why are Russians so good at chess

I think it's simple and its because they have many great legends (Kasparov and Karpov) and they always have players fighting the championship (Kramnik, Karjakin, Svidler, Grischuk, etc), so kids want to be as them. In example in soccer, Brasil have Pelé, Ronaldinho, Ronaldo, Neymar, etc, so kids wants to be as their stars. The problem with US is that Bobby Fischer was the only american great legend and its government persecuted him even after his death.

what else is there to do in Russia ?

It is too cold to go outside, so they either drink vodka or (for the non drinkers) play chess.

While we're stereotyping don't they also cut circular holes in frozen lakes and fish? 

Russians are also good at drinking and arguing. 

Also, @katespeedchess, you wrote "batgirl написал...".  Since batgirl is obviously feminine, shouldn't it be "batgirl написала..."?

I think the chess clubs run by the trade unions in the Soviet Union were quite committed to supporting young talents.  Both Spassky and Kasparov started receiving salaries from the trade union clubs they were adopted by from around the age of 10.  This salary doesn't seem to be for coaching, but rather just to play and train in the hopes that any victories they score would bring prestige to the trade union.  In some countries, companies will hire Olympic athletes, and pay them to train as a way of promoting the company.  In the U.S., a couple of universities give out chess scholarships, but presumably the players have to study subjects in their major as well, and not just chess.  Still if you have some organization paying you to train (from age 10!), that must be a huge boon.

Spassky was apparently supporting his mother with his salary even as a child, so it must have been quite substantial.  You can also see that parents would more likely be behind a decision to play chess as a career, if the child is already bringing in money.

When it comes to games in Russia between father and son, the conversation goes like this:

"Son, i'd love a game of buckaroo today!"

"Really dad????"

"Nooooooooo! chess it is!"

Chess is a sport. You are right! 

I read someore that in russia 40% of the population plays chess regularly

Its very simple, The Russians should give thanks to Chigorin, he alone try to make chess popular in Russian; he give life and soul to chess.

"The champions tournament held in 1948 to decide the next world champion ... was won by Mikhail Botvinnik with Vasily Smyslov in second place. ... The Soviet Union would, from that point until its dissolution in 1991, dominate the game at world level. Botvinnik went on ... to become the first Soviet world champion, the beginning of a continuous line of Soviet players to hold the title that was only broken for a few years in the 1970s by Bobby Fischer. ... What made the difference was the system of state sponsorship put in place by the Soviets to train and develop their chess players, ... selecting children ... who showed promise at a young age and sending them to specialist institutions where they were expected to follow strict and intensive training regimes ..." - The History of Chess in Fifty Moves by Bill Price

I don't know if it was about studying in an institution, so much as institutional support.  The Pioneer Palaces seemed to be fairly informal.  Evgeni Bareev says his parents hired a trainer for him when he was young, and the trainer did emphasize hard work and study.  As I mentioned, the Trade Unions paid a salary to promising youngsters making hiring a trainer possible.

when the russian empire still was still intact - chess was a mandatory part of their school curriculum so I heard - that is why I think and always will think that bob fischer was the best of the best - because when he played them he was basically playing against the bestest of the bestest the cream of all of russian society the cream of the cream of the whole russian population  - and he won - I also believe it was fate and destiny - like churchill up against hitler - russians wanted to win so they could say we can do this on a chess board imagine what we can do on the battle field - and bob was the man - I believe he was an idiot savant and had a chess engine where everyone else has a brain - well I think even though the russian empire fell - I think that legacy of the chess curriculum thingy is still there albeit not quite for all of russian society but for the fanatical ones - I could be wrong but that is what I thijnk

Despite the fact that my nationality on chess.com is American, I am actually Russian.  My rating?  Around 700 after these 2 games.

 Round 2

Just in case the point has been lost among the rabble, I'll reiterate the actual answer.

During the cold war, the Soviet Union put vast resources into producing the best chess players in the world, and, as a result, they grew their chess culture as well. While there are fewer resources being dedicated to it these days, Russia retains a strong chess culture, whereas, for other countries, it's not as prevalent.

It's the same reason you see the chess strength of Norway increase over the past decade. Magnus has, almost single handedly, exploded the chess culture in Norway.

I will also mention that the US currently has 3 of the top 10 players in the world, while Russia has 1. You can already see how accessibility to engines and online resources has worked to globalize the strongest chess talent.

I hope you guys don't judge me because I'm bad.

brettregan1 - "chess was a mandatory part of their school curriculum so I heard."

Armenia has chess classes in primary school

https://www.theguardian.com/world/2011/nov/15/armenia-chess-compulsory-schools

A motion was passed to introduce it in Spain:

https://www.telegraph.co.uk/culture/chess/11415450/Spain-says-yes-to-chess-as-game-is-made-compulsory-in-schools.html

There have been some moves in this direction in Norway:

https://www.stabroeknews.com/2015/features/05/03/more-countries-introducing-chess-in-schools/

I don't think Russia or the Soviet Union have ever had chess as a mandatory school subject, but following Karjakin's recent title match, Russia's Senator Vadim Tyulpanov proposed that chess be introduced into Russian schools as well.

http://www.ibtimes.com/mandatory-chess-russian-schools-senator-proposes-board-game-lessons-instead-physical-2457953

I hate when these what the heck if forums become personal - I am just stating me little guy what do I think -  I am entitled to say what I think - never said I was an expert on ANYTHING - NEVER SAID IN MY WHOLE LIFE I GOT THE FACTS - I was told by a russian in canada that they HAD to study it in school - BUT you know I know she knows him her knows that you cannot believe everything you hear  or see -  like I lived thhrough the  cuban missile crisis - well I believed the americans were absolutely right - just about two years ago I was watching a documentary  and it said that it was diffused when the russians said they would take their nukes out of cuba if the americans took their nukes out of turkey -  I never never never read heard or knew until then that they had nukes in turkey - now if you want me to be a perfect no mistake EXPERT when I post on these forums THEN PAY ME - SHOW ME THE MONEY - then maybe I will do some research before I whack the keys - like gee - maybe my post ? -  leave it here for a month and what ? - - maybe 50 people might read it NOT - - EVERY ONE IS MOST LIKE ME I BET --  when looking at the post I read about five of the beginning and about five of the last - the middle ones are buried AND NOONE  will read them except simpsons comic book guy - and I would like to add taking into account your post not all russians had to take it in school but that russian told me he took it in school and I do not believe he had any reason to lie - and teaching it in school is tupid to the max - while in the service I heard it said over and over that humans are the easiest animals to trap - taking it in school would make people narrow minded  - a to b to c to d then BANG - and these posts - proof is these posts - I have been on this site for years and they are always the same old same old - like what tips can you give me to make my two year old a better chess player???? answer if the other kid starts winning have your kid smack the kid in the face with a dirty diaper - like gee - read the post guy asking how to make the kid a better chess player - answer? don't - teach a kid chess when young they will develop mental problems and stress - chess emphasizes winning and losing - I played since I was about twelve - bet lost a million games won a million and drawn a few - who cares who knows who gives a ------  kids should play games to have fun - train lessons in life = make him a chess master later in life when he is developed emotionally and can take a defeat with out wetting the bed