LibreChessChess, explained simply

Classic game replay

Mikhail Tal vs Juan Manuel Bellon Lopez, 1977

This replay preserves the complete 69-ply score of Tal playing White across 35 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
Mikhail Tal
Black
Juan Manuel Bellon Lopez
Event
Las Palmas
Year
1977
Result
1-0
Opening
E19 Queen's Indian Defense: Classical Variation, Traditional Variation, Main Line

Opening reference: Queen's Indian Defense: Classical Variation, Traditional Variation, Main Line (E19).

In this game, 20 half-moves are labelled opening, 30 middlegame and 19 endgame. The score contains 18 captures and 4 checks or mates; before a recorded move, the position offered a median of 33 legal choices. The source score ends after 35.Ke3 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. 10.Qc2 — Create pressure on h710.Qc2 was a leading choice in the fixed engine check.
  2. 12.Bf4 — Develop the bishop12.Bf4 was a leading choice in the fixed engine check.
  3. 17.Qd2 — Create pressure on b417.Qd2 was a leading choice in the fixed engine check.
  4. 23.Rac1 — Rook on the semi-open c-file23.Rac1 was a leading choice in the fixed engine check.
  5. 33.Be4+ — A forcing check33.Be4+ 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.

♜♞♝♛♚♝♞♜♟♟♟♟♟♟♟♟♟♟♟♟♟♟♟♟♜♞♝♛♚♝♞♜
Mikhail Tal vs Juan Manuel Bellon Lopez, 1977

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.Nf3 to 10...d5

  1. 1.Nf3 Develop the knight

    Board fact: White develops the knight from g1 to f3; from there it controls d4 and e5.

    Fixed engine check: Near the leading choice · Nf3 d5.

  2. 1...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 c4 c6 Qc2.

  3. 2.c4 Advance the c-pawn

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

    Fixed engine check: Ranked first · c4 e6 e3 c5.

  4. 2...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 Nc3 Bb7 d4.

  5. 3.d4 Claim central space

    Board fact: White moves the pawn from d2 to d4; from there it controls e5 and c5.

    Fixed engine check: Ranked first · d4 e6 a3 Bb7.

  6. 3...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 a3.

  7. 4.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 Be7.

  8. 4...Bb7 Develop the bishop

    Board fact: Black develops the bishop from c8 to b7; from b7 it attacks White's knight on f3.

    Fixed engine check: Ranked first · Bb7 Bg2 Bb4+ Bd2.

  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 Bb4+ Bd2 a5.

  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 d5 Bb4+ Bd2.

  11. 6.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 O-O O-O d5.

  12. 6...Ne4 Create pressure on c3

    Board fact: Black moves the knight from f6 to e4; from e4 it attacks White's knight on c3 and White's pawn on f2.

    Fixed engine check: Ranked first · Ne4.

  13. 7.Qc2 Create pressure on e4

    Board fact: White moves the queen from d1 to c2; from c2 it attacks Black's knight on e4.

    Fixed engine check: Ranked first · Qc2 Nxc3 Qxc3 d6.

  14. 7...Nxc3 Exchange on c3

    Board fact: Black's knight takes the knight on c3; from c3 it attacks White's pawn on a2 and White's pawn on e2; black is ahead by 3 conventional material points after the capture.

    Fixed engine check: Ranked first · Nxc3 bxc3 d6 O-O.

  15. 8.Qxc3 Recapture on c3

    Board fact: White's queen recaptures the knight on c3; from c3 it reinforces the bishop on c1; material is level after the capture.

    Fixed engine check: Ranked first · Qxc3 Be4.

  16. 8...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 O-O Be4 Bf4.

  17. 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 Be4 Bf4 d6.

  18. 9...Bf6 Create pressure on d4

    Board fact: Black moves the bishop from e7 to f6; from f6 it attacks White's pawn on d4.

    Fixed engine check: Near the leading choice · Bf6 Qc2.

  19. 10.Qc2 Create pressure on h7

    Board fact: White moves the queen from c3 to c2; from c2 it attacks Black's pawn on h7.

    Fixed engine check: Ranked first · Qc2 Nc6 Rd1 a5.

  20. 10...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.

Middlegame · 11.cxd5 to 25...Rxc1

  1. 11.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 pawn on e6; white is ahead by 1 conventional material point after the capture.

    Fixed engine check: Ranked first · cxd5 exd5.

  2. 11...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 Bf4 Na6 Rac1.

  3. 12.Bf4 Develop the bishop

    Board fact: White develops the bishop from c1 to f4; from f4 it attacks Black's pawn on c7.

    Fixed engine check: Ranked first · Bf4 Na6 Rac1 c5.

  4. 12...Na6 Develop the knight

    Board fact: Black develops the knight from b8 to a6; from there it controls c5.

    Fixed engine check: Ranked first · Na6 Rfd1 c5 e3.

  5. 13.Rfd1 Improve the rook

    Board fact: White moves the rook from f1 to d1; from there it controls d4 and d3.

    Fixed engine check: Ranked first · Rfd1 c5 h4 h6.

  6. 13...Qe7 Create pressure on e2

    Board fact: Black moves the queen from d8 to e7; from e7 it attacks White's pawn on e2.

    Fixed engine check: Ranked first · Qe7 h4 Rac8 Bh3.

  7. 14.h4 Advance the h-pawn

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

    Fixed engine check: Ranked first · h4 c5 Ng5 g6.

  8. 14...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.

  9. 15.dxc5 Exchange on c5

    Board fact: White's pawn takes the pawn on c5; the move changes the central pawn contact; from c5 it attacks Black's pawn on b6; white is ahead by 1 conventional material point after the capture.

    Fixed engine check: Ranked first · dxc5.

  10. 15...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 c8 it attacks White's pawn on c5.

    Fixed engine check: Playable; Nxc5 ranked higher · Rac8.

  11. 16.Nd4 Improve the knight

    Board fact: White moves the knight from f3 to d4; from there it controls c6, e6 and f3.

    Fixed engine check: Playable; Ng5 ranked higher · Nd4 Bxd4 Rxd4 bxc5.

  12. 16...Nb4 Create pressure on c2

    Board fact: Black moves the knight from a6 to b4; from b4 it attacks White's queen on c2 and White's pawn on a2.

    Fixed engine check: Near the leading choice · Nb4 Qa4 Bxd4 Rxd4.

  13. 17.Qd2 Create pressure on b4

    Board fact: White moves the queen from c2 to d2; from d2 it attacks Black's knight on b4.

    Fixed engine check: Ranked first · Qd2 Bxd4 Bd6 Qf6.

  14. 17...Bxd4 Exchange on d4

    Board fact: Black's bishop takes the knight on d4; from d4 it attacks White's pawn on b2 and White's pawn on c5; black is ahead by 2 conventional material points after the capture.

    Fixed engine check: Ranked first · Bxd4 Bd6 Qf6 Qxd4.

  15. 18.Qxd4 Recapture on d4

    Board fact: White's queen recaptures the bishop on d4; from d4 it attacks Black's knight on b4 and Black's pawn on d5; white is ahead by 1 conventional material point after the capture.

    Fixed engine check: Ranked first · Qxd4 bxc5 Qe5 Qxe5.

  16. 18...bxc5 Exchange on c5

    Board fact: Black's pawn takes the pawn on c5; the move changes the central pawn contact; from c5 it attacks White's queen on d4; material is level after the capture.

    Fixed engine check: Ranked first · bxc5 Qe5.

  17. 19.Qe5 Create pressure on e7

    Board fact: White moves the queen from d4 to e5; from e5 it attacks Black's queen on e7 and Black's pawn on d5.

    Fixed engine check: Ranked first · Qe5 Qxe5 Bxe5 Rfe8.

  18. 19...Qxe5 Exchange on e5

    Board fact: Black's queen takes the queen on e5; from e5 it attacks White's bishop on f4 and White's pawn on b2; black is ahead by 9 conventional material points after the capture.

    Fixed engine check: Ranked first · Qxe5 Bxe5 Rfe8 Bc3.

  19. 20.Bxe5 Recapture on e5

    Board fact: White's bishop recaptures the queen on e5; from e5 it attacks Black's pawn on g7; material is level after the capture.

    Fixed engine check: Ranked first · Bxe5.

  20. 20...Rfe8 Rook on the semi-open e-file

    Board fact: Black moves the rook from f8 to e8; the rook now works on a semi-open e-file; from e8 it attacks White's bishop on e5.

    Fixed engine check: Ranked first · Rfe8 Bc3 Rxe2 a3.

  21. 21.Bc3 Create pressure on b4

    Board fact: White moves the bishop from e5 to c3; from c3 it attacks Black's knight on b4 and Black's pawn on g7.

    Fixed engine check: Ranked first · Bc3 Ba6 a3 d4.

  22. 21...Rxe2 Exchange on e2

    Board fact: Black's rook takes the pawn on e2; the rook now occupies the open e-file; from e2 it attacks White's pawn on b2 and White's pawn on f2; black is ahead by 1 conventional material point after the capture.

    Fixed engine check: Ranked first · Rxe2 a3 Nc2 Rac1.

  23. 22.a3 Create pressure on b4

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

    Fixed engine check: Ranked first · a3 Nc2 Rac1 Rce8.

  24. 22...Nc2 Create pressure on a1

    Board fact: Black moves the knight from b4 to c2; from c2 it attacks White's rook on a1 and White's pawn on a3.

    Fixed engine check: Near the leading choice · Nc2 Rac1 Nd4 Bxd4.

  25. 23.Rac1 Rook on the semi-open c-file

    Board fact: White moves the rook from a1 to c1; the rook now works on a semi-open c-file; from c1 it attacks Black's knight on c2.

    Fixed engine check: Ranked first · Rac1 Nd4 Bxd4 cxd4.

  26. 23...Nd4 Improve the knight

    Board fact: Black moves the knight from c2 to d4; from there it controls c6, e6 and f3.

    Fixed engine check: Ranked first · Nd4 Bxd4 cxd4 Bxd5.

  27. 24.Bxd4 Exchange on d4

    Board fact: White's bishop takes the knight on d4; from d4 it attacks Black's pawn on c5 and Black's pawn on g7; white is ahead by 2 conventional material points after the capture.

    Fixed engine check: Ranked first · Bxd4 cxd4 Bxd5 Ba6.

  28. 24...cxd4 Recapture on d4

    Board fact: Black's pawn recaptures the bishop 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 Bxd5.

  29. 25.Bxd5 Exchange on d5

    Board fact: White's bishop takes the pawn on d5; from d5 it attacks Black's bishop on b7 and Black's pawn on f7; material is level after the capture.

    Fixed engine check: Ranked first · Bxd5 Rxc1 Rxc1 Ba6.

  30. 25...Rxc1 Exchange on c1

    Board fact: Black's rook takes the rook on c1; the rook now occupies the open c-file; from c1 it attacks White's rook on d1; black is ahead by 5 conventional material points after the capture.

    Fixed engine check: Ranked first · Rxc1 Rxc1.

Endgame · 26.Rxc1 to 35.Ke3

  1. 26.Rxc1 Recapture on c1

    Board fact: White's rook recaptures the rook on c1; the rook now occupies the open c-file; from c1 it reinforces the king on g1; material is level after the capture.

    Fixed engine check: Ranked first · Rxc1 Ba6 Rc7 h5.

  2. 26...Ba6 Reposition the bishop

    Board fact: Black moves the bishop from b7 to a6; from there it controls c4 and d3.

    Fixed engine check: Ranked first · Ba6 Rc7 g6 Rxf7.

  3. 27.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 a7 and Black's pawn on f7.

    Fixed engine check: Ranked first · Rc7 g6 Rxf7 Kh8.

  4. 27...h5 Advance the h-pawn

    Board fact: Black moves the pawn from h7 to h5.

    Fixed engine check: Near the leading choice · h5 Rxf7 Re1+ Kh2.

  5. 28.Rxa7 Exchange on a7

    Board fact: White's rook takes the pawn on a7; the rook has reached the opponent’s second rank; from a7 it attacks Black's bishop on a6 and Black's pawn on f7; white is ahead by 1 conventional material point after the capture.

    Fixed engine check: Near the leading choice · Rxa7 Re1+ Kh2 Be2.

  6. 28...Bb5 Reposition the bishop

    Board fact: Black moves the bishop from a6 to b5; from there it controls c4, c6 and d3.

    Fixed engine check: Playable; Re1+ ranked higher · Bb5 Rxf7 Kh7 Rb7.

  7. 29.Rxf7 Exchange on f7

    Board fact: White's rook takes the pawn on f7; the rook has reached the opponent’s second rank; from f7 it attacks Black's pawn on g7; white is ahead by 2 conventional material points after the capture.

    Fixed engine check: Ranked first · Rxf7 Kh7 Rb7 Ba6.

  8. 29...Kh7 Activate the king

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

    Fixed engine check: Ranked first · Kh7 Rb7 Re1+ Kh2.

  9. 30.Rb7 Rook reaches the seventh rank

    Board fact: White moves the rook from f7 to b7; the rook has reached the opponent’s second rank; from b7 it attacks Black's bishop on b5 and Black's pawn on g7.

    Fixed engine check: Ranked first · Rb7 Re1+ Kh2 Bf1.

  10. 30...Re1+ A forcing check

    Board fact: Black moves the rook from e2 to e1; the move checks White's king; the rook now occupies the open e-file; from there it controls e4, e5 and e3.

    Fixed engine check: Ranked first · Re1+ Kh2 Bf1 Rb4.

  11. 31.Kg2 Answering the check

    Board fact: White answers the check by moving the king from g1 to g2; from there it controls f3.

    Fixed engine check: Playable; Kh2 ranked higher · Kg2 Bf1+ Kh2 d3.

  12. 31...Bf1+ A forcing check

    Board fact: Black moves the bishop from b5 to f1; the move checks White's king; from there it controls c4 and d3.

    Fixed engine check: Ranked first · Bf1+ Kh2 Kg6 Rd7.

  13. 32.Kf3 Answering the check

    Board fact: White answers the check by moving the king from g2 to f3; from there it controls e4, e3 and f4.

    Fixed engine check: Ranked first · Kf3 d3 Rd7 Be2+.

  14. 32...d3 Advance a passed pawn

    Board fact: Black moves the pawn from d4 to d3; the pawn is now passed.

    Fixed engine check: Playable; Re5 ranked higher · d3 Rd7.

  15. 33.Be4+ A forcing check

    Board fact: White moves the bishop from d5 to e4; the move checks Black's king; from e4 it attacks Black's pawn on d3.

    Fixed engine check: Ranked first · Be4+ Kg8 Rd7 Rd1.

  16. 33...Kg8 Answering the check

    Board fact: Black answers the check by moving the king from h7 to g8; from g8 it reinforces the pawn on g7.

    Fixed engine check: Ranked first · Kg8 Rd7 Rd1 b4.

  17. 34.Bg6 Create pressure on d3

    Board fact: White moves the bishop from e4 to g6; from g6 it attacks Black's pawn on d3 and Black's pawn on h5.

    Fixed engine check: Ranked first · Bg6 Be2+ Ke3 Kf8.

  18. 34...Be2+ A forcing check

    Board fact: Black develops the bishop from f1 to e2; the move checks White's king; from there it controls d3 and f3.

    Fixed engine check: Ranked first · Be2+ Ke3 Kf8 Bxd3.

  19. 35.Ke3 Answering the check

    Board fact: White answers the check by moving the king from f3 to e3; from e3 it attacks Black's bishop on e2 and Black's pawn on d3.

    Fixed engine check: Ranked first · Ke3 Kf8 Bxd3 Bg4+.

PGN

[Event "Las Palmas"] [Site "?"] [Date "1977.??.??"] [White "Tal, Mikhail"] [Black "Bellon Lopez, Juan Manuel"] [Result "1-0"] 1. Nf3 Nf6 2. c4 b6 3. d4 e6 4. g3 Bb7 5. Bg2 Be7 6. Nc3 Ne4 7. Qc2 Nxc3 8. Qxc3 O-O 9. O-O Bf6 10. Qc2 d5 11. cxd5 exd5 12. Bf4 Na6 13. Rfd1 Qe7 14. h4 c5 15. dxc5 Rac8 16. Nd4 Nb4 17. Qd2 Bxd4 18. Qxd4 bxc5 19. Qe5 Qxe5 20. Bxe5 Rfe8 21. Bc3 Rxe2 22. a3 Nc2 23. Rac1 Nd4 24. Bxd4 cxd4 25. Bxd5 Rxc1 26. Rxc1 Ba6 27. Rc7 h5 28. Rxa7 Bb5 29. Rxf7 Kh7 30. Rb7 Re1+ 31. Kg2 Bf1+ 32. Kf3 d3 33. Be4+ Kg8 34. Bg6 Be2+ 35. Ke3 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 sha256:79a7f6a854167223e6e62ed74506e52dc504baa9f0455041c668253f28eada0e and pins it in the selection manifest.
Exact Figshare tags:
White="Tal, Mihail"; Black="Bellon Lopez, Juan Manuel"; Event="Las Palmas"; Date="1977.??.??"; Result="1-0".
Reviewed display mapping: white 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.

Try today's selected positionsOpen the analysis board

Continue with another game

For a method you can apply to your own games, continue with studying model games and advanced candidate selection.