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Classic game replay

Iivo Nei vs Mikhail Tal, 1979

This replay preserves the complete 74-ply score of Tal playing Black across 37 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
Iivo Nei
Black
Mikhail Tal
Event
URS Spartakiad
Year
1979
Result
0-1
Opening
A28 English Opening: King's English Variation, Four Knights Variation, Quiet Line

Opening reference: English Opening: King's English Variation, Four Knights Variation, Quiet Line (A28).

In this game, 20 half-moves are labelled opening, 54 middlegame and 0 endgame. The score contains 14 captures and 3 checks or mates; before a recorded move, the position offered a median of 36 legal choices. The source score ends after 37...Qh6 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. 7...Nxd5 — Recapture on d57...Nxd5 was a leading choice in the fixed engine check.
  2. 13...Bxc5 — Exchange on c513...Bxc5 was a leading choice in the fixed engine check.
  3. 23...Nd5 — Answering the check23...Nd5 was a leading choice in the fixed engine check.
  4. 27...Qxg4+ — Recapture on g427...Qxg4+ was a leading choice in the fixed engine check.
  5. 35...Rg3 — Create pressure on c335...Rg3 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.

♜♞♝♛♚♝♞♜♟♟♟♟♟♟♟♟♟♟♟♟♟♟♟♟♜♞♝♛♚♝♞♜
Iivo Nei vs Mikhail Tal, 1979

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.c4 to 10...a5

  1. 1.c4 Advance the c-pawn

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

    Fixed engine check: Near the leading choice · c4.

  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 g3 c6 Nf3.

  3. 2.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 Nf6 Nf3 Nc6.

  4. 2...Nf6 Develop the knight

    Board fact: Black develops the knight from g8 to f6; from there it controls d5 and e4.

    Fixed engine check: Ranked first · Nf6 Nf3 Nc6 g3.

  5. 3.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.

  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 d3 d5 cxd5.

  7. 4.e3 Advance the e-pawn

    Board fact: White moves the pawn from e2 to e3; from there it controls d4 and f4.

    Fixed engine check: Ranked first · e3.

  8. 4...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 d4 exd4 exd4.

  9. 5.Be2 Develop the bishop

    Board fact: White develops the bishop from f1 to e2; from there it controls c4, d3 and f3.

    Fixed engine check: Ranked first · Be2 Bb4 d4 Bxc3+.

  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 d4 exd4 exd4.

  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 d5 d4 exd4.

  12. 6...d5 Change the pawn structure

    Board fact: Black moves the pawn from d7 to d5; the move changes the central pawn contact; from d5 it attacks White's pawn on c4.

    Fixed engine check: Ranked first · d5 d4 exd4 Nxd4.

  13. 7.cxd5 Exchange on d5

    Board fact: White's pawn takes the pawn on d5; the move changes the central pawn contact; White accepts doubled pawns on the d-file; from d5 it attacks Black's knight on c6; white is ahead by 1 conventional material point after the capture.

    Fixed engine check: Ranked first · cxd5 Nxd5 Qc2 Kh8.

  14. 7...Nxd5 Recapture on d5

    Board fact: Black's knight recaptures the pawn on d5; from d5 it attacks White's knight on c3 and White's pawn on e3; material is level after the capture.

    Fixed engine check: Ranked first · Nxd5 d4.

  15. 8.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 Be6 Qc2 h6.

  16. 8...Be6 Develop the bishop

    Board fact: Black develops the bishop from c8 to e6; from there it controls d5 and f5.

    Fixed engine check: Ranked first · Be6 d4.

  17. 9.Qc2 Reposition the queen

    Board fact: White moves the queen from d1 to c2; from there it controls c3 and d3.

    Fixed engine check: Ranked first · Qc2 f5.

  18. 9...f5 Advance the f-pawn

    Board fact: Black moves the pawn from f7 to f5; from there it controls e4.

    Fixed engine check: Ranked first · f5 Nxd5 Bxd5 b3.

  19. 10.a3 Advance the a-pawn

    Board fact: White moves the pawn from a2 to a3.

    Fixed engine check: Ranked first · a3.

  20. 10...a5 Advance the a-pawn

    Board fact: Black moves the pawn from a7 to a5.

    Fixed engine check: Ranked first · a5 Bd2 Kh8 Nxd5.

Middlegame · 11.Na4 to 37...Qh6

  1. 11.Na4 Reroute the knight

    Board fact: White moves the knight from c3 to a4; from there it controls c3 and c5.

    Fixed engine check: Ranked first · Na4.

  2. 11...Qe8 Reposition the queen

    Board fact: Black moves the queen from d8 to e8; from there it controls c6.

    Fixed engine check: Ranked first · Qe8 Bd2 Qg6 Nc5.

  3. 12.Bd2 Develop the bishop

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

    Fixed engine check: Ranked first · Bd2 Kh8.

  4. 12...Qg6 Create pressure on g2

    Board fact: Black moves the queen from e8 to g6; from g6 it attacks White's pawn on g2.

    Fixed engine check: Near the leading choice · Qg6.

  5. 13.Nc5 Create pressure on e6

    Board fact: White moves the knight from a4 to c5; from c5 it attacks Black's bishop on e6 and Black's pawn on b7.

    Fixed engine check: Ranked first · Nc5 Bxc5 Qxc5 Rad8.

  6. 13...Bxc5 Exchange on c5

    Board fact: Black's bishop takes the knight on c5; from c5 it attacks White's pawn on a3 and White's pawn on e3; black is ahead by 3 conventional material points after the capture.

    Fixed engine check: Ranked first · Bxc5 Qxc5 Rfe8 Qc2.

  7. 14.Qxc5 Recapture on c5

    Board fact: White's queen recaptures the bishop on c5; from c5 it attacks Black's rook on f8 and Black's knight on c6; material is level after the capture.

    Fixed engine check: Ranked first · Qxc5 Rad8.

  8. 14...e4 Change the pawn structure

    Board fact: Black moves the pawn from e5 to e4; the move changes the central pawn contact; from e4 it attacks White's knight on f3 and White's pawn on d3.

    Fixed engine check: Ranked first · e4 Ne1.

  9. 15.Ne1 Reroute the knight

    Board fact: White moves the knight from f3 to e1; from there it controls d3 and f3.

    Fixed engine check: Ranked first · Ne1 Rad8 f3 a4.

  10. 15...Ne5 Create pressure on d3

    Board fact: Black moves the knight from c6 to e5; from e5 it attacks White's pawn on d3.

    Fixed engine check: Near the leading choice · Ne5 f3.

  11. 16.f4 Create pressure on e5

    Board fact: White moves the pawn from f2 to f4; from f4 it attacks Black's knight on e5.

    Fixed engine check: Playable; f3 ranked higher · f4.

  12. 16...Nd7 Create pressure on c5

    Board fact: Black moves the knight from e5 to d7; from d7 it attacks White's queen on c5.

    Fixed engine check: Ranked first · Nd7.

  13. 17.Qc2 Create pressure on c7

    Board fact: White moves the queen from c5 to c2; from c2 it attacks Black's pawn on c7.

    Fixed engine check: Ranked first · Qc2.

  14. 17...N7f6 Improve the knight

    Board fact: Black moves the knight from d7 to f6; from there it controls d5 and e4.

    Fixed engine check: Ranked first · N7f6 Rd1 Rac8 Qc1.

  15. 18.dxe4 Exchange on e4

    Board fact: White's pawn takes the pawn on e4; the move changes the central pawn contact; White accepts doubled pawns on the e-file; from e4 it attacks Black's knight on d5 and Black's pawn on f5; white is ahead by 1 conventional material point after the capture.

    Fixed engine check: Ranked first · dxe4 fxe4.

  16. 18...fxe4 Recapture on e4

    Board fact: Black's pawn recaptures the pawn on e4; the move changes the central pawn contact; material is level after the capture.

    Fixed engine check: Ranked first · fxe4 Bc4 c6 Bc3.

  17. 19.Bc4 Create pressure on d5

    Board fact: White moves the bishop from e2 to c4; from c4 it attacks Black's knight on d5.

    Fixed engine check: Near the leading choice · Bc4.

  18. 19...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 Bc3 b5 Bxd5.

  19. 20.a4 Advance the a-pawn

    Board fact: White moves the pawn from a3 to a4.

    Fixed engine check: Near the leading choice · a4 Kh8 Qc1.

  20. 20...Ng4 Create pressure on e3

    Board fact: Black moves the knight from f6 to g4; from g4 it attacks White's pawn on e3 and White's pawn on h2.

    Fixed engine check: Ranked first · Ng4 Qb3.

  21. 21.Ra3 Improve the rook

    Board fact: White moves the rook from a1 to a3; from there it controls c3, d3 and e3.

    Fixed engine check: Near the leading choice · Ra3 Kh8 Bxd5 Bxd5.

  22. 21...Nb4 Create pressure on c2

    Board fact: Black moves the knight from d5 to b4; from b4 it attacks White's queen on c2.

    Fixed engine check: Near the leading choice · Nb4 Qb3.

  23. 22.Qb3 Create pressure on b4

    Board fact: White moves the queen from c2 to b3; from b3 it attacks Black's knight on b4.

    Fixed engine check: Ranked first · Qb3 Nd5 Nc2 Kh8.

  24. 22...Bxc4 Exchange on c4

    Board fact: Black's bishop takes the bishop on c4; from c4 it attacks White's queen on b3 and White's rook on f1; black is ahead by 3 conventional material points after the capture.

    Fixed engine check: Ranked first · Bxc4 Qxc4+.

  25. 23.Qxc4+ Recapture on c4

    Board fact: White's queen recaptures the bishop on c4; the move checks Black's king; from c4 it attacks Black's knight on b4 and Black's pawn on c6; material is level after the capture.

    Fixed engine check: Ranked first · Qxc4+ Nd5.

  26. 23...Nd5 Answering the check

    Board fact: Black answers the check by moving the knight from b4 to d5; from d5 it attacks White's pawn on e3 and White's pawn on f4.

    Fixed engine check: Ranked first · Nd5 Nc2 Rf7 h3.

  27. 24.Rb3 Create pressure on b7

    Board fact: White moves the rook from a3 to b3; from b3 it attacks Black's pawn on b7.

    Fixed engine check: Ranked first · Rb3 Rf7 Nc2 h5.

  28. 24...Rf7 Rook on the semi-open f-file

    Board fact: Black moves the rook from f8 to f7; the rook now works on a semi-open f-file; from f7 it attacks White's pawn on f4.

    Fixed engine check: Ranked first · Rf7 Nc2 h5 Nd4.

  29. 25.h3 Create pressure on g4

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

    Fixed engine check: Ranked first · h3 Nh6 Nc2 Kh8.

  30. 25...Nh6 Reroute the knight

    Board fact: Black moves the knight from g4 to h6; from there it controls f5.

    Fixed engine check: Ranked first · Nh6 Nc2 Kh8 Nd4.

  31. 26.g4 Advance the g-pawn

    Board fact: White moves the pawn from g2 to g4; from there it controls f5.

    Fixed engine check: Playable; Nc2 ranked higher · g4 Rd7.

  32. 26...Nxg4 Exchange on g4

    Board fact: Black's knight takes the pawn on g4; from g4 it attacks White's pawn on e3; black is ahead by 1 conventional material point after the capture.

    Fixed engine check: Playable; Rd7 ranked higher · Nxg4 hxg4.

  33. 27.hxg4 Recapture on g4

    Board fact: White's pawn recaptures the knight on g4; the move changes the central pawn contact; white is ahead by 2 conventional material points after the capture.

    Fixed engine check: Ranked first · hxg4.

  34. 27...Qxg4+ Recapture on g4

    Board fact: Black's queen recaptures the pawn on g4; the move checks White's king; from g4 it attacks White's pawn on f4; white is ahead by 1 conventional material point after the capture.

    Fixed engine check: Ranked first · Qxg4+ Ng2.

  35. 28.Ng2 Answering the check

    Board fact: White develops the knight from e1 to g2; from there it controls e3 and f4.

    Fixed engine check: Ranked first · Ng2 Re8.

  36. 28...Re8 Improve the rook

    Board fact: Black moves the rook from a8 to e8; from there it controls e4, e5 and e6.

    Fixed engine check: Ranked first · Re8 Bxa5.

  37. 29.Rf2 Improve the rook

    Board fact: White moves the rook from f1 to f2; from there it controls f3 and f4.

    Fixed engine check: Playable; Be1 ranked higher · Rf2 Re6.

  38. 29...Re6 Improve the rook

    Board fact: Black moves the rook from e8 to e6; from there it controls e4, e5 and c6.

    Fixed engine check: Ranked first · Re6 Bxa5 Rh6 Rd2.

  39. 30.Qe2 Create pressure on g4

    Board fact: White moves the queen from c4 to e2; from e2 it attacks Black's queen on g4.

    Fixed engine check: Recorded move; Bc3 ranked higher · Qe2 Qh3 Ne1 Nxf4.

  40. 30...Qh3 Create pressure on g2

    Board fact: Black moves the queen from g4 to h3; from h3 it attacks White's knight on g2 and White's pawn on e3.

    Fixed engine check: Ranked first · Qh3 Ne1 Nxf4 Rxf4.

  41. 31.Ne1 Reroute the knight

    Board fact: White moves the knight from g2 to e1; from there it controls d3 and f3.

    Fixed engine check: Ranked first · Ne1 Nxf4 Rxf4 Rxf4.

  42. 31...Nxf4 Exchange on f4

    Board fact: Black's knight takes the pawn on f4; from f4 it attacks White's queen on e2; material is level after the capture.

    Fixed engine check: Near the leading choice · Nxf4 Rxf4.

  43. 32.exf4 Recapture on f4

    Board fact: White's pawn recaptures the knight on f4; the move changes the central pawn contact; white is ahead by 3 conventional material points after the capture.

    Fixed engine check: Ranked first · exf4.

  44. 32...Qxb3 Exchange on b3

    Board fact: Black's queen takes the rook on b3; from b3 it attacks White's pawn on a4 and White's pawn on b2; black is ahead by 2 conventional material points after the capture.

    Fixed engine check: Ranked first · Qxb3 Ng2 e3 Nxe3.

  45. 33.Bc3 Create pressure on a5

    Board fact: White moves the bishop from d2 to c3; from c3 it attacks Black's pawn on a5 and Black's pawn on g7.

    Fixed engine check: Ranked first · Bc3 Qxa4 Be5 Rg6+.

  46. 33...Rg6+ A forcing check

    Board fact: Black moves the rook from e6 to g6; the move checks White's king; from there it controls c6, d6 and e6.

    Fixed engine check: Ranked first · Rg6+ Ng2.

  47. 34.Ng2 Answering the check

    Board fact: White develops the knight from e1 to g2; from there it controls e3 and f4.

    Fixed engine check: Ranked first · Ng2 Qd5 Qd2 Rg3.

  48. 34...Qd5 Reposition the queen

    Board fact: Black moves the queen from b3 to d5; from there it controls d4, e4 and e5.

    Fixed engine check: Ranked first · Qd5 Qe3 Qd1+ Rf1.

  49. 35.Kf1 Reposition the king

    Board fact: White moves the king from g1 to f1; from f1 it reinforces the queen on e2.

    Fixed engine check: Near the leading choice · Kf1 Rg3 Ne3 Qc5.

  50. 35...Rg3 Create pressure on c3

    Board fact: Black moves the rook from g6 to g3; from g3 it attacks White's bishop on c3 and White's knight on g2.

    Fixed engine check: Ranked first · Rg3 Ke1 Rd3 Kf1.

  51. 36.Ne3 Create pressure on d5

    Board fact: White moves the knight from g2 to e3; from e3 it attacks Black's queen on d5.

    Fixed engine check: Ranked first · Ne3 Qc5 Ng2 Qf5.

  52. 36...Qe6 Reposition the queen

    Board fact: Black moves the queen from d5 to e6; from there it controls d5, e4 and e5.

    Fixed engine check: Near the leading choice · Qe6 Ke1 Qh3 Rh2.

  53. 37.f5 Create pressure on e6

    Board fact: White moves the pawn from f4 to f5; from f5 it attacks Black's queen on e6.

    Fixed engine check: Recorded move; Ke1 ranked higher · f5 Qh6 Rg2 Rxe3.

  54. 37...Qh6 Create pressure on e3

    Board fact: Black moves the queen from e6 to h6; from h6 it attacks White's knight on e3.

    Fixed engine check: Ranked first · Qh6 Qc4 Qxe3 Bxg7.

PGN

[Event "URS Spartakiad"] [Site "?"] [Date "1979.??.??"] [White "Nei, Iivo"] [Black "Tal, Mikhail"] [Result "0-1"] 1. c4 e5 2. Nc3 Nf6 3. Nf3 Nc6 4. e3 Be7 5. Be2 O-O 6. O-O d5 7. cxd5 Nxd5 8. d3 Be6 9. Qc2 f5 10. a3 a5 11. Na4 Qe8 12. Bd2 Qg6 13. Nc5 Bxc5 14. Qxc5 e4 15. Ne1 Ne5 16. f4 Nd7 17. Qc2 N7f6 18. dxe4 fxe4 19. Bc4 c6 20. a4 Ng4 21. Ra3 Nb4 22. Qb3 Bxc4 23. Qxc4+ Nd5 24. Rb3 Rf7 25. h3 Nh6 26. g4 Nxg4 27. hxg4 Qxg4+ 28. Ng2 Re8 29. Rf2 Re6 30. Qe2 Qh3 31. Ne1 Nxf4 32. exf4 Qxb3 33. Bc3 Rg6+ 34. Ng2 Qd5 35. Kf1 Rg3 36. Ne3 Qe6 37. f5 Qh6 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 sha256:4b4940e720fd7d85c41bc015f44c64fef530945586831ce0fb34b15d8b4c6696 and pins it in the selection manifest.
Exact Figshare tags:
White="Nei, Iivo"; Black="Tal, Mihail"; Event="URS Spartakiad"; Date="1979.??.??"; 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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