Igor Zaitsev
Igor Zaitsev | |
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Full name | Igor Arkadyevich Zaitsev |
Country | Russian SFSR, Soviet Union |
Title | Grandmaster (1976) |
Peak rating | 2520 (July 1971) |
Igor Arkadyevich Zaitsev (Russian: Игорь Аркадьевич Зайцев; born 27 May 1938) is a Russian grandmaster of chess.
Early life and family
Zaitsev was born in
Chess career
In 1969, Zaitsev attained the title of
Zaitsev played in six
His results in international tournaments include 2nd at Polanica-Zdrój 1970; 2nd at Dubna 1976; 1st at Quito 1976.
Contribution to theory
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Zaitsev is best known for his contribution to opening theory. His variation of the Ruy Lopez opening (known as the Flohr–Zaitsev Variation, jointly named for Grandmaster Salo Flohr) follows one of the main lines of the Ruy Lopez and remains in wide use today. In the Flohr–Zaitsev Variation, Black plays 9...Bb7 after the moves: 1.e4 e5 2.Nf3 Nc6 3.Bb5 a6 4.Ba4 Nf6 5.0-0 Be7 6.Re1 b5 7.Bb3 d6 8.c3 0-0 9.h3.[2] The move fianchettoes the light-squared bishop, putting pressure on White's pawn on e4.
Coach
Zaitsev became one of the trainers of World Champion
Karpov popularized Zaitsev's line at the top level, playing it with success for many years.[5]
Zaitsev is
Books
- Зайцев, Игорь (2004). Атака в сильном пункте. Советский спорт. ISBN 5-85009-897-6(in Russian)
Notable games
- Igor Arkadievich Zaitsev vs Anatoli Karpov, Leningrad 1966, Russian Game, Center Variation (C43), ½–½
- Yakov Estrin vs Igor Arkadievich Zaitsev, Moscow 1969, Italian Game: Two Knights Defense, Traxler Counterattack (C57), 0–1
- Igor Arkadievich Zaitsev vs Oleg Dementiev, USSR Championship 1970, Sicilian Defense: Najdorf Variation (B90), 1–0
- Apartsev vs Igor Arkadievich Zaitsev, Moscow 1963, Italian Game: Two Knights Defense. Traxler Counterattack (C57), 0–1
References
- ^ "My father was Arkady Aghaian", Chess in Armenia, 52 (891), 2009, p. 4 (in Armenian)
- ISBN 0-19-280049-3.
- ^ Mark Weeks. "World Championships 1984". Retrieved 1 November 2009.
- ^ Mark Weeks. "World Championships 1990". Retrieved 1 November 2009.
- ^ chessgames.com. "Karpov's Zaitsev games". Retrieved 1 November 2009.
- ^ "FIDE Senior Trainers". Retrieved 1 November 2009.
External links
- Igor A Zaitsev chess games at 365Chess.com
- Igor Zaitsev player profile and games at Chessgames.com