More Moves to Mess with the Mind- Mikhail Tal at the World Championships

(Note: a while ago my friend simaginfan said that his blog output this year had been like a patchwork quilt. If that is the case, then mine has been like an unloved rag. Nevertheless, I have been working on one or two posts here and there, and with more time on my hands now, I have decided to publish this one. It is almost totally unchanged and quite short, but I hope you will find some enjoyment in it.)

You may remember a while back I did a post on two examples of psychologically powerful moves, both of which were from Boris Spassky. If you have not read that article I would advise you to take a look by clicking here.

Today, we're going to look at another case along the same lines; moves that were chosen not necessarily for their quality, but for their mental bite. Both come from the 1960 World Championship match between the reigning champion Mikhail Botvinnik and the challenger Mikhail Tal.

1-  Botvinnik vs Tal, 1960, Game 6 

Mikhail Tal had won the right to contest Mikhail Botvinnik's world championship crown firstly by scoring 13.5 in the 1958 Interzonal Tournament, then fighting off the likes of Smyslov, Petrosian and Keres in the 1959 Candidates. 

By the 6th game Tal had the upper hand because of his first round victory, with the other games being draws. Strangely enough, like the two games we analysed in the previous article, this was another King's Indian!

2- Tal vs Botvinnik, Game 17

By Game 17 Tal was beginning to run away with the match and was 2 points ahead. Another win would have all but secured his victory.

Both of these examples are particularly interesting because of the occasion: a World Championship match! I don't imagine many players these days would take such a gamble in Tal's position. But that was Tal- the Magician from Riga who took 'psychological moves' to a whole new level.