Three problems with black pieces shown on board., Digital ID 426943, New York Public LibraryCare for a game of chess? Here are some hidden gems you'll find in our collection.

Digital Gallery

J.R. Capablanca. (ca. 1921-1929)
Considered by most experts to be one of the strongest players of all time. He was often referred as the Chess Machine.

Max Euwe (1901-1981)
Max Euwe was the Fifth World Chess Champion, mathematician, author and former FIDE president.

Emanuel Lasker (1868-1941)
Mathematician, Philosopher, Lasker held the Chess crown for 27 years, until he met the Chess Machine, Capablanca.

Miss Price. (1872-1956)
One of my favorites, because, it leaves you thinking, who the heck is this? Answer: Miss Edith Charlotte Price, Five-time British Ladies Champion (1922, 1923, 1924, 1928, 1948).

Paul Charles Morphy: (1837-1884) Considered by many to be the greatest natural chess talent of all-time. One of my personal favorite players.

Microfilm

Chess Match in America Between W. Steinitz and E. Lasker. [March 15th-May 3rd 1894] [Microform]

Books

The Community of the Future by Emanuel Lasker.

The exploits and triumphs, in Europe, of Paul Morphy, the chess champion; including an historical account of clubs, biographical sketches of famous players, and various information and anecdotes relating to the noble game of chess. By Paul Morphy's late secretary. Frederick Milnes Edge. Available online via HathiTrust.

Ancient Board Games in Perspective: papers from the 1990 British Museum colloquium, with additional contributions. London: British Museum Press, c2007.

William Steinitz, 1836-1900. The games in the Steinitz-Lasker championship match with copious notes and critical remarks by Gunsberg, Hoffer, Lasker ... Steinitz ... together with biographical sketches of the two players; comp. and arranged by J. G. Cunningham. Imprint Leeds, Whitehead and Miller, printers, 1894.

Archival materials

Fred Snitzer chess collection, 1910-1951 View finding aid (53.32 KB PDF)

G.A. Pfeiffer chess collection, 1837-1933 View finding aid (91.73 KB PDF)

Additional books and materials available for check out

• For Children and Teens 
• Chess fiction 
• Handbooks
• Collections of games

See also: "Start a New Hobby with the Help From NYPL's Periodical Collections!"