Some Favourite Tal Games
These are just a few of my favourites - presenting Tal games is a bit like choosing Beatles songs; you always remember another one and can't decide which you like the best. Anyone care to suggest some others?
This section is in PGN format and will yield annotations if converted to Chessbase format. These are based on a comparison of many sources backed up with my own analysis aided by Fritz.
[Event "?"]
[Site "Riga"]
[Date "1957.??.??"]
[Round "?"]
[White "Tal, M."]
[Black "Koblentz"]
[Result "1-0"]
[ECO "B63"]
1. e4 c5 2. Nf3 Nc6 3. d4 cxd4 4. Nxd4 Nf6 5. Nc3 d6 6. Bg5 e6 7. Qd2
Be7 8. O-O-O O-O 9. Nb3 Qb6 10. f3 a6 11. g4 Rd8 12. Be3 Qc7 13. h4 b5
14. g5 Nd7 15. g6 hxg6 16. h5 gxh5 17. Rxh5 Nf6 18. Rh1 d5 $1 19. e5 $1
Nxe5 (19... Qxe5 20. Bf4 Qf5 21. Bd3 $16) 20. Bf4 Bd6 21. Qh2 Kf8 22.
Qh8+ Ng8 23. Rh7 f5 24. Bh6 Rd7 25. Bxb5 $1 Rf7 26. Rg1 Ra7 27. Nd4 Ng4 $3 (
27... Qb6 28. Bd7 $3 Raxd7 29. Nxe6+ Ke8 30. Nxg7+ Rxg7 31. Qxg8+ $1 $16)
28. fxg4 Be5 {B seems safe. Although a piece down, W has 3 pieces
en-prise. What can be done} (28... Bf4+ 29. Bxf4 Qxf4+ 30. Kb1 Qxd4 31.
Rgh1 {/\ Qxg7+} 31... Rfb7 32. Be8 {Renewing the threat}) 29. Nc6 $1 {To
attack the Be5} 29... Bxc3 30. Be3 $1 {/\ not the R but c5 with check} (
30. bxc3 axb5 31. Nxa7 Qxa7 $15) 30... d4 31. Rgh1 {/\ Qxg7+} 31... Rd7
32. Bg5 $1 axb5 33. R1h6 $1 d3 (33... Bxb2+ 34. Kxb2 (34. Kb1 Qxc6 35.
Rf6+ gxf6 36. Bh6+ Rg7 37. Bxg7+ Ke7 38. Qxg8 Kd6 39. Bf8+ Ke5 40. Rxa7
d3) 34... Qxc6 35. Rf6+ gxf6 36. Bh6+ Rg7 37. Bxg7+ Ke7 38. Qxg8 (38.
Bxf6+ Kd6 39. Be5+ Kd5 40. Rxa7 Qc3+ 41. Kb1 Qe1+ 42. Kb2 Qxe5 43. Qxg8
d3+ 44. Kb3 d2 45. Qxc8 Qe3+ 46. Qc3 Qxa7 47. Qxd2+ Qd4) 38... Qc3+ 39.
Kb1 Qe1+ 40. Kb2 Qb4+ 41. Ka1) 34. bxc3 d2+ 35. Kd1 Qxc6 36. Rf6+ Rf7
37. Qxg7+ 1-0
[Event "?"]
[Site "Portoroz izt"]
[Date "1958.??.??"]
[Round "?"]
[White "Tal, M."]
[Black "Panno, O."]
[Result "1-0"]
[ECO "C92"]
1. e4 e5 2. Nf3 Nc6 3. Bb5 a6 4. Ba4 Nf6 5. O-O Be7 6. Re1 b5 7. Bb3 d6
8. c3 O-O 9. h3 Nd7 10. d4 Nb6 11. Be3 exd4 12. cxd4 Na5 13. Bc2 c5
14. e5 $1 dxe5 $1 (14... Nac4 15. exd6 Qxd6 16. Bg5 $1 Bxg5 17. Nxg5 $40)
15. Nxe5 Nbc4 16. Qd3 f5 17. Bb3 $1 f4 18. Bd2 Nxb3 $1 19. Nc6 $5 Nxa1
20. Nxd8 Bf5 21. Qf3 Raxd8 22. Rxe7 Bxb1 23. Bxf4 Rxd4 (23... cxd4 24.
b3 Bg6 25. bxc4 d3 {Is suggested by Vukovic as good for B. /\ Rxf4.
However Tal suggests now...} 26. Qg4 $1 Rxf4 (26... d2 27. Rd7) 27. Qxf4
d2 28. Rxg7+ $1 Kh8 29. Rd7 $1) 24. Qg4 $1 Bg6 25. Qe6+ Bf7 26. Qf5 Nc2 (
26... Bg6 27. Rxg7+ Kxg7 28. Bh6+ Kxh6 29. Qxf8+ $14) 27. b3 Bg6 28.
Rxg7+ Kxg7 29. Bh6+ Kxh6 30. Qxf8+ Kg5 31. bxc4 bxc4 32. g3 Be4 33. h4+
Kg4 34. Kh2 Bf5 $1 (34... Bd5 35. f3+ Bxf3 36. Qc8+ {& mates}) 35. Qf6 h6
36. Qe5 Re4 37. Qg7+ Kf3 38. Qc3+ Ne3 39. Kg1 Bg4 40. fxe3 h5 41. Qe1
Rxe3 $2 42. Qf1+ Ke4 43. Qxc4+ Kf3 44. Qf1+ Ke4 45. Qxa6 Kd4 46. Qd6+
Kc4 47. a4 Re1+ 48. Kf2 Re2+ 49. Kf1 Ra2 50. Qa6+ Kd4 51. a5 c4 52.
Qb6+ Kd5 53. a6 Ra1+ 54. Kf2 c3 55. a7 c2 56. Qb3+ Kd6 57. Qd3+ (57.
Qd3+ Ke7 (57... Ke6 58. Qxc2 Rxa7 59. Qe4+ {& again the R is lost}) 58.
Qxc2 $16) 1-0
[Event "?"]
[Site "Munich Ol"]
[Date "1958.??.??"]
[Round "?"]
[White "Tal, M."]
[Black "Russell"]
[Result "1-0"]
[ECO "C44"]
1. e4 e5 2. Nf3 Nc6 3. d4 exd4 4. c3 dxc3 5. Nxc3 d6 6. Bc4 Be7 $2 7.
Qb3 Na5 8. Bxf7+ Kf8 9. Qa4 Kxf7 10. Qxa5 Be6 11. O-O Kf8 12. Nd5 $1 c6
13. Nc7 Bf7 14. Nd4 Qc8 15. Nxa8 Qxa8 16. Nf5 b6 17. Qc3 Bf6 18. Qg3
Ne7 19. Qxd6 Ke8 20. Bh6 Rg8 21. Rad1 Qc8 22. Bxg7 Nxf5 23. exf5 Be7
24. Rfe1 Be6 25. Rxe6 Rxg7 26. f6 1-0
[Event "?"]
[Site "25th USSR ch"]
[Date "1958.??.??"]
[Round "?"]
[White "Tal, M."]
[Black "Giplis"]
[Result "1-0"]
[ECO "B43"]
1. e4 c5 2. Nf3 e6 3. d4 cxd4 4. Nxd4 a6 5. Nc3 b5 6. Bd3 Bb7 7. O-O
Qc7 8. Re1 Nc6 9. Nxc6 Qxc6 $2 10. a4 $1 b4 (10... bxa4 11. Rxa4 Nf6
12. Rc4 Qb6 13. Be3) 11. Nd5 $1 Nf6 (11... h6 {B is in great danger, as
can be seen if we make a trivial move such as this for him.} 12. Bd2 a5
13. Bf4 Rc8 14. Bb5 Qxc2 (14... Qc5 15. Nb6 $1 (15. Bxd7+ $5 Kxd7 16.
Nb6+ Kc6 17. Qd7+ Kxb6 18. Be3) 15... Rd8 16. Nxd7 $18) 15. Bxd7+ Kxd7
16. Nb6+ Ke7 17. Nxc8+ Qxc8 18. Rc1 Bc6 19. Qd6+ Kf6 20. Qxc6 Qxc6 21.
Rxc6) 12. Bd2 $1 Nxd5 (12... a5 13. Bb5 Qc5 14. Be3 Qd6 15. Bf4 e5 16.
Bxe5 Qxe5 17. Nxf6+ Ke7 18. Nxd7 $16) 13. exd5 Qc5 14. Be4 $1 f5 (14...
Bxd5 15. Be3 Qc6 16. Bxd5 Qxd5 17. Qxd5 exd5 18. Bg5+) 15. Bf3 (15. Bxf5
Bxd5 16. Bxb4 Qxb4 17. Qxd5 $16) 15... Bxd5 16. Bxb4 Bxf3 17. Qxf3 Qc8
18. Bc3 Kf7 19. Rad1 Be7 20. g4 $1 Rf8 (20... Qc6 21. Qxc6 dxc6 22. gxf5
exf5 23. Rd7 Rhe8 24. Bb4 $16) 21. gxf5 Kg8 22. Qg2 Bf6 23. Bxf6 Rxf6
24. Rxd7 Qxd7 25. Qxa8+ Rf8 26. Qxa6 1-0
[Event "?"]
[Site "26th USSR ch"]
[Date "1959.??.??"]
[Round "?"]
[White "Tal, M."]
[Black "Bronstein, D."]
[Result "1-0"]
[ECO "C96"]
1. e4 e5 2. Nf3 Nc6 3. Bb5 a6 4. Ba4 Nf6 5. O-O Be7 6. Re1 b5 7. Bb3 d6
8. c3 O-O 9. h3 Na5 10. Bc2 c5 11. d4 Nc6 12. Nbd2 Qb6 13. dxc5 dxc5
14. Nf1 Be6 15. Ne3 Rad8 16. Qe2 g6 17. Ng5 c4 $1 18. a4 Kg7 $1 19.
axb5 axb5 20. Rb1 (20. b3 cxb3 21. Nxe6+ fxe6 22. Bxb3 Nxe4 23. Ng4 Nxc3 {
Because of B's 18th W does not now have a check with Bxe6} 24. Bh6+ Kh8
25. Qb2 b4 26. Bxf8 {& B has compensation for his exchange}) 20... Na5 (
20... Nd4 21. cxd4 exd4 22. Nd5 Bxd5 23. exd5 d3 24. Qxe7 dxc2 25. Be3 $1
cxb1=Q 26. Bxb6 Qf5 27. Ne6+ $16) 21. Nf3 $1 Qc7 22. Nd5 Bxd5 (22... Nxd5
23. exd5 Bxd5 24. Nxe5 $40 {/\ 25.Nxg6 or Ng4 or Qe3}) 23. exd5 Rfe8 $1
24. Qxe5 Qxe5 25. Nxe5 Nxd5 (25... Bd6 {creates interesting complications}
26. Bh6+ Kxh6 27. Nxf7+ Kg7 28. Rxe8 Rxe8 29. Nxd6 Re2 30. Ra1 Rxc2
31. Rxa5 Rxb2 {& B has chances of a draw}) 26. Ra1 Nb3 (26... Nb4 $5 {
suggested post game by Bronstein. however..} 27. cxb4 Bxb4 28. Re3 Bc5
29. Rxa5 Bxe3 30. Bxe3 $14) 27. Bxb3 cxb3 28. Bh6+ $1 Kg8 (28... Kxh6
29. Nxf7+ Kg7 30. Nxd8 Rxd8 31. Ra5 $16) 29. Nc6 Rc8 30. Rad1 $1 Rxc6
31. Rxd5 {No answer to /\ Rxe7 or Rxb5} 31... f6 32. Rxb5 g5 33. Rxb3
Kf7 34. Rb7 Re6 35. Rxe6 Kxe6 36. h4 Rg8 37. f4 Bc5+ 38. Kf1 gxh4 39.
Rb5 Rc8 40. f5+ Kd6 41. b4 h3 42. Rxc5 h2 43. Bf4+ 1-0
[Event "?"]
[Site "JUG ct"]
[Date "1959.??.??"]
[Round "?"]
[White "Tal, M."]
[Black "Smyslov, V."]
[Result "1-0"]
[ECO "B10"]
1. e4 c6 2. d3 d5 3. Nd2 e5 4. Ngf3 Nd7 5. d4 dxe4 6. Nxe4 exd4 7. Qxd4
Ngf6 8. Bg5 Be7 9. O-O-O O-O 10. Nd6 Qa5 11. Bc4 $3 b5 $1 12. Bd2 $1
Qa6 (12... Qc7 13. Bxf7+ Rxf7 14. Nxf7 Kxf7 15. Ng5+ Kg8 16. Rhe1 Nf8
17. Bf4 Qb7 18. Bd6 $1) 13. Nf5 Bd8 (13... Bc5 14. Qh4 bxc4 15. Bc3 $1
Qxa2 16. Rxd7 Bxd7 17. Nh6+ Kh8 18. Qxf6 $1 $18) 14. Qh4 $1 bxc4 (14...
Ne5 15. Nh6+ gxh6 16. Bxh6 Ng6 17. Rxd8 $1 $18) 15. Qg5 $1 Nh5 $1 (15...
g6 16. Nh6+ Kg7 17. Bc3 Qxa2 18. Rhe1 $16) (15... Ne8 16. Qxd8 Qxa2 17.
Bc3 Nef6 18. Rxd7 Bxd7 19. Nh6+ gxh6 20. Qxf6 $18) 16. Nh6+ $1 Kh8 17.
Qxh5 Qxa2 (17... Bf6 18. Bc3 Bxc3 19. Ng5 g6 20. Nhxf7+ Rxf7 21. Nxf7+
Kg7 22. Qf3 Bf6 23. Nd6 {& B is still struggling to finish his q-side
development}) (17... Nf6 18. Qc5 Nd7 19. Qd6) 18. Bc3 Nf6 $2 (18... f6 19.
Rhe1 gxh6 (19... g6 20. Qh4 Qa1+ 21. Kd2 Qa4 22. Ng5 $16) 20. Qxh6 Rg8
21. Ng5 $1 $16) (18... Bf6 {Possibly best though the position is highly
complex} 19. Ng5 Bxg5+ 20. Qxg5 f6 21. Qh4 gxh6 22. Rhe1 $13 {One
possible line is as follows} 22... Qa1+ 23. Kd2 Qa4 24. Re7 Ne5 25. Ke1 $1
Be6 26. Qxh6 Rf7 27. Rxf7 Bxf7 28. Qxf6+ Kg8 29. Bxe5 Kf8 30. Rd7 $18)
19. Qxf7 $1 Qa1+ 20. Kd2 Rxf7 21. Nxf7+ Kg8 22. Rxa1 Kxf7 23. Ne5+ Ke6
24. Nxc6 Ne4+ 25. Ke3 Bb6+ 26. Bd4 1-0
[Event "?"]
[Site "JUG ct"]
[Date "1959.??.??"]
[Round "20"]
[White "Tal, M."]
[Black "Fischer, R."]
[Result "1-0"]
[ECO "E93"]
1. d4 Nf6 2. c4 g6 3. Nc3 Bg7 4. e4 d6 5. Be2 O-O 6. Nf3 e5 7. d5 Nbd7
8. Bg5 h6 9. Bh4 a6 10. O-O Qe8 11. Nd2 Nh7 12. b4 Bf6 13. Bxf6 Nhxf6
14. Nb3 Qe7 15. Qd2 Kh7 16. Qe3 Ng8 $1 17. c5 f5 18. exf5 gxf5 19. f4 $1
exf4 20. Qxf4 {Tal now expected Ne5, & did not even consider de,
thinking it obviously suicidal. Fischer, famous for grabbing material,
automatically took, thinking that the extra P would help the defense.}
20... dxc5 21. Bd3 $1 {Tal spent a long time on the other line before
deciding on this. Apparently this convinced Fischer that the pawn loss
had been an oversight!} (21. bxc5 Nxc5 22. Rac1 Bd7 $1 23. Qxc7 Rac8
24. Qf4 Nxb3 25. axb3 Rxc3 26. Rxc3 Qxe2 27. Rc7 Qe7 28. d6 Qe6 {&
although W's pieces are actively placed there is nothing decisive})
21... cxb4 (21... Qg7 22. Bxf5+ Kh8 23. Ne4 Ne5 24. Ng3 Ne7 25. Rae1
Bxf5 (25... Nd3 26. Rxe7 Nxf4 27. Rxg7 Kxg7 28. Rxf4 cxb4 $14) 26. Qxe5 $16)
22. Rae1 Qf6 $2 (22... Qd6 23. Bxf5+ Kh8 24. Qd4+ Qf6 25. Qxb4 Qb6+ 26.
Qd4+ Qxd4+ 27. Nxd4 $14) 23. Re6 Qxc3 24. Bxf5+ Rxf5 25. Qxf5+ Kh8 26.
Rf3 Qb2 27. Re8 Ndf6 28. Qxf6+ Qxf6 29. Rxf6 Kg7 30. Rff8 Ne7 31. Na5 {
Zugswang} 31... h5 32. h4 Rb8 33. Nc4 b5 34. Ne5 1-0
[Event "?"]
[Site "Leipzig ol"]
[Date "1960.??.??"]
[Round "?"]
[White "Fischer, R."]
[Black "Tal, M."]
[Result "1/2-1/2"]
[ECO "C17"]
1. e4 e6 2. d4 d5 3. Nc3 Bb4 4. e5 c5 5. a3 Ba5 6. b4 cxd4 7. Qg4 Ne7
8. bxa5 dxc3 9. Qxg7 Rg8 10. Qxh7 Nbc6 11. Nf3 Qc7 12. Bb5 Bd7 13. O-O
O-O-O 14. Bg5 $2 (14. Bxc6 $1 Bxc6 15. Qxf7 d4 16. Qxe6+ Bd7 17. Qxe7
Rxg2+ 18. Kxg2 Bh3+ 19. Kxh3 Qxe7 20. Bg5 {....should win!}) 14... Nxe5 $1
15. Nxe5 Bxb5 16. Nxf7 Bxf1 17. Nxd8 Rxg5 18. Nxe6 Rxg2+ 19. Kh1 $1 (
19. Kxf1 $2 Rxh2 $1 20. Qf7 Rh1+ $1 21. Ke2 (21. Kg2 Qh2+ 22. Kf3 Qh3+
23. Kf4 Qh4+ 24. Ke5 Qe4+ 25. Kf6 Qf5+ 26. Kxe7 Qxf7+ 27. Kxf7 Rxa1)
21... Qc4+ 22. Kf3 Rh3+ 23. Kg2 Qg4+ 24. Kf1 Rh1#) 19... Qe5 20. Rxf1
Qxe6 21. Kxg2 Qg4+ 1/2-1/2
[Event "?"]
[Site "sf USSR tch"]
[Date "1964.??.??"]
[Round "?"]
[White "Tal, M."]
[Black "Lutikov"]
[Result "1-0"]
[ECO "C40"]
1. e4 e5 2. Nf3 d5 3. exd5 e4 4. Qe2 f5 5. d3 Nf6 6. dxe4 fxe4 7. Nc3
Bb4 8. Qb5+ c6 9. Qxb4 exf3 10. Bg5 $1 cxd5 11. O-O-O Nc6 12. Qa3 Be6
13. Bc4 Qe7 14. Nxd5 Qxa3 15. Nc7+ Ke7 16. Rhe1 $1 (16. Bxe6 Qd6 $1 17.
Rxd6 Kxd6 18. Bf4+ Ne5 19. Nxa8 Kxe6 20. Nc7+ Kf5 21. Bxe5 Kxe5 22.
gxf3 {But the ending still requires accurate play}) 16... Qc5 (16... Qa5
17. Rxe6+ Kf8 18. Bf4 Rd8 19. Rxd8+ Nxd8 20. Bd6+ Kf7 21. Re5+ Kg6 (
21... Nd5 22. Rxd5 Qa4 23. Rd4+ Kf6 24. Nd5+ Ke6 25. Nb6+ Qxc4 26. Nxc4
fxg2 27. Rd1 b5 28. Na3 g1=Q 29. Rxg1 Kxd6 30. Nxb5+ $16) 22. Rxa5 fxg2
23. Bd3+ Kf7 24. Rg5 $16) 17. Rxe6+ Kf8 18. Rxf6+ gxf6 19. Ne6+ Ke7 20.
Nxc5 fxg5 21. Rd7+ Kf6 22. Rd6+ Ke7 23. Re6+ Kd8 24. Nxb7+ Kc7 25. Bd5
Nb4 (25... fxg2 26. Rxc6+ Kxb7 27. Rg6+ Kc7 28. Rxg5 $14) 26. Bxf3 Rae8
27. Nc5 Nxa2+ 28. Kb1 Rxe6 29. Nxe6+ Kd7 30. Nc5+ Kd6 31. Nd3 1-0
[Event "?"]
[Site "ct qf"]
[Date "1965.??.??"]
[Round "2"]
[White "Tal, M."]
[Black "Portisch"]
[Result "1-0"]
[ECO "B10"]
1. e4 c6 2. Nc3 d5 3. Nf3 dxe4 4. Nxe4 Bg4 5. h3 Bxf3 6. Qxf3 Nd7 7. d4
Ngf6 8. Bd3 Nxe4 9. Qxe4 e6 10. O-O Be7 11. c3 Nf6 12. Qh4 Nd5 13. Qg4
Bf6 (13... O-O 14. Bh6 Bf6 15. Qe4) 14. Re1 (14. Qe4 Ne7 $1 $10) 14... Qb6 (
14... O-O 15. Bh6 Re8 16. Rad1 Qb6 17. Bc1 $14) 15. c4 $5 {a3 would be
the normal strategic line but Tal feeling that Portisch would be happy
in such a line has an astonishing tactical ploy lined up.} 15... Nb4 (
15... Ne7 16. d5 $1 cxd5 17. cxd5 Nxd5 18. Qa4+ {was Tal's intention,
with B's K unable to castle compensating for the P.}) 16. Rxe6+ $3 fxe6
17. Qxe6+ Kf8 (17... Kd8 18. Qd6+ Ke8 19. Qe6+ {is a draw but was hardly
likely when B is a R up!}) (17... Be7 18. Bg6+ $1 (18. Bg5 $2 Qc7 19. Re1
Nxd3 $1 20. Bxe7 Qd7 $1 $17) (18. Bxh7 c5 $1 19. Qg6+ Qxg6 20. Bxg6+ Kd8
21. d5 Bf6 22. a3 Na6 $17) 18... hxg6 (18... Kd8 19. Bf5 Qxd4 (19... Qc7
20. Bf4 Qc8 21. Qe4) 20. Bf4 {Tal had seen this position before the R
sacrifice & liked it a lot. He had further seen the following "main
line" as a possibility that he found very attractive.} 20... Re8 21.
Re1 g6 22. Be3 (22. Bg4 $1 {Dvoretsky's improvment} 22... Nd3 (22... h5 $2
23. Rd1 Nd3 24. Be5 $1) 23. Re4 Qxf2+ 24. Kh2 Qg1+ $3 (24... Nc5 $2 25.
Qe5) 25. Kxg1 Bc5+ 26. Be3 $1 Rxe6 27. Rxe6 Bxe3+ (27... a5 $1 {Chernin's
defensive plan, when the N gets the c5 square.}) 28. Rxe3 Nxb2 29. Rb3
Nxc4 30. Rxb7 Ne5 31. Rxh7 Rb8 32. Be6 $14) 22... Qd6 23. Bxa7 Qxe6 {
Here however there is a flaw, Dvoretsky has pointed out that instead of
this black should play Kc7 & stays a R up. But he has further pointed
out the improvement for white on move 22 mentioned earlier.} 24. Bb6+
Kc8 25. Bxe6+ Kb8 26. Bd7) 19. Bg5 Qc7 20. Re1 {/\ both Bxe7+ & Qxg6+.})
18. Bf4 Rd8 $1 (18... Re8 $2 19. Bd6+ Be7 20. Re1 Qd8 21. Re3 $1) (18...
Qd8 $2 19. Re1 g5 (19... Be7 20. Bb1 {/\ Re3 or Re5}) 20. Bd6+ Kg7 21.
Bxb4 $40) 19. c5 Nxd3 $1 20. cxb6 {Tal had forseen the Bh6 line some time
ago & had originally planned to take it with a draw if Black found the right
line, but his tremendous will to win keeps him going. After all the cpawn
reaches a7!} (20. Bh6 $5 Qxb2 $1 (20... Qc7 21. Qxf6+ Ke8 22. Bxg7 Rg8
23. Qe6+ $16) 21. Qxf6+ Ke8 {& W must take perpetual.}) 20... Nxf4 21.
Qg4 Nd5 22. bxa7 Ke7 $6 {Having defended well for so long in the face of
such complication Portisch goes wrong. g6 & Kg7 was stronger & could
well have drawn although W still has chances.} 23. b4 $1 Ra8 $2 {Nc7 or
Kd6 were stronger.} 24. Re1+ Kd6 25. b5 $1 {/\ 26.bc bc, 27.Qe6+ Kc7 Rc1
& 26.b6 Nxb6 27.Rb1} 25... Rxa7 $2 (25... Rhe8 26. Rxe8 Rxe8 27. Qg3+
Kd7 28. Qb8) (25... Kc7 26. Qg3+ Kd7 27. b6 Nxb6 28. Rb1) 26. Re6+ Kc7
27. Rxf6 $1 1-0
[Event "?"]
[Site "ct sf"]
[Date "1965.??.??"]
[Round "10"]
[White "Tal, M."]
[Black "Larsen, B."]
[Result "1-0"]
[ECO "B82"]
1. e4 c5 2. Nf3 Nc6 3. d4 cxd4 4. Nxd4 e6 5. Nc3 d6 6. Be3 Nf6 7. f4
Be7 8. Qf3 O-O 9. O-O-O (9. Be2 Bd7 10. O-O-O Nxd4 11. Bxd4 Bc6 12. g4
Qa5 13. g5 Nd7 14. Rhg1 b5 15. Qh5 b4 16. Rd3 bxc3 17. Bxc3 Qxa2 18.
Rh3 Bxe4 19. g6 Bxg6 20. Qxh7+ Bxh7 21. Rxg7+ Kh8 22. Rhxh7# {this was a
game played between Tal & Koblentz on the morning of this Larsen game &
shows very well the dangers of the line for B.}) 9... Qc7 {a normal move
in this sort of position but here it is not so good. Better was first
Bd7.} 10. Ndb5 $1 (10. g4 Nxd4 11. Rxd4 e5 12. Rc4 Bxg4 $1 $15) 10... Qb8
11. g4 a6 12. Nd4 Nxd4 13. Bxd4 b5 (13... e5 {Tal felt that this was best
for B when he would have replied...} 14. g5 Bg4 15. Qg3 Bxd1 $2 (15...
exd4 16. gxf6 dxc3 17. fxe7 cxb2+ 18. Kb1 Bxd1 $10) 16. gxf6 Bxf6 17.
Nd5) 14. g5 Nd7 {At this point W must decide how to pursue the attack.
Tal says that at first he planned to play a3 to keep the N on c3. Then
he saw the N sac idea & easily pursuaded himself. If he was to lose it
would not be through cowardice!} 15. Bd3 (15. a3 b4 16. axb4 Qxb4 17.
Qh5 Rb8 18. Rd3 Qxb2+ 19. Kd1 {was one possibility.}) 15... b4 16. Nd5 $1
exd5 {If not then Nf6 is even more dangerous.} 17. exd5 {The B pieces
are mostly on the Q-side and cannot easily help the defence. W's Bs are
very powerful.} 17... f5 (17... g6 18. h4) (17... Re8 18. Bxh7+ Kxh7 19.
Qh5+ Kg8 20. Bxg7 $1 Kxg7 21. Qh6+ Kg8 22. g6 Nf6 23. Rhg1 Rd8 24. Rde1
Be6 (24... Qc7 25. gxf7+ Kxf7 26. Rg7+ Ke8 27. Qg6+ Kf8 28. Qf7#) 25.
gxf7+ Kxf7 26. dxe6+ Ke8 27. Qg6+ Kf8 28. Qg7+) 18. Rde1 Rf7 (18... Bd8
19. Qh5 Nc5 20. Bxg7 $1 Nxd3+ 21. Kb1 Nxe1 22. g6 Kxg7 23. Qxh7+ Kf6
24. g7 Rf7 25. g8=N# {is one rather odd line.}) 19. h4 Bb7 20. Bxf5 (20.
g6 hxg6 21. h5 g5 22. Bxf5 {This was the sort of line Tal wanted to play
but he could not see a forced win after Bf6 & did not want to waste time
looking unsucessfully.} 22... Rxf5 (22... Bf6 23. Be6 Qf8) 23. Rxe7 Ne5
24. h6 Nxf3 25. h7+ Kf8 26. Rxg7 {& mates.}) 20... Rxf5 21. Rxe7 Ne5 (
21... Rf7 22. Rxf7 Kxf7 23. g6+ hxg6 24. h5) (21... Bxd5 22. Rxg7+ Kf8
23. Qh5 Rxf4 24. Qxh7 Rf7 25. Bf6 Nxf6 26. gxf6 Ke8 27. Re1+ Kd7 28.
Rxf7+ Kc6 29. Rfe7) 22. Qe4 Qf8 $1 23. fxe5 $1 Rf4 24. Qe3 Rf3 {Larsen
has only 5 minutes left for 16 moves, but that is the least of his
worries.} (24... Bxd5 25. exd6 Rxd4 26. Qxd4 Bxh1 27. b3 {/\ h5-h6}
27... Re8 28. Qe5 Rxe7 29. dxe7 Qe8 30. Qe6+ Kh8 31. h5 Bc6 32. g6 hxg6
33. hxg6 {& mates.}) 25. Qe2 Qxe7 (25... Qf4+ 26. Qd2 Rf1+ 27. Rxf1 Qxf1+
28. Qd1) 26. Qxf3 dxe5 27. Re1 Rd8 (27... Rf8 28. Rxe5 Qxe5 29. Qxf8+
Kxf8 30. Bxe5 $16) 28. Rxe5 Qd6 29. Qf4 $1 Rf8 (29... Bxd5 30. Re8+) 30.
Qe4 b3 31. axb3 Rf1+ 32. Kd2 Qb4+ 33. c3 Qd6 34. Bc5 $1 Qxc5 35. Re8+
Rf8 36. Qe6+ Kh8 37. Qf7 $1 1-0
[Event "?"]
[Site "Havana ol"]
[Date "1966.??.??"]
[Round "?"]
[White "Tal, M."]
[Black "Byrne, R."]
[Result "1-0"]
[ECO "B69"]
1. e4 c5 2. Nf3 Nc6 3. d4 cxd4 4. Nxd4 Nf6 5. Nc3 d6 6. Bg5 e6 7. Qd2
a6 8. O-O-O Bd7 9. f4 Be7 10. Nf3 b5 11. Bxf6 gxf6 12. f5 Qa5 13. Kb1
O-O-O 14. g3 Kb8 15. Bh3 Bc8 16. Rhe1 h5 17. Qe3 Bd7 (17... b4 $1 18.
Ne2 Qc5 19. Nf4 (19. Ned4 Nxd4 20. Nxd4 e5 $1) 19... Qxe3 20. Rxe3 d5 $1
21. exd5 e5) 18. Ne2 Ne5 19. Nf4 Ng4 20. Qe2 Rdg8 {Nxh5 was threatened.}
21. Nd4 $1 Qb6 (21... e5 22. Nb3 {& Nd5 gives W a fine game.}) 22. Rd2 $1 (
22. fxe6 fxe6 23. Nfxe6 Bxe6 24. Nxe6 Nf2 25. Nf4 {is an interesting
exchange sac but as this was a team tournament Tal felt he had to play
without risk (!??)}) 22... e5 (22... d5 23. fxe6 fxe6 24. exd5 e5 25.
Nc6+ $1 Bxc6 26. dxc6) 23. Nd5 Qd8 24. Nb3 Bc6 25. c4 $1 Qd7 26. Na5 {to
exchange off B's only good defender.} 26... Bd8 27. Nxc6+ Qxc6 28. Rc1
Kb7 29. cxb5 Qxb5 30. Rd3 Ka7 31. Bxg4 hxg4 32. Qe3+ Ka8 33. Rb3 (33.
Rc8+ Kb7 34. Rxd8 Rxd8 35. Rb3 Rd7 {While obviously winning does still
leave some work to be done.}) (33. Rc7 Qxd3+ 34. Qxd3 Bxc7 35. Nxc7+ Kb7
36. Nxa6 {is also possible.}) 33... Qd7 34. Qd3 Ka7 35. Qe3+ (35. Nb4 {is
even better.} 35... Qb5 36. Nc6+ Kb7 37. Qd5) 35... Ka8 36. Rb6 $1 (36.
Rb6 $1 a5 37. Ra6+ Kb8 38. Rc8+ Kxc8 39. Ra8+ Kb7 40. Qa7+ Kc6 41. Qa6+
Kc5 42. b3 Qb5 43. Rc8+ Kd4 44. Rc4+ Kd3 45. Qxb5) 1-0
[Event "?"]
[Site "Moscow"]
[Date "1967.??.??"]
[Round "?"]
[White "Bilek"]
[Black "Tal, M."]
[Result "0-1"]
[ECO "A05"]
1. Nf3 Nf6 2. g3 b5 3. Bg2 Bb7 4. O-O e6 5. d3 d5 6. Nbd2 Be7 7. e4 O-O
8. Qe2 c5 9. Re1 Nc6 10. c3 a5 11. exd5 exd5 12. d4 Qb6 13. dxc5 Bxc5
14. Nb3 Rfe8 15. Qc2 d4 16. Qf5 Rxe1+ 17. Nxe1 Re8 18. Nf3 (18. Bf4 Bf8
19. Nxd4 Nxd4 20. cxd4 Ne4 {<-/->}) 18... Bd6 19. Bg5 Ne4 (19... dxc3
20. Bxf6 gxf6 21. bxc3 {Looks weakening for B but is in fact ok.}) 20.
Re1 Ne7 21. Bxe7 (21. Rxe4 Nxf5 22. Rxe8+ Bf8 23. Ne5 Qc7 24. Bd8 $16)
21... g6 22. Qh3 dxc3 23. Rxe4 (23. Bxd6 Qxf2+ 24. Kh1 Qxe1+ 25. Nxe1
Nf2+ 26. Kg1 Nxh3+ 27. Kf1 Bxg2+ 28. Kxg2 cxb2 29. Nd2 Re2+ $19) 23...
cxb2 {This is the point. Ng5 is not a threat as B has h5.} 24. Re1 (24.
Qh6 b1=Q+ 25. Bf1 Qxe4 26. Ng5 Qh1# {This is the line Bilek overlooked.}) (
24. Nbd2 Bxe4 25. Ng5 h5 26. Bxd6 Bf5 $1) 24... Rxe7 25. Rb1 a4 26. Nbd4
Bxf3 27. Nxf3 Re2 28. Rf1 (28. Qc8+ Kg7 29. Qc3+ Be5 $17) 28... Rxf2 29.
Qc8+ Kg7 30. Qc3+ f6 0-1
[Event "?"]
[Site "Tallin"]
[Date "1971.??.??"]
[Round "?"]
[White "Barcza, G."]
[Black "Tal, M."]
[Result "0-1"]
[ECO "A04"]
1. Nf3 g6 2. g3 Bg7 3. Bg2 d6 4. d3 e5 5. e4 Nc6 $1 6. Nc3 Nge7 7. Be3
O-O 8. Qd2 $2 Nd4 $1 9. Ne2 $2 Bh3 $1 10. Nfxd4 Bxg2 11. Rg1 exd4 12.
Nxd4 c5 $1 13. Nb5 Bf3 14. g4 d5 $5 15. Bxc5 Rc8 16. Ba3 dxe4 17. dxe4
Qb6 $1 18. Bxe7 Qxb5 $1 19. Bxf8 Qxb2 $1 20. Bxg7 Kxg7 21. Rc1 Rd8 $1
22. Qe3 Qxc2 $3 23. Kf1 Rd1+ 0-1
[Event "?"]
[Site "Tallin"]
[Date "1971.??.??"]
[Round "?"]
[White "Tal, M."]
[Black "Vooremaa"]
[Result "1-0"]
[ECO "B48"]
1. e4 c5 2. Nf3 e6 3. d4 cxd4 4. Nxd4 a6 5. Bd3 Nc6 6. Be3 Nf6 7. O-O
Qc7 8. Nc3 Bd6 9. Kh1 h5 10. f4 Ng4 11. Qf3 Nxe3 12. Qxe3 Qb6 13. Nce2
e5 14. Qg3 exd4 15. Qxg7 Rf8 16. e5 Be7 17. f5 f6 18. Nf4 Rf7 19. exf6
Ne5 (19... Rxg7 20. fxg7 Kf7 21. f6 Bxf6 22. Nxh5 Ne7 23. Bh7 Ng8 24.
Rae1 Nh6 25. Rxf6+ Qxf6 26. g8=Q+ Nxg8 27. Bxg8+ Kxg8 28. Nxf6+ $16)
20. Bc4 Nxc4 21. Qg8+ Bf8 22. Nxh5 Nd6 23. Rae1+ Kd8 24. Re7 Qb5 25.
Rfe1 Qd5 26. Nf4 Qxa2 (26... Qa5 27. c3 Qxa2 28. cxd4 Kc7 29. Ne6+ Kb8
30. Qg3 Ka7 31. Qxd6 Rxe7 32. Qc5+ Kb8 33. fxe7 Bxe7 34. Qxe7 dxe6) 27.
Ne6+ Qxe6 28. fxe6 Rxf6 29. Rf7 1-0
[Event "?"]
[Site "USSR t-ch"]
[Date "1974.??.??"]
[Round "?"]
[White "Tal, M."]
[Black "Petrosian, T."]
[Result "1-0"]
[ECO "B08"]
{Games between these two can take on the feel of the irrisistable force
vs the immovable object. This time Petrosian makes one mistake in the
opening & is torn apart by an attack straight out of the romantic
period.} 1. e4 g6 2. d4 Bg7 3. Nc3 d6 4. Nf3 Nf6 5. Be2 O-O 6. O-O Nc6
7. d5 Nb8 8. Re1 e5 $6 {Possibly the losing move! more usual would be a
plan involving ..c6.} 9. dxe6 Bxe6 10. Bf4 h6 11. Nd4 Bd7 12. Qd2 Kh7
13. e5 $1 {Tal realizes that by exchanging this centre pawn and giving
up the B pair he can achieve a fine centralised position while B cannot
easily develop his pieces.} 13... dxe5 14. Bxe5 Ne4 15. Nxe4 Bxe5 16.
Nf3 Bg7 17. Rad1 {The pin on the d7 B and the N stuck defending it make
B's position difficult. Nc5 is threatened.} 17... Qc8 18. Bc4 Be8 19.
Neg5+ $1 hxg5 20. Nxg5+ Kg8 21. Qf4 {B's pieces are so tied up that the
simple threat of Q-h4-h7 coupled with the pressure on f7 is
unanswerable.} 21... Nd7 {At last the N moves. If it could get to f6 it
could shore up the defence, but against someone with Tal's disregard of
material it is never going to get the chance.} (21... Bh6 22. Rxe8 $1
Qxe8 23. Qf6 Bxg5 24. Qxg6+ Kh8 25. Qh5+ Kg8 26. Qxg5+ Kh8 27. Rd4 {&
mates}) 22. Rxd7 $1 Bxd7 (22... Qxd7 23. Qh4 $16) 23. Bxf7+ (23. Bxf7+ Rxf7
24. Qxf7+ Kh8 25. Re7 Qf8 26. Qxg6 Bf5 27. Nf7+ Kg8 28. Nh6+ Kh8 29.
Nxf5 $16) 1-0
[Event "?"]
[Site "USSR-Yugoslavia"]
[Date "1979.??.??"]
[Round "?"]
[White "Tal, M."]
[Black "Velimirovic, D."]
[Result "1-0"]
[ECO "A30"]
1. c4 c5 2. b3 Nc6 3. Bb2 e5 4. g3 d6 5. Bg2 Be6 $6 6. Nc3 Qd7 7. Nf3
Bh3 8. Bxh3 Qxh3 9. Nd5 Qd7 (9... O-O-O 10. b4 {opening the b-file.})
10. e3 Nce7 (10... Nge7 11. d4 cxd4 12. exd4 e4 13. Nd2 Nxd5 14. cxd5
Nb4 15. Nxe4 Nxd5 16. O-O Be7 17. Qh5 $14) 11. Nc3 $1 Nf6 12. O-O e4 $5 {
to prevent d4.} 13. Ng5 $1 d5 $5 (13... Qf5 14. Nb5 $1 Rd8 (14... Qxg5
15. Nxd6+ Kd7 16. Nxf7 $16) 15. Nc7+ Kd7 16. Nxf7 Kxc7 17. Nxh8 {& W will
open the f-file decisivly.}) 14. cxd5 Qf5 15. Nxf7 $1 Kxf7 16. f3 Nexd5 (
16... exf3 17. e4 $1) 17. fxe4 Nxc3 18. Bxc3 Qxe4 19. Qh5+ Ke6 (19... Kg8
20. Bxf6 gxf6 21. Rxf6 Qe7 22. Qd5+ Kg7 23. Qg5#) 20. Qh3+ Kd6 21. b4 $1 (
21. Bxf6 gxf6 22. Rxf6+ Kc7 23. Rf7+ Be7 $15) 21... Kc7 22. Rac1 Rc8
23. Rf5 $3 Qg4 24. Be5+ Kd7 25. Qf1 $1 Qe4 26. Rc4 Qc6 27. Qh3 Qe6 28.
Bxf6 gxf6 29. Re4 $1 Qxa2 30. Rxc5+ 1-0
[Event "?"]
[Site "Subotica izt"]
[Date "1987.??.??"]
[Round "?"]
[White "Tal, M."]
[Black "Speelman, J."]
[Result "1-0"]
[ECO "B17"]
1. e4 c6 2. d4 d5 3. Nd2 dxe4 4. Nxe4 Nd7 5. Bc4 Ngf6 6. Ng5 e6 7. Qe2
Nb6 8. Bb3 h6 9. N5f3 a5 10. a3 Be7 11. Bd2 Nbd5 12. c4 Nc7 13. Bc2 O-O
14. Ne5 Qxd4 15. Bc3 Qd8 16. Ngf3 Nce8 17. g4 b5 18. g5 hxg5 19. Nxg5
Ra6 20. Qf3 b4 21. Qh3 g6 22. Bxg6 bxc3 23. Nexf7 Qd2+ 24. Kf1 Rxf7
25. Bxf7+ Kg7 26. Rg1 Qxg5 27. Rxg5+ Kxf7 28. bxc3 e5 1-0
[Event "?"]
[Site "Reykjavik WCup"]
[Date "1988.??.??"]
[Round "?"]
[White "Tal, M."]
[Black "Speelman, J."]
[Result "1-0"]
[ECO "A43"]
[WhiteElo "2610"]
[BlackElo "2645"]
1. e4 d6 2. d4 g6 3. Nf3 Bg7 4. Be2 Nf6 5. Nc3 O-O 6. O-O c5 7. d5 Na6
8. Re1 Nc7 9. Bf4 b5 10. Nxb5 Nxe4 11. Nxc7 Qxc7 12. Bc4 Nf6 13. h3 Re8
14. Rb1 a5 15. Qd2 Qb6 16. Re3 Ba6 17. Bxa6 Qxa6 18. Rbe1 Kf8 19. Ng5
Qb7 20. c4 Qb4 21. Qe2 h6 22. Nxf7 Kxf7 23. Rb3 Qa4 24. Qe6+ Kf8 25.
Rb7 Qxc4 26. Bxd6 Ng8 27. Re3 Bf6 28. Rf3 Kg7 29. Bxe7 Rxe7 30. Rxe7+
Nxe7 31. Qxf6+ Kg8 32. Qf7+ Kh8 33. Qxe7 Qxd5 34. Rf7 1-0
[Event "?"]
[Site "Barcelona"]
[Date "1992.??.??"]
[Round "?"]
[White "Tal, M."]
[Black "Akopyan, V."]
[Result "1-0"]
[ECO "B51"]
{Tal's last Tournament game. He went out playing the same wonderful
style that he had always played} 1. e4 c5 2. Nf3 Nc6 3. Bb5 d6 4. O-O
Bd7 5. Re1 Nf6 6. c3 a6 7. Ba4 c4 8. d4 cxd3 9. Bg5 e6 10. Qxd3 Be7
11. Bxf6 gxf6 12. Bxc6 Bxc6 13. c4 O-O 14. Nc3 Kh8 15. Rad1 Rg8 16. Qe3
Qf8 17. Nd4 Rc8 18. f4 Bd7 19. b3 Bd8 20. Nf3 b5 21. Qa7 Bc7 22. Qxa6
bxc4 23. b4 Qg7 24. g3 d5 25. exd5 Bxf4 26. Kf2 f5 27. gxf4 Qxc3 28.
Qd6 Ba4 29. Rd4 Rg7 30. dxe6 Bc6 31. Ng5 Rxg5 32. Qe5+ Rg7 33. Rd8+
Rxd8 34. Qxc3 f6 35. e7 Ra8 36. Qxf6 Be4 37. Rg1 Rxa2+ 38. Ke1 1-0
