Tal vs.Olafsson
Las Palmas 1975
Modern Defense
1 e4 d6 2 d4 g6 3 Bc4 Nf6 Because of the curious move-order, we
have already reached an uncommon position – in a million-game database, I could
only find 36 occurrences. The majority of this transposes into normal lines,
for example after 4 Nc3. 4 Qe2?!
After 4 Qe2?!
This move seems inaccurate as it gives Black the opportunity to
launch an early attack on d4 by missing out …Bg7. 4…Nc6! 5 Nf3 Bg4 6 Now
White is forced to spend time defending d4. 6 c3 6Bb5 is no
better; after 6…Nd7 7 c3 e5 8 d5 Ncb8 9 h3 Bxf3 10 Qxf3 Be7 11 g3 Bg5 Black
equalize in Tal-Matulovic, Skopje Olympiad 1972. 6…e5 Black
consistently pursues his attack on d4. 7Bb5 7 d5 Ne7 8 Bg5 Bg7
9 Nbd2 h6 10 Be3 c6 is equal. 7…exd4 8 cxd4 Nd7 White has
still not solved his problems with the d4-pawn. 9 Be3 Bg7
After 9...Bg7
Finally the pressure against d4 forces White to exchange on c6.
The resulting position is very pleasant for Black. He has the two bishops, an
open b-file for his queen’s rook and the chance to open the diagonal for his
dark-squared bishop by playing a later …c5. Black is not yet worse, but he
certainly has to take care. 10 Bxc6 bxc6 11 Nbd2 0-0 12 Rc1 Better
than 12 0-0, when 12…Rb8 would be awkward as 13 b3 would run into 13…c5. Also,
by attacking c6, White forces Black’s hand. 12…c5 13 dxc5 Bxb2 14 Rc2
Bg7 15 0-0 Re8
After 15...Re8
Black’s position is very comfortable; he only has to play the
most natural move. 16 Rd1 16 cxd6 cxd6 17 h3 Bxf3 18 Qxf3 is
safer route to equality; after 18…Ne5 19 Qe2 d5 20 exd5 Qxd5 21 Nc4 a draw is
not far away. 16…Nxc5 Now White has to part with his other
bishop, but in compensation he gains some time. 17 Bxc5 dxc5 18
Rxc5? It is the knight rather than the rook which belongs on c5 and so
White should have played 18 Nb3 Qe7 19 Nxc5 maintaining the balance. After
19…Rad8 20 Rxd8 Rxd8 21 h3 Bxf3 22 Qxf3 Qd6 23 g3 the position is equal. 18…Qd6
19 Rdc1 Admittedly, White now has pressure against c7, but winning
this pawn means little if Black’s bishops are allowed to develop their full
power. 19…Bh6
After 19...Bh6
20 Rxc7?! After
20 R1c2 Bxd2 21 Qxd2 Rxe4 22 Rxc7 Bxf3 23 gxf3 Rd4 Black has a clear advantage,
but anything is better than a forced loss. 20…Rad8 Not
20…Bxf3? 21 Qxf3 and the attack on f7 allows White to escape 21 R1c2 The
stage is set for a spectacular combination based on Whit ‘s weak back rank. The
alternative 21 R7c2 Bxf3 22 gxf3 Qd3! 23 Kf1 Bxd2 24 Qxd3 Rxd3 25 Rd1 Rxf3 26
Rdxd2 Rxe4 leaves Black with a clear extra pawn. 21…Bxd2 22 Qxd2
After 22 Qxd2
22…Qf4!! 23 Re7 A tricky Tal defense. 23 Qe1 Rxe4 and 23 Qc1 Bxf3 24 gxf3
Qxf3 are dead lost. 23…Rf8! An equally tricky reply. Although
Black no longer has the possibility of …Rxe4, the loose rook on e7 is a
tactical weakness. Both 23…Rxd2 24 Rxe8+ Kg7 25 Nxd2 and 23…Qxd2 24 Rxd2 would
even have given White the advantage. 24 Qa5 There is no
reasonable square for the white queen; for example, 24 Qe2 Bxf3 25 Qxf3 (25
gxf3 Qg5+ picks up the rook) 25…Qd6 threatens both 26…Qd1+ and 26…Qxe7+, or 24
Qc1 Bxf3 25 gxf3 Qxf3 26 Rd2 Qf4 27 Rc2 Qg4+ and Black wins. 24…Rd1+ the
immediate 2…Qg5 is equally good. 25 Ne1 Qg5!
After 25...Qg5! 0-1
0-1 The final
exploitation of White’s back rank also takes advantage of the undefended pieces
on a5 and e7.
Source from:
GAMBIT: John Nunn’s 101 Brilliant Chess Miniatures (Pages 29 -
30)
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