Chapter Six
Fischer on the Endgame
Fischer is a candidate for the greatest ever endgame player, rivalling the likes of Rubinstein, Capablanca, Korchnoi and Carlsen for top honours. Fischer banged out wins if he gained even the most imperceptible of edges. He achieved this in the following ways:
1. When an opponent continually generates threats, it can feel as if he accuses us of something terrible. Fischer broke resistance by the sheer cumulative force of almost petty, irritating threats, until his opponent’s troubles piled up, like dirty dishes in a bachelor’s sink.
2. Even our most insignificant seeming inaccuracies return to us as handfuls of dust, tossed into the wind. Fischer was perhaps the most alert player who ever lived. He would just keep the position in a kind of slightly shifting stasis, until his opponent invariably got tricked into an unfavourable geometry. Fischer was aware of what happens and just as aware of what doesn’t happen in the position. His opponents sometimes became absorbed in their own schemes, only to grow oblivious of Fischer’s even more subtle plans.
A few examples from the chapter:
This is Saidy-Fischer. Fischer was already 10-0 in this U.S. Championship final game. If he won, he made history with an 11-0 sweep. White’s problem is a bad bishop, yet this single deficiency shouldn’t be enough for Black to win. Making progress in such an ending is like drawing water from a deep well, where each gain comes with agonising slowness. Fischer maximized every opportunity, eventually breaking down the defensive wall.
It’s one thing to win a drawn position against a lower-rated opponent, and quite another to pull it off against a world champion. In this position Fischer as Black later managed to trick Petrosian and take the full point, which is close to miraculous, since White probably should hold a draw even if he drops his a-pawn.
This is Fischer-Taimanov, from their Candidates’ match. Taimanov had already lost three games in a row. Surely he would hold this drawn ending? Yet a world-class player was unable to do so against Fischer’s relentless accuracy.
Game 49
R.Letelier-R.Fischer
Mar del Plata 1960
Trompowsky Attack
Rene Letelier achieved a kind of anti-fame through his well-known King’s Indian Four Pawns attack loss to Fischer, when he walked into a devastating queen sacrifice. I didn’t put that game into the book – mainly since 80% of the readers have already seen it. Instead, I’ve included this unknown game, where Fischer’s magic is just as sweet as in his famous queen sac game.
1 d4 Nf6 2 Bg5
Rock and roll, which was emblematic of rebellion in the 1960’s, when played today, just sounds like music, without any symbolism attached to it. The Trompowsky may be a mainstream opening today, but in 1960, must have been an atonal sight for Fischer.
2 ... c5 3 c3 Qb6 4 Qb3 cxd4 5 Qxb6 axb6 6 Bxf6 gxf6 7 cxd4
Question: Who stands better?
Answer: Let’s first gather the data:
1. Black owns the bishop-pair, which may not be that great an asset in this semi-rigid structure.
2. Black leads slightly in development, since it’s his move.
3. Black has the disruptive idea ... Nc6 and then ... Nb4, with a double attack on c2 and a2, which wins a pawn. Now this isn’t all that great a tragedy for White, since Black’s doubled, isolated b-pawns make conversion a very difficult task.
4. White owns the superior pawn structure, since Black’s doubled, isolated b-pawns may prove to be a future target.
5. White eyes an occupiable hole on b5.
Conclusion: White mishandled the opening stage and overall, I would say Black gained more advantages than problems, and prefer Fischer’s side.
7 ... Nc6 8 Nf3?!
A superficial move, since White’s knight has no future on this square, mainly since e5 is covered.
Better is 8 e3! Nb4 9 Kd2 (also very playable is to ‘fall’ for Black’s combination with 9 Na3! Rxa3 10 bxa3 Nc2+, as the knight wins the a1-rook, but will also be eventually picked off, M.Sanchez Soler-J.Fluvia Poyatos, Tordera 1996; here White should play 11 Kd2 Nxa1 12 Bb5 e6 13 a4 Rg8 14 g3 Bb4+ 15 Kd3 Ke7 16 Ne2 d5 17 Rxa1 e5 18 Kc2 Bf5+ 19 Kb3 Ba5 20 Rc1 Kd6 when I don’t think White’s bishop-pair is much of an advantage in this position and chances look balanced) 9 ... Rxa2 10 Rxa2 Nxa2 11 Bc4 Nb4 12 Nc3 e6 13 Na4 (GM Eric Prié suggests 13 d5 Rg8 14 g3 Bc5 15 Nge2 Ke7 16 Ra1 d6 17 Ra8 when White has compensation for the pawn) 13 ... d5 14 Be2 Nc6 15 Nxb6 Bb4+ 16 Kc2 Ke7 17 Nf3 Ba5 18 Nxc8+ Rxc8 19 Kb3 with an approximately even ending.
8 ... Nb4 9 Kd2
Also possible is 9 Na3!? Rxa3 10 bxa3 Nc2+ 11 Kd2 Nxa1 12 e3 e6 13 Bb5 Bxa3 14 Rxa1 Bb4+ 15 Ke2 Kd8. Black’s extra pawn won’t be so easy to convert, but then again it’s extra!
9 ... Rxa2 10 Rxa2 Nxa2
So Fischer won a not-very-useful pawn. Still, it’s extra, and I would rather take his side over White’s.
11 Na3?!
The knight is passively placed here. Other options were:
a) The ambitious move 11 e4?! is too loosening. It also activates Black’s dark-squared bishop and after 11 ... Bh6+ 12 Kd1 d6 13 Nc3 Nxc3+ 14 bxc3 Bd7 15 Bd3 0-0 16 Ke2 Ra8 17 Rb1 Ra2+ 18 Kf1 Ra3 19 Rxb6 Bc8 20 Ke2 Rxc3 Black’s extra pawn offers winning chances.
b) 11 Nc3! is White’s best move, which opens the b-file: 11 ... Nxc3 12 bxc3 d5 13 e3 Bd7 (or 13 ... Rg8 14 g3 Kd8 15 Bd3 Rg7 16 Ne1 Kc7 17 Nc2 e5 18 Ra1 h6 19 Na3 Bxa3 20 Rxa3 Rg8 21 Ra8 Rd8 22 f4! exf4 23 exf4 Bd7 24 Rxd8 Kxd8 25 f5 Kc7 26 Kc2 b5 27 Kb3 Kb6 28 Kb4 Bc6 and, weirdly enough, White, a pawn down, has all the winning chances, due to his king position and superior bishop: for example, 29 g4! Bd7 30 Bf1 Be8 31 Bg2 Bc6 32 Bf3 – zugzwang – 32 ... Kc7 33 Ka5 b6+ 34 Ka6 – zugzwang once again – 34 ... Bb7+ 35 Kxb5 Bc6+ 36 Kb4! Kd6 37 Bd1 Bb7 38 Kb5 Kc7 39 Bb3 Bc6+ 40 Kb4 Bb7 41 Ba4 Kd6 42 Be8 Ke7 43 Bb5 when there may be a hidden win here for White, but I don’t see it, and was unable to make progress against Houdini) 14 Be2 Kd8 15 Ra1 Kc7 16 Ne1 e6 17 Bh5! (this tangles Black, who must take time out to defend f7) 17 ... Be8 18 Ra8 Bg7 19 Nd3 Kd6 20 Ra7 Kc7 21 Ra8 and Black is unable to convert.
11 ... d5
Fischer seizes his fair share of the centre and cuts off Nc4.
12 e3 e6 13 Nc2
Question: Why didn’t White’s knight occupy b5?
Answer: The b5-square may look pretty, yet White fails to derive any benefit from its ownership after 13 Nb5 Bb4+ 14 Kc2 Ba5 15 Kb3 Nb4 16 Be2 Ke7 17 Rc1 Nc6. Black can play for a timely ... e5 and has all the winning chances.
13 ... Nb4 14 Nxb4 Bxb4+ 15 Kc2 Bd7
The position clarifies further. Black remains up a relatively unimportant b-pawn, but also owns the bishop-pair.
16 Kb3 Bd6 17 Bd3 Ke7 18 Ra1 Rc8 19 Ra7
Of course 19 Bxh7?? is a beginner’s error which hangs a piece to 19 ... f5 when there is no defence to ... Rh8. But as we all remember, Bobby himself made an equivalently boneheaded blunder when he took Spassky’s h-pawn and self-trapped his bishop in the first game of the 1972 world championship match. Moral: Even a genius is still human, and therefore imperfect.
19 ... Bc6 20 g3 h6 21 Ra1
White has no useful plan except to go into a holding pattern.
21 ... Kd7 22 Ra7
I would think about re-routing the knight to the more flexible e2-square, with 22 Ng1.
22 ... Kc7 23 Ra1 b5
Fischer expands on the queenside, while making room for his king on b6.
24 Rc1 Kb6 25 Ra1 Bd7 26 Nh4 Rc6
Question: With his last move Fischer invited Black’s rook to infiltrate with
Ra8. If White does so, then this in turn allows Black infiltration with ... Rc1.
So the question arises: Should White play 27 Ra8, or should he just mark time?
Answer: White stands irresolute, with one foot facing West and the other facing East. Our mind tumbles from conjecture to conjecture, without knowing if one wins and the other loses. Both lines are difficult for White, so neither choice can be correctly labelled an error. However, in such situations we evaluate the lines from a perspective of degree, in which case 27 Ra8?! makes life much harder for White than simply shuffling.
27 Ra8?!
A move played with the philosophy: To back down now would be akin to a confession of weakness. The stars feel improperly aligned for this to work. White should avoid the temptation to infiltrate. When both Plans A and B are unsatisfactory, then pick the one you feel will have the higher probability of success.
GM Eric Prié suggests the following plan for White: 27 Rd1 Kc7 28 Ra1 Ra6! 29 Rc1+ Kb6 “followed by ... Ra8 and ... b4 with the idea ... Ba4+,” writes Prié.
White can also try 27 Be2. Dullness and peace is the thing which drives the higher-rated player mad with frustration. Of all the plans we formulate, survival is the most primal. White’s last move is made with the philosophy: When a monster sleeps, it’s best not to wake it when you pass by. The intent is to tie Black down to defence of f7. However, after 27 ... Kc7 (intending ... Ra6) 28 Bh5! (tying Black down to the defence of f7) 28 ... Ra6! (Black should let f7 go to activate his queenside; 28 ... Be8 29 Ra8 Kd7 30 Be2 Rb6 31 Ng2 Ke7 32 Ne1 f5 33 Nc2 Ra6 is met with 34 Rxe8+! Kxe8 35 Bxb5+ Rc6 36 Nb4 Kd7 37 Nxc6 with a drawn ending, while after 33 ... b4 34 Ne1 I couldn’t find a way to make progress for Black) 29 Rxa6 bxa6 30 Bxf7 a5 Black’s queenside pawn majority, space advantage and bishop-pair offer serious winning chances.
27 ... Rc1! 28 Rh8?!
If you laboured hard to sow the seeds and till the fields, then it’s a bad idea to go on vacation during the month of harvest. An inaccuracy, which leaches resources from where they are most needed.
White gains a precious tempo with 28 Rd8!. An army marches its troops only as fast as its slowest troops. This move slows Black down by drawing his king one file down the board. Still, it may not be enough to save the game after 28 ... Kc7 29 Rh8 b4!:
a) 30 Rxh6? Kb6! when White has to take his chances with 31 Rh8 (31 Rxf6?? Ka5 32 Ka2 b3+! 33 Kxb3 Ba4+ 34 Ka2 Kb4! and White’s king is doomed) 31 ... Ra1 32 Kc2 Ba4+ 33 Kd2 Rd1+ 34 Ke2 Rh1 35 Ng2 Bd1+ 36 Kd2 b3 37 Kc3 e5 38 Rd8 Kc7 39 Rh8 Kc6 40 Rc8+ Bc7, but here he is busted, since he is unable to defend his kingside pawns. If 41 Rh8?? Ba5 mate.
b) 30 Rh7! Be8 31 Rxh6 Ra1! 32 Kc2 f5 33 Rh7 Kb6 34 Nf3 Ba4+ 35 b3 Ra2+ 36 Kc1 Rxf2 37 bxa4 Rxf3 38 Rxf7 Rxe3 when Black’s passed b-pawn and active king offer serious winning chances.
28 ... b4! 29 Rxh6?
There is nothing more stressful than to be a poor person, living among the rich. Ah, yes, when tempted, we all speak the universal language of cash. White can’t afford this time loss, and now his counterplay trails breathlessly in the wake of Fischer’s mounting efforts to checkmate White’s king.
Prié’s suggestion 29 Nf3! puts up greater resistance, but fails to save White in the long run: 29 ... Rd1! 30 Kc2 (30 Be2?? Ra1 31 Kc2 Ba4+ 32 b3 Ra2+ wins) 30 ... Ba4+ 31 b3 Bxb3+! (deflection/overloaded defender) 32 Kxb3 Rxd3+ 33 Kc2 Ra3 34 Kb2 b3! 35 Ne1 (or 35 Rxh6?? Kb5 36 Rxf6 Kb4 37 Rxf7 Ra2+ 38 Kb1 Kc3 39 Rxb7 Rxf2 40 Ne5 Rf1 mate) 35 ... Kb5 36 Nd3 Kc4 37 Nc1 Ra6 (intending ... Ba3+) 38 Rxh6 Ba3+ 39 Kb1 b2 40 Na2 Kb3 41 Rh8 Bb4 42 Rb8 Rxa2 43 Rxb7 Ra1 mate.
Exercise (combination alert/planning): A winning idea tends to be an item of limited duration. Miss it, and it moves past us, never to return. Black to play and win.
Answer: Mating net. Facts tend to be soberingly unpleasant to our fantasies. Now it becomes clear that the loss of Black’s kingside pawns is irrelevant to his mating attack project on the other side of the board.
29 ... Ka5!
Black’s goal, which once felt so far off, now appears tantalizingly close. Fischer follows Steinitz’s advice: The king is a fighting piece (especially in the ending). Use it.
30 Ka2
Avoiding 30 Rxf6?? Ba4+ 31 Ka2 b3 mate.
Exercise (combination alert): How did Fischer weave his mating net?
Answer: Attraction.
30 ... b3+!
An ancient Roman saying declares: “Money is the sinew of war.”
31 Kxb3 Ba4+ 32 Ka2 Kb4!
“For too long you have pried into affairs which do not concern you,” rages White’s king, to his meddling b4 brother, who continues to come and go as he pleases. Black threatens mate on the move.
33 b3 Bxb3+ 34 Kb2 Rd1 35 Bb1 Rd2+ 36 Ka1 Kc3! 0-1
Black threatens ... Ba3 and ... Bb2 mate. The comp found a mate one move quicker with 36 ... Kb5, but that is just nitpicking, so in a fit of anti-comp pique, I refuse to show the line! After 36 ... Kc3! 37 Rh8 (or 37 Nf3 Ba3! 38 Nxd2 Bb2 mate) 37 ... Ba3 38 Rc8+ Kb4 (now ... Bb2 mate is threatened) 39 Bh7 f5! and ... Rd1+ follows.
Game 50
R.Fischer-M.Tal
Curacao 1962
Sicilian Lowenthal
1 e4 c5 2 Nf3 Nc6 3 d4 cxd4 4 Nxd4 e5 5 Nb5 a6 6 Nd6+ Bxd6 7 Qxd6 Qf6 8 Qd1 Qg6 9 Nc3 Nge7 10 h4 h5 11 Bg5 d5 12 Bxe7 d4 13 Bg5 dxc3 14 bxc3 Qxe4+ 15 Be2 f6 16 Be3 Bg4 17 Qd3 Qxd3 18 cxd3
18 ... Bxe2
Principle: If your opponent owns the bishop-pair, remove one of them.
19 Kxe2 0-0-0
Question: Who stands better here?
Answer: Kasparov assesses as slightly in Black’s favour, perhaps due to the fact that Black owns two pawn islands, to White’s three. To my mind, this fact is somewhat negated by the fact that White’s bishop may prove to be superior to Black’s knight. I rate the chances close to even, although if given a choice, I would take Black.
20 Rad1?!
The wrong rook. Now White really does stand worse. White intends to operate in the centre and queenside, so it’s more logical to play 20 Rhd1, a move the older, more experienced Fischer would have undoubtedly played. After 20 ... Ne7 21 Rab1 Nd5 22 Rb3 Rd7 23 g3 the game remains even.
20 ... Ne7!
Tal redirects his knight to the superior square d5, where it watches over c3, e3 and f4.
21 d4?!
An impatient move, made with the air of challenge. Fischer, unwilling to defend passively, attempts to open the game for his bishop, despite the fact that he creates new weaknesses in his camp.
21 ... Nd5
Also tempting is to just hand White an isolani with 21 ... exd4 22 Rxd4.
22 Rc1
An acknowledgement that his 20th move was inaccurate.
22 ... Rhe8 23 Rhd1
23 ... f5?!
I don’t really like this move, which hands White’s bishop use of g5.
Question: What plan would you suggest instead?
Answer: After the simple 23 ... exd4! 24 cxd4+ Kd7! Black holds a clear advantage:
1. Black owns a good knight versus a bad bishop.
2. Black’s queenside pawn majority is mobile, while White’s d4-pawn is isolated and blockaded.
3. Black remains with only two pawn islands to White’s three, which include two potentially weak isolanis.
24 Bg5! Rd7
Following 24 ... exd4+ 25 Kd3?! Rd6 26 cxd4+ Kd7 Black’s powerful knight still offers him some winning chances. White does better with 25 Kf3! dxc3!? (25 ... Rd7 26 Rxd4 looks okay for White, who can eventually eject the knight with a timely c4) 26 Bxd8 Rxd8 27 Rd4 b6 28 Rcd1 Kb7! 29 a4 (certainly not 29 Rxd5?? Rxd5 30 Rxd5 c2 and Black promotes) 29 ... a5 (29 ... b5?? isn’t possible due to 30 Rxd5 Rxd5 31 Rxd5 b4 32 Ke2 b3 33 Kd3 and Black’s pawns don’t promote) 30 Rc1 Kc7 31 Rc4+ Kd7 32 Rd1 Ke7 33 Re1+ Kd6 34 Rd1 with a draw, since neither side can make progress.
25 dxe5 Rxe5+ 26 Kf3
We sense that White’s once burdensome strategic obligations begin to dwindle. We draw the following inferences:
1. Now Black must watch out for the White king’s attempts to infiltrate on the kingside.
2. Black’s d5-knight outpost has been destabilized.
26 ... Re4
I like Kasparov’s suggestion 26 ... Nc7! intending ... Ne6, challenging White’s powerfully posted bishop.
27 Rd3
Also possible is 27 c4 Nc7 28 g3 Ne6 29 c5 Nxg5+ 30 hxg5 Rg4 31 Rxd7 Kxd7 32 Rb1 Kc7 33 Rb6 Rxg5 34 Kf4 Rg4+ 35 Kxf5 which is even.
27 ... Rc4!?
Safer is 27 ... Nb6 28 Re3 Rxe3+ 29 Bxe3 Nd5 30 Bd4 g6 31 g3 Rc7 32 Ke2 b5 33 a3 Rc4 34 Kd3 Ra4 35 Bc5 Rc4 36 Bd4 when White’s rook is ready to seize the e-file and I don’t believe Black can make progress.
28 Rcd1!
Fischer offers his weak c3-pawn to make progress on the kingside.
28 ... Rxc3 29 Rxc3+ Nxc3 30 Rc1 Rc7 31 Bf4 Rc6 32 Be5
A double attack on c3 and g7.
32 ... Nd5
Question: Why didn’t Tal take the hanging
a2-pawn, after which he gets two queenside passers?
Answer: In this line White is faster in the queening race for two reasons: Superior minor piece and superior king. Let’s look: 32 ... Nxa2? 33 Rxc6+ bxc6 34 Kf4! Kd7 (or 34 ... g6 35 Kg5 Kd7 36 Kxg6 Ke6 37 Bd4 Nc1 38 Kxh5 Nb3 39 Bc3 and White’s passed h-pawn is decisive) 35 Kxf5 c5 36 g4! c4! (36 ... hxg4?? 37 Bxg7 Ke7 38 h5 Kf7 39 h6 Nb4 40 Bf6 and Black is unable to halt promotion) 37 Bxg7 c3 38 gxh5 Ke7 39 h6 Kf7 40 Bd4 c2 41 h7! c1Q 42 h8Q Qc2+ 43 Kf4 Qc1+ 44 Be3 Qc7+ 45 Kg4 Qd7+ 46 Kg3 Qd6+ 47 Kg2 Qd5+ 48 f3. The checks run out and White will convert with his h-pawn.
33 Rd1!?
When we make a move to deliberately impart information to our opponent, it’s better to impart a half-truth – but be certain it’s the important half. This is an example of Fischer’s relentless will to win, even though down a pawn, against no less a player than Tal.
White holds the draw after 33 Rxc6+ bxc6 34 Bxg7 c5 35 Ke2 and then:
a) 35 ... Nf4+ 36 Kf3 Nd5 is drawn.
b) 35 ... Kd7 36 g3 Kc6 37 f3 Kb5 38 Be5 Ne7 (Black should avoid 38 ... Ka4?? 39 g4! fxg4 40 fxg4 hxg4 41 h5 Ne7 42 h6 Ng6 43 h7 Ka3 44 Ke3 Kxa2 45 Ke4 c4 46 Kf5 when White wins the queening race) 39 Bf6 Ng6 40 Kd3 Kc6 (40 ... Kb4? 41 Ke3 and if 41 ... c4 42 g4! fxg4 43 fxg4 Nxh4 44 gxh5 Nf5+ 45 Kf4 Nh6 46 Bb2! c3 47 Bc1 c2 48 Ke5 Ng8 49 Ke6 Kc3 50 Kf7 wins) 41 Kc4 f4 42 gxf4 Nxf4 43 Bg5 Nd5 44 f4 Nb6+ with a likely draw.
33 ... Nf6!?
Now Tal risks losing. This move allows White’s king to raid Black’s kingside pawn via the dark squares. Black has a draw with the shocking temporary piece sacrifice 33 ... Kd7! (Black’s king is disinclined to be accommodating) 34 Rxd5+ (Black stands no worse after 34 Bxg7 Rc5 35 Rd2 b5) 34 ... Ke6 35 Ra5 b6 36 Rxa6 Kxe5 with a drawn ending.
34 Kf4
Now the king rudely inserts himself into the kingside conversation, and to the end of the game, never shuts up.
34 ... g6?!
Kasparov called this an “automatic” time-trouble move, the reflex defence of the pawn. He prefers 34 ... Rc2! 35 Bd4 Rxa2 36 Kxf5 b5. Now Houdini works the position out to a draw after 37 Kg6 b4 38 Kxg7 Ng4 39 f3 Rxg2 40 fxg4 Rxg4+ 41 Kf7 Rxh4 42 Ke6 Rg4 43 Kd5 h4 44 Rf1 h3 45 Rf8+ Kc7 46 Rh8. The h-pawn falls and it’s a draw.
35 f3!
Limiting the knight’s scope.
35 ... Nd7
Still playing for the win. White is unable to make progress after 35 ... Nh7! which keeps White’s king out of the kingside. Play may continue 36 Rd6 Rc4+! (White has all the winning chances after 36 ... Rxd6?! 37 Bxd6 Kd7 38 Ke5) 37 Ke3 Rc6! 38 Rxc6+ bxc6 39 Bg7 (paralyzing Black’s knight, but only temporarily) 39 ... Kd7 40 Kd4 Kd6 41 Be5+ Ke6 42 Bf4 Nf6 43 Kc5 Nd5 44 Bg5 Kd7 45 a3 Kc7 46 a4 Kd7 47 a5 Kc7 when White’s king position and superior minor piece cancel Black’s extra pawn.
36 Bd6!
With his last move, Fischer prevents both ... Ne5 and ... Nf8, renewing his grievance toward the g6-pawn. He intends Kg5 and Kxg6. Black has a choice of two plans:
Plan A: Defend passively with 36 ... b5 37 Kg5 Nb6, when White is unable to take the g6-pawn, due to ... Nc4.
Plan B: Forget about defence of the kingside pawns and go for an aggressive counterattack with 36 ... Rc2, with a double attack on g2 and a2.
Exercise (critical decision): With one plan, Black sits on the better end of a
probable draw, while he loses in the other one. Which one would you play?
36 ... Rc2?
A rash impulse is easily capable of overtaking caution, mainly since it receives its energy in a moment’s burst. To hold back on such an ‘active’ move is very much like telling a six-year-old: “You won’t be getting any gifts on your birthday or Christmas. Instead, your mother and I will put money into a mutual fund to pay for your college education.” Have you ever longed for something, gotten it, and then realized that was the precise point where all your troubles began? Tal’s natural optimism leads him astray, by jumping to a conclusion which is unable to bear its own weight. His move is based on the philosophy: If you wait for certainty to initiate action in the fog of war, you risk dying while you wait.
Answer: Tal should rein in his ambition with Plan A: 36 ... b5! 37 Kg5 Nb6 38 Bf4 (Black is the only one with winning chances after 38 Kxg6?! Nc4 39 Kxh5 Nxd6 40 g4 fxg4 41 fxg4 Kc7; White is in grave trouble and must avoid the line 42 g5? Nf5 43 g6 Nxh4! 44 Kxh4 Rxg6 when he is unable to save the game with his king cut off) 38 ... Nc4 39 Rd5 b4 40 Kh6 a5 41 Rb5 Kd7 42 g3 Ra6 43 Rc5 Rc6 44 Rd5+ Ke6 45 Rb5 Kf7 46 Kh7 and Black is unable to make progress.
37 g3!
An invading army is a useless entity if there is nobody there to fight. The a-pawn doesn’t matter. It’s crucial for White to hang on to his kingside pawns.
37 ... Re2!
Tal tries to reverse his error by transferring his rook to e6. After 37 ... Rxa2? 38 Kg5 b5 39 Kxg6 a5 40 Kxh5 b4 41 Kg6 b3 42 h5 a4 43 h6 Rh2 44 g4! (gaining a tempo by attacking Black’s rook) 44 ... Rh3 45 g5 b2 46 h7 Kb7 47 Kg7 White wins.
38 Kg5 Re6 39 Bf4 Nf8
Alternatively, 39 ... b5 40 Rd6 Nc5 41 Kh6 Rxd6 42 Bxd6 Nd3 43 Kxg6 Kd7 44 Bb8 b4 45 g4! fxg4 46 fxg4 a5 47 gxh5 a4 48 h6 b3 49 h7 b2 50 h8Q b1Q 51 Qg7+ Kc6 52 Qc7+ Kd5 53 Qd7+ Kc4 54 Qxa4+ Nb4+ 55 Kh6 Qc1+ 56 Kh5 White should convert.
40 Rd6!
Soon, every protector of g6 will be driven away.
40 ... a5 41 Kh6!
Intending Kg7.
41 ... Re2 42 Rd2!
Fischer avoids the hasty 42 Kg7? Ne6+ 43 Kxg6 Nxf4+ 44 gxf4 Rxa2 and if anyone is better, it is Black.
42 ... Re7 43 Bd6!
The sealed move. Apparently, the worst case scenario of Tal’s apprehensions turned out to be well founded. White’s bishop dominates its f8 counterpart. Fischer relentlessly chases all the defenders of g6 and converts efficiently after the adjournment analysis.
43 ... Rh7+ 44 Kg5 Rf7
Black’s rook and knight are candidates for a long stretch of penal servitude, unless they can establish their innocence. They form a symbiotic relationship, where they desperately attempt to keep the g6 base pawn alive.
45 Rb2!
Zugzwang! Fischer halts ... b5. Even more efficient is 45 f4! b5 46 Bxf8 Rxf8 47 Rd5 b4 48 Rxa5 Kc7 49 Ra4 Rb8 50 Kxg6 which wins.
45 ... f4
The more desperate we become, the sooner our barriers of reserve fall away. To an already poor man, there is no such thing as a trivial loss of income. Tal sacrifices a pawn to clear f5 for his rook.
46 Bxf4 Rf5+ 47 Kh6 b5 48 Bd6 b4 49 g4! Rxf3 50 g5! Ne6
50 ... Kd7 51 Bxf8 Rxf8 52 Kxg6 is also completely hopeless for Black.
51 Kxg6 Rd3 52 Be5 Re3 53 Kf5 Nf8 54 Rg2
Nothing can halt White’s passed g-pawn now.
54 ... Rf3+ 55 Bf4 Kd7
56 g6!
Fischer ignores Black’s ‘threat’.
56 ... Ne6 57 g7! Rxf4+ 58 Ke5 Rf8
The only way to halt White’s attempted promotion.
59 gxf8Q
Fischer rejects a golden opportunity for underpromotion with 59 gxf8N+! which, of course, leads to exactly the position he got in the game after 59 ... Nxf8.
59 ... Nxf8 60 Kd5
Black’s remaining pawns are doomed.
60 ... a4
If 60 ... Ne6 61 Rd2! Ng7 62 Ke5+ Ke7 63 Rd6 Ne8 64 Ra6 and the game is over.
61 Rg7+ Ke8
Exercise (planning): What is White’s most efficient winning plan?
Answer: Zugzwang.
62 Kd6! b3 63 a3 1-0
The futility of continuing is evident: 63 ... Kd8 64 Ra7 Ke8 65 Rxa4 Ng6 66 Rb4 b2 67 Rb8+ Kf7 68 Rxb2 Nxh4 69 a4 and the a-pawn promotes.
Game 51
A.Saidy-R.Fischer
USA Championship, New York 1964
English Opening
This was the final game of the U.S. Championship. Fischer’s score so far? An astounding 10-0. Only one question remained on everyone’s mind: could he pull off a clean sweep by winning his final game?
1 c4 c5 2 Nf3 Nc6 3 d4 cxd4 4 Nxd4 Nf6 5 Nc3 e6 6 Ndb5 Bb4 7 a3 Bxc3+ 8 Nxc3 d5 9 e3 0-0 10 cxd5 exd5 11 Be2 Bf5 12 Nb5 Qb6 13 0-0 a6 14 Nd4 Nxd4 15 Qxd4 Qxd4 16 exd4
16 ... Rac8
One glance tells us that Black’s development lead means more than White’s unimpressive bishop-pair.
17 Bd1!
Tony correctly prevents rook infiltration to c2, at the price of an awkward posting.
Question: Can he allow the rook in and still survive?
Answer: Possibly so, but such a decision to allow infiltration is psychologically difficult. Following 17 Re1 Rfe8 18 Be3 Rc2 19 b4 Bd7 (keeping open ... Bb5 possibilities) 20 Bd1 Rc3 White’s position continues to hold, yet remains both awkward and uncomfortable.
17 ... Bc2
18 Be3!?
It slows an army if the number of wounded rise.
Question: What is your objection to this move?
Answer: Multiple readings of this position are possible, with both sides being correct in their assessments. Technically, White’s move isn’t a mistake, because I feel like he should hold the draw even here. My fear is that by swapping bishops, White greatly increases his practical chances to lose. White’s move also violates the principle: When you have the bishop-pair against bishop and knight, hang on to it as long as possible. So in essence, I feel like White placed his faith in a statistically improbable option, where only a comp knows how to hold a draw.
A simpler route to the draw lies in 18 Be2!. I don’t believe Black can make progress: for example, 18 ... Bg6 (or 18 ... Bb3 19 Bf3! Rc4 20 Be3 Rc2 21 Rfb1 Rc6 22 Rc1 Rfc8 23 Rxc6 Rxc6 24 Rc1 and White should hold the draw with ease) 19 Bd1 Rfe8 (threat: ... Bd3) 20 Be3 Bc2 21 Be2 (White’s annoying bishop continually rebuffs all attempts at a swap) 21 ... Re6 22 Rfc1 Rb6 23 b4 Ne4 24 Bd1 Rbc6 25 Bg4 Rd8 26 Bf5! (the coming opposite-coloured bishops ensure the draw) 26 ... g6 27 Bxe4 dxe4 28 Ra2 Ba4 29 Rc5 and White will draw.
18 ... Bxd1 19 Rfxd1 Rc2 20 Rd2 Rfc8 21 Rxc2 Rxc2 22 Rc1!
Tony utilizes Black’s weak back rank to remove Fischer’s most active piece. Now it becomes a battle of bad bishop versus good knight. Tartakower once joked about the worst bishop being superior to the best knight. But not here, where the bishop really is a clunker. Yet if I had to put money on the outcome, I would still place my bet on a drawn result.
22 ... Rxc1+ 23 Bxc1
White’s d-pawn is stuck on the same colour as his unimpressive bishop. There is no doubt Black holds the advantage, yet I suspect with perfect play on both sides, it’s too little to extract the full point. In the early 1980’s, IM Jeremy Silman and I once reached an almost identical version of this ending (I was eager for a win since Jeremy had already smacked me down in a previous encounter). However, Jeremy’s endgame technique proved superior, and to my frustration, he held the draw.
Question: I understand that White’s bishop is technically bad.
Now what concrete steps can Black take to improve his position?
Answer: Fischer comes up with Black’s optimal plan:
1. Transfer the knight to e6, where it keeps either White’s bishop or king tied down to defence of d4.
2. Play ... h5, intending ... Kh7, ... Kg6 and ... Kf5, for optimal king placement.
3. Black then must probe and try to create a puncture on the kingside where he attempts king entry.
Question: While Black is doing this, can’t White’s king enter Black’s position via a5?
Answer: Black simply answers with ... b6, which seals the white king’s entry. So White has nothing better than passive defence.
Step 1: Re-route the knight to e6.
23 ... Nd7!
Fischer re-routes his knight to e6, where it pressures d4.
24 Kf1
When the data is scant, this leaves large gaps for conjecture. The natural move, yet not the best, since it allows Fischer his plan. If Tony had hindsight of Fischer’s intention, he would have played Kasparov’s suggestion 24 g4!. A move made with the thought: Hesitancy will be perceived as fear. After this move I don’t see a plan for Black to make progress.
24 ... Nf8 25 Ke2 Ne6 26 Kd3
Step 2: Play ... h5, then transfer the king to f5.
26 ... h5!
Weak light squares is White’s homogeneous grievance in this position.
27 Be3 Kh7!
The king heads for its optimal square on f5.
28 f3
Principle: Place your pawns on the opposite colour of your remaining bishop.
28 ... Kg6 29 a4
I think it’s too late for 29 g4?! f5! 30 h3 (30 gxf5+ Kxf5 31 Kd2 g5 also looks very tough for White to hold) 30 ... f4! (Kasparov gave 30 ... Ng5?! when White can perhaps draw with 31 f4! and then 31 ... Nxh3 32 g5 h4 33 Ke2 Kh5 34 Kf3 g6 35 Bd2 Ng1+ 36 Kf2 Nh3+ 37 Kf3 with a draw or 31 ... Ne4 32 g5! when I don’t think Black can win with the kingside sealed) 31 Bd2 Ng5! 32 Bxf4 Nxf3 33 gxh5+ Kxh5 34 Be3 Ng5! 35 Ke2 (35 Bxg5?? loses the king and pawn ending without a fight after 35 ... Kxg5 36 Ke3 Kh4) 35 ... Kh4 36 Bxg5+ Kxg5 37 Kf3 Kh4 38 Kg2 g5 39 b3 g4 40 hxg4 Kxg4 41 Kf2 Kf4 42 Ke2 Ke4. The d-pawn falls and White can resign.
29 ... Kf5 30 Ke2
Step 3: Attempt to create a puncture to enable king entry.
30 ... g5!
Fischer implemented all three steps of his plan, yet the win still seems far away, if not impossible.
31 Kf2 Nd8 32 Bd2 Kg6 33 Ke3 Ne6 34 Kd3 Kf5 35 Be3 f6 36 Ke2 Kg6 37 Kd3 f5
Fischer is unable to make progress, so he tries expanding on the kingside.
38 Ke2
The most terrifying enemy is the one you can sense, yet can’t see. Tony logically goes for a if-it-ain’t-broke-don’t-fix-it, waiting strategy. Perhaps the time for half measures should be over. White can gamble with 38 g3! f4 39 gxf4 g4. Karpov beat Kasparov in a QGD Tarrasch ending in their first match with a similar infiltration idea. In this position, however, I think White holds the game after 40 fxg4 hxg4 41 Bf2 Kf5 42 Bg3 Nxf4+ 43 Ke3 Ne6 44 Kd3 Ng5 45 b3 Ne4 46 Bc7 Kg5 47 Bg3. I don’t see an avenue of progress for Black.
38 ... f4 39 Bf2 Ng7
Transferring the knight to f5.
40 h3
40 g4! appears to hold the game if White plays comp-perfect: 40 ... fxg3 41 Bxg3! Nf5 42 Be5 Ne7 43 Kd3 Nc6 44 Bc7 Kf5 45 Ke3 g4 46 Bb6 h4 (now ... g3 is in the air) 47 Kf2 Nb4 (threat: ... Nd3+ and ... Nxb2) 48 b3 Nd3+ 49 Ke3 g3! 50 hxg3 hxg3 51 Bc7 g2 52 Bh2 Nb4 53 Kf2 Nc6 54 Kxg2 (54 Be5?? Nxe5 55 dxe5 Kxe5 56 Kxg2 Kd4 57 f4 Ke4 58 Kg3 d4 wins) 54 ... Nxd4 55 b4 b5 (fixing b4 as a target) 56 axb5 axb5 57 Kf2 Ke6 58 Ke3! Nc2+ 59 Kd3 Nxb4+ 60 Kd4 Nc2+ 61 Kc3! (61 Kc5?? loses to 61 ... b4 62 Bf4 Ne1! 63 Bd2 b3! 64 Bc3 b2!) 61 ... Na3 62 Kb4 Nc2+ 63 Kxb5 Ne1 64 Bg1 Nxf3 65 Bf2 with a draw.
40 ... Nf5 41 Kd3 g4!
The kingside breakthrough arrives, yet it shouldn’t be enough win the game.
42 hxg4 hxg4 43 fxg4 Nh6
Exercise (critical decision): It feels as if the defence’s lifeblood
continues to leak away into the soil. This isn’t the actuality.
Fischer achieved everything he wanted in the position, yet he can’t
win if White finds the correct defensive idea. What should White play?
44 Be1?
Answer: Transfer of the king to f3 draws after 44 Ke2! Nxg4 45 Bg1!!. “I will live forever and my glorious exploits will be emblazoned across the heavens,” declares the bishop, who obviously holds himself in high esteem. The bishop looks underemployed on g1, yet this paradoxical self-cramping move holds the draw by erecting an impregnable fortress: 45 ... Kf5 46 Kf3 Nf6 47 Bh2 Nh5 48 a5! Kg5 49 g3! fxg3 50 Bxg3 (every White pawn on the board sits on the wrong colour, yet Black is unable to win) 50 ... Nf6 (50 ... Nxg3 51 Kxg3 Kf5 52 Kf3 is drawn) 51 Bf4+ Kf5 52 Be5 Ne4 53 Ke3 Kg4 (such bad bishop endings are usually lost, but not here) 54 Ke2 Ng5 55 Ke3 Nf7 56 Bf4 Nd8 57 Bd6 Nc6 58 Bc7 and now if 58 ... Kh3, intending to infiltrate via g2 and f1, 59 Kf4! (White vigorously counterattacks Black’s pawns) 59 ... Kg2 60 Kf5 Kf3 61 Bb6 Ke3 62 Ke6 Ke4 (not 62 ... Nxd4+?? 63 Kxd5 and the pinned knight is lost) 63 Kd7! (now b7 and a6 are vulnerable) 63 ... Nxd4 64 Kc7 Nb3 65 Kxb7 d4 66 Bxd4 Kxd4 67 Kxa6 Kc5 is obviously drawn.
44 ... Nxg4 45 Bd2
After 45 Ke2 Kf5 46 Kf3 Nh2+! we see the difference between the two lines. This move wasn’t possible in the above variation, since White’s bishop stood guard on g1. Here after 47 Ke2 Ke4 48 Bf2 Ng4 49 Bg1 Nh6! there is no defence to the coming ... Nf5 and ... Nxd4+.
45 ... Kf5 46 Be1 Nf6
The position is incredibly hair-trigger between a draw and a win. Houdini couldn’t make progress in the line 46 ... Nh6 47 a5 Kg4 48 Ke2 Nf5 49 Bf2 Nd6 50 b3 Nf5 (White is in zugzwang, and every pawn move worsens his position) 51 b4 Nd6 52 Be1 Nb5 53 Kd3. I thought this position had to be a win for Black after 53 ... f3, yet White holds the game after 54 gxf3+ Kxf3 55 Bh4 Nc7 56 Be7 Ne6 57 Bh4 Nf4+ (the defenders are driven like cattle; it’s amazing to me that White still saves the game here) 58 Kc3 Ke4 59 b5! (this move saves the game by allowing White’s king entry into the queenside) 59 ... Ne2+ 60 Kb4 Nxd4 (60 ... Kxd4 61 Bf6+ Ke4 62 bxa6 bxa6 63 Kc5 is also drawn) 61 bxa6 bxa6 62 Kc5. The burden of destitution is shaken off and White holds the draw.
47 Bh4
White is unable to liquidate with 47 g3?? f3! 48 Ke3 Kg4 49 b3 Ne4 and game over.
47 ... Nh5
Tony has been worked over, yet refuses to crack. The way the good cop/bad cop interrogation technique works:
1. Bad cop works over the suspect, either physically, mentally, or a combination of both.
2. Sympathetic good cop enters, with a gift of coffee and jelly doughnut (sometimes it can also be a chocolate doughnut) in hand, begging the suspect to reveal information, or sign a confession to assuage bad cop’s brutality.
Exercise (critical decision): White’s defences grow inconveniently weak, yet may still be enough to save the game. He has a choice of playing the bishop to f2 or e1. One square loses, while the other may hold the draw. Which one would you play?
48 Be1?
In such positions the shift of a single square can mean the difference between a catastrophe or a delightfully unexpected windfall. After White’s last move, the indolent bishop is no match for Black’s hard-working knight.
Answer: Black may not be able to make progress after 48 Bf2!. Houdini gives the line 48 ... Nf6 (if 48 ... b6 49 Bh4 Kg4 50 Be1 Ng3 51 Bf2 Nf5 52 Ke2 Nd6 53 Be1 Nf5 54 Bf2 and Black fails to make headway) 49 Be1 Ne4 50 Ke2 Kg4 51 Kd3 and White’s fortress continues to hold, since 51 ... f3 52 gxf3+ Kxf3 is similar to the drawing variations already examined in the above notes.
48 ... Kg4 49 Ke2 Ng3+! 50 Kd3
There was nothing better:
a) 50 Bxg3?? Kxg3 51 Kf1 f3 52 gxf3 Kxf3 and d4 falls.
b) 50 Kf2 Nf5 51 Bc3 Ne3 (zugzwang, and now ... Nd1+ is a huge problem for White) 52 Bb4 Nd1+ 53 Ke2 Nxb2 wins.
Exercise (planning): So far, the White’s defence remained just
out of his antagonist’s reach. Here, however, there is no way for
White to avert an impending doom. How did Fischer force the win?
Answer: Attack g2, by transferring the knight to h4.
50 ... Nf5! 51 Bf2 Nh4
What pain to watch helplessly as all our past labours and expectations are cruelly dashed, after coming so close to our goal. Now g2 falls and the game is over.
52 a5
52 Bxh4 Kxh4 53 Ke2 Kg3 54 Kf1 f3 55 gxf3 Kxf3 is obviously hopeless for White.
52 ... Nxg2
Money means a lot to the rich, otherwise they wouldn’t be rich.
53 Kc3 Kf3 54 Bg1 Ke2
There is no stopping the f-pawn now.
55 Bh2 f3 56 Bg3 Ne3! 0-1
The bishop is driven off the f2-square after 57 Kb4 Nf5!. So with this squeaker of a win, Fischer achieved the impossible, winning the U.S. Championship with an 11-0 sweep.
Game 52
R.Fischer-B.Zuckerman
USA Championship, New York 1965
Sicilian Najdorf
1 e4 c5 2 Nf3 d6 3 d4 cxd4 4 Nxd4 Nf6 5 Nc3 a6 6 Bc4 e6 7 Bb3 b5 8 f4 Bb7 9 f5 e5 10 Nde2 Nbd7 11 Bg5 Be7 12 Bxf6 Nxf6 13 Qd3 Rc8 14 0-0 0-0 15 Ng3 Rc5 16 Nd5 Bxd5 17 exd5 a5 18 a4 b4 19 Ne4 Nxe4 20 Qxe4 Qb6 21 Kh1 Bf6 22 g3 Rfc8 23 Kg2 Kf8 24 Rae1 Ke7 25 Qd3 Kd8 26 Re4 Kc7 27 Bc4 Kb8 28 Rf2 Ka7 29 h4 Qd8 30 Ba6 Rb8 31 Bb5 Rbc8 32 Rd2 Qb6 33 Kh2 h6 34 Bc6 Be7 35 Qe2 R8xc6 36 dxc6 Qxc6 37 b3 f6 38 Qg4 Bf8 39 Rc4 d5 40 Rxc5 Qxc5
Black has a pawn for the exchange and the question comes down to his ability to erect a fortress to keep White’s rook and king out.
41 Qg6
Black is eternally tied down to defence of g7, just as White is to c2.
41 ... d4
41 ... e4?? hangs the d-pawn to 42 Qf7+ Kb6 43 Qxd5 with an easy win for White.
42 Qe8 Kb7 43 Kh3!
I can’t tell you why this is good, or else I give away the answer to the coming exercise.
43 ... Qc3 44 Qf7+ Kb6 45 Rg2 Qc5
Protecting the hanging f8-bishop.
46 Re2
Preventing ... e4.
46 ... Qd6 47 Qe8 Qc5
Question: It appears as if White is unable to make
progress against Black’s fortress. Is this assessment correct?
Answer: This assessment is incorrect. Fischer found a clear, winning plan. Let’s turn it into an exercise:
Exercise (planning): In a sense, this is the simplest game in the entire book,
since it contains only a single theme. Find White’s key idea and Black’s
chances recede, the way a castaway waves frantically to the cruise liner,
which fails to spot his presence, sailing further away as each moment passes.
Answer: Infiltrate the kingside light squares with his king, after which Black is unable to secure g7, the base of his entire kingside structure.
48 Kg4! Be7 49 Kh5
White’s king enters Black’s realm with a deft zig and a stylish zag. This is asymmetric warfare, where a small invading force inflicts large scale damage.
49 ... Bd6 50 Kg6 Bc7
50 ... Bf8 is simply met with 51 Kf7. King and queen belt out a duet of the song ‘Reunited and it feels so good’. Black’s kingside pawns fall, starting with g7.
51 Kxg7
Oh, that internal pang of remorse, when we realize that our hopes have been deceived. A shadow of bereavement falls upon Black’s position, and it becomes clear he has no chance to save the game.
51 ... Qc3
Going after g3.
52 Qb5+
“I strike your body to teach your spirit to obey,” the queen informs her brother.
52 ... Ka7 53 Qd3
Oh, no you don’t! The black queen’s invasion attempt is easily repelled.
53 ... Qc6 54 Kxh6
The king follows the Viking battle plan:
1. Invade.
2. Plunder.
3. Retreat.
54 ... Qe8
Exercise (calculation/combination): Divide your forces and you double
your peril. The queen expected to return to cheers and confetti. Instead,
people just avert their eyes as she passes by. Black’s last move is a mistake
in an already hopelessly lost position. White to play and win material.
Answer: Pin.
55 Qxd4+! Bb6 56 Qd5 1-0
56 ... Qh8+ 57 Kg6 (this counterattacking gust is the summer shower which blows fitfully, yet without harm upon Black; now the checks run out) 57 ... Qe8+ is met with 58 Qf7+ forcing the queens off the board.
Game 53
R.Fischer-V.Smyslov
Capablanca Memorial, Havana 1965
Ruy Lopez
1 e4 e5 2 Nf3 Nc6 3 Bb5 a6 4 Ba4 Nf6 5 d3 d6 6 c3 Be7 7 Nbd2 0-0 8 Nf1 b5 9 Bb3 d5 10 Qe2 dxe4 11 dxe4 Be6 12 Bxe6 fxe6 13 Ng3 Qd7 14 0-0 Rad8 15 a4 Qd3 16 Qxd3 Rxd3
Question: Would you say that White stands
marginally better, due to his slightly superior structure?
Answer: That sounds accurate. Black’s structure is looser, with attackable points on the queenside and also doubled isolated e-pawns. Yet the e-pawns control key central squares. Also, White has his own troubles, with slightly weakened light squares on d3 and b3. My feeling is that Black should hold the game with perfect defence.
17 axb5 axb5 18 Ra6!
The idea is to tie Black’s rook down to d6, where it also blocks access to ... Bc5.
18 ... Rd6 19 Kh1!
Question: This almost appears to be a random move. What is the point?
Answer: It avoids the discovered attack cheapo, which occurs if White continues mechanically with 19 Be3?. Now Black has the trick 19 ... Nd4! 20 Ra7 Nxf3+ 21 gxf3 Rd7. Except for a few vagrant puffs, White’s initiative is over. His kingside structure has been damaged and his advantage vanished. One problem with Fischer’s move is this: It’s an ending, yet he decentralizes his king. This could later result in a loss of two tempi, if he needs to bring his king to the centre.
19 ... Nd7
Correct was 19 ... b4! based on the endgame principle: It is in the defending side’s best interest to reduce the number of pawns on the board. After 20 Be3 (threat: Bc5; if, instead 20 cxb4 Nxb4 21 Ra7 Rc6 22 Nxe5 Rc2 when Black’s powerfully posted rook and generally high activity level offer him full compensation for the pawn) 20 ... bxc3! 21 bxc3 (21 Bc5 is met with 21 ... Nb4! 22 Bxd6 Bxd6 23 Ra3 c2! when Black gets full compensation for the exchange: for example, 24 Rc3 Ra8 intends ... Ra2 and now White is unable to play 25 Ne1? due to the combination 25 ... Nxe4! 26 Nxe4 Ra1 27 Kg1 c1Q 28 Rxc1 Rxc1 29 Nf3 Rc2, which leaves White fighting for the draw) 21 ... Nd7 it isn’t so easy anymore for White to claim a real advantage, and the players are likely to fight each other to a standstill.
20 Be3?!
20 b4! is White’s only path to an edge.
20 ... Rd8?!
Black should once again play 20 ... b4! reducing the number of pawns. Fischer wrote in My 60 Memorable Games: “Neither of us realized at this stage how essential this move was. I didn’t want to weaken my c3 and c4 squares by playing b4 to prevent it; and Smyslov didn’t want to commit himself yet.”
21 h3
The correct idea remains just out of mental reach for both sides, the way of a familiar face who greets you on the street, yet you just can’t remember the name. Lasker said that if a player missed a combination or an idea on one move, he is likely to miss it over and over again. Once again, 21 b4! is correct. Both players miss their mutual ideas over the next several moves.
21 ... h6
21 ... b4!.
22 Rfa1
22 b4!.
22 ... Ndb8 23 Ra8 Rd1+! 24 Kh2
Instead, 24 Rxd1 Rxd1+ 25 Kh2 Bd6 26 Ba7?? is met with the killing pin 26 ... Ra1!, while 24 Nf1 Rxa1 25 Rxa1 b4! is close to even.
24 ... Rxa1 25 Rxa1 Nd7?!
Many of our problems on the chess board – not to mention life – are exacerbated by the fact that we act as if we haven’t a care in the world. When we blow a perfectly playable position, we are later assailed by a sense of wasted opportunity. Smyslov chooses the wrong path for rehabilitation, after which arises a train of unforeseen negative consequences. Now Black takes leave of his old opportunity, never ever to return again. I draw on the proverbial relationship between smoke and fire. With this move Smyslov forfeits on his final hope for equality with 25 ... b4!.
26 b4!
Hooray! At long last, Fischer discovers the correct plan. Now an uncomfortable damp morning fog settles upon Black’s position. Smyslov thought he may actually be lost at this point. According to Houdini, White has a only ‘+=‘ level edge. From this point, Fischer milks his edge with relentless accuracy.
26 ... Kf7 27 Nf1!
The knight has no scope on g3 and is remanoeuvred to an arena of superior potential.
27 ... Bd6 28 g3!
Alertly cutting out ... Nd4 tricks.
28 ... Nf6 29 N1d2 Ke7 30 Ra6! Nb8
30 ... Kd7 is met with 31 Ne1! Nb8 32 Ra1 Nc6 33 Kg2 Kc8 34 f3 Bf8 35 Kf2 Be7 36 Nb1! (intending Na3, going after the b5-pawn) 36 ... Ne8 37 Na3 Nd6 38 Ke2 when White threatens Bc5, Bxd6 and Nxb5, which leaves Black in dire trouble.
31 Ra5!
Forcing ... c6, which takes the square away from Black’s pieces, and also weakens Black’s second rank.
31 ... c6 32 Kg2 Nbd7 33 Kf1
Fischer decides to replenish his coming queenside assault with Ke2, Ne1 and Nd3.
33 ... Rc8
Fischer considered this move a mistake. I’m not so sure it is. Comp analysis shows Black in trouble no matter what he plays. For example:
a) Fischer expected 33 ... Ne8 intending ... Nc7 and ... Ra8. White should continue 34 Ne1 Nc7 35 Nd3 Ra8 36 Nb3! when Black remains uncomfortable.
b) 33 ... Rb8 34 Ke2 Rb7 (or 34 ... g5 35 h4 g4 36 Ne1 h5 37 Nd3 Rb7 38 Kd1 Rc7 39 Kc2 Ke8 40 c4! with mounting pressure) 35 g4 Nh7 36 Ne1 Ng5 37 Bxg5+ hxg5 38 Nd3 Kf6 39 Ra6 Nb8 40 Ra8 Nd7 41 Nb3 Rc7 42 Nbc5! with an enduring bind.
34 Ne1
Transferring the knight to the key d3-square, where it watches over e5, c5 and b4.
34 ... Ne8 35 Nd3 Nc7
Black is all set to play ... Ra8.
36 c4!
Fischer achieves his thematic pawn break.
36 ... bxc4
No choice, since 36 ... Ra8?? is met with 37 c5 winning a piece.
37 Nxc4
Fischer systematically increases the pressure on the e5-pawn.
37 ... Nb5!
Smyslov avoids the trap 37 ... Ra8?, which is met with 38 Rxa8 Nxa8 39 Na5! Nb8 40 Ba7 Kd7 41 Nc4! and e5 falls.
38 Ra6 Kf6
Avoiding 38 ... Nb8? (the confused knight is unable to explain himself or defend his actions) 39 Ra8 Nc7 40 Nxd6! Kxd6 41 Bc5+ (“I have stated my needs. Be so kind as to implement them without delay,” the bishop orders Black’s king, who chafes at the impudence) 41 ... Kd7 42 Nxe5+ and wins.
Exercise (planning): A grey future stretches before Smyslov,
a dull pain which never ends. Black is badly tied down to his
weak e5-pawn. How did Fischer increase the pressure even further?
Answer: Step 1: Transfer the bishop to b2, adding one more attacker to e5.
39 Bc1!
The conclave meets to elect a new leader, who will rule by divine fiat.
39 ... Bb8 40 Bb2
Step 2: f4 is threatened next.
40 ... c5
Desperation. After 40 ... g5 41 Ndxe5! (embezzlement is the norm with the knight’s ‘intuitive’ accounting methods) 41 ... Bxe5 42 Nxe5 Nxe5 43 f4 gxf4 44 gxf4 White regains his piece with an extra pawn and a winning position.
41 Nb6!
Also winning was 41 Ra5! Nd4 (or 41 ... cxb4 42 Ncxe5! Bxe5 43 Nxe5 wins) 42 Ra8! which leaves Black helpless. If 42 ... cxb4 43 Ncxe5! Nxe5 44 Bxd4 Rc4 45 Bb2 Bd6 46 f4 and wins.
41 ... Nxb6 42 Rxb6
Black’s knight and c5-pawn hang simultaneously.
42 ... c4
42 ... Nd4 43 Nxc5 is completely hopeless for Black.
43 Nc5
Piling up on e6.
43 ... c3 1-0
Black gave up, as following 44 Bc1 Nd4 45 Nd7+ Ke7 46 Nxb8 Nb3 47 Rb7+! the once featureless landscape explodes in violence. This move throws into stark relief the dangers for Black. For example:
a) 47 ... Kf6 48 Nd7+ Kg6 49 Nxe5+ Kh7 50 Nd3 Rd8 51 Ke2 Nd4+ 52 Kd1 and White consolidates.
b) 47 ... Kf8 48 Ba3 c2 49 b5+ Kg8 50 b6 c1Q+ 51 Bxc1 Rxc1+ 52 Kg2 Rb1 53 Nd7 Na5 54 Ra7 Nc6 55 Rc7 Na5 56 Rc8+ Kh7 57 h4! (threat: h5, followed by Nf8+, Ng6+ and mate next move) 57 ... g5 58 Re8 when Black’s pawns begin to fall;
c) 47 ... Kd6?? 48 Rd7 mate.
d) 47 ... Kd8 48 Rd7+ Ke8 49 Rxg7! wins.
Game 54
R.Fischer-M.Taimanov
3rd matchgame, Vancouver 1971
Sicilian Taimanov
1 e4 c5 2 Nf3 Nc6 3 d4 cxd4 4 Nxd4 Qc7 5 Nc3 e6 6 g3 a6 7 Bg2 Nf6 8 0-0 Nxd4 9 Qxd4 Bc5 10 Bf4 d6 11 Qd2 h6 12 Rad1 e5 13 Be3 Bg4 14 Bxc5 dxc5 15 f3 Be6 16 f4 Rd8 17 Nd5 Bxd5 18 exd5 e4 19 Rfe1 Rxd5 20 Rxe4+ Kd8 21 Qe2 Rxd1+ 22 Qxd1+ Qd7 23 Qxd7+ Kxd7
Question: Does White stand better?
Answer: Let’s assess:
1. White’s bishop is likely be superior to Black’s knight.
2. Black’s queenside pawns are slightly loose and may be goaded forward, weakening them further.
3. Black’s king is already centralized, which saves him a few tempi over White’s king.
4. The pawn structure is symmetrical, in that no player owns a majority. This fact favours the side with the knight.
Conclusion: White has maybe an iota of an edge, but certainly not enough for a win with proper defence.
24 Re5 b6?
A sub-optimal solution. Sometimes we unnecessarily inject drama into a position, perhaps out of craving for adventure. This is exactly what Fischer was playing for. He provoked a puncture in Black’s queenside. Now his bishop gains in power.
Black should be okay after 24 ... Kd6!, and if 25 Bxb7 (White’s best is probably 25 Re3 which is met with 25 ... Rb8 when it will be difficult for him to make progress) 25 ... Rb8 26 Bxa6 Rxb2 27 Re2 Rxa2 28 Bc4 Ra7 with a near certain draw.
25 Bf1!
Fischer provokes another puncture, this time weakening b5.
25 ... a5
No choice. 25 ... Ra8?? is met with 26 Bc4 when Black drops a pawn.
26 Bc4!
Now he ties Black’s rook to defence of f7, which in turn prevents ... Re8.
26 ... Rf8 27 Kg2
Fischer begins to advance his king.
27 ... Kd6 28 Kf3 Nd7 29 Re3
The rook operates best on the third rank, when Black must watch out for checks on d3, as well as possible transfers to b3.
29 ... Nb8
Question: Can Black free his rook from its defensive duties with 29 ... f6?
Answer: Black would love to free his tied down rook. Unfortunately this idea allows White’s rook and king decisive infiltration after 30 Re6+ Kc7 31 Re7 g6 32 Bb5 Rd8 33 Rg7 g5 34 Kg4!, preparing for a winning king and pawn ending. Indeed, after 34 ... Kd6 35 Rxd7+ Rxd7 36 Bxd7 Kxd7 37 Kh5 Ke6 38 Kxh6 gxf4 39 gxf4 Kf5 40 h4 Kxf4 41 h5 White’s h-pawn is too fast.
30 Rd3+ Kc7 31 c3!
Fischer deprives Black’s knight of scope.
31 ... Nc6 32 Re3 Kd6 33 a4 Ne7 34 h3 Nc6
We see yet another world-class opponent reduced to moving back and forth, awaiting Fischer’s progress.
35 h4
Perhaps intending g4 and g5 to create a kingside puncture which would allow White’s king infiltration.
35 ... h5?
A move made with the philosophy: To proceed with apathy in such a difficult situation is akin to suicide. So Taimanov reacts by taking an overly desperate measure.
Question: Doesn’t this move follow the principle: Place your
pawns on the same colour as your opponent’s remaining bishop?
Answer: The principle only applies if you are capable of hanging on to those pawns! It’s important that our position’s capability matches our own ambition. This move leads to Black’s kingside pawns becoming vulnerable to White’s bishop, and his position fails to meet the threshold of survivability.
Taimanov would have been better off taking his chances with a do-nothing strategy, with something like 35 ... Ne7 36 Kg4 Ng8. Even here though, Black’s chances look tough, yet better than what he got in the game’s continuation.
36 Rd3+ Kc7
After 36 ... Ke7 37 Bb5 Rd8 38 Ke4 Rxd3 39 Bxd3 Kd6 40 Bc4 Nd8 41 f5! Black is in zugzwang. If:
a) 41 ... f6 42 Be2 picks off h5. Variations like this are why Taimanov should have avoided pushing his h-pawn on his 35th move.
b) 41 ... Ke7 42 Kd5 Kd7 43 Be2 and h5 falls all the same, since 43 ... g6?? 44 fxg6 fxg6 45 Bd3 is even worse for Black.
c) 41 ... Kc6 is met with 42 f6! g6 (42 ... gxf6 43 Kf5 is completely hopeless for Black) 43 Ke5 Kd7 44 Bb5+ Kc7 45 Kd5 Ne6 46 Be8 Nd8 47 c4 (zugzwang) 47 ... Kc8 48 Kd6 and game over.
37 Rd5!
Provoking more pawns on to light squares, which allows White’s bishop and rook to later attack them.
37 ... f5
This formation is obviously vulnerable, but if Black avoids ... f5, then he risks White playing the move himself later on, with potential king infiltration. For example, 37 ... g6 38 Rd1 and if 38 ... Ne7 39 Bb5 Rd8 (39 ... Nc6 40 f5! is a huge problem for Black, who must now contend with White’s king entering via f4) 40 Rxd8 Kxd8 41 g4 hxg4+ 42 Kxg4 f6 43 Bd3 Ke8 44 f5! (creating an outside passed h-pawn) 44 ... gxf5+ 45 Bxf5 Kf8 46 h5 Kg7 47 Kf4 Kh6 48 Bg4 Nd5+ 49 Ke4 Ne7 50 Be2 Kg5 51 Kd3 and there is no good defence to Kc4 and Kb5, after which all of Black’s queenside pawns fall.
38 Rd2 Rf6 39 Re2 Kd7 40 Re3 g6
Black must play this move sooner or later. Now his kingside pawns are hermetically sealed on eternally vulnerable squares.
41 Bb5 Rd6 42 Ke2
Cutting off any ideas of ... Rd2 or ... Rd1.
42 ... Kd8
Exercise (planning): It may appear as if Black fortressed his way to a
drawn position. This just isn’t the case. How did Fischer make progress?
Answer: Force rooks off the board, after which Black will be badly tied down to defence of g6, his kingside base pawn.
43 Rd3!
Society has little use for a warrior in peacetime. White’s rook inflicted damage by forcing Black’s kingside pawns on to vulnerable squares, and also creating entry punctures on the queenside. Now it’s time for him to retire and step aside for White’s bishop to demonstrate its utter dominance over Black’s knight.
43 ... Kc7 44 Rxd6 Kxd6 45 Kd3 Ne7 46 Be8
I’m pretty certain Taimanov now regretted placing his kingside pawns on the light squares.
46 ... Kd5 47 Bf7+ Kd6 48 Kc4
The queenside is arable land for White’s king, who continues forward.
48 ... Kc6 49 Be8+
This bishop is unbelievably annoying, not only tying Black’s knight down to g6, but also helping pave the road for the white king’s infiltration of the queenside. So Black is faced with an attack in two different sectors of the board, simultaneously.
49 ... Kb7 50 Kb5 Nc8!
When we set up a cheapo, we temporarily lay aside our scruples. Well, why not go for a trillion-to-one possibility?
51 Bc6+!
Most certainly not 51 Bxg6?? (two question marks aren’t sufficient to describe this move) 51 ... Nd6 mate. The proud knight challenges the white bishop’s assertions of superiority and b5 is designated as the family vault, in which the white king’s body is laid to rest. Of course, Fischer, potentially the greatest chess player of all time, is not too likely to fall for a mate in one move in a simplified position.
51 ... Kc7 52 Bd5 Ne7 53 Bf7 Kb7 54 Bb3 Ka7 55 Bd1!
Preparing to give check on f3, after which Black’s king must give way.
55 ... Kb7 56 Bf3+ Kc7
Or 56 ... Ka7 57 Bg2 Ng8 58 Bd5 Nf6 (58 ... Ne7? 59 c4! is zugzwang) 59 Bf7 Ne4 60 Bxg6 Nxg3 61 Kc6 Ne2 62 Bxh5 Nxf4 63 Be8 and the passed h-pawn decides.
57 Ka6
Fischer’s king enters a6, where he moves from the heart of the position to its fringes.
57 ... Nc8 58 Bd5 Ne7
Taimanov wearily waves the bishop away, as if to indicate that the topic has been exhausted.
59 Bc4 Nc6 60 Bf7
The obsessive bishop constantly surveys g6, with furtive, sideways looks.
60 ... Ne7
To the eternally imprisoned knight, the thought of life outside his cell brings tears of longing. “Please do go on with your fascinating discourse,” remarks the knight, as if impatient to be bored yet further by the bishop’s endless speech.
61 Be8!
Zugzwang!
61 ... Kd8
Exercise (combination alert): If White plays his bishop to f7, then Black
simply plays his king back to c7. Opportunity is packed to its fullest capacity
and now is the time for action. What is White’s winning breakthrough idea?
Answer: Piece sacrifice/deflection.
62 Bxg6!
The bishop is a candidate for knee replacement surgery, since he wore them out by praying for so long for this moment to arrive.
62 ... Nxg6 63 Kxb6
White gets way too many pawns for the piece and Black’s clunky knight has no chance. Taimanov can comfortably resign here but plays on, perhaps in a dull state of incredulity, unwilling to believe his hoped-for fortress is a thing of the past.
63 ... Kd7 64 Kxc5 Ne7 65 b4!
Fischer finishes with his customary easy aplomb. Speed is more important than material. There is no reason to allow Black even a tiny chance with the greedy 65 Kb5 Nd5 66 Kxa5 Kc6 67 c4 Ne3 68 Kb4 Nf1.
65 ... axb4 66 cxb4 Nc8 67 a5 Nd6 68 b5 Ne4+
Black is just way too slow in the race.
69 Kb6 Kc8
Black’s king holds back tears by breathing deeper. If 69 ... Nf2 70 a6 and the a-pawn promotes.
70 Kc6 Kb8 71 b6 1-0
After 71 ... Nxg3 72 a6 Ne2 73 a7+ Ka8 74 Kc7 White promotes.
Game 55
B.Larsen-R.Fischer
2nd matchgame, Denver 1971
Sicilian Accelerated Dragon
1 c4 c5 2 Nf3 g6 3 d4 cxd4 4 Nxd4 Nc6 5 e4 Nf6 6 Nc3 d6 7 Be2 Nxd4 8 Qxd4 Bg7 9 Bg5 h6 10 Be3 0-0 11 Qd2 Kh7 12 0-0 Be6 13 f4 Rc8 14 b3 Qa5 15 a3 a6 16 f5 Bd7 17 b4 Qe5 18 Rae1 Bc6 19 Bf4 Nxe4 20 Nxe4 Qxe4 21 Bd3 Qd4+ 22 Kh1 Rce8 23 Be3 Qc3 24 Bxh6! Qxd2 25 Bxd2
When I first began gathering games for the book, this one landed in my reject pile (mainly because I didn’t understand its subtleties). Then about a month ago, my student Tom, who plays the Accelerated Dragon, asked to go over this game for a lesson. After the lesson, I realized just how remarkable it was for Fischer to extract a win from his completely even position, against an opponent who was at the time ranked 3rd/4th in the world in rating. So here it is.
Question: Is the position dead even?
Answer: Even, but not drawn. The imbalances:
1. Black’s central preponderance of pawns.
2. White’s slight queenside space, which can be interpreted either as an advantage, or as a potential for overextension (which happened in the game).
3. Black’s slightly insecure king’s position.
With correct play the game should be drawn. I suspect the reason Larsen lost this game was that he got burned in that unbelievably close Winawer we examined in Chapter Four, in his previous game, the first of the match. It’s not easy to separate our feelings from the move choices we make, so he pressed too hard in this one, seeking revenge.
25 ... Be5 26 Bf4 Bxf4!?
“Again there is an element of provocation,” writes Kasparov. If Fischer really did want a draw, he would play the safer 26 ... Bf6 27 Re3 g5! 28 Rh3+ Kg7 29 Rg3 Be5! 30 Rxg5+ Kf6. (Black’s king position offers full compensation for the pawn) 31 Rg3 Rg8 32 Kg1 Rxg3 33 Bxg3 Bxg3 34 hxg3 Rg8 35 Kf2 Bd7 36 Re1 Rg5 37 Be4 b6 38 g4 Rxg4 39 Kf3. Black regains the pawn and is the only one with winning chances, since his structure remains slightly superior. The reality is Larsen would have held the draw here, probably without too much effort. So Fischer went for the path of provocation instead.
27 Rxf4
White threatens a real attack, starting with Re3.
27 ... gxf5!
In ancient times, people believed the weather reflected the mood of the gods. Fischer wavers between extremes, greatly sharpening the game.
Question: Doesn’t this move endanger Black’s king?
Answer: The move looks like madness, but madness is why it succeeded. In exchange, Fischer gets a central majority and active king – conditional upon the fact that he doesn’t get mated. More than anything else, the move exerted a psychological effect on Larsen which likely was the precursor to his future recklessness.
28 Rxf5
Question: Isn’t Black mated after 28 Re3 intending Rg3 and Rh4 mate?
Answer: The comps say no, after 28 ... Rg8! preventing Rg3: 29 Bxf5+ Kh6! (29 ... Kg7?? is met with the killing shot 30 Be6!! winning on the spot; Black loses heavy material and is unable to play 30 ... fxe6 31 Rg3+ Kh8 32 Rh4 mate) 30 Bh3 d5 31 cxd5 Bxd5 32 Re5 Rd8! 33 Rxe7 Rge8 34 Rxe8 Rxe8 35 Kg1 Re2 (Black’s active rook easily allows him to hold the draw) 36 Rf5 Rd2 37 Kf1 Bc4+ 38 Ke1 Ra2 39 Rf3 Bd5 40 Rf5 Be6 41 Rf3 Bd5 with a draw.
28 ... Kg7 29 Rg5+!
White must generate threats on Black’s king. If 29 Re3?! Rh8 and I think Black already stands better since White’s mating threats evaporate and Fischer owns the superior central majority.
29 ... Kh6
So lonely is Black’s king, that he daily calls the pre-recorded weather message, just to hear a human voice. Fischer walks his unguarded king up the board, with an impunity which arises from confidence in his calculation and defensive capabilities.
30 h4
If 30 Rg3 Rg8 31 Rh3+ Kg7 32 Rh7+ and now Black can try 32 ... Kf6!? (32 ... Kf8 is obviously safer) 33 Rf1+ Ke5 34 Rf2 Kd4! 35 Bf1 f6 36 Rh4+ Kc3 (this is taking Steinitz’s advice on activating your king in an ending, to new levels) 37 Rh3+ Kd4 when White has nothing better than to take perpetual check with 38 Rh4+. Instead, after 38 Rd2+? Ke5 39 Re2+ Be4! Black’s king is completely safe, since ... f5 follows, and White will be hard pressed to save himself, mainly since Black’s extra piece in this ending is his king.
30 ... e6 31 Rf1
Threatening mate on the move. Larsen continues to nettle Fischer’s tender king. Larsen’s move looks more accurate than 31 Kh2 Rg8 32 Rxg8 Rxg8 33 g3 Rg4 34 Kh3 Rd4 35 Re3 b5. Black stands slightly better, once again due to his superior majority.
31 ... f5!
This requisite thrust is the foil to White’s attacking ambitions. Fischer begins to roll his own majority, further safeguarding his king in the process. When we free ourselves from a cramped position, doesn’t life feel spacious, as we stretch our once atrophied limbs?
32 Re1!
Larsen continues to pressure Fischer’s central pawns.
32 ... Rf7
Intending ... Rg7.
33 b5!?
A stab like this is impossible to undo, since as we all understand, pawns once pushed, are unable to retreat.
33 ... axb5 34 cxb5 Bd7
The careless 34 ... Bd5? walks into 35 Bxf5! winning a pawn.
35 g4!
This move breaks up Black’s central pawn mass.
35 ... Ra8!
We sense Black’s rising tide of good fortune. Suddenly, White’s pawns look more vulnerable than Black’s. However, 35 ... fxg4?? walks into 36 Bg6 picking off an exchange.
36 gxf5 exf5 37 Bc4?
The position remains level if Larsen had found 37 Reg1!. What a joy when you stumble about for a plan, and up shoots an accidentally favourable geometry, almost in defiance of our own ignorance. Following 37 ... Ra4! (not 37 ... Rxa3?? 38 Rg6+ Kh7 39 Bc4! and Black’s problem is 39 ... Re7 is met with 40 Bg8+ Kh8 41 Rh6+ Rh7 42 Rxh7 mate) 38 Rg6+ Kh7 39 h5 Rh4+ 40 Kg2 Rd4 (40 ... Rxh5 41 Rxd6 Rg7+ 42 Kf1 is also even) 41 Rg3 Be6 42 Rd1 (threatening a cheapo on f5) 42 ... Bd5+ 43 Kf2 Rf4+ 44 Ke3 Ra4 (threatening both ... f4+ and ... Rxa3) 45 Rg6 Re7+ 46 Kd2 Bf3 47 Rf1 Be4 48 Bxe4 fxe4 49 Rff6 Rxa3 50 Rh6+ Kg7 51 Rfg6+ Kf7 52 Rxd6 e3+ 53 Ke1 Ra1+ the position is drawn.
Exercise (combination alert): On his last move, Larsen, in time
pressure, overpressed for the win. How did Fischer exploit the error?
Answer: Pin/undermining. White is overextended and drops a pawn.
37 ... Ra4!
How baffling, when an opponent’s artificial response usurps our natural (but bad!) last move.
38 Rc1?
When we repeat an error, we become like my wife Nancy, who cries when Mr. Darcy and Elizabeth Bennet (I think I have already mentioned her obsession with Jane Austin previously in this book) have a lovers’ quarrel – even though she already watched the movie at least 50 times.
Necessary was 38 Bxf7 Rxh4+ 39 Kg1 Kxg5 40 Be8 when White struggles down a pawn.
Exercise (combination alert): One blunder compels the next one.
Larsen just made a second time trouble error. Black to play and win.
Answer: The same old story: Pin/undermining.
38 ... Bxb5!
The bishop accepts the invitation with the smiling receptivity of a con artist, immediately after pulling a larcenous trick on a mark. Now a radiantly golden harvest awaits Fischer’s sickle, since White drops two pawns.
39 Bxf7 Rxh4+
Undermining the g5-rook.
40 Kg2 Kxg5
Black is up two clean pawns and White has no chance to save it. Larsen played it out though, undoubtedly out of frustration.
41 Bd5 Ba6 42 Rd1 Ra4 43 Bf3 Rxa3 44 Rxd6 Ra2+ 45 Kg1
45 Kg3?? loses instantly to 45 ... f4+ 46 Kh3 Bf1+.
45 ... Kf4 46 Bg2 Rb2 47 Rd7 b6 48 Rd8 Be2 49 Bh3 Bg4 50 Bf1 Bf3 51 Rb8 Be4!
Fischer makes a pathway to e3 for his king, after which his f-pawn may move up the board.
52 Ba6 Ke3 53 Rc8 Rb1+ 54 Kh2
54 Bf1 was the only move to stave off mate. Obviously it wouldn’t have held the game in the long run.
Exercise (combination alert): So much do we sense an imminent
combination, that the position hints of the idyllic, painted-on
perfection of a stage setting. Black to play and force mate.
Answer: Mating net.
54 ... Kf4! 0-1
Black’s king decides to greatly simplify the legal code by making death the all-purpose punishment for every crime and misdemeanour. There is no defence to the coming ... Rh1 mate.
Game 56
T.Petrosian-R.Fischer
6th matchgame, Buenos Aires 1971
Reti Opening
1 Nf3 c5 2 b3 d5 3 Bb2 f6 4 c4 d4 5 d3 e5 6 e3 Ne7 7 Be2 Nec6 8 Nbd2 Be7 9 0-0 0-0 10 e4 a6 11 Ne1 b5 12 Bg4 Bxg4 13 Qxg4 Qc8 14 Qe2 Nd7 15 Nc2 Rb8 16 Rfc1 Qe8 17 Ba3 Bd6 18 Ne1 g6 19 cxb5 axb5 20 Bb2 Nb6 21 Nef3 Ra8 22 a3 Na5 23 Qd1 Qf7 24 a4 bxa4 25 bxa4 c4 26 dxc4 Nbxc4 27 Nxc4 Nxc4 28 Qe2 Nxb2 29 Qxb2 Rfb8 30 Qa2 Bb4 31 Qxf7+ Kxf7
Let’s take stock:
1. Black owns a protected passed d-pawn, while White’s a-pawn looks vulnerable to attack.
2. White is about to seize control of the seventh rank with Rc7+.
3. Once again we see Fischer in his patent bishop versus knight battle.
Question: Isn’t Black’s bishop a bad bishop,
with too many pawns fixed on the wrong colour?
Answer: For now, the bishop isn’t so bad, since White’s knight lacks outposts, while the bishop has c3 available.
Conclusion: I believe Black has the edge, but the correct result should be a draw, since Black’s extra pawn is nearly impossible to convert with most of his pawns on the wrong colour of his remaining bishop.
32 Rc7+ Ke6!
Fischer correctly refuses to back down with his king.
33 g4!?
Which Petrosian declines. Instead, he plays to inhibit Black’s ... f5 break, while making luft for his king.
Question: Why on earth would he decline the pawn?
Answer: It was an option, but not a real pawn grab, since Black regains the pawn immediately, due to White’s weak back rank after 33 Rxh7 Bc3 34 Rd1 (White must return the pawn since 34 Ra2?? walks into a back-rank mate after 34 ... Rb1+) 34 ... Rxa4 with advantage to Black.
33 ... Bc3 34 Ra2 Rc8?!
Correct was 34 ... Rb4! 35 a5 Rb1+ 36 Kg2 Rxa5 37 Rxa5 Bxa5 and Black wins a pawn, since 38 Rxh7?? isn’t possible due to the d-pawn’s run with 38 ... d3, which costs White a piece when the pawn moves to d2.
35 Rxc8!?
This should still draw, but Petrosian’s choice increases White’s Black’s practical chances. Petrosian mistakenly places his hopes in his passed a-pawn, when he may have been better served by trading his a-pawn for Black’s h-pawn.
Petrosian may have held the draw with 35 Rxh7! (principle: The defending side benefits from pawn swaps) 35 ... Rc4 36 Rb7 Rcxa4 37 Rxa4 Rxa4 38 Rb6+ Kd7 39 g5! (after 39 Rxf6? d3 40 Rxg6 Rxe4 the d-pawn will cost White a piece; even then Black must play carefully, since he has only a single pawn remaining on the board) 39 ... d3 40 Rb7+! (40 gxf6? Ra1+ 41 Kg2 and 41 ... d2 wins a piece) and White draws, since 40 ... Kc8? is met with 41 Rb3! Ba1 42 gxf6 Rxe4 43 f7 Rg4+ 44 Kf1 Rf4 45 Ng5 e4 46 Nxe4! Bg7 47 Nc5 Rxf7 48 Rxd3 with some winning chances for White.
35 ... Rxc8 36 a5 Ra8 37 a6 Ra7
Finally halting the passed a-pawn’s advance.
38 Kf1
Petrosian centralizes his king in preparation of a blockade on d3.
38 ... g5!
Fischer had a way of always finding a position’s essential core, its beating heart.
Question: Why would Black fix his pawns
on the wrong colour of his remaining bishop?
Answer: An important move,” writes Korchnoi. “Otherwise, if the black king moves away to the queenside, then follows g4-g5.” For example, 38 ... Kd6 39 Ke2 Kc5? and now White has the undermining trick 40 g5! f5 (and not 40 ... Kc4?? 41 gxf6 d3+ 42 Ke3 Kb3 43 f7! Bb4 44 Ra1 Rxf7 45 Nxe5 Bc5+ 46 Kxd3 when White wins) 41 Kd3 when Black is the one in danger of losing.
39 Ke2 Kd6 40 Kd3
The blockade of the d3-square is the fulcrum upon which White’s survival hinges.
40 ... Kc5
Exercise (planning): White has a path to a draw if you find the correct plan.
41 Ng1?!
Petrosian only finds half the plan.
Answer: White draws if he finds 41 h4! intending h5, followed by transference of the knight to f5, with Ng1, Ne2, Ng3 and Nf5: 41 ... h6 (41 ... gxh4 42 Nxh4 Kb5 43 g5! fxg5 44 Nf3 h5 45 Nxe5 h4 46 f4! gxf4 47 Ng6 Rxa6 48 Rxa6 Kxa6 49 Nxh4 is also drawn) 42 h5! Kb5 43 Ng1! (heading for f5) 43 ... Ba5 44 Ne2 Rxa6 45 Ng3 Rc6 46 Rc2! Rxc2 47 Kxc2 Bb4 (not 47 ... Kc4?? 48 Nf5 d3+ 49 Kd1 and White’s soon-to-be-passed h-pawn wins) 48 Nf5 Bf8 49 Kd3. Black is unable to make progress after 49 ... Kb4 50 Kc2 Kc4 51 Kd2 Kb3 52 Kd3.
41 ... Kb5 42 Ne2
The sealed move before the adjournment. A glimpse into Fischer’s ruthless and self-absorbed personality: GM Robert Byrne, whom the U.S. Chess Federation hired to be Fischer’s second during the match, worked feverishly on the adjourned position all night. In the morning, he knocked on Fischer’s door with voluminous notes. Fischer casually waved him away, saying, “Show me (the notes) after the game,” as he closed the door on a stunned Byrne.
There is a mind-bending fortress idea in the position, starting with 42 f4!!.
This is a freakish anomaly in an ordinary looking position. After 42 ... gxf4 we have:
a) 43 Nf3? Rxa6 (otherwise Black has no way of making progress) 44 Rxa6 Kxa6 45 g5! fxg5 46 Nxg5 Ba5 47 Nxh7 Bd8! 48 Nf8 Bf6 49 Ng6 (or 49 Nd7 Bg7 50 Nc5+ Kb5 51 Nb3 f3 52 Nd2 f2 53 Ke2 Kb4 54 Kxf2 Kc3 55 Ke2 Kc2 56 Nc4 d3+ 57 Ke1 Bh6 when the blockade is smashed and Black wins) 49 ... f3 50 h4 Kb5 51 h5 Kb4 52 h6 Kb3 53 h7 f2 (this deflection shatters White’s d3 blockade) 54 Ke2 d3+ 55 Kxf2 d2 56 Ke2 Kc2 and wins.
b) 43 g5!! (only by this second pawn offer can White force the draw) 43 ... fxg5 44 Nf3 Rxa6 (or 44 ... g4 45 Nxe5 h5 46 Ng6 f3 47 e5 Ba5 48 e6 Rxa6 49 Nf4 h4 50 e7 Ra8 51 Ne6 Re8 52 Nxd4+ Kb6 53 Nf5 Bb4 54 Rb2 Ka5 55 Nxh4 Bxe7 56 Nxf3 gxf3 57 Rf2 Kb5 58 Rxf3; this is a theoretical draw, where Black has only practical chances) 45 Rxa6 Kxa6 46 Nxg5 Ba5! 47 Nxh7 Bd8! 48 Nf8 Bf6 49 Nd7 Bg7 50 h4 Kb5 51 h5 Kc6 52 h6 Bh8 53 Nf8 Kd6 54 Ng6 Bf6 55 h7 Ke6 56 Nh4! (not 56 h8Q Bxh8 57 Nxh8?? Kf6 when the knight is trapped and Black wins) 56 ... Kf7 57 Nf3 Kg7 58 Ne1 Kxh7 (this position is drawn) 59 Ke2 Kg6 60 Nd3 Kg5 61 Kf3 Kh4 62 Nf2 Bg7 63 Kg2 and Black is unable to make progress. Okay, let’s try the other side of the board: 63 ... Kg5 64 Kf3 Kf6 65 Nd3 Ke6 66 Ke2 Kd6 67 Ne1 Kc5 68 Kd3 Kb4 69 Nc2+ Kb3 70 Ne1 Kb2 71 Kd2 Bf6 72 Nf3. Unbelievable. Every possible permutation has been tried, and in all of them, White, down two pawns, defends successfully.
42 ... Ba5!
This is an attempt to conceal the evidence. The bishop, pondering deeply, finds the world manifestly imperfect, and now decides to fix it. An important addition, since the game is drawn if White manages a rook swap.
43 Rb2+
Petrosian cuts off Fischer’s king.
43 ... Kxa6 44 Rb1
It would be much harder for Black to make progress after 44 Ng3! Rc7 45 Rb3 Be1 46 Ke2 Bc3 47 Kd3 Ka5 48 Ne2 Bb4 49 Rb1 Kb5 50 Ra1.
44 ... Rc7 45 Rb2 Be1 46 f3
Forced. This somewhat reduces White’s ability to play a future Ng3.
46 ... Ka5 47 Rc2! Rb7!
Avoiding 47 ... Rxc2? 48 Kxc2 Kb4 49 Nc1! (not 49 Kd3?? Kb3 50 Ng1 Kb2 51 Ne2 Kb1 52 Ng1 Kc1 53 Ke2 Kc2! 54 Kxe1 d3 and the pawn can’t be stopped) 49 ... Kc4 50 Nd3 and Black is unable to break down White’s light-squared blockade.
48 Ra2+ Kb5 49 Rb2+ Bb4 50 Ra2 Rc7 51 Ra1 Rc8
Exercise (critical decision): With his last move, Fischer invited Petrosian to
invade the seventh rank with Ra7. Should White grab the opportunity?
Answer: He should decline.
52 Ra7?
Some questions are best left unanswered. When we mistakenly ‘see’ all the signs of our non-existent win, our own credulity fills in the missing gaps. Petrosian inexplicably plays with the brazen callousness of a desperate man with nothing to lose. If you put all your resources into an investment, it can drain you, turning a hoped for asset into an impediment.
With this move White forfeits his base element of security. Petrosian, possibly hoping to punish Fischer by playing for the full point, takes a high-risk gamble in a secure position, which to me feels like a prosperous, content country declaring war on a friendly and more powerful neighbouring country. This is a stylistically odd decision for Petrosian, who was a pacifist at heart, and who normally only tried to win through risk-free positional pressure – without battles, bloodshed, or trees bent with the weight of the hanged.
It’s unlikely Black can make progress if White maintained a holding pattern with 52 Ra2! which is a move played with the philosophy: Never argue with an opponent who operates under an assumption of certainty.
52 ... Ba5!
Question: What is Fischer’s idea?
Answer: With his last move, Fischer cuts off White’s rook from his own territory, allowing his own rook to eventually infiltrate. When he does so, his king, rook, bishop and d-pawn conspire to weave both mating nets and also promotion schemes, which White is unable to prevent.
53 Rd7
53 Rxh7 allows Black to invade after 53 ... Ra8! 54 Rf7 Bb6 55 Rxf6 Ra3+ 56 Kd2 Ba5+ 57 Kd1 Rd3+ 58 Kc1 Re3 59 Ng1 d3 60 Rd6 Kc4! 61 Nh3 Re1+ 62 Kb2 Bc3+ 63 Ka2 Ra1 mate.
53 ... Bb6! 54 Rd5+ Bc5 55 Nc1 Ka4! 56 Rd7 Bb4 57 Ne2 Kb3
Fischer’s king continues to make progress.
58 Rb7
Or 58 Rxh7 Rc2 (threatening mate on d2) 59 Nxd4+ exd4 60 Kxd4 Bd6 61 Rb7+ (if 61 h4?? Rd2+ 62 Ke3 Bf4 mate) 61 ... Ka4 62 h3 Be5+ 63 Ke3 Rh2 64 Rh7 Kb4 and White won’t save the game.
58 ... Ra8!
Now rook infiltration is imminent along the a-file.
59 Rxh7
59 Nc1+ Kb2! 60 Rxb4+ Kxc1 61 Rb3 Ra2 is hopeless for White.
59 ... Ra1
At long last, Fischer’s rook infiltrates.
60 Nxd4+
An heirless person with a terminal illness has no reason to be miserly. Not much choice, since after 60 Ng3 Ra2! (threat: ... Rd2 mate) 61 Nf1 Rf2 White’s position is plump shire, ripe for pillage. The knight is lost, since moving it allows mate on d2.
60 ... exd4 61 Kxd4 Rd1+ 62 Ke3 Bc5+ 63 Ke2 Rh1! 64 h4 Kc4!
Even more accurate than 64 ... gxh4 which also wins.
65 h5 Rh2+ 66 Ke1 Kd3 0-1