Fischer vs Spassky
699
[Event "Belgrade"] [Site "?"] [Round "19"] [White "Fischer"] [Black "Spassky"] [ECO "B23"] [Opening "Sicilian: Chameleon, 3...e5"] 1. e4 c5 2. Nc3 Nc6 3. Nge2 e5 4. Nd5 { This knight immediately occupies Black's weak square.} 4... Nge7 5. Nec3 Nxd5 6. Nxd5 Be7 7. g3 {The fianchetto of the bishop is an innovation which leads to quite different play from that of the normal lines. It is probably more flexible than the development of the bishop at c4. 7.Bc4 is a major alternative.} 7... d6 8. Bg2 h5 { This threatens to advance the h-pawn with great effect.} 9. h4 { 9.h3 h4 10.g4 Bg5! gives Black excellent counterplay.} 9... Be6 { 9...Bg4!? deserves consideration.} 10. d3 Bxd5 11. exd5 Nb8 { 11...Nd4?! 12.c3 Nf5 13.Bh3!} 12. f4 {Fischer tries to grab the initiative right way, since otherwise Black will simply complete his development and enjoy a comfortable game.} 12... Nd7 13. O-O g6 14. Rb1 {Fischer now turns his attention to the queenside. 14.f5 is tempting, but it is not strong: Nf6! 15. fxg6 fxg6 16.Bg5 O-O and control of g4 gives Black a good game.} 14... f5 15. b4 b6 16. bxc5 bxc5 17. c4 O-O 18. Qa4 Bf6 {How should this position be evaluated? A bishop pair is useful, of course, but these clerics are not very active right now, compared with Black's pieces.} 19. Rb7 { It is clear that White's strategy must involve penetration of the queenside.} 19... Nb6 20. Qb5 {20.Qc6 Rc8 accomplishes nothing for White.} 20... Rf7 21. Rxf7 Kxf7 22. Bd2 Rb8 23. Qc6 {White wants to play Rb1, but that could not be played right away. 23.Rb1 Nd7 and Black has no problems.} 23... Nc8 {This parri es the threat of Rb1, but now Black's forces are too far from the important strategic ouposts at e5 and d7.} 24. Re1 Ne7 25. Qa4 Qc7 26. Kh2 exf4 { Opening up the position now favors White, who controls the e- file. 26...Rb2?! 27.Bc3 Rf2? 28.Kg1 26...Ng8! is a strange move, but it is best, because the knight will be able to gallop to g4. Nevertheless, White will still have an advantage.} 27. Bxf4 Be5 28. Re2 {Now we can see that the second rank needs protection. 28.Bxe5?! dxe5 and Black can cover the sixth rank with Rb6, and then adopt the knight maneuver with Ng8-f6-g4.} 28... Rb6 { Preventing Qc6, and thus freeing the knight from the defensive chore.} 29. Kh3 {White's king finds the safest square.} 29... Ng8 {An outrageous blunder, though Black's position was in any event difficult. 29...Bxf4 30.gxf4 Rb8} 30. Rxe5 {This is the easiest way to win. 30.Bxe5 dxe5 31.Rxe5 Nf6!} 30... dxe5 31. Bxe5 Qe7 {31...Qxe5 32.Qxa7+ Ne7 33.Qxb6 and the safety of the White king means that the a-pawn flies.} 32. d6 {Opening up d5 for the bishop.} 32... Rxd6 33. Bxd6 Qxd6 34. Bd5+ Kf8 35. Qxa7 Ne7 36. Qa8+ Kg7 37. Qb7 Kf8 38. a4 f4 { Black is busted, but Spassky creates some complications.} 39. a5 fxg3 40. a6 Qf4 41. Bf3 {41.Bg2?? Qg4++} 41... Nf5 42. Qe4 g2 43. Qxf4 g1=Q 44. Be4 Qa1 45. a7 Qxa7 46. Bxf5 gxf5 47. Qxf5+ Kg7 48. Qg5+ Kf8 49. Qh6+ Kg8 50. Qxh5 Qc7 51. Qg6+ Kh8 52. Qf6+ Kg8 53. Qe6+ { 53.Kg4 Qd7+ 54.Kg5 Qxd3?? 55.Qg6+ and White wins easily.} 53... Kh8 54. Qd5 { 54.h5! was best.} 54... Qf7 55. Kg2 {55.Qxf7 is stalemate! 55.d4 Qf1+ 56.Kg4 Qg1+ 57.Kh5 Qd1+ 58.Kg6 Qg4+ 59.Kf7 Qg8+! 60.Ke7 Qh7+ 61.Kd8 Qxh4+ 62.Kc7 Qxd4=} 55... Qg6+ 56. Kh3 Qf7 57. Qe5+ Kh7 58. Kg4 Qg6+ 59. Kf4 Qh6+ 60. Kf3 Qg6 61. Qe4 Kh8 62. Ke2 {62.Qxg6 is also stalemate.} 62... Qd6 63. Qe3 Qh2+ 64. Kd1 Qh1+ 65. Kd2 Qh2+ 66. Kc3 Qxh4 67. d4 Kh7 { 67...cxd4+ 68.Qxd4+ Qxd4+ 69.Kxd4 and White wins.} 68. d5 {68.dxc5! would have won, since the pawns create a barrier against perpetual check.} 68... Qf6+ 69. Kd3 Qd6 70. Qg5 Kh8 71. Kd2 Qb6 72. Qe5+ Kg8 73. Qe8+ Kg7 74. Qb5 Qc7 75. Kc2 Kf8 76. Qa6 Qh2+ 77. Kb3 Qb8+ 78. Qb5 Qc7 79. Ka3 Qa7+ 80. Kb3 Ke7 81. Kc2 Kd8 82. Kd2 Qc7 83. Qa6 Qf4+ 84. Kc2 {Now there is no avoiding the perpetual check. Fischer's endgame play in this game was simply terrible, and he must have been kicking himself all night.} 84... Qe4+ *
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1030
HITS
Players
WhiteFischer
BlackSpassky
Game
Moves84
OpeningB23 — Sicilian: Chameleon, 3...e5
Result
Date
Tags
Tournament
TournamentBelgrade
Location?
Round19