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Classic game replay

Garry Kasparov vs Albalate Paco, 1997

This replay preserves the complete 57-ply score of Kasparov playing White across 29 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
Garry Kasparov
Black
Albalate Paco
Event
El Pais sim
Year
1997
Result
1-0
Opening
C00 French Defense: Chigorin Variation

Opening reference: French Defense: Chigorin Variation (C00).

In this game, 20 half-moves are labelled opening, 37 middlegame and 0 endgame. The score contains 9 captures and 2 checks or mates; before a recorded move, the position offered a median of 36 legal choices. The source score ends after 29.Rxb6 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.d3 — Advance the d-pawn7.d3 was a leading choice in the fixed engine check.
  2. 17.Rad1 — Improve the rook17.Rad1 was a leading choice in the fixed engine check.
  3. 19.Qd2 — Reposition the queen19.Qd2 was a leading choice in the fixed engine check.
  4. 28.Nxf7+ — Capture with check on f728.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.

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Garry Kasparov vs Albalate Paco, 1997

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...Bb7

  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...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 d4.

  3. 2.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 c5 g3 Be7.

  4. 2...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 g3 Nc6 Nf3.

  5. 3.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 Nc6.

  6. 3...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 Bg2 d5 d3.

  7. 4.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 d6 Bg2 e5.

  8. 4...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.

  9. 5.Bg2 Develop the bishop

    Board fact: White develops the bishop from f1 to g2; from there it controls f3.

    Fixed engine check: Ranked first · Bg2 Nge7 c3 Bg7.

  10. 5...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.

  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 Nge7.

  12. 6...Nge7 Develop the knight

    Board fact: Black develops the knight from g8 to e7; from there it controls d5, c6 and f5.

    Fixed engine check: Ranked first · Nge7 c3 e5 d3.

  13. 7.d3 Advance the d-pawn

    Board fact: White moves the pawn from d2 to d3; from there it controls e4 and c4.

    Fixed engine check: Ranked first · d3 O-O c3 e5.

  14. 7...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 Na3 e5 Rd1.

  15. 8.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 e5 Na3 h6.

  16. 8...b6 Advance the b-pawn

    Board fact: Black moves the pawn from b7 to b6; from there it controls c5.

    Fixed engine check: Ranked first · b6 e5 d6 exd6.

  17. 9.Re1 Improve the rook

    Board fact: White moves the rook from f1 to e1; from e1 it reinforces the queen on e2.

    Fixed engine check: Ranked first · Re1 e5.

  18. 9...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 Na3.

  19. 10.Nbd2 Develop the knight

    Board fact: White develops the knight from b1 to d2; from there it controls e4, c4 and f3.

    Fixed engine check: Ranked first · Nbd2 Ba6 Rb1 Qd7.

  20. 10...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.

Middlegame · 11.Nf1 to 29.Rxb6

  1. 11.Nf1 Reroute the knight

    Board fact: White moves the knight from d2 to f1; from there it controls e3.

    Fixed engine check: Ranked first · Nf1.

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

    Board fact: Black moves the pawn from b6 to b5; from there it controls c4.

    Fixed engine check: Near the leading choice · b5.

  3. 12.h4 Advance the h-pawn

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

    Fixed engine check: Near the leading choice · h4 b4 d4 Qa5.

  4. 12...h6 Advance the h-pawn

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

    Fixed engine check: Near the leading choice · h6 d4.

  5. 13.N1h2 Develop the knight

    Board fact: White develops the knight from f1 to h2; from there it controls f3.

    Fixed engine check: Near the leading choice · N1h2 b4 Be3 a5.

  6. 13...Kh7 Reposition the king

    Board fact: Black moves the king from g8 to h7; from h7 it reinforces the bishop on g7.

    Fixed engine check: Near the leading choice · Kh7 h5.

  7. 14.Bd2 Develop the bishop

    Board fact: White develops the bishop from c1 to d2; from d2 it attacks Black's pawn on h6.

    Fixed engine check: Near the leading choice · Bd2.

  8. 14...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: Playable; b4 ranked higher · Qd7 d4.

  9. 15.d4 Change the pawn structure

    Board fact: White moves the pawn from d3 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 cxd4 Nxd4.

  10. 15...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 cxd4 Nxd4 Nxd4.

  11. 16.cxd4 Recapture on d4

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

    Fixed engine check: Ranked first · cxd4 Nxd4 Nxd4 Bxd4.

  12. 16...a6 Advance the a-pawn

    Board fact: Black moves the pawn from a7 to a6; from a6 it reinforces the pawn on b5.

    Fixed engine check: Near the leading choice · a6 Rad1 Rae8 Bf4.

  13. 17.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 Rae8 h5 gxh5.

  14. 17...Rac8 Rook on the open c-file

    Board fact: Black moves the rook from a8 to c8; the rook now occupies the open c-file; from there it controls c6.

    Fixed engine check: Playable; Rae8 ranked higher · Rac8 h5 Rfe8 a3.

  15. 18.Bf4 Create pressure on d6

    Board fact: White moves the bishop from d2 to f4; from f4 it attacks Black's pawn on d6 and Black's pawn on h6.

    Fixed engine check: Playable; h5 ranked higher · Bf4 Nb4.

  16. 18...Rfe8 Improve the rook

    Board fact: Black moves the rook from f8 to e8; from e8 it reinforces the rook on c8.

    Fixed engine check: Playable; Nb4 ranked higher · Rfe8 Qd2.

  17. 19.Qd2 Reposition the queen

    Board fact: White moves the queen from e2 to d2; from there it controls d4, c3 and d3.

    Fixed engine check: Ranked first · Qd2 Nxd4 Nxd4 e5.

  18. 19...Qc7 Reposition the queen

    Board fact: Black moves the queen from d7 to c7; from there it controls c6 and d6.

    Fixed engine check: Near the leading choice · Qc7.

  19. 20.Ng4 Create pressure on h6

    Board fact: White moves the knight from h2 to g4; from g4 it attacks Black's pawn on h6.

    Fixed engine check: Ranked first · Ng4 Ng8 h5 Nce7.

  20. 20...Ng8 Reroute the knight

    Board fact: Black moves the knight from e7 to g8; from there it controls f6.

    Fixed engine check: Ranked first · Ng8 e5.

  21. 21.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 pawn on d6.

    Fixed engine check: Playable; d5 ranked higher · e5 dxe5.

  22. 21...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 bishop on f4 and White's pawn on d4; black is ahead by 1 conventional material point after the capture.

    Fixed engine check: Ranked first · dxe5.

  23. 22.dxe5 Recapture on e5

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

    Fixed engine check: Ranked first · dxe5 Red8.

  24. 22...Red8 Rook on the open d-file

    Board fact: Black moves the rook from e8 to d8; the rook now occupies the open d-file; from d8 it attacks White's queen on d2.

    Fixed engine check: Ranked first · Red8.

  25. 23.Qe3 Reposition the queen

    Board fact: White moves the queen from d2 to e3; from there it controls d4, e4 and e5.

    Fixed engine check: Near the leading choice · Qe3 Nce7 h5 Nf5.

  26. 23...Qe7 Create pressure on h4

    Board fact: Black moves the queen from c7 to e7; from e7 it attacks White's pawn on h4.

    Fixed engine check: Playable; Nce7 ranked higher · Qe7 Qb6.

  27. 24.Rd6 Rook on the open d-file

    Board fact: White moves the rook from d1 to d6; the rook now occupies the open d-file; from d6 it attacks Black's rook on d8 and Black's knight on c6.

    Fixed engine check: Ranked first · Rd6 Nxe5.

  28. 24...Nb4 Create pressure on a2

    Board fact: Black moves the knight from c6 to b4; from b4 it attacks White's pawn on a2.

    Fixed engine check: Playable; Nxe5 ranked higher · Nb4.

  29. 25.Ng5+ A forcing check

    Board fact: White moves the knight from f3 to g5; the move checks Black's king; from g5 it attacks Black's pawn on e6 and Black's pawn on f7.

    Fixed engine check: Playable; Bg5 ranked higher · Ng5+ hxg5.

  30. 25...Kh8 Answering the check

    Board fact: Black answers the check by moving the king from h7 to h8; from h8 it reinforces the bishop on g7.

    Fixed engine check: Playable; hxg5 ranked higher · Kh8 Qa7.

  31. 26.Bxb7 Exchange on b7

    Board fact: White's bishop takes the bishop on b7; from b7 it attacks Black's rook on c8 and Black's pawn on a6; white is ahead by 3 conventional material points after the capture.

    Fixed engine check: Playable; Qa7 ranked higher · Bxb7 Qxb7.

  32. 26...Qxb7 Recapture on b7

    Board fact: Black's queen recaptures the bishop on b7; from b7 it reinforces the rook on c8; material is level after the capture.

    Fixed engine check: Ranked first · Qxb7 Qe4 Nd5 h5.

  33. 27.Qb6 Create pressure on b7

    Board fact: White moves the queen from e3 to b6; from b6 it attacks Black's queen on b7 and Black's rook on d8.

    Fixed engine check: Playable; Qe4 ranked higher · Qb6 Rd7 Rxd7 Qxb6.

  34. 27...Qxb6 Exchange on b6

    Board fact: Black's queen takes the queen on b6; from b6 it attacks White's rook on d6 and White's pawn on f2; black is ahead by 9 conventional material points after the capture.

    Fixed engine check: Playable; Rd7 ranked higher · Qxb6 Nxf7+.

  35. 28.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 rook on d8 and Black's pawn on h6; black is ahead by 8 conventional material points after the capture.

    Fixed engine check: Ranked first · Nxf7+.

  36. 28...Kh7 Answering the check

    Board fact: Black answers the check by moving the king from h8 to h7; from h7 it reinforces the bishop on g7.

    Fixed engine check: Ranked first · Kh7 Rxb6 Rd7 Nd6.

  37. 29.Rxb6 Exchange on b6

    Board fact: White's rook takes the queen on b6; from b6 it attacks Black's pawn on a6 and Black's pawn on b5; white is ahead by 1 conventional material point after the capture.

    Fixed engine check: Ranked first · Rxb6 Rd7.

PGN

[Event "El Pais sim"] [Site "?"] [Date "1997.??.??"] [White "Kasparov, Garry"] [Black "Paco, Albalate"] [Result "1-0"] 1. e4 e6 2. Qe2 c5 3. g3 Nc6 4. Nf3 g6 5. Bg2 Bg7 6. O-O Nge7 7. d3 O-O 8. c3 b6 9. Re1 d6 10. Nbd2 Bb7 11. Nf1 b5 12. h4 h6 13. N1h2 Kh7 14. Bd2 Qd7 15. d4 cxd4 16. cxd4 a6 17. Rad1 Rac8 18. Bf4 Rfe8 19. Qd2 Qc7 20. Ng4 Ng8 21. e5 dxe5 22. dxe5 Red8 23. Qe3 Qe7 24. Rd6 Nb4 25. Ng5+ Kh8 26. Bxb7 Qxb7 27. Qb6 Qxb6 28. Nxf7+ Kh7 29. Rxb6 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:c08979fca7a50fe977d3342440f5de135013bd595af265a6c1ba82062dfda2c5 and pins it in the selection manifest.
Exact Figshare tags:
White="Kasparov, Garry"; Black="Paco, Albalate"; Event="El Pais sim"; Date="1997.06.11"; Result="1-0". 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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