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Tigran V. Petrosian - A Stupendous Tactician
Compiled by demirchess
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Shortly after Tigran Petrosian defeated Mikhail Botvinnik in the 1963 World Championship Match, Alberic O'Kelly de Galway published a book of the new champion's games. O'Kelly's selection of 30 games revealed Petrosian to be a unique, multi-faceted player and not merely the technical Grandmaster of Prophylaxis.

After losing to Petrosian in the 1966 World Championship Match, Boris Spassky described Petrosian as "first and foremost a stupendous tactician".

Here are the games from O'Kelly's book, complete with subtitles.

Age Matters Not
A Kalantar vs Petrosian, 1946 
(A54) Old Indian, Ukrainian Variation, 4.Nf3, 27 moves, 0-1

Strike While the Iron's Hot
Petrosian vs E Nievergelt, 1954 
(A47) Queen's Indian, 23 moves, 1-0

The All-devouring Center
Petrosian vs G Pfeiffer, 1960 
(D45) Queen's Gambit Declined Semi-Slav, 30 moves, 1-0

Be Greedy, but not without Caution
Petrosian vs A Khasin, 1957
(E18) Queen's Indian, Old Main line, 7.Nc3, 33 moves, 1-0

No Holds Barred!
Tolush vs Petrosian, 1957 
(C44) King's Pawn Game, 33 moves, 0-1

The Psychologist at Work
Tal vs Petrosian, 1962 
(C11) French, 20 moves, 0-1

Once Bitten, Twice Shy
Petrosian vs M Bertok, 1962 
(D29) Queen's Gambit Accepted, Classical, 34 moves, 1-0

The Haunted House
B Andersen vs Petrosian, 1960 
(E88) King's Indian, Samisch, Orthodox, 7.d5 c6, 29 moves, 0-1

Get Your Pieces Out!
Kotov vs Petrosian, 1952 
(D02) Queen's Pawn Game, 29 moves, 0-1

The Greedy King
A Dueckstein vs Petrosian, 1962 
(B18) Caro-Kann, Classical, 40 moves, 0-1

"Son Born of My Tears"
Petrosian vs L Schmid, 1961 
(A79) Benoni, Classical, 11.f3, 31 moves, 1-0

The Magic Rook
Petrosian vs Taimanov, 1955 
(D46) Queen's Gambit Declined Semi-Slav, 24 moves, 1-0

Trench Warfare
F Olafsson vs Petrosian, 1961 
(C16) French, Winawer, 32 moves, 0-1

Sudden Death
Petrosian vs Korchnoi, 1962 
(A31) English, Symmetrical, Benoni Formation, 21 moves, 1-0

The Badly Guarded King
Pachman vs Petrosian, 1958 
(A54) Old Indian, Ukrainian Variation, 4.Nf3, 36 moves, 0-1

The Art of Doing Nothing
Petrosian vs R Cardoso, 1958 
(E40) Nimzo-Indian, 4.e3, 41 moves, 1-0

Modern Prophylaxis
A Bisguier vs Petrosian, 1954 
(A33) English, Symmetrical, 42 moves, 0-1

Hoist by His Own Petard
Fischer vs Petrosian, 1962 
(C12) French, McCutcheon, 43 moves, 0-1

Theory and Practice
Petrosian vs P Trifunovic, 1957 
(C97) Ruy Lopez, Closed, Chigorin, 48 moves, 1-0

Theoretical Examination
Petrosian vs A Matanovic, 1959 
(E50) Nimzo-Indian, 4.e3 O-O 5.Nf3, without ...d5, 30 moves, 1-0

Like a Sparrow-Hawk
Petrosian vs Pachman, 1961  
(A07) King's Indian Attack, 21 moves, 1-0

The Field-Marshal's Baton
Petrosian vs Smyslov, 1961 
(E12) Queen's Indian, 32 moves, 1-0

Change of Plan
Petrosian vs P Vaitonis, 1952 
(D37) Queen's Gambit Declined, 32 moves, 1-0

A Working Minority
Petrosian vs H Rossetto, 1958 
(D37) Queen's Gambit Declined, 39 moves, 1-0

A Feint to the Right, Penetration on the Left
Petrosian vs Najdorf, 1961 
(E80) King's Indian, Samisch Variation, 40 moves, 1-0

Energy and Patience
Petrosian vs Hort, 1961 
(A25) English, 55 moves, 1-0

The King Sets an Example
Petrosian vs Botvinnik, 1963 
(D94) Grunfeld, 48 moves, 1-0

Dominant Strategy
Petrosian vs Unzicker, 1960 
(D30) Queen's Gambit Declined, 55 moves, 1-0

A Fierce Struggle
Petrosian vs Gligoric, 1959 
(E93) King's Indian, Petrosian System, 45 moves, 1-0

29 games

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