Biography

American Grandmaster (1977) born in Ukraine. Three times Ukrainian Champion, he participated 5 times in the USSR Championship with a third place as his best showing. He immigrated (defected) to the U.S. in 1979.

After winning the New York Open, he quickly established himself as one of the best players in the country. He won the U.S. Championship in 1984, 1985 and 1990. Other victories included Beersheba in 1990, Reykjavik in 1982, the New York open in 1983 and 1984, won Portland in 1986, Philadelphia and Chicago in 1989 and New York in 1993. In match, he badly lost to Nigel Short 7-1 in 1985 and to Jonathan Speelman in 1986.

Alburt was a member of the national team in 1983 and 1984.

Already a teacher in Odessa, he carried on in the job and became one of the best teachers and coaches in the US. His coaching method is based on the Soviet training process.

Author of many chess educational books and comprehensive chess courses among them: Comprehensive Courses, Chess Tactics for the Tournament Player 1994, Chess Strategy for the Tournament Player 2000, Building UP Your Chess 2002.

Best ELO: 2575 in 1981.

Hort, V. - Alburt, L. Decin Decin 24/141, 1977 1.d4 Nf6 2.c4 c5 3.d5 b5 4.cxb5 a6 5.bxa6 g6 6.Nc3 Bxa6 7.Nf3 d6 8.g3 Bg7 9.Bg2 Nbd7 10.O-O Nb6 11.Re1 O-O 12.Nd2 Qc7 13.Rb1 Qb7 14.b3 Nfxd5 15.Nxd5 Nxd5 16.Nf1 Nc3 17.Bxb7 Bxb7 18.Qd3 Be4 19.Qe3 Bd4 20.Qh6 Bxb1 21.a3 Ba2 22.Nd2 Rfb8 23.b4 cxb4 24.axb4 Rxb4 25.Nf3 Bg7 26.Qh3 Bf6 27.Qf1 Bc4 28.Kg2 Ra1 29.Ng1 Rbb1 30.Kh3 h5 31.f4 Be6+ 32.Kg2 Nd5 33.Kf3 Bc3 34.Rd1 Bb2 0-1