Bobby Fischer - My 60 Memorable Games: Chess Tactics, Chess Strategies with Bobby Fischer

This edition first published in the United Kingdom in 2008 by

B T Batsford
Old West London Magistrates Court
10 Southcombe Street
London
W14 0RA

An imprint of Anova Books Company Ltd

Volume copyright B T Batsford 2008
Text copyright Bobby Fischer 1969, 1972, 1995, 2008

First published in the United Kingdom by Faber and Faber, 1969
Revised edition published by Batsford, 1995

The moral right of the author has been asserted.

All rights reserved. No part of this publication may be reproduced, stored in a retrieval system, or transmitted in any form or by any means electronic, mechanical, photocopying, recording or otherwise, without the prior written permission of the copyright owner.

First eBook publication 2012
eBook ISBN: 978 1 8499 4104 4

Also available in paperback
Paperback ISBN: 978 1 9063 8830 0

Reproduction by Spectrum Colour Ltd, Ipswich

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The 60 games annotated in this volume were all played during 1957 through 67 and, with the exception of nos. 44 and 50, under strict tournament conditions. The notes frequently include references to additional games, occasionally presenting them in full. An interested reader will find 34 of my earlier efforts in Bobby Fischers Games of Chess (Simon and Schuster, 1959).

All of the 60 here offered contain, for me, something memorable and exciting even the 3 losses. I have tried to be both candid and precise in my elucidations in the hope that they would offer insights into chess that will lead to fuller understanding and better play.

Finally, I wish to express my gratitude to Larry Evans, friend and colleague, for his invaluable aid in the preparation of the text as well as for his lucid introductions.

R OBERT J. F ISCHER
New York City

On the chessboard lies and hypocrisy do not survive long.
The creative combination lays bare the presumption of a lie;
the merciless fact, culminating in a checkmate, contradicts the hypocrite.

E MANUEL L ASKER

Although Sherwin makes no serious errors in the opening, he misses several equalizing opportunities. Demonstrating the technical virtuosity that is to become his hallmark, Fischer, with astonishing maturity, gradually strengthens his grip by accumulating small advantages: the better center and the two Bishops. Sherwin, meanwhile, attempts to consolidate his position only to see his 14-year-old opponent shatter it with a thunderbolt (18 xh7). It brings to mind Alekhines combinations, which also seemed to spring from nowhere. Sherwin, lashing back, refuses to fall. However, his defense finally disintegrates under a series of acute blows to his wobbly King.

1	e4	c5
2	f3	e6
3	d3

This used to be my favorite. I thought it led to a favorable variation of the Kings Indian reversed, particularly after Black has committed himself with e6.

3	c6
4	g3	f6

Fischer-Ivkov, Santa Monica 1966 continued 4d5 5bd2 d6 6g2 ge7 7 0-0 0-0 8 h4! with chances for initiative.

5	g2	e7
6	0-0	0-0

More usual is 6d5; but Black has purposely delayed placing his center Pawns. Has he a new idea in mind?

7

bd2

After 7 e5 d5 8bd2 f6 9 exf6 xf6 10e1 gives White an edge.

7

b8

Sherwin slid the Rook here with his pinky, as if to emphasize the cunning of this mysterious move. 7d5 8e1 b5 9 e5 d7 10f1 b4 11 h4 a5 12f4 a4 13 a3! Fischer-Mjagmasuren, Sousse Interzonal 1967, leads to double-edged play where Blacks chances on the Q-side countervail Whites K-side attack but White usually comes first.

8	e1	d6
9	c3	b6

Not bad. But I had expected 9b5 10 d4 cxd4! (if 10b4 11 e5! bxc3? [11dxe5 12 dxe5 d7 13 c4 holds the advantage] 12 exf6 cxd2 13xd2! wins a piece) 11 cxd4 d5 with equality.