Yuri Averbakh
Notable Games

Yuri Averbakh

14 celebrated games · 383 in the full archive
Player Index ◈ Biography 383 CURATED GAMES

Notable Games

  • 1950.11.13 Averbakh, Yuri L vsSuetin, Alexey S 1-0 Sicilian Defense: Richter-Rauzer Variation, Neo-Modern Variation, Early Deviations 33 moves URS-ch18 Final USSR Championship 1950. Meeting a Sicilian Richter-Rauzer, Averbakh outplays Alexey Suetin in 33 moves for an early championship-level scalp.
  • 1951.11.18 Averbakh, Yuri L vsSmyslov, Vasily V 1-0 Ruy Lopez: Morphy Defense, Modern Steinitz Defense 40 moves URS-ch19 Final USSR Championship 1951. A 40-move Ruy Lopez win over Vasily Smyslov, who would become World Champion in 1957 — a notable classical victory in hindsight.
  • 1951.12.03 Averbakh, Yuri L vsBondarevsky, Igor Tsakharovich 1-0 Old Indian Defense: Ukrainian Variation 42 moves URS-ch19 Final USSR Championship 1951. Averbakh grinds down Igor Bondarevsky in an Old Indian, converting a 42-move positional squeeze in the field of a Soviet final.
  • 1953.10.07 Averbakh, Yuri L vsTaimanov, Mark E 1-0 Sicilian Defense: Sozin Attack, Leonhardt Variation 36 moves Candidates Tournament Zurich Candidates 1953. A sharp Sicilian Sozin Attack in which Averbakh defeats Mark Taimanov in 36 moves at the tournament that decided the challenger to the world title.
  • 1953.10.17 Averbakh, Yuri L vsEuwe, Max 1-0 Nimzo-Indian Defense: Normal Variation, Bernstein Defense 45 moves Candidates Tournament Zurich Candidates 1953. In a Nimzo-Indian, Averbakh beats former World Champion Max Euwe in 45 moves; he finished his career with a plus score against Euwe.
  • 1954.01.22 Averbakh, Yuri L vsLilienthal, Andor 1-0 King's Indian Defense: Fianchetto Variation, Classical Variation 43 moves URS-ch21 Final USSR Championship 1954, the event Averbakh won outright with 14.5/19. Here he defeats Andor Lilienthal from a King's Indian Fianchetto in 43 moves on the way to the Soviet title.
  • 1954.02.05 Averbakh, Yuri L vsBannik, Anatolij 1-0 English Opening: King's English Variation, Taimanov Variation 62 moves URS-ch21 Final USSR Championship 1954. A 62-move English against Anatoly Bannik, a long technical win from the tournament in which Averbakh became Soviet Champion undefeated.
  • 1954.03.21 Averbakh, Yuri L vsPanno, Oscar 1-0 King's Indian Defense: Averbakh Variation, Benoni Defense, Advance Variation 31 moves Match/Nation ARG-URS Argentina–USSR match, 1954. A model win over Oscar Panno in the King's Indian Averbakh Variation — the 6.Bg5 system that bears Averbakh's name — decided in 31 moves.
  • 1956 Averbakh, Yuri L vsFuchs, Reinhart 1-0 King's Indian Defense: Averbakh Variation, Benoni Defense, Advance Variation 26 moves Dresden Dresden 1956. A crisp 26-move win over Reinhart Fuchs in his own King's Indian Averbakh Variation, later used as a chess.com teaching model of positional understanding.
  • 1957.01.29 Averbakh, Yuri L vsBotvinnik, Mikhail 1-0 Ruy Lopez: Closed, Karpov Variation 45 moves Match/Training Botvinnik-Averbakh Secret Botvinnik–Averbakh training match, January 1957. Averbakh defeats reigning World Champion Mikhail Botvinnik in a Ruy Lopez in 45 moves during Botvinnik's preparation for his return match with Smyslov.
  • 1958.01.21 Averbakh, Yuri L vsPolugaevsky, Lev 1-0 Modern Defense: Kotov Variation 30 moves URS-ch25 Final USSR Championship 1958. Averbakh handles the Modern Defense with his own restraining setup and beats Lev Polugaevsky in 30 moves.
  • 1958.08.20 Averbakh, Yuri L vsLarsen, Bent 1-0 Sicilian Defense: Dragon Variation, Yugoslav Attack, Modern Line 43 moves Interzonal-04 Portoroz Interzonal 1958. A 43-move win over Bent Larsen in a Sicilian Dragon, Yugoslav Attack, at the tournament where Averbakh finished half a point short of the Candidates.
  • 1960.02.20 Averbakh, Yuri L vsPetrosian, Tigran V 1-0 King's Indian Defense: Fianchetto Variation, Panno Variation, Blockade Line 43 moves URS-ch27 Final USSR Championship 1960. Averbakh defeats Tigran Petrosian — future World Champion — in 43 moves; he was one of the few players to hold a plus score against Petrosian.
  • 1969.01.25 Averbakh, Yuri L vsPlatonov, Igor V 1-0 Tarrasch Defense: Symmetrical Variation 25 moves URS-ch36 Final USSR Championship 1969. A compact 25-move win over Igor Platonov out of a Tarrasch Defense, from one of Averbakh's later Soviet finals.
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