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Tigran Petrosian vs Miguel Najdorf
Bled (1961), Bled YUG, rd 8, Sep-14
King's Indian Defense: Saemisch Variation (E80)  ·  1-0

ANALYSIS [x]

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Kibitzer's Corner
Oct-16-04
Premium Chessgames Member
  keypusher: I read that after losing this game Najdorf said, "Look at me, I'm laughing, I'm joking and I am not going to be able to sleep tonight."

I am trying to work out the end: 40...Bb7 41 Nd8 Ba8 42 Rc8 Bb7 43 Rb8 looks decisive. A real Petrosian squeeze.

Oct-16-04
Premium Chessgames Member
  Chessical: <Keypusher> Najdorf is losing his B,

<40...Bb7> 41.Na5 Ba8 42.Rc8

Oct-16-04
Premium Chessgames Member
  keypusher: Same as my line, right? 42...Bb7 43 Rb8?
Jan-06-07  sixfeetunder: White's King never moved.
Apr-05-07  stanleys: It's true but as Petrosian shows, black had a very interesting possibility 30...Rf2!
Apr-05-07  aazqua: Nadjorf blinked at the moment of truth. As soon as he pulled the bishop back he was reigned to losing.
Apr-05-07  Brown: <stanleys> Interesting... After 30...Rf2 31.hxg4 Rxg4 32.Rf1 it seems a mess to me.

But, after 30...Rf2, the immediate 31.Rf1 looks good. If black goes tactical with 31...Be2? 32.Rxf2 Qxf2+ (32...Bxd3 33.Rxf8+ Rxf8 34.Nxd3) 33.Kxf2 Bxd3 34.Nxd3 amounts to black losing a piece.

The bishop ends up getting crunched in this game, but it's really the knight on e7 that is terrible for most of it.

Apr-05-07  mormonchess: Petrosian was pretty famous for his delayed castling. Or, in this case, no castling at all!
Apr-06-07  stanleys: <Brown:> And what about 30...Rf2 31.Rf1 Rxg2 32.Rxf8+ Rxf8 33.hxg4 Rg1+ 34.Ke2 Rgf1 ?
Apr-07-07  Brown: <stanleys> Yes, I think you're right, though 34...Rg2+ was the line offered by Keene in "Petrosian vs The Elite"

Thanks for following up!

Apr-07-07
Premium Chessgames Member
  ray keene: <brown> in petrosian v the elite we also mention 34---Rgf1 as well as --Rg2+.
Apr-07-07  Brown: Thank you Mr. Keene! Really enjoy the book, as well. Please keep the good work coming.
Apr-07-07  stanleys: <mormonchess:> <Petrosian was pretty famous for his delayed castling. Or, in this case, no castling at all!>

Another thing that really impresses me is his pawn play.Here is a good example of both: Petrosian vs Bisguier, 1954

May-16-10  wordfunph: <keypusher: I read that after losing this game Najdorf said, "Look at me, I'm laughing, I'm joking and I am not going to be able to sleep tonight.">

written by Andy Soltis in the book The Great Chess Tournaments & Their Stories page 220.

Apr-02-22  tbontb: As befits a thematic duel between two KI specialists, the game is close to equal for a long time, Najdorf's Black K-side attacking chances balancing Petrosian's more subtle White Q-side positional pressure. Finally, the breakthrough 35.Qb6 wins so the last defensive chance is 34....Bf8 35.Qb6 Qe8 where White is clearly better but still has work to do.

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