when reading chess literature several people are noted for their attacking prowess.(tal,anderssen,smyslov et-al)who could possibly stand out as the best

 

Michael Tal!

Tal for sure!

Paul Morphy

Morphy!

Morphy's games featured an open style that is fun to watch, and seems so far above his opponents level that it is almost laughable to play through them. His wheels seemed to always be spinning and were always pointed right at his opponent's King. Tal's attacks were more subtle than Morphy's, and often had much deeper ideas.

In my opinion, Morphy was the most aggressive player I've ever seen. In case you haven't, definitely check out Rashid Nezhmetdinov as well. His attacks are definitely amazing, and hyper-aggressive.

I'd vouch for Tal.

 

The former World Champion has a very different style compared to other attackers...I may be a newbie on the game (by the way you may wanna check out my post on tactical training http://www.chess.com/forum/view/chess-openings/a-training-system-and-a-question-for-opening-specialists-out-there) but there is something about Tal that seperates him from the rest.

 

Most attackers would rely on good positional (yet still aggressive play) bagging a pack of small advantages before thinking about combinations and tactics. They were excellent at spotting tactics.

 

Tal on the other hand will sacrifice and relentlessly try to whip up a combination or attack at any phase of the game. He is very adept at creating practical tactical chances and conditions for a combination or attack. Now that's being aggressive. :D

 

Some of his sacrifices are indeed unsound. But this is to be found out only after his opponent suffered from this twisted tactical genius. And most of his contemporaries would agree.

 

In this aspect he was very much the same with his former trainer Nezhmetdinov. Playing anti-positional moves for the sake of increasing the probability of a combination. He even sandbagged Tal - 4-1 in favor of Nezh as far as I know!

 

That's what I think so far.

It's hard to argue for anybody else besides Tal. His games and instinctive tactical abilities were remarkable.

here's another vote for tal. though in the most modern period i would also consider shirov.

If "aggressive" also encompasses the "will to win", my vote is for Fischer.  If he saw the potential to win instead of draw, he went for it all the time.

i'm always tempted to say Anderssen.

How about some more modern players such as Hikaru Nakamura and Veselin Topalov?

likesforests wrote: Morphy!

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 mikhail tal!!!!!

nowadays Topalov. Tal don't know well his games

Michael Tal..

 

 I have to give my vote to Tal, if you had asked (who is the player with the greatest will to win?) then i would have to say Fischer hands down.

Hard to say!

Twas the great Bobby Fischer,nobody can beat him as far as "attacker" is concern.

I am a big Fischer fan, but i have to give my vote to Tal on this one.

Nezhmedinov, Velimirovich, others will come to mind.