[Event "Tal - Portisch Candidates Quarterfinal"]
[Site "Bled YUG"]
[Date "1965.06.28"]
[Round "2"]
[White "Mikhail Tal"]
[Black "Lajos Portisch"]
[Result "1-0"]
[Annotator "USER"]
[Variant "Standard"]
[ECO "B10"]
[Opening "Caro-Kann Defense: Two Knights Attack"]
[Source "https://lichess.org/study/KJ5Vxrwu/9cupeaHD"]
[Orientation "white"]
{ Fast forward three years later. Even though back in 1961 Tal started having
serious health issues that would pester him throughout his life, the kidney
operation in 1962 apparently had some positive effects and Tal continued
playing at the highest level. --- In the 1963-1966 World Championship Cycle,
he qualified for the Candidates from the Amsterdam Interzonal tournament. This
time, instead of the marathon Candidates tournament, the cycle was held in the
form of knock-out matches and Tal's opponent in the first, quarterfinal match
was the Hungarian Grandmaster Lajos Portisch. --- We will take a look at the
game two from this match, which is another one of those celebrated Tal flights
of fantasy. }
1. e4 c6 { According to Kasparov, this was one of the very first
times that Portisch played the Caro-Kann. } 2. Nc3 { We have previously seen how
Tal chose the rare setup in his 1959 Candidates game against Smyslov. Here, he
opts for the Two Knights Variation, which is a very big and respectable
variation nowadays - but which I feel was not the most mainstream opening line
at the time when this game was played. } 2... d5 3. Nf3 dxe4 { Kasparov mentioned
that this is not the most accurate, but it is the 2nd most common move in this
position. } (3... Bg4 { This bishop pin is what consitutes the mainline. }) 4. Nxe4 Bg4 { Only this move is somewhat imprecise, as it is usually better to
either develop the bishop OR to capture on e4 - but not both. } (4... Nf6 { Is what constitues the mainline today but once again - let's now deelve too
deep into the opening theory of this variation. }) 5. h3 Bxf3 6. Qxf3 { In this
variation, White simply has the advantage of the bishop pair, although Black's
pawn structure is very solid as it is lacking weaknesses, which is one of the
reasons why so many players are attracted to this Caro-Kann structures. } 6... Nd7 7. d4 Ngf6 8. Bd3 Nxe4 9. Qxe4 e6 10. O-O Be7 11. c3 { A typical scenario for the
structure where the d4 pawn is facing the pawns on e6 and c6 has arisen. White
has a bit more space and the bishop pair, but Black is very solid - especially
since two pairs of minor pieces have already been exchanged (which also
benefits the side with less space). --- With that being said, White should
objectively be better here. The general idea is to be patient, and increase
the space advantage both on the queenside and on the kingside, by pushing the
pawns, although it has to be prepared and timed correctly. --- } 11... Nf6 12. Qh4 { A very aggressive post for the queen, trying to stay close to the king and the
kingside. } 12... Nd5 { It was perfectly possible to castle, but Portisch wanted to
bring the pieces to more active squares first. } 13. Qg4 Bf6 14. Re1 Qb6 { A little bit too optimistic. Portisch delays castling for yet another move and
tries to pin the bishop on c1 to the defence of the pawn on b2. However, the
queen doesn't really belong on b6 here and it was once again better to simply
castle. } 15. c4 { A very aggressive, typical Tal continuation. He wants to
chase the enemy knight from the strong central post on d5. Usually, this move
has to be carefully timed as in many cases the pawn on d4 can turn out to be
weak, but here Tal had concrete attacking ideas in mind. } (15. Qh5 { keeping some pressure and
making it as difficult as possible to castle, was possible. One sample
continuation showcasing the idea of advancing the kingside pawns continues } 15... g6 16. Qf3 Bg7 17. h4 { White has a very promising position with the two bishops.
A typical scenario for this variation - Black is solid, but very passive. }) 15... Nb4 { Now what? Isn't White just losing the pawn on d4? } (15... Ne7 { Trying to avoid the sacrifice that happened in the game was also possible.
Here White is forced to sacrifice a pawn, but after either } 16. d5 (16. Be3 Qxb2 17. Rab1 Qa3 18. Be4 { White has a lot of play for the pawn. }) 16... cxd5 17. Bg5) 16. Rxe6+ { A tremendous idea, sacrifing a full rook for the
attack on the king that has overstayed the welcome in the center of the board.
At first glance, this might seem extremely suspicious as White only has the
queen around the king, the bishop on d3 is under the attack and the entire
queenside is undeveloped. However, Tal tries to make an argument that the
terrible position of the opponent's king will provide him with more than
enough opportunity to bring in the reserve and attack it. --- Objectively
speaking, this sacrifice shouldn't be sufficient for more than a draw,
although as usual in Tal games, the objective evaluation is not of primary
importance. It has to be said this displays an amazing boldness - remember
that this was the second game of a Candidates match! } 16... fxe6 17. Qxe6+ { Black
has three possible ways of dealing with the check and every one of them should
be examined. } 17... Kf8 { With this move, the king goes into the more dangerous side
of the board. } (17... Kd8 { Leads to a draw as after } 18. Qd6+ { repetition is
inevitable: } 18... Ke8 (18... Kc8 19. Bf5#) 19. Qe6+ { But here,Kasparov's comment is
interesting: "Here psychology again comes into plaY: who would agree to a draw
with an extra rook?" }) (17... Be7 { This natural interception was what Tal had
to calculate very deeply. Here he prepared a devilish move: } 18. Bg6+ (18. Bg5 { Doesn't work at once as after } 18... Qc7 19. Re1 { There is this nasty intermediate
move } 19... Nxd3 { Hitting the rook on e1! }) 18... Kd8 (18... hxg6 19. Bg5 { IS the
idea, when after } 19... Qc7 20. Re1 { Black is absolutely helpless. } 20... Nd3 21. Qxg6+ { This check wouldn't be possible if the bishop wasn't sacrificed! } 21... Kf8 22. Rxe7) 19. Bf5 { Threatening mate on d7 } 19... Qxd4 { The only move. } (19... Qc7 20. Bf4 { And White will mate. }) 20. Bf4 { And Kasparov states that this position
appealed to Tal and provides a long and approximate variation that
demonstrates how White has practical chances, but how with the best play Black
should be able to force White to take the perpetual. --- Thus, even with best
play, Black's best bet would be to reach a draw, which means that the whole
combination is semi-correct, but very tough to handle over the board. }) 18. Bf4 { Threatening mate in one. } { [%cal Gf4d6] } 18... Rd8 (18... Re8 { Loses to } 19. Bd6+ Re7 20. Re1 Qc7 21. Bxb4 { When Black's defence is collapsing. }) 19. c5 { Hitting the queen with a gain of tempo and creating an outpost on d6. } { [%cal Rc5b6] } 19... Nxd3 { Black is forced to give up the queen. } (19... Qa5 20. Re1 { Black is completely helpless against the threat of Bd6. Here you can
see why going to f8 was so dangerous - mating threats appear all the time. }) 20. cxb6 Nxf4 21. Qg4 Nd5 22. bxa7 { Thus, the dust has settled and White has a
queen and two pawns for the bishop, knight and the rook. However, the pawn on
a7 is very dangerous and Black's pieces are sorely lacking in coordination -
so he already has to find the only defence to stay alive. } 22... Ke7 { Poritsch wrote
that he saw the move g6, but though this is good enough as he saw that the
checks by heavy pieces are not as dangerous. However, he overlooked a strong
reply that Tal, naturally finds! } (22... g6 { With the idea of placing the king
on g7, is much better. The point is that now the advance of the b-pawn doesn't
have the same effect as the king will not get opened. For example } 23. b4 Kg7 24. b5 Rhf8 25. bxc6 bxc6 { And with the king on g7 instead of e7, the opening
of the b-file and the position is far less relevant! }) 23. b4! { A very
strong move, overlooked by Portisch. The pawn goes like a battering ram to b5
in order to open up Black's queenside and lines leading to the enemy monarch. } 1-0