Smyslov Inspires Petrosian's Masterpiece

Chess is not infinite; yet it is wide enough to baffle the human mind. While computers continue to amaze us with their capacity for calculation, elite GMs are still finding ways to stay creative. Chess is not exhausted, far from it. It is a game, a sport, an art and a science, all at once. It mimics life!

I love exploring chess books, opening a book to a random page and looking at the diagram(s), and trying to understand the position presented. In that sense I am closer to Petrosian than Bronstein, while in chess strength I am far away from both.

One of my greatest joys in chess is finding positional or tactical patterns and formations in the games of  different Grandmasters. I see how an idea expressed in a game inspires another Grandmaster down the road.

The following game was played by Petrosian (White) against Pachman in Bled, 1961. It is a spectacular Queen sacrifice to bring the Black King out of his hiding place.

It was a very strong tournament. Tal won the event, with Fischer placing 2nd and Petrosian placing 3rd.

Today I was looking at Smyslov's book, "My Best Games of Chess 1935-1957"....

....and found a game which might have inspired Petrosian in his game with Pachman....

Is it possible that a game played 12 years earlier, in 1949, might have inspired Petrosian?

In the Smyslov game, a piece sacrifice enabled White to bring his Queen to g7 and deny the Black King a way back home. In the Petrosian game, a Queen sacrifice achieved the same purpose, in a more refined way, a more artistic touch (mind over matter!).

Peace!