The proven tactic was applied by the seventh world chess champion Tigran Vartanovich Petrosyan at the Rio de Janeiro Interzonal Tournament in 1979. Cillj was placed among the top three, which ensured his participation in the Candidates Matches. The tournament with 18 participants and 17 grueling rounds required him to play rationally: play cautiously with the “upper house” and ruthlessly with the “lower house”.
Tigran Vartanovic strictly implemented the outlined plan: he drew with the tournament favorites - Portis, Hibner, and Timan, with "only" two wins - over sixth-placed Ivkov and ninth-placed Saks - but in return he "beaten" the bottom of the table - 5 points from 6 games!
In addition, he was the participant who played the fewest moves in the tournament and the only player without a defeat, with 11,5 points won in 17 rounds. In the end, he shared first place with Portis and Hibner. He did not prepare for most of the games, relying on his extensive knowledge and experience. His planned plan towards the goal, which he implemented with “sure steps”, inspired a chess commentator for the “Brazilian Journal” to write:
“Tigran Petrosian plays so cautiously that we get the impression that a previously prepared chart is lying on his desk, and he is unilaterally guided by that chart and the pre-planned result.”
From the interzonal tournament in Rio de Janeiro in 1979, we report Petrosyan's victory over one of the "residents" of the lower house - the Iranian international Harandi.
Queen's Indian Defense
Petrosjan - Harandi
Rio de Janeiro 1979
Comments: IMR Marić
1.d4 Nf6 2. c4 e6 3. Nf3 b6 4. a3
A move that is very often found in the repertoire of the former world champion, with which he has already reaped much success, and which other grandmasters also apply. For example, Kasparov played in almost every game at the tournament in Banja Luka in 1979 when he had the opportunity.
4…Lb7 5. Sc3 d5 6. cd5 ed5 7.Lf4
Nothing special, White's 7.g3 with a possible continuation of 7…Be7 8.Bg2 0-0 9. 0-0 Ba6 10.Bf4 c5 11.Ne5 Re8 as in the game Georgiu - Adorjan, Riga, 1979, is not promising.
7…Ld6 8.Lg3 0-0 9.e3 Se4?!
Up until this point, the game had flowed identically to the Portis - Talj game, Montreal 1979, in which the former world champion continued with 9..c5 and then 10…. Bd3 Re8 11. 0-0 Bg3 12. hg3 Nbd7 13. dc5 bc5 14. b4 with d4! achieving at least a draw. Perhaps Harandi did not know about this game or thought that this continuation would bring him more than that.
10.Qb3 c6?
Too passive. Much better was probably 10 …c5! or the previous 10… Nxc3 11. bc3 with c5 with good chances of equalizing. After the move played, Petrosyan slowly realizes his field advantage and better piece development.
11. Bd3 Re8?!
It was still better 11…Nxc3 12 bc3 c5, although Black had already lost the pace.
12. Bxe4! de4 13. Ne5 Bxe5
11. de5!!
Now the decisive move will be White's breakthrough across the d-line and the knight's attack on the d6-line. The following moves are forced.
14. …Sd7 15. Sxe4 Sxe5 16. Td1 Dc7 17. Sd6
With this, White gains quality and all Black's chances are buried. Black is still trying to prevent White from castling, because the rook move would be followed by Nc4.
17. La6 Sxe8 Txe8 19. f3 Dc8 20. Lxe5 Txe5 21. Kf2 h6 22. Td2 c5 23. Thd1 Te8 24. Td7 c4 25. Db4
Black surrenders, because there is no defense against the threat of Qd6 with Rd8.
Bonus video:
