Mihail Tal - Bobotsov M Gregoriev - Bienvenue sur le site du Club d'Échecs de la Béroche

[Event "WchT Students 05th final A"] [Site "Varna"] [Date "1958.07.11"] [Round "2"] [White "Bobotsov, Milko Georgiev"] [Black "Tal, Mihail"] [Result "0-1"] [Annotator "Quintiliano Pinto,Renato Rodrigues"] [ECO "E81"] [WhiteFideId "-1"] [BlackFideId "-1"] [PlyCount "62"] [Beauty "8247972739666"] [GameId "2235863512624443"] [EventDate "1958.07.10"] [EventType "team-tourn"] [EventRounds "7"] [EventCountry "BUL"] [SourceTitle "CBM 211"] [Source "ChessBase"] [SourceDate "2022.12.31"] [SourceVersion "1"] [SourceVersionDate "2022.12.31"] [SourceQuality "1"] [WhiteTeam "Bulgaria"] [BlackTeam "Soviet Union"] [WhiteTeamCountry "BUL"] [BlackTeamCountry "URS"] {The following game still brings me happy memories of my first years in chess, as I still remember how the simplicity and beauty of Tal's play left a strong impression on me as a child.} 1. d4 Nf6 2. c4 g6 3. Nc3 Bg7 4. e4 d6 5. f3 {The solid Saemisch Variation seems a wise choice against the Magician from Riga. Die solide Sämisch-Variante scheint eine kluge Wahl gegen den Zauberer aus Riga zu sein.} O-O 6. Nge2 (6. Be3 {and}) (6. Bg5 {are more popular, as both moves keep White's development more flexible.}) 6... c5 {Black looks for Benoni structures and play on the dark squares now.} (6... e5 $6 {doesn't seem good now, as it blocks the dark-squared bishop and White is very solid in the centre, making the typical f7-f5 advance less effective.} 7. Bg5 c6 (7... h6 8. Be3 Nc6 9. d5 Ne7 10. Qd2 Kh7 11. g4 $18 {seems positionally lost for Black. White has a big space advantage, and Black's counterplay with f7-f5 is not working here.}) 8. Qd2 Nbd7 9. d5 $16 {Although some strong players went for this position as Black, I still think White's position should be more comfortable and easier to play.}) 7. Be3 ({Nowadays, the most principled option} 7. d5 e6 8. Ng3 exd5 9. cxd5 a6 10. a4 {with a complex game, in which Black tries to develop dynamic, active play before White is able to complete the development and consolidate a comfortable positional advantage.}) 7... Nbd7 $6 {Armed by the opening knowledge of our times and also by my strong computer, I think this is a bit dubious.} ({However, I can understand why Tal opted for the most modest development of his knight to d7. In case of} 7... Nc6 {which is indeed the most played, White could make his life simpler by means of was} 8. dxc5 ({Still, the most principled is} 8. d5 Ne5 9. Ng3 e6 10. Be2 exd5 11. cxd5 a6 12. a4 h5 $1 $13 {again with Benoni-type positions and a sharp game.}) 8... dxc5 9. Qxd8 Rxd8 10. Bxc5 {Although both theory and tournament practice have proved that Black has enough compensation for the pawn here, It's fair to assume that Tal was not looking for such a calm queenless middlegame.}) 8. Qd2 ({In case of Im Falle von} 8. d5 {Black can transpose to the previous note with} Ne5 ({It's also possible that Tal was looking for Benko-like play with} 8... b5 $5)) 8... a6 9. O-O-O $2 {In "normal" circumstances this could be considered a careless move by White, since Black can prepare a dangerous breakthrough on the queenside, after which the white king will be in danger. Considering that on the other side of the board we have such an attacking genius like Tal, we can easily conclude that castling long is simply a mistake. Bobotsov likely understood the dangers of his position, but backed his decision on a nice tactical detail. Unfortunately for him, Tal also had seen the idea - and more.} (9. d5 {could be met by} b5 $5 (9... Ne5 10. Ng3 h5 $1 $36 {also seems promising for Black.})) (9. Rd1 {was a safe option for White, increasing his control in the centre and keeping the possibility of castling to the kingside.}) ({The best solution seems to be} 9. dxc5 $1 dxc5 (9... Nxc5 10. Nd4 $14 {is possible, even though in Maroczy positions White often keeps a small edge.}) 10. Rd1 Qc7 11. Nf4 $16 {;1-0 Sjugirov,S (2643)-Fedoseev,V (2668) Lake Sevan Martuni 2014 (2.4) White had no problems to complete the development and kept a pleasant space advantage. This seems the best way of posing problems for Black after 7...Nbd7.}) 9... Qa5 {Natural and good, stepping out of unnecessary complications and preparing the advance b7-b5.} ({Tal likely considered the immediate} 9... b5 $6 {but the complications work in White's favour:} 10. dxc5 b4 (10... bxc4 $2 11. cxd6 Ne5 12. dxe7 Qxe7 13. Nf4 $16 {is simply better for White.}) 11. Nd5 dxc5 ({But not} 11... Nxd5 $2 12. Qxd5 Rb8 13. cxd6 Nb6 14. Qc6 $16) 12. Nxf6+ Bxf6 13. Nf4 $1 (13. Bxc5 Qc7 14. Bxb4 Nb6 15. Nf4 Bb7 $13 {can be dangerous for White.}) 13... e6 14. Nd3 $14 {and White keeps better chances in view of his play in the centre and potential play on the kingside. On the other hand, Black is unable to get counterplay on the queenside here.}) 10. Kb1 b5 11. Nd5 $2 {Bobotsov relied on this "trap", but...} ({Objectively better would be} 11. dxc5 dxc5 12. h4 (12. Nc1 $5 {seems a safe option.}) 12... h5 13. Nf4 e6 14. Ncd5 $1 {This idea works better now.} Qd8 (14... Nxd5 $4 15. Qxa5 Nxe3 16. Rc1 $18 {is a bad idea now as the c4-pawn is defended by the bishop.}) 15. Nxf6+ Qxf6 16. Qc2 {with a dynamically balanced game.}) 11... Nxd5 $3 {I was simply amazed when seeing this queen sacrifice for the first time.} 12. Qxa5 (12. cxd5 $2 {would be a moral defeat for White, but is also objectively bad, as after} Qxd2 13. Rxd2 f5 $17 {the initiative is with Black.}) 12... Nxe3 {Right now, Tal has two pieces for the queen and is about to get at least one pawn. However, strong attacking players have the ability of seeing and evaluating the position beyond a purely materialistic perspective. They are able to ignore the mathematic part of the game and instead foccus on practical aspects like piece coordination, attacking schemes and creative ways of handling the initiative before the opponent manages to consolidate his position. After all, it was Tal who said that “you must take your opponent into a deep dark forest where 2+2=5, and the path leading out is only wide enough for one.} 13. Rc1 {Defending is never a pleasant task in chess, so White is looking to give back some material before the pressure becomes too annoying.} (13. Rd3 {would be the materialistic approach, then after} Nxc4 14. Qe1 {we have an interesting position. White could claim that Black still doesn't have enough material compensation for the queen, so his position should be fine. However, Black's position is much better in terms of piece play and coordination, what makes his position already easier to play. Black's play is full of potential, especially regarding his chances on the queenside, while White has a passive queen and is strill struggling to bring all his pieces to the game. One could say that Black's pieces are not particularly active either by the moment, but the following variations illustrate the potential of his position in a beautiul way:} cxd4 15. Nxd4 Nc5 16. Rd1 ({Objectively speaking, White's best option is} 16. Rd2 $1 Nxd2+ 17. Qxd2 Bd7 $15 {when Black still keeps the best chances, as the dark-squared bishop is going to become a monster.}) 16... Rb8 $1 {Getting ready for the attack.} 17. Nc6 ({In case of} 17. Be2 {Black keeps increasing the pressure by means of} Na4 {as} 18. b3 {allows him to launch a powerful attack:} Na3+ 19. Kc1 Bd7 $1 20. bxa4 Rfc8+ 21. Kd2 Bxd4 22. Rc1 Nc4+ 23. Bxc4 bxc4 {and White can't hold the attack, for example:} 24. Rb1 c3+ 25. Kd3 e5 26. Rxb8 Rxb8 27. Qd1 Rb2 $19) 17... Rb7 18. Na5 Nxb2 $1 {This is the beginning of a beautiful variation.} 19. Rd2 (19. Nxb7 Nxd1 20. Qxd1 Bxb7 21. Bd3 Na4 $17 {also looks very bad for White.}) 19... Rc7 $1 20. Rxb2 Na4 $1 {Black has only one piece for the queen, and still the advantage is with him!} 21. Rc2 ({In case of} 21. Rb3 Be6 22. Bd3 Rfc8 {Black regains some material and keeps the attack:} 23. f4 Nc3+ 24. Rxc3 Bxc3 25. Qe2 Bxa5 $19) 21... Rxc2 22. Kxc2 Be6 {White can't avoid losing material in the next moves in view of Black's strong piece play.} 23. Nb3 (23. Qe3 Rc8+ 24. Kd1 Bc3 25. Bd3 Bxa5 $19 {and the attack goes on.}) 23... Rc8+ 24. Kd3 Rc3+ 25. Ke2 (25. Qxc3 Nxc3 26. Nd4 Nxa2 27. Nxe6 fxe6 $19 {seems a winning endgame for Black.}) 25... Rc2+ 26. Ke3 Rxa2 {at this point, White has nothing better than} 27. Nc1 (27. Qa5 Bh6+ 28. f4 Ra3 $19) 27... Bc3 $1 28. Qxc3 (28. Qd1 Nb2 {and the queen is running out of squares.} 29. Qe2 Nc4+ 30. Qxc4 Bxc4 31. Bxc4 Bd2+ 32. Ke2 Rc2 33. Bb3 Rxc1 34. Rxc1 Bxc1 $19) 28... Nxc3 29. Nxa2 Bxa2 $19 {and Black should win the endgame.}) 13... Nxc4 14. Rxc4 {Now this is basically forced.} ({Other moves would leave White in trouble:} 14. Qc3 $2 Ndb6 15. Qd3 d5 $1 16. b3 cxd4 $3 17. bxc4 bxc4 18. Qd2 d3 19. Nc3 Rb8 $19) ({Or Oder} 14. Qe1 cxd4 15. Nf4 Nde5 16. Nd3 (16. Rd1 d3 $1 17. Nxd3 Nxd3 18. Bxd3 Nxb2 19. Rd2 Na4 20. Rc2 b4 $1 21. Qxb4 Bd7 $19) 16... d5 $1 {Black keeps opening the position in order to activate his pieces.} 17. b3 dxe4 18. fxe4 {Now there is the beautiful reply} Be6 $3 19. bxc4 bxc4 20. Nxe5 Rfb8+ 21. Kc2 Bxe5 {when White is defenseless against the invasion of the enemy pieces in the next moves. For example:} 22. Rb1 Rd8 23. Kd2 Rac8 $19 {Sooner or later, the passed pawns will advance and sweep everything in their path. A beautiful position, which illustrates the power of piece coordination over material.}) 14... bxc4 15. Nc1 $2 {As strange as it may look, this is the decisive mistake.} ({The counterintuitive} 15. Nf4 $1 {was White's best chance.} Bxd4 ({We can see the difference following the same path as in the game:} 15... Rb8 16. Bxc4 Nb6 17. Rc1 {White has the c1-square available to the rook now, improving his defensive chances.} Bxd4 18. b3 {In case of Im Falle von} Be3 {there is the nice resource gibt es die schöne Ressource} 19. Nd5 $1 Nxd5 20. Bxd5 Bxc1 21. Kxc1 $15 {when Black only has a small advantage.}) 16. Bxc4 Ne5 17. Rc1 Bd7 ({Again} 17... Be3 {can be met by} 18. Nd5 $1 Bxc1 19. Nxe7+ Kg7 20. Kxc1 Nxc4 21. Qc3+ Ne5 22. f4 f6 $11) 18. Rc2 $17 {Black still has promising chances on the queenside and White will be under pressure for some time, but this was his best chance of offering resistance, including the rook in the defense.}) 15... Rb8 16. Bxc4 Nb6 $5 (16... Bxd4 {was perhaps more precise. Maybe Tal didn't want to give White time to mobilize his pieces with} 17. Nb3 Bg7 18. Rc1 {but Black can also increase the pressure here:} Nb6 19. Be2 ({Or Oder} 19. Bxa6 Ra8 20. Qxb6 Bxa6 $19 {and White is in trouble.}) 19... Be6 $19 {and White's position soon collapses.}) 17. Bb3 ({The desperate attempt} 17. Bxa6 $5 {could be considered, although White is still in a very difficult situation after} Bxd4 18. Nb3 Bg7 19. Bxc8 Rfxc8 20. Rc1 c4 {when in order to avoid immediate loss White would have to find the difficult move} 21. Qa7 $1 {but even in this case he would be in a clearly worse position after} Re8 22. Na5 Na4 23. Rxc4 Rxb2+ 24. Kc1 Bh6+ 25. Kd1 Rxa2 $17) 17... Bxd4 18. Qd2 ({In case of} 18. Ne2 {Tal certainly had seen the trick} Bxb2 $1) 18... Bg7 {Now it's a matter of time: White can't avoid the advance c4-c3, after which Black's attack comes with decisive effect.} 19. Ne2 (19. Qe2 c4 20. Bd1 Bd7 $19) 19... c4 20. Bc2 c3 21. Qd3 (21. Nxc3 Nc4 $19) 21... cxb2 22. Nd4 Bd7 23. Rd1 Rfc8 24. Bb3 Na4 (24... a5 $19 {was also enough.}) 25. Bxa4 Bxa4 26. Nb3 Rc3 27. Qxa6 Bxb3 28. axb3 Rbc8 29. Qa3 Rc1+ 30. Rxc1 Rxc1+ {Apart from its obvious beauty, this game is also instructive and a model of active piece play and piece coordination over material. The way as Tal was able to drag his opponents into complications and easily outplay them was really impressive, in this game he did that so early as move 11, and less than 10 moves later the game was already decided. To conclude, I would like to share something curious. Some years ago I checked this game with the top engine of the time, and I remember it didn't consider Tal's idea totally correct, evaluating White's position as totally playable after 11...Nxd5. I didn't buy that evaluation though, because the queen sacrifice seems very good both in practical and psychological terms. However, nowadays SF15 already evaluates the sacrifice as correct and says that White's position is already more difficult after 11...Nxd5. It takes time to understand the geniuses.} 31. Ka2 Ra1# 0-1