Queen Sacrifice for just a Pawn. Averbakh vs Kotov, Zurich 1953

This game won the 1st brilliancy prize in the famous Zurich 1953 Candidates Tournament. Grandmaster Kotov intuitively sacrificed the queen just for a pawn and started a king hunt. Later in the game, in order to avoid the checkmate grandmaster Averbakh had to give up the exchange, the bishop, the knight and eventually the queen.
1. d4 Nf6 2. c4 d6 3. Nf3 Nbd7 4. Nc3 e5 5. e4 Be7 6. Be2 O-O 7. O-O c6 8. Qc2 Re8 9. Rd1 Bf8 10. Rb1 a5 11. d5 Nc5 12. Be3 Qc7 13. h3 Bd7 14. Rbc1 g6 15. Nd2 Rab8 16. Nb3 Nxb3 17. Qxb3 c5 18. Kh2 Kh8 19. Qc2 Ng8 20. Bg4 Nh6 21. Bxd7 Qxd7 22. Qd2 Ng8 23. g4 f5 24. f3 Be7 25. Rg1 Rf8 26. Rcf1 Rf7 27. gxf5 gxf5 28. Rg2 f4 29. Bf2 Rf6 30. Ne2 Qxh3+ 31. Kxh3 Rh6+ 32. Kg4 Nf6+ 33. Kf5 Nd7 34. Rg5 Rf8+ 35. Kg4 Nf6+ 36. Kf5 Ng8+ 37. Kg4 Nf6+ 38. Kf5 Nxd5+ 39. Kg4 Nf6+ 40. Kf5 Ng8+ 41. Kg4 Nf6+ 42. Kf5 Ng8+ 43. Kg4 Bxg5 44. Kxg5 Rf7 45. Bh4 Rg6+ 46. Kh5 Rfg7 47. Bg5 Rxg5+ 48. Kh4 Nf6 49. Ng3 Rxg3 50. Qxd6 R3g6 51. Qb8+ Rg8 0-1

[@ishaque71]

I like your CZcams shows, as you explain every move and the reason behind it. It helps me understand the game and think like a grandmaster. More people who want to learn the game should watch your show, compared to other chess CZcams channels, which explain at an intermediate level and no more, also teaches about traps. I think your show is better when trying to get to a higher level.

[@timmarshall4881]

A great game. Well described. Love and peace. Tim

[@chesswisdom]

Thank you Tim. Love and peace to you.

[@michaelallport5816]

Magnificient!

[@mostafakhalil6030]

Unstoppable initiative is the equivalent of making either a kill box for enemy pieces or a deadly trap for the king. Either way, it's probably winning.

[@franckferrante7164]

Qxh3 !! Ils Amazing !

[@aslampervez2294]

Thanks

[@chesswisdom]

My pleasure.

[@gm1590]

Zurich 53 is the greatest chess book ever, imho :D

[@chesswisdom]

I absolutely agree, it's my favorite chess book too.

[@user-pn4fr7hl2r]

great game. Think about showing any of Karpov Korchnoy matches. They are so forgotten and stayed in the shadow of Karpov Kasrparov 5 epic matches...

[@schollnickadver]

at the 12:17 mark, ng3 by white?

[@chesswisdom]

After 44.Ng3 the following variation is possible - 44...Be7(threatening Rh4#) 45.Nh5 Nf6+ 46. Kh3 Rxh5+ 47. Bh4 Rxh4+ 48. Kxh4 Nxe4+ and 49...Nxd2 (if 46. Nxf6, then 46...Rfxf6 and there is no defense against checkmate - Rfg6+ and Rh5#)