[Event "Varna ol (Men) fin-A"] [Site "Varna BUL"] [Date "1962.10.06"] [Round "9"] [White "Mikhail Tal"] [Black "Hans-Joachim Hecht"] [Result "1-0"] [Annotator "USER"] [Variant "Standard"] [ECO "E12"] [Opening "Nimzo-Indian Defense: Three Knights Variation, Duchamp Variation"] [Source "https://lichess.org/study/KJ5Vxrwu/OSAqVA4u"] [Orientation "white"] { The following game was played during the Varna Olympiad in 1962. A year earlier, Tal has lost the World Championship Title in the 1961 return match against Botvinnik. More importantly, it was around that time that his chronic health issues - which would become an unfortunate lifetime trademark of his - became more serious. --- In 1962, he had a kidney operation due to which he had to withdraw from the 1962 Curacao Candidates tournament. Thus, by the 1962 Chess Olympiad in Varna, he was barely recovering from all these unfortunate events and as a result, ended up playing on the 2nd reserve board. --- It was quite fortunate, as he not only won the board gold medal, but he also played the following game that would soon become one of those memorable Tal encounters that stays in your mind for a while. } 1. d4 { As mentioned earlier, 1.d4 was not really the most common opening move for Tal, but he could, of course, vary as White. } 1... Nf6 2. c4 e6 3. Nf3 b6 4. Nc3 Bb4 5. Bg5 Bb7 6. e3 h6 { This variation of the Queen's Indian/Nimzo hybrid is probably not the most critical for Black, but it does appear to this day in games of strong players (albeit not that much in the last decade). } 7. Bh4 Bxc3+ 8. bxc3 d6 { So, via the transposition we have reached some sort of Nimzo-Indian position where White has the bishop pair and Black has the fluent pawn structure and potential target in the form of the doubled c-pawns. Objectively, White's dynamic play should always more than compensate for the static weaknesses, although I have personally always found Black's position easier to play in these types of structures. But I guess it is a matter of taste. } 9. Nd2 { Moving the knight is a standard plan - the idea is to prepare f3-e4 pawn push and establish a big center. } 9... e5 { Black usually counters this idea with a central expansion of their own. } (9... g5 { The alternative plan is to chase the bishop from h4 and break the pin at the cost of the slight weakening of the kingside pawns. } 10. Bg3 Nbd7 { This was played in some very high-profile games, such as: Shankland,S (2720)-Xiong,J (2690) Saint Louis 2022 }) 10. f3 { All according to the plan, although this is definitely not the only way of continuing in this position. } 10... Qe7 11. e4 { Now we have this typical stare-off contest between the pawns on e4 and e5. On one hand White has gained some space and restricted the bishop on b7 - on the other hand, the doubled pawns on the c-file are now even weakes as the center has potentially lost some mobility. } 11... Nbd7 12. Bd3 Nf8 { A good maneuver. The knight is heading to g6 to gain a tempo on the bishop and then it will also eye the f4 square. } { [%csl Rf4][%cal Gf8g6,Gf8e6,Re6f4] } 13. c5 { This move, undoubling the pawns and getting rid of the potential weakness is very typical, but not strictly necessary and probably a bit too hasty here. White will end up losing a pawn for questionable compensation. } (13. O-O { Castling is also possible, although it is a bit premature as after } 13... Ng6 14. Bf2 Nf4 15. Bc2 O-O-O { Black can safely castle queenside and then start attacking on the kingside. With the center so stable, White doesn't need to reveal his king's position just yet! }) (13. Nf1 { Trying to get the knight to e3 and not yet placing the king on the kingside, is the main move in this position! } { [%cal Gf1e3] }) 13... dxc5 14. dxe5? { This move is objectively bad as it simply loses a pawn for no compensation, although it does open the position for the two bishops. } (14. d5 { accepting that a pawn has been lost but trying to keep the position closed, is definitely a better try that was tested in a game between two grandmasters Indjiæ and Romanov in 2016. That game ended in a draw. }) 14... Qxe5 { Now the queen is centralized and exerting strong pressure on the c3 pawn, while the pieces on the d-file are also a bit loose. White is already significantly worse, objectively speaking. } { [%cal Re5c3] } 15. Qa4+ { This check tries to disrupt Black's forces. } 15... c6 { And Hecht immediately goes wrong. The problem of this move is not so much that the bishop on b7 is blocked - but more that the d6 square has been weakened. We will see its significance very, very soon. } (15... N8d7) (15... N6d7 { In that case Black is ready to play Ng6 and O-O next with a perfectly good and healthy position. }) 16. O-O { Hecht probably missed this. Now Nc4 is coming next almost irrespective of what Black does. } { [%csl Rd6][%cal Gd2c4,Rc4d6] } 16... Ng6 (16... Qxc3 17. Nc4 { And the check on d6 or capture on a7 is coming and Black is in trouble, say } 17... b5 18. Nd6+ Kd7 19. Nxb5! cxb5 20. Bxb5+ Ke7 21. Rac1 { With a decisive attack against the king in the center. }) (16... Rd8 { is met with } 17. Qxa7 Rxd3 18. Nc4 { And everything works in White's favour, say } 18... Qc7 19. Rad1) 17. Nc4 { A nice intermezzo, gaining a tempo on the queen. } { [%cal Rc4e5] } 17... Qe6 18. e5 { Another powerful move, trying to keep the king in the center of the board. } 18... b5 { A tricky counterstrike and absolutely the best move in the position, creating a total mess in the position, with half of the board hanging. } (18... Nxh4 { would be met with } 19. Nd6+ { keeping the king in the center and now after } 19... Kf8 20. Rae1 { Is very strong, when the knights on h4 and f6 as well as the bishop on b7 are under the attack. White has an ongoing initiative here as Black's king is really suffering from the lack of castling rights. }) 19. exf6!! { A legendary move that made this game famous. According to Tal himself, at this exact point, legendary grandmaster Miguel Najdorf who was watching the game, approached him and kissed him. This ultra brilliant move is just so incredibly beautiful and it is really a pity it is not the best move in this position, objectively speaking. } (19. Qb3 { The more prosaic retreat of the queen, maintaining the threat of Nd6, we apparently much better. White has two pieces hanging, but it is not really great for Black to capture either of them. } 19... Nxh4 (19... bxc4 20. Qxb7 { is immediately over } 20... Rd8 21. exf6 cxd3 22. fxg7) 20. Nd6+ { A nasty intermediate check - the consequence of Black playing c6 earlier in the game! } 20... Kf8 21. Qxe6 fxe6 22. Nxb7 { And after the dust has settled, White is left with a superior endgame, despite being a pawn down - mainly because all Black's pawns are weak, their pieces are scattered, they lag in development and moves such as Nxc5 and Be4 are coming with great effect. } { [%csl Rc5,Rc6][%cal Gb7c5,Gd3e4] }) 19... bxa4 { Of course - what can be more natural than capturing the queen. However, now Tal unleashes another very famous combination! } (19... O-O { Simply castling out of it and not touching any of the hanging pieces, is the typical engine reply, which is not at all very human-like. Tal mentioned the move } 20. Rae1 { As his intention (you have to marvel and his imagination), when after the approximate } (20. Qc2 { It has to be said that Kasparov's suggestion of simply retreating the queen was arguably a better attempt to fight for the advantage. The idea is to take on g6 after } 20... Nxh4 (20... bxc4 21. Bxg6 fxg6 22. Qxg6 { When White has a major advantage in this endgame due to Black's tripled (!!!) pawns. }) 21. Na5 Ba6 22. fxg7 Kxg7 23. Qf2 { When White definitely has some compensation for the pawn and can play on for the win! }) 20... Qxe1 21. Rxe1 bxa4 22. Bxg6 fxg6 23. Re7 g5 24. Rxg7+ Kh8 25. Bg3 Ba6 26. Be5 Bxc4 27. f7 { Things apparently end in a draw. Thus, 20. Rae1 probably doesn't deserve a question mark as Kasparov stated in his books - this is one of those rare instances where more modern engines actually approve of Tal's choice! }) 20. fxg7 Rg8 21. Bf5!! { The point of Tal's combination! Instead of moving the attacked piece, Tal leaves two more en prise and attacks the queen, but it transpires that Black can't really take the knight on c4 or the bishop on f5. } 21... Nxh4 { Ignoring the threat to the queen and taking the bishop is a legitimate defense - although the engine points out an even stronger, more paradoxical attempt. } (21... Qxf5 22. Nd6+ Kd7 23. Nxf5 { When White has a superior endgame due to the much better pawn structure. }) (21... Qxc4 { Taking the knight is also losing due to } 22. Rae1+ { When the bishops, the pawn on g7 and the rook create a mating net! }) (21... Ba6 { However, there are two quiet defensive moves available at Black's disposal. The computer mentions some crazy defence - moving the bishop out of the potential fork - as the best possibility. Now White actually has to find a very precise sequence to stay in the game. Play might continue } 22. Bxe6 fxe6 23. Nd6+ Kd7 24. Ne4 { These are all virtually the only moves to stay in the game. } 24... Bxf1 25. Nf6+ Kd6 26. Nxg8 Rxg8 27. Bg3+ Kd5 28. Kxf1 { And after all the fireworks, we have another endgame, where chances are level. It is true that Black has terrible pawn structure. But on the other hand, the king is very active on d5 and the pawn on g7 is falling. White is the one objectively playing for the win here, but there is still a lot of chess remaining. }) 22. Bxe6 Ba6 23. Nd6+ Ke7 { Now it seems as if White is losing a piece, but there is a nice intermezzo available. } 24. Bc4 { Attacking the bishop on a6 and saving a piece as Black is unable to capture both hanging pieces at the same time! } 24... Rxg7 (24... Kxd6 25. Bxa6 Rxg7 { Comes to the same. }) (24... Bxc4 25. Nxc4 { Heading into a knight endgame is no fun either. Once again Black's pawn structure is horrible. }) 25. g3 Kxd6 26. Bxa6 { As usual in chess, after a lot of fireworks, we have reached a technical endgame where White has some chances due to the better pawn structure - but also due to the fact the bishop is usually stronger than the knight in positions with pawns on the both sides of the board. --- With best play it should probably be a draw, but as anyone who has ever met Magnus Carlsen over the board knows - there is a big difference between an equallish and a drawn position. It is actually remarkable how quickly the game went downhil for Hecht from this point. } 26... Nf5 { This is probably a serious mistake already. The knight was not threatened yet and yet Black willingly spends a tempo moving it and removing the attack on the f3 pawn. } (26... Rb8 { Seizing the open file and preventing White from doing the same was the best. Note how White can't contest due to the fact that f3 pawn is under the attack. White only has a slight advantage here. }) 27. Rab1 { Now White seizes the open file for his own rook and creates some fresh ideas of Rb7. } 27... f6? { But this move is just an outright blunder that virtually loses the game on the spot as it opens the 7th rank. However, Black's defence was already a bit trickier than on the previous move. } (27... Ne3 { Preventing the rook from coming to d1 for the moment and intending Nd5 was most resillient. }) 28. Rfd1+ { Now Black is in gigantic trouble as all White's pieces are active and Black's forces are completely uncoordinated. } 28... Ke7 29. Re1+ { It is a bit surprising that Tal didn't take the pawn on c6 here. } (29. Bb7 { Was winning the pawn back and activating the bishop further. Maybe Tal wanted to keep the activity and wasn't too concerned about getting the pawn back? }) 29... Kd6 30. Kf2 c4 { The idea of this move is to open up the c5 square for the king but also to secure the d5 square for the knight. } (30... Rd7 { Is indicated by the computer as the most resillient, preparing to run with the king to e7 if required. }) 31. g4 { A reasonable move, chasing the knight away. But the problem is that the knight is now forced to occupy a better square - one on d5. } (31. Bxc4 { Taking the pawn here is not optimal as after } 31... Re7 { is now possible as there aren't any checks on b7 and also the king can go to c5 if required. This endgame is all about the piece activity and preventing Black from coordinating their forces. }) (31. Rb4 { Activating the rook along the 4th rank and intending to take on c4 was probably stronger than the text move. } { [%cal Rb4c4,Rb4a4] }) (31. Re4 { With similar ideas, was likewise somewhat better. }) 31... Ne7 32. Rb7 { This actually relinquishes a big part of White's advantage as it allows Black a surprising defensive resource. } (32. Bxc4 { At this point, taking the pawn and then thinking later was probably the best way forward. }) 32... Rag8 { It is very surprising to double the rooks on the semi-closed file, but Black now has concrete ideas of undermining the structure with h5 and f5 and trying to infiltrate. } { [%csl Gh6][%cal Rg8g2,Gf6f5] } 33. Bxc4 { Only now does White take the pawn, but now it happens under the inferior circumstances. } 33... Nd5 34. Bxd5 cxd5 35. Rb4 { It was already very difficult to win the position, but this allows Black to simplify immediately. } (35. Reb1 { Keeping the option of exchanging the rooks and reducing the effect of the battery on the g-file was probably better, although Black is now very close to the drawing margin. }) 35... Rc8? { But tis move is a big mistake as Black misses the best opportunity to exchange some pawns and create the threat of the counterplay. } (35... f5 { Would have almost guaranteed a draw. The point is that after } { [%cal Rf5g4] } 36. h3 (36. gxf5 Rg2+ { Is actually losing for White. } 37. Ke3 (37. Kf1 Rg1+ 38. Ke2 (38. Kf2 R8g2+ 39. Ke3 Rxe1+) 38... Re8+) 37... Re8+) 36... h5 37. Rxa4 hxg4 38. hxg4 fxg4 39. fxg4 Rxg4 { White simply can't win. }) 36. Rxa4 Rxc3 37. Ra6+ Kc5 38. Rxf6 { Now Black loses a few vital pawns and White ends up with two connected passed pawns on the kingside. The rest is not of particular interest as Tal went on to convert the advantage smoothly. } 38... h5 39. h3 hxg4 40. hxg4 Rh7 41. g5 Rh5 42. Rf5 Rc2+ 43. Kg3 Kc4 44. Ree5 d4 45. g6 Rh1 46. Rc5+ Kd3 47. Rxc2 Kxc2 48. Kf4 Rg1 49. Rg5 { A fascinating game, featuring a lot of instructive opening innacuraccies, a fabulous middlegame skirmish/combination and also a very instructive endgame. It may not be one of Tal's most accurate games, but the aesthetic value of the combination started with 19.exf6 is what has etched it in my heart and the chess history books forever. } 1-0