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*Tragicomedies (Dvoretsky)
Compiled by mneuwirth
--*--

This is an incomplete collection of all of the games with this title featured in Dvoretsky's Endgame Manual. They are titled Tragicomedies because they show players of master level or higher, even World Champions, making all sorts of mistakes in the endgame (some of them real howlers). If you think you're hopeless in your endgame technique, or lack thereof, look here and take heart by figuring out where these great players went wrong. The games are arranged by ending and the blunder(s) are indicated by the move number.

Pawn Endings. Move 99(W).
Spielmann vs Duras, 1907 
(C54) Giuoco Piano, 99 moves, 0-1

Move 52(B).
A Yusupov vs Ljubojevic, 1992 
(A43) Old Benoni, 61 moves, 1/2-1/2

Move 58(W). Marshall, King of Swindles.
Yates vs Marshall, 1929 
(D51) Queen's Gambit Declined, 62 moves, 1/2-1/2

Move 37(B). Lasker's luck strikes again.
Lasker vs Tarrasch, 1914 
(C83) Ruy Lopez, Open, 47 moves, 1/2-1/2

Move 51(W).
G Stoltz vs A Nimzowitsch, 1928 
(A07) King's Indian Attack, 61 moves, 0-1

Move 39(B).
Ljubojevic vs Browne, 1972 
(B95) Sicilian, Najdorf, 6...e6, 41 moves, 1/2-1/2

Move 59(B), 64(W).
Golombek vs Keres, 1939 
(D74) Neo-Grunfeld, 6.cd Nxd5, 7.O-O, 71 moves, 0-1

Move 62(B).
I Rogers vs Shirov, 1990 
(B59) Sicilian, Boleslavsky Variation, 7.Nb3, 65 moves, 1-0

Move 36(B).
R G Wade vs Korchnoi, 1960 
(D06) Queen's Gambit Declined, 38 moves, 1-0

Move 36(W).
A Nimzowitsch vs Tarrasch, 1911 
(C45) Scotch Game, 39 moves, 0-1

Move 77(B).
Colle vs Gruenfeld, 1929 
(D04) Queen's Pawn Game, 77 moves, 1-0

Move 45(W), move 49(B).
Shirov vs Timman, 1996 
(C80) Ruy Lopez, Open, 49 moves, 1-0

Move 45(W).
Aronin vs Smyslov, 1951 
(B08) Pirc, Classical, 51 moves, 1/2-1/2

Move 91(W).
W Potter vs Zukertort, 1875 
(C77) Ruy Lopez, 91 moves, 1/2-1/2

Move 50(W). Chigorin misses a stalemate.
Chigorin vs Tarrasch, 1905 
(C00) French Defense, 52 moves, 0-1

Move 61(B).
Marshall vs Schlechter, 1911 
(D32) Queen's Gambit Declined, Tarrasch, 68 moves, 1/2-1/2

Move 57(W), move 60(B).
Chiburdanidze vs W N Watson, 1987 
(D21) Queen's Gambit Accepted, 70 moves, 1-0

Knight vs. Pawns. Move 51(W).
A Nimzowitsch vs Rubinstein, 1911 
(C02) French, Advance, 55 moves, 1/2-1/2

Move 58(B).
Keres vs Lengyel, 1969 
(C78) Ruy Lopez, 58 moves, 1-0

Knight vs. Knight. Move 64(W). Fine loses $200 and his pride.
Fine vs Najdorf, 1949 
(C90) Ruy Lopez, Closed, 71 moves, 0-1

Bishop vs. Pawns. Move 81(B).
Fischer vs Taimanov, 1971 
(B44) Sicilian, 89 moves, 1-0

Move 88(W).
J Maiwald vs K Bischoff, 1997 
(B50) Sicilian, 89 moves, 0-1

Move 54(B).
Polugaevsky vs A I Zakharov, 1963 
(E91) King's Indian, 58 moves, 1/2-1/2

Move 56(W).
Sax vs V Kovacevic, 1982 
(B05) Alekhine's Defense, Modern, 70 moves, 1/2-1/2

Move 45(B), 47(B).
A Ilyin-Zhenevsky vs G Miasoedov, 1932 
(C07) French, Tarrasch, 52 moves, 1-0

B vs. B (opposite colors). Move 53(B), 54(W).
E Walther vs Fischer, 1959 
(B99) Sicilian, Najdorf, 7...Be7 Main line, 63 moves, 1/2-1/2

Moves 34(W), 35(W), 40(W)--a bad day for Ljubo.
Ljubojevic vs Karpov, 1975 
(C84) Ruy Lopez, Closed, 57 moves, 0-1

B vs. B (same color). Move 74(W).
Teichmann vs Marshall, 1911 
(C42) Petrov Defense, 76 moves, 0-1

Move 49(B).
A Matanovic vs Uhlmann, 1976 
(C09) French, Tarrasch, Open Variation, Main line, 53 moves, 1-0

Bishop vs. Knight. Move 45(W).
Smyslov vs B Gurgenidze, 1967 
(A15) English, 86 moves, 1/2-1/2

Move 39(B).
Spassky vs Fischer, 1966 
(D86) Grunfeld, Exchange, 50 moves, 1-0

Move 39(B).
Balashov vs Smyslov, 1977
(C81) Ruy Lopez, Open, Howell Attack, 58 moves, 1-0

Rook vs. Pawns. Move 116(W).
G Neumann vs Steinitz, 1870 
(A83) Dutch, Staunton Gambit, 124 moves, 0-1

Move 85(W).
J O Fries-Nielsen vs Plachetka, 1991 
(A57) Benko Gambit, 92 moves, 1/2-1/2

Move 70(B). Move the king _towards_ his counterpart, Bogo.
Alekhine vs Bogoljubov, 1929 
(D51) Queen's Gambit Declined, 77 moves, 1-0

Move 60(W).
G Fridstein vs Lutikov, 1954 
(E69) King's Indian, Fianchetto, Classical Main line, 59 moves, 0-1

Move 44(W).
Maroczy vs Tarrasch, 1911 
(C80) Ruy Lopez, Open, 47 moves, 1/2-1/2

Move 57(B).
A Petrosian vs Tseshkovsky, 1976 
(A04) Reti Opening, 57 moves, 1/2-1/2

Rook vs. Rook Endgames. Move 90(W), move 91(B).
Sax vs Tseshkovsky, 1975 
(B06) Robatsch, 91 moves, 1-0

Moves 57(B), 61(W).
Uhlmann vs Gulko, 1978 
(A17) English, 63 moves, 0-1

Moves 55(B), 56(W), 57(B), 63(W), and 64(B). Ouch!
Capablanca vs Menchik, 1929 
(A14) English, 64 moves, 1-0

Moves 59(B), 61(B).
Alburt vs Dlugy, 1991 
(A09) Reti Opening, 70 moves, 1-0

Move 55(B).
Dreev vs A Beliavsky, 1989 
(D37) Queen's Gambit Declined, 64 moves, 1/2-1/2

Moves 51(B), 52(B), 55(W).
B Larsen vs Tal, 1965 
(A39) English, Symmetrical, Main line with d4, 78 moves, 1/2-1/2

Move 73(W).
Tal vs I A Zaitsev, 1968 
(C84) Ruy Lopez, Closed, 73 moves, 0-1

Moves 82(B), 84(W), 85(B).
Ivanchuk vs Lautier, 1995 
(B48) Sicilian, Taimanov Variation, 111 moves, 1-0

Moves 53(W), 55(B), 56(W).
M Brodsky vs I Khmelnitsky, 1989 
(B45) Sicilian, Taimanov, 61 moves, 0-1

Move 58(W).
Szabo vs Tukmakov, 1970 
(D85) Grunfeld, 74 moves, 0-1

Move 64(B).
Glek vs R Leitao, 1999 
(B50) Sicilian, 73 moves, 1/2-1/2

Move 70(W).
Polugaevsky vs H Ree, 1981 
(E11) Bogo-Indian Defense, 74 moves, 0-1

Move 88(W).
Gufeld vs Bronstein, 1968 
(C09) French, Tarrasch, Open Variation, Main line, 98 moves, 1/2-1/2

Move 59(B). The old pro swindles Vasily.
O Bernstein vs Smyslov, 1946 
(B73) Sicilian, Dragon, Classical, 61 moves, 1/2-1/2

Moves 45(W), 45(B). A double blunder...
Kasparov vs Short, 1993 
(E34) Nimzo-Indian, Classical, Noa Variation, 52 moves, 1-0

Move 81(W).
B Larsen vs E Torre, 1973 
(A10) English, 96 moves, 1/2-1/2

Move 82(W). Deflection, Herr Doctor...
Tarrasch vs M Bluemich, 1925 
(E71) King's Indian, Makagonov System (5.h3), 81 moves, 0-1

Move 61(B).
J Polgar vs Short, 1993 
(C86) Ruy Lopez, Worrall Attack, 67 moves, 1-0

Move 47(B).
M Hebden vs D A Wood, 1994 
(C17) French, Winawer, Advance, 58 moves, 1-0

Move 34(B).
Chigorin vs Tarrasch, 1896 
(C65) Ruy Lopez, Berlin Defense, 44 moves, 1-0

Move 66(B).
Dreev vs Ehlvest, 1986 
(E94) King's Indian, Orthodox, 73 moves, 1-0

Moves 54(W), 55(W).
P Ostermeyer vs J Dueball, 1975 
(B31) Sicilian, Rossolimo Variation, 60 moves, 1/2-1/2

Move 33(W).
J Bellon Lopez vs V Chekhov, 1984 
(D43) Queen's Gambit Declined Semi-Slav, 33 moves, 0-1

Moves 44(W), 46(W).
J Norri vs Svidler, 1996 
(E73) King's Indian, 48 moves, 0-1

Moves 42(B), 43(B), 44(W), 44(B). Garry gets it wrong...
J Piket vs Kasparov, 2000 
(A34) English, Symmetrical, 50 moves, 1-0

Moves 44(B), 49(W). Lasker errs by one tempo...
Lasker vs Levenfish, 1925 
(C14) French, Classical, 63 moves, 0-1

Moves 77(W), 83(B), 84(W).
E Paehtz vs Kosteniuk, 2002 
(B54) Sicilian, 97 moves, 1/2-1/2

Move 67(B). Wrong direction for black's king.
Ljubojevic vs Gligoric, 1979 
(D34) Queen's Gambit Declined, Tarrasch, 69 moves, 1-0

Move 53(B).
Svidler vs V Akopian, 2002 
(B04) Alekhine's Defense, Modern, 63 moves, 1-0

Moves 38(B), 43(B).
V Akopian vs K Georgiev, 1999 
(E12) Queen's Indian, 66 moves, 1-0

Move 35(B). Wrong opponent for the endgame, Max.
Averbakh vs Euwe, 1953 
(E59) Nimzo-Indian, 4.e3, Main line, 45 moves, 1-0

Moves 39(B), 46(B). Vishy cracks in a bad endgame.
Leko vs Anand, 2003 
(C42) Petrov Defense, 65 moves, 1-0

Moves 36(W), 41(W). Don't play passively!
G Ilivitsky vs Taimanov, 1955 
(E65) King's Indian, Fianchetto, Yugoslav, 7.O-O, 45 moves, 0-1

Moves 46(W), 50(W).
F Bohatirchuk vs I Mazel, 1931 
(A04) Reti Opening, 53 moves, 0-1

Move 57(B).
G Timoscenko vs K Grigorian, 1979 
(B81) Sicilian, Scheveningen, Keres Attack, 58 moves, 1-0

Rook vs. Knight. Move 104(B).
Suba vs Chiburdanidze, 1983 
(E71) King's Indian, Makagonov System (5.h3), 109 moves, 1-0

Move 60(B).
Romanishin vs A Rodriguez, 1985 
(A15) English, 70 moves, 1-0

Rook vs. Bishop. Moves 61(B), 62(B).
Euwe vs Hromadka, 1922 
(C70) Ruy Lopez, 64 moves, 1/2-1/2

Moves 81(B), 82(B).
Smyslov vs Chiburdanidze, 1994 
(A15) English, 91 moves, 1-0

Move 51(B). Right square, wrong piece, Alexei.
Balashov vs Shirov, 1988 
(A07) King's Indian Attack, 52 moves, 1-0

Q. vs. Q. Moves 77(B), 80(W), 82(B), 84(W), 85(B), 86(W and B).
Shamkovich vs H Wirthensohn, 1980 
(B83) Sicilian, 100 moves, 1-0

Move 59(W). Watch for mate in Queen endings!
G Borisenko vs Simagin, 1955 
(D08) Queen's Gambit Declined, Albin Counter Gambit, 59 moves, 0-1

Move 45(W). Chig gets swindled.
Chigorin vs Schlechter, 1905 
(C30) King's Gambit Declined, 45 moves, 1/2-1/2

Move 31(W). Alekhine blows a win.
Alekhine vs Maroczy, 1924 
(D55) Queen's Gambit Declined, 33 moves, 1/2-1/2

Move 55(W). A rare endgame slip by Karpov.
Karpov vs S Agdestein, 1991 
(C10) French, 59 moves, 0-1

Queen vs. Rook. Move 70(B). Know your fortresses!
J Penrose vs W Hartston, 1970 
(B89) Sicilian, 80 moves, 1-0

Moves 59(B), 60(B).
Averbakh vs Bondarevsky, 1948 
(C92) Ruy Lopez, Closed, 74 moves, 1/2-1/2

Move 69(W). The fortress, again.
Timman vs Nunn, 1982 
(B09) Pirc, Austrian Attack, 69 moves, 0-1

Move 54(W).
J Ambroz vs V Ciocaltea, 1982 
(C55) Two Knights Defense, 56 moves, 1/2-1/2

Move 32(W). Watch for R+P fortresses.
A Martin Gonzalez vs Petursson, 1985
(B32) Sicilian, 42 moves, 1/2-1/2

Rook vs. B + N. Move 56(W).
Timman vs Karpov, 1980 
(C92) Ruy Lopez, Closed, 69 moves, 0-1

Q. vs. R+B. Move 49(W). Carelessness with Queen = stalemate.
J Fichtl vs F Blatny, 1956 
(A47) Queen's Indian, 49 moves, 1/2-1/2

King activity. Move 47(W).
Bronstein vs Bareev, 1990 
(E46) Nimzo-Indian, 49 moves, 0-1

Move 69(W). Svidler accepts the draw in a won position.
Svidler vs Anand, 1999 
(C80) Ruy Lopez, Open, 69 moves, 1/2-1/2

Move 58(B).
P Ricardi vs D Valerga, 1995 
(D43) Queen's Gambit Declined Semi-Slav, 66 moves, 1-0

Pawn power. Move 55(B). Van Wely forgets about interference.
Morozevich vs Van Wely, 1993 
(B08) Pirc, Classical, 77 moves, 1/2-1/2

Zugswang, Move 42(B). Petrosian could also bluff.
Petrosian vs L Schmid, 1968 
(A30) English, Symmetrical, 42 moves, 1/2-1/2

Moves 56(B), 57(W).
V Zhuravliov vs Vasiukov, 1968 
(B02) Alekhine's Defense, 61 moves, 0-1

Fortresses. Move 46(W). A wall like no other.
A Petrosian vs L Hazai, 1970 
(E80) King's Indian, Samisch Variation, 55 moves, 1/2-1/2

Moves 37(B), 40(W). Don't mess with the old codger...
S Polgar vs Smyslov, 1996 
(C60) Ruy Lopez, 42 moves, 0-1

Stalemate. Moves 72(B), 73(W). Wrong move order for stalemate
A Zapata vs Vaganian, 1984 
(C05) French, Tarrasch, 74 moves, 0-1

Moves 65(W), 65(B), 66(W).
J Hickl vs S J Solomon, 1988 
(A00) Uncommon Opening, 65 moves, 0-1

Move 55(B). A classic stalemate trap.
Jansa vs Rublevsky, 1992 
(A07) King's Indian Attack, 51 moves, 1/2-1/2

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