Mikhail Botvinnik

Mikhail Botvinnik

Mikhail Botvinnik was a Soviet and Russian grandmaster who held five world titles across three different reigns. He was the first world-class player to develop within the Soviet Union. He also worked as an electrical engineer and computer scientist.

Botvinnik developed early computer chess and received an honorary mathematics degree for this work. After World War II, he helped design the World Chess Championship system. He was a member of FIDE.

diagram of Mikhail Botvinnik vs Victor Goglidze chess puzzle

Mikhail Botvinnik vs Victor Goglidze

In Moscow 1931, Mikhail Botvinnik faced Victor Goglidze in a game that features a beautiful mating pattern. Can you find the four moves required for White to finish the game?
diagram of Viacheslav Ragozin vs. Mihkail Botvinnik chess puzzle

Viacheslav Ragozin vs. Mihkail Botvinnik

Black to move and win in 3 in this online chess puzzle from Viacheslav Ragozin vs Mikhail Botvinnik, URSS, 1936.