Yakov Neishtadt turns 97!

Happy Birthday Yakov!

I have a confession to make. Although the name of Yakov Neishtadt occupies an honored place in my chess library, it was with some surprise that I learned today that Yakov is still alive and well and lives quietly in Israel! Happy 97th birthday!

An outstanding chess author, opening theoretician and correspondence player, Yakov Neishtadt’s books are amongst my most valued chess books.  Even today I use these as references in my private study.

I suppose I can be forgiven in some small way for not knowing more about Neishtadt’s private life — after all, he was born almost at the same time as my own father ( who has been dead for more than 30 years already! ) — but this just goes to show how rich and colourful the chess world is.

A game of Neishtadt

Unfortunately, not many of Neishtadt’s games can be found in the modern databases, but after playing thru a number of those that are available, I can easily understand that he was a very strong player.  Especially, Yakov was a brilliant attacker…the following game is magnificent!

Neishtadt,Y – Gipslis,A
USSR ch 1955
(1-0)