Game of the Century – a full summary

The 'Game of the Century' is a chess game that was won by the 13-year-old future FIDE World Champion Robert James (Bobby) Fischer, against Donald Byrne. The game was played in the '3rd Rosenwald Memorial' tournament at the 'Marshall Chess Club' in New York City, on October 17, 1956. In the Magazine 'Chess Review', Hans Kmoch dubbed it 'The Game of the Century' and wrote: "The following game, a stunning masterpiece of combination play performed by a boy of 13 against a formidable opponent, matches the finest on record in the history of chess prodigies."

Donald Byrne (1930-1976) was one of the leading American chess masters at the time of this game. He won the 1953 U.S. Open Championship, and represented the United States in the 1962, 1964, and 1968 Chess Olympiads. He became an International Master in 1962, and probably would have risen further if not for ill health.

Bobby Fischer (1943-2008) was at this time a promising junior facing one of his first real tests against master-level opposition. His overall performance in the tournament was mediocre, but he soon had a meteoric rise, winning the 1957 U.S. Open on tiebreaks, winning the 1957-58 U.S. (Closed) Championship, and all seven later championships in which he played, qualifying the FIDE Candidates Tournament and becoming in 1958 the World's youngest grandmaster at age 15. He won the FIDE World Championship in 1972, and is considered one of the greatest chess players of all time.

In this game, Fischer (playing Black) demonstrates noteworthy innovation and improvisation. Byrne (playing White), after a standard opening, makes a seemingly minor mistake on move 11, losing a tempo by moving the same piece twice. Fischer pounces with brilliant sacrificial play, culminating in a queen sacrifice on move 17. Byrne captures the queen, but Fischer gets copious material for it – a rook, two bishops, and a pawn. In the end, Fischer's pieces coordinate to force mate, while Byrne's queen sits useless on the other side of the board.

Above is the only known picture of Fischer during the Game of the Century. Incredibly, it was taken while he was pondering the position just before the queen sacrifice. The picture appeared on page 11 of the Lima News, Feb. 12, 1957, and also appeared in the Hammond Times of Feb. 24, 1957 [scan provided by Lawrence T. Totaro]. On the right is the original scoresheet from 1956 with Bobby's handwriting.

You can notice on this scoresheet that Fischer used the rather unusual (for modern days) way of writing down the game.  It is called descriptive notation. The number of the square depends on the viewpoint of White or Black. Each file is given a name corresponding to the piece that occupies the first rank at the start of the game (for instance, the queen's file is named 'Q'). FIDE stopped recognising descriptive notation in 1981, but older players still use it in the clubs around the world.
 
I must be mentioned that the following analysis is based on that of Garry Kasparov (My Great Predecessors) and Karsten Mueller (ChessBase). Many other sources were taken into account to make sure that no blind spots are remaining!

In the following game you can click on the notation or diagrams to follow the moves on a special replay board (which you can resize and reposition on the page). You can also click on the fan button to start an engine which will display the best move, alternatives, even threats.

Byrne, Donald

0–1

Fischer, Robert James

3rd Rosenwald Memorial New York17.10.1956[Efstratios Grivas]

1.Nf3 Nf6 2.c4 g6 3.Nc3 Bg7 (D)

Bobby Fischer defends based on 'hypermodern' principles, inviting Donald Byrne to establish a classical pawn stronghold in the centre, which Fischer intends to target and undermine with his fianchettoed bishop and other pieces. 4.d4 0-0 Fischer castles, bringing his king to safety. The move 4...d5 would have reached the ‘Gruenfeld Defence’ immediately. 5.Bf4 Byrne could have played 5.e4 , whereupon d6 6.Be2 e5 , reaches the main line of the ‘King's Indian Defence'. 5...d5 (D)

So, finally, Fischer chose the 'Gruenfeld Defence', a dynamic and elastic opening. 6.Qb3 A form of the so-called 'Russian System' (the usual move order is 1.d4 Nf6 2.c4 g6 3.Nc3 d5 4.Nf3 Bg7 5.Qb3), putting pressure on Fischer's central d5-pawn. Garry Kasparov points out that 6.Rc1 or 6.e3 both have extensive theory behind them, and that 6.cxd5 Nxd5 7.Nxd5 Qxd5 8.Bxc7 Nc6 9.e3 Bf5 favours Black. 6...dxc4 (D)

Fischer relinquishes his centre, but draws Byrne's queen to a square where she is exposed and can be attacked. 7.Qxc4 c6 Kasparov has played 7...Na6 (the ‘Prins Variation’) here, preparing ...c5, to challenge White's centre. 8.e4 (D)

8...Nbd7 8...Bg4 9.Be2 Nfd7 10.Rd1 Bxf3 11.Bxf3 e5 12.dxe5 Bxe5 13.Bxe5 Nxe5 14.Rxd8 Nxc4 15.Rxf8+ Kxf8 16.Be2! Nb6 17.Kd2 Dydyshko,V-Dorfman,J Minsk 1986, looks nice for White. In later games, Black played the more active 8...b5 9.Qb3 Qa5 Fischer's choice is a little slow, although one would not guess that from the subsequent play. 9.Rd1 Nb6 (D)

10.Qc5?! An awkward square for the queen, which leaves it exposed to a possible ...Na4, or ...Ne4, as Fischer brilliantly demonstrates. Since both those squares are protected by Byrne's knight on c3, he understandably did not appreciate the danger. 10.Qd3 , would have left the queen better placed: Be6 11.Be2 Bc4 12.Qc2 Bxe2 13.Qxe2 . 10...Bg4 Byrne's pawns control the central squares, but Fischer is ahead in development and has castled, while D.Byrne's king is still in the centre. These factors would not have been very significant had Byrne attended to his development on his next move. 11.Bg5? (D)

Intended to prevent 11...Nfd7, followed by ...e5, but Byrne errs by not completing his development. Numerous authors suggest 11.Be2 , instead, protecting the king and preparing kingside castling: Nfd7 12.Qa3 Bxf3 13.Bxf3 e5 14.dxe5 Re8 15.0-0 Qe7 16.Qxe7 Rxe7 17.Be2 Nxe5 18.Bc1∞ . And of course, it is better than the text! 11...Na4! When this move was made, a number of people went over to the table to start watching the game. One of the most powerful moves of all time - Jonathan Rowson. Fischer offers an ingenious knight sacrifice. 12.Qa3 If Byrne plays 12.Nxa4 Fischer will reply Nxe4 (D)

Leaving Byrne with some terrible choices: d) 13.Qc1 a) 13.Qxe7 Qa5+ 13...Qxe7 14.Bxe7 Rfe8-+ 14.b4 Qxa4 15.Qxe4 Rfe8 16.Be7 Bxf3 17.gxf3 Bf8-+ , produces a deadly pin. b) 13.Bxe7 Nxc5 14.Bxd8 Re8+ 15.Be2 Nxa4 16.Bg5 Nxb2-+ gives Fischer an extra pawn and ruins D.Byrne's pawn structure. c) 13.Qb4 Nxg5 13...Bxf3 14.Bxe7 Bxd1 15.Bxd8 Raxd8-+ 14.Nxg5 Bxd1 15.Kxd1 b5 16.Nc5 Bxd4-+ , with a winning material advantage. 13...Qa5+ 14.Nc3 Bxf3 15.gxf3 Nxg5-+ , allows Black to regain the sacrificed piece with a better position and an extra pawn. Note that 12.Qb4 , is not helpful, as after Nxc3 13.bxc3 Nxe4 14.Bxe7 Qe8 15.Rd3 c5! 16.Qxb7 Nd6 17.Qc7 Nf5-+ (D)

Black wins. 12...Nxc3 Garry Kasparov comments: 'At first glance, one might think that this move only helps White create a stronger pawn centre; however, Fischer's plan is quite the opposite. By eliminating the knight on c3, it becomes possible to sacrifice the exchange via ...Nxe4 and smash White's centre, while the king remains trapped in the centre’. 13.bxc3 (D)

13...Nxe4! Fischer again offers material in order to open the e-file and get at White's uncastled king. Garry Kasparov comments: 'The natural continuation of Black's plan'. 14.Bxe7 Qb6! 14...Qe8? , is not strong, as after 15.Rd3! White minimises his troubles... 15.Bc4 (D)

The position has become extremely complicated! Byrne wisely declines the offered material. If 15.Bxf8 Bxf8 16.Qb3 , we have 16.Qc1 Re8 17.Be2 Nxc3-+ 16...Nxc3! 17.Qxb6 17.Qxc3? Bb4-+ 17...axb6 18.Ra1 (D)

18.Rd2 Bb4 19.Rb2 Ba5-+ 18...Bxf3 R.Fischer's 1959 analysis gives instead 18...Re8+ 19.Kd2 19.Ne5 f6 20.f3 fxe5 21.fxg4 exd4+ 22.Kd2 b5-+ 19...Ne4+ 20.Kc2 Nxf2 21.Rg1 Bf5+-+ 19.gxf3 Bg7 20.Bd3 Bxd4-+ (D)

The alternatives 15.Be2 Rfe8 16.0-0 Qc7 17.Bh4 g5-+ , or 15.Bd3 Nxc3! 16.Qxc3 16.Bxf8?! Bxf8-+ 16...Rfe8-+ , fail to satisfy White as well. 15...Nxc3! (D)

Another blow! 15...Rfe8? 16.0-0 , would satisfy White! 16.Bc5 White cannot be really saved by taking the knight. After 16.Qxc3 Rae8 17.0-0 17.Qa3 Bxf3 18.gxf3 Qd8-+ 17...Rxe7-+ , Black has won a healthy pawn, while he possesses the bishop pair as well. 16.Bxf8 Bxf8 17.Qb3 17.Qxc3? Bb4-+ 17...Nxd1 18.Qxb6 axb6 19.Kxd1 Ra4-+ , is another sad story... 16...Rfe8+ 17.Kf1 (D)

Byrne threatens Fischer's queen; Fischer brings his rook into play, displacing Byrne's king. It appears that Fischer must solve his problems with his queen, whereupon White can play 18.Qxc3, with a winning material advantage. Jack Straley Battell writes that the masters observing the game considered Black's position lost. White’s choices are extremely limited: 17.Kd2 Ne4+-+ , or 17.Ne5 Bxe5 18.Bxb6 Bd6+-+ . 17...Be6! Garry Kasparov comments 'If this is the game of the century, then ...Be6 must be the counter of the century. Fischer offers his queen in exchange for a fierce attack with his minor pieces'. So, this is the move that made this game famous. Instead of saving his queen, Fischer offers to sacrifice it. He pointed out that 17...Nb5? (D)

Leads to a better position for White after 18.Bxf7+! Kh8 18...Kxf7? 19.Qb3+ Be6 20.Ng5+ Kg8 20...Kf6? 21.Qf3+ Bf5 22.Nxh7+ Kf7 23.Bxb6+- 21.Nxe6 Nxd4 22.Nxd4+ Qxb3 23.Nxb3+- 19.Bxb6 Nxa3 20.Bxe8 axb6 21.Bf7± . 18.Bxb6?! Byrne takes the offered queen, hoping to outplay his 13-year-old opponent in the ensuing complications, but Fischer gets far too much for it, leaving Byrne with a hopeless game. 18.Bxe6? , leads to a 'Philidor Mate' (smothered mate) with Qb5+ 19.Kg1 Ne2+ 20.Kf1 Ng3+ 21.Kg1 Qf1+ 22.Rxf1 Ne2# (D)

Other ways to decline the queen also run into trouble: 18.Qxc3 Qxc5 19.dxc5 Bxc3 20.Bxe6 Rxe6-+ , or 18.Bd3 Nb5 19.Qb4 (D)

19...Qd8-+ (maybe the best chance, to which H. Kmoch wrote would also result in ‘a win for Black in the long run’), or 18.Be2 Nb5 19.Qb4 Qd8 20.a4 a5 21.Qb2 Nd6-+ , or, finally, 18.d5 Bxd5 19.Rxd5? Qb1+ 20.Ne1 Qxe1# . 18...Bxc4+ 19.Kg1 Ne2+ 20.Kf1 (D)

20...Nxd4+ This tactical scenario, where a king is repeatedly revealed to checks, is sometimes called a 'windmill'. 21.Kg1 21.Rd3? , leads to a nice mate after axb6 22.Qc3 Nxf3 23.Qxc4 Re1# . 21...Ne2+ 22.Kf1 Nc3+ 23.Kg1 axb6 (D)

Fischer captures a piece, simultaneously revealing a discovered attack against Byrne's queen. 24.Qb4 Or 24.Qd6 Rad8 24...Nxd1 25.Qxd1 Rxa2-+ 25.Qxd8 Ne2+ 26.Kf1 Nd4+ 27.Kg1 Rxd8-+ . 24...Ra4! Fischer was now sitting very calmly and making moves at a steady pace. His pieces cooperate nicely: the bishop on g7 protects the knight on c3, which protects the rook on a4, which in turn protects the bishop on c4 and forces Byrne's queen away. 24...Nxd1? 25.Qxc4 , is much less clear. 25.Qxb6 Trying to protect his rook with 25.Qd6 , loses the queen to Nxd1 26.Qxd1 Rxa2 27.h3 Ra1-+ . 25...Nxd1 (D)

Fischer has gained a rook, two bishops, and a pawn for his sacrificed queen, leaving him ahead the equivalent, roughly, of one minor piece - an easily winning advantage in master play. White's queen is far outmatched by Black's pieces, which dominate the board and will soon overrun White's position. 26.h3 Rxa2 27.Kh2 Nxf2 28.Re1 Rxe1 29.Qd8+ Bf8 30.Nxe1 Bd5 (D)

Byrne could have resigned here, but chose to play on until mate, as a courtesy to Fischer's skill. Every piece and pawn of Black's is defended, leaving White's queen with nothing to do. 31.Nf3 Ne4 32.Qb8 b5 33.h4 h5 34.Ne5 Kg7 Fischer breaks the pin, allowing the bishop to attack as well. 35.Kg1 Bc5+ Now Fischer ‘peels away’ the white king from his last defender, and begins a series of checks that culminate in mate. This series of moves is extremely interesting in the way Fischer shows how to use various pieces together to force a mate. 36.Kf1 36.Kh1 Ng3+ 37.Kh2 Nf1+ 38.Kh3 Bxg2# , or 36.Kh2 Bd6-+ . 36...Ng3+ Adjacent bishops can, without opposition, simply move next to each other to force the king along. However, Fischer can't do this here by simply moving his lightsquared bishop to c4, because Byrne's knight protects c4. However, the knight does the job, forcing Byrne's king along. 37.Ke1 (D)

Now Byrne is hopelessly entangled in Fischer's mating net. 37...Bb4+ 38.Kd1 Bb3+ 39.Kc1 Ne2+ 40.Kb1 Nc3+ 41.Kc1 Rc2# A tremendous game by a 13-year-old boy of this era and of course not of ours, where 13-year-old GMs are flowing around! 0–1

Also read

• ChessBase: The game that shook the world
• Bobby Fischer in Iceland – 45 years ago
• Frederic's mates - Bobby Fischer personal interaction