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Last Post 02 Jul '10
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Natalia Pogonina : About me

by Subscriber Natalia Pogonina on Jul 02 2010 13:40 | 5988 views | 13 edits | Last edit on Jul 02 2010 20:37

Natalia Pogonina

Natalia Pogonina


(born on March 9, 1985) is one of the best female chess players in the world, member of the Russian Olympic chess team.

Woman Grandmaster (WGM), three-times European champion (U16, twice U18), bronze prize winner at the World Championship (U18) and European Women Championship, winner of the gold medal at the 1st International Mind Sports Games, co-winner of the 2008 Student World Championship, and #1 at multiple prestigious international tournaments (2005 – Bykova Memorial, 2007 – Rudenko memorial, 2009 – Moscow Open, etc.).

Ranked as 3rd most successful female chess player in the world in 2009 by the Association of Chess Professionals.

Her current FIDE rating is over 2500 – a mark that is associated with the title of a male Grandmaster.

Other notable facts:

  • Actively promotes chess by writing articles, commentating on top chess events, giving simultaneous exhibitions, judging contests, communicating with chess fans, etc.
  • Author of potential bestseller Chess Kama Sutra
  • Won a vote chess game against the World in 2010 (almost 4000 people from over 100 countries participated)
  • Has been featured in NY Times, Washington Post, Times, Toronto Star and other influential media
  • Natalia’s website– http://www.pogonina.com – is one of the most popular chess blogs in the world



    • Grandmaster Natalia Pogonina

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    Posted to Grandmaster Natalia Pogonina

    Readers Comments (108)

    Posted: Jul 06 2010 11:50 Donation Russ said

      If you have any questions for Natalia, please post to the comments below.

      Posted: Jul 06 2010 12:13 Subscriber Guych said

        1) What do you think of this division into male and female grandmasters? 2) Are you opposed to it? 3) Do you think it is currently gradually eroding?

        Posted: Jul 06 2010 12:20 Standard member Habeascorp said

          At what age do you think chess players peak? Is the amount of learning and preparation required by grandmasters increasing in modern times?

          Posted: Jul 06 2010 12:43 Standard member Mad Rook said

            Hi Natalia,
            This is quite an honor, a GM blog! Welcome to RHP!

            Posted: Jul 06 2010 13:10 Subscriber greenpawn34 said

              Hi Natalia.

              Welcome to RHP.

              You have just inherited hundreds of new chess fans.

              Your team for the coming Olympiad looks very strong.

              The official site is showing this line up.

              Alexandra Kosteniuk, Nadezhda Kosintseva, Tatiana Kosintseva, Natalia Pogonina and Alisa Galliamova.

              The gang will be cheering you on the Chess Forum.

              Good Luck

              Posted: Jul 06 2010 13:36 Subscriber robbie carrobie said

                hi, shall you be playing any correspondence games on RHP, if you are, just challenge me and we can play - wish you well - kind regards robbie

                Posted: Jul 06 2010 13:40 Standard member Thabtos said

                  What great GM's and past World Champions have been the most influential on you as a player?


                  What phase of the game do you feel is your greatest strength?

                  Posted: Jul 06 2010 14:45 Subscriber PBE6 said

                    (1) Who do you think is the strongest player active today? What do you think of their strength/style?

                    (2) What did you think of the recent World Chess Championships? Do you have any comments on the conduct of the Topalov/Danailov camp?

                    (3) Do you think Karpov will be elected FIDE president in October? Do you think he'd be a positive force in the chess world as president?

                    (4) What advice do you have for an intermediate player looking to improve his/her game? How do you view the chess board? What's your thought process during the game?

                    Posted: Jul 06 2010 14:47 Standard member Maxacre42 said

                      Hi, what is your opinion on the impact of practicing blindfold chess to improve normal chess? Is it beneficial or does blindfold skill come naturally with normal chess improvement? I am hoping it helps calculation and/or vision.

                      Have a nice day!

                      Posted: Jul 06 2010 16:13 Subscriber Grampy Bobby said

                        Warm greetings from afar, Natalia, and a warm welcome to Red Hot Pawn.

                        What a distinct privilege to have you aboard. Your stature elevates us all.


                        Thank you.

                        Posted: Jul 06 2010 17:00 Subscriber ChessPraxis said

                          Welcome, and thank you for gracing us with your presence.

                          Posted: Jul 06 2010 17:45 Subscriber orion25 said

                            Indeed, many thanks Natalia for your presence and your initiative. Welcome to the site.

                            Posted: Jul 06 2010 18:38 Subscriber Natalia Pogonina said

                              @Guych I believe that separate titles for women and men should exist until we have more strong female players. Currently only Judit Polgar is on the world's top-100. It is eroding slowly, but inevitably. In the future there will be more proficient female chess players.

                              Posted: Jul 06 2010 18:42 Subscriber Natalia Pogonina said

                                @Habeascorp The average age of peak level is probably about 35. At that time people already have a lot of experience, but are still young, have the energy it takes to play chess, a good memory.

                                Of course, one needs to know much more these days than in the good old times when Botvinnik had a secret notebook which had some 5 moves for each side or so and the evaluation. Nowadays one has to memorize a myriad of 20+ move lines and generally study all aspects of chess more.

                                Posted: Jul 06 2010 18:44 Subscriber Natalia Pogonina said

                                  @greenpawn34 Thanks a lot! Both our women's and men's main teams will be exceptionally strong. I do hope we will perform well this time.

                                  Posted: Jul 06 2010 18:45 Subscriber Natalia Pogonina said

                                    @robbie carrobie Thanks for the challenge. I get a few dozen of them per day and, unfortunately, have to turn them down since my life is not limited to chess, and there is simply not enough time to play everyone.

                                    Posted: Jul 06 2010 18:47 Subscriber Natalia Pogonina said

                                      @Thabtos Probably Bobby Fischer and Capablanca. I am not that good in the opening, far from perfect in the endgame, so only middlegame is left.

                                      Posted: Jul 06 2010 18:53 Subscriber Natalia Pogonina said

                                        @PBE6 1) Depends on the definition of "strong". If we take tournaments, then it's Carlsen. In matches - Anand and Kramnik. In general, I think, there is a big 5: Carlsen, Anand, Kramnik, Topalov, Aronian. Also, a few peopla re close...
                                        2) I liked the games a lot. Very exciting, great struggles, high quality. As to scandals - enough has been said on this, don't want to dwell on the subject again.
                                        3) His chances are miniscule (if we look at the list of countries that support Kirsan and Anatoly). Therefore, the second question if of the "what if" type.
                                        4) An intermediate player should play a lot of games and analyze them with a coach/chess engine to pinpoint the weaknesses and correct them. Also, solve tactics on daily basis, concentrate on studying chess in general as opposed to memorizing variations. A lot depends on the person, it's hard to give universal advice. Good coaches create personal training programs for each student.

                                        Posted: Jul 06 2010 18:55 Subscriber Natalia Pogonina said

                                          @Maxacre42 Blindfold chess (especially on many boards at a time) can be dangerous for a person. It requires special skills, i.e. one can be a weak player and imagine the board blindfoldedly quite well, or vice versa. Generally, unless you like the activity itself, there is no sense in seriously training by playing blindfolded.

                                          Posted: Jul 06 2010 18:57 Subscriber Natalia Pogonina said

                                            @Mad Rook, @Grampy Bobby, @ChessPraxis, @orion25 Thanks, guys, nice to know you! ;-)

                                            Posted: Jul 07 2010 01:16 Subscriber Paul Leggett said

                                              Hi Natalia,

                                              Welcome to RHP! I hope you will enjoy our chess community. Our pieces are white and black, but our players are colorful in so many worthy and meaningful ways.

                                              The English philosopher Thomas Hobbes wrote that man, when separated from society, is condemned to a life that is solitary, poor, nasty, brutish, and short.

                                              I can't say that RHP is the end of famine, the cure for cancer, or the instrument of world peace, but it is a chess community that has eliminated the "solitary" part completely! Welcome to our society!

                                              Posted: Jul 07 2010 03:16 Subscriber Marinkatomb said

                                                Hi Natalia, i was wondering, on average, how much time do you spend studying a week? Do you spread your time evenly through all the phases or do you have a favourite phase (opening/middle/end)?

                                                Posted: Jul 07 2010 10:01 Standard member Habeascorp said

                                                  Dear Natalia

                                                  Thank you for your reply. I fear it is all down hill for me now then, although your answer was of course referring to top class players. I have found that becoming a parent has lessened my ability as I have less opportunity to play matches and even when I do have time I still feel rushed. How do parents cope in the professional chess world?

                                                  Also, do you have a favourite or fondly remembered move you once played (because of its effect, the gratification against a particular opponent, its subsequent press coverage or any other reason)

                                                  Posted: Jul 07 2010 10:06 Subscriber Grampy Bobby said

                                                    Wondering if there may be several unusual/infrequently played

                                                    openings you're fond of and experiment with in informal games.

                                                    Posted: Jul 07 2010 11:24 Subscriber geo86012 said

                                                      Hello Natalie & welcome to #1 internet chess site. Do you have any particular favorite GM games? (Games that made an impact on you, or games that impressed you?)

                                                      Posted: Jul 07 2010 12:35 Subscriber Grampy Bobby said

                                                        P.S. Also meant to ask for your take on the positional/overall adequacy

                                                        (as opposed to incidental shock value) of a7-a6 and b7-b6 to e4 and d4.

                                                        Posted: Jul 07 2010 13:30 Standard member toeternitoe said

                                                          Greetings from Belgium.

                                                          When I learned chess,mid 80's,good clubplayers could still beat the strongest engines.
                                                          Nowadays engines are incredibly strong and I see these kids in the club with fritz,rybka,handheld devices and what have you not.
                                                          They cannot live without and claim it's a great aid in their progress as a player.
                                                          Apparently their engines get stronger every year,or so they tell me,but they themselves don't seem to improve much.
                                                          So we have this ongoing discussion between the old garde and the young dogs about the benefits of chess engines.

                                                          So question 1 is: could you elaborate a bit on the role chessengines played when you started out (I can understand they're indespensible for a master)?

                                                          Q2: Is there a chessbook that had a profound influence on you?

                                                          Q3: Will you marry me? =)

                                                          toet.

                                                          Posted: Jul 07 2010 16:34 Subscriber jb70 said

                                                            Hi Natalia,thanks for doing this it is much appreciated.
                                                            Can you give your views and advice on the use of opening databases in correspondence chess
                                                            if a player is trying to improve?
                                                            Thanks,jb.

                                                            Posted: Jul 08 2010 01:20 Subscriber blackjack21 said

                                                              Hi Nat,

                                                              I noticed this line from your about me, "Author of potential bestseller Chess Kama Sutra". So I looked it up and found this: "Peter is also Natalia Pogonina’s manager, Pogonina.com website administrator and Natalia’s co-author of the upcoming book “Chess Kamasutra”, which led me to this, "According to her, it is possible to apply sex principles to chess. Interesting interview with lots of pictures."

                                                              Now, I'm really pumped up. So I followed the trail which led me to this,
                                                              "In “Chess Kamasutra” I and my co-author Peter Zhdanov will show that it is possible to apply sex principles to chess, and vice versa. We will be reviewing the most interesting openings and middlegame positions, and relating them to positions from Kamasutra. We surprise our readers by introducing the “love theory”, which is extremely effective for developing your chess skills and becoming happy in personal life."

                                                              Interesting. Is the book work in progress? Release date?
                                                              Thanks
                                                              bj21

                                                              Posted: Jul 08 2010 12:02 Subscriber Grampy Bobby said

                                                                Re: bj21's energetic/quotation based post (above)... "In 'Chess Kamasutra' I and my co-author Peter Zhdanov will show that it is possible to apply sex principles to chess, and vice versa..." Wow! Makes total and absolute sense to latch onto, correlate and synthesize the exquisite expression of maximum levels of similar human intensities.

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