Hi there.
In this lecture, we see an amazing game between Boris Spassky and Bobby Fischer in 1960.
Model Settlements.
Round two.
We see E4 from Boris Spassky, E5 and now the very attacking, opening The King's Gambit.
So a relic from the romantic era.
But Boris Spassky had some great games of it in the sixties, so this is one of the great games.
So Bobby Fischer accepted the King's game night.
F3 We have g5h for G4 and now Knight E5, we have 96 and now Spassky plays D4.
So this is a very interesting move.
If one's an even possession, it seems Knight takes G4 has something going for it.
This situation is interesting.
So for example Knight see free hair 94 Knight size of six Czech queen takes f6 D3 This should be about
even.
But anyway D4 was played.
We have D6.
If Knight takes E for Bishop, takes F for this position, once going to be actually with advantage.
There's a nice similar an epfl.
Yeah.
Y it's kind of up in development in a way.
So we have d69d3 now nine takes E for Bishop, takes that for Bishop G seven.
We have Knight C three and now Knight takes C for his plate, which appears to strengthen white center.
But if Knight six this shouldn't be a problem for white Queen D two and this situation with h5869f2
should be fine.
It's an even position.
So knight C Fredo was plate B takes a Now the point is to undermine white center so fish are trying
to undermine the center of control.
Bishop E two and LC thanks D for and Spassky plays as always, playing very casually, just letting
pawns go.
Just castles we see 96 Bishop takes G4, Black castles, Bishop takes Saint Rook, St K and now Queen
G4.
Here there's a major and direct threat of Bishop H six which needs to be addressed.
So for example, if Black played dc3, Bishop H six it appears that there is a resource for one moment.
Queen B six check and Queen D four.
However, four and Black is in huge trouble here.
So for example, King H eight Rook 8125 Rook F one, Queen F six.
And in this situation, Bishop G five funny enough, traps the Queen and it shows if you look at the
central authority of white hand, even though White's material down white hands, this kind of central
authority in this game, this foreshadows later what happens in the game trapping the queen so queenly
five here you know we're just winning here with white So it's funny that White does have what seems
to be amazing central control demonstrated there, but F five is played.
The queen drops the G three and now D take C free.
So here the royal resources like Queen f6 or Rook have seven against Bishop H six to consider.
So we have rook e one.
So this is kind of getting a central authority in position and there is that nasty pen.
But technically, yeah, black should be better.
We have king H eight if D five.
Interestingly, H five is very dangerous for H six.
So King H eight Knight's E5.
And funny enough here, after Knight takes Bishop takes Queen b6jy should be absolutely fine.
Actually, here this is an even position.
The Royal targets one It has no central control.
Black has to look after loose pawn.
So for example here with f five dropping as an example, it should actually be okay for white Queen
F six is interesting as a test just dropping the D six pawn.
This should be a small edge for black.
So anyway, King H eight King H one rook gangs.
So who's attacking who?
That G5 seems dangerous for White if the five Bishop G5 Queen C seven.
This position within 94 is very nice.
It looks like White's actually getting an advantage.
This H six resource is very nice.
The knight's kind of better than Black's knight, so h six form pawn is an attacking ingredient.
And from here.
Yeah.
Y it's got a strong attack potential.
If, for example, I move like rook gates, we can play moves like this.
Rook takes E5 potentially.
So here Bishop f6 back end of game because of the form --.
So that's that's pretty nasty stuff.
So.
Let's say black plays D3 here.
Queen takes D3, Bishop takes her for Rook, Take C six is possible, and then Queen D for check.
And again this form pawn in the background.
White's frightening mate is very, very dangerous and that holds the form pawn that be very clever.
This position is just winning for white.
So some dangers on D5.
Funny enough.
So Rook Ehnes Bishop takes d6 bishop offense and now bishop e5 check.
So Knight takes e5, Queen takes e5 so that rook is now pinned and white seems to dominate the centre.
However, what about H for being loose?
So interestingly.
Boris Spassky doesn't defend H4 but takes from their five welcomes Queen S.H. for Czech.
So black is a pawn up.
But there are central issue central authority issues here of the Rook F2.
The centre does mean quite a lot.
It does mean the ability to use key central squares and hit other targets quite rapidly and also factor
in this pin.
Black has to tread very carefully.
We have Bishop E7 and our rookie for the Queen goes the G5 and then we have Queen D4.
So this maintains not only the pin on G7 but the pressure on C free.
So kind of tying down the rook.
Ruka Fei is played, which is a terrible mistake if Rooks ain't.
This should be okay.
For example, here, just the eight.
It should be fine if B thinks as example this position where you just give up C free.
Just don't worry about C free and it's still equal on pawns.
And this position should be about equal if rook d eight just giving up C for a yes, this position should
be quite tenable as no problem here should be even if h six then rookie find for example, this position
is a bit funny.
Queen D five Bishop thanks 9/10 y.
It has big frets here, but with rook d87 check and actually peacefully resolves itself in inspiration
for an equal position.
But rook effect is a bad idea because funny enough, Boris Spassky plays rook E5.
And it's very difficult for black.
Yes, that's central rook hitting across the fifth rank.
Now rook D is played if Queen G4.
Then queen thanks g4 Rook takes g4 weakness of the last member rotates e seven if Queen H four then
rotates f8 check Bishop takes f8 weakness of the last move Queen change four If Queen H six then just
rotate E seven Exploiting the pins.
Rook So yes, this is problematic now.
So rook D eight is played, but now with the Queen attacks, Boris Spassky doesn't mind relinquishing
the pin because he's now using the battery to kind of double attack G five and E seven.
What does black do if Queen H six head then just rook takes E seven.
So Queen H four is tried, but now the next pope just ends the game.
Can you see what that is?
But at some points.
Yeah.
It's just real careful.
Blank resigned.
Fisher is Bobby Fisher is losing material.
Look at the mass centralization that's occurred here of all of these pieces and the flexibility and
the power that they represent.
So if Queen Geoffrey just rook tanks e seven.
And this is just crushing.
Yeah.
It's.
Yeah, just winning material.
The knights holding the rook.
There's no time to do anything clever here in this position because the night's holding the rock.
This is just rock after eight check and an example.
Amazing.
So no time for anything clever.
So yes, a crushing game showing the King's gambit is a really attacking opening, but it can also have
this central authority implication, not just central controller.
It seems to be that Boris Spassky had an authority in the center, although down in pawns, and that
authority is very, very useful to have in chess for creating threats, for reacting quickly to events.
So exploiting the tiniest of mistakes.
So an interesting game I thought I'd show you, even though it's not a game ending in checkmate, it
shows that The King's Gambit, even in 1960, in the hands of Boris Spassky, was a formidable weapon.
Attacking weapon of choice.
Okay, I'd say match.