Henrique Mecking vs Boris Spassky (1974)

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Henrique Mecking vs Boris Spassky
Nice Olympiad qual-1 (1974), Nice FRA, rd 6, Jun-12
Sicilian Defense: Scheveningen. Modern Variation (B83) · 1/2-1/2

ANALYSIS [x]

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Mar-10-24		ZonszeinP: I don't understand why Spassky doesn't keep playing here. I like 23.... Nd4 at first glance If Rc3 ?!, say Ne4 Of course white doesn't have to play Rc3 But there's a lot of play here As far as I can see Which at my age, it's probably not very far : )

Mar-10-24		Honza Cervenka: Well, the game was played in the team match on four boards, where Soviets had two clearly better positions (Petrosian against Camara and Kuzmin against Segal, both playing with white pieces) and one roughly equal (Tal against Herman van Riemsdijk), so I guess that match tactics was behind this decision. Also the game was played in the sixth round in the preliminary qualification group, where Soviets were already leading with a large margin (before the match they were three points ahead of the second Wales, which lost to Brasil in the fifth round). There was no need to try to win this game with black pieces against the most dangerous player of opponent team.

Mar-10-24		ZonszeinP: I understand, and I have to admit that after posting my comment and in spite of not being familiar with all those details I did think that "off the board" team considerations could have been the main reason for this "not fighting" decision That Soviet team that came to Nice in 1974 was the strongest I can remember! .

Mar-10-24		perfidious: <ZonszeinP>, such 'package deals' were far from uncommon in those days, and will explain certain results which make no sense by themselves.

Mar-10-24		Honza Cervenka: <perfidious> Yes, but there was no package deal in this case. Mecking in a bit uncomfortable position with white pieces proposed a draw, and Spassky, whose task with black pieces was to neutralize the most dangerous opponent in this match was satisfied with this outcome, especially in the situation, when possible 3:1 result was already in the air. Three other games were still played on but in all of them highly favourized Soviet players controlled events. And in the end the result was fitting to these expectations, though Petrosian almost let his opponent to slip off the hook in quite long and bitterly faught ending, which he apparently underestimated. Also Kuzmin's handling of a clearly better position from opening was not ideal but his opponent never reached full equality and before the first time control he collapsed tactically.

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