Thanks for putting this up Daniel! I love Tal and his magical games. Great commentary as always, and we look forward to seeing your coverage of the Candidates tournament, it should be an amazing event.
Mr King I would like to thank you for all these amazing videos, I'm addicted! You actually helped me improve my game a lot, by explaining the ideas behing grandmaster moves. Now I am able to sometimes employ them in my own games. My rating increased from 1300 to 1900 in the last 6 months! I would really like to support you by donating but I'm not able to unfortunately since I'm a student :( Hopefully in the future! Keep it up!
Not sure i agree that Tal didn`t have consistency. He holds the record for the longest unbeaten streaks in chess, both nr1 and 2 no ? Thats pretty consistent :)
+Stokkeland23 Point taken - and indeed, in the video I was highlighting a fine run of form that he had in 1979. But really I was referring to Tal's inability to stay at the top of world chess. In this respect you cannot compare him with Karpov in the period 1975-1980, Kasparov from 1985-2000, or Magnus Carlsen.
Well, the world of chess is abit based on luck. You have to win a single tournament to quality for World Chess Championships. It doesn't take consistency to do thst, it takes to win 1 certain tournament. Gelfand almost became world champion, which proves that you don't have to stay near the NR 1 spot rating wise. You just have to win that 1 tournament when it counts. If Carlsen didn't win that candidates in the fashion he did, who is to say if he ever would have gotten to be world champion. I do agree though, you can't compare Tal to the players you mentioned. They have stayed at the top longer, to me if you stay rated NR 1 in the world means more in terms of strength then compared to how long you can keep a world title/gain it.
+Stokkeland23 I think Tal's health kept him from being one of the greatest ever. However, he certainly may have been the greatest instinctive attacking player in history.
Jack Carter I believe in his 20s Tal was stronger than other champions of his era such as Euwe, Smyslov, Botvinnik, and Petrosian. I think only Spassky was better. Tal's record against Spassky was +6 =26 -9 but four of those six victories happened after 1978, when both were past their primes. By 1970 Fischer had passed everyone and was probably stronger than any player until a 22 year old Kasparov probably would have beat the 42 year old Fischer in 1985. Age I think is important to consider in all of this as Tal was only 1 year older than Spassky, but was 7 years older than Fischer. Spassky was 32 before becoming champion. Tal did it at 24. The big question is if Tal did not have health issues from early in life, and had he the chance to improve earlier (Tal did not defeat a GM until he was 18) how good could he have been? Considering the potential he may have been the most gifted player aside of Morphy. He sadly burned very brightly for too short of a time. Tal is one of my favorite players and I was very sad when he passed.
"...years of analysis and minutes of play are not quite the same thing." In 2016 it could be said that "Running an engine and practical play over the board are not the same thing."
Even though Tals ghost would never stop to haunt you I think you could have commented on some of these "holes" in the attacking strategy. Personally I can't figure out why he brings out the king. But that is of course a hole in the defensive strategy. Nevertheless a treat to watch a Tal game! Thx for the upload!
Tal said "I should observe for the 1001th time, that years of analysis and minutes of play are not quite the same!" How eloquent! PIty that current GMs don't take many risks like this against human play and give us some romantic games! No risk, no gain! Thanks GM King .. great game!
With Tal's health issues and alcoholism, he did pretty darn well. He was very ill when he defended against Botvinnik in 1961. Not sure it is fair or accurate to say he was inconsistent. He flew to the top of chess in the late 50s and stayed there for, what, 30 years. Many of his moves or gambits may not be the most computer correct, but it would be hard as hell to find a defense over the board.
Tal never had consistency ? He holds the record in consistency ! In 1973 and 1974, he remained unbeaten in 93 games in a row as the only grandmaster up until now. The current world champion has not this consistency.
+StGavriel Point taken - and indeed, in the video I was highlighting a fine run of form that he had in 1979. But really I was referring to Tal's inability to stay at the top of world chess. In this respect you cannot compare him with Karpov in the period 1975-1980, Kasparov from 1985-2000, or Magnus Carlsen.
+PowerPlayChess You are right that Karpov, Kasparov and Carlsen stayed longer at the top, but I think Tal´s streak of 93 unbeaten games is quite remarkable, especially when you keep Tal´s playing style in mind and the fact that players like Carlsen play less aggressive and do not have these streaks !
Thanks for the video! The magician from Riga is my favourite player of all time.
Thanks for putting this up Daniel! I love Tal and his magical games. Great commentary as always, and we look forward to seeing your coverage of the Candidates tournament, it should be an amazing event.
Mr King I would like to thank you for all these amazing videos, I'm addicted! You actually helped me improve my game a lot, by explaining the ideas behing grandmaster moves. Now I am able to sometimes employ them in my own games. My rating increased from 1300 to 1900 in the last 6 months! I would really like to support you by donating but I'm not able to unfortunately since I'm a student :( Hopefully in the future! Keep it up!
This was so nice!!!!
Thanks for this video, I'm very happy that you analyse some games of my favourite player of all time! :)
Thank you, Mr King! I started a flash card collection with the best moves from your videos, just to learn them better!
Thanks for the Video! It's always nice to see some Tal sacrifices.
beautiful. As always, the commentary is wonderful. I think of these game clips as little "chess movies."
What a day! New content on PowerplayChess :-)
Lol. Me too :-)
Excellent Power Play, Daniel! You have a gift for explaining complex chess concepts. Thank you
Fascinating commentary!! As usual
I got Tal to autograph my copy of Montreal 1979. My proudest chess possession.
How old are you sir
Thank you for another great chess video. You are awesome. :D
Not sure i agree that Tal didn`t have consistency. He holds the record for the longest unbeaten streaks in chess, both nr1 and 2 no ? Thats pretty consistent :)
+Stokkeland23 Point taken - and indeed, in the video I was highlighting a fine run of form that he had in 1979. But really I was referring to Tal's inability to stay at the top of world chess. In this respect you cannot compare him with Karpov in the period 1975-1980, Kasparov from 1985-2000, or Magnus Carlsen.
Well, the world of chess is abit based on luck.
You have to win a single tournament to quality for World Chess Championships. It doesn't take consistency to do thst, it takes to win 1 certain tournament. Gelfand almost became world champion, which proves that you don't have to stay near the NR 1 spot rating wise. You just have to win that 1 tournament when it counts. If Carlsen didn't win that candidates in the fashion he did, who is to say if he ever would have gotten to be world champion.
I do agree though, you can't compare Tal to the players you mentioned. They have stayed at the top longer, to me if you stay rated NR 1 in the world means more in terms of strength then compared to how long you can keep a world title/gain it.
+Stokkeland23 but Carlsen did win
+Stokkeland23 I think Tal's health kept him from being one of the greatest ever. However, he certainly may have been the greatest instinctive attacking player in history.
Jack Carter I believe in his 20s Tal was stronger than other champions of his era such as Euwe, Smyslov, Botvinnik, and Petrosian. I think only Spassky was better. Tal's record against Spassky was +6 =26 -9 but four of those six victories happened after 1978, when both were past their primes. By 1970 Fischer had passed everyone and was probably stronger than any player until a 22 year old Kasparov probably would have beat the 42 year old Fischer in 1985.
Age I think is important to consider in all of this as Tal was only 1 year older than Spassky, but was 7 years older than Fischer. Spassky was 32 before becoming champion. Tal did it at 24.
The big question is if Tal did not have health issues from early in life, and had he the chance to improve earlier (Tal did not defeat a GM until he was 18) how good could he have been? Considering the potential he may have been the most gifted player aside of Morphy. He sadly burned very brightly for too short of a time. Tal is one of my favorite players and I was very sad when he passed.
"...years of analysis and minutes of play are not quite the same thing." In 2016 it could be said that "Running an engine and practical play over the board are not the same thing."
Even though Tals ghost would never stop to haunt you I think you could have commented on some of these "holes" in the attacking strategy. Personally I can't figure out why he brings out the king. But that is of course a hole in the defensive strategy. Nevertheless a treat to watch a Tal game! Thx for the upload!
nice quote at the end from the man himself
Tal said "I should observe for the 1001th time, that years of analysis and minutes of play are not quite the same!"
How eloquent! PIty that current GMs don't take many risks like this against human play and give us some romantic games! No risk, no gain! Thanks GM King .. great game!
What a combination of attacking players!
what is the word daniel says at 15:28? it sounds like "fehicle" (which i hear in many commentaries of him) but i can't find such thing in dictionary.
+Galip Haznedar Fatal - something that causes death or that leads to failure or disaster.
+Galip Haznedar fatal.
What a genius!!!
Poetry and Magic
With Tal's health issues and alcoholism, he did pretty darn well. He was very ill when he defended against Botvinnik in 1961. Not sure it is fair or accurate to say he was inconsistent. He flew to the top of chess in the late 50s and stayed there for, what, 30 years. Many of his moves or gambits may not be the most computer correct, but it would be hard as hell to find a defense over the board.
Tal never had consistency ? He holds the record in consistency ! In 1973 and 1974, he remained unbeaten in 93 games in a row as the only grandmaster up until now. The current world champion has not this consistency.
+StGavriel Point taken - and indeed, in the video I was highlighting a fine run of form that he had in 1979. But really I was referring to Tal's inability to stay at the top of world chess. In this respect you cannot compare him with Karpov in the period 1975-1980, Kasparov from 1985-2000, or Magnus Carlsen.
+PowerPlayChess You are right that Karpov, Kasparov and Carlsen stayed longer at the top, but I think Tal´s streak of 93 unbeaten games is quite remarkable, especially when you keep Tal´s playing style in mind and the fact that players like Carlsen play less aggressive and do not have these streaks !
+StGavriel Carlsen is as we speak on his way to beat the streak :-)
You are a wizard Harry...
+Poyraz I just wanted to say that Tal was a wizard, but then Harry Potter came to mind
Expected 3 or 4 piece sacrifices from Tal :) but still great game
Wow 1200 views 200 like O unlike !!
Interesting, looking back from 2020: Carlsen is no longer the kind of player who would have played the solid Ne1.
chess was fantastic ...!
You look younger than me, and I am ONLY 40