Geller - Sveshnikov - blunder in time trouble

In this classic chess game - Evgeny Sveshnikov illustrates typical ideas of the Sveshnikov variation
1) Fight for control over d5 square
2) Pressure on the 'f' file
3) e5-e4 and Ne5 maneuver with kingiside attack

Even a positional giant like Efim Geller struggles to contain Black's active play and ultimately succumbs in time trouble.

Geller Defeats Andersson in the endgame

Geller – Andersson, 1982
White to move. How to best develop the initiative that White has due to control of open ‘d’ and ‘f’ files’?

Ulf Andersson is a renowned endgame specialist, so this game is a rare case of Andersson being outplayed in his area of expertise. After obtaining two bishops, Geller sacrifices a pawn for initiative and activates all his pieces to win in only 31 moves.

For the solution, and brief overview of the entire game (taken from the “Mastering the Endgame” book by Shereshevsky) - watch the YouTube video from my YouTube channel:

Chess Strategy - Geller Exploits Weak Light Squares

Geller – Bertok, 1961
White to move. Efim Geller outplayed his opponent in this Sicilian middlegame, and controls the light squares in the center (d5 and f5). Now his pieces occupy ideal squares and it just the matter of finding the decisive blow…

For the solution, and brief overview of the entire game (taken from the “Mastering the Endgame” book by Shereshevsky) - watch the YouTube video:

Pawn Structure in the Closed Spanish – Geller vs. Smyslov

Following up on my previous post, here is another example from the collection of Efim Geller games “Application of Chess Theory”

Geller – Smyslov, 1970
position after 22.Nf3

The 7th world Champion Vassily Smyslov “agreed” on this pawn structure (by playing f7-f5), despite its several long term flaws:
1) light squares are weak, and in particular - White’s knights can occupy e4 and f5 squares
2) d6 pawn is weak
3) White controls the ‘a’ file
5) the b4 and d5 pawns restrict Black’s knights, and especially - the d8 knight has no good future prospects

However, commenting on static features of a position is much easier than exploiting them to your advantage against a strong opponent. Watch this video to see how Geller converted his positional trumps into a full point:

While Geller’s game serves as an argument against playing an early f7-f5 in Closed Spanish, delaying it may lead to White himself playing f2-f4-f5. The final position of Karpov – Unzicker, 1974, illustrates that idea:
White just played Ng3-h5 and Black resigned!

A game Nunn-Short, 1986 illustrates how Black can try to implement f7-f5, without giving up the e4 squares:

Black just played f7-f5, but White’s pieces are well prepared for complications;
watch the video to see who comes out on top:

Combination by Efim Geller

Geller-Anikaev, 1979

White to move

On his way to winning chess USSR championship at the age of 55, Yefim Geller wins this brilliant attacking game. Watch the video for the solution and to see the whole game. A pawn storm on kingside results in the attack and invasion on the ‘f’ file. White’s play is a response to Black’s negligent 13… Rfc8, which weakened f7 pawn. Hint: the final shot aims at bringing the dark squared bishop to the long diagonal.