Larsen – Spassky

This is a hypermodern opening which concedes the center to Black. It is often called the Larsen Attack or Nizmowitsch-Larsen Attack, but this game did little to further its reputation.

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Date: 1970.??.??
Location: ?
Tournament: USSR vs. World
Round:
Opening:
Submitted by:
Published on: February 9, 2020

[Event "USSR vs. World"] [Site "?"] [Date "1970.??.??"] [Round "?"] [White "Larsen"] [Black "Spassky"] [Result "0-1"] [PlyCount "34"] 1.b3 {This is a hypermodern opening which concedes the center to Black. It is often called the Larsen Attack or Nizmowitsch-Larsen Attack, but this game did little to further its reputation.} e5 {The correct reply. Not only does this move occupy important central territory, but it also limits the scope of the bishop which will be housed at b2.} 2.Bb2 Nc6 3.c4 {A reasonable alternative is 3.e3, intending 4.Bb5.} Nf6 4.Nf3 {Bobby Fisc her preferred 4.e3 in a game played the same year. This move is too provocative.} e4 5.Nd4 Bc5 6.Nxc6 {6.e3 Bxd4 7.exd4 d5 The bishop at b2 will be blocked by the pawn at d4 for a long time.} dxc6 7.e3 {7.d4 exd3 8.Qxd3 Qe7 Black still has a good game, but perhaps not as strong as in the game.} Bf5 8.Qc2 Qe7 9.Be2 {9.d4 exd3 10.Bxd3 Bxd3 11.Qxd3 Rd8 12.Qc2 O-O Black has a significant lead in development.} O-O-O 10.f4 {This is a major mistake, because the king's position is weakened. But Larsen may have been getting a little desperate, because Black already had the advantage in development. 10.Bxf6 Qxf6 11.Nc3 Qe5 12.O-O h5 Black has a strong attack.} Ng4 {One thing White has to watch out for is an eventual Nxe3, since the opening of the d-file by dxe3 will limit the escape routes for the White king.} 11.g3 {Whenever this move is played it weakens the pawn structure on the kingside. A common reply is the advance of the h-pawn from h7 to h5 and eventually to h4, where it can be exchanged for the pawn at g3, opening up the h-file.} h5 12.h3 {Now Spassky unleashes a powerful sacrifice which brings the game to a quick and brutal conclusion. Unless you are a very strong player (in which case you are familiar with this game), you probably can't figure it out yourself.} h4 13.hxg4 {13.Bxg4 Bxg4 14.hxg4 hxg3 15.Rg1 Here 15...Rh2 wins, but Spassky also had a more brilliant option, which he demonstrated after the game: 15...Rh1 16.Rxh1 g2 17.Rg1 Qh4+ 18.Ke2 Qxg4+ 19. Ke1 Qg3+ and Black wins.} hxg3 {This passed pawn provides the material out of which Spassky fashions a brilliant victory!} 14.Rg1 {Now, if you examined the variation at move 13, you might find the solution that earned this game its reputation as one of the most brilliant ever. 14.Rxh8 Rxh8 15. gxf5 Rh1+ 16.Bf1 g2} Rh1 15.Rxh1 g2 16.Rf1 {16.Rg1 Qh4+ 17.Kd1 Qh1 18. Qc3 Qxg1+ 19.Kc2 Qf2 20.gxf5 Qxe2 21.Na3 And here there is yet another fantastic move. 21...Bb4 22.Qxb4 Qd3+ 23.Kc1 g1Q+} Qh4+ 17.Kd1 gxf1=Q+ {White resigned, because checkmate is inevitable.} 0-1