[Event "Moscow"] [Site "Moscow"] [Round "0"] [White "Petrosian"] [Black "Tal"] [Result "1-0"] [ECO "A15"] [Opening "English: Anglo-Indian, 2.g3 e6"] {25: PETROSIAN (1929-1984) In Petrosian, who dethroned Botvinnik in the 1963 World Championship, several styles converge. In the choice of opening he preferred hypermodern, stemming from Reti; he like to play openings with fianchettoed Bishops (Reti's Opening, etc). His positional play reminds one of Nimzowitsch and Capablanca; and finally his defence is of the mould of Steinitz Petrosian build up his games along positional lines. He operated in a straightforward manner, neither courting complications nor going out of his way to avoid them. He also brought to his play a phenomenal endgame technique, great tactical alertness, and patience which is nearly inexhaustiable. For years although he certainly never avoided a contest, he hardly ever lost a game} 1. c4 Nf6 2. g3 e6 3. Bg2 c5 4. Nf3 d5 5. O-O Nc6 6. cxd5 Nxd5 7. d4 Be7 8. Nc3 O-O 9. Nxd5 {Creating a weakness in Black's pawn position} 9... exd5 ( 9... Qxd5 10. Ne5 Qxd4 11. Nxc6) 10. dxc5 Bxc5 11. a3 a5 12. Bg5 f6 13. Rc1 $1 {Petrosian has now provoked small weaknesses on both sides of the board. Here he operates with gain of tempo} 13... Ba7 (13... Bxf2+ 14. Rxf2 fxg5 15. Nxg5 $1 Qxg5 16. Qxd5+ Qxd5 17. Bxd5+ Be6 18. Bxe6+ { Black has not won a pawn but lost one}) 14. Bf4 Be6 15. Ne1 Re8 16. Nd3 Qe7 17. b4 axb4 18. Nxb4 $1 Nxb4 19. Rc7 { An interpolations as unexpected as White's 13th move} 19... Qd8 20. axb4 g5 { True to his style, Tal reacts sharply as possible} 21. Qd3 { The third interpolation} 21... Re7 (21... Bf7 22. Rxf7 Kxf7 23. Qxh7+ { With a powerful attack} 23... Kf8 24. Bc7 Qe7 25. Qh6+ Kg8 26. Bxd5+) 22. Rxe7 Qxe7 23. Be3 {All Petrosian's positional planning does not prevent him from keeping a weather eye on every little tactical pleasantry} 23... d4 (23... Qxb4 24. Bxa7 Rxa7 25. Qe3 $1) (23... Bxe3 24. Qxe3 Qxb4 $4) 24. Bxd4 Rd8 25. e3 Bxd4 26. exd4 Qxb4 27. d5 Qd6 28. Be4 Bf7 $2 {Althrough White's positional advantage is clear it is open to question whether he could have won the game after 28. ... Bxd5} (28... Bxd5 29. Rd1 (29. Bxh7+ Kh8 30. Rd1) 29... Bxe4 30. Qxd6 Rxd6 31. Rxd6 Kg7 {unclear if White can win}) 29. Bxh7+ Kg7 30. Be4 Qc5 31. Rb1 Rd7 (31... Bxd5 $2 32. Rd1) 32. Qf3 Bg6 33. Bxg6 Kxg6 34. Qd3+ Kg7 35. Rb5 Qe7 36. Qf5 {It is well known that in major piece endings it is no easy matter to convert an extra pawn into a win. In the present case, however, Black will soon be compelled to offer an exchange of Queens to preven White from getting a direct mating attack. White's task will then be considerably lightened} 36... Rd6 37. Kg2 Qd7 38. Qxd7+ Rxd7 39. Kf3 Re7 40. Rb6 f5 41. d6 Rd7 42. h4 Kf6 43. hxg5+ Kxg5 44. Ke3 Kf6 { Otherwise the White King goes to d5 or e5} 45. Kf4 Ke6 46. f3 {All very simple} 46... Kf6 (46... Rxd6 47. Rxd6+ Kxd6 48. Kxf5 {White can either stop the b-pawn or, if Black prevents this, promote his own g-pawn with check} 48... b5 (48... Kd5 49. g4 b5 50. g5 Kd6 51. Ke4 Ke6 52. Kd4 Kf5 53. f4 $18) 49. Ke4) 47. Rb5 Ke6 48. Rxf5 Kxd6 49. g4 Ke6 50. Rf8 b5 51. Rb8 Rd5 52. Rb6+ Kf7 53. Ke4 Rc5 54. f4 1-0