Notable Games
Mark Taimanov
15 celebrated games · 968 in the full archive
◈The games that made the legend
Unzicker – Taimanov · 1952 · 0–1
Saltsjöbaden Interzonal 1952: a 30-move Sicilian win with Black at the Interzonal that carried Taimanov into his first World Championship Candidates tournament.
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Taimanov – Botvinnik · 1953 · 1–0
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.
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Taimanov – Geller · 1953 · 1–0
Zurich Candidates 1953: Taimanov grinds down Efim Geller from a King's Indian in his first World Championship Candidates event.
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Taimanov – Petrosian · 1953 · 1–0
Zurich Candidates 1953: a kingside assault on future World Champion Tigran Petrosian, broken open by the rook sacrifice 37.Rxg6+.
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Taimanov – Spassky · 1956 · 1–0
The 1956 USSR Championship title playoff: Taimanov beats future World Champion Boris Spassky in the match-tournament he won to take the Soviet crown.
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Taimanov – Najdorf · 1956 · 1–0
Alekhine Memorial, Moscow 1956: Taimanov outplays Miguel Najdorf in an English Opening.
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Taimanov – Polugaevsky · 1960 · 1–0
USSR Championship 1960: a 23-move miniature whose king hunt drives Lev Polugaevsky's king all the way to b5.
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Smyslov – Taimanov · 1961 · 0–1
USSR Championship 1961: with Black, Taimanov beats former World Champion Vasily Smyslov, the point being the shot 26...Nf3+.
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Taimanov – Bronstein · 1965 · 1–0
USSR Championship 1965: a 34-move win over David Bronstein, who had drawn a World Championship match with Botvinnik in 1951.
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Keres – Taimanov · 1965 · 0–1
USSR Championship 1965: with Black, Taimanov defeats Paul Keres — long rated among the strongest players never to hold the world title.
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Taimanov – Tal · 1969 · 1–0
USSR Championship 1969: Taimanov wins material and beats former World Champion Mikhail Tal in a sharp English.
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Taimanov – Larsen · 1970 · 1–0
Palma de Mallorca Interzonal 1970: Taimanov outlasts Bent Larsen at the Interzonal from which he qualified for the 1971 Candidates.
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Taimanov – Tal · 1973 · 1–0
USSR Championship 1973: another win over former World Champion Mikhail Tal — one of three Taimanov scored against him.
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Karpov – Taimanov · 1977 · 0–1
Leningrad 1977: playing Black, Taimanov stuns reigning World Champion Anatoly Karpov, who resigned in the face of 38...Ng3+.
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Taimanov – Shashin · 1978 · 1–0
Soviet Union 1978: a double bishop sacrifice, 22.Bxh7+ and 24.Bxg7, rips open Alexander Shashin's king.
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