Mark Taimanov
Notable Games

Mark Taimanov

15 celebrated games · 997 in the full archive
Player Index ◈ Biography 997 CURATED GAMES

Notable Games

  • 1952.09.26 Unzicker, Wolfgang vsTaimanov, Mark E 0-1 Sicilian Defense: Boleslavsky Variation 30 moves Interzonal-02 Saltsjöbaden Interzonal 1952: a 30-move Sicilian win with Black at the Interzonal that carried Taimanov into his first World Championship Candidates tournament.
  • 1953.02.02 Taimanov, Mark E vsBotvinnik, Mikhail 1-0 Nimzo-Indian Defense: Normal Variation, Bernstein Defense, Exchange Line 36 moves URS-ch20 Final playoff-1pl Game 5 of the 1953 USSR Championship title playoff: Taimanov defeats reigning World Champion Mikhail Botvinnik in a Nimzo-Indian, one of only two wins he ever scored over him.
  • 1953.09.19 Taimanov, Mark E vsGeller, Efim P 1-0 King's Indian Defense: Orthodox Variation 40 moves Candidates Tournament Zurich Candidates 1953: Taimanov grinds down Efim Geller from a King's Indian in his first World Championship Candidates event.
  • 1953.10.06 Taimanov, Mark E vsPetrosian, Tigran V 1-0 Nimzo-Indian Defense: Normal Variation, Bernstein Defense, Exchange Line 40 moves Candidates Tournament Zurich Candidates 1953: a kingside assault on future World Champion Tigran Petrosian, broken open by the rook sacrifice 37.Rxg6+.
  • 1956.02.18 Taimanov, Mark E vsSpassky, Boris Vasilievich 1-0 King's Indian Attack: Symmetrical Defense 57 moves URS-ch23 Final playoff-1pl The 1956 USSR Championship title playoff: Taimanov beats future World Champion Boris Spassky in the match-tournament he won to take the Soviet crown.
  • 1956.10.12 Taimanov, Mark E vsNajdorf, Miguel 1-0 English Opening: Anglo-Indian Defense, Queen's Knight Variation 39 moves Alekhine Memorial-01 Alekhine Memorial, Moscow 1956: Taimanov outplays Miguel Najdorf in an English Opening.
  • 1960.02.14 Taimanov, Mark E vsPolugaevsky, Lev 1-0 Queen's Gambit Accepted: Mannheim Variation 23 moves URS-ch27 Final USSR Championship 1960: a 23-move miniature whose king hunt drives Lev Polugaevsky's king all the way to b5.
  • 1961.11.26 Smyslov, Vasily V vsTaimanov, Mark E 0-1 English Opening: Great Snake Variation 37 moves URS-ch29 Final USSR Championship 1961: with Black, Taimanov beats former World Champion Vasily Smyslov, the point being the shot 26...Nf3+.
  • 1965.11.26 Taimanov, Mark E vsBronstein, David Ionovich 1-0 Queen's Indian Defense, with e3, Bb4+ Line 34 moves URS-ch33 Final USSR Championship 1965: a 34-move win over David Bronstein, who had drawn a World Championship match with Botvinnik in 1951.
  • 1965.12.02 Keres, Paul vsTaimanov, Mark E 0-1 London System 64 moves URS-ch33 Final USSR Championship 1965: with Black, Taimanov defeats Paul Keres — long rated among the strongest players never to hold the world title.
  • 1969.09.23 Taimanov, Mark E vsTal, Mikhail 1-0 English Opening: Great Snake Variation 44 moves URS-ch37 Final USSR Championship 1969: Taimanov wins material and beats former World Champion Mikhail Tal in a sharp English.
  • 1970.11.18 Taimanov, Mark E vsLarsen, Bent 1-0 Queen's Indian Defense: Spassky System 66 moves Interzonal-08 Palma de Mallorca Interzonal 1970: Taimanov outlasts Bent Larsen at the Interzonal from which he qualified for the 1971 Candidates.
  • 1973.10.13 Taimanov, Mark E vsTal, Mikhail 1-0 English Opening: Symmetrical Variation, Anti-Benoni Variation 41 moves URS-ch41 Final USSR Championship 1973: another win over former World Champion Mikhail Tal — one of three Taimanov scored against him.
  • 1977.06.25 Karpov, Anatoly vsTaimanov, Mark E 0-1 Sicilian Defense: O'Kelly Variation, Maróczy Bind, Geller Line 38 moves October Revolution 60years Leningrad 1977: playing Black, Taimanov stuns reigning World Champion Anatoly Karpov, who resigned in the face of 38...Ng3+.
  • 1978 Taimanov, Mark E vsShashin, Alexsander A 1-0 Zukertort Opening: Nimzo-Larsen Variation 28 moves URS Soviet Union 1978: a double bishop sacrifice, 22.Bxh7+ and 24.Bxg7, rips open Alexander Shashin's king.
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