Spassky – Fischer

Perhaps influenced by the renewed interest in the opening in the 1980s. The Queen’s Gambit Accepted is an unusual choice from Fischer, who usually prefers a more hypermodern treatment of 1.d4.

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Date: 1992.??.??
Location: ?
Tournament: Sveti Stefan
Round:
Opening:
Submitted by:
Published on: February 9, 2020

[Event "Sveti Stefan"] [Site "?"] [Date "1992.??.??"] [Round "4"] [White "Spassky"] [Black "Fischer"] [Result "1-0"] [PlyCount "101"] 1.d4 d5 2.c4 dxc4 {Perhaps influenced by the renewed interest in the opening in the 1980s. The Queen's Gambit Accepted is an unusual choice from Fischer, who usually prefers a more hypermodern treatment of 1.d4.} 3.Nf3 {3.e4 is a popular alternative which has been the subject of much scrutiny lately.} Nf6 4.e3 e6 5.Bxc4 c5 6.O-O a6 7.dxc5 {Spassky shows a definite preference for endgames in this match! 7.Qe2 and 7.a4 are the more common moves.} Qxd1 {7...Bxc5 8.Qxd8+ Kxd8 9.Nbd2 Ke7 10.b3 b6 11.Bb2 Bb7 12.Be2 Nbd7=} 8.Rxd1 Bxc5 9.b3 {9.a3 with the idea of playing b4, is more common here.} Nbd7 10.Bb2 b6 {The cautious approach. The extended fianchetto (10...b5) is riskier because the pawn chain can be undermined by a2-a4.} 11.Nc3 Bb7 12.Rac1 Be7 {12...O-O? 13.Na4 Be7 14.Bxf6 Nxf6 15.Nxb6} 13.Nd4 Rc8 14.f3 b5 15.Be2 Bc5 {Black has achieved full equality.} 16.Kf1 {A very lame move. 16.Kf2 Ke7 17.a4 bxa4 18.Nxa4 Ba7 maintains equality.} Ke7 17.e4 {A strategic disaster. White weakens the long diagonal without any good reason, allowing Fischer to develop an interesting counterattack. 17.Kf2 was the correct move.} g5 {Black intends to advance the g-pawn, capture at f3, bring a knight to f4 and put a rook on the g-file, a simple and effective plan.} 18.Nb1 {The point of this move is to try to exchange dark squared bishops after Ba3.} g4 {18...Bd6 might have been more accurate, e.g., 19.Kf2 g4 with at least equality.} 19.Ba3 b4 {It is hard to believe that Fischer overlooked the obvious exchange sacrifice which follows. 19...Bxa3 20.Nxa3 gxf3 21.gxf3 Rhg8 22.Kf2 Ne5 with good play for Black.} 20.Rxc5 Nxc5 21.Bxb4 {Now White's position is superior thanks to his ferocious bishop and the vulnerable Black king. The distance between a very good position and a very bad one is very small indeed!} Rhd8 22.Na3 gxf3 23.gxf3 Nfd7 24.Nc4 {White has already achieved a completely dominating position because all of his pieces are active, while Black lacks any counterplay.} Ba8 25.Kf2 Rg8 26.h4 Rc7 27.Nc2 Rb8 28.Ba3 {This prevents Fischer from countersacrificing the exchange, and maintains the strong pin.} h5 29.Rg1 Kf6 30.Ke3 a5 31.Rg5 {Spassky intensifies the pressure with every move.} a4 {This makes 's task easier, but it is hard to find an alternative. Now White gets a powerful passed pawn.} 32.b4 Nb7 33.b5 Nbc5 34.Nd4 {White's domination is complete. Fischer now embarks on a desperate sacrifice, but it doesn't work.} e5 {A mistake.} 35.Nxe5 Nxe5 36.Rf5+ Kg7 37.Rxe5 Nxe4 {The point of the combination. If Black takes the knight Fischer will escape.} 38.Bd3 {38.fxe4 Rc3+} Rc3 39.Bb4 {Spassky's ship steers clear of the final reef and the game heads for home.} Rxd3+ 40.Kxd3 Nf6 41.Bd6 Rc8 42.Rg5+ Kh7 43.Be5 Ne8 44.Rxh5+ Kg6 45.Rg5+ Kh7 46.Bf4 f6 47.Rf5 Kg6 48.b6 {This modest pawn decides the outcome of the game.} Rd8 49.Ra5 Bxf3 50.h5+ Kf7 {50...Bxh5 51.b7} 51.Ra7+ {Black resigns. The worst game by Fischer in the first half of the match. Spassky played quite well.} 1-0