1.c4
e6
2.d4
d5
3.Nf3
Be7
4.Nc3
Nf6
5.Bg5
0-0
6.e3
h6
7.Bxf6
Bxf6
8.Qd2
Having taken on f6, White will keep his central pawn-structure firm, limiting the potential activity of Black's dark-squared bishop.
8...b6
9.cxd5
exd5
10.b4
In this case the primary task of the WHITE MINORITY is to hinder ...c5. This preventive measure against Black's expansion on the queenside is wholly consistent with the exchange at f6.
10...Bb7?!
At b7 the light-squared bishop will fulfill its elementary role of defending the d5-pawn, but in passive, awkward circumstances. Posted at e6, it would do the same, but without the negative connotations that the further course of the game highlights.
[ 10...Be6!?
Geller 11.Bd3
c6
12.0-0
Qd6
13.Rab1
Nd7
... c5= Boleslavsky]
11.Rb1
c6
[ On b1 the rook takes care that no freeing ...c5 will be available to Black. In Korchnoi-Ciric, USSR-Yugoslavia 1966, Black tried to manage without 11...c6, but his
11...Nd7
12.b5
Re8
13.a4
Nf8
left the d5 pawn isolated and 14...g3 Ne6 15.Bg2 started the long, irresistible pressure on the central point.]
12.Bd3
Nd7
13.0-0
Re8
14.Rfc1+/=
14...a5?!
A risky decision hoping to provoke 15.b5, when 15...c5 would finally be possible. However, White continues consistently, keeping Black's expansion under control. As a consequence a backward pawn appears at b6.
[ 14...Be7
...Nf6, Bd6, Ne4 Boleslavsky]
15.bxa5!
[ 15.a3
axb4
16.axb4
b5!
]
15...Rxa5
16.Bf5+/-
[...Bd7]
16...Ra6
Black's b6-pawn needs protection.
[ 16...b5?
17.Nxd5!
( 17.Bxd7
) 17...cxd5
18.Bxd7+-
]
17.Rb3
g6
18.Bd3
[ 18.Bh3!?
]
18...Ra7
19.Rcb1
Cautious, continuous pressure. The hasty 19.e4 would ruin all the good work in view of 19...dxe4 20.Nxe4 c5, when 21Nd6?! Can be met successfully by 21....Bxf3 22.Nxe8?! Bg5
[ 19.e4
dxe4
20.Nxe4
Bg7
21.Nd6
Re6=/+
Geller]
19...Bg7
[ 19...Kg7
(Kortchnoi); 19...Be7!?
.. Be7-d6-c7]
20.a4
[ 20.Bf1!?
]
20...Qe7
21.Bf1
In vacating the d3-squrare for the knight, White obviously has in mind g3 and Bh3, again endangering the b6-pawn. Black reacts by exchanging light-squared bishops, but that weakens the c6-pawn.
21...Ba6?
[ 21...Qe6!+/=
]
22.h4
[?! Geller, Bondarevsky; ! Kortchnoi, Tal]
A somewhat mysterious move at this point, criticized by a number of hasty commentators. The course of the game will reveal its strategic aims best.
22...Bxf1
23.Rxf1
h5?
An unforced error.
[ 23...Qe6!?
24.g3
Qh3
25.Rfb1
Re6!
Geller]
24.Re1!
Raa8
25.g3
Qd6
26.Kg2
Kf8
27.Reb1
Kg8
28.Qd1
Bf8
29.R3b2
Bg7
30.Rc2
/\ 31.Rbc1
30...Ra7
31.Rbc1
With this typical series of waiting moves. Petrosian aims to gain time and camouflage his intentions, and so to catch his opponent unawares.
31...Nb8?
Just when White has turned his pressure against the c6-pawn, Black plays a superficial move which facilitates White's plan.
[ 31...Raa8
32.Ne2
c5!
]
32.Ne2!+/-
Since 32...Rxa4 could now be met by 33.Rxc6 Nxc6 34.Qxa4, further weakening Black's pawn-structure, White has found the right moment to improve the position of his pieces. The queen will take over the defense of the a4-pawn, freeing the queen's knight for an efficient maneuver.
32...Rc7
[ 32...Rxa4?
33.Rxc6!
Nxc6
34.Qxa4
Rc8
35.Qa6+-
; 32...Qb4
33.Rb1
Qxa4
34.Rxb6+/-
]
33.Qd3
Ra7
[ 33...c5
34.Qb5
Nd7
35.a5
c4
36.Nf4+/-
]
34.Qb3
Ra6
35.Nf4
Now it is easier to understand the far-seeing 22.h4
35...Rd8
36.Nd3
Threatening 37.Nb4
36...Bf8
[ 36...Rc8
37.Nb4
Ra5
38.Nxc6!
]
37.Nfe5+-
Rc8
38.Rc3!
But not 38.Nf4 due to 38...c5.
38...Be7
39.Nf4?!
[ 39.Nxc6!
Rxc6
40.Rxc6
Nxc6
41.Qb5
Nb8
42.Rc8++-
]
39...Bf6
40.Ned3
40.Nxc6 Rxc6 41.Rxc6 also wins, but the text-move is highly characteristic of Petrosian's boa-constrictor procedures. 41.Nxd5 is threatened and if Black moves his rook from c8, then 41.Nb4 will win the other pawn. An unbearable embrace. [ 40.Nxc6!+-
Geller]
40...Ra5
41.Qxb6
Rxa4
42.Rc5!
Ra6
[ 42...Nd7
43.Rxc6!+-
]
43.Rxd5!+-
This final blow hardly needs any explanation at all.
43...Qxf4!
[ 43...Rxb6
44.Rxd6
Be7
45.Nd5!+-
; 43...Qf8
44.Qb7+-
]
44.Qxa6!
Qe4+
45.f3
Qe6
46.Qc4
Qxe3
[ 46...Re8
47.Re5!
Bxe5
48.Qxe6
Rxe6
49.Nxe5+-
]
47.Ne5!
[... 48.Rxd8 Rxd8 49.Qf7 ... Ng6#]
47...Rf8
48.Rc5!
Be7
49.Rb1!
Bxc5
[ 49...Kg7
50.Rb7
; 49...Bd6
50.Rb2+-
]
50.Rxb8!
[ 50.Rxb8 Kh8 51.Nxf7+ Kg7 52.Ng5 ]
1-0
The task given to the QUEENSIDE MINORITY unit was carried out masterfully, proving again that the defense against the MINORITY ADVANCE on the queenside with a closed center is not so easy. Its slow and apparently innocuous movement is deceptive and many a time catches us unprepared for its lasting pressure. It takes great PATIENCE!, and precise thinking to stand one's ground. But a player of bold style and fertile imagination will seek a bolder, more dynamic response.
Make the MINORITY ATTACK a part of your dynamic playing style, and you will soon become a better chess player for its teaching lessons.