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Viktor Korchnoi vs Boris Spassky
Korchnoi - Spassky Candidates Final (1977/78), Belgrade YUG, rd 3, Nov-25
English Opening: Symmetrical. Anti-Benoni Variation Geller Variation (A33)  ·  1-0

ANALYSIS [x]

FEN COPIED

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Given 6 times; par: 45 [what's this?]

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Kibitzer's Corner
Jul-11-03  drukenknight: looks like a strange oversight in a strange match.
Jul-12-03  JGD: These two certainly had some interesting encounters over the years! 29. ...Nxc5 was a rather pathetic move on Spassky's part, considering that he was in no time trouble.
Jun-27-05
Premium Chessgames Member
  offramp: I think it's funny that after white plays the move 30.Bd5+, forking king and rook, he doesn't actually take the rook next move - he waits a move.
Jun-27-05  euripides: I'm not sure 29...Nxd5 was an oversight. 29...bxc5; 30 cxd5 Rxe5; 31 d6 seems to win for White after 31...Rad8; 32 Rfe1 or 31...Rae8; 32 d7. A nice game by Korchnoi.
Jul-21-11  Hesam7: <euripides: I'm not sure 29...Nxd5 was an oversight. 29...bxc5; 30 cxd5 Rxe5; 31 d6 seems to win for White after 31...Rad8; 32 Rfe1 or 31...Rae8; 32 d7. A nice game by Korchnoi.>

Yes Black's mistakes came earlier:

A) 25. ... Nxe5? is a mistake after which White has an edge. With 25. ... Bb7! Black can maintain equality:


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The point of the move is that 26. Bxg7?? actually loses to 26. ... a6! where the White knight has nowhere to go (a3 is covered by the c4-knight). White has to get rid of the powerful knight duo in the center: 26. Rfe1! (a finesse. After the immediate 26. Bxe4 dxe4 27. Nd6 Nxd6 28. Qxd6 Qxd6 29. Bxd6 Bc6! White becomes passive. Objectively this is still drawn but White is the party who has to defend) 26. ... a6 27. Bxe4 dxe4 28. Nd6 Nxd6 29. Qxd6 Qxd6 30. Bxd6 with a drawn endgame.

B) Spassky's real blunder was 27. ... Qxb5?? after which he is dead lost. 27. ... Qe6! would have kept White's advantage to a minimum. After both 28. c4 and 28. Rcd1 Black simply takes the e5-pawn: 28. ... Qxe5.

Nov-15-17  marcguy: Black could have done better with 12...Bc3 and 23...Bb7
Sep-10-22  edubueno: It is correct. Main blunder is 27...Qxb5??. After the appropriate 27...Qe6 there is nothing.
May-26-23  King.Arthur.Brazil: Am I crazy? 29...bxc5 30. cxd5 Rxe5 31. Rfe1 Rae8 32. Rcd1 Nd6...
Jul-26-23  N.O.F. NAJDORF: 28...Qd7 29. cxd5 Nc5 30. d6 Rad8 31. Bd5+ Ne6 32. Rc7 Qb5 33. Bxe6+ Rxe6 34. Qg4 Rg6 35. Rc8 Qe8 36. d7 Qe7 37. Qc4+ Kh8 38. Rxd8+ Qxd8 39. Qc8

28...Qd7 29. cxd5 Nc5 30. d6 Rad8 31. Bd5+ Kh8 32. Rf7 Qc8 33. e6 Rg8 34. Qh4 Rxd6 35. Be4 h6 36. Qxh6+ gxh6 37. Rh7#

28...Qd7 29. cxd5 Nc5 30. d6 Rad8 31. Bd5+ Kh8 32. Rf7 Qc8 33. e6 Rg8 34. Qh4 Qb8 35. Rxc5 bxc5 36. Be4 h6 37. Qxh6+ gxh6 38. Rh7#

28...Qd7 29. cxd5 Nc5 30. d6 Rad8 31. Bd5+ Kh8 32. Rf7 Qa4 33. Qxa4 Nxa4 34. Bc6

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