Fischer – Spassky

Quite brave of Spassky, to test Fischer in the latter’s favorite opening. But then Spassky is also the master of the Black side of the Spanish Game!

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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 "1"] [White "Fischer"] [Black "Spassky"] [Result "1-0"] [PlyCount "99"] 1.e4 e5 2.Nf3 Nc6 3.Bb5 {Quite brave of Spassky, to test Fischer in the latter's favorite opening. But then Spassky is also the master of the Black side of the Spanish Game!} a6 4.Ba4 Nf6 5.O-O Be7 6.Re1 b5 7.Bb3 O-O 8.c3 d6 9.h3 Nb8 {The Breyer System, Spassky's pride and joy.} 10.d4 Nbd7 11.Nbd2 Bb7 12.Bc2 Re8 13.Nf1 {13.b4 a5! prevents the planned advance of White's a-pawn to a5.} Bf8 14.Ng3 g6 15.Bg5 h6 16.Bd2 Bg7 17.a4 c5 18.d5 c4 19.b4 {This is an , and perhaps a strong one. It is not just the move that is new, but the idea of a delayed b4 after Black has advanced to c4.} Nh7 20.Be3 h5 21.Qd2 Rf8 22.Ra3 {Spassky must have been feeling a creeping uneasiness, caused by the potential problems on the a-file, where White's heavy artillery will congregate.} Ndf6 {Black lacks adequate counterply, since there is no real hope of playing f7-f5. Therefore he tries to regroup his pieces to prevent a capture at b5, and also prepares to sacrifice a piece for the dominating central pawns.} 23.Rea1 Qd7 24.R1a2 Rfc8 25.Qc1 Bf8 26.Qa1 Qe8 27.Nf1 Be7 28.N1d2 {28.N3d2 is an interesting alternative, intending to advance the f-pawn.} Kg7 29.Nb1 {This threatens to liquidate a lot of pieces following captures on a5 and a8, after which Nb1-a3 will win the weak pawn at b5. So Black must try a desperate sacrifice.} Nxe4 30.Bxe4 f5 31.Bc2 Bxd5 32.axb5 axb5 33.Ra7 Kf6 34.Nbd2 {The knight has done its duty on the queenside and returns to provide support for the center and for its fellow steed at f3.} Rxa7 35.Rxa7 Ra8 36.g4 {Fischer strives to open the position, even if this entails exposing his king to some danger. This is better than exchanging at a8, as the resulting simplification would not help White's attack.} hxg4 37.hxg4 Rxa7 38.Qxa7 f4 {Well-timed! 38...Qa8 would lead to an easy win for White.} 39.Bxf4 {Fischer's superb technique is evident as he returns his trophy immediately. If he had tried to hang on to it, victory would have been less likely. 39.Bb6?! Qa8! 40. Qd7 Bxf3 41.Nxf3 Qxf3 42.Bd8 Bxd8 43.Qxd8+ is unclear.} exf4 40.Nh4 {Another strong move which is not obvious. The natural path would lead White astray: 40.Qd4+ Ke6 41.Qg7 Nf8 and Black can hold on.} Bf7 {The fatal err or. The knight retreat was called for. 40...Nf8! 41.Qd4+ Ke6 42.Nf5 Bf6! 43. Qxf4 Be5 and Black could still put up a fight.} 41.Qd4+ Ke6 42.Nf5 {There is the threat of a big fork at g7.} Bf8 {42...gxf5 43.Bxf5++} 43.Qxf4 Kd7 44.Nd4 {The b5-pawn is unprotected. Spassky makes one more attempt at counterplay.} Qe1+ 45.Kg2 Bd5+ 46.Be4 Bxe4+ 47.Nxe4 Be7 48.Nxb5 Nf8 49.Nbxd6 Ne6 {Spassky resigned here, rather than face...} 50.Qe5 1-0