Lasker Simul Special - Definition & Context

Lasker Simul Special

Definition

“Lasker Simul Special” is an informal nickname given by chess writers and coaches to a family of rapid tactical traps that the second World Champion, Emanuel Lasker (1868-1941), loved to spring during his famous simultaneous exhibitions. The phrase usually refers to the most celebrated of these ambushes—the so-called Lasker Trap in the Albin Counter-Gambit—but by extension it is applied to any opening trick deliberately chosen by a master in a simul to harvest quick points, conserve energy, and impress the gallery.

Historical Context

• Lasker gave hundreds of simuls on his world tours. Facing 20–40 opponents at once, he sought openings that

• promised tactical chances even against cautious play,
• could be repeated on many boards without deep calculation, and
• encouraged opponents to fall into the same mistake.

The line 1.d4 d5 2.c4 e5 3.dxe5 d4 — the Albin Counter-Gambit — fulfilled these criteria so well that it became jokingly known as his “simul special.”

The Core Trap (Albin Counter-Gambit)

The quintessential Lasker Simul Special arises after the natural but careless 4.e3? by White:

After 4…Bb4+ 5.Bd2 dxe3! 6.Bxb4 exf2+ 7.Ke2 fxg1=Q Black has already queened a pawn and stands objectively winning. Lasker is said to have scored ten victories with the same sequence in a single New York simul (1896), prompting spectators to dub the trick the “Lasker Simul Special.”

Usage in Modern Chess

• Coaches invoke the term when demonstrating how a prepared tactical idea can be recycled against multiple inexperienced opponents.
• Club players sometimes refer to any “one-shot” opening swindle in a simultaneous exhibition as a Lasker Simul Special, even if it is not the Albin Counter-Gambit.
• In commentary you might hear: “He’s going for a Lasker Simul Special—let’s see if the kids spot the trick!”

Strategic Significance

Choosing an opening trap in a simul serves several practical purposes:

1. Time Management. Quick wins free the exhibitor to spend more time on tougher boards.
2. Psychological Edge. Spectacular tactics boost morale and intimidate the remaining field.
3. Energy Conservation. Simplifying into a clearly won ending or delivering an early mate reduces mental fatigue over dozens of games.

Illustrative Game

Emanuel Lasker – Multiple Opponents (Simultaneous Exhibition, Philadelphia 1896) — one of several boards finishing in under twenty moves:

Lasker (Black) already had a decisive material advantage on move 13 and soon converted.

Interesting Facts & Anecdotes

• Lasker reputedly memorized the trap’s critical position and checked each board for the blunder square (the pawn on e3). When he saw it, he would instantly bang out …Bb4+, drawing applause.
• The master’s delight in such set-ups inspired later champions; José Raúl Capablanca prepared his own “simul specials,” notably the early queen sortie 1.e4 c5 2.Nf3 d6 3.d4 cxd4 4.Qxd4!? in junior exhibitions.
• Today’s grandmasters still adopt the tactic-heavy Albin Counter-Gambit in clock-simuls on streaming platforms, hoping for a vintage Lasker moment.

Take-Away Lesson

A Lasker Simul Special is less about the specific moves and more about the principle: in a multi-board setting, pick openings that invite common mistakes, lead to forcing tactics, and can be executed with minimal effort. Master those ideas, and like Lasker you can amaze an audience—one blunder at a time.