David Bronstein

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For Lev Davidovich Bronstein, see Leon Trotsky.

David Ionovich Bronstein (Дави́д Ио́нович Бронште́йн) (born February 19, 1924) is renowned as a leading chess grandmaster and writer. He was born in Bila Tserkva near Kiev, Ukraine. Described as a creative genius and master of tactics by pundits and plaudits the world over, Bronstein provides ample evidence that chess should be regarded as part science, part art.

1 Life
2 Notable chess games
3 References
4 Further reading
5 External links

[edit] Life

His first international tournament success occurred at the Saltsjöbaden Interzonal of 1948, in which he qualified for the Candidates Tournament of 1950 in Budapest, becoming the eventual winner over Isaac Boleslavsky in a (Moscow) play-off. This period saw a meteoric rise in Bronstein's development as he prepared for the world title challenge match, in 1951.

Widely considered to be one of the greatest players not to have won the world championship (an accolade he shares with the likes of Paul Keres, Victor Korchnoi and Bent Larsen) he went agonizingly close to his goal when he drew the challenge match for the title of world champion by a score of 12-12 with Mikhail Botvinnik, the reigning champion. Under FIDE rules, the title remained with the holder and Bronstein was never to come so close again. Like many other instances, there is credible theory that Bronstein was forced to throw the match by the Soviet oligarchy, to allow the Russian Botvinnik to win. Similarly, in the 1953 candidates tournament in Zurich, there is further speculation that there was pressure on the non-Russian Soviets, Keres and Bronstein to allow Vasily Smyslov to win.

He has taken many first prizes in tournaments, among the most notable being the USSR Championships of 1948 (jointly with Alexander Kotov) and 1949 (jointly with Vasily Smyslov). He is also a six times winner of the Moscow Championships and represented Russia at the Olympiads of 1952, 1954, 1956 and 1958, winning board prizes at each of them.

David Bronstein has also written a number of chess books and articles. He is perhaps most highly regarded for his authorship of Zurich International Chess Tournament 1953 (English translation 1979) and co-authorship of The Sorcerer's Apprentice (1995), both of which have become landmarks in chess publishing history and in which Bronstein seeks to amplify the ideas behind the players' moves, rather than burdening the reader with pages of analysis of moves that never made it onto the scoresheet. His theoretical work in transforming the King's Indian Defence from a dubious (pre-World War II) to reliable (post-World War II) defence should not go unnoticed and is evidenced in his contribution to the 1999 book, Bronstein on the King's Indian.

In latter years, Bronstein has continued to play chess at a good level and has inspired young and old alike with endless simultaneous displays, a warm, gracious attitude and glorious tales of his own, rich chess heritage.

[edit] Notable chess games

Mikhail Botvinnik vs David Bronstein, WCh Moscow 1951, Nimzo-Indian, 4.e3 O-O 5.Bd3 (E47), 0-1 Although Bronstein has a negative record against Botvinnik, he beat Botvinnik several times with black pieces. Here's one of his wins in Moscow in 1951.
David Bronstein vs Paul Keres, Goteborg m 1955, Nimzo-Indian (E41), 1-0 A dramatic game of two attacking geniuses.
Stefan Brzozka vs David Bronstein, USSR 1963, Dutch, Leningrad, Main Variation with c6 (A88), 0-1 A surprising and deep positional breakthrough. The most interesting part of the game starts with White's 42nd move, trying to sacrifice an exchange in order to achieve a seemingly sterile blocked position.