whos the strongest in history

i think to much sometimes and whilst wandering in my head i often return to the subject of who is the strongest chess player who ever lived?  i often think emanual lasker.  one, i believe he was the longest champion to hold the title (27 years i believe), some will say that he didnt defend the title enough but those were different times and i dont think anyone couldve beat him flat out till Capa came along anyway.  two, he played at the very top levels of chess until a very very old age, placing in the top 5 of most tournaments (if not 1st) ahead of super strong competition, often ahead of Capa, Alekheine and other toughies.  three, his style was highly unusual and he seemed to enjoy playing from (what i would consider) uncomfortable positions, almost like he was giving his opponent a handicap to even the game up. four, he played during a time of great discovery and change in the chess world; steintz just revolutionized the game and Lasker took off and ran with it!  if he had todays knowledge and resources i think hed be unstoppable!  five, he wasnt only a chess player, he was a respected philosopher and mathmatician whos works are still studied today, implying that if he devoted his full attention to chess then his play wouldve been even stronger!  six, it was said that Lasker could glance at a game and see the right moves without much thought, and that he would "will" his opponents to make bad moves; a very dangerous combinations.  seven, he was a superb middlegame and end game player, his openings were a bit rough but he played them well!  eight, he could out calculate anyone in his time, seeing far ahead into complex positions that would blow most players minds away.  nine, he saw the "death of chess" ie to many draws way before anyone else-chess had really just started as we play today and even then he knew that soon the "drawing death" was coming.  ten, he just looks like a proper chess player!

my top 5 usually go

1. Lasker

2. Kasparov

3. Capablanca

4. Fischer

5. Spassky (I have personal, not logical reasons for Boris) logically though Morphy

comments please!  also your top five players if you dont mind, and reasons for why you think your #1 pick is right.    

Why do yo do this. Just bump any of 12.368 topics about who is the best.

Have we done what's your favorite square yet?

If not, I think c6 is sooooo dreamy!

My choices are Mikhail Tal and Alexander Alekhine. I'm an attacker, and these were the two greatest attackers ever, so they are my favorites!

These are my top five favourites:

1. Viswanathan Anand, he's my idol. I know he's not one of the best ever but he comes from India and I adore him!
2. Bobby Fischer,it's a shame what happend to him but he is,was and will always be a legend!
3. Paul Morphy, just watching his games makes me amazed at how delicate and precise he was.
4. Garry Kasparov, my dad told me about Kasparov and how good he was, after looking at his games I think I realised why.
5. Magnus Carlsen, he is rising and seems like he will rise to be one of the best chess players that this world will ever have.

          KIESH2

Here are mine:

1.   Garry Kasparov

2.   Bobby Fischer

3.   Vladimir Kramnik

4.   Viswanathan Anand

5.   Boris Spassky

My 6th would be Paul Morphy.

OG

I usualy don't get drug into these, but here goes.

1. Capablanca, the Cuban Cannibal!  He should be on anyone's list.

2. Morphy    I don't wan't to hear anyone saying Morphy wouldn't be competitive  today.  Without Morphy's games we would still be in the chess dark ages.

3. Kasparov  However, if Kasparov has seen farther than others, it is because he has stood on the shoulders of giants, his great predecessors.  Were would he be without Fischer? That being said, he defines modern chess scholarship.

4. Lasker  I don't know a lot about Lasker, but it is obvious he deserves to be on here somplace.

5. Tal Because style has to count for something!

 what is 12.368?  whats a bump?  sorry to take up your precious time, i know how busy you must be surfing a chess site n all...  for those of you who answered, thanks neat answers.  especially kiesh2 and openinggambit Anand is a great player as is magnus and kramnik but i think we need a little more time to assess their long term contributions to chess...Alekhine and Tal are certainly two of my favorite players to analyse their games but i dont think they were two of the strongest in history-top 15 for sure, maybe top 10 even, but not top 5 (personal opinion no offense)  i dont really like going over Capa games, though amazing and sublime i like a little more excitement and drama if im going over a masters games.  mmmmmm Tal  

favorite square=E5 i try to control that square in alot of my games from both sides.

I'm always surprised how Botvinnik, Bronstein and Korchnoi seldom make such lists.  I was pleasantly surpised to see someone mention Lasker, from the past and Carlsen from the future.  Boris Spassky was another delightful choice several people metioned.  Oddly no one has yet mentioned Karpov.

I vote for Deschapelles, Bourdonnais, Morphy, Steinitz and Mason.

oh... and e4 as my favorite square.

1. Definately Morphy.

2. Capablanca.

3. Fischer.

4. Kasparov

5. Anderssen or Lasker. Anderssen had them nice sacrifices but lasker has the championship for mad long.

1 Kasparov  ,  he's the best 

2 Karpov

3 Lasker

4 Fisher

5 Capablanca

My TOP 5

1. b2 is my favorite square when occupied by a Bishop

2. h4 is fun when attacking with the Queen

3. f3/f6 I play like 99% of my games putting the Knight here

4. c1 is great when I can castle long

5. e1 with a Rook; I try to copy Fischer and place my Rook here when possible

I think all chess players have their own style, yes that is including you. But really, I didn't know much about chess or its players until about 6-8 months ago. So from what I have seen these would have to be my favorite players.

1. Kasparov 

2. Alekhine 

3. Capablanca

And the rest.. Well I haven't really decided yet.

1. Karpov

2. Kramnik

3. Capablanca

4. Lasker

5. Kasparov

1. Alekhine            ---- King of Creativity and Tactics

2. Morphy              ---- Perfectly Mad = Perfect chess

3. Tal                    ---   A GOD

4.Stein                 --- Genius, but died before we could see his potential

5.Kasparov            --- A LOCK

5 great players you don't hear enough about:

1. Pal Benko

2. Max Euwe

3. Boris Gulko

4. Efim Geller

5. Aron Nimzowitch

Ragozin was assigned the duty to blow smoke across the board and into Botvinnik's face. I think Kotov mentions this in "Think Like a GM."

Pillsbury gets forgotten. He had an even record vs. Lasker though.

1. Kasparov

2. Fischer

3. Lasker

4. Capablanca

5. Botvinnik