Mikhail Botvinnik: The Life and Games of a World Chess Champion

by Andrew Soltis

The games of Mikhail Botvinnik, world chess champion from 1948 to 1963, have been studied by players around the world for decades. But little has been written about Botvinnik himself. This book explores his unusual dual career--as a highly regarded scientist as well as the first truly professional chess player--as well as his complex relations with Soviet leaders, including Josef Stalin, his bitter rivalries, and his doomed effort to create the perfect chess-playing computer program. The book has more than 85 games, 127 diagrams, twelve photographs, a chronology of his life and career, a bibliography, an index of openings, an index of opponents, and a general index.

Genres: Chess, Nonfiction, Biography

284 pages, Paperback

First published December 31, 2013

Reviews

[Yves Surmont · Rating 4 out of 5]

Soltis is a great chess journalist & writer, but I must say that this book did not captivate me as much as his work on Marshall. Somehow logical, as he knew Carrie Marshall, and had direct access to the Marshall club archives, while his sources to Botvinnik were a little more indirect.

[Mike Davis · Rating 4 out of 5]

Temporary impressions: This book fills a previously open slot in the legacy of this great chess grand master. Other books examine specific tournaments or his play against specific opponents. Others were written and annotated by Botvinnik himself and are somewhat out of date due to occasional faulty analysis (authors today use powerful computer engines as a double check), out of print, or unavailable outside of the Russian language.

This book by Andrew Soltis, a highly respected grand master and author, gives a thoroughly researched and well referenced biography, and includes representative and remarkable games, often comparing Botvinnik's own analysis with modern views of the position. There are 87 complete games using algebraic notation, along with a few isolated positions, and many anecdotes, quotations and other interesting information.

I don't know if I'd call this the definitive biography of this great master, and I haven't had time to work through the book at the chess board which is far more time-consuming than simply reading, but it looks like a real winner at first glance.

Critical review to follow as time permits. This book was provided by the publisher in exchange for an honest review.