David Bronstein – Paul Keres

[#] The classical Ruy Lopez is present throughout the 20th century in the games of great players.

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Date: April 14, 1956
Location: Amsterdam NED
Tournament: Amsterdam Candidates
Round: 19
Opening: C99 Spanish - Ruy Lopez, Closed, Chigorin, 12...cxd4
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Published on: June 11, 2023

[Event "Amsterdam Candidates"] [Site "Amsterdam NED"] [Date "1956.04.14"] [Round "19"] [White "David Bronstein"] [Black "Paul Keres"] [Result "0-1"] [ECO "C99"] [PlyCount "106"] [EventDate "1956.03.27"] 1. e4 e5 2. Nf3 Nc6 3. Bb5 a6 4. Ba4 Nf6 5. O-O Be7 6. Re1 b5 7. Bb3 d6 8. c3 O-O 9. h3 Na5 10. Bc2 c5 11. d4 Qc7 12. Nbd2 {[pgndiagram] The classical Ruy Lopez is present throughout the 20th century in the games of great players.} cxd4 13. cxd4 Nc6 14. Nb3 Bb7 {A rare move in this variation} (14... a5 { Nowadays they have arrived at the push of the a-pawn as the most topical plan for Black}) 15. Bg5 (15. d5 {Grabing space, was interesting and objectively probably better. After} Na5 16. Nxa5 Qxa5 17. Bd2 Qc7 18. Rc1 {[pgndiagram] White has more space, and can clamp down the queenside with b4-a4 combination.} ) 15... h6 16. Bh4 {And this is wrong. White's bishop doesn't have any perspective here; it is more important to keep it on the queenside instead.} Nh5 {[pgndiagram] Going for the f4 square, but this shouldn't be too dangerous for White} (16... a5 {Once again, the queenside was where the main battle is to be fought.} 17. Rc1 a4 18. Nbd2 Rfc8 {[pgndiagram] And Black grabs the initiative.}) 17. d5 Nd8 18. Bxe7 Qxe7 19. Nfd4 {[pgndiagram] Now Black is very passive. White's knight is reaching the f5 square, and the bishop on b7 resembles a large pawn, and the knight on d8 is also very passive.} Nf4 20. Nf5 Qf6 21. Re3 Kh7 (21... Bc8 {Getting rid of one problem piece, was probably better} 22. Na5 Bxf5 23. exf5 Rc8 {[pgndiagram] But White retains some initiative.}) 22. a4 bxa4 23. Rxa4 Bc8 24. Rb4 $2 {[pgndiagram] But this is a tactical blunder..} (24. Rc3 Nb7 25. Rac4 {And White remains in control}) 24... Nb7 $2 {Failing to exploit the chance} (24... g6 {Was the move here. It leads to a favourable tactical skirmish for Black.} 25. Ng3 Bxh3 26. gxh3 Nxh3+ {