Icannos/chess_studies huggingface dataset:
[Event "Groningen"]
[Site "?"]
[Date "1967.??.??"]
[Round "?"]
[White "Hostalet Ferrer"]
[Black "Karpov"]
[Result "0-1"]
[PlyCount "34"]

1. d4 Nf6 2. c4 e6 3. Nc3 Bb4 4. Qc2 c5 5. e3 { This passive reply doesn't mix well with White's last. } 5... O-O 6. a3 Bxc3+ 7. Qxc3 Nc6 8. Bd3 { To prevent ...Ne4, but now White will lose a tempo after an eventual ...dxc4. } 8... cxd4 9. exd4 d5 10. Ne2 dxc4 11. Bxc4 e5 { Karpov takes the initiative violently. Now 12.dxe5 Ne4 followed by 13...Qa5+ and ...Q or Nxe5 will embarrass White's king and queen. } 12. Be3 Ne4 13. Qb3 Qa5+ 14. Kf1 { Forced: if 14.Kd1 exd4 15.Nxd4 Rd8 or 14.Nc3 exd4. } 14... Nxd4 { With White down covering the fork on d2, Karpov jumps in and eliminates a key defensive piece. } 15. Nxd4 exd4 16. f3 { This gets it over with, but White was trashed anyway, e.g. 16.Bc1 Be6 17.Bxe6 fxe6 18.Qxe6+ Kh8 and Black's rooks will join the party. } 16... dxe3 17. fxe4 Qd2 { White may not be immediately mated after 18.Be2, but Black can play moves like ...Be6, Qa5 and f5 and wine without much resistance. } 0-1
[Event "Sousse Interzonal"]
[Site "?"]
[Date "1967.??.??"]
[Round "?"]
[White "Byrne,D"]
[Black "Fischer"]
[Result "0-1"]
[PlyCount "56"]

1. e4 c5 2. Nf3 d6 3. d4 cxd4 4. Nxd4 Nf6 5. Nc3 a6 6. Bc4 e6 7. Bb3 b5 8. f4 Bb7 9. f5 e5 10. Nde2 Nbd7 11. Bg5 Be7 12. Ng3 Rc8 13. O-O { Now White's king becomes a target. He had to play 13.Nh5 to keep equality. } 13... h5 { This sharp rim shot sets the theme for the rest of the game: Fischer snipes alternately against the White king and e pawn, and his initiative snowballs. } 14. h4 b4 { Now White must either give up a pawn or allow the h file to be opened. } 15. Bxf6 Bxf6 16. Nd5 Bxh4 17. Nxh5 Qg5 { Bringing the heavy artillery to bear against White's king in a wonderfully unorthodox manner. } 18. f6 { A desperate attempt to get play, but after Black's next move, White's knight becomes irrelevant. } 18... g6 19. Ng7+ Kd8 20. Rf3 Bg3 { Black's threats on the h file are now decisive. } 21. Qd3 Bh2+ 22. Kf1 Nc5 23. Rh3 Rh4 24. Qf3 Nxb3 25. axb3 Rxh3 26. Qxh3 Bxd5 27. exd5 Qxf6+ 28. Ke1 Qf4 0-1
[Event "Skopje"]
[Site "?"]
[Date "1967.??.??"]
[Round "?"]
[White "Fischer"]
[Black "Dely"]
[Result "1-0"]
[PlyCount "33"]

1. e4 c5 2. Nf3 d6 3. d4 cxd4 4. Nxd4 Nf6 5. Nc3 Nc6 6. Bc4 e6 7. Bb3 a6 8. f4 Qa5 { The queen isn't really doing anything here and Black's king will soon feel the heat. Black should just play 8...Be7. } 9. O-O Nxd4 10. Qxd4 d5 { The point of Black's eighth move. He threatens 11...Bc5, but White has no trouble preventing that and Black is inviting White to open the center while his king still lives there. } 11. Be3 Nxe4 { This makes things really bad, opening the d-file and wasting more time. } 12. Nxe4 dxe4 13. f5 { White plays to open more lines, espescially the a2-g8 diagonal and the f- file. } 13... Qb4 { Hoping to ease the pressure by exchanging, but White doesn't have to agree to this. } 14. fxe6 Bxe6 { 14...Qxd4 15.exf7+ Kd8 16.Bxd4 The threat to take on g7 freezes Black's kingside and White will simply bring his rooks to the e } 15. Bxe6 fxe6 { 15...Qxd4 16.Bxf7+ And White comes out a piece ahead. } 16. Rxf8+ { White forces Black's queen back in order to penetrate with his own queen. } 16... Qxf8 17. Qa4+ { Black resigned here. 17...Ke7 and 17...Kf7 lose the queen, and 17...Kd8 gets mated after 18.Rd1+ and 19.Qd7+, as you can confirm with Gambit. } 1-0
[Event "Skopje"]
[Site "?"]
[Date "1967.??.??"]
[Round "?"]
[White "Fischer"]
[Black "Sofrevsky"]
[Result "1-0"]
[PlyCount "37"]

1. e4 c5 2. Nf3 d6 3. d4 cxd4 4. Nxd4 Nf6 5. Nc3 Nc6 6. Bc4 e6 7. Bb3 Be7 8. Be3 O-O 9. Qe2 { Fischer has always enjoyed playing the White side of this opening, known as the Velimirovic Attack in the Sicilian Defense. } 9... Qa5 10. O-O-O Nxd4 11. Bxd4 Bd7 12. Kb1 Rad8 13. Qe3 b6 14. Bxf6 gxf6 { Black's ki ng is completely undefended, but White does not have much in the way of an attack. The Black queen can transfer to the kingside and help in the defense. Fischer eliminates that possibility with a brilliant stroke. } 15. Nd5 Rfe8 { Black has to decline the sacrifice, otherwise White's rook joins the queen in the attack, while Black's queen is forced out of the way. 15...exd5 16.Rxd5 Qa6 17.Rh5 Bg4 18.Qg3 Qe2 19.f3 f5 20.h3 } 16. Nxe7+ Rxe7 17. Rxd6 { So, White does not get the desired attack, but gains material instead. } 17... Rc8 18. Qd4 { This is a double attack on the bishop at d7 and pawn at f6, earning White even more material. } 18... Be8 19. Qxf6 { Black now resigned, as Fischer threatened a big sacrifice at e6. Try playing 19...Rec7 against Gambit and see what he does! } 1-0
[Event "Sochi"]
[Site "?"]
[Date "1967.??.??"]
[Round "?"]
[White "Spassky"]
[Black "Langeweg"]
[Result "1-0"]
[PlyCount "57"]

1. d4 Nf6 2. Nf3 d5 3. c4 e6 4. Nc3 c5 5. cxd5 Nxd5 6. e3 Nc6 7. Bc4 cxd4 8. exd4 Nxc3 9. bxc3 Be7 10. O-O O-O 11. Bd3 b6 12. Qe2 Bb7 13. Bb2 Qd5 14. c4 Qh5 15. Be4 Rfe8 16. Rfd1 Na5 17. Bxb7 Nxb7 18. Rac1 Bf8 19. Rc3 Rec8 20. d5 Nc5 21. Re3 exd5 22. Rxd5 Qh6 23. Nd4 Na4 { Black's forces are offside and White has a huge army ready to do battle against the enemy king. } 24. Nf5 { Not only does this attack the queen, but it also unleashes the power of the bishop at b2. Black does not have time to capture it, because he must save the queen. } 24... Qc6 { Now the king is almost completely without defenders, so the sacrifices begin. } 25. Bxg7 { Obviously the bishop cannot be captured because then Ne7+ would win the queen. } 25... Qxd5 { Black hopes that White will capture the queen, allowing the saving move 26...Rc1+. But White has a much stronger option. } 26. Nh6+ { Now Black has no choice, there is only one legal move. } 26... Kxg7 27. Qg4+ { and here Black resigned, because 27...Kh8 allows 28.Qg8 mate, while capturing the knight is no better: } 27... Kxh6 28. Rh3+ Qh5 29. Rxh5# 1-0
[Event "Soviet Union"]
[Site "?"]
[Date "1967.??.??"]
[Round "?"]
[White "Smyslov"]
[Black "Simagin"]
[Result "1-0"]
[PlyCount "71"]

1. Nf3 g6 2. d4 Bg7 3. e4 a6 { An unusual plan, playing on both wings. The normal move is 3...d6, while the move 3...c5!? is also popular. } 4. Bd3 d6 5. O-O { Now Black could transpose to a Pirc with 5...Nf6 but Simagin prefers a more original plan of development. } 5... Bg4 6. c3 Nd7 7. Nbd2 e6 8. Qb3 Bxf3 9. Nxf3 Rb8 { Simagin seems inspired by Chigorin, who often moved his rook to b8 in support of the pawn. } 10. Bg5 Ne7 11. Rad1 O-O 12. Rfe1 { Both sides ve completed their development, and White's pieces are better placed. But now Black weakens his kingside, allowing a central counterattack. } 12... h6 13. Bf4 g5 14. Bg3 Ng6 15. e5 { I have played these sorts of formations for Black and always find the advance of the e-pawn an effective method of undermining my position. In the present game Black suffers even more because he has not gained space on the queenside. } 15... d5 16. Qc2 Nf4 { 16...Qe8 17.h4 g4 18.Nh2 h5 19.f3 gxf3 20.Nxf3 would allow White to build a strong attack on the f-file, using g5 for the knight. } 17. Bxf4 gxf4 { White must now develop a plan. Smyslov anticipates that Black will have to advance his f-pawn in order defend the pawn at f4. That will weaken the pawn at e6, so doubling rooks on the e-file is called for. } 18. Re2 c5 19. Qd2 f6 { The only way to avoid dropping the pawn at f4. } 20. exf6 Qxf6 21. Rde1 Rbe8 { Now there is a weak diagonal to be exploited. } 22. Bb1 cxd4 23. cxd4 Rf7 24. Qc2 Rfe7 25. Qh7+ Kf8 26. Bg6 Rc8 { White's attack cannot achieve much since it involves only two pieces. But the Black pieces are so tied down that White has time to extricate the queen. } 27. h4 Rc6 28. h5 { The point of the last two moves becomes clear if one mentally removes the pawn at e6. If White had not done this, Black could have complicated matters with e6-e5! } 28... Rc4 29. Bd3 { White tries to get the rook to leave the c-file, so that it can be used as an expressway to the 8th rank. } 29... Rc6 30. Bg6 Rc4 { Obviously Smyslov has to come up with a better plan. He does so with a very clever and unexpected move. Since the bishop is not effective in attacking the rook from d3, Smyslov creates another possibility ata2! } 31. a3 Rc6 32. Bb1 Bh8 { 32...Rc4?! 33.Ba2 Rc6 34.Bxd5! exd5 35.Rxe7 Qxe7 36.Rxe7 Kxe7 37.Qxg7+ } 33. Qd3 { Finally! Now Black has to keep an eye on h4, otherwise White will play Nh4-g6. } 33... Rg7 { The rooks has finally abandoned the c-file, and White uses it to bring the queen in to deliver the final blow. } 34. Qb3 Rb6 { White has fin ally succeeded in driving the rook from the c-file, and now the queen rushes in to end the game. } 35. Qc3 Rg8 { 35...Rc6 36.Qb4+ Kg8 37.Qxb7 } 36. Qc8+ 1-0
[Event "Monaco"]
[Site "?"]
[Date "1968.??.??"]
[Round "?"]
[White "Botvinnik"]
[Black "Portisch"]
[Result "1-0"]
[PlyCount "51"]

1. c4 e5 2. Nc3 Nf6 3. g3 d5 4. cxd5 Nxd5 5. Bg2 Be6 6. Nf3 Nc6 7. O-O Nb6 { This move is directed toward preventing White from playing d2-d4, but Botvinnik had been here before, against Flohr. } 8. d3 Be7 9. a3 a5 10. Be3 O-O 11. Na4 Nxa4 { 11...Nd4 would have been better, controlling the c2-square. The e- pawn is taboo because of the infiltration on the light squares. } 12. Qxa4 { White's pieces are more actively placed, and he has achieved an excellent "reversed Sicilian" position. } 12... Bd5 13. Rfc1 Re8 14. Rc2 { Botvinnik noted that this was the most difficult move of the game to find. } 14... Bf8 { 14...b5?! looks tempting, but in fact the pawn can be safely consumed, e.g., 15.Qxb5 Rb8 16.Qa4 Nd4 17.Nxd4 exd4 18.Bxd5 dxe3 19.B } 15. Rac1 Nb8 { 15...e4 16.dxe4 Bxe4 17.Rd2 would have been wiser, even though White would gain control of the d-file. } 16. Rxc7 Bc6 { Now it looks as though White must play 17.R7xc6, but in fact there is a much stronger plan. } 17. R1xc6 { 17.R7xc6 Nxc6 Black stands better. } 17... bxc6 { 17...Nxc6 18.Rxb7 } 18. Rxf7 { The decisive move, because the light-squares belong to White. The Bg2 will awaken and join the invading forces. } 18... h6 { 18...Kxf7? would lead to a quick kill after 19.Qc4+. } 19. Rb7 Qc8 20. Qc4+ Kh8 { 20...Qe6 21.Nxe5 Qxc4 22.Nxc4 leaves White with an overwhelming advantage, since he can pick off the queenside pawns at will. Now White has a fine combination. Do you see it? } 21. Nh4 { A fresh sacrificial offering of a rook buys time for the bishop to enter the game. } 21... Qxb7 22. Ng6+ Kh7 23. Be4 Bd6 { Otherwise 24.Ne7+ and 25.Qg8++. } 24. Nxe5+ g6 25. Bxg6+ Kg7 26. Bxh6+ { Eliminating the final obstacle. 26.Bxh6+ Kxh6 27.Qh4+ Kg7 28.Qh7+ Kf6 29.Ng4+ Ke6 30.Qxb7 } 1-0
[Event "Riga"]
[Site "?"]
[Date "1968.??.??"]
[Round "?"]
[White "Sangla"]
[Black "Karpov"]
[Result "0-1"]
[PlyCount "22"]

1. d4 Nf6 2. Nf3 e6 3. Bg5 c5 4. c3 cxd4 5. cxd4 Qb6 6. Qb3 Ne4 7. Bf4 Nc6 8. e3 { This move cuts off the bishop at f4 from the defense of the d2- square. } 8... Bb4+ 9. Nbd2 { This knight is now pinned, fatally. 9.Nfd2 would have been wiser. The point is that in either case one of the knights will be at d2. } 9... g5 { This pawn cannot be ignored, because it will advance to g4, driving away the knight at f3, and when it leaves, the knight at d2 doesn't have enough protection. } 10. Bxg5 Bxd2+ 11. Nxd2 { Forced, because the king cannot capture because the bishop is protected by the knight at e4. } 11... Qa5 { Black renews the pin at d2, and also attacks the bishop at g5. White must lose at least one of his pieces, so resignation is justified. } 0-1
[Event "Netanya"]
[Site "?"]
[Date "1968.??.??"]
[Round "?"]
[White "Bernstein"]
[Black "Fischer"]
[Result "0-1"]
[PlyCount "50"]

1. e4 c5 2. Nc3 d6 3. g3 Nc6 4. Bg2 g6 5. d3 Bg7 6. f4 b6 { Black waits to commit his king knight in order not to give White a kingside target. } 7. Nf3 Bb7 8. O-O Qd7 9. Be3 f5 { In one stoke Black prevents White from getting play by f5, prepares to pile up on White's e-pawn and enhances his queen bishops diagonal. } 10. Qd2 Nf6 11. Kh1 { To save his queen bishop from 11...Ng4. } 11... O-O-O 12. Rae1 { White tries to play in the center where he has no real object of attack. He should have gone after Black's king with 12.a3 intending to follow up with b4. } 12... Kb8 13. Bg1 { Losing. White pursues his imaginary play on the e-file completely oblivious to how tangled his pieces are becoming on the kingside. } 13... fxe4 14. dxe4 { 14.Nxe4 is no better. } 14... Ba6 { Black wins the exchange for nothing, since 15.Rf2 doesn't work after 15...Ng4. } 15. Ng5 Bxf1 16. Bxf1 Rhe8 17. Bb5 { White hopes to get counterchances by e4-e5-e6, but Black's next move squelches this. } 17... e5 18. fxe5 Rxe5 19. Bxc6 Qxc6 20. Nf7 Rde8 { Black gives back the exchange to eliminate White's only active piece. } 21. Nxe5 Rxe5 22. Qf4 b5 23. a3 b4 24. axb4 cxb4 25. Bd4 { This loses a piece, but if the knight moves away Black plays 25...Nxe4 and Black will win by a discovered check on the a8-h1 diagonal. } 25... Rf5 0-1
[Event "World Junior Championship"]
[Site "?"]
[Date "1969.??.??"]
[Round "?"]
[White "Karpov"]
[Black "Payrhuber"]
[Result "1-0"]
[PlyCount "29"]

1. e4 c5 2. Nf3 d6 3. g3 { A slow and ineffective move which Karpov soon abandoned. } 3... Nf6 4. d3 Nc6 5. Bg2 g6 6. O-O Bg7 7. Re1 O-O 8. c3 { White prepares the central advance d3-d4. } 8... Ne8 { Black hopes to take the initiative on the kingside, but he isn't ready for such aggression. } 9. Na3 { White keeps the c1-h6 diagonal open for his bishop and prepares to centralize his knight by way of c4. } 9... f5 10. Ng5 { White takes aim at the weakened e6 square and opens the diagonal for his bishop to take aim at Black's kingside from e4 or d5. } 10... Nc7 { Now White adopts a well-known procedure to win the exchange. } 11. Qb3+ Kh8 { 11...e6 12.exf5 gxf5 and Black will lose control of e6. } 12. exf5 { White could win the exchange immediately by checking on f7, but first he opens the h1-a8 diagonal for his bishop. } 12... Bxf5 13. Nf7+ Rxf7 { Black must give up the rook because of the fork of his king and queen. } 14. Qxf7 e6 { Black hopes to get compensation for the exchange by trapping White's queen, which now has no safe square to move to. } 15. Bg5 { Now White's queen will get out and take several more Black pieces in the process. If you have a question about how this will happen, play the position out with Gambit. Karpov's opponent didn't bother, prefering resignation here. } 1-0
[Event "World Championship"]
[Site "?"]
[Date "1969.??.??"]
[Round "19"]
[White "Spassky"]
[Black "Petrosian"]
[Result "1-0"]
[PlyCount "59"]

1. e4 c5 2. Nf3 d6 3. d4 cxd4 4. Nxd4 Nf6 5. Nc3 a6 { The sharp Najdorf Variation probably came as somewhat of a surprise to Spassky since Petrosian was only one point behind in the match and might well have chosen to play solidly with Black and go for the win with White. } 6. Bg5 { The main line. Black cannot afford to have the kingside pawn structure broken up by a capture at f6. } 6... Nbd7 { 6...e6 is much more common. } 7. Bc4 Qa5 { This unusual variation was topical at the time, and had been featured in games by Spassky and Tal. } 8. Qd2 h6 9. Bxf6 Nxf6 10. O-O-O { Black is seriously behind in development and cannot achieve an equal game. Therefore Petrosian sensibly just tries to get his forces into the game. } 10... e6 11. Rhe1 Be7 12. f4 O-O 13. Bb3 Re8 { The e6-square often proves vulnerable in the Sicilian Defense. Black will retreat the bishop to a defensive post at f8. Petrosian often kept his pieces on the back rank. } 14. Kb1 Bf8 15. g4 { Spassky launches an all-out attack. Black has to accept the proffered pawn or else it will be shoved down his throat! } 15... Nxg4 { The best move was probably 15...e5, though one can understand why Petrosian was reluctant to open up the a2-g8 diagonal. } 16. Qg2 Nf6 { 16...e5 17.Nf5 } 17. Rg1 { The threat is simply 18.f5 or 18.e5, each of which can be very effective. } 17... Bd7 18. f5 Kh8 { The king will find no shelter in the corner. Probably Petrosian should have captured at f5, or perhaps centralized the queen with 18...Qe5. } 19. Rdf1 Qd8 20. fxe6 fxe6 { White is ready to smash down Black's defenses, but needs to involve at least one of the knights in the attack. So he clears the e4-square. } 21. e5 dxe5 22. Ne4 Nh5 23. Qg6 exd4 { Black is busted anyway, but this hastens the end. } 24. Ng5 { Black resigned. This was one of the shortest games in modern WorldChampionship play. If Black wanted to play on he would have either had to give up the queen for the knight or allow the following line: } 24... hxg5 25. Qxh5+ Kg8 26. Qf7+ Kh7 27. Rf3 e5 28. Qg8+ Kg6 29. Bf7+ Kh6 30. Qh8# 1-0
[Event "World Championship"]
[Site "?"]
[Date "1969.??.??"]
[Round "5"]
[White "Spassky"]
[Black "Petrosian"]
[Result "1-0"]
[PlyCount "56"]

1. c4 Nf6 2. Nc3 e6 3. Nf3 d5 4. d4 c5 5. cxd5 Nxd5 { The game has transposed into a Semi-Tarrasch Variation of the Queen's Gambit Declined, an opening which can arise via a bewildering variety of move orders, even from the Caro Kann (1.e4 c6)! } 6. e4 Nxc3 7. bxc3 cxd4 8. cxd4 Bb4+ 9. Bd2 Bxd2+ 10. Qxd2 O-O 11. Bc4 Nc6 12. O-O b6 13. Rad1 Bb7 { This is a very typical Semi-Tarrasch position. } 14. Rfe1 Rc8 { A simple gl ance at the a2-g8 diagonal is sufficient to encourage White to build a plan based on undermining the pawn chain f7-e6. } 15. d5 { But this may be premature. If Black plays 15...Na5!, then the bishop will have to retreat, since the sacrificial attempt 16.dxe6 does not work. Petrosian missed this chance. } 15... exd5 16. Bxd5 { This is the correct capture. 16.exd5 would have created a passed pawn, but it would be easily blockaded. And, more important, the light squared bishop now has room to maneuver without having to worry about Nc6- a5. } 16... Na5 17. Qf4 Qc7 18. Qf5 Bxd5 { The pressure was building at f7, so Black trades a piece which is not involved in the defense for an attacking piece, almost always a good idea. } 19. exd5 { With the bishops gone, the passed pawn is somewhat harder to blockade, and Black's knight is definitely offside. 19...Nb7 might have been best here. } 19... Qc2 { Black simply has no right to play so ambitiously when his position is inferior and White can afford to ignore the threat at a2. On the other hand, White has no desire to see the queens off the board, as the lady plays escort to the Pd5 } 20. Qf4 Qxa2 21. d6 Rcd8 22. d7 { Spassky has achieved the goal of advancing his pawn to the seventh rank, where it severely restricts the mobility of the Black forces. He now needs a new plan to exploit his advantage, and it will involve infiltration via the c-file } 22... Qc4 23. Qf5 h6 24. Rc1 Qa6 25. Rc7 { The next phase has been accomplished. Now the knight has to get into the act. Again, it is important to consider a seemingly impossible goal. The knight belongs at c6. Although that seems difficult to achieve, it is not. } 25... b5 26. Nd4 Qb6 { 26...b4 27.Qe5! with the threat of Nf5  Nc4 } 27. Qc5 Rc8 { Nb7  Black had to do this, as the alternatives fail. 27...b4 28.Re8! Qxd4 29.Rxf8+ Rxf8 30.Rxf8+ Kxf8 31.Qc5+!! Qxc5 32.d8Q+ } 28. Nc6 { And the knight reaches the desired square, after which Spassky finishes the game beautifully. Nd6  Nxd8!!  Nxf5 } 28... Nxc6 1-0
[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. } 1... 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. } 3... Nf6 4. Nf3 { Bobby Fisc her preferred 4.e3 in a game played the same year. This move is too provocative. } 4... 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. } 6... dxc6 7. e3 { 7.d4 exd3  8.Qxd3 Qe7 Black still has a good game, but perhaps not as strong as in the game. } 7... 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. } 9... 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. } 10... 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. } 11... 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. } 12... 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. } 13... 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 } 14... 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+ } 16... Qh4+ 17. Kd1 gxf1=Q+ { White resigned, because checkmate is inevitable. } 0-1
[Event "Herceg Novi blitz"]
[Site "?"]
[Date "1970.??.??"]
[Round "?"]
[White "Tal"]
[Black "Uhlmann"]
[Result "1-0"]
[PlyCount "27"]

1. g3 d5 2. Bg2 Nf6 3. c4 dxc4 4. Nf3 Nbd7 5. O-O a6 6. Na3 c5 7. Nxc4 e6 8. d4 { White will have more active pieces after 8...cxd4 9 Qxd4, while 8...b5 exposes the rook on the a8-h1 diagonal. } 8... Rb8 { This blunder loses two tempi and lets White plant a piece right in the middle of Black's position. } 9. Bf4 Ra8 10. dxc5 Nxc5 { Black doesn't like the looks of 10...Bxc5 11 Nd6+, but now White wins a piece. } 11. Qxd8+ Kxd8 12. Rfd1+ Nfd7 { The same fate awaits Black after 12...Ncd7 or 12...Bd7. } 13. Nb6 Ra7 14. Bb8 1-0
[Event "Kapfenberg"]
[Site "?"]
[Date "1970.??.??"]
[Round "?"]
[White "Tal"]
[Black "Bellon Lopez"]
[Result "1-0"]
[PlyCount "27"]

1. e4 c5 2. Nf3 Nc6 3. Bb5 b6 { This is awkward; with White developing normally, Black puts his pieces offside and risks falling behind in development. } 4. O-O Bb7 5. c3 d5 { Very bad. Now Black will get into trouble because of the pin on his knight. } 6. Qa4 Rc8 7. Qxa7 { This is important not so much because White wins a pawn but because Black can no longer play ...a6 to break the pin. } 7... Rc7 8. Ne5 { Now White threatens just 9 exd5 or Qa4, piling more pressure on c6. } 8... e6 9. exd5 exd5 10. Re1 { Threatening Nxc6+ and strengthening the pin, since now a knight on e7 will be pinned and useless for the defense of c6. } 10... Be7 11. Qxb6 Qc8 12. d4 Kf8 { Black finally gets out of the pins, but it's too late. } 13. Nxc6 Bxc6 14. Bf4 { Undermining the defence of c6. Black must now lose at least another exchange, so he called it a day. } 1-0
[Event "Poti"]
[Site "?"]
[Date "1970.??.??"]
[Round "?"]
[White "Tal"]
[Black "Gedevanishvili"]
[Result "1-0"]
[PlyCount "44"]

1. e4 Nf6 2. e5 Nd5 3. Nc3 e6 4. d4 Nxc3 5. bxc3 d6 6. f4 c5 7. Nf3 cxd4 8. cxd4 dxe5 9. fxe5 Bb4+ 10. Bd2 Qa5 11. Bd3 Nc6 12. O-O { Tal continues with development, reasoning that it is worthwhile to sacrifice a pawn to keep his lead. } 12... Bxd2 13. Nxd2 Qc3 { 13...Nxd4 14.Nc4 Qc5 15.Nd6+ would give White a strong attack, since Black's threats can be eliminated by playing Kg1-h1. } 14. Rf4 O-O 15. Kh1 Ne7 16. Ne4 Qb2 17. Rb1 Qxa2 { White has sacr ificed a pawn, but the Black queen has been sent into exile, and the White forces are massing for a big attack on the kingside. } 18. Nf6+ gxf6 { White has sacrificed one piece to fracture the pawn barrier protecting the enemy king. Now Tal gives up a second piece to remove the remaining defender. } 19. Bxh7+ Kh8 { The bishop cannot be captured. 19...Kxh7 20.Qh5+ Kg8 21. Rbf1 The threat is Rh4 and mate on the h-file. } 20. Rh4 Kg7 { Black is thr eatening to escape by playing Ng6 and Rh8. White must find a way to bring the queen into the attack, but must also guard the vulnerable rook at b1. } 21. Qc1 Ng8 { This guards the critical h6 square. But not for long! } 22. Bxg8 { Black resigned. If you are not sure why, let Gambit demonstrate by setting up Gambit as White and Garry will show you how White wins against any defense. } 22... Kxg8 1-0
[Event "Hastings"]
[Site "?"]
[Date "1970.??.??"]
[Round "?"]
[White "Smyslov"]
[Black "Littlewood"]
[Result "1-0"]
[PlyCount "47"]

1. d4 Nf6 2. c4 e6 3. Nc3 Bb4 4. e3 b6 5. Ne2 { The Rubinstein variation of the Nimzo Indian Defense. One idea behind 5.Nge2 is to induce Black to part with his bishop pair, by exchange on c3, when White could recapture with his knight thus avoiding doubling his c- pawns. } 5... Ba6 6. Ng3 { White abandons the idea of preserving his pawn structure intact in the event of an exchange on c3, Instead he pins his hopes on rapid development and a pawn advance in the center. } 6... c5 { 6...Bxc3+ 7.bxc3 Doubling White's c-pawns would be more in the spirit of the Nimzo Indian. } 7. d5 { Bypassing the Black c-pawn, White establishes a sound spatial advantage in the center. } 7... exd5 8. cxd5 Bxf1 9. Kxf1 Bxc3 10. bxc3 { White controls more space in the enter and Black's knights are ineffective. } 10... O-O 11. e4 d6 12. Bf4 Ne8 { 12...Qc7 13.Nf5 Ne8 14.Qg4 would give White good pressure on the kingside. } 13. Nf5 g6 { Although the knight on f5 is menacing Black shouldn't create such holes on his kingside. 13...Qf6 With the idea of developing his knight to d7 is couldn't be any worse than the game continuation. } 14. Ne3 Nd7 15. h4 Qe7 16. f3 Ng7 17. Qe1 b5 18. h5 { With the center under control White is ready to begin his kingside attack. } 18... Ne5 { 18...Nxh5 19.Rxh5 gxh5 20.Nf5 Qf6 21.Bg5 Qe5 22.f4 Qe8 23.Qg3 Kh8 White has a forced mate in two. } 19. Qg3 f6 20. hxg6 hxg6 21. Bxe5 Qxe5 22. Qxg6 Qg5 23. Qxg5 fxg5 24. Rh6 { Black resigned as after 24..Rad8 25.Rg6 he would not be able to defend his g-pawn. } 1-0
[Event "Siegen Olympiad"]
[Site "?"]
[Date "1970.??.??"]
[Round "?"]
[White "Pomar"]
[Black "Petrosian"]
[Result "0-1"]
[PlyCount "68"]

1. d4 g6 2. c4 Bg7 3. Nc3 d6 4. Nf3 Bg4 5. g3 Qc8 { A very artificial move of the sort that appealed to Petrosian's somewhat unusual taste in back-rank formations. } 6. Bg2 Nh6 { More eccentricity. } 7. h3 Bd7 8. e4 f6 { Petrosian comments: "After 8 moves Black has a bad position. White has obtained the ideal pawn center, has developed his pieces and can initiate an attack without difficulty." } 9. Be3 Nf7 10. Qd2 c5 11. dxc5 { It would have been better to advance this pawn and keep the position closed. } 11... dxc5 12. O-O-O Nc6 13. Kb1 { 13.Bxc5 Na5 14.b3 Qxc5 15.Qxd7+ Kf8 Black will be able to mount a strong counterattack on the queenside. } 13... b6 14. g4 { Pomar knows he has a good game, but has no idea what to do with it. This is an aggressive move with no particular point. } 14... Rb8 15. Rhe1 Rb7 16. e5 fxe5 { Here Black might have engaged in a promising exchange sacrifice: 16...Nfxe5 17.Nxe5 Nxe5 18.Bxb7 Qxb7 } 17. Ng5 O-O { Now each side has an outpost on the d-file. White should have occupied it with the bishop. } 18. Nd5 Nxg5 19. Bxg5 Be8 20. Bh6 e6 21. Bxg7 Rxg7 { Black has easily repulsed the mini-attack. } 22. Nc3 Nd4 { Now Black seizes the initiative. Notice that the d5-square is no longer available for use by the White pieces. } 23. Rxe5 Rgf7 24. Ne4 Qc7 { The rook is going to get trapped. } 25. Rg5 Rf4 26. Qd3 h6 27. Nd6 hxg5 28. Nxe8 Rxe8 29. Qxg6+ Kf8 30. Qxg5 Qh7+ { and Black resigned because smothered mate is coming) } 31. Ka1 Nc2+ 32. Kb1 Na3+ 33. Ka1 Qb1+ 34. Rxb1 Nc2# 0-1
[Event "Sochi"]
[Site "?"]
[Date "1970.??.??"]
[Round "?"]
[White "Tal"]
[Black "Tukmakov"]
[Result "1-0"]
[PlyCount "59"]

1. e4 e5 2. Nf3 Nc6 3. Bb5 a6 4. Ba4 Nf6 5. O-O Be7 6. Re1 b5 7. Bb3 d6 8. c3 O-O 9. h3 Nb8 10. d3 { This is a rather quiet method of play against the Breyer, but Tal soon steers the game into a sharp line. } 10... Nbd7 11. Nbd2 Bb7 12. Nf1 Nc5 13. Bc2 Re8 14. Ng3 Bf8 15. b4 { This sets the stage for a minor skirmish on the queenside. } 15... Ncd7 16. Bb3 a5 17. a3 c5 { 17...axb4 18.cxb4 h6 This had been seen in a previous game between Tal and Spassky, where Black emerged from the opening with a good position. } 18. Ng5 d5 { Black counterattacks in the center and is feeling the pressure of White's minor pieces which are trained on f7. } 19. exd5 Nb6 { 19...Nxd5 20.Qh5 } 20. bxc5 Nbxd5 { 20...Bxc5 21.N3e4 Bf8 22.d6 Bd5 23.Bxd5 Nbxd5 24.Qb3 } 21. d4 h6 { Now Tal displays his creative talents with a fine and deep sacrifice, which exploits the pressure he has built up. } 22. Nxf7 Kxf7 23. dxe5 Bxc5 { 23...Nh7 24.Nf5 Kg8 25.Nd6 Re7 26.Bxd5+ Bxd5 27.Qxd5+ Kh8 28.Nf7+ } 24. exf6 Rxe1+ 25. Qxe1 Qxf6 26. Ne4 Qe7 { 26...Re8 27.Qd2 Rxe4 28.Bxd5+ Bxd5 29.Qxd5+ Re6 30.Qxc5 } 27. Qe2 Rd8 28. Qxb5 { The bishop at c5 has no comfortable retreat. } 28... Qxe4 29. Qxb7+ Kf8 30. Be3 { Black resigned. If Black captures the bishop at e3, then the f-file will be open after 31.fxe3, and the rook will make its first move of the game a powerful one! } 1-0
[Event "Soviet Championship"]
[Site "?"]
[Date "1970.??.??"]
[Round "?"]
[White "Tal"]
[Black "Podgayets"]
[Result "1-0"]
[PlyCount "63"]

1. e4 Nf6 2. e5 Nd5 3. Nc3 { Better is 3.d4, the normal move in this opening. } 3... Nxc3 4. bxc3 d6 { This pawn should have moved all the way to d5. } 5. f4 dxe5 6. fxe5 Qd5 { An unjustifiably early deployment of the queen. One would expect to see such moves in a game between beginners, but not in the Soviet Championship! } 7. d4 c5 8. Nf3 Nc6 9. Be2 Bg4 10. O-O { White has a large lead in development, and the semi-open f-file leads right to the must vulnerable point in Black's position. } 10... cxd4 { 10...e6 11.Ng5 Bxe2 12.Qxe2 cxd4 13.Nxf7 } 11. cxd4 e6 12. Rb1 Qd7 { The b-pawn had to be defended. } 13. Ng5 Bxe2 14. Qxe2 Be7 { Black lays a cunning trap. White cannot take the pawn at f7. Do you see why not? 14...Qxd4+ 15.Be3 Qxe5 16.Nxf7 The rook at h8 and queen at e5 are forked. } 15. c3 { 15.Nxf7 O-O } 15... Bxg5 16. Bxg5 h6 { A natural move, but it proves to be a waste of time, since the bishop was headed to the queenside anyway, with a brief pit-stop back home. } 17. Bc1 Ne7 18. Qf3 Nd5 { 18...O-O 19.Ba3 } 19. c4 Nb6 20. c5 Nd5 { The pawn at c5 tightens the grip on the queenside. But the real point is to open up another line on the queenside while sealing off any potential counterplay on the c-file. } 21. c6 bxc6 22. Ba3 { Now everythi ng is in hand. Black desperately tries to wriggle out of the dangerous position to no avail. } 22... f5 23. exf6 gxf6 24. Rb3 Kd8 25. Rfb1 { The open file is put to good use! } 25... Rh7 26. Qg3 { The threats are 27.Qg8+ and 17.Rb8+. } 26... Nb6 { This closes the b-file, for a moment. } 27. Rxb6 { An effective sacrifice which brings the game to a quick conclusion. } 27... axb6 28. Qg8+ Qe8 { 28...Kc7 29.Qxa8 } 29. Qxh7 Rxa3 { Here Black resigned without waiting for Tal to reply, seeing that it was all over. } 30. Rxb6 Ra8 31. Rb7 Rc8 32. Qg7 { followed by Qxf6+. } 1-0
[Event "Palma de Mallorca"]
[Site "?"]
[Date "1970.??.??"]
[Round "?"]
[White "Geller"]
[Black "Fischer"]
[Result "0-1"]
[PlyCount "144"]

1. Nf3 Nf6 2. c4 g6 3. g3 Bg7 4. Bg2 O-O 5. O-O c6 6. d4 d5 7. cxd5 cxd5 8. Ne5 Bf5 9. Nc3 Ne4 10. Be3 Nxc3 11. bxc3 Nc6 12. Nxc6 bxc6 13. Qa4 Qb6 14. Rac1 Rab8 15. c4 Bxd4 16. Bxd4 Qxd4 17. e3 Qe5 18. cxd5 cxd5 19. Rfd1 e6 20. Qxa7 Ra8 21. Qd4 Qxd4 22. Rxd4 Rxa2 23. e4 dxe4 24. Bxe4 Bxe4 25. Rxe4 { We have reac hed a double-rook endgame. Black has an extra pawn and control of the seventh rank, but the large number of open files gives White plenty of room to maneuver and, with no pawn weaknesses, White should survive. } 25... Rb8 26. Re3 g5 27. h3 Kg7 28. Rc7 { White takes the seventh rank and threatens to play Rf3, tying down Black's forces. } 28... Kg6 29. Rf3 f6 30. Re7 Re2 31. g4 { White has  a good defensive formation and it is hard to see how Black can make progress. But Fischer is famous for his refusal to agree to draws while there is still play in the position. } 31... Rb1+ 32. Kg2 Ree1 33. Ra3 { This creates an escape path for the king. } 33... h5 34. Raa7 Rg1+ 35. Kf3 hxg4+ 36. hxg4 Rb3+ 37. Ke2 Rxg4 38. Rxe6 { The picture has clarified a bit. But White still has no reason to worry. } 38... Rb1 39. Raa6 Rf4 40. Ra2 Rh1 41. Rea6 Rb4 42. R6a4 { If a pair of rooks are exchanged now, the draw would be fairly simple for White. } 42... Rbb1 43. Ra8 Rhg1 44. Kf3 Rb5 45. R8a5 Rb3+ 46. Ke2 Rbb1 47. Ra8 Kf5 48. R2a5+ Kg4 49. Ra4+ Kh5 50. Rh8+ { We enter an arid period of maneuvering without much purpose. } 50... Kg6 51. Rg8+ Kf7 52. Rd8 Rbe1+ 53. Kf3 Re5 54. Rd2 Rf5+ 55. Ke2 Re5+ 56. Kf3 Kg6 57. Re4 Rf5+ 58. Ke2 Ra5 59. Re3 Kh5 60. Red3 Raa1 61. Rd8 f5 62. Kf3 Ra3+ 63. R2d3 g4+ 64. Kf4 { Now Fischer finally decides to try his hand at the single-rook endgame. } 64... Rxd3 65. Rxd3 Rf1 66. Rd2 Kh4 { 66...Kg6 67.Ra2 Black could never make any progress here. } 67. Kxf5 g3 { Black uses the pin to advance the pawn. After the game, Geller said he was confused, and thought that he could capture the pawn with check here. } 68. f4 Kh3 69. Rd3 { White is prepared to sacrifice the rook for the pawn at the appropriate time, when the Black king is further down the board. The idea is that king and pawn against rook is drawn provided that the pawn is far enough advanced. } 69... Kh4 70. Rd2 { A big mistake. White needs a certain amount of distance between his rook and the enemy king, in order to constantly give check without the king being able to come up and attack the rook. 70.Rd7 Kh3 71.Rh7+ Kg2 72.Kg4 Kf2 73.f5 g2 74.Rh2 Rh1 75.Rxg2+ Kxg2 76.f6 and a drawn position results. } 70... Ra1 71. Ke5 { This is the decisive error. White could still have drawn with the correct move . 71.Rd8 g2 72.Rh8+ Kg3 73.Rg8+ Kf3 74. Ke6 g1Q 75.Rxg1 Rxg1 76.f5 Kf4 77.f6 Kg5 78.f7 Rf1 79.Ke7 Re1+ 80.Kd8 Rf1 81. Ke8 Re1+ 82.Kd8 } 71... Kg4 { Now White is going to lose the f-pawn. } 72. f5 { 72.Rd8 Re1+ 73.Kf6 Kxf4 } 72... Ra5+ 0-1
[Event "Siegen Olympiad"]
[Site "?"]
[Date "1970.??.??"]
[Round "?"]
[White "Spassky"]
[Black "Kostro"]
[Result "1-0"]
[PlyCount "43"]

1. d4 d5 2. c4 c6 3. Nf3 Nf6 4. Nc3 e6 5. Bg5 h6 6. Bh4 dxc4 7. e4 g5 8. Bg3 b5 9. Be2 Bb7 10. O-O Nbd7 11. d5 cxd5 12. exd5 Qb6 13. dxe6 fxe6 14. Nd4 Bc5 15. Ndxb5 O-O 16. Bf3 Bxf3 17. Qxf3 Rac8 18. Rad1 Qc6 19. Qe2 Nd5 { White's fo rces do not seem well-placed to attack the enemy king, in spite of the weaknesses on the kingside. But the pawn at e6 is very weak, and White can use the idea of interference to get at it. } 20. Nd6 Bxd6 21. Qxe6+ { Mission accompl ished! Not only is the attack under way, but White will even recover the material investment at d6. } 21... Kg7 22. Bxd6 1-0
[Event "Amsterdam"]
[Site "?"]
[Date "1971.??.??"]
[Round "?"]
[White "Langeweg"]
[Black "Smyslov"]
[Result "0-1"]
[PlyCount "48"]

1. Nf3 Nf6 2. c4 b6 3. g3 Bb7 4. Bg2 g6 { 4...e6 5.d4 would transpose to the Queen's Indian Defense. } 5. Nc3 Bg7 6. d3 d5 7. cxd5 Nxd5 8. Nxd5 Bxd5 9. Qa4+ { White's queen does entirely too much traveling in this game. Castling would have been wiser. } 9... Qd7 10. Qf4 { 10.Qxd7+ Nxd7 would be a little better for Black because his bishops would apply pressure on the queenside. } 10... Nc6 11. O-O Rd8 12. Qa4 O-O { While White has been busy shuffling his queen back and forth Black has completed his development. } 13. Rd1 a5 14. Qh4 Bxf3 15. Bxf3 Nd4 { Black posts the knight in the center which threatens to cripple White's pawn structure by Nxf3+. } 16. Qe4 e6 17. Bg5 { White finally develops his bishop but it's too late to help his queen. } 17... f6 18. Bf4 g5 19. Bc1 f5 { White resigned. The position is worse than it looks. } 20. Qb7 { 20.Qe3 Nc2 } 20... Rb8 21. Qa6 g4 22. Bg2 Nxe2+ 23. Kf1 Nxc1 24. Raxc1 Bxb2 { Black has too many extra pawns. } 0-1
[Event "Moscow"]
[Site "?"]
[Date "1971.??.??"]
[Round "?"]
[White "Tal"]
[Black "Uhlmann"]
[Result "1-0"]
[PlyCount "37"]

1. e4 e6 2. d4 d5 3. Nd2 c5 { The Tarrasch Variation of the French has a reputation for dry, positional games. Not this time! } 4. Ngf3 Nc6 5. Bb5 dxe4 6. Nxe4 Bd7 7. Bg5 Qa5+ 8. Nc3 cxd4 9. Nxd4 Bb4 { Black should have played 9...Be2, with a more defensive attitude. } 10. O-O Bxc3 11. bxc3 Qxc3 { Black is too greedy and should have attended to development or attacked either bishop with a pawn. If only the e-file were open, Black would be in trouble. So Tal sacrifices a piece to open the file. } 12. Nf5 exf5 13. Re1+ Be6 14. Qd6 { The threats are still developing, but Black is very cramped and cannot get his defensive forces close to the king. } 14... a6 { Now Tal ignores the threat against one bishop, but thinks about the other. If only it were on the a3-f8 diagonal... } 15. Bd2 Qxc2 16. Bb4 { Mission accomplished. Now it is just a matter of mopping up. } 16... axb5 17. Qf8+ Kd7 18. Red1+ Kc7 19. Qxa8 { Uhlmann resigned. If Black had captured the bishop then mate in two would have followed. If you don't see how, play this against Gambit. 19...Nge7 would be best, but after capturing the rook at h8 White would have too much material. } 1-0
[Event "Buenos Aires"]
[Site "?"]
[Date "1971.??.??"]
[Round "7"]
[White "Fischer"]
[Black "Petrosian"]
[Result "1-0"]
[PlyCount "67"]

1. e4 c5 2. Nf3 e6 3. d4 cxd4 4. Nxd4 a6 5. Bd3 Nc6 6. Nxc6 bxc6 7. O-O d5 8. c4 Nf6 9. cxd5 cxd5 10. exd5 exd5 { Clearly the isolated queen pawn is going to play a significant role in the game. Part of White's strategy will be to dominate the adjacent files. } 11. Nc3 Be7 12. Qa4+ Qd7 13. Re1 { Fischer does n't engage in cheap theatrics. 13.Bb5?! axb5! 14.Qxa8 O-O and the follow up with Bb7 and an eventual advance of the d-pawn will give Black an excellent game. } 13... Qxa4 14. Nxa4 { The isolated pawn is even weaker in the endgame, and White is halfway toward achieving his goal of dominating the c- and e-files. The pawn at a6, defended doubly for the moment, is also a potential weakness. } 14... Be6 15. Be3 O-O 16. Bc5 { This is the key move. With the dark-squared bishops off the board, the rooks can attack the isolated pawn from the side. In addition, the c5-square will be more easily secured for occupation by the knight. } 16... Rfe8 17. Bxe7 Rxe7 18. b4 { Now we can observe the weakness of the pawn at a6, which will come under the watchful eye of the knight from its new outpost at c5. This, combined with the power of the Be2, will tie down Black's forces. } 18... Kf8 19. Nc5 Bc8 { Mission accomplishe d. Now White must find a way to increase the pressure on d5 but how can he do this? } 20. f3 { Fischer's plan is almost brutal in its simplicity. He threatens to exchange rooks, march his king up the diagonal to d4, chase the knight from f6 and grab the weak pawn at d5. } 20... Rea7 21. Re5 { Just as planned back at move 13! } 21... Bd7 22. Nxd7+ { There comes a time in every plan when the immediate goal is achieved, and it is time to capitalize. The knight, though well placed, has done its job and now the domination of the remaining open file is the primary objective. } 22... Rxd7 23. Rc1 { The weakness of the pawns continues to plague Black, who must now worry about the threat of Rc1-c6. } 23... Rd6 24. Rc7 Nd7 25. Re2 g6 26. Kf2 h5 27. f4 h4 28. Kf3 f5 29. Ke3 { The sixth is protected. Black is virtually in zugzwang, so he advances his prized pawn, and opens up more lines for White. } 29... d4+ 30. Kd2 Nb6 31. Ree7 Nd5 32. Rf7+ Ke8 33. Rb7 { This appears to drop a a pawn, but in fact it guarantees victory. } 33... Nxb4 34. Bc4 { and Petrosian resigned, because after 34...Nc6 35.Rh7 Rf6 36.Rh8+ Rf8 37.Bf7+. } 1-0
[Event "Soviet Championship"]
[Site "?"]
[Date "1971.??.??"]
[Round "?"]
[White "Tal"]
[Black "Bronstein"]
[Result "1-0"]
[PlyCount "53"]

1. e4 c6 2. c4 d5 3. exd5 cxd5 4. d4 Nf6 5. Nc3 Nc6 { This is the sharpest defense for Black against the Panov Attack. } 6. Bg5 Bg4 7. Be2 Bxe2 8. Ngxe2 dxc4 { Black concedes the center with this move, and this will turn out to be a big problem. The pawn is of no importance and Tal makes no attempt to reclaim it. } 9. d5 Ne5 10. O-O { We can see that White not only controls the center, he is also way ahead in development. } 10... h6 11. Bf4 Ng6 { White will not retreat this bishop, which is defended by the knight at e2. } 12. Qa4+ Qd7 13. Qxc4 { Now the pawn is recovered with an overwhelming position. } 13... Rc8 14. Qb3 e5 { This will finally get the bishop out and allow Black to develop. But it also leads to an opening of the e-file which is neatly exploited by Tal. } 15. dxe6 Qxe6 16. Qxb7 Bc5 { Here White can force the win of material by tactical means. Do you see how? } 17. Nd4 Bxd4 18. Rae1 O-O { 18...Be5 19.Bxe5 O-O 20.Bxf6 Qxf6 21.Qxa7 The two outside passed pawns provide an easy win. } 19. Rxe6 fxe6 { Black has a rook and knight for the queen, which is not sufficient compensation. } 20. Bd6 Rfd8 21. Bc7 Rf8 22. Nb5 { On top of everything else, White holds the initiative. } 22... Be5 23. Bxe5 Nxe5 24. Qxa7 Nd5 25. Qd4 Ng6 26. h4 Ngf4 { Threatening one last trick: 27...Ne2+, forking the king and queen. } 27. Qe4 1-0
[Event "Candidates' Match"]
[Site "?"]
[Date "1971.??.??"]
[Round "5"]
[White "Fischer"]
[Black "Larsen"]
[Result "1-0"]
[PlyCount "91"]

1. e4 c5 2. Nf3 d6 3. d4 cxd4 4. Nxd4 Nf6 5. Nc3 Nc6 6. Bc4 e6 7. Bb3 Be7 8. Be3 O-O 9. O-O Bd7 10. f4 Qc8 11. f5 Nxd4 12. Bxd4 { White has established some pressure in the center, and Black should have responded by attacking e4 with 12...Bc6. } 12... exf5 13. Qf3 fxe4 14. Nxe4 Nxe4 15. Qxe4 { Now the pressure is not on the center, but directly at the kingside, where White's forces are aimed. } 15... Be6 16. Rf3 Qc6 { Black is desperately trying to exchange pieces before he gets checkmated. } 17. Re1 Qxe4 18. Rxe4 d5 { 18...Bxb3 19.Rxb3 with a double attack at b7 and e7. } 19. Rg3 { Black cannot capture the rook. } 19... g6 { 19...dxe4 20.Rxg7+ Kh8 21.Rxf7+ Kg8 22.Rg7+ Kh8 23.Rxe7+ Kg8 24.Bxe6+ } 20. Bxd5 Bd6 { Here the White bishops work so well together that Fischer is able to sacrifice the exchange. 20...Bxd5 21.Rxe7 Black would have had excellent drawing chances, thanks to the bishops of opposite color. } 21. Rxe6 Bxg3 { 21...fxe6 22.Bxe6+ Rf7 23.Rf3 Raf8 24.Rxf7 Rxf7 25.Bxa7 } 22. Re7 Bd6 23. Rxb7 Rac8 24. c4 { White's passed pawn is the key to victory. } 24... a5 25. Ra7 Bc7 26. g3 Rfe8 27. Kf1 { Even the king takes part in the game, by defending against an incursion by the rook. } 27... Re7 28. Bf6 Re3 29. Bc3 h5 30. Ra6 { This threatens Rxg6+, because the f-pawn is pinned. } 30... Be5 31. Bd2 Rd3 32. Ke2 Rd4 33. Bc3 Rcxc4 { A puzzling tableau, but when the smoke clears White cruises to victory. } 34. Bxc4 Rxc4 35. Kd3 Rc5 36. Rxa5 Rxa5 37. Bxa5 Bxb2 38. a4 Kf8 39. Bc3 Bxc3 40. Kxc3 { This king and pawn endgame is a very easy win, and it is rare that White would even continue the game at this level of competition. But it does give us a chance to see how the outside passed pawn decides the game. } 40... Ke7 41. Kd4 Kd6 42. a5 f6 43. a6 Kc6 44. a7 Kb7 45. Kd5 h4 46. Ke6 1-0
[Event "Sarajevo"]
[Site "?"]
[Date "1972.??.??"]
[Round "?"]
[White "Petrosian"]
[Black "Minic"]
[Result "1-0"]
[PlyCount "59"]

1. c4 g6 2. d4 Bg7 3. Nc3 c5 4. d5 d6 5. e4 Nf6 { After 5 moves we have reached a position from the King's Indian Defense. } 6. Bd3 O-O 7. Bg5 h6 8. Bd2 e6 { Black adopts the strategy of the Modern Benoni opening. } 9. h3 exd5 10. exd5 Re8+ 11. Nge2 a6 { 11...Na6 This might be better, moving the knight to c7 before occupying a6. } 12. a4 { A preventative move with the idea of discouraging Black's intended pawn b5. } 12... Nfd7 13. f4 { This is not only a kingside attacking move but a positional move which takes away the e5 square from the Black pieces. } 13... Qh4+ { This check does not accomplish anything, since White's king is better off at f1 than on the exposed e-file. 13...Nf8 may be the best move at this point. } 14. Kf1 b6 15. Qe1 Qd8 16. g4 a5 17. Qg3 Nf6 18. f5 { With the Black knight no longer able to go to e5 White immediately launches a kingside attack. } 18... Nbd7 { Black sacrifices a pawn for play down the f-file. } 19. fxg6 fxg6 20. Bxg6 Rf8 21. Kg2 { The king could be in danger on the f-file, since there is a Black rook at f8. } 21... Ne5 22. Bd3 Ra7 { 22...Nxd3 23.Qxd3 Bxg4 24.hxg4 Nxg4 Black is attacking with just a knight, supported by a rook, but the queen cannot help out: 25.Raf1 Rxf1 26.Rxf1 Qh4 27.Qh3 } 23. Nf4 Raf7 24. Be2 Nh7 { Black wants to move this knight to g5. } 25. Rhf1 Nf6 { But now it returns back home. 25...Ng5 26.h4 Nh7 27.Ne6 Bxe6 28.dxe6 Rxf1 29.Rxf1 Rxf1 30.Bxf1 Qe7 31.Nd5 Qxe6 32.Be2 Nd7 33.Bd3 Bxb2 34.Bf5 Qf7 35.Qxd6 } 26. Rae1 Re7 27. b3 Rfe8 28. Bd1 Nf7 29. Rxe7 Rxe7 30. Be2 { Black resigned because he is material down and without counterplay. At this level of competition that is more than sufficient reason. } 1-0
[Event "Reykjavik"]
[Site "?"]
[Date "1972.??.??"]
[Round "5"]
[White "Spassky"]
[Black "Fischer"]
[Result "0-1"]
[PlyCount "56"]

1. d4 Nf6 2. c4 e6 3. Nc3 Bb4 4. Nf3 c5 5. e3 Nc6 6. Bd3 Bxc3+ 7. bxc3 d6 8. e4 e5 9. d5 { White has taken a fundamental decision to close the center and try to exploit his spatial advantage. } 9... Ne7 { This may seem to go against the conventional strategy of deploying the knight on the flank to attack the P at c4, but in this position such a strategy will not be effective, so the N is transferred to the kingside where it will be useful. } 10. Nh4 { White aims at an early f2-f4, a logical plan. 10.Nd2 is also sensible, but Black can get a good game without difficulty by bravely placing his King on the queenside. } 10... h6 { This keeps the White bishop from getting to g5 where it can cause trouble, and paves the way for the eventual advance of the g-pawn. } 11. f4 Ng6 { A bold move, permitting White to cripple the pawn structure on the kingside. But Fischer knew what he was doing. } 12. Nxg6 fxg6 { The g-pawn will be able to advance, but in the meantime it sits and prevents f4-f5. } 13. fxe5 { A very poor move, though history has shown that Black has a good game anyway. } 13... dxe5 14. Be3 b6 15. O-O O-O 16. a4 { When the White pawns are locked on light-squares in the center this is usually a bad idea, because the P can be cemented to the light square by a7-a5, after which it becomes a target. } 16... a5 17. Rb1 Bd7 18. Rb2 Rb8 19. Rbf2 Qe7 20. Bc2 g5 { Both of White's bishops have been rendered harmless. Black is preparing to establish a knight outpost on f4. } 21. Bd2 Qe8 { The queen will be redeployed at g6 and the e-pawn will come under fire. } 22. Be1 Qg6 23. Qd3 Nh5 24. Rxf8+ Rxf8 25. Rxf8+ Kxf8 26. Bd1 Nf4 { "Nimzowits ch would have loved this position -- restraint, blockade, doubled P complexes and an outpost in an open." -- Keene (Aron Nimzowitsch -- A Reappraisal). } 27. Qc2 { A simply awful move for a World Championship game. 27.Qb1 and White could have continued the battle. } 27... Bxa4 { and here Spassky resigned, rather than face } 28. Qxa4 Qxe4 0-1