Keres At Bamberg 1968. Some Games, Photos And A Nice Find!

Afternoon everyone. Quite a bit here, so perhaps one to come back to over the Christamas holidays.

Those who have been paying attention will know that I have been putting my chess library back together ( yes, I have real chess books, printed on paper, not a computer with a few google searched free pdf downloads and an instantly searchable database!! I really am that old)

I have finally finished, and along the way made a nice find/rediscovery - something I had forgotten I had. A souvenir from the Bamberg tournament of 1968, signed by all the players, once owned by the then World Champion, Tigran Petrosian.

The tournament was a great triumph for one of my very favourite players, the great Paul Keres. I read a comment recently about how wonderful it is that the fabulous Vishy Anand is still so strong in his 50's. Well, Keres - into his 50's - won the tournament by a distance ahead of the World Champion!!

I took out my copy of the book 'Paul Keres. Photographs and Games', along with my analysis board - made of wood -and went through his games from the tournament. What a joy!

No need for me to go into details of the tournament, as there is a great series of articles about it on chessbase.com. https://en.chessbase.com/post/live-jubilee-tournament-bamberg-1968    

So, firstly some games deliberately left without comments, so you can go down that same path - studying games for yourself from the bare scores ( feel free to share your thoughts on them in the comments - engine assisted or otherwise)

Then some with light comments I made as I went along, and finally two 'feature games' which I have tried to give proper notes to, having referenced pre engine sources. Plus, as you would expect, some nice pictures. So, let us begin.

The last round game - Keres got a little lucky in that his opponent missed a draw, or turned it down having underestimated Keres' attack. Strong players are usually luckier than weaker ones!

The decisive game of the tournament was played at the half-way point, when the two leaders met. Keres could play any kind of position, and here he patiently maneuvers, waiting for his chance. I genuinely don't know where black went wrong - chess above my level and i won't pretend otherwise!

Let's give this one next. These days when the name of Heikki Westerinen

comes up I always smile to myself. I will explain after you have looked at the game!

Here's the story. Some of my longer term readers will remember that I once had one of my blogs deleted by an over-zealous admin. Well, there are those who believe 100% in freedom of speech, thought and ideas - as long as it is THEIR speech, thought and ideas! Those who think differently to them are evil-doers who should be censured and censored, even when they intend no harm to anyone! Such people make me smile. My 'crime' was posting a picture, which the admin described as 'propaganda' - I realise that the word 'propaganda' has a different interpretation in that person's country, but REALLY?? Good grief. The offensive propagandist image in question :-

After that little 'makes you laugh' interlude, let's get to the two feature games - almost a blog in itself!! Keres' opponents are both great chess figures in their own right. let's start with the man left of picture here.

Lothar Schmid. A genuine dual - o.b. and c.c - Grandmaster when it meant something. He is perhaps best remembered today as the fide arbitor who was given the unenviable job of 'controlling' the 1972 World Championship match.
It's nice to look at him in relation to where this blog originated. Firstly he was a major figure in the organisation of the tournament, and secondly, when it comes to chess libraries, he had the largest personal chess library in history, I believe.

If I was to die tomorrow ( you wish!) that is the heaven which I would choose to be transported to. Just WOW!

The game in question is just Keres all over. Despite some time trouble stuff, I would say that it is one you could describe as 'typical Paul Keres' in every facet of his chess.

O.K. I have saved the best - in every sense - until last, in the time honoured tradition. Keres' opponent in this last game is a quite wonderful and extraordinary chess figure in his own right - and one you have probably never heard of, other than seeing a couple of losses, including a masterpiece by Petrosian in this Bamberg tournament.
Andreas Duckstein.

https://en.chessbase.com/post/austrian-chess-legend-andreas-dueckstein-turns-90  

He won two olympiad individual gold medals back when the USSR basically owned them, beat three world champions, and played everyone. He is still with us at 96 years old.

A few years ago he gave a simultaneous exhibition at the 2016 world senior championships - at the age of 89, I think!! What a guy! I must do a blog on him - the 'forgotten' are a speciality of mine. If anyone in Austria knows him, send him my best. I will fly over for his 100th birthday!

To the game. I have tried to explain it as best I can in the notes, and there is the bonus of a little question for you guys to respond to near the end. A fantastic chess battle - I love my chess battles, and another bit of luck for Keres - to win strong tournaments by big margins, a bit of luck along the way helps a lot.

A couple of pictures to finish with.

And a gem from the book Paul Keres. Photographs and games. i don't recall seeing it on the internet before.