Isakas Vistaneckis
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Isakas Vistaneckis (Isaak, Itzhak Vistinietzki) (; 29 September 1910 in
Marijampolė Marijampolė (; also known by Marijampolė#Names, several other names) is the Capital city, capital of Marijampolė County in the south of Lithuania, bordering Poland and Russian Kaliningrad Oblast, and Lake Vištytis. The city's population stood ...
– 30 December 2000 in
Tel Aviv Tel Aviv-Yafo ( or , ; ), sometimes rendered as Tel Aviv-Jaffa, and usually referred to as just Tel Aviv, is the most populous city in the Gush Dan metropolitan area of Israel. Located on the Israeli Mediterranean coastline and with a popula ...
) was a
Lithuanian Jewish {{Infobox ethnic group , group = Litvaks , image = , caption = , poptime = , region1 = {{flag, Lithuania , pop1 = 2,800 , region2 = {{flag, South Africa , pop2 = 6 ...
chess player who held the
chess title A chess title is a title regulated by a chess governing body and bestowed upon players based on their performance and rank. Such titles are usually granted for life. The international chess governing body FIDE grants several titles, the most pres ...
of Correspondence Chess International Master (IM).


Biography

In 1930, Isakas Vistaneckis won the Lithuanian Championship. In May 1931, he won the 1st Baltic Championship at
Klaipėda Klaipėda ( ; ) is a city in Lithuania on the Baltic Sea coast. It is the List of cities in Lithuania, third-largest city in Lithuania, the List of cities in the Baltic states by population, fifth-largest city in the Baltic States, and the capi ...
. In 1935, he won the Lithuanian Championship. In 1935, he drew a match against
Vladas Mikėnas Vladas Mikėnas (17 April 1910 – 3 November 1992) was a Lithuanian and Soviet chess player and journalist. He was awarded the titles of International Master and Honorary Grandmaster by FIDE. Early career Vladas Mikėnas played for Lithuani ...
, (+5 –5 =6). Vistaneckis played for Lithuania in five official
Chess Olympiads The Chess Olympiad is a biennial chess tournament in which teams representing nations of the world compete. FIDE organises the tournament and selects the host nation. Amidst the COVID-19 pandemic, FIDE held an Online Chess Olympiad in 2020 and ...
and in one unofficial Olympiad at Munich 1936: * In July 1930, on third board at the
3rd Chess Olympiad The 3rd Chess Olympiad (), organized by the FIDE and comprising an open and women's tournament, as well as several events designed to promote the game of chess, took place between July 13 and July 27, 1930, in Hamburg, Germany. The 2nd Women's Wo ...
in
Hamburg Hamburg (, ; ), officially the Free and Hanseatic City of Hamburg,. is the List of cities in Germany by population, second-largest city in Germany after Berlin and List of cities in the European Union by population within city limits, 7th-lar ...
(+3 –9 =4). * In July 1931, on third board at the
4th Chess Olympiad The 4th Chess Olympiad (), organized by the Fédération Internationale des Échecs (FIDE) and comprising an openAlthough commonly referred to as the ''men's division'', this section is open to both male and female players. and (unofficial) women ...
in
Prague Prague ( ; ) is the capital and List of cities and towns in the Czech Republic, largest city of the Czech Republic and the historical capital of Bohemia. Prague, located on the Vltava River, has a population of about 1.4 million, while its P ...
(+2 –8 =4). * In July 1933, on third board at the
5th Chess Olympiad The 5th Chess Olympiad, organized by the FIDE and comprising an openAlthough commonly referred to as the ''men's division'', this section is open to both male and female players. and (unofficial) women's tournament, as well as several events desig ...
in
Folkestone Folkestone ( ) is a coastal town on the English Channel, in Kent, south-east England. The town lies on the southern edge of the North Downs at a valley between two cliffs. It was an important harbour, shipping port, and fashionable coastal res ...
(+4 –3 =6). * In August 1935, on third board at the
6th Chess Olympiad The 6th Chess Olympiad (), organized by the FIDE and comprising an openAlthough commonly referred to as the ''men's division'', this section is open to both male and female players. and (unofficial) women's tournament, as well as several events ...
in
Warsaw Warsaw, officially the Capital City of Warsaw, is the capital and List of cities and towns in Poland, largest city of Poland. The metropolis stands on the Vistula, River Vistula in east-central Poland. Its population is officially estimated at ...
(+3 –8 =4). * In August/September 1936, on third board at the
3rd unofficial Chess Olympiad The 3rd unofficial Chess Olympiad was held by German Chess Federation (''Grossdeutscher Schachbund'') as a counterpart of the 1936 Summer Olympics in Berlin with reference to 1924 and 1928 events. Many Jewish chess players took part in the event. Si ...
in
Munich Munich is the capital and most populous city of Bavaria, Germany. As of 30 November 2024, its population was 1,604,384, making it the third-largest city in Germany after Berlin and Hamburg. Munich is the largest city in Germany that is no ...
(+9 –4 =7). * In July/August 1937, on third board at the
7th Chess Olympiad The 7th Chess Olympiad (), organized by the FIDE and comprising an open and (unofficial) women's tournament, as well as several events designed to promote the game of chess, took place between July 31 and August 14, 1937, in Stockholm Stock ...
in
Stockholm Stockholm (; ) is the Capital city, capital and List of urban areas in Sweden by population, most populous city of Sweden, as well as the List of urban areas in the Nordic countries, largest urban area in the Nordic countries. Approximately ...
(+5 –8 =3). In 1941, he won the 1st Lithuanian SSR Championship. In June 1941, he played at Rostov-on-Don (
Rostov-na-Donu Rostov-on-Don is a port city and the administrative centre of Rostov Oblast and the Southern Federal District of Russia. It lies in the southeastern part of the East European Plain on the Don River, from the Sea of Azov, directly north of t ...
) (sf USSR ch.). In 1942, he tied for 4th-7th at Sverdlovsk (
Ekaterinburg Yekaterinburg (, ; ), alternatively Romanization of Russian, romanized as Ekaterinburg and formerly known as Sverdlovsk ( ; 1924–1991), is a city and the administrative centre of Sverdlovsk Oblast and the Ural Federal District, Russia. The ci ...
), behind
Viacheslav Ragozin Viacheslav Vasilyevich Ragozin (; 8 October 1908 – 11 March 1962) was a Soviet chess player, writer and editor. He was world champion in correspondence chess and held the title of Grandmaster in both over-the-board and correspondence chess. ...
,
Vladimirs Petrovs Vladimirs Petrovs (; 27 September 1908 – 26 August 1943) was a Latvian Russian chess player. Biography He was born in Riga, in the Governorate of Livonia of the Russian Empire (present-day Latvia). Though he learned the game of chess relative ...
, and
Alexei Sokolsky Alexey Pavlovich Sokolsky (3 November 1908 Penza Governorate, Russian Empire – 27 December 1969 Minsk, USSR) was a Russian chess player of International Master strength in chess, a noted correspondence chess player, and an opening theoreticia ...
. In February–March 1944, he played at
Omsk Omsk (; , ) is the administrative center and largest types of inhabited localities in Russia, city of Omsk Oblast, Russia. It is situated in southwestern Siberia and has a population of over one million. Omsk is the third List of cities and tow ...
(sf USSR ch.). In 1945, he tied for 6th-8th at
Baku Baku (, ; ) is the Capital city, capital and List of cities in Azerbaijan, largest city of Azerbaijan, as well as the largest city on the Caspian Sea and in the Caucasus region. Baku is below sea level, which makes it the List of capital ci ...
(sf USSR ch.). In October–November 1945, he tied for 3rd-4th with
Alexander Koblencs Alexander Koblencs (, , ; 3 September 1916, Riga – 9 December 1993, Berlin) was a Latvian chess master, trainer, and writer. He is best known as the trainer of the 1960-61 World Champion Mikhail Tal. In 1935, he took 4th place in Rosas ( Salo ...
, behind Mikenas and
Alexander Tolush Alexander Kazimirovich Tolush (1 May 1910 – 3 March 1969) was a Soviet chess grandmaster. He was one of Boris Spassky's mentors. Tolush was born and died in Saint Petersburg (in 1969 called Leningrad). He earned the title of International Ma ...
, at
Riga Riga ( ) is the capital, Primate city, primate, and List of cities and towns in Latvia, largest city of Latvia. Home to 591,882 inhabitants (as of 2025), the city accounts for a third of Latvia's total population. The population of Riga Planni ...
(Baltic Republics ch.). In June–July 1946, he took 2nd, behind
Yuri Averbakh Yuri Lvovich Averbakh (; 8 February 1922 – 7 May 2022) was a Russian chess grandmaster and author. He was chairman of the USSR Chess Federation from 1973 to 1978. Averbakh was the first centenarian FIDE Grandmaster. Despite his eyesight and ...
, at Vilnius (Baltic Rep. ch). In 1947, he won a match against Zagoriansky (+4 –2 =8). In 1947, he took 12th at Sverdlovsk (sf USSR ch.). In 1949, he tied for 9th-10th at Vilnius (sf USSR ch.). In 1950, he tied for 14th-15th at Tula (sf USSR ch.). In 1951, he tied for 9th-10th at
Lvov Lviv ( or ; ; ; see #Names and symbols, below for other names) is the largest city in western Ukraine, as well as the List of cities in Ukraine, fifth-largest city in Ukraine, with a population of It serves as the administrative centre of ...
(sf USSR ch.). In 1953, he took 13th at Vilnius (sf USSR ch.). In 1954, he tied for 3rd-4th at Vilnius (Quadrangular). In 1954, he tied for 14th-15th at
Erevan Yerevan ( , , ; ; sometimes spelled Erevan) is the capital and largest city of Armenia, as well as one of the world's List of oldest continuously inhabited cities, oldest continuously inhabited cities. Situated along the Hrazdan River, Yerev ...
(sf USSR ch.). In 1957, he tied for 8th-9th at
Minsk Minsk (, ; , ) is the capital and largest city of Belarus, located on the Svislach (Berezina), Svislach and the now subterranean Nyamiha, Niamiha rivers. As the capital, Minsk has a special administrative status in Belarus and is the administra ...
(zt USSR ch.). In 1960, he tied for 16th-17th at Vilnius (sf USSR ch.). In 1961, he tied for 13th-15th at
Palanga Palanga (; ; ) is a resort town, resort city in western Lithuania, on the shore of the Baltic Sea. Palanga is the busiest and the largest summer resort in Lithuania and has sand, sandy beaches (18 km, 11 miles long and up to 300 metres, 10 ...
(Baltic Rep. ch.). In 1962, he tied for 11th-12th at
Tbilisi Tbilisi ( ; ka, თბილისი, ), in some languages still known by its pre-1936 name Tiflis ( ), ( ka, ტფილისი, tr ) is the Capital city, capital and List of cities and towns in Georgia (country), largest city of Georgia ( ...
. In 1963, he tied for 13th-14th in Estonia (Baltic Rep. ch.). In 1964, he took 10th at
Pärnu Pärnu () is the fourth-largest city in Estonia. Situated in southwest Estonia, Pärnu is located south of the Estonian capital, Tallinn, and west of Estonia's second-largest city, Tartu. The city sits off the coast of Pärnu Bay, an inlet of ...
(Baltic Rep. ch.). Vistaneckis played many times at Lithuanian SSR championships. In 1949, he tied for 1st with
Ratmir Kholmov Ratmir Dmitrievich Kholmov ( Russian: Ратмир Дмитриевич Холмов) (13 May 1925 in Shenkursk – 18 February 2006 in Moscow) was a Russian chess Grandmaster. He won many international tournaments in Eastern Europe during his ...
at Vilnius. In 1954, he won, ahead of Mikenas, at Vilnius. In 1956, he won at Kaunas. In 1959, he tied for 1st with Kholmov at Vilnius. In 1960, he took 2nd at Vilnius. In 1964, he tied for 2nd-3rd with Česnauskas, behind Mikenas, at Vilnius. At the end of the 1970s, he emigrated to
Israel Israel, officially the State of Israel, is a country in West Asia. It Borders of Israel, shares borders with Lebanon to the north, Syria to the north-east, Jordan to the east, Egypt to the south-west, and the Mediterranean Sea to the west. Isr ...
. The Vistaneckis Variation of the Main Line of the
French Defense The French Defence is a chess opening characterised by the moves: :1. e4 e6 This is most commonly followed by 2.d4 d5. Black usually plays ...c5 soon after, attacking White's and gaining on the . The French has a reputation for solidity a ...
(1.e4 e6 2.d4 d5 3.Nc3 Nf6 4.Bg5 Be7 5.e5 Ng8) is named for him.


Notable chess games

*Isakas Vistaneckis vs Marcel Engelmann (BEL), Folkestone 1933, 5th Olympiad, Nimzo-Indian, Classical, E38, 1-0 *Isakas Vistaneckis vs Henry Grob (SWI), Munich (ol) 1936, French, Classical Variation., C14, 1-0 *Isakas Vistaneckis vs
Vladimirs Petrovs Vladimirs Petrovs (; 27 September 1908 – 26 August 1943) was a Latvian Russian chess player. Biography He was born in Riga, in the Governorate of Livonia of the Russian Empire (present-day Latvia). Though he learned the game of chess relative ...
, Sverdlovsk 1942, Queen's Gambit Declined, Slav, D16, 1-0 *Isakas Vistaneckis vs
Salo Flohr Salomon Mikhailovich Flohr (November 21, 1908 – July 18, 1983) was a Czechoslovak and Soviet chess player and writer. He was among the first recipients of the title International Grandmaster from FIDE in 1950. Flohr dominated many tournam ...
, Erevan 1954, sf URS–ch, Queen's Gambit Accepted, D26, 1-0 *Isakas Vistaneckis vs Roberts Skuja, Minsk 1957, zt URS-ch, Queen's Gambit Declined, Slav, D11, 1-0 Isakas Vistaneckis vs Roberts Skuja, Minsk 1957, zt URS-ch, Queen's Gambit Declined, Slav, D11, 1-0
/ref>


References


External links

* * * {{DEFAULTSORT:Vistaneckis, Isakas 1910 births 2000 deaths Israeli chess players Lithuanian chess players Jewish chess players Chess Olympiad competitors Israeli people of Lithuanian-Jewish descent Lithuanian Jews People from Marijampolė People from Suwałki Governorate Soviet chess players Soviet emigrants to Israel