The Optimist. Twice challenged Alekhine for the World Championship. Famous for his optimistic quote: 'When I am White, I win because I am White. When I am Black, I win because I am Bogoljubow.'
One-time purchase · Windows download · UCI compatible · works offline · instant download after purchase
The browser version lets you meet the personality before buying. The installed engine plays locally, in CZUBATRONIC 2400 and your own chess software, with the full personality model.
Bogoljubow attacks because he believes. He takes the initiative wherever the position offers a hint of it, plays bold openings with both colours and keeps pressing in positions where others would consolidate.
Against him, the burden of proof is constantly yours. His confidence creates threats out of modest means, and hesitant play hands him exactly the tempo he thrives on.
Regular games against Bogoljubow teach you to call the optimist's bluff and to respect the attacks that are no bluff. You learn to punish overpressing accurately, to hold your nerve against constant activity and to take the initiative back when it is rightfully yours. The man who twice challenged Alekhine remains wonderful fighting company.
A single game shows part of the personality. Repeated games reveal more: you begin to recognise familiar structures, recurring plans and the kinds of positions this opponent prefers. That is where the collection becomes interesting, because different personalities put different questions to your chess.
Efim Bogoljubow twice challenged Alekhine for the World Championship, losing both times, yet he remained one of the world's strongest players for two decades. Captured by Germany during World War I, he settled there and became a naturalized citizen, which led to political complications and estrangement from the Soviet chess world. His infectious optimism at the board was legendary. He attacked boldly, played for the initiative, and rarely backed down. Famous for his quote: 'When I am White I win because I am White; when I am Black I win because I am Bogoljubow.'
Notable: Won the German Chess Championship multiple times. His opening contributions include the Bogoljubow-Indian Defense (1...d6 against 1.d4).
| Era | Classical |
| Years | 1889–1952 |
| Historical rating (estimated) | 2650 |
| Born | Monastyryshche, Ukraine, 1889 |
| Title | World Championship Challenger (1929, 1934) |
| Style | Aggressive attacking play, optimistic piece activity, bold openings |
The ChessGate personality of Bogoljubow, reconstructed from the historical player's games, with their own style, their own plans and their own idea of chess. A chess partner with real character, at any level, whenever you like. Play it inside CZUBATRONIC 2400 and the built-in Coach can flag weak moves and show a stronger one. The engine runs offline on your machine, in CZUBATRONIC 2400 and any UCI chess interface.
| File | ChessGate_Bogoljubow.exe · 30 MB |
| Runs in | CZUBATRONIC 2400 (as an external engine) and any UCI chess interface |
| Requirements | Windows 10 / 11, 64-bit; any UCI chess interface; CZUBATRONIC 2400 lists it as an external engine |
| Delivery | Instant download after purchase. Installer, no administrator rights; if CZUBATRONIC 2400 is installed, the personality registers itself there as an engine. |
| Works offline | Yes. No account, no server. |
| Packs | – |
| Collection | Complete Personality Collection |
| In the browser | A lighter version of ChessGate Bogoljubow plays on ChessGate. |