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Classic game replay

Robert James Fischer vs E. Stephans, 1957

This replay preserves the complete 49-ply score of Fischer playing White across 25 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
E. Stephans
Event
USA-op
Year
1957
Result
1-0
Opening
B77 Sicilian Defense: Dragon Variation, Yugoslav Attack, Main Line

Opening reference: Sicilian Defense: Dragon Variation, Yugoslav Attack, Main Line (B77).

In this game, 20 half-moves are labelled opening, 28 middlegame and 1 endgame. The score contains 15 captures and 6 checks or mates; before a recorded move, the position offered a median of 36 legal choices. The source score ends after 25.Rxd7+ 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. 7.f3 — Advance the f-pawn7.f3 was a leading choice in the fixed engine check.
  2. 13.Nd5 — Create pressure on f613.Nd5 was a leading choice in the fixed engine check.
  3. 16.Bxg7+ — Capture with check on g716.Bxg7+ was a leading choice in the fixed engine check.
  4. 21.Qxf7+ — Capture with check on f721.Qxf7+ 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.

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Robert James Fischer vs E. Stephans, 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.e4 to 10...Qc7

  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...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 a6 d4.

  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.

  7. 4.Nxd4 Recapture on d4

    Board fact: White's knight recaptures the pawn on d4; from d4 it reinforces the pawn on c2; material is level after the capture.

    Fixed engine check: Ranked first · Nxd4 Nf6 Nc3 a6.

  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.

  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 g6 Be3 Nc6.

  10. 5...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.

  11. 6.Be3 Develop the bishop

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

    Fixed engine check: Ranked first · Be3 Nc6 f3 h5.

  12. 6...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 f3.

  13. 7.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 Qd2 h5.

  14. 7...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 h5 O-O-O.

  15. 8.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 h5 O-O-O Bd7.

  16. 8...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 O-O-O d5 Bb5.

  17. 9.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.

  18. 9...a6 Advance the a-pawn

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

    Fixed engine check: Near the leading choice · a6 O-O-O Na5 Be2.

  19. 10.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: Near the leading choice · O-O-O Na5 Bd3 e5.

  20. 10...Qc7 Reposition the queen

    Board fact: Black moves the queen from d8 to c7; from there it controls c6 and d6.

    Fixed engine check: Near the leading choice · Qc7 Bb3 Na5 h4.

Middlegame · 11.Bb3 to 24...Bd7

  1. 11.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 Na5 h4 b5.

  2. 11...b5 Advance the b-pawn

    Board fact: Black moves the pawn from b7 to b5; from there it controls c4.

    Fixed engine check: Recorded move; Na5 ranked higher · b5 Nxc6 Qxc6 Nd5.

  3. 12.Nxc6 Exchange on c6

    Board fact: White's knight takes the knight on c6; from c6 it attacks Black's pawn on e7; white is ahead by 3 conventional material points after the capture.

    Fixed engine check: Ranked first · Nxc6 Qxc6 Nd5 Qe8.

  4. 12...Qxc6 Recapture on c6

    Board fact: Black's queen recaptures the knight on c6; from c6 it attacks White's knight on c3 and White's pawn on e4; material is level after the capture.

    Fixed engine check: Ranked first · Qxc6 Nd5 Qd7 Nb6.

  5. 13.Nd5 Create pressure on f6

    Board fact: White moves the knight from c3 to d5; from d5 it attacks Black's knight on f6 and Black's pawn on e7.

    Fixed engine check: Ranked first · Nd5 Qd7 Nb6 Qb7.

  6. 13...Kh8 Reposition the king

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

    Fixed engine check: Recorded move; Qb7 ranked higher · Kh8 Nxf6 Bxf6 Bd5.

  7. 14.Nxf6 Exchange on f6

    Board fact: White's knight takes the knight on f6; from f6 it attacks Black's pawn on h7; white is ahead by 3 conventional material points after the capture.

    Fixed engine check: Ranked first · Nxf6 Bxf6 Bd5 Qc7.

  8. 14...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 Bh6 a5 Ng4.

  9. 15.Bh6 Create pressure on g7

    Board fact: White moves the bishop from e3 to h6; from h6 it attacks Black's bishop on g7.

    Fixed engine check: Ranked first · Bh6 a5 Bxg7+ Kxg7.

  10. 15...Bb7 Develop the bishop

    Board fact: Black develops the bishop from c8 to b7; from there it controls c6.

    Fixed engine check: Ranked first · Bb7 Bxg7+ Kxg7 Ng4.

  11. 16.Bxg7+ Capture with check on g7

    Board fact: White's bishop takes the bishop on g7; the move checks Black's king; from g7 it attacks Black's rook on f8; white is ahead by 6 conventional material points after the capture.

    Fixed engine check: Ranked first · Bxg7+ Kxg7 Ng4 f6.

  12. 16...Kxg7 Recapture on g7

    Board fact: Black's king recaptures the bishop on g7; from g7 it attacks White's knight on f6; white is ahead by 3 conventional material points after the capture.

    Fixed engine check: Ranked first · Kxg7 Ng4 f5 exf5.

  13. 17.Ng4 Reroute the knight

    Board fact: White moves the knight from f6 to g4; from there it controls e5, e3 and f6.

    Fixed engine check: Ranked first · Ng4 f5 exf5 gxf5.

  14. 17...f5 Change the pawn structure

    Board fact: Black moves the pawn from f7 to f5; the move changes the central pawn contact; from f5 it attacks White's knight on g4 and White's pawn on e4.

    Fixed engine check: Ranked first · f5 exf5 gxf5 Qd4+.

  15. 18.exf5 Exchange on f5

    Board fact: White's pawn takes the pawn on f5; the move changes the central pawn contact; White accepts doubled pawns on the f-file; from f5 it attacks Black's pawn on e6 and Black's pawn on g6; white is ahead by 4 conventional material points after the capture.

    Fixed engine check: Ranked first · exf5 gxf5 Rhe1 Qc5.

  16. 18...Rxf5 Recapture on f5

    Board fact: Black's rook recaptures the pawn on f5; the rook now works on a semi-open f-file; from f5 it attacks White's pawn on f3; white is ahead by 3 conventional material points after the capture.

    Fixed engine check: Playable; gxf5 ranked higher · Rxf5 Bxe6 Qc5 Qxd6.

  17. 19.Qxd6 Exchange on d6

    Board fact: White's queen takes the pawn on d6; from d6 it attacks Black's queen on c6 and Black's pawn on e6; white is ahead by 4 conventional material points after the capture.

    Fixed engine check: Recorded move; Bxe6 ranked higher · Qxd6 Qxd6 Rxd6 Bd5.

  18. 19...h5 Create pressure on g4

    Board fact: Black moves the pawn from h7 to h5; from h5 it attacks White's knight on g4.

    Fixed engine check: Playable; Qxd6 ranked higher · h5 Qe7+ Rf7 Qxf7+.

  19. 20.Qe7+ A forcing check

    Board fact: White moves the queen from d6 to e7; the move checks Black's king; from e7 it attacks Black's bishop on b7 and Black's pawn on e6.

    Fixed engine check: Ranked first · Qe7+ Kh8 Rd7 Qxd7.

  20. 20...Rf7 Answering the check

    Board fact: Black answers the check by moving the rook from f5 to f7; the rook now works on a semi-open f-file; from f7 it attacks White's queen on e7 and White's pawn on f3.

    Fixed engine check: Ranked first · Rf7 Qxf7+ Kxf7 Ne5+.

  21. 21.Qxf7+ Capture with check on f7

    Board fact: White's queen takes the rook on f7; the move checks Black's king; from f7 it attacks Black's bishop on b7 and Black's pawn on e6; white is ahead by 9 conventional material points after the capture.

    Fixed engine check: Ranked first · Qxf7+ Kxf7 Ne5+ Ke7.

  22. 21...Kxf7 Recapture on f7

    Board fact: Black's king recaptures the queen on f7; from f7 it reinforces the pawn on e6; material is level after the capture.

    Fixed engine check: Ranked first · Kxf7 Ne5+ Ke7 Nxc6+.

  23. 22.Ne5+ A forcing check

    Board fact: White moves the knight from g4 to e5; the move checks Black's king; from e5 it attacks Black's queen on c6 and Black's pawn on g6.

    Fixed engine check: Ranked first · Ne5+ Ke7 Nxc6+ Bxc6.

  24. 22...Ke7 Answering the check

    Board fact: Black answers the check by moving the king from f7 to e7; from there it controls d6, e6 and f6.

    Fixed engine check: Ranked first · Ke7 Nxc6+ Bxc6 Rhe1.

  25. 23.Nxc6+ Capture with check on c6

    Board fact: White's knight takes the queen on c6; the move checks Black's king; white is ahead by 9 conventional material points after the capture.

    Fixed engine check: Ranked first · Nxc6+ Bxc6 Rhe1 Bd7.

  26. 23...Bxc6 Recapture on c6

    Board fact: Black's bishop recaptures the knight on c6; from c6 it attacks White's pawn on f3; white is ahead by 6 conventional material points after the capture.

    Fixed engine check: Ranked first · Bxc6 Rhe1 Bd7 Bd5.

  27. 24.Rhe1 Rook on the semi-open e-file

    Board fact: White moves the rook from h1 to e1; the rook now works on a semi-open e-file; from e1 it attacks Black's pawn on e6.

    Fixed engine check: Ranked first · Rhe1 Bd7 f4 h4.

  28. 24...Bd7 Reposition the bishop

    Board fact: Black moves the bishop from c6 to d7; from there it controls c6 and e6.

    Fixed engine check: Ranked first · Bd7 Rd3 Rf8 Bd5.

Endgame · 25.Rxd7+ to 25.Rxd7+

  1. 25.Rxd7+ Capture with check on d7

    Board fact: White's rook takes the bishop on d7; the move checks Black's king; the rook now occupies the open d-file; white is ahead by 9 conventional material points after the capture.

    Fixed engine check: Playable; Rd3 ranked higher · Rxd7+ Kxd7 Bxe6+ Kc7.

PGN

[Event "USA-op"] [Site "?"] [Date "1957.??.??"] [White "Fischer, Robert James"] [Black "Stephans, E."] [Result "1-0"] 1. e4 c5 2. Nf3 d6 3. d4 cxd4 4. Nxd4 Nf6 5. Nc3 g6 6. Be3 Nc6 7. f3 Bg7 8. Qd2 O-O 9. Bc4 a6 10. O-O-O Qc7 11. Bb3 b5 12. Nxc6 Qxc6 13. Nd5 Kh8 14. Nxf6 e6 15. Bh6 Bb7 16. Bxg7+ Kxg7 17. Ng4 f5 18. exf5 Rxf5 19. Qxd6 h5 20. Qe7+ Rf7 21. Qxf7+ Kxf7 22. Ne5+ Ke7 23. Nxc6+ Bxc6 24. Rhe1 Bd7 25. Rxd7+ 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:a92d46aa32b92f4dee9165b70df186d63ee8cbe3f8350ed59f5524ff8f2a63f0 and pins it in the selection manifest.
Exact Figshare tags:
White="Fischer, Robert James"; Black="Stephans, E"; Event="USA-ch op 58th"; Date="1957.08.06"; Result="1-0".
Reviewed display mapping: black Stephans, E → Stephans, E.; event USA-ch op 58th → USA-op. 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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