Are there any players like Mikhail Tal?

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bocoman

I'm selling Bobby Fischer signature from chess tournament in Portorož (Slovenia), then was Yugoslavia from 4.8 - 14.9. 1958 and also signatures from other chess masters (Mihail Talj, David Bronstein, Laszlo Szabo, Geza Fuster, Jurij Averbah, James Sherwin, Svetozar Gligorić and Aleksandar Matanović).

 
In the middle is also tournament table, which was filled by my grandpa, who was there in Portorož.

All this signatures were gathered by my grandpa, who was then huge chess fanatic and also great player...
 
Our family comes from Slovenia, where this tournament was held in 1958.
 
 
Is anybody interested in buying it... please write me: miha.torrents@gmail.com
fightingbob
SaintGermain32105 wrote:

Right. Rashid vs Tigran, two draws and three losses.

http://www.chessworld.net/chessclubs/ltpgnviewer32/ltpgnboard.asp?GameID=2592776

Here's an interesting game with Keres, which ended with a draw.

I didn't say he was as successful as Tal, did I?  I said that his style was like Tal's.   Tal's results suffered against Korchnoi, didn't they?  Rashid took more chances and his results were uneven.

r4chess2

Does Tal-like play really work, especially in the world champion sector, anymore? In this day and age where strategy is pushed so strongly, can we really expect such tactical abandon to win? By the way Tal only held the world title for about a year and then Botnnivik won it back -- strategy won again!

G_kadas

Anyone Lativian is Tal like. I joke but truth of the matter is that Tal, Shirov and Shabalov along with a number of lativian players play such sacrificial chess that many believe that Latvia has their own school of chess (indvidual style) and it may very well be that way.

fightingbob
G_kadas wrote:

Anyone Lativian is Tal like. I joke but truth of the matter is that Tal, Shirov and Shabalov along with a number of lativian players play such sacrificial chess that many believe that Latvia has their own school of chess (indvidual style) and it may very well be that way.

You bring up a good point, and I don't think it's a joke.

I was fortunate to have a knowledgeable, dare I say wise cultural anthropology professor back in the 1970s, before the discipline was turned into rubbish by the PC crowd, from whom I learned that cultural influences should never be discounted regarding style in any discipline.  I believe you are correct, G_kadas, about high profile Latvian players and have thought so before you broached the subject.

You can speak of each individual style, which is rather narrow or the Russian School of Chess and its dynamistic approach, which is too broad and filled with political overtones, but there is a middle ground where the symbolic processes of culture predominate.  For example, I find it interesting that though Bobby Fischer studied the Russians, particularly their opening theory, his style was eminently practical, direct and too the point, which is quite the way of Americans.

To the point, though there are individual variations within any culture, never dismiss general cultural trends.

fightingbob
r4chess2 wrote:

Does Tal-like play really work, especially in the world champion sector, anymore? In this day and age where strategy is pushed so strongly, can we really expect such tactical abandon to win? By the way Tal only held the world title for about a year and then Botnnivik won it back -- strategy won again!

Not if you're playing a computer, but we all remember the magnificent Tal, don't we, and the names of chess computer programs come and go.

It's unfortunate that for under $100 any patzer, any stocked fish in the pond of ordinary players, can buy a program and spout out analysis as if he's the cock of the walk.  It's not only annoying, but sad and pathetic.

Chess is not only a science, but it's an art and a sport too, so the exciting beauty of Tal's tactical play will always be appreciated as will the subtle beauty of Petrosian's strategic play.  There is room for both.  

fightingbob
stuzzicadenti wrote:

many have tried to imitate Tals style but not with much success. He was unique and one of a kind special talent - both on the board and in real life.

I couldn't agree more that he was a special talent, my Italian friend.  I say Italian friend because my mother's maiden name was Desisto.  She has passed, rest her soul, but she left her recipes for a fine, simmering red sauce and a wonderful braciola.  Take care.

DrSpudnik

I am. Except I don't win so much.

iMacChess

Tal was one-of-a-kind! No one is really like him...

ANOK1

i think Tal answered this question  , here is who Tal respected as a tactically aggressive player

 

Preview:

urk
There have been many, many great attacking players but I have never seen anyone who could play like Tal!
Incredible

https://www.chess.com/article/view/who-has-the-most-best-game-prizes
5thDimension2300

To be honest many of his sacrifices were mistakes,but due to the complexity of the position his opponents wouldn't find the "right" move,leading Tal to be very victorious.

fightingbob
5thDimension2300 wrote:

To be honest many of his sacrifices were mistakes,but due to the complexity of the position his opponents wouldn't find the "right" move,leading Tal to be very victorious.

I take issue with the word "mistake," which implies there is an objectively best move in every position.  Because Tal had a creative streak, he took calculated risks that often paid off; after all, he was The Magician.  Of course, Tal did say with tongue in cheek "There are two types of sacrifices: correct ones and mine."

ilikewindmills
just look at my games.
all the crazy sacrifices you like.
is there compensation? generally no, but who cares?
amplebae
maia chiburdanidze, plays like tal and kasparov does too..
Brobotics_brofessor
fischer_lives_on wrote:

[COMMENT DELETED]
I suggest quite strongly that you learn how to talk in the public forums. -CrystalMoon

It's ok. Fischer was socially akward anyway.

urk
Tal didn't just find "combos."
Any fool can find pretty combinations, even me.
Tal was able to turn the entire board into quicksand like nobody else.
It's hard to even describe in words what he did.
amplebae
urk wrote:
Tal didn't just find "combos."
Any fool can find pretty combinations, even me.
Tal was able to turn the entire board into quicksand like nobody else.
It's hard to even describe in words what he did.
your right, in fact i have an idea for a chessengine im gonna design using his notings. mabye itll get banned like rybka4.5. theys used bobbyfischres noting and depth perception , and stockfish was created.


amplebae
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amplebae
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