Tigran Petrosian (Russia)

World Chess Champion (1963 to 1969)

Playing Style: Positional player with best Defensive skills ever and master of
Prophylaxis
At his peak he was almost impossible to beat. Petrosian introduced the exchange sacrifice for the
sake of 'quality of position'.
 Petrosian – Bertok Stockholm Interzonal, 1962

1.d4 d5 2.c4 dxc4 3.Nf3 Nf6 4.Nc3 a6 5.e3 e6 6.Bxc4 c5 7.0–0 b5 8.Bb3 Bb7 9.Qe2
Nbd7 10.Rd1 Bd6 11.e4 cxd4 12.Rxd4 Bc5 [12...Qb8 13.Rxd6 Qxd6 14.e5 Bxf3
15.Qxf3 Qxe5 16.Bf4 After which White wins the rook on a8.]

13.Rd3 Ng4 [A natural and energetic response to the threat of e5.13...Qb8 Also
gains control of the e5 square.]

14.Bg5 [Developing the bishop with a gain of tempo.]

14...Qb6 [14...Bxf2+ 15.Kf1 Qb6 16.h3 when Black has to many pieces hanging.]

15.Nd5 [A powerful thrust made possible because the Black king hasn't found
time to castle.]

15...Qa5 [15...exd5 16.exd5+ Kf8 17.d6 Re8 18.Be7+ Kg8 19.Bxf7+ Kxf7 20.Ng5+
when Black finds himself in a mating net.]

16.Rf1 [Black's only threat is eliminated, and he is left with his king still in the
center.]

16...Rc8 17.Nf4 Nge5 18.Nxe5 Nxe5 19.Rh3 [Played with the idea of discouraging
Black from castling.]

19...Nc4 20.Rd1 Qb6 21.Nh5 Rg8 [21...O-O would be refuted by 22.Nf6+ gxf6
23.Bxf6 Rfd8 24.Rxh7 Kxh7 25.Qh5+ Kg8 26.Qh8+ Mate.]

22.Rhd3 Nd6 23.e5 Ne4 24.Be3 [24.Rd8+ Rxd8 25.Rxd8+ Qxd8 26.Bxd8 Kxd8
when Black's active pieces give him the initiative.]

24...Bxe3 25.Rxe3 Qc6 26.Qg4 Ke7 27.Rde1 f5 28.exf6+ gxf6 29.Qh3 [The White
queen eyes Black's weak e6–pawn for the final assault on the uncastled king.]

29...f5 30.f3 Ng5 31.Qxf5 Rcf8 32.Rxe6+ Nxe6 33.Rxe6+ Kd8 34.Qd3+ [Black
resigned as 34...Qd7 drops the queen to 35. Rd6.]
1–0
 Petrosian – Botvinnik World Championship, 1963

1.c4 g6 2.d4 Nf6 3.Nc3 d5 4.Nf3 Bg7 5.e3 0–0 6.Be2 dxc4 7.Bxc4 c5 8.d5 e6
9.dxe6 Qxd1+ 10.Kxd1 Bxe6 11.Bxe6 fxe6 12.Ke2 [A dynamic position has arisen.
True Black has an isolated e-pawn. However, this is compensated for by his
queenside pawn majority and slightly more active pieces.]

12...Nc6 13.Rd1 Rad8 [13...Kf7 Giving the e-pawn protection is preferable.]

14.Rxd8 Rxd8 15.Ng5 [A well disguised idea. The knight is actually heading to e4
but is currently attacking the e-pawn.]

15...Re8 16.Nge4 Nxe4 17.Nxe4 b6 18.Rb1 [Freeing the bishop from the defense
of the b-pawn.]

18...Nb4 19.Bd2 [The a-pawn is poisoned.]

19...Nd5 [19...Nxa2 20.Ra1 Nb4 21.Bxb4 cxb4 22.Rxa7 Bxb2 23.Rb7 Regains the
pawn while leaving Black with all the weaknesses.]

20.a4 [White restrains the enemy pawn majority.]

20...Rc8 21.b3 Bf8 [The Black bishop heads to e7 to keep the reins on the White
knight.]

22.Rc1 Be7 [22...Rc7 would have protected the Black rook and thus of broken the
pin.]

23.b4 c4 [23...Kf7 24.bxc5 bxc5 would leave Black with an isolated pawn at c5.]

24.b5 Kf7 25.Bc3 [Remember these three steps to winning an isolated pawn,
blockade, attack, destroy.]

25...Ba3 26.Rc2 Nxc3+ 27.Rxc3 Bb4 28.Rc2 Ke7 29.Nd2 c3 30.Ne4 Ba5 31.Kd3
Rd8+ 32.Kc4 Rd1 33.Nxc3 [White has followed through on his plan, blockade,
attack, destroy.]
33...Rh1 34.Ne4 [A deep move to understand with variations. The idea is that the
h2 pawn is insignificant compared with the dominant posts White gains for his
pieces.]

34...Rxh2 35.Kd4 Kd7 [Played to stop the White rook from penetrating to the 7th.
35...Rxg2 36.Rc7+ Ke8 37.Ke5 leaves the Black king in a mating net.]

36.g3 Bb4 37.Ke5 Rh5+ 38.Kf6 Be7+ 39.Kg7 e5 40.Rc6 Rh1 [White has an
overwhelming advantage because of his swarming pieces.]

41.Kf7 Ra1 42.Re6 Bd8 43.Rd6+ Kc8 44.Ke8 Bc7 45.Rc6 Rd1 46.Ng5 Rd8+ 47.Kf7
Rd7+ 48.Kg8 [Black resigned because he will be unable to save his kingside
pawns.]

1–0

Petrosian – Botvinnik World Championship, 1963

1.c4 g6 2.Nf3 Bg7 3.Nc3 e5 4.g3 Ne7 5.Bg2 0–0 6.d4 exd4 [6...exd4 gi ves up the
central pressure. Better was to retain the tension with 6...d6.]

7.Nxd4 Nbc6 8.Nxc6 Nxc6 [8...bxc6 would leave Black with doubled c-pawns and
three pawn islands to White's two pawn islands.]

9.0–0 d6 [9...Bxc3 1 0.bxc3 It's true Black has doubled the White c-pawns but at
the severe price of Black weakening the dark squares.]

10.Bd2 Bg4 [A subtle move. The idea is to force White to weaken his kingside with
11. h3.]

11.h3 Be6 12.b3 Qd7 [Due to Black's 10...Bg4 the queen now goes to d7 with a
double attack on the White h-pawn.]

13.Kh2 Rae8 14.Rc1 f5 [Black overestimates his chances on the kingside. Better
was 14...Ne7.14...Ne7 Controlling the central square of d5 was to be preferred.]
15.Nd5 [White wastes no time in occupying the critical d5 square.]

15...Kh8 16.Be3 Bg8 17.Qd2 Nd8 18.Rfd1 Ne6 19.Nf4 [A strong move which stops
the Black knight from reaching the e4 square via c5.]

19...Nxf4 20.Bxf4 Qc8 21.h4 Re7 22.Bf3 Bf7 23.Qa5 Be8 24.c5 [24.Qxa7 is lso
good as Bc6 25.Bxc6 bxc6 26.Bxd6 cxd6 27.Qxe7 would win the exchange.]

24...d5 [Black sets a positional trap.]

25.Bd6 [25.Rxd5 White avoided 25. Rxd5 as after Bc6 26.Rd2 Bxf3 27.exf3 White's
extra pawn would be a useless doubled one.]

25...Qd7 [25...cxd6 26.cxd6 Qd7 27.dxe7 Qxe7 would not only leave White an
exchange up, but allow the White rook to enter the seventh rank]

26.Bxe7 Qxe7 27.Rxd5 f4 28.Qd2 Bc6 29.Rd3 Bb5 30.Rd4 [White gives back the
exchange which forces an ending where he will be a pawn up.]

30...fxg3+ 31.fxg3 Bxd4 32.Qxd4+ Qg7 33.Qxg7+ Kxg7 34.Rc2 Re8 35.Kg2 Kf6
36.Kf2 Bc6 [Black enters into the rook and pawn ending.]

37.Bxc6 bxc6 38.Rc4 Ke5 39.Ra4 [A good move which ties down the Black rook to
the defence of the a-pawn.]

39...Ra8 40.Ra6 Kd5 41.b4 Kc4 42.a3 Kb5 43.Ra5+ Kc4 44.Ke3 a6 45.Kf4 [With
both of Black's pieces busy on the queenside, the White kings goes over to the
unprotected Black pawns on h7 and g6.]

45...Kd5 46.Kg5 Re8 47.Rxa6 Rxe2 48.Ra7 [Remember that rooks belong on the
seventh rank where the enemy pawns can't protect themselves.]

48...Re5+ 49.Kf4 Re7 50.Rb7 Ke6 51.a4 Kd7 52.Rb8 [A little finesse which keeps
the Black king from White's a pawn. Black resigned.]

1–0
 Petrosian – Botvinnik World Championship, 1963

1.c4 Nf6 2.Nc3 e6 3.Nf3 b6 4.g3 Bb7 5.Bg2 Be7 6.0–0 0–0 7.d4 Ne4 8.Qc2 Nxc3
9.Qxc3 f5 10.b3 Bf6 11.Bb2 d6 12.Rad1 Nd7 13.Ne1 Bxg2 14.Nxg2 Bg5 [14...Qe7
Finishing Black's development is also possible.]

15.Qc2 Bh6 16.e4 f4 17.Ne1 Qe7 [This move does nothing to stop White's play in
the center. Better was 17...Qg5.17...Qg5 18.e5 dxe5 19.dxe5 Nxe5]

18.e5 dxe5 19.dxe5 Rad8 20.Qe2 Qg5 21.Kg2 a5 22.Nf3 Qh5 23.Ba3 Rfe8
[23...Rf7 Followed up by pawn g5 would retain Black's attacking chances.]

24.Rd4 [With Black's kingside attack having been repulsed, White directs his
attention to the center.]

24...Nb8 25.Rfd1 Rxd4 26.Rxd4 fxg3 27.hxg3 [White stands better due to his
more active pieces and better pawn structure.]

27...Qf7 28.Qe4 g6 29.Qb7 Bg7 30.c5 [This thrust creates further holes in Black's
pawn structure.]

30...bxc5 31.Bxc5 Nd7 32.Qxc7 Nxe5 33.Qxf7+ Nxf7 34.Ra4 Bc3 35.Rc4 [35.Bd4
Also puts great pressure on Black's position.]

35...Bf6 36.Bb6 Ra8 37.Ra4 Bc3 38.Bd4 Bb4 39.a3 Bd6 [39...Be7 40.b4 Bd8 41.Bc3
Rc8 would put up more resistance.]

40.b4 Bc7 41.Bc3 Kf8 42.b5 [White creates a very strong passed pawn. 42.bxa5
was also good.]

42...Ke8 43.Rc4 Kd7 44.a4 Rc8 45.Nd2 Nd6 46.Rd4 Ke7 47.Rd3 Nb7 48.Ne4 [Black
can offer little resistance to White's protected passed pawn and more active
pieces.]

48...e5 49.Bb2 Bb6 50.Ba3+ Ke6 51.Ng5+ Kf5 52.Nxh7 e4 53.g4+ [53.Rd7 would
have been more active.]
53...Kf4 54.Rd7 Rc7 55.Rxc7 Bxc7 56.Nf6 Bd8 57.Nd7 Kxg4 58.b6 Bg5 59.Nc5
Nxc5 60.Bxc5 Bf4 61.b7 Bb8 62.Be3 g5 [62...Kf5 63.Kh3 g5 64.Bd2 Ke6 65.Kg4 Kd7
66.Bxg5 Kc7 67.Bf4+ Kxb7 68.Bxb8 Kxb8 69.Kf5 with a won king and pawn ending
for White.]

63.Bd2 Kf5 64.Kh3 Bd6 65.Bxa5 g4+ 66.Kg2 [Black resigned in view of White's
queenside pawns.]

1–0

Petrosian – Botvinnik World Championship, 1963

1.d4 Nf6 2.c4 g6 3.Nc3 d5 4.Qb3 dxc4 5.Qxc4 Bg7 6.e4 0–0 7.Be2 Nc6 8.Nf3 Nd7
9.Be3 Nb6 10.Qc5 [10.Qd3 f5 With chances for both sides.]

10...Bg4 11.d5 Nd7 12.Qa3 Bxf3 13.Bxf3 Nd4 14.0–0–0 Nxf3 15.gxf3 Nb6 [15...c6
Trying to open up lines to the White king is also possible.]

16.Qb3 Qd7 17.h4 [White starts his kingside attack.]

17...h5 18.f4 e6 19.dxe6 Qxe6 20.Qxe6 fxe6 21.Rhg1 Kh7 22.Nb5 [White stands
better in the endgame because of his more active pieces.]

22...Rf7 23.Nd4 Re8 [23...Bxd4 24.Rxd4 Re8]

24.Nf3 Bh6 25.Ng5+ Bxg5 26.Rxg5 Nc4 [26...Nc8 would be more defensive.]

27.Rdg1 [27.f5 would unleash the energy out of the White pieces after exf5
28.exf5 Rxf5 29.Rd7+ Kh8 30.Bd4+ Ne5 31.f4 winning the knight.]

27...Rg8 28.Kc2 [With no danger of being mated the White king moves to a more
active position.]

28...b6 [Black is wrong to place his queenside pawns on Black squares which the
enemy bishop can attack. 28...Nd6 Bringing the knight back to defend the
kingside.]
29.f3 a6 [With the idea of playing Rd7, Nf7 defending the kingside. While the
queenside pawns would be safer on the light squares.]

30.b3 Nd6 [f3 Rd7]

31.R5g2 [Rdd8 a4 Nf7 Bc1]

31...e5 [Be3 exf4 Bxf4 Rd7]

32.Rd2 [Rxd2+ Kxd2]

32...Rd8 [Ke2 c5 a5 White has a big advantage due to his queenside initiative and
passed e-pawn. Rd7 39... bxa5 40.Ra1 Rd7 41.Rxa5 Rb7 42.Rxc5 Rxb3 43.Rc7
winning material on the seventh rank . axb6 axb6]

33.Ra1 Kg7 [Ra6 Rb7 Ra8 Kf6 43...b5 44. Rc8 c4 45.b4 would leave Black helpless.
Rc8 Ne5 Ke3 Nd7 Rc6+ Kf7]

34.fxe5 [White's passed pawn marches ahead. Nf8]

34...Rf6 [Kg7 Ke4 b5 Rc6 Kf7 Rxc5 With the winning of this pawn the rest is a
matter of technique. Ne6]

35.Rd5 [Ke7 Be3]

35...Rb8 36.Rxd6 [b4 Ra6 Rb5 Ra7+ Ke8 f4]

36...Kf8 [f5 Black resigned because he is a pawn down with more losses on the
way.]

1–0
 Petrosian – Gipslis Soviet Championship, 1958

1.c4 Nf6 2.Nf3 e6 3.Nc3 c5 4.e3 d5 5.d4 Be7 6.cxd5 exd5 7.dxc5 [White has
succeeded in giving Black an isolated d-pawn.]

7...Bxc5 8.Be2 0–0 9.0–0 Nc6 10.b3 Be6 [10...d4 Trying to get rid of the isolated
pawn would fail to 11.Na4]

11.Bb2 Qe7 12.Nb5 [A key strategy against the isolated pawn is to post a piece in
front of it as no enemy pawn can drive it away. This is known as a blockade.]

12...a6 13.Nbd4 Nxd4 14.Nxd4 Ba3 [A mistake since every exchange will only
make the isolani weaker. Black should strive for middlegame complications with
14...Ne4. This targets the c3 square, which is vulnerable if the bishop moves from
b2.]
15.Qc1 [15.Bxa3 Qxa3 16.Qc1 White has a stronger position than in the game.]

15...Bxb2 16.Qxb2 Rac8 17.Rac1 h6 18.Bd3 Qd6 19.h3 [White is better since the
Black pieces are tied to the defence of the isolated pawn.]
19...Nd7 20.Nf5 Bxf5 21.Bxf5 g6 22.Bg4 h5 23.Bf3 Ne5 24.Be2 [A rather amusing
pawn configuration for Black. All his pawns are on White squares which of course
can be attacked by White's light squared bishop.]
24...Rxc1 25.Rxc1 Rd8 26.Rd1 Qf6 27.Qd4 Qe7 28.Qb6 Rd7 29.b4 [Played with
the idea of loosening up Black's queenside.]

29...Nc6 30.Bxa6 Nxb4 [30...bxa6 31.Qxc6]

31.Bb5 Rc7 32.a3 Nc2 33.Rxd5 Nxa3 34.Qd4 [Black has successfully parted with
his isolated d-pawn. However, new problems have arisen namely his vulnerable
back rank.]
34...Rc8 35.Bd3 [Threatening to gain a pawn with 36. Rd7.]
35...b5 36.Bxg6 [The 8th rank having been defended White turns his attention to
the seventh rank.]
36...fxg6 37.Rd7 Qf8 38.Qd5+ Kh8 39.Qe5+ Kg8 40.Qe6+ Kh8 [Black resigned as
mate would soon follow on 41. Qxg6.]

1–0
 Petrosian – Johansson Havana Olympiad, 1966

1.e4 c5 2.Nf3 d6 3.d4 cxd4 4.Nxd4 Nf6 5.Nc3 a6 6.Be2 e6 7.f4 Nc6 8.Be3 Qc7 9.0–
0 Bd7 10.Nb3 b5 [A typical position in the Sicilian Defense. Black attacks on the
queenside and White operates on the kingside and in the center.]

11.a3 Be7 12.Rf2 b4 13.axb4 [13.Na4 Nxe4 14.Nb6 Rb8 15.Rf3 Rxb6 16.Bxb6
Qxb6+ 17.Kh1 Nf2+ 18.Rxf2 Qxf2]

13...Nxb4 14.Bf3 Rc8 [Black continues to ignore the safety of the king.]

15.g4 h6 [This pawn thrust just gives White a target to attack. Better was O-O.]

16.g5 hxg5 17.fxg5 Nh7 18.Qd2 Nf8 [Black's pieces lack coordination due to his
king being stuck in the center.]

19.Qd4 [The double attack on Black's knight and g-pawn nets White material.]

19...Nc6 20.Qxg7 Rh7 21.Qg8 Ne5 22.Be2 Bc6 23.Rxa6 [White has the initiative
on the whole board.]

23...Rd8 [Now White wins with a nice combination.]

24.Rxc6 [This exchange sacrifice ends the game quickly.]

24...Nxc6 25.Bb5 [Black resig ned as he has no good response to White's many
threats. If you don't see the threats try defending against Gambit.]

1–0
 Petrosian – Korchnoi Candidates' Tournament, 1962
1.c4 c5 2.Nf3 Nf6 3.d4 cxd4 4.Nxd4 g6 5.Nc3 d5 6.Bg5 dxc4 7.e3 Qa5 [This early
queen sortie gives White the initiative. Better was to develop normally with
7...Bg7.7...Bg7 8.Bxc4 O-O 9.O-O a6 10.Qe2 b5 11.Bb3 Bb7 12. Rfd1 Qa5 13.e4
when White's centralized pieces give him the edge.]

8.Bxf6 [A strong move which doubles the Black f-pawns and secures the White
knight on d4.]

8...exf6 9.Bxc4 Bb4 [9...Bg7 10.O-O O-O 11.Nd5 Gives the advantage to White due
to, his well centralized minor pieces.]

10.Rc1 a6 [Black doesn't have time for this luxury. Better was castling.]

11.0–0 Nd7 [White stands much better due to, Black's backward development.]

12.a3 [White also had the more aggresive 12. Nd5.12.Nd5 Bd6 13.b4 Bxb4 14.Nb3
Wins material for White as Black has no way of answering both threats or 15 Nxb4
and Nc7+.]

12...Be7 [12...Bxc3 13.Rxc3 would also leave White standing better. Due to,
White's better development and better pawn structure.]

13.b4 Qe5 [13...Qxa3 14.Nd5 when White is threatening 15. Nc7+ or 15. Ra1.]

14.f4 [Black would go down quickly after 14...Qxe3+ 15. Kh1 due to the open king
file]

14...Qb8 15.Bxf7+ [With all of Black's pieces on the back two ranks, White is able
to start a winning attack.]

15...Kxf7 16.Qb3+ Ke8 [16...Kg7 17. Ne6+ Kh6 18.Rf3 g5 19.f5 when the Black king
would find himself in a mating net.]

17.Nd5 [Although, technically White is down a piece for a pawn, he has a winning
position. This is due to, Black's backward development.]

17...Bd6 18.Ne6 [White's pieces quickly move into the disorganized Black camp.]

18...b5 19.Ndc7+ Ke7 20.Nd4 [A perfect example of the saying "when you see a
good move look again, you may see a better one". White is in no hurry to gain
back material with 20. Nxa8 since the Black rook isn't going anywhere.]

20...Kf8 21.Nxa8 [Black resigned as 21...Qxa8 22. Qe6 Qb8 23 Nc6 Qc7 24 Ne7
would be hopeless.]

21...Qxa8 22.h4

1–0

Petrosian – Kupreichik Soviet Union, 1976

1.d4 d5 2.c4 c6 3.cxd5 cxd5 4.Nc3 Nf6 5.Nf3 Nc6 6.Bf4 e6 7.e3 Bd6 8.Bg3 [This
retreat allows White to recapture with the h-pawn and open a file in the event
that Black chooses to capture at g3.]

8...Ne4 [A violation of the opening principle that one should generally not move a
single piece twice in the opening before completing development.]

9.Nxe4 dxe4 10.Nd2 [Now Black has to worry about defending the weak pawn at
e4.]

10...Bxg3 11.hxg3 e5 12.dxe5 Qa5 [12...Nxe5 13.Qa4+ Nc6 14.Qxe4+]

13.Qb3 [White is w illing to give back the pawn at e5, in return for the right to
develop his pieces quickly.]

13...Qxe5 14.Be2 Qe7 [Black drops the queen back to defend the b-pawn, thus
freeing up the bishop. But the real problem is that he is behind in development.]

15.Rc1 0–0 [Black falls into a trap. Castling should be done early in the game, but
not after the h-file is already open!]
16.Nxe4 Qxe4 17.Bd3 Qb4+ [Perhaps Black counted on this move to solve his
problems. 17...Qxg2 18.Bxh7+ Kh8 19.Be4+ Qxh1+ 20.Bxh1]

18.Qxb4 Nxb4 19.Bxh7+ Kh8 20.Bb1+ [White has two pawns for the piece but
more importantly his pieces are in no position to defend the king because they
have never entered the game.]

20...Kg8 21.Rc4 [Black probably missed this rook lift when he castled. White's idea
is to play Rch4 and Rh8 mate.]

21...a5 22.Bh7+ Kh8 23.Bf5+ [Black resigned as mate in unavoidable.]

1–0

Petrosian – Minic Sarajevo, 1972

1.c4 g6 2.d4 Bg7 3.Nc3 c5 4.d5 d6 5.e4 Nf6 [After 5 moves we have reached a
position from the King's Indian Defense.]

6.Bd3 0–0 7.Bg5 h6 8.Bd2 e6 [Black adopts the strategy of the Modern Benoni
opening.]

9.h3 exd5 10.exd5 Re8+ 11.Nge2 a6 [11...Na6 This might be better, moving the
knight to c7 before occupying a6.]

12.a4 [A preventative move with the idea of discouraging Black's intended pawn
b5.]

12...Nfd7 13.f4 [This is not only a kingside attacking move but a positional move
which takes away the e5 square from the Black pieces.]

13...Qh4+ [This check does not accomplish anything, since White's king is better
off at f1 than on the exposed e-file. 13...Nf8 may be the best move at this point.]

14.Kf1 b6 15.Qe1 Qd8 16.g4 a5 17.Qg3 Nf6 18.f5 [With the Black knight no longer
able to go to e5 White immediately launches a kingside attack.]

18...Nbd7 [Black sacrifices a pawn for play down the f-file.]

19.fxg6 fxg6 20.Bxg6 Rf8 21.Kg2 [The king could be in danger on the f-file, since
there is a Black rook at f8.]

21...Ne5 22.Bd3 Ra7 [22...Nxd3 23.Qxd3 Bxg4 24.hxg4 Nxg4 Black is attacking
with just a knight, supported by a rook, but the queen cannot help out: 25.Raf1
Rxf1 26.Rxf1 Qh4 27.Qh3]

23.Nf4 Raf7 24.Be2 Nh7 [Black wants to move this knight to g5.]

25.Rhf1 Nf6 [But now it returns back home. 25...Ng5 26.h4 Nh7 27.Ne6 Bxe6
28.dxe6 Rxf1 29.Rxf1 Rxf1 30.Bxf1 Qe7 31.Nd5 Qxe6 32.Be2 Nd7 33.Bd3 Bxb2
34.Bf5 Qf7 35.Qxd6]

26.Rae1 Re7 27.b3 Rfe8 28.Bd1 Nf7 29.Rxe7 Rxe7 30.Be2 [Black resigned
because he is material down and without counterplay. At this level of competition
that is more than sufficient reason.]

1–0

Petrosian – Olafsson Candidates' Tournament, 1959

1.d4 Nf6 2.c4 e6 3.Nc3 Bb4 4.Nf3 c5 5.e3 0–0 6.Be2 b6 7.0–0 Bb7 [This is a typical
hypermodern handling of the opening by Black, who has indirect pressure on the
center.]

8.Na4 cxd4 9.exd4 Be7 10.a3 [A useful move which prepares to gain space on the
queenside with pawn b4 and then fianchetto the queen bishop.]

10...Ne4 [An excellent central post for the knight.]

11.b4 f5 12.Bb2 Bf6 [Perhaps better was an immediate 12...d6 with the idea of
reinforcing the knight with Nbd7, Ndf6.]
13.Qb3 d6 14.Nc3 [White brings his out of play knight back into the game.]

14...Qe7 15.Rad1 Nd7 16.Nxe4 fxe4 [Black is fully justified in doubling his e-
pawns because of the play down the newly opened f-file.]

17.Ne1 Bg5 18.Nc2 Rf7 [Black prepares to double his rooks on the f-file.]

19.Bc1 Bxc1 20.Rxc1 Raf8 [An interesting position has arisen with White having
an advantage on the queenside, while Black's pieces have been building up on the
kingside.]

21.Ne3 Ba8 [21...Qg5 would have been more to the point.]

22.Rc2 Kh8 23.a4 [While Black's last two moves have done little to further his
kingsideadvantage. White has followed a consistent plan on the queenside.]

23...Qg5 24.Qa3 Rf6 25.Ra2 h5 26.a5 Bb7 27.Qc3 R8f7 28.axb6 axb6 [Take notice
of Black's wrecked pawn structure. The weak pawns will be especially hard to
defend in the endgame.]

29.g3 Nf8 30.h4 Qh6 31.Ng2 g5 32.hxg5 Qxg5 33.Qe3 Qg7 34.Bxh5 Rc7 35.Be2
Rh6 36.f4 exf3 37.Bxf3 Qxg3 [Black resigned. 37...Qxg3 Black resigned in view
of...]

38.Qxh6+ Nh7 39.Bxb7 Rxb7 40.Rf8+

1–0
 Petrosian – Schmid Zurich, 1961

1.d4 c5 2.d5 d6 3.c4 g6 4.Nc3 Bg7 5.e4 Nf6 6.Be2 0–0 7.Nf3 e6 8.0–0 exd5 9.cxd5
[The Modern Benoni is a very sharp opening, thanks to the precarious central
formation.]

9...Re8 10.Nd2 Na6 11.f3 Nc7 12.a4 b6 13.Nc4 [Even though many moves have
been played, both combatants are well-prepared, and had been studying these
formations.]

13...Ba6 14.Bg5 Bxc4 15.Bxc4 a6 16.Kh1 [If the game opens up the king will be
safer tucked away in the corner.]

16...Rb8 17.Qe2 Qc8 18.Bf4 Bf8 19.Rab1 Nh5 [19...b5 20.axb5 axb5 21.Nxb5 Nxb5
22.Bxb5 White would win a pawn and have an attack on the Black rook.]

20.Bd2 [White has developed his pieces for play on either wing, depending on
what plan Black chooses.]
20...f5 21.g4 [Black will find his pieces lack coordination to defend against the
direct kingside attack.]
21...Nf6 [21...fxg4 22.fxg4 Ng7 23.Rf2 when Black would be defenceless on the f-
file.]

22.gxf5 [The open g-file will be the key to White's success in this game.]

22...gxf5 23.Rg1+ Kh8 24.Rg3 [White prepares to double rooks on the g-file.]
24...Re7 25.Rbg1 Rg7 26.e5 [This central break allows all the White pieces to
participate in the attack. While his counterparts can only watch on helplessly out
of play.]

26...dxe5 27.Qxe5 Nce8 28.Rxg7 Bxg7 29.Rxg7 [White sacrifices the exchange
which allows the White queen and bishops to weave a mating net.]

29...Kxg7 30.Qe7+ Kg6 31.d6 [Black resigned. 31.d6 Qb7 32.Qe3 when Black's king
cannot escape.]

1–0
 Petrosian – Smyslov Soviet Championship, 1961

1.c4 Nf6 2.Nc3 e6 3.Nf3 b6 4.d4 Bb7 5.a3 d5 6.cxd5 Nxd5 7.e3 [Petrosian was
successful with this line but it didn't become popular until Kasparov took it up in
the 1980s.]
7...Be7 8.Bb5+ c6 9.Bd3 c5 10.Nxd5 Qxd5 11.dxc5 Qxc5 12.Bd2 Nc6 13.Rc1 Qd6
14.Qc2 Rc8 15.0–0 h6 [This weakens the Black kingside. 15...Bf6 Followed by g6
would be less weakening.]
16.Rfd1 0–0 17.Bc3 Qb8 18.Qa4 [The queen prepares to switch over to the
kingside attack.]
18...Rfd8 19.Qe4 [White forces another weakening in the Black pawn structure
due to the threat of Qh7+.]
19...g6 [Look at this position. All Black's pieces are on the queenside, and the king
stands naked in the corner. White will destroy the Black fortress with a strong
attack, using his better-placed pieces.]

20.Qg4 h5 [20...Kh7 21.Bxg6+ fxg6 22.Qxe6 Gives White a winning attack.]

21.Qh3 f5 [Played with the idea of stopping White from playing pawn g4.
However, Black has new problems on the a2–g8 diagonal.]
22.Bc4 Rxd1+ 23.Rxd1 Kf7 24.e4 [After this central break Black's position
collapses .]
24...Qf4 25.Re1 Qg4 26.exf5 [White sacrifices his bishop in order to break open
Black's king position.]
26...Qxc4 [26...gxf5 27.Bxe6+ Kf8 28.Bxc8]
27.fxg6+ Ke8 [Now White has a powerful passed pawn, which also helps the
attack by covering the f7–square. 27...Kxg6 28.Rxe6+ Kf7 29.Rxc6 Qxc6 30.Ne5+
when White wins the queen.]
28.g7 e5 [28...Kd7 29.Rd1+ Kc7 30.Qg3+ Wins material for White.]

29.Qxh5+ Kd7 30.Rd1+ Bd6 31.Bxe5 Nd4 [31...Nxe5 32.Nxe5+]

32.Nxd4 [Black resigned. 32.Nxd4 Bxe5 33.Nf3+ Bd6 34.Ne5+ would win the Black
queen.]

1–0
 Petrosian – Suetin Soviet Championship, 1960

1.c4 c5 2.Nf3 Nf6 3.Nc3 Nc6 4.e3 e6 5.d4 d5 6.cxd5 exd5 7.Be2 a6 8.0–0 c4 9.Ne5
Qc7 [9...Bd6 is correct, so that Black can castle quickly.]

10.Nxc6 Qxc6 11.b3 b5 [11...Bb4, was better, developing the bishop with tempo
while preparing to castle.]

12.bxc4 bxc4 13.e4 [With the Black king in the center, this explosive pawn thrust
gives White an advantage.]

13...dxe4 [Opening up the position with his king in the center is a mistake.]

14.Bg5 Bf5 [14...Be7 15.Bxf6 Bxf6 16.Nxe4 O-O 17.d5 Qb6 18.Rb1 Qd4 19.Nxf6+
Qxf6 20.Bxc4 White has won a pawn but the Black king is safe.]

15.d5 Qc7 16.Bxf6 gxf6 [White has a winning position due to Black's wrecked
pawn structure and vulnerable king.]

17.Bg4 Bxg4 18.Qxg4 Qe5 19.Nxe4 f5 20.Qh5 0–0–0 [20...Qxe4 21.Rfe1 wins the
queen.]

21.Nd2 c3 22.Nc4 Qd4 23.Qxf5+ Rd7 24.Ne5 [Black resigned due to the pinning of
his rook.]

1–0
 Petrosian – Venalainen Nice Olympiad, 1974

1.c4 c5 2.Nf3 g6 3.d4 cxd4 4.Nxd4 Nf6 5.Nc3 Bg7 6.e4 d6 [By transpos ition we
have reached a Sicilian Defense, the Maroczy Bind Variation where White's twin
pillars at e4 and c4 restrict Black's options, but the bishop at g7 can become
powerful.]

7.Be2 0–0 8.0–0 Nc6 9.Be3 Bd7 10.Qd2 a6 11.f3 Qa5 12.Nb3 Qd8 [Black has
invested some time in luring the White knight away from d4.]
13.Rfd1 b6 14.Rac1 [White stands better due to his better development and bind
on the light squares.]
14...Rb8 15.Kh1 [If the position opens up White's king will be safer tucked away in
the corner.]

15...Be6 16.Nd5 Nd7 [16...Bxd5 17.cxd5 Na7 18.Bxa6]

17.Nd4 [White's central superiority is obvious.]

17...Nxd4 18.Bxd4 Bxd4 19.Qxd4 Re8 20.Rc3 [The rook lift is an important
prelude to White's coming kingside attack.]

20...Qc8 21.f4 Qc5 22.Qd2 Rbc8 23.Rdc1 Qf2 24.Rf1 Qh4 25.f5 Bxd5 26.exd5
[Black resigned as he is defenseless against the White attack on the h-file. For
example:]

26...Ne5 27.fxg6 hxg6 28.Rh3 Qe4 29.Qh6

1–0
 Petrosian – Zaitsev Soviet Union, 1966

1.c4 Nf6 2.Nc3 g6 3.e4 d6 4.d4 Bg7 5.Be2 0–0 6.Nf3 e5 7.d5 Nh5 8.g3 [Played
with the idea of stopping Black's intended 8...Nf4]

8...f5 9.exf5 Qf6 [9...gxf5 9...gxf5 would drop a pawn after 10.Nxe5 dxe5 11.Bxh5]

10.Ng5 [A very strong move whose purpose is two-fold. First, White is threatening
to win a pawn with 11. Bxh5 gxh5 12. Qxh5. Secondly, The knight is looking to
penetrate the Black camp at e6.]

10...Qxf5 11.0–0 Nf6 12.Bd3 Qg4 13.Be2 Qf5 14.f3 Bh6 15.Bd3 Qd7 16.Ne6
[White has a big advantage due to his powerful knight on e6 and Black's
undeveloped queenside.]

16...Bxc1 17.Qxc1 [17.Nxf8 Be3+ 18.Kh1 Kxf8 when Black stands better due to his
materialadvantage of two pieces for the rook.]

17...Rf7 18.f4 [With Black's queenside out of the game White wastes no time on
his kingside attack. The remainder of the game is pretty much forced.]

18...exf4 19.Qxf4 Nxd5 [Perhaps Black hoped that White would not notice either
of the attacks on his queen.]

20.Qxf7+ Qxf7 21.Rxf7 Bxe6 22.Nxd5 Bxd5 23.Rxc7 [Black resigned due to his
material deficit.]

1–0
Averbakh – Petrosian Soviet Championship, 1959

1.e4 c5 2.Nf3 d6 3.d4 cxd4 4.Nxd4 Nf6 5.Nc3 a6 6.Be2 e5 [This is a v ariation of
the Sicilian Defense where Black allows a weakness at d5, for which there will be
some compensation later.]

7.Nb3 Be7 8.0–0 0–0 9.Bg5 Be6 10.Bxf6 Bxf6 11.Nd5 [White has a strong outpost
on d5, but it can be eliminated at any time by capturing on d5.]

11...Nd7 12.Qd3 Rc8 13.c3 Bg5 14.Rad1 Kh8 15.Bf3 g6 16.Ne3 Rc6 17.Rfe1 Nf6
[Black has a backward d-pawn, but it is well protected by the rook. Black stands
better with his more active pieces and pending minority attack on the queenside.]

18.Qe2 b5 [The idea is that the control of the open file allows the b-pawn to
advance and disrupt the White queenside.]

19.Ra1 [19.Nd5 Bxd5 20.exd5 Rc4 when Black stands better on both wings.]

19...Qb6 20.Nd2 a5 21.Ndf1 [Black starts the minority attack rolling.]

21...Rfc8 22.a3 b4 [The key thrust!]

23.cxb4 axb4 24.a4 [White has a passed pawn but it is useless.]

24...Qa7 25.Red1 Ra6 26.Rd3 [26.Nd5 Bxd5 27.exd5 Rxa4 28.Rxa4 Qxa4 29.Bg4
Nxg4 30.Qxg4 Rc5 31.Qxg5 Qxd1]

26...b3 27.a5 Rcc6 28.Qd1 Qc7 29.Nd5 Bxd5 30.exd5 Rc5 31.Rxb3 Raxa5 32.Rxa5
Rxa5 [Black's minority attack has left White with 3 pawn islands to Black's one.
While, White has two isolated pawns that can be attacked, Black's queen pawn is
safely tucked away.]

33.Rc3 Qb6 34.Rb3 Qa7 35.Rb4 Kg7 36.h4 Bh6 37.b3 [37.g3 Not giving up the
seventh rank offered more resistance.]

37...Ra2 38.Qe1 Qa5 39.Qb1 Ra1 40.Rb5 Qc3 [White resigned because his queen
has been trapped.] 0–1
 Botvinnik – Petrosian World Championship, 1963

1.d4 d5 2.c4 e6 3.Nc3 Be7 4.cxd5 exd5 5.Bf4 c6 6.e3 Bf5 7.g4 Be6 8.h3 Nf6 9.Nf3
Nbd7 10.Bd3 Nb6 11.Qc2 Nc4 12.Kf1 [The White king will find safety on the g2
square.]
12...Nd6 13.Nd2 Qc8 14.Kg2 Nd7 15.f3 [15.Bxh7 g6 16.Bxg6 fxg6 17.Bxd6 Bxd6
18.Qxg6+ Ke7 The piece would be more valuable than the three pawns.]
15...g6 16.Rac1 [16.e4 gaining key central ground was better.]
16...Nb6 17.b3 Qd7 18.Ne2 Ndc8 [Black's idea is to oppose the powerful bishop
on f4, with Bd6. While the knight heads towards e7.]
19.a4 a5 20.Bg3 Bd6 21.Nf4 Ne7 22.Nf1 h5 [Now that Black has the center under
control, he gains ground on the flank.]
23.Be2 h4 24.Bh2 g5 25.Nd3 Qc7 26.Qd2 Nd7 27.Bg1 [White is wrong to run from
the fight. As Black now has possession of the b8–h2 diagonal.]
27...Ng6 28.Bh2 Ne7 [This move can be explained by the match standing. Black
was willing to take a draw by repeating the position over and over.]
29.Bd1 b6 30.Kg1 f6 31.e4 Bxh2+ 32.Qxh2 Qxh2+ 33.Rxh2 Rd8 34.Kf2 Kf7 35.Ke3
Rhe8 36.Rd2 Kg7 37.Kf2 dxe4 38.fxe4 Nf8 39.Ne1 Nfg6 40.Ng2 Rd7 [A dynamic
pos ition. The question is whether White's center pawns are strong or targets for
the Black pieces to attack.]
41.Bc2 Bf7 42.Nfe3 c5 43.d5 Ne5 44.Rf1 [44.Nc4 challenging the Black knight on
e5 was a better choice.]
44...Bg6 45.Ke1 [45.Nc4]
45...Nc8 46.Rdf2 Rf7 47.Kd2 Nd6 [The Black knights have set up a powerful
blockade and soon advance with decisive effect.]
48.Nf5+ Bxf5 49.exf5 c4 [The White pieces, consisting of a bad bishop, two
inactive rooks and a knight that is out of play, can only watch as the queenside is
torn apart.]
50.Rb1 b5 51.b4 c3+ [Black clears the c-file for the decisive attack.]
52.Kxc3 Rc7+ 53.Kd2 Nec4+ 54.Kd1 Na3 55.Rb2 Ndc4 56.Ra2 axb4 57.axb5 Nxb5
[The Black knights rule the board.]
58.Ra6 Nc3+ 59.Kc1 Nxd5 60.Ba4 Rec8 61.Ne1 Nf4 [Faced with multiple threats
White resigned.]

0–1
 Czerniak – Petrosian Belgrade, 1954

1.e4 c5 2.Nf3 d6 3.c3 Nf6 4.Qc2 Qc7 5.d3 g6 6.Be2 [White is playing the opening
with no ambition whatsoever, and Black achieves a comfortable game
effortlessly.]

6...Bg7 7.0–0 0–0 8.h3 b6 9.Bf4 Nbd7 10.Nbd2 Bb7 11.Bh2 e5 12.Nh4 [12.Nc4
would be more solid.]
12...d5 [After White has taken a piece away from the center, Black wastes no time
in grabbing the initiative.]

13.f4 [13.Nhf3 White should admit his last move was a mistake and bring the
knight back into play.]

13...exf4 14.Bxf4 Qd8 15.Nhf3 Re8 16.Rad1 [White uses -on-man" coverage by
setting up an opposition between this rook and the enemy queen. This indirectly
prevents Black from taking the e- pawn.]
16...c4 [White will be unable to maintain his center against the powerful blows
being hammered upon it. 16...dxe4 17.Nxe4 Nxe4 18.dxe4 Bxe4 19.Qa4 Bf5
20.Bb5]
17.e5 cxd3 18.Bxd3 Nh5 19.Bg5 Qc7 20.Bb5 Qc5+ 21.Nd4 [With this blockade
White locks the Bb7 out of the game.]
21...Rxe5 [Black has won a pawn. However, some tactical complications come
with it.]
22.N2f3 Rxg5 23.Bxd7 [23.Nxg5 Bxd4+ 24.Rxd4 Qxb5 25.Rxf7 Rf8 26.Rxf8+ Nxf8
27.Qf2 Qd7]
23...Rg3 24.Qf2 Qc7 25.Bg4 Nf6 [25...Re8 26.Bxh5 gxh5 27.Nf5]
26.Nb5 Qb8 27.Nh2 h5 28.Bf3 Rg5 [The main tactics are over with Black keeping
his pawn advantage.]
29.Rfe1 a6 30.Na3 [The White knights are misplaced away from the center.]
30...Qc7 31.c4 Ne4 32.Qe3 Bh6 33.Qd4 Bf8 [White has no way out of the coming
pin.]

34.Qe3 Bc5 35.Rd4 Re8 36.Nc2 Rge5 37.Qh6 Ng5 38.Qxg5 Bxd4+ 39.Nxd4 Rxe1+
40.Nf1 [White resigned as Black is two exchanges ahead.]

0–1
 Kasparov – Petrosian Moscow, 1981

1.d4 Nf6 2.c4 e6 3.Nf3 b6 4.a3 [I am playing the Petrosian variation of the
Queen's Indian Defense, so named after my opponent who popularized it for
White!]

4...Bb7 5.Nc3 d5 6.cxd5 Nxd5 [6...exd5, not giving up control of the center so
easily, is also playable.]

7.e3 Be7 8.Bb5+ [Played to disrupt my opponent's normal development.]

8...c6 9.Bd3 Nxc3 10.bxc3 c5 11.0–0 0–0 12.Qc2 [White weakens Black's kingside
before advancing in the center with e4.]

12...g6 13.e4 Nc6 [Played with the intention of putting pressure on White's d-
pawn.]

14.Bh6 Re8 15.Rfd1 Qc7 [15...cxd4 16.cxd4 Nxd4 17.Nxd4 Qxd4 allows White to
win material.]

16.Qe2 Red8 17.Qe3 [Played in order to protect the d-pawn while eyeing the dark
squares around Black's king.]

17...e5 [A committal move which gives White a passed d-pawn. However, Black
believes it will do no harm since he can easily set up a blockade. 17...Rd7 18.Bf4
Qd8 19.Bb5 is better for White because of the pressure his bishops exert on the
Black position.]

18.d5 Na5 [This posit ion reminds me of the Grunfeld Defense, where Black also
allows a passed d-pawn.]

19.c4 [Otherwise Black will expand on the queenside with 19...c4.]

19...Nb3 20.Ra2 f6 21.h4 Bc8 22.Rb1 Nd4 23.Nxd4 cxd4 24.Qg3 Bf8 25.Bd2
[Although both sides have protected passed pawns, White also has a kingside
initiative.]
25...Bd6 26.Rf1 Qg7 27.a4 [White plays on both sides of the board in order to
spread the Black pieces away from their king.]

27...a5 28.Rb2 Bc5 29.f4 [With the Black bishop on c5 this advance is more
powerful.]

29...Bd7 30.h5 [Played with a pawn sacrifice in order to break through on the
kingside.]

30...Bxa4 31.h6 Qc7 [31...Qxh6 32.fxe5]

32.f5 g5 [32...Qf7 33.fxg6 hxg6 34.Bg5 is good for White thanks to the pin on the
f-file.]

33.Bxg5 [An interesting sacrifice which unfortunately I did not follow up

correctly.]

33...fxg5 34.Qxg5+ Kf8 35.Qf6+ [A mistake. Correct was 35.f6. (It should be noted
that I was in serious time trouble.) Then 35...Qf7 is forced otherwise White will
play 36.f7. So now 36.Qxe5 Re8 37.Qg5 Qg6 38.Rf5 Qxg5 39.Rxg5 when White's
three passed pawns prove decisive.]

[35.f6 Qf7 36.Qxe5 Re8 37.Qg5 Qg6 38.Rf5 Qxg5 39.Rxg5]

35...Ke8 36.Ra1 Qe7 37.Qe6 [37.Qxe7+ Kxe7 38. Rxa4 Rd6 would retain drawing
chances because of the opposite colored bishops.]

37...Rd6 38.Qg8+ Qf8 39.Qg3 Qxh6 40.Rxa4 Qc1+ 41.Kf2 Qxb2+ [White resigned.]

0–1
 Kasparov – Petrosian Tilburg, 1981

1.d4 d5 2.c4 dxc4 3.Nf3 Nf6 4.e3 Bg4 5.Bxc4 e6 6.h3 Bh5 7.Nc3 a6 8.g4 Bg6 9.Ne5
Nbd7 10.Nxg6 hxg6 11.Bf1 c6 12.Bg2 Qc7 13.0–0 Be7 14.f4 Nb6 15.g5 Nfd7
16.Qg4 0–0–0 [I have emerged from the opening with a clear advantage and can
attack the queenside at will and with abandon -- or so I thought!]

17.Rb1 Kb8 18.b4 Nd5 19.Na4 f5 20.Qg3 Nxb4 [How dare he! Well, Petrosian was
a great player and achieved the highest award holding the World Championship
title. Still, it is hard to believe that one can open up a file that leads directly to the
king.]

21.Bd2 Nd5 22.Rfc1 Ka7 23.Qe1 Ba3 24.Rc2 [Black has plenty of pieces to help
defend the king. Still, I had plenty of confidence in my attacking position.]

24...Qd6 25.Rb3 Qe7 26.Qe2 Rb8 27.Qd3 [Finally my queen has taken up an
active post.]

27...Bd6 28.Nb2 Rhc8 29.Nc4 Bc7 30.a4 [I am ready to advance the pawn to a5.]

30...b5 [A desperate move, but a very strong one.]

31.axb5 cxb5 32.Ra2 [Black cannot afford to capture the knight, becuase it would
leave the king trapped on the edge of the board. If you don't believe me, capture
the knight and play against Gambit at tournament strength. You won't last long!]

32...Kb7 [An incredible move which had a tremendous psychological effect on me.
I just couldn't find a way to get at the enemy king and chose a bad plan. But the
position continued to haunt me, and back in Moscow I finally worked it out.]

33.Bb4 [This is so natural, but what I really needed to do was swing my knight to
this square and break in the center. 33.Na3 Bb6 34.Nc2 Ra8 35.Nb4 Qd6 36.e4
fxe4 37.Qxe4 Ra7 38.Qxg6 Bxd4+ 39.Kh1 N7b6 40.f5 Well, I didn't see this far in
the game.]

33...Qe8 34.Bd6 Ra8 35.Qb1 [Now I was beginning to get worried. I figured that I
could just swim for a bit, placing my pieces on better squares and eventually
coming up with some brilliant combination. But Petrosian came up with a
shocker...]

35...Kc6 [What a great move! The king boldly leaves the safety of the fortress and
goes out into the exposed area controlled by White's army, But suddenly that
army seems to be in disarray. My pieces are not coordinated and I have no plan.]

36.Rba3 [A bad move. Now instead of winning the game, I lose quickly.]

36...bxc4 37.Rxa6+ Rxa6 38.Rxa6+ Bb6 39.Bc5 Qd8 [Black has defended well and
has an extra piece.]

40.Qa1 Nxc5 41.dxc5 Kxc5 [It is only fitting that the Black monarch have the final
word, so I resigned. The moral of the story is that you need nerves of steel to
defend. If you can keep your head, then you might just find an effective
counterattack.]

42.Ra4

0–1
 Milner Barry – Petrosian Great Britian vs USSR, 1954

1.e4 c5 2.Nf3 d6 3.d4 cxd4 4.Nxd4 Nf6 5.Nc3 a6 6.Be2 e5 7.Nb3 Be7 8.0–0 0–0
9.f4 b5 [A typical reaction to White's kingside play.]

10.fxe5 dxe5 11.Bg5 [11.Qxd8 Rxd8 12.Bg5 b4 13.Nd5 Nxd5]

11...Nbd7 12.Bd3 [12.Nd5 Nxd5 13.Qxd5 Bxg5 14.Qxa8 Qb6+ 15.Kh1 Bb7 would
trap the White queen.]

12...b4 [12...Bb7 Finishing his development is also good.]

13.Ne2 a5 14.Ng3 a4 15.Nd2 Nc5 16.Nc4 Be6 [A mistake which should cost Black
the initiative. 16...Ne6 17.Bd2 Qc7 when Black dominates the dark squares.]

17.Bxf6 [A very grave mistake. White parts with his good bishop and is left
defenceless on the dark squares. 17.Nf5 Bxf5 18.Rxf5 With chances for both
sides.]

17...Bxf6 18.Qe2 g6 19.Rad1 Bg5 [Black's king bishop takes control of the dark
squares.]

20.Qf2 Qc7 21.Be2 Rfd8 22.b3 Rxd1 23.Rxd1 axb3 24.axb3 Ra2 [The occupation
of the seventh rank is always a good idea. Now the pawn at c2 is a target, despite
the fact that the c-file is closed.]

25.Qe1 Qb8 26.Bd3 h5 [With pressure on both wings White's position collapses.]

27.Nf1 Nxd3 28.cxd3 Bg4 [With this move Black wins material and the game. The
control of the seventh rank limits the squares available to the White pieces.]

29.Ra1 Qa7+ [White resigned.]

0–1
 Tal – Petrosian Candidates Curacao, 1962

1.e4 e6 2.d4 d5 3.Nc3 Nf6 4.Bg5 dxe4 5.Nxe4 Nbd7 6.Nxf6+ Nxf6 7.Nf3 c5 8.Qd3
Be7 9.Bxf6 Bxf6 10.Qb5+ [A bad move which wastes time while developing the
Black pieces.]

10...Bd7 11.Qxb7 [Vulnerable b-pawns are often referred to as poisoned pawns

because the time wasted in capturing them is often used by the opponent to
develop forces and punish the greedy consumer.]

11...Rb8 12.Qxa7 Rxb2 13.Bd3 [White gives back the extra pawn fearing the Black
bishop on f6. Now we see how the pawn he ate earlier turns out to be
"poisoned".]

13...cxd4 14.0–0 Bc6 [The tactics have cleared with Black standing better thanks
to his two center pawns.]

15.Qa3 [White desperately tries to keep the Black king from castling.]

15...Qb6 16.Bc4 Rb4 [A good move which blocks the White queen from the a3–f8
diagonal.]

17.Qd3 0–0 18.a3 Ra4 19.Rfd1 Qa7 20.Ra2 Rxc4 [White resigned as 21. Qxc4 Bd5
followed by Bxa2 would leave White a piece down.]

0–1
 Timman – Petrosian Las Palmas Interzonal, 1982

1.d4 d5 2.c4 dxc4 3.Nf3 Nf6 4.Nc3 c6 5.a4 Bg4 6.Ne5 Bh5 7.f3 [The idea i s to
build a strong pawn center but this plan makes it very hard for White to castle.]

7...Nfd7 8.Nxc4 e5 [A temporary pawn sacrifice which allows Black to develop

quickly and take over the initiative.]

9.Nxe5 Nxe5 10.dxe5 Nd7 11.f4 Bb4 12.Qc2 Qe7 [Played with the idea of gaining
the e4 square after 13...f6 14 exf6 Nxf6.]

13.e4 g5 14.Be2 [14.g4 Bxg4 15.Rg1 h5 16.h3 Qc5 17.Rg3 gxf4 when Black is
winning because of White's shattered position.]

14...gxf4 15.e6 [This pawn th rust is to ambitious. 15.Bxh5 Qh4+ 16.Qf2 Qxh5
17.Bxf4 was a better way to play.]

15...Qh4+ 16.Kf1 [16.g3 fxg3 17.exd7+ Ke7 leaves Black with an overwhelming
position.]

16...Bxe2+ 17.Qxe2 fxe6 [Black has a won game due to his material advantage
and White's exposed king.]

18.Qf2 Qe7 19.e5 Nxe5 20.Bxf4 Rf8 21.Rd1 Bc5 [White resigned because of
Black's winning attack down the f-file.]

0–1