Alexandre Deschapelles (1780–1847) was the leading French chess master of the early 19th century. Despite playing chess for only a short time, Deschapelles dominated France’s chess scene for nearly two decades, earning a reputation as a natural genius and mentor to La Bourdonnais.
Portrait of Alexandre Deschapelles
Unknown author: (License: Public domain) via Wikimedia Commons
Born: March 7, 1780, Ville d’Avray, France
Died: October 27, 1847, Paris, France
From Battlefield to Chessboard
Born into French nobility, Deschapelles’ life took a dramatic turn during the French Revolution. While his family fled to Germany, he stayed and fought for the Republican army, suffering severe injuries in battle—losing a hand and sustaining deep facial wounds. Unable to continue as a soldier, he sought a new battlefield: the chessboard.
«I acquired chess in four days and never advanced or receded.»
– Winter, Chess Notes (Quote from Deschapelles)
France’s Unbeatable Champion
By the early 1800s, Deschapelles ruled French chess. He never played on equal terms, always giving his opponents odds—“pawn and move” or even “pawn and two moves.” His confidence was legendary:
Despite never formally studying openings, he relied on raw talent, intuition, and calculation, bridging the strategic play of Philidor with the boldness of the Romantic Era.
The Master and His Protégé
Deschapelles’ reign ended in 1821, when his student Louis-Charles Mahé de La Bourdonnais surpassed him. In a dramatic exit, Deschapelles quit chess on the spot, unwilling to compete without being the best.
A Life Beyond Chess – Legacy
Deschapelles turned to other games, excelling at Whist (a precursor to bridge), Polish draughts, and even billiards—despite missing a hand. After a 15-year absence, he briefly returned in 1836, defeating Pierre Saint-Amant.
Retiring to a quiet life, Deschapelles grew melons and raised pheasants. His final years were marked by illness, and he requested a simple burial with no public announcement.
While few of his games survive, his impact remains undeniable. A natural genius, he mastered chess without study, dominated his era, and shaped the next generation.
Alexandre Deschapelles, France
Quote Sources
General Sources
Photo Credits
Portrait of Alexandre Deschapelles
Unknown author: (License: Public domain) via Wikimedia Commons
Date: Before 1930 (exact publication date unknown, but confirmed public domain reproduction of a 2D work)
Source: Robert Czoelner, Alexandre Honoré Deschapelles: The French King of Chess, CreateSpace, 2011
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