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Carlos Torre Repetto facts for kids

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Carlos Jesús Torre Repetto (29 November 1904 – 19 March 1978) was a famous chess player from Mexico. He was the first Mexican to earn the top title in chess, called "Grandmaster," in 1977.

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Carlos Torre Repetto
Carlostorrerepetto.jpg
Torre at the Moscow 1925 tournament
Full name Carlos Jesús Torre Repetto
Country Mexico
Born (1904-11-29)29 November 1904
Mérida, Yucatán
Died 19 March 1978(1978-03-19) (aged 73)
Mérida, Yucatán
Title Grandmaster (1977)

About Carlos Torre Repetto

Carlos was born in Mérida, Yucatán, Mexico. He grew up in New Orleans, USA. There, he learned a lot about chess from his teacher, Edwin Ziegler Adams. Carlos once shared a very clever chess move sequence. He said his teacher, Adams, had played it. Carlos likely did this to honor his teacher.

Carlos became well-known at a big chess tournament in New York in 1924. He amazed everyone with his fast playing and smart thinking. After traveling around Europe, he was ranked among the top chess players in the world. He officially received the Grandmaster title in 1977.

Sadly, Carlos's chess career ended early. He faced health challenges in 1926. He spent much of his later life in the hospital. Even many years later, he could still play chess very well.

Top Chess Results

Carlos Torre won the Louisiana state championship in New Orleans in 1923. He started to become famous in the chess world in 1924.

He won the Western Open tournament in Detroit in 1924. He also won a tournament in Rochester, New York that same year. In another New York tournament in 1924, he finished in third place.

In 1925, Carlos played in Europe for the first time. These tournaments had many strong and experienced players. He took tenth place in Baden-Baden. He tied for third place in Marienbad. In Moscow in 1925, he tied for fifth place. He also tied for second place in Leningrad. In 1926, he tied for second place in Chicago. He won a tournament in Mexico City in 1926.

Carlos Torre's Chess Legacy

This section uses algebraic notation to describe chess moves.

A chess opening is named after him. It is called the Torre Attack. This opening starts with the moves: 1.d4 Nf6 2.Nf3 e6 3.Bg5.

Carlos also introduced a new chess defense. It is called the Mexican Defence. He used it in a game against Fritz Sämisch in 1925. This defense starts with: 1.d4 Nf6 2.c4 Nc6.

A special chess tournament is held every year in his honor. It is called the Carlos Torre Repetto Memorial. It has been held in his hometown since 1987.

The Famous "Windmill" Game

Torre vs. Lasker, Moscow 1925
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7 {{{square}}} black pawn {{{square}}} black bishop {{{square}}} black king {{{square}}} black king {{{square}}} black king {{{square}}} black pawn {{{square}}} black pawn {{{square}}} black king 7
6 {{{square}}} black king {{{square}}} black king {{{square}}} black king {{{square}}} black pawn {{{square}}} black pawn {{{square}}} black king {{{square}}} black king {{{square}}} black pawn 6
5 {{{square}}} black king {{{square}}} black queen {{{square}}} black king {{{square}}} black king {{{square}}} black king {{{square}}} black king {{{square}}} white bishop {{{square}}} white queen 5
4 {{{square}}} black king {{{square}}} white pawn {{{square}}} black king {{{square}}} white pawn {{{square}}} black king {{{square}}} black king {{{square}}} black king {{{square}}} black king 4
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Position after 24...Qb5

In the Moscow 1925 chess tournament, Carlos Torre played against a former world champion, Emanuel Lasker. Carlos won this game with a very famous move sequence. It is known as "The Windmill".

Here are the moves from that amazing game:

Torre vs. E. Lasker
1.d4 Nf6 2.Nf3 e6 3.Bg5 c5 4.e3 cxd4 5.exd4 Be7 6.Nbd2 d6 7.c3 Nbd7 8.Bd3 b6 9.Nc4 Bb7 10.Qe2 Qc7 11.0-0 0-0 12.Rfe1 Rfe8 13.Rad1 Nf8 14.Bc1 Nd5 15.Ng5 b5 16.Na3 b4 17.cxb4 Nxb4 18.Qh5 Bxg5 19.Bxg5 Nxd3 20.Rxd3 Qa5 21.b4! Qf5 22.Rg3 h6 23.Nc4 Qd5 24.Ne3 Qb5 (This is the position shown in the diagram)

Carlos wins by sacrificing his queen! His rook and bishop then work together. They create a series of checks and discovered checks that force Lasker to lose.

25.Bf6!! Qxh5 26.Rxg7+ Kh8 27.Rxf7+ Kg8 28.Rg7+ Kh8 29.Rxb7+ Kg8 30.Rg7+ Kh8 31.Rg5+ Kh7 32.Rxh5 Kg6 33.Rh3 Kxf6 34.Rxh6+ Kg5 35.Rh3 Reb8 36.Rg3+ Kf6 37.Rf3+ Kg6 38.a3 a5 39.bxa5 Rxa5 40.Nc4 Rd5 41.Rf4 Nd7 42.Rxe6+ Kg5 43.g3 1–0

See also

Kids robot.svg In Spanish: Carlos Torre Repetto para niños

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