[Event "GotM #87"] [Site "Belgrade"] [Date "1970.03.29"] [Round "?"] [White "Larsen, Bent"] [Black "Spassky, Boris Vasilievich"] [Result "0-1"] [ECO "A01"] [WhiteElo "2650"] [BlackElo "2670"] [Annotator "Chessbase"] [PlyCount "34"] [GameId "333132930858"] [EventDate "1970.03.29"] [EventCountry "SRB"] {[%evp 0,34,24,35,-6,35,-41,80,-76,94,-89,90,-73,102,-102,91,-91,128,-97,85,-88,111,-118,113,-129,122,170,-160,160,14,303,54,-54,29991,-29992,29993,-29994] The game Larsen-Spassky is probably the most famous real short game (under 20 moves) among the absolute world elite.} 1. b3 {Larsen Opening (Ken Connaughton)} e5 2. Bb2 Nc6 3. c4 Nf6 4. Nf3 {[#] This provocative move ultimately backfired and was therefore criticized.} e4 5. Nd4 Bc5 6. Nxc6 dxc6 {Black's approach is aimed at rapid development.} 7. e3 Bf5 8. Qc2 Qe7 9. Be2 O-O-O 10. f4 $2 {[#] Undoubtedly, White also faces a difficult defense after other moves. The pawn move is probably the losing move.} Ng4 $1 {[#]} 11. g3 $6 ({The “normal move”} 11. O-O $2 {doesn't work either:} Rxd2 $1 12. Nxd2 Nxe3 $19) ({After} 11. Bxg4 $2 Qh4+ 12. g3 Qxg4 {White's position is very full of holes.}) (11. Qc1 h5 12. Nc3 Rd7 $17) 11... h5 ({The sacrifice} 11... Rxd2 {was an option, but not necessary.} 12. Nxd2 Nxe3 13. Qc3 Rd8 $40) 12. h3 (12. Nc3 Rxd2 $1 $19) 12... h4 $1 {[#] Until now Spassky had only made normal moves, but now he is starting to play brilliantly.} 13. hxg4 {The previous exchange of Bishops on g4 would not change anything.} hxg3 14. Rg1 Rh1 $3 {[#] A small flaw in this beautiful move is that someone else also wins:} (14... Qh4 15. Rg2 Qh1+ 16. Bf1 Bxg4 17. Qxe4 (17. Nc3 Bf3 18. Rxg3 Rh2) 17... Rhe8 18. Be5 f5 $19) 15. Rxh1 g2 16. Rf1 (16. Rg1 Qh4+ 17. Kd1 Qh1 $19) 16... Qh4+ 17. Kd1 gxf1=Q+ {[#] Source: "The World's Greatest Chess Games" by Burgess, Nunn and Emms, Robinson London 1998} ({Of course the forced #} 17... gxf1=Q+ 18. Bxf1 Bxg4+ 19. Kc1 (19. Be2 Qh1#) 19... Qe1+ 20. Qd1 Qxd1# {was coming. (Ken Connaughton)}) 0-1