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Fridrik Olafsson vs Leonid Stein
Stockholm Interzonal (1962), Stockholm SWE, rd 23, Mar-06
Sicilian Defense: Scheveningen. Classical Variation (B84)  ·  1-0

ANALYSIS [x]

FEN COPIED

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Kibitzer's Corner
Feb-08-12  ICCM Bart Gibbons: This game deserves to be annotated. In Korchnoi's book "Chess is My Life", he explains that this game took place in the last round of the 1962 Interzonal in Stockholm. Korchnoi, who was paired against Yanofsky, was tied with Stein, with qualification to the Candidate's Tournament at stake. (As a side note, Korchnoi writes that he was worried Fischer may helped Yanofsky prepare for their game, as Fischer and Yanofsky were on friendly terms).

Korchnoi goes on to say that he stood very badly in his game, but managed to save a sharp ending a pawn down. He also said that Stein had a menacing position against Olafsson, but blundered and lost. These results allowed Korchnoi to tie for fourth place with Filip, and qualify. Fischer won the tournament handily.

Korchnoi continued that had he known what was to happen in the 1962 Candidate's Tournament in Curacao, he would have gladly let Stein take his place. Korchnoi was referring to the alliance between Petrosian, Geller and Keres to agree to draws in their games. Interestingly, Korchnoi writes that he thought Keres did not benefit from this arrangement, as he was playing stronger than anyone at the time.

Feb-08-12  ewan14: Keres did play at Bled 1961
Feb-08-12  ewan14: Exciting game
Sep-02-14  zydeco: I guess 30....Nd5 is the blunder Korchnoi is talking about. Maybe black needs to play 30....e3 here.

25....Rd8 looks a bit safer for black, as does 29....Nf8.

Sep-03-21  Gaito:


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WHITE TO MOVE

Of course, capturing the rook on c5 would be a mistake: 21.Bxc5?? Bxc5 22.Ne3 Qb6 and Black wins. Fridrik Olafsson played 21.Nd6! which is the correct move, giving White a slight edge.

Sep-03-21  Gaito: On 21.Nd6, Stein exchanged rooks on c1. The engine (Stockfish 14) prefers 21...Rc6!? with a view to sacrificing the exchange for some good compensation, which seems to be slightly more accurate or at least more interesting; for example: 21...Rc6!? 22.Bb5 Bxd6! 23.Bxc6 Bxc6 24.exd6 Qxd6, whereupon Black would have adequate compensation for the exchange (a couple of extra pawns and the possibility of eventually placing his knight on the excellent outpost d3). See diagram below:


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Sep-03-21  Gaito:


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BLACK TO MOVE

In this position Stein exchanged pieces on d6. The engine (SF14) suggests that Black play instead 24...Nf6! and Black is OK, maybe even slightly better, for example 25. exf6?! Bxd6 26. fxg7 Rc8 with a clear advantage (computer evaluation by SF14: -3.58). If instead of 25.exf6?! White plays 25.Nxb7, then 25...e3! 26.Qxe3 Nd5! 27.Qf2 Qxb7, and Black stands slightly better (computer evaluation: -0.88). See diagram below.


click for larger view

Further there might follow 28.Bc6 (not 28.Bxa4?? Ra8 winning a bishop) Qc7, etc. (Computer evaluation by SF14: -0.90).

Sep-03-21  Gaito:


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BLACK TO MOVE

In this position 30...h6 is equal according to the engine SF14. Stein played 30...Nd5?? a move that the engine considers to be an outright blunder that spoils Black's position altogether, on account of the reply 31.Rd7 (computer evaluation: +6.01). Very likely Stein just overlooked that rejoinder.

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