The story behind the game
Fischer sends a knight toward b6, removes a central pawn with check and later reaches an ending with an active bishop and rook. Rather than treating the attack and endgame as separate stories, follow the useful squares carried from one phase to the next. The rook’s entry on f8 is especially instructive.
Take these ideas to your next game
- A knight detour needs a concrete destination.
- A capture with check can reorganize the centre.
- An advanced bishop can restrict a rook.
- Use an open rank before collecting an exposed pawn.
Read the complete annotated game
Full game transcript, including the result and the answers. Original explanations by chessgames.info; game score from the sources below.
Na4 begins a detour toward the queenside entry square. The queen on d1 and bishop on b3 help White maintain pressure while the knight changes squares. Black responds by moving a rook to b8. Compare the move orders and the pawn on e6 before assuming the knight manoeuvre can be completed without interruption.
Bxe6+ removes a central pawn with tempo. Black’s king retreats to h8, after which White’s bishop moves to f5 and the queen centralizes. The capture changes the pawn structure as well as checking the king. Look at the squares left behind by the e-pawn before planning the next attack.
Be6 places the bishop on the sixth rank and controls g8. From e6 the bishop controls g8 and remains active near Black’s king. White next uses the other bishop on d4, leading to exchanges that leave an active rook-and-bishop ending. Compare the bishop’s influence with the rook’s next entry squares.
Rf8+ forces the king to respond before White attacks d6. After the king moves, the rook can switch to d8 and target the pawn on d6. The bishop on e6 and active white king help support that plan. Use the checking tempo to improve the rook’s position rather than collecting a pawn immediately.
Result: 1-0. The recorded score ends here; it does not imply checkmate.
Think through the turning points
Move 14: Find the knight’s destination
Which knight move prepares to jump into b6? In the game: Na4. Na4 begins a detour toward the queenside entry square. The queen on d1 and bishop on b3 help White maintain pressure while the knight changes squares. Black responds by moving a rook to b8. Compare the move orders and the pawn on e6 before assuming the knight manoeuvre can be completed without interruption.
Engine-supported alternatives
Na4 Qe8 Bxe6+ Kh8 Nc3 Ne5 Kh1 Qc6 Qd4 Rae8 Bb3 Ned7 · +1.94 · depth 20
Bb6 Qd7 Qd3 Bd8 Bc5 Bc7 Rad1 Ne5 Qh3 Rae8 Bd4 Qe7 · +0.45 · depth 20
a4 Na5 Ba2 Nc4 Bd4 Kh8 Qe2 Nxb2 Rf3 Qd7 Bb3 b5 · +0.33 · depth 20
Move 16: Capture with check
Which bishop capture takes the pawn on e6? In the game: Bxe6+. Bxe6+ removes a central pawn with tempo. Black’s king retreats to h8, after which White’s bishop moves to f5 and the queen centralizes. The capture changes the pawn structure as well as checking the king. Look at the squares left behind by the e-pawn before planning the next attack.
Engine-supported alternatives
Bxe6+ Kh8 Bf5 Ne5 c3 Qc6 Nd5 Nxd5 exd5 Qc7 Qe2 b5 · +1.95 · depth 19
c3 Ne5 Bxe6+ Kh8 Bf5 Qc6 Nd5 Rbe8 Nf4 g6 Be6 Qxe4 · +1.76 · depth 19
Kh1 Kh8 Bxe6 Bd8 Qxd6 Bc7 Qxc7 Qxe6 e5 Qxe5 Qxe5 Nxe5 · +1.58 · depth 19
Move 27: Control the king’s escape square
Which bishop move reaches e6 and controls g8? In the game: Be6. Be6 places the bishop on the sixth rank and controls g8. From e6 the bishop controls g8 and remains active near Black’s king. White next uses the other bishop on d4, leading to exchanges that leave an active rook-and-bishop ending. Compare the bishop’s influence with the rook’s next entry squares.
Engine-supported alternatives
Be6 Re7 Bd4 Bxd4 cxd4 Rxf2 Rxf2 g6 Kg2 Kg7 Kf3 Nb6 · +1.95 · depth 20
Bd7 Re7 · +1.31 · depth 20
Bd3 Ne3 Re1 Nxd5 Rxe8 Rxe8 Bf1 Ra8 Re2 Be5 Bf2 Rb8 · +1.39 · depth 19
Move 34: Enter with check
Which rook check enters the eighth rank? In the game: Rf8+. Rf8+ forces the king to respond before White attacks d6. After the king moves, the rook can switch to d8 and target the pawn on d6. The bishop on e6 and active white king help support that plan. Use the checking tempo to improve the rook’s position rather than collecting a pawn immediately.
Engine-supported alternatives
Rf8+ Kg7 Rd8 Nc2 Rxd6 Kf6 Kd3 Rc7 Rb6 Nb4+ Ke4 Rc2 · +3.96 · depth 21
Rf1 b4 Rf8+ Kg7 Rd8 Nb5 Kd3 Rc7 Bd7 Rc3+ Ke4 Rc2 · +2.46 · depth 21
Rf3 Nc2 Rf8+ Kg7 Rd8 Nxd4+ Ke3 Nxe6 dxe6 Kf6 Rxd6 a5 · +2.34 · depth 21
Every piece has a part to play.
Fischer sends a knight toward b6, removes a central pawn with check and later reaches an ending with an active bishop and rook. Rather than treating the attack and endgame as separate stories, follow the useful squares carried from one phase to the next. The rook’s entry on f8 is especially instructive.
Look a little deeper
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Accessible evaluation values & provenance
Stockfish 17.1 · 75,000 nodes per position; 1,000,000 at key moments. Actual depth 13–22. Positive centipawns favour White; mate scores remain separate. Selective search is evidence, not proof.
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