Friday was Tal’s birthday (he would have been 83) so naturally I wanted to feature one of his games. But since my policy is to present only games not included in ChessBase’s Mega Database, the pickings were slim (they seem to have almost all of his games). This one, however, from a simul in the Netherlands in 1976, has some interest. The tactics are as murky and complex as some vintage Tal but not handled with his accustomed brilliance (it was a simul after all). Even though he was lost at one point, he pulled through. Enjoy.

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