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R A D I O M A T C H R E V I E W E D
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2. MY GAMES WITH SMYSLOV by Samuel Reshevsky CHESS REVIEW NOVEMBER 1945 |
White’s pieces now come into action too rapidly. However, if 23….P-B4; 24 B-B3, P-Q5; 25 QR-K1, Q-B3 ( or 25…Q-Q3); 26 B-R5 24
B-B4 P-B4
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Resevsky did
not realize that during the first game he was playing against all the best
analysts in the soviet union. The variation has been the subject of
considerable discussion among Soviet players; the first 24 moves are all
“book” having appeared in their entirety in the May issue of “Chess in the
USSR.” The variation adopted in the second game has also the benefit of
considerable study in Soviet chess circles. – Ed. RUY LOPEZ V. Smyslov S. Reshevsky White Black
1 P-K4 P-K4 As a rule, I prefer the quieter continuation 5….B-K2. But on this occasion I was naturally interested in a more lively line of play.
6 P-Q4 P-QKt4 Here again I made the same kind of choice as at move 5: 9…..B-K2 is the more solid but less adventurous move.
10 QKt-Q2 O-O On 11 Q-K2 Black can simply play 11…KtxKt; 12 BxKt, B-KKt5 with a good game – or else 11…B-B4 ( and if 12 B-B2?, KtxQBP). 11…… P-B4 Here I had an opportunity to play the Dilworth Variation ( 11… KtxKBP; 12 RxKt,P-B3). I declined for two reasons: (a) Smyslov had had a chance to play against this variation when Botvinnik tried it against him in the Moscow Championship of 1943 – a game, by the way, which Smyslov won; (b) the variation itself does not seem quite good enough, and its present popularity will doubtless prove ephemeral.
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Played with the following sacrifice in mind. The logical move is 14..Q-Q2 and then if 15 B-Kt3, Black defends comfortably with 15 …P-B3 ; or if 15 P-B3, Kt-B4; 16 P-QKt4, Kt-Kt2 and Black should be able to react strongly with ….P-QB4 or ….P-QR4. 14…Q-K2 also looks plausible. If then 15 B—Kt3, BxKt (both 15…P-B3 and…. either R-Q1 are impossible); 16 PxB, P-B5; 17 P-B3, Kt-Kt6! This was the course adopted in a famous game Fleissig-Mackenzie, Vienna, 1882, in which the sacrifice was played or the first time. In a later game with the same line (Bogolyubov- Euwe, Match, 1941 White declined the offer temporarily with 18 R-K1, but Black maintained a good attacking position with 18 …Q-R5. Another possibility after 14 …. Q-K2 is 15 P-B3 , Kt-Kt4; 16 BxKt, QxB; 17 K-R1, Q-K2; 18 B-Kt3, BxKt; 19 PxB, QR-B1 followed by ….20…P-B4 with a satisfactory game. 14….Q-K1 is still another move which deserves consideration.
15 PxB P-B5 A brainstorm! The move certainly looks promising! Had I known at the time that Smyslov made his first fifteen moves in one minute, indicating a thorough familiarity with the variation, I would have been more discreet.
17 PxKt! PxP Now 18….QR-5 is threatened , with a lasting attack during the course of which Black chases the White King to the Queen-side picks up several Pawns and obtains dangerous passed Pawns on the KKt and KR files. 18 Q-Q3! ……Note that in the Fleissig-Mackenzie game referred to previously, White’s KB was on QKt3 after the sacrifice of Black’s Knight. Hence White did not have the resource in the text. White threatens QxPch with a devastating attack, and if 18….Q-R5; 19 QxPch, QxQ; 20 BxQch, KxB; 21 B-Q2 followed by B-K1 and BxP. White would be a pawn up, and while the Bishops of opposite colors would give drawing chances, such a position is nothing to look forward to. Or if 18…P-Kt3; 19 Q-K3!, Q-R5; 20 Q-R6 and Black’s attack is over.
18….. B-B4 The only defense , but adequate. 21….. QxPch With only a Queen for a Rook and two Bishops, Black must try to pick up as many Pawns as possible. His one chance is to get his resulting passed Pawns in motion before White’s Bishops get to work. 22
K-R1 QxKP
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| Game 1 in viewer Game 2 in viewer | ||
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S. Reshevsky V. Smyslov White Black
1 P-Q4 P-Q4 The fashionable move 5 P-QR4 has been mulled over so much that I like to play the text occasionally to get off the beaten track.
5…… P-QKt4 Even at this early stage, we have clearly outlined for us the chief problems which will face each player . for White, the question is how to get the rather misplaced QKt into active play; for Black, how is his problem child, the QB, to get a good diagonal? The advantage of Black’s QBP, opening the long diagonal, is of prime importance.
9 O-O O-O He rules out the possibility of P-R5, artificially isolating the Black QKtP. 12 B-Q2 …… The plan of development initiated with this move is rather slow, and in any event it requires considerable reflection to appraise the resulting possibilities. Meanwhile the clock ticks away! It may well be that the more natural 12 P-K4 followed by B-KKt5 is the more promising continuation. Nevertheless, I still consider the text line quite feasible.
12 . . . . QK-Q2 I took 48 minutes on this move, with the result that time pressure plagued me right up to the fortieth move. The move may seem quite obvious, and yet the choice between 14 KKt3 and 14 Kt-Q3 is a puzzling one. At Q3 the Knight has effective pressure on the important center square K5, but White’s pieces are crowded and each other’s way. At Kt3 the Knight is still not too well posted.
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Once Black has played this move, he has overcome the difficulties of the opening.
15 B-K1 KR-Q1 Leading to a new , complicated phase, White makes room for his QKt at QB4, where it will finally be well posted.
16 . . . . B-Q4 Immediately disputing the Knight’s new position. 19 QKt-K5 Kt-K5
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39 Kt-K4?? ……. This move, played with only a few seconds left on the clock, ruins my position. Correct was 39 Kt-Kt7! Leaving Black with an untenable game. 39…… BxKt Exchanging his useless Bishop for the powerful Knight. Worse yet, white cannot retake with the Pawn because of 40….Kt-B7. 40 QxB Kt-B7Wins the QP. Smyslov plays very strongly from this point on. 41 QxQ RPxQ
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