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Larsen 
 
Bent Larsen
Number of games in database: 2,528
Years covered: 1948 to 2008
Current FIDE rating: 2415
Highest rating achieved in database: 2625
Overall record: +1110 -578 =790 (60.7%)*
   * Overall winning percentage = (wins+draws/2) / total games
      Based on games in the database; may be incomplete.
      50 exhibition games, odds games, etc. are excluded from this statistic.

MOST PLAYED OPENINGS
With the White pieces:
 King's Indian (133) 
    E90 E60 E62 E97 E94
 Sicilian (131) 
    B21 B52 B40 B80 B50
 English (98) 
    A15 A13 A14 A10 A17
 English, 1 c4 c5 (91) 
    A30 A37 A36 A34 A38
 English, 1 c4 e5 (69) 
    A20 A25 A29 A26 A21
 King's Indian Attack (69) 
    A07 A08
With the Black pieces:
 Sicilian (322) 
    B30 B27 B38 B39 B56
 Queen's Pawn Game (87) 
    A40 A46 E00 A41 A45
 Sicilian Dragon (71) 
    B38 B39 B35 B34 B36
 Caro-Kann (69) 
    B19 B16 B14 B10 B18
 English (68) 
    A10 A15 A17 A16 A14
 Queen's Indian (64) 
    E15 E12 E16 E14 E18
Repertoire Explorer

NOTABLE GAMES: [what is this?]
   Larsen vs Petrosian, 1966 1-0
   Fischer vs Larsen, 1970 0-1
   Larsen vs Spassky, 1964 1-0
   Larsen vs Geller, 1960 1-0
   Petrosian vs Larsen, 1966 0-1
   Larsen vs A Matanovic, 1965 1-0
   P H Nielsen vs Larsen, 1997 0-1
   Taimanov vs Larsen, 1970 0-1
   Larsen vs J Penrose, 1969 1-0
   Larsen vs Kavalek, 1970 1-0

GAME COLLECTIONS: [what is this?]
   IGM Bent Larsen by 64rutor
   "Larsen's Selected Games" by Bent Larsen by OBIT
   Larsen Plays the Larsen by willyfly
   Nimzowitsch/Larsen Attack by Raymond Keene by willyfly
   4 x 25 (Keres & Nei) by Chessdreamer
   Master of Attack--Best Games of Bent Larsen by Ron
   Garry Kasparov's On My Great Predecessors (4) by AdrianP
   Larsen's Opening P-QN3 by Andrew Soltis by willyfly

Search Sacrifice Explorer for Bent Larsen
Search Google® for Bent Larsen


BENT LARSEN
(born Mar-04-1935) Denmark

[what is this?]
Bent Jorgen Larsen was born March 4, 1935 in Denmark. At age 19 he became an International Master, and two years later he achieved the grandmaster title. In 1964 he won the Amsterdam Interzonal and advanced to the semifinals of the Candidates, where he lost to Mikhail Tal. He again won the Interzonal in 1967, and again made the Candidates' semifinals before losing to Boris Spassky, who went on to win the World Championship the next year.

For his tournament achievements during 1967, including first-place finishes in Palma and Havana, he later became the recipient of the inaugural Chess Oscar award. When the U.S.S.R. vs. the Rest of the World match took place in 1970, he played top board for the World, scoring 1.5-1.5 against World Champion Spassky.

In 1971 he made the Candidates' semifinals for the third consecutive time. His opponent was his constant rival, Robert James Fischer. They met in Denver and, to the astonishment of most of the chess world, Larsen was shut out, losing all six match games. After that defeat his position in the world rankings gradually slipped back, although he did achieve another Interzonal victory at Biel in 1976. Larsen now lives in Argentina and is still active in tournaments. Today the opening move 1. b3, which he occasionally played, is called the Nimzo-Larsen attack after him.


 page 1 of 102; games 1-25 of 2,528  PGN Download
Game  ResultMoves Year Event/LocaleOpening
1. Larsen vs W Lauridsen 1-024 1948 Hostelbro/HerningC35 King's Gambit Accepted, Cunningham
2. Larsen vs Laursen 1-052 1950 Holstebro springC36 King's Gambit Accepted, Abbazia Defense
3. Larsen vs K Blom 1-025 1951 HerningC34 King's Gambit Accepted
4. Larsen vs L Joyner 1-032 1951 Birmingham-jrC30 King's Gambit Declined
5. Larsen vs P Ravn 1-035 1952 Herning, mesterklassC35 King's Gambit Accepted, Cunningham
6. Larsen vs E Pedersen  0-159 1952 Aabybro mA13 English
7. E Pedersen vs Larsen  0-140 1952 Aabybro mE48 Nimzo-Indian, 4.e3 O-O 5.Bd3 d5
8. Larsen vs E Pedersen  ½-½46 1952 Aabybro mB54 Sicilian
9. E Pedersen vs Larsen  1-058 1952 Aabybro mC65 Ruy Lopez, Berlin Defense
10. Nielsen vs Larsen 0-140 1953 DEN-chC65 Ruy Lopez, Berlin Defense
11. K Darga vs Larsen  1-049 1953 Wch U20 qual-BC82 Ruy Lopez, Open
12. Larsen vs J Enevoldsen  ½-½42 1953 Copenhagen mA08 King's Indian Attack
13. Larsen vs Ivkov  ½-½24 1953 Wch U20 final-AB58 Sicilian
14. J Penrose vs Larsen  ½-½39 1953 Wch U20 qual-BE47 Nimzo-Indian, 4.e3 O-O 5.Bd3
15. C Poulsen vs Larsen 1-026 1953 DEN-chE10 Queen's Pawn Game
16. Larsen vs M Mallofre 1-048 1953 Wch U20 qual-BB52 Sicilian, Canal-Sokolsky (Rossolimo) Attack
17. J Enevoldsen vs Larsen  ½-½35 1953 Copenhagen mC82 Ruy Lopez, Open
18. Panno vs Larsen 1-083 1953 Wch U20 final-AE18 Queen's Indian, Old Main line, 7.Nc3
19. Larsen vs J Sherwin  ½-½45 1953 Wch U20 qual-BE68 King's Indian, Fianchetto, Classical Variation, 8.e4
20. J Enevoldsen vs Larsen  ½-½37 1953 Copenhagen mC65 Ruy Lopez, Berlin Defense
21. F Scafarelli vs Larsen  1-041 1953 Wch U20 qual-BA15 English
22. Larsen vs J Enevoldsen  ½-½59 1953 Copenhagen mE04 Catalan, Open, 5.Nf3
23. Larsen vs D Keller  1-041 1953 Wch U20 final-AB56 Sicilian
24. P Saar vs Larsen 0-138 1953 Junior VM,CopenhagenC34 King's Gambit Accepted
25. F Roessel vs Larsen  0-138 1953 Wch U20 qual-BE41 Nimzo-Indian
 page 1 of 102; games 1-25 of 2,528  PGN Download
  REFINE SEARCH:   White wins (1-0) | Black wins (0-1) | Draws (1/2-1/2) | Larsen wins | Larsen loses  
 

Kibitzer's Corner
< Earlier Kibitzing  · PAGE 17 OF 17 ·  Later Kibitzing >
Feb-25-10
Premium Chessgames Member
  parisattack: Probably the one with the ...Ba6 shot, tying white in knots.
Feb-25-10
Premium Chessgames Member
  moronovich: <parisattack> Yes it was the one with ..Ba6 ! White resigned.

To me it was a very surprising choice from Bents behalf ( but HE should know what he was taking about;). Perhaps he likes it due to its clarity,compared to his other masterpieces of more "caotic" nature. And perhaps first of all because it changed the theory of some main line in QG.Kasparov also uses it in his OMGP.

Feb-25-10
Premium Chessgames Member
  parisattack: <To me it was a very surprising choice from Bents behalf ( but HE should know what he was taking about;). Perhaps he likes it due to its clarity,compared to his other masterpieces of more "caotic" nature. And perhaps first of all because it changed the theory of some main line in QG.Kasparov also uses it in his OMGP.>

All of that, probably. But its not one in his grand hypermodern style such as the Larsen-Geller 1960. But the total geometry after ....Ba6 is wonderfully fasinating. Eye candy for chessplayers!

Feb-25-10
Premium Chessgames Member
  parisattack: The 'trunk' Sveshnikov I referenced is Olafsson-Larsen, Zurich 1959. I am curious:

1) Why Larsen went to ...Rc8 later against Robatsch when ...b5 (Sveshnikov) mislocating the knight on a3 makes so much sense,

2) Any earlier examples of ...b5 - or is this indeed the trunk game?

Think of how many openings and variations Larsen brought out of the darkness for others to play - at his own risk: 1. b3 of course. He rehabilitated the Alekhine, Center Counter, Philidor amongst others. Pioneers are the ones with the arrows in their backs - Larsen deserves a LOT of credit from the chess world for breathing additional life into the game.

I certainly wish him all the best as his 75th approaches. I only wish I had brought the copy of Larsen's Best Games (which Fischer borrowed in 1971 and signed) to the simul in 1973 so I could have had it signed by him, also.

Feb-25-10
Premium Chessgames Member
  TheFocus: I was a Larsen fan after reading his chapter in How To Open A Chess Game by Seven Grandmasters. A wonderful book. I usually played 1.Nf3 and then 2.b3 in my youth. Sometimes 1.b3 first. It was a great postal chess weapon for me.

<SimonsWebbTiger> I hope the Larsen book eventually comes out in English.

I again want to thank you for the information about Per Skjolager's upcoming book on Nimzowitsch. I exchanged some e-mails with him. He gave me some corrections for my Nimzo database, and gave me an unknown Nimzowitsch - Hakansson game and a cross-table I did not have. A perfect gentleman.

Feb-25-10   SimonWebbsTiger: thanks for the lovely feedback!

the Focus - glad to be of modest service in your Nimzo work!

van Krolock, moronovich, parisattack - Peter Heine Nielsen contributes an article on Larsen's contributions to theory in the aforementioned special edition of "Skakbladet", where the Uhlmann-Larsen 1971 game is mentioned. 14...Ke7 is the key move. Amazingly, cg.com doesn't have Larsen-Gligoric, Vinkovci 1970, dubbed "Larsen's Immortal Rook Pawns Game". Both the a and h pawns march up to the sixth rank in the middlegame and Gligoric loses!

Larsen's writing and games have helped popularise: the 4...Nf6 5. Nxf6 gxf6 Caro-Kann; the 4...Bf5 Caro-Kann (where black castles short); the Old Indian; the Centre-Counter/Scandinavian;and the London System, as perennial favourites in Danish club chess.

Feb-26-10
Premium Chessgames Member
  parisattack: <SimonWebbsTiger:>

I do want to see the special edition Skakbladet! I didn't mention the Old Indian and 'Larsen-Bronstein' CK but of course know of them. The list of Larsen's opening contributions is certainly longer than any other modern GM.

Feb-26-10
Premium Chessgames Member
  Tabanus: <Amazingly, cg.com doesn't have Larsen-Gligoric, Vinkovci 1970>

I just submitted it.

Feb-26-10
Premium Chessgames Member
  moronovich: Sometimes Bent called 1.b3 "Babyorangutang" ;)

And let us not forget his 4.b4 in the reversed dutch.

Feb-27-10
Premium Chessgames Member
  Tabanus: <Tabanus: <Amazingly, cg.com doesn't have Larsen-Gligoric, Vinkovci 1970> I just submitted it.>

Oops, it's Larsen vs Gligoric, 1971. Chessbase has 1970 (which is correct), cg has 1971.

Feb-27-10   1. h4: Quote of the Day:

<"Many people don't understand the role of a second. Their most important function is to bring their player milk and cheese sandwiches.">

Heh. :D

Mar-02-10
Premium Chessgames Member
  Bent75: BENT LARSEN RIGTIG HJERTELIG TILLYKKE MED DE 75 ÅR !!! ---
For about 10 years ago; I was searching
for a Chessplayer in my level,Rating about 1500.

To my surprise a chessplayer with rating
1600 and a Name BENT LARSEN! accepting
games with me?!
Since I was not believing it was the real Bent Larsen;Therefor during the game I was making some question to find out if he was the real Bent Larsen.
All our conversation was in english.
I remember that I play to wind, and I was also making specific questions about Buenos Aieres, where I have been
several times with CargoShips for loading Grains to Europe: He told me he live in Buenos Aieres!
In the center of B.A. I ask him about
a well known Chess Cafe, but he did not
come there.
We was still playing chess when I still
doing questions in english.
Sudentlig "the 1600 rating" Bent Larsen
ask me about the health of a well knowing chessplayer in my city AArhus! From that time, the conversation was
in danish.
I think we played about 6-7 blitzchess-games! Bent Larsen told me that we should have had more time to talk together! In the end he said: OKAY WE TAKE THE
LAST GAME"!! YES AND THANKS FOR ALL
THE GAMES WITH YOU BENT LARSEN!
The very last game was total impossiple
for me to find moves against this: "LARSEN "COMPLETE-ATTACK" ENDNU ENGANG TILLYKKE MED DE 75 ÅR

Mar-04-10   SimonWebbsTiger: tillykke med de 75 aar, kaere Herre Larsen.
Mar-04-10
Premium Chessgames Member
  hedgeh0g: I just read an article on Larsen celebrating his 75th birthday:

http://chessbase.com/newsdetail.asp...

I find it quite amusing that his answers to the interview questions mimic his style of play: unorthodox and witty.

Happy 75th, Bent!

Mar-04-10
Premium Chessgames Member
  percyblakeney: Larsen is probably my favourite chess writer, his books are very entertaining, as his answers in that interview.
Mar-04-10
Premium Chessgames Member
  moronovich: Happy Birthday Bent !
And may many more come to you with good health.
Mar-04-10
Premium Chessgames Member
  whiteshark: Happy Birthday Bent Larsen!

I'm still hoping for <ZOOM 002>

Mar-04-10
Premium Chessgames Member
  wordfunph: "I became a grandmaster when I was 21. Today, it’s a pension age for a grandmaster." GM Bent Larsen (laughing)

happy birthday Bent Larsen!

Mar-04-10
Premium Chessgames Member
  Caissanist: <On 4 March the Danish book on Larsen "Alle Brikker Angriber!" will be released. (A German edition is already available: "Alle Figuren Angriffen An!" No idea about an english version though.)>

That book (at least I think it's the same book) was also published in Spanish some years ago, as "Todas las Piezas Atacan (Vol. 1)". It seems strange that it has come out in so many other languages before English. If anyone knows of a place you can get the Spanish book in the USA, I'd love to hear about it.

Mar-04-10   zev22407: Happy birthday GM Larsen
Mar-05-10
Premium Chessgames Member
  Sacsacmate: Happy B'day to Bent Larsen !!
Mar-12-10   Larsker: A little birthday joke: http://www.basketcasecomix.com/comi...
Apr-26-10   drnooo: The amazing record he compiled against anyone and almost everyone with his larsen nimzo attack is something else. very few draws and an astounding win loss record. Wow. Maybe he should have tried it against Fischer at some point in their match,
Jun-13-10
Premium Chessgames Member
  wordfunph: Most grandmasters take the white pieces in every game in a simultaneous exhibition. Bent Larsen was an exception, generously playing black in half the battles.

(Source: King's Gambit - A Son, A father, and the World's Most Dangerous Game by Paul Hoffman)

Jul-25-10
Premium Chessgames Member
  64rutor: Game Collection: IGM Bent Larsen
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