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Leonid Shamkovich vs Viktor Korchnoi
USSR Championship (1960), Leningrad URS, rd 7, Feb-04
Nimzo-Indian Defense: Saemisch. Keres Variation (E25)  ·  0-1

8
7
6
5
4
3
2
a
1
b
c
d
e
f
g
h
White to move.
ANALYSIS [x]
Notes by Stockfish 9 v010218 (minimum 6s/ply) 10...Qa5 11.fxe4 Qxc3+ 12.Qxc3 Nxc3 13.Nf3 Nxe4 14.Be3 = +0.04 (20 ply) ± +1.65 (20 ply)better is 11...Qc7 12.Bd3 Nf6 13.O-O O-O 14.Kh1 Nbd7 15.Ng5 Ng4 ⩲ +0.95 (19 ply) ± +1.67 (21 ply)better is 15...Qxc3 16.Qxc3 Nxc3 17.Bxh7 Nd5 18.Bg6+ Ke7 19.Rf7+ ⩲ +1.40 (23 ply) ± +2.11 (23 ply) 17...Bc6 18.Qe2 Nf7 19.Rxf7 Kxf7 20.Rf1+ Kg8 21.c4 Rf8 ± +1.52 (23 ply) ± +2.43 (22 ply) after 18.Qe2 Rf5 19.Rae1 h6 20.Nd6+ Qxd6 21.Bxf5 hxg5 22.Qxe5 18...Nf6 19.Nxf6+ Rxf6 20.Bxf6 gxf6 21.Rxf6 O-O-O 22.Qe2 ± +2.36 (25 ply)+- +5.23 (24 ply)better is 21.Bxe7 Kxe7 22.Qb2 Rxf1+ 23.Rxf1 Rf8 24.Rd1 Nd7 +- +6.09 (22 ply)+- +3.57 (23 ply)better is 22.Qxd3 Bd5 23.Qd4 Rf6 24.Bxf6 gxf6 25.Rab1 Rg8 26.Rf2 +- +4.00 (21 ply) ± +2.45 (22 ply) after 22...Nf4 23.Bxf8 Bxg2+ 24.Kg1 Ne2+ 25.Kxg2 Nxc3 26.Rf7+ 25.Rb1 b6 26.Rd1 Qc6+ 27.Kg3 e5 28.Nc4+ Kxe7 29.Qxe5+ ± +2.50 (23 ply) ⩲ +1.09 (22 ply) 27.Rb1 Rb8 28.Qxg7 Kc6 29.Nf7 Qd4 30.Qxd4 Rxd4 31.Ne5+ ⩲ +1.39 (23 ply)= 0.00 (30 ply) 31.Kf3 Qd1+ 32.Ke3 Qb3+ 33.Kd2 c5 34.Nb7 Qd5+ 35.Ke1 = 0.00 (30 ply) ∓ -2.35 (25 ply)better is 43...Qb8+ 44.Kc2 Qxh2+ 45.Kb3 Qh3+ 46.Ka4 Qf5 47.Qb4+ -+ -3.22 (23 ply) 44.Qxh7 a4+ 45.Kb2 Kc4+ 46.Kc1 Qe1+ 47.Kc2 Qc3+ 48.Kd1 ∓ -1.96 (20 ply) 44...c5 45.h4 Qd5+ 46.Kb2 Qg2+ 47.Kb3 h5 48.Ka4 e5 -+ -2.79 (22 ply)-+ -4.34 (28 ply)52.Qxd3+ Kxd3 53.h4 c5 54.h5 c4 55.h6 c3 56.h7 c2 57.Kb2 -+ mate-in-200-1

rnbqkbnr/pppppppp/8/8/8/8/PPPPPPPP/RNBQKBNR w KQkq - 0 1
FEN COPIED

Annotations by Stockfish (Computer).      [35434 more games annotated by Stockfish]

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find similar games 5 more Shamkovich/Korchnoi games
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Kibitzer's Corner
Aug-15-07  Capatin17: GREAT COMEBACK
Dec-27-12  The Last Straw: Not exactly. Let's look at the position after 22.♗xe7:


click for larger view

22...♗xg2+!, as ♔orchnoi played, does work after 23.♔xg2 ♘f4+ 24.♖xf4 ♖xf4 Now look at the position after 26...♕a4:


click for larger view

Shamkovich played 27.c6+?. This is tempting because it robs the black king of its c6-square, but it's actually a mistake. Look at the critical position:
Position after 30...♕c1+:


click for larger view

31.♔d3?, as Shamkovich played, only blunders away the position after 31...♕b1+ 32.♔e3 ♕g6!. 31.♔f3 was forced, when black could draw by continuously checking the white king.

Still, I think both players deserve a medal for demonstrating a very "human"game. This game, even with its flaws, is a gem.

Feb-16-18  Adenosina: As Tal and his second Koblents wrote about this game: "It is quite clear: to be a devoted 'fan' of Korchnoi, in particular you need iron nerves and a heart of steel". And to be honest, it is a very precise description because the position after 20. ... Kd7 is horrible for Black but he did not only survive, but he won!
Feb-16-18
Premium Chessgames Member
  HeMateMe: wasn't Shamkovich one of the first 'refusniks' to be allowed to emigrate to the USA, jews trying to get out of the USSR? I think he was the first big name chess player to be allowed out. I don't think he had a big impact here, but helped pave the way for other USSR scientists, musicians, chess players, athletes, et al, to get out of there and find a better life in the USA.

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