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You are here: Sample Game
| Tal-Zilberstein USSR, 1973 White to move Black has taken White’s “poisoned pawn” on b2, and his Queen might be in grave danger. Can you, as White, trap the Queen? Play over the game and find out! |
| Tal vs. Zilberstein USSR, 1973 Sicilian Defense |
- Gambit play: the “poisoned pawn”
- Time vs. material
- Development with tempo
- Pawn islands
- Anticipation and prevention of freeing moves
- The Two Bishops
- Avoiding exchanges
- “Restrain, blockade, destroy!”
Play the introductory moves:
1.e4 c5
2.Nf3 d6
3.d4 cxd4
4.Nxd4 Nf6
5.Nc3 a6
6.Bg5 e6
7.f4 Qb6
1.e4 c5
2.Nf3 d6
3.d4 cxd4
4.Nxd4 Nf6
5.Nc3 a6
6.Bg5 e6
7.f4 Qb6
Expose the move actually played and credit yourself the par score within the parentheses if it agrees with your choice. Play
Black’s reply and repeat the procedure until the end of the game.
8.Qd2 (3)
a) Why does White ignore the attack on his b-pawn?
8… Qxb2
b) In view of the possible dangers, why does Black capture the pawn? What other choice does he have?
9.Nb3 (3)
c) Is the alternative 9.Rb1 playable?
9… Qa3
10.Bxf6 (3) gxf6
d) What good does this exchange do to White? What are the drawbacks? Whose position is more favorable, White’s or
Black’s? Why?
11.Be2 (3) h5
e) Explain this advance.
12.O-O (3) Nc6
13.Nb1 (3)
f) What other feasible strategy does White have?
13… Qa4
g) What can you say of the alternative 13…Qb4 --?
14.c4 (5)
h)What is the purpose of this?
14… Qb4
15.Qe3 (4)
i) Will it be bad to exchange Queens?
15… Bg7
j) Is this a good post for the Bishop? Why or why not? Is there anything better for Black?
16.a3 (4) Qa4
17.Qg3 (7)
k) Doesn’t 17.Nc3 Qxb3 18.Rfb1 Qc2 19.Ra2 trap the Queen?
Black’s reply and repeat the procedure until the end of the game.
8.Qd2 (3)
a) Why does White ignore the attack on his b-pawn?
8… Qxb2
b) In view of the possible dangers, why does Black capture the pawn? What other choice does he have?
9.Nb3 (3)
c) Is the alternative 9.Rb1 playable?
9… Qa3
10.Bxf6 (3) gxf6
d) What good does this exchange do to White? What are the drawbacks? Whose position is more favorable, White’s or
Black’s? Why?
11.Be2 (3) h5
e) Explain this advance.
12.O-O (3) Nc6
13.Nb1 (3)
f) What other feasible strategy does White have?
13… Qa4
g) What can you say of the alternative 13…Qb4 --?
14.c4 (5)
h)What is the purpose of this?
14… Qb4
15.Qe3 (4)
i) Will it be bad to exchange Queens?
15… Bg7
j) Is this a good post for the Bishop? Why or why not? Is there anything better for Black?
16.a3 (4) Qa4
17.Qg3 (7)
k) Doesn’t 17.Nc3 Qxb3 18.Rfb1 Qc2 19.Ra2 trap the Queen?
17… Kf8
18.Nc3 (7)
l) Why does this move work now and not a move ago?
18… Qxb3
19.Rfb1 (6) Qc2
20.Ra2 (4) h4
21.Qe1 (5)
m) Is 21.Qf3 also a safe retreat?
21… Qa2
22.Nxa2 (1) f5
23.exf5 (4)
n) Why capture? Compare White’s position with Black’s and characterize White’s advantage.
23… exf5
o) Is there anything better for Black?
24.Bf3 (4)
p) Why shift the Bishop here?
24… Bd4+
25.Kh1 (1) Nd8
q) What is Black’s plan now?
26.Nc3 (3) Bd7
27.Nd5 (4)
r) Should the Bishop rather occupy this square?
27… Ne6
28.Qb4 (3)
s) Why is this a logical follow-up to 27.Nd5 --?
28… Bc6
29.Qd6+ (4) Kg7
t) Give White’s replies to 29…Ke8 and 29…Kg8.
30.Nc7 (5)
u) Why is this the most effective continuation?
30… Nxc7
31.Qxd4+ (3) Kg6
32.Rg1 (4) Rad8
33.Qe5 (4) Resigns
18.Nc3 (7)
l) Why does this move work now and not a move ago?
18… Qxb3
19.Rfb1 (6) Qc2
20.Ra2 (4) h4
21.Qe1 (5)
m) Is 21.Qf3 also a safe retreat?
21… Qa2
22.Nxa2 (1) f5
23.exf5 (4)
n) Why capture? Compare White’s position with Black’s and characterize White’s advantage.
23… exf5
o) Is there anything better for Black?
24.Bf3 (4)
p) Why shift the Bishop here?
24… Bd4+
25.Kh1 (1) Nd8
q) What is Black’s plan now?
26.Nc3 (3) Bd7
27.Nd5 (4)
r) Should the Bishop rather occupy this square?
27… Ne6
28.Qb4 (3)
s) Why is this a logical follow-up to 27.Nd5 --?
28… Bc6
29.Qd6+ (4) Kg7
t) Give White’s replies to 29…Ke8 and 29…Kg8.
30.Nc7 (5)
u) Why is this the most effective continuation?
30… Nxc7
31.Qxd4+ (3) Kg6
32.Rg1 (4) Rad8
33.Qe5 (4) Resigns
Begin to cover the scoring table below and
guess White’s next move.
guess White’s next move.
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