[Event "Tal-Portisch Candidates Quarterfinal Match"]

[Site "Bled YUG"]

[Date "1965.06.28"]
[Round "2"]
[White "Mikhail Tal"]
[Black "Lajos Portisch"]
[Result "1-0"]
[ECO "B10"]
[EventDate "1965.06.26"]
[PlyCount "53"]
1.e4 c6 2.Nc3 d5 3.Nf3
{This is the 2 Knights Variation against the Caro Kann Defense. It is
a simple yet effective choice of dealing with the Caro Kann that does
not involve theory. }
3...dxe4
{3...d4 which I thought to give problems to white when I was a
beginner is not challenging at all. See Boleslavsky vs Kan 1944.
}
4.Nxe4 Bg4
{Exchanging his bishop as Black is planning on playing a setup with
most of his pawns on ligthsquares.}
( 4...Nf6 5.Nxf6+ gxf6 {Amazingly enoughthis is the most played line
according to my database. } )
5.h3 Bxf3 6.Qxf3 Nd7
{Portisch chooses a typical plan in the Caro Kann, reinforcing Ngf6
with the preparatory Nd7, keeping his pawn structure untouched.}
7.d4 Ngf6 8.Bd3 Nxe4 9.Qxe4 e6 10.O-O Be7 11.c3 Nf6 12.Qh4 Nd5 13.Qg4 Bf6
{Nice manouver by Black. Stopping c4.}
14.Re1
( 14.c4 Nb4 15.Be2 Nc2 16.Rb1 Qxd4 )
14...Qb6 15.c4!
{We just said c4 loses a pawn. What continuation did Tal see? Can you
spot it. Also, what you think isthe best defense for Black?}
15...Nb4
( 15...h5!! {Best defense. Kicking the queen from a square in which he
aims to e6.} 16.Qe2 Nb4?!
( 16...Ne7! {And black is doing fine, he will win a pawn next
move.} )
17.Bg6!! )
16.Rxe6+ fxe6 17.Qxe6+ Kf8
{Was this the best move?}
( 17...Kd8! {Best move. Surprisingly Black is doing ok and all White
gets is a draw.} 18.Qd6+ Ke8 19.Qe6+ Kd8 20.Qd6+ )
18.Bf4 Rd8 19.c5
( 19.Bd6+ Rxd6 20.Qxd6+ Kf7 {And again, white gets a draw at best.}
21.Qd7+
( 21.Re1 Nxd3 22.Qe6+ {What happens here?} 22...Kg6!! 23.Qe4+ Kh6
24.Qe3+ g5!! 25.Qxd3 Qxd4 26.Qxd4 Bxd4 {Winning.} )
21...Kf8 22.Qd6+ Kf7 23.Qd7+ )
19...Nxd3 20.cxb6 Nxf4 21.Qg4 Nd5 22.bxa7 Ke7?
{Portisch chooses the correct plan. Connecting the rooks is what needs
to be done, but fails to execute in the correct way. Can you see what
was the correct move?}
( 22...g6 23.Re1 Kg7 {And White probably has a small edge. Black's
coordination is very good. Surely better than what Portsich got.} )
23.b4!
{A minority attack! White is willing to temporaly lose a pawn with b5
at the cost of weakening the d5 square and Black's Pawn Structure.
(Note that c-file would also get open, with mate probably coming.)}

23...Ra8
( 23...Nxb4 24.Rb1 Rxd4
( 24...Nd5 25.Rxb7+ Kf8 26.Qe6 Be7 27.Rb8 Nc7 28.Qxc6 {Completely
losing.} )
25.Qg3 b5 26.Qb8 )
24.Re1+ Kd6 25.b5 Rxa7
( 25...cxb5 26.Qe6+ Kc7 27.Rc1+ )
26.Re6+ Kc7
( 26...Kd7 {What happens if here?} 27.Rxc6+ Kd8 28.Qc8+ Ke7 29.Qe6+
Kf8 30.Rc8+ Bd8 31.Rxd8# )
27.Rxf6 1-0