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Play Chess Against David Bronstein

David Bronstein (1924-2006), the creative genius who came within a single game of the world championship, sits across the board. Set the strength, clock, color and starting position, then press Start game.

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Portrait of David Bronstein
David Bronstein, 1924-2006.
Black · David Bronstein10:00
Choose the settings, then press Start game.
White · You10:00
David Bronstein
David Bronsteinhistorical player
Preparing the board.

Set the game on the right. Start unlocks the board and starts the side-to-move clock.

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David Bronstein stays selected. Choose the playing strength, clock, color and starting position.

OpponentDavid BronsteinStrength1500Clock10+5You playWhite
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David Bronstein remains selected while you choose the settings for this game.

David Bronstein David Bronstein1924-2006
Playing strength
100-point steps
1500
1500Bronstein, 1500 Elo target2600
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The first number is the starting time in minutes. The second is the increment after each completed legal move.

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About David Bronstein

David Bronstein at the Hoogovens chess tournament

David Bronstein (1924-2006) played chess the way an artist paints, hunting beauty before safety. In 1951 he stood one step from the crown: his world championship match with Mikhail Botvinnik ended 12-12, and the champion kept his title by the draw. He never got another shot, but his influence ran deeper than that of most champions. His King's Indian ideas armed a generation of attackers, and his book of the Zurich 1953 Candidates is still called the finest tournament book ever written.

One point from the crownDrew the 1951 world championship match 12-12; Botvinnik kept the title
Two Interzonal winsWon the Saltsjobaden 1948 and Gothenburg 1955 Interzonals
The Zurich 1953 bookHis account of the 1953 Candidates is ranked among the greatest chess books
King's Indian pioneerWith Boleslavsky and Geller he made the King's Indian a serious tournament weapon
  1. 1924
    Born near Kiev

    Born on 19 February 1924 in Bila Tserkva, Ukraine. He learned chess as a schoolboy and grew up through famine and war.

  2. 1948
    Interzonal winner

    Won the Saltsjobaden Interzonal in Sweden, earning his place among the world elite.

  3. 1949
    Soviet co-champion

    Shared first place with Alexander Kotov in the 1948/49 USSR championship.

  4. 1950
    Candidates winner

    Tied first with Isaac Boleslavsky at the Budapest Candidates, then won their playoff match to earn a title shot.

  5. 1951
    The 12-12 match

    Led Botvinnik by a point with two games remaining, but the match ended level and the champion retained his crown.

  6. 1953
    Zurich and its book

    Finished second behind Smyslov at the Zurich Candidates. His book of the tournament became the most beloved of all tournament books.

  7. 1955
    Gothenburg winner

    Won his second Interzonal at Gothenburg, qualifying for yet another Candidates.

  8. 2006
    Death in Minsk

    Died on 5 December 2006. Players remembered him as the most imaginative attacker of the Soviet school.

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Challengers and innovators

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Questions about playing David Bronstein

Can I play against David Bronstein for free?

Yes. You can start a game without a subscription, account or download.

Who was David Bronstein?

David Bronstein was a celebrated chess master. The portrait and lifetime on this page identify the person represented here.

Can I change Bronstein's playing strength?

Yes. Choose the approximate Lichess scale from 600 to 3000 or FIDE scale from 1500 to 2600, both in 100-point steps.

Is the strength number a historical rating?

No. It is an approximate playing-strength target for this game, not a biographical rating or a rating conversion.

Can I start from a FEN or PGN?

Yes. Standard chess is the default. Open Starting position to paste a FEN or one PGN. A PGN loads its final mainline position.

What do 3+2 and 10+0 mean?

The first number is each side's starting time in minutes. The second is the increment added after each completed legal move.

Can I choose White, Black or a random color?

Yes. Choose the side you control. The starting position decides which color moves first, and Random chooses your side when you start.

Does the board work on a phone?

Yes. Tap a piece and then its destination, or drag the piece. The board and clocks adapt to narrow screens.

Can I undo moves and review the game?

Undo is unavailable during an active legend game. Review becomes available after the game ends.

Can I choose another chess legend?

Yes. Use the chess-legend hub or the links below the board to open another player page.