Annotated chess game: When Einsteins' Theory took over...

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ANNOTATED GAME

When Einsteins' Theory took over...
Robert James Fischer vs. Michail Tal
Annotated by: fiercequeen (1200)
Chess opening: Sicilian (B32), Flohr variation

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An International Jubilee Grand Master Tournament was held at Bled, Yugoslavia in the Fall of 1961 in commemoration of Aleksander Alekhine's victory there in 1931. That was the tournament, where Alekhine effectively succeeded in using his status as World Champion to keep his by then strongest opponent - José Raúl Capablanca - out of the tournament. Needless to say, he won by great numbers losing not a single game; Bogolubov and Nimzowitch were runners up, trailing more than 5 points behind...

1. e4 c5

During this tournament, two youngsters were drawing a lot of attention; of course the 24-year old Latvian Michail Tal, by then the strongest player of Russia and even daring the great Botvinnik, who - by the way - dethroned Alekhine; Alekhine died without ever having played again for his title. And then there was this 18-year old brat from America, Bobby Fischer, who already succesfully had beaten most of all (European) grandmasters of that time; like the late and great Paul Morphy did before him...

2. Nf3 Nc6 3. d4 cxd4 4. Nxd4 e6 5. Nc3

At this time, Fischer had never won a game against Tal; he lost four games with only two draws to account for. So Tal was truly a nemesis to Fischer; this variation was meant to diffuse Tal, because earlier in his career Fischer succesfully used Nb5, d6, Bf4 at Buenos Aires 1960... the Taimanov variation - deployed by Morphy, even before is was invented - which is indeed much stronger...

5... Qc7 6. g3

Qc7, as supposed to avoid a direct Bf4; Whites' next simple move however 'masks a cunningly new idea' (Botvinnik); nowadays a normal practice against the Sicilian; g3, Bg2, 0-0, f4... at that time however, this was a novelty; and Tal turns it into a trap...

1 comment

6... Nf6

Tal clearly wasn't paying attention: needed was a6, Bg2, Nf6; Fischer did not hesitate to call this 'probably the losing move' in his annotations...

2 comments

7. Ndb5

not very pleasant...

7... Qb8 8. Bf4

truly inspired, and way stronger than Bg5 or even Bg2; the logical reply e5, Bg5, a6, Bxf6 is failing at either axb5, Bg5 or exf6, Na3...

8... Ne5

so Tal chose the risky way, just like he was used to; Whites' next move however, comes as a surprise...

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9. Be2

suddenly White has the better of the game; preparing Qd4, while still guarding b5 and g4... best for Black is d6, Qd4, Nc6, Nxd6+, Bxd6, Qxd6, e5, or a6, Qd4, d6, Rd1, Nfd7 etc...

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9... Bc5

making matters worse...

10. Bxe5 Qxe5 11. f4 Qb8 12. e5

there is no doubt, that Black is in big trouble here; Ng1, Ne4, Be7, Qd2, followed by Nd6+ and 0-0-0 is crushing...

12... a6

no choice left...

13. exf6 axb5 14. fxg7

too eager to win material; after exf6, axb5, Ne4!, Bf8, Qd4, g6, Bxb5, Whites' advantage is even more substantial...

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14... Rg8 15. Ne4 Be7 16. Qd4 Ra4

trying to confuse the issue at hand; best is of course Qc7 (again: Botvinnik) or maybe Qa7...

17. Nf6+ Bxf6 18. Qxf6 Qc7 19. O-O-O

another inspired move to cover for c2; Bh5 is met with d5 and probable (?) drawing chances, and Bxb5 costs a piece after Qa5+... all other moves give Black the chance to regroup...