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The Moment of Zuke:
Critical Positions and
Pivotal Decisions for
Colle System Players

by David Rudel
author of Zuke 'Em

7 modules written just for Colle System Players. Over 150 practice problems accompany lessons written in Rudel's crystal-clear, inimitable style

Thematic Lessons
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decisions Colle Players
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Reviews

Tal - Botvinnik 1960

Reviewed by David Surratt

6/9/02

Tal - Botvinnik 1960, by Mikhail Tal (Russell Enterprises, 2000). Figurine algebraic notation, 218 pp.

In 1960 the chess world watched in fascination as the man who would come to be known as The Wizard of Riga squared off against the reigning World Champion of a dozen years, Mikhail Botvinnik. This clash of styles was watched closely, as two more different styles could hardly have been imagined: the iron logic and preparation of the Champion against the intuitive, incandescent attacks of the Challenger. Tal had seemingly burst upon the chess world overnight, while Botvinnik had reigned supreme since winning the title in the famous 1948 tournament following Alekhine's unexpected death, the brief interlude of Smyslov's 1957 flirtation with the Championship not withstanding. Tal was to have his own tryst with Caissa.

Tal's classic account of his World Championship match against Mikhail Botvinnik, first published in English in 1970, has been revised and expanded for this 5th Edition, translated by Hanon Russell. Like other books I've seen published by Russell Enterprises, the production values are excellent. The type is clear and crisp, the paper excellent. Perhaps the one thing I dislike about this edition is the long form of algebraic notation used. I much prefer 1.e4 over 1.e2-e4. As for diagrams, I prefer lots of them, and Tal-Botvinnik 1960 averages nearly one diagram every five moves. There is a short (two page) "remembrance" of Tal by former USCF Executive Director Al Lawrence. At the end of the book are the game scores from the other 23 games contested by these two giants of the chess world, whose lifetime score was +12 -12 =20.

Tal provides a commentary leading up to the match, as well as to each individual game, bringing the scene alive for the reader. He relates how he began his preparations for the struggle ahead of him: barely one month after the conclusion of the Candidate's Tournament, tired as he was from that event, he played in the strong First International Tournament at Riga! He rebuffs his critics though by noting that "I felt less tired after the tournament than I did before it...Physical preparation, it seems to me, lies not solely in the realm of chess. But we gave fundamental consideration to physical preparation that would give me better chances of having a fresh mind in such a tiring match, rather than two suitcases of theoretical novelties."

In the third game, after 1.e4 c6 2.Nc3 d5 3.Nf3 Bg4 4.h3 Bxf3, Tal plays 5.gxf3 and writes: "The annotators unanimously condemned this move. The argument is not whether a chess player employs an absolutely untried opening subtlety, not knowing even one theoretical variation. It is probable that any popular chess book will tell you that similar pawn doublings are disadvantageous in that one must not weaken the kingside so early in the opening, etc., etc. In this case, it seems to me, in spite of the purely psychological pluses (an absolutely new position completely devoid of any possibility that Black might have done any home "grinding") the move 5 gxf3 has some positional basis: first of all it strengthens White's center, and second of all it opens the g-file along which he might be able to create pressure in the future. If Black immediately tries to refute this move and plays the straightforward 5...e5, then the following factor comes into effect: in the open game the strength of the pair of Bishops especially the light-squared one (not having an opponent) sharply increases . . . Botvinnik, correctly evaluating the position, decided to give the game a closed character. In the normal course of a game this would lead to approximately equal chances."

Of course, the other phases of the game are equally well represented in Tal's great work. There is much to be learned from Tal's writing; his skill at explaining ideas and in annotating games in general are almost as legendary as his magic on the chessboard. This is a must-have book; one of those I'd take to the proverbial desert island.