Twenty Years of the Rice Gambit 

Twenty Years of the Rice Gambit is a comprehensive historical and analytical study of one of the most intensely examined chess openings of the late 19th and early 20th centuries. Published by The Chess Collector in memory of Isaac Leopold Rice, this volume documents the rise, theory, and competitive legacy of the famous Rice Gambit.

This 253‑page work presents deep analysis, practical variations, and historical commentary, offering a complete picture of how the gambit was explored and debated by top players of the era. Additional sections cover the opening’s origins, its evolution, and the major tournaments in which it was featured.

The Rice Gambit is an aggressive line in which White sacrifices material to secure king safety and launch a powerful attack against Black’s underdeveloped position. Isaac Rice championed the opening worldwide, organizing themed tournaments in Monte Carlo, Saint Petersburg, Ostend, Brooklyn, and Trenton Falls, attracting elite masters such as Emanuel Lasker, Mikhail Chigorin, Carl Schlechter, Frank Marshall, and David Janowski.

Rice later founded the Rice Gambit Association in 1904, with Lasker serving as secretary, and published collections of all tournament games. At its peak, more than 230 correspondence players competed using this opening, making it one of the most heavily tested gambits in chess history.

This volume includes:

• Extensive theoretical analysis and annotated variations
• Historical background and tournament coverage
• Games from top masters who tested the gambit
• Documentation of Rice’s promotional efforts and correspondence events

A valuable resource for chess historians, opening theorists, and collectors, especially those interested in experimental openings and richly documented chess history.

Historical demand and limited supply makes this book rare and expensive.