The Chess Game Known As "Mona Lisa" - Best Of The 70s - Bagirov vs. Gufeld, 1973

Eduard Gufeld is an interesting and controversial chess figure. He was known to be a member of the Soviet intelligentsia who benefited from considerable political connections in a time when fine Soviet chess players often struggled under oppression. In the book, "The KGB Plays Chess: The Soviet Secret Police and the Fight for the World Chess Crown (affiliate link)," the authors even allege that Gufeld was a KGB informant. Gufeld himself always denied these accusations.

While his political history is cloudy, Gufeld's chess history is universally respected. He was never an elite player, but he inspired with his penchant for beauty in chess. He always preferred aesthetic and brilliant solutions to mundane and practical ones. Additionally, after the collapse of the Soviet Union, he was popular in the Western world due to his excellent written and spoken English and amiable and self-effacing disposition. Gufeld also deserves credit for being one of Maia Chiburdanidze's trainers.

His game against Bagirov is widely adored by players of all levels for the ambitious play from both players and thrilling conclusion.

Vladimir Bagirov on the other hand was also a strong grandmaster who never reached an elite level but made a mark through his teaching. He was, like Kasparov, a native of Baku and was one of young Garik Kimovich Weinstein's mentors.

Top 10 Games of the 1970s

• #1: ???
• #2: ???
• #3: Bagirov vs. Gufeld, 1973
  
• #4: Pokojowczyk vs. Timoschenko, 1979
• #5: Karpov vs. Korchnoi, 1974
• #6: Karpov vs. Andersson, 1975
  
• #7: Diemer vs. Trommsdorf, 1973
  
• #8: Reshevsky vs. Vaganian, 1976
  
• #9: Catig vs. Mills, 1974
  
• #10: Keene vs. Miles, 1976
  
• See also: Top 10 of the 1980s, Top 10 of the 1990s, Top 10 of the 2000s, and Top 10 of the 2010s

The game is an absolutely no-holds-barred affair as Bagirov sends his h-pawn up the board at the first opportunity, leaving his king uncastled and pieces undeveloped. Still, his attack has teeth, and after 12...Kh8?!, Bagirov is near to landing a knockout blow.

After many thrusts and counterthrusts, Bagirov goes for the throat with 20.Nef4?, but he misses an incredible combinative sequence that allows Gufeld to sacrifice almost all of his pieces for a stunning checkmate.

Notes, including comments from Gufeld's excellent "Chess: The Search For Mona Lisa" are included below. If you want the book and support the content, find it on Amazon via my affiliate.

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