Last month I began the series 'Champion born this month' with a game played by the oldest living Chess Grandmaster Yuri Averbakh of Russia, who recently celebrated his 100th Birthday on 8th February this year. This month I am extremely delighted to make a story on the Grandmaster who influenced the world most-- none other than the legendary Robert James (Bobby) Fischer [born 9th March 1943].
Bobby Fischer's journey through his complex life has always been a matter of great curiosity to everyone, even to those outside the Chess fraternity. His sudden rise & phenomenal conquests, his controversial views & interviews, his strange decisions in professional & personal life, in fact, his everything has been subject discussion, analysis & criticism all over the world. Due to his introvert nature, Fischer interacted with people only when absolutely necessary, and therefore, his personal life and true personality will always remain a mystery. However, clever and tactful journalists were able to get a lot of information on Fischer's ideas and views because he never avoided a question and always replied what he believed to be correct.
Though Fischer had undergone only the basic school education of 2.5 years, he was more knowledgeable and well informed than most of the contemporary Chess players and organisers. He was able to solve complex arithmetic and logic based puzzles in a no time, something that always amazed the elite of the American society. Studies made in U. S. A. and Europe reveal that Fischer's I.Q was above 180 points, higher than that of a genius.
Despite Fischer's eccentric nature, his contribution to Chess (in particular) and Sports, (in general),has been far beyond his Chess moves and games. His approach to Chess was absolutely professional and he did not shy away from facing any challenges that crossed his path. He strongly believed in ethics and strictly adhered to them. Though Fischer considered the 'Soviets' to be his enemies, he was the first Western Chess player to learn Russian in order to study the intricacies of the Soviet Chess School. Not only did he master the Soviet Chess School better than Soviet masters, Fischer even expanded the horizon of the Soviet Chess Strategy considerably. In words of five times world champion Mikhail Botvinnik "Fischer added 'time element' to Chess Strategy".
In some of his uncommon opinions, (not shared or accepted by the contemporary Chess masters), Fischer often showed greater insight, depth and wisdom than others, particularly in judging the masters in the past. For example, while the world looked at Wilhelm Steinitz as 'father of modern Chess strategy', Fischer considered Paul Morphy to be a much greater strategist, theoretician, visionary and even a practical player. Modern Chess playing engines have now proven that Paul Morphy's way of playing Chess was the right one but what is remarkable is that Fischer sensed it over six decades ago, that too, when there we no Chess playing engines.
Fischer sensed the importance of good health, fitness and stamina very early in life. He was probably the first Western player who really played with optimal mental and physical energy throughout the game.
Like most of the gifted players, Fischer, too, believed in maintaining the originality and independent thinking in Chess games. Though he did work a lot preparing openings, he didn't believe in taking help of trainers, consultants or 'seconds'. In fact, Fischer is the only world champion in modern times who didn't have a practice partner or a trainer. In his last interview (2005), Fischer had expressed displeasure about the modern ways of playing. His objection "Today's Chess in mainly Prearrangement" was aimed against excessive opening preparation by modern players (variations analysed before the game with help from computers, trainers & assistants) which hampered their originality and creativity. However, Fischer didn't hesitate to use ideas of 'patzers' (unskilled players) played even in 'skittles' (blitz), if he found them good. He had absolutely no ego, a fact which helped him play objectively in all positions. Fischer was very astute in judging his opponents and always succeeded in his taking his opponents 'out of book' (out of the path well known to them).
Though Fischer stopped playing tournament Chess immediately after becoming the world Champion (1972),he continued to study Chess seriously and was keeping himself updated with the latest techniques throughout his lifetime. The 1992 Fischer-Spassky match reveals that Fischer had mastered the 'closed Ruy Lopez', a particular area which had undergone fundamental strategic changes in the late 1970s due to invaluable contributions by Anatoly Karpov -- Fischer's successor to the world Chess throne.
Fischer rarely made mistakes in Chess annotations and comments even in his bad days spent in asylum or jail. He had simply developed the 'sixth sense' in Chess.
Fischer always fought for conducive atmosphere and fair conditions to Chess players and got several positive changes made in the Chess world. Some of Fischer's inventions, such as the concepts of 'Fischer Chess Clock' and 'Fischer Random Chess' are practised regularly now. In fact, the 'Fischer Clock' has become an integral part of modern Chess. Fischer always saw Chess Players as ambassadors of the game and himself lived as one till his last breath. That Fischer's sad demise should occur when he was 64 years of age, is perhaps destiny's unique way of acknowledging him as the perfect Chess player.
Today I have chosen a comparatively unknown victory by Bobby Fischer -- a game which has been considered a 'true modern classic' by top players, but has gone unnoticed by the commoners as it doesn't involve flashy sacrifices. The ease with which Fischer scored over a former World Chess Champion -- Vassily Smyslov -- in the game is indeed unbelievable. The game teaches us a lot about all three phases of the game -- Openings, Middlegame and Endgame.
1.c4 g6 2.Nc3 Bg7 3.g3 c5 4.Bg2 Nc6 5.b3 e6!
This move, with the idea of developing King side Knight at 'e7', looks like loss of a 'tempo' , but it has a complex strategic purpose.
5...Nf6 6.Bb2 0-0 was the usual continuation then.
6.Bb2 Nge7! 7.Na4?!
White decides to exchange the dark Bishops immediately, ignoring the development 7.Nf3 was called for but after 7.... 7...d5 Black has complete equality.
7...Bxb2 8.Nxb2 0-0 9.e3
White plans to strike at the centre with d2-d4 but Black is already well set to seize initiative.
9...d5! 10.cxd5 Nxd5! 11.Ne2
Realising that he is lagging behind in development of King side pieces, White hurries to finish the development, hoping to castle quickly. However, things are already difficult for him.
11...b6! 12.d4?
White panics and tries to simplify the position with yet another exchange of Pawns in the centre but the awkward position of the Knight on 'b2' gives Black a powerful initiative now.
Lesser evil was 12.0–0 Ba6 13.d3 Rc8 14.Qd2 with an inferior position with chances to hold the game.
12...Ba6!
12...Qf6 was also good
13.dxc5
Forced. Not 13.0–0? Bxe2.
13...Qf6! 14.Nc4 Nc3!
14...bxc5 was also strong. If then 15.Rc1?, Black has 15.. Rad8! winning immediately.
15.Nxc3 Qxc3+ 16.Kf1
White has lost the right to castle but his King is safe. Black needs to act quickly.
16...Rfd8 17.Qc1 Bxc4+! 18.bxc4 Qd3+ 19.Kg1 Rac8 20.cxb6 axb6 21.Qb2 Na5! 22.h4!
To activate the Rook saddled at 'h1' with h4–h5 and also to attack the Black King with h5–h6 in some
variations.
22.Qxb6 fails to 22.... 22...Nxc4 23.Qb3 Qd2! 24.Rf1 Qa5 etc.
22...Nxc4 23.Qf6! Qf5! 24.Qxf5 gxf5
Fischer always recaptured "towards the centre"!.
25.h5!
Weaker would have been 25.Kh2 Rd2 26.Rhf1 Ne5 27.Kg1 Rcc2 28.a4 Ng4 -+
25...Rd2 26.Rc1
White hopes to restrict the activity of Black's pieces with this pin but Fischer finds an effective way to get
out of it.
26...Rc5!!
This unexpected move wins by force!
27.Rh4 Ne5! 28.Rxc5 bxc5 -+
Black is winning. The backward 'b6' Pawn has now become a strong 'Passed Pawn', ready to advance to
'c1'.
29.Ra4
29.a4 leads to a rapid defeat after 29.... 29...c4 30.Bf1 c3 etc.
29...c4 30.h6 Kf8!
30...c3?? allows 31.Ra8+
31.Ra8+ Ke7 32.Rc8 Rxa2 33.Bf1 Rc2 34.Kg2 Ng4! 35.Kg1
35.Rxc4? Rxf2+ 36.Kg1 Rxf1+ 37.Kxf1 Nxe3+ 38.Ke2 Nxc4
35...Rxf2
35...c3 36.Bd3 Rxf2 37.Rxc3 Rf3 was as good.
36.Bxc4
36.Rxc4 Rxf1+ 37.Kxf1 Nxe3+
36...Rf3
36...Rc2?? allows 37.Bxe6!
37.Kg2 Rxe3 38.Rh8 Nxh6 39.Rxh7 Ng4 40.Bb5 Rb3 41.Bc6 Rb2+ 42.Kg1
42.Kf3 Rf2# Or 42.Kh3 Rh2#
42...Ne5 43.Ba8 Rb8!
White resigned in view of the following forced continuation
44.Bh1 Rb1+ 45.Kg2 Ng4! leaving White completely paralyzed.
This game is an illustrative example of what Botvinnik said about Fischer. The readers can see that
White wasn't in a fundamentally unsound position but he didn't get time to counter Black's initiative. A
remarkable victory indeed!
( Pravin Thipsay is a Grandmaster of chess and former national champion).
