Comparison of top chess players throughout history
Moves played compared with computer choices
Columns: Position | best year | best 2-year period | best 3-year period | best 5-year period | best 10-year period | best 15-year period
1 | Fischer | Fischer | Fischer | Fischer; Kasparov | Fischer; Capablanca | Capablanca | 2 | Kramnik | Kramnik; Capablanca; Kasparov | Capablanca; Kasparov | Fischer; Kasparov | Fischer; Capablanca | Karpov; Kramnik | 3 | Kasparov | Kramnik; Capablanca; Kasparov | Capablanca; Kasparov | Capablanca | Kramnik | Karpov; Kramnik | 4 | Botvinnik | Kramnik; Capablanca; Kasparov | Smyslov | Kramnik; Botvinnik | Kasparov | Smyslov; Kasparov | 5 | Capablanca | Karpov; Smyslov | Botvinnik | Kramnik; Botvinnik | Karpov; Smyslov | Smyslov; Kasparov | 6 | Karpov | Karpov; Smyslov | Kramnik | Smyslov | Karpov; Smyslov | Fischer | 7 | Smyslov; Tal | Botvinnik; Alekhine | Karpov | Karpov; Lasker | Botvinnik; Spassky | Botvinnik; Spassky; Petrosian | 8 | Smyslov; Tal | Botvinnik; Alekhine | Spassky; Lasker | Karpov; Lasker | Botvinnik; Spassky | Botvinnik; Spassky; Petrosian | 9 | Petrosian | Anand | Spassky; Lasker | Alekhine; Anand | Anand | Botvinnik; Spassky; Petrosian | 10 | Euwe | Tal; Spassky | Anand | Alekhine; Anand | Lasker; Petrosian | Anand | 11 | Spassky | Tal; Spassky | Petrosian | Petrosian; Spassky | Lasker; Petrosian | Tal | 12 | Alekhine; Anand | Lasker; Euwe | Tal; Alekhine | Petrosian; Spassky | Tal; Alekhine | Alekhine; Lasker | 13 | Alekhine; Anand | Lasker; Euwe | Tal; Alekhine | Euwe; Tal | Tal; Alekhine | Alekhine; Lasker | 14 | Lasker | Petrosian | Euwe | Euwe; Tal | Euwe | Euwe | 15 | Morphy | Morphy | Morphy | Steinitz | Steinitz | Steinitz