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MCA History - Famous Merseyside Players
Amos Burn
Amos Burn (1848 - 1925) was one of
the world's top ten players at
the end of the 19th century.
Born in Hull,
he learned chess
aged 16, came to London at the
age of 21, and rapidly
established himself as a leading
English player. He was a member
of the
Liverpool Chess club from
1867 until his death, serving as
its president for many years.
For a time he also lived in
Hoylake, Wirral.
A pupil of Steinitz, he
developed a similar style; both
he and his master were among the
world's best six defensive
players, according to
Nimzovitsch. Not wishing to
become yet another impoverished
professional, Burn decided to
put his work (first a cotton
broker then a sugar broker)
before his chess, and he
remained an amateur. He made
several long visits to America,
and was often out of practice
when he played serious chess.
Until his thirty-eighth year he
played infrequently and only in
national events, always taking
first or second prize. From 1886
to 1889 he played more often. In
1886 he drew matches with Bird
(+9 -9) and Mackenzie (+4=2-4);
at London 1887 he achieved his
best tournament result up to
this time, first prize (+8- 1)
equal with Gunsberg (a play-off
was drawn + 1 =3- 1); and at
Breslau 1889 he took second
place after Tarrasch ahead of Gunsberg. After an isolated
appearance at Hastings 1895 he
entered another spell of chess
activity, 1897-1901. The best
achievement of his career was at
Cologne 1898, first prize (+ 9 =
5 - 1) ahead of Charousek,
Chigorin, Steinitz, Schlechter,
and Janowski. At Munich 1900 he
came fourth (+9=3-3). His last
seven international tournaments
began with Ostend 1905 and ended
with Breslau 1912.
A comparative success, in view
of his age, was his fourth prize
shared with Bernstein and
Teichmann after Schlechter,
Maroczy, and Rubinstein at
Ostend 1906; 36 players competed
in this five-stage event, 30
games in all for those who
completed the course. Retired
from both business and play he
made his home in London and
edited the chess column of The
Field from 1913 until his death.
A shy and retiring man, a loyal
companion to those who came to
know him, he freely gave advice
to young and aspiring players.
Burn had a plus
record against
Alekhine, beating him in
Karlsbad 1911. Burn
is the eponym of the Burn Variation of the
French Defence
(1.e4 e6 2.d4 d5 3.Nc3 Nf6 4.Bg5 dxe4). He
was not the first to play the line
(according to Forster's biography, he first
adopted it against Charles D. Locock at
Bradford 1888, which postdates Anderssen-Clerc,
Paris 1878, for example), but he was the
first prominent player to do so with any
frequency.
Read more about Burn and others
at the
Museum of Liverpool Life
411 Burn games in
PGN
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