Vlastimil Hort: Remembering Paul Keres

by Vlastimil Hort
6/2/2017 – Paul Keres was perhaps the best of all the top players who never became World Champion. For decades he was among the world's elite and he was also an excellent commentator and renowned theoretician. Vlastimil Hort remembers his encounters with the great Estonian.

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Paul Keres, born 7th January 1916 – died 5th June 1975. A capricorn!

The talent of Keres was great and it soon was noticed. Here's a report by International Master Vladas Mikenas: "In 1928 I visited Pärnu where I played a simul. During the simul a dark-haired, 12-year old boy demanded my whole attention. I always had to stop at his board for a long time to think. But in vain, all my attempts to save the game failed. The boy received the deserved applause and asked me modestly whether we could play some blitz games. I left Pärnu with the firm conviction that I had played with a player who would once be a star among the very best."

"I learnt chess quite early. I was not yet five years old when my brother and I were allowed to watch how my father played chess against the service personnel. We did not know yet that you can write games down. After we had discovered chess in magazines and books I acquired a thick notebook in which I kept my notes to openings and hundreds of master games. At this time I started with correspondence chess, and sometimes played 150 correspondence games simultaneously. In 1929, when I was about 13 years old, I won the Estonian Junior Championship." Paul Keres

When he was 18 years old Keres won the Estonian Championship. 1935, 1937, 1939 – Chess Olympiads. With Keres Estonia has a very strong player who also scores well on first board. „A star is born“. In 1940 Stalin annexed the Baltic countries and the Estonian Paul Keres became the Soviet citizen Paul Petrovic Keres.

Paul Keres - National hero of Estonia

While writing I admiringly read Keres' collection of selected games, "The Road to the Top" and "The Quest for Perfection". Keres had an enormous number of games he could choose from. Statistics tell us that he played 1,328 tournament games (+952, =188, -188) in his career. A fascinatingly low drawing precentage. But he did not only play, he was also a renowned composer of studies. In the Soviet Union his "100 Selected Games" were published in 1966 but it also appeared in Estonian and German, and I gradually start to understand that Keres, the perennial second and six-time candidate, had been a much better chess ace than I had thought. His notes to his 100 selected games are simply World Champion level!

Amateurs very often ask me: "How can I improve my chess?" I like to reply: "Try to play your games as if you were stroking a cat. That is, from the head to the tail and never against the fur. If you also study the selected games from Keres' book and manage to master 150 correspondence games simultaneously - as he did - your rating will soon rise considerably."

I feel flattered because Keres included the game Hort-Keres – European Championship, Oberhausen, 1961 (No 91) into his collection of games. I remember that my opponent was dressed like a fashion model. He was shaved to perfection, fragranced and was wearing a classic suit with tie and tie-pin. His German was perfect. He calmly wrote down the moves in elegant handwriting and long notation. When I was in time-trouble he remained a gentleman and did not hammer the clock like mad.

Oberhausen 1961, Hort (with white shirt). Tal and Petrosian are kibitzing.

After returning from Oberhausen my buddies in Prague greeted me with mischievous smiles. Why? Grandmaster Ludek Pachmann had mentioned the game in the Czechoslovakian sports paper, writing that "… after Keres' queen sacrifice the talented Hort fell from his chair". This sentence quickly spread in the chess scene of Prague. Which gives you an idea how successful chess anecdotes come into being.

But what happened really? Keres sacrificed his queen on move 35. After 40 moves the game was adjourned, as was common at that time. While I was thinking what move to adjourn, no less than 45 minutes, I was swinging back and forth on my chair, oblivious to time and space. Suddenly I lost my balance and crashed to the floor. As it later turned out my 41st move was losing. Keres received the brilliancy prize for this game.

 
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1.e4 e5 2.Nf3 Nc6 3.Bb5 a6 4.Ba4 d6 5.d4 If White does not intend to play a gambit with the text-move, the continuations 5.c3 or 5.Bxc6+ bxc6 6.d4 are more promising. 5...b5 6.Bb3 Nxd4 7.Nxd4 exd4 8.Bd5 It is interesting to observe that this tame continuation is employed time and again, despite the fact that with it White can only hope for equality. Given that White wishes to handle the opening in modest style and is merely aiming at an eventual draw, then here 8.c3 is much more to the point. If Black replies dxc3 then White can make sure of a draw by repetition of moves with 9.Qd5 Be6 10.Qc6+ Bd7 11.Qd5 Be6 ; of course, it is also possible to sacrifice a pawn after 8...dxc3. 8...Rb8 9.Bc6+ Bd7 10.Bxd7+ Qxd7 11.Qxd4 Nf6 12.0-0 Be7 13.Nc3 0-0 14.a4 This position has already occurred many time in tournament practice and it has been demonstrated that Black has an excellent game. Usually White develops the c1-bishop here, but he must avoid some snags in so doing. Thus, for example, after 14.Bg5 b4 he would be forced to make the ignominious retreat 15.Nd1 since 15.Nd5? would lead to the loss of a piece after Nxd5 16.Qxd5 Rb5 After 14.Bd2 Black obtained uncomfortably strong pressure in the game Stoltz-Alekhine, Bled 1931, by Rfe8 15.Qd3 b4 16.Ne2 Qc6 The text-move attempts to instil fresh life in the variation, but it is not crowned with success. 14...Rfe8 15.Qd3 A preceding exchange on b5 would be of no help to White since the open a-file can easily fall into Black's hands. In addition, the object of attack on a6 would disappear. b4 16.Nd5 a5 17.b3 An inaccuracy that weakens the long diagonal and soon allows Black to seize the initiative. The natural development of a piece by 17.Bf4 was much better, although then Nxd5 18.Qxd5 Bf6 might perhaps have a rather disturbing effect. 17.Nxe7+ Qxe7 18.Re1 also came into consideration. 17...Nxd5 18.exd5 Bf6 19.Rb1 c5! Here this move is very good since after 20.dxc6 Qxc6 White's weakness on c2 turns out to be much more of a handicap than his opponent's on d6. 19...c6 was also possible, so as to force the opening of the c-file. 20.Bf4 Be5 21.Be3 White conducts the middlegame with a certain lack of logic. It is clear that his bishop will play an unimportant role hereafter, and therefore 21.Bxe5 was in order. True, Black would also stand a little better after Rxe5 22.Rfe1 Rbe8 on account of his control of the e-file, but any particular danger for White would not exist. 21...Rbc8! Threatening 22… c4 23. bxc4 Qxa4; in order to prevent this White must allow the enemy queen to get to f5. 22.Qc4 Qf5 23.Qb5? White, having got into some difficulties, now loses his head. The desperate counter-attack begun with the text-move is hopeless and should lead to a speedy catastrophe. 23. Rbd1 should have been tried, so as to consolidate the position by an eventual Rd3. Qxc2 24.Qxa5 f5! This move is enormously strong, since White has no satisfactory defence against the threat of 25…f4. Therefore the game is already decided from the strategic point of view, but in practice there are still some interesting developments to come. 25.f3 Bb2!? Here Black has a choice of favourable continuations and eventually decides upon complications that are not by any means clear. He could have won a pawn with a good position by 25...Bxh2+ 26.Kxh2 Rxe3 or he could have forced White to allow him an all-important passed pawn in the centre by 25...f4 26.Bf2 Bd4 27.Bxd4 cxd4 However, simplest was 25...Qd3! followed by 26…Qxd5, when Black would have pocketed a pawn with a good position, without conceding the slightest counter-chance to his opponent. 26.Qa6! Very well played. Hort had got into an absolutely lost position after playing the first part of the game indifferently, but from now on he takes excellent advantage of his counter-chances and in consequence the game follows a very interesting course. Qxb3 27.Bf2 c4 In order to meet 28.Qxd6 with 28 … c3. Had Black devoted more attention to the complications that now ensue, then he would scarcely have opened up a path for the enemy bishop. 27… Qc2 was better, followed eventually by ...b3. 28.Qb7! Rb8 Now White even threatens to win after 28...c3? 29.Bd4! White has suddenly obtained counterplay, and, affected by shortage of time, Black does not find the right method of strengthening his position. The simplest way of doing this was probably by 28...Qa3! threatening 29...b3 followed by 30...Bf6. If then 29.Rfd1 simply Qxa4 follows. 29.Qa7 Ra8? Black falls victim to a hallucination. He believes that 29...Qc2! fails to 30.Rxb2 Qxb2 31.Bd4 but overlooks the winning parry Rb7! 30.Qb7 Reb8 It was still not too late to get back into the variation mentioned above by 30...Rab8. Now, however, White obtains genuine counterplay. 31.Qd7 Qc2 32.Qxd6 b3 33.Qe6+ Kh8 34.d6 Bf6 In his strong passed d-pawn White has suddenly obtained a dangerous asset that requires the most careful attention. Black cannot well play 34...Ba3 or 34…c3, since in both cases 35.Bd4 would leave White's bishop in a very active position and create dangerous threats on the g7-square. With both sides in time-trouble, Black now embarks on an interesting combination that renders the game highly complicated. 35.Rfc1 White had set his hopes on this move. Is Black now really forced to surrender one of his proud passed pawns? Qxc1+! A shocking surprise in time pressure. One must pay great and due credit to Hort for the fact that, despite the unexpected nature of this sacrifice, he does not lose his head and defends himself in the best fashion possible. 36.Rxc1 b2 37.Rb1 c3 38.Qe2! The only move. After 38.Qxf5 Rxa4 White no longer would have an adequate defence against the threat of 39…Ra1. Rxa4 39.d7 h6? Under great time pressure Black misses the best continuation. The threat of 40.Qe8+ should have been parried by 39…Rg8!, after which White would have no good defence against the threat of 40...Ra1. An immediate 39…Raa8 was also better than the text-move, so as to give his king a safety valve and only then to continue with …Ta1. 40.Qe8+ Kh7 The time pressure over, White now had to seal his move. Owing to the threats of 41…c2 and 41…Ra1, his alternatives are limited to two continuations, viz. 41.Qxb8 and 41.d8Q. In practice it is not at all easy to find the right defence, especially when one considers that both players had fought out a tough and tense battle for five hours. 41.d8Q? Surprisingly enough, this natural move, which not only attacks the rook on a4 but also threatens at least perpetual check by 42.Qg8+, is the decisive mistake. Hort defended himself well and resourcefully when in time-trouble, and now, when he once again has sufficient time for thought, he commits a fatal error after long reflection. He could have retained excellent chances of saving the game here by the correct 41.Qxb8! Black would have to play c2 41...Ra1 would not suffice on account of 42.Rf1! c2 43.Qxb2! when the white pawn on d7 would save the day. 42.Qxb2! Bxb2 43.Rf1 Practically forced. Now the only way for Black to retain winning chances lies in Ra8! 44.Bb6 Ra1 45.d8Q Rxf1+ 46.Kxf1 c1Q+ Then, after 47.Kf2 Black can, for example, embark on an attack with Bc3! and this would probably gain him a pawn with good practical winning chances. Be this as it may, one thing is clear - White must seize the chance of playing 41.Qxb8!. With the text-move he probably reckons only with 41…c2, which would have led to perpetual check after 42.Qg8+. But something quite different occurs. 41...Rxd8! 42.Qxa4 Rd2! The position that has now arisen is very odd and perhaps the most curious that I have ever had in the whole course of my long chess career. Black has only two pawns for the queen, but these pawns are so strong that nothing can be done against the threat of 43...c2. 43.Rxb2 In his adjournment analysis Hort could find nothing better than immediately returning the rook. In actual fact, an attempt to save the game by 43.Qb5 would not work on account of c2 though Black's case would have been more difficult in this case. 44.Qf1! Now matters are not so simple. Naturally 44.Qxf5+? would now lose at once because of g6 44...Rd5! After 44...Rd5 Black threatens 45...Ra5 in some variations, for example after 45.g4. Three main defensive possibilities come into consideration for White: 1) The straightforward continuation 44...cxb1Q 45.Qxb1 Rd6 would not be good on account of 46.Be3 Ra6 47.Kf2 g6 48.Qc2! Bg7 49.Bc1 Rb6 50.Qb1! so Black must be more exact in dealing with the problem. 45.Be3 cxb1Q 46.Qxb1 Ra5 47.Kf2 Kg8! 48.Qc2 Ra1 49.Qc8+ Kf7 and White cannot obtain perpetual check. 2) 45.g3 cxb1Q 46.Qxb1 g6! 47.Kg2 Bg7 and one cannot see how White can prevent the threatened transference of the rook to a1. 3) 45.g4 (45.Re1 Bc3) 45.Ra5! 46. Rxb2 Bxb2 47.Be3 Ra1 48.Qxa1 Bxa1 49. Bc1 fxg4 50.fxg4 Bf6 followed by 51…Bg5 and Black wins. The immediate capture on b2 lightens Black's task quite considerably, since he now gains an important tempo for the execution of his winning plan. 43...cxb2 44.Qb3 Rd8! Now Black threatens 45...Ra8 against which there is nothing to be done. 45.Qc2 Rb8 46.Qb1 After 46.Qxf5+ Black wins by 46…Kh8 47.Qb1 Ra8 followed by 48...Ra1. g6 There is no defence against the threat of 47...Ra8. White is lacking just one tempo to get his king away from the back rank. 47.g4 Ra8 48.Kg2 Ra1 49.Qc2 b1Q 50.Qc7+ Bg7 51.Bd4 Qf1+ 52.Kg3 f4+ 53.Kxf4 Qc1+ The game is not flawless, but contains so many original and interesting moments that its inclusion in this collection is well justified. (Paul Keres: The Quest for Perfection, Batsford 1997, p.162-168) 0–1
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WhiteEloWBlackEloBResYearECOEventRnd
Hort,V-Keres,P-0–11961C71EU-chT (Men) 02nd3.3

In 1965, at the International Tournament in Marienbad, we met again. In the time of communism this tournament was considered to be the strongest tournament in Czechoslovakia. I had the honor to share first place with Keres.

During the Czechoslovakian Championships in Luhacovice 1969 we also played tennis. Keres and I formed a strong double. He had an excellent serve. We were complementing each other excellently and lots of enthusiastic spectators followed us.

Paul Keres was an excellent tennis player

Interzonal tournament Petropolis 1973. I could not sleep and decided to take a rather early morning walk. When I came to the pool I saw someone covered by blankets. It was Keres. We started to talk, like two good old colleagues. He could not sleep either and his current standing in the tournament made his qualification for the candidates rather unlikely. He was suffering from severe gout and he showed me his swollen joints. "Young man, I cannot concentrate at all, and it would have been better if I had not played the tournament in the first place." This statement and his suffering made me very sad.

But in 1975 the very same Keres smoothly won a strong tournament in Tallinn which the Estonian Chess Federation had organized to celebrate his 60th birthday that was soon to come. Keres himself could pick the particpants of the tournament and I was very happy when I received an invitation.

Tallinn 1975

Rk. Title Name Country ELO 1 2 3 4 5 6 7 8 9 10 11 12 13 14 15 16 Pts. Perf. TB
1 GM Paul Keres
 
2580   ½ ½ ½ ½ ½ 1 ½ 1 ½ ½ 1 1 1 1 ½ 10.5 / 15 2476  
2 GM Boris Vasilievich Spassky
 
2548 ½   ½ ½ 1 ½ ½ ½ 0 1 ½ ½ ½ 1 1 1 9.5 / 15 2426 66.50
3 GM Fridrik Olafsson
 
2373 ½ ½   ½ ½ 0 ½ ½ ½ 1 ½ 1 1 1 1 ½ 9.5 / 15 2436 65.00
4 GM David I Bronstein
 
2432 ½ ½ ½   ½ ½ 1 ½ ½ 0 1 ½ ½ 1 1 ½ 9.0 / 15 2409 64.25
5 GM Vlastimil Hort
 
2423 ½ 0 ½ ½   1 0 ½ ½ ½ ½ ½ 1 1 1 1 9.0 / 15 2410 60.00
6 GM Aivars Gipslis
 
2429 ½ ½ 1 ½ 0   ½ ½ ½ ½ ½ ½ ½ ½ 1 1 8.5 / 15 2385 60.25
7 GM Mark E Taimanov
 
2386 0 ½ ½ 0 1 ½   ½ ½ ½ 1 1 ½ ½ 1 ½ 8.5 / 15 2387 59.25
8 GM William James Lombardy
 
2435 ½ ½ ½ ½ ½ ½ ½   ½ ½ 0 1 1 1 ½ 0 8.0 / 15 2361 58.00
9 GM Drazen Marovic
 
2445 0 1 ½ ½ ½ ½ ½ ½   1 0 ½ ½ ½ ½ 1 8.0 / 15 2361 57.75
10 IM Iivo Nei
 
2369 ½ 0 0 1 ½ ½ ½ ½ 0   ½ ½ 1 1 ½ 1 8.0 / 15 2366 54.00
11 GM Lutz Espig
 
2259 ½ ½ ½ 0 ½ ½ 0 1 1 ½   ½ 0 1 0 1 7.5 / 15 2349  
12   Boris Rytov
 
1621 0 ½ 0 ½ ½ ½ 0 0 ½ ½ ½   1 0 ½ ½ 5.5 / 15 2297  
13 IM Hillar Karner
 
2251 0 ½ 0 ½ 0 ½ ½ 0 ½ 0 1 0   0 ½ 1 5.0 / 15 2230 35.50
14 GM Yrjo A Rantanen
 
2283 0 0 0 0 0 ½ ½ 0 ½ 0 0 1 1   ½ 1 5.0 / 15 2228 29.25
15 GM Levente Lengyel
 
2293 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 ½ ½ ½ 1 ½ ½ ½   ½ 4.5 / 15 2201  
16 GM Roman Hernandez Onna
 
2375 ½ 0 ½ ½ 0 0 ½ 1 0 0 0 ½ 0 0 ½   4.0 / 15 2167  

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1.c4 f5 2.Nf3 Nf6 3.g3 e6 4.Bg2 Be7 5.0-0 0-0 6.d4 c6 7.Qc2 d5 8.b3 Na6 9.Ba3 Nb4 10.Bxb4 Bxb4 11.c5 Nd7 12.a3 Ba5 13.b4 Bc7 14.Nc3 a6 15.e3 Qf6 16.a4 e5 17.dxe5 Nxe5 18.b5 g5 19.bxc6 bxc6 20.Nd4 Kh8 21.Nxc6 Qxc6 22.Bxd5 Qh6 23.Bxa8 f4 24.exf4 gxf4 25.Qd2 Bh3 26.Bd5 Ng4 27.f3 Ne5 28.g4 Qg7 29.Kh1 Rd8 30.Qd4 h5 31.g5 Be6 32.Rae1 Bg8 33.Rg1 Bxd5 34.Nxd5 Nxf3 35.Qxg7+ Kxg7 36.Nxc7 Rd2 37.Re7+ Kg6 38.Re6+ Kg7 39.Re7+ ½–½
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WhiteEloWBlackEloBResYearECOEventRnd
Hernandez Onna,R2395Bronstein,D2590½–½1975A93Tallinn1
Hort,V2600Espig,L2490½–½1975D32Tallinn1
Keres,P2565Marovic,D24901–01975B05Tallinn1
Lengyel,L2410Lombardy,W2515½–½1975A53Tallinn1
Nei,I2495Gipslis,A2530½–½1975A28Tallinn1
Olafsson,F2535Taimanov,M2580½–½1975B44Tallinn1
Rantanen,Y2410Karner,H23951–01975B08Tallinn1
Rytov,B2480Spassky,B2625½–½1975E59Tallinn1
Espig,L2490Olafsson,F2535½–½1975E66Tallinn2
Gipslis,A2530Hernandez Onna,R23951–01975B44Tallinn2
Karner,H2395Bronstein,D2590½–½1975A35Tallinn2
Lombardy,W2515Rytov,B24801–01975C00Tallinn2
Marovic,D2490Lengyel,L2410½–½1975A34Tallinn2
Rantanen,Y2410Keres,P25650–11975C91Tallinn2
Spassky,B2625Hort,V26001–01975D16Tallinn2
Taimanov,M2580Nei,I2495½–½1975A12Tallinn2
Bronstein,D2590Gipslis,A2530½–½1975B01Tallinn3
Hernandez Onna,R2395Taimanov,M2580½–½1975A26Tallinn3
Hort,V2600Lombardy,W2515½–½1975D47Tallinn3
Keres,P2565Karner,H23951–01975B08Tallinn3
Lengyel,L2410Rantanen,Y2410½–½1975A34Tallinn3
Nei,I2495Espig,L2490½–½1975A55Tallinn3
Olafsson,F2535Spassky,B2625½–½1975E01Tallinn3
Rytov,B2480Marovic,D2490½–½1975D19Tallinn3
Espig,L2490Hernandez Onna,R23951–01975B39Tallinn4
Karner,H2395Gipslis,A2530½–½1975A32Tallinn4
Keres,P2565Lengyel,L24101–01975B36Tallinn4
Lombardy,W2515Olafsson,F2535½–½1975A26Tallinn4
Marovic,D2490Hort,V2600½–½1975A28Tallinn4
Rantanen,Y2410Rytov,B24801–01975E79Tallinn4
Spassky,B2625Nei,I24951–01975D16Tallinn4
Taimanov,M2580Bronstein,D25900–11975A29Tallinn4
Bronstein,D2590Espig,L24901–01975A30Tallinn5
Gipslis,A2530Taimanov,M2580½–½1975B44Tallinn5
Hernandez Onna,R2395Spassky,B26250–11975D55Tallinn5
Hort,V2600Rantanen,Y24101–01975D36Tallinn5
Lengyel,L2410Karner,H2395½–½1975A42Tallinn5
Nei,I2495Lombardy,W2515½–½1975D94Tallinn5
Olafsson,F2535Marovic,D2490½–½1975D63Tallinn5
Rytov,B2480Keres,P25650–11975D27Tallinn5
Espig,L2490Gipslis,A2530½–½1975A15Tallinn6
Karner,H2395Taimanov,M2580½–½1975B40Tallinn6
Keres,P2565Hort,V2600½–½1975D42Tallinn6
Lengyel,L2410Rytov,B2480½–½1975A92Tallinn6
Lombardy,W2515Hernandez Onna,R23950–11975D32Tallinn6
Marovic,D2490Nei,I24951–01975D16Tallinn6
Rantanen,Y2410Olafsson,F25350–11975B42Tallinn6
Spassky,B2625Bronstein,D2590½–½1975E11Tallinn6
Bronstein,D2590Lombardy,W2515½–½1975B97Tallinn7
Gipslis,A2530Spassky,B2625½–½1975B81Tallinn7
Hernandez Onna,R2395Marovic,D24900–11975E76Tallinn7
Hort,V2600Lengyel,L24101–01975C95Tallinn7
Nei,I2495Rantanen,Y24101–01975A35Tallinn7
Olafsson,F2535Keres,P2565½–½1975E12Tallinn7
Rytov,B2480Karner,H23951–01975B45Tallinn7
Taimanov,M2580Espig,L24901–01975D34Tallinn7
Karner,H2395Espig,L24901–01975A37Tallinn8
Keres,P2565Nei,I2495½–½1975D69Tallinn8
Lengyel,L2410Olafsson,F25350–11975A49Tallinn8
Lombardy,W2515Gipslis,A2530½–½1975A28Tallinn8
Marovic,D2490Bronstein,D2590½–½1975A34Tallinn8
Rantanen,Y2410Hernandez Onna,R23951–01975B85Tallinn8
Rytov,B2480Hort,V2600½–½1975A16Tallinn8
Spassky,B2625Taimanov,M2580½–½1975E54Tallinn8
Bronstein,D2590Rantanen,Y24101–01975E09Tallinn9
Espig,L2490Spassky,B2625½–½1975E08Tallinn9
Gipslis,A2530Marovic,D2490½–½1975B17Tallinn9
Hernandez Onna,R2395Keres,P2565½–½1975D36Tallinn9
Hort,V2600Karner,H23951–01975A08Tallinn9
Nei,I2495Lengyel,L2410½–½1975D35Tallinn9
Olafsson,F2535Rytov,B24801–01975E62Tallinn9
Taimanov,M2580Lombardy,W2515½–½1975D22Tallinn9
Hort,V2600Olafsson,F2535½–½1975E16Tallinn10
Karner,H2395Spassky,B2625½–½1975E46Tallinn10
Keres,P2565Bronstein,D2590½–½1975C42Tallinn10
Lengyel,L2410Hernandez Onna,R2395½–½1975A39Tallinn10
Lombardy,W2515Espig,L24900–11975B81Tallinn10
Marovic,D2490Taimanov,M2580½–½1975E39Tallinn10
Rantanen,Y2410Gipslis,A2530½–½1975E11Tallinn10
Rytov,B2480Nei,I2495½–½1975A07Tallinn10
Bronstein,D2590Lengyel,L24101–01975C95Tallinn11
Espig,L2490Marovic,D24901–01975A40Tallinn11
Gipslis,A2530Keres,P2565½–½1975C09Tallinn11
Hernandez Onna,R2395Rytov,B2480½–½1975A23Tallinn11
Nei,I2495Hort,V2600½–½1975E14Tallinn11
Olafsson,F2535Karner,H23951–01975A15Tallinn11
Spassky,B2625Lombardy,W2515½–½1975D63Tallinn11
Taimanov,M2580Rantanen,Y2410½–½1975D55Tallinn11
Hort,V2600Hernandez Onna,R23951–01975C98Tallinn12
Karner,H2395Lombardy,W25150–11975A15Tallinn12
Keres,P2565Taimanov,M25801–01975E14Tallinn12
Lengyel,L2410Gipslis,A25300–11975D77Tallinn12
Marovic,D2490Spassky,B26251–01975E38Tallinn12
Olafsson,F2535Nei,I24951–01975E08Tallinn12
Rantanen,Y2410Espig,L24900–11975A55Tallinn12
Rytov,B2480Bronstein,D2590½–½1975A53Tallinn12
Bronstein,D2590Hort,V2600½–½1975B85Tallinn13
Espig,L2490Keres,P2565½–½1975D27Tallinn13
Gipslis,A2530Rytov,B2480½–½1975C10Tallinn13
Hernandez Onna,R2395Olafsson,F2535½–½1975A29Tallinn13
Lombardy,W2515Marovic,D2490½–½1975A06Tallinn13
Nei,I2495Karner,H23951–01975B80Tallinn13
Spassky,B2625Rantanen,Y24101–01975B42Tallinn13
Taimanov,M2580Lengyel,L24101–01975D55Tallinn13
Hort,V2600Gipslis,A25301–01975B04Tallinn14
Karner,H2395Marovic,D2490½–½1975E90Tallinn14
Keres,P2565Spassky,B2625½–½1975C08Tallinn14
Lengyel,L2410Espig,L24901–01975A55Tallinn14
Nei,I2495Hernandez Onna,R23951–01975D32Tallinn14
Olafsson,F2535Bronstein,D2590½–½1975D38Tallinn14
Rantanen,Y2410Lombardy,W25150–11975C57Tallinn14
Rytov,B2480Taimanov,M25800–11975E91Tallinn14
Bronstein,D2590Nei,I24950–11975C77Tallinn15
Espig,L2490Rytov,B2480½–½1975A88Tallinn15
Gipslis,A2530Olafsson,F25351–01975B09Tallinn15
Hernandez Onna,R2395Karner,H23950–11975B08Tallinn15
Lombardy,W2515Keres,P2565½–½1975A06Tallinn15
Marovic,D2490Rantanen,Y2410½–½1975D58Tallinn15
Spassky,B2625Lengyel,L24101–01975D60Tallinn15
Taimanov,M2580Hort,V26001–01975A25Tallinn15

Spassky, Keres, Olafsson

I will never forget one evening when we sat together in his luxury villa near the woods. We slowly but surely drank his best whiskey and I tried to use the opportunity to draw some secrets from him.

He was quite happy to show me his chess compositions but when the conversation turned to politics he was silent as a grave. Instead, he told me some chess anecdotes in perfect German, for instance about his encounter with Savielly Tartakover, who asked him on the ship that brought the European chessplayers to the Chess Olympiad in Buenos Aires 1939: "Junger Mann, sind wir am Meer oder am Weniger?" (literally translated "Young man, are we on sea or on less?", a pun based on the fact that the German words "Meer" [sea] and "mehr" [more] are homonyms and sound identical).

The Estonian team in Buenos Aires 1939

Recently, Robert Hübner, who appreciates the culinary skills and literary ambitions of my wife, was visiting us. During coffee we talked about Keres' book. Hübner owns a bad German and a good Estonian translation of this book and he also thinks that Keres' comments are among the best in chess literature.

But even after 77 years we had no answer to the questions arising from the annexation of the Baltic countries. Was Keres forced to be only second? Did Botvinnik put in a good word for Keres with Stalin? A lot of Estonians did not return from Siberia. Two games from the World Championship tournament 1948 remain suspicious.

From an Estonian banknote the crown prince of chess looks at the world with a Mona Lisa smile and leaves us in uncertainty.

Paul Keres on the Estonian 5 Krooni banknote

Keres once shared some wisdom with me, curiously enough in Russian - here's the English translation: "Young man, in every position there is a move to be found - but you have to search for it!“

(Tanslation from German: Johannes Fischer)


Vlastimil Hort was born January 12, 1944, in Kladno, Czechoslovakia. In the 1970s he was one of the world's best players and a World Championship candidate. In 1979 he moved to West Germany where he still lives. Hort is an excellent blindfold player, a prolific author and a popular chess commentator.

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