october 29 2019

The second lesson of the year went off without a hitch, except for the graft man who was annoyed by the consequences of a Windows update (as usual).

A few endgames to start with, skilfully dissected by the Master, with no doubt some studies to come in view of the key positions in the analyses.

This was followed by 2 games from the Fischer - Spassky return match, very enjoyable to dig into.

And finally the fairytale part of the course saw some compositions with great aesthetic rendering.

 

Below is the animated report followed by the Master's contribution to the programme devoted to the 1972 match


Master's words


Mere teresa

"The greatest destroyer of peace in the world today is abortion. It is a war on the child, the direct murder of the innocent child, killed by its own mother. If a mother can kill her own child, what is to stop you and me from killing each other? (Agnes Gongea-Boiaxhiu, known as Mother Teresa).

 

"I am resolutely against the death penalty. But if it were to be reinstated, I would like it to be for abortionists first" (M. Tournier). 

 

"Nova, pulchra, falsa" (Bossuet).

"The most dangerous species of imbeciles is that of educated imbeciles" (J. Bainville).

"Two categories of people I abhor: those who admire everything and those who admire nothing. If I have to choose, I prefer the former" (E. M. Cioran).


Walker

Two practical rook endings, far more difficult than they seem at first sight. We know that they are "always drawn", say the psittacists, except when they are not. In one, an astonishing ZZ (reciprocal zugzwang), in the other, an intuitively defying move. And in both, the perennial theme: should we go as far as possible? In a horizontal-vertical echo. With a multitude of tricks that have fooled world-class players and commentators.

A bishop can very well master an imposing chain of pawns, but this one can also radiate... Our future first French grandmaster missed the boat. Again, a ZZ from elsewhere.

For the next lesson, the end of a study of the man considered to be the greatest composer of the 20th century: a curious ballet in which a so-called "minor" piece mystifies two. Then a practical rook endgame with an overflowing pawn that ends, as always, in a rook vs. pawns struggle. Finally a double fortress composed by the 7th world champion.

Everyone followed the 1972 "match of the century" in Reykjavik. But 20 years later, the "revenge" took place in Montenegro and Serbia. We have presented here what we think is the best game of it, the 11th (even better than the 1st) http://lecoursdumaitre.e-monsite.com/en/pages/cours/cat-2004/november-9-2004.html. We noted the insulting extravagance of a world champion of the 80s. But, excuse me, who is the has-been? The man who defied the Soviets, then the American plutocracy? Or the versatile megalomaniac, political hack and "pathological liar"?

Fischer 6Spassky 1

We highly recommend the book of this match-revival, by Y. Seirawan and G. Stefanović, "No regrets": every page of this book is interesting, most often exciting. It includes the 9 press conferences of the two champions, without the slightest tongue in cheek.

"There's no regrets No tears goodbye I don't want you back We'd only cry again Say goodbye again". The inspiration for Seirawan's book, Scott Engel aka Walker, a singer with a golden voice and a great admirer of Jacques Brel, left us this year. For him "the sun ain't gonna shine anymore", although anything can happen in a singer's paradise...

Today we look at two games of this 'twenty years later'. In the first, Black castles, then completely undoes the castling, only to... artificially remake it. In the other, Black plays actively in the centre and sacrifices for the initiative, as he did so often, getting the whole point. But here...

Hurme(see below an article on the Reykjavik 1972 match)

 

F healey

Our selection of problems, after the traditional 2#, pays tribute to Pal Benkö, who was brilliant in the game, the problem and the study, perfectly fulfilling the wish of professor Hieronymus in Echecs-Hebdo 1978 ! We leave the solution of the last one, which trapped... Bobby. Homage also to Harri Hurme, our Portorož 2002 commensal, and to Bakcsi György (but why do they let us all down?).

 

For half a century I have been hearing and reading "learned" people calling "Bristol" problems that are not problems at all. The clearing piece must not be used for the mate, this is the idea of the pioneer F. Healey, which we give again, with the solution, in the probably vain hope of putting an end to this fallacious interpretation. See page 1134 of Themes/64 in the excellent 1972 series of articles

Benko 1. And, 22 years later, the article by Milan Vukčević  : "The forward piece is not supposed to guard squares around the black king and its opening move is not intended to change anything else in the position but the freedom of the other Bristol piece".

Have a good time. See you in November.  Deus vos custodiat.

PGN Reader

Master's diagrams

[Event "?"] [Site "?"] [Date "2017.??.??"] [Round "?"] [White "Adams, Nepomniachtchi"] [Black "0400.34"] [Result "0-1"] [SetUp "1"] [FEN "8/1r3pkp/4p1p1/8/2R2P2/7P/5KP1/8 w - - 0 43"] [PlyCount "86"] [EventDate "2017.??.??"] [EventType "tourn"] [SourceDate "2000.07.25"] 43. Ra4 h6 44. Ra5 Rb2+ 45. Kf3 Rb3+ 46. Kf2 Rd3 47. h4 Rd5 48. Ra7 g5 49. hxg5 hxg5 50. fxg5 {Choose the minimal material.} (50. g3 {(to avoid conceding a passed pawn...)} g4 51. Ke3 Rb5 {(for ...Rb2-g2)} 52. Ra2 Rb3+ 53. Kf2 $8 Kg6 54. Ra7 f6 55. Ra6 Kf5 56. Ra5+ e5 57. fxe5 fxe5 {(...which is created all the same)} 58. Ra8 Rb2+ 59. Kf1 $1 (59. Ke3 $6 Rg2 60. Rf8+ $8 Ke6 61. Re8+ $8 Kf6 62. Rf8+ $8 Ke7 63. Rg8 $8 Rxg3+ 64. Kf2 $3 Rf3+ 65. Kg2 $8 Rf4 66. Kg3 $1 Ke6 67. Ra8 $1 {is theoretically draw but uncomfortable}) 59... Ke4 (59... Rd2 60. Rg8 $1) 60. Ra4+ $8 {is also tenable}) 50... Rxg5 $11 51. g3 Kg6 52. Kf3 Rf5+ 53. Kg2 Rb5 54. Re7 (54. g4) 54... e5 55. Kf2 f6 56. Re8 Kf5 57. Rf8 Rb3 58. Kg2 Rb2+ 59. Kf3 Rb3+ 60. Kg2 Ke6 61. Kf2 (61. g4) 61... Ra3 62. Re8+ Kf5 63. Rf8 Ra7 64. Kf3 Rg7 65. Re8 Kg5 66. Re6 Rg8 67. Re7 Kf5 68. Rh7 Ra8 69. Rh5+ (69. g4+ $1 Kg6 70. Rb7 ({simpler} 70. Rh5 $1 Ra3+ 71. Kf2 $1 Ra4 72. Kf3 $1 Rf4+ 73. Kg3 $8 Ra4 74. Rf5 $1 {or Rh8! ...Ra3+ Kh4! Kg2, see 70 g4!}) 70... Ra3+ 71. Kg2 $3 {[#](but not on f2)} Kg5 72. Rf7 $8 (72. Rb4 $2 Rd3 $1) (72. Rg7+ $2 Kf4 $8 73. Rg6 Ra6 $1) 72... e4 (72... Ra4 73. Kh3 $8) 73. Re7 $1 Kf4 74. Re6 $8 $11) 69... Kg6 70. Rh4 $6 (70. g4 $1 Ra4 71. Rh8 $1 (71. Rf5 $1) 71... Ra3+ 72. Kg2 $8 Kg5 73. Rf8 $8 Ra4 74. Kh3 $8) (70. Rh1 $6 f5 71. Ke3 $1 (71. Re1 $1 e4+ 72. Kf4 $1) 71... Kg5 72. Rh7 $3) 70... f5 $1 {Would you play your rook on b4 (as far as possible) or on c4? If you prefer to play the King, would you play it on f2 or g2 ?} 71. Rb4 $2 {It is necessary to to go 'as far as possible', but not too soon !} (71. Rc4 $3 {(the rescue, which was admittedly acrobatic)} Kg5 (71... e4+ 72. Kf4 $8 ) 72. Kg2 $8 Ra2+ 73. Kh3 $8 Kf6 (73... e4 74. Rc8 $1 {or Rb4!}) 74. Rb4 $3 {[#]} { ZZ (see 71 Kg2? for the ZZ, changed move)} (74. Rc8 $2 Ke7 $1) 74... Ke6 ( 74... Rc2 75. Ra4 $8) (74... e4 75. g4 $8) 75. Kh4 $8 {(certainly impossible with the bK on f6)} Rg2 (75... Kd5 76. Kg5 $3 {(or Rb5+! first)} Rf2 77. g4 $8 f4 78. Kf5 $8 $11) 76. Ra4 $8 (76. Kh3 $2 Rd2 $3 77. Ra4 {(Rb8 ...Rf2!)} Kd5 $8 78. Ra5+ Kd4 $1 79. Ra4+ Kd3 80. Ra3+ Ke2 $1 81. Ra5 e4 $8 82. Rxf5 e3 $8 $19) 76... e4 77. Kh3 $8 {(return)} (77. Ra6+ $2 Kd5 $1 78. Ra5+ Kd4 $1 79. Rxf5 e3 $1) 77... Re2 (77... Rf2 78. g4 $8) (77... Rg1 78. Kh2 $1) 78. Ra6+ $1 Kd5 79. Ra5+ $8 Kd4 80. Rxf5 $8 $11) (71. Ke3 $1 {(or on f2, but not on g2)} Ra3+ {(.. .Kg5 Rh7!!)} (71... e4 72. Kf2 $1 Ra2+ 73. Kf1 $3 {[#](it is necessary to forbid ...Rg2 and watch the "e" pawn)} Kf6 (73... e3 74. Rh8 $1 {(or Rf4!)} Rf2+ 75. Kg1 $8 Kg5 76. Re8 $1 {or Rg8+!}) 74. Rh8 $1 (74. Rh6+ $1 Ke5 75. Rh5 $8 e3 76. g4 $8) 74... Ke6 75. Rb8 $1 (75. Re8+ $2 {(transposes into Veid-Averbach 1962)} Kd5 $8 76. Rf8 Ke5 $8 77. Re8+ Kd4 $8 78. Rf8 Kd3 $8 $19) (75. Rg8 $1 Ke5 76. Rg5 $3) 75... Kd5 76. Rb5+ $8 Kd4 77. Rxf5 $8 e3 78. Rf8 $11) 72. Kf2 $8 Ra2+ 73. Ke3 $8 e4 74. Rh8 $8 Kg7 (74... Rg2 75. Rg8+ $8 Kf7 76. Rg5 $8 $11) 75. Rb8 $1 (75. Rh5 $1) (75. Rh4 $6 Rg2 76. g4 $3) 75... Rg2 76. Kf4 $8 Rf2+ 77. Ke5 $3 ( 77. Kg5 $2 Kf7 $8 78. Rb7+ Ke6 $8) 77... e3 (77... Kf7 78. Ra8 $1 Kg6 79. Rg8+ $1) 78. Rb1 $1 (78. Kd4 $1 e2 79. Re8 $8 {but Rb1 would be forced with the bK in f7}) (78. Rb7+ $2 Kg6 $1 {Ghitescu-Padevsky 1967}) 78... e2 79. Re1 $8 Kg6 80. Kd4 $8 $11) (71. Kg2 $2 {(leads to an extremely subtle black win)} Ra2+ $8 72. Kh3 (72. Kf3 e4+ $1 {for ...Rg2}) 72... Kf7 $3 {[#]} (72... Kf6 $2 73. Rb4 $3 { as already seen}) (72... Kg7 $2 73. Rc4 $8) (72... e4 $2 73. Rf4 $8) 73. Rb4 (73. Rh7+ Ke6 $8 74. Rb7 e4 $1) 73... Kf6 $3 {ZZ [#]} 74. Rb6+ (74. Rc4 Ke6 $8) (74. Rb7 e4 $1) (74. g4 f4 $8) 74... Ke7 $3 {[#](especially not in f7)} 75. Rb4 (75. Kh4 e4 $8 76. Kg5 Rf2 $8 77. g4 f4 $8 {: the pawn is on e4 instead of e5, in comparison with the suite 71 Rc4!! and 75...Kd5; note that with the bK on f7, there would be Rf6+}) (75. g4 f4 $8 76. g5 {(preparing ...f3? Rf6!)} e4 $8 {(with the bK on f7 there would also be Rf6+)} 77. g6 {(Tf6 ...Tf2!)} f3 $8 78. Rb4 Re2 $8) 75... Kd6 $8 76. Kh4 e4 $1 (76... Kc5 $1) 77. Kg5 Kc5 $3 78. Rb7 Rf2 $8 79. Re7 Kd4 $8 80. g4 f4 $8 81. Kf5 e3 $8 82. g5 e2 $1 83. g6 Kd3 $8 84. g7 (84. Rd7+ Kc3 { to f1}) 84... Rg2 $8 85. Kxf4 Rxg7 $8 $19) 71... Kg5 $8 {With the black rook in a7, it would be draw, see the analysis of Harandi-Vaganian 1979. Similarly at a1, a5 or a6, but not a2 or a3.} 72. Rb7 (72. Kg2 Ra2+ $8 73. Kh3 {(it would be draw with Pe5 on e4 : ...Kf6 g4!! or ...e3 Rb1!!)} Kf6 $3 {and we have again the ZZ analysed at move 71}) (72. Rh4 f4 $1 73. Rh3 e4+ $1 (73... Ra3+ $1 74. Kf2 { (threatens gxf4+)} Kg6 $3 {Z} 75. Kg2 f3+ $8 76. Kf2 e4) 74. Kxe4 Kg4 $8 75. Rh4+ Kxg3 $8 $19) 72... e4+ $8 73. Ke3 (73. Kg2 Ra2+ $8 74. Kh3 {(note that with the wR in f8, this would be our exercise 282)} Kf6 $8 (74... e3 $2 75. Rb1 $8 {(Re7? ...e2!)} Rf2 76. Rb6 $8 e2 77. Re6 $8) 75. Rb6+ (75. Rb5 e3 $1) 75... Ke5 $8 76. Rb5+ Kd4 $8 77. Rxf5 e3 $8 78. Rf8 e2 $8 {and the King runs to d1}) 73... Ra3+ $8 74. Kf2 Ra2+ $8 75. Ke3 (75. Kf1 Kg4 $8 76. Rb3 (76. Rg7+ Kf3 $8) 76... Rd2 $1) 75... Kg4 $8 76. Rg7+ Kh3 $8 77. Rg5 Ra3+ $8 78. Kf2 (78. Ke2 Rf3 $8) 78... Rf3+ $8 {The 8th single move in a row.} 79. Ke1 Kg2 $1 (79... Kh2 $6 80. Kd2 (80. Ke2 Kg2 $1) 80... Rf2+ $6 (80... Kg2 $1) 81. Ke3 Kg2 82. g4 $1 f4+ $8 (82... Rf3+ $2 83. Kd4 $8 Rd3+ 84. Ke5 $8 $11 {Vaulin-Gashimov 1999 with reverse colours}) 83. Kxe4 Kg3 $3 {[#]} 84. Rg8 f3 $8 (84... Re2+ $2 85. Kf5 $3 f3 86. Ra8 $11 {but would lose with the R on a7 !}) 85. g5 Re2+ $8 86. Kd3 Re7 $19) 80. Ke2 Rf2+ $8 81. Ke3 (81. Ke1 e3 $8) 81... Kf1 $8 82. g4 Rf3+ $8 83. Kd4 e3 $8 84. Rxf5 Rxf5 $8 {Still 5 forced moves.} (84... Ke2 $2 85. Ke5 $3 {[#]} Rxf5+ (85... Kf2 86. Rh5 $8) (85... Rg3 86. g5 $1 Kd3 87. Kf6 $1 e2 88. Rd5+ $8 {: with bK on d2, we would now play Rf2!}) 86. gxf5 $8 Kd3 87. f6 $8 e2 88. f7 $8 e1=Q+ 89. Kf6 $3 Qb4 (89... Qc3+ 90. Ke7 $8) 90. Kg7 $8 $11) 85. Kxe3 Rf8 0-1 [Event "?"] [Site "?"] [Date "1979.??.??"] [Round "?"] [White "Harandi Kh, Vaganian"] [Black "0400.34"] [Result "1/2-1/2"] [SetUp "1"] [FEN "r7/6p1/5p2/4pk2/7p/5P2/4R1PP/6K1 b - - 0 44"] [PlyCount "28"] [EventDate "1979.??.??"] [SourceDate "2000.07.25"] {28/240} 44... Ra4 $1 ({More dangerous than} 44... Ra1+ 45. Kf2 g5 46. g4+ $1 ( 46. Rb2 $2 g4 $1 47. Rb4 Ra2+ $1 48. Kg1 g3 $1) (46. Re4) 46... hxg3+ 47. hxg3 (47. Kxg3 Ra4 48. h3 $8) 47... g4 48. fxg4+ (48. Rb2 Ra4 49. Re2) 48... Kxg4 49. Re4+ $8 Kg5 50. Rb4 $1 (50. Re2 $6 Ra4 51. Kf3 $8 Ra5 52. Rb2 $1 f5 53. Rb8 $8 {: texte}) 50... f5 51. Rb8 $1 Ra2+ (51... e4 52. Rg8+ $1) 52. Ke3 $8 Kg4 ( 52... Ra3+ 53. Kf2 $8 $11) 53. Rg8+ $8 Kh3 54. Rg5 $1 $11 {taking advantage of the fact that the pawn is not yet on e4}) 45. Kf2 g5 46. g4+ $3 {Proposed (but underestimated) by R. Vaganian.} (46. Rb2 $2 g4 $3 {[#]} 47. fxg4+ (47. Rb6 gxf3 48. gxf3 Kg5) 47... Kxg4 48. Rb6 Ra2+ 49. Kg1 f5 50. Rg6+ (50. Rb3 e4 51. Kf1 Rd2 52. Ra3 Rd3) 50... Kf4 51. Rh6 Ke3 52. h3 e4 53. Rxh4 f4 54. Rh8 Ra1+ 55. Kh2 Kf2 $1 (55... f3 $2 56. gxf3 exf3 57. Re8+ $8) 56. Rf8 (56. Re8 f3 $1 57. Rxe4 Rh1+ $3 {[#]and mate in 2}) 56... f3 $8 57. h4 (57. gxf3 e3 $8) 57... Rg1 58. gxf3 Rg2+ 59. Kh1 e3 $8 60. Re8 Rg3 61. Kh2 Rxf3 $8 {0-1 Harandi-Vaganian}) (46. h3 Kf4 47. Rb2 f5 48. Rb8 e4 $1 49. fxe4 Ra2+ $8 50. Kf1 fxe4 $19) 46... hxg3+ ( 46... Kf4 47. h3 $8 $11) 47. hxg3 $8 (47. Kxg3 $2 g4 $8 $19) 47... g4 {Threatens . ..Ra3-+, says RV.} 48. Rb2 $1 {Or on c2.} (48. fxg4+ $2 Kxg4 $8 49. Kg2 Rb4 $1 { Z} (49... e4 $2 50. Rf2 $8) 50. Kf2 (50. Rf2 f5 $1) (50. Re3 e4 $1 51. Re2 f5 $8 {idem}) 50... e4 $3 51. Kg2 f5 $8 52. Rf2 e3 $8 53. Re2 Rb3 $3 {[#]} (53... Re4 $2 54. Re1 $8 e2 55. Kf2 $8 Re5 56. Kg2 $8 Re3 57. Kf2 $8 Rf3+ 58. Kxe2 $8 Kxg3 59. Rg1+ $8) 54. Ra2 (54. Re1 Rb2+ {and ...Kf3}) 54... f4 $3 55. gxf4 Rd3 $3 {[#]} 56. Kf1 (56. f5 Rd2+ $8) 56... Kf3 $8 57. Ke1 Rb3 $3 58. Ra1 (58. Kd1 Rb1+ 59. Kc2 Rh1) 58... Rb2 $19) (48. Kg2 $1 gxf3+ (48... Ra3 49. fxg4+ $8 Kxg4 50. Re4+ $8) 49. Kxf3 e4+ 50. Kg2 $8 (50. Ke3 $2 Kg5 $8 51. Rf2 f5 $8 52. Rf4 Ra2 $3) 50... Kg4 51. Rf2 $8 f5 52. Rf4+ $8 Kg5 53. Kf2 $1 (53. Rf2 $1) 53... Ra2+ 54. Kf1 $1 $11) 48... Kg5 (48... gxf3 49. Kxf3 e4+ 50. Kg2 $8 Kg4 51. Rf2 $8 {as above}) (48... Ra3 49. fxg4+ $8 Kxg4 50. Rb4+ $8) 49. Re2 $1 {Or Rc2! but not Rd2? : no check on d4.} gxf3 (49... Ra3 50. fxg4 $8 Kxg4 51. Re4+ $8) 50. Kxf3 Ra5 {Threatens ...f5.} 51. Rb2 $1 {Or on c2.} (51. Kg2 $1 f5 52. Kh3 $3 ( 52. Rb2 $2 Kg4 $8) 52... e4 53. Rb2 Ra3 54. Rb8 $1 (54. Rb5 $1) 54... e3 55. Kg2 $11) (51. Re4 $2 f5 $8 52. Rh4 (52. Rb4 e4+ $1) 52... f4 $1 (52... e4+ $2 53. Kf2 $1 Ra2+ 54. Kf1 $8 e3 {(...Kf6 Rh8! or Rh6+!)} 55. Rf4 $8) 53. Rh3 e4+ $1 54. Kxe4 Kg4 $8 $19) 51... f5 52. Rb8 $3 {[#]As far as possible !} (52. Rb7 $2 e4+ $8 53. Kg2 Ra2+ $8 54. Kh3 Kf6 $8 $19 {as in Adams-Nepo 2017}) (52. Kg2 $2 Kg4 $8 53. Rb4+ e4 $8 $19) (52. Rc2 $2 Ra3+ $3 (52... e4+ $2 53. Kg2 $8 Kg4 54. Rf2 $8) (52... Ra8 $6 {(only other move that doesn't let the win)} 53. Rc7 e4+ $8 54. Kg2 Ra2+ $8 55. Kh3 Kf6 $8) (52... Ra7 $2 53. Rc8 $8 e4+ 54. Kg2 $8 Ra2+ 55. Kh3 $8 Kf6 56. Re8 $3 {: see below at 54th}) 53. Kg2 Kg4 $8 54. Rc4+ e4 $8 $19) 52... e4+ 53. Kg2 $8 (53. Ke3 $2 Ra3+ $8 54. Kf2 Ra2+ $8 55. Ke3 {(note that with the bK on e5, this would be draw: on ...Rg2 we play Re8+!! ...Kf6 Rg8! as in Ponomariov-Karpov 2008, and not the immediate Rg8? ...Rxg3+!! for ...f4+)} Kg4 $8 $19 {is the end of d'Adams-Nepo}) 53... Ra2+ 54. Kh3 $8 e3 {The place of the rook is normally behind the pawn, no ?} ( 54... Kf6 55. Re8 $3 {[#](why you had to go to the 8th !)} Re2 $1 (55... Kf7 56. Re5 $8) 56. Ra8 $1 (56. Rf8+ $6 Ke5 $1 57. g4 $3 fxg4+ {(...Re3+ Kg2! ... fxg4 Rg8!!)} 58. Kg3 $8 Ra2 59. Re8+ $8 Kd4 60. Kxg4 $8 $11) 56... Ke5 57. Ra5+ $8 Kd4 58. Rxf5 $8 e3 59. Rf8 $1 ({or} 59. g4 $1 Rh2+ $1 60. Kxh2 e2 61. Kg2 e1=Q 62. Kh3 $8 $11 {for fortress lovers}) 59... Rc2 60. Re8 $3 ( 60. g4 $2 e2 $8 61. Rd8+ Ke3 $8 {with shelter in g1 : Bentivegna-Boscolo 2013}) 60... e2 61. Kg4 $8 Kd3 {(compare with Villeneuve-Gavela 1976, where the pawn is in e3: it is then necessary to play Kg5!!)} 62. Kf3 $3 $11) (54... -- 55. Rf8 {But if the rook was in f8, we would have the exercise 282 :} e3 $8 56. g4 (56. Rg8+ Kf6 $8 57. Rf8+ Ke5 $8) 56... Kf4 $3 {[#]} (56... fxg4+ $2 57. Kg3 { (Lyskov-Selesniev 1957, quoted in the book by Loewenfisch & Smyslov)} Re2 58. Rg8+ $1 {(or Re8!)} Kf5 59. Rg5+ $1) (56... f4 $2 57. Rf5+ $8) 57. Rxf5+ Ke4 58. Rf8 (58. Kg3 Ra1 $8) (58. Rf1 e2 $1) 58... e2 $8 59. Re8+ Kf3 60. Rf8+ Ke3 $8 61. Re8+ Kf2 $8 62. Rf8+ Kg1 $8 63. Re8 Ra3+ $8 64. Kh4 Kf2 $8 $19) 55. Rb1 $3 {[#]Not always.} (55. Re8 $2 e2 $8 56. Re6 Rb2 $1 {Z} 57. Re3 Kf6 $8 58. Re8 Ra2 $1 {Z} 59. Re3 (59. g4 f4 $1) (59. Kh4 e1=Q $1) 59... f4 $1 60. gxf4 Ra3 $1 $19) 55... e2 (55... Kf6 56. Re1 $8 Ra3 57. Kg2 $1) 56. Re1 $8 {Allows the return of the King.} f4 (56... Kf6 57. Kg2 $1) 57. Kg2 $3 (57. gxf4+ $2 Kxf4 $8 58. Kg2 Ke3 $8 $19) 57... Kg4 58. gxf4 $8 1/2-1/2 [Event "?"] [Site "?"] [Date "1984.??.??"] [Round "?"] [White "Renet, Piket"] [Black "0030.62"] [Result "0-1"] [SetUp "1"] [FEN "8/8/p1k3b1/1p2P1P1/5P2/8/P1P2K1P/8 b - - 0 44"] [PlyCount "37"] [EventDate "1984.??.??"] [SourceDate "2000.07.25"] {The phalanx more than makes up for the minus bishop. And the a1 corner is bad if there is only one black rook-pawn left.} 44... Bxc2 $11 45. h4 Bg6 46. Kf3 Bf5 ( 46... Kd5 $2 47. Kg4 $8 $18) 47. h5 Kd5 48. g6 $1 (48. h6 $2 a5 $3 {[#]} (48... b4 $2 49. Ke3 $8 a5 50. e6 $3 Kxe6 51. Kd4 $8 Kd6 52. Kc4 $1 Kc6 53. a3 $1 $11) 49. Ke3 a4 $8 50. e6 (50. Kd2 b4 $8) 50... Kxe6 $8 51. Kd4 Kd6 $8 {(no access on c4)} 52. Kc3 Kc5 $1 53. a3 Bg6 54. Kb2 Kd4 $19) (48. Ke3 $1 a5 49. g6 b4 50. g7 Bh7 51. h6 $1 a4 52. e6 $3 Kxe6 53. Kd4 $8 $11) 48... b4 $1 49. Ke3 $1 (49. g7 $1 Bh7 $8 50. h6 $1 a5 51. Ke3 $8 {is similar}) 49... a5 $8 {Are the white pawns doomed ?} (49... Bb1 $2 50. f5 $3 Bxf5 51. Kf4 $8 Bc2 52. Kg5 $18) 50. Kd2 $2 {It was the last moment to wake up the said phalanx.} (50. g7 $3 Bh7 $8 51. h6 $1 (51. e6 $1) 51... Bg8 $1 {(but beware !)} ( 51... a4 52. e6 $3 Kxe6 53. Kd4 $8 Kf6 54. Kc4 $8 $11) 52. Kd2 $1 {(or on e2, but not e6? ...Kxe6! Kd4 ...Kf6! h7 ...Bxh7 Kc4 ...Ke7!! a3 ...Bg8+!!)} (52. Kd3 $2 a4 $8 {[#](did you expect a ZZ ?)} 53. Kc2 (53. e6 Bxe6 $8 54. h7 Bf5+ $3) (53. a3 b3 $8) 53... Bh7+ $8 54. Kd2 Ke6 $8 55. Kc1 Kf7 $8 56. Kb2 Bf5 $8 57. a3 b3 $8 {as in the game}) 52... a4 53. Kd3 $3 {ZZ [#]} Bh7+ (53... Kc5 $2 54. f5 $8 $18) (53... Ke6 $6 54. Kc4 $1 b3 $8 55. axb3 Kf5+ $8 56. Kc3 axb3 $8 57. e6 $11) (53... b3 $2 54. axb3 $18) (53... Be6 54. f5 $1 {idem}) 54. f5 $3 {[#](an amusing way of forcing the passage: Black King will reach e6, but his colleague aims at c4)} (54. Kd2 $2 Ke6 $8 55. Ke3 b3 $1) 54... Bxf5+ ( 54... Kxe5 55. Kc4 $8) 55. Ke3 $8 Bh7 $8 56. e6 $8 {[#](whites sacrifice all their furniture)} Kxe6 57. Kd4 $8 Kf6 (57... Kd6 58. Kc4 $8 $11) 58. Kc4 $8 b3 59. axb3 Bg8+ 60. Kc3 axb3 61. h7 $8 $11) (50. e6 $2 Kxe6 $8 51. Kd4 Kf6 $3 52. Kc5 (52. Kc4 Be6+ $8) 52... Bb1 $1 (52... Bd3 $1 53. f5 Kg7 $8) 53. Kb5 Bxa2 $8 $19) 50... a4 $8 (50... Ke6 $2 51. Ke3 $8 $11) 51. a3 (51. g7 Bh7 $8 52. h6 Ke6 $8 53. Kc1 Kf7 $8 54. Kb2 Bf5 $8 $19 {for ...Kg8-h7 & ...Be6}) (51. Kc1 Ke6 $1 52. Kb2 (52. a3 b3 $8) (52. g7 Kf7 $8) 52... Ke7 $1 {Z} 53. Kc1 a3 $19) 51... b3 $8 52. Kc3 Ke6 $8 53. g7 (53. Kb2 Ke7 $1 {to h5}) 53... Kf7 $1 54. h6 Kg8 55. Kb2 Kh7 56. Kc3 Be6 57. Kb2 Kxh6 58. f5 Bg8 (58... Kxg7 $2 59. fxe6 $8 Kf8 60. Ka1 $11 {: fortress}) 59. e6 Kxg7 $8 60. f6+ Kxf6 61. e7 Kxe7 62. Kc3 Kd6 0-1 [Event "Wch"] [Site "Sv Stefan / Beograd"] [Date "1992.??.??"] [Round "8"] [White "Spassky, B."] [Black "Fischer, RJ."] [Result "0-1"] [ECO "E84"] [WhiteElo "2560"] [PlyCount "80"] [EventDate "1992.09.??"] [EventType "match"] [EventRounds "30"] [EventCountry "YUG"] [SourceDate "2000.07.25"] {55/602} 1. d4 Nf6 2. c4 g6 3. Nc3 Bg7 4. e4 d6 5. f3 O-O 6. Be3 Nc6 7. Nge2 a6 8. Qd2 Rb8 9. h4 (9. Nc1 e5 10. Nb3 exd4 11. Nxd4 Ne5 12. Rd1 c6 13. Be2 b5 14. cxb5 axb5 15. b4 c5 $1 $132 {Beliavsky,A-Kasparov,G/Linares/1990/}) (9. Rc1 Bd7 (9... Re8 10. b3 e5 11. d5 Ne7 12. Ng3 h5 13. Bd3 Kh8 14. b4 {So,W (2658) -Barcenilla,R (2518) Manila 2011}) 10. d5 Ne5 11. Ng3 Re8 (11... b5) 12. h3 b5 13. b3 h5 14. f4 Nxc4 15. bxc4 h4 16. e5 $1 dxe5 17. fxe5 hxg3 18. exf6 exf6 19. Be2 Qe7 20. Nd1 {Aronian,L (2805)-Vachier Lagrave,M (2768) Tromso 2014}) 9... h5 (9... b5 10. h5 (10. Nc1 bxc4 11. Bxc4 e5 12. d5 Na5 13. Bd3 c6 { Pershin,D (2409)-Tsydypov,Z (2546) Sochi 2019}) 10... Na5 (10... e5 11. d5 Na5 12. Ng3 Nxc4 13. Bxc4 bxc4 14. O-O-O {Batchuluun,T (2513)-Iturrizaga,E (2653)/ Tromso 2014}) 11. Ng3 Nxc4 12. Bxc4 bxc4 13. O-O-O c5 14. dxc5 Qa5 15. hxg6 fxg6 16. cxd6 $16 {Bok,B (2613)-Tabatabaei,M (2481) Warsaw 2016}) 10. Bh6 (10. Nc1 e5 (10... a5 11. Be2 Bd7 12. Bd1 b6 13. N1e2 e5 14. d5 Ne7 15. Bc2 Nh7 16. O-O-O f5 {Wang,Hao (2680)-Fedorov,A (2563) Calimanesti Caciulata 2016}) 11. d5 Nd4 12. Nb3 c5 13. dxc6 bxc6 14. Nxd4 exd4 15. Bxd4 Re8 16. Rd1 $1 (16. Be2 d5 17. e5 {(Lautier,J (2677)-Smirin,I (2656) Rethymno 2003)} Nd7 $1) 16... d5 17. cxd5 cxd5 18. e5 Nd7 19. f4 $14 {Wang Hao (2732)-Ding,Liren (2664)/Danzhou 2011}) (10. Nd5 Re8 (10... b5 11. cxb5 axb5 12. Rc1 Bd7 13. Nxf6+ Bxf6 14. Bg5 {Murey,J (2535)-Sellos,D (2360) Paris 1988}) 11. Bh6 Bxh6 12. Qxh6 e6 13. Ne3 Qe7 14. O-O-O Qf8 15. Qg5 Qg7 16. Kb1 e5 17. Nc2 $14 {Miles,A (2245)-Hort,V (2585) London 1983 /biale wygraly/}) 10... e5 $146 ({More usual is} 10... b5 11. O-O-O (11. g4 {Kraidman-Westerinen Ramat_Hasharon 1982 34/(720)}) 11... e5 (11... bxc4 12. Bxg7 (12. g4 Nb4 {(...hxg4 h5 but ...e5!)} 13. Ng3 c5 14. Bxg7 Kxg7 15. d5 Rh8 16. Bxc4 Bd7 17. g5 $16 {Salov-Khalifman URS ch 1987}) 12... Kxg7 13. d5 (13. Nf4 e5 14. dxe5 dxe5 15. Qxd8 Rxd8 16. Rxd8 Nxd8 17. Nfd5 Nxd5 18. Nxd5 c6 19. Ne3 $14 {Rivas Pastor-San Segundo Salamanca 1991 52/(618)}) 13... Nb4 (13... Ne5 14. Nd4 c5 15. dxc6 Qa5 $13 {Ruzhale-Gelfand USSR 1986 43/ (735)}) 14. Nf4 c6 15. Bxc4 cxd5 16. Nfxd5 Nbxd5 17. Nxd5 Be6 18. Kb1 $14 { Cebalo-Djukic Jugoslavija 1983 36/708}) 12. Bxg7 Kxg7 13. dxe5 (13. Nd5 b4 14. Ne3 Qe8 15. Kb1 Bd7 16. Rc1 b3 17. d5 bxa2+ 18. Ka1 Ne7 19. c5 Bb5 $132 { Ionescu-Schneider,A Stara Zagora zt 1990}) 13... Nxe5 (13... dxe5 14. Qe3 Qe7 15. Nd5 Nxd5 16. cxd5 Na5 17. Nc3 Bd7 18. Rd2 Rfc8 19. Kb1 Qd6 20. Bd3 b4 21. Ne2 c5 22. dxc6 Qxc6 23. g4 $14 {Plachetka-Babula CS ch 1992 54/588}) 14. cxb5 axb5 15. Nf4 b4 (15... Bd7 16. Ncd5 Nxd5 17. Nxd5 Be6 18. f4 Bxd5 19. Qxd5 Ng4 20. Be2 Qf6 21. Qd4 Kh6 22. Qxf6 Nxf6 23. Bf3 Rfe8 24. Rhe1 {1/2-1/2 Deze-Quinteros Novi Sad 1982 34/(720)}) 16. Ncd5 Nxd5 (16... c5 17. Nxf6 Qxf6 18. Nd5 Qe6 19. f4 Ng4 20. f5 Qxe4 21. f6+ Nxf6 22. Nxf6 Kxf6 23. Bd3 Qg4 24. Rdf1+ Kg7 $19 {Miralles-Zuger Arandelovac tt 1982}) 17. Nxd5 c5 18. f4 Nc6 19. f5 Ne5 20. g4 Nxg4 21. Be2 $40 {Rivas Pastor-Mestel Marbella 1982 34/720}) 11. Bxg7 (11. d5 Bxh6 12. Qxh6 Nd4 13. O-O-O c5 $13) 11... Kxg7 12. d5 (12. O-O-O b5) 12... Ne7 13. Ng3 (13. O-O-O {/\ Kb1, Nc1-b3}) (13. Nc1 c6) 13... c6 14. dxc6 (14. Bd3 c5 {(/\ Bd7,b7-b5)} 15. a4 b6 16. Nf1) 14... Nxc6 (14... bxc6 { (/\ d5)} 15. O-O-O d5 $1 (15... Qb6 16. Na4 $1 Qb4 17. Qxd6 Qxd6 18. Rxd6) 16. exd5 cxd5 17. cxd5 Qb6 18. b3 Rd8 $44) 15. O-O-O Be6 $1 16. Kb1 $1 (16. Qxd6 $6 Qa5 $1 (16... Qb6 17. Qd2 Nd4 $2 18. Qg5 $1 Qc7 19. f4 $1 exf4 20. e5 $18) 17. Bd3 Rfd8) 16... Ne8 (16... Qa5 $2 17. Nf5+ $1 (17. Qg5 $1)) 17. Nd5 (17. Bd3 b5 (17... Rc8) 18. cxb5 axb5 19. Nxb5 Nc7 $44) 17... b5 18. Ne3 {to f5 ?} (18. Rc1 bxc4 19. Bxc4 Nd4 $11) 18... Rh8 $1 {[#]Prophylaxis.} (18... Qb6 19. Nef5+ Bxf5 (19... gxf5 $2 20. exf5) 20. Nxf5+ (20. exf5 bxc4) 20... gxf5 21. Qg5+ Kh7 22. Rxd6 $1 Nxd6 $8 23. Qxh5+ Kg8 24. Qg5+ Kh7 $11) 19. Rc1 Qb6 20. Bd3 (20. Nd5 Qb7) 20... Nd4 21. Nd5 (21. Ne2) 21... Qa7 (21... Bxd5 22. cxd5 Nf6 23. Nf5+ (23. Qg5) 23... Nxf5 $1 24. exf5 Qd4 $1 (24... Nxd5 25. fxg6 Qd4 $8) 25. Rhd1 Nxd5 (25... e4) 26. Qg5 Qf4 27. Bc2 Qxg5 28. hxg5 Ne3 29. f6+ Kg8 $3 {[#] (paradoxal)} (29... Kh7 $6 30. Rxd6 Nxg2 $2 {(...Rhd8 Rxa6+/-)} 31. Rd7 $1 Rhf8 32. Bb3 $1 Kg8 $6 33. Rcc7 $18) 30. Rxd6 Nxg2 31. Rd7 Nf4 32. Bb3 Rh7 $8 {(... Rf8? leads to mate in 3 by Bxf7+!)} 33. Rcc7 Rf8 {and Rh7, supporting its past pawn, is magnificent.}) 22. Nf1 (22. Ne2 bxc4 (22... Bxd5 $6 23. cxd5 Nf6 24. Nxd4 Qxd4 25. Rc6) 23. Bxc4 $11) (22. f4) 22... Nf6 (22... Bxd5 23. cxd5 Nf6 $10) (22... bxc4 23. Bxc4 Bxd5 24. Bxd5 Nc7) 23. Nfe3 (23. Nxf6 Kxf6 24. Ne3 Kg7) 23... Bxd5 24. cxd5 Rbc8 {Keeping Th8 in defence !} (24... Nd7 25. Rhf1 (25. Nc2) 25... Nc5) 25. Rcf1 $1 Qe7 26. g4 (26. f4) 26... Nd7 27. g5 Kf8 ( 27... Rcf8 28. f4 exf4 29. Rxf4 f6 30. Nf5+) (27... Kh7 $1 28. f4 Rc7 29. f5 Rhc8 $11) (27... Rc5 $1 28. f4 exf4 29. Rxf4 Ne5) (27... Rc7 $1 28. f4 Rhc8) 28. Rf2 (28. f4 exf4 29. Rxf4 Ne5 30. Bf1 Qa7 31. Bh3 Rc7 $11) 28... Ke8 $6 { Castling is totally undone !} (28... Kg7) 29. Bf1 (29. Rhf1 $1 Rf8 30. f4 exf4 31. Rxf4 Ne5 32. Nf5 $1 gxf5 33. exf5 $16) (29. f4) 29... Nc5 (29... f6) 30. Bh3 (30. Bg2 Rf8 (30... Kf8 31. f4 Kg7 32. Rhf1 Rhf8) 31. f4 exf4 32. Rxf4 Qe5 33. Rhf1 Na4 $3 {[#](threatens ...Rc2! Nxc2 ...Nb3!)} 34. Qb4 Nc3+ $3 35. bxc3 Ne2 $3 36. R4f3 Nxc3+ 37. Ka1 $8 Na4+ 38. Kb1 $11) 30... Rc7 $1 31. Rc1 { Consider Qa5. Wrongly considered a blunder, including by BS.} (31. Bg2 Kf8 32. f4 Kg7) (31. Qa5 Nd3 $1 32. Rd2 Nf4 $1 (32... Nc5 33. Nc2) 33. Qxa6 Nxf3) ( 31. Rhf1 Kf8) 31... Ncb3 $1 {[#]} (31... Kf8) 32. axb3 $8 Nxb3 33. Rc6 $2 {This is the decisive mistake. Instead two moves of the Queen were conclusive.} ( 33. Rxc7 $2 Nxd2+ 34. Rxd2 Qxc7) (33. Qc2 $1 {(Kupreïchik)} Rxc2 (33... Nxc1 34. Qd1 $8 Rc5 35. b4 Rc3 36. Rc2 $8 Rxc2 37. Qxc2 Qa7 $1 38. Qxc1 Kf8 $11) 34. Rfxc2 $8 (34. Rcxc2 $2 Qa7 $1 35. Rc8+ Ke7 $19) 34... Nxc1 35. Rc8+ $8 Qd8 36. Rxd8+ (36. Kxc1) 36... Kxd8 37. Kxc1 f6 (37... Rf8 38. f4 $3 exf4 39. Nc2) 38. gxf6 Rf8 39. f4 $1 exf4 40. Nc2 Rxf6 41. Kd2 $11) (33. Qc3 $1 Nxc1 $1 (33... Rxc3 $6 34. Rxc3 Nc5 35. b4 $8 Qa7 $1 (35... a5 $2 36. bxc5 dxc5 37. Rb3) ( 35... Nb7 $2 36. Rfc2 $1) (35... Kf8 $6 36. Rfc2 $1 Kg7 37. bxc5 dxc5 38. Rxc5 $16) 36. Rfc2 Nb7 37. Rc7 (37. Rc8+ Nd8 $11) 37... Qb6 $8 38. Rd7 Kf8 $8 39. Be6 Nd8 $8 40. Rcc7 Qb8 $8 41. Ra7 fxe6 42. dxe6 Nxe6 $8 43. Nd5 Nf4 $11) 34. Qa3 $8 {(for Nc2)} b4 35. Qa4+ $8 Kf8 $8 36. Bf1 $8 f6 $1 (36... b3 $6 37. Nc4 ) (36... Kg7 $1 37. Nc4 f6) 37. Nc4 (37. gxf6 Qxf6 38. Qxb4 Kg7) 37... fxg5 38. Kxc1 gxh4 39. Qxb4 Kg7 $11) 33... Nxd2+ 34. Rxd2 {Strongly threatens Rdc2.} Kf8 $3 {[#]Castling again, but this time artificially !} 35. Rxa6 (35. Rdc2 Ra7 $1 36. Rb6 Kg7 37. Rcc6 Rd8 $19) 35... Ra7 36. Rc6 Kg7 $1 {The bK has regained its position on the 27th move.} 37. Bf1 Ra1+ $1 (37... Rha8 $1) 38. Kxa1 Qa7+ 39. Kb1 Qxe3 40. Kc2 (40. Rd3 Qe1+ 41. Rc1 Qxh4 $19) (40. Rd1 Qxf3) 40... b4 0-1 [Event "Wch"] [Site "Sv Stefan / Beograd"] [Date "1992.??.??"] [Round "15"] [White "Fischer, R.J."] [Black "Spassky, B."] [Result "1/2-1/2"] [ECO "E07"] [BlackElo "2560"] [PlyCount "66"] [EventDate "1992.09.??"] [EventType "match"] [EventRounds "30"] [EventCountry "YUG"] [SourceDate "2000.07.25"] {55/487} 1. c4 (1. e4 {is still practiced, but if even Bobby turns away... }) (1. d4 e6 2. c4 d5 3. Nf3 Nf6 4. g3 Bb4+ 5. Nbd2 O-O 6. Bg2 b6 7. O-O Bb7 8. Ne5 Be7 9. cxd5 exd5 10. Ndf3 Nbd7 {(text with one less time for Black !)} 11. Qa4 Nxe5 12. Nxe5 Qe8 $11 {Chu Wei Chao (2403)-Yu Yangyi (2754)/ China 2018}) 1... e6 2. Nf3 Nf6 3. g3 d5 4. Bg2 Be7 5. O-O O-O 6. d4 Nbd7 7. Nbd2 (7. Qc2 {(the most usual one, reserving the possibility of developing the Knight in c3)} c6 (7... dxc4 8. Qxc4 a6 9. Qc2 Ra7 10. Rd1 b6 $6 11. Ne5 $16 {Bacrot,E (2709)-Riff,J (2468)/chT-FRA "top 16" 2007}) 8. Rd1 (8. b3 b6 9. Bb2 Bb7 10. Nc3 Rc8 11. e4 Nxe4 12. Nxe4 dxe4 13. Qxe4 Qc7 14. Rad1 {(Bogner,S (2584)-Cori,J (2686)/Biel 2019)} c5 15. d5 Bf6) 8... b6 9. b3 (9. Bf4 Bb7 10. Nc3 dxc4 11. Nd2 Nd5 12. Nxc4 Nxf4 13. gxf4 Qc7 $11 {Avrukh,B (2595)-Portisch, L (2590)/Panormo 2001}) 9... Ba6 10. Bb2 Rc8 11. Nc3 dxc4 12. Ne5 cxb3 13. axb3 Nb8 14. e4 Qc7 15. Nc4 b5 16. Ne3 b4 17. Na4 Bb5 18. Nc5 Nbd7 19. Nd3 Rfd8 { Wojtkiewicz,A (2560)-Korchnoi,V (2655)/Reykjavik 2000}) (7. Qd3 b6 8. cxd5 exd5 9. Nc3 Bb7 10. Ne5 Re8 11. Bf4 c5 12. Rfd1 cxd4 13. Nb5 Nc5 14. Qf3 (14. Qxd4 Ne6) 14... Ne6 (14... Nce4 15. Nd3 {Xiong,J (2691)-Tabatabaei,M (2601)/Biel 2019}) 15. Nxd4 Nxd4 16. Rxd4 Rc8 $11) 7... b6 (7... c6 {(played almost systematically)} 8. Qc2 b6 (8... b5 9. b3 {(c5)} Ba6 {(...bxc4)} 10. c5 b4 11. Re1 Bb5 (11... e5 $2 {(Plat,V (2522)-Podolchenko,E (2398)/Minsk 2017)} 12. Nxe5 Nxe5 13. dxe5 Nd7 14. a3 $16) 12. e4 Nxe4 13. Nxe4 dxe4 14. Qxe4 a5 15. Qc2 Nf6 16. a4 bxa3 17. Rxa3 $14 {Gelfand,B (2695)-Bologan,V (2610)/Poikovsky 2018}) 9. e4 Bb7 10. e5 Ne8 11. cxd5 (11. b3 Rc8 12. Bb2 c5 13. dxc5 Nxc5 14. Rfd1 Qc7 15. Rac1 Qb8 16. cxd5 exd5 17. Nf1 Ne4 18. Qe2 Rxc1 19. Rxc1 Nc7 { (Shirov,A (2720)-Vaganian,R (2587)/Bundesliga 2006)} 20. Ne3 Ne6 21. Rd1 $14) (11. Rd1 Nc7 12. Nb3 dxc4 13. Qxc4 Nd5 14. h4 h6 15. Nh2 Re8 {(...De8!)} 16. Qe2 Bf8 17. Qg4 f5 $6 {(...Rh7)} 18. Qg6 $1 {Komljenovic,D-Villeneuve,A/Cap d'Agde 1986}) 11... cxd5 12. Re1 Qc7 (12... Rc8 $1 13. Qa4 {Kozul,Z (2576) -Kovacevic,B (2493)/Vukovar 2005}) 13. Qd1 a5 (13... Rc8 14. Nb1 Ba6 15. Nc3 { Kozul,Z (2589)-Benkovic,P (2405)/Karlsruhe 2019}) 14. Nf1 Rc8 15. Ne3 (15. Bg5 ) 15... Ba6 16. h4 h6 17. Bd2 $14 {Cheparinov,I (2683)-Piorun,K (2631)/Skopje 2019}) 8. cxd5 (8. Ne5 Bb7 9. Ndf3 dxc4 10. Nxc4 c5 11. b3 cxd4 12. Qxd4 Nc5 13. Bb2 Qxd4 14. Nxd4 Bxg2 15. Kxg2 Rfc8 $11 {Eliskases,E-Stahlberg,G/Buenos Aires 1947}) (8. b3 Bb7 9. Bb2 Rc8 (9... c5 10. e3 {Bronstein,D (2590)-Keene,R (2505)/Teeside 1975}) 10. Rc1 c6 11. e3 Qc7 12. Ne5 Nxe5 13. dxe5 Nd7 14. f4 Rfd8 15. cxd5 exd5 16. Qg4 {(Keres,P-Novotelnov,N/Moscow 1951/URS-ch)} Ba6 17. Bh3 $1 Bxf1 18. Rxf1 $44) 8... exd5 9. Ne5 (9. b3 Re8 10. Ne5 Bb7 11. Bb2 c5 12. Rc1 Rc8 13. Ndf3 Rc7 {(Schlosser,P (2560)-Smagin,S (2565)/Bundesliga 2005) } 14. Ng5 Nxe5 (14... Rf8) 15. dxe5 Ne4 $11) 9... Bb7 10. Ndf3 Ne4 $146 (10... c5 11. b3 a5 12. Bb2 Ne4 13. Rc1 Re8 14. Nxd7 Qxd7 15. Ne5 Qe6 16. Nd3 Bd6 17. dxc5 bxc5 18. e3 a4 $11 {Kortschnoj,V (2665)-Karpov,A (2725)/ (19e) Baguio City 1978 26/527}) 11. Bf4 Ndf6 12. Rc1 c5 13. dxc5 bxc5 14. Ng5 Nxg5 15. Bxg5 Ne4 (15... h6 16. Bxf6 Bxf6 17. Ng4 $1 Rc8 (17... Bxb2 $2 18. Rb1) (17... c4 18. b3) 18. Rc2) 16. Bxe7 Qxe7 17. Bxe4 (17. Nd3 Rac8) (17. f4 Rfd8) 17... dxe4 $1 (17... Qxe5 18. Bf3 Rac8 $6 (18... Rfc8 $1) 19. Qa4 $1 a6 20. Qa3 Qe7 (20... c4) 21. Rc2 Rc7 22. Rfc1 c4 (22... Rfc8 $2 23. Bg4 $1 $18) 23. Qxe7 Rxe7 24. Rd1 $16) 18. Nc4 e3 $1 {[#]} 19. f3 $1 (19. Nxe3 $4 Qe4 $19) (19. Qb3 $6 exf2+ 20. Rxf2 Rad8) (19. fxe3 $6 Qe4 20. Rf3 $8 Rad8) 19... Rad8 20. Qb3 Rfe8 {The famous strong-weak pawn on e3 always inspires the attackers.} 21. Rc3 (21. Rfd1) 21... Bd5 $1 (21... Ba6 $1 22. Qa4 Qf6) 22. Rfc1 (22. Qa3 Bxc4 23. Rxc4 Rd2 24. Re4 Qd8 25. Qxe3 Rxe4 26. Qxe4 Rxb2 $11) (22. Rxe3 Bxc4 23. Rxe7 $8 Bxb3 $8 24. Rxe8+ Rxe8 25. axb3 Rxe2 $11) (22. Qa4 Bxc4 23. Rxc4 Qf6 24. b3 Qb2 25. Re1 Qd2 26. Kf1 Re5 $132) (22. Rd1 g6 23. Rxe3 Bxc4) 22... g6 (22... h5) 23. Qa3 $6 (23. Qa4 $1 {(recommended at the time)} Bxc4 (23... Qb7 $6 24. Nxe3 { (Nd6 Qb4!!)} c4 25. Nxd5 Qxd5 26. Qc2) (23... Qg5 24. Rd3) 24. Rxc4 Qd7 (24... Qb7 25. b3 $1 Qd7 26. Qa3 $1) (24... Qf6 $1 25. b3 Re5) 25. Qc2 (25. Qxd7 Rxd7 26. Rxc5 Rd2 27. Kf1) (25. b3 h5) 25... Qb7 $1 (25... Qe6 $1) (25... Qd2 $6 26. Rxc5 Qxc2 {(...Td7)} 27. R5xc2 Rd2 28. Kf1 Red8 29. Rxd2 $1 Rxd2 30. Rc3 Rxb2 31. a3 $1 $16) (25... Qh3 $2 26. Rd1 $1) (25... Re5 $1 26. Rxc5 Rxc5 27. Qxc5 Qd2 $11) 26. Rxc5 Rd2 27. Qa4 Red8 28. R5c2 Qd5 $11) (23. Rd3 Qe6 24. Qd1) 23... Bxf3 $3 {[#]The 1969-1972 world champion is getting a facelift.} (23... Bxc4 24. Rxc4 Qb7 $1 (24... Rd2 25. Re4 $1 Qd7 26. Rxe8+ {(Qxe3 ...Rxe4 & ... Qd4+)} Qxe8 27. Rxc5 $1 Rxe2 28. Qc3 Rc2 $1 {(...Rd2 Rc8)} 29. Qxc2 e2 30. Rc8 $8 {(Kg2? ...e1N+!)} e1=Q+ 31. Kg2 $16) 25. Rxc5 Rd2 $44) 24. exf3 (24. Rxe3 Be4 $8 25. Qc3 Qg5 $15) 24... e2 $8 25. Re1 $8 {Threatens Re3.} Rd1 $8 (25... Qe6 $2 26. Ne3 $1 Rd2 27. Qxc5 $18) 26. Kf2 $8 Rxe1 $8 (26... Qd7 $2 27. Re3 $8 ( 27. Rxe2 $4 Rf1+ $3 28. Kxf1 Qd1+ 29. Kg2 Rxe2+ 30. Kh3 Qd7+ 31. g4 Qc7 $8 $19) 27... Rxe1 28. Rxe8+ $8 Qxe8 29. Kxe1 $18) 27. Kxe1 $8 Qd7 $3 {[#]} 28. Qb3 (28. Ne3 $4 Rxe3 $8 29. Rxe3 Qd1+ 30. Kf2 Qf1#) (28. Rc1 Qh3 $1 (28... Qd4 $1 29. Ne3 $8 Rxe3 30. Qxc5 $8 $11) 29. Ne3 $8 Qxh2 30. Qxc5 Qxg3+ (30... h5) 31. Kxe2 Qg2+ 32. Kd3 Qxb2 $132) (28. Rd3 Qh3 $8 29. Nd2 $8 (29. Ne3 $2 Rxe3 $1) 29... Qxh2 30. Re3 $8 (30. Ne4 $2 Qg2 $8 $19) 30... Qxg3+ 31. Kxe2 Qg2+ 32. Kd1 (32. Kd3 $2 Rd8+) (32. Ke1 Qg3+ $8) 32... Qg1+ $8 33. Ke2 $8 $11) 28... Qh3 $8 (28... Rd8 $2 29. Kxe2 Qh3 30. Rd3) (28... Qd4 $2 29. Re3) 29. Ne3 $1 (29. Nd2 $1 Qxh2 30. Re3 $8 Qxg3+ {as already seen}) 29... Qxh2 $8 30. g4 (30. Rc2 $2 Qxg3+ 31. Kxe2 Qg2+ $1 32. Kd1 (32. Ke1 Rxe3+ $1) 32... Qxf3+ 33. Re2 h5 $17) (30. Qd5 Qxg3+ 31. Kxe2 Qg2+ 32. Kd3 Qxb2 $11) (30. Qb5 Qg1+ 31. Kxe2 Qg2+ $8 32. Ke1 Qxg3+) 30... Rb8 $3 {[#]Spassky always liked the b8 square, let us remember in particular the 4th and the 10th of his match against Keres 1965.} (30... h5 31. Qb5 $1 $11) 31. Qd5 $8 (31. Qc2 $2 Rxb2 $3 32. Qxb2 Qg1+ 33. Kxe2 Qh2+ $8) 31... Rxb2 (31... h5 32. Rb3 h4 $11) 32. Qd8+ $8 Kg7 33. Nf5+ $3 gxf5 1/2-1/2 [Event "2#"] [Site "?"] [Date "1984.??.??"] [Round "?"] [White "Hurme, H."] [Black "1244.01"] [Result "1-0"] [SetUp "1"] [FEN "6n1/8/R2b2N1/3k1p2/4R2Q/8/2K5/6B1 w - - 0 1"] [PlyCount "0"] [EventDate "1984.??.??"] [SourceDate "2000.07.25"] {Presented at the Jurmala solving-show 2008. Solved in 19 seconds by A. Zude.} -- 1-0 [Event "2#"] [Site "?"] [Date "1962.??.??"] [Round "?"] [White "Bakcsi, G."] [Black "1454.11"] [Result "1-0"] [SetUp "1"] [FEN "r7/5n2/3B2R1/1B1k1p2/3PN3/4Q3/8/b3K3 w - - 0 1"] [PlyCount "0"] [EventDate "1962.??.??"] [SourceDate "2000.07.25"] 1-0 [Event "2#"] [Site "?"] [Date "1968.??.??"] [Round "?"] [White "Gafarov, M."] [Black "4545.23"] [Result "1-0"] [SetUp "1"] [FEN "2K5/bpB5/4N2p/1r4R1/q1P3Pp/3N1k2/5n2/4R1Q1 w - - 0 1"] [PlyCount "0"] [EventDate "1968.??.??"] [SourceDate "2000.07.25"] 1-0 [Event "2#"] [Site "?"] [Date "1928.??.??"] [Round "?"] [White "Mansfield, C."] [Black "1454.11"] [Result "1-0"] [SetUp "1"] [FEN "R2rk3/4p2N/6P1/2nB4/6QB/b7/8/3K4 w - - 0 1"] [PlyCount "0"] [EventDate "1928.??.??"] [SourceDate "2000.07.25"] 1-0 [Event "2#"] [Site "?"] [Date "1972.??.??"] [Round "?"] [White "Giegold, F."] [Black "1234.02"] [Result "1-0"] [SetUp "1"] [FEN "4Q3/1n6/b3p3/5R2/1pk5/1N1R4/5K2/8 w - - 0 1"] [PlyCount "0"] [EventDate "1972.??.??"] [SourceDate "2000.07.25"] 1-0 [Event "2#"] [Site "?"] [Date "1979.??.??"] [Round "?"] [White "Juehe, H."] [Black "1122.70"] [Result "1-0"] [SetUp "1"] [FEN "7Q/6p1/2PPP1P1/3kPRP1/KP2N3/3N4/4B3/6B1 w - - 0 1"] [PlyCount "0"] [EventDate "1979.??.??"] [SourceDate "2000.07.25"] 1-0 [Event "2#"] [Site "?"] [Date "1963.??.??"] [Round "?"] [White "Molnar, A."] [Black "4785.15"] [Result "1-0"] [SetUp "1"] [FEN "5rr1/p3B2n/K3p2N/4k2B/2Q4N/3P2p1/R4pp1/4qbb1 w - - 0 1"] [PlyCount "0"] [EventDate "1963.??.??"] [SourceDate "2000.07.25"] 1-0 [Event "2#"] [Site "?"] [Date "1967.??.??"] [Round "?"] [White "Haring, J."] [Black "1415.16"] [Result "1-0"] [SetUp "1"] [FEN "4R3/r6p/2ppNp1K/3k1P2/pR1N1Q1p/6n1/7B/8 w - - 0 1"] [PlyCount "0"] [EventDate "1967.??.??"] [SourceDate "2000.07.25"] 1-0 [Event "2#"] [Site "?"] [Date "1902.??.??"] [Round "?"] [White "Bauer, JH."] [Black "4525.24"] [Result "1-0"] [SetUp "1"] [FEN "R1Q5/1p1p4/1kp5/1nN1P3/3qB3/NR2r1Pp/5B1K/8 w - - 0 1"] [PlyCount "0"] [EventDate "1902.??.??"] [SourceDate "2000.07.25"] 1-0 [Event "2#"] [Site "?"] [Date "1981.??.??"] [Round "?"] [White "Lobusov, A."] [Black "1558.36"] [Result "1-0"] [SetUp "1"] [FEN "5R2/r1B3Nn/3NBb2/1pn1R1pP/3p1k1p/3Pp3/4P1p1/4Q1K1 w - - 0 1"] [PlyCount "0"] [EventDate "1981.??.??"] [SourceDate "2000.07.25"] 1-0 [Event "2#"] [Site "?"] [Date "1982.??.??"] [Round "?"] [White "Vakhlakov, Y."] [Black "4785.34"] [Result "1-0"] [SetUp "1"] [FEN "2bK4/B1rp1QP1/3p4/4k1rp/RN1NP1p1/7q/2P3n1/2b4B w - - 0 1"] [PlyCount "0"] [EventDate "1982.??.??"] [SourceDate "2000.07.25"] 1-0 [Event "2#"] [Site "?"] [Date "2003.??.??"] [Round "?"] [White "Hirschenson, A & Retter Y"] [Black "1888.51"] [Result "1-0"] [SetUp "1"] [FEN "6B1/n3P3/1N2rP2/2B1k1K1/3p1RnR/Pr2P3/5P2/b1QbN3 w - - 0 1"] [PlyCount "0"] [EventDate "2003.??.??"] [SourceDate "2000.07.25"] 1-0 [Event "3#"] [Site "?"] [Date "1857.??.??"] [Round "?"] [White "Healey, F."] [Black "1245.54"] [Result "1-0"] [SetUp "1"] [FEN "8/1n3Np1/1N4Q1/1bkP4/p1p2p2/P1P2R2/3P2PK/B2R4 w - - 0 1"] [PlyCount "5"] [EventDate "1857.??.??"] [SourceDate "2000.07.25"] 1. Rh1 $3 {[#]} Be8 (1... Ba6 $2 2. Qc6#) (1... Na5 $2 2. Qd6#) 2. Qb1 $1 Bb5 (2... Bxf7 3. Qb4#) 3. Qg1# {The prototype of the Bristol as it is, with its idea and its a1 & f3 pegs(but a pawn on f3 allows the demolitions 1 Na8 & 1 Nc8). Although it is obvious that the evacuating piece, the rook in this case, is not used for the final checkmate, dozens of experienced (?) "problemists" have qualified as "Bristol", for decades, and unfortunately still do, problems that do not respect this condition. } 1-0 [Event "3#"] [Site "?"] [Date "2010.??.??"] [Round "?"] [White "Benkö, P."] [Black "0121.11"] [Result "1-0"] [SetUp "1"] [FEN "8/5BK1/5N1p/5kB1/5P2/5R2/8/8 w - - 0 1"] [PlyCount "0"] [EventDate "2010.??.??"] [SourceDate "2000.07.25"] {Figurative problem representing a "P". Also the "O": Kb7, Bc4 & c5, Na4, Pa6 & b3 / Ka5, Pc6 3# and the "H": Ka4, Ra8 & c8, Na7, Pa6, c4 & c7 / Kb6, Pa5, c5 & c6 3#.} -- 1-0 [Event "3# "] [Site "?"] [Date "1994.??.??"] [Round "?"] [White "Hurme, H."] [Black "0553.83"] [Result "1-0"] [SetUp "1"] [FEN "8/p1B1Pr2/k1P1p1P1/3PP2b/3Pp3/1R3P1R/K1BP3n/8 w - - 0 1"] [PlyCount "0"] [EventDate "1994.??.??"] [SourceDate "2000.07.25"] 1-0 [Event "4#"] [Site "?"] [Date "1980.??.??"] [Round "?"] [White "Bakcsi, G."] [Black "3847.26"] [Result "1-0"] [SetUp "1"] [FEN "4N2b/Kp2p3/1R1P4/p1kpp3/r2p1r1R/1P6/2n1n2B/q7 w - - 0 1"] [PlyCount "0"] [EventDate "1980.??.??"] [SourceDate "2000.07.25"] {Black has put a little too much faith in the Nimzovichian principle of overprotection !} -- 1-0 [Event "5#"] [Site "?"] [Date "1988.??.??"] [Round "?"] [White "Bakcsi, G."] [Black "0215.37"] [Result "1-0"] [SetUp "1"] [FEN "3B3N/2p5/2P1k2p/1pK1p2p/4R2P/R5N1/p4Ppn/8 w - - 0 1"] [PlyCount "0"] [EventDate "1988.??.??"] [SourceDate "2000.07.25"] 1-0 [Event "h#2 b) Rd5 on a2"] [Site "?"] [Date "2001.??.??"] [Round "?"] [White "Benkö, P."] [Black "4110.02"] [Result "1-0"] [SetUp "1"] [FEN "4k3/4p3/3p4/3R4/6q1/8/1B6/Q4K2 b - - 0 1"] [PlyCount "0"] [EventDate "2001.??.??"] [SourceDate "2000.07.25"] 1-0 [Event "h#3"] [Site "?"] [Date "1969.??.??"] [Round "?"] [White "Benkö, P."] [Black "0104.00"] [Result "1-0"] [SetUp "1"] [FEN "8/8/8/8/4n3/8/4K3/k1NR4 b - - 0 1"] [PlyCount "0"] [EventDate "1969.??.??"] [SourceDate "2000.07.25"] {Would have dried not only Fischer, but also Botvinnik, Keres and Geller. And Reshevsky would have solved it in 30 minutes.} -- 1-0 [Event "h#3 2 sol"] [Site "?"] [Date "1971.??.??"] [Round "?"] [White "Benkö, P."] [Black "3535.23"] [Result "1-0"] [SetUp "1"] [FEN "8/8/8/8/n3k3/p3pb1r/p1q1P2P/RN2K1NR b KQ - 0 1"] [PlyCount "6"] [EventDate "1971.??.??"] [SourceDate "2000.07.25"] {Four apparent solutions but...} 1... Bxe2 $1 (1... Qxe2+ $1 2. Nxe2 Kd3 $1 {[#]} (2... Bg4 $2 3. Nec3+ Kf3 4. O-O# {: try not found by the engine "Fritz's "problems}) 3. Nxa3 Be4 4. Rd1#) 2. Nxh3 $1 {[#]} (2. Nxe2 $2 Qc4 3. Nbc3+ Kd3 4. O-O-O#) 2... Kf3 3. Rg1 Qe4 4. Rg3# {Both castles are illegal, the White's king having played the last move. Problem composed to trap Bobby Fischer, which was successful.} 1-0




"non-CB support" diagrams (animated fairy)





A radio programme on the match of the century took place last August. I was invited, but some practical difficulties meant that I had to limit my participation to a text, which was -- partially -- taken into account. Here it is in full.

Match of the century (Reykjavik 1972)

Fischer spassky 1

The 1972 Spassky-Fischer match was certainly the most publicised world championship of the 20th century. This was because it was the first time that a single man from the United States had faced the terrible Soviet machine, which had held the title since the Second World War.

The political aspect was yet secondary: this was not a "capitalism versus communism" or "new world versus old continent" match! Fischer had little interest in politics (although Kissinger personally asked him to play), had a Hungarian father and a Polish mother, and therefore felt rather European. He had also spent a long time in Russia, meeting the best players there. For his part, Spassky had always been an anti-communist, rather close to Solzhenitsyn, whose absurdity he noted, as he did, in the French slogan "liberté-égalité", these two terms being antinomic, which indeed a moderately gifted schoolboy can understand. Moreover, he did not particularly want to keep his title, considering the state of world champion to be very uncomfortable (see quotes below). He also knew that Fischer, whom he had known since at least 1960 and deeply esteemed, was now the best. He was prepared to concede the title to him, but still put up a respectable fight. Of course, winning by forfeit, as the Kremlin masters suggested, was horrifying to him.

The whole world was watching the match, with masters commenting on it live, or rather slightly delayed (no question of the Internet!). I was playing in a tournament in Catalonia and the analyses went on until the middle of the night, to the point of forgetting our own tournament. 

Game 1: the 29th move, where Fischer captures a pawn with a bishop, which we guessed would not come out of this mess, traumatised the whole world.

Fischer spassky 3

Some claimed that Bobby had not calculated far enough! Nonsense. He knew perfectly well that this move gave him no chance of winning, only... a chance of losing, although he was not a losing in himself. He simply wanted to keep the game going, as it seemed to be heading towards an insipid draw. By this initiative, he gave life to the game. Didn't he often repeat, not that "Chess is like life", but more exactly: "Chess is life"?
This is how this game became one of the most analysed in the history of Chess. The best players of the world broke their teeth there. It was believed that the decisive fault was at the 37th, at the 40th... but it seems that the only real fault was at the 39th (39...f5?). Nearly 50 years later, the analysis engines are still stuttering, as their horizon effect does not allow them to detect a fortress occurring long afterwards (Pa5 & b6 and a black-squared bishop against Pa6 & b7, draw, when it is won with the a5 pawn on a4 *). Both players, but especially Bobby, have created an artistic masterpiece, savoured for decades by all endgame enthusiasts.

Game 2: Forfeit win for Spassky. It was repeatedly said that Fischer's demands, especially concerning the presence of cameras, were intended to "destabilise" (a fashionable term) his opponent. Nonsense! His own "stability" was shaky, given the terrible challenge he had set himself. But never in his life did he try to disturb the concentration of an opponent. "I don't believe in psychology, I believe in good moves", he said.

Game 3: played in an adjoining room, without cameras, at Bobby's request. Spassky's first defeat against an opponent he had beaten in 1960, 1966 and 1970 with White, and drawed twice with Black. He was criticised for bowing to Bobby's demands. Of course, he saved the championship, smartasses!
Much nonsense about the 11th move (11...Nh5!). We are told that this move is surprising because a knight is badly placed at the board. A 5 year old child understands that he has only 4 squares available, instead of 8 if he is located in the centre. But if he is at the board, it is to re-centre himself shortly afterwards. And let me explain how a Knight on f6 can go to f4 otherwise, when d5 is unavailable. One of the main opening systems, invented at the beginning of the XXth century by Chigorin, places the Knight symmetrically on a5. Thousands of players have played it over and over again, proving its perfect validity.
We are then told that this Knight can be captured by a Bishop, leading to a deterioration of the black pawn chain. Certainly, but this Bishop also has a value, of which it is unpleasant to be deprived. The worst thing is to hear this idea presented as a provocative novelty, whereas this stratagem dates from the 1950s, practised by Boleslavsky who was then the 3rd player in the world. And Fischer, who read everything, even 19th century magazines, was obviously aware of it. In this case, he did not invent anything. His genius is enough, without the need to add to it.

Game 5: After a good reaction from Boris in the 4th, where all of Bobby's defensive science was needed, a weak performance ended on the 27th move with an horrible blunder.

Game 6: Surprise in the opening, Bobby abandoning the usual king-pawn for the Queen's bishop pawn. This was not, however, as has been said, the "first time" he had played it (see Palma 1970 against Polougaievsky). A model game where everything seems to flow: Chess seems suddenly easy! At the end of the game, Boris will applaud his opponent. Imagine for a moment Kasparov applauding Karpov... You know what I mean.

Game 8: new vice, also with the Queen's Bishop pawn, but Black answers symmetrically.

Game 10: back to the King's pawn for further torture. This makes, apart from 3 draws, 5 wins in a row for Bobby. The second half of the game will be more balanced.

Game 11 : Boris' reaction, which will be his 2nd and... last victory. Bobby's favourite "poisoned pawn" variation (...Db6xb2), which he had played in the 7th game. A very dangerous opening, designed to bring a full point by avoiding any flattening. But usually used against much weaker opponents. This time he hits the nail on the head.

Game 13: new surprise by the adoption of the "Alekhine defence", a weapon known to win, again, against less prestigious players, because it avoids simplifications. But a rare weapon in the world championship. A long game followed, with an incredible endgame where Bobby played for the win while his rook was locked up, so that he had 5 pawns (3 of them linked) against, in short, rook and bishop! It took a blunder on the 69th move for Black to win. Let us point out that one could save oneself, not only by 69 Rc3+ as all repeated, but also by 69 Rf1 (**).

Game 17: as for the 13th, a rare bird, the Pirc (pronounced "pirts") defence. White will capture the advantage, but it will follow a rook vs. knight and pawn endgame (the "exchange" advantage, as we say) where Boris will not be able to pierce the Black defence.

Game 21: an unambitious start, an advantageous black endgame, an erroneous "envelope" move that accelerates the defeat. Boris is tired and eager to congratulate the new hero.

* See "Les Finales" Volume 2, 1998 edition, page 132.
** See "Les Finales" Volume 1, 1998 edition, page 341.

"In my country, at that time, being a chess champion meant being a king. But when you are a king, you feel that you have a lot of responsibility, and there is nobody to help you" (B. Spassky).
"When I won the title, I was confronted with the real world. People don't behave naturally anymore: hypocrisy is everywhere" (B. Spassky).

"I give 98% of my mental energy to chess. The others give only 2%" (R. Fischer).

"Is it true, Lajos, that you work on chess eight hours a day? -- Why do you ask? People say that you yourself work eight hours a day. -- But they think I am crazy" (conversation between Fischer and Portisch).

"Fischer's return is a myth, it makes a good suspense for those who know nothing about chess. Fischer is from the past. He stopped because he never wanted to play again. To talk endlessly about his return is just a day dream" (G. Kasparov in 1987, as always well inspired -- we know that our two heroes played a re-match in 1992).

"Fischer was an individual and so am I. Nowadays, players have coaches, doctors, cooks, psychologists and parapsychologists. The championship has become a fight between two big collective farms" (B. Spassky).

"One day you teach your opponent a lesson and the next day he teaches you a lesson" (R. Fischer).

"Soviet chess school : a nonsense, of course... I believe there are national chess schools, but not ideological chess schools. There is rather a Jewish mentality, a Russian mentality, a German mentality, etc. [...] The press likes certain stereotypes. For example, the slogan of the French revolution was "liberté, égalité et fraternité". Yet these ideas are perfectly contradictory: if there is "liberty", there will be no "equality". But this is the kind of stereotype people like, so there will be a Soviet chess school and a fascist chess school! (B. Spassky). 

"Fischer is neither diplomatic nor complacent. Rightly or wrongly, he has kept his convictions and principles intact for thirty years. Kasparov finds it hard not to contradict what he said last Tuesday" (E. Winter).

"Fischer was a gentleman, never a chess player had any objections to his conduct. Only organisers! I did my best to give him the best publicity in the world, saying and repeating that he is and remains the best player" (V. Kortchnoi).

"Fischer never allows his pieces to interfere with each other. He always looks for, and if necessary creates, empty spaces for them" (M. Euwe).

"I have a wife and children. Who will feed them if I die prematurely?" (G. Barcza declining Fischer's offer to analyse their game of... 97 moves in Zurich 1959).


Fischer spassky 2

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