[Event "URS Club Torpedo-ch"] [Site "Moscow"] [Date "1940.??.??"] [White "Smyslov, Vassily V"] [Black "Kirilov"] [Result "1-0"] [Annotator "Nemec Vjekoslav"] [Variant "Standard"] [ECO "C71"] [Opening "Ruy Lopez: Morphy Defense, Modern Steinitz Defense"] [Source "https://lichess.org/study/nsspObqZ/1JrfFVO8"] [Orientation "white"] { Let's start our journey through the magical world of Smyslov games by examining some of the games from his early years. Even though many associates Smyslov's name with solid, quiet, and positional play and superb endgame technique, in his life - and especially in his youth - he has played his fair share of wild, sharp, attacking games. The following game, played in Moscow, in 1940 is a perfect example. } 1. e4 { In his youth, Smyslov very often moved the king pawn forward, but this move isn't only restricted to his youth. For example, he ventured it in his World Championship Matches against Mikhail Botvinnik, among other things. } 1... e5 2. Nf3 Nc6 3. Bb5 a6 4. Ba4 d6 { This move leads to the so-called Steinitz variation of the Ruy Lopez - a line that was very popular back in the day due to its solidity. Black reinforces the e5 point and has various developing schemes to follow it up available. } 5. d4!? { But this move, involving a sharp pawn sacrifice, is definitely not the most common continuation nor the one you would expect from "harmonic and positional" Smyslov. White strikes in the center immediately, but this essentially gambits a pawn. } 5... b5 6. Bb3 Nxd4 7. Nxd4 exd4 8. c3!? { Since White can't really regain the pawn on d4 at once due to the exposed bishop on b3, he has to gambit a pawn in some way. Playing c3, undermining the center and aiming for rapid development is one possible way of doing so. } (8. Qxd4? { Doesn't work due to the well-known opening trap: } 8... c5 9. Qd5 { Seemingly saving the bishop due to the double attack, but this is only an illusion. } { [%cal Rb3f7,Rd5a8] } 9... Be6 10. Qc6+ Bd7 11. Qd5 c4 $19 { And the bishop on b3 is finally lost! } { [%cal Rc4b3] }) (8. Bd5 Rb8 9. Bc6+ Bd7 10. Bxd7+ Qxd7 11. Qxd4 Nf6 { Black is fully developed, has no weaknesses and is even maybe slightly preferable in this very dry and equal. } { [%csl Gf6] }) 8... dxc3 { Black accepts the challenge, which is probably the most principled way of playing. } 9. Qh5!? { With this move, White tries to create pressure against the f7 pawn while at the same time keeping the route Nc3-Nd5 open for the knight on b1. However, this shouldn't be too brilliant as the queen on h5 is very exposed. } { [%csl Gd5][%cal Rh5f7,Gb1c3,Gc3d5] } (9. Qd5 { Going to d5 involves the immediate drawing variation } 9... Be6 10. Qc6+ Bd7 11. Qd5 Be6 { When White can't really avoid the repetition. }) 9... Qe7?! { It is very natural to place the queen on e7, defend the f7 pawn and attack the e4 pawn, but it transpires that her majesty is not ideally placed here as it gets in the way of the kingside pieces. } { [%csl Re7][%cal Re7e4,Ge7f7] } (9... g6 { Including g6 is very sensible as White probably doesn't have anything better than } 10. Qd5 Be6 11. Qc6+ Bd7 12. Qd5 { With the repetition of moves once again. }) (9... Qd7 { Black could have tried to fight for an advantage. The point is that the queen doesn't hinder Black's fluent development on the kingside. Thus after } 10. Nxc3 Nf6 11. Qe2 Be7 12. O-O O-O { White is hard-pressed to show the compensation for the pawn. }) 10. Nxc3 Nf6 11. Qe2 { Now White has some compensation as it is not super easy for Black to develop the kingside. } { [%csl Rf6,Rf8,Rg7] } 11... Be6 12. O-O c6 { With this move, Black defends the d5 square and tries to stay solid, but this is somewhat passive as it allows White to bring in more pieces into the fray. Furthermore, it will transpire that this pawn can become a target and allow some hidden tactical possibilities later in the game. } (12... g6 13. Qf3 { then this queen move, threatening e5, is very strong. It is very hard for Black to find a reply, e.g. } { [%cal Yc1g5,Ye4e5] } 13... Rb8 (13... Nd7 { Doesn't work as White plays } 14. e5 { All the same! } 14... Rc8 15. exd6 { And with the opening of the position White has more than sufficient compensation for the pawn. In fact, the engine thinks White is objectively winning already. }) (13... Bg4 { Is the only move according to the computer, but after } 14. Qg3 Be6 15. e5 dxe5 16. Qf3 { White keeps a large initiative all the same e.g. } 16... e4 17. Nxe4 Nxe4 18. Qxe4 { And due to the lead in development White has definite compensation for the pawn. It is really hard for Black to play this position. }) 14. Bg5 Bg7 15. e5 { And with Ne4 coming, White is already winning, e.g. } { [%csl Rf6][%cal Gc3e4,Rg5e7] } 15... dxe5 16. Ne4 Bf5 17. Nxf6+ Bxf6 18. Qc6+ { A decisive double attack. } { [%cal Rc6e8,Rc6f6] } 18... Bd7 19. Qxf6 $18 { And White has won a piece. }) (12... b4 { Kicking the knight from c3 away. The critical continuation now is } 13. e5 dxe5 14. Ne4 { When White seems to have compensation for the two missing pawns, but not more than that. }) 13. Bg5 { Bringing the bishop into the game and creating some ideas of Bxf6 and Nd5. } { [%cal Rg5d8,Gc3d5] } (13. Re1 { and }) (13. Bf4 { were alternatives. }) 13... Bxb3 { Probably the best move, reducing the effect of the ND5 sacrifice a great deal. } (13... h6 14. Bxf6 Qxf6 (14... gxf6 15. Qf3 $44) 15. Nd5 { Is quite unpleasant for Black as after } 15... Qd8 16. Nb4 Qd7 17. Bxe6 fxe6 18. a4 { White has a nice lead in development and Black has potential weaknesses all over the place, providing White with sufficient compensation for the pawn (although probably not more). }) 14. axb3 Qe6? { But this is a decisive mistake as the queen departs from the defence of the c6 pawn and allows a nice combination we are about to see. } (14... h6 { was absolutely necessary. After } 15. Bxf6 Qxf6 16. Qc2 { Is somewhat unpleasant, creating the threat of Nxb5 and Qxc6, but Black has sufficient resources in the form of } { [%cal Rc3b5] } 16... Qd8 { when } 17. Nxb5 (17. Ne2 { Keeps the game going, of course, and White still has the initiative, but it is a completely different story compared to what happened in the game. }) 17... cxb5 18. Qc6+ Ke7 { Is unclear. }) 15. Qc2! { Now this attack on c6 and b5 is decisive as Black has no good defence. } { [%cal Rc3b5] } 15... Nd7? { This loses on the spot but the position was tough to defend anyway. } (15... Ra7 { IS no better due to the simple chess: } 16. Bxf6 (16. Nxb5 { Now doesn't work as the rook is not on a8 so after } 16... cxb5 17. Qc6+ Qd7 { the rook on a8 is not hanging. }) 16... Qxf6 (16... gxf6 17. Ne2 { When White's structure is better, all the pieces are coming and Black can't hope to survive. } { [%csl Rc6,Gf5,Rf6,Rf7][%cal Ga1d1,Ge2d4,Rc2c6] }) 17. Nd5 { Is decisive, but the variations are very pretty so I will reproduce them here in full: } { [%cal Rc2c6] } 17... cxd5 18. Qc6+ Ke7 (18... Kd8 19. Qb6+ Rc7 20. Rac1 Qe7 21. Qb8+) 19. Rfe1 d4 20. e5 dxe5 21. Qc5+ Ke6 22. Qxa7) 16. Rxa6!! { A fantastic tactical blow, winning on the spot! } 16... Rc8 { Trying to prolong the game as the rook can't be captured. } (16... Rxa6 17. Nxb5 $18 { And there is no defence against dual threats of Nc7 and Qc8 (if the knight is captures). } { [%cal Rb5c7,Rc7e8,Rc2c8] }) 17. Rfa1 { There was a strong tactical blow available here, but Smyslov - understandably - decides to go for the pragmatic approach. } (17. Nxb5 { Using the pin on the c-file was simple enough. Nd4 comes on the next move etc. Maybe Smyslov was worried that after } { [%cal Rc2c8,Gb5d4] } 17... Nb8 18. Nd4 Qg4 { He would be losing material, but here he has some nice tactical ideas after } (18... Qe5 19. Nf3) 19. Ra8 Qxg5 20. Rxb8 Rxb8 21. Qxc6+ Kd8 22. Rc1 { Here is transpires White is winning but okay, it is not so easy (or necessary) to calculate all this in advance, so probably his choice was more pragmatic and prudent! }) 17... h6?! { Black was hoping to chase the bishop away and probably play Be7, but this is way too slow. } (17... Nb8 { Trying to defend the c6 pawn and attack the rook on a6 is also a possible defensive try, but after } { [%cal Rb8a6,Gb8c6] } 18. Ra7 { Be7 is prevented and it is hard for Black to move. } { [%cal Ra7e7] }) (17... Be7 { Developing the bishop was probably comparatively the best, but after } 18. Bxe7 Qxe7 (18... Kxe7 { might be the best attempt, but who would play such thing willingly. }) 19. Nd5 { Black is losing all the same. }) 18. Rxc6!! { Not the only winning move, but a very spectacular one! } 18... Rxc6 { Probably it was better not to take the rook, but the game is hopeless anyway. } 19. Ra8+ Nb8 20. Rxb8+ { White wins in all variations, but some calculation was still required! } 20... Rc8 { This is refuted very elegantly with a nice knight jump } (20... Kd7 { Trying to run with the king doesn't help either as White can include all pieces into the attack with } 21. Rd8+ Kc7 22. Nxb5+ Kb7 { And here the nice geometrical idea } { And here the nice geometrical idea } 23. Qxc6+ { works in White's favour as after } 23... Kxc6 24. Nd4+ Kc7 25. Nxe6+ { The bishop on f8 is hanging so there is no time to capture the bishop and if the knight is captured then } { [%csl Rf8] } 25... fxe6 26. Be7 $18 { wins on the spot. Beautifully calculated by Smyslov! } { [%cal Rd8h8] }) 21. Nd5 { Qc6 and Nc7 are inevitable. Black might have as well resigned. } { [%cal Gd5c7,Gc2c6] } (21. Nxb5 { Is also winning. }) 21... Rxb8 22. Qc6+ { Even stronger than taking the queen with Nc7. } 22... Qd7 23. Nc7# { A brutal miniature that very few would associate with Smyslov if the moves were shown without the names! A beautiful demonstration of several important concepts - how to utilize the lead in development, how to destroy a seemingly healthy pawn chain with some nice tactical ideas, how to handle the initiative and so on. } 1-0