“Chess is a beautiful mistress.”

Bent Larsen was a Danish chess grandmaster born on March 4, 1935, and passed away on September 9, 2010. He was one of the strongest non-Soviet players of his era and is widely regarded as one of the best chess players from Denmark. Larsen was known for his aggressive and unorthodox style, often choosing offbeat openings to take his opponents out of their comfort zones. He was the first Western player to challenge Soviet dominance in chess, playing successfully in world-class tournaments throughout the 1950s to the 1970s. He was also a Candidate for the World Chess Championship several times and defeated many top players, including World Champions.

Bent Larsen was famous for his unconventional and creative approach to chess. Some of his favorite openings included:

  • Bird’s Opening (1. f4): Larsen was a strong advocate for this offbeat opening as White, known for its aggressive nature.
  • Larsen’s Opening (1. b3): Named after him, this was one of his hallmark openings, focusing on fianchettoing the bishop early and emphasizing flexible play.
  • Sicilian Defense: He often played aggressive variations of the Sicilian as Black, leading to dynamic and complex positions.

Larsen enjoyed surprising his opponents by playing less popular openings, forcing them to think independently from the very start of the game.

Bent Larsen’s peak Elo rating was 2660, which he achieved in July 1971. During his career, he was consistently ranked among the top players in the world, reaching as high as World No. 3.

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