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Classic game replay

Arthur Bernard Bisguier vs Robert James Fischer, 1961

This replay preserves the complete 82-ply score of Fischer playing Black across 41 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
Arthur Bernard Bisguier
Black
Robert James Fischer
Event
USA-ch
Year
1961
Result
0-1
Opening
E61 King's Indian Defense

Opening reference: King's Indian Defense (E61).

In this game, 20 half-moves are labelled opening, 52 middlegame and 10 endgame. The score contains 21 captures and 1 checks or mates; before a recorded move, the position offered a median of 34 legal choices. The source score ends after 41...Nf4 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. 9...Nbd7 — Develop the knight9...Nbd7 was a leading choice in the fixed engine check.
  2. 18...axb5 — Exchange on b518...axb5 was a leading choice in the fixed engine check.
  3. 22...Nb6 — Create pressure on c422...Nb6 was a leading choice in the fixed engine check.
  4. 29...Qxc3 — Exchange on c329...Qxc3 was a leading choice in the fixed engine check.
  5. 40...Rfd5 — Rook on the open d-file40...Rfd5 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.

♜♞♝♛♚♝♞♜♟♟♟♟♟♟♟♟♟♟♟♟♟♟♟♟♜♞♝♛♚♝♞♜
Arthur Bernard Bisguier vs Robert James Fischer, 1961

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...Bxf3

  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.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 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 Nf3 Bg7 Nc3.

  5. 3.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.

  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 e4.

  7. 4.Nf3 Develop the knight

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

    Fixed engine check: Near the leading choice · Nf3 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: Ranked first · O-O e4 d6 h3.

  9. 5.Bf4 Develop the bishop

    Board fact: White develops the bishop from c1 to f4; from f4 it attacks Black's pawn on c7.

    Fixed engine check: Near the leading choice · Bf4.

  10. 5...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: Playable; d5 ranked higher · c5 d5.

  11. 6.d5 Change the pawn structure

    Board fact: White moves the pawn from d4 to d5; the move changes the central pawn contact; from there it controls c6 and e6.

    Fixed engine check: Ranked first · d5 e6.

  12. 6...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: Ranked first · d6.

  13. 7.e4 Claim central space

    Board fact: White moves the pawn from e2 to e4; from there it controls d5 and f5.

    Fixed engine check: Ranked first · e4 a6 a4 e6.

  14. 7...Qa5 Create pressure on c3

    Board fact: Black moves the queen from d8 to a5; from a5 it attacks White's knight on c3 and White's pawn on a2.

    Fixed engine check: Near the leading choice · Qa5 Nd2.

  15. 8.Bd3 Develop the bishop

    Board fact: White develops the bishop from f1 to d3; from there it controls e4 and c4.

    Fixed engine check: Near the leading choice · Bd3 Bg4 O-O Bxf3.

  16. 8...Bg4 Develop the bishop

    Board fact: Black develops the bishop from c8 to g4; from g4 it attacks White's knight on f3.

    Fixed engine check: Ranked first · Bg4 Bd2 Qb6 b3.

  17. 9.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 Nfd7 Bd2 Ne5.

  18. 9...Nbd7 Develop the knight

    Board fact: Black develops the knight from b8 to d7; from there it controls e5, c5 and f6.

    Fixed engine check: Ranked first · Nbd7 Be2 a6 a4.

  19. 10.h3 Create pressure on g4

    Board fact: White moves the pawn from h2 to h3; from h3 it attacks Black's bishop on g4.

    Fixed engine check: Ranked first · h3 Bxf3 Qxf3 Qb4.

  20. 10...Bxf3 Exchange on f3

    Board fact: Black's bishop takes the knight on f3; from f3 it attacks White's queen on d1 and White's pawn on e4; black is ahead by 3 conventional material points after the capture.

    Fixed engine check: Ranked first · Bxf3 Qxf3 Nh5 Bd2.

Middlegame · 11.Qxf3 to 34.b7

  1. 11.Qxf3 Recapture on f3

    Board fact: White's queen recaptures the bishop on f3; from f3 it reinforces the bishop on d3; material is level after the capture.

    Fixed engine check: Ranked first · Qxf3 Ne5 Qe2 e6.

  2. 11...Ne5 Create pressure on f3

    Board fact: Black moves the knight from d7 to e5; from e5 it attacks White's queen on f3 and White's bishop on d3.

    Fixed engine check: Ranked first · Ne5 Qe3 Nfd7 Be2.

  3. 12.Qe2 Reposition the queen

    Board fact: White moves the queen from f3 to e2; from there it controls e4, d3 and e3.

    Fixed engine check: Ranked first · Qe2 e6 Bh2 Qb6.

  4. 12...Nxd3 Exchange on d3

    Board fact: Black's knight takes the bishop on d3; from d3 it attacks White's bishop on f4 and White's pawn on b2; black is ahead by 3 conventional material points after the capture.

    Fixed engine check: Ranked first · Nxd3 Qxd3.

  5. 13.Qxd3 Recapture on d3

    Board fact: White's queen recaptures the knight on d3; from d3 it reinforces the rook on f1; material is level after the capture.

    Fixed engine check: Ranked first · Qxd3 Rae8 Rad1 a6.

  6. 13...a6 Advance the a-pawn

    Board fact: Black moves the pawn from a7 to a6.

    Fixed engine check: Ranked first · a6 Bd2 Rae8 b3.

  7. 14.Bd2 Reposition the bishop

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

    Fixed engine check: Ranked first · Bd2 Qc7 a4 e6.

  8. 14...Nd7 Reroute the knight

    Board fact: Black moves the knight from f6 to d7; from there it controls e5, c5 and f6.

    Fixed engine check: Ranked first · Nd7 f4.

  9. 15.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 Qc7.

  10. 15...Qc7 Reposition the queen

    Board fact: Black moves the queen from a5 to c7; from there it controls c5, c6 and d6.

    Fixed engine check: Near the leading choice · Qc7 a4 e6 f4.

  11. 16.f4 Advance the f-pawn

    Board fact: White moves the pawn from f2 to f4; from there it controls e5.

    Fixed engine check: Ranked first · f4.

  12. 16...b5 Create pressure on c4

    Board fact: Black moves the pawn from b7 to b5; from b5 it attacks White's pawn on c4.

    Fixed engine check: Ranked first · b5 Rad1 Bd4+ Kh1.

  13. 17.cxb5 Exchange on b5

    Board fact: White's pawn takes the pawn on b5; the move changes the central pawn contact; White accepts doubled pawns on the b-file; from b5 it attacks Black's pawn on a6; white is ahead by 1 conventional material point after the capture.

    Fixed engine check: Playable; Rae1 ranked higher · cxb5 c4.

  14. 17...Qb6 Create pressure on b5

    Board fact: Black moves the queen from c7 to b6; from b6 it attacks White's pawn on b5.

    Fixed engine check: Ranked first · Qb6 Kh2 axb5 Nxb5.

  15. 18.Kh2 Reposition the king

    Board fact: White moves the king from g1 to h2; from h2 it reinforces the pawn on g2.

    Fixed engine check: Ranked first · Kh2 axb5.

  16. 18...axb5 Exchange on b5

    Board fact: Black's pawn takes the pawn on b5; the move changes the central pawn contact; material is level after the capture.

    Fixed engine check: Ranked first · axb5.

  17. 19.Nxb5 Recapture on b5

    Board fact: White's knight recaptures the pawn on b5; from b5 it attacks Black's pawn on d6; white is ahead by 1 conventional material point after the capture.

    Fixed engine check: Ranked first · Nxb5 c4 bxc4 Bxa1.

  18. 19...Bxa1 Exchange on a1

    Board fact: Black's bishop takes the rook on a1; black is ahead by 4 conventional material points after the capture.

    Fixed engine check: Ranked first · Bxa1 Rxa1 c4 bxc4.

  19. 20.Rxa1 Recapture on a1

    Board fact: White's rook recaptures the bishop on a1; from a1 it reinforces the pawn on a2; black is ahead by 1 conventional material point after the capture.

    Fixed engine check: Ranked first · Rxa1 c4 bxc4 Rfc8.

  20. 20...Rfc8 Improve the rook

    Board fact: Black moves the rook from f8 to c8; from there it controls c5 and c6.

    Fixed engine check: Ranked first · Rfc8.

  21. 21.Qc4 Create pressure on c5

    Board fact: White moves the queen from d3 to c4; from c4 it attacks Black's pawn on c5.

    Fixed engine check: Ranked first · Qc4 Qa6 a4 Nb6.

  22. 21...Qa6 Create pressure on b5

    Board fact: Black moves the queen from b6 to a6; from a6 it attacks White's knight on b5 and White's pawn on a2.

    Fixed engine check: Ranked first · Qa6 a4.

  23. 22.a4 Advance a passed pawn

    Board fact: White moves the pawn from a2 to a4; the pawn is now passed; from a4 it reinforces the knight on b5.

    Fixed engine check: Ranked first · a4 Nb6 Qc2 c4.

  24. 22...Nb6 Create pressure on c4

    Board fact: Black moves the knight from d7 to b6; from b6 it attacks White's queen on c4 and White's pawn on a4.

    Fixed engine check: Ranked first · Nb6 Qf1.

  25. 23.Qc2 Create pressure on c5

    Board fact: White moves the queen from c4 to c2; from c2 it attacks Black's pawn on c5.

    Fixed engine check: Playable; Qf1 ranked higher · Qc2 c4 b4 c3.

  26. 23...c4 Change the pawn structure

    Board fact: Black moves the pawn from c5 to c4; the move changes the central pawn contact; from c4 it attacks White's pawn on b3.

    Fixed engine check: Ranked first · c4 b4 c3 Nxc3.

  27. 24.b4 Advance a passed pawn

    Board fact: White moves the pawn from b3 to b4; the pawn is now passed; from there it controls c5.

    Fixed engine check: Ranked first · b4 c3 Nxc3 Qc4.

  28. 24...c3 Advance a passed pawn

    Board fact: Black moves the pawn from c4 to c3; the pawn is now passed; from c3 it attacks White's bishop on d2.

    Fixed engine check: Ranked first · c3 Nxc3.

  29. 25.Nxc3 Exchange on c3

    Board fact: White's knight takes the pawn on c3; from c3 it reinforces the pawn on a4; material is level after the capture.

    Fixed engine check: Ranked first · Nxc3.

  30. 25...Qc4 Create pressure on c3

    Board fact: Black moves the queen from a6 to c4; from c4 it attacks White's knight on c3 and White's pawn on b4.

    Fixed engine check: Ranked first · Qc4 b5 Ra5 Qd1.

  31. 26.b5 Advance a passed pawn

    Board fact: White moves the pawn from b4 to b5; the pawn is now passed; from there it controls c6.

    Fixed engine check: Ranked first · b5 Ra5 Ra2 Rca8.

  32. 26...Qd4 Create pressure on c3

    Board fact: Black moves the queen from c4 to d4; from d4 it attacks White's knight on c3 and White's bishop on d2.

    Fixed engine check: Near the leading choice · Qd4 Be1.

  33. 27.Be1 Reposition the bishop

    Board fact: White moves the bishop from d2 to e1; from there it controls c3.

    Fixed engine check: Ranked first · Be1 Qe3 Qd2 Qxd2.

  34. 27...Nc4 Improve the knight

    Board fact: Black moves the knight from b6 to c4; from there it controls e5, d6 and e3.

    Fixed engine check: Ranked first · Nc4 Ra2 Ne3 Qb2.

  35. 28.Qf2 Create pressure on d4

    Board fact: White moves the queen from c2 to f2; from f2 it attacks Black's queen on d4.

    Fixed engine check: Ranked first · Qf2 Ne3.

  36. 28...Ne3 Create pressure on d5

    Board fact: Black moves the knight from c4 to e3; from e3 it attacks White's pawn on d5 and White's pawn on g2.

    Fixed engine check: Ranked first · Ne3 Rd1.

  37. 29.Rd1 Create pressure on d4

    Board fact: White moves the rook from a1 to d1; from d1 it attacks Black's queen on d4.

    Fixed engine check: Playable; Ra3 ranked higher · Rd1 Qxc3.

  38. 29...Qxc3 Exchange on c3

    Board fact: Black's queen takes the knight on c3; from c3 it attacks White's bishop on e1; black is ahead by 3 conventional material points after the capture.

    Fixed engine check: Ranked first · Qxc3 Bxc3 Nxd1 Qh4.

  39. 30.Bxc3 Recapture on c3

    Board fact: White's bishop recaptures the queen on c3; white is ahead by 6 conventional material points after the capture.

    Fixed engine check: Ranked first · Bxc3.

  40. 30...Nxd1 Exchange on d1

    Board fact: Black's knight takes the rook on d1; from d1 it attacks White's queen on f2 and White's bishop on c3; white is ahead by 1 conventional material point after the capture.

    Fixed engine check: Ranked first · Nxd1 Qe1 Nxc3 b6.

  41. 31.Qd4 Create pressure on d1

    Board fact: White moves the queen from f2 to d4; from d4 it attacks Black's knight on d1.

    Fixed engine check: Playable; Qh4 ranked higher · Qd4 Nxc3.

  42. 31...Nxc3 Exchange on c3

    Board fact: Black's knight takes the bishop on c3; from c3 it attacks White's pawn on a4 and White's pawn on b5; black is ahead by 2 conventional material points after the capture.

    Fixed engine check: Ranked first · Nxc3 b6.

  43. 32.b6 Advance a passed pawn

    Board fact: White moves the pawn from b5 to b6; the pawn is now passed.

    Fixed engine check: Ranked first · b6 Rc5 Qb4 Rxa4.

  44. 32...Rc5 Rook on the open c-file

    Board fact: Black moves the rook from c8 to c5; the rook now occupies the open c-file; from c5 it attacks White's pawn on d5.

    Fixed engine check: Ranked first · Rc5 Qb4 Rxa4 Qb3.

  45. 33.e5 Change the pawn structure

    Board fact: White moves the pawn from e4 to e5; the move changes the central pawn contact; from e5 it attacks Black's pawn on d6.

    Fixed engine check: Recorded move; Qb4 ranked higher · e5 Nxd5.

  46. 33...Rxa4 Exchange on a4

    Board fact: Black's rook takes the pawn on a4; the rook now occupies the open a-file; from a4 it attacks White's queen on d4; black is ahead by 3 conventional material points after the capture.

    Fixed engine check: Ranked first · Rxa4 Qd3 Rb4 Qa6.

  47. 34.b7 Advance a passed pawn

    Board fact: White moves the pawn from b6 to b7; the pawn is now passed.

    Fixed engine check: Near the leading choice · b7 Rxd4.

Endgame · 34...Rxd4 to 34...Rxd4

  1. 34...Rxd4 Exchange on d4

    Board fact: Black's rook takes the queen on d4; from d4 it attacks White's pawn on d5 and White's pawn on f4; black is ahead by 12 conventional material points after the capture.

    Fixed engine check: Ranked first · Rxd4 b8=Q+ Kg7 Qa7.

Middlegame · 35.b8=Q+ to 37.Qxd6

  1. 35.b8=Q+ Promotion on b8

    Board fact: White's pawn reaches b8 and promotes to a queen; the move checks Black's king; the pawn is now passed; from b8 it attacks Black's pawn on d6.

    Fixed engine check: Ranked first · b8=Q+ Kg7 Qa7 Rxf4.

  2. 35...Kg7 Answering the check

    Board fact: Black answers the check by moving the king from g8 to g7; from there it controls f6.

    Fixed engine check: Ranked first · Kg7 Qa7 Rxf4 Qxe7.

  3. 36.exd6 Exchange on d6

    Board fact: White's pawn takes the pawn on d6; the move changes the central pawn contact; White accepts doubled pawns on the d-file; from d6 it attacks Black's pawn on e7; black is ahead by 3 conventional material points after the capture.

    Fixed engine check: Ranked first · exd6 exd6 Qb2 Rd3.

  4. 36...exd6 Recapture on d6

    Board fact: Black's pawn recaptures the pawn on d6; the move changes the central pawn contact; from d6 it reinforces the rook on c5; black is ahead by 4 conventional material points after the capture.

    Fixed engine check: Ranked first · exd6 Qb6 Rcxd5 Qb2.

  5. 37.Qxd6 Recapture on d6

    Board fact: White's queen recaptures the pawn on d6; from d6 it attacks Black's rook on c5 and Black's pawn on g6; black is ahead by 3 conventional material points after the capture.

    Fixed engine check: Recorded move; Kg1 ranked higher · Qxd6 Rcxd5 Qa3 Ne4.

Endgame · 37...Rcxd5 to 41...Nf4

  1. 37...Rcxd5 Exchange on d5

    Board fact: Black's rook takes the pawn on d5; the rook now occupies the open d-file; from d5 it attacks White's queen on d6; black is ahead by 4 conventional material points after the capture.

    Fixed engine check: Ranked first · Rcxd5 Qc7 Ne4 f5.

  2. 38.Qc7 Create pressure on c3

    Board fact: White moves the queen from d6 to c7; from c7 it attacks Black's knight on c3 and Black's pawn on f7.

    Fixed engine check: Near the leading choice · Qc7 Ne4 f5 Nf6.

  3. 38...Ne2 Create pressure on f4

    Board fact: Black moves the knight from c3 to e2; from e2 it attacks White's pawn on f4.

    Fixed engine check: Playable; Nb5 ranked higher · Ne2 f5 Rxf5 Qc6.

  4. 39.f5 Change the pawn structure

    Board fact: White moves the pawn from f4 to f5; the move changes the central pawn contact; from f5 it attacks Black's pawn on g6.

    Fixed engine check: Ranked first · f5 Rxf5 Qc2 Re5.

  5. 39...Rxf5 Exchange on f5

    Board fact: Black's rook takes the pawn on f5; from f5 it reinforces the pawn on f7; black is ahead by 5 conventional material points after the capture.

    Fixed engine check: Ranked first · Rxf5 Qc2 Nf4 Qb2.

  6. 40.Qa7 Create pressure on d4

    Board fact: White moves the queen from c7 to a7; from a7 it attacks Black's rook on d4 and Black's pawn on f7.

    Fixed engine check: Ranked first · Qa7 Rfd5 Qa1 Nf4.

  7. 40...Rfd5 Rook on the open d-file

    Board fact: Black moves the rook from f5 to d5; the rook now occupies the open d-file; from there it controls d4, e5 and c5.

    Fixed engine check: Ranked first · Rfd5 Qa1 Nf4 Qb2.

  8. 41.Qa1 Create pressure on d4

    Board fact: White moves the queen from a7 to a1; from a1 it attacks Black's rook on d4.

    Fixed engine check: Near the leading choice · Qa1 Nf4 Qc3 Nd3.

  9. 41...Nf4 Create pressure on g2

    Board fact: Black moves the knight from e2 to f4; from f4 it attacks White's pawn on g2 and White's pawn on h3.

    Fixed engine check: Ranked first · Nf4 Qc3 Nd3 Qa3.

PGN

[Event "USA-ch"] [Site "?"] [Date "1961.??.??"] [White "Bisguier, Arthur Bernard"] [Black "Fischer, Robert James"] [Result "0-1"] 1. d4 Nf6 2. c4 g6 3. Nc3 Bg7 4. Nf3 O-O 5. Bf4 c5 6. d5 d6 7. e4 Qa5 8. Bd3 Bg4 9. O-O Nbd7 10. h3 Bxf3 11. Qxf3 Ne5 12. Qe2 Nxd3 13. Qxd3 a6 14. Bd2 Nd7 15. b3 Qc7 16. f4 b5 17. cxb5 Qb6 18. Kh2 axb5 19. Nxb5 Bxa1 20. Rxa1 Rfc8 21. Qc4 Qa6 22. a4 Nb6 23. Qc2 c4 24. b4 c3 25. Nxc3 Qc4 26. b5 Qd4 27. Be1 Nc4 28. Qf2 Ne3 29. Rd1 Qxc3 30. Bxc3 Nxd1 31. Qd4 Nxc3 32. b6 Rc5 33. e5 Rxa4 34. b7 Rxd4 35. b8=Q+ Kg7 36. exd6 exd6 37. Qxd6 Rcxd5 38. Qc7 Ne2 39. f5 Rxf5 40. Qa7 Rfd5 41. Qa1 Nf4 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 sha256:86e438c45e2a602c513fbce131e39d1f0be192b802ecf84f9de5678b66878229 and pins it in the selection manifest.
Exact Figshare tags:
White="Bisguier, Arthur Bernard"; Black="Fischer, Robert James"; Event="USA-ch"; Date="1961.01.03"; Result="0-1".
The stable URL retains its legacy 1960 identifier; the displayed 1961 year follows the exact source Date tag. 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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