This is Game 12 from The 100 Best Chess Games, by Andrew Soltis (published by McFarland & Company, North Carolina in 2000)

1. d4 d5 2. c4 e6 3. Nc3 c5 4. e3

White declines the theoretical debate over 4 cxd5 exd5 5 Nf3/6 g3 ...

4... Nf6 5. Nf3 Nc6 6. a3 Bd6 7. dxc5 Bxc5 8. b4 Bd6 9. Bb2 O-O 10. Qc2

Even in 1957 it should have been clear what Tal was intending to do with his king. Now 10 ...a5 is best.

10... Ne5?!

The weakness is obvious after White's next move.

11. O-O-O! Qe7 12. Nb5

Tal-Aronin After 12 Nb5

White wants to dominate the dark squares (13 Nxd6) or open the g-file (12 ... Nxf3).

12... Ned7 13. Nxd6 Qxd6 14. Qc3!

In the face of g2-g4-g5, Black must resort to a highly irregular defence--but it works.

14... Re8 15. g4 Qf8!

Not 15 ... e5 16 g5 Ne4 17 Qc2 followed by 18 Qxe4 or 18 Rxd5.

16. Bd3 Nb6!

Black wants to defang the attack by eliminating one of the bishops (17 ... Nxa4 or 17 ... Nxc4).

17. g5 Na4 18. Qc2

Here the first tempting queen sacrifice of the game would have failed: 18 gxf6 Nxc3 19 fxg7 Qe7 20 Bxc3 dxc4 21 Bc2 f6!.

18... Nxb2 19. Kxb2 dxc4!

Now 20 Bxc4 Nd5 21 Bxd5 exd5 22 Rxd5 Be6 is anti-Tal play by White.

20. gxf6 cxd3 21. Qxd3 e5! 22. Ng5 g6 23. h4 Bf5!

Black closes the dangerous d3-g6 diagonal.

24. e4 Bg4 25. h5!!

(see diagram)

Tal-Aronin After 25 h5

25... Rad8!

Everyone else was being mated by Tal in the years 1957 to 1959 but Aronin resolves not to become an addition to a collection of his brilliancies, as he would after 25 ... Bxd1 26 hxg6 hxg6 27 Qxd1. THen 27 ... Rad8 is too late (28 Rh8+! Kxh8 29 Qh1+ and mates). Also lost is 25 ... gxh5 26 f3 Be6 27 Rdg1 and 25 ... Bxh5 26 Rxh5! gxh5 27 Rg1 Kh8 Qh3.

26. hxg6! Rxd3

White wins easily if the queen offer is refused (26 ... h6 27 gxf7+ Qxf7 28 Qxd8). Accepting the rook with 26 ... Bxd1 loses 27 Qh3.

27. Rxd3!

The tempting 27 gxh7+ Kh8 28 Rxd3 allows 28 ... Be6 with defense (29 Rg1 Qh6).

27... hxg6

(see diagram)

Tal-Aronin After 27 ... hxg6

28. Rh7! Rc8!!

The rook rushes to give itself up for the vital f6-pawn. Black loses on 28 ... Rd8 29 Rxd8 Qxd8 30 Rh8+ or 28 ... Re6 29 Nxe6 fxe6 30 Rg7+ Kh8 31 Rdd7 Qxf6 32 Rgf7.

29. f3 Rc6 30. Rxf7

After all the sparkling finishes have been denied him, White is forced to accept reality (30 fxg4 Rxf6 31 Rdh3 Rf2+ 32 Kb3 Qd6 would favor Black).

30... Qxf7 31. Nxf7 Kxf7 32. fxg4 Kxf6 33. Rd7

Black will win the overextended g4-pawn now but White has enough counterplay to draw.

 

 

 

Tal-Aronin Final Position

33... Rb6 34. Kc3 Kg5 35. Kc4 Kxg4 36. a4 a6

(see diagram)

White can force repitition with 37 Kc5 Rc6+ Kd5 because Black has nothing better than 38 ... Rb6 39 Kc5 Rc6+.

Draw