J. Robert Oppenheimer was an American theoretical physicist and one of the key figures in the development of the atomic bomb during World War II. Born on April 22, 1904, in New York City, Oppenheimer is best known for his role as the scientific director of the Manhattan Project, the secret wartime research program that produced the first nuclear weapons.

Oppenheimer studied at Harvard University and the University of Cambridge before becoming a professor of physics at the University of California, Berkeley. During World War II, he led a team of scientists at the Los Alamos Laboratory in New Mexico, where they worked on the design and construction of the atomic bomb.

After the war, Oppenheimer became a prominent advocate for international control of nuclear weapons and spoke out against the development of the hydrogen bomb. However, he faced scrutiny and suspicion during the Red Scare of the 1950s due to his past associations with communist organizations and individuals.

Despite his contributions to science and his efforts to promote peace, Oppenheimer’s security clearance was revoked in 1954 following a highly controversial hearing before the Atomic Energy Commission. He continued to work in academia and remained active in scientific research until his death on February 18, 1967, in Princeton, New Jersey. Oppenheimer’s legacy is complex, reflecting both his pivotal role in the development of nuclear weapons and his later advocacy for nuclear disarmament and peaceful coexistence.

J. Robert Oppenheimer, best known as the “father of the atomic bomb” for his role in the Manhattan Project, was also an avid chess player. However, there is limited information available about his specific favorite play or preferred opening variations. Oppenheimer’s involvement with chess was more casual, and he played primarily for recreation rather than as a serious pursuit. Therefore, details about his favorite plays or specific strategies in chess are not well-documented.