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Classic game replay

Anatoly Bannik vs Mikhail Tal, 1955

This replay preserves the complete 62-ply score of Tal playing Black across 31 numbered moves. The board can be advanced one ply at a time; the notes stick to observable board changes rather than guessing at the players’ intentions.

On this page
  1. Practice positions
  2. Replay with move-by-move board facts
  3. PGN
  4. Sources and checking
  5. Continue with another game
White
Anatoly Bannik
Black
Mikhail Tal
Event
URS-ch sf
Year
1955
Result
0-1
Opening
E65 King's Indian Defense: Fianchetto Variation, Yugoslav Variation

Opening reference: King's Indian Defense: Fianchetto Variation, Yugoslav Variation (E65).

In this game, 20 half-moves are labelled opening, 42 middlegame and 0 endgame. The score contains 17 captures and 8 checks or mates; before a recorded move, the position offered a median of 35 legal choices. The source score ends after 31...Rh1+ with the recorded result 0-1. Its termination tag was not retained, so this record does not infer whether the game ended by resignation, time or another cause.

Practice positions

The daily trainer uses a short set of positions from this complete score. Each link goes to the exact half-move rather than only the numbered move.

  1. 10...Be6 — Develop the bishop10...Be6 was a leading choice in the fixed engine check.
  2. 15...Bxg5 — Exchange on g515...Bxg5 was a leading choice in the fixed engine check.
  3. 19...Qxg3+ — Recapture on g319...Qxg3+ was a leading choice in the fixed engine check.
  4. 27...Qxc1+ — Capture with check on c127...Qxc1+ was a leading choice in the fixed engine check.

Replay with move-by-move board facts

The board, fact panel and transcript use the same legal score. “Fixed engine check” means Stockfish 17.1, one thread, a fixed 25,000-node search and 3 candidate lines. It compares moves under one reproducible setting; it does not claim to reconstruct a player’s thoughts.

♜♞♝♛♚♝♞♜♟♟♟♟♟♟♟♟♟♟♟♟♟♟♟♟♜♞♝♛♚♝♞♜
Anatoly Bannik vs Mikhail Tal, 1955

Start position

Use Previous and Next on the board, or select a move in the transcript. The board fact and fixed engine check remain visible until you choose another move.

Opening · 1.d4 to 10...Be6

  1. 1.d4 Claim central space

    Board fact: White moves the pawn from d2 to d4; from there it controls e5 and c5.

    Fixed engine check: Near the leading choice · d4 Nf6 Nf3 e6.

  2. 1...Nf6 Develop the knight

    Board fact: Black develops the knight from g8 to f6; from there it controls d5 and e4.

    Fixed engine check: Ranked first · Nf6 c4 e6 Nf3.

  3. 2.Nf3 Develop the knight

    Board fact: White develops the knight from g1 to f3; from there it controls d4 and e5.

    Fixed engine check: Ranked first · Nf3 e6.

  4. 2...g6 Advance the g-pawn

    Board fact: Black moves the pawn from g7 to g6; from there it controls f5.

    Fixed engine check: Ranked first · g6 c4 Bg7 e3.

  5. 3.c4 Advance the c-pawn

    Board fact: White moves the pawn from c2 to c4; from there it controls d5.

    Fixed engine check: Ranked first · c4 Bg7.

  6. 3...Bg7 Develop the bishop

    Board fact: Black develops the bishop from f8 to g7; from there it controls f6.

    Fixed engine check: Ranked first · Bg7 Nc3 d5 Bg5.

  7. 4.Nc3 Develop the knight

    Board fact: White develops the knight from b1 to c3; from there it controls d5 and e4.

    Fixed engine check: Ranked first · Nc3 d5 Qb3 c6.

  8. 4...O-O Kingside castling

    Board fact: Black castles kingside, moving the king to g8 and the rook to f8. The move changes king safety and develops the rook in one turn.

    Fixed engine check: Near the leading choice · O-O e4 d6 h3.

  9. 5.g3 Advance the g-pawn

    Board fact: White moves the pawn from g2 to g3; from there it controls f4.

    Fixed engine check: Ranked first · g3 d5.

  10. 5...d6 Advance the d-pawn

    Board fact: Black moves the pawn from d7 to d6; from there it controls e5 and c5.

    Fixed engine check: Near the leading choice · d6 Bg2 Re8 O-O.

  11. 6.Bg2 Develop the bishop

    Board fact: White develops the bishop from f1 to g2; from there it controls f3.

    Fixed engine check: Ranked first · Bg2 Nbd7 e4 e5.

  12. 6...c5 Change the pawn structure

    Board fact: Black moves the pawn from c7 to c5; the move changes the central pawn contact; from c5 it attacks White's pawn on d4.

    Fixed engine check: Ranked first · c5 d5.

  13. 7.O-O Kingside castling

    Board fact: White castles kingside, moving the king to g1 and the rook to f1. The move changes king safety and develops the rook in one turn.

    Fixed engine check: Ranked first · O-O cxd4 Nxd4.

  14. 7...Nc6 Develop the knight

    Board fact: Black develops the knight from b8 to c6; from c6 it attacks White's pawn on d4.

    Fixed engine check: Ranked first · Nc6 d5.

  15. 8.h3 Advance the h-pawn

    Board fact: White moves the pawn from h2 to h3.

    Fixed engine check: Playable; d5 ranked higher · h3 cxd4.

  16. 8...cxd4 Exchange on d4

    Board fact: Black's pawn takes the pawn on d4; the move changes the central pawn contact; Black accepts doubled pawns on the d-file; from d4 it attacks White's knight on c3; black is ahead by 1 conventional material point after the capture.

    Fixed engine check: Ranked first · cxd4 Nxd4 Nxd4 Qxd4.

  17. 9.Nxd4 Recapture on d4

    Board fact: White's knight recaptures the pawn on d4; from d4 it attacks Black's knight on c6; material is level after the capture.

    Fixed engine check: Ranked first · Nxd4 Nxd4.

  18. 9...Nxd4 Recapture on d4

    Board fact: Black's knight recaptures the knight on d4; from d4 it attacks White's pawn on e2; black is ahead by 3 conventional material points after the capture.

    Fixed engine check: Ranked first · Nxd4 Qxd4 Be6 Qh4.

  19. 10.Qxd4 Recapture on d4

    Board fact: White's queen recaptures the knight on d4; from d4 it attacks Black's knight on f6 and Black's pawn on a7; material is level after the capture.

    Fixed engine check: Ranked first · Qxd4 Be6 Qh4 Qa5.

  20. 10...Be6 Develop the bishop

    Board fact: Black develops the bishop from c8 to e6; from e6 it attacks White's pawn on c4 and White's pawn on h3.

    Fixed engine check: Ranked first · Be6 Qh4.

Middlegame · 11.Qh4 to 31...Rh1+

  1. 11.Qh4 Create pressure on f6

    Board fact: White moves the queen from d4 to h4; from h4 it attacks Black's knight on f6 and Black's pawn on h7.

    Fixed engine check: Ranked first · Qh4 Qa5 Bxb7 Rab8.

  2. 11...Rc8 Rook on the semi-open c-file

    Board fact: Black moves the rook from a8 to c8; the rook now works on a semi-open c-file; from c8 it attacks White's pawn on c4.

    Fixed engine check: Ranked first · Rc8 b3 d5 Rd1.

  3. 12.b3 Advance the b-pawn

    Board fact: White moves the pawn from b2 to b3; from there it controls c4.

    Fixed engine check: Ranked first · b3 d5 Rd1 Qa5.

  4. 12...Nh5 Create pressure on g3

    Board fact: Black moves the knight from f6 to h5; from h5 it attacks White's pawn on g3.

    Fixed engine check: Playable; Rc5 ranked higher · Nh5 Bd2.

  5. 13.Bd2 Develop the bishop

    Board fact: White develops the bishop from c1 to d2; from there it controls c3, e3 and f4.

    Fixed engine check: Ranked first · Bd2 b6 Rfd1 Qd7.

  6. 13...Qd7 Reposition the queen

    Board fact: Black moves the queen from d8 to d7; from there it controls c6, d6 and e6.

    Fixed engine check: Ranked first · Qd7 Rac1.

  7. 14.Rac1 Improve the rook

    Board fact: White moves the rook from a1 to c1; from there it controls c3.

    Fixed engine check: Ranked first · Rac1 f5 Rfd1 Bf6.

  8. 14...Bf6 Create pressure on h4

    Board fact: Black moves the bishop from g7 to f6; from f6 it attacks White's queen on h4 and White's knight on c3.

    Fixed engine check: Ranked first · Bf6 Qe4 Bxh3 Qxb7.

  9. 15.Bg5 Create pressure on f6

    Board fact: White moves the bishop from d2 to g5; from g5 it attacks Black's bishop on f6.

    Fixed engine check: Ranked first · Bg5 Bxg5.

  10. 15...Bxg5 Exchange on g5

    Board fact: Black's bishop takes the bishop on g5; from g5 it attacks White's queen on h4 and White's rook on c1; black is ahead by 3 conventional material points after the capture.

    Fixed engine check: Ranked first · Bxg5 Qxg5.

  11. 16.Qxg5 Recapture on g5

    Board fact: White's queen recaptures the bishop on g5; from g5 it attacks Black's knight on h5 and Black's pawn on e7; material is level after the capture.

    Fixed engine check: Ranked first · Qxg5 Bxh3.

  12. 16...Bxh3 Exchange on h3

    Board fact: Black's bishop takes the pawn on h3; from h3 it attacks White's bishop on g2; black is ahead by 1 conventional material point after the capture.

    Fixed engine check: Ranked first · Bxh3 Bxh3 Qxh3 Nd5.

  13. 17.Bxh3 Recapture on h3

    Board fact: White's bishop recaptures the bishop on h3; from h3 it attacks Black's queen on d7; white is ahead by 2 conventional material points after the capture.

    Fixed engine check: Ranked first · Bxh3 Qxh3 Nd5 Rfe8.

  14. 17...Qxh3 Recapture on h3

    Board fact: Black's queen recaptures the bishop on h3; from h3 it attacks White's rook on f1 and White's pawn on g3; black is ahead by 1 conventional material point after the capture.

    Fixed engine check: Ranked first · Qxh3.

  15. 18.Qxe7 Exchange on e7

    Board fact: White's queen takes the pawn on e7; from e7 it attacks Black's rook on f8 and Black's pawn on b7; material is level after the capture.

    Fixed engine check: Ranked first · Qxe7 Nxg3 fxg3 Qxg3+.

  16. 18...Nxg3 Exchange on g3

    Board fact: Black's knight takes the pawn on g3; from g3 it attacks White's rook on f1 and White's pawn on e2; black is ahead by 1 conventional material point after the capture.

    Fixed engine check: Ranked first · Nxg3 fxg3 Qxg3+ Kh1.

  17. 19.fxg3 Recapture on g3

    Board fact: White's pawn recaptures the knight on g3; the move changes the central pawn contact; white is ahead by 2 conventional material points after the capture.

    Fixed engine check: Ranked first · fxg3 Qxg3+.

  18. 19...Qxg3+ Recapture on g3

    Board fact: Black's queen recaptures the pawn on g3; the move checks White's king; from g3 it attacks White's knight on c3; white is ahead by 1 conventional material point after the capture.

    Fixed engine check: Ranked first · Qxg3+ Kh1 Rce8 Qxb7.

  19. 20.Kh1 Answering the check

    Board fact: White answers the check by moving the king from g1 to h1.

    Fixed engine check: Ranked first · Kh1 Rce8 Qxb7 Re3.

  20. 20...Rce8 Rook on the semi-open e-file

    Board fact: Black moves the rook from c8 to e8; the rook now works on a semi-open e-file; from e8 it attacks White's queen on e7.

    Fixed engine check: Ranked first · Rce8 Qxb7 Re3 Rf3.

  21. 21.Qxb7 Exchange on b7

    Board fact: White's queen takes the pawn on b7; from b7 it attacks Black's pawn on a7 and Black's pawn on f7; white is ahead by 2 conventional material points after the capture.

    Fixed engine check: Ranked first · Qxb7 Re3 Rf3 Qh4+.

  22. 21...Re5 Rook on the semi-open e-file

    Board fact: Black moves the rook from e8 to e5; the rook now works on a semi-open e-file; from e5 it attacks White's pawn on e2.

    Fixed engine check: Ranked first · Re5 Qg2 Qe3 Qf3.

  23. 22.Qg2 Create pressure on g3

    Board fact: White moves the queen from b7 to g2; from g2 it attacks Black's queen on g3.

    Fixed engine check: Ranked first · Qg2 Qe3 Qf3 Qh6+.

  24. 22...Rh5+ A forcing check

    Board fact: Black moves the rook from e5 to h5; the move checks White's king; from there it controls d5, e5 and c5.

    Fixed engine check: Near the leading choice · Rh5+ Kg1 Qe3+ Qf2.

  25. 23.Kg1 Answering the check

    Board fact: White answers the check by moving the king from h1 to g1; from g1 it reinforces the queen on g2.

    Fixed engine check: Ranked first · Kg1 Qe3+ Qf2 Qh6.

  26. 23...Qe3+ A forcing check

    Board fact: Black moves the queen from g3 to e3; the move checks White's king; from e3 it attacks White's rook on c1 and White's knight on c3.

    Fixed engine check: Ranked first · Qe3+ Qf2 Qh6 Qf6.

  27. 24.Qf2 Answering the check

    Board fact: White answers the check by moving the queen from g2 to f2; from f2 it attacks Black's queen on e3 and Black's pawn on f7.

    Fixed engine check: Ranked first · Qf2 Qh6.

  28. 24...Qh6 Create pressure on c1

    Board fact: Black moves the queen from e3 to h6; from h6 it attacks White's rook on c1.

    Fixed engine check: Near the leading choice · Qh6 Qf6 Rg5+ Kf2.

  29. 25.Qxa7 Exchange on a7

    Board fact: White's queen takes the pawn on a7; from a7 it attacks Black's pawn on f7; white is ahead by 3 conventional material points after the capture.

    Fixed engine check: Ranked first · Qxa7 Qg5+ Kf2 Rh2+.

  30. 25...Qg5+ A forcing check

    Board fact: Black moves the queen from h6 to g5; the move checks White's king; from g5 it attacks White's rook on c1.

    Fixed engine check: Playable; Rh1+ ranked higher · Qg5+ Kf2 Qf4+ Ke1.

  31. 26.Kf2 Answering the check

    Board fact: White answers the check by moving the king from g1 to f2; from there it controls e3 and f3.

    Fixed engine check: Ranked first · Kf2 Qf4+ Ke1 Qxc1+.

  32. 26...Rh2+ A forcing check

    Board fact: Black moves the rook from h5 to h2; the move checks White's king; the rook has reached the opponent’s second rank; from h2 it reinforces the pawn on h7.

    Fixed engine check: Ranked first · Rh2+ Ke1 Qxc1+ Nd1.

  33. 27.Ke1 Answering the check

    Board fact: White answers the check by moving the king from f2 to e1; from e1 it reinforces the rook on f1.

    Fixed engine check: Ranked first · Ke1 Qxc1+ Nd1 Qc2.

  34. 27...Qxc1+ Capture with check on c1

    Board fact: Black's queen takes the rook on c1; the move checks White's king; from c1 it attacks White's knight on c3; black is ahead by 2 conventional material points after the capture.

    Fixed engine check: Ranked first · Qxc1+ Nd1 Qc2 Qe3.

  35. 28.Nd1 Answering the check

    Board fact: White answers the check by moving the knight from c3 to d1; from there it controls c3 and e3.

    Fixed engine check: Ranked first · Nd1 Qc2 Qe3 Qxa2.

  36. 28...Qc2 Create pressure on d1

    Board fact: Black moves the queen from c1 to c2; from c2 it attacks White's knight on d1 and White's pawn on a2.

    Fixed engine check: Ranked first · Qc2 Qe3 Qxa2 Qf3.

  37. 29.Qe7 Create pressure on f8

    Board fact: White moves the queen from a7 to e7; from e7 it attacks Black's rook on f8 and Black's pawn on d6.

    Fixed engine check: Near the leading choice · Qe7 Qxa2 Nc3 Qc2.

  38. 29...Qxa2 Exchange on a2

    Board fact: Black's queen takes the pawn on a2; from a2 it attacks White's pawn on b3 and White's pawn on e2; black is ahead by 3 conventional material points after the capture.

    Fixed engine check: Ranked first · Qxa2 Nc3 Qa1+ Kd2.

  39. 30.Rf2 Rook on the semi-open f-file

    Board fact: White moves the rook from f1 to f2; the rook now works on a semi-open f-file; from f2 it attacks Black's rook on h2 and Black's pawn on f7.

    Fixed engine check: Recorded move; Qe3 ranked higher · Rf2 Qa5+ b4 Qxb4+.

  40. 30...Qa5+ A forcing check

    Board fact: Black moves the queen from a2 to a5; the move checks White's king; from there it controls d5, e5 and c3.

    Fixed engine check: Ranked first · Qa5+ b4 Qxb4+ Kf1.

  41. 31.Kf1 Answering the check

    Board fact: White answers the check by moving the king from e1 to f1; from f1 it reinforces the rook on f2.

    Fixed engine check: Near the leading choice · Kf1 Rh1+ Kg2 Qh5.

  42. 31...Rh1+ A forcing check

    Board fact: Black moves the rook from h2 to h1; the move checks White's king; from h1 it reinforces the pawn on h7.

    Fixed engine check: Ranked first · Rh1+ Kg2 Qh5 Qd7.

PGN

[Event "URS-ch sf"] [Site "?"] [Date "1955.??.??"] [White "Bannik, Anatoly"] [Black "Tal, Mikhail"] [Result "0-1"] 1. d4 Nf6 2. Nf3 g6 3. c4 Bg7 4. Nc3 O-O 5. g3 d6 6. Bg2 c5 7. O-O Nc6 8. h3 cxd4 9. Nxd4 Nxd4 10. Qxd4 Be6 11. Qh4 Rc8 12. b3 Nh5 13. Bd2 Qd7 14. Rac1 Bf6 15. Bg5 Bxg5 16. Qxg5 Bxh3 17. Bxh3 Qxh3 18. Qxe7 Nxg3 19. fxg3 Qxg3+ 20. Kh1 Rce8 21. Qxb7 Re5 22. Qg2 Rh5+ 23. Kg1 Qe3+ 24. Qf2 Qh6 25. Qxa7 Qg5+ 26. Kf2 Rh2+ 27. Ke1 Qxc1+ 28. Nd1 Qc2 29. Qe7 Qxa2 30. Rf2 Qa5+ 31. Kf1 Rh1+ 0-1

Sources and checking

Score source: Chess Database, version 1 by Ana Schaigorodsky (2016), licensed under CC BY 4.0. LibreChess selected the exact score identified by sha256:d97e9ecf81eedb2a99da911546f20b115bc44c03d40e4713d2813f858c234182 and pins it in the selection manifest.
Exact Figshare tags:
White="Bannik, Anatoly"; Black="Tal, Mihail"; Event="URS-ch sf"; Date="1955.??.??"; Result="0-1".
Reviewed display mapping: black Tal, Mihail → Tal, Mikhail. LibreChess parsed the main line with chess.js and stores normalised SAN. Source comments, side variations and termination detail were not retained.

LibreChess checks every SAN move with chess.js and compares the result and move sequence with a stored reference. The engine comparison was calculated offline from the fixed settings above; it is not a source for historical claims. No termination is inferred where the imported score does not preserve one.

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