chessgames.com

Bogoljubov 
 
Efim Bogoljubov
Number of games in database: 1,020
Years covered: 1909 to 1952
Overall record: +478 -246 =288 (61.5%)*
   * Overall winning percentage = (wins+draws/2) / total games
      Based on games in the database; may be incomplete.
      8 exhibition games, odds games, etc. are excluded from this statistic.

MOST PLAYED OPENINGS
With the White pieces:
 Ruy Lopez (52) 
    C77 C68 C65 C83 C98
 Orthodox Defense (51) 
    D63 D64 D52 D55 D56
 Queen's Gambit Declined (46) 
    D37 D30 D35 D06
 French Defense (43) 
    C11 C13 C12 C17 C18
 Queen's Pawn Game (36) 
    D02 A45 A46 A40 A50
 Nimzo Indian (32) 
    E21 E42 E38 E23 E37
With the Black pieces:
 Ruy Lopez (58) 
    C91 C77 C68 C64 C86
 Queen's Pawn Game (49) 
    A46 D05 A40 A45 D04
 Sicilian (46) 
    B40 B83 B80 B23 B20
 Orthodox Defense (45) 
    D52 D51 D63 D64 D58
 Semi-Slav (31) 
    D43 D46 D48 D45 D49
 Nimzo Indian (31) 
    E38 E36 E21 E24 E34
Repertoire Explorer

NOTABLE GAMES: [what is this?]
   Bogoljubov vs Mieses, 1925 1-0
   Bogoljubov vs Alekhine, 1929 1-0
   Bogoljubov vs Muller, 1934 1-0
   Bogoljubov vs Spielmann, 1919 1-0
   Bogoljubov vs NN, 1952 1-0
   Bogoljubov vs Grekov, 1914 1-0
   Bogoljubov vs Alekhine, 1929 1-0
   Bogoljubov vs G A Thomas, 1922 1/2-1/2
   Bogoljubov vs Ed Lasker, 1924 1-0
   E Eliskases vs Bogoljubov, 1939 1/2-1/2

WORLD CHAMPIONSHIPS: [what is this?]
   Alekhine-Bogoljubov World Championship Match (1929)
   Alekhine-Bogoljubov World Championship Rematch (1934)

GAME COLLECTIONS: [what is this?]
   Super Bogo 2 by policrates
   Super Bogo 3 by policrates
   Super Bogo 1 by policrates
   Bogo's Best Games by backrank
   Forgoten Gems by Yopo
   the rivals 1 by ughaibu
   Bled 1931 international tournament by cuendillar
   Bled 1931 by Benzol

GAMES ANNOTATED BY BOGOLJUBOV: [what is this?]
   Rubinstein vs Maroczy, 1920
   Ilyin-Zhenevsky vs Lasker, 1925
   Lasker vs Spielmann, 1925
   Reti vs Rubinstein, 1919
   Lasker vs F Bohatirchuk, 1925
   >> 6 GAMES ANNOTATED BY BOGOLJUBOV

Search Sacrifice Explorer for Efim Bogoljubov
Search Google for Efim Bogoljubov


EFIM BOGOLJUBOV
(born Apr-14-1889, died Jun-18-1952) Ukraine (citizen of Germany)
PRONUNCIATION:
[what is this?]
Efim Dimitrievich Bogoljubov was born in Stanislavitsk, Kiev. After being a prisoner in Germany during the First World War he was 1st at Berlin 1919 http://www.thechesslibrary.com/file.... His first great international success was Bad Pistyan 1922 Game Collection: Bad Pistyan 1922 After winning the Karlsbad 1923, http://www.worldchesslinks.net/eziq... (sharing the 1st place with Alexander Alekhine), he won the U.S.S.R. championship twice, in 1924 [rusbase-1] and 1925 [rusbase-2] [rusbase-3], before relocating to Germany. His greatest international victory came at the Moscow tournament of 1925 [rusbase-4], where he finished 1.5 points ahead of a field that included Emanuel Lasker as well as Jose Raul Capablanca, the former and current World champions. At Kissingen 1928 http://www.worldchesslinks.net/eziq..., he again won first prize ahead of Capablanca, and in 1929 Alekhine-Bogoljubov World Championship Match (1929) and 1934 Alekhine-Bogoljubov World Championship Rematch (1934) he played two World Championship matches with Alekhine, losing both times.

After World War II his chess career was discontinued until 1949. FIDE first awarded the International Grandmaster title in 1950, but denied the title to Bogoljubov because he had been an ardent supporter of Hitler. It awarded him the title the following year.

Wikipedia article: Efim Bogoljubov


 page 1 of 41; games 1-25 of 1,020  PGN Download
Game  ResultMoves Year Event/LocaleOpening
1. V Omeliansky vs Bogoljubov 0-134 1909 Championship Of KievC70 Ruy Lopez
2. Rotlewi vs Bogoljubov 1-025 1910 Warsaw TournamentA53 Old Indian
3. Rotlewi vs Bogoljubov  1-025 1910 WTZGSz 10th anniversary tournamentA53 Old Indian
4. Bogoljubov vs S Rozental 1-039 1911 PetersburgD33 Queen's Gambit Declined, Tarrasch
5. Hromadka vs Bogoljubov 0-131 1912 All Russian Amateur TtC45 Scotch Game
6. Bogoljubov vs S Langleben  1-032 1912 All Russian Amateur TtA82 Dutch, Staunton Gambit
7. Bogoljubov vs Taubenhaus 1-048 1913 PetersburgC68 Ruy Lopez, Exchange
8. Bogoljubov vs Carls 1-020 1914 MannheimD93 Grunfeld, with Bf4 & e3
9. A Rabinovich vs Bogoljubov 0-132 1914 Baden Baden opC33 King's Gambit Accepted
10. Alekhine vs Bogoljubov 0-127 1914 St. Petersburg (Russia)C64 Ruy Lopez, Classical
11. Bogoljubov vs I Rabinovich 1-037 1914 BadenC66 Ruy Lopez
12. Breyer vs Bogoljubov 0-127 1914 MannheimD01 Richter-Veresov Attack
13. Bogoljubov vs Alekhine 0-143 1914 Rastatt blindfoldB20 Sicilian
14. S Von Freymann vs Bogoljubov 1-022 1914 St. Petersburg (Russia)A02 Bird's Opening
15. Bogoljubov vs Mieses 1-088 1914 MannheimA40 Queen's Pawn Game
16. Bogoljubov vs S Vainshtein  ½-½28 1914 BadenC65 Ruy Lopez, Berlin Defense
17. P Krueger vs Bogoljubov ½-½35 1914 MannheimC66 Ruy Lopez
18. Bogoljubov vs Alapin  ½-½52 1914 PetersburgD11 Queen's Gambit Declined Slav
19. Alekhine vs Bogoljubov 1-021 1914 Rastatt blindfoldC26 Vienna
20. Janowski vs Bogoljubov 1-019 1914 MannheimD60 Queen's Gambit Declined, Orthodox Defense
21. Tarrasch vs Bogoljubov ½-½65 1914 MannheimC64 Ruy Lopez, Classical
22. Flamberg vs Bogoljubov 0-124 1914 Triberg (Germany)C80 Ruy Lopez, Open
23. M Lowcki vs Bogoljubov 1-054 1914 St Petersburg2D55 Queen's Gambit Declined
24. Salwe vs Bogoljubov 0-140 1914 PetersburgA53 Old Indian
25. Alekhine vs Bogoljubov 1-042 1914 MannheimC26 Vienna
 page 1 of 41; games 1-25 of 1,020  PGN Download
  REFINE SEARCH:   White wins (1-0) | Black wins (0-1) | Draws (1/2-1/2) | Bogoljubov wins | Bogoljubov loses  
 

Kibitzer's Corner
< Earlier Kibitzing  · PAGE 12 OF 12 ·  Later Kibitzing>
Apr-07-12  King Death: < offramp: I would certainly say top 20. The chessmetrics page I quoted earlier says this: "Best World Rank: #1 (2 different months between the January 1927 rating list and the February 1927 rating list) Highest Rating: 2768 on the January 1927 rating list, #1 in world, age 37y9m Best Individual Performance: 2762 in Moscow, 1925, scoring 10/14 (71%) vs 2647-rated opposition."

So Bogo was at one point the world No 1.>

Sure and even if we accept this as gospel, that system rated Maroczy as king of the hill briefly. Do you seriously believe that either of these players were the strongest at any given time? Also I'll bet Bogo's two month "reign" came to an end after New York 1927. You know, the one where Vidmar and Marshall played but not Bogo. And those players weren't stronger than Bogoljubow either.

Two months as #1 and some nice tournament wins aren't exactly enough to get a pass into this group of the top 20. There are too many guys like Korchnoi and Keres after we get past the heavyweights that won the title.

Apr-07-12  ughaibu: Only three players ever finished a tournament above both Lasker and Capablanca. Here's a collection celebrating this fact: Game Collection: On the shoulders of giants
Apr-07-12  JohnDahl: You have the wrong collection. Epic fail.
Apr-07-12  ughaibu: Really? Why's that then?
Apr-07-12  JohnDahl: You work it out.
Apr-07-12  ughaibu: It is impossible to work out that which is false. So, I'll forgo the futility of the attempt.
Apr-07-12  JohnDahl: Futility would be trying to stand on one's own shoulders.

What a muppet! http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=56sZ...

Apr-14-12  balzarius: Happy birthday,grandmaster!
May-16-12  Call Me TC: C.N. 2704:

<Wanted: substantiation of this brief news report on page 215 of the July-September 1949 CHESS:

<Bogoljubow has written in a Russian language newspaper circulating mainly in the States that he does not recognize the world championship tournament just concluded because he was not invited.>>

Nov-03-12  Paraconti: This dude has the look that would've made a perfect Bond baddie.
Nov-14-12
Premium Chessgames Member
  Chessical: German Language interview with Bogoljubow published in the Kasseler Neueste Nachrichten of 17-18 December 1932 (Source: Edward Winter's Chess Notes 5274 & 7833)

Interview with Grandmaster Bogolyubov

Our chess staffer, Mr Heinemann, had the opportunity yesterday to chat with grandmaster chess Bogolyubov on some current issues:

First Question: Which of your skills do you attribute your success as a chess master? Answer: First of all my imagination, also my memory and my talent for rapidly appraising positions.

Second Question: Can we learn to "play good chess" scientifically? Answer: No, whilst scientific training can probably lead to great improvement, chess is art and praxis. Personality is important.

Third Question: Which of your opponents is the most difficult? Answer: This is a question of conscience, but listen: I could previously never win against Capablanca. Even in a winning position, I still lost. However, I believe that today I would do better, because I no longer play in so spirited a fashion; I became sober.

4th Question: Everyone thinks you're an optimist. What do you say to this assessment of your personality? Answer: People who know nothing of chess or of the interpretation of character state that I am an optimist. On the other hand, I realize that I am a pessimist by nature. My wife says correctly: (!) ". You should always expect the worst, because if things turn out better, you will be pleased."

5th Question: Why is it that currently Germany has no players of world ranking apart from you? Answer: German chess life is over organized. Many talented players are restricted by this.

6th Question: Do you believe that in the foreseeable future a new talent will emerge? Answer: For the time being I do not see anyone who has such a talent. Maybe Dr. Ludwig Roedl could do it, if he had a strong will to do so. You see, there is Kurt Paul Otto Joseph Richter, his genial disposition lacks the strength of will - there is Georg Kieninger, who for various reasons has only now emerged, but now is much too old for the battle at the top. Frankly, I can see no new German grandmaster for the time being.

Dec-05-12
Premium Chessgames Member
  jessicafischerqueen: In his memoir <"My Life Path to Vlasov and Manifesto of Prague" (San Francisco, 1978)>, Fedor Parfenovich Bohatirchuk claims that <Bogo> actually joined the Nazi Party.
Dec-05-12  thomastonk: <jessicafischerqueen: joined the Nazi Party.> Here are a few more details: http://tartajubow.blogspot.de/2012/....

In particular, this Bohartirchuk quote is given: “It was not a secret that Bogo did not like the Bolsheviks, but I think only a few people knew that he was treating Hitler's wild ideas with at least equal revulsion and contempt.” Does he give a source for this?

BTW, I have seen also propaganda against Bogo in the early Nazi years in the the newspaper "Aachener Anzeiger - Politisches Tageblatt" (see also my kibitzing of MAR-27-12). To give an example: on March 16, 1934 the list of participants of Game Collection: Zurich 1934 was given, and it was noted that 4 jews were invited, but no German. This was definitely a side blow to Lasker, but also to Bogoljubov, who was naturalized citizen and who lived in Germany.

Dec-05-12
Premium Chessgames Member
  jessicafischerqueen: <thomastonk> No, Bohartirchuk does not give a source for his claim. I think the jury is still out on this issue until someone digs up <Bogo's> Party membership card. I doubt such a document will ever come to light.

I very much appreciate your additional information- I had in fact read your earlier posts on this controversial subject. <Bohartirchuk's> own past is controversial in this respect- <Botvinnik>, for one, was convinced that <Boha> had collaborated with the Nazis and should be "hanged." The story on that comes from <Andy Soltis'> fine McFarland publication on the history of Soviet chess. <Soltis> also indicates that there is some evidence that <Bogo> helped a few masters escape to safety during the war. I left that book at work, I'll look at at tomorrow and post the relevant passage for you and all.

Dec-05-12  ughaibu: On the principle that the accused is assumed innocent until proven guilty, the jury is not out. Unless it can be shown that Bogolubow was a member of the Nazi party, the claim that he was has no substance and should be condemned, outright and without reservation.
Dec-05-12
Premium Chessgames Member
  jessicafischerqueen: <ughaibu> yes, with respect to the specific claim that <Bogo> did in fact belong to the Nazi party, you are correct.

You will understand, however, that many people might think it likely that the claim is true.

That said, I'm not going to judge <Bogo> or <Klaus Junge> or <Alekhine> for their connections-such as they may have existed- to the Nazi Regime in such a way that I think "they were reprehensible men."

They were chessmasters first and foremost. Speaking only for myself, I'm a fan of their games, and I find much else in all three men to admire besides their chess ability. There are less admirable aspects to them as well, of course.

At the end of the day, given their lives and times, I think it's a mistake to be too judgmental, particularly with respect to speculative claims that have not been proven.

Dec-05-12  thomastonk: <jessicafischerqueen> Thank you very much for your response. I am not sure what you have in mind with <I had in fact read your earlier posts on this controversial subject.> To be honest, I know much too less to have an own opinion about Bogo's relation to the Nazis.

The German town Aachen, where I live since 30 years, has played a prominent role in chess during Nazi times (several tournaments, two national championships). So, I sometimes find something that could be interesting for others, and then I post it.

In 1934 there appeared in that newspaper an open letter from local chess officials directly against Bogoljubov. In later years, when Germany prepared with Bogo's help for the Chess Olympiad Munich 1936 (see http://www.chesshistory.com/winter/...), the propaganda against him was not repeated. Instead the newspaper published some of his games and comments.

Dec-05-12
Premium Chessgames Member
  jessicafischerqueen: <thomastonk> fascinating. Thanks for posting yet another relevant link on the topic as well.

Here is a visual aid in case anyone wonders what I think after I read a good chess history post:

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=cFod...

Dec-06-12
Premium Chessgames Member
  jessicafischerqueen: <thomastonk> ok here's the story I mentioned yesterday.

When the Germans captured Kiev in 1941, <Bohatyrchuk> was a member of the city council, and he served for three years under a Nazi puppet government.

<"Was he a life-saver or a collaborator? Boris Spassky, in a 1997 lecture, recalled that he met Bohatrychuk in 1967 and said that during the occupation of Kiev 'he saved hundreds of people.' But Spassky added that when he showed Botvinnik a postcard he received in 1970 from Bohatrychuk, Botvinnik said: "I would personally <<<hang this man>>> in the center of the city.">

When the Red Army retook Kiev, <Boha> fled west and played in a Nazi-sponsored tournament in Poland, where he roomed with <Bogoljubow>.

As for <Bogo>, apparently he helped at least one master escape:

<"Bogolyubov... played a role in bringing another master through the lines. Alexey Selesniev... was living in Stalinio... when it was overrun by the Nazis. Bogolyubov, who had not seen Selesniev in 17 years, apparently managed to get him <<<transferred>>> to Triberg... Selesniev eventually reaached Bordeaux, France, where he died, virtually forgotten, at age 79 in 1967.">

Source- <Soviet Chess 1917-1991> Andrew Soltis. McFarland 2000, p145.

Dec-06-12
Premium Chessgames Member
  perfidious: <jess> Small wonder Bohatyrchuk fled west-the Soviets would surely have tried and executed him as a collaborator, had he not managed to escape their clutches.
Dec-06-12
Premium Chessgames Member
  Benzol: Botvinnik might have wanted to hang him for being one of the few leading players who had a plus score against him.
Dec-06-12
Premium Chessgames Member
  perfidious: <Paul> Maybe so; to do as Bohatyrchuk did against Mikhail Moiseevich would have got him burnt at the stake or tried as a witch in earlier days.
Dec-06-12
Premium Chessgames Member
  keypusher: <Benzol: Botvinnik might have wanted to hang him for being one of the few leading players who had a plus score against him.>

I read an article about Bohatyrchuk in Chess Life in the 80s. It recounts that sometime in the 1930s Botvinnik gave Bohatyrchuk a book (don't know which one) with the self-deprecating inscription that he hoped it would improve Bohatyrchuk's opinion of his play. If true, that would indicate that Botvinnik wanted to hang B. later for being (in Botvinnik's eyes) a traitor, not for beating him.

I'd love to read that article again.

Dec-07-12
Premium Chessgames Member
  jessicafischerqueen: <perfidious> Yes as you say, <Boha> had every reason to believe his life was in imminent danger as the Red Army approached Kiev.

One of the reasons the Soviets got even angrier with him, however, is that he subsequently joined a very strange "Pro-German army of liberation" on his circuitious, and highly dangerous, journey from Kiev to safe haven in Ottawa.

He loved Kiev, and he always thought of himself as a Ukrainian first, and whatever else they forced him to be after. He'd already risked his life earlier on numerous occasions. He states that he got away with begging off a Soviet chess event on the grounds that Kiev had already changed hands 12 times and he'd prefer to stay home and be with his family in case something even more heinous happened. He also recounts the story when he had to do some fast talking to avoid prison or worse when he inadvertently purchased a fur coat from an NKVD officer in a "sting" operation.

In his own memoirs, he makes it clear that he had little use for either Stalin or Hitler's governments.

Easy call for many of us to make, but perhaps significantly more difficult for someone who lived square in the path of both governments, as <Boha> did.

Dec-13-12
Premium Chessgames Member
  perfidious: <jess> Never read B's memoirs, but that sounds like a perilous business, from only the details I knew-which were less than what you have provided.

It was one thing to be in Paul Keres' shoes, and even Keres escaped danger by a mere hair's breadth after playing in events under German auspices. For a player of somewhat lesser stature to have engaged in what the Soviets would have considered outright collaboration would have meant a certain date with the executioner.

Did not Bohatyrchuk wind up in Bavaria (American zone of occupation) in the aftermath of the fall of the Nazis? That was a break, compared to what consequences would have ensued had he been caught in the Soviet Zone or one of the countries they occupied.

Jump to page #    (enter # from 1 to 12)
< Earlier Kibitzing  · PAGE 12 OF 12 ·  Later Kibitzing>
NOTE: You need to pick a username and password to post a reply. Getting your account takes less than a minute, totally anonymous, and 100% free--plus, it entitles you to features otherwise unavailable. Pick your username now and join the chessgames community!
If you already have an account, you should login now.
Please observe our posting guidelines:
  1. No obscene, racist, sexist, or profane language.
  2. No spamming, advertising, or duplicating posts.
  3. No personal attacks against other users.
  4. Nothing in violation of United States law.
Blow the Whistle See something which violates our rules? Blow the whistle and inform an administrator.


NOTE: Keep all discussion on the topic of this page. This forum is for this specific player and nothing else. If you want to discuss chess in general, or this site, you might try the Kibitzer's Café.
Messages posted by Chessgames members do not necessarily represent the views of Chessgames.com, its employees, or sponsors.
Spot an error? Please suggest your correction and help us eliminate database mistakes!


home | about | login | logout | F.A.Q. | your profile | preferences | Premium Membership | Kibitzer's Café | Biographer's Bistro | new kibitzing | chessforums | Tournament Index | Player Directory | World Chess Championships | Opening Explorer | Guess the Move | Game Collections | ChessBookie Game | Chessgames Challenge | Little ChessPartner | privacy notice | contact us
Copyright 2001-2013, Chessgames Services LLC
Web design & database development by 20/20 Technologies