May-28-23 Karpov vs Parma, 1970 
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| woldsmandriffield: Interesting and difficult game that illustrates Karpov’s strengths but also his weaknesses (all players have them!). White’s play is very logical (eg 12 b3!, 17 b4). But there is also a certain lack of incisiveness, most obviously the decision not to play 30 f5, the ... |
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Nov-20-22 Spassky vs Tal, 1971
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| woldsmandriffield: "It was the 17th round of the Alekhine Memorial. Six games were completed before the adjournment and they were all drawn. So, how come spectators kept hanging around the tournament hall, gathering around anyone who owned a pocket chess set, arguing and arguing to the end? ... |
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Sep-02-22 Lautier vs J Campos Moreno, 1992
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| woldsmandriffield: Contender for the worst "Guess the Move" game selection. |
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Jul-23-22 Portisch vs Simagin, 1963
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| woldsmandriffield: An interesting game. Simagin wins the opening and 17..g5! would have left Black on top. In the middle game, Portisch plays to retain the two Bishops and spurns a trade of Knights that would favour Black. [DIAGRAM] 24 Bc1!? Ne6 25 Ba2 Qe7 26 Qh3 Bg7 27 Bb1 Nfd4 28 Nc3 ... |
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Jun-26-22 G Jones vs Carlsen, 2007
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| woldsmandriffield: Black to play
[DIAGRAM] 51..Kd4! 0-1 |
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Aug-14-21 Flohr vs Sultan Khan, 1932
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| woldsmandriffield: On Twitter, Douglas Griffin has drawn attention to the following anecdote by Genna Sosonko. "Flohr was holidaying in Abzkhazia and would occasionally be present as the young players analysed their games. He would do so silently, but would smile whenever one of them made an |
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Aug-04-21 M Hebden vs Sadler, 1991
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| woldsmandriffield: A very instructive game.
[DIAGRAM] 18..a5 doesn't work and so Sadler played a move that makes it work: 18..Ne5! [DIAGRAM] Hebden tried 26 Rc2 here, perhaps intending to meet 26..Rd8 with 27 Rd2. But Sadler replied with 26..Rd8! anyway since 27 Rd2? runs into 27..Nf3+! ... |
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Jul-17-21 G Oparin vs R D Liyanage, 2021
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| woldsmandriffield: [DIAGRAM] Another example of unsuccessful defence in the ending of RB vs R at modern time controls. Liyanage tried 81..Rg7 (either 81..Kh8 or 81..Rh6 would hold out but both are difficult moves) but ran into 82 Rf5+! Kh7 83 Bf7 Rg4 84 Kf6 Rh4 85 Bg6+ Kh6 [DIAGRAM] Here ... |
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Jul-11-21 Psakhis vs S Semkov, 1982
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| woldsmandriffield: A gritty GM game. Against the eventual back marker, Psakhis grabs a pawn and seeks to defuse Semkov's substantial piece activity. [DIAGRAM] 26 Kd3! works because if 26..Rxc3+ 27 Rxc3 Rxc3+ 28 Ke4! Nc7 29 Rxf6 and now 29..Rxa3? runs into 30 Rxf8+ [DIAGRAM] Compare Black's ... |
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Jul-04-21 Ivkov vs S Puc, 1949
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| woldsmandriffield: [DIAGRAM] 43..e3!! would have posed the young Ivkov more problems than 43..g3. After 43..e3 if 44 fxe3 the passed g pawn gives Black counterplay, while if 44 Nxe3 Rh1+ 45 Ke2 Rb1 46 c5 Rc1(!) and Black will eliminate the dangerous Queenside pawns. |
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Kibitzing
