The Polgár Family

There was an incredible story that happened in the middle of Europe, in a communist-socialist country, Hungary. It was so fascinating and unbelievable that many people started assume and project pessimistic views, and asked hard questions. A couple matched by a strong purpose, thought through and implemented a plan and created the manuscript on how to raise a GENIUS. Their three daughters reached what no woman ever achieved! They were the first sisters that were all chess grandmasters, olympic winners so now in their footsteps and on their shoulders many children, especially girls and many women could succeed in chess.

This story could start like a Fairy Tale:

“Once Upon a Time a Great Prince decided that he needed a wife. But not just any wife! He needed a partner, an intellectual, who could understand his unique ideas of a family and agrees to raise children the way it has never been done before. As he didn’t find one in his kingdom, he sent out his town-criers to let everyone know that a special one of a kind lady is wanted by the Prince. Some princesses were thinking that they were intellectuals, they were open-minded, so they started to send letters to the prince. After he exchanged letters with the, he got really frustrated! Is there no qualified lady in this Kingdom and beyond, who could deserve to become the wife of a prince? But then one day he got a letter that he really liked. A lady who could speak to foreigners in their own language was interested! So they met, they talked and decided that they are a perfect match to raise the three best female Chess Grandmasters in the World! So they got married, had three children and lived happily ever after!”

But not so fast! Fairy tales end where the real story begins! The educational psychologist who wanted to implement his plan on how to raise geniuses and a foreign language teacher who first thought his crazy visions are impossible, but after discussing it for a while he was so persuasive that she agreed to participate. Yes, this marriage was created by two strangers for the purpose to raise three happy, accomplished geniuses in a warm and loving environment!

dealing with naysayers and pessimist educators, especially state officials was anything but easy. They were criticized, the were judged until they shoed results. Some called it The Great Educational Experiment! The Polgar sisters called it a lifestyle. For them it was everyday life, the only way they knew how to live. The had a happy childhood, a loving family who are still to this day are in contact with each other and support the Big Project of International Educational Chess.

The book that made the methodology famous:

Polgár László: Nevelj Zsenit! Budapest, 1989 Translated to English from Esperanto Intermediate edition by Gordon Tisher as Laszlo Polgar: Raising a Genius