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Classic game replay

Alexei Shirov vs Garry Kasparov, 1997

This replay preserves the complete 80-ply score of Kasparov playing Black across 40 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
Alexei Shirov
Black
Garry Kasparov
Event
Tilburg Fontys
Year
1997
Result
0-1
Opening
B90 Sicilian Defense: Najdorf Variation, English Attack

Opening reference: Sicilian Defense: Najdorf Variation, English Attack (B90).

In this game, 20 half-moves are labelled opening, 58 middlegame and 2 endgame. The score contains 20 captures and 4 checks or mates; before a recorded move, the position offered a median of 35 legal choices. The source score ends after 40...Kg7 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. 8...Be7 — Develop the bishop8...Be7 was a leading choice in the fixed engine check.
  2. 13...b4 — Create pressure on c313...b4 was a leading choice in the fixed engine check.
  3. 23...hxg5 — Exchange on g523...hxg5 was a leading choice in the fixed engine check.
  4. 27...Qxc4 — Exchange on c427...Qxc4 was a leading choice in the fixed engine check.
  5. 36...g3 — Advance a passed pawn36...g3 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.

♜♞♝♛♚♝♞♜♟♟♟♟♟♟♟♟♟♟♟♟♟♟♟♟♜♞♝♛♚♝♞♜
Alexei Shirov vs Garry Kasparov, 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...h6

  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...a6 Advance the a-pawn

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

    Fixed engine check: Ranked first · a6 Bg5 Nbd7 Be2.

  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 e5 Nb3 Ng4.

  12. 6...e5 Create pressure on d4

    Board fact: Black moves the pawn from e7 to e5; from e5 it attacks White's knight on d4.

    Fixed engine check: Ranked first · e5 Nb3 Ng4 Bc1.

  13. 7.Nb3 Reroute the knight

    Board fact: White moves the knight from d4 to b3; from there it controls d4 and c5.

    Fixed engine check: Ranked first · Nb3 Ng4 Bc1 Be6.

  14. 7...Be6 Develop the bishop

    Board fact: Black develops the bishop from c8 to e6; from e6 it attacks White's knight on b3.

    Fixed engine check: Ranked first · Be6 Qd2 Be7 f3.

  15. 8.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 Be7.

  16. 8...Be7 Develop the bishop

    Board fact: Black develops the bishop from f8 to e7; from there it controls d6 and f6.

    Fixed engine check: Ranked first · Be7 Qd2 h5 O-O-O.

  17. 9.Qd2 Create pressure on d6

    Board fact: White moves the queen from d1 to d2; from d2 it attacks Black's pawn on d6.

    Fixed engine check: Ranked first · Qd2 h5 O-O-O Nbd7.

  18. 9...Nbd7 Develop the knight

    Board fact: Black develops the knight from b8 to d7; from there it controls e5, c5 and f6.

    Fixed engine check: Near the leading choice · Nbd7 g4 b5 h4.

  19. 10.g4 Advance the g-pawn

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

    Fixed engine check: Ranked first · g4 b5 O-O-O Rc8.

  20. 10...h6 Advance the h-pawn

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

    Fixed engine check: Ranked first · h6 h4.

Middlegame · 11.O-O-O to 39...Kf6

  1. 11.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: Ranked first · O-O-O.

  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: Ranked first · b5 a3 Nb6 Na5.

  3. 12.h4 Advance the h-pawn

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

    Fixed engine check: Ranked first · h4 Nb6 Na5 Qc7.

  4. 12...Nb6 Reroute the knight

    Board fact: Black moves the knight from d7 to b6; from there it controls d5 and c4.

    Fixed engine check: Ranked first · Nb6 Na5.

  5. 13.Kb1 Reposition the king

    Board fact: White moves the king from c1 to b1; from b1 it reinforces the pawn on a2.

    Fixed engine check: Near the leading choice · Kb1 Qc7.

  6. 13...b4 Create pressure on c3

    Board fact: Black moves the pawn from b5 to b4; from b4 it attacks White's knight on c3.

    Fixed engine check: Ranked first · b4 Bxb6 Qxb6 Na4.

  7. 14.Bxb6 Exchange on b6

    Board fact: White's bishop takes the knight on b6; from b6 it attacks Black's queen on d8; white is ahead by 3 conventional material points after the capture.

    Fixed engine check: Ranked first · Bxb6 Qxb6 Na4 Qb8.

  8. 14...Qxb6 Recapture on b6

    Board fact: Black's queen recaptures the bishop on b6; from b6 it reinforces the pawn on a6; material is level after the capture.

    Fixed engine check: Ranked first · Qxb6.

  9. 15.Nd5 Create pressure on b6

    Board fact: White moves the knight from c3 to d5; from d5 it attacks Black's queen on b6 and Black's bishop on e7.

    Fixed engine check: Recorded move; Na4 ranked higher · Nd5.

  10. 15...Bxd5 Exchange on d5

    Board fact: Black's bishop takes the knight on d5; from d5 it attacks White's knight on b3 and White's pawn on e4; black is ahead by 3 conventional material points after the capture.

    Fixed engine check: Ranked first · Bxd5 exd5 a5 Qg2.

  11. 16.exd5 Recapture on d5

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

    Fixed engine check: Ranked first · exd5 a5 Bc4 a4.

  12. 16...a5 Advance the a-pawn

    Board fact: Black moves the pawn from a6 to a5; from a5 it reinforces the pawn on b4.

    Fixed engine check: Ranked first · a5 Bc4 a4 Nc1.

  13. 17.Qd3 Reposition the queen

    Board fact: White moves the queen from d2 to d3; from there it controls d4, d5 and e4.

    Fixed engine check: Ranked first · Qd3 O-O.

  14. 17...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 Nd2.

  15. 18.Nd2 Reroute the knight

    Board fact: White moves the knight from b3 to d2; from there it controls e4, c4 and f3.

    Fixed engine check: Ranked first · Nd2 g6 h5 g5.

  16. 18...a4 Advance the a-pawn

    Board fact: Black moves the pawn from a5 to a4.

    Fixed engine check: Ranked first · a4 Ne4 Nxe4 Qxe4.

  17. 19.Ne4 Create pressure on f6

    Board fact: White moves the knight from d2 to e4; from e4 it attacks Black's knight on f6 and Black's pawn on d6.

    Fixed engine check: Ranked first · Ne4 Nxe4 Qxe4 a3.

  18. 19...Rfc8 Rook on the semi-open c-file

    Board fact: Black moves the rook from f8 to c8; the rook now works on a semi-open c-file; from c8 it attacks White's pawn on c2.

    Fixed engine check: Ranked first · Rfc8 Nxf6+.

  19. 20.Nxf6+ Capture with check on f6

    Board fact: White's knight takes the knight on f6; the move checks Black's king; from f6 it reinforces the pawn on d5; white is ahead by 3 conventional material points after the capture.

    Fixed engine check: Ranked first · Nxf6+ Bxf6.

  20. 20...Bxf6 Recapture on f6

    Board fact: Black's bishop recaptures the knight on f6; from f6 it attacks White's pawn on h4; material is level after the capture.

    Fixed engine check: Ranked first · Bxf6 Qe4.

  21. 21.Qe4 Create pressure on b4

    Board fact: White moves the queen from d3 to e4; from e4 it attacks Black's pawn on b4 and Black's pawn on e5.

    Fixed engine check: Ranked first · Qe4 g6 h5 g5.

  22. 21...Qc5 Create pressure on c2

    Board fact: Black moves the queen from b6 to c5; from c5 it attacks White's pawn on c2 and White's pawn on d5.

    Fixed engine check: Playable; b3 ranked higher · Qc5.

  23. 22.Bd3 Develop the bishop

    Board fact: White develops the bishop from f1 to d3; from there it controls e4 and c4.

    Fixed engine check: Ranked first · Bd3 Kf8.

  24. 22...Kf8 Reposition the king

    Board fact: Black moves the king from g8 to f8; from f8 it reinforces the pawn on f7.

    Fixed engine check: Near the leading choice · Kf8 g5.

  25. 23.g5 Create pressure on f6

    Board fact: White moves the pawn from g4 to g5; from g5 it attacks Black's bishop on f6 and Black's pawn on h6.

    Fixed engine check: Ranked first · g5 hxg5 hxg5 Bxg5.

  26. 23...hxg5 Exchange on g5

    Board fact: Black's pawn takes the pawn on g5; the move changes the central pawn contact; Black accepts doubled pawns on the g-file; from g5 it attacks White's pawn on h4; black is ahead by 1 conventional material point after the capture.

    Fixed engine check: Ranked first · hxg5 hxg5 Bxg5 Qf5.

  27. 24.hxg5 Recapture on g5

    Board fact: White's pawn recaptures the pawn on g5; the move changes the central pawn contact; from g5 it attacks Black's bishop on f6; material is level after the capture.

    Fixed engine check: Ranked first · hxg5 Bxg5 Qf5 Bh6.

  28. 24...Bxg5 Recapture on g5

    Board fact: Black's bishop recaptures the pawn on g5; black is ahead by 1 conventional material point after the capture.

    Fixed engine check: Ranked first · Bxg5 Qf5 Bf4 Rh7.

  29. 25.Qf5 Create pressure on c8

    Board fact: White moves the queen from e4 to f5; from f5 it attacks Black's rook on c8 and Black's bishop on g5.

    Fixed engine check: Playable; f4 ranked higher · Qf5 Bf4.

  30. 25...Bh6 Reposition the bishop

    Board fact: Black moves the bishop from g5 to h6; from there it controls e3 and f4.

    Fixed engine check: Ranked first · Bh6 Rxh6.

  31. 26.Rh4 Rook on the open h-file

    Board fact: White moves the rook from h1 to h4; the rook now occupies the open h-file; from h4 it attacks Black's bishop on h6 and Black's pawn on b4.

    Fixed engine check: Playable; Rxh6 ranked higher · Rh4 g6.

  32. 26...Ke7 Reposition the king

    Board fact: Black moves the king from f8 to e7; from there it controls d6, e6 and f6.

    Fixed engine check: Near the leading choice · Ke7.

  33. 27.Rc4 Create pressure on c5

    Board fact: White moves the rook from h4 to c4; from c4 it attacks Black's queen on c5 and Black's pawn on b4.

    Fixed engine check: Ranked first · Rc4.

  34. 27...Qxc4 Exchange on c4

    Board fact: Black's queen takes the rook on c4; from c4 it attacks White's bishop on d3 and White's pawn on a2; black is ahead by 6 conventional material points after the capture.

    Fixed engine check: Ranked first · Qxc4 Bxc4 Rxc4 b3.

  35. 28.Bxc4 Recapture on c4

    Board fact: White's bishop recaptures the queen on c4; from c4 it reinforces the pawn on a2; white is ahead by 3 conventional material points after the capture.

    Fixed engine check: Ranked first · Bxc4 Rxc4 b3 Rf4.

  36. 28...Rxc4 Recapture on c4

    Board fact: Black's rook recaptures the bishop on c4; the rook now works on a semi-open c-file; from c4 it attacks White's pawn on c2; material is level after the capture.

    Fixed engine check: Ranked first · Rxc4 b3.

  37. 29.Qd3 Create pressure on c4

    Board fact: White moves the queen from f5 to d3; from d3 it attacks Black's rook on c4.

    Fixed engine check: Near the leading choice · Qd3 Rac8 Re1 Bf4.

  38. 29...Rac8 Rook on the semi-open c-file

    Board fact: Black moves the rook from a8 to c8; the rook now works on a semi-open c-file; from there it controls c4, c5 and c6.

    Fixed engine check: Ranked first · Rac8 Re1 Bf4 a3.

  39. 30.Re1 Rook on the semi-open e-file

    Board fact: White moves the rook from d1 to e1; the rook now works on a semi-open e-file; from e1 it attacks Black's pawn on e5.

    Fixed engine check: Ranked first · Re1 Bf4 a3 bxa3.

  40. 30...Bf4 Reposition the bishop

    Board fact: Black moves the bishop from h6 to f4; from there it controls e5 and e3.

    Fixed engine check: Ranked first · Bf4 a3.

  41. 31.Re4 Rook on the semi-open e-file

    Board fact: White moves the rook from e1 to e4; the rook now works on a semi-open e-file; from e4 it attacks Black's rook on c4 and Black's bishop on f4.

    Fixed engine check: Near the leading choice · Re4 Rxe4.

  42. 31...Rxe4 Exchange on e4

    Board fact: Black's rook takes the rook on e4; from e4 it reinforces the bishop on f4; black is ahead by 5 conventional material points after the capture.

    Fixed engine check: Ranked first · Rxe4.

  43. 32.fxe4 Recapture on e4

    Board fact: White's pawn recaptures the rook on e4; the move changes the central pawn contact; from e4 it reinforces the pawn on d5; material is level after the capture.

    Fixed engine check: Ranked first · fxe4 g5 Qh3 Rc4.

  44. 32...g5 Advance a passed pawn

    Board fact: Black moves the pawn from g7 to g5; the pawn is now passed; from there it controls f4.

    Fixed engine check: Ranked first · g5 Qh3.

  45. 33.a3 Create pressure on b4

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

    Fixed engine check: Ranked first · a3.

  46. 33...bxa3 Exchange on a3

    Board fact: Black's pawn takes the pawn on a3; the move changes the central pawn contact; Black accepts doubled pawns on the a-file; from a3 it attacks White's pawn on b2; black is ahead by 1 conventional material point after the capture.

    Fixed engine check: Ranked first · bxa3 Qa6 Rh8 Qa7+.

  47. 34.Qa6 Create pressure on c8

    Board fact: White moves the queen from d3 to a6; from a6 it attacks Black's rook on c8 and Black's pawn on a4.

    Fixed engine check: Ranked first · Qa6 a2+ Kxa2 Rxc2.

  48. 34...Rd8 Improve the rook

    Board fact: Black moves the rook from c8 to d8; from there it controls d6.

    Fixed engine check: Near the leading choice · Rd8 Qb7+ Rd7 Qc8.

  49. 35.Qb6 Create pressure on d8

    Board fact: White moves the queen from a6 to b6; from b6 it attacks Black's rook on d8 and Black's pawn on d6.

    Fixed engine check: Playable; Qa7+ ranked higher · Qb6 g4.

  50. 35...g4 Advance a passed pawn

    Board fact: Black moves the pawn from g5 to g4; the pawn is now passed; from there it controls f3.

    Fixed engine check: Ranked first · g4 Qc7+ Rd7 Qb8.

  51. 36.c4 Advance the c-pawn

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

    Fixed engine check: Playable; Qb7+ ranked higher · c4 g3.

  52. 36...g3 Advance a passed pawn

    Board fact: Black moves the pawn from g4 to g3; the pawn is now passed.

    Fixed engine check: Ranked first · g3 c5 g2 cxd6+.

  53. 37.c5 Change the pawn structure

    Board fact: White moves the pawn from c4 to c5; the move changes the central pawn contact; from c5 it attacks Black's pawn on d6.

    Fixed engine check: Ranked first · c5 g2 cxd6+ Rxd6.

  54. 37...g2 Advance a passed pawn

    Board fact: Black moves the pawn from g3 to g2; the pawn is now passed.

    Fixed engine check: Ranked first · g2 Ka2.

  55. 38.cxd6+ Capture with check on d6

    Board fact: White's pawn takes the pawn on d6; the move checks Black's king; the pawn is now passed; the move changes the central pawn contact; White accepts doubled pawns on the d-file; material is level after the capture.

    Fixed engine check: Recorded move; Ka2 ranked higher · cxd6+ Rxd6 Qc7+ Kf6.

  56. 38...Rxd6 Recapture on d6

    Board fact: Black's rook recaptures the pawn on d6; the rook now works on a semi-open d-file; from d6 it attacks White's queen on b6 and White's pawn on d5; black is ahead by 1 conventional material point after the capture.

    Fixed engine check: Ranked first · Rxd6 Qc7+ Kf6 Qxd6+.

  57. 39.Qc7+ A forcing check

    Board fact: White moves the queen from b6 to c7; the move checks Black's king; from c7 it attacks Black's rook on d6.

    Fixed engine check: Ranked first · Qc7+ Kf6 Qxd6+ Kg7.

  58. 39...Kf6 Answering the check

    Board fact: Black answers the check by moving the king from e7 to f6; from there it controls e5, e6 and f5.

    Fixed engine check: Near the leading choice · Kf6 Qxd6+ Kg7 Qc5.

Endgame · 40.Qxd6+ to 40...Kg7

  1. 40.Qxd6+ Capture with check on d6

    Board fact: White's queen takes the rook on d6; the move checks Black's king; from d6 it attacks Black's pawn on a3 and Black's pawn on e5; white is ahead by 4 conventional material points after the capture.

    Fixed engine check: Ranked first · Qxd6+ Kg7 Qc5 Bh2.

  2. 40...Kg7 Answering the check

    Board fact: Black answers the check by moving the king from f6 to g7; from there it controls f6.

    Fixed engine check: Ranked first · Kg7 Qc5 Bh2 Qxa3.

PGN

[Event "Tilburg Fontys"] [Site "?"] [Date "1997.??.??"] [White "Shirov, Alexei"] [Black "Kasparov, Garry"] [Result "0-1"] 1. e4 c5 2. Nf3 d6 3. d4 cxd4 4. Nxd4 Nf6 5. Nc3 a6 6. Be3 e5 7. Nb3 Be6 8. f3 Be7 9. Qd2 Nbd7 10. g4 h6 11. O-O-O b5 12. h4 Nb6 13. Kb1 b4 14. Bxb6 Qxb6 15. Nd5 Bxd5 16. exd5 a5 17. Qd3 O-O 18. Nd2 a4 19. Ne4 Rfc8 20. Nxf6+ Bxf6 21. Qe4 Qc5 22. Bd3 Kf8 23. g5 hxg5 24. hxg5 Bxg5 25. Qf5 Bh6 26. Rh4 Ke7 27. Rc4 Qxc4 28. Bxc4 Rxc4 29. Qd3 Rac8 30. Re1 Bf4 31. Re4 Rxe4 32. fxe4 g5 33. a3 bxa3 34. Qa6 Rd8 35. Qb6 g4 36. c4 g3 37. c5 g2 38. cxd6+ Rxd6 39. Qc7+ Kf6 40. Qxd6+ Kg7 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:d603e9c90bbf5aabc2fb71fc47e56b98119abc5196daa1e0ba5797fd1d8d8080 and pins it in the selection manifest.
Exact Figshare tags:
White="Shirov, Alexei"; Black="Kasparov, Garry"; Event="Tilburg Fontys"; Date="1997.10.02"; Result="0-1". 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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