[Event "Riga"] [Site "?"] [Round "0"] [White "Tal"] [Black "Geller"] [Result "1-0"] [ECO "C70"] [Opening "Spanish: 4.Ba4"] {34. TAL (1936-1993) The hazardous style of the Russian grandmaster Tal made a great impression on all chess lovers, both expert and amateur alike. He pounced on his opponents like a tiger; no risk would deter him. His great tactical gifts and his skill even in severe time pressure enabled him to scale the heights of Olympus in record time. Tal, like every other chess master, had his vulnerbale points. The return match with Botvinnik showed that in positional play and endgame technique he was no match for the man who both preceded and followed him as World Champion. On the other hand it was true that in neither match was Botvinnik proof against Tal's lighting flash combinative genius} 1. e4 e5 2. Nf3 Nc6 3. Bb5 a6 4. Ba4 Nf6 5. O-O Be7 6. Re1 b5 7. Bb3 O-O 8. c3 d6 9. h3 Na5 10. Bc2 c5 11. d4 Bb7 {This main lin e of the Ruy Lopez has been many times been the beginning of complex, intense battles, often spanning the board from Queenside to centre to Kingside. Geller, who has a reputation for deep and original opening preparations, eschews the most traditional move 11. Qc7 (Chigorin's move) in favour of less explored vistas} 12. b4 {Tal, one of the most aggressive players in the history of chess, returns with a sharp reply} 12... cxb4 13. cxb4 Nc4 14. Nbd2 d5 { Blowing open the centre and leading to great complications} 15. exd5 exd4 16. Nxc4 bxc4 17. Qxd4 Bxb4 18. Rb1 $3 Bxe1 {Black accepts the challenge} (18... Nxd5 19. Bxh7+ Kxh7 20. Ng5+ Kg8 21. Qh4 Nf6 22. Rxb4 Qd5 23. Nf3 $16) 19. Rxb7 Re8 (19... Qxd5 20. Qxd5 Nxd5 21. Nxe1 Rab8 {drawing chances in the ending}) 20. d6 Qc8 21. Bg5 $3 {A startling sacrifice, typical of Tal's ferocious style} (21. Rc7 Qe6 22. Bg5 Nd5 {Black gaining the better of it}) 21... Re2 $1 { A fine counter} (21... Qxb7 22. Bxf6 gxf6 23. Qh4 f5 24. Qg5+ Kf8 25. Qh6+ Kg8 26. Bxf5 $1 {White would have a winning attack}) 22. Rc7 Qe6 23. Nxe1 (23. Re7 Bxf2+ 24. Qxf2 Rxf2 25. Rxe6 Rxc2) 23... Rxe1+ 24. Kh2 Rd8 25. Bxf6 gxf6 $2 { The losing move} (25... Qxf6 26. Qxf6 gxf6 27. d7 Kg7 28. Bf5 Re5 29. Rc8 Rxf5 30. Rxd8 Rd5) 26. Re7 $1 {This wins} 26... Qxd6+ (26... Qxe7 27. Qg4+) 27. Qxd6 Rxd6 28. Rxe1 {Now it's all over. It is remarkable how a player can thread his way through a maze of complex tactics for many moves then fail to notice a relatively simple tactical point. The reason is that time pressure caused by the preceding moves lead to a quick, but ill fate move} 28... Rd2 29. Rc1 Rxf2 30. Be4 Rxa2 31. Rxc4 a5 32. Rc8+ Kg7 33. Rc7 -- 34. Bd5 (34. Rxf7+ Kxf7 35. Bd5+ Kg6 36. Bxa2) 1-0