Chess
Tal is Tal
David Levy
Mikhail Tal is a chess phenomenon. He rocketed to fame during the late 1950s and within what seemed like no time at all he won the World Championship from Botvinnik, who had held the title (on and off) for 11 years. Tal became World Champion in 1960, only two years after becoming a Grandmaster, but the following year he suffered from a combination of poor health and inadequate preparation, with the result that Botvinnik was able to regain the crown. Since then Tal has never quite made it to the chess throne, but he has always been in the forefront of world chess and his lively style of play has brought great pleasure to enthusiasts throughout the world. Tal is not only a great chess player, he is also a captivating chess writer. In my opinion the two best books ever written on the game are both by Tal: his account of the 1960 match with Botvinnik and his autobiographical games collection, The Lift and Games of Mikhail Tal. If you have never purchased a chess book before, and never do so again, you are missing more than can possibly be imagined by not reading these two works. Tal's writing is as sparkling as his play and I find his anecdotes interesting enough to be reread time and time again.
One of the most remarkable things about Tal is the way that his continual poor health has not been allowed to dampen his enthusiasm for the game or to reduce his effectiveness at the board. In 1969 he had a kidney removed yet only a few weeks later he won a rather strong Grandmaster tournament in Tbilisi. For any other mortal this feat would have been unthinkable, but, as they say in Russia whenever Tal works one of his miracles, 'fa' is Tal'. It is said that Tal's doctors have repeatedly forbidden him to drink or to smoke, yet he is almost never seen without a cigarette and his current capacity for vodka would put any Welsh rugby supporter to shame. Nevertheless, Mischa continues to delight the crowd and often produces an outstanding tournament performance, such as his recent share of first prize at Montreal. I read in one chess • magazine that this triumph came shortly after Tal had a kidney removed; a true miracle indeed! — but then Tal is Tal.
This week's game is taken from the latest USSR-Yugoslavia match which was held near Belgrade a couple of weeks ago. I am not quite sure why the Yugoslays continue with this series of matches, as they have lost every encounter since the series began in 1956. This time the score was 25-15, and on top board Tal produced the following delightful game.
Tal-Velimirovic: English Opening.
1 P-QB5 P-QB4 2 P:QN3 N-QB3-3 B-N2 P-K4 4 P-N3 P Q3 5 B-N2 B-K3 6 N-QB3 Q-Q2 7 N-B3 B-R6 8 BxB QxB 9 N-Q5 Q-Q2 9. R-B1 would deprive Black of the option of castling long, while the immediate 9 . . . 0-0-0 would be premature, and White could launch a quick attack with 10 P-QN4. 10 P-K3 N(B3)-K2 Why this knight? The reason is that after 10 . KN-K2 11 P-Q4, it Black captures on his ... 04 square the recapture by White's QBP will attack the other knight, thereby reducing Black's grip on the centre. This way Black's position remains more flexible, but he is behind in development. 11 N-B3 N-KB3 12 0-0 P-K5 Otherwise 13 P-Q4 smashes open the centre before Black has castled. 13 N-KN5 P-Q4 13.. . 0-B4 looks tempting, but after 14 N-N5! QxN 15 NxQPch K-Q2 16 NxR, White has a material advantage (possibly temporary) and Black's king is stranded in the centre. 14 PxP Q-B4 Intending to meet 15 N-N5 with 15 ... N(K2)xP. 15 NxBP!! Typical Tal. This sort of sacrifice cannot be calculated to its conclusion but the magician senses that his opponent's king will ultimately be unable to escape. 15 . . . KxN 16 P-83 N(K2)xP If. . . PxP 17 P-K4, and later P-K5 will be devastating. 17 PxP NxN 18 BxN QxP 19 Q-R5ch K-K3 19 .. . K-Ni allows a forced mate: 20 BxN PxB 21 RxP (threat 0-B7) Q-K2 22 Q-Q5ch K-N2 23 Q-N5 mate. 20 Q-R3ch K-Q3 After 20. . . K-B2 21 R-B5, White would continue with 22,QR-KB1 or 22 Q-R5ch as appropriate. 21 P-QN4! Opening up another line of attack. 21 . . . K-02 22 QR-QB1 R-B1 23 R-B5 Q-14524 B-K5ch K-Q2 25 Q-B1 Preparing to invade at QN5. 25 . . . Q-K5 25 . . P-B5 might have held out for a little longer. 26 R-QB4 Q-B3 27 Q4U Q4C3 28 BxN PxB 29 R-K4! QxP 30 RxQBPch Black resigns.
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