Tal's Most Unusual Queen Sacrifice. Smyslov vs Tal, 1964

Mikhail Tal called this game one of the most pleasant games he had ever played. He also said that this game had afforded him the greatest aesthetic pleasure. Indeed, after offering a fantastic queen sacrifice in the middlegame, Tal demonstrated his magic in the endgame, creating a pure masterpiece.
1. c4 g6 2. Nc3 Bg7 3. g3 c5 4. Bg2 Nc6 5. b3 e6 6. Bb2 Nge7 7. Na4 Bxb2 8. Nxb2 O-O 9. e3 d5 10. Nf3 Nf5 11. O-O b6 12. Na4 Bb7 13. cxd5 exd5 14. d3 Qf6 15. Qd2 Rad8 16. Rfd1 Rfe8 17. Rab1 Nd6 18. Ne1 d4 19. e4 Qe7 20. Nc2 f5 21. exf5 Ne5 22. f4 Nf3+ 23. Bxf3 Bxf3 24. Re1 Qe2 25. Rxe2 Rxe2 26. Qxe2 Bxe2 27. Nb2 gxf5 28. Re1 Bh5 29. Nc4 Nxc4 30. bxc4 Re8 31. Kf2 Rxe1 32. Kxe1 Kf8 33. Kd2 Ke7 34. Ne1 a6 35. a4 a5 36. Kc2 Be8 37. Kb3 Bc6 38. Ka3 Kf6 39. Kb3 Kg6 40. Ka3 Kh5 41. h3 Kg6 42. Kb3 Kg7 43. Ka3 Kf6 44. Kb3 Be8 45. Ng2 Bh5 46. Kc2 Be2 47. Ne1 Bf1 48. Nf3 Bxh3 49. Ng5 Bg2 50. Nxh7+ Kg7 51. Ng5 Kg6 52. Kd2 Bc6 53. Kc1 Bg2 54. Kd2 Kh5 55. Ne6 Kg4 56. Nc7 Bc6 57. Nd5 Kxg3 58. Ne7 Bd7 59. Nd5 Bxa4 60. Nxb6 Be8 61. Nd5 Kf3 62. Nc7 Bc6 63. Ne6 a4 64. Nxc5 a3 65. Nb3 a2 66. Kc1 Kxf4 67. Kb2 Ke3 68. Na5 Be8 69. c5 f4 70. c6 Bxc6 71. Nxc6 f3 72. Ne5 f2 0-1

[@freded8431]

very nice in depth description, much appreciated...

[@barbarabarry3799]

Marvelous strategy and sense of timing. Excellent commentary to unfold the plan, showing how Tal, as a master, does not rush into short-term gains but rather plans stronger longer-term goals.

[@Harsh_I_th]

This match and the way you explained it felt like micro concepts of chess , very minute differences and the big change in the end . Such a beautiful game ❤

[@jaafars.mahdawi6911]

So very instructive. Well done. Both Tal and you.

[@2010sunshine]

Both players showed their mental stamina. Excellent analysis ❤

[@markhughes2556]

A beautiful game, but it's almost depressing to watch games like this - and Fischer's games - and realise you will never, ever be able to play endgames like this!

[@bubbahottep8644]

Yuuup. So insightful.

[@JensThomasNepper]

Not only endgame my friend.. You will never be able to play chess like this ever.

[@abdulkareemsaleh6152]

Everyone has talent in something and I'm sure you have many things that Tal or Fischer didn't have

[@bubbahottep8644]

I've often felt the same about sunsets. Almost depressing. _Almost_.

[@chingza5599]

no no people forget the amount of time these guys had to play these games. games could be adjourned amd continued on the next day and players had a whole night to analyse the game

[@davidvis9743]

Excellent commentary, as always.

[@SKboys-bw3kt]

Very great effort very very thanks for this video

[@chesswisdom]

My pleasure.

[@PatrickPray]

Wow, amazing video, I feel I'm learning a lot by watching your content. Thank you so much!

[@chesswisdom]

My pleasure! I also feel I'm learning a lot by making these videos.

[@kingberzerk]

Very good instructions, easy to follow and crystal clear - thanks for showing.

[@chesswisdom]

My pleasure.

[@Kibria-yy7js]

We thought Fischer or Botvinnik would play such instructive endgame. People underappreciate Tal's endgame skill. The person who can calculate multiple complex middlegame's sacrificial variations, can easily make these sophisticated multi-layered plan in the endgame. If he was not sick too often he would be crowned once again. He found joy over the board and also loved to spread happiness through his sacrificial chess.

[@shibambhattacharjee5268]

That's tru.

[@mcronrn]

Wow. I don’t usually watch The Classics, but after this amazing game and your wonderful presentation, I may have to start 🤣🙏👏

[@gamechanger8645]

Never seen this kind of amazing explanation..... God bless you

[@chesswisdom]

Thank you. God bless you too.

[@jackm4457]

The great Smyslov is known primarily for two things: 1) Harmonious development of his minor pieces and 2) Mastery and patience in complex endgames. But in this game, Tal is only able to offer a Queen sacrifice because of the awkward placement of his opponent's knights, and then Smyslov gets outplayed by a more patient opponent in the endgame. What an oddity! Again, thank you for this presentation. I realize this long game required you to make a video longer than usual, but it was well worth it. I have played through Tal's game collection many times, but always neglected careful study of this game, because of its length. Now I know what I have missed. all these years. 😲

[@chesswisdom]

My pleasure. I only saw the fantastic move Qe2 long years ago and had never played through this endgame either, as I always found endgames boring :). But I feel more enthusiastic about endgames after studying this wonderful game.

[@williambunter3311]

Thank you for great commentary. I have gladly subscibed.

[@chesswisdom]

My pleasure. Thanks for watching.

[@exoplanet11]

Thanks. Queen sac in the middle game is something else!

[@MaramaoMaramao]

Amazing! Thank you for the explanations.

[@chesswisdom]

My pleasure.

[@sandeepranga1]

What a masterpiece of chess played by Tal and a very deep and brief explanation by you sir ❤️❤️👏👏👍👍 great work!!!!!

[@chesswisdom]

Thank you!

[@giovannicorno1247]

Every part of a chess game is covered in this masterpiece, very well analyzed!

[@coconutz247]

superb annotation for thoroughly enjoyable game!

[@GetMeThere1]

Excellent demonstration. Thanks!

[@chesswisdom]

My pleasure!

[@jesuesp1297]

Thanks a lot for this video :)

[@chesswisdom]

My pleasure.

[@fightingforcatalonia]

you're the man! thnks for this gem. Crazy sac!

[@chesswisdom]

My pleasure!

[@1377sv]

If the opponent falls for Tal’s piece sacrifice then it’s most likely he is sacrificing his own game What a adventurous player Tal was

[@joe2mercs]

The Bishop on C6 restricting White’s knight and also threatening pawn on A4 tying up White’s king on its defence is a stroke of genius by Tal.

[@angelatanurdzic7508]

Thanks for this nice video 👍

[@chesswisdom]

My pleasure.

[@ChrisTopher-nr1vb]

Wondeful Game and Great Analysis

[@amosdraak3536]

@ 1:22 Smyslov also made this decision against Fischer and was crushed even quicker after Fischer sacrificed a pawn for the initiative and had the much more active position (1970 Palma de Mallorca). In both games, Smyslov fell behind in activity and was picked apart in the endgame. These two had a close score of +4 -3 =21 in Smyslov’s favor (+5 for Smyslov counting a blitz game). For this 1964, Tal produced great threats in the opening/ early middle game and through a combination achieved a superior minor piece endgame. Smyslov’s failure to activate his knight allowed Tal to patiently outflank White with said superior minor piece. While Smyslov presented Tal with some cunning ways to go wrong, ultimately leaving a fixed target on the light square a4 and having the light square weakness on g4 (as a result of not having activated his knight on the critical e5 square) allowed for Tal to create passed pawns on two flanks and to have an extra pawn @ 27:59. Thus while Smyslov was “so close” optically at the end to having achieved a draw since finally Tal didn’t have his effective LSB and since the white knight finally could travel the board without being tied down, the pawn plus Tal achieved was just enough and Tal with a KP vs K would’ve successfully promoted.

[@chesswisdom]

Thanks for mentioning this game, I've just played it through. It seems to me, Fischer's punishment for Na4 was even more brutal.

[@amosdraak3536]

@@chesswisdom Agreed. He had a very commanding position as a result and Smyslov was really tied up.

[@tofankumarsahu8375]

Thxn ur explanation is very good.

[@zogzog1063]

This game, and the commentary, is a Tour de Force.

[@jainrohtas]

masterful explanation of the game

[@shabbaz40]

Very nice analisys

[@thear1116]

Holy smoke... That is a lot...

[@Blinknone]

Tal was just amazing (Smyslov too, of course :)).. What a great, hard-fought game.

[@SAMSam-dn1xi]

Thank you for the presenting game along with your valuable comments. Episode at 18:38, May ask how the bishop be able to attack the pawn on h3 when g2 is guarded by knight?

[@chesswisdom]

My pleasure. The bishop can attack h3 from the f1 square. It can reach f1 via e8-h5-e2.

[@SAMSam-dn1xi]

I see… Thank you for your reply.

[@billystratford]

oustanding endgame concepts

[@RameshKamini-f1i]

Unbelievable moves

[@-AxisA-]

New thing I immediatly learned is that tempo in plular is tempi.

[@cielant]

Though actually it is a total mistake that has asserted itself somehow by massive false use. The correct latin plural would be ''tempora''.

[@flutethyagu]

Game us played in 1964, Tal's photo taken in 1988

[@AndreasAltermann]

In depth description, much appreciated- but here you take to many not explained threats in a to fast tempo, and- I get only lost. Please take time to show the obvious- it is not boring, it is pedagogical. Why? It makes a weaker player able to grasp with more clarity the big plan, - that gets lost if you omit some crucial threats. You will never have complains of explaining in to much detail, better with 10 more minutes, I am convinced. If you try it out and test send me a mail...

[@jandrew1994]

Tal Smyslov games were always fascinating. Smyslov beat Tal his fair share of times too.

[@ceotoriki]

7:24 after Black Qh1 check White Ke2 B Qf3 check W Kf1 or Ke1 If W Ke1 then B KnightD3 take pawn and double check So white King move to F1 Black Q H1 done If white King go F1 instead of E1 then Black KnightE5 to C4 threatening the queen then you know what to do after this White move done

[@lynnsky2137]

Queen Sacrifice = Tal's Gambit

[@Veritifiy]

Feels like white should have gone with g4 earlier in the endgame

[@valezeb]

This is the only Genius in chess I respect as well as bobby fisher

[@johnballard6725]

So often in Tal's games after the sacrificial smoke has cleared he has a small but persistent endgame advantage which he exploits to win.

[@MichaelBonilla-r7u]

Facts

[@ProntoLlegaraElDiaDeMiSuerte-1]

what opening is this?

[@chesswisdom]

The English Opening.

[@jithendrashegdenandalike.976]

🙏🙏🙏🙏

[@uthoshantm]

Very complex end game

[@victorfinberg8595]

truly amazing