Once Mikhail Tal offered me to play "a couple of speed games" in his hotel room. When I knocked, there was a tall middle-aged man whom I did not know. He said:
"Misha is away on some business, but he will be back soon, and asked me to let you in. Please, wait here, if you don't mind. We could play some blitz, too." I knew that Misha sometimes travels with his uncle Robert, so I thought it was he. Of course I stayed, and generously (so I thought) accepted the invitation to play to pass the time. I was crushed in the first game, in which I did not pay much attention, but when I lost four more games, I almost began to panic. It was very rare
for me to lose in such style, going down in flames like the Russian ironclad in Tsusima in 1905. I could accept being crushed by Tal himself - but his uncle?.. With great effort I managed to even the score, and when Misha finally arrived, my opponent let him play, saying: "Beware, I warmed him up for you!" Maybe the guy was right, because on that occasion I beat Tal something like 8-1, restoring my self-confidence and reputation. "Hm, said Misha, -Rashid Gibyatovich warmed you up indeed. Come tomorrow, and I hope to gain my revenge!"
