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Friday, October 26, 2012

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


Portisch,L at Malta OL-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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