Being a chess player is not just about making moves on a chessboard, it's about unleashing your strategic genius and immersing yourself in the mind-boggling realm of possibilities. And when it comes to chess legends, one name that shines brightly is Vasily Smyslov. This article will delve into the intriguing world of this world chess champion and reveal the secrets to playing like him.

The Rise of a Chess Prodigy

Vasily Vasilyevich Smyslov was born on March 24, 1921, in Moscow, Russia. He was introduced to chess at a young age and quickly showed exceptional talent. Smyslov's rise in the chess world began in the late 1940s when he became a Soviet national master. He went on to win the World Chess Championship in 1957 by defeating Mikhail Botvinnik, a feat that established him as a force to be reckoned with.

The Smyslov Style: Analyzing His Unique Approach

One of the most captivating aspects of Smyslov's play was his exceptional positional understanding. He had a remarkable ability to evaluate complex positions and make precise moves that steadily built up his advantage. Smyslov was known for his patient maneuvering and deep strategic comprehension, which often led his opponents into a maze from which escape seemed impossible. His style, characterized by its solidity and precision, has left a lasting impact on the chess community.

Play Like a World Champion: Vasily Smyslov

by FM Bill Jordan (Kindle Edition)

5 out of 5

Language	:	English
File size	:	5139 KB
Text-to-Speech	:	Enabled
Screen Reader	:	Supported
Enhanced typesetting	:	Enabled
Print length	:	689 pages
Lending	:	Enabled

FREE

Smyslov was also highly proficient in the endgame, utilizing the power of his pieces to dominate the board. His endgame skills, combined with his positional excellence, made him a formidable opponent. Studying Smyslov's games can provide valuable insights into these aspects of chess and help aspiring players master the art of grinding their opponents down.

Enhancing Your Chess with Smyslov's Techniques

If you aspire to play like Vasily Smyslov and dominate the chessboard, here are some key techniques to incorporate into your game:

1. Mastering Endgame Finesse

The endgame is where Smyslov truly shone. Learning how to maneuver your pieces to create threats and outmaneuver your opponent is an essential skill. Study Smyslov's endgame masterpieces and learn the art of squeezing out advantages even in seemingly drawn positions.

2. Embracing Positional Understanding

Positional play is the bedrock of Smyslov's style. Develop your ability to assess the position and make plans accordingly. Understand the value of pawn structures, piece activity, and harmonious coordination. Consistently apply these concepts to gradually build up an advantageous position.

3. Patience and Calculated Risk-Taking

Smyslov displayed extraordinary patience in his games, waiting for the right moment to strike. Avoid impulsive moves and instead calculate potential risks and rewards. Smoothly transition from maneuvering to tactical strikes, taking calculated risks based on thorough calculations.

Tools and Strategies for Aspiring Smyslovs

To further develop your skills in the Smyslov style, there are several tools and strategies you should consider:

1. Analyzing Smyslov's Games

Studying Smyslov's games is a treasure trove of knowledge. Carefully analyze and dissect his moves, understand the rationale behind each decision, and grasp the subtleties that lie beneath the surface. This will greatly enhance your strategic understanding and improve your overall gameplay.

2. Chess Engines and Databases

Utilize powerful chess engines and databases to test your moves, simulate scenarios, and discover hidden possibilities. Analyzing your games with chess engines can provide valuable insights into critical moments, helping you refine your decision-making skills.

3. Training with Strong Opponents

Seek out strong opponents who can challenge your skills, forcing you to think outside the box and adapt to their playing style. Playing against advanced players provides valuable experience and helps you identify areas for improvement.

: Channel Your Inner Smyslov

Vasily Smyslov was a true chess legend who left an indelible impact on the game. His positional understanding, endgame finesse, and patient approach continue to inspire chess players around the world. By incorporating his techniques and studying his games, you can unlock new dimensions in your own gameplay. Embrace the mindset of a champion, channel your inner Smyslov, and rise to the top of the chess world!

Play Like a World Champion: Vasily Smyslov

by FM Bill Jordan (Kindle Edition)

5 out of 5

Language	:	English
File size	:	5139 KB
Text-to-Speech	:	Enabled
Screen Reader	:	Supported
Enhanced typesetting	:	Enabled
Print length	:	689 pages
Lending	:	Enabled

FREE

One of the joys of chess is improving your understanding and skill.
Another joy is to play through the games of masters. This book combines the two. You receive a rating
for each game you play through.
It uses a system developed by FIDE master Bill Jordan for coaching students. This is used in the books Rate Your Chess and Rate Your Chess 2.

Book Series

Here are all the world champions in this series.

• Steinitz
  
• Lasker
  
• Capablanca
  
• Alekhine
  
• Euwe
  
• Botvinnik
  
• Smyslov
  
• Tal
  
• Petrosian
  
• Spassky
  
• Fischer
  
• Karpov
  
• Kasparov
  
• Anand
  
• Kramnik
  
• Carlsen

  Instructions
  Playing through master games is a proven method of improving.
  You will learn by simply playing over the games.
  You will learn more by taking a more active role.
  You take the winning side and guess the next move.
  With a printed book this can be done by covering the moves with a sheet of cardboard. The sheet could be moved down one line at a time.
  

  
  This book consists of games from World Championships in chronological order.
  

  
  You do not need to guess the first 8-10 moves of the opening.
  

  
  You are given up to 4 candidate moves to choose from.
  The correct move is shown on the next page.
  Note that Look Inside removes all page breaks.
  In the complete book the page breaks will be there.
  

  
  If you guess correctly you will score points which will range from 0 to 6. You can either write down or otherwise keep track of your total score and see what category you reach.
  

  
  With practice you will correctly predict more moves. Doing so helps develop chess fluency. In other words, you improve your chess intuition or feel for the right move.
  

  
  There are brief annotations for each move which describe the
  idea behind why a move was played.
  

  
  Sometimes a move is totally unexpected. Then it would be a good time to see if you could understand why the move was played. Every move should have a clear idea behind it. If you cannot see the idea, there is an opportunity to learn something.
  

  
  There is between one and four choices. This is similar to a multiple choice exam. This is easier than looking at all possible moves and may mean you examine some interesting moves you would not have normally considered.
  

  Rating

  
  The score for each game will always be out of 100. Scores may vary from game to game so to get a consistent rating average your score over 10 games.
  

  
  These are based on the FIDE (The international chess federation) rating system developed by Professor Elo.
  

  
  The rating of 2500+ is an approximation of the strength needed to be a Grandmaster.
  

  
  After you have finished a game, find what range your score is in the left column.
  Your approximate rating is in the right column.
  

  • 91-100 2500+
    
  • 81-90 2400 - 2499
    
  • 71-80 2200 - 2399
    
  • 61-70 2000 - 2199
    
  • 51-60 1800 - 1999
    
  • 41-50 1600 - 1799
    
  • 31-40 1400 - 1599
    
  • 21-30 1200 - 1399
    
  • 11-20 1000 - 1199
    
  • 0 -10 below 1000

    
    The challenge is to increase your rating with each game!
    

    Diagrams

    
    This book has many large clear diagrams. You do not need a chess set and board to read this book. You do need to know how to read standard chess notation.

    Featured Player

    
    This book features Vasily Smyslov who became world chess champion in 1957 after defeating Botvinnik. He lost the title in 1958 to Botvinnik in a return match.
    Smyslov was from the Soviet Union.

    
    Smyslov had a modest but very strong positional style.
    How many of his moves can you guess?