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Igor Zaitsev
I A Zaitsev 
Source: unoscacchista.com 

Number of games in database: 1,195
Years covered: 1956 to 2011
Last FIDE rating: 2361 (2369 rapid, 2374 blitz)
Highest rating achieved in database: 2520
Overall record: +342 -317 =522 (51.1%)*
   * Overall winning percentage = (wins+draws/2) / total games in the database. 14 exhibition games, blitz/rapid, odds games, etc. are excluded from this statistic.

MOST PLAYED OPENINGS
With the White pieces:
 Sicilian (229) 
    B40 B31 B30 B52 B89
 Ruy Lopez (85) 
    C91 C80 C93 C92 C71
 French Defense (81) 
    C02 C15 C11 C10 C03
 Ruy Lopez, Closed (41) 
    C91 C92 C93 C95 C87
 Caro-Kann (39) 
    B10 B12 B18 B11 B14
 Sicilian Najdorf (34) 
    B95 B90 B97 B94 B99
With the Black pieces:
 King's Indian (154) 
    E62 E83 E97 E60 E77
 Ruy Lopez (134) 
    C92 C84 C69 C90 C85
 Ruy Lopez, Closed (95) 
    C92 C84 C90 C85 C86
 Ruy Lopez Exchange (29) 
    C69 C85 C68
 Sicilian (23) 
    B50 B32 B77 B71 B72
 English (20) 
    A15 A14 A13 A10 A16
Repertoire Explorer

NOTABLE GAMES: [what is this?]
   I A Zaitsev vs Karpov, 1966 1/2-1/2
   Apartsev vs I A Zaitsev, 1963 0-1
   Y Estrin vs I A Zaitsev, 1969 0-1
   I A Zaitsev vs O Dementiev, 1970 1-0
   I A Zaitsev vs V Storozhenko, 1970 1-0
   I A Zaitsev vs NN, 1970 1-0
   I A Zaitsev vs J Pokojowczyk, 1976 1-0
   Tal vs I A Zaitsev, 1968 0-1
   I A Zaitsev vs Khenkin, 1988 1-0
   I A Zaitsev vs Y Sakharov, 1969 1-0

NOTABLE TOURNAMENTS: [what is this?]
   Central Chess Club International (1970)
   Moscow (1968)
   Dubna (1976)
   Rubinstein Memorial (1970)
   Zagorovsky Memorial (1997)
   Podolsk (1991)
   Moscow Jubilee (1967)
   Chigorin Memorial (1976)
   Szolnok (1975)
   Chigorin Memorial (1977)
   Moscow Championship (1964)
   URS-ch sf Rostov-on-Don (1960)
   USSR Championship (1970)
   Moscow Open Championship (1996)
   Cappelle Open (1995)

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FIDE player card for Igor Zaitsev

IGOR ZAITSEV
(born May-27-1938, 86 years old) Russia

[what is this?]

Igor Arkadyevich Zaitsev was born in Ramenskoe, Russia (formerly USSR). He was Moscow Champion in 1969 by defeating Yakov Estrin, and awarded the IM title in 1970 and the GM title in 1976.

Zaitsev played in six USSR Chess Championships (1962, 1967, 1968–69, 1969, 1970, 1991), his best finish being joint 1st (coming 2nd after a play-off) in 1968-69.

His results in international tournaments include 2nd at Polanica-Zdrój 1970; 2nd at Dubna 1976; 1st at Quito 1976.

Wikipedia article: Igor Zaitsev

Last updated: 2022-07-20 13:19:58

Try our new games table.

 page 1 of 48; games 1-25 of 1,195  PGN Download
Game  ResultMoves YearEvent/LocaleOpening
1. I A Zaitsev vs E Shekhtman  1-0171956All-Union Mass TournamentA04 Reti Opening
2. I A Zaitsev vs I Timchenko 0-1211956All-Union Mass TournamentC61 Ruy Lopez, Bird's Defense
3. A Novopashin vs I A Zaitsev  1-0271957Ch Moscow (1/4 final)C77 Ruy Lopez
4. V Shcherbakov vs I A Zaitsev  1-0221959Russian Team ChampionshipD35 Queen's Gambit Declined
5. V Kirillov vs I A Zaitsev  0-1311959Russian Team ChampionshipA10 English
6. I A Zaitsev vs Sadov  1-0401959Russian Team ChampionshipC04 French, Tarrasch, Guimard Main line
7. I A Zaitsev vs Suetin  0-1281960URS-ch sf Rostov-on-DonC44 King's Pawn Game
8. I A Zaitsev vs Boleslavsky  ½-½441960URS-ch sf Rostov-on-DonB66 Sicilian, Richter-Rauzer Attack, 7...a6
9. Kholmov vs I A Zaitsev  1-0541960URS-ch sf Rostov-on-DonA26 English
10. A Bannik vs I A Zaitsev  1-0541960URS-ch sf Rostov-on-DonC99 Ruy Lopez, Closed, Chigorin, 12...cd
11. E Mnatsakanian vs I A Zaitsev  1-0251960URS-ch sf Rostov-on-DonB71 Sicilian, Dragon, Levenfish Variation
12. I A Zaitsev vs A Volovich  1-0471960URS-ch sf Rostov-on-DonC11 French
13. I A Zaitsev vs Spassky 1-0231960URS-ch sf Rostov-on-DonD25 Queen's Gambit Accepted
14. I A Zaitsev vs B Naglis  ½-½431960URS-chTC02 French, Advance
15. B Katalymov vs I A Zaitsev  1-0411960URS-ch sf Rostov-on-DonA00 Uncommon Opening
16. V Liberzon vs I A Zaitsev  ½-½421960URS-ch sf Rostov-on-DonC75 Ruy Lopez, Modern Steinitz Defense
17. I A Zaitsev vs A Reshko  0-1341960URS-ch sf Rostov-on-DonB01 Scandinavian
18. A Kuznetsov vs I A Zaitsev  0-1671960URS-ch sf Rostov-on-DonD01 Richter-Veresov Attack
19. I A Zaitsev vs H Luik  1-0291960URS-ch sf Rostov-on-DonD28 Queen's Gambit Accepted, Classical
20. I A Zaitsev vs A Khasin  0-1411960URS-ch sf Rostov-on-DonE20 Nimzo-Indian
21. Gaisert vs I A Zaitsev 0-1201960URSD32 Queen's Gambit Declined, Tarrasch
22. I A Zaitsev vs B Gurgenidze  1-0391960URS-ch sf Rostov-on-DonB60 Sicilian, Richter-Rauzer
23. V V Shishkin vs I A Zaitsev  ½-½281960URS-ch sf Rostov-on-DonC47 Four Knights
24. M Nurmamedov vs I A Zaitsev  1-0401960URS-ch sf Rostov-on-DonE88 King's Indian, Samisch, Orthodox, 7.d5 c6
25. I A Zaitsev vs Bondarevsky  0-1291960URS-ch sf Rostov-on-DonB08 Pirc, Classical
 page 1 of 48; games 1-25 of 1,195  PGN Download
  REFINE SEARCH:   White wins (1-0) | Black wins (0-1) | Draws (1/2-1/2) | Zaitsev wins | Zaitsev loses  

Kibitzer's Corner
< Earlier Kibitzing  · PAGE 1 OF 2 ·  Later Kibitzing>
Mar-29-04  Vischer: Was it him or Alexander Zaitsev who was Karpov's teacher?
Mar-29-04  Taidanii: I doubt this man was Karpov's teacher.
Mar-29-04  Vischer: One of the Zaitsevs was Karpov's teacher. Igor or Alexander, I don't know which one though.
Mar-29-04  Taidanii: I think this man would be too young to be Karpov's teacher.
Mar-29-04  Vischer: maybe its alexander zaitsev then.
Mar-29-04  Kenkaku: Best known for the Ruy Lopez, Closed, Flohr-Zaitsev.
Apr-19-04  Vischer: what is the Flohr-Zaitsev in the RLC?
Apr-19-04  WMD: Igor Zaitsev was Karpov's long time second, not his teacher. He was renowned as a very strong analyst. Ray Keene dubbed him a 'tactical maniac'.
Apr-19-04  Kenkaku: <Vischer> 1. e4 e5 2. Mf3 Nc6 3.Bb5 a6 4. Ba4 Nf6 5. 0-0 Be7 6. Re1 b5 7. Bb3 d6 8. c3 0-0 9. h3 Bb7
Apr-19-04  WMD: <e4 e5 2. Nf3 Nc6 3.Bb5 a6 4. Ba4 Nf6 5. 0-0 Be7 6. Re1 b5 7. Bb3 d6 8. c3 0-0 9. h3 Bb7>

GM Andy Soltis: "The real point lies in Black's next move, 10...Re8. For decades it was thought that Black could not move his Rook from f8 until he had disposed of White's possible reply Ng5!. It was to stop the Knight move that Smyslov had championed 9...h6 (and also 9...Qd7 so that he could meet a later Re8/Ng5 with ...Nd8!?).

10.d4 Re8

"Now on 11.Ng5 Black will simply retreat his Rook to f8. Efforts have been made to find something useful for White to do after 11.Ng5 Rf8 but 12.f4 exf4 13.Bxf4 appears too risky because of 13...Na5 14.Bc2 Nd5! attacking the f4-Bishop and g5-Knight.

"Before Igor Zaitsev introduced this wrinkle, 11...Rf8, in the mid-1970s it was believed that Black had to play something like 10...exd4 11.cxd4 Na5 12.Bc2 d5 with complications after the gambit continuation 13.e5 Ne4."

One drawback of the Zaitsev is that it practically allows White a draw by repetition if so desired: Ng5-Rf8-Nf3-Re8-Ng5 etc.

The 1990 WC match between Kasparov and Karpov saw the discussion of the Zaitsev taken to its zenith. Karpov employed it in games 2, 4, 20 and 22, scoring =2 -2.

May-04-05  Catfriend: There is a splendid queen-sac by I.Zaitsev absent in the db. I'm trying to locate and submit it. I mean the one where black's king gets killed on b6, with his pawns behind him, two black knights on a5,b5, and the white knights on a4, b4 do the mate.
May-26-06  BIDMONFA: Igor A Zaitsev

ZAITSEV, Igor A.
http://www.bidmonfa.com/zaitsev_igo...
_

May-27-08  brankat: Igor A.Zaitsev has been better known as an analyst/second than as a practical player. Worked as one of A.Karpov's seconds.
May-27-08  brankat: Happy Birthday GM Zaitsev!
Jul-02-08  whiteshark: Quote of the Day

< Modern day technique is nothing other than the games of the past, old discoveries, that have been classified and become customary. >

-- Igor Zaitsev

May-27-09  WhiteRook48: invented the Zaitsev variation?
May-27-09  fref: Yep, for sure.
May-27-10  wordfunph: "Modern day technique is nothing other than the games of the past, old discoveries, that have been classified and become customary."

GM Igor Zaitsev

Dec-24-10
Premium Chessgames Member
  Fusilli: Are Igor and Alexander Zaitsev unrelated? They were born three years apart, but in different cities.
Aug-23-11
Premium Chessgames Member
  Dionysius1: <Wordfunph>. There's a man who doesn't do much computer based preparation perhaps? Top GMs say computer analysis teaches them new things about technique. Wish Zaitsev were right though.
Mar-23-12  stanleys: Very strong analyst,creative player with lot of interesting ideas in the openings (Karpov used many of them!)One of the most famous could be seen here

Karpov vs Korchnoi, 1978

Zaitsev worked with Petrossian as well in 1970-71

May-27-12  LoveThatJoker: Happy Birthday, GM Zaitsev!

LTJ

May-27-12  talisman: happy birthday...korchnoi called your knight suggestion(game 10 or 11) vs karpov a "move you see once in a 100 years."
Feb-24-13
Premium Chessgames Member
  GrahamClayton: <Catfriend>,
There is a splendid queen-sac by I.Zaitsev absent in the db. I'm trying to locate and submit it. I mean the one where black's king gets killed on b6, with his pawns behind him, two black knights on a5,b5, and the white knights on a4, b4 do the mate.

<Catfriend>,
Here is the game in question:
[Event "Moscow"]
[Site "Moscow"]
[Round "1"]
[Date "1970.??.??"]
[White "Zaitsev, Igor A"]
[Black "Storozhenko, Viktor"]
[Result "1-0"]

1.e4 e5 2.♘f3 ♘c6 3.d4 exd4 4.c3 dxc3 5.♗c4 cxb2 6.♗xb2 ♗b4+ 7.♘c3 ♘ge7 8.♘g5 ♘e5 9.♕h5 g6 10.♕h6 ♘xc4 11.♕g7 ♖f8 12.♘xh7 ♘c6 13.♘f6+ ♔e7 14.O-O-O ♗a3 15.♘cd5+ ♔e6 16.♘f4+ ♔e7 17.♘xg6+ ♔e6 18.♘f4+ ♔e7 19.♘4d5+ ♔e6


click for larger view

20. ♕g4+ ♔d6 21. e5+ ♔c5 22. ♗xa3+ ♘xa3 23. ♘e4+ ♔b5 24. ♘ec3+ ♔a6 25. ♕a4+ ♘a5 26. ♕b5+ ♘xb5 27. ♘b4+ ♔b6 28. ♘a4#


click for larger view

I have uploaded the game to the database.

Jun-20-13  jerseybob: There was a Zaitsev - forget his first name - attached to the Soviet embassy in D.C. back in the 60's, not in the league of Igor and Alex, but a strong master who played in several local tourneys.
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