Who is the best pure attacking player?
a. Tal
b. Topalov
c. Shirov
d. Kasparov
e. Another choice
Chess Daily News from Susan Polgar
Who is the best attacking player?
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Kasparov, because he is supernatural and the others are human beings. Tal comes second
Tal WAS the best.
Topalov
I think we need to wait more to see “real” Topalov.
As of now I admire Kasparov.
P. Anandh
I am the best! ANONYMOUS! Want to see some of my games? I can post them here, if you wish.
It is so strange than IM is a stronger abbreviation than WGM. Boo to the title makers. USA for FIDE President!
Tal was best
2nd Topalov did you see Mbtel?
3nd Judid Polgar. Kasparov was the best from all but not so attacking style like the others.
Rusty Dodge in 1889 has no equal. He carried his loaded gun into every match he played and repeatedly spun the cylinder, occasionally dry firing one of the three empty cylinders at his opponent. As he was the sheriff of the town, no one dared win.
Thus he earned the title, history’s greatest attacking chess player.
No one in chess is an attacker! Why? Because all with black pieces are playing a “defense”, meaning they are defending! Applause….
The right to attack belongs to White! Then why is the Alekhine’s defense called a defense, when black attacks on its first move?!
Should children start playing chess before or after they learn how to write?
samikd said it best.
I personally prefer Alekhine but from the list I would go with Kasparov.
Why? Kasparov’s attack had a strong positional foundation (like Alekhine) so it was sound.
Tal is also one of my favorite players but his attacks were not always sound.
Too early to say about Topalov.
– VV
I would prefer Alekhine because of his ability to create a positional base from which to launch attacks. Kasparov was a genius at wringing maximum power out of his pieces, but I would place Alekhine just above him. Tal was the master of the speculative sacrifice, but perhaps less positionally sound than the previous two.
Tal was the best attacker because he also attacked you *psychologically*. There is also a lesser known player that was a brilliant attacker Leonid Stein. If he had lived longer his name would be on your “popular” list.
Sorry, didn’t realize at first that the stress was on ‘attacking’.
In that case, the greatest ATTACKER of all times is Rashid Gabiatovich Nezhmetdinov.
Paul Morphy
– Enrique
Again I answer with Bobby Fischer! Bobby played a limited number of openings that his opponents new were coming and yet could not stop ala the Ruy Lopez and Najdorf! Fischer counter attacks or betters his position on almost every move. Add to that his tenacious will to win and to avoid draws at all costs make him simply the greatest! Paul Morphy was 2nd.
TFK
obviously Emory Tate!!!!
I think Spielman was one of the greatest attackers ever.
Tal. But when Nezhmetdinov was “on”, he was as good as any of the greats.
KAMSKY FOR SURE!!!
I like Tal. If you look at his games with white against the french defense where he sacs 2 pieces and mates in under 20 moves those are awesome and almost make you want to believe the french is unsound.
I’m reallu surprised….nobody mentions Fischer!!! In him prime..when he attacked…that was it…just let him have a position he can attack in and it was usually over. Tal and Kasparov were always like a hiwire act…chances boths sides…Fisher simply crushed.
My vote is Fishcher…um..(In his prime)
Well, Tal really had some great attacking games. Not always objectively correct attacking sacrifices, but chess is a practical game. Easier to attack than defend.
Then again, best player ranks above best attacking player. Kasparov ranks high above Tal, but that is another story…
Harry Pillsbury
The magician from Riga
Go Sultan Khan!!
Hmmm….Seirawan once recommended:
Adolph Anderssen (1818-1879): [the Immortal Game vs Kieseritzky, London, 1851 and the Evergreen Game vs Dufresne, Berlin, 1852]
Paul Morphy (1837-1884): Probably Andersson’s equal in attacking play and generally recognized as the first to understand modern chess principles–develop before attacking and fight for control of the center at least a half century before his contemporaries. [Morphy vs the Duke of Braunschweig and Count Isouard, Paris, 1858]
Rudolph Spielmann (1883-1942): Famous attacking player of particular note [Spielmann vs A. Flamberg, Mannheim, 1914 and Spielmann vs R. L’Hermet, Madbegurg, 1927]
Frank Marshall (1877-1944): Great attacking player, losing in matches to Lasker (1907) and Capablanca (1909) as they avoided his attacking style. Lasker played for strategically difficult positions while Capablanca played for simple positions, both strategies effectively neutrilizing Marshall’s attacking genius. [The Pipe Game, Marshall vs A. Burn, Paris, 1900 and Marshall vs A. Rubinstein, Lodz, 1908]
Alexander Alekhine (1892-1946): Employed extraordinary attacking skill. His attaking skill was probably overshadowed by the simple fact that he was the first truly modern champion to tirelessly study and master all phases of the game, including being the first great theorist of openings. First champion to tirelessly study challengers entire chess careers and psychological make-ups before match play (since copied by Botvinnik, Fischer, Karpov, Kasparov, and possibly Kramnik) [R. Reti vs Alekhine, Baden-Baden, 1925, in this game Alekhine’s attack from move 26 through move 40 was once called by Fischer “the deepest attack ever played” -and- Alekhibe vs Em Lasker, Zurich, 1934]
Mikhail Tal (1936-1992): In 1960, when the 24 year old Tal defeated Grandmaster on his way to defeating Botvinnik, who said “the way he [Tal] sets out the game, he was not interested in the objectivity of the position, whether it’s better or worse, he only needed room for his pieces.” [Tal vs Miller, Los Angeles, 1988, truly a stunning victory by Tal, played against 1 of 20 opponents in a simultaneous exhibition! -and- Tal vs Forbes, Chicago, 1988, another brilliant attacking virtuosity by Tal played against 1 of thirty opponents in a simultaneous exhibition! -and- Gurgenidze vs Tal, Moscow, 1957, here Tal shows how he destroyed Grandmasters with his attacking style as easily as he obliterated amateurs!]
Garry Kasparov (1963- ): A master of all openings, Kasparov slices and dices his opponents with his blistering attacks and combinations that are every bit the equal of Tal’s and Alekhine’s. The following three games illustrate well how Kasparov’s preparation and blinding attacking style. [Hubner vs Kasparov, Hamburg, 1985, Match Game 1 -and- Kasparov vs U. Andersson, Tillburg, 1981 -and- Kasparov vs Gheorghiu, Moscow, 1982]
Tal is the best ATTACKING player.
Kasparov is the best player.
Tal’ was the best in his time
I am the best in mine. Tate
From that list, Tal was the best. But also Alekhine and Nezhmetdinov were great too.
In Chicago 1988, it should read “Tal-Forbis”, not “Forbes.”
Robert Forbis
In Chicago 1988, it should read “Tal-Forbis”, not “Forbes.”
Robert Forbis
If it is ATTACK, then it is Nezhmedtinov
Jobava Baadur, not the best, but one of the best.
mikhal tal