100 studies were published during his lifetime, many of which have made notable contributions to endgame theory. In 1956, he was given by FIDE the title of International Judge of Chess Compositions and in 1969 that of International Arbiter. Averbakh was also an important chess journalist and author. He edited the Soviet chess periodicals Shakhmaty v SSSR and Shakhmatny Bulletin. From 1956 to 1962 he edited (with Vitaly Chekhover and others) a four-volume anthology on the endgame, Shakhmatnye okonchaniya (revised in 1980–84 and translated as Comprehensive Chess Endings, in five volumes). Openings contributions Averbakh is the eponym of several opening variations. King's Indian Defence: Averbakh variation (E73): 1.d4 Nf6 2.c4 g6 3.Nc3 Bg7 4.e4 d6 5.Be2 0-0 6.Bg5 King's Indian Defence: semi-Averbakh system (E73): 1.d4 Nf6 2.c4 g6 3.Nc3 Bg7 4.e4 d6 5.Be2 0-0 6.Be3 Modern Defense: Averbakh variation (A42): 1.d4 g6 2.c4 Bg7 3.Nc3 d6 4.e4 Ruy Lopez: Averbakh variation (C87): 1.e4 e5 2.Nf3 Nc6 3.Bb4 a6 4.Ba4 Nf6 5. 0-0 Be7 6. Re1 d6 Death and tributes Averbakh was born on 8 February 1922, in Kaluga, and died on 7 May 2022, in Moscow. Averbakh is survived by a daughter, who was married to Mark Taimanov for ten years. Honours and awards Honoured Master of Sports of the USSR Order of Friendship of Peoples (1981) Medal "For Labour Valour" (1957) Medal "For Distinguished Labour" (1970) Jubilee Medal "In Commemoration of the 100th Anniversary since the Birth of Vladimir Il'ich Lenin" (1970) Russian Imperial Family: Knight Commander of the Imperial Order of Saint Stanislaus Order of Honor Books See also List of Jewish chess players Notes References Interview in The Day Kasparov Quit by Dirk Jan ten Geuzendam External links Interview Part 1, ChessCafe.com Interview Part 2, ChessCafe.com Yuri Averbakh (1922-2022), Edward Winter 1922 births 2022 deaths People from Kaluga Chess grandmasters Chess theoreticians Chess historians Russian chess players Soviet chess players Soviet chess writers Soviet male writers 20th-century Russian male writers International Judges of Chess Compositions Chess composers Russian chess writers Chess arbiters Russian people of German-Jewish descent Recipients of the Order of Honour (Russia) Recipients of the Order of Friendship of Peoples Honoured Masters of Sport of the USSR Jewish chess players Competitors at the 1993 Maccabiah Games Maccabiah Games chess players Maccabiah Games competitors for Russia Bauman Moscow State Technical University alumni Men centenarians Russian centenarians