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Fischer vs Gligoric: Race to the King

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The kings settle on opposite wings in this 1959 Candidates game. Bobby Fischer advances g- and h-pawns, then gives a rook for the knight that blocks the h-file.

On this page
  1. Critical decisions
  2. Replay with move-by-move board facts
  3. PGN
  4. Sources and checking
  5. Continue with another game
White
Robert James Fischer
Black
Svetozar Gligoric
Event
Candidats Tournament
Year
1959
Result
1-0
Opening
B57 Sicilian Defense: Classical Variation, Sozin Attack

Opening reference: Sicilian Defense: Classical Variation, Sozin Attack (B57).

In this game, 20 half-moves are labelled opening, 43 middlegame and 0 endgame. The score contains 16 captures and 1 checks or mates; before a recorded move, the position offered a median of 39 legal choices. The source score ends after 32.Qh7+ with the recorded result 1-0. Its termination tag was not retained, so this record does not infer whether the game ended by resignation, time or another cause.

Critical decisions

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. 11.Be3 — Create pressure on h611.Be3 was a leading choice in the fixed engine check.
  2. 14.Qxe3 — Moves 12-14 — castling on opposite wings14.Qxe3 was a leading choice in the fixed engine check.
  3. 18.g5 — Moves 15-18 — g4-g5, Fischer attacks first18.g5 was a leading choice in the fixed engine check.
  4. 26.Rxh5 — Move 26 — Rxh5!, blasting open the h-file26.Rxh5 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.

♜♞♝♛♚♝♞♜♟♟♟♟♟♟♟♟♟♟♟♟♟♟♟♟♜♞♝♛♚♝♞♜
Robert James Fischer vs Svetozar Gligoric, 1959

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.e4 to 10...h6

  1. 1.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 e5 Nf3 Nc6.

  2. 1...c5 Advance the c-pawn

    Board fact: Black moves the pawn from c7 to c5; from there it controls d4.

    Fixed engine check: Ranked first · c5 Nc3 Nc6 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 c3 d5.

  4. 2...Nc6 Develop the knight

    Board fact: Black develops the knight from b8 to c6; from there it controls d4 and e5.

    Fixed engine check: Ranked first · Nc6 Bb5.

  5. 3.d4 Change the pawn structure

    Board fact: White moves the pawn from d2 to d4; the move changes the central pawn contact; from d4 it attacks Black's pawn on c5.

    Fixed engine check: Ranked first · d4 cxd4 Nxd4 Nf6.

  6. 3...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; black is ahead by 1 conventional material point after the capture.

    Fixed engine check: Ranked first · cxd4 Nxd4 Nf6 Nc3.

  7. 4.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 Nf6 Nc3 d6.

  8. 4...Nf6 Develop the knight

    Board fact: Black develops the knight from g8 to f6; from f6 it attacks White's pawn on e4.

    Fixed engine check: Ranked first · Nf6 Nc3 e6 Nxc6.

  9. 5.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 d6 Nd5 e6.

  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: Ranked first · d6 Nd5 e6 Nxf6+.

  11. 6.Bc4 Develop the bishop

    Board fact: White develops the bishop from f1 to c4; from c4 it attacks Black's pawn on f7.

    Fixed engine check: Near the leading choice · Bc4 e6.

  12. 6...Bd7 Develop the bishop

    Board fact: Black develops the bishop from c8 to d7; from there it controls c6, e6 and f5.

    Fixed engine check: Ranked first · Bd7 Be3 g6 Nxc6.

  13. 7.Bb3 Create pressure on f7

    Board fact: White moves the bishop from c4 to b3; from b3 it attacks Black's pawn on f7.

    Fixed engine check: Ranked first · Bb3 g6.

  14. 7...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 f3 Bg7 Be3.

  15. 8.f3 Advance the f-pawn

    Board fact: White moves the pawn from f2 to f3; from there it controls e4.

    Fixed engine check: Ranked first · f3 Bg7 Be3 O-O.

  16. 8...Na5 Create pressure on b3

    Board fact: Black moves the knight from c6 to a5; from a5 it attacks White's bishop on b3.

    Fixed engine check: Ranked first · Na5 Be3 a6 Qd2.

  17. 9.Bg5 Develop the bishop

    Board fact: White develops the bishop from c1 to g5; from g5 it attacks Black's knight on f6.

    Fixed engine check: Ranked first · Bg5 Bg7 Qd2 h6.

  18. 9...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 Qd2.

  19. 10.Qd2 Reposition the queen

    Board fact: White moves the queen from d1 to d2; from there it controls d4, c3 and d3.

    Fixed engine check: Ranked first · Qd2 h6 Be3 Rb8.

  20. 10...h6 Create pressure on g5

    Board fact: Black moves the pawn from h7 to h6; from h6 it attacks White's bishop on g5.

    Fixed engine check: Ranked first · h6 Be3 a6 O-O-O.

Middlegame · 11.Be3 to 32.Qh7+

  1. 11.Be3 Create pressure on h6

    Board fact: White moves the bishop from g5 to e3; from e3 it attacks Black's pawn on h6.

    Fixed engine check: Ranked first · Be3.

  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 knight on c3.

    Fixed engine check: Near the leading choice · Rc8 O-O-O.

  3. 12.O-O-O Queenside castling

    Board fact: White castles queenside, moving the king to c1 and the rook to d1. The move changes king safety and develops the rook in one turn.

    Fixed engine check: Ranked first · O-O-O a6 Kb1 b5.

    Moves 12-14 — castling on opposite wingsWhite castles queenside with 12.O-O-O; Black follows with 14...O-O. The opposite-side kings make pawn advances possible without exposing the advancing side's own king in the same sector.
  4. 12...Nc4 Create pressure on d2

    Board fact: Black moves the knight from a5 to c4; from c4 it attacks White's queen on d2 and White's bishop on e3.

    Fixed engine check: Near the leading choice · Nc4 Bxc4 Rxc4 g4.

  5. 13.Qe2 Create pressure on c4

    Board fact: White moves the queen from d2 to e2; from e2 it attacks Black's knight on c4.

    Fixed engine check: Playable; Bxc4 ranked higher · Qe2 Nxe3 Qxe3 Qa5.

  6. 13...Nxe3 Exchange on e3

    Board fact: Black's knight takes the bishop on e3; from e3 it attacks White's rook on d1 and White's pawn on c2; black is ahead by 3 conventional material points after the capture.

    Fixed engine check: Ranked first · Nxe3 Qxe3 Qa5 f4.

  7. 14.Qxe3 Recapture on e3

    Board fact: White's queen recaptures the knight on e3; from e3 it attacks Black's pawn on h6; material is level after the capture.

    Fixed engine check: Ranked first · Qxe3 O-O g4 Qb6.

  8. 14...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.

  9. 15.g4 Advance the g-pawn

    Board fact: White moves the pawn from g2 to g4; from there it controls f5.

    Fixed engine check: Ranked first · g4 Qb6 Rd3 Qc5.

    Moves 15-18 — g4-g5, Fischer attacks first15.g4, 16.h4 and 18.g5 gain space around the black king. Gligoric answers with queen and rook activity on the c-file, so White's attack has to remain forcing.
  10. 15...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: Ranked first · Qa5 h4.

  11. 16.h4 Advance the h-pawn

    Board fact: White moves the pawn from h2 to h4.

    Fixed engine check: Ranked first · h4 Kh7.

  12. 16...e6 Advance the e-pawn

    Board fact: Black moves the pawn from e7 to e6; from there it controls d5 and f5.

    Fixed engine check: Near the leading choice · e6 g5 Nh5 gxh6.

  13. 17.Nde2 Reroute the knight

    Board fact: White moves the knight from d4 to e2; from there it controls d4, c3 and f4.

    Fixed engine check: Near the leading choice · Nde2 Ne8 g5 Qc5.

  14. 17...Rc6 Rook on the semi-open c-file

    Board fact: Black moves the rook from c8 to c6; the rook now works on a semi-open c-file; from c6 it attacks White's knight on c3.

    Fixed engine check: Recorded move; Ne8 ranked higher · Rc6 g5 Nh5 gxh6.

  15. 18.g5 Create pressure on f6

    Board fact: White moves the pawn from g4 to g5; from g5 it attacks Black's knight on f6 and Black's pawn on h6.

    Fixed engine check: Ranked first · g5.

  16. 18...hxg5 Exchange on g5

    Board fact: Black's pawn takes the pawn on g5; the move changes the central pawn contact; Black accepts doubled pawns on the g-file; from g5 it attacks White's pawn on h4; black is ahead by 1 conventional material point after the capture.

    Fixed engine check: Ranked first · hxg5 hxg5.

  17. 19.hxg5 Recapture on g5

    Board fact: White's pawn recaptures the pawn on g5; the move changes the central pawn contact; from g5 it attacks Black's knight on f6; material is level after the capture.

    Fixed engine check: Ranked first · hxg5 Nh5 f4 Rfc8.

  18. 19...Nh5 Reroute the knight

    Board fact: Black moves the knight from f6 to h5; from there it controls f4 and f6.

    Fixed engine check: Ranked first · Nh5 f4 Rfc8 Kb1.

  19. 20.f4 Advance the f-pawn

    Board fact: White moves the pawn from f3 to f4; from there it controls e5.

    Fixed engine check: Ranked first · f4 Qc5 Qf3 a5.

  20. 20...Rfc8 Rook on the semi-open c-file

    Board fact: Black moves the rook from f8 to c8; the rook now works on a semi-open c-file; from there it controls c6.

    Fixed engine check: Ranked first · Rfc8 e5 Qc7 Qd2.

  21. 21.Kb1 Reposition the king

    Board fact: White moves the king from c1 to b1; from b1 it reinforces the pawn on a2.

    Fixed engine check: Ranked first · Kb1 Qb6 Qf3 a5.

  22. 21...Qb6 Create pressure on e3

    Board fact: Black moves the queen from a5 to b6; from b6 it attacks White's queen on e3 and White's bishop on b3.

    Fixed engine check: Ranked first · Qb6 Qf3 a5 f5.

  23. 22.Qf3 Create pressure on h5

    Board fact: White moves the queen from e3 to f3; from f3 it attacks Black's knight on h5.

    Fixed engine check: Ranked first · Qf3 a5 f5 exf5.

  24. 22...Rc5 Rook on the semi-open c-file

    Board fact: Black moves the rook from c6 to c5; the rook now works on a semi-open c-file; from c5 it attacks White's knight on c3 and White's pawn on g5.

    Fixed engine check: Near the leading choice · Rc5 Rxh5 a5 Rh3.

  25. 23.Qd3 Create pressure on d6

    Board fact: White moves the queen from f3 to d3; from d3 it attacks Black's pawn on d6.

    Fixed engine check: Recorded move; Rxh5 ranked higher · Qd3 a5.

  26. 23...Bxc3 Exchange on c3

    Board fact: Black's bishop takes the knight on c3; from c3 it attacks White's pawn on b2; black is ahead by 3 conventional material points after the capture.

    Fixed engine check: Recorded move; Rxc3 ranked higher · Bxc3 Nxc3 Rxc3 bxc3.

  27. 24.Nxc3 Recapture on c3

    Board fact: White's knight recaptures the bishop on c3; from c3 it reinforces the rook on d1; material is level after the capture.

    Fixed engine check: Ranked first · Nxc3 Rxc3 bxc3 Nxf4.

  28. 24...Nxf4 Exchange on f4

    Board fact: Black's knight takes the pawn on f4; from f4 it attacks White's queen on d3; black is ahead by 1 conventional material point after the capture.

    Fixed engine check: Ranked first · Nxf4 Qf3 e5 Nd5.

  29. 25.Qf3 Create pressure on f4

    Board fact: White moves the queen from d3 to f3; from f3 it attacks Black's knight on f4.

    Fixed engine check: Ranked first · Qf3 Nh5 Rxh5 Rxc3.

  30. 25...Nh5 Reroute the knight

    Board fact: Black moves the knight from f4 to h5; from there it controls f4 and f6.

    Fixed engine check: Near the leading choice · Nh5.

  31. 26.Rxh5 Exchange on h5

    Board fact: White's rook takes the knight on h5; the rook now occupies the open h-file; from h5 it reinforces the pawn on g5; white is ahead by 2 conventional material points after the capture.

    Fixed engine check: Ranked first · Rxh5 gxh5 Qxh5 Rxc3.

    Move 26 — Rxh5!, blasting open the h-file26.Rxh5 gxh5 27.Qxh5 exchanges a rook for the knight on h5, then removes the recapturing pawn. The h-file is clear and White's queen has reached the king's flank.
  32. 26...gxh5 Recapture on h5

    Board fact: Black's pawn recaptures the rook on h5; the pawn is now passed; the move changes the central pawn contact; black is ahead by 3 conventional material points after the capture.

    Fixed engine check: Ranked first · gxh5 Qxh5 Be8 Rh1.

  33. 27.Qxh5 Recapture on h5

    Board fact: White's queen recaptures the pawn on h5; from h5 it attacks Black's pawn on f7; black is ahead by 2 conventional material points after the capture.

    Fixed engine check: Playable; Rf1 ranked higher · Qxh5 Be8 Rh1 Kf8.

  34. 27...Be8 Reposition the bishop

    Board fact: Black moves the bishop from d7 to e8; from there it controls c6.

    Fixed engine check: Ranked first · Be8 Rh1.

  35. 28.Qh6 Create pressure on e6

    Board fact: White moves the queen from h5 to h6; from h6 it attacks Black's pawn on e6.

    Fixed engine check: Playable; Rh1 ranked higher · Qh6 Rxc3 bxc3 Qe3.

  36. 28...Rxc3 Exchange on c3

    Board fact: Black's rook takes the knight on c3; the rook now works on a semi-open c-file; from c3 it attacks White's bishop on b3 and White's pawn on c2; black is ahead by 5 conventional material points after the capture.

    Fixed engine check: Ranked first · Rxc3 bxc3 Qe3 Rd3.

  37. 29.bxc3 Recapture on c3

    Board fact: White's pawn recaptures the rook on c3; the move changes the central pawn contact; White accepts doubled pawns on the c-file; material is level after the capture.

    Fixed engine check: Near the leading choice · bxc3 Qe3 Bxe6 Rc5.

  38. 29...Rxc3 Recapture on c3

    Board fact: Black's rook recaptures the pawn on c3; the rook now works on a semi-open c-file; from c3 it attacks White's bishop on b3 and White's pawn on c2; black is ahead by 1 conventional material point after the capture.

    Fixed engine check: Recorded move; Qe3 ranked higher · Rxc3 g6 Rxc2 Kxc2.

  39. 30.g6 Create pressure on f7

    Board fact: White moves the pawn from g5 to g6; from g6 it attacks Black's pawn on f7.

    Fixed engine check: Ranked first · g6 Rxc2 Kxc2 Qf2+.

    Moves 30-32 — g6 and Qh7+The game continues 30.g6 fxg6 31.Rh1 Qd4 32.Qh7+. The f7-pawn has been drawn to g6, and Qh7+ is the final move in the stored score.
  40. 30...fxg6 Exchange on g6

    Board fact: Black's pawn takes the pawn on g6; the pawn is now passed; the move changes the central pawn contact; black is ahead by 2 conventional material points after the capture.

    Fixed engine check: Near the leading choice · fxg6 Rh1 Kf7 Qh7+.

  41. 31.Rh1 Rook on the open h-file

    Board fact: White moves the rook from d1 to h1; the rook now occupies the open h-file; from h1 it reinforces the queen on h6.

    Fixed engine check: Ranked first · Rh1 Kf7 Qh7+ Kf6.

  42. 31...Qd4 Create pressure on e4

    Board fact: Black moves the queen from b6 to d4; from d4 it attacks White's pawn on e4.

    Fixed engine check: Recorded move; Rxb3+ ranked higher · Qd4 Bxe6+ Bf7 Qh7+.

  43. 32.Qh7+ A forcing check

    Board fact: White moves the queen from h6 to h7; the move checks Black's king; from h7 it attacks Black's pawn on b7 and Black's pawn on g6.

    Fixed engine check: Recorded move; Bxe6+ ranked higher · Qh7+ Kf8 Rf1+ Qf2.

PGN

[Event "Candidats Tournament"] [Site "?"] [Date "1959.??.??"] [White "Fischer, Robert James"] [Black "Gligoric, Svetozar"] [Result "1-0"] 1. e4 c5 2. Nf3 Nc6 3. d4 cxd4 4. Nxd4 Nf6 5. Nc3 d6 6. Bc4 Bd7 7. Bb3 g6 8. f3 Na5 9. Bg5 Bg7 10. Qd2 h6 11. Be3 Rc8 12. O-O-O Nc4 13. Qe2 Nxe3 14. Qxe3 O-O 15. g4 Qa5 16. h4 e6 17. Nde2 Rc6 18. g5 hxg5 19. hxg5 Nh5 20. f4 Rfc8 21. Kb1 Qb6 22. Qf3 Rc5 23. Qd3 Bxc3 24. Nxc3 Nxf4 25. Qf3 Nh5 26. Rxh5 gxh5 27. Qxh5 Be8 28. Qh6 Rxc3 29. bxc3 Rxc3 30. g6 fxg6 31. Rh1 Qd4 32. Qh7+ 1-0

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 sha256:7ea647008b122c99c029ac00788e3248df5c393d35b36cfdbfa9958a08e4f4f3 and pins it in the selection manifest.
Exact Figshare tags:
White="Fischer, Robert James"; Black="Gligoric, Svetozar"; Event="Candidates Tournament"; Date="1959.09.11"; Result="1-0".
Reviewed display mapping: event Candidates Tournament → Candidats Tournament. 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 or a substitute for the authored notes. No termination is inferred where the imported score does not preserve one.

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