Answers.Body: <p>Taking a look at the comments in your link, I came across a post quoting GM Edmar Mednis:</p>
  
  <blockquote>
    <p>A move which was invariably given two exclamation marks - 14.Nb1!!
    after the game. May I respectfully suggest that if Spassky had
    proceeded to lose this game it would have read 14.Nb1?? If we look at
    the nature of the position, it should be apparent that neither of
    these extremes is warranted. White has difficulties in how to
    continue, so he decides to first kick Black's Queen. However, this is
    an open position and White's QN is placed well on c3. Retreating it to
    b1 obviously cannot be a winning maneuver. It is simply an interesting
    concept, which works because Fischer has an off game. Under the
    circumstances 14.Nd1!? would also have probably won. As a historical
    note, it may be stated that those commentators who were loudest in
    applauding 14.Nb1!? neither played it themselves nor worried about it
    when their turn came.</p>
  </blockquote>
  
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Answers.UserDisplayName: Akavall
Answers.Body: <p>White has completed his development, and Black has not, giving White an advantage. The reason this is true is because of Black's queen moves.</p>
  
  <p>Therefore, the way to prevent Black from completing his development is to harass the queen. When the smoke clears, White will have a clear advantage in development, going into the endgame, making him a heavy favorite. </p>
  
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Answers.CreationDate: 2012-09-21T06:21:25.273Z
Answers.Text: Nb1 Qa4 Nc3 and the position could be repeated, so while harassing the queen is a valid idea, there probably isn't much point to the anti-development Nb1 in the grand scheme of things
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Answers.UserDisplayName: Tom Au
Body: <p>In <a href="http://www.chessgames.com/perl/chessgame?gid=1044724" rel="noreferrer">game 11 of the 1972 World Championship</a>, Spassky as white moves his Knight back to its <code>14. Nb1</code> starting position. Apparently, this moved was received as <code>14. Nb1!!</code>. But to me, it seems as a simple attack on the invading black queen to flush her out of the zone.</p>
  
  <p>What about this move makes it so interesting?</p>
  
  <p>Shown below is after move <code>13. Kh1 Bd7</code></p>
  
  <pre><code>[FEN "r3kb1r/1p1b1p2/p1nppp1p/8/4PP2/qNN5/P1PQB1PP/R4R1K w - - 0 1"]
  </code></pre>
  
Tags: <analysis><world-championship><fischer><spassky>
Title: In Spassky v Fischer '72 game 11, why is 14. Nb1 considered such a great move?
ThreadText: # In Spassky v Fischer '72 game 11, why is 14. Nb1 considered such a great move?
  
  (Asked by: username_0 on 2012-09-20)
  
  In [game 11 of the 1972 World Championship](http://www.chessgames.com/perl/chessgame?gid=1044724), 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 of the zone.
  
  What about this move makes it so interesting?
  
  Shown below is after move `13. Kh1 Bd7`
  
  ```
  [FEN "r3kb1r/1p1b1p2/p1nppp1p/8/4PP2/qNN5/P1PQB1PP/R4R1K w - - 0 1"]
  
  ```
  
  **Tags:** analysis, world-championship, fischer, spassky
  
  
  ---
  
  ## 2 answers
  
  ### Answer by username_1 on 2012-09-20. Score: 17
  
  Taking a look at the comments in your link, I came across a post quoting GM Edmar Mednis:
  
  > A move which was invariably given two exclamation marks - 14.Nb1!!
  > after the game. May I respectfully suggest that if Spassky had
  > proceeded to lose this game it would have read 14.Nb1?? If we look at
  > the nature of the position, it should be apparent that neither of
  > these extremes is warranted. White has difficulties in how to
  > continue, so he decides to first kick Black's Queen. However, this is
  > an open position and White's QN is placed well on c3. Retreating it to
  > b1 obviously cannot be a winning maneuver. It is simply an interesting
  > concept, which works because Fischer has an off game. Under the
  > circumstances 14.Nd1!? would also have probably won. As a historical
  > note, it may be stated that those commentators who were loudest in
  > applauding 14.Nb1!? neither played it themselves nor worried about it
  > when their turn came.
  
  
  ---
  
  ### Answer by username_2 on 2012-09-20. Score: 2
  
  White has completed his development, and Black has not, giving White an advantage. The reason this is true is because of Black's queen moves.
  
  Therefore, the way to prevent Black from completing his development is to harass the queen. When the smoke clears, White will have a clear advantage in development, going into the endgame, making him a heavy favorite.
  
  > **Comments:**
  > **username_3**: Nb1 Qa4 Nc3 and the position could be repeated, so while harassing the queen is a valid idea, there probably isn't much point to the anti-development Nb1 in the grand scheme of things  
  
  ---
  
  