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Classic game replay

Mikhail Tal vs Andrey Peterson, 1965

This replay preserves the complete 53-ply score of Tal playing White across 27 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
Andrey Peterson
Event
LAT-ch
Year
1965
Result
1-0
Opening
B45 Sicilian Defense: Four Knights Variation

Opening reference: Sicilian Defense: Four Knights Variation (B45).

In this game, 20 half-moves are labelled opening, 33 middlegame and 0 endgame. The score contains 16 captures and 4 checks or mates; before a recorded move, the position offered a median of 37 legal choices. The source score ends after 27.Qg3+ 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.Bd2 — Develop the bishop10.Bd2 was a leading choice in the fixed engine check.
  2. 13.Qh4 — Create pressure on f613.Qh4 was a leading choice in the fixed engine check.
  3. 21.Nxf6+ — Capture with check on f621.Nxf6+ was a leading choice in the fixed engine check.
  4. 23.b4 — Advance the b-pawn23.b4 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 Andrey Peterson, 1965

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...e5

  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...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 Nc3 e6 Nxc6.

  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 d6 Nd5 e6.

  10. 5...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 Nxc6.

  11. 6.Ndb5 Create pressure on a7

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

    Fixed engine check: Ranked first · Ndb5 d6 Bf4 e5.

  12. 6...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 Bf4 O-O Bc7.

  13. 7.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 Bxc3+ Nxc3 d5.

  14. 7...Bxc3+ Capture with check on c3

    Board fact: Black's bishop takes the knight on c3; the move checks White's king; from c3 it attacks White's pawn on b2; black is ahead by 3 conventional material points after the capture.

    Fixed engine check: Ranked first · Bxc3+ Nxc3 d5 Bd3.

  15. 8.Nxc3 Recapture on c3

    Board fact: White's knight recaptures the bishop on c3; from c3 it reinforces the queen on d1; material is level after the capture.

    Fixed engine check: Ranked first · Nxc3 d5 exd5 exd5.

  16. 8...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 Bb5 O-O exd5.

  17. 9.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.

  18. 9...Nxd5 Recapture on d5

    Board fact: Black's knight recaptures the pawn on d5; from d5 it attacks White's knight on c3; material is level after the capture.

    Fixed engine check: Near the leading choice · Nxd5 Bd2.

  19. 10.Bd2 Develop the bishop

    Board fact: White develops the bishop from c1 to d2; from there it controls c3, e3 and f4.

    Fixed engine check: Ranked first · Bd2 Qh4 Bb5 O-O.

  20. 10...e5 Claim central space

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

    Fixed engine check: Playable; Nxc3 ranked higher · e5 Qh5 Nf6 Qh4.

Middlegame · 11.Qh5 to 27.Qg3+

  1. 11.Qh5 Create pressure on e5

    Board fact: White moves the queen from d1 to h5; from h5 it attacks Black's pawn on e5 and Black's pawn on f7.

    Fixed engine check: Ranked first · Qh5 Be6 O-O-O O-O.

  2. 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.

  3. 12.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: Playable; O-O-O ranked higher · Bd3 f5 O-O-O.

  4. 12...Nf6 Create pressure on h5

    Board fact: Black moves the knight from d5 to f6; from f6 it attacks White's queen on h5.

    Fixed engine check: Near the leading choice · Nf6 Qh4 Qd4 Bg5.

  5. 13.Qh4 Create pressure on f6

    Board fact: White moves the queen from h5 to h4; from h4 it attacks Black's knight on f6 and Black's pawn on h7.

    Fixed engine check: Ranked first · Qh4 Nd4 O-O-O Bf5.

  6. 13...e4 Create pressure on d3

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

    Fixed engine check: Ranked first · e4 Be2.

  7. 14.Bc4 Create pressure on f7

    Board fact: White moves the bishop from d3 to c4; from c4 it attacks Black's pawn on f7.

    Fixed engine check: Playable; Be2 ranked higher · Bc4 Qd4 Bb3 e3.

  8. 14...Nd4 Create pressure on c2

    Board fact: Black moves the knight from c6 to d4; from d4 it attacks White's pawn on c2.

    Fixed engine check: Playable; Qd4 ranked higher · Nd4 O-O-O Qc7 Bg5.

  9. 15.O-O-O Queenside castling

    Board fact: White castles queenside, moving the king to c1 and the rook to d1. The move changes king safety and develops the rook in one turn.

    Fixed engine check: Ranked first · O-O-O Qc7 Ba2 Bg4.

  10. 15...Bg4 Develop the bishop

    Board fact: Black develops the bishop from c8 to g4; from g4 it attacks White's rook on d1.

    Fixed engine check: Playable; Qc7 ranked higher · Bg4 Bg5 Bxd1 Rxd1.

  11. 16.Bg5 Create pressure on f6

    Board fact: White moves the bishop from d2 to g5; from g5 it attacks Black's knight on f6.

    Fixed engine check: Ranked first · Bg5 Bxd1 Rxd1 Rc8.

  12. 16...Bxd1 Exchange on d1

    Board fact: Black's bishop takes the rook on d1; from d1 it attacks White's pawn on c2; black is ahead by 5 conventional material points after the capture.

    Fixed engine check: Ranked first · Bxd1 Rxd1 Rc8 Bxf6.

  13. 17.Rxd1 Recapture on d1

    Board fact: White's rook recaptures the bishop on d1; the rook now occupies the open d-file; from d1 it attacks Black's knight on d4; black is ahead by 2 conventional material points after the capture.

    Fixed engine check: Ranked first · Rxd1 Rc8.

  14. 17...Rc8 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 bishop on c4.

    Fixed engine check: Ranked first · Rc8 Bxf6.

  15. 18.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 knight on d4; white is ahead by 1 conventional material point after the capture.

    Fixed engine check: Ranked first · Bxf6 gxf6 Bd5 Qb6.

  16. 18...gxf6 Recapture on f6

    Board fact: Black's pawn recaptures the bishop on f6; the move changes the central pawn contact; Black accepts doubled pawns on the f-file; black is ahead by 2 conventional material points after the capture.

    Fixed engine check: Ranked first · gxf6 Bd5.

  17. 19.b3 Advance the b-pawn

    Board fact: White moves the pawn from b2 to b3; from there it controls c4.

    Fixed engine check: Playable; Bd5 ranked higher · b3 Rxc4.

  18. 19...b5 Create pressure on c4

    Board fact: Black moves the pawn from b7 to b5; from b5 it attacks White's bishop on c4.

    Fixed engine check: Playable; Qa5 ranked higher · b5 Nxb5 Rxc4 Qg4+.

  19. 20.Nd5 Create pressure on f6

    Board fact: White moves the knight from c3 to d5; from d5 it attacks Black's pawn on f6.

    Fixed engine check: Recorded move; Nxb5 ranked higher · Nd5 Rc6.

  20. 20...bxc4 Exchange on c4

    Board fact: Black's pawn takes the bishop on c4; the move changes the central pawn contact; from c4 it attacks White's pawn on b3; black is ahead by 5 conventional material points after the capture.

    Fixed engine check: Recorded move; Rc6 ranked higher · bxc4 Nxf6+ Kg7 Qg5+.

  21. 21.Nxf6+ Capture with check on f6

    Board fact: White's knight takes the pawn on f6; the move checks Black's king; from f6 it attacks Black's pawn on e4 and Black's pawn on h7; black is ahead by 4 conventional material points after the capture.

    Fixed engine check: Ranked first · Nxf6+ Kg7 Qg5+ Kh8.

  22. 21...Qxf6 Recapture on f6

    Board fact: Black's queen recaptures the knight on f6; from f6 it attacks White's queen on h4 and White's pawn on f2; black is ahead by 7 conventional material points after the capture.

    Fixed engine check: Ranked first · Qxf6 Qxf6 Rc6 Qxd4.

  23. 22.Qxf6 Recapture on f6

    Board fact: White's queen recaptures the queen on f6; from f6 it attacks Black's knight on d4 and Black's pawn on f7; white is ahead by 2 conventional material points after the capture.

    Fixed engine check: Ranked first · Qxf6 cxb3 Qg5+ Kh8.

  24. 22...Ne6 Improve the knight

    Board fact: Black moves the knight from d4 to e6; from there it controls d4, c5 and f4.

    Fixed engine check: Playable; Rc6 ranked higher · Ne6 b4 c3 Re1.

  25. 23.b4 Advance the b-pawn

    Board fact: White moves the pawn from b3 to b4; from there it controls c5.

    Fixed engine check: Ranked first · b4 c3 h4 h6.

  26. 23...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 attacks White's rook on d1.

    Fixed engine check: Ranked first · Rfd8 Rxd8+ Rxd8 Qh4.

  27. 24.Rxd8+ Capture with check on d8

    Board fact: White's rook takes the rook on d8; the move checks Black's king; the rook now occupies the open d-file; from d8 it attacks Black's rook on c8; white is ahead by 7 conventional material points after the capture.

    Fixed engine check: Ranked first · Rxd8+ Rxd8 Qe5 Kf8.

  28. 24...Rxd8 Recapture on d8

    Board fact: Black's rook recaptures the rook on d8; the rook now occupies the open d-file; from d8 it reinforces the king on g8; white is ahead by 2 conventional material points after the capture.

    Fixed engine check: Ranked first · Rxd8 Qh6 c3 Qe3.

  29. 25.Qe5 Create pressure on e6

    Board fact: White moves the queen from f6 to e5; from e5 it attacks Black's knight on e6 and Black's pawn on e4.

    Fixed engine check: Ranked first · Qe5 Kf8 g3 a6.

  30. 25...Rd4 Rook on the open d-file

    Board fact: Black moves the rook from d8 to d4; the rook now occupies the open d-file; from there it controls d5, e4 and c4.

    Fixed engine check: Near the leading choice · Rd4 Kb2 Rd1 Qxe4.

  31. 26.b5 Advance the b-pawn

    Board fact: White moves the pawn from b4 to b5; from there it controls c6.

    Fixed engine check: Ranked first · b5 h5 h4 c3.

  32. 26...c3 Advance the c-pawn

    Board fact: Black moves the pawn from c4 to c3.

    Fixed engine check: Near the leading choice · c3 Qg3+ Kf8 Qxc3.

  33. 27.Qg3+ A forcing check

    Board fact: White moves the queen from e5 to g3; the move checks Black's king; from g3 it attacks Black's pawn on c3.

    Fixed engine check: Ranked first · Qg3+ Kf8 Qxc3 Rd5.

PGN

[Event "LAT-ch"] [Site "?"] [Date "1965.??.??"] [White "Tal, Mikhail"] [Black "Peterson, Andrey"] [Result "1-0"] 1. e4 c5 2. Nf3 Nc6 3. d4 cxd4 4. Nxd4 Nf6 5. Nc3 e6 6. Ndb5 Bb4 7. a3 Bxc3+ 8. Nxc3 d5 9. exd5 Nxd5 10. Bd2 e5 11. Qh5 O-O 12. Bd3 Nf6 13. Qh4 e4 14. Bc4 Nd4 15. O-O-O Bg4 16. Bg5 Bxd1 17. Rxd1 Rc8 18. Bxf6 gxf6 19. b3 b5 20. Nd5 bxc4 21. Nxf6+ Qxf6 22. Qxf6 Ne6 23. b4 Rfd8 24. Rxd8+ Rxd8 25. Qe5 Rd4 26. b5 c3 27. Qg3+ 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:eae3e445f4db64c7c354fe6c3517cc77156d02ce58c7ce6e4ea208d7a3a11b57 and pins it in the selection manifest.
Exact Figshare tags:
White="Tal, Mihail"; Black="Petersons, Andrejs"; Event="LAT-ch"; Date="1965.??.??"; Result="1-0".
Reviewed display mapping: white Tal, Mihail → Tal, Mikhail; black Petersons, Andrejs → Peterson, Andrey. 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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