Fischer, Bobby vs Petrosian, Tigran V

[Event "Candidates Match (Final)"]
[Site "Buenos Aires ARG"]
[Date "1971.10.19"]
[Round "7"]
[White "Fischer, Bobby"]
[Black "Petrosian, Tigran V"]
[Result "1-0"]
[PlyCount "67"]
[WhiteElo "2760"]
[WhiteFideId "7123671"]
[BlackElo "2640"]
[ECO "B42e"]
[Source "Codekiddy"]
[SourceQuality "3"]
[ImportDate "2026-01-06"]

1. e4 c5 2. Nf3 e6 3. d4 cxd4 4. Nxd4 a6 5. Bd3
{ The standard move, preparing  for castling. White will put a pawn at c4, to battle for the center,  before bringing out the other knight. }
5... Nc6
{ Not too popular anymore.  Black can play more aggressively by using the dark square bishop to attack the White knight. The most common defense, however, is the  simple  development of the knight at f6. }
6. Nxc6 bxc6
{ Petrosian chose to  recapture with the b-pawn because the d-pawn is destined for d5, a common  theme in the Sicilian. }
7. O-O d5 8. c4 { ? } 8... Nf6 9. cxd5 cxd5 10. exd5
{ White is carving up the center, and Black has to choose whether or not to  accept an Isolated pawn. Normally, Black captures with the knight.  Sometimes the queen is used. Rarely, however, does Black capture witha the pawn and leave it stranded in the center. Petrosian accepts the challenge. }
10... exd5
{ Clearly the isolated queen pawn is going to play a  significant role in the game. Part of White's strategy will be to dominate the neighboring files, so that the pawn is even more cut off from support. }
11. Nc3 { ! } 11... Be7 12. Qa4+ Qd7 ( 12... Bd7
{ 02! would have been  the  correct way to block the check. White has a small advantage, because  Black's isolated d-pawn is weak. }
13. Qd4 O-O 14. Bg5 ) 13. Re1 { Fischer  doesn't engage in cheap theatrics: } (
13. Bb5 { ?! } 13... axb5 { ! } 14. Qxa8 O-O
{ and the follow up with Bb7 and an eventual advance of the d-pawn will give Black an excellent game. }
15. Bg5 Bb7 16. Qa7 d4 17. Rad1 Qg4 { ! } ) 13... Qxa4 14. Nxa4 Be6 15. Be3 O-O
( 15... Nd7
{ 02 would have led to the  following moves, according to Petrosian. } 16. f4
g6 17. Bd4 O-O 18. Rac1 { 02  and White dominates most of the board. } ) 16.
Bc5
{ This is the key move.  With the dark-squared bishops off the board, the rooks can  attack the  isolated pawn from the side. In addition, the c5-square will be more  easily secured for occupation by the knight. }
( 16. Nc5 { 02 could be played right away, but Black has } 16... a5 { ! } 17.
Bd4 Bxc5 18. Bxc5 Rfc8 { 02 with  the initiative. } ) 16... Rfe8 17. Bxe7 Rxe7
18. b4 Kf8 19. Nc5 Bc8 { increase  the pressure on d5 but how can he dothis? }
20. f3 { weak pawn at d5. } 20... Rea7 { candidates, } 21. Re5
{ Just as planned back at move 13! } 21... Bd7 22. Nxd7+ { very useful. } 22...
Rxd7 23. Rc1
{ Fischer is planning to use c6 as an invasion square. The weakness of  the pawns continues to plague Black. }
23... Rd6 24. Rc7
{ The sixth is protected - but the seventh rank is now  available. Black quickly runs out of moves. }
24... Nd7 25. Re2 g6 26. Kf2 h5 ( 26... Rb8 27. a3 a5 28. b5 a4
{ might have provided some counterplay,  according to World Champion  Mikahil Botvinnik. Still, Black's knight is  no match for White's bishop, anbd Black's weak pawns are eaiser to get at. }
) 27. f4 ( 27. Ke3
{ would have allowed Black's knight back into the game  with } 27... Ne5 { . }
) 27... h4 ( 27... Nb6 28. Ree7 Rf6
{ was suggested by  World Champion Tigran  Petrosian. After } 29. g3
{ The domination of the  seventh rank and blockade of the d-pawn give White a clear advantage. }
) 28. Kf3 f5 29. Ke3
{ Black is virutally in zugzwang, so he advances his  prized pawn, and opens up more lines for White. }
29... d4+ ( 29... Nf6 { loses to } 30. Kd4 Ne4 31. Rec2
{ when the c-file is just as important as the  7th rank. White's  queenside pawn majority is mobile, while the Black  pawnat d5 is going nowhere. }
) 30. Kd2 Nb6 31. Ree7 Nd5 32. Rf7+ Ke8 33. Rb7
{ This appears to drop a a  pawn, but in fact it gurantees victory. } 33...
Nxb4 34. Bc4 1-0