Game overview
Game 6 of the 1972 World Championship in Reykjavík is remembered as Fischer’s “positional masterpiece,” and it famously drew applause from Spassky after the game. The win gave Fischer the lead in the match for the first time (3½–2½).Game overview
Opening and early turning point
Fischer opened with 1.c4 and steered into the Queen’s Gambit Declined, Tartakower (Exchange Variation), a surprise choice in such a tense match setting. A widely cited pivot is Fischer’s central break 20.e4!, described as a key move that challenged Black’s center and set the stage for White’s long-term squeeze.
How Fischer won
After the central tension resolved, Fischer kept improving piece activity and steadily targeted Black’s structural and square weaknesses rather than launching a direct, risky attack. The game is often presented as a model of converting a small, stable advantage into a full point through superior coordination and endgame-ready technique.
Game facts
- Game: Fischer vs Spassky, Game 6 (World Chess Championship 1972).
- Location: Reykjavík, Iceland.
- Result: Fischer won (1–0).
- Opening: Queen’s Gambit Declined, Tartakower Defense
- Why it’s iconic: Frequently described as Fischer’s positional masterpiece in the match, and Spassky reportedly applauded after the game.
Critical moments of the game
- 1.c4: Fischer sidesteps expectations and transposes into a QGD structure on his terms.
- 20.e4!: The central break that upgrades White’s advantage from “pleasant” to “pressing.”
Lessons
- When up structurally, simplify into a winning endgame only after activity is secured (don’t trade just to trade).
- Surprise openings matter most when they lead to positions the player understands better than the opponent.
- The strongest “attacks” can be quiet: improve pieces, hit the center, then invade on open files.
