Boris Gulko (b. February 9th, 1947) is an International Grandmaster in chess. Gulko was born in East Germany and is currently one of the strongest U.S. players. He is a two-time U.S. champion, winning in 1994 and 1999. He had previously been the USSR champion in 1977, and is the only chess player ever to have held both titles.

After winning the Chess Championship of the Soviet Union, Gulko applied to leave the country, but permission was refused. He and his wife, Anna Akhsharumova, who is a Woman Grandmaster of chess, became prominent Soviet Refuseniks. A vehement anti-Communist, Gulko was once arrested and beaten by KGB agents. After the period of glasnost arrived, Gulko was allowed to immigrate to the United States in 1986.

Gulko has a plus record against Garry Kasparov. He even beat Kasparov with black pieces in Russia in 1982 (moves given in Algebraic chess notation):

1.d4 d5 2.c4 dxc4 3.e3 Nf6 4.Bxc4 e6 5.Nf3 c5 6.O-O a6 7.e4 b5 8.Bd3 Bb7 9.Bg5 cxd4 10.Nxd4 Nbd7 11.Nc3 Ne5 12.Ncxb5 Nxd3 13.Qxd3 axb5 14.Rfd1 Be7 15.Qxb5+ Qd7 16.Qb3 Bxe4 17.Nf5 Bd5 18.Nxg7+ Kf8 19.Qh3 h5 20.Qg3 Kxg7 21.Bxf6+ Kxf6 22.Rd4 Bd6 23.Qc3 Kg6 24.h3 Bc7 0-1

Gulko is still playing chess, although he does not participate in a large number of tournaments.

Photo gallery

2002 U.S. Chess Championships

External links

• FIDE rating card for Boris Gulko
• 25 Crucial Positions from His Games