“Chess is my profession, but I don’t like to be professional about it.”

Lubomir Kavalek was a Czechoslovak-American chess Grandmaster, born on August 9, 1943, in Prague, Czechoslovakia, and passed away on January 18, 2021. He was one of the strongest players of his time and had a significant influence on the chess world. Kavalek won the Czechoslovak National Championship twice, in 1962 and 1968, before defecting to the West in 1968 after the Prague Spring. He later moved to the United States, where he continued to play and contribute to chess. Kavalek won the U.S. Chess Championship three times (1972, 1973, and 1978) and represented both Czechoslovakia and the United States in international competitions. He was also a prolific chess writer and commentator, contributing to many major publications and helping to popularize chess in the U.S.

Lubomir Kavalek was known for his versatility and deep understanding of various openings, making him a formidable opponent. He often played 1.e4 as White, leading to a wide range of open and semi-open games. As Black, he was comfortable with the King’s Indian Defense against 1.d4 and the Sicilian Defense against 1.e4. Kavalek was known for his strategic approach to the game, often seeking to outmaneuver his opponents through deep positional understanding and precise calculation.

Lubomir Kavalek’s peak Elo rating was 2629, which he achieved in January 1974. This rating placed him among the world’s top players during his peak years. Kavalek remained an active and competitive player throughout his career, and his contributions to chess extended beyond his playing career, as he also became a respected coach and chess commentator.