chessgames.com
Members · Prefs · Laboratory · Collections · Openings · Endgames · Sacrifices · History · Search Kibitzing · Kibitzer's Café · Chessforums · Tournament Index · Players · Kibitzing

Walter Browne
Browne 
 

Number of games in database: 1,810
Years covered: 1963 to 2015
Last FIDE rating: 2433 (2428 rapid, 2409 blitz)
Highest rating achieved in database: 2590
Overall record: +720 -363 =694 (60.0%)*
   * Overall winning percentage = (wins+draws/2) / total games in the database. 33 exhibition games, blitz/rapid, odds games, etc. are excluded from this statistic.

MOST PLAYED OPENINGS
With the White pieces:
 Sicilian (145) 
    B43 B32 B45 B47 B90
 Queen's Indian (120) 
    E12 E15 E17 E19 E16
 King's Indian (88) 
    E97 E94 E81 E80 E69
 Ruy Lopez (77) 
    C94 C95 C69 C72 C78
 Modern Benoni (52) 
    A70 A57 A56 A61 A77
 Bogo Indian (41) 
    E11
With the Black pieces:
 Sicilian (321) 
    B90 B99 B92 B22 B87
 Sicilian Najdorf (176) 
    B90 B99 B92 B98 B93
 Queen's Indian (91) 
    E15 E12 E14 E19 E17
 English, 1 c4 c5 (87) 
    A30 A34 A36 A37 A32
 Nimzo Indian (76) 
    E41 E32 E42 E21 E46
 Queen's Pawn Game (67) 
    A46 A45 E00 D01 A41
Repertoire Explorer

NOTABLE GAMES: [what is this?]
   Seirawan vs Browne, 1979 0-1
   Browne vs Fischer, 1970 1/2-1/2
   Browne vs A Bisguier, 1974 1-0
   Browne vs Quinteros, 1974 1-0
   Browne vs E Winslow, 1977 1-0
   Browne vs Ljubojevic, 1978 1-0
   Browne vs R Byrne, 1977 1-0
   O Sarapu vs Browne, 1972 0-1
   Browne vs Spassky, 1970 1/2-1/2
   Browne vs B Zuckerman, 1973 1-0

NOTABLE TOURNAMENTS: [what is this?]
   72nd US Open (1971)
   Northern Open (1968)
   FRG-ch International (1975)
   Venice (1971)
   Pan American Championship (1974)
   Hoogovens (1974)
   Hoogovens (1980)
   Reykjavik (1978)
   First Lady's Cup (1982)
   Australian Open (1971)
   69th US Open (1968)
   10th Costa del Sol (1970)
   Skopje Olympiad Final-C (1972)
   Buenos Aires (Konex) (1979)
   67th US Open (1966)

GAME COLLECTIONS: [what is this?]
   Wijk aan Zee Hoogovens 1974 by suenteus po 147
   Banja Luka 1979 by webbing1947
   Wijk aan Zee Hoogovens 1975 by suenteus po 147
   Hoogovens 1972 by Tabanus
   Wijk aan Zee Hoogovens 1972 by suenteus po 147
   Banja Luka 1979 by suenteus po 147
   Las Palmas 1977 by suenteus po 147
   Madrid 1973 by suenteus po 147

GAMES ANNOTATED BY BROWNE: [what is this?]
   I E Shliahtin vs Browne, 1993

RECENT GAMES:
   🏆 National Open
   Niemann vs Browne (Jun-20-15) 0-1
   E Formanek vs Browne (Jun-13-14) 0-1
   Browne vs D Ragnarsson (Mar-12-14) 1-0
   L Ptacnikova vs Browne (Mar-11-14) 1/2-1/2
   Browne vs H Olafsson (Mar-10-14) 0-1

Search Sacrifice Explorer for Walter Browne
Search Google for Walter Browne

WALTER BROWNE
(born Jan-10-1949, died Jun-24-2015, 66 years old) Australia (federation/nationality United States of America)

[what is this?]

Walter Shawn Browne was born in Sydney, Australia to an Australian mother and an American father. In his youth, he lived in both countries at various times. He won the 1969 Australian Championship, was awarded the Grandmaster title in 1970, and played first board for Australia at the Siegen 1970 and Skopje 1972 Olympiads. He also played on four bronze medal U.S. Olympiad teams (1974, 1978, 1982, 1984), once each on boards 1-4 (http://www.olimpbase.org/players/tt...). Chessmetrics ranks him No. 27 in the world at his peak in December 1975 and January 1976.

Browne was known as "Mr. Six Time" for his six U.S. Championship wins (1974, 1975, 1977, 1980 (tied with Larry Evans and Larry Christiansen), 1981 (tied with Yasser Seirawan), and 1983 (tied with Roman Dzindzichashvili and Christiansen))*, behind only Robert James Fischer and Samuel Reshevsky. He also won many open tournaments, including two U.S. Opens, seven American Opens, eleven National Opens, and the 1991 Canadian Open. He was frustrated at Interzonals, scoring 8.5/19 at the Manila Interzonal (1976), 3/13 (last by 2.5 points) at the Las Palmas Interzonal (1982), and 6.5/15 at the Taxco Interzonal (1985).

Browne's first international tournament was San Juan (1969), won by the new world champion Boris Spassky. Browne tied for second with Arthur Bisguier and Bruno Parma. His international successes include first-place finishes at Venice (1971), Hoogovens (1974), Winnipeg 1974 (Pan American Championship), Lone Pine (1974), Mannheim 1975, Reykjavik (1978), Hoogovens (1980) (tied with Seirawan), Chile 1981, the First Lady's Cup (1982) (shared with Ron Henley in a 26-player round-robin tournament), the 1983 New York Open, Gjovik (1983) (tied with John Nunn and Andras Adorjan), and the Nimzowitsch Memorial (1985) (with Bent Larsen and Rafael Vaganian). A top competitor at blitz chess, in 1988 he formed the World Blitz Association.

Browne was inducted into the United States Chess Hall of Fame in 2003. Up until the time of his death, he still competed successfully in top-level American open tournaments. He died suddenly in Las Vegas, Nevada on June 24, 2015, having just tied for 9th-15th at the National Open.

*United States Championship (1974), United States Championship (1975), United States Championship (1977), United States Championship (1980), United States Championship (1981), United States Championship (1983).

Wikipedia article: Walter Browne

http://chessmetrics.com/cm/CM2/Play...

Last updated: 2023-11-18 07:21:30

Try our new games table.

 page 1 of 73; games 1-25 of 1,810  PGN Download
Game  ResultMoves YearEvent/LocaleOpening
1. F Wilson vs Browne ½-½511963Marshall Chess Club Weekend Tournament, New City,C21 Center Game
2. Browne vs I Zalys 0-1571963CorrespondenceB28 Sicilian, O'Kelly Variation
3. Browne vs W Lukowiak 1-0191964USA Amateur chB12 Caro-Kann Defense
4. C Steir vs Browne  0-1251964New York jr chB99 Sicilian, Najdorf, 7...Be7 Main line
5. Browne vs A Soltis 0-1351964New York jr chC01 French, Exchange
6. A Soltis vs Browne 1-0341964Marshall CC PreliminariesC69 Ruy Lopez, Exchange, Gligoric Variation
7. Browne vs J Sherwin  0-1311965Marshall CC chB35 Sicilian, Accelerated Fianchetto, Modern Variation with Bc4
8. C Rehberg vs Browne  0-1331966Marshall CC chD25 Queen's Gambit Accepted
9. F M Howard vs Browne  0-123196667th US OpenD20 Queen's Gambit Accepted
10. Browne vs B Hochberg  1-047196667th US OpenD80 Grunfeld
11. L Jackson vs Browne 1-047196667th US OpenD25 Queen's Gambit Accepted
12. Browne vs J Wolfe  1-022196667th US OpenA56 Benoni Defense
13. Browne vs R M Bond  1-024196667th US OpenB14 Caro-Kann, Panov-Botvinnik Attack
14. Browne vs Juris Ozols  ½-½72196667th US OpenC00 French Defense
15. B Sperling vs Browne  0-129196667th US OpenD04 Queen's Pawn Game
16. Browne vs J B Kelly 1-032196667th US OpenB43 Sicilian, Kan, 5.Nc3
17. P O'Gorman vs Browne  0-148196667th US OpenA07 King's Indian Attack
18. J Hanken vs Browne  ½-½44196667th US OpenA05 Reti Opening
19. W Goichberg vs Browne  ½-½51196667th US OpenB43 Sicilian, Kan, 5.Nc3
20. S Matera vs Browne  0-1401967US Junior ChA61 Benoni
21. B Sperling vs Browne 0-128196768th US OpenA48 King's Indian
22. Browne vs J Westbrock  1-048196768th US OpenC43 Petrov, Modern Attack
23. Browne vs J F Shaw 1-022196768th US OpenC00 French Defense
24. A Karklins vs Browne 1-052196768th US OpenB43 Sicilian, Kan, 5.Nc3
25. J Davies vs Browne 0-146196768th US OpenB76 Sicilian, Dragon, Yugoslav Attack
 page 1 of 73; games 1-25 of 1,810  PGN Download
  REFINE SEARCH:   White wins (1-0) | Black wins (0-1) | Draws (1/2-1/2) | Browne wins | Browne loses  

Kibitzer's Corner
< Earlier Kibitzing  · PAGE 11 OF 16 ·  Later Kibitzing>
Jun-25-15  Tomlinsky: The game Quinteros vs Browne, 1981 from the BBC series 'The Master Game' has long been one of my favourites. If you've never seen this game, do check it out as it is highly entertaining.

Some of the 'thoughts' they overdubbed were priceless with mesmerising positions amid the pandemonium. It was the only game all series that was spread over two episodes and deservedly so. Even my girlfriend at the time, now sadly also gone, found the format watchable with characters such as GM Browne and Quinteros playing this silly board game that we all love so much.

Games such as this can become a part of your life without your realising until a later time. RIP GM Browne.

Jun-25-15
Premium Chessgames Member
  eternaloptimist: It's sad that GM Browne has passed away but we still have his games to enjoy. I saw him at a tournament in Denver in '03 & he asked me what time it was when I passed him in the hallway outside the room where the tournament was. I told him what time it was & he went back into the room. I wish I would've had a chance to talk to him about chess but that was the only thing I ever said to him. He was undoubtedly 1 of the most successful chess players in American tournaments of all time. He also did well in foreign tournaments...a true legend of the game.
Jun-25-15
Premium Chessgames Member
  ketchuplover: RIP young man & thanks for your chessic contributions
Jun-25-15
Premium Chessgames Member
  moronovich: RIP Grandmaster.
Jun-25-15  wrap99: Walter did well in poker as an older competitor, using his memory effectively in 7stud at wsop where he won a bracelet I think and also did well in the seniors' nlhe event a few years ago. i had hoped to run into him again perhaps this year. One thing not mentioned here (afaik): he had a very good, if sarcastic, sense of humor.
Jun-25-15
Premium Chessgames Member
  ketchuplover: A former opponent of mine on stansco.com has "Chess is Not a finesse game!!!" as his public comment visible to all players there. I referred him to Mr.Browne. The game concluded May 31 with my victory in 36 ply.
Jun-25-15
Premium Chessgames Member
  fm avari viraf: God Bless His Soul Peace In Heaven, Eternally!
Jun-25-15
Premium Chessgames Member
  ketchuplover: A memorial tourney is being held in his honor at chessbook.net
Jun-25-15
Premium Chessgames Member
  SteinitzLives: Unique and untamed, living life completely on his own terms. He had the brains, heart and courage to live free, and the freedom to be happy.

Farewell, legend Walter.

Jun-25-15  edbermac: Had he suffered a stroke prior to his death? I watched part of this interview and his speech is quite slurred. Or was there some other health issue he had?

RIP

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=5pZ...

Jun-25-15
Premium Chessgames Member
  plang: Not clear what the cause of death was - only information I could find was that he died in his sleep and had been healthy and active the night before.
Jun-25-15  Marmot PFL: Browne sounds really weak in that interview. Nothing like what I remember from a couple of his lectures and watching him analyze with other players in the 80s. Sad to hear that Walter Browne is gone.
Jun-25-15
Premium Chessgames Member
  perfidious: Dang, if I ever find the score from either the simultaneous display we played in 1972 or the classical game from the 1980s, I will submit them.

Photo from the above-mentioned Browne-Keres game:

http://files.chesscomfiles.com/imag...

Jun-25-15  ColdSong: RIP gm Browne.
Jun-25-15  tim butler: I cant believe he passed away. I seen him several times playing in Las Vegas and Southern California. I've played his variation of his Sicilian Defence (B98)the Browne variation. Thank you Walter for your contribution to American Chess. You will be missed.
Jun-25-15
Premium Chessgames Member
  paulalbert: I was shocked and saddened to learn of Walter's death. May he rest in peace.

He won my brilliancy prize playing white against Boris Kreiman at the 1994 U.S. Championship at Key West, but I met him later, but exactly where for the first time I cannot remember .

I got to know him a little mainly at Danny Kopec's summer chess camps and took private lessons from him, and also lost to him at a camp simul.

I was always amazed at his blazing calculation speed, and he produced many brilliant games, usually involving mind boggling complexity. I had been a subscriber to his blitz magazine and have his interesting biographical book. Regrettably I never had a chance to get him to autograph it.

My last contacts a while ago were some email exchanges related to the innovative chess-like game he invented and the new piece designs.

Walter was always energetically enthusiastic about everything he did and was successful at many things.

He was unique and will be missed by family, friends, the chess world, and the other worlds in which he was a successful participant.

Jun-25-15  NBAFan: RIP GM Walter Browne... so young.
Jun-25-15  zanzibar: Speaking of Finesse, here is Browne doing a quick rundown of the game he invented:

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=qyb...

Jun-25-15  zanzibar: A quick glimpse of him from 1981 <Mar del Plata> tournament:

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=6aW...

I believe Browne shakes hands around 0:28-0:30

Jun-26-15  Howard: Regarding Conrad93's comment, Browne did have at least one forced win in his game against Fischer--several sources point that out. So to say that Browne "botched" it, is reasonably accurate.
Jun-26-15
Premium Chessgames Member
  keypusher: <Howard: Regarding Conrad93's comment, Browne did have at least one forced win in his game against Fischer--several sources point that out. So to say that Browne "botched" it, is reasonably accurate.>

Well, looking at the game page, yeah, Browne did miss a win, but it was not easy to see, and Fischer pulled an very nice combination (after many many hours of defense) to get the draw in the line Browne played. So I would rather say <Browne erred> than <Browne botched it>.

Jun-26-15  Petrosianic: The word "botch" is a little subjective, but to most it implies missing an easy win. With hyperbole, it sometimes gets stretched to missing ANY win, in the same way that every election these days is a blowout.
Jun-26-15  David2009: GM Walter Browne: memorable as the GM who had the guts to take on BELLE, Bell Laboratory's chess computer programmed to defend the ending perfectly. Tablebases were a novelty in 1978: the computer had already had several IM scamps (Wikipedia).

See also David2009 chessforum (kibitz #266)

Jun-26-15  Strongest Force: Browne was one of Caissa's true believers. He was a young lion at the Flea House on 42nd street before moving to the fancier club on east 57th street. Playing high stakes poker kept him going but I didn't know that until a couple of decades after I first met him. He was a big part of chess history, especially in NYC. RIP.
Jun-26-15  Howard: All right, all right---I'll go on record as changing the word from "botched" to "erred".

You're correct---botched is probably too strong a word.

Jump to page #    (enter # from 1 to 16)
search thread:   
< Earlier Kibitzing  · PAGE 11 OF 16 ·  Later Kibitzing>

NOTE: Create an account today to post replies and access other powerful features which are available only to registered users. Becoming a member is free, anonymous, and takes less than 1 minute! If you already have a username, then simply login login under your username now to join the discussion.

Please observe our posting guidelines:

  1. No obscene, racist, sexist, or profane language.
  2. No spamming, advertising, duplicate, or gibberish posts.
  3. No vitriolic or systematic personal attacks against other members.
  4. Nothing in violation of United States law.
  5. No cyberstalking or malicious posting of negative or private information (doxing/doxxing) of members.
  6. No trolling.
  7. The use of "sock puppet" accounts to circumvent disciplinary action taken by moderators, create a false impression of consensus or support, or stage conversations, is prohibited.
  8. Do not degrade Chessgames or any of it's staff/volunteers.

Please try to maintain a semblance of civility at all times.

Blow the Whistle

See something that violates our rules? Blow the whistle and inform a moderator.


NOTE: Please keep all discussion on-topic. This forum is for this specific player only. To discuss chess or this site in general, visit the Kibitzer's Café.

Messages posted by Chessgames members do not necessarily represent the views of Chessgames.com, its employees, or sponsors.
All moderator actions taken are ultimately at the sole discretion of the administration.

Spot an error? Please suggest your correction and help us eliminate database mistakes!

Copyright 2001-2025, Chessgames Services LLC