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Efim Geller vs Vasily Smyslov
Geller - Smyslov Candidates Quarterfinal (1965), Moscow URS, rd 3, Apr-20
Nimzo-Indian Defense: Normal Variation. Hübner Deferred (E50)  ·  1-0

ANALYSIS [x]

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Kibitzer's Corner
Mar-24-05  Granite: Nice attack from Geller in this one!
May-24-06  Knight13: <Granite> Yeah, I agree!

And who wouldn't give 32. Bf8 a two "!!" marks?

Oct-01-06  aw1988: Well, I would.
Oct-02-06  Chess Classics: This is a beautiful game by Geller. A solid opening, brilliant middlegame culminating in 32. Bf8!, and an endgame won with economy.

Regards,
CC

Mar-06-17  Murky: 32. Bf8 is not so hard to find, and deserves at most one '!'. Why not play Bf8 a move earlier on move 31?

What's brilliant is Geller's methodical massing of Q,R,B,N against the black king, while letting his queenside go to shambles. Smyslov eventually gets a passed pawn on c2 supported by a black knight on d4, but it doesn't help.

Geller actually blundered with 29. Rh3. Much better was 29. Qh5 winning in short order, without an endgame. For example, 29... Ne7 30 Nh4 Kh7 loses to 31 Nxg6 Nxg6 32 Bg5+ Kh8 33 Bf6 with mate to follow.

Nov-13-17
Premium Chessgames Member
  offramp:


click for larger view

<Murky: ...Geller actually blundered with 29. Rh3. Much better was 29. Qh5 winning in short order, without an endgame. For example, 29... Ne7 30 Nh4 Kh7 loses to 31 Nxg6 Nxg6 32 Bg5+ Kh8 33 Bf6 with mate to follow.>

Stockfish agrees: 29. Qh5 is rated at +17. But 29. Rh3 is +7, so it's not really a blunder.

Nov-13-17  Howard: "Both moves win---it's a matter of taste."

That's what Evans quipped back in a mid-70's column of his in CL&R, though it was about a different game.

Jan-12-24
Premium Chessgames Member
  offramp: I think this is one of those colossal games.
It's between 2 of the all-time greats, and it's in the Candidates'. The Candidates's's Matches produced some brilliant games.
Geller was in absolute top form, but the great Vasily Smyslov defends like a trojan. VSmyslov tries <everything> to save the game.

What a game!

Smyslov went through a bloody horrible attack...This position


click for larger view

...White is about to play 29. Ng5. Surely the JIG IS UP!!

But the game continues. Smyslov managed to get the game to an ending. Te salute!
58...Bg6.


click for larger view

The concept by the great Smyslov is to give up the h-pawn for the bishop. And THEN, Black had a small chance with the rook chasing the a & b-pawns.

Do you know what? Geller found a move that killed that counterplay INSTANTLY! It's really impressive. That guy was on best form.

Geller won all the games with White in this match.

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