Category Archives: Portisch
Politiken Cup 2013 Rd4-GM Portisch(HUN)
Politiken Cup 2013
Veteran GM Portisch used subtle pawn structure management and eventually converted a N-B technical ending for the victory in the Politiken Cup.
More About Helsingor, Denmark(Wikipedia)
Helsingør [hɛlseˈŋøɔ̯ˀ], also known by its English name Elsinore, is a city in Helsingør municipality on the northeast coast of the island of Zealand (Sjælland) in eastern Denmark.
It is known internationally as the setting of William Shakespeare’s Hamlet. The name is derived from *Hals meaning “narrow strait” and it referred to the narrow passage between what is now Elsinore and Helsingborg.
Prior to the Middle Ages it was just a marketplace where people sold goods, including women. About 1200 AD the first church, Sct Olai Church, was built. A number of convents once surrounded the church, but now all that remains is the church building, today the cathedral of the Diocese of Elsinore.
Portisch,L (2479) – Haugli,P (2287)
Queeen’s Gambit Accepted 3.e3 e5[D20]
Politiken Cup 2013
Helsingor DEN (4.19), 29.07.2013
Position 1
White voluntarily accepted doubled e-pawns earlier to control d4. What do you recommend for white now?
White to Play
Interview with GM Portisch(Hungarian Language)-Video
Interview with Portisch,l(Hungarian Language)
Portisch Simul 2011
GM Portish is still a very popular player.
GM Master Class-Portisch Las Palmas 1976
Veteran GM Portisch demonstrates a long patient massage with the bishop pair finally winning in a BB vs BN endgame.
Portisch,Lajos (2625) – Hernandez Onna,Roman (2460)
King’s Indian Classical 6…c5[E91]
Las Palmas (8), 1976
Position 1
The bishops dominate the board and white is ready for the kill. What do you suggest for white?
White to Play
Portisch L vs Benko Gambit Biel 1976
GM Master Class
Portisch,L used a quick double fianchetto with Nh3-f4 against Geller’s Benko gambit in the Biel 1976 Interzonal and won a tough game.
Portisch,Lajos (2625) – Geller,Efim P (2620)
Benko g3 Fast b3[A58]
Biel Interzonal Biel (3), 13.07.1976
Position 1
Black had earlier sacrificed the exchange for counterplay and now white is playing to convert the material advantage. What do you suggest for white?
White to Play
TWIC(HUN-CAN) 939 2012-11-06
Introduction The Week In Chess(TWIC)
TWIC is Mark Crowther’s work. This is a partial summary. Tournaments featuring Hungarian, players resident in Hungary and Canadian players featured.
TCh-AUT 2012-13
Several Hungarian players participated with Erdos and Rapport doing the best with 2.5/3.
2 Erdos,V 1.0 – 0.0 1.0 – 0.0 0.5 – 0.5 2.5/3
11 Rapport,R 0.5 – 0.5 1.0 – 0.0 1.0 – 0.0 2.5/3
37 Balogh,C 0.5 – 0.5 0.5 – 0.5 0.5 – 0.5 1.5/3
38 Horvath,Jo1 0.5 – 0.5 0.5 – 0.5 0.5 – 0.5 1.5/3
49 Pinter,J 0.0 – 1.0 1.0 – 0.0 0.0 – 1.0 1.0/3
53 Farago,I 0.0 – 1.0 0.5 – 0.5 0.5 – 0.5 1.0/3
56 Prohaszka,P2 0.0 – 1.0 0.5 – 0.5 0.5 – 0.5 1.0/3
60 Horvath,Cs1 0.5 – 0.5 0.0 – 1.0 0.5 – 0.5 1.0/3
61 Juhasz,Kr 0.5 – 0.5 0.0 – 1.0 0.5 – 0.5 1.0/3
65 Hera,I 0. 0 – 1.0 0.0 – 1.0 0.5 – 0.5 0.5/3
Chigorin Memorial 2012
Areshchenko,A and Socko,B =1st 7.5/9. Almasi,Z 6/9 and Portisch,L 5/8
1 Areshchenko,A 2710 -½ +1 -1 +1 -1 +1 +½ -½ +1 7.5/9
2 Socko,B 2619 +1 -½ +1 -1 +1 -0 +1 -1 +1 7.5/9
3 Shimanov,A 2599 -1 +1 -1 +1 +1 -½ +½ +½ -½ 7.0/9
4 Demchenko,A 2610 +1 -1 +1 -1 +1 +½ -½ -½ +½ 7.0/9
5 Jumabayev,R 2545 -1 +1 -½ +1 -½ +1 -½ +½ -1 7.0/9
6 Bartel,Mat 2635 -1 +½ -1 +1 -½ +½ +1 -½ +1 7.0/9
7 Akopian,Vl 2703 -1 +½ -½ +1 -1 +1 -½ +½ -1 7.0/9
8 Eljanov,P 2681 -½ +1 -½ +1 -½ +1 +1 -1 +½ 7.0/9
9 Sasikiran,K 2680 +1 -½ +1 -1 +½ -0 +1 +1 -1 7.0/9
10 Grachev,B 2672 +1 -½ +1 -½ +1 -½ +1 +1 -½ 7.0/9
11 Savchenko,B 2540 -1 +1 -½ +1 +0 -1 +½ -1 +1 7.0/9
54 Almasi,Z(HUN) 2707 +1 -0 +1 +1 -0 +1 -½ +1 -½ 6.0/9
150 Portisch,L(HUN) 2495 -1 +½ -0 +½ -½ +1 -½ +1 5.0/8
(281 players)
12th Sautron Open 2012 Chessdom Sautron Iinternational Open
‘GM Mikhailo Oleksienko winner of the Sautron International Open Nov 6, 2012. The 12th Sautron International Chess Open was held from 27th October to 3rd November at the Phelippes Beaulieux Center in Sautron, France. 165 players competed in the 9-round Swiss event that was rated with FIDE and FFE. The prize fund was 7,000 EUR. GM Mikhailo Oleksienko from Ukraine took a clear first place with 7,5 points, leaving Grandmasters Alexander Zubarev and Aleksandr Karpatchev half a point behind. Maxime Lagarde shared the 4th place and earned his second GM norm.’
Final standings:
1. GM OLEKSIENKO Mikhailo 2539 UKR – 7,5
2-3. GM ZUBAREV Alexander 2583 UKR and GM KARPATCHEV Aleksandr 2458 RUS – 7,0
4-11. GM LE ROUX Jean-Pierre 2563 FRA, IM LAGARDE Maxime 2501 FRA, IM PANCEVSKI Filip 2482 MKD, IM KOZIAK Vitali 2503 UKR, IM RIFF Jean-Noel 2473 FRA, GM ULIBIN Mikhail 2529 RUS, GM RUSEV Krasimir 2549 BUL and IM BEDOUIN Xavier 2414 FRA – 6,5
12-26. GM GLEIZEROV Evgeny 2564 RUS, IM NGUYEN Chi-Minh 2392 FRA, FM IDER Borya 2394 FRA, IM COLIN Vincent 2407 FRA, WGM VIDENOVA Iva 2318 BUL, GM SERGEEV Vladimir 2475 UKR, IM MARHOLEV Dimitar 2326 BUL, LE GOFF Ronan 2108 FRA, VIDAL Llewellyn 2043 FRA, WIM MAKKA Ioulia 2119 GRE, WFM NAVROTESCU Andreea-Cristiana, RABHI Chamss-Eddine 1992 FRA, IM PIASETSKI Leon 2298 CAN, GALLANT Aurelien 2110 FRA and GAYON Benoit 1974 FRA – 6,0 etc
4NCL 2012-13
IM Panjwani,R(CAN 2402) drew 2 GMs.
1 2
1 Smerdon,D 1.0 – 0.0 1.0 – 0.0 2.0/2
2 Hebden,M 1.0 – 0.0 1.0 – 0.0 2.0/2
3 Cobb,J 1.0 – 0.0 1.0 – 0.0 2.0/2
4 Lalic,S 1.0 – 0.0 1.0 – 0.0 2.0/2
5 Chevannes,S 1.0 – 0.0 1.0 – 0.0 2.0/2
6 Alfred,N 1.0 – 0.0 1.0 – 0.0 2.0/2
7 Zhou,Y 1.0 – 0.0 1.0 – 0.0 2.0/2
8 Franklin,S 1.0 – 0.0 1.0 – 0.0 2.0/2
9 Townsend,M 1.0 – 0.0 1.0 – 0.0 2.0/2
10 Adair,J 1.0 – 0.0 1.0 – 0.0 2.0/2
11 McNab,C 1.0 – 0.0 1.0 – 0.0 2.0/2
85 Panjwani,R(CAN) 0.5 – 0.5 0.5 – 0.5 1.0/2
e2e4 Basingstoke Int Open 2012
Ghasi,A clear first with 6.5/9. Lyell,M(Lives in HUN) got 4.5/9.
1 Ghasi,A 2430 -1 +½ -1 +1 -½ +1 -½ +½ -½ 6.5/9
2 Arkell,K 2456 +1 -½ +1 -½ +½ +½ -½ -½ +½ 5.5/9
3 Ziska,H 2474 +1 -½ +1 -0 +1 -½ -½ +½ -½ 5.5/9
4 Hawkins,Jo 2511 +1 -½ +½ -½ +1 -½ +½ -½ +½ 5.5/9
5 Cobb,J 2423 +1 +½ -½ -1 +0 -½ +½ +½ -1 5.5/9
6 Hanley,C 2406 -½ +½ -1 +½ -1 +½ +½ -½ -½ 5.5/9
7 Eggleston,D 2337 -½ +1 -0 +1 -0 +1 +½ -½ +1 5.5/9
8 Player,E 2215 +0 -1 +½ -0 +½ -1 +½ -1 -1 5.5/9
15 Lyell,M(ENG) 2219 -0 +1 -1 +0 -0 +½ -0 +1 -1 4.5/9
e2e4 High Wycombe October Open 2012
Three players at 3.5/5 so far. Lyell,M(Lives in HUN) has 2/5.
1 Sowray,P 2362 +½ -1 +1 -1 +0 3.5/5
2 Rees,I 2254 -1 +½ -1 +1 3.5/4
3 Varnam,L 2118 -1 +½ -1 +1 3.5/4
23 Lyell,M(ENG) 2219 +0 -1 -0 +1 -0 2.0/5
Here is a game by the veteran Portisch from the Chigorin Memorial.
Portisch,L (2495) – Minko,V (2293) [A60] Chigorin Memorial St Petersburg RUS (8.51), 03.11.2012
Critical Position 1
The middlegame is well under way. What is the plan for white? How do you play?
White to play
Vintage Portisch 4.e3-11.Ba2 Nimzo-Indian(E59)
This is the line under consideration.
1.d4 Nf6 2.c4 e6 3.Nc3 Bb4 4.e3 c5 5.Bd3 Nc6 6.Nf3 d5 7.0–0 0–0 8.a3 Bxc3 9.bxc3 dxc4 10.Bxc4 Qc7 11.Ba2
This old game is still of some relevance in 2012 but the 14.Ne1 idea should not be considered dangerous for black.
Portisch,Lajos (2630) – Sosonko,Gennadi (2575) [E59]
Tilburg (4), 1978
Critical Position 1
White is passively placed after the Ne1/f3 idea. What is the plan for black? How do you play?
Black to play
Critical Position 2
Ne5 and Rd2 are under attack. How do you react?
Black to play
Vintage Portisch on the 3.Bb5+ Sicilian(B52)
Here is an interesting game in a very popular sideline.
The middlegame themes illustrated include
- Queenside counterplay
- Quiet maneuvering
- Small tactics
- Choosing the right pawn center
Garcia Martinez,Silvino – Portisch,Lajos [B52]
Palma de Mallorca Palma de Mallorca (2), 1971
Critical Position 1
Black has an equal position. The forces are not yet in direct contact. Now it is time to form a plan. What do you propose for black?
Black to play
Critical Position 2
White is attacking Nb6. What should black do?
Black to play
Critical Position 3
The stray rook is almost trapped. How do you play?
Black to play
Vintage Portisch in the 2.c3 d5 Sicilian(B22)
Here is an interesting game that can be studied under the following theme(s)
- IQP defence
- Small tactics
- Weak king position
- Attack on the king
Braga,Fernando Alberto (2375) – Portisch,Lajos (2630) [B22]
Mar del Plata Mar del Plata, 1982
Critical Position 1(17.Bd3)
White is threatening Qxh7# How should black defend the kingside?
Black to play
Critical Position 2(24.Rac1)
Black has beaten back the first wave of white’s attempted attack and has sucessfully secured the kingside. Now black is looking for more. How do you continue? Is there a way to press the kingside? Maybe …Nf4 or …g5 perhaps?
Black to play
Critical Position 3(35.Qc8)
The attack is well under way. How do you play?
Black to play
Vintage Portisch on the Closed Sicilian
Here is an instructive game from the Larsen-Portisch Candiates Match 1977 in the Closed Sicilian.
‘Jørgen Bent Larsen (4 March 1935 – 9 September 2010) was a Danish chess Grandmaster and author. Larsen was known for his imaginative and unorthodox style of play and he was the first western player to pose a serious challenge to the Soviet Union’s dominance of chess.[1] He is considered to be the strongest chess player born in Denmark and the strongest from Scandinavia until the emergence of Magnus Carlsen.
Larsen was a six time Danish Champion and a candidate for the World Chess Championship on four occasions, reaching the semi final three times. He had multiple wins over all seven World Champions who held the title from 1948 to 1985: Mikhail Botvinnik, Vasily Smyslov, Mikhail Tal, Tigran Petrosian, Boris Spassky, Bobby Fischer, and Anatoly Karpov.,[2] but lifetime minus scores against them. On a percentage basis, his best score against a World Champion was with Max Euwe. Larsen and Euwe met over the board only once, at the Munich Olympiad in 1958; the game ended in a draw.[3] From the early 1970s, he divided his year between Las Palmas and Buenos Aires,[1] with his Argentinian-born wife. He suffered from diabetes and died in 2010.-Wikipedia
Larsen,Bent (2615) – Portisch,Lajos (2625) [B25]
Candidates qf3 Rotterdam (1), 01.03.1977
1.e4 c5 2.Nc3 Nc6 3.g3 g6 4.Bg2 Bg7 5.d3 d6 6.f4 e5
Black intends a postional battle from the solid Botvinnik structure.
Critical Position 1
The early middlegame has been reached and black must form a cohesive plan. White has just played 19.cd. How do you play?
Black to play
Critical Position 2
The game is deep into the middlegame. Black is well established on e5 and has the bishop pair. White has just played 34.Ne2. What should black play next? Undermine d5 with ..f5? Improve the kingside first with ..Kg7? Or is there something else?
Critical Position 3
The ending has been reached. Black has been pressing hard but now must do something about the Rxg5 threat. White has just played 41.Nxd2. How do you play?
Black to play
Vintage Portisch on the g3 King’s Indian(1964)
‘Lajos Portisch (born 4 April 1937 in Zalaegerszeg, Hungary) is a Hungarian chess Grandmaster, whose positional style earned him the nickname, the “Hungarian Botvinnik“. One of the strongest non-Soviet players from the early 1960s into the late 1980s, he participated in twelve consecutive Interzonals from 1962 through 1993, qualifying for the World Chess Championship Candidates‘ cycle a total of eight times (1965, 1968, 1974, 1977, 1980, 1983, 1985, and 1988). Portisch set several all-time records in Chess Olympiads. In Hungarian Chess Championships, he either shared the title or won it outright a total of eight times (1958, 1959, 1961, 1964, 1965, 1971, 1975, and 1981). He won many strong international tournaments during his career. In 2004, Portisch was awarded the ‘Nemzet Sportoloja‘, Hungary’s highest national sports achievement award.’-Wikipedia
Here is a nice game featuring a plan which is still relevant today in the King’s Indian.
Portisch,Lajos – Gligoric,Svetozar [E69]
HUN-YUG Budapest (2.1), 1964
This middlegame is can be divided into distinct parts
(1)A quiet building phase where e4 is overprotected and small improvements are made to the position
(2)A favorable transformation in the pawn structure
(3)Concrete attacking play to break down the kingside
Critical Position 1
Nothing seems to be happening. What is white’s plan? Continue building? or is there a chance for concrete play?
White to play
Critical Position 2
The position still looks very calm. What is white’s plan? Build? A combination? Maneuver around?
White to play
Critical Position 3
Black’s kingside looks too well fortified for a direct attack. What should white do? Press the compromised queenside pawns? Fight for the d-file? Patiently look for building moves? or is there something else?
White to play
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