In his later years, despite constantly battling with severe health problems,
Tal continued playing on a very high level. True, he never again really
achieved notable success in the World Championship Cycle, but he was the
regular participant in the elite tournaments and at some point even the holder
of the longest undefeated streak of games (not something you would immediately
associate with his style). --- Every now and then, of course, he would stun
the chess world with one of his magical combinations - and I have decided to
wrap up this article with two games from his "later" years. --- The first game
we are going to examine is his game against English Grandmaster Michael Stean
played at the Alekhine Memorial in Moscow in 1975. It wasn't one of Tal's most
successful tournaments, but the following gem is arguably worth more than any
tournament prize.1.Nf3...A rare occurrence for Tal - opening with the Reti
was not something he did every day1....Nf62.c4c5But the game very quickly
transposes to the English opening...3.Nc3e64.g3d55.cxd5exd56.d4Nc67.Bg2Be78.O-OO-O9.Bg5......and then to one of the main variations of the
Tarrasch Defence. This opening used to be very popular in the past (Kasparov
famously used it with great effect in his own path to the World Championship
Match), although nowadays it is not seen that often at the top level due to
the strategic risk the isolated pawn involves (and due to the fact more
reliable neutralizing options are available at Black's disposal). --- Still,
it is a very reputable opening and especially popular at club level, so it is
not a bad thing to see a game or two Model games in it if you are a 1.d4
player.9....cxd4To be honest, I always though this voluntary capture on d4 is
somewhat premature, but now I see it is the most commonly played move in this
position, so what do I exactly know.10.Nxd4...Now we obtain a typical
position for the Tarrasch Defence, where Black has an isolated pawn but often
obtains reasonable dynamic chances in return.10....h611.Be3Re812.Qb3...This
move increases the pressure on the d5 pawn and basically forces Black's next
move. I am not 100% sure if it is beneficial to bring the knight closer to the
juicy c4 square, even if this is the 2nd most common move in this position
(have I mentioned I don't know that much at all about the Tarrasch Defence)?12....Na513.Qc2...I guess one of the ideas behind having the queen on
c2 is to be able to jump to f5 with the knight.13....Bg4Another very typical
Tarrasch Defence move, pressuring the potentially weak e2 square and
activating the light -squared bishop.14.h3...Immediately posing
a question to the bishop.14....Bd7The bishop is a bit passive here and it blocks
the queen's communication with the d5 pawn so it can be labeled as an
inaccuracy.14...Bh5It was probably better to try and get the bishop on
g6 to harrass the queen on c2, even if after15.g4Bg616.Nf5It is not
such an easy task to get rid of the knight for the moment. Still, the computer
insists the bishop will be more useful here in the long run - and it is also
the main move on the master level these days.15.Rad1...Bringing the pieces
in play and planning to siege the isolated pawn.15....Rc816.Nf5Bf817.Bxd5...Finally, the isolated pawn falls, but this is not the end of the world as
Black still has a lot of activity, potentially.17....Re5?But this move, naively hoping to win a piece by the means of a double attack,
is a serious mistake as it overlooks a relatively basic tactic available at
White's disposal.18.Nxh6+...An "obvious" piece sacrifice,
intending to use the pin on the a2-g8 diagonal to the maximum effect. Qg6 is
coming next.18....gxh619.Qg6+...The point of the combination
was to utilize the pin to infiltrate with the queen and collect the f7 pawn as
well.19....Kh820.Bxf7...Now h6 is also weak and Black should be dead lost,
objectively, although quite a few adventures lie in front of us.20....Rc6Trying to cover the 6th rank laterally.21.Rd5?...But this is a bit
too flashy. Tal overlooks a very powerful defensive resources available to
Black in this position.21.Bxh6First of all, this simple capture on h6
was more than sufficient. AfterBxh622.Qxh6+Nh723.Qf4White has four (!)
pawns for the piece, the pin on the d-file is annoying and the opponent's king
is laid bare, so it is not at all surprising that White is completely winning.21.Bf4This attack on the rook was a more sophisticated approach. The
idea is to jump with the knight on d5 next afterRe722.Nd5When White has
a won position as the knight can't move - similarly as in the game.21.Nd5Jumping with the knight was also possible, but it doesn't come with the tempo
(attack on the rook on d5).21....Qe7?Returning the favour, although it
is not surprising that Black goes wrong in such a complicated and dangerous
position. Also, it is very understandable that Black wanted to sidestep the
potential pin on the d-file.21...Rxe3It was paramount to eliminate the
strong dark-squared bishop that will cause so much trouble in the actual game.
After22.fxe3Bg7Black is very solid and the outcome of the game will be
completely unclear.21...Re7Trying to remove the attacked rook on e5,
was also more resillient, although here the pin via22.Rfd1Is very strong
- not to mention the hanging pawn on h6.21...Nxd5The rook is, of course,
immune, due to the mating threat on g8.22.Qg8#This motif will be the
central tactical motif in the incoming tactical melee.22.Bd4...Now everything is hanging on the long diagonal and Black doesn't have time to
place the bishop on g7 - the rook on e5 is hanging!22....Nc4Trying
desperately to reinforce the e5 point.23.f4...A cold shower and the only
clearly winning move.23....Bg7Nothing else works - the rook can't move because
of the previously seen mating threat on g8. Black is forced to give up the
extra material and end up in a totally lost position.24.Bxe5Nxe525.Rxe5Qf826.Bb3...Now White is an exchange and three pawns up, so the conversion
isn't particularly difficult.26....Ng427.Qd3Nxe528.fxe5...Okay, sorry, only
three pawns up as Black has just regained the exchange - but the outcome is
never in doubt all the same.28....Qc5+29.Kh2Be830.e6Rd631.Qe4And here
Stean finally decided to throw in the towel. A powerful, very convincing
victory (despite the slight error on move 21 ) that was mainly the result of
suspicious opening play by his opponent.1-0