The story behind the game
In game five of the 1972 match, a closed centre gives the players time to reorganize. Fischer advances the g-pawn, transfers a knight from f6 through h5 to f4 and then exploits an alignment of the white queen and bishop. The lesson connects a slow manoeuvre with a concrete tactical finish.
Take these ideas to your next game
- A closed centre can make time for a piece manoeuvre.
- Follow a knight’s destination rather than judging one edge move.
- Pawn moves can support an entry square while changing weaknesses.
- Inspect pieces aligned behind the queen before retreating it.
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.
g5 adds support for a future knight on f4. The move gains a useful square but also changes the king’s pawn cover. White is building pressure on the f-file, so the timing needs calculation. Compare the pawn advance with the saved alternatives rather than assuming that every kingside space gain is safe.
Nh5 begins a route toward the central dark squares. The knight moves toward the rim as part of a concrete plan. White can exchange rooks in the meantime, so re-evaluate the destination in the simplified position. A manoeuvre is justified by the squares and threats it creates, not by the direction of its first move.
Nf4 reaches the supported square with a direct attack on the queen. The rook exchanges have changed the position, but the knight’s route still produces a concrete tempo. Compare the queen’s safe squares and the pressure on g2. The recorded queen retreat allows an additional tactical resource on the queenside.
Bxa4 attacks the queen on c2 along a diagonal that continues to the bishop on d1. Look beyond the first attacked piece. Moving the queen can expose the bishop behind it, while Black’s knight remains active near the king. Compare the legal queen responses in the saved analysis; the recorded score stops with White’s resignation.
Result: 0-1. The recorded score ends here; it does not imply checkmate.
Think through the turning points
Move 20: Support the knight’s destination
Which advance by the g6-pawn prepares control of f4? In the game: g5. g5 adds support for a future knight on f4. The move gains a useful square but also changes the king’s pawn cover. White is building pressure on the f-file, so the timing needs calculation. Compare the pawn advance with the saved alternatives rather than assuming that every kingside space gain is safe.
Engine-supported alternatives
Ng4 Rxf8+ · -0.84 · depth 19
g5 Qf3 Ra8 Bd2 Nh7 Qd1 Rxf2 Rxf2 Rf8 Rxf8+ Kxf8 Be1 · -0.70 · depth 18
Kh7 Qd3 Ng4 Rxf8 Rxf8 Rxf8 Qxf8 h3 Nxe3 Qxe3 Qe8 Qg3 · -0.56 · depth 18
Move 23: Start the reroute
How can the knight on f6 begin the route toward f4? In the game: Nh5. Nh5 begins a route toward the central dark squares. The knight moves toward the rim as part of a concrete plan. White can exchange rooks in the meantime, so re-evaluate the destination in the simplified position. A manoeuvre is justified by the squares and threats it creates, not by the direction of its first move.
Engine-supported alternatives
Nh5 Rxf8+ Rxf8 Rxf8+ Kxf8 Bg3 Qf6 Qf1 Ke7 Qf2 Nf4 h3 · -0.72 · depth 19
Nh7 Rxf8+ Rxf8 Bg3 Rxf1+ Qxf1 Qd6 Qf2 Nf6 h3 g4 hxg4 · -0.59 · depth 19
Ra8 Qf3 Nh7 Qg3 Qe8 Rxf8+ Nxf8 Bd1 Bxa4 Bxa4 Qxa4 h4 · -0.59 · depth 18
Move 26: Reach the supported square
The knight has reached h5. Which central jump attacks the queen on d3? In the game: Nf4. Nf4 reaches the supported square with a direct attack on the queen. The rook exchanges have changed the position, but the knight’s route still produces a concrete tempo. Compare the queen’s safe squares and the pressure on g2. The recorded queen retreat allows an additional tactical resource on the queenside.
Engine-supported alternatives
Nf4 Qe3 · -0.84 · depth 19
g4 Bh4 Nf4 Qc2 Bc8 Bd8 Qd6 Bh4 Ke8 Qb1 Bd7 Kf1 · -0.80 · depth 18
Nf6 Bg3 Qe8 Qb1 Qb8 h3 Ke7 Qd3 Qc7 Qc2 Qd6 Qd3 · -0.51 · depth 18
Move 27: See the diagonal behind the queen
After Qc2, which capture by the d7-bishop attacks that queen and exposes the bishop behind it? In the game: Bxa4. Bxa4 attacks the queen on c2 along a diagonal that continues to the bishop on d1. Look beyond the first attacked piece. Moving the queen can expose the bishop behind it, while Black’s knight remains active near the king. Compare the legal queen responses in the saved analysis; the recorded score stops with White’s resignation.
Engine-supported alternatives
Bxa4 Qb1 Bxd1 Qxd1 Qxe4 Qd2 Nxg2 Bf2 Nf4 Bg3 Ke8 h3 · -4.96 · depth 21
g4 Bh4 · -0.86 · depth 21
h5 Bd2 Ke7 Be3 Kd6 h3 Ke7 Bc1 Kd8 Bd2 Kc7 Be3 · -0.87 · depth 20
Every piece has a part to play.
In game five of the 1972 match, a closed centre gives the players time to reorganize. Fischer advances the g-pawn, transfers a knight from f6 through h5 to f4 and then exploits an alignment of the white queen and bishop. The lesson connects a slow manoeuvre with a concrete tactical finish.
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 10–21. Positive centipawns favour White; mate scores remain separate. Selective search is evidence, not proof.
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