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Classic game replay

Norman Littlewood vs Mikhail Tal, 1963

This replay preserves the complete 64-ply score of Tal playing Black across 32 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
Norman Littlewood
Black
Mikhail Tal
Event
Hastings6364
Year
1963
Result
0-1
Opening
C91 Ruy Lopez: Closed, Bogoljubow Variation

Opening reference: Ruy Lopez: Closed, Bogoljubow Variation (C91).

In this game, 20 half-moves are labelled opening, 44 middlegame and 0 endgame. The score contains 13 captures and 2 checks or mates; before a recorded move, the position offered a median of 34 legal choices. The source score ends after 32...Ne6 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. 9...Bg4 — Develop the bishop9...Bg4 was a leading choice in the fixed engine check.
  2. 15...cxd4 — Exchange on d415...cxd4 was a leading choice in the fixed engine check.
  3. 20...Bd6 — Create pressure on a320...Bd6 was a leading choice in the fixed engine check.
  4. 28...Bxf4+ — Capture with check on f428...Bxf4+ 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.

♜♞♝♛♚♝♞♜♟♟♟♟♟♟♟♟♟♟♟♟♟♟♟♟♜♞♝♛♚♝♞♜
Norman Littlewood vs Mikhail Tal, 1963

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...exd4

  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...e5 Claim central space

    Board fact: Black moves the pawn from e7 to e5; from there it controls d4 and f4.

    Fixed engine check: Ranked first · e5 Nf3 Nc6 d4.

  3. 2.Nf3 Develop the knight

    Board fact: White develops the knight from g1 to f3; from f3 it attacks Black's pawn on e5.

    Fixed engine check: Ranked first · Nf3 Nc6 d4 exd4.

  4. 2...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 d4 exd4 Nxd4.

  5. 3.Bb5 Develop the bishop

    Board fact: White develops the bishop from f1 to b5; from b5 it attacks Black's knight on c6.

    Fixed engine check: Ranked first · Bb5 a6.

  6. 3...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: Ranked first · a6.

  7. 4.Ba4 Create pressure on c6

    Board fact: White moves the bishop from b5 to a4; from a4 it attacks Black's knight on c6.

    Fixed engine check: Ranked first · Ba4 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 O-O Nxe4 d4.

  9. 5.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 Nxe4.

  10. 5...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 d3 b5 Bb3.

  11. 6.Re1 Improve the rook

    Board fact: White moves the rook from f1 to e1; from there it controls e4 and e3.

    Fixed engine check: Ranked first · Re1.

  12. 6...b5 Create pressure on a4

    Board fact: Black moves the pawn from b7 to b5; from b5 it attacks White's bishop on a4.

    Fixed engine check: Ranked first · b5 Bb3.

  13. 7.Bb3 Create pressure on f7

    Board fact: White moves the bishop from a4 to b3; from b3 it attacks Black's pawn on f7.

    Fixed engine check: Ranked first · Bb3.

  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 c3 d6 h3.

  15. 8.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 e5.

    Fixed engine check: Near the leading choice · d4 Nxd4.

  16. 8...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 c3 Bg4 Be3.

  17. 9.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 Bg4 Be3 d5.

  18. 9...Bg4 Develop the bishop

    Board fact: Black develops the bishop from c8 to g4; from g4 it attacks White's knight on f3.

    Fixed engine check: Ranked first · Bg4 Be3 Na5 dxe5.

  19. 10.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 exd4 cxd4 Na5.

  20. 10...exd4 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 bishop on e3 and White's pawn on c3; black is ahead by 1 conventional material point after the capture.

    Fixed engine check: Ranked first · exd4 cxd4 Na5 Bc2.

Middlegame · 11.cxd4 to 32...Ne6

  1. 11.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 Na5.

  2. 11...Na5 Create pressure on b3

    Board fact: Black moves the knight from c6 to a5; from a5 it attacks White's bishop on b3.

    Fixed engine check: Ranked first · Na5 Nbd2 Nxb3 Qxb3.

  3. 12.Bc2 Reposition the bishop

    Board fact: White moves the bishop from b3 to c2; from there it controls e4 and d3.

    Fixed engine check: Ranked first · Bc2 c5.

  4. 12...c5 Change the pawn structure

    Board fact: Black moves the pawn from c7 to c5; the move changes the central pawn contact; from c5 it attacks White's pawn on d4.

    Fixed engine check: Ranked first · c5 dxc5 dxc5 Nc3.

  5. 13.h3 Create pressure on g4

    Board fact: White moves the pawn from h2 to h3; from h3 it attacks Black's bishop on g4.

    Fixed engine check: Ranked first · h3 Bh5 dxc5 dxc5.

  6. 13...Bxf3 Exchange on f3

    Board fact: Black's bishop takes the knight on f3; from f3 it attacks White's queen on d1 and White's pawn on e4; black is ahead by 3 conventional material points after the capture.

    Fixed engine check: Ranked first · Bxf3 Qxf3.

  7. 14.Qxf3 Recapture on f3

    Board fact: White's queen recaptures the bishop on f3; from f3 it attacks Black's knight on f6; material is level after the capture.

    Fixed engine check: Ranked first · Qxf3 Nc4 Nd2 Nxe3.

  8. 14...Nc4 Create pressure on e3

    Board fact: Black moves the knight from a5 to c4; from c4 it attacks White's bishop on e3 and White's pawn on b2.

    Fixed engine check: Ranked first · Nc4 dxc5 Rc8 Nc3.

  9. 15.Bc1 Reposition the bishop

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

    Fixed engine check: Recorded move; dxc5 ranked higher · Bc1.

  10. 15...cxd4 Exchange on d4

    Board fact: Black's pawn takes the pawn on d4; the pawn is now passed; 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 Qd1 d5 Qxd4.

  11. 16.Qd3 Create pressure on c4

    Board fact: White moves the queen from f3 to d3; from d3 it attacks Black's knight on c4 and Black's pawn on d4.

    Fixed engine check: Near the leading choice · Qd3.

  12. 16...Qb6 Reposition the queen

    Board fact: Black moves the queen from d8 to b6; from there it controls d4, c5 and c6.

    Fixed engine check: Ranked first · Qb6 Rd1.

  13. 17.f4 Advance the f-pawn

    Board fact: White moves the pawn from f2 to f4; from there it controls e5.

    Fixed engine check: Playable; Rd1 ranked higher · f4 Nh5.

  14. 17...d5 Change the pawn structure

    Board fact: Black moves the pawn from d6 to d5; the move changes the central pawn contact; from d5 it attacks White's pawn on e4.

    Fixed engine check: Near the leading choice · d5.

  15. 18.exd5 Exchange on d5

    Board fact: White's pawn takes 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; e5 ranked higher · exd5 Bb4 Nd2 Rac8.

  16. 18...Bb4 Create pressure on e1

    Board fact: Black moves the bishop from e7 to b4; from b4 it attacks White's rook on e1.

    Fixed engine check: Ranked first · Bb4 Rf1 Rfe8 a3.

  17. 19.Rd1 Improve the rook

    Board fact: White moves the rook from e1 to d1; from there it controls d3.

    Fixed engine check: Ranked first · Rd1 Rfe8 Kh2 Bc5.

  18. 19...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 there it controls e4, e5 and e3.

    Fixed engine check: Ranked first · Rfe8 Kh2 Ne3 Bxe3.

  19. 20.a3 Create pressure on b4

    Board fact: White moves the pawn from a2 to a3; from a3 it attacks Black's bishop on b4.

    Fixed engine check: Near the leading choice · a3 Bd6 Kh2 Ne3.

  20. 20...Bd6 Create pressure on a3

    Board fact: Black moves the bishop from b4 to d6; from d6 it attacks White's pawn on a3 and White's pawn on f4.

    Fixed engine check: Ranked first · Bd6 Kh1 Ne3 Bxe3.

  21. 21.Kh2 Reposition the king

    Board fact: White moves the king from g1 to h2; from h2 it reinforces the pawn on g2.

    Fixed engine check: Playable; Kh1 ranked higher · Kh2 Ne3 Bxe3 Rxe3.

  22. 21...Ne3 Create pressure on d1

    Board fact: Black moves the knight from c4 to e3; from e3 it attacks White's rook on d1 and White's bishop on c2.

    Fixed engine check: Ranked first · Ne3 Bxe3 Rxe3 Qf5.

  23. 22.Bxe3 Exchange on e3

    Board fact: White's bishop takes the knight on e3; from e3 it attacks Black's pawn on d4; white is ahead by 3 conventional material points after the capture.

    Fixed engine check: Ranked first · Bxe3 Rxe3 Qf5 Bc7.

  24. 22...Rxe3 Recapture on e3

    Board fact: Black's rook recaptures the bishop on e3; the rook now occupies the open e-file; from e3 it attacks White's queen on d3 and White's pawn on h3; material is level after the capture.

    Fixed engine check: Ranked first · Rxe3 Qf5 Bc7 Nd2.

  25. 23.Qf5 Create pressure on f6

    Board fact: White moves the queen from d3 to f5; from f5 it attacks Black's knight on f6 and Black's pawn on h7.

    Fixed engine check: Ranked first · Qf5 Bc7 Nd2 g6.

  26. 23...Bc7 Create pressure on f4

    Board fact: Black moves the bishop from d6 to c7; from c7 it attacks White's pawn on f4.

    Fixed engine check: Ranked first · Bc7 Nd2 g6 Qg5.

  27. 24.Nd2 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 · Nd2 g6 Qg5 d3.

  28. 24...g6 Create pressure on f5

    Board fact: Black moves the pawn from g7 to g6; from g6 it attacks White's queen on f5.

    Fixed engine check: Ranked first · g6 Qg5 d3 Bb3.

  29. 25.Qg5 Create pressure on f6

    Board fact: White moves the queen from f5 to g5; from g5 it attacks Black's knight on f6 and Black's pawn on g6.

    Fixed engine check: Ranked first · Qg5 d3 Bb3 Kg7.

  30. 25...d3 Advance a passed pawn

    Board fact: Black moves the pawn from d4 to d3; the pawn is now passed; from d3 it attacks White's bishop on c2.

    Fixed engine check: Ranked first · d3 Bb3 Kg7 Qh4.

  31. 26.Bb3 Reposition the bishop

    Board fact: White moves the bishop from c2 to b3; from there it controls d5 and c4.

    Fixed engine check: Ranked first · Bb3 Kg7 Qh4 h6.

  32. 26...Nh5 Create pressure on f4

    Board fact: Black moves the knight from f6 to h5; from h5 it attacks White's pawn on f4.

    Fixed engine check: Near the leading choice · Nh5 Rf1 Re2 Rac1.

  33. 27.Rf1 Improve the rook

    Board fact: White moves the rook from d1 to f1; from there it controls f3 and f4.

    Fixed engine check: Ranked first · Rf1 Qd6 Rae1 Rae8.

  34. 27...Qd4 Create pressure on b2

    Board fact: Black moves the queen from b6 to d4; from d4 it attacks White's pawn on b2 and White's pawn on d5.

    Fixed engine check: Ranked first · Qd4 Rac1 Bxf4+ Rxf4.

  35. 28.Rac1 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 c1 it attacks Black's bishop on c7.

    Fixed engine check: Ranked first · Rac1 Bxf4+ Rxf4 Qxf4+.

  36. 28...Bxf4+ Capture with check on f4

    Board fact: Black's bishop takes the pawn on f4; the move checks White's king; from f4 it attacks White's queen on g5; black is ahead by 1 conventional material point after the capture.

    Fixed engine check: Ranked first · Bxf4+ Rxf4 Qxf4+ Qxf4.

  37. 29.Rxf4 Recapture on f4

    Board fact: White's rook recaptures the bishop on f4; the rook now works on a semi-open f-file; from f4 it attacks Black's queen on d4 and Black's pawn on f7; white is ahead by 2 conventional material points after the capture.

    Fixed engine check: Ranked first · Rxf4 Nxf4 Rf1 Ne2.

  38. 29...Qxf4+ Recapture on f4

    Board fact: Black's queen recaptures the rook on f4; the move checks White's king; from f4 it attacks White's queen on g5; black is ahead by 3 conventional material points after the capture.

    Fixed engine check: Ranked first · Qxf4+ Qxf4 Nxf4 Rc7.

  39. 30.Qxf4 Recapture on f4

    Board fact: White's queen recaptures the queen on f4; from f4 it attacks Black's rook on e3 and Black's pawn on f7; white is ahead by 6 conventional material points after the capture.

    Fixed engine check: Ranked first · Qxf4 Nxf4 d6 Rd8.

  40. 30...Nxf4 Recapture on f4

    Board fact: Black's knight recaptures the queen on f4; from f4 it attacks White's pawn on d5 and White's pawn on g2; black is ahead by 3 conventional material points after the capture.

    Fixed engine check: Ranked first · Nxf4 d6 Rd8 Rc6.

  41. 31.d6 Advance a passed pawn

    Board fact: White moves the pawn from d5 to d6; the pawn is now passed.

    Fixed engine check: Ranked first · d6 Rd8 Rf1 g5.

  42. 31...Rd8 Create pressure on d6

    Board fact: Black moves the rook from a8 to d8; from d8 it attacks White's pawn on d6.

    Fixed engine check: Ranked first · Rd8 Nf3 Rxd6 Ng5.

  43. 32.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: Playable; Rf1 ranked higher · Rc7 Ne6 Rc6 Nd4.

  44. 32...Ne6 Create pressure on c7

    Board fact: Black moves the knight from f4 to e6; from e6 it attacks White's rook on c7.

    Fixed engine check: Ranked first · Ne6 Rc6 Nd4 Rxa6.

PGN

[Event "Hastings6364"] [Site "?"] [Date "1963.??.??"] [White "Littlewood, Norman"] [Black "Tal, Mikhail"] [Result "0-1"] 1. e4 e5 2. Nf3 Nc6 3. Bb5 a6 4. Ba4 Nf6 5. O-O Be7 6. Re1 b5 7. Bb3 O-O 8. d4 d6 9. c3 Bg4 10. Be3 exd4 11. cxd4 Na5 12. Bc2 c5 13. h3 Bxf3 14. Qxf3 Nc4 15. Bc1 cxd4 16. Qd3 Qb6 17. f4 d5 18. exd5 Bb4 19. Rd1 Rfe8 20. a3 Bd6 21. Kh2 Ne3 22. Bxe3 Rxe3 23. Qf5 Bc7 24. Nd2 g6 25. Qg5 d3 26. Bb3 Nh5 27. Rf1 Qd4 28. Rac1 Bxf4+ 29. Rxf4 Qxf4+ 30. Qxf4 Nxf4 31. d6 Rd8 32. Rc7 Ne6 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 sha256:7c260b7c9bf3f84fdce46574c5b6c60bed373a569fdc66bc2ab1ce77e4db0900 and pins it in the selection manifest.
Exact Figshare tags:
White="Littlewood, Norman"; Black="Tal, Mihail"; Event="Hastings 6364"; Date="1963.??.??"; Result="0-1".
Reviewed display mapping: black Tal, Mihail → Tal, Mikhail; event Hastings 6364 → Hastings6364. 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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