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Vasily Smyslov vs Max Euwe
FIDE World Championship Tournament (1948), The Hague NED / Moscow URS, rd 9, Mar-23
Spanish Game: Closed Variations (C84)  ·  1-0

ANALYSIS [x]

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Kibitzer's Corner
Mar-17-08  Knight13: 54...Nb6? Bad, but Black's endgame is already messed up by that point.
Mar-28-10  bengalcat47: In Smyslov's own book on his games he suggests 50...Nb6! would have been better for Black. According to Smyslov after 50...Nb6! White would probably have to undertake a flanking maneuver with 51.h5,gxh5; 52. Kh4, Nb7; 53. Kxh5.
Feb-15-13  Garech: Great endgame!

-Garech

Apr-18-15  Whitehat1963: Have the strongest endings revealed many improvements in this endgame?
Apr-27-15  Whitehat1963: Engines, that is.
Jun-08-17  nummerzwei: In his analysis in the tournament book, Euwe serves up a flawed finale:

'Black resigns since 70...Bc6 (to meet 71.e7+ Ke8 72.g7) costs the piece after 71.g7+ Kg8 42.Se7+.'

White should play something like 42.Kf6 Kh7 43.Nh6 with mate in three, of course.

After 42.Ne7+?? Kxg7 43.Nxc6,


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43...b3! 44.axb3 axb3 45.e7 b2 46.e8D b1D is drawn.

Maybe he should have played on a move or two?

Oct-09-21  DouglasGomes: 36... Nb6 would put pressure on d5 allows Black to play f5/fxe4, which gives great drawing chances. 38... Nb6 was again called for. After that Smyslov played very well, nothing very plausible for Black.
Mar-19-22  cehertan: That�s some badass endgame play. Instructive how the white Ruy space advantage can carry into the ending. Even with no particular threats the engine confirms a big nod to white.
May-15-23  Ninas Husband: Please note the pawn on a2 does not move for the entire game. I hope it still got paid! :)
May-26-23
Premium Chessgames Member
  plang: 11..0-0 12 h3 would have transposed into the main line; 11..Bb7 was a new move that certainly doesn't seem to be an improvement. The idea behind Black's move order was to answer 14 Bd3 with 14..Nc6 15 Be3..Ng4. A key move was 23 Bc3! preventing ..b4 and ..a5. After 24..h5!? (Keres recommended 24..Nf6 with the idea of ..Ng4 and ..Bh6) Black could not respond to Smyslov's 25 Ba5 with 25..Bh6 due to 26 Qxh6..Qxa5 27 Ng5..Nf8 28 Nxh5..gxh 29 Qf6..Qd2 30 Qxf7+..Kh8 31 Qxh5+..Kg8 32 Rcd1 followed by Re3 with a winning attack. The exchange of major pieces just served to highlight White's space advantage and the impotence of Black's light-squared bishop. 38..Nb6 followed by Nbd7 would have been a better defense attempting to activate his minor pieces. 44..Ng8 45 Ng3!..f6 46 Ne2..Bb2 47 Ke3 would not have helped Black. 63..a4 64 Nf5+..Nxf5 65 exf..b3 66 f6+..Kd6 67 f7..Ke7 68 d6+ also would have won for White.

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