Boris Spassky beat Petrosian on his second try, failing in 1966 and winning in 1969. Spassky could do many things well, but had a flair for attacking. He also had a collection of opening systems that he knew very well and would use even if other people didn’t think they were very good — like…
Petrosian finally ended Botvinnik’s long reign at the top of world chess in 1963, and Botvinnik didn’t seek a re-match. Petrosian’s mature style was often hard to like — slow and safety-first — but easy to admire — very effective and often subtle. He was known for a ‘boa-constrictor’ approach, taking control of a game…
All juniors should know the ‘Fried Liver’ (fegatello) sacrifice White buys a ferocious attack for a piece. Would you prefer to be White, making threats, or Black, with an extra piece? I think I’d prefer White! What if I told you that a computer thinks that things are about equal? [UPDATE: not any longer!] I…
Smyslov played four times for the World Championship: he came second to Botvinnik in the 1948 tournament (following Alekhin’s death), and then he played Botvinnik three times, drawing in 1954 (so Botvinnik kept the title), winning in 1957, but losing again in 1958. Smyslov was a fine singer and musician, and his games are known…
Xsavery (Saveilly) Tartakower was the wittiest of masters, and, it was said, “too in love with chess to ever become world champion”, as he would often play an interesting move over a plain one, and perhaps throw the result into question. He was the champion of chess journalists, and his epigrams, or [i]Tartakowerisms[/i], will be…
Mikhail Botvinnik was the first of many Soviet chess World Champions, winning a tournament in 1948 after Alekhin died, and holding on though a couple of interruptions until 1963. He was known for a very sound, logical style of play, and thoroughly researched all the opening systems he played. Here he is in action with…
Max Euwe held the title of Champion briefly, beating then losing to Alekhin in 1935 and 1937. He remained active in chess organisation, being Prsident of FIDE for many years, and died a much-respected figure. He was a schoolteacher during his best chess years, the last amateur to hold the title. Euwe’s style was very…
Elegant and subtle, Capablanca was the perfect endgame machine. His opponents were often in losing positions before they realised it. In other games no-one could decide if he should have won or not… but he did! There is a fine book by Irving Chernev which collected and annotated Capablanca’s endgames: here are the games to…
Alexander Alexandrovitch Alekhin wrestled the crown from Capablanca with and never allowed him a rematch. He did play matches with Bogolyubow and even lost one to Euwe before getting back the worls title. Alekhin’s moves were always trying to get the most out of a position. It wasn’t his style to look for ‘natural’ or…
