[Event "Reykjavik"] [Site "Reykjavik ISL"] [Date "1987.02.20"] [Round "2"] [White "Mikhail Tal"] [Black "Johann Hjartarson"] [Result "1-0"] [Annotator "USER"] [Variant "Standard"] [ECO "C97"] [Opening "Ruy Lopez: Closed, Chigorin Defense"] [Source "https://lichess.org/study/KJ5Vxrwu/ILZLhVP9"] [Orientation "white"] { Last but not least, let's take a look at a famous and celebrated game that Tal played in his later years. It was played in Reykjavik in 1987 and Tal's opponent was well-known Icelandic grandmaster Johann Hjartarson. } 1. e4 { Back to old loves in the old age? } 1... e5 2. Nf3 Nc6 3. Bb5 { As Kasparov wrote somewhere - "The ability to handle different structures that result from the Ruy Lopez is what determins the class of a certain player". It is no wonder most World Champions played the Ruy with at least one colour - and Tal was no exception. } 3... a6 4. Ba4 Nf6 5. O-O Be7 6. Re1 b5 7. Bb3 O-O 8. c3 d6 9. h3 Na5 { The Chigorin variation of the Closed Ruy Lopez is one of the oldest systems at Black's disposal in this complex opening that has been played on all levels for more than 100 years. These days, it is not the most frequent guest at the highest level as there are other, more reliable systems available to Black, but for average patzers like you and me, there is a very high probability we are going to encounter it sooner or later if we play 1.e4, 2.Nf3, 3.Bb5 and 4. Ba4. } 10. Bc2 c5 11. d4 Qc7 12. Nbd2 { This is the old way of handling this variation. } (12. d5 { These days, under the influence of the modern engines, people have started realizing more and more that closing the center in all of these closed systems of the Ruy Lopez is actually a very legitimate - maybe even the most critical - way of fighting for the opening advantage. }) 12... Bd7 { One of the numerous possibilities at Black's disposal in this system. } 13. Nf1 cxd4 14. cxd4 Rac8 15. Ne3 { The knight is very agile on e3, covering the important c4 square, defending the bishop on c2 and potentially eyeing the d5 and f5 squares. } { [%cal Ge3c4,Ge3f5,Ge3d5,Ge3c2] } 15... Nc6 { A typical Chigorin maneuver. The knight puts pressure on the d4 pawn and intends to go to b4 after White closes the center, in order to harass the bishop on c2. } 16. d5 Nb4 17. Bb1 a5 { One of the ideas behind Black's setup is this queenside expansion. They want to get the moves a5-b4 and then securely land the knight on c5. } { [%csl Gc5][%cal Gb4a6,Gb5b4,Ga6c5] } 18. a3 Na6 19. b4 { A very nice tactical way of preventing Black from executing this plan. Remember this idea of playing b4 in this type of structure as it happens very often in the Ruy. } 19... g6 { This move is a common idea in different Ruy Lopez structures. Sometimes, it leads to the fianchetto of the bishop via f8-g7 route, but sometimes the knight can also appear on this square. } (19... axb4 20. axb4 Nxb4 { Is bad as after } 21. Bd2 { It transpires that the knight is actually trapped. A pattern worth knowing! }) 20. Bd2 { Now White obtains a very typical advantage in this type of variation because he has a big space advantage and the knight on a6 is completely out of the game. However, Black's position is very sturdy and solid and it takes a great player to outmaneuver and outplay Black from a position as this. } 20... axb4 { White was potentially threatening to take on a5, so Black avoids this option, even though it does open the a-file. } 21. axb4 Qb7 22. Bd3 { Another feature of this position is the weakness of the b5 pawn which White can utilize when maneuvering the pieces. } { [%csl Rb5] } 22... Nc7 { Adding some protection to the b5 square and maybe - just maybe - hinting at the potential Ne8-Ng7 route? } { [%csl Gb5][%cal Gc7b5,Gc7e8,Ge8g7] } 23. Nc2 { The knight on e3 has finally done its job and now it moves out of the way to free the bishop on d2 to seek a more promising role. } 23... Nh5 { Black has to create counterplay on the kingside - either with the Nf4 knight jump or with the f5 pawn push. } { [%cal Gh5f4,Gf7f5] } 24. Be3 { White decides to ignore it and threaten Ra7 for now, although it is not 100% clear whether the bishop is better placed on e3 or d2 (given that on e3 it can be hit with the f-pawn). There are other alternatives, but the character of the position remains the same nevertheless. } 24... Ra8 25. Qd2 Rxa1 { It is logical for Black to try and exchange some pieces when they have less space. } 26. Nxa1 { An unconventional decision (how many of us would automatically recapture with the rook)? But White wants to bring the knight to b3 square and then potentially eye the a5 or even the c5 square (spoiler alert) . } 26... f5 { Finally Black initiaties counterplay at the moment when our queen is locking the bishop and when f4 is actually a threat. } { [%cal Gf5f4] } 27. Bh6 { Placing the bishop outside of the chain and avoiding the threat. } { [%cal Rh6f8] } 27... Ng7? { But this move is actually very passive and totally misguided. The knight was very decent on h5 and it was absolutely not necessary to move it. Hjartarson was maybe considering a kingside attack with f4 and so on, but this is a wrong idea in this position. } 28. Nb3 f4 { Closing down the position, in my opinion, only helps White as now the counterplay on the kingside is not happening any time soon and it is unrealistic to expect any sort of King's Indian pawn storm with g5-g4 given the current positioning of the pieces. } 29. Na5 Qb6 30. Rc1 Ra8 31. Qc2 { White treis to increase the pressure on the queenside and bring the pieces closer. The c6 square is looking quite juicy. } { [%csl Rc6] } 31... Nce8 32. Qb3 Bf6 33. Nc6 Nh5 { Now the knight arrives back - but where is it going now that the f4 square has been covered? } 34. Qb2 Bg7 { Maybe Hjartarson was hoping to get the pawn chain going with g5-g4 and so on, but it is way too slow. } 35. Bxg7 Kxg7 { The culminating moment of this entire game! } 36. Rc5!! { A wonderful move, that is not only spectacular, but also very strong! The idea is very simple - either the pawn on b5 falls - or the pawn on d6 is diverted from the defence of the e5 pawn. One of those rare cases where Tal's sacrifice was very positionally founded - and very correct :). } 36... Qa6 (36... dxc5 { The rook can't be accepted as after } 37. Nfxe5 { A deadly discovered check is threatened, the bishop on d7 falls and the attack on dark-squares will rage. For example, after } (37. Ncxe5 { It is slightly more precise to include the f-knight, although this capture also works, even though it allows } 37... Qf6 { Here the prozaic } 38. bxc5 { Is sufficient, although it is clear that the other capture is even stronger. }) 37... Qa6 38. Nxd7+ Nhf6 { White can simply go for the endgame with } 39. Nxc5 Qa1+ 40. Qxa1 Rxa1+ 41. Kh2 { As White has two pawns for the exchange already, the b5 pawn is falling and all White's pieces are perfectly placed, protecting e4,b4, d5 and so on. }) 37. Rxb5 { And now the pawn falls and White obtains a strong passed b-pawn. } 37... Nc7? { A final mistake in a lost position. } (37... Bxc6 { For better or for worse, Black should have snatched on c6, although after } 38. dxc6 Qxc6 39. Ra5 { The position remains lost - the b-pawn is too strong. But at least the game doesn't end at once. }) 38. Rb8 { Now White simplifies into a much more winning endgame with the help of another very spectacular sacrifice. First, a simple discovered attack on the queen. } { [%cal Rd3a6] } 38... Qxd3 39. Ncxe5 { A tremendous blow at the most fortified point - once again utilizing the weakness of the dark-squares around the black king. } 39... Qd1+ 40. Kh2 Ra1 { Threatening mate on the spot and at least forcing accuraccy to the very end. } (40... dxe5 { Leads to a mate by force after } 41. Qxe5+ Nf6 42. Qe7+ Kh6 { There is no way Black can survive here with such a king. } 43. Rxa8 Nxa8 44. Qf8+ Kh5 45. Qxf6) 41. Ng4+ Kf7 42. Nh6+ Ke7 43. Ng8+ { And here Hjartarson resigned not waiting for } 43... Kf7 44. Ng5# { Although he might have as well allowed mate here to honor Tal's brilliant play. A fascinating game and one of the rare examples where Tal's combinations had a strictly positional foundation. --- On the other hand, apart from the splendid combination, I also found Tal's handling of a typical Spanish middlegame extremely instructive. We often admire his combinations and tend to forget he was also a very well-rounded player with above average positional understanding. } 1-0