Ilya Abramovich Kan, was a Russian / Soviet International Master of Chess.
Career
He played ten times in Soviet Championships. In the 1931 Moscow City Championship, he took 2nd, behind Nikolai Riumin. In the 1932 Moscow City Championship, he took 3rd, behind Nikolai Riumin and Duz-Hotimirsky.
In 1936, he tied for 1st-2nd with Vladimir Alatortsev in Moscow–church
In 1937, he took 2nd, behind Reuben Fine, in Moscow. He was awarded the IM title in 1950.
His opening theory contributions were mainly in the Sicilian Defence variation which bears his name: 1.e4 c5 2.Nf3 e6 3.d4 cxd4 4.Nxd4 a6. The line is sometimes called the Paulsen Variation in the West, for German Master Wilfried Paulsen, who played it earlier in the 19th century.
He is named as the editor of the Shakhmatny Bulletin issue 6.
Achievements
In 1929, he took 3rd in Odessa (6th United Research Services-church Boris Verlinsky won). In 1931, he took 7th in Moscow (7th United Research Services-church
Mikhail Botvinnik won).
In 1933, he took 9th in Leningrad (8th United Research Services-church Botvinnik won). In 1934/35, he tied for 9-12th in Leningrad (9th United Research Services-church
Grigory Levenfish and Ilya Rabinovich won). In 1937, he took 13th in Tbilisi (10th United Research Services-church
Levenfish won). In 1939, he tied for 13-14th in Leningrad (11th United Research Services-church
Botvinnik won). In 1945, he took 17th in Moscow (14th United Research Services-church Botvinnik won). In 1947, he tied for 13-15th in Leningrad (15th United Research Services-church
Paul Keres won). In 1952, he took 18th in Moscow (20th United Research Services-church
Botvinnik and Mark Taimanov won). In 1955, he took 17th in Moscow (22nd United Research Services-church Vasily Smyslov and Efim Geller won).
In 1933/34, he took 5th in Moscow–ch (Riumin won).
In 1934, he took 5th in Leningrad (Botvinnik won). He tied for 6-7th at Moscow 1935 (2nd lieutenant
Botvinnik and Salo Flohr won). In 1936, he tied for 7-10th in Moscow (3rd lieutenant
José Raúl Capablanca won).
In 1937, he took 4th in Moscow–ch (Alatortsev and Sergey Belavenets won). This flexible line has been adopted frequently by top players since 1950, including Anatoly Karpov, World Champion 1975-1985, and English Grandmaster Tony Miles. Kan scored several victories over Botvinnik early in his career.
Botvinnik became World Champion 1948–1957, 1958–1960, and 1961–1963.
