Boris Spassky's Best Games

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Boris Spassky's Best Games
Compiled by PassedPawnDuo

The best games of Spassky's career.

Chess is like life. - Boris Spassky

Which do I prefer? Sex or chess? It depends on the position. - Boris Spassky

When I am in form, my style is a little bit stubborn, almost brutal. Sometimes I feel a great spirit of fight which drives me on. – Boris Spassky

After I won the title, I was confronted with the real world. People do not behave naturally anymore - hypocrisy is everywhere. - Boris Spassky

In my country, at that time, being a champion of chess was like being a King. At that time I was a King … and when you are King you feel a lot of responsibility, but there is nobody there to help you. - Boris Spassky

I don't want ever to be champion again. - Boris Spassky

I enjoy life, sometimes with a good bottle of wine! But don't count on me in tournaments that demand a lot of nervous energy, like the French championship. I am empty; these are not for me anymore. - Boris Spassky

The Cary Grant of the 64 Squares. - Larry Parr

Highly cultured with interests in all fields of human knowledge, a man of impeccable comportment, great modesty ... one of the favorites of all chessplayers. - Max Euwe

When Spassky offers you a piece, you may just as well resign. – Miguel Najdorf

I believe that judged by his style of play, Spassky is much closer to Alekhine and Tal than to Smyslov, Botvinnik, or Petrosian. This is probably why, when Spassky was in his best form, neither Tal nor Korchnoi could really put up much resistance against him. Spassky could read their play (especially that of Tal) like an open book. – Garry Kasparov

The universal chess style, characterized by the ability to play quite different types of chess positions, is considered by many to derive from that of Boris Spassky. But I think that the general idea that Spassky has a universal style overlooks the fact that from an early age, Spassky had a bent for sharp, attacking play and a good eye for the initiative. – Garry Kasparov

It is characteristic that Spassky has never in his life started a game with 1.Nf3. He must have considered it a "semi-move", real moves being only those that lead to an immediate fight. All of those notorious opening peculiarities (such as avoiding this, that, and the other and preventing the other that and this) seemed repulsive to him. – Garry Kasparov

Spassky was the first great chess player to use both 1.e4 and 1.d4 with equal success. He managed to employ these moves more harmoniously than any other world champion. – Garry Kasparov

One of the soundest attacking players ever, Spassky nonetheless took very few chances. Totally dominant until he lost to the irresistible juggernaut known as Bobby Fischer. After that loss, he was never the same. – Bruce Pandolfini

Spassky sacrifices his pieces with the utmost imperturbability. He can blunder away a piece, and you are never sure whether it's a blunder or a fantastically deep sacrifice. He sits at the board with the same dead expression whether he's mating or being mated. – Bobby Fischer

Spassky is also a correct player, in this 'classical' aspect he is like Smyslov. But whereas Smyslov is a sedate player, Spassky has an attacking style. He combines the qualities of different chess players. Like Alekhine he values time. He is a very good strategic player. His games are pleasant to watch: he uses the whole board. He manages to deal with everything, grabs space, turns on the pressure here and there... - Vladimir Kramnik

He was less concerned about the position's evaluation than about the character of the arising struggle. If he liked the character of the battle, he felt absolutely at home and, as a rule, didn't fail to outplay his opponents. – Garry Kasparov (on Spassky)

Games to add:
J Polgar vs Spassky, 1993

Spassky vs S Avtonomov, 1949
(D28) Queen's Gambit Accepted, Classical, 21 moves, 1-0
Szabo vs Spassky, 1953
(E99) King's Indian, Orthodox, Taimanov, 29 moves, 0-1
O Barda vs Spassky, 1953
(A43) Old Benoni, 40 moves, 0-1
Spassky vs Smyslov, 1953
(E31) Nimzo-Indian, Leningrad, Main line, 35 moves, 1-0
Spassky vs Pilnik, 1955
(B98) Sicilian, Najdorf, 31 moves, 1-0
A Medina Garcia vs Spassky, 1955
(C94) Ruy Lopez, Closed, Breyer Defense, 32 moves, 0-1
Averbakh vs Spassky, 1956
(E75) King's Indian, Averbakh, Main line, 73 moves, 1/2-1/2
Spassky vs Portisch, 1957
(B00) Uncommon King's Pawn Opening, 23 moves, 1-0
Furman vs Spassky, 1957
(A04) Reti Opening, 23 moves, 0-1
Spassky vs B Gurgenidze, 1957
(E46) Nimzo-Indian, 29 moves, 1-0
Spassky vs Kholmov, 1957
(E30) Nimzo-Indian, Leningrad, 41 moves, 1/2-1/2
Spassky vs S Zhukhovitsky, 1957
(B68) Sicilian, Richter-Rauzer Attack, 7...a6 Defense, 9...Be7, 52 moves, 1-0
Spassky vs Tolush, 1958
(B98) Sicilian, Najdorf, 27 moves, 1-0
Spassky vs Polugaevsky, 1958
(B94) Sicilian, Najdorf, 41 moves, 1-0
Spassky vs V Mikenas, 1959
(D08) Queen's Gambit Declined, Albin Counter Gambit, 24 moves, 1-0
Gipslis vs Spassky, 1959
(C64) Ruy Lopez, Classical, 22 moves, 0-1
A G Kuznetsov vs Spassky, 1960
(C65) Ruy Lopez, Berlin Defense, 23 moves, 0-1
Suetin vs Spassky, 1960
(B96) Sicilian, Najdorf, 46 moves, 0-1
Spassky vs Bronstein, 1960
(C36) King's Gambit Accepted, Abbazia Defense, 23 moves, 1-0
Spassky vs Bondarevsky, 1960
(B80) Sicilian, Scheveningen, 37 moves, 1-0
Portisch vs Spassky, 1961
(C64) Ruy Lopez, Classical, 37 moves, 0-1
Spassky vs Polugaevsky, 1961
(E21) Nimzo-Indian, Three Knights, 42 moves, 1-0
Spassky vs L Schmid, 1962
(A43) Old Benoni, 24 moves, 1-0
V Mikenas vs Spassky, 1962
(E43) Nimzo-Indian, Fischer Variation, 22 moves, 0-1
Spassky vs Evans, 1962
(E80) King's Indian, Samisch Variation, 26 moves, 1-0
Spassky vs V Osnos, 1963
(A46) Queen's Pawn Game, 26 moves, 1-0
Spassky vs Y Nikolaevsky, 1963
(D27) Queen's Gambit Accepted, Classical, 25 moves, 1-0
Spassky vs Forintos, 1964
(D09) Queen's Gambit Declined, Albin Counter Gambit, 5.g3, 38 moves, 1-0
Spassky vs Geller, 1965
(C92) Ruy Lopez, Closed, 44 moves, 1-0
Spassky vs Keres, 1965
(C97) Ruy Lopez, Closed, Chigorin, 44 moves, 1-0
Tal vs Spassky, 1965
(C84) Ruy Lopez, Closed, 41 moves, 0-1
Keres vs Spassky, 1965
(C93) Ruy Lopez, Closed, Smyslov Defense, 39 moves, 0-1
Spassky vs Fischer, 1966
(D86) Grunfeld, Exchange, 50 moves, 1-0
Spassky vs Petrosian, 1966
(B18) Caro-Kann, Classical, 91 moves, 1-0
Spassky vs Petrosian, 1966
(C11) French, 31 moves, 1-0
Spassky vs Suetin, 1967
(B48) Sicilian, Taimanov Variation, 59 moves, 1-0
Spassky vs T Ghitescu, 1967
(A56) Benoni Defense, 36 moves, 1-0
Spassky vs I Bilek, 1967
(B61) Sicilian, Richter-Rauzer, Larsen Variation, 7.Qd2, 25 moves, 1-0
Spassky vs Pachman, 1967
(D44) Queen's Gambit Declined Semi-Slav, 30 moves, 1-0
Spassky vs H Ree, 1967
(C96) Ruy Lopez, Closed, 46 moves, 1-0
Spassky vs Petrosian, 1967
(C11) French, 37 moves, 1-0
Stein vs Spassky, 1967
(C09) French, Tarrasch, Open Variation, Main line, 37 moves, 0-1
Spassky vs Korchnoi, 1968
(E83) King's Indian, Samisch, 35 moves, 1-0
Spassky vs Geller, 1968
(B25) Sicilian, Closed, 32 moves, 1-0
Korchnoi vs Spassky, 1968
(A14) English, 42 moves, 0-1
Spassky vs B Larsen, 1968
(D14) Queen's Gambit Declined Slav, Exchange Variation, 39 moves, 1-0
Spassky vs Geller, 1968
(B25) Sicilian, Closed, 48 moves, 1-0
Spassky vs Geller, 1968
(B25) Sicilian, Closed, 37 moves, 1-0
Spassky vs Y Porat, 1968
(C11) French, 25 moves, 1-0
Spassky vs B Larsen, 1968
(B25) Sicilian, Closed, 52 moves, 1-0
Spassky vs Petrosian, 1969
(D41) Queen's Gambit Declined, Semi-Tarrasch, 30 moves, 1-0
Spassky vs Petrosian, 1969
(B94) Sicilian, Najdorf, 24 moves, 1-0
Spassky vs J Penrose, 1969
(E80) King's Indian, Samisch Variation, 49 moves, 1-0
Petrosian vs Spassky, 1969
(D34) Queen's Gambit Declined, Tarrasch, 41 moves, 0-1
Spassky vs Petrosian, 1969
(C92) Ruy Lopez, Closed, 53 moves, 1-0
Spassky vs O'Kelly, 1969
(C10) French, 44 moves, 1-0
B Larsen vs Spassky, 1970
(A01) Nimzovich-Larsen Attack, 17 moves, 0-1
Spassky vs Fischer, 1970
(D86) Grunfeld, Exchange, 39 moves, 1-0
Spassky vs J H Donner, 1970
(C11) French, 26 moves, 1-0
Spassky vs J Kostro, 1970
(D44) Queen's Gambit Declined Semi-Slav, 22 moves, 1-0
Spassky vs Kholmov, 1971
(C41) Philidor Defense, 25 moves, 1-0
Spassky vs Fischer, 1972
(B97) Sicilian, Najdorf, 31 moves, 1-0
Spassky vs N Rashkovsky, 1973
(B96) Sicilian, Najdorf, 21 moves, 1-0
H Kestler vs Spassky, 1973
(B68) Sicilian, Richter-Rauzer Attack, 7...a6 Defense, 9...Be7, 26 moves, 0-1
Spassky vs Tukmakov, 1973
(B96) Sicilian, Najdorf, 35 moves, 1-0
Spassky vs O Averkin, 1973
(B44) Sicilian, 35 moves, 1-0
W Hug vs Spassky, 1973
(A07) King's Indian Attack, 30 moves, 0-1
Spassky vs V Korensky, 1973
(B65) Sicilian, Richter-Rauzer Attack, 7...Be7 Defense, 9...Nxd4, 28 moves, 1-0
Karpov vs Spassky, 1974
(B83) Sicilian, 63 moves, 0-1
R Byrne vs Spassky, 1974
(C95) Ruy Lopez, Closed, Breyer, 56 moves, 0-1
Spassky vs R Byrne, 1974
(B52) Sicilian, Canal-Sokolsky (Rossolimo) Attack, 59 moves, 1-0
Spassky vs Hort, 1975
(D16) Queen's Gambit Declined Slav, 41 moves, 1-0
Spassky vs A Beliavsky, 1975
(B83) Sicilian, 57 moves, 1-0
Spassky vs I Nei, 1975
(D16) Queen's Gambit Declined Slav, 35 moves, 1-0
Spassky vs N Zilberman, 1975
(B06) Robatsch, 34 moves, 1-0
Vaganian vs Spassky, 1975
(D58) Queen's Gambit Declined, Tartakower (Makagonov-Bondarevsky) Syst, 47 moves, 0-1
Spassky vs Uhlmann, 1976
(C16) French, Winawer, 51 moves, 1-0
Spassky vs Timman, 1977
(D86) Grunfeld, Exchange, 25 moves, 1-0
Spassky vs Kavalek, 1977
(B09) Pirc, Austrian Attack, 42 moves, 1-0
Spassky vs Portisch, 1977
(C95) Ruy Lopez, Closed, Breyer, 40 moves, 1-0
Spassky vs Kavalek, 1977
(B83) Sicilian, 38 moves, 1-0
Spassky vs Hort, 1977
(A25) English, 40 moves, 1-0
Kavalek vs Spassky, 1977
(C64) Ruy Lopez, Classical, 24 moves, 0-1
Korchnoi vs Spassky, 1977
(D58) Queen's Gambit Declined, Tartakower (Makagonov-Bondarevsky) Syst, 36 moves, 0-1
Spassky vs Portisch, 1977
(B25) Sicilian, Closed, 40 moves, 1-0
Spassky vs B Larsen, 1978
(B18) Caro-Kann, Classical, 21 moves, 1-0
Spassky vs E Bukic, 1978
(A48) King's Indian, 41 moves, 1-0
Spassky vs Korchnoi, 1978
(C26) Vienna, 59 moves, 1-0
Gligoric vs Spassky, 1978
(E53) Nimzo-Indian, 4.e3, 51 moves, 0-1
Spassky vs Hort, 1978
(B25) Sicilian, Closed, 41 moves, 1-0
Spassky vs Kavalek, 1979
(A53) Old Indian, 58 moves, 1-0
Spassky vs Huebner, 1979
(E45) Nimzo-Indian, 4.e3, Bronstein (Byrne) Variation, 28 moves, 1-0
A Beliavsky vs Spassky, 1980
(E17) Queen's Indian, 60 moves, 0-1
Kasparov vs Spassky, 1981
(E75) King's Indian, Averbakh, Main line, 66 moves, 0-1
B Larsen vs Spassky, 1981
(A26) English, 44 moves, 0-1
Spassky vs E Torre, 1982
(C99) Ruy Lopez, Closed, Chigorin, 12...cd, 62 moves, 1-0
Spassky vs Short, 1982
(C19) French, Winawer, Advance, 48 moves, 1-0
Adorjan vs Spassky, 1982
(A10) English, 23 moves, 0-1
Spassky vs Seirawan, 1982
(B12) Caro-Kann Defense, 29 moves, 1-0
Timman vs Spassky, 1983
(C73) Ruy Lopez, Modern Steinitz Defense, 29 moves, 0-1
Spassky vs Seirawan, 1984
(B08) Pirc, Classical, 23 moves, 1-0
Spassky vs H Cordes, 1984
(B94) Sicilian, Najdorf, 29 moves, 1-0
Spassky vs Seirawan, 1985
(C34) King's Gambit Accepted, 32 moves, 1-0
Vaganian vs Spassky, 1985
(E15) Queen's Indian, 73 moves, 0-1
Van der Wiel vs Spassky, 1987
(C58) Two Knights, 38 moves, 0-1
Spassky vs S Kindermann, 1986
(A07) King's Indian Attack, 42 moves, 1-0
Spassky vs D Barua, 1987
(C61) Ruy Lopez, Bird's Defense, 22 moves, 1-0
Spassky vs A Beliavsky, 1988
(C77) Ruy Lopez, 41 moves, 1-0
Spassky vs Hjartarson, 1988
(B24) Sicilian, Closed, 24 moves, 1-0
Spassky vs Gufeld, 1988
(B25) Sicilian, Closed, 42 moves, 1-0
G Andruet vs Spassky, 1988
(E11) Bogo-Indian Defense, 28 moves, 0-1
Spassky vs A Ostl, 1990
(A07) King's Indian Attack, 27 moves, 1-0
Spassky vs M Illescas, 1990
(A52) Budapest Gambit, 25 moves, 1-0
Spassky vs Fischer, 1992
(D27) Queen's Gambit Accepted, Classical, 50 moves, 1-0
Spassky vs Fischer, 1992
(A57) Benko Gambit, 58 moves, 1-0
Fischer vs Spassky, 1992
(C95) Ruy Lopez, Closed, Breyer, 45 moves, 0-1
Spassky vs Fischer, 1992
(E83) King's Indian, Samisch, 54 moves, 1-0
S Polgar vs Spassky, 1995
(D35) Queen's Gambit Declined, 43 moves, 0-1
Spassky vs Short, 2001
(E31) Nimzo-Indian, Leningrad, Main line, 62 moves, 1-0
Spassky vs Svidler, 2001
(B45) Sicilian, Taimanov, 46 moves, 1-0
Savon vs Spassky, 1961
(A07) King's Indian Attack, 44 moves, 0-1
Savon vs Spassky, 1962
(B47) Sicilian, Taimanov (Bastrikov) Variation, 24 moves, 0-1
122 games

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