Mark Taimanov - Rashid Nezhmetdinov
Soviet Union Championship (Kiev) 1954
1.d4 d5 2.c4 c6
There are many ways to reach standard positions in the Exchange Variation of the Queen's Gambit Declined. This game takes one of the more unusual byways.
3.Nf3 e6 3.cxd5 exd5
The less-popular 3...cxd5 would make the opening an Exchange Variation of the Slav.
4.Nc3 Nf6 5.Bg5 Be7 6.Qc2 Nbd7 7.e3 Nbd7
4.Nc3 Nf6 5.Bg5 Be7 6.Qc2 Nbd7 7.e3 Nbd7
One problem with this move-order from White's viewpoint is that Black can play 7...g6!? 8.e3 Bf5. Getting the black light-square bishop to f5 without concessions by Black is considered a good way to equalise, although naturally there is lots of play left in the position.
8.e3 0-0 9.Bd3 Re8 10.0-0 Nf8 11.Rab1 a5
This (and ...a6, usually after White has committed with b4) is the standard way to ensure White's Minority Attack does not leave Black with an isolated a pawn as well as other possible weaknesses.
12.a3 Ne4
This is the first game in ChessBase's 2020 Mega database to feature this move in this exact position. The main idea, usually, is to initiate simplifying exchanges. But here it is quite possible Nezhmetdinov had prepared his blockbuster 18th move.
This is the first game in ChessBase's 2020 Mega database to feature this move in this exact position. The main idea, usually, is to initiate simplifying exchanges. But here it is quite possible Nezhmetdinov had prepared his blockbuster 18th move.
13.Bxe7
In many positions White plays Bf4 to avoid an exchange of bishops as the white dark-square one is more active than its black counterpart. However, here 13.Bf4!? can be met by 13...Nxc3 14.Qxc3 (forced) a4!, when White's queenside play is seriously inconvenienced.
13...Qxe7 14.b4 axb4 15.axb4 Ng6 16.b5
White's Minority Attack is proceeding in typical fashion but Black, rather than passively defending on the queenside, creates a preponderance of black pieces on the kingside.
16...Bg4?!
This works out well but objectively better is 16...Nxc3 17.Qxc3 Bg4, as given by the analysis engines Stockfish12 and Komodo11.01.
This works out well but objectively better is 16...Nxc3 17.Qxc3 Bg4, as given by the analysis engines Stockfish12 and Komodo11.01.
17.Nd2?
With hindsight this natural move has to be marked as a mistake. If Taimanov had seen what was coming, he would surely have played 17.Bxe4 dxe4 18.Nd2, as had occurred three years earlier in James Cross - Norman Whitaker, US Open (Fort Worth), when White stands very well.
17...Nxd2 18.Qxd2
 |
| Black to play and win! |
*****
*****
*****
*****
18...Nh4!
This bolt from the blue must have stunned Taimanov. Black gets a winning advantage by force.
19.f3!?
White has many other tries, but none saves the position.
A) 19.e4 Bh3! 20.Qf4 Bxg2 21.Rfe1 Ra3 Hu Mangier (171) - Spanton (147), Hastings Main A 1990-91 (0-1, 35 moves) and Jana Bellin (2210) - Ludo Tolhuizen (2255), Isle of Man 1995 (0-1, 61 moves).
B) 19.Ne2 Bh3! 20.Nf4 Bxg2 M Likeman (157) - Spanton (147), Hastings 3rd Week A 1991-92 (0-1, 25 moves) and Lars Jellinghaus (2186) - Milenko Skara (1814), Bochum (Germany) 2004 (0-1, 21 moves).
C) 19.Be2 Bh3! 20.bxc6 bxc6 21.e4 Bxg2 PD Catt (128) - Spanton (147), Upminster Major 1991 (0-1, 48 moves).
D) 19.bxc6 bxc6 20.Be2 Bh3! (a direct transposition to line C) K Ellis (173) - Spanton (156), London U181 1992 (0-1, 35 moves).
19...Qxe3+ 20.Qxe3 Rxe3 21.fxg4 Rxd3 22.bxc6 bxc6 23.Ne2 Rd2 24.Rf2 h6
Black has a big advantage and should have gone on to win, but Nezhmetdinov eventually messed up a rook-and-pawn ending and allowed Taimanov to escape with a 65-move draw.
So you've played the winning move 18...Nh4 four times in your own games Tim? Impressive. I am curious though, do you bang the move out straightaway with a flourish, or do you sit on your hands for a few minutes in pleasurable anticipation ...? Martyn
ReplyDeleteThe first time I reached the position, I wasn't sure it was the exact position, but I knew the idea and I did a fair bit of calculating to convince myself ...Nh4 was correct. The other three times I played the move normally - no flourish, no delay. The interesting thing, for me, is watching it gradually dawning on the opponent that the silly-looking move wins material. The win is 'only' of a pawn, if White plays reasonably well, but the shock of what has happened seems to make it very difficult for players to respond well, as is evidenced by the fact that three of the four wins were against higher-graded opponents. BTW, my first 'victim' was a French junior on the first day of Hastings. He was crying by the time the game finished.
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