I've read that GM Yermolinsky does not plan to teach his son chess. GM Ibragimov says if he has children he doubts whether he'll want them to play chess. I have read other GMs expressing similar attitudes towards teaching their children chess. What would cause this---the addiction, the stress, poor career choice? Some of the really great ones seemed to have a disdain for chess.

In his book on Petrosian Vasiliev said Petrosian could not forget for one hour the burden of chess champion. He said Petrosian often thought of Vitia Bravinsky, the curly headed teenager who he frequently played in his youth. Vitia had not given his life to chess. He had become a talented scientist, a winner of the Lenin Prize. What about Loris Kalashin, the head of an institute and a candidate of philosophical science. He was a chessmaster but played only for enjoyment. Petrosian often regretted his decision to play chess.
Petrosian thought one day he might share the same fate as those famous players of the past, who at the end of their life felt disappointment in chess. Chigorin himself was said to have burnt his chess pieces before he died.

Look at Lasker's apparent disdain for chess. How could he play so well when he really wanted to do other things.

I've often wondered why we dont see some father-son (or any parent-child) pairings of outstanding chess players. Who would be the strongest parent-child combo in chess history?

James Plaskett dedicated his book---"The Sicilian Taimanov"--- to his son Alexander Michael with these words;

"With the assurance that I shall never play him so much as a single game of chess."


Do such people have reservations about the effect that learning to excel in chess can have on children? That it is not necessarily the best way to develope a young personality---constantly relating to their peers as people to be fought with.

Chess is fine in moderation imo.

Nothing is worse than bringing a women home for her to find a large stack of chess books on your desk. And last I checked, mating the queen is much better than mating the king.

I've seen plenty of good chess players who have kids who are also really good.

We have father-son combos in other sports; Ken Griffey and Ken Griffey Jr., Bobby Bonds and Barry Bonds, Archie Manning and Peyton and Eli Manning, Cal Ripken and Cal Ripken Jr, Yogi Berra and Larry Berra. Why no famous father-son combos in chess?

How about father-daughter with the Polgars?

I said in my post---"I've often wondered why we dont see some father-son (or any parent-child) pairings of outstanding chess players..."

Surely Abba, you dont think Lazlo is an outstanding chess player do you?

Forget about naming a tournament he's won---name a tournament he's played in---any tournament! The guy is a mediocre player at best.

See, you make my point---it is difficult to name parent-child pairings of outstanding chess players.

I thought Laszlo Polgar was a master? He may not be a GM, but that's still pretty good.

How about the Shahade family in the US? Jennifer is a WIM and former women's national champ, her brother is an IM, and their father is an NM.

There are a few father/son pairings at my local chess clubs, usually involving class players and their children who have surpassed them.

--Fromper

Fromper, Lazlo was not a master---not even close!

Well, we're heading in the right direction with the Shahades! However Mike the Father was a 2300 player as is Jennifer (the son is 2400). I do not consider these outstanding. Do you realize how many fide rated 2300 player there are? Between 5000 to 6000. Do you think there were between 5 and 6 thousand Griffeys or Bonds, or Mannings? The Shahades were not outstanding chess players and are not comparable to the players in other sports I named. I have been actively involved in chess for many years and have never heard of Mike Shahade until Jennifer came on the scene. How about this as a rule of thumb---dont name a chess player you think is outstanding if no one has ever heard of him
Perhaps the next poster will get us into the IM category at least.

No one wishes to have their grave dug before they have even been born.