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Gideon Stahlberg vs Efim Geller
Zuerich Candidates (1953), Zuerich SUI, rd 3, Sep-02
Indian Game: King's Indian. Fianchetto Variation (A49)  ·  1/2-1/2

ANALYSIS [x]

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Kibitzer's Corner
Jul-10-04  acirce: <Stahlberg's maneuverings are not dictated by any strategic plan, but rather by practical guidelines he has derived from his enormous tournament experience and chess-sense: advance no pawns, create no glaring weaknesses, show not the slightest aggressive intent; but meanwhile, do not avoid exchanges, and be ready to set a tactical snare at any moment.>

-- Bronstein on this game in his famous book about this tournament. The annotation is after move 14.

Dec-05-04  Backward Development: of interest
on this system against the KID
"an unusual and somewhat passive system Stahlberg employs occasionally against the King's Indian. The e-pawn is kept at home, and the c-pawn advanced but one square; the d-pawn is traded off, as white refrains absolutely from either creating a pawn center or participating in the fight for the central squares. Not infrequently this results in a great deal of maneuvering, followed by exchanges, and a draw; but for this game, Geller will have none of it. Instead, he wages a very active campaign for more territory, first on the kingside and then over the entire board." after black's 23rd move
"For trading's sake, Stahlberg does not grudge even the dark square bishop, so important for white against the king's indian. This might eventually have cost white the game." after black's 40th move
"Geller's last move before time control destroys the fruits of all his labors, throwing away a well-earned win. He could have exploited the power of his two bishops with b4, putting white in a hopeless predicament."
Jul-24-12
Premium Chessgames Member
  Peligroso Patzer: <Backward Development: ***
"Geller's last move before time control destroys the fruits of all his labors, throwing away a well-earned win. He could have exploited the power of his two bishops with b4, putting white in a hopeless predicament.">

I assume that this (and the other quote in the full post) are from a translation of Bronstein’s book, although the text does not precisely track the Jim Marfia translation I have consulted (<Zurich International Chess Tournament, 1953>, by BRONSTEIN, David, tr. fr. 2nd Russian Edition by Jim Marfia, Dover Publications ©1979).

In the Dover edition, in the variation after <40. … b4> (from the position below):


click for larger view

Bronstein considers <41. axb4> to be the main continuation, but he also gives an alternate line as follows: “… or <41. cb c3>, and Black gets to the a-pawn.” (Op. cit., at p. 32.)

It seems worth noting, however, that much stronger after <40. ... b4 41. cxb4> would be: <41. … Qb3> [with an indefensible threat against b2], as given by Najdorf in <Zurich 1953: 15 Contenders for the World Chess Championship>, by NAJDORF, Miguel, tr. by Taylor Kingston, Russell Enterprises, Inc. ©2012, at p. 71.

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