Lasker’s Common Sense in Chess

I picked up this, my 3rd copy, I was not going to leave on a shelf for 50p.


It is one of those books everyone claims to have read but very few ever have.
Like most people I have flicked though it memorising a quote here and there
to recite parrot fashion giving the impression I’ve read it and appear to be smart.

This need to appear smarter than what we are is a chess players curse. When
asked about our rating we give it but hastily add it really should higher and
whoever you are talking to agrees, as they too think their rating should higher.


Lasker (the good one) gave a series of 12 lectures in the spring of 1895 and this book
is a transcript of those lectures. Mentioning the season is apt because on page 61 we see;


I love that bit. I can imagine the lecture ending with three cheers for Lasker followed by
a lengthy applause and the crowd departing wishing each other a very ‘Happy Easter’

On the same page, just before the above message we read this accepted pearl of wisdom.
In close positions as Black you must never play block your c-pawn by playing Nc6 unless
you intend to play e5 on the very next move. You should play c5 before playing Nc6.

Good advice, not set in stone, there are, as with every rule of thumb, exceptions.
The same with the most often recited of the Lasker ‘Common Sense’ quotes.


1. Do not move any pawn in the opening except your e-pawn or your d-pawn.

2. Do not move a piece twice in the opening, put it at once on the right square
(Lasker then adds c3, f3, c6, and f6 are, in experience, the best squares for Knights.)

3. Bring your Knights out before developing in particular the c1 and c8 Bishops.

4. Do not pin an f3 or f6 Knight with a Bishop if you opponent has not castled.

And that is it. See how many rules of thumb you can break in your next games.


At the time of posting The Chess Olympiad has just finished. Some positions to ponder.

R. Antoniou (Cyprus) - K. Couchman (Guyana), Samarkand Olympiad 2026


White to play, mate in three with the g2 pawn.

Reveal Hidden Content

L. Ranindu (Sri Lanka) - B. Resurrecion (Papua N. G.) Samarkand Olympiad 2026


White to play, Mate in four moves.

Reveal Hidden Content

E. Amar (Norway) - A. Treminio (Nicaragua) Samarkand Olympiad .2026


White to play and mate in three moves. Not four or five moves, three moves.

Reveal Hidden Content


Let’s go back to Lasker and his ‘Common Sense’ book because he seems to
miss a good move when discussing the very next game after giving us his
‘Rules of Thumb’ and before sending everyone off on their Easter Holidays.

After the moves 1. e4 e5 2. Nf3 Nc6 3. Bb5 Nf6 4. O-O


Here Lasker bends one of his rules by suggesting it is OK to play 4...Nxe4
adding it is important not to hang onto the pawn, let White waste time in
winning back the pawn and Black can put that time gained to good use.

Fair enough, the rules are elastic and this move is accept theory and can
lead to the dreaded Berlin Wall. However, Lasker, possibly for instructive
purposes, then gives a dodgy variation, but players have been following it!

First an RHP game to get us to the critical position under discussion.

Gatsu78 - hklee RHP 2009


Another RHP game to get us to position where Lasker fails to mention a god move.

AllenD - Mforg RHP 2009



Odd lasker never mentions 8...Nbd4. There is a game with it played in 1893
which was before the ‘Common Sense’ lectures. Since 1895 quite a few OTB
and online games, as above, have followed Lasker till Black plays 8...Nbd4.

Now we look at my catch them cold idea. I did run it through my computer
to make sure it was not just a massive blunder. From now on we must forget
Lasker’s ‘ Common Sense in Chess.’ here is ‘Uncommon Sense in Chess’
inspired by White’s lead in development and the chance to unnerve Black.



The thread accompanying this blog is Thread 206239