Fischer – Spassky

After the disaster of the previous Spanish Inquisition, Spassky slides into Sicilian territory.

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Date: 1992.??.??
Location: ?
Tournament: Sveti Stefan
Round:
Opening:
Submitted by:
Published on: February 9, 2020
Tags: chess, chess games, Anish Giri

[Event "Sveti Stefan"] [Site "?"] [Date "1992.??.??"] [Round "11"] [White "Fischer"] [Black "Spassky"] [Result "1-0"] [PlyCount "91"] 1.e4 c5 {After the disaster of the previous Spanish Inquisition, Spassky slides into Sicilian territory.} 2.Nf3 Nc6 3.Bb5 {Somewhat of a surprise. Fischer usually prefers the well-traveled paths of more topical lines, enjoying the theoretical duels.} g6 4.Bxc6 bxc6 {Theory prefers 4...dxc6, but there is nothing wrong with this choice.} 5.O-O Bg7 6.Re1 e5 {A critical advance, which prevents White from playing e4-e5 or d2-d4. But the blocking of the long diagonal creates an interesting opportunity for White. Spassky consistently rejects previous praxis, but opts for 6...f6 in game 13.} 7.b4 {A typical example of a move which is trivial when played prematurely (at move 2) but which can be quite effective if delayed until an appropriate moment.} cxb4 8.a3 {This gambit underlines the defects of 6...e5.} c5 {8...d6 9.axb4 Ne7 10. h3 O-O 11.d3 gives White a slightly better position, because there are some weaknesses in Black's position. But 8...bxa3 9.Bxa3 d6 gives White sufficient compensation for the pawn, but how much more?} 9.axb4 cxb4 10.d4 {10.Bb2 d6 11.d4 exd4 would transpose back to the game.} exd4 {10...d6?! 11.dxe5 dxe5 12.Qxd8+ Kxd8 13.Bd2! regains the pawn with interest.} 11.Bb2 d6 {Now the long diagonal can be the site of some tactical operations.} 12.Nxd4 {12.Bxd4 Nf6 would be roughly equal, with the bishop pair working to Black's advantage.} Qd7 {12...Qb6 13.Nd2 Bxd4 14.Nc4 Bxf2+ 15.Kh1 Qc5 16.Nxd6+ Ke7 17.Nf5+! wins for White.} 13.Nd2 Bb7 {13...Ne7 would have been more cautious but White would have had a strong position in any case.} 14.Nc4 Nh6 {Now the White knight makes a brilliant leap.} 15.Nf5 Bxb2 {15...Nxf5 16.exf5+ Kf8 17.Bxg7+ Kxg7 18.f6+ Kg8 19.Qxd6 Qxd6 20.Nxd6 Bc6 21. Ra6! Bd5 22.Rxa7! would lead to a rapid White victory.} 16.Ncxd6+ Kf8 17.Nxh6 f6 {The losing move.} 18.Ndf7 Qxd1 19.Raxd1 Ke7 20.Nxh8 Rxh8 21.Nf5+ {A reprise of the main theme. This time, it is decisive.} gxf5 22.exf5+ Be5 {The only way to avoid losing a rook. 22...Kf8 23.Rd8+ Kg7 24.Re7+} 23.f4 Rc8 24.fxe5 Rxc2 {24...fxe5 25.Rxe5+ Kf6 26.Rb5 and Black has no counterplay at all.} 25.e6 {The protected passed pawn will remain a pain in Black's side for some time.} Bc6 26.Rc1 {This forces the exchange of rooks.} Rxc1 {26...b3 27. Rxc2 bxc2 28.Rc1 Be4 29.g4 a5 30.Kf2 a4 31.Ke3 and Black can give up.} 27.Rxc1 Kd6 28.Rd1+ Ke5 {28...Ke7 29.Ra1 and the a-pawn goes.} 29.e7 a5 {Black's last gasp. 29...Kxf5 30.Rd6 Ba4 31.Ra6} 30.Rc1 Bd7 31.Rc5+ Kd4 32.Rxa5 {The rest is simple.} b3 33.Ra7 Be8 34.Rb7 Kc3 35.Kf2 b2 36.Ke3 Bf7 37.g4 Kc2 38.Kd4 b1=Q 39.Rxb1 Kxb1 40.Kc5 Kc2 41.Kd6 {and Black resigned, since a losing endgame is inevitable:} Kd3 42.Kd7 Ke4 43.e8=Q+ Bxe8+ 44.Kxe8 Kf4 45.Kf7 Kg5 46.Kg7 {etc.} 1-0