Vladimir Sergeevich Saigin vs Mikhail Tal
Match for USSR Master title, 1954 · result 0-1 · source: brianerdelyi/ChessPGN (CC0)
Opening: Benoni Defense (A56) — this game followed that line's move order.
Vladimir Sergeevich Saigin faced Mikhail Tal in Match for USSR Master title, 1954. Mikhail Tal won. The game lasted 29 moves. The opening was the Benoni Defense (ECO A56).
Both players castled kingside: White on move 8, Black on move 12. The first capture came on move 4.
The final position is not checkmate; Black is ahead by 3 points of material.
Key moments
Key position
Position after 15 half-moves — a critical stage of the battle.
Key position
Position after 30 half-moves — a critical stage of the battle.
Key position
Position after 44 half-moves — a critical stage of the battle.
Full move list
1. d4 Nf6 2. c4 c5 3. Nf3 e6 4. g3 cxd4 5. Nxd4 d5 6. Bg2 e5 7. Nf3 d4 8. O-O Nc6 9. e3 Be7 10. exd4 exd4 11. Nbd2 Be6 12. Re1 O-O 13. b3 Qd7 14. Bb2 Rad8 15. a3 a5 16. Ne5 Nxe5 17. Rxe5 b6 18. Nf3 Bc5 19. Qd2 Ng4 20. Ree1 d3 21. Rf1 Qd6 22. Qc3 f6 23. Rad1 Rfe8 24. Rd2 Bf5 25. Ng5 Ne3 26. fxe3 Bxe3+ 27. Kh1 Bxd2 28. Qxd2 Re2 29. Qc3 Rxg2
Final position
More classic games
- Mikhail Tal vs Alexander Kazimirovich Tolush (1956, 1-0) — 31 moves
- Mikhail Tal vs Vladimir Simagin (1956, 1-0) — 45 moves
- Mikhail Tal vs Yuri Averbakh (1954, 1-0) — 40 moves
- Isaak Birbrager vs Mikhail Tal (1953, 0-1) — 38 moves