Spassky vs Fischer
Belgrade | ? | Round 24
678
[Event "Belgrade"] [Site "?"] [Round "24"] [White "Spassky"] [Black "Fischer"] [ECO "B20"] [Opening "Sicilian: Keres Variation (2.Ne2)"] 1. e4 c5 2. Ne2 Nf6 3. Nbc3 d6 4. g3 g6 5. Bg2 Nc6 6. O-O Bg7 7. d4 { Finally, a real Sicilian!} 7... cxd4 8. Nxd4 {The kingside fianchetto is not considered dangerous against the Dragon formation, but there was some interest in the line in the 1980's.} 8... Bg4 {8...Nxd4 9.Qxd4 O-O is the normal line.} 9. Nde2 {9.f3 Bd7 10.Be3 ought to be at least slightly better for White.} 9... Qc8 10. f3 Bh3 {Black has equalized.} 11. Bxh3 Qxh3 12. Bg5 { The idea is to provoke Black into playing h7-h6.} 12... O-O 13. Qd2 h6 14. Be3 {14.Nf4 Qd7 15.Bxf6 Bxf6 16.Nfd5 Bg7 is about even.} 14... Kh7 15. Rac1 Qd7 16. Nd5 {White plays methodically. This formation makes it hard for Black to achieve counterplay on the c-file.} 16... Nxd5 17. exd5 Ne5 18. b3 b5 { The idea here is to limit White's activity on the queenside. Black has at the very least achieved equality, even if White manages to transfer the knight to c6.} 19. Bd4 Rac8 20. f4 {20.c3 is a reasonable alternative, e.g., Qb7 21.Be3} 20... Ng4 21. Bxg7 Kxg7 22. Nd4 Nf6 { This attacks the weak pawn at d5, and forces White's reply.} 23. c4 { 23.Nc6? Nxd5!} 23... bxc4 24. bxc4 e6 {A useful break, and clearly better than the alternatives. 24...Qa4 25.Nc6 and 24...Rfe8 25.f5!} 25. dxe6 {25.Nc6 exd5 26.cxd5 Rfe8 27.Qb2 can be met by 27...Qf5! 28.Rfd1 Kh7 and now Nxd5 is threatened.} 25... fxe6 26. Rfe1 Rfe8 27. Nb3 a6 { Now the queen can make use of the a7-square.} 28. Qd4 Rc6 { The weaknesses at c4 and d6 offset each other. and the game is now dead even.} 29. Red1 e5 30. Qxe5 Rxe5 31. fxe5 dxe5 32. Rxd7+ Nxd7 33. Rd1 Nf6 34. c5 Kf7 35. Rc1 Nd7 36. Kf2 Ke6 37. Ke3 Kd5 38. Rd1+ Ke6 39. Rc1 { There is no avoiding the draw now.} 39... Kd5 { Agreed drawn, since no progress can be made.} *
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