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Kalle Kiik vs Mikhail Tal
"Still Kiiking myself" (game of the day Feb-26-2023)
Tallinn (1985), Tallinn URS, rd 10, Mar-06
Sicilian Defense: Najdorf. Amsterdam Variation (B93)  ·  0-1

ANALYSIS [x]

FEN COPIED

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Kibitzer's Corner
May-28-07
Premium Chessgames Member
  SwitchingQuylthulg: You have to feel sorry for White here... an excellent attack up to a point, and against Mikhail Tal too. Then he blows it with 36.Rxf7?? (36.Rc8 is an easy win) and even further with 37.Rxg7+?? (37.Qxc6 should still draw)...
May-28-07  Jim Bartle: OOOOhh, I smell a GOTD here.
Aug-21-13  GumboGambit: Im sure he was Kiiking himself
Aug-21-13  Mudphudder: Was this a blitz game? Don't get how white can miss this easy tactical win at the end.
Aug-21-13
Premium Chessgames Member
  AylerKupp: <Mudphudder> They were approaching move 40 so time trouble could have been a factor.
Feb-26-23
Premium Chessgames Member
  al wazir: <SwitchingQuylthulg: You have to feel sorry for White here... an excellent attack up to a point, and against Mikhail Tal too. Then he blows it with 36.Rxf7?? (36.Rc8 is an easy win).>

I don't see it. After 36. Rc8+ Re8, now what?

If 37. Rxf7, then 37...Rxc8 (not 37...Qxc8 because of 38. Rc7+, and not 37...Qxf7 because of 38. Rxe8#). If now 38. Rxd7+, then 38...Rxc4, and black is a piece up.

If instead 37. Rxe8+, then after 37...Qxe8 38. Qxa6 , white has ♖ vs. ♗ + ♙ -- a likely win, but not an "easy" win.

Feb-26-23
Premium Chessgames Member
  catlover: If 36. Rc8+ Re8 37. Rxe8+ Qxe8 perhaps white could win with 38. Re1 h6 39. Qd5. Looks like black will lose the bishop.
Feb-26-23
Premium Chessgames Member
  al wazir: <catlover: 38. Re1 h6 39. Qd5. Looks like black will lose the bishop.> Yes, that's right.
Feb-26-23  thegoodanarchist: Seems like <GumboGambit> had the pun. 10 years ago.
Feb-26-23
Premium Chessgames Member
  perfidious: An alternative was <The Kiik Inside>, a tribute to the lovely Kate Bush.
Feb-26-23
Premium Chessgames Member
  sorso: Prime example of "The hardest game to win is a won game"
Feb-26-23
Premium Chessgames Member
  Teyss: Funny pun, interesting game: don't try to out-tal Tal. The latter once said, "There are three types of sacrifices: correct ones, mine and hopeless ones against me." (The last part of the quote is only known by true Chess connoisseurs.)

Surely Kalle Kiik who is alive and kicking is still regretting blowing up a won game against the magician. Was he really expecting 36...Rxf7?? 37.Rc8+ Qxc8 38.Qxc8+ Rf8 39.Qe6+ winning the B?

The worst thing is the idea is not completely wrong: if for instance the WK had not been on h1.


click for larger view

Now 36.Rxf7?! Qxc6 37.Rxg7+ Kxg7 38.Qxc6 Rc7 (Ra7? 39.Qc5 Bb8 40.Qb6) 39.Qxa6 is +2.9 at 41 ply. But of course 36.Re8+ is much stronger.

Actually it's blowing it twice because instead of 37.Rxg7+? White should have simply played 37.Qxc6 Kxf7 with approximate equality although care is required: 38.Qxa6? Bg3 and apparently White has nothing better than perpetual.

The other kick in the butt is the attack until then was good for instance here.


click for larger view

Now 32.Ne7+?! Rdxe7 33.dxe7 Rxe7 just wins the exchange but 2 Ps down and no further threats. 32.c6! opens the lines. Did White plan the wrong sequence starting from there or did the idea kick in afterwards under time pressure?

Feb-26-23
Premium Chessgames Member
  playground player: <Where's Larry Csonka when you need him?
Feb-26-23  stone free or die: <Where's Larry Csonka when you need him?>

Now that's going back in time a bit.

Feb-26-23
Premium Chessgames Member
  OhioChessFan: Amusing pun. I share the general opinion of Rc8+ being an easy move to see. It almost had to be serious time trouble.

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