Tal vs. Uhlmann

Tal vs. Uhlmann

Moscow 1971

French Defense, Tarrasch Variation

1 e4 e6 2 d4 d5 3 Nd2 c5 4 Ngf3 Nc6 5 Bb5 It is hard to surprise Wolfgang Uhlmann in the French Defense, which he has played through his long career, but Tal apparently succeeded with this move since the East German grandmaster now thought for 20 minutes. In fact the move had been played before, but only very infrequently. 5…dxe4 These days 5…a6 is considered to be a simpler method of equalizing. 6 Nxe4 Bd7 7 Bg5!

After 7 Bg5!

As usual, Tal plays for rapid piece development. 7…Qa5+ 8 Nc3 cxd4 A few years later, in Nicevski-Uhlmann, Skopje 1976, Uhlmann improved by 8….a6 9 Bxc6 Bxc6 10 d5 (10 dxc5 Bxc5 11 Qe2 Nf6 is equal) 10…Bxd5 11 0-0 Bc6 12 Ne5 Qxc6 Qc7 13 Re1 Nf6 14 Bxf6 gxf6 15 Nxc6 Qxc6 16 Qh5 Be7, and this time Uhlmann went to a win. 9 Nxd4 Tal relates that at first he was attracted by the piece sacrifice 9 Bxc6 Bxc6 10 Qxd4 Bxf3 11 gxf3, but 11…Qxg5 12 Qa4+ b5! 13 Nxb5 Qe5+ 14 Kf1 Ke7 seemed insufficient for White. In addition, Back could play safe with 11…Qb4, quenching White’s attacking ambitions. 9…Bb4?!

After 9...Bb4?!

Black plays for the win of a pawn, but the resulting dark-squared weakness give White ample compensation. 9…Be7 is sounder; after 10 Qd2 (10 Be3 Qc7 11 Qe2 Nf6 12 0-0 0-0 is level) 10…Nf6 (but not 10…Bxg5 11 Qxg5 Nxd4?? 12 Bxd7+) 11 0-0-0 a double edge position arises. 10 0-0! Bxc3 11 bxc3 Qxc3?

After 11...Qxc3?

Consistent, but far too risky, (especially against Tal). The continuation 11…a6 12 Bxc6 Bxc6 13 Nxc6 Qxg5 was a better chance. After 14 Qd6! Nh6 (but not 14…Ne7 15 Rfd1! Nxc6 16 Qd7+ Kf8 17 Qxb7, when White wins a pawn and displaces Black’s king) 15 f4 Nf5 (15…Qh4 is also playable, e.g. 16 g3? Nf5 17 Qc7 Nxg3) 16 Qc7 Qf6 17 Qxb7 0-0 18 Ne5 White has an extra pawn, but in view of his doubled and isolated pawns, it is doubtful if he can make any use of it. 12 Nf5!! White must continue energetically; this beautiful sacrifice both gains time and opens the e-file. 12…exf5 Forced, as 12…Qc5 13 Nd6+ Kf8 14 Nxf7 Kxf7 (14…Qxb5 15 Qxd7 wins) 15 Qxd7+ Nge7 16 Bxc6 bxc6 17 Bxe7 Qxe7 18 Qxc6 gives White a clear extra pawn. 13 Re1+ Be6 14 Qd6 With two threats; one the simple 15 Rad1 and the other to transfer the g5-bishop to b4 via d2. 14…a6

After 14...a6

Or 14…Nf6 15 Rad1 (the threat is 16 Bxf6 gxf6 17 Rxe6+! fxe6 18 Qxe6+ Kf8 19 Rd7 mating) 15…a6 16 Rxe6+ fxe6 17 Qxe6+ Kf8 18 Bc4 Ne5 19 Qd6+ Ke8 20 Bxf6 1-0 Mulder van Leens Dijkstra-Balkowski, corr. 1985. It is amazing that this losing line should reappear in a postal game played 14 years later! 15 Bd2! Threat No. 2 is executed. Such attacks may look easy, but there are many false path; here, for example, 15 Ba4? b5 16 Bd2 Qc4 17 Bb3 Rd8! 18 Qc7 Rd7 would lead to a draw by repetition. 15…Qxc2 16 Bb4!

After 16 Bb4!

Not 16 Rac1? Qxc1! 17 Rxc1 axb5 18 Rxc6 Rd8! And Black wins. 16…axb5 Black may as well take the piece as he cannot stop the check on f8. 17 Qf8+ Kd7 18 Red1+! 18 Rad1+ Kc7 19 Qxa8 Nf6 20 Bd6+ Kb6 21 Qxh8 Ne4 gives Black a little counterplay. 18…Kc7 19 Qxa8

After 19 Qxa8 1-0

1-0 Slightly early, but after 19…Qa4 (19…Nf6 20 Qxh8 Ne4 21 Be1 now wins easily; 19…Qe4 20 Bd6+ Kb6 21 Kf8 Qh4 transposes) 20 Bd6+ Kb6 21 Kf8 Qh4 (21…Qg4 22 Bc5+ Kc7 23 Qd6+ Kc8 24 Bb6 mates) 22 Bc5+ Kc7 23 Rab1 b4 24 Bd6+ Kb6 25 Bxb4 the attack is decisive.

Source from:

GAMBIT: John Nunn’s 101 Brilliant Chess Miniatures (Pages 12 - 13)

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