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Classic game replay

Mikhail Tal vs Aivars Gipslis, 1958

This replay preserves the complete 51-ply score of Tal playing White across 26 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
Aivars Gipslis
Event
URS-ch25
Year
1958
Result
1-0
Opening
B43 Sicilian Defense: Kan Variation, Wing Attack

Opening reference: Sicilian Defense: Kan Variation, Wing Attack (B43).

In this game, 20 half-moves are labelled opening, 31 middlegame and 0 endgame. The score contains 17 captures and 1 checks or mates; before a recorded move, the position offered a median of 37 legal choices. The source score ends after 26.Qxa6 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.a4 — Create pressure on b510.a4 was a leading choice in the fixed engine check.
  2. 14.Be4 — Create pressure on h714.Be4 was a leading choice in the fixed engine check.
  3. 18.Bc3 — Create pressure on g718.Bc3 was a leading choice in the fixed engine check.
  4. 25.Qxa8+ — Capture with check on a825.Qxa8+ 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 Aivars Gipslis, 1958

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...b4

  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...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.

  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 Be7.

  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 Nf6 Nc3.

  7. 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.

  8. 4...a6 Advance the a-pawn

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

    Fixed engine check: Ranked first · a6 Bd3.

  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: Near the leading choice · Nc3 b5 Bd3 Qc7.

  10. 5...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 Bd3 Bb7 O-O.

  11. 6.Bd3 Develop the bishop

    Board fact: White develops the bishop from f1 to d3; from d3 it attacks Black's pawn on b5.

    Fixed engine check: Ranked first · Bd3 Qc7 Qe2 Bb7.

  12. 6...Bb7 Develop the bishop

    Board fact: Black develops the bishop from c8 to b7; from b7 it attacks White's pawn on e4.

    Fixed engine check: Ranked first · Bb7 O-O Nc6 Nxc6.

  13. 7.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 Nc6 Nxc6 Bxc6.

  14. 7...Qc7 Create pressure on c3

    Board fact: Black moves the queen from d8 to c7; from c7 it attacks White's knight on c3 and White's pawn on h2.

    Fixed engine check: Near the leading choice · Qc7 Re1.

  15. 8.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 Be7.

  16. 8...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: Ranked first · Nc6 Nxc6.

  17. 9.Nxc6 Exchange on c6

    Board fact: White's knight takes the knight on c6; white is ahead by 3 conventional material points after the capture.

    Fixed engine check: Ranked first · Nxc6 dxc6.

  18. 9...Qxc6 Recapture on c6

    Board fact: Black's queen recaptures the knight on c6; from c6 it attacks White's knight on c3 and White's pawn on e4; material is level after the capture.

    Fixed engine check: Near the leading choice · Qxc6 a4.

  19. 10.a4 Create pressure on b5

    Board fact: White moves the pawn from a2 to a4; from a4 it attacks Black's pawn on b5.

    Fixed engine check: Ranked first · a4 b4.

  20. 10...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 Nd5 Bd6 c3.

Middlegame · 11.Nd5 to 26.Qxa6

  1. 11.Nd5 Create pressure on b4

    Board fact: White moves the knight from c3 to d5; from d5 it attacks Black's pawn on b4.

    Fixed engine check: Ranked first · Nd5 Bd6 a5 Nf6.

  2. 11...Nf6 Develop the knight

    Board fact: Black develops the knight from g8 to f6; from f6 it attacks White's knight on d5 and White's pawn on e4.

    Fixed engine check: Ranked first · Nf6 c4 bxc3 Nxf6+.

  3. 12.Bd2 Develop the bishop

    Board fact: White develops the bishop from c1 to d2; from d2 it attacks Black's pawn on b4.

    Fixed engine check: Ranked first · Bd2 Bc5 c4 a5.

  4. 12...Nxd5 Exchange on d5

    Board fact: Black's knight takes the knight on d5; from d5 it reinforces the pawn on b4; black is ahead by 3 conventional material points after the capture.

    Fixed engine check: Ranked first · Nxd5 exd5.

  5. 13.exd5 Recapture on d5

    Board fact: White's pawn recaptures the knight on d5; the move changes the central pawn contact; from d5 it attacks Black's queen on c6 and Black's pawn on e6; material is level after the capture.

    Fixed engine check: Ranked first · exd5 Qd6.

  6. 13...Qc5 Create pressure on c2

    Board fact: Black moves the queen from c6 to c5; from c5 it attacks White's pawn on c2 and White's pawn on d5.

    Fixed engine check: Recorded move; Qd6 ranked higher · Qc5 Be4.

  7. 14.Be4 Create pressure on h7

    Board fact: White moves the bishop from d3 to e4; from e4 it attacks Black's pawn on h7.

    Fixed engine check: Ranked first · Be4 f5 Bxf5 Bxd5.

  8. 14...f5 Create pressure on e4

    Board fact: Black moves the pawn from f7 to f5; from f5 it attacks White's bishop on e4.

    Fixed engine check: Ranked first · f5 Bxf5 Bxd5 Qh5+.

  9. 15.Bf3 Reposition the bishop

    Board fact: White moves the bishop from e4 to f3; from there it controls d5 and e4.

    Fixed engine check: Playable; Bxf5 ranked higher · Bf3 Bxd5 Bxb4 Qxb4.

  10. 15...Bxd5 Exchange on d5

    Board fact: Black's bishop takes the pawn on d5; from d5 it attacks White's bishop on f3; black is ahead by 1 conventional material point after the capture.

    Fixed engine check: Ranked first · Bxd5 Bxb4.

  11. 16.Bxb4 Exchange on b4

    Board fact: White's bishop takes the pawn on b4; from b4 it attacks Black's queen on c5; material is level after the capture.

    Fixed engine check: Ranked first · Bxb4 Bxf3 Qxf3 Qc8.

  12. 16...Bxf3 Exchange on f3

    Board fact: Black's bishop takes the bishop on f3; from f3 it attacks White's queen on d1 and White's pawn on g2; black is ahead by 3 conventional material points after the capture.

    Fixed engine check: Ranked first · Bxf3 Qxf3.

  13. 17.Qxf3 Recapture on f3

    Board fact: White's queen recaptures the bishop on f3; from f3 it attacks Black's rook on a8 and Black's pawn on f5; material is level after the capture.

    Fixed engine check: Ranked first · Qxf3 Qa7 Bc3 Rc8.

  14. 17...Qc8 Create pressure on c2

    Board fact: Black moves the queen from c5 to c8; from c8 it attacks White's pawn on c2.

    Fixed engine check: Ranked first · Qc8 Bc3 Kf7 g4.

  15. 18.Bc3 Create pressure on g7

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

    Fixed engine check: Ranked first · Bc3 Kf7 g4 Qc6.

  16. 18...Kf7 Reposition the king

    Board fact: Black moves the king from e8 to f7; from there it controls e6 and f6.

    Fixed engine check: Ranked first · Kf7 g4 Qc6 Qxc6.

  17. 19.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 d1 it attacks Black's pawn on d7.

    Fixed engine check: Near the leading choice · Rad1 Ra7 Qh5+ Kg8.

  18. 19...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 Qh5+.

  19. 20.g4 Create pressure on f5

    Board fact: White moves the pawn from g2 to g4; from g4 it attacks Black's pawn on f5.

    Fixed engine check: Ranked first · g4 Rf8 gxf5 Kg8.

  20. 20...Rf8 Improve the rook

    Board fact: Black moves the rook from h8 to f8; from f8 it reinforces the queen on c8.

    Fixed engine check: Ranked first · Rf8 gxf5 Kg8 Qg2.

  21. 21.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; from f5 it attacks Black's pawn on e6; white is ahead by 1 conventional material point after the capture.

    Fixed engine check: Ranked first · gxf5 Kg8 Qg2 Bf6.

  22. 21...Kg8 Reposition the king

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

    Fixed engine check: Ranked first · Kg8 Qg2 Bf6 Bxf6.

  23. 22.Qg2 Create pressure on a8

    Board fact: White moves the queen from f3 to g2; from g2 it attacks Black's rook on a8 and Black's pawn on g7.

    Fixed engine check: Ranked first · Qg2 g5.

  24. 22...Bf6 Create pressure on c3

    Board fact: Black moves the bishop from e7 to f6; from f6 it attacks White's bishop on c3.

    Fixed engine check: Ranked first · Bf6 Bxf6 Rxf6 Rxd7.

  25. 23.Bxf6 Exchange on f6

    Board fact: White's bishop takes the bishop on f6; from f6 it attacks Black's pawn on g7; white is ahead by 4 conventional material points after the capture.

    Fixed engine check: Ranked first · Bxf6 Rxf6 Rxd7 Qxd7.

  26. 23...Rxf6 Recapture on f6

    Board fact: Black's rook recaptures the bishop on f6; the rook now works on a semi-open f-file; from f6 it attacks White's pawn on f5; white is ahead by 1 conventional material point after the capture.

    Fixed engine check: Ranked first · Rxf6 Rxd7.

  27. 24.Rxd7 Exchange on d7

    Board fact: White's rook takes the pawn on d7; the rook now occupies the open d-file; from d7 it attacks Black's pawn on g7; white is ahead by 2 conventional material points after the capture.

    Fixed engine check: Ranked first · Rxd7 Qxd7 Qxa8+ Kf7.

  28. 24...Qxd7 Recapture on d7

    Board fact: Black's queen recaptures the rook on d7; from d7 it attacks White's pawn on a4; black is ahead by 3 conventional material points after the capture.

    Fixed engine check: Ranked first · Qxd7 Qxa8+ Rf8 Qxa6.

  29. 25.Qxa8+ Capture with check on a8

    Board fact: White's queen takes the rook on a8; the move checks Black's king; from a8 it attacks Black's pawn on a6; white is ahead by 2 conventional material points after the capture.

    Fixed engine check: Ranked first · Qxa8+ Rf8 Qxa6 Qd4.

  30. 25...Rf8 Answering the check

    Board fact: Black answers the check by moving the rook from f6 to f8; the rook now works on a semi-open f-file; from f8 it attacks White's queen on a8 and White's pawn on f5.

    Fixed engine check: Ranked first · Rf8 Qxa6 Qd4 Qxe6+.

  31. 26.Qxa6 Exchange on a6

    Board fact: White's queen takes the pawn on a6; from a6 it attacks Black's pawn on e6; white is ahead by 3 conventional material points after the capture.

    Fixed engine check: Ranked first · Qxa6 Qd4 Qxe6+ Kh8.

PGN

[Event "URS-ch25"] [Site "?"] [Date "1958.??.??"] [White "Tal, Mikhail"] [Black "Gipslis, Aivars"] [Result "1-0"] 1. e4 c5 2. Nf3 e6 3. d4 cxd4 4. Nxd4 a6 5. Nc3 b5 6. Bd3 Bb7 7. O-O Qc7 8. Re1 Nc6 9. Nxc6 Qxc6 10. a4 b4 11. Nd5 Nf6 12. Bd2 Nxd5 13. exd5 Qc5 14. Be4 f5 15. Bf3 Bxd5 16. Bxb4 Bxf3 17. Qxf3 Qc8 18. Bc3 Kf7 19. Rad1 Be7 20. g4 Rf8 21. gxf5 Kg8 22. Qg2 Bf6 23. Bxf6 Rxf6 24. Rxd7 Qxd7 25. Qxa8+ Rf8 26. Qxa6 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 sha256:39a54695c03a8ccbf715c9d3a8c42c6a9a5eb65edc95f2c48144ae48db326b76 and pins it in the selection manifest.
Exact Figshare tags:
White="Tal, Mihail"; Black="Gipslis, Aivars"; Event="URS-ch25"; Date="1958.??.??"; 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.

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