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Borislav Ivkov vs Mikhail Tal
Bled (1961), Bled YUG, rd 1, Sep-03
King's Indian Defense: Exchange Variation (E92)  ·  0-1

8
7
6
5
4
3
2
a
1
b
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d
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f
g
h
White to move.
ANALYSIS [x]
0-1

rnbqkbnr/pppppppp/8/8/8/8/PPPPPPPP/RNBQKBNR w KQkq - 0 1
FEN COPIED

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Given 8 times; par: 116 [what's this?]

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Kibitzer's Corner
Jan-26-06  Whitehat1963: Tal wasn't only capable of dashing sac attacks, here he shows patient and capable endgame technique against one of the great "grandmaster drawers" of all time, who appears to be trying to simplify at every turn.
Nov-08-08  KingG: White had an interesting try for an advantage with the following forced sequence 10.Nxe5 Nxd5 11.Nxd7 Nb4 12.Nxb8 Nc2+ 13.Kd1 Nxa1 14.Bf4, and White has an extra pawn.


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Black can now recover it with 14.Rxb8 15.Bxc7 Ra8 16.Kc1 Be6 17.Kb1(Rd1!?) Rc8 18.Bf4 Bxc4 19.Rc1! Bxa2+ 20.Kxa2 Rxc1 21.Bxc1 Nc2 22.Bd2, but know although material is level, White has the two bishops.


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There are other possibilities for both sides, but it always seems like White can keep an advantage, although I have to admit I haven't spent too long analysing this position because I don't play this variation as White, and as Black I think 9...Nxd5 just equalises without any trouble.

Feb-08-16
Premium Chessgames Member
  perfidious: <KingG: White had an interesting try for an advantage with the following forced sequence 10.Nxe5 Nxd5 11.Nxd7 Nb4 12.Nxb8 Nc2+ 13.Kd1 Nxa1 14.Bf4, and White has an extra pawn....>

Ivkov spent well over an hour investigating this line before deciding on another path.

May-14-17  Flemming: <Whitehat1963: Tal wasn't only capable of dashing sac attacks, here he shows patient and capable endgame technique against one of the great "grandmaster drawers" of all time, who appears to be trying to simplify at every turn.> You probably mixed Ivkov with Dr. Petar Trifunovic.
Jul-29-17  Toribio3: Building bridge is never fun!
Feb-19-22
Premium Chessgames Member
  PawnSac: According to Ivkov's bio, he just died a couple days ago! The memorial service could be going on right now! RIP & thank you for your contribution to our world
Dec-20-23
Premium Chessgames Member
  plang: At the time of this game 9 Nd5 had only been played once before but subsequently it has achieved some popularity as a method for White to achieve positions less sharp than what Black is usually looking for when he plays the Kings Indian. 9..Nxd5 is is the standard response and had been played in the draw Zelinsky-Boleslavsky Minsk 1957. Tal's choice 9..Nd7 was successful in that Ivkov spent an hour and a half in responding and his choice 10 Nxf6+?! was inferior to 10 Nxe5. Black could have played 11..Rd8 to avoid the pin but instead preferred to invite White to damage Black's pawn structure while granting him two bishops. After the game Tal thought 17..Bd7 retaining the two bishops would have been better. Allowing the exchange of bishops was a strategic mistake on White's part as it made it easier for Black to exploit the weaknesses in White's kingside. Tal considered 22..Rd4? to be an inaccuracy recommending 22..f4 with a clear edge for Black. 38 Rd7 looks like an improvement as after Ivkov's 38 Ra2? Black gets a passed queenside pawn in addition to having the advantage on the kingside.

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