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Tigran Petrosian vs Boris Spassky
Petrosian - Spassky World Championship Match (1966), Moscow URS, rd 2, Apr-13
Queen's Gambit Declined: Tartakower Defense. Exchange Variation (D59)  ·  1/2-1/2

ANALYSIS [x]

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Kibitzer's Corner
Feb-26-08
Premium Chessgames Member
  jessicafischerqueen: Hmmmm... game two of the first <Spassky-Petrosian> WC match--- Interesting-- Spassky with the Black pieces sacs a pawn to create two enemy passed pawns <25...a3>, doubled on the a-file-- then demonstrates that these passers can be restrained, And a technical draw soon after-- despite <Spassky> remaining a pawn down-- niether side willing to give up any of the stability in their position...

Interesting that doubled pawns can functionally be considered ONE pawn if they have no way to advance... Amazing how those doubled passers on the a-file can be restrained....

Even MORE amazing, it seems, is the TOTAL LACK OF Kibbutzing on these VERY IMPORTANT GAMES in such a VERY IMPORTANT WC match...

???

Apr-05-08  Knight13: At least in this game Petrosian's "on-the-run" for a bit.

10. Nxd5?! looks dubious to me.

<Even MORE amazing, it seems, is the TOTAL LACK OF Kibbutzing on these VERY IMPORTANT GAMES in such a VERY IMPORTANT WC match...> These two players were quite, positional and strategic players. Or, as the average players call, the "boring type." Amateurs prefer dazzling king-side attack and tactical brilliancies, not these. But I prefer these!

May-29-08  crwynn: <At least in this game Petrosian's "on-the-run" for a bit.

10. Nxd5?! looks dubious to me.>

Spassky was fighting for a draw. I don't know if he was ever seriously worse but White's position was preferable throughout.

Oct-06-08  Sleeping kitten: 10.♘xd5 is the main move. See, for example, this famous Fischer victory Fischer vs Spassky, 1972 where Fischer tried 14.♗b5.
Jan-25-09  sillybilly47: White's Knight on c3 holds White's position almost by itself,leaving the Rook to cause trouble. Through two games the champ has outplayed Spassky even if he has nothing to show for it yet...
Feb-28-09  tal60: i agree with you jessica, there should be a lot more people here... this match was a special one.

as for the game itself 11..Be6 doesnt really make sense to me. i dont know the QG much but i wouldve played more or else a structure such as Bb7,Nd7,Rc8,c5 etc..

Sep-10-09  kooley782: Interesting how players seem to slowly dip their toe into the water so to speak at the start of a match.
Sep-10-09  AnalyzeThis: Spassky was pretty darn unbeatable with this as black, before Fischer's famous victory.
Dec-01-09  sillybilly47: Despite all,is Spassky really that bad off after move 23?
May-22-12  rjsolcruz: Tapia vs Ruaya in One Meralco Jr Chess Master 2012 played similary up to 5.Bg5 but Ruaya continued with 5... c6 instead of Spassky's 5... O-O which adheres to "one of the most important guidelines in chess" (Watson in Mastering the Chess Openings).
Nov-13-12  Cemoblanca: It reminds me of Fischer vs Spassky, 1972 (Game 6: "Best by Protest") ;), but here Bobby played (the razor-sharp) 14.Bb5!? instead of 14.Be2. Well, Spassky's 14...a6 (especially 16...Ra7?) was not a good decision, because after that move Bobby had enough time to capture the pawn on c5 & with this (or more precisely with 20.e4!) he ruined the whole pawn structure of Spassky & you know the rest is history. However, great draw here! :)
Feb-12-16  Zhbugnoimt: <Knight13>: Spassky, a quiet positional player? Look at some of his games from Spassky-Geller 1968.
May-29-18  edubueno: En la jugada 30 Petrosian tiene ventaja clara.
Feb-12-24  edubueno: This game is a very clever game, mainly from white point of view. 19...Bb5 should be considered as the correct answer.

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