Draw!

The Art of the

Half-Point in Chess

by
Leonid Verkhovsky

Foreword by Mikhail Tal

20 1 4
Russell Enterprises, Inc.
Milford, eT USA
 Draw !
The Art of the Half-Point in Chess
by Leonid Verkhovsky

ISBN: 978- 1 -936490-8 1 -3

© Copyright 20 1 4
Leonid Verkhovsky

All Rights Reserved

No part of this book may be used, reproduced, stored in a retrieval system

or transmitted in any manner or form whatsoever or by any means, elec­
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case of brief quotations embodied in critical articles or reviews.

Published by:
Russell Enterprises, Inc.
P.O. Box 3 1 3 1
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http://www.russell-enterprises.com
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Cover design by Janel Lowrance

Translated from the Russian by Lev Khariton
Editing and proofreading by Peter Kurzdorger

Printed in the United States of America

 Table of Contents

Foreword by Mikhail Tal 4

Introduction 6

I. David versus Goliath 11

11. Fortune Favors the B rave 21

Ill. Shield and Sword 42

IV. Grandmaster, You Are Wrong ! 47

V. Bobby Fischer's Draws 62

VI. Mutual Mistakes 68

VII. Paradoxes 78

VIII. The Intermediate Move (Zwischenzug) 90

IX. Stalemate Across Countries and Ages 99

X. Grandmaster Draws 112

Exercises: Find the draw ! 1 23

Solutions 131
 Draw !

Foreword

Draws and draws . . . Countless draws in chess competitions. They often arise from
the nature of our game, when two strong chess masters come to an armistice on
the chessboard. More often than not, they are the result of a tense struggle. But
those who love the game hate to see bloodless draws, when grandmasters avoid
conflicts over the chessboard and, after the first 1 5 or 20 moves, they conclude
peace after having exchanged most of the pieces, or even with many pieces and
pawns still on the board. These so-called encounters are unlikely to make any
contribution to the wealth of chess history and culture.

Chess fans are demanding and bloodthirsty. They expect to see games full of
imagination and risk. They award their favorites with applause when they see
beautiful games. Quite often it happens that they applaud draws; but these draws
are special draws, when grandmasters exhaust limits of their chess enterprise and
bestow on the spectators gems of chess brilliance and prowess. Actually, these
are games in which both players are winners because their names intertwine with
the beauty of the game. These are games in which you see everything: tactical
blows, profound strategic plans and unusual traps involving the combinative tal­
ents of the players. In my life I have played quite a few games that were awarded
brilliancy prizes for my victories. I am proud of such games. But I am no less
proud of those rare games that ended up draws and for which I shared brilliancy
prizes with my opponents, or as I call them, my chess colleagues (in other words,
those players who created this chess beauty together with me). For instance, I
always remember my game with Lev Aronin in the 1 957 USSR Championship,
that memorable tournament where I won the title of Soviet Champion for the first
time in my life.

In this book, my lifelong friend and chess journalist Leonid Verkhovsky consid­
ers two kinds of draws. The first one is when combinations, threats, and inex­
haustible imagination in defense and attack counterbalance each other. The chess
prowess of one player is basically in equilibrium with the mastery of his oppo­
nent. Both are playing for a win, both send their chess armies into close combat,
and peace sets in on the chessboard when it practically becomes empty after a
long and fierce battle. The second type of the draw is what I call a draw "from the
position of weakness." In this case one side wants to win, and the other, although
in a difficult position, finds all possible (and impossible ! ) resources to make a
draw. Verkhovsky cites numerous examples of defense in difficult positions. They
are drawn from the praxis of world champions and outstanding grandmasters, as
well as from the games of lesser-known players. Of special interest is the re­
search made by the author regarding stalemate, that special exception in the rules.
The book is crowned with an interesting chapter in which the author addresses
the drawn games of the world's top players.

I am sure that all those who love and cherish our ancient game will appreciate this
wonderful book.

Mikhail Tal
Riga 1 972
 Draw !

Introduction

There are very many positions that can­ 7 . j't x c6 .1l x c3 8 . .1l x b7 .1l x b 2
not be actually w o n e v e n i f both 9 . A x a8 .1l x a l 1 0 . Ag 5 .1lg4
chessplayers follow the right course. 1 1 .� xal �xa8 12.Jl xf6 (D)
The most elementary example is when
both kings are alone on the chessboard.
The initial position, with each side hav­
ing 1 6 pieces and pawns, does not guar­
antee success to either side. We never
know if both players want, as they say,
to spill blood, and in many cases the
game is likely to end up drawn. The
history of chess competitions often re­
veals that sad truth.

( 1 ) Walbrodt - Tarrasch
Dresden 1 892 1 2 . .1l x f3 13 . .1lxg7

1 .e4 e6 2.d4 d5 3.exd5 exd5 4.�f3 White can win after 13.Axe5 �xe4
.1ld6 5 .1ld3 �f6 6.0-0 0-0 7.c3 c6
•
14.Axg7 Axg2 15.AxfS .
8 . j'tg 5 .1lg4 9 . � bd 2 � bd7
10. �c2 �c7 YZ-YZ 13 ... j't xg2 14. .a. xf8 Jl xf1 l 5.� xf1
� x f8 l6.�g2+ �g7 YZ-YZ
Draw? ! To tell the truth, two years af­
ter this "draw," the same game between Fearing to break off the symmetry, the
M arco and B erger w a s p l ayed in players agreed to a draw here. But if
Leipzig, but the draw was agreed upon the players are all out for blood, then
after another three moves: 11..§ael such a game cannot satisfy anyone. (D)
.§ae8 12.Ab4 Ab5 13.Ag3 Ag6. Char­
acterizing such " m a sterpieces,"
M ikhail Chigorin noted with bitter
irony: "Great games ! Chessplayers
travel very far from their countries to
"dazzle" the chess world with this ex­
traordinary art! " Only a year later after
Chigorin's death, in his memorial tour­
n ament, the fo l l o w i n g game was
played:

(2) Rotlewi - Eljaschoff

St.Petersburg 1 909 (3) Hamppe - Meitner
Vienna 1 873
l .e4 e5 2.�f3 �c6 3 . �c3 �f6
4 .1lb5 j'tb4 5 . 0 - 0 0 - 0 6.d3 d6
•
 Introduction
This game, played almost 1 40 years
ago, is a silent reproach to those who
make short draws today.
White has violated the basic principle
of development in chess, so B lack car­
ries out a bishop sacrifice. Nowadays
theory recommends 3.4Jf3 d6 4.d4
exd4 5.4Jxd4 4Jc6 6.Ae3 4Jxd4 7.�xd4
Axd4 8.�xd4 4Jf6 9.0-0-0 with a slight
edge for White.
3 ... .1lxf2+
This is typical 1 9th century chess!
4.� xf2 tth4+ S.�e3
Stronger is 5.g3 "i!1"xe4 6.4Jf3 �xa4
7.Ah3.
S . . . ttf4+ 6.�d3 dS 7.�c3 ttxe4
8.�b3 4)a6 9.a3 (D)
It seems that White 's king will find
shelter on a2 (after 10.4Jc3). But by
sacrificing the queen, Black continues
the attack.
9 ... ttxa4+ 10.�x a4 4)cS+ 11.�b4
as+ ! !
This i s precise and beautiful !
Now White's king is in a mating net.
However, he finds magical moves to
draw the game.
1 3 . .1l b S + �d8 1 4 . .1l c 6 b6+
lS.�bS 4) xc6 16.� x c6 .1lb7+ (D)
This is the final touch ! ; White cannot
accept this gift because after 17.�xb7
�d7 18.�g4+ �d6 White is mated.
17.�bS Aa6+ 18.�c6 .1lb7+ Yz-Yz
Incidentally, even in those "days of
yore," when short, bloodless draws
were made, chess organizers declared
war on them. Moreover, this was ap­
plied not only to short draws, but also
to all draws in general; they wanted to
uproot draws from tournament practice
altogether. But very often such meth­
ods were ridiculous. For example, in
1 834 in London for the match between
M acDonnell and LaBourdonnais, the
strongest chessplayers of the time,
draws were not counted. At the first
international tournaments in London,
1 85 1 and in Paris, 1 862, draws were
replayed. And at the third tournament
in Paris in 1 867, draws were consid-
 Draw !
ered as losses for both chessplayers ! It
was only in 1 870 in B aden-Baden that
draws were granted a half-point.
At the big international tournaments in
Monte Carlo in 1 90 1 and 1 902, the or­
ganizer, Prince Dadian Mingrelia, in­
troduced a special system that was sup­
posed to motivate the chessplayers. In
case of a draw, both players received a
quarter-point, and they had to play an­
other game between the official rounds.
The winner received another half-point,
for a total of three-quarters of a point
for those two games. The loser received
only a quarter-point.
However, if the s e cond game was
drawn as well, both players received an
additional quarter-point. It is notable
that in Monte Carlo in 1 902, because
of such a peculiar "draw" regulation,
Pillsbury finished second, a quarter
point behind Maroczy, although if the
points were counted as they are today,
the American master would have been
the winner! That tournament was the
last in chess history in which quarter­
points were used.
Within a few years, draws were becom­
ing more frequent. In the mid- 1 890s the
chess world became familiar with the
name of Carl Schlechter, the young
player from Vienna, who was called the
"king of draw s . " Winning against
weaker players, he almost invariably
drew his games with the strongest play­
ers of the era, and his performance in
tournaments was impre s s i v e .
Schlechter 's chess pacifism became
proverbial. True, his contemporaries
were j oking when they said that
Schlechter was always willing to make
a draw, but in point of fact draws were
l argely prevalent in his tournament
scores. For instance, in Leipzig, 1 894
he drew ten out o f 1 7 game s . In
Hastings in 1 895, he drew nine games
in the first ten rounds. In Baden, in 1 9 1 4
and i n 1 895, h e took third prize, hav­
ing drawn 14 of 1 8 games, without a
single loss.
Most ofSchlechter's matches were also
drawn. Something incredible happened
in his match with Marco in 1 893 : all
ten games of the match were drawn ! In
the second match with Marco, the score
was also even. Schlechter drew matches
with Janowski, Alapin, and Tarrasch.
The most dramatic match i n
Schlechter 's career, w ith Emanuel
Lasker, was also drawn. In ten games
the chess giants made eight draws.
It has to be admitted that Schlechter
truly deserved the title of the "king of
draws," although he was a remarkable
chess figure and he left an impressive
chess heritage.
"Although Schlechter 's draws are part
of chess history and chess art, still they
were only draws and therefore his in­
fluence in the world of chess was con­
siderably reduced, compared with his
natural talent and chess strength, "
Romanovsky remarked. Many great
chess masters of that time followed
Schlechter's chess pragmatism, such as
Marco, Teichmann, Tarrasch and oth­
ers. To quote Rudolf Spielmann, ''the
'draw practice' reached its climax in the
era of Capablanca." At the beginning
of the 20th century, draws in maj or
chess tournaments made up about
50% of the games played.
In 1 9 1 9 Capablanca put forward his
 Introduction
theory that the draw would be the death
of chess. His reasoning was that the
enhanced defensive technique as well
as the possibility of finally using up the
stock of strategic ideas would lead to
the disappearance of chess as a game.
He feared that in the years to come,
chess openings would be studied to
such an extent that the normal result of
the game between top-class grandmas­
ters would be a draw. In the long run,
that would kill the interest of both the
chess professional and the amateur.
To revitalize interest in the game,
Capablanca even proposed reforming
chess. He publ ished an article that
caused an uproar among the greatest
masters, such as Lasker, Nimzovitsch,
Tarrasch, Alekhine and Tartakower.
Opposing Capablanca, they asserted
that chess was still very much alive,
though formerly the game had become
exhausted. The great tournament in
New York in 1 924 was a serious blow
to Capablanca's theory. To begin with,
fo r the fi rst time in e i ght years ,
Capablanca lost a game. Besides, the
percentage of draws in this strong tour­
nament was very low : out of73 games
played, only 37 were draws.
But Capablanca still wanted to prove
his theory. In 1 929 he played a four­
game match on a special board with
Mar6czy. The board was 1 6 squares by
1 2 and each player had two kings, two
·
queens four rooks, etc. In other words,
two sets of chess pieces. The rules cor­
responded to the ordinary chess game
except that the pawn could reach any
square ofthe sixth rank. Although each
side had two kings, it was very diffi­
cult to give a checkmate. Capablanca
won three games and lost one. This
match showed that such a game should
last 1 00 moves, that is, two or three
times longer than in standard chess. In
other words, the duration of such a
game would be 1 2- 1 4 hours. It was
most unlikely that anyone could enjoy
such a game.
There were other proposals concerning
the elimination of draws. Lasker and
Reti, for example, suggested that a full
point should be given for a checkmate,
while five-eighth of a point should be
the reward for forcing a stalemate, etc.
Tournament organizers sought various
ways of eliminating the draws. In the
early 1 920s, the rule of 30 moves was
tried. The participants of tournaments
were forbidden to draw before the 30th
move. This stipulation was often em­
ployed, such as in the maj or tourna­
m e n t s in Moscow ( 1 9 2 5 ) , B a d
Kissingen ( 1 928) and Moscow ( 1 935
and 1 936). It was adopted at the FIDE
congress in Switzerland in 1 962.
However, two years later it was can­
celled by another FIDE congress. It was
valid at the zonal tournaments in Mos­
cow and other cities, as well as at the
1 6th chess Olympiad in Bulgaria. It
was, however, there in Bulgaria where
the "3 0-move rule" suffered a terrible
setback in the match Bulgaria-USA.
Grandmasters Padevsky and Fischer
made a very quick draw. Salo Flohr,
who was the chief arbiter of the Olym­
piad, was adamant. "Bobby," he asked
the American champion, "do you know
that you are allowed to make draws
before the 30th move only with the per­
mission of the arbiter?" As recounted
by Frank Brady in Profile ofa Prodigy
(David McKay 1 973), Bobby immedi­
ately shot back: "Those rules are for the
 Draw !

Communist cheaters, not for me." What
was Flohr supposed to do? Was he to
enforce the law, that is, forfeit the play­
ers? Later, Tal was quite explicit about
the situation: "If players do not want to
continue the game, they will always
find a way to 'violate' the 3 0-move
rule ! "
Hopefully, the readers will not think
that the author prefers draws in chess.
But if they read the whole book care­
fully, they w ill understand that the
games and examples cited here have
greatly contributed to the game of chess
and its progress !

Leonid Verkhovsky
September 20 1 4
 I. David versus Goliath

Creativity versus Brute Force

Material superiority is a good reason

that one side plays to win the game. We
often read: "White has a material ad­ Or 16J!xb7 -tlxb4! 17.�d2 -tlc2+
vantage," "Black is a pawn up," or "the 18.'it'dl -tlal ! 19.§d7 -tlb3 20:�'b4
rest is routine," etc. But even in hockey, §c1+ 21.�e2 §bl 22.g4 �g6 with a
in which normally six players are play­ slight edge for White.
ing against six, when one of the play­
ers is penalized, the team that is short­
handed very often beats off all the at­
tacks, "making a draw. " However,
hockey does not know the situation
where a team sends away one of its
players on purpose in order to use those
players who remain more efficiently.
On the contrary, in chess, it often hap­
pens that a player sacrifices pawns and
pieces to save the game, or even to win
it! And often such a player achieves his
goals.

(4) Capablanca - Fine

Amsterdam 1 93 8 (D)
In this game Fine shows himself to be
a great tactician.

1 8 . .Q.e2 � x f3 + 1 9 . .Q. x f3 �e5!

20.� xe5 gc1 +!

Fine forces a double-rook ending, and

now chances are about equal.

2 1 . .1ldl gcxdl + 2 2.�e2 gld2+

23.�f3 fxe5. A few moves later the
game was drawn.

This is great! The American grandmas­

ter finds a fantastic defense.
 Draw !
(5) Capablanca - Nimzovitsch
Kissingen 1 928 (D)
Black is an exchange up and his passed
pawns are about to advance. White can
count only on his d-pawn.
31.dS! �xc3?!
Black captures the "poisoned" pawn.
He wins after 31...�d6! 32.i5i"xd6 '§xd6
33.e4 fxe4 3S.?Jxe4 .§h6, etc.
32.d6 �f6 33.d7 c3 34.�xfS! c2
3S.�d61 �d8 36.�eSII (D)
Or 36....§g2+ 37.�xg2 i5i"gS+ 38.�f2
cl 'lti 39.�dS+ with a perpetual check.
37 . � x g6 + h x g6 3 8 . � e8+ � f8
39.�xg6+ Yl-Yl
(6) O'Kelly - Penrose
Varna 1 962 (D)
20. �xh7+! � xh7 21.�f6+ �h6
2 2 . � h 3 + �g S 2 3 . � h7+ �g4
24 . .1l e 2 + �f4 2 S . .1ld3 �g4
26 .1le2+ �f4 Yl-Yl
•
(7) Kramnik - Kasparov
World Championship London (6)
2000 (D)
Here, Kasparov found a unique way to
save the game against Kramnik.
If 60.g4, then 60 ...?JeS 61.�g3 b4
62.'ltixb4 'ltidS with equality.
Now Black's queen and knight are cre­
ating threats against White's king.
 David versus Goliath

6 1 . � a8 � g4 + 6 2 . �h3 � f 5 ! 3l .f3 �e8 32.�hl -'td5 33.�e5 �b4

6 3 . �g8+ � h 6 6 4 . � h 8 + �g 6 34.�d6, etc.
65.�e8+ �h6 66.Qh8+Yz-Yz
30 ... gxd6!
(8) Lilienthal - Tolush
Pamu 1 947 (D) Possibly, Pillsbury overlooked this
strong reply.

3 1 . c x d6 � x e 5 3 2 .d7 A x d7
33.g xd7 � x d7 34. � x d7 �el+
35.�h2 �e5+ 36.g3 �e4, and the
game was soon drawn.

When One Soldier Triumphs

The fortress is a type of positional draw

in its absolute form. In the next few
examples we consider cases where one
28.Axf7?
side cannot storm the opponent's for­
tress even with an enormous material
Most likely, Lilienthal thought that he
advantage.
was winning either way he captured.
Correct is 28 . .§xf7+ 'it'h6 29.�f3 -'tc5
( 1 0) Sakharov - Vasiukov
30.-'te2 a5 31.�f1, etc.
Alma-Ata 1 968 (D)

28 . . . Ag l + ! ! 2 9 . � x g l � e 2 +
30.�g2 � x g2 + 3 1 . � xg2 Ae4+,
and the game was soon drawn.

(9) Pillsbury - Chigorin

Monte Carlo 1 902 (D)

The scarcity of the material plus the

passed pawn allows Black to draw.

56 ... �e4 57.�b2 d2 58.�dl �e5

59.�f2 �e6 60.� xh4 �f5

Having captured Black's passed pawn,

Vasiukov tries to win the game.
This "active" move misses the win. In­
stead, White wins after 30.�c4! -'tc6
 Draw !
6Viflg3 g5 62.ciflf3 ciflg6 63.cifle2
ciflh5 64.ciflxd2 \tlh4 (D)
6 5 . cifl d 1 cifl g3 6 6 . cifl e 1 \tl g 2
67.cifle2 ciflg3 68.ciflfl ciflh2 YZ-YZ
White cannot do anyth ing against
Black's super-active king.
( 1 1 ) Em.Lasker - Ed.Lasker
New York 1 924 (D)
Apparently, White is going to lose this
game. Black is about to create a passed
pawn, and W h ite ' s pawns on the
kingside are easily stopped.
75 ... a5 76.bxa5 b4 77.a611
This is the only move. White must try
to approach Black's passed pawn; he
loses after 77.g5 because of 77 ... b3
78A)c4 'it>c5 79A)b2 �d2 80.4Jd3+
'it'c4 81.4Je5+ 'it>c3.
77... ciflc5
No better i s 7 7 ... b3 78.4Jc4 'it>b5
79.4Jb2 'it'xa6 80.'it>e3 'it'b5 81.g5 �b4
82.g6 'it'c3 83.4Ja4 with a draw.
78.a7 b3 79.�d1 };ta8 80.g5 };t x a7
81.g6 };td7 82.�b2 };td2 83.ciflf3
};td8 84.cifle4 };td2 85.\tlf3 };td8
86.cifle4 cifld6
This is the last winning try, leading to
a paradoxical position.
87.cifld4 };tc8 88.g7 cifle6 89.g8�+
};txg8 90.ciflc4 };tg3 91.�a4 ciflf5
92.ciflb4 cifl x f4 (D)
This is a theoretical draw. Black's king
cannot help its pawn and all attempts
to win are futile.
9 3 . � b 2 cifl e 4 9 4 . � a4 cifl d 4
95.�b2 };tf3 96.�a4 §e3 97.�b2
cifle4 98.�a4 ciflf3 99.cifla3 cifle4
100. ciflb4 cifld4 1 0 1 . � b2 };t h 3
102.�a4 cifld3 103.ciflxb3 cifld4+ Y�h
( 1 2) Kobaidze - Zereteli
Tbilisi 1 970 (D)
 David versus Goliath
H ere 75 . . . 4)a8 l o s e s becau s e o f
76. Ah5+ and White's king comes to e6.
But Black's finds an unexpected draw.
62 ... �e811 63.Axb6 �e7! Yl-Yl
White 's dark-square bishop has been
put under house arrest. It would be use­
less to trade it for one of Black's pawns.
( 1 3) Lipnitsky - Tolush
Moscow 1 950 (D)
44.Ab! ??
White decided to trap Black's queen,
but this is a serous mistake. He obtains
a b i g p o s i t i onal advantage after
44:�'g3! Ad7 45.§.d2 a4 46.e5 axb3
47. Axb3 �a6 47.§.bl , etc.
44....llt xb3 4S.Etd3 � xbl! 46.Et xbl
Ac2 47. Et b d l A x d3 48. Et x d3
Et x e4 49 . .£id2 A x f4 SO.�h3 Ete2
Sl.d6 Etxd2 S2.d7 Et x d3 S3.�xd3
AgS S4 . � d S Cit' h 6 S S . � x g S +
Cit' xgS S6.d8�+ (D)
S6 ... �h6 S7.�h8+ �gS S8.�f8
Etd7 S9 . � x c S + � h 6 60.� x a S
�h7 61.�xb4 EtdS 62.�f2 Etf5+
6 3 . �e3 � g8 6 4 . �b8+ �g7
6S. �c8 EteS+ Yl-Yl
( 1 4) Kortchnoi - German
Sweden 1 962 (D)
37 ... .£i xd5! 38.b8� .£ic7! 39.�b3
Et x a8 40.� x c3 .£ie6 41.ttb2 Etf8
and the game was eventually drawn
because Black was able to build a for­
tress.
( 1 5) Kuzmin - Polugaevsky
Riga 1 975 (D)
Polugaevsky draws by building a for­
tress.
 Draw !
42 . . . � a 6 ! 1 43.,1l. x b8 � x b8
44. � x b8 gxh5! 45. � x e5 + �g8
4 6 . � b 8 + �g7 47. � b 2 + �g8
48.gxh5 �e6+
This is a theoretical draw and soon the
players shook hands.
( 1 6) A.Petrosian - Chazan
Belgium 1 970 (D)
Black p l ayed 37 �b6 here, and
•..
White was lured into capturing the
queen.
38.� xb6+??
Now Black has a fortress, and after
38... cxb6 3.h4 gxh4 he played 40.
�c2 h3 4l.gxh3 h4 Yl-Yl
However, White need not capture the
queen. He could play 38.�d2 �a7
39.�a2 �b6 40.'it>b3 �a7 41.�c3 �b6
42.'it>a4, winning the a-pawn and with
it, the game.
( 1 7) Klaman - Kotov
Riga 1961 (D)
The game was adjourned here, and
Kotov sealed the move:
4l ... � x f2!
This is very good!
4 2 . A a 6 + � x a6 4 3 . � x f 2 ,1l. b6
44.d71
White plays the only move. After
44.!!d2 Axe3 45.d7 �c6, Black is a
favorite to win.
44... � x d7 45.�d2,1l. xe3 46.� x d7
e5
Worse is 46...Af2 47.!!xf7 e5 48.�d3
Ad5+ 49.b3 Axf 7 50.�xf2 Ae6
51.�d3 with advantage to White.
47.�d3 e4 48.�e5 ,1l. f2 49.� xf7
,1l. xg3 50.� xg4! ,1l. xg4 5 l . �g7 e3
Not 51...Ae6+ 52.b3 e3 53.!!g6, and
White wins.
52. � xg4 e2 53.� xg3 el � 54.�c3
�b5 55.a4+!
 David versus Goliath
This is the finishing touch. White's rook
needs two squares a3 and c3 to build
- -
a fortress.
55 ... 'it'b4 56.13a3 a5 57.13c3 YZ-YZ
(18) Szabo - Botvinnik
Budapest 195 2 CD)
White has good winning chances; all
his pieces are active, and Black's pieces
are clearly uncoordinated.
41.13a7!
White is ready to advance his pawns
on the queen side.
41 ... 13a2 42.bS 13a3 43.aS gS!
Although this hands White another
passed pawn on the f-file, the text is
the best move.
44.fS 13 d S 4 S . 13e7 13 x b S 46 .f6
13xeS+!
This is the only move to prevent the f­
pawn from promoting.
47.13xeS 'it'f7 48.13fS Ab7 49.'it'd2
Ac8! S O . 4) e S + 'it'f8 S 1 . 13 x g S
13 x aS!! S 2 . 4) d7+ Axd7 S3. 13 xaS
.a. xg4 S4.'it'e3 .a. e6 SS.'it'f4 .a. c4
S6.13a7 hS S7.'it'gS h4 S8.'it' x h4
.a. b3 Yz-Yz
We have reached the classic drawn po­
sition !
( 19 ) Kholmov - Zhukov
Khabarovsk 1967 (D)
3 2 . 'it'c l A x c6 3 3 . 13 x e8+ .a. x e8
34.b6!
White's pawn looks unstoppable. How­
ever, Black finds good counterplay.
34 ... 13fl+ 3S.�b2 .1lg6! 36.13 a8+
4)e8! 37.'§ xe8+ 'it'g7!! 38.4) b3
This is forced if White wants to win.
After 38.E1b8 Ae4!, Black draws eas­
ily.
38 ... 13f2+ 3 9 . �a3 .11. x e8! 40.b7
.§f3 41.b8� Af7 42.�xd6 .§ xb3+
43.�a4 hS 44.h4 �g8 4S.�h6
.§g3 46.�bS .§g6 47.�f4 .§e6 Yz-Yz
The fortress has been constructed.
(20) Vaganian - Vasiukov
Leningrad 1974 (D)
S7.�e3??
 Draw !

By sacrificing his rook White finds a

very special draw.

38 ...lifi' xa1 39.lifi' c2! �c4 4O.g5 �c7

41 .h5 �c8 42.h6 �c6 43.f4 f6!

Otherwise White could play for a win

with 44.f5! followed by 45.g6!. Now
the game is drawn because of 44..Q.xf6
�xf6 45.gxf6 �e2! 46.f7 �d4+
47.1ifi'c1 �e6 48.f5 �f8 49.lifi'e2.
This looks natural, but White misses the
win. He should have played 57..§c5! ( 22) Polugaevsky - Zakharov
.§c8 58 . .§b5! �g6 59 .e8'/;t .§xe8 Leningrad 1963 (D)
60..§b8, winning.

57 �d5+n 58.lifi'd4 � xc7 59.lifi'c5

•••

�a8 60.lifi' c6 �e8 Yl-Yl

( 21) Mamoshin - Kolker

Liepaia 1972 (D)

49 c4+
•••

Polugaevsky drops a piece and it ap­

pears he is lost.

50.lifi' x c4 � x b2 5 1 . � x b 2 � c l +
5 2 .lifi' d 5 � x c7 5 3 .lifi' x e 5 .Q. c 3 +
In this apparently hopeless position
54.lifi' d6 .Q. x b2?
White, as a result of an error by Black,
found a unique way to save himself.
Black loses the thread. It is well known
that with every trade you increase your
material advantage; but that is not the
case in this ending. Now Polugaevsky
Black wins after 37... �d5+! 38. lifi'f3 f6!
makes an unexpected move and saves
39.g5 �xh4 40.gxf6 �f4+ 41.lifi'e2 h5,
the game.
etc.
5 5 .1ifi' x c 7 ! lifi' f7 5 6 .lifi' d6 ! lifi' f6
38.�d2n
57.�d5! �g5 58.lifi'c4! ¥1-¥1
 David versus Goliath
(23) Smyslov - Gurgenidze
Tbilisi 1 967 (D)
41 ••• §f5+ 42.�e3 §�6 43.§ x f6
White maintains some winning chances
in the e n d i n g after 43.f!d5 4Jxa6
44.f!xh5. However, the text move also
works to White 's advantage.
43 �xf6 44.�d4 �d7 45.�d5
..•
h4 46 ..Q. e 2 � f8 47.�e4 � g 5
•
48.�d5
But this misses the win, which is there
with 48.'itle5!.
48 �f6 49 ..Q. g4 �g6 and the game
••. •
was eventually drawn.
(24) Geller - Taimanov
Kislovodsk 1 966 (D)
White could play 43.a4! f!xg5 44.f4
f!g6 45.f!xg6 4Jxg6 46.f5, winning, but
Geller choses the wrong plan.
43.f4? ..Q. xa211
This surprising move forces the draw.
44.f x e 5 § x g 5 4 5 . § h 5 § x h 5
46 ..Q. xh5 �e7 47.�g4
•
Black threatened 47 .. .f6, exchanging
the last pawn.
47...�e6 48.� xd3 f51 49.exf6
Now despite White 's enormous mate­
rial advantage, the game is definitely a
draw.
49 ... �f5 5 0 . �d4 �g5 5 1 . .Q.e8
�xg4 VI-VI
Bronstein's Case
Something rather curious happened to
grandmaster David Bronstein during
the adjournment session at the match
between Moscow and Budapest on
March 1 0, 1 949 .
(25) Bronstein - Barza
Budapest 1 949 (D)
 Draw !

White has a small positional edge. He (26) Benko - Bronstein

can create a passed pawn. Budapest 1 949 (D)

4 1 . 4) c 6 4 2 .h4+ �g6 4 3 . �f4

.•

.Q,d3 44. 4) b7 .Q,c2 45.4)c5 4) d4

46.b4 a x b4 47.4) xb4 .Q, x a4!

This pawn is far more important than

the bishop !

48 . 4) x a4 � h 5 49 .(\d3 � x h4
5 0 . 4) c 3 4) e6 + 5Vit' x f 5 4) g7 +
5 2 . �g6 4) e8 5 3 . 4) e4 �g4
54.�xh6 4)f6 55.4) xf6+ Yz-Yz
White has two useless knights that can­
not mate B lack's king.
Fifteen minutes later Bronstein was to
play h i s adj ourned game with Pal
Benko.
89.4)e4 4)g4 90.�d2 4)e5 9 1.�e3
4)c4+ 92.�d4 4)a3 93.�d3 4)b5
9 4 . � d 2 4) d4 9 5 . �d 3 4) e 6
96.�e3 4)c7 97.�d3 4)d5 98.�c2
4)e3+ 99.�c3 4)f5 lOO.�d2 4)g3
Now Black's pawn can finally move,
but it's too late. It can only become a
knight, not a queen!

l O 1 . 4) f6 f 2 l 0 2 . 4) g4 f 1 4) +
l03.�c3 � 3 104 .4)h2+ 4) xh2 Y:z-Yz

What irony of fate ! Within a couple of

hours , B ronstein, with four extra
knights, made only two draws !
 11. Fortune Favors the Brave !

Chess is a game of brave and coura­

geous people. If you want to win, you
must have the courage to fight to the
bitter end; you must be willing to sac­
rifice your pawns and pieces; you must
use all the resources of your chess
army; and above all you must use all
your moral and intellectual potential.
As Boris Spassky once noted, the worst
thing for a chessplayer is the fear of
himselt1 He must also be fully aware
of his opponent who is ready to resist (28) Polugaevsky - Parma
his plans, his strategic ideas and his tac­ Belgrade 1 965 (D)
tical traps. At some moment during the
game, we get impatient to win, and our
opponent uses all the tri cks of his
imaginati on to frustrate our plans.
Drawing the game is then the
defender 's reward for his courage, pa­
tience, and his defensive skills !

It is never too late to resign!

It often happens that the chessplayer

breaks down, so to say, morally, and
resigns in what appears to be a hope­
less position. But afterwards it turns out
that his resignation was premature; he
finds the draw ! This is true of amateurs
and professionals alike. Grandmasters
have resigned in drawish positions
many times in chess history.
Having examined the following line,
60...E!.a4 61.E!.a8+ �f7 62.a7 E!.al , the
Yugoslav grandmaster decided that the
breakthrough 63.h6 leads to a white
win; so he resigned. Polugaevsky was
really surprised, because he saw that
after 63...'ifi1g6, the draw was inevitable !

(27) Tarrasch - Blumich (29) Najdorf - Camarra

Breslau 1 925 (D) Mard-del-Plata 1 96 1 (D)

Tarrasch resigned here instead of forc­
ing a draw after 82.h6! E!.b6 83.E!.hS
a2 84.h7 E!.b8 8S.E!.bS+ E!.xbS
86.h8�+.
Black resigned here, believing that he
would have too give up his bishop for
the a-pawn. However, he could draw
with 36 ... �f4 37 . .1le2 �e3 38 . .1ldl
�d2 39 . .1lh3 �e2 40 ..1ld5 �e3,
followed by 41 ... �f4, 42 ... g5 and
43 g41 .
.•.
 Draw !
(30) Yudovich, Jr. - Bebchuk
Moscow 1 964 (0)
After 47. �e6 Black suddenly resigned
without noticing 47 ...�f8! 48.l:':lf7+
\t'e8 49.l:':lxh7 l:':lg6+ 50.<tJf6+ �d8. All
other lines lose as White ' s kni ght
reaches f6 with check.
(3 1 ) Colle - Grunfeld
Carlsbad 1 929 (0)
Griinfe l d resigned. But by playing
77 ...�d3 78.�g5 �e4 79.�xh5 �f5
80.�h6 �f6 81.h5 \t'f7 82.'it'g5 �g7
83.�f5 �h6 84.\t'e5 �xh5 85.�d5
�g6 86.�c5 'tif7 87.�b5 'tie8
88.�xa5 �d7 89.�b6 �c8, B l ack
draws .
( 3 2 ) Vukovre - Iovchire
Belgrade 1 947 (0)
Black resigned because he had exam­
ined the variations involving the ad­
vance of h i s pawns , for example,
77 ...�g3 78.f5 h4 79.f6 h3 80.f7 h2
81.f8� hl � 82.'�f4+.
But why waste time advancing the h­
pawn? The game could be salvaged by
an ingenious king maneuver:
77...�g3 78.f5 �g4!! 79.f6 �g5! 80.f7
a2 81.f8� al � with a draw.
(33) Arulaid - Gurgenidze
Lugansk 1 95 5 (0)
White resigned here, fearing the black
pawn armada. However, he could draw
the game because of the bad position
of the black king:
72.�d6 �c8 73.l:':lcl + �b7 74.l:':lbl +
\t'a6 75.�c6 �a5 76.�c5 �a4 77.�c4
�a3 78.�c3 �a2 79.l:':lf1! h5 80.�d3.
 Fortune Favors the Brave!

30.�d5 e4 3 1 .b7 �f3+ 32.�h3

� x f2 ! 3 3 . b8� � f l + 3 4 . �h4
JU 6+ 35.j,'t g5 (D)

(34) Strekalovsky - Rudenko,

Moscow 1961 (D)

Black resigned in this position. How­

ever, despite White 's enormous mate­
rial advantage, he draws by playing
35 h6n, and White cannot avoid per­
..•

petual check.

Draws instead of Wins

In chess, it often happens that in a hard­

fought slugfest the player who is about
to win suddenly offers a draw. Conse­
White p l ayed 3 1 . § b l (i f i n stead
quently, he loses a half-point that likely
31.<tJxd5, then 3l....E!xf2! 32.'�el l=!e2!
affects his total result in the tournament.
draws), and B lack resigned thinking
It is hard to say which is more painful
that he was losing the queen. But he
- to resign in a drawn position, or to
could s t i l l draw after 31... � xa2!
propose a draw in a winning position.
32..E!xb2 l=!xb2 followed by 33...l=!bl.
Here are some examples.
(35) Spiridonov - Neikirkh
Zinnovitsi 1967 (D) (36) Ivkov - Petrosian
B led 1961 (D)

The game continu e d : 2 9 . b6 e 5

 Draw !

Here a draw was agreed. But White ( 3 9 ) Kasparov - Ribli

wins after 17..§xe5! �f7 18.�e3! h6 Skelleftea 1989 (D)
19.<£lxfB .§hxfB 20. .§e7+ <it>gB 21..§xb7,
etc.

( 3 7) Stoltz - Pilnik
Saltzobaden 195 2 (D)

In this position the world champion

played 26.Et xb5 and offered a draw.
However, he could win beautifully us­
ing the weakness of the eighth rank:

Black accepted the draw believing that 26 -'txe3 27.Etd8!1

••.

he had only a perpetual check after

41 Etg4+ 42. 'it'h2 Eth4+. Actually,
•••
This is quite a remarkable zwischenzug!
he wins after 41....§h3+! 42.<it>f4 .§f3+!
43.�xf3 �e5#!. 27 'li\' xb5
••.

(3 8 ) Gheorghiu - Larsen Or 27....§xdB 2B ..§d5!.

Riga 1979 (D)
28.'li\' d6 A x f2+ 29.� x f2 'li\'f5+,
and White's king escapes from the nu­
merous checks.

(40) Alekhine - Maroczy

London 1922 (D)

The grandmasters agreed to a draw.

However, White has a sufficient posi­
tional advantage to play for a win, for
example, 24.\t>g2! .§eB 25 ..§l c2! and
Black is in a sort ofzugzwang: 25 . ..§a7
.

26.Ae3! J1xe3 27.�xe3 .§b7 2B. Af5

'IIIe7 29..§c6 b5 30. .§2c5, etc.
 Fortune Favors the Brave !

The Hungarian grandmaster accepted
a draw in this position. However, he
could win after 37.�f1 �f3+ 38.�gl
�g4+ 39.�f2 �xf4+ 40.�gl �g4+
41.�f2 �f5+ 42.�e3 E!c8, etc.
(c) 49. �f3 �h6 50.�f2 cS 51.�f3
4Jbl 52.�f5 4Jd2 53.Ag2 ilYe3+,etc.
(42) Sanchez - Fischer
Mar del Plata 1 959 (D)

( 41) Fischer - Petrosian

Yugoslavia 1 959 (D)

This is the sealed move. After home

Fischer wrote: "A gross oversight, but
probably best anyway ! White can't win
anymore."
analysis the players agreed to a draw.
They overlooked that White wins after
43...h3 44.Af2 Ah4 45.Axh4 4Jxh4
46.ilYxh3 E!h8 47.�gl 4Jg6 48.�e6,
etc.

47...tt x e4 4S.ttf2 tthl (43 ) A.Petrosian Tseshkovsky

-

Minsk 1 976 (D)

Fischer wrote: I offered a draw, afraid
"

that Petrosian wouldn't accept. Black

certainly has the edge now. After hav­
ing fought so hard for the draw, how­
ever, Petrosian was obviously unpre­
pared to readjust his frame of mind and
start playing for a win, So . . . drawn."

However, Petrosian had an absolutely

winning position. Here are some varia­
tions:
(a) 49.�g2 �h6 50.�f3 cS 51.�b7+
�c2 52.�g2+ �c1 53.i�H3 �g5 This position is similar to the previous
54.�h3 4Jdl 55...Ile2 4Jb2, etc. one. White played 79.'it>f5 and the
(b) 49.g5 e4 50.�f5 �gl + 51.�h4 players agreed to a draw. However,
�h2+ 52.�h3 �f2+ 53.�h5, e3, etc. Black wins after 79...b3! 80.E!d8+ �c5
 Draw !
8Uk8+ 'it'd4 82.�d8+ <it>e3 83.�b8
b2 84.'i!i>e5 'it'f3! 85.�f5 �e2 86.'i!i>e4
<it>dl 87.<it>d3 c2 88.�h8 c1�+!!'
( 44) Bogoljubow - Thomas
Hastings 1 922 (D)
Bogolj ubow proposed a draw here,
which Black accepted with pleasure;
White wins easily with 79.'i!i>d5 �a5+
80.�c4 �a4+ 81.�b3 �a3+ 82.'it'c2
�c3+ 83.'i!i>b2!'
( 45 ) Partos - Planinc
Porec 1 974 (D)
A fter 57 la x d4 ? the opponents
...
agreed to a draw. But White can win
with 58.�xd4 al �+ 59.�xal �c2+
60.'i!i>c3 �xal 61.<it>b2 �g6 62.h4 'it'h5
63.<it>xal d4 64.'i!i>bl .
( 46) Calvio - Romani
Spain 1 974 (D)
Black underestimated his chances and
proposed a draw here, missing the win
72 ...g1�! 73.�xgl <it>g2 74.'i!i>g4 �c6
7 5.�h4 �f3 76.a8� �xa8 77.'it'g4
�b7 78.'it'h4 �f3.
(47) Botvinnik - Model
Leningrad 1 93 1 (D)
B otvinnik offered a draw and Black
gratefully accepted. However, the fu­
ture world champion could reach a
theoretically winning endgame with
51.<it>c6 .ll c8 52.Ac4 Ah3 53.'it'b7! .
Learning from Experience
Chess praxis is replete with instances
in which the same saving idea appears
in many games. It often happens that
 Fortune Favors the Brave !
the predecessor had found a saving
combination, but the successor did not
even know about its existence and paid
the price.
(48) Teichmann - Marble
Leipzig 1 9 1 3 (D)
44.h6+!
White saves the game spectacularly !
44 ... �xh6 45.e7 Etb8 46.�c1 �g7
4 7 . e 8 � ! Et x e8 4 8 . � b 2 Ete2
49.�al! Etxc2 stalemate !
However, 45 years later White, in the
next example, failed to use the same
idea.
(49) Gusev - Zhukhovitsky
Alma-Ata 1 95 8 (D)
After 70 . .Q.g2?? �a3! 71 . .Q.f1 Etc2
0- 1 . But after 70.Jld5+, he could force
a draw: 70 . .'�a3 71..Q.g2 .§h5 n..Q.d5!,
.
either winning the pawn or with a stale­
mate after 72 . .§xd5.
..
(50) Horowitz - Pavey
New York 1 95 1 (D)
Pavey was probably in a hurry to win
the game. So . ..
76 ... � x f3+?? 77.�xf3 Eta3
The next move came as a bombshell.
78... �h4n
Stalemate is inevitable !
But if we can forgive even the most
knowledable player for not knowing
some combination or maneuver to save
the game, the failure to know certain
basic endgame positions is unforgiv­
able. This ignorance may have a nega­
tive effect on the result of the game.
(5 1 ) Euwe - Hromadka
Pestien 1 922 (D)
After 61 ... h4? the ensuing endgame is
theoretically drawn : 62 . .Q,d4 �h3
63.Jle5 Etg2+ 64.�f1 Yl-Yl.
 Draw !

(53) Bernstein - Dake

New York 1 93 6 (0)

(52) Nimzowitsch - Popov

Riga 1 9 1 3 (0) 48 � xdl+??
•••

B l ack missed 48..JUl +!! 49J!xfl

�xdl+ 50.�xdl �xfl 51.�d2 �f2
52.�d3 �f3 53.g5 �f4 54.�e2 �xg5
55.�f3 �f5, winning.

49."'xdl �xf5 50.gxf5 f6 51.",e2

"' g 3 52.",e3 "'g4 53."'e4 "'g5
54."'e3 �xf5 55."'f3 and the game
was soon drawn, since White maintains
the opposition.

Nimzowitsch demonstrated his stale­ (54) Pollock - Showalter

mate combination to Troitsky, the fa­ New York 1 897 (0)
mous study composer:

White sets up a smart trap and Black

falls into it!

45 ",d5 46."'h4 �e6 47.� xe5+!?

•••

", x e5 48.g4 hxg4? 49.h3!

Now 49. . g3 is stalemate, or 49,gxh3

.

50.�xh3 and Black is left with two After 37 ... � xf2! 38."'xf2 "'x g4
u s e l e s s knight s . H o w ev er, after
48 ... �f4! - as Troitsky found - 49.gxh5 White offered a draw in this winning
�d6 50.�h3! � x h 5 the game is a theo­
, position (the black king can eventually
retical win for Black. be driven to a8), and Black gratefully
accepted.
 Fortune Favors the Brave !

Missing the Bus time he failed to build up a fortress for

his pieces.
Every chessplayer remembers games in
which, much later after resigning, a There are a few curious examples from
possible beautiful combination was practical play where a stalemate possi­
found that would have saved the game. bility was missed.
However, sometimes it happens that
one never discovers this chance - at (56) Nikolic - Bologan
least until someone tells him ... Iceland 2003 (D)

(55) Taimanov - Geller

Moscow 1 95 1 (D)

60 .Q.h6 ??
•••

After 60 . . .�e7 the draw is obvious, for

41 ••• !;t xh2? 61.<Il x e7 produces a stalemate !

B lack should play 4 1 . . . !! g4 ! , and if (57) Karpov - Balashov

4 2 . !! h3, then 43 . . . !!c1 + 43 . '�e2 !!el +. Rostov-on-Don 1 980 (D)

White misses his opportunity for stale­

mate : 4 2 . !! xg8 �xg8 43 . !! g3 + ! ! 'l!1xg3
4 4 . 'l!1 b 8 + �h7 4 5 . 'l!1h 8 + ! �g6
46. 'l!1g7 + ! .

42 !;ta8 43.!;tg7+ <Ilh61 0-1.

•••

It is interesting that Geller received a

special prize for this game ! The beau­
tiful stalemate variation was found by 76 �bl?
•••

a c h e s s p l ayer from M o s c ow,

Konstantin Korabelnikov. Twenty-two Black wins after 76 . ..'�b2! 77:�g2 'l!1c1
years later Taimanov again missed the 78. !! d3 !! a4 79.!!g3 !!f4 80 . !! d3 !! b4!
possibility of a beautiful draw. This 8 1 . !! f3 !!b2, etc.
 Draw !

Karpov misses the chance of transpos­

ing into a queen ending leading to stale­
mate ; after 7 7 . !!g l ! 'iii' b 2 78.!!x a l
'iii'x al 79.r�i'g2 the position i s drawn.

77 �f1 + 78. �g2 �e1 79.�h2

•••

ga4 80.�gl �e5 8 1.Cit>h3 ga2

8 2 . �b6 �e4 83. �d8+ �g7
84.�d1 Ele2 85.�f1 f5 0-1
(58) Bykova - Rubtsova
Women's World Championship
Moscow (8) 1 95 8 (D)
8 0 . g g7+ �f6 8 1 . �e8 � x f 5
82.gf7+ �g6 83.h7 g a l 84.f5+
�g5 85.�f8 1-0
(60) Tabattoni - Barlov
Valleta 1 979 (D)

68 h3??
.••

Rubtsova misses a draw ; 68 . . . 'i!i'h l !

69.�g4 h3! 70.'i!i'xh3 !! xg7 7 1 . !! xg7 is 64.gg5?
stalemate ! Now B lack is in zugzwang
and she resigned after 69.gg3! El xg7 White fails to find the draw: 64.!! e6!
70.Elxg7 1-0 !! g2+ 65.�hl !!xg3 66. !! xg6.

(59) Pokojowczyk - Doda 64 Elg2+ 65.�h1 gf2 66.� gl

•••

Poland 1 97 1 (D) gf6 67. El a 5 g f 3 68.g4 Elg3 +

69.�h1 Cit>xg4 70.ga4+ �h3 0-1
79 �f7??
•••

(6 1 ) Radulovic - Beliavsky
Black misses 79 . . . !! d l +! 80.�e8 !! e l + Yugoslavia 1 972 (D)
8 1 .�f8 !!e8+! 82 .':txe8 stalemate !
This rook ending does not promise
B lack any chances of winning.
 Fortune Favors the Brave !

( 62) Ree - Langeweg

Wijk-an-Zee 1 972 (D)

White p a s s e s up 5 4 . � h 3 ! E! f2
Black can draw by 101 . . .E!b5+ 1 02.'i1tf4
5 5 . E! xe6+! E! xe6 stalemate. However,
E! b4+ 1 03 .'i1t e 5 E!b5+ 1 04 . <i1td4 E! b4+
the position is still drawn.
1 0 5 .<i1tc5 E! b 5 + .

54 . . . §a6 55. §h6 �d4 56. § x h5

101 ... § x h6??
�e3 57.§e5+ �xf3 58.h5 §al+
59.�h2 §a2+ 60.�h3 §e2 (D)
Instead, he blunders and pays the full
price.

102.§g8+! 1-0

If 102 . . . �h7 then 1 03 . E! h8+!'

(63 ) R.Byrne - Taimanov

Leningrad 1 973 (D)

This move loses. White can hold after

6 1 . E! g5 or 61 .E!b5.

61 . . . � x e 2 62.h6 f3 6 3 . h 7 f2
6 4 . h 8 � fl�+ 6 5 . � h 2 �f4+
66.�g2 �g5+ 67.�h2 e5 68. �b8
e4 69.�h3 �f3 70.�b3+ �e3 0-1 36 ... 4) d3?

Taimanov missed grandmaster Igor

Z a i t s e v ' s d i s c o very : 36 . . . � x c 3 ! !
36.E! xb2 E! e 1 +! 37.�f1 �e2+ 38.E! xe2
 Draw !

.§ 8 x e 2 3 9:� c 4 (otherwise, B l a c k
doubles h i s rooks o n the first rank)
39 . . . .§ xfl +! 40.�xfl .§ xh2 4 1 .g4 .§ h4 !
(losing is 4 1 . . . h S ? 4 2 . 'l*c8+ �g7
43.'il1tc3+ 'it'g8 44.illg 3! .§hl + 4S.�g2)
42 :�c8+ 'it'g7 43.'l*c3+ 'it'g8 44.'l*g3
gS! and Black constructs a fortress with
. . . .§h6 and . . .§ g6.
.

3 7.t.\'d 2 4) a 3 3S. � a l � e l +
3 9.� x e l 4) x e l 40.t.\'d7 � e 2
4 1 .1ldSI Kg7 1-0
• 40.�e7?

(64) Spielmann - Rubinstein White wants to win as quickly as pos­

Berlin 1 928 (D) sible, but in his haste he overlooks
B lack 's resourc e s . After 40 . .§ xf8 + !
�xf8 4 1 . 'l*e S �d7 4 2 .'il1tb8+ �d8
43 ..�a8 \fj>f7 44.'l*xa6 he wins easily.

40 t.\' x d S
. •• 4 1. � x g7+ <li'hS
42.� x b7+ �f6 43 . .1l x f6+ <li'gS
44.�g7+ <li'fS 4S.�c7 c4 46.bxc4
bxc4 47 .1les t.\'d3 YZ-YZ
•

(66) Romanovsky - Plaz

Petrograd 1 9 1 6 (D)
27... �fS?

This is natural, but it loses quickly.

Rubin ste i n m i s s e d 27 . . . illh 2 + ! !
28.'it'xh2 �d6+ 2 9. .§eS! .§ xeS! 30.'l*d l
.§ dS+ 3 1 .'it'hl '§ x d l 32.'§xdl g6 and
the chances are equal.

2S.t.\'hSI h6 29.t.\'g6 t.\'d6 30 .1ldSI•

�d7 31..1le41 1-0

(65) Levenfish - Flohr S6.aS

Leningrad 194 7 (D)
White is planning to push the pawn to
a7 and then capture the bishop by 'it'e l ­
f2xf3, winning the game; he i s i n for a
surprise!
 Fortune Favors the Brave !
5 6... � x b3 l ! 57. Et x f3 + �a4!
58.Etg3 b3 59.Etg4+ � x a5 (D)
T h e p o s ition r e m i n d s one of an
endgame study. White can force a bi­
zarre perpetual (Black 's king cannot
approach the rook) with 60.E!. g5+ �b4
6 1 . E!. g4+ �a3 6 2 . E!. g 3 . Romanovsky
m i s s e d th i s c h an c e , and after
6 0 . � x e 2 ? b 2 6 1 . Etg8 Cit'a6
62.Eta8+ Cit'b7, Black won.
(67) Keres - Reshevsky
Candidate 's Zurich 1 953 (D)
25.Et xd6?
White is probably w inning after
2 5 . '�g6+ �hB 26:�h5+ xt>gB 27 . E!. d3
�h7 28.�xh7+ 'iftxh7 2 9 . 4) xfB+ or
27 . . . 4)e4 28.�g4+ 4) g 5 29.hxg5 f5
3 0 . �c4 E!. aeB 3 1 . E!. e 3 , etc. But the
game continued differently:
2 5... Et f7 26. �d2 Ete8 27.f4 f5
2 8 . � d 5 �h8 2 9 . � e 5 + �f6
30.�c2 c4 31 .�d2 �g8 32.�d5
� x h4 3 3 . � x c4 � f 2 + 34.Cit'cl
�g1+ 35.�c2 � xg2+ 36.�b3 b5
37. �d4 �fl 38.�b4 �c4+
3 9 . � x c4 b x c4 4 0 . � x c4 Etc8+
41.�b5 Yl-Yl
(68) Matulovic - Hort
Skopje 1 968 (D)
34.�d4+?
White misses the win after 34 .E!. ld5!
�xd5 35.E!. xd5 cxd5 36.�xa5+ �bB
37.�xd5.
34 . ..c5 35.�c3 b6, and the game was
soon drawn.
Instructive Examples
Examples demonstrating grandmasters '
mistakes, gaffes and blunders are quite
rare. More often we can see how great
chessplayers find original and praise­
worthy ideas over the board from which
we can learn a lot. Some more examples
for readers ' delectation can be found
below.
 Draw !

(69) Kopaev - Vistinietzki B lack's position looks critical. How­

Vilnius 1 949 (0) ever, the German grandmaster forces a
drawing combination.

30 �aSI 31.�d6 � xeSI 32.Axe5

•••

Or 3 2 . �b7 � f3 + ! 3 3 . gx f3 �g 5 +
34. !ifthl Axd4 .

32 ... �xd611

This is the point ! The rook is untouch­

able : 33.Axd6? Ad4! 34 .�e3 �a l + .

The game was adj ourned and White 33.Axg7 Cifl xg7 34.�bl �dS 3S.b7
sealed the move 41.� xaS. He threat­ �b8 36.t\'b2+ CiflgS 37.t\'c2 Cit'g7
ens to play 42 . � a4 or 42.�b4, winning 3 S . 'ltcS 'lt a 2 3 9 . 'ltc3+ CiflgS
Black's queen. The game continued: 40.�all 'ltdSI 41.'ltcS+ Yz-Yz

41 �fSI 42.�a4
•..
There is no point in continuing after
4 1 . . . �g7 4 2 . � x b8 �d4 + 4 3 . �f1
The black queen has been trapped, and �xa l + .
it seems that Black has to resign, but. . .
( 7 1 ) Ragozin - Sokolsky
42 ... t\'fl +11 Kiev 1 954 (0)

Wrong is 4 2 . . . � x e 3 4 3 . fxe3 �fl +

44 . !ifth2 � f3 4 5 . � a8+! !iftg7 46. � b7 +
and White wins.

43.Cit'xfl � xe3+ 44.Cifle2 �c4+ YZ-YZ

( 70) Karpov - Hubner

Leningrad 1 973 (0)

23 ... �xf3+ 24.gxf3 Ah3+ 2S.Cit'el

'ltgl + 26. Cit'd2 �gS+ Yz-Yz

( 72) Ragozin - Levenfish

Moscow 1 935 (0)
White's king is in danger, but he finds
a way to draw the game.
 Fortune Favors the Brave !

3 5:� x h6+! � xh6 36.13xh6+ Cjffg7 4 7 .the6+ Cjff h 7 4S . � fS + th x fS

3 7 .13h7+ Cjfff S 3 S .13hS+ Cjffe 7 49.thg6+ CjffgS 50.the6+ Yz-Yz
39.�gS+! �fS
(75) Balashov - Maslov
After 39 . . :�xg8 40 . !1xg8, White is ob­ Vilnius 1 966 (D)
v i o u s l y better, b ut on 39 . . . �d7
40.�f6+, Black's king has to return to
e7 .

40.�f6+ Yz-Yz
(73) Smyslov - Vasiukov
Moscow 1 96 1 (0)

42.b7 thxd611

Now, if 43 .�xd6 El x a7 44.'�xe5 El xb7

4 5 . i!1ta l Ae4, then White loses !

43 .the2+ ,Q,e4 44 . b x aSth ,Q, x e 2

47.h4! ,Q,e3 4S.13f5 ,l3 xe2 49:�fS+
thg7 50.13h5+11 Yz-Yz
(74) Riumin - Verlinsky
Moscow 1 93 3 (0)
46.13fl! dlth
I f 4 6 . . ..!'�d6, then 4 7 . .�c4 + �h7
48.�f8+ with perpetual check.
4 5 . th b 7 thfS 4 6 .th e 7 ,Q,f5
47.thxe5 Cjffg6! Yz-Yz
(76) Keres - Fine
Ostend 1 937 (0)
23 ... �fS??
Fine fails to find the best defense :
2 3 . . . h6! 2 4 . e6 h x g 5 2 5 . e x f7 �xf7
2 6 . !1 e 7 + �g6 ! 2 7 . El x g 7 + 'itJ x g 7
28.�xg5+ with a perpetual check.
 Draw !
24. � x h7! � xh7
If 24. . . <tlg6, then 2 5 .'ii1' h 5 <tlf4 26:i*f5
<tle6 27.<tlf6+ �f8 2B.'ii1' h 5 with an ir­
resistible attack.
2 5 . Et h 3 � c l 26 . � x h7 + �f8
27.Ethe3, and White won.
(77) Najdorf - Smyslov
Groningen 1 946 (D)
White has a big advantage : 24 . .1l.e5 !
Axe5 2 5 . Et x e 5 �b4 2604)f3 Et x a 2
27.Etxa2 � x a 2 2B.Ete7. However,
Najdorf does not find the right move
and Smyslov comes up with a spectacu­
lar draw.
24.�b5? .1l. x b2! 25.gxf3 �c3n
Naj dorf obviously overlooked this
move.
26.� x c3 Jl,xc3 27 .Q.xf7+ � xf7
•
28.Ete7+ � g 8 and the game was
eventually drawn.
(78) Fine - Reshevsky
Semmering-Baden 1 93 7 (D)
This is wrong ! White has been tempted
to win B l a c k ' s two pawns on the
kingside in exchange for his passed b­
pawn. Later Fine noted that he wins
after 7 0 . f3 ! e x f3 + 7 1 . 'it' x f3 � b 6
n.<tlf5 + �e5 7 3 . <tlh6 �c5 74 .<tlf7+
'it'f6 75.<tldB, etc.
70 �c4 7 1 .� h6 �xb5 72.�f7
•••
�c4 73.� x g5 �d5 74.f3 e x f3+
75.� x f3 � e 4 7 6 . � x h4 �f4
77. � f 5 A b 6 78 . � d 3 .1l.d8
7 9 . �d4 -'l f 6 + 80.<lI d 5 -'lh8
8 l . � d6 .1l. e 5 + 8 2 . �e6 -'l a l
83.�e7 .1l.b2 84.�f7 �g5 YZ-YZ
The grandmasters have reached a well­
known theoretical position. White can­
not win.
(79) Kimelfeld - Belov
Kharkov 1 967 (D)
 Fortune Favors the Brave !

58 b l �
••• 59.�xbl+ � x bl
60.�b4

Yates had foreseen this position, but

now comes a bombshell!

60 �b2!
•••

The black king stops White 's pawn or

ushers his own pawn to the first rank . .

28.�d4! 61.�xa4 �c3 62.f4 �d4 %-%

It is difficult to guess why White made (8 1 ) Aronin - Smyslov

this move . . . Moscow 1 95 1 (0)

If Black had any idea about White 's

plan, he would play 28 . . . 4Je5 .

29.laxf7! laxf7 30.�h8+11 �xh8

3 1 . 4) xf7+ �g8 3 2 . 4) x d8 4) x dl
33.4) xe6 %-%

(80) Yates - Marshall

Carlsbad 1 929 (0) White sealed his 42nd move, believing
that he was winning the endgame.

42.lag8

After 42. laxc6, White wins easily.

42 ••• �h7 43. la xg7+?

It is hard to reproach Aronin for miss­

ing the win in his home analysis, but it
is still there and begins with 43 .lae8!
58.�c4?? �g6 44 .lae7! laxe7 4 5 .4Jxe7+, etc.

White wins easily after 58.�c2! a3 43 ••• la xg7 44.4) xg7 � x g7 45.g4
59.�c3 �a l 60.'�b3.
It is important to stop B l ack ' s
counterplay on the kingside.
 Draw !

45 h x g3 46.fx g3 g4 47.h4 c5
•••

48.c;t>e2 c;t> h7 49.c;t>d3 c;t>h6

Now B lack's idea is clear. The white

king is relegated to its own camp. White
cannot play 50.<;t>c4? as it would lose
to 50 .. . f5 ! 5 1 .<;t>d3 (or 5 1 . exf5 e4 ! and
Black's pawn promotes) 5 1 . . .f4 5 2 .gxf4
exf4 5 3 . <;t> e 2 'it'h5 5 4 . e 5 <;t>g6, and
Black wins .

50.c3 a5 5 1 .cxb4 axb4 YZ-YZ �xh7 1 9 .4Jxd6 4Jxc3 20.4Jxe8 4Je4

2 1 .4Jxc7 4Jxd2+ 22 .�el � d8 2 3 .h3,
(82) Titenko - Murey with equal chances.
Moscow 1 963 (D)
16 � xe5n 17.fxe5 �f8! ! 18.J1.f4
••.

�e4 19.J1. x e4 � xf4+ 20.J1.f3 �f8

21.c;t>el �e4+, and Black won.

(84) Bischer - Muller

Basel 1 959 (D)

Black's position, despite the activity of

his king, is definitely worse. White
threatens to organize two passed pawns
on the queenside. Black's only hope is
to open up a fi le on the kings ide,
thereby activating his rook.
35 �b5+??
•••

45 g5 46.fx g5 fx g5 47.h5 �f8

.••

48.c7 �f2+ 49.c;t>e1 d2+ 50.c;t> xf2
dl � 5 1 . �e6+ c;t>d3 52.c8'it 'itd2+
53.c;t>gl 'itcl+ 54:/t xc1 stalemate !
(83) Alapin - Chigorin
St. Petersburg 1 906 (D)
Black refuses to agree to a perpetual
check, and as a consequence he is im­
mediately checkmated! He should play
35 . . . <;t>d6! 36:�d8+ �c5 with a draw.
36.�c4+n 1-0

16:/t xb5?
There i s n o d e fense : 3 6 . . . <;t> x c 4
This allows Chigorin to carry out a very 37.i1k3 # or 36 . . .'itld6 37:�d8 # .
beaut i ful comb inati o n . Correct i s
16.'i*c3! 4Jxd5 17.A.xh7+ <;t>h8 1 8.4Jf7+
 Fortune Favors the Brave !

(85) Kashdan - Reshevsky 69 bl� 70.4) xbl �xe4+ 71.�f6

••.

New York 1 940 (D) �h4+ YZ-YZ

White cannot avoid the checks.

(87) Marshall - Alekhine

Bradley Beach 1 929 (D)

54.�xg6+??

Kashden suffers a hallucination; he

holds after 54 : �e7+ 'ltIf7 55 .h6+! �g8
56.h7+ 'ltIxh7 5 7 . '�e8+ 'tJg7 58.�e7+
'<!1h8 59. 'ltIf8+, etc. 49.�b6?

54 �f8 55.�d6+ �e8 0-1

••• White draws easily after 49.'ltIe2+ �f8
50.'ltIe6 �c2 5 1 .�d6+ �e8 5 2 . 'ltIe 5 +
(86) Janowski - Ed.Lasker with a perpetual check. Now the Rus­
New York 1 924 (D) sian champion finds an elegant way to
win.

49 h5+ 50. � x h5 �h3+ 51.�g5

•••

�g2+ 5 2 . �f5 � x d 5 + 5 3 . �g6

�d6+, and Black won.

(88) Simagin - Aronin

Moscow 1 947 (D)

In this absolutely unusual position,

White wins with 69.'<!1g6! bl� 70.d8�,
etc. Now Black is able to draw.
 Draw !

21 ... '/ta4? 6 6 . {) f l {) x f l 67 . � x f l �g4

68 .§.f3! g2+ 69.�xg2 Yl-Yl
•

Black seems to be playing for a beauti­

ful draw instead of finding the simple (9 1 ) Hjartarson - Popovic
win after 2 1 . . : � a 5 ! 2 2 . Ag 6 + 'l;e7 Belgrade 1 987 (0)
23AJxg7 .§ gS.

2 2 .§. x b 7 e4 2 3 . '/t x a4 -'t x h 2 +

•

24.�hl -'tg3+ Yl-Yl

(89) Scherbakov - Alrazorov

Moscow 1 972 (0)

75 'l!t xg3??
•••

Black wins easily with 75 .. .f4 .

76:{t x a7??

This is h o rrible ! White m i s s e s

7 2 .f7! '/t e 5 + ! 7 3 .g5 ! 'l!t x e 6 76."i!i"xg7+! 'l;xg7 77.4Jxf5 + ! gxf5 stale­
74.f8{) +.!! and White wins. mate.

(90) Belyavsky - Gelfand 76 ... 'l!t x d6 77.'l!tb7 'l!tdl+ 0-1

Belgrade 1 995 (0)
(92) Bronstein - Dely
Hungary 1 966 (0)

Black wins after 65 . . . cifjlg5 66 . .§ c3 �f4 18.�f2?

67.4Jg2 + 'l;g4 6S.4Jc3+ 'l;h3 69.4Jf1
4Jgl +, etc.
 Fortune Favors the Brave !

After 18.�h l ! 'tWf8 1 9 J H e l !, White has (94) Ostrauskas - Roizman

a clear advantage. Moscow 1 963 (D)

18 �c31 1 9 . � a3 f41 20.� x e 2

•••

� e 3 + 2 1 . C(fjI d l � d 3 + 2 2 . C(fjI e l
�e3+ YZ-YZ

(93) Klovan - Gusev

Kaliningrad 1 967 (D)

41 ••• gxb3

Black sets a trap, but this loses. Better

is 4 1 . . J�e3, with an equal game.

42.gc4??

White wins after 4 2 .axb3! a2 43. C(fjIf3! ! ,

threatening mate by 44.gh5.
Possibly, Klovan believed that that he
could draw easily. However, after this 4 2 gb2+ 4 3 . <it'g3 b3 44 . A a 4
••.

error, Black finds a beautiful way to win b x a 2 4s.gcl El b l 46.Ac2+ Yz-Yz

the game.

SS ggl+1 S6.gg2 ga3+ S7.C(fjIh2

•••

g3+11 0-1
 Draw !

Ill. Shield and Sword

"The best defense is a good offense." (96) I1yin-Zhenevsky - Savitsky

Everyone takes these words as Gospel Leningrad 1 93 2 (D)
truth, and the axiom applies to chess as
well as to any other game or activity.
For starters, the defender must seek any
possibility, regardless of how slight, to
counterattack. And this golden oppor­
tunity does not necessarily lie on the
surface. The chances of counterattack
are often so well hidden that the de­
fender fails to discover them at the
board during the game. But if he suc­
ceeds, then chess masterpieces are of­
ten created. 27 ••• �d3

(95) Fritz - Blackburne After this move White 's position looks
Frankfurt 1 887 (D) critical, but he finds an interesting ri­
poste.

2 8 . e 6 � x e l 2 9 . t,\t e 4 t,\t x d 2
3 0 . e x f7 + �h8 3 1 . t,\t e 8 + � f8
3 2 . A x f8 � f3 + 3 3 . � h l t,\t c l +
3 4 . �g 2 � h4+ 3 5 . � h 2 t,\tf4+
36.�gl �f3+ 37.�f1

Black cannot win - but he might lose

Despite the material advantage, Black
looks absolutely lost. However, the
English master finds a miraculous
move.
after the alternative 3 7 . �g2 'l!i'h2+
38.�xf3 'l!i'xh3+ 39.'it1f4 g5 + 40.�e5
'l!i' h 2 + ? (40 . . . ilh c 3 + still draws)
4 1 .c:te6.
37 ••• �cl+ 38.�g2 � h4+ Y2-Y2

28 ••• � h4 29. t,\tf6+ �g8 (97) Rubinstein - Tartakower

Warsaw 1 927 (D
Or 29 . . . t,\txf6 30 .lae8+, mating!

30.laxe7 la xg2+ 31.�hl lagl+ Y2-Y2

After the quiet 26.�g l ! , White wins:
26 . . . b x c4 2 7 . Axc4 a 5 2 8 . 'l!i'f5 Ad7
29 . .!.t x e 6 + .!.t x e 6 3 0 . 'l!i' x e 6 + �h8
3 1 . 'l!i'd6, etc.
 Shield and Sword

28 ... §dc7 29.la xc2 § xc2 30.laxd4

After 3 0 . "i!:Y d l '§ x e 2 3 1 . .§ d2 .§ x d 2

3 2 .'l!i'xd2 .§ c2 3 3 . i1Yg5 h 6 3 4 . i1Yd8+
'itlh7 35.h4, Black is better.

30 . . . exd4 3 1 . 'l.\' x d4 § x e2 32 .h4

lac1+ 33.�h2 lacc2

After a few more moves the game was

drawn.
26...bxc4 27 .11 x h7+ �xh7 28.�f7
•

§ xb2+ 29.�gl c3 30:l.\'f6 (99) Marshall - Alekhine

New York 1 924 (D)
No better is 30 . .§ xg7+ 'it1xg7 3 1 . �f6+
'itlh7 3 2 . �f7 + 'itlh8 3 3 . 'l!i'f8 + 'itl h 7
34."i!:Yxc8 c2 ! .

3 0 §bl + 3 1 . �f2 §b2+ 32.�el

• .•

§bl+ 33.�f2

Not 33 .'it1e2 �a6+ 34.'it1f2 .§ f1 + .

33 ... §b2+ Yz-Yz

(98) Euwe - Alekhine

Amsterdam 1 926 (D) White has a slight positional edge. It is
difficult to foresee a storm here.

23.4)c3 b6 24.4) xd5

It seems that this sacrifice might secure

White a tangible advantage.

24 ... bxc5

The acceptance is, however, absolutely

unexpected ! This pawn is going to have
a brilliant career!
27 'l.\'xc2 28.lacl
•..

This is quite unexpected! Black's pieces
are pinned, but Alekhine finds an in­
teresting resource.
2 5 . 4)c7 c x d4 2 6 . 4) x e8 d x e 3
27.4) xd6
When start i n g t h i s combination,
Alekhine had probably foreseen 27.f4!?,
 Draw !

but he realized that after 27 . . . exf3 24 ••• .E!.d2?

2 B .4Jxd6 f2 + ! 29. 'it>f1 e 2 + 3 0 . <iftxf2
�xc1 3 1 . �cB+ <ifth7 3 2 . <iftxe2 �c2+ White now forces the draw. Black has
33.<ifte3 �c3+ 34.'it>e4 �c2+, the white a tangible advantage after 24 . . . .§ xdl
king cannot avoid the checks 3S .'it>eS
- 2 S . '§ xdl '§ xdl + 26.�xd l g6 27:�dB+
�b2 +! or 3S.'it>d4 �f2 + ! . 'lJ1"fB 28.�d7 ifl'aB, etc.

27 exf2+ 28.Cjf;lxf2 t\'d2+ 29.Cjf;lgl

•••
25.Jlxh7+ Cjf;Ih8
t\'e3+ 30.Cjf;lg2 t\'f3+ 3l.Cjf;lgl t\'e3+
32.Cjf;lg2 t\'f3+ Yz-Yz This is very good ! Black loses after
2S . . . 'it>xh7 26.�hS + <iftgB 2 7 . 'lJ1"xf7+
( 1 00) Taimanov - Larsen <ifth7 2B . .§ xd2 and 29.'lJ1"xb7.
Copenhagen 1 966 (D)
26.Jlc2!

Splendid! 26 . t!\'h5 loses in view of

2 6 . . . A xg2 + 27.<iftg l � c 5 + 2 B . ifl'xc5
bxc5 and the pawn ending wins for
Black.

26 g6 27 .E!. x f7 Jl xg2+ 28. t!\' xg2

••• •

.E!. x d l + 29.Jlxdl .E!. x d l + 30 .E!.f1

•

.E!. xf1+ 3l.� xf1 t!\'d2 32.a4 Cjf;Ig7

3 3 . t\'f3 Cjf;Ih6 34.Cjf;lg l a 5 3 5 .h3
33 .E!.g8+ Cjf;Ih6
• t\'cl + 36.Cjf;lf2 t!\'d2+ Yz-Yz

Or 33 . . . <ifth4 34.�e2! AbS 3 S . f3 Axd3 ( 1 02) Belyavsky - Tal

36.�e l + Ag3 37.ifl'd2 Af4 3B.ifl'el+ Moscow 1 98 1 (D)
with a draw.

34 .�e5n t!\' x c2 3 5 . � xg4+ Cjf;Ih7

36.� xf6+ Yz-Yz

( 1 0 1 ) Mikenas - Weenink
Prague 1 93 1 (D)

2 l . lad5!

The text move is excellent ! White 's

rook disrupts the contact between the
black queen and knight.
 Shield and Sword
Black cannot accept the sacrifice of
White 's rook. On 2 1 . . .cxd5 2 2 .i*xe5
gx h 6 2 3 . � x h 6 f6 2 4 . � x e 6 + � f7
25.� xf6, and White wins.
22.cxd5 � xd5 23.hxg7 C!Jxg7 Yl-Yl
After 2 4 . 4:l h 5 + �g6 2 5 . 4:lf4 + gx f4
26.i*h5+ �f6 27.�h4+ �f5 28.ilt'h5+,
White has a perpetual check.
( 1 03 ) Gligoric - Fischer
Bled 1 96 1 (D)
22.C!Jg2
White has a big advantage , but he
should p l ay 2 2 . � f2 ! 4:lf6 2 3 . 4:l x c8
� a x c 8 2 4 . 'it' g 2 � x f2 2 5 . � x f2 g 5
26.E!. h l , etc.
2 2 4) x g3 [ ! ] 2 3 . 4) x cS 4) x f l
••.
24.4)b6 �c7 25.g xf1 1txb6 26.b4
1txb4 27.gbl �a5 2S.4) xc5!
Both sides play brilliantly !
2S 1t x c 5
•.. 2 9 . 1t x g6 + .Q.g7
30. g x b7 � d 4 3 1 . 1t d 3 gf4
32. �e6+ C!JhS 33.1tg6 Yl-Yl
( 1 04) Lutikov - Sakharov
Moscow 1 960 (D)
42.e4!
This is very courageous ! White wants
to bring the bishop into play.
42 ... dxe4 43.d5 cxd5 44.1te3 4)c3!
This is excellent play by Sakharov; oth­
erwise, the knight will be cut off after
45.1td4 .
45.c6! bxc6 46.1tc5 1tbS!!
There are no other options for Black.
47.C!Jhl
47.1txe7 is too dangerous for White
after 47 . . . ilt'xf4+ 48.�hl �f3 ! .
47. . . 4)e2! 4S.gxe7 1tgS 49. � xe2
gxh3+ 50.�h2 g xh2+ 5 VilJl x h2
a5 52. g x gS+ C!J xgS 53.bxa5 g x a 5
54.Jld4 c5 55.1t xf6 d4 56.C!Jg3 e3
57.C!Jh4 !!a6 Yl-Yl
The position is drawn: 58.�g5 ,E!. xf6
59.�xf6 c4 60 . E!. g7+ �f8 61 . E!. d7 'it'e8
62.E!. xd4 e2 63.�xf5 el� 64 . E!. e4 + .
 Draw !

( 1 05) Tal Averbakh

- ( 1 06) Yates Bogoljubow
-

Riga 1 954 (D) San Remo 1 93 0 (D)

1 5.�a6

The rest is all forced. By sacrificing the knight, the English

master destroys his opponent's pawn
15 . . . j},c6 16:1;\'xa7 � ed5 17.b3? chain.

Tal m i s s e s a w i n 1 7 . � d4 ! i!1Y x d4 41 . . . � xd6 42.�c1 J}. xb3 43.� xc5

1 8 .i!1Yxd4 Axd6 1 9.Aa6! 'lic7 20 . .£lxc6
� a8 2 1 .Axb7 �xb7 2 2 . c4, etc.
17 ... j}, xd6 18.bxa4 j},a3+ 19.Cit'd2
Ab4+ Yl-Yl
j},f4 44.�c6 �f5 45.A x b4 Ad5
46.� x a6 �h4 47.-'lel j}, xg2+
4 8 . Cit' g l .Q.b7 4 9 . � f 6 .Q.g5
50.-'l xh4 Axf6 51 . .Q. x f6 Yl-Yl
 IV. Grandmaster, You Are Wrong!
Chess is an exciting game. Very often,
when very close to winning or saving
the game, famous grandmasters miss
golden opportunities and totally fail.
This chapter illustrates just a few in­
stances of such fatal mistakes.
( 1 07) Flohr - Kashdan
B led 1 93 1 (0 )
4S.hS+?
Flohr has a win after 4 5 . lLle4 ! ! ctJg7
4 6 . � x g 5 t;t d 7 4 7 . tt x d 7 + � x d 7
48.c;f}f2 .
4s ctJh6 4 6 . tte8 �dl 47. ctJf2
• • •
� x e l 4 8 . tt x e l ctJ x h S 4 9 . tt e S
ctJg6 SO.c;f}g3 b 6 Sl.�e4 ttfS YZ-YZ
( 1 08) Maroczy - Pillsbury
Monte Carlo 1 902 ( 0 )
1l ••• tt xdS?
Pillsbury significantly weakens his po­
sition, and quickly loses. There was a
pretty possibility - a drawing combi­
nation - he had at his disposal. After
1 1 . . .Axf3 ! 1 2 .gxf3 lLlxf2 1 3 .'itJxf2 Ad6!
The beauty of this combination is that
Black is able to save himself with quiet
moves. The first quiet move brings the
queen and b i shop into the attack.
1 4 5.!tg2 'l!i'h4 1 5 .f4 lLlxd4 1 6.Ae3 .§ f6!
The second quiet move brings in the
rook. 1 7 . A x d 4 'l!i'xf4 1 B . Af2 .§ h6 !
19.h4 '§ xh4 2 0 . Axh4 �xh4 2 1 . �d2
�h2+ 2 2 .\t>f1 'l!i'h 1 + 2 3 . \t>e2 �h5 + ,
with perpetual check.
( 1 09) Seirawan - Kasparov
Skeleftea 1 989 ( 0 )
36 . .1lg3?
Now White cannot win. The American
grandmaster missed 36. gx h 3 ! lLl x f3
3 7 . �f2 ! lLlh4 3 B . d6 l3.. xc3 39 . .§ x c3
�d5 + 4 0 . \t>g 1 �d1 + 4 1 . �f1 'l!i'd2
42 . .§ c7, etc.
36 ... hxg2+ 37.tt xg2 � xf3 38.d6
�e6
 Draw !

Kasparov wants to create threats ( 1 1 1 ) Polugaevsky - Petrosian

against the white king. Leningrad 1 960 (D)

Or 39 . . . Axc3 40 . E! xc3! i*dl + 4 1 .�gl

�xgl 42.E!cB+ rtJg7 43.i*xgl with a
draw.

4 0 . EtcS+ � h 7 4 1 . 4) f4 Et h 6 +
42.�g2 4)el+! 43.�gl 4)f3+ YZ-YZ

( 1 1 0) Portisch - Karpov
Milan 1 97 5 (D)
IS ... .1la61

P olugaevsky gives an exclamation

2 1 . .Q.xg6
The Hungarian grandmaster is trying
to exploit his positional advantage.
2 1 ... fxg6 22.�c4+?
mark to this move, writing: "lB .. .'l*xdB
could be met immediately by 19.e5."
But this is absolutely wrong! The text
move loses at once, while Black could
save himself with l 8 . . .'t;3·xdB ! . For ex­
ample, 19.e5 'l*eB! 20.e6 E! f6 2 1 .exd7
i* x e 2 2 . 2 . dBi*+ E! fB . It seems that
B lack should win, but after 23.Ae3!!
E! xdB 24.E! xdB+ rtJf7 2 5 . E! d7+ 'it'g6
26.E! xb7 'l*xb2 27.E!dl i*xa2 2B.E! xa7,
the chances are equal.
19. �e3 Ete7 20. 'ltb3+ c4 21. �a3
4)cS (D)

Portisch can obtain a decisive advan­

tage with 2 2 . E! e6! E! ed8 23.E!de l E! d6
2 4 . � x e 7 E! x e 6 2 5 . E! x e 6 �xe7
26.E! xe7, etc.

2 2 ... �g7 23 . .Q.f4 .Q.a6 24.�c3+

.Q.f6 2 S . .1l x c7 A x c 3 26 . Et x eS
Et x eS 27.b xc3 .1le2 2S.Etel EtcS
2 9 . Et x e 2 Et x c7 3 0 . Ete6 4) d S
31.Ete3 �f6 32.�f1 4)e6 33.g3 gS
34.h3 4)cS 3S.4)d2 Etd7 36.�e2
2 2 . .1le3! Et x e4 2 3 . A x c S � x c S
Et d S 37.c4 Et d 4 3 S . EteS h4
24.�f3 1-0
3 9 . EtfS+ � e 7 4 0 . EthS h x g3
41.fxg3 Etd3 YZ-YZ
 Grandmaster, You Are Wrong !

( 1 1 2) Bilek - Keres
Budapest 1 95 5 (D)

38 . . . .§e4! 39.�d5 �f4+ 40.�h3

25 ... �b6? .§.e3+! 0 - 1

This retreat allows White an unex­ ( 1 1 4) Karpov - Lengyel

pected shot, forcing the draw. Instead, Budapest 1 973 (D)
Black wins with 25 . . . �d4! 2 6 . �d5
� xh4 27.�g3 �b8, etc.

26 . .§ x e7!! �xe7 27.-'l,a3+ !

Despite Black's enonnous material ad­

vantage, the perpetual check is inevi­
table.

27 ... � xe6 28.�g4+ �e5 29.�g3+

� x e4 3 0 . �g4+ �d3 3 1 . � d l +
�c3 3 2 . �f3+ �c2 3 3 .�e4+ �d2
3 4 . � f 4 + � d l 3 5 . � f 3 + �c2
3 6 . � e 4 + �c3 3 7 . � f 3 + �d4 In time trouble, Karpov misses the win.
3 8 . �e3+ �c4 39. � e 2 + � d 5 After 3 9 . �c4! Ab5 4 0 . � d 5 ! �xd3
40.�f3+ �e5 41.�g3 + Yz-Yz 4 1 .�xd7 � d8 42.�c7 �b5 4 3 . c6 � d2
44 . �b6 �b2 45 .�c5, White has an
( 1 1 3) Tarjan - Karpov enonnous advantage.
Skopje 1 976 (D)
39 ... .§b8 40.�a3 4)e5 41 . .§dl (D)
38.f5?

After this White loses. However, with No better is 4 1 .4Jxc6 4Jxc6 4 2 . �e3
38. � d5 ! f6 39.�d8+ 'ifth7 40.�d3+ f5 �b5! 4 3 . 4Je4 �e5 44. f4 �b2 4 5 . f5
4 1 . �c4 � e6 4 2 .'� xe6 � x f4 + 4 3 . g3 � xa5 46.fxg6 � a l , and White has only
�xf2 + Black draws by perpetual check. a slight edge.
 Draw !

player punish mistakes made by the

other. Here are some brilliant combi­
nations.

( 1 1 6) Torre - Lasker
Moscow 1 9 25 (D)

4 1 . . . j't x g2! 4 2 . \tJ x g 2 g x b4 !

4 3 . � x b4 �f3 + 44.\tJgl � x d l +
45.4)f1 4){3+ 46.\tJg2 4) e l + Yz-Yz

( 1 1 5 ) Capablanca - Tarrasch
8t. Petersburg 1 9 1 4 (D)
2 2 h6?
•..

This is Lasker 's decisive mistake. He

misses the win, the move the chess
world did not discover for over 85 years
since this famous game. Probably the
brilliant windmill combination carried
out by Torre blinded the whole world!
Possibly if the game had continued
22 . . . f6! 2 3 . �c4 .§ e7 ! 2 4 . �xd6 �d5
2 5 . �e4 fxg5 , Torre would have re­
signed.

C apablanca m i s s e s the e l egant 23. 4)c4 �d5

1 4 Jhd6! �xf3 1 5 J � xf6 gxf6 1 6 . .1l.xe5
fxe5 with equality. Necessary is 23 . . . hxg5 24.�xd6 "i!i'g6
2 5 .�xg6 �xg6 26.�xb7 .§ ab8 27.�d6
14 ... A xdl 15.Axe5 �d2! .§ ed8, with equality.

Because of the threat of mate on the 24.4)e3 �b5

first rank, Black keeps the extra piece.
No better is 24 . . . � x d4 because of
1 6 .f3 4) h 5 1 7 . �f 2 � x f2 + 2 5 . .§ d l �e4 26.Axh6 �g6 27.�g5
18.\tJ xf2 j'txc2, and B lack won. �f4 28.Axf4 �xf4 29 . .§ h3 , etc.

Very often the annals of chess reveal 25.j'tf6U

that remarkable combinations from one
 G randmaster, You A re Wrong !

Now the windmill combination fol­

lows!

25....�xh5 26.Elxg7+ �h8 27.Elxf7+

�8 28.Elg7+ �h8 29.Elxb7+ �g8
3 0 . Elg7 + �h8 3 1 . Elg 5 + �h7
3 2 . El x h 5 �g6 3 3 . El h 3 � x f6
34.la x h6+, and White was able to con­
vert his material advantage.

( 1 1 7) Padevsky - Keres
Moscow 1 95 6 (D) 27.e4! d x e4 28. Af4 �f5 2 9 .g4
�g6 30. �d2 j},e6 31.j},b8!

Obviously, Karpov overlooked this

move.

No better is 3 1 . .�d5 because of32 .4Jf4

�h6 3 3 . Ae5 'it'g8 34 . .§. d l with a large
advantage for White.

31.j},d3?
White overlooks the brilliant reply. He
can m a i ntain his advantage with
3 1 . �d 4 ! h 5 3 2 . h 3 4Jf6 3 3 . a 4 h4
34.�xh4, etc.
31 ... � xf2! 32.�xf2 �e3+ 33.�g2
� d 2 + ! 34.�h3 �h6+ 3 5 . �g2
�d2+ Yz-Yz
3 2 . � f4 �h6 3 3 . � x e6 + � x e6
3 4 . j}, d 6 + �g8 3 5 . j},c4 e x f3
3 6 . j}, x d 5 � x g4+ 3 7 . � h l , and
White won.
( 1 1 9) Tal - Larsen
Candidate 's Erze1 (4) 1 969 (D)

( 1 1 8) Kasimdzhanov - Karpov
Chess Champions League 2007 (D)

16 ... �e5?

This natural move allows Wh ite to

carry out a nice combination. Correct
is to trade the queens after 26 . . . axb4! 22.�g6+?
2 7 . Ab 2 �a7 28 . .§. a l �b8 2 9 . .§. a4
.§. xa4 20.�xa4 �g8 2 1 . �xb4 h5 with
equal chances.
 Draw !

This is tantamount to res ignatio n . 3 6 �xe5 37.fxe5 §f5 38.§el, and

•••

White could save himself with a beau­ Euwe won in Alekhine's time trouble.
tiful combinati o n : 2 2 . Axe6! A x e 6
2 3 . fxe6 l::! c2 24.'�d4 l::! xc1 + 25.�xc1 ( 1 2 1 ) Anand - Karpov
bxa2 26. 'l!i'xb6 a l �+ 27.r,tld2 <£lc4+ Brussels 1 99 1 (D)
28.r,tle2 'l!i'xdl + 29.'§' xdl <£lxb6 30 . .§.c1
and the chances are equal.

22 4) xg6 23.fxg6 ct;g7 24.4) x b3

•••

h x g6 25.A x g6 ct; x g6, and Black

won.
( 1 20) Euwe - Alekhine
World Championship Zandwoort (26)
1 93 5 (D)

White wins easily after 45.'�d8! l::! xf4

46.g4!, etc.

45 ••• �b7! 46. �d8

Anand cannot win after 46.l::! g8 �e4!

47.�f8+ r,tlh5 48. l::! xg6 �xf4+ 49. l::! g3
h 6 ! 5 0 . �f7 + � h 5 5 1 . � e 7 + � h 5
5 2 . �e8+ r,tlh4 5 3 . �d8+ �h5 54.�xa5
None ofthe commentators of this game with a draw.
(four world champions - Alekhine,
Euwe, Botvinnik, and Kasparov) have 46 ••• �e4 47.�h4+ ct;g7 YZ-YZ
ever pointed out that Black could save
himself with 3 2 , . . l::! g6!! 33.exd7 �xf4 ! ( 1 22) Smyslov - Tal
34.�c3+ �g8 3 5 .�el l::! xg5 36.�e8+ Zagreb 1 95 9 (D)
�g7! 37. l::! xg5 + �xg5 38.�xa8 �c 1 +
with perpetual check.

Another possibility is 34.<£le6! l::! g8

35 . .§ g3 l::! e8 3 6 . l::! e3 l::! de7 37.�g2 ,
with a decisive advantage for White.

34 §e7 35.4)e6 §f8 36. �e5

•••

Better is 36.�g3 ! .
 G randmaster, You A re Wrong!
38.tteS?
White immediately prevails after
38:�'h2! e3+ 39.'<ftg3 and Black is un­
able to defend both the h6-pawn and
his king.
38 ... �gl+1 39.'i!?h2
If 39.'<ftxgl , 39 . . . �dl + 40.'\tJh2 �h5
4 1 . �g3 �f3+ with a perpetual check.
39 ... �hl +1 Yz-Yz
( 1 23) Pire - Stahlberg
Amsterdam 1 95 0 (D)
57 ... �g6?
Most likely, Black believed he could
w i n any way he cho s e . H owever,
57 . . . �f8! is the only winning try. For
example, 58.�d8+ § e8 59.�d6+ § e7
60.�d8+ '<ftg7 6 1 . § g3 + �f6 62.�h8+
�e6 63.�c8+ § d7 64.�c4+ '<fte5
6 5 . �xc2 f5, etc.
5 8 . t,td8+ 'i!?h7 5 9 . � h 3 + �h6
60.� x h6+ 'i!? x h6 6 1 . t,tf6+ 'i!?h7
62. t,tf5+ YZ-YZ
( 1 24) Pillsbury - Lasker
London 1 899 (D)
27 ... t,th5??
Black obtains a decisive advantage af­
ter 2 7 . . . d4! 2 8 . �d3 c 5 2 9 . Ac 1 a5
30.§ g4 a4 3 1 .§h4 g6 3 2 .4Jh6 Axh6
3 3 . § xh6 axb3 34.axb3 § a l ! .
28.t,th611
PiIlsbury forces a draw.
28 ... t,t x f5 29.A xf6 �e7 30.Axe7
A x e7 3 1 . § x g7 t,t x f3 + 3 2 . � lg2
t,t d l + 3 3 . � g l t,tf3 + 3 4 . � l g 2
t,tdl + Yz-Yz
Quite curiously, the finale of the game
between Portisch and Kasparov, played
almost a century later, mirrored this
e n c o unter between P i llsbury and
Lasker.
( 1 25) Portiseh - Kasparov
Moscow 1 98 1 (D)
39.Ad4+?
Correct is 39.�f3! �xf3 + 40 .4Jxf3 §e2
4 1 .Agl § xe4 42.d6 and wins.
 Draw !

Later Bronstein admitted that White

had no other way of saving the game.
This sacrifice, he said, was intuitive.

3 5 . . . .!a x h4 3 6 .!a x d 5 +
• <i!? e 6
3 7 . .!acdl t\'c4 3 8 .!ad6+ <i!? e 7
•

39 . .!ad7+ <i!?f6 40 . .1l x h4+ t\' x h4

41 . .!af1+

The game was adj ourned and Euwe

sealed 41 <i!?g5, but after resumption
•••

39 .1lxd4 40. t\' x d4+ <i!?h7 41 . .!agl

.•. the players agreed to a draw.
<i!?g8 42.d6 .!a xd2 43.t\'xd2 t\'f3+
4 4 . t\'g2 � g3 + 4 5 . h x g3 t\' h 5 + ( 1 27) Fine - Capablanca
46.t\'h2 t\'f3+ 4 7 .!ag2 t\'dl+ Yl-Yz
• Amsterdam 1 93 8 (D)

( 1 26) Bronstein - Euwe

Candidate 's Zurich 1 953 (D)

In this winning position Fine threw cau-

'
tion to the wind and played. . .

Black is two pawns up, but he has to

be vigilant about his king 's exposed
position. White wins after 26.fxe5! �xe5 27.h3
� hg3 28.�xd4 �xd4 29 .4Jxd4, etc.
33 ... t\'a6?
26 ... .1l xg2!
None of the commentators, including
Bronstein himself, has ever mentioned This had to come as quite a surprise!
that this move is an error. Euwe was in
time trouble, and probably because of
2 7 . .!a x g 2 .!a a g8 2 8 . .!aee2 e x f4
that, he missed the winning line -
2 9 . � b7 t\' d 5 3 0 . .!a x g4 .!a x g4 +
33 . . :�e6! 34.'l�k4 'ifte8 35 .�c7 �e7
3 1 . .!a g 2 .!a x g 2 + 3 2 . t\' x g2 f 3
3 6 . �b6 �f8 3 7 J � c7 �e6 38.�xb7
3 3 . t\' h 3 t\' g 5 + 3 4 . t\' g3 t\' c l +
� d2 with a decisive advantage. 3 5 . <i!?f2 t\' e 3 + 3 6 . <i!?fl t\' e 2 +
3 7 . <i!?gl t\' d l + 3 8 . <i!?f2 t\' x c 2 +
34 .1lg3 .!ae4 35 . .!a x f5!
•
 Grandmaster, You Are Wrong !

3 9 . ctl x f3 �c6+ 4 0 . ctl e 2 � x b7

41 .b3 �e4+ 42.ctld2 �e5 43.�h3
�g5+ 44. ctld3 Yl-Yl

( 1 28) Rubinstein - A.Rabinovich

Carlsbad 1 9 1 1 (0)

( 1 30) Shirov - Kramnik

Groningen 1 993 (0)

3S.�xe6?

Rubinstein captures the poisoned pawn.

However, with 38.�b5! .§ d2 39.�hl
.§ f2 40.�e2 �h6 4 1 .b4 .ild4 42.a4,
White is likely to win.

21 •.. !! xg7??

Now all Black's pieces are springing Black wins beautifully with 2 1 . . :i*xc3!!
2 2 . .§ xc3 .§ xg7 23.'§h3+ 'it1g8 24 . .§hg3
back to life.
.ilf8 , etc.
39.h4 .1l.d4 40. �e7+ ctlh6 41. ctlh1
2 2 . !! x g 7+ ctlh6 2 3 . !! gS ctlh7
otlf11 42. �g5+ ctlg7 43 . .1l.g2 otle3 24.!!Sg7+ Yz-Yl
44. �e7+ ctlh6 45. �g5+ ctlg7 Yl-Yl
( 1 3 1 ) Geller - Gurgenidze
( 1 29) I.Zaitsev - Suetin Riga 1 95 8 (0)
Yerevan 1 962 (0)
All the spectators saw that White wins
immediately with 49.�e6!, but Zaitsev
was overcome with pawn-snatching.

49.!! x h7+?? � x h7 50.�f3+ ctlh6

51.�xd5 �g7 52:� xd3 �xb2, and
the game was soon drawn.
 Draw !

37 �hS?
•••

After this White saves himself by sac­

rificing his bishop. But Black prevails
with 37 . . . .§ h8! 38.�g6+ �f8 39.�g7 +
�e8 40.i1i'g8+ �d7 4 1 .i1i'xb8 E! h l + !
42.�f2 E! xb8.

3S .1lxf6 exf6 39. �d7+ YZ-YZ.

•

( 1 32) Von Scheve ..:.. Rubinstein

Ostend 1 907 (D)
( 1 34) Tal - Akopian
Barcelona 1 992 (D)

33 .•• §.b7?
29 ••. §.g7?
Black ignores White 's threat. After
33 . . . �g7! 34.'�d2 E! b8, Black had good
Black has a draw : 29 . . . E! g6! 30.dxe6
winning chances.
E! cg8 3 1 .tLlg5 f6 3 2 . E! e3 �a l 33.tLlf7 +
�g7 3 4 . E! g3 � h l 3 5 .�d5 � x h 2 +
34.4)fSI §. gS 3 S . � x h7+1 � x h7
36.E!g2 i1i'h4+ , with perpetual check.
36.hxg6++ � xg6 37.§.h6+ �gS
3S.§.hS+ Yz-Yz
30.dxe6 .1lc6 3 1 . 4)gS §.xgS
( 1 33) Marshall - Pillsbury
Also losing is 3 1 . . . fxe6 32.E! xe6 �a3
Vienna 1 903 (D)
33.E!e2 �a7 34.b5, etc.
31 ••• §.fS?
3 2 . �e S + §. g 7 3 3 . §.dS+ §. x dS
Pillsbury misses a chance to force a 34.� xc3 f6 3 S .e7 §.as 36. � x f6
draw by 3 1 . . . �a6! 3 2 . dxc6 �f1 ! 3 3 . b4 .1le4 37.§.gl §' x a2 3S.�el l-0
i1i'e2+ 34. �bl �xe4+ with a perpetual
check. ( 1 35) Polugaevsky - Karpov
Candidate 's Moscow (5) 1 974 (D)
3 2 . d x c6+ � a S 3 3 .c x d7 §. f 2 +
34.Cit'b3 � x b2+ 3S.�a4 1-0
 Grandmaster, You Are Wrong !
40.4)d3?
With this one bad move, Polugaevsky
loses his entire advantage. After 40.f4!
h6 (or 40 . . . 4:Je7 4 1 . �c7 g4 42:�e5
�xe5 43.fxe5 with a decisive advan­
tage) 4 1 . � e 5 � x e 5 4 2 . fx e 5 Ac6
4 3 . 4:Jd3, White has a winning position.
40 ... 4)d6
Also possible is 40 . . . 4:Jxe3 4 1 .�xe3
�xf3+ with perpetual check.
4 1 . 4) f4! g x f4 42 . .!3. x d S � b 2 +
43.Cit>f1 fxe3 4 4. .!3.gS+! Yz-Yz
There is no advantage to be had after
44 . . .�h6 45 .�xd6+ �xg5 46:�e7+, etc.
( 1 36) Short - Kasparov
World Championship London ( 1 0)
1 993 (D)
32.4)e6?
T h e English grandmaster m i s s e d
3 2 . E!. e6+! Axe6 33.4:Jxe6, followed by
34.d8�. As a result, he gives the world
champion a new lease on life.
32 ... �h2 33.4)f4+ Cit>h6 34.4)d3
�g l + 3 S . .!3.el �g S 3 6 . 4) e 5 g6
3 7 .!3. f 1 Jte6 3 8 . 4) f7 + Jt x f7
•
39 . .!3. x f7 �dS 40 . .!3.e7?
For the second time, Short misses the
w i n : 4 0 . 4:J e 4 ! �d3 4 1 . E!. f2 ! �xd7
43.E!.h2+ �g7 44. E!. xh7 + .
40 . . . � d 6 4 1 . .!3.f7 �d3 4 2 . 4) e4
�e3+ 43.4)d2 �d3 YZ-YZ
( 1 37) Rubinstein - Tarrasch
St. Petersburg 1 9 1 4 (D)
3S.a4?
White tries to stop . . . b6-b5, but he loses
m o s t of his advantag e . Correct i s
3 5 . �c 1 ! b 5 36. E!. c2 h 5 37.E!. e2!, with a
big edge.
3S ... 4)f6! 36.Af3
If 36.E!. xc7, then 36 . . . 4:Je4+! 37.�xe4
� x f4 + 38.�h4 �f2 + 3 9 . �g5 �f4+
with perpetual check.
 Draw !

36 c6! 3 7 . � d 2 c x d S 3 8 . � c 6
• • .

4)e4+ 3 9 .1l x e4 d x e4 40 . � x d6
•

�xb3+ 4V �lh4 �f7 42.liflgS e3

4 3 . �c7 � x f4 + 44 . � x f4 h 6 +
4S.lifl xh6 � x f4 and the players even­
tually agreed to a draw.

( 1 38) Lisitsin - Bronstein

Moscow 1 944 (D)

3 S . �g4 + lifl h 6 3 6 . �g7+ Iifl h S

37.�g4+ Yl-Yl

( 1 40) SmysIov - Petrosian

Zurich 1 953 (D)

White has a big material advantage, but

he loses caution.

38.�d2?

After 38.�d3! White prevents B lack

from giving a perpetual check. For ex­
ample, 38 . . . Af5 39J!c3 �f7 40.e6+, Black 's previous move, 46 �eS, •••

etc. probably affected Smyslov psychologi­

cally, and he did not find the refutation.
38 �gS 39. �d4 �fS+ 40.liflel
.••

�bl+ 4 1 . �d l .1l x dl 42 . � x d l
� x b2 43 . � x h S �f2+ 44 . lifl d l
�d4+ 4 S . lifl e 2 �e4+ 4 6 . lifl d 2
�d4+ Yl-Yl
( 1 39) Gaprindashvili - Veroci
Belgrade 1 974 (D)
In time-trouble, Gaprindashvili, not
White wins w ith 47 .�d6 ! ! , or even
47.�d4 ! h 5 + 48.'ifth3 �f4+ 49.�xf4
�xf4 50.d8�, and Black has no per­
petual check.
47 cxd3 48.d8� Yl-Yl
.••

noticing the winning line 3 5 . t! x e 5 + ! !

( 1 4 1 ) Rubinstein - Griinfeld
fxe5 36.g4+ 'ifth4 37:�e7+ �g5 38.g3 ,
Moscow 1 925 (D)
forced a perpetual check.
 G randmaster, You A re Wrong!
55 ••• §d8?
Bogoljubow, annotating this game in
the tournament book, was definitely
wrong when he stated that the ending
after 55 .. J!f8! 56: �'f2 El xf6 57:�xf6
� x f6 5 8 . g x f6 i s l o s t for Black;
Blumenfeld noted that after 58 . . . g5 !
5 9 . �c2 g4 60.«f.?d3 d 5 ! 6 1 .exd5 g3
62 .«f.?e3 e4, White should be content
with the draw.
56. �f2 d5 57.exd5 �a3 58.§xg6+
1-0
( 1 42) Smejkal - Tal
Milan 1 975 (D)
25 .•• .Q.e3 ! !
Having a big positional advantage, Tal
takes the bull by the horns.
26.§f1
No better is 26. El c2, because of 26 . . . f5
2 7 . 4::\ e c 5 El x d 3 ! 2 8 . 4::\ x d 3 A x f2 +
29.«f.?g2 4::\e 3+.
26 f5?
•••
Tal falters at the most important mo­
ment of the gam e . After 26 . . . El d4 ! !
2 7 . �c2 El c4 2 8 . 4::\ c 3 Ad4 2 9 . �b3
Axc3 30.bxc3 �c7 3 1 . El c 1 h5, Black
has a tangible advantage.
27.fxe3 fxe4 28.4)c5 §d5 29.§c1
h5 3 0 . � c 3 h4 3 1 .b4 �d6
32.4) xe4 and the game was eventu­
ally drawn.
( 1 43) Marshall - Griinfeld
Moscow 1 925 (D)
2 1 ... �xb2?
Griinfeld falls into a trap; however, he
wins quite easily after 2 1 . . .�a5+ fol­
lowed by 22 . . . �c5(+).
2 2 . § xg7 §ac8 23. § x h7+ � x h7
2 4 . § h l + � g6 2 5 . § gl + �h6
26.§hl + Y2-Y2
( 1 44) Murey - Estrin
Moscow 1 963 (D)
 Draw !
2S ... �gS??
Black misses a clear-cut draw after
2S . . . Axe5! 29.l:"! ge7 l:"!c1 + 30.Afl l:"! fS
and White is forced to give a perpetual
check. Now, however, White wins.
2 9 . � x c7 ! g x c 7 3 0 . �bS+ g c S
3 1 . � x cS + 'it' x cS 3 2 . � x e7 , a n d
White soon won.
( 1 45) Spassky - Petrosian
Moscow 1 955 (D)
40.*xh7?
White w i n s w ith 4 0 . l::! d7 + ! � x d7
41 .l:"!xe5+ �e6 42.l:"! xe6+ fxe6 43.c7, etc.
40 . . . � x h7 4 1 . �d7+ * xd7
42.cxd7 .Q.g7
The game was adjourned here and next
day the opponents agreed to a draw
without resuming.
( 1 46) Larsen - Polugaevsky
Le Havre 1 966 (D)
54 Jlel?
..•
Polugaevsky misses a unique way to
draw: 54 . . . Ab4 ! ! 5 5 . Af2 (or 5 5 . h4 c5!
56.e3 -'txc3 5 7 . Axe5 f3 5S. �g3 Ae 1 +
59.-'tf2 Ad2 60 .h5 Af4+ 6 1 . �h4 Ae3,
with a draw) 5 5 .. .f3 56.h4 -'td2 57.�g3
-'tf4+ 58.�h3 Ae3 59.Ag3 -'tf4, etc.
55.h4 f3 5 6 . 'it'h3 'it'f4 57.Jlc5
'it'f5 5S.Jle7
Simpler is 5 S . h 5 ! �g5 59.b4! �xh5
60.b5, etc.
5S ... 'it'e4 59.h5 Jld2 60.Jlc5 ,Q,e3
61.JlfS Jld4 62 . .Q.h6 Jle5
This loses . 6 2 . . . A e 3 ! draws after
63.Ag7 Aa7 ! .
6 3 . .Q.d2, and White eventually won.
( 1 47) Gheorghiu - Fischer
Havana 1 966 (D)
26 ... �b7?
Fischer overlooks the possibility of sav­
ing the game by a pawn sacrifice, fol­
lowed by a series of interme d i ate
move s ; 26 . . . � b 3 ! 2 7 . 1 h b 3 e x b 3
 Grandmaster, You Are Wrong !
28.'lfYxb3 'ltlc7 2 9 . �b2 E!f8! (the first
i nterme d i ate m o v e ! ) 3 0 . E! h 4 ( i f
30.�e2, then 3 0 . . . �e4! 3 1 .fxe4 E! xf4
3 2 . exd5 .ilg4+ 3 3 .�el E! f1 + with a
draw) 30 . . . a6! (the second intermedi­
ate move) 3 1 . E! b4 �g4+ 3 2 . E! xg4
�xg4 33. 'ltlxd5 + �e6 34. �xe6 �h2 +
with perpetual check . .
27.e4 dxe4 28. j}, x e4 !!cc8 29.!!e5
j},g4 30.4)d5 !! xe5 31.4) xf6+ gxf6
3 2 . d x e 5 4) c 5 3 3 . j}, x c 5 * d 2 +
3 4 . �g3 j}, x f3 3 5 . j}, x f3 !! x c 5
36. *cl, and White won.
( 1 48) Capablanca - Alekhine
World Championship Buenos Aires
(27) 1 927 (0)
The move 38. �e2! could have changed
the course of chess history ! This was
one of the decisive games of the world
championship match played almost 90
years ago ! After 38 . . . 'ltlxb2+ 39.�f3
'lfYc3+ 40.�g4, White 's king avoids the
checks and Black is doomed.
( 1 49) Fischer - GeIler
Skopj e 1 967 (0)
21.*f4?
This move loses by force; the saving
move is 2 1 . E! h 5 . Edmar Mednis sug­
gested 2 1 . .. �g5 , when the game might
continue 22 .h4! ! hf7 2 3 . E! xg5! E! df8
4 . E! g3 ! �d5 2 5 . 'lfYd3 �xh4 26. E! g4
with equal chances.
21 ... .11a41
Fischer wrote: "I didn't see it! More­
over, the strength of this resource didn 't
become fully apparent to me for another
two moves."
22.*g4 Af6 23. !! x f6 Axb3 0-1
 Draw !
v. Bobby Fischer 's Draws
It is well known that Bobby Fischer,
the 1 1 th world champion, was quite
clear about how he felt about draws:
he hated them ! Kasparov believes that
Bobby became a draw-hater in his
younger years, when he easily defeated
much weaker opponents in tourna­
ments. When he was 1 8, he wrote, "In
chess, I am attracted by the struggle.
Each new game I consider as a chal­
lenge in which I have to prevail."
Nevertheless, in Fischer 's games we
can often come across mistakes com­
mitted either by him or his opponents.
The following episodes from Bobby's
games show that the struggle, although
the games ended up in draws, contin­
ued until all the resources had been
completely exhausted.
( 1 50) R.Byrne - Fischer
New York 1 960 (D)
This is too bad. Correct is 24 . . . �b4!
2 5 . .§ ad 1 Jle 1 ! 26.�e2 �a3 2 7 /.!ih2
�b2 ! 28 . .§ c 1 �xe2 29 . .§ xe8+ Axe8
30.Jlxe2 �xh7 and White is slightly
better.
25.�g5 � xd3 26.� xf7 �d2 27.e4
'If1 x f7 28. � x f7+ � x f7 2 9. 'lt x f7
Jlxe4 30.�el � xg2+ 3Viflfl Ad5
32.�e2 �g4 33.�c2 cif1h7 34.h5
�g5 35.cif1e2?
35 .�xa7! wins easily.
Now Black draws quickly.
On 3 6 . � f 1 '§ x e 2 3 7 . � g6 + � h 8
38.�xe2 b5, Black builds a fortress.
36, ..�g3+ 37.cif1e2 �g2+ 38.cif1e3
�g3+ 39.<ifJf2 �g5 40.<ifJe2 �g2+
Yl-Yl
( 1 5 1 ) Taimanov - Fischer
Buenos Aires 1 960 (D)
15,..'If1e7?
Correct is 1 5 . . . .§ e8 1 6 . � x e6 Jlxe6
1 7 . f3 -IJ!e7 1 8 . a4 .§ ad8 with equal
chances.
16 . .11g 5 � x d4
 Bobby F i scher ' s Draws
No better is 16 . . . Ae5 1 7 . 4Jd5 i11 c 5
l S .4Jxc6 Axc6 1 9 .4Jxf6+ gxf6 20.Ah6,
with a big advantage for White.
Losing i s 1 9 . 9 x f3 , becau s e o f
1 9 . . . i11 x b2 2 0 . .§ b 1 �a3 2 1 .4Jxf6+ gxf6
22 . .Ilxf6.
19 ... t\'d4+ 20.�hl {)g4
Fischer commits a grave error. Far bet­
ter is 20 . . . 4Jxd5 2 1 .Axd5 h6 2 2 . Ah4
Ae6 23 . .§ ed 1 ! i11 b 6 24 . .Ilf2 i11 x b 2
2 5 J:!. ab1 , etc.
21.hxg4 t\' x c4 22.b3 t\'b5 23.a4
t\'a5 24.laedl j},c6 25.e5 j},b4
26.t\'e4 j},xd5 27.la xd5 t\'b6 28.f5
j},c3 29.lacl j},b2 30.labl j},c3
31 .lac1 1l.b2 32.lac4 laae8 (D)
33.f6 ?
Taimanov m i s s e s his chance; after
33 . .Ile3 i11 x b3 34 . .§ xc7 h6 35.g5 ! .§ dS
36.'§ xdS .§ xdS 37.e6! f6 38.gxf6, White
has a powerful position . .
3 3. . .c6 34.fxg7 cxd5 35.gxf8l't+
�xf8 36. t\' x h7 1l.xe5 37.laf4 l'te6
and the game was eventually drawn.
( 1 52) Parma - Fischer
Bled 1 96 1 (D)
19 ... {)c4 20.l'tcl e5
Black maintains his advantage with
1 9 . . . �e5, for example, 20 . .§g3 'it>hS
2 1 . .§ ff3 exf5 2 2 . exf5 Ac6 2 3 .4Jxc6
.§ xc6, etc.
2 1 . la g3 � h 8 2 2 . la x g7 � x g7
2 3 . laf3 la g8 2 4 . la g3 + �f8
25.t\'h6+ �e7 26.l't xh7 exd4?
More stubborn would be 26 . . . .§ gfS
27 . .§g7 exd4 2S .Axf7 �dS 29.Axc4
.§ c 7 3 0 . A e 6 AcS 3 1 . �h6 .§ x g 7
3 2 . i11 xg7 .§ eS 3 3 . i11 x f6+ � c 7 , and
White has the better propects.
27. t\' x f7+ �d8 28. la x g8+ �c7
29.{)f4 t\'a3 30.{)d5+ <if}b8 3 1 .h3
{)e3 32.laxc8+ �xc8 33.{) xe3?
Parma misses a well-deserved win af­
ter 3 3 . �fS + 'it> b 7 3 4 A J x e 3 d x e 3
35.�xf6.
33 ... t\'xe3 34.1l.f3 t\'c1+ 35.<if}h2
t\'f4+ 3 6 . �g l t\' c l + 3 7 . <if} h 2
t\'f4+ 38.<if}gl t\'cl+ Yz-Yz
( 1 53) Penrose - Fischer
Leipzig 1 960 (D)
 Draw !
17 ••• 4)d7?
Fischer does not sense the danger; his
king is still in the center. He should play
I 7 . . . � f8 ! I 8 . � xa6 A x a 6 I 9 . � x a 6
A x c 3 2 0 . b x c 3 �g8, w i t h equal
chances.
1S.j},xd7+ � xd7 19.§.ad1 j},c5+
No b etter is I9 . . .. �c6 2 0 . �g4 0-0
2 1 . '£}dS �h7 22 .�hl as 2 3 . c3 AcS
24.b4 axb4 2S.cxb4, and White has an
edge.
20.\fiIh1 Ad4 21 .4)f5 g6 22.� xd4
exd4 23.4)d5 j},xd5 24.exd5+ �e7
25.�f2 0-0 26.§.xd4 �c5 27.§.d2
�c4 2 S . c3 �b3 2 9 . §. d 4 §.c4
3 0 . §. x c4 � x c4 3 1 . \fiIg 1 � x a4
32.� x b6 �c4 36.�b4+??
This i s incredibly bad; 3 6 . d6 wins
easily.
36 ... � x b4 37. cxb4 §.bS 3S. §.f4
§.dS YZ-YZ
( 1 54) Pachman Fischer
-
Bled 1 96 1 (D)
17 gxh3?
•••
Fischer is trying to attack the king; but
Black wins with I7 .. J�b8! I 8.hxg4 e4!
1 9 .�d2 '£}d4 20.f4 exf3 2 1 . exf3 �g3.
1 S . j}, d 5 + \fiIhS 1 9 . 4) x aS 4) e7
20.j},e3 h2+ 21.Cit'h1 j},h3 22.4)c7
This hands the advantage to Black; cor­
rect is 2 2 . j},xb7! �fS 23 . .11 c S .11 xfl
24.�xfl �g3+ 2S.fxg3 l::! xfl + 26. l::! xfl
�xc4 27.b4, with equality.
22 ••• � f5?
Fischer should have played 22 . . . �g4
23 . .£}e6! l::! f7 24 . .£}xg7 .£}xdS 2 S . �xdS
e4 26. l::! gl hI �+ 27. l::! xgl �h4 with
equality.
23.4)e6 §.f6 24.� xg7?
White 's advantage would be great af­
ter 24.Axa7! e4 2S . .£}xg7 �xg7 26.�c2
Axfl 27.�xe4, etc.
24 4) xe3 25.fxe3 §.xfl+ 26.�xfl
•••
Axf1 27.§. xfl Cit'xg7 2S.§.f7+ Yz-Yz
( 1 55) Uhlmann Fischer
-
Siegen 1 970 (D)
 Bobby Fischer 's Draws

3S b x c4 3 6 . b x c4 Jlf6 3 7 . �f4
•••

�xf4 3S.Axf4 Axh4 39.Ae3 Ae7

40.�g3 gS 41.�f3 �f6 42.Ad2
%-%

( 1 56) Portisch - Fischer

Siegen 1 970 (D)

2S a6 26. 4) x d6 Jld4 27.4) x eS

••.

This is forced.

27 � xf2+ 2S.�h2 4)f4 29.Jlxf4

.••

�xel?

The text trades into an i n fe r i o r

14 4)hS?
..•

endgame. F o r some reason, Bobby did

not want to capture the queen. Tal, who
Fischer does not feel the danger of
annotated this game, was mi staken
White opening up the center. Correct
when he believed that after 29 .. .'li1'xc2!
is 14 . . . h3! 1 5 .g3 Ab5 1 6 . 4) e 3 4) a 5
30.d6, White 's pawn is unstoppable.
1 7 . i:'! d2 g5 1 8 . f3 Aa4, and White is
However, White saves the game after
only slightly better.
30 . . . �c3! 3 1 . i:'! e2 (or 3 1 . i:'! e7+ �h8
32.d7 � a l ! 3 3 . Ae3 Axe3 3 4 . i:'! xe3
H.dS 4) e S 16.d x e 6 �eS
�d4 3 5 . 4) f6 �f4+, with perpetual
17.EtxdS+ � x dS IS.JlxhS Et x hS
check) 3 1 . . . � a l ! 32.d7 Jlgl + 3 3 . �g3
19.f4 4)d3 20.exf7 cS 21. �e2 EthS
�d4 3 4 . i:'! e7+ �g8 3 5 . 4) f6 + �f8
22.eS �bS 23.e6 �f6 24.Etel AbS
3 6 . d 8 � + � x d8 3 7 . i:'! e 8 + � x e 8
2S.JlxcS b x cS 26.Etbl a6 27.a4
3 8 . A x h 6 + � e 7 3 9 . 4) x e B � x e B
4) xf4 2S.�f3?
4 0 . �f3 � e 7 4 1 . A e3 A x e 3 with
equality.
White would have won immeidately
after 2 B . � x e 4 .£\ x e 6 2 9 . a x b 5 a 5
3 0 . � c l � x eS 3 1 . A x h 6 �e4
30 . .£\e3 'ltIxf7 3 1 .'ltIe5+, etc.
32.Af4 � gS 33.�f1 �f7 34.h4
bS 3s.Ag3?
2S 4) xe6 29.� xf6 gxf6 30.axbS
..•

axbS 3 1 . Et x bS+ �c7, and the game

Uhlmann misses the endgame win af­
was soon drawn.
ter 3 5 . �f3 ! �el 36.g3 bxc4 37.bxc4
�b 1 3 B . d6 � c 2 + 3 9 . � h 3 � e 4
( 1 57) Kavalek - Fischer
40 .�xe4 fxe4 4 1 . �g2 �e6 4 2 .g4.
Sousse 1 967 (D)
 Draw !

21 ... �f8? B l a c k w i n s straight away with

38 . . . El d l ! 3 9 . 'l!i'c7 (or 3 9 .'iiY e 5 'l!i'f2 !
B lack would win after 2 1 . . . �c5 + ! 40 .4Jxe6 �d5+) 30 . . . � x g5 4 0 . El b4
2 2 .'it'hl El f8 23 .4Jxh5+ 'it'd8 24.Eldl + �d5 + 4 1 . El c4 Elbl +, etc.
�d7 2 5 . El b2 'l!i'a4 26.El bd2 �d4, etc.

22 . .1l. x h5+ �d8 23.�dl + .1l.d7 (D)

Now White 's king is out of danger and
Black cannot win.

39 . . . �d2 40. �b4 �cl+ 4 1 . �b2

�al + 42.�a2 �cl + 43.�b2 �al +
Yz-Yz

( 1 5 9) Fischer - Shocron
Mar del Plata 1 95 9 (D)

24.�e3!

Possibly Fischer did not see this move,

or he underestimated it.

24 . . . �a5 25.�b7 .1l.c5 26.�dxd7+

� c 8 2 7 . �dc7+ �d8 2 8 . �d7+
Yz-Yz

( 1 5 8) Spassky - Fischer 38 ... �d8??

World Championship Iceland ( 1 5)
1 972 (D) After 38 . . . 'l!i'd7! 39.Elb6 �c7 40.El xb8+
�xb8 4 1 . �d7 'l!i'd6, the game is very
38 ... �d5+
close to a draw.
 Bobby Fischer 's Draws
39.�xe6 �c8?
Black pins the rook. Correct would be
39 .. . fxe6! 40 :i!i'xe6+ �g7 4 1 .'«Yxe5+
Af6 with equality.
40.Jl.d7! Fischer finishes with a pow­
erful zw ischenzug. 1-0
( 1 60) Fischer - Geller
Monte-Carlo 1 967 (D)
21.-'lxe6?
Fischer could have saved the game by
2 1 ."i!i'e2 ! ! '«Yd3 (if 2 1 . . .Ad5, 2 2 .Axe6!
Axe6 23 .'«Ye4! El e8 24."i!i'xe5 �d7 (or
24 . . . El e6 2 5 . '«Yb8+ Ae8 26.'«Yf4 El f6
27.ltxf6 gxf6 28.i*xf6 "i!i'd3 29.i!k6+
�d8 30.El e l Ae3 3 1 .i*f6+ with a
perpetual) 2 5 ..!� e l Ele8 26. El d l + �e6
27."i!i'e4+ El b6 28. El b l + Ab4
29.Ae3+ �c7 30.Af4+ with a
perpetual.) 2 2 .'«Ya4+ i*d7 23.'«Yxd7+
�xd7 24.Elf7+ �e8 25 .Axe6+ �b8
26. El xg7 c3 27. El xh7, and White is
fine
2l �d3 22. �el Jl.e4 23. Jl.g4
.•.
�b8, and B lack won.
 Draw !
VI. Mutual Mistakes
Every ches splayer, no m atter how
strong, is prone to making mistakes and
gaffes. These miscues come in all sizes,
b i g and small. In the h e at of the
struggle, we often witness the exchange
of these chess sins, even in top-flight
chess. This makes the game of chess
more exciting; quite often, such games
end as draws.
( 1 6 1 ) Stein - Spassky
Moscow 1 964 (D)
Normally this sacrifice should lead to
a draw.
21.g xf5 exf5 22. �h3 h6 23. �xf5
g6 24.�h3?
White gets equality w ith 2 4 . '�xd7
� x d7 2 5 . '£\f6+ 1;g7 26 . .£\ x d7 1:! fd8
2 7 . .£\ x f7 1;xf7 28.e6+ r:tJe7 29 . .£\e5
1:! ac8 30.c3.
24 ... � xe5?
24 . . . r:tJg7! offers White a strong attack;
2 5 . e 6 h x g5 26.exd7 1:! fd8 2 7 . 1:! d l
�xc2.
25.� xh6 �h8
In h i s annotations, Spassky wrote :
"Correct [is] 25 . . :�g7 26.�h3 1:! ad8
2 7 . 1:! d l and only now 27 . . . �h8," but
after 28.1:! xd7! �xh3 29 . .£\xh3 1:! xd7
30.'£\f6+ 1;g7 3 1 ..£\xd7 1:! d8 32 . .£\c5, it
is Black who is fighting for a draw.
26 . � x h8+ � x h8 27. 4) d6 �g8
28.ge7 4)e5 29.h3?
More stubborn is 29 . gxe5.
B l a c k loses h i s advantag e ; after
29 . . . g ad8 30 . .£\de4 .£\c6 3 1 . gb7
g a8, he has good winning chances.
30.gc7 4)e5 31.ge7 4)c6 32.gc7
4)d8 33. gd7, and the game was even­
tually drawn.
( 1 62) Polugaevsky - Tal
Tbilisi 1 956 (D)
16 ... .11. a 6?
Tal is seeking complications, but he
overlooks White 's unexpected reply.
He should play 1 6 . . . .£\ x d4 1 7 . 1:! xd4
.Q.xf3 1 8 . .£\xc7 .Ilxe2 1 9 . 1:! xd8+ .Q.xd8
20 . .£\xe6! .Q.f6! 2 1 ..Q.xf6 '£\xf6 22 . .£\d4
.Q.a6, with equality.
 M utual Mistakes

17.'�xe6!

White wins a pawn, and after several

forced moves he gets a decisive ad­
vantage.

1 7 . . . Jl x b 5 1 8 . � x g4 Jl e 2
1 9 . Jl x e7 ! � x e7 2 0 . E!. e 1 .1l. x f3
21. �xf3 �d7 22.d5! 4)d4 23. �d3
4)c2

If 23 .. o4:)f5 , then 24.!!e5 g6 2 5 . !! ael

'l;1ta4 26 ..1lb3 'l;1td4 27.'l;1te2, and B lack
is searching for compensation.
24. Jl b l ! 4) x e1 25 . � x h7 + \tIf8
26 .1l. f 5 ! � x d 5 27 . E!. x e 1 f6
•
28.Jl xc8 E!. xc8 29.h4 E!.d8 30.h5
�d3 (D)
White maintaines his advantage after
1 4 . t£lfd4! Ad7 1 5 . .ilf4 !! b7 1 6 . .1le5!
'l;1tb6 1 7 . b 3 Axb5 I B . t£l x b 5 t£l fe 4
19.Ad4 Af6 20.�e3. Now Black finds
a beautiful combination.
14 �a5! 1 5.4)c6 �xa2 16.4) x b8
.••

4)ce4! 17.c4 4)c3! 18.�d3 �a1+

Also possible is IB ... t£lfe4! 1 9. �xe7+

<;t>xe7 2 0 . t£lc6+ 'It>d6 2 1 . t£ld 2 �al +
22 .t£lbl t£lxdl with a slight advantage
for White.

19.\tIc2 (D)

31.� x d3?

Polugaevsky wrote: "It was impossible

to keep the queens on . " B u t with
31 .!!e4! �b3 32.<;t>h2 'l;1tgB 33.�g6 �f7
34.�g4 �d7 35 .'l;1te2, White manages
to do j ust that.

31 . . . E!. x d3 3 2 . E!.c1 E!.b3 3 3 . E!.c2

\tIg8 34.g4 \tIh7 35.\tIh2 \tIh6, and 19 ... �a4+?
the game was soon drawn.
So far B lack has played brilliantly, but
( 1 63 ) Spassky - Guimard this check turns the tables. Correct is
Sweden 1 955 (D) 19 . . . t£lxdl 20:�d4 'l;1ta4+ 2 1 .<it>bl e5!
 Draw !
2 2 .4:)xe5 4:)xb2 23 .�xb2 Aa3+ 24.'�bl
'fii'b 3+ 25 .'�al �a4 with a draw.
20.b3 �a2+ 2 1 . � x c3 4:)e4+ 22.
� x e4 �a5+ 2 3 . �b2 �a3+ 24.
�c2 �a2+ 25. <;tJc3?
Spas sky loses c o n fi d e n c e . After
2 5 .�d3! he wins the game: 25 . . . �xb3+
2 6 . <;tJ e 2 dxe4 2 7 . A x e 7 + rt; x e 7
28. 4:)c6+ �f6 29. 4:)fe5 Ab7 30.E! h3,
etc.
25 �a5+ 26.�c2 �a2+ 27.�c3
•••
�a5+ Yz-Yz
( 1 64) Tartakower - Alekhine
New York 1 924 (0)
25 ••• �f8?
This is a waste of time. Black should
prefer the more active 25 . . . E!ab8! 26.d6
(or 26.E!f1 �g6 27.E!e7 E! b l 28.E! xc7
E! x fl + 2 9 . rt; x f l E! e 8 , w i th equal
chances) 26 ... cxd6 27.cxd6 g6! 28.d7
<;tJg7 29 :�xa7 �b6+ with equality.
26.lafl t,tg6 27.h4 lad7
Alekhine puts an exclamation mark to
this move noting that it is "the only sav­
ing move." In fact, Black's position is
hopeless. For example, 27 . . .f6 28. E! e6!
<;tJg8 29.d6 cxd6 30.cxd6 a5 3 1 .E! e7 h6
3 2 . d7 �h8 33 .rt;h2 a4 34. E! f3
and White wins.
28.h5 �h6 29. �e4!
This is the most effi c ient, although
White wins after 2 9 . 'fii' g 4 E! dd8
30.'fii'e 6! �xe6 3 1 .dxe6 rt;g8 3 2 . E! xf7
as well.
29 ... f6 (0)
30.g4?
Tartakower misses the forced win after
3 0 . d6! E! ad8 3 1 . E! e7 ! 'fii' x h5 3 2 .�c6
cxd6 33.E! xd7, etc.
30 ... laad8 31 .c6 laf7
This is the only move. This rook must
guard the seventh rank.
32.lae6 t,tg5 33. t\' x h7
"Thus White admits that it's a draw,"
noted Alekhine. "All other attempts to
win would be fruitless." The game was
soon drawn.
( 1 65) Hromadka - Reti
Vienna 1 9 1 4 (0)
 Mutual M i stakes

This move could have cost Lasker the

world title ! He should play 26 . . . f4!
2 7 . e 7 + 'it'h8 2 8 . �a4 !=l g8 2 9 . !=l d6
!=l ab8 3 0 . �b3 !=l ge8 3 1 . !=l e6 �f3 +
3 V�f1 �g7 3 3 . �e2 �fS ! 3 4 . � xf3
!=l xb3 3 S . axb3 �xe6, and White is only
slightly better.

2 7 . <37 f 1 4) x h2+ 2 S . <37 e l 4) f3 +

27 •.• .§.fS?? 29.<37e2 4) e 5 (0)

Black should play 27 . . . hxg6 28Jhg6

�eS + 29.'�hl t11a l + , etc.

White retains a strong position after

28.�dS! !=l ae8 29.!=l6gS �f6 30. dxe4
!=l d8 3 1 .t11 e4 !=l e8 32.t11 a 6, etc, but the
text move is stronger.

2S ... .§.f1 29 . .§.3g5 .§.hl+?

Reti misses his chance to win by No better i s 29 . . . '�h8, because of

29 . . . exd3! 30.!=ld6 !=l h l + . 30.�e3! �eS 3 1 . !=ldd7 �xd7 3 2 . exd7,
and White holds the advantage.
3 0 . <37g3 � e l + 3 1 . <37g4 � e 2 +
32.<37g3 �el + 33.<if}g4 �e2+ Yl-Yl 30.Etdd7!!

( 1 66) Schlechter - Lasker White has many threats .

World Championship B erlin (7)
1 9 1 0 (0) 30 . . . f4 3 1 . §g7+ <37hS 3 2 . .§. x g5
Jl,d3+ 33.<37dl fxg3 34.fxg3 4)g6
(0)
 Draw !

35.13d5? 15.4) xc5?

Stronger is 3 5 . '<t>d2 Ei adS 36. Ei d 5 ! White is on the wrong path. Correct is

Ei x d 5 3 7 . lt x d 5 Af5 3 S . Ei xa7 <£\e7 1 6 .<£\xe6 fxe6 16.<£\xc5! Axf3 17.<£\xe6
39.Ab3 <£\c6 40 . Ei a6 <£\e7 4 1 . Ei d6, and � c S ! l S . <£\ x fS 'it' x fS 1 9 . Ei xf3 'l*c6
Black is hard pressed. 2 0 . Ei h3 't¥\'e4 with equal chances.

35 Jle4 3 6 . 13 d 6 Jlf5 37.Jld5

.••
15 Axf3 16.4)cxe6 �b7 17.13xf3
.•.

13ab8 38.c6 4)f8 (D) f x e 6 18. -tJ xe6 13 f7 1 9 . 13afl a5

20.c3 (D)

Tarrasch wrote: "It seems that the e6-

pawn is doomed after 3 9 . e 7 <£\g6 20 ... �e4?
40.Af7 Ei xe7 4Ulxg6 Ag4+, followed
by 42 . . . Ei x c7 . However, Schlechter Black wins after 20 . . . a4! 2 1 .Ac2 ltdS!
suddenly turns the tables against the en­ 2 2 .a3 ltb6 23.Axb6 �xb6+ 24.�g2
emy and threatens to win a piece." �b7, etc.

39.13b7! 13bc8 40.e7 4)g6 41.Jlf7 2 1 . 4) c7 13 af8 2 2 . .Q.d5 �c2

13 x e7 4 2 . A x g6 .Q.g4 + 1 43 . <\t> c l 23.4) xb5 <\t>h8 24.4)d4 �xb2
13 e l + 44.<\t>b2 h xg6 45.13xg6 Af5
4 6 . 13 f6 Ae4 4 7 . 13 x a7 13 b l + The game was soon drawn.
48.<\t>a3 Axc6 Yl-Yl
( 1 67) Vasiukov - Aronin ( 1 68) Szabo - Flohr
Riga 1 954 (D) Groningen 1 946 (D)
 Mutual M i stakes

White has both a material and posi­

tional advantage. Szabo chooses an
apparently natural way of exploiting his
advantage.

24.'£tb3?

Much stronger is 24J � b l ! 'l:tc6 25 .b4

a6 26.�c3 �xc3 27.'l:txc3 � e4 28.Ad2
f5 2 9 . � e l � xel + 30.Axel Af4 3 1 .g3,
and White has an edge.
36 f6?
•••

24 ••• '£ta6!
Black should play 36 . . . g5! 37.Af2 'lli'e7
By sacrificing a pawn, Black gets an 38. 'l:tc4 gxf4 39. Axd4 'l:tg5 4 0 . � d7
initiative and good counterplay. �e7, with equality.

Correct is 26. � e l ! Aa5 2 7 . � d l �d2 + Taimanov misses a good chance to ob­

28.� xd2 Axd2 29.'lli' b 3, and Black is tain a big advantage : 3 7 . 'l:tc4! �h8
slightly better. 38.'l:txd4 fxe5 39.'lli'e 4! � a 5 40. � cd1 .

26 f5?
•••
37 fxe5 38.fxe5 EIb6 39.'£td5+
•.•

'£tf7 40.e6 t,tf4+ 4 1 . jlg3 '£t x c1

Flohr ignores the errors of his oppo­ Yz-Yz
nent. After 26 . . . �g3 +! 27.� xg3 Axg3
28.'l:tb3 Axf2 29.'<Ttxf2 � xe3 30.'lli' x e3 ( 1 70) Kasparov - Ponomarev
� xe3 3 1 .�xe3 'lli' x a2, Black has good Moscow 2002 (D)
winning chances.

27.'£tb3 f4 28.'£td3 '£tb7 29.4) xf4

jl x f4 30.J1,xf4 4) xf2!

Black forces the draw.

3 1 . � xf2 EIe2+ 3 2 . '£t x e2 EI x e2+

33.�xe2 '£txg2+ 34.�d3 '£txh3+
3 5 . J1,e3 '£te6, and eventually the
game was drawn.
24.'£tf5?
( 1 69) Taimanov - Polugaevsky
Moscow 1 969 (D) Kasparov m i s s e s 2 4 . A e 3 ! � a e8
2 5 . � a d l ! 'l:t x e 4 + 2 6 . 'l:t x e 4 � x e4
27.� xd6, with a big advantage.
 Draw !

24 ... �g8? This is a horrible blunder ! Tarrasch

The correct defense is 24 . . .1:UeB 2 5 . f3
�f2! 26 . .ila3 .!:! e 5 27.�f4 .!:!g5 2B . .!:! xg5
fxg5 29.�f5 , etc.
White maintains his advantage after
25 . .ilh6! '?f1c7 (not 25 . . . .!:! adB 26 . .!:! xgB+
.!:! xgB 27 . .!:!g l .!:! xg l + 2B.'iftxgl when
White wins) 26 . .!:! ac 1 �b7 27 . .ilf4 .!:! g6
2B . .ilxd6.
could force a draw with 4B.�xg4 fxg4
49 . .!:! xg4 .!:!al + 50.'ifif2 h3 5 1 ..!:!h4, etc.
48 ... �al+?
This is chess blindness! 4B . . . h3 wins
immediately: 49 . a7 .!:! xa7 50.'�j>f2 f4
5 1 ..!:!bl g3+ 5 2 .'ifigl f3, etc.
49.�f2 g3+ 50.�g2 �a2+ 51.�gl
�al+ 52.�g2 .§.a2+ Yz-Yz
( 1 72) Vaganian Gulko -

Baku 1 977 (D)

25 ... d5?

Correct is 2 5 . . . .!:! aeB! 26 . .!:! xgB+ .!:! xgB

27 . .!:! c 1 '?f1d3 2 B . h4 b 4 ! 2 9 . h 5 h 6
30.'�h2 � b 5 with a slight edge for
White.

Kasparov m i s s e s the powerfu l

26 . .!:! gdl ! '?f1c6 27 . .!:! xd5 4Je5 2B . .!:! ad l
'?f1e6 29. '!:! d6, with a winning position.

Vaganian launches an attack against

Black's king.
( 1 7 1 ) Tarrasch PiIIsbury
-

Monte Carlo 1 903 (D)

27 ... �xg7 2S.h4 h6 29:lltf6+ �gS
30 . .1lh5!

White 's bishops are very powerful !

30 ... 4)hS 31 . .§.el 4)h7 32.'llt xh6

.§.c7

Black defends against .§.el -e3-g3 .

33.a5 4)f7?

Gulko cracks under the pressure. Cor­

4S . .1lb5? rect is 33 . . . bxa5 34.Ad6 .!:!b7 35 . .!:! e 3
§. g7 3 6 . .!:! b 3 Ab7, with equal chances.
 Mutual M istakes

3 4 . it g6+ �hS 3 5 . a x b6 a x b6 * e t + 5 1 . �g4 * e 4 + 5 2 . �g5

3 6 . � b l *gS 3 7 . * x e6 .1lcS * e 3 + 5 3 . �h4 * e 4 + 5 4 . � g5
3S.*xb6? *e3+ 55.�h4 *el + Yz-Yz

Vaganian envisages sacrificing the ( 1 73) Stahlberg - Capablanca

queen, but instead he maintains his ad­ Moscow 1 93 5 (D)
vantage after 38.�g6! �xg6 39.Axg6
�d8 4 0 . §' xb6 �e6 4 1 ..� x f5 �xd4
42 . .ll x c8 §. xc8 43 . .llb 2! �c6 44.f4, etc.

3S ... �b7 39.*xb7 .1l x b7 40.�xb7

*aSI

This is quite precise ! On 40 . . . �d8

4 1 . §. b8 or 40 . . . �h6 4 1 . §. e7, Black is
in zugzwang.

4 1 . � x f7 * x a 3 4 2 . e6 *c l + lS ... .£leS?
43.�h2 (D)
Capablanca's usually reliable intuition
fails him. He could put up good resis­
tance w i th 18 . . . g6 ! 1 9 . � d3 <ltg7
20 . .lle l �b6 21 .§.f3 �d7 22 . .11d2 .£lb4
23 . .1l.xb4 .ll x b4, with equal chances.

1 9 . Jt x e7 .£l x e7 20.f5 .£l x f5

21 . .£l xf71

Capablanca probably overlooked this

move.

21 ... �xf7 22.* xe6 .£l ed6 (D)

The game has become a chess circus !
Gulko finds the only move to save the
game.

44.hxg5 *xg5 45.g4 fxg4 46.�g21

Vaganian is trying to keep the flame of

the attack burning. On 46 . §. f8+ <ltg7
4 7 . e 7 , Black fo r c e s the draw by
47 . . . g3 + ! .

46 . . . g3 1 47.e7 g x f 2 + 4S. � x f2
* h 4 + 4 9 . �g2 * e 4 + 5 0 . �g3
 Draw !
23.g4?
Stahlberg misses his chance. After
2 3 .�e5! �b6 (or 2 3 . . . �xe5 24.dxe5
�f8 25 .�xt/ lLlxt/ 26.'§ xd8+ lLlxd8
27 . .§ xf5 + and White wins) 24.g4! �h8
25 . .ilxf7 lLlxt/ 26. �xf5, White has a
decisive advantage.
23 ... ciflhS 24.�e5 �xe5 25.dxe5
4) e3 26 .11. x f7 4) x d l 27.e x d6
• There is not much left to play for after
§ xd6 Yz-Yz
( 1 74) Botvinnik - Flohr
Groningen 1 946 (D)
2S.4)xf7
Possibly, Botvinnik pinned all his hopes
on this move.
2S ... �d5?
B lack is all right after 28 . . .. il\' x d 4 !
29.lLlg5 �d5 30.lLlf3 .§ d8 3 Ulc2 �c4
32 .�xc4 .§ xc4 33 . .ilb3 .§e4 34.-'txe6+
�h8, etc.
29.4)e5?
Botvinnik overlooks a good tactical
shot 29 . .§ g 5 ! 'l!¥c4 30.�xc4 .§ xc4
- Ae7 21.�d4 �g4+ 22.ciflhl �f3+
3 1 .�e5 .§ ec8 3 2 .lLlxc4 .§ xc4 33 . .§ ge5
A d 5 34 . .§ 5 e 2 '§ x d 4 35 . .§ c 2 Ad6
36.-'te3, with an edge for White.
29 ... §xg3 30.fxg3 �xd4+ 31.ciflhl
Ad6 32 . .11.f4 4)h5 33.§dl 4) xf4
3 4 .g x f4 � x f4 3 5 . § x d6 .11. d 5
36.Ac2 §fS 37.h3 �fl + 3S. �xfl
la xft+ 39.ciflh2 §f2 40.la xd5 exd5
41.Ab3 ciflg7 YZ-YZ
42.lLld3 .§ f6 43.lLlxb4 d4 44.lLld3, etc.
( 1 75) Lasker - Alekhine
St. Petersburg 1 9 1 4 (D)
Alekhine chooses the wrong way to get
counterplay. Necessary is 14 . . . lLlxc5!
1 5 .�xc6 lLlxe4 1 6.fxe4 �f6 17.�a8+
�d7 18.�xa7 �g6+, with equality.
Lasker could have won after 16. -'tf4
�b7 17 . .§ fe 1 lLld3 1 8 . Ag3 lLlxe1 + 1 9 .
'§ xe1 .§d3 2 0 . lLld6+, etc.
16 ... �f5 17.�aS+ cifld7 lS.§dl +
cifle6 1 9 . � x dS � x f3 + 2 0 . cifl g l
23.ciflgl �g4+ 24.ciflhl �f3+ Yz-Yz
 Mutual M istakes
( 1 76) Spassky - Polugaevsky
Leningrad 1 960 (D)
1 5.g4?
Spassky does not feel the danger, oth­
erwise he would play 1 5 . .£Jcd5 �d8
1 6.c;t>bl 0-0 17 . .£Jxf6+ ..\lxf6 18 . .£Jd5
A x d 5 1 9 . e x d 5 f1 e S , with equal
chances.
15 ... �a5 16.a3 g xc3! 17.bxc3 d5?
In h i s annotat i o n s to t h i s game,
Polugaevsky gives this move an excla­
mation mark. However, after 17 . . . .£Jd7!
1 8 . �b2 0-0 19.�e l .£Jc5 20 . h4 f1cS,
he has a strong initiative.
18.exd5 0-0 19. � xe5?
This i s quite risky. More solid is
1 9.�b2 Ad6 20.Ae4 f1 cS 2 1 .�f3 .£Jd7
2 2 . f6 .£Jb6 2 3 . f1 b l .£J c 4 + 2 4 . � c l
�xa3+, with equality.
19 . . . �xa3+ 20.<if}b1 .1l x b4?
After 20 . . . Ac5 !, Black obtains a great
e dge, for example, 2 1 . f1 he l .£Jx g4
2 2 �c7 ..\lxb4, etc.
.
2 2 . c x b4 � x d 5 2 3 . � b 2 � c 3 +
24.<if}c1 �a2+ 25.<if}b1 �c3+ YZ-YZ
( 1 77) Alekhine - Euwe
World Championship Amsterdam
( 1 6) 1 93 7 (D)
25 ... �e5??
The queen goes to the wrong square.
Any retreat - on c4, d6 or f5 - is safe
for Black.
26 .1lb2??
•
This is very unusual for Alekhine. He
m i s s e s the s i mple tactical shot
2 6 . �h 8 + ! � x h S 2 7 . .£J x f7 + �g8
2S . .£Jxe5 Axb4 29 . .£Jxd7 .£Jxd7 30 . .£Je4,
and White has a healthy extra pawn.
26 ... .1lc6??
Black's queen should leave the e5-
square, for example 2 6 . . . �f5 27.e4
�g4, and the draw is obvious.
27.a3??
The comedy of errors continues ! White
wins after 27.�h8+ ! ' At this moment
Euwe noticed his gaffe and defended
his queen with 27 ... .1ld6. The game
was eventually drawn.
 Draw !

VII. Paradoxes

( 1 78) M. Liburkin 1 949 (D) games have been drawn or won as a

result of knowledge of endgame themes
and ideas.

( 1 79) R.Reti 1 921 (D)

White 's position looks critical. But. . .

1 . � g3 + � h 4 2 . 'it/b2 c l � +
3 . 'it/ x c l .£l e4 ! 1 4 . � h l ! l A x h l
S . .£lh3! jlc6 6.jlg211 jlxg2 7.d7
hl�+ 8.�d2! and, despite the enor­
mous material advantage, Black is un­
able to win.
Obviously, something improbable hap­
pened. Black's queen and bishop were
unable to stop the apparently helpless
1 . 'it/g7! h4 2 . �f6 'it/b6 3 . � e S !
�xc6 4.�f4.
However, chess enthusiasts are unlikely
to know that Reti was inspired by a
game between Lasker and Tarrasch.
( 1 80) Lasker Tarrasch
-

passed pawn; White's last soldier saved St. Petersburg 1 9 1 4 (D)

the game.

Practically every endgame study is

proof that the impossible in chess is
poss ible ! Every time we solve an
endgame study, we become aware that
the general rules and concepts familiar
to us since childhood very often turn
out to be invalid. Paradoxes triumph !
It is easy to understand why exception­
ally beautiful moves in practical play
are often called endgame maneuvers, 40.h4 �g4
unique and fantastic moves.
Tarrasch was probably anticipating his
Many chess composers often find great v i ctory. He c alculated 4 1 . �f6 c4
ideas in the games played by masters
42 .bxc4 bxc4 43.'\t>e5 c3! 44.bxc3 a4,
and grandmasters. Likewise, many
and White 's b3 -pawn blocks White 's
 Paradoxes

king's retreat. However, those familiar

with Reti 's endgame can guess Lasker's
response.

Now White makes it j ust in time and

the draw is obvious.

( 1 8 1 ) Mieses - Schlechter
Koburg 1 904 (D)
Bad is 46.gS because of 46 .. .'<!ib4 47.hS
a3 48.g6 hxg6 49.hxg6 a2 SO.g7 al �,
and Black wins.

46 Cit'h4 47. Cit' x h7 a3 48.gS a2

•••

49.g6 al� SO.g7 �a7 S V�h8

�d4 S2.hS �f6 S 3 . Cit'h7 �fS+
S4.Cit'h6! �f6+ SS.Cit'h7 �f7 S6.h6
Cit'cS S7.Cit'h8 Yz-Yz

( 1 83) Shamkovich - Spassky

Baku 1 96 1 (D)
39.a41!

After this splendid move the draw is

inevitable . 39.g3 is bad because of
39 . . . cS!.

39 hxa4
•••

N o good is 39 . . . b 2 4 0 . Cit'c2 b x a 4
4 1 . Cit' x b 2 Cit' c 4 4 2 . Cit' a 3 Cit' x c 3
43. Cit'xa4 Cit'd4! 44.Cit'aS c S ! 4S.bS, etc.

40.c4+ Cit'd6 41.Cit'c3 Cit'c7 42.Cit'h2 S6 .Q.h7?

•••

Cit'h6 43.Cit'a3 YZ-YZ Black 's king can­

not break through. After the text, Black loses a tempo and
the game. The drawing line is S6 . . . .ila8!
S7.hS 'it'eS S8.'it'xe3 'iftfS S9.'it'd4 �gS
( 1 82) Van Doesburgh - Maroczy
60 .'ifteS 'it'xhS 61 .b4 'iftg6 62 .'<!ie6 c6
Zandwoort 1 93 6 (D)
63.'iftd7 'it'f7 64.'it'c7 'ifte7 6S.'it'b8 'it'd8
42.Cit'e4! 66.<ifi>xa8 <;!tc8 67 .bS cxbS, stalemate !
White counterattacks on the kingside.
S7.hS Cit'eS S8.h4 Cit'fS S9.Cit'x e3
42 Cit'xa3 43.fS! gxfS+ 44.Cit'xfS
••• Ac6 60. Cit'd4 Cit'f6 6 1 .h6 �g6
as 4S.Cit'xf6 a4 46.Cit'g7! 62.�eS 1-0
 Draw !
( 1 84) Tal - Kortchnoi
Moscow 1 968 (D)
This is a position from the analysis of
the game between two outstanding So­
viet grandmasters. For many years it
was believed that it was in White's fa­
vor. Mikhail Tal until his death believed
that he had missed a win here. However,
recent deep searches into this position
revealed that Black had good drawing
chances. This is the line that was found
quite recently:
1 ... f4+11 2. gxf4 ( if 2 .'it>d2, 2 . . . fxg3
3.fxg3 e4! 4 .a4 c4! 5 .a5 cxb3 6.a6 b2
7.1;c2 e3 8.a7 bl�+ 9.'it>xbl e2 with
advantage to Black) 2 ... �fS (also pos­
sible is 2 . . . exf4+ 3 .<it>xf4 1;f6 4 . 1;e4
<it>e7 5 .1;e5 1;d7 6.f4 <it>e7 and Black
is fine) 3. fxeS �xeS 4.�d3 �d6
5.�c3 �c6 6.f4 �d5 7.a4 �c61
with equality.
( 1 85) Fenx - Okraik
Germany 1 973 (D)
Black's queen is posted ideally on V.
If Black's king gets close to White 's,
Black wins easily.
61 �c3 62.h4 �d4 63.h5 �e5??
•.•
This is a bad oversight. Black should
play 63 .. :�g8! 64 .1;g6 1;e5 65 .h6 1;e6
66.h7 �V+ 67 .1;h6 'lii'f6+, winning.
Now the game is drawn after 64.g8�
�xg8 stalemate.
( 1 86) Szabo - Fuster
Budapest 1 937 (D)
The pawn endgame looks absolutely
lost for Black. But Fuster proves in his
analysis that appearences are deceptive
4S ... �f8??
The text move loses. However, with
45 . . . h4! ! 46.g4 h3! (White 's king has
to retreat to capture Black's pawn)
47 .<it>f4 (no better is 47.<it>g5 1;e7 48.
<it>h4 1;f6 49. 1;xh3 <it>g6! 50. 1;h4 f5
5 1 . g5 f4 5 2 . 1;g4 f3 , with a draw)
47 .. . f6 4 8 . 1;g3 <it>V 4 9 . <it> x h 3 1;g6
50 .<it>h4 f5 5 1 .g5 f4 52.<it>g4 f3 5 3 .1;xf3
<it>xg5 , the game is drawn.
46.�gS �g7 47.�xh5 f6 48.�g4
�g6 49. �f4 �g7 50.�fS �f7
51.g4 �g7 S2.h4 �f7 53.hS �g7
54.�e6 1 - 0
 Paradoxes
Although the next example does not fit
in with pawn endings, it is true in spirit
to this chapter. Just take a look!
( 1 87) Kogan - Sakharov
Odessa 1 949 (D)
41.Et xh51 gx h 5 42.Ad7 � x f2 + 1
43 . � x f2 Et x f 2 + 44. � x f2 h 3
4 5 .Q.b5 b 2 46.Ad3 �f7 47.�g3
•
�e7 48.�f21
48. �h4 loses after 48 . . . g6 49. �g3 Cit>d7
50.�f3 �c7 5 1 . �e3 h4! 52.�f3 Cit>b6
5 3 . �g4 �c5 5 4 . �xh4 �d4 5 5 .1.tbl
�c3 56.�g3 �d2 57.�f3 �c1 58.1.ta2
bl'l!i" 59.Axbl Cit>xbl 60 .'�e3 Cit>c2 .
4 8 �e8 49. �f3 �d7 50.�e21
•..
�c7 51.g61 �d7
The position is drawn after 5 1 . . .�b6
5 2 .�d2 �c5 5 3 . �c2 �d4 54.1.te2 h4
55.Af3 �e3 56.�hl h3 57.�xb2 �f2
58.�c3 h2 59.�d2 �gI 60.�e2 �xhl
6 1 .�f2 stalemate !
5 2 . � d2 � e 7 5 3 . �c2 �f6
54 . � x b 2 � x g 6 5 5 . �c3 �g 5
56.�c411 �f4 57.�b5 h4 58.Aft
g5 59.�c6 g4 60.�xd6 h3 61.�e6
�f3 62 .1l x h 3 g x h 3 63.d6 h 2
•
64.d7 h I � 65.d8� Yl-Yl
This is perfect timing !
"All rook endings are drawn," Siegbert
Tarrasch used to say. Perhaps he was
just joking. Let us take a look at some
examples.
( 1 88) Stein - Vaganian
Vrnj acka-Banj a 1 97 1 (D)
White threatens to oust Black's rook
and advance the passed pawn.
59.gxh5?
White misses the win to be had after
5 9 . '�b8 � a 5 60.fxg6 �xg6 61 .�b7
�e5 62.gxh5 + �xh5 63.�b6, etc.
59 g511
•••
This is very good ! Black creates a
passed pawn. He loses after 59 . . . gxf5
60.Cit>b8 �a5 61 .Cit>b7 �h6 62.�b6 �a8
63.a5 �b8+ 64 .Cit>c5 §. a8 65.�a4 �xh5
66.�b6! .
6 0 . �b8 Et a 5 6 1 . h x g5 fxg5
62.Etb7+
No better i s 6 2 . Cit> b7 because o f
62 . . . �f6 6 3 . �b6 � a8 64 . a 5 � b8 +
65.�c5 � xb4! .
6 2 �h6 63.f6 Et x a4 Yl-Yl
•••
 Draw !

( 1 89) Philidor - Bowdler ( 1 90) Kotov - Solntsev

London 1 783 (D) Moscow 1 947 (D)

Black is a piece down, but his passed S9.d61 cxd6 60.exd6 a2 61.d7 �e7
pawn is dangerous. However, White 6 2 . 4) e 6 n � x d7 6 3 . 4) c S + �d6
uses the power of his passed pawn and 64.4)b3 �dS 6S.f4 bS 66.fS b4
the extra knight. 67 .f6 �e6 Yz-Yz

63.4)e31 a3 64.4)dSI In the next example, Black's knight

This is the only good move ! On 64 . e7? fights alone against an armada of
fl'if! 65. oi)xfl a2, Black wins. Or 64.4Jf5
White's passed pawns.
fl'if! 65.oi)g7+ <M8 66.e7+ �xg7 67. eS�
'if!f8+, and again Black wins.
( 1 9 1 ) Osto - Tsvetkov
Yugoslavia 1 973 (D)
64 fl � 6S.4)c7+ �f8
•••

Black is mated after 65 . . . �dS 66.e7+

�cS 6 7 . e S'iff' + �b7 6S . 'if!aS+ �b6
69 .<iJd5 + �b5 70.'iff'c6+ �a5 7 1 . �b6
�a4 72.'iff'b 4#.

66 .e7+ �g7 67.e8� �f8+

68.�xf8+ � x f8 69.4)e6+

The knight is just in time !

SO.aS?

White misses the win after 5 0 . �g2 !

<iJd3 5 1 .�xg3 f5 5 2 .b3! <iJb4 5 3 .�f4
<iJxc6 54.dS'iff' + �xdS 55 .�e3 .

SO ... 4)b31 S l.a6 4)d41

 Paradoxes
The knight arrives just in time !
The bishop is a multi-functional piece.
One of its most important jobs is to hold
back an opponent ' s passed pawns;
however, this is not always the case.
Here are some examples.
( 1 92) Chesnauskas - Mariete
Riga 1 95 6 (0)
How can Black prevent the advance of
the e5-pawn? He finds the right move.
54 d3 55.e6 b3! 56.exf7 �b4n
•.•
This is a rare position ! If 57.f8�, then
57 . . . �c3! , winning ! !
57.�d2 b2 58.f8� bl� Yz-Yz (0)
However, White has a clear advantage
and in this position may play for the
full point: 59.c6+ '<t>a5 60.�d8+ '<t>b4
6 1 .�d6+ 'ifta5 62:�c7+ '<t>b4 63 .�e7+
'<t> a 5 64 . �a7+ '<t>b4 6 5 . �d4+ '<t>a5
66.�c3+ 'iftb6 6 7 . c7 �dl + 68 .'ifte3
Ad7 69.c8� Axc8 70:�xd3.
( 1 93) Aistov - Chalilbeili
Baku 1 95 2 (0)
Black threatens to play Ac3 .
58.g5 .Q,c3 5 9 .g6 �e6 60.d5 + !
cxd5
After 60 ... 'iftxd5, 6 1 .g7 Axg7 62 .Axg7
'<t>xc5 Black cannot win.
61.g7 �f7 62.c6! .Q.xb2 63.g8�+!
� xg8 64.c7 al � 65.c8�+ YZ-YZ
( 1 94) Castaldi - Szabo
Hilversum 1 947 (D)
 Draw !

46 ... e2? If6Ulxd4, then 61 . . .�g3 62.g6 r,tIxh4

63.r,tId2 r,tIh3! and Black wins.
Black wins after 46 . . . � f2 ! 47 . � g8+
r,tId7 48. � b l e2, etc. 61 ... cI}g3 62 .Q.a3 �xh4 63.cI}d3
•

�xgS 64.� h4 6S.CiW3 .Q.dS+ 0-1

47 .§.f8+ .Q.d8 48.�dS!I
•

( 1 96) Leonhardt - Tarrasch

"The king should have no worries," Berlin 1 920 (D)
Tartakower used to say. "However,
sometimes he is like a vagabond on a
tight-rope, struggling his way through
a labyrinth of pieces and pawns ! "

48... .§. x a21

Black nannot play 48 . . e 1 � because of

.

49.r,tId6 ! ! , threatening 5 0 . � c7 + , and

5 1 . � xd8 # . Now Black has to defend
skillfully.
51 .§.hll .§. xg3+ S2 .Q.f3!1
• •

49 .§.gg8 el � SO .§. x d8+ YZ-YZ

• •

( 1 95) Kotov - Botvinnik This is brilliant! Black's rook is lured

Moscow 1 955 (D) into the enemy camp.

S2 ... .§. x f3+ S3.�c2 .§.f2+ S4.cI}dll

.§.fl +1 SS .§.xfl �a31 S6 .§.f2 �d3+
• •

S7.cI}cl �c3+ Yz-Yz

( 1 97) Pilnik - Petrosian

Sweden 1 952 (D)

S9 .Q.cS?
•

Kotov does not sense the danger. Later,

Botvinnik found the drawi n g line
59.r,tId2 ! b2 60.'�c2 <if7xe3 6 1 .'�xb2
�xf4 62.r,tIc3. Now Botvinnik carries
out a specacular breakthrough.
White is an exchange up, and he threat­
S9 ... gS!I 60.fxgS d4+1 6 1 .e x d4 ens to check from h2.
 Paradoxes

43 l!c2 ! !
••• ( 1 99) Yanoshevic - Velimirovic
Yugoslavia 1 973 (D)
This was totally unforeseen by White.
He cannot accept the sacrifice: 44. l!xc2
�g4+ 4 5 . �g2 �xdl + 46.<it>h2 .11 e 5 +
4 7 . <it>h3 �h5 # , or 45. §g2 � x d l +
46.<it>h2 Ae5+ 47. l!g3 �e l , etc.

44. �hl + <i!lg8 45. �a8+ Yz-Yz

( 1 98) Tarasevich - Zlotnik

Moscow 1 97 1 (D)

White threatens mate; Black tries to

deflect the white queen.

44 l!e7U 45. � x e7 �f1 + 46.<i!lh4

•••

�f6 47.�e8+ .11 f8 48 .<i!lg4 d 2

4 9 . � e2 .11 h 6 5 0 . �e8+ A f 8
51 .�e2 Yz-Yz

(200) Griinfeld - Spielmann

Meran 1 926 (D)
It looks that White has lost the battle.
However, he sets up a devious trap.

If 34 . . . l:h g 4 , then 3 5 . � x g4 A x e 2
36.4:lf5 + �g8 37.4:le7+, with a draw.

Zlotnik falls into the trap. He should

play 35 . . . <it>g8! 36.4:lxh4 � xh4 37.Axe2 After White 's natural move 22.� xc4?
b5!, with an advantage for Black. Spielmann, "the knight of great attacks
and sacrifices," suddenly sacrificed his
36 .11h 5++U
•
queen:

This is fantastic ! The rest is forced. 22 ... �xa2U

36 <i!lxh5 37.�g7+ YZ-YZ Black 's

•••
Black is banking on the weakness of
rooks block their king the first rank. However White re­
sponded courageously:
 Draw !

23.g41 � x d211

No good is 23 . . . �xc4 24.E!. xe7 E!. xe7

2 5 .gxf5 E!. e 2 26.E!.a4!.

24.El x e7 � xc3

After 24 . . . E!. x e7 2 5 A ) x d 2 A x g4
26.E!. xa7, the endgame is roughly equal,
while 24 . . . �f4 2 5 . E!. xe8+ �f7 26.E!.e3
�xg4+ 27.E!. g3 �f4 is good for Black.
21 .•• cxd5 22.4) xd5 4)b3+ 23.�c2
25.El x e8+ �g7 26.,§aell � xc4
If23.�dl , then 23 . . . E!.d8 24.Ac4 E!. xe4!
If 26 . . . Axg4, 27 . E!. l e7+! �h6 28.�e3 2 5 . fxe4 Axe4.
Af3 .
23 . . . 4) d4 + 1 24.�d3 4) x f3
27 .g x f5 � x d4 2 8 . El 8e 7 + �h6 2 5 . 4) x e7+ -'l x e7 2 6 . 4) c 3 Eld8+
2 9 . El x b7 a 5 3 0 . ,§ ee 7 � d l + 27.�e3 4)g5 28.b41 4)e6 29.4)d5
31.�g2 �g4+ 32.�f1 YZ-YZ (0) -'lh41

An alternative is 29 . . . .1lxb4 30 )z)xb4

E!. d4 3 1 . � d 5 Axe4 3 2 . � e 7 + ! �f8
33.�f5 ! with equality.

3 0 . -'lc4 Elc8 3 1 . El c l 4) x f4
3 2 . 4) x f4 � f8 3 3 . � d 4 A g 5
34.4) xg6+ Yz-Yz

This draw was well-deserved by both

players.
B l ack c o u l d fi ght for a w i n w ith
32 . . . �xf5 3 3 . E!. xh7+ �g5 34. E!. b3 �d5
(202) Raksin - Zhuravlev
35.E!. g3+ �f5 36.E!.c7 a4 37. E!. a7 �h l +
Saratov 1 973 (0)
38.E!. gl �e4 39.E!. g3 g5 .

(20 1 ) Kuzmin - Taimanov

Leningrad 1 973 (0)

20 ... 4)d511 21.,§ xd5

If 2 1 . exd5?, then 2 1 . .. �b3 * , and if

2 1 .�xd5, then 2 1 . . .cxe4 2 2 . �c3 dxe4
2 3 . �d 5 �xa4 leaves Black with an
edge .
 Paradoxes

20 d3U
.•. (204) Gotgilf - Rozenthal
Leningrad 1 934 (D)
This is a highly imaginative move in
this apparently hopeless position.

21.�xb7 �e3+ 22. 'it'hl � xh2+n

The opponents agreed to a draw here

in view of 2 3 .'�xh2 �xe2+ 2 4 . �g l
�e3+ or 2 3 . '£)xh2 �e4+ with a per­
petual check.

(203) Unzicker - Averbakh

Sweden 1 952 (D) 20 ... Axg2!

It seems that White will is in some

trouble: 2 1 .�xg2 �g4+ 22.�hl �f3+
23.'it'gl §. d 5 ! , etc.

21 . .1lg6U fxg6

2 1 . . . §. d7 meets with 2 2 . 'it'x g2 , and

Black only has a perpetual check, since
his rook cannot move to attack White 's
king.
2 S . � x b7 4) f6! 26.c x d6! E{ x b 7
27.dxc7

Now in case of 27 . . .l�c8 White plays (205) Smyslov - Mikenas

28.d6 and his pawns are unstoppable. Moscow 1 949 (D)

In order to force the perpetual check,

Black has to deflect White's queen from
the third rank. No good is 27 . . . .£)g4
because of28.hxg4 �f2+ 29.�h l §. b6
30.§.e3, and White wins.

If 29.hxg4 , then 29 .. :�f2 + 3 0 . � h l The chances are about equal. However,

�h4+. Smyslov tips the positional scales by
sacrificing a pawn - but he may have
 Draw !

underestimated his opponent's counter­

attacking potential. Fortunately, at the
critical j uncture, he finds a paradoxi­
cal opportunity to draw the game.

2 1 .j},b6 4) x d4 22. 4) x d4 j}, x d4+

2 3 . � b l � x f 1 + 24. � x f l �eS!
2S.j},xg6 bxg6 26. �xg6+ �b8
27.j},e311 Yz-Yz

Black can only capture the bishop with

his queen; if 27 . . . �xe3, then 28.�h5+ This fine move momentarily blocks the
�g8 29.�f7+ �h8 with a perpetual a l -h8 diagonal.
check. On 27 . . . .Q.xe3? 29.�f7, White
wins. S9. 4) x f6 a2 60.b8� al� Yz-Yz

( 206) Langosh - Bykova (208 ) Nazarovsky - Eberle

Moscow 1 952 (D) Budapest 1 959 (D)

Neither king feels safe. White offered If Black could play �c4, he wins; but
a draw and Black declined. it is White to move.

48.c6! bxc6 49.�bSII

Now B lack is obliged to force the draw. This is very beautifu l ! B lack cannot
stop White's passed pawn, but he has
39 ... �gS+ 40.�g4 � xg4+ 41.fxg4 enough material to draw the game.
�e3+ 42.�b4 Yz-Yz
49 . . . a x b S SO.b7 � x a S S l .b8�+
(207) Gaida - Nimzowitsch �d7 S2.�b7+ �d6 Yz-Yz
Marienbad 1 925 (D)
SS ... �b3! S6.4) xg8 a4 S7.b6 a3
S8.b7 f6+11
 Paradoxes

(209) Prakhov - Levin (2 1 0) Spassky Kholmov

-

Kiev 1 964 (D) B aku 1 96 1 (D)

38 ... �g3! 39.Adl Ag7 40.d6

Axd4+!! 4 1 . � xd4
This is the only move to draw.
If 41 .�e l , then 4 1 . . .'�J xe2 42.d7 � d8 4 9 . gb7+ �c3 S O . gb8 cl�
43.�c8 1a.f6 44.1a.xe2, with a draw. SI.g xd8

41 ... �hl+ 42.�f1 �g3+ YZ-YZ It looks as if White is winning, but. . .

S I . . . �hl ! S2.gc8+

If 5 2 . gd3 + , then 52 . . . Cit'b4 ! 5 3 . a8�

�g2+ with a perpetual check.

On 53.a� �g2 + with perpetual check.

 Draw !

VIII. The Intermediate Move (Zwischenzug )

An intermediate move, or to use the 47, . . �dl+ 48.�e1 �d3+ 49.§.e2

German word "zwischenzug," is a move � d 1 + 5 0 . � e 1 � d 3 + 5 1 . �e2
that (unexpectedly) occurs as an inter­ �h3+ 52.�e1 .£if3+ 0-1
lude in a line of otherwise anticipated
and calculated moves. Quite often, such (2 1 2) Alekhine Euwe -

a move comes as a check or an unex­ World Championship

pected capture of a pawn or a piece. Amsterdam (9) 1 93 5 (D)
During the game, in the heat of the
battle, they come as bombshells, but un­
fortunate ly, more o ft e n than not,
chessplayers do not notice them at the
chessboard. The next few examples
show how such moves were made (or
not made) during the game, and so
some draws were made, or not made !

(2 1 1 ) Pfleger - Keres
Bamberg 1 968 (D)
13,..cxd4?

Euwe misses a great opportunity to save

the game with 1 3 . . . E1. x g2 ! ! 1 4 .<t'\xg2
c x d4 1 5 . 'i1i' g8+ \t> d 7 1 6 . .I1g 5 'i1i'f3
1 7 .'il'Yg7+ \t>d6 18 . .I1f4+ e5 1 9 . 'i1i'f8+ ,
and White has to give perpetual check.

14.<t'\ xg61 dxc3 15.h3 <t'\e7 16.<t'\xe7

A x e7 1 7 .h4 'i1i'f7 1 8 .�h8+ 'i1i'f8
19.i13'xf8+ \t>xf8 20.Ag5 and White
won.
46, . . � xc5n
(2 1 3) Fischer - Najdorf
Keres is on the lookout for a practical Varna 1 962 (D)
chance to win the game.

47. � x c5?

Pfleger overlooks the rook sacrifice

with a perpetual check after 47. E1. xf7+!
�h6 (or 47 . . . �g8 4 8 . � f8 + ! \t>xfB
4 9 . '�xc5 +) 48. E1. h7 + ! �xh7 49.'i1i'f7+
�h6 5 0 :if\'f8+ \t>h5 5 1 . �h8+ \t>g 5
5 2 . �d8+ �f4 53 .�d4+ �f5 54.'i1i'd7+,
etc.
 The I ntermediate Move (Zwischenzug)

12 e5?
••• 3 1 .'\!td2 �a5 + 32.'�e2 �a6 3 3 . h4 '§' a 2
34.�xa6 .§. xa6 3 5 .'�d3 .
Naj dorf allows Bobby to carry out a
very b e auti ful comb i n at i o n . The 29 ... �a41
zwischenzug 12 ... .Ilxg2! offers Black a
good game, for example, 1 3 .'\!txg2 (or Pillsbury probably overlooked this
1 3 :�a4+ 4:ld7 1 4 .'�xg2 dxc4 1 5 . .Ile3 move.
�c7 1 6J::! ac1 .§. g8+) 1 3 . . . dxc4 1 4 .�f3
.§. g8 + 1 5 . '\!th 1 .§. a7 ! 1 6 . .Il e 3 � c 8 ! 30 .§ b 7 + C:; e 6 3 1 . C:; e l .§ a l +
•

1 7 . § ac 1 .§. c7 18.4Jf5 e 6 1 9 . .Ilf4 .§.c5 3 2 . C:; d 2 .§ x g l 3 3 . � e 2 � x e 2 +

2 0 . 4Jd6 + ! .Il x d6 2 1 ..Ilxd6 .§.b5 and 34.C:;xe2, and the game was eventu­
Black h a s better chan c e s in the ally drawn.
endgame.
(2 1 5 ) Speelman - Ree
13. �a4+1 �d7 Lone Pine 1 978 (D)

13 . . . �d7 1 4 . .Ilb5 axb5 1 5 .�xa8 .Ild6

16.f3 .Ild3 1 7 . .Ilh6 is also advantageous
for White.

14 .§ x e4 d x e4 1 5 . � f 5 -'l e 5
•

1 6 . � g7 + C:; e7 1 7 . � f 5 + C:;e8
18.-'l.e3 -'l x e3 1 9 . f x e 3 �b6
20 . .§dl .§a7 21 .§d6 �d8 22. �b3
•

�e7 23.,1,lxf7+ C:;d8 24.,1,le6 1-0

(2 1 4) PiIlsbury - Chigorin 22 •.. � xd41

St. Petersburg 1 896 (D)
This is the beginning of a beautiful
combination. Unfortunately, Black
soon falters.

23.exd4 ,1,ld7+ 24.C:;dl .§ xf2?

Winning i s 2 4 . . . .§f4! 2 5 . 4Je 2 .§. xf2 !

26.4Jc5 .Ilf5 , etc.

25. � x f2 -'l x a4+ 26.b311

This zwischenzug saves White !

29 .§ x b8?
•

26 .§ xb3 27 .§e8+ C:;g7 28.�f5+1

••• •

This is the wrong rook. White main­ gxf5 29 .§ x h7+ C:;xh7 30. � x f5+
•

tains an enormous advantage after C:;g7 31. � xg4+ �-�

29 . .§. 8 g 7 ! .§. a 1 + 3 0 . '\!t c 2 b3+
 Draw !

(2 1 6) Petrosian - Sveshnikov 3 9 . Et x h6 .1l x h6 40 . .1le6+ 'itlh8

Moscow 1 976 (D) 41.�f6+ 1-0

(21 8) Sax - Mariotti

Moscow 1 98 8 (D)

14 ... bxc6?

Correct is the zwischenzug 14 . . . Ab5 !

1 5 :�xb5 axb5 1 6 J � c7 g5 1 7 J ! a c 1
<£Jb6 18.Ae5 0-0, with equal chances.
White misses the win after 33 . .§ e l !
1 5 . � c 1 .Q.b5 1 6 . �c 2 c5 17.a4 �g6 34.Ac5 <£Jd7 3 5 . <£Jb7, etc.
.Q.c6 18.dxc5 � xc5 19.b4 .1l.xa4
20. �b2, and White won. 33 ... .1l.xd6 34. � x d6 �c4 35. �d8+
'itlh7 36.Etc1
(21 7) Kasparov - Smirin
Las Palmas 1 978 (D)
Sax may have thought that this move
wins. (D)

3 6 . . . � x e 3 ! ! 3 7 . � x c 2 Et a l +
S m i ri n m i s s e s the i nterm e d i ate
38.'itlh2 �f1+ 39.'itlg1 Yl-Yl
38 ... h5!!, avoiding the immediate threat
39 . .§ xh6. In this case White 's knight
on c4 is still en prise, and its retreat
leads to the exchange of queens and,
most probably, a draw.
 The Intermediate Move (Zwischenzug)

( 2 1 9) Kasparov - Spassky Only the zwischenzug 3 3 . f4 + ! , cutting

Niksic 1 983 ( 0 ) off White's bishop, forces White to take
a perpetual check after 3 2 . �g2 �d7
33.E!. xd7 �xd7 34 .E!.dl �xdl 3 S . �f8+
E!. g8 36.�f6+, etc.

32 .sl.d2!
•

Now White wins.

32 cif7gS 33 .sl.h6 Etg6 34. Et x d7!

••• •

Et xf6 35.Etg7+ cif7hS 36.exf6 �b8+

3 7 . f4 Et c 3 + 3 S . cif7 h 4 �fS
33. � xg6+? 39.Et x h7+ 1-0

Kasparov, down material, misses the (22 1 ) Walbrodt - Mieses

saving 33AJdS!! E!. xdS 34.E!. xf8+ �xf8 Berlin 1 897 ( 0 )
3S .�xe6+ with a perpetual check, or
33 .. Sri'd7 34.4Jxe7 �h6+ 3S .\tlc2 E!. xg8
36.4Jxg8 E!. xh3 37.E!.d1+, with equal
chances in the ending. Curiously, both
grandmasters and all the commentators
overlooked 33.4JdS ! .

33••• cif7dS 0-1

34.�xe6 loses to 3 3 . . . �b4 3 S . 4Jdl

�d2 + 36.'it'bl �h6! .
22.fxg6! 4)c3+ 23.�xc3!
(220) Simagin - Chistiakov
Moscow 1 946 ( 0 ) This zwischenzug saves White.

23 bxc3+ 24.4)f5+ cif7gS 25.4)h6+

•••

cif7g7 26.4)f5+ and the game ended

with a perpetual check several moves
later.

(222) Keres - Szabo

Budapest 1 95 5 ( 0 )
19 ... h6??

Black weakens the position of his king

31 ... .1ld7? and quickly loses the game. After the
intermediate 19 . . . E!.b4!, Keres has a
 Draw !

30 ... ,§ x b4+ 31.�a3 ,§ xc211 0-1

This is a fantastic zwischenzug! Black

w i n s after 3 2 . � x c 2 � b 3 + 3 3 . 'it> a 2
� e3 + .

(224) Averbakh - Kotov

Candidate 's ZUrich 1 95 3 (D)

perpetual check w ith 2 0 J � xg7+ (or

2 0 . �g5 g6 2 1..� xg6 h xg6 2 2 . 'i!t'f6)
20 . . . c;t>xg7 2 1 .�g5+ c;t>f8 22.�h6+ r:tJe7
2 2 . �g5+, etc.

20 . . . �c5 is no better in view of 2 1 .<tIe4

�b4 2 2 . <tIf6+ c;t>h8 2 3 . � x b4 � xb4
24.<tIxd7.

After the intermediate 30.h4!, White is

2 1 . ,§ xg71 � x g7 2 2 . �f6+ �f8
fine. For example, 30 . . . � h6 3 1 . � g4
23 . .1l.g6 1-0
�d8 32 .'i!t'el <tIf6 3 3 . � g2 ! 't;;\'e8 34.'t;;\'d l
�h5 3 5 .r:tJhl <tId7 36.�h2, etc.
(223) Anand - Kasparov
World Championship
3 0 � x h 3 + 1 1 3 1 . � x h 3 ,§ h 6 +
. . •

New York ( 1 1 ) 1 995 (D)

3 2 . �g4 4) f6 + 3 3 . �fS 4) d 7
3 4 . ,§ g S ,§ f 8 + 3 S . �g4 4) f6 +
36.�fS 4)g8+ 37.�g4 4)f6+

37 . . . 1txg5 ! is an easier wins.

3 8 . �fS 4) x d S + 3 9 . �g4 4) f6+

4 0 . �fS 4) g8 + 4 1 . �g4 4) f6+
42.cifjlf5 4)g8+ 43.cifjlg4 .1l. xgS,
and Black eventually won.

(225) Gufeld - Espig

30.�b6?? Leipzig 1 98 0 (D)

Anand is about to win the exchange. White sacrificed a piece hoping to or­
But he falls into a devious trap. After ganize a strong attack.
3 0 . c 3 �xd5 3 1 . � xd 5 � xc3 3 2 . � e 2
� c 1 33.� xb5, the game is even.
 The Intermediate Move
23 ..• �a8?
Black wins after 23 .. .f6! 24.exf6 Axf6
2 5 . l� h3 Ae4! 26.�h8+ '<!tf7, etc .
24.lag3 -'le4 2S.laf5!1
This strong zwischenzug saves White.
2S -'l x fS 26.� xfS exfS 27.�d6
•.•
-'l x d6 28. la xg7+
Yet another zw ischenzug fi n i s h e s
nicely !
(226) Polugaevsky - Nezhmetdinov
Sochi 1 95 8 (D)
24.lahl?
This i s the decisive mistake . White
overlooks the intermediate 24.a3! 4Jxc2
(Zwischenzug)
25 :�xc2 � af8 26.�hl � xf4 27.� xh2
� f3 + 2 8 . �d4 Ae3+, with perpetual
check.
24... la x f41! 25.laxh2 E!.f3+ 26.<it'd4
j},g7 2 7 . a4 c S + 2 8 . d x c 6 b x c6
2 9 . j}, d 3 � e x d 3 + 3 0 . <it' c 4 d S +
3 1 . e x d S c x d S + 3 2 . <it' b S la b 8 +
33.<it'aS �c6+ 0-1
(227) Vaganian - A.Petrosian
Moscow 2004 (D)
34 ... la x a4??
P etro s i an ov erlo oks White 's
zw ischenzug! After 34 . . . � xd4! 3 5 . � b6
�d2+ 36.'<!te3 � xg2 , Black wins.
3S.j}, xdS+! <it'g7
No better is 3 5 . . . cxd5 3 6 . Ra7+ Kf6
37.Rb6+, with a winning endgame.
36.j},b3 lab4 37.la x a6, and White
won .
(228) Rudakovsky - Kotov
Moscow 1 940 (D)
3S.<it'h3?
White fails to find the zw ischenzug
35 .Ae4 ! ! ltxe4 26.�xe4!, winning im­
mediately.
 Draw !

3 2 . � x f5 � x e l 3 3 . �fl � c 2 +
3 4 . Jt c l � x c l + 3 5 . �e2 � d4 +
36.�d2 � h3+ 0 - 1

(230) Tal - Platonov

Dubna 1 973 (D)

35 ... �fxf5 36. � x f5 � xf5 37.g8�+

Jtc8!

White 's king is suddenly in danger!

38.� xf5 � x f 5 + 3 9 . �h4 �f6+

4 0 . � h 5 �f5 + 4 1 . �h4 �f6+ 22 ... �h8??
42.�h5 �f5+ Yl-Yl
Correct is 22 . . . �g7! , and if 23.�e2,
(229) Barcza - Bronstein then 2 3 . . . e x f5 2 4 . 13 x g7 + � x g7
Budapest 1 949 (D) 2 5 .�g5 +, with perpetual check.

23.�h6! 1-0

Platonov thought 2 3 . . . 13 xg3 defends,

but now he noticed it loses to 24.�g6!!,
with inevitable mate.

(23 1 ) Gligoric - Averbakh

Yugoslavia 1 966 (D)

White throws caution to the wind. He

should play 30.�xf4 ! �xf4 3 1 .g3 �d2
32 . .flc2 �dl + 3 3 . �h2 �f3 34. �e3
�f5 3 5 . d4 e x d4 36 . .fl x d4 � x d 4
37.�xd4 13 d8 38. �xd8 �xf2+ with a
perpetual check.

30 ... �aI 31.�e4 � xd3n 33 ... � xdl+?

This is a zWischenzug out of the blue !

 The Intermediate Move (Zwischenzug)

This is wrong ! Black fails to find the (233) Tal - Kuzmin

zwischenzug 3 3 . . . � 8c 6 ! , attacking Leningrad 1 977 (D)
pawn on d6 . After 3 4 . d7 (34 . � xc 1
� x c 1 + a l s o draw s ) 3 4 . . . � x d 1 +
3 5 .�xd1 � c7 36.�d3 �xd7 the posi­
tion is drawn.

This is incredibly strong !

3S .. :�d7 36.!;te6 � xe6 37.d7 !;td6

38.d8�+ !;t x d8 3 9 . � x d8+, and
White won.

(232) Marshall - Capablanca B l ack is saved by the zWischenzug

New York ( l l ) 1 909 (D)
32 . . . Axh3 ! ! : 33.fxg5 (or 3 3 . fxe5 Ae6
34.Af1 4::lc 6 35.�g3 Ah6, with equal­
ity) 33 . . . �exg5 34.�xh3 � h6 35 .�xh6
gxh6 36.4::lf3! �h5+ 37.r:;g3! (The only
m o v e . If 3 7 . <iftg 1 or 3 7 . r:;g2 , then
37 . . . �c8 ! wins.) 37 . . . � g5 + ! .

33.-'le3 and White went o n t o win.

(234) Yurgis - Botvinnik

Leningrad 1 93 1 (D)

29.h4?

There was a zwischenzug that would

have saved White: 29 .Ad7 ! ! r:;g7 (Im­
p o s s i b l e is 29 . . . � x d 7 in view of
3 0 . �h 6 ! , with unav o idable mate . )
30.4::l e 8+ � xe8 3 1 .Axe8 with an equal
game. If 29 . . . �e7, then 3 0 . � a 1 ! a5
3 1 .h3 Ab5 32.�b1 r:;g7 3 3 .4::lh 5+ �h8
34.4::lf6 with a draw.

2 9 . . . 4) e7 30.4)e4 �c7 3 1 . �f6+

�g8 32.Ae6 fxe6 33.� xe6+ �f8 White had to take the pawn, not the
34.4)gS 4)g8 and Black won. bishop. After 34.�fxc2! Ad3 3 5 . � c8+
Ad8 36.� 1 c7 a5 37.h5, the position is
approximately equal.
 Draw !

34 ... gc4U

A pretty tactical shot.

3 S . b x c4 Jl c S 3 6 . 'it'g2 Jl x f2
37.�xf2 b3, and White resigned.
 IX. Stalemate across Countries and Ages

Is there a greater paradox than stale- (23 5 )

mate i n chess? As far a s stalemate i s
concerned, the means are a s paradoxi­
cal as the ends.

The theme of stalemate has been inspir­

ing chessplayers and chess composers
for a long time. It is almost impossible
to imagine chess as a game without
stalemate. However, stalemate came to
mean what it does today relatively re­
cently.
This is how the first Russian chess
master, Alexander Petrov, defined stale­
mate : "When no piece or pawn can
move, [including] the king, then the
game is a stalemate." Well, this defini­
tion is not very precise because check­
mate falls under this definition too. But
let us not forget that Petrov wrote those
words back in 1 824.
Stalemate was part of some of the ear­
liest known records of chess, dating
back to the 9th- l l th centuries. In those
days, stalemate was considered as a loss
for the stalemated king. Let us take a
look at one ancient mansuba quoted by
Harold Murray, the famous English
chess historian. Murray quoted this
position from an old Arabic text reveal­
ing that stalemate at that time was con­
sidered as a loss for the stalemated
player. (D)
White to play and win.
player who lived in England in the 1 8th
century, considered stalemate as a win
for the stalemated king. Philidor later
confirmed this rule. In France and Italy,
which were more advanced in chess,
stalemate was considered a draw by the
middle of the 1 6th century.
But regardless of the result of stalemate
according to the rules in ancient times,
the mechanism of stalemate remained
the same. And so it has come down to
us today.
To illustrate stalemate, we show the
situation when the rook goes berserk
and the weaker side sacrifices it. This
is Salvio's position, dating back to the
middle of the 1 7th century. (D)
1 .�h7+! 'it;lg3 2.�e7! �d8 3.�d7!

1 . �d3 �xd3 2 .Q. x d3 winning, or

• T he Wise Rule
1 �cS 2 . .Q.d7 �eS 3 . �dl �gS
• • .

4.�al#. To quote grandmaster Yuri Averbakh,

"The stalemate rule is a wise rule. It
However, by the 1 5th century stalemate teaches not to overestimate your posi­
was considered a draw. Nevertheless, tion and to be cautious . " Stalemate
Phillip Stamma, the famous Syrian combinations occurring in chess prac-
 Draw !

(236)

(239) Keres - Kholmov

tice are often absolutely unexpected Moscow 1 948 (D)
and each one is a credit to the player
who finds it over the chessboard.

(237) Sardarov - Kudriashov

Alma-Ata 1 958 (D)

White 's king can always escape from

After White's 73.4)e4? Black imme­
diately replied 73 . . . � x c4! and the
game was drawn because of the stale­
mate after 74.Jlxe4.
(23 8) Lisitsin - Bondarevsky
Leningrad 1 950 (D)
59.Jlxe4+ fxe4 60.�e5+!
checks; the a-pawn should decide the
game. Therefore Kholmov choose s a
line where Keres has to be very vigi­
lant.
43 ... �g7 44.�e7+ �h6! 45. � x f6
�h3+
Now it seems that after 46.<itJgl , Black
has no more checks. So Keres played . . .

Now after 60 . . <itJxe5 it is stalemate !

.
Here comes the bombshell . . .
And after 60 . . . �d6 61.�xe4 4)e6,
the game was drawn. 46 ... �g4+n
 Stalemate acros s Countries and Ages

After 47.fxg4, Black is stalemated; af­ (242) Kluger Shandor

-

ter 47.'if7h2 �h5+ 48.'if7g2 �g4+ Budapest 1 964 (D)

49.'if7fl � x a4 the game was drawn.

(240) Goldin - Riabov

Moscow 1 972 (D)

69 . . . �a3+ 7 0 . 'if7g2 'if7g4! 7 1 .a7

�a2+ 72.'if7g1 'if7f3 73.'if7hl!

Or 73.fS t:!g2+ 74.�hl t:! g7! 7S.f6 t:!f7

46.4)d6+! � x d6 with a draw.

If 46 . . .'�a7, then 47.t:!e7+!. 73 ... h41 74.f5 'if7g311 75.�g8+ 'if7h3

76.'if7g1
47. �e7+ ! � x e7 48.�c7+! T h i s
forces the draw, since capturing the If 76.a8�, then 76 . �al + !
. .

queen produces a stalemate.

76 ... �g2+1 77. � xg2 stalemate !
(24 1 ) Pietzsch - Fuchs
Berlin 1 963 (D) (243) Enik -EffeI
Correspondence game 1 957 (D)

45 ... �d7+ 46.'if7e4 �c6+ 47.'if7f5

4)g7+ 48.A xg7 �g6+11 39. �a8!1 � x a8 40.�a2+!I � x a2
stalemate !
Either capture yields a stalemate.
 Draw !

(244) Ormosh - Betotsky

Budapest 1 95 1 (D)

S9 <lt>g6
• • • 6 0 .1l.e4+ ! !
• � x e4
38 gbl + 39.<lt>h2 ghl + 4O.<lt> x hl
•••
61:�g7+ ! <It> xg7 with another stale­
-tl g3+ 4 1 . f x g3 � x g2+ 4 2 . <lt> x g 2 mate !
stalemate !
Chessplayers all over the world know
(245) Gogolev - Varshavsky the name of the great Russian endgame
Aluksna 1 967 (D) composer Alexei Troitsky. He com­
posed many endgame studies based on
the theme of stalemate. Here is a posi­
tion from one of his games in which he
created a real masterpiece over the
chessboard !

(247) Troitsky - Vogt

St. Petersburg 1 896 (D)

3 6 . �e4? g d l + 3 7 . <lt> h 2 � g l +
38.�g3 gd3+! 39.�xd3 �e3+n
40. � xe3 stalemate !

(246) Sliva - Doda

Poland 1 967 (D)
S8 � x c4 S9.�e7+
•..

If 59 . . . � g 8 , then 60 : ili' e 8 + <tl f8

6Uld5 +!! 'li1xd5 62 :ili'xf8+!! �xf8 stale­
White sets up a devious trap.
mate !
23 .1l.h3?
•••
 Stalemate across Countries and Ages

And Black swallows the bait! (249) Tikhomirova - Voitsik

Moscow 1 960 (D)
24.�xd8+1 Cifl x d8 25.�dl+1I itxdl
stalemate !

Look before you leap.

Traps in chess, like in life, are very dan­

gerous. So, before making a move, try
to be as attentive as possible - not to
fall into any trap set up by your devi­
ous opp o n e n t ! E ve n the gre ate s t
chessplayers sometimes fall into very
cunning traps.
75 c4??
.•.

(248) Chigorin - Schlechter

Ostend 1 905 (D) This natural move leads to a draw. Cor­
rect i s 7 5 . . . !it> d 3 ! 7 6 . 4:) c l + � c 2
77.4:)xa2 !it>b2! and Black wins.

(250) Schlechter - Wolf

Nurenburg 1 906 (D)

Black is obviously losing. However, he

tries his last chance.

44 itc7+ 45. �b6+??

•..

White anticipates immediate resigna­

tion.
Black has nothing to lose and so he
45 CiflaSlI
•.. played . . .

This move is like a cold shower! Now 54 �e3 55.b6??

•••

the draw is inevitable after 46. 'ltt x c7

stalemate or 46. Cifla6 � c8+ , with a This is nothing more than carelessness;
perpetual check. Black had a threat and White didn't see
it.
 Draw !
55 ••• flel+! 56.fl xel stalemate !
(25 1 ) Zagoriansky - Tolush
Moscow 1 945 (D)
White is absolutely helpless in this po­
sition . How can he stop the b l ack
pawns?
75.*c4!
He sets a trap.
75 cif1h3? 76.*xf41 g2+ 77.cif1f2
•••
flf6 78.cif1gU Yz-Yz
(252) Gurgenidze - Suetin
Moscow 1 96 1 (D)
Black has a big material plus and White
can only hope for a miracle.
3 7 . a 5 ! b x a 5 3 8 . ft f l ! * x g 5
3 9 . *e8+ cif1g7 4 0 . fl f 7 + cif1 h 6
41 . fl x h7+ cif1 x h7 42.*h8+! cif1 x h8
stalemate !
(25 3 ) Tomovic - Vidmar
Ljublj ana 1 945 (D)
White has an overwhelming advantage;
after 68. § e7! § d l 69.!!e8 §d2 70.f6!
�g6 7 1 . § g8+ �h6 72.e6!, Black has
run out of meaningful moves. However,
White p l ayed 68.cif1d6?, and after
68 fl xe5n, the game was drawn since
•••
69.'iI7xe5 f6+ forces stalemate.
(254) Tal - Aaron
Leipzig 1 960 (D)
On November the 9, Tal 's birthday,
during the chess Olympiad in Leipzig
in 1 960, the young word champion had
the surprise of his life in a blitz tourna­
ment. In this hopeless position the In­
dian champion set a fantastic trap . . .
 Stalemate across Countries and Ages

42 -'lxe4! 43. A x e4?

••• (256) Pilnik - Reshevsky
New York 1 942 (D)
White wins with the alert 43.�b7 ! .

43 .'�xb2+! 44.lifjIxb2 a3+ YZ-YZ

. •

(255) Zherdev - Baranov

Moscow 1 950 (D)

Incredibly, Black had to accept the draw

after Pilnik's SS. '/tf21! �xf2 stale­
mate !

Eleven years later it was the same story.

4S.�d3? (257) Reshevsky - Geller

Zurich 1 953 (D)
White wins after 48. !,! d4!; now Black
finds a way to save himself.

4S �bS! 49. lifjI x c2 h2! SO.�h3

•••

hl�! Sl.�xhl �b2+ Yz-Yz

Because of the perpetual mobility of the

black rook, White 's king cannot find a
hiding place.

Once Every Eleven Years

Strangely, Samuel Reshevsky, the chess

legend of the 20th century, seemed to White wins after 5 1 . !'! a8!.
be addicted to stalemates. They hap­
pened three times in his brilliant career, SI �e3+ S2.lifjIf2 �a3 S3.g3 �f3+
•••

each one separated by an interval of

almost exactly eleven years ! What a surprise ! Black's rook is un­
touchable because of the stalemate !

54. lifjIe2 � x g3 S S . � xfS+ IifjI x h4

S6.lifjIf2 �a3 S7.�gS �b3 SS.�gl
Cjfj1hS S9.Cjfj1e2 ]3a3 60.fS YZ-YZ
 Draw !

(258) Evans - Reshevsky

New York 1 963 (0)

S 7 . a x b4 a x b3 5 8 . � b 2 IitIc4
59.�a3 b2 60.�a2 ! !
Black is obviously winning. White is a
Obviously, Tartakower did not notice
knight down; moreover, his king has
this move in his analysis.
no shelter. However, Evans tries one
last trick.
60 bl�+
•••

47.h4! � e 2 + 4 8 . � h l ! � x g3 ?
After 60 . . . �c3, 6 1 .�bl �b3 is stale­
49.�g8+n
mate, while on 6 1 . . . �xb4 6 2 . �b 2 ,
White maintains the opposition.
And again, ten years later, Reshevsky
had to accept a draw out of the blue !
61.�xbl � xb4 YZ-YZ
49 ... � xg8 SO.g xg7+ Yz-Yz
(260) Znosko-Borovsky - Salwe
Ostend 1 907 (0)
The Importance of Being Earnest

Borrowing this title from Oscar Wilde,

the author tries to emphasize the im­
portance of being totally concentrated
on the game from start to finish. In each
of the following examples, one of the
players lost concentration too early and
was eventually punished.

(259) Yates - Tartakower

Hamburg 1 927 (0)
S6 � x b4??
•••
67 f 2 + 6 8 . � f 1 �f3 6 9 . � a 8 !
•••

� xa8 70.h8� g x h8 stalemate !

The famous grandmaster decides that
the pawn ending is a win.
 Stalemate across Countries and Ages

(263) Zhdanov - Pigits

(26 1 ) Hemming - Walkers
Riga 1 953 (D)
Amsterdam 1 940 (D)

1••• Elg3+ 2.�f6 1 .h4! sets up a self-stalemate !

Now Black has two ways to draw. (264) Chigorin - Tarrasch

Ostend 1 906 (D)
2 ... Ela3!

Or 2 . . . al�+ 3 . EI xa l EI a3! stalemate.

3.El xa3 al �+! 4.El xal stalemate.

Here is another spectacular example.

(262) Bannik - Vistanetskis

Moscow 1 96 1 (D)

In this position, Chigorin missed the

chance to self-stalemate his king.

1 .�g4 �e5 2 .g6! h6 3 .�h5 ! ! .

(265) Nikolayevsky - Taimanov

Tbilisi 1 967 (D)
Anticipating his victory, White carries
out a breakthrough in the center.

1 . . . Elg2 + 2 . �f6 a l � + 1 3 . El x a l 44.d4 4)g61

Ela211 4.Eldl Eld21 With a draw.
It seems that B lack is ready for the
worst.
 Draw !

This is quite a mysterious move.

48.dx c4 c5!

Now B lack's plan is clear-cut; he is

ready to pave the way for his king to
a4 .

49 . �g4 � c 7 ! 5 0 . � f 5 � b 6
5 1 . � xe5 �a5 52.�d5 �a4
53.� xc5 a5 stalemate !
4 5 . Jl x g6 � x g6 4 6 . d x c 5 d x c 5
47.�g2 �g5 48.�h3 h 4 49.d6 (267) Pape - Roth
�f6 50.� x h4 �e6 51.�g5 � x d6 Lebau 1925 (D)
52.�f6 �c6 53.�e6 �b6 54.�d5
(D)

Black has an extra piece and good pros­

pects for winning. White, however,
54... �a5n 55.� xc5 stalemate !
starts a stalemate combination.
(266) Lukanin - Shmulian
67.d6!
Taganrog 1 938 (D)
Now, after the pawn capture on d6,
B lack b l ocks the diagonal for h i s
bishop.

67 ... exd6 68.�d3n .1lxg3 69.a5 d5

70.a6 Jlb8 71.a7! .1lxa7 stalemate !

47 c4n
..•
 Stalemate across Countries and Ages

(268) Eck - Weber <:i>c3 8 5 . A e Z d3 , and White is in

Athens 1 97 1 (D) zugzwang.

(270) Bernstein - Smyslov

Groningen 1 946 (D)

With his queen versus Black's rook,

White is very close to winning, but
owing to the bad position of White 's
king, Black saves the game. It is clear that Black is winning. How­
ever, Smyslov played:
66 ... �bSI 67. �f1 + �c2 68. �el
�b31 6 9 . � a 2 �a3+ 1 1 70. � x a3 S9 b2+?? 60. � x b21
.•.

stalemate.
Only now did Smyslov see his error;
(269) Erlandsson - GiI 6o . . . .§hZ+ 6 1 .«!tf3 .§ xbZ is stalemate !
Sweden 1 976 (D)

(27 1 ) Garcia Toledo - Mecking

Mar del Plata 1 969 (D)

This is fantastic ! White's bishop fights

alone against Black's three pawns.

78... �a3 79.AdS b2 80.�c2 d3+

81.�bl d2 82.Ab311 Yl-Yl

This is the only way! 8Z.ltf3 loses be­ Black would have a decisive advantage
cause of 8Z . . . «!tb3 83 . .IleZ e4 84. Adl + after 46 . . . h xg5 ! 47.fxg5 <:i>c6! 4 8 . h4
<:i>d7 49 . .§ c3 .§ d4 etc.
 Draw !

47.g6n 'i!1a3

Now White stalemates his own king. If

47 . . . �b5, then 48.'it'g3 �c6 49.�h4
�d7 50.�h5 with a draw.

4 8 . 'i!1 g 3 l3b6 4 9 . 'i!1 h 4 l3 x b3

50.l3 x e6 l3b7 51.'i!1h5 'i!1b4 52.h4
53.l3b6+ l3xb6 stalemate !

(272) Mikenas - Moisieev

Vilnius 1 979 (D) White 's position is hopeless, but B lack
decided to choose the "simple" line
7 1 . .. 'i!1 g4 1 1 , hoping to w i n after
72.�xa5 �g3 73.t1'c7+ e 5 . However,
after the text, White rep l i e d with
72. �g3+!. Either capture produces
stalemate !

(274) Shirov - Short

Dubai 2002 (D)

66 ... �hh6??

B lack wins easily after 66 . . . �hf1 +

67.�a7 �d4+ 6S.'it'aS �dS + ! 69. bS�
t1'f3 + 70.�a7 t1'xa5, winning in the
pawn ending.

67.� x h6+ �xh6+ 68.'i!1a7 �e3+

69.'i!1a6! �d3+
64 ... d4??
Or 69 .. :�e5 70.bSt1' �xbS stalemate !
Short should play 64 . . . h3!, shattering
70 . 'i!1 a 7 �d4+ 7 1 . 'i!1 a 6 �c4+ White 's illusions.
7 2 . 'i!1 b 6 � b4+ 7 3 . 'i!1 a 6 � d 6 +
74.'i!1a7 �d8 75.a6 Yz-Yz

(273) Tanchev - Povchic Now the pawn ending is absolutely

Yugoslavia 1 980 (D) drawn.

6 5 ... � f 1 + 6 6 . �g l � xgl+
67.'i!1 xgl and the game was shortly
drawn.
 Stalemate across Countries and Ages

(275) Fridman - Paterson (277) Najdorf - Curtis

Johanesburg 1 962 (0) Mar del Plata 1 985 (0)

68 h6??
•••

Possibly, Black decided to mate White's White wins easily after 56. �d4.
king; however, 6B . . . �xa3! 69:i*g5 'lli"fB
is a sure win. 56 �xf2+ 57.Cjfjlg5 f6+ 58.�xf6
•••

�h4 + 1 5 9 . Cjfjl x h4 g5+ 60. ctl x g5

69. � x h6+1 CjfjI xh6 70.g5+ and stale­ stalemate !
mate !
(278) Portisch - Lengyel
Malaga 1 964 (0)
(276) Walbrodt - Charousek
Budapest 1 896 (0)

White has many ways of winning here,

but Portisch forgot that Black's king is
After 68. ttf3?? �el +1 the game was
in a "stalemating net" !
drawn.
52.f4??
Later Maroczy demonstrated that White
wins after 6B. 'lli" e l ! �xb3 6 9 . 'lli" e 7 +
Now the draw is forced.
\t'h3 70.'lli" e 3 + .

52 . • • �g4 + 1 5 3 . ctl h6 ( o r 5 3 . �f6

�e6+!) 53 �g5+1 YJ-YJ
..•
 Draw !

x. Grandmaster Draws

The expression "grandmaster draw" is 8.e6 f x e6 9 . a xbS 4:)e7 1 0 . 4:) c3

used mostly when we characterize the 4:)g6 1 l . 4:)gS -'l.e7 1 2:/thS -'l.xgS
peaceful mood of both chessplayers, 13.-'l.xgS �d7 14.b6!
avoiding the tense struggle and prefer­
ring to make peace as soon as possible. This e nergetic move breaks down
However, in this chapter, the term is not Black's queenside pawn chain.
used ironically. We consider the real
grandmaster class and the games pre­ 14...c xb6 1S.4:)dS! (D)
sented here only ended up drawn after
an intense struggle and "spilled blood,"
in other words, after real gems were
produced.

(279) Halprin - Pillsbury

Munich, 1 900
Ruy Lopez [C67]

1 .e4 eS 2.4:)f3 4:)c6 3.-'l.bS 4:)f6

4.0-0 4:) x e4
lS ... exdS
This is the Berlin Defense, still very
popular today. Black is forced to accept the sacrifice
because of White's threats 4)xb6 and
S.d4 4:)d6 4)e7.

Another popular line is 5 ... �e7 6.�el 16.�fe1+ �f8 17.�a3 4:)eS!
4)d6 7 .�xc6 bxc6 8.dxe5 4)b7, and
White has a slight edge. B lack finds the best defense ! Now
White sacrifices the exchange.
6.dxeS
1 8 . � x e S ! d x e S 1 9 . � f 3 + �g8
This is the sharpest move ! More cur­ 20.-'l.h6! (D)
rent i s 6 . A x c 6 d x c 6 7 . d x e 5 4)f5
8. �xd8+, which has become extremely
popular since the match between
Kasparov and Kramnik, London 2000.

6 ... 4:) xbS 7.a4 d6

Modem theory prefers 7 . . . 4)bd4, with

approximately equal chances.
 Grandmaster Draws
20 ... �e71
20.gxh6 10ses because of 2 1 . E1 g3 + 'it'fB
22:�xe5! E1 g8 2 3 :l1Yf6+.
2 1 . A x g7 � x g 7 2 2 . la g3 + �f8
23.laf3+ YZ-YZ
(280) Znosko-Borovsky - Alekhine
Paris 1 925
Alekhine's Oefense [B03]
1.e4 4)f6 2.e5 4)d5 3.c4 4)b6 4.d4
d6 5.f4 d x e5 6.fxe5 4)c6 7.Ae3
Af5 8.4)(3 e6 9.4)c3 (0)
9 ... 4)b4
This is premature. Black should de­
velop h i s p i e c e s . After 9 . . . A b4 ! ,
White 's advantage i s absolutely negli­
gible, for example, 10.Ae2 0-0 1 1 . 0-0
4)a5.
10.lacl c5 1 1 .a3?1
Modem opening theory considers this
move a waste oftime. Better is 1 1 .Ae 2 .
Now B lack gains the initiative by sac­
rificing his queen.
11 ...cxd4 12.Ag5 (0)
12 ...d x c31
A correct queen sacrifice, leading to a
small edge for Black.
13.A x d8 � x d8?1
B l ack h a s b etter prospects a fter
1 3 . . . c x b 2 ! 1 4 . Ac7 bx c 1 � 1 5 . � x c 1
<tlc2+ 1 6 . �f2 Axa3, etc.
1 4 . � b 3 c x b 2 1 5 . � x b 2 4) a4
16.�aU
This is the best move. On 16.�f2, Black
replies 1 6 . . . Ac5, while 16. �b3 <tlc5
1 7 . � x b 4 -tl d 3 + 1 8 . � x d 3 A x b 4 +
19.axb4 Axd3 i s also good for Black.
16... 4)c2+ 17.� xc2 Axc2
Black has sufficient material compen­
sation. More than that, his chances are
slightly better. Still, the position re­
mains quite tense, and great precision
is required from both opponents.
18.4)d4 Ag6
Alekhine considered the text move a
better line than 18 . . . �e4, because in the
variation 1 9 . <tlb5 �c5 20.<tld6+ 'it'e7,
Black's light-square bishop is not hang­
ing.
19.c5?1
 Draw !
This aggravates White 's position. He
should p lay 1 9 . -tlb 5 -tlc5 2 0 . -tlc7+
�d7, with equality.
19 ... 4) xcS 20.-'\.bS+ 4)d7 21. �c3
a6 22.j't xd7+ � x d7 23. �c8+ �d8
24.�xb71
Now comes the attack against Black's
king. (D)
24... � x d4 2S.�c6+ �d7 26.0-0
W h i t e threate ns 2 7 . El d l , and if
26 . . . �d8, then 27:ilyb6+ �e7 28.'li1c5+
(not 28:ilYxa6 Ad3!) with a draw.
26 ... -'\.d3 27.�xf7 Jl.cS+1 28.�hl
AbS 29.� xe6+ �e71
B ad is 29 . . . Ae7? 3 0 . El x e 7 + El x e7
3 1 .i*c8+, or 29 ... �d8 30.El xd7+ Axd7
3 1 . i*d5 Elf8 32.g4 ! .
3 0. � x e7+ -'\. x e7 3 1 . �c8+ -'\.d8
32. �e6+ -'\.e7 33. �c8+ Yz-Yz
(28 1 ) Botvinnik - Myasoyedov
Leningrad 1 930
Nimzo-Indian Defense [E23]
l . d4 4) f6 2.c4 e6 3 . 4) c3 Ab4
4. �b3 cS S.dxcS 4)c6 6.4)f3 4)e4
7.Ad2 4) xcS 8.�c2 fS 9.a3 -'\.xc3
10.Jl. x c3 1 l .b4 4) e4 1 2.-'\.b2 b6
13.g41?
This interesting move leads to mind­
boggling complications. (D)
13 4) xf21
.•.
This is the most energetic reply! Black
does not want to open the g-file, and
he gets good compensation for the
knight.
1 4 . � x f2 f x g4 l S . � g l '/th4+
16.cifle3 �h6+
Black is ready for the perpetual check,
but Botvinnik plays for a win.
1 7 . �f2 �h4+ 1 8 . cifle 3 �h6+
19.�d3 dSI
We aker is 1 9 . . . g x f3 b e c au s e of
2 0 . El x g 7 + 'li1 x g7 2 1 . A x g7 � x g7
2 2 :�b2+ �g8 23.exf3 El xf3+ 24. «t>e2,
and White should win (Belavenets­
Kotov, Moscow 1 935).
20.�c11
White leaves the c2-square for his king.
I n ferior is 2 0 . �d2 on acc ount of
20 . . . i;i"g6+ 2 1 .«t>c3 i*e4 2 2 . i*g5 e5!.
 Grandmaster Draws
20 d x c4 + ! 2 1 . 'lt x c4 la d 8 +
. . . •
22.Cit'c2 -'lh7 23.�xg4 (0)
23 ... 4) xb4+!
Black sacrifices another piece for a
perpetual check.
24.axh4
After 2 4 : �xb4 El ac8+ 2 5 . Ac3 Axf3
26.exf3 a 5 ! 27.'l*c4! 'l*xh 2 + ! 28.'l*e2
'lli' x gl 29.�xe6+ �h8 30 . El e l El xc3+!
3 1 .<;t>xc3 �c5+ 32.�c4 'lli' x a3+ 33 .Ab3
El f8, Black has equalized.
24 . . . la ac 8 + 2 S . -'lc3 la x c3 +
2 6 . Cit' x c 3 �e3+ 2 7 . Cit' h 2 la d 2 +
28. 4) x d 2 � xd2+ 29.Cit'hl �dl+
30. Cit'h2 �d2+ Yz-Yz
(282) Alekhine - Reti
Vienna 1 922
Ruy Lopez [C77]
l .e4 eS 2 . 4) f3 4)c6 3 . A h S a6
4.Aa4 4) f6 S.4)c3 hS 6.Ah3 -'lcS
7.4) xeS 4) xeS 8.d4 -'ld6
Also possible is 8 . . . -'lxd4 9 . �xd4 d6
1 0 . a 3 c5 1 1 . �d l 0 - 0 , w ith equal
chances.
9.dxeS AxeS 10.f4 Axc3+ 1 l .hxc3
0-0 1 2.eS cS! 13 . .1la3!! (0)
"Starting a profound combination se­
curing White an extra pawn and a bet­
ter position," (Alekhine). Certainly, it
is difficult to imagine that White 's ma­
terial and positional advantage is not
sufficient to win. White could not count
on any advantage after 1 3 . �f3 El b8
14.exf6 El e8+ 1 5 .'it7f2 c4 1 6 . fxg7 El b6!
17.f5 Ab7, etc.
13 �aS?!
..•
Much better is 13 ... �b7! 1 4 . exf6 El e8+
1 5 .<;t>f1 �xf6 16 . .1lxc5 'lli' x f4+ 1 7 .Af2
El e 5 1 8 . � d 4 �g5 1 9 . El g l El a e 8
20.�xd7 � h 5 with equal chances.
14.0-0
14. exf6 is better than the text. White
would have a slight advantage after
1 5 . . . � x c 3 + 1 5 . <;t>f2�b7 1 6 : �d6 b4
1 7 . El ad l , etc.
14 � x a3 lS.exf6
•.•
White should play 1 5 . 'l*d6!, and would
retain s l i ght better chan c e s after
1 5 . . . �a5 1 6.�xc5 �d8 1 7 . fg El e8+
1 8.<;t>d2 .
IS c4 16. �dS �aS! (0)
.• •
 Draw !
1 7 . f x g7 � b 6 + 1 8 . Cit' h l Cit' x g7
1 9 . Jt x c4! Jt b 7 2 0 . � e S + �f6
2 1 . Ad3 lafe8
Safer is 2 1 . . .�xe5 2 2 . fxe5 .§. fc8 2 2 . a4
.§. xc3 23 . .§.fb l .§. cc8, and White has a
slight advantage.
2 2 . � h S h6 2 3 . �g4 + Cit'h8
2 4 . � x d7 Et e 7 2 S . �d4 � x d4
26.cxd4 lad8, and after a very diffi­
cult struggle, the game was drawn.
(283) Alekhine - Botvinnik
Nottingham 1 93 6
Sicilian Defense [B72]
This game is really a masterpiece, a
short draw, and the first game played
between the two great champions.
l . e4 cS 2 . 4) f3 d6 3 . d4 c x d4
4.4) xd4 4)f6 S.4)c3 g6 6.Jte2 j},g7
7.Ae3 4)c6 8.4)b3 Jte6 9.f4 0-0
10.g4!?
Peter Rabinovich, a chessplayer from
Moscow, introduced this move into
praxis. At first sight, it looks very anti­
positional ; Black has developed his
pieces very well and he is ready to
strike back in the center, while White 's
king remains uncastled. However,
White 's move is tactically justified.
10 ... dS! 1l .fS Jtc8 12.exd S 4)b4
(0)
13.d6!
This move contains a lot of poison. It
was very difficult for Botvinnik, as he
remembered many years later, to find
the antidote at the chessboard.
13 ... �xd6! 14 . .1lcS �f411
This is the only way to save the game;
Black sacrifices two pieces!
lS.Etfl �xh2 16.Axb4
White is forced to accept the sacrifices,
and the game is quickly drawn.
16... 4) xg4! 17 . .1l xg4 �g3+ 18.laf2
�gl + 19.1�t fl �g3+ 20.Etf2 �gl +
Y2- Y2
(284) Geller - Golombek
Budapest 1 952
Nimzo-Indian Defense [E4 1 ]
This game received a brilliancy prize.
1 .d4 4)f6 2.c4 e6 3 .4)c3 Jtb4 4.e3
cS S.a3 cxd4 6.axb4 dxc3 7.4)f3
c x b2
B etter is 7 . . . d5 .
 Grandmaster Draws

8.Axb2 d5

B lack is ready to play with an isolated

pawn. Safer is B . . . b6.

9.c5

Now White has no advantage . He

should play 9.cxd5 exd5 1 O . .1ld3 0-0
1 1 . 0-0 h6 1 2 :i1i'c2, with a tangible ad­
vantage.

9 ...b6 19 4) xe5 20.�xa8 4) f3+ 21.gxf3

•••

� x a l + 22.<it'e2 �a2+ Yi-Yi

Black is in trouble after this obvious
mistake. Correct is 9 . . . 0-0 1 0 . �c2 .§eB (285) Tal Aronin
-

1 1 . A,d3 4)bd7 1 2 . 0-0, and White has

Moscow 1 957
better prospects. Queen 's Gambit Declined [D40]

10.A,b5+ This tense battle was awarded a bril­

White gts a strong advantage with
1O . .1lxf6! gxf6 1 1 ..1ld3.
1 0 A,d7
••• 1 l . A, x d7 +
12.�c2
This is an inaccuracy; now Black gets
s u ffi c ient counterp lay. B etter i s
1 2 . �a4! bxc5 1 3 .bxc5 �cB 1 4 . 0-0.
12 ... 4)c6! 13.j'txg7 4) xb4 14.�bl
.§g8 15.c6!
It looks like Black is in for trouble; if
1 5 . . . 4:lc5, then 16:itrxh7 .§ xg7 1 7:i1i'xg7
liancy prize as the most interesting
game of the famous USSR Champion­
ship when Tal, for the first time, won
the title. Euwe called this chess gem the
4) f x d7 most beautiful draw in chess history!
1.d4 d5 2.c4 e6 3.4)c3 c5 4.e3 4)f6
5 . 4) f3 4) c 6 6 . a 3 A, d 6 7 . d x c 5
A, x c 5 8 . b4 A d 6 9 . A, b 2 0 - 0
10.�c2
4)e5 1 1 .0-0-01
Otherwise Black gets the initiative,
because he is better developed.
1 1 �e7
•••

4:l c 2 + 1 B . 'ifi' e 2 4:l x a 1 1 9 . .§ x a 1 , and

White has a strong attack. Golombek Aronin thought this move strongest,
finds the best reply. whereas Tal thought that 1 1 . . . a5 is better.

15 4) xc6 16.�xh7 A,f6n (D)

. .•
1 2 . 4) b 5 4)ed7 1 3 . 4) x d6 � x d6
14.�c3 .§e8 15.g4 �f8 16.Ad3
1 7 . A, x f6 � x f6 1 8. � x g8+ <it'd7
4)b6! 17.g5 4)a4 18.�c2
19.4)e5+
4) xb2 19.<it' xb2
This is the last try to win.
 Draw !
This is necessary. Now Tal launches a
terrific attack.
19 ... dxc4 20.gx f6 cxd3 21:/t xd3
eSt
The text move i s the only defense.
2 1 . . . g x f6 l o s e s t o 2 2 . �d 4 ! �h6
2 3 J':! hgl + c;t>hB 24.4Jg5 ! .
22.4)gS g6 23.h4 .1l.fSt 24.e4 j},g4
2S.hS? (D)
Tal gets the wrong idea; he should play
2 5 . l':! c 1 , and after 2 5 . . . l':! adB 26. �b3
h6 27.h5 gxh5 , the chances are equal.
2 5 . . . l':! edB wins. For example, 26.hxg6
l':! xd3 27.gxh7+ �hB, etc., and White's
pieces are very active.
26.hxg6 §xd3
But not 26 . . . hxg6? because of Tal 's rec­
ommendation: 27.�xd8 l':! xdB 2B.l':! xd8
�xdB 29 .l':!hB+! �xhB 30.4Jxf7+ �gB
3 1 . 4J xdB .ilf3 3 2 . f7 + c;t>fB 3 3 . 4Je6+
�xf7 34.<£lg5+, and White is a piece up.
This is an extremely interesting posi­
tion ! White has only a rook for the
queen, but threatens to play 29.f3! Ah5
3 0 . l':! d7 with d e v a s t ating thre ats .
Aronin finds a defense.
2S... §cSU
2B . . . l':! e6 29.<£lxe6.Axe6 30.l':!g7+ �hB
3 1 . l':! d l .ilh3 3 2 . l':! h l �cB 3 3 . l':! xf7
�g4 may be even stronger.
30.fxg4 is met by 30 . . . l':! xf6! 3 1 .l':!hd3
l':! f2+ 32.c;t>b3 �d6, and Black wins !
30 :/txf7 31.4) x f7 ctlxf7 32.fxg4
.•
ctl x f6 33.§d7 §b6 34.ctlc3 ctlgS
3S.a4 a6 36.ctlc4 ctl xg4 YZ-YZ
The position is repeated after 37.c;t>c5
l':! c6+ 3B.c;t>d5 l':! b6 39.�c5 .
(286) I.Zaitsev - Karpov
Leningrad 1 966
Petroff's Defense [C43]
l .e4 eS 2.4)0 4) f6 3 .d4 4) x e4
4 .1l.d3 dS S.4) xeS 4)d7 (D)
•
6.4) xf7t?
This is a risky sacrifice, which leads
to a draw.
6 ... �e7!
 Grandmaster Draws
Zaitsev pointed out an interesting line:
6 . . . 'itlxt7 7 . �h 5 + 'liJe7 8 . �e 2 ! 'it'd6
9 .�f4+ 'itlc6 10 .�xe4 dxe4 1 1 .�c4+
�b6 1 2 .�b3+ 'it'c6 1 3 . �c4+ , with a
draw.
The losing move. White should have
played here 7 .�e2! -IJIxt7 8.f3 .£ldf6
9 . .£ld2 �b4 1 0 . 0-0 and White has a
slight edge.
7 4) c 3 + 1 8 . Ci!i' d 2 4) x d l 9 . ge l
• • •
4) xf21 10 .11. x h7 4)e4+
•
Karpov fails to find the refutation. The
intermediate 10 . . . .£le5 ! ! would be win­
ning after 1 1 .§ xe5 �e6 1 2 .�g6+ 'it'd7.
1 l . g x e4 1 d x e4 1 2 .1l g 6 + Iit'd8
• cause of 2 1 ..£lc4 exd5 2 2 . § xe7 dxc4
1 3 . 4) f7 + lit'e8 1 4 . 4) d 6 + Iit'd8
I S . 4) f7 + , and drawn by perpetual
check.
(287) Tukmakov - Karpov
Moscow 1 973
Sicilian Defense [B42]
l . e4 cS 2 . 4) f3 e6 3 . d4 c x d4
4.4) xd4 a6 S.1a.d3 4)f6 6.0-0 'l!/c7
7.4)d2 4)c6 8.4) xc6 bxc6 9.f4 dS
lO.b3 .1le7 1l .1lb2 as 1 2.c4 0-0
•
13.'I!/c2 h6 14.lit'hl 'l!/b6 1S.gael
4) g4 16.exdS
Tukmakov goes in for a combination
involving the sacrifice of the exchange.
However, Karpov noted that the cor­
rect line is 16 . .£lf3 dxe4, 1 7 . § xe4! f5
1 8 . § e2! .£le3 1 9 . .1ld4! .£lxc2 20.�xb6
.£lb4 2 1 ..£le5! with an advantage for
White.
1 6 cxdS
•••
Not 1 6 . . . .£le3? because of 1 7 . § x e3
�xe3 1 8.�c3 ! .
17.cxdS?
This is the wrong sacrifice. Chances are
equal after 1 7 . 4)f3 ! dxc4 1 8 . bxc4 �c5
19 . .1lh7+ Iit'h8 20 . .1le4 �b7 2 1 ..1lxb7
�xb7 2 2 .�c3 § g8 2 3 . § e 2 .
17 4)f2+ 18.g xf2 'l!/ x f2 19.ge2
•••
'l!/ x f4
B lack avoids 1 9 . . . �c5 20 . .£lc4 exd5
2 1 ..Ila3 dxc4 22 . .Ilh7+ �h8 23 . .Ilxc5
�xc5 24.�e4! when White wins.
20.ge4 'l!/d61
B lack is playing for a win ! According
to Karpov, 20 . . . �b8 is a mistake be­
23 . .Il h 7 + 'it'h8 2 4 . � x g7 + 'it' x g7
2 5 . �g6+ 'liJh8 26.�xh6, with irresist­
ible threats.
More precise is 22 . .£lb6 �b7 2 3 . § g4!,
but even in this case, Black draws with
23 . . . e 5 ! 24 . .1lh7+ 'it'h8 2 5 . § xg7! 'liJxg7
2 6 . .1l x e 5 + .1lf6 2 7 . � x f6 + � x f6
20.-IJIc3+ �e7 29:i�k5+ 'liJe8 30 . .£ld5 !
§ a 6 3 1 . .£l c 7 + 'it'd7 3 2 . .Ilf5 + § e 6
33 . .£lxe6 fxe6 34. �xf8.
22 eS 23.gg3 ga6
..•
Karpov maintains his advantage after
23 . . . �e6! 24. 4) xe5 .1lf6 2 5 . § e3 § a7.
2 4 . 4) x e S .Q.f6 2S .1lc4 'l!/d6
•
2 6 . 4) x f7 g x f7 2 7 .1l x f6 .1le61
•
28.gd3 (D)
28 'I!/c7
•••
 Draw !

c x b4 1 9 .1l. e 3 .1l. x d5 2 0 .1l. x d 5

• •

.!;t xd5 21.,&e2 � c6 2 2 .!;tfcl �e5!

•

(D)

After 28 . . . Axc4!, B lack successfully

defends : 29 . .!;t x d6 .!;t xd6 3 0 . b x c 4
.!;tdxf6, etc.

The text move is Tal's novelty. At the

No better i s 2 9 . . . .!;t f8 because o f
3 0 . .!;txfS .!;txf8 3 1 ..1l.e5 'l!i'xe5 32 :�'f2+
M5 33.'l*xf5 .1l.xf5 34 . .1l.xa6 and White
wins the endgame.
USSR Championship, Frunze 1 98 1 ,
Timoschenko and Dorfman both played
2 2 . . . �a5; both lost.
23.b3

Kasparov goes in for complications,

30 .1l.xd8 .1l. x c4 31.h3 .1l.fI 32. �e4
•
sacrificing his knight for three pawns.

Tukmakov misses the win: 32 . .1l.h4!

23 c3 24. � x c3 bxc3 25 .!;t xc3+
••• •

.!;td6 33. </lh2 .!;tdd7 34. �c8+ </lh7

</lb8 26.,&c2 .1l.d6 27 .1lxa7+ </lb7
•

35.�c3 .!;tc7 36. �d4 </lg8 37. �d8+

2S.b4 �c6
</lh7 38. �d2 .!;tc8 39.�d5 , etc.
P robab ly 2 8 . . . l h 8 29 . .§ a 5 � d 7
32 a4 33.bxa4 .!;td6 34 .1la5 .!;tdf6
.•. •
30.ltb6 .§ a6 3 1 . .§ xa6 �xa6 3 2 .-'tc5
3 5 .1lel .1l. a 6 3 6 . </l h 2 .1l. b 7
•
�b7 33.-'txd6 �xd6 is stronger; Black
37. �c4 .!;tc6 3 S .�b3 .!;tg6 3 9 .1l.g3 •
is slightly better.
.!;tg5 40. ,&c4 .1l.d5 41. '&cS+ .!;tfS
42. '&c2 h5 43.a5 YZ-YZ
29.Ae3 .1l.e5 (D)

(288) Kasparov - Tal

Moscow 1 983
Queen's Gambit Declined [D44]

l.d4 �f6 2.c4 e6 3.�f3 d5 4.�c3

c6 5 .1l.g5 d x c4 6.e4 b5 7.e5 h6
•

S .1lh4 g5 9 . � xg5 hxg5 10 .1l. xg5

• •

�bd7 11.exf6 .1l.b7 12.g3 c5 13.d5

'&b6 1 4 .1l.g2 0 - 0 - 0 1 5 . 0 - 0 b4
•

16.�a4 ,&b5 17.a3 �bS 1S.axb4

 Grandmaster Draws

3 0 . � x c6 A x a l 3 1 . � c7+ CifjlbS
3 2 . Aa7+ CifjlaS 3 3 . Jl.e3 CifjlbS
3 4 . Aa7+ CifjlaS 3 5 . Jl.c5 CifjlbS
3 6 . � x f7 Ae5 3 7 . A a 7 + CifjlaS
3 S . Ae3 � d 7 3 9 . � a 2 + CifjlbS
4 0 . Aa7+ Cifjl c S 4 1 . � x e 6 �d5
42. �a6+ �b7 43. �c4+ �c7 YZ-YZ

(289) Smyslov - Polugaevsky

Moscow 1 96 1
Queen's Indian Oefense [E 1 4]
1.d4 {)f6 2.c4 e6 3.{)f3 b6 4.e3
Jl.b7 5.Ad3 d5 6.0-0 {) bd7 7.{)c3
Ae7 S. �e2 0-0 9.b3 {)e4 10.Ab2
{)df6 1l.{)a4 c5
Somewhat better is 1 1 . . .dxc4 1 2 .bxc4
�d7 1 3 .�c3 f5, with a slight edge for
White.
12.{)e5 dxc4 13.bxc4 �eS
B lack has a great advantage after
23 . . . g6 ! 2 4 JH2 �d5 2 5 . �g4 �b7
26.�h4 �h5, etc.
2 4 . A x h7 + ! Cifjl h S 2 5 . �g4 g x f6
26.�f4 f5 27.Axf5! exf5 2S.� xf5
Ad3! 29. �h5+ YZ-YZ
(290) Vasiukov - Spassky
Moscow 1 959
Alekhine 's Oefense [B02]

Safer is 1 3 . . . {) d7 1 4 . �adl {) x e 5 1 .e4 {)f6 2.e5 {)d5 3.c4 {)b6 4.c5

1 5 .dxe5 �e8 1 6 . Ac2 Ac6, and White {)d5 5.Jl.c4 e6 6.{)c3 d6 7.{) xd5
is slightly better. exd5 S.Jl.xd5 c6

14.Ac2 cxd4 15.exd4 �cS 16.f3
1 6 . �ac1 {)d6 1 7 . {) c3 �d8 18.�fdl
is much stronger, with a tangible ad­
vantage for White.
Safer is 8 . . . dxe5 9.�b3 �xc5 10 . .Q.xf7+
�f8 1 1 .�d5 c6 1 2 . �e4 �h4, with
equal chances.
9.Axf7+ Cifjlxf7 10.cxd6 �eS (0)

1 6 {)d6 1 7 . {) c 3 Aa6 lS.Ad3

•••

{) d7 19.f4 {) x e5 20.fxe5 {) xc4

21.{)e4 �dS (0)

22.{)f6+!

Smyslov starts a brilliant combination

with a series of sacrifices.

22 ... Axf6 23.ex f6 {) xb2

 Draw !

After 10 . . . 13.e6 l 1 .-tlh3, White's attack More stubborn was 1O . . . 4:ld7! l 1 . 4:lf3
is very strong. 'ftJc7 1 2 .�h5! -tlf5 1 3 . g4! 4:le7 1 4 .13.e2
'ftJxa5 1 5 .-'te3 4:lfB, with a substantial
l 1 . ttf3+ �g8 1 2 . tte3 Jt e 6 advantage for White.
1 3 . 4) e 2 4) d7 1 4 . 0 - 0 4) x e S
I S . tt x e S Jt c 4 1 6 . tt x e8 � x e8
17.d3 Jtxd3 18.�dl .1lxe2 19.d7
�d8 20.JtgS -'t x dl 21.� xdl !J.e7
22 . .1l x e7 �f7 2 3 . -'t x d8 � x d8
2 4 . f4 � e 7 2 S . �f2 � x d7
2 6 . � xd7+ � x d 7 2 7 . �e3 � e 6
28.�e4 g6 29.b4 hS 30.g3 �f6
31.h3 �e6 32.g4 b6 33.�d4 �f6
34.a4 �e6 3 S . �c4 �d6 3 6 . a S
�e6 Yl-Yl

(29 1 ) Fischer Tal

-

Leipzig 1 960
12 . .1lbS?

l.e4 e6 2.d4 dS 3.4)c3 .1lb4 4 eS

cS S.a3 -'taS 4.b4 cxd4 7.ttg4
The continuation selected by Black sig­
nificantly worsens his position. Equal­
ity was only maintained by 7 . . . �f8 !
8.4:lb5 -'tb6 9.13.b2 4:l e 7 10.4:lf3 4:lbc6
1 1 . 4:lbxd4 h5, etc.
8.bxaS dxc3! 9 . tt x g7 � g8
10.tt xh7 4) bc6
Fischer does not find the strongest con­
tinuation. Nece s s ary was 1 2 .13.f4 ! !
�xa5 (or 1 2 . . . Ad7 1 3 .a6! b6 1 4 .13.d3
0-0-0 1 5 . -'tg3 §. h8 1 6 . ili' x f7 §. df8
1 7 . �g7 -'te8 1 8 . §' b 1 \f;b8 19.0-0 13.h5
20.4:lh4! with a definite advantage for
White . ) 1 3 . 4:lg5 ! §. f8 1 4 .-'te2 �a4
1 5 .13.e3! b6 (or 15 . . . d4 16.0-0! dxe3
1 7 . fxe3 �d8 1 8 .�d3 + ! ! �e8 19 .13.h5
4:l x e 5 2 0 . ili' d 6 -tlc4 2 1 . ili'g3 � b 5
2 2 . §. xf7 with a n irresistible attack)
16 . .1lh5 4Jxe5 1 7 . 0-0! 4:l5g6 18.'ftJg7
'ftJh4 19.94! e5 20.f3 e4 2 1 .4:lh7 §. h8
2 2 . 4:lf6+ \f;d8 2 3 . .1lf2 'ftJg5 24 . .1lxg6
4:lxg6 25 .ili'xf7, and wins.
1 2 . . . Jtd7 1 3 . 0 - 0 0-0-0 14.-".gS
4) x eS I S . 4) x e S Jt x bS 16.4) x f7
-'t x fl 17. 4) x d8 � x gS 18 . 4) x e 6
� x g2 + 1 9 . � h l tt e S 20 . � x f 1
� x e6 2Vlj)xg2 � g4+ VI-VI
 Exercises : Find the draw!

In exercises 1 - 1 7, it is White to play and draw.

( 1 ) ( D) (2) (D)

(3) ( D) (4) ( D)
 Draw !

(5) ( D) (6) ( D)

(7) ( D) (8) ( D)
 Exercises : Find the Draw !

(9) ( D) ( 1 0) (D)

( 1 1 ) ( D) ( 1 2) ( D)
 Draw !

( 1 3) (0) ( 1 4) (0)

( 1 5 ) (0 ) ( 1 6) (0)
 Exercises : F ind the Draw !

In positions 1 8-32, it is Black to play

and draw.

( 1 7) (D) ( 1 8) (D)

( 1 9) (D) (20) (D)

 Draw !

(2 1 ) (D) (22) (D)

(23 ) (D) (24) (D)

 Exercises: Find the Draw !

(25) (0) (26) (0)

(27) (0) (28) (0)

 Draw !

(2 9 ) (0) (30) (0)

(3 1 ) (0) (32) (0)

 Solutions

( 1 ) Steinitz missed l .fxeS E!b3 2 . E! xh6+ '!lg7 3 . E! h7 + �fB 4 .l:� hB+ �e7 S . E! h7+
'!le6 6 . E! h6+ (Steinitz-lanowski, Nuremberg 1 896).

(2) 1 .�xg6+ fxg6 2.f7+ �h7 3 . E! h3+ �h6 4 . .£JgS + �g7 S . .£Je6+ �h7 6 . .£JgS +
(Osmanagic-Gligoric, Saraj evo 1 963).

(3) l .�bB+ �b6 2 .�a7+ �c7 3 :l!t"bB+ (Kreichik-Bendiener)

(4) l . E! fB + �xfB 2.�fS + �eB 3 . �t7+ '!ldB 4.�fB+ .£JeB S.�e7+ (Com-Pichak,
Bmo 1 93 6) .

( 5 ) 1 ..£Jh6+ �xh6 2.E!gB E! xgB (Coleman-NN).

(6) l .e6 fxe6 2 .1l.xg7 �xg7 (2 . . . E! cf4 3.AxfB E! xfB 4 . �gS+ '!lhB S . E! xfB + .£JxfB
6.�f6+ r.t>gB 7 .�gS +) 3 .�gS+ 'it'hB 4 . .£Jg6+ hxg6 S .�h6+ (Beni-Bronstein,
Amsterdam 1 954).

(7) 1 .r.t>h 1 �e2 2.'!lgl �e3 (Vidmar-Opocensky, S lech 1 932).

(8) 1 . E! g7 + 'it'fB 2.E! xh7 'it'eB 3 . E! a 1 E!e7 4.E!aB + 'it'd7 S.E! xe7+ E! xe7 6 . E! a7+
'it'c6 7 . E! xe7 b2 B.E! xe2 b1� 9 .gS �al + 1 0 'it'g6 "l!t"b1 1 1 .'!lf6 �a 1 + 1 2 .�g6
(Szabo-Hort, Moscow 1 963).

(9) l o-'txe4 E! xfl 2 . .1lfS (Radevich-Donskikh, Bakuriani 1 972).

( 1 0) 1 .E! h3 �e4 2.'!lxaS �d3 3.r.t>b6 '!le2 4.e4 r.t>f2 S . fS exfS 6.gxfS 'it'g2 7 . E! d3
h3 B.eS h2 9.E!d1 E!h3 1 0.e6 E! d3 1 l oE!e1 E!e3 (V.Gurevich-Vitolinsh; Riga 1 978).

( 1 1 ) l .h4+ 'it'xh4 2.E!h1 + 'it'gS 3 . E! h3 hS 4.E!h1 E! d7 S . E! h3 (N.Zhuravle-Skuja,

Riga 1 959).

( 1 2) l o E! eB + .£JxeB 2.�h7+ 'it'xh7 3 . .£JfB+ '!lhB 4 . .£Jg6+ (Neuman-NN, 1 956).

( 1 3) l ohS E! xgS 2.h6 c2 3.h7 E! h S 4.E!cS+ '!le4 S . E! xhS cl � 6.hB"l!t" "l!t"d2+ 7 . �gl
�e 1 + (Shumilin-Piskov, Moscow 1 939).

( 1 4) l .1l.xfS �xfS 2 .�xe7+ .£Jxe7 3.E!g7+ 'it'hB 4 . E! g l + (Littlewood-Perkins,

England 1 975).

( 1 5) l o e6 fxe6 2.fxe6 �xe6 3 . �eS Ab3 4.�d6 c4 S .�cS '!lfS 6.'!lb4 a2 7 .'it'a3
'it'e4 B . 'it'b2 '!ld3 9.'it'a1 (Maroczy-Pillsbury, Munich 1 900).

( 1 6) 1 .E! h6 E! xh6 2 .hB�+ E! xhB 3.bS (Marshall-McClure, New York 1 923).

 Draw !

( 1 7) 44.YiYxe6+ 'it'xe6 4 5 .gxf5 + �xf5 46. l::! xg2 (Lipnitsky-Schulz, Berlin 1 945).

( 1 8) 1 . . .Axh4 2.gxh4 �g4 + 3 . �f1 YiYh3+ 4 .',fi e l l::! xe3+ 5.fxe3 YiYhl + 6. �f2 YiYh2+
(Petrosian-Rossetto, Buenos-Aires 1 964).

( 1 9) 1 . . .l::! e6+ 2.�d2 l::! d6+ 3 .�c2 l::! c 6+ 4 .�d2 (Brash-Dedrle, Brin 1 9 1 2).

(20) 1 . . .�xf1 + 2.'�xf1 l::! xf2 + 3 .�e l l::! e2+ 4.�f1 (Shlenker-Zanker, date place?)

(2 1 ) 1 . . .�xd4 2.�xd6 Ah3+ 3.�el l::! xe2+ 4 . l::! xe2 YiYgl + 5 . �d2 YiYd4+ 6.�c2
YiYxc4+ 7. �dl YiYd4+ (Mititelu-Troianescu, Romania, 1 956)

(22) 1 . . . f5 2 .<i1te5 f4 3 . �e4 f3 4.�e3 h5 5 . �f2 h4 6.Ad6 <i1th3 (Fikhtl-Hort,

Koshitse 1 96 1 ).

(23) 1 . . .Axg3 2.e8<£l+ �g8 3 .<£lxf6+ �g8 4 .<£lxg4 YiYxg4 5 .YiYd7+ �f6 (Taimanov­
Gufeld, Moscow 1 966).

(24) 1 . . . l::! xg6+ 2.YiYxg6 Af2+ 3 .�xf2 YiYxf4+ (Nazliev-Bolotbekov, correspondence,

1 975).

(25) 1 . . .l::! xh2+ 2.�gl YiYxg3+ (Damuls-Shaerman, Daugavpils 1 978).

(26) 1 . . . l::! h l + 2.'it'g2 <£lxh4+ 3 .�xhl <£lxf3 + 4 . <i1tg2 YiYh2+ 5 .�xf3 YiYh l + 6.�e3
�e l + 7.�d3 �b l + (Krotov-Moskvitin, correspondence, 1 973)

(27) 1 . . .d2 2.l::! d l l::! e2+ 3 . <i1td4 Ab3 4.h7 Axdl 5 . h8YiY Axa4 6.<£ld5+ exd5 7.M6+
�f8 8.YiYh8+ �e7 9 .YiYf6+ (Sandro-Weider, 1 977).

(28) 1 . . . l::! f8 2. l::! e el l::! xh2+ 3 .YiYxh2 Axg2 + 4.�xg2 l::! h8+ 5 .YiYh2 l::! xh2+ 6.�xh2
�f2 + 7.�hl �f3+ (Weisman-Belchuk, place? 1 977).

(29) 1. .. �e5 2.�b2 <i1td5 3 . a4 �d4 4.'it'c2 �e4 5 . �dl �d5 6.�el �e5 7.�f2
�d4 8. �f3 �d5 9.�g4 �e4 1 O .�h5 �d5 1 1 .�g4 �e4 1 2 .�g3 �e5 (Schulz­
Girevich, Moscow 1 975 ) .

(30) 1 . . .YiYxa2+ 2.�xa2 <£lc4+ 3 .�b3 l::! a3+ 4 . �c2 l::! a2+ (Inspired by Steinitz­
Chigorin [m l O] Havana 1 892).

(3 1 ) 1 . . .�xbl 2 .l::! xbl Ac2 3 .l::! bdl Axd3 4 . l::! xd3 l::! xe4 5.<£ld2 Axf4 6.YiYh3 l::! e2
7 . d6 l::! xd2 8.d7 l::! xd3 9.�xd3 Ag5 1 0.�d5 <i1th6 1 1 .�xg5+ <i1txg5 1 2 . d8�+ <i1th6
(Lipnitsky-Tolush, Moscow 1 950).

(32) 1 . . . l::! c1 + 2.�b6 l::! c7 3 . a6 l::! xb7+ (Heilmann-Bemstein, Berlin 1 903)

 Draw !

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Nottingham 1 936 by Alexander Alekhine
Paul Morphy: A Modern Perspective by Valeri Beim
A Practical Guide to Rook Endgames by Nikolay Minev
Profession: Chessplayer - Grandmaster at Work by Vladimir Tukmakov
The Rules o/Chess by Bruce Pandolfini (free ! ) *
St. Petersburg 1909 by Emanuel Lasker
Strategic Opening Repertoire by John Donaldson & Carsten Hansen
Studiesfor Practical Players by Mark Dvoretsky & Oleg Pervakov
Tal-Botvinnik 1960 by Mikhail Tal
Topalov-Kramnik 2006 by Veselin Topalov with Zhivko Ginchev
Tragicomedy in the Endgame by Mark Dvoretsky
Vienna 1 922 by Larry Evans
Wilhelm Steinitz: First World Chess Champion by Isaak and Vladimir
Linder

Zurich 1 953 by Miguel Naj dorf

* Available only as an e-Book