Here's one I like:
"On the first day of an Atlantic crossing, while walking through the smoking saloon, Lasker saw a man seated alone at a chess table, pondering a position ... the stranger asked him whether he played chess.
'Oh, once in a long while,' Lasker replied truthfully.
'Well, sit down and play a few games ... we can make up for your lack of experience by a handicap. I'll give you Queen odds in the first game. If you win, we'll make it rook odds, and so on ...'
'That's all right with me,' Lasker replied, planning to give the man a little lesson.
He let him win the first game quickly ... then managed to lose a second game ... When it came to the third game, Lasker said:
'There must be some advantage in playing without the Queen. Perhaps because the King has more freedom of movement when the space next to him is not occupied. Let me give you the Queen this time.' ...
The other laughed ...
'That really would be too ridiculous!'
But Lasker was stubborn, and the man had to give in. Naturally, Lasker beat him. Somewhat flustered, his opponent explained:
'Well, I did not really pay very careful attention ... Let's play an even game now.'
No, Lasker insisted on giving him Queen odds again, and again he won. This time his opponent no longer knew what to say.
I was looking at the "Greatest Chess Photos" thread- terrific!
I thought it might be interesting to do a Greatest Chess Stories thread too.
To prime the pump, here's one of my favorites-
While playing in a tournament in Berlin, Aaron Nimzowitch realized that he was going to lose his game to Saemisch, along with the First Place prize. He stopped playing, stood up on the table and shouted "that I should lose to this idiot!"
Hilarious!
I know that a lot of you have probably already heard this story but for those who haven't.....