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Stefano Tatai – José García Padrón
3rd International Tournament Arrecife de Lanzarote; Arrecife, 1975
Sicilian Defence B89

1. e4 c5 2. Nf3 d6 3. Nc3 e6 4. d4 cxd4 5. Nxd4 Nc6 6. Be3 Nf6 7. Bc4 Be7 8. Qe2 Qc7 9. 0-0-0 0-0 10. Bb3 a6 11. g4 Nxd4 12. Rxd4 b5 13. g5 Nd7 14. Rg1 Nc5. A sharp Velimirović tabiya is reached, and Tatai does not miss the chance to show his deep knowledge of Sicilian matters – from both sides’ perspective.

15. e5! Far stronger than 15. Qh5, as in a previous game by Stefano (which also ended well): 15. ... Nxb3+ 16. axb3 f5?? (after 16. ... g6 17. Qh6 f6! Black is fine) 17. exf5 Rxf5 18. Rh4!+- h6 19. Qe8+ Rf8 20. Qg6 b4 21. Rxh6 Bd8 (21. ... bxc3 22. Rh8+!! Kxh8 23. Qh5+ Kg8 24. g6!+-) 22. Rg4 Rf7 23. Qh7+ Kf8 24. g6 bxc3 (24. ... gxh6 25. g7+! Rxg7 26. Qh8++-) 25. Qh8+ 1 : 0 Tatai – Paoli, 6th International (subsidiary) Tournament, Monte Carlo 1967. 15. ... g6 16. Rh4 Bb7 17. Rg3 Rad8? This does not look any good. Indeed, also 17. ... Kg7 18. Bd4 does not seem too attractive, e.g. 18. ... d5? 19. Bxd5! Bxd5 20. Nxd5 exd5 21. e6+ f6 22. Qh5 Nd3+ 23. Kb1 gxh5 24. gxf6+ Kh8 25. fxe7+ Ne5 26. exf8=Q+ Rxf8 27. Rxh5 Rxf2 28. Bxf2 1 : 0 Szmetan – García González, Malaga 1976, but Black’s play appear to be partially improvable. 18. Qg4! Kg7? A flashy wedding invitation, but 18. ... h5 19. Rxh5!! also leads to mate. 19. Rxh7+! Kxh7 20. Qh4+ 1 : 0. For after 20. ... Kg7 21. Qh6+ Kg7 22. Rh3 mate is unavoidable.

Stefano Tatai vs. José García Padrón
Photo courtesy of Ajedrez Canario, No. 49, August 1, 1975