SIM Mike Read's best games

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KevinOSh

I am studying all of the games from Senior International Master Mike Read's book "My 120 Selected Correspondence Games"

These games along with his analysis can also be found for free at https://mikereadsim.weebly.com/annotations.html

All of his annotations are done without a strong engine. I have been running the games against Stockfish at high depth to get a better idea of how the games measure up against "perfect" play.

The games are presented in chronological order so the first few games are mostly Mike blowing weaker players off the board and then I would say in the mid 90s he becomes a top class player and the games are extremely high quality.

Generally I think the games are significantly more accurate than Classical World Championship Match games, so they are an excellent source of material for very strong play.

I am covering all 120 games at https://www.chess.com/club/the-bookworm-club however I would also like to present a few of the games here.

Master Class Tournament v Finland, 1988/89

https://www.chess.com/openings/Ruy-Lopez-Opening-Morphy-Defense-Smyslov-Defense-10.d4-Re8-11.Nbd2-Bf8-12.Nf1

Depth 30 analysis
White 93.9% accuracy, 2 mistakes
The knight sacrifice is a brilliancy at depth 18 and a mistake at depth 30.
Black 94.1% accuracy, 1 mistake

There are some incredible combinations where white can hold the draw by perpetual check with best play from both sides, beginning with 32.exd6! White should not have resigned so soon.

John Kellner Memorial Tournament, 1989/90
https://www.chess.com/openings/French-Defense-Tarrasch-Closed-Pawn-Center-Variation...7.Ndf3-Qb6-8.g3-cxd4-9.cxd4

This was Mike Read's first win against an International Master. This win against Ragnar Wikman was widely published at the time.

Game 54

John Kellner Memorial Tournament, 1989/91

https://www.chess.com/openings/Ruy-Lopez-Opening-Morphy-Defense-Smyslov-Defense-10.d4-Re8-11.Nbd2-Bf8

A very high accuracy game.
White 99.5% accuracy, 0 inaccuracies, mistakes or blunders
Black 99.5% accuracy, 0 inaccuracies, mistakes or blunders

KevinOSh

Game 59

https://www.chess.com/openings/Ruy-Lopez-Opening-Morphy-Defense-Worrall-Castling-Line-8.c3-d6

3rd North Atlantic Teams Tournament v Spain, 1990/92

A fine game with no significant errors by either player in this game

Depth 30 analysis

White 96.9% accuracy, 3 inaccuracies 12.Na3?! best is 12.d4, 17.c4?! best is 17.Qxb5, 25.f4?! best is Kg2!
Black 97.7% accuracy, 1 inaccuracy 12...Nc4?! best is 12...c5

Game 66
Great Britain v West Germany
https://www.chess.com/openings/Petrovs-Defense-Classical-Attack-Marshall-Variation-Staunton-Chinese-Gambit

Nearly a perfect game from both players

White 98.6% accuracy, 2 great moves
Black 99.1% accuracy, 1 brilliant move, 5 great moves, 1 inaccuracy 15...Bd6?! best is 15...Nd7