Gedeon Barcza

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Gedeon (Gideon) Barcza (August 21, 1911 in Kisujszállás – February 27, 1986 in Budapest) was a Hungarian chess master.

In 1940, Barcza took 3rd place, behind Max Euwe, and Milan Vidmar, at Maróczy Jubiläum in Budapest. In September 1942, he took 6th at the first European Championship in Munich. The event was won by Alexander Alekhine. In 1948, he took 2nd in Karlsbad (Karlovy Vary). The event was won by Jan Foltys. In 1948, he tied for 2nd-3rd in Venice. The event was won by Miguel Najdorf. In 1950, he tied for 2nd-4th in Salzbrunn (Szczawno Zdrój). The event was won by Paul Keres. In 1952, he took 15th in Saltsjöbaden (interzonal). In 1957, he won in San Benedetto del Toronto. In 1961, he took 3rd in Vienna. In 1962, he tied for 3rd-6th in Moscow. In 1962, he tied for 14-15th in Stockholm (interzonal).

Barcza won the Hungarian Chess Championship eight times (1942, 1943, 1947, 1950, 1951, 1955, 1957, and 1958) and played for Hungarian team in seven Chess Olympiads (1952, 1954, 1956,1958, 1960, 1962, and 1968). He was awarded the Grandmaster title in 1954.

He is remembered for the opening 1.Nf3 d5 2.g3, known as the Barcza System. Harry Golombek once said of Barcza that he "is a most versatile player in the openings. He plays g2-g3 sometimes on the first, sometimes on the second, sometimes on the third, and sometimes not until the fourth move".