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Mikhail Tal vs Efim Geller
Yugoslavia - Soviet Union (1967), Budva YUG, rd 10, Jul-03
Spanish Game: Open Variations. Howell Attack (C81)  ·  1-0

ANALYSIS [x]

FEN COPIED

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Given 26 times; par: 23 [what's this?]

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sac: 23.Rxd5 PGN: download | view | print Help: general | java-troubleshooting

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Kibitzer's Corner
Jul-28-03  ughaibu: At move 20 the position looks quite harmless, it's amazing that Tal wins in just 4 moves.
Jul-28-03  PVS: Amazing is an apt word for many of Tal's games, don't you think?
Apr-12-05
Premium Chessgames Member
  offramp: I don't get it!
What is the continuation after 24...Rexe5?

There is a threat of black giving a back rank mate that can't be ignored.

Did Geller miss 24...Rexe5?

Apr-12-05  Milo: Maybe just 25.Qxf7+ Kh8 26.Nf3, guarding the back rank? If the d-rook moves, black gets mated on g8. But if it doesn't, Bxd5, followed by Rb8+. I'm not at all sure though...
Apr-12-05  maoam: <offramp>

Amusingly 25.Qxf7+ Kh8 26.h3 with the deadly threat of Kh2 believe it or not! Once Black's back-rank threats evaporate, White can press home his own mating attack.

Apr-12-05  Kangaroo: 25.Qxf7+ Kh8 26. Nf3 seems to be stronger. If the black rook from e5 leaves the fifth rank, the d5 rook will be taken. Any move such as 26 ... Rh5 - remaining on the fifth rank will be met with the check 27. Qe8+
Apr-12-05  maoam: But on 26.Nf3 Black can simply play Rf5, meeting Qe8+ with Rf8.
Apr-12-05  Milo: After 24...Rdxe5, what wins?
Apr-12-05
Premium Chessgames Member
  tpstar: 24 ... Rexe5 25. Qxf7+ Kh8 26. h4 (26. Nf3 Rd8 holds) and now the Ng6 can't move (26 ... Nxh4 27. Qf8#; 26 ... Ne7 27. Qf8+ Ng8 28. Nf7#), the Rd5 can't move (26 ... Rd8 27. Qg8+! Rxg8 28. Nf7#), the Re5 is overloaded (26 ... Re1+ 27. Kh2; 26 ... Rxg5 27. Qe8+; 26 ... Rf5 27. Bxd5! Rxf7 28. Nxf7+ Kg8 29. Rb8+ Nf8 30. Nh6+ Kh8 31. Rxf8#), the Qa5 is no help, and the Kh8 can't run (26 ... h6 27. Bxd5 & 28. Rb8+).
Apr-12-05  maoam: <Milo: After 24...Rdxe5, what wins?> There's a smothered mate with 25.Qxf7+ Kh8 26.Qg8+ Rxg8 27.Nf7#
Apr-12-05  Boomie: White's attack seems to develop into a winning endgame.

24... ♖exe5 25. ♕xf7+ ♔h8 26. h4 ♕b4 27. ♕xc7 ♖xg5 28. hxg5 ♖e5 29. ♕c8+ ♕f8 30. ♕xf8+ ♘xf8 31. ♗c4 ♖xg5 32. ♖b8 ♖f5 33. ♗xa6

Apr-13-05
Premium Chessgames Member
  tpstar: <Boomie> Thanks for the analysis. So the Qa5 can help (lol), therefore offramp's suggestion of 24 ... Rexe5 would have held until the endgame, giving White some opportunities to slip.
Sep-27-14  Zhbugnoimt: WHAT ARE YOU ALL DRONING ON ABOUT?? 24...Rexe5 25.Qxf7+ Kh8 26.Qg8+ Rxg8 27.Nf7#
Jul-21-15  Zhbugnoimt: Of course I meant 24...Rdxe5.
Apr-12-20  carpovius: 24...Rexe5 25. Qxf7+ Kh8 26. Bxd5 Qxd5 27. Rb8+

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