The following game shows another side of Tal’s play; there is no flashy tactics, subtle positional play or brilliant endgame play...just a rock solid performance.
It shouldn’t be surprising that Tal could play something other than tactical chess because no player is going to become world champion with a one sided style. The intuitive sacrifices he was famous for were a personal preference.
In this game that was played in World Student Team Championship that was held in Uppsala, Sweden, in April 1956, Tal play was nothing flashy, just solid chess.
The Soviet team won the tournament with Hungary taking second place. The Soviet team won convincingly, notably defeating their main rivals, Yugoslavia, in the early rounds. Yugoslavia and Bulgaria tied for third. The United States team finished eighth.
Tal’s opponent was Borislav Ivkov (1933-2022, 88 years old). He was born in Belgrade, Yugoslavia and was awarded the GM title in 1955. Ivkov won the Yugoslav Championship in 1958 (tie), 1963 (tie) and 1972.
[Event "World Student Team Chp, Uppsala"]
[Site ""]
[Date "1956.04.??"]
[Round "?"]
[White "Mikhail Tal"]
[Black "Borislav Ivkov"]
[Result "1-0"]
[ECO "C97"]
[Annotator "Stockfish 17.1"]
[PlyCount "65"]
[EventDate "1956.??.??"]
{C97: Closed Ruy Lopez: Chigorin Defense} 1. e4 e5 2. Nf3 Nc6 3. Bb5 a6 4. Ba4
Nf6 5. O-O Be7 {This is a common and solid move. The idea is to castle quickly,
support the N on f6 and hold the P on e5 as a strong point. White now has four
main continuations: 6.Bxc6, 6.d3, 6.Qe2 and the most popular, 6.Re1} 6. Re1 b5
{Black chooses the traditional Chlgorin line.} 7. Bb3 O-O 8. c3 d6 9. h3 Na5
10. Bc2 c5 11. d4 Qc7 12. Nbd2 Bd7 13. Nf1 Rfe8 14. Ne3 g6 {This solid move is
most often played.} (14... cxd4 {us not seen very oftenm but it k\leads to
some double edfed play.} 15. cxd4 Rac8 16. b3 Nc6 17. Ba3 exd4 18. Nd5 {
with equal chances.}) 15. b4 {White usually prefers the solid 15.Bd2, but not
Tal.} cxb4 16. cxb4 Nc4 17. Nxc4 bxc4 18. Re3 {Black's c-Pawn will be captured
sooner or later. However, Tal's move has a surprising point.} Bf8 19. Bb2 Bh6 (
19... Bg7 {is also acceptable.} 20. d5 a5 21. bxa5 Qxa5 22. a4 Nh5 {is roughly
equal. Bogdanovic,R-Janosevic,D Sombor 1957}) 20. Ra3 {The point of his 18th
move...it;s an odd place for the King's R.} Qb7 {This attack on the e-Pawn is
a small slip.} (20... exd4 {results in equality after} 21. Qxd4 Bg7 22. Bc3 Bc8
23. Nd2 Bb7 24. Qxc4 Rac8 25. Qxc7 Rxc7) 21. dxe5 Qxb4 {Should whute defend
the B or take the N?} 22. Qd4 {This defends the B plus it sets up potential
threats on the long diagonal. Black's position is not serious, but he must
remain alert.} (22. exf6 Qxb2 23. Ra5 Bb5 {and black is betterm his c-Pawn
being a bone in white;s throat.}) (22. Rb1 dxe5 23. g4 {with complications
that favor white id black plays either 23...Bf4 or 23...g5} (23. Nxe5 {must be
avoided because it lets black equalize.} Rxe5 24. Bxe5 Qxa3)) 22... Nh5 {
Ivkov i unaware of the lurking danger. After this move watch white's attack
gain momentum.} (22... Rab8 {was required if he wants to stay afloat.} 23. Rb1
dxe5 24. Nxe5 c3 {The exchange of Qs eases his defense considerably.} 25. Qxb4
Rxb4 26. Nxd7 Nxd7 27. Rxc3 Bg7 28. Rc7 Rxb2 29. Rxb2 Bxb2 30. Rxd7 {and a
draw would be a reasonable outcome.}) 23. exd6 (23. e6 {was even stronger.} Bg7
24. exf7+ Kxf7 25. Ng5+ Kg8 26. Qd5+ Be6 27. Nxe6 Bxb2 28. Nc7+ Kh8 29. Nxe8
Rxe8 30. Ra4 Qb6 {White is up the exchange and the win is preyy much a sure
thing.}) 23... Bg7 24. e5 Bc6 {This only hastens the end, but even the better
24...Nf4 would not have helped much.} 25. Re3 Bxf3 26. Bc3 ({Stronger than} 26.
Rxf3 Bxe5 27. Rb3 Qxb3 $17) 26... Qb5 27. gxf3 Rad8 28. f4 Re6 29. Rb1 Qc6 {
and the idea ...Rexd6 leaves black hopeful.} 30. Rb6 (30. h4 {A pass to
illustrates black's hope.} Rexd6 31. Qe4 Rd5 {White is better, but black can
still put up a fight.}) 30... Qc8 31. Bd1 {Simple...black's K-side is
destroyed.} Bh6 32. Bxh5 gxh5 33. f5 {Black resigned. His sudden collapse was
surprising.} (33. f5 Bxe3 34. Qxe3 Rf8 (34... Ree8 35. Qg5+ Kf8 36. Qh6+ Kg8
37. f6 {mates}) 35. fxe6 fxe6 {is hopeless.}) 1-0
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