(The annotations to the following game, by M. N. Tal, are from '64' (№ 21, 1971).

The
translation from the original Russian is by Douglas Griffin.)

In general, when commentating on the first game of the match one does not feel at all at ease in
occupying oneself with giving forecasts, but the beginning of the match Fischer-Taimanov, despite
the loss by the Soviet grandmaster, appears to me to be reasonably hopeful. Of course, the distance
is short, and to make up for the lost point is not a simple matter, especially when the opponent is
Fischer, but the character of the game demonstrated that the Leningrad grandmaster was in a
fighting mood. As it seemed to me, he had resolved to impose 'close combat' on the opponent,
since in a tactical duel, as practice has demonstrated, the American grandmaster sometimes proves
vulnerable.

Taimanov – Fischer
1 match-game, Candidates’ Quarter-final, Vancouver, 16th May 1971
st

1.d4 Nf6 2.c4 g6 3.Nc3 Bg7 4.e4 d6 5.Nf3 0–0 6.Be2 e5 7.0–0 Nc6 8.d5 Ne7
Taimanov willingly employs this variation for White, Fischer with pleasure plays it with Black.
For the time being, both are satisfied...

9.Bd2
In the practice of the Leningrader there has been seen, initially, 9.Ne1, then 9.b4, and in recent
times - 9.Nd2.

9...Ne8 10.Rc1 f5 11.exf5 gxf5 12.Ng5

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xabcdefghy
A well-enough-known, but nonetheless bold, plan. Invading with the knight at e6, White forces
his opponent to give up the light-squared bishop for it. Naturally, account must be taken of the
fact that the 'detached' pawn will sooner or later fall prey to the enemy, but during the time that is
necessary for its elimination, he will be able to place his pieces suitably.
12...h6 13.Ne6 Bxe6 14.dxe6 Qc8 15.Qb3 c6
Black covers the square d5 and intends the manoeuvre ...Ne8–c7xe6, not only picking up the
pawn, but also noticeably activating the knight.

16.Bh5
The piece sacrifice 16.Nd5??! would be dangerous for Black, but only in 5–minute chess.
Continuing 16...cxd5 17.cxd5 Qb8, he defends easily.

16...Qxe6
As is well known, the American grandmaster 'respects' extra pawns. Now he goes in for a
forcing variation, as a result of which he achieves a material advantage, but the white pieces thereby
gain great operational space. Deserving attention, in my view, is 16...Nc7 17.Bf7+ Kh7.

17.Qxb7 Nf6 18.Be2 Rfb8 19.Qa6 Rxb2 20.Rfd1

Into White's plan comes the siege of Black's powerful, but rather unconsolidated, pawn centre.
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20...e4!?
Trying to set his pawn mass in motion as soon as possible. However, in activating his forces,
Black also activates the enemy ones. A very sharp position arises. Possibly, the less committal
20...Nd7 was worth preferring to the move played by Fischer.

21.Qa3
Serious attention is merited here by 21.Bf4, after which the immediate 21...d5 is impossible,
while on 21...Rb6 White can continue with either 22.Qa3 or 22.Qa5.

21...Rb7 22.Bf4
Forcing a further committal advance.

22...d5 23.cxd5 cxd5 24.Nb5 Ng6!

The threat of 25.Nc7 is very unpleasant. Fischer parries it cleverly - after 25.Nc7 Qf7 26.Nxa8
Nxf4 Black gains an overwhelming position for the exchange, since White's knight is clearly out of
play.

25.Nd4
At first sight this move seemed to me to be not the most succesful - White reveals his plans too
straigtforwardly. I wanted to suggest 25.Qg3, keeping the threat of 26.Nc7 in force. However, at
Fischer's disposal there was an interesting tactical possibility - 25...Nh5! 26.Bxh5 Nxf4 27.Qxf4
Rxb5 28.Rc7 Qe5! (not 28...Be5 on account of 29.Bf7+! Qxf7 30.Qxe5) and, clearly, the threats to
the black king are repulsed.)

25...Qd7 26.Qe3
(Translator’s note: Mikhail Yudovich, in Shakhmaty v. SSSR (№ 9, 1971), points out the
possibility 26.Qg3, which was apparently suggested by Yuri Balashov. If then 26...Kh7 (26...Nxf4
27.Qxf4 wins the f5-pawn), 27.Rc6! is strong.

26...Kh7 27.h3
A useful move.

27...Rf8
More circumspect is 27...a5, not permitting the invasion of the rook on the 7th rank.
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xabcdefghy
28.Ba6!
In playing this committal move, there is no doubt that White already planned the sacrifice of the
exchange.

28...Rb6 29.Rc7 Qa4

Now two pieces are under attack, while on 30.Be2 very unpleasant is 30...Ne8.

30.Rxg7+!
Without this bishop the black king will feel far less secure.
30...Kxg7 31.Bxh6+ Kf7 32.Be2 Rfb8 33.Nxf5
It is possible to sum up. For the exchange White has obtained a pawn, but this is not the main
thing. All of his pieces, most of all the knight, are very well placed. It is precisely the key position
of the knight at f5 that forces the present situation to be assessed as favourable for White.
Unfortunately, the following part of the game (perhaps, in time trouble?) was conducted poorly by
our grandmaster.

33...Rb1 34.Rxb1
Seemingly, the first in a series of mistaken moves. There was absolutely no point in giving the
enemy rook mastery of the 1st rank. At White's disposal was the excellent possibility 34.Kh2!, and
since impossible is 34...Rxd1 35.Bxd1 Qxd1? 36.Qxa7+. Black would in all probability have
continued, as in the game, with 34.Kh2 Qd7. But then, with his rear secured, it is quite possible
for White to permit himself the move 35.g4, after which it would have been very far from simple for
Black to defend - after the exchange at d1 the light-squared bishop conveniently locates itself at b3.
However, the move played by the Leningrader should also have in no way led to his defeat.

34...Rxb1+ 35.Kh2 Qd7

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36.Nd4
It is this quite unnecessary withdrawal that gives the advantage to the opponent. It was possible
to continue 36.Qg5, and for Black there was nothing better than to force a draw: 36...Nh7 37.Qh5
Nf6 etc. 36.g4 was also not bad, although already here one must reckon with counter-play after
36...Qc7+ 37.Kg2 Qb6 38.Qc3 Rb2, and if 39.Be3, then 39...Nf4+!!.

(Translator’s note: Here Yudovich states that on 36.Qg5, unconvincing is 36...Qc7+ 37.g3 Rb2 in
view of 38.Bg7!, for example, 38...Qe5 39.Bxf6 Qxf6 40.Nh6+, and a draw is guaranteed.
However, on 36.Qg5 Qc7+ 37.g3 Rb2 38.Bg7 Black can instead continue 38...Qb6, forcing the
simplifying exchanges 39.Qxf6+ Qxf6 40.Bxf6 Kxf6, after which Black wins. But on 36.Qg5
Qc7+ 37.g3 Rb2 White has the strong reply 38.Nh4!. Instead, the immediate 36...Rb2 (!) seems to
present White with some difficulties.)

36...Qd6+ 37.g3 Qb4!

38...Qe1 is threatened.

38.Nc6 Qb6 39.Nxa7

Better is 39.Nd4.

39...Qxe3 40.Bxe3 Re1!

Already now the attack - and an irresistible one - is with Black.
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Here the game was adjourned. White resigned without resuming. (Translator’s note: The
sealed move was 41.Bg4.)
(The annotations to the following game, by M. N. Tal, are from '64' (№ 21 & № 22, 1971). The
translation from the original Russian is by Douglas Griffin.)

If in the first game for the greater part of the time Taimanov was attacking, then in the second -
the chess, and, which is no less important, the psychological initiative was held by Fischer. We
have often had to listen about how, while the opening erudition of the American grandmaster is
extremely broad, he employs only 'approved' continuations, not introducing anything new to theory.
Such an opinion is fundamentally wrong, as was once again confirmed here.

Fischer – Taimanov
2 match-game, Candidates’ Quarter-final, Vancouver, 18th May 1971
nd

1.e4 c5 2.Nf3 Nc6 3.d4 cxd4 4.Nxd4 e6 5.Nb5

The variation with the move 5.Nb5 has been rarely encountered in Fischer's practice, while the
move 6.Bf4, if my memory does not betray me, was last employed by the American ten years ago.
(Translator’s note: - In fact, Tal's memory was at fault. Fischer had employed this line in a
well-known victory over Najdorf at the 2nd Piatigorsky Cup (Santa Monica, 1966), which appeared
in his My 60 Memorable Games.)

In the game from the Interzonal Tournament between the same players White played 6.c4, but
failed to obtain anything from the opening.

5...d6 6.Bf4 e5 7.Be3 Nf6 8.Bg5

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Out of the first eight moves, three have been accounted for by the bishop, but this is in no way a
pointless tour. Into White's plan comes the acquisition of the square d5.

8...Qa5+
This move is recognised by theory as the simplest response. In my view 8...Be6, give more
substantive play.
 Some games played with this variation have ended very quickly - after 9.Bd2 Qd8 10.Bg5 Qa5+
11.Bd2 Qd8 (again), and the game is interrupted by the arbiter. It is difficult for us to judge
whether the in the second game the Leningrader was agreeable to a draw, or whether he wanted to
test the opponent's intentions. One way or another, Fischer chose a more principled continuation
that had undoubtedly been prepared in advance.

9.Qd2 Nxe4 10.Qxa5 Nxa5 11.Be3

Obviously, bad is 11.Nc7+ Kd7 12.Nxa8 Nxg5.

11...Kd7
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This position had already been encountered on more than one occasion. As a rule, White had
regained the pawn, continuing 13.N(B)xa7, but Black's mobile centre gave him a good game.
(Translator’s note: Indeed, in My 60 Memorable Games, Fischer analyses this whole line, giving
Black's 8th move an exclamation mark, and stating that it leads to equality after 12.Nxa7 d5, etc.)

Fischer employs an interesting novelty.

12.N1c3!
I do not presume to judge on whether the pawn sacrifice is one hundred percent correct. On
this account I will await the verdict of the theoreticians (and, perhaps, also of games - the match
continues). The important thing, in my view, is something else. In the resultant position Black is
forced to conduct a lengthy, painstaking defence, while Taimanov, ever since what may be termed
his childhood, has been unable to stand passive play.

(Translator’s note: As O. Moiseev points out in his annotations to the present game in Shakhmaty
v SSSR (№ 9, 1971), the move in the text had been indicated by A. Nikitin in his monograph
Sitsilianskaya Zashchita.)
12...Nxc3 13.Nxc3 Kd8
At d7 the king would not have been so badly placed. Probably, the immediate 13...b6 was more
accurate.

14.Nb5!
Already now White has no objection to the move 14...d5, on which there follows 15.Bxa7 and
the threat of 16.Bb6+ Kd7 17.Nc7 is not simple to repulse - the position of the king at d8 gives
White an important tempo.

14...Be6 15.0–0–0 b6
Here too on 15...d5, unpleasant is 16.Bxa7.
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16.f4!
Altogether reasonably, Fischer does not hurry to regain the pawn. After 16.Nxd6 Bxd6
17.Rxd6+ Ke7 18.Rd1 Black, continuing 18...Bc4, deprives the opponent of the advantage of the
two bishops and without any great trouble equalises the game. Black now has nothing better than
the exchange at f4 - after 16...e4 17.Nxd6 Bxd6 18.Rxd6+ Ke7 White has the move 19.Rd4, while
in the case of 16...f6 17.fxe5 fxe5 18.Nxd6 the e5–pawn is very weak.

16...exf4 17.Bxf4 Nb7 18.Be2 Bd7

In reply to 18...Be7, 19.Bf3 is very unpleasant.

19.Rd2!
White does not want to sell himself short.

19...Be7 20.Rhd1
Already now White is almost threatening to take the pawn at d6 with decisive effect; for example,
in reply to 20.Rhd1 g5 both 21.Bxd6 and 21.Nxd6 are decisive.

Why, though, 'almost'? Black could continue 20...a6, and both 21.Nxd6 Nxd6 22.Bxd6 Bg5,
and 21.Bxd6 Bg5! (much weaker is 21...Bxb5 22.Bxe7+ Kxe7 23.Bxb5 axb5 24.Rd7+ Ke6 25.Rxb7)
are favourable for him - the king at c1 and the rook at d2 are on the same diagonal.

Probably, Taimanov rejected this move on account of the simple 21.Nc3, after which the
weakening of the queen's flank tells. On the other hand, no useful moves for Black were apparent,
and therefore he rids himself of concerns over the d6–pawn, but passes into the hands of the
opponent the advantage - a very perceptible one in the present position - of two (active!) bishops.

20...Bxb5 21.Bxb5 Kc7 22.Re2

The mission of the white rooks on the d-file has been fulfilled.

22...Bf6 23.Rde1 Rac8

Black parries the threat of 24.Re7+!.

24.Bc4 Rhf8
I can imagine the distaste with which Taimanov made such moves.
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25.b4!
The American grandmaster plays such positions magnificently.

25...a5 26.Bd5
Again threatening 27.Re7+.

26...Kb8 27.a3 Rfd8

To hold the f7–pawn was too prospectless.

28.Bxf7
Deserving attention is 28.Re4, in order on 28...Bc3 to continue 29.R1e2. However, in this case
too it is difficult to say that White's advantage would have been decisive.
28...Bc3!
The Leningrader exploits the slightest respite.

29.Bd2 d5 30.Rd1 d4 31.Bxc3 Rxc3

This too is possible, but I think that 31...dxc3 was good.

32.Kb2 d3!
Black provokes new simplification. 33.Rxd4 was threatened.

33.Kxc3 dxe2 34.Re1

White picks up this pawn, but for Black there is the time to effectively introduce his knight to the
game.

34...Nd6 35.Bh5
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35...Nb5+
The difficult defence had cost Taimanov a lot of time, and at this moment, when the worst was
already behind him, he commits a vexing mistake.

Continuing 35...Rc8+, Black retained material equality after either 36.Kb2 Nc4+ 37.Ka2 Ne3!,
or in the case of 36.Kb3 Nb5 37.c4 Nd4+ 38.Kc3 Nb5+. (Translator’s note: Here Moiseev notes
that a stronger continuation for White is that indicated by Balashov: 35...Rc8+ 36.Kb2 Nc4+
37.Kb3! Nd2+ 38.Ka4 Rxc2 39.Rxe2, retaining the advantage.)

36.Kb2 axb4 37.axb4 Rd4 38.c3 Rh4

No good is 38...Rd2+ 39.Kb3 Rd3 40.Kc4.

39.Bxe2 Nd6 40.Rd1 Kc7 41.h3 Rf4 42.Rf1 Re4 43.Bd3 Re5 44.Rf2 h5 45.c4
In this position the game was adjourned for the first time, in a difficult situation for the
Leningrader.
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Black is a pawn down, and moreover the white bishop is noticeably more active than the knight.
All this, taking account of the high technique of the American in endgames, should have decided the
fate of the game in White's favour.

However, judging from everything, Fischer considered that the the position was won 'as he
pleased' and, contrary to his usual practice, he treated the analysis without particular thoroughness.
Taimanov, however, was that day up to the mark. The Leningrader sealed the move

45...Rg5
To some extent this restricts the mobility of the white rook. The rook endgame: 45...Re3
46.Kc3 Ne4+ 47.Kd4 Rxd3+ 48.Kxe4 is hopeless for Black in view of the active position of the
white king.

46.Kc3 Kd7 47.Ra2 Kc8 48.Kd4 Kc7

Now the black king cannot stand at d7, since then the advance of the c-pawn gains noticeably in
strength. On the basis of this, White should now continue 49.Re2, and after 49...Kd7 (in the case
of 49...Kd8 White forces the exchange of rooks with 50.Re6 Kd7 51.Rg6) 50.c5. Black would
have had to continue 50...bxc5+ 51.bxc5 Nc8, but he could hardly have defended the bastions.

Good too appears the recommendation of Yu. Averbakh: 49.h4 Rg4+ 50.Kd5 Rxh4 51.c5.

49.Ra7+
As a rule, a rook is well placed on the 7th rank, but exceptions also occur...

49...Kd8 50.c5
While after this move it is possible that there is already no win. Stronger was 50.Ra6 or 50.Ra2,
aiming to lead play into the variations given above.
50...bxc5+ 51.bxc5 Ne8
Now the g2–pawn is under attack.

52.Ra2
White retained greater possibilities, continuing 52.Be4 Nc7 53.Kc4.

52...Nc7 53.Bc4 Kd7

It now becomes clear that Black will regain the pawn.

54.Rb2
Black's task would have been more difficult after 54.Bb3.

54...Kc6 55.Bb3
Nothing is given by 55.Rb6+ Kd7.

55...Nb5+ 56.Ke3 Kxc5

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There is some advantage on White's side, but this is clearly insufficient for victory.

57.Kf4 Rg6 58.Bd1 h4 59.Kf5 Rh6 60.Kg5 Nd6 61.Bc2

It seems that the stubbornness displayed by Fischer in this game deserved to be applied in better
circumstances, but, as we shall see, the main events still lie ahead.

61...Nf7+ 62.Kg4 Ne5+ 63.Kf4 Kd4 64.Rb4+ Kc3 65.Rb5 Nf7 66.Rc5+ Kd4 67.Rf5 g5+
One of the possible ways. Black gives up a pawn, but forces further simplification of the
position.

68.Kg4 Ne5+
(Translator’s note: Moiseev points out the alternative 68...Rc6 69.Ba4 Nh6+ 70.Kxg5 Nxf5
71.Bxc6 Ke5 72.Bf3 Ne3 73.Kxh4 Nxg2+.)
69.Kxg5 Rg6+ 70.Kxh4 Rxg2 71.Bd1 Rg8 72.Bg4 Ke4 73.Kg3
Here the game was adjourned for a second time. There was no doubt at all about the result - on
the board there is a 'dead draw'.

On the following day there was played the 3rd game, which, as it seems to me, strongly
influenced the course of the second resumption.

(Translator’s note: At this point in Tal's commentary, the annotations to the 3rd match game
are presented. )

Now it became clear in what kind of mood Taimanov sat at the board to play the resumption of
the 2nd game. However, here, clearly, the seconds deserve criticism, not having been able to find at
home a clear drawing continuation. Black sealed the natural move
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73...Rg7
There followed:

74.Rf4+ Kd5 75.Ra4 Ng6

Naturally, this does not lose, but simplest of all was 75...Nxg4 76.hxg4 Ke6 77.Kh4 (77.Rf4 Rf7)
77...Rg8! 78.Rf4 Ke5, and the matter reduces to a theoretically drawn endgame.

76.Ra6
Nothing is given by 76.Ra5+ Kd6 77.Rg5 Ke7.

76...Ne5 77.Kf4 Rf7+ 78.Kg5 Rg7+ 79.Kf5 Rf7+ 80.Rf6

A final try, which is unexpectedly crowned with success.

80...Rxf6+ 81.Kxf6
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81...Ke4??
An absurd mistake. Black drew simply, continuing 81...Nd3 82.h4 (or 82.Kf5 Kd6) 82...Nf4
83.Kf5 Kd6! (the 'wrong' bishop). Also leading to a draw is 81...Kd6 82.Be2 (82.Bc8 Nf3 83.Bb7
Nh4 84.Kg5 Ke7) 82...Nd7+ 83.Kf7 Ke5 84.h4 Nf6.

Judging from everything, Taimanov had simply overlooked the following move -

82.Bc8
after which the 'golden path' is opened for the white h-pawn, since impossible is 82...Nf3
83.Bb7+, as is 82...Nd3 83.Bf5+.

The game concluded as follows:

82...Kf4 83.h4 Nf3

Also hopeless is 83...Ng4+ 84.Kg7.

84.h5 Ng5 85.Bf5

Zugzwang.

85...Nf3 86.h6 Ng5 87.Kg6 Nf3 88.h7 Nh4+ 89.Kf6

Black resigned.
(The annotations to the following game, by M. N. Tal, are from '64' (№ 22, 1971). The
translation from the original Russian is by Douglas Griffin.)

Taimanov – Fischer
3 match-game, Candidates’ Quarter-final, Vancouver, 21st May 1971
rd

1.d4 Nf6 2.c4 g6 3.Nc3 Bg7 4.e4 d6 5.Nf3 0–0 6.Be2 e5 7.0–0 Nc6 8.d5 Ne7 9.Bd2
In Vancouver too the theoretical debate continues. (Translator’s note: This is an oblique
reference to the Korchnoi-Geller Candidates' Quarter-final taking place in Moscow; Tal also
annotated the games of that match for the newspaper '64'.)

9...Ne8 10.Rc1 f5
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11.Qb3
An improvement in comparison with the 1st game, in which Taimanov continued 11.exf5 gxf5
12.Ng5, and, it seems, a highly effective one. Who knows; perhaps it was on account of precisely
this continuation that Geller, in the 5th game of the match with Korchnoi, changed from the King's
Indian Defence?

11...b6
Black radically prevents the advance c4–c5, but weakens the light squares in his camp. More
circumspect is 11...Kh8.

12.exf5 gxf5 13.Ng5 Nf6

In reply to 13...h6 there could follow 14.Ne6 Bxe6 15.dxe6 Qc8 16.c5! bxc5 17.Nd5 with an
excellent position for the pawn. (Translator’s note: This was later confirmed by the game
Taimanov-Mi. Tseitlin (46th Leningrad Championship, 1973).)

The continuation chosen by Fischer also fails to rid Black of difficulties.

14.f4
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14...h6
Objectively speaking, stronger was 14...e4, but then White retains the advantage in a relatively
quiet situation. It seems to me that Fischer, when going in for the forcing continuation that
occurred in the game, had overlooked White's 19th move.

15.fxe5 dxe5 16.c5!

The opposition of queen and king tells. Now in reply to 16...hxg5 17.d6+ Kh8 18.dxe7 Qxe7
19.cxb6 axb6 unpleasant for Black is 20.Bxg5 as well as 20.Nb5. Failing to change matters is
16...Kh8 17.d6!.

16...Nfxd5 17.Nxd5 Nxd5 18.cxb6 axb6 19.Rc6!

A brilliant move, refuted Black's plan; he is unable to reinforce the centralised knight. 19...hxg5 is
impossible, since after 20.Bc4 Kh8 21.Bxd5 f4 (or 21...g4) decisive is 22.Rc3! with the threats of
23.Bxa8 and 23.Rh3+.

19...Kh8
XIIIIIIIIY
8r+lwq-tr-mk0
7+-zp-+-vl-0
6-zpR+-+-zp0
5+-+nzppsN-0
4-+-+-+-+0
3+Q+-+-+-0
2PzP-vLL+PzP0
1+-+-+RmK-0
xabcdefghy
20.Nf3
Taimanov thought for around an hour over this move, but as it often turns out, prolonged
consideration proved not to bring the desired results.

It is unclear why White rejected the obvious continuation of the attack 20.Qh3!. The threat of
21.Rxh6+ can be parried either by 21...Rf6 or by 21...Nf6. In the first case White brings the
light-squared bishop very strongly into play (21.Bc4), in the second, the dark-squared one (21.Bc3).
Relatively the best for Black would have been 20...Nf6 21.Bc3 Bd7! (21...Qe7 22.Nf3 Ng4 23.Nh4)
22.Ne6 Bxe6 23.Rxe6 Qd7. But here too after 24.Rxe5 (less convincing is 24.Qxf5 Nh7!) White's
advantage is undisputed, for example: 24...Ng4 25.Rd1 Qf7 26.Red5.

The unsuccesful retreat gives Fischer the possibility of easily repulsing the attack while retaining
the material advantage. With a certain degree of certainty it can be claimed that the move 20.Nf3
cost Taimanov 1½ points. (Translator’s note: Tal is referring to the effect that the outcome of this
game had on Taimanov's play in the second adjourned session of the 4th match-game.)

20...Bb7 21.Rg6 Nf4!

Now the black king finds itself to be in complete safety.

22.Bxf4 exf4 23.Rd1 Qe7 24.Re6 Qc5+ 25.Kf1 Rfd8

XIIIIIIIIY
8r+-tr-+-mk0
7+lzp-+-vl-0
6-zp-+R+-zp0
5+-wq-+p+-0
4-+-+-zp-+0
3+Q+-+N+-0
2PzP-+L+PzP0
1+-+R+K+-0
xabcdefghy
With the exchange of one pair of rooks the weakness of the 1st rank becomes particulary
perceptible.

26.Rxd8+ Rxd8 27.Qa4 Qc1+ 28.Kf2 Bf8 29.b4

29...Bc5+ was threatened.

29...Be4 30.Re8
The attempt to sharpen the play to some extent by sacrificing the queen does not bring success.
 Not much better was 30.Qb5, in reply to which possible is the interesting variation 30...Qe3+
31.Ke1 (31.Kf1 Rd1+! 32.Bxd1 Bd3+ 33.Be2 Qc1+) 31...Qc3+ 32.Kf2 Bxb4 33.Re8+ Rxe8
34.Qxe8+ Kh7, and Black wins.

30...Bc6 31.Qxc6
31.Rxd8 Bxa4 32.Rxf8+ Kg7 is also hopeless for White.

31...Qxc6 32.Rxd8 Qf6 33.Rc8 Qe7 34.Kf1 Kh7

With the inclusion of the bishop in the play Black obtains an irresistible attack. The following
is simple.

35.Nd4 Bg7 36.Nb5

Or 36.Nxf5 Qd7 (but not 36...Qe6 37.Bd3).

36...Be5 37.a3 Qd7 38.Ra8 f3 39.gxf3 Bxh2 40.Kg2

XIIIIIIIIY
8R+-+-+-+0
7+-zpq+-+k0
6-zp-+-+-zp0
5+N+-+p+-0
4-zP-+-+-+0
3zP-+-+P+-0
2-+-+L+Kvl0
1+-+-+-+-0
xabcdefghy
40...Qg7+!
The most convincing.

41.Kxh2 Qe5+
White resigned without resuming play (the game was adjourned in this position).
(The annotations to the following game, by M. N. Tal, are from '64' (№ 22, 1971). The
translation from the original Russian is by Douglas Griffin.)

Fischer – Taimanov
4 match-game, Candidates’ Quarter-final, Vancouver, 25th May 1971
th

1.e4 c5 2.Nf3 Nc6 3.d4 cxd4 4.Nxd4 Qc7 5.Nc3

Fischer leads the play towards the usual set-ups. Theory recommends here 5.Nb5 or 5.c4.

5...e6 6.g3 a6 7.Bg2 Nf6 8.0–0 Nxd4 9.Qxd4 Bc5 10.Bf4 d6

The exchange of queens: 10...Bxd4 11.Bxc7 is, not without justification, considered to be
favourable to White.

11.Qd2 h6
Another possibility here is 11...Nd7.

12.Rad1 e5 13.Be3 Bg4

After 13...Bxe3 14.fxe3! Black loses a pawn (14...Ke7? 15.Rxf6).

14.Bxc5 dxc5
The d-file has to be opened, since on 14...Qxc5 possible is 15.Qxd6.

15.f3 Be6 16.f4

XIIIIIIIIY
8r+-+k+-tr0
7+pwq-+pzp-0
6p+-+lsn-zp0
5+-zp-zp-+-0
4-+-+PzP-+0
3+-sN-+-zP-0
2PzPPwQ-+LzP0
1+-+R+RmK-0
xabcdefghy
16...Rd8
Black wrongly keeps his king in the centre. Preferable was 16...0–0 and in reply to 17.f5
(possibly, it was this move that Taimanov feared), either 17...Rad8 18.Qe3 Bc8 19.Nd5 Nxd5
20.exd5 f6 with a somewhat passive, but solid, position, or 17...Bc4 18.Rfe1 b5 19.b3 b4! 20.bxc4
bxc3 21.Qxc3 Rfd8, and the presence of White's extra pawn is not felt, while his bishop is very
passive. (Translator’s note: On 16...0–0, annotating this game in Shakhmaty v SSSR (№ 9, 1971),
Moiseev quotes the following variation by Balashov: 17.Qd6! Rac8 18.f5 Bc4 19.Rfe1 b5 20.b3 b4
21.Qxc7 Rxc7 22.Nd5 Bxd5 23.exd5 Nd7 24.d6 with advantage for White.)

17.Nd5 Bxd5 18.exd5 e4

19.d6 and 20.fxe5 was threatened, while the continuation 18...exf4 19.Rde1+ borders on the
suicidal. Black does not now fear 19.d6 Qc6, and he retains the e4–pawn.

XIIIIIIIIY
8-+-trk+-tr0
7+pwq-+pzp-0
6p+-+-sn-zp0
5+-zpP+-+-0
4-+-+pzP-+0
3+-+-+-zP-0
2PzPPwQ-+LzP0
1+-+R+RmK-0
xabcdefghy
19.Rfe1! Rxd5 20.Rxe4+ Kd8 21.Qe2
Nothing real is promised by the queen sacrifice 21.Qxd5+ Nxd5 22.Rxd5+ Kc8 23.Ree5 Kb8!
24.Rxc5 Qb6.

21...Rxd1+ 22.Qxd1+ Qd7

More complicated play arises after 22...Kc8, although in this case I think that after 23.Re5 Rd8
24.Qf3 White's chances are preferable.

23.Qxd7+ Kxd7 24.Re5

XIIIIIIIIY
8-+-+-+-tr0
7+p+k+pzp-0
6p+-+-sn-zp0
5+-zp-tR-+-0
4-+-+-zP-+0
3+-+-+-zP-0
2PzPP+-+LzP0
1+-+-+-mK-0
xabcdefghy
 The endgame is favourable for White, since in the open position with play on both wings, the
bishop is more active than the knight.

24...b6 25.Bf1 a5 26.Bc4 Rf8 27.Kg2 Kd6 28.Kf3 Nd7 29.Re3 Nb8
Black has in prospect a difficult, and - what is more unpleasant - a passive defence.

30.Rd3+ Kc7 31.c3 Nc6 32.Re3 Kd6 33.a4

Fixing the weakness of the b5–square, which can later come in handy both for the bishop and for
the king.

33...Ne7 34.h3 Nc6 35.h4

In reply to 35.g4 White possibly did not like 35...g5.

35...h5
Black aims to construct a fortress on the king's flank, but in so doing he has to place his pawns on
squares of the same colour as the enemy bishop.

36.Rd3+ Kc7 37.Rd5 f5 38.Rd2 Rf6 39.Re2 Kd7

Taimanov prevents the invasion of the rook.

40.Re3 g6 41.Bb5
Here the game was adjourned.
XIIIIIIIIY
8-+-+-+-+0
7+-+k+-+-0
6-zpn+-trp+0
5zpLzp-+p+p0
4P+-+-zP-zP0
3+-zP-tRKzP-0
2-zP-+-+-+0
1+-+-+-+-0
xabcdefghy
41...Rd6
The sealed move.

42.Ke2
(Translator’s note: - As Moiseev indicates, after 42.Rd3? Rxd3+ 43.Bxd3 Nd8 White cannot
prevent the saving transfer of the knight to d6: 44.Bc4 Ke7 45.Ke3 (or 45.Bd5 Nf7 46.Bxf7 Kxf7
47.Ke3 Ke6) 45...Nb7 and then 46...Nd6.)
42...Kd8 43.Rd3 Kc7 44.Rxd6 Kxd6 45.Kd3 Ne7
(Translator’s note: This retreat is now forced, as White threatened to take at c6 followed by
47.Kc4, with a winning pawn endgame. However, Black's cannot now prevent the penetration of
White's king to b5. - Griffin.)

46.Be8 Kd5 47.Bf7+ Kd6 48.Kc4 Kc6 49.Be8+ Kb7 50.Kb5 Nc8
(Translator’s note: Threatening mate at d6, which temporarily saves the king-side pawns.)

51.Bc6+ Kc7 52.Bd5 Ne7 53.Bf7 Kb7 54.Bb3 Ka7 55.Bd1 Kb7 56.Bf3+ Kc7 57.Ka6
(Translator’s note: Now White transfers the bishop to e8.)

57...Nc8 58.Bd5 Ne7 59.Bc4 Nc6 60.Bf7 Ne7 61.Be8 Kd8

XIIIIIIIIY
8-+-mkL+-+0
7+-+-sn-+-0
6Kzp-+-+p+0
5zp-zp-+p+p0
4P+-+-zP-zP0
3+-zP-+-zP-0
2-zP-+-+-+0
1+-+-+-+-0
xabcdefghy
62.Bxg6! Nxg6 63.Kxb6 Kd7 64.Kxc5 Ne7 65.b4 axb4 66.cxb4 Nc8 67.a5 Nd6 68.b5 Ne4+
69.Kb6 Kc8 70.Kc6 Kb8 71.b6
Black resigned.
(The annotations to the following game, by M. N. Tal, are from '64' (№ 23, 1971). The
translation from the original Russian is by Douglas Griffin.)

Taimanov – Fischer
5th match-game, Candidates’ Quarter-final, Vancouver, 27th May 1971

Taimanov's four straight losses had practically reduced his chances in the match with Fischer to
nil. The following games would decide only the question of the score, the question of prestige, or
whatever. In order to somehow improve the balance, in the 5th game of the match the Leningrader
had to achieve a victory, and only a victory. A drawn result was quite enough for the American
grandmaster, but as a rule, he never avoids a full-blooded struggle. And indeed, the next duel
proceeded in very tense fashion.

1.d4 Nf6 2.c4 g6 3.Nc3 d5

Taimanov had nothing against a repetition of the opening of the 3rd game, while Fischer,
judging from everything, did not want this.

4.Bg5 Ne4 5.Bh4

XIIIIIIIIY
8rsnlwqkvl-tr0
7zppzp-zpp+p0
6-+-+-+p+0
5+-+p+-+-0
4-+PzPn+-vL0
3+-sN-+-+-0
2PzP-+PzPPzP0
1tR-+QmKLsNR0
xabcdefghy
An opening patent of the Leningrader. Despite the fact that the very latest events (in particular,
the USSR Championship) have shown that in this variation Black has good chances, Taimanov
defends his point of view and, it must be recognised (judging by the opening of the present game),
that he had justification for this.

5...Nxc3 6.bxc3 dxc4

Fischer had already played this way in the game with E. Mecking in the tournament in Buenos
Aires. This was of course well known to Taimanov, and he had prepared an interesting retort.

7.e3
This is unquestionably stronger than 7.Qa4+, as occurred in the game Mikenas-Tukmakov,
played in the USSR Championship in Riga.

7...Be6 8.Rb1 b6
XIIIIIIIIY
8rsn-wqkvl-tr0
7zp-zp-zpp+p0
6-zp-+l+p+0
5+-+-+-+-0
4-+pzP-+-vL0
3+-zP-zP-+-0
2P+-+-zPPzP0
1+R+QmKLsNR0
xabcdefghy
9.Be2!
Up to this point the opponents had been following in the footsteps of the above-mentioned
Mecking-Fischer game. The Brazilian master played here 9.Nf3 Bg7 10.Be2, and Black obtained
an excellent position.

The move played by Taimanov is significantly more cunning. Now in the case of 9...Bg7 White
can continue 10.Bf3 c6 11.Ne2 followed by 12.Nf4. It is precisely to prevent the appearance of the
knight at f4 that Fischer makes a rather unaesthetic move. We will add that 9...c5 will not do on
account of 10.Bf3, and Black must part with the exchange, since immediately losing is 10...Bd5
11.Qa4+ Nc6 12.Qxc6+ (or 12.e4).

9...Bh6
Now Black does not fear the variation given above - in reply to 10.Bf3 c6 11.Ne2 he can quietly
castle and, in the case of 12.Nf4 he can without particular risk continue either 12...Bxf4 or 12...Bc8
with the threat of 13...g5. However, Black soon has to spend a tempo in order to return the bishop
to its 'habitual' position.

10.Nf3 c6 11.Ne5 Bg7

The attempt to hold the pawn - 11...b5, could lead to serious unpleasantness after 12.Bf3 Qb6
13.d5!.

12.f4
White does not hurry to re-establish material equality, since 12...Bxe5 is too dangerous for Black.

12...Bd5
Preparing to bring the knight into play. Deserving attention is 12...0–0.
13.0–0 Nd7 14.Nxc4 0–0
The opening has gone slightly in favour of White, who has an active and at the same time fairly
solid pawn centre. Were he able to carry out the advance e3–e4, his advantage would increase
significantly, but for the time being this is impossible.

15.a4
Now the very unpleasant 16.Nd2 is threatened (previously, White did not have this move on
account of the vulnerability of the a2–pawn). Black's reply is forced.

15...c5 16.Ne5
Once Black has advanced the pawn to c5, the advance of the e-pawn becomes double-edged on
account of the weakness of the d4–square. White changes plan somewhat. In reply to 16...Nf6
not bad for him is 17.c4 Bb7 18.d5. Besides this, in some cases also good is the further march of
the a-pawn with the initiative on the queen's flank.

16...Nxe5 17.dxe5
A good move. White succeeds in winning the struggle for the open file.

17...f6
Ridding himself of the concerns over the e7–pawn that are characteristic of this variation.
XIIIIIIIIY
8r+-wq-trk+0
7zp-+-zp-vlp0
6-zp-+-zpp+0
5+-zplzP-+-0
4P+-+-zP-vL0
3+-zP-zP-+-0
2-+-+L+PzP0
1+R+Q+RmK-0
xabcdefghy
18.Rb2! Be6
19.Rd2, winning a piece, was threatened.

19.Rd2 Qc7
Play for tempo is in progress. Were Black to post a rook at d8, then with this his difficulties
would be over. However, the following move by Taimanov shows that it is not a simple matter for
Black to post a rook on the d-file.
20.Bg4!
Now equally unappealing for Black are 20...Bxg4 21.Qxg4 Rad8 (21...fxe5 22.Qe6+ Kh8
23.Rd7) 22.Rfd1 Rxd2 23.Qe6+! Kh8 24.Rxd2 Rd8 25.exf6! exf6 26.Bxf6, and 20...f5 21.Bf3 and
the g7–bishop is excluded from play.

In a difficult situation the American grandmaster defends excellently.

20...Qc8! 21.Bf3
Clearly, in the given case the exchange of bishops would in the main ease Black's task.

21...Rb8 22.Qe2 Rd8 23.Rfd1 Rxd2 24.Qxd2

In my opinion, more dangerous for Black is 24.Rxd2, for example, 24...Qe8 25.Qa6 fxe5
26.Qxa7 exf4 27.Bc6! Qc8 28.Bxe7. Or 24...Qc7 25.exf6 exf6 26.Qd1.

24...Qe8 25.exf6 exf6 26.Qd6

XIIIIIIIIY
8-tr-+q+k+0
7zp-+-+-vlp0
6-zp-wQlzpp+0
5+-zp-+-+-0
4P+-+-zP-vL0
3+-zP-zPL+-0
2-+-+-+PzP0
1+-+R+-mK-0
xabcdefghy
Judging from everything, White had pinned great hopes on the invasion of the queen. Fischer,
however, manages to repulse this attack as well.

26...Rc8!
Threatening 27...Qc7. Black does not fear the variation 27.Bb7 Bf8! 28.Qd2 Rb8.

27.a5 Bf8 28.Qd2 Be7

Once again Black intends to post the rook at d8. The exchange of the last pair of rooks signifies
the collapse of White's hopes of a significant advantage.

29.Bd5
Taimanov finds a new resource to maintain the initiative. In general, it should be said that in
this game almost until the very end both players were on good form.
29...Qf7 30.Bxe6 Qxe6 31.Qd7 Kf7
The white rook cannot be permitted onto the 7th rank. Losing, of course, is 31...Qxe3+?
32.Bf2.

32.Qxa7 bxa5 33.e4

White is ready to part with the central pawn in order to open the e-file.

33...Qc6
The immediate 33...Qxe4 loses in view of 34.Re1 Ra8 35.Qc7.

34.Rd7
34...Ra8 was threatened.

34...Qxe4 35.h3
The white king too needs to be watched over.

35...a4
Black aims with the advance the a-pawn to deflect the attacking pieces of the opponent. His
situation all the same remains very dangerous. Thus, impossible is 35...Ra8 36.Rxe7+, while in the
case of 35...Ke8 unpleasant is the simple 36.Rd1 with the threats of 37.Qd7+ and 37.Re1.

36.Bf2
Attacking the c5–pawn. Thus, on 36...a3 possible is 37.Bxc5 Rxc5 38.Qxc5 a2 39.Qa7 Qe1+
40.Kh2 a1=Q 41.Rxe7+.

36...Kf8 37.c4
XIIIIIIIIY
8-+r+-mk-+0
7wQ-+Rvl-+p0
6-+-+-zpp+0
5+-zp-+-+-0
4p+P+qzP-+0
3+-+-+-+P0
2-+-+-vLP+0
1+-+-+-mK-0
xabcdefghy
37...a3!
Once again bad is 37...Ra8 38.Qc7 with the difficult-to-resist threat of 39.Rxe7 (the immediate
38.Rxe7 is impossible on account of 38...Qb1+).
38.Qxa3 Ra8
Perhaps safer than 38...Qxf4 which, however, was also possible.

39.Qb2 Ke8 40.Qb5 Kf8 41.Rd1

White does not want to reconcile himself to a drawn result. Objectively speaking, his advantage
is very insignificant.

The exchange sacrifice was not dangerous for Black: 41.Rxe7? Kxe7 42.Bxc5+ Kf7.

41...Qxf4
XIIIIIIIIY
8r+-+-mk-+0
7+-+-vl-+p0
6-+-+-zpp+0
5+Qzp-+-+-0
4-+P+-wq-+0
3+-+-+-+P0
2-+-+-vLP+0
1+-+R+-mK-0
xabcdefghy
In this position the game was adjourned. One could have presumed that the duel would soon
conclude in a draw. However, once again the resumption brought with it an extremely unpleasant
surprise.

42.Bxc5
The sealed move.

42...Bxc5+ 43.Qxc5+ Kg7 44.Rf1

The passed c-pawn does not play a particular role - White all the time has to concern himself with
the safety of his king, which is not very reliably defended. Possibly, a little better was 44.Qd5.

44...Qe4
Much more active than 44...Qe5, when in the rook endgame Black would still have had to play
accurately.

The black queen is very actively placed here. In passing there is set a simple trap, into which
Taimanov unexpectely falls.
45.Qc7+ Kh6
XIIIIIIIIY
8r+-+-+-+0
7+-wQ-+-+p0
6-+-+-zppmk0
5+-+-+-+-0
4-+P+q+-+0
3+-+-+-+P0
2-+-+-+P+0
1+-+-+RmK-0
xabcdefghy
46.Rxf6??
Unbelievable! Had White really decided that the opponent, in his analysis, had simply
blundered a pawn?

46...Qd4+ 47.Rf2 Ra1+

White resigned.
(The annotations to the following game, by O. L. Moiseev are from Shakhmaty v SSSR (№ 9, 1971).
The translation from the original Russian is by Douglas Griffin.)

Fischer – Taimanov
6 match-game, Candidates’ Quarter-final, Vancouver, 1st June 1971
th

1.e4 c5 2.Nf3 Nc6 3.d4 cxd4 4.Nxd4 e6 5.Nb5 d6 6.Bf4 e5 7.Be3 Nf6 8.Bg5 Be6
In the 2nd game Taimanov played 8...Qa5+ and fell into a difficult position.

9.N1c3 a6 10.Bxf6 gxf6 11.Na3 Nd4

White obtains the better position in the variation 11...Qb6 12.Nc4 Qd4 13.Ne3 Bh6 14.Qf3.
XIIIIIIIIY
8r+-wqkvl-tr0
7+p+-+p+p0
6p+-zplzp-+0
5+-+-zp-+-0
4-+-snP+-+0
3sN-sN-+-+-0
2PzPP+-zPPzP0
1tR-+QmKL+R0
xabcdefghy
12.Nc4
On 12.Bc4 possible is the sharp continuation indicated by R. Fischer, 12...d5, or 12...b5 13.Bxe6
fxe6 14.Ne2 Nxe2 15.Qxe2 d5.

(Translator’s note: The move 12.Bc4 had been played by Fischer in his game v. Najdorf in the 2nd
Piatigorsky Cup (Santa Monica, 1966). Annotating that encounter in My 60 Memorable Games, he
gave the variation 12...d5! 13.Nxd5 (13.exd5 Bxa3 14.dxe6 Qa5) 13...Bxa3 14.bxa3 Qa5+ 15.Kf1
(15.c3 Bxd5 16.Bxd5 Qxc3+ 17.Kf1 Rc8!) 15...0–0–0 with active play. This idea is reminiscent of
the novelty that was later introduced by Petrosian in the 1st game of the Candidates' final in Buenos
Aires - 11...d5!.
Najdorf had instead continued 12...b5 13.Bxe6 fxe6 14.Ne2 Nc6? 15.Ng3 Qd7? (better,
according to Fischer, are 15...d5 or 15...Qa5+ 16.c3 b4) 16.c4 Nd4 17.0–0, and White stood clearly
better.)

12...f5
A necessary move. In the case of 12...Rc8 13.Ne3 Bh6 14.Bd3 and then 15.Qh5 White has an
unquestioned advantage.
 (Translator’s note: This variation had been given by Fischer in his analysis of the game v. Najdorf.
There he does not consider the move in the text, which, it may reasonably be assumed, was prepared
in advance by Taimanov for the present game.)

13.exf5 Nxf5 14.Bd3 Rc8 15.Bxf5 Rxc4

Clearly, more expedient is 15...Bxf5 16.Ne3 Bg6 with complicated play.

16.Bxe6 fxe6 17.Qe2!

The check at h5 would only have helped the black king to transfer to c8.

17...Rd4
Possibly, better was 17...Qc7, in order to later try to remove the king to the queen's flank.

18.0–0 Qg5
Forestalling the threat of 16.f4, which was unpleasant for Black.

19.Rad1 Qf5
It was better to exchange at d1.

20.Rxd4 exd4 21.Ne4 Be7 22.Rd1

XIIIIIIIIY
8-+-+k+-tr0
7+p+-vl-+p0
6p+-zpp+-+0
5+-+-+q+-0
4-+-zpN+-+0
3+-+-+-+-0
2PzPP+QzPPzP0
1+-+R+-mK-0
xabcdefghy
22...Qe5
Nor is 22...e5 of any help in view of 23.Rxd4, and impossible is 23...exd4 on account of
24.Nxd6+. Greater chances were retained by the variation indicated by Yu. Balashov, 22...Qb5
23.Qxb5+ axb5 24.Rxd4 d5 25.Ng3 b4.

23.Qd3 Rf8
On 23...d5 there follows 24.Nd2 followed by 25.Nf3.

In the concluding stage Fischer realises his advantage in clear fashion.

24.Qxd4 Qxd4 25.Rxd4 d5 26.Nc3 Bc5 27.Rd2 Rf4 28.g3 Rc4 29.Ne2 Ra4 30.a3 Kd7
31.Kg2 b5 32.c3 a5 33.Nd4 b4 34.Nb3 Bb6 35.axb4 axb4 36.c4 Kc6 37.c5! Bc7 38.Nd4+
Kd7 39.f4 e5 40.c6+ Kc8 41.Nb5 Ra2 42.f5 Bd8 43.Rxd5
XIIIIIIIIY
8-+kvl-+-+0
7+-+-+-+p0
6-+P+-+-+0
5+N+RzpP+-0
4-zp-+-+-+0
3+-+-+-zP-0
2rzP-+-+KzP0
1+-+-+-+-0
xabcdefghy
Here the game was adjourned and then Black resigned.

The sealed move was 43...Rxb2+. After 44.Kf3 White's passed pawns, together with the threat
of 45.Rd7, quickly decide the outcome.