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Mikhail Tal vs Igor Platonov
Dubna (1973), Dubna URS, rd 5, Dec-10
Sicilian Defense: Najdorf. Poisoned Pawn Variation (B97)  ·  1-0

ANALYSIS [x]

FEN COPIED

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Kibitzer's Corner
Nov-02-03  Shadout Mapes: Now I've seen some wild Tal moves, but this is just insane. Is this right? Where's the win?
Nov-02-03  thekleinbottle: White is threatening both Qxf8# and Qxh7#.

If 24...Rxg6, then 25. fxg6.

Unless I'm missing something, that pretty much wins...

Nov-02-03  Shadout Mapes: ah, i missed the attack on f8.

(ps. there are two duplicates of this game, so you people with special powers can delete them)

Mar-21-04
Premium Chessgames Member
  Chessical: Platonov was winning, until he went wrong in the complications. Later analysis gave the following improvements: 21...exf5 22.Qh6 Bg7 23.Rg3 Qxc3
22...Bg7
Dec-12-04  InspiredByMorphy: 21. ...exf5 looks like it gives black the better game.
Nov-10-07  GeauxCool: <CG.com> Check this game? 1974?

Does play continue with:

24...Rxg3 (24.Qxf8+ is met with 25...Rg8 to defend)

But Tal responded 24.Bg6


click for larger view

This position appears to be the point of his piece sacrifice.

Nov-30-07  nescio: <GeauxCool> There is nothing wrong with the game score. I remember this game very well. Platonov resigned after 23.Qh6 because of 23...Rxg3 24.Bg6! as you point out. I think Estrin gave 21...exf5! and 22...Bg7 23.f6 Rf3!! as improvements as <Chessical> already mentioned.
Nov-30-07  GeauxCool: <nescio> Thanks for the reply!
Sep-14-10  morphynoman2: Surprise! 22... Bg7!! 23. f6 Rf3!!

See Edward Winter, Chess Notes N.6742

Oct-27-10  whiteshark: <morphynoman2> as well as <Chess Notes 6748. Tal v Platonov (C.N. 6742)> http://www.chesshistory.com/winter/...

C.N. 6742 <6742. William Hartston in Now!> --> http://www.chesshistory.com/winter/... quite at the bottom

Jun-25-11  engineerX: I was analysing with my computer and when it showed me black's defensive resource 23...Rf3!! I thought my engine was joking. I wonder how many grandmasters would find this defence (22...Bg7 23...Rf3).
Apr-24-16  whiteshark: Daniel ♔ has analysed this game: http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=0LLf... Enjoy!
May-01-20  Jimmy8888888888: If the game continued it would've been an awesome checkmate
May-01-20  Viking707: What is so typical of Tal, is that he draws black into thinking that Nc3 is there for the taking! And just as black is ready to grab it, a pawn is pushed to f6 that seems pointless, but it opens the file to Rg3+, and that's the beginning of the end for black.
Sep-09-21
Premium Chessgames Member
  kingscrusher: 21.. exf5 would avoid a "self-deflection" which essentially Rxc3 is - although winning material, it means f8 is weaker


click for larger view

It is totally brilliant though the subtle resource at the end, that it isn't even just about f8 being weak but rather also - the g6 support that f5 offered.


click for larger view

Because if Qxf8+ then Rg8 -


click for larger view

Amazing - but I can't help but feel black was "robbed". Black had basically a very dangerous dark square bishop without a counterpart. It feels a bit like the defence lawyer "Money" in Bosch letting off another person through some very strange technicalities - in this case f5 supporting g6 subtly also the weakening of f8. A bit of "patience" with exf5 should have seen black able to repel the attack.

On the other hand, there is the quotation by Capablanca "A good player is always lucky"

Great stuff though overall - amazing tactical resolution here.

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