chessgames.com
Members · Prefs · Laboratory · Collections · Openings · Endgames · Sacrifices · History · Search Kibitzing · Kibitzer's Café · Chessforums · Tournament Index · Players · Kibitzing
 
USSR Championship 1951
Compiled by suenteus po 147
--*--

The 19th Soviet Chess Championship took place in the capital city of Moscow from November 11th to December 14th, 1951. Eighteen of the Soviet Union's best players, including the world champion, participated in the round robin event. Fourteen of the players qualified from the semi-final tournaments played earlier in the year. Nikolai Novotelnov, Isaac Lipnitsky, and Mark Taimanov qualified from Baku; Vasily Smyslov, Evgeny Terpugov, Oleg Moiseev, and Nikolai Kopilov qualified from Leningrad; Lev Aronin, Vladimir Simagin, and Salomon Flohr qualified from Lvov; and Tigran Petrosian, Efim Geller, Yuri Averbakh, and Isaac Boleslavsky qualified from Sverdlovsk. Unfortunately, Boleslavsky fell ill before the final and was therefore replaced by Igor Bondarevsky who had placed fifth in the Leningrad semi-final. Four invitations were also sent to Paul Keres as returning Soviet Champion, Mikhail Botvinnik as world champion, David Bronstein as world vice-champion, and Alexander Kotov. The assembled field was the strongest in the history of the USSR championship at that time, which makes it an especially impressive victory for Keres. It was his second consecutive Soviet crown and his third overall. He edged out shared seconds Petrosian and Geller by half a point, and finished two full points ahead of world champion Botvinnik who only managed to finish in fifth place.

The final standings and crosstable:

1st Keres 12/17 * ½ 1 1 ½ ½ ½ 1 ½ 1 0 0 ½ 1 1 1 1 1

=2nd Petrosian 11½/17 ½ * ½ 1 ½ ½ ½ 1 ½ 0 0 1 1 1 ½ 1 1 1

=2nd Geller 11½/17 0 ½ * 0 1 ½ 0 1 0 1 1 1 ½ 1 1 1 1 1

4th Smyslov 11/17 0 0 1 * 1 0 1 1 1 ½ 1 ½ ½ 1 ½ 1 0 1

5th Botvinnik 10/17 ½ ½ 0 0 * ½ 1 ½ ½ 1 0 ½ ½ ½ 1 1 1 1

=6th Averbakh 9½/17 ½ ½ ½ 1 ½ * 0 0 ½ 1 ½ ½ 1 ½ ½ 0 1 1

=6th Bronstein 9½/17 ½ ½ 1 0 0 1 * 1 ½ 0 1 0 ½ ½ ½ ½ 1 1

=6th Taimanov 9½/17 0 0 0 0 ½ 1 0 * ½ ½ 1 ½ 1 ½ 1 1 1 1

=9th Flohr 9/17 ½ ½ 1 0 ½ ½ ½ ½ * 0 ½ 1 ½ ½ 1 ½ 0 1

=9th Aronin 9/17 0 1 0 ½ 0 0 1 ½ 1 * 1 ½ 0 ½ ½ 1 1 ½

11th Kopilov 8½/17 1 1 0 0 1 ½ 0 0 ½ 0 * 0 1 1 0 1 1 ½

=12th Kotov 8/17 1 0 0 ½ ½ ½ 1 ½ 0 ½ 1 * ½ ½ ½ 0 1 0

=12th Bondarevsky 8/17 ½ 0 ½ ½ ½ 0 ½ 0 ½ 1 0 ½ * ½ 1 0 1 1

14th Simagin 7½/17 0 0 0 0 ½ ½ ½ ½ ½ ½ 0 ½ ½ * 1 ½ 1 1

=15th Moisieev 6½/17 0 ½ 0 ½ 0 ½ ½ 0 0 ½ 1 ½ 0 0 * ½ 1 1

=15th Lipnitsky 6½/17 0 0 0 0 0 1 ½ 0 ½ 0 0 1 1 ½ ½ * ½ 1

17th Novotelnov 3/17 0 0 0 1 0 0 0 0 1 0 0 0 0 0 0 ½ * ½

18th Terpugov 2½/17 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 ½ ½ 1 0 0 0 0 ½ *

Round One
Botvinnik vs O Moiseev, 1951 
(E45) Nimzo-Indian, 4.e3, Bronstein (Byrne) Variation, 57 moves, 1-0

Bronstein vs Kotov, 1951 
(E64) King's Indian, Fianchetto, Yugoslav System, 66 moves, 0-1

Flohr vs Taimanov, 1951
(A15) English, 28 moves, 1/2-1/2

Keres vs E Terpugov, 1951 
(D07) Queen's Gambit Declined, Chigorin Defense, 22 moves, 1-0

I Lipnitsky vs Averbakh, 1951
(A27) English, Three Knights System, 42 moves, 1-0

N Novotelnov vs Bondarevsky, 1951 
(D34) Queen's Gambit Declined, Tarrasch, 39 moves, 0-1

Petrosian vs N Kopilov, 1951 
(E43) Nimzo-Indian, Fischer Variation, 34 moves, 0-1

Simagin vs Aronin, 1951
(E61) King's Indian, 30 moves, 1/2-1/2

Smyslov vs Geller, 1951 
(B26) Sicilian, Closed, 6.Be3, 48 moves, 1-0

Round Two
Aronin vs Petrosian, 1951 
(C91) Ruy Lopez, Closed, 39 moves, 1-0

Averbakh vs Bronstein, 1951 
(B93) Sicilian, Najdorf, 6.f4, 42 moves, 0-1

Bondarevsky vs Smyslov, 1951
(D94) Grunfeld, 62 moves, 1/2-1/2

Flohr vs Botvinnik, 1951 
(D14) Queen's Gambit Declined Slav, Exchange Variation, 81 moves, 1/2-1/2

Geller vs Simagin, 1951 
(D41) Queen's Gambit Declined, Semi-Tarrasch, 32 moves, 1-0

N Kopilov vs Keres, 1951 
(B32) Sicilian, 59 moves, 1-0

Kotov vs N Novotelnov, 1951
(E34) Nimzo-Indian, Classical, Noa Variation, 37 moves, 1-0

O Moiseev vs I Lipnitsky, 1951
(E02) Catalan, Open, 5.Qa4, 30 moves, 1/2-1/2

Taimanov vs E Terpugov, 1951 
(D15) Queen's Gambit Declined Slav, 37 moves, 1-0

Round Three
Botvinnik vs Taimanov, 1951
(E40) Nimzo-Indian, 4.e3, 37 moves, 1/2-1/2

Bronstein vs O Moiseev, 1951
(E56) Nimzo-Indian, 4.e3, Main line with 7...Nc6, 25 moves, 1/2-1/2

Keres vs Aronin, 1951 
(B62) Sicilian, Richter-Rauzer, 63 moves, 1-0

I Lipnitsky vs Flohr, 1951
(B17) Caro-Kann, Steinitz Variation, 34 moves, 1/2-1/2

N Novotelnov vs Averbakh, 1951 
(E08) Catalan, Closed, 31 moves, 0-1

Petrosian vs Geller, 1951
(E92) King's Indian, 23 moves, 1/2-1/2

Simagin vs Bondarevsky, 1951
(D34) Queen's Gambit Declined, Tarrasch, 20 moves, 1/2-1/2

Smyslov vs Kotov, 1951 
(B85) Sicilian, Scheveningen, Classical, 67 moves, 1/2-1/2

E Terpugov vs N Kopilov, 1951
(A43) Old Benoni, 49 moves, 1/2-1/2

Round Four
Aronin vs E Terpugov, 1951
(A26) English, 36 moves, 1/2-1/2

Averbakh vs Smyslov, 1951 
(C75) Ruy Lopez, Modern Steinitz Defense, 40 moves, 1-0

Bondarevsky vs Petrosian, 1951 
(E71) King's Indian, Makagonov System (5.h3), 82 moves, 0-1

Botvinnik vs I Lipnitsky, 1951
(E40) Nimzo-Indian, 4.e3, 41 moves, 1-0

Flohr vs Bronstein, 1951
(E67) King's Indian, Fianchetto, 30 moves, 1/2-1/2

Geller vs Keres, 1951 
(C99) Ruy Lopez, Closed, Chigorin, 12...cd, 31 moves, 0-1

Kotov vs Simagin, 1951
(A53) Old Indian, 66 moves, 1/2-1/2

O Moiseev vs N Novotelnov, 1951
(E45) Nimzo-Indian, 4.e3, Bronstein (Byrne) Variation, 35 moves, 1-0

Taimanov vs N Kopilov, 1951 
(D45) Queen's Gambit Declined Semi-Slav, 70 moves, 1-0

Round Five
Bronstein vs Botvinnik, 1951 
(D44) Queen's Gambit Declined Semi-Slav, 50 moves, 0-1

Keres vs Bondarevsky, 1951 
(A07) King's Indian Attack, 33 moves, 1/2-1/2

N Kopilov vs Aronin, 1951 
(B90) Sicilian, Najdorf, 78 moves, 0-1

I Lipnitsky vs Taimanov, 1951
(B88) Sicilian, Fischer-Sozin Attack, 29 moves, 0-1

N Novotelnov vs Flohr, 1951 
(D29) Queen's Gambit Accepted, Classical, 40 moves, 1-0

Petrosian vs Kotov, 1951 
(E68) King's Indian, Fianchetto, Classical Variation, 8.e4, 52 moves, 1-0

Simagin vs Averbakh, 1951
(D32) Queen's Gambit Declined, Tarrasch, 49 moves, 1/2-1/2

Smyslov vs O Moiseev, 1951
(A07) King's Indian Attack, 41 moves, 1/2-1/2

E Terpugov vs Geller, 1951 
(A43) Old Benoni, 33 moves, 0-1

Round Six
Averbakh vs Petrosian, 1951
(B11) Caro-Kann, Two Knights, 3...Bg4, 29 moves, 1/2-1/2

Bondarevsky vs E Terpugov, 1951
(D07) Queen's Gambit Declined, Chigorin Defense, 41 moves, 1-0

Botvinnik vs N Novotelnov, 1951 
(E45) Nimzo-Indian, 4.e3, Bronstein (Byrne) Variation, 87 moves, 1-0

Flohr vs Smyslov, 1951 
(E32) Nimzo-Indian, Classical, 38 moves, 0-1

Geller vs N Kopilov, 1951 
(D46) Queen's Gambit Declined Semi-Slav, 46 moves, 1-0

Kotov vs Keres, 1951 
(E00) Queen's Pawn Game, 40 moves, 1-0

I Lipnitsky vs Bronstein, 1951
(B07) Pirc, 89 moves, 1/2-1/2

O Moiseev vs Simagin, 1951 
(E70) King's Indian, 30 moves, 0-1

Taimanov vs Aronin, 1951
(E61) King's Indian, 29 moves, 1/2-1/2

Round Seven
Aronin vs Geller, 1951 
(C90) Ruy Lopez, Closed, 55 moves, 0-1

Bronstein vs Taimanov, 1951 
(E24) Nimzo-Indian, Samisch, 42 moves, 1-0

Keres vs Averbakh, 1951
(C83) Ruy Lopez, Open, 37 moves, 1/2-1/2

N Kopilov vs Bondarevsky, 1951 
(C59) Two Knights, 54 moves, 1-0

N Novotelnov vs I Lipnitsky, 1951
(E03) Catalan, Open, 30 moves, 1/2-1/2

Petrosian vs O Moiseev, 1951 
(E53) Nimzo-Indian, 4.e3, 40 moves, 1/2-1/2

Simagin vs Flohr, 1951
(C85) Ruy Lopez, Exchange Variation Doubly Deferred (DERLD), 31 moves, 1/2-1/2

Smyslov vs Botvinnik, 1951 
(C92) Ruy Lopez, Closed, 39 moves, 1-0

E Terpugov vs Kotov, 1951 
(D30) Queen's Gambit Declined, 39 moves, 1-0

Round Eight
Averbakh vs E Terpugov, 1951
(C70) Ruy Lopez, 38 moves, 1-0

Bondarevsky vs Aronin, 1951 
(D02) Queen's Pawn Game, 64 moves, 1-0

Botvinnik vs Simagin, 1951 
(D49) Queen's Gambit Declined Semi-Slav, Meran, 42 moves, 1/2-1/2

Bronstein vs N Novotelnov, 1951
(E53) Nimzo-Indian, 4.e3, 28 moves, 1-0

Flohr vs Petrosian, 1951
(E64) King's Indian, Fianchetto, Yugoslav System, 51 moves, 1/2-1/2

Kotov vs N Kopilov, 1951 
(A57) Benko Gambit, 43 moves, 1-0

I Lipnitsky vs Smyslov, 1951 
(E33) Nimzo-Indian, Classical, 23 moves, 0-1

O Moiseev vs Keres, 1951
(E47) Nimzo-Indian, 4.e3 O-O 5.Bd3, 33 moves, 0-1

Taimanov vs Geller, 1951  
(A48) King's Indian, 43 moves, 0-1

Round Nine
Aronin vs Kotov, 1951
(B85) Sicilian, Scheveningen, Classical, 41 moves, 1/2-1/2

Geller vs Bondarevsky, 1951
(D50) Queen's Gambit Declined, 33 moves, 1/2-1/2

Keres vs Flohr, 1951
(B10) Caro-Kann, 29 moves, 1/2-1/2

N Kopilov vs Averbakh, 1951
(D51) Queen's Gambit Declined, 57 moves, 1/2-1/2

N Novotelnov vs Taimanov, 1951 
(C50) Giuoco Piano, 38 moves, 0-1

Petrosian vs Botvinnik, 1951 
(A46) Queen's Pawn Game, 100 moves, 1/2-1/2

Simagin vs I Lipnitsky, 1951
(A17) English, 43 moves, 1/2-1/2

Smyslov vs Bronstein, 1951 
(B26) Sicilian, Closed, 6.Be3, 39 moves, 1-0

E Terpugov vs O Moiseev, 1951
(D30) Queen's Gambit Declined, 59 moves, 0-1

Round Ten
Averbakh vs Aronin, 1951
(D28) Queen's Gambit Accepted, Classical, 50 moves, 1-0

Botvinnik vs Keres, 1951 
(E41) Nimzo-Indian, 58 moves, 1/2-1/2

Bronstein vs Simagin, 1951
(B32) Sicilian, 43 moves, 1/2-1/2

Flohr vs E Terpugov, 1951
(D02) Queen's Pawn Game, 37 moves, 1-0

Kotov vs Geller, 1951 
(E67) King's Indian, Fianchetto, 39 moves, 0-1

I Lipnitsky vs Petrosian, 1951 
(C50) Giuoco Piano, 40 moves, 0-1

O Moiseev vs N Kopilov, 1951
(E47) Nimzo-Indian, 4.e3 O-O 5.Bd3, 52 moves, 1-0

N Novotelnov vs Smyslov, 1951 
(E56) Nimzo-Indian, 4.e3, Main line with 7...Nc6, 43 moves, 1-0

Taimanov vs Bondarevsky, 1951 
(D51) Queen's Gambit Declined, 46 moves, 1-0

Round Eleven
Aronin vs O Moiseev, 1951 
(B90) Sicilian, Najdorf, 106 moves, 1/2-1/2

Bondarevsky vs Kotov, 1951
(B85) Sicilian, Scheveningen, Classical, 47 moves, 1/2-1/2

Geller vs Averbakh, 1951
(D50) Queen's Gambit Declined, 30 moves, 1/2-1/2

Keres vs I Lipnitsky, 1951 
(E46) Nimzo-Indian, 41 moves, 1-0

N Kopilov vs Flohr, 1951
(D29) Queen's Gambit Accepted, Classical, 42 moves, 1/2-1/2

Petrosian vs Bronstein, 1951 
(E19) Queen's Indian, Old Main line, 9.Qxc3, 59 moves, 1/2-1/2

Simagin vs N Novotelnov, 1951
(A13) English, 35 moves, 1-0

Smyslov vs Taimanov, 1951
(A13) English, 58 moves, 1-0

E Terpugov vs Botvinnik, 1951 
(A46) Queen's Pawn Game, 19 moves, 0-1

Round Twelve
Averbakh vs Bondarevsky, 1951 
(A54) Old Indian, Ukrainian Variation, 4.Nf3, 42 moves, 1-0

Botvinnik vs N Kopilov, 1951 
(A81) Dutch, 37 moves, 0-1

Bronstein vs Keres, 1951 
(C99) Ruy Lopez, Closed, Chigorin, 12...cd, 41 moves, 1/2-1/2

Flohr vs Aronin, 1951 
(E60) King's Indian Defense, 39 moves, 0-1

I Lipnitsky vs E Terpugov, 1951 
(C70) Ruy Lopez, 34 moves, 1-0

O Moiseev vs Geller, 1951 
(A15) English, 44 moves, 0-1

N Novotelnov vs Petrosian, 1951 
(B92) Sicilian, Najdorf, Opocensky Variation, 26 moves, 0-1

Smyslov vs Simagin, 1951
(A35) English, Symmetrical, 47 moves, 1-0

Taimanov vs Kotov, 1951
(A53) Old Indian, 27 moves, 1/2-1/2

Round Thirteen
Aronin vs Botvinnik, 1951 
(C03) French, Tarrasch, 41 moves, 0-1

Bondarevsky vs O Moiseev, 1951
(E30) Nimzo-Indian, Leningrad, 54 moves, 1-0

Geller vs Flohr, 1951 
(D15) Queen's Gambit Declined Slav, 34 moves, 0-1

Keres vs N Novotelnov, 1951 
(E07) Catalan, Closed, 25 moves, 1-0

N Kopilov vs I Lipnitsky, 1951 
(A15) English, 57 moves, 1-0

Kotov vs Averbakh, 1951
(E39) Nimzo-Indian, Classical, Pirc Variation, 30 moves, 1/2-1/2

Petrosian vs Smyslov, 1951 
(D15) Queen's Gambit Declined Slav, 51 moves, 1-0

Simagin vs Taimanov, 1951
(A07) King's Indian Attack, 56 moves, 1/2-1/2

E Terpugov vs Bronstein, 1951 
(E60) King's Indian Defense, 45 moves, 0-1

Round Fourteen
Botvinnik vs Geller, 1951 
(A45) Queen's Pawn Game, 62 moves, 0-1

Bronstein vs N Kopilov, 1951 
(B03) Alekhine's Defense, 62 moves, 1-0

Flohr vs Bondarevsky, 1951
(A84) Dutch, 41 moves, 1/2-1/2

I Lipnitsky vs Aronin, 1951 
(E77) King's Indian, 69 moves, 0-1

O Moiseev vs Kotov, 1951
(E67) King's Indian, Fianchetto, 41 moves, 1/2-1/2

N Novotelnov vs E Terpugov, 1951 
(D49) Queen's Gambit Declined Semi-Slav, Meran, 77 moves, 1/2-1/2

Simagin vs Petrosian, 1951 
(D37) Queen's Gambit Declined, 54 moves, 0-1

Smyslov vs Keres, 1951 
(A12) English with b3, 56 moves, 0-1

Taimanov vs Averbakh, 1951 
(E52) Nimzo-Indian, 4.e3, Main line with ...b6, 55 moves, 1-0

Round Fifteen
Aronin vs Bronstein, 1951 
(B32) Sicilian, 42 moves, 1-0

Averbakh vs O Moiseev, 1951
(B90) Sicilian, Najdorf, 37 moves, 1/2-1/2

Bondarevsky vs Botvinnik, 1951 
(B63) Sicilian, Richter-Rauzer Attack, 80 moves, 1/2-1/2

Geller vs I Lipnitsky, 1951 
(E26) Nimzo-Indian, Samisch, 33 moves, 1-0

Keres vs Simagin, 1951 
(A97) Dutch, Ilyin-Genevsky, 40 moves, 1-0

N Kopilov vs N Novotelnov, 1951
(A13) English, 27 moves, 1-0

Kotov vs Flohr, 1951 
(D23) Queen's Gambit Accepted, 114 moves, 0-1

Petrosian vs Taimanov, 1951 
(E14) Queen's Indian, 57 moves, 1-0

E Terpugov vs Smyslov, 1951
(D25) Queen's Gambit Accepted, 62 moves, 0-1

Round Sixteen
Botvinnik vs Kotov, 1951
(A54) Old Indian, Ukrainian Variation, 4.Nf3, 21 moves, 1/2-1/2

Bronstein vs Geller, 1951 
(C99) Ruy Lopez, Closed, Chigorin, 12...cd, 50 moves, 1-0

Flohr vs Averbakh, 1951
(E19) Queen's Indian, Old Main line, 9.Qxc3, 29 moves, 1/2-1/2

I Lipnitsky vs Bondarevsky, 1951 
(D06) Queen's Gambit Declined, 56 moves, 1-0

N Novotelnov vs Aronin, 1951 
(A25) English, 33 moves, 0-1

Petrosian vs Keres, 1951 
(E14) Queen's Indian, 58 moves, 1/2-1/2

Simagin vs E Terpugov, 1951 
(D31) Queen's Gambit Declined, 34 moves, 1-0

Smyslov vs N Kopilov, 1951 
(A07) King's Indian Attack, 39 moves, 1-0

Taimanov vs O Moiseev, 1951
(E61) King's Indian, 32 moves, 1-0

Round Seventeen
Aronin vs Smyslov, 1951 
(B08) Pirc, Classical, 51 moves, 1/2-1/2

Averbakh vs Botvinnik, 1951
(C07) French, Tarrasch, 20 moves, 1/2-1/2

Bondarevsky vs Bronstein, 1951
(A48) King's Indian, 41 moves, 1/2-1/2

Geller vs N Novotelnov, 1951 
(D43) Queen's Gambit Declined Semi-Slav, 42 moves, 1-0

Keres vs Taimanov, 1951 
(A15) English, 37 moves, 1-0

N Kopilov vs Simagin, 1951 
(D86) Grunfeld, Exchange, 60 moves, 1-0

Kotov vs I Lipnitsky, 1951 
(E34) Nimzo-Indian, Classical, Noa Variation, 40 moves, 0-1

O Moiseev vs Flohr, 1951 
(D26) Queen's Gambit Accepted, 32 moves, 0-1

E Terpugov vs Petrosian, 1951 
(A46) Queen's Pawn Game, 39 moves, 0-1

153 games

 » View all game collections by suenteus po 147 PGN Download
 » Search entire game collection library
 » Clone this game collection (copy it to your account)
 » FAQ: Help with Game Collections
Home | About | Login | Logout | F.A.Q. | Profile | Preferences | Premium Membership | Kibitzer's Café | Biographer's Bistro | New Kibitzing | Chessforums | Tournament Index | Player Directory | Notable Games | World Chess Championships | Opening Explorer | Guess the Move | Game Collections | ChessBookie Game | Chessgames Challenge | Store | Privacy Notice | Contact Us

Copyright 2001-2025, Chessgames Services LLC