Mikhail Tal (USR) - Bent Larsen (DEN), Candidates Match, Game 10, Bled, Yugoslavia, 1965. • ECO B82 • Tal's own comments (abridged) are noted wherever they have been used. Kasparov analyzed the game in My Great Predecessors II. The two ex-World Champions often have different opinions on the key moments of the game.
1.e4 c5 2.Nf3 Nc6 3.d4 cxd4 4.Nxd4 e6 5.Nc3 d6. First the players negotiate the opening system to be used in the game. Another common move order is 1.e4 c5 2.Nf3 d6 3.d4 cxd4 4.Nxd4 Nf6 5.Nc3 e6, the Scheveningen Variation of the Sicilian Defense. The next move for each player confirms the Scheveningen.
6.Be3 Nf6 7.f4 Be7 8.Qf3. Kasparov: 'One of the sharpest variations.' Note the move order. White played f4 & Qf3, but only after Be3 to protect the Knight on d4, which is left undefended by the Queen move. See the diagram below.
8...O-O 9.O-O-O. See the diagram on the next page.