Fischer – Spassky Something of a surprise, although Fischer did play the English in the first match too. Fischer Spassky Result: 1/2 Metadata » Click to open. Date: 1992.??.?? Location: ? Tournament: Belgrade Round: Opening: Submitted by: Published on: February 9, 2020 [Event "Belgrade"] [Site "?"] [Date "1992.??.??"] [Round "15"] [White "Fischer"] [Black "Spassky"] [Result "1/2"] [PlyCount "66"] 1.c4 {Something of a surprise, although Fischer did play the English in the first match too.} e6 2.Nf3 Nf6 3.g3 {The choice of the kingside fianchetto means that we are headed for a Tarrasch, Catalan, English, or Hedgehog. Still a wide choice!} d5 4.Bg2 Be7 5.O-O O-O 6.d4 {Now we have a Catalan Opening, and Spassky opts for the closed variation.} Nbd7 7.Nbd2 {This is a fairly popular line, but does not place much pressure at d5, and White can hope for a minimal advantage, at best.} b6 8.cxd5 {The double fianchetto approach.} exd5 9.Ne5 Bb7 10.Ndf3 {10.Ndc4 perhaps makes better use of the long diagonal, exploiting the pin at d5.} Ne4 11.Bf4 Ndf6 {Black has achieved full equality.} 12.Rc1 c5 13.dxc5 bxc5 {Black's hanging pawns at c5 and d5 are strong in this configuration. One can compare game 6 of the first match, where they proved to be weak.} 14.Ng5 Nxg5 15.Bxg5 Ne4 {The excellent coordination of Black's forces lead to simplifications without risk.} 16.Bxe7 Qxe7 17.Bxe4 dxe4 {17...Qxe5 18.Bf3 maintains strong pressure at d5.} 18.Nc4 e3 {This is a bold attempt to punish White for ignoring Nimzowitsch's principle that central pawns must be blockaded.} 19.f3 {Now the question is whether the pawn at e3 is strong or weak. 19.Nxe3? Qe4} Rad8 20.Qb3 Rfe8 21.Rc3 Bd5 {This preserves the important e-pawn.} 22.Rfc1 {22.Rxe3 Bxc4 23.Rxe7 Bxb3 24.Rxe8+ Rxe8 25.axb3 Rxe2 with a drawish endgame.} g6 23.Qa3 {23.Qa4 was preferred by Deep Thought.} Bxf3 {Spassky pl ays with youthful vigor. The piece sacrifice is romantic and worthy of consideration, but there was a less interesting drawing line. 23...Bxc4 24. Rxc4 Rd2! 25.Re4 Qd7 26.Qxe3 Rxe4 27.Qxe4 Qd4+! 28.Qxd4 cxd4 with equal chances in the endgame.} 24.exf3 {24.Rxe3? Be4!} e2 25.Re1 Rd1 26.Kf2 Rxe1 27.Kxe1 Qd7 {There are two threats here: Qd1+ and Qh3. Now White must play with extreme caution.} 28.Qb3 {28.Rd3 Qh3 29.Ne3 Rxe3! 30.Rxe3 Qf1+ 31.Kd2 Qd1+ and a draw will result.} Qh3 29.Ne3 Qxh2 {29...Rxe3? 30.Rxe3 Qf1+ 31.Kd2 and the d1-square is covered by the Qb3.} 30.g4 Rb8 31.Qd5 {31.Qc2?? would lose to Rxb2!! 32.Qxb2 Qg1+ 33.Kxe2 Qh2+ 34.Kd3 Qxb2 and White's pawns will fall quickly.} Rxb2 {Now White must force the draw.} 32.Qd8+ Kg7 33.Nf5+ gxf5 1/2 [Event "Belgrade"] [Site "?"] [Date "1992.??.??"] [Round "15"] [White "Fischer"] [Black "Spassky"] [Result "1/2"] [PlyCount "66"] 1.c4 {Something of a surprise, although Fischer did play the English in the first match too.} e6 2.Nf3 Nf6 3.g3 {The choice of the kingside fianchetto means that we are headed for a Tarrasch, Catalan, English, or Hedgehog. Still a wide choice!} d5 4.Bg2 Be7 5.O-O O-O 6.d4 {Now we have a Catalan Opening, and Spassky opts for the closed variation.} Nbd7 7.Nbd2 {This is a fairly popular line, but does not place much pressure at d5, and White can hope for a minimal advantage, at best.} b6 8.cxd5 {The double fianchetto approach.} exd5 9.Ne5 Bb7 10.Ndf3 {10.Ndc4 perhaps makes better use of the long diagonal, exploiting the pin at d5.} Ne4 11.Bf4 Ndf6 {Black has achieved full equality.} 12.Rc1 c5 13.dxc5 bxc5 {Black's hanging pawns at c5 and d5 are strong in this configuration. One can compare game 6 of the first match, where they proved to be weak.} 14.Ng5 Nxg5 15.Bxg5 Ne4 {The excellent coordination of Black's forces lead to simplifications without risk.} 16.Bxe7 Qxe7 17.Bxe4 dxe4 {17...Qxe5 18.Bf3 maintains strong pressure at d5.} 18.Nc4 e3 {This is a bold attempt to punish White for ignoring Nimzowitsch's principle that central pawns must be blockaded.} 19.f3 {Now the question is whether the pawn at e3 is strong or weak. 19.Nxe3? Qe4} Rad8 20.Qb3 Rfe8 21.Rc3 Bd5 {This preserves the important e-pawn.} 22.Rfc1 {22.Rxe3 Bxc4 23.Rxe7 Bxb3 24.Rxe8+ Rxe8 25.axb3 Rxe2 with a drawish endgame.} g6 23.Qa3 {23.Qa4 was preferred by Deep Thought.} Bxf3 {Spassky pl ays with youthful vigor. The piece sacrifice is romantic and worthy of consideration, but there was a less interesting drawing line. 23...Bxc4 24. Rxc4 Rd2! 25.Re4 Qd7 26.Qxe3 Rxe4 27.Qxe4 Qd4+! 28.Qxd4 cxd4 with equal chances in the endgame.} 24.exf3 {24.Rxe3? Be4!} e2 25.Re1 Rd1 26.Kf2 Rxe1 27.Kxe1 Qd7 {There are two threats here: Qd1+ and Qh3. Now White must play with extreme caution.} 28.Qb3 {28.Rd3 Qh3 29.Ne3 Rxe3! 30.Rxe3 Qf1+ 31.Kd2 Qd1+ and a draw will result.} Qh3 29.Ne3 Qxh2 {29...Rxe3? 30.Rxe3 Qf1+ 31.Kd2 and the d1-square is covered by the Qb3.} 30.g4 Rb8 31.Qd5 {31.Qc2?? would lose to Rxb2!! 32.Qxb2 Qg1+ 33.Kxe2 Qh2+ 34.Kd3 Qxb2 and White's pawns will fall quickly.} Rxb2 {Now White must force the draw.} 32.Qd8+ Kg7 33.Nf5+ gxf5 1/2 White to move: find the best move... click the ? for the solution Black to move: find the best move... click the ? for the solution Warning: This game can only be seen if JavaScript is enabled in your browser. No related posts.