One would think that in this day of engines that are stronger than any human it would be easy to figure out. But that does not seem to be the case.
According to a 2006 article which you can download HERE, Capablanca was the best, but they used the less strong Crafty engine. See also this article on Chessbase: Computer analysis of world champions
Then there is the 2017 report on Chess.com that comes to a different conclusion and says Carlsen is the man. For further reading: Chess Fans Booed This Year's World Championship, but Computers Cheered
So, who’s the baddest of them all. What really makes a player great? What are their characteristics? Do we really prefer the flawed master or, do we prefer perfection?
If one is looking for perfectly played games then games from engine championships or even the ICCF world championship finals are the ones that should be examined. But, I don’t think most of us are interested in that kind of chess.
We prefer lots of excitement with spills and thrills brought about by mistakes. Not gross blunders, but subtle mistakes that allow one side to deliver, as the Soviets liked to put it, a sledgehammer blow. Or, we like to see gamblers making speculative sacrifices that will require both players to walk on the razor’s edge even if Stockfish sees the refutation in the twinkling of an eye!
Speaking of chessplayers...I was looking at collections of best games and here’s the list of books, about $400 worth, I’d like to have:
My Magic Years of Topalov
Gata Kamsky - Chess Gamer - Vol. 1
Learn from Michal Krasenkow
Fabiano Caruana
Alexander Beliavsky - Legendary Chess Careers - Part 1 and 2
Max Euwe - Fifth World Chess Champion
Triple Exclam!!! - the life and games of Emory Tate
Najdorf x Najdorf
The Soviet Championships
Lajos Portisch
Oldrich Duras - Master of Chess Combination
Combat – My 50 Years of Chess, Sidney Bernstein
The Life and Games of Frank Ross Anderson
Mir Sultan Khan
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