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Jan Smejkal
Smejkal 
 

Number of games in database: 1,967
Years covered: 1960 to 2001
Last FIDE rating: 2504
Highest rating achieved in database: 2615
Overall record: +754 -309 =884 (61.4%)*
   * Overall winning percentage = (wins+draws/2) / total games in the database. 20 exhibition games, blitz/rapid, odds games, etc. are excluded from this statistic.

MOST PLAYED OPENINGS
With the White pieces:
 English (166) 
    A15 A17 A10 A13 A14
 King's Indian (125) 
    E62 E63 E60 E67 E69
 English, 1 c4 c5 (100) 
    A30 A34 A33 A35 A31
 English, 1 c4 e5 (87) 
    A29 A21 A25 A26 A28
 Reti System (79) 
    A04 A06 A05
 Sicilian (46) 
    B36 B39 B89 B43 B27
With the Black pieces:
 Ruy Lopez (212) 
    C95 C92 C69 C67 C77
 Grunfeld (161) 
    D85 D87 D94 D91 D86
 Ruy Lopez, Closed (141) 
    C95 C92 C93 C91 C85
 Sicilian (103) 
    B32 B43 B93 B23 B42
 English, 1 c4 c5 (77) 
    A34 A37 A30 A36 A35
 English (52) 
    A15 A10 A16 A17 A13
Repertoire Explorer

NOTABLE GAMES: [what is this?]
   J Bellon Lopez vs Smejkal, 1970 0-1
   Jansa vs Smejkal, 1969 0-1
   Smejkal vs S Tatai, 1973 1-0
   Smejkal vs Petrosian, 1981 1-0
   Smejkal vs Smyslov, 1969 1-0
   Smejkal vs Timman, 1981 1-0
   Smejkal vs Adorjan, 1972 1-0
   Smejkal vs A Yusupov, 1991 1/2-1/2
   Smejkal vs Ljubojevic, 1977 1-0
   Smejkal vs A Sokolov, 1984 1/2-1/2

NOTABLE TOURNAMENTS: [what is this?]
   Rubinstein Memorial (1972)
   Rubinstein Memorial (1970)
   Novi Sad (1976)
   Czechoslovak Championship (1967)
   Czechoslovak Championship (1970)
   Czechoslovak Championship (1968)
   Vidmar Memorial (1973)
   Lucerne Olympiad (1982)
   Kostic Memorial (1981)
   Czechoslovak Championship (1965)
   Czechoslovak Championship (1964)
   Raach Zonal (1969)
   Czechoslovak Championship (1972)
   Leningrad Interzonal (1973)
   Tallinn (1971)

GAME COLLECTIONS: [what is this?]
   0ZeR0's collected games volume 29 by 0ZeR0
   Variante Mecking da Inglesa Super Simétrica by arbivara
   Wijk aan Zee Hoogovens 1975 by suenteus po 147
   Wijk aan Zee Hoogovens 1972 by suenteus po 147
   IBM Amsterdam 1973 by Tabanus
   Palma de Mallorca 1972 by Tabanus
   Hoogovens 1972 by Tabanus

Search Sacrifice Explorer for Jan Smejkal
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FIDE player card for Jan Smejkal

JAN SMEJKAL
(born Mar-22-1946, 79 years old) Czech Republic

[what is this?]
Jan Smejkal was born in Lanskroun, Czechoslovakia. Awarded the IM title in 1970 and the GM title in 1972, he has been Czech champion in 1973, 1979 and 1986. In the 1973 Leningrad Interzonal he finished fourth--one spot shy of qualifying as a World Championship Candidate. He was on most Czech Olympiad teams between 1968 and 1988.

His tournament successes include wins at Polanica Zdroj 1970 and 1972, Smederevska Palanka 1971, Palma de Mallorca (1972), Novi Sad 1976, Vrsac 1977, Leipzig 1977, Warsaw 1979, Trencianske-Teplice 1979 and Baden-Baden 1985. He was also 4th= at Munich 1988.

Wikipedia article: Jan Smejkal


Try our new games table.

 page 1 of 79; games 1-25 of 1,967  PGN Download
Game  ResultMoves YearEvent/LocaleOpening
1. Tal vs Smejkal 1-0311960Prague radio simC82 Ruy Lopez, Open
2. P Voboril vs Smejkal  0-1261962Harrachov 1962/63B23 Sicilian, Closed
3. Smejkal vs M Seifert  1-0451962Harrachov 1962/63B89 Sicilian
4. F Blatny vs Smejkal  ½-½321963Telnice / UstiB23 Sicilian, Closed
5. Smejkal vs M Seifert  1-0601963Telnice / UstiB07 Pirc
6. Smejkal vs J Augustin  ½-½471963Telnice / UstiC85 Ruy Lopez, Exchange Variation Doubly Deferred (DERLD)
7. K Eretova vs Smejkal  0-1301963Telnice / UstiB62 Sicilian, Richter-Rauzer
8. Smejkal vs S Kupka  ½-½371963Telnice / UstiC45 Scotch Game
9. J Vesely vs Smejkal 0-1271963Telnice / UstiB46 Sicilian, Taimanov Variation
10. Smejkal vs E Nowak  0-1351963Telnice / UstiC86 Ruy Lopez, Worrall Attack
11. Jansa vs Smejkal  1-0281963Telnice / UstiA07 King's Indian Attack
12. Smejkal vs M Janata 1-0231963Telnice / UstiC41 Philidor Defense
13. J Fichtl vs Smejkal  1-0421963Czechoslovak ChampionshipB32 Sicilian
14. Smejkal vs F Blatny  ½-½641963Czechoslovak ChampionshipC85 Ruy Lopez, Exchange Variation Doubly Deferred (DERLD)
15. Hort vs Smejkal ½-½491963Czechoslovak ChampionshipE68 King's Indian, Fianchetto, Classical Variation, 8.e4
16. Smejkal vs J Hybl  1-0391963Czechoslovak ChampionshipE55 Nimzo-Indian, 4.e3, Gligoric System, Bronstein Variation
17. Pachman vs Smejkal  ½-½261963Czechoslovak ChampionshipB36 Sicilian, Accelerated Fianchetto
18. Smejkal vs Kavalek 1-0401963Czechoslovak ChampionshipB98 Sicilian, Najdorf
19. J Vesely vs Smejkal  ½-½401963Czechoslovak ChampionshipB23 Sicilian, Closed
20. Smejkal vs F Zita  ½-½401963Czechoslovak ChampionshipB17 Caro-Kann, Steinitz Variation
21. S Kupka vs Smejkal 1-0401963Czechoslovak ChampionshipB32 Sicilian
22. Smejkal vs Z Novak  ½-½411963Czechoslovak ChampionshipC11 French
23. L Alster vs Smejkal 1-0361963Czechoslovak ChampionshipD80 Grunfeld
24. Filip vs Smejkal 1-0351963Czechoslovak ChampionshipE68 King's Indian, Fianchetto, Classical Variation, 8.e4
25. Smejkal vs J Augustin 1-0691963Czechoslovak ChampionshipC16 French, Winawer
 page 1 of 79; games 1-25 of 1,967  PGN Download
  REFINE SEARCH:   White wins (1-0) | Black wins (0-1) | Draws (1/2-1/2) | Smejkal wins | Smejkal loses  

Kibitzer's Corner
< Earlier Kibitzing  · PAGE 2 OF 2 ·  Later Kibitzing>
Feb-25-07  ChessNe1: why does David Goodman get a picture and Jan Smejkal not? I have heard more about Smejkal than Goodman.
May-13-07  ALEXIN: Smejkal unknown ? Not for me. A great player when I was 15 old :-)
Aug-08-07  PAWNTOEFOUR: i try and not pay attention to some of these guys.......i strongly suggest that you do some some homework first.......remember it's better to be thought a fool then open your mouth and remove all doubt.......i won't mention any names,i'll just look at the guilty party and whistle.......<hailmorphy>
Aug-08-07
Premium Chessgames Member
  Troller: <ChessNe1: why does David Goodman get a picture and Jan Smejkal not? I have heard more about Smejkal than Goodman.> Good question. Goodman, is he the IM who has written some books? Oh, wow. Smejkal is, if not exactly legendary, then one of the great masters of the 70's.

Smejkal was known for getting into time trouble. Larsen won a famous game against him (Smejkal vs Larsen, 1976), where he deliberately tried to exploit this. Rumour has it that Smejkal for the last 10 moves before time control really needed to go to the rest room, but did not dare. While Larsen would take his time for his moves, and then move the pieces slowly across the board.

Smejkal does have an even score against Larsen, though, his best win probably being from Milan 1975: Smejkal vs Larsen, 1975

Apr-08-08  Resignation Trap: Photo of Smejkal with Robert Eugene Byrne during the 1973 Leningrad Interzonal: http://www.e3e5.com/upload/articles... .
May-13-08  percyblakeney: <The first thing I thought of when I seen his name was the word 'precious'..>

The first thing he thinks if he sees that is surely "we hate those kibitzes"...

Mar-22-09  brankat: Happy Birthday my old friend!
Mar-22-09  WhiteRook48: happy birthday!!
Jul-07-10
Premium Chessgames Member
  GrahamClayton: Smejkal is now a Councillor on the FIDE Medical Commission:

http://www.fide.com/fide/directory?...

Mar-22-11  BIDMONFA: Jan Smejkal

SMEJKAL, Jan
http://www.bidmonfa.com/smejkal_jan...
_

Mar-22-12
Premium Chessgames Member
  Penguincw: Happy Birthday POTD!
Mar-22-12  haydn20: Finally someone my own age! Tho' I've forgotten a lot about the 70's, I remember his name very well, and it's fun to look at some of his games from back then.
Mar-22-12  Sonny Rollins: He was one of the top players in our first team here in Munich from 1985 to 1993. Happy birthday Jan and all the best.
Jun-06-12  Cemoblanca: Just checking out some games of the tournament in Game Collection: Milan 1975 and he attracted my attention immediately! Until today he was unknown to me! His win against "The Great" Larsen in this tournament was really great! Very interesting opening indeed: 9.Nf1!?, 10.Nxg2!?, 11.e4!? and finally Ne3!? to control the center! Very fine moves here! :0)
Mar-22-16  TheFocus: Happy birthday, Jan Smejkal.
May-29-16  tjipa: It is a pity this man seems to have quit playing 15 years ago. Does anyone know what happened? Health? Mental problems? Disillusionment?
Dec-03-16  RookFile: He wised up?
Mar-22-18  gars: Jan Smejkal, Larry Evans and Edmar Mednis were all born in March 22nd.
Mar-22-18
Premium Chessgames Member
  Sally Simpson: As were grandmasters:

Kenneth Rogoff, Liuben Spassov, Alexander Donchenko, Nazar Firman and Florian Handke.

The 22nd of March seems to be a happy day for Chess players.

Mar-22-18  diagonal: some addition to the bio:

In 1976 (January – December), Smejkal ranked 11= in the FIDE Elo list with his peak rating of 2615, joint with Mikhail Tal, according to chessmetrics (historical Elo), Smejkal also is peak ranked 11, joint with country fellow Vlastimil Hort, with a rating of 2704 in January list 1976.

Team silver (CSSR) at the Chess Olympiad in Lucerne 1982.

He also took the strong New York Open in 1986, as 1st-2nd, winning after a play-off vs. Gyula Sax, this turned out to be Smejkal’s last major international tournament success.

Mar-22-18  Retireborn: Favourite Smejkal game is

Smejkal vs Ulf Andersson, 1976

Oct-29-21  Messiah: It's very sad he has got no picture on this player page.
Oct-23-23
Premium Chessgames Member
  offramp: Smejkal smashing pumpkins.
https://breclavsky.denik.cz/zpravy_...
Oct-24-23
Premium Chessgames Member
  keypusher: It's nice when you finally see someone's picture and they look <exactly> like you expected.
Oct-24-23
Premium Chessgames Member
  fredthebear: This might help with future endeavors: https://www.psychologytoday.com/us/...

There is such a thing as reading too much Reuben Fine: https://www.chess.com/blog/CharanCh....

Strength in tactics has a way of taking care of that other mental stuff.

Now, as far as smashing pumpkins goes, it might be an easy snack for the varmints, and it could sell more to boost the local economy (victims' rights anyone?) but such an activity is not likely to improve one's chess game unless it helps one relax: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=4ae...

Oh, the modern art crowd will probably find a way to appreciate the smatter.

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