Todays winning ‘Blast from the Past!’
It was Saturday May 17, 1975. First round of the very strong Vancouver Open saw legendary grandmaster Paul Keres , age 59, paired against one of Canada’s most tenacious and difficult to beat masters , the 30 year old Denis Allan .
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Keres,Paul – Allan,Denis
1.e4 e5 2.Nf3 Nf6 3.d3!{[#]
This move has always intrigued me. The future American superstar Yasser Seirawan, who was also playing in Vancouver, later wrote:
”The first truly world-class player I ever saw was Paul Keres…With the tournament about to begin…our eyes were glued on Paul Keres as we watched his every move. He was well dressed dignified and with what might be called a noble bearing. He deeply impressed our whole party.
In his game, Keres’ opponent was Denis Allan, a strong Canadian master who employed the Petroff Defence and was a tough man to beat. We were all anxious to see how Keres might gain an advantage so that we could use the same idea ourselves.
After all the announcements the game began 1. e4 e5 2. ♘f3 ♘f6, and now, without any hesitation at all, Keres played 3 d3. as if this was a killer refutation. We were sunk…
Keres won smoothly in 25 moves. It was a thrill to watch a world-class player in acrion. His manner, his bearing, his unhurried approach to the position, the accuracy of his moves, and the precision and manner in which he physically played his moves all made a deep impression.
I was especially drawn to observing his physical movement of the pieces, as he carefully put them correctly in the middle of the square so as not to annoy his opponent.
In fact, I went home to practice so that I could mimic his movements as well and to endeavour, as best I could, to play chess “properly” at the board … I wanted to be world class and behave like world-class player. I wanted to be, a least in manner, like Paul Keres.”
–Yasser Seirawan (Chess Duels My Games with the World Champions)
} Nc6 4.Nbd2 Bc5 5.c3 d5 6.Be2{[#]
Intriguing because a renown attacking player like Paul Keres would prefer to play what many theoretician consider a lacklustre setup. However, this Philidor-type setup has also been played by another attacking genius, Misha Tal! Perhaps the theoreticians might yet change their point of view…
} dxe4 7.dxe4
a5 8.O-O O-O 9.Qc2 Re8 10.Nc4 Qe7 11.Bg5{[#]} Qf8 {?!
Perhaps Allan allows himself to be intimidated by his famous opponent and plays too passively around this point of the game.
Curiously, this is not the first time that these two players met: ”Keres was an early chess hero of mine, and I played in a simul when he was in Toronto some years before 75, a draw, never expecting to have the chance of playing him in a real game.” LINK
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({Much more natural would be } 11...h6! 12.Bh4
g5 {!?} 13.Bg3 Nh5$13 {but also not without risks } )
12.Ne3! {[#]} ( 12.Bxf6 gxf6 13.Rad1$14 ) Be7
13.Bb5 {!} Bd7 14.Rfd1{[#]} Nb8$6{[#]} 15.Bxf6! Bxb5 16.Bxe5 Bd8 17.Nf5!{[#]}
g6 ( 17...f6 18.Qb3+ Kh8 19.Qxb5 fxe5 20.Qxb7 ) 18.Bg7{[#]} Qc5 19.Rd5{[#]
Keres is relentless and does not let the young Canadian master time to consolidate. Keres forces the Black Queen to hide, a long way from the Kingside,in preparation for his Kingside attack.
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Qb6 ( 19...Qc6 20.Rxd8 gxf5 21.Rxe8+ Qxe8 22.Bf6 Qxe4 23.Qd2 )
20.Bd4 Qa6 21.Qd2!{[#]} ( 21.Nh6+ Kf8 22.Ne5 ) gxf5 22.Rxd8!{[#]} fxe4
( 22...Nc6 23.Qg5+ ) ( 22...Rxd8 23.Qg5+ ) 23.Re1{[#]} Qg6 24.Nh4
( 24.Ne5 ) Qg4 25.Rxe4$3{[#]
A brilliant and energetic finish to a wonderful attacking game, so typical of Keres’ early days.
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Though I had of course seen this game a long time ago, it was only recently when I was flipping thru some games collection that I came across it again, and it reminded me of how great a player Paul Keres was. I am certain that my readers will also appreciate it!
Vancouver 1975 was to be Keres last great tournament victory. He died several weeks later on his way back home after touring the rest of Canada.
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