| Dec-30-21 | | nummerzwei: This second of Petrosian's two wins in the playoff match for the 1969 Soviet title feels like a typical Capablanca, Smyslov, or Fischer game. That is, Petrosian outplayed his opponent from a relatively open position that is not so typical of him. Polugaevsky played rather dubiously from an early stage, something that reflects his unfavorable match situation. Already the opening variation is somewhat controversial: 
click for larger viewIn his book <Damenindische Verteidigung> (1987), Yefim Geller asserts that Black has "no problems of any kind". Raymond Keene, in <Petrosian vs the Elite> from 2006, similarly speaks of "energetic play" and "full equality". However, in practice White has scored +4,=1,-1 from the position above, and my Stockfish rates it as about +0.5 after some twenty minutes, affirming White's chances for an opening advantage. Generally, Black combines 6...Bd6 with 9...a6, rather than 9...c5. White probably does better with 14.dxc5. In the game, Black had the sound move 18...Bb7, rather than the strange 18...f6 and 19...Kh8. White could play 21.dxc5 bxc5 22.Qh5 Qxh5 23.Nxh5 with advantageous endgame. 21...f5 and 23...Bxf4?! worsened Black's position, leaving White with a solid advantage. As a matter of fact, White subsequently had promising alternatives, such as 29.Bb5, keeping the bishop pair, and 35.Qa3, sharply going for the a7-pawn. As pointed out by Keene, 36...Bc8 is an error that allows White to enter the seventh rank. After his suggested 36...Rc6, one option for White is to go for the sixth with 37.Qe2 Rc7 38.Re6 (38.Re8!?), e.g. 38...Ba6 39.Qe5 Qf7 40.Re8 Bb5 41.Rf8 Qxf8 42.Qxc7 
click for larger viewBlack has to give up one of the queenside pawns, but there are still some obstacles in White's way. |
Kibitzing
