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Paul Keres vs David Bronstein
Amsterdam Candidates (1956), Amsterdam NED, rd 1, Mar-27
Vienna Game: Stanley. Three Knights Variation (C28)  ·  1/2-1/2

ANALYSIS [x]

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Kibitzer's Corner
Dec-04-03  Resignation Trap: A wild opening, but Bronstein couldn't do anything about White's King on d3 after move 11. By move 20, things already seem drawish.
Mar-27-06  Resignation Trap: Three hours into the round, the audience, Keres and Bronstein were all staring at this position:

White to play


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Keres played the best continuation: 8.d4! Qh5+ 9.Kd2! Nc6 (Bronstein could have forced a draw with 9...Qf2+ 10.Ne2 Qe3+, but goes gunning for more) 10.Qf3! Nf6 11.Kd3! although it looked treacherous.

Seventy years earlier, Steinitz had no qualms about using his king in the opening, and in the final game of his World Championship match, he used it good effect in a similar opening: Steinitz vs Zukertort, 1886 .

By move 20, Keres had six minutes left on his clock for the next 20 moves, Bronstein had only one! Fortunately for both players, the position has been severely simplified, so it was comparatively easy to play.

Both players were blitzing, zipping past the time control, and finally stopping after Black's 43rd move. Keres sealed his 44th move at adjournment. Bronstein found a continuation which easily protected all his pawns, and they agreed quickly to a draw.

Mar-28-06  Gypsy: <If Black hoped for a draw, why didn't he play 9...Qf2+? After 10.Ne2 Qe3+ 11.Ke1 Qf2+ a draw would be forced. It would be good to get a half a point in the first round, but it would have been a pitty to part with the game. ...> Bronstein, '200 Open Games'.
Jun-23-13  zydeco: You get the feeling that these two just love playing against each other. In a Candidates Tournament (!) they decide to hold an elaborate disquisition on the Vienna Gambit....and then wing it the rest of the game. (Botvinnik or Smyslov or Petrosian would never have done something like that.) 5.fxe5 brings the chaos -- and is also a very bad move. After 5.Nf3 black can't play 5....Ng4 because of 6.Bxf7+
Sep-03-13  barbelmaster: why not 20. Bxb6
Sep-03-13
Premium Chessgames Member
  perfidious: <barbelmaster>: The rook is protected by the bishop on e4, so 20.Bxb6 is not on because of 20....axb6.
Dec-20-15
Premium Chessgames Member
  sleepyirv: Two fighting players using a Romantic-era opening end up with... a draw. Alas, the years have not been too kind to the Vienna game at the highest levels, as both players find resources to keep the peace.
Jun-25-25
Premium Chessgames Member
  PaulPetrovitj: Both players spent a lot of time in the opening phase of this game. Keres and Mikenas commented on it in the Russian tournament book, and regarding 2. Bc4 the comment was that since Bronstein had spent 10 minutes to make his first move (!), it seemed like a good idea to enter into an unusual opening variation so as to make him ponder even more. However, after Black hit the N on g1 and followed it up with -, Nfg4, Keres too spent so much time that both players had to play some Blitz. They played very well regardless. Instead of 21. Ra4, 21. b4 was recommended, but Stockfish does not confirm that this would have led to a White advantage.

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