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Spassky Spikes
Compiled by fredthebear
--*--

"Si vis pacem, para bellum" ― Cicero

"Unfortunately, many regard the critic as an enemy, instead of seeing him as a guide to the truth." ― Wilhelm Steinitz

"My passions were all gathered together like fingers that made a fist. Drive is considered aggression today; I knew it then as purpose." ― Bette Davis

"Chess is a matter of vanity." ― Alexander Alekhine

"As a chess player one has to be able to control one's feelings, one has to be as cold as a machine." ― Levon Aronian

"Sometimes it happens that the computer's assessment is very abstract. It's correct, but it's not useful for a practical game. You have to prove the assessment with very strong moves and if you don't find all of these strong moves you may lose very quickly. For a computer this is not a problem, but for humans it is not so easy." ― Vassily Ivanchuk

"A good book is the precious lifeblood of a master spirit." ― John Milton

"Chess is a sport. The main object in the game of chess remains the achievement of victory." ― Max Euwe

"A sport, a struggle for results and a fight for prizes. I think that the discussion about "chess is science or chess is art" is already inappropriate. The purpose of modern chess is to reach a result." ― Alexander Morozevich

"No one man is superior to the game." ― A. Bartlett Giamatti, in reference to Pete Rose, the all-time MLB hits leader banned for gambling.

"To err is human; to forgive, divine." ― Alexander Pope

"I consider Mr. Morphy the finest chess player who ever existed. He is far superior to any now living, and would doubtless have beaten Labourdonnais himself. In all his games with me, he has not only played, in every instance, the exact move, but the most exact. He never makes a mistake; but, if his adversary commits the slightest error, he is lost." ― Adolf Anderssen

"After white's reply to 1.e4 e5 with 2.f4 the game is in its last throes" ― Howard Staunton

"I have added these principles to the law: get the Knights into action before both Bishops are developed." ― Emanuel Lasker

"With opposite coloured bishops the attacking side has in effect an extra piece in the shape of his bishop." ― Mikhail Botvinnik

"A pawn, when separated from his fellows, will seldom or never make a fortune." ― Francois-Andre Danican Philidor

"Be warned! From Satan's viewpoint you are a pawn in his game of cosmic chess." ― Adrian Rogers

"Pawns not only create the sketch for the whole painting, they are also the soil, the foundation, of any position." ― Anatoly Karpov

"The object of the state is always the same: to limit the individual, to tame him, to subordinate him, to subjugate him." ― Max Stirner

"It is a profound mistake to imagine that the art of combination depends only on natural talent, and that it cannot be learned." ― Richard Reti

"A Queen's sacrifice, even when fairly obvious, always rejoices the heart of the chess-lover." ― Savielly Tartakower

"Everyone makes mistakes. The wise are not people who never make mistakes, but those who forgive themselves and learn from their mistakes." ― Ajahn Brahm

"As a rule, so-called "positional" sacrifices are considered more difficult, and therefore more praise-worthy, than those which are based exclusively on an exact calculation of tactical possibilities." ― Alexander Alekhine

"It would be idle, and presumptuous, to wish to imitate the achievements of a Morphy or an Alekhine; but their methods and their manner of expressing themselves are within the reach of all." ― Eugene Znosko-Borovsky

"The most powerful weapon in chess is to have the next move." ― David Bronstein

"If the defender is forced to give up the center, then every possible attack follows almost of itself." ― Siegbert Tarrasch

"Erudition, like a bloodhound, is a charming thing when held firmly in leash, but it is not so attractive when turned loose upon a defenseless and unerudite public." ― Agnes Repplier

"If you watch it, you should watch it with other players and try to find moves, like it was before. Now on many sites you watch together with the computer and the pleasure is gone." ― Boris Gelfand

"I believe that Chess possesses a magic that is also a help in advanced age. A rheumatic knee is forgotten during a game of chess and other events can seem quite unimportant in comparison with a catastrophe on the chessboard." ― Vlastimil Hort

"It's funny, but many people don't understand why I draw so many games nowadays. They think my style must have changed but this is not the case at all. The answer to this drawing disease is that my favorite squares are e6, f7, g7 and h7 and everyone now knows this. They protect these squares not once but four times!" ― Mikhail Tal

"Having spent alarmingly large chunks of my life studying the white side of the Open Sicilian, I find myself asking, why did I bother?" ― Daniel J. King

"Apart from direct mistakes, there is nothing more ruinous than routine play, the aim of which is mechanical development." ― Alexey Suetin

"Not infrequently ... the theoretical is a synonym of the stereotyped. For the 'theoretical' in chess is nothing more than that which can be found in the textbooks and to which players try to conform because they cannot think up anything better or equal, anything original." ― Mikhail Chigorin

"The choice of opening, whether to aim for quiet or risky play, depends not only on the style of a player, but also on the disposition with which he sits down at the board." ― Efim Geller

"Despite the development of chess theory, there is much that remains secret and unexplored in chess." ― Vasily Smyslov

"No matter how much theory progresses, how radically styles change, chess play is inconceivable without tactics." ― Samuel Reshevsky

"Collect as precious pearls the words of the wise and virtuous." ― Abdelkader El Djezairi

"Learning is not attained by chance; it must be sought for with ardor and diligence." ― Abigail Adams

"When I was preparing for one term's work in the Botvinnik school I had to spend a lot of time on king and pawn endings. So when I came to a tricky position in my own games, I knew the winning method." ― Garry Kasparov

"As a rule, pawn endings have a forced character, and they can be worked out conclusively." ― Mark Dvoretsky

"It is a gross overstatement, but in chess, it can be said I play against my opponent over the board and against myself on the clock." ― Viktor Korchnoi

"The fact that the 7 hours time control allows us to play a great deep game is not of great importance for mass-media." ― Alexei Shirov

"For me, each game is a new challenge, which has to be dealt with rationally and systematically. At that time, every other thought fades into oblivion." ― Viswanathan Anand

Ne kadar bilirsen bil, o kadar azdır.

"Any fool can know. The point is to understand." ― Albert Einstein

"One bad move nullifies forty good ones."
― Israel Albert Horowitz

"It is a well-known phenomenon that the same amateur who can conduct the middle game quite creditably, is usually perfectly helpless in the end game. One of the principal requisites of good chess is the ability to treat both the middle and end game equally well." ― Aron Nimzowitsch

"My hard work and excellent training entitled me to be a better actress than some of my competitors." ― Pola Negri

"Endings of one rook and pawns are about the most common sort of endings arising on the chess board. Yet though they do occur so often, few have mastered them thoroughly. They are often of a very difficult nature, and sometimes while apparently very simple they are in reality extremely intricate." ― Jose Raul Capablanca

"Capablanca used to talk calmly and moderately about everything. However, when our conversation turned to the problems of the battle for the world championship, in front of me was a quite different person: an enraged lion, although with the fervour typical only of a southerner, with his temperamental patter, which made it hard to follow the torrent of his indignant exclamations and words." ― Alexander Koblencs

"A player is said to have the opposition when he can place his King directly in front of the adverse King, with only one square between them. This is often an important advantage in ending games." ― Howard Staunton

"A player can sometimes afford the luxury of an inaccurate move, or even a definite error, in the opening or middlegame without necessarily obtaining a lost position. In the endgame ... an error can be decisive, and we are rarely presented with a second chance." ― Paul Keres

"Never trust a government that doesn't trust its own citizens with guns." ― Benjamin Franklin

"The Soviet Union was an exception, but even there chess players were not rich. Only Fischer changed that." ― Boris Spassky

"Chess never has been and never can be aught but a recreation. It should not be indulged in to the detriment of other and more serious avocations - should not absorb or engross the thoughts of those who worship at its shrine, but should be kept in the background, and restrained within its proper province. As a mere game, a relaxation from the severe pursuits of life, it is deserving of high commendation." ― Paul Morphy

"Incidentally, when we're faced with a "prove or disprove," we're usually better off trying first to disprove with a counterexample, for two reasons: A disproof is potentially easier (we need just one counterexample); and nitpicking arouses our creative juices. Even if the given assertion is true, our search for a counterexample often leads to a proof, as soon as we see why a counterexample is impossible. Besides, it's healthy to be skeptical." ― Ronald Graham

"Attackers may sometimes regret bad movez, but it's much worse to forever regret an opportunity you allowed to pass you by." ― Garry Kasparov

"Even the laziest king flees wildly in the face of a double check." ― Aron Nimzowitzch

"When you see a good move – WAIT! – look for a better one." ― Emanuel Lasker The Portuguese chess player and author Pedro Damiano (1480–1544) first wrote this in his book "Questo libro e da imparare giocare a scachi et de li partiti" published in Rome, Italy, in 1512.

Proverbs 29:25
Fear of man will prove to be a snare, but whoever trusts in the Lord is kept safe.

"Winning is about commitment, discipline, hard work, dedication, determination, courage and sometimes even luck!" ― Susan Polgar

"Every defeat is an opportunity to learn from our mistakes! Every victory is a confirmation of our hard work!" ― Susan Polgar

"A chess player uses his/her knowledge to prepare for next game while a passionate coach preparez for next generation!" ― Susan Polgar

French Proverb: "Ce n'est pas à un vieux singe qu'on apprend à faire la grimace." ― (There's no substitute for experience.)

Acts 20:35 "It is more blessed to give than to receive."

* Closed Sicilians: http://www.chessgames.com/perl/ches...

* Spassky in Space: Game Collection: Space Invaders

* Chess Links: http://www.chessdryad.com/links/ind...

* 1992: Game Collection: Spassky-Fischer Match 1992

* Internet tracking: https://www.studysmarter.us/magazin...

Boris was a worthy champion, and a gracious gentleman. Bobby is the GOAT as player, not as a person.

29...Qxf4 or 29...b6. Both moves are CORRECT. Grabbing the f-pawn is very risky; preventing White's Qxb7+ penetration is safe and sound. Both can win for Black, but the queen captures require dead accuracy from Black.

The remark "...any competent player" was entirely unnecessary. The opposite of competent is "incompetent." It's more than just a word, it's an ever-present cyberbully attitude toward others. Namely, those who support 29...Qxf4. This degradation of others should have been stopped long, long ago. The editor feels anybody he deems untitled/unworthy should not express their opinions, chess or otherwise. Such disgusting signature harshness occurs post after post, year after year, decade after decade.

incompetent
adjective
in·​com·​pe·​tent (ˌ)in-ˈkäm-pə-tənt Synonyms of incompetent 1 a : lacking the qualities needed for effective action b : unable to function properly incompetent heart valves 2 : not legally qualified
3 : inadequate to or unsuitable for a particular purpose

A hardly suitable description for a risky but CORRECT chess move.

Don't support cyberbullying else you are supporting the ever-present problem. Aren't chess players problem solvers?

Modern Defense: Two Knights (B06) 0-1 Two en prise
F Rodriguez vs Spassky, 1991
(B06) Robatsch, 17 moves, 0-1

Pirc Defense: General (B07) 0-1 unique B trap
V Small vs Spassky, 1988 
(B07) Pirc, 22 moves, 0-1

Caro-Kann Defense: Karpov Var (B17) 1-0 17.?
Spassky vs H Pfleger, 1979 
(B17) Caro-Kann, Steinitz Variation, 20 moves, 1-0

Caro-Kann Def: Classical Var (B18) 1-0 Notes by Stockfish 19.?
Spassky vs Larsen, 1978 
(B18) Caro-Kann, Classical, 21 moves, 1-0

G14 'Power Chess: Great GM Battles from Russia' by Paul Keres
Spassky vs N Rashkovsky, 1973 
(B96) Sicilian, Najdorf, 21 moves, 1-0

French Defense: Classical. Burn Var (C11) 1-0 Precision
Spassky vs Y Porat, 1968 
(C11) French, 25 moves, 1-0

"The SMERSH Gambit" (game of the day Jan-30-2017)
Spassky vs Bronstein, 1960 
(C36) King's Gambit Accepted, Abbazia Defense, 23 moves, 1-0

The First Meeting between Spassky and Fischer
Spassky vs Fischer, 1960 
(C39) King's Gambit Accepted, 29 moves, 1-0

Spanish Game: Morphy Def. Mackenzie Var (C77) 0-1 Stockfish
F J Perez vs Spassky, 1964 
(C77) Ruy Lopez, 19 moves, 0-1

QGA Classical Def. Rubinstein Var (D27) 1-0 Rf6 block, coridor#
Spassky vs Y Nikolaevsky, 1963 
(D27) Queen's Gambit Accepted, Classical, 25 moves, 1-0

"When Pawns Attack" (game of the day Sep-15-2016)
Larsen vs Spassky, 1970 
(A01) Nimzovich-Larsen Attack, 17 moves, 0-1

Torre Attack: Classical Def (A46) 1-0 Which Q rules the Qside?
Spassky vs V Osnos, 1963 
(A46) Queen's Pawn Game, 26 moves, 1-0

Caro-Kann Def: Karpov. Smyslov ML (B17) 1-0
Spassky vs E Perez Gosalbes, 1964 
(B17) Caro-Kann, Steinitz Variation, 30 moves, 1-0

Sicilian Defense: Closed (B25) 1-0 The thinnest chance
Spassky vs Geller, 1968 
(B25) Sicilian, Closed, 32 moves, 1-0

Sicilian Def: Nimzowitsch. Main Line (B29) 1-0 Stockfish notes
Spassky vs D Ciric, 1962 
(B29) Sicilian, Nimzovich-Rubinstein, 29 moves, 1-0

Sicilian Def: Paulsen. Szen Var (B44) 1-0Stockfish; 26.? & 30.?
Spassky vs O Averkin, 1973 
(B44) Sicilian, 35 moves, 1-0

Sicilian Def: Najdorf. Amsterdam Var (B93) 1-0 Stockfish notes
Spassky vs R Byrne, 1974 
(B93) Sicilian, Najdorf, 6.f4, 29 moves, 1-0

French Def: Classical. Burn Var (C11) 1-0 Notes by Stockfish
Spassky vs Petrosian, 1966 
(C11) French, 31 moves, 1-0

French Def. Classical. Burn Var (C11) 1-0QxB+ sac, mate by pawn
Spassky vs Petrosian, 1967 
(C11) French, 37 moves, 1-0

Italian Game: General (C50) 1-0 Notes by Stockfish
Spassky vs A Genin, 1959 
(C50) Giuoco Piano, 27 moves, 1-0

Spanish Game: Berlin Def. Beverwijk Var (C65) 0-1Rooking around
J Ady vs Spassky, 1984 
(C65) Ruy Lopez, Berlin Defense, 37 moves, 0-1

Not that knight?The other one?Not that queen?No, the other one?
Spassky vs Taimanov, 1955 
(C70) Ruy Lopez, 38 moves, 1-0

Spanish Game: Closed. Keres De (C92) 1-0 Stockfish notes; 20.?
Spassky vs Geller, 1965 
(C92) Ruy Lopez, Closed, 44 moves, 1-0

G77 in Spassky's 101 Best Games 1949-1972, by Bernard Cafferty
Spassky vs K Langeweg, 1967 
(D41) Queen's Gambit Declined, Semi-Tarrasch, 27 moves, 1-0

Gruenfeld Defense: General (D80) 1-0Switch targets, trap B or #
Spassky vs V Byvshev, 1954 
(D80) Grunfeld, 29 moves, 1-0

One of those winning moves that comes out nowhere.
G Andruet vs Spassky, 1988 
(E11) Bogo-Indian Defense, 28 moves, 0-1

A typically brilliant game by the young Spassky w/a gruesome #
Spassky vs Smyslov, 1953 
(E31) Nimzo-Indian, Leningrad, Main line, 35 moves, 1-0

Game 69 in 'The Soviet Championships' by Taimanov & Cafferty
Spassky vs Tal, 1961 
(E66) King's Indian, Fianchetto, Yugoslav Panno, 35 moves, 1-0

English Anglo-Indian Def. QID Formation (A15) 1/2- KxQStalemate
Ribli vs Spassky, 1985 
(A15) English, 85 moves, 1/2-1/2

Lion Defense: Lion's Jaw (B07) 1-0 Notes by Stockfish
Spassky vs B Jansson, 1971 
(B07) Pirc, 31 moves, 1-0

As usual, Spassky plays preposterously and wins.
Spassky vs W Dobrich, 1971 
(E30) Nimzo-Indian, Leningrad, 28 moves, 1-0

Game 149 in Chess Informant Best Games 101-200
H Kestler vs Spassky, 1973 
(B68) Sicilian, Richter-Rauzer Attack, 7...a6 Defense, 9...Be7, 26 moves, 0-1

Game 27 in The Complete Dragon by Eduard Gufeld & Oleg Stetsko
Spassky vs D Levy, 1974 
(B78) Sicilian, Dragon, Yugoslav Attack, 10.castle long, 19 moves, 1-0

Game 4 in 'Spassky: Move by Move' by Zenon Franco Ocampos
Spassky vs Huebner, 1979 
(E45) Nimzo-Indian, 4.e3, Bronstein (Byrne) Variation, 28 moves, 1-0

English Opening: General (A10) 0-1 A real whuppin'
Adorjan vs Spassky, 1982 
(A10) English, 23 moves, 0-1

23...? from John Emms' Ultimate Chess Puzzle Book Set 3
Furman vs Spassky, 1957 
(A04) Reti Opening, 23 moves, 0-1

Modern Def. Bg7 (B06) 1-0 Spassky sacs h- and a-pawns
Spassky vs A Ufimtsev, 1958 
(B06) Robatsch, 27 moves, 1-0

NID: Leningrad Var (E30) 1-0 19.? Notes by Stockfish
Spassky vs O Kinnmark, 1971 
(E30) Nimzo-Indian, Leningrad, 24 moves, 1-0

Sicilian Defense: Closed Var (B25) 1-0 Notes by Stockfish
Spassky vs Larsen, 1968 
(B25) Sicilian, Closed, 48 moves, 1-0

Spassky quickly dismantles Petrosian's castled position
Spassky vs Petrosian, 1969 
(B94) Sicilian, Najdorf, 24 moves, 1-0

Sicilian Def: Najdorf. Traditional Line (B98) 1-0 29.? Photo
Spassky vs M Bieler, 2009  
(B98) Sicilian, Najdorf, 32 moves, 1-0

Scotch Gambit. Advance Var (C45) 0-1 White to lose his Rh1.
H Huenerkopf vs Spassky, 1984 
(C45) Scotch Game, 15 moves, 0-1

Sicilian Def: Lasker-Pelikan. Sveshnikov Var (B33) 1-0Stockfish
Spassky vs Sveshnikov, 1973 
(B33) Sicilian, 23 moves, 1-0

QGA Classical Def. Alekhine System (D28) 1-0 R sac into N fork
Spassky vs S Avtonomov, 1949 
(D28) Queen's Gambit Accepted, Classical, 21 moves, 1-0

King's English. Four Knights Korchnoi Line (A28) 0-1
Korchnoi vs Spassky, 2009 
(A28) English, 26 moves, 0-1

Game 75 in Pawn Power in Chess by Hans Kmoch, re-issue edition
Szabo vs Spassky, 1953 
(E99) King's Indian, Orthodox, Taimanov, 29 moves, 0-1

Lion Defense: Lion's Jaw 5.QxQd8+ KxQd8 (B07) 1-0
Spassky vs M Rivas Pastor, 1991 
(B07) Pirc, 26 moves, 1-0

Game 13: Spassky's 101 Best Games 1949-1972 by Bernard Cafferty
Spassky vs S Kajan, 1955 
(B33) Sicilian, 21 moves, 1-0

Nimzo-Indian Defense: Reshevsky Var (E46) 1-0 find the finish
Spassky vs B Gurgenidze, 1957 
(E46) Nimzo-Indian, 29 moves, 1-0

KID. Four Pawns Attack. Normal Attack (E77) 0-1 Down the hatch
L Liptay vs Spassky, 1962 
(E77) King's Indian, 21 moves, 0-1

Spanish Morphy Def. Modern Steinitz (C72) 1-0Give to get glory
Geller vs Spassky, 1964 
(C72) Ruy Lopez, Modern Steinitz Defense, 5.O-O, 30 moves, 0-1

Sicilian Defense: Najdorf (B95) 1-0 Notes by Stockfish
Spassky vs V Zurakhov, 1954 
(B95) Sicilian, Najdorf, 6...e6, 30 moves, 1-0

Spanish Game: Closed. Averbakh Var (C87) 0-1 Stockfish notes
Y Kots vs Spassky, 1961 
(C87) Ruy Lopez, 24 moves, 0-1

Spassky could have checkmated a move earlier with 23.QxNe8+
Spassky vs B Vladimirov, 1961 
(B94) Sicilian, Najdorf, 25 moves, 1-0

C-K Def. 2Knts Attk. Mindeno Var Exchange Line (B11) 1-0Stockfi
Spassky vs A Reshko, 1959 
(B11) Caro-Kann, Two Knights, 3...Bg4, 30 moves, 1-0

Sicilian Defense: Kan. Knight Var (B43) 1-0 Remove the Guard
Spassky vs J Klavins, 1959 
(B43) Sicilian, Kan, 5.Nc3, 30 moves, 1-0

Indian Game: King's Indian. Fianchetto Var (A49) 1-0 Stockfish
Spassky vs V Shiyanovsky, 1961 
(A49) King's Indian, Fianchetto without c4, 31 moves, 1-0

Game 260 Boris Spassky's 400 Selected Games
R Byrne vs Spassky, 1974 
(C95) Ruy Lopez, Closed, Breyer, 56 moves, 0-1

Sicilian Def: Najdorf. Traditional Line (B98) 1-0
Spassky vs Tolush, 1958 
(B98) Sicilian, Najdorf, 27 moves, 1-0

"Won't you take me to ... Gorkytown?"
Gorkytown vs Spassky, 1968 
(B97) Sicilian, Najdorf, 31 moves, 1/2-1/2

KGA. Abbazia Defense (C36) 1-0 RxQg7+
Spassky vs Y Sakharov, 1960 
(C36) King's Gambit Accepted, Abbazia Defense, 30 moves, 1-0

Scotch, Göring Gambit. Declined (C44) 1/2-1/2 Spassky's only Sc
Spassky vs Bondarevsky, 1964 
(C44) King's Pawn Game, 30 moves, 1/2-1/2

21.?
Spassky vs J Marsalek, 1960 
(B43) Sicilian, Kan, 5.Nc3, 21 moves, 1-0

63 games

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