Petrosian
Who's The Best Positional Player In Chess?
Sort:
Some voted Tal the magician.
Tal was on the opposite spectrum of positional. haha
Ever: Capablanca, Petrosian, and Karpov.
Now: possibly Kramnik
Me. I don't play at noon and the sun is always at my back.
I voted tal as positional magician and succeeded most of his games.
doing well ds days in chess got 1700 level. tnks
Tal was one of the greatest tactical geniuses that ever lived, but in terms of positional play, I don't think many would place him at the same level as Karpov, Petrosian, or Smyslov, for example.
i like also petrosian in his games in sicilian defence before, and karpov in ruy lopez.
He wasn't much for counting numbers, but I hear this GMs positional play was the best.
All time great strategic players include Nimzowitsch, Steintiz, Lasker, and Reti. I consider Karpov a technician who assimilates and uses the ideas of others but has no original ideas of his own. Technicians who can calculate accurately are probably the strongest in practical play, especially when backed up by team of idea men such as Karpov and Kasparov had in their heydays.
nimzovitch is good in sicilian.
It funny how many of Nimzovitch's ideas were perfected by Alekhine. Nimzovitch's idea in the Sicilian is the inspiration for the Alekhine Defense.
Oct 18, 2010
0
#35
My vote would go to Kramnik for clear first (not only currently, but throughout the whole chess history).
Natalia_Pogonina wrote:
Nowadays it's probably Kramnik. Each era has its own positional #1.
How can I or anyone argue with Natalia...today, Kramnik would be considered among the best; overall, it is difficult to keep Tigran V. Petrosian and one of the greatest champion Jose Raul Capablanca.
Fezzik wrote:
In defense of Tal.
Tal was a brilliant positional player! Everyone remembers his magical attacks, but they were well grounded in the position. One of his colleagues (Spassky?) said that Tal's strategy was simple: develop the pieces toward the center, then sac them somewhere.
Of course there was much more to Tal's game. A decade after winning and losing the world title, Tal was the #1 player in the world. He set the record for consecutive games unbeaten, and he did so in a very positional style.
Tal used his tactical attacking abilities to justify his positional judgements. Tactics are not the opposite of positional play. Tactics come organically from sound positional play.
Tal did become more positional in his play later on in his career although he was more known (and remembered) for his attacking style of play earlier which is what won him the WC title.
Fezzik wrote:
In defense of Tal.
Tal was a brilliant positional player! Everyone remembers his magical attacks, but they were well grounded in the position. One of his colleagues (Spassky?) said that Tal's strategy was simple: develop the pieces toward the center, then sac them somewhere.
Of course there was much more to Tal's game. A decade after winning and losing the world title, Tal was the #1 player in the world. He set the record for consecutive games unbeaten, and he did so in a very positional style.
Tal used his tactical attacking abilities to justify his positional judgements. Tactics are not the opposite of positional play. Tactics come organically from sound positional play.
A note to remember of his time. So many brilliant moves.
Oct 19, 2010
0
#39
I am surprised that noone mentions Botvinnik? I always thougt he was one of the best positionel players.
Nygren wrote:
I am surprised that noone mentions Botvinnik? I always thougt he was one of the best positionel players.
I believe that Botvinnik was not strictly positional. He had enormous preparation and theoretical knowledge, and was very scientific in his approach to chess, but also had an eye for the tactical side of things. I'd like to call him a technical player, but I'm not sure if that distinction quite describes him either.
moi i'm the best