Great Tactics of Viktor Korchnoi

Viktor Korchnoi on the cover of Chess Life in 1981

The world recently lost Viktor Korchnoi, a grandmaster who was a challenger for the World Championship and an institution in chess worldwide for many decades. He was known as one of the strongest players to have never won the World Championship, and he's defeated nine Classical World Champions, including Botvinnik, Tal, Smyslov, Fischer, Petrosian, Spassky, Karpov, Kasparov, and Carlsen. Here are several tactics to solve from the highlights of Korchnoi's chess career.

Korchnoi and Fischer

Korchnoi had utmost respect for the playing ability of Bobby Fischer. In an interview last year, Korchnoi described Fischer as "in a class by himself". At the 1962 Candidates Tournament, Korchnoi achieved the rare feat of defeating Fischer twice with the black pieces.

Tactic #1

Bobby Fischer vs. Viktor Korchnoi

Candidates Tournament 1962

Black to move.

Level: Warm-Up

Show Solution

[pgn][Event "Candidates Tournament 1962"]
[White "Fischer, Robert James"]
[Black "Kortschnoj, Viktor"]
[Result "0-1"]
[ECO "B09"]
[SetUp "1"]
[FEN "5r1k/1p3p1p/3p4/4bN2/4P3/pq4RP/8/5Q1K b - - 0 33"]
[PlyCount "3"]
[EventDate "1962.05.02"]
[EventType "tourn"]
[EventRounds "28"]
[EventCountry "AHO"]
[Source "ChessBase"]
[SourceDate "1999.07.01"]33... Qxg3 $1 {made Fischer immediately resign. After} (33... Bxg3 $1 {also
wins if Black finds the follow-up move:} 34. Nd4 Qe3 $1 {when White has no
perpetual check after} 35. Qf6+ Kg8) 34. Nxg3 a2 {Black will be an entire rook
ahead.} 0-1[/pgn]

World Senior Champion

Korchnoi is also known for his longevity at the top tiers of competitive chess. In 2006, at the age of 75, he won the World Senior Championship, scoring a highly impressive 7.5 out of the first 8 games.

Tactic #2

Stefano Tatai vs. Viktor Korchnoi

World Senior Championship 2006

White threatens a double attack with 45. Ne6. How would you respond?

Black to move.

Level: Intermediate

Show Solution

[pgn][Event "World Senior Championship"]
[White "Tatai, Stefano"]
[Black "Kortschnoj, Viktor"]
[Result "0-1"]
[ECO "B44"]
[SetUp "1"]
[FEN "5r1k/2N4p/3p2b1/1p2p1q1/4P3/2P2pP1/1P3Q1P/6RK b - - 0 44"]
[PlyCount "15"]
[EventDate "2006.09.11"]
[EventType "swiss"]
[EventRounds "11"]
[EventCountry "ITA"]
[Source "ChessBase"]
[SourceDate "2006.11.03"]44... Bxe4 $1 {Korchnoi ignores White's threat to make a stronger one.} 45. Ne6
Qd2 $1 {Liquidating into an endgame with a substantial advantage.} 46. Rf1 ({If
} 46. Qxd2 f2+ 47. Rg2 f1=Q#) 46... Qxf2 47. Rxf2 Ra8 {and White resigns. If} (
47... Rf6 {is also strong.}) 48. Kg1 Ra1+ 49. Rf1 Ra2 50. Rf2 ({If} 50. Ng5 Bc6
51. Rb1 Kg7 52. Kf2 Kf6 53. Nxf3 Be4 54. Rd1 Rxb2+ {and Black is much better.})
50... Bf5 51. Ng5 e4 {and Black's advanced passed pawns give him a winning
advantage.} 0-1 [/pgn]

Tactic #3

Viktor Korchnoi vs. Miso Cebalo

World Senior Championship 2006

Here, with Black's very open king, there are numerous ways for White to play for a win. However, there is something special about the clean simplicity of the combination Korchnoi chose. What's the clearest path to a winning advantage?

White to move.

Level: Intermediate

Show Solution

[pgn][Event "World Senior Championship"]
[White "Kortschnoj, Viktor"]
[Black "Cebalo, Miso"]
[Result "1-0"]
[ECO "A61"]
[SetUp "1"]
[FEN "4qkr1/8/R4P2/2p4p/2Q5/4b1p1/1P4P1/3R3K w - - 0 35"]
[PlyCount "9"]
[EventDate "2006.09.11"]
[EventType "swiss"]
[EventRounds "11"]
[EventCountry "ITA"]
[Source "ChessBase"]
[SourceDate "2006.11.03"]35. f7 $1 (35. Re6 $1 {is also incredibly strong.} Qc8 36. Re7 {and White is
winning.}) 35... Qxf7 36. Rd8+ Kg7 37. Qxf7+ {and Black resigns. After} Kxf7
38. Ra7+ Ke6 39. Rxg8 {White is an entire rook ahead.} 1-0 [/pgn]

Candidate for the World Championship

Korchnoi first qualified for the Candidates Tournament in 1962. After his debut, he gradually but steadily progressed towards a match for the world title. In 1968 and 1971, he was a Candidates finalist. Then, in 1977, he defeated Boris Spassky in the Candidates final, earning the right to challenge Karpov for the World Championship. Korchnoi competed in nine Candidates Tournaments, qualifying for every World Championship cycle from 1966 to 1993. Korchnoi believed in a very principled style of chess, and even his tactical play often involved careful maneuvering.

Tactic #4

Mikhail Tal vs. Viktor Korchnoi

Candidates Match 1968

Black to move.

Level: Advanced

Show Solution

[pgn][Event "Candidates Match 1968"]
[White "Tal, Mikhail"]
[Black "Kortschnoj, Viktor"]
[Result "0-1"]
[ECO "C98"]
[SetUp "1"]
[FEN "4r3/2q2p1k/p4p1p/5P2/1P6/2n1P2P/2Br2P1/R1R1Q1K1 b - - 0 32"]
[PlyCount "15"]
[EventDate "1968.06.25"]
[EventType "match"]
[EventRounds "10"]
[EventCountry "URS"]
[Source "ChessBase"]
[SourceDate "1999.07.01"]32... Ne2+ {Incidentally, Korchnoi is not interested in the double attack on
the white rook at all. He is maneuvering his knight to g3 by force to take
away the f1-square as a defensive resource from White's queen.} 33. Kh1 Ng3+ $1
34. Kg1 Re2 {Securing the rook on the 2nd rank.} 35. Qd1 {The White queen's only safe square.} 35... Qb7 {Simply aiming at
the weak point in White's camp, the g2-pawn. Yet, it's devastating.} 36. e4
R8xe4 $1 {Korchnoi crashes through in a straightforward manner, and Tal
immediately resigns. If} ({Also strong is:} 36... Qa7+ 37. Kh2 Qf2 38. Qg1 Qf4)
37. Bxe4 (37. Ra3 R4e3 $1) 37... Qxe4 38. Qxe2 Nxe2+ 39. Kh1 Nxc1 {wins.} 0-1 [/pgn]

Korchnoi vs. Karpov - Chess Life 1

Korchnoi and Karpov

The peak of Korchnoi's career occurred between 1977 and 1981---when he twice earned the right to compete against Karpov as the Challenger for the World Championship.

In addition to their World Championship matches, Korchnoi and Karpov had many close battles, including the final Candidates Match in 1974 for the right to challenge Fischer for the world title.

Korchnoi vs. Karpov Chess Life2

It was an incredibly close match. In the end, Karpov won the match by a point, essentially winning the World Championship---since Fischer refused to defend his title. Here is one of Korchnoi's nicest victories from the match.

Tactic #5

Viktor Korchnoi vs. Anatoly Karpov

Candidates Match 1974

White to move.

Level: Intermediate

Show Solution

[pgn][Event "Candidates Final 1974"]
[White "Kortschnoj, Viktor"]
[Black "Karpov, Anatoly"]
[Result "1-0"]
[ECO "E17"]
[SetUp "1"]
[FEN "1r1q1rk1/pb1pbp1p/1pn3p1/2pB2N1/2P5/6P1/PP1QPP1P/R1B1K2R w KQ - 0 13"]
[PlyCount "13"]
[EventDate "1974.09.16"]
[EventType "match"]
[EventRounds "24"]
[EventCountry "URS"]
[Source "ChessBase"]
[SourceDate "1999.07.01"]13. Nxh7 $1 Re8 (13... Kxh7 14. Qh6+ Kg8 15. Qxg6+ Kh8 16. Qh5+ Kg8 17. Be4 f5
18. Bd5+ Rf7 19. Qxf7+ Kh8 20. Qh5+ Kg7 21. Qh6#) 14. Qh6 Ne5 15. Ng5 Bxg5 16.
Bxg5 Qxg5 17. Qxg5 Bxd5 18. O-O Bxc4 19. f4 1-0[/pgn]

For more information on the legendary Viktor Korchnoi, check out "Kasparov on Viktor Korchnoi" by Garry Kasparov and "Korchnoi the Chess Psychologist" by GM Grigory Serper.