The story behind the game
Taimanov sacrifices a rook near Fischer’s king, but Black’s central pawns and rooks remain active. The queen move to a4 and the invasion on b1 create threats that White must answer. Compare Black’s defensive resources with the attacking checks before deciding whether the exposed king is actually the more urgent problem.
Take these ideas to your next game
- Central space can supply defensive resources.
- A knight can defend while improving its future squares.
- Look for threats against an attacking side’s rook.
- Use an open file to interrupt a king attack.
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.
Rb6 attacks the queen and is the strongest saved candidate; Rbb8 and Nd7 also receive credit. Fischer played e4, gaining central space before bringing the rook back to b7. The saved comparison prefers challenging the queen with Rb6 first. Compare the queen’s replies and Black’s rook coordination rather than assuming the recorded pawn advance was the strongest move.
Ng6 places the knight behind Black’s central space. White’s knight will enter d4, and Black’s queen can keep contact with the centre. Compare White’s possible sacrifices near g7 with the defensive squares supplied by the knight. A cramped-looking piece can become useful after one accurate rerouting move.
Qa4 attacks the bishop and adds queenside pressure. White replies with the rook sacrifice Rxg7+ in the recorded game. Black must evaluate those checks alongside the counterplay, not ignore the king’s exposure because the queen is active. Follow the saved defensive lines before accepting any sacrifice as harmless.
Rb1 creates a forcing back-rank problem. The recorded sequence exchanges White’s rook on b1 and leaves Black’s other rook on that square with check. Black’s queen then centralizes. This is an example of active defence: the best reply to an attacking capture may be a threat elsewhere.
Result: 0-1. The recorded score ends here; it does not imply checkmate.
Think through the turning points
Move 20: Challenge the queen with the rook
Which rook move attacks White’s queen on a6? In the game: e4. Rb6 attacks the queen and is the strongest saved candidate; Rbb8 and Nd7 also receive credit. Fischer played e4, gaining central space before bringing the rook back to b7. The saved comparison prefers challenging the queen with Rb6 first. Compare the queen’s replies and Black’s rook coordination rather than assuming the recorded pawn advance was the strongest move.
Engine-supported alternatives
Rb6 Qa4 Rb7 Qa6 Rd7 Rb1 Rad8 Rb7 Rxb7 Qxb7 Rd7 Qa6 · -0.48 · depth 17
Rbb8 Rb1 · -0.18 · depth 17
Nd7 Qa3 Rab8 Rb1 Rxb1 Rxb1 Ra8 Rb7 a6 Na4 Rb8 Rxb8+ · -0.10 · depth 16
e4 · +0.28 · depth 19
Move 24: Improve the knight behind the centre
Which knight move from e7 approaches the kingside? In the game: Ng6. Ng6 places the knight behind Black’s central space. White’s knight will enter d4, and Black’s queen can keep contact with the centre. Compare White’s possible sacrifices near g7 with the defensive squares supplied by the knight. A cramped-looking piece can become useful after one accurate rerouting move.
Engine-supported alternatives
Ng6 Nc7 Qf7 Ba6 Rd8 Bxb7 Nxf4 Qe3 Nd3 Rxd3 exd3 Qxd3 · +0.54 · depth 17
Ne8 Nd4 Qd7 Qh3 Rb4 Nb3 Qe6 Be3 Kh7 g4 Rc8 Nd4 · +0.75 · depth 17
Qd7 Nd6 Rbb8 Nxe4 Nxe4 Rc7 Qd8 Qxe7 Qxe7 Rxe7 Bf6 Rd7 · +0.83 · depth 17
Move 29: Create a counterthreat
Which queen move attacks the bishop on a6? In the game: Qa4. Qa4 attacks the bishop and adds queenside pressure. White replies with the rook sacrifice Rxg7+ in the recorded game. Black must evaluate those checks alongside the counterplay, not ignore the king’s exposure because the queen is active. Follow the saved defensive lines before accepting any sacrifice as harmless.
Engine-supported alternatives
Qa4 · -0.73 · depth 19
Qd8 Be2 Ne8 Rxa7 Qh4 Bg3 f4 Bxh4 fxe3 Bg3 exf2+ Bxf2 · +0.30 · depth 18
Rxa6 Rxd7 Nxd7 Nb5 Nb6 Nc7 Nc4 Qc1 Nb2 Rd2 Rc8 Rxb2 · +1.38 · depth 18
Move 33: Invade before answering the capture
Which rook move enters b1 with a threat on the back rank? In the game: Rb1. Rb1 creates a forcing back-rank problem. The recorded sequence exchanges White’s rook on b1 and leaves Black’s other rook on that square with check. Black’s queen then centralizes. This is an example of active defence: the best reply to an attacking capture may be a threat elsewhere.
Engine-supported alternatives
Rb1 Kh2 · +1.03 · depth 17
Qd7 g4 Qc7 h4 Qe5 Rc1 Rb1 Qxa7+ R8b7 · +1.19 · depth 16
Qc2 Bg5 Qxa2 Nh6+ Ke8 h4 R8b7 Qc5 Qxe2 Qc8+ Ke7 Rxd5 · +1.37 · depth 16
Every piece has a part to play.
Taimanov sacrifices a rook near Fischer’s king, but Black’s central pawns and rooks remain active. The queen move to a4 and the invasion on b1 create threats that White must answer. Compare Black’s defensive resources with the attacking checks before deciding whether the exposed king is actually the more urgent problem.
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 12–21. Positive centipawns favour White; mate scores remain separate. Selective search is evidence, not proof.
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