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Classic game replay

Robert James Fischer vs S. Sholomson, 1957

This replay preserves the complete 59-ply score of Fischer playing White across 30 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
Robert James Fischer
Black
S. Sholomson
Event
USA-chJ
Year
1957
Result
1-0
Opening
B08 Pirc Defense: Classical Variation

Opening reference: Pirc Defense: Classical Variation (B08).

In this game, 20 half-moves are labelled opening, 39 middlegame and 0 endgame. The score contains 15 captures and 2 checks or mates; before a recorded move, the position offered a median of 38 legal choices. The source score ends after 30.Re7 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.

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. 8.e5 — Change the pawn structure8.e5 was a leading choice in the fixed engine check.
  2. 14.Ne7+ — A forcing check14.Ne7+ was a leading choice in the fixed engine check.
  3. 22.Nf5 — Create pressure on g722.Nf5 was a leading choice in the fixed engine check.
  4. 25.Nxf7+ — Capture with check on f725.Nxf7+ 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 S. Sholomson, 1957

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.Nf3 to 10...exd6

  1. 1.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.

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

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

    Fixed engine check: Near the leading choice · g6 e4.

  3. 2.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 Bg7 d4 d6.

  4. 2...Bg7 Develop the bishop

    Board fact: Black develops the bishop from f8 to g7; from g7 it attacks White's pawn on b2.

    Fixed engine check: Ranked first · Bg7 d4 d6 Be2.

  5. 3.d4 Claim central space

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

    Fixed engine check: Ranked first · d4 d6 Bc4 Nf6.

  6. 3...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 Nc3 Nf6 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 c6 Be2 Nf6.

  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 Be3.

  9. 5.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: Ranked first · Bc4 O-O Qe2 Bg4.

  10. 5...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 Qe2 c6 Bb3.

  11. 6.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 Bg4 h3 Bxf3.

  12. 6...c6 Advance the c-pawn

    Board fact: Black moves the pawn from c7 to c6; from there it controls d5.

    Fixed engine check: Near the leading choice · c6 Bb3 Bg4 h3.

  13. 7.Qe2 Reposition the queen

    Board fact: White moves the queen from d1 to e2; from there it controls e4, c4 and d3.

    Fixed engine check: Near the leading choice · Qe2.

  14. 7...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: Recorded move; b5 ranked higher · Nbd7 e5.

  15. 8.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 knight on f6 and Black's pawn on d6.

    Fixed engine check: Ranked first · e5.

  16. 8...Nd5 Create pressure on c3

    Board fact: Black moves the knight from f6 to d5; from d5 it attacks White's knight on c3.

    Fixed engine check: Ranked first · Nd5 Bxd5.

  17. 9.Bxd5 Exchange on d5

    Board fact: White's bishop takes the knight on d5; from d5 it attacks Black's pawn on c6 and Black's pawn on f7; white is ahead by 3 conventional material points after the capture.

    Fixed engine check: Ranked first · Bxd5 cxd5 exd6 exd6.

  18. 9...cxd5 Recapture on d5

    Board fact: Black's pawn recaptures the bishop on d5; the move changes the central pawn contact; Black accepts doubled pawns on the d-file; material is level after the capture.

    Fixed engine check: Ranked first · cxd5.

  19. 10.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; white is ahead by 1 conventional material point after the capture.

    Fixed engine check: Ranked first · exd6 exd6 Nxd5 Re8.

  20. 10...exd6 Recapture on d6

    Board fact: Black's pawn recaptures the pawn on d6; the move changes the central pawn contact; Black accepts doubled pawns on the d-file; material is level after the capture.

    Fixed engine check: Ranked first · exd6 Nxd5 Re8 Qb5.

Middlegame · 11.Nxd5 to 30.Re7

  1. 11.Nxd5 Exchange on d5

    Board fact: White's knight takes the pawn on d5; white is ahead by 1 conventional material point after the capture.

    Fixed engine check: Ranked first · Nxd5 Re8 Qb5 h6.

  2. 11...Qa5 Create pressure on d5

    Board fact: Black moves the queen from d8 to a5; from a5 it attacks White's knight on d5 and White's pawn on a2.

    Fixed engine check: Recorded move; Re8 ranked higher · Qa5 Ne7+.

  3. 12.c4 Advance the c-pawn

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

    Fixed engine check: Playable; Ne7+ ranked higher · c4 Nf6 Bd2 Qd8.

  4. 12...Nf6 Create pressure on d5

    Board fact: Black moves the knight from d7 to f6; from f6 it attacks White's knight on d5.

    Fixed engine check: Ranked first · Nf6 Bd2 Qd8 Ne7+.

  5. 13.Bd2 Develop the bishop

    Board fact: White develops the bishop from c1 to d2; from d2 it attacks Black's queen on a5.

    Fixed engine check: Ranked first · Bd2 Qd8 Ne7+ Kh8.

  6. 13...Qd8 Reposition the queen

    Board fact: Black moves the queen from a5 to d8; from there it controls d6 and f6.

    Fixed engine check: Ranked first · Qd8 Ne7+ Kh8 Nxc8.

  7. 14.Ne7+ A forcing check

    Board fact: White moves the knight from d5 to e7; the move checks Black's king; from e7 it attacks Black's bishop on c8 and Black's pawn on g6.

    Fixed engine check: Ranked first · Ne7+ Kh8 Nxc8 Rxc8.

  8. 14...Kh8 Answering the check

    Board fact: Black answers the check by moving the king from g8 to h8; from h8 it reinforces the bishop on g7.

    Fixed engine check: Ranked first · Kh8 Nxc8 Rxc8 Qd3.

  9. 15.Nxc8 Exchange on c8

    Board fact: White's knight takes the bishop on c8; from c8 it attacks Black's pawn on a7 and Black's pawn on d6; white is ahead by 4 conventional material points after the capture.

    Fixed engine check: Ranked first · Nxc8 Rxc8 Qd3 Re8.

  10. 15...Rxc8 Recapture on c8

    Board fact: Black's rook recaptures the knight on c8; the rook now works on a semi-open c-file; from c8 it attacks White's pawn on c4; white is ahead by 1 conventional material point after the capture.

    Fixed engine check: Ranked first · Rxc8 Qd3 Re8 Rfe1.

  11. 16.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 Re8 Qd3 Ne4.

  12. 16...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: Near the leading choice · Qd7 Qd3 a6 Rfe1.

  13. 17.Qd3 Create pressure on g6

    Board fact: White moves the queen from e2 to d3; from d3 it attacks Black's pawn on g6.

    Fixed engine check: Ranked first · Qd3 Kg8 Rfe1 Rfe8.

  14. 17...h6 Advance the h-pawn

    Board fact: Black moves the pawn from h7 to h6.

    Fixed engine check: Ranked first · h6 a4 Rfe8 d5.

  15. 18.Rfe1 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 there it controls e4, e5 and e3.

    Fixed engine check: Ranked first · Rfe1 Kh7 h3 a6.

  16. 18...g5 Advance the g-pawn

    Board fact: Black moves the pawn from g6 to g5; from there it controls f4.

    Fixed engine check: Playable; a6 ranked higher · g5 Rad1 Rfe8 d5.

  17. 19.d5 Claim central space

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

    Fixed engine check: Ranked first · d5 b5 Rac1 bxc4.

  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: Near the leading choice · Nh5 Rad1 Rce8 Nd4.

  19. 20.Rad1 Improve the rook

    Board fact: White moves the rook from a1 to d1; from d1 it reinforces the rook on e1.

    Fixed engine check: Ranked first · Rad1 Rce8 Nd4 Nf4.

  20. 20...Rg8 Improve the rook

    Board fact: Black moves the rook from f8 to g8; from g8 it reinforces the rook on c8.

    Fixed engine check: Ranked first · Rg8 Nd4 Be5 Be3.

  21. 21.Nd4 Improve the knight

    Board fact: White moves the knight from f3 to d4; from there it controls c6, e6 and f3.

    Fixed engine check: Ranked first · Nd4 Be5 Nf5 Rg6.

  22. 21...Qg4 Create pressure on d1

    Board fact: Black moves the queen from d7 to g4; from g4 it attacks White's rook on d1 and White's knight on d4.

    Fixed engine check: Recorded move; Be5 ranked higher · Qg4 Nf5 Nf4 Bxf4.

  23. 22.Nf5 Create pressure on g7

    Board fact: White moves the knight from d4 to f5; from f5 it attacks Black's bishop on g7 and Black's pawn on d6.

    Fixed engine check: Ranked first · Nf5 Nf4 Bxf4 gxf4.

  24. 22...Nf4 Create pressure on d3

    Board fact: Black moves the knight from h5 to f4; from f4 it attacks White's queen on d3 and White's pawn on d5.

    Fixed engine check: Ranked first · Nf4 Bxf4 gxf4 Nxd6.

  25. 23.Bxf4 Exchange on f4

    Board fact: White's bishop takes the knight on f4; from f4 it attacks Black's pawn on d6 and Black's pawn on g5; white is ahead by 4 conventional material points after the capture.

    Fixed engine check: Ranked first · Bxf4 gxf4 Nxd6 Rcf8.

  26. 23...gxf4 Recapture on f4

    Board fact: Black's pawn recaptures the bishop on f4; the move changes the central pawn contact; Black accepts doubled pawns on the f-file; white is ahead by 1 conventional material point after the capture.

    Fixed engine check: Ranked first · gxf4 Nxd6 Rcf8 Qf5.

  27. 24.Nxd6 Exchange on d6

    Board fact: White's knight takes the pawn on d6; from d6 it attacks Black's rook on c8 and Black's pawn on b7; white is ahead by 2 conventional material points after the capture.

    Fixed engine check: Ranked first · Nxd6 Rcf8 Qf5 Bc3.

  28. 24...Bf6 Reposition the bishop

    Board fact: Black moves the bishop from g7 to f6; from there it controls d4, e5 and c3.

    Fixed engine check: Playable; Rcf8 ranked higher · Bf6 Nxf7+ Kg7 Ne5.

  29. 25.Nxf7+ Capture with check on f7

    Board fact: White's knight takes the pawn on f7; the move checks Black's king; from f7 it attacks Black's pawn on h6; white is ahead by 3 conventional material points after the capture.

    Fixed engine check: Ranked first · Nxf7+ Kg7 Ne5 Qh5.

  30. 25...Kg7 Answering the check

    Board fact: Black answers the check by moving the king from h8 to g7; from g7 it attacks White's knight on f7.

    Fixed engine check: Ranked first · Kg7 Ne5 Qh5 Nd7.

  31. 26.Ne5 Create pressure on g4

    Board fact: White moves the knight from f7 to e5; from e5 it attacks Black's queen on g4.

    Fixed engine check: Ranked first · Ne5 Bxe5 Rxe5 f3.

  32. 26...Bxe5 Exchange on e5

    Board fact: Black's bishop takes the knight on e5; from e5 it reinforces the pawn on f4; material is level after the capture.

    Fixed engine check: Ranked first · Bxe5 Rxe5 f3 g3.

  33. 27.Rxe5 Recapture on e5

    Board fact: White's rook recaptures the bishop on e5; the rook now occupies the open e-file; from e5 it reinforces the pawn on d5; white is ahead by 3 conventional material points after the capture.

    Fixed engine check: Ranked first · Rxe5 f3 g3 Rge8.

  34. 27...Kh8 Reposition the king

    Board fact: Black moves the king from g7 to h8; from h8 it reinforces the rook on g8.

    Fixed engine check: Ranked first · Kh8 g3 Rce8 Rxe8.

  35. 28.g3 Create pressure on f4

    Board fact: White moves the pawn from g2 to g3; from g3 it attacks Black's pawn on f4.

    Fixed engine check: Ranked first · g3 Rce8 Rxe8 Rxe8.

  36. 28...fxg3 Exchange on g3

    Board fact: Black's pawn takes the pawn on g3; the move changes the central pawn contact; from g3 it attacks White's pawn on f2 and White's pawn on h2; white is ahead by 2 conventional material points after the capture.

    Fixed engine check: Ranked first · fxg3 hxg3 Rcf8 Re7.

  37. 29.hxg3 Recapture on g3

    Board fact: White's pawn recaptures the pawn on g3; the move changes the central pawn contact; white is ahead by 3 conventional material points after the capture.

    Fixed engine check: Ranked first · hxg3 Rcf8 Re7 Rg7.

  38. 29...Rcf8 Rook on the semi-open f-file

    Board fact: Black moves the rook from c8 to f8; the rook now works on a semi-open f-file; from f8 it attacks White's pawn on f2.

    Fixed engine check: Ranked first · Rcf8 Re7 Rg7 d6.

  39. 30.Re7 Rook on the open e-file

    Board fact: White moves the rook from e5 to e7; the rook now occupies the open e-file; from e7 it attacks Black's pawn on b7.

    Fixed engine check: Ranked first · Re7 Rg6 Qd4+ Kg8.

PGN

[Event "USA-chJ"] [Site "?"] [Date "1957.??.??"] [White "Fischer, Robert James"] [Black "Sholomson, S."] [Result "1-0"] 1. Nf3 g6 2. e4 Bg7 3. d4 d6 4. Nc3 Nf6 5. Bc4 O-O 6. O-O c6 7. Qe2 Nbd7 8. e5 Nd5 9. Bxd5 cxd5 10. exd6 exd6 11. Nxd5 Qa5 12. c4 Nf6 13. Bd2 Qd8 14. Ne7+ Kh8 15. Nxc8 Rxc8 16. b3 Qd7 17. Qd3 h6 18. Rfe1 g5 19. d5 Nh5 20. Rad1 Rg8 21. Nd4 Qg4 22. Nf5 Nf4 23. Bxf4 gxf4 24. Nxd6 Bf6 25. Nxf7+ Kg7 26. Ne5 Bxe5 27. Rxe5 Kh8 28. g3 fxg3 29. hxg3 Rcf8 30. Re7 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:db59009b8ccb91265a8eed4f607c148524c2fe2e4f52e644210baff1216d832c and pins it in the selection manifest.
Exact Figshare tags:
White="Fischer, Robert James"; Black="Sholomson, S"; Event="USA-ch Juniors"; Date="1957.??.??"; Result="1-0".
Reviewed display mapping: black Sholomson, S → Sholomson, S.; event USA-ch Juniors → USA-chJ. 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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