chessgames.com
Members · Prefs · Laboratory · Collections · Openings · Endgames · Sacrifices · History · Search Kibitzing · Kibitzer's Café · Chessforums · Tournament Index · Players · Kibitzing
Boris Spassky vs Wolfgang Unzicker
Second Piatigorsky Cup (1966), Santa Monica, CA USA, rd 2, Jul-19
Spanish Game: Morphy Defense. Breyer Defense Zaitsev Hybrid (C95)  ·  1-0

8
7
6
5
4
3
2
a
1
b
c
d
e
f
g
h
White to move.
ANALYSIS [x]
Notes by Stockfish 9 v010218 (minimum 6s/ply)better is 19.b3 c4 20.Rb1 Qc7 21.Qc1 Kh7 22.Be3 Nfd7 23.Qb2 Rec8 ⩲ +0.68 (20 ply)= 0.00 (25 ply) after 19...c4 20.Bc2 a5 21.Be3 Nfd7 22.a4 b4 23.b3 Nc5 24.cxb4 better is 20.b3 c4 21.Bf1 a5 22.Rb1 Nbd7 23.Be3 Ba6 24.Qc1 Kh7 = +0.44 (25 ply)better is 20...c4 21.Bc2 h5 22.Bg5 a5 23.Nf3 a4 24.Nd2 Nbd7 25.Nb1 = -0.12 (26 ply)= +0.48 (27 ply) after 21.Qc2 c4 22.Be2 h5 23.b3 Nb6 24.Be3 Rec8 25.Nf3 Rab8 better is 23...Nxg4 24.hxg4 a5 25.Be3 b4 26.Qd2 b3 27.axb3 cxb3 = 0.00 (26 ply)better is 24.Nxf6+ Bxf6 25.Qf3 Qe7 26.b3 cxb3 27.axb3 Rec8 28.Rec1 ⩲ +0.74 (26 ply)= 0.00 (30 ply) 30...a5 31.b4 axb4 32.cxb4 Na4 33.Bd3 Bd7 34.Rec1 Rec8 = 0.00 (28 ply) ⩲ +0.81 (22 ply)better is 31...Nc5 32.b4 Na4 33.Bxa4 bxa4 34.Kg2 Kg7 35.Rh1 Bd7 = +0.45 (22 ply) ⩲ +1.06 (20 ply)better is 33...Rg8 34.Rh1 Bd7 35.c4 Qd8 36.Bd3 Bh6 37.Ra1 Qe7 38.b4 ⩲ +0.92 (20 ply) ⩲ +1.42 (22 ply) 35...a5 36.Bd3 Bd7 37.c4 b4 38.gxh5 Nxh5 39.Nf5 a4 40.f4 ⩲ +1.09 (20 ply) 36.gxh5 Nxh5 37.Nf5 Bg5 38.Qd3 Bxd2 39.Qxd2 Bxf5 40.exf5 ± +2.09 (24 ply) ⩲ +1.32 (19 ply) 38...Ra7 39.exf5 e4 40.Bxe4 Rxe4 41.fxe4 Qe7 42.Rf4 Nh7 +- +4.15 (23 ply)+- +8.66 (28 ply)+- mate-in-14 after 45...Qxf6 46.Rxf6 Rc7 47.Rxd6 Rc2+ 48.Kh3 Rc146...Qxf6 47.Rxf6 Rc1+ 48.Kh2 Rc7 49.Rxd6 Rc2+ 50.Kh3 +- mate-in-161-0

rnbqkbnr/pppppppp/8/8/8/8/PPPPPPPP/RNBQKBNR w KQkq - 0 1
FEN COPIED

Click Here to play Guess-the-Move
Given 12 times; par: 56 [what's this?]

Annotations by Stockfish (Computer).      [35437 more games annotated by Stockfish]

explore this opening
find similar games 14 more Spassky/Unzicker games
sac: 36.Nf5 PGN: download | view | print Help: general | java-troubleshooting

TIP: Games that have been used in game collections will have a section at the bottom which shows collections which include it. For more information, see "What are Game Collections?" on our Help Page.

PGN Viewer:  What is this?
For help with this chess viewer, please see the Olga Chess Viewer Quickstart Guide.
PREMIUM MEMBERS CAN REQUEST COMPUTER ANALYSIS [more info]

THIS IS A COMPUTER ANNOTATED SCORE.   [CLICK HERE] FOR ORIGINAL.

Kibitzer's Corner
Mar-01-06  Maynard5: This is an exceptional game by Spassky. The critical move is of course 36. Nf5. The attack is decisive irrespective of whether the sacrifice is accepted. The preparation for the attack is also very skillful.
Mar-01-06  RookFile: Spassky was a great expert in the Ruy Lopez Breyer system, from either side of the board.
Oct-18-06  OneArmedScissor: Why <33. ...Qd8>?
Apr-13-08  grasser: A photo of this game can be found here.
http://www.chessbase.com/newsdetail... Updated: 04/13/2008 16:29:09
More

Dec-02-08  JoergWalter: It is interesting that Spassky introduced 15. Bg5 in this game and in 1992 he had to fight against it in the first game of the rematch with Fischer. And what a beautiful game that was!
May-12-09  returnoftheking: OneArmedScissor: Why <33. ...Qd8>?

If 33...hxg4 then 34Rh1
if Kg7 then Nf5 and if Kg8 then still Nf5 with pin of f6 coming.

Franco annotates this game in "the art of attacking chess" and says that Rc1 is the "new" move of Spassky.

He gives 26.b3 an exclamation mark because it is good to prevent a later Nd3. Because of this I wonder why Unzicker played cxb3.

Very nice game and the only win of Spassky out of 14 between these players.

Dec-12-14  zydeco: Spassky seems proud of 17.Rc1, which is a kind of 'half-move.' The move has some useful points in itself but doesn't point towards a plan or alter the balance of the position. In his notes to the game, Spassky says that the move is in keeping with the stolid spirit of the Ruy Lopez. I think this kind of move is also a specialty of Spassky's, and characteristic of his style: he likes to duck and weave through the middlegame, preserving all the dynamic possibilities in the position, even at the risk of playing somewhat planlessly. This is in contrast to, say, Fischer, who always plays concretely.

18.Rc1 gave Unzicker the opportunity for 18....d5, but it seems that neither player considered that possibility very carefully.

In their notes the players disagreed about the position after 24.Bxh6 Nxg4 25.Bxg7 Nxf2 26.Kxf2 Kxg7. Unzicker thought black would be better. Spassky thought he had decent attacking chances, but apparently preferred to play more calmly.

24....Ng8 25.h4 Qe7 might have been a more careful defense.

Unzicker loses the thread from moves 25 to 33. He should have tried to work up counterplay on the queenside.

Apr-10-15  A.T PhoneHome: This is one of Spassky's five wins at Second Piatigorsky Cup (1966). Strong triumph by this great player as he finished first outright before Fischer and Larsen.

Spassky's tournament tactic was clever; win only when you need to and conserve energy and it worked! Participating just a month after loss in the World Championship match and winning in such a strong tournament is admirable achievement, don't you think?

Jun-28-16  edubueno: 24...Cg4 is wrong. Better 24...Ccd7

NOTE: Create an account today to post replies and access other powerful features which are available only to registered users. Becoming a member is free, anonymous, and takes less than 1 minute! If you already have a username, then simply login login under your username now to join the discussion.

Please observe our posting guidelines:

  1. No obscene, racist, sexist, or profane language.
  2. No spamming, advertising, duplicate, or gibberish posts.
  3. No vitriolic or systematic personal attacks against other members.
  4. Nothing in violation of United States law.
  5. No cyberstalking or malicious posting of negative or private information (doxing/doxxing) of members.
  6. No trolling.
  7. The use of "sock puppet" accounts to circumvent disciplinary action taken by moderators, create a false impression of consensus or support, or stage conversations, is prohibited.
  8. Do not degrade Chessgames or any of it's staff/volunteers.

Please try to maintain a semblance of civility at all times.

Blow the Whistle

See something that violates our rules? Blow the whistle and inform a moderator.


NOTE: Please keep all discussion on-topic. This forum is for this specific game only. To discuss chess or this site in general, visit the Kibitzer's Café.

Messages posted by Chessgames members do not necessarily represent the views of Chessgames.com, its employees, or sponsors.
All moderator actions taken are ultimately at the sole discretion of the administration.

This game is type: CLASSICAL. Please report incorrect or missing information by submitting a correction slip to help us improve the quality of our content.

Home | About | Login | Logout | F.A.Q. | Profile | Preferences | Premium Membership | Kibitzer's Café | Biographer's Bistro | New Kibitzing | Chessforums | Tournament Index | Player Directory | Notable Games | World Chess Championships | Opening Explorer | Guess the Move | Game Collections | ChessBookie Game | Chessgames Challenge | Store | Privacy Notice | Contact Us

Copyright 2001-2025, Chessgames Services LLC