[Event "Candidates Tournament"] [Site "?"] [Round "0"] [White "Smyslov"] [Black "Stahlberg"] [Result "1-0"] [ECO "C11"] [Opening "French: Burn, 5.Nxe4"] 1. e4 e6 2. d4 d5 3. Nc3 Nf6 {The Classical Variation of the French Defense which gives Black a solid but somewhat passive position. As with most French's Black's light squared bishop is a bad piece since it is blocked by his own pawns.} 4. Bg5 dxe4 5. Nxe4 Be7 6. Bxf6 {Not 6.Nxf6+ Bxf6 7.Bxf6 Qxf6 when all the exchanges give the cramped Black army room to move.} 6... Bxf6 7. Nf3 Nd7 8. Bc4 O-O 9. Qe2 Nb6 10. Bb3 Bd7 11. O-O Qe7 12. Rfe1 Rad8 13. Rad1 { White has finished his development while enjoying control of more space, which allows the pieces to move about the board more freely.} 13... Ba4 14. Bxa4 Nxa4 15. Qb5 Nb6 16. c4 {With the advance of the c-pawn White threatens to drive away the Black knight and then take the b-pawn.} 16... c6 17. Qb3 Qc7 { This move is a mistake since it allows White to weaken the Black kingside. Better was 17...Rd7. 17...Rd7 18.a4 Rfd8 19.a5 Nc8 would give White an even greater space advantage.} 18. Nxf6+ gxf6 19. Qe3 { The queen heads for h6 which is no longer defended by Black's g-pawn.} 19... Kg7 20. Ne5 {White uses his space advantage to prepare a rook lift if Black takes the knight.} 20... Qe7 21. Ng4 Rg8 {A mistake which costs Black the exchange. However, some material loss was unavoidable. 21...Kh8 22.Qh6 Rg8 23. Nxf6 Rg7 24.Re3 when White is a pawn up while retaining his kingside initiative.} 22. Nh6 Qc7 {22...Rgf8 would allow White to win Black's queen.} 23. Nxg8 Rxg8 24. b3 {White has won the exchange and for a player with Smyslov's technique the rest is easy.} 24... Kh8 25. Qh6 Rg6 26. Qh4 Nd7 27. Re3 Qa5 28. Rh3 Nf8 29. Rg3 Qxa2 30. Rxg6 Nxg6 31. Qxf6+ Kg8 32. Qf3 Qc2 33. Qd3 {Black resigned, since there is no compensation for the missing exchange.} 1-0