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Bobby Fischer's
Early Blunders

(The Bobby no one ever talks about.)

Off the Wall with NM Brian Wall

When my brother Fred, one year younger than me, died in 2007, jogging on a New Jersey beach, I was numb at first.  He died 30 years ago, I thought, when he went to live in New York, where we were born.  I had only seen him sporadically since then.  Then after a few days I realized I lost the person who understood me best - because we had the same childhood he understands everything I do, think and say better than anyone - he knows my schematic.  Then the enormity of the loss hit me.  Now I take Fred with me - " Let's go, Fred, would you like to see a movie today?"

Bobby Fischer's death eight months later hit me the same way.  So what.  At first I was numb - He died 35 years ago when he quit tournament Chess.  Then after a few days I remembered how much of my life Fischer affected, I have been a Chess Master for over 30 years.  I have played over all of Fischer's game.  I have imitated hundreds of his ideas in my games.  A Fischer game is really a sporting event, like a Muhammad Ali fight, a Mike Tyson fight, a Tal game, a Kasparov game.  Fischer enjoyed one more day of life than Karl Marx did.

Randy Reynolds of Colorado initiated the " Where do you stand on Bobby Fischer's board?" - The idea is if we all get one year per square like Bobby I am on e7 now.  1-1/2 ranks to go.

In order to avoid the hackneyed debates on Fischer's controversial behavior and also the repetitive re-annotations of his most famous games I would like to take a look at the rarely discussed losses of his breakthrough year - 1957.

Fischer was born 1943, March 9.

I wanted to feel the shift, from 1800 - getting beat up by Masters, to suddenly winning the National Championship and going to the Interzonal.  This is obviously the work of a genius as all of us who spent a lifetime failing to achieve what Bobby did in two years can testify.  Something of the same feeling occurred to me when I drew Hikaru Nakmura at age 13 five years ago, already an IM rocket on his way to 2700.  I barely drew by playing as carefully as possible and going an hour behind on the clock.  How can this boy possibly be better than me who has studied Chess all my life?  Don't mess with genius.

1956
Game of the Century

As a Chessmaster I am somewhat sensitive to opening tempi - when White wastes a move I say - "White just became Black".  When Donald Byrne moved his f4-bishop to g5, that was like waving a red flag to a bull. Bobby energetically punished the squandered time.

Donald Byrne - Robert James Fischer [D92]
Rosenwald Memorial Game of the Century (8), 17.10.1956

1.Nf3 Nf6 2.c4 g6 3.Nc3 Bg7 4.d4 0-0 5.Bf4 d5 6.Qb3 dxc4 7.Qxc4 c6 8.e4 Nbd7 9.Rd1 Nb6 10.Qc5 Bg4 11.Bg5 Na4 12.Qa3 Nxe4 13.bxc3 Nxe4 14.Bxe7 Qb6 15.Bc4 Nxc3 16.Bc5 Rfe8+ 17.Kf1 Be6 18.Bxb6 Bxc4+ 19.Kg1 Ne2+ 20.Kf1 Nxd4+ 21.Kg1 Ne2+ 22.Kf1 Nc3+ 23.Kg1 axb6 24.Qb4 Ra4 25.Qxb6 Nxd1 26.h3 Rxa2 27.Kh2 Nxf2 28.Re1 Rxe1 29.Qd8+ Bf8 30.Nxe1 Bd5 31.Nf3 Ne4 32.Qb8 b5 33.h4 h5 34.Ne5 Kg7 35.Kg1 Bc5+ 36.Kf1 Ng3+ 37.Ke1 Bb4+ 38.Kd1 Bb3+ 39.Kc1 Ne2+ 40.Kb1 Nc3+ 41.Kc1 Rc2# 0-1
 

But Bobby wasn't producing masterpieces every game just yet.

Max Euwe - Robert James Fischer [D35]
New York m Rd: 1, 1957

1.d4 Nf6 2.c4 e6 3.Nc3 d5 4.cxd5 exd5 5.Bg5 Bb4 6.e3 h6 7.Bh4 c5 8.Bd3 Nc6 9.Nge2 cxd4 10.exd4 0-0 11.0-0 Be6 12.Bc2 Be7 13.Nf4








13...Qb6??

There were several ways to meet the threat of 14.B:f6 B:f6 15.Qd3 g6 16.N:e6 fe 17.Q:g6+ but Bobby missed the idea entirely.

Kasparov said: "Even his blunders are brilliancies."

Despite losing this game and match just the fact that someone so young was granted a match by an ex-World Champion meant somebody sensed something special about the boy.  Bobby had already explained to his postal opponents at age 12 that he was going to be World Champion.

14.Bxf6! Bxf6! 15.Qd3! Rfd8 16.Rae1!! Nb4 17.Qh7+! Kf8!








18.a3!!

18.Bf5!! is also very effective, among others.

18 ... Nxc2 19.Ncxd5!! Rxd5








20.Nxd5!!

The mate in one threat wins the Queen.

1-0
 

Remember that Fischer soon became one of the most accurate Chessplayers ever, famous for brutally punishing every mistake.  Sometime soon Fischer got better at seeing the tactics or started moving more responsibly.

Spring 1957 - Bobby barely 14 years old.

In a year, Bobby was routinely playing the world's best players.

15 years later Euwe put the laurel wreath of World Champion around Bobby's neck.

Max Euwe - Robert James Fischer [D35]
New York m Rd: 1 New York m Rd: 1, 1957

1.d4 Nf6 2.c4 e6 3.Nc3 d5 4.cxd5 exd5 5.Bg5 Bb4 6.e3 h6 7.Bh4 c5 8.Bd3 Nc6 9.Nge2 cxd4 10.exd4 0-0 11.0-0 Be6 12.Bc2 Be7 13.Nf4 Qb6 14.Bxf6 Bxf6 15.Qd3 Rfd8 16.Rae1 Nb4 17.Qh7+ Kf8 18.a3 Nxc2 19.Ncxd5 Rxd5 20.Nxd5 1-0

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Rudolfo Tan Cardoso - Robert James Fischer [B91]
New York m Rd: 3, 1957

1.e4 c5 2.Nf3 d6 3.d4 cxd4 4.Nxd4 Nf6 5.Nc3 a6 6.g3 e5 7.Nde2 Be7 8.Bg2 0-0 9.0-0 Nbd7 10.h3 b5 11.a4 b4 12.Nd5 Nxd5 13.Qxd5 Qc7 14.c3 Bb7 15.Qd1 Nc5 16.f3 a5 17.Be3 Ba6 18.Rc1 Rab8 19.f4 bxc3 20.Rxc3 Rxb2 21.Rf2 Qb6 22.Rc1 Qb3 23.Nc3 exf4 24.Rxb2 Qxb2 25.Bxc5 dxc5 26.gxf4 c4 27.Nd5 Bc5+ 28.Kh2 Bb4 29.Rc2 Qb3 30.e5 Qxa4 31.Be4 g6! 32.Qg4








32...Bb7??

Bobby has been doing well all game but Rudolfo has built up some serious threats. 32 ... f5!! is the only defense - perhaps time pressure made Bobby hurry.

33.Nf6+ Kg7 34.Qh4 Rc8

Seems like time pressure again -

34 ... Rh8 is best but loses to 35 Nh5+ Kh6 36 Qg5 checkmate; or
34 ... Rh8 35 Nh5+ anything else 36 Qf6 wins.

35.Qxh7+! Kf8! 36.e6! Rc7








37.Qg8+

There are multiple other wins with 37.Re2!!! being especially effective.

37 ... Ke7! 38.Qxf7+!!

38 ef!! is also conclusive

38 ... Kd8 39.Rd2+

Mating.

39 ... Bd5!








40.Rxd5+

40.Qg8+ Ke7 41.N:d5+ mates quicker.

Tan's move also mates but even more disheartening is he can win the Queen after 40...Kc8 41.Qg8+ Kb7 42.R:a5+

1-0

This is the only game Cardoso won in the match.

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Mar-02-08 rjsolcruz: IM Cardoso, now 60+ years old and concentrated to coaching, conducted a chess workshop for children of MERALCO employees last March 1, 2008 at the Lopez Bldg in Pasig City.  The workshop is part of the 105th Anniversary of MERALCO, RP's #1 electric utility.  And chess is part of the MERALCOlympics event.

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Rudolfo Tan Cardoso - Robert James Fischer [B91]
New York m Rd: 3, 1957

1.e4 c5 2.Nf3 d6 3.d4 cxd4 4.Nxd4 Nf6 5.Nc3 a6 6.g3 e5 7.Nde2 Be7 8.Bg2 0-0 9.0-0 Nbd7 10.h3 b5 11.a4 b4 12.Nd5 Nxd5 13.Qxd5 Qc7 14.c3 Bb7 15.Qd1 Nc5 16.f3 a5 17.Be3 Ba6 18.Rc1 Rab8 19.f4 bxc3 20.Rxc3 Rxb2 21.Rf2 Qb6 22.Rc1 Qb3 23.Nc3 exf4 24.Rxb2 Qxb2 25.Bxc5 dxc5 26.gxf4 c4 27.Nd5 Bc5+ 28.Kh2 Bb4 29.Rc2 Qb3 30.e5 Qxa4 31.Be4 g6 32.Qg4 Bb7 33.Nf6+ Kg7 34.Qh4 Rc8 35.Qxh7+ Kf8 36.e6 Rc7 37.Qg8+ Ke7 38.Qxf7+ Kd8 39.Rd2+ Bd5 40.Rxd5+ 1-0

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Another loss - I look at the losses not to put Bobby down but to show the games that convinced him to try harder and look deeper - he would soon come to absolutely despise losing.  There should be a trend of these losses lasting longer and longer and in many cases he was winning all game until he blundered.

The losses also become rarer and rarer and soon only the best could beat him although every dog has his day.

M Otteson - Robert James Fischer [A05]
Milwaukee N-Western Rd: 3, 1957

1.Nf3 Nf6 2.g3 g6 3.b4 Bg7 4.Bb2 0-0 5.Bg2 d6 6.d4 e5 7.dxe5 Ng4 8.Nbd2 Nc6 9.b5 Ncxe5 10.Nxe5 Nxe5 11.0-0 Nf3+ 12.Bxf3 Bxb2 13.Rb1 Bg7 14.Nc4 Bh3 15.Re1 Bc3 16.Bxb7 Bxe1 17.Qxe1 Rb8 18.Bf3 Qg5 19.a4 Qc5 20.Ne3 Be6 21.c4 a6 22.Rd1 axb5 23.cxb5 Bb3 24.Rc1 Qd4 25.Rxc7 Qxa4 26.Qc3 Be6 27.Bc6 Rfc8 28.Re7 d5 29.Qf6 Rxc6 30.bxc6 Qxc6 31.Ng4








The game has been fairly even, for example, Fischer could have played 27... or 28...R:b5 or 29...Qe4 with equality.

Otteson has done a good job of staying in the game and now has a slight edge - the only defense is 31...Rb1+!! 32.Kg2 Rb7!!

31...Qc1+??

Scholastic tournaments are usually full of crying children which is a good sign - the pain of losing is the only deterrent to moving quickly that affects the immature mind.  In general Bobby was considered the perfect gentleman on the board, always willing to give a post-mortem, win or lose.

He did not tear up score-sheets or punch holes in walls after losing - in a sense Bobby was Jesus, the Chessboard was Bobby's altar and when he found cheating he drove the moneylenders from the temple.

Bobby's Queen abandons her King when he needs her most.

32.Kg2

White's King is snug while Bobby's is under too much pressure - for example 33.Kg2 Rf8 33.Rc7!! deflecting Fischer's Queen from 34 Nh6 checkmate is a nice theme or 32.Kg2 h5 33.Ne5 Qc8 34.g4 or h4 defusing 33...Bh3+ and getting back to attacking King Fischer.

After 33.Kg2 Otteson is also threatening 34 R:e6 breaking up the King shelter or 34.e3 and Nh6 checkmate.

There's simply no reasonable defense after 31 ... Qc1+??

I get the impression Bobby lost trying too hard to win which in general will pay good dividends.  Several players today try to emulate Bobby's drive; Topalov, Radjabov, Kamsky, Morozevich and Nakamura are relentless competitors who excite Chess fans the world over.  You won't see many short draws with these guys.

32 ... Rf8








33.Rxe6

Good enough but missing the beautiful deflection 33.Rc7!! Qd2 34.Rc2!! Black Resigns 1-0

33...fxe6! 34.Qxe6+! Kg7 35.Qe5+! Kf7 36.f4!! Rc8!








Only move - Otteson has way more than enough for the exchange but one mistake can put Bobby right back in the game.

37.Nh6+

I guess it will take more than one mistake because 37.Qf6+!! Ke8 38.Ne5!! wins more material but Otteson's move is very good too.  The Queen-Knight combo is a well known deadly attacking force.

37 ... Kf8! 38.Qh8+!! Ke7! 39.Qxh7+! Kd6! 40.Qxg6+! Kc5! 41.Qd3 Qc4! 42.Ng4








42...Rg8?

Otteson is not playing precisely and Bobby might have survived the ending after 42...Q:d3 43.ed Kd4 44.Ne5 Rc2+ 45.Kf3 R:h2 46.g4 Rh3+ 47.Kg2 Rh8 48.g5 Ke3 49.Kg3 Rh1 50.Ng4+ Ke2 51.Nf6 Rg1+ 52.Kh2 Kf2!

43.Ne5 Qxf4








44.Qc3+!!

Ending the game.

44 ... Kb5!

44 ... Kd6+ 45 Qc6+ K:e5 46 Qc7+

45.Qc6+! Ka5! 46.Qxd5+! Ka4 47.Qxg8! Qxe5! 48.Qc4+! Ka3! 49.h4!

Three extra pawns should be enough to win a Queen ending even with blunders.

1-0

Not much evidence here of the future 2780 Fischer except perhaps trying too hard to win an even game.

In a year's time Bobby outgrew his entire nation!

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M Otteson - Robert James Fischer [A05]
Milwaukee N-Western Rd: 3, 1957

1.Nf3 Nf6 2.g3 g6 3.b4 Bg7 4.Bb2 0-0 5.Bg2 d6 6.d4 e5 7.dxe5 Ng4 8.Nbd2 Nc6 9.b5 Ncxe5 10.Nxe5 Nxe5 11.0-0 Nf3+ 12.Bxf3 Bxb2 13.Rb1 Bg7 14.Nc4 Bh3 15.Re1 Bc3 16.Bxb7 Bxe1 17.Qxe1 Rb8 18.Bf3 Qg5 19.a4 Qc5 20.Ne3 Be6 21.c4 a6 22.Rd1 axb5 23.cxb5 Bb3 24.Rc1 Qd4 25.Rxc7 Qxa4 26.Qc3 Be6 27.Bc6 Rfc8 28.Re7 d5 29.Qf6 Rxc6 30.bxc6 Qxc6 31.Ng4 Qc1+ 32.Kg2 Rf8 33.Rxe6 fxe6 34.Qxe6+ Kg7 35.Qe5+ Kf7 36.f4 Rc8 37.Nh6+ Kf8 38.Qh8+ Ke7 39.Qxh7+ Kd6 40.Qxg6+ Kc5 41.Qd3 Qc4 42.Ng4 Rg8 43.Ne5 Qxf4 44.Qc3+ Kb5 45.Qc6+ Ka5 46.Qxd5+ Ka4 47.Qxg8 Qxe5 48.Qc4+ Ka3 49.h4 1-0

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famous brilliancy,
Game #1 in
My 60 Memorable Games

Robert James Fischer - James T Sherwin [B40]
New Jersey Open - (7), 02.09.1957

1.e4 c5 2.Nf3 e6 3.d3 Nc6 4.g3 Nf6 5.Bg2 Be7 6.0-0 0-0 7.Nbd2 Rb8 8.Re1 d6 9.c3 b6 10.d4 Qc7 11.e5 Nd5 12.exd6 Bxd6 13.Ne4 c4 14.Nxd6 Qxd6 15.Ng5 Nce7 16.Qc2 Ng6 17.h4 Nf6 18.Nxh7 Nxh7 19.h5 Nh4 20.Bf4 Qd8 21.gxh4 Rb7 22.h6 Qxh4 23.hxg7 Kxg7 24.Re4 Qh5 25.Re3 f5 26.Rh3 Qe8 27.Be5+ Nf6 28.Qd2 Kf7 29.Qg5 Qe7 30.Bxf6 Qxf6 31.Rh7+ Ke8 32.Qxf6 Rxh7 33.Bc6+ 1-0

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Anthony Santasiere - Robert James Fischer [E67]
West Orange open Rd: 5, 1957

1.Nf3 Nf6 2.c4 g6 3.Nc3 Bg7 4.g3 0-0 5.Bg2 d6 6.d4 Nbd7 7.0-0 e5 8.dxe5 dxe5 9.Bg5 h6 10.Bxf6 Qxf6 11.Nd2 Nc5 12.Rc1 a5 13.Nb3 Rd8 14.Nd5 Qd6 15.Nxc5 Qxc5 16.Qb3 Bf8 17.Rfd1 Kg7 18.Qf3 Ra6 19.e4 Rad6 20.a3 a4 21.Bf1 h5 22.h3 c6 23.Nc3 Rf6








Bobby had a comfortable King's Indian with 23...Qa5 or 23...Qa7 but he changes the game by offering a Queen-for-two-rooks trade.

24.Qxf6+! Kxf6 25.Rxd8 Bh6

Weird chase-the-rook tactics would save Bobby after 25 ... Be6!! 26 N:a4 Qa5 27 R:f8 Ke7 28 Rb8 Qa7!

26.Rcd1! Be6! 27.Nxa4! Qa5! 28.Nc3 h4








Trying to loosen up the White King - the game is about even after 28...Bc1.

29.Kg2 hxg3! 30.fxg3! Be3

30 ... Bc1! is even better than before.

31.R8d3! Bd4

The game after the queen trade is hovering about even - 31 ... Qa7!

32.b4! Qa7 33.Ne2

They are both making little mistakes, not too costly so far - 33.c5! prevents Bobby from reinforcing the bishop after Ne2.

33 ... c5! 34.Nxd4! cxd4! 35.Rf3+ Kg7 36.c5








36...f5!!

Santasiere was famous for creative play in general - He should have played 36.g4! to discourage ...f5.

37.Bd3 Qxa3!!

Bobby is winning now but there is an imminent collapse, maybe due to time pressure - It's been a tough game all along.

38.Kg1 Qxb4

Soltis has written that in general Bobby preferred the Queen to two rooks - his policy is paying off now.

39.Rb1 Qxc5!! 40.Rxb7+ Kf6

Must be time pressure - 40...Kh6!! is very winning because 41.ef can be met by ...Bd5!!

41.exf5