[Event "6th Soviet Team Cup"] [Site "Riga URS"] [Date "1968.12.23"] [Round "11"] [White "Vasily Smyslov"] [Black "Vladimir Mikhailovich Liberzo"] [Result "1-0"] [Annotator "mistr"] [Variant "Standard"] [ECO "A25"] [Opening "English Opening: King's English Variation, Hungarian Attack"] [Source "https://lichess.org/study/nsspObqZ/t9A2J3ky"] [Orientation "white"] { Thus, after losing the World Championship title in 1958 to Botvinnik, Smyslov didn't get another opportunity to fight for the World Chess Championship title until his shocking swansong in the 1983 cycle when he reached the final of the Candidates cycle before losing to the future World Champion, Garry Kasparov. As this feat suggests, despite being the World Champion only for a single year, Smyslov continued playing at a high level and very successfully throughout his life. Due to his very logical and harmonic style and arguably his deep love for the game, he wasn't as affected by the age factor (or by health issues, like, for example, Tal) like some other players and continued to play tournaments all the way until the end of 1990s. Of course, it is very hard to make a selection of the best games played over a 30+ year-long period, but I feel like any collection of Smyslov's best games should include the following fascinating game, played at the 6th Soviet Team Cup held in Riga in 1968. } 1. c4 { Not a surprising opening move by Smyslov. Especially in his later years, he switched from 1.e4 to slower, closed systems with increasing frequency. } 1... e5 2. Nc3 Nc6 3. g3 g6 4. Bg2 Bg7 5. Rb1 { Preparing the push of the b-pawn is a standard plan in a number of positions where the pawn on c4 is meeting the pawn on e5. } 5... d6 6. b4 a6 { I am not sure if this move is required as it helps White to open up things on the queenside with b5, although it was played by some strong players so what do I even know. } 7. e3 f5 { I am also not too sure about this aggressive setup with f5 in these positions - especially with White having played e3 instead of d3, but once again, since I don't play these positions with either colour my insight should be taken with a huge grain of salt. Nevertheless, this is a very fresh position with only a handful of games in the database. } 8. Nge2 Nf6 9. d3 O-O 10. O-O Bd7 11. a4 { White is very clearly preparing to go b5. } { [%cal Gb4b5] } 11... Rb8 { But this move doesn't make sense to me at all. If you played a6 earlier, weren't you hoping to open up the a-file for the rook once b5 happens? Why defend the pawn modestly with the rook then and deviate from that plan? } (11... Qe7 { A normal developing move seemed quite sensible. After } 12. b5 axb5 13. axb5 Nd8 { Black defends b7 and has the a-file open, which is certainly better than what happened in the game. }) 12. b5 axb5 13. axb5 Ne7 14. Ba3 { An active place for the bishop in these positions, as it is fairly active on this diagonal and eyeing the c5 square, preparing for the potential c5 push. There is also the idea of playing b6 next. } { [%cal Ra3f8,Gb5b6] } 14... Be6 15. Qb3 { I am not 100% sure about this move as now c5 is not possible, although the computer doesn't complain. } (15. c5 { Would be my expectation, although after } 15... d5 16. c6 { The situation is not completely clear. }) (15. Qc2 { I would also expect moving the queen to a square where there is no pin would be more sensible but, then again - what do I know. The engine thinks all these moves are roughly equivalent. }) 15... b6?! { But this is apparently wrong. Black decides to prevent c5 once at for all, but he is playing on the side of the board where their opponent is attacking. } (15... Qd7 { A semi-waiting move like this one was quite reasonable. Then after, say } 16. f4 Bf7 17. b6 c6 { The situation is complicated, but Black is by no means THAT much worse. }) (15... Bf7 { It was also possible to play this prophylactic move, intending now to meet } 16. f4 { With } 16... exf4 17. Nxf4 { When the bishop is not under the attack. }) 16. d4 { Quite a good move, trying to react in the center. White also tries to exploit the newly weakened c6 square? How exactly. Watch and see! } 16... e4 { Black can't afford the center to open given that all White pieces are very actively placed. } 17. d5 { A very nice positional move, opening up the d4 square for the knight from where it can go to e6 and c6. It is true that this move weakens the e5 and c5 squares, but we have to lose some to gain some. Also, with this move we pretty much give up on the c5 idea, but we are ready to reroute our bishop to b2. } { [%csl Gc6,Gd4,Re6][%cal Rd5e6,Ge2d4,Gd4c6,Ga3b2] } 17... Bf7 18. Nd4 Qd7 (18... Nd7 { It was probably better to try and place the knight to c5 or e5 first, but as it is White keeps the edge and can even consider undermining the structure with } { [%cal Gd7c5,Gd7e5] } 19. f3 (19. Ra1 { Also comes into the consideration. })) 19. Bb2 { The bishop retreats to the long diagonal. } { [%cal Rb2g7] } 19... g5 { Trying to initiate some kingside play and gain some space on that side of the board, but Black's pieces are not really ready for the kingside initiative. } 20. Nce2 { White slowly improves the pieces. Note how Smyslov doesn't hurry to jump with the d4 knight to either e6 or c6. } (20. Nc6 { Is somewhat of an empty shot as the knight only looks nice here, e.g. after } 20... Rbe8 { It is somewhat out of the game. }) (20. Ne6 { This simply loses a pawn } 20... Bxe6 21. dxe6 Qxe6) 20... Kh8 { Somewhat aimless move. It turns out the king might be in danger on this square in the future. } (20... Bh5 { was probably better, trying to activate some pieces and potentially exchange this slumbering bishop for the knight on e2. }) 21. Ra1 Ng6 22. f4 { A very powerful move, opening up the kingside to White's advantage and at the same time preventing Balck from ever playing f4! White's pieces are all perfectly placed so it is very natural that a pawn move is the best. } 22... exf3 { Now, it is true that White has weakened the e3 square and provided the e4 and g4 squares into Black's hands, but in this position where both sides have some weak squares, Black's weaknesses are more pronounced simply because White has better-placed pieces. } { [%csl Re3,Ge4,Gg4] } 23. Rxf3?! { This is, actually, not the most precise continuation. } (23. Nxf3 { Taking with the knight, opening up the bishop and threatening the g5 pawn was actually better. After, say } { [%csl Rg5][%cal Rf3g5,Rb2h8] } 23... h6 (23... Ne4 24. Bxg7+ Kxg7 25. Nfd4 { Is also very strong as Black's light-square weaknesses are very pronounced, e.g. } { [%cal Rd4f5] } 25... Bg8 26. g4!) 24. Nfd4 { The knight can simply go back, attack the f5 pawn at the moment when the bishop is keeping the e4 square under control. } { [%cal Rd4f5,Rg2e4] }) 23... Ne7? { But this passive defence of the f5 pawn is, well, simply too passive. } (23... Ne4 { The active jump with the knight was to be prefered, although it does look as if Black is losing a pawn. However after either } 24. Nxf5 (24. Rxf5 Nc5 { Black suddenly has some counterplay as the position is quite complicated. White should come out on top in both lines, but it is much more combative and murky than the game continuation. }) 24... Ne5) 24. Nc6 { Finally jumping to a weak square and hoping to eliminate the important defender of the f5 pawn. The other knight can always come to d4 and reinfroce the attack. } { [%csl Gc6][%cal Ge2d4] } (24. Raf1 { Increasing the pressure on the f5 pawn, was also quite good. }) 24... Rbe8 (24... Nxc6 { Taking the knight here is not too good as after } 25. bxc6 Qe7 26. Nd4 { Black is in deep trouble. } { [%cal Gd4e6,Rd4f5] }) 25. Ned4 { Now the other knight joins the fray and the threat to the f5 pawn is very real. } { [%csl Gc6,Gd4] } 25... Nfxd5 { This is absolute desperation, but probably the best practical attempt to confuse matters. } 26. cxd5? { But this recapture is probably a bit unecessary as it provides Black with reasonable counterplay all of a sudden. } (26. Raf1 { White could have simply ignored the knight on d5 and continued with the siege of the f5 pawn. The knight would still be hanging in that case and Black would have been left with less counterplay with best play, although the position still remains complicated, of course. }) 26... Bxd5 27. Nxf5!? { A very creative, Tal-like move, involving the sacrifice of the full queen, that is objectively fully correct - but probably not the most practical. The idea is to uncover the attack on the g7 bishop and create play against the weakened king. } (27. Qc2 { The prosaic retreat of the queen was quite sufficient though, although after } 27... Bxf3 28. Bxf3 { The technical task of converting the advantage is anything buy very easy. }) 27... Rxf5 { The only sensible move in this crazy position. } (27... Bxb3 { Would be losing on the spot after } 28. Bxg7+ Kg8 29. Ncxe7+ Rxe7 30. Bxf8 Kxf8 { When there are several good moves, but probably the strongest is } 31. Rf2 { With the deadly idea of Bc6, trying to force the queen on a square where the discovered check will be deadly and also preparing Ra8 with a greater effect. } { [%cal Gg2c6] }) (27... Nxf5 { Loses at once to } 28. Qxd5) 28. Bxg7+ Kg8 29. Rxf5!! { This is the point of White's combination! Smyslov sacrifices a full queen, but is ready to capture on g5 next and execute a devastating winning attack. } { [%csl Rg5][%cal Rf5g5,Rg2d5,Rb3d5] } 29... Bxb3 { The only move! } (29... Qxf5 { Is losing due to } 30. Nxe7+ Rxe7 31. Bxd5+) 30. Rxg5 { White has a bishop and the rook for the queen. But more importantly - the king on g8 is completely exposed and various threats are in the air. } 30... Ng6 { Trying to deal with the discovered attack along the g-file. } 31. Bh6? { But this is apparently a mistake which lets Black off the hook. } (31. Bd4 { Retreating the bishop to d4 was apparently better as it protects the e3 pawn and the bishop is more stable here. Despite being behind in material (the rook and bishop are worth less than the queen), White is better because all the pieces have nice squares and are active and the king is very weak. Although winning this game is not an easy task. }) 31... Qe6 { The queen is quite active here and is ready to take on e3 with check. } 32. h4 { Creating a square on h2 for the king but allowing the pawn on e3 to fall with a check. } { [%cal Gg1h2] } (32. Re1 { Defending the e3 pawn is objectively better, but then Black can obtain some counterplay after, say } 32... Qc4 33. h4 Qc3 { When the position is very unclear. }) 32... Qxe3+ 33. Kh2 { Now White does have ideas of h5 and Rxg6 and Black's position is a bit difficult to handle in practical play, but considering how good White's position was before, I am sure Smyslov wasn't too happy at this particular point. } 33... Qc3 { A good move, moving the queen with a gain of tempo. } { [%cal Rc3a1] } 34. Rf1 { Bringing all the pieces to the kingside! } 34... Bc4?! { The first step in the wrong direction. Black is attacking the b5 pawn, but it transpires this pawn will be forever immune to capture and this allows the move h5 with tempo, basically. } (34... Kh8 { It was better to tuck the king away from the pin first before anything else, as now } 35. h5 Re2 { Provides Black with some serious counterplay. }) (34... Bf7 { Covering the f8 square and intending the same } 35. h5 Re2 { Idea was also better than what happened in the game. }) 35. Rf2 { Covering the 2nd rank agains the afore-mentioned Re2 idea. The position is still very complicated and Black has to play precisely in order to survive. } { [%cal Gf2a2] } 35... Qe1 { Attacking the rook and forcing it away from f2 once again. } { [%csl Rf2][%cal Re1f2] } 36. Rgf5 { Now White is threatening h5 and also has some Bd2-Bc3 ideas and Black has to be very precise in dealing with the both of them! This is the culminating point of this entire encounter! } 36... Bxb5?? { At the most inappropriate moment, Liberzon decides to capture the pawn on b5. The problem is that now the bishop on b5 is exposed which gives White time for the deadly Bd2-Bc3 idea. } (36... Be6 { It was not very easy to find the only defence here though. Black had to attack the rook on f5 and force it to f6 before moving the king to the corner. This was the only way to deal against both h5 and Bd2 threats. } 37. Rf6 { Now the long diagonal is blocked so Black can sidestep the h5 threat. } 37... Kh8 { This move prepares the defensive Bg8 resource which means that h5 loses its power. } { [%cal Ge6g8] } 38. h5 { White should play something else and maintain the balance, but in order to illustrate the point, let's see what happens after the advance of the h-pawn: } (38. Bd2 Qa1 39. R6f3 { Also doesn't work due to } 39... Kg8 { And the position is probably dynamically balanced. In any case, had Liberzon found 36...Be6, the outcome of the game would have been completely unclear. Alas, as it is, the game ended quite bruptly. }) 38... Ne5 39. Rf8+ Rxf8 40. Rxf8+ Bg8 { And it is suddenly Black who wins, not White. }) (36... Kh8 { This move doesn't work at once as after } 37. Bd2 Qa1 38. R2f3 { Bc3 is unstoppable and White wins. } { [%cal Gd2c3] }) 37. Bd2 { Now it is all over as Black can't defend the b5 bishop AND cover the c3 square. } { [%cal Rd2e1,Gd2c3] } 37... Qb1 { Probably it was better to give up the queen, but Black's position remains lost all the same. Now, however, White delivers a forced checkmate. } (37... Qa1 38. Rxb5) 38. Bd5+ { Another consequence of the bishop moving from the a2-g8 diagonal. } 38... Kh8 39. Bc3+ Ne5 40. Nxe5 dxe5 41. Rxe5 { And mate soon follows, so Black resigned. A fascinating encounter, featuring both typical slow Smyslov play in the opening stage of the game and a dashing, violent and not fully correct Tal-like tactical culmination at the end of the game. } 1-0