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Classic game replay

Mikhail Tal vs Miguel Najdorf, 1970

This replay preserves the complete 86-ply score of Tal playing White across 43 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
Miguel Najdorf
Event
Belgrade URS-World
Year
1970
Result
1-0
Opening
B47 Sicilian Defense: Taimanov Variation, Bastrikov Variation

Opening reference: Sicilian Defense: Taimanov Variation, Bastrikov Variation (B47).

In this game, 20 half-moves are labelled opening, 66 middlegame and 0 endgame. The score contains 17 captures and 5 checks or mates; before a recorded move, the position offered a median of 37 legal choices. The source score ends after 43...Qe7 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.Nxc6 — Exchange on c610.Nxc6 was a leading choice in the fixed engine check.
  2. 17.Be3 — Create pressure on h617.Be3 was a leading choice in the fixed engine check.
  3. 26.b3 — Advance the b-pawn26.b3 was a leading choice in the fixed engine check.
  4. 31.Rd7 — Rook on the open d-file31.Rd7 was a leading choice in the fixed engine check.
  5. 38.Rd8 — Rook on the open d-file38.Rd8 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 Miguel Najdorf, 1970

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

  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...Nc6 Develop the knight

    Board fact: Black develops the knight from b8 to c6; from there it controls d4 and e5.

    Fixed engine check: Ranked first · Nc6 Bb5.

  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 Nf6 Nc3.

  7. 4.Nxd4 Recapture on d4

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

    Fixed engine check: Ranked first · Nxd4 Nf6 Nc3 d6.

  8. 4...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.

  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 Nf6 Ndb5 d6.

  10. 5...Qc7 Create pressure on h2

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

    Fixed engine check: Ranked first · Qc7.

  11. 6.g3 Advance the g-pawn

    Board fact: White moves the pawn from g2 to g3; from there it controls f4.

    Fixed engine check: Near the leading choice · g3.

  12. 6...a6 Advance the a-pawn

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

    Fixed engine check: Ranked first · a6 Bg2 Nf6 f4.

  13. 7.Bg2 Develop the bishop

    Board fact: White develops the bishop from f1 to g2; from there it controls e4 and f3.

    Fixed engine check: Ranked first · Bg2 Nf6.

  14. 7...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 O-O.

  15. 8.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 d6 Nxc6 bxc6.

  16. 8...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 Nxc6.

  17. 9.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 Rb8 b3 Be7.

  18. 9...Bd7 Develop the bishop

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

    Fixed engine check: Near the leading choice · Bd7 Nxc6 bxc6 Na4.

  19. 10.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 bxc6 Na4 Rb8.

  20. 10...bxc6 Recapture on c6

    Board fact: Black's pawn recaptures the knight on c6; the move changes the central pawn contact; material is level after the capture.

    Fixed engine check: Ranked first · bxc6 Na4.

Middlegame · 11.Na4 to 43...Qe7

  1. 11.Na4 Reroute the knight

    Board fact: White moves the knight from c3 to a4; from there it controls c3 and c5.

    Fixed engine check: Ranked first · Na4 Be7.

  2. 11...e5 Claim central space

    Board fact: Black moves the pawn from e6 to e5; from there it controls d4 and f4.

    Fixed engine check: Ranked first · e5 c4.

  3. 12.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 h5.

  4. 12...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 c5 O-O Qc2.

  5. 13.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 dxc5 Qc2 c4.

  6. 13...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.

  7. 14.cxd6 Exchange on d6

    Board fact: White's pawn takes the pawn on d6; the pawn is now passed; the move changes the central pawn contact; from d6 it attacks Black's queen on c7 and Black's bishop on e7; white is ahead by 1 conventional material point after the capture.

    Fixed engine check: Ranked first · cxd6 Bxd6 Be3 Bb4.

  8. 14...Bxd6 Recapture on d6

    Board fact: Black's bishop recaptures the pawn on d6; from d6 it reinforces the queen on c7; material is level after the capture.

    Fixed engine check: Ranked first · Bxd6 Be3.

  9. 15.Bg5 Develop the bishop

    Board fact: White develops the bishop from c1 to g5; from g5 it attacks Black's knight on f6.

    Fixed engine check: Near the leading choice · Bg5 Bb4 Re2 Bg4.

  10. 15...Be7 Reposition the bishop

    Board fact: Black moves the bishop from d6 to e7; from there it controls c5, d6 and f6.

    Fixed engine check: Ranked first · Be7 Be3 Rfb8 Rc1.

  11. 16.Qc2 Create pressure on c6

    Board fact: White moves the queen from d1 to c2; from c2 it attacks Black's pawn on c6.

    Fixed engine check: Ranked first · Qc2 h6 Be3 c5.

  12. 16...h6 Create pressure on g5

    Board fact: Black moves the pawn from h7 to h6; from h6 it attacks White's bishop on g5.

    Fixed engine check: Ranked first · h6 Be3.

  13. 17.Be3 Create pressure on h6

    Board fact: White moves the bishop from g5 to e3; from e3 it attacks Black's pawn on h6.

    Fixed engine check: Ranked first · Be3 c5.

  14. 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: Near the leading choice · Rab8 b3.

  15. 18.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 reinforces the queen on c2.

    Fixed engine check: Ranked first · Rac1 Be6 Nc5 Bxc5.

  16. 18...Rfd8 Rook on the open d-file

    Board fact: Black moves the rook from f8 to d8; the rook now occupies the open d-file; from d8 it reinforces the rook on b8.

    Fixed engine check: Ranked first · Rfd8 Red1.

  17. 19.h3 Advance the h-pawn

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

    Fixed engine check: Near the leading choice · h3 Be6.

  18. 19...Nh7 Reroute the knight

    Board fact: Black moves the knight from f6 to h7; from there it controls f6.

    Fixed engine check: Ranked first · Nh7.

  19. 20.Bc5 Create pressure on e7

    Board fact: White moves the bishop from e3 to c5; from c5 it attacks Black's bishop on e7.

    Fixed engine check: Ranked first · Bc5 Bxc5 Nxc5 Bc8.

  20. 20...Be8 Reposition the bishop

    Board fact: Black moves the bishop from d7 to e8; from there it controls c6.

    Fixed engine check: Playable; Bxc5 ranked higher · Be8 Qc3.

  21. 21.Red1 Rook on the open d-file

    Board fact: White moves the rook from e1 to d1; the rook now occupies the open d-file; from d1 it attacks Black's rook on d8.

    Fixed engine check: Ranked first · Red1.

  22. 21...Rxd1+ Capture with check on d1

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

    Fixed engine check: Ranked first · Rxd1+ Rxd1 Ng5 Bxe7.

  23. 22.Rxd1 Recapture on d1

    Board fact: White's rook recaptures the rook on d1; the rook now occupies the open d-file; from d1 it reinforces the king on g1; material is level after the capture.

    Fixed engine check: Ranked first · Rxd1.

  24. 22...Ng5 Create pressure on e4

    Board fact: Black moves the knight from h7 to g5; from g5 it attacks White's pawn on e4 and White's pawn on h3.

    Fixed engine check: Ranked first · Ng5 Qc3 Rb5 Bxe7.

  25. 23.Bxe7 Exchange on e7

    Board fact: White's bishop takes the bishop on e7; from e7 it attacks Black's knight on g5; white is ahead by 3 conventional material points after the capture.

    Fixed engine check: Ranked first · Bxe7 Qxe7 Nc5 Ne6.

  26. 23...Qxe7 Recapture on e7

    Board fact: Black's queen recaptures the bishop on e7; from e7 it reinforces the bishop on e8; material is level after the capture.

    Fixed engine check: Ranked first · Qxe7 Nc5 Ne6 Nxe6.

  27. 24.Nc5 Create pressure on a6

    Board fact: White moves the knight from a4 to c5; from c5 it attacks Black's pawn on a6.

    Fixed engine check: Ranked first · Nc5 Ne6 Nxe6 Qxe6.

  28. 24...Ne6 Create pressure on c5

    Board fact: Black moves the knight from g5 to e6; from e6 it attacks White's knight on c5.

    Fixed engine check: Ranked first · Ne6 Nxe6.

  29. 25.Nxe6 Exchange on e6

    Board fact: White's knight takes the knight on e6; from e6 it attacks Black's pawn on g7; white is ahead by 3 conventional material points after the capture.

    Fixed engine check: Ranked first · Nxe6 Qxe6 b3 a5.

  30. 25...Qxe6 Recapture on e6

    Board fact: Black's queen recaptures the knight on e6; from e6 it attacks White's pawn on a2 and White's pawn on h3; material is level after the capture.

    Fixed engine check: Ranked first · Qxe6 b3.

  31. 26.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 Qe7 Bf1 a5.

  32. 26...Qe7 Reposition the queen

    Board fact: Black moves the queen from e6 to e7; from there it controls e5, c5 and d6.

    Fixed engine check: Ranked first · Qe7 Qc3.

  33. 27.Qc3 Create pressure on c6

    Board fact: White moves the queen from c2 to c3; from c3 it attacks Black's pawn on c6 and Black's pawn on e5.

    Fixed engine check: Ranked first · Qc3 Rb4 Bf1 Rxe4.

  34. 27...Rb4 Rook on the semi-open b-file

    Board fact: Black moves the rook from b8 to b4; the rook now works on a semi-open b-file; from b4 it attacks White's pawn on b3 and White's pawn on e4.

    Fixed engine check: Ranked first · Rb4 Bf1.

  35. 28.h4 Advance the h-pawn

    Board fact: White moves the pawn from h3 to h4.

    Fixed engine check: Ranked first · h4 f6 Rd3 c5.

  36. 28...f6 Advance the f-pawn

    Board fact: Black moves the pawn from f7 to f6; from there it controls e5.

    Fixed engine check: Near the leading choice · f6 Bf1 Rxe4 Bxa6.

  37. 29.Rd3 Rook on the open d-file

    Board fact: White moves the rook from d1 to d3; the rook now occupies the open d-file; from there it controls d4, d5 and c3.

    Fixed engine check: Near the leading choice · Rd3.

  38. 29...Kh7 Reposition the king

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

    Fixed engine check: Playable; c5 ranked higher · Kh7.

  39. 30.Bh3 Reposition the bishop

    Board fact: White moves the bishop from g2 to h3; from there it controls e6 and f5.

    Fixed engine check: Ranked first · Bh3 h5 Bf5+ g6.

  40. 30...Bg6 Develop the bishop

    Board fact: Black develops the bishop from e8 to g6; from g6 it attacks White's pawn on e4.

    Fixed engine check: Near the leading choice · Bg6 Rd7 Qf8 Qxc6.

  41. 31.Rd7 Rook on the open d-file

    Board fact: White moves the rook from d3 to d7; the rook now occupies the open d-file; from d7 it attacks Black's queen on e7.

    Fixed engine check: Ranked first · Rd7 Qf8 Qxc6 Rxe4.

  42. 31...Qf8 Reposition the queen

    Board fact: Black moves the queen from e7 to f8; from there it controls c5, d6 and f6.

    Fixed engine check: Ranked first · Qf8 Bf1 c5 Bxa6.

  43. 32.Qxc6 Exchange on c6

    Board fact: White's queen takes the pawn on c6; from c6 it attacks Black's pawn on a6 and Black's pawn on f6; white is ahead by 1 conventional material point after the capture.

    Fixed engine check: Ranked first · Qxc6 Rxe4.

  44. 32...Rxe4 Exchange on e4

    Board fact: Black's rook takes the pawn on e4; from e4 it attacks White's pawn on h4; material is level after the capture.

    Fixed engine check: Ranked first · Rxe4 Qxa6.

  45. 33.Qxa6 Exchange on a6

    Board fact: White's queen takes the pawn on a6; from a6 it attacks Black's pawn on f6; white is ahead by 1 conventional material point after the capture.

    Fixed engine check: Ranked first · Qxa6 f5 Rd6 Re1+.

  46. 33...Re1+ A forcing check

    Board fact: Black moves the rook from e4 to e1; the move checks White's king; from there it controls e4, e5 and e3.

    Fixed engine check: Near the leading choice · Re1+ Kh2 Be4 Bg2.

  47. 34.Kh2 Answering the check

    Board fact: White answers the check by moving the king from g1 to h2; from h2 it reinforces the bishop on h3.

    Fixed engine check: Ranked first · Kh2.

  48. 34...f5 Advance the f-pawn

    Board fact: Black moves the pawn from f6 to f5; from there it controls e4.

    Fixed engine check: Near the leading choice · f5 Qa5.

  49. 35.Rd6 Rook on the open d-file

    Board fact: White moves the rook from d7 to d6; the rook now occupies the open d-file; from d6 it attacks Black's bishop on g6.

    Fixed engine check: Playable; Qa5 ranked higher · Rd6 Qf7 Qa5 Re2.

  50. 35...Bh5 Reposition the bishop

    Board fact: Black moves the bishop from g6 to h5; from there it controls f3.

    Fixed engine check: Near the leading choice · Bh5 Qa5 f4 Qxe1.

  51. 36.Qd3 Create pressure on f5

    Board fact: White moves the queen from a6 to d3; from d3 it attacks Black's pawn on f5.

    Fixed engine check: Playable; Qa5 ranked higher · Qd3 e4 Qc3 Re2.

  52. 36...e4 Create pressure on d3

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

    Fixed engine check: Ranked first · e4.

  53. 37.Qd5 Create pressure on e4

    Board fact: White moves the queen from d3 to d5; from d5 it attacks Black's pawn on e4 and Black's pawn on f5.

    Fixed engine check: Near the leading choice · Qd5 Bf3 Qxf5+ Qxf5.

  54. 37...Bg4 Create pressure on h3

    Board fact: Black moves the bishop from h5 to g4; from g4 it attacks White's bishop on h3.

    Fixed engine check: Recorded move; Bf3 ranked higher · Bg4 Rd8 Bf3 Bxf5+.

  55. 38.Rd8 Rook on the open d-file

    Board fact: White moves the rook from d6 to d8; the rook now occupies the open d-file; from d8 it attacks Black's queen on f8.

    Fixed engine check: Ranked first · Rd8.

  56. 38...Qf6 Create pressure on d8

    Board fact: Black moves the queen from f8 to f6; from f6 it attacks White's rook on d8 and White's pawn on h4.

    Fixed engine check: Near the leading choice · Qf6 Qg8+ Kg6 Bxg4.

  57. 39.Qg8+ A forcing check

    Board fact: White moves the queen from d5 to g8; the move checks Black's king; from g8 it attacks Black's pawn on g7.

    Fixed engine check: Ranked first · Qg8+ Kg6 Bxg4 Qe5.

  58. 39...Kg6 Answering the check

    Board fact: Black answers the check by moving the king from h7 to g6; from there it controls f5 and f6.

    Fixed engine check: Ranked first · Kg6 Bxg4 fxg4 h5+.

  59. 40.Qe8+ A forcing check

    Board fact: White moves the queen from g8 to e8; the move checks Black's king; from e8 it attacks Black's pawn on e4.

    Fixed engine check: Ranked first · Qe8+ Kh7 Bxg4 fxg4.

  60. 40...Kh7 Answering the check

    Board fact: Black answers the check by moving the king from g6 to h7; from h7 it reinforces the pawn on g7.

    Fixed engine check: Ranked first · Kh7 Bxg4 fxg4 Qg8+.

  61. 41.Bxg4 Exchange on g4

    Board fact: White's bishop takes the bishop on g4; from g4 it attacks Black's pawn on f5; white is ahead by 4 conventional material points after the capture.

    Fixed engine check: Near the leading choice · Bxg4 fxg4 Qg8+ Kg6.

  62. 41...fxg4 Recapture on g4

    Board fact: Black's pawn recaptures the bishop on g4; the move changes the central pawn contact; Black accepts doubled pawns on the g-file; white is ahead by 1 conventional material point after the capture.

    Fixed engine check: Ranked first · fxg4 Qg8+ Kg6 h5+.

  63. 42.Qg8+ A forcing check

    Board fact: White moves the queen from e8 to g8; the move checks Black's king; from g8 it attacks Black's pawn on g7.

    Fixed engine check: Ranked first · Qg8+ Kg6 h5+ Kxh5.

  64. 42...Kg6 Answering the check

    Board fact: Black answers the check by moving the king from h7 to g6; from there it controls f5 and f6.

    Fixed engine check: Ranked first · Kg6 h5+ Kxh5 Qe8+.

  65. 43.Rf8 Create pressure on f6

    Board fact: White moves the rook from d8 to f8; from f8 it attacks Black's queen on f6.

    Fixed engine check: Recorded move; h5+ ranked higher · Rf8 Qe7 Re8 Qa7.

  66. 43...Qe7 Create pressure on f8

    Board fact: Black moves the queen from f6 to e7; from e7 it attacks White's rook on f8 and White's pawn on h4.

    Fixed engine check: Ranked first · Qe7 Re8 Qc7 Re6+.

PGN

[Event "Belgrade URS-World"] [Site "?"] [Date "1970.??.??"] [White "Tal, Mikhail"] [Black "Najdorf, Miguel"] [Result "1-0"] 1. e4 c5 2. Nf3 Nc6 3. d4 cxd4 4. Nxd4 e6 5. Nc3 Qc7 6. g3 a6 7. Bg2 Nf6 8. O-O d6 9. Re1 Bd7 10. Nxc6 bxc6 11. Na4 e5 12. c4 Be7 13. c5 O-O 14. cxd6 Bxd6 15. Bg5 Be7 16. Qc2 h6 17. Be3 Rab8 18. Rac1 Rfd8 19. h3 Nh7 20. Bc5 Be8 21. Red1 Rxd1+ 22. Rxd1 Ng5 23. Bxe7 Qxe7 24. Nc5 Ne6 25. Nxe6 Qxe6 26. b3 Qe7 27. Qc3 Rb4 28. h4 f6 29. Rd3 Kh7 30. Bh3 Bg6 31. Rd7 Qf8 32. Qxc6 Rxe4 33. Qxa6 Re1+ 34. Kh2 f5 35. Rd6 Bh5 36. Qd3 e4 37. Qd5 Bg4 38. Rd8 Qf6 39. Qg8+ Kg6 40. Qe8+ Kh7 41. Bxg4 fxg4 42. Qg8+ Kg6 43. Rf8 Qe7 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:d2ef89fa5818457f3608c55b5d250165894f16761393bbf98586223b1ca2a459 and pins it in the selection manifest.
Exact Figshare tags:
White="Tal, Mihail"; Black="Najdorf, Miguel"; Event="Belgrade URS-World"; Date="1970.04.02"; 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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