Annotated chess game: Tiger Claws

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ANNOTATED GAME

Tiger Claws
Tigran Petrosyan (GM) vs. Viktor Korchnoi (GM)
Annotated by: last_archimedean

(1564)
Chess opening: English (A32), symmetrical variation

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The Iron Tiger strikes fast and hard in this one. Notes by R. N. Coles.

1. c4 c5 2. Nf3 Nf6 3. d4 cxd4 4. Nxd4 g6	Many 4th moves for Black have been tried here, such as ... P - Q 4, ... Kt - B 3 and ... P - K 3. The line has not been fully worked out.



5. Nc3 d5	White was threatening 6 P - K 4, transposing to the Maroczy bind.



6. Bg5	A better choice than 6 P x P, which leads to an equal position.



6... dxc4 7. e3 Qa5	Premature. Better was 7... B - Kt 2.



8. Bxf6 exf6 9. Bxc4 Bb4	That he has played for the fianchetto and then developed the Bishop here is one reason Black is behind in development.



10. Rc1 a6	Another time-wasting move. Better would be 10 O-O.



11. O-O Nd7 12. a3 Be7 13. b4	Expanding his position very forcefully.



13... Qe5	An error. Best was 13... Q - Q 1.



14. f4	A stunning surprise. If 14... Q x K P ch, White plays 15 K - R 1 and the Black Queen is trapped. White will play 16 R - B 3 and win the errant Queen.



14... Qb8 15. Bxf7+	The position is ripe for a combinative finish.



15... Kxf7 16. Qb3+ Ke8	If Black tries 16 ... K - Kt 2, White has 17 Kt - K 6 ch K - R 3 18 R - B 3 P - K Kt 4 19 P - B 5 with an easy win.



17. Nd5 Bd6	The threat of a fork on Black's Q B 2 is a recurring motif, which can no longer be satisfactorily resisted.



18. Ne6 b5 19. Ndc7+ Ke7 20. Nd4 Kf8	Avoiding 20... B x Kt?? 21 Kt - B 6 ch forking King and Queen.



21. Nxa8	Black resigns. If 21 ... Q x Kt, White has 22 Q - K 6 B - K 2 23 R - B 7 and Black's position collapses.