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Classic game replay

Gennadi Zaichik vs Mikhail Tal, 1986

This replay preserves the complete 57-ply score of Tal playing Black across 29 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
Gennadi Zaichik
Black
Mikhail Tal
Event
Tbilisi
Year
1986
Result
0-1
Opening
B12 Caro-Kann Defense: Advance Variation

Opening reference: Caro-Kann Defense: Advance Variation (B12).

In this game, 20 half-moves are labelled opening, 37 middlegame and 0 endgame. The score contains 13 captures and 0 checks or mates; before a recorded move, the position offered a median of 37 legal choices. The source score ends after 29.Nf1 with the recorded result 0-1. 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. 9...Nxe5 — Recapture on e59...Nxe5 was a leading choice in the fixed engine check.
  2. 12...Be7 — Develop the bishop12...Be7 was a leading choice in the fixed engine check.
  3. 22...Rxf1 — Exchange on f122...Rxf1 was a leading choice in the fixed engine check.
  4. 24...Qe8 — Reposition the queen24...Qe8 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.

♜♞♝♛♚♝♞♜♟♟♟♟♟♟♟♟♟♟♟♟♟♟♟♟♜♞♝♛♚♝♞♜
Gennadi Zaichik vs Mikhail Tal, 1986

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...Ng6

  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...c6 Advance the c-pawn

    Board fact: Black moves the pawn from c7 to c6; from there it controls d5.

    Fixed engine check: Ranked first · c6 d4 d5 e5.

  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 Bf5.

  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 Nc3 dxe4 Nxe4.

  5. 3.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 Bf5.

  6. 3...Bf5 Develop the bishop

    Board fact: Black develops the bishop from c8 to f5; from f5 it attacks White's pawn on c2.

    Fixed engine check: Ranked first · Bf5 Be2.

  7. 4.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 e6.

  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 Be2 c5 Nf3.

  9. 5.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.

  10. 5...Nd7 Develop the knight

    Board fact: Black develops the knight from b8 to d7; from d7 it attacks White's pawn on e5.

    Fixed engine check: Ranked first · Nd7 Nd2.

  11. 6.Nd2 Develop the knight

    Board fact: White develops the knight from b1 to d2; from there it controls e4, c4 and f3.

    Fixed engine check: Ranked first · Nd2 Ne7.

  12. 6...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 Ne2 Qb6 b4.

  13. 7.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.

  14. 7...f6 Change the pawn structure

    Board fact: Black moves the pawn from f7 to f6; the move changes the central pawn contact; from f6 it attacks White's pawn on e5.

    Fixed engine check: Near the leading choice · f6 Ngf3.

  15. 8.Ngf3 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 · Ngf3 Qb6 b4 a5.

  16. 8...fxe5 Exchange on e5

    Board fact: Black's pawn takes the pawn on e5; the move changes the central pawn contact; Black accepts doubled pawns on the e-file; from e5 it attacks White's pawn on d4 and White's pawn on f4; black is ahead by 1 conventional material point after the capture.

    Fixed engine check: Playable; Qb6 ranked higher · fxe5.

  17. 9.Nxe5 Recapture on e5

    Board fact: White's knight recaptures the pawn on e5; from e5 it attacks Black's knight on d7 and Black's pawn on c6; material is level after the capture.

    Fixed engine check: Ranked first · Nxe5 Nxe5 dxe5 Bg6.

  18. 9...Nxe5 Recapture on e5

    Board fact: Black's knight recaptures the knight on e5; from e5 it reinforces the pawn on c6; black is ahead by 3 conventional material points after the capture.

    Fixed engine check: Ranked first · Nxe5 dxe5 Bg6 Bf2.

  19. 10.fxe5 Recapture on e5

    Board fact: White's pawn recaptures the knight on e5; the move changes the central pawn contact; material is level after the capture.

    Fixed engine check: Near the leading choice · fxe5 Bg6 h4 Nf5.

  20. 10...Ng6 Create pressure on e5

    Board fact: Black moves the knight from e7 to g6; from g6 it attacks White's pawn on e5.

    Fixed engine check: Ranked first · Ng6 h4 Be7 g3.

Middlegame · 11.Qh5 to 29.Nf1

  1. 11.Qh5 Create pressure on f5

    Board fact: White moves the queen from d1 to h5; from h5 it attacks Black's bishop on f5 and Black's knight on g6.

    Fixed engine check: Ranked first · Qh5 Be7.

  2. 11...Qb6 Create pressure on b2

    Board fact: Black moves the queen from d8 to b6; from b6 it attacks White's pawn on b2 and White's pawn on d4.

    Fixed engine check: Ranked first · Qb6 b4.

  3. 12.b4 Advance the b-pawn

    Board fact: White moves the pawn from b2 to b4; from there it controls c5.

    Fixed engine check: Ranked first · b4 Be7 Be2 O-O.

  4. 12...Be7 Develop the bishop

    Board fact: Black develops the bishop from f8 to e7; from e7 it attacks White's pawn on b4.

    Fixed engine check: Ranked first · Be7 Nb3 O-O.

  5. 13.Kd1 Reposition the king

    Board fact: White moves the king from e1 to d1; from d1 it reinforces the knight on d2.

    Fixed engine check: Recorded move; Be2 ranked higher · Kd1 O-O Qe2 a5.

  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 Qe2 a5 g4.

  7. 14.g4 Create pressure on f5

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

    Fixed engine check: Recorded move; Qe2 ranked higher · g4 Nf4.

  8. 14...Nf4 Create pressure on h5

    Board fact: Black moves the knight from g6 to f4; from f4 it attacks White's queen on h5.

    Fixed engine check: Ranked first · Nf4 Bxf4 Bg6 Qh3.

  9. 15.Bxf4 Exchange on f4

    Board fact: White's bishop takes the knight on f4; from f4 it reinforces the knight on d2; white is ahead by 3 conventional material points after the capture.

    Fixed engine check: Ranked first · Bxf4 Bg6 Qh3 Rxf4.

  10. 15...Bg6 Create pressure on h5

    Board fact: Black moves the bishop from f5 to g6; from g6 it attacks White's queen on h5.

    Fixed engine check: Ranked first · Bg6 Qh3 Rxf4 Bd3.

  11. 16.Qh3 Create pressure on h7

    Board fact: White moves the queen from h5 to h3; from h3 it attacks Black's pawn on h7.

    Fixed engine check: Ranked first · Qh3 Rxf4 Bd3 Bxd3.

  12. 16...Rxf4 Exchange on f4

    Board fact: Black's rook takes the bishop on f4; the rook now occupies the open f-file; from f4 it attacks White's bishop on f1 and White's pawn on d4; material is level after the capture.

    Fixed engine check: Ranked first · Rxf4 Bd3 Bxd3 Qxd3.

  13. 17.Bd3 Develop the bishop

    Board fact: White develops the bishop from f1 to d3; from d3 it attacks Black's bishop on g6.

    Fixed engine check: Ranked first · Bd3 Bxd3 Qxd3 a5.

  14. 17...Bxd3 Exchange on d3

    Board fact: Black's bishop takes the bishop on d3; from d3 it reinforces the pawn on h7; black is ahead by 3 conventional material points after the capture.

    Fixed engine check: Ranked first · Bxd3 Qxd3 a5 bxa5.

  15. 18.Qxd3 Recapture on d3

    Board fact: White's queen recaptures the bishop on d3; from d3 it attacks Black's pawn on h7; material is level after the capture.

    Fixed engine check: Ranked first · Qxd3 a5 bxa5 Qxa5.

  16. 18...Rxg4 Exchange on g4

    Board fact: Black's rook takes the pawn on g4; from g4 it attacks White's pawn on d4; black is ahead by 1 conventional material point after the capture.

    Fixed engine check: Recorded move; a5 ranked higher · Rxg4 Kc2 Qd8 Rhg1.

  17. 19.Kc2 Reposition the king

    Board fact: White moves the king from d1 to c2; from there it controls c3 and d3.

    Fixed engine check: Ranked first · Kc2 Rh4 Qg3 a5.

  18. 19...Rf4 Rook on the open f-file

    Board fact: Black moves the rook from g4 to f4; the rook now occupies the open f-file; from f4 it attacks White's pawn on d4.

    Fixed engine check: Near the leading choice · Rf4 Qh3 Rf5 Rhg1.

  19. 20.Rhf1 Rook on the open f-file

    Board fact: White moves the rook from h1 to f1; the rook now occupies the open f-file; from f1 it attacks Black's rook on f4.

    Fixed engine check: Near the leading choice · Rhf1 Rh4 Rg1 Rf8.

  20. 20...Raf8 Rook on the open f-file

    Board fact: Black moves the rook from a8 to f8; the rook now occupies the open f-file; from there it controls f4, f5 and f6.

    Fixed engine check: Ranked first · Raf8 Rxf4 Rxf4 Rf1.

  21. 21.Rxf4 Exchange on f4

    Board fact: White's rook takes the rook on f4; the rook now occupies the open f-file; from f4 it attacks Black's rook on f8; white is ahead by 4 conventional material points after the capture.

    Fixed engine check: Ranked first · Rxf4 Rxf4.

  22. 21...Rxf4 Recapture on f4

    Board fact: Black's rook recaptures the rook on f4; the rook now occupies the open f-file; from f4 it attacks White's pawn on d4; black is ahead by 1 conventional material point after the capture.

    Fixed engine check: Ranked first · Rxf4 Rf1 Rxf1 Qxf1.

  23. 22.Rf1 Rook on the open f-file

    Board fact: White moves the rook from a1 to f1; the rook now occupies the open f-file; from f1 it attacks Black's rook on f4.

    Fixed engine check: Ranked first · Rf1 Rxf1.

  24. 22...Rxf1 Exchange on f1

    Board fact: Black's rook takes the rook on f1; the rook now occupies the open f-file; black is ahead by 6 conventional material points after the capture.

    Fixed engine check: Ranked first · Rxf1 Qxf1 Qd8 Qh3.

  25. 23.Qxf1 Recapture on f1

    Board fact: White's queen recaptures the rook on f1; black is ahead by 1 conventional material point after the capture.

    Fixed engine check: Ranked first · Qxf1 Qd8 Qh3 Qd7.

  26. 23...Qd8 Reposition the queen

    Board fact: Black moves the queen from b6 to d8; from there it controls d5 and d6.

    Fixed engine check: Ranked first · Qd8 Nb3 Bf8 a4.

  27. 24.Nb3 Reroute the knight

    Board fact: White moves the knight from d2 to b3; from there it controls d4 and c5.

    Fixed engine check: Ranked first · Nb3 Qe8 a4 Qh5.

  28. 24...Qe8 Reposition the queen

    Board fact: Black moves the queen from d8 to e8; from there it controls c6.

    Fixed engine check: Ranked first · Qe8 a4 Bg5 Na5.

  29. 25.a4 Advance the a-pawn

    Board fact: White moves the pawn from a2 to a4.

    Fixed engine check: Ranked first · a4 Bf8 Kb2 h5.

  30. 25...g5 Advance the g-pawn

    Board fact: Black moves the pawn from g7 to g5; from there it controls f4.

    Fixed engine check: Playable; h5 ranked higher · g5 Na5 b6 Nb7.

  31. 26.Kb2 Reposition the king

    Board fact: White moves the king from c2 to b2; from there it controls c3.

    Fixed engine check: Playable; Na5 ranked higher · Kb2 Qf7 Qe2 h5.

  32. 26...h5 Advance the h-pawn

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

    Fixed engine check: Ranked first · h5 Na5.

  33. 27.Qg2 Create pressure on d5

    Board fact: White moves the queen from f1 to g2; from g2 it attacks Black's pawn on d5 and Black's pawn on g5.

    Fixed engine check: Near the leading choice · Qg2 Qf7 Nc5 b6.

  34. 27...g4 Advance the g-pawn

    Board fact: Black moves the pawn from g5 to g4; from there it controls f3.

    Fixed engine check: Ranked first · g4 Nc5 Bxc5 bxc5.

  35. 28.Nd2 Reroute the knight

    Board fact: White moves the knight from b3 to d2; from there it controls e4, c4 and f3.

    Fixed engine check: Playable; Na5 ranked higher · Nd2 Qf7 h3 Qf4.

  36. 28...Qg6 Reposition the queen

    Board fact: Black moves the queen from e8 to g6; from there it controls e4, d3 and e6.

    Fixed engine check: Near the leading choice · Qg6 a5 Kg7 a6.

  37. 29.Nf1 Reroute the knight

    Board fact: White moves the knight from d2 to f1; from there it controls e3.

    Fixed engine check: Near the leading choice · Nf1 Kg7 a5 Qe4.

PGN

[Event "Tbilisi"] [Site "?"] [Date "1986.??.??"] [White "Zaichik, Gennadi"] [Black "Tal, Mikhail"] [Result "0-1"] 1. e4 c6 2. d4 d5 3. e5 Bf5 4. c3 e6 5. Be3 Nd7 6. Nd2 Ne7 7. f4 f6 8. Ngf3 fxe5 9. Nxe5 Nxe5 10. fxe5 Ng6 11. Qh5 Qb6 12. b4 Be7 13. Kd1 O-O 14. g4 Nf4 15. Bxf4 Bg6 16. Qh3 Rxf4 17. Bd3 Bxd3 18. Qxd3 Rxg4 19. Kc2 Rf4 20. Rhf1 Raf8 21. Rxf4 Rxf4 22. Rf1 Rxf1 23. Qxf1 Qd8 24. Nb3 Qe8 25. a4 g5 26. Kb2 h5 27. Qg2 g4 28. Nd2 Qg6 29. Nf1 0-1

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 sha256:5ca8233d04b75c6b2a605fb6a97ed36c5b0a6ecdba8c2433c73cfe006338990e and pins it in the selection manifest.
Exact Figshare tags:
White="Zaichik, Gennadi"; Black="Tal, Mihail"; Event="Tbilisi"; Date="1986.??.??"; Result="0-1".
Reviewed display mapping: black 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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