Rebel Queen: The Cold War, Misogyny, and the Making of a Grandmaster

by Susan Polgar

A real life Queen's Gambit, the memoir of Susan Polgar, the most renowned woman in chess history, who took on a sexist establishment, stood up to an authoritarian empire and rewrote the rules of what women could achieve against the oppressive backdrop of Cold War Eastern Europe.

Born to a poor Jewish family in Cold War Budapest, Susan Polgar had the odds stacked against her—from having few resources, to growing up in a sexist culture rife with vicious anti‑Semitism. Yet her father subscribed to the belief that geniuses are not born, but created, so he set out to ensure her success in an unlikely chess. 

 At age 4, she won her first tournament. By 15, she was the top‑rated female player in the world. She was the first woman ever to hold the men's Grandmaster title—chess's highest designation. The ensuing wins and accolades provided incredible highs to coincide with extreme lows as Polgar's celebrity brought backlash, including sabotage and state‑sponsored intimidation.

THE REBEL QUEEN is the story of her improbable rise, offering a rare behind‑the‑scenes chess story and featuring some of the game's most legendary characters. Yet it is a narrative that transcends chess, the story of a genius, treated from birth as a second‑class citizen, who thrilled against all odds. It is an incredible underdog story told by the woman who actually lived it. 

Genres: Nonfiction, Biography, Chess, Memoir, Audiobook, History, Biography Memoir

330 pages, Kindle Edition

Published March 11, 2025

Reviews

[Chan Fry · Rating 4 out of 5]

This book was enjoyable more for the information it contained than for quality of writing or powerful prose. (I think that’s true of many memoirs.) It’s nice to get that information in the subject’s own voice, sometimes — as opposed to a biography written by a stranger.

I have known about Susan Polgar for some time (and I’m in the middle of another of her books, one that is mostly chess puzzles), but always knew her as “one of the Polgar sisters” because younger sister Judit (widely regarded as the strongest female chess player of all time) was more visible to me. I’ve watched numerous chess tournaments for which Judit was a commentator. It was while reading this book that it sunk in for me: Judit was only able to do what she did because Susan did it first.

As a man, I consistently fail to be aware of exactly how difficult the world often makes life for women, and Susan’s story is full of that difficulty. First in Hungary as a girl, then later in the U.S., she regularly had to fight off the establishment’s attempts to discourage girls and women from competing in chess at the highest levels. She didn’t win all her battles (notably qualifying for the World Championship cycle but being denied the opportunity to compete because of her sex), but she arguably made the chess world more equitable and accessible than it used to be.

Note that at least one chapter seemed shoved together at the last moment. It was in chronological order, but without transitions — as if someone had meant to come in later to smooth it out but forgot. There were a few other failed transitions throughout, which took me out of the story a little, but aren't egregious.

[Colin Jackson · Rating 5 out of 5]

sure i might be biased, but a great story of a girl growing up in communist hungary and becoming one of the worlds best chess players. recommend even to non chess people. long live polgaria

[Bruce Williams · Rating 4 out of 5]

Rebel with a cause.

I couldn’t put this book down. I loved it. Susan Polgar’s story is compelling. Her writing is good, without being intrusive, and just lays out her progress from the four-year-old girl that found a chess set at the back of a glass cabinet of the family home to becoming a grandmaster and professional chess educator.

Rebel Queen covers three broad areas: her childhood, and breaking into competitive chess as a child prodigy; her late teens and early 20s on the international stage (often with her chess-playing sisters), gaining the grandmaster title and establishing herself as one of the world’s top players; and finally moving out of the world of constant tournaments and travel to find a foothold in professional and family life.

It’s a compelling story with setbacks and triumphs at every stage. In cold-war Hungary, it was not only unusual for a girl to pursue, and attain, excellence in professional chess, it was dangerous. Sexism combined with antisemitism, jealousy and fear of change, in the obstacles bureaucrats and chess administrators kept putting in her way — denying her travel and insisting she play in girl-only events. Polgar is very good at describing these machinations through the common-sense eyes of a six-year old. At times the results are laugh-out-loud funny.

One of the most fascinating passages deals with her friendship with Bobby Fischer. In 1993, Susan was already a grandmaster, and her younger sisters Sophia and Judit were also making a mark in the game (Judit would go on to be a top-10 player in open chess, still the only female player to do so). The former world champion and noted bigot and conspiracy theorist was a frequent guest in their home. I’ve often thought this could be the subject of a wonder Becket-like play.

Fischer was developing a variant of chess widely played today which is often called Fischer Random. Bobby and Susan played hundreds of games as he was ironing out the rules. And she can probably claim to have beaten Fischer more times than any other player.

She doesn’t gloss over it completely, but I would have loved to have heard more about the conflicts she felt in this friendship with a much older man, a guest in a Jewish household who hated Jews. A small consolation is the publication of a couple of her games with Bobby in the book’s appendix.

Another element I found dissatisfying was her recounting a very disturbing event involving her sister Sophia, who was, in effect, abducted by a conman who claimed to be a chess promoter. While Polgar relates the broad details of Sophia’s travel, the families growing concerns over delays in her return, and the family being reunited, we don’t hear anything of Sophia’s experiences during that time.

Both of these things I think can be put down to respect for the other person’s privacy.

Polgar is clearly proud of her achievements, and she should be. She broke down many barriers that her younger contemporaries didn’t have to face.

Her writing is breezy and matter-of-fact. There is some self reflection, but it’s not emphasised. It’s just a straightforward account of a very interesting life.

I play chess very badly and have known about the Polgar sisters since the early years of this century. But you don’t need to know anything about chess to enjoy Rebel Queen.

[Brittnay · Rating 5 out of 5]

I won this book from a giveaway hosted here on Goodreads! So, shout out to Grand Central Publishing for hosting that giveaway and picking me!

Also, I wanted to post this review sooner, but life happened.

This book was impossible to put down! I loved every single bit of it! Do I know anything about chess? absolutely not. Did I still devour this book in record time? Yes. I just found her story interesting and inspiring. I love reading about women who can force their way through despite men trying to get in their way. This book was easy to follow, and the pacing was great. I'd recommend it to anyone!

[Fred Forbes · Rating 5 out of 5]

I attended a lecture by Susan Polgar last weekend and purchased a signed copy of this book and took a few minutes to chat with her. I was pleasantly surprised upon reading her story that although it revolves around the chess world, one not need to be a chess nut like me to enjoy it. It is not a book full of diagrams, chess notation, etc. but rather a great coming of age story - starting about age 4. Especially interesting is the role of the communist state and her increasing exposure to the free world and the enormous pushback from the "powers that be" to the possibility of a female invading the man's world of chess prowess.

Susan's parents both educators wanted to see if it was possible through early exposure and intensive training, a person could develop a genius capability. They could, not only once but 3 times. The original question was should it be chess or math. Great stories follow!

Not only one of the best books I have read this year, but one of the best autobiographies I have ever read. Nicely done, Susan!

[Annie · Rating 3 out of 5]

2.5 stars, rounded up.

“Rebel Queen”by Susan Polgar has a meaningful message and offers valuable insights into overcoming challenges in male-dominated fields like chess. Polgar’s experiences as a trailblazer are undeniably inspiring, and her story highlights important themes of resilience and determination. However, the way the story is presented significantly detracted from my overall enjoyment.

One of my main issues is the tone, which often felt overly self-congratulatory, bordering on braggadocious. While Polgar’s achievements are impressive, the constant emphasis on her successes without enough vulnerability or introspection made it difficult to connect with her journey on a deeper level. A more balanced portrayal of both triumphs and struggles would have added much-needed nuance.

Additionally, the prose felt overly simplistic, which lessened the impact of the story. The writing lacked depth and richness, making it hard to become fully immersed. At times, the book read more like a report or a straightforward recounting of events rather than a compelling narrative. The dialogue and prose as a whole often came across as stiff or unnatural, further distancing me from the characters. While the pacing was steady, the narrative frequently felt repetitive, reiterating points without adding new layers or perspectives.

Another aspect that stood out to me was how Polgar approached her struggles. While I understand that many of the challenges she faced were likely the result of external parties, the narrative often felt like she was placing blame on others without much reflection on how those adversities contributed to her personal growth. Instead of delving into how these experiences shaped her as a person, the book largely focused on reporting the events that happened in her life, which made it feel emotionally detached and, at times, superficial.

Overall, “Rebel Queen”falls short of its potential. While it may resonate with readers looking for a straightforward, motivational story, those seeking a more complex and engaging narrative will likely find it lacking. The combination of simplistic prose, a self-congratulatory tone, a report-like delivery, a lack of emotional connection, and superficial treatment of her struggles ultimately made this a somewhat disappointing read for me.

[Ella · Rating 4 out of 5]

Felt like the best college admissions essay ever written

[Tim · Rating 5 out of 5]

The story of how one of the best female chess players of all time overcame obstacles over the chessboard, behind the Iron Curtain, and within the highest realms of chess organizers and universities. In the end, Susan Polgar achieved so many individual and team honors, helped countless players and teams she coached and mentored, and broke down numerous barriers and biases against women in a field where they had been historically and widely dismissed as unworthy and irrelevant.
Quite an inspiring story!

[KarnagesMistress · Rating 5 out of 5]

I had absolutely no idea who any of the people in this book were, besides a very rudimentary awareness of Bobby Fischer and Garry Kasparov. What drew me to Susan Polgar's story were the Cold War and misogyny aspects. I'm not even sure why chess should be broken down by gender, except maybe for the chance to allow twice as many award winners? (News flash, there's no link between IQ and the Y chromosome.) Yet, any time someone's security is threatened, it is instinct to lash out. The easiest things to lash out against are differences, and what is more striking than the lack of a Y chromosome?

Laszlo Polgar's method of creating a prodigy by encouraging natural curiosity is one that I've always used with success. "Prodigy" might sometimes be a stretch, but you'll definitely get further than if you try to force someone to do something they don't enjoy. Building upon that, the Polgar sisters are fortunate that they all genuinely enjoyed chess. It would also appear that they grew up to be well-rounded adults. I'm glad that Susan Polgar came to realize that she and her sisters were sort of an exception to the rule. All to often, I see children who end up too much like Jennette McCurdy (see, I'm Glad My Mom Died), or, to use the Southern phrase, queer (pronounced kware, like square only with a "k") as football bats due to extreme sheltering and lack of proper socialization.

Sisters Sofia Polgar and Judit Polgár, of course, feature prominently in Susan Polgar's story. Big sis exercised quite a bit of restraint, not completely telling their stories yet telling enough that someone unfamiliar with the family, like me, is inspired to look up their stories, too.

After reading Rebel Queen: The Cold War, Misogyny, and the Making of a Grandmaster, you know what the funniest thing is? I don't want to play chess! When I was a child I enjoyed a good game. Now, I'm completely overwhelmed by the sport. Although, learning about some of the faster/shorter variations gives me hope... That said, I thoroughly enjoyed the book and highly recommend it.

I received this book for free through Goodreads Giveaways. It is an advance reading copy.

[Pumpkin+Bear · Rating 5 out of 5]

This is my regular reminder that I never want to play chess with anyone who can think more than, like, three moves ahead. My favorite games consist of just bopping the pieces about nearly mindlessly, lol!

Although it was never as overt as I wanted it to be, I did love the thread running through this book that concerned the lived experience of gender inequity, and the various ways that it's important to encourage gender equity. In Polgar's early years in Communist Hungary, chess was so male-privileged that the only way Polgar could have a fully equitable, competitive experience was to overtly avoid girls-only tournaments and fight to play with the boys. But as an adult coaching her own students decades later, it was interesting to see her perspective evolve with the time and place to an understanding that there is real value in education and competition that occasionally removes the privileged class from play. When girls don't have the same educational and competitive opportunities as boys, it's important for girls to play with boys so that they, too, can reap the benefits that the boys are already getting. But in a time and place in which education and opportunities for girls really do exist, girls' chess competitions become more important for representation and for allowing participants to learn without also having to navigate pressures from the privileged class.

I was less interested in Polgar's work as an adult, although this was also, of course, revolutionary stuff. There's just something intrinsically more interesting to me in hearing about her own competitions rather than her coaching. I think it's likely from modesty that Polgar didn't go deeper into the part of her coaching career that interested me most--her work with her younger sister, Judit. Judit is the strongest female chess player of all time because not only did her eldest sister train her extensively, but because her eldest sister broke down many of the barriers that perhaps kept her from reaching that height herself. Susan was the one who had to fight to play more competitively and play outside of Hungary and deal with institutional sexism, as well as serve as the guinea pig for the family's system of chess study. I often jokingly refer to my older kid as my "practice child" just because she's the kid I had to learn everything on, with her younger sibling getting the benefit of all those mistakes. So I loved seeing that eldest child energy in action even here.

[David W. Cofer · Rating 4 out of 5]

As an avid fan of the game of chess for over 60 years, I was already familiar with Susan Polgar as well as her sisters, comprising the "famous Polgar sisters." But it was a great pleasure to read Susan's own story in her own words.

She begins the book with her introduction to chess at the age of four, and ends it with her retirement as the chess coach at Webster University. In between, she details the struggles and obstacles she had to overcome in order to achieve her dreams in the world of chess.

I had two issues with the book. Other than that, I really enjoyed the read. First, the subtitle of the book suggests that her gender, female, and misogyny were obstacles she had to overcome. While there was a little gender bias against her, especially as a young girl, it seemed to only play a minor role. As she detailed in the book, the major obstacles she had to hurdle was the corrupt Communist regime in Hungary and being Jewish. The communist leaders of Hungary did not want her to leave the country to play chess, fearful she would emigrate to another country. They would not allow her entire family to travel to chess tournaments in other countries. One or two had to remain behind to assure that Susan would return home.

The second issue I had was she complained of only being able to play in female only tournaments as a youngster. She wanted to play in the mixed tournaments with men and boys. However, as an adult, when she had the opportunity to organize her own chess tournaments, she organized girls only tournaments. That seems hypocritical, considering the stance she took against girls only tournaments earlier in her life.

But other than these two issues, I thoroughly enjoyed the book. It was a quick read and a book I would heartily recommend, whether you are a fan of the game of chess or not.

[MaryL · Rating 4 out of 5]

I enjoyed reading about chess, how Susan Polgar learned how to play at such a young age, and about the different famous chess personalities that she got to know. Those parts of the book had me reading to the end of chapters. About one third of the book was, sorry, a little on the boring side. The writing wasn't captivating enough to make days long chess tournaments exciting enough to me. The tidbits that fascinated me the most were when she said that high-level players memorize the first several moves to make in a chess game and so played almost automatically for a lot of the initial game. Another part that was very good was her description of her friendship with Bobby Fischer when he was on the run from the U S. Susan became friends with Bobby, and helped him to perfect his invention of Fischer Random Chess, also known as Chess960. Susan's description of her family was beautiful, and I loved reading about her dad teaching her chess beginning when she was 3 years old. Susan had found a chess set in a closet at home and wanted to play with the set. But her dad taught her that she would need to learn the proper way to play with the chess set, and he methodically taught her. Susan competed in her first tournament at the age of four years old! When her two younger sisters were born, the two young Polgar sisters also learned early on how to play chess and both became chess champions. So there were a lot of high spots in this book for me, but a little of it was rather tedious.

[Carol Lynn · Rating 4 out of 5]

It takes skill to go through your life, snip out all the bright parts, and then roll them all into a cohesive story. Most people bob through this world--or crash from one scene of their lives to the next--but Susan Polgar has always had a clear directive. The thing giving her life trajectory? Chess. I was a little intimidated by this book at first--when was the last time I had played chess? The only person I liked playing with passed away during Covid. BUT worrying was pointless. Polgar describes her chess matches like battles, so you can feel the emotions of the game, rather than worry about minutiae. She also details new chess knowledge as it comes up through her life--so when young Polgar is learning about zugzwang, we're learning it too.

[Ron Nurmi · Rating 4 out of 5]

This is the story of a chess player, but not a chess book. Zsuzsi (Susan) Polgar fights to be a chess player and recounts the misogyny of many who opposed her because she is female in a "man's" sport.

There are many interesting stories about the chess players she played against throughout the years. She was the first female to earn the chess Grandmaster title by gaining the three norms required. For a long while, she was the #1 ranked female player in the world, only to be finally outranked by her sister Judith (who at one time was the 8th ranked chess player in the world).

[Sharlene Shazzy · Rating 3 out of 5]

First off, I feel incredibly privileged to have gone to a presentation by Susan Polgar, who is unsurprisingly an incredible speaker and educator. Her story is amazing, and I don’t think this book does it justice. Especially in the second half, the book feels more like a recounting of events. It’s missing the connection and vulnerability and exploration of humanity that makes this type of story so powerful. I suspect this book could’ve been much longer, and if it had included those elements, I would’ve happily read every word!

[Amy · Rating 3 out of 5]

Loved the movie, The Queen's Gambit, and found this book's description to be intriguing. Good book...I certainly understand the intricasies of chess much more, and took in a bit of a history lesson as well, but it wasn't an enjoyable read. There were times it felt more like reading one's calendar with names and dates than reading about the actual experiences with those people.
In all, an interesting and educational book, but not the kind I couldn't wait to dive into every evening.

[Matt Farber MD · Rating 5 out of 5]

Compelling story of a young girl and her battle to become a Chess Grandmaster. Fighting misogyny, the Communist Party in Hungary, and antisemitism; this autobiography is a modern day classic of good and evil. Together with the help of her family, as well as missteps along the way, Susan Polgar lives the life of the Queen’s Gambit. I highly recommend this autobiography and find out how her life turns out.

[François Le Grand · Rating 4 out of 5]

Very interesting chess biography from one of the greatest female players of all time. Kasparov, Fischer, Karpov, Anand, Korchnoi, tonnes of legends are mentioned and, of course, Susan's career is phenomenal in itself. Great background of 'Polgaria', the training methods behind the most famous trio ever in Chess and the insane hoops she had to jump through to play chess in men's competitions. Very solid 4 out of 5 stars!

[Bruce E. · Rating 5 out of 5]

worth a good read for anyone

Susan has written such a compelling story about her struggles to make it to the top of the chess world, it should be required reading for anyone interested in how to achieve greatness.

[Steven Ridgely · Rating 4 out of 5]

Another inspiring story about women.

[Niklas · Rating 5 out of 5]

Great autobiography by a truly unique individual.

[Berta · Rating 5 out of 5]

Top book of 2025!! 👏🏻✨

[Tom Mahan · Rating 4 out of 5]

Very interesting story, and a good way to learn about chess tournaments and exhibitions.

[Amanda Michelle · Rating 4 out of 5]

It took me nearly two months, but I finally finished. It's good, I just had a hard time focusing since the loss of my sweet cat, Sassy.

[Beau · Rating 4 out of 5]

An inspiring, and engaging memoir. I have a new chess hero.

[Erwin De · Rating 5 out of 5]

Briljant book from and about a briljant chessplayer and a briljant person

[Tess · Rating 3 out of 5]

There are times when this book feels very shallow (when she gets a bit too list-y), but overall an enjoyable and interesting read.

[Mr R Rattray · Rating 5 out of 5]

Very interesting especially the first half of the book. It changed my view of Laslo Polgar . I thought he had used his children as a way to endorse his views on education but reading this i realised the Polgar sisters chose chess themselves and their parents helped and supported them to the best of their ability standing up to misogyny and comunist dogma. Of course he did home teach and did treat there education as an experiment but it was done in a caring loving and supportive way. And incredibly successfully.

[Kiley · Rating 4 out of 5]

Rebel queen is the memoir of Susan Polgar, the most well known woman in chess history. Who began playing at a time the game was run and played mostly by men. The story follows her life and how she broke down many barriers to become the person she is.

I don't typically read non fiction but I loved this book. The story was inspiring and emotional and I really enjoyed how the focus wasn't just on how good she was at chess but also the obstacles that she faced. I really enjoyed getting to see her growth and how she truly loved chess.