11/9/2017 – November 9th is the birthday of Mikhail Tal, one of the most fascinating and adored World Champions. Tal loved to play chess, whether it was blitz, simultaneous events or games with classical time-control, and his imagination led to countless wonderful games. On the occasion of the birthday of the "Chess Magician" Prof. Nagesh Havanur shows brilliant games and a haunting elegy to pay a short tribute to Tal. | Photo: Unlikelylads / Public domain, via Wikimedia Commons
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Misha on a Magic Carpet
Misha Tal reveled in simultaneous displays. They gave him an opportunity to travel, see places and meet people. The public adored him and he enjoyed their adulation. In such events his play was uninhibited and he moved pieces with gay abandon. For him chess was fun. Take a look at this miniature he played when he was past his prime. A brilliant miniature!
Tal-N.N, Buenos Aires Simuls. 1987
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1.e4
1,165,570
54%
2421
---
1.d4
946,474
55%
2434
---
1.Nf3
281,312
56%
2441
---
1.c4
181,937
56%
2442
---
1.g3
19,688
56%
2427
---
1.b3
14,236
54%
2427
---
1.f4
5,886
48%
2377
---
1.Nc3
3,796
51%
2384
---
1.b4
1,753
48%
2380
---
1.a3
1,197
54%
2403
---
1.e3
1,068
48%
2408
---
1.d3
948
50%
2378
---
1.g4
662
46%
2361
---
1.h4
446
53%
2374
---
1.c3
426
51%
2425
---
1.h3
279
56%
2416
---
1.a4
108
60%
2468
---
1.f3
91
47%
2431
---
1.Nh3
89
66%
2508
---
1.Na3
42
62%
2482
---
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1.Nf3Nf62.c4c53.g3b64.Bg2Bb75.0-0g66.b36.Nc3is standard.6...d5Better is6...Bg77.Bb2Now we have a kind of Reti Opening.0-08.Nc3Na67.cxd5Bg78.Bb20-09.d4If9.Bxf6Bxf610.Nc3Bxc311.dxc3Qxd5=9...Nxd510.Qd2not10.e4?!Nb410...Nb4?
A loss of tempo is particularly dangerous against Tal.He should have
completed development first with10...Na611.a3Tempting the knight to
retreat in the wrong directionOtherwise11.Rd1is even stronger.11...N4c6?This is asking for trouble.11...Nd5is also bad on account
of12.dxc5bxc513.Bxg7Kxg714.Ne5±Correct is11...N4a6=12.d5Bxb2??12...Nd413.Nxd4Bxd414.Bxd4cxd415.Qxd4±was the lesser
evil.13.dxc6!Tal in his elementQxd214.cxb7Qd515.Nh4!The
knight has the last word. Curiously his counterpart never moved.1–0
Williams main teaching method behind this set of two DVDs is to teach you some simple yet effective set ups, without the need to rely on memorising numerous complicated variations.
Mikhail Tal at a simultaneous event | Photo: ChessPro.ru
Often Tal inspired his opponents, who put up a spirited fight before going down in flames. The following game is special and deserves a place in anthologies.
Tal-Miller, L.A. Simuls 1988
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1.e4e52.Nf3Nc63.Bc4Nf64.d4Years ago Tal had run into trouble
after 4.Ng5Bc5!?(Traxler Counterattack) in a famous game with young
readers of a Soviet newspaper. That game ended in a fighting draw. Here he
avoids the line as he wants to attack himself.4...d6?This is a
beginner's move, losing a pawn.4...exd4is standard.5.dxe5Nxe46.Bxf7+!Kxf77.Qd5+Be68.Qxe4±Tal emerges a pawn up in
this well-known opening trap. No surprises so far.Be79.0-09.Nc3completing development on the queenside is also possible.9...d510.Qd3Qd711.Re1Raf8An unusual plan. He intends an all-out offensive
against the king.11...Rhf8followed by...Kg8 is a safer
alternative.11...Bf5looks playable. But it's dangerous to allow
the possibility of e5-e6.12.Nc3Ke813.Ng5?This move offers Black
counterplay on the f-file.13.Bg5!would have kept everything under
control.13...Bc5!inaugurating a brilliant counterattack14.Nxe6Bxf2+15.Kh1Bxe116.Nxf8?!One cannot judge this move strictly. It was
a simultaneous display, after all.Otherwise he would have played16.Nxd5!Ba516...Qxe6??17.Nxc7++-17.Nxf8Rxf818.Be3Nxe519.Qb3±16...Rxf817.Bg5?This aggressive could have
backfired.17.Bd2!would have eliminated the road block by the
bishop on e1.17...Nb418.Qe2Nxc219.e6!Sheer intimidation!not19.Rxe1?Nxe120.Qxe1Qf521.h4Qf1+22.Qxf1Rxf1+-+19...Qd6?!This move initiating a combination has a fatal flaw.He
would have won with19...Qc6!20.Rd1d4followed by ...Rf2.20.Nb5Tal saw20.Rxe1?Nxe121.Qxe1losing toQe5!-+20...Qe5!Tal's queen, rook and bishop are attacked and the king
is threatened with mate in two.21.h4‼A breezy move that puts out the
fire round him.Qg321...Qxe2??22.Nxc7#is a lovely finish
with Black queen being only a spectator.22.Rd1!Rf2Once
again Black's attack threatens to turn into a towering inferno.23.Qxf2‼Pouring cold shower on all his hopes.Bxf224.Rxd5Qxh4+Threatened by Rd8 mate, Black is forced to surrender the queen.25.Bxh4Bxh426.Nxc7+Kf827.Rf5+Bf628.Rd5a529.Rd7Nb430.Rf7+Kg831.Rxf6!Nc6Never say die!31...gxf6allows32.e7+-32.Rf7g633.e7A bright finish! 1–0
On this DVD Dorian Rogozenco, Mihail Marin, Oliver Reeh and Karsten Müller present the 8. World Chess Champion in video lessons: his openings, his understanding of chess strategy, his artful endgame play, and finally his immortal combinations.
Finally, here are two glimpses of Tal:
Tal facing a young Gary Kasparov
Tal-Kasparov, Moscow Blitz 1992
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1.e4c52.Nf3d63.Bb5+Misha plays the Rossolimo that was seen as an
offbeat line at the time.He avoids the Scheveningen 3.d4cxd44.Nxd4Nf65.Nc3e6in which Garry is an acknowledged expert.3...Nd7Currently3...Bd7is in vogue.4.d4Ngf6After4...cxd4White can play for advantage in space with5.Qxd4a66.Be2!?However,
Black can counter vigorously with...Nf6,...e5 and ...Nc5. This line is
still in a state of flux.5.0-05.Nc3is more usual.5...a6If5...Nxe4?!6.Re1with lead in development and results have always
favoured White.6.Bxd7+Nxd77.Nc3e68.Bg5Qc79.Re1cxd410.Nxd410.Qxd4Ne511.Rad1Bd7was seen in Ljubojevic-Kasparov, Amsterdam 1991
with a level position, though Ljubo was later outplayed (0-1, 40 moves).10...Ne511.f4h612.Bh4g513.fxe5gxh414.exd6Bxd615.Nd5?!Tal
is Tal! He must have played this sacrifice in in any number of positions in
his life. Here it's slightly premature.He could have set more problems
for Garry with15.e5!?Bxe516.Nd5Qd6After16...exd5?17.Qh5followed by 18.Rxe5 White has the upper hand.17.Nf3though
Black has only a slight advantage afterBg717...exd5?18.Rxe5+Be619.Qd40-0-020.Qxh4was seen in Pedzich-Ziegler,
Gothenburg 1994 (1-0, 63 moves).17...Bxb2would be too greedy on
account of18.Rb1with a lead in development.15...exd516.exd5+Kf817.Qf3Over the years there has been considerable speculation
over the rest of the moves.Bxh2+18.Kh1Qf419.Qc3threatening
Ne6+ being one of them.1–0
The Rossolimo Variation 3.Bb5 is considered to be one of the strongest replies to 2…Nc6 in the Sicilian Defence. The fact that the move has been played by practically all the top players proves its popularity and strength. But the most interesting aspect of playing 3.Bb5 is that we force sharp, attacking players who love to have the initiative to forget about the Open Sicilian and to adjust themselves to a new world, one full of positional ideas, manoeuvres and nuances.
Nagesh HavanurProf. Nagesh Havanur (otherwise known as "chessbibliophile") is a senior academic and research scholar. He taught English in Mumbai for three decades and has now settled in Bangalore, India. His interests include chess history, biography and opening theory. He has been writing on the Royal Game for more than three decades. His articles and reviews have appeared on several web sites and magazines.
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The Black Sniper is back – sharper and deadlier than ever! This dynamic system (1...g6, 2...Bg7, 3...c5 against 1.e4, 1.d4 and 1.c4) creates unpredictable, high-pressure positions, leaving opponents struggling to adapt.
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