chessgames.com
Members · Prefs · Laboratory · Collections · Openings · Endgames · Sacrifices · History · Search Kibitzing · Kibitzer's Café · Chessforums · Tournament Index · Players · Kibitzing
Yuri Gusev vs Mikhail Tal
Moscow4 (1991), Moscow URS
English Opening: Anglo-Indian Defense. Flohr-Mikenas-Carls Variation (A19)  ·  1-0

ANALYSIS [x]

FEN COPIED

Click Here to play Guess-the-Move
Given 5 times; par: 118 [what's this?]

explore this opening
find similar games 2,956 more games of Tal
sac: 20.Qxb8 PGN: download | view | print Help: general | java-troubleshooting

TIP: You should register a free account to activate some of Chessgames.com's coolest and most powerful features.

PGN Viewer:  What is this?
For help with this chess viewer, please see the Olga Chess Viewer Quickstart Guide.
PREMIUM MEMBERS CAN REQUEST COMPUTER ANALYSIS [more info]

Kibitzer's Corner
Jan-06-05  Whitehat1963: Why not 16. Qxc4?
Jan-06-05  Whitehat1963: Wow! I'm surprised no one has talked about this game. An amazing queen sac on move 20 that doesn't seem to be decisive by itself? What gives?
Nov-18-08  chocobonbon: Gusev must have been called "Goofy" & perhaps Tal carried a sympathetic reaction too far or is this the famous game Tal lost to an inmate at an asylum when the winner opined "You don't have to be crazy to play Chess but it helps"?
Oct-23-09
Premium Chessgames Member
  An Englishman: Good Evening: Not the cleanest technique at the end, but an impressive win from an unpromising start. The Queen sacrifice had to be played to stay alive, and I can't help but wonder if Tal might have missed something from moves 20-35.
Oct-23-09  crwynn: Tal was probably in a time scramble, also his health must have been telling here. 35...Bc8 was an awful and un-Tal-like move. The obvious try is 35...h3, which I dismissed because of 36.gh, and started looking at 35...Qf2.

The line I saw was 36.b6 h3 37.b7 hg+ 38.Bxg2 Bf3 39.b8Q+ Kh7 with a draw:


click for larger view

The e5 pawn blocks the new Queen in, and the White king can't flee to the q-side.

I tried Rybka on this line and it seems sound. White can try 35...Qf2 36.Rg1, with the idea that Black cannot open the g-file now. Then 36...Kh7! 37.b6 (37.Rb1 aims for the same draw as the other line) ab 38.a6 but Black can still force a draw, and maybe he can even win.

Rybka also says 35...h3 36.gh Bxh3 draws, but it seems more complicated to me.

Jan-04-18  Retireborn: An amazing game. Tal sets a vicious trap near the end; if 56.Bf5+ Kg8 57.Bxd3? Qf2+!! and White must give stalemate or submit to perpetual.

I did wonder if Gusev, who was around 70 at the time, could claim to be the oldest person to defeat an (ex) World Champion.

Lasker was a mere stripling of 67 when he scored a win against Capa!

However it seems that Korchnoi was well over 70 when he scored a couple of wins against Spassky in their 2009 match.

Jan-04-18  morfishine: <Retireborn> Traps are not "vicious". Diabolical? yes, Cunning? yes, Vicious? Not

lol

*****

Jan-04-18  WorstPlayerEver: <Whitehat1963>

I guess 16. Qxc4 Qb6 let's check it.. hmmm.. Stockfish says 16... Bb6

NOTE: Create an account today to post replies and access other powerful features which are available only to registered users. Becoming a member is free, anonymous, and takes less than 1 minute! If you already have a username, then simply login login under your username now to join the discussion.

Please observe our posting guidelines:

  1. No obscene, racist, sexist, or profane language.
  2. No spamming, advertising, duplicate, or gibberish posts.
  3. No vitriolic or systematic personal attacks against other members.
  4. Nothing in violation of United States law.
  5. No cyberstalking or malicious posting of negative or private information (doxing/doxxing) of members.
  6. No trolling.
  7. The use of "sock puppet" accounts to circumvent disciplinary action taken by moderators, create a false impression of consensus or support, or stage conversations, is prohibited.
  8. Do not degrade Chessgames or any of it's staff/volunteers.

Please try to maintain a semblance of civility at all times.

Blow the Whistle

See something that violates our rules? Blow the whistle and inform a moderator.


NOTE: Please keep all discussion on-topic. This forum is for this specific game only. To discuss chess or this site in general, visit the Kibitzer's Café.

Messages posted by Chessgames members do not necessarily represent the views of Chessgames.com, its employees, or sponsors.
All moderator actions taken are ultimately at the sole discretion of the administration.

This game is type: CLASSICAL. Please report incorrect or missing information by submitting a correction slip to help us improve the quality of our content.

<This page contains Editor Notes. Click here to read them.>

Home | About | Login | Logout | F.A.Q. | Profile | Preferences | Premium Membership | Kibitzer's Café | Biographer's Bistro | New Kibitzing | Chessforums | Tournament Index | Player Directory | Notable Games | World Chess Championships | Opening Explorer | Guess the Move | Game Collections | ChessBookie Game | Chessgames Challenge | Store | Privacy Notice | Contact Us

Copyright 2001-2025, Chessgames Services LLC