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Classic game replay

Mikhail Tal vs Aleksandrs Koblencs, 1954

This replay preserves the complete 81-ply score of Tal playing White across 41 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
Aleksandrs Koblencs
Event
Riga-ch
Year
1954
Result
1-0
Opening
C17 French Defense: Winawer Variation, Retreat Variation, Armenian Line

Opening reference: French Defense: Winawer Variation, Retreat Variation, Armenian Line (C17).

In this game, 20 half-moves are labelled opening, 61 middlegame and 0 endgame. The score contains 18 captures and 2 checks or mates; before a recorded move, the position offered a median of 30 legal choices. The source score ends after 41.h6 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. 12.Be3 — Develop the bishop12.Be3 was a leading choice in the fixed engine check.
  2. 16.Bxd4 — Recapture on d416.Bxd4 was a leading choice in the fixed engine check.
  3. 21.Nxf5 — Exchange on f521.Nxf5 was a leading choice in the fixed engine check.
  4. 32.Qe1 — Create pressure on h432.Qe1 was a leading choice in the fixed engine check.
  5. 41.h6 — Advance a passed pawn41.h6 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 Aleksandrs Koblencs, 1954

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...Bb8

  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...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 d4.

  3. 2.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 d5 e5 c5.

  4. 2...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 e5 c5 c3.

  5. 3.Nc3 Develop the knight

    Board fact: White develops the knight from b1 to c3; from c3 it attacks Black's pawn on d5.

    Fixed engine check: Ranked first · Nc3 Nf6 e5 Nfd7.

  6. 3...Bb4 Develop the bishop

    Board fact: Black develops the bishop from f8 to b4; from b4 it attacks White's knight on c3.

    Fixed engine check: Near the leading choice · Bb4.

  7. 4.e5 Change the pawn structure

    Board fact: White moves the pawn from e4 to e5; the move changes the central pawn contact; from there it controls d6 and f6.

    Fixed engine check: Ranked first · e5 Ne7 Qg4 c5.

  8. 4...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 a3.

  9. 5.a3 Create pressure on b4

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

    Fixed engine check: Ranked first · a3.

  10. 5...Ba5 Create pressure on c3

    Board fact: Black moves the bishop from b4 to a5; from a5 it attacks White's knight on c3.

    Fixed engine check: Ranked first · Ba5 Qg4 Ne7 dxc5.

  11. 6.b4 Create pressure on a5

    Board fact: White moves the pawn from b2 to b4; from b4 it attacks Black's bishop on a5 and Black's pawn on c5.

    Fixed engine check: Ranked first · b4.

  12. 6...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; from d4 it attacks White's knight on c3; black is ahead by 1 conventional material point after the capture.

    Fixed engine check: Ranked first · cxd4 Qg4.

  13. 7.Nb5 Create pressure on a7

    Board fact: White moves the knight from c3 to b5; from b5 it attacks Black's pawn on a7 and Black's pawn on d4.

    Fixed engine check: Ranked first · Nb5 Bc7 f4 Ne7.

  14. 7...Bc7 Create pressure on e5

    Board fact: Black moves the bishop from a5 to c7; from c7 it attacks White's pawn on e5.

    Fixed engine check: Ranked first · Bc7 f4 Ne7 Nxc7+.

  15. 8.f4 Advance the f-pawn

    Board fact: White moves the pawn from f2 to f4; from there it controls e5.

    Fixed engine check: Ranked first · f4 Bd7 Nxc7+ Qxc7.

  16. 8...Ne7 Develop the knight

    Board fact: Black develops the knight from g8 to e7; from there it controls d5, c6 and f5.

    Fixed engine check: Ranked first · Ne7 Nxc7+ Qxc7 Bd3.

  17. 9.Nf3 Develop the knight

    Board fact: White develops the knight from g1 to f3; from f3 it attacks Black's pawn on d4.

    Fixed engine check: Ranked first · Nf3 Bd7.

  18. 9...Nbc6 Develop the knight

    Board fact: Black develops the knight from b8 to c6; from c6 it attacks White's pawn on b4 and White's pawn on e5.

    Fixed engine check: Near the leading choice · Nbc6 Nxc7+ Qxc7 Bd3.

  19. 10.Bd3 Develop the bishop

    Board fact: White develops the bishop from f1 to d3; from d3 it attacks Black's pawn on h7.

    Fixed engine check: Ranked first · Bd3 Bb8 Nbxd4 a5.

  20. 10...Bb8 Create pressure on e5

    Board fact: Black moves the bishop from c7 to b8; from b8 it attacks White's pawn on e5.

    Fixed engine check: Ranked first · Bb8.

Middlegame · 11.Nbxd4 to 41.h6

  1. 11.Nbxd4 Exchange on d4

    Board fact: White's knight takes the pawn on d4; from d4 it attacks Black's knight on c6 and Black's pawn on e6; material is level after the capture.

    Fixed engine check: Ranked first · Nbxd4 a5 Be3 axb4.

  2. 11...a6 Advance the a-pawn

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

    Fixed engine check: Ranked first · a6 Nxc6 bxc6 Be3.

  3. 12.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 Ba7 O-O Nxd4.

  4. 12...Ba7 Develop the bishop

    Board fact: Black develops the bishop from b8 to a7; from a7 it attacks White's knight on d4.

    Fixed engine check: Ranked first · Ba7 O-O Nxd4 Nxd4.

  5. 13.c3 Advance the c-pawn

    Board fact: White moves the pawn from c2 to c3; from there it controls d4.

    Fixed engine check: Ranked first · c3 Bd7.

  6. 13...h6 Advance the h-pawn

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

    Fixed engine check: Near the leading choice · h6.

  7. 14.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 Bd7 a4 Nxd4.

  8. 14...Bd7 Develop the bishop

    Board fact: Black develops the bishop from c8 to d7; from there it controls c6 and e6.

    Fixed engine check: Ranked first · Bd7 a4.

  9. 15.Qe1 Reposition the queen

    Board fact: White moves the queen from d1 to e1; from there it controls c3 and e3.

    Fixed engine check: Ranked first · Qe1 Nxd4.

  10. 15...Nxd4 Exchange on d4

    Board fact: Black's knight takes the knight on d4; from d4 it attacks White's knight on f3; black is ahead by 3 conventional material points after the capture.

    Fixed engine check: Ranked first · Nxd4 Bxd4 Bxd4+ Nxd4.

  11. 16.Bxd4 Recapture on d4

    Board fact: White's bishop recaptures the knight on d4; from d4 it attacks Black's bishop on a7; material is level after the capture.

    Fixed engine check: Ranked first · Bxd4 Bxd4+ Nxd4 Qc7.

  12. 16...Bxd4+ Recapture on d4

    Board fact: Black's bishop recaptures the bishop on d4; the move checks White's king; from d4 it attacks White's pawn on c3 and White's pawn on e5; black is ahead by 3 conventional material points after the capture.

    Fixed engine check: Ranked first · Bxd4+ Nxd4 Qc7 a4.

  13. 17.Nxd4 Recapture on d4

    Board fact: White's knight recaptures the bishop on d4; from d4 it attacks Black's pawn on e6; material is level after the capture.

    Fixed engine check: Ranked first · Nxd4 O-O.

  14. 17...g6 Advance the g-pawn

    Board fact: Black moves the pawn from g7 to g6; from there it controls f5.

    Fixed engine check: Near the leading choice · g6 a4.

  15. 18.Kh1 Reposition the king

    Board fact: White moves the king from g1 to h1; from h1 it reinforces the pawn on g2.

    Fixed engine check: Ranked first · Kh1 h5.

  16. 18...h5 Advance the h-pawn

    Board fact: Black moves the pawn from h6 to h5.

    Fixed engine check: Ranked first · h5 a4.

  17. 19.c4 Change the pawn structure

    Board fact: White moves the pawn from c3 to c4; the move changes the central pawn contact; from c4 it attacks Black's pawn on d5.

    Fixed engine check: Recorded move; Bc2 ranked higher · c4 dxc4.

  18. 19...dxc4 Exchange on c4

    Board fact: Black's pawn takes the pawn on c4; the pawn is now passed; the move changes the central pawn contact; from c4 it attacks White's bishop on d3; black is ahead by 1 conventional material point after the capture.

    Fixed engine check: Ranked first · dxc4 Bxc4 Qb6 Nb3.

  19. 20.Bxc4 Recapture on c4

    Board fact: White's bishop recaptures the pawn on c4; from c4 it attacks Black's pawn on a6 and Black's pawn on e6; material is level after the capture.

    Fixed engine check: Ranked first · Bxc4 Qb6 Qf2 Ba4.

  20. 20...Nf5 Create pressure on d4

    Board fact: Black moves the knight from e7 to f5; from f5 it attacks White's knight on d4.

    Fixed engine check: Recorded move; Ba4 ranked higher · Nf5 Nxf5.

  21. 21.Nxf5 Exchange on f5

    Board fact: White's knight takes the knight on f5; white is ahead by 3 conventional material points after the capture.

    Fixed engine check: Ranked first · Nxf5 gxf5 Be2 Qe7.

  22. 21...gxf5 Recapture on f5

    Board fact: Black's pawn recaptures the knight on f5; 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 · gxf5 Be2 Bc6 Bf3.

  23. 22.Rd1 Rook on the open d-file

    Board fact: White moves the rook from a1 to d1; the rook now occupies the open d-file; from d1 it attacks Black's bishop on d7.

    Fixed engine check: Ranked first · Rd1 h4 h3 Rc8.

  24. 22...h4 Advance the h-pawn

    Board fact: Black moves the pawn from h5 to h4.

    Fixed engine check: Ranked first · h4 h3 Qc7 Be2.

  25. 23.h3 Advance the h-pawn

    Board fact: White moves the pawn from h2 to h3.

    Fixed engine check: Ranked first · h3 Qc7 Be2 Bc6.

  26. 23...Qe7 Create pressure on b4

    Board fact: Black moves the queen from d8 to e7; from e7 it attacks White's pawn on b4.

    Fixed engine check: Ranked first · Qe7 Rd6.

  27. 24.Be2 Create pressure on a6

    Board fact: White moves the bishop from c4 to e2; from e2 it attacks Black's pawn on a6.

    Fixed engine check: Ranked first · Be2 Kf8 Rd6 Bc6.

  28. 24...Bc6 Create pressure on g2

    Board fact: Black moves the bishop from d7 to c6; from c6 it attacks White's pawn on g2.

    Fixed engine check: Ranked first · Bc6 Bf3.

  29. 25.Bf3 Create pressure on c6

    Board fact: White moves the bishop from e2 to f3; from f3 it attacks Black's bishop on c6.

    Fixed engine check: Ranked first · Bf3 Bxf3 Rxf3 Rd8.

  30. 25...Bxf3 Exchange on f3

    Board fact: Black's bishop takes the bishop on f3; from f3 it attacks White's rook 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.

  31. 26.Rxf3 Recapture on f3

    Board fact: White's rook recaptures the bishop on f3; from f3 it reinforces the pawn on a3; material is level after the capture.

    Fixed engine check: Ranked first · Rxf3 Rd8 Rdd3 Rxd3.

  32. 26...Rd8 Rook on the open d-file

    Board fact: Black moves the rook from a8 to d8; the rook now occupies the open d-file; from d8 it attacks White's rook on d1.

    Fixed engine check: Ranked first · Rd8 Kh2 Qc7 Rfd3.

  33. 27.Rfd3 Rook on the open d-file

    Board fact: White moves the rook from f3 to d3; the rook now occupies the open d-file; from d3 it attacks Black's rook on d8.

    Fixed engine check: Ranked first · Rfd3 Rxd3 Rxd3 Qc7.

  34. 27...Rxd3 Exchange on d3

    Board fact: Black's rook takes the rook on d3; the rook now occupies the open d-file; from d3 it attacks White's rook on d1 and White's pawn on a3; black is ahead by 5 conventional material points after the capture.

    Fixed engine check: Ranked first · Rxd3 Rxd3 O-O Qd2.

  35. 28.Rxd3 Recapture on d3

    Board fact: White's rook recaptures the rook on d3; the rook now occupies the open d-file; from d3 it reinforces the pawn on a3; material is level after the capture.

    Fixed engine check: Ranked first · Rxd3 O-O.

  36. 28...Qc7 Create pressure on e5

    Board fact: Black moves the queen from e7 to c7; from c7 it attacks White's pawn on e5.

    Fixed engine check: Ranked first · Qc7 Qd2 O-O Rd7.

  37. 29.Rc3 Rook on the open c-file

    Board fact: White moves the rook from d3 to c3; the rook now occupies the open c-file; from c3 it attacks Black's queen on c7.

    Fixed engine check: Ranked first · Rc3.

  38. 29...Qd7 Reposition the queen

    Board fact: Black moves the queen from c7 to d7; from there it controls d4, d5 and c6.

    Fixed engine check: Ranked first · Qd7 Rc1 Kf8 Rd1.

  39. 30.Qc1 Reposition the queen

    Board fact: White moves the queen from e1 to c1; from there it controls c3, e3 and f4.

    Fixed engine check: Ranked first · Qc1 O-O Rc7 Qd8.

  40. 30...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 Rc7 Qd4 Rxb7.

  41. 31.Rc7 Rook on the open c-file

    Board fact: White moves the rook from c3 to c7; the rook now occupies the open c-file; from c7 it attacks Black's queen on d7 and Black's pawn on b7.

    Fixed engine check: Ranked first · Rc7 Qd4 Rxb7 Kg7.

  42. 31...Qd5 Create pressure on e5

    Board fact: Black moves the queen from d7 to d5; from d5 it attacks White's pawn on e5 and White's pawn on g2.

    Fixed engine check: Playable; Qd4 ranked higher · Qd5.

  43. 32.Qe1 Create pressure on h4

    Board fact: White moves the queen from c1 to e1; from e1 it attacks Black's pawn on h4.

    Fixed engine check: Ranked first · Qe1 Qd8 Rxb7 Kg7.

  44. 32...Qd8 Create pressure on c7

    Board fact: Black moves the queen from d5 to d8; from d8 it attacks White's rook on c7.

    Fixed engine check: Ranked first · Qd8 Rxb7 Kg7 Ra7.

  45. 33.Rxb7 Exchange on b7

    Board fact: White's rook takes the pawn on b7; the rook has reached the opponent’s second rank; from b7 it attacks Black's pawn on f7; white is ahead by 1 conventional material point after the capture.

    Fixed engine check: Ranked first · Rxb7 Kg7 Ra7 Qd4.

  46. 33...Qa8 Create pressure on b7

    Board fact: Black moves the queen from d8 to a8; from a8 it attacks White's rook on b7.

    Fixed engine check: Recorded move; Kg7 ranked higher · Qa8 Re7 Qd5 Qxh4.

  47. 34.Re7 Rook reaches the seventh rank

    Board fact: White moves the rook from b7 to e7; the rook has reached the opponent’s second rank; from e7 it attacks Black's pawn on e6 and Black's pawn on f7.

    Fixed engine check: Ranked first · Re7 Re8 Qxh4 Rxe7.

  48. 34...Re8 Create pressure on e7

    Board fact: Black moves the rook from f8 to e8; from e8 it attacks White's rook on e7.

    Fixed engine check: Ranked first · Re8 Rxe8+.

  49. 35.Qxh4 Exchange on h4

    Board fact: White's queen takes the pawn on h4; from h4 it reinforces the rook on e7; white is ahead by 2 conventional material points after the capture.

    Fixed engine check: Ranked first · Qxh4 Rxe7 Qxe7 Qd5.

  50. 35...Rxe7 Exchange on e7

    Board fact: Black's rook takes the rook on e7; from e7 it reinforces the pawn on e6; black is ahead by 3 conventional material points after the capture.

    Fixed engine check: Ranked first · Rxe7 Qxe7 Qd5 Kh2.

  51. 36.Qxe7 Recapture on e7

    Board fact: White's queen recaptures the rook on e7; from e7 it attacks Black's pawn on e6 and Black's pawn on f7; white is ahead by 2 conventional material points after the capture.

    Fixed engine check: Ranked first · Qxe7 a5 b5 Qd5.

  52. 36...Qe4 Create pressure on b4

    Board fact: Black moves the queen from a8 to e4; from e4 it attacks White's pawn on b4 and White's pawn on e5.

    Fixed engine check: Recorded move; Qd5 ranked higher · Qe4 Qg5+ Kh7 h4.

  53. 37.Qg5+ A forcing check

    Board fact: White moves the queen from e7 to g5; the move checks Black's king; from g5 it attacks Black's pawn on f5.

    Fixed engine check: Ranked first · Qg5+.

  54. 37...Kh7 Answering the check

    Board fact: Black answers the check by moving the king from g8 to h7.

    Fixed engine check: Playable; Kf8 ranked higher · Kh7 Kh2.

  55. 38.h4 Advance a passed pawn

    Board fact: White moves the pawn from h3 to h4; the pawn is now passed; from h4 it reinforces the queen on g5.

    Fixed engine check: Ranked first · h4 Qe3 Kh2 Qxa3.

  56. 38...Qa8 Create pressure on g2

    Board fact: Black moves the queen from e4 to a8; from a8 it attacks White's pawn on g2.

    Fixed engine check: Playable; Qd3 ranked higher · Qa8 h5 Qd5 Kh2.

  57. 39.h5 Advance a passed pawn

    Board fact: White moves the pawn from h4 to h5; the pawn is now passed.

    Fixed engine check: Ranked first · h5 Qc8 Kh2 Qf8.

  58. 39...Qh8 Create pressure on e5

    Board fact: Black moves the queen from a8 to h8; from h8 it attacks White's pawn on e5.

    Fixed engine check: Near the leading choice · Qh8 h6 Qf8 Kh2.

  59. 40.a4 Advance the a-pawn

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

    Fixed engine check: Ranked first · a4 Qg7 Kh2 Qxg5.

  60. 40...Qf8 Create pressure on b4

    Board fact: Black moves the queen from h8 to f8; from f8 it attacks White's pawn on b4.

    Fixed engine check: Ranked first · Qf8 h6 Qxh6+ Qxh6+.

  61. 41.h6 Advance a passed pawn

    Board fact: White moves the pawn from h5 to h6; the pawn is now passed.

    Fixed engine check: Ranked first · h6 Qxh6+ Qxh6+ Kxh6.

PGN

[Event "Riga-ch"] [Site "?"] [Date "1954.??.??"] [White "Tal, Mikhail"] [Black "Koblencs, Aleksandrs"] [Result "1-0"] 1. e4 e6 2. d4 d5 3. Nc3 Bb4 4. e5 c5 5. a3 Ba5 6. b4 cxd4 7. Nb5 Bc7 8. f4 Ne7 9. Nf3 Nbc6 10. Bd3 Bb8 11. Nbxd4 a6 12. Be3 Ba7 13. c3 h6 14. O-O Bd7 15. Qe1 Nxd4 16. Bxd4 Bxd4+ 17. Nxd4 g6 18. Kh1 h5 19. c4 dxc4 20. Bxc4 Nf5 21. Nxf5 gxf5 22. Rd1 h4 23. h3 Qe7 24. Be2 Bc6 25. Bf3 Bxf3 26. Rxf3 Rd8 27. Rfd3 Rxd3 28. Rxd3 Qc7 29. Rc3 Qd7 30. Qc1 O-O 31. Rc7 Qd5 32. Qe1 Qd8 33. Rxb7 Qa8 34. Re7 Re8 35. Qxh4 Rxe7 36. Qxe7 Qe4 37. Qg5+ Kh7 38. h4 Qa8 39. h5 Qh8 40. a4 Qf8 41. h6 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 sha256:7142d50646193feea95f63a14fdf62f6b6ce6c67d443ee5af81405b6190333ce and pins it in the selection manifest.
Exact Figshare tags:
White="Tal, Mihail"; Black="Koblencs, Aleksandrs"; Event="Riga-ch"; Date="1954.??.??"; 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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