Tigran Petrosian / Birthday June 17th

by National Life Master Loal Davis

 

 

Tigran Petrosian (June 17, 1929 – August 13, 1984) was a Soviet Armenian Grandmaster, and World Chess Champion from 1963 to 1969. He was nicknamed “Iron Tigran” due to his almost impenetrable playing style.

Petrosian was a Candidate for the World Championship on eight occasions (1953, 1956, 1959, 1962, 1971, 1974, 1977 and 1980). He won the World Championship in 1963 (against Mikhail Botvinnik), successfully defended it in 1966 (against Boris Spassky), and lost it in 1969 (to Spassky). Thus he was the defending World Champion or a World Championship Candidate in ten consecutive three-year cycles. He won the Soviet Championship four times (1959, 1961, 1969, and 1975).

Petrosian is often recognized as the hardest player to beat in the entire history of chess.

 

Fischer versus Petrosian – Candidates Tournament – Curacao 1962 – Round 28 

1. e4 e6 2. d4 d5 3. Nc3 Nf6 4. Bg5 Bb4

The MacKutcheon Variation.

5. e5 h6 6. Bd2 Bxc3 7. Bxc3

Fischer is striving to keep his Pawn Structure intact. Usual is} 7. bxc3

7… Ne4 8. Ba5

and now to inhibit the natural c5 which strikes at the base of the Pawn chain – however much time is lost.

O-O 9. Bd3 Nc6 10. Bc3 Nxc3 11. bxc3 f6

The Pawns must be targeted; if not the base, then the head of the chain.

12. f4 fxe5 13. fxe5 Ne7

Alas – c5 is coming anyway.

14. Nf3 c5 15. O-O Qa5 16. Qe1 Bd7 17. c4

Striving to slip out of the approaching bind and attack down the c file.

Qxe1 18. Rfxe1 dxc4 19. Be4

With 19. Bxc4 b5 and Black’s Bishop will eventually take up the long diagonal ruling over the d5 square.

19… cxd4 20. Bxb7

Fischer is striving mightily to alter the direction of the game as his central structure is no
more.

Rab8 21. Ba6 Rb4 22. Rad1 d3 23. cxd3 cxd3 24. Rxd3 Bc6 25. Rd4 Rxd4 26. Nxd4 Bd5 27. a4 Rf4 28. Rd1 Ng6

 Everything in the center is under fire.

29. Bc8 Kf7 30. a5 Nxe5 31. a6 Rg4 32. Rd2 Nc4 33. Rf2+ Ke7 34. Nb5 Nd6 35. Nxd6 Kxd6 36. Bb7 Bxb7 37. axb7 Kc7 38. h3 Rg5 39. Rb2 Kb8

King’s and Knights are great blockaders.

40. Kf2 Rd5 41. Ke3 Rd7

 The Rook here attacks, defends, and cuts off the King.   As White is already down a Pawn with another falling, this game is over.

42. Ke4 Rxb7 43. Rf2    0-1

A Masterpiece of a game.

 

Petrosian versus Spassky  – World Championship 1966 24th Game 

White (Petrosian) To Play

 Click on the Diagram to find out what Petrosian played and to step through the game.