Fischer, Bent Larsen and oddly enough Karpov were my most influential players. I learned a lot by going through their games. I also learned a lot about endgames and classical play by going through Capablanca's and Smyslov's games.

I enjoy the challenges of going through Kasparov's games. Anand, Shirov and Topolov are real favorites as well.

Nimzowistch...He has a very intresting style of play, and passive attack is valled active prophylaxis meaning restricting your oponents play while promoting your own, even though karpov said he has no style (quote "style? I have no style) his style is active prophylaxix

Well, I'll say Fischer, in his prime, Kasparov, and Korchnoi. Fischer got me interested in chess through my dad in 1972, I like Korchnoi's aggressive playing style, and Kasparov, well too much to list.

Comments:
Having studied the older generation from Reinfeld, Fine and Keres books.
Bent Larsen: It was widely known that when he exchanged Queens you could not beat him.
Alekhine: From Fine;s Psychology book: Alekhine had the habit of circling
the board between moves.
And screwing a piece to the board in a final move.
Nimzovitch was allergic or could not stand smoke. And Lasker would hold an unlit cigar in his hand when playing him.
And you could go player by player and find something wrong.
The Fine book is still available as a used copy.
I have a strong feeling that Reinfeld favorite player was Tarrasch.
As for a favorite player, Tal. Recalling the New York Times in 1962 front page, Tal indicated he would start the game with 1. P-K4. (e2-e4).
And the French Defence as Black. Most players were not that friendly.

The reason I and many others play is Fischer's match in 72. Only Garry Kasp.arov has risen to his heights and has now done his own disappearing act from the chessworld

On Bobby Fischer:
Bobby Fischer at age 14 defeated Donald Byrne in what has been called the Game of the Century. Fischer at the time was not a good player.
In 1963 Fischer went if I recall 13 - 0 in the USCF at age 21.
Larry Evans edited a Chess Magazine at the time which was strictly on Fischer's games. What Fischer did was take Chess out of the clubs and into weekend tournaments. Fischer as well gave Sim tournaments.
The anger part probably started in during the Fischer - Reshevsky Match in 1959. His book by the way was selling for $7.50. But there were many over prints. (An overprint is a book that does not have the publisher's mark on the print copy page). The book was selling from .50 cents to $5.00.
New York City has a number of streets known as Book Row. Book Stores
one after another. Even 42nd Street had a number of good book stores.
PLayers who quit the game: You can make a whole list-
Akiba Rubinstein, Josh Waitzkin, Miroslav Filip. In a recent book Filip indicated he lost interest in Chess. Dr. Reuben Fine. A whole host of Soviet players who left the Soviet Union. ( The USSR rule was some players were given the out, Probably in the early part of the 20th Century players stayed with Chess because the money was good, or supplemented their income.
Reuben Fine however indicated he could not make a living playing Chess.
Reshevsky probably would have quit chess as well, but was supported by
Sears and Roebeck. Probably the reason for Chess Review and Dover Books was that it a provided an income for some Chess Players.

if they agreed not to play chess anymore).

Tal. I loved his creative madness and tactical wizardry. Also his annotations were superb and made him seem very likeable. Apparently from all indications he was like that in real life.

I actually met Spassky at a North Bay International tournament in the mid-90s and he was quite charming. He was there as a goodwill ambassador. My mentor became good friends with him at that tournament.

Crash

Hi, This is my first ever posting - I am Defiled on FICS some of you may know me.

I really like Aronian , I think he is a the greatest active tactical genius in the world at the moment. His style is positional yet daring and aggressive, just wonderful to watch. I wouldn't put him up there with Kasparov or Fischer in sheer greatness -yet. I think hes a VERY serious contender to win the WC in Mexico.

Additionly he's amazingly relaxed and charasmatic and a gentleman with class. And his girlfriend is hot . Whats with that beard though? He looks Armish.

That is interesting. This is something to look for in an informant. Thank you.

You can find a couple of his post mortems on this page YouTube - Broadcast Yourself.