The Strangest Sacrifice in Chess History. Averbakh vs Spassky

What to do when you misplay the opening and get a strategically lost position after the first ten moves. When you are completely squeezed, have no chances of counterplay and your opponent starts a devastating pawn storm on the kingside. In this game all this happens to the future World Champion Boris Spassky. However, Spassky doesn't give up and finds a miraculous idea. In the hopeless position Spassky comes up with one of the most unusual sacrifices in chess history. A Dutch novelist and chess player Tim Krabbe even called it the greatest move ever made in chess history.
1. c4 Nf6 2. Nc3 g6 3. e4 d6 4. d4 Bg7 5. Be2 O-O 6. Bg5 c5 7. d5 Qa5 8. Bd2 a6 9. a4 e5 10. g4 Ne8 11. h4 f5 12. h5 f4 13. g5 Qd8 14. Bg4 Nc7 15. Bxc8 Qxc8 16. Nf3 Nc6 17. dxc6 bxc6 18. Nh4 Qe8 19. hxg6 hxg6 20. Qg4 Rb8 21. Nd1 Ne6 22. Ra3 Nd4 23. Rah3 Qf7 24. Bc3 Rfe8 25. R3h2 Qxc4 26. Nxg6 Re6 27. Bxd4 Rxg6 28. Qf5 Qe6 29. Qxe6+ Rxe6 30. Bc3 d5 31. f3 Rb3 32. Rh3 c4 33. Kd2 Rg6 34. Rg1 d4 35. Ba5 Bf8 36. Rg4 Rd6 37. Kc2 Rd7 38. g6 Rdb7 39. Be1 c5 40. Rgh4 Bg7 41. Ba5 c3 42. bxc3 Ra3 43. cxd4 exd4 44. Rxf4 Ra2+ 45. Kd3 Rb1 46. Rh1 Rxa4 47. Kc2 Rb5 48. e5 d3+ 49. Kxd3 Rxf4 50. Bc3 Rxf3+ 51. Ke4 Rg3 52. Kf4 Rxg6 53. Ne3 Rb8 54. Nf5 Rf8 55. Rh5 Re8 56. Ke4 Rg1 57. Rh3 Bf8 58. Kd5 Rd1+ 59. Ke4 Rc1 60. Kd5 Rd1+ 61. Ke4 Rd7 62. Nh6+ Bxh6 63. Rxh6 Rh7 64. Rg6+ Kf7 65. Rf6+ Ke7 66. Rc6 Kd7 67. Rxc5 Rh6 68. Kd5 Rb6 69. Ba5 Rb5 70. Rxb5 axb5 71. e6+ Rxe6 72. Kc5 Re5+ 73. Kb6 1/2-1/2

[treeman]

spassky is such an underrated chess player, it sucks that he’s only remembered for his loss against fischer

[fvujacic]

This was a wonderful analysis of a very complicated game. Spassky's sacrifice was completely unexpected and threw Averbakh off but in the ending he produced his own magic! An extensive analysis was called for and the length is appropriate.

I love your channel and will recommend it to friends! I used the be an active chess player in my youth in the 1970s and early 1980s in Yugoslavia. I remember analyzing many of the games you present from earlier periods. Your presentation of the Botvinnik - Bronstein match was superb. Consider presenting the Kotov - Gligoric game from the Zurich tournament - an early example of a double pawn sacrifice for blockade on the dark squares. And also Gligoric's invention of the Mar del Plata variation in the King's Indian against Najdorf!

[louiscypher]

WOW, really amazing explanation, I would love to see more videos about soviet players, like Spassky, Korchnoi etc. Thank You!

[ЕвгенийСалтыков-лл]

Wow, one of the best chess videos on YouTube. Keep making videos, you are amazing!

[alieskandari]

What a beautiful and complex game. Genius of Spassky deserved him to become the world champion sooner and last longer. Thank you for game of the day

[wikradani]

sooner or later this channel will be one of the best chess channel in the world. How you explain the opening, mid game Ideas and all the tension really remarkable. thank you so much that's all I can say.

[ericastier]

Wow you explanations are the best, i could follow most of it. You don't rush and are poised and clear, i like it. Some others speak very fast to look like they can think fast but actually they're maybe hiding less understanding. You are like extending my view into a level i don't have and i can get a true impression of how it feels to play at a higher level which i couldn't from others. Well done. Suscribed.

[nadavfranckovich]

Great stuff, i like the analysis and it's good that it's long and detailed, you really explain all the important aspects and the tactics and dynamics of the game so well

[TheOneMonk]

An amazing game and a very good analysis. Spassky‘s advantage after the stunning sacrifice: a plan and activity. Interestingly he gives this advantage back after winning back material and now it is White who has a plan and active figures. The icing on the cake is that the longtime passive Knight suddenly becomes a strongpoint, together with the active King. Very entertaining game and lots to learn! Thanks!

[ahmadkoopal]

Very nice commentary on a beautiful game.

[therhubarb]

An enthralling video, thanks... one of the best chess vids I've ever watched!

[todorfidanski]

Very good commentary. Completely changed my mind on Spassky.

[strong]

Superb insight, presentation, rhythm, and of course game.

[airtondossantos]

Nice analysis. This game was impressive. Thank you for present us with your knowledge.

[henrysalami]

Loved the analysis with the understanding of probabilities shown as calculations by the participants considerations .. the hour long pause comment correctly emphasized .. and highlighted errors .. the length of the video is respective to the complexity of the match and deserves its due .. thanks

[motonergi]

Liked your explanation .. arrows ... First time watched a complete chess game 😅👏🏿

[marcomontangero]

Very nice match and really good analysis. Thank you

[hallu]

An exemplary game to study chess strategy and tactics. You cannot find such gems of games under time control.

[ytmndman]

I saw this game many years ago and I just took it for granted that the sacrifice was good because the annotator said so and black managed to draw the game, but I didn't understand the move at all. Now I can actually understand it, looking at it today.

[davidkalinov]

I am so happy that I found your channel. I am learning so much by watching your videos. Great analysis!