| Apr-16-04 |
| Ziggurat: Does anybody know which master it was that allegedly kibitzed during this game, causing Sahovic to notice a trap that Botvinnik had set at move 22? When Sahovic dodged the trap at move 23, the game was drawn. Botvinnik writes: "In this game, I lost not only a valuable half-point, but also something even more valuable - a friend. I had always admired his talent for chess and felt the deepest sympathy for him. I couldn't for my life understand why he would do this. (...)" |
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Apr-16-04
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| Gypsy: Don't know the answer, but still interested in the trap itself. I guess the primary bait was 23.Nxf7 Nxf7? 24.Bg6. The change-up is 23.-Rxd3, with the punchline of 24.Rxd3?(cxd3?) Nxf7. And after 23.Nxf7? Rxd3(!) 24.Nxe5 Rxe3, Black has a reasonable edge into an endgame. Is that the line? |
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Apr-16-04
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| Benzol: <Ziggurat> I've wondered the same thing myself. Anyone know which other Russian grandmasters played in the same tournament? Geller might have been one I think. |
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| Apr-17-04 |
| Ziggurat: <Gypsy>, Botvinnik was hoping for 23. Nxf7? Nxf7 24. Bg6, after which 24. - Ng3! wins a piece. 25. Bxf7 runs into 25. - Ne2+ with mate, and 25. Rxd8+ is answered by 25. - Nxd8, saving the piece. |
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Apr-19-04
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| Gypsy: Thanks <Ziggurat>. This brings me to an interesting point I thus far failed to mention on these pages for a fear that I would be laughed off the forum. I think people fail to give Botvinnik his due as a tactician! Although Botvinnik combinations never came easy to him, the ones he did pull off are ammong the most sublime of all! |
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Apr-19-04
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| Gypsy: Regarding the kibitzing. I doubt a Russian would so transgress. I'd suspect one of the Yugo's. |
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Apr-19-04
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| tamar: Geller had trouble concealing his emotions
at the chessboard, and it may have been him who (inadvertently, I am guessing) gestured or exclaimed as he stood watching. Spraggett notes that Geller had trouble being poker faced, and many players noticed it, including Fischer. http://www.kevinspraggett.com/Gelle...
It didn't help that Geller beat Botvinnik like a drum in their meeting,Botvinnik vs Geller, 1969 and Botvinnik ended up with a poor tournament showing. |
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| Jul-03-04 |
| ForeverYoung: I think I read in Chess Life that Polugaevsky said "aren't you the sly one". Then Sahovic noticed the trap. |
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