Keres, Paul – Smyslov, Vassily

[#] Quite suprisingly, Keres decides to serve from the left, and deviate from his favourite e4 move.

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Date: October 13, 1953
Location: Zuerich
Tournament: Candidates Tournament
Round: 24
Opening: E14 Queen's Indian, 4.e3
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Published on: June 11, 2023

[Event "Candidates Tournament"] [Site "Zuerich"] [Date "1953.10.13"] [Round "24"] [White "Keres, Paul"] [Black "Smyslov, Vassily"] [Result "*"] [ECO "E14"] [PlyCount "56"] [EventDate "1953.08.30"] [EventType "tourn"] [EventRounds "30"] [EventCountry "SUI"] [Source "ChessBase"] [SourceDate "1999.07.01"] 1. c4 {[pgndiagram] Quite suprisingly, Keres decides to serve from the left, and deviate from his favourite e4 move.} Nf6 2. Nc3 e6 3. Nf3 c5 4. e3 Be7 5. b3 O-O 6. Bb2 b6 7. d4 cxd4 8. exd4 d5 {[pgndiagram] In my humble opinion, Keres' opening choice wasn't the best for this game. Smyslov has easy development and there aren't many tactical opportunities, which have always been Keres' forte. Or at least there should not have been any} 9. Bd3 Nc6 10. O-O Bb7 (10... dxc4 {The preliminary exchange on c4, came into consideration} 11. bxc4 Bb7 {[pgndiagram] With play against the hanging pawns}) 11. Rc1 Rc8 12. Re1 Nb4 13. Bf1 {[pgndiagram] Keeping the c4 pawn defended. White would like to go 13 Bb1 here, but that simply drops a pawn} Ne4 {Not strictly neccessary} (13... h6) (13... Nc6 {Are both playable alternatives}) 14. a3 Nxc3 15. Rxc3 Nc6 16. Ne5 $6 {[pgndiagram] This is the moment where Keres starts contemplating a faulty combination.} (16. c5 {Was in the spirit of the position.} bxc5 17. dxc5 Bf6 18. Rc2 Bxb2 19. Rxb2 {[pgndiagram] And White's queenside pawn majority outweighs Black's central pawns. White has the advantage here, although Black's play in this line can probably be improved somewhere.}) 16... Nxe5 17. Rxe5 Bf6 18. Rh5 g6 19. Rch3 $2 {[pgndiagram] A very important historical moment. Keres sacrifices a whole rook .} (19. Rhh3 { Is computer's first suggestion, which is a clear indication that something has gone for White. Keres is consistent is his own way, and he probably envisioned some similar lines when he played his 16th move.}) 19... dxc4 $3 {A fantastic and well calculated defense. Smyslov keeps his nerve and proves that he was the better player at that particular moment. The main point of this move is that now Black's bishop can come to e4 and cement the kingside structure together.} (19... gxh5 {By his own admision, he couldn't find a win for White after immediate acceptance of the sacrifice. However, his intuition did not betray him.} 20. Qxh5 Re8 21. a4 $1 {A key move, with the idea of Ba3, wins for White in all variations. I will hive a sample line} Qd6 22. Qh6 {Gaining a tempo on the bishop} Bg7 23. Qxh7+ Kf8 24. Rg3 Bf6 25. c5 $1 {[pgndiagram] Opening the diagonal for the bishop with tempo.} bxc5 26. Qh6+ Ke7 27. dxc5 Qxc5 28. Qxf6+ {And White wins.}) 20. Rxh7 (20. bxc4 gxh5 21. Qxh5 Be4 {