4th and 5th Congress of the German Chess Federation
The Fourth and Fifth Congress of the German Chess Federation
1885 / 1887
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| Title | The Fourth and Fifth Congress of the German Chess Federation |
|---|---|
| Subtitle | Hamburg 1885 and Frankfurt a.M. 1887 |
| Editors | Curt von Bardeleben, Hermann von Gottschall, Jacques Mieses, Johannes Minckwitz et al. |
| Foreword | Alfred Diel (Reprint) |
| Publisher | Edition Olms (Reprint) Original: Veit & Comp., Leipzig |
| Original | 1886 / 1889 |
| Pages | 556 pages total |
| ISBN | 3-283-00121-9 |
About the Content
Official tournament book of both congresses with all games and detailed annotations. The cover photo shows Curt von Bardeleben (1861–1924), one of the leading German chess masters and co-editor of the work.
4th Congress – Hamburg 1885
Final standings Master Tournament:
- Isidor Gunsberg
- Siegbert Tarrasch, Joseph Blackburne, James Mason, Berthold Englisch, Max Weiss (tied)
- George Henry Mackenzie
5th Congress – Frankfurt a.M. 1887
Final standings Master Tournament:
- George Henry Mackenzie
- Joseph Blackburne, Max Weiss (tied)
- Curt von Bardeleben
According to Chessmetrics, the strongest tournament between 1885 and 1895!
Historical Context
The congresses took place during the so-called Gründerzeit (Founders' Era) – a period of economic boom after 1880, during which German chess also prospered. The strong economy enabled the organization of major international tournaments.
The German Chess Federation, founded in 1877, organized these congresses as the most important German chess events. The tournament books document not only the games but also the general assemblies and activities of the federation.