A nestor of trainers (Published before in Israel chess magazine and on www.sbsa.

nl)
Yochanan Afek interviews Mark Dvoretsky - 1999
Last winter I was rather fortunate to stay for more than a month with the man who is considered by
many as the world best chess trainer, Mark Israelovich Dvoretsky.
We were both invited to the chess town of Apeldoorn in East Holland to train a selection of local
players (each of us according to his own level, of course) and since we shared the same roof (Karel
van Delfts Chess Palace) we happened to discuss several subjects chess and life alike.
Dvoretsky (51) lives in Moscow with his wife Inna and his son Leonid and travels a lot around the
chess world for his current work.
His competitive career includes such highlights as his victory in the Moscow championship 1973, fifth
place in the USSR championship 1974 and first in the challengers tournament of Wijk aan Zee 1975.
He has been an International Master since 1975. In pure understanding of the game he would deal
succesfully with top grandmasters; many of them have actually been among his prominent pupils.
He has got a bag full of anecdotes, not necessarily flattering, about the greatest Soviet players with
whom, at the time, he played quite succesfully (with Victor Kortschnoi by the way, Mark first played in
the match Rotterdam - Apeldoorn from the Dutch second division 1999! And that too says something
about the dramatic changes Russian chess has experienced).
As an active player he was deprived of playing in the west for long periods; mainly because his
success as a trainer enabled him to demonstrate rather consistent independence.
He is fond of literature and has got clear cut views on current politics. Mark kindly agreed to let our
readers a glance to the rich and curious world of a succesful trainer.

When did you decide to become a chess trainer?

I started training when I was a student of mathematics and economics in Moscow University. I
managed to combine my studies with playing career, yet I decided to concentrate on chess when I
realized that in spite of my excellent marks, I would get no proper job due to my being jewish. At the
same time I was offered a training position in the Sport Institute, where most of its chess section had
become either prominent players or well known trainers and organisers.

What makes a player into a good trainer?

First he should clarify to himself that he enjoys helping others to improve and not just to regard his job
as a source of income. A good trainer has a wide general chess culture, excellent human relationships
and a sharp distinguishing sense. He should also create personal training conception rather than just
provide his pupils with knowledge.

What is your training philosophy then?

It is really essential not just to create a strong player, but also an honest person with values and
character who will develop his qualities to their best. I happened to stop my work with youth
champions after realizing that their close surrounding and family has stronger influence and thus I lost
my own ability to turn them into better persons.

Who were your most prominent pupils?

I helped many strong players at one stage or another including Kasparov, Anand, Topalov, Bareev,
Svidler, Lautier, Van Wely, Sadler amongst others. I assisted Patrick Wolff before he won the US
Championship and Tal Shaked towards the U-20 world title. Yet my own students whom I
accompanied for years were Valery Czechov, Artur Yusupov, Sergey Dolmatov, Nana Alexandra and
Victor Bologan among others. Under my guidance Alexander Chernin became a top grandmaster and
later qualified for the candidates tournament. Alexei Dreev became a master at the age of 13 and
before he was 16 he had already won the world youth crown twice. I had worked with Alexander
Ryazentsev, U-12 world champion as well as U-14 European champion, but I was forced to cease that
contact when I realized that I couldn't cope with the harmful influence of his close family. I have been
working with Vadim Zviagintsev since he was 13 and by now he has become a member of the Russian
Olympic Team.

From his own professional philosophy Dvoretsky appreciates Yusupov especially. The former, a
succesful trainer in Germany himself nowadays, he considers his best friend and an extraordinary
human being. The following episode might demonstrate it: In a game against Ivanchuk Yusupov
needed a draw and indeed that stormy battle finaly reached a draw position. Nevertheless Ivanchuk
had just a few seconds for his last 15 moves so he preferred to resign and left the tournament hall
immediately.
'How did the game end?' asked the confused arbiter. "It's a draw", replied Yusupov. "But I heared him
resigning." "It doesn't matter; I offered a draw and the position indeed is a draw", concluded Artur.
Yusupov than told his coach he could have played and win for sure on time. "Yet why should I spoil
such a exciting game with senseless time trouble moves..?"

What was the Soviet School of Chess?

It's in fact more of a legend. In the Soviet Union there were appropriate conditions for developing
chess competitive activity as well as training and club life. This advanced chess culture created a
proper climate to turn it into a respectable profession of which many managed to make a living as
players, organizers, journalists and coaches. From that point of view there existed a chess school
indeed. Nevertheless professionally speaking each trainer developed his own systems. There wasn't
necessarily a main stream which dictated working methods though many players naturally adopted
recommendations of giants like Botvinnik who considered strict personal discipline, proper preparation
and sporting life style the main keys for success.

What was the contribution of the various schools?

Botvinniks school for instance where I worked invited a selection of the best juniors from all over the
country to a 10 day camp. Naturally this was a great opportunity, specially for those who arrived from
remote areas. However the camps hadn't such a great effect as the local coaches who accompanied
the youngsters throughout the whole year. In the school that was run by Yusupov and me during 1990-
1992 we discussed career and training programs with our students and proposed efficient ways to
treat typical problems in their games.

Who were the trainers who impressed you most?

In Moscow it was Wladimir Yurkov, the trainer of Balashov, A. Sokolov and Morozevich. In Lvov
Emmanuel Kart (Beljavsky, Romanishin, Mikhalchishin and Litinskaya); in Georgia Vatang Karseladze
(Gaprindashvili and Alexandria) and in Latvia Alexander Koblenz (Tal, Gipslis and Klovans). My own
trainer whom I respected and appreciated was Alexander Roshal, nowadays the editor of the
magazine '64'.

What are the topics which should be focused on in the course of a training program?
Numerous topics and subtopics are aimed at improving the central procedure of decision making, yet
opening theory knowledge is certainly not the most crucial one as certain trainers (such as
Sveshnikov) wrongly think. Succes is the outcome of well balanced work on all the components
physical and mental alike.

How to build an effective chess library of the endless number of books published worldwide?
One should select books with real content and profound commentary and ignore those which quote
trivial recommendations and mountains of variations to memorize. Several authors might guarantee
high quality such as John Nunn and Jan Timman. On the other hand you can find chain writers like
Alexei Suetin about whom Tal once said that he hardly has the time to read his own books, that's how
fast he writes...

Can you point out some 'musts'?

First of all books which introduce original attitudes to the middlegame or the endgame like 'My System'
and 'Practice of my System' by Nimzovich, 'Endgame Strategy' by Shereshevsky, 'The Art of Attack' by
Vukovic and 'Think like a Grandmaster' by Kotov (in spite of criticism on the Analysis Tree Theory).
There are also several excellent new books such as 'Secrets of Practical Play' by Nunn or 'Improve
your Chess Now' by Tisdall. A recommended exercises book is 'Your Best Move' by Hort and Jansa.
Also recommendable are numerous classical monographies of which I specially like those of Fischer
and Larsen.
Also Kasparov's early books such as the Test of Time and the one covering his match with Karpov in
1985 are worthy.
A masterpiece is 'Zurich '53' by David Bronstein. The man behind its briljant writing is actually his
coach Boris Veinstein.
It should be mentioned that Dvoretsky himself is an author of numerous bestsellers which have been
translated into English, German, Spanish and Italian.
What is the secret of your books' success?
Writing a new book I feel obliged to introduce original ideas and approach. I could write many books
which might sell well, still I am not interested in insignificant books which repeat well known materials.

How should one use the computer efficiently?

The computer is an excellent information source, yet it is dangerous to memorize uncontrolled quantity
of information assuming that it is an appropriate replacement of quality literature. The computer helps
to improve the level of play, still most programs fail to introduce unique material. My own training
program is based on thousands of positions collected ever since I started my work as a trainer. It
includes the most impressive and effective exercises accompanied by detailed verbal explanations
and keys.

What might be the consequences of the collapse of the old regime?

Surely numerous potential talents will vanish due to the closure of schools, trainings seminars and
clubs. On the other hand the general freedom enables many players to travel to tournaments in the
west ignoring all-mighty sport committees.

And how does it affect your position?

I work with my best pupils for free, like the prominent music teachers in Italy for instance, who share
with their students there future concerts fee. I make my main living in the west and believe that a
decent job will provide worthy material compensation too.

To conclude the interview I asked Mark to demonstrate an efficient treatment of a certain element, not
necessarily an obvious one, which clearly helped to improve his pupils' achievements.
Dvoretsky choose to demonstrate his work concerning the ability to admit your mistake. It is not
enough to realize the error; one should admit it in time and understand its reasons.

Kotov - Dolmatov, Moscow 1977

Black to move

White: Kg1, Qc3, Rd4, Bc4, a3, b2, e3, e5, f4, g3, h2
Black: Kg8, Qe7, Ra8, Bc6, a6, b7, c7, e6, f7, g7, h6.

Dolmatov touched the rook on a8 intending to play 1..Rd8 but realized he would loose a pawn after 2.
Bxa6! Having no better choice than 1..Ra7 in order to return to a8 next move. Nevertheless he was
unable to admit his mistake and played 1..Rb8? although he had seen that he would loose after 2.
Bxa6 bxa6, 3. Qxc6 Rxb2, 4. Rd7 Qxa3, 5. Qa8+! Kh7, 6. Qe4+. Dolmatov thus continued 4..Qf8, 5.
Rxc7 Rb8 after which white realized his advantage and eventually won.
After the game we analyzed the reasons of his unwillingness to admit his mistake since mistakes as
dr. Tarrasch had put it, don't occur deliberately. A mistake brings about lack of confidence which yields
further mistakes. The player should accept the mistake as a definite fact and find the calmness to fix it
and fight on. This conversation was indeed fruitful and proved its efficiency in the following year
already.

Agzamov - Dolmatov, Vilna 1978

Black to move
White: Kg1, Qe2, Rd1, Rf1, Bc2, Bg5, Nc3, Nf3, a2, b2, e4, f2, g2, h2.
Black: Kg8, Qc7, Ra8, Rf8, Bb7, Bd6, Nd7, Nf6, a6, b5, c4, e6, g7, h7.
Black has a good position and should continue to 16..Tae8! Instead Dolmatov played 16..Sg4?
intending to meet 17.h3 with Sge5 when he noticed that 18. Sd4! Creates a double threat 19. Sxe6 as
well as 19. Sdxb5! Dolmatov, having learnt his lesson, kept cool and just played 17..Sgf6! after which
18. Sd4 is not much of a problem anymore due to 18..Rae8, 19. Sxb5 axb5, 20. Sxb5 Bh2+! The game
went on: 18. Rfe1 Bc5, 19.a3 Tae8, 20. Be3 Bxe3, 21. Qxe3 Sh5 and black eventually won. "I'm sure I
helped Dolmatov", says Dvoretsky to improve one of the numerous fighting qualities and that gives the
trainer lots of satisfaction. Developing the players personality, polishing the process of taking decisions
and fighting spirit are much more important than an opening repertoire.