Michael Rohde is a prominent American chess player and writer. Born in New York City in 1959, he became a National Master at the age of 14 and an International Master at the age of 20. He ultimately was awarded the title of International Grandmaster in 1988.
After graduating from Dartmouth College in 1981, Rohde went on to win or share first place in multiple high-profile chess tournaments, such as the World Open in Philadelphia and the National Open in Las Vegas.
Rohde has served as the chief writer for the New York State Chess Association since 1989. He also contributes articles to the "Chess Life" magazine, and served as a regular columnist for the magazine from 1991 to 1999.
Some of his notable achievements include finishing equal first at the U.S. Chess Championship in 1990, and being named the U.S. Game of the Year Award winner three times. Despite his success, he is known for an aggressive style of play and has been labeled as a "swashbuckler" by his peers.
Rohde's partial list of tournament victories include the Continental Open (1984 and 1986), the National Open (1986), the New York Open (1988 and 1990), the World Open (1988), and the Manhattan Chess Club Championship (1989).
Despite his competitive successes, Rohde has stated that he enjoys his chess writing career more than his playing career, as it allows him to study and understand the game better. He has been widely praised for his instructive and informative writing style.