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Classic game replay

Boris F Gulko vs Mikhail Tal, 1977

This replay preserves the complete 72-ply score of Tal playing Black across 36 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
Boris F Gulko
Black
Mikhail Tal
Event
Tallinn
Year
1977
Result
0-1
Opening
B22 Sicilian Defense: Alapin Variation, Smith-Morra Declined

Opening reference: Sicilian Defense: Alapin Variation, Smith-Morra Declined (B22).

In this game, 20 half-moves are labelled opening, 52 middlegame and 0 endgame. The score contains 16 captures and 6 checks or mates; before a recorded move, the position offered a median of 36 legal choices. The source score ends after 36...Qh1+ 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. 6...Nc6 — Develop the knight6...Nc6 was a leading choice in the fixed engine check.
  2. 17...Nxe5 — Exchange on e517...Nxe5 was a leading choice in the fixed engine check.
  3. 20...Bb5 — Create pressure on f120...Bb5 was a leading choice in the fixed engine check.
  4. 25...g6 — Advance the g-pawn25...g6 was a leading choice in the fixed engine check.
  5. 35...Qf1+ — A forcing check35...Qf1+ 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.

♜♞♝♛♚♝♞♜♟♟♟♟♟♟♟♟♟♟♟♟♟♟♟♟♜♞♝♛♚♝♞♜
Boris F Gulko vs Mikhail Tal, 1977

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...Be7

  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.c3 Advance the c-pawn

    Board fact: White moves the pawn from c2 to c3; from there it controls d4.

    Fixed engine check: Ranked first · c3.

  4. 2...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.

  5. 3.e5 Create pressure on f6

    Board fact: White moves the pawn from e4 to e5; from e5 it attacks Black's knight on f6.

    Fixed engine check: Ranked first · e5 Nd5.

  6. 3...Nd5 Create pressure on c3

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

    Fixed engine check: Ranked first · Nd5 Nf3 d6 Bc4.

  7. 4.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.

  8. 4...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; from d4 it attacks White's pawn on c3; black is ahead by 1 conventional material point after the capture.

    Fixed engine check: Ranked first · cxd4 Bc4 e6 Nf3.

  9. 5.cxd4 Recapture on d4

    Board fact: White's pawn recaptures the pawn on d4; the move changes the central pawn contact; from d4 it reinforces the pawn on e5; material is level after the capture.

    Fixed engine check: Ranked first · cxd4 d6 Nf3 Nc6.

  10. 5...d6 Change the pawn structure

    Board fact: Black moves the pawn from d7 to d6; the move changes the central pawn contact; from d6 it attacks White's pawn on e5.

    Fixed engine check: Ranked first · d6 Nf3 dxe5 Nxe5.

  11. 6.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 Nc6 Bc4 dxe5.

  12. 6...Nc6 Develop the knight

    Board fact: Black develops the knight from b8 to c6; from c6 it attacks White's pawn on d4 and White's pawn on e5.

    Fixed engine check: Ranked first · Nc6 Bc4 dxe5 Nxe5.

  13. 7.Bc4 Develop the bishop

    Board fact: White develops the bishop from f1 to c4; from c4 it attacks Black's knight on d5.

    Fixed engine check: Ranked first · Bc4 dxe5 Nxe5 e6.

  14. 7...Nb6 Create pressure on c4

    Board fact: Black moves the knight from d5 to b6; from b6 it attacks White's bishop on c4.

    Fixed engine check: Ranked first · Nb6 Bb5.

  15. 8.Bb5 Create pressure on c6

    Board fact: White moves the bishop from c4 to b5; from b5 it attacks Black's knight on c6.

    Fixed engine check: Ranked first · Bb5 dxe5 Nxe5 Bd7.

  16. 8...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.

  17. 9.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 dxe5.

  18. 9...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 O-O.

  19. 10.Bg5 Develop the bishop

    Board fact: White develops the bishop from c1 to g5; from g5 it attacks Black's queen on d8.

    Fixed engine check: Ranked first · Bg5 Qc7.

  20. 10...Be7 Develop the bishop

    Board fact: Black develops the bishop from f8 to e7; from e7 it attacks White's bishop on g5.

    Fixed engine check: Ranked first · Be7 Ne4 O-O Bxe7.

Middlegame · 11.Ne4 to 36...Qh1+

  1. 11.Ne4 Create pressure on d6

    Board fact: White moves the knight from c3 to e4; from e4 it attacks Black's pawn on d6.

    Fixed engine check: Ranked first · Ne4 O-O.

  2. 11...dxe5 Exchange on e5

    Board fact: Black's pawn takes the pawn on e5; the move changes the central pawn contact; Black accepts doubled pawns on the e-file; from e5 it attacks White's pawn on d4; black is ahead by 1 conventional material point after the capture.

    Fixed engine check: Near the leading choice · dxe5 Nd6+.

  3. 12.Nd6+ A forcing check

    Board fact: White moves the knight from e4 to d6; the move checks Black's king; from d6 it attacks Black's pawn on b7 and Black's pawn on f7.

    Fixed engine check: Ranked first · Nd6+ Kf8 Bxe7+ Nxe7.

  4. 12...Kf8 Answering the check

    Board fact: Black answers the check by moving the king from e8 to f8; from f8 it reinforces the bishop on e7.

    Fixed engine check: Ranked first · Kf8 Bxe7+ Qxe7 dxe5.

  5. 13.Bxe7+ Capture with check on e7

    Board fact: White's bishop takes the bishop on e7; the move checks Black's king; from e7 it attacks Black's queen on d8; white is ahead by 2 conventional material points after the capture.

    Fixed engine check: Ranked first · Bxe7+ Nxe7 Bxd7 Nxd7.

  6. 13...Qxe7 Recapture on e7

    Board fact: Black's queen recaptures the bishop on e7; from e7 it attacks White's knight on d6; black is ahead by 1 conventional material point after the capture.

    Fixed engine check: Ranked first · Qxe7 dxe5.

  7. 14.dxe5 Exchange on e5

    Board fact: White's pawn takes the pawn on e5; the move changes the central pawn contact; from e5 it reinforces the knight on d6; material is level after the capture.

    Fixed engine check: Ranked first · dxe5 Rd8 Qe2 a6.

  8. 14...a6 Create pressure on b5

    Board fact: Black moves the pawn from a7 to a6; from a6 it attacks White's bishop on b5.

    Fixed engine check: Near the leading choice · a6 Bxc6.

  9. 15.Be2 Create pressure on a6

    Board fact: White moves the bishop from b5 to e2; from e2 it attacks Black's pawn on a6.

    Fixed engine check: Near the leading choice · Be2 Nd5 Qd2 Nxe5.

  10. 15...Nd5 Improve the knight

    Board fact: Black moves the knight from b6 to d5; from there it controls c3, e3 and f4.

    Fixed engine check: Ranked first · Nd5 Qb3 Nxe5 Nxe5.

  11. 16.Qc2 Create pressure on c6

    Board fact: White moves the queen from d1 to c2; from c2 it attacks Black's knight on c6 and Black's pawn on h7.

    Fixed engine check: Playable; Rc1 ranked higher · Qc2 Nxe5.

  12. 16...Rd8 Rook on the open d-file

    Board fact: Black moves the rook from a8 to d8; the rook now occupies the open d-file; from d8 it reinforces the bishop on d7.

    Fixed engine check: Playable; Nxe5 ranked higher · Rd8 Qe4 Be8 O-O.

  13. 17.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: Near the leading choice · O-O.

  14. 17...Nxe5 Exchange on e5

    Board fact: Black's knight takes the pawn on e5; from e5 it attacks White's knight on f3; black is ahead by 1 conventional material point after the capture.

    Fixed engine check: Ranked first · Nxe5 Nxe5.

  15. 18.Nxb7 Exchange on b7

    Board fact: White's knight takes the pawn on b7; from b7 it attacks Black's rook on d8; material is level after the capture.

    Fixed engine check: Playable; Nxe5 ranked higher · Nxb7 Nxf3+ gxf3 Rc8.

  16. 18...Nxf3+ Capture with check on f3

    Board fact: Black's knight takes the knight on f3; the move checks White's king; from f3 it attacks White's pawn on h2; black is ahead by 3 conventional material points after the capture.

    Fixed engine check: Ranked first · Nxf3+ gxf3.

  17. 19.Bxf3 Recapture on f3

    Board fact: White's bishop recaptures the knight on f3; from f3 it attacks Black's knight on d5; material is level after the capture.

    Fixed engine check: Playable; gxf3 ranked higher · Bxf3 Rc8.

  18. 19...Rc8 Rook on the open c-file

    Board fact: Black moves the rook from d8 to c8; the rook now occupies the open c-file; from c8 it attacks White's queen on c2.

    Fixed engine check: Ranked first · Rc8 Qd2 Bb5 Bxd5.

  19. 20.Qd2 Create pressure on d5

    Board fact: White moves the queen from c2 to d2; from d2 it attacks Black's knight on d5.

    Fixed engine check: Near the leading choice · Qd2 Bb5 Bxd5 exd5.

  20. 20...Bb5 Create pressure on f1

    Board fact: Black moves the bishop from d7 to b5; from b5 it attacks White's rook on f1.

    Fixed engine check: Ranked first · Bb5.

  21. 21.Bxd5 Exchange on d5

    Board fact: White's bishop takes the knight on d5; from d5 it attacks Black's pawn on e6; white is ahead by 3 conventional material points after the capture.

    Fixed engine check: Ranked first · Bxd5 exd5 Qxd5 Bxf1.

  22. 21...exd5 Recapture on d5

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

    Fixed engine check: Ranked first · exd5 Na5 Bxf1 Re1.

  23. 22.Na5 Reroute the knight

    Board fact: White moves the knight from b7 to a5; from there it controls c4 and c6.

    Fixed engine check: Ranked first · Na5 Bxf1 Re1 Be2.

  24. 22...Bxf1 Exchange on f1

    Board fact: Black's bishop takes the rook on f1; from f1 it attacks White's pawn on g2; black is ahead by 5 conventional material points after the capture.

    Fixed engine check: Ranked first · Bxf1 Re1 Be2 Rxe2.

  25. 23.Rxf1 Recapture on f1

    Board fact: White's rook recaptures the bishop on f1; from f1 it reinforces the pawn on f2; black is ahead by 2 conventional material points after the capture.

    Fixed engine check: Near the leading choice · Rxf1 h5 b4 Rh6.

  26. 23...Qe4 Create pressure on g2

    Board fact: Black moves the queen from e7 to e4; from e4 it attacks White's pawn on g2.

    Fixed engine check: Playable; h5 ranked higher · Qe4 Re1 Rc2 Qd1.

  27. 24.Nb7 Reroute the knight

    Board fact: White moves the knight from a5 to b7; from there it controls c5 and d6.

    Fixed engine check: Near the leading choice · Nb7 Qe7 Qxd5 h5.

  28. 24...Rc2 Rook on the open c-file

    Board fact: Black moves the rook from c8 to c2; the rook now occupies the open c-file; from c2 it attacks White's queen on d2 and White's pawn on b2.

    Fixed engine check: Recorded move; Qe7 ranked higher · Rc2 Qd1.

  29. 25.Qa5 Create pressure on a6

    Board fact: White moves the queen from d2 to a5; from a5 it attacks Black's pawn on a6 and Black's pawn on d5.

    Fixed engine check: Playable; Qd1 ranked higher · Qa5 g6 Nd6 Qe6.

  30. 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.

  31. 26.Nc5 Create pressure on e4

    Board fact: White moves the knight from b7 to c5; from c5 it attacks Black's queen on e4 and Black's pawn on a6.

    Fixed engine check: Near the leading choice · Nc5 Qe7.

  32. 26...Qd4 Create pressure on c5

    Board fact: Black moves the queen from e4 to d4; from d4 it attacks White's knight on c5 and White's pawn on b2.

    Fixed engine check: Ranked first · Qd4 Qd8+.

  33. 27.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 Kg7 Qxa6 Re8.

  34. 27...Kg7 Reposition the king

    Board fact: Black moves the king from f8 to g7; from there it controls f6.

    Fixed engine check: Ranked first · Kg7 Qc7 Re2 Nxa6.

  35. 28.Qc7 Create pressure on f7

    Board fact: White moves the queen from a5 to c7; from c7 it attacks Black's pawn on f7.

    Fixed engine check: Ranked first · Qc7 Re2 Qb6 Qc3.

  36. 28...Re2 Rook on the open e-file

    Board fact: Black moves the rook from c2 to e2; the rook now occupies the open e-file; from e2 it attacks White's pawn on a2 and White's pawn on f2.

    Fixed engine check: Ranked first · Re2 Qb6 Qc3 g3.

  37. 29.a3 Advance the a-pawn

    Board fact: White moves the pawn from a2 to a3; from a3 it reinforces the pawn on b4.

    Fixed engine check: Near the leading choice · a3 Rhe8 Qa7 Qc3.

  38. 29...Rhe8 Rook on the open e-file

    Board fact: Black moves the rook from h8 to e8; the rook now occupies the open e-file; from there it controls e4, e5 and e3.

    Fixed engine check: Ranked first · Rhe8 Qb6 Qc3 g3.

  39. 30.g3 Advance the g-pawn

    Board fact: White moves the pawn from g2 to g3; from there it controls f4.

    Fixed engine check: Ranked first · g3 Ra2 Nd3 Qxd3.

  40. 30...Re1 Rook on the open e-file

    Board fact: Black moves the rook from e2 to e1; the rook now occupies the open e-file; from e1 it attacks White's rook on f1.

    Fixed engine check: Ranked first · Re1 Qf4 Rxf1+ Kxf1.

  41. 31.Kg2 Reposition the king

    Board fact: White moves the king from g1 to g2; from there it controls f3.

    Fixed engine check: Ranked first · Kg2 Qc4 Rxe1 Rxe1.

  42. 31...Rxf1 Exchange on f1

    Board fact: Black's rook takes the rook on f1; from f1 it attacks White's pawn on f2; black is ahead by 7 conventional material points after the capture.

    Fixed engine check: Near the leading choice · Rxf1 Kxf1 Qc4+ Kg2.

  43. 32.Kxf1 Recapture on f1

    Board fact: White's king recaptures the rook on f1; from f1 it reinforces the pawn on f2; black is ahead by 2 conventional material points after the capture.

    Fixed engine check: Ranked first · Kxf1 Qc4+ Kg2 Re1.

  44. 32...Qd1+ A forcing check

    Board fact: Black moves the queen from d4 to d1; the move checks White's king; from there it controls d4, d5 and d3.

    Fixed engine check: Near the leading choice · Qd1+ Kg2 Re1 Qf4.

  45. 33.Kg2 Answering the check

    Board fact: White answers the check by moving the king from f1 to g2; from there it controls f3.

    Fixed engine check: Ranked first · Kg2 Re1 h3 Qe2.

  46. 33...Re1 Rook on the open e-file

    Board fact: Black moves the rook from e8 to e1; the rook now occupies the open e-file; from there it controls e4, e5 and e3.

    Fixed engine check: Ranked first · Re1 f4 Qe2+ Kh3.

  47. 34.h4 Advance the h-pawn

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

    Fixed engine check: Recorded move; h3 ranked higher · h4 Qe2 Ne6+ Qxe6.

  48. 34...Qe2 Create pressure on f2

    Board fact: Black moves the queen from d1 to e2; from e2 it attacks White's pawn on f2.

    Fixed engine check: Ranked first · Qe2 Ne6+ Qxe6 Qc3+.

  49. 35.Qd6 Create pressure on a6

    Board fact: White moves the queen from c7 to d6; from d6 it attacks Black's pawn on a6 and Black's pawn on d5.

    Fixed engine check: Recorded move; Qd7 ranked higher · Qd6 Qf1+ Kf3 Qh1+.

  50. 35...Qf1+ A forcing check

    Board fact: Black moves the queen from e2 to f1; the move checks White's king; from f1 it attacks White's pawn on f2.

    Fixed engine check: Ranked first · Qf1+ Kf3 Qh1+ Kg4.

  51. 36.Kf3 Answering the check

    Board fact: White answers the check by moving the king from g2 to f3; from there it controls e4, e3 and f4.

    Fixed engine check: Ranked first · Kf3 Qh1+ Kg4 f5+.

  52. 36...Qh1+ A forcing check

    Board fact: Black moves the queen from f1 to h1; the move checks White's king; from h1 it attacks White's pawn on h4.

    Fixed engine check: Ranked first · Qh1+ Kg4 f5+ Kg5.

PGN

[Event "Tallinn"] [Site "?"] [Date "1977.??.??"] [White "Gulko, Boris F"] [Black "Tal, Mikhail"] [Result "0-1"] 1. e4 c5 2. c3 Nf6 3. e5 Nd5 4. d4 cxd4 5. cxd4 d6 6. Nf3 Nc6 7. Bc4 Nb6 8. Bb5 Bd7 9. Nc3 e6 10. Bg5 Be7 11. Ne4 dxe5 12. Nd6+ Kf8 13. Bxe7+ Qxe7 14. dxe5 a6 15. Be2 Nd5 16. Qc2 Rd8 17. O-O Nxe5 18. Nxb7 Nxf3+ 19. Bxf3 Rc8 20. Qd2 Bb5 21. Bxd5 exd5 22. Na5 Bxf1 23. Rxf1 Qe4 24. Nb7 Rc2 25. Qa5 g6 26. Nc5 Qd4 27. b4 Kg7 28. Qc7 Re2 29. a3 Rhe8 30. g3 Re1 31. Kg2 Rxf1 32. Kxf1 Qd1+ 33. Kg2 Re1 34. h4 Qe2 35. Qd6 Qf1+ 36. Kf3 Qh1+ 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 sha256:8fdff86c95f4a3d26dca38ad078fd8fed179a068799ac2e104237a9df823c89f and pins it in the selection manifest.
Exact Figshare tags:
White="Gulko, Boris F"; Black="Tal, Mihail"; Event="Tallinn"; Date="1977.??.??"; Result="0-1".
Reviewed display mapping: black Tal, Mihail → Tal, Mikhail. 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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