GM
Lajos Portisch (2615)
- GM Boris Spassky (2660);
[D58]
MATCH: U.S.S.R. vs. Hungary.
Budapest, Hungary; 1968.
[A.J.G.]
A really great game that has almost always
been
poorly annotated.
*************************************
1.d4
d5; 2.c4
e6; 3.Nc3
Be7; 4.Nf3
Nf6;
5.Bg5
0-0; 6.e3
h6!?; {Diagram?}
Nothing wrong with this, it
usually leads to the Lasker's
Defence - from this position.
[ The 'normal' line is:
6...Nbd7; 7.Rc1
c6;
8.Bd3
dxc4; 9.Bxc4,
"+/=" etc. ].
7.Bh4
b6!?; {Diagram?}
This leads to the Tartakower
Variation.
(T.M.B. System.)
{Fianchetto the Black QB.}
8.Bd3!?, {Diagram?}
An older continuation.
(But still good.)
[ The modern line is:
8.cxd5
Nxd5; 9.Bxe7
Qxe7;
10.Nxd5
exd5; 11.Rc1
Be6;
12.Qa4
c5;
13.Qa3, "+/=" ].
8...Bb7; 9.Rc1!?
dxc4!?; {Diagram?}
Positionally forced, according
to Reshevsky.
10.Bxc4
Nbd7; 11.0-0
c5; 12.Qe2
Ne4!?;
13.Nxe4
Bxe4; 14.Bg3!
a5; ('!') {Diagram?}
This is forced.
(If Black is to
pursue the idea of the placing
his
Queen on b7, see Reshevsky's
book for more
details.)
15.Rfd1
Qc8; 16.Bb5
Rd8; 17.Ne1
Qb7;
18.f3
Bc6; {Box?} 19.Bxc6
Qxc6;
20.e4
Bg5; 21.Rc2
a4; ('!?') {Diagram?}
In anticipation of White making
a passed pawn,
Black correctly
activates his Q-side majority.
22.f4
Be7; 23.d5
exd5; 24.exd5
Qf6; 25.Nf3
Qf5;
26.d6
Bf6; 27.Rcd2!?
Qe6!?; {Diagram?}
Apparently Spassky feels safest
in an ending.
28.Qxe6
fxe6; {Diagram?}
In terms of pure practical chances,
White has a
passed Pawn, and
Black does not. (So White is
slightly better, but with perfect play, I think Black
should be able to draw this game.)
29.Re2
Kf7; 30.Bh4!
Re8; 31.g4!?
a3!; 32.b3[]
b5;
33.Bg3!?
Rac8!?; 34.Rde1!?
Bc3!?; 35.Rf1
Rc6!?;
36.Ne5+
Bxe5; ("[]")
37.fxe5+
Kg8; 38.Ref2
Rf8; ('!')
Spassky's instincts tell him to
swap here.
39.Rxf8+
Nxf8; 40.Rc1
Nd7; 41.Kf2
Kf7;
42.Ke3
Nb6; 43.Ke4
Nd5; 44.Be1
Ke8;
45.Bd2
Rc8; 46.h4
Kd7; 47.h5!?
Ke8;
48.Rc2
Kd7; 49.Bc1
c4; {Diagram?}
Black's only practical chance.
50.Bxa3
Rf8; ('!') {Diagram?}
Seizing the open file.
51.Kd4!?, {Diagram?}
This looks OK.
[ 51.Bc1, "+/=" ].
The next few moves look
like the best for both sides.
51...c3; 52.Kc5
b4; 53.Bc1[]
Rf1!?;
54.a3!
Re1!?; ('?!') {Diagram?}
This is OK. Most computers rate
this as very close to
equal.
While this
might be inferior to ...b4xa3,
it certainly
does NOT rate the
double question mark that
Reshevsky awards it!!
Was Spassky trying to win this game?
[ Reshevsky is correct when he
says that the move:
54...bxa3!, "=" is a big improvement. ].
55.Rf2!, {Diagram?}
An alert tactic by Portisch.
[ 55.axb4
].
The next few moves are all forced.
55...Rxc1; 56.Rf7+
Ke8; 57.d7+
Kxf7[];
58.d8Q,
"+/=" 58...bxa3;
59.g5!
hxg5[];
60.Qxg5
Rh1?;
{Diagram?}
Reshevsky makes no comment,
but this is ...
THE LOSING MOVE.
[ The move: >=
60...Rf1; {Diagram?} seems to
lead to a draw.
(But you have to find about 10
really good moves - in a row!) ].
61.Qg6+
Kf8; 62.Qxe6
Ne7[]; 63.Qa6!
Rxh5;
64.Kd6!
Nf5+?!; {Diagram?}
An inferior defense.
[ While White might still be winning
after the
continuation:
64...c2; 65.Qxa3,
"+/" {Diagram?}
it is a MUCH sturdier defense
than what was played
in the game! ].
65.Kd7
g6; {Diagram?}
Unfortunately for Black, this is
forced here.
[ 65...c2?; 66.Qa8+
Kf7;
67.Qe8#
].
66.Qxg6
c2[]; {Diagram?}
This is forced as well.
67.e6, ('!') {Diagram?}
Black Resigns, his King is in
a mating web.
A
great ending by Super-GM L. Portisch.
1 - 0
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