Paul Keres vs Jaroslav Sajtar (1954)

Paul Keres vs Jaroslav Sajtar
Amsterdam ol final 1954 · Sicilian Defense: Najdorf Variation (B94) · 1-0

To move:

Last move:

explore this opening	find similar games	1 more Keres/Sajtar game
sac: 9.Bxe6	PGN: download \| view \| print	Help: general \| java-troubleshooting

TIP: To flip the board (so black is on the bottom) either press F or click on the d7 square.

For help with the default chess viewer, please see the Pgn4web Quickstart Guide.

Apr-07-03		aulero: Golombek (Times 2.7.1977): “Little Estonia long shadow… At Amsterdam in 1954 he scored 96,4 per cent on fourth board and won another game so brilliant against Sajtar of Czechoslovakia that the Soviet non-playing captain, Kotov, told to me that it was “a true Soviet game”. I told this to Keres who, with the nearest approach to acerbity I ever saw him show, said: “No, it was a true Estonian game.””

Apr-07-03		aulero: 20...Qxb6 21.Qf5+ Kc7 22.Rc3+ 20...Bxb6 21.Qf7+ Kd8 22.Qxf6+

Nov-19-05		PARACONT1: gee, guess Keres didn't really like being a Soviet citizen eh? he and Bronstein MUST have been good friends i bet!

Apr-25-06		mtoom: Ethnic Estonians generally despise Russians after WWII... I would know; I am one ;)

Apr-30-06		rigel1503: I am an Aussie of Polish descent. I spent 10 months in Poland as an English Teacher and I can tell you this, just like the Estonians, the Poles after WWII despise the Russians and Germans with equal passion. I can understand where Keres is coming from.

Apr-30-06		rigel1503: if 12. ... Nxf6 then: 13. b3 Qb5 (if 13. ... Qxe4 14. Ng5+ OR 13. ... Qc6 14. Nd8+ forking King and Queen) 14. Nec7 Qc6 15. Nxa8 Nxd5 16. exd5 Qc3 17. Qe1 Qxe1 18. Raxe1 Be7 19. Nb6 Bf5 20. Re3 Bxc2 21. Rc1 Bf5 22. Rc7 if 12. ... gxf6 then: 13. Qh5+ Kxe6 14. Qe8+

Jul-03-06		notyetagm: With 20 xb6+!, Keres rescues his cornered a8-knight: click for larger view The variations are quite nice. If Black captures the White b6-knight with his c6-queen (20 ... xb6), then the Black queen is <DEFLECTED> from defending the Black c8-bishop and White (Keres) wins with the elegant <DOUBLE SKEWER> combination 21 f5+ c7 22 c3+. click for larger view The first skewer (21 f5+) goes all the way through and makes the Black c8-bishop loose, and then the second skewer comes (22 c3+) and goes all the way through to put the Black c8-bishop en prise. If instead Black captures the White b6-knight with his d8-bishop (20 ... xb6), then the Black dark-squared bishop is <DEFLECTED> from controling squares along the h4-d8 diagonal. In particular, after 21 f7+ the Black dark-squared bishop is no longer available to interpose the queen check on e7. After the forced 21 ... d8, the Black dark-squared bishop is not in position to defend the f6-forking square and 22 xf6+ wins the undefended Black h8-rook. click for larger view Note how Keres carefully analyzed the consequences of the <FORCING MOVE> 20 xb6+! to see what weaknesses this move <FORCED> Black to create in his position. This is the beauty of <FORCING MOVES>: they limit your opponent's possible replies. You can then do a detailed analysis of the weaknesses that result from your opponent's -limited- replies to your <FORCING MOVE>.

Mar-13-09		squizz: This is a great example of a sacrifice to keep the opponent's king in the center.

Jun-19-09		beenthere240: 17. a4!! what a way to solve a problem.

Jun-19-09		WhiteRook48: 17 a4 what?...

NOTE: You need to pick a username and password to post a reply. Getting your account takes less than a minute, totally anonymous, and 100% free--plus, it entitles you to features otherwise unavailable. Pick your username now and join the chessgames community!

If you already have an account, you should login now.

Please observe our posting guidelines:

No obscene, racist, sexist, or profane language.
No spamming, advertising, or duplicating posts.
No personal attacks against other users.
Nothing in violation of United States law.

See something that violates our rules? Blow the whistle and inform an administrator.

NOTE: Keep all discussion on the topic of this page. This forum is for this specific game and nothing else. If you want to discuss chess in general, or this site, you might try the Kibitzer's Café.

Messages posted by Chessgames members do not necessarily represent the views of Chessgames.com, its employees, or sponsors.

Spot an error? Please submit a correction slip and help us eliminate database mistakes!
This game is type: CLASSICAL (Disagree? Please submit a correction slip.)

Featured in the Following Game Collections [what is this?]

See Keres move 9, Bishop sacrifice that changes everything
from droopy2054's favorite games by droopy2054

The Old Ne6!! reloaded. "An Estonian win"
from challenger of 48 Keres by Gottschalk

Brilliant Attack by Keres
from 1954 Chess Olympiad by chessmoron

The Road to the Top & The Quest for Perfection
by Bidibulle

Modern Chess Miniatures
by Benzol

Paul Keres "Valitud Partiid"
by Legend

Trapping and attacking the king in the middle of the board
from Foodfight's Chess Club Games by foodfight

a true Estonian game
from Who Keres? by crawfb5

Game 59
from Veliki majstori saha 20 KERES (1916-1975) by Chessdreamer

Keres' Whirligigs
by chocobonbon

g50
from White's Thematic Sacs in the Sicilian Defense by Sharpen Your Tactics

6.Bg5 Nbd7
from Sicilian Najdorf 6.Bg5 by KingG

21 Qf5+ Kc7 22 Rc3+ both skewers go through to Black c8-bishop
from Skewer goes all the way through (ESS) by notyetagm

Soviet School of Chess
by samsloan

"No, it was a true Estonian game!"
from Games with a story by Sleeping kitten

20 Nxb6+! a strong forcing move which rescues cornered a8-knigh
from Investigate all of your forcing moves! by notyetagm