[Event "Sveti Stefan"] [Site "?"] [Round "10"] [White "Spassky"] [Black "Fischer"] [ECO "E32"] [Opening "Nimzo-Indian: Classical Variation"] 1. d4 Nf6 2. c4 e6 3. Nc3 Bb4 { The Nimzoindian Defense, another of Fischer's hypermodern favorites.} 4. Qc2 { Spassky responds with the Classical variation, which has surged in popularity in the last decade. Has Fischer kept up withthetheory?} 4... d5 {This is an ved plan, which takes advantage of the abandonment of the d-file by the White queen, undermining the support of d4.} 5. cxd5 exd5 6. Bg5 {A natural con tinuation, keeping up the battle for d5 and employing themes of the Queen's Gambit Declined, Exchange Variation.} 6... h6 { There are all sorts of alternatives here, but Fischer sticks to the main line.} 7. Bh4 c5 8. dxc5 Nc6 9. e3 {Black continues to develop quickly, rather than waste time picking up the weak pawn at c5.} 9... g5 10. Bg3 Qa5 11. Nf3 Ne4 12. Nd2 Nxc3 13. bxc3 Bxc3 {The critical position of the opening. Fischer clearly is happy to get into a theoretical brawl.} 14. Rb1 Qxc5 15. Rb5 Qa3 16. Rb3 Bxd2+ 17. Qxd2 Qa5 18. Bb5 {Spassky plays for a win after three disappointing games. 18.Rc3!? was probably wiser, avoiding the exchange of queens. Spassky is enough of a specialist in the Tarrasch to appreciate that!} 18... Qxd2+ 19. Kxd2 {Once again we have an early endgame.} 19... Bd7 20. Bxc6 Bxc6 21. h4 Ke7 22. Be5 f6 23. Bd4 {The bishops of opposite color, and the fact that White's is more active, suggest an evaluation of the position as roughly level.} 23... g4 24. Rc1 Ke6 25. Rb4 h5 26. Rc3 Rhc8 27. a4 { This creates a weakness. 27.a3 was wiser, with a balanced game.} 27... b6 28. Kc2 Be8 {Black wants to exchange rooks. Fischer has the advantage now.} 29. Kb2 Rxc3 30. Bxc3 Rc8 31. e4 {After this advance Black's bishop gains additional scope. 31.Bd4 Bg6 32.Bc3 was a safer option, though White's game would be very passive.} 31... Bc6 32. exd5+ Bxd5 33. g3 Bc4 { This locks in the White rook. Black plans Kd5, and then Re8-e2+.} 34. Bd4 Kd5 35. Be3 Rc7 36. Kc3 f5 37. Kb2 Ke6 38. Kc3 Bd5+ 39. Kb2 Be4 40. a5 bxa5 41. Rb5 a4 42. Rc5 Rb7+ {42...Rxc5? 43.Bxc5 would be a dead draw.} 43. Ka3 a6 44. Kxa4 Bd5 45. Ka5 Ke5 46. Kxa6 {The position appears very drawish but Fischer is determined to fight to the end and he almost succeeds. The basic idea is to sacrifice the exchange at just the right moment, when the pawns can be activated.} 46... Rb3 47. Rc7 Ke4 48. Rh7 {This is the only chance for counterplay. Spassky tries to get a passed h- pawn. The complications which follow are both interesting and instructive.} 48... Rxe3 49. fxe3 { 49.Re7+? Kf3 50.Rxe3+ Kg2 51.Ra3 Bf3 52.Ra2 Kf1 intending Be2+ and Kxf2.} 49... Kxe3 50. Rxh5 Be4 51. Rh8 {White is ready to advance his pawn.} 51... Kf3 52. Re8 Kxg3 53. h5 Bd3+ 54. Kb6 f4 {All the passed pawns are racing toward the goal line, but who get the prize first?} 55. Kc5 {The most accurate move, forcing a draw. Even against less precise play a draw would still be likely, however. 55.h6 f3 56.Rf8 f2 57.Kc5 Kg2 58.Kd4 Bh7 59.Ke3 g3 60.Rf7 Kg1 61.Ke2 Bg8 62.Rf6 Bc4+ 63.Ke3=} 55... f3 56. Kd4 Bf5 57. Rf8 Kf4 58. h6 g3 {58...f2 59 .h7 f1Q 60.h8Q and a draw is likely, since Black cannot do anything with his initiative, since the bishop is pinned.} 59. h7 g2 60. h8=Q g1=Q+ 61. Kc4 { Now all White has to do is avoid the exchange of queens.} 61... Qc1+ 62. Kb3 Qc2+ 63. Kb4 Qe4+ 64. Kc3 Qc6+ 65. Kb3 Qd5+ 66. Kc3 Qc5+ 67. Kb2 Qb4+ 68. Ka2 *