[Event "Zurich Candidates"] [Site "Zuerich SUI"] [Date "1953.10.13"] [Round "24"] [White "Paul Keres"] [Black "Vasily Smyslov"] [Result "0-1"] [Annotator "mistr"] [Variant "Standard"] [ECO "A17"] [Opening "English Opening: Anglo-Indian Defense, Hedgehog System"] [Source "https://lichess.org/study/nsspObqZ/WVWENYwu"] [Orientation "black"] { As we have previously seen, already in 1948, Smyslov was considered to be one of the strongest players in the world and a legitimate contender for the World Chess Championship title. And even though things didn't go his way in the very next cycle (which was - somewhat surprisingly - won by David Bronstein) - starting from the 1953-1954 World Championship Cycle Smyslov would dominate the remainder of the 1950s and participate in no less than three World Championship Matches against Mikhail Botvinnik. The crucial step toward his first World Chess Championship match against Botvinnik was the legendary Candidates Tournament 1953, played in Zürich. After 21 rounds, Smyslov was tied with Reshevsky at 12.5/21, while the legendary Estonian Paul Keres was just behind them with half a point less. It goes without saying that the encounter between Keres and Smyslov in the 22nd round was of tremendous competitive importance. We are now going to examine this historic game. } 1. c4 { Keres was a very versatile player that could open with virtually any first move. In this game, he decided to go for a quiet, unconventional approach, avoiding the theoretical battle and trying to maintain the tension from the early moments, hoping to outplay Smyslov in a later stage of the game. } 1... Nf6 2. Nc3 e6 { Even though Smyslov was playing the King's Indian and Grünfeld in his career, he was also regularly employing the Nf6-e6 setups against 1.d4, so it is not that surprising to see him invite the transposition to the Nimzo-Indian here. } 3. Nf3 { Keres still refrains from moving the d-pawn and continues to play "around" the center. } 3... c5 4. e3 Be7 5. b3 { Definitely not the most ambitious way of handling the opening stage of the game, but once again sticking to the same principle of avoiding any sort of theoretical battle. } 5... O-O 6. Bb2 b6 { Black also doesn't seek immediate confrontation and aims to develop the bishop to b7. } (6... d5 { Advancing in the center with d5 is much more principled and was seen in a number of high-level games - even in 2022. }) 7. d4 { Now White finally takes a moment to push the d-pawn in the center. It is hard to count on any serious advantage without doing so. } 7... cxd4 8. exd4?! { But this is a little bit strange decision, in my opinion. Black deliberately shuts the diagonal of the bishop on b2 and allows Black to transpose to some sort of Colle-System position. } (8. Nxd4 { Keeping the diagonal of the b2 bishop open seems much more natural, to be completely honest. }) (8. Qxd4 { With the very same idea is also possible. Say after } 8... Nc6 9. Qd2 Bb7 10. Be2 { White has a normal, very healthy position. }) 8... d5 { Naturally, now Smyslov strikes in the center and prevents White from playing d5 and opening up the bishop on b2 at any moment. } { [%csl Rd4,Gd5][%cal Rb2d4] } 9. Bd3 { Developing the bishop to a very active square and pointing it at the Black king. Even though Black has equalized, the position is definitely not "dead" and a lot of play remains - which is probably what White players employing such an unpretentious scheme are hoping for. } 9... Nc6 { It feels a bit strange to place the knight to c6 where it is blocking the bishop on b7, but it is far more active there than on d7 and can jump, say, to b4 - or even reroute itself via e7 at some point in the future. Also, if White ever plays a3, then Na5 comes into consideration. } { [%csl Gc6][%cal Gc6b4,Gc6e7,Gc6a5] } 10. O-O Bb7 11. Rc1 Rc8 12. Re1 { Now we have actually transposed to one of the main lines of the Colle system that was tested in practice many many times. Both sides bring their forces into the game. In general, White wants to occupy the e5 square at some point. } { [%cal Gf3e5] } 12... Nb4 { One of the possible moves in this position, attacking the bishop on d3 and creating some play against hte c4 pawn. } { [%csl Rd3][%cal Rb4d3,Rc8c4,Rd5c4,Gb7h1] } 13. Bf1 Ne4 { I am not sure how good this jump of the knight to e4 is, though - even though it was also played recently at the very high level. } (13... Re8 { Calm move like Re8, bringing the rook to a file where it will be useful, is very sensible, for example. White is the one who needs to find a way of continuing next. }) 14. a3 { A nice intermediate move, kicking the knight from b4 away. } 14... Nxc3 (14... Na6 { Comes into the consideration, although after } 15. Bd3 { Black is probably forced to move the knight from e4 all the same. }) 15. Rxc3 { Now the rook is very active along the 3rd rank and has the option of swinging to the kingside in due time. This position is actually very dangerous for Black and it can be concluded that Keres' opening choice has worked very well up to this point. } { [%cal Gc3h3] } 15... Nc6 16. Ne5? { But almost immediately Keres goes for the wrong move, involving a faulty plan of attacking on the kingside with the pieces. It is hard to say why exactly this plan doesn't work - it simply isn't viable on a tactical, move-per-move basis. } (16. c5 { Advancing on the queenside was much better in this position as it would have utilize the nice position of the rook on c3 and set White's pawn majority into the motion. Black would end up in some significant difficulties. } 16... bxc5 { Not the only move, but just to illustrate the basic idea. } 17. dxc5 Bf6 18. Rc2 { And due to the pawn majority on the queenside that will be reinforced with b4 next, White is significantly better. Note that } { [%csl Ga3,Gc5][%cal Gb3b4] } 18... a5 { Isn't particularly helpful as after } 19. Qd2 { b4 will happen all the same. }) 16... Nxe5 17. Rxe5?! { Consistently going for the attacking idea, but objectively there was still time to change the mind. } (17. dxe5 { Is probably objectively better, although after } 17... dxc4 18. Bxc4 g6 { Black is now the one calling all the shots as the bishop on b2 is restricted by the pawn on e5 while the one on b7 is very happy with the open diagonal. Furthermore - the pawn on e5 can potentially be weak later on. } { [%csl Re5][%cal Rb2e5] }) 17... Bf6 18. Rh5 g6 19. Rch3 { The crux of Keres' idea is this bold and imaginative sacrifice of a full rook. Alas, he missed Smyslov's ultra-brilliant defensive reply. } 19... dxc4!! { A cold shower and one of the most brilliant defensive moves ever played - especially if we consider the competetive importance of this game. Black refuses to capture the rook but first opens up the bishop's diagonal and creates the threat of capturing the rook and then retreating the bishop to e4 to cover the h7 pawn. Furthermore, the c-pawn now becomes an important asset in the position. } { [%cal Gb7e4,Ge4h7] } (19... gxh5 { At first glance it is not at all clear whether the acceptance of the rook sacrifice loses. However, after } 20. Qxh5 Re8 { White has the following ultra brilliant attacking idea } 21. a4!! { With the extremely potent idea of playing Ba3 that is winning on the spot, no matter what Black does. I will provide two sample lines. } { [%cal Gb2a3,Ra3f8] } 21... dxc4 (21... Qd6 { seems a bit more resistant as it covers the a3-f8 diagonal, but here White has the powerful move } 22. Qh6 { Attacking the bishop and creating ideas of Rg3 and Bd3. } { [%csl Rf6][%cal Rh6f6,Gh3g3,Gf1d3] } 22... Bg7 (22... Qe7 { Defending the bishop doesn't help as after } 23. Rg3+ Kh8 24. Bd3 { Black gets mated - but on h7 this time. A surprising change of the target! }) 23. Qxh7+ Kf8 24. Rg3 { Creating the threat against the g7 bishop once again. } { [%cal Rg3g8] } 24... Bf6 25. c5 { A star move! Forcing the queen away from the d6 post and preparing Ba3, while at the same time introducing the idea of attacking the bishop on f6 with the help of a discovery. } { [%cal Rc5d6,Gb2a3,Gd4c5,Rb2f6] } 25... bxc5 (25... Qd8 { Retreating the queen is possible, but then White has several ways of continuing, the easiest probably being } 26. c6 Rxc6 27. Ba3+ Rd6 28. Bb5 { And White has a winning attack with all the pieces participating. }) 26. Qh6+ { Including this important check to attack the bishop on f6 and also prevent the queen from coming to f4. } { [%csl Rf6][%cal Rh6f8,Rh6f6,Gh6f4] } 26... Ke7 27. dxc5 { And now the queen on d6 is attacked as well as the bishop on f6 and White is completely winning. } { [%cal Rh6f6,Rb2f6,Rc5d6] }) 22. Qxh7+ Kf8 23. Ba3+ Re7 24. Rg3 { And due to the threat of Rg8, Black will lose at least a queen and his king will still be in a lot of peril, while White will regain some pawns as well. } { [%cal Gg3g8] }) 20. Rxh7? { This is the losing move, but it was hard to suggest what White should do next. } (20. bxc4 { Recapturing the pawn on c4 now allows Black to take the rook without any issues as after } 20... gxh5 21. Qxh5 Be4 { the h7 pawn is securely defended and Black is simply winning. } { [%csl Gh7][%cal Ge4h7] }) (20. Qg4 { Is suggested by the engine as the most resillient move, but after } 20... c3 21. Bxc3 Qd6 { It is not entirely clear where White's attack is going and Black has a great positional advantage due to the better structure and better-coordinated pieces (the rooks are not useful on the h-file if they are not participating in an attack). } { [%csl Ra3,Rd4,Rh3,Rh5] }) 20... c3 { A cold shower! It turns out White has no attack going and now the powerful c-pawn is shutting the bishop out of the game and threatening to promote very very fast. } { [%cal Rc3b2] } 21. Qc1 { Trying to get in Qh6-Rh8-Qh7 mate but it is easily parried. } { [%cal Gc1h6] } 21... Qxd4 { Adding some more protection on the long diagonal. } { [%cal Rd4h8] } 22. Qh6 Rfd8 { And now there is no mate and Black wins quickly due to the better pieces and the strong c-pawn. } 23. Bc1 Bg7 24. Qg5 Qf6 25. Qg4 c2 26. Be2 Rd4 27. f4 Rd1+ 28. Bxd1 Qd4+ { A remarkable defensive effort by Smyslov and one of those games that makes you feel sad for Keres as one gets the impression he was betrayed by his nerves at the moment when the tension was high. In any case, after this, in the following round Smyslov also went on to beat Reshevsky in a crucial encounter and ended up winning the Candidates Tournament 1953 with a 2-point difference, qualifying thus for the match against the formidable Botvinnik. } 0-1