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Svetozar Gligoric vs Vasily Smyslov
Zuerich Candidates (1953), Zuerich SUI, rd 12, Sep-19
English Opening: Symmetrical Variation. Hedgehog Defense (A30)  ·  0-1

ANALYSIS [x]

FEN COPIED

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Kibitzer's Corner
Mar-18-03  Rookpawn: One final swindle White tried was 38. Nc8; if 38... e5?? then 39. Nd6#. However, this left the lone White King battling a passed pawn, a Knight, and the enemy King, while White's own Knight stands helplessly at the opposite end of the board.
Oct-15-04  acirce: In Bronstein's rightly famous book on this tournament, he makes this comment after White's 20.b3:

<There exists a widespread, and therefore dangerous, misconception that the win is automatic once you are a pawn ahead. As a matter of fact, Black's chief advantage in this position lies not so much in his plus pawn, which he is still far from exploiting, as in his control of most of the center squares: d4, d5, c5, f4 and f5.

White has his counterchances: a queenside pawn majority and the d-file. How many similar games have been drawn because of inexact play! Smyslov, however, manages such endings with an iron hand. His plan may be divided into the following phases:

1. The immediate exchange of one rook, leaving the other to restrain White's queenside pawns and attack the c- and e-pawns.

2. Deflecting White's rook to the h-file by the threat to create an outside passed pawn, and then occupying the d-file with his own rook.

3. Advancing the g-pawn to g4, undermining the e-pawn's support, which is the f3-pawn.

4. Tying up White's pieces by attacking the e-pawn.

5. Sending his king in to pick off the weak pawns.

As we shall see, a simple winning plan - for a Smyslov, naturally!>

Oct-15-04  Jesuitic Calvinist: Very instructive. Thanks for posting this. Smyslov made it look so easy, and Gligoric never even really got his queenside majority moving until a token advance to c5 at the end.
Aug-21-07  RookFile: Iron logic by Smyslov.
Mar-15-10  notyetagm: <acirce: In Bronstein's rightly famous book on this tournament, he makes this comment after White's 20.b3: <There exists a widespread, and therefore dangerous, misconception that the win is automatic once you are a pawn ahead. As a matter of fact, Black's chief advantage in this position lies not so much in his plus pawn, which he is still far from exploiting, as in his control of most of the center squares: d4, d5, c5, f4 and f5.

White has his counterchances: a queenside pawn majority and the d-file. How many similar games have been drawn because of inexact play! Smyslov, however, manages such endings with an iron hand. His plan may be divided into the following phases:

1. The immediate exchange of one rook, leaving the other to restrain White's queenside pawns and attack the c- and e-pawns.

2. Deflecting White's rook to the h-file by the threat to create an outside passed pawn, and then occupying the d-file with his own rook.

3. Advancing the g-pawn to g4, undermining the e-pawn's support, which is the f3-pawn.

4. Tying up White's pieces by attacking the e-pawn.

5. Sending his king in to pick off the weak pawns.

As we shall see, a simple winning plan - for a Smyslov, naturally!>>

Great post.

Mar-15-10  notyetagm: Game Collection: Vasily Smyslov's Best Games
Aug-29-11  Edoneill: Nice game, good way to wrap it up. White just has no chance.
Oct-24-13  WiseWizard: Agreed <notyetagm>, tremendous lucidity. Makes understanding the game very easy. Definitely getting the book now and also taking a closer look at World Champion Smyslov's games where he shows his "iron hand".
May-17-16
Premium Chessgames Member
  plang: 13 Bd6?! looks aggressive but actually works well for Black. 15 Ne5? loses a pawn. 31 Rd1..Nxe4! 32 Rxd4..exd+ 33 Kxe4..dxc 34 Kd3..f5 35 Kxc3..f4 would have been winning for Black.
Sep-20-16
Premium Chessgames Member
  cwcarlson: Better was 19.Rd6 Nge4 20.Ne4 Ne4 21.Rd4 Nc5 22.Rad1 .

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