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.

Natalia is also widely known as a person of great physical and spiritual beauty. She is open, sincere, always smiling, optimistic, friendly and willing to help other people. This (as well as her extraordinary chess-playing abilities) brings her fans from all over the world and makes her a role model for everyone interested in chess.

Being a smart and versatile person whose life is not limited to chess, Natalia obtained a BA in Law degree and is currently studying for an MA in Law at the Saratov State Academy of Law. Her numerous hobbies include fashion, flamenco, singing, music, photography, sports, travelling, literature & poetry.

Top secret: Natalia is working on a book called “Chess Kamasutra” which teaches chess using analogies from sex, and vice versa. You will be the first to find out the official release date as soon as it is determined!

As an experienced web-surfer, Natalia visits Pogonina.com daily and would be happy to hear your feedback regarding the website, her games; any suggestions, questions, or just warm words. Natalia, a photogenic girl with fashion-model looks who appears on the TV and in other media, is also open for proposals regarding promoting products of “chess-friendly” companies.

Feel free to contact Natalia by signing the Guestbook or by sending an e-mail to This e-mail address is being protected from spam bots, you need JavaScript enabled to view it
 

	21. Written by Natalia on 20:43 06 ñåíòÿáðÿ 2009 ã.
	Can`t Take My Eyes Of You... Thanks, Timo. I had to skip this event due to family affairs. http://pogonina.com

	22. Written by This e-mail address is being protected from spam bots, you need JavaScript enabled to view it on 00:44 15 ñåíòÿáðÿ 2009 ã.
	Owner What took so long for a woman to become noticed in a man's chess world? How would have you have faired against your contemporary, in another era, a young Paul Morphy?  Al Lopez, CEBS

	23. Written by Natalia on 07:59 15 ñåíòÿáðÿ 2009 ã.
	2 Al Lopez Women started playing chess professionally much later than men.    Paul Morphy was great, so if he had the same training opportunities as me, he'd have been a super GM. http://pogonina.com

	24. Written by This e-mail address is being protected from spam bots, you need JavaScript enabled to view it on 22:07 25 ñåíòÿáðÿ 2009 ã.
	2 Al Lopez Finally a chess player who makes sense!    Im much of the opinion that chess tournaments are about as much what happens off the board as what happens on it.    although i admit the clubbing, the 5am get back to the hotels, and the hangover.. dont exactly make my chess improve... but my word does it make the tournament more exciting.    PS best wishes for the Chess... and ill certainly be getting your book     love from England

	25. Written by Þðèé on 11:57 19 íîÿáðÿ 2009 ã.
	Î Íàòàøå ß õî÷ó ñêàçàòü ÷òî òàêèõ ïîðÿäî÷íûõ êðàñèâûõ óìíûõ æåíùèí êàê Íàòàøà ÿ åù¸ íå âñòðå÷àë! ß âîñõèùàþñü âñåì ÷òî Íàòàøà äåëàåò!È äàæå åñëè â äðóãèõ Ñàéòàõ êîìó òî ÷òî òî íå ïîíðàâèòñÿ îíè ìîãóò óáðàòü êîìåíòàðèè ! Íàòàøà æå âñåãäà êî âñåìó îòíîñèòüñÿ î÷åíü êîððåêòíî!ß õî÷ó ïîæåëàòü Íàòàøå âñåãî ñàìîãî õîðîøåãî! È èñïîëíåíèé âñåõ å¸ öåëåé! Ñ óâàæåíèåì Þðèé Âîëêîâ. http://www.womaninchess.com

	26. Written by Natalia Pogonina on 17:49 19 íîÿáðÿ 2009 ã.
	Î Íàòàøå Ñïàñèáî, Þðèé, çà ñòîëü äîáðûé è òåïëûé îòçûâ! http://pogonina.com

	27. Written by This e-mail address is being protected from spam bots, you need JavaScript enabled to view it on 07:22 17 äåêàáðÿ 2009 ã.
	Games that you have played Hi Natalia,    I was looking at a couple videos of yours, and I must say, you are quite a genius when it comes combinations as well as positional play. Can you give me a few tips for improvement with combinations as well as improving the ability to force an opponent into a zugzwang position.

	28. Written by Natalia Pogonina on 10:46 17 äåêàáðÿ 2009 ã.
	Games that you have played Hi Ryan!    Thanks. Regarding tactics and combinations: you should train both the calculation and tactical skills by solving puzzles daily. Consistency matters a lot. As to zuzwang position - those occur rarely, and there is no rule for forcing into those. You just have to play better than your opponent, then he will end up in a worse position. And no one can teach you to play chess in a few words. :-) http://pogonina.com

	29. Written by This e-mail address is being protected from spam bots, you need JavaScript enabled to view it on 21:38 21 äåêàáðÿ 2009 ã.
	Games that you have played Hi Natalia,    How many GM norms have you acquired? http://chess.geniusprophecy.com/

	30. Written by This e-mail address is being protected from spam bots, you need JavaScript enabled to view it on 14:39 09 ÿíâàðÿ 2010 ã.
	chess visualization Hello! I would like to ask what is the relation between a player’s elo rating and the number of moves he can “see” ahead. For example how many moves can GMs and IMs see ahead in a game?