Perhaps the best game of the 1972 match and certainly one of the most famous games in
chess history. And to think this was the first time Fischer had played the white
side of a Queen's Gambit as an adult.
Spassky chooses to defend with the Tartakower Variation of the Orthodox Defence,
probably a good choice as he had previously never been beaten in this opening. But
here he plays below his best and allows Fischer to establish a clear advantage from the
opening. That alone would not be enough to make this game a classic - Fischer then
goes on to play one of the most beautiful middlegames in the history of chess.
When Spassky resigned, he joined in the applause given to Fischer, I think I would have
probably have thrown a punch.
Fischer,R - Spassky,B [D59]
Reykjavik WCh (6), 1972
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