Paul Keres

Estonian Grandmaster Paul Keres (1916-1975), enriched new openings with new ideas; in this respect his experience in correspondence tournaments stood him in good stead, for they developed his ability to make deep and precise analyses. It was in the middle game, however, that Keres' talent displayed itself most. Here sparkling combinations, often totally unexpected by his opponents, arose. The games became tense and involved, but he made his way confidently through dizzying cmbinations and won. 

Keres narrowly missed a chance at a World Championship match on five occasions. He won the 1938 AVRO Tournament, which led to negotiations for a World Championship match against Alexander Alekhine, but the match never took place due to World War II. 

The combinative art of Keres emerges in all its splendour in the following game, played in 1935. (Notes by GM Alexander Kotov)