MARK RUBERY CHESS
Mikhail Nekhemyevich Tal (World Champion 1960-1961) was perhaps the most spectacular talent ever bestowed on the chess world. His games were littered with sacrifices, which if at times proven unsound after intense scrutiny, presented his opponents with insurmountable problems at the board. It is a fitting honour that one of the strongest tournaments of the chess calendar, The Tal Memorial, is dedicated to his memory.
At the 1962 Olympiad held in Varna, Bulgaria one of his brightest gems was created
Tal M - Hecht H [E13/05]
Varna Olympiad, 1962
1.d4 Nf6 2.c4 e6 3.Nf3 b6 4.Nc3 Bb4 5.Bg5 Bb7 6.e3 h6 7.Bh4 Bxc3+ 8.bxc3 d6 9.Nd2 e5 10.f3 Qe7 11.e4 Nbd7 12.Bd3 Nf8 13.c5 dxc5 14.dxe5 Qxe5 15.Qa4+ c6 16.0–0! (Tal departs from the theory of the time by offering his c pawn)... Ng6 17.Nc4 Qe6 18.e5! (The beginning of a spectacular concept as from now on White is committed to some heavy sacrifices)... b5 19.exf6! bxa4 20.fxg7 Rg8 21.Bf5! (Magnificent! Already a queen behind White leaves a further three pieces en prise) ...Nxh4 (21...Qxc4 22 Rae1+ Qe6 23 Rxe6+ fxe6 24 Bxg6+ Kd7 25 Rd1+ Kc7 26 Bg3+ Kb6 27 Rb1+ Ka6 28 Bd3+ Ka5 29 Bc7# is one impressive line. However, the dispassionate eye of the computer sees a draw arising after 21…Ba6! 22 Bxe6 fxe6 23 Nd6+ Kd7 24 Ne4 Bxf1 25 Nf6+ Kd6 26 Rd1+ Ke5 27 Re1+ Kd6=) 22.Bxe6 Ba6 23.Nd6+ Ke7 24.Bc4! (The almost banal point of Tal’s combination as he now enters an ending a pawn less but with far the better pawn structure)... Rxg7 25.g3 Kxd6 26.Bxa6 Nf5 27.Rab1 f6 28.Rfd1+ Ke7 29.Re1+ Kd6 30.Kf2 c4 31.g4 Ne7 32.Rb7 Rag8 33.Bxc4 Nd5 34.Bxd5 cxd5 35.Rb4 Rc8 36.Rxa4 Rxc3 37.Ra6+ Kc5 38.Rxf6 h5 39.h3 hxg4 40.hxg4 Rh7 41.g5 Rh5 42.Rf5 Rc2+ 43.Kg3 Kc4 44.Ree5 d4 45.g6 Rh1 46.Rc5+ Kd3 47.Rxc2 Kxc2 48.Kf4 Rg1 49.Rg5 1–0 (as 49...Rxg5 50 Kxg5 d3 51 g7 d2 52 g8=Q d1=Q 53 Qb3+ etc)
Later, I began to succeed in decisive games. Perhaps because I realized a very simple truth: not only was I worried, but also my opponent. – Mikhail Tal
Some sacrifices are sound; the rest are mine. – Mikhail Tal
I will not hide the fact that I love to hear the spectators react after a sacrifice of a piece or pawn. – Mikhail Tal
When Spassky offers you a piece, you may just as well resign, but when Tal offers you a piece, go on playing, he may sacrifice another, and then ... who knows? – Miguel Najdorf