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Lajos Portisch vs Svein Johannessen
"Any Portisch a Storm" (game of the day Apr-05-2007)
Havana Olympiad Final-A (1966), Havana CUB, rd 1, Nov-04
Semi-Slav Defense: Meran. Lundin Variation (D47)  ·  1-0

ANALYSIS [x]

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Kibitzer's Corner
Apr-15-04  Tennyson: Great rook lift on move 17. Black is hard pressed to find answers to all of white's threats: swinging rook to g3, bishop sac on h6, bishop sac on g6, and queen to d2. Has anybody seen this game analyzed in any books or magazines? I would like to see some GM commentary.
Apr-15-04
Premium Chessgames Member
  Honza Cervenka: 24...f6 was a blunder. After 24...c4 25.Bb1 Rad8 26.Rh1 Rd2+ 27.Qxd2 Qxh1 28.Qc2 f5 29.exf6 Rf7 30.Qg6 white wins too. Maybe 25...Rfd8 instead of 25...Rad8 is sufficient for saving the game as after 24...c4 25.Bb1 Rfd8 26.Rh1 Rd2+ 27.Qxd2 Qxh1 28.Qc2 Kg8 29.Qh7+ Kf8 I don't see anything better than 30.Qh8+ Ke7 31.Qf6+ Ke8 32.Bg6 fxg6 33.Qxe6+ =
Apr-16-04  Tennyson: <Honza Cervenka> I like your analysis. However, what about the following, after 24. ... c4 25. Bc4 Rfd8 26. Rg4 Qh2 27. Qe3 Rac8 (can be transposed with black's 25th move) 28. Bd3 Rd5 29. f4 maintaining pressure. If 29. ... Qh5 then 30. Qg3. If 29. ... Rdc5 then 30. Qe4 f5 31. ef. How's my analysis? Does white eventually convert this to a win? Thanks.
Apr-20-04
Premium Chessgames Member
  Honza Cervenka: <Tennyson> In your line what will white play after 29...Rcd8? I don't see anything better than 30.Qg3 Qxg3 31.Rxg3, but it is hopeless.
Apr-05-07  Alekhinelover: How about 24...Rg8? Would this save the game for Black? Thanks in advance
Apr-05-07  nescio: <Alekhinelover: How about 24...Rg8? Would this save the game for Black?>

24...Rg8?? 25.Rh1

Apr-05-07
Premium Chessgames Member
  al wazir: <Honza Cervenka: 24...f6 was a blunder.> I agree. I think 24...f5 is better. If 25. exf6, then 25...Rxf6. If 25. Rg6, then 25...f5.
Apr-05-07  nescio: <al wazir: I think 24...f5 is better.>

24...f5?? 25.Rh1

Apr-05-07
Premium Chessgames Member
  al wazir: <nescio: 24...f5 25. Rh1> Qxh1 26. Qxh1 Kh7. Black has ♖+♖+♙ vs. ♕+♗. White almost certainly wins, but at least he'll have to work for the point.

BTW, I meant <If 25. Rg6, then 25...f4.>

Apr-05-07  nescio: <al wazir: Black has R+R+P vs. Q+B. White almost certainly wins, but at least he'll have to work for the point.>

Why try a continuation that "almost certainly" loses, when <Honza Cervenka> has already pointed out a possible way to draw? 24...c4.

Apr-05-07  shadowsil: Portisch Lajos was 70 years old yesterday. I wish happy birthday for one of the best Hungarian chess players, and good luck against Spassky. They will compete in about 1.5 weeks time.
Apr-05-07
Premium Chessgames Member
  Richard Taylor: Great combination by Portisch at the end Rxh4!

One of the greatest players ever.

Apr-05-07  kevin86: A good game by Portisch-it kind of makes my "Hungary" for more.

Black has the grim choice of giving up the queen for a rook or allowing checkmate.

Apr-05-07
Premium Chessgames Member
  al wazir: <nescio: <al wazir: Why try a continuation that "almost certainly" loses?> Good point. But when I first posted it, I thought it was good enough to draw.
Apr-05-07  zb2cr: Wow, even players rated 2268 by the FIDE can make defensive blunders such as 24. ... f6 when under pressure.
Apr-05-07  nescio: <al wazir> Of course. 24...f5 wasn't an unreasonable try, but I thought I had already made clear that White's threat was Rh1. I was perhaps too concise.
Apr-05-07
Premium Chessgames Member
  fm avari viraf: A scintilating game by Portisch. It's really tough for Black to defend his castled King as Portisch was in a sac. spree mood.
Apr-05-07  Brown: <Honza> Massive points for seeing 26...Rd2+! as 27.Kxd2 Qxf2+ 28.Kd1 Rad8+ and black wins!

Thank you again for all of your excellent analysis.

Apr-05-07  Marmot PFL: <Portisch Lajos was 70 years old yesterday. I wish happy birthday for one of the best Hungarian chess players, and good luck against Spassky. They will compete in about 1.5 weeks time.>

Compete for what?

May-30-08  ezmerin: I don't understand. If Black had to take a pawn at move 18. why he opened a file near his own King rather than in the centre? Anyone thought about 18...cxd4?
Sep-14-17  Toribio3: Portisch is a killer tactician. I love this game!

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