Why Are Russians So Good At Chess? 11 Reasons

Chess is a game that has captivated minds for centuries, and few countries have produced as many world-class players as Russia. 

From Petrov to Kasparov to Nepomniachtchi, Russian players have dominated the game, with 206 active grandmasters today, more than any other country by far.

But why are Russians so good at chess?

Russians are so good at chess because the game is cheap, so anyone could play it, it’s seen as an intellectual endeavor, which was politically critical for the USSR so it supported the game and its players, making it more popular which encouraged competitions and brought out super players.

The popularity of chess in Russia is a cultural phenomenon that explains so much about the Russian community and the Russian people, and all the other countries can learn something from how Russians encourage chess and deal with it, so let’s see what can we learn and use…

Why Are Russians So Good at Chess?

Back in the day, the USSR was truly a grandmaster when it came to chess champions, and If you notice, many of the top chess players today are Russian, which can’t be a coincidence. 

Is it something in their culture, their education system, or their genetic makeup?  There are actually 11 distinct reasons Russians are so good at chess.

Let’s explore these reasons in more detail:

Russia Has a Long History of Chess

If we want to really get a grasp of anything that’s happening in the present, we examine its past. That’s why the advance Russians hold in the world of chess goes way back to the era of the Soviet Union.

Chess is like life in miniature, according to Garry Kasparov, one of the most accomplished chess players in history. That tells you a lot about the people’s mindset about the whole thing back then. They didn’t just play the rules; they fully embodied them. Chess players demonstrated a strong sense of responsibility and discipline during the Soviet era. 

Nikolay Krylenko, the Supreme Commander of the Soviet Union, opened the way for chess to be established in the nation after the revolution. He persisted and set up numerous learning institutes for people to practice in order to improve their mental hold on the game.

Nikolay’s goal was to support the establishment of schools, hold competitions, and promote the game as a means of achieving global dominance. He wanted to give the Russian people a chance to put their revolutionary talents to use. 

His efforts were fruitful to the extent that other people in the world frequently begged Russian players to lose so that other players have a chance! Numerous Soviet grandmasters would congregate during breaks in the legendary match between Bobby Fischer and Boris Spassky in 1972 to discuss Spassky’s next move.

Fischer, however, only brought one assistant, which was part-flex (we’re still talking about Fischer), and part lack of resources because Fischer did not have the might of his government to support him in the way that Spassky and other Russian Grandmasters had.

This worked for Fischer because he is one of the best chess players in history, but it would not work with almost any other player. You can learn more about the legendary story of Fischer here.

The USSR Was Generous in Terms of Resources and Money

As the Soviet Union established institutions to learn and practice chess all over the country, they didn’t stop there. They knew that they had to put in much money, effort, and resources for their strategy to work.

For people who wish to succeed and improve in the game, the Russian Chess Federation offered (and still offers) both time and money. In addition, chess was introduced in some schools to help students enhance their skills and was frequently taught to kids at a very young age.

They also started an education campaign at the same time to make chess books and magazines available to all citizens of the nation.

In reality, they made it possible to translate them into “minority languages” like Uzbek and Georgian, which would not have been possible otherwise.

Chess Was a Cheap Form of Entertainment 

When chess started to get attention in old Russia, most people lived in poverty. This contributed greatly to how it was perceived as a form of entertainment.

Just like poor kids played with rocks in the streets, chess was played as an affordable form of entertainment.

Chess was a popular and socially acceptable form of recreation at a time when few people in Russia could afford to participate in organized sports. When poverty rates dropped, chess was still popular, and it is until today. Meaning that people genuinely enjoyed playing it.

Russians Made Their Own Rules 

Russians did not create chess. In actuality, it arrived in Russia in the seventh century via shipping routes from Persia and India. However, Russia added some of its own rules to the game and modernized it.

For instance, in the 18th century, in addition to its customary sideways and diagonal movements, the queen could also move in an L-shape, just like the knight. However, that was purely a Russian touch.

Today’s version of the game did not become established and widespread until the middle of the 19th century when the first international tournaments were organized.

Chess Has Publicity in Russia 

Just like how the Super Bowl is to the US, chess events have much media coverage and attention in Russia.

In Russia, chess games are frequently televised, chess puzzles can be found in every newspaper, there are numerous chess clubs and schools, and chess is frequently played in parks and residential courtyards. 

This kind of media coverage really sends the message of how significant chess is. Kids grow up to realize how it’s a big deal, and if they give it due care, they might end up on TV crushing some international master.

Russians Are Logical by Nature

Chess is a very logical game, and Russians are well known for their aptitude in these areas. It might be absurd to think that a whole nation has one characteristic that can be generalized.

However, research shows that Russians are better at logical thinking, which translates into an advance in mathematics and physics. 

The reason is that how teachers have a distinguished way of teaching these things, so kids grow up to be better than most in logical thinking. In fact, the Russian mentality is more compatible with chess.

In chess, the capacity for logical reasoning is more crucial than the capacity for opponent reading, for example.

Chess Players Are Treated with Nothing but Honor and Respect

This is certainly a major factor. Chess is a very prestigious game in Russia, and the best players receive awards for it. Just like other countries glorify their top football players and athletes.

As a result, young children are taught that success in chess can lead to fame and glory.

The respect and honor given to chess players also encourage them to continue being the great figures that they are. They play with passion. They take tournaments very seriously in order to honor their country just like it honors them.

Chess Matches Were Symbolic During the Cold War

Of course, the previous point was not evident in the case of Mark Taimanov. However, it really shows how the US-Soviet chess matches were viewed as symbolic during the Cold War. So, what happened?

The Soviet regime blacklisted poor Taimanov after he lost to American Bobby Fischer during the Cold War. Because they believed Taimanov had lost on purpose, they punished him for the humiliating defeat. 

Taimanov was stripped of his titles by the Soviet authorities, who also forbade him from leaving the country for a year and a half, making it hard for him to support himself.

Despite the fact that this response is demeaning to a grandmaster who has participated in more than 20 international competitions, it offers us an idea of how the Soviets viewed chess as a source of national pride.

Good Qualities, Such as Leadership, Are Associated with Chess

Continuing the chain of encouragement, chess is associated with lots of good qualities that make a person eager to have. There is a mini stereotype in Russia that a chess player is someone who has wisdom and is a great leader.

This is because a number of USSR officials were devoted chess players. Lenin was a dedicated fighter. Apparently, Leon Trotsky played in Paris and Vienna tournaments.

Stalin was so concerned with maintaining his reputation as a skilled chess player that he made a phony match public in which he claimed to beat Nikolai Yezhov, a future leader of the secret police!

For many generations, this way of thinking has persisted in the nation. It helped a lot in creating and fostering a positive image of chess that everybody wanted to be associated with. Both the general population and those in positions of authority promote playing chess. 

Chess Is a Great Form of Indoor Activity

Have you ever tried to spend a winter in Russia? Even if you haven’t, you surely know about how their winters are brutally freezing! This doesn’t allow for many outdoor activities that can be fun for both kids and adults.

Russian people needed more indoor activities to pass the time in the past, especially when technology was not widely accessible. As a result, many people chose to play chess instead of going outside. Since practice makes perfect, all of this practice has created the world’s best chess players.

Chess Is Still Encouraged Today

The encouragement chess players get in Russia is not something of the past. Chess is still popular and encouraged in Russia at the time of writing. Chess schools and institutions are still open for people of different ages to practice and advance in chess.

How chess is a significant game for Russians is a mindset that’s still prevalent today. Chess instruction should be a mandatory subject in high schools, as it is in many other educational systems throughout the world, including the curricula in Hungary, Spain, and Mexico, according to Vadim Tyulpanov’s, the Russian Senator, proposal.

Conversely, people claim that chess is not given the same attention it has in the past. Russians still dominate the world with the most grandmasters in 2023. However, there are only two Russian players in the top 10 players list of FIDE, while the USA, the second to Russia, holds three (It’s worth noting that Caruana and Wesley so are both not born in the US, with So being born in the Philippines and Caruana in Italy, and both gained US citizenship to play chess for the country).

Conclusion 

It turns out there are many reasons why Russians are better than other players in chess. The development and popularity of the game have had solid foundations ever since the Soviet era. They considered chess a source of national pride, especially during the dark times of the Cold War.

It seems doubtful that the Russians will ever lose their passion for the game of chess. However, there is little doubt about the long-lasting effects that this evolution has had on the game in Russia, even though success didn’t happen immediately.

Russia continues to dominate chess competitions around the world, and many of the game’s finest players have emerged from the nation and its Soviet chess system. But is it possible to see Russians fall behind one day?

If you did find this article helpful, please consider sharing, as it can help this little site grow 🙏