Fischer - Spassky
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One of the greatest all-time games
from World Championship play.
(Go to my web
site, then go to the "Best Games,"
page ... and read the long write-up that I
have written about this game.)
My annotations here are based
primarily (but not solely) on GM
Yasser Seirawan's excellent book,
"Winning Chess Brilliancies." (©
1995 Yasser Seirawan & Microsoft Press.)
A nice page ... with good analysis ... and lots of related links as well. (Click HERE to watch my video of this game.)
1.c4!?, (Maybe - '!')
Many writers gave this an exclam,
mainly for surprise value.
Having been burned in game # 4,
Fischer is not anxious to see what
new "TN's" ... (theoretical novelties)
the Russians have prepared for him.
(In his more normal lines.)
[ A more standard move order is:
1.d4
d5; 2.c4
e6;
3.Nc3
Nf6; 4.Bg5,
("+/=") {Diagram?}
etc. Then White will be playing the 'main line'
of the Q.G.D. ].
1...e6;
Spassky almost always responded
this way to the English, most of the
time he would try to transpose to a
"Queen's Gambit Declined."
I think this is a weakness of
Spassky's that he did NOT have a more varied
approach to meeting the English.
(Spassky nearly always responded to the English this way, trying to force White
into a Q.G.D.)
[ 1...Nf6!? ].
2.Nf3
d5; 3.d4, ('!')
White has transposed to a Q.G.D. (A "Queen's Gambit
Declined.")
This is - in itself - a HUGE surprise,
(!!!) as Fischer had NEVER (before) played
this opening from the White side in
his whole, entire career!
(He always had said the "Queen's
Gambit" was "boring ... and a draw.")
Now the only question is why didn't Fischer simply play 1.d4? Probably because Spassky could play virtually any opening in response to a Queen Pawn's opening on the first move.
Fischer probably did not care to see
a King's Indian Defense, (a Fischer favorite); or even a
Nimzo-Indian Defense.
(Which Fischer had just used to win as Black in Game # 5.)
[ 3.b3!? (Reti.) ].
Both sides now continue to develop.
3...Nf6; 4.Nc3
Be7; 5.Bg5
0-0; 6.e3
h6!;
A common move in several different variations of the Queen's Gambit
Declined. ("The Lasker's Defense," for example.)
This move is thought to give Black more options from this position.
'!' - GM Yasser Seirawan.
[ The more trodden path here is
the main lines with: 6...Nbd7;
7.Rc1
c6; 8.Bd3
dxc4;
9.Bxc4, "+/="
{Diagram?} and White retains a small advantage.
(See any good reference book, or
any book on the Queen's Gambit
Declined. ---> I probably have close
to 50 books on the variations that
arise from the Q.G.D.)
[ See MCO-14; pages 391-397.] ].
7.Bh4!,
Easily the most accurate move.
[ 7.Bxf6!?, "~" ].
7...b6!?; ('!')
This is Spassky's favorite line. (Or at least his favorite, classical defense to
the QP opening.)
("The Tartakower-Makoganov-Bondarevsky Variation," or some
books refer to it simply as,
"The T.M.B. System.")
The main idea of this system is to solve the problem of Black's bad QB by placing this piece (a fianchetto) on the long diagonal.
The buzz was that Spassky had played
this line many, many, many times.
(Two World
Championship matches, dozens
of candidate matches and many
games in the annual Soviet
Championships - and also many
international tournaments.)
And
supposedly he had never lost a
key game in this line.
(Several annotators gave this move an exclam - I guess for Spassky's courage - possibly for trying it in the face of Fischer's onslaught.)
But Fischer has come armed with several improvements, ... ... ... and a few new moves he wants to try on Spassky.
[ The 'main lines' of "The Lasker
Defence" is: 7...Ne4; {Diagram?}
This is former World
Champion, Emmanuel
Lasker's move. The idea is to free
Black's position as quickly as possible.
Of all major GM's of the last 30 years,
only R. Huebner and A. Yusupov have been
consistent practitioners of this line.
8.Bxe7
Qxe7; 9.Rc1!?,
"+/=" {Diagram?}
White keeps a small advantage.
[ See MCO-14; page # 403,
and column # 33. ] Click HERE
to see Topalov-Anand, WCS Match/game #12, 2010. ].
8.cxd5!?, (Maybe - '!')
With a Black Bishop possibly going
to b7, White naturally wants to fix a
pawn on d5.
(Several different annotators gave this move an exclam here.)
[ The other main choice here is the logical move: 8.Be2, "+/=" with a small advantage for White. ].
8...Nxd5;
Black wishes to free his position
by a few exchanges.
[ Slightly worse (for Black) is: 8...exd5; 9.Bd3, "+/=" {Diagram?} and White is slightly better. ].
9.Bxe7,
This is probably best, because White
weakens Black's dark squares ...
and avoids any loss of time involved
in a retreat.
[ Another line that was briefly popular is: 9.Bg3!? "=" ].
9...Qxe7!;
The best recapture according to
several books, GM Seirawan gives this move an exclam.
'!' - GM Yasser Seirawan.
[ 9...Nxe7!? ].
10.Nxd5!?, (Best, maybe
- '!')
The same strategy.
(See the note after White's
eighth move.)
[ 10.Bd3 ].
10...exd5;
This is - of course - forced.
11.Rc1!?, (Maybe - '!')
White grabs the c-file and pressures
Black's possibly weak QBP. (Several annotators also awarded
this move an exclam as well.)
[ 11.Bd3 ].
11...Be6!,
The best square for the Bishop, there
is no point in going to b7 now.
(GM Y. Seirawan gives this move an exclam as well.)
'!' - GM Yasser Seirawan.
[ Definitely bad for Black is:
11...Qb4+?!; 12.Qd2
Qxd2+;
13.Kxd2!
c6[];
14.Ne5
Bb7;
15.b4,
"+/=" {Diagram?}
and Black's Q-side is crippled.
- GM Yasser Seirawan. ].
12.Qa4!,
White immediately pressures the
Black position, this move is given
an exclam by GM Y. Seirawan.
'!' - GM Yasser Seirawan.
[ A more routine course for White
is: 12.Bd3
c5; 13.0-0,"~"
("+/=") {Diagram?}
with the first player probably
still having a small edge. ].
12...c5!,
The most energetic move by Black,
this is also given an exclam by Seirawan. (Black activates his pawn majority.)
'!' - GM Yasser Seirawan.
[ Worse for Black is: 12...Nd7?!; 13.Rxc7, "+/=" ].
Here we get to see the point of White's
play, he now sets up a debilitating
pin on the a3-f8 diagonal.
(Gligoric - in his book on the match -
gave the move Qa3, an exclam.)
13.Qa3
Rc8;
Forced, to defend the c-pawn.
14.Bb5!,
This was considered a huge
improvement - at the time it was
played.
(Many writers thought this was a "TN," but it was actually an idea of GM Furman's. His analysis had already been published in several Soviet chess magazines.)
(GM Y. Seirawan also gives this move an exclam - as did GM Robert Byrne in his excellent book, "Both Sides of The ChessBoard.")
The main idea is to prevent the Black Knight from developing to d7.
'!' - GM Yasser Seirawan.
[ A more modern treatment of this
opening is:
14.Be2
Kf8!?; {Diagram?}
This artificial-looking move is
supposedly the latest word
in this particular line.
15.dxc5
bxc5; {Diagram?}
This is positionally forced,
otherwise Black will be left with
an isolated QP. 16.0-0
a5!?; {Diagram?}
Supposedly best, but I have
some grave reservations.
(Or 16...Nd7; 17.Rfd1,
"+/=" ) 17.Rc3!?,
{Diagram?} It is natural for White to
want to
double his Rooks on the
weak Black c-pawn.
( Maybe 17.Qc3!?,
"+/=")
17...Nd7; 18.Rb3,
"~" {Diagram?} This position is fairly unbalanced.
So far this is the game, Winants -
GM G. Kasparov; Brussels, 1987.
"Now 18...a4;
is equal."
- GM Garry Kasparov.
[ See MCO-14; pg. # 408,
column # 48, and note # (bb.). ] ].
14...a6!?;
(hmmm)
The book move at the time, and also thought to be best at the time
this game was played. (Black
threatens ...Ra7!)
Several different annotators gave this move an exclam as well.
[ Black could also have played: >= 14...Qf8!, "=" with a good game.
Or 14...Kf8!?, "~" with a fair position for Black.
Black could even try:
14...a5!?, "~"
as I saw in an ICC/Dos Hermanos,
Internet blitz game ... between two
titled players. ].
15.dxc5!,
White immediately gives Black
the "hanging pawns" type of
structure. (GM Y. Seirawan gives this an
exclam as well.)
'!' - GM Yasser Seirawan.
[ 15.b3!? ].
15...bxc5;
This is forced.
[ A blunder is: 15...axb5??; 16.Qxa8, "+/-" {Diagram?} and White is winning.
Bad is: 15...Rxc5?!; 16.0-0!, "+/=" {Diagram?} as Black has been left with an isolated QP. ].
16.0-0,
A very good move. White simply
castles ... as the (Black) QRP is pinned
and cannot capture his Bishop
on b5.
[ 16.Be2 ].
16...Ra7!?; (Maybe dubious?)
Black wishes to relieve the pin and force White Bishop on b5 to move.
But Seirawan criticizes this move, and recommends instead ...Qa7!
I personally think his criticisms are a little harsh - it is not easy to play Black's position at this point!
[ Maybe better is: 16...Qa7; 17.Bd3, "+/=" ].
Now the Bishop has to retreat, as the Black Queen guards the Black Rook on a7. Thus Black now finally threatens ...Pawn takes Bishop.
17.Be2,
The best square for the Bishop,
now White can play a later
Bishop-to-f3. (If the position
should require it.)
(More than one annotator gave this move an exclam.)
[ The move 17.Bd3!?, invites Black to play a later ...c4!? ].
17...Nd7;
Black has to get this piece into
the game sooner or later.
[ An oversight would be:
17...Nc6?; 18.Qxc5,
"+/" {Diagram?}
and White wins a pawn. ].
18.Nd4!,
An excellent move, and one that
was given an exclam by GM
Yasser Seirawan.
White wins the advantage of the long-range Bishop vs. a Knight with very limited movement. This will become a big factor later when the position begins to open up.
What most annotators do NOT tell you is that this move was considered a MISTAKE by the Russians at the time it was played. (Why give up a good Knight for a seemingly useless Bishop?)
'!' - GM Yasser Seirawan. '!' - FM Graham Burgess.
[ 18.Rfd1 ].
18...Qf8?!;
An inferior (bad) move, mainly because
Black will lose a later tempo when
he is forced to move the Queen again.
'?' - GM Yasser Seirawan. '?' - GM Robert Byrne.
[ Maybe just a little better was:
>= 18...Nf6; 19.Nb3!?, {Diagram?}
Hmmm, I am not sure
about this.
( Maybe better is: 19.Nxe6,
"+/=" with a position very similar to the game. )
19...c4;
20.Qxe7
Rxe7; 21.Nd4
Rb7; 22.Rc2
a5; 23.Rfc1,
"+/=" {Diagram?}
GM J. Timman says this position is
equal, deep computer analysis
reveals the position is
just a
little better for White. (GM Seirawan gives this same line,
but stops after Nd4.) ].
White's next move seems to actually
strengthen Black's bad pawns. (This might have been why Spassky might have dismissed it.)
19.Nxe6!,
White gains the advantage of
greater mobility with this move.
(GM Y. Seirawan gives this an exclam as well.)
'!' - GM Yasser Seirawan. '!' - FM Graham Burgess.
[ 19.Qc3!? ].
19...fxe6;
This is completely forced, of course.
[ 19...Qe7??; 20.Nf4, "+/-" ].
20.e4!,
White immediately begins to work
on the Black Pawns, ...
and the light squares as well.
'!' - GM Yasser Seirawan. '!!' - FM Graham Burgess.
(This move was universally praised.)
White's advantage is growing with every one of his super-accurate moves.
[ In the year 2000, I tested this
game extensively against computer
programs of the time.
One thinks for
30 minutes, and plays the move:
20.Rfd1!?, "~"
which only gives White
an extremely
limited advantage ... if any. ].
20...d4[];
The consensus is that this move
is positionally forced.
GM Seirawan humorously calls this, ... "a sad decision." (Black's light-squares are permanently compromised.)
[Some
authors give this move a question mark, ('?') but that is clearly incorrect.
Black's mistakes were made much earlier.]
- A.J. Goldsby I; March, 2006.
[ After the very gross: 20...dxe4?;
{D?}
Black has more pawn clusters than
a Caribbean Island chain. White simply plays: 21.Qh3,
"+/=" and Nimzo 8.0
says White is
already better in this position. ].
21.f4!,
White immediately mobilizes his
pawns on the K-side and gains
some space as well. Additionally, the pawns threaten to advance,
ripping Black's King position to
shreds.
'!' - GM Yasser Seirawan.
[ 21.b3?! ].
21...Qe7;
An admission that his 18th move
was simply a loss of time.
[ 21...Rc6!?; 22.Bc4, "+/=" ].
22.e5!,
Another good move, which
confounded the entire Soviet contingent.
(The main idea is to
fix Black's e-pawn and prevent
the second player from playing
...e5. Then White can pile up
on the e6-square, as he did in
the actual game.
But the Russians felt certain it was too early for this move.)
'!' - GM Yasser Seirawan. '!' - FM Graham Burgess.
22...Rb8!?;
Black was concerned about stopping
White from playing a later b4. But
this seems a little extraneous to me.
'?!' - GM Y. Seirawan.
[ Supposedly a big improvement is: >=
22...Nb6!; - GM Yasser Seirawan. But now
23.f5!, "+/=" {Diagram?}
White has a small, but clear advantage
in this position. {A.J.G.} ].
23.Bc4!,
White begins to pile up on
the sensitive e6-square.
'!' - GM Yasser Seirawan.
[ One Class 'B' Internet student
suggested the move: 23.g4!?,
here.
But that is not nearly as
good as Fischer's move. ].
23...Kh8;
This is forced, as otherwise the
pawn advance f5 by White could
be decisive.
[ Bad for Black is: 23...Rab7?!;
24.b3!
Rb6;
25.f5
Nxe5; 26.Bxe6+
Kh8;
27.Rxc5;
"+/" {Diagram?} White is clearly better. ].
24.Qh3!,
An immediate change of direction.
(This move - once again - came as
a shock to the small army of Soviet
players trying to analyze this game.)
The Queen, having finished her work
on the Q-side, zips over to the other
side of the board ...
- to wreak havoc
there.
'!' - GM Yasser Seirawan. '!' - FM Graham Burgess.
[ Also good was: 24.Rf2!?, "+/=" {Diagram?} White has a clear advantage. ].
24...Nf8;
According to all the pundits, this
is completely forced.
"Now that the attack has shifted to the King-side, Black is lost anyway." - GM Robert Byrne.
[ Bad for Black is:
24...Rxb2?!; ('?') 25.Bxe6
Nf8;
26.Bc4
Qb7!?; 27.f5,
"+/=" {Diag?}
The advancing White duo of
Pawns will rip Black's position
to pieces. ].
25.b3, (Maybe - '!')
"Slamming the door on the
Black Rook on the b8-square." - GM Yasser Seirawan.
(Several annotators gave this move an exclam, but I don't think you can give all of White's move an exclam! {A.J.G.})
[ 25.Rc2 ].
25...a5; {Box?}
Black wants to move his QR, but
does not want to worry about
dropping his QRP. (The a-pawn.)
[ 25...Rd7; 26.Qg4, "+/=" ].
26.f5!,
A really good move, that pries open
several key lines, including the f-file; in this position.
'!' - GM Yasser Seirawan. '!' - GM Robert Byrne.
(Several GM's in the analysis room were predicting White would play a4 here ... to keep Black from getting rid of his weak a-pawn here by playing ...a5-to-a4.)
[ Also good for White was: 26.Qf3!?
Rd7; 27.f5,
"+/"
with a very distinct advantage for
the first player here. ].
26...exf5;
No choice for the 2nd player here.
"Black is forced to capture. White cannot be allowed to play either f5xe6, or f5-f6; which would give him the win at once." - GM Yasser Seirawan.
[ Bad for Black is: 26...Rc7?; 27.f6!, "+/" {Diagram?} and White is close to winning. ].
27.Rxf5
Nh7; 28.Rcf1!,
"Continuing to build up the pressure.
White reintroduces the threat of R/f5-
to-f7. Black can't stop this threat by
playing 28...Rf8; to contest the f-file
because
29. Rxf8+, Nxf8; 30.Qc8! would pin the f8-Knight, winning it on
the very next move." - GM Yasser Seirawan.
'!' - GM Yasser Seirawan. '!' - FM Graham Burgess.
[ 28.Qd3!?
].
28...Qd8; 29.Qg3!,
White re-deploys his Queen to
a slightly better square.
[ 29.a4!? ].
29...Re7; 30.h4!,
Now the Black Knight on h7 has
virtually no squares to move to.
'!' - GM Yasser Seirawan. '!' - FM Graham Burgess.
[ 30.Kh1!? ].
30...Rbb7;
Black's position has deteriorated
to the point where he has no good
moves, and can only move back
and forth ... awaiting the fall of
the executioner's axe.
(Black hopes to prevent White from playing Rf7 here.)
[ 30...a4 ].
31.e6!,
With just one move, White does the
following:
He gains space;
He advances his passed pawn;
He releases the power of his Queen and gains the e5-square for his most powerful piece;
White now threatens in some variations, to play Rf7, gaining a devastating passed pawn.
'!' - GM Yasser Seirawan. '!' - FM Graham Burgess.
GM Y. Geller initially thought this move was premature.
[ 31.Kh1!? ].
31...Rbc7;
Just shifting wood.
[ The same is: 31...Ra7; ].
32.Qe5!,
"Overwhelming centralization - now
all of White's pieces radiate their
maximum influence." - GM Yasser Seirawan.
'!' - GM Yasser Seirawan. '!' - FM Graham Burgess.
[ Many programs still choose the move: 32.Rd5!?, "+/" {Diagram?} in this position. ].
32...Qe8;
Black is just marking time.
- GM Y. Seirawan.
33.a4, (Nearly - '!')
{Diagram?}
White prevents Black from
advancing - and liquidating - his
weak Queen's Rook-Pawn.
(Several annotators gave this move an exclam here.)
[ 33.g4!? ].
Over the next few moves:
Fischer now slowly improves his
position and reduces Spassky to
almost complete zugzwang.
33...Qd8; 34.R1f2
Qe8; 35.R2f3
Qd8; 36.Bd3!,
White begins the final movement
to this wonderful symphony.
'!' - GM Yasser Seirawan.
[ In the year 2000, all the computers
want to play the move: 36.Rf7!?,
"+/" {Diagram?}
with a clear advantage for White.
(IM Ivo Nei, in the book: "Both Sides of The Chessboard,"
also points out Rf7
here.) ].
36...Qe8;
"Black attacks the e-pawn and also
prevents R@f5-to-f7."
- GM Yasser Seirawan.
[ 36...Qg8 ].
37.Qe4, (Maybe - '!')
White forms a very dangerous
battery against the Black King.
White now threatens Rf8+, Nxf8; Rxf8+, Qxf8; Qh7 mate.
(Several annotators have given this move an exclam as well.)
[ 37.Rf7!?, "+/-" ].
37...Nf6;
This is forced, in view of White's
threat of Rf8+.
[ Much worse was: 37...Ra7?; 38.Rf8+! Nxf8; 39.Rxf8+ Qxf8; 40.Qh7# ].
38.Rxf6!!,
Ripping the pawn shield away from in
front of the Black King.
(The two exclamation points are more for White's patient build-up and forcing
this whole course of events. And not so much for finding a difficult
move.)
GM Y. Seirawan notes that Fischer was preparing this sacrifice for many, many moves.
(GM Yasser Seirawan also greatly praises this move.)
'!' - FM Graham Burgess.
[ 38.Qf4!?, "+/=" ].
38...gxf6;
This is forced. (Black cannot lose a Knight for nothing, and White threatens Rf8+ as
well.)
39.Rxf6
Kg8; 40.Bc4!,
Insuring the safety of the e-pawn,
and also threatening e6-e7+ in
some variations.
'!' - GM Yasser Seirawan.
[ 40.Qf4!? ].
40...Kh8;
Another unhappy move.
(Seirawan)
41.Qf4!, "+/-" Black Resigns, 1 - 0. (White threatens Rf7 and also a capture on h6.)
"The final deadly move." - GM Yasser Seirawan.
'!' - GM Yasser Seirawan.
[ White wins with: 41.Qe5!? Kh7; 42.Bb5, "+/-" {Diagram?} with a win.
The best line is:
41.Qf4!
Kg8; 42.Qxh6
Rg7;
(42...d3; 43.Rg6+
Rg7; 44.e7+, ("+/-") - GM Seirawan.)
43.e7+
Qf7; 44.e8R#.
The Rook is for g&g ... a Queen would have worked just as well. ].
This game - one of the prettiest and best ever played in a World Championship match - gave Fischer the lead for the first time in this contest. It was a lead he was never to relinquish.
The psychological impact of seeing his favorite defense to the QP destroyed in such a manner, must surely have been a tremendous (negative) psychological blow to the great Boris Spassky.
A great triumph for Bobby Fischer. Chess artistry at the very highest level.
(Several GM's have personally told me that this is one of the most beautiful games of chess of the last 50-75 years!!)
Copyright (c), A.J. Goldsby I; 2002.
*****
Bibliography:
I have literally many, many books on
Fischer and his games. I also
have like 10 books on the 1972 Fischer vs. Spassky match.
But the three most important books
I have consulted in annotating this
game are:
# 1.) "Winning Chess Brilliancies," by GM Yasser Seirawan.
Copyright (c) 1995.
# 2.) "Both Sides of The Chessboard,"
by GM R. Byrne and IM Ivo Nei.
Copyright (c) 1974.
# 3.) "Chess Highlights of The 20th
Century," by FM Graham Burgess.
Copyright (c)
1999.
Click HERE to download an updated version of this game. (This is a "star-dot-cbv" CB file ... that has been zipped.)
Click here to go the CG page for this game.
Game
posted on my web-site: Monday / August 12th, 2002.
(Updated on: 08/06/2012
.)
***
This game is a GREATLY shortened version of the game as I originally did it in my "cb" files. This is because that version, (the long one) - with a diagram after every move, and plenty of analysis diagrams to boot - runs more than fifty pages! (I actually had to wipe the slate clean and start over. This version of the game was developed just for my web pages.)
***
If I get enough requests for it, I could later add a complete TEXT-SCORE of this game. That way, if you are interested, you can see how detailed the notes are; and maybe better appreciate just what a great game this really is. (Saturday; July 18th, 2009: I just finished updating my CB copy of this game, and this web page. E-mail me for a copy of this work, or click on the link above.)
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Copyright (c) A.J. Goldsby I; © A.J. Goldsby; 1975 - 2011.
Copyright (©) A.J. Goldsby, 2012. All rights reserved.
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