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Mikhail Tal vs Guenther Jan Ballon
"When the Ballon goes up..." (game of the day Feb-13-2023)
Berliner Sommer (1986), West Berlin FRG, Aug-??
Spanish Game: Morphy Defense. Fianchetto Defense Deferred (C70)  ·  1-0

ANALYSIS [x]

FEN COPIED

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Kibitzer's Corner
Nov-07-02  morphynoman2: Very nice! 30... Kh7 31. Qh6!! Kxh6 32. Rh8
Feb-01-06  johntabler: I consider Tal the greatest attacking player in the game. What a pity his poor health hampered his chess greatness!!
Feb-01-06  syracrophy: 30...Kh7 31.Qh6+!! Kxh6 32.Rh8++

or

30...Qxe8 31.Nxe8 winning

1-0

Feb-01-06  aw1988: Well, playing like this vs Tal is just asking to be slaughtered, but it's a fun game nonetheless.
Feb-01-06  ughaibu: Tal vs Van Eijbergen, 1979
Feb-13-23  Cheapo by the Dozen: Good timing for this otherwise lame pun!

Fun game, as is so often the case with Tal.

Feb-13-23
Premium Chessgames Member
  perfidious: One of the curiosities of Tal's career is how seldom he went in for anything but the Spanish--especially in his mature career--when opponents responded by allowing open games.
Feb-13-23  Messiah: <perfidious: One of the curiosities of Tal's career is how seldom he went in for anything but the Spanish--especially in his mature career--when opponents responded by allowing open games.>

You are very clever, please share additional things.

Feb-13-23  whiteshark: <Aug 1986> I had just completed my military service and started an apprenticeship as a shipping agent. Fridays were club night and after that the party really got going....

https://lsv1873.de/

Feb-13-23  goodevans: I wonder when it first came to light that Ballon could have had a quick win with 13...Bd4+.

Tal does seem to get lucky in a lot of his wins but then again the saying goes 'you make your own luck'.

Feb-13-23  Mosaichino: I love Tal. Fantastic!!
Feb-13-23
Premium Chessgames Member
  OhioChessFan: I'm guessing Ballon knew as soon as Tal pushed 14. c3.
Feb-13-23  drleper: <Messiah: You are very clever, please share additional things.>

Well, the comment was more interesting than your pointless dig :)

Feb-13-23
Premium Chessgames Member
  perfidious: <drleper>, matter of fact, I was surprised to find that Tal's only King's Gambit in serious play was Tal vs P Trifunovic, 1963, which the great man writes of in his autobiographical games collection. An excerpt was cited at the game page.

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