2 Mikhail Tal's Best Games

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2 Mikhail Tal's Best Games
Compiled by Littlejohn

Cloned from mneu. Changing this in time
The best games of Tal's career.

Believe me, playing in such a style, this guy has no chess future. – Peter Romanovsky (on a young Tal)

Later, I began to succeed in decisive games. Perhaps because I realized a very simple truth: not only was I worried, but also my opponent. – Mikhail Tal

Tal enjoys excitement and hair-raising complications, and in that kind of game he can find his way around better than anyone else. – Paul Keres

Tal doesn't move the pieces by hand; he uses a magic wand. – Vyacheslav Ragozin

Some sacrifices are sound; the rest are mine. – Mikhail Tal

First, how to sac my queen, then rook, then bishop, then knight, then pawns. – Mikhail Tal (on what he thinks about after his opponent moves)

I will not hide the fact that I love to hear the spectators react after a sacrifice of a piece or pawn. – Mikhail Tal

Tal develops all his pieces in the center and then sacrifices them somewhere. – David Bronstein

Even after losing four games in a row to him I still consider his play unsound. He is always on the lookout for some spectacular sacrifice, that one shot, that dramatic breakthrough to give him the win. – Bobby Fischer (on Tal

Tal was a fearless fighter. Nobody could successfully accomplish so many incorrect maneuvers! He simply smashed his opponents. – Bent Larsen

I was surprised by his ability to figure out complex variations. Then the way he sets out the game; he was not interested in the objectivity of the position, whether it's better or worse, he only needed room for his pieces. All you do then is figure out variations which are extremely difficult. He was tactically outplaying me and I made mistakes. – Mikhail Botvinnik (on Tal)

Botvinnik's right! When he says such things, then he's right. Usually, I prefer not to study chess but to play it. For me chess is more an art than a science. It's been said that Alekhine and I played similar chess, except that he studied more. Yes, perhaps, but I have to say that he played, too. – Mikhail Tal

Mother, I have just become Ex-World Champion. – Mikhail Tal (on returning home after losing the '61 rematch to Botvinnik)

I did not take the tournament too seriously. I walked around the pressroom, smoked a few cigarettes and sacrificed some pieces. I am waiting until next year when I can become a new ex-world champion. – Mikhail Tal (on the '88 World Blitz Championship, which he won)

It's funny, but many people don't understand why I draw so many games nowadays. They think my style must have changed but this is not the case at all. The answer to this drawing disease is that my favorite squares are e6, f7, g7 and h7 and everyone now knows this. They protect these squares not once but four times! – Mikhail Tal

For him chess was his life. Without the game he could not exist. – Engelina Tal (on her late husband Mikhail)

The man who has proved that you can reach the top and remain human. – Mikhail Tal (on who his chess hero was)

My head is full of sunshine. – Mikhail Tal

I couldn't make myself dislike him. – Mikhail Botvinnik (on Tal)

If you wait for luck to turn up, life becomes very boring. – Mikhail Tal

In chess, at least, the brave inherit the earth. – Edmar Mednis (commenting on Tal)

Analyzing his chess games is tantamount to discussing what God looks like. - Vladimir Kramnik

<Shakespearean Puns
Perhaps no writer is better known for the use of puns than William Shakespeare. He plays with "tide" and "tied" in Two Gentlemen of Verona:

"Panthino
Away, ass! You'll lose the tide if you tarry any longer.

Launce
It is no matter if the tied were lost; for it is the unkindest tied that ever any man tied.

Panthino
What's the unkindest tide?

Launce
Why, he that's tied here, Crab, my dog."

In the opening of Richard III, the sun refers to the blazing sun on Edward IV's banner and the fact that he is the son of the Duke of York:

"Now is the winter of our discontent
Made glorious summer by this sun of York."

In this line from Romeo and Juliet, Shakespeare plays on the different meanings of heavy (which also means sad) and light:

"Give me a torch: I am not for this ambling; Being but heavy I will bear the light."

Later in Romeo and Juliet, a morbid pun comes from a fatally-stabbed Mercutio, where grave means serious, but also alludes to his imminent death:

"Ask for me tomorrow, you shall find me a grave man."

If you open any Shakesperean play, you're likely to find at least one pun on the page! Keep an eye out for a clever play on words example the next time you read Hamlet or watch As You Like It on the stage.>

A70
I Birbrager vs Tal, 1953
(A70) Benoni, Classical with 7.Nf3, 38 moves, 0-1
B93
Tal vs M Pasman, 1953
(B93) Sicilian, Najdorf, 6.f4, 40 moves, 1-0
A60
J Mileika vs Tal, 1953
(A60) Benoni Defense, 23 moves, 0-1
C67
Tal vs P Kampenuss, 1953
(C67) Ruy Lopez, 37 moves, 1-0
E87
Tal vs J Visockis, 1954
(E87) King's Indian, Samisch, Orthodox, 41 moves, 1-0
A31
V Saigin vs Tal, 1954
(A31) English, Symmetrical, Benoni Formation, 29 moves, 0-1
C05
D Rovner vs Tal, 1955
(C05) French, Tarrasch, 26 moves, 0-1
E67
Tal vs R Skuja, 1955
(E67) King's Indian, Fianchetto, 43 moves, 1-0
D15
Tal vs Ragozin, 1956
(D15) Queen's Gambit Declined Slav, 80 moves, 1-0
B07
Tal vs Simagin, 1956
(B07) Pirc, 45 moves, 1-0
B97
Tal vs Tolush, 1956
(B97) Sicilian, Najdorf, 31 moves, 1-0
B71
Tal vs G Lisitsin, 1956
(B71) Sicilian, Dragon, Levenfish Variation, 54 moves, 1-0
E86 Blitz
J Szukszta vs Tal, 1956
(E86) King's Indian, Samisch, Orthodox, 7.Nge2 c6, 20 moves, 0-1
E10
Keres vs Tal, 1957
(E10) Queen's Pawn Game, 44 moves, 0-1
B61
Tal vs K Klaman, 1957
(B61) Sicilian, Richter-Rauzer, Larsen Variation, 7.Qd2, 34 moves, 1-0
D32
Tal vs Aronin, 1957
(D32) Queen's Gambit Declined, Tarrasch, 36 moves, 1/2-1/2
A78
B Gurgenidze vs Tal, 1957
(A78) Benoni, Classical with ...Re8 and ...Na6, 27 moves, 0-1
E80
Tal vs Tolush, 1957
(E80) King's Indian, Samisch Variation, 42 moves, 1-0
B94
Tal vs A Kolarov, 1957
(B94) Sicilian, Najdorf, 30 moves, 1-0
B63
Tal vs Koblents, 1957
(B63) Sicilian, Richter-Rauzer Attack, 37 moves, 1-0
C96
Tal vs Geller, 1958
(C96) Ruy Lopez, Closed, 33 moves, 1-0
C92
Tal vs Panno, 1958
(C92) Ruy Lopez, Closed, 57 moves, 1-0
E53
Tal vs Tolush, 1958
(E53) Nimzo-Indian, 4.e3, 28 moves, 1-0
A76
Averbakh vs Tal, 1958
(A76) Benoni, Classical, 9...Re8, 35 moves, 0-1
E81
Bobotsov vs Tal, 1958
(E81) King's Indian, Samisch, 30 moves, 0-1
C98
Tal vs Filip, 1958
(C98) Ruy Lopez, Closed, Chigorin, 38 moves, 1-0
C96
Tal vs Bronstein, 1959
(C96) Ruy Lopez, Closed, 43 moves, 1-0
B87
Fischer vs Tal, 1959
(B87) Sicilian, Fischer-Sozin with ...a6 and ...b5, 52 moves, 0-1
B90
Fischer vs Tal, 1959
(B90) Sicilian, Najdorf, 33 moves, 0-1
E93
Tal vs Fischer, 1959
(E93) King's Indian, Petrosian System, 34 moves, 1-0
A71
Geller vs Tal, 1959
(A71) Benoni, Classical, 8.Bg5, 42 moves, 0-1
B42
Keres vs Tal, 1959
(B42) Sicilian, Kan, 40 moves, 0-1
B94
Tal vs Polugaevsky, 1959
(B94) Sicilian, Najdorf, 34 moves, 1-0
B84
Tal vs Smyslov, 1959
(B84) Sicilian, Scheveningen, 41 moves, 1-0
E12
Tal vs Gligoric, 1959
(E12) Queen's Indian, 64 moves, 1-0
D15
Tal vs S Johannessen, 1959
(D15) Queen's Gambit Declined Slav, 27 moves, 1-0
B99
J Klavins vs Tal, 1959
(B99) Sicilian, Najdorf, 7...Be7 Main line, 45 moves, 0-1
B94
A Nikitin vs Tal, 1959
(B94) Sicilian, Najdorf, 44 moves, 0-1
B10
Tal vs Smyslov, 1959
(B10) Caro-Kann, 26 moves, 1-0
D44
Tal vs D Keller, 1959
(D44) Queen's Gambit Declined Semi-Slav, 34 moves, 1-0
B63
Tal vs E Nievergelt, 1959
(B63) Sicilian, Richter-Rauzer Attack, 37 moves, 1-0
C18
Fischer vs Tal, 1960
(C18) French, Winawer, 21 moves, 1/2-1/2
C18
Tal vs Botvinnik, 1960
(C18) French, Winawer, 32 moves, 1-0
B18
Tal vs Botvinnik, 1960
(B18) Caro-Kann, Classical, 41 moves, 1-0
E69
Botvinnik vs Tal, 1960
(E69) King's Indian, Fianchetto, Classical Main line, 47 moves, 0-1
B80
Tal vs Najdorf, 1960
(B80) Sicilian, Scheveningen, 26 moves, 1-0
C95
Tal vs Unzicker, 1960
(C95) Ruy Lopez, Closed, Breyer, 25 moves, 1-0
B12
Tal vs Botvinnik, 1961
(B12) Caro-Kann Defense, 29 moves, 1-0
E92
Ivkov vs Tal, 1961
(E92) King's Indian, 68 moves, 0-1
B99
Tal vs Koblents, 1961
(B99) Sicilian, Najdorf, 7...Be7 Main line, 32 moves, 1-0
E12
Tal vs H Hecht, 1962
(E12) Queen's Indian, 49 moves, 1-0
C93
Tal vs T Ghitescu, 1963
(C93) Ruy Lopez, Closed, Smyslov Defense, 41 moves, 1-0
B96
Tal vs NN, 1963
(B96) Sicilian, Najdorf, 19 moves, 1-0
B94
Tal vs I Bilek, 1964
(B94) Sicilian, Najdorf, 23 moves, 1-0
A04
Portisch vs Tal, 1964
(A04) Reti Opening, 39 moves, 1/2-1/2
A36
Smyslov vs Tal, 1964
(A36) English, 72 moves, 0-1
B06
Tal vs G Tringov, 1964
(B06) Robatsch, 17 moves, 1-0
B17
Tal vs Vasiukov, 1964
(B17) Caro-Kann, Steinitz Variation, 58 moves, 1-0
E77
F Thorbergsson vs Tal, 1964
(E77) King's Indian, 39 moves, 0-1
C40
Tal vs Lutikov, 1964
(C40) King's Knight Opening, 31 moves, 1-0
B10
Tal vs Portisch, 1965
(B10) Caro-Kann, 27 moves, 1-0
B43
Spassky vs Tal, 1965
(B43) Sicilian, Kan, 5.Nc3, 40 moves, 0-1
B04
Tal vs Larsen, 1965
(B04) Alekhine's Defense, Modern, 34 moves, 1-0
B82
Tal vs Larsen, 1965
(B82) Sicilian, Scheveningen, 37 moves, 1-0
B14
Tal vs Botvinnik, 1966
(B14) Caro-Kann, Panov-Botvinnik Attack, 45 moves, 1-0
A30
Hort vs Tal, 1966
(A30) English, Symmetrical, 40 moves, 0-1
D32
Tal vs B Brinck-Claussen, 1966
(D32) Queen's Gambit Declined, Tarrasch, 45 moves, 1-0
B69
Tal vs R Byrne, 1966
(B69) Sicilian, Richter-Rauzer Attack, 7...a6 Defense, 11.Bxf6, 36 moves, 1-0
B17
Tal vs Filip, 1967
(B17) Caro-Kann, Steinitz Variation, 27 moves, 1-0
C18
Tal vs J H Donner, 1968
(C18) French, Winawer, 30 moves, 1-0
B15
Tal vs B Gurgenidze, 1969
(B15) Caro-Kann, 34 moves, 1-0
B82
Tal vs Gulko, 1969
(B82) Sicilian, Scheveningen, 26 moves, 1-0
B42
Tal vs Suetin, 1969
(B42) Sicilian, Kan, 21 moves, 1-0
B75
Tal vs A Feuerstein, 1958
(B75) Sicilian, Dragon, Yugoslav Attack, 21 moves, 1-0
E98
Larsen vs Tal, 1969
(E98) King's Indian, Orthodox, Taimanov, 9.Ne1, 40 moves, 0-1
A77
Tukmakov vs Tal, 1969
(A77) Benoni, Classical, 9...Re8, 10.Nd2, 28 moves, 0-1
E67
Tal vs Kupreichik, 1969
(E67) King's Indian, Fianchetto, 40 moves, 1-0
E94
N Spiridonov vs Tal, 1970
(E94) King's Indian, Orthodox, 36 moves, 0-1
D87
Gulko vs Tal, 1970
(D87) Grunfeld, Exchange, 34 moves, 0-1
B47
Tal vs Najdorf, 1970
(B47) Sicilian, Taimanov (Bastrikov) Variation, 43 moves, 1-0
A65
Reshevsky vs Tal, 1970
(A65) Benoni, 6.e4, 34 moves, 0-1
B15
Tal vs A Kolarov, 1970
(B15) Caro-Kann, 35 moves, 1-0
B43
A Bokuchava vs Tal, 1970
(B43) Sicilian, Kan, 5.Nc3, 28 moves, 0-1
C07
Tal vs Uhlmann, 1971
(C07) French, Tarrasch, 19 moves, 1-0
B48
Tal vs A Vooremaa, 1971
(B48) Sicilian, Taimanov Variation, 29 moves, 1-0
A07
Barcza vs Tal, 1971
(A07) King's Indian Attack, 23 moves, 0-1
B17
Tal vs Shamkovich, 1972
(B17) Caro-Kann, Steinitz Variation, 29 moves, 1-0
D35
Tal vs Savon, 1972
(D35) Queen's Gambit Declined, 38 moves, 1-0
A04
Tal vs Timman, 1972
(A04) Reti Opening, 20 moves, 1-0
B46
K Honfi vs Tal, 1972
(B46) Sicilian, Taimanov Variation, 33 moves, 0-1
B07
Tal vs Bronstein, 1973
(B07) Pirc, 24 moves, 1-0
C72
Tal vs Keres, 1973
(C72) Ruy Lopez, Modern Steinitz Defense, 5.O-O, 45 moves, 1-0
E30
Spassky vs Tal, 1973
(E30) Nimzo-Indian, Leningrad, 38 moves, 0-1
B06
Tal vs Szabo, 1973
(B06) Robatsch, 36 moves, 1-0
B43
G Botterill vs Tal, 1973
(B43) Sicilian, Kan, 5.Nc3, 51 moves, 0-1
A56
Timman vs Tal, 1973
(A56) Benoni Defense, 32 moves, 0-1
B96
Tal vs M Stean, 1974
(B96) Sicilian, Najdorf, 34 moves, 1-0
B08
Tal vs Petrosian, 1974
(B08) Pirc, Classical, 23 moves, 1-0
B01
Tal vs W R Chandler, 1974
(B01) Scandinavian, 22 moves, 1-0
D34
Tal vs M Stean, 1975
(D34) Queen's Gambit Declined, Tarrasch, 31 moves, 1-0
B83
Tal vs Andersson, 1976
(B83) Sicilian, 34 moves, 1-0
C91
Tal vs Portisch, 1976
(C91) Ruy Lopez, Closed, 37 moves, 1-0
B53
Tal vs R Byrne, 1976
(B53) Sicilian, 22 moves, 1-0
D44
Tal vs A Mikhalchishin, 1978
(D44) Queen's Gambit Declined Semi-Slav, 34 moves, 1-0
E16
Tal vs Ljubojevic, 1979
(E16) Queen's Indian, 57 moves, 1-0
A34
Polugaevsky vs Tal, 1979
(A34) English, Symmetrical, 28 moves, 0-1
E14
Spassky vs Tal, 1979
(E14) Queen's Indian, 22 moves, 0-1
B18
Tal vs Huebner, 1979
(B18) Caro-Kann, Classical, 41 moves, 1-0
B63
Tal vs Larsen, 1979
(B63) Sicilian, Richter-Rauzer Attack, 22 moves, 1-0
B50
Tal vs Gheorghiu, 1979
(B50) Sicilian, 64 moves, 1-0
A30
Tal vs Velimirovic, 1979
(A30) English, Symmetrical, 30 moves, 1-0
C95
Tal vs Spassky, 1980
(C95) Ruy Lopez, Closed, Breyer, 44 moves, 1-0
B17
Tal vs J Flesch, 1981
(B17) Caro-Kann, Steinitz Variation, 32 moves, 1-0
B17
Tal vs Miles, 1981
(B17) Caro-Kann, Steinitz Variation, 24 moves, 1-0
B70
Bronstein vs Tal, 1982
(B70) Sicilian, Dragon Variation, 41 moves, 0-1
B97
Tal vs Ftacnik, 1982
(B97) Sicilian, Najdorf, 32 moves, 1-0
A17
Tal vs Van der Wiel, 1982
(A17) English, 22 moves, 1-0
A13
Tal vs Van der Wiel, 1982
(A13) English, 24 moves, 1-0
C42
Tal vs G Garcia Gonzalez, 1983
(C42) Petrov Defense, 29 moves, 1-0
A06
Ribli vs Tal, 1985
(A06) Reti Opening, 28 moves, 0-1
B17
Tal vs Oll, 1986
(B17) Caro-Kann, Steinitz Variation, 22 moves, 1-0
C80
Tal vs Korchnoi, 1987
(C80) Ruy Lopez, Open, 57 moves, 1-0
C97
Tal vs Hjartarson, 1987
(C97) Ruy Lopez, Closed, Chigorin, 43 moves, 1-0
B09
Tal vs Spassky, 1988
(B09) Pirc, Austrian Attack, 56 moves, 1-0
B08
Tal vs Speelman, 1988
(B08) Pirc, Classical, 34 moves, 1-0
E04
Tal vs A Sokolov, 1988
(E04) Catalan, Open, 5.Nf3, 41 moves, 1-0
B77
Tal vs R Forbis, 1988
(B77) Sicilian, Dragon, Yugoslav Attack, 30 moves, 1-0
A56
Vladimirov vs Tal, 1988
(A56) Benoni Defense, 32 moves, 0-1
C55
Tal vs J Miller, 1988
(C55) Two Knights Defense, 33 moves, 1-0
B21
Tal vs M Neibults, 1959
(B21) Sicilian, 2.f4 and 2.d4, 24 moves, 1-0
A80
Tal vs F Reinemer, 1991
(A80) Dutch, 32 moves, 1-0
B30
Tal vs V Akopian, 1992
(B30) Sicilian, 38 moves, 1-0
Sicilian Defense: Najdorf (B96) 0-1 Consultation game
S Gligoric / J Penrose vs M Tal / H Golombek, 1964
(B96) Sicilian, Najdorf, 26 moves, 0-1
Modern Defense: Averbakh Variation (A42) 1-0
Botvinnik vs M Czerniak, 1966
(A42) Modern Defense, Averbakh System, 31 moves, 1-0
134 games

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