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Spassky vs Bronstein, 1960

Spassky’s King’s Gambit against Bronstein ends with a knight on e5 and a queen on e4 after Black’s king is stripped. The game was later used on screen in From Russia with Love.

White
Boris Spassky
Black
David Bronstein
Event
USSR Championship, Leningrad
Year
1960
Result
1-0

Critical position

Spassky vs Bronstein, 1960, after ply 32♜♝♛♜♞♚♟♟♟♝♘♟♟♙♙♕♘♙♙♗♙♙♖♛♔abcdefgh12345678

After 16... exf1=Q+. White to move.

Take over as White vs Maia

Step through

Position after 16... exf1=Q+♜♝♛♜♞♚♟♟♟♝♘♟♟♙♙♕♘♙♙♗♙♙♖♛♔abcdefgh12345678

16... exf1=Q+

Annotated score

  1. 1. e4 (best) e5 (best)

  2. 2. f4 (mistake) exf4 (best)

  3. 3. Nf3 (best) d5 (excellent)

  4. 4. exd5 (best) Bd6 (best)

  5. 5. Nc3 (excellent) Ne7 (good)

  6. 6. d4 (best) O-O (best)

  7. 7. Bd3 (best) Nd7 (best)

  8. 8. O-O (best) h6 (good)

  9. 9. Ne4 (best) Nxd5 (best)

  10. 10. c4 (good) Ne3 (good)

    Ne3: 10...Ne3 is the piece offer that tries to wreck White’s coordination.

  11. 11. Bxe3 (inaccuracy) fxe3 (mistake)

  12. 12. c5 (excellent) Be7 (best)

  13. 13. Bc2 (good) Re8 (inaccuracy)

  14. 14. Qd3 (best) e2 (best)

  15. 15. Nd6 (inaccuracy) Nf8 (best)

  16. 16. Nxf7 (best) exf1=Q+ (best)

    Nxf7: 16.Nxf7 takes on f7 after the e2-pawn has promoted and been recaptured.

  17. 17. Rxf1 (best) Bf5 (blunder)

  18. 18. Qxf5 (best) Qd7 (best)

  19. 19. Qf4 (best) Bf6 (best)

  20. 20. N3e5 (good) Qe7 (good)

  21. 21. Bb3 (excellent) Bxe5 (best)

  22. 22. Nxe5+ (best) Kh7 (mistake)

  23. 23. Qe4+ (mistake)

    Qe4+: 23.Qe4. Black is a rook up and the king cannot be defended.