Abdul-Razzaq Ahmed Taha

Abdul-Razzaq Ahmed Taha (died aged 88) was an Iraqi chess player and former president of the Iraqi Chess Federation.

He represented the Iraqi national team in the Chess Olympiad on three occasions, 1972 in Skopje, 1974 in Nice and 1984 in Thessaloniki. In the 1972 Olympiad he played the top board for Iraq which eventually finished second last, Taha scoring 4 wins, 4 draws and 9 losses. However his upset win over the grandmaster Walter Browne in the match against Australia was spectacular and became part of the chess education for all Iraqi chess players, and Simon Webb in Chess for Tigers selected this game as one of two examples of "How to trap Heffalumps", in a chapter on how to play against opponents who are considerably stronger than oneself.

Win over Walter Browne

White: Walter Browne

Black: Abdul-Razzaq Ahmed Taha

Opening: French Defence, Classical Variation

White is threatening 12.Qa8 which will win either the b8-knight or c8-bishop. Webb notes that castling is Black's main continuation. However, Taha decides to continue far more audaciously with a bold piece sacrifice.

Again, Webb notes that White has little choice but to accept the sacrifice, or else Black simply castles and will eventually win the b6-pawn. However, after White moves his queen to take the material, White has still not developed the kingside and Black prepares to attack the White king.

Browne is the stronger player, and still hoping to win the game, he (perhaps unwisely according to Webb) decides to avoid 19.Kd1 with perpetual check.

Mate will follow in a few moves