[Event "Rosenwald Memorial "]
[Site "New York (USA)"]
[Date "1956.10.17"]
[Round "8"]
[White "Donald Byrne (USA)"]
[Black "Bobby Fischer"]
[Result "0-1"]
[ECO "D97"]
[WhiteElo "2470"]
[Annotator "Eric Schiller"]
[PlyCount "82"]
[Source "Learn from Bobby"]

{Score: 2.5/7 Finished +2 =5 -4 (8th out of 12) This game has been called "The
Game of the Century" for good reason. It is an absolutely amazing performance
by a 13-year old future World Champion!} 1. Nf3 {The game begins with a move
which can lead to just about any opening. Although White does not place a pawn
in the center, there is no way to stop that from happening on the next move,}
1... Nf6 {Fischer similarly refuses to disclose his intentions.} 2. c4 g6 3.
Nc3 Bg7 4. d4 O-O 5. Bf4 5... d5 {
We have now reached the Gruenfeld Defense by transposition.} 6. Qb3 {Byrne choo
ses to play a Russian strategy, one of the richest and most interesting
variations available to White.} 6... dxc4 7. Qxc4 {In the Russian Variations,
Black has many different defensive schemes. White's move order, playing Bf4
before e4, avoids some of them.} 7... c6 8. e4 {
White has the ideal pawn center, and it is up to Black to destroy it.} 8...
Nbd7 (8... b5 9. Qb3 {!} 9... Qa5 (9... Be6 10. Qc2 10... Qa5 {
is Kasparov's suggestion for Black.}) 10. Bd3 Be6 11. Qd1 Rd8 12. O-O Bg4 13.
e5 Nd5 14. Nxd5 cxd5 15. Rc1 {was played in Miles vs. Kasparov, Basel (2nd
match  game) 1985. After 15...Qb6, Kasparov obtained a small  advantage with
16.Rc5, but could have gotten even  more with 16.e6!}) 9. Rd1 Nb6 10. Qc5 {
This seems to be an odd location for the queen, but in fact it is seen in many
examples of the Russian Variation. She can be driven back by moving a knight
to d7, but that only gets in the way of the other Black pieces.} 10... Bg4 {
Black uses a threat on the knight at f3 to place indirect pressure on the pawn
at d4.} 11. Bg5 {?  It is generally unwise to reposition pieces that are 
already in the game until you have castled. White's move  is effectively an
admission that he's already made a  mistake. The other bishop should have
entered the  game.} 11... Na4 {!} 12. Qa3 {As usual in the Gruenfeld, Black's
action is at c3, d4 and e4. The fun begins now.} (12. Nxa4 Nxe4 13. Qxe7 Qa5+
14. Nc3 14... Rae8 {is crushing.}) 12... Nxc3 13. bxc3 Nxe4 14. Bxe7 {
Black offers a rook for the White bishop. Such a trade is known as "the
exchange", which is one of chess's more confusing phrases. In some languageds
they use a word which means "quality", which is a bit better. The idea is that
the rook is worth more than the bishop, so it isn't an even trade.Traditionally
, the rook is worth 5 units and the bishop only 3. This is a simplistic
generalization, largely ignored by advanced players. Here, the invading
dark-squared bishop is far too valuable to give up for the relatively inactive
rook at f8.} 14... Qb6 15. Bc4 15... Nxc3 {Mission accomplished! White cannot
ca[pture the knight at c3 because then Black can move a rook to e8 to pin the
valuable bishop.} 16. Bc5 16... Rfe8+ {White is forced to abandon castling and
Black has threats against all three back-rank squares. The rook at e8 controls
e1, the knight can come to d2 to attack g1, and the bishop can swing from g4
to the queenside, where the a6-f1 diagonal can be used. The key to White's
hopes is the powerful defensive ability of the bishop at c4.} 17. Kf1 17... Be6
{!!  A truly stunning move. In return for the queen, Black gets access to all
the critical squares.} 18. Bxb6 (18. Bxe6 {
just draws in the powerful White queen.} 18... Qb5+ 19. Kg1 Ne2+ 20. Kf1 Ng3+
21. Kg1 {and the end comes with the famous smothered mate.} 21... Qf1+ 22. Rxf1
Ne2#) 18... Bxc4+ 19. Kg1 19... Ne2+ {
This knight cannot give checkmate, but it can inflict mortal damage.} 20. Kf1
Nxd4+ 21. Kg1 Ne2+ 22. Kf1 Nc3+ 23. Kg1 23... axb6 {Now Black has two pieces
and two pawns for the queen, with the White queen and rook under attack and
the rook at h1 locked out of the game.} 24. Qb4 24... Ra4 {!} 25. Qxb6 Nxd1 26.
h3 {This creates a new home for the king, so that the rook can enter the game.}
26... Rxa2 {A rook on the seventh rank is a mighty attacking force,  and
without moving until the very end of the game, it  leads the attacking forces.}
27. Kh2 27... Nxf2 28. Re1 Rxe1 29. Qd8+ Bf8 30. Nxe1 30... Bd5 {This position
is an easy win for Black, who has a rook, two bishops and three pawns for the
queen.} 31. Nf3 Ne4 32. Qb8 {The queen is out of play here, so Fischer will be
able to use his massive forces to checkmate the White king.} 32... b5 33. h4 h5
34. Ne5 34... Kg7 {
Black unpins the bishop at f8. It will play a leading role in  the attack.} 35.
Kg1 Bc5+ 36. Kf1 Ng3+ 37. Ke1 Bb4+ 38. Kd1 38... Bb3+ {Black's bishops are
simply overpowering, especially  when combined with a rook on the 7th rank.}
39. Kc1 Ne2+ 40. Kb1 Nc3+ 41. Kc1 41... Rc2# 0-1

[Event "United States Championship"]
[Site "New York (USA)"]
[Date "1963.12.18"]
[Round "3"]
[White "Robert Byrne (USA)"]
[Black "Bobby Fischer (USA)"]
[Result "0-1"]
[ECO "D71"]
[WhiteElo "2510"]
[BlackElo "2760"]
[Annotator "Eric Schiller"]
[PlyCount "50"]

1. d4 Nf6 2. c4 g6 3. g3 c6 4. Bg2 4... d5 {Black has transposed to the
Gruenfeld Defense.  Because of White's formation, we have what is known as  a
Neo-Gruenfeld. Black has finally placed a pawn in the  center, so White will
not be able to dominate that region  of the board as in the King's Indian,
where Black plays  the more modest ...d6 instead of ...d5.} 5. cxd5 cxd5 6. Nc3
6... Bg7 7. e3 {This is not a particularly ambitious move. Bobby doesn't  seem
to be aiming for much in the opening. In the  1962/63 US Championship, Fischer
was on the Black  side against Benko, and faced the normal, and more 
promising move 7.Nf3. That game ended in a quick  draw. Perhaps that is why he
chose a different move in  this game.} 7... O-O 8. Nge2 Nc6 9. O-O 9... b6 {
The bishop is headed for a6, where it will dominate a  long diagonal, and pin
the knight at e2 to the rook at f1.} 10. b3 {
Having played e3, White also has to develop the bishop  on the queenside.}
10... Ba6 11. Ba3 11... Re8 {Black has also played the logical 11...Qd7, which
connects the rooks. Both are useful moves that have  served Black well in this
position.} 12. Qd2 12... e5 {!} (12... e6 {is passive. White can take
advantage of this by  preparing action on the c-file. Total symmetry ususally 
runs into trouble if carried too far} 13. Rfc1 {!  This is the right rook.
White unpins the knight at e2,  which can get to f4 and set up some nice
tricks.} 13... Rc8 14. Nf4 {
was agreed drawn in one game, but another saw White  gain the upper hand after}
14... Bf8 15. Bxf8 Rxf8 16. h4 Qe7 17. Qb2 17... Rc7 {where in Dizdar vs.
Cepon, at Ljubljana 1995 the  Grandmaster playing White could have gone in for}
18. Bxd5 {!  since} 18... exd5 (18... Nxd4 19. exd4 19... exd5 {was perhaps
the line that discouraged th capture at d5,  but White certainly comes out on
top after} 20. Ncxd5 Rxc1+ 21. Rxc1 Nxd5 22. Nxd5 {with an extra pawn.}) 19.
Ncxd5 Nxd5 20. Nxd5 Qd8 21. Nxc7 Qxc7 22. Qc3 Bb7 23. d5 {
exploits the pin and wins a piece.}) 13. dxe5 (13. Rac1 exd4 14. exd4 14... Rc8
{was possible, and Fischer looked at 15.f3, though  Huebner counters wuith 15..
.b5! He suggests} 15. Rfe1 {instead.}) 13... Nxe5 14. Rfd1 {
?  A classic example of moving the wrong rook to the right square.} (14. Rad1 {
is considered better. There was a great deal of debate  about the proper
continuation after this move.} 14... Qd7 15. Bb2 Qg4 16. f3 16... Qd7 {
might give Black a "minuscule" adantage, according to  Huebner. Fischer, as
usual, claimed much more for  Black, but that is really just a sign of his
optimistic  nature.}) 14... Nd3 15. Qc2 {Bobby felt that White'sposition is
pretty much toast  here, but Huebner found an alternative that isn't too 
awful for White.} (15. Nd4 Ne4 16. Nxe4 dxe4 17. Bb2 Rc8 18. a4 {
where White at least has sojme counterplay on the  queenside.}) 15... Nxf2 {
!  A classic sacrifice against the most vulnerable defender  of the White king.
} 16. Kxf2 Ng4+ 17. Kg1 17... Nxe3 {Bobby already has two pawns for the knight,
and now by  forking 3 White pieces Black will can pick up at least the 
exchange.} 18. Qd2 18... Nxg2 {!  The bishop is a more important defender of
the king  than the rook at d1, so Fischer removes it.} 19. Kxg2 19... d4 {
The pawn advances, and if White moves away the knight  at c3, then the knight
at e2 will fall to the rook with  check, supported by the bishop. The advance
has  another venomous point. The long diagonal a8-h1 is now  open for business.
} 20. Nxd4 20... Bb7+ {!} 21. Kf1 (21. Kg1 Bxd4+ 22. Qxd4 {allows a neat trick.
} 22... Re1+ {!  is strong, becaus the rook is taboo. If it is captured, the 
queen at d4 has no support.} 23. Kf2 Qxd4+ 24. Rxd4 24... Rxa1 {
gives Black a decisive material advantage.}) 21... Qd7 {The invasion of the
light squares is in full swing, and  there is no way White can survive. So
Byrne resigned.  Bobby wasn't too happy with the capitualation, because  he
wanted to finish the game brilliantly with} 22. Qf2 Qh3+ 23. Kg1 23... Re1+ {
!!  This deflects the rook from the defense of d4. White  can't capture with
the queen because of mate at g2.} 24. Rxe1 Bxd4 25. Qxd4 25... Qg2# 0-1

4.Rxe1
Bxd4 25.Qxd4 Qg2# { } 0-1

[Event "Interzonal"]
[Site "Palma de Majorca (Spain)"]
[Date "1970.11.11"]
[Round "3"]
[White "Bobby Fischer (USA)"]
[Black "William Addison (USA)"]
[Result "1-0"]
[ECO "B01"]
[WhiteElo "2760"]
[BlackElo "2490"]
[Annotator "Eric Schiller"]
[PlyCount "47"]
[Source "Learn from Bobby"]

{This game, played in a qualification stage for his eventual World
Championship, shows Fischer in dominating form. He won the tournament, winning
15, drawing seven, and losing only once. It was to be his final tournament
performance. After this event, he played only individual matches.} 1. e4 1...
d5 {The Scandinavian Defense was considered quite  unusual at the time. Only
in the 1990s did it achieve  respectability. Black allows White keep a small
initiative  by capturing.} 2. exd5 2... Qxd5 {Black can also play 2...Nf6 and
recover the pawn later. That strategy is known as the Modern Variation.} 3. Nc3
3... Qd8 {This is considered inferior to 3...Qa5 and 3...Qd6.  Fischer is
happy to have the lead in development!} 4. d4 {Occupying and controlling
important central squares.  The move also releases the bishop at c1, which can
quickly enter the game.} 4... Nf6 5. Bc4 Bf5 6. Qf3 {!  White attacks both the
bishop at f5 and the pawn at b7.  Often, an early move of the light square
bishop will leave  the b-pawn vulnerable to a White attack.} 6... Qc8 {
Black defends against both threats.} 7. Bg5 {!?  White offers the pawn at c2
for free. But while Black is  grabbing the pawn, White just continues to
develop.} 7... Bxc2 8. Rc1 {Notice how the rook at c1 aims at the enemy queen
at  c8. Althought there are many pieces in the way, it is still  something to
worry about.} 8... Bg6 9. Nge2 {
No tricks yet, there are still development tasks.} 9... Nbd7 10. O-O {
White has completed development, as the rooks can  "see" each other and
castling has been achieved.  Black, on the other hand, needs at least 5 moves
to  complete his development. Although Fischer is down a  pawn, there is more
than enough compensation.} 10... e6 {
Somehow, the bishop has to get out so that Black can  castle.} 11. Bxf6 gxf6
12. d5 {!  Fischer tries to rip open the e-file.} 12... e5 {
Addison declines the invitation and takes a bit more of  the center.} 13. Bb5 {
!  The pin against the knight at d7 is strong. White  controls the c6-square
with pawn, bishop and queen, so  the pressure is hard to relieve.} 13... Be7
14. Ng3 {
The f5-square, weakend by the ...e5 advance, is now  firmly under control.}
14... a6 15. Bd3 {Black's remaining defender of f5 is challenged. If it can 
be eliminated, the knight will have a wonderful home  there.} 15... Qd8 {
The queen has traveled to d5, now occupied by a White  pawn, and back. Then to
c8 and back. Not exactly  productiveplay!} 16. h4 {Addison was hoping that
Fischer would capture at g6,  allowing Black to choose between undoubling the
pawns  or opening up the h-file. Instead, Fischer chooses to  force the issue.}
16... h5 {A major victory for Fischer. The Black h-pawn will be a  great
target in any endgame.} 17. Bf5 {!  The idea is to bring a knight to e4. Then
Black has to  worry about the safety of the f-pawn, even though it is 
defended by three pieces.} 17... Nb6 {Since the knight can't really defend f6,
because it can  be eliminated by White's bishop, Addison sends it off on 
other errands.} 18. Nce4 {!  Fischer sacrifices the powerful pawn at d5, but
gains a  tremendous pin in return.} 18... Nxd5 19. Rfd1 {Black's position is
under pressure all over the place.  White's pieces are perfectly placed, and
not a single  one of Black's is comfortable.} 19... c6 {
Pretty much forced. The threat was 20.Rxd5! Qxd5  21.Nxf6+!! Bxe7 22.Qxd5.} 20.
Nc3 20... Qb6 {Notice that the Black queen and bishop would be forked  if it
were a White knight instead of a Black knight at d5.} 21. Rxd5 {
!  Fischer's exchange sacrifice achieves the goal!} 21... cxd5 22. Nxd5 22...
Qxb2 {Yet another pawn is sacrificed. But Black hasn't yet  castled or
developed a rook, and the finish is brutal.} 23. Rb1 23... Qxa2 {The queen has
several times traveled far to grab a pawn  for a snack, and Black has three
extra pawns plus the  exchange. That's almost a whole rook in value! Doesn't 
matter, the king is a sitting duck.} 24. Rxb7 {Black had seen enough and gave
up. There are threats  of Rxe7+ and Nc7+ followed by Nxa8. In addition, White 
has Bxg6 followed by Nxf6+.} 1-0

d by Nxf6+.}
{} {} 1-0

[Event "Olympiad"]
[Site "Havana (Cuba)"]
[Date "1966.10.30"]
[Round "5"]
[White "Bobby Fischer (USA)"]
[Black "Jacek Bednarski (POL)"]
[Result "1-0"]
[ECO "B86"]
[WhiteElo "2760"]
[BlackElo "2400"]
[Annotator "Eric Schiller"]
[PlyCount "43"]

1. e4 c5 2. Nf3 d6 3. d4 cxd4 4. Nxd4 Nf6 5. Nc3 5... a6 {Bednarski chooses
Fischer's favorite Najdorf Variation  of the Sicilian. But Bobby was to become
equally famous  for his own attack against it!} 6. Bc4 e6 7. Bb3 {This is a pla
n originally worked out by Sozin and polished  by Fischer. White places a lot
of pressure at e6, and can  later add to it by advancing the f-pawn.} 7... Nbd7
{Putting the knight at d7 instead of c6 keeps the game  within the confines of
the Najdorf Variation. The knight  often heads to c5.} 8. f4 {In the Najdorf
Sicilian, White's king often travels to the  queenside, so that the kingside
pawns can be advanced  without exposing the king to attack. Of course Black
will  aim all weapons at the queenside. An exciting battle is  almost certain.}
8... Nc5 9. f5 9... Nfxe4 {?  Bednarski chooses a variation which did not have
a bad  reputation. Until this game! Fischer takes apart Black's  position with
surgical prescision, unafraid of Bednarski's home preparation.  Black has
sensible alternatives, including capturing the  bishop at b3 and attacking the
entral knight with ...e5.} 10. fxe6 {!} 10... Qh4+ {Black was counting on the
kingisde attack, but Fischer  dismisses it effortlessly.} (10... fxe6 11. Nxe4
Nxe4 12. O-O 12... Qe7 {
was the line Fischer proposed, but it still hasn't seen  action.}) 11. g3 11...
Nxg3 {The position seems menacing. The knight can't be  captured because the
h-pawn is pinned. Yet if it is not  captured, it will move away with
discovered check,  possibly grabbing a rook along the way.} 12. Nf3 {!  First B
obby eliminates the discovered checks by  chasing away the enemy queen.} 12...
Qh5 13. exf7+ {Not the attack is in Fischer's hands, and he doesn't let  go
until they are firmkly around the enemy king's neck.} 13... Kd8 14. Rg1 {
!  Fischer unpins the h-pawn while attacking the knight  with the rook as well.
} 14... Nf5 15. Nd5 15... Qxf7 {The queen eliminates the advanced pawn but
walks into  a deadly pin. Black's king has no where to hide and  castling is
no longer possible. It is just a matter of  time before the walls cave in.} 16.
Bg5+ Ke8 17. Qe2+ Be6 18. Nf4 {The pins on the e-file and a2-g8 diagonal are
just too  much. Now the king will have to move up to defend the  bishop.} 18...
Kd7 19. O-O-O Qe8 20. Bxe6+ Nxe6 21. Qe4 {
!  The queen creates threats at b7, e6 and f5.} 21... g6 22. Nxe6 {Black resign
ed. If the knight is captured then Fischer  grabs the b-pawn with check and
then brings a rook to  e1 to finish things off.} 1-0

h things off.}
{} { } 1-0

[Event "United States Championship"]
[Site "New York (USA)"]
[Date "1963.12.30"]
[Round "10"]
[White "Bobby Fischer (USA)"]
[Black "Pal Benko (USA)"]
[Result "1-0"]
[ECO "B09"]
[WhiteElo "2760"]
[BlackElo "2525"]
[Annotator "Eric Schiller"]
[PlyCount "41"]
[Source "Learn from Bobby"]

1. e4 g6 2. d4 2... Bg7 {Benko chooses the "Modern Defense", which can later 
move into territory of well-known openings such as the  King' s Indian Defense
or Pirc Defense.  } 3. Nc3 {Fischer chooses to keep the game in the king
pawn  group by resisting the temptation to play 3.c4, which  would create a
big center but allow Black to switch to  Fischer's own favorite, the King's
Indian Defense, by  playing ...Nf6.} 3... d6 4. f4 {This is known as the
Austrian Attack. The f-pawn can  be used as a battering ram at f5, leading to
open lines  for White's dark-squre bishop and possibly a rook at f1, 
especially if White castles on the kingside.} 4... Nf6 5. Nf3 O-O 6. Bd3 6...
Bg4 {?  This is considered an error. Although the pin on the  knight is strong,
White can force matters on the kingside.  Instead, Black usually develops the
knight from b8 to c6  or a6. From a6, it can support the advance of the 
c-pawn to c5. This can also be played immediately.} (6... c5 7. dxc5 dxc5 8. e5
Nd5 9. Nxd5 Qxd5 10. Qe2 {gives White a bit more space, but Black has no 
problems developing and it isn't easy for White to make  progress.}) 7. h3 {!}
7... Bxf3 8. Qxf3 Nc6 9. Be3 9... e5 {Black's strategy is to strike at White's
big center,  hoping the pawns will turn out to be weak. This move  was
necessary, as otherwise White might advance to e5  first.} 10. dxe5 {Fischer op
ens up the d-file for future use, and  eliminates the threat faced by the pawn
when it was still  at d4, attacked by both knight and pawn.} 10... dxe5 11. f5
{!  Fischer advances into enemy territory by sending a  single soldier, but
the g-pawn may soon join its  comrade. Black's problem is a lack of targets.
There  simply is no counterplay, and it is clear that the Black  strategy has
failed to materialize.} 11... gxf5 {?  This capture was soon abandoned and
replaced by a more active plan, bringing the knight to d4, where it  attacks
the queen.} 12. Qxf5 Nd4 13. Qf2 {!  Fischer could have grabbed the pawn at e5.
} (13. Qxe5 13... Ng4 {is a double attack on the White queen.} 14. Qxg7+ Kxg7
15. hxg4 {was tempting, but Fischer felt that after} 15... Nc6 {
it would be difficult to make progress. After} 16. Bh6+ Kh8 17. Bxf8 Qxf8 18.
O-O-O {White has a rook, bishop and pawn for the queen, but  White has three
weak pawns and the bishop isn't of  much use. After} 18... Ne5 {
Black has a strong blockade, and a clear advantage.}) 13... Ne8 {An odd station
for the knight, but it does defend g7, and  can come to d6 or return to f6 as
needed. Otherwise  White simply castles on the queenside, moves the  knight,
and drives out the invader with c3.  } 14. O-O {Fischer chooses king
safety over a kingside  pawnstorm. Sensing a touch of conservative play by the
aggressive Fischer, Benko decides to add a little  tension to the position.
Fischer was under a little  pressure. Though he would clearly win the event,
he  was aiming for his perfect score of 11-0!} 14... Nd6 {!  ?} (14... c6 15.
Ne2 15... Nxe2+ {is what Fischer was expecting. Then White's bishop  pair and
control of open lines would have given him an  indisputable advantage.}) 15.
Qg3 15... Kh8 {The king steps into the corner to avoid problems on the  g-file,
where White is ready to play Bh6.} (15... f5 16. Bh6 Qf6 17. Qxg7+ Qxg7 18.
Bxg7 Kxg7 19. exf5 N6xf5 20. Rae1 {is a difficult endgame for Black, as the
e-pawn is a  permanent weakness. Benko, and endgame specialist,  wasn't about
to suffer such torture, so decided to  switch to defense.}) 16. Qg4 c6 (16...
c5 {would have been wiser, intending to push the pawn and  force White onto
the defensive.}) 17. Qh5 17... Qe8 {?} (17... c5 {was the best move,
threatening to push back the  bishop with ...c4. Of course, this does give
White  access to d5 for the knight, but there was nothing  better.}) 18. Bxd4
18... exd4 {This position contains one of Fischer's most awesome  moves. Black
seems to have things under control, since  if White pushes the e-pawn there is
a surprising  defense.} 19. Rf6 {!!  This move has been rightly praised as the
ultimate  blocking tactic. The rook is sacrificed just so that  Black's f-pawn
cannot advance, offering an exchange of  queens that would put an end to
White's attck.} (19. e5 19... f5 {!} 20. Qxe8 Raxe8 21. exd6 21... dxc3 {
is nothing special for White.}) 19... Kg8 {
Otherwise checkmate is quickly achieved.} (19... Bxf6 20. e5 Ne4 21. Bxe4 h6
22. Qxh6+ Kg8 23. Qh7#) 20. e5 20... h6 {A final, desperate hope for a miracle.
If White takes the  knight with the rook, then the Black queen captures the 
pawn at e5, and, since the knight at c3 is still attacked  by the pawn, Black
would escape any serious damage.} 21. Ne2 {!  Benko resigned, because there is
no way to effectively  save the knight. Fischer threatened to move the queen 
to f5 and give mate at f7 if the knight abandons its post.} 1-0

 post.} 1-0

f7 if the knight abandons its post.}
{} { } 1-0

[Event "New York State Open Championship"]
[Site "New York (USA)"]
[Date "1963.09.01"]
[Round "5"]
[White "Bobby Fischer (USA)"]
[Black "Arthur Bisguier (USA)"]
[Result "1-0"]
[ECO "C59"]
[WhiteElo "2760"]
[BlackElo "2440"]
[Annotator "Eric Schiller"]
[Source ""]
[Remark "Tactics"]

1.e4 e5 2.Nf3 Nc6 3.Bc4 {
Fischer chooses the Italian Game, instead of his favorite Spanish Game (3.Bb5).
Most professional players prefer the more subtle Spanish approach, rather than aiming at Black's weak f7-square immediately.}
Nf6 4.Ng5 {
This traditional line of the Italian Game has always been considered
amateurish. It is seen mostly in scholastic games and games by beginners. There
isn't any particular reason for this prejudice. Once in a while a superstar will use the line, usually quite effectively.}
{} d5 {
The approved reation. Black sacrifices a pawn to eliminate the pressure, hoping
either to regain it later or obtain some kind of compensation. The only
alternatives, 4...Bc5 and 4...Nxe5, are both considered dubious, although each has some passionate fans at amateur levels.}
5.exd5 Na5 {
The main line, known as the Polerio Variation, has been around for hundreds of
years. Black doesn't recapture the pawn at d5, because that would lead to a
vicous sacrifice at f7, known as the "Fried Liver Attack". Indeed, that attack
has been known to destroy Black's position on scholastic chess boards all over
the world. Beginners soon learn to put it aside, in favor of this move, or
5...Nd4 or 5...b5 which lead to very exciting complications but are generally considered less reliable.}
6.Bb5+ c6 7.dxc6 bxc6 {
This is the traditional line, though John Watson and I, on our Survive and Beat
Annoying Chess Openings, also recommend 7...Bd7 to players of the Black side.
Substantial analysis of the line seen in this game is also presented in that book.}
8.Be2 {This position is often seen in games between players who are beyond the
beginner stage at chess. It is how Black is supposed to handle the defense,
according to an overwhelming majority of theoreticians. Black is down a pawn,
but can develop quickly. Black also has greater control of the center. Still, White has an extra pawn.}
{} h6 {
Black sensibly kicks out the invading knight. After it retreats, what has
become of White's impressive attacking formation seen in the first few moves?
That's why the Ng5 attack hold less appeal to more experienced players. The
rapid attacks against the uncastled Black king rarely materialize once players have learned to avoid the traps.}
9.Nh3 {!?} {
Larry Evans, writing in Fischer's 60 Memorable Games, says that this move was
"found wanting at the turn of the century, and perhaps best left there. Fischer
was influenced by Steinitz, and borrows the idea. In my view, 9.Nh3 is at least
as good as any of the alternatives, though White can't hope for any substantial advantage out of the opening.}
Bc5 {Black usually plays this or Steinitz's 9...Bd6, which might be best. Bisguier
must have been caught by surprise, the move 9.Nh3 had not been seen in serious
chess in over 70 years! In the same year, Fischer's friend Bernie Zuckerman
played in in a World Student team competition. Capturing the knight disrupts
White's kingside, but it isn't worth giving up the bishop for that knight.}
10.O-O {Fischer follows Steinitz, but remarked later that 9.d3 is superior, and he
backed it up by playing the move a few rounds later vs. Radoicic, a game he also won.}
O-O 11.d3 {White must settle for this unambitous move, because Black owns the d4-square.}
{} Bxh3 ( 11...Nb7 {
is now considered best, though it is unmentioned by Fischer, who said that
while Bisguier's move was an improvement over one of the Steinitz vs. Chigorin
games, 11...Nh7, credited to Gottschall, deserved consideration.} )
12.gxh3 Qd7 {Black's development is almost complete. Bisguier has a}
{pawn in the center. His rooks can "see" each other.} {The knight at a5 is still offsides, but it has a path to the}
{kingside via b7-d6-f5. White has not developed the} {queenside, and his pawn at h3 is weakling which can}
{swept off the board by the enemy queen. Yet the} {position is considered by most authorities to be slightly}
{in White's favor! As we'll see, Black's pieces need a lot} {of time to create serious threats. White can bring the}
{pieces from the queenside to the kingside without} {difficulty. And the half-open g-file can be a pathway for}
{an attack.} 13.Bf3 Qxh3 14.Nd2 Rad8 15.Bg2 {!} {
The bishop is brought to a great position, defending the king while keeping
pressure at c6. The knight can get to f3, and Fischer can bring the bishop to
e3 to counter the influence of the enemy bishop at c5.} {}
Qf5 {The queen should perhaps have retreated to e6, defending c6, so that the knight could find a way back into the game.}
( 15...Qh4 {?} {would have been a serious mistake.} 16.Nf3 Qh5
17.Qe1 {is a double attack against the pawn at e5 and the knight at a5, thanks to the presence of the knight at f3.}
) 16.Qe1 {Fischer later thought that Qf3, heading for a superior endgame, might have been a better choice.}
Rfe8 17.Ne4 Bb6 18.Nxf6+ ( 18.b4 Nb7 19.b5 {would have been sharper, according to Fischer. The point is the threat of Nxf6+ followed by Bxb7, if Black captures at b5.}
Nd5 20.bxc6 Na5 {is suggested by Huebner, who says that Black has
}
{nothing to worry about. Indeed, I'd prefer to be playng} {Black in this positionj.}
) Qxf6 19.Kh1 {} c5 {
Bisguier sensibly tries to geet this knight back into the game. It is true that
the knight is needed for defense, but there are some immediate problems needing
attention. Fischer wants to blast open the f-file with f4. Black could have prevented this.}
( 19...g5 {!} {was the right move. Black would then have achieved full equality.}
20.Qc3 c5 21.Be3 {could have been met by} Nc6 {!} 22.Bxc5 Nd4
{threatening a fork at e2. After} 23.Bxd4 Bxd4 {the queen must go to a3, as otherwise the b-pawn is lost either immediately or after ...Rb8.}
24.Qa3 e4 {creates a double attack against b2, and Black can safely capture the f-pawn if White plays c3.}
) 20.Qc3 {!?} {A triple attack against the enemy knight, c-pawn and
}
{e-pawn. It also sets up a threat, as will be seen on the
}
{next move.
} {The move has been highly praised, and Bobby himself}
{marked it with "!", indicating that it is a good move.} {Huebner presents detailed analysis showing that Black is}
{not at a disadvantage in this position, and could have} {kept the balance by pushing the c-pawsn as a}
{temporary sacrifice.} ( 20.Bd2 {has been thge subject of a great deal of attention.}
{Huebner evaluates the position as even after} Nc6 21.Qe4 Nd4
22.c3 Nf5 23.Rad1 {which seems about right to me. So perhaps Fischer's}
{move was not absolutely best, in an objective sense.} {Part of his success was due to his uncanny ability to set}
{problems for his opponents which they were not able to} {solve. Sitting at home with a powerful computer}
{assistant, it is possible to find errors even in the analysis}
{of one of the greatest players of all time. A small degree}
{of subjectivity is often seen in the writings of the} {greatest players. Their confidence at the board comes}
{from an internal confidence. Sometimes that surfaces in} {writings or public comments. I don't thnk it in any way}
{dminishes the value of their comments.} ) Nc6 {?} {The obvious move, getting the knight back into the}
{game. Fischer points out that g5 would come too late,} {but there was another move which could have been}
{tried, with more chances for success.} ( 20...g5 {doesn't stop}
21.f4 {!} {because} gxf4 22.Bxf4 {exploits the pin against the pawn at e5. If the pawn takes the bishop, then White simply captures the Black queen at f6.}
) ( 20...c4 {!} 21.dxc4 Rc8 {regains the pawn, and Black has better development}
{and a strong initiative.} ) 21.f4 {!} {} Nd4 22.Qc4 {
Black's position is ugly, with a "tall pawn" sitting at b6. Still, the knight
occupies a powerful position and White doesn't have any obvious targets.}
Qg6 23.c3 Nf5 ( 23...Nc2 {isn't mentioned, but Black might be able to maneuver}
{the queen to e2, for example} 24.f5 Qh5 25.Rb1 Qe2 {with the threat of ...Ne3. So White probably has to head}
{for the endgame.} 26.Qe4 Qxe4 27.Bxe4 {Then Black has to sacrifice the c-pawn to get the knight}
{04out.} c4 28.dxc4 Ne3 29.Bxe3 Bxe3 30.Rbd1 Rxd1 31.Rxd1 {with an extra pawn for White. The queenside pawn mass}
{should prove decisive, though the bishops of opposite} {color will give Black chances for a draw.}
) ( 23...Ne2 24.f5 Qf6 25.Be4 {is "tremendous", according to Fischer. I'm not at all}
{convinced.} Qh4 {sets up the threat of ...Ng3+, forking king, rook and}
{bishop. Whie's bishop at e4 is pinned to the queen.} {Looks about even to me.}
) 24.fxe5 Rxe5 25.Bf4 Re2 ( 25...Ne3 26.Bxe3 Rxe3 {
would have been even, but Bisguier aims to take a full point from his young
opponent. His position allows such optimistic play, provided tht he doesn't get too greedy.}
) 26.Be4 {} Rxb2 {?} {
This is simply a blunder, which costs Bisguier the game. He failed to recognize
the precarious position of the knight at f5, which is pinned to the queen.}
( 26...Re8 27.Bf3 Rxb2 {
was the accurate plan. White has some compensation for the pawn in the bishop
pair, especially since the bishop at g6 is useless.} ) 27.Be5
{!} {Bisguier reacted bisibly to this move, which he had clearly overlooked.
Resignation would be appropriate here, but Bisguier let the public see the point before giving up.}
Re8 28.Rxf5 Rxe5 29.Rxe5 {Black resigend. The queen is attacked and if it runs away, then White has a back rank checkmate at e8.}
{} {  } 1-0

[Event "Olympiad"]
[Site "Leipzig (Germany)"]
[Date "1960.11.03"]
[Round "7"]
[White "Bobby Fischer (USA)"]
[Black "Max Euwe (NED)"]
[Result "1-0"]
[ECO "B13"]
[WhiteElo "2760"]
[BlackElo "2670"]
[Annotator ""]
[Source ""]
[Remark "Endgame"]

1.e4 c6 2.d4 d5 3.exd5 cxd5 4.c4 Nf6 5.Nc3 Nc6 6.Nf3 {The Panov Attack is one of White's most popular}
{strategies against the Caro-Kann Defense., White} {develops quickly and enjoys  a small advantage in}
{space. It may be necessary to accept an isolated pawn,} {but isolated pawns are no longer considered a}
{disadvantage if the pawn is a well-supported d-pawn.} {}
Bg4 {This is Black's most aggressive plan. It leads to} {endgame positions with a shattered White kingside, but}
{White gets the bishop poair.} 7.cxd5 Nxd5 8.Qb3 {White attacks the light squares left vulnerable by the}
{departure of the bishop for the kingside. Black} {responds by capturing the knight and inflcting serious}
{damage on the kingside.o} Bxf3 9.gxf3 e6 {This well known temporary sacrifice of the b-pawn has}
{long been
} {the main line of the Endgame Variation of the Panov.}
10.Qxb7 Nxd4 11.Bb5+ Nxb5 12.Qc6+ {White throws in this check to inconvenience the Black}
{king before capturing the knight.} Ke7 13.Qxb5 {This position has been reached almost 500 times, and it}
{is now established that Black should play 13...Qd7 right} {away. The exchange of knights, seen in this game, lost}
{a lot of popularity as a result of this game.} {} Nxc3
14.bxc3 Qd7 15.Rb1 {!} {This was Bobby's prepared new move,  and ever since
}
{this game Black has had a terrible time in the variation.} {The open b-file will play an important role all the way to}
{the end of the game.} Rd8 {?} {Although this is a somewhat obvous try, threatening}
{checkmate at d1, it does not begin to solvve Black's} {problems. Objectively, Black should try 15...Rc8,}
{targeting the weak pawn at c3.} 16.Be3 Qxb5 17.Rxb5 Rd7 {We have reached an endgame where, despite White's}
{shattered pawn structure, the passed c-pawn and more} {active pieces give White a serious advantage. White can}
{pick off the a-pawn whenever he wants to.} {} 18.Ke2 {!}
{Bobby activates the other rook.} f6 19.Rd1 {!} {Black's only active rook is invited to leave the game,
}
{but there isn't an acceptable alternative for Black.} Rxd1 20.Kxd1
Kd7 21.Rb8 {Threatening to exploit the pin with Bc5, so Black's reply}
{is pretty much forced.} Kc6 22.Bxa7 g5 23.a4 Bg7 {} 24.Rb6+
{!} {Bobby correctly declines the invitation to exchange} {rooks. Then the win would be trickly, despite the}
{passed pawns, because the bishop is of the "wrong} {color". It can't chase a king from a8 or c8.}
( 24.Rxh8 Bxh8 25.Bd4 e5 26.Be3 Bg7 {isn't easy, for example}
27.Kc2 Bf8 28.Kb3 Bd6 29.a5 e4 {!} 30.fxe4 Bxh2 31.a6 h5 32.a7
Kb7 {is more likely to be won by Black, than White!} ) Kd5 25.Rb7
Bf8 {Black just can't get the rook into the game.} 26.Rb8 Bg7
27.Rb5+ Kc6 28.Rb6+ Kd5 29.a5 {Fischer has cut the enemy king off on the 6th rank and}
{threatens simply Bb8 and a6-a7-a8.} f5 30.Bb8 Rc8 31.a6 {The weak pawn at c3 is no longer significant.}
Rxc3 32.Rb5+ {} Kc4 ( 32...Kc6 {was suggested by Reuben Fine, who showed it to Bobby}
{after the game.} 33.Ra5 Bd4 {was the idea, and Bobby reacted with}
34.Be5 {?} {where Fine revealed the stunner} ( 34.a7 Bxa7 35.Rxa7
Rxf3 36.Rxh7 Rxf2 {holds no winning chances for White.} ) Rc5
{!} {where the game should be drawn, though it is White} {facing the uphill battle. Fischer looked at the position}
{again, and determined that 34.Ke2 would win.} ) 33.Rb7 {!} Bd4
34.Rc7+ {After the rooks come off, the endgame is an easy win}
{for White.} Kd3 35.Rxc3+ Kxc3 36.Be5 {Black resigned. The pawn will get to a7 and then}
{promote at a8. The bishop at d5 is pinned, and the} {capture of White's bishop at e5 wouldn't make any}
{difference.} {} { } 1-0

[Event "International Tournament"]
[Site "Bled (Slovenia)"]
[Date "1961.09.10"]
[Round "6"]
[White "Bobby Fischer (USA)"]
[Black "Yefim Geller (RUS)"]
[Result "1-0"]
[ECO "C72"]
[WhiteElo "2760"]
[BlackElo "2455"]
[Annotator "Eric Schiller"]
[Source "Learn from Bobby Fischer's Greatest Games"]
[Remark "IX-X"]

1.e4 e5 2.Nf3 Nc6 3.Bb5 a6 4.Ba4 {
Although Fischer was known for his contributions to the Exchange Variation
(4.Bxc6) he was at least equally effective in the traditional main lines.}
d6 {Tne Modern Steinitz Variation is an improvement on the strategy favored by the
first World Champion (3...d6) because the bishop at a4 can be kicked back by ...b5 whenever Black wants to break the pin.}
5.O-O Bg4 6.h3 {!} {Fischer challenges the bishop right away, forcing Black to make an important decision.}
{} Bh5 {
Black can offer the bishop as a sacrifice by playing 6...h5. If White captures,
the rook at h8 stares menacingly at the White kingside.}
( 6...h5 {!?} {} 7.d4 ( 7.hxg4 hxg4 8.Ne1 {?} {loses to}
Qh4 {!} ) b5 8.Bb3 Nxd4 {The bishop still exerts a lot of pressure because of the pin on the knight, and here White must capture.}
9.hxg4 hxg4 10.Ng5 {
The knight, protected by the bishop at c1, prevents the Black queen from
getting to h4. Still, Black has two pawns for the piece.} Nh6
{brings about an unclear position. The White knight cannot retreat to safety.}
) 7.c3 {A useful move which allows the bishop to retreat to c2, the natural home in the
modern Spanish lines. In addition, the advance of a pawn to d4 has more support.}
{} Qf6 {?} {
This is not really a useful post for the queen, unless Black is committed to a
strategy involving an exchange of the bishop for the knight at f3. Black should
have placed his knight on this square instead, a far more natural plan. To be
fair to the distinguished theoretician Geller, however, it has to be said that
Fischer had anticipated the opening and had spent some time developing a new gambit approach to the position.}
8.g4 {!} {Fischer drives back the bishop, preventing the exchange at f3. Sure, the
kingside gets a bit weak but Black's king is still in the center, and the
center files are about to be blasted open. Fischer will have to give up the
e-pawn, but by removing the pawn, Geller's king will be exposed.}
Bg6 9.d4 {!} {
Fischer commented that he felt that the "traffic jam" on the kingside would
keep Black from developing, and that would compensate for the weakened kingside protection.}
Bxe4 {Otherwise Fischer would have played Bg5 followed by d5 after the forced queen move to e6. Then White wins a full piece.}
{} 10.Nbd2 {
It is normal for this knight to temporarily block the bishop in the Spanish
Game. White's position is so strong that only three games have been played from this position, all won by White.}
Bg6 ( 10...Bd3 11.Bxc6+ bxc6 12.Re1 O-O-O 13.Re3 {gave White a tremendous initiative in Smyslov vs. Medina, Tel Aviv Olympiad 1964.}
) ( 10...Bxf3 11.Nxf3 e4 12.Re1 d5 13.c4 ( 13.Bg5 Qd6 14.c4 {!}
{is more convincing. The Black king is trapped in the center, and White threatens cxd5 followed by Bb3 and Rxe4.}
) Bb4 14.cxd5 {?} ( 14.Re3 {!} {would have kept enough compensation for the pawn.}
) Bxe1 15.dxc6 Bxf2+ 16.Kxf2 b5 17.Bb3 exf3 18.Qxf3 O-O-O 19.Qxf6
Nxf6 {was eventually won by White in Hartston  vs.  Aijala, at Oerebro (Sweden) 1966, but the position is clearly in Black's favor.}
) 11.Bxc6+ bxc6 {Black's queenside barrier is destroyed, so the king cannot take shelter there.}
{} 12.dxe5 {
Fischer later thought that attacking the c-pawn directly would have been
stronger, possibly crushing. But then he applied himself to the defense, and found a remedy.}
( 12.Qa4 Kd7 {!} {
would have proven hard to crack. The king is probably safe there, even after
the d-file is opened, because the bishop will be able to come to d6.}
13.dxe5 dxe5 14.Nc4 Bd6 {02
is the line Fischer gave, but White has a surprising resource here. The queen
can return home, pinning the bishop and threatening to capture the pawn at e5.}
15.Qd1 {!} e4 ( 15...Re8 16.Bg5 Qe6 17.Nfxe5+ ) 16.Bg5 {!} Qe6
17.Nfe5+ Ke8 18.Nxd6+ cxd6 19.Nxc6 {where Black's pawns are simply too weak. Amusingly, White threatens to return the queen to a4, setting deadly threats.}
) dxe5 13.Nxe5 {!} {
The knight cannot becaptured because the queen would be pinned after Re1.
Black's queenside weaknesses are just part of the problem. The real suffering
is caused by the lack of kingside development and wide open king.}
{} Bd6 ( 13...O-O-O 14.Qe2 Kb7 15.Nb3 {is, as Fischer put it, "murderous" because of the threat of Na5+}
) 14.Nxg6 Qxg6 {Opening up the h-file would not have helped, as Geller realized in despair, after thinking for half an hour.}
( 14...hxg6 {would have been countered by} 15.Ne4 {!} {with a nasty fork.}
Qh4 16.Nxd6+ cxd6 17.Qxd6 {wins. Black has not time to complete the kingside attack.}
Qxh3 {gets checkmated:} {?} $37 18.Re1+ ) 15.Re1+ {The final onslaught begins.}
Kf8 ( 15...Kd8 {doesn't get the king to safety.} 16.Nc4 {threatens Bf4.}
) ( 15...Ne7 {preserves castling options, but} 16.Nc4 O-O-O
( 16...Rd8 17.Qa4 O-O 18.Nxd6 Qxd6 19.Bf4 {!} ( 19.Qxa6 {?} Nd5
{gives Black some counterplay.} ) Qc5 20.Qxa6 Nd5 21.Bg3 {is hopeless for Black. The White kingside is safe, and Qf1-g2 is available to defend the light squares.}
) 17.Qa4 {is going to clobber the queenside.} ) 16.Nc4 h5 {
Black hopes for a kingside attack, but it isn't going to happen without the
assistance of the bishop at d6, which is quickly removed from the board.}
{} 17.Nxd6 cxd6 {This undoubles the pawns, but it would have been better to take with the queen.}
( 17...Qxd6 18.Qxd6+ cxd6 19.Bf4 Rd8 ( 19...d5 {?} {is refuted by}
20.Bd6+ ) 20.Rad1 d5 21.c4 hxg4 22.hxg4 {Would have been just a bit better for White, but probably sufficient for Fischer to squeeze out a win.}
) 18.Bf4 {!} {The pressure builds.} d5 {Played after another long think, forty minutes according ot Fischer.}
{?} ( 18...Rd8 {was suggested right after the game by World Champion Tal, but analysis led to a cute win for White.}
19.Qe2 hxg4 20.hxg4 {
leaves Black with no useful move.The queen, knight and one rook have to stay in
place to guard against immediate checkmates at e7 and e8. Perhaps Tal had a
point, though. Suppose Black launches his own attack by putting pressure on the pawn at g4?}
f5 {!} {?} 21.Rad1 {and only now} d5 {!?} {White can probably win with Rd4-a4xa6.}
22.Rd4 Qxg4+ 23.Qxg4 fxg4 24.Ra4 {looks like a very promising pawn sacrifice.}
) 19.Qb3 {} hxg4 {
Geller spent over half an hour on this move, too. He was contemplating the
unpleasant consequences of defending the pawn at d6 with his knight, but in
each case Fischer had a devastating reply available. Desperation was truly justified.}
( 19...Ne7 {loses to an elegant exchange sacrifice.} 20.Rxe7
Kxe7 21.Qb7+ Kf6 22.Qxc6+ Ke7 23.Re1+ {with a forced mate in 7 moves.}
) ( 19...Nf6 20.Qb7 Re8 21.Rxe8+ Nxe8 22.Re1 {forces} Qf6 {04but}
23.Qb8 {wins easily.} ) 20.Qb7 {Geller gets to toss a check, but he can't cash it and quickly gives up.}
gxh3+ 21.Bg3 Rd8 22.Qb4+ {02Black resigned.} {} {} 1-0

[Event "International Tournament"]
[Site "Zurich (Switzerland)"]
[Date "1959.10.01"]
[Round "12"]
[White "Bobby Fischer (USA)"]
[Black "Paul Keres (EST)"]
[Result "1-0"]
[ECO "C99"]
[WhiteElo "2760"]
[BlackElo "2615"]
[Annotator "Eric Schiller"]
[Source "Learn from Bobby Fischer's Greatest Games"]
[Remark ""]

1.e4 e5 2.Nf3 Nc6 3.Bb5 a6 4.Ba4 Nf6 5.O-O Be7 6.Re1 b5 7.Bb3
O-O 8.c3 d6 9.h3 Na5 {For many, many years this was the main line of the}
{Spanish Game (Ruy Lopez). In modern play, 9...Re8 has} {eclipsed this move, and there are many other}
{alternatives. When this game was played, however, the} {old Chigorin move 9...Na5 was the focus of attention.
}
{After 9 moves by each side, White is still quite some} {distance from full development. This allows Black to}
{actively contest the battle for the center. Still, White has}
{good control of many important light squres.} {} 10.Bc2
{Naturally, White preserves the light square bishop.} {Black's knight will eventually retreat to c6, but first the}
{pawn will advance to c5, keeping pressure on the} {d4-square.}
c5 11.d4 Qc7 {This is a nice, safe square for the queen. White is not}
{likely to get a knight to d5 in the near future, and there is}
{no other way to attack the queen.} 12.Nbd2 cxd4 ( 12...Bd7 13.Nf1
Rfe8 14.Ne3 g6 15.dxe5 dxe5 16.Nh2 Rad8 17.Qf3 {was the way Fischer's game against Unzicker went in}
{round 8. He won that one, too.} ) 13.cxd4 Bb7 ( 13...Nc6 14.Nb3
Bb7 15.d5 Na5 16.Nxa5 Qxa5 17.a4 {had given White a good game in Larsen vs. Keres, from}
{round 9.} ) 14.Nf1 {Fischer sticks with the traditional plan of transfering the
}
{knight to the kingside. Usually it heads for f5, especially
}
{when Black has removed the bishop from the c8-h3
}
{diagonal.} ( 14.d5 {closes up the center. This is known as the Panov Attack.}
{Fischer prefers to keep the position fluid.} ) Rac8 {This is generally considered the best of Black's many}
{options. Certainly Black wants a rook on the c-file, and} {the other rook can be used in the center.}
15.Bd3 {The bishop sits here until the rook can slide over to c1,}
{after which it can retreat to a comfortable position at b1.}
Nc6 {This move was criticized at the time, but it is now} {considered fully respectable.}
( 15...d5 {!?} {is an interesting alternative which leads to a messy}
{center. Black usually manages to equalize as the central} {pawns leave the board.}
) 16.Ne3 Rfe8 17.Nf5 {This is consistent with White's usual plan, though
}
{advancing the pawn to d5 first is considered more
}
{promising. The knight takes up a wonderful outpost.} {Black is more or less obliged to retreat the bishop to f8,}
{to prevent it from being captured and to lend support to} {g7. White will move more forces into position to attack}
{the kingside. Black's counterplay lies on the c-file and in}
{the center.} Bf8 {} 18.Bg5 Nd7 {Black cannot allow the knight to be captured with}
{resulting devastation to the king's pawn barrier.} 19.Rc1 {It is often useful to aim a rook at the enemy queen, Here}
{the immediate threat is d5, winning the Black knight at} {c6, which is pinned.}
Qb8 {Black wisely unpins.} 20.Bb1 {A useful move, since the bishop is just as effective from}
{b1, and now the c-file can be controlled.} Nxd4 21.N3xd4 {}
Rxc1 {?} {A tempting intermezzo, but Keres should just have
}
{captured the knight at d4. He didn't realize that the} {retreat of the bishop from g5, to capture the rook,}
{actually aids White's attack, as you'll see.} ( 21...exd4 22.Rxc8
Qxc8 23.Qxd4 Nc5 {would have been just a little better for White.} )
22.Bxc1 exd4 {Keres expected Fischer to grab the weakling at d4, but}
{failed to sense the danger on the kingside. Black's king} {has just the pawn barrier and the bishop for defense. It}
{seems that is enough, since White has only a knight in} {attacking position. Fischer launches a blistering attack}
{anyway!} {} 23.Nh6+ {!} gxh6 {Black must accept, or drop the f-pawn for nothing.}
24.Qg4+ {This would not be available had Black not exchanged
}
{rooks at c1. The double attack on king and knight gets} {the piece back, and Black's position is a mess.}
Kh8 25.Qxd7 Bd5 {Black takes advantage of the pin on the e-pawn. If White}
{captures at d5, the rook at e1 falls.} 26.Qf5 Re5 27.Qf3 {Black's pawns are a mess, but he does have an extra}
{one and the pieces, except the bishop at f8, are fairly} {mobile. Fischer needs to be careful, and find precise}
{move to explot the small advantage.} {} f5 {A bold attempt at counterplay. The pressure at e4 is
}
{intense, but Fischer sacrifices the pawn for an attack.} 28.Bf4
{!} Re8 29.Qh5 {!} {A strong move, though there is nothing wrong with}
{29.Qd1, targeting the weak oawn at d4 while breaking} {the pin on the e-pawn.}
Bxe4 {Black must use the bishop, as if the rook captures it}
{would fall to White's bishop at b1, and if the pawn is} {used, then the bishop will be captured by White's queen.}
30.f3 Bc6 31.Rc1 {!} {The rook gets out of trouble on the e-file and takes up a}
{position on the open c-file, attacking the bishop.} Bd7 {}
32.Bxh6 {!} {White had the choice between this pawn and the one at}
{f5. It seems strange to go after the weak doubled pawn,} {but the idea is to eliminate Black's dark square bishop,}
{after which the king will be more vulnerable.} Re6 {!} {A nice defense. When White captures at f8, Black will}
{recapture with the queen, so that all three of his pieces} {will be in a position to help with the defense.}
33.Bxf8 Qxf8 34.Qh4 {!} {Fischer precisely calculates that the endgame is}
{favorable, but Keres has no choice but to defend the} {weak pawn at d4, allowing an exchange of queens.}
Qf6 35.Qxf6+ Rxf6 36.Kf2 {This move is considered slightly imperfect, as seizing
}
{the seventh rank immediately with the rook might have
}
{been more efficient.  Seizing the seventh rank and} {centralizing the
}
{king are of equal importance, but the move order} {chosen by Fischer gives Black a chance to bring the}
{king into the game and set up an alternative defense.} {In general, a forcing move is the right choice}
{because it limits the opponent's options. Notice that} {Fischer
}
{doesn't bother going after the pawn at d4 with the rook.
}
{It isn't going anywhere.} ( 36.Rc7 Rf7 37.Ra7 Be6 38.Rxa6 Rc7
39.Kf2 Rc1 40.Bd3 {was Fischer's analysis. He pointed out that Black's}
{pawns would be "hopelessly weak".} ) Kg7 37.Rc7 Rf7 38.Ke2 f4
{?!} {Keres should not have given up his control of e4.} {Placing the pawns on dark squares makes them harder}
{to defend, when your only bishop patrols the light} {squares.}
( 38...Kf6 {!} 39.Ra7 Bc8 ( 39...Rg7 {would have provided more counterplay.}
) 40.Rxf7+ Kxf7 {was evaluated by Fischer as equal.} ) 39.Ra7
( 39.Kd3 {?} Bf5+ {was the trap Keres hoped to spring, but Fischer doesn't}
{fall for such stuff.} ) Kf6 40.Rxa6 Re7+ {Time control has been reached. The endgame is}
{complicated, and each side had the advantage of} {adjournment analysis to try to work it out. And back then,}
{there were no computers to assist!} {} 41.Kf2
( 41.Kd2 {is bad because of} Rg7 {!} {The king must keep an eye on the g-pawn.}
) Be6 {!?} {A very good defensive plan. In some endgames it is
}
{worthwhile to sacrifice a pawn or two just to get the
}
{pieces ointo active positions. Black doesn't really have
}
{any use for the pawn at d6, anyway.
} {However, Huebner points out that Black might have
}
{done better to move th bishop to f5. In the cold light of
}
{analysis, once can double-check everything to make
}
{sure that the exchange of bishops and loss of the pawn
}
{at d can be defended. Most chessplayers will hesitate
}
{to trade pieces unless they are quite sure the simplified
}
{endgame is safe.
} {I do not know which move was sealed in the adjournemt}
{envelope. If it was not Bobby's 41st move, then one can} {well understand how an exhausted player would choose}
{a less radical move. Better to contemplate the} {exchange of bishops after dinner, than to try to work it}
{all out at the board.} 42.Rxd6 Ke5 {} 43.Rc6
( 43.Rb6 Bc4 44.b3 {allows} d3 {!} 45.bxc4 bxc4 {where Fischer believed the connected passed pawns
}
{would hold the draw. Since that isn't immediately} {obvious,
}
{consider the following line.} 46.a4 Kd4 47.a5 Re2+ 48.Kf1 Re3
{!} ( 48...Re5 49.a6 c3 50.Rd6+ {!} ) 49.Rd6+ Kc3 50.Ba2
( 50.a6 {?} d2 51.a7 Rd3 {!} 52.Rxd3+ cxd3 53.a8Q d1Q+ 54.Kf2
Qxb1 {and White is fighting for a draw.} ) Re2 {!} 51.Bxc4 Kxc4
52.a6 Ra2 {and the game should indeed end in a draw.} ) Bd5 44.Rh6
{!} {The rook moves into a position to drive the enemy king}
{back.} Rc7 45.Rh5+ ( 45.Rb6 Rc1 46.Bxh7 {?} Bc4 {threatens the embarrassing 47...Rf1 mate!}
) Kd6 46.Rh6+ Ke5 47.Rh5+ Kd6 {Fischer didn't want to continue to repeat the position}
{and concede a draw, but he fails to find the best path to} {the win.}
{} 48.Rf5 {?} ( 48.b3 {!} {was correct.} Rc1 49.Be4 Bxe4
50.fxe4 {leaves Black with no good defense. The king and pawn}
{endgame after} Rc5 51.Rxc5 Kxc5 52.a4 {is an easy win.} $36 )
Rc1 49.Bd3 Rd1 ( 49...Bc4 {?} {would have been refuted in fine fashion by}
50.Rxf4 {!} Bxd3 51.Rxd4+ Kc5 52.Rxd3 Rc2+ 53.Kg3 Rxb2 54.Ra3
{and White wins.} ) 50.Ke2 Rg1 51.Kf2 Rd1 52.Ke2 Rg1 {These little repetitive episodes were played to gain a}
{little time on the clock.} 53.Rg5 {} Bxa2 {?} {The exchange of pawns turns out to be a mistake.}
( 53...Ra1 {was an easy draw, according to Keres. But he didn't}
{spot it during the game.} 54.Bxh7 Bc4+ 55.Kd2 Rxa2 56.Kc2 Ra1
{would have provided enough counterplay,
} {according to Keres. White has an extra pawn, but}
{Black's d-pawn is advanced. So let's look a little further.}
57.Bd3 {!} Ra2 {Black threatens to swap bishops and witn the b-pawn,
}
{while protecting the pawn at b5.} 58.h4 {!} Bxd3+ 59.Kxd3 Rxb2
60.h5 Rb1 {To move into defensive formation behind the h-pawn.}
{That's the best defense. Retreating to the back rank} {isn't as good, because White can advance the pawn to}
{h7 and play Rf8.} 61.Kxd4 b4 62.Rg6+ Ke7 63.h6 b3 64.Rb6 {!}
Kf7 ( 64...Rh1 65.h7 {!} Kf7 66.Rxb3 Rxh7 67.Rb7+ Kg6 68.Rxh7
Kxh7 69.Ke4 {etc.} ) 65.Ke4 b2 66.Kxf4 Rh1 67.Rxb2 Rxh6 68.Rb7+
{White wins easily.} ) 54.Bxb5 Rb1 55.Kd3 {The position is still complicated, and the players had a}
{few moves to go before it could be adjourned again, for} {overnight analysis. Black failed to appreciate the}
{potentail of the b1-h7 diagonal. Fair enough, since Black} {has a rook at b1. But if the rook is gone, then the bishop}
{can make good use of the square.} {} h6 {?} ( 55...Rxb2
{!} 56.Ke4 Bb1+ {!} {was correct, and a it "should hold the draw", according}
{to Fischer.} 57.Bd3 Re2+ {!} ( 57...Bxd3+ 58.Kxd3 Rb4 59.Rh5
{leaves Black with too many weaknesses.} ) 58.Kxd4 Rd2 {This doesn't win the bishop, because White can defend}
{it. However, the price is the loss of the g-pawn.} 59.Rd5+ Ke6
60.Ke4 Bxd3+ 61.Rxd3 Rxg2 62.Kxf4 Kf6 {is not winnable if Black defends correctly.}
) 56.Rh5 Rxb2 57.Kxd4 Rxg2 58.Rxh6+ {Here the game was adjourned again. Both sides worked}
{overnight, studying the position in detail.} {} Ke7 59.Ke4
Rg5 60.Ba6 {?} {Fischer's analysis was flawed. He knew that he couldn't}
{swap bishops without running into an endgame known to} {be drawn, even though White would have two pawn and}
{Black would lose the remaining pawn. It is very important} {to know the many drawing tricks in rook endgames!
}
{He also had to keep the rooks on the board, unless he} {could prevent Black from using the well known trick of}
{sacrificing the bishop for the f-pawn and retreating the} {king to h8.}
( 60.Bd3 Bf7 61.Kxf4 Rh5 {would have led to a draw.} 62.Rxh5
Bxh5 63.Bf5 {allows Black to escape with} Bxf3 {!} 64.Kxf3 Kf6
65.Kf4 Kg7 66.Kg5 Kh8 {with the famous "wrong bishop" endgame. The Black}
{king cannot be forced out of the corner.} ) ( 60.Bf1 {!} Rg1
61.Ba6 {!} ) Bf7 {?} {Keres had actually seen the correct defense in his}
{analysis, but when he was back at the board he forgot} {what he had studied. Adjournment analysis was a lot like}
{cramming for an exam. A tremendous amount of} {material is reviewed, but it won't all stick. This one bad}
{move cost him the game.} ( 60...Bb1+ {!} {gives up the f-pawn, which can't be saved anyway. But it}
{ lets Black regroup and exchange rooks, leading to the} {known draw.}
61.Kxf4 Rf5+ 62.Kg4 Rf6 {!} 63.Rxf6 Kxf6 {Black's king is in a perfect position. It can run to h8 after}
{the bishop is eventually sacrificed for the f-pawn. The} {control of the b1-h7 diagonal insures that Black's plan}
{cannot fail.} ) 61.Bc8 {!} {Fischer has just enough time to bring his bishop to g4}
Rg6 ( 61...Rc5 62.Bg4 Rc4+ 63.Ke5 Ra4 64.h4 Kf8 65.Rb6 Rc4 66.h5
{wins, because} Bxh5 {?} 67.Bxh5 Rc5+ {loses to} 68.Kf6 {!} Rxh5
69.Rb8# ) 62.Rh7 Kf8 63.Bg4 Rg7 {Fischer has just one more trap to avoid. An exchange of}
{rooks on this move would lead to the drawing lines.}
( 63...Rxg4 {is a trick that backfires on Black.} 64.Rxf7+ Kxf7
65.hxg4 ) ( 63...Rb6 64.Kxf4 Kg8 {was claimed to be a draw by Barcza, in the tournament
}
{book. Fischer didn't mention the line. Let's see.} 65.Rh4 Rb4+
66.Kg3 ( 66.Kg5 Rb5+ 67.Bf5 Be6 68.Rf4 Kg7 69.h4 Bxf5 70.Rxf5
Rb1 {is a defensible rook endgame.} ) Kg7 {might work, because the bishop is pinned.}
67.Bd7 Rxh4 68.Kxh4 Kf6 {gives Black the appropriate defensive formation.}
) 64.Rh6 {!} {} ( 64.Rxg7 {?} Kxg7 65.Kxf4 Kf6 {The bishop will be sacrificed for the f-pawn, eventually,}
{reaching the draw we've already seen.} ) Rg6 {Black has nothing better, but now the exchange does}
{work, because Black's king can't get to f6, which is} {necessary for the defense against White's pawns.}
65.Rxg6 {!} Bxg6+ 66.Kxf4 Kg7 67.Kg5 Bd3 68.f4 Be4 69.h4 Bd3
70.h5 Be4 71.h6+ Kh8 72.Bf5 {!} {The enemy bishop is forced off the key diagonal. This}
{plan isn't available when Black's king occupies f6.}
( 72.f5 {?} Bxf5 {!} {draws.} ) Bd5 73.Bg6 Be6 {Still trying to prevent the f-pawn from advancing.}
74.Kf6 Bc4 75.Kg5 Be6 76.Bh5 Kh7 77.Bg4 {!} {It took Fischer a few moves to come up with the right}
{plan. During the adjournment analysis, he probably} {stopped when he reached a position where his king}
{controlled f6, leaving the final bits as an elementary} {problem to be solved at the board.}
Bc4 ( 77...Bxg4 78.Kxg4 Kxh6 {is a lost King and Pawn endgame.}
79.Kf5 Kg7 80.Ke6 Kf8 81.Kf6 Ke8 82.Kg7 Ke7 83.f5 {04etc.} )
78.f5 Bf7 79.Bh5 Bc4 {Black obviously can't afford to exchange.}
80.Bg6+ Kg8 81.f6 {Keres resigned. It may still not be obvious that Black is}
{lost. After all, can't Black sacrifice the bishop when the}
{pawn reaches f7? In fact, it takes a few moves, but} {White will be able to promote a pawn.}
{} Bb3 82.Kf4 Kh8 83.Ke5 Bc4 84.Kd6 Bb3 85.Ke7 Bc4 86.Bf7
Bd3 87.Be8 {!} Bc4 88.Bd7 Bg8 89.Be6 Bh7 90.f7 {is the solution given by Fischer himself.}
Bg6 91.f8Q+ Kh7 92.Qg7# {  } 1-0

[Event "Interzonal"]
[Site "Stockholm (Sweden)"]
[Date "1962.02.27"]
[Round "19"]
[White "Bobby Fischer"]
[Black "Korchnoi Viktor (SUI)"]
[Result "1-0"]
[ECO "C91"]
[WhiteElo "2760"]
[BlackElo "2670"]
[Annotator "Eric Schiller"]
[Source ""]
[Remark "time pressure, comp"]

1.e4 e5 2.Nf3 Nc6 3.Bb5 a6 4.Ba4 Nf6 5.O-O Be7 6.Re1 b5 7.Bb3
O-O 8.c3 d6 9.d4 {Once again Bobby finds himself on the White}
{side of the Spanish Inquisition. Normally, White plays} {9.h3 in this variation to prevent
}
{Black's bishop from getting to g4 and pinnning the
}
{knight at f3. The plan of storming the center was
}
{worked out early in the 20th century by Frederick Yates,
}
{and revived many decades later by a gambit developed
}
{by Oleg Romanishin. Personally, I have always liked the
}
{line for White and have played it many times.} Bg4 {} 10.Be3
exd4 {Fischer  considered 10...d5 to be a better choice, but}
{over forty years later it has a ppor reputation and is not}
{seen frequently. The capture at d4, Korchnoi's choice,} {remains the main line.}
11.cxd4 Na5 ( 11...d5 {!?} 12.e5 Ne4 13.Nc3 {(Or 13.Nbd2 Na5)}
Nxc3 14.bxc3 Qd7 {is considered about equal. Bobby thought that moving}
{the knight to d2 instead of c3 was good enough for an} {advantage for White. This was the prevailing view at the}
{time, so Korchnoi followed a more traditional path.} ) 12.Bc2
Nc4 {A tempting move, often played, but Black would have} {done better to play 12...c5. This wasFischer's}
{preference, and it remains the theortically approved} {move.}
13.Bc1 c5 14.b3 Na5 ( 14...Nb6 {, popular back in 1962, falls a bit short of equality after}
15.Nbd2 Rc8 16.h3 Bh5 17.d5 {, closing the center and leaving Black a bit cramped.}
) 15.d5 {!} {It pays to study the classics! With this move, Fischer}
{improved on the famous game Capablanca vs} {Bogoljubow, froim the 1922 International tournament}
{in London. That game delayed the advance of the} {d-pawn for one more move, but that gave Black}
{additional defensive options.} {} ( 15.Bb2 {was met in that game by the dynamic knight maneuver}
Nc6 {!} 16.d5 Nb4 {!} {By advancing the d-pawn right away, Fischer eliminates
}
{the possibility of a knight retreat to c6.} ) Nd7
( 15...Nxe4 16.Rxe4 Bxf3 17.Qxf3 Bf6 {doesn't win the rook at a1 because of}
18.Nc3 {and if} b4 19.Bb2 bxc3 20.Bxc3 Bxc3 21.Qxc3 {Fischer rightly claimed a big advantage for White.}
) 16.Nbd2 Bf6 17.Rb1 {This position has actually been reached many times, and}
{ usually 17...Bc3 or 17...Ne5 are played,. Korchnoi later} {said that the latter move was to be preferred, though}
{Fischer thought that it was already too late for Black to} {equalize in the line. Korchnoi was certainly correct in}
{labelling his own move as "overambitious".} {} c4 {?!}
18.h3 Bxf3 {If the bishop retreats, it is kicked again by g4, and then}
{the White knight can find a path to g3 via f1, a typical} {Spanish maneuver,}
19.Nxf3 cxb3 20.axb3 Qc7 21.Be3 {Some analysts, including Korchnoi himself, considered}
{this an
} {error, preferring 21.Re2. Fischer didn't consider it a big
}
{deal. In his opinion, White's advantage is small in any
}
{case. The point is that after 21...Bc3 22.Nd4 White is a} {tempo up. The same position is reached as in the game}
{but with White on the move instead of Black.} {?} {!} Bc3 {!}
22.Re2 b4 {Black has some play on the dark squares, but still has}
{more weaknesses and an offside knight. Black is going} {to have to spoend some time coordinating the forces,}
{which suggested to Bobby that it might be a god time to} {launch an attack.}
23.Nd4 Rfe8 {?!} ( 23...g6 {was the correct move. White would have a hard time}
{demonstrating any significant advantage after} 24.Bd3 Nc5 25.Ra2
Nab7 26.Ne2 Bg7 {despite some pressure on the queenside.} ) 24.Nf5
Nb7 25.Bd4 {!} {White challenges the annoying enemy bishop, while also}
{aiming at g7.} {} g6 {The pawn is defended, but now there is a hole in the
}
{Black kingside. Still, exchanging bishops would have} {given White a tremendous knight at d4.}
26.Nh6+ Kf8 27.Rc1 {!} {Aiming the rook at the enemy queen is a clever tactic}
{which can lead to great rewards i the opponent isn't} {careful.}
Rac8 28.Bd3 Qa5 {Wisely steppping out of the line of fire of the enemy}
{rook.} 29.Rec2 Ne5 30.Bf1 Nc5 {!} {Korchnoi has transfered his knights from passive
}
{positions into very active positions. It costs him a pawn,}
{but he certainly has some compensation for it.} {} 31.Bxc3
bxc3 32.Rxc3 Kg7 33.Ng4 Nxg4 34.Qxg4 {By exchanging pieces and getting rid of Black's knight at}
{e5, Bobby has reduced the level of compensation and} {has a substantial advantage. But the pressure at e4}
{does give him some counterplay. The knight at c5 is} {much stonger than the bishop.}
Rb8 35.Rf3 {?!} {Fischer's only comment is to quote Korchnoi: "White's}
{best chance is to revive his attack on the King's wing."} {True enough! Bobby plans Qf4 on the next move. But it}
{would have been better to switch the order of moves. If} {he had played 35.Qf4! first, then on 35...Nxe4 he would}
{have had 36.Rc7!, attacking the pawn at f7 more} {effectively from the side.}
Nxe4 36.Qf4 f5 {Although this move does weaken the king's barrier, it}
{isn't a problem because White can't get a rook to c7.} {Alternatively, Black could just have advanced one of the}
{rooks to the second rank. That would have been safer in} {the long run. Fischer admitted that the kingside}
{weakness couldn't be exploited.} {} 37.Re3 Re5 38.Rc6 Rbe8
{Korchnoi should be thinking about kicking White's queen} {with ...g5. In his habitual time pressure, Korchnoi simply}
{overlooked Bobby's reply. The rules required getting} {past move 40 before the player's allotted time expired.}
{In those days, each player had a generous 2 and a half} {hours to complete the first 40 moves. Now it is}
{generally 2 hours even in the most serious} {competitions.}
( 38...g5 {!?} 39.Qf3 Rbe8 40.Rxa6 Qxd5 41.b4 {would have left the players with roughy even chances,}
{according to Fischer. White's passed pawn is easier to} {advance and his king is safer, but that only adds up to a}
{small advantage.} ) 39.Rxd6 {!} {Korchnoi didn't oerlook the pin on the knight at d4, but}
{didn't spot a fork at the end of the combination which is} {seen in the variation}
{} Qa1 {?} {Both players agree that this was the fatal mistake. The}
{pin on the bishop at f1, combined with the defense of} {the rook at e5, seem to add up to the right plan.}
{However, there was a more active, and fairly obvious} {alternative. Black can drive back the enemy queen.}
( 39...g5 {!} 40.Rd7+ Kg6 41.Qf3 Qb6 {is Fischer's line. The rook at d7 can be trapped easily}
{since it has no support and no escape route. Fischer} {solved the problm tactically, by threatening the pawn at}
{04a6.} 42.Qe2 {!} {{CAPTION ANALYSIS BOARD^125} {} Nxf2
{!} {Black has resources too. The advantage of lining up the}
{queen against the enemy king is seen. It sets the stage} {for pins. For example, if White were to capture the}
{knight with the king, then Black would advance the} {f-pawn to f4 and exloit the pin to win the rook.}
43.Rxe5 {is forced.} Ne4+ 44.Kh2 Rxe5 45.Qxa6 Qxa6 46.Bxa6 Nf6
{The final fork wins back the d-pawn, and leads to an} {endgame which should end in a draw, though White has}
{any winning chances that exist.} ) ( 39...Nxd6 {?} {03{MOVE TO END OF PREVIOUS PARA^125}
40.Rxe5 Rxe5 41.Qxe5+ Kh6 42.Qxd6 {with an extra bishop for White.} )
40.Rxa6 {Korchnoi just has to make one more move to reach the}
{tinme control, but the game is now utterly lost.} {} Qd4
41.Rd3 Qb2 42.d6 g5 43.Qe3 f4 44.Qa7+ {Korchnoi resigned.} {}
{  } 1-0

[Event "Interzonal"]
[Site "Portoroz (Slovenia)"]
[Date "1958.08.16"]
[Round "8"]
[White "Bobby Fischer (USA)"]
[Black "Bent Larsen (DEN)"]
[Result "1-0"]
[ECO "B77"]
[WhiteElo "2760"]
[BlackElo "2660"]
[Annotator "Eric Schiller"]
[Source ""]
[Remark "Attack, opposite castling"]

1.e4 c5 2.Nf3 d6 3.d4 cxd4 4.Nxd4 Nf6 5.Nc3 g6 {The famous Dragon Sicilian! Bobby didn't have much
}
{respect for this exciting line. He claimed that all
}
{White had to do is open the h-file, sac a few pieces,} {and deliver checkmate! Well, it isn't quite that
}
{simple, and the Dragon remains a popular opening at all
}
{levels of play. The bishop will take up residence at g7
}
{and eventually wreak havoc on the a1-h8 diagonal. If,
}
{that is, the Black king can survive a massive kingside
}
{assault.} {} 6.Be3 Bg7 7.f3 O-O 8.Qd2 Nc6 9.Bc4 {The standard continuation, known as the Yugoslav}
{Attack, sees queenside castling by White, so that the} {kingside pawns can be hurled forward without exposing}
{the White king to attack. Black has many choices here,} {but Larsen adopts one that was popular at the time.}
Nxd4 {The exchange of knights brings the White bishop to d4,}
{so that Black doesn't have to face an invasion at h6.} {These days, it is considered wiser to develop the}
{queenside, and in particular, get a rook to c8. Later, that}
{rook will be sacrificed for the White knight at c3, and} {Black will attack furiously on the queenside.}
( 9...Bd7 {is the modern preference. The knight will go to e5, and}
{later c4, forking the White queen and bishop, s that} {White will have to exchange the light square bishop for}
{04it.o} ) 10.Bxd4 Be6 11.Bb3 Qa5 12.O-O-O {The problem faced by Black is that the White king}
{enjoys the protection of two bishops, a knight, and a} {healthy pawn structure. Although White has no pieces}
{directly attacking the kingside, the pawnstorm develops} {very quickly.}
{} b5 {This is the most active plan. Black has also successfully}
{played 12...Rfc8. Black is not concerned about a White} {capture at e6, because that would get rid of a great}
{defender, the bishop at b3. The damage to the pawn} {structure would not be of great significance.}
13.Kb1 {White almost always plays this move. It sets up a tactical}
{threat of Nd5, since if Black captures at d2, White takes} {the e-pawn with check before recapturing the queen.}
{That won't work if the king is still at c1, because the} {queen at d2 would be captured with check.}
b4 14.Nd5 Bxd5 15.Bxd5 Rac8 ( 15...Nxd5 16.Bxg7 ( 16.exd5 Qxd5
17.Qxb4 {was what Fischer intended to play.} ) Nc3+ 17.bxc3 Rab8
18.c4 ( 18.cxb4 Qxb4+ 19.Qxb4 Rxb4+ 20.Bb2 Rfb8 {was Fischer's analysis. White would lose the bishop and}
{have an inferior endgame.} ) Kxg7 19.h4 Rb6 20.h5 Ra6 21.Qd4+
e5 {
} 22.Qb2 {was tested in Fernandez vs. Lerch, in Catalunia (Spain)}
{1992, over 3 decades later! Black has enough pressure} {at a2 to survive a kingside attack, but White managed to}
{win anyway.} ) 16.Bb3 {!} {Bobby keeps the valuable defender. Commenting on}
{this position, he made his famous comment that he} {"had it down to a science: pry open the KR-file and sac,}
{sac ... mate!"} {} Rc7 {To  protect the a-pawn so the queen can get out of the}
{way. Then, Black can advance the a-pawn and create} {his own pawn storm.}
17.h4 {Here we go!} Qb5 ( 17...h5 18.g4 hxg4 19.h5 {leads to a decisive attack. It is fun to hand such}
{positions to a computer, which will start out favoring} {Black's extra pawn, and then soon start realizing the}
{danger faced by the Black king, despite the presence} {of two defenders. Fischer gives the line}
gxh5 20.fxg4 Nxe4 21.Qe3 Nf6 22.gxh5 e5 23.h6 {and White will win.} )
18.h5 {} Rfc8 {Black just can't keep the h-file closed.}
( 18...gxh5 19.g4 {!} hxg4 20.fxg4 Nxe4 21.Qh2 {places Black in a hopeless situation. Fischer provides an}
{elegant finish:} Ng5 22.Bxg7 Kxg7 23.Rd5 Rc5 24.Qh6+ Kg8 25.Rxg5+
Rxg5 26.Qxh7# ) ( 18...Nxh5 {is a tougher nut to crack, and Bobby didn't mention it.}
{Neither do most other analysts. The solution involves an} {instructive example of a pawnsorm so it is.}
19.Bxg7 Kxg7 20.g4 Nf6 {is a typical Dragon maneuver.} 21.Qh6+
Kg8 22.g5 {wins the knight, since Black has to shift the rook from f8}
{to avoid mate at h7 before the knight can move away.} ) 19.hxg6
hxg6 20.g4 a5 {The race is on. It is no contest.} {} 21.g5
Nh5 ( 21...Ne8 22.Bxg7 Nxg7 {gets demolished, as Bobby showed:}
23.Rh6 {!} {Threatening to double rooks on the h-file and} {checkmate
}
{at h8 and h7.} e6 24.Qh2 Nh5 {where the kingside explodes after}
25.Bxe6 {!} fxe6 26.Rxg6+ Ng7 27.Rh1 {and Black could resign.} )
22.Rxh5 {!} {A standard exchange sacrifice in the Dragon brings the}
{game to a swift and bruta conclusion. White can afford} {to invest bits of material, since his bishop at b3 holds off}
{the entire enemy army!} gxh5 23.g6 {!} {Not only does the bishop defend, it also participates in}
{the attack by pinning Black's f-pawn.} e5 ( 23...e6 24.gxf7+
Kxf7 25.Bxg7 Kxg7 26.Rg1+ {Black's king cannot survive.} ) 24.gxf7+
Kf8 25.Be3 {Black's condition is critical, but Larsen comes up with a}
{clever attempt to stay in the game.} {} d5 {!} {Larsen gives up a pawn to blunt the influence of White's}
{bishop at b3. This was his best chance.} 26.exd5 ( 26.Bxd5 {falls into the trap.}
{!} Rxc2 27.Qxc2 Rxc2 28.Kxc2 Qe2+ 29.Bd2 Bh6 {and Blacks h-pawn is more dangerous than the pawn at}
{04f7!} ) Rxf7 27.d6 {!} {The discovered attack on the rook also sends White's}
{passed pawn into the red zone, just two steps away froj} {promotion,}
Rf6 28.Bg5 {The game is effectively over. Not only does Bobby get}
{his exchange back, but with Black's forces occupied} {with the passed oawn, the king is a dead duck.}
Qb7 29.Bxf6 Bxf6 30.d7 Rd8 31.Qd6+ {More efficient was 31.Qe6, mating in three, but}
{Larsen resigned anyway.} {} { } 1-0

[Event "Candidates Match (Final)"]
[Site "Buenos Aires (Argentina)"]
[Date "1971.10.19"]
[Round "7"]
[White "Bobby Fischer (USA)"]
[Black "Tigran Petrosian (ARM)"]
[Result "1-0"]
[ECO "B42"]
[WhiteElo "2760"]
[BlackElo "2640"]
[Annotator "Eric Schiller"]
[Source "Learn from Bobby Fischer's Greatest Games"]
[Remark "Sicilan break,iqp, 7th"]

1.e4 c5 2.Nf3 e6 3.d4 cxd4 4.Nxd4 a6 {
This is the Kan Variation of the Sicilian Defense. Black guards all of the
squares that the White knight might use to invade Black's position. This
weakens the dark squares a bit, but Black can control those with the queen and
bishop. Black will try to activate the light square bishop at b7, after advancing the b-pawn one or two squares.}
{} 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.}
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 { Black plays the typical "Sicilian Break". The pawn at d5 challenges White's
center. White's pawn at e4 can advance or capture. but Fischer adds fuel to the fire by aiming another pawn at d5.}
{} 8.c4 {!} {?} 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.}
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 {!} 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 $14 ) 13.Re1 {!} {Fischer doesn't engage in cheap theatrics:}
( 13.Bb5 {02
?! is very tempting, because if the bishop is captured, then then the Black
rook at a8 will be captured by the White queen. But Black gets compensation after castling. For example,}
{?!} 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 {!} ) Qxa4 14.Nxa4 {
The isolated pawn is even weaker in the endgame, and White is halfway toward
achieving his goal of dominating the c- and e-files. The pawn at a6, defended
doubly for the moment, is also a potential weakness.} {}
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} a5 {!}
17.Bd4 Bxc5 {} 18.Bxc5 Rfc8 {02 with the initiative.} ) Rfe8
17.Bxe7 Rxe7 18.b4 {!} {
Now we can observe the weakness of the pawn at a6, which will come under the
watchful eye of the knight from its new outpost at c5. This, combined with the power of the Be2, will tie down Black's forces.}
{} Kf8 19.Nc5 Bc8 {Mission accomplished. Now Fischer must find a way to}
{increase the pressure on d5 but how can he dothis?} 20.f3 {!}
{Fischer's plan is almost brutal in its simplicity - he} {threatens to exchange rooks, march his king up the}
{diagonal to d4, chase the knight from f6 and grab the} {weak pawn at d5.}
Rea7 {?} {Though this move was roundkly criticized, Black was in}
{trouble anyway. Proposing an exchange of knights, as} {recommended by the endgame specialist Yuri}
{Averbakh, was most likely the best of a bad bunch of} {candidates,}
21.Re5 {!} {Just as planned back at move 13!} Bd7 {} 22.Nxd7+
{!!} { The knight, though well placed, has done its job and}
{now the domination of the remaining open file is the} {primary objective. White will now enjoy the advantage of}
{bishop over knight in the endgame. The longer reach of} {the bishop, especially in a wide open position like this, is}
{very useful.} Rxd7 23.Rc1 {Fischer is planning to use c6 as an invasion square. The weakness of the pawns continues to plague Black.}
Rd6 24.Rc7 {The sixth is protected - but the seventh rank is now available. Black quickly runs out of moves.}
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 {!} {A precise move which further limits Black's options.}
{} ( 27.Ke3 {would have allowed Black's knight back into the game with}
Ne5 {.} ) 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.}
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.}
Nxb4 34.Bc4 {!} {Petrosian resigned, because of 34...Nc6 35.Rh7Rf6 36.Rh8+ Rf8 37.Bf7+.
}
{
} {} {  } 1-0

[Event "Match"]
[Site "New York (USA)"]
[Date "1961.07.18"]
[Round "2"]
[White "Bobby Fischer (USA)"]
[Black "Samuel Reshevsky (USA)"]
[Result "1-0"]
[ECO "B72"]
[WhiteElo "2760"]
[BlackElo "2550"]
[Annotator "Eric Schiller"]
[PlyCount "75"]

{Bobby must have taken great pleasure from this first win over the veteran
Grandmaster who was once a legitimate contender for the World Championshjp.} 1.
e4 1... c5 2. Nf3 Nc6 3. d4 cxd4 4. Nxd4 g6 5. Nc3 {White can establish the
"Maroczy Bind" here with 5.c4  but Fischer was quite content to let the game
flow into  the path of the Dragon Sicilian. In a later game in the  match he
adopted Maroczy's approach.} 5... Bg7 6. Be3 Nf6 7. Be2 {The advantage of
Reshevsky's order of moves is that  Fischer's favorite Yugoslav Attack, seen
in the game  against Larsen, is not available. If White tries that  formation,
eventually Black plays ...d5 in one move,  without having the pawn stp to d6
first, That gain of time  is suffificient to achieve a fuly equal game. So
Bobby  switches to the Classical Variation, which usually  involves
straightforward development and kingside  castling.} 7... O-O 8. f4 d6 9. Nb3
9... Be6 {This is the normal post for the bishop, though it will  come under
attack by the White f-pawn at some point.  Fischer was pleased to see this
move, as he  considered it inferior to launching a queenside attack  with 9...
a5.} 10. g4 10... d5 {It is a bit odd to see this advance so soon after Black 
has played ...d6. It is the thematic "Sicilian break"  where Black challenges
White's central pawn.} 11. f5 {Fischer chooses the thematic advance of the
f-pawn,  driving back the enemy bishop.} (11. exd5 {?} 11... Nxd5 12. Nxd5 Qxd5
13. Qxd5 13... Bxd5 {would clearly demonstrate the superiority of Black's 
bishops, aiming at h1 and b2.}) 11... Bc8 12. exd5 {White temporarily wins a
pawnm, but can't hold on to it.  The real effect is to keep Black occupied
with regaining  the material, all the while laying the foundation of a 
kingside attack.} 12... Nb4 13. Bf3 {Fischer holds on to the powerful pawn at
d5, and lets  the kingside pawns go. This opens more lines for a  future
attack against the enemy king.} 13... gxf5 14. a3 {!} 14... fxg4 {Black offers
the knight in exchange for the powerful  bishop at f3, but Bobby ish't buying!}
15. Bg2 {!  Now Black's bishop is forced back to a6, where it is a 
long way from the kingside.} 15... Na6 16. Qd3 {!  This move was part of
Fischer's preparation for the  game. It was discovered by the Soviet player
Nei, and  was already well known.} 16... e6 {Fischer considered this the best
defense, but it has  been consigned to the dustbin of history and replaced  by
more effective plans.} (16... Qd6 17. O-O-O Nh5 18. h3 18... Nf4 {
is a more promising defense. For example,} 19. Qe4 Nxg2 20. hxg4 Qg6 21. Qxg2
Bxg4 22. Rdg1 h5 23. Ne2 23... Rac8 {gave Black reasonable play in the
grandmaster  game Yakovich vs. Sadler, at Copenhagen in 1997.}) 17. O-O-O {
Given the kingside situation, it is clear that the White king  must seek
shelter on the queenside. } 17... Nxd5 (17... exd5 18. h3 {must be met by}
18... g3 {, keeping the lines closed.} 19. Bd4 {
is then very strong, with a discovered attack against the  pawn at g3.}) 18. h3
g3 19. Rhg1 {Since the h-file remains closed, White shifts the rook to  the
g-file. Eventually the weak pawn at g3 must fall.  Black's problem is a total
lack of counterplay.} 19... Qd6 {?!  The queen defends the g-pawn but is
herself  vulnerable to attack. Bobby praises this move but there  was a better
way to  defend the g-pawn, as pointed out by Huebner.} (19... Qh4 {!  has the
dvantage of both defending the pawn and  covering key squares on the kingside
and along the 4th  rank.}) 20. Bxd5 exd5 21. Nxd5 {?  Grabbing the weak pawn
right away was a mistake. The  pawn isn't doing anything but taking up space,
and  Fischer later remarked that he should have played Bd4,  to get rid of
Black's most powerful defender. Black  would then have had no meaningful
defensive resources  and the kingside would soon fall apart.} 21... Kh8 {
!  Black gets away from g8, which is exposed on the g-file  and also subject
to attack by the knight, moving to f6 or e7.} 22. Bf4 (22. Bd4 Bxd4 23. Qxd4+
23... f6 {doesn't achieve anything for White now.}) 22... Qg6 {The queen can
sit here more comfortably with the  king evacuated to the h-file. At least now
there are no  potential pins.} 23. Qd2 23... Bxh3 {!  In time pressure,
Reshevsky grabs the pawn without  hesitation. Even though it opens up the
h-file, the bishop  will be able to work as a blockader of the g-file. It will
be  taking up a position at g4, where it can be supported by  the h-pawn.} 24.
Rxg3 Bg4 25. Rh1 25... Rfe8 {As White's rooks target the kingside, Black tries
to gains  some counterplay on the central files.} 26. Ne3 {The pressure builds.
Here Reshsvsky, in time trouble,  overlooked the only workable defense,.} 26...
Qe4 {?} (26... f5 {!  was correct. Then if} 27. Qh2 {Black's king could just
slide back to the g-file, according  to Fischer's notes.} 27... Kg8 28. Qg2 {
still shows great promise for White, but some work lies  ahead.}) 27. Qh2 27...
Be6 {There is nothing better.} (27... Qxf4 {?} 28. Qxh7#) (27... Bf5 {
allows the elegant} 28. Rxg7 {!} 28... Kxg7 29. Nxf5+ Qxf5 30. Nd4 {
followed by Rg1.}) 28. Rxg7 {The exchange sacrifice brings a swift end to the
game.  Fischer had no problem investing a little material. After  all, Black's
knight and rooks just lay around uselessly  taking up space. White's forces
are in position to wrao  things up easily, and even the knight at b3 will have
something to say.  !  ?} (28. Nd2 $36 {would have been much more efficient,
but less artistic.  The queen would be hav eto sacrifice herself at h1
to  avoid mate.}) 28... Kxg7 29. Qh6+ Kg8 30. Rg1+ Qg6 31. Rxg6+ 31...
fxg6 {White has a material advantage, and the attack  continues in full force.
Black could resign with a clean  conscience, but Reshevsky often battled on
until his  king was buried.  } 32. Nd4 Rad8 33. Be5 Rd7 34. Nxe6 Rxe6 35.
Ng4 Rf7 36. Qg5 Rf1+ 37. Kd2 h5 38. Qd8+ {Black resigned.} 1-0

0

} 1-0

[Event "International Tournament"]
[Site "Mar del Plata (Argentina)"]
[Date "1959.04.05"]
[Round "12"]
[White "Bobby Fischer"]
[Black "Hector Rossetto (ARG)"]
[Result "1-0"]
[ECO "B41"]
[WhiteElo "2760"]
[BlackElo "2450"]
[Annotator "Eric Schiller"]
[Source ""]
[Remark "Endgame Bishoo vs. Knight general"]

1.e4 c5 2.Nf3 e6 3.d4 cxd4 4.Nxd4 a6 {The Kan Variation is a flexible Sicilian formation which is}
{popular at all levels of play. The slighlty weak dark} {squares can ee patrolled by Black's bishop, queen and}
{knights. The idea is to get in an early ...d5, usually after}
{castling the king to safety. The opening can easily slide} {into other Sicilian types, including the Scheveningen,}
{Classical, and Hedgehog formations.} {} 5.c4 {The Maroczy Bind formation by White, intended to}
{prevent Black's "Sicilian break" with ...d5, is no longer} {considered particularly effective against the Kan. At the}
{time, however, it was highly regarded.} Qc7 {It is better to play ...Nf6 immediately and deal with the}
{queen later.} {?} {!} 6.Nc3 Nf6 7.Bd3 {The bishop does not belong here and Fischer regretted}
{the decision. Black's counterplay often involves moving} {the bishop to b4, so White should have advanced the}
{pawn a3 to prevent that.} Nc6 8.Be3 {Bobby is playng the opening sloppily, which didn't}
{happen often. If Rossetto had replied correctly, Black} {would have gained the upper hand right away.}
{?} ( 8.Nxc6 dxc6 9.O-O {with equal chances was the best White could hope for at}
{this point.} ) Nxd4 {?} {!} {} ( 8...Ne5 {!} {is correct, transferring the knight to the kingside. It}
{threatens to jump to g4, where, fi White is castled, there}
{would be the threat of checkmate at h2. The knight isn't} {going to be exchanged for the bishop at d3, because}
{that is White's "bad" bishop and the knight is far} {superior to it.}
) 9.Bxd4 Bc5 {Black's position doesn't look too bad, until you look a the}
{bishop at c8 and think about its future. Eventually, it can}
{sneak to c6 via d7, but that will take time. Even at an} {early age, Bobby appreciated the possibilities that}
{come with extra moves.} 10.Bc2 ( 10.Bxc5 Qxc5 11.O-O d6 {wouldn't have given Black any problems.}
) d6 11.O-O {Castling is the obvious move, and no one seems to}
{question the wisdom of the move. I think that the critical}
{alternative of capturing at f6 deserves a look.} ( 11.Bxf6 gxf6
{shatters Black's kingside, though it does concede the} {bishop pair. White can change the situation by getting}
{rid of a pair of bishops.} 12.Ba4+ Bd7 13.Bxd7+ Qxd7 14.O-O
{and unless Black can mount a serious attack on} {the g-file, White can eventually make good progress on}
{the queenside. I prefer White's chances here to those in} {the game.}
) Bd7 {} 12.Na4 {Although Fischer did't think that White had much of an}
{adantage, even that is rather optimistic. Indeed, despite} {some inferior moves, Black had a chance to gain the}
{upper hand.} Bxd4 {?} ( 12...Bxa4 13.Bxa4+ Ke7 {is recommended by Huebner, and it certainly sems as}
{though Black has the better long term chances. White's} {pawns at c4 and e4 are weak.  Black will play ...Rhd8}
{and then can walk the king to safety via f8.} {!} ) 13.Qxd4
Rd8 ( 13...e5 {is possible here. The backward pawn at d6 will be offset}
{by White's horrible bishop and week pawns. Eventually} {the White knight can get to d5, but after an exchange}
{Black is heading for an endgame with a much mjore} {mobile bishop. Huebner analyzed this plan to a likely}
{draw.} ) 14.Rfd1 O-O {!} {Black offers the d-pawn as a temporary sacrifice.}
{Fischer is wise to decline.} {} 15.Rac1 {!} {It is often useful to aim your rook against an enemy king}
{or queen, regardless of how much junk lies on the path.} {At some point, the interfering pieces may be removed,}
{and tactics will arise. For example, if White removes} {both central pawns, Bxh7+ would win the Black queen}
{by discovered attack. This clever move discouraged} {Black from risking ...b5, which would allow the c-pawn}
{to get out of the way.} ( 15.Qxd6 Qxd6 16.Rxd6 Bxa4 17.Rxd8
Rxd8 18.Bxa4 Nxe4 {would get the pawn back with an even endgame.} )
Qa5 {Just as it was wise for White to aim the rook at the
}
{queen, it is equally wise for the queen to get out of the
}
{way. She supports the attack on the knight at a4, and} {can transfer to the center or kingside as needed.}
16.Qb6 {Fischer offers an exchange of queens. It is rare for}
{young players to want to enter tricky endgames against} {experienced opponents, but Bobby had correctly}
{evaluating the endgame as being in his favor.} Qxb6 {?} {A poor decision. Fischer was correct in evaluating the}
{transfer of the queen to e5 as dubious, but the game} {could have taken a rather exciting turn if she headed to}
{the kingside.} ( 16...Qg5 {!?} {would have offered Black a choice of pawns at d6 or}
{b7. But there was a hidden price!} 17.Qxb7 ( 17.Qxd6 {?} {is a trick that backfires.}
Bxa4 18.Qxd8 Rxd8 19.Rxd8+ Be8 ) ( 17.Rxd6 {?} {drops a rook to}
Qxc1+ ) Bxa4 18.Bxa4 Rb8 19.Qxa6 Rxb2 20.Rc2 Rbb8 {would have provided enough compensation for a pawn.}
{White's bishop is useless, and the pawn at e4 is under} {attack. Black can always handle the queenside pawns by}
{planting the knight at c5.} ) 17.Nxb6 Bc6 18.f3 Nd7 {!} {It is this move that convinced Rossetto to enter the}
{endgame. If knights are exchanged Black can just} {manage to hold the position by doubling rooks on the}
{d-file and bringing the king over to help. White's bad} {bishop makes it impossible to gain any advantage.}
{} 19.Nd5 {!} {This probably came as a shock. The point is that if Black}
{captures the knight with the e-pawn, then after White} {recaptures with the e-pawn, there is no escape for the}
{bishop. Rossetto knew better than to fall for that, but} {was too concerned about the possibility of Fischer using}
{the knight to give a check at e7, followed by a capture} {at c6. So he got rid of the knight by taking it with his}
{bishop.} Bxd5 {?} ( 19...Ne5 {!} 20.Ne7+ Kh8 21.Nxc6 bxc6 {was best. Perhaps Rossetto didn't see that on}
22.Ba4 {he could establish the knight outpost at e5 by playing}
g5 {!} {Fischer pointed out that Black could then march the}
{king along the dark squares to e7, with a fully} {satisfactory position.}
) 20.exd5 e5 ( 20...Ne5 {was safer, Fischer wrote. He would have played}
21.Be4 {expecting Black to play} b6 {where White has no real advantage because the bishop}
{is so limited in scope.} ) 21.b4 {The c5 square is not only made unavailable to the Black}
{knight. Fischer intends to occupy the square with one of} {his own pawns!}
g6 22.Ba4 b6 23.Rd3 {White doesn't have any significant advantage, but the}
{Black position is not easy to play. When Rossetton} {played ...g6, the idea was to get ready for ...f5, at least}
{taking some kingside initiative. This plan is not bad, but}
{has to be properly timed.} {} f5 {?} {Premature. There were queenside issues that had to be
}
{dealt with. The proper strategy here was to keep White
}
{from carrying out the intended adance to c5. The weak
}
{link in White's position is the pawn at g4, so it should
}
{have been challenged right away.} ( 23...a5 {!} 24.a3 f5 {was the correct plan, according to Fischer, who didn't}
{see any path to a win.} ) 24.Ra3 {!} {An odd position for the rook, but it completely}
{eliminates counterplay on the a-file, and threatens to eat}
{a pawn after capturing the knight.} Nb8 {This deals with the immediate problem, but now the}
{superiority of the bishoop over the knight is obvious.} {The knight was hoping to get to c5. That's not goingn to}
{happen.} 25.c5 {!} {The decisive opration begins! The queenside is}
{smashed open, and the bishop becomes even more} {powerful.}
{} bxc5 26.bxc5 dxc5 27.Rxc5 {The passed pawn and White's active pieces will quickly}
{overwhelm Black;s position. The gane is not yet} {hopeless, but Black is up against the wall.}
Kg7 28.Rb3 Rf7 29.d6 Nd7 30.Rc7 {The invasion of the seventh rank will soon see both}
{rooks combine their power. Enemy doubled rooks on} {the seventh rank are usually the prelude to a funeral}
{march for the king.} Nf8 31.Rbb7 Rxc7 32.dxc7 {!} {The pawn is just one square from promotion. Worse yet,}
{that square is a light square, that can be easily attacked}
{bythe bishop.} Rc8 33.Bb3 {!} {This keeps the Black king penned in. There are several}
{ways of winning, but Fsicher chooses the most elegant.} {He will place Black in "zugzwang". In zugwang, any move}
{by the zugzwanged side loses. If the rules allowed a} {"pass", there wouldn't be a problem.}
a5 ( 33...Kf6 {loses immediately to} 34.Rb8 {!} ) 34.a4 h6 35.h3
g5 36.g4 fxg4 37.hxg4 {Black resigned. The zugwang cannot be escaped. If}
{Black moves the rook, or the king, then Rb8 wins. If the} {knight moves from f8, the bishop will get to e6. Black}
{could play suicide pawn moves to e4 and h5, but that} {still only postpones the inevitable.}
{} { } 1-0

[Event "United States Championship"]
[Site "New York (USA)"]
[Date "1965.12.28"]
[Round "10"]
[White "Bobby Fischer (USA)"]
[Black "Nicolas Rossolimo (USA)"]
[Result "1-0"]
[ECO "C12"]
[WhiteElo "2760"]
[BlackElo "2450"]
[Annotator "Eric Schiller"]
[Source ""]
[Remark "kingside attack, intrmezzo, passivity"]

1.e4 e6 2.d4 d5 3.Nc3 Nf6 4.Bg5 Bb4 {
The opening is the MacCutcheon Variation of the French Defense. This is a cross
between the Classical defense with ...Nf6 and Winawer's plan with ...Bb4. Once
considered a surprise weapon, it is now a major branch of the French.}
{} 5.e5 {Since the knight is pinned and cannot move, Black's reply is forced.}
h6 6.Bd2 {The bishop can also retreat to e3. If it goes to h4, however, Black can play ...g5, so the knight is unpinned in any case.}
Bxc3 7.bxc3 {
This is the correct capture. White often allows the doubling of c-pawns in the
French. The bishop would not accomplish anytning sitting at c3.}
Ne4 8.Qg4 {This move forces Black to choose between defending}
{the g-pawn with the king and advaning it to g6. In the} {first case, Black cannot castle but is relatively safe at f8.}
{If the pawn advances, the dark squares on the kingside} {become weak. White can then use the h-pawn to attack.}
{} g6 {This plan is seen much more frequently, though the king}
{move is stll seen. Objectively, the strategies may have} {equal merit, but most chessplayers are uncomfortable}
{giing uo the right to castle. Computer programs show} {less reluctance.}
9.Bd3 {This forces Black t give up the well posted knight for the}
{White bishop, but at the same time, White will find it} {more difficult to exploit Black's weak dar squares,}
Nxd2 10.Kxd2 {White can't castle, but hs king has plenty of defense.}
{Black will try t o crack open the fortress.} c5 {!} 11.Nf3 Nc6
{!} {When Fischer wrote about this game back in 1969,} {opening experts preferred 11...Qc7. Now, the move}
{played by Rossolimo is considered best by many.} 12.Qf4 {Since the dark square bishop is gone, White uses the
}
{queen to work the dark squares. Black is prevented
}
{from castling, as that would drop the pawn at h6.} {} Qc7
{?!} {Rossolimo sets up a little trick. The idea is to play ...f5,
}
{and if White captures using the en passant rule, then
}
{Black would capture White queen.} {Remember, the en passant capture is aailable when the}
{opponent advances a pawn two squares and it lands} {next to one of yours. Your pawn can then capture the}
{enemy pawn as if t hadn only moved one square. So if} {Black plays ...f5, White can capture with the pawn at e5,}
{capturing at f6. Rossolimo's move eliminates the} {capture, and the queen seems to put pressure on the}
{center. Fischer thought she should go to a5 instead.}
( 12...Qa5 {pins White's pawn at c3, so a capture at d4 is} {threatened. He then recommended}
13.Rab1 {but Black has countered with} c4 14.Be2 b5 {for example}
15.a3 {, hoping to lure the queen away from the pawn at b5.}
{04Then} Bd7 {indirectly defends the pawn, because if a White rook
}
{every captures it, the knight can move away and do
}
{some damage while the Black bishop hungrily eyes the
}
{rook. So, in Golubev vs. Smikovsky, Moscow 1996,} {White shifted the rook back to a1 to defend the pawn.}
) ( 12...Qe7 {is a popular move, which has the benefit of maintaining}
{surveillance of f6 while supporting the dark squares on} {the queenside. A bit defensive for Rossolimo, a polayer}
{who just loved to attack.} ) 13.h4 {Fischer prepares to undermine the kingside.}
{Afterwards, he thought that immediate infiltration was a} {better plan.}
( 13.Qf6 Rg8 14.h4 {was his suggestion, and many years later it got a}
{practical test in the game Jepson vs. Berebora, played} {in Hungary in 1990.}
h5 15.Rhb1 cxd4 16.cxd4 Na5 17.Ng5 {put Black under considerable pressure.}
) f5 {!} {Fischer wrote that this move restores "parity". There is}
{so much tension in the position that the game lies on a} {razor's edge. There is certainly nothing drawish about}
{the position! The first mistake will prove costly. A} {second will be fatal.}
{} 14.g4 {!?} {Adding another pressure point to the mix! Fischer is}
{often at his most deadly when forces are under attack in} {multiple locations. Here there are contested squares at}
{c5, d4, f5, g4 and potentially at g5 and h5.} cxd4 15.cxd4 Ne7
{?} {The first mistake. Although the knight defends important}
{kingside squares, a more active plan was needed.}
( 15...Bd7 16.gxf5 gxf5 17.Rhg1 O-O-O {!} {would have completed Black's development. The kingwould be safe, and if Bobby played his intended}
18.Rg6 {, where he claims the better prospects, Black could}
{counter with} Qb6 {!} {and Bobby might have found himself in a bit of trouble!}
) 16.gxf5 exf5 17.Bb5+ {That's what you get when you leave your king in the}
{cnter for too long! To preserve castling privilege, Black} {can either return the knight to c6 or block with the}
{bishop. Instead, he not only gives up castling rights, but}
{moves his ing to the wrong square!} {} Kf8 {If the king had to move, it should have gone in the other
}
{direction. There is some hope of safety on the
} {queenside. Still, Black's position is not beyond repair.}
( 17...Bd7 18.Bxd7+ Qxd7 19.e6 {!} {is given by Fischer, but it does require some}
{explanation, The idea is to sacrifice the pawn to clear} {the way for an attack on the e-file, while the Black king is}
{still stuck in the center.} Qxe6 20.Rhe1 Qd7 21.Qe5 Rh7 {does leave Black tied down, but Bobby may have been a
}
{bit optimistic, as there is no clear way to get to the
}
{enemy king and Black may be able to escape by
} {castling.} )
( 17...Kd8 18.Bd3 Be6 {would have been tough to crack. Black can bring the}
{rook to c8 and create some threats of his own.} ) 18.Bd3 Be6
19.Ng1 {!} {The knight temporarily retreats to g1, so that it can find}
{a way to get to f4, once the quen movs away. The} {knight at f4 will put pressure on d5, e6, g6 and h5!}
Kf7 {Here the king helps defend the pawn at g6, but that isn't}
{a suitable task for a king! If the kign were at d8, Black} {might eventually lose a pawn on the kingside, but in the}
{meantime threats could be mounted against the White} {king.}
20.Nh3 Rac8 21.Rhg1 {More pressure at g6.} {} b6 {The problem with this move is that it cuts off the path to}
{a5, a checking square. This definitely limits Black's} {options.}
( 21...Qc3+ {also loses, according to Fischer, but Huebner has}
{raised some interesting questions about the line he} {gave.}
22.Ke3 Rc4 {, instead of 22...Nc6, looks about even. Black can later}
{play ...b6, as the queen has an alternative path to a5} {should she require one.}
) 22.h5 Qc3+ 23.Ke2 {} Nc6 {?} {This move abandons g6, which is a very bad idea with th}
{king sitting at f7. The knight at e7 provided great} {defense, though it was just sitting there. Defending the}
{pawn with the king in order to free the knight to go on} {other errands was the strategic blunder in this game,}
( 23...Rcg8 {
was correct. Oce you have been forced to defend passively, you may as well go
all the way. Trying to transform your position from passive defense to active
counterplay is rarely possible because there are too many defensive needs that
have to take priority. Rossolimo wasn't fond of defense, and decided to go for activity at all costs.}
24.hxg6+ Nxg6 ( 24...Rxg6 25.Qh4 {brings a decisive advanatage, according to Fischer.
}
{Huebner checked this out and offered the following} {supporting line, which contains an excellent example of}
{an intermezzo:} Rhg8 26.Rxg6 Rxg6 27.Rg1 Rxg1 28.Qf6+ {Instead of recapturing at g1 right away, White uses an}
{intermezzo to drive then enemy king back. After the} {capture at g1, Black will be abe to grab the d-pawn but}
{then his king gets scissored.} Ke8 29.Nxg1 Qxd4 {?} 30.Bb5+
Kd8 31.Qf8+ Kc7 32.Qxe7+ {and mate in 7!} ) 25.Qf3 {was left with no further comment by Fischer. The}
{assumption is that the pawn at f5 will fall and the game is}
{over. Again, Huebner calls this into question with the} {simple}
Qxd4 {threatening to caoture with check!} {Instead  of moving the queen to f3, he finds a path to}
{the advantage by capturing at g6 right away.} ) 24.hxg6+ Kg7
25.Rad1 {!} {The finishing touch. Fischer sacrifices the d-pawn but}
{can now retreat the king to the home rank. This was not} {possible with the rook under attack at a1, since the king}
{retreat would then cut off the defending rook at g1 and} {the rook would fall with check.}
{} Nxd4+ 26.Kf1 Rhe8 27.Rg3 {!} {Precision to the end! Rossolimo was not without}
{resources, even in this position. Fischer spotted th} {trick.}
( 27.Qh4 {threatens to invade at f6 but it allows Black to get away}
{04with} Nf3 {!} 28.Qf6+ Kg8 29.Bxf5 Nh2+ {!} 30.Kg2 Qf3+ 31.Kxh2
Qxf5 {and Black has reasnabkle prospects for survival.} ) Nc6
{How sad. The knight just keeps coming back to this} {square, never accomplishing anything significant.}
28.Qh4 Nxe5 {White no longer has the check at f6, but there are other}
{ problems.} 29.Nf4 {!} Ng4 ( 29...Nxd3 30.Rdxd3 Qa1+ 31.Kg2
{and Nh5+ is coming.} ) 30.Nxe6+ Rxe6 31.Bxf5 Qc4+ 32.Kg1 {The White king has found safety in the kingside castle,
}
{so Black, facing multiple shish-kabob on te c8-h3} {diagonal, fourth rank  and
}
{g-file, resigned.} {} { } 1-0

[Event "New Jersey Open Championship"]
[Site "New Jersey (USA)"]
[Date "1957.09.02"]
[Round "7"]
[White "Bobby Fischer (USA)"]
[Black "James Sherwin (USA)"]
[Result "1-0"]
[ECO "B40"]
[WhiteElo "2760"]
[BlackElo "2370"]
[Annotator "Eric Schiller"]
[Source ""]
[Remark "Kingside Attack"]

1.e4 c5 2.Nf3 e6 3.d3 {
Normally, White moves the pawn to d4 here. Fischer decides to play a "closed"
system. There will be no early skirmishes. Both players will get their pieces into the game before the real battles begin.}
Nc6 4.g3 Nf6 5.Bg2 {
The fomation on the kingside is known as a "fianchetto". The bishop sits inside
the triangle of pawns, defending important squares at f3 and h3 that were
weakened when the pawn moved up to g3. The bishop can eventually operate along
the a8-h1 diagonal, but should generally remain in place for defensive purposes.}
Be7 6.O-O O-O 7.Nbd2 {The knight moves to this square, temporarily, because the natural home at c3 is destined to be occupied by a pawn.}
{} Rb8 {
Fischer notes that Sherwin slid the rook to this square with his pinky, as if
to underline the mystery of the move. It isn't the best, however. In 1967, the
Mongolian player Miagmarsuren showed a better plan against Bobby at the Interzonal Tournament in Sousse, Tunisia.}
( 7...d5 {is the natural move in the Sicilian Defense. In this case, play would take
place in the French Defense, which normally starts 1.e4 e6. The game against Miagmarsuren continued}
8.Re1 b5 9.e5 Nd7 10.Nf1 b4 11.h4 a5 {
with play on opposite wings. The position is satisfactory for both players, who
can attack at will. If White cannot take out the enemy king, Black's queenside advances will soon lead to a superior game.}
) 8.Re1 d6 9.c3 {
This is played to prepare the advance of the d-pawn to d4. Then, if it is
captured by Black's c-pawn, White will be able to recapture with the pawn.}
{} b6 10.d4 {
This establishes the "ideal pawn center". The pawns in the center control many
important squares along the fifth rank. Black can't use those squares to
maneuver pieces. White uses a strategy of attacking on the kingside, since
Black cannot easily manuever forces into defensive positions.}
Qc7 {?!} {With this move, Black evacuates the d-file and prepares to transfer a rook to
d8, to support action in the center. The queen adds support to d5, which
already is covered by the knight at c6 and pawn at d6. But White, with a pawn
at d4, rook at e1 and knight at f3, has equal influence there.}
( 10...cxd4 11.cxd4 {and now instead of Fischer's proposed ...d5, Huebner's}
Bb7 {would lead to a modern style position with pressure} {against White's center. When the game was played,}
{such an approach would have been considerd too much} {of a concession.}
) 11.e5 {!} {
Fischer takes control of e5, and chases the knight from f6. This means that the
kingside pawns are defended only by the king himself. That's always a dangerous situation.}
{} Nd5 {
If the knight retreats to d7, then White uses the same strategy seen in the
game, and it is even worse for Black, since the knight is awkwardly placed.
Sherwin might have tried capturing the pawn and then retreating the knight.}
12.exd6 Bxd6 13.Ne4 {!} {Black is faced with a dilemma. There are no good options.}
c4 ( 13...Be7 14.c4 Nf6 15.Bf4 {skewers Black's queen and rook.} )
( 13...cxd4 14.Nxd6 Qxd6 15.c4 {!} Nf6 {(or ...Nde7)} 16.Bf4
{is a variation on the same theme.} ) 14.Nxd6 Qxd6 {
Black has parted with the useful dark square bishop and is left with a "bad
bishop" at c8. Perhaps the remaining bishop can be used on the a8-h1 diagonal,
eventually, but Black can't afford slow plans if his kingside is under attack. So Bobby starts to move in for the kill.}
15.Ng5 {!} {The knight stares menacingly at h7.} {} Nce7
{Sherwin rushes his knight to the kingside, to help with the defense. This is a
wise strategy, in general. In this particular position, Black should definitely kick out the invading knight right away.}
{?} 16.Qc2 {!} {
The queen is a long range piece and can attack as effectively from c2 as from
h5, where it might get chased away by ...Nf6. Fischer threatens immediate checkmate at h7.}
Ng6 17.h4 {The pawn plays a major role in the attack. It threatens to chase the enemy knight from g6, allowing checkmate at h7.}
Nf6 {} 18.Nxh7 {!} {
Fischer does not hesitate to sacrifice the knight. He was able to calculate all
the possible defenses, of course. For mere mortals, the calculations might be
difficult, but all you really need to see is that Black will not be able to
control f4, and that means that White will get a bishop there, and win material at some point.}
Nxh7 19.h5 {The knight must move and White gains access to the critical square.}
Nh4 20.Bf4 Qd8 {
White could now simply capture the rook at b8, but then Black would eliminate
the bishop at g2 and White's king might find himself in some danger. Fischer is
intent on a kingside attack, and cannot be bought off by mere material.}
{} 21.gxh4 {!} Rb7 {!} {
A clever move. Black offers the rook to the White bishop at g2. This bishop is
needed for defense, so Bobby resists the temptation and continues with the attack.}
22.h6 {!} {Black is faced with a difficult decision. Bobby does have}
{a way of making opponents feel uncomfortable!} Qxh4
( 22...g6 23.h5 {is hopless.} ) ( 22...f5 {is proposed by Huebner but after}
23.Bxb7 Bxb7 24.f3 {!} {White can bring the queen to defend the kingside, and th}
{consequences of capturing at f3 are disastrous.} Bxf3 25.Re3
{!} Be4 26.Qh2 {and soon the rook at a1 will join the battle and finish}
{things off.} ) 23.hxg7 {!} {The second of the three barrier pawns is removed. Black is going to have to defend the king with more important pieces.}
Kxg7 {?} {Black missed a trick here. By moving the rook to d8, the White pawn could be
used as a shield against attack! Sometimes an enemy piece can actually help defend.}
24.Re4 {Fischer uses a "rook lift" to get the rook to a position where it can joing the
attack. Once the bishop moves from f4, the rook can move along the fouth rank.
If Black isn't careful, the game will be over quickly after the bishop moves to
e5 with check. Black has to do something about the check, so White will then
capture the queen at h4. This tactic is known as a "discovered attack".}
{} Qh5 25.Re3 {
Since Sherwin didn't fall for the trick, and still covers g4, the rook slides
back, ready to slip over to the g-file or h-file.} f5 {
Necessary, to enable the king to flee to the center without leaving the knight
at h7 subject to attack. The threat was simply Rh3.} 26.Rh3 Qe8
27.Be5+ {Once again, Fischer rejects the materialistic win of the exchange, this time
via Bh6+, in favor of a continuing attack. He could even have grabbed two
exchanges, capturing at b7 as well. But then he wouldn't be able to use the
attacking force of his bishops. The bishops are just as strong as the rooks.}
{} Nf6 {The only move.} ( 27...Kg8 28.Rg3+ Kf7 29.Rg7# )
28.Qd2 Kf7 29.Qg5 Qe7 ( 29...Ke7 30.Rh7+ {wins. The knight at f6 is pinned, so the rook cannot be captured.}
Rf7 31.Qxf6+ {!} {Here it is the rook at f7 that is pinned by its counterpart at h7.}
) 30.Bxf6 Qxf6 31.Rh7+ {White is going to pick off the Black rook at b7, after the queens come off.}
Ke8 32.Qxf6 Rxh7 ( 32...Rxf6 33.Bxb7 Bxb7 34.Rxb7 {leaves Black a rook down.}
) 33.Bc6+ {
Sherwin resigned, because if the bishop interposes at d7, White simply plays
Qxe6+ and the queen cannot be captured because the bishop is pinned.}
{} { } 1-0

[Event "Capablanca Memorial"]
[Site "Havana (Cuba)"]
[Date "1965.06.26"]
[Round "2"]
[White "Bobby Fischer (USA)"]
[Black "Vassily Smyslov (RUS)"]
[Result "1-0"]
[ECO "C77"]
[WhiteElo "2760"]
[BlackElo "2620"]
[Annotator ""]
[Source ""]
[Remark ""]

1.e4 e5 2.Nf3 Nc6 3.Bb5 a6 4.Ba4 Nf6 5.d3 {Fischer was a fan of some of Steinitz's opening ideas.}
{Here he borrows another plan from First World} {Champion. The opening strategy is not very ambitious,}
{but Bobby probably wanted to sidestep special opening} {analysis preapred by the Soviet "team".}
d6 6.c3 Be7 7.Nbd2 O-O {Smyslov is following traditional principles of}
{development and has a very solid position. Fischer has} {chosen to delay castling, and takes advantage of the}
{vacancy at f1 to reposition his knight at f1, heading to} {g3. This maneuver is usually seen only after White has}
{castled and shifted the rook to e1.} {} 8.Nf1 b5 9.Bb3
d5 {Bobby criticised this move as a waste of time, but it is}
{considered just as good as the alternative strategy with} {...Na5 and ...c5. White has spent enough time shuffling}
{the knight that the maneuver d7-d6-d5 doesn't hurtl} {Indeed, Black is just two moves away from connecting}
{the rooks and completing developmntm while White has} {at least four steps to go. In addition, Black often plays}
{the pawn first to d6, then to d5, in many variations. So} {Smyslov's choice is correct, despite Bobby's}
{misgivings.} 10.Qe2 dxe4 {Fischer claimed that this move opens the position}
{prematurely, but decades later, it remains the main line.} {Indeed, Black is ahead in development and therefore}
{benefits from a more open game. Bobby may have} {thought that such play by Black is a bit impudent, but his}
{choice of a slow opening plan opened the door.} 11.dxe4 Be6
{!?} {A bold choice by Smyslov, who offers Fischer the} {chance to double Black's pawns. However, Smyslov}
{had good intuitions about such things, and the decision} {is correct.}
12.Bxe6 fxe6 13.Ng3 Qd7 14.O-O ( 14.a4 {leads to a messier position and during the game Fischer}
{regretted that he didn't strolled down that path.} ) Rad8 {Black owns the d-file, and will use it to exchange}
{queens. The resulting endgame is not in White's favor,} {despite Black's doubled pawns.}
{} 15.a4 Qd3 {!} 16.Qxd3 Rxd3 17.axb5 axb5 18.Ra6 {!} {This has to be played right away, as otherwise Black}
{can play ...Bc5 and retreat to b6, eliminating the} {pressure on the 6th rank.}
Rd6 {This sets up a nice trick. Black can play ...Nd4, leading}
{to a series of exchanges which eliminate any difficulties.}
19.Kh1 {!} {Fischer anticipates Smyslov's plan and shifts his king to}
{the corner, out of the checking range of a knight at d4.} {}
Nd7 {?!} {Here, and at the next turn, Smyslov had a chance to
}
{take the initiative on the queenside by advancing the
}
{pawn to b4. Black's pawn at b5 is weak, but it is not
}
{under attack. Still, it is usually a good idea to get rid of
}
{weaknesses. Fischer doesn't manage to exploit this one
}
{for a long time, but in the end it is a significant cause of
}
{Blacki's demise.} 20.Be3 Rd8 {?} {!} 21.h3 {?!} {Fischer wrote that at the time he just did'nt appreciate}
{the importance of the queenside situation. He could} {have easily cemented his target by playing b4, but}
{doesn't get around to it until move 26.} h6 {Yet another opportunity for ...b4 slips by, and there}
{won't be many more.} 22.Rfa1 {By doubling rooks on the a-file, Bobby prepares to}
{invade Black's home rank.} Ndb8 {Smyslov unleashes his own rook battery with the same}
{goal.} 23.Ra8 Rd1+ 24.Kh2 Rxa1 25.Rxa1 {} Nd7 {?} {This was Smyslov's last chance to push the pawn. When}
{he spoke to Fischer after the game by telephone} {(Fischer had to play from New York, as he was not}
{allowed to travel to Cuba), he already knew that it was} {his strategic mistake that cost him the game.}
26.b4 {!} {Finally Bobby catches on, and insures that the weak}
{pawn will remain in place.} Kf7 {Black supports his weak pawn at e6 with the king. This is}
{appropriate in the endgame, where the absence of} {queens makes it hard for White to mount any serious}
{attack on the king.} 27.Nf1 {Rarely does the Spanish knight backtrack to the}
{queenside via its pivot square at f1! However, the action} { lies on the queenside, so the knight must get over}
{there somewhere.} Bd6 28.g3 {Fischer liked to play with the initiative, but he always}
{appreciated the iportance of taking time to understand} {enemy threats and put an end to them. Black's arsenal}
{included the possibility of ...Nd4, since if White captures}
{it with the c-pawn, Black can recapture with the e-pawn,} {delivering a discovered check to the enemy king and}
{picking off the bishop at e3. So Bobby planted the pawn} {at g3 to eliminate such tricks.}
Nf6 29.N1d2 Ke7 30.Ra6 {This forces Smyslov to set up a very passive, defensive}
{position. He was already getting a bit depressed about} {his chances in the game.  Though the posiiton doesn't}
{look all that bad, White's initiative is deadly.} {} Nb8
31.Ra5 {!} c6 {Another small weakness is created, The sum of Black's}
{little weaknesses is a big problem.} 32.Kg2 Nbd7 33.Kf1 {In the endgame, the king usually belongs in the center}
{so that it can operate on either flank.} Rc8 {?} {A more active plan was availalbe,m and this is just too}
{oassive.} ( 33...Ne8 {!} {was the right move. The idea is to bring the knight to}
{c7, then offer an exchange of rooks with ...Ra8. White} {still has a nagging advantage, but the game is not}
{beyond salvation.} ) 34.Ne1 {!} {Bobby spots the knight retreat first, and quickly}
{prepares to get his knight to d3, after which the c-break} {will be effective. Black no longer has time to carry out}
{the defensive maneuver mentioned in te previous note,} {though he does try.}
Ne8 35.Nd3 Nc7 36.c4 {!} {This perfectly timed break leads to a winning position.}
{Black uis just too tied down. Fischer keeos adjusting the} {belts and chains while he establishes a powerful passed}
{pawn on the queenside.} {} bxc4 37.Nxc4 Nb5 38.Ra6 {Black's weak pawns are under tremendous pressure.}
Kf6 {The Black king is tethered to the e-pawn, which needs} {defense. There was no aleternative.}
( 38...Nb8 39.Ra8 Nc7 {gets demolished by} 40.Nxd6 {!} Kxd6 41.Bc5+
Kd7 42.Nxe5+ {and if} Kd8 {there is the neat tactical trick}
43.Rxb8 {!} Rxb8 44.Nxc6+ Kc8 45.Nxb8 Kxb8 46.Bd6 {when the exchange of minor pieces leads to an easy}
{winning king and pawn endgame.} ) 39.Bc1 {!} {The bishop is repositioned so that it can strike at the}
{weak pawn at e5.} Bb8 40.Bb2 c5 41.Nb6 {Inefficient, but the game is going to be a win in any case.}
( 41.Ra5 {!} cxb4 42.Ncxe5 {might well have forced resignation.} )
Nxb6 42.Rxb6 c4 43.Nc5 c3 {Smyslov resigned without waiting for Fischer to retreat}
{the bishop to c1. Then the threat is not just at e6, but} {also a major fork at d7, hitting the king and bishop at b8.}
{} {} 1-0

[Event "World Championship Match"]
[Site "Reykjavik (Iceland)"]
[Date "1972.07.27"]
[Round "8"]
[White "Bobby Fischer (USA)"]
[Black "Boris Spassky (FRA)"]
[Result "1-0"]
[ECO "A39"]
[WhiteElo "2785"]
[BlackElo "2660"]
[Annotator "Eric Schiller"]
[Source ""]
[Remark "Exchang sacrifice, fork"]

{This game shows Fischer using a standard fork tric to trip up a World Champion in the title match!} 1.c4
c5 2.Nc3 Nc6 3.Nf3 Nf6 4.g3 g6 5.Bg2 Bg7 6.O-O O-O {The symmetrical variation of the English Opening is a}
{flexible formation. Both sides have the option to place a} {pawn in the center at almost any time, though they can}
{also develop more modestly. In this game, White} {decides to grab a piece of the center.}
{} 7.d4 {Naturally Bobby chooses the most aggressive} {continuation.}
cxd4 8.Nxd4 Nxd4 9.Qxd4 d6 10.Bg5 {Fischer explores less familiar territory than the}
{then-common 10.Qd3.} Be6 {It is more common for Black to kick the bishop  with}
{...h6. Fischer doesn't give Spassky a second chance.} 11.Qf4
{Black was threatening to move the knight to d5,
} {exposing the queen to attack. So Bobby shifts it, also}
{stopping Black from kicking th bishop. He also
} {prepares to infiltrate at h6 when convenient.}
Qa5 {Black should probably have chosen ...Rab8} {immediately.}
{} 12.Rac1 {Both sides have almost completed development. The}
{rooks can see each other, and all that remains is to} {centralize one of them. The rook moves to protect the}
{knight, so that White
} {can later play b3, supporting the pawn at c4.}
Rab8 13.b3 Rfc8 14.Qd2 a6 15.Be3 {Both sides have completed development, so}
{maneuvering and repositioning pieces is not a waste of} {time. It isn't clear how Black should proceed, but there}
{is general agreement that Spassky over-reached a bit} {with his next move.}
{} b5 {?} {It is clear that Black must play on the queenside, but
}
{commentators were quick to offer a whole slew of
}
{alternatives. The problem with the move is that it opens} {up the long diagonal, so that the White bishop at g2}
{becomes even more powerful.} ( 15...Rc7 16.Rfd1 Rbc8 {=} {Gligoric} )
( 15...Bd7 16.Ba7 Ra8 17.Bd4 Bc6 18.e4 b5 {=} {Smyslov} )
( 15...Qh5 {Flohr} ) 16.Ba7 {!} bxc4 {Spassky of course did not overlook the loss of his rook}
{for the enemy bishop. He felt that his pressure on the} {queenside would be sufficient compensation. However,}
{it turns out that the exchange sacrifice is a bad strategy}
{in this position, as White has more resources than might} {appear at first glance.}
( 16...Ra8 {would yield the rook to White's other bishop. It might}
{seem logical to want to get rid of the light square} {bishop, but in fact White's dark square bishop could}
{then retreat to take up a powerful post at d4.} ) 17.Bxb8 Rxb8
18.bxc4 Bxc4 19.Rfd1 {Surely both sides were able to calculate this position}
{back when Spassky played 15...b5. I suspect that} {Spassky, when he actually reached this position, knew}
{that his strategy had failed, and perhaps that explains} {his blunder on the next move.}
{} Nd7 {??} {Black's position is in bad shape, but Spassky's choice is}
{suicidal.} ( 19...Kf8 $16 {Gligoric} ) ( 19...Be6 $16 {Flohr} )
( 19...Qe5 20.Rb1 Rxb1 21.Rxb1 h5 $14 {Krogius} ) ( 19...Qh5
$14 {Smyslov} ) 20.Nd5 {!} {Because Black's bishop at c4 is still under attack, this}
{move is simply devastating. All Spassky can do now is} {try to find the path of greatest resistance. Perhaps his}
{morale was broken, but he rolled over like a circus} {animal.}
Qxd2 {?} {This leads by force to an endgame so bad that no player}
{in their right mind should even consider it. But what else}
{was there?} 21.Nxe7+ Kf8 22.Rxd2 Kxe7 23.Rxc4 Rb1+ 24.Bf1 {White is up the exchange (rook for knight) and has a
}
{better pawn structure. As this was a World
} {Championship match, Spassky bravely fought on, but
}
{the situation is already hopeless.} {} Nc5 25.Kg2 a5 {!}
{If there is any hope, it lies on the a-file.} 26.e4 Ba1 {This is played to keep the bishop alive after Black plays}
{...f6, which will be necessary in the battle over e5.} 27.f4
f6 28.Re2 Ke6 29.Rec2 Bb2 30.Be2 h5 {?!} {The weaklening of the kingside was not needed, though}
{Black is unlikely to survive in any case.} 31.Rd2 Ba3 {The only question here is whether Spassky can survive}
{to reach time control at move 40, adjourn the game and} {resign out of public sight. Fischer shows no compassion}
{and finishes off the game efficiently.} {} 32.f5+ {!} gxf5
33.exf5+ Ke5 ( 33...Kxf5 34.Rxc5+ {!} dxc5 35.Bd3+ Ke5 36.Bxb1
{with an extra rook for White.} ) 34.Rcd4 Kxf5 35.Rd5+ Ke6 36.Rxd6+
Ke7 37.Rc6 {Black resigned. Although down only an exchange, Black}
{will now lose the h-pawn, and White's h-pawn will} {become a queen before too long.}
{} { } 1-0

[Event "World Championship Match"]
[Site "Reykjavik (Iceland)"]
[Date "1972.07.23"]
[Round "6"]
[White "Bobby Fischer (USA)"]
[Black "Boris Spassky (FRA)"]
[Result "1-0"]
[ECO "D59"]
[WhiteElo "2785"]
[BlackElo "2660"]
[Annotator "Eric Schiller"]
[Source ""]
[Remark "weak pawns"]

1.c4 {Fischer was a devotee of 1.e4 and rarely strayed. For}
{his World Championship challenge he decided to use} {the English Opening.}
e6 {This defense, sometimes known as the Agincout} {Defense, is used by Black to more or less force the}
{game into a standard Queen's Gambit Declined. Black} {will next advance the pawn to d5. White usually puts a}
{pawn at d4 to prevent the Black pawn from advancing} {further.}
2.Nf3 {After 2.d4, Fischer would have many choices. He could}
{have switched back to a Nimzo-Indian approach with} {2...Nf6, perhaps later switching to a Benoni (...c5) or}
{Queen's Gambit (...d5). It is unlikely that the Kangaroo} {(2...Bb4+) would have hopped on the World}
{Championship board, but we'll never know.} d5 3.d4 {So, the Queen's Gambit it is.}
Nf6 {Fischer was not a fan of Tarrasch's 3...c5.} 4.Nc3 Be7 5.Bg5
O-O 6.e3 {The game follows the traditional pattern. Both sides}
{develop their forces quckly, not aiming for early attacks} {against the enemy king.}
{} h6 {A useful move, because it not only kicks out an enemy}
{invader, but also makes a little escape square for the} {king.}
7.Bh4 {Fischer liked bishops and was not inclined to exchange}
{his for the knight at f6.} b6 {Savielly Tartakower's plan, which has been a major}
{defensive plan for a long time. Black will fianchetto the} {bishop at b7, and then can open a line for the bishop by}
{exchanging his pawn at d5 for the White pawn at c4.} 8.cxd5
{} Nxd5 {Black captures with the knight, because it will be able to}
{get out of the way, once the bishop lands at b7.} 9.Bxe7 {This exchange foils Black's strategy, to some extent.}
Qxe7 {Capturing with the knight is considered inferior.}
( 9...Nxe7 10.Bd3 Bb7 11.Rc1 {!} {leaves Black with some problems on the c-file.}
) 10.Nxd5 exd5 {It seems that the bishop won't have much of a future at}
{b7, but now it can easily move out along the c8-h3} {diagonal.}
11.Rc1 {It still makes sense for White to work along the c-file.}
{Hiwever, Bloack will be able to advance the pawn from} {c7 to c5, where it can be well supported.}
Be6 {This looks like a passive position for the bishop, but for}
{the moment it defends the pawn and allows Blackl to get} {a rook to c8. Black could have gotten queens off the}
{board with 11...Qb4+ 12.Qd2 Qxd2+ 13.Kxd2 but that} {endgame is miserable for Black because of pressure on}
{the c-file, a more central king and much more useful} {bishop.}
{} 12.Qa4 c5 13.Qa3 {White pins the pawn at c5, adding to the pressure. Black}
{is prepared, however,.} Rc8 14.Bb5 {Fischer uses the plan designed by the Soviet star}
{Semyon Furman. It is not really superior to simply placing}
{the bishop at e2. At b5, it can be chased away by ...a6.} {Black should be careful about the timing of the move,}
{however.} a6 {A bit too automatic. Spassky needed to be a bit bolder.}
( 14...Qb7 {!} {is the correct move. It is a pawn sacrifice, introduced}
{the following year in a game between Jan Timman and} {Yefim Geller in the Dutch town of Hilversum.}
15.dxc5 bxc5 16.Rxc5 Rxc5 17.Qxc5 Na6 {Black has a strong initiative, and White's game quickly}
{fell apart.} ) 15.dxc5 bxc5 16.O-O {White finally castles, but late castling is typical in the old}
{Queen's Gambits because Black has no way of getting} {at White's king early in the game.
}
{We now have the famous "hanging pawn" position.} {Black's pawns are not easy to defend, because there}
{are no neighboring pawns to help out. At the same time,} {however, they control four very important squares and}
{limit White's scope of operations in the center of the} {board. Such unbalanced pawn structures have both}
{strengths and weaknesses. It is important to know how} {to handle these positions, but it is a rather advanced}
{topic. You'll see a few of the main ideas illustrated in this}
{game.} {} Ra7 {?!} {In some ways, this is a very natural move, unpinning the}
{a-pawn and allowing the rook to get to the center. This} {plan turns out to be insufficent to obtain equality for}
{Black.} ( 16...Qa7 {!?} 17.Ba4 a5 {!} 18.Qb3 Nd7 19.Bxd7 Qxd7
{is correct, as was later demonstrated in Makarychev vs.} {Sturua, played at the "Spartakiad" in  Moscow 1979.}
) 17.Be2 Nd7 {This is actually the first new move of the game!}
( 17...a5 18.Rc3 Nd7 19.Rfc1 Re8 20.Bb5 Bg4 21.Nd2 d4 22.exd4
cxd4 23.Qxe7 Rxe7 24.Rc8+ {gave White a great position in the game Furman}
{vs. Geller, Moscow 1970. So Bobby was putting the} {"enemy" Russian ideas to good use!}
) 18.Nd4 {!} {
Fischer exploits the pin on the c-pawn to bring the knightto a powerful
position. It can later go to b3, adding yetanother attacker to the battle at c5.}
{} Qf8 {The queen retreats so that she is defended. Both of}
{White's pins are broken, now that the rook at c8 is} {defended, too.}
( 18...Nf6 {was the consensus choice of the analysts after the
}
{game. Former World Champion Mikhail
} {Tal contributed to the discussion.}
19.Nb3 Nd7 20.Rc3 {was evaluated by Tal as better for White.} )
19.Nxe6 fxe6 20.e4 {!} {The moment of truth has arrived. The pressure on the}
{pawns has built to the point where one of them simply} {must move forward. This is what the holder of hanging}
{pawns hates most. The pawns should only be advanced} {at the proper time, when the advance has a great}
{effect. Once one pawn advances, it's companion is leaft} {as a backward pawn, which is usually very weak. So by}
{forcing one of the pawns to move forward, Fischer gains} {a position and a psychological victory.}
{} d4 {?} {The wrong choice. True, leaving the pawns in place}
{would lead to trouble, but it was the c-pawn which} {should have stepped forward.}
( 20...dxe4 {leaves both e-pawns very weak. White's bishop can use}
{the extra space.} 21.Qe3 {!} Qf5 22.Rc4 Nf6 23.Rfc1 Rac7 24.R1c2
{followed by ...Qc1, and soon both the c-pawn and} {a-pawn will fall.}
) ( 20...c4 {was best, though White would still have a lot of pressure}
{after} 21.Qh3 Qf7 22.Bg4 Re8 23.exd5 exd5 24.Rfe1 Rxe1+ 25.Rxe1
Nf8 {as analyzed by Tal.} ) 21.f4 {White has a substantial advantage. The White pawns,}
{which are easily supported, are strong. Black now} {suffers from a backward pawn at c5.}
Qe7 22.e5 {!} Rb8 {
The best chance. White is prevented from playing Qb3, pinning the pawn at e6
and creating the threat of advancing the f-pawn to f5.} 23.Bc4
{!} {One backward pawn is blockaded and another is pinned.} {In addition, a third week pawn is attacked! Quite an}
{achievement for a single move!} {} Kh8 ( 23...Nb6 {03On}
{White would have been able to obtain a great game with} 24.Qb3
{Tal pointed out that this is much stronger than grabbing the weakling at c5, though that would also be in White's favor.}
) 24.Qh3 Nf8 {If Black captures at b2, he finds himself in a lost endgame.}
( 24...Rxb2 25.Qxe6 {!} Qxe6 26.Bxe6 {Black's connected passed pawns are easy to stop. For}
{example,} d3 27.Rfd1 d2 28.Ra1 ) 25.b3 a5 26.f5 {The opening of the f-file spells doom for Black.}
{} exf5 27.Rxf5 Nh7 {Spassky sets a little trap. If Bobby infiltrates with the}
{rook, then 28...Ng5 will be an embarrassing fork. In} {addition, if the pawn advances to e6, Spassky can plant}
{the knight at f6 and set up a solid defense.} 28.Rcf1 {Bobby doesn't fall for such tricks. He knows that Black's}
{position is so passive, and the pawns are so weak, that} {he can patiently build up the position.}
{!} Qd8 29.Qg3 Re7 30.h4 {!} {This takes away the only square available to the knight,}
{which is now in total exile on the rim.} {} Rbb7 31.e6
Rbc7 32.Qe5 Qe8 ( 32...d3 33.R5f3 d2 34.Rd3 {would also have put an end to Spassky's hopes.}
) 33.a4 {!} {Black is running out of moves.} Qd8 34.R1f2 Qe8
35.R2f3 Qd8 36.Bd3 Qe8 37.Qe4 {!} {This sets up a nasty checkmating trick at h7. The game}
{is effectively over.} Nf6 {
} {} 38.Rxf6 {!} gxf6
39.Rxf6 {It is fitting that the point of this exchange sacrifice is to
}
{further weaken Black's pawns! Since these pawns guard
}
{ the king, it is easy for Fischer to finish him off.} Kg8 40.Bc4
Kh8 41.Qf4 {Black resigned. Checkmate can't be postponed for}
{more than 8 moves. White doesn't even have to go after} {the h-pawn, but can just set up unstoppabe threats by}
{playing Qe5.} {} { } 1-0

[Event "Interzonal"]
[Site "Sousse (Tunisia)"]
[Date "1967.10.24"]
[Round "7"]
[White "Bobby Fischer (USA)"]
[Black "Leonid Stein (RUS)"]
[Result "1-0"]
[ECO "C92"]
[WhiteElo "2760"]
[BlackElo "2605"]
[Annotator "Eric Schiller"]
[Source ""]
[Remark "Chess Informant Prize"]

1.e4 e5 2.Nf3 Nc6 3.Bb5 a6 4.Ba4 Nf6 5.O-O Be7 6.Re1 b5 7.Bb3
d6 8.c3 O-O 9.h3 {
This is the standard position of the Spanish Inquisition. White keeps the enemy
bishop off of g4, so that the knight at f3 will not be pinned. This means that
the coming advance to d4 will have plenty of support.} {}
Bb7 {This move came as a bit of a surprise, since it was, at the time, a very rare
continuation. Then, moving the knight to a5, the traditional Chigorin plan, was
still the main line. However, Stein had played the White side of the line the
previous year, and there were well known encounters between Grandmasters that
enabled both players to be somewhat familiar with it.
}
{Eventually, Black's plan with ...Bb7 paired with ...Re8 would become the main line.}
10.d4 Na5 {Moving the rook to e8 is the modern handling of the position. Black has also tried ...Qd7 here.}
11.Bc2 Nc4 {
This plan has the knight hopping all over the board. In fact, Black's got more
pieces developed than White, and the loss of time tranferring the knight,
eventually to d7, is not significant. However, given Black's intentions, it
would have been easier to use Breyer's plan 9...Nb8 and get the knight there
directly. Still, at the time, the plan used in this game was undergoing a
number of tests, and White had not been particularly successful against it.}
12.b3 Nb6 13.Nbd2 Nbd7 {
Black's position makes a solid impression. The basic strategy is to play ...c5,
perhaps after puitting a rook at c8. Fischer decides to discourage that plan.}
( 13...exd4 14.cxd4 c5 {was recommended by Fischer as  a more active plan.}
) 14.b4 {!} {This move creates a backward pawn at c4, but Fischer plans to eliminate it by advancing to c4 after a preliminary Bb2.}
{} exd4 ( 14...a5 15.Nb3 $14 ) 15.cxd4 {
Black has given up the central pawn which anchored his center, and allows
Fischer to establish the ideal pawn center with pawns at e4 and d4. Stein could
have, and should have, challenged this center immediately with ...c5.}
a5 {The pawn at b4 is deflected by a temporary pawn sacrifice. Still, this was perhaps not the best plan for Black.}
( 15...c5 16.bxc5 dxc5 17.d5 {
was dismissed by Fischer claimiing that "White's steamroller in the center is
more formidable than Black's queenside majority". Many years later, this evaluation was tested.}
Re8 18.Nf1 Bd6 19.Ng3 {
There doesn't seem to be anything better, though of course we don't have
analysis from Fischer or other Grandmasters to help evaluate the position.}
Bxg3 20.fxg3 c4 21.Kh2 Rc8 {gave Black a strong queenside inititiave in a correspondence game Hoszowski vs.  Cimicki, 1993.}
) 16.bxa5 c5 {!} ( 16...Rxa5 {is not appropriate because of}
17.d5 c5 18.dxc6 Bxc6 19.Nd4 {with a dominating position for White.} )
17.e5 {!} {Fischer improves on the simple fianchetto of the bishop, seen in Ciric vs. Robatsch, from the same year.}
{} dxe5 ( 17...Ne8 {!?} {
looks passive but the idea is to actively confront White's central pawns. The
great pawn structure theoretician Hans Kmoch wondered whether Black might run
into trouble on the queenside, where the b-pawn is weak and  White's pawn at a5 might not be removed.}
18.exd6 Bxd6 19.Ne4 {gives White a clear initiative, without the counterplay that Black is able to achieve in the game.}
) 18.dxe5 Nd5 {Now Black's other knight gets to go on a bit of a journey.}
19.Ne4 Nb4 {!} {
Black must play as actively as possible on the queenside. Although White's
kingside attack is not yet underway, you can see the storm clouds gathering.
The knights have central positions not far from the enemy king. White's Spanish
bishop at c2 aims at h7. The dark square bishop is ready to deploy and the rook
at e1 can be lifted to the third rank and transfered to the g-file. Black can
not sit back and watch while the attack develops.} 20.Bb1 Rxa5
{Black has recovered the pawn and has pressure at a2. If the a-pawn falls, White
will find it difficult to stop the advancing Black pawns. On the other hand,
all this is taking place in the distant regions of the queenside, and Fischer
isn't really concerned with that part of the board.} 21.Qe2 {!}
{} Nb6 {?} {One knight move too many. It was time for Stein to start thinking about the kingside.}
( 21...Re8 {!} {
was the correct move. The the knight, instead of wandering to the queenside,
could have been tucked away at f8 to defend the critical h7 square. Fischer
acknowledged that after this move he would not have had any advantage. The real question is, would he even have had equality.}
22.Rd1 {is countered by} ( 22.e6 {is a try but Fischer pointed out that Black can defend with}
fxe6 23.Neg5 Bxg5 24.Nxg5 Nf8 25.Qh5 g6 ) Qc7 {according to Fischer, but}
23.Neg5 {is not refuted by} Bxg5 ( 23...Nf8 {!} 24.Bb2 h6 25.Ne4
Nd5 {demonstrates the correct use of the knights. I think that White has less than
nothing in this position, and Black has all the winning chances.} )
24.Nxg5 Nxe5 25.Bxh7+ Kf8 {as some have thought because} 26.Qh5
Rxa2 27.Rxa2 Nxa2 28.Bb2 {gives White an overwhelming attack.} )
22.Nfg5 {White's knights and long-range bishops are poised for the kill. Black's forces
are merely offside. The knights on the b-file would require many moves to
reposition themselves for defense of the kingside. White's bishops at c1 and
b1, on the other hand, are ready to take an active role in the battle.}
{} Bxe4 {!} {The only move to keep Black in the game, or so Fischer thought.}
( 22...h6 23.Nh7 {!} {is crushing. For example} Re8
( 23...Kxh7 {?} 24.Nxc5+ Kg8 25.Nxb7 {forks the queen and rook.} )
24.Nhf6+ {!} Bxf6 ( 24...gxf6 {leads to a pretty checkmate.}
25.Qg4+ Kh8 26.Nd6 {!} Bxd6 27.Qf5 Kg7 28.Bxh6+ Kxh6 29.Qh7+
Kg5 30.f4+ Kxf4 31.Qh4# ) 25.Nxf6+ gxf6 ( 25...Qxf6 {
looks like a nice trick, because the queen cannot be captured thanks to the pin
on the e-file, but counting pieces reveals that after} 26.exf6
Rxe2 27.Rxe2 {Black is down the exchange with checkmate threatened on the back rank.}
) 26.Qg4+ Kf8 27.Bxh6+ Ke7 {
Here White doesn't play the "obvious" discovered check by capturing at f6, but
instead prepares to play e6, after taking away d6 as a flight square with}
28.Bf4 {!} ) ( 22...g6 {gets ripped apart by} 23.e6 {!} f5 24.Nf7
{!} {Fischer notes that White plans Bb2 "with a crushing attack". It isn't quite that simple. After}
Qd5 25.Bb2 Rfa8 {!} {It is hard to see anything special for White.} )
23.Qxe4 {} g6 24.Qh4 h5 25.Qg3 {!} {Fischer has provoked weaknesses in the Black defensive formation and is ready to unleash tricks at e6.}
Nc4 {!} ( 25...Bxg5 26.Bxg5 Qd4 27.Bf6 {!} {leads to deestruction on the dark squares. Black can't take the rook.}
Qxa1 {?} {is demolished by the beautiful} 28.Bxg6 {!} Qxe1+ 29.Kh2
{and it is mate in 4.} ) 26.Nf3 {?!} {
This is an inaccurate move order. Fischer attributes this to a power failure
that knocked out the lights as he was considering is move. Fischer should have pushed the e-pawn right away!}
( 26.e6 {!} f5 27.Nf3 {was correct. He gives the following line:}
Kg7 ( 27...Rf6 {?} 28.Bg5 Kh7 29.Bxf6 Bxf6 {looks like it regains the exchange down at a1, but White has a trick.}
30.Bxf5 {!} gxf5 31.Rad1 {followed by Rd7+.} ) 28.Qf4 Rf6 {
Fischer points out that after ...Rh8 play would transpose to the game, without
allowing Stein to adopt the defense that he overlooks in his reply.} )
Kg7 {?} {} ( 26...Nd3 {!} {
was overlooked by Stein but this would have thrown a monkey wrench into
Fischer's plans. Fischer said he was worrying about this during the power failure, after he made his move.}
27.Bxd3 {!} ( 27.Rd1 {?} Nxc1 28.Rxd8 Ne2+ 29.Kh2 Rxd8 {!} {
and White's queen remains trapped! Fischer's comment that "White has nothing"
after Black captures at c1 is quite an understatment. In fact, White loses in this line.}
) Qxd3 28.Bg5 {was what Fischer eventually came up with. There is a lot of pressure on the dark squares, for example}
Re8 29.Bxe7 Rxe7 30.Qg5 Re6 31.Rad1 Qf5 32.Qh6 {!} ) 27.Qf4 Rh8
{!} {A good defensuive strategy. Black just needs one or two moves to eliminate any
danger of White pushing the pawn to e6. The other rook can drop back to a6 and
the queen can come to d7. So Fischer realizes that he must strike immediately!}
{} 28.e6 {!} f5 {?} {A poor choice, because White's passed pawn is too strong. There was a much better plan available.}
( 28...Bf6 {!} {was correct. White would have a tough time winning, according to Fischer, who provided the following analysis.}
29.exf7 Bxa1 30.f8Q+ ( 30.Re8 Rxe8 31.Qh6+ Kxf7 32.Qxg6+ Ke7
33.Bg5+ Kd7 {leaves the Black king exposed and wins the queen, but after}
34.Bxd8 Rxd8 {
Black has two rooks and a knight for queen and pawn. White can pick off a weak
pawn or two, but doesn't have enough force to win in the middlegame.} )
Qxf8 31.Qc7+ Kg8 32.Bxg6 Nd5 33.Qb7 Nf6 34.Bf4 Rh7 {!} {, meeting the threat of Ng5 followed by Bf7+.}
35.Bxh7+ Nxh7 36.Qd5+ Qf7 37.Qxf7+ Kxf7 38.Rxa1 {White has an extra pawn and advantage of bishop against knight, but the a-pawn is weak and Black has a strong passed c-pawn.}
) 29.Bxf5 {!} {A demolition sacrifice that must be declined.}
{} Qf8 {!} ( 29...Bd6 {gets busted by} 30.e7 {!} )
( 29...gxf5 30.Qg3+ Kh7 ( 30...Kf8 31.Qg6 Qe8 32.Bh6+ Rxh6 33.Qxh6+
Kg8 34.Ng5 Bxg5 35.Qxg5+ Kh7 36.Rad1 {and Black has no defense.} )
31.Ng5+ Bxg5 32.Bxg5 Qd3 {tries to get queens off but} 33.Qc7+
Kg6 34.Qf7+ {!} Kxg5 35.Qg7+ Kf4 36.Qxh8 {and although material is even, Black can resign. The immediate threat is Qh6#.}
) 30.Be4 {?!} {There was a better way, pointed out by the British master Paul Littlewood. Fischer's move is good enough, however.}
( 30.Nh4 {!} {would have been more effecgive. Black still can't eat the piece without suffering indigestion.}
Bxh4 31.Qxh4 Qxf5 32.Qe7+ Kg8 33.Qd8+ Kg7 34.Qc7+ Kg8 35.e7 {and the passed pawn has a clear path to its promotion.}
) Qxf4 31.Bxf4 {} Re8 {?} ( 31...Rxa2 {!} {The bold capture offers the best chance of survival.}
32.Rxa2 Nxa2 33.Ne5 {looks strong, because the knight at e5 can't safely be captured. But Black has a surprising resource.}
g5 {!} 34.Bg3 Nb4 35.Nxc4 bxc4 36.Be5+ Bf6 37.Bd6 Re8 38.Bxc5
Nd3 39.Bxd3 cxd3 {is clearly better for White, but not at all easy to win.}
) 32.Rad1 Ra6 33.Rd7 {
Occupying the seventh rank usually proves deadly, and it is a good enough plan,
though Fischer could have been a bit more precise.}
( 33.Bb7 Ra7 34.Rd7 {would have been more efficient.} ) Rxe6
34.Ng5 Rf6 35.Bf3 {!} Rxf4 {Black has nothing better than to give up the exchangel}
36.Ne6+ Kf6 37.Nxf4 Ne5 38.Rb7 Bd6 39.Kf1 Nc2 40.Re4 Nd4 41.Rb6
Rd8 42.Nd5+ Kf5 {The game was adjourned here, and Fischer finished it off effectively when it was resumed.}
{} 43.Ne3+ Ke6 44.Be2 Kd7 45.Bxb5+ Nxb5 46.Rxb5 Kc6 47.a4
Bc7 48.Ke2 g5 49.g3 Ra8 50.Rb2 Rf8 51.f4 gxf4 52.gxf4 Nf7 53.Re6+
Nd6 54.f5 Ra8 55.Rd2 Rxa4 56.f6 {Black resigned before Fischer could plant the knight at d5.}
{} {} 1-0

[Event "International Tournament"]
[Site "Bled (Slovenia)"]
[Date "1961.09.04"]
[Round "2"]
[White "Bobby Fischer (USA)"]
[Black "Mikhail Tal (LAT)"]
[Result "1-0"]
[ECO "B47"]
[WhiteElo "2760"]
[BlackElo "0"]
[Annotator "Eric Schiller"]
[Source ""]
[Remark "Heavy Artillery in the Endgame"]

1.e4 c5 2.Nf3 Nc6 3.d4 cxd4 4.Nxd4 e6 5.Nc3 Qc7 {Black adopts the Paulsen setup, a defense with a}
{history that goes back well into the 19th century. The} {game can follow many different paths, but Bobby}
{chooses a plan for White which limits Black's options} {somewhat.}
{} 6.g3 Nf6 {?} {Black's move is inaccurate. Though Fischer did not take}
{up the challenge with Nb5, he can still do so. It would} {have been wiser to play ...a6 immediately, to prevent}
{that plan.} 7.Ndb5 Qb8 8.Bf4 {!} {This is the point. Because White has a pawn at g3, this}
{move is playable, and inconvenient for Black.} Ne5 {Things are already pretty bad. Blocking with the pawn}
{would have been even worse.} ( 8...e5 {would have been met by}
9.Bg5 {and then if} a6 {White would play} 10.Bxf6 gxf6 11.Na3
{Black then has to decide whether to part with the dark
}
{square bishop or play ...b5, since a White knight at c4
}
{would be very powerful.} ) 9.Be2 {White guards the weak f3 square while keeping an eye}
{on c4. Since a bishop normally goes to g2 when the} {triangle of pawns is established, this may well have been}
{overlooked by Tal. The simple threat is Qd4, with} {enormous pressure on the knight at e5.}
Bc5 {The only move, really, since it prevents White from} {carrying out the plan and prepares to evacuate the king.}
10.Bxe5 {!} {Fischer seizes the initiative and quickly establishes a}
{dominating position.} Qxe5 11.f4 Qb8 12.e5 {!} {Now if the knight retreats, White plays Ne4 and before}
{long a knight will arrive at d6 with a permanent bind on} {Black's position. So Tal ties to counterattack and drive}
{the enemy knight back.} {} a6 13.exf6 {!} {No retreat for Bobby, who picks off a pawn on the next}
{move.} axb5 14.fxg7 Rg8 15.Ne4 Be7 {Thie bishop retreats to guard the weak squares at d6}
{and f6. Black is not only a pawn down, but suffers from} {many pawn weaknesses and a horrible bishop at c8.}
16.Qd4 {The queen takes up a powerful position in the center
}
{of the board. Normally, the queen has to work from the
}
{sides, because she can be vulnerable in the center.
}
{Black no longer has any knights, and the relevant files
}
{are closed to the rooks, so here she sits comfortably.} Ra4
{It is understandable that Tal wanted to go after the} {queen, but the rook is not well placed here and Fischer}
{easily deflects the attack. So, as World Champion} {Botvinnik pointed out, it would have been better to move}
{the queen to c7 away.} 17.Nf6+ Bxf6 ( 17...Kd8 {?} 18.Qb6+ Qc7
19.Qxc7+ Kxc7 20.Nxg8 {was clearly not an option.} ) 18.Qxf6
Qc7 {Here Bobby had to make a critical decision. It is time to
}
{get the king castled, since Black's pieces are coming to
}
{life on the queenside. Many players would immediately
}
{choose kingside castling, as the king would not be under
}
{immediate attack there. However, the advance of the
}
{f-pawn has weakened the kingside. Fischer appreciated
}
{that despite the glare of the enemy rook and queen, his
}
{king would actually be much safer on the queenside,
}
{even if he has to give up the a-pawn!} {} 19.O-O-O {!}
Rxa2 20.Kb1 {The point is that b2 is defended by the queen at f6, and}
{c2 can be handled by the bishop, which can move to} {d3. Then, if the bishop captures Black's h-pawn, the}
{g-pawn may get promoted quickly.} Ra6 ( 20...Qa5 {is easily refuted by}
21.b3 {!} {The White queen then covers all the squares on the}
{a1-h8 diagonal.} ) 21.Bxb5 {?} {This is clearly wrong, but as Bobby pointed out, he was}
{intent on grabbing material so that he could finally defeat}
{his rival. He should have gone for the jugular, instead of}
{a pawn.} ( 21.Bh5 {!} {would have been crushing.} d6 22.Rhe1
Qe7 23.Qh6 {would have wrapped things up much more efficientlyu.} )
Rb6 22.Bd3 e5 {!?} {Tal offers a pawn to release the pressure. This is an}
{active defense. The discovered attack on the} {queen encourages White to capture at e5 with the}
{queen, and then after the exchange of queens Black} {can try to grovel a draw in the endgame. Bobby had}
{worked out a surprising reply.} 23.fxe5 {!} {A queen sacrifice! Bobby knew that he'd eventually win}
{the other rook, so there was no real risk. Still, it was an}
{elegant solution to the position.} {} Rxf6 24.exf6 Qc5
{If the queen goes after the pawn at f6, Fischer would just}
{have defended the pawn with a rook. Black's bishop still} {hasn't moved, after two dozen moves! There is no}
{possibility of castling, and the rook on g8 has to stick} {around to prevent White's pawn from queening. In a less}
{important game, Black might well have considered} {resigning at this point!}
25.Bxh7 Qg5 26.Bxg8 Qxf6 27.Rhf1 Qxg7 28.Bxf7+ Kd8 {With two rooks and two connected passed pawns for the}
{queen but there is no chance for survival. Tal, the} {"Magician", can't make like Houdini and escape his}
{inevitable fate.} {} 29.Be6 {The pin, combined with the possibility of Rf7, picks off}
{yet another pawn.} Qh6 30.Bxd7 Bxd7 31.Rf7 Qxh2 32.Rdxd7+ $18
Ke8 33.Rde7+ Kd8 34.Rd7+ {Fischer tosses in some checks just to make sure that}
{time control is reached. The result is a foregone} {conclusion, but is instructive in displaying some efficient}
{technique.} Kc8 35.Rc7+ Kd8 36.Rfd7+ Ke8 37.Rd1 b5 38.Rb7 Qh5
39.g4 Qh3 40.g5 Qf3 41.Re1+ Kf8 42.Rxb5 Kg7 43.Rb6 Qg3 44.Rd1
Qc7 45.Rdd6 Qc8 46.b3 Kh7 47.Ra6 {Finally, faced with checkmate or loss of the queen, Tal}
{decided to resign.} { } 1-0

[Event "Metropolitan Chess League"]
[Site "New York (USA)"]
[Date "1969.??.??"]
[Round "?"]
[White "Anthony Saidy (USA)"]
[Black "Bobby Fischer (USA)"]
[Result "0-1"]
[ECO "A25"]
[WhiteElo "2425"]
[BlackElo "2760"]
[Annotator "Eric Schiller"]
[Source ""]
[Remark ""]

{This was the only recorded game Bobby played in 1969, but it is a very
interesting. It was honored as the runner-uip in the Chess Informant voting for
the best game of the first half of 1969. Some of the notes below are based on
personal communications from Tony Saidy, who pointed out several mistakes made by previous commentators.} 1.c4
e5 {Bobby didn't mind being a tempo down in the Sicilian Defense. This is known as
the King's English, and is the boldest and sharpest reply to the English.}
2.Nc3 Nc6 3.g3 f5 {
Another aggressive choice. We now have a reversed form of the Grand Prix Attack
(1.e4 c5 2.Nc3 Nc6 3.f4), but Black has control of the d4-square, so the liberating move d4 isn't achieved immediately.}
{} 4.Bg2 Nf6 5.e3 Bc5 6.d3 f4 {The temporary sacrifice of the f-pawn is a standard part of the Grand Prix strategy, but a tempo down, it is a bit optimistic.}
7.exf4 O-O 8.Nge2 {
Although this move has been subject to criticism, it has been seen in 6 of the
8 games played to this position. Modern authorities consider it a good move,
and that Black cannot achieve full equality from the position!}
{} Qe8 9.O-O d6 10.Na4 Bd4 11.Nxd4 ( 11.fxe5 {is the right move, according to Saidy. No one has taken up his suggestion, which has been a secret for over 3 decades!}
{!} Bg4 {is a reasonable reply, but then White might consider capturing at c6 followed by Qc2.}
) exd4 12.h3 h5 {!?} {
A risky move, but White was establishing a strong kingside attack, so Fischer
had to do something to discourage a pawn advance to g4. Since that is what
Bobby was out to prevent, Saidy should have tried to achieve it somehow.}
{} 13.a3 a5 {Once again, Fischer thwarts White's plans. The pawn will not get to b4 quickly.}
14.b3 Qg6 15.Nb2 Bf5 {
Black's pieces operate effectively on the kingside and put pressure on d3, but
White has plenty of defense. In the long run, his bishop pair should prove to be an advantage.}
{} 16.Qc2 ( 16.Re1 {might have been tried. Play could be very lively after}
Nd7 17.Bf3 Bxh3 18.Bxh5 Qh7 19.Bf3 Nf6 {
which leaves Fischer with a lot of kinside power. White might be able to
operate on the c-file, with such moves as Qc2 and c5, or perhaps advance the
c-pawn to c5 right away. Tossing in the check at d5 is another interesting
option, giving up the bishop pair but opening the c4 square for the knight. For example}
20.Bd5+ Nxd5 21.cxd5 {
and because there is a White rook at e1, the knight has no good retreat. Of
course, it would take great courage to part with the great fianchetto bishop,
leaving the king with no defenders. Then again, White has more of a pawn barrier than Black.}
) Nd7 17.Re1 Nc5 18.Bf1 {White's position is unpleasantly passive. The bishops are no better than the knights.}
Ra6 {!?} {Fischer decides that the rook will play a role at b6. It will eat the pawn at b3!}
19.Bd2 Rb6 20.Bxa5 Rxb3 {} 21.Bd2 ( 21.Bb4 Nxb4 22.axb4
Rxb4 23.Ra3 {might have been considered. White gives back the pawn, but takes control of the a-file.}
) Ra8 22.a4 Ra6 23.a5 Kh7 ( 23...Nb4 24.Bxb4 Rxb4 25.Ra3 {brought White a small advantage in Karpov vs. Bellon, Madrid 1973. So clearly Karpov agreed with Saidy's strategy!}
) 24.Red1 {White is managing to defend all the weaknesses, but it under great pressure. Fischer decides to concentrate on the queenside.}
b6 {!} {?} 25.Be1 bxa5 26.Na4 {!} {
White's pawn sacrifice is followed by a blockade of the e-pawn. The pawn at d3
mut fall too, but by releasing all the tension, Saidy gains freedom to
maneuver. This was probably the best decision, though it clearly concedes the advantage to Fischer.}
Rxd3 27.Bxd3 Bxd3 28.Qa2 {!} {
The idea is that an exchange of knights will bring the queen to c4, where she
defends the pawn at c4 and puts pressure on the light squares.}
{} Nb4 ( 28...Nxa4 {would surely have been countered by}
29.Rxd3 {!} Qxd3 30.Qxa4 {wth excellent drawing chances.} ) 29.Qa3
{?} {This is where the game heads south.} ( 29.Qb2 {!} Nxa4 30.Rxa4
Bc2 {looks very impressive but after} 31.Rxa5 {!} Rxa5 32.Bxb4
Bxd1 33.Bxa5 {the bishops of opposite colors would hold the draw, unless Fischer managed to invade the kingside.}
) Nc2 {!} 30.Qb2 Nxa1 31.Rxa1 Nxa4 32.Rxa4 {If White had chosen correctly at move 29, this position would already have the rooks and a-pawn off the board!}
Qe4 {!} {A powerful centralizing move, which dooms White to defeat.}
33.Bxa5 {?} {Walking into a little combination, but the game was already beyond repair.}
Rxa5 34.Rxa5 Qe1+ 35.Kh2 Qxa5 36.Qxd4 {White resigned.} {}
{} 0-1

[Event "Sveti Stefan (match)"]
[Site "Sveti-Stefan/Belgrade (Yugoslavia)"]
[Date "1992.09.16"]
[Round "9"]
[White "Bobby Fischer"]
[Black "Boris Spassky (RUS)"]
[Result "1-0"]
[ECO "C69"]
[WhiteElo "0"]
[BlackElo "0"]
[Annotator "Eric Schiller"]
[Source ""]
[Remark "Opening prep"]

1.e4 e5 2.Nf3 Nc6 3.Bb5 a6 4.Bxc6 {The Exchange Variation is considered a major part of
}
{Fischer's opening repertoiure, and his advocacy of the
}
{line has been used to promote the Exchange Variation in
}
{various publications. In reality, he just used it from time
}
{to time, and was generally more comfortable imposing
}
{the usual Spanish Torture in the Closed Variation. In this
}
{particular game he was very well prepared, and
} {unleashed a new move which simply demolished
}
{Spassky's poition.} {} dxc6 5.O-O f6 {
This move would be odd in most circumstances, but in the Exchange Spanish it is
almost inevitable. Black has to support the e5-square, whether or not the pawn
at e5 is exchanged for a White one at d4. There is therefore no reason not to
play it right away. Notice that the usual trick at e5 does not work here.}
{} 6.d4 ( 6.Nxe5 {?} fxe5 7.Qh5+ Kd7 {and despite the exposed position of the Black king, White cannot successfully conclude the attack.}
) exd4 7.Nxd4 c5 {
This lets Black exchange queens. Then in the endgame the bishops can be
effective. A good plan, but the attack does not end when the queens leave the playing field!}
8.Nb3 Qxd1 9.Rxd1 {
White has a pawn majority on the kingside, and this can be decisive in some
endgames. Black has the bishop pair, which can wreak havoc in the middlegame if enough lines are opened.}
Bg4 10.f3 Be6 {Black provoked the weakness of the a7-g1 diagonal with this maneuever.}
11.Nc3 Bd6 12.Be3 b6 {Black's clerics are remarkably silent. Yet at the time this game was played, the position was considered quite reasonable.}
{} 13.a4 {
Now, according to Kasparov, Spassky should have played 13...Kf7 with equal
chances. The brilliant tactician and theoretician Leonid Shamkovich points out
that 13...a5 might also be playable. Shamkovich is probably right, since by
allowing the White pawn to reach a5 at the next move Spassky digs his owngrave.}
O-O-O {The books said this was a fine move, but Fischer proves otherwise.}
14.a5 Kb7 {
The whole point of the formation with pawn at f6 and bishop at d6 is to prevent
the White pawn from reaching e5. Bobby Fischer is not so easily denied!}
{} 15.e5 {!!} {
The first sign of serious trouble for Black. The pawn cannot be taken.
Curiously, this is not the first time this position has been reached. We are still in known territory.}
Be7 ( 15...fxe5 16.axb6 cxb6 17.Ne4 Bc7 {and White can win material with a small sacrifice.}
18.Nbxc5+ bxc5 19.Nxc5+ Kc8 20.Rxd8+ Bxd8 21.Nxe6 {is gruesome.} )
16.Rxd8 Bxd8 {} 17.Ne4 {
An improvement on 17.axb6 cxb6, which had been seen back in 1976. Now Spassky
blunders away the game, yet we are still following a game which was over a
decade old at the time. Spassky is a creative genius, but has never been known
as a particularly hard worker, especially in the opening.} Kc6
{??} {Spassky later said "I was thinking about 17...Bd5 and
}
{could find no advantage for White, when I suddenly got
}
{the idea to play 17...Kc6. Of course I could immediately
}
{see that in two moves, I was lost."} ( 17...Bxb3 18.cxb3 f5
19.Rd1 Ne7 20.Ng5 Nc6 21.axb6 Bxg5 22.Bxg5 Kxb6 23.Rd7 Re8 24.Rxg7
Rxe5 25.Rxh7 Re1+ 26.Kf2 Rb1 27.h4 {gave White a substantial advantage in a 1980 game}
{played by Fischer's friend Peter Biyiasas as White.} {Fischer may have known the game from Biyiasas, or}
{may have read about it in a 1992 book on the opening by} {Grandmaster Andrew Soltis, in which considerable}
{analysis of the position was published,} ) 18.axb6 cxb6 {Now the heavily defended pawn at c5 is blown away.}
19.Nbxc5 {!} Bc8 ( 19...bxc5 20.Rxa6+ Kd7 21.Nxc5+ Ke7 22.Nxe6
g6 23.Bc5+ Ke8 24.Ra8 {and White wins the bishop.} ) 20.Nxa6
fxe5 21.Nb4+ {Black resigned.} {} { } 1-0

[Event "United States Championship"]
[Site "New York (USA)"]
[Date "1963.12.22"]
[Round "6"]
[White "Fischer Robert James"]
[Black "Robert Steinmeyer (USA)"]
[Result "1-0"]
[ECO "B19"]
[WhiteElo "0"]
[BlackElo "0"]
[Annotator "Eric Schiller"]
[Source ""]
[Remark "psychology, fork"]

1.e4 c6 2.d4 d5 3.Nc3 dxe4 4.Nxe4 Bf5 {The classical Caro-Kann is a solid and respected}
{defense, favored by many strong players. Several World} {Champions used it regularly, including Smyslov, Tal, and}
{especially Karpov.} 5.Ng3 Bg6 6.Nf3 Nf6 {  It is uncommon to play this so early.}
7.h4 h6 8.Bd3 ( 8.Ne5 {!} {is a more effective move as Spassky showed in his}
{match against  Petrosian in1966.} ) Bxd3 9.Qxd3 e6 10.Bd2 Nbd7
{Play has returned to the normal main line of the Classical}
{Caro-Kann.} ( 10...Qc7 {!?} 11.c4 Nbd7 12.Bc3 {
would have transposed to Fischer - Donner, Varna Olympiad 1962, a game with
which Black was no doubt familiar, but Fischer seemed to get a very good
position there and Steinmeyer had a specific variation in mind.} )
11.O-O-O {Black now has to decide which flank will be home to his}
{king. For a long time Black almost automatically castled} {queenside after ...Qc7, as in this game. Toward the end}
{of the millennium plans with ...Be7 and kingside castling} {became much more common. The difference is one of}
{style. Opposite wing castling leads to more attacking} {play than castling on the same side.}
{} Qc7 12.c4 O-O-O ( 12...Bd6 {was preferred by Fischer, who analyzed:}
13.Ne4 Bf4 {!} {The removal of the dark square bishops would}
{solve Black's
} {opening problems.} ) 13.Bc3 {!} {Naturally Bobby sidesteps the liberating exchange. Now}
{Steinmeyer reveals his plan, but it turns out that it is} {nothing to be afraid of.}
Qf4+ {?} {Checks are often best kept in reserve. Once cashed,}
{they are gone. The queen should have stayed at c7 for} {defense.}
( 13...Bd6 {!} 14.Ne4 Bf4+ 15.Kb1 Ne5 {!} {exploits the pin on the d-file to gain equality.}
16.Nxe5 Bxe5 {=} ) 14.Kb1 Nc5 {?} {The queen should simply have returned home. But
}
{although this is a bad move, you can't blame
} {Steinmeyer. He was following a prepared line in which
}
{he had good reason to be confident.} 15.Qc2 {} Nce4 {  This position had already been reached in Shamkovich - Goldberg, USSR 1961, where White continued ineffectively.}
16.Ne5 {!} ( 16.Ba5 {?} {was played in the other game, and Steinmeyer no doubt}
{was quite pleased with the prospect of meeting that} {variation. But Fischer's improvement destroys the entire}
{variation with the q check at f4. I had a similar} {experience in a very important game, and can}
{appreciate exactly how Steinmeyer must have felt. To} {come so close to unleashing a powerful new move, just}
{to have the whole variation blown out of the water, is} {very painful.}
) Nxf2 {The knight had various captures available.} {Psychologically, Steinmeyer must already have been}
{devastated. Reacting to an unexpected opening novelty} {is always difficult. The game, previously dictated by}
{Black, suddenly is being run by White. Was this a} {prepared move by Fischer? No way for Black to know.}
( 16...Nxg3 17.fxg3 Qxg3 {would have lost to} 18.Rd3 Qf4 19.Rf3
Qe4 20.Nxf7 {as pointed out by Fischer.} ) ( 16...Nxc3+ {is handled by}
17.bxc3 {!} {The queen capture would leave the f-pawn unguarded.}
Rg8 {might have been the reply, so if the White knight grabs}
{the f-pawn, at least there isn't a fork of both rooks.} 18.Rd3
h5 19.Rf3 {is what Bobby had in mind, ready to meet} Qh6 {04with}
20.Nxf7 {forking the rook and queen.} ) 17.Rdf1 {!} {A killer pin forced Black to resign, Black resigned,}
{because of} {} Qxg3 18.Rxf2 Qe3 19.Re2 Qf4 20.Nxf7 {with a killer fork.}
 1-0

