Mikhail Tal: Selected Games

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Mikhail Tal: Selected Games
Compiled by wanabe2000

Selected Games and Tournament Information.

Mikhail Tal (Mikhail Nekhemievich Tal) was born November 9, 1936 in Riga, Latvia (later annexed by the USSR in 1940). He learned chess from his father when he was eight years old. In 1953 he won his first Latvian Championship, and the following year he earned the title of Soviet Master. In 1957, he became the youngest-ever Soviet Champion. In 1960, following a string of victories in strong tournaments (including a second consecutive Soviet Championship, the Potoroz Interzonal and the Candidates in Yugoslavia), he became World Chess Champion with a match victory over Mikhail Botvinnik. Suffering from poor health, he then lost the rematch the next year. He never qualified for a title match again. He continued to struggle with health problems for the rest of his career, which was often marked by inconsistent results. On a number of occasions, however, he was still able to achieve world-class successes. He added four more Soviet Championship victories to his resume (in 1967, 1972, 1974 and 1978), equalling Botvinnik's all-time record of six. He died of renal failure Jun-28-1992, at the age of 55.

World Championships:

Botvinnik - Tal World Championship Match (1960). Tal - Botvinnik World Championship Rematch (1961).

Candidates:

The 1959 Candidates Tournament was held in three cities of Yugoslavia. The first 14 rounds were played in Bled, rounds 15-21 in Zagreb, and rounds 22-28 in Belgrade.

In the end, Tal triumphed and became Botvinnik's next challenger. See Resignation Trap's: Game Collection: WCC Index (Candidates Tournament 1959)

Interzonals:

This Interzonal tournament was played in Portoroz in modern day Slovenia, in August and September 1958. It was a 21-player round robin, with the top six players qualifying for the Candidates tournament. It was won by Tal with 13.5/20 (+8 =11 -1). See capybara's Game Collection: Interzonals 1958: Game Collection: Interzonals 1958: Portoroz.

Championship Tournaments:

The 24th Soviet Chess Championship took place in Moscow from January 20th to February 22nd, 1957. Won by Mikhail Tal in his International debut. See suenteus po 147's great: Game Collection: USSR Championship 1957.

The 25th Soviet Chess Championship was played in the city of Riga from January 12th to February 14th, 1958 won by Tal. See suenteus po 147's: Game Collection: USSR Championship 1958.

The 35th USSR Championship was held in Kharkov from December 7-26, 1967. The tournament was organized as a 13-round Swiss for 130 players: Game Collection: USSR Championship 1967. Tal won the tournament and the Swiss system was never tried again. Presented by Phony Benoni.

The 40th Soviet Chess Championship was a category XI event played in the city of Baku from November 16th to December 25th, 1972. Tal won: Game Collection: USSR Championship 1972. Presented by suenteus po 147.

The 42nd Soviet Chess Championship was a category XII event played in Leningrad from November 30th to December 23rd, 1974. 21 year old Beliavsky won his first Soviet crown and Tal won his fifth as they tied for first place at 9.5/15. : Game Collection: USSR Championship 1974. Presented by suenteus po 147.

Tal also won the 1978 USSR Championship with an undefeated score of (+5-0=12). See another suenteus po 147's great: Game Collection: USSR Championship 1978 for all the games. This was Tal's sixth USSR Title.

Tournaments:

Tal won the Zurich Tournament in 1959 with a score of 11½/15 (+10-2=3). See suenteus po 147's Game Collection: Zurich 1959.

Selected games from the Bled International Tournament in 1961 are presented. Bobby Fischer was undeafeated but finished second with 13.5/19 behind the winner Mikhail Tal who had 14.5/19. Game Collection: Bled sep-oct 1961 (rounds 1-10) and Game Collection: Bled sep-oct 1961 (rounds 11-19). Crosstable and all games; http://www.worldchesslinks.net/ezqa....

The 35th Annual Hoogovens Chess Tournament was a category XI event held in Wijk aan Zee, The Netherlands in 1973. The former world champion, Mikhail Tal, won undefeated with 10.5/15: See all the games at suenteus po 147's Game Collection: Wijk aan Zee Hoogovens 1973.

In 1979, he won joint first place at Montreal with Anatoli Karpov and briefly climbed back to second place in the world rankings. See: suenteus po 147's Game Collection: Montreal 1979.

In 1988, he won the World Blitz Championship.

Chessbase Articles:

http://en.chessbase.com/post/a-star...
http://en.chessbase.com/post/tal-in...
http://en.chessbase.com/post/mikhai... http://en.chessbase.com/post/mikhai... http://en.chessbase.com/post/master... http://en.chessbase.com/post/mikhai...

Great Collections:

amadeus': Game Collection: Match Tal!

Renowned for his aggressive, sacrificial playing style, Tal was also a noted chess journalist and author. His autobiography, "The Life and Games of Mikhail Tal," annotates 100 of his greatest games. See MoonlitKnight's :Game Collection: The Life and Games of Mikhail Tal.

brager's:Game Collection: tal best games.

Benzol's: Game Collection: Mikhail Tal - Underrated Endgame Artist.

KingG's: Game Collection: Mikhail Tal's Best Games.

Pyke's: Game Collection: "Mikhail Tal - Tactical Genius": Endgame Magic.

LM AJ's: Game Collection: My favorite M. TAL Games..

wanabe2000's: Game Collection: Mikhail Nekhemevich the Eighth.

CZAR's: Game Collection: The Magic of Mikhail Tal

wanabe2000's: Game Collection: Mikhail Tal, Interzonal Tournament, Latvia 1979.

chessdeviant's: Game Collection: TAL.

ughaibu's: Game Collection: 52 games better than that other Tal game..

whatthefat's: Game Collection: Mikhail Tal's best games 1956-1961,

MR. NIMZO's:
Game Collection: Top Twenty Tal!!!.

Pictures and Articles:

http://www.chessbase.com/columns/co...

http://upload.wikimedia.org/wikiped...

In Conclusion:

Mikhail Tal was World Champion for only a year but was one of the greatest attacking players of all time and with Robert James Fischer my favorite chess players.

And sadly, Mikhail Tal's last game in Barcelona ESP 1992 against Vladimir Akopian aptly titled "The King Returns Home!". Tal vs V Akopian, 1992.

complete

Riga 1949
Tal vs M Strelkov, 1949
(C10) French, 16 moves, 1-0
Riga 1949 (12 years old)
Tal vs I Zilber, 1949
(C07) French, Tarrasch, 33 moves, 1-0
Riga 1949
J Klavins vs Tal, 1949
(C10) French, 18 moves, 0-1
Riga 1949
Kholmov vs Tal, 1949
(D44) Queen's Gambit Declined Semi-Slav, 21 moves, 0-1
Riga 1949 ·
Tal vs Leonov, 1949
(B13) Caro-Kann, Exchange, 25 moves, 1-0
Riga 1950
Lavrinenko vs Tal, 1950
(B59) Sicilian, Boleslavsky Variation, 7.Nb3, 38 moves, 0-1
URS 1952
M Pasman vs Tal, 1952
(E24) Nimzo-Indian, Samisch, 35 moves, 0-1
URS 1952
Tal vs I Zdanovs, 1952
(C84) Ruy Lopez, Closed, 33 moves, 1-0
Riga 1952
M Pasman vs Tal, 1952
(E92) King's Indian, 64 moves, 1-0
Latvia Championship 1953
Tal vs M Pasman, 1953
(B93) Sicilian, Najdorf, 6.f4, 40 moves, 1-0
URS 1953 (24.Nh8!, 29.Ne4!!)
Tal vs P Kampenuss, 1953
(C67) Ruy Lopez, 37 moves, 1-0
Riga 1953 (GOTD)
Udris vs Tal, 1953
(A60) Benoni Defense, 34 moves, 0-1
Riga 1953
Tal vs Z Solmanis, 1953
(D56) Queen's Gambit Declined, 47 moves, 1-0
Kharkov 1953
I Birbrager vs Tal, 1953
(A70) Benoni, Classical with 7.Nf3, 38 moves, 0-1
URS 1954
M Pasman vs Tal, 1954
(E59) Nimzo-Indian, 4.e3, Main line, 33 moves, 0-1
Riga tt 1954
Tal vs Taimanov, 1954
(C16) French, Winawer, 53 moves, 0-1
Riga 1954 (Russia's New Master)
Tal vs V Saigin, 1954
(B93) Sicilian, Najdorf, 6.f4, 18 moves, 1-0
URS 1955
Lutikov vs Tal, 1955
(B53) Sicilian, 25 moves, 1-0
URS 1955
Tal vs A Kudriashov, 1955
(A17) English, 33 moves, 1-0
Uppsala 1956 (Blitz GOTD)
J Szukszta vs Tal, 1956
(E86) King's Indian, Samisch, Orthodox, 7.Nge2 c6, 20 moves, 0-1
Leningrad 1956
Tal vs Tolush, 1956
(B97) Sicilian, Najdorf, 31 moves, 1-0
Tbilisi 1956
E Chukaev vs Tal, 1956
(E75) King's Indian, Averbakh, Main line, 27 moves, 0-1
Tbilisi 1957
Tal vs Petrosian, 1957
(C18) French, Winawer, 51 moves, 1-0
URS-ch, Moscow RUS 1957
R Nezhmetdinov vs Tal, 1957
(C17) French, Winawer, Advance, 32 moves, 1-0
URS-ch, Moscow RUS 1957
Tal vs Tolush, 1957
(E80) King's Indian, Samisch Variation, 42 moves, 1-0
URS-ch, Moscow RUS 1957
B Gurgenidze vs Tal, 1957
(A78) Benoni, Classical with ...Re8 and ...Na6, 27 moves, 0-1
URS-ch, Moscow RUS 1957
Keres vs Tal, 1957
(E10) Queen's Pawn Game, 44 moves, 0-1
URS-ch, Moscow RUS 1957
Tal vs K Klaman, 1957
(B61) Sicilian, Richter-Rauzer, Larsen Variation, 7.Qd2, 34 moves, 1-0
Riga 1957 "Mikhail's Navy" (GOTD)
Tal vs Koblents, 1957
(B63) Sicilian, Richter-Rauzer Attack, 37 moves, 1-0
Italien 1957
E Romani vs Tal, 1957
(A64) Benoni, Fianchetto, 11...Re8, 43 moves, 0-1
Latvia ch 1958
Tal vs R Skuja, 1958
(B01) Scandinavian, 27 moves, 1-0
Riga ch-SU 1958
Spassky vs Tal, 1958
(E26) Nimzo-Indian, Samisch, 73 moves, 0-1
Riga 1958 "Nobody Expects the Spanish Inquisition!"
Tal vs Geller, 1958
(C96) Ruy Lopez, Closed, 33 moves, 1-0
Riga URS ch 1958
Tal vs Tolush, 1958
(E53) Nimzo-Indian, 4.e3, 28 moves, 1-0
URS 1958
Tal vs P Kampenuss, 1958
(B07) Pirc, 21 moves, 1-0
Varna 1958 (KID Q sac GOTD)
Bobotsov vs Tal, 1958
(E81) King's Indian, Samisch, 30 moves, 0-1
Yugoslavia ct 1959 Rd.10
Tal vs Fischer, 1959
(E93) King's Indian, Petrosian System, 41 moves, 1-0
Zurich 1959 (The Long Pawn Chain loses)
Tal vs Larsen, 1959
(B32) Sicilian, 41 moves, 1-0
Zurich 1959
Tal vs D Keller, 1959
(D44) Queen's Gambit Declined Semi-Slav, 34 moves, 1-0
Zurich 1959
Tal vs E Nievergelt, 1959
(B63) Sicilian, Richter-Rauzer Attack, 37 moves, 1-0
USSR Championship, Tbilisi 1959 Rd.17
A Nikitin vs Tal, 1959
(B94) Sicilian, Najdorf, 44 moves, 0-1
USSR Championship, Tbilisi 1959 Rd.4 (Puzzle)
Geller vs Tal, 1959
(A71) Benoni, Classical, 8.Bg5, 42 moves, 0-1
USSR Championship, Tbilisi 1959 Rd.3
Tal vs Polugaevsky, 1959
(B94) Sicilian, Najdorf, 34 moves, 1-0
USSR Championship, Tbilisi 1959 Rd.13
Vasiukov vs Tal, 1959
(B43) Sicilian, Kan, 5.Nc3, 70 moves, 0-1
USSR Championship, Tbilisi 1959 Rd.9
R Nezhmetdinov vs Tal, 1959
(B43) Sicilian, Kan, 5.Nc3, 45 moves, 0-1
YUG Candidates 1959
Tal vs Smyslov, 1959
(B10) Caro-Kann, 26 moves, 1-0
Yugoslavia ct 1959 Rd.3
Tal vs Fischer, 1959
(E93) King's Indian, Petrosian System, 34 moves, 1-0
Yugoslavia ct 1959 Rd.21
Fischer vs Tal, 1959
(B90) Sicilian, Najdorf, 33 moves, 0-1
Beograd ct 1959
Fischer vs Tal, 1959
(B87) Sicilian, Fischer-Sozin with ...a6 and ...b5, 52 moves, 0-1
World Championship Match 1960 #1
Tal vs Botvinnik, 1960
(C18) French, Winawer, 32 moves, 1-0
World Championship Match , 1960 #6 (21....Nf4!?)
Botvinnik vs Tal, 1960
(E69) King's Indian, Fianchetto, Classical Main line, 47 moves, 0-1
World Championship Match , 1960 #7
Tal vs Botvinnik, 1960
(B18) Caro-Kann, Classical, 52 moves, 1-0
World Championship Match , 1960 #11
Tal vs Botvinnik, 1960
(A05) Reti Opening, 72 moves, 1-0
World Championship Match, 1960 #15
Tal vs Botvinnik, 1960
(B18) Caro-Kann, Classical, 41 moves, 1-0
URS-ch, Baku AZE 1961 (GOTD)
R Nezhmetdinov vs Tal, 1961
(B84) Sicilian, Scheveningen, 29 moves, 1-0
URS-ch, Baku AZE 1961
Tal vs Savon, 1961
(E98) King's Indian, Orthodox, Taimanov, 9.Ne1, 66 moves, 1-0
URS 1961 (GOTD)
Tal vs Averbakh, 1961
(C98) Ruy Lopez, Closed, Chigorin, 32 moves, 1-0
European-Championship, Oberhausen 1961 (GOTD)
R Toran Albero vs Tal, 1961
(A21) English, 25 moves, 0-1
Bled 1961
Tal vs F Olafsson, 1961
(B48) Sicilian, Taimanov Variation, 38 moves, 1-0
Tal-Botvinnik WC Return Match , Moscow 1961 Rd.8
Tal vs Botvinnik, 1961
(B12) Caro-Kann Defense, 29 moves, 1-0
Tal-Botvinnik WC Return Match , Moscow 1961 Rd.12
Tal vs Botvinnik, 1961
(C18) French, Winawer, 41 moves, 1-0
Tal-Botvinnik WC Return Match , Moscow 1961 Rd.17
Botvinnik vs Tal, 1961
(E80) King's Indian, Samisch Variation, 83 moves, 0-1
Varna olm 1962 (GOTD)
Tal vs H Hecht, 1962
(E12) Queen's Indian, 49 moves, 1-0
Varna olm 1962 (GOTD)
Tal vs D Mohrlok, 1962
(B63) Sicilian, Richter-Rauzer Attack, 31 moves, 1-0
Curacao ct 1962 (Zugswang)
Korchnoi vs Tal, 1962
(D41) Queen's Gambit Declined, Semi-Tarrasch, 62 moves, 0-1
Yerevan URS ch 1962
A Korelov vs Tal, 1962
(B84) Sicilian, Scheveningen, 43 moves, 0-1
Yerevan URS ch 1962
Tal vs A Bannik, 1962
(C87) Ruy Lopez, 28 moves, 1-0
Yerevan URS ch 1962
Tal vs E Mnatsakanian, 1962
(E12) Queen's Indian, 34 moves, 1-0
Yerevan URS ch 1962
Tal vs Taimanov, 1962
(B49) Sicilian, Taimanov Variation, 42 moves, 1-0
URS 1963
Tal vs NN, 1963
(B96) Sicilian, Najdorf, 19 moves, 1-0
Moscow 1963
Tal vs A Matanovic, 1963
(C97) Ruy Lopez, Closed, Chigorin, 30 moves, 1-0
Tallinn 1964 (Elephant GOTD)
Tal vs Lutikov, 1964
(C40) King's Knight Opening, 31 moves, 1-0
Kiev URS ch 1964
Tal vs V Liavdansky, 1965
(B83) Sicilian, 41 moves, 1-0
Amsterdam izt 1964
Evans vs Tal, 1964
(B40) Sicilian, 48 moves, 0-1
Amsterdam izt 1964
Tal vs Benko, 1964
(B17) Caro-Kann, Steinitz Variation, 21 moves, 1-0
Amsterdam izt 1964
Tal vs G Tringov, 1964
(B06) Robatsch, 17 moves, 1-0
Reykjavik 1964
F Thorbergsson vs Tal, 1964
(E77) King's Indian, 39 moves, 0-1
Candidates Tournament, Tbilski 1965
Spassky vs Tal, 1965
(B43) Sicilian, Kan, 5.Nc3, 40 moves, 0-1
Bled 1965
Tal vs Portisch, 1965
(B10) Caro-Kann, 27 moves, 1-0
Bled csf 1965
Tal vs Larsen, 1965
(B82) Sicilian, Scheveningen, 37 moves, 1-0
1965
Tal vs Koblents, 1965
(B82) Sicilian, Scheveningen, 22 moves, 1-0
Moscow 1966 (Tournament Win)
Tal vs Botvinnik, 1966
(B14) Caro-Kann, Panov-Botvinnik Attack, 45 moves, 1-0
Sarajevo 1966 (Two Queens didn't help)
Tal vs D Ciric, 1966
(B30) Sicilian, 40 moves, 1-0
Moscow 1967
Tal vs Petrosian, 1967
(C96) Ruy Lopez, Closed, 38 moves, 1-0
Moscow 1967
A Ufimtsev vs Tal, 1967
(A78) Benoni, Classical with ...Re8 and ...Na6, 28 moves, 0-1
USSR Championship, Kharkov 1967 (Swiss)
Tal vs Vasiukov, 1967
(B05) Alekhine's Defense, Modern, 40 moves, 1-0
Alma Ata URS ch 1968
Tal vs B Gurgenidze, 1969
(B15) Caro-Kann, 34 moves, 1-0
Olympiad URS, Tbilisi Georgia 1969
Tal vs Suetin, 1969
(B42) Sicilian, Kan, 21 moves, 1-0
Exhibition 1969
Tal vs Gulko, 1969
(B82) Sicilian, Scheveningen, 26 moves, 1-0
Stuttgart simul 1969 (GOTD)
Tal vs Sviridov, 1969
(B75) Sicilian, Dragon, Yugoslav Attack, 18 moves, 1-0
Belgrade 1970
Tal vs Najdorf, 1970
(B47) Sicilian, Taimanov (Bastrikov) Variation, 43 moves, 1-0
Kapfenberg 1970
Tal vs S Holm Petersen, 1970
(C09) French, Tarrasch, Open Variation, Main line, 28 moves, 1-0
Tallin 1971 (GOTD)
Tal vs A Vooremaa, 1971
(B48) Sicilian, Taimanov Variation, 29 moves, 1-0
Baku URS ch 1972
Tal vs M Mukhin, 1972
(B87) Sicilian, Fischer-Sozin with ...a6 and ...b5, 21 moves, 1-0
Skopje 1972
Tal vs Timman, 1972
(A04) Reti Opening, 20 moves, 1-0
Skopje 1972
H Liebert vs Tal, 1972
(E62) King's Indian, Fianchetto, 40 moves, 0-1
Suhumi 1972 (GOTD twice)
Tal vs Suttles, 1972
(B06) Robatsch, 40 moves, 1-0
Moscow 1972
Tal vs V Danov, 1972
(E04) Catalan, Open, 5.Nf3, 28 moves, 1-0
Hastings 1973
Tal vs M Stean, 1974
(B96) Sicilian, Najdorf, 34 moves, 1-0
Hastings 1973
Keene vs Tal, 1973
(A04) Reti Opening, 32 moves, 1/2-1/2
Simul 1973
Tal vs B Williams, 1974
(B62) Sicilian, Richter-Rauzer, 26 moves, 1-0
Dubna 1973
J Rukavina vs Tal, 1973
(A04) Reti Opening, 27 moves, 0-1
Sochi 1973
Tal vs Szabo, 1973
(B06) Robatsch, 36 moves, 1-0
Bath 1973
G Botterill vs Tal, 1973
(B43) Sicilian, Kan, 5.Nc3, 51 moves, 0-1
Wijk aan Zee 1973 Rd.1
A Planinc vs Tal, 1973
(A07) King's Indian Attack, 42 moves, 0-1
USSR Team, Moscow RUS 1974
Tal vs Petrosian, 1974
(B08) Pirc, Classical, 23 moves, 1-0
URS Blitz 1975
Tal vs Petrosian, 1975
(C03) French, Tarrasch, 20 moves, 1-0
Ch URS 1976
Petrosian vs Tal, 1976
(A15) English, 28 moves, 0-1
Wijk aan Zee 1976
Tal vs Sosonko, 1976
(A18) English, Mikenas-Carls, 40 moves, 1-0
Tbilisi URS ch 1978 Rd.15
Beliavsky vs Tal, 1978
(D63) Queen's Gambit Declined, Orthodox Defense, 41 moves, 0-1
Montreal 1979 Rd.5
Tal vs Larsen, 1979
(B63) Sicilian, Richter-Rauzer Attack, 22 moves, 1-0
Montreal 1979 Rd.8
Tal vs Kavalek, 1979
(A29) English, Four Knights, Kingside Fianchetto, 46 moves, 1-0
Montreal 1979 Rd.10
Spassky vs Tal, 1979
(E14) Queen's Indian, 22 moves, 0-1
Tallinn 1979 (GOTD)
Tal vs Y Rantanen, 1979
(B30) Sicilian, 30 moves, 1-0
URS-YUG 1979
Tal vs Velimirovic, 1979
(A30) English, Symmetrical, 30 moves, 1-0
Montreal 1979 Rd.13
Tal vs Huebner, 1979
(B18) Caro-Kann, Classical, 41 moves, 1-0
Niksic 1983
Tal vs Miles, 1983
(A10) English, 60 moves, 1-0
Jurmala 1985 (Grasshopper)
Tal vs Shabalov, 1985
(D02) Queen's Pawn Game, 39 moves, 1-0
Riga rapid 1986
Tal vs Oll, 1986
(B17) Caro-Kann, Steinitz Variation, 22 moves, 1-0
Brussels 1987
Tal vs Karpov, 1987
(B10) Caro-Kann, 30 moves, 1-0
Reykjavik 43/419 Tal,M 1987
Tal vs Korchnoi, 1987
(C80) Ruy Lopez, Open, 57 moves, 1-0
Reykjavik 43/449 Tal,M 1987
Tal vs Hjartarson, 1987
(C97) Ruy Lopez, Closed, Chigorin, 43 moves, 1-0
Chicago Simul 1988 (GOTD)
Tal vs R Forbis, 1988
(B77) Sicilian, Dragon, Yugoslav Attack, 30 moves, 1-0
Chicago Simul 1988
Tal vs J Miller, 1988
(C55) Two Knights Defense, 33 moves, 1-0
St John 1988
Yusupov vs Tal, 1988
(A46) Queen's Pawn Game, 35 moves, 0-1
Reykjavik WCup 1988
Tal vs Speelman, 1988
(B08) Pirc, Classical, 34 moves, 1-0
Sevilla 1989
Tal vs J de la Villa Garcia, 1989
(D76) Neo-Grunfeld, 6.cd Nxd5, 7.O-O Nb6, 72 moves, 1-0
It 1992
Tal vs Lautier, 1992
(A46) Queen's Pawn Game, 62 moves, 1-0
Sevilla op 1992
R Gonzalez vs Tal, 1992
(B32) Sicilian, 26 moves, 0-1
Cologne 1992 (zugzwang GOTD)
Tal vs F Reinemer, 1991
(A80) Dutch, 32 moves, 1-0
Barcelona 1992 "The King Returns Home"
Tal vs V Akopian, 1992
(B30) Sicilian, 38 moves, 1-0
131 games

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