Simply: who's the best EVER...and why?

For your money, who's is your choice for best chessplayer EVER? And why.

I've read bio books on several of the masters and it's hard for me to choose just one.

for invincibility: Capablanca
for capability: Fischer
for capacity: Kasparov
for transcendental, mind-twisting, eye-rolling attack: Tal
for sustainability: Botvinnik

steely 😏

Originally posted by steelydan
For your money, who's is your choice for best chessplayer EVER? And why.

I've read bio books on several of the masters and it's hard for me to choose just one.

for invincibility: Capablanca
for capability: Fischer
for capacity: Kasparov
for transcendental, mind-twisting, eye-rolling attack: Tal
for sustainability: Botvinnik

steely 😏

Fischer because Kasparov says he is. Why does Kasparov say this? Because Fischer hadsupposedly the greatest lead in skill level of all his competition. In addition, he was not only skilled in chess as a game, he was masterful at playing the psychological game as well, and was playing against a system designed to shut non Soviets out. I don't like him but I am willing to give him props for skill.

Kasparov because he has the highest rating ever. He also has the confidence to give Fischer the #1 slot in the all time greats list.

Lasker or Steinitz (forget which) for being world champion longest. (28 years?)

In terms of who was the best player, ie: ahead of his time and way ahead of everyone else, I would have to say it's the amateur Paul Morphy.

Lasker and Tal for completely psyching-out their poor opponents, I think...

Larsen, for playing ridiculous openings against the best of competition, and for fighting out every game, not reducing himself to draws all the time. Not to mention, arguably the best non-Soviet player of his time besides Fischer.

Nimzowitch, for being as nutty as Morphy and Fischer and thus obviously as good? (Ditto Miles?)

Originally posted by paultopia
Nimzowitch, for being as nutty as Morphy and Fischer and thus obviously as good? (Ditto Miles?)

Originally posted by LordOfTheChessboard
for me its fisher on the opening, kasparov on the middlegamr and capablanca on the endgame.

Best or greatest?

I think the greatest chess player ever was Mikhail Tal. Had his health been better, I think his record would have surpassed the best. Others may claim consistency, but consistency is not an attribute of greatness.

Originally posted by Gatecrasher
but consistency is not an attribute of greatness.

Morphy is a good candidate too, that's true. Fischer claimed he was the best ever.

Aaron Nimzowitsch because he reinvented chess in the early '900.

Capablanca. In a ten year period, he played in only the strongest tournaments that were held, and lost only 4 games out of 158. During 8 YEARS of that period (playing in many tournaments that invited only the best players on Earth), he did not lose a single game, and was considered unbeatable. NOBODY ever did that, not before or since. As soon as I get serious about chess, I hope to beat his record....cause I got plans, oh yassssss, I do.

I think Kasparov at his prime v Fishcher in his prime (taking away all the extra theory Kasparov would have at his disposal!) would , in my opinion, go to Kasparov. Why? Well Kasparov never doubted himself! He has been consistently arrogant about his superiority since he first lifted a piece. Fischer also believed he was the best, but lost the balls to prove it. In a trditional match (24 games say...) Kasparov would wear him down enouph to pinch a win, sow enouph doubt into Fischers mind, and go on to win by a point. 😉