Fischer-Spassky 1992 (Game 25)

Submitted by RookHouse on Mon, 07/28/2008 at 12:51pm.

After three successive draws and two additional days off due to Boris Spassky’s nagging cold, Bobby Fischer won game 25 of their $5 million dollar match in Yugoslavia.  The game was a Scheveningen Sicilian with Spassky playing the black pieces.  Fischer’s 6.Be3 hinted of a delayed Keres Attack, designed to put pressure on the black king via the g-file.  He followed this up with 8.f3 9.O-O-O 10.g4, laying the foundation for his kingside attack.

Due to Fischer castling on the queenside, Spassky was attempting his own kingside attack on the b-file with 11…b5 and 13…b4.  Fischer responded brilliantly with 14.Na4 Bb7? 15.Nb6! Rb8 (15…Nxb6 16.Qxb4 d5 17.Qxb6 Qxb6 18.Bxb6 dxe4 19.Rb7! would be winning for white) 16.Nxd7 Qxd7 17.Kb1.  Fischer was finally able to make his move with 22.g6! and opened the lines for his kingside assault.

The game continued 22…Bf6 23.gxh7+ Kh8 24.Bg5 Qe7 25.Rg3 Bxg5 26.Rg5.  Spassky was now in a completely defensive position and finally resigned after Fischer’s 35th move.  Fischer now leads the match by the score of 9-4 and only needs one more victory to claim the $3.35 million dollar winner’s purse.

 

 

 

 

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Comments:

by RookHouse - 3 months ago
Ohio United States
Member Since: May 2008
Member Points: 143

(15…Nxb6 16.Qxb4 d5 17.Qxb6 Qxb6 18.Bxb6 dxe4 19.Rb7!) gives White a winning position.

by joshsayshigh - 3 months ago
Clawson United States
Member Since: Jul 2008
Member Points: 9

To the 15. Nb6 Nxb6. The reason he didnt play that move is two fold i beileve.

1st. wasnt in his "sytle", only saying that becasue it doss't look horible to me.  and the second is 15. Nb6 Nxb6. 16. Qxb4...  will win it back.. or the bishop.

by SilverPanic - 3 months ago
Littleton, Colorado United States
Member Since: Dec 2007
Member Points: 156

It looks like Fischer used the Yugoslav attack, usually a response to the dragon.

by duplexllc - 3 months ago
Fairbanks, AK United States
Member Since: Feb 2008
Member Points: 12

i don't understand why spassky doesn't follow 15. Nb6 with Nb6 as well. could someone explain this to me?

by Artemi - 3 months ago
Imus, Cavite Philippines
Member Since: May 2008
Member Points: 90

Shadow of the old Fischer!

by LDSSDL - 3 months ago
Tinton Falls United States
Member Since: Dec 2007
Member Points: 169

You GUESS Fishcer was really that good?

by drd - 3 months ago
United States
Member Since: Sep 2007
Member Points: 134

A remarkable set of clearance moves to end the game! Spassky used to play the queenside counterattack with ...b5 better than anyone else in the world in the 1950s-1970s so Fischer's  calm defeat of Spassky's counterattack almost makes it all look staged.

I guess he really was that good.

 

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