Mikhail Tal – Paul Keres

[#] Deviating from the established Qc7 variation. This variation was prepared by Keres specifically for Curacao, and is known in the literature as the Keres variation of the Ruy Lopez. The idea is to bolster the e5 square, or transfer the knight on the queenside should White close the centre.

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Date: June 2, 1962
Location: Willemstad CUW
Tournament: Curacao Candidates
Round: 16
Opening: C96 Spanish - Ruy Lopez, Closed, 8...Na5
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Published on: June 11, 2023

[Event "Curacao Candidates"] [Site "Willemstad CUW"] [Date "1962.06.02"] [Round "16"] [White "Mikhail Tal"] [Black "Paul Keres"] [Result "0-1"] [ECO "C96"] [PlyCount "81"] [EventDate "1962.05.02"] 1. e4 e5 2. Nf3 Nc6 3. Bb5 a6 4. Ba4 Nf6 5. O-O Be7 6. Re1 b5 7. Bb3 O-O 8. c3 d6 9. h3 Na5 10. Bc2 c5 11. d4 Nd7 {[pgndiagram] Deviating from the established Qc7 variation. This variation was prepared by Keres specifically for Curacao, and is known in the literature as the Keres variation of the Ruy Lopez. The idea is to bolster the e5 square, or transfer the knight on the queenside should White close the centre.} 12. Nbd2 (12. d5 Nb6 13. Nbd2 Qc7 14. Nf1 Nb7 {[pgndiagram] With the subsequent c4-Nc5-f5.}) 12... cxd4 13. cxd4 Nc6 14. a3 exd4 15. Nb3 Nde5 {[pgndiagram] Revealing another point behind Nd7 move. } 16. Nfxd4 Bf6 17. Bd2 Nxd4 18. Nxd4 Nd3 {The critical moment of the game, made famous by the aforementioned book} 19. Nc6 {Typical Tal play. However, it is noticable that this time he is out of form, as he tries to initiate tactics seemingly out of nothing, whereas in the games played in previous candidates they resulted from the position on the board.} (19. Bxd3 Bxd4) (19. Ba5 Qxa5 20. Qxd3 g6 {Were both better options}) 19... Nxf2 $1 {[pgndiagram] Initiating a complicated tactical sequence highly favourable for Black} 20. Qf3 (20. Kxf2 Qb6+ {Wins the c6 knight}) (20. Nxd8 Nxd1 {Is also bad for White}) 20... Nxh3+ $1 {Once again the Qb6 idea is at hand} 21. Kh2 (21. Kf1 {Leads to a fascinating computer variation} Qb6 22. e5 Bg4 $1 {[pgndiagram]} 23. Bxh7+ Kh8 24. Qe3 Qxc6 25. Rac1 Qd5 26. exf6 Kxh7 {[pgndiagram] The variation still continues} 27. Qe4+ Qxe4 28. Rxe4 Bf5 29. fxg7 Rfc8 30. Rh4+ Kxg7 31. Rxc8 Rxc8 32. gxh3 {[pgndiagram] And in the end, White reaches an opposite coloured bishops endgame where he will be a pawn down. I think not even Kotov realized how rich the position is.}) 21... Be5+ {[pgndiagram] In the end, the undefended state of the Black's d2 bishops turns out to be a key factor.} 22. Nxe5 dxe5 23. Red1 Nf4 24. g3 Ne6 {The game is decided; the remainder is merely a technical task} 25. Bc3 Qg5 26. Rd6 Qh6+ 27. Kg1 Nd4 28. Rxh6 Nxf3+ 29. Kf2 gxh6 30. Kxf3 Re8 31. Rh1 Kg7 32. Bb3 Bb7 33. Bd2 f5 34. Rxh6 Rad8 35. Rb6 Bxe4+ 36. Ke2 Bf3+ 37. Ke1 f4 38. Bc3 fxg3 39. Rxa6 Rd4 40. Ra7+ Kh6 41. Rf7 {[pgndiagram] An important win for Keres.} 0-1