Edited game study
The Game That Won Fischer the Crown
Published Updated
The FIDE archive records the Reykjavik match as 21 games. In this final score, Bobby Fischer reaches rook against bishop; the supplied score ends after 41.Bd7 with a 0–1 result.
On this page
- White
- Boris V Spassky
- Black
- Robert James Fischer
- Event
- World Championship 28th
- Year
- 1972
- Result
- 0-1
- Opening
- B46 Sicilian Defense: Taimanov Variation
Opening reference: Sicilian Defense: Taimanov Variation (B46).
In this game, 20 half-moves are labelled opening, 21 middlegame and 40 endgame. The score contains 22 captures and 1 checks or mates; before a recorded move, the position offered a median of 27 legal choices. The source score ends after 41.Bd7 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.
Critical decisions
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.
- 10...bxc6 — Recapture on c610...bxc6 was a leading choice in the fixed engine check.
- 19...Bxd5 — Moves 18-21 — ...c4 and a deflection19...Bxd5 was a leading choice in the fixed engine check.
- 23...Rxc2 — Moves 22-26 — the rook reaches the second rank23...Rxc2 was a leading choice in the fixed engine check.
- 30...f5 — Change the pawn structure30...f5 was a leading choice in the fixed engine check.
- 35...Ke5 — Create pressure on f535...Ke5 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.
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...bxc6
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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.
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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.
-
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.
-
2...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 c3 d5 e5.
-
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 Be7.
-
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 Nf6 Nc3.
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4.Nxd4
Recapture on d4
Board fact: White's knight recaptures the pawn on d4; from d4 it attacks Black's pawn on e6; material is level after the capture.
Fixed engine check: Ranked first · Nxd4 Nf6 Nc3 d6.
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4...a6
Advance the a-pawn
Board fact: Black moves the pawn from a7 to a6.
Fixed engine check: Ranked first · a6 Bd3.
-
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: Near the leading choice · Nc3 b5 Bd3 Qc7.
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5...Nc6
Develop the knight
Board fact: Black develops the knight from b8 to c6; from c6 it attacks White's knight on d4.
Fixed engine check: Near the leading choice · Nc6 Nxc6.
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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 Qc7 Nxc6 bxc6.
-
6...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 g4 Bb4 Nxc6.
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7.Bd3
Develop the bishop
Board fact: White develops the bishop from f1 to d3; from d3 it attacks Black's pawn on a6.
Fixed engine check: Ranked first · Bd3 Qc7 g4 Bb4.
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7...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 e4.
Fixed engine check: Ranked first · d5 O-O Bd6 exd5.
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8.exd5
Exchange on d5
Board fact: White's pawn takes the pawn on d5; the move changes the central pawn contact; from d5 it attacks Black's knight on c6 and Black's pawn on e6; white is ahead by 1 conventional material point after the capture.
Fixed engine check: Ranked first · exd5 exd5 Qd2 Bd6.
-
8...exd5
Recapture on d5
Board fact: Black's pawn recaptures the pawn on d5; the move changes the central pawn contact; material is level after the capture.
Fixed engine check: Ranked first · exd5 O-O Bd6 Re1.
-
9.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 Bd6.
-
9...Bd6
Develop the bishop
Board fact: Black develops the bishop from f8 to d6; from d6 it attacks White's pawn on h2.
Fixed engine check: Ranked first · Bd6 Nxc6 bxc6 Re1.
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10.Nxc6
Exchange on c6
Board fact: White's knight takes the knight on c6; from c6 it attacks Black's queen on d8; white is ahead by 3 conventional material points after the capture.
Fixed engine check: Ranked first · Nxc6 bxc6 Bd4 O-O.
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10...bxc6
Recapture on c6
Board fact: Black's pawn recaptures the knight on c6; the move changes the central pawn contact; from c6 it reinforces the pawn on d5; material is level after the capture.
Fixed engine check: Ranked first · bxc6 Bd4 O-O Na4.
Middlegame · 11.Bd4 to 21.Kxh2
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11.Bd4
Create pressure on f6
Board fact: White moves the bishop from e3 to d4; from d4 it attacks Black's knight on f6.
Fixed engine check: Ranked first · Bd4 O-O Na4 Ne4.
-
11...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 Na4 Be6 c3.
-
12.Qf3
Create pressure on f6
Board fact: White moves the queen from d1 to f3; from f3 it attacks Black's knight on f6 and Black's pawn on d5.
Fixed engine check: Near the leading choice · Qf3 Rb8.
-
12...Be6
Develop the bishop
Board fact: Black develops the bishop from c8 to e6; from there it controls d5 and f5.
Fixed engine check: Playable; Ng4 ranked higher · Be6 Bxf6 Qxf6 Qxf6.
-
13.Rfe1
Rook on the open e-file
Board fact: White moves the rook from f1 to e1; the rook now occupies the open e-file; from e1 it attacks Black's bishop on e6.
Fixed engine check: Ranked first · Rfe1 c5.
-
13...c5
Create pressure on d4
Board fact: Black moves the pawn from c6 to c5; from c5 it attacks White's bishop on d4.
Fixed engine check: Ranked first · c5 Bxf6 Qxf6 Qxf6.
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14.Bxf6
Exchange on f6
Board fact: White's bishop takes the knight on f6; from f6 it attacks Black's queen on d8 and Black's pawn on g7; white is ahead by 3 conventional material points after the capture.
Fixed engine check: Ranked first · Bxf6 Qxf6 Be2 Rfd8.
Moves 14-15 — doubled pawns for activityAfter 14.Bxf6 Qxf6 15.Qxf6 gxf6, Black accepts doubled f-pawns in return for the two bishops and a half-open g-file. The queens are gone, so king safety matters less than piece activity. -
14...Qxf6
Recapture on f6
Board fact: Black's queen recaptures the bishop on f6; from f6 it attacks White's queen on f3 and White's knight on c3; material is level after the capture.
Fixed engine check: Ranked first · Qxf6.
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15.Qxf6
Recapture on f6
Board fact: White's queen recaptures the queen on f6; from f6 it attacks Black's bishop on e6 and Black's pawn on f7; white is ahead by 9 conventional material points after the capture.
Fixed engine check: Ranked first · Qxf6 gxf6 Rad1 Be5.
-
15...gxf6
Recapture on f6
Board fact: Black's pawn recaptures the queen on f6; the move changes the central pawn contact; Black accepts doubled pawns on the f-file; material is level after the capture.
Fixed engine check: Ranked first · gxf6 Rad1 Be5 Be2.
-
16.Rad1
Rook on the semi-open d-file
Board fact: White moves the rook from a1 to d1; the rook now works on a semi-open d-file; from there it controls d3.
Fixed engine check: Ranked first · Rad1 Be5 Bf1 Rab8.
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16...Rfd8
Improve the rook
Board fact: Black moves the rook from f8 to d8; from there it controls d6.
Fixed engine check: Near the leading choice · Rfd8 b3 Be5 Na4.
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17.Be2
Create pressure on a6
Board fact: White moves the bishop from d3 to e2; from e2 it attacks Black's pawn on a6.
Fixed engine check: Ranked first · Be2 Be5 Na4 c4.
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17...Rab8
Rook on the semi-open b-file
Board fact: Black moves the rook from a8 to b8; the rook now works on a semi-open b-file; from b8 it attacks White's pawn on b2.
Fixed engine check: Ranked first · Rab8 b3 Be5 Na4.
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18.b3
Advance the b-pawn
Board fact: White moves the pawn from b2 to b3; from there it controls c4.
Fixed engine check: Ranked first · b3 Bc7 Na4 c4.
Moves 18-21 — ...c4 and a deflection18...c4 gains space. After 19.Nxd5 Bxd5 20.Rxd5, 20...Bxh2+ makes the king leave g1; 21.Kxh2 Rxd5 then removes White's active rook. Across the sequence, Black gives both bishops but wins a knight, rook and pawn. -
18...c4
Change the pawn structure
Board fact: Black moves the pawn from c5 to c4; the move changes the central pawn contact; from c4 it attacks White's pawn on b3.
Fixed engine check: Ranked first · c4 bxc4 dxc4 Ne4.
-
19.Nxd5
Exchange on d5
Board fact: White's knight takes the pawn on d5; from d5 it attacks Black's pawn on f6; white is ahead by 1 conventional material point after the capture.
Fixed engine check: Ranked first · Nxd5 Bxd5.
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19...Bxd5
Recapture on d5
Board fact: Black's bishop recaptures the knight on d5; from d5 it attacks White's pawn on g2; black is ahead by 2 conventional material points after the capture.
Fixed engine check: Ranked first · Bxd5 Rxd5 Bxh2+ Kxh2.
-
20.Rxd5
Recapture on d5
Board fact: White's rook recaptures the bishop on d5; the rook now occupies the open d-file; from d5 it attacks Black's bishop on d6; white is ahead by 1 conventional material point after the capture.
Fixed engine check: Ranked first · Rxd5.
-
20...Bxh2+
Capture with check on h2
Board fact: Black's bishop takes the pawn on h2; the move checks White's king; from h2 it reinforces the rook on b8; material is level after the capture.
Fixed engine check: Ranked first · Bxh2+ Kxh2.
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21.Kxh2
Recapture on h2
Board fact: White's king recaptures the bishop on h2; from h2 it reinforces the pawn on g2; white is ahead by 3 conventional material points after the capture.
Fixed engine check: Ranked first · Kxh2 Rxd5.
Endgame · 21...Rxd5 to 41.Bd7
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21...Rxd5
Exchange on d5
Board fact: Black's rook takes the rook on d5; the rook now occupies the open d-file; black is ahead by 2 conventional material points after the capture.
Fixed engine check: Ranked first · Rxd5 Bxc4 Rd2 Bd3.
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22.Bxc4
Exchange on c4
Board fact: White's bishop takes the pawn on c4; from c4 it attacks Black's rook on d5 and Black's pawn on a6; black is ahead by 1 conventional material point after the capture.
Fixed engine check: Ranked first · Bxc4 Rd2 Bd3 Rxf2.
Moves 22-26 — the rook reaches the second rankBlack's rook enters with 22...Rd2 and 23...Rxc2. After the rook exchange on e2, the position becomes Black's rook against White's bishop, with pawns on both wings. -
22...Rd2
Rook on the open d-file
Board fact: Black moves the rook from d5 to d2; the rook now occupies the open d-file; from d2 it attacks White's pawn on c2 and White's pawn on f2.
Fixed engine check: Ranked first · Rd2 Bd3 Rxf2 Re7.
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23.Bxa6
Exchange on a6
Board fact: White's bishop takes the pawn on a6; material is level after the capture.
Fixed engine check: Ranked first · Bxa6.
-
23...Rxc2
Exchange on c2
Board fact: Black's rook takes the pawn on c2; the rook now occupies the open c-file; from c2 it attacks White's pawn on a2 and White's pawn on f2; black is ahead by 1 conventional material point after the capture.
Fixed engine check: Ranked first · Rxc2 Re2 Rxe2 Bxe2.
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24.Re2
Rook on the open e-file
Board fact: White moves the rook from e1 to e2; the rook now occupies the open e-file; from e2 it attacks Black's rook on c2.
Fixed engine check: Ranked first · Re2 Rxe2 Bxe2 Rd8.
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24...Rxe2
Exchange on e2
Board fact: Black's rook takes the rook on e2; the rook now occupies the open e-file; from e2 it attacks White's pawn on a2 and White's pawn on f2; black is ahead by 6 conventional material points after the capture.
Fixed engine check: Ranked first · Rxe2 Bxe2 Rd8 a4.
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25.Bxe2
Recapture on e2
Board fact: White's bishop recaptures the rook on e2; black is ahead by 1 conventional material point after the capture.
Fixed engine check: Ranked first · Bxe2 Rd8 a4 Rd2.
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25...Rd8
Rook on the open d-file
Board fact: Black moves the rook from b8 to d8; the rook now occupies the open d-file; from there it controls d4, d5 and d3.
Fixed engine check: Ranked first · Rd8 a4 Rd2 Bc4.
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26.a4
Advance a passed pawn
Board fact: White moves the pawn from a2 to a4; the pawn is now passed.
Fixed engine check: Ranked first · a4 Rd2 Bc4 Ra2.
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26...Rd2
Rook on the open d-file
Board fact: Black moves the rook from d8 to d2; the rook now occupies the open d-file; from d2 it attacks White's bishop on e2.
Fixed engine check: Ranked first · Rd2 Bc4 Ra2 Kg3.
-
27.Bc4
Create pressure on f7
Board fact: White moves the bishop from e2 to c4; from c4 it attacks Black's pawn on f7.
Fixed engine check: Ranked first · Bc4 Ra2 Kg3 Kf8.
-
27...Ra2
Rook on the semi-open a-file
Board fact: Black moves the rook from d2 to a2; the rook now works on a semi-open a-file; from a2 it attacks White's pawn on a4 and White's pawn on f2.
Fixed engine check: Ranked first · Ra2 Kg3 Kf8 f3.
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28.Kg3
Activate the king
Board fact: White moves the king from h2 to g3; from there it controls f3 and f4.
Fixed engine check: Ranked first · Kg3 Kf8.
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28...Kf8
Activate the king
Board fact: Black moves the king from g8 to f8; from f8 it reinforces the pawn on f7.
Fixed engine check: Ranked first · Kf8 f3 Ke7 Kh3.
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29.Kf3
Activate the king
Board fact: White moves the king from g3 to f3; from there it controls e4, e3 and f4.
Fixed engine check: Ranked first · Kf3 f5 g3 Ke7.
-
29...Ke7
Activate the king
Board fact: Black moves the king from f8 to e7; from there it controls d6, e6 and f6.
Fixed engine check: Ranked first · Ke7 Kg3 Kf8 f4.
-
30.g4
Advance the g-pawn
Board fact: White moves the pawn from g2 to g4; from there it controls f5.
Fixed engine check: Near the leading choice · g4 f5.
-
30...f5
Change the pawn structure
Board fact: Black moves the pawn from f6 to f5; the move changes the central pawn contact; from f5 it attacks White's pawn on g4.
Fixed engine check: Ranked first · f5 gxf5 f6 Kg2.
-
31.gxf5
Exchange on f5
Board fact: White's pawn takes the pawn on f5; the move changes the central pawn contact; White accepts doubled pawns on the f-file; material is level after the capture.
Fixed engine check: Ranked first · gxf5 Ra1.
-
31...f6
Advance the f-pawn
Board fact: Black moves the pawn from f7 to f6; from there it controls e5.
Fixed engine check: Ranked first · f6 Bg8 Ra3 Kg3.
-
32.Bg8
Create pressure on h7
Board fact: White moves the bishop from c4 to g8; from g8 it attacks Black's pawn on h7.
Fixed engine check: Ranked first · Bg8 Kf8 Be6 Ra1.
-
32...h6
Advance a passed pawn
Board fact: Black moves the pawn from h7 to h6; the pawn is now passed.
Fixed engine check: Near the leading choice · h6 Kg3 Kd6 Bc4.
-
33.Kg3
Activate the king
Board fact: White moves the king from f3 to g3; from there it controls f3 and f4.
Fixed engine check: Ranked first · Kg3 Kd6 Bc4 Ke5.
-
33...Kd6
Activate the king
Board fact: Black moves the king from e7 to d6; from there it controls d5, e5 and c5.
Fixed engine check: Ranked first · Kd6 Be6 Ke5 Bd7.
-
34.Kf3
Activate the king
Board fact: White moves the king from g3 to f3; from there it controls e4, e3 and f4.
Fixed engine check: Recorded move; Bc4 ranked higher · Kf3.
-
34...Ra1
Rook on the semi-open a-file
Board fact: Black moves the rook from a2 to a1; the rook now works on a semi-open a-file; from a1 it attacks White's pawn on a4.
Fixed engine check: Ranked first · Ra1 Kg2 Ke5 Be6.
-
35.Kg2
Activate the king
Board fact: White moves the king from f3 to g2; from there it controls f3.
Fixed engine check: Ranked first · Kg2 Ke5 Be6 Kf4.
-
35...Ke5
Create pressure on f5
Board fact: Black moves the king from d6 to e5; from e5 it attacks White's pawn on f5.
Fixed engine check: Ranked first · Ke5 Be6 Kf4 Bd7.
-
36.Be6
Develop the bishop
Board fact: White develops the bishop from g8 to e6; from there it controls d5, c4 and f5.
Fixed engine check: Ranked first · Be6 Kf4 Bd7 Rd1.
-
36...Kf4
Create pressure on f5
Board fact: Black moves the king from e5 to f4; from f4 it attacks White's pawn on f5.
Fixed engine check: Ranked first · Kf4 Bd7.
-
37.Bd7
Reposition the bishop
Board fact: White moves the bishop from e6 to d7; from there it controls c6, e6 and f5.
Fixed engine check: Ranked first · Bd7 Rb1.
-
37...Rb1
Rook on the semi-open b-file
Board fact: Black moves the rook from a1 to b1; the rook now works on a semi-open b-file; from b1 it attacks White's pawn on b3.
Fixed engine check: Ranked first · Rb1 Be6 Rb2 a5.
-
38.Be6
Reposition the bishop
Board fact: White moves the bishop from d7 to e6; from there it controls d5, c4 and f5.
Fixed engine check: Ranked first · Be6 Ra1 Kh3 Rd1.
-
38...Rb2
Rook on the semi-open b-file
Board fact: Black moves the rook from b1 to b2; the rook now works on a semi-open b-file; from b2 it attacks White's pawn on b3 and White's pawn on f2.
Fixed engine check: Ranked first · Rb2 a5 Ra2 Kh3.
-
39.Bc4
Reposition the bishop
Board fact: White moves the bishop from e6 to c4; from there it controls d5, d3 and e6.
Fixed engine check: Near the leading choice · Bc4 Ra2 Bb5 Kg4.
-
39...Ra2
Rook on the semi-open a-file
Board fact: Black moves the rook from b2 to a2; the rook now works on a semi-open a-file; from a2 it attacks White's pawn on a4 and White's pawn on f2.
Fixed engine check: Ranked first · Ra2 Be6 Kg4 Bd5.
-
40.Be6
Reposition the bishop
Board fact: White moves the bishop from c4 to e6; from there it controls d5, c4 and f5.
Fixed engine check: Ranked first · Be6 Kg4 Bd5 Kxf5.
-
40...h5
Advance a passed pawn
Board fact: Black moves the pawn from h6 to h5; the pawn is now passed.
Fixed engine check: Playable; Kg4 ranked higher · h5 Kh3.
-
41.Bd7
Reposition the bishop
Board fact: White moves the bishop from e6 to d7; from there it controls c6, e6 and f5.
Fixed engine check: Playable; Kh3 ranked higher · Bd7 Kg4.
Move 41 — the final recorded positionThe stored score ends with 41.Bd7. Black's rook is active on b2, the king has reached f4 and Black also has an outside h-pawn; the record assigns the game to Fischer, 0–1.
PGN
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 sha256:53806cd1dee4e035ef541aefa6290cebabad213fe388db846d538fc4432b1b28 and pins it in the selection manifest.
Exact Figshare tags:White="Spassky, Boris V"; Black="Fischer, Robert James"; Event="World Championship 28th"; Date="1972.08.31"; 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 or a substitute for the authored notes. No termination is inferred where the imported score does not preserve one.
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