The story behind the game
Game three of the 1972 match shows how a changed pawn structure can support active pieces. Fischer accepts doubled h-pawns, advances on the queenside and later exchanges into a queen-and-bishop position. The protected c-pawn continues to matter when the final checks arrive.
Take these ideas to your next game
- An exchange changes both pawn cover and piece activity.
- A protected passed pawn can support an attacking piece.
- Remove a defender only after calculating the resulting exchanges.
- The pawn structure still matters in a queen-and-bishop ending.
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.
Nh5 invites an exchange that changes Black’s kingside pawn structure. The recorded bishop capture leaves Black with pawns on h5 and h7 and opens the g-file. These changes have costs as well as possibilities. Compare the king’s cover, the bishop on g7 and Black’s available counterplay before judging the exchange.
c4 establishes a protected passed pawn on the queenside. The adjacent white pawns can no longer stop this pawn by simply advancing into its path. Its support matters later, but Black must still keep the pieces active. Compare White’s blockade and central play with the rook coordination in the saved lines.
Bxc3 removes the knight before the central rook exchanges. The game then trades all four rooks, leaving queens and bishops. Calculate the complete sequence rather than crediting the bishop capture with winning a pawn by itself. The protected c4-pawn remains one of the important features after the simplification.
Bd3+ uses the passed pawn to support a checking bishop. The pawn does more than threaten promotion: it provides a safe square for an attacking piece. Examine the queen’s support and White’s legal king responses in the saved continuation. The PGN ends with this check and resignation, not a recorded mate.
Result: 0-1. The recorded score ends here; it does not imply checkmate.
Think through the turning points
Move 11: Invite a structural change
Which move by the f6-knight offers White’s bishop an exchange on h5? In the game: Nh5. Nh5 invites an exchange that changes Black’s kingside pawn structure. The recorded bishop capture leaves Black with pawns on h5 and h7 and opens the g-file. These changes have costs as well as possibilities. Compare the king’s cover, the bishop on g7 and Black’s available counterplay before judging the exchange.
Engine-supported alternatives
Nb6 Qd3 Rb8 a4 Na8 Nc4 Nb6 Na3 a6 Bg5 h6 Bh4 · +0.73 · depth 18
Qe7 · +0.77 · depth 18
Ne5 a4 Qe7 Ra3 Bg4 Bxg4 Nfxg4 h3 Nf6 f4 Ned7 Nb5 · +0.78 · depth 18
Nh5 · +0.80 · depth 22
Move 26: Create a protected passer
White has just played b4. Which c-pawn advance creates a passed pawn supported by b5? In the game: c4. c4 establishes a protected passed pawn on the queenside. The adjacent white pawns can no longer stop this pawn by simply advancing into its path. Its support matters later, but Black must still keep the pieces active. Compare White’s blockade and central play with the rook coordination in the saved lines.
Engine-supported alternatives
c4 Qd2 Rbe8 Kf1 h6 Re3 Bf6 Kg1 Bh8 Kf1 Bg7 R3e2 · -0.93 · depth 18
Bd4 Rf1 · -0.45 · depth 18
Rc8 bxc5 Rxc5 Nb1 f5 e5 dxe5 Qa3 Qd6 Be3 Rxd5 Qxd6 · -0.22 · depth 17
Move 31: Remove the central defender
Which capture by the g7-bishop removes the knight on c3? In the game: Bxc3. Bxc3 removes the knight before the central rook exchanges. The game then trades all four rooks, leaving queens and bishops. Calculate the complete sequence rather than crediting the bishop capture with winning a pawn by itself. The protected c4-pawn remains one of the important features after the simplification.
Engine-supported alternatives
Bxc3 · -1.61 · depth 20
Kh7 Kf1 Bh8 Re3 Bf6 R3e2 h4 gxh4 Bxh4 e5 Bf5 Kg1 · -0.92 · depth 20
Bh8 Kf1 Bf6 Re3 Bg7 R1e2 Kh7 Re1 Bf6 Kg1 Bh8 R1e2 · -0.88 · depth 20
Move 41: Check from a protected square
Black’s bishop is on f5 and White’s king is on e2. Which bishop move gives check from a square protected by c4? In the game: Bd3+. Bd3+ uses the passed pawn to support a checking bishop. The pawn does more than threaten promotion: it provides a safe square for an attacking piece. Examine the queen’s support and White’s legal king responses in the saved continuation. The PGN ends with this check and resignation, not a recorded mate.
Engine-supported alternatives
Bd3+ Ke1 Qxb4+ Kd1 Qb3+ Ke1 b4 Qe3 Qc3+ Qd2 Qe5+ Qe3 · -5.30 · depth 22
Qc2+ Qd2 Qb3 Ke1 c3 Qg5+ Bg6 Qd8+ Kh7 Qxd6 c2 Qf4 · -2.39 · depth 22
Qb1 Qc3 Qe4+ Qe3 Qc2+ Ke1 Bg6 Qd2 Qe4+ Qe3 Qb1 Qc3 · -2.23 · depth 22
Every piece has a part to play.
Game three of the 1972 match shows how a changed pawn structure can support active pieces. Fischer accepts doubled h-pawns, advances on the queenside and later exchanges into a queen-and-bishop position. The protected c-pawn continues to matter when the final checks arrive.
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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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