Spassky vs Bilek
489
[Event "Moscow"] [Site "?"] [Round "0"] [White "Spassky"] [Black "Bilek"] [Result "1-0"] [ECO "B54"] [Opening "Sicilian: Open, 2...d6, 4...Nf6"] 1. e4 c5 2. Nf3 d6 3. d4 cxd4 4. Nxd4 Nf6 5. Nc3 Nc6 6. Bg5 {This is known as the Richter-Rauzer Attack, a line which has been seen a lot at the highest levels of play but for some reason is not seen much in the amateur ranks. It leads to a complex game.} 6... Bd7 {The normal move is 3...e6. The bishop move has become known as the Modern Variation.} 7. Qd2 a6 {More consistent is 7... Rc8. There is no need to advance the a-pawn early in this line.} 8. O-O-O Rc8 9. f4 h6 10. Bxf6 gxf6 11. Be2 h5 {The idea here is to provide a square for the bishop at h6. Notice how cramped the Black king is. The monarch must remain in the center, since both flanks have crippled pawn structures.} 12. Kb1 {To avoid any nasty pins on the c1-h6 diagonal.} 12... e6 13. Rhf1 {Despite the fact that there are pawns at f6 and f7, Spassky realizes that the f-file will play an important role in the attack.} 13... b5 { Black tries to get something going on the opposite wing.} 14. Nxc6 Rxc6 15. Bf3 {There is the treat of a discovered attack with 16.e5.} 15... Rc5 16. f5 Qa5 { Other plans on the queenside might have been more effective, such as 16... b4 or 16...Qc7. But perhaps best was 16...Re5, which Bilek might have played had he seen what was coming! 16...exf5 17.Nd5 And the knight is so powerful that Black is actually lost. If you don't believe me, try playing the positionagain. } 17. fxe6 fxe6 {Now how does White make progress? The answer is stunning.} 18. e5 {This pawn wa lks onto the most heavily guarded square on the board! But Black cannot afford to open either the d-file or the f-file, so the capture must be made by the rook.} 18... Rxe5 {18...fxe5 19.Qg5} 19. Qf4 Rf5 { 19...Be7 20.Ne4} 20. Qg3 Rg5 {20...Kf7 This would have been a more effective way of guarding against the check at g6, but it has other drawbacks: 21.Ne4 d5 22.Qb8 dxe4 23. Rxd7+ Kg8 24.Qe8 Rh7 25.Qxe6+ Kh8 26.Rxh7+ Kxh7 27.Qxf5+} 21. Qh4 d5 {Otherwise 22.Ne4 would be a crusher! Now White demolishes the defensive barrier with an effective sacrifice.} 22. Bxd5 exd5 23. Rxf6 { The new threats are Qxg5 and Nxd5.} 23... Rhg8 24. Nxd5 Bg4 {Now Spassky finishes elegantly. Do you see how? This is a very enjoyable position (for Spassky).} 25. Rxf8+ {Black resigned. The exposed king is soon checkmated.} 25... Kxf8 {25...Rxf8 26.Qxg5 Rf7 27.Qe5+ Kd8 28.Nb6+ Bd7 29.Qb8+ Ke7 30.Rxd7+ Kf6 31.Qf4+ etc.} 26. Rf1+ Ke8 27. Nf6+ Kd8 28. Nxg8 {and the rook falls, after which the White pieces will easily checkmate the Black king.} 1-0
1-0
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1017
HITS
Players
WhiteSpassky
BlackBilek
Game
Moves28
OpeningB54 — Sicilian: Open, 2...d6, 4...Nf6
Result1-0
Date
Tags
Tournament
TournamentMoscow
Location?
Round0