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Boris Spassky vs Mikhail Tal
Spassky - Tal Candidates Final (1965), Tbilisi URS, rd 2, Nov-03
Sicilian Defense: Kan. Knight Variation (B43)  ·  0-1

ANALYSIS [x]

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Kibitzer's Corner
Mar-29-06  zev22407: 14)..d5! the counter strike in the center.
18)..N:b2 a bold move.Spassky played 19)d6 and after the exchange of queens Tal had a better ending.
Nov-12-08  Karpova: Position after 30.Rf3 [see diagram]


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Mihail Marin: <Black is a pawn up but this is not sufficient to win, because White safely blocks the kingside. His hopes are connected with the queenside, where White has weaknesses. Tal decided to immediately take the c2-pawn, "cooperating" by falling into a trap prepared by Spassky.>

From page 135 of Marin, Mihail: "Learn from the Legends - Chess Champions at their Best", 2nd edition, Quality Chess, Gothenburg 2006

Jul-04-15  saturn2: With the black pieces I would have played 34...Rxh2 winning a pawn. The rock is doomed so he can sacrifice himself in a suicide attack.
Jul-24-15  SimplicityRichard: <saturn2> Well spotted. Nevertheless, it seems to me that Tal had calculated or intuited the futility of this particular pawn-grab, as he had seen the winning line. And Tal being the quintessential anti-materialist had no time or desire to do any other thing than "win right away"; a characteristic of Tal's style ie. to win as quickly as possible and if possible, with panache! #
Oct-22-16
Premium Chessgames Member
  sackman: So what happens after 15 e x d5 ?
Oct-22-16  Nerwal: 15. exd5 e4 16. ♗xe4 ♘e5 17. ♕f4 and then 17... ♗d6 or ♗b7 with excellent compensation for the pawns.
Aug-30-17
Premium Chessgames Member
  ferrabraz: If black had played 34...Rxh2 ("winning a pawn"), he would not play 35...d3, with tempo
Aug-31-17  Saniyat24: Spassky's stationary knight at c3 was the only problem, otherwise his opening moves were excellent...Tal's Knight was just fierce in the middle game by comparison...and what a great move Tal found in 38...Re2...!
Sep-01-17  thegoodanarchist: This is an amazing game by Tal, because he was known as a "tactician", not a <technician>. However, he was clearly a <technician> here.
Feb-14-18  bachiller: Boris is well worth a mess.
Sep-28-18  edubueno: Parece que las blancas tenían ventaja en la jugada 18, por ejemplo: 18.Bxc4 Qxc4 19.Nxf6+ Bxf6 20.Rad1 Rac8 21.Na5 Qc7 22.Nxb7 Qxb7 23.Qe4 Rfd8 24.Rd2 Rd6 25.Rfd1 h6 26.Bf2 a5 27.g3 Qc7 28.h3 Qc4 29.Qxc4 Rxc4 30.Re1 Rc8
May-18-23  N.O.F. NAJDORF: 19...Bxd6 20. Bxf6 gxf6 (Bxe4 21. Qg4 g6 22. Bxe4) 21. Nxf6+ Kg7 22. Qg4+ Kh8 23. Qh5 Kg7 24. Qxh7+ Kxf6 25. Qh4+ Kg7 26. f6+ Kg8 27. Qh7#

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