Kotov's Masterpiece

via GIPHY
     Everybody is (or should be) familiar with the great Zurich 1953 tournament and has (or should have) the tournament book either by Bronstein or Najdorf. Zurich was a Candidates Tournament for the 1954 World Chess Championship which led to the match between Smyslov and Botvinnik. Also, most players have probably seen the famous Αverbakh vs. Kotov game which is presented below because it has appeared in numerous books. Even if you have seen it before, it never gets old. 
     Writing in the tournament book Bronstein said of this game, "This most beautiful game of the Zurich tournament aroused an enthusiastic response throughout the chess world.” Needless to say, the spectators in the tournament hall were very excited because how often do you see a Queen sacrifice in this modern era? 
     In his book Grandmaster At Work, Kotov wrote, “Combinations, the final aim of which is the announcement of mate to the enemy King, are perhaps met most often in chess practice. The theme of such combinations is simple – in the final position mate is unavoidable...The means of such combinations are diverse and inνolνe clearing the way for the attacking pieces to the enemy camp. Often this is by sacrifices...and it is possible to give up a great deal to achieve it.” Kotov described what he called extracting combinations as being those “where the attacking side draws the opponent's King out of its sanctuary and driνes it all oνer the board to meet its downfall.” The following game is such an example, and a great one it is!