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M. Tal (2633) - R.J. Fischer (2602)
[E93]
JUG ct, Bled/Zagreb/Belgrade /
(Rd. #20), 1959.
[A.J. Goldsby I]
***
(The ratings above are the one that were
given to this game when I found it in my ChessBase database.
A more accurate
reflection of their ratings - expressed in 2001 terms - would be:
M. Tal (2765) and R.J. Fischer (2690). At least!
(Kasparov was rated like 2849 at the start of the
year.)
You
definitely will need a chess set to play over this game.
( There is only one diagram. )
Click HERE to go to a page with this game on a js re-play board.
(See the bottom of this page for escape links, or click the "Back" button on your web browser.)
Click HERE to see my channel on the YT server. Click HERE to see my video for this game.
The 5th Greatest Chess Game Ever?
Picking the all-time best Tal game was not easy. I went back and re-played approximately 75 of his best games before making this decision. Of course I was already a big Tal fan, having grown up as a follower of his works.
I used a 10-point scoring system similar to the one used by Soltis. (Except Soltis used a 20 point system.) I graded the games for overall aesthetic beauty; originality of concept; strength of play and quality of opposition; soundness; and then breadth and depth. I also used a 5-point scale to reflect the historical importance of the encounter. (A "5" being the encounter of two players who would eventually be Top 10 or World Championship contenders, and played in a very important historical clash. Such as here, in a Candidates Tournament.) This game came out clearly on top.
***
This game, considered by Tal to be one
of his best efforts, has already appeared in dozens of books and magazines. Many
of the books, like:
(The Mammoth Book Of) "The World's Greatest
Chess
Games," by GM's J. Nunn, J. Emms; and FM Burgess.
Or the book, "The 100 Best," by GM Andy Soltis.
***
I have also accessed many files on the Internet concerning this game. Many chess writers, Masters, and other chess players, when asked the question, "What is the best game of chess ever played?" have offered this game. (I remember my amazement when I first went over this game as a teen-ager. Even today, this attack seems almost magical.)
It is certainly a thing of great beauty. Tal sacrifices heavily, gets two Rooks doubled on the 8th rank, and puts poor Bobby in virtual Zugzwang. I consider this to be one of Tal's finest games.
(
My annotations are based primarily on those of FM Graham
Burgess's in: [The Mammoth Book of:] "The World's Greatest
Chess
Games."
Authors: GM John Nunn, GM J. Emms: and FM Graham Burgess.
) {Apparently this game was mainly annotated by Burgess.}
( I also have close to a dozen books on Tal, and I accessed almost all of these.For example I referred to Tal's own book constantly. I also accessed the book(s) by GM A. Khalifman and IM B. Cafferty. And the book, "Tal, The Magnificent," by GM A. Soltis." )
1.
d4 Nf6; 2. c4
g6; 3. Nc3 Bg7; 4. e4 d6; (Expected.)
Black is playing Fischer's favorite
- "The King's Indian Defense."
5.
Be2, (Maybe - '!?') Development.
Tal
changes the move order, perhaps in an attempt to
exploit Fischer's relative
inexperience at the time.
"An innocent move, just changing the order,
which gives White
greater flexibility for the following moves." - GM
Mikhail Tal.
'!' - GM S. Gligoric.
("Chess Encounters.")
(This book was never printed in English.)
[The normal
(common) move here is: 5.Nf3, when both sides
can develop normally. ].
5...0-0;
6. Nf3 e5; 7. d5, A space gainer.
This, in conjunction with the move 8. Bg5,
marks the beginning
of the Petrosian System. (White gains space and avoids any
exchanges.)
The Petrosian System is designed
to squeeze Black for space and limit his
counterplay. It can also lead to a
strong attack for White, similar to the kind
White gets in the Averbakh System.
Many GM's consider this to be the toughest White line in the K.I.D. to play against.
(Some
of the drawbacks to the Petrosian System, is that it takes the pressure
completely off Black's center, and also slightly weakens the dark squares.
Some
GM's consider it a safe, but very drawish line.
The middlegame is a little
sterile, compared to some of the other lines of the K.I.D.).
The Pawn Chain
has also been determined for some time to come. White has
a space advantage on
the Q-side, while Black will prepare the pawn break ...f5;
thus giving him a
space advantage on the K-side.
In a standard King's Indian, White almost
always has the initiative, and Black
will often play defense for a very long
time. Additionally White's attack on the
Q-side nearly always comes first, it is
MUCH easier to play White than Black,
and Black generally has to play much more
accurately than White ... mediocre
play by White gives him an even game, while
if Black should only play tolerably -
he will be CRUSHED!
Why would Black take
on such an onerous task? The answer is quite simple.
Black has more chances for
dynamic play and more opportunities to score the
full point than in any of the
Classical Systems. Later in life, many Masters would
avoid most systems of the
K.I.D; (when playing Bobby) simply because Fischer
knew them better than anyone alive and could make
even a seasoned GM look
like a patzer! {A.J.G.}
[
The main line is: 7.0-0 Nc6;
8.d5 Ne7; which is, "The Mar del Plata Variation,"
a variation almost
single-handedly brought into Master-level praxis by R.J. Fischer. ].
7...Nbd7;
(Maybe - '!?') More development.
This is the older line, now considered virtually passé by
theory.
(But I am sure this line is completely playable ... as Fischer did
not play
fundamentally bad chess!)
Black
develops simply and quickly, while avoiding any pins or counter
pawn-pushes by White. The Knight on d7 also eyes the potential outpost
square of c5.
***
Below
is a fairly comprehensive survey of the "Petrosian System"
of the "King's Indian Defense." This includes every note, line
and comment that MCO gives on this variation.
***
[
Variation # 1.)
The move, 7...a5; ('!') is the modern line,
preferred by theory.
Now MCO gives:
8.Bg5!?, (Maybe - '!')
The sharpest, and
the main idea of the Petrosian System.
(
White could also play: 8.0-0!? Na6; 9.Bg5 h6; 10.Bh4 Qe8;
11.Ne1 Nh7; The main line here.
(
Black could also play:
11...Nc5;
12.f3 Nh5; 13.Nb5
Na6; 14.Nd3 Nf4; 15.Nxf4 exf4;
16.Qd2 Qe5; 17.Rab1,
"="
C. Hansen - A. Wojtkiewicz; Wijk ann Zee, 1994.
Or
11...g5!?; 12.Bg3 Nxe4;
13.Nxe4 f5; 14.Bh5 Qe7; 15.f3 fxe4;
16.fxe4 Nc5; "~" (Maybe - "=/+").
L. Polugaevsky - W. Watson; Sochi, 1988. )
12.Nd3 f5; 13.exf5!?,
(13.f3 Nf6; 14.Bf2 g5!?;
( Or 14...Bd7!?; {A.J.G.} )
15.c5 Qg6; 16.cxd6 cxd6;
17.exf5 Bxf5; = ; Black
intends ...e4; with an unclear position. - GM I. Glek. ).
13...g5; 14.Bh5 Qe7; 15.Bg3 e4; 16.Re1 Bxc3; 17.bxc3
Bxf5; "=/+" ("Unclear?")
IM I.
Ivanov - GM Igor Glek; Werfen, 1991.
A VERY unusual position!
MCO says,
"Better for Black," the computer(s) all say that this position is MUCH
better for White!! ("+/=") {Perhaps the fairest evaluation is
unclear?}.
[ See MCO-14; Pg.'s 598-600, col.'s # 37-38, {Notes a. through n.}
(Mainly column # 37 here.); and note # (c.). ]. )
8...h6; 9.Bh4 Na6; 10.Nd2 Qe8;
( "An interesting try for Black is the line: 10...h5; 11.Bg5,
(
11.0-0
Bh6; 12.f3 Be3+; 13.Kh1 g5; "=" ... "with good play for
Black."
- GM N. DeFirmian. )
11...Qe8; 12.a3,
(12.f3 Bd7; 13.Be3 Nh7; 14.a3, "~" ).
12...Bd7; 13.b3 Nh7; 14.Be3 h4!?;
(14...Bf6?!; 15.h4, "+/=")
15.Qc2 f5;
16.f3 Bf6; 17.0-0-0 Bg5; "="
(Maybe "=/+")
... "with good play for Black."
- GM N. DeFirmian.
Lerner - Uhlmann; Berlin, 1989.
[ See MCO-14; Pg.'s 598-600, col.'s # 37-38,
{Notes a. through n.}.
(Mainly column # 37 here.); and note # (d.).
]. )
11.0-0, Probably the best.
( 11.a3 Bd7; 12.b3 Nh7; 13.Rb1 h5; 14.f3 Bh6; 15.Bf2 Qe7;
16.h4 Nc5; 17.Qc2 f5; 18.b4 axb4; 19.axb4 Na4; 20.Nd1,
(20.Nb5!? c6;
21.dxc6 bxc6; 22.Nc7 Rac8;
23.Na6 c5!?; 24.bxc5? dxc5;
25. White Resigns, 0 - 1.
Damljanovic - J. Federowicz;
Wijk aan Zee B,
1990.
"the knight on a6 is stranded, but resignation still looks
a little premature." - GM N. DeFirmian.
20...Nf6;
21.Bd3, "="
J. Speelman -
J. Polgar; Holland, 1991.
... " and now 21...Bxd2+ equalizes." - GM
N. DeFirmian.
[ See MCO-14; Pg.'s 598-600, col.'s # 37-38, {Notes a. through
n.}
(Mainly column # 37 here.); and note # (e.). ]. )
11...Nh7; 12.a3, This appears to be the sharpest.
(
12.Kh1 f5; 13.exf5 gxf5; 14.Bh5
Qd7; 15.f4 e4; 16.h3 Nc5;
17.g4 Nf6; 18.Bxf6
Rxf6; 19.Qe2 Qe7; "="
O. Panno - J. Federowicz;
Lone Pine, 1978.
[
See MCO-14; Pg.'s 598-600, col.'s # 37-38, {Notes a. through n.}
(Mainly column
# 37 here.); and note # (f.). ]. )
12...Bd7; 13.b3, This is interesting.
(13.Nb5!?, {A.J.G.} )
13...h5; (Maybe '!?') Black gains a little K-side space.
(
Or Black could try:
13...f5; 14.exf5 gxf5; 15.Bh5 Qc8; 16.Be7 Re8!; 17.Bxe8?!,
(Or probably better is: 17.Bh4 Rf8; 18.Be7,
"=" ).
17...Qxe8; 18.Bh4 e4;
19.Qc2 Qh5; 20.Bg3 Rf8; {"Comp."}
... " with excellent compensation for the
exchange." - GM N. DeFirmian.
A. Yusupov - G. Kasparov;
Barcelona, 1989.
[ See MCO-14; Pg.'s 598-600, col.'s # 37-38,
{Notes a. through n.}
(Mainly
column # 37 here.); and note # (g.). ]. )
14.f3 Bh6; 15.Kh1, This is a sensible precaution.
(15.Rb1 Be3+; 16.Bf2 Bc5; 17.Bxc5 Nxc5; 18.Qc2 Qe7;
19.b4 axb4; 20.axb4 Na4; 21.Nd1!?,
( Or 21.Nxa4 Bxa4; 22.Nb3
"=" {A.J.G.} ).
21...h4; 22.Nf2 Nf6; 23.Nd3 Nh5; 24.c5 Qg5; 25.Rf2
Bb5; "=/+"
J. Speelman - G. Timoshenko;
London (Lloyds Bank), 1992.
[ See
MCO-14; Pg.'s 598-600, col.'s # 37-38, {Notes a. through n.}
(Mainly column # 37
here.); and note # (h.). ]. )
15...Be3; The end of column # 37.
16.Rb1 Bc5;
17.Qc1 f5; 18.exf5 gxf5; 19.Bf2 Qg6;
20.Bxc5 dxc5; "+/=" (White looks clearly just a little
better.)
This position is
unclear ("~") according to MCO-14.
(The comps all give a slight, but
clear edge for White.)
G. Timoshenko - Sahovic; Belgrade, 1995.
[ See
MCO-14; Pg.'s 598-600, col.'s # 37-38, {Notes a. through n.}
(Mainly column # 37
here.); and note # (i.). ].
( Or 20...Nxc5!?; -
{A.J.G.} );
***
Variation
# 2.)
Black
can also play: 7...Na6!?; which is another way of reaching the
traditional
set-up for Black. (Tal preferred this method.)
Now MCO gives the line: 8.Nd2, The main line here. (Knight opposition?)
(
Or 8.Bg5 h6; 9.Bh4 g5; 10.Bg3 Nh5;
11.h4 Nxg3; 12.fxg3 gxh4;
13.Nxh4 Qg5; 14.g4,
( Or 14.0-0 f5!?; Danner - Timoschenko; Berlin, 1994. ).
14...Bf6; 15.Qd2 Kg7; A sensible-looking move.
(Or
15...Qxd2+; 16.Kxd2 Kg7; 17.Nf5+ Bxf5; 18.gxf5
Bg5+;
19.Kc2 Nb4+; 20.Kb3 a5; 21.a3 Na6; 22.Kc2
Kf6; 23.Rab1 c6;
24.dxc6 bxc6; 25.b4,
"+/" ("+/=" - MCO)
Fishbein - Dolmatov; Philadelphia, 1991.)
16.g3 Qxd2+; 17.Kxd2 Bg5+; 18.Kd1!? Be3; 19.Rb1 Bd4;
20.Kc2 Nc5; 21.b4, "+/="
1/2 - 1/2, Draw agreed.
A. Ivanov - Yurtaev; U.S.S.R; 1989.
[ See MCO-14; Pg.'s
598-600, col.'s # 37-38, {Notes # (a.) through (n.).}
(Mainly column # 38
here.); and note # (k.). ]. )
8...Ne8; The most thematic.
(
Or 8...Kh8!?; 9.a3 c5; 10.h4 h5; 11.Nf3 Ng4; 12.Ng5 Nh6;
13.Be3 f5;
14.exf5 Bxf5 ; 15.Qd2 Ng4; 16.Bxg4 Bxg4;
and now: 17.f3, "+/="
(Maybe - "+/")
V. Kramnik - G. Kamsky; Melody Amber, 1994.
[ See MCO-14; Pg.'s 598-600, col.'s # 37-38, {Notes # (a.)
through (n.).}
(Mainly column # 38 here.); and note # (l.). ].
)
9.0-0,
Probably the best and simplest to castle here,
safeguarding the White
King.
( Or 9.a3!? c5; 10.h4 f5; The standard move here.
( Or 10...h5!?; 11.Nf3, "=" (Maybe - "+/=") {A.J.G.} )
11.h5 Nf6; Probably best.
(
Not 11...f4?!; 12.hxg6 hxg6; 13.Bg4!, "+/="
(Maybe - "+/")
J.
Speelman - V. Ivanchuk; Linares, 1991.
[ See MCO-14; Pg.'s 598-600, col.'s #
37-38, {Notes # (a.) through (n.).}
(Mainly column # 38 here.); and note # (m.).
]. ).
12.hxg6 hxg6;
13.Kf1!, "+/=" - Analysis line. {LM A.J. Goldsby I}
(This is better than the main line given by MCO!) )
( 13.Nf3!? "+/=" {A.J.G.} )
9...f5; 10.exf5 gxf5; 11.f4 c5;
12.dxc6 bxc6;
13.Nb3 e4; 14.Be3 Nac7; 15.Qd2, "="
The end of column # 38.
B.
Gulko - G. Kasparov; Riga, 1995.
"Although the game was agreed drawn at
this point, - the position
is double-edged." - GM N. DeFirmian.
[ See
MCO-14; Pg.'s 598-600, col.'s # 37-38, {Notes a. through n.}
(Mainly column # 38
here.); and note # (n.). ].
( Or 15.Nd4!?, or 15.Qe1, or 15.Rc1, {A.J.G.} );
***
Variation
# 3.)
Or 7...Nh5!?; ('?!') 8.g3,
"~" This is
like, "a fork hitting the water." - M. Tal.
(Tal means the Black Knight is not very effective here. For many years
theory
considered the move 7...Nh5; to be completely inferior ... if not losing
outright.)
(
Or 8.Ng1 Nd7!; 9.Bxh5 gxh5; 10.Qxh5 Nc5; 11.Nf3 f5;
12.0-0 f4;
13.b4 Nd7; 14.Bb2 Qe7; "=/+"
L. Szabo - I. Boleslavsky;
Budapest Candidates, 1950. ).
8...Na6; The preferred method. (The Black Knight eyes the c5-square.)
Black can also play:
a).
Or 8...a5!?; {A.J.G.} 9.h4 Na6; 10.Nd2 Nf6; 11.g4, "+/"
"White is clearly - at least -
little better." - GM N. DeFirmian.
A very unusual piece of
analysis. DeFirmian considers this position to be MUCH better
for White.
("Plus over a line," or "+/".) (Perhaps because White has a very strong attack.)
The
computers consider it slightly better for Black, ("=/+") or equal.
("=")
Perhaps 'unclear' ("~");
is a better evaluation for
this position?
b).
Or 8...f5!?; (Maybe - '?!') Probably a little too
aggressive. 9.exf5 Qf6?!; (Maybe - '?' )
( 9...Bxf5!?; "="
{A.J.G.} ).
10.Ng5, (Maybe - '!') The Knight heads for the e4-square.
(
It
seems White could have also played: 10.fxg6!?, "+/" (A.J. Goldsby I)
White
is clearly better. I.e., 10...Bg4?!; (Maybe - '?') 11.gxh7+ Kh8;
12.Ne4!, "+/"
Maybe "+/-" {A.J.G.} ).
10...Qxf5;
11.0-0 Nf6; 12.f3!, "+/"
T. Petrosian - I. Zaitzev; Moscow, 1966.
9.Nd2 Nf6;
10.h4!? c6;
( 10...h5!?; "~" - {A.J.G.} ). 11.Nb3 Nc7;
12.Bg5
cxd5;
13.cxd5 h6; 14.Bxf6! Qxf6; 15.Bg4,
"=" (Maybe - "+/=")
T.
Petrosian - E. Gufeld; U.S.S.R. Championship, 1960.
MCO considers this
position to be considerably better ("+/=") for White.
(It seems to be very nearly
equal.).
[ See MCO-14; Pg.'s 598-600, col.'s # 37-38, {Notes a. through n.}
(Mainly column # 38 here.); and note # (j.). ]. ].
***
(The end of the opening survey.)
8.
Bg5, Pin? (Not really.)
The Petrosian
System proper.
"White's idea is to follow up with Nd2, cutting out any
...Nh5 ideas, whereupon
Black will find it very hard to generate
counterplay." - FM Graham Burgess.
(Sometimes White will delay castling to attack in this line.)
(
Note: Players who are considering the King's Indian Defense should
seriously consider studying this line in depth AND memorizing a lot of
opening
lines. Additionally, I believe the Averbakh System - another system
involving
an early Bg5 by White - should be studied in connection with this system.
This
is because the two lines have many similar ideas, in my opinion. {A.J.G.}
)
[8.0-0!?].
8...h6; "Asking the Question," of the Bishop.
The book response.
(Black
should not allow White to play Qd2, and clamp down on the
dark squares near his
King, and on the K-side.)
[
Not 8...a5!?; 9.Qd2!?, "+/=" (Maybe - '!') and White
has a lock on the dark
squares for a long time to come, thus making it much more
difficult for Black
to generate any meaningful counterplay.
( The move 9.0-0!?, "=" also gives White a very tiny edge.
The computer book gives
the line:
9.Nd2 Nc5; 10.0-0 Bd7; 11.b3 h6; 12.Bh4 c6; 13.a3,
"="
(Maybe - "+/=") etc. and White has a small edge.
This is a standard way of playing this variation. ) ].
9. Bh4 a6!?; (Maybe - '!') Prevention.
"Fischer prepares ...Qe8; to step out of the pin." - FM G. Burgess.
Black also avoids pins, stops any Nb5 nonsense by White, and even
prepares a possible Q-side expansion with a later ...b7-b5.
[
Another possibility
here for Black is: 9...g5!?
(The computer book gives the following line:
9...g5!?; 10.Bg3 Nh5;
11.h4 g4; 12.Nh2 Nxg3; 13.fxg3 h5; 14.0-0 Bh6;
15.Bd3, etc. "~"
- With a somewhat unclear position. {A.J.G.} );
The move
9...a5!?; will probably transpose back to lines already
considered here
previously in this game. ].
10.
0-0 Qe8; Side-step.
Fischer steps out of the pin, or "UNPINS."
Additionally, after an eventual ...f5; and maybe even ...g5;
Black could play ...Qh5; to attack the White King.
(Basically an idea borrowed from the Dutch.)
11. Nd2 Nh7; A strategic retreat.
It looks as if Fischer is preparing the ...f7-f5 thrust.
[ Not 11...Nxe4?!; 12.Ndxe4 f5; 13.f3! fxe4; 14.Nxe4, "+/=" ].
12. b4!, Queen-side play!
White begins immediate and very thematic counterplay on the Q-side.
(
Since Black almost always attacks on the
K-side in King's Indian, White
cannot sit still and watch this happen.
[A good player will always ACTIVELY pursue a plan!!]
Also with
the Pawn on d5, White has a natural space advantage on the
Q-side. And Tarrasch
said you always attack on the side of the board
where you have more space.
For
a more detailed explanation of the workings of these plans as they relate
to the
pawn skeleton, see GM Andrew Soltis's great book,
"Pawn Structure
Chess." )
[Or White could have tried: 12.h3!?].
12...Bf6!?N; A new move. (At the Master level.)
It is said that Fischer spent
better than 10 hours preparing this novelty in advance.
Its main effect was, ...
"to leave Fischer tired," joked Tal.
This move was brand-new to Master chess, being introduced by Fischer.
And it is possible
- that if this move had been properly followed up -
that it would not have lost.
[ Probably best is: 12...Kh8!; but White still maintains a slight edge.
In their
previous meeting in this
tournament, (When Tal was White, they
played a total of four games against each opponent at this event.) Fischer
chose the move: 12...Ng5!?; but White maintained a
comfortable edge.
That game continued:
13.f3 f5; 14.Bf2 Qe7; 15.Rc1 Nf6; 16.c5 Bd7; 17.Qc2 Nh5;
18.b5?!, ('!?') Dubious, according to Tal.
(Although it does not look all that bad to me!)
a).
Maybe better was: 18.cxd6! cxd6; 19.Nc4!?, (This might be dubious.)
(Maybe White should play: 19.h4!?;
or
19.Bd3!?).
19...fxe4!; 20.fxe4 Nf4; 21.Nb6?!,
( It looks like White had to play: 21.h4[]. ).
21...Ngh3+!!; 22.gxh3 Nxh3+; 23.Kg2 Rxf2+; 24.Rxf2 Qg5+!;
"Black is much better," or "/+".
Line by - Tal.
b).
Or 18.c6!? bxc6; 19.dxc6 Bxc6; 20.Bc4+ Kh8; 21.Bd5 Qd7;
(Maybe
21...Qe8!?); 22.Bxc6 Qxc6; 23.Nd5 Qxc2; 24.Rxc2 Ne6;
25.Nxc7 Rac8; 26.Rfc1, ('?!') (This move is probably not
the best for White.)
(Maybe White should try 26.Bb6!?),
26...Nhf4; 27.Nxe6 Ne2+; 28.Kf1 Nxc1; "Black is slightly
better," or "=/+".
Line by -
Tal.
18...fxe4; 19.Ndxe4 Nxe4; 20.fxe4 Nf4; 21.c6 Qg5; 22.Bf3 bxc6;
(Not
22...Bg4; 23.bxa6?! Bxf3; 24.Bg3 Bxg2;
When Black is clearly better. "/+").
23.dxc6!? Bg4; 24.Bxg4
Qxg4; 25.Be3 axb5; 26.Bxf4 exf4; 27.Nxb5 Rf7;
28.Qc4! Rc8; 29.Rf3 Be5;
30.Rcf1 Kg7; 31.a4 Ra8; 32.Kh1 Qg5?;
Setting up a Knight fork - by White ...
in a move or two.
( Black had to play: 32...Qh5!? (!) )
White's next is a very
alert tactical stroke. 33.g3! Raf8; 34.gxf4 Bxf4;
35.Nd4 Qh5; 36.Rxf4 Rxf4;
37.Ne6+ Kh8; 38.Qd4+! R8f6; 39.Nxf4 Kh7;
40.e5 dxe5; 41.Qd7+; Black
Resigns, 1 - 0.
M. Tal - R.J. Fischer; Candidates Tournament, Bled, Yugoslavia; 1959.
(Annotations based on the book,
"The Life & Games
of Mikhail Tal," by M. Tal.
Copyright, © 1976; RHM Press.) ].
13.
Bxf6
Nhxf6; 14. Nb3 Qe7;
Amateurs never appreciate just how good and necessary this type of move is.
Now that the dark-squared Bishops have been exchanged the Queen steps
up one. Black also will connect his Rooks after moving his QB, thus completing
almost all of his development.
15. Qd2!, Nice. (And thematic.)
Not just threatening to win a
pawn, but exerting pressure on
Black's weakened dark squares.
[15.f3!?].
15...Kh7; (Maybe - '!?') Protecting the pawn @ h6.
Obviously Black must guard
the h6 pawn.
Could Bobby have played his King to g7 instead?
16. Qe3!?, Hmmm.
This is good, but it is not clear that it is the best.
[
White could try: 16.Rac1!?, ('!') - FM G. Burgess.
or 16.a4!?, ('!') - LM A.J. Goldsby I.
(I like this
idea best, as White can open lines first, then decide
where his Rooks belong.) ].
16...Ng8!; Best.
This move is probably the best.
It is the first choice of many of the better computer programs.
It was preferred by Fischer, praised by
Tal, and it also was considered
best by many other annotators.
[ Black could have also played: 16...Rg8!? ].
The next few moves are best for both sides.
17. c5!, (Maybe - '!!')
Active play.
The
most thematic. White must immediately open lines on the
Queen-side in the King's
Indian.
It is also a very brave and bold move, typical of Tal. In some of my
analysis lines,
White will sacrifice several pawns ... and maybe a piece (or two!) to
boot!
[17.a4!?].
17...f5!?; (Maybe - '!')
Also thematic.
Good or bad, Black must
usually play this move in the King's Indian,
or slowly be squeezed to death.
***
(The following is one of the best and most illuminating comments
I have ever
seen on these types of positions.)
FM
G. Burgess writes:
"White, in general, has several
methods of meeting this move in the King's Indian:
# 1.) Ignore it and recapture
on e4 with a piece;
# 2.) Play f3, inviting Black to push on with ...f4;
# 3.) Exchange on f5 and attack the light squares, (with pieces and/or by f3 and g4);
# 4.) Exchange on f5, and meet the move, ...gxf5 with f4."
"In cases
where Black's dark-squared Bishop has been exchanged, the
fourth option is
normally best, as the opening of the long diagonal constitutes
no drawback from
White's viewpoint." - FM Graham Burgess.
(My emphasis and italics.)
***
[17...Qh4!?].
18.
exf5! gxf5; 19. f4!, Stop!
Probably best, according to many annotators.
(White freezes Black's King-side pawn-duo, before it can do any damage!).
[19.Rae1!?].
19...exf4;
Line opening.
This might be forced too.
(Black needs a few open lines on the K-side,
or he will be smothered!)
[The problem with: 19...e4!?; is that it leaves Black
with a slightly bad QB,
and no real future targets for his attack. ].
20. Qxf4, (Maybe - '!') Continuing the attack.
This
is probably best.
(Tal prefers to keep the Queens on the board instead of
heading for the endgame.)
[ Another alternative is: 20.Qxe7+ Nxe7; 21.Rxf4 Nf6; 22.Rd1, "+/=" ].
20...dxc5!?;
Line opening?
A critical move. Tal
thought it was a mistake, Fischer thought it was forced!
A strong difference of opinion, to say the least!
( 20...dxc5!?; is also the first choice of most strong computer programs. )
[
Another choice for Black is: 20...Qe5!?; "~" {Unclear?}
Or Tal liked: 20...Ne5!?; 21.Rae1, "--->" {With an attack.} ].
21.
Bd3!?, (Maybe - '!') "ATTACK!" is Tal's
battle-cry.
Very interesting, and typical of the way Tal played chess in those days.
(Lots
of murky complications.)
[
Tal said he spent a lot of time calculating the line:
21.bxc5 Nxc5;
22.Rac1 Bd7; 23.Qxc7 Rac8; 24.Qf4 Nxb3; 25.axb3 Rxc3; 26.Rxc3
Qxe2;
27.Rc7 Qe7; 28.d6 Qe6; 29.Rxb7, "+/=" {White is a little better.}
(Why Tal
did not choose this line is a mystery he does not completely clear up.
Perhaps
he wanted more from the position?) ].
21...cxb4!?;
(Maybe - '?!') Interesting - and maybe not the best.
(But not necessarily losing.)
Probably not the best, and labeled inferior by Burgess.
(But it probably does
NOT lose by force.)
[
Definitely the best try was: 21...Qg7!; 22.
Bxf5+ Kh8; 23. Ne4!?, (Maybe - '!')
Best according to several annotators.
White
could also try:
a). 23.Qxc7 c4; "~" (Maybe - "=/+");
b). 23.Qd2 cxb4; 24.Ne4 Ne5!?; "="
Best, according to Burgess.
(Or 24...Ndf6!? here.);
23...c4!; This is definitely best.
Black
could also play:
a). 23...Ne5 ; 24.Ng3 Ne7 ; 25.Rae1 Nd3??;
( Forced was: 25...N5g6[];
Now 26. Qe4 is probably close to equal. ("=")
But not
25...Bxf5??; 26.Qxe5, "+/-" )
26. Rxe7!, "+/-" - Line by Tal. Or ...
b). Interesting was: 23...Ne7!?;
"~" (Maybe - "=/+");
24. Nbd2, Burgess only gives this.
( White could also 24.Na5!?, {A.J.G.}; or 24.Nbc5!?, {A.J.G.} ).
24...Nb6;
25. Ng3, (Maybe
25.d6!?, {A.J.G.}), 25...Ne7;
26. Nh5 Rxf5!;
27. Nxg7 Rxf4; 28. Rxf4 Kxg7; "/+"
(Maybe
"-/+").
- Line by GM J. Nunn and FM G. Burgess. ].
22.
Rae1, (Maybe -
'!') Centralization - which is almost never bad.
Tal plays for piece activity.
[ 22.Bxf5+!? Kh8; 23.Rae1, "~" ].
22...Qf6!?;
(Probably '?!' Maybe '?')
Maybe Fischer's only real error/mistake.
This looks logical, but is not quite right.
(Burgess labels it
as dubious.
I avoid this tag, as the computer evaluation change only a few one - hundredths
of a point. But to be completely honest, it probably is inferior to
Black's other
options. Perhaps Fischer was still trying to win a game, Tal did
blank him 4-0
in this event!!)
Unfortunately Fischer did go sadly astray here.
[
The correct move is: 22...Qd6!?; (Maybe - '!')
---> Burgess gives the move,
22...Qd6; an exclamation mark.
23.Bxf5+ Kh8; 24.Qd4+ Qf6!?;
(24...Ndf6!)
25.Qxb4 Qb6+; 26.Qd4+ Qxd4+;
27.Nxd4, "+/=" - Tal. (Maybe - "+/")
...
"gives White a fine position, but maybe Black has survival chances."
-
FM G. Burgess.
Black could also play: 22...Qf7!?; 23.Qxb4 Ndf6; 24.Bxf5+
Bxf5; 25.Rxf5 Rae8;
26.Ref1, "+/=" with a small - - but appreciable - advantage
for White. ].
|
|
23.
Re6!!, (Probably - '!!!', Maybe even - '!!!!)
An absolutely amazing move.
An incredible move of
unbelievable depth and calculation.
Even in the year 2001, the computers do NOT want to immediately play this move.
I
have tested dozens of players over the years, .....
NOT ONE has ever played this move here.
Tal plays without regard to the 'normal' rules ... or to the 'laws' of material balance.
(The move looks like a blunder, White loses a Knight on c3.)
[
A simple way to a small - but
relatively secure White advantage -
was: 23.Qxb4 Qb6+; 24.Qd4 Qxd4+; 25.Nxd4
Nc5; 26.Bc2, "+/="
and White is slightly better.
(This line is the first choice
of just about all the comps.);
Or White could try: 23.Na4!?, "+/=" ].
23...Qxc3;
Munch, munch, munch.
This
looks pretty much forced. (Free N?).
(Several computer programs consider Black
to be clearly better here!
... At least after only a few seconds of analysis.)
[ 23...Qg5; 24.Qxb4, "+/=" Or 23...Qg7!?; 24.Qxb4, "+/=" ].
24.
Bxf5+, (Maybe -
'!') "And he delivers an uppercut ..."
Obvious and probably best.
[ 24.Rf3!?, "+/=" ].
24...Rxf5[];
Forced. (If Black does not play this, he loses.)
This is
forced.
[ 24...Kg7?; 25.Rf3!, "+/" (25.Rg6+!?, "+/=") ].
25.
Qxf5+ Kh8; 26. Rf3!, More Tal magic.
There are still lots of ways for White to go wrong here.
[ 26.Rc1? Qb2, "~" {"Unclear."} ].
26...Qb2;
Poor Bobby.
Fischer struggles, but he is probably
already lost.
[
Black could also try: 26...Qg7; 27.Rg3 Qh7;
(Or 27...Qf8; 28.Qxf8
Nxf8; 29.Re8, "+/-");
28.Re8, "+/-" Line by - FM G. Burgess.
Or 26...Ndf6!?; 27.Rxc3 bxc3; 28.Nc5, "+/" ].
27.
Re8 Ndf6; Black struggles.
Forced, again.
Oh, by the way ... Tal is
TWO! (2!) pieces down here!!!
(Plus a pawn to boot!)
[
Black could also play: 27...Nb6?!; 28.Rxg8+ Kxg8; 29.Qf7+ Kh8;
30.Qe8+ Kh7;
31.Rf7+ Qg7; 32.d6!, "+/-"
Or 27...Qxa2?; 28.Rxg8+! Kxg8; 29.Qe6+ Kh8;
( 29...Kh7?!; 30.Rf7+ Kg8; 31.Rxd7+,
mating. ).
30.Qxh6+ Kg8;
31.Qg5+ Kh7; 32.Rh3#.
One can see from the above variations that Black is
in
real jeopardy in this game. ].
28.
Qxf6+! Qxf6; 29. Rxf6 Kg7; Is Black really lost?
One
looks at this position ... and would like to believe that young Fischer,
(age 15 when
this was played); could muster a defense here.
Normally queenless attacks do
NOT have the same 'teeth' as attacks with
more material on the board.
This is
also a greatly simplified position .....
Normally in such positions - speaking as a
Master - a reasonable defense
can usually be found for the side with lots of
excess material. Many times
one can simply find a way to return the material to
blunt the attack. But that
is not the case here.
30.
Rff8!!, (Maybe - '!!!') Incredible.
Wow! A
magical move, as if from a dream. The White Rook floats in
and ties Black
completely up.
[ Also - maybe - winning for White was: 30.Rf3!?, "+/-" ].
30...Ne7;
Bobby is not Harry! (H. Houdini.)
"I am sorry, I am rather
tied up at the moment!"
Now the Knight on b3 wants to ... assist in a
mating net on the Black King! ...
On the OPPOSITE SIDE OF THE BOARD!!
31.
Na5!, (Maybe - '!!') Is this Knight lost?
Huh? (The Knight looks like it is going ... THE WRONG WAY!).
White's pieces look so disconnected, its hard to believe that he is winning.
"A famous position has
arisen. Black is completely helpless, and virtually
in
zugzwang. The c-pawn cannot move as White's d-pawn would then cause
havoc;
the Bishop is pinned to the Rook and the Knight is tied to the defence
of the
Bishop. And the Rook? Can the Rook move to a7 perhaps? Sadly not;
the Rook is
tied to maintaining the tactical defence of the Knight. Thus if
31...Ra7; then
32. Rf3, wins a whole piece." - FM Graham Burgess.
[ 31.Nc5!? or 31.Kf2!? ].
31...h5; 32. h4!, (Maybe - '!!') MORE TAL MAGIC!
"When the opponent is in zugzwang, the
most sensible thing is
to maintain it - especially if it is possible to
construct a mating net
simultaneously!" - FM G. Burgess.
To me this is
the special part of this game, and was probably foreseen by
Tal many moves in
advance. Tal disdains regaining the material and calmly
builds a mating web
around Black's King!! {A.J.G.}
[ 32.Nc4!? ].
32...Rb8;
33.
Nc4!, Nice.
Closing in for the kill.
(It is almost time for Black to fold his tents and go home.)
[ 33.g3!? ].
33...b5;
He is just thrashing about, like a fish on the line.
Black is so helpless, we almost feel sorry
for him.
[ 33...Ra8!?; 34.Ne5 Rb8?!; 35.Rf7+ Kh6; 36.Rh8# ].
34. Ne5, (The Knight arrives at its destination square.)
Black Resigns. 1 - 0.
Black is totally tied up and completely helpless.
(White threatens a mate, beginning with Rf7+. The only way for Black to
avoid
this is to shed copious amounts of material.).
One of the best all-time games.
There is a quality to this game that is almost
impossible to describe. Tal's
attack is inspired and defies the imagination.
I consider this game to be the 5th greatest game of chess ever played.
I accessed several books in preparing
my annotations to this game.
They are mentioned in the text whenever possible.
[ If 34.Ne5 Be6; 35.Rxb8 Nxd5; 36.Rf2, "+/-" and White is winning easily. ]
1 - 0
(All HTML code initially) Generated with ChessBase 8.0
Copyright (c) A.J. Goldsby, 2001. All rights reserved.
(Nov.
2001. I first annotated this game - by hand over 20 years ago.
I later redid this game - both by hand on a friend's computer - and submitted it
to several
state chess magazines for publication. I now am very please to bring you this
game -
which contains extensive analysis and a complete mini-opening survey of the
line,
"The Petrosian Variation."
I started this game in June/July of this year. I worked on it - intermittently - for quite a while, and then laid it aside. I worked on it, on-and-off, for over six weeks. (Annotating.) It then took another 2 weeks of work to get this web page ready ... for publication on my web-site. SO ... Enjoy!)
This
game, in ChessBase
format; is probably the best annotation job anyone has ever attempted
on this particular game. If you would like a copy of this game to study on your
computer,
I hope you would contact me.
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***
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***
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