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 November 9, 1970. Play at the Interzonal, Palma de Mallorca has just begun.
The tournament hall is abuzz with excitement. Robert James Fischer, the
American champion, has once again staked his claim at the World Championship
cycle. After his resounding defeat of Petrosian in the Match of the
Century (3:1) and victories at the Rovinj Zagreb and Buenos Aires
events ahead of the Soviet GMs, there has been no looking back for Fischer.
 His first round opponent is a slim bespectacled player, Robert Huebner from
Cologne, West Germany. His shy and serious demeanor betrays no sign of
being intimidated by his formidable rival. The game takes a dramatic
course, with Fischer blundering away a piece in the later middle game. It
is drawn only after a dynamically balanced position is reached.
The rest is history.
Fischer won the First Prize at the Interzonal and beat Taimanov (6-0!),
Larsen (6-0 again!) and Petrosian (6.5-3.5) in the Candidates Matches.
Soon after he won the World Championship after beating Spassky in what was
billed as The Match of The Century.
The rise of his young opponent Huebner was less spectacular. He won
the Second Prize at the same Interzonal and became a World Championship
candidate. He lost a narrow match to the vastly more experienced Petrosian
and bowed out of the cycle. In the subsequent decade he became a
renowned tournament and match player crossing swords with the likes of such
players as Smyslov, Korchnoi, Portisch and Timman.
But in the end Huebner, with his scholarly bent of mind and philosophical
outlook, chose not to be a chess professional. He became a papyrologist
and followed a distinguished academic career.
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As for Fischer, life became a steady descent into hell....from the
involuntary loss of title to Karpov in 1975 to the incarceration in a Tokyo
prison cell.
The tormented mind of the champion found solace and
comfort only when the Icelandic community came to his rescue and provided a
safe haven for him.
Two brilliant minds, and two different destinies.
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.JPG) |
Although Huebner is prominently mentioned as the
author of this CD, his role here is limited to writing a summary of
Fischer's style and and work on various positions from My 60
Memorable Games. It is noteworthy that Kasparov has also
made use of Huebner's path-breaking analysis in this CD for his
authoritative work on Fischer, My Great Predecessors
Part IV. However, Huebner's general conclusions on
Fischer's play tend to be philosophical abstractions and do not have
intrinsic merit.
The main part of the CD is a database containing 956 games and 44
texts. The latter carry brief tournament and match reports.
Ideally speaking, every game in this CD should
have detailed annotations. Here, however, only 462 out of 956 games
carry annotations of any length. Some of the games contain only wordless notes and a few carry very brief comment
with just one or two short variations. In all fairness it should be stated
that most World Championship and Candidates' Matches are annotated at great
length citing several sources. Here the mass of comment from various
authorities can be quite confusing and contradictory. (See the game
Fischer-Larsen, 1971 below.)
Then there are both well-known and unknown games
without any annotations. They deserve to be seen, studied and appreciated. (See the game Tringov-Fischer,
1965 below.)
Last but not the least, there has been a revival
of interest in Fischer in recent years on account of Andrew Soltis' work
Bobby Fischer Rediscovered and Garry Kasparov's work,
Fischer, My Great Predecessors Part IV. Both
books abound in analytical discoveries and they tend to reverse a number of
time-honoured conclusions reached on Fischer's games. As these books were
published only after the release of the ChessBase CD, it is necessary for
the discerning player to take note of their findings as well.
The multimedia section contains seven short video
clips with footage of Fischer's appearance in the following events:
1) Yugoslavia 1958 (0:38min)
2) Leipzig 1960 (3:59 min)
3) Yugoslavia 1970 (4:35 min)
4) Siegen 1970
(0:27 min)
5) Fischer Interview USA 1972 (1:42 min)
6) Fischer Interview on psychology (0:05 min)
7) Reykjavik 1972 (4:01
min)
The videos may be old, with many images faded
and blurred. But some of the footage is memorable stuff. The clip on
psychology is less than a minute, with a famous one-liner:
''No. I don't believe in psychology. I believe in
good moves.''
The image of 16-year-old Fischer playing against
Tal is a study in contrast. Bobby's innocence and total absorption in the game are endearing. The opposite is the supremely confident Tal, darting a
good-humored glance at his opponent and making a move with a wonderful smile
lighting up his face.
Incidentally, this game, which was played in the Interzonal, ended in a draw.
The footage from the World Championship Match has
Fischer blundering away his bishop in the first game. It also shows a
tense and grim Boris Spassky. The World Champion appears to be the
underdog, and the irony of the situation is not missed on the viewer.
Now for the games:
Georgi Tringov - Robert James Fischer
Havana 1965
1.e4 c5 2.Nf3 d6 3.d4 cxd4 4.Nxd4 Nf6 5.Nc3 a6
       
  
 
     
Fischer's favorite Najdorf Variation.
6.Bg5 e6 7.f4 Qb6
The Poisoned Pawn Variation.
8.Qd2 Qxb2 9.Rb1 Qa3 10.e5!?
This line was introduced by Paul Keres way back in 1955. Kasparov
analyzed it twice in his My Great Predecessors
series. There are two annotated games, Tal-Tolush 1956(MGP II) and Bilek-Tal
1962(MGP IV). He opined that the text was a dubious move. However, in an
article in the New in Chess Magazine 8/2006 he analyzed the variation again
and held that it was viable. In the recent Corus 2007 Tournament Anand faced
it as Black against Motylev and won. Then he played it as White against Van Wely and won again!
The other major lines are 10.Bxf6, 10.Be2 and the sharp 10.f5.
10...dxe5
10...h6 was played in the games Motylev-Anand and Anand-Van Wely,
Corus 2007.
11.fxe5 Nfd7 12.Bc4
A major alternative is Tal's move 12.Ne4. It has been recently
revived, thanks to the efforts of players like Radjabov and Anand. 12...h6
13.Bh4 (13.Bb5!?
Analysis Diagram: after 13.Bb5!?
...is the new miracle move being
debated on the pages of NIC Yearbook 82. See the forthcoming Chessville
Review for a discussion of the same.) 13...Qxa2 14.Rd1 (An improvement
on 14.Rb3?! 14...Qa1+ 15.Kf2 Qa4 Korchnoi-Tolush 1958)
14...Qd5! (Kasparov's recommendation) 15.Qe3 Qxe5 leads by
transposition to Motylev-Anand and Anand-Van Wely, Corus 2007 games.
12...Bb4
12...Qa5 is a powerful alternative tried by Fischer in other games.
13.Rb3
13.Nxe6?! It took years to prove that this move is unsound. But
not 13...fxe6
14.Rxb4 ! 14...Qxb4
A) 15.00 Qc5+ ! (15...Qxc4 ? 16.Ne4 Qxe4 17.Qd6+-)
16.Rf2 Qxc4 17.Ne4 Qxe4 18.Qd6 Qe1+ 19.Rf1 Qxf1+ ! 20.Kxf1 Rf8+ 21.Kg1 Kf7+
-Soltis
B) 15.Bxe6 15...h6 ! 16.00 ? 16...Qb6++ -Nunn. But after
17.Be3 Qxe6 18.Nd5 Qc6 White still has some threats with 19.Qa5 (or
19.Qd4 - NSH)
16.Bf7+ 16...Kxf7 17.Qd5+ Kg6 18.Qd3+ Kh5! (Not 18...Kxg5??
19.h4+ Kh5 20.Qf5++-) - Nunn.
Now it is impossible to see how White can justify his sacrifices.
For example, 19.Be7!? 19...Nxe5 (19...Qxe7? 20.Qf5++-)
20.Qe2+ Qg4 21.Qxe5+ Kg6 +
13...Qa5 14.00 00
14...Nxe5!? deserves attention. - Kasparov
15.Nxe6?
15.Bf6! 15...Nxf6 ! 16.exf6 Rd8 17.Rxb4 ! 17...Qxb4 18.Qg5 g6 is correct
with an unclear game. - Kasparov
15...fxe6 16.Bxe6+ Kh8 17.Rxf8+ Bxf8 18.Qf4 Nc6!
18...Qxe5 19.Qxe5 (19.Qf7 ?? 19...Qe1+ 20.Qf1 Qxe6+)
19...Nxe5 20.Bxc8 is at least equal according to Soltis. But White may have
the edge on account of his active pieces. - NSH
19.Qf7 Qc5+ 20.Kh1
If 20.Be3 Qxe3+ 21.Kf1 Qc1+ 22.Kf2 (22.Ke2 Nd4+ 23.Kf2
Nxe6+) 22...Bc5+
20...Nf6!
21.Bxc8
The knight cannot be captured:
21.exf6 Bxe6 22.fxg7+ Bxg7 23.Qxe6 Qxg5 +; or
21.Bxf6 Bxe6 22.Qxe6 gxf6 23.Qxf6+ Bg7 +
21...Nxe5 ! 22.Qe6 Neg4
Now White has no answer to the threats of ...Nf2+ and ...Rxc8.
01
A superb example of defence and counterattack. Unfortunately, this game
appears without notes in the CD.
The following encounter took place in dramatic
circumstances. Larsen had won a string of international tournaments before
Fischer returned to the arena. Although he was placed second in the Palma de
Mallorca Interzonal, he had the satisfaction of beating Fischer (his only
loss) in their individual encounter. A year before the Candidates' Match
Larsen had proudly declared,
"I believe in myself. I am sure that I will win the
Candidates' event and in 1972 I will win the title of world champion. I
heard about Fischer's statement that in the American press that he is the
strongest player in the world. I do not agree. The best player in the world
now is Larsen. I do not say this out of self-praise, not to cause a
sensation, but because I firmly believe it.''
Here is what happened:
Robert James Ficher-Bent Larsen
Candidates' Match Semifinal ( 1) 10.6.07.1971
1.e4 e6
Larsen rarely played the French Defence, so the opening was a surprise
to Fischer. In the Palma de Mallorca Interzonal 1970 he had beaten Bobby
with his favourite Sicilian Defence. 1...c5.
2.d4 d5 3.Nc3 Bb4
''The Winawer Variation has given Fischer consistent trouble. He has
had the utmost difficulty cracking Black's tortoise-like shell; even his
successes are unconvincing.'' - Larry Evans
In his book My 60 Memorable Games Fischer states, ''I may yet be forced to
admit that the Winawer is sound. But I doubt it! The defense is unsound and it
weakens the kingside.''
It was the right choice against Fischer as he had lost a couple of games
with White, succumbing to the same.
4.e5
The game Fischer-Kovacevic 1970 went 4.a3 Bxc3+ 5.bxc3 dxe4 6.Qg4 Nf6 7.Qxg7
Rg8 8.Qh6 Nbd7 .....01 (30 moves).
4...Ne7 5.a3 Bxc3+ 6.bxc3 c5 7.a4
''Smyslov's favourite, largely responsible for Botvinnk's giving up the
Winawer Variation. Sharper is 7.Qg4. I felt that Black's carapace could be
cracked by only positional means, but my results have been disheartening.''
Fischer in My 60 Memorable Games. Since then theory has come full circle. 7.a4 loses a valuable tempo according to Kasparov. He prefers 7.Nf3 or
the shaper 7.Qg4.
7...Nbc6 8.Nf3 Bd7
Korchnoi played the aggressive 8...Qa5 against Spassky in The
Candidates Match Final, 1977 with success. It is this move that has
discouraged White players from playing 7.a4.-Kasparov
9.Bd3 Qc7
''Larsen employs a system, aiming to liquidate e5 with ...f6, that Mednis used
to upset Fischer in the first round of the 1962-63 U.S. Championship.'' - Soltis
Not 9...00? 10.Bxh7+ Kxh7 11.Ng5+ Kg6 12.h4!+-
If 9...Qa5 10.00 c4 11.Be2 Qxc3? (Instead 11...000 , retaining the threat of...Qxc3 may be
considered.-NSH)
12.Bd2 Qb2 13.Rb1 Qa3 14.Rxb7 with initiative. - Timman
10.00 c4
10...f6 deserves attention according to the annotators in the CD. But it is
is risky according to Kasparov, after 11.exf6 gxf6 12.dxc5 e5
(12...000!? is still possible.-NSH) 13.c4 the White bishops
come into play and Black begins to experience serious difficulties.
Again not 10...00? 11.Bxh7+! Kxh7 12.Ng5+ Kg8 13.Qh5 Rfc8 14.Qxf7+ Kh8
15.f4!+-
11.Be2 f6! 12.Re1!
12.Ba3!? deserves attention according to the annotators, but Kasparov
points out that Fischer had played this move in the aforesaid game against
Mednis, and now the reply 12...fxe5 13.dxe5 Nxe5 is possible.
I think Larsen had a close look at this game and probably had an
improvement on the line played before. But Fischer anticipates him first. With the White rook on e1, the above line will not work. 14.Nxe5 Qxe5?? and
the queen will be lost after Bh5+.-NSH
12...Ng6?!
12...00 is safer according to Kasparov. But after 13.Ba3 ! 13...Rf7 14.Bd6±
White has unpleasant pressure according to the annotators. His other suggestion, 12...fxe5 13.dxe5 00 14.Ba3 Rf7! with counterplay on
the f-file and against White's weak pawns is better.-NSH
13.Ba3
13.Bf1!? deserves attention.
13...fxe5?!
''The optimistic Larsen believes in his lucky star, otherwise he
would have changed his mind and preferred the more cautious 13...000 or
13...Kf7 14.Bd6 Qa5 15.Qd2 with a slight advantage for White.'' -
Kasparov
However, this evaluation appears rather doubtful. If Black has to free his
game, he has to play...fxe5 and exchange a couple of minor pieces. But this
would result in the exposure of his own king. In the meanwhile the Black
queen is out of play on the queenside.-NSH
14.dxe5 Ncxe5 15.Nxe5 Nxe5
15...Qxe5?! 16.Bxc4± (Larsen) 16...Qxc3 17.Bxd5 (17.Qxd5?
Analysis Diagram: after 17.Qxd5?
17...Qxa1!+) 17...000 18.Re3 with attack, Levy, Kholmov
16.Qd4!
16.Bh5+!? also deserves attention. For example, 16...Nf7 ? (or
16...g6 17.Qd4)
17.Qf3! threatening both Qxf7 and Qxd5.
16...Ng6
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