Yuri Averbakh facts for kids
Quick facts for kids Yuri Averbakh |
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Averbakh in 1963
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| Full name | Yuri Lvovich Averbakh |
| Country | Soviet Union → Russia |
| Born | 8 February 1922 Kaluga, Russian SFSR |
| Died | 7 May 2022 (aged 100) Moscow, Russia |
| Title | Grandmaster (1952) |
| FIDE rating | 2445 (June 2025) |
| Peak rating | 2550 (July 1971) |
Yuri Lvovich Averbakh (Ю́рий Льво́вич Аверба́х; born February 8, 1922 – died May 7, 2022) was a famous Russian chess player and writer. He was a Grandmaster, which is the highest title a chess player can get. Yuri Averbakh was also the head of the USSR Chess Federation from 1973 to 1978. He was the first chess Grandmaster to live to be 100 years old! Even when he was very old, he still loved to be involved with chess.
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Early Life and Family
Yuri Averbakh was born in Kaluga, Russia. His father was from a German Jewish family, and their last name, Auerbach, means "meadow brook." His mother was Russian. His grandparents on both sides did not approve of his parents' marriage. This was because his father was likely an atheist, and his mother was Eastern Orthodox. Also, his mother had to take care of her family because her own mother died young. Yuri Averbakh described himself as a fatalist, meaning he believed that events are decided by fate.
Chess Career Highlights
Yuri Averbakh had a very successful career in chess. He achieved many important wins and became known for his unique playing style.
Major Tournament Wins
Averbakh's first big win was in 1949. He won the Moscow Championship. He beat many strong players there. In 1952, he earned the title of international grandmaster. This is a very high honor in chess.
In 1954, he won the USSR Championship. This was a huge achievement, as he competed against top players like Mark Taimanov and Viktor Korchnoi. In the 1956 Championship, he tied for first place. Later, his daughter, Jane, married Mark Taimanov. Averbakh also won tournaments in Vienna in 1961 and Moscow in 1962.
He tried to become the challenger for the World Chess Champion title. He qualified for the 1953 Candidates' Tournament. He also played in the 1958 Interzonal tournament. In 1993, he played in the 1993 Maccabiah Games in Israel.
Averbakh's Playing Style
Yuri Averbakh was known for his very solid and strong playing style. It was hard for players who liked to attack a lot to beat him. He once said that a player named Rashid Nezhmetdinov was great at attacking. But Averbakh had a much better record against him. This was because Averbakh did not give Nezhmetdinov chances to play an active, attacking game. If Nezhmetdinov couldn't attack, he would make mistakes.
Averbakh even had winning records against two world champions: Max Euwe and Tigran Petrosian.
Chess Writings and Studies
Averbakh was not just a great player. He was also a very important writer and expert on endgames. Endgames are the final stages of a chess game. He published over 100 "endgame studies." These are like puzzles that help players understand how to play the end of a game. Many of his studies helped improve endgame theory.
In 1956, FIDE (the international chess federation) made him an International Judge of Chess Compositions. In 1969, he became an International Arbiter. This means he could judge chess games and competitions.
Averbakh also worked as a chess journalist and author. He edited two Soviet chess magazines. He also helped create a four-volume book series about endgames. This series was later updated and translated into five volumes called Comprehensive Chess Endings.
Chess Opening Contributions
| This section uses algebraic notation to describe chess moves. |
Yuri Averbakh has several chess openings named after him. An opening is the first few moves of a chess game.
- King's Indian Defence: Averbakh variation (E73): 1.d4 Nf6 2.c4 g6 3.Nc3 Bg7 4.e4 d6 5.Be2 0-0 6.Bg5
- King's Indian Defence: semi-Averbakh system (E73): 1.d4 Nf6 2.c4 g6 3.Nc3 Bg7 4.e4 d6 5.Be2 0-0 6.Be3
- Modern Defense: Averbakh variation (A42): 1.d4 g6 2.c4 Bg7 3.Nc3 d6 4.e4
- Ruy Lopez: Averbakh variation (C87): 1.e4 e5 2.Nf3 Nc6 3.Bb4 a6 4.Ba4 Nf6 5. 0-0 Be7 6. Re1 d6
Later Life and Legacy
Yuri Averbakh passed away on May 7, 2022, in Moscow, at the age of 100. He left behind a daughter. His daughter was married to fellow chess grandmaster Mark Taimanov for ten years.
Averbakh received many honors and awards for his contributions to chess and his country. These include:
- Honoured Master of Sports of the USSR
- Order of Friendship of Peoples (1981)
- Medal "For Labour Valour" (1957)
- Medal "For Distinguished Labour" (1970)
- Jubilee Medal "In Commemoration of the 100th Anniversary since the Birth of Vladimir Il'ich Lenin" (1970)
- Russian Imperial Family: Knight Commander of the Imperial Order of Saint Stanislaus
- Order of Honor
Images for kids
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Averbakh in 1963
See also
- List of Jewish chess players
