World chess champions have had their own individual sty-les and left their own strong mark on the game. Styles ranged from attractive to defensive, systematic, positional or solid. It is the champions with attractive styles who have remained firm favourites among most followers, even though the others are admired and acknowledged. One such World champion who delighted with his sparkling style which was spiced with sacrifices was Mihail Tal, fondly called the ‘Magician from Riga’.

Combinations, either based on calculations or instinct, were an integral part of Tal’s style and the surprise element was plentiful in his games. In the game which follows, we see a delightful attack brewing after the players have castled on opposite sides. The crowing of Tal’s pieces into the enemy territory is a delight to watch as are the sacrifices which almost appear at will in this game
White: Mikhail Tal – Black: Alexanders Koblencs

Riga , 1957
Sicilian Defence
1. e4 c5. The Sicilian defence, which is considered one of the sharpest reply to the King pawn Opening.
2. Nf3 d6, 3. d4 cxd4, 4. Nxd4 Nf6, 5. Nc3 Nc6, 6. Bg5 e6, 7. Qd2.
Intentions of castling on the queenside.
7. ... Be7, 8. 0–0–0 0–0.
The players have castled on opposite flanks. Now onwards, it will be a race to get an attack first.
9. Nb3 Qb6, 10. f3 a6, 11. g4.
The pawns will be pushed to probe for defects in the enemy defence.
11. ... Rd8, 12. Be3 Qc7, 13. h4.
Aggressive stance but perhaps 13. g5 appears better.
13. ... b5.
Black reciprocates on the queenside but here too worth a look was 13. ... d5.
14. g5 Nd7, 15. g6.
Walking right into enemy territory.
15. ... hxg6.
If 15. ... fxg6, 16. h5 gxh5, 17. Rxh5 Nf6, 18. Rg5 Ne5, 19. Qg2 was played in a previous game.
16. h5.
White wants to open up files so that his pieces can move towards the king.
16. ... gxh5, 17. Rxh5 Nf6, 18. Rh1.
Retreats all the way back as he intends to play the dynamic 19. Qh2, which will pose dangerous threats for Black.
 18. ... d5.
Once again missing a better move in 18. ... Ne5.
19. e5.
Here also, better is 19. Bf4 with the idea 20. Qh2 and if 19. ... Bd6, 20. Bxd6 Qxd6, 21. f4.
19. ... Nxe5, 20. Bf4 Bd6, 21. Qh2 Kf8.
Trying to run towards safety. If 21. ... Nd3+, 22. Kb1 also gives advantage to White.
22. Qh8+ Ng8.
If 22. ... Ke7, 23. Qxg7 (23. Qh3 and 23. Qh4 work in Black’s favour) 23. ... Rg8, 24. Qh6 Nd3+.
23. Rh7 f5.
Trying to create escape squares for the king and also desperately trying to bring back some piece from the queenside for defence.
24. Bh6 Rd7.

Diagram 1
25. Bxb5.
White is in such a strong position that he can afford to sacrifice pieces almost at will.
25. ... Rf7.
If 25. ... Re7 or 25. ... axb5, 26. Nxb5 is better for White.
26. Rg1.
Intensifying the attack.
26. ... Ra7, 27. Nd4.
The threat is 28. Ba6.
27. ... Ng4. Sacrificing the knight. If 27. ... Nc4, 28. Nxf5 Bf4+, 29. Kb1 exf5, 30. Nxd5 Qe5, 31. Bxc4 Bxh6, 32. Rxh6 Qd4, 33. Rgh1 with the threat 34. Qg8 followed by 35. Rh8 checkmate.
28. fxg4 Be5.
If 28. ... Bf4+, 29. Bxf4 Qxf4+, 30. Kb1 Qxd4, 31. Rgh1.
29. Nc6.
Black is defending almost passively as almost all of White’s pieces have infiltrated into his territory.
29. ... Bxc3, 30. Be3 d4, 31. Rgh1.
The tripling of forces on the rook file is proving to be dangerous for Black.
31. ... Rd7, 32. Bg5 axb5, 33. R1h6 d3, 34. bxc3 d2+, 35. Kd1 Qxc6, 36. Rf6+ Rf7.
If 36. ... gxf6, 37. Bh6+ Rg7, 38. Bxg7+ Ke7, 39. Bxf6+ Kd6, 40. Be5+ Kd5, 41. Bb8 Qxc3, 42. Qxc3 with a win for White.
37. Qxg7+ and Black resigned.

Diagram 2
White to play and win
1. Rxg7+ Kxg7, 2. Qxd7 Qxd7, 3. e6+ Kf8, 4. exd7 c5, 5. bxc5 bxc5, 6. Rxc5 and White wins.