This is Geller; he constantly plays for mate.

 

Geller in 1965

     That's how Pau Keres introduced Yefim Geller (1925-1998) to one of the players on the eve of the 1953 Candidates Tournament at Zurich. 

     That explained not only Geller's style, but also his temperament...a man of few words, when playing he was fond of wearing checked jackets, an ashtray full of cigarette butts next to his board and a slow waddling walk were all characteristics of Geller. His style was characteristic of the amateur pugilist he had once been; it was aggressive and extremely violent. 

     As a consequence, he sometimes underrated his opponent's resources. Dr. Euwe once reminded his readers that if Geller sometimes suffered from overconfidence, he could also take a punch and a defeat was often revenged by a series of impressive victories. 

     That's what happened at the 1965 Hoogovens tournament in Beverwijk. Geller unexpectedly lost to the Dutchman Kick Langeweg, but made a fantastic recovery in a series of surprising victories, including brilliant wins over Ludek Pachman and Levente Lengyel. In both games his indefatigable play did not leave his opponents a moment of peace. 

     The following game from the seventh round was characteristic of Geller's play. Although playing black, he maintained the tension and at the right moment, he surprised Lengyel with a sacrifice of the exchange which opened up some files and made possible a number of far reaching tactical possibilities, including some pseudo-sacrifices., including his Queen, which brought the game to a conclusion.

Levente Lengyel - Yefim Geller

Result: 0-1

Site: Hoogovens, Beverwijk

Date: 1965

Symmetrical English

[...] 1.♘f3 c5 2.c4 g6 3.♘c3 ♘f6 4.g3 ♗g7 5.♗g2 ♘c6 6.O-O O-O 7.d4 Breaking the symmetry. His main option is 7.d3 (7.d3 d6 and white's main choices are 8.a3, 8.Rb1 or 8.d4) 7...cxd4 8.♘xd4 ♘xd4 9.♕xd4 Black has no practical means of using the Q as a target. 9...d6 10.♕d3 Euwe suggested 10.Qh4 followed by Bh6 as being preferable, but this move is the main line. 10...a6 Black prepares a later... P-QN4 11.♗d2 11.Be3 is occasionally seen, but it is not the nest because white loses a tempo after 11.. .Bf5 11...♖b8 12.♖ac1 ♗f5 An interesting move. Geller provokes 13.e4 which gains a tempo for white. However, 13.e4 also restricts the activity of white's light squared B which is the point. 13.e4 ♗d7 14.♗e3 Whike not exactly incorrect, this move allows black immediate equality.

14.h3 ♕b6

14...b5 15.cxb5 axb5 16.b4 ♕e8

16...♖a8 was played in Smyslov,V-Geller,E/Moscow Candidates 1965 and the game was eventually drawn.

17.♖fe1 ♗e6 18.♘d5 ♘d7 White is slightly better, but the game was eventually drawn. Bruzon Bautista,L (2667) -Carlsen,M (2675)/Biel 2006

15.b3 ♖fc8 16.♖fe1 ♕d8 17.a4 b6 White is better, but in Smyslov,V-Matulovic,M/Hamburg 1965 the game fizzled out to a draw,

14.a4 ♗c6 15.b3 ♘d7 16.♖fd1 ♘c5 17.♕c2 ♕b6 18.♖b1 White has a slight advantage. Danielsen,H (2482)-Marin,M (2556)/Reykjavik 2009

14...b5 15.cxb5 axb5 16.♗a7 The point of his 14th move, but it is a mistake that results in black getting a significant advantage.

16.♕d2 Probably best. After 16...b4 17.♘d5 ♘xd5 18.exd5 ♕a5 19.♖fe1 Chances are about even.

16.b4 is also possible. 16...♘g4 17.♗f4 h6 18.h4 ♖a8 19.e5 black is slightly better.

16...b4 This sacrifice of th exchange is a prelude to another sacrifice. 17.♗xb8 There is little choice as moving the N is even worse. (17.♘e2 ♖a8 18.♗d4 e5 19.♗e3 ♖xa2 with a significant advantage.) 17...bxc3 18.♗a7 cxb2 As compensation tor the exchange black has a very strong passed P 19.♖c3 Obtaining the possibility Ra3 defending the B and a-Pawn and so it may appears that he has warded off all danger.

19.♖b1 is no better because after 19...♕a5 black attacks both the B and the a-Pawn.

19...d5 A tricky sacrifice of a P with a diabolical point that Lengyel misses. However, black had a simpler, and stronger, alternative.

19...♕a5 20.♖a3 ♕h5 21.♖b1 ♘g4 22.h3 ♘e5 23.♕f1 ♗b5 24.♕e1 ♘c4 25.♖b3 ♖c8 with a strong attack.

20.exd5 This is the decisive mistake. 20,Rb3 was correct with the objective of trying to eliminate black's P and even returning the exchange if need be. After the text, one of Geller's famous tactical conclusions follows.

20.♖b3 ♘xe4 21.♗d4 e5 22.♗b6 ♕c8 23.♕xd5 ♘c3 with complications in which both sides have their chances.

20...♗f5 21.♕b5 ♘xd5 Surprise! 22.♖c5 There was nothing that was really better.

22.♖b3 ♘c3 23.♗b6 ♕d6 24.♕c5 b1=♕ 25.♖fxb1 ♗xb1 26.♕xd6 exd6 27.a4 ♗c2 28.♖b4 ♗xa4 and black has a won game.

22...♘c7 23.♕b7 ♘e6 24.♖b5

24.♖d5 Avoids the B fork, but runs into 24...♕c8 25.♕b6 ♕c4 26.♕b5 ♗d3 27.♕xc4 ♗xc4 and the Rs are forked anyway.

24...♗d3 25.♖d5

25.♖xb2 is met by 25...♗xb2 26.♕xb2 ♗xf1 27.♗xf1 and black has a won ending. For the record here's how Stockfish won in a Shootout. 27...♕a8 28.♗e3 ♖d8 29.h4 ♖d1 30.♕e2 ♕a4 31.h5 ♖a1 32.♔h2 gxh5 33.♕c4 ♕xc4 34.♗xc4 ♘f8 35.♗d4 ♖b1 36.♗b3 ♘g6 37.♗e3 h4 38.g4 e6 39.♔h3 ♖g1 40.♗d4 ♖h1+ 41.♔g2 ♖b1 42.♔h2 ♖e1 43.♔h3 ♖g1 44.♗c3 ♘f4+ 45.♔xh4 ♖h1+ 46.♔g3 ♘e2+ 47.♔g2 ♖g1+ 48.♔h2 ♖xg4 49.♗d2 ♖d4 50.♗e3 ♖e4 51.♔g2 ♘d4 52.♗d1 ♘f5 53.♗a7 ♖e1 54.♗b3 ♖b1 55.♗b6 h5 56.♗c5 ♔g7 57.♗a4 ♔g6 58.♗d7 ♖b7 59.♗a4 e5 60.a3 ♖b2 61.♗e8 ♖b8 62.♗a4 ♖c8 63.♗b6 ♖c3 and wins.

25...♗xf1 This sacrifice of the Queen leads an immediate surrender. 26.♖xd8 ♖xd8

26...♖xd8 27.♗xf1 ♖d1 28.♕b8+ ♘f8 29.a4 b1=♕ 30.♕xb1 ♖xb1 with a won ending.

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