It was announced today, that International Master Mark Izrailovich Dvoretsky, has died.
Born December 9th in Moscow, Dvoretsky is perhaps best known to modern chess players as an esteemed and trusted chess writer. Often in collaboration with his pupil, Artur Yusupov, his Dvoretsky School series are pride of place on the shelf of any serious chess student.
Dvoretsky was an esteemed player, also, having achieved the International Master title in 1975. It was that same year, that he won the Wijk aan Zee Masters tournament by a clear point and a half.
However, for his own reasons, Mark chose to focus on chess training rather than playing. Artur Yusupov credits much of his success to Dvoretsky and other pupils include the likes of, Kasparov, Topalov, Bareev, Anand, Van Wely. To me, he is someone who can seriously be regarded as a chess lover, who dove as deep in to the game as he could, without the motivation of rating points or titles. It seems that this was as much to help others as it was to satisfy his own curiosity.
Who knows how far he could have gone had he concentrated on competing, having given the likes of Tal, Keres and Bronstein a good run for their money. And, as in the following game, which I offer as a tribute, former World Chess Champion, Vassily Smyslov. My sincere condolences to Mark’s friends and family.
[Site “Odessa”]
[Date “1974”]
[White “Mark Izrailovich Dvoretsky”]
[Black “Vasily Smyslov”]
[Result “1-0”]
[ECO “C68”]1.e4 e5 2.Nf3 Nc6 3.Bb5 a6 4.Bxc6 dxc6 5.O-O Qe7 6.d4 exd4 7.Qxd4 Bg4 8.Bf4 Bxf3 ( { Also possible is: } 8…Nf6 { but this seems to be ok for White: } 9.Nbd2 Nh5 10.Be3 Qd6 11.Qc3 ) 9.gxf3 Nf6 10.Nc3 Nh5 11.Bg3 Rd8 12.Qe3 Nxg3 13.hxg3 ( { The other recapture, un-doubling the pawns, would be bad: } 13.fxg3 $4 Qb4 $1 { Exploiting the g1-a7 diagonal, …Bc5 threatened. } 14.Qc1 Bc5+ 15.Kh1 O-O { with the initiative. } ) 13…Qc5 14.Rad1 { Exchanging queens would be rather unambitious, White needs to compete along the d-file — the other rook would also have been good, just a question of taste. } 14…Qxe3 15.Rxd8+ { Indicating that White wants to try to win in my opinion. The rook exchange creates more of an imbalance in the position than the immediate recapture of the Queen would have. } ( 15.fxe3 Bd6 16.Kf2 h5 17.Rh1 { With the position finely poised. } ) 15…Kxd8 16.Rd1+ Kc8 { According to engines, it was a matter of taste between this move and …Ke8. However, it must be noted (especially with what happens in this game) that the Black King is now rather confined to the Queenside. Positionally, I would question this move, at the very least it gives White something to work with and in endgames small fractions make big differences. } 17.fxe3 g6 { A rather slow move, Smyslov was reknowned for quiet, patient play and very often made an art of it. However, sometimes it could be his undoing. Developing the bishop to d6 or c5 would have been more appropriate. } 18.e5 { A nice move, this, controling d6 as well as f6. White obviously wants to get his pawns moving, especially with the Black King unable to offer Kingside support. } 18…Bg7 19.f4 f6 { In effect playing right in to White’s hands. } 20.exf6 Bxf6 21.e4 { White’s pawns begin to look very potent. } 21…h5 22.Kg2 Bxc3 { It is rather clear that Smyslov is struggling to find an active plan. Therefore he simplifies, but unfortunately, his opponent benefits from this decision. } 23.bxc3 { From here, the White King has an unoppossed march up the board. } 23…b5 24.e5 { From here, Black is powerless. } 24…a5 25.Kh3 b4 { This is rather irrelevant play, the game is being decided on the Kingside, and the Black King is unable to play any part in it. } 26.Kh4 { By contrast, the White King continues to advance. } 26…Re8 27.Kg5 Re6 28.Kh6 { And here, Smyslov resigned, Kg7, Kf7 and Kxg6 are not to be stopped. A nice game from Dvoretsky, in which he was in full control — perhaps too easily allowed by his opponent. } 1-0
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