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Fischer vs Petrosian: The Seventh Game

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In game seven of the 1971 Candidates final, Bobby Fischer gives Tigran Petrosian's isolated d-pawn no relief: pieces are exchanged, but the target remains.

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
Tigran V Petrosian
Event
Candidats final
Year
1971
Result
1-0
Opening
B42 Sicilian Defense: Kan Variation, Modern Variation

Opening reference: Sicilian Defense: Kan Variation, Modern Variation (B42).

In this game, 18 half-moves are labelled opening, 49 middlegame and 0 endgame. The score contains 15 captures and 4 checks or mates; before a recorded move, the position offered a median of 33 legal choices. The source score ends after 34.Bc4 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. 10.exd5 — Moves 7-10 — saddling Black with a weakness10.exd5 was a leading choice in the fixed engine check.
  2. 14.Nxa4 — Moves 12-16 — trade queens, keep the bind14.Nxa4 was a leading choice in the fixed engine check.
  3. 21.Re5 — Rook on the open e-file21.Re5 was a leading choice in the fixed engine check.
  4. 24.Rc7 — Move 24 — Rc7, the rook on the seventh24.Rc7 was a leading choice in the fixed engine check.
  5. 29.Ke3 — Moves 26-30 — the king walks up29.Ke3 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 Tigran V Petrosian, 1971

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 9...cxd5

  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...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: Ranked first · e6 c3 d5 e5.

  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 Be7.

  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 pawn on e6; material is level after the capture.

    Fixed engine check: Ranked first · Nxd4 Nf6 Nc3 d6.

  8. 4...a6 Advance the a-pawn

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

    Fixed engine check: Ranked first · a6 Bd3.

  9. 5.Bd3 Develop the bishop

    Board fact: White develops the bishop from f1 to d3; from d3 it attacks Black's pawn on a6.

    Fixed engine check: Ranked first · Bd3 Nf6 O-O d6.

  10. 5...Nc6 Develop the knight

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

    Fixed engine check: Ranked first · Nc6 Nxc6.

  11. 6.Nxc6 Exchange on c6

    Board fact: White's knight takes the knight on c6; from c6 it attacks Black's queen on d8; white is ahead by 3 conventional material points after the capture.

    Fixed engine check: Ranked first · Nxc6 bxc6 O-O Qc7.

  12. 6...bxc6 Recapture on c6

    Board fact: Black's pawn recaptures the knight on c6; the move changes the central pawn contact; material is level after the capture.

    Fixed engine check: Ranked first · bxc6 O-O.

  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 d5.

    Moves 7-10 — saddling Black with a weaknessAfter 8.c4 and the exchanges on d5, Black is left with an isolated pawn on d5. White can attack it without having to defend a corresponding central weakness.
  14. 7...d5 Change the pawn structure

    Board fact: Black moves the pawn from d7 to d5; the move changes the central pawn contact; from d5 it attacks White's pawn on e4.

    Fixed engine check: Ranked first · d5 Re1 Nf6 Nd2.

  15. 8.c4 Change the pawn structure

    Board fact: White moves the pawn from c2 to c4; the move changes the central pawn contact; from c4 it attacks Black's pawn on d5.

    Fixed engine check: Ranked first · c4 Nf6 Nc3 Be7.

  16. 8...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 Nd2 Qc7 Re1.

  17. 9.cxd5 Exchange on d5

    Board fact: White's pawn takes the pawn on d5; the move changes the central pawn contact; from d5 it attacks Black's pawn on c6 and Black's pawn on e6; white is ahead by 1 conventional material point after the capture.

    Fixed engine check: Near the leading choice · cxd5.

  18. 9...cxd5 Recapture on d5

    Board fact: Black's pawn recaptures the pawn on d5; the move changes the central pawn contact; from d5 it attacks White's pawn on e4; material is level after the capture.

    Fixed engine check: Ranked first · cxd5 e5.

Middlegame · 10.exd5 to 34.Bc4

  1. 10.exd5 Recapture on d5

    Board fact: White's pawn recaptures the pawn on d5; the move changes the central pawn contact; from d5 it attacks Black's pawn on e6; white is ahead by 1 conventional material point after the capture.

    Fixed engine check: Ranked first · exd5 Qxd5.

  2. 10...exd5 Recapture on d5

    Board fact: Black's pawn recaptures the pawn on d5; the pawn is now passed; the move changes the central pawn contact; material is level after the capture.

    Fixed engine check: Playable; Qxd5 ranked higher · exd5 Nc3 Be7 Be3.

  3. 11.Nc3 Develop the knight

    Board fact: White develops the knight from b1 to c3; from c3 it attacks Black's pawn on d5.

    Fixed engine check: Ranked first · Nc3 Be7 Be3 O-O.

  4. 11...Be7 Develop the bishop

    Board fact: Black develops the bishop from f8 to e7; from there it controls c5, d6 and f6.

    Fixed engine check: Ranked first · Be7 Be3 O-O Bd4.

  5. 12.Qa4+ A forcing check

    Board fact: White moves the queen from d1 to a4; the move checks Black's king; from a4 it attacks Black's pawn on a6.

    Fixed engine check: Near the leading choice · Qa4+ Bd7 Qh4 Ne4.

    Moves 12-16 — trade queens, keep the bind12.Qa4+ Qd7 13.Re1 Qxa4 14.Nxa4 removes the queens. Then 16.Bc5 and 17.Bxe7 exchange Black's active e7-bishop, narrowing Black's sources of counterplay.
  6. 12...Qd7 Answering the check

    Board fact: Black answers the check by moving the queen from d8 to d7; from d7 it attacks White's queen on a4.

    Fixed engine check: Ranked first · Qd7 Re1.

  7. 13.Re1 Rook on the open e-file

    Board fact: White moves the rook from f1 to e1; the rook now occupies the open e-file; from e1 it attacks Black's bishop on e7.

    Fixed engine check: Ranked first · Re1 Qxa4 Nxa4 Be6.

  8. 13...Qxa4 Exchange on a4

    Board fact: Black's queen takes the queen on a4; from a4 it attacks White's pawn on a2; black is ahead by 9 conventional material points after the capture.

    Fixed engine check: Ranked first · Qxa4 Nxa4 Be6 Bf4.

  9. 14.Nxa4 Recapture on a4

    Board fact: White's knight recaptures the queen on a4; from a4 it reinforces the pawn on b2; material is level after the capture.

    Fixed engine check: Ranked first · Nxa4 Be6 Bf4 Nd7.

  10. 14...Be6 Develop the bishop

    Board fact: Black develops the bishop from c8 to e6; from there it controls d5 and f5.

    Fixed engine check: Ranked first · Be6 Bf4 O-O Rac1.

  11. 15.Be3 Develop the bishop

    Board fact: White develops the bishop from c1 to e3; from there it controls d4, c5 and f4.

    Fixed engine check: Ranked first · Be3 Nd7 Bd4 O-O.

  12. 15...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 Bc5 Rfe8 Bxe7.

  13. 16.Bc5 Create pressure on e7

    Board fact: White moves the bishop from e3 to c5; from c5 it attacks Black's bishop on e7.

    Fixed engine check: Ranked first · Bc5 Rfe8 Bxe7 Rxe7.

  14. 16...Rfe8 Rook on the open e-file

    Board fact: Black moves the rook from f8 to e8; the rook now occupies the open e-file; from e8 it reinforces the rook on a8.

    Fixed engine check: Ranked first · Rfe8 b4 Nd7 Bxe7.

  15. 17.Bxe7 Exchange on e7

    Board fact: White's bishop takes the bishop on e7; from e7 it attacks Black's knight on f6; white is ahead by 3 conventional material points after the capture.

    Fixed engine check: Ranked first · Bxe7 Rxe7 b4 Rc7.

  16. 17...Rxe7 Recapture on e7

    Board fact: Black's rook recaptures the bishop on e7; the rook now occupies the open e-file; from e7 it reinforces the bishop on e6; material is level after the capture.

    Fixed engine check: Ranked first · Rxe7 b4.

  17. 18.b4 Advance the b-pawn

    Board fact: White moves the pawn from b2 to b4; from there it controls c5.

    Fixed engine check: Ranked first · b4 Rc7 a3 Nd7.

  18. 18...Kf8 Reposition the king

    Board fact: Black moves the king from g8 to f8; from f8 it reinforces the rook on e7.

    Fixed engine check: Ranked first · Kf8 Nc5 a5 b5.

  19. 19.Nc5 Create pressure on e6

    Board fact: White moves the knight from a4 to c5; from c5 it attacks Black's bishop on e6 and Black's pawn on a6.

    Fixed engine check: Ranked first · Nc5 a5 b5 Nd7.

  20. 19...Bc8 Reposition the bishop

    Board fact: Black moves the bishop from e6 to c8; from there it controls e6 and f5.

    Fixed engine check: Ranked first · Bc8 f3 Nd7 Na4.

  21. 20.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 Rxe1+.

  22. 20...Rea7 Improve the rook

    Board fact: Black moves the rook from e7 to a7; from a7 it reinforces the rook on a8.

    Fixed engine check: Ranked first · Rea7 Re5.

  23. 21.Re5 Rook on the open e-file

    Board fact: White moves the rook from e1 to e5; the rook now occupies the open e-file; from e5 it attacks Black's pawn on d5.

    Fixed engine check: Ranked first · Re5 g6 a3 Bd7.

  24. 21...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: Near the leading choice · Bd7 a4 Bc8 Rb1.

  25. 22.Nxd7+ Capture with check on d7

    Board fact: White's knight takes the bishop on d7; the move checks Black's king; from d7 it attacks Black's knight on f6; white is ahead by 3 conventional material points after the capture.

    Fixed engine check: Ranked first · Nxd7+ Rxd7 Rc1 Rd6.

  26. 22...Rxd7 Recapture on d7

    Board fact: Black's rook recaptures the knight on d7; from d7 it reinforces the pawn on d5; material is level after the capture.

    Fixed engine check: Ranked first · Rxd7 Rc1 d4 Rc4.

  27. 23.Rc1 Rook on the open c-file

    Board fact: White moves the rook from a1 to c1; the rook now occupies the open c-file; from there it controls c3, c4 and c5.

    Fixed engine check: Ranked first · Rc1 d4.

  28. 23...Rd6 Improve the rook

    Board fact: Black moves the rook from d7 to d6; from there it controls d5, c6 and e6.

    Fixed engine check: Near the leading choice · Rd6 Rc7 Nd7 Re1.

  29. 24.Rc7 Rook on the open c-file

    Board fact: White moves the rook from c1 to c7; the rook now occupies the open c-file; from c7 it attacks Black's pawn on f7.

    Fixed engine check: Ranked first · Rc7 Nd7 Re1 Rb8.

    Move 24 — Rc7, the rook on the seventh24.Rc7 enters on Black's seventh rank. The other rook later follows with 31.Ree7; both rooks occupy the seventh, and the e7-rook attacks f7 directly.
  30. 24...Nd7 Create pressure on e5

    Board fact: Black moves the knight from f6 to d7; from d7 it attacks White's rook on e5.

    Fixed engine check: Ranked first · Nd7 Re2 g6 Kf2.

  31. 25.Re2 Rook on the open e-file

    Board fact: White moves the rook from e5 to e2; the rook now occupies the open e-file; from there it controls e4, e5 and e3.

    Fixed engine check: Ranked first · Re2 g6.

  32. 25...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 Kf2.

  33. 26.Kf2 Reposition the king

    Board fact: White moves the king from g1 to f2; from there it controls e3 and f3.

    Fixed engine check: Ranked first · Kf2 d4 a3 Rd8.

    Moves 26-30 — the king walks upFischer's king follows the route 26.Kf2, 28.Kf3 and 29.Ke3. It meets 29...d4+ without abandoning the rook invasion; the recorded game ends after 34.Bc4.
  34. 26...h5 Advance the h-pawn

    Board fact: Black moves the pawn from h7 to h5.

    Fixed engine check: Ranked first · h5 h4.

  35. 27.f4 Advance the f-pawn

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

    Fixed engine check: Playable; h4 ranked higher · f4 Nb6 g3 d4.

  36. 27...h4 Advance the h-pawn

    Board fact: Black moves the pawn from h5 to h4.

    Fixed engine check: Ranked first · h4 g4.

  37. 28.Kf3 Reposition the king

    Board fact: White moves the king from f2 to f3; from there it controls e4, e3 and f4.

    Fixed engine check: Ranked first · Kf3 Rd8 Ra7 Rc8.

  38. 28...f5 Advance the f-pawn

    Board fact: Black moves the pawn from f7 to f5; from there it controls e4.

    Fixed engine check: Playable; d4 ranked higher · f5 Ke3 d4+ Kd2.

  39. 29.Ke3 Reposition the king

    Board fact: White moves the king from f3 to e3; from there it controls d4, e4 and d3.

    Fixed engine check: Ranked first · Ke3 d4+ Kd2 Nf6.

  40. 29...d4+ A forcing check

    Board fact: Black moves the pawn from d5 to d4; the move checks White's king; the pawn is now passed; from there it controls c3 and e3.

    Fixed engine check: Ranked first · d4+ Kd2.

  41. 30.Kd2 Answering the check

    Board fact: White answers the check by moving the king from e3 to d2; from there it controls c3, d3 and e3.

    Fixed engine check: Ranked first · Kd2 h3 gxh3 Nf6.

  42. 30...Nb6 Reroute the knight

    Board fact: Black moves the knight from d7 to b6; from there it controls d5 and c4.

    Fixed engine check: Near the leading choice · Nb6 Rh7 Rc8 Ree7.

  43. 31.Ree7 Rook on the open e-file

    Board fact: White moves the rook from e2 to e7; the rook now occupies the open e-file; from there it controls e4, e5 and e3.

    Fixed engine check: Ranked first · Ree7 Nd5 Rf7+ Ke8.

  44. 31...Nd5 Create pressure on c7

    Board fact: Black moves the knight from b6 to d5; from d5 it attacks White's rook on c7 and White's rook on e7.

    Fixed engine check: Ranked first · Nd5 Rf7+ Ke8 Rb7.

  45. 32.Rf7+ A forcing check

    Board fact: White moves the rook from e7 to f7; the move checks Black's king; the rook has reached the opponent’s second rank; from f7 it attacks Black's pawn on f5.

    Fixed engine check: Ranked first · Rf7+ Ke8 Rb7 Rb8.

  46. 32...Ke8 Answering the check

    Board fact: Black answers the check by moving the king from f8 to e8; from e8 it attacks White's rook on f7.

    Fixed engine check: Ranked first · Ke8 Rb7.

  47. 33.Rb7 Rook reaches the seventh rank

    Board fact: White moves the rook from c7 to b7; the rook has reached the opponent’s second rank; from b7 it reinforces the rook on f7.

    Fixed engine check: Ranked first · Rb7 Rb8 Ra7 Nf6.

  48. 33...Nxb4 Exchange on b4

    Board fact: Black's knight takes the pawn on b4; from b4 it attacks White's bishop on d3 and White's pawn on a2; black is ahead by 1 conventional material point after the capture.

    Fixed engine check: Recorded move; Rb8 ranked higher · Nxb4 Rh7 Rf6 Rxb4.

  49. 34.Bc4 Create pressure on a6

    Board fact: White moves the bishop from d3 to c4; from c4 it attacks Black's pawn on a6.

    Fixed engine check: Near the leading choice · Bc4 Rc6 Bb3 Rac8.

PGN

[Event "Candidats final"] [Site "?"] [Date "1971.??.??"] [White "Fischer, Robert James"] [Black "Petrosian, Tigran V"] [Result "1-0"] 1. e4 c5 2. Nf3 e6 3. d4 cxd4 4. Nxd4 a6 5. Bd3 Nc6 6. Nxc6 bxc6 7. O-O d5 8. c4 Nf6 9. cxd5 cxd5 10. exd5 exd5 11. Nc3 Be7 12. Qa4+ Qd7 13. Re1 Qxa4 14. Nxa4 Be6 15. Be3 O-O 16. Bc5 Rfe8 17. Bxe7 Rxe7 18. b4 Kf8 19. Nc5 Bc8 20. f3 Rea7 21. Re5 Bd7 22. Nxd7+ Rxd7 23. Rc1 Rd6 24. Rc7 Nd7 25. Re2 g6 26. Kf2 h5 27. f4 h4 28. Kf3 f5 29. Ke3 d4+ 30. Kd2 Nb6 31. Ree7 Nd5 32. Rf7+ Ke8 33. Rb7 Nxb4 34. Bc4 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 sha256:7b0f8fba5dec04995bcff46a0a297dd43e6600db6796b9451cc204fb3d96de20 and pins it in the selection manifest.
Exact Figshare tags:
White="Fischer, Robert James"; Black="Petrosian, Tigran V"; Event="Candidates final"; Date="1971.10.19"; Result="1-0".
Reviewed display mapping: event Candidates final → Candidats final. 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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