Hermann Helms - The Good Samaritan of Chess: Biography and Game Collection

By John S Hilbert

This biography presents Hermann Helms as one of the most devoted servants in chess history. More than a strong player, Helms was the backbone of American chess for over seventy years--writer, editor, organizer, promoter, and historian. Through his legendary American Chess Bulletin and his long-running column in the Brooklyn Daily Eagle, he documented and preserved the game at a time when few others did.

The book highlights Helms' extraordinary selflessness: he tirelessly supported generations of players, from Wilhelm Steinitz and Emanuel Lasker to Jos Ra l Capablanca, Alexander Alekhine, and even the young Bobby Fischer. Despite personal tragedy and financial sacrifice, Helms remained unwavering in his mission to promote and preserve chess.

At its core, this is the story of a humble man whose life embodied service, making him one of the most important--and perhaps most underrated--figures in chess history.

• Format: Hardcover
• Language: English
• ISBN: 9493435318
• ISBN13: 9789493435315
• Release Date: November 2026
• Publisher: Thinkers Publishing
• Length: 576 Pages