"This inexorable consistency in the realisation of his strategic conceptions is, in my view, the main trait of Boris Gelfand the chess player." Vladimir Kramnik
From experience we know that Chess is quite a complex game where we do not comprehend, leave alone control things on the board. As an observer, I have always been fascinated about a player having a wholesome vision of what is going to happen in the longer run and is steering his army in the short run always keeping the bigger picture in mind. This is clearly illustrated in classical games where one player is clearly stronger than the other and hence is able to carry his plan forward in totality giving quite an instructive view to the aspiring student. As many Gurus rightly feel, this has become increasingly rare in modern chess, because the contemporary master never willingly submits to opponent's will and instead throws the kitchen sink at him and even if he were to perish, would like to alter the course of the game.
Nevertheless there are definitely few occasions in which a player dictates the course of the game as per his vision, and the rarity of such a scenario makes it even more special. Today being the birthday of one of my favourite players( Boris Gelfand) seems like a good time to discuss this aspect. I quote Kramnik from the preface to Boris Gelfand's book- My Most Memorable games( 2004)
'What impresses me most is his ability to create games, where all the moves, from the first to the last, are as though links in a single logical chain. This inexorable consistency in the realisation of his strategic conceptions is, in my view, the main trait of Boris Gelfand the chess player.'
As always World Champion Vladimir Kramnik is clear and to the point! I am sure Boris would agree with him regarding what he considers as his forte. Games at the very top where miniscule errors are exploited and a grand strategy comes to fruition always enthrall me. Boris Gelfand describes this trait of his playing style as one which ,he imbibed from his childhood hero- Akiba Rubinstein who had shown a consistent flair for this aspect in numerous games throughout his career. Let us get started with the chess part
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| Gelfand-Anand Moscow 2012 |
