: 1924-1992

Player’s Description

Samuel Reshevsky was born on November 26, 1911, in Ozorków, Poland, to a Jewish family. He was a renowned  player of his time. He played for nearly 50 years. Reshevsky was awarded the official title of International Grandmaster in 1950, the year in which the title was first introduced by FIDE.

Reshevsky started playing chess from the age of 4 years. His father taught him the basics of chess. By the time he was 8 he started playing international matches defeating masters and it is where he gain his nickname “boy wonder of chess”

In 1920, his family moved to the United States to support his chess. During 1924 to 1931 he took a break from competitions to complete his education. He graduated from the University of Chicago in 1934 with a degree in accounting. And afterwards worked professionally as an accountant throughout his life and never becoming a full-time chess professional.

Reshevsky died on April 4, 1992, in New York City at the age of 80 due to heart attack. His last known tournament appearances were in Moscow, where he participated in both the Moscow Veterans and Moscow Rapid events. One of his final games was a win against former World Champion Vasily Smyslov, played in the Moscow Veterans tournament. 

He was best known for his deep understanding of closed positions and strategic maneuvering. His slow, deliberate style often unsettled opponents and forced them into mistakes. Reshevsky’s blend of tenacity, intellect, and adaptability made him a formidable opponent across generations.

Career Status

• Total Games: Between 1,356 and 1,729

• Wins: 520–596 

• Draws: 640–687 

• Losses: 196–224 

World Championship 

• 1948 World Championship Tournament: Tied for 3rd place

• 1953 Candidates Tournament (Zurich): Tied for 2nd place

• 1968 Candidates Matches: Reached the quarterfinals

National Championships

• U.S. Champion 8 times: 1936, 1938, 1940, 1941, 1942, 1946, 1957, and 1969 

Olympiad & Team Medals

Represented The United States in eight Chess Olympiads between 1937 and 1974, and during that time the U.S. team win two team medals:

• Silver Medal – 1950, Dubrovnik Olympiad

• Bronze Medal – 1974, Nice Olympiad

Notable Tournament Wins

• Syracuse 1934

• Margate 1935

• Pan-American Championship 1945

3 Most Memorable Wins

• Samuel Reshevsky and Vasily Smyslov (Moscow Veterans tournament 1991) 

Reshevsky, playing Black, responded with deep preparation and solid development, neutralizing White’s early initiative. Reshevsky coordinated his rooks and bishop beautifully. At the end he executed a graceful king march, walking his monarch up the board to support passed pawns and control key squares.

• Reshevsky vs. José Raúl Capablanca – Margate 1935

Reshevsky played 4.Bg5, entering a sharp line. He later sacrificed a pawn to open lines and seize the initiative. His central control and piece activity overwhelmed Capablanca’s defenses. The final phase featured a brilliant rook lift and kingside attack, forcing Capablanca into a passive, losing position.

• Samuel Reshevsky and Max Euwe 

Euwe, as White, opted for a solid setup, while Reshevsky countered with the Rubinstein Variation, aiming for a flexible and resilient structure. Reshevsky’s central pawn breaks and timely exchanges helped him equalize and gradually seize the initiative. A key moment came when Reshevsky’s knight and rook coordination began to pressure Euwe’s queenside, forcing concessions. After 57 moves of high-level play, the game ended in a draw.