Amos Burn

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Amos Burn (31 December 1848 – 25 November 1925) was an English chess player and writer who was one of the world's leading players in the late 19th century.

He was born in Kingston upon Hull and moved to Liverpool as a teenager to work with shipowners and merchants. He learned chess at 16 and later took lessons in London from Wilhelm Steinitz, who helped Shape Burn’s strong defensive style. Nimzowitsch later named Burn one of the six greatest defensive players in chess history.

Although never a professional, Burn had a long career of playing tournaments and writing about chess. In 1913 he became the chess columnist for The Field, a role he held until his death in 1925.

Key moments in Burn’s career:
- His first tournament (1867–68) was a Liverpool Chess Club handicap, which he won decisively.
- His first major event, the Third Challenge Cup (London 1870), ended with him tied for first but losing the playoff.
- He achieved notable results later: equal first in London 1887 (with Gunsberg), first in Amsterdam 1889, second in Breslau 1889, and first in Cologne 1898. He also played in Hastings 1895, finishing in a large group near the middle.
- Burn gave his name to the Burn Variation of the French Defence: 1.e4 e6 2.d4 d5 3.Nc3 Nf6 4.Bg5 dxe4. He began using it regularly around 1888 and had good results with it (several wins, a few losses and draws).

Burn’s legacy includes a reputation as a superb defensive player and a prolific writer. He beat the young Alexander Alekhine in Karlsbad 1911 as White, a notable achievement late in his career. His life and work were celebrated in Richard Forster’s 2004 book Amos Burn: A Chess Biography, praised by Viktor Korchnoi for bringing Burn’s games and biography to thorough light.

One remarkable moment from his games came in an offhand clash where Burn played 33...Qg4!!, a move that looked risky but led to a striking win, and is often praised as one of the most extraordinary turns in his career.