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Questions tagged [spassky]

Boris Spassky (born 1937) was the tenth World Champion in chess. He won the title after defeating Tigran Petrosian in 1969, and lost the title to Bobby Fischer in the famous 1972 Reykjavik match.

Questions relating to the Soviet world champion Boris Spassky.

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In Spassky v Fischer '72 game 11, why is 14. Nb1 considered such a great move?

In game 11 of the 1972 World Championship, Spassky as white moves his Knight back to its 14. Nb1 starting position. Apparently, this moved was received as 14. Nb1!!. But to me, it seems as a simple attack on the invading black queen to flush her out…
corsiKa
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Why did Bobby Fischer quit chess after the match with Spassky?

I am not asking about the 1975 "resignation" to Karpov, but for which reasons did Bobby Fischer gradually lose interest in competitive chess after becoming World Champion? Jews or not Jews, he did not play a single tournament or match game until the…
A. N. Other
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Why did Bobby Fischer play the Queen's Gambit as White vs. Spassky?

Why did Bobby Fischer play the Queen's Gambit as White in many games in the 1972 World Championship match vs. Spassky, although he almost never played it in any other tournament or match game?
A. N. Other
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Why did Spassky play the King's Gambit?

If the King's Gambit is unsound, how could a world champion play it often?
CognisMantis
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Why doesn't white take after 8..c5 in the Grünfeld, Spassky variation?

I was looking through the titular variation and am confused why there are no master games with 9.dxc5. Is it simply because white doesn't want to give up the central pawn, even if they can gain a material advantage? Is that pawn that valuable in…
Derek Allums
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Do professional level chess players mainly stay consistent in their opening play?

I know that professional chess players obviously have to have a wide repertoire and try to know as much as they can, but I was curious if they mainly stay consistent. The reason for asking this was because I was watching the following video on…
xaisoft
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What was Bobby Fischer's actual chess strength during the 1992 re-match vs. Spassky?

As title above, what was Bobby Fischer's actual chess strength during the 1992 re-match vs. Spassky, apart from all his already legendary past achievements?
A. N. Other
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Why didn't Spassky play 26. g3 in game 5 of Fischer-Spassky (1972)?

Fischer's play was powerful in this Nimzo-Indian, achieving a strong knight against two bishops in a closed position. The knight became a monster on f4. But why did Spassky let the knight reach f4? The idea of playing 26. g3 to prevent the knight…
ktm5124
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Why did Bobby Fischer play the 1992 rematch with Spassky?

As title above, why did Bobby Fischer play the 1992 rematch with Spassky after some 20 years of inactivity? Was it because he was in need of money? Or was it, as Fischer explained in the press conference, because it was the first offer to play at…
A. N. Other
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Change of venue of 1972 match

In 1972, when Fischer and Spassky played the championship tournament, Fischer demanded to play the games in a ping pong room stating too much distractions as his reason. Later (if I am not wrong) he returned to the main hall to play the rest of the…
Dark_Knight
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Did Geller resign in a drawn position vs Spassky in a 1959 game?

Did Geller resign in a drawn position vs Spassky in 1959? Or could White win? Here is the famous controversial position, Black to move. [FEN "6k1/6p1/7p/7P/2q1B1P1/Kp3P2/1B6/2N5 b - - 0 1"] [startflipped ""]
user27314
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