A Legend on the Road:

Bobby Fischer’s 1964 Simultaneous Tour

John Donaldson
A Legend on the Road: Bobby Fischer’s 1964 Simultaneous Tour
Copyright: John Donaldson
Published: 17th December 2015
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Introduction to the Third Edition
This edition contains all the material relating to Fischer’s 1964 tour that previously appeared in
the first and second editions of A Legend on the Road as well as The Unknown Bobby Fischer,
plus new material gathered for this volume. Readers who have the first and second editions
will have seen the book increase in size from 124 pages to 197 pages. The present work is
almost double that.

What accounts for this?

26 new games.
Newly discovered exhibitions that Bobby gave in Colorado Springs and Lawrence,
Kansas.
Many more remembrances and stories.
Many more annotated games
Many more photos and images.

Fischer’s tour was held 51 years ago, but is still well remembered by those who were fortunate
to meet him over the board and hear him lecture. Even more so for those who shared a meal
with him, played host or provided transportation.

It’s natural for those not playing chess in 1964 to believe these fond memories are a byproduct
of Fischer’s rise to the chess throne in 1972 and all the subsequent publicity attached to his
name, but I believe they would be mistaken.

When Fischer started his tour in the winter of 1964 he had just won his sixth U.S.
Championship with a score of 11-0 and his article The Ten Greatest Masters in History had
recently been published in CHESSWORLD. His monthly column in Chess Life, Bobby Fischer
Talks, was read around the world both for his analysis of games both ancient and modern and
for his ongoing feud with the Soviets which was still going strong almost two years after
Curacao. Fischer was already a legend among American chess players, despite most of them
having never seen the man. The 1964 tour provided them a once in a lifetime opportunity to see
Bobby in the flesh.

The United States was a much different place in 1964 than it is today. It had a population of 192
million in 1964 and 321 million fifty years later, but the number of chess players in the U.S.
half a century ago was much, much fewer than it is now. The USCF has over 80,000 members
today and in 1964 the number was less than 10 percent of that. And yet it is unlikely that a tour
of 42 cities, facing over 2000 opponents, could be organized today.

The grandest of all transcontinental chess tours, eclipsing those of Lasker, Capablanca and
Alekhine, occurred when American chess was still primarily club based. Weekend events were
becoming more established in 1964, but the U.S. Open was the only major annual event (the
National Open would start a year after Fischer’s tour).

These factors were important for two reasons. First, the infrastructure was in place to host
simuls, and second most U.S.C.F. members had never seen a flesh and blood American
Grandmasters as almost all of them lived in or near New York City. Outside of the U.S. Open,
which had seen a then record 266 participants in 1963 (the current top mark is a seemingly
unbeatable 836 set at Pasadena 1983), the only other chance to see the nation’s best was to visit
New York every December for the U.S. Championship. Add to that Fischer had outgrown the
U.S. Open after tying for first at Cleveland 1957. There were no World Opens let alone
Millionaire Opens in 1964!

The 1964 Tour was held at a time when Bobby Fischer was still a private person. Appearing
on the cover of Time and Newsweek and being a guest of Johnny Carson, Bob Hope, David
Frost, Dick Cavett and Dinah Shore was in the future as was being swarmed by several
hundred participants at the 1973 American Open. Right up until his defeat of Tigran Petrosian
in 1971, Bobby was very much under the American public’s radar. Witness the modest
attendance and mainstream media reporting for his matches with Taimanov (Vancouver) and
Denver (Larsen).

The result was a special experience for the young Fischer (he turned 21 during the tour), who
was passed along from town to town by the brotherhood of American chess players who
housed, fed and provided transportation for him. Many of the chess players he met during the
tour were around his age and all accounts indicate he got along well with them.

He also received over $10,000 (he was paid $250 for 50 boards and received close to $500
for his marathon 75-board simul in New Orleans). In 2014 dollars adjusted for inflation that is
$75,000! Granted he had to spend some money on travel, but most of Bobby’s lodging was
covered and many of those he played were honored to take him out for a meal or in the case of
Sam Spikes cover all of his expenses for the better part of a week.

To put the $10,000 into perspective first place in the 1960 US Championship was $1000. It had
risen to $2500 when Bobby won his last U.S. Championship in early January of 1967. Keep in
mind this U.S. championship prize money was often the bulk of Bobby's yearly income up until
the late 1960s. The money he received from the tour really helped Bobby financially.

The 1964 tour also provided Fischer with his one opportunity to really see the United States.
Yes, he had taken the train to Lincoln for the 1955 U.S. Junior and Anthony Saidy remembers
Jerry Donovan driving him and Bobby to the U.S. Open in Oklahoma City.

Everyone remembers the famous road trip to the 1957 Open where Bobby travelled in a car
driven by future International Master William Addison that broke down twice along the way
from San Francisco to Cleveland with the players eventually having to take a bus from Peoria
to get to their final destination. This epic, close to 2,500 mile journey (pre-Interstate highway!),
in a car without air conditioning in early August, with a group of fellow young chessplayers
was likely well remembered by Bobby. He left DNA in the arm of National Master Gil
Ramirez after one of the other occupants of the car compared Bobby once too often to the
cartoon character Crusader Rabbit (one surmises that the reference was to the size of Fischer’s
ears in comparison to his height as he was not yet very tall, the growth spurt that put him over
six feet still to come). Bobby’s biting Ramirez prompted an instant right hook from Gil that left
Bobby with a shiner that had the New York contingent casting dirty looks at the San Franciscans
when everyone met up in Cleveland.

Ramirez, whose family hosted Bobby during the U.S. Junior Open a few weeks before the
incident, relates that the two got along well in the years to come and when he was transferred
by the Air Force from Spain (where he had several successful tournaments) to Nebraska in
1964 he transited through New York City and spent a night with Bobby looking at chess and
catching up on old times.

As much as the road trip to Cleveland was something not to be forgotten it can’t compare to the
1964 tour, which took Fischer all over the continental U.S. chess except the Pacific Northwest.
This was a one-time experience; all available information suggests that Fischer’s future trips
between New York and Los Angeles were by air.

A close examination of the cities Bobby visited makes clear there were a few gaps in the tour
or some cities are missing. Our opinion, after 22 years of research on the subject, is the
available evidence strongly suggests these were breaks and no cities are missing. However, it
should be pointed out that the information about Bobby’s visit to Colorado Springs only
surfaced in 2015.

The first part of the tour had Bobby starting in Detroit and working his way back to New York
by a circuitous route through Canada and New England. One might guess by the gap in the dates
between Detroit and Rochester (February 9 and 15) that the former was a one off event and that
Fischer returned to New York before heading to Rochester, but then again Bobby had played in
the Western Open in Bay City, Michigan, the previous summer and might have stayed with
friends.

Bobby appears to have given only one exhibition (at Yeshiva University) between March 9th
and 14th and likely spent his remaining time at home resting up for the big trip to come. During
the better part of the next two months he was on the road, starting in Pittsburgh, then heading to
Chicago before working his way down to New Orleans. From there it was pretty much non-stop
action with days off devoted to travel until he arrived in Arkansas. We know he was in Hot
Springs on March 30th and available information has him only returning to action again in
Wichita on April 4th. The older Bobby loved onsens (hot springs) in Japan, so perhaps he first
got a taste for it in Hot Springs. This is a nice thought, but unfortunately one we have not been
able to confirm. What we do have is an explanation for where Bobby was between March 29th
and April 4th – staying at the home of Sam Spikes, a successful Little Rock insurance agent and
future member of the Arkansas Golf Hall of Fame.

Orval Allbritton, who played Bobby twice and is still going strong at age 87, recalled Bobby’s
visit in a phone conversation with the author in late October of 2015. Allbritton remembers that
Bobby stayed as Sam Spikes guest for at least four days and possibly longer. Spikes had a large
and comfortable home and Bobby would have had his own room and bathroom.
Fischer visited the Hot Springs club on its normal meeting night (so March 30th is an
approximate date) and a drawing was held to determine which player would face Bobby.
Orval, one of the stronger players in Arkansas at the time (1787 May 1964 USCF rating list),
was chosen to play and lasted 18 moves. He puts it, “I was strong enough to know when it was
time to resign.”

The author of several well-received histories, including The Mob at the Spa which tells about
mobsters who came to Hot Springs from approximately 1920 to 1965, Allbritton distinctly
remembers Bobby did not stay over in Hot Springs. He definitely made the one hour drive back
to Little Rock that night with Spikes who very likely covered all of Bobby’s expenses during
his stay.

Spikes was not a particularly strong player, but he was keen on the game and Bobby was
patient with him. Allbritton recalls Spikes telling him that the two played several “short”
games.

Fischer did not give exhibitions in Dallas, St. Louis or in Oklahoma, but it is conceivable that
at some time there were thoughts to hold simuls in these venues. That would help to explain the
gap between exhibitions. Larry Evans father Harry appears to have done a very good job in
designing a schedule that did not involve any back tracking, putting the last minute additions at
the end of the tour.

Bobby gave an exhibition in Wichita on April 4 and did not see action again until April 8 in
Ogden over a thousand miles away. Unfortunately the only cities of any size in between are in
Colorado and we know for certain that Denver was April 26 and Colorado Springs was April
28 (from the date on Reid’s scoresheet).

One logical thought is that Bobby gave another exhibition in Utah in Salt Lake City, but two
things rule that out. First, the newspaper account of the event is very precise mentioning players
from as far north as Ogden and as far south as Provo participated - Salt Lake City is right in
between them. Second the Ogden exhibition attracted 63 players and 200 spectators. That was
an outstanding turnout, surpassing that of many other cities with richer chess traditions. It’s hard
to imagine a second exhibition in Utah.

One possible explanation for where Fischer was spending the extra days between Wichita and
Ogden is that his old friend Alex Liepnieks, 300 miles away in Lincoln, Nebraska, picked up
Bobby and hosted him for a few says before sending him west. The Nebraska state capital not
only has air service but is on the rail line to Salt Lake City.

One can imagine after Ogden Bobby went immediately to Los Angeles to visit friends from his
visits in 1957 and 1961 (twice). He gave six exhibitions in California before heading on to Las
Vegas where his good friend Larry Evans was living. One can easily imagine him spending a
few days there both before and after his exhibition in Sin City on April 22.

Then came simuls in Denver (April 26), Colorado Springs (April 28) and Lawrence, Kansas
(April 30). The latter town, home to the University of Kansas, is only about 40 miles to Kansas
City making it highly unlikely Bobby gave an exhibition there. However chances are good he
flew home from Kansas City, giving himself a short break before a simul in the Philadelphia
suburb of Cheltenham.

Both this event and the simul in Boston on May 10 appear to be one off events that were not
tied to any other simuls. It is conceivable that Bobby gave an exhibition in Baltimore. It’s hard
to believe for those who have watched The Wire, but up until the early 198Os Charm City, aka
Mobtown, was one of the ten largest cities in the United States and had a population of around a
million in 1964. That said we have never heard any rumors of a Baltimore simul.

Mid-May saw Bobby go out on the road again for a short five city tour through the Midwest
stopping in Milwaukee (where he played two tournaments in 1957), another simul in Michigan
(Flint), his third in Ohio (Columbus – he does not seem to have made it to Cincinnati), a return
to Chicago (Cicero) and finally Indianapolis. One can imagine that Robert Byrne, who was
teaching philosophy at the University of Indiana 50 miles south in Bloomington at the time, was
likely in attendance.

Bobby finished with an exhibition at the Flea House in New York City and then a week later his
final stop of the tour in State College, Pennsylvania, where Donald Byrne taught English at
Penn State and served as coach of the chess team from 1961 until his death in 1976.

This great tour was pretty much the end of Fischer giving simuls in the United States. While he
would give many exhibitions in Europe and Argentina in the years to come, the only ones in the
U.S. appear to be at the United Nations in 1965 and Westchester, New York in early 1972.

This review suggests that it is unlikely that any exhibitions have been missed and we can only
hope that new games are forthcoming as most of the players to face Fischer in 1964 are now in
their 70s or older.

On a last note we would like to point out what an interesting group of players Bobby faced.
Some would become well-known in the chess world as players including Jude Acers, Andrew
Karklins, Charles Powell, Dennis Allan, John Blackstone, Erik Osbun, Wesley Koehler, Eric
Bone, C. Bill Jones, Andy Sacks and Bob Burger - all became masters or stronger. The latter
gets double and triple credit as a chess author and first-rate problemist. Robert Brieger also
gets a nod as well-known problemist and author with several books to his credit.

Another player that faced Bobby who contributed to chess literature was Bobby Patteson who
produced a series of pamphlets on Bobby’s games and openings for Chess Digest in the early
1970s. Jack O’Keefe did not write many articles but his research helped many. Likewise Alan
Benson contributed as well-known organizer as did Jim Warren assisting his wife Helen. Max
Wilkerson served 16 years as head of the nation’s oldest chess club, the Mechanic’s Institute of
San Francisco, while John Dedinsky invented the Chronos chess clock.

Some of the players that faced Bobby later became well-known for things they accomplished
away from the chessboard. Perhaps the most famous is Jim Garrison, who took a board in the
New Orleans exhibition, but is remembered for his investigation into the assassination of John
F. Kennedy.

Another is Boria Sax, son of the convicted spy Saville Sax, who defeated Bobby very
convincingly at the age of 14 and went on to become a distinguished writer and thinker on
human-animal relations.

Other who faced Bobby include Orval Allbritton, who was an active FBI agent at the time he
played Bobby and later wrote several books on the history of his native Hot Springs, Arkansas.
There was also mystery writer Gaylord Dold and future U.S. Ping Pong Hall of Fame member
Chuck Hoey, the only player to defeat Bobby in the Pittsburgh exhibition. One could mention
many others.

Bobby’s 1964 tour was indeed something very special and retains a special magic to this day.

Besides those who helped make the first and second editions possible, and who are
acknowledged elsewhere, I would like to thank the following individuals for their assistance
for this third and very likely last edition.

This list includes Orval Albritton, Alan Anderson, Oliver Beck, John Blackstone, Nick
Goncharoff, C. Bill Jones, Larry Kaufman, Allyn Kahn, Anthony Killian, William Korst, Jerry
Krouse, Shelby Lohrmann, Michael Negele, Erik Osbun, Robert Peters, Bill Price, Jeff Rubens,
Andy Sacks, Tom Schuch, Jurgen Stigter, Michael Tisserand and Bernard Zuckerman. My
apologies for any unintended omissions.

I would like to specially acknowledge the help of Jude Acers, promoter extraordinaire of chess
in the United States for over 50 years. Jude remembers Bobby’s visit to Louisiana like it was
yesterday.

The efforts of Frank Berry who scanned the slides of photos taken by Beth Cassidy in the mid-
1960s, are greatly appreciated. Cassidy, who played for Ireland in the first Women’s Chess
Olympiad in 1957, was a fine photographer whose work appeared in Chess Life and Chess
Review in the 1960s. However many of her photographs have never been published. Many
thanks for her permission to let them appear in this and future planned Fischer publications.

Special thanks to David DeLucia, the noted collector, who has been so generous in sharing his
treasures. Four of the games in this book (Oakes, Rummel, Travis (Houston) and Pransky)
appear on page 82 of Bobby Fischer Uncensored.

Andy Ansel, Eduardo Bauzá Mercére and Richard Reich are three of the great archivists of
American chess history. They have rescued tens of thousands games from oblivion by entering
them into electronic format from scoresheets, obscure chess magazines and forgotten
newspaper chess columns. All three provided invaluable assistance in the preparation of this
volume.

Every American chess player with an interest in the history of the game should pay at least one
visit to the John G. White Collection at the Cleveland Public Library, the World Chess Hall of
Fame in St. Louis and the Mechanics’ Institute Library and Chess Room of San Francisco. The
staff of all three institutions were most helpful in making materials available that were used in
the production of this book.

I would like to thank Edward Winter and his readers. Winter’s Chess Notes
(http://www.chesshistory.com/winter/) is must reading for anyone with an interest in chess
history and it was here that Oliver Beck reported on Fischer’s visit to Colorado Springs, the
last exhibition to be rediscovered.

A few words about the publishers of the first two editions. Yasser Seirawan needs no
introduction. A two-time Candidate for the World Championship, publisher of Inside Chess,
expert commentator and author of several classic works on the game, Seirawan is one of the
most important figures in the history of American chess. He was also the one to give the first
edition of this book a chance.

Hanon Russell, publisher of the second edition, has been a key contributor to American chess
for over half a century. Many will be familiar with his publishing firm (Russell Enterprises,
Inc.) and others will recall that he was the founder of Chess Cafe. Those with good memories
might remember the Russell Collection (later sold to David DeLucia), which contained many
important items including all of the original scoresheets from New York 1924.

Those with even keener recall will recall his translation of Tal’s famous work on his 1960 title
match with Botvinnik. This was done when Russell was living in Portland, Oregon, in the early
1970s. During his short stay he not only managed to translate and publish this book and another
on the Pirc, but also wrote a chess column and directed many tournaments including a US
Junior Open. All this was done in Russell’s early twenties, but to go back to the beginning of
his involvement as a publisher you have to return to 1965 when he first started publishing
Shakmaty-in-English while in high school!

This is the first of a multi-volume work on Bobby Fischer that I am collaborating on with my
fellow International Master and Tacoma Chess Club alumni Eric Tangborn. Eric provided a
tremendous amount of technical help for this book and will be a co-author on subsequent
volumes, the first of which will be devoted to Fischer’s non-1964 exhibitions games. These
first two will soon be available in both Kindle and iPad, iPhone, and iPod touch – the latter
produced by ePlusBooks.com

One hope of this book is that it will inspire further research. I would be very interested in
hearing from readers with additional information on Fischer’s tour. They can contact me by
writing to [email protected].

This book is dedicated to Dr. Anthony Kwan Lee. I've known no one brighter or braver.

John Donaldson
Berkeley, December 2015
Introduction to the Second Edition
This edition contains all the material relating to Fischer’s 1964 tour that previously appeared in
the first edition of A Legend on the Road and The Unknown Bobby Fischer, plus original
material I’ve gathered for this volume.

This time around I would like to thank my editor Taylor Kingston and publisher Hanon Russell,
as well as Jude Acers, Todd Bardwick, Frank (Kim) Berry, Gary Berry, Gary Bookout, Carl
Brannan, Neil Brennen, Ojars Celle, Mark Donlan, C. Richard Long, Marty Lubell, Jeff Martin
(John G. White Collection of the Cleveland Public Library), Hardon McFarland, Michael
Morris, Robert Peters, Eric Tangborn and Val Zemitis for their help. I would especially like to
thank Holly Lee. This book would not have been possible without their efforts.

I continue to be amazed at how warmly and vividly people remember Bobby’s tour of forty
years ago.

John Donaldson
Berkeley, March 2005

Explanation of Symbols
(O.G.) Indicates the source is the original game score itself.
All editor’s notes are by John Donaldson.

Preface to The Unknown Bobby Fischer

Preface to The Unknown Bobby Fischer

The idea for The Unknown Bobby Fischer (1999) came shortly after the publication of A
Legend on the Road (1994). The many readers who wrote me after the appearance of Legend
offered a wealth of new material with games and anecdotes. Sometimes gold would appear in
the most unexpected places.

Playing in the 1997 McLaughlin Memorial in Wichita, I was delighted to meet former Kansas
Champion Robert Hart, who had kept his copy of the mimeo-graphed bulletin of Bobby’s 1964
visit to Wichita. I had heard rumors of this bulletin, but until Mr. Hart generously sent me the
games, I feared that all existing copies had disappeared. My Unknown Bobby Fischer co-author
Eric Tangborn and I, with the help of Erik Osbun, were able, using a little detective work, to
convert 18 of the games (one score was unreadable) from sometimes questionable descriptive
notation into playable algebraic. Only D Ballard’s win, Fischer’s sole loss in the exhibition,
was previously known. The games from this exhibition offer a rare look at a typical Fischer
simul — usually only a few wins and, more typically, his losses and draws, surface.

I would like to thank Denis Allan, D La Pierre Ballard, Frank (Kim) Berry, Jonathan Berry,
Neil Brennen, Ross Carbonell, George Flynn, Steve Gordon, Gordon Gribble, Robert Hart,
Holly Lee, David Luban, Richard Lunenfeld, Jerry Markley, Spencer Matthews, Robert Moore,
The Mechanics’ Institute (San Francisco) Library, Erik Osbun, Jack O’Keefe, Duane Polich,
Nick Pope, Donald P. Reithel, Thomas Richardson, Hanon Russell, Andy Sacks, Macon Shibut,
Alex Yermolinsky and Val Zemitis for their help with this project.

John Donaldson
Berkeley, October 1999
Introduction to the First Edition
Transcontinental exhibition tours have a long and honored history in North America. World
Champions Alexander Alekhine and José Capablanca were two of the first to make the 3,000-
mile journey from one end of the continent to the other. These tours were very useful for
popularizing the game in distant outposts, where masters were all but nonexistent. Reshevsky,
Horowitz, Kashdan, Fine, and Marshall all became better known to those outside New York as
a result of their barnstorming. The touring masters were well received and taken care of.
Horowitz, in particular, kept his struggling Chess Review alive by periodically hitting the road
and spreading the word to the faithful.

This type of tour became increasingly rare after World War II. Various explanations could be
offered, but undoubtedly two major reasons were the proliferation of weekend Swiss
tournaments and the simultaneous decline of local chess clubs. The result was that in recent
memory only Walter Browne’s 1978 18-stop tour, and the “Church’s Chicken” journeys of
Larry Christiansen and Jack Peters in the late 1970s and early 1980s, came close to some of the
classic treks of the past.

Between the barnstormings of the 1930s and the late 1970s only one great tour was undertaken,
but it was arguably the greatest of them all. Not even Alekhine and Capablanca, who were in
high demand — each made several major tours of North America — ever came close to this
granddaddy of road trips.

Starting in February of 1964 and going until the end of May, Bobby Fischer’s only major
exhibition tour was record-breaking in all aspects, from the number of players he played (over
2000) to the fee he commanded (a then unheard of $250 an exhibition).

Bobby, of course, had prior experiences with exhibitions. In fact, his first chess event was
playing Master Max Pavey in a simul at the Brooklyn Public Library in January of 1951. The
first major exhibition Fischer gave, against 12 children, was written about in the January 1956
issue of Chess Review.

Fischer’s early opinion of simul play was not particularly high. A 1957 issue of Parade had this
to say: “To make money, Bobby has taken on as many as 30 challengers simultaneously at $1 a
challenger. But such games, he says, ‘don’t produce good chess. They’re just hard on your
feet.’” Fischer’s feelings about the quality of play changed in the future with several games
from the 1964 tour featured in the American Chess Quarterly and the game with Celle chosen
for inclusion in My 60 Memorable Games.

Between 1956 and 1964 Bobby gave several exhibitions, but the only one that attracted major
attention was one that was never held. The following announcement appeared in the first issue
of the excellent but ill-fated Chessworld:

Fischer will attempt to break Gideon Stahlberg’s 1941 record of 400 opponents Wednesday,
 November 27, 1963, 7:30 p.m., Grand Ballroom, Hotel Astor, Broadway and 44th, NYC. $3
to play, $1 to watch. Organized by CHESSWORLD.

Five days before the event it was cancelled because of the assassination of President Kennedy.

Chess promoter extraordinaire I.A. Horowitz in his later years.

(Photo by Beth Cassidy)

When 1964 began, Fischer was on a roll. The 20-year-old GM had just won his 6th U.S.
Championship and he had done so in spectacular fashion, scoring 11-0! With the Amsterdam
Interzonal scheduled for the spring there was much talk about Bobby’s run for the World
Championship.

The genesis of the tour appears to be the following letter, which appears courtesy of the Hanon
Russell Collection.

From: Bobby Fischer

To: Larry Evans
Date: Sept. 15, 1963

Dear Larry,

Nice talking to you on the phone Saturday. About the books, if you send me a list please mark
down what condition they’re in. Another thing last December when you were in New York
you said you were interested in setting up an exhibition tour if I brought my price down. How
does $300 strike you: 35-40 boards plus lecture on a game or two. I don’t know what
percentage or fee you would want for this but I think we can work that out if you agree to my
terms above. If you’re not interested, what with $200 rolling in maybe you could set up
something at one of the strip hotels for me.
 By the way there IS one mistake in my next Chess Life article. I caught it when I was going
over it for typographical errors. It’s in my annotations to my game with Berliner. It was not
too late to have it corrected but Joe said that I had better leave well enough alone since the
people in Iowa where it’s printed would probably mess it up altogether. If you catch it you’re
pretty good, but it can be argued that it is not actually a mistake.

I am mainly occupying my time by studying old opening books and believe it or not I am
learning a lot! They don’t waste space on the Catalan, Réti, King’s Indian Reversed and other
rotten openings.

Best of Luck in your real estate!

Yours truly,

/s/ Robert Fischer

Between that letter and the following February many details had to be worked out. One of the
primary issues that had to be addressed was what sort of fee Bobby could command. Today,
when Kasparov receives $10,000 for a simul, it’s difficult to put Fischer’s 1964 fee of $250
per exhibition in perspective, but the December 1963 California Chess Reporter (p. 50) does a
pretty good job:

Fischer has set an unprecedented $250 fee for his exhibitions. Relatively few years ago, the
best players were lucky to get $50 for a simultaneous display. Recently, a fee of the order of
$100 was in order. Our hat is off to Bobby for setting his fee at $250 and for making it stick!

GM Larry Evans’ father, Harry, who ran the business side of the American Chess Quarterly,
was in charge of putting together the tour. Through the pages of Chess Life and the ACQ
interested parties were given the conditions: $250 for a fifty-board simul plus a lecture.

For the uninitiated, the latter might have seemed a throw-in but those who showed up to hear
Fischer speak were in for a real surprise. New Yorkers, of course, knew what a fine lecturer
Bobby was, but the rest of the country had never before had the chance to see him in action.

A real natural, Bobby was a first-rate commentator who managed the almost impossible task of
keeping beginner and master alike entertained. Without exception, of the 30-odd people we
have contacted who played Fischer all agreed that he was an exceptional speaker who was
both informative and entertaining, especially for someone who was only 20-21 years old.

Typical was the response of Lew Hucks, who heard him in Washington, D.C.: “Bobby’s
demonstration of the Botvinnik game from the Varna Olympiad in 1962 was the best
demonstration of a chess game I have ever seen. He was witty and quite entertaining. I have
always believed that many of the Fischer quotes, to which people have taken exception, would
have been funny if you heard him say them in person.”

Normally when a player goes out on tour he usually shows the same game every evening but
Bobby was different. Among the games he lectured on were: Botvinnik-Fischer, Varna
Olympiad 1962; Fischer-Tal, 1959 Candidates (the game given in My 60 Memorable Games);
Addison-Fischer, U.S. Ch. 1963-64; R. Byrne-Fischer, U.S. Ch. 1963-64; Fischer-Geller, Bled
1961; Fischer-Benko, U.S. Ch. 1963-64; and Fischer-Najdorf, Varna Olympiad 1962.

Every exhibitor sets his own conditions of play. Typically the master takes White on each board
but after that things vary. The practice in the distant past was that the master’s move on a board
wouldn’t be completed until he had made a move on the next board, a nice fail-safe measure
against egregious blunders, but currently considered not very sporting. The major area of
difference between exhibitors these days is usually in the area of passes — the question being
whether they are allowed and if so how many.

The idea that players in the simul should have the opportunity for a little extra thinking time in
critical positions would seem to be a fair one but in practice it can be abused. More than one
exhibitor has been stuck with a player who quickly uses up his allotted passes and then
conveniently “forgets” that fact.

At the beginning of the tour, in early February, it seems Bobby was quite liberal in his policies
regarding passes and consulting, but this changed. Jude Acers, who organized Fischer’s visit to
Louisiana, relates:

“A chess fan in Chicago had witnessed Fischer’s appearances and penned a harsh criticism of
Fischer to my postal box. He never dreamed where it was going … I simply turned from the
box and HANDED THE POSTCARD TO FISCHER!!

“Fischer turned crimson with surprise at the ‘slow’ Fischer play the card cited … ‘To begin
with,’ said Fischer, ‘I allowed all those players unlimited passes all the way. They could think
all they wanted on the moves. And this is the appreciation I get.’ After this Fischer allowed no
passes.”

Fischer’s barnstorm generated a fair amount of publicity. Prior to the tour Bobby had not seen
much of the country, his only trips west of the Mississippi being the 1955 U.S. Junior in
Lincoln, the 1956 U.S. Open in Oklahoma City, the 1957 U.S. Junior in San Francisco, and two
visits to California in 1961. What impression most chess players had of him could only be
based on what they read and journalists were not particularly kind to Fischer. The tour proved
to be a bit of a revelation for a lot of American chess players who were pleasantly surprised
when they got to meet their young champion up close.

One example is Cleveland Chess Association President Craig Henderson writing in the April
1964 Cleveland Chess Bulletin:

“A word about Bobby Fischer. A number of articles have appeared in various magazines
criticizing him for his attitude toward tournament officials and others with whom he has dealt.
For the record, Bobby cooperated completely with all arrangements that were made for him
during his stay in Cleveland. There were no ‘incidents’ of any kind. Sometimes our own local
players seem to be much more temperamental about their chess matches.”
Another is James Schroeder in the June 1964 issue of the Ohio Chess Bulletin. “After meeting
Mr. Fischer in Cleveland and driving him to Toledo, I received such a favorable impression of
him that I organized the exhibition in Columbus.’’

Fischer had his own style of playing in exhibitions. The California Chess Reporter reports that
he seemed to play his opponents on an individual basis, defeating the stronger opponents but
giving big chances to the weaker ones.

A steadfast diehard of 1.e4, he played it invariably in his exhibitions with only one exception.
What caused him to adopt the Orangutan (1.b4) is a mystery that defies an easy answer. The
tour produced lots of study material for devotees of double King Pawn openings with Fischer
departing from his beloved Ruy Lopez to test out the white side of the Evans Gambit, Two
Knights Defense, Vienna, and King’s Gambit.

While Kasparov is clinical in his preparation before a simul with sightseeing on the day of the
event a no-no and ChessBase computer database review of the prospective opponents’ games
de rigueur, Fischer was more relaxed. He was intense enough during the games, his 94%
winning percentage over more than 2000 games one of the best results ever achieved, but he
also found time to enjoy himself. He almost always stayed at the home of the local organizer
and his mode of travel was a catch-as-catch-can with cars, trains, buses, and airplanes all
being utilized.

Despite visiting over 40 cities in his four-month tour there were a few big cities that it seems
Bobby didn’t get to. Particularly glaring by omission are St. Louis, Kansas City, and Miami.
Lack of funds seems usually to have been the chief culprit. There are a few reports from places
that were unable to arrange a visit from Fischer. The Arizona Woodpusher for May-June of
1964 has this to say under the headline No Fischer in Phoenix:

Club Secretary Ed Humphrey has been told by the Tours organization sponsoring the
exhibition tours of Bobby Fischer that he has a full schedule. His commitments in the
Southwest are such that he will not be able to include Phoenix in his itinerary.

One wonders what Southwest cities are being referred to. Bobby gave documented exhibitions
in Houston and Los Angeles (two). Was he in Albuquerque? Did he visit Mobile, Arizona,
where his family lived for a short while before moving to Brooklyn?

The December 1963 issue of the Georgia Chess Letter discusses the possibilities of bringing
Bobby down. Lacking a sponsor the suggestion is to have several members band together to
guarantee Fischer his $250 fee. Nothing seems to have come of it.

Two other areas with well-developed chess communities that didn’t enjoy a visit from Bobby
were the Pacific Northwest and Minnesota. Bobby's absence in the former is explained by the
following article that appeared in an unsigned piece in the Washington Chess Letter, March
1964, page 2. It's sad to think that an event that would have become a part of Northwest chess
lore forever didn't take place because of a little financial risk.
Regarding Fischer Tour

Officers of the WCF feel that they would be going out on a shaky financial limb which could
deplete the federation's hard-earned treasury by inviting Bobby Fischer to Seattle for a
simultaneous. Possibly a free hall can be had but it is understood Fischer's fee is $250 which
means 50 players at $5 per player. As most chess clubs seem to be "pockets" of poverty"
especially when it comes to spending money on the game they profess to love and the WCF has
no "sugar daddy", it appears to be a risky piece of promotion for most of us who are not
blessed with a surplus of the long green or the cold metal that jingles.

Some accounts have Bobby giving an exhibition in Rochester, Minnesota, but that seems to be
confusing things with the Rochester, New York, simul. According to master Curt Brasket and
fellow Minnesotan George Tiers, Bobby was never in the Land of 10,000 Lakes.

Of course, I most certainly have missed some exhibitions. The list of cities he visited shows
some gaps, particularly for early May. The April 19, 1964, issue of the Toledo Blade mentions
that Bobby’s visit to that city on March 19 was the 21st stop on the tour. Should that be the case
that means that five cities are unaccounted for (Toledo is number 16 on our list).

Researching this tour wasn’t easy. The three national magazines Chess Review, Chess Life, and
Canadian Chess Chat gave only spotty coverage. Surprisingly the American Chess Quarterly,
which GM Larry Evans edited, Harry Evans managed, and to which Bobby frequently
contributed, has very little on the tour.

State and club publications (e.g. Dayton Chess News) have yielded some gems of information
but it is remarkable how few are readily available thirty years after the fact. The bibliography
gives a list of sources consulted but an equally long one could be made of periodicals that were
active in 1964 but are not in the John G. White Collection in Cleveland. Among these are the
Louisiana Chess Newsletter, Rhode Island Chess Bulletin, and the Arkansas state publications.
These magazines might well yield much valuable material.

Newspapers, particularly in the smaller cities, were quite helpful. While Horowitz’s column in
the New York Times and Kashdan’s in the Los Angeles Times had surprisingly little
information, papers like the Fitchburg Sentinel had excellent coverage.

But by far and away the best source of information for Fischer’s great tour was the people who
actually played him. I was very pleasantly surprised by the number of people who responded to
my appeals for help and I would like to thank them:

Chess Life Editor Glenn Peterson for very generously giving me permission to use material
from Chess Review and Chess Life. This proved to be an excellent starting point. Drs. Alice
Loranth and Motoko Reece of the John G. White Collection of the Cleveland Public Library
were extremely helpful in making their extensive collection of state publications available.

I would especially like to thank John Blackstone and Eric Osbun for sharing their Fischer files
with me. These contained over a dozen unpublished games. Hanon Russell was very kind in
allowing me the run of his vast archives, which proved most useful in gaining some perspective
on the tour.

Joe Sparks, Editor of Chess Horizons, did yeoman’s service in going through Jim Burgess’
column in the Boston Globe. Without his efforts the exhibition in Boston would have remained
a mystery and several games from Fitchburg would have been unavailable.

Jim Warren, of APCT, came up with some rare items, the Illinois Chess Bulletin and the
bulletin of the Chicago Industrial Chess League, which proved to be real finds yielding a large
number of new games.

I would also like to thank the following individuals for taking time to help me. I apologize if
anyone has inadvertently been left out: Jude Acers, Robin Ault, D La Pierre Ballard, Robert
Barry, Alan Benson, Gary Berry, Roger Blaine, Frank Brady, Curt Brasket, Steve Brandwein,
Richard Cantwell, Bob Ciaffone, Frank Cunliffe, Harold Dondis, Tom Dorsch, Bob Dudley,
Alex Dunne, Sheila Gilmartin, Peter Grey, Lou Hays, Elliot Hearst, Ken Hense, Mark
Holgerson, Lewis Hucks, Rabbi Steven Katz, IM Larry Kaufman, Wesley Koehler, Anthony
Koppany, Barry Kraft, Harry Lyman, Tony Mantia, Henry Meifert, Najeed Mejas, George
Mirijanian, Robert Moore, Bob Nasiff, Roger Neustaedter, Ross Nickel, Jack O’Keefe, John
Ogni, John Owen, Richard Reich, Bill Robertie, Sid Rubin, Andy Sacks, Macon Shibut, Steve
Shutt, Jeremy Silman, Chuck Singleton, Jennifer Skidmore, Joe Sparks, Peter Tamburro, Robert
Tanner, Keith Vickers, Ed Westing, Edmund Wheeler, and Val Zemitis. This book would have
been much poorer without their help. It goes without saying that any mistakes are my
responsibility.

This book is dedicated to Bobby Fischer, who has done so much for American chess.

IM John Donaldson
Seattle, February 1994

We believe we have accounted for all the exhibitions Fischer gave but it’s possible we may
have overlooked some. The list of cities Bobby visited shows some gaps, in particular
February 10-14, March 9-14 and May 4-9. The April 19, 1964, issue of the Toledo Blade
mentions that Bobby’s visit to that city on March 19 was the 21st stop on the tour. Should that
be the case that means that five cities are unaccounted for (Toledo is number 16 on our list)
although we strongly doubt this. We base this opinion on the research we have done the past 20
years that has led to an increase in the number of known exhibitions from 15 (as given in
Profile of a Prodigy) to 43 and from a few dozen games to over 200.

Bobby Fischer’s 1964 Tour

February
9 Detroit 51 (+47, -2, =2)
15 Rochester 75 (+69, -1, =5)
20 Waltham 40 (+39, -0, =1)
23 Montreal 55 (+46, -5, =4)
24 Montreal (clock simul) 10 (+10, -0, =0)
25 Quebec City 48 (+48, -0, =0)
27 Toronto 50 (+40, -4, =6)
March
1 Westerly 47 (+44, -1, =2)
2 Fitchburg 56 (+49, -5, =2)
3 Hartford 55 (+49, -2, =4)
5 Richmond 50 (+44, -4, =2)
8 Washington, D.C. 65 (+52, -4, =9)
? New York 30 (+30, -0, =0)
15 Pittsburgh 53 (+50, -1, =2)
18 Cleveland 51 (+51, -0, =0)
19 Toledo 55 (+50, -3, =2)
22 Chicago 71 (+56, -4, =11)
23 Chicago 54 (+49, -1, =4)
25 Baton Rouge 5 (+5, -0, =0)
25 Baton Rouge 2 (+2, -0, =0) vs. Acers
26 New Orleans 75 (+70, -3, =2)
28 Houston 57 (+51, -3, =3)
29 Little Rock 36 (+36, -0, =0)
30 Hot Springs 1 (+1, -0, =0) vs. Allbritton
April
4 Wichita 40 (+38, -1, =1)
8 Ogden 63 (+60, -1, =2)
12 Los Angeles 50 (+47, -1, =2)
13 San Francisco 50 (+38, -4, =8)
15 Sacramento 50 (+47, -2, =1)
16 Davis (clock simul) 10 (+10, -0, =0)
18 Santa Barbara 52 (+49, -2, =1)
19 Santa Monica 50 (+45, -3, =2)
22 Las Vegas 35 (+34, -0, =1)
26 Denver 55 (+50, -1, =4)
28 Colorado Springs 32 (+31, -0, =1)
30 Lawrence 43 (+42, -0, =1)
May
3 Cheltenham 73 (+70, -2, =1)
10 Boston 53 (+50, -1, =2)
14 Milwaukee 57 (+48, -4, =5)
16 Flint 58 (+53, -0, =5)
18 Columbus 50 (+48, -0, =2)
20 Cicero 50 (+44, -1, =5)
21 Indianapolis 50 (+48, -1, =1)
24 New York 34 (+34, -0, =0)
31 State College 50 (+49, -0, =1)

Total (known games) 2097 (+1923, -67, =107) (94%)

Larry Evans (pictured) and his father Harry organized the 1964 tour.
(Photo by Nancy Roos)

Detroit, February 9
 +47, -2, =2
On tour, Bobby Fischer put on a simultaneous display at the Chess-Mate Gallery in Detroit
against 51 players, including several masters and numerous experts. He won 47 games, drew
two and lost only two. That he would make a showing of this sort was no doubt expected, but
the outstanding feature of the exhibition was the extraordinary rapidity of his play, insofar as he
is reported to have consumed no more than an average of six minutes per game! (Chess
Review, April 1964)

The Man Behind the Legend

by William Wilcock

Since the day when Robert Fischer first appeared on the American Chess scene he has been a
controversial and misunderstood figure. A certified and authentic chess genius, capable of
being classed with the greatest. It has been Fischer’s misfortune to appear as something less
than a hero to the general public.

Reporters and magazine writers, some of whom must have read about chess for the first time on
the morning of their meeting with Fischer, have written articles that portray Bob as (a) a
colossal egotist, (b) a moody illiterate, (c) a brash, over-bearing young man, (d) a dreamer
from an ivory tower and (e) a sullen young genius.

Dr. Howard Gaba, CCLA’s Second Vice-President, scoffs at these labels. “Robert Fischer at
twenty years,” Dr. Gaba writes, “is six feet, two inches tall, lanky but well-proportioned and
well-muscled. He is pleasant in appearance with a quiet, even-tempered manner.”

The rest of Dr. Gaba’s letter follows:

Early in February, Robert Fischer staged a tremendous chess exhibition in Detroit. Over
Sunday and Monday of that weekend we had him as our house guest. My wife, my son Arthur,
my daughter Joanne, and I felt honored to have him with us for so many pleasant hours.

Fischer is not, as reports have it and many people seem to think, completely wrapped up in
chess. He took a great interest in Arthur’s demonstration of some old Edison cylinder
phonographs. This led to a conversation on antiquities and relics which ended in a visit to
Greenfield Village, the well-known Museum display near Detroit with its world-wide
collection of historical objects.

The rest of the time at our home we watched TV, listened to the radio and recordings, including
the Edison cylinders, talked a little, ate a little, and relaxed.

Away from the exhibition he played no chess but we did talk about the game. Robert learned
chess quite early in life but did not take it up seriously until he began to visit the chess clubs.
From then on his progress was rapid.
He has a photographic mind and can play a long game through from the score mentally, holding
the main position in his mind while making side excursions into the footnotes. He can play one
game blindfolded easily but has not pushed the development of playing multiple games sans
voir though he felt it within his power.

His development against experts and masters is well recorded and his growth, mentally, has
actually only started. At present he reads the major chess publications from all over the world
and is in complete command of current master theory.

Fischer feels that he has no control over articles written about him and seems to be becoming
philosophical about the situation. The pieces in the local press seemed, in the main, to be by
writers who had not taken too much time to interview Fischer.

Fischer faced one of the strongest gatherings in Detroit in the last fifteen years. In spite of the
strong opposition and the numerous consultation games Fischer lost only two games during the
evening. He played fast and at the end of the exhibition the 200 people present seemed to
realize that they had seen a great show by a great chess player.

One incident attracted favorable attention from the spectators. A player resigned in a position
that could have been drawn, as Fischer pointed out. He then refused the win, credited the player
with the draw and signed his score sheet to that effect.

One of the strongest Michigan players is Morrie Wiedenbaum, a rated USCF master. When I’m
lucky I win from him perhaps ten percent of the time. Among his victims at one time or another
are masters Bisguier, Popel, Poschel, Burgar, Finegold and Dreibergs.

Fischer played seven games of five-minute speed chess with Wiedenbaum, at which the latter is
very good. Fischer made a clean sweep of the games, seeming to win them in systematic style, a
pawn or so falling to him about every five moves. In nearly every game Morrie ended up a full
queen down or its equivalent.

Of his visit with us I will say only that I enjoyed it and I hope Robert did, too. We were left
with a feeling that he was an unusually alert and intelligent young man. He is quietly but deeply
religious, carrying a Bible with him on his travels and reading it regularly.

From his speech and action you can see that he is strongly competitive in his chess and
brilliant. As his career has already been it should be more so in the future. (The Chess
Correspondent, July, 1964)

Jack Witeczek was born in Lodz, Poland, and came to the U.S. in 1958. He was the 1960 Ohio
Champion, 1964 Michigan Champion and tied for 7th-11th in the 1961 U.S. Open in San
Francisco.

(1) King’s Gambit C36

Fischer - Jack Witeczek
Detroit (simul), February 9, 1964

1.e4 e5 2.f4 exf4 3.Nf3 d5 4.exd5 Nf6 5.Bb5+ c6

5...Nbd7 is not seen as often as the text but is playable.

6.dxc6 Nxc6 7.d4 Bd6 8.0–0 0–0 9.Bxc6?!

A rare continuation and apparently not that strong. 9.c4, 9.Nc3 and 9.Nbd2 are all more
popular.

9...bxc6 10.Ne5 Bxe5

10...g5 is another way to handle the position - 11.Nxc6?? Qb6, but Witeczek's choice is also
good and simpler.

11.dxe5 Qb6+ 12.Kh1 Nd5

12...Ng4 13.Qe1 Ne3 14.Bxe3 fxe3 would have given Black a small advantage. For example:
15.Nc3 Re8 16.Qg3 Qxb2 17.Qxe3 Ba6 18.Rfe1 Rad8 19.Qxa7 Qxc3 20.Qxa6 Rxe5.

13.Qe2

13.Nc3

13...Ba6 14.c4 Qd4 15.Na3 Rfe8 16.Qf2 Qxf2 17.Rxf2 Rxe5

17...Nb4!

18.Bd2 Nb6

18...Ne3 19.Rxf4 Rd8.

19.Bxf4

Bobby has equalized. Now it's time to outplay his opponent step by step.

19...Re4 20.b3 Bb7

20...Rae8

21.Rd1 a5

Black wants to get rid of a weakness by advancing with ...a4 but there isn't time for this.
21...Rae8 was better with equal chances.
22.h3 Re7

22...a4 23.Bc7! axb3 24.Bxb6 wins a piece due to the weak back rank.

23.Rfd2 f6 24.Bd6

Bringing the knight back into the game with 24.Nc2 also made sense.

24...Rd7 25.Bc5?!

25.Nc2 kept an edge.

25...Rad8! 26.Rxd7 Rxd7 27.Rxd7

27.Re1 was objectively stronger.

27...Nxd7 28.Bd6

White has two advantages in this position, neither relating to the position which is dead even.
First he is Fischer! Second by this time many of the players have already lost and Witeczek has
less time to think as Bobby is coming around faster and faster.

28...Ne5?

28...Kf7 was correct with the point that if White insists on winning material with 29.Bc7 a4
30.bxa4 Black's excellent king position fully compensates for the material deficit. For example
30...Ke6 31.Kg1 Kf5 32.Kf2 Ke4 33.Ke2 Kd4 34.Kd2 Ba6 Black should not have any
problems drawing after playing the move he chose but the position will require more care.

29.Bc7 Nd3 30.Bxa5 Nc1 31.Bd2 Nxa2

Black has managed to maintain material equality but at the cost of getting his knight semi-
trapped. He should still be fine but needs to be alert.

32.Kg1 Kf7 33.Kf2 Ke6 34.b4 Kd6 35.g3 Bc8 36.h4 Bf5 37.Ke3 Ke5 38.b5 cxb5 39.Nxb5
Be6 40.c5 Bd7 41.Nd4 Kd5
42.c6!?

Tricky play by Bobby. The position is a draw but he sets practical problems for his opponent.

42...Bc8?

The text should not lose, but Black had a clear cut draw with 42...Bxc6 43.Nxc6 (43.Nf5 g6
44.Ne7+ Kd6 45.Nxc6 Kxc6 46.Kd4 Kd6 47.Kc4 Ke5 leads to similar play to the main
variation.) 43...Kxc6 44.Kd4 Kd6 45.Kc4 Ke5. The knight is now lost, but the king saves the
day after 46.Kb3 Ke4 47.Kxa2 Kf3 48.Be1 Ke2 49.Ba5 Kf3 50.Bc7 h5 51.Kb2 g5.

43.c7 Kc5

43...Kd6! 44.Ba5 (or 44.Kd3 Kxc7 45.Kc2 Kd6 46.Kb2 Kd5 47.Nb3 Ke4 48.Kxa2 Kf3)
44...Nc1 45.Kd2 Kd5 46.Bb6 Na2 and the knight is escaping.

44.Ne2 Kb6 45.Nf4 Kxc7 46.Nh5 Bg4 47.Nxg7 Kd8 48.Kf4 Bd7 49.Nf5 Ke8 50.Nd4 Kf7
51.Ke4 Kg6 52.Kd5 Be8 53.Ke6 Bf7+

53...Kh5 54.Kxf6 (54.Kf5 Bg6+ 55.Kf4 Bb1) 54...Kg4 55.Bf4 Nc3 was a chance to free the
knight.

54.Ke7 Bd5?!
This is an unfortunate square for the bishop. 54...Bc4 had to be played with no clear path to
victory for White. That said with the knight on a2 the position will never be pleasant for Black.

55.Ne6

55.g4! h5 (or 55...h6 56.h5+ Kg7 57.Nf5+ Kh7 58.Kxf6) 56.Ne2! wins.

55...Bc4

55...Bf3 (Black must stop h4–h5) 56.Nf8+ Kg7 57.Nd7 f5 58.Ke6 h5, and while White has
chances there is no clear win in sight. Note how advancing the pawn to h5 avoids the
suffocation of the king that occurs in the game.

56.Nf8+

56.g4!

56...Kg7

No better is as after 56...Kf5 57.Nxh7 Kg4 58.Nxf6+ Kxg3 59.h5 Bd3 60.h6 Bb1 61.Kf7 Bd3
62.Kg7 Black is helpless to prevent White's knight coming to g6. 62...Bb1 63.Nh5+ Kg4 64.Nf4
Nc3 65.Ng6 Ne4 66.h7.

57.h5 Bb3

Or 57...h6 58.Ne6+ Kh7 59.Nf4 (59.Kxf6? Be2) 59...Bb3 60.g4 Bc4 61.Kxf6.

58.h6+ Kg8 59.Nd7 f5 60.Nf6+ Kh8 61.Kf8 Be6 62.Nd5 1–0

There is no defense to Bf4 and Be5 mate!

(Detroit News, Feb. 16, 1964)

Fischer’s exploitation of the trapped knight on a2, in view of the greatly reduced material, was
most instructive.

The following game is a smooth technical effort by Fischer, who occupies the hole on d5 (c4,
Nb1!, Nc3, Ncd5) a step ahead of Black.

(2) Caro-Kann Closed B10

Fischer - Jeff Richburg,
Detroit (simul), February 9, 1964

1.e4 c6 2.d3 d5 3.Nd2 e5 4.Ngf3 Nd7 5.g3 Ngf6 6.Bg2 g6 7.O-O dxe4 8.dxe4 Bg7 9.Qe2 O-
O 10.b3 Qc7 11.Ba3 Re8 12.Nc4 c5?!
This weakens the d5-square. See White’s 17th move.

13.Rfd1 Bf8 14.Nfd2 Rb8 15.Ne3 Nb6 16.c4 Bd7 17.Nb1!

The knight is heading for d5. Fischer’s knowledge of the structure e4 and c3 versus ...e5 and
...c5 is unparalleled. During his career he won many games with it both as White (usually via
the Ruy) and Black (King’s Indian). For one of the last examples of Bobby’s knack for finding
the right knight maneuver to crack the enemy position see the first game of his 1992 match with
Spassky where Ng3-f1-d2-b1, intending Na3, did the trick.

17...Rbd8 18.Nc3 a6 19.Rac1 Bc8 20.Ncd5 Nbxd5 21.cxd5 b5 22.Bxc5! Qb8

If 22...Bxc5 White has 23.b4 recovering the piece with much the better game.

23.Bxf8 Rxf8 24.Rc6 Ne8 25.Rdc1 Nd6 26.Qd2 Kg7 27.f4 f6 28.Qb2 exf4 29.gxf4 Kg8
30.e5 fxe5 31.fxe5 Nf5 32.Ng4 Kh8 33.e6+ Ng7 34.Rc7 1-0
(Detroit News, Feb. 16, 1964)
Boris Spassky (hand on chin) tied for first at Wellington 1988, one of his last tournament
successes.

The following game is an amusing miniature in which Fischer disposes of his opponent in
convincing fashion.

(3) King’s Gambit C30

Fischer - J. Jones
Detroit (simul), February 9, 1964

1.e4 e5 2.f4 f6? 3.fxe5 Nc6 4.d4 Be7 5.exf6 gxf6 6.Qh5+ Kf8 7.Bc4 Qe8 8.Bh6+ 1-0
(Detroit News, Feb. 16, 1964)
Bobby is pictured here receiving his prize from I’ve Got a Secret host Garry Moore.

The 1964 tour was for many American chess players outside the New York City area their first
and only chance to see Bobby Fischer in the flesh. The one other nationwide opportunity, albeit
of an electronic variety, was Bobby’s guest appearance on the show I’ve Got a Secret on March
26, 1958. No one was able to guess Bobby’s secret (being U.S. Chess Champion) and as a
result he won tickets on Sabena airlines for him and his sister Joan to travel to Moscow (via
Brussels) and Yugoslavia. The video can be seen at http://www.youtube.com/watch?
v=t7JcwOJADf8 .

We believe Bobby’s opponent in the following game is the same player who defeated Paul
Keres in the 1943 Estonian Championship.
(4) French Winawer C19
Fischer - Harry Kord
Detroit (simul), February 9, 1964

1.e4 e6 2.d4 d5 3.Nc3 Bb4

“I may be forced to admit that the Winawer is sound. But I doubt it! The defense is anti-
positional and weakens the kingside.” — Fischer, My 60 Memorable Games.

Keres played 4.a3 against Kord.

4.e5 Ne7 5.a3 Bxc3+ 6.bxc3 c5 7.a4 Qa5 8.Bd2 Nbc6 9.Nf3 c4!?

Conventional wisdom holds that Black should hold off on this move and maintain the tension in
the center, while developing with 9...Bd7. The text has had a bad reputation since the 1940s,
but is not an easy nut to crack.

10.Ng5

The classical way of answering 9... c4, but 10.g3 is probably equally good.

10...h6 11.Nh3 Bd7

Black can try to cut across White’s plan of Nh3-f4-h5 with 11...Ng6, but after 12.Be2, intending
13.Bh5, White has the advantage.

12.Nf4 O-O-O 13.Be2

This move is natural, but 13.Nh5, attacking g7 and restraining ...f7-f6, is more thematic. Black
might then try 13...Qc7, meeting 14.Nxg7 with 14...Nxe5. White should answer 13...Qc7 with
14.Be2 and a slight edge.

13...f6 14.exf6 gxf615.O-O e5 16. Nh5 Rdf8 17.Kh1 Kb8 18.Rab1 Ka8 19.Qc1 Qc7
20.Bxh6 Rf7 21.dxe5 R7h7 22.Bg7 Rxh5 23.Bxh5 Rxh5 24.Bxf6 Nxe5 25.Qf4 N7g6
26.Bxe5 Qxe5 27.Qxe5 Nxe5 28.a5 Kb8 29.h3 Kc7 30.Kg1 b5?

This allows White to get rid of his weak a-pawn. Better was 30...Nc6 31.Ra1 d4 with a
complicated struggle. White has three connected passed pawns on the kingside, but Black’s
minor pieces are very active.

31.axb6+ axb6 32. f4 Nf7 33.Rf3 b5 34.g4 Rh8 35.Kg2?

Asking for trouble on the diagonal. Bobby should have played 35.Rd1 Bc6 36.Re3.
35...Bc6 36.Re1 Nd6 37.Re7+?

This check leaves both of White’s rooks under attack. Instead, Fischer had to play 37.Kh2.

37...Kd8 38.Ra7 d4 39.f5

The last chance to continue fighting was 39.cxd4.

39...d3 40.cxd3 cxd3 41.Ra6 d2 42. Ra1 Bxf3+ 43.Kxf3 Rxh3+ 44.Kf4 Rxc3 45.Rad1 Nc4
0-1 (O.G.)

Rochester, February 15
+69, -1, =5

According to Chess Review (April 1964, page 103) the simultaneous exhibition by Bobby
Fischer in Rochester pretty much resembled the story told at Detroit. He faced 62 adversaries,
won 56 games, lost one, and drew five.

Editor’s Note: Because of the fact that Bobby let players jump in after others lost there are
conflicting accounts of his final number of wins. Bob Nasiff in his history of Syracuse chess has
it +59,-1,=5; the Rochester paper +55,-1,=5; the results given in Profile of a Prodigy for
exhibitions in Rochester, NY and Rochester, MN are almost certainly for the same event. We’ve
decided to go with the score of +69,-1,=5 as given by Donald Reithel, who was there as a
player and who stayed for the duration of the event.

Bobby carefully studies a position while National Master Erich Marchand keeps a close eye on
things. (Photo courtesy of Shelby Lohrman)

A Woman is Just a Pawn, Bound to Lose in World of Chess,

Champion Bobby Fischer Says

by Earl Caldwell

In the wide world of chess, a woman is bound to be a loser, according to Bobby Fischer, a
bona fide winner.

And Fischer is in a position to know. He’s the young man who six years ago, at the age of 14,
won the first of a half-dozen U.S. chess championships.

Not only that, the boyish-looking blond talks about the current world chess champion as though
he were just a cut above the 60 opponents he took on last night in a visit to Rochester. “Chess,”
Fischer says, “is something that is out of a woman’s line.” He listed a number of reasons but
ended up putting it like this: “A woman’s place is in the home and chess is a game where they
just can’t excel.”

About World Champ Tigran Petrosian, Fischer doesn’t waste any words. “I think I can take
him.” This may be something of a compliment because Fischer is a fellow who talks about
“smashing” opponents.

Confident Fischer is, but he’s a realist, too, and says it will be some time before he gets a crack
at the champ. Again, he puts it bluntly: “The Russians have the title and they are not anxious to
lose it.”

Since winning his first title back in 1958, the slightly-built New Yorker has alternately been
tabbed as being a genius and highly temperamental. He brushes the genius bit off, saying he just
has the “natural skill” for chess. He also lets it be known that he works at it, almost constantly,
but adds that he still enjoys playing. As for his temper, he attributes this to the press: “Some
reporter had his story written before he talked to me.”

Bobby was in Rochester first to lecture and then take on 50 players. The exhibition was
sponsored by Kodak Park Recreation Association. However, Fischer proved such an attraction
that 60 players brought their chess boards and they weren’t exactly patsies. Fischer’s only loss
of the evening was to Greg Grant, 17-year-old high school pupil from Jamesville, near
Syracuse. Five draws were achieved by Dr. Thomas Noonan, Clarence Hurtubuse, Gerry
Lubberts, Donald Reithel and Dr. Edwin Lefferts. (Rochester Democrat and Chronicle,
February 16, 1964)

Donald Reithel had this to say about Bobby and the exhibition in Rochester: “In 1955 I played
Bobby in postal chess — a prize tourney in Chess Review. I remember him as a typical
American kid: Brooklyn Dodger fan, somewhat opinionated about school and somewhat
desirous to exchange ideas and thoughts. He printed his name in lower case letters, ‘bobby
fischer.’ He didn’t finish the event because he was starting to play over-the-board tournaments.
He asked what it would take to be World Champion and he wrote that he one day would be! He
also liked listening to the radio and religiously was reading and studying the Bible.

“Bobby hit the news in Chess Review playing chess with polio patients confined to iron lung
machines and giving simultaneous exhibitions to kids’ groups. Soon he was scoring points in
tournaments and began to win prizes and titles. Fischer attracted the news media, appearing on
I’ve Got A Secret. He had personality and just about everything he did made news.
Unfortunately news reporters sometimes misquoted him or treated him as an oddity — having
only chess as an interest — and this was not true. Growing up he enjoyed things like all kids
do.

“In 1964 Bobby came to Rochester, NY, and at Kodak Recreation Center took on 50 boards.
Many more wanted to play and Bobby said he would play 25 more as games finished. Bobby
scored better than 90 percent against many of the region’s best players in 3½ hours! What a
brilliant performance! 75 games! He was tired. And on top of that before the simul he had given
a great lecture.”
(5) Sicilian Sozin B87
Fischer - Donald Reithel
Rochester (simul), February 15, 1964

1.e4 c5 2.Nf3 d6 3.d4 cxd4 4.Nxd4 Nf6 5.Nc3 a6 6.Bc4 e6 7.Bb3 Be7 8.f4 b5 9.e5 dxe5
10.fxe5 Nd5?!

Rather than acquiesce to the weak pawn Black should play 10...Nd7 meeting 11.Bxe6 with
11...Nxe5, when White was only slightly better in Sax-Nunn, London 1980, after 12.Bxc8 Qxc8
13.Bf4 Nbc6 14.Nxc6 Nxc6 15.O-O.

11.Nxd5 exd5 12.Qf3 O-O

For 12...Be6 see Fischer-Sivitz, Pittsburgh, played exactly one month later, Game 38.

13.Bxd5 Ra7 14.O-O Bc5 15.c3 Be6 16.Be4 Rd7 17.Be3 Qc7

18.Nxe6 fxe6 19.Qh3 Bxe3+ 20.Qxe3 Rxf1+ 21.Rxf1 Qa7 22.Qxa7 Rxa7 23.Rd1 Nd7
24.Rd6 Kf7 25.Bc2 Nxe5 26.Bb3 Nc4 27.Rc6 Nxb2 28.Rxe6 Nc4 29.Rc6 Ke7 30.Bxc4 bxc4
31.Rxc4 Rb7 32.Ra4 Rb6 33.Kf2 Rb2+ 34.Kf3 Rc2 35.c4 g5 36.Rxa6 Rxc4 37.a4 Kf7 38.a5
Rf4+ 39.Ke3 Ra4 40.Ra8 Kg7 41.a6 h5 42.a7 g4 43.Kd3 Kh7 44.Kc3 Kg7 45.Kb3 Ra6
46.Kb4 Ra1 47.Kc5 Ra2 48.Kd6 Ra3 49.Ke5 Ra4 50.Kf5 Ra5+ 51.Kf4 Ra4+ 52.Kg5 Ra5+
53.Kh4 Kh7 54.g3 Kg7 55.Rb8 Rxa7 56.Kxh5 Ra2 57.Rb7+ Kf6 58.Rb6+ Kf5 59.Rb5+ Kf6
60.Kxg4 Rxh2 61.Rb6+ Kf7 62.Kg5 Ra2 Draw (O.G.)

Draw offered immediately by Fischer and I accepted. What an end to an exciting evening! This
was about the last game to finish. He kindly smiled and signed my scoresheet, R. Fischer, “Well
played — good game.”

Bobby in action in Rochester. (Photo courtesy of Shelby Lohrman)

Here is Fischer’s sole loss in Rochester. It comes from NM Robert Nasiff’s monograph on
Syracuse chess history.

(6) French Burn C11

Fischer – Greg Grant
Rochester (simul), February 15, 1964

1.e4 e6 2.d4 d5 3.Nc3 Nf6 4.Bg5 dxe4 5.Nxe4 Be7 6.Bxf6 Bxf6 7.Nf3 Bd7 8.c3 Bc6 9.Qc2
g6 10.O-O-O Nd7 11.h4 Bxe4 12.Qxe4 c6 13.h5 Qc7 14.g4 O-O-O 15.g5 Be7 16.Bc4 Nb6
17.Bb3 Nd5 18.Rdg1 Qf4+

Grant wins a pawn.

19.Qxf4 Nxf4

20.Rg4??

This gross blunder is uncharacteristic of Fischer’s play in simuls.

21...Nd3+ 21.Kc2 Nxf2 22.Rgg1 Nxh1 23.Rxh1 Bd6 24.Kd3 c5 25.d5 b5 26.Ke4 c4 27.Bc2
Rhe8 28.hxg6 hxg6 29.Rh7 Re7 30.Nd4?? f5+ 0-1
 Waltham, February 20
+39, -0, =1
While researching the first edition of A Legend on the Road we were unable to pin down the
details of Bobby’s visit to Brandeis University in Waltham, Massachusetts. Since then, two
participants in the event, George Colman and Richard Lunenfeld, have stepped forward and
helped fill in the gaps.

The exhibition, sponsored by the university and organized by Lunenfeld, was held on February
20. Bobby scored 39 wins and one draw against the 40-player field composed primarily of
Brandeis students. Among his victims was NM Robin Ault. The two had played in the 1959/60
Championship (as U.S. Junior Champion, Ault was a seed); so it was a little unusual for Ault to
be taking a board at Brandeis. Even a little more unusual was that the top five players (Ault
was first board) on the university chess team had the first move against Bobby! Lunenfeld
asked Fischer if some of the players could have White, and Bobby agreed, after a little
reflection, to five boards.

Ault lost quickly after getting a bad opening, but Lunenfeld used the first move to good
advantage. Aided by an opening surprise, he was slightly better in the early middlegame and
lost his way only towards the end of the game.

(7) Sicilian B54

Richard Lunenfeld – Fischer
Waltham (simul), February 20, 1964

1.e4 c5 2.Nf3 d6 3.d4 cxd4 4.Nxd4 Nf6 5.Bc4?!

According to Lunenfeld, this rare gambit, which isn’t given in any standard reference work,
was accidentally played by U.S. Women’s champion Lisa Lane a few years before this game.

5...Nxe4 6.Qh5

This is stronger than Lane’s try. Now Bobby thought for a few minutes.

6...e6 7.Bxe6!?

Tricky, but 7.Bb5+ was probably a better try.

7...Bxe6 8.Nxe6 Qe7 9.O-O Qxe6 10.Re1 Be7?

Black could have gained an edge with 10...d5, making White work to recover the piece. Now
Lunenfeld obtains a small advantage.

11.Qb5+ Qd7 12.Qxd7+ Nxd7 13. Rxe4 Nf6 14.Re2 Kd7 15.Nc3 Rhc8 16.Bg5 Ng8
17.Bf4!?

White would maintain his small edge with 17.Bxe7, but he starts to drift, as Bobby, having
already finished off many opponents, comes around faster and faster.

17...Rc4 18.Bg3 Rac8 19.Rd1 R8c6 20.Red2 Nf6 21.Rd4 Nh5 22.Rxc4

White should save his bishop either here, or on the next move, with 22. Be5 or 23.Be5.

22...Rxc4 23.Rd2? Nxg3

Bobby was always a masterful exponent of the rook-and-bishop-vs.-rook-and-knight ending.

24.hxg3 Bg5

The text tries to force weaknesses in White’s position.

25.f4 Bf6 26.Nd1 b5

Black grabs space on the queenside, while White can only sit.

27.Kf2 b4 28.Ke3 a5 29.Kd3 Rc5 30.Ke4 h5

Fischer fixes the white pawns on f4 and g3 as targets.

31.c3?

White finally cracks in a difficult position. The text not only loses a pawn, but violates the
principle against opening lines on the side of the board where one stands worse.
31...bxc3 32.bxc3 Bxc3 33.Rc2 Bb4 34.Rxc5 dxc5 35.Kd5 Be1 36.Kxc5 Ke6 37.Kb5 Bxg3
38.Kxa5 Bxf4 39.Kb6 g5 40.a4 h4 41.a5 Bh2 42. a6 Bg1+ 43.Kb7 g4 44.a7 Bxa7 45. Kxa7
f5 46.Kb6 Ke5 47.Kb5 Kd4 48.Kc6 f4 49.Nf2 h3 50.gxh3 g3 0-1

There has always been a question where the following game between Bobby and the well-
known bridge expert Jeff Rubens was played with the guess being New York City. Now, thanks
to Mr. Rubens, we have the answer.

"I did play against Fischer in a simultaneous at Brandeis University. I didn't play at all well. In
fact, it was at the end of my chess "career"--actually the last game I played. I did better the
previous year against Reshevsky; I had a won game but the rules were that the opponents were
required to play within a few seconds after he was ready and had moved to the table, and after
he had beaten everyone else I was required to play blitz and couldn't handle it.

I did play for Stuyvesant High School on a team with James Gore, and we played on weekends
at either the Manhattan or Marshall, but I forget which. I was never a member of either or of
any similar club and never played in a tournament except in school competition (where I did
play against some future masters)."

(8) French Winawer C15

Fischer – Jeff Rubens
Waltham (simul), February 20, 1964

1.e4 e6 2.d4 d5 3.Nc3 Bb4 4.a3

Fischer normally played 4.e5, but he did play the text from time to time. His record in
tournament games with it was two wins, one loss and one draw.

4...Bxc3+ 5.bxc3 c5

This move is uncommon, but not that bad. Petrosian, Vaganian and Furman have all played it.

6.Qg4

Kholmov-Furman, Tbilisi 1959, continued 6.exd5 exd5 7.dxc5, trying to open the position for
the bishops.

6...Ne7

Here 6...Nf6, along the lines of Semenova-Khugashvili, USSR 1969, is more aggressive, but
the text leads to a good position.

7.Qxg7 Rg8 8.Qxh7 Qc7 9.Nf3 cxd4 10.Bb5+ Bd7 11.Bxd7+ Nxd7 12.O-O Nf6 13.Qh4
Nxe4 14.Bf4 Qxc3 15.Ne5 Nf5 16.Qh7 O-O-O

Taking time out to defend f7 with 16...Rf8 makes sense, especially as it threatens 17...Nf6,
which would force the queens off.
17.Qxf7 Rxg2+??

Hallucinating. Better was 17...Rge8 with a reasonable game.

18.Kxg2 Nh4+ 19.Kg1 Qh3 20.Qg7 Nf6

Black threatens 21...Rg8 and hopes to drive the queen away from the defense of g2. However,
in trying to generate threats against Fischer’s king, Black has been negligent in watching out for
the safety of his own.

21.Nc6!

This threatens 22.Nxa7 mate and 22.Qc7 mate.

21...Nf3+

Black can try the tricky 21...e5, but Bobby has an adequate defense in 22.Nxd8 exf4 23.f3.

22.Kh1 e5 23.Ne7+ 1-0

Bobby’s completely in control: 23...Kb8 24.Qxf6 exf4 25.Nc6+ Kc7 26.Qxd8+ Kxc6 27.Qf6+
Kd7 28.Qxf4 wins. (New York Times, October 11, 1971)

Montreal, Feb. 23-24

+46, -5, =4 and +10, -0, =0

League Adjourns To Watch Fischer

by Moe Moss

Bobby Fischer arrived here yesterday to participate in two simultaneous exhibitions tomorrow
afternoon and Monday night. In order that participants in the current city tournaments may have
an opportunity to play against Fischer or to watch the proceedings, all Montreal Chess League
games are postponed until next week.

Reader William B. Wilson of Detroit writes: “Last week, young Bobby Fischer put on a
marvelous display here in a simultaneous exhibition. There were 51 players, including several
masters and many experts, yet he won 47, drew two and lost only two games. He finished all
the games in less than five hours, averaging six minutes per game! There were over 150
spectators and all tickets were sold out a week in advance.”

A similar story comes from Bob Lee of New York: “Bobby has just returned from Rochester,
winning 56, drawing five and losing one. He plays as though he were strolling along, stopping
for only a couple of seconds at a board and then repeating the action at the next one. It is not
that he is disdainful of his opponent’s play, but just that he is so sure of his own. You will see
the same thing when he plays in Canada.”

Play will start tomorrow at 2:30 p.m. in the Student Common Room at Sir George Williams
University, 1435 Drummond Street. Tickets have been sent to those with reservations, but a few
places are still available. Sets, boards and score pads — the latter with the compliments of
Office Affiliated Services Limited — will be provided. Players are requested to be at their
tables by 2:15 so that the rules may be announced and the exhibition started at 2:30. Playing
fee, $5 and the spectator fee, $1.

There will be two prizes for those who win or draw against Fischer: A year’s subscription to
American Chess Quarterly, and the choice of a chess book from the titles on display at the two
exhibitions.

Monday evening Fischer will play against 10 experts (maximum) with clocks. Readers may
recall that a few months ago, Gligoric conducted a clock exhibition at the Boulevard Chess
Club against eight experts and won every game. It would be interesting to see whether Fischer
equals that record. So far, five of the top Montreal players have reserved boards for the
exhibition, these being: Cayford, Garelick, Gersho, Kemper, and Witt.

The clock exhibition is scheduled for 7 p.m. Monday at the Jewish Public Library, 120 Mount
Royal Avenue West (corner Esplanade). Playing fee is $15.00 and the spectator fee $1.00.

Fischer will probably be at the Boulevard Chess Club, 112 St. Joseph Boulevard West tonight,
engaging in speed play. (Montreal Star, Feb. 22, 1964)

Bobby Fischer tackled 55 players simultaneously in Montreal, defeating 46, drawing with four
and losing to five. Winners were H. Feldman, Paul-Emile Jacob, E. D. Stockton, I. Zalys and
Henry V. Zizys. Draws were credited to George W. Hamilton, M. Cohen, Ernst Damian and
George Gerlei. The next evening Fischer conducted ten games with clocks and won them all
including games with most of the previous day’s winners. Sunday’s exhibition took three hours;
Monday’s 3½ hours. (Canadian Chess Chat, March 1964)

Bobby Fischer Dismisses Montreal

by Raymond Heard

“I ain’t giving no interviews.”

With these words, Bobby Fischer, the cocky boy wonder of the chess world, made it clear last
night that he has joined the ranks of celebrities who hate reporters.

The 20-year-old kid from Brooklyn who has won the United States championship six times,
sulked his way into Montreal at the weekend to meet Canadian chess addicts in a series of
matches.

Mr. Fischer lived up to his reputation for being a one-track mastermind who eats, sleeps and
breathes chess. No, he did not want to see the sights of Montreal. No, he didn’t want to meet
interesting people. He just wanted to play chess.

So for five hours yesterday afternoon Bobby Fischer stalked around a crowded room in Sir
George Williams University playing 56 [sic] people simultaneously. With one hand in his coat
pocket and the other twirling a rubber band, he made an average of a move every six seconds.

When it was all over, five local players had beaten Bobby, and three [sic] had tied.

Why do reporters who approach him get the brush-off? The people who are organizing Mr.
Fischer’s Quebec tour say that he believes news media have embarrassed him by asking
political questions and wanting to know all about his private life. (For instance, Mr. Fischer
has been widely quoted as saying that the reason why he lost games to the Russian master
Tigran Petrosian is because the Communists rig matches.) [Editor’s Note: Considering the
inane questions Fischer had to deal with from the press and their typical distortion of facts, it’s
surprising he had anything to do with them at all. Heard, in just a few paragraphs, has managed
to make a number of errors: the total number of players in the exhibition, the final result, and the
year of Fischer’s last visit to Montreal.]

This is Bobby Fischer’s second visit to Montreal. He was last here when he was 13.

On arriving on Saturday, Mr. Fischer astounded his hosts by recalling exactly how he lost a
match to a Montrealer seven years ago. [Editor’s Note: Fischer’s appearance in the 1956
Canadian Open was eight years before.]

Mr. Fischer is so addicted to chess that he carries a pocket chess set wherever he goes. He
fiddles with the set whenever he has a spare moment.

Chess enthusiasts call Bobby Fischer “the Mozart of chess.” He has earned a comfortable
living at it for six years. He is notorious for his anti-social remarks.

“High school,” he announced after he had flunked school, “is for dumb bunnies. The teachers
are all nitwits. Why do I need a diploma to play chess?”

After growling at a Montreal Star reporter who sought an interview yesterday, Mr. Fischer was
reminded that he had to go to CBC to tape a show.

“I’ll play chess for them on television,” he said. “But I’m not going to give an interview.” After
a moment’s reflection, he added: “I’ll answer questions only if they submit them in writing.”
(Montreal Gazette, February 24, 1964)

(9) King’s Gambit C33

Fischer - Ignas Zalys
Montreal (Simul), February 23, 1964

1.e4 e5 2.f4 exf4 3.Bc4 Nf6 4.Nc3 c6 5.Bb3 d5 6.exd5 cxd5 7.d4 Bd6 8.Nge2 f3 9.gxf3 Nh5
10.Be3 Bb4?

The Lithuanian born Zalys, who moved to Canada in 1947, was a first-rate correspondence
player for over half a century. Here he sees his d-pawn is attacked, but rather than waste
valuable time by moving his bishop a second time to protect it, Zalys would have done better to
continue in gambit fashion with 10...0–0 11.Bxd5 Re8 12.Qd3 Nc6 13.0–0–0 Nb4 with equal
chances.

11.a3 Ba5 12.Qd3 a6 13.0–0–0 Be6 14.Ng3?!

14.Rhg1! 0–0 15.Rg5 Nf6 16.Rdg1 g6 17.Nf4 was crushing.

14...Nxg3 15.hxg3 h6 16.f4 Bxc3 17.Qxc3?!

Houdini points out Fischer could have maintained his advantage with the clever intermezzo
17.f5!. White has the makings of a promising attack, for example 17... Bd7 18.Qxc3 0–0
(18...Bxf5 19.Rh5 Be6 20.Bxd5! Bxd5 21.Re5+) 19.g4.

17...Nd7 18.g4

18.Qd3 Qf6 19.Rde1 0–0 20.Rh5 intending f5 was more precise.

18...Bxg4 19.Rdg1 Nf6 20.Bf2 Ne4 21.Qb4?

The position is very sharp and White intends to do everything in his power to attack Black's
king while it is in the center. To that end 21.Qe3 f5 22.Rxg4!? fxg4 23.Rh5 is very interesting,
but ultimately seems to fall short after 23...g5 24.fxg5 Rf8 25.gxh6 Rxf2 26.Kb1 Rf3 27.Qe2
(after 27.h7 Rxe3 28.h8Q+ Kd7 Black's extra rook decides things) 27...Kd7 28.Bxd5 Ng3!
29.Qe6+ Kc7 30.Bxf3 Nxh5 31.Bxg4 Nf6 32.Qc4+ Kb8 and Black consolidates - Houdini.

21...Qd7

21...Nxf2 22.Qe1+ Be6 23.Qxf2 Qf6 was safer.

22.Bh4?

22.Rxg4 had to be played. After 22...Qxg4 23.Bxd5 Qxf4+ 24.Kb1 Black can easily go wrong
with either 24...Nxf2 25.Re1+ or 24...Qxf2 25.Bxb7. Correct is 24...Nd6 25.Re1+ Kd7
26.Qa4+ b5 27.Bc6+ Kc8 (27...Kxc6 28.d5+) 28.Qb4 Qxf2 29.Bxa8 Kd7 which Houdini
assesses as equal.

22...a5 23.Qe1 f5 24.Kb1 b5 25.Rg3 h5 26.Bg5 Kf7 27.Re3 Rhe8 28.c3?

28.Bh4 was more stubborn but after 28...Kg8 Zalys is in control.

28...Ra6!

This is the start of a nice maneuver to finish Fischer off.

29.Bc2 Rae6 30.Ka1

There is no answer as now 30.Bh4 is met by 30...Nxc3+.

30...Nxg5 0–1 (O.G.)

(10) Caro-Kann B18

Fischer - Phil de Gruchy
Montreal (simul), February 23, 1964

1.e4 c6 2.d4 d5 3.Nc3 dxe4 4.Nxe4 Bf5 5.Nc5

Like Alekhine, Fischer liked to use exhibitions as proving grounds for some of his opening
ideas. The rare 5.Nc5!? was one line that got lots of tests on the tour. The Evans Gambit was
another. For more on 5.Nc5!? see game 196 vs. Tony Mantia from the Columbus exhibition.

5...b6 6.Na6? Nxa6 7.Bxa6 Qc7

7…Qd5! is the reason 6.Nb3 is preferred.

8.Qf3 b5 9.Bd2 Qb6 10.Qxf5 e6 11.Qd3 Qxa6 12.a4 Nf6 13.Nf3 Be7 14.O-O Qb7 15.axb5
cxb5

Here 15...Qxb5 would have been met by 16.Qxb5 cxb5 17.Ra5 a6 17.Rfa1, winning a pawn
(Horowitz).

16.Ra5 a6 17.Rfa1 O-O 18.Bg5 Bb4 19.Bxf6 gxf6

If 19...Bxa5 then 20.Ng5 wins two pieces for a rook.

20.R5a2 Kh8 21.c3 Be7 22.Nd2 Rg8 23.Qf3 Qb6 24.g3 f5 25.b4!

Bobby plans to bring the knight to c5 with strong effect.

25...Bg5 26.Nb3 Be7 27.Nc5 Ra7 28.Kg2 Rga8 29.Nd7 Qc7 30.Ne5 Bd6 31.Nc6 Rb7
32.Rxa6 Rxa6 33.Rxa6 Rb6 34.Rxb6 Qxb6 35.d5 Kg7 36.dxe6 fxe6 37.Nd4 Be5 38.Qe3
Bxd4 39.Qxd4+ Qxd4 40.cxd4 Kf6 41.Kf3 e5 42.dxe5+ Kxe5 43.Ke3 Kd5 44.Kd3 h5 45.f4
Kc6 46.Kd4 Kd6 47.h3 1-0
(New York Times, Mar. 19, 1964)

(11) Vienna C26

Fischer - Giles Jobin
Montreal (simul), February 23, 1964

1.e4 e5 2.Nc3 Nf6 3.g3 d5 4.exd5 Nxd5 5.Qe2!?

This is a novelty that has escaped the attention of theory. White normally plays 5.Bg2. On
5.Nge2, Tartakower analyzed 5...Bg4 6.Bg2 Nxc3 7.bxc3 Nc6 8.d4 Qf6 as clearly better for
Black.

5...f6?!

The more natural way to defend the e-pawn is by 5...Nc6. One trick behind 5.Qe2 is that
5...Nc6 6.Bg2 Nxc3? is met by 7.Bxc6+! bxc6 8. Qxe5+, winning a pawn. However, Black has
a much stronger continuation in 6...Ndb4!. This move attacks c2 and threatens ...Nd4.

6.Bg2 Nxc3 7.bxc3 Be7 8.Nf3 Nd7 9.d4 O-O 10.O-O Bd6 11.c4 exd4 12. Nxd4 Nc5 13.Ba3
c6?!

This weakens Jobin’s position. A more solid continuation was 13...Re8 14.Qf3 Qe7.

14.Rad1 Qc7 15.Nb3 b6 16.Qd2 Be7 17.Nxc5 bxc5 18.Qe3 Bf5 19. Bxc5 Rfe8 20.Bxe7
Rxe7 21.Qc5 Bxc2 22.Rd2 Bg6 23.Bxc6!?

The mundane 23.Qxc6 was probably more effective. The text allows for some flashy tactics,
but unnecessarily complicates.

23... Re6

It looks like Black is winning material, but Fischer has seen further.

24.Rd6!

A nice shot by Bobby. Now 24... Rxd6?? is met by 25.Bd5+, winning Black’s queen, or
24...Qxd6 25.Qxd6 Rxd6 26.Bxa8.

24...Rae8 25.Bxe8 Qxc5 26.Rxe6 Bf5?

The immediate 26...Qxc4 is better.

27.Re3 Qxc4 28.Rfe1?!

The more patient 28.a3, preserving the pawn, was the right way to go.

28...Qxa2 29.Re7 Bg6 30.Bxg6 hxg6 31.Rb7 a5 32.h4 a4??

Jobin completely loses his sense of danger. He had chances to draw with 32...Kh7, meeting
33.Ree7 with 33... Qa1+ 34.Kg2 f5 and 33.Re8 with 33...g5 34.h5 g4.

33.Re8+ Kh7 34.Rbb8

The black king is caught in a mating net.

34...g5 35.h5 g6 36.Re7+ 1-0

Fischer gave only two clock exhibitions during his tour. All the games from Davis have been
preserved, but only two full game scores have been saved from Montreal. Initially, we thought
that the Montreal clock simul might be a treasure chest of Fischer gems. Advance publicity
suggested the field would be strong and Bobby figured to be out for blood after a sub-par result
the night before (+46 -5 =4) but conversations with two of the participants have not borne this
out.

Denis Allan and Tony Cayford both remember the strength of the players being in the 1700-
2100 range, as some masters had decided not to play at the last moment. Cayford, who was then
an expert, but later became one of America’s top correspondence players, no longer has his
game score, but clearly remembers that his game with Bobby was the last to finish; the time
control was 40 moves in 2 hours.

The story of Fischer’s game with Denis Allan is more intriguing. Today, Allan is a strong
master who represented Canada in the 1987 Interzonal in Szirak, Hungary, but back in 1964 he
was an expert. When Bobby published the following game in 1964, he listed Black as
“Opponent,” and subsequent Fischer game anthologies have used “N.N.” It seems likely that the
organizers didn’t preserve a record of the games and that Bobby just relied on memory. Now
we know Black’s real identity!
FM Dennis Allan is one of only four Canadians to play in their national championships in four
decades (1960s to 1990s). He represented Canada in the 1968, 1980 and 1986 Olympiads as
well as the 1987 Interzonal in Szirak.

Denis Allan writes:

Yes, I am indeed “N.N.” I have your book A Legend on the Road which I bought, because it
includes this game, which seems to be surfacing in various places, such as the November 1996
issue of Chess.

After the simul, I was in Ben’s Delicatessen (an institution in Montreal) with Fischer, Leslie
Witt and Moe Moss, a chess columnist who was involved in the organization of the Montreal
visit. We looked briefly at the game and Fischer commented that 10...e4 was a new move. It
certainly was to me … I had little knowledge of the Two Knights at that time, other than that
...b5 and ...Nd4 were playable. Consequently, I had used a great deal of time before . . . playing
[13]...Nf4, which I did fairly quickly, as it seemed obvious and strong.

I don’t recall looking at the game after and lost the scoresheet. Several times when I lived in
Toronto in the late sixties, an old-timer from Montreal would say to me, “Allan, you missed a
win in that game with Fischer,” and I would say, “No, we looked at it afterward in the
restaurant and if there was a win for Black, we would have seen it.” In 1974, while killing
time at the St. Catharine’s library while my car was being fixed, I came across a book with all
of Fischer’s known games, and was surprised to see a section of about 30 exhibition games at
the end, the first one being my game, and with a diagram showing the missed win. To my
knowledge, no one had the score of the game. Later, I saw it in Estrin’s book in Russian on the
Two Knights, with comments attributed to Fischer.

One of the things I remember Fischer saying while he was in Montreal was “you can learn
something from any patzer.” Obviously, this was a case in point, where the famous player
studies and learns from a game he plays in a simul, while the patzer, who should treasure the
experience, forgets it!

Incidentally, Witt did not play in the clock simul — there may have been a place reserved
which he gave to me, as I had just recently arrived in Montreal, but I don’t remember. Fischer
did give an interview on a youth television program his first day in Montreal, which culminated
with his playing a two-minute game against Witt. Fischer played 4...Qh4 against the Scotch and
got a winning position, but Witt was an excellent speed player, certainly one of the best in
Canada then, and he won the game.

I remember they played about a dozen five-minute games one night before Witt eventually won
one. They played for some small amount, with Fischer giving money odds, I think 3 to 1. I
recall him saying that money odds were all he would give — that material or time odds
changed the nature of the game, which he would not do.

This game appeared with in-depth notes by Fischer in the Spring 1964 issue of the American
Chess Quarterly.

(12) Two Knights C57

Fischer – Denis Allan
Montreal (clock simul), Feb. 24, 1964

1.e4 e5 2.Nf3 Nc6 3.Bc4 Nf6 4. Ng5 d5

Here Fischer notes “More usual is 4...Qe7? 5. Bxf7+ Kd8 6.Bb3 h6? 7.Nf7+ and 8.Nxh8 — in
simultaneous exhibitions, at least!”

5.exd5 Nd4

“After 5...Nxd5 6.d4! and White already practically has a won game! I guess I must have won,
at the very least, 100 games or so with this line on my first chess tour, which took me across
Canada and the United States. The move actually played is Ulvestad’s Gambit — sharp but
unsound.” — Fischer.

Editors: Technically, 5...Nd4 is the Fritz variation, named after German player Alexander Fritz
(1857-1932). According to The Oxford Companion to Chess, Fritz suggested it to Carl
Schlechter, who analyzed it in the Deutsche Schachzeitung in 1904. The Ulvestad variation
actually starts with 5...b5, but the two lines can easily transpose.
Olaf Ulvestad, a first-rate analyst, established his reputation with his Chess Charts in 1941.
The highlight of his career was splitting a pair of games with David Bronstein in the 1946
USA-USSR match. For the next 45 years, he divided his time between the Pacific Northwest
(Washington, Oregon and British Columbia) and Europe, pursuing his twin passions of chess
and music. Ulvestad passed away in Retsil, Washington, on August 24, 2000.

Players looking for a sharp, albeit not airtight, answer to White’s main line of the Two Knights
may wish to consider the following variation: 5... Na5 6.Bb5+ c6 7.dxc6 bxc6 8.Be2 h6 9.Nf3
(Bobby would, of course, play 9.Nh3.) 9...e4 10.Ne5 Qd4 (The games of NM William Schill of
Seattle first brought this line to our attention. Spassky’s old trainer Vladimir Zak has
recommended it.) 11.f4 Bc5 12.Rf1 Qd8 (getting out of the way of c3 and b4 and preparing to
make use of the weakened d8-h4 diagonal) 13.c3.

The usual verdict is that the second player must grovel, but, if he is prepared to sacrifice a
piece for a few pawns, a loose white king and development, interesting things may happen. One
encouraging example is Formenko-Radchenko, USSR 1967, which saw Black win with a
beautiful sacrificial attack: 13...Nd5 14.Qa4 (played not so much to attack, as to give the king
the d1-square) 14...O-O 15.b4 Qh4+ 16. Kd1 Rd8 17.Kc2 Bf5 18.bxc5 e3+ 19. Kb2 Rdb8+
20.Ka3 Qd8 21.Bb2 exd2 22.Rd1 Bc2! 23.Qxc2 Nb3! 24.Nc4 Nxa1 25.Qxd2 Qb6 0-1.

White can also try 13.d4 which got an outing in Mednis-van Oosterom, Antwerp 1955. The
battle between the future GM and future multi-millionaire chess patron saw the former emerge
with a winning advantage after 13...Bb6 14.c3 Nd5 15.Kf2! O-O 16. Kg1 c5 17.dxc5 Bxc5+
18.Kh1 Be3? 19.b4!, as 19...Bxc1 is met by 20. Qxc1 Nb7 21.Rd1, with the unstoppable threat
of 22.c4. Van Oosterom would later go on to own the largest software company in his native
Holland. He now lives in Monaco where he has sponsored numerous events.

Edmar Mednis (left) and Bernard Zuckerman prepare in different ways for the start of their
game at the Marshall Chess Club. (Photo by Beth Cassidy)
6.c3 b5 7.Bf1 Nxd5 8.cxd4

The main line is 8.Ne4.

8...Qxg5 9.Bxb5+ Kd8 10.Qf3 e4?

Fischer gives this move an exclamation mark, praising it for drawing the white queen out into
the open where it will be a target for Black’s better developed pieces. This assessment was
made at a time when a strong resource for White had yet to be discovered.

A better try is 10...Bb7, which led to Fischer’s shortest loss on the tour after 11.O-O (11.Nc3 is
also quite playable) 11...exd4 (11...Rb8 12.Qg3!? Qxg3 13.hxg3 exd4 was equal in Shabalov-
A. Ivanov, U.S. Championship 1996) 12.Qxf7?? (12. d3 is better for White according to
Houdini) 12...Nf6 0-1, Fischer-R. Burger, San Francisco 1964. (See game 138)

Anyone can blunder in a simul. Bob Burger, a world class problemist, was one of the better
players in California at the time and one of the strongest players Bobby faced on the tour.

Fischer indirectly includes this game in his commentary to Black’s tenth move: “By this
dynamic move Black gives up a second pawn in order to give his pieces maximum scope, and
also he hopes to catch White off guard by drawing the queen out into the open. 10...Bb7 would
be weaker, but it contained a cute trap, i.e., 11.O-O exd4 and if White is naive enough to go
Pawn-grabbing — 12.Qxf7 (11. d3 is correct) 12...Nf6; and he loses a piece.”

11.Qxe4 Bd6 12.O-O Bb7

Note the ominous portent of four black pieces ready to explode in White’s face! As an old
chess friend once explained to me, “Three pieces are a mate — but four pieces!”

13.d3?

According to Fischer, the best try was 13.Re1!, forcing ...c6 and, in so doing, taking some of the
pressure off White’s position by closing the diagonal. Bobby notes that 13.Nc3 was well met
by 13...Rb8, when, after 14. d3 Qh5, Black would win a piece.
13...Nf4?

Brilliant! Beautiful! The only trouble is that it loses! With 13...Bxh2+!! Allan could have pulled
off a neat win. 14. Kxh2 (14.Kh1 Bf4! leads to a smothered mate) 14…Nf4! 15.Bxf4 (not
15.Qxb7?, when 15…Qh4+ 16.Kg1 Ne2 mates) 15...Qh4+ 16.Kg1 Bxe4 17. dxe4 Qxf4 and
White can play it out to the bitter end if he cares to, since he does have two pieces for the
queen, but it’s a lost cause.

Houdini thinks Bobby was unduly pessimistic and that 17.Bxf4 (instead of 17.dxe4) 17…Qh5
18.Nc3 Bb7 19.Rfe1 Black is only slightly better. White has two pieces and a pawn for the
queen. More importantly he threatens to activate his rooks with Re1 and Rae1 when all his
pieces are working. Black will have a hard time coordinating his forces and his king is
partially exposed.

14.Bxf4

Black’s point was that after 14.Qxb7, he had at least a perpetual by 14...Nh3+ 15.Kh1 Nxf2+!,
etc.

14...Qxb5 15.d5! Qxb2 16.Bxd6 cxd6 17.Re1! Qf6

Black should have tried to head for an endgame with 17...Qe5.

18.Nc3 Rc8 19.Qb4!

Fischer is the master alchemist who knows how to transform his advantage. Here he allows
simplification with 19...Rxc3 20.Qxb7 to get at Black’s king.

19... Re8? 20.Qa5+

This wins at least the exchange.

20...Kd7 21.Qa4+ 1-0

(13) Evans Gambit C51

Fischer - William Oaker
Montreal (clock simul), February 24, 1964

1.e4 e5 2.Nf3 Nc6 3.Bc4 Bc5 4.b4 Bxb4 5.c3 Be7 6.d4 Na5 7.Bd3 d6

7...exd4 8.cxd4 d5 is the other way of handling this position.

8.dxe5 Nc6

8...dxe5 9.Nxe5 Nf6 10.0–0 0–0 with equal chances was Abrahamian-Baginskaite, US
Women’s Championship 2011.

9.Qb3

MegaDatabase 2011 only gives four games with 9.exd6 The text may be new.

9...Nxe5 10.Nxe5 dxe5 11.Bc4 Be6 12.Bxe6 fxe6 13.Ba3?

Bobby blunders. It should be noted that Black is fine after 13.Qxb7 Nf6 14.Qc6+ Kf7 and 13.0–
0 Nf6 14.Nd2 Qc8.

13...Qd3! 14.Nd2

14.Bxe7 Qxe4+ is clearly not to White's liking.

14...Rd8?

14...0–0–0! was crushing. Black not only activates his rook but solves the problem of his king's
safety. White has no satisfactory defense: 15.Rd1 (15.0–0–0 Bg5 16.Qc2 [16.f4 Bxf4!]
16...Qe2 - once Black gets in ...Nf6 it will all be over) 15...Bg5 16.Nf3 Qxe4+ 17.Kf1 Rxd1+
18.Qxd1 Bh6 followed by ...Nf6 would leave Fischer struggling to survive.

15.0–0–0 Bg5 16.f4 exf4

The difference between 14...0–0–0 and the game continuation 14...Rd8 is glaringly seen as
16...Bxf4 allows mate in two.

17.Nf3 Qe3+ 18.Kb1 Be7?

Black has to give back material to solve the problem of his king's safety: for example:
18...Qxe4+ 19.Kb2 Rxd1 20.Rxd1 Be7 21.Re1 Qd5 22.Qa4+ Qd7 23.Qxa7 Bxa3+ 24.Qxa3
Ne7 25.Qa8+ Nc8 26.Qxb7 0–0 with equal chances (Houdini).

19.Rxd8+ Kxd8 20.Nd4?

Fischer very uncharacteristically overlooks a simple win with: 20.Rd1+ Ke8 (20...Kc8
21.Qxe6+ or 20...Bd6 21.Qxe6 Nf6 22.Ng5) 21.Qb5+ c6 22.Qh5+ g6 23.Qe5.
20...Qxe4+

20...Bxa3 21.Qxa3 Qxe4+ 22.Ka1 Nf6 23.Rd1 Nd7 24.Qxa7 Ke7 is assessed as winning for
Black by Houdini but Fischer would have had practical chances against lower-rated
opposition.

21.Ka1 Kd7 22.Rd1 Bxa3?

22...Bd6 was the last chance to try to survive. Now the board opens up with Oaker’s king still
stuck in the middle.

23.Nxe6+ Ke7 24.Ng5 Qf5 25.Qxa3+ Kf6 26.Qf8+ Kxg5 27.Qxg7+ Kh5 28.Qxh8 Nf6
29.Re1 Kg6 30.Qd8 Qd5 31.Qxc7 Qxg2 32.Qxf4 Qg4 33.Qc7 Qd7 34.Qxd7 Nxd7 35.Re7
Nc5 36.Rc7 Ne4 37.Rxb7 Nxc3 38.Rxa7 h5 39.a4 Kg5 40.a5 h4 41.a6 1–0 (O.G. published
in Bobby Fischer Uncensored (page 82).

(14) Two Knights C57

Fischer – N.N.
Montreal (clock simul), February 24, 1964

1.e4 e5 2.Nf3 Nc6 3.Bc4 Nf6 4.Ng5 d5 5.exd5 Nd4 6.c3 b5 7.Bf1 h6 8.Nh7

“It is interesting that in answer to 7...h6, Fischer had played his own 8.Nh7 in a clock simul in
Canada, winning easily” – California Chess Reporter, May 1964, page 111.
It would be interesting to see the rest of the game as the fancy 8.Nh7 Nxh7 9.cxd4 Qxd5 10.Nc3
Qxd4 11.Bxb5 Bd7 is only equal while 8.cxd4 hxg5 9.Bxb5+ Bd7 10.Bxd7+ Qxd7+ 11.dxe5
Nxd5 12.0-0 Nf4 13.d4! is clearly in White’s favor.

….1-0

Quebec City, February 25

+48, -0, =0

Paul H. Nadeau writes from Quebec City that Bobby Fischer conducted a simultaneous
exhibition there February 25. He played 48 opponents and won every game. The total time was
three hours. Nadeau comments: “Several of the players, especially the younger ones, had better
positions or were actually ahead in material at one time or another. However, they eventually
became disconcerted by the speed with which Fischer played. There were 200 admiring
spectators watching this unequal match between quality and quantity.” (Canadian Chess Chat,
March 1964)

(15) Sicilian B20

Fischer - Michel Tordion
Quebec City (simul), February 25, 1964

1.e4 c5 2.Nf3 Nc6 3.d4 cxd4 4.Nxd4 Nxd4?!

Tordion trades off his only developed piece and brings White’s queen to a powerful position.

5.Qxd4 e6 6.Nc3 Qc7?

Safer is 6...d6, but White is still much better because of his lead in development.

7.Nb5 Qxc2 8.Bf4?

Fischer starts to make things messy. He could have obtained an overwhelming position with
8.Bd3 Qc6 9.Bf4 with threats of 10.Nc7+ and 10.Rc1.

8...Bc5 9.Qd2

Bobby could also have tried 9.Bd3 Bxd4 10.Bxc2 Bb6 11.O-O-O. White’s development gives
him excellent compensation for the pawn.

9...Qxe4+ 10.Be2?
Necessary is 10.Kd1 Kf8 with a slightly better position for White.

10...Bb4 11.Nd6+ Bxd6 12.Bxd6 Nf6?

Here Black misses his chance against the great Fischer. Correct is 12...Qxg2 13.Rf1 Nf6 with a
big plus for Black. After the text the position is about equal.

13.O-O Qd5 14.Qf4 Qe4 15.Qg3 Qg6

Black continues to try to trade queens. If 15...Qxe2?, then 16.Qxg7 is crushing.

16.Qa3 Qg5

Better is 16...Ne4 17.Bd3 f5 (intending ...Kf7) with equal chances.

17.Rac1

White might have considered 17.Bf3 keeping the black knight out of e4.

17...Ne4 18.Bb4 a5 19.Bf3 Nd2 20.Bxd2 Qxd2 21.Qc5 Qb4?

Correct is 21...Rf8 to avoid what comes next.

22.Qxc8+ Rxc8 23.Rxc8+ Ke7 24.Rxh8 h6 25.Rb8 b6 26.Rb7 Qxb2 27.Rd1 Qxa2
28.Rdxd7+ Ke8 29.Re7+ Kd8 30.Rbd7+ Kc8 31.Bb7+ Kb8 32.Re8+ Ka7 33.Ra8 mate 1-0
(New in Chess #7, 1998 on page 88; originally published in L’Action Catholique, 1964)

(16) King's Gambit C31

Fischer - Andre Bilodeau
Quebec City (simul), February 25, 1964

1.e4 e5 2.f4 d5 3.exd5 e4

Fischer played the King’s Gambit many times, but to the best of our knowledge this is the only
one against the true Falkbeer (2...d5 and 3...e4). In 1971 Bobby met Jorge Szmetan’s 2...d5 with
3.Nf3.

4.Nc3

4.d3 is much more common.

4...Nf6 5.Qe2

This position can also be reached by the Vienna move order 1.e4 e5 2.Nc3 Nf6 3.f4 d5 4.exd5
e4 5.Qe2, as in Suttles-Lengyel, Belgrade 1969.

5...Bg4

More commonly seen are 5...Bd6 and 5...Bf5. An example of the latter is Kavalek-Zinn,
Polanica Zdroj 1964, which saw sharp complications arise after 6.h3 h5 7.Nf3 Bc5 8.Ne5 O-O
9.g4 Bh7 10.Qc4 Nbd7 11.Nxd7 Nxd7 12.Kd1 Qh4 13.d4 Qf2.

6.Qe3

Worth considering is 6.Qb5+ Nbd7 7.Qxb7. Taubenhaus-Alapin, Frankfurt 1887, saw White get
butchered: 7.d4 exd3 8.Bxd3 Bc5 9.h3 Qe7 10.Kf1 Nh5 11.Nge2 Bxe2+ 12.Nxe2 Qh4.

6...Bf5 7.h3

White retains an advantage with 7.Bb5+ c6 8.dxc6 bxc6 9.Bc4.

7...Nxd5 8.Nxd5 Qxd5 9.g4 Bc5 10.Qb3?

The offer to trade queens looks logical, but better is 10.Qc3 Be6 11.Qxg7 Bd4 12.Qg5 Nc6
13.Bb5.

10...Be6 11.f5
Another option was 11.Qxd5 Bxd5 12.Ne2, meeting 12...e3 with 13.Rh2.

11...Qd4 12.Qg3 Bd6 13.Qg2 Bd5 14.Ne2 Qc5 15.Nc3 O-O 16.b4 Qd4 17.Bb2 Bxb4 18.O-
O-O Nc6

Better is 18...Bxc3 19.Bxc3 Qa4 20.f6 g6 21.Qe2 Na6 with a large advantage for Black.
Bilodeau still has some advantage after the text.

19.f6 g6 20.h4 h6

Black should have captured on c3 again: 20...Bxc3 21.dxc3 Qe3+ 22.Qd2 Qxd2+ 23.Rxd2
Bxa2 with advantage.

21.g5 h5 22.Be2

22.Nxd5 offered White better chances.

22...Ne5 23.Nb5

Again White should play 23.Nxd5.

23...e3?!
Much stronger is 23...Qc5! 24.Bxe5 e3 25.Qg3 exd2+ 26.Kb1 Rfe8 27.Bd4 Bxa2+ 28.Kb2
(28.Kxa2 Qxc2+) 28...Qd5 or 24.Qg1 Nd3+ 25.Bxd3 exd3 26.Qxc5 Bxc5 with a substantial
plus for Bilodeau.

24.Bxd4 Bxg2 25.Rh2 exd2+?!

Better is 25...Bxd2+ 26.Kb1 Nc6 27.Rxg2 a6 with an unclear position.

26.Kb2 Nc4+?

Correct is 26...Nf3. After 27.Rxg2 Nxh4 28.Rf2 Nf5 Black has fighting chances.

27.Bxc4 Bf3 28.Be2 Bxe2 29.Rxe2 Rae8 30.Rxe8 Rxe8 31.c3 a6 32.Nxc7 Re4 33.Rxd2
Ba5 34.Nd5 Kf8 35.Bc5+ Ke8 36.Rd4 Rxd4 37.Bxd4 Kd7 38.Kc2 Kd6 39.Ne3 Bc7 40.Kd3
b5 41.Ke4 Kc6 42.Be5 Bxe5 43.Kxe5 a5 44.Nf5 Kd7 45.Nd6 b4 46.cxb4 axb4 47.Nb7 1-0
(New in Chess #7, 1998 on page 88; originally published in L’Action Catholique, 1964)

(17) Vienna C25

Fischer – Jules Guay
Quebec City (simul), February 25, 1964

1.e4 e5 2.Nc3 c6 3.d4 d5 4.exd5 exd4 5.Qxd4 c5 6.Qe5+ Qe7 7.Nf3 Qxe5+ 8.Nxe5 Bd6
9.Nc4 Kd7 10.Nxd6 Kxd6 11.Bf4+ Kd7
12.0–0–0 Nf6 13.h3 Kd8 14.g4 Re8 15.Nb5 Re7 16.d6 Rd7 17.Nc7 b6 18.Nxa8 Bb7 19.Bb5
Bxa8 20.Bxd7 Bxh1 21.Bf5 Be4 22.d7 Nbxd7 23.Rxd7+ Nxd7 24.Bxe4 g6 25.Kd2 Ke7
26.Bc6 Nf6 27.Bb8 a6 28.Ke3 Nd7 29.Bxd7 Kxd7 30.Ke4 Ke8 31.Bd6 c4 32.Kd5 Kd7
33.Be5 h5 34.Kxc4 hxg4 35.hxg4 Ke6 36.Bd4 f6 37.Bxb6 Ke5 38.b4 1-0 (Echecs, May-June
2008)

Toronto, Feb. 27
+40, -4, =6

Fischer in Toronto

by Wayne D. Komer

In the course of a three-month continental tour giving simultaneous exhibitions, Bobby Fischer
swept into the University of Toronto’s Hart House on February 27th. The spectator and board
tickets were completely sold out well in advance. It is doubtful whether Elizabeth Taylor and
Richard Burton, who were also in Toronto for Hamlet rehearsals, could have outdrawn him at
the box-office, if there had been sufficient room!

Fischer prefaced the simultaneous exhibition with a 45-minute talk on his game with Pal Benko
in the tenth round of the 1963-64 U.S. Championship. He drew a large chuckle from the crowd
when he commented that after studying the board in this position:

He decided not to play 13.Qxe5 and then sacrifice the queen for the bishop after 13...Ng4
(14.Qxg7+ Kxg7 15.hxg4) because he thought this game would then detract from his (brilliant)
victory over Robert Byrne in Round Three when it came time for the judges to award the
brilliancy prize!

The personal score between Pal Benko and Bobby Fischer was close until the Curacao
Candidates tournament in 1962. Everyone remembers the former’s great victory with 1.g3, but
that was to be his last success against Bobby. The last seven games they played was decidedly
(6-1) in Fischer’s favor. (Photo by Beth Cassidy)

Bobby then took on fifty players, including a handful of masters and experts; one of the
interested spectators was Zvonko Vranesic, who will represent Canada at the Interzonal in
Amsterdam this summer. Those who thought they would finally see Bobby play 1.d4 were
disappointed, for his first move was invariably 1.e4. As a result, he faced either French or
Sicilians on twenty boards. On the remaining boards where White called the shot in the
opening, Fischer was doubtless experimenting with new lines in some very old openings —
primarily the Petroff, Giuoco Piano, Bishop’s Opening and Vienna. In the latter he has
revivified Paulsen’s 3.g3.

At the end of five hours the score for Bobby was 40 wins, 6 draws, 4 losses (to S. Ryan, M.W.
Lister, D. Grimshaw, and an alliance Cozzi-Phillips). The twenty-year-old grandmaster turned
down his king first to Professor Lister in a snappy Sicilian. The last game finished at the stroke
of one a.m. and Bobby was whisked away to his hotel amidst a loud burst of applause that gave
one the impression that Fischer was a bit like a magician appearing in a cloud of smoke, doing
his tricks and then disappearing in a thunderclap. (Chess, March 28, 1964)

An Evening with Bobby Fischer

by David Grimshaw

On February 27, Robert Fischer gave a simultaneous display on 50 boards at Hart House. In
spite of strong opposition he won 40, drew 6, and lost 4. Nearly all of Toronto’s (and
Kitchener’s) leading players were present with the exception of Anderson, Füster and
Vranesic. The latter, however, put in an appearance as chief kibitzer, thus adding considerably
to the strength of the locals.

Winners were: Prof. Lister, D. Grimshaw, P. Cozzi and F. Phillips (in consultation) and S. Ryan
(all of U. of Toronto!). Achieving draws were: E. Weinrib, J. Cook, J. Patty, J. Kegel and B.
Myndiuk. [Editor’s Note: The name of one of the players who drew is missing.] Before the
exhibition, Mr. Fischer gave a talk in which he described his victory over Benko in the last
U.S. championship. His manner of combining matter with humor would put nine out of ten
lecturers to shame!

Fischer took his losses very gracefully. In fact he conceals a very pleasant personality behind
the Fischer “Image.” Fundamentally, I believe he feels insecure and lacks self-confidence. He
feels that the world is out to show him up. He must realize what harm some of his press
interviews have done him. The press is invariably hostile. They think of him as at best an idiot
savant and at worst a freak. At Toronto, a reporter, totally ignorant of chess, was sent by the
Toronto Telegram to interview Fischer. Fischer, however, with good judgment, refused to
answer any questions. And what was the first question this reporter put one of the great
geniuses of our time? “I have read somewhere that you don’t watch television because of the x-
rays. Could you comment on this?” I’ll say this much for the reporter. He seemed embarrassed!
Fischer said not a word.

The Hart House Chess Committee gave a dinner for Fischer. It took some persistence to break
through Fischer’s barrier of shyness. Once he relaxed, he proved to be quite a good
conversationalist, although somewhat lacking in knowledge. I got the impression that he is
trying to broaden his education on his own. At any rate, his conversation belied the impression
I had got of him from assorted articles.

All in all I found Fischer quite impressive. Above all he has the ability to laugh at himself.
(Canadian Chess Chat, April 1964, pp. 76-77)

Maurice Wolfenden Lister (1914-2003) was one of the top middle distance runners in England
while attending Oxford in the 1930s. He served as a professor of chemistry at the University of
Toronto from 1949-1982.

(18) Sicilian Keres B81

Fischer - Maurice Lister
Toronto (simul), February 27, 1964

1.e4 c5 2.Nf3 d6 3.d4 cxd4 4.Nxd4 Nf6 5.Nc3 e6 6.g4 e5 7.Nf5 g6 8.Ne3 Nc6 9.h3 Be6
10.Ned5 Bg7 11.Be3 O-O 12.Qd2 Rc8 13.O-O-O Ne8 14.f3 f5

15.gxf5 gxf5 16.Bg5 Qd7 17.Bh6 f4 18.Bxg7 Qxg7 19.h4 Kh8 20.Bh3 Bxh3 21.Rxh3 Nd4
22.Qf2 Nf6 23.Rg1 Qd7 24.Rh2 Nxd5 25.exd5 b5 26.Qf1 b4 27.Ne4 Qa4 28.Qd3 Qxa2
29.Ng5 Rxc2+ 0-1 (Chess, May 28, 1964)

Westerly, March 1
+44, -1, =2

On March 1st, American Grandmaster Bobby Fischer gave a whirlwind simultaneous

exhibition at the Westerly Y.M.C.A. of Rhode Island. Sponsored by the Westerly Chess Club,
Bobby won 44, drew 2 and lost one out of a total of 47. The victor was Stan King, U.S.C.F.
Vice President from New London. Drawing with the internationalist were Carl Olson of
Providence and Sanford Bolton from the University of Rhode Island. The opposition was tough
and ranged all the way from master/expert Harry Lyman to the beginner who lost in 5 moves
($1 a move !). (Rhode Island Chess Bulletin, 1964)

John Ogni, who played in the exhibition in Westerly, adds: “Bobby arrived in Westerly by train
from New York City and was the house guest of the late Matthew Grzyb, Sr. During a
subsequent period, Matthew once remarked to me during the time when Fischer was his house
guest that Bobby was a real gentleman during his stay. Once upon entering Bobby’s room,
Matthew saw him reading the Bible.

“On the day of the simultaneous, Fischer gave a move-by-move account of his game with
Robert Byrne from the 1963-64 U.S. Championship in which Bobby won the Brilliancy Prize.
After Bobby finished, he invited questions from all the spectators and players.”

(19) Sicilian Sozin B88

Fischer - Stan King,
Westerly (simul), March 1, 1964

1.e4 c5 2.Nf3 d6 3.d4 cxd4 4.Nxd4 Nf6 5.Nc3 Nc6 6.Bc4 e6 7.Be3 a6 8.Bb3 Be7 9.f4 O-O
10.O-O Na5 11.Qf3 b5

Fischer-Hammann, Netanya 1968, saw 11...Qc7 12.f5 e5 13.Nde2 Nxb3 14.axb3 b5 15.g4 b4
16.g5 bxc3 17.gxf6 Bxf6 18.bxc3 Bb7 19.c4 with a clear advantage for White. King’s move
looks worth a try.

12.e5 Bb7 13.exf6 Bxf3 14.fxe7 Qxe7 15.Rxf3

Suetin, who gives 10...Na5 as dubious, assesses the position at this point as clearly in White’s
favor. Black’s next move brings that into question.

15... Nc4
16.f5?

This walks into a very nasty pin.

16...Nxe3 17.Rxe3 Qa7 18.fxe6 Qxd4 19.exf7+ Rxf7 20.Rae1 Re8 21.Nd5 Kh8 22.c3 Qa7
23.g3 Rxe3 24.Rxe3 Rf3 0-1 (Chess Courier, April 1964)

(20) Alekhine B03

Fischer - R. Barry,
Westerly (simul), March 1, 1964

1.e4 Nf6 2.e5 Nd5 3.d4 d6 4.c4 Nb6 5.exd6 exd6 6.Nc3 Be7 7.Bd3

ECO doesn’t give this move, offering only 7.h3, 7.Be2, and 7.Be3.
7...d5? 8.c5 N6d7 9.Nxd5 Nxc5 10.dxc5 Bxc5 11.Nf3 Nc6 12.Nc3 Qe7+ 13.Be2 Bg4 14.O-O
Rd8 15.Qa4 Bd7 16.Re1 Nd4 17.Qd1 Be6 18.Nxd4 Bxd4 19.Qa4+ c6 20.Be3 Bxe3 21.fxe3
Rd2 22.Ne4 b5 23.Qa6 Rd8 24.Qxc6+ Bd7 25.Qc5? Qxe4 26.Bxb5 Qe7 27.Qxe7+ Kxe7
28.Bf1 Rc8 29.Rac1 Rxc1 30.Rxc1 Kd6 31.b4 a5 32.b5 a4 33.Rd1+ Ke7 34.Rd4 Ra8 35.a3
Kd8 36.Kf2 Kc7 37.b6+ Kc6 38.Be2 Rd8 39.Rb4 Kb7 40.Bf3+ Bc6 41.Bxc6+ Kxc6 42.b7
Rb8 43.Ke2 Rxb7 44.Rxb7 Kxb7 45.Kd3 Kb6 46.Kc4 1-0 (O.G.)

“I was the last person still playing at this point in the simultaneous . . . I asked Bobby if he
thought he could win. With the entire audience around me, he smiled and said, ‘Sure,’ so I
resigned.” (Barry)

(21) Irregular B00

Fischer – Tom Schuch
Westerly (simul), March 1, 1964

1.e4 d6 2.d4 Nc6 3.Nf3 Nf6

3...Bg4?! is known to be bad because of the pretty sacrificial line 4.d5 Ne5 (better is 4...Nb8
5.h3 when White has a slight pull) 5.Nxe5! Bxd1 6.Bb5+ c6 7.dxc6 Qa5+ 8.Nc3 0–0–0 9.Nc4

Now 9…Qc7 10.Nd5 Bxc2 11.Nxc7 Kxc7 12.Be3 and 9...Qb4 10.a3 Qc5 11.Be3 Qh5 12.Rxd1
both lead to a substantial advantage for White.
4.Nc3 g6

4...Bg4 is more commonly seen, but the text is playable.

5.d5 Nb4?!

5...Nb8 was indicated nibbling away at White's center with ...c6 later on.

6.a3 Na6 7.e5 dxe5 8.Nxe5 Bg7 9.Bb5+ Nd7 10.Bf4 f6?

It was imperative to castle when White is better, but Black's position is quite playable.

11.Nxd7 Bxd7 12.0–0 f5?

Black had to liquidate to a worse ending with 12...Bxb5 13.Nxb5 c6 14.dxc6 Qxd1 15.Raxd1
bxc6 16.Nd4 Kf7.

13.Re1

13.Qe2!, attacking a6 twice and preparing to zero in on the pawn on e7, would leave Black
hard-pressed to defend.

13...Bxc3 14.Bxd7+ Qxd7 15.bxc3 Rd8?

Black's last chance was 15...0–0–0 16.c4 e6 when White is better, but Black is still in the
game. White should then play 17.Bg5 and not 17.Rxe6 Qxe6 18.dxe6 Rxd1+ 19.Rxd1 Re8
20.Bg5 h6! 21.Bxh6 Rxe6 with decent chances to hold the ending.

16.c4 Qa4 17.Qd4 Rg8 18.Re3 c6 19.Rae1 Rd7 20.d6 c5 21.Rxe7+ Kd8 22.Qg7 Rxe7
23.dxe7+ Kc8 24.Qxg8+ Kd7 25.e8Q 1–0 (O.G.)
 Fitchburg, March 2
+49, -5, =2

Fischer traveled by car from Westerly to Fitchburg, Massachusetts, site of his next exhibition.
Traveling with him were two members of the Wachusett Chess Club. Edmund Wheeler,
treasurer of the club, recalls that it was an eventful ride. “Fred Lawrence, who put Bobby up in
Fitchburg, was at the wheel and he was driving along back roads pretty fast. Once, when
coming around a curve a dog ran into the road and Fred, in swerving to miss it, landed the car
in a snow bank. I was a bit rattled, but not Bobby. Getting out to assess the situation he good-
naturedly remarked, ‘Your friend’s a pretty good driver!’”

Fischer performing the simultaneous in Fitchburg. (Photo by Glen Wheeler)

Chess Ace Fischer, 20, Performs Here March 2

Robert J. “Bobby” Fischer, 20-year-old international grandmaster on his first transcontinental
tour, will appear at the Wachusett Chess Club headquarters at the First Parish Church hall on
Monday, March 2, at 7 p.m.

Fischer is the subject of a feature story in the current edition of one of the most popular national
magazines.

This youthful chess genius, the only player to clean sweep the United States championship, will
play simultaneously against 50 opponents and will deliver a lecture.
His appearance will be exclusive to this particular area since Fischer will perform in Rhode
Island the day before coming here and in Connecticut the day following his local showing.

A general admission fee of two dollars will be charged here and since a full attendance is
expected the sale of tickets will be limited. General admission and a reservation to play in the
simultaneous exhibition will be five dollars.

Tickets may be purchased from any Wachusett Chess Club member, by being at the
organization’s regular Wednesday night meeting at the church hall located at the Upper Common
or by writing to Edmund N. Wheeler, 133 1/2 Blossom Street, this city. Checks should be
payable to the WCC.

At the age of 14, Fischer became the youngest U.S. Champion in the history of chess.

Since that time he has proven his chessmanship in international tournaments and matches. His
latest international triumph was in 1962 at Stockholm in the Interzonal, when he won by a handy
margin against the leading players of the world. In 1963 he won the Western Open
Championship at Bay City, Michigan, in a field of 160, and in the same year scored a clean
sweep of 8-0 in the first N.Y. State Open, at Poughkeepsie, N.Y. [Editor’s Note: The score was
actually 7-0.]

A six-time winner of the coveted U.S. Championship Crown, Fischer has become the most
widely written about and controversial chess personality of this generation. Considered by
many experts to be the greatest chess master of all time, Fischer gave credence to this
contention by winning all his games against the strongest U.S. masters in the 1964 U.S.
Championship. An incredible performance! Final score 11-0! This result electrified even the
non-chess playing public throughout the entire world, and he is being acclaimed as the world’s
greatest chess master.

The controversy engendered by his famous “unfinished” match with Reshevsky made world-
wide headlines. It actually culminated in an even score, but in the two subsequent encounters
with Reshevsky, Fischer won both games.

Having learned to play chess at the age of six, Fischer gave early evidence of amazing talent,
and at the age of 13 became the youngest player ever to win the National Junior Championship.
At the age of 14, he won the U.S. Open Championship in a field of 175. This victory made him
eligible to play in the U.S. Chess Federation’s Championship Meet of 1958, when he succeeded
Arthur B. Bisguier as U.S. Champion, making him the youngest player in history to achieve this
monumental honor. Winning the Lessing J. Rosenwald and Frank J. Marshall Trophies, he
qualified to enter the Interzonal competition, which was held in 1958 in Yugoslavia.

During 1959, 1960 and 1961, Fischer successfully defended his U.S. Championship title. He
chose not to enter the 1962 tournament and Larry Evans, a former U.S. Champion, won the 1962
title. In 1963, Fischer became a 5-time winner by succeeding Evans as the title-holder.

There is no secret that Fischer’s greatest ambition is to meet the present world champion,
Tigran Petrosian, in a title match. A substantial purse to be the prize — and winner to take all!
Fischer’s first encounter with a world champion took place in October 1962, at the Chess
Olympics finals at Varna, Bulgaria. Here he played the then world champion, Botvinnik, and the
encounter ended in a draw. Bobby had an easily won game, but his attention became distracted.

A serious student of the techniques of past and present masters, Fischer has achieved his own
special niche in the technique hall of fame, by his masterful play in all stages of the game. His
famous prize-winning “Game Of the Century,” at the age of 13, in the 3rd Lessing & Rosenwald
Trophy tournament, 1956, is included in Bobby Fischer’s Games of Chess, published by Simon
and Schuster. He also contributes to the literature of chess in articles for Chess Life, American
Chess Quarterly, and other publications. Presently he is serving as editorial consultant to the
American Chess Quarterly. (Fitchburg Sentinel, Feb. 22, 1964)

20-Year-Old Grandmaster Duels 56

A turnaway crowd, including 56 challengers and approximately 125 spectators from all over
New England, gathered at the First Parish Church Hall last night to watch the International
Chess Grandmaster Robert “Bobby” Fischer in an exhibition sponsored by the Wachusett Chess
Club.

Playing 56 matches [sic] simultaneously, the 20-year-old Fischer won 49, lost five and played
to two draws. The simultaneous play started at 8 and concluded at 11:40. From 7 to 8, Fischer
lectured to the group and demonstrated his draw with former world champion Mikhail
Botvinnik, explaining every move.

Among those succeeding in besting the International Grandmaster were: Harold Dondis of
Belmont, president of the Massachusetts State Chess Assn., in 19 moves; Clarence Barber of
Holden, George Bart of Concord (N.H.), Edward Martin of Harvard University in 36 moves
and Dave Scheffer of Cambridge in 51 moves.

Steven Brandwein of the Boylston Chess Club, Boston YMCU with a 2132 rating and Leland
Hamilton of Clinton played Fischer to a draw.

Among the challengers were two other experts besides Brandwein with USCF ratings. Patrick
Eberlein of Harvard University (2046) and George Berry of Dartmouth College (2096) both
went down to defeat.

The Wachusett Chess Club provided 12 challengers and all 12 were beaten. Miss Laurent
Messier of Nashua (N.H.) was the lone feminine challenger. She lost too.

James A. Fitzgerald served as master of ceremonies. (Fitchburg Sentinel, Mar. 3, 1964)

Stephen Brandwein, one of only two players to draw Fischer twice during the 1964 tour,
pictured here receiving his prize as the top-scoring expert in the 1964 U.S. Open held in
Boston. Brandwein would soon see his rating climb to 2300 putting him among the top 50 rated
players in the United States at the time. (Photo by Beth Cassidy)

A New Bobby Fischer Visits Fitchburg Club

by Parton Keese

The Cassius Clay of the heavyweight chess ranks, Bobby Fischer, took on 56 challengers the
other night at the Wachusett Chess Club in Fitchburg. The usually outspoken and controversial
U.S. Champion let his fingers do the talking as he set down 49, drew with two, and lost five.

The simultaneous exhibition lasted three hours and 40 minutes, made the 20-year-old prodigy
$250 plus expenses, and left him limp as a rag.

The 6-foot, well-dressed strategist preceded his exhibition with a “lecture,” but any similarity
to some of the things he has said in the past was nonexistent. Instead, he replayed a famous
draw match [sic] with Botvinnik, former world champion from Russia.

The 5 Who Won: The five who beat Fischer, and may never let their friends forget it, were
Harold Dondis, president of the Massachusetts Chess Association: Clarence Barber of Holden;
George Bart, New Hampshire state champion; Ed Martin of the Harvard College chess team;
and Don Scheffer, who tied for first place in the U.S. Amateur chess tourney.

Leland Hamilton of the Nashoba Valley Chess Club, Clinton, and Steven Brandwein of
Boylston Chess Club, Boston, played Fischer to a draw.
Frank Hacker of Fitchburg, a Harvard junior, lasted the longest but lost in 60 moves.

Champ Has Changed: Fischer was in a good mood. When he first won the U.S. title at 14 he
was a shy, awkward, temperamental boy who wore corduroy trousers, ski sweaters, scuffed
shoes, and unmatched socks. Now after six titles, he is tall and assured, wears expensive
Continental-style suits, Hungarian-made shoes, $35 shirts, and ties.

His vanity has amazed experts who are accustomed to the huge egos of chess players. In the
past he has alienated and offended everyone in the chess world, including officials, patrons,
and writers.

Woman-Hater: He dislikes women. They’re all weak, he says. Stupid, compared to me, he
says. They shouldn’t play chess, you know. They’re like beginners. They lose every single
game against men. There isn’t a woman player in the world I can’t give knight odds to and still
beat. (Only one female opposed him in Fitchburg-a 17-year-old Miss Laurent Messier, who has
been playing for one year and lost quickly.)

On Chess: My goal is the world championship. It is played every three years. That’s stupid,
but there’s nothing I can do about it. I’m just marking time.

After 40 it’s all downhill in this game. You don’t have the physical stamina to last out a 24-
game match where you play for five hours every other day and have to finish the adjourned
games in between.

Success at chess comes from a good memory, imagination, ability to concentrate, psychological
insight to figure how your opponent thinks, and most of all, the will to win.

On School: I learned chess at 6 and quit school at 16 when chess was all that mattered. I hated
school except for maybe Spanish and geometry. They shouldn’t have coed schools. Girls ought
to learn things like how to dress well and cook. Women don’t make good lawyers and doctors.
They should learn to be housewives, a pretty good career.

On Himself: I live alone and like it. Most of my income comes from tournament chess and
exhibitions like these. I don’t take advice from people. Everyone has ulterior motives. Besides,
nobody knows as much about my problems — or cares — as I do.

I use to do weightlifting to keep myself in shape, but I gave it up as too boring. I like occult
subjects like palmistry. I’m a good judge of people to begin with, and palmistry is a science.

I go to the movies, but most of them are the same. I like Tennessee Williams’ pictures. His
characters are real. They’re the kind of people I’ve seen around myself.

Yes, I am self-confident. There is a big difference between thinking you’re good and knowing
you are. (The Evening Gazette, Worcester, March 4, 1964)
 Fischer in action in Fitchburg. (Photo by Glenn Wheeler)

Harold Dondis has been the chess columnist for the Boston Globe’s for over 50 years. In 1967,
he co-founded the U.S. chess Trust with Ed Edmondson.

(22) Vienna C27

Fischer - Harold Dondis
Fitchburg (simul), March 2, 1964

1. e4 e5 2. Nc3

In tournaments Fischer almost always employed the Ruy Lopez, occasionally dabbling with the
King’s Gambit and Evans Gambit/Two Knights Defense. Here Bobby, perhaps to honor the
memory of the late great New England master Weaver Adams, author of White to Play and Win,
adopts his pet opening against 1...e5.

2...Nf6 3. Bc4 Nxe4 4. Qh5 Nd6 5. Bb3 Nc6 6.d4

The main move here is 6.Nb5 which leads to long forcing play after 6...g6 7.Qf3 f5 8.Qd5 Qe7
9.Nxc7+ Kd8 10.Nxa8 b6. Fischer sidesteps this with a sideline that Adams tried for a while
before going back to 6.Nb5.

6...Nxd4 7. Nd5 Ne6! 8.Qxe5 c6

Sidestepping 8...Be7? 9.Bh6! O-O 10.Nxe7+ Qxe7 11.Bxg7.

9. Nc3

ECO, Vol. C, 2nd edition, gives 9.Nf4 Qe7 10.Nf3 Nf5 11.O-O Ned4 12.Qxe7+ Bxe7 13.Nxd4
Nxd4 with a clear advantage to Black (Adams).

9...Qf6

The first edition of ECO, Vol. C, ends here with the remark that Black has a clear advantage,
according to GM Larry Evans.

10. Qxf6 gxf6 11.Nge2 Nf5 12. g4 Nfd4 13. Nxd4 Nxd4 14.Be3 Nxb3 15. axb3 d5 16. Rxa7
Rxa7 17.Bxa7 Bxg4 18. Bd4 Be7 19. Kd2?? c5 0-1 (Chess Horizons, April 1979, p. 31)

(23) French Winawer C17

Fischer – Ed Martin
Fitchburg (simul), March 2, 1964
1.e4 e6 2.d4 d5 3.Nc3 Bb4 4.e5 c5 5.a3 Bxc3+ 6.bxc3 Nc6 7.a4 Qa5 8.Bd2 Qc7 9.Qg4 Nge7
10.Nf3 Ng6 11.h4 h5 12.Qg3 c4 13.Ng5 Nce7 14.Qf3 Nf5 15.g3 Bd7 16.Bh3 Nge7 17.a5 a6
18.O-O Bb5 19.Bc1 g6 20.Ba3 b6 21.axb6 Qxb6 22.Qf4 Qb7 23.f3 Ng8 24.Kf2 Qd7 25.Rh1
Ra7 26.Bg2 Rb7 27.g4 Ng7 28.Bd6 Qd8 29.Rhb1 Rd7

30.Rxa6?? Bxa6 31.Rb8 Bc8 32.Qc1 Ne7 33.Qa3 O-O 34.Qc5 Re8 35.Bh3 Rb7 36.Ra8
Qd7 0-1 (Boston Globe, March 15, 1964)
J. Camille LeBlanc is holding a cigarette in this photo. To his right is Robert Fortier, a former
Wachusett club champion. (Photo provided by Jean LeBlanc)

(24) French Winawer C17

Fischer - Clarence Barber
Fitchburg (simul), March 2, 1964

1.e4 e6 2.d4 d5 3.Nc3 Bb4 4.e5 c5 5.a3 cxd4 6.axb4 dxc3 7.Qg4 cxb2 8.Bxb2 g6 9.Nf3 Nh6
10.Qf4 Nf5 11.g4 Nh4 12.b5 Nxf3+ 13.Qxf3 b6 14.h4 Nd7 15.h5 g5 16.h6 Bb7 17.Bd4 Qc7
18.Bd3 Nxe5 19.Qe3 f6
20.O-O-O Nxd3+ 21.Rxd3 e5 22.Bb2 d4 23.Qh3 Bxh1 24.Qxh1 Rc8 25.Rd2 O-O 26.Kb1
Qc4 0-1 (Boston Globe, March 26, 1964)

Harold Dondis, chess columnist of long standing for the Boston Globe, had this to say about the
exhibition: “Fitchburg, site of the simul, is a mill town which, perhaps due to organizers like
George Mirijanian, was quite wild about chess. As I recall, Fischer had asked for as many
boards as possible. There was not enough room for the overflow crowd and it was so
enthusiastic about seeing a possible world champion that, when Fischer erred against me, and a
move later graciously resigned, the crowd bore me out of the room on its shoulders! I’ve never
ever seen that in chess.”
Fischer considering his position against Edmund Wheeler.
(Photo by Glenn Wheeler)

Hartford, March 3
+49, -2, =4
Letter from John C. Owen, Avon, CT:

This is in response to your search for information about Bobby Fischer’s tour of 1964, as
reported in Chess Horizons.

I am enclosing a Xerox copy of my autographed game at the simul in Hartford on March 3. This
score has never appeared anywhere. The event took place at Hartford’s over-heated Shoreham
Motor Inn. Bobby started by delivering from memory the moves and commentary of his win
over Najdorf at Varna. Regardless of the figures you quote, I remember distinctly that Bobby
faced 55 opponents; he won 49, drew 4, and lost 2. He completed the display in just over three
hours by walking slowly around the circle and hardly stopping at all. Toward the end he did
stop at the board next to mine where he had a “hangnail” — a small boy who didn’t know
enough to resign. Bobby stopped for a few seconds and then said to the boy, “It’s mate on any
one of eight squares on the move; take your pick.” His opponent sheepishly put his pieces back
in the box.
I remember the occasion vividly, because Bobby was our house guest during his stay in
Hartford. I collected him along with his roll-up board at the bus station that afternoon. My wife
served us dinner, and since Bobby was of age we thought it appropriate to offer him a drink and
some potato chips beforehand. He approached the whiskey as if it were a strange animal, but
the potato chips had met their match: he went in one side of the dish and they went out the other!
When he walked around the house, we had a sudden fear that he might knock the furniture over.
As a matter of fact he was unbelievably clumsy, except when he was talking about or playing
chess. During the afternoon he waded into my chess books — I have about 2,000 volumes of
periodicals and tournament books — for he was at the time studying the games of Steinitz and
other 19th-century players. “Just look at this ‘lemon’ — if he does that, I do this!” I discussed
the Wilkes-Barre Variation with him, for I had been fiddling with it in correspondence. I told
him that I understood that he had found a refutation to the Ruy Lopez. (I thought at the time that it
had to do with his analysis of the Classical Defense.) He replied immediately, “Yeah.” When I
asked him what it was, he replied, “If I tell you, everybody will know!” We also discussed
annotations and I asked him what he thought of Botvinnik’s notes. He replied, “As an annotator
he’s a horse’s ass!”

At the simul it was so warm in the ballroom that after two hours I interrupted him to offer him a
glass of water. He looked at me and remarked, “I kept looking for the Wilkes-Barre Variation;
when I didn’t see it I thought you weren’t playing!”

When we returned home afterward, he was by no means interested in going to bed; he was
interested only in food and drink. We ate up the fruit in the refrigerator, moved on to peanut
butter crackers, and finally warm (?) home-brew beer. We discussed correspondence and he
couldn’t believe that anyone could spend time with “anything so boring.” I offered to play him a
two-game match with the proviso that he could quit any time he found it dull. He suggested that
we make it interesting, say by a side bet of $100 per game! I reminded him that I played chess
for different reasons. He was looking forward to playing at Tel Aviv that fall, but he wanted to
receive at least $5,000 appearance money, which of course no one provided. He kept saying
how hard it was to play chess at that level. The very thought of his 11-0 sweep at the recent
Championship seemed to exhaust him! I got the impression that only large amounts of cash
could change his reaction.

I had a business appointment the next morning, so when I returned shortly before noon, Bobby
had arisen well rested and was working his way through a bowl of porridge. My wife had been
alone with him and found that he had no idea how to converse with a woman. She also
discovered that he had no idea how to take care of his clothes . . . when he sprung open his
suitcase; the contents all but hit the ceiling and were in total disarray. Before leaving, he
graciously signed several of my chess books and left me the address in Brooklyn where he was
then living. Then after I introduced him to the staff in my office, it was off to the bus station and
on to the next stop on his tour.

( 25) Caro-Kann Closed B10

Fischer – John C. Owen
Hartford (simul), March 3, 1964
1.e4 c6 2.d3 d5 3.Nd2 dxe4 4.dxe4 e5 5.Ngf3 Bg4 6.h3 Bxf3 7.Qxf3 Nf6 8.Bd3 Nbd7 9.O-O
Bc5 10.c3 a5 11.a4 Qc7 12.Qe2 O-O 13.g4 h6 14.Nc4 Rfe8 15.Ne3 g6 16.Qf3 Bf8 17.Kh2
Bg7 18.Rg1 Nf8 19.Nf5 gxf5 20.gxf5 Kh7

21.Qg3 Ne6 22.fxe6 fxe6 23.Qg6+ Kh8 24.Bxh6 Bxh6 25.Qxf6+ Bg7 26.Qh4+ Kg8
27.Rxg7+ Kxg7 28.Rg1+ Kf8 29.Qh6+ Ke7 30.Rg7+ Kd6 31.Rxc7 Kxc7 32.Qg7+ Kd6
33.Bc4 Rf8 34.Qh6 Rxf2+ 35.Kg3 Raf8 36.Qxe6+ Kc5 37.Qxe5+ Kb6 38.Qd4+ 1-0 (O.G.)

(26) French Winawer C19

Fischer - Larry Noderer
Hartford (simul), March 3, 1964

1.e4 e6 2.d4 d5 3.Nc3 Bb4 4.e5 c5 5.a3 Bxc3+ 6.bxc3 Ne7 7.a4 Qa5 8.Bd2 Qc7 9.Qg4 Nf5
10.Nf3 Nc6 11.Bd3 Nce7 12.O-O Bd7 13.a5 h5 14.Qg5 Rh6 15.dxc5 Qxc5 16.Bc1 Qxc3
17.Ba3 f6 18.exf6 gxf6 19.Qc1 Rg6 20.Bxe7 Kxe7
21.Ra3 Qb4 22.Bxf5 exf5 23.Rb3 Qg4 24.g3 Bc6 25.Re1+ Kf7 26.Rbe3 d4 27.Re7+ Kg8
28.Nd2 Qh3 29.f3 h4 30.R1e2 hxg3 31.Qa3 gxh2+ 0-1 (Connecticut Chess Light, 1964)

Larry Noderer (1918-2009) was a nuclear physicist who won the 1950 Tennessee state
championship while working at Oak Ridge. He later won the 1964 Connecticut state
championship. In addition to being a chess master he was also a Life Master in bridge.

From J. Platz:

In the spring of 1964 there appeared in the Chess Courier and in Connecticut Chess Light an
article written by me under the heading “The Bobby Fischer Story.” My own headline was:
“How Lucky Must One Be to Beat Bobby Fischer.” And the story went like this: The answer is
“Very lucky.” Well I have sometimes been called the luckiest player in New England. How
much of that is true I leave to the judgment of my opponents and critics. While it is no disgrace
to be called “lucky,” one rather wins one’s games by force than with the benevolent aid of his
opponent. My great teacher, Dr. Emanuel Lasker, was called the luckiest player of them all.
Often in a tournament, half of his games were theoretically lost, yet somehow he managed to
win most of them. Until the end his successes were never understood, could never be fully
explained. He was accused of blowing smoke into his opponent’s face, of making bad moves on
purpose to confuse him, of witchcraft, of hypnotism. Nothing of all that is true, of course. But it
is so much easier for a simple mind to explain successes with a mysterious, unexplainable
witchcraft, with sheer luck than with indomitable will power, with strength of personality, with
psychological warfare. About Lasker they used to say, “Occasionally he lost a game, but never
his head.” As his seemingly beaten army was retreating, he threw obstacle after obstacle into
the advancing enemy’s way, comparable to hidden trenches, camouflaged machine gun nests,
tank traps, making him overextend himself, tiring him out mentally, and so Lasker would gain
time to regroup his forces and suddenly he would lash out with such violence that the terrified
and confused opponent would get bogged down in the mud or get lost in the jungles. So much
for Lasker, my teacher and friend.

As for myself and my game against Fischer, I want to say this: Any player who takes part in a
simultaneous exhibition against a master admits right from the start the great superiority of the
master. Playing alongside so many others against one single man who walks by very casually
and makes his moves quickly, deliberately and with ease makes one feel as small and
insignificant as an ant. One simply can’t play his best, and the master knows it and takes full
advantage of it. But for my game against Fischer I fully admit that this time I was lucky. Now
for the game:

(27) French Winawer C17

Fischer - Joseph Platz
Hartford (simul), March 3, 1964

Notes by Platz.

1.e4 e6 2.d4 d5 3.Nc3 Bb4 4.e5 c5 5.a3 Ba5 6.b4! cxd4

This move is ascribed to Botvinnik, but I had played it 10 years before him.

7.Qg4 Kf8

It is better to move the king than to weaken the position.

8.bxa5 dxc3 9.a4 f5?

This move would only be good if White were forced to answer with 10.exf6. As this is not the
case, the move weakens the black king position, and from here on White has a won game.
Correct was 9...Nge7.

10.Qg3 Nc6 11.Nf3 Nge7 12.h4! Bd7 13.h5! Rc8

Serves no useful purpose.

14.h6! g6

This is forced. Black is so weak on the black squares that all White has to do is Bg5 followed
by Bf6 in conjunction with Ng5 and Nxh7+ etc. There was no defense to that.

15.a6?

Unnecessary.
15...Nb4

A desperate counter action.

16.Qh4!

Threatening mate on one side and the knight on the other.

16...Nec6

White could now follow up with 17.Bg5 Qb6 18.Bd3 Nxd3+ 19.cd Qxa6 20.O-O with Bf6 to
follow. Why did White fail to make use of this maneuver? I believe the reason is a
psychological weakness. As long as he had played early in the game 9.a4, he felt he owed it to
his ego to develop his QB to a3.

17.Ba3

This also should win because if now 17...Qxh4 18.Rxh4 d4 19.Rb1 simply wins a piece. I saw
this variation at the last moment when Fischer stepped up to my table, and as a last desperate
gamble I played:

17...d4! 18.axb7?
Instead 18.Qxd8+ Rxd8 19.Rb1 would have won quickly, and I would have had to resign. But
Fischer did not see the smile of the goddess Caissa.

18...Rb8 19.Bb5

Threatens the immediate win of a piece by 20.Bxc6.

19...Qxh4! 20.Rxh4 Ke8! 21.Bxc6 Nxc2+

The start of the counterattack!

22.Kd1 Nxa1 23.Bd6 Bxc6 24.Bxb8 Bxa4+

Black is not afraid!

25.Ke1

If instead White plays 25.Kc1 d3 26.Rb4 Nb3+ 27.Rxb3 Bxb3 28.Bxa7 Kd7 29.b8=Q Rxb8
30.Bxb8 g5 31.Ba7 g4 32.Nd2 cxd2+ 33.Kxd2 and a draw is probable.

25...Bc6 26.Nxd4 Bxb7 27.Bd6

Better would have been 27.Bxa7.

27...Kd7 28.f3

The pawn on g2 was threatened. If instead 28.Nb5 Rc8 29.Nc7 Be4! 30.f3 c2 31.Kd2 Nb3+
etc.

28...Rc8 29.Ne2 Nb3 30.Ba3 Bd5 31.Ra4 a5 32.Nc1 Nxc1 33.Bxc1 Rc5

The smoke of battle has cleared and Black is two pawns ahead.

34.Ra3 Kc6 35.Be3 c2! 36.Ra1 Rb5 37.Rc1 Bb3 0-1

The end came so swiftly that I hardly knew what had happened when he threw his king over in
disgust.

My victory over Fischer gave me a double satisfaction inasmuch as I avenged Dr. Lasker whom
Fischer does not even rate among the ten greatest players of all time, and whom Fischer calls a
“weak player.” Indeed, for 27 years he was a very weak player! (Chess Memoirs by Joseph
Platz)

The well-known, author, correspondence player and chess philatelist Jon Edwards writes:
“My great Uncle, Joe Platz, gave me my first lessons in chess strategy when I was eight years
old. He himself had been a student of Emanuel Lasker, and I fancy that his lessons were similar
to those that he had himself received.”

(28) Sicilian Sozin B88

Fischer - Irving Pierce
Hartford (simul), March 3, 1964

1.e4 c5 2.Nf3 Nc6 3.d4 cxd4 4.Nxd4 Nf6 5.Nc3 d6 6.Bc4 e6 7.Bb3 Be7 8.Be3 Nxd4 9.Bxd4
Bd7 10.f4 Bc6 11.Qe2 Qa5 12.O-O-O O-O-O 13.Rhf1 Kb8 14.f5 e5 15.Bf2 Rhf8 16.Bh4
Rd7 17.g4 Ne8 18.Bf2 Nc7 19.Kb1 f6 20.Nd5 Bxd5 21.Bxd5 Nxd5 22.Rxd5 Qc7 23.Rfd1
Rc8 24.R1d3 Qc4 25.b3 Qc6 26.c4 b6
27.a4 Rb7 28.Kb2 a6 29.Rc3 b5 30.axb5 axb5 31.c5 dxc5 32.Bxc5 Bxc5 33.Rcxc5 Qxc5
34.Rxc5 Rxc5 Draw

I estimate Bobby spent four minutes on this game, while I spent four hours! (Irving Pierce,
Chess Life, Nov. 1979, p. 644)

Richmond, March 5
+44, -2, =4

U.S. Champ Beaten Here at Chess

by George W. Ashworth

Robert Fischer, 20, “stalemated” the Richmond Chess Club until 11:10 last night. At 11:40
p.m., he proceeded to checkmate the club. Shortly before 1:30 a.m., however, he was
checkmated by the city champion.

Fischer, the current United States chess champion, came here eight hours late yesterday to play
50 Virginia chess players at the Virginia Home. He was scheduled to lecture at 7 p.m., then to
take on 50 players simultaneously.

He arrived more than four hours late for the games. After demonstrating a successful technique
used against the Russians, he took on the state players shortly before midnight. They were still
playing on into the morning.

Fischer, who received $250 for playing the 50 aficionados, originally had been scheduled to
arrive at 3 p.m. At 6:10 he called Carl Stutz, a member of the club, and said the plane had been
unable to leave because of fog. Fischer called again at 6:30 p.m. to say that he was on his way.
At 6:55 p.m. a non-stop plane was scheduled to leave New York for Richmond.

Fischer took a plane for Washington. He arrived a little after 8 p.m. A plane for Richmond left
Washington after 9 p.m. and arrived at Richmond at 10:25 p.m.

Members of the club met Fischer at Byrd Field and escorted him to the contest site. Meanwhile,
back at the Virginia Home, 50 players and approximately 50 spectators had begun to gather a
little after 6 p.m.

About 8:15, upon hearing that Fischer had made it to Washington, they voted to wait a little
longer.

“Fischer has done this to wear us out,” one player commented. While biding their time, the
contestants played each other. Finally, at 11:10 p.m., with approximately 80 persons still in
attendance, the crowd rose and applauded their long lost champion onto the stage.
With hands planted firmly in pockets, Fischer thanked the crowd for waiting and apologized.

He then removed his right hand and moved the chessmen about the board with great rapidity to
show how he had defeated a Russian opponent. He stopped periodically to back up on the
board and show other possibilities. Although he moved many pieces to demonstrate how it
might have been, he never forgot how it was, and progressed steadily for 20 minutes to
checkmate.

Because he had White, Fischer had the first move. His first move was pawn to king four on his
50 boards. Variations followed.

Most players met him with standard systems. Several planned unusual approaches. Dr. Erwin
Harlfinger said, “I really feel that if you play in a wild way, you stand a better chance.”

At 12:30 a.m., the Richmond champion, Charles Powell of Randolph-Macon College, had
played Fischer to a draw. Powell declined the draw and elected to play to win. At this time, 50
minutes after the games began, only two of Fischer’s opponents had been checkmated. Less than
an hour after the [possible] draw, Powell had won. (Richmond Times-Dispatch, March 6,
1964)

NM Macon Shibut, editor of the Virginia Chess Newsletter, was able to add the following
information:

I grew up in Richmond and entered organized chess in 1971-72. Naturally there was plenty of
“Fischer Talk” going around in those days, and I heard a lot of stories about his 1964 simul at
the Richmond CC. Then last year when I took up the editorship of Virginia Chess Newsletter I
began talking to old-timers about it again, thinking I might work up a feature article or
something.

Everyone recollects that he lost three games — to Charles Powell, Julian Allen, and someone
else but no one is sure who — and there were quite a few draws. Again, maybe Fischer agreed
to some draws that he’d normally play out because of the late hour. Jesse Burke and Robert
Vassar were among those who drew.

Fischer had requested that his opponents be seated according to rating. However, several
prospective opponents had already gone home by the time the simul finally started, leaving
some “gaps” along the row of tables. Charlie Powell, by far the strongest local player, also
arrived late. Maybe he didn’t intend to play originally and came just to watch. But finding the
simul still just getting underway with some spaces available, he slipped into an unoccupied
board among the weaker players. Powell won the game and some people recall that Fischer
was quite upset afterwards, maybe suspecting that the deviation from correct board order was
an intentional deception.

At first I was amazed that no one seems to have kept their scoresheets — this was a game with
Bobby Fischer after all — but Fischer in ’64, while a multi-time U.S. champion, was still not
the chess god that he would later become. Truth be told, I no longer have the score of the only
simul game I’ve played either, which was also against a repeat U.S. champion (Lev Alburt).

After the simul was over, Fischer was concerned about his travel plans to the next event in
Washington. Perhaps the late start and finish of the Richmond simul had caused him to miss a
connection? But anyway, Charlie Powell and a few others wanted to inveigle Fischer into
returning home with them for a night of speed chess. [Editor’s Note: Keith Vickers, a close
friend of the late Charlie Powell, adds that Charlie often spoke of playing Fischer two blitz
games and getting crushed in both.] To this end Powell assured Fischer that a bus to Washington
would come through Ashland (a small town just north of Richmond, where Powell was living
at the time) early the next morning. Which was true, except that he failed to mention that the bus
didn’t normally stop in Ashland, it just rolled through. But Fischer bought the tale, and I have it
on authority of several witnesses that as the sun came up the next day, Powell dumped the
astonished future World Champion on the side of a deserted stretch of highway, with
instructions that this was a good place to try to flag down the bus as it passed by!

He must have made it, though, because I’ve also talked to people who saw his Washington
performance. [Editor’s Note: he did arrive later that day in Washington where he was met at the
bus station by U.S. Olympiad Team Captain Eliot Hearst] According to Phil Collier, Fischer
gave a lecture in which he discussed his game with Botvinnik from the 1962 Olympiad. You’ll
recall the game began 1.c4 g6 2.d4 and in My Sixty Memorable Games Fischer remarked that
White can prevent the Grünfeld if he wishes by 2.Nc3 Nf6 3.e4. However, in his lecture
Fischer said that if Botvinnik had played 2.Nc3 he intended to reply 2...Bh6??! intending 3.d4
Bxc1. I’m sure this was intended as humor. But according to Collier, he said it with such a
totally straight face that no one could tell whether he was joking or not.

Report by Spencer Matthews:

In the late afternoon of March 5, 1964, I traveled from Charlottesville to Richmond with a
fellow graduate student, Jack Wright. A law student, Richard Callaghan, who was a member of
the Charlottesville and University chess clubs attended also, but traveled separately. We had
dinner in Richmond and arrived at the site of the exhibition well ahead of the scheduled hour. I
must confess, I cannot now remember either the scheduled time or the site. What I do remember
is that Fischer was very late. I think his plane had been delayed leaving New York and/ or
Washington by snow. The assembled company feared that the exhibition might have to be called
off. When we finally got word that Fischer had left Washington, Jack and I went to the
Richmond airport to wait for him. We had him to ourselves, so to speak, for the roughly 20-
minute drive back to the site. You can imagine what a high point that was for us. He was genial,
but uncommunicative about any subject outside chess. When he talked about chess, his sentence
structure got very intricate and precise. Jack was partial to the Slav Defense and Fischer
offered to open 1.d4 against him, but Jack declined the favor telling Fischer that he also liked
the Petroff. Fischer played the Vienna against Jack!

It was about 11:00 p.m. when Fischer began to address the players. I had imagined that he
would do something to keep the length of the event manageable; but he began with a lecture as
advertised. It took the form of a running commentary on one of his tournament games. The game
he chose is game 29 in My 60 Memorable Games, Fischer-Geller, Bled 1961.

My recollection is that it was about midnight when the exhibition actually began and close to
3:00 a.m. when it ended. It was explained that Fischer would permit each of us two “passes”
during the evening if we needed extra time for particular moves. Otherwise, we were to wait
until he arrived at the board and then make the move we selected. One elderly gentleman near
me apparently was hard of hearing and repeatedly waved Fischer by. After several such
instances, Fischer stood before the board, tapped on the table and said, “C’mon, fella, move!
This ain’t postal chess!”

(29) Sicilian Dragon B76

Fischer - Spencer Matthews
Richmond (simul), March 5, 1964

1.e4 c5 2.Nf3 d6 3.d4 cxd4 4.Nxd4 Nf6 5.Nc3

Against 5...Nc6, Fischer preferred 6.Bc4 over 6.Bg5.

“Recently in a skittles game someone tried 6...g6!? against me. The game continued: 7.Nxc6
bxc6 8.e5 Nh5? (Correct is 8...Ng4. Not 8...dxe5 9.Bxf7+, winning the queen — that was
another skittles game!); 9.Qf3! e6 10.g4 Ng7 11. Ne4 Qa5+ 12.Bd2 Qxe5 13. Bc3, Black
resigns.” Fischer in My 60 Memorable Games, p. 87.

Black tried 8...Nd7 in Fischer-Wilkerson, Davis (clock simul), 1964, but White quickly won
after 9.exd6 exd6 10.O-O d5 11.Nxd5 Nc5 12.Qd4 cxd5 13.Bb5+ Bd7 14.Bxd7+ Qxd7
15.Qxh8 f5 16.Re1 Ne6 17.Qf6. That made the score 1:1 between the players: three days prior,
Wilkerson had beaten Bobby in a simul in San Francisco.

5...g6 6.Be3 Bg7 7.f3 O-O 8.Qd2 Nc6 9.O-O-O

Fischer deviates from his normal 9. Bc4.

9...d5 10.Nxc6 bxc6 11.h4!?

This is rare move has been tried only a handful of times. White usually follows 10.Nxc6 with
11.Bh6. GM Sergey Tiviakov, in his Chess informant monograph on the Dragon covering B75-
76 (the Yugoslav Attack without Bc4), gives 11.h4 Qa5 as unclear and suggests 11...Be6!?. This
got a tryout in Sorri-Arnaudov, Kharrachov 1967, where Black got good play for the exchange
after 12.e5 Nd7 13. Bh6 Bxe5 14.Bxf8 Qxf8. A similar idea was seen in Maiorov-Gaponenko,
Krasnodar 1995, after 11...e6 12. e5 Nd7 13.Bh6 Bxe5. Matthews opts for the same theme of
sacrificing the rook for the dark-squared bishop plus a pawn.
11...Qa5 12.e5 Nd7 13.Bh6 Bxe5 14.Bxf8 Nxf8 15.h5 Rb8 16.Re1 d4 17.Rxe5 Qxe5
18.Ne4 Bf5 19.Bd3 Bxe4 20.Bxe4 c5 21.hxg6 hxg6 22. Bd3 Ne6 23.Bc4 Nf4 24.g3 d3

24...Nh5 may be stronger, as after the text White has 25.Bxf7+ Kxf7 26.Qxf4+ with
approximate equality.

25.cxd3? Ne2+ 26.Kb1 Nd4?!

26...Nxg3 was a better try for the advantage.

27.Qh6??

Fischer completely overlooks Black’s threat. Correct was 27.f4 with equality.

27...Rxb2+ 28.Kxb2 Nf5+ 0-1 (O.G.)

Naturally, I was high as a kite. I almost ran the car off the road on the way back to
Charlottesville thinking about the game. If Jack hadn’t warned me, I’d have hit a car pulling out
on to the road from a country driveway. Jack and I had classes the next day (oops, I mean later
that day) and so we were anxious to get back. Until I read your account, I had no idea Fischer
had been dumped beside the highway to flag down a bus; but in those days in rural Virginia, that
was a common way to get to cities. Fischer was very gracious in signing the scoresheet. I put
the damn thing away so carefully when I moved from Charlottesville that I’ve never been able
to find it again.

I can’t document it, but I have the very clear memory that Fischer played 44 games, won 37,
drew 4, and lost 3. The reason the memory is so strong is that soon after the event, I read that
he’d gone undefeated in a large exhibition “up north,” so I felt pretty good about Virginia chess.
Actually, my memory is that he went 64-0 in Buffalo, N.Y. I see from your book’s schedule of
exhibitions that he never even played in Buffalo, so maybe I dreamed the whole thing up.

Even though I don’t have Fischer’s signed score, I kept a good, legible copy to share with my
friends, so I’m very confident of the accuracy of the game. I’ve often wondered whether Fischer
“let” me have the win because of the lateness of the hour and because of the acquaintanceship
we had on the ride from the airport. Clearly 28.Kxb2 is the only move that doesn’t allow mate
in a few, so when he played it he might have intended to play on and force me to demonstrate
that I could hold up under the pressure. Probably, I couldn’t have. He wasn’t so considerate of
everybody. Sometime during the evening, a nearby player who had a queen against two rooks in
an ending (I can’t remember the details of the position) asked Fischer, “Can you win this?”
Fischer said, “Yes.” And the player said, “Okay, I resign.” I wondered what Fischer’s answer
would have been if the question had been framed, “Is this a win?”

NM Macon Shibut of Virginia received gold in a stack of old papers and archival junk
pertaining to chess in Virginia. He found a photocopy of a newspaper clipping on which the
date March 10, 1964 had been rubber-stamped. Unfortunately, the provenance of the article
which follows could not be determined.

Confidence Paid Dividend

by Charles Ashworth

The national chess champion knocked his king on its side. Although he moves so quickly that he
frequently knocks over pieces, in this case it was for keeps. His king stayed on its side and
Robert Fischer of New York acknowledged defeat by resigning. The winner was Charles
Powell, the Richmond chess champion.

The victory came last Thursday at the Virginia Home here. Fischer came to Richmond to play
chess with 50 Virginians simultaneously.

Earlier in the evening, before the games started, Powell had fidgeted uneasily behind his card
table. His black pieces were before him. The white were beside an aisle to be used by Fischer.

The national champion arrived four hours late at 11:10 p.m. and gave a brief lecture on chess.
At 12:10, the competition began, and, at 1:25 a.m., Fischer acknowledged that Powell had
beaten him. Confidence had come to Powell during the game. Less than an hour after the match
started, Fischer was willing to declare a draw. Powell decided to play on. “I just thought I
could beat him. We both ended up attacking each other’s king, and it was a question of who got
the other guy’s king first.” More than an hour after the Powell victory, the games concluded
with three last-minute victories by Virginians: S.G. Matthews of Charlottesville, Julian Allen
of Richmond and Carl R. Nichols of Richmond. Two other players, Bob Vassar and Jesse
Burke, both of Richmond, achieved draws.

Carl Stutz, a member of the club, later asked Fischer if such victories were common. Fischer
indicated not, although, he said, there have been wins in several of his multi-game exhibitions.

Powell, 19, was graduated from Thomas Jefferson High School last June. He is now a freshman
at Randolph-Macon College in Ashland. He plans to major in mathematics or physics. He
learned chess from his father, B.G. Powell of 3106 Rendale Ave. He has been a member of the
Richmond Chess Club for three years and is an avid promoter of the club.

He ran through the winning game the other day for a reporter. While moving the pieces with
great agility and rapidity, he kept up a running commentary on the game, interspersed with plugs
for the club. If it’s not too much, Powell said, he would like the story to mention that the 1964
city championships will begin at 7 p.m. Saturday at the Virginia Home and will continue on
Thursday and Saturday nights for two weeks.

Having said this, his hand was on his queen, which had the opposing king in check. Although
the game could have been prolonged, checkmate of his opponent was only a few moves away.

At that point the real game had ended. Powell mentioned that the Richmond Chess Club would
like more members, put his chessmen away, folded his board and departed.

Charles William Powell (1944–1991) was only 19 at the time this game was played and at the
beginning of what would turn out to be a distinguished career. A native of Richmond, he would
win the championship of his home state of Virginia seven times (starting with 1964) before
moving to San Francisco in the late 1970s.

Not long before making the move Powell played a key role for the winning team in the 1976 US
Telephone League, the Washington Plumbers, scoring 5.5 points in the 7 games he played. He
was featured on the cover of Chess Life (June 1976) along with his teammates which included
Grandmaster Lubosh Kavalek and future Word Junior Champion Mark Diesen.
 Mark Diesen (1957-2008) won the World Junior in 1976,
the first American to do so since William Lombardy in 1957.
(Photo by Jerry Hanken at Lone Pine in the late 1970s)

This was the second appearance on the cover of CL as he also appeared there in January of
1969 for winning the 1968 US Armed Forces Championship. Powell reached his peak in the
1980s, attaining a rating well over 2400 USCF and playing regularly in the Northern California
Championship (the Bagby Memorial). He tied for first in 1982 with former US Champion John
Grefe and fellow Senior Master Jeremy Silman, scoring 5.5 from 7 against a field rated over
2450 USCF.
Noted chess author IM Jeremy Silman shows Mikhail Tal the highlights at a must-see stop for
citizens of the Soviet Union. (Photo by Gwen Feldman).

This game was first published in NOST (Knights of the Square Table) in July 1964 on page 1.
(30) French Winawer C18
Fischer – Charles Powell
Richmond (simul), March 5, 1964

1.e4 e6 2.d4 d5 3.Nc3 Bb4 4.e5 c5 5.a3 Bxc3+ 6.bxc3 Qa5 7.Bd2 Qa4

Powell is anticipating a line that Lev Psakhis would make popular in the 1990s that is still
played by strong GMs today. Black blockades the a-pawn to prevent a future a4 and Ba3.

8.Rb1

White has also tried 8.Qb1, 8.Qg4 and 8.Nf3.

8...c4

The text is the logical follow up to ….Qa5-a4. If given a chance the second player will follow
with the prophylactic …h6 which prevents a future Nf3-g5-h3-f4-h5 which is a thematic
maneuver for White in the Winawer when Black commits to …c4.

9.Qg4

Bobby goes for the sharpest continuation. More circumspect is 9.Qc1.

9...Qxc2 10.Qxg7
There is no time for halfway measures: 10.Rc1 Qg6 keeps the extra pawn.

10...Qxb1+ 11.Ke2 Bd7 12.f3

On 12.Qxh8 Black has 12…Qe4+ 13.Be3 Qg6.

12...Ba4 13.Qxh8 Qd1+ 14.Ke3 Qxf1 15.Qxg8+ Ke7 16.Kf4 Nd7! 17.Qxa8 Qxg2 18.Be1
Qxh1 19.Bh4+ f6 20.exf6+ Kf7

21.Qh8??

This blunder, possibly the result of the late hour, spoils an otherwise fascinating game. Critical
was 21.Nh3 Qxh2+ 22.Ke3 when White looks to be drawing:

(a) 22…Qxh3 23.Qh8 Nxf6 24.Qxf6+ Kg8 25. Qg5+ Kf7 26.Qf6+
(b) 22...Qb8 23.Qxb8 Nxb8 24.Ng5+ Kxf6 25.Ne4+. The critical line appears to be to be
25...Kf5. After 26.Nd6+ Kg6 27.Nxb7 Bd7 Black is a pawn up in the ending, but the presence
of opposite colored bishops suggests a draw is the most likely result.

21...Qxh2+ 0–1
Charles Powell was among the participants in the 1983 Bagby Memorial, the championship
event for Northern California. Pictured left to right are: Vince McCambridge, Richard Lobo,
Craig Mar, Dennis Fritzinger, tournament director Mike Goodall (standing), Jeremy
Silman, Powell, Peter Biyiasas, and Alan Pollard (Mechanics’ Chess Club Archives).

National Master Erik Osbun, who was among those who faced Bobby at the clock simul in
Davis, California, in 1964, offers his thoughts on this game, Charles Powell and Bobby
Fischer.
Two Queens capturing all four Rooks is an unusual occurrence. The game might
make a good addition to a 2nd edition of Take My Rooks by Seirawan and Minev.
The late Charles Powell, with whom I was acquainted, contrived the victory over
the U.S. Champion. Charlie was a lawyer often assigned to defend unsavory bad
guys in court, which Charlie did not like. Chess must have afforded great relief
from those stressful tasks.
The late Robert J. Fischer, World Chess Champion 1972 – 1975, met the U.S.
chess public at many simultaneous exhibitions in 1964. I saw him in person only
two times in my life, a day at the U.S. Junior in 1957 and taking a board at Davis
on April 16, 1964. He was very popular. To the best of my knowledge he did not
do anything like that after winning the world title. Instead, after an amusing skit
with Bob Hope, he retreated to Garner Ted Armstrong’s religious establishment
and its girls. Outside of any gratification that path may have provided, it became a
financial disaster for Fischer.
In my opinion, he should have done a tour of simultaneous exhibitions across the
 U.S.A. in 1973. Greater popularity, higher fees, and continuing solvency would
have been his just for the taking. It appears to me that he did not realize fully that he
was a professional personality in the entertainment business. In that regard, the late
Walter Browne was far more professional.

1973 U.S. co-champion John Grefe and six-time U.S. champion Walter Browne in 1975, the
year of Browne's first tour around the United States. (Photo by Alan Benson)

The following letter, by Richard Verber, confirms that Bobby's 1964 tour, raised the simul pay
scale for top American players. Browne received $275 for 30 boards (and $10 for every extra
board) in 1978 while Bobby commanded $250 for 40 boards fourteen years earlier.

The late Richard Verber (1944-2001) was one of the top Chicago players of the 1960s and
1970s who represented the United States in three Student Olympiads. He was a noted organizer
and tournament organizer who brought many top events to the Windy City. An obituary for
Verber can be found at http://articles.chicagotribune.com/2001-12-
16/news/0112160004_1_chess-master-chess-federation-chess-scholars.
Walter Browne in action at the Boeing Cafeteria in Seattle on May 27, 1975. The man standing
with glasses on is Angus Pitt, President of the Boeing Chess Club and directly below him, also
with glasses, is Robert Karch. (Photo by Dan Bailey)

(31) French Winawer C19

Fischer- Jim Hughes
Richmond (simul) March 5, 1964

1.e4 e6 2.d4 d5 3.Nc3 Bb4 4.e5 c5 5.a3 Bxc3+ 6.bxc3 Ne7 7.a4 Bd7 8.Nf3 Nbc6 9.Bd3 c4?!

9...Qa5 10.Qd2 f6 is the main line. The text is often played, but works better if White hasn't
played a4 and Black has blockaded that square with the bishop or queen. Now White will be
able to bring his bishop directly to a3 with strong effect.

10.Be2 Qa5 11.Qd2 0–0–0 12.0–0 f6 13.Ba3 h5

The immediate 13...Nf5 was possible. Black gets kicked back after 14.g4 Nfe7, but White's
kingside is loosened.

14.Rfe1 Nf5 15.Bf1 Rdg8 16.g3 fxe5 17.Nxe5??

A rare tactical mistake by Bobby then goes unpunished. Forced was 17.dxe5 with a sharp fight
looming after 17...h4

17...Ncxd4??

The right idea but the wrong knight! Black should have played 17...Nfxd4! winning a pawn.

18.Bb4!

This in-between move, made possible by Black's knight leaving c6, wins a piece and the game.

18...Qd8 19.cxd4 Be8 20.Bh3 g5 21.Bxf5 exf5 22.a5 h4 23.Bc5 a6 24.Rab1 Rh7 25.Rb6
Bb5 26.Rd6 Qc7 27.Rg6 Rgg7 28.Qxg5 hxg3 29.fxg3 Qxa5 30.Rf1 Qc7 31.Rxf5 Rxg6
32.Rf8+ 1–0

Washington, D.C., March 8

+52, -4, =9
 U.S. Chess Ace Fischer Demonstrates for Fans

by Jerry Doolittle

Bobby Fischer of Brooklyn, who turns 21 today, is the Cassius Clay of the chess world. He is
merely the greatest and he was at The Roosevelt, 3101 16th St. NW, yesterday to tell the
Washington Chess Divan all about it.

Unhappily, as was once the case with Cassius, there is a small technical cloud on Fischer’s title
as the greatest. The current World Champion is Tigran (The Tiger) Petrosian of Russia.

Fischer is only champion of the United States, a title he held back in 1962 as well, when he
was serving “top board” for America in the International Team Olympiad at Varna, Bulgaria.
Top board in the world at the time was Mikhail Botvinnik, a Russian, towards whom Fischer,
then 19, felt little of the respect due the champ’s honors and great age — 51.

“I am going to demonstrate this game I played between me and Botvinnik,” Fischer told the
cream of Washington chessdom yesterday. “He had written some things about me, so I was very
happy when I got this opportunity to play him. The only thing was I thought maybe he wouldn’t
want to play me. So I started spreading some rumors around that he wouldn’t show for the
game. I figured that would get his dander up so he would show.”

Fischer’s pre-opening gambit worked. The champion of the world showed up for the match
[sic], which Fischer replayed on a large wall board. For non-chessplayers, Fischer’s lecture
was like listening to jokes in a foreign language. He would move pieces with bewildering
speed, look up, and, as if on cue, the whole audience would dissolve in chuckles over the
cunning of the trap into which the slow-witted Russian was about to blunder.

But Fischer talked, too, as follows:

“The point here is Botvinnik doesn’t play the center attack and he’s too old to change. This is
the same error that Donald Byrne made against me in what has been called the Game of the
Century. Now, according to what Botvinnik later wrote, this is carelessly played on my part. He
recommends a miserable, passive move like this … but Botvinnik plays here. He doesn’t
realize that he’s falling into a trap.

“So now Botvinnik comes up with his million dollar move. I’m surprised that the fans didn’t
start clapping. If you’ll notice, he’s made what’s actually kind of a beginner’s mistake.

“Now, here I probably made, well, it’s not a mistake, but … I actually just made an elementary
blunder. My opponent took a very big sigh of relief.” So who won? Nobody. It was, as often
happens in championship chess, a draw.

Fischer also played simultaneous matches [sic] with 65 players, winning 52, losing four and
drawing nine. The four to beat him were Mark Smith, Daniel Matthews, Henry Steinbach, and
Lew Hucks. (Washington Post, March 9, 1964)

Dr. Richard S. Cantwell, who edited the “Chess Challenge” column in the American Chess
Quarterly, had this to add about Bobby’s visit to the nation’s capital:

Bobby arrived in Washington, D.C. at the bus station on Friday afternoon (March 6) where he
was picked up by Eliot Hearst who took him to my home. During his stay over the weekend he
played quite successfully against U.S. Championship participants Hearst and Hans Berliner in
games where they played under normal conditions and he blindfold. Bobby also enjoyed going
through my chess library of some 3,000 volumes and I remember that he was particularly eager
to see Trifunovic’s book on the Grünfeld which he said was very hard to come by, even in
Europe. Other books he ended up buying from me — I wasn’t particularly eager to part with
them but felt it was for the good of American chess — were Levenfish’s Sovremenny Debiut
[Editor’s Note: This rare and justly famous book, devoted entirely to 1.e4 e5, formed the
starting point for the first ECO, Vol. C. Published in 1940, it was planned to be one in a series
covering all the openings, but World War Two changed that.] and Bachmann’s four-volume
series on Steinitz.

Levenfish’s famous Sovremenny Debiut.

At one point during the weekend Bobby offered to look over some of my recent games. I found
his comments most instructive. He then asked if I would like to play some 5-minute chess. At
2100 I didn’t see that I had much chance of success and was a little taken aback when he set the
clocks at 5-5. He said that having looked at some of my games I didn’t play that bad and we
could start there and make adjustments after a few games. Not too soon later we were playing
5-1 and I didn’t win a single game.

The exhibition took place on Sunday afternoon. I remember that Bobby demonstrated his game
with Botvinnik from the Varna Olympiad. He was a very fine lecturer. Extremely patient, he
would let people interrupt him, politely answer their questions, then immediately head back
into the lecture without missing a beat. He was very anxious to give people their money’s
worth.
GM Larry Kaufman, who attended the exhibition in Washington as a spectator, remembers:
“There are three things about the simul that still stand out clearly in my mind: 1) The large
number of games with 1.e4 c6 2.d4 d5 3.Nc3 dxe4 4.Nxe4 Bf5 5.Nc5; 2) A game with the line
1.e4 c6 2.d4 d5 3.Nc3 dxe4 4.Nxe4 Nd7 5.Nf3 Ngf6 6.Nxf6+ Nxf6 7.Ne5. This line is
associated with Karpov and the early 1970s, but Fischer was well acquainted with it at least a
half-dozen years before. I remember distinctly that one game in the exhibition went 7...Bf5 8.c3
Nd7 9.Nxf7 Kxf7 10.Qf3 e6 11.g4 and Bobby won in good style; 3) Bobby asked for the score
of his game with Danny Collins, who was forced to resign after about 20 moves. It wasn’t
immediately apparent why, but a close examination of the position revealed a rare full-board
zugzwang.

Grandmaster Larry Kaufman. (Photo by John Hillery)

John Evans

(32) Sicilian Sozin B88

Fischer - John Evans
Washington, D.C. (simul), March 8, 1964

Notes by I.A. Horowitz.

1.e4 c5 2.Nf3 d6 3.d4 cxd4 4.Nxd4 Nf6 5.Nc3 a6 6.Bc4 e6 7.Bb3 Nc6 8.Be3 Bd7 9.f4 Qa5
10.O-O h5

11.h3 h4 12.Qf3 Qh5 13.Qf2

After 13.Qf2, it is clear that White stands better. By advancing his king rook pawn, Black has
committed himself on the kingside and weakened that flank. With his king in the center or on the
right wing, Black had too many easily assailable targets.

13...Rc8 14.f5 Nxd4 15.Bxd4 e5 16.Be3

Here 16.Bb6 would have exerted a more lasting bind.

16...Bc6

John Evans comments: “After White’s 16th turn, Black was tempted to sacrifice the exchange
for two pawns by 16...Rxc3 17.bxc3 Nxe4 18.Qe1 Bxf5. “But,” Evans continues, “I did not
have the courage to play a ‘Fischer’ move against Fischer!”

It seems that in this case Evans’ discretion in avoiding the maneuver proved more than
successful than his valor might have. In the prospective sacrificial line, White would surely
have had excellent chances after 19.Bb6 threatening 20.Ba4+ disrupting the Black forces.

The sequence as played was sharply handled by both sides, and the draw against the champion
was well earned.

17.Bd5 Be7 18.Rad1 Rd8 19.Bb6 Rd7 20.Rfe1 g5 21.fxg6 Qxg6 22.Rf1 Bxd5 23.exd5 Nh5
24.Qf5 Qxf5 25.Rxf5 Ng3 26.Rf2 f5 27.Ne2 f4 28.Nxg3 hxg3 29.Re2 Bd8 30.Bxd8 Kxd8
31.Re4 Rdh7 32.Rd3 Rc7 Draw (New York Times, March 26, 1964)

Daaim Shabazz at his excellent website thechessdrum.net reports that Evans was a member of
the Panamanian national team back in the 60s and later settled in New York.

The following game is one of the more convincing defeats Bobby suffered on his tour. Nothing
flashy — White is just steadily outplayed.

(33) Sicilian Taimanov B42

Fischer - Lew Hucks
Washington, D.C. (simul), March 8, 1964

1.e4 c5 2.Nf3 e6 3.d4 cxd4 4.Nxd4 a6 5.Bd3 Qc7 6.O-O Nc6 7.Nxc6 bxc6 8.Nd2 Nf6 9.b3

Here 9.a4 Nf6 10.Qf3 Bc5 11.Nc4 O-O 12.Ne3 Re8 13.Bc4 Be6 14.Bxe6 Rxe6 15.Nf5 was
slightly better for White in Keres-Tal, Yugoslavia Candidates 1959, though Black ended up
winning the exciting struggle in 40 moves.
9...Bc5 10.Bb2 e5 11.Kh1 d6 12.f4 Ng4 13.Qe2 Ne3 14.Rf2 Bg4 15.Qe1 Qa7 16.fxe5 Nxc2
17.Bxc2 Bxf2 18.Qf1 Bd4 19.Bxd4 Qxd4 20.Nc4 dxe5 21.h3 Be2 0-1 (O.G.)

“Bobby knocked the king over as he passed. I was momentarily stunned. I had to chase him
halfway around the hall to get him to sign my scoresheet. I had won before he had beat any of
the other 64 players.” (Hucks)

The following game was part of a fascinating article on middlegame zugzwangs by

Grandmaster Larry Kaufman that was published in Chess Life.

(34) Caro Kann B18

Fischer – Daniel Collins
Washington D.C. (simul), March 8, 1964

1.e4 c6 2.d4 d5 3.Nc3 dxe4 4.Nxe4 Bf5 5.Nc5 Qc7 6.Bd3 Bxd3 7.Nxd3 Nd7 8.Bf4 Qb6
9.Nf3 f6??

This move is so bad one might think that Black inadvertently touched his f-pawn and was
forced to move it. 9...Ngf6 10.0–0 e6 11.c3 was a quick draw in Nikolenko-Burmakin,
Moscow 2009.
10.0–0 0–0–0 11.a4 Re8 12.a5 Qd8 13.Re1 g5 14.Bg3 h5 15.h4 g4 16.Nd2

As Kaufman points out, 16.Re6! would have hastened the end.

16...Nh6 17.Nc4 Nf5 18.a6 b5 19.Na5 Qb6

Collins could at least get his pieces out with 19...e5 (the reason why 17.Re6!, clamping down
on the e-pawn, would have been so devastating).

20.Nc5 Nxg3 21.Re6 Nb8 22.fxg3 Rd8 23.c3 Rd6 24.Qe2 Rxe6 25.Qxe6+ Kc7 26.b4!

This is a rare middlegame zugzwang. Black is defenseless against 27.Qf7 and 28.Ne6+ but his
fate is even worse when he is forced to move!

26...Rh6 27.Qg8 Nxa6 28.Qxf8 Rh7 29.Nxc6 Nxc5 30.bxc5 Qxc6 31.Rxa7+ Qb7 32.Rxb7+
Kxb7 33.Qg8 Rh6 34.Qg7 Rh8 35.Qxh8 e5 36.d5 e4 37.Qxf6 e3 38.Qb6+ Ka8 39.c6 e2
40.Qb7 mate 1–0 Chess Life, September 2009, page 37.

(35) Sicilian B57

Fischer - NN
Washington D.C. (simul), March 8, 1964

1.e4 c5 2.Nf3 Nc6 3.d4 cxd4 4.Nxd4 Nf6 5.Nc3 d6 6.Bc4 g6?! 7.Nxc6 bxc6 8.e5 dxe5??
9.Bxf7+ 1–0 (O.G. sold on E-Bay by a seller with the initials J.L.)

The following two games come from an obscure pamphlet celebrating the 12th anniversary of
the Pan American Chess Club of Washington D.C. which reports that club members Daniel
Matthews and Mark Smith both won, while J. Fermoselle-Bacardi (the last game to finish) and
Arthur Gropp drew.

The Colombian IM Miguel Cuellar had a close association with the Pan American Club having
given exhibitions there in 1958 and 1964 (December). He headed club members on the USCF
ratings for 1966 at 2448 followed by Kenneth Clayton at 2188, N. Ponce 2102 and Richard
McClellan 1927.

(36) King’s Gambit Declined C30

Fischer – Mark Smith
Washington, D.C. (simul), March 8, 1964
1.e4 e5 2.f4 Bc5 3.Nf3 d6 4.Bc4

4.c3 Nf6 5.d4 has been played in hundreds of games. If White wants to try to build a pawn
center this is the way to do it.

4...Nc6 5.c3

5.Nc3 is much more common and after 5...Nf6 6.d3 play has transposed to into a Kings Gambit
Declined/ Vienna hybrid. Black can then choose between many moves with 6...Bg4 and 6...a6
(to preserve the dark-squared bishop from exchange) the most popular.

5...Nf6 6.d3

Prudent. After 6.d4 exd4 7.cxd4 Bb4+ 8.Bd2 Bxd2+ 9.Nbxd2 d5 10.exd5 Nxd5 a position has
been reached akin to the Guioco Piano line 1.e4 e5 2.Nf3 Nc6 3.Bc4 Bc5 4.c3 Nf6 5.d4 exd4
6.cxd4 Bb4+ 7.Bd2 Bxd2+ 8.Qxd2 d5 9.exd5 Nxd5 with White having the extra move f4 in
(Black played ...d7-d6-d5 instead of ...d7-d5).

The only way White can try to use the weakening f4 in a positive way is by 11.Qe2+ as ...Be6
is not possible. However after 11...Nce7 12.Bxd5 Qxd5 13.Rc1, planning Rc5 and f5, Black
has the simple answer 13...Qd8.

6...Qe7

6...0–0 planning ...Re8 and ...d5 was more ambitious.

7.Bb3 0–0 8.Qe2 Bd7 9.Nbd2 Rae8

Here 9...exf4 10.d4 Bb6 11.0–0 Na5 12.Bc2 c5 was an interesting attempt to play against
White's center.
10.f5 Kh8 11.Nc4 h6?

This creates a target for no reason. Instead, 11...d5 counterattacking in the center, was much
more logical.

12.Ne3 Nd8 13.g4 c6 14.h4?!

Either 14.g5 hxg5 15.Nxg5 or 14.Qg2, preparing h4 and g5, were better choices.

14...Bxe3 15.Bxe3 Nxg4 16.0–0–0 Nxe3 17.Qxe3 a5 18.Rdg1 Rg8?

This move deprives the king of vital breathing room. Smith should have launched his own
attack with 18...b5

19.Rg3

19.Rg5!, intending Rh5, was much more to the point.

19...Qf8?

The note after Black's 18th move is applicable here, but even more so. With ...Rg8 and ...Qf8
Smith has constructed a coffin around his own king. Once again, 19...b5 was the best try. Black
should be thinking of following up with...a4 if it chases White's bishop from the a2-g8 diagonal.

20.h5

The second player’s pieces are so bottled up that White could consider 20.Qa7 or 20.Qb6,
picking off the a-pawn. 20.Rhg1 and 20.Rg5 are also not bad, but Fischer's move is best and
sets up a devastating blow.

20...b5 21.Nh4 a4 22.Ng6+?

Oh no! 22.f6! gxf6 (22...axb3 23.fxg7+ Rxg7 24.Qxh6+ Kg8 25.Rhg1) 23.Ng6+!! fxg6 24.hxg6
forces mate. Fischer must have seen a ghost when he played 22.Ng6+.

22...fxg6 23.hxg6 axb3 24.Rgh3 bxa2 25.Qa7

If 25.Rxh6+ then 25...gxh6 26.Rxh6+ Kg7 27.Rh7+ Kf6 28.Qa7 Re7 and White has no more
pieces to attack with.

25...Nb7 26.Qxa2 Ra8 27.Qf7 Ra1+ 28.Kc2 Rxh1 0–1

(37) King’s Gambit C38

Fischer - Daniel Mathews
Washington, D.C. (simul), March 8, 1964
1.e4 e5 2.f4 exf4 3.Nf3 d6

This might well have been played under the influence of Fischer's "Bust to the King's Gambit"
article published in the very first issue of the American Chess Quarterly (Summer 1961).

4.d4 g5 5.Bc4 h6 6.0–0 Bg7 7.c3 Ne7

Fischer focused primarily on 7…Nc6 (the choice of Puc and Rabar, Euwe and Keres) in his
article but was of the opinion that 7...Ne7! is best.

8.g3 g4

8… d5! 9.exd5 fxg3 10.hxg3 (if 10.Ne5 gxh2+! 11.Kh1 0–0 12.d6 Qxd6 wins) 10...0–0 11.Qb3
(?. Houdini assesses 11.Ne5 and 11.Nbd2 as equal) 11… Qd6 12.Kg2 Nf5 winning, was
Fischer’s analysis.

Bobby wrote in 1961 “there is little experience with this subvariation”. This is still true 50
years later. One of the few master versus master tests in this line was Popovych-Karklins,
Ventura (US Open) 1972 which saw 7…Ne7 8.g3 d5 9.exd5 fxg3 10.hxg3 0-0 11.Nbd2 b5
12.Bxb5 Bb7 13.Bd3 Bxd5 with equal chances.

9.Nh4 0–0?

9...f3 was more or less forced. White can sacrifice on f3 to open the f-file but Black is not
without resources. For example: 10.Nxf3 gxf3 (10...d5 11.exd5 gxf3 12.Qxf3 0–0 13.Qh5 Qd6)
11.Qxf3 0–0 12.Qh5 d5.

10.Bxf4 d5 11.exd5 Nxd5 12.Bxd5

12.Qd2! Nxf4 13.Qxf4 was very strong for White who will soon mass all of his pieces near the
Black king.

12...Qxd5 13.Nd2

13.Ng2 intending Ne3 was another plan.

13...b6 14.Qe2 Nc6

The best move. Mathews could have played the dangerous-looking 14...Bb7, but it would turn
out to be a bluff after 15.Qxg4 Qh1+ 16.Kf2 Qxh2+ 17.Ke1 when both Black's king and queen
are in danger.

15.Qe4

15.Qg2 would have offered Bobby the better of it in the endgame after 15...Qxg2+ 16.Nxg2 Re8
17.Ne3.

15...Qd7

Here it was advisable to accept White's offer to simplify the position with 15...Qxe4 16.Nxe4
Re8 and equal play.

16.Bxh6!

16.d5! Ne7 17.d6 cxd6 18.Rae1! (18.Qxa8 Nc6 with ...Bb7 to follow is not as effective)
18...Nc6 19.Bxh6 Bxh6 20.Nf5 was also very strong.

16...Re8

16...Bxh6 17.Nf5 Bg7 18.Qxg4 f6 19.Qg6 with Rf4 followed by Rg4 or Rh4 as well as Ne4
produces an overpowering attack.

17.Qf4 Nxd4

Matthews finds the best practical chance but it should not save him.

18.cxd4?

Bobby stumbles. There was a pretty win to be had after 18.Rae1! Ne2+ 19.Rxe2 Rxe2 20.Bxg7
Kxg7 21.Qf6+ Kg8 with 22.Ne4! Rxe4 23.Ng6! (a nice two-move sequence worth
remembering) 23...fxg6 24.Qxg6+ Qg7 25.Qxe4 and Black has no answer to the twin threats of
Qxa8 and Qe8+.

18...Qxd4+ 19.Qxd4?

19.Rf2 Qxf4 20.Bxf4 Bxb2 21.Rd1 Bd4 22.Nc4 Bxf2+ 23.Kxf2 Be6 24.Rc1 offered chances to
resist.

19...Bxd4+ 20.Rf2 Re2 21.Raf1 Ba6?

21...Be6 22.Nb3 Bxb3 23.axb3 Rxb2 would have left Fischer hard-pressed to defend. The text
offers White one last chance but Bobby fails to grab it.

22.Nb3?

22.Nf5 Bxf2+ 23.Rxf2 Rae8 24.Rxe2 Rxe2 25.Bf4 was the missed opportunity. White's minor
pieces cooperate well together which is key for positions involving two pieces versus a rook in
the endgame.

22...Bxf2+ 23.Rxf2 Re1+ 0–1

Bobby celebrated his 21st birthday the following day.

New York, March 9-14 (?)

+30, -0, =0

Beth Cassidy captures the Manhattan skyline circa 1965. Bobby is always associated with New
York City but he lived almost as long in Los Angeles spending roughly 1949-1972 in the former
and 1973-1992 in the latter.
One of Fischer’s two exhibitions in New York was held in the far north of Manhattan around
186th street and Amsterdam Avenue. Yeshiva University, one of the leading schools for
Orthodox Judaism in the United States, was host to Fischer in the middle of March.

The exact date isn’t certain but this much is known. The March 1964 issue of Chess Life has a
picture of Bobby playing in Westerly, Rhode Island on page 55. Alongside the photo is a
caption that lists the places that Fischer had visited and Yeshiva is there sandwiched in
between Washington and Pittsburgh.

The Yeshiva University school paper, the Commentator, didn’t report on Fischer’s visit at the
time, but the December 30, 1964 issue has a photo and story on a simul that GM Arthur
Bisguier gave there. In the article it’s mentioned that Fischer went 30-0-0 in his simul.

This was confirmed in a conversation with Rabbi Steven Katz, who played against Bobby at
Yeshiva. He remembers that it was held downstairs in the cafeteria at Rubin Hall. He further
relates that at the end of the exhibition several members of the Yeshiva chess team gave Bobby
a position to solve from a book on combinations that had stumped them. Looking intently at the
position for several minutes Bobby finally looked up and said, “The position is wrong!”

Other players participating in the exhibition were Jerry Aronoff, Henry Horwitz, Larry Kaplan,
Benjamin Tabori, Ira Rapaport, and Moishe Morduchowitz. The latter also remembers the
exhibition being played in the lunch room at Rubin Hall and believes that it was held on a
weekday, which would make T-Th (10-12) the most likely date.

Yeshiva University had a very active chess team that was well chronicled in the student paper
in much the way that football teams might be at other universities. Besides participating in the
Metropolitan Intercollegiate Chess League the team traveled to Philadelphia and Washington to
play matches against teams such as the Franklin Mercantile Chess Club.
 Bobby Fischer, March 1964. (Photo by Glenn Wheeler)

Pittsburgh, March 15
+50, -1, =2

Fischer Flashes
The simultaneous exhibition of U.S. Champion Robert J. Fischer on March 15 was a very
successful venture. With sufficient advance publicity a crowd of well over 100 attended. Parts
of the proceedings were later televised locally. In actual play, Fischer won 50 games, lost one
(to Chuck Hoey, who got his picture in Sports Illustrated as a result) and drew two with Brad
Ilsley and Art Sivitz.

Marty Lubell remembers the exhibition in Pittsburgh:

The best players at the club, Bob Bornholz, Bill Byland, Fred Sorenson and I did not play in the
simultaneous event. I would have liked to play but I had to organize everything.

Fischer was in perfect behavior. He came in at night and went to his hotel by cab and we paid
for it. I picked him up in the morning and brought him to the site of the simultaneous exhibition.
A couple of the players had strange sets, one of Chinese pieces and another in silver and gold
where it was hard to distinguish the pawns, bishops, and queens. I told Fischer that I would get
these players Staunton chess sets which the club had in abundance but he said not to bother. It
would not make any difference to him and the players were more likely to get confused than he
was (he laughed at his own remarks). I paid him the agreed fee after the exhibition and then I
and a number of the players at the club took him out to dinner. The conversation continued
without interruption and I believe he answered every question put to him even the silly ones.
He had a wonderful disposition at the time. Everyone really was delighted with him and
admired him. Incidentally the dinner was at a Jewish restaurant but he never indicated any
unhappiness over this fact. I do not believe at the time that any of the players were aware of his
anti-Semitism but maybe this all arose much later.

( 38) Sicilian Sozin B87

Fischer - Art Sivitz
Pittsburgh (simul), March 15, 1964

1.e4 c5 2.Nf3 d6 3.d4 cxd4 4.Nxd4 Nf6 5.Nc3 a6 6.Bc4 e6 7.Bb3 Be7 8.f4 b5 9.e5 dxe5
10.fxe5 Nd5 11.Nxd5 exd5 12.Qf3 Be6 13.O-O Bc5 14.Be3 O-O 15.Rad1 Ra7 16.Kh1
Bxd4 17.Bxd4 Rd7 18.c3 Nc6 19.Bc2 g6 20.Qg3 Nxd4 21.cxd4 f5 22.exf6 Rxf6 23.Bb3
Rdf7 24.Rxf6 Rxf6 25.Qe5 Qf8 26.Kg1 Qf7

27.Re1 Kg7 28.Rf1 h5 29.h4 a5 30.a3 Qf8 31.Rf3 Qf7 32.Bc2 Qf8 33.b4 axb4 34.axb4 Qd8
35.Bb1 Bf7 36.Bd3 Be8 37.Rf4 Qd6 38.Rxf6 Qxf6 39.Qxd5 Qxh4 40.Qe5+ Qf6 41.Qc5
Qc6 42.d5 Qxc5+ 43.bxc5 Kf6 44.c6 b4 45.c7 Bd7 46.Kf2 Ke5 47.Bxg6 Kxd5 48.Bxh5 Kd6
Draw (En Passant, 1987)
Chuck Hoey pictured later in life with part of his famous table tennis collection. Hoey was
inducted into the U.S. Table Tennis Hall of Fame in 2008.

Cleveland, March 18
+51, -0, =0

My Impression of R. Fischer

by Joseph Chavayda

Fischer without any doubt is the Stormy Petrel of Chess. Watching him move rapidly from
board to board, not talking, sometimes smiling, he makes his moves seemingly without any
compunction, but as each game progresses, the position after the first ten moves or so literally
seems to lend itself to explosive-like moves. The fifty-one players were nervous — this is a
psychological effect. The kibitzers (Bobby didn’t register any objections) had a field day of
trying to help their buddies — and were amazed that if their recommended moves were made,
the moves seemed to backfire.

Those of you who witnessed I. Viets’ (Youngstown) game, witnessed the position where
Fischer with two Rooks had Viets’ queen and rook en prise, and no matter what Viets could do,
he would lose material, and resignation was brought about.

After the simultaneous was over (Fischer 51, Cleveland 0), he received a standing ovation. We
(Dave Hopkins, Jim Schroeder, Hart Fleming, Thomas Ellison, Craig Henderson and the
writer) took Bob out for dinner at Boukair’s. So during the meal and our coffee, we talked —
what else — about chess. We talked about various games of the simultaneous, and were amazed
at his total recall of games played. During our conversation, we asked him many questions,
such as:
BLINDFOLD CHESS: He commented that he could probably do some but it is a terrific strain.

RETURN ENGAGEMENT: He would like to play 100 or more players. (Capablanca during
the 1920’s played 104 players and set a record for the time.)

INTERNATIONAL EVENT: He said he would play provided he was guaranteed $2,000.00.

This too for me is way out of line. During the 1957 U.S. Open here in Cleveland, we tried to
raise $4,000.00 and fell considerably short of our goal. (This is strictly my opinion.) Cleveland
is not ready for an International Tournament.

NEXT INTERZONAL: Participation in the next Interzonal, Bob said he definitely will not
participate. This to me is all wrong. While it is true he has many high ideals of what is his
opinion in fair play. (The Folly of Youth.) We all read of his comments on the last Interzonal.
He was bitterly disillusioned. In my opinion and as far as I am concerned he must enter the next
Interzonal to prove that he is the greatest chess genius since Paul Morphy. He must as he did in
the last U.S. Championship (won eleven, lost none, no drawn games) win all his games and
shatter the Russian monopoly on chess.

All in all we were impressed with Bob. He must mature and find the right combination of
philosophy and life.

This article and the following games come from the Cleveland Chess Bulletin, April 1964.

(39) Orangutan A00

Fischer - Donald Ina
Cleveland (simul), March 18, 1964

1.b4 e6 2.Bb2 d5 3.Nf3 Nf6 4.b5 b6 5.g3 a6 6.a4 axb5 7.axb5 Rxa1 8.Bxa1 Qd6 9.Bg2 Be7
10.O-O O-O 11.Qc1 Qb4 12.Nc3 d4 13.Na2 Qxb5 14.Nxd4 Qa6 15.Nc3 Bb7 16.e4 e5
17.Nf5 Bb4 18.Nd5 Nxd5 19.exd5 f6 20.Qd1 Bc5 21.d4 Bd6 22.Qg4 g6 23.Nxd6 cxd6
24.Qe6+ Kg7 25.Qxd6 exd4 26.Bxd4 b5 27.Qc7+ Kh6 28.Ra1 Rc8 29.Be3+ g5 30.Bxg5+ 1-
0

(40) Caro-Kann Closed B10

Fischer – Donald Zaas
Cleveland (simul), March 18, 1964

1.e4 c6 2.d3 d5 3.Nd2 dxe4 4.dxe4 Nf6 5.Ngf3 e6 6.Bd3 Bc5 7.O-O O-O 8.Qe2 Nbd7 9.b3
Re8 10.Bb2 e5 11.Rad1 Qe7 12.Nc4 Bd6 13.Nxd6 Qxd6 14.Nh4 Qc5 15.Nf5 Nf8 16.Qf3
Ng6 17.g3 Be6 18.h4 h5 19.Bc1 Ng4 20.Kg2 Ne7 21.Nxe7+ Qxe7 22.Qe2 Rad8 23.f3 Nf6
24.Bg5 g6 25.Rde1 Kg7
26.f4 Bg4 27.Qf2 Qe6 28.Bc4 Bh3+ 29.Kh1 Ng4 30.Bxe6 Nxf2+ 31.Rxf2 Bxe6 32.Bxd8
Rxd8 33.f5 gxf5 34.exf5 Bd5+ 35.Kh2 f6 36.Rd2 Rd7 37.c4 Be6 38.Rxd7+ Bxd7 39.Rd1
Bxf5 40.Rd8 c5 41.Rb8 Be4 42.Rc8 Bc6 43.a3 Kg6 44.b4 cxb4 45.axb4 a6 46.Kg1 Kf5
47.Kf2 e4 48.Ke3 Kg4 49.Rg8+ Kf5 50.g4+ hxg4 51.h5 1-0

We would like to think that after the exhibition in Pittsburgh Bobby came early to Cleveland to
use the wonderful John G. White collection at the Cleveland Public Library but have no
information supporting this thought. The world’s largest public repository of chess book, the
John G. White should be visited by every chess player. It is truly the golden place for those
with an interest in chess literature!

Cleveland Public Library - John G. White Collection. (Photo by Michael Negele)

(41) Orangutan A00

Fischer - J. Gloger
Cleveland (simul), March 18, 1964

1.b4 e5 2.Bb2 f6 3.e4 Bxb4 4.Bc4 Ne7 5.Qh5+ Ng6 6.f4 exf4 7.Nf3 Nc6 8.Nc3 Bxc3 9.Bxc3
d6 10.Nh4 Nce7
11.Nf5 Kf8 12.O-O Qe8 13.Bxf6 Bxf5 14.exf5 d5 15.fxg6 gxf6 16.Qh6+ Kg8 17.g7 1-0

(42) French Burn C11

Fischer - Thomas Ellison
Cleveland (simul), March 18, 1964

1.e4 e6 2.d4 d5 3.Nc3 Nf6 4.Bg5 dxe4 5.Nxe4 Be7 6.Bxf6 Bxf6 7.Nf3 O-O 8.Qd2 Nd7 9.O-
O-O b6 10.Qf4 Bb7 11.Bd3 Bxe4 12.Qxe4 Bg5+ 13.Kb1 Nf6 14.Qe2 Nd5 15.g3 Bf6 16.h4
c5
17.c4 Nb4 18.Be4 cxd4 19.a3 d3 20.Qe3 Rc8 21.axb4 Rxc4 22.Bxd3 Rxb4 23.Bxh7+ Kxh7
24.Rxd8 Rxb2+ 25.Kc1 Rxd8 26.Ne5 Rdd2 27.Qe4+ Kg8 28.Nc4 1-0

(43) Sicilian B56

Fischer - Zbigniew Kuberczyk
Cleveland (simul), March 18, 1964

1.e4 c5 2.Nf3 Nc6 3.d4 cxd4 4.Nxd4 Nf6 5.Nc3 a6 6.Nxc6 dxc6 7.Qxd8+ Kxd8 8.Bf4 e6
9.O-O-O+ Bd7 10.Na4 b5 11.Nb6 Ra7 12.f3 Bc5 13.Nxd7 Rxd7 14.Bd3 Nh5 15.Bd2 Nf6
16.g4 h6 17.h4 Kc7 18.Rh2 e5 19.Rg2 Ne8 20.f4 Bd6 21.f5 f6 22.Be3 Be7 23.Rdg1 Kb7
24.Be2 c5 25.c3 Kc6 26.a4 Nd6 27.axb5+ axb5 28.Kc2 Ra8 29.g5 hxg5 30.hxg5 Kb6
31.gxf6 gxf6 32.Rg7 Ra4 33.R1g4 Rxe4 34.Rxe4 Nxe4 35.b4 Kc7 36.Bxb5 cxb4 37.cxb4
Nd6 38.Bxd7 Kxd7 39.Rh7 Nxf5 40.Bg1 Kc6 41.Kb3 Kb5 42.Rh8 Kc6 43.Ka4 Kd6 44.b5
Nd4 45.Bxd4 1-0

(44) Sicilian B32

Fischer - William Costaras
Cleveland (simul), March 18, 1964

1.e4 c5 2.Nf3 Nc6 3.d4 cxd4 4.Nxd4 d5 5.Nxc6 bxc6 6.exd5 Qxd5 7.Nd2 e6 8.Be2 Nf6 9.O-
O Bc5 10.Bf3 Qd6 11.Nc4 Qc7 12.g3 Nd5 13.b3 O-O 14.Bb2 Ba6 15.Be2 Rad8 16.Qe1
Nb4
17.Rc1 Bxc4 18.Bxc4 Nxa2 19.Ra1 Nb4 20.Qe4 Nd5 21.Kh1 Qe7 22.Ra6 Rc8 23.Bxd5
cxd5 24.Qe5 Qf6 25.Qxf6 gxf6 26.Bxf6 Bb6 27.c3 Rfe8 28.f4 Rc7 29.g4 h6 30.h4 Rd7
31.h5 Bd8 32.Bd4 Rb7 33.Rxa7 Rxb3 34.g5 Bb6 35.Rb7 1-0

Entry to John G. White Collection at the Cleveland Public Library. (Photo by Michael Negele)

(45) Caro-Kann B18

Fischer - Howard Mobley
Cleveland (simul), March 18, 1964

Notes by Howard Mobley.

1.e4 c6 2.d4 d5 3.Nc3 dxe4 4.Nxe4 Bf5 5.Nc5

Eleventy-zin times I played Caro-Kann, but this was the first anyone tried this. It’s tricky, has a
trap or two, interesting on the queenside to keep out of trouble, but I found it easier to parry
than many lines — UNTIL, that is —

5...b6

This, later reading shows, seems to be the reply most gave to this opening Fischer apparently
sported to advantage on his tour.
6.Na6?

Correct is 6.Nb3

6… e6

6…Nxa6 7.Bxa6 Qd5! Threatens 8…Qa5+ and 8…Qxg2. White’s best might be 8.Bf1 as 8.Be2
Qxg2 9.Bf3 Qg6 doesn’t give the first player enough compensation for the pawn.

7.Bf4 Bd6 8.Qf3 Ne7 9.O-O-O O-O 10.Nxb8 Rxb8 11.Ne2 Nd5 12.Bxd6 Qxd6 13.Ng3 Bg6
14.h4 h6 15.h5 Bh7 16.Bd3 f5 17.Rhe1 b5 18.Ne2 Nb4 19.Kb1 Nxd3 20.Rxd3 f4 21.Rdd1 b4
22.Nc1 a5 23.Qe2

In post-mortem, I might note the eminent James Schroeder felt Black had a winning position at
this point. Therefore, the rest is a demonstration by Fischer on how to win after Black’s next
moves, deemed “Ugh!” by Mr. Schroeder.
23...Rf6 24.Qe5 Qd8 25.b3 Rb5 26.Qe2 Qa8 27.Qc4 Bf5 28.Nd3 Rd5 29.Nxf4 Bxc2+
30.Qxc2

This is the “UNTIL” I referred to earlier. Until here I’d felt “prepared” for any action. The rest
is the parrying of a wounded and dying man.

30...Rxf4 31.Rxe6 Rfxd4 32.Rxd4 Rxd4 33.Rxc6 Qd8?

All rhyme and reason is lost.

34.Rc8 Rd1+ 35.Kb2 a4

All hope is thrust into this one last puny jab.

36.Rxd8+ Rxd8 37.bxa4 1-0 (Cleveland Chess Bulletin, 1964)

 Toledo, March 19
+50, -3, =2

Fischer Defeated by Worthy Foes

by Robert W. Beach

When Bobby Fischer gave his 54-board [sic] simultaneous exhibition at the Toledo University
Student Union on the evening of March 19 he lost three games and drew two.

Attesting to the excellence of the opposition he met, here are two of the games in which he was
defeated. [Editor’s Note: Tom Mazuchowski was the other winner.] The first, an Evans Gambit,
was against Dr. Weldon E. Dillard, of Rawson; the second, a King’s Gambit Declined, against
Roger Underhill, a member of TU’s fine chess team. (Toledo Blade, April 19, 1964)

Roger Blaine, a leading chess organizer in Indiana today, recalls:

Yes, I played Fischer in 1964. I was a 15-year-old sophomore in high school, a rather
pessimistic youth. My father, who did not play chess himself, read about Bobby Fischer’s
coming exhibition at the University of Toledo, and asked me if I wanted to play. “Oh no, Dad,” I
replied, “I’d lose in just a few moves and it would be a waste of three dollars!” I said I would
like to go over and watch, however.

Fortunately, Dad went and signed me up anyhow. We went and heard Fischer’s lecture on
endgames before the simul began. Then he began the 55 games, taking White on every board.
Some of Toledo’s strongest players, including Dan Boyk, lost in less than 10 moves, so I was
rather proud of myself for lasting 32, which took nearly five hours. Overall he won 50, drew 2,
and lost 3.

A kid named Billy Fink, a junior at a rival high school, was sitting next to me and kept nudging
me with his elbow. “I’m gonna get a draw!” he announced. “You, get a draw with Fischer??
Sure!” I retorted. But he did!

(46) Evans Gambit C51

Fischer - Weldon Dillard
Toledo (simul), March 19, 1964

1.e4 e5 2.Nf3 Nc6 3.Bc4 Bc5 4.b4 Bxb4 5.c3 Be7 6.d4 d6

Fischer gives this move a question mark in My 60 Memorable Games in his notes to his game
with Celle (number 50), but it may not be that bad. Grandmaster Sipke Ernst of the Netherlands
has played it at least twice.

7.dxe5

Invariably played, but 7.Qb3 as played against Boatner in the Houston simul, is also possible.
Note that exhibition was held nine days after the one in Toledo which suggests that Bobby might
have temporarily decided it was stronger. After 7...Na5 8.Bxf7+ Kf8 9.Qa4 c6 10.Bb3 (or
10.Bxg8 Kxg8 11.dxe5 dxe5 12.Nxe5 Be6) 10...b5 11.Qa3 exd4 12.cxd4 Nf6 White might be a
little better, but nothing more.

7...dxe5

7...Bg4!? 8.exd6 (8.Qb3 Bxf3 9.Bxf7+ Kf8 10.gxf3 Nxe5 11.Bxg8 Rxg8 12.Be3 and now both
12...Nxf3+ and 12...Bg5 appear to be playable.) 8...Qxd6 9.Qb3 0–0–0 gave Black a promising
position in Shabalov-Baczynsky, World Open 1996.

7...Na5? 8.Bxf7+! Kxf7 9.Qd5+ Be6 10.Qxa5 wins a pawn (Fischer).

7...Nxe5 8.Nxe5 dxe5 9.Qh5 is Fischer-Celle, Davis (clock simul) 1964 - number 50 in My 60
Memorable Games.

8.Qb3 Nf6

8...Na5 9.Bxf7+ Kf8 10.Qa4 is strong (Fischer).

9.Bxf7+

Natural, but possibly wrong. 9.Ng5 looks like a tougher test of Black's resources with one
critical line continuing 9...0–0 (9...Na5 10.Qb5+ c6 11.Bxf7+ Kf8 12.Qxe5 h6 13.Ne6+ Bxe6
14.Bxe6 Qd6 15.Qxd6 Bxd6 16.f3 and Black does not have enough for the pawn.) 10.Nxf7
Rxf7 11.Bxf7+ Kf8 12.Bc4 and Black doesn't have enough compensation for the exchange as
12...Nxe4 can be met by 13.Bg8! Qe8 14.Bxh7.

9...Kf8 10.Ng5

White reinforces the bishop on f7, however 10.Nbd2 trying to develop another piece looks
more natural as 10...Na5 can be met by 11.Qa4.

10...Bd6 11.0–0

11.Bg6 Qe7 12.Bf5 is a tricky way to aim for control of e6, but 12...Na5 is an adequate answer.

11...b6?

11...Na5 12.Qc2 Qe7 13.Bb3 h6 14.Nf3 g6 15.Nbd2 Kg7 and Black's king has found a safe
harbor.

12.Nd2?!

12.Bd5 Nxd5 13.Qxd5 Qd7 14.Ba3 h6 15.Nf3 Bxa3 16.Nxa3 favors White due to his lead in
development.

12...Na5 13.Qb5 a6

13...h6 14.Ne6+ Bxe6 15.Bxe6 g6 followed by ...Kg7 was another way to handle the position.

14.Qd3 Qe7 15.Bd5??

15.Ndf3 h6 16.Nh4 hxg5 17.Ng6+ Kxf7 18.Nxe7 Bxe7 19.Bxg5 or 15.Bb3 were necessary with
equal chances in quite different types of positions. The text loses a piece.

15...Nxd5 16.Qxd5

Or 16.exd5 Qxg5.

16...Bb7 17.Ne6+ Ke8 18.Nxg7+ Qxg7 19.Qe6+ Qe7 20.Qh3 Bc8 21.Qh6 Kd7 22.Nf3 Kc6
23.Bg5 Qe6 24.Qh4 Qg6 25.Be7 Bg4 26.Nd2 Bxe7 27.Qxe7 Bh3 28.g3 Bxf1 29.Rxf1 Qd6
0-1 (Toledo Blade, April 19, 1964)

(47) King’s Gambit C30

Fischer - Roger Underhill
Toledo (simul), March 19, 1964

1.e4 e5 2.f4 Bc5 3.Nf3 Nc6 4.fxe5 d6 5.d4 Bb6 6.exd6 Qxd6 7.c3 Bg4 8.Bd3 O-O-O 9.Be3
Ne5 10.Be2 Bxf3 11.gxf3 f6 12.Nd2 Qe7 13.Qb3 g5 14.O-O-O Nh6 15.Nc4 Nxc4 16.Bxc4
Kb8 17.Kb1 Nf5 18.Bc1 Nh4 19.Rhf1 f5 20.exf5 Nxf5 21.Rfe1 Qg7 22.Rg1 h6 23.Bd3 Rhf8
24.Qc2 Nh4
25.f4 g4 26.Qf2 Nf5 27.Rde1 h5 28.Re5 Nxd4 29.Rxh5 Nf3 30.Qxf3 gxf3 31.Rxg7 Rxd3 0-
1 (Toledo Blade, April 19, 1964)

Roger Blaine has been an organizer and tournament director in Ohio and Indiana for close to 50
years and is still very active in the South Bend area.

(48) French C10

Fischer - Roger Blaine
Toledo (simul), March 19, 1964

1.e4 e6 2.d4 d5 3.Nc3 Be7 4.Nf3 Nf6 5.e5 Nfd7 6.Bd3 c5 7.dxc5 Nxc5 8.O-O Nbd7 9.Re1
b6 10.Be3 Qc7 11.Bd4 Ba6 12.a4 Nxd3 13.cxd3 Rc8
14.Rc1 O-O 15.Nxd5 Qd8 16.Rxc8 Bxc8 17.Nc3 Qc7 18.Ne4 Bb7 19.Qd2 Nc5 20.Bxc5
bxc5 21.Qf4 h6 22.Rc1 Bxe4 23.Qxe4 f6 24.d4 Qb6 25.d5 fxe5 26.Qxe5 Rf6 27.dxe6 Rxe6
28.Qd5 Qc6 29.Qc4 Kh7 30.Nd4 Qe4 31.Nxe6 Qxe6 32.Qxe6 1-0 (O.G.)

(49) Ruy Lopez C92

Fischer - Billy Fink
Toledo (simul), March 19, 1964

1.e4 e5 2.Nf3 Nc6 3.Bb5 a6 4.Ba4 Nf6 5.O-O Be7 6.Re1 b5 7.Bb3 O-O 8.c3 d6 9.h3 Bb7
10.d4 Qd7 11.Nbd2 Na5 12.dxe5 Nxb3 13.exf6 Nxd2 14.fxe7 Nxf3+ 15.Qxf3 Qxe7 16.Qg3
Qf6 17.f3 Rfe8 18.Be3 Re6 19.a4 Qg6 20.Qf2 Bc6 21.axb5 Bxb5 22.b3 Bc6 23.c4 f5
24.exf5 Qxf5 25.Bd4 Rxe1+ 26.Rxe1 Re8 27.Ra1 Bb7 28.Bb2 Qd3 29.Re1 Rxe1+ 30.Qxe1
Qg6 31.Qe7 Bxf3 32.Qd8+ Kf7 33.Qxc7+ Kg8 34.Qc8+ Kf7 Draw (O.G.)

Fischer Notes — Bobby said he will not take part in the next Candidates tournament, a
necessary step to the world title, because no prize money is offered. When asked how he
expected to become the world champion, he replied, “Who wants to be world champion?” …
Dr. Dillard, the Rawson physician, did not record the moves of his game but when asked to
submit them to Chess Corner, wrote them from memory. He used a defense which Fischer had
outlined in his board talk before play began … Roger Underhill entered the lists at the last
minute as a substitute … Peter DeNoel, Huron, who drew with Fischer, failed to report his
draw and then left his notations on the table when he departed. A Toledoan, George Knight-
Smith, who watched the game and saw the finish, had written down some of DeNoel’s moves,
but together they could not come up with the complete game. Bill Fink, the Waite High student
who also drew with Fischer, was proud of his achievement. But his Dad was even more so.
Said he wouldn’t take $500 for that draw.

The Toledo stop was the 21st on Fischer’s continental tour. (Toledo Blade, April 19, 1964)

Bobby studying the position before his 14th move against Aloni at the Varna Olympiad in 1962.
(Photo by IM Nikolay Minev)

Chicago, March 22-23

+56, -4, =11 and +49, -1, =4

From the Illinois Chess Bulletin, April, 1964 (Frank Skoff,

editor):

This issue will be devoted entirely to the first simultaneous exhibitions in Chicago of the
nonpareil of American chess, the brightest star since the meteoric splendors of Morphy, 21-
year-old Robert J. Fischer, U.S. Champion since he was 14 and an International Grandmaster at
15, the youngest in history!

On Sunday, March 22, there were 71 opponents and an appreciative crowd gathered in the
spacious grand ballroom of the Edgewater Beach Hotel. Promptly at 2 p.m. Fischer entered and
(after some preliminary remarks by the genial emcee, Bob Lerner) gave an hour’s lecture on a
victory of his over ex-world champion Tal. He then went through 7½ hours of play, without
sitting down or stopping to eat, and amassed a score of 56 wins, 4 losses, and 11 draws, a fine
record against what he later called “the toughest” opposition he had ever faced in a simul. It
included 2 masters, 5 experts, 7 A’s, 13 B’s, 10 C’s, and 34 unrated (Bobby averaged about 10
seconds per move compared with 10 min. per move for his opponents).

On Monday, he repeated his performance at 7 p.m. in the Michigan Room of the Edgewater. His
lecture covered a crucial game with Reshevsky. Then he polished off 54 games in 3½ hours (!),
winning 49, losing 1, and drawing 4, another fine achievement. His opposition, though not as
strong as Sunday’s, included 3 experts, 2 A’s, 5 B’s, 3 C’s, and 41 unrated.

Fischer, by the way, was born in Chicago on March 9, 1943, and learned the game at the age of
6 ... His lectures were received with close attention and applauded at the end, as was his
exhibition play, by spectators and players alike ... He autographed score sheets, chess boards,
etc. for young and old. Frequently he showed opponents who had lost or drawn how they could
have drawn or won ... One must dismiss as untrue all the articles on Fischer depicting him as
brash, offensive, impolite, a juvenile delinquent rampant. Actually, he was always courteous,
though reserved; showed a sense of humor; answered questions as honestly as he could; and
never lost his aplomb, even when the questions were foolish ones. He was very popular here
and made a good impression on all ... He never objected to any of the oddly hued and shaped
sets used by some players (Some sets were very confusing, especially in color; in fact, Bobby
laughingly admitted that he made a capture on one board of what he thought was his opponent’s
queen! It turned out to be a knight! But he won anyway.) ... After the grueling 8½ hours on
Sunday, he wanted to go out and play billiards!! Unfortunately Bob Lerner couldn’t find a place
open. But Bobby looked a bit exhausted after the Monday display; perhaps the accumulation of
his efforts finally told on him ... He has tremendous energy and drive, a burning absorption in
the game, a natural for a future world champion should he be given a fair chance.

On Sunday he gave 11 draws to the following: 1. F. Bender (A); 2. S. Crown; 3. W. Fulk (A); 4.
W. Grombacher (A); 5. A. Karklins (Expert); 6. L. Manter Jr. (B); 7. N. Schoenfeld; 8. J.
Sullivan; 9. S. Silverman (B); 10. N. Sturm; 11. J. Warren (expert). Losses were to Geo. C.
Dibert, Chicago CC veteran; N. Goncharoff (A); B. Sax (A); R. Tobler Jr. (expert).

On Monday he drew with 1. C. Garwin (expert); 2. G. Kral (A); 3. W. Wagenhals (A); 4. P.

Wolf (expert). His only loss was to Gary Thornell (C).

Combining both days, draws were garnered by 4 experts, 6 A’s, 2 B’s, and 3 unrated. Losses
were to 1 expert, 2 A’s, 1 C, and 1 unrated. A-players obviously did most of the damage, but
three losses were to Juniors (Tobler, Sax and Thornell) as well as 2 draws (Karklins, Manter),
clearly indicating that Chicago’s younger generation may carve itself a mark in the future.
[Editor’s Note: USCF ratings were quite low in 1964 compared to today. Add 100-200 points
to bring things into perspective.]

In a simul the performer is one man vs. the team, the individual vs. the crowd. Naturally he
moves as fast as he can so as to gain time on the players as a whole, who must move when he
arrives at their board. Of course, a quick move on his part may turn out to have flaws — but it’s
a chance he must take. Against the two masters who opposed him, Bobby took a little more time
than usual; but he calmly threw the King’s Gambit against both. One resulted in a quick win; the
other proved a long struggle, with Fischer winning by some neat endgame play in which the
knight outplayed the bishop. (He said afterwards that best play would have resulted in a draw.)
Here are the two games.

The May 1964 USCF rating list has Angelo Sandrin (1922-2001) rated 2287 and his brother
Albert (1923 - 2004) at 2232, so it is not possible to say for certain who was Black in the
following game. We believe it might have been Albert, as reported by Al Horowitz in the NY
Times on April 26, 1964, in his column entitled "Chess: Fischer in the Windy City". Chicago
sources give A. Sandrin, so it is possible that Horowitz automatically listed the first name of
the better known brother.
Albert Sandrin first came to national attention when he won the 1944 Illinois state
championship and appeared on the October issue of Chess Review for that year. His greatest
triumph was winning the 1949 U.S. Open in Omaha, but he is best remembered as one of the
strongest blind players in the history of the game.

Sandrin had normal vision at birth, but is reported to have stared at the sun for a prolonged
period of time when he was 6. His vision then continually deteriorated to the point that when
Paul Little's article on him appeared in Chess (March 1965) he could only distinguish between
light and darkness. He was totally without sight by 1968 and represented the United States in
several Olympiads for the blind in the 1970s and 1980s.

Angelo, who like Albert, was a former Illinois champion, had played Bobby at the North
Central Open in 1957 and nearly drawn. He was very close to his younger brother and it is
quite possible that he made it possible for Albert to play in the simul by telling him Bobby's
moves. This would have been necessary as Albert Sandrin, unlike most blind players, never
used a special chess set for the visually impaired, instead having his opponent tell him what
move had been made.

(50) King’s Gambit C33

Fischer – Albert Sandrin
Chicago (simul), March 22, 1964

1.e4 e5 2.f4 exf4 3.Bc4 Nf6 4.Nc3 Bb4 5.Nf3 Qe7 6.Qe2 O-O 7.e5 Bxc3 8.dxc3 Nh5 9.O-O
Re8 10.Qe4 c6
11.Qd4 b5 12.Bd3 g6 13.Bxf4 c5 14.Qe3 Nc6 15.Bxb5 Bb7 16.Rae1 d5 17.exd6 Qf6
18.Qxe8+ Rxe8 19.Rxe8+ Kg7 20.Bxc6 Nxf4 21.d7 Ne2+ 22.Rxe2 Bxc6 23.Ne5 1-0

Kenneth Ormsby (K.O.) Mott-Smith (1900-1983) was a well-known figure in American chess
who lived at various times in Boston, New York and Chicago. Along the way he played World
Champions Emanuel Lasker, Alexander Alekhine and Bobby Fischer. He is not to be confused
with his brother Geoffrey Mott-Smith, the author and cryptographer, who co-authored Point
Count Chess with I.A. Horowitz.

(51) King’s Gambit C38

Fischer - K. O. Mott-Smith
Chicago (simul), March 22, 1964

Notes by Hans Kmoch.

This game is from a simultaneous exhibition, but there is no reason to characterize it as such
with the disdainful “only.” It is chess on a very high level for which both sides deserve ample
credit. Black faces difficulties but puts up excellent resistance for a long time. Only at the very
end when, probably, he had to move quickly, does he slip.

1.e4 e5 2.f4 exf4 3.Nf3 d6

Of all the regular forms of the King’s Gambit Accepted, the Hanstein Gambit is the least
promising for White. Such at least used to be the opinion of Spielmann and is Fischer’s opinion
today. But for Black to achieve the Hanstein, it is necessary to avoid the Kieseritzki Gambit
(3...g5 4.h4! g4 5.Ne5). Hence, 3...h6 as recommended by Becker, or 3...d6 as preferred by
Fischer.

4.d4

On 4.Bc4, Black can play 4...Nc6 or 4...h6. 4...g5 is less commendable because of 5.h4! g4
6.Ng5.

4...g5 5.Bc4 h6 6.O-O Bg7

This is the Hanstein Gambit.

7.c3 Ne7 8.g3 Ng6

A sample of the main line is 8...g4 9.Nh4 f3 10.Nxf3?! gxf3 (interpolation of 10...d5, an idea of
Fischer’s, probably serves better) 11.Bxf7+ (a drawish combination) Kxf7 (11...Kd7 may be
better, e.g. 12.Qxf3 Qf8) 12.Qxf3+ Kg8 13.Qf7+ Kh7 14.Rf6: at this point White threatens
15.Rxh6 mate, but after 14...Nf5! he has only a perpetual: 15.Qg6+ Kg8 16.Qf7+ etc.

Black’s last is an unusual move, offering fair chances. It seems Black, who obviously knows a
lot about this opening, is avoiding the main line in which problems and conceivable
improvements are in store for either side. Now the gambit pawn is isolated and weak; and if it
falls sooner or later, Black’s remaining pawn formation, with two isolated pawns, will be
slightly inferior.

9.Qb3 O-O 10.gxf4 gxf4 11.Kh1 Nc6 12.Qc2 Nce7 13.Nbd2 Be6 14.Rg1 Bxc4 15.Nxc4 d5
16.Nce5 dxe4

Black has the option of 16...c6 but apparently feels uncomfortable about the consequent
middlegame. Hence this liquidation, though it involves the surrender of the extra pawn.

17.Qxe4 Qd5 18.Qxd5 Nxd5 19.Nxg6 fxg6 20.Rxg6 Kh7 21.Rg2 Rae8

Black’s position is not so good as it may seem at first glance. For he lacks targets while his
advanced pawn, apart from being vulnerable, hampers his pieces.
22.Bd2 Ne3 23.Re2 Nc4 24.Rae1! Rxe2 25.Rxe2 Nxd2

On 25...Nxb2 26.Re7, White recovers his pawn advantageously.

26.Nxd2 Rf6

Not 26...f3? 27.Rf2.

27.Nf3 Bf8 28.Re8 a5

It is vital to deny the enemy rook any targets on the queenside.

29.b3 Bd6 30.c4 b6

Now the queenside pawns are unassailable by the rook, and their blackbound array, though
basically wrong for the black bishop, is not extra harmful, at least not for the time being.

31.Kg2 Kg6 32.Kf2 Kf5 33.h3 Rf8

Black is better off with his rook usefully on the board. But it isn’t, having no scope.

34.Nh4+ Kg5 35.Rxf8 Bxf8 36.Ng2! Bg7 37.d5 Be5 38.Kf3 Kf5 39.Ne1

Reduced to a knight vs. bishop affair, the game has reached its most critical stage. Black is in
serious danger but not necessarily lost.

39...Bc3

Another good line of play, one might even call it Black’s best, is 39...Bd6 so as to counteract
a3, the move which White needs in order to make his majority tell. True, White can proceed
with 40.Nc2 Ke5 41.a3 but Black obtains sufficient counterplay with 41...b5! (42.a4 bxa4
43.bxa4 and 43...Bc5 or 43...Bb4 but not 43...Kf5 because of 44.Ne1!). Nor can Black be
subdued by zugzwang (40.Nd3 Kg5! or 40.Ng2 Be5 41.a3 Bd6!).

40.Nd3 Be5 41.a3

White has scored a partial success but not a decisive one.

41...Bd6 42.b4 axb4 43.axb4 Be7 44.c5 bxc5 45.bxc5 Bg5 46.Nb4

On 46.d6 cxd6 47.c6, Black holds his own with 47...Ke6 48.Nb4 d5 49.Nxd5+ Kd6 50.c7
Kd7: e.g. 51.Kg4 Kc8 52.h4 Bxh4! 53.Kxh4 h5! 54.Kh3 Kd7 55.Kg2 h4 with a draw. White
cannot both eliminate the enemy pawns and also retain his own pawn.

46...Be7

So far, Black has put up excellent resistance; but now he slips and loses. The position of the
bishop enables White to gain a decisive tempo. Correct is 46...Ke5! 47.d6 cxd6 (47...Ke6
48.Nd5 cxd6 49.c6 leads to the same thing) 48.c6 Ke6 49.Nd5 h5 50.Ke4 (50.h4 Bxh4 leads to
a draw) 50...f3 51.Kxf3 Bd2 and Black just holds his own. So, at least, it looks to this
annotator.

47.Na6 Ke5 48.d6! cxd6

48...Bxd6 fails also, as Black subsequently loses all his pawns.

49.c6 Bd8

The bishop cannot be saved. On 49...Ke6, there is this delicate point: 50.Nc7+! Kany 51.Nd5!
and White wins.

50.c7 Bxc7 51.Nxc7 d5 52.Na6 Kf5

Now nothing helps: Black’s pawns are too vulnerable.

53.Nb4 d4 54.Nd3 Kg5 55.Nxf4 Kh4 56.Kg2 h5 57.Kh2 1-0 (Chess Review, July 1964, pp.
211-13)

(52) French Winawer C17

Fischer - Winton Fulk
Chicago (simul), March 22, 1964

Notes by Hans Kmoch.

“Return from the Other Side”

This game has a very exciting finish. Miraculously, Black escapes a seemingly irremediable
mate, making his return from the other side, so to speak.

1.e4 e6 2.d4 d5 3.Nc3 Bb4 4.e5 c5 5.a3 cxd4 6.axb4 dxc3 7.Nf3 Qc7 8.Bd3 Ne7 9.O-O
Nbc6

The opening is more or less routine. Black may not be a widely known player. But he makes
none of those bleak moves which are the privilege of the unknown, average player.

10.Re1 Nxb4 11.bxc3 Nxd3 12.cxd3 O-O

The text is dangerous, yet best.

13.Ba3 Re8 14.Qd2

Not 14.Bxe7. By retaining bishops of opposite colors, White also retains attacking chances to
compensate for his pawn minus.

14...Bd7 15.Nd4 Nf5 16.Bb4 Nxd4 17.cxd4 Rec8 18.Qf4

Now White obviously has excellent kingside attacking chances. The ensuing part of the game is
extremely tense and exciting.

18...Qc2 19.Qg3 Qb2 20.Be7 Qxd4 21.Bf6 g6 22.Qg5

The threat is 23.Qh6. At first sight, it appears White is winning. At second, 22...Qc5 looks like
an easy method of holding off White’s attack: 23.Qh6? Qf8; or 23.Re3? Qc1+ 24.Re1 Qxg5.
Then it seems 23.h4 with a view to 23...Qf8 24.h5 gives White too much; but actually Black can
rely safely on 24...h6. But appearances are not necessarily reliable. On 22...Qc5 White can
counter with 23.g4 with the distant threat of Re3 and Rh3, and Black’s security certainly cannot
be taken for granted, to put it mildly.
22...Rc2!

In the light of the comments above, it is remarkable our “unknown” rejects 22...Qc5 in favor of
this decidedly non-bleak move. This counter-threat is quite strong. It almost turns the tables.

23.Rf1 Qc5

Here 23...Rxf2 is playable: e.g. 24.Rxf2 Qxa1+ 25.Rf1 Qd4+ 26.Kh1 Qxd3 27.Rg1 Qa3
28.Be7 (28.Qh6 Qf8) 28...Qb2 (28...Qc3 29.Bf6 Qc8 meeting 30.Qh6 with 30...Qf8 is a
winning try - editor) 29.Bf6 Qa3 with most likely a draw; or 24.Kh1 Rxf1+ 25.Rxf1 Qxd3 with
like result. Black is not interested, however, in making matters more complicated than they are.

24.Rae1 Rc8 25.g4 Bb5 26.Re3

A threat to win is 27.Rh3.

26...Rc1! 27.Rxc1

On 27.Rh3 Rxf1+ 28.Kxf1 Qc1+ with a winning advantage for Black.

27...Qxc1+ 28.Kg2

Now again, White threatens 29.Qh6; and, this time, 28...Qc5 works out poorly because of
29.Rh3 Qf8 30.Qh4.
28...d4!

The saving continuation. With bishops of opposite colors, the bishop is strong in an attack on
the king as its “opposite” cannot defend. Now Black brings his to bear in the nick of time.

29.Qh6 Bc6+ 30.Kh3!

There is nothing better for White: 1) 30.f3 Bxf3+ and Black wins (31.Kxf3 Qxe3+; or 31.Kf2
Qd2+; or 31.Kg3 Qg1+); 2) 30.Kg3 Qg1+ 31.Kh3 Bg2+ 32.Kg3 Bf1+ 33.Kf3 Qg2+ 34.Kf4
Qxf2+ 35.Rf3 Qd2+ 0-1.

30... Qf1+ 31.Kh4!

All the moves are forced now.

31...Qxf2+ 32.Rg3 Qxh2+ 33.Rh3 Draw (Chess Review, July 1964, p. 213)

Emanuel Lasker giving an exhibition in the Windy City forty years earlier. (Photo courtesy of
the Cleveland Public Library, John G. White Collection)
Against Kate Sillars, Illinois Women’s Champion, Fischer went wild in a fantastic squandering
of pieces. Don’t ask me if the queen sac was sound! The play strikes me as casual offhand
chess played in the middle of a whirlwind. (Skoff )

(53) Sicilian Sozin B86

Fischer - Kate Sillars
Chicago (simul), March 22, 1964

1.e4 c5 2.Nf3 d6 3.d4 cxd4 4.Nxd4 Nf6 5.Nc3 a6 6.Bc4 e6 7.Be3 Be7 8.Bb3 O-O 9.f4 Nbd7
10.Qf3 Nc5 11.g4 b5 12.g5 Nfxe4! 13.Nxe4 Bb7

14.Nxc5

Lacking a satisfactory reply Bobby decides to speculate.

14...Bxf3 15.Ncxe6 Bxh1

This should win, but 15...fxe6 or 15...Qb6 are even more convincing.

16.Nxd8 Bxd8 17.Nf5 d5??

A serious mistake that costs Black the game. The 17-year-old Sillars would have had every
chance to win after 17...Be4 18.Nxd6 Bg6 19.f5 Bh5.
18.Bd4 f6 19.Ng3 Bf3 20.Kf2 fxg5 21.Kxf3 Rxf4+ 22.Ke3 Kf8 23.Bxd5 Rb8 24.Nh5 Rh4
25.Rf1+ Ke8 26.Nxg7+ Kd7 27.Rf7+ Kd6 28.Be6 Bb6 29.c3 Rf4 30.Rd7+ Kc6 31.Nf5 Re8
32.Rd6+ Kb7 33.Rxb6+ Kc7 34.Ng7 Re7 35.Rxa6 1-0

Fischer characterized his loss to George C. Dibert, local advertising executive, as “the best one
played against me” in Chicago. (Skoff)

(54) French Winawer C19

Fischer - George Dibert
Chicago (simul), March 22, 1964

1.e4 e6 2.d4 d5 3.Nc3 Bb4 4.e5 c5 5.a3 Bxc3+ 6.bxc3 Ne7 7.a4 Nbc6 8.Nf3 Bd7 9.Bd3 Qa5
10.Qd2 c4 11.Be2 b5 12.Ba3 bxa4 13.O-O O-O 14.Nh4 f6 15.exf6 Rxf6 16.f4 Nf5 17.Nf3
Rh6 18.Rab1?

Here Fischer understandably falters in the grind of the simul. Instead of the text, 18.g4! Nh4
19.g5 Nxf3+ 20.Rxf3 Rh4 21.Qe1 Rg4+ 22.Kh1 will win material via the threat to the Rook
with h3. If 22...Qc7 23.Qf2 maintains the threat while 22...e5 23.dxe5 Nxe5 24.fxe5 Rxg5
(24...d4 25.Bxc4+ Kh8 26.cxd4 Bc6 27.d5 wins) 25.Qf2 and White will win (Richard Verber).

18...Qd8 19.g3 Qe8 20.Rf2 Rb8 21.Re1 Qg6 22.Ref1 Rb7 23.Ne5 Qe8 24.g4 Nfe7 25.g5
Rh4 26.Nf3 Rh3 27.Kg2 Qh5 28.Kh1 Nf5 29.Kg1 Ng3! 30.Ne5 Nxf1 31.Bxf1 Rh4 32.Nf3
Rg4+ 33.Kh1 Rb1 34.Ne5 Rh4 35.Nf3

Not 35.Nxd7? Rxh2+ 36.Rxh2 Rxf1+ 37.Kg2 Qf3 mate.

35...Rh3 36.Qe3 e5! 37.dxe5 Bf5 38.e6 Be4 39.e7 Rxf3 0-1

Boria Sax may be only 14, but he plays this one like a veteran; perhaps his youthful appearance
lulled the young grandmaster into a false sense of security! (Skoff)

(55) Evans Gambit C51

Fischer - Boria Sax
Chicago (simul), March 22, 1964

1.e4 e5 2.Nf3 Nc6 3.Bc4 Bc5 4.b4 Bb6 5.a4 a6 6.Bb2 d6 7.b5 Na5 8.Ba2 Be6 9.Bxe6 fxe6
10.O-O Nf6 11.d4 Nc4 12.Bc3 Nxe4 13.dxe5 d5 14.Bd4 Bxd4 15.Nxd4 Qe7 16.f3 Nc5
17.Qe2 axb5 18.Nxb5 Rxa4 19.Rxa4 Nxa4

20.N1c3 Nxc3 21.Nxc3 Qc5+ 22.Kh1 Qe3 23.Qxe3 Nxe3 24.Ra1 Kd7 25.Ra2 Rf8 26.Ne2
g5 27.Kg1 Nc4 28.Ra7 Rb8 29.f4 gxf4 30.Nxf4 Nxe5 31.Ra3 Rf8 32.Ne2 Nc4 33.Rh3 Rf7
34.g4 e5 35.Rh5 Ne3 36.Ng3 Kd6 37.g5 Nxc2 38.h4 Ne3 39.Rh6+ Kd7 40.h5 Ng4 0-1

Sax's father Saville was convicted of passing atomic secrets to the Soviets along with the
physicist Theodore Hall. Boria Sax is a noted academic best known for his writing on human-
animal relations.

(56) Evans Gambit C52

Fischer - A. LoCoco
Chicago (simul), March 22, 1964

1.e4 e5 2.Nf3 Nc6 3.Bc4 Bc5 4.b4 Bxb4 5.c3 Ba5 6.d4 exd4 7.O-O Nge7 8.Ng5 d5 9.exd5
Ne5 10.Bb3 O-O

11.Nxh7 Kxh7 12.Qh5+ Kg8 13.Qxe5 dxc3 14.Nxc3 Bxc3 15.Qxc3 Nxd5 16.Qd3 c6 17.Bb2
f6 18.Bc2 Be6 19.Qg6 Nf4 20.Qe4 Qd6 21.Bc1 Nd5 22.Qh7+ Kf7 23.Bg6+ Ke7 24.Qxg7+
Kd8 25.Qxb7 Rb8 26.Qxa7 Rh8 27.g3 Rf8 28.Ba3 1-0

In this one Black gets in a perpetual check just when White is ready to escort a pawn to its
queening square: another fighting draw! (Skoff)
Miguel Najdorf’s loss to Bobby at the Varna Olympiad may have found its way into My 60
Memorable Games, and Fischer did own a lifetime 6-3 plus score, but no one can take away
the Argentine’s crushing tour-de-force win at Santa Monica. The veteran Najdorf schooled his
much younger opponent in a Benoni that arose from an Averbakh King’s Indian. Pictured here at
the 1983 Candidates Matches in London are (left to right) journalists Theo Schuster of Germany
and Alexander Roshal of the Soviet Union, Viktor Kupreichik, Yury Averbakh (with glasses),
Yury Bogdanov (Soviet team doctor), unknown, Leonxto Garcia (mostly hidden) and the great
Miguel Najdorf.

(57) French McCutcheon C12

Fischer - Stewart Silverman
Chicago (simul), March 22, 1964

1.e4 e6 2.d4 d5 3.Nc3 Nf6 4.Bg5 Bb4 5.e5 h6 6.Bd2 Bxc3 7.bxc3 Ne4 8.Qg4 g6 9.Bd3 Nxd2
10.Kxd2 c5 11.h4 Nc6 12.Rh3 cxd4 13.cxd4 Qb6 14.Ne2 Bd7 15.Qf4 O-O-O 16.a3 f6
17.Qxf6 Rdf8 18.Qxg6 Rxf2 19.Ke3 Rff8 20.Rf3 Rfg8
21.Qf6 Rf8 22.Qxf8+ Rxf8 23.Rxf8+ Kc7 24.g4 Nxe5 25.g5 hxg5 26.hxg5 Nxd3 27.cxd3
Qd6 28.Rf6 Qe7 29.Raf1 e5 30.Nc3 exd4+ 31.Kxd4 Qxa3 32.Nxd5+ Kd8 33.g6 Qb2+
34.Ke4 Qg2+ 35.Kd4 Qb2+ 36.Ke4 Qg2+ 37.Ke5 Qb2+ Draw

Another thriller was Larry Manter’s draw. The maneuver f5 in the Vienna is not considered
good, but you have to counter it properly, and Larry did so to achieve a well-merited draw.
(But did he miss a win?) (Skoff)

(58) King’s Gambit C30

Fischer - Larry Manter
Chicago (simul), March 22, 1964

1.e4 e5 2.Nc3 Nf6 3.Bc4 Bc5 4.f4 d6 5.Nf3 Nc6 6.d3 O-O 7.f5 Na5 8.Bg5 c6 9.Bb3 Re8
10.Qe2 Nxb3 11.axb3 b5 12.Nd1 d5 13.Ne3 dxe4 14.dxe4 Qb6
15.Bxf6 Bxe3 16.Bxe5 f6 17.Bc7 Qxc7 18.Qxe3 Bxf5 19.Nd2 Bxe4 20.Nxe4 Qe5 21.O-O
Qxe4 22.Qxe4 Rxe4 23.Rf5 Rd8 24.h3 Rd2 25.Rf2 Ree2 26.Rxe2 Rxe2 27.Rxa7 Rxc2
28.Ra2 b4 29.Kh2 f5 30.Kg3 g5 31.Kf3 h5 32.g4 fxg4+ 33.hxg4 h4 34.Ra5 c5 35.Ke4 h3
36.Ra8+ Kf7 37.Rh8 h2 38.Kd5 Kg7 39.Rh5 Kg6 40.Rh8 Rxb2 41.Kxc5 Rxb3 42.Rxh2 Kf6
43.Rf2+ Kg6 44.Rd2 Rb1 45.Rd6+ Kf7 46.Kc4 b3 47.Kc3 b2 48.Rd4 Rf1 49.Kxb2 Rf4
50.Kc3 Ke6 51.Kd3 Ke5 52.Rd8 Rxg4 53.Ke3 Rh4 54.Kf3 Rf4+ 55.Kg3 Rf6 Draw

(59) Scotch C44

Fischer - S. Crown
Chicago (simul), March 22, 1964

1.e4 e5 2.Nf3 Nc6 3.d4 Bb4+ 4.c3 Bd6 5.Bc4 h6 6.O-O Nf6 7.dxe5 Bxe5 8.Nxe5 Nxe5
9.Bb3 d6 10.f4 Nc6 11.e5 dxe5 12.Qxd8+ Nxd8 13.fxe5 Ne4 14.Be3 b6 15.Na3 a6 16.Nc2
Be6 17.Nd4 Bxb3 18.axb3 O-O 19.b4 Re8
20.Rfe1 c5 21.bxc5 Nxc5 22.Nf3 Nd3 23.Reb1 b5 24.Bd4 Nc6 25.b4 Ncxe5 26.Nxe5 Nxe5
27.Ra2 Nc4 28.h3 f6 29.Rf1 Re6 30.Rf5 Rc8 31.Rd5 Rcc6 32.Rd8+ Kf7 33.Ra8 g5 34.Rf2
Nd6 35.Kh2 Ne4 36.Rf3 h5 37.g4 h4 38.Kg2 Ng3 39.Ra7+ Kg6 40.Ra8 Re2+ 41.Kg1 Rce6
42.Rg8+ Kh7 43.Rf8 Re1+ 44.Kg2 R6e2+ 45.Rf2 Ne4 46.Rxe2 Rxe2+ 47.Kf3 Re1 48.Ra8
Nd2+ 49.Kf2 Re6 Draw

Expert Jim Warren played Fischer twice in 1964. Compare the game below with game 210
(Cicero exhibition). Jim was the last player to finish in both exhibitions and was twice forced
to play Fischer “one on one,” having to move instantly. This explains why he didn’t win the
following game.

(60) Sicilian Sozin B88

Fischer - Jim Warren
Chicago (simul), March 22, 1964

1.e4 c5 2.Nf3 Nc6 3.d4 cxd4 4.Nxd4 Nf6 5.Nc3 d6 6.Bc4 e6 7.Be3 Be7 8.O-O O-O 9.Bb3
Bd7 10.f4 Nxd4 11.Bxd4 Bc6 12.Qe2 b5 13.Nxb5 Bxb5 14.Qxb5 Nxe4 15.f5 Bf6

ECO gives 15...e5 16.Be3 Bg5 17.Qe2 Bxe3+ 18.Qxe3 Nf6 19.Kh1 Qb6 with equal chances,
Ostojic-Smailbegovac, Yugoslavia (ch) 1962.
16.Qd3 Bxd4+

Improving over Fischer-Weinstein, USA (ch) 1958-59 which saw 16...d5 17.Bxf6 Nxf6 18.c4
dxc4 19.Qxd8 Rfxd8 20.Bxc4 e5 21.Rfe1 e4 22.Rad1 with a clear advantage to White. It’s
interesting that in both games Warren was able to get the advantage against Fischer’s favorite
6.Bc4.

17.Qxd4 d5 18.c4 dxc4 19.Qxd8 Rfxd8 20.Bxc4 Nd2 21.Rfc1 Nxc4 22.Rxc4 exf5 23.b4 Rd2
24.a4 g6 25.b5 Re8 26.Kh1 Ree2 27.Rg1 Ra2 28.h3 Re4 29.Rgc1 Rxa4 30.Rxa4 Rxa4
31.Rc7 h5 32.Kg1 h4 33.Kf2 Kg7 34.Rb7 Kf6 35.Rc7 Rb4 36.Rxa7 Rxb5 37.Rc7 Re5
38.Ra7 g5 39.Rb7 g4 40.Rb6+ Re6 41.Rb4 Kg5 42.Rb5 Kf4 43.Rb4+ Re4 44.Rb7 f6 45.Rb6
Kg5 46.Rb5 Re5 47.Rb8 Ra5 48.Rb2 Ra3 49.Rc2 gxh3 50.gxh3 Rxh3 51.Rc8 Ra3 52.Rg8+
Kf4 53.Rh8 Ra2+ 54.Kg1 Kg3 55.Rg8+ Kf3 56.Rh8 Rg2+ 57.Kh1 Rg4 58.Kh2 Ra4 59.Rh6
Ra2+ 60.Kh3 f4 61.Rxf6 Ke3 62.Kxh4 f3 63.Kg3 Rg2+ 64.Kh3 Rg8? 65.Ra6 f2 66.Ra3+
Ke2 67.Ra2+ Draw

Incidentally, Jim Warren and Steve Brandwein appear to be the only two players that were able
to score twice (both drew each time) against Bobby. All others who won or drew the first time
lost the rematch.

(61) Sicilian Taimanov B44

Fischer - Joseph G. Sullivan
Chicago (simul), March 22, 1964
1.e4 c5 2.Nf3 e6 3.d4 cxd4 4.Nxd4 Nc6 5.Nb5 d6 6.Bf4 e5 7.Be3 a6 8.N5c3 b5 9.Nd5 Rb8
10.Be2 h6 11.Bg4 Bxg4 12.Qxg4 Nge7 13.Nbc3 b4 14.Nxe7 Nxe7 15.Ne2 Ng6 16.O-O Qc8
17.Qxc8+ Rxc8 18.c3 bxc3 19.Nxc3 Be7 20.Rfc1 O-O 21.Nd5 Bg5 22.b4 Ne7 23.Nxe7+
Bxe7 24.a4 d5 25.exd5 Bxb4 26.Rc6 a5 27.Kf1 Rxc6 28.dxc6 Rc8 29.Rc1 Bd6 30.Ke2 f5
31.f3 Kf7 32.Bb6 Bc7 33.Bxc7 Rxc7 34.Rc5 Ke6 35.Kd3 Kd6 36.Rxa5 Rxc6 37.Ra7 g6
38.a5 h5 39.a6 Kc5 40.Ra8 Re6 41.h4 Kb6 42.Ke3 e4 43.a7 Kb7 44.Rg8 Kxa7 45.fxe4
Rxe4+ 46.Kf3 Rg4 47.g3 Kb7 48.Re8 Draw

Bobby Fischer at Curacao, two years before the 1964 tour. (Photo by Nathan Divinsky)

The following article is from the Voice of Motorola, October 15, 1972.

“I Beat Bobby Fischer”

Without a moment’s hesitation Bobby Fischer pushed his king pawn forward two squares in the
opening that has used in 99 percent of his professional games. Goncharoff thought a few
moments, then moved his queen bishop’s pawn forward. Automatically Fischer brought out his
king knight and watched smugly as Goncharoff continued to develop the Sicilian defense.

Goncharoff’s fourth move, P-K4, surprised Fischer slightly. Goncharoff was deviating from the
traditional defense with a move which, while considered weak by chess theoreticians, upset
Fischer’s smooth-flowing opening game.

Fischer quickly resumed his aggressive play. Goncharoff, meanwhile, seemed to be wasting
moves, jockeying his queen from square to square trying to force a confrontation with Fischer’s
queen. Fischer knew that he, as the stronger player, would have the advantage in a complicated
game, and Goncharoff was trying to simplify early. The champion finally decided that
Goncharoff’s tenacious queen was a thorn in his side, and on the eleventh move the players
exchanged these most powerful pieces on the board.

Now Bobby Fischer began to show why he had become the youngest grandmaster in the history
of the game. His white pieces assaulted his opponent relentlessly, never even giving
Goncharoff breathing room to castle his king to safety. By the thirtieth move, Fischer’s rook and
Goncharoff’s knight were the only major pieces left on the board.

It was at this moment that Fischer made a decision that was to prove fatal to him. Never one to
accept poisoned pawns at the outset of a game, Fischer now chose to solidify his advantage by
moving on Goncharoff’s unprotected queen-side pawns. Goncharoff made no pretense at
defense; instead he launched his knight on a long voyage across the board.

Three moves later, Fischer suddenly realized that something was wrong. While he had been
scooping up inconsequential pawns, his opponent had been positioning his diminished arsenal
for a do-or-die thrust by his king bishop’s pawn.

Fischer desperately tried to swing back on the attack, but it was too late. There was nothing he
could do to prevent the solitary black pawn from reaching the other end of the board, where the
lowly foot soldier would be reincarnated as a mighty queen. Fischer frantically tried to check
his opponent into a mistake, but Goncharoff’s position was impregnable. After thirty-eight
moves, Fischer picked up his king and laid it on its side.

FRANKLIN PARK SOUTH – The above is an account of a game in 1964 between 20 year
Motorolan Nick Goncharoff and the then U.S. Chess Champion Bobby Fischer. Although this
description of the game is accurate, one other detail should be mentioned. While Bobby Fischer
was losing to Nik, he was also losing to three other players, drawing against eleven, and
beating 56 in a simultaneous chess exhibition.

The fact that Fischer was playing 71 players at the same time colors the victory somewhat, but
it still took an exceptional player to beat the man who was to become the champion of the
world. Nik, a research engineer in the Automotive division, has been a Class A (1800+
tournament points) or Class B (1600+ tournament points) player for the past 12 years. In 1967,
he was the Class B champion of Illinois, and in 1971 was Class B champion of greater
Chicago. Nik is active in the Motorola Chess Club (Chicago) and the Chicago Industrial Chess
League, groups in which he has been both a president and a leading player.

“The most I was hoping for was a draw,” said Nik of his game with Fischer, “but when I saw
him go after my pawns I knew I had a chance to win. What made the victory especially nice
was that I was the first player in the room to beat him.”

Nik added that Fischer did not live up to his reputation as temperamental eccentric. “Bobby
was very polite to everyone,” said Nik. “He shook hands and congratulated me on my victory,
and stopped to autograph the score sheet before moving on to his next game.”

(62) Sicilian Lowenthal B32

Fischer – Nick Goncharoff
Chicago (simul), March 23, 1964

1.e4 c5 2.Nf3 Nc6 3.d4 cxd4 4.Nxd4 e5 5.Nb5 a6 6.Nd6+ Bxd6 7.Qxd6 Qf6 8.Qa3

The main line of the Lowenthal variation is 8.Qd1 which was seen in Fischer-Tal, Curacao
1962 Candidates, which continued: 8...Qg6 9.Nc3 Nge7 10.h4 h5 11.Bg5 d5 12.Bxe7?!
(12.exd5 is best) 12...d4 13.Bg5 dxc3 14.bxc3 Qxe4+ 15.Be2 f6 (15...Bf5! would have kept
Black’s advantage) 16.Be3 Bg4 17.Qd3 Qxd3 18.cxd3 Bxe2 19.Kxe2 and the ending offered
equal chances. Bobby went on to win it. Other commonly seen tries are 8.Qxf6, 8.Qc7, 8.Qd2
and 8.Qd3.
8...Qe7

The text has not been tested much. More commonly seen is 8...Nge7 with 8...Qg6 and 8...Nd4
both meriting attention.

9.Qg3 Qf6

9...f5!? 10.exf5 Nd4 was worth a try.

10.Nc3 Qg6 11.Qxg6 hxg6 12.Nd5 Rb8 13.Be3 Nge7 14.0–0–0

White's lead in development and bishop pair give him a clear advantage.

14...b5 15.f4?

15.Bc5! was the correct way to proceed.

15...Bb7 16.Be2 d6 17.h3 f5

Black could have equalized with 17...Nxd5 18.exd5 Ne7 19.Bf3 f6.

18.Bf3 Kf7?

18...Nxd5 19.Rxd5 fxe4 20.Bg4 (20.Bxe4? Ne7) 20...exf4 21.Bxf4 Ne5 22.Rxd6 Nxg4 23.Rb6
Rc8 24.Rxb7 0–0 with equal chances. Now Bobby quickly wins material which should be
decisive.

19.Rhf1 Rbd8 20.exf5 gxf5 21.Nxe7 Kxe7 22.fxe5 Ke6

22...dxe5 23.Bg5+

23.Bg5 dxe5 24.Bxd8 Rxd8 25.Rxd8 Nxd8 26.Bxb7 Nxb7 27.Rf3 g5 28.Rc3 a5 29.Rc7 Nd6
30.b3 f4 31.Rc5 Nf5 32.Rxb5 Ne3 33.Rxa5

It's hard to believe that Fischer is not going to win this ending! 33.Kd2 Nxg2 34.Ke2 e4
35.Rxg5 was another road to victory.

33...Nxg2 34.Ra8

Or 34.Kd2 e4 35.Ke2 f3+ 36.Kf2 Nf4 37.Ra6+ Kf5 38.Rh6 when advancing the a-pawn will
be decisive.

34...f3 35.Kd2 e4 36.Re8+ Kf5 37.c4??

The stiff resistance Black has put up pays off as White goes astray. By this point Bobby has
messed up the position enough that there is only one road to victory with a critical fine point.

37.b4! was correct: 37…Kf4 38.b5 e3+ 39.Kd1 e2+ (39...f2 40.Ke2 Kg3 41.b6 Nf4+ 42.Kf1
Kf3 43.b7 e2+ 44.Rxe2 Nxe2 45.b8Q and the queen covers g3!) 40.Rxe2 fxe2+ 41.Kxe2 Ke5
42.b6 Kd6 43.Kf3 Nf4 44.Kg4 Ne6 (44...Kc6 45.h4) 45.Kf5 Nf8 46.Kxg5 Kc6 47.h4 Kxb6
48.h5 Kc5 49.Kf6 Kc4 50.h6 Kc3 51.Kg7 Ne6+ 52.Kg8 Ng5 53.h7 Nxh7 54.Kxh7 Kxc2 55.a4
winning.

37...Kf4 38.Rf8+

38.c5 e3+ 39.Kd1 f2 40.Ke2 Kg3 41.c6 Nf4+ 42.Kf1 Kf3 43.c7 e2+ 44.Rxe2 Nxe2 45.c8Q
Ng3# - the queen doesn't cover g3!

38...Kg3 0–1

Nick Goncharoff and the Chicago Chess League Bulletin - February 1973, page 3.

A slightly garbled version of the following game is given up to White’s 45th move in Lou Hays
groundbreaking complete game collection on Bobby.

(63) Evans Gambit C52

Fischer - C. Garwin
Chicago (simul), March 23, 1964

1.e4 e5 2.Nf3 Nc6 3.Bc4 Bc5 4.b4 Bxb4 5.c3 Ba5 6.d4 exd4 7.O-O Bb6 8.cxd4 d6 9.Nc3
Na5 10.Bg5 Qd7 11.Bd3 h6 12.Be3 Ne7 13.Na4 Nac6 14.Nxb6 axb6 15.d5 Ne5 16.Nxe5
dxe5 17.f4 Ng6 18.f5 Nf8 19.a4 Qd6 20.Qg4 g5 21.h4 Rg8 22.hxg5 hxg5 23.Rf3 Bd7
24.Bc2 Qb4 25.Rh3 Qb2 26.Rc1 O-O-O 27.Rh6 Ng6 28.Bd3 Rh8 29.Qxg5 Rxh6 30.Qxh6
Nf4 31.Bxf4 exf4 32.Qxf4 Qd4+ 33.Qf2 Qxd3 34.Qxb6 Qd1+ 35.Rxd1 cxb6 36.Kf2 Bxa4
37.Rd4 b5 38.g4 Re8 39.g5 Rg8 40.Kf3 Rxg5 41.Kf4 Rg1 42.Ke5 Rd1 43.Rb4 Kd7 44.Kf6
Ke8 45.Rb2 Rd4 46.e5 Rxd5 47.Rh2 b4 48.Rh4 Rb5 49.e6 fxe6 50.fxe6 Kd8 51.e7+ Kc7
52.e8=Q Rb6+ 53.Qe6 Rxe6+ 54.Kxe6 Bd7+ 55.Ke5 Draw

The player of the black pieces in the following game is the well-known National Open
organizer and former USCF Vice President Fred Gruenberg.

(64) Two Knights C57

Fischer - Fred Gruenberg
Chicago (simul), March 23, 1964

1.e4 e5 2.Nf3 Nc6 3.Bc4 Nf6 4.Ng5 d5 5.exd5 Nxd5 6.d4 Be7 7.Nxf7 Kxf7 8.Qf3+ Ke6
9.Nc3 Bb4 10.Bxd5+ Kd6 11.Bxc6 Bxc3+ 12.bxc3 bxc6 13.Ba3+ Ke6 14.O-O Qd5 15.Qh5
e4 16.Qh4 g5 17.Qh5 Qf5 18.f3 Qg6 19.Qg4+ Qf5 20.Qxf5+ Kxf5 21.fxe4+ Kxe4
22.Rae1+ Kd5 23.Re5+ 1-0

(65) Two Knights C57

Fischer - Juergen Kuhn
Chicago (simul), March 23, 1964

1.e4 e5 2.Nf3 Nc6 3.Bc4 Nf6 4.Ng5 d5 5.exd5 Nxd5 6.d4 f6 7.dxe5 Nxe5 8.Bxd5 fxg5 9.O-
O Bd7 10.Re1 Qf6 11.Qh5+ Qg6 12.Rxe5+ (1-0 in 22 moves)

Black's first initial is always given as F., but we suspect Black is Karl Panzer, who scored 6-7
in the 1963 U.S. Open held in Chicago. He was rated 1968 on the March 1964 U.S.C.F. rating
list.

(66) Evans Gambit C51

Fischer - F. Panzer
Chicago (simul), March 23, 1964

1.e4 e5 2.Nf3 Nc6 3.Bc4 Bc5 4.b4 Bxb4 5.c3 Bc5 6.d4 exd4 7.O-O d6 8.cxd4 Bb6 9.Nc3
Bg4 10.Qa4 Bxf3 11.d5 Nge7 12.dxc6 Bg4 13.cxb7+ Bd7 14.bxa8=Q Qxa8 15.Bxf7+ Kxf7
16.Qxd7 Rd8 17.Qh3 Kg8 18.Qe6+ Kf8 19.Bg5 Re8 20.Nd5 Nxd5 21.Qxd5 Qc8 22.Rac1
Bc5 23.Rc3 Re5 24.Rf3+ 1-0

(67) Two Knights C57

Fischer - L. Redman
Chicago (simul), March 23, 1964

1.e4 e5 2.Nf3 Nc6 3.Bc4 Nf6 4.Ng5 d5 5.exd5 Nxd5 6.d4 f6 7.dxe5 Nxe5 8.Bxd5 c6 9.Ne6
Qa5+ 10.Bd2 Qb6 (1-0 in 34 moves)

(68) Two Knights C57

Fischer-T. Rouse
Chicago (simul), March 23, 1964

1.e4 e5 2.Nf3 Nc6 3.Bc4 Nf6 4.Ng5 d5 5.exd5 Nxd5 6.d4 exd4 7.O-O Be7 8.Nxf7 Kxf7
9.Qf3+ Ke6 10.Re1+ Ne5 11.Bf4 Bf6 12.Nc3 c6 13.Rxe5+ Kf7 14.Nxd5 Be6 15.Rxe6 Kxe6
16.Nxf6+ Ke7 17.Re1+ Kf8 18.Qa3+ 1-0

(69) Evans Gambit C52

Fischer - P. Sugerman
Chicago (simul), March 23, 1964

1.e4 e5 2.Nf3 Nc6 3.Bc4 Bc5 4.b4 Bxb4 5.c3 Ba5 6.d4 exd4 7.O-O d6 8.Qb3 Bb6 9.Bxf7+
Kf8 10.Bxg8 Rxg8 11.Ng5 Ne5 12.Nxh7+ 1-0
Palma, a monster 24 player round robin Interzonal, was one of Bobby’s greatest triumphs and a
harbinger of what was to happen in the Candidates Matches. The tournament book by Wade and
Blackstock is excellent, fully capturing the atmosphere of the event.

(70) Alekhine B02

Fischer - Gary Thornell
Chicago (simul), March 23, 1964

1.e4 Nf6 2.Nf3?

The only explanation for this move is that Fischer thought Black had played 1...e5.

2...Nxe4 3.d4 d5 4.Bd3 c5 5.O-O e6 6.c4 Nf6 7.Nc3 dxc4 8.Bxc4 cxd4 9.Nxd4 Be7 10.Be3
O-O 11.Qe2 Nd5 12.Nxd5 exd5 13.Bd3 Nc6 14.Rac1 Nxd4 15.Bxd4 Bf6 16.Qe3 Bxd4
17.Qxd4 Be6 18.f4 Qb6 19.Qxb6 axb6 20.f5 Bd7 21.Rc7 Bc6 22.a3 Rfe8 23.Rd1 b5 24.Kf2
Re5 25.Rc1 d4 26.R1xc6 bxc6 27.Rxc6 Re3 28.Bxb5 Rb3 29.Bc4 Rxb2+30.Kf3 Rd8 31.Ke4
Rxg2 32.Rc7 Rxh2 33.Rxf7 Kh8 34.Kd3 Rh3+ 35.Kd2 d3 36.Be6 Rh2+ 37.Kd1 d2 38.Bd7
Kg8 0-1

(71) Pirc B09

Fischer - William Wagenhals
Chicago (simul), March 23, 1964

1.e4 d6 2.d4 Nf6 3.Nc3 g6 4.f4 Bg7 5.Nf3 O-O 6.Bd3 a6 7.O-O Bg4 8.h3 Bxf3 9.Qxf3 c6
10.Be3 Nbd7 11.e5 Ne8 12.g4 e6 13.Ne4 Qe7 14.g5 h6 15.Nf6+ Ndxf6 16.exf6 Nxf6
17.gxf6 Qxf6 18.c3 Qd8 19.Rf2 f5 20.Rg2 Kh7 21.Kh2 Bf6 22.Rag1 Rg8 23.c4 d5 24.b4
Rg7 25.a4 Qb6 26.b5 axb5 27.axb5 Bxd4 28.Bxd4 Qxd4 29.cxd5 cxd5 30.Bb1 Ra4 31.Re1
Qb4 32.Rge2 Ra3 33.Qf2 Rb3 34.Bc2 Rc3 35.Rxe6 d4 36.Rxg6 Rxg6 37.Bxf5 Kg7
38.Bxg6 Kxg6 39.Qg2+ Kf6 40.Rg1 Qf8 41.Qg6+ Ke7 42.Qh7+ Kd6 43.Qg6+ Kc5 Draw

(72) Irregular A43

Fischer - Peter Wolf
Chicago (simul), March 23, 1964

1.e4 e6 2.d4 c5 3.d5 exd5 4.exd5 d6 5.Nc3 Nf6 6.h3 g6 7.g4 Bg7 8.Bg2 O-O 9.Nge2 b6
10.O-O Ba6 11.a4 Nbd7 12.Bf4 Ne8 13.Re1 f5 14.g5 Ne5 15.Nb5 Nc7 16.Nec3 Re8 17.h4
Nxb5 18.axb5 Bb7 19.Bf1 Re7 20.Re3 Ng4 21.Rf3 h6 22.gxh6 Bxh6 23.Bxh6 Nxh6 24.Qd2
Rh7 25.Qg5 Qxg5+ 26.hxg5 Ng4 27.Rh3 Rxh3 28.Bxh3 Ne5 29.Kg2 a6 30.bxa6 Rxa6
31.Re1 b5 32.f4 b4 33.Nb5 Bxd5+ 34.Kf2 Bc4 35.Nc7 Ra7 36.Ne8 Nf7 37.Nf6+ Kg7 38.Re8
Nh6 39.Rd8 Ng4+ 40.Bxg4 fxg4 41.Rxd6 Ra2 42.Nxg4 Rxb2 43.Ne5 Rxc2+ 44.Kf3 b3
45.Rxg6+ Kf8 46.Rb6 Bd5+ 47.Kg4 b2 48.Nd3 c4 49.Nxb2 c3 50.Nd3 Be4 51.Ne1 Rc1
Draw

Fischer would get his revenge for the following draw a few months later in Cicero.

(73) French Rubinstein C10

Fischer - G. Kral
Chicago (simul), March 23, 1964

1.e4 e6 2.d4 d5 3.Nc3 dxe4 4.Nxe4 Nf6 5.Nxf6+ Qxf6 6.Nf3 h6 7.Bd3 Bd6 8.O-O O-O 9.b3
Nd7 10.Bb2 Re8 11.Re1 b6 12.c4 Bb7 13.Be4 Bxe4 14.Rxe4 Qf5 15.Re2 Nf6 16.Qc2 Qxc2
17.Rxc2 Nd7 18.Rac1 c5 19.Rd1 Rad8 20.g3 f6 21.Rcd2 Bc7 22.Ba3 cxd4 23.Nxd4 Nc5
24.Nb5 Rxd2 25.Rxd2 Bb8 26.Bxc5 bxc5 27.Rd7 a5 28.Nd6 Bxd6 29.Rxd6 a4!

The only chance to fight.

30.Rb6 axb3 31.axb3 e5 32.Kf1 Rc8 33.Ke2 Rc7 34.Ke3 f5 35.f3 Kf7 36.h4 g6 37.h5 gxh5
38.Rxh6 Kg7 39.Re6

39...Kg6 40.Rh8 Rb7.

39...f4+ 40.gxf4 h4 41.Rxe5?

41.fxe5, with connected passed pawns, wins.

41...Kg6 42.Rg5+ Kh6 43.Kf2 Rb7 44.Rxc5 Rxb3 45.Kg2 Rc3 46.Kh3 Rxf3+ 47.Kxh4
Rxf4+ 48.Kg3 Rd4 49.Kf3 Kg6 50.Ke3 Rd1 51.Rd5 Rxd5 52.cxd5 Kf6 53.Ke4 Ke7 54.Ke5
Kd7 Draw (Illinois Chess Bulletin, July 1964)

Baton Rouge, March 25

5-0-0 and 2-0 over Acers
Jude Acers, who was going to school at LSU at the time, arranged Bobby’s visit to Louisiana.
He relates: “A call to Larry Evans’ father, Harry, set up a full program for Bobby including a
five-board television simul and a two-game match with me in Baton Rouge, plus a 75-board
simul in New Orleans.

“The televised five-board simul, which was shown on Channel 9, was held March 25 from
noon to 1 p.m. It pitted Dr. Richard Anderson, James West, John Robinson, Gustavo Fernandez,
and Dr. Carter Waid against Fischer, who went 5-0. I served as narrator for a program called
‘Bobby Fischer, Chess Champion,’ which consisted chiefly of footage from the simul. It was
shown on local television in Baton Rouge for two weeks, and then, despite my pleading, was
destroyed when a car commercial was taped over it.

“Later, at 3 p.m., Fischer played me twice and won both. The games were played at the home of
Don Wagner who, with his wife Phyllis, hosted Bobby during his stay. They were stunned at his
courtesy and first-rate conduct.”

The following fragments are all that are available of the mini-match between Fischer and
Acers: 1.e4 e5 2.Nf3 Nc6 3.Bc4 g6 4.d4 exd4 5.Nxd4 Bg7 6.Be3 Nge7 7.Nc3 O-O 8.f3 Re8
9.Qd2 d5! and later 0-1 [Acers-Fischer]; 1.e4 c5 2.Nf3 Nc6 3.d4 cxd4 4.Nxd4 e5 5.Nb5 a6
6.N5a3 and later 1-0 on time [Fischer-Acers]. (Source: Jude Acers)

Fischer playing Jude Acers in a two game match in March 1964.

Acer’s full account of Fischer’s visit, reproduced here with permission, is in his typically
colorful, hyperbolic style.

Hurricane, part I
 by Jude Acers

“A man’s life can depend on a mere scrap of information.” — Clint Eastwood, For a Fistful of
Dollars
The “one hundred days” begin. William Grady Addison (1970 United States Chess
Championship Interzonal World Title Qualifier) screeched his truck to a halt aside San
Francisco’s Chinatown gate, windshield wipers flipping rain. Time for the talk of a lifetime, for
the last time. It ends here. Acers listened.
Quaking realization. If grandmaster L. Evans had not refused an early draw offer, then tried to
murder his great rival, U.S. chess immortal S. Reshevsky just three days earlier (N.Y. National)
... the chess champion of the United States would now be a-pumpin’ the pedals rather than a
“mere” second official world title qualifier “candidate” — the pride of San Francisco ... Acers
thought silently ... not even Fischer defeated Reshevsky, forfeiting $10,000 cold cash after 11
games ... Addison at the wheel. The man who played Fischer to a draw in world-rated play
twice. “It’s expected, Jude.” Addison, San Francisco’s haunting shadow never to play again
after the world championship tourney. “Jude, Fischer is definitely friendlier, more social after
you have played him.” No doubt. “During the US Championship ... believe me he has you in
mind every second — ‘YOU ARE NEXT!’ — but tries always to be perfectly proper. Never
doing mind games, cheap stuff. Class. Good sportsmanship and I am talking a decade I watched
him for real .... I mentioned to him that in all night speed chess he need not ever resign when he
has, say a bishop and knight or the bishop pair versus the opponent’s queen. You know. Play it
out Bobby, you will win it anyway ... Fischer instantly pushed the pieces to board center with a
fiery annotation ‘If I can’t win it clean I don’t want it!’

“People talk, Jude. I WAS THERE, OK? Here’s how it came down. The 1964 US
Championship starts out slowly, grinding wins for Fischer. Believe me, we never have an
inkling what is coming up. Suddenly Fischer just mows down back-to-back people he had
never defeated in his whole life: R. Byrne, L. Evans — quick thundercrushes. Jude, it was just
incredible, swift, really — the fear, surprise, real devastation everyone felt.”
Yes, with great expectations everyone comes to the mountain, the New York national tourney,
for one reason: to play Fischer. Now this ... Addison continued almost in a trance. “Fischer
was a quiet church mouse a-comin’, always silent, a gentlemen. No matter. It would be like a
freight train had penetrated the wall after his sixth straight win. Abject fear now. ‘HERE HE
COMES!’ Believe me, Jude, we did not want to jinx Bobby in any fashion ... so we would
gather at the water cooler outside .... I heard somebody whisper ‘MY GOD WHAT IS
HAPPENING? HE IS WINNING EVERY GAME?’”

Addison rolled on. “I should note that despite a great effort not to be disconcerting, arrogant,
Fischer has one impulsive, maybe unavoidable thing he does: the ‘FISCHER COBRA EYE.’
You will be passing him in the hallway, say, and for a chilly darting instant his eyes zero in on
you. It’s like ‘YOU ARE NEXT TO DIE! Ha! Ha! Ha!’ You just know he has your welfare in
his endearing chess thoughts ... until he plays you. Almost embarrassed, Fischer then pulls his
fish eyes away as fast as he can move them. He means no harm but, Jesus, you KNOW what that
look meant. It’s chilling, I admit. Surely he studies each opponent carefully before every game.”
Long silence. “HE WON EVERY GAME.” Silence. Now get out of the truck slowly for the
last time. Walk slowly. Goodbye. Remember. Walking in the sand.

Sports Illustrated ran EVERY GAME across six pages, all over the world. Overnight people
everywhere were buying chess sets, learning to read the Sports Illustrated chess moves ... play
over eleven straight epics, consecutive golf holes-in-one, the perfect chess world series for the
new year.
Fischer now climbed aboard a Greyhound bus. Next, the Virginia exhibition, then ... Sitting in a
farm field awaiting another bus ... abandoned after courteously playing all-night speed chess
with local sponsors. “The bus will be along in an hour or two. Just wait here, don’t worry.” It
does arrive. Winding to Chicago … the American chess tour of all time is suddenly happening,
softly.
Now south. To New Orleans airport. March 1964. DON L. WAGNER picks up the telephone,
“Hello?” — “Greetings, Bobby Fischer here.” — “Hi Bobby. Where will we pick up you and
your luggage?” — “I’ll be playing pinball probably, a game room here in the airport.” — “Stay
right there, Bobby. I’m in Baton Rouge and moving like a rocket right now.” This is how it
began. The colossal legendary Louisiana chess race of all time was on.

Roly-poly FRANK M. REPASS, primo titanic Louisiana chess organizer was instantly frantic.
Fischer had just left word of safe arrival. Repass, a feisty wondrous individual (“Jude Acers, if
you do not resign right now, I’m ... I’m going to queen every remaining pawn.” And he did.)
was justifiably seized with fear now. “Oh my goodness, I can see it all clearly now — the
Acers danger. The LSU MENACE!” He must rush to the airport to steal Fischer now!
BOOM! Now rushing madly to his car with the luscious, voluptuous train-stopping
CAMERON THE CHESS DANGER GIRL riding shotgun. She grabbed his ear in order not to
be left behind, dragged to the auto. Even decades later Cameron, a veritable chess cheerleader
and ballerina, effortlessly recalled the wild ride and screamed with ear-pulling delight at the
tidal wave of Repass offerings:
“Cameron my sweet, my lovely ... that dirty rat Jude Acers is trying to grab that Bobby Fischer
from me, right beneath my nose. My goodness, we will see about those apples! Ho! Ho! Ho! To
the airport, mighty gasoline steed! Forward, tally ho! Fear not Cameron, the lovely chess
danger girl! All is not lost, my sweet — I will show that Acers, the LSU menace! Go petrol
stallion, tally ho! We must deal defeat to that Acers, the LSU menace, but remember Cameron
my sweet at all times, that Jude Acers is a very very tricky man. We must beware while
speeding forthwith. Tally ho!”

Repass bitterly replayed the race forever: “I never dreamed that Acers would get 100 miles
before I, Frank M. Repass, could make a mere 20 miles to my own city airport. I am telling you
that Jude Acers is just not mortal.” (1966)
How did Acers win the priceless race? The great secret? Acers never did. Mr. Repass died
never knowing the unbelievable raw truth: DON L. WAGNER, promo marvel, master
Encyclopedia Americana salesman, spilled red hot coffee all over his white trousers. Quickly
he pulled up in front of his home for a world-record-quick change of wardrobe. Jude Acers
waiting outside in a posture of prayer, frantically hoping they would make it to New Orleans in
time to kidnap ... err ... make that transport, Fischer to Baton Rouge. That is when Fischer, the
world’s youngest chess grandmaster, stuck his head out of the Wagner screen door and said
“Hello, Jude.” By grace of twin miracles, Wagner had pulled it off — won the race and pulled
off the practical chess joke of the century. “HEEEERE’S BOBBY!” Acers was just shocked.
Time to count our blessings. Two- game match with Fischer tomorrow afternoon at the Wagner
home. Reality. The Channel 9 television program — Fischer against five LSU opponents —
with Acers whispering “Once again ladies and gentlemen you are watching chess grandmaster
Robert James Fischer of Brooklyn, New York, a player with serious claims to being the
greatest of all time, versus five LSU players: Dr. Anderson, Mr. Fernandez, James West, Mr.
Robinson, Mr. Waid.” Reality.

Years of lovingly staged puppet shows, “Howdy Doody” and “Buffalo Bill” children’s
television programs had prepared Wagner for the chance of a lifetime — valued at 7 million
dollars in 1992 Yugoslavian currency — and it was for two hundred dollars from channel 9
television ONLY. It was, stated simply, the Bargain of the Century. All those years of chess
promo flash before your eyes: having LSU student Jude Acers play blindfolded aside a Baton
Rouge street traffic light intersection, all these things for the nifty photo opportunities, front-
paged (of course) in the Baton Rouge Morning Advocate with photo credit by DON L.
WAGNER (of course).
Yes, Wagner, absolute promo master at the top of his game, had moved instantly 100 miles south
to close out the rabid race. He had filled his gas tank — long in advance, of course. He had
pontificated the Wagner credo: “When the door of opportunity opens, rush through it faster than
anyone on the planet and never, never stop to close the door to bar others — that loses precious
seconds. You are ahead, stay ahead!”
So ... Wagner was long GONE ... ZOOM! TO THE AIRPORT AND ... peril was imminent and
obvious. Instantly upon arrival he heard the paging of “Mr. Robert Fischer” on the airport
speakers. Mr. Repass is waiting at the snack bar. Calm, ruthless, swift Don Wagner moved to
the soundproofed game room where, UNBELIEVABLY, THE AIRPORT SOUND PAGING
SYSTEM DID NOT WORK! Not to mention, to boot, that it was drowned out by Bobby’s
pinball frenzy. It was, stated simply, a veritable miracle. Years later Wagner distinctly
remembered PASSING Mr. Repass “with this fabulously beautiful woman holding on to his ear,
laughing hysterically. We went right by them, missed them by inches.” Having astutely tipped
the startled sky cap ten dollars to hold his car (running, of course), Wagner now made the
getaway of the century, Fischer in tow and luggage flying to the back seat. “Long gone, in three
minutes flat after I first hit the airport entrance. Just unbelievable luck. I plan to rob banks next,
Jude. Want to come along?”
1992. New Orleans. WWOZ public radio station does the interview. “If one thousand people
and me are in a burning building and only one person can escape alive, then I feel very, very
sorry for the other people — it would be me who survives. My life has been that lucky.
Although it is a razor-thin margin, this calculation of being at the right place, right time in world
chess history, this calculation that my entire life turned on a pinball machine.” But it did.

The irrepressible Jude Acers, one of the greatest chess promoters in the United States,
wearing his trademark red beret.

Hurricane, part II

REPASS TAKES REVENGE

Fischer’s 1964 visit to Baton Rouge, Louisiana. REPASS TAKES REVENGE. Acers loads all
the cannons and asks just the right question at Graham Hall/Louisiana State University campus.
THE FISCHER INTERVIEW. CHESS: HOW TO PLAY IT — THE TWO GREAT FISCHER
SECRETS. Shooting pool with Fischer in the Chimes Street billiards hall ... and heading to the
highway en route to New Orleans where 74 players are waiting for the greatest Louisiana chess
exhibition of all time ... and where Repass is waiting.
“The opening is the most important because every game has one. I am a great believer in
Alekhine — get everything possible out of the opening because, believe me, you are going to
need it later.” — Carroll Capps, author, and for a half-century, master chess player, top-board
contestant at the Mechanics’ Institute Chess Rooms, San Francisco. (Last interview, Foster’s
coffee shop, 1969)

THE INTERVIEW: ACERS WAS READY. The chance of a lifetime and he knew it. Room
104, Graham Hall, Louisiana State University. March 1964. Fischer, Acers, the light bulb and
the wall telephone. Fischer starts. “Barden is crazy about the Russians. He publishes their
games almost every week. Almost none of my games”
Acers now rolls. “Oh don’t worry about that, Bobby. You haven’t been playing much. Mr.
Barden has 52 weeks of Manchester Guardian chess columns to fill. Now, believe me, he has
eleven shockers to publish — a Bobby serial week after week!” Fischer holds several chess
columns in his hands, waves them gently. He brightens. “Jude, do you really think he will run
all my games?” “Are you kidding? Move for move already in print, I guarantee you. Leonard
Barden is certainly tap-dancing with delight toward the presses.”
O.K. Now is the time, Acers. ONE QUESTION ONLY. Do it now. It will be remembered
forever. You have rehearsed it word for word ten times. First show research, show you have
thought about the matter, and then ....
“Bobby, even cursory examination of your career shows fantastic self-improvement.
Study? Talent? Written analysis after all your games? I have wondered. Please look back at
one specific case for me: Bled/Belgrade/Zagreb 1959 international chess tourney. You lose by
6 games to the Soviet players, LOSE ALL FOUR GAMES TO MIKHAIL TAL. Then like a
bomb flash two years to Bled, 1961. 19 games. You mow down Tal, Petrosian, plus score the
Russians, go UNDEFEATED IN ALL 19 ROUNDS. Naked improvement, there it is. BOBBY,
HOW DOES A PLAYER DO THIS? GET BETTER WHILE ALL OTHER PLAYERS ARE
STANDING STILL?”

Fischer instantly said “Simple. First, learn the chess openings, really learn the ones you play
for White and Black. Second, keep the pressure on them every second — THEY ALL CRACK.
No exception, play every game to the end, never give up.”
Bobby and Boris analyze their draw at the Havana Olympiad in 1966 while Mikhail Tal and
Lev Polugaevsky look on. (Photo by Nathan Divinsky)

THE POOL HALL: He taps you on the shoulder in Wagner’s car. “Jude, you said you spent
eleven dollars on long distance phone calls to set up my exhibitions?” “Bobby I was just
calling to brag, share glad tidings. Believe me a Fischer tour is on promo autopilot! Word
spreads by smoke signal!” “Take this money anyway,” he said, shoving cash over my shoulder.
We climbed out to play pool. The Chimes Street parlor was dim and Bogart classic. The house
pro gives us two shots to his one, simply a HUGE advantage. We crawl to victory two games to
one. On my last shot I gently nudge the cue ball into killer position aside the corner pocket 8-
ball. Fischer instantly sees his dead-on shot will win it all. “Thanks,” and a cavernous smile
blazes from him. I thought silently, he appreciates little things. He will travel alone everywhere
as a world celebrity. He will have to work overtime to blow his life. Surely he will be happy.
In 30 hours his voice will be on the telephone. I will never see him again.
FISCHER ON TELEVISION: Don L. Wagner’s magic continues. Fischer 5, LSU Opponents 0.
It was a nightmare in the making. Fischer handled the matter gracefully. John Ferguson, “the
voice of the LSU Fighting Tigers” football team opened up with — yes, I am not kidding —
asked on the air, as his very first question: “Bobby you have been called a high school drop-
out. What about this?” Oh great. Promoter Don L. Wagner shook, jumped, swirled away from
the camera, instantly red. Acers, already on camera, closed his eyes, posture glacial. Fischer:
“Well I just feel I do not need a high school diploma to play chess all over the world.” And
stopped. Acers whispers 30-minute commentary on the videotape. Ferguson whispers to Acers
“I can detect no interest whatsoever for this program in Baton Rouge but here is Bobby
Fischer’s two hundred dollar check as agreed.” Afterward the program aired TWICE that
week. The only video copy was taped over, ERASED, for a car commercial two weeks later. A
blunder that would later cost Channel 9 millions of dollars. “Great Mistake” — Ferguson, 1972
PLAYING FISCHER A TWO-GAME MATCH: Acers remembers, the crowd was enormous in
Wagner’s home. Wall to wall, two games. Echoes: Law professor Cary De Bessonet, always at
the right place at the right time, saw both of my matches with Fischer and Browne.
Remembered best: colored streamers running from the Wagner’s air conditioner. As I stepped
back watching for Fischer’s quiet, always-the-same-hand-meter moves, I was surrounded by
colored paper strips, apparently to show the direction of air flow. A frame with Fischer in the
center. Really incredible.
FISCHER INTRODUCED TWO THEORETICAL NOVELTIES IN BOTH GAMES.
Thunderstruck, wondering “Why me?” I resolved then and there to publish his quiet knight
retreat in game one, his center pawn thrust in game two, end the game with his chess homework,
personality forever. That is what I did.
Sportsmanship. Fischer wanted to be completely sure that I knew my time was running out. I
did. Dead lost, I just let it run out quietly. A last note from Don and Phyllis Wagner, his hosts
throughout: Fischer quietly asked if it was all right to move from room to room, careful not to
intrude on family routine. The perfect guest.
Fischer holds the Graham Hall wall telephone, speaking to one thunderstruck lady, the mother
of William Addison. She hears the pro’s advice from atop the mountain: “Mrs. Addison, when
Bill rides across the country by bus to the New York US Championship to save money it tires
him. I like to fly, arrive refreshed. I do not do this.” The marvelous idea to phone her clear out
of the sky, hitting her with this million-volt shock of her life, went like a dream. He agreed
instantly. “Hello Mrs. Addison. This is Bobby Fischer.” Fischer phones the boyhood home of
William Addison, the Baton Rouge son who defeated soviet champion Leonid Stein at Caracas,
fought out two draws with Fischer in world play.
Addison now sends this memorable echo, this Olympic proxy! Addison, traveling alone by bus
like a shadow, bombing a Lafayette, Louisiana “spare change” tournament. Creeping on in the
night on bus layover. Leaving the trophy aside his mother’s screen door, retreating in the night
with a left note, always proper, with an always proper first prize attached. Born to run. One
summer night. What are the unfathomable odds for her delight, this fifteen minutes, this call, the
Mount Everest of the chess world, just for her? Fischer is a wonder. Hang up.

THEN ALL HELL BREAKS LOOSE: Ring! “Hello, this is the New York Times calling for
Bobby Fischer. Is he there?” “No I am sorry he is not here presently.” Hang up. Ring. “Hello.
This is the New Orleans Times-Picayune. Mr. Acers, can you tell us where to find Mr.
Fischer?” Ring. Time magazine. Houston Chronicle. Associated Press. Baton Rouge Morning
Advocate. And on and on. Ten more news media. Frank Repass had provided the Acers LSU
switchboard number to media ALL OVER THE WORLD, ASSURING THEM FISCHER WAS
IN THE ROOM! And he was. Revenge by telephone .... and now it is over. No it is not...THE
SECOND FLOOR GRAHAM HALL PHONES GO OFF ONE BY ONE. You can hear them just
above: “CHESS? ARE YOU OUT OF YOUR MIND? YOU WOKE ME UP FOR THIS??”
“Oh no not again ... not this again ... chess .... Fischer ...” (expletives deleted).
Time to go. They are waiting. We are late. “With Sergeant’s book in hand, I once took half an
hour here just to find the only way out. How Morphy could hardly be defeated, even though he
gave away a whole rook odds at the start of the game. Imagine, with no obvious errors, a whole
rook up, White still has to work to win. Morphy is the most accurate player ever. Against such
a strong master you could only survive, as almost always was the case, by returning the extra
material. The move matters to Morphy. He made things very difficult.” — R.J. Fischer,
Gravier Street YWCA, lecture, New Orleans, Louisiana, March 26, 1964. Whisper: “Time to
go.”
IN THE CAR NOW: Baton Rouge. Last moments. We are running two hours late for Fischer’s
74-opponent monster chess exhibition in New Orleans. Acers had caused it all but Fischer
would shoulder all the blame. Naturally. Fischer was fascinated by two New Orleans “odds”
games by immortal chess meteor-tragedy Paul Charles Morphy (1837-1884). A free Fischer
public lecture “On Morphy” was suddenly promised out of the sky if we could procure The
Games of Paul Morphy by P.W. Sergeant (1916). No dummies we. There was no way were
going to leave Baton Rouge alive without that book. This was a first-run feature film, not a
rerun. One time for a lifetime. Naturally Acers had forgotten that the Louisiana State University
library does not necessarily stay open especially for Jude Acers after 6 pm. A priceless public
address lost single-handedly by Acers but mutually saved in terrible time pressure by Mr.
James West and Mr. John Robinson. “Don’t worry, Jude, we threatened the guy’s life and he
gave it up.” Now roll, troops.
ROLLING NOW. 8 pm. Hear Don Wagner whisper “The whole world thinks you can play the
top 50 players all at one time”. “I am sure you realize I could do it but the exhibition would
take a whole day. Those guys are tough.” Acers now tombstone silent in the backseat. Racing in
the deserted streets. Remembered for a lifetime: silhouettes in the streetlights, dim profiles of
Wagner at the wheel, Fischer riding shotgun. With the night air blasting through all the open
windows. Up ahead, the bend. The highway. La Carretera. There are doubts. Seize now the
fool’s madness. Stop the hands of time. Turn back. Replay just 72 hours just one more time. No.
Gone. The “one hundred days.”
 Fischer en route to winning the 1963/64 US Championship.

(Chess Review)

New Orleans, March 26

+70, -3, =2

Acers continues “Fischer’s New Orleans appearance drew a large crowd of spectators. It
started 2½ hours late as Don Wagner and I got him to New Orleans. Fischer had requested a
copy of Sergeant’s book on Morphy as he planned to go over two of his odds games as part of
his lecture and we weren’t able to find a copy in Baton Rouge until John Robinson located one
around 7 p.m.

“Fischer received $485 for the greatest exhibition in the history of New Orleans chess.”

Chess Whiz Dazzles Here

Chess international grandmaster Robert J. Fischer played 75 games simultaneously in New

Orleans last night and early today, winning 70 of them.

Fischer, a 21-year-old considered America’s greatest chess player since Paul Morphy, lost
three games and drew two in the six-hour marathon at the YWCA building. One who beat him
was a 15-year-old New Orleans Class C player, David Levin. The others were Frank Chávez
of New Orleans and Fenner Parham of Natchez, Miss., both of whom have held expert ratings.
The draws went to Jude Acers of Baton Rouge, an expert player, and Frank Gladney of Baton
Rouge, a former expert.

Fischer averaged five minutes a game during the performance, moving quickly from board to
board, arranged in a rectangle around him. In most instances he moved almost simultaneously
with his opponent, gliding then to the next board. At times, he paused to study the situation,
resting on both hands on the table or standing back with one hand to his face.

Adrian L. McAuley, president of the sponsoring New Orleans Chess Club, said New Orleans
player Matthew Dufaut was last to finish his game with Fischer at 3:30 a.m. today. (The Times-
Picayune, New Orleans, March 26, 1964)

Sitting next to Frank Chávez in the exhibition was District Attorney Jim Garrison. The latter,
who lost his game, is best known for his theories about the John F. Kennedy assassination.

(74) Sicilian Sveshnikov B33

Fischer - Frank Chávez
New Orleans (simul), March 26, 1964

1.e4 c5 2.Nf3 Nc6 3.d4 cxd4 4.Nxd4 e5 5.Nb5 d6 6.N1c3 Nf6 7.Bg5 Be7 8.Bxf6 gxf6 9.Nd5
Kf8 10.c3 Rg8 11.Nxe7 Kxe7 12.Qd2

Bobby has a big advantage here but Black succeeds in complicating the game and finally White
blunders.

12...a6 13.Na3 Be6 14.g3 d5 15.Bg2 d4 16.O-O Rc8 17.Rad1 Bxa2 18.f4 Bb3 19.fxe5 fxe5
20.Qh6 Rg6 21.Qxh7 Qg8 22.Qh4+ f6 23.Rd2 Qg7 24.Qh5 Rh8 25.Qf3? Qh6 0-1

(75) Evans Gambit C52

Fischer - L. Fenner Parham Jr.
New Orleans (simul), March 26,1964

1.e4 e5 2.Nf3 Nc6 3.Bc4 Bc5 4.b4 Bxb4 5.c3 Ba5

Fischer, in his notes to his games with Celle (number 50 in My 60 Memorable Games), writes
that on the 1964 tour most players answered 5...Be7 here.

6.d4 d6

This solid way to meet the Evans Gambit was favored by Emanuel Lasker. As far as we know
this is the only game where Fischer faced this move. Most of his opponents played 6...exd4
here and quickly found themselves in difficulties.
7.Qb3

7.0–0 Bb6 was Lasker's idea with the point that after 8.dxe5 dxe5 9.Qxd8+ Nxd8 10.Nxe5
White has recovered the pawn but at a serious cost to his pawn structure.

7...Qd7 8.dxe5

This move does not promise much. Recent attempts to breath new life into the Evans Gambit
include 8.0–0 and 8.Nbd2.

8...Bb6

Black stabilizes his bishop and introduces the threat of ...Na5, a standard motif for the defender
in this opening.

9.exd6

This is a rare choice, perhaps chosen by Fischer as the more commonly played 9.Nbd2 leads to
positions where Black is doing fine. For example: 9...Na5 10.Qc2 (10.Qb4 Nxc4 11.Nxc4 Bc5
12.Qb3 Ne7) 10...Nxc4 11.Nxc4 d5 12.exd5 Qxd5 13.Qa4+ Bd7 14.Nxb6 cxb6. 9.Bb5 is met
by 9...a6.

9...Na5 10.Qb4 Nxc4 11.Qxc4 cxd6

Fenner Parham, a four-time Mississippi champion, loved to attack and often played the Evans
Gambit as White as well as Black, which explains his familiarity with the opening. Here Black
had a good alternative in 11...Qxd6 meeting 12.Ba3 with 12...Be6.

12.0–0 Nf6

Black understandably wants to catch up in development, but also playable was 12...Qc6
after 13.Qxc6+ bxc6 14.Bf4 Ba6 15.Rd1 Nf6 16.Nbd2 0–0–0 Black is doing fine. It's not often
he can castle queenside in the Evans!

13.Ba3 0–0?!

Again it's understandable that Black wants to complete his development, but the text runs into a
well-timed e5. Instead 13...Qc7, planning ...Be6 and ...Bc5 when needed, would have
maintained equal chances after 14.Nbd2 Be6 15.Qxc7 Bxc7.

14.e5! Qg4

14...Ng4 15.Bxd6 Re8 16.Nbd2 clearly favors White, but sacrificing the exchange with
14...dxe5 15.Bxf8 Kxf8 was not out of the question. After 16.Nxe5 Qc7 (or 16...Qe7 17.Re1
Be6) Black's two bishops and better pawn structure provide some compensation.
15.Nbd2

Fischer might have done better with 15.Qxg4 which more or less obliges Black to later capture
on f2. For example 15...Nxg4 16.Bxd6 Re8 17.h3 Nxf2 18.Rxf2 Bxf2+ 19.Kxf2 Be6 20.Nbd2
and White's chances in the ending are clearly better.

15...Nh5!

Black's knight heads to f4 where it will be well-placed for attack and defense.

16.Qxg4

16.Bxd6 Nf4 17.g3 Nh3+ 18.Kg2 Rd8 19.Qxg4 Bxg4 20.Nd4 Ng5 21.Rfc1 Bh3+ 22.Kg1 Ne6
23.N2b3 Rac8.

16...Bxg4 17.Bxd6?!

In retrospect 17.exd6 was better as the bishop ends up out of play on d6.

17...Rfc8

Black's two bishops, active knight and better pawn structure provide full compensation for the
sacrificed pawn.

18.c4 Nf4 19.Rab1 Bf5 20.Rb3 Be6

20...Bd3 was also strong.

21.g3 Ne2+ 22.Kg2 Bxc4 23.Nxc4 Rxc4 24.Re1?

Bobby is starting to lose the thread of the game. Here 24.Rd1 was necessary, meeting 24...Rc2
with 25.Rd2.
24...Rc2

24...Nc1 was a good alternative but the text is more natural.

25.Rf1?

Nothing is more uncomfortable for the simul giver than being under attack with no counterplay -
precisely the situation Bobby is in. His best chance was 25.Rd3 hoping to play Rd2 and relieve
the pressure against f2. This would leave White a pawn down in the ending after a2 falls, but
with some practical chances.

25...Rxa2

Again the unconventional 25...Nc1 was a worthy alternative.

26.Ng5?

26.Rfb1 to play Rb2 was necessary.

26...Rc8

Equally good was 26...h6 27.Ne4 Rc8 intending to double on the seventh rank.

27.Rf3 Nd4! 28.Rd3

28.Rf4 h6! 29.Nxf7 Ne6 30.Rf3 Rcc2 and with White completely tied up (his knight on f7 has
nowhere to go) Black will win by advancing his a-pawn.

28...Rcc2 29.Ne4 Nf5 30.g4??

White finally cracks. 30.Bc5 was forced.

30...Ne3+ 31.Rxe3 Bxe3 32.Kg3 Rc1 33.Rxc1 Bxc1 34.f4 Re2 35.Nc5 b5 36.f5 Ba3 0–1

Louisiana Chess News Letter editor Woodrow Crew says Bobby F. turned his king over and
said, “Thanks for the lesson.”

The American Chess Quarterly, October-December 1964 (pp. 84-86), where this game first
appeared, had this to say in Fred Wren’s “Woodpusher’s Scrapbook”: “I don’t think that any
grandmaster playing 75 games simultaneously should feel bad about losing three games, after
winning seventy and drawing two. He must have been footsore, exhausted, hungry, and if he had
been hunting for excuses for his losses there must have been dozens of them which he could
have used. But no. No excuses at all. According to the report I received, after Black’s 36th
move Bobby turned his king over and said, ‘Thanks for the lesson!’ No dramatic dashing of the
pieces from the board. No frozen-faced passing of the board without having the courtesy either
to make a move or resign. No complaint of food poisoning from the evening meal. No gripes
about the sun being in his eyes. Just gracefully acknowledging a loss to a worthy opponent,
exhibiting a brand of good sportsmanship which is not always forthcoming from his colleagues
on the master and grandmaster levels of international chess.”

Some sources (Indianapolis Monthly, January 2007, page 74 and chessgames.com among
others) claim it was the Indiana master Bernard Parham of 2.Qh5 fame who actually played this
game and not Fenner Parham of Natchez, Mississippi. The explanation given for Fenner's name
being credited with the win is that he was Bernard's uncle and registered his nephew, who was
a minor at the time, for the exhibition.

Lacking a time machine we can only rely on the available facts which are as follows:

Bernard Parham was born October 30, 1946, which would make him 17 when the
exhibition was held. Chess Life, March 1964, has Bernard with a provisional
rating of 1576 and listed as living in Indiana. If Fenner was Bernard's uncle one
might construct a theory that the youngster was visiting family in late March 1964
and nephew and uncle made the three hour drive from Natchez to New Orleans
together. Finally, that Fenner gave Bernard his spot in the exhibition at the last
moment.

We do not believe this to be the case for many reasons any of which would be cause for
dismissing this theory. In no particular order:

Fenner's name was not only reported as a winner in The Times-Picayune, but also
 in the Louisiana Chess News Letter. While it is conceivable that the main New
Orleans newspaper made an error reporting on this huge exhibition (tied with
Rochester as the biggest on the tour with 75 participants), it is very unlikely that a
chess publication would have. Fenner Parham, Jr. was well known to Louisiana
players having played many times in that state as Natchez, the oldest city on the
Mississippi, is directly across the river from it. Parham played in the 1954 U.S.
Open held in New Orleans.

Jerry Krouse, a three-time Mississippi state champion and also a resident of

Natchez, played thousands of games with Fenner and heard him speak of his game
with Fischer many times. He always referred to it as a game that he had played.
Mr. Krouse acknowledges that Fenner had a few faults, but misrepresenting the
truth was not one of them. Quite the contrary he was honest to a fault.

Fenner Parham was a noted aficionado of attacking chess, who played and
defended the Evans Gambit on many occasions which explains the excellent
opening play in the game against Fischer where Black played the opening like a
master through the first dozen moves. Today, when opening theory is ever present,
that might not seem like a big deal, but in 1964 it was. Fischer had several masters
(and Reuben Fine in a skittles game) on the ropes within ten moves.

Fenner Parham was Caucasian and Bernard Parham is African-American. While

that doesn't mean they couldn't have been related the fact that Fenner was the only
child of Fenner Payne Parham (incidentally also a chess player rated 1380 on the
July 1964 USCF rating list) and Isabel Lamkin Lawrence does mean he was never
anyone's uncle. It's conceivable that the reference to Fenner Parham being
Bernard's uncle is being used in a less formal context where all males of the
extended family are referred to as "uncle", but we have seen no such qualifiers
used to define the relationship between the two men.

Fischer-Parham was played in 1964 and there are no claims to Bernard playing the
game prior to Fenner's death in 1993.

There is strong evidence that there were no African-American participants in the

exhibition held at the Gravier street YWCA. Ten years before in 1954, the U.S.
Open was held in New Orleans and African-Americans were not allowed to play.
This included the legendary William Scott III of Atlanta.

Sadly this tradition of segregation appears to have continued in to the 1960s. Witness the
following remembrance by Jude Acers:

In 1962, when Jude was 18 years old, he rode with Adrian McAuley to a chess
tournament in Natchez, Mississippi. McAuley had paid Jude’s entry fee, as was his
custom. Ahead of Jude in line at the Natchez hotel was William Scott III. It was the
first time Jude met Scott and they would become lifelong friends (Scott, for
example, helped “save” a couple of Jude’s Atlanta exhibitions in the early 1970s).
 In 1954, Scott had not been allowed to play at the U.S. Open chess tournament held
in New Orleans because he was black. In 1945, Scott had served as an army
photographer–a Reconnaissance Sgt. with the 183rd Engineer Combat Battalion–
and documented the liberation of the Buchenwald concentration camp. Scott was
also editor of the Atlanta Daily World. Behind Scott in line was Milan Momic.
Formerly of Yugoslavia, Momic was an Alabama state champion.

“I’m sorry, sir, but the hotel will not admit you. Black players are not allowed in the
tournament.”

“Why can’t he play?” asked McAuley, still in his Pelican Plumbing Supply uniform. “If he can’t
play, I’m not playing.” He turned and walked out of the hotel.

“If McAuley’s not playing, I’m not going to play.” Jude turned to walk out.

“They no play, no me.” Momic followed.

We note that National Master Adrian McAuley (1924-2000) was a 9-time

Louisiana state champion and that Milan Momic (1935-1997) was the 1954
Croatian Jr. champion and the first player living in Alabama to become a U.S.
Chess Federation rated Master.

Thus ends our analysis of which Parham actually played Bobby that night in New
Orleans in the spring of 1964. If it seemed a little lengthy it's only because we want
to be as accurate as possible and because Fenner Parham played exceptionally
well and deserves to be remembered for his accomplishment. Bobby lost fewer
than 70 games out of more than 2000 and most were because he blundered horribly.
There were a few cases, like the game with National Master Robert Burger from
the San Francisco, where he lost quickly in the early middlegame. Even rarer were
the games where he was beaten in a long closely contested battle like the one with
Fenner Parham. Normally Bobby scored heavily in these games. There were fewer
and fewer players in the latter stages of the exhibition, leaving him to race around
the boards faster and faster with his opponents having increasingly less time to
think.

We finish our coverage of Fenner Parham with this excerpt from a tribute to him
written by his friend Jerry Krouse (Mississipi champion 1970-72). The entire
article entitled Fenner Parham Gives ME My First Real Chess Lesson can be found
at http://www.mcachess.org/history.
Note the title refers to Mr. Krouse's first forays into the world of organized chess
at the age of 26 in 1966.

Little did I know that a newcomer is usually thrown to the fiercest wolf in the den to see what
he is made of. And what a wolf! Fenner, at that time fifty-four years of age, worked a little,
drank a lot of beer, worked out religiously with weights and weighed a muscular two hundred
pounds, and played chess like an axe-murderer.
I would learn, later, that Fenner had won the state championship four times. In 1964, at a
simultaneous exhibition in New Orleans, in which the future world champion Bobby Fisher
played seventy-five players at one time, Fenner would be one of the three people able to win
against the prodigy.

The game against Fenner wasn't short and sweet. It was short and ugly. So ugly, in fact, that I
was then passed down the ladder to the weakest player in the club (Fenner's father!) who
proceeded to whack me again. I sure was glad I hadn't used my "Does anybody in here play
chess?" line!

It was a full year before I worked my way up the ladder and earned the right to face the
formidable Fenner again. And it took a great deal more time before I could expect a reasonable
chance of an even game with him.

Addendum after Fenner's death:

Fenner is gone now. Natchez, chess, and his friends, are the worse for his passing. Fenner was
a strange man. He was ferocious at chess where he gave no quarter and never played for a
draw, but was one of the kindest and gentle human beings I have ever met. He was shy and
introverted to a degree hardly ever seen. Unfortunately, Fenner literally blossomed under the
influence of alcohol, and I guess that is why it played a part in his demise.

Once Fenner told me he always left home to go to a bar with thirteen beer bottle caps in his left
pocket. Why? I wondered. "It's simple you see," Fenn replied with an impish grin on his face,
"every time I drink a beer, I transfer a bottle cap to the right pocket. When all are transferred I
know it's time to go home!"

Fenner had had trouble in high school, but he was well read and extremely intelligent. He read
and studied books on varied subjects such as mathematics, history, warfare, the stock market,
martial arts, Chess, of course, and poetry. Liberated by a few beers, Fenner could, and did,
expound on many subjects in great detail. He could just as easily quote many lines of various
poems - especially those of his favorite Edgar Allen Poe.

Fenner never refused my requests for games - and in the early days they were numerous. Unlike
me, Fenner was always a gracious loser and always willing to share his knowledge with
anyone.

Fenner's friendship wasn't fickle; he was always there if I needed him, even after years of
inattention on my part. He always allowed our friendship to resume as if it had only been a few
days since we last contested a game.

I'll miss Fenner as a friend and a chess foe. I hope that wherever Fenn is now, he is seated at a
chessboard, sipping a bottle of his favorite beer, contemplating a winning piece sacrifice, and
quoting Edgar Allen Poe's "The Raven."
Andrew Lockett was a legendary figure in Louisiana chess for many years. During the period
1917 to 1937, Lockett was one of the dominant players in the state, though he considered
himself more of a problemist than a player. He was also a major organizer. He faced many top
players in simuls over the years including Capablanca, Torre, Edward Lasker, Denker,
Horowitz, Emanuel Lasker, Dake, Reshevsky, Bisguier, Evans, and Koltanowski. Lockett was
68 years old when he faced Bobby.

(76) Modern B07

Fischer – Andrew Lockett
New Orleans (simul), March 26, 1964

1.e4 d6 2.d4 g6 3.Nc3 Bg7 4.f4

“Another interesting possibility is 4.h4, which I have played in some skittles games. For
example, Fischer-N.N. went 4.h4 h5? 5.Nh3! Bxh3? (a common mistake in this line) 6.Rxh3
c5? 7.dxc5 dxc5 8. Bb5+ Nc6 9.Rd3 Qa5 10.Bd2 with a won game for White. If Black answers
4.h4 with 4...h5, then 5.Be2 c5 6.dxc5 Qa5 7.Kf1! Qxc5 8.h5 O-O with a double-edged game. I
beat Tal in a five-minute game with this line.” — “Fischer talks Chess,” Chess Life, February
1964, p. 44.

4...Nc6

4...c6 5.Nf3 Bg4 6.Be3 Nd7 7. h3 Bxf3 8.Qxf3 e6 9.O-O-O Ne7 10. g4 Qa5 11.Kb1 Rb8 12.e5
dxe5 13. dxe5 Nd5 14.Ne4 gave White a significant advantage in Fischer-Beach, New York
State Open 1963.

5.Nf3 Bg4 6.Be3 Bxf3 7.gxf3 e6 8. Qd2 a6 9.O-O-O d5 10.h4 h5 11.f5 gxf5 12.exd5 exd5
13.Bh3 Nce7 14.Rhg1 Bf8 15.Ne2 Qd6 16.Kb1 O-O-O 17.Ng3 Bh6 18.Nxf5 Nxf5 19.Bxf5+
Kb8 20.Bxh6 Nxh6 21. Bd3 Qf6 22.Rg5 Qxd4 23.Rxh5 Ng8 24.Rxh8 Qxh8 25.Rh1 Qh6
26.Qxh6 Nxh6 27.Rg1 Re8 28.b4 b5 29.Rg5 c6 30.Kb2 Re6 31.Kc3 Rf6 32.Kd4?

Correct is 32.Rh5 with an equal position.

32...Rxf3 33.Kc5 Kc7 34.Re5 Kd7 35.Kb6 Rf4 36.Rh5 Rf6?

Better is 36...Ng4 with advantage to Black.

37.Kxa6 Kc7 38.Ka5 Rd6 39.a4 Rd8

39...bxa4 is correct. White would then have a slight advantage after 40.Kxa4.

40.Bxb5 cxb5 41.Rxh6 bxa4 42. Kxa4 Rf8 43.Rf6 Kd7 44.b5 Ra8+ 45.Kb4 Ke7 46.Rf2 Rh8
47.b6 Rxh4+ 48.Kc5 Rc4+ 49.Kxd5 Rb4 50.Kc5 Rb2 51.Kc6 Kd8 52.b7 f6 53.c4 Rb4 54.c5
1-0 (Louisiana Chess Association Bulletin, June 1971)

Credit serendipity for the following game turning up.

Jude Acers explains:

I left out David Levin in my original account of Fischer in Louisiana because I never really
knew him or even faintly remember what he looked like. Almost 50 years after the exhibition,
about 2008, I got off a St.Charles streetcar and a neat smiling man rushed up “Hello Mr.Acers I
was there the night you drew with Fischer. My name is David Levin and my score against
Fischer is still better than against you!” I had apparently played him a single tourney game
somewhere. It was only this fabulously lucky one time only chance streetcar encounter that let
me tip pro writer Tisserand about Levin who he tracked down like a bloodhound.

(77) Sicilian Sozin B86

Fischer - David Levin
New Orleans (simul) March 26, 1964

1.e4 c5 2.Nf3 d6 3.d4 cxd4 4.Nxd4 Nf6 5.Nc3 a6 6.Bc4 e6 7.Bb3 Be7 8.f4 e5?!

You will not find this move in any opening book where 8...Nc6, 8...Qc7, 8...0–0 and 8...b5 are
the top choices. The reasons why are not hard to figure out. After White's next move Black is
forced to concede the d5 square and the two bishops. However 8..e5?! is not without some
bright spots. Yes, Black will be worse coming out of the opening, but on the plus side Fischer's
great opening knowledge is no longer a factor and there is always the hope that White's pawn
on f5 might become weak or Black achieves ...d5.
9.Nf5

The principled move, but 9.Nf3 is also better for White.

9...Bxf5 10.exf5 Nc6 11.0–0

11.Be3 might be more precise.

11...Qb6+ 12.Kh1 h5?

After 12...0–0 is only slightly worse. Maybe the text was designed to stop g2-g4-g5 by White,
but the prevention is worse than the disease. 12...0-0 13.g4 Nd4 14.g5 Qc6+ 15.Kg1 Ne4
16.Nd5 Bd8 with a complicated game with mutual chances.

13.Nd5!

Thematic and strong. Fischer won many games in the Sozin (6.Bc4) Sicilian by controlling the
d5 square.

13...Nxd5 14.Bxd5 Bf6 15.c3 Ne7 16.Bb3?

Much stronger was 16.fxe5 Bxe5 (16...dxe5 17.Be4) and now White has the pleasant choice
between 17.Bb3 and the more complicated 17.Qa4+ Kf8 18.Bb3 d5 19.Bg5 f6 20.Bf4: in both
cases he has a clear advantage.
16...Rd8

16...e4! allows Black to mobilize his central pawn majority. 17.Qe2 d5 18.Be3 Qc6 19.Rad1
Rd8 with chances for both sides.

17.Qf3

17.Ba4+ forces Black to play 17...Kf8 as 17...Nc6 18.Qf3 Qc7 19.Be3 h4 20.fxe5 dxe5 21.Qf2
Rd7 22.Bb6 Qc8 23.Rad1 0–0 24.Rxd7 Qxd7 25.Rd1 leaves White with an iron-clad grip on
the d-file.

17...Qc6 18.Qe2?

18.Qxc6+ bxc6 19.fxe5 Bxe5 20.Be3 and White's two bishops give him a pull in the ending.
After the text Black takes over the game with two fine moves.

18...e4! 19.c4 b5!

Black chips away at White's last pawn influencing the center.

20.cxb5?

20.Bd2 bxc4 21.Bxc4 0–0 22.Bxa6 was relatively better, although after 22...Nxf5 Black is on
top.

20...Qxb5 21.Bc4

21.Re1 d5.

21...Qxf5 22.Bxa6 0–0 23.Be3 Nd5!

23...d5 24.Bc5 d4 was also possible, but the text is even stronger as Black first activates his
knight before getting his center pawns rolling.

24.Bg1 Rb8 25.Rab1 Nb4 26.Bc4 d5 27.Bb3 Rfd8 28.Rfe1 Nd3 29.g3?

29.Rf1 was more stubborn and leaves Black to choose between several strong plans, with ...d4
and ...Nc5 followed by ...d3 the most natural.

29...Nxe1 30.Rxe1 Qg4 31.Qg2 Qf3 32.Qxf3 exf3 33.Rf1 Rbc8 34.Rxf3 Rc1 35.Kg2 Bxb2
36.Be3 Rcc8 37.a4 d4 38.Bd2 Bc3 39.Rd3 Rb8 0–1

As the forced sequence 40.Bxc3 Rxb3 41.Rxd4 Rxd4 42.Bxd4 Rb4 simplifies to an easily
winning endgame for Black.
Snake-handling (!) Bobby and the Wagner kids.
Bobby Fischer with Don Wagner and his son Larry.

The Fischer King: Recalling four days in 1964

when Bobby Fischer brought his game to
Louisiana
MICHAEL TISSERAND (THE ADVOCATE, Sept. 12, 2015; 8:25
p.m.)
Fifty-one years later, Jude Acers can still hear the champion’s footsteps approaching him.
It was late on a Thursday night — March 24, 1964 — at the Young Women’s Christian
Association on Gravier Street. The YWCA’s old floor creaked when you walked on it, Acers
recalls.
As night ticked on to early Friday morning, Acers and 74 other local chess players waited their
turn as grandmaster and national champion Robert J. “Bobby” Fischer methodically — and a
little noisily — made his way toward their boards. He was playing all of them simultaneously.
Those who were there that night recall a very different Bobby Fischer from the international
celebrity and Cold War icon whose brilliant career eventually unraveled in erratic behavior
and forced exile — a story that will soon appear on the big screen in “Pawn Sacrifice,” a
movie opening Friday that stars Tobey Maguire as Fischer and Liev Schreiber as Fischer’s
Soviet rival, Boris Spassky.
There was neither intrigue nor tragedy shadowing the Bobby Fischer who arrived in Louisiana
for a four-day whirlwind tour of TV specials and chess games. Instead, local players
welcomed a smart and personable Brooklynite who just happened to possess a fiercely
competitive streak.
Acers, who was 20 at the time, remembers asking Fischer, who had just turned 21, his secret to
the game. “Keep the pressure on them every second,” Fischer had told him. “They all crack.”
Today, Fischer’s trip to Louisiana is shrouded in myth and foggy memories. Some think that he
was just a child when he came to town. Others remember him being here for weeks, not just 72
hours. The exact number of opponents he faced is in some dispute. But everyone agrees that
they were well aware that a legend was in their midst.
The previous year, Fischer had won his sixth U.S. championship match, earning an incredible
perfect score. Now, he had devised a barnstorming tour to cash in on his success. From
February through May, he visited 40 cities in the United States and Canada, playing more than
2,000 documented games and earning an unprecedented $250 per appearance, according to “A
Legend on the Road,” a book about the tour written by John Donaldson.
Acers remembers bringing a Sports Illustrated article about Fischer to Baton Rouge Chess Club
President Don Wagner. Acers knew that if anyone could get Fischer to Louisiana, it would be
Wagner.
“When you’re talking Don Wagner, you’re talking Phineas T. Barnum, you’re talking (Beatles
manager) Brian Epstein,” Acers said recently. “The man was a promotional genius.”
When not playing chess, Wagner sold encyclopedias and carted his pet reptiles to a local TV
studio for a weekly “Herpetology Day” on a kids’ program, “The Buckskin Bill Show.”
Acers and Wagner hatched a plan to televise a Fischer special, as well as host an informal
match at Wagner’s home between Fischer and Acers, who was captain of the LSU chess team
and the top-ranked player in the state.
Larry Wagner was only 7 at the time, but he can still remember when his father brought Bobby
Fischer home. “I was just a kid, but I could tell that everyone treated him with reverence,” he
said recently.

Skill at another game

Wagner mostly recalls the house guest’s fantastic talent at the “15 Puzzle,” a game in which 15
sliding numbers must be put in order in a small square tray. “It was a little flat plastic box —
we got them in a cereal box. We’d mix it up and hand it back to him, and his finger would be a
blur, he’d sort it out and hand it right back,” Wagner said. (In 1972, Fischer would demonstrate
this skill for Johnny Carson on “The Tonight Show.”)
Fischer also was fascinated by Wagner’s collection of serpents, including corn snakes, rat
snakes, indigo snakes and a python. Even after one bit him, Fischer wasn’t dissuaded from
pulling a snake from an aquarium and carrying it around the house.
Wagner staged Fischer’s first games in Baton Rouge in the WBRZ-TV studio, with LSU’s chess
team players and faculty members among Fischer’s opponents. Acers provided play-by-play
commentary, and Wagner enlisted John Ferguson, the voice of LSU football, to introduce the
matches and interview Fischer.
Acers remembers in horror how Ferguson began his remarks by calling Fischer a high school
dropout. (Fischer had attended Erasmus High School in Brooklyn, where his classmates
included Barbra Streisand and Neil Diamond, but left school as soon as he turned 16.)
Recalled Acers: “I just closed my eyes. Wagner turned red.”
Fischer won all his televised games, as well as the games against Acers at Wagner’s house.
The TV special aired on Baton Rouge television twice that week, Acers says, after which the
station, over his protests, reused the tape to record a car commercial.
While in Baton Rouge, Acers took Fischer to shoot pool in a Chimes Street bar, and Fischer
took a date on a riverboat cruise. Late Thursday afternoon, as Wagner was about to drive him to
New Orleans, Fischer asked Acers to locate a particular book about New Orleans chess legend
Paul Morphy. A frantic hunt through the LSU library produced the book — “Morphy’s Games of
Chess,” by Philip Sergeant — and also made Fischer late to the Gravier Street YWCA.
He finally arrived to find 75 opponents waiting for him, among them Orleans Parish District
Attorney Jim Garrison, not yet a national celebrity. Each had paid $5 for the opportunity, with
the proceeds going to Fischer.
Attired in the same brown suit he’d worn on Baton Rouge television, Fischer started things out
by confidently delivering a lecture about Morphy, declaring that the 19th-century New Orleans
chess master could defeat any contemporary player. (A rare film clip of Fischer discussing
Morphy can be seen on YouTube.)
It was sometime between 8:45 p.m. and 10 p.m. when the games finally got underway. Fischer
made the rounds, gradually eliminating his opponents, rapping on the table when players took
too long. In the end, three of the 75 players emerged with wins.
Two of those three are now deceased. Fenner Parham Jr. sold insurance and lived in his
parents’ home in Mississippi, recalls his friend, Jerry Krouse. He was muscular but shy and a
bit eccentric, frequently reciting the works of Edgar Allan Poe.
“It was an attacking game, and Fenner was an attacking guy,” Krouse said.
Also winning his game was New Orleanian Frank Chavez. “He would always bring copies of
the game to chess club meetings, even though we all already had it,” recalled local player Jules
Le Bon.

Improbable winner
The most improbable winner that night was David Levin, a 16-year-old Fortier High School
student who’d been playing chess for barely more than a year. A friend had taught him the game
so he could help Fortier compete against its biggest rival, Jesuit High School.
“I had no expectation of winning” against Fischer, Levin recalled. “I just wanted to play against
him.”
Levin remembers that he’d planned out a defensive line that Fischer himself liked to play. “I
figured it would be good psychology,” he said. “Everybody kept coming to my game, looking at
me, wondering when I was going to fold. He played a real aggressive game against me, and
once his attack wore off, I had the advantage. That’s when he resigned. He was friendly about
it.”
Levin’s game didn’t end until 2:45 a.m. His parents weren’t there, he recalls. He thinks he took
the bus home. By the time the last game was over at the YWCA, it was 3:30 a.m.
Two local players also earned draws that night: Frank Gladney and Jude Acers.
Acers made the most of his newfound reputation as a man who could stand up to Fischer. He
went on to make ambitious chess tours of his own, twice setting a Guinness world record for
the most opponents played in a single setting.
Now 72, Acers, adorned in a bright red beret, continues to hold forth at a card table on Decatur
Street, where he plays passersby for a fee of $5, the same amount he’d once shelled out to take
on Fischer.
In later years, those who had met Fischer in Louisiana were surprised to hear that the champion
had suffered breakdowns and become a fugitive.
Acers said he knew something was wrong when he heard that Fischer had turned down
hundreds of thousands of dollars to play a game of chess in the lobby of Caesars Palace. “The
inability to do creative business is a sign of madness,” Acers said.
Acers also remembers taking one last look at Fischer through the car windshield as the
champion was on his way out of town.
“The days I was with Fischer, I never realized that would be it,” Acers said. “I never realized I
was never going to see this guy again. I never realized how lucky I was.”

Jude Acers gives an exhibition at the the Lloyd Center in Portland, Oregon, on April 21, 1973.
The marathon 117 player exhibition (+93, -13, =11) took 13 hours and 14 minutes! Acers has
been one of the great chess promoters in the United States for close to 50 years. (Photo by
Rusty Miller)

Houston, March 28
+51, -3, =3

Fischer wins 51 Games, Loses 3, Draws 3 Here

by George H. Smith

Chess in the United States received a tremendous boost over the Christmas holidays when
Robert J. Fischer won the national title for the sixth time with a record-breaking 11-0
performance. This was well illustrated last Saturday night at the Shamrock Hilton Hotel where
Fischer played in a simultaneous exhibition. He was scheduled to meet 50 players but when
seven extra showed up, he graciously consented to play all comers. About 40 spectators also
attended. This writer can recall no other exhibition so well attended here.

Fischer opened with a fine lecture on the difference between today’s master play and that of
Paul Morphy’s day. He said Morphy’s dynamic qualities would have enabled him to easily hold
his own today.

Grandmaster Fischer’s score in the simultaneous exhibition was 51 wins, three draws and three
losses, with nearly all of the best in the Houston area competing. This is not as good a score as
some masters have made here, but Fischer does not play chess as others do. He is not content to
sit back and wait for his less experienced opponents to make a mistake, but tries to beat them
by his own play. He lost to Eric Bone, former state champion from Baytown, to Bill Jones and
to Ross Carbonell, both from the Houston Chess Club. Those who drew were Robert
McGregor and Tommy Richardson of Houston and Alan K. Hale of Austin.

His loss to Bone was caused by an outright blunder in a winning position, when he overlooked
a liquidating continuation which allowed Eric to emerge with a piece plus. Bill Jones obtained
an early advantage in his game, and then completely outplayed the champion the rest of the way.
The game with Carbonell also was well played.

The exhibition was sponsored by the Houston Chess Club and arranged by Rhodes Cook, club
secretary. (Houston Chronicle, 1964)

My Fischer Experience
by Carl Branan

I hardly know where to start. I was the only out-of town member of the Houston Chess Club.
Having paid my $3.00 (non-members paid $5.00), I was waiting at the old club on West
McKinney playing a few games. The simul was to be at The Garden Room of the now defunct
Shamrock Hotel. Some of the guys asked me to go and help set up.

They had called Bobby at the hotel. Bobby was mad that no one had met him at the airport. All
he would say to them was “Yep” and “Nope.” When we arrived at the hotel we phoned Bobby
and asked him to dinner, and he accepted. He knew many chess players in Houston and one had
given him the demo board he was using on the tour. We all ordered tea, coffee, water, etc.
Bobby ordered a beer. Later we reflected that he was under-aged for a beer in Houston.

While at dinner someone mentioned to Bobby that Robert Brieger had prepared a wild
variation to spring on him. The variation depended upon the knowledge that Bobby always
opened with P-K4. Whereupon Bobby said, “Point him out to me when we get into the
tournament hall and I will open with P-Q4 against him.” Weeks of preparation work down the
drain! [Editor’s note: Editor’s note: the score of the Brieger game (game 78 below) does not
bear this out. Black, by transposition, played a rather quiet line of the French.]

When Bobby entered the hall we were still not ready with the setup, so Bobby was wandering
around in the lobby. My boss, who came up from Texas City to watch my game, spotted Bobby
and said, “Hi Bobby, come into the bar and I will buy you a beer.” Now Bobby had at least two
beers under his belt for his 60 game match.

Bobby was very tired since this was his last stop. He had been up late the night before in New
Orleans. He really enjoyed seeing Paul Morphy’s home, which is now Brennen’s Restaurant.

Bobby being tired and wanting to wrap things up quickly, if you didn’t have your move ready
when he appeared at your board, he would bang on the table and admonish you to move in a
raised voice. I played a variation of the French that was in vogue in those days. This variation
involved swapping off two minor pieces early in the opening. I figured that this would simplify
things for me. It didn’t work, of course. At one point it looked like Bobby had trapped my
knight. While Bobby was making his rounds, however, my boss saw where I could withdraw
the knight, offering it to be taken by a pawn. If Bobby took it with the pawn, however, I would
recapture with a pawn checking his king and attacking his queen at the same time. When Bobby
arrived and I made the move, he gave me the most glaring stare that I have ever seen, as if to
say, “Did you think that I, Bobby Fischer, would fall for a cheap trick like that?” Whereupon he
moved his king over and moved on. I am sorry that I don’t have the game score. I am just a
casual player and was even more casual then.

On my left, unfortunately, was a player that none of the players liked. He was an old
veterinarian who was loud and obnoxious. He was especially rude to the younger players. He
had brought a crazy set of strange-looking pieces. He said to me, “Watch him holler when he
sees this.” On about the third or fourth time around the horn Bobby asked him, “What is that
piece”? The old codger said, “A horse.” Bobby probably figured, “What an incorrigible
rummy!” Bobby mated him in about ten moves. Then this jerk tried to move over and give me
advice. My boss, standing behind, said “Get the hell out of here!” He left.

Prior to the simul Bobby gave a demonstration that he called “How the Russians Play.” The
demo showed games of Russian players of that day losing quickly. Bobby’s descriptions were
hilarious.

Bobby Patteson preserved the following games from the Houston exhibition.

(78) Caro-Kann B17

Fischer – Alan K. Hale
Houston (simul), March 28, 1964

1.e4 c6 2.d4 d5 3.Nc3 dxe4 4.Nxe4 Nd7 5.Nf3 Ngf6 6.Nxf6+ Nxf6 7.Ne5 e6 8.Bd3 Be7 9.c3
c5 10.dxc5 Bxc5 11.Bb5+ Bd7 12.Nxd7 Nxd7 13.O-O a6 14.Be2 O-O 15.Bf3 Qc7 16.Qe2
Be7 17.g3 h6 18.Rd1 Rfd8 19.Bf4 Qb6 20.Rd2 Nf6 21.Rad1 Rxd2 22.Rxd2 Rd8 23.Rxd8+
Bxd8
Bobby has the two bishops and queenside pawn majority so one might reasonably expect him to
collect the point. Such is not the case here, as Hale puts up a stout defense and Bobby gets a
little too eager in advancing his queenside pawns without sufficient preparation.

24.b4 Be7 25.a4 a5 26.Be3 Qc7 27.bxa5 Qxa5 28.Qb5 Qxc3 29.Qxb7 Bb4 30.Bb6 Qa1+
31.Kg2 Qxa4 32.Qc8+ Qe8 33.Qc4 Qe7 34.Bd4 Bd6 35.Qc8+ Qe8 36.Qb7 Qe7 37.Qc8+
Qe8 Draw

Steve Moffit shared the 1969 Texas State Champion title with Eric Bone.

(79) Caro-Kann B18

Fischer - Steve Moffit
Houston (simul), March 28, 1964

1.e4 c6 2.d4 d5 3.Nc3 dxe4 4.Nxe4 Bf5 5.Nc5 Qc7 6.Bd3 Bxd3 7.Nxd3 e6 8.Bf4 Bd6 9.Qg4
g6 10.Nf3 Bxf4 11.Nxf4 Nf6 12.Qh4 Qe7 13.O-O Nbd7 14.c4 h6
15.d5! cxd5 16.cxd5 O-O-O 17.dxe6 Nb6 18.exf7 Qxf7 19.Ne5 1-0

C.H. Bone was the father of three-time Texas State Champion (1963, 1966 and 1969) Eric
Bone.

(80) Sicilian Dragon B57

Fischer - C.H. Bone
Houston (simul), March 28, 1964

1.e4 c5 2.Nf3 d6 3.d4 cxd4 4.Nxd4 Bd7 5.Nc3 Nc6 6.Bc4 Nf6 7.O-O g6 8.f4 Bg7 9.Nxc6
Bxc6 10.Qe2 O-O 11.Bd3 a6 12.a4 Rc8 13.f5 Nd7 14.Kh1 Ne5 15.Bg5 Nxd3 16.cxd3 Bd7
17.Nd5 f6 18.Be3 Rc6 19.b4 b5 20.axb5 axb5
21.Ra7 e6?? 22.fxe6 1-0

(81) Ruy Lopez C60

Fischer - Clarence Bell
Houston (simul), March 28, 1964

1.e4 e5 2.Nf3 Nc6 3.Bb5 Bb4 4.c3 Bc5 5.d4 exd4 6.cxd4 Bb4+ 7.Nc3 Bxc3+ 8.bxc3 Nf6
9.O-O O-O 10.Bg5 h6 11.Bh4 Ne7 12.Bxf6 gxf6 13.Nh4 d6 14.f4 f5 15.Qh5 Kh7 16.exf5
Nxf5 17.Bd3 Kg7 18.Bxf5 Qf6 19.Rf3 Bxf5 20.Nxf5+ Kh7 21.Nxh6 Qxh6 22.Qf5+ 1-0

William Bills (1927-1980) first gained national attention when he defeated newly crowned
U.S. champion Arthur Bisguier in the first round of the 1954 U.S. Open. That fall Bills won the
Washington state chess championship (for 1955), finishing ahead of Olaf Ulvestad and the up
and coming young talents Viktors Pupols and James McCormick.

Bills won the championship of Texas in 1954 and 1959 and numerous tournaments in
California. He died on November 16, 1980, in San Francisco where he resided for many years.
Besides playing chess, he was an electrical engineer, assisting in the design of the Houston
Astrodome among other projects.

(82) French Burn C11

Fischer - William Bills
Houston (simul), March 28, 1964
1.e4 e6 2.d4 d5 3.Nc3 Nf6 4.Bg5 dxe4 5.Nxe4 Be7 6.Bxf6 gxf6 7.g3

This rare sideline in the Burn variation was a favorite of Fischer’s.

7...f5

Fischer-Minev, Havana (ol) 1966, varied with 7...Bd7 8.Nf3 Bc6 9.Qe2 f5 10.Ned2 Bf6 11.c3
Qe7 12.Bg2 Nd7 13.O-O O-O 14.Rhe1 Rhe8? 15.b4! with advantage to White.

8.Nc3 c6?

This is too passive. Fischer-Petrosian, Buenos Aires (m) 1971, saw the more active 8...Bf6
with 9.Nge2 Nc6! 10.d5 exd5 11.Nxd5 Bxb2 12.Bg2 O-O 13.O-O leading to unclear play
where Black’s extra pawn compensated for his structural deficiencies.

9.Bg2 b6 10.d5! Bb7

As 10...cxd5 would be strongly met by 11.Nxd5.

11.dxe6 Qxd1+ 12.Rxd1 fxe6 13.Nge2 Kf7 14.O-O Na6 15.Nd4 Nb4 16.a3 Nd5 17.Nxd5
cxd5 18.Rfe1 Bf6 19.Nxe6 Bxb2 20.Bxd5 Bxd5 21.Rxd5 Rhe8 22.Rxf5+ Kg6 23.g4 Bxa3
24.h4 h6 25.h5+ Kh7 26.Rf7+ Kh8 27.Re3 Bc1 28.Re1 Bd2 29.Rd1 Rxe6 30.Rxd2 a5
31.Rdd7 a4 32.Kg2 b5 33.f4 Re2+ 34.Kf3 Rxc2 35.g5 Rac8 36.Rh7+ Kg8 37.Rxh6 R2c7
38.Rxc7 Rxc7 39.Ra6 Rc3+ 40.Kg4 a3 41.Ra8+ Kf7 42.g6+ Kf6 43.Ra6+ Kg7 44.Ra7+ Kf6
45.Rf7+ Ke6 46.f5+ Kd6 47.g7 a2 48.g8=Q a1=Q 49.Qd8+ Kc5 50.Rc7+ Kb4 51.Qd4+ 1-0

NMs William Bills

(left) and Subu Subramanian on the way to Lone Pine in the 1970s. (Photo by Alan Benson)

(83) Evans Gambit C51

Fischer - J. Boatner
Houston (simul), March 28, 1964

1.e4 e5 2.Nf3 Nc6 3.Bc4 Bc5 4.b4 Bxb4 5.c3 Be7

“Must be the trend. At least, on tour most players answered this way.” (My 60 Memorable
Games)

6.d4 d6 7.Qb3 Nh6 8.Bxh6 gxh6 9.Bxf7+ Kf8 10.Bh5! 1-0

In the following game Bobby completely outplays his opponent in excellent fashion before
committing a tragic blunder.

Eric Bone was one of the best players in Texas in the 1960s. He served as the U.S.C.F. rating
statistician in the 1970s.

(84) French Alekhine-Chatard C13

Fischer - Eric Bone
Houston (simul), March 28, 1964

1.e4 e6 2.d4 d5 3.Nc3 Nf6 4.Bg5 Be7 5.e5 Nfd7 6.h4 a6 7.Qg4 f5 8.Qh5+ g6 9.Qh6 Bxg5
10.hxg5 Qe7
This appears to be a new try if not a successful one. ECO gives only 10...Kf7 11.Nge2! Nf8
12.O-O-O Rg8 (intending ...Rg7 and ...Kg8) 13.g4 with slightly the better game for White in
Yanofsky-Gudmundsson, Reykjavik 1947.

11.Nh3 Qf8 12.Qh4 c5 13.Nf4 Qf7 14.O-O-O cxd4 15.Ncxd5! exd5 16.e6 Qg8 17.Nxd5
Kd8 18.exd7 Qxd5 19.Rxd4 Qxa2 20.Ra4 Qe6

21.Qd4??

21.dxc8=Q+ Kxc8 22.Bd3 leaves White with a decisive advantage due to Black’s exposed
king.

21…Qe1+ 0-1

An interesting battle between a future World Champion and a first-rate problem composer:

(85) French C10

Fischer - Robert Brieger
Houston (simul), March 28, 1964

1.e4 Nc6 2.Nf3 e6 3.d4 d5 4.Nc3 Nf6 5.exd5 exd5 6.Bb5 Be7
The game with Bills was not the only one from the exhibition in Houston where openings from
the 1971 Fischer-Petrosian match were anticipated. The final game in Buenos Aires saw
6...Bg4 (to stop 7.Ne5) 7.h3 Bxf3 8.Qxf3 Be7 9.Bg5 a6 10.Bxc6+ bxc6 11.O-O O-O 12.Rfe1
with a small edge for White.

7.Ne5 Bd7 8.Nxd7 Qxd7 9.O-O O-O 10.h3 h6 11.Be3 a6 12.Bd3 Bb4 13.Ne2 Bd6 14.c3
Rfe8 15.Nf4 Bxf4 16.Bxf4 Ne4 17.f3 Nf6 18.Qd2 Ne7 19.Rfe1 c6 20.Be5 Nh7 21.Re2 f6
22.Bg3 Nf5 23.Bf2 Rxe2 24.Qxe2 Nd6 25.Qc2 Nf8 26.Bg3 Re8 27.b3 g5 28.Rd1 Kg7 29.c4
Qe6 30.Re1 Qf7 31.Rxe8 Nxe8 32.Qe2 Qe6 33.Qd2 Qd7 34.cxd5 cxd5 35.Qb4 Kf7 36.a4
Qe7 37.Qd2 Qa3 38.Bc2 Ne6 39.Kh2 Nf8 40.Qc3 Qe7 41.b4 Qd7 42.Bb3 Ne6 43.Qd3 Nf8
44.b5 axb5 45.axb5 Ng6 46.Qe4 Ne7 47.Qh7+ Ke6 48.Qxh6 Qxb5 49.Ba2 Qa4 50.Bb1
Qxd4 51.f4 Qe3 52.h4

51…gxh4?? 53.f5+ Nxf5 54.Bxf5+ Kxf5 55.Qxe3 hxg3+ 56.Kxg3 Nd6 57.Kf3 Ne4 58.Qb6
Ng5+ 59.Ke3 Ne6 60.Qxb7 d4+ 61.Kd2 1-0

(86) Petroff C43

Fischer - Robert Chalker
Houston (simul), March 28, 1964

1.e4 e5 2.Nf3 Nf6 3.d4 exd4 4.e5 Ne4 5.Qe2 Bb4+ 6.Kd1 Nc5?? 7.Bg5! d3 8.cxd3 f6
9.exf6+ Kf7 10.Ne5+ Ke6 11.Nc6+ 1-0
(87) Philidor C41
Fischer - K. Chaney
Houston (simul), March 28, 1964

1.e4 e5 2.Nf3 d6 3.d4 f5 4.dxe5 fxe4 5.Ng5 d5 6.Nc3 Ne7 7.e6 Ng6 8.Nf7 Qf6 9.Nxh8 1-0

(88) King’s Gambit C33

Fischer - Tommy Cunningham
Houston (simul), March 28, 1964

1.e4 e5 2.f4 exf4 3.Bc4 d5 4.Bxd5 Nf6 5.Nc3 Nc6 6.Nf3 Nxd5 7.Nxd5 g5 8.d4 Bg7 9.h4 g4
10.Ne5 Nxe5 11.dxe5 Bxe5 12.Bxf4 Qd6 13.O-O Bxf4 14.Rxf4 h5

15.Qd4 Rf8 16.Rf6 Be6 17.c4 c6 18.Rd1 cxd5 19.cxd5 Ke7 20.e5 Qb6 21.Qxb6 axb6
22.dxe6 fxe6 23.Rxf8 Rxf8 24.Rd6 Rf5 25.Rxb6 Rxe5 26.Rxb7+ Kd6 27.Kf2 Rd5 28.a4
Rd2+ 29.Kg3 Rd3+ 30.Kf4 Rd4+ 31.Kg5 Rxa4 32.Kxh5 e5 33.b4 Kc6 34.Rb8 Kc7 35.Re8
Kd6 36.Kxg4 Rxb4+ 37.Kg5 e4 38.h5 Rb5+ 39.Kg6 Kd5 40.h6 Rb6+ 41.Kg5 Rb2 42.g4 Rb7
43.Kg6 Rb6+ 44.Kh5 Rb3 45.h7 1-0

Bob Dudley was the founder and sole employee of Chess Enterprises, an important American
chess publishing firm in the 1980s and 1990s.

(89) Sicilian Keres B81

Fischer - Bob Dudley
Houston (simul), March 28, 1964

1.e4 c5 2.Nf3 d6 3.d4 cxd4 4.Nxd4 Nf6 5.Nc3 e6 6.g4 Nc6 7.g5 Nd7 8.Be3 Be7 9.h4 a6
10.Qd2 Nde5 11.O-O-O Qc7 12.f4 Ng4 13.Bg1 Nxd4 14.Qxd4 e5 15.Qd2 exf4 16.Nd5 Qc6
17.Qxf4 Bf8 18.Bh3 Ne5 19.Bd4 Ng6 20.Qf2 Be6

21.Rhf1 Bxh3 22.Qxf7+ Kd8 23.Rf3 Bg4 24.Bb6+ Kc8 25.Rc3 Bd7 26.Rxc6+ bxc6 27.Nc3
Ne5 28.Qf2 Be7 29.Bd4 Rf8 30.Qg2 Kc7 31.Bxe5 dxe5 32.Na4 Rf4 33.Qd2 Rd8 34.Qa5+
1-0

(90) King’s Gambit C30

Fischer - N. Ermidis
Houston (simul), March 28, 1964

1.e4 e5 2.Nc3 Nc6 3.Bc4 Nf6 4.f4 d6 5.Nf3 Bg4 6.Bb5 a6 7.Bxc6+ bxc6 8.h3 Bxf3 9.Qxf3
Be7 10.fxe5 dxe5 11.d3 O-O 12.Nd1 Ne8 13.Ne3 Bg5 14.O-O Nd6 15.Kh1 Bxe3 16.Bxe3
Qd7 17.Qg3 Rae8
18.Bc5 Re6 19.Rf3 Rfe8 20.Raf1 Rg6 21.Qf2 f6 22.Rxg3 Rxg3 23.Qxg3 Qe6 24.b3 Nb5
25.a4 Nd4 26.Bxd4 exd4 27.Qxc7 Qc8 28.Qg3 Kh8 29.Rf5 c5 30.Qd6 Re5 31.Rxe5 fxe5
32.Qxe5 Qf8 33.Qf5 Qxf5 34.exf5 Kg8 35.g4 Kf7 36.Kg2 Kf6 37.Kf3 Ke5 38.Kg3 a5 39.h4
h5 40.gxh5 1-0

(91) Two Knights C59

Fischer - David Gould
Houston (simul), March 28, 1964

1.e4 e5 2.Nf3 Nc6 3.Bc4 Nf6 4.Ng5 d5 5.exd5 Na5 6.Bb5+ c6 7.dxc6 bxc6 8.Be2 Bc5?

Sidestepping Bobby’s favorite 8...h6 9.Nh3 but losing whatever compensation he had for the
pawn.
9.d3 O-O 10.Nc3 h6 11.Nge4 Nxe4 12.Nxe4 Be7 13.O-O Nb7 14.Kh1 Nd6 15.Bf3 Bf5
16.Be3 Nxe4 17.Bxe4 Bxe4 18.dxe4 a6 19.Qg4 Bg5 20.Rad1 Qf6 21.Bxg5 Qxg5 22.Qxg5
hxg5 23.Rd6 Rac8 24.Rfd1 Rfe8 25.Kg1 f6 26.h3 Kh7 27.Rd7 Kg6 28.Ra7 Ra8 29.Rxa8
Rxa8 30.Rd7 Rb8 31.b3 Kh6 32.Rc7 Rb6 33.a4 a5 34.Kf1 Ra6 35.Ke2 Kg6 36.Kd3 f5 37.f3
f4 38.Kc4 1-0

(92) Ruy Lopez C70

Fischer - Charles Heising
Houston (simul), March 28, 1964

1.e4 e5 2.Nf3 Nc6 3.Bb5 a6 4.Ba4 b5 5.Bb3 Nge7 6.Ng5 d5 7.exd5 Nd4
8.Nxf7 Kxf7 9.d6+ Nxb3 10.dxe7 Bxe7 11.axb3 Bb7 12.O-O Rf8 13.Nc3 b4 14.Ne2 Qd5
15.f3 Kg8 16.Ng3 Qd4+ 17.Kh1 Bd6 18.d3 Qh4 19.Ne4 Rf5 20.Be3 Raf8 21.Bf2 Qh6 22.c4
g5 23.Qe2 Qg6 24.c5 Be7 25.d4 Qe6 26.dxe5 Qxe5 27.Bg3 Qe6 28.c6 Qxc6 29.Rac1 Qe6
30.h3 c5 31.Rfe1 R8f7 32.Qd2 Qd5 33.Qc2 Qc6 34.Qc4 a5 35.Rcd1 Ba6 36.Qc2 Rd5
37.Rxd5 Qxd5 38.Nf2 Bf8 39.Ng4 Qf5 40.Qc1 h6 41.Re8 Kh7 42.Qe3 Qb1+ 43.Kh2 c4
44.Rxf8 Rxf8 45.Qe7+ Kg6 46.Qxf8 Qxb2 47.Ne5+ 1-0

(93) Sicilian Dragon B76

Fischer - Steve Jacobs
Houston (simul), March 28, 1964

1.e4 c5 2.Nf3 d6 3.d4 cxd4 4.Nxd4 Nf6 5.Nc3 g6 6.Be3 Bg7 7.f3 Nc6 8.Qd2 Nxd4 9.Bxd4
O-O 10.O-O-O Qa5 11.Bc4 Bd7 12.Kb1 Rfc8 13.Bb3 Rc7 14.h4 h5 15.g4 hxg4 16.h5 gxh5
17.Bxf6 Bxf6 18.fxg4 Bxg4
19.Rdg1 Qg5 20.Qf2 Rc5 21.Nd5 Be5 22.Nxe7+ Kh8 23.Nf5 Rc7 24.Ne3 Bd4 25.Rxg4
Qxg4 26.Nxg4 Bxf2 27.Nxf2 Rc5 28.Bd5 Kg7 29.Rxh5 Rc7 30.a3 Rh8 31.Rxh8 Kxh8
32.Ng4 Re7 33.Nh6 Kg7? 34.Nf5+ 1-0

(94) Sicilian B29

Fischer – C. Bill Jones
Houston (simul), March 28, 1964

1.e4 c5 2.Nf3 Nf6 3.Nc3 d5 4.exd5 Nxd5 5.Bb5+ Bd7 6.Ne5 Bxb5
7.Nxb5?!

Bobby misses his chance in this rare Sicilian sideline. Correct was 7.Qf3 when 7...f6 8.Nxb5
Na6 (8...fxe5 9.Qxd5 Qxd5 10.Nc7+ Kd7 11.Nxd5 Nc6 12.d3 with the better ending for White
in Thomas - A. Steiner, Budapest 1929) 9.Qh5+ g6 10.Nxg6 hxg6 11.Qxh8 Qd7 12.Nc3 Qe6+
13.Kf1 Nab4 14.Qh3 is much better for White, Sozin-Kirilov, USSR (ch) 1931.

7...e6 8.Qf3 Qf6 9.Qxf6 gxf6 10.c4 a6 11.cxd5 axb5 12.Ng4 f5 13.Ne3 f4 14.Ng4 Bg7 15.d4
Bxd4 16.Bxf4 Bxb2 17.Rb1 Bc3+ 18.Kf1 b4 19.dxe6 fxe6 20.g3 Nc6 21.Kg2 h5 22.Ne3
Rxa2 23.Nc4 O-O 24.Nd6 Bd4 25.Nxb7 e5 26.Bh6 Rfxf2+ 27.Kh3 c4 28.Nd6 Rf6 0-1
Future National Master C. Bill Jones had a USCF rating of 1870 in the
January 1964 issue of Chess Life. (Photo by Alan Benson)
(95) Sicilian Scheveningen B84
Fischer - J. Kelley
Houston (simul), March 28, 1964

1.e4 c5 2.Nf3 d6 3.d4 cxd4 4.Nxd4 Nf6 5.Nc3 a6 6.f4 Qc7 7.Be2 e6 8.O-O Be7 9.Bf3 O-O
10.g4 h6 11.Qe2 Nbd7 12.Qg2 Rb8 13.h4 d5 14.e5 Ne4 15.Nxe4 dxe4 16.Bxe4 Nc5 17.Bf3
Bxh4
18.Be3 g5 19.Bf2 Bxf2+ 20.Qxf2 Bd7 21.Rae1 b5 22.Qh2 Kg7 23.f5 exf5 24.gxf5 Qa7
25.f6+ Kh7 26.Rf2 Rg8 27.Qxh6+ 1-0

(96) Ruy Lopez C62

Fischer - E. Longcobe
Houston (simul), March 28, 1964

1.e4 e5 2.Nf3 d6 3.d4 Nc6 4.Bb5 Bd7 5.Nc3 Be7 6.Bxc6 Bxc6 7.dxe5 dxe5 8.Qxd8+ Rxd8
9.Nxe5 Bf6 10.Nxc6 bxc6 11.f3 Bxc3+ 12.bxc3 Rb8 13.O-O Ne7 14.Ba3 Rb5 15.Rab1 Nc8
16.c4 Rxb1 17.Rxb1 Kd7 18.Rb7 Re8 19.c5 f6 20.Bc1 g5 21.Kf2 Re5 22.Be3 Re6 1-0

(97) Pirc Austrian B09

Fischer-Lynch
Houston (simul), March 28, 1964

1.e4 d6 2.d4 Nf6 3.Nc3 g6 4.f4 Bg7 5.Nf3 O-O 6.Bd3 Nc6 7.e5 dxe5 8.fxe5 Nh5 9.Be3 Bg4
10.Be4 e6 11.O-O f6 12.exf6 Nxf6 13.Bxc6 bxc6 14.h3 Bxf3 15.Rxf3 Nd5 16.Rxf8+ Qxf8
17.Nxd5 cxd5 18.Qd2 Qe7 19.Re1 Qd7 20.Bf4 c6
21.Be5 Bxe5 22.Rxe5 Rf8 23.Qe2 Rf6 24.c3 Kg7 25.g4 Qc8 26.h4 h6 27.Qe3 Qd7 28.Qd3
Qc8 29.c4 Qb7 30.Qc3 Qd7 31.cxd5 cxd5 32.Qb3 Qc7 33.Qe3 Qc6 34.Kh2 Qd6 35.g5
hxg5 36.hxg5 Rf8 37.Kg1 Re8 38.a4 a6 39.a5 1-0

Fischer addresses the audience at the closing ceremony of the 1966 Piatigorsky tournament held
at the Miramar Hotel in Santa Monica. Tournament winner Boris Spassky and organizer and
sponsor Jacqueline Piatigorsky listen. (Photo by Jerry Hanken)

(98) Damiano C40

Fischer - Robert McGregor
Houston (simul), March 28, 1964

1.e4 e5 2.Nf3 f6? 3.Nxe5 Qe7 4.Nf3 d5 5.d3 dxe4 6.dxe4 Qxe4+ 7.Be2 Bf5 8.Nd4 Nc6
9.Nxf5 Qxf5 10.O-O Bd6 11.Bg4 Qb5 12.Nc3 Qc4 13.Be2 Qf7 14.Bb5 O-O-O 15.Qg4+ f5
16.Qh3 Nge7 17.Ne4 h6 18.Nxd6+ Rxd6 19.Bf4 Rd4 20.Be3 Rb4 21.Bxc6 Nxc6 22.b3 Re4
23.Rfd1 Rd8 24.Rxd8+ Nxd8 25.Rd1 Qe6 26.g3 Rxe3 Draw

(99) King’s Gambit C30

Fischer-Michalopoulos
Houston (simul), March 28, 1964

1.e4 e5 2.f4 f5? 3.exf5 d6 4.Qh5+ Kd7 5.fxe5 dxe5 6.Nf3 Qf6 7.Nc3 Ne7 8.Ne4 Qxf5
9.Nxe5+ Ke6 10.Bc4+ Kxe5 11.d4+ Kxd4 12.Be3+ Ke5 13.Bf4+ Kd4 14.O-O-O+ Kxe4
15.Qf3+ 1-0

Marshall Rohland (1925-1994) was USCF Secretary in 1964. He served as President in the
late 1960s when the USCF experienced record membership growth.
(California Chess Reporter Archives)

(100) King’s Gambit C30

Fischer - J. Nuchold
Houston (simul), March 28, 1964

1.e4 e5 2.Bc4 Nf6 3.Nc3 Bb4 4.f4 d6 5.Nf3 exf4 6.d3 Bxc3+ 7.bxc3 Be6 8.Bxe6 fxe6 9.Bxf4
e5 10.Bd2 Nc6 11.O-O O-O 12.Qe2 Qe7 13.Nh4 g6 14.Bg5 Qe6 15.Nf3 Ng4 16.h3 Nf6
17.Bh6
17…Rf7? 18.Ng5 Qe7 19.Nxf7 Qxf7 20.Bg5 Qe6 21.Rxf6 Qe7 22.Rxg6+ 1-0

Billy Patteson (b.1938), who preserved the games from the Houston exhibition, has long been
associated with chess in Texas, particularly Houston. He produced an excellent series of
pamphlets on Bobby Fischer's games and openings that were published by Ken Smith's Chess
Digest in the late 1960s and early 1970s.

(101) Nimzovitch B00

Fischer - Billy Patteson
Houston (simul), March 28, 1964

1.e4 Nc6 2.d4 e5 3.dxe5 Nxe5 4.f4 Ng6 5.Nf3 Bc5 6.Bc4 Nf6 7.f5 Ne7 8.Nc3 O-O 9.Bg5 d5
10.Bxf6 gxf6 11.Nxd5 Nxd5 12.Qxd5 Qxd5 13.Bxd5 Re8 14.O-O-O c6 15.Bb3 Rxe4
16.Rd8+ Kg7 17.Re1 Bb6
18.Re8 Rxe1+ 19.Nxe1 Bc7 20.Nf3 Rb8 21.Re7 Bf4+ 22.Kb1 Bxf5 23.Rxf7+ Kg6 24.Nh4+
Kg5 25.Nxf5 Kxf5 26.Rxh7 Rd8 27.a4 Rd2 28.Rxb7 Be3 29.Rg7 Rd1+ 30.Ka2 Rh1 31.h3
Bb6 32.Bc4 Bd4 33.Bd3+ Ke6 34.Be4 Kd6 35.Rh7 Re1 36.Bd3 Re3 37.Rg7 f5 38.Rg6+ Ke5
39.Rxc6 Rg3 40.Ra6 Rxg2 41.Ra5+ 1-0

(102) Evans Gambit C52

Fischer-Peil
Houston (simul), March 28, 1964

1.e4 e5 2.Nf3 Nc6 3.Bc4 Bc5 4.b4 Bxb4 5.c3 Ba5 6.d4 exd4 7.O-O dxc3 8.Qb3 Qf6
9.e5 Nxe5 10.Re1 Ne7 11.Rxe5 O-O 12.Bg5 Qg6 13.Bxe7 c2 14.Nbd2 Bxd2 15.Nxd2 Re8
16.Bd6 Rxe5 17.Bxe5 Qg5 18.Qe3 Qxe3 19.fxe3 d6 20.Bb2 Bg4 21.Rc1 Bd1 22.Bd3 Re8
23.e4 c6 24.Bxc2 Bxc2 25.Rxc2 f6 26.Kf2 Kf7 27.Kf3 d5 28.exd5 cxd5 29.Rc7+ Re7
30.Rxe7+ Kxe7 1-0

The mid 1960s were happy times for Bobby, not only during his 1964
tour but also the 1966 Piatigorsky Cup. Here he is analyzing his round
14 game with Wolfgang Unzicker from the 1966 Piatigorsky Cup. This
event saw Unzicker turn in the best performance of his career tying for
fourth (with Portisch) and losing only a single game in 18 rounds. (Photo by Jerry
Hanken)

(103) Sicilian Sozin B88

Fischer-Limoh (Pimoh?)
Houston (simul), March 28, 1964

1.e4 c5 2.Nf3 Nc6 3.d4 cxd4 4.Nxd4 Nf6 5.Nc3 a6 6.Bc4 e6 7.O-O d6 8.Be3 Be7 9.Bb3 O-
O 10.f4 Bd7 11.Qf3 Rc8 12.f5 Nxd4 13.Bxd4 Kh8 14.g4 Ng8 15.Rad1 Bc6 16.Rf2 f6 17.h4
Be8 18.Rg2 (1-0 in 24 moves)

(104) French Classical C14

Fischer - J. Plaster
Houston (simul), March 28, 1964

1.e4 e6 2.d4 d5 3.Nc3 Nf6 4.Bg5 Be7 5.e5 Nfd7 6.Bxe7 Qxe7 7.f4 a6 8.Nf3 c5 9.dxc5 Nxc5
10.Qd2 Bd7 11.O-O-O Bc6 12.Bd3 Nxd3+ 13.cxd3 b5 14.Nd4 Bb7 15.Kb1 Nc6 16.Nce2
Nxd4 17.Nxd4 O-O 18.Rde1 Bc8 19.g4 Bd7

20.f5 exf5 21.gxf5 f6 22.e6 Be8 23.Rhg1 Kh8 24.Rg3 g6 25.Reg1 g5 26.h4 h6 27.hxg5 hxg5
28.Rh1+ Kg8 29.Rgh3 1-0

(105) Petroff C43

Fischer - A.D. Schmid
Houston (simul), March 28, 1964

1.e4 e5 2.Nf3 Nf6 3.d4 exd4 4.e5 Ne4 5.Qe2 Nc5 6.Nxd4 Be7 7.Nc3 c6 8.Be3 d6 9.O-O-O
Be6 10.Nxe6 Nxe6 11.exd6 Bf6 12.d7+ Nxd7 13.Ne4 Be7 14.f4 f5 15.Qc4 fxe4 16.Qxe6
Qc7 17.Bc4 Rf8 18.Qxe4 Nf6 19.Qe6 b6 20.Rhe1 Rd8 21.Rxd8+ Kxd8 22.Rd1+ Ke8 23.g3

23…h6? 24.Bd3 Nd5 25.c4 Qd7 26.cxd5 Qxe6 27.dxe6 Rf6 28.f5 Bd6 29.Be4 Ke7 30.Bd4
Rf8 31.Bxg7 Rg8 32.Bxh6 c5 33.Bf4 Bxf4+ 34.gxf4 Kf6 35.Rd7 Rg7 36.Rxg7 Kxg7 37.e7
1-0

George Smith was the longtime chess editor for the Houston Chronicle.

(106) King's Gambit C32

Fischer – George Smith
Houston (simul), March 28, 1964

1.e4 e5 2.f4 d5 3.exd5 e4 4.Nc3 Nf6 5.Qe2 Nxd5 6.Qxe4+ Be6 7.f5 Nxc3 8.bxc3 Qd5 9.Bd3
Qxe4+ 10.Bxe4 Bc8 11.Nf3 Bd6 12.d4 Nd7 13.c4 Nf6 14.Bd3 c6 15.O-O O-O 16.Re1 b6
17.a4 Bb4 18.Bd2 a5

19.Rab1 Bxd2 20.Nxd2 Rb8 21.c5 Nd5 22.Nc4 Ba6 23.Nxb6 Bxd3 24.Nxd5 Rxb1 25.Rxb1
Bxc2 26.Ne7+ Kh8 27.Ra1 Be4 28.Re1 1-0

(107) King’s Gambit C30

Fischer - G. Staight
Houston (simul), March 28, 1964

1.e4 e5 2.f4 Bc5 3.Nf3 Nf6? 4.fxe5 Nxe4 5.d4 Bb6 6.Bd3 Nc5? 7.dxc5 Bxc5 8.Nc3 d6
9.Qe2 O-O 10.Be3 1-0
(108) Evans Gambit C52
Fischer – Ross Carbonell
Houston (simul), March 28, 1964

1.e4 e5 2.Nf3 Nc6 3.Bc4 Bc5 4.b4 Bxb4 5.c3 Ba5 6.d4 exd4 7.O-O Nge7 8.Ng5

ECO gives 8.cxd4 d5 9.exd5 Nxd5 10.Ba3 Be6 11.Bb5 Bb4 12.Bxc6+ bxc6 13.Bxb4 Nxb4
14.Qa4 Qd6 15.Nc3 O-O 16.Ne4 Qf4 17.Neg5 = (Sokolsky).

8...d5

8...Ne5 9.Nxf7 Nxf7 10.Bxf7+ Kxf7 11.Qh5+ g6 12.Qxa5 was unclear in Sax-Honfi, Hungary
1971.

9.exd5 Ne5 10.Bb3

Much more common is 10.Qxd4. One wild possibility is 10.d6.

10...O-O 11.Nxh7

This breaks new ground. 11.cxd4 Ng4 12.Qf3 (12.Ba3 is Andersson-Mieses, Breslau 1867)
12...Qd6 13.Bf4 Qf6 14.Nc3 draw, Bronstein-A.N. Ivanov, Menchik Memorial 1994.

11...Kxh7 12.Qh5+ Kg8 13.Qxe5 dxc3 14.Nxc3 Bxc3 15.Qxc3 Nxd5 16.Qg3

Bobby shows he’s in a fighting mood. He could have bailed out with 16.Bxd5 Qxd5 17.Bb2 f6
18.Qxc7 with a very even game.

16...Be6 17.Bb2 Nf6 18.Bc2 Nh5 19.Qf3 Qd5

The immediate 19...Qg5 was to be considered.

20.Be4 Qg5 21.Bxb7 Rab8 22.Rae1 Qg4

Black misses the opportunity to keep his disadvantage to a bare minimum with 22...Bc4 23.Re5
Qf4 24. Rfe1 Qxf3 25.Bxf3 Rxb2 26.Rc5 Bxa2 27.Bxh5.
23.Be5 Nf6 24.Bxc7??

Bobby makes a rare blunder. He’d have kept an advantage with 24.Rc1.

24...Rxb7 25.Qxb7 Bd5 0-1

White must give up his queen to avoid immediate checkmate. (Oklahoma Chess Bulletin,
November 1996, p. 25)

The following game was presumably played in Houston on March 28, 1964, as the scoresheet
is on the stationery of the Houston Chess Club. The E. Travis who played this game might be
the one who played Fischer in Wichita. The USCF rating lists which appeared in Chess Life for
the period 1963–1965 do not give an E. Travis. They do list V. Travis of Oklahoma who was
rated around 1700.

(109) Ruy Lopez C90

Fischer- E.Travis
Houston (simul), March 28, 1964

1.e4 e5 2.Nf3 Nc6 3.Bb5 a6 4.Ba4 Nf6 5.0–0 b5 6.Bb3 Be7 7.Re1 d6 8.c3 Na5 9.Bc2 c5
10.d4 Qc7 11.Nbd2 0–0 12.Nf1 Bb7 13.Ng3 h6?

Black's inaccurate move order has allowed White to save a vital tempo by dispensing with h3
but allowing the knight to come freely to f5 is really asking for trouble. It was essential to play
13...g6.

14.Nf5 Rac8 15.d5 b4?

Travis overlooks White's powerful threat.

(a) 15...Rce8 (intending ...Bc8 to trade off the powerful knight) also fails: 16.Bxh6! gxh6
17.Qc1 Bc8 18.Qxh6 Bxf5 19.exf5 (White is planning Nd2/ Ng5 and transferring the rook to the
third or fourth rank) 19...Nc4 20.Ng5 and there is no defense against Re1–e4-h4.

(b) 15...Rfe8, allowing ...Bf8, was the only defense and indeed after 16.Bxh6 gxh6 17.Qc1 Nh7
18.Qxh6 Bf8 Black is defending. However 16.b3, 17.Be3 and 18.Qd2 is a strong buildup.
Black has no counterplay on the queenside and can only wait for the impending attack.
16.Bxh6 gxh6 17.Qc1 Nh7 18.Qxh6 Bf6 19.Re3 Qd8 20.Ng5! Nxg5 21.Rg3 1–0 (O.G.
published in Bobby Fischer Uncensored, page 82.)

Little Rock, March 29

+36, -0, =0

On March 29, 1964, Bobby Fischer scored a perfect 36-0 in a simul in Little Rock, Arkansas.
The sponsor of the event was Sam Spikes, with Gary Berry handling the organizational chores.
Mr. Berry recalls that the venue was the Albert Pike hotel in downtown Little Rock and that
Fischer lectured on his win over Tal from Bled 1961. The event was held at the conclusion of
the Arkansas State Championship (won by Richard Long).
Sam Spikes, Bobby's host during his stay in Little Rock,
in a photograph taken in 1965. (Photo courtesy of Sam Spikes)

Mr. Berry recalls that besides himself the following people participated: David Coulter, Gene
DeRossitte, Earl Eikerenkoetter, Bobbie Lee Taylor, Steve Korenblat, Joey Michalls, Sam
Spikes, Ray Frankland, Craig Presson, A.C. Remmel, Wayman Coulter, Philip Wells, Orval
Allbritton, Steve Balsai, Phil Leasure, Majeed Nehas, Richard Long, Charles Savery, Hunter
Weaks, Troy Armstrong, Erwin Middleton, and John Hurt.

Gerald Koonce recalls:

I did not play Fischer, but my friend Steve Korenblat, who still plays in chess tournaments and
carries a rating in the 1600s, played the Caro-Kann, which he had studied intensively in
preparation for the event. The game followed the line Steve had most hoped it would, until they
got to the end of what MCO had on it, with the notation "and black wins." From that point,
Fischer wiped the floor with him and the game was soon over.

Another anecdote from Fischer's visit: His host was Sam Spikes, who also was an
accomplished golfer. Spikes offered to give Fischer golf lessons in exchange for chess lessons,
but Fischer was mostly interested in driving the golf cart, which he wrecked in a creek.
Frank Allen’s article in the Arkansas Democrat-Gazette published on March 30th, 1964, adds a
few more details about the event. He writes that the exhibition, in which passes were not
allowed, lasted barely three hours. The cost to play was $5.
Allen mentions the lecture, in which Bobby analyzed his game with Tal from Bled 1961, was
excellent but passed all too quickly. He quotes Bobby:
“I thought I was better than Tal but it was hard to convince anyone else after he had beaten me
four times, said Fischer, exhibiting flashes of humor and none of the rudeness that has earned
him a reputation for boorishness.”

Fischer lecturing on his game with Tal from Bled 1961 at Little Rock. Bobby is pictured in the
act of making Black’s move 8…Ne5. (Photo by Dan Miller)
Three Boys from Arkansas Remember Bobby Fischer
 By C. Richard Long

In 1954 at the age of 14, I saw a movie where a chess game played an important part. After
seeing the move I decided I wanted to learn to play chess, so I went to a local store, bought a
chess set complete with a paper board for $1.25, and went home to read the instructions on
how to play the game. Over the next several weeks I found a number of other teenagers to play
with. Most significant were Ronnie Taylor and Bill Jones.

The three of us played quite frequently. Ronnie changed the future of the competition by going to
the library and getting a chess book to read, and he soon was winning decisively. On learning
of his new secret weapon I went to the library, and soon we were engaged in an arms race to
read, study, and even buy chess books. I remember paying what at that time was the large sum
of $7.50 for Practical Chess Openings by Reuben Fine. Bill, who was quite talented in playing
chess as well as many other games, was soon brought into this struggle for chess supremacy.
There was no chess club or organized chess activity in Fort Smith, so the three of us developed
nearly exclusively by book study and competing with each other. I did have an occasion to visit
the Dallas (Texas) chess club. To my surprise I was able to beat all but the strongest players
there. Ronnie and I subscribed to Chess Review, the U.S. chess publication of the day, and we
began playing correspondence chess. We remember 3-cent postcards. Ronnie and I also
organized a chess club in our high school, but there were no other high school chess clubs to
play matches against. In 1958, we did play in a two-round match against the Little Rock adult
chess club, with Ronnie, Bill, and I scoring 5½ out of 6 possible points.

In 1956, the U.S. Open was held in Oklahoma City, only 200 miles from Fort Smith. Ronnie
convinced his parents to allow him to play in it, his first tournament. My parents said they could
not afford to send me to a two-week tournament, but that I could go over with Ronnie for the
first weekend, and then return home after the weekend.

At the U.S. Open we were excited at the prospect of seeing famous players we had heard about,
such as Arthur Bisguier and the newly famous Bobby Fischer, who had just won the U.S. Junior
at the age of 13. Before the tournament Ronnie and I played skittles with lots of players and
were relatively successful. Each of us got to play Bobby Fischer. Against Bobby, I obtained a
winning position, but with all the pressure, and Bobby’s insistence that I move more quickly, I
blundered and lost the game. I did not get a second chance to play him. Ronnie’s experience
appears below.

Just before the tournament began, Jerry Spann, the local tournament organizer, approached me
and made me an incredible offer. (He later became a President of the USCF). He said they
wanted to encourage young players to enter the tournament, so he would waive my entry fee,
and the hotel clerk, also a chess player, said I could stay in Ronnie’s room without paying, and
he would give me the free lunch he got each day. With such a generous offer, my parents agreed
I could stay for the whole tournament and they mailed me some additional money.
I.S. Turover (left with glasses) and Jerry Spann. Jerry Spann (1912-1968) was arguably the
best president the U.S. Chess Federation has ever had. He possessed the rare ability to get
everyone to work together. I.S. Turover (1892-1978) was a well-known American chess
philanthropist who often donated brilliancy prizes. (Photo by Beth Cassidy)

In the tournament I ended up with a 6-6 score, losing to three masters, drawing one, and beating
one expert. My first USCF rating was 1933. Ronnie did nearly as well, finishing with a 5-7
score and earning an 1800s rating. Bobby Fischer did not lose a game, but did draw seven. In a
number of these Bobby cried after the game, when he only drew some experts. Quite a
comedown for this 13-year-old! During the tournament, the Oklahoma City newspaper
published an article with our picture about the young participants in the tournament. I still have
that article.

While Bill did not play in the 1956 U.S. Open he played in a number of tournaments in the later
years, including three U.S. Opens. Both Bill and Ronnie earned USCF master ratings. Ronnie
finished third one year in the Marshall Chess Club Championship. Bill was featured as a
correspondence chess player in Chess Life articles in 1991 and 1993. In the 1970’s he had
chess compositions published in several international chess magazines. Although he won over a
dozen tournaments in Texas, California, and Hawaii, Bill’s best performance was tying for
seventh in the 1973 Louis B. Statham Masters Tournament in Lone Pine, California. While I
never made it to a master’s rating, I did win the city championships when I lived in Dallas,
Texas, Nashville, Tennessee, and Atlanta. I won the Arkansas State Championship 3 times, the
Tennessee Open, and the Iowa Open, as well as some smaller tournaments. Bill lives in Palo
Alto, California, and I contacted him when my son decided to go to Stanford. Ronnie lives in
Brooklyn, and the three of us are in contact by e-mail over 40 years after we graduated from
high school in Fort Smith.

In 1964, Bobby Fischer came to the Arkansas State Championship in Little Rock, where he
gave an inspiring lecture and a simultaneous exhibition. He was gentlemen and a scholar. Since
I had just won the tournament, Fischer may have given me a little extra attention. In any event,
he quickly took advantage of my failure to develop my kingside pieces with a knight sacrifice.

Ronnie related the following experiences he had with Bobby Fischer:

“The only game I won against Fischer was just a side game at the 1956 U.S. Open, the only
person who might recall the whole game is Fischer. I remember that I was Black. Fischer
played the Danish gambit, and not being familiar with it I took every pawn he offered.
Somehow, his attack bogged down (unlike in the other dozen games we played) and I won the
endgame. He seemed to start crying or at least was on the verge of crying, because he had lost a
game to an unknown kid from some small town.

“He was 12 at the time and the U.S. Junior Champion, in the 1956 U.S. Open he finished tied
for 4th to 8th with 5 wins and 7 draws, without losing a game. A year later, he began his string
of winning U.S. Championships.

“About 1967, I was at the famous old Chess and Checker Club of New York (for those who
know NYC, the club was near Times Square above the Amsterdam Theater). Around 11:00 one
night, Bobby came in with a current copy of the well-known Russian chess magazine
Shakhmatny Bulletin and I watched him analyze games for two or three hours, such speed and
brilliance of analysis I don’t expect to see again. At one point, I suggested a move, which
Fischer, after a minute or two, concluded was indeed an extremely good one, showing me all
sorts of variations that I hadn’t seen at all. I did not really deserve credit for the move, because
I hadn’t seen the reasons why it was so good. But Fischer wrote my name in the margin with the
suggested move and two exclamation points and told me that if he ever published the analysis
he would give me credit for it.

“About six or seven months later, I saw him at the Manhattan chess club and asked if he
remembered that game and me. He told me “sure” and replayed the game for me from memory.
White had lost the original game, and Fischer said he was disappointed that he could only find
a draw for White and not a win.

“I know that Fischer’s personal reputation is not good now, but at that time I found him friendly
and, at least as far chess goes, intellectually very honest.”

Bill had the following experience in Houston:

“I was fortunate when I played an offbeat opening against Fischer in a simultaneous. Although
he surely knew more about the opening than I, we were quickly “out of the book,” a distinct
disadvantage for someone playing fifty other players at the same time. Bobby overlooked a
simple move that gave me a strong positional advantage, and I was able to keep my composure
long enough to garner a win. Bobby was most gracious when he signed the scoresheet after
resigning.

“After spending several hours on his feet, Bobby went out for a late night dinner with several
Houston chess players. They reported that Fischer was friendly and quite witty; they had a great
time.

“The three of us all agree that Fischer in his prime dominated the chess world like no one has
ever done before or since. On his way to the world championship, he crushed three top
grandmasters in the qualification matches (made up of the top six placers in the Interzonal
tournament: 6-0-0 versus Taimanov, 6-0-0 against Larsen, and 5-1-3 versus Petrosian for a total
of 17 wins, one losses, and only five draws.

“Bobby also demanded that chess players be shown more respect. He even decided that he
should dress well, because many would respect chess players more if they dressed like
successful people. He also was one of the first to realize that good physical conditioning was
important to perform well in tournaments. He also demanded optimum playing conditions for
his matches. And he challenged practices that gave the top Soviet players unfair advantages in
tournaments. To my own mind his aggressive pursuit of these goals, in many cases with very
little support, led to immense pressures being placed upon him. Sticking to his principles led
him to refuse to defend his crown under the conditions dictated by the FIDE, and he later
dropped out of chess, and in a sense out of life. Like Paul Morphy, this great talent was cut
short by tragic events. If only some things had been different.”
Fischer on the move in Little Rock. (Photo by C.R. Long)

John F. Hurt (1914-1993) won the championship of West Virginia four times between 1939 and
1955 and dominated the Charleston City Championship from the the mid 1930s to 1957. Soon
after moving to Memphis in 1960 he picked up his old habits and over the next few decades
won many events including a record eleven Memphis City titles between 1962 and 1977.

Known by the nickname Big Johnny, Hurt was not only a player but also a teacher, promoter,
organizer and writer. Among the books he wrote were Center Gambits, Sicilian Wing Gambit,
and The Games of John Hurt.

(110) French Winawer C15

Fischer - John Hurt
Little Rock (simul), March 29, 1964

Notes by John Hurt.

1.e4 e6 2.d4 d5 3.Nc3 Bb4 4.a3 Bxc3+ 5.bxc3 Ne7 6.Bd3 O-O 7.Nf3 Nd7 8.e5 f5 9.exf6
gxf6 10.O-O Rf7 11.Re1 Nf8 12.Nh4 Nfg6 13.Qh5 Nxh4 14.Qxh4 Kh8 15.Re3 Nf5 16.Bxf5
exf5 17.Rg3 Qe7 18.Bf4 Bd7 19.Bxc7 Ba4 20.Bf4 Bxc2 21.Re3 Qd7 22.Rae1 Rg8 23.h3
Ba4 24.Re6 Qd8 25.g3 Re8 26.Qh6 Rxe6 27.Rxe6 Qf8

If 27...Bd7 28.Rxf6!

28.Qh5 Bd7 29.Rd6 Qe8

Maybe better is 29...Re7.

30.Kh2 Be6 31.a4 Qe7 32.a5 Rg7 33.a6 b6

Better is 33...bxa6!?

34.Qe2 Bd7 35.Qa2 Qe8

A hasty move. Better was 35...Be6 or 35...Rg6.

36.Rxf6 Re7 37.Be5 Rxe5 38.dxe5 Qxe5 39.Rf8+ Kg7 40.Ra8 f4 41.Rxa7 fxg3+ 42.fxg3
Qe6 43.Rxd7+ 1-0 (Tennessee Chess News, May 1964)

(111) Sicilian B46

Fischer - Richard Long
Little Rock (simul), March 29, 1964

1.e4 c5 2.Nf3 Nc6 3.d4 cxd4 4.Nxd4 a6 5.Nc3 e6 6.Bc4 Qc7 7.Bb3 b5 8.O-O Bb7 9.Re1
Rc8 10.Nd5 Qe5 11.Nf3 Qh5 12.Be3 Nf6 13.Nf4 Qh6 14.Nxe6 g5 15.Bxg5 Qg6 16.Nh4
Qh5 17.Bxf6 Qxd1 18.Raxd1 dxe6 19.Bxh8 1-0 (Tennessee Chess News, May 1964)

(112) Caro-Kann B11

Fischer - Hunter Weaks
Little Rock (simul), March 29, 1964

1.e4 c6 2.Nc3 d5 3.Nf3 Bg4 4.h3 Bxf3 5.Qxf3 e6 6.d4 Nf6 7.Bd3 dxe4 8.Nxe4 Nxe4 9.Bxe4
Nd7 10.O-O Be7 11.Rd1 O-O 12.c4 Nf6 13.Bc2 Qc7?

13...Qb6 was better.

14.Bf4 Bd6 15.Bg5 Be7 16.Rac1 Rfd8 17.Bb3 Rd7 18.d5! exd5 19.cxd5 Rad8 20.dxc6
Rxd1+ 21.Bxd1 bxc6 22.Bb3 c5 23.Be3 h6 24.Qf5 Kf8 25.Bxc5 Bxc5 26.Rxc5 Qd7 27.Qf4
Qd6 28.Qc4 Rd7 29.Rc8+ Ne8 30.g3 Rc7 31.Ba4! Rxc8 32.Qxc8 Qe5 33.Qxe8+ Qxe8
34.Bxe8 Kxe8 35.Kg2 Kd7 36.Kf3 Kd6 37.Ke4 1-0 (Selected Games of Hunter Weaks)
(113) Petroff C43
Fischer - Gary Berry
Little Rock (simul), March 29, 1964

1.e4 e5 2.Nf3 Nf6 3.d4 Nxe4 4.Bd3 d5 5.Nxe5 Bd6 6.c4 c6 7.0-0 0-0 8.Nc3 Nxc3 9.bxc3
dxc4 10.Bxc4 Nd7 11.Qh5 Nxe5 12.dxe5 Be7 13.Be3 Qa5 14.Rac1 b5 15.Bb3 c5 16.f4 c4
17.Bc2 g6 18.Qh6 Re8 19.f5 Bf8 20.Qh3 Bg7 21.e6 Qxc3 22.exf7+ Kxf7 23.fxg6+ Ke7
24.Rf7+ Kd6 25.Rd1+ 1-0 (O.G.)

The day following the exhibition, Spikes and Fischer journeyed to Hot Springs, Arkansas.
While enjoying the resort city, Bobby paid a visit to the local club where he played Orval
Allbritton. One of the strongest players in Arkansas at the time, the Class A-rated Allbritton,
who was an FBI agent, had played Bobby “tough” the night before in Little Rock but one-on-
one he didn’t have a chance. (This information is based on the recollections of Majeed Nehas).

Orval Albritton, author and former FBI agent, was one of the top players in Arkansas in the
1960s. (Photo courtesy of Orval Albritton)

Wichita, April 4
+38, -1, =1
D La Pierre Ballard has this to say about the exhibition:

Bobby played 40 games that night at the University of Wichita Campus Activities Center. He
lost to me, drew with future Kansas state champion Dan Prichard (We know Hart drew Bobby
but unfortunately the game with Prichard is not available so we are not sure if Bobby drew two.
Ballard received his information about the results secondhand. The author Gaylord Dold
remembers 44 players participating.) and won the rest. His most notable game was against
Keith Carson, who was the best player in Oklahoma at the time.

Bobby played the Vienna. Eventually an ending was reached in which Bobby had an f-pawn
and an h-pawn. Keith had studied this rook and pawn type of ending previously and thought he
could draw. Bobby played like Capablanca and by constant maneuvering managed a win.

I went with the man who organized the exhibition to pick up Bobby. I cannot remember that
man’s name. He had been a Colonel. Bobby was very late — 45 minutes, I recall. On the way
to the simul I sat with him and chatted.

I asked him about his recent article in the magazine Chess World, which only lasted three
issues. He had listed the ten best players of all time. He had put Morphy as first. He told me
that Morphy, were he alive, would have been then the best player in the world. The great
accumulation of knowledge since 1860 would be assimilated and mastered by Morphy very
quickly and then, were he alive in 1964, he would have been the best.

I asked him about Petrosian. He rattled off an ending from a game of Petrosian’s and said, “The
man obviously did not know how to play that ending.”

Before the simul Bobby gave a talk about his famous game at Bled 1961 where he had beaten
Geller in 22 moves. Bobby had White in a Steinitz Deferred Ruy. Bobby started the talk by
showing 1.e4 on the board. He then said, “I always play pawn to king four for my first move
just like Steinitz did before he got old!”

During my game Bobby made no comments until the end. He said after he turned over his king
that 32.Qh7+ would have been much better than what he played. He did not say “I resign.” I
noticed that when he played a pawn or bishop that he thoughtfully screwed it into the board, i.e.
he twisted it between his thumb and forefinger.

It cost $5 to play Bobby. That was a lot for a 19-year-old college student then. I figured it was
my one and only chance in my whole lifetime so I put a big effort into it. My game ran over
three hours and I did not move a muscle the whole time, except to play my moves.
Bobby in Wichita, sitting with D La Pierre Ballard, Shakmatny Bulletin in hand.
(Photo by Leola Ballard)

(114) Sicilian Accelerated Dragon B35

Fischer - D La Pierre Ballard
Wichita (simul), April 4, 1964

Notes by D La Pierre Ballard.

1.e4 c5 2.Nf3 Nc6 3.d4 cxd4 4.Nxd4 g6 5.Nc3 Bg7 6.Be3 Nf6 7.Bc4 O-O 8.Bb3 Ng4
9.Qxg4 Nxd4 10.Qd1 Nxb3 11.axb3 b6 12.Bd4 f6 13.h4

The obvious 13.Bxf6 Bxf6 14.Qd5+ e6 15.Qxa8 Bxc3+ 16.bxc3 Qc7 17.O-O a5! 18.Ra4 d5!
19.exd5 Bb7 20.Qa7 exd5 21.Re1 Ra8 is winning for Black, Kotkov-A. Zaitsev, USSR 1962.

Ballard was familiar with all this, having just read the article on this variation by Vladimirov
and A. Geller in the January 1964 issue of Shakhmatny Bulletin.

13...Bb7 14.h5 Kf7

A move unknown to theory in 1964. Today the focus is on 14...d5 (see Shabalov-Rausis, Riga
1989, NiC Yearbook 14, p.33).

15.Qg4 d5 16.exd5 Bxd5 17.O-O-O Be6 18.Qg3 Qb8 19.Qf3 Qc8 20.Ne4?

Fischer loses his sense of danger and blunders the exchange in an equal position.

20...Bg4 21.hxg6+ hxg6 22.Qd3

On 22.Ng5+ Black has 22...Kg8 23.Qe4 Bf5! (23...Bxd1?? 24.Qxg6) 24.Qe2 e5! (24...fxg5
25.Bxg7 Kxg7 26.Qxe7+ Rf7 27.Rh7+ wins) 25.Bc3 fxg5 and it’s all over.

22...Bxd1 23.Rxd1 Qc6 24.Rh1 Rac8 25.c3 Rh8 26.Re1 Rhd8 27.f4 Qd5 28.Kb1 Qxb3
29.f5

According to Ballard, who gives the move a double exclam, White now dominates the light
squares. Actually Black is just winning.

29...gxf5 30.Ng5+ fxg5 31.Qxf5+ Bf6 32.Bxf6

According to Fischer, White should have played 32.Qh7+ (Ballard), but 32...Ke8 33.Qg6+
(33.Bxf6 Rd1+ 34.Rxd1+ Qxd1+ 35.Ka2 exf6) 33...Kd7 34.Bxf6 exf6 35.Qxf6 (35.Qg7+ Kc6
heading for b5 and a6) 35...Rc5! and Black’s king has a safe haven on c8.

32...Rd1+ 33.Rxd1 Qxd1+ 34.Ka2 Rc5 0-1

White soon runs out of checks. Inside Chess reader Gordon Gribble gives 35.Qh7+ Kxf6
36.Qh6+ Kf7 37.Qh7+ Ke8 38.Qh8+ Kd7 39.Qh3+ g4 and it’s all over.
White is about to play 8.Bb3 in Fischer-Ballard. (Photo by Leola Ballard)

The author Gaylord Dold, was among those who played Bobby in Wichita. Unfortunately his
game is not preserved, but he did share his impressions of playing Bobby in an article he wrote
which appears on his website (http://www.gaylorddold.com/playing-chess-against-bobby-
fischer/). Below are few excerpts.

So, Bobby came to Wichita, where I was in school and living with my folks. At the University,
a lecture and simultaneous exhibition was announced and I signed up right away. On the
appointed day I was in the audience when Bobby appeared looking fairly impressive in brown
suit and tie. He was tall and spoke in a dramatic authoritative voice, giving a lecture and
demonstration about a game he’d played that year against one of the Russian players, Ewfim
Geller. It was fabulous.

Then came time to play. There were forty-four of us ranged around a large, rectangular area.
All the challengers played black, Bobby walking briskly from board to board, making
resoundingly quick moves after a glance at the game. At first, Bobby didn’t come by too
quickly, and I felt I had a chance to think. I was nervous and wanted to give him a tussle. But,
other players began dropping out and Bobby came by more and more often. It didn’t seem like
I had any time. I lost a pawn and then another and maybe a piece or two, I don’t recall. After
about fifteen moves or so, my position was utterly hopeless but I played on to the bitter end,
getting checkmated in an embarrassingly horrid fashion.
One thing I remember clearly. I looked at his suit and tie and was impressed. But I noticed he
wore mismatched blue socks and clunky shoes. So, when it came time to create Mitch Roberts,
my Wichita private-eye, he was (like Philip Marlow) a chess playing sleuth and didn’t have
much of a fashion sense.

(115) Alekhine B03

Fischer-Mechem
Wichita (simul), April 4, 1964

1.e4 Nf6 2.e5 Nd5 3.d4 d6 4.c4 Nb6 5.exd6 exd6 6.Nc3 Bf5 7.Nf3 a6?

This move just loses time.

8.Bd3 Bxd3 9.Qxd3 Be7 10.O-O O-O 11.Re1 N8d7 12.b3 Re8 13.Bf4 Nf8 14.Re2 Ng6
15.Bg3 Qd7 16.Rae1 Bf8 17.h4! Rxe2 18.Rxe2 h5

This is a difficult decision. Black creates a target on the kingside with this move, but passive
defense with 18...Ne7 19.a4 Re8 20.a5 Nc8 wouldn’t be to everyone’s taste.

19.Ng5 Qg4 20.Re4 Qf5 21.Qe2 Nd7

This lets Black’s kingside get shredded, but 21...f6 22.Ne6 followed by d4-d5 is no picnic
either.

22.Nd5 Nf6 23.Nxf6+ gxf6 24.Nf3 Rc8 25.d5 Ne5 26.Nd4 Qg6 27.Rf4 Ng4

A spirited try. The immediate 27...Qb1+ allows 28.Qf1 Qxa2 29.Rxf6. The text covers f6 and
h2.

28.Nf5 Ne5 29.Nd4 Ng4 30.Rf5

Bobby doesn’t want to draw.

30...c5

Black isn’t giving up. Now he wants to dislodge the knight.

31.dxc6 bxc6 32.Qf3 Re8

Here 32...c5 is tricky but White keeps the advantage with 33.Ne2 (33.Nc6 Rxc6; 33.Nc2 Nh6)
33...Nh6 34.Rxh5.

33.Kf1 Re6?

This is the fatal mistake. Necessary was 33...c5 when 34.Nc6 is forced. The position is
complicated but still looks like White for choice: 34...Nh6 35.Rd5 (forced) 35...Qb1+ 36.Qd1
Qxa2 37.Bxd6. Nonetheless this was Black’s best try.

34.Qd3

Bobby doesn’t fall for the trap: 34.Nxe6 fxe6 and the rook is attacked and ...Qb1+ followed by
mate looms.

34...Ne5 35.Bxe5 Rxe5 36.Rf3 Qxd3+ 37.Rxd3 Be7?

It’s not pretty, but 37...Rc5 was the last chance to prolong the struggle.

38.Re3

There’s nothing wrong with 38.Nxc6, but Bobby prefers to simplify to a completely won knight
versus bishop ending.

38...Rxe3 39.fxe3 c5 40.Nf5 Bf8 41.Ng3 1-0

(116) Two Knights C59

Fischer - Bill McLaughlin
Wichita (simul), April 4, 1964

1.e4 e5 2.Nf3 Nc6 3.Bc4 Nf6 4.Ng5 d5 5.exd5 Na5 6.Bb5+ c6 7.dxc6 bxc6 8.Be2 Bc5?

This avoids Bobby’s favorite 8...h6 9.Nh3, but at a terrific cost. White now has the opportunity
to bolster his knight with 9.d3. Black is now a pawn down for nothing as his play against the
Ng5, the idea behind this line, is gone.

9.d3 h6 10.Nf3 Qd6 11.Nc3 Bf5 12.O-O O-O 13.Nd2 Rad8 14.Nb3 Nb7 15.Nxc5 Nxc5
16.Be3 Rd7 17.Bf3 Rfd8 18.Qe2 Ne6 19.Rfe1 g5?

McLaughlin stands badly, but this self-inflicted wound only hastens the end.

20.g3 Nd4 21.Bxd4 exd4 22.Ne4 Bxe4 23.Bxe4 Re8 24.Qf3 Rde7
25.Qg2?

The natural 25.Re2 followed by doubling rooks was indicated.

25... Kg7?

Black misses his chance with 25...Nxe4 26.dxe4 Qg6! 27.f3 f5 with good counterplay.

26.Re2 Nd5

Here 26...Nxe4 was still the best, though not under as favorable circumstances as the previous
move.

27.Rae1 g4

Here 27...f5 had to be played. Now Bobby has it all his way.

28.Qf1 Nc7 29.Bf5 h5 30.h3 Rxe2 31.Rxe2 Qf6 32.hxg4 Rh8 33.Qg2 hxg4 34.Bxg4 Qg5
35.Qe4 Re8 36.Qxd4+ Kg8 37.Rxe8+ Nxe8 38.Bd7 Ng7 39.Bxc6 Qc1+ 40.Kg2 Qxc2
41.Be4 Qc7 42.b4 Ne6 43.Qe3 a5 44.b5 Nc5 45.Bc6 Qd6 1-0

Bill McLaughlin was one of the people responsible for bringing Bobby to Wichita. An annual
memorial tournament is held every year in Wichita in his honor.

(117) Sicilian Dragon B76

Fischer-Munzlinger
Wichita (simul), April 4, 1964

1.e4 c5 2.Nf3 Nc6 3.d4 cxd4 4.Nxd4 d6 5.Nc3 g6 6.Be3 Bg7 7.Qd2 Nf6 8.f3 Bd7 9.O-O-O
a6?!

This plan is too slow. Black normally castles on move eight, but 8...Bd7 is possible if followed
by 9...Rc8.

10.g4 b5?! 11.h4 b4?

Here 11...Rc8 looks a little better.

12.Nd5

White trades off the knight that defends Black’s king.

12...Nxd5 13.exd5 Ne5 14.h5

Bobby’s after much bigger game than the b-pawn. There’s not much Munzlinger can do at this
point but await the inevitable.

14...gxh5 15.Rxh5 a5 16.Bh6 Bxh6 17.Qxh6 Ng6 18.Qg7 Ba4 19.Bd3 Rf8 20.Rxh7 Bxc2
21.Bxc2 Rc8 22.Kb1 Kd7 23.Bf5+ Ke8 24.Bxg6 Qc7 25.Bxf7+ Rxf7 26.Qxf7+ 1-0

(118) French Alekhine-Chatard C13

Fischer-Self
Wichita (simul), April 4, 1964

1.e4 e6 2.d4 d5 3.Nc3 Nf6 4.Bg5 Be7 5.e5 Nfd7 6.h4 a6 7.Qg4 f5 8.Qh5+! g6 9.Qh6 Bxg5
10.hxg5 Qe7?!
10...Kf7 11.Nge2! Nf8 12.O-O-O Rg8 13.g4, Yanofsky-Gudmundsson, Reykjavik 1947, gives
White a small advantage.

11.Nh3 Nc6 12.O-O-O Qf8?

If Black wants to show the worth of 10...Qe7 he must continue with 12...Nd8 here. The idea is
stop 13.Nf4 (13...Nf7 hits the queen and g5). Play after 12...Nd8 might continue 13.Kb1 Nf8
when White is better, but the position closed and there are no sacrifices on d5 in the air.

13.Qh4

Bobby has a nice alternative in 13.Nf4 but prefers to play for the attack.

13...Qe7

This walks straight into an uppercut. It takes good nerves to play 13...h5 but it makes sense to
block the position. After 14.Nf4 Self must play 14...Qg8. This is hardly pretty, but much better
than what happens.

14.Nf4 Nf8 15.Ncxd5!

This sacrifice is very common in the Alekhine-Chatard. The central pawns will roll right over
Black.

15...exd5 16.Nxd5 Qd8 17.Nf6+ Ke7 18.d5 Nxe5 19.Re1 Kf7 20.Rxe5 Nd7 21.Qxh7+!
Rxh7 22.Rxh7+ Kf8 23.Rh8+ Kf7 24.Rxd8 Nxe5 25.f4 Ng4 26.Bc4 b5 27.Bb3 Ke7 28.Re8+
Kd6 29.Nxg4 fxg4 30.f5 Kd7 31.Rh8 gxf5 32.g6! Bb7 33.Rxa8 Bxa8 34.g7 1-0

It’s possible this is the same Travis that played in the exhibition in Houston (game 109).

(119) Evans Gambit C51

Fischer-Travis
Wichita (simul), April 4, 1964

1.e4 e5 2.Nf3 Nc6 3.Bc4 Bc5 4.b4 Bxb4 5.c3 Be7 6.d4 d6?

A mistake that was played quite often against Bobby.

7.Qb3

Later in the tour Bobby found the most effective way of dealing with 6...d6, i.e. 7.dxe5 Nxe5
8.Nxe5 dxe5 9.Qh5! (see Fischer-Celle). Maybe Black can improve with 7...Bg4!? meeting
8.Qb3 with 8...Bxf3 9.Bxf7+ Kf8 10.gxf3 Nxe5 11.Bc4 Nxf3+ 12.Ke2 Ne5 which seems fine
for the second player.
Fischer-Dillard, Toledo (simul), 1964, saw 7...dxe5 8.Qb3 Nf6 9.Bxf7+ Kf8 10.Ng5 Bd6
11.O-O b6 12.Nd2 Na5 13.Qb5 a6 14.Qd3 Qe7 and now, in a much superior position, Bobby
let down his guard and blundered a piece with 15.Bd5? Nxd5 16.Qxd5 as 16...Bb7 leaves the
queen and knight attacked. Instead 15.Bb3 leaves White with a substantial advantage.

7...Na5

Here Fischer-Boatner, Houston (simul), 1964 had a quick finish: 7...Nh6 8.Bxh6 gxh6 9.Bxf7+
Kf8 10.Bh5. Black can drag things out with 10...d5, but loses several pawns.

8.Bxf7+ Kf8 9.Qa4 c6 10.Bxg8 Kxg8 11.dxe5 b5

Travis might have considered 11...dxe5 12.Nxe5 Be6.

12.Qc2 dxe5 13.Nxe5 Bf6

Once again ...Be6 was the right move to put up resistance.

14.Nf3 Be6 15.O-O Qc7 16.Nbd2 c5 17.e5 Be7 18.a4 Nc4?

Black’s position wasn’t pretty, but he shouldn’t have given up a second pawn for nothing. He
should have played 18...a6.

19.axb5 Nb6 20.c4 h6 21.Ne4

Angling for some fireworks. The prosaic 21.Bb2 was also good.

21...Nxc4 22.Ra6 Nb6 23.Nf6+ Kf7

Travis refuses the gift. If 23...gxf6 then 24.Qg6+ Kf8 25.exf6 Bd6 26.Bxh6+ Rxh6 27.Qxh6+
with Ng5 to follow, leaves White with an overwhelming position. On 23...Bxf6 White has
24.exf6 gxf6 25.Rd1 with a decisive initiative.

24.Nh5 g5 25.Nd4! Qxe5 26.Nxe6 Qxe6 27.f4 Kg8 28.fxg5 hxg5 29.Nf6+ Kg7

As 29...Bxf6 30.Qg6+ Kf7 31.Bxg5 is a brutal pin.

30.Bb2 Qe3+ 31.Kh1 Rxh2+ 32.Kxh2 Bd6+ 33.Kh1 Rh8+ 34.Nh5+ Kh6 35.Bxh8 Kxh5
36.Qh7+ Kg4 37.Qf5+ Kh5 38.Rxa7 Be7 39.Qf7+ 1-0
Fischer in action in Wichita. (Photo by Joyce Chaika)

(120) French Alekhine-Chatard C13

Fischer-Wilson
Wichita (simul), April 4, 1964

1.e4 e6 2.d4 d5 3.Nc3 Nf6 4.Bg5 Be7 5.e5 Nfd7 6.h4

This was Fischer’s favorite answer to the Classical French. He played the Alekhine-Chatard
several times on the 1964 Tour.

6...c5

Black’s main try. The more cautious 6...a6, preventing Nb5, was seen in Fischer-E. Bone,
Houston (simul), 1964, where the future U.S.C.F. rating director escaped with a win after a rare
Fischer howler: 6...a6 7.Qg4 g6?! (for the superior 7...f5, see Fischer-Self from this exhibition)
8.Qh6 Bxg5 10.hxg5 Qe7 11.Nh3 Qf8 12.Qh4 c5 13.Nf4 Qf7 14.O-O-O cxd4 15.Ncxd5! with a
winning position that was later spoiled by a horrific blunder.

7.Nb5!?

A calculated bluff, or does Bobby have a big surprise in store? The line played by Fischer is
trappy, but is considered to lead to a draw by force. The main theoretical continuation is
7.Bxe7.
7... Qb6?

The right way to take advantage of White’s seventh move was 7...f6! which leads after colorful
play to a draw by perpetual check: 8.Bd3 a6 9.Qh5+ Kf8 10.Rh3

(This might be where Bobby had something up his sleeve. The little known game Platz-Fulop,
New York 1942, saw 10.Nd6!? Bxd6 11.exd6 fxg5 12.hxg5 Qe8 13.Bg6 hxg6 14.Qxh8+ Kf7
15.Qh7 cxd4 16.O-O-O Nc6 17.Rh3 Nde5 18.Rh4 Ne7 19.dxe7 Qxe7 20.Qh8 1-0.)

10...axb5 11.Bh6 Qa5+ (11...gxh6+ 12.Qxh6+ Kf7 13.Qh5+ is a draw by perpetual check)
12.Bd2 Qc7 13.Rg3 cxd4 14.Nf3 Nxe5 15.Rxg7! h6! (forced, as 15...Kxg7? 16.Bh6+ mates and
15...Nxf3+? is met by 16.Kd1!) 16.Bh7! (16.Bxh6? Rxh6 17.Qxh6 Bb4+ wins for Black; a new
attempt to breathe life into the position was seen in Pavlovic-Zuger, Mitropa Cup 1990: 16.Rg3
Nxf3+ 17.Rxf3 Nc6 18.Kf1 Qe5 19.Qg6 f5 20.Rg3 Bxh4 21.Rh3 Bg5 22.f4 Bxf4 23.Re1 Bxd2
24.Rg3 Bxh4 25.Qf6+ Nf7 26.Bxb5 Rxa2 27.Qxd4 Bxg5 28.Rxc3 Ra1+ 29.Ke2 Ra8 30.Rc7
Rg8 31.Qc3 Be7 32.Rxc8+ Rxc8 33.Qxc8+ Nd8 with a draw a few moves later.) 16...Kxg7
17.Qh6+ Kf7 18.Qh5+ draw, Rossetto-Stahlberg, Vina del Mar 1947.

8.Qg4 Qa5+?

This check is pointless. The only way to play was 8...f6.

9.c3 h5 10.Qg3 g6 11.Bxe7 Kxe7 12.Nf3 Nc6 13.dxc5 a6 14.Nd6 Qxc5 15.Qg5+ Kf8 16.Qf4

Winning, as there is no good way to guard f7. If 16...Rh7 then 18.Ng5.

16...Ndxe5 17.Nxe5 Nxe5 18.Qxe5 Rh7 19.Bd3 Ke7 20.Ne4 Qb6 21.Qf6+ Kd7 22.Ng5
Qxb2 23.Rb1 1-0

I was delighted to meet former Kansas Champion Robert Hart, while playing in the 1997
McLaughlin Memorial in Wichita. Rumors had been circulating of a mimeographed bulletin
produced by Mr. Hart containing almost all of Bobby’s games from the exhibition and they
proved to be true. Typically most games preserved from simuls tend to be losses by the
exhibitors so finding such a document as Mr. Hart’s was a real gold mine. Similar work in
preserving a complete record was done by Bill Patteson in Houston and also for the Chicago
exhibitions.

The author, with the help of Eric Tangborn and Erik Osbun, was able, using a little detective
work, to convert 18 of the games (one score was unreadable) from sometimes questionable
descriptive notation into playable algebraic. Only Ballard’s win, the sole loss Fischer suffered
in the exhibition, was previously known.

(121) Alekhine B03

Fischer - Robert Hart
Wichita (simul), April 4, 1964
1.e4 Nf6 2.e5 Nd5 3.d4 d6 4.c4 Nb6 5.exd6 exd6 6.Nc3 Bf5

More common here is 6...Be7, hoping for ...Bg4 after a later Nf3. White often takes time out to
play h3 to stop the pin.

7.Nf3

7.Be2 Be7 8.Be3 N8d7 9.Nf3 O-O 10.b3 with a small edge for White, Maroczy-Tartakower,
New York 1924.

7...Be7 8.Bd3 Bxd3 9.Qxd3 Nc6 10.O-O O-O 11.Re1 Qd7 12.b3

This is a typical solid move for a simul. A sharper try is 12.d5 which leads to complications
that seem to favor White after 12...Nb4 13.Qe2 Rae8 14.a3 Na6 15.Be3.

12...Rfe8 13.Bb2

13.a3 was worth considering, though the text seems more natural.

13...Nb4 14.Qd2 Qf5 15.Ne4?!

This throws away much of White’s advantage. Instead, 15.Nb5! is strong as Black has nothing
better than 15...Na6: if 15...Nc2? 16.Nxc7 Nxe1 17.Rxe1 is winning.

15...d5 16.Ng3

A more active alternative is 16.Nc5 as 16...Nc2 is met by 17.Re5.

16...Qc2 17.c5 Qxd2 18.Nxd2 Nd7 19.Red1 Bf6

Hart threatens both 20...Nxc5 and 20...Nc2. It’s clear that the initiative has changed hands.

20.Nf3

If 20.Nh5, then 20...Nd3 21.Bc3 Re2 is very strong for Black.

20...Nxc5 21.Nh5 Ne4 22.Nxf6+ Nxf6 23.Ne5 Re6 24.Rac1 c6 25.a3 Na6 26.f3 Rd8 27.b4
Nd7?!

This overlooks a tactical resource for White. The correct way to consolidate was 27...Ne8
intending ...Nd6.

28.b5! Nab8

If 28...cxb5??, then 29.Nxd7 exploiting Black’s weak back rank.

29.a4?! Nxe5?!

29...cxb5 30.axb5 Rb6 wins a second pawn for Black.

30.dxe5 Nd7 31.bxc6 bxc6 32.Bd4 Nxe5 33.Bxe5

Fischer feels that his best chance to draw lies in the double rook endgame.

33...Rxe5 34.Rxc6 g6 35.Rc5 Kg7 36.Kf2 Rd7 37.Rd2 Kf6 38.Ra5 d4 39.Ra6+ Re6 40.Ra5
Ke7 41.Rd3 Rc6 42.Re5+ Kf6 43.f4 Re6 44.Ra5 Draw

White has some compensation for the pawn with his active rook on a5, but Black should have
made him prove it.

(122) Sicilian Najdorf B87

Fischer-Aker
Wichita (simul), April 4, 1964

1.e4 c5 2.Nf3 d6 3.d4 cxd4 4.Nxd4 Nf6 5.Nc3 a6 6.Bc4 e6 7.O-O b5 8.Bb3 Bb7 9.f4 Nbd7
10.f5

White has an interesting alternative in 10.Re1.

10...Nc5?

The first move out of theory and the losing one! Instead the forced 10...e5 11.Nf3 Nc5 12.Bg5
Nxb3 13.axb3 Qb6+ 14.Kh1 Nxe4 15.Nxe4 Bxe4 16.f6 led to unclear play in Honfi-Kadar,
Pecs 1976.

11.fxe6 Nxb3 12.axb3 b4 13.Nd5 Bxd5 14.exd5 Be7 15.exf7+ Kxf7 16.Ne6 Qb6+ 17.Kh1
Kg8 18.Bg5 h6 19.Bxf6 Bxf6 20.Rxf6 1-0
Fischer getting ready to move in the Wichita exhibition. (Photo by Leola Ballard)

(123) Ruy Lopez C60

Fischer-Briggs
Wichita (simul), April 4, 1964

1.e4 e5 2.Nf3 Nc6 3.Bb5 Qf6 4.Nc3 Qd6 5.O-O Nf6 6.Bxc6 dxc6 7.d4 Ng4 8.d5 Bd7 9.h3
Nf6 10.Qe2 b5 11.dxc6 Bxc6 12.Nxb5 Qd8 13.Rd1 Qb8 14.Nc3 Bd6 15.Nd5 Nxd5 16.exd5
Qb5 17.c4 Qb6 18.dxc6 O-O 19.Qe4 Rad8 20.Be3 Qxb2 21.Ng5 g6 22.Qh4 h5 23.g4 e4
24.gxh5 Be7 25.hxg6 Qg7 26.gxf7+ Rxf7 27.Rxd8+ Bxd8 28.Rd1 Bf6 29.Kh1 Kf8 30.Ne6+
Ke7 31.Qxe4 Qh8 32.Rd7+ Ke8 33.Nxc7+ Kf8 34.Qe8+ Kg7 35.Qxf7+ 1-0

(124) Vienna C29

Fischer - Keith Carson
Wichita (simul), April 4, 1964

1.e4 e5 2.Nc3 Nf6 3.f4 d5 4.d3

This position is more commonly reached via 4.fxe5 Nxe4 5.d3 Bb4.
4...Bb4 5.fxe5 Nxe4 6.dxe4 Qh4+ 7.Ke2 Bg4+ 8.Nf3 Bxc3 9.bxc3 dxe4 10.Qd4! Bh5
11.Ke3

11.Kd2! Qg4 12.h3 Qf4 13.Qe1 Qg3 14.Qf2 is a slightly better for White; 12...Qf5!? is
interesting.

11...Bxf3 12.Bb5+

This is a necessary move to clear the back rank. If 12.gxf3, then 12...Qe1+ 13.Kf4 Qh4+ leads
to a draw by perpetual check.

12...c6 13.gxf3 cxb5

Normally played, but Black has experimented with 13...Qh6+, trying to keep the white king as a
target. Two examples after 14.Kxe4 Qg6+ 15.Ke3 cxb5 are:

1) 16.Qd3?! Nc6 17.Qxb5 O-O 18.f4 Nxe5! 19.fxe5 Rfe8 20.Bb2 Qg5+ 21.Ke4 f5+ with a
winning attack, Hayden-French, correspondence 1993.

2) 16.Ba3 Nc6 17.Qd5 Qxc2 18.Rac1 Qf5 19.Rhe1 Rd8 20.Qxb5 a6 21.Qb1 Qg5+ 22.f4 Qg2
23.Bd6 Qh3+ 24.Ke4 f5+ 25.Kd5 Qg2+ 26.Kc4 b5+ 27.Kd3 Qf3+ 28.Kc2 Qf2+ 29.Kb3 Rc8
30.Rc2 Qxf4 31.Kb2 Na5 32.Ka1 Qc4 33.e6 Nc6 34.Qd1 h5 35.Rg1 Rh7 36.Rxg7 1-0,
Chigorin-Caro, Vienna 1898. The old masters really knew how to use the king!

14.Qxe4 Qe7

It’s not clear whether Black should exchange queens or stay in the middlegame. The traditional
move here, 14...Qxe4+, leads to an endgame that’s difficult to assess. One example is
Blackburne-Zukertort, London 1887, which continued 15.Kxe4 O-O (before White has time to
play Ba3) 16.Rb1 a6 17.Rd1 Nc6 18.Ba3 Rfe8 19.f4 f6 with a good game for Black.

If instead of 15...O-O, Black tries 15...Nc6, White can develop a strong initiative with 16.Rb1
a6 17.Rg1 g6 18.a4 bxa4 19.Rxb7, Himanen-Korhonen, correspondence 1989.

15.a4 Nd7

Black improves on Wayte-Oxoniensis, London 1883, where 15...bxa4 was strongly met by
16.Ba3 Qc7 17.Qxa4+ Nd7 18.Bd6 Qxc3+ 19.Ke2 a6 20.Rhd1 and the king was stuck in the
center forever.

16.Ba3 Qxe5 17.axb5 O-O-O 18.Qxe5 Nxe5 19.Bc5 Rhe8 20.Bd4 Rd7 21.Kf2 b6 22.Rhe1
Rde7?

Carson has played wonderfully to this point, but here he falters. The right way to continue was
22...f6 when 23.f4 Ng4+ 24.Kf3 Rxe1 25.Rxe1 Nh6 26.Re8+ (White has nothing better because
of his inferior pawn structure) Rd8 27.Re7 Rd7 with a draw by repetition in the offing. Note
that Black cannot sidestep this with 26...Kc7 because of 27.Rh8. Carson’s plan is to head for
the notorious rook versus rook plus f-and h-pawn. This ending is drawn, but it demands great
accuracy from Black.

23.Rxe5 Rxe5 24.Bxe5 Rxe5 25.Rxa7 Rxb5 26.Rxf7 Rb2?!

Black is still thinking about the rook plus f- and h-pawn ending, but he had a much simpler
draw in 26...Rh5! 27.Kg2 g6. White’s king is tied down and he has no easy way of producing a
passed pawn.

27.Rxg7 Rxc2+ 28.Kg3 Rxc3 29.Rxh7 Kd8 30.h4 Ke8 31.Rb7 Kf8

Black decided several moves ago when he started moving his king over to the kingside, that he
wanted to defend the f and h ending. Carson faces two handicaps here: 1) he’s playing one of
the greatest players of all time; 2) the simul format means there are very few games left.

32.Rxb6 Rc1 33.Rb7 Rh1 34.f4 Rg1+ 35.Kf3 Kg8 36.f5 Kf8 37.Kf4 Rc1 38.Kg5 Rc6 39.h5
Kg8 40.h6 Kh8 41.f6 Rc8 42.Kg6 Rg8+ 43.Rg7 Rf8 44.Rh7+ Kg8 45.f7+ 1-0

Bobby in Wichita on April 4, 1964, flanked (left to right) by Keith Carson, Bob Michaelson, D
La Pierre Ballard, and Charles Wayne Carson. (Photo by Leola Ballard)

(125) French Winawer C17

Fischer-Dockery
Wichita (simul), April 4, 1964

1.e4 e6 2.d4 d5 3.Nc3 Bb4 4.e5 c5 5.a3 cxd4 6.axb4 dxc3 7.Qg4 cxb2 8.Bxb2 g6 9.Nf3

9.h4 h5 10.Qf4 Nc6 11.Nf3 Bd7 12.Ng5 Nh6 13.b5! gave White a clear advantage in Batik-
Skoda, Czechoslovakia 1961.
9...Nh6 10.Qf4 Nf5 11.Bd3 Nd712.h4 b6 13.h5 Qc7 14.hxg6 fxg6 15.Ng5 Nb8?

Black’s position isn’t pretty, but 15...Nf8 put up more difficulties. The idea is to meet 16.g4
with 16...h6 as 17.gxf5 is met by 17...hxg5 (the Nf8 means that Rxh8 is not check!). White
should play 17.Nf3 Ng7 18.Rxh6 with a big advantage.

16.g4 Ng7 17.Bxg6+ Kd8 18.Nf7+ Kd7 19.Nxh8 hxg6 20.Qf7+ Kc6 21.Qxc7+ Kxc7 22.Rh7
Nc6 23.Rxg7+ Bd7 24.b5 Nb4 25.Kd2 Rxh8 26.Rxa7+ Kc8 27.Ra8+ 1-0

Like the movie Searching for Bobby Fischer, this book is well worth a look; but neither offers
the focus on Fischer their titles imply.

(126) King’s Gambit C30

Fischer-Edgington
Wichita (simul), April 4, 1964

1.e4 e5 2.f4 Nc6 3.Nf3 Bd6 4.Nc3 Nf6 5.Bb5 Qe7 6.O-O O-O 7.Bxc6 dxc6 8.fxe5 Bxe5
9.d4 Bd6 10.e5 Rd8 11.exf6 Qxf6 12.Bg5 Qf5 13.Bxd8 Qf4 14.Bh4 Bg4 15.Bg3 Qe3+
16.Kh1 Bxg3 17.hxg3 h5 18.Qe1 Qh6 19.Qe5 f6 20.Qxc7 Rc8 21.Qxb7 Rf8 22.Qxc6 h4
23.gxh4 Bxf3 24.Rxf3 Qxh4+ 25.Rh3 Qxd4 26.Qe6+ Rf7 27.Re1 g6 28.Qe8+ Rf8
29.Qxg6+ 1-0

(127) French Winawer C16

Fischer-Fusco
Wichita (simul), April 4, 1964

1.e4 e6 2.d4 d5 3.Nc3 Bb4 4.e5 Nc6 5.f4 Qe7?

Black’s strategy is best served by leaving this square for the knight. Correct was 5...Ne7 or
5...Qd7.

6.Nf3 b6 7.Bd2 Bb7 8.Bd3 O-O-O 9.O-O f6?! 10.Ne2! Bxd2 11.Qxd2 Nb4?

Going from bad to worse Fusco squanders two more tempi.

12.a4 Nc6 13.c3 Kb8 14.b4 Qd7 15.a5

Bobby has the sort of automatic attack he could play in his sleep.

15...Nge7 16.axb6 cxb6 17.Nc1 Ng6 18.Nb3 Qc7 19.Ra3 Ba8 20.Rfa1 fxe5 21.fxe5 Rhf8
22.b5 Nce7 23.Rxa7 Qxa7 24.Rxa7 Kxa7 25.Ng5 Nf4 26.Bxh7 g6? 27.g3 Rfe8 28.gxf4 Nf5
29.Bxg6 Rg8 30.Bf7 Rh8 31.Bxe6 Nh4 32.Kf2 Rh6 33.Kg3 Ng6 34.f5 Nh8 35.h4 Re8
36.Qa2+ Kb8 37.Qa6 Re7 38.Qxb6+ Rb7 39.Qd6+ Rc7 40.b6 1-0

(128) King’s Gambit C30

Fischer-Greer
Wichita (simul), April 4, 1964

1.e4 e5 2.f4 f6 3.fxe5 Nc6 4.d4 fxe5 5.Nf3 Bb4+ 6.c3 Bd6 7.Bc4 Nf6 8.O-O Nxe4 9.Qe2
Nf6 10.dxe5 Bc5+ 11.Kh1 d5 12.exf6+ Be7 13.fxe7 Qxe7 14.Qxe7+ Nxe7 15.Bd3 O-O
16.Re1 Ng6 17.Nbd2 Nf4 18.Bf1 b5 19.Nb3 Ne6 20.Bxb5 Rb8 21.Bc6 Bb7 22.Rxe6 Bxc6
23.Rxc6 Rbe8 24.Kg1 h6 25.Rxc7 Rf6 26.Rxa7 g5 27.h3 Rg6 28.Nbd4 g4 29.hxg4 Rxg4
30.Bxh6 Kh8 31.Re1 1-0

(129) Sicilian B32

Fischer - K. Isely
Wichita (simul), April 4, 1964

1.e4 c5 2.Nf3 Nc6 3.d4 d6 4.dxc5 dxc5 5.Qxd8+ Nxd8 6.Nc3 Nf6 7.Nb5 Ne6 8.Ng5 a6
9.Nxe6 Kd7 10.Nxf8+ Rxf8 11.Nc3 e6 12.Be3 1-0

Quentin Isely was a P.T. boat commander in the SW Pacific during World War Two, according
to Robert Peters who attended Wichita University with him in the early 1940s.

(130) Sicilian B32

Fischer - Quentin Isely
Wichita (simul), April 4, 1964

1.e4 c5 2.Nf3 Nc6 3.d4 cxd4 4.Nxd4 e5 5.Nb5 Nf6 6.N1c3 Be7?

The only good move in this position is 6...d6, transposing into the Sveshnikov variation.

7.Nd6+ Bxd6 8.Qxd6 a6?

This move stops 9.Nb5, but costs valuable time. The immediate 8...Qe7 was stronger.

9.Bg5 Qe7 10.Qxe7+ Nxe7 11.O-O-O

White’s lead in development and bishop pair give him a pronounced advantage.

11...b5 12.Bxf6 gxf6 13.Rd6 f5 14.f4 fxe4?

This brings White’s knight into the game. A better try was 14...exf4.

15.fxe5 Bb7 16.Be2 O-O-O

Isely might have considered 16...Rg8 with the idea of ...Rg5, trying to get counterplay.

17.Rf1 Ng6 18.Rxf7 Nxe5 19.Rf5 Kc7 20.Rd4 Rhe8 21.Nd5+ Bxd5 22.Rxd5 Nc6

If 22...d6, then 23.a4! is strong.

23.Rf7 Ne7?

It’s understandable that Black wants to advance his d-pawn, but this really isn’t feasible. Better
resistance was offered by 23...h6 intending to use the e-pawn for counterplay.

24.Rh5 d5 25.Rhxh7 Kd6 26.Rf6+ Ke5 27.Rxa6 Nf5 28.Bxb5 Re7 29.Rh5 Kf4 30.Rf6 Re5
31.g3+ Kg4 32.Be2 mate 1-0

This photo was published in the Latvian-American Magazine Sacha Pasaule (hence the spelling
of Bobby’s name) edited by Alexander Liepnieks from 1955 until his death in 1973. Liepnieks
not only organized the 1955 US Junior, but he and his family also hosted Bobby, who remained
close to them the next two decades. This makes one curious why there were no exhibitions in
Nebraska during the 1964 tour.

(131) Two Knights C57

Fischer-Heckathorn
Wichita (simul), April 4, 1964
1.e4 e5 2.Nf3 Nc6 3.Bc4 Nf6 4.Ng5 d5 5.exd5 Nxd5 6.d4 Be7 7.Nxf7 Kxf7 8.Qf3+ Ke8?

8...Ke6 9.Nc3 Nb4 10.Qe4 c6 11.a3 Na6 12.Qe5+ (12.Bf4!? Euwe) 12...Kf7 13.Nxd5 cxd5
14.Bxd5+ Kf8 15.O-O; White is better (Leonhardt).

9.Bxd5 Nxd4 10.Qf7+ Kd7 11.O-O h6 12.Nc3 Qf8 13.Qh5 Qf5 14.Qd1 Qxc2 15.Qg4+ Qf5
16.Qxg7 Qf6 17.Qg4+ Kd8 18.Qd1 Qg6 19.Be3 c6 20.Be4 Qf6 21.f4 c5 22.Nd5 Qg7 23.b4
Rg8 24.Nxe7 Kxe7 25.fxe5 Bh3 26.Rf2 Rad8 27.Qh5

The score was reconstructed from this point on and may not be accurate.

27...cxb4 28.Qxh3 Qxe5 29.Qh4+Kd7 30.Bxd4 Qxd4 31.Bf5+ Kc7 32.Qxd4 Rxd4 33.Rc1+
Kb6 34.Rb2 Rf8 35.g4 and Fischer won.

Robert Peters was interviewed by the Bartelsville Examiner-Enterprise in conjunction with the
release of the movie Pawn Sacrifice. In the article, which appeared on October 12, 2015, he
recalls the following game, a once-in-a-lifetime chess experience for him, lasted about three
hours.

(132) King's Gambit C31

Fischer - Robert Peters
Wichita (simul), April 4, 1964
1.e4 e5 2.f4 d5 3.exd5 e4 4.Nc3 Nf6 5.Qe2 Bf5 6.h3 Nxd5?!?

Black needed to play the restraining 6...h5.

7.Nxd5 Qxd5 8.g4 Bd7 9.Bg2 Bc6 10.d3 Bb4+?!

The immediate 10...Be7 was preferable.

11.c3 Be7 12.Bxe4 Qd7 13.Nf3 Na6? 14.Ne5 Bh4+ 15.Kf1 Qe6 16.Nxc6

White is winning.

16...0-0 17.Nd4 Qd6 18.Nf5 Qd8 19.Bxb7 Nc5 20.Bxa8 Qxa8 21.Qg2 Qd8 22.Qf3 Be7
23.d4 Nd7 24.Be3 c5 25.dxc5 Bxc5 26.Bxc5 Nxc5 27.Rd1 Qb6 28.b4 Ne6 29.Nd4 Qa6+
30.Qe2 Qb7 31.Qg2 Qc7 32.f5 Nf4 33.Qf3 Re8 34.Kf2 g6 35.Rhe1 Rc8 36.Re4 g5 37.h4
Nd5 38.Ne2 Qh2+ 39.Qg2 Qxh4+ 40.Qg3 Qh1 41.Rxh1 1-0 (O.G.)

Fischer playing Robert Peters in Wichita.

(Photo by Joyce Chaika)

Ogden, Utah, April 8

+60, -1, =2

Ogden Games Tough on Chess Champion

National chess champion Robert (Bobby) Fischer lived up to his reputation as he won 60 out of
63 matches [sic] here Wednesday night. The youthful champion dropped one match [sic] to a
local player and tied two Salt Lake players. The five-hour match was “tougher than usual,” said
the national champ. The number of participants in the simultaneous match was greater than local
chess sponsors expected.

Claiming the only win over Mr. Fischer was George Girton of Ogden. Playing the current
champion to a draw were Stanley R. Hunt, and John Archbold, both of Salt Lake City.

Preceding play, Mr. Fischer gave a short lecture and demonstrated several of his more
challenging games played in national competition. Besides the 63 players, nearly 200
spectators lined the area.

Mr. Fischer has been national champion for the past seven years, taking the crown when he was
14. He has refused to play for the world championship, claiming Russian games and rules are
rigged.

Players from as far south as Provo and north to Logan attended the exhibition in an attempt to
match wits with the champion. The Ogden Chess Club, under president Carl Thorstensen,
sponsored the event.

After Wednesday night’s play, Mr. Fischer will go to Los Angeles for a similar match and two-
week tour. (Deseret News, April 8, 1964)

Ted Hartwell says: “There were no passes, you had to move when he came around. There were
only three of us left when I was forced to play speed chess and blundered in what Bobby
admitted was a winning position.”

(133) Sicilian Dragon B77

Fischer - Ted Hartwell
Ogden (simul), April 8, 1964

1.e4 c5 2.Nf3 Nc6 3.d4 cxd4 4.Nxd4 Nf6 5.Nc3 g6 6.Be3 Bg7 7.Bc4 d6 8.f3 O-O 9.Qd2 a6
10.O-O-O Ne5 11.Bb3 b5 12.h4 h5 13.g4 hxg4 14.f4 Nf3 15.Nxf3 gxf3 16.f5 b4 17.Nd5
Nxe4 18.Qh2 Bxf5 19.h5 g5 20.h6 Be5 21.Qh5 Bg6
22.Nxe7+ Qxe7 23.Qxg6+ Kh8 24.Qf5 Ng3 25.Qxf3 Nxh1 26.Rxh1 f5 27.Bd2 Qf6 28.Bxb4
Bxb2+ 29.Kb1 Be5 30.Rg1 Rac8 31.Bd2 g4 32.Qd5 Ba1! 33.Bc1 Qd4 34.Qh1 a5 35.Rd1
Qf6 36.Rxd6 Qxd6 37.Kxa1 Kh7 38.Qg2 a4 39.Bd5 a3 40.Bb3 Rb8 41.Qf2 Rb4??

41...Rb7 and Black should win.

42.Qa7+ 1-0 (Chess Life, June 1986, p. 63)

Stan Hunt was the Utah state champion at the time this game was played.

(134) Sicilian Richter Rauzer B63

Fischer - Stan Hunt
Ogden (simul), April 8, 1964

1.e4 c5 2.Nf3 d6 3.d4 cxd4 4.Nxd4 Nf6 5.Nc3 Nc6 6.Bg5 e6 7.Qd2 Be7 8.O-O-O Qa5
9.Nb3 Qd8 10.f3 a6 11.g4 b5 12.a3 Bb7 13.Be3 Ne5 14.Be2 h6 15.h4 Rc8 16.g5 hxg5
17.hxg5 Rxh1 18.Rxh1 Nfd7 19.Rh8+ Nf8 20.f4 Nc4 21.Bxc4 Rxc4 22.Kb1 Bxe4 23.Bd4 e5
24.Nxe4 exd4 25.Nxd4 Qb6 26.c3 d5 27.Ng3 g6 28.f5 b4 29.axb4 gxf5 30.Ngxf5 Qg6
31.Rh6 Rxd4 32.Qxd4 Qxf5+ 33.Ka2 Ng6 34.Rh1 Qe4 35.Rd1 Nf4 36.Qxe4 dxe4 37.Re1
Bxg5 38.Rxe4+ Ne6 39.Re5 Be7 40.b5 axb5 41.Rxb5 Nc7 42.Rh5 Kd7 43.b4 Bd6 44.Kb3
Ke6 45.c4 f5 46.c5 Bg3 47.Kc4 f4 48.b5 f3 49.b6 Na6 50.Kb5 Nb8 51.c6 Nxc6 52.Kxc6 f2
53.Rh1 Ke5 54.b7 Ke4 55.Rf1 Ke3 Draw (O.G.)
 California
Robert J. Fischer toured California in April, giving simultaneous exhibitions and lectures on
selected games of his. Fischer proved to be a more mature young man than his publicity would
indicate. He conducted himself with dignity and his comments were temperate. He had his ups
and downs: in Los Angeles he won 47, lost 1, and drew 2; in San Francisco he won 38, lost 4,
and drew 8; in Davis he won 10 out of 10. The chess was entertaining, much more so than if he
had played routine simultaneous chess. He seemed to play each opponent on an individual
basis, defeating the stronger players, but often giving the weaker opponents more of a chance
than a veteran simultaneous player would have given them. (California Chess Reporter, May
1964)

Bobby gave more exhibitions (6) in California than any other state and the chess players there
were very excited to see him. The December 1963 issue of the California Chess Reporter
spelled out why.

Simultaneous exhibitions by world champions and contenders have been common in

California. Alekhine, Capablanca, Pillsbury, Lasker, Maroczy, Reshevsky, Fine, Evans,
Najdorf, Gligoric and many other great players have given displays and exhibitions in San
Francisco and Los Angeles over the years, and many of our own players have become blasé
about this kind of entertainment. Fischer’s tour, however, has all the elements of drama: Here
is a young master of great talent who is evidently on the way toward the world championship.
This road is full of pitfalls for any player, and for an American it is more hazardous than any
other. Will he make it? Will the exigencies of earning a living in our free enterprise society
take Bobby more and more away from the world of chess as it has our other great players? Or
will Bobby succeed in his efforts to establish the right and capability of an American chess
professional to subsist on chess earnings and stay with the game until his talent and technique
mature to the full potential?

Hollywood, April 12
+47, -1, =2

Bobby’s first exhibition in California was held on Sunday afternoon, April 12, at the
Knickerbocker Hotel (1714 Ivar). Sponsored by the Herman Steiner Chess Club, with a fee of
$3.50 a board and $1 for spectators, the exhibition started at 1 p.m. Facing 50 boards he was
+47 –1 =2. The three players who scored were junior members of the Herman Steiner Chess
Club, sponsor of the event. Donn Rogozin was the sole winner with Andy Sacks and Nicholas
Enequist drawing.
 Fischer in action at the Knickerbocker Hotel in Hollywood. (Photo by Jerry Hanken)

Fischer Simul at the Hollywood Knickerbocker Hotel

by NM Andy Sacks
It seems only natural, in retrospect, that Bobby Fischer's 1964 national simul tour would have a
stop in the L.A. area, but that particular venue as well as the smooth and successful
organization were a testament to the vision and skills of chess patron Jacqueline Piatigorsky.

The historic hotel (today having been transformed into the senior home Hollywood
Knickerbocker Apartments) sits just off Hollywood Boulevard across the street and only a few
blocks east of what was Grauman's Chinese Theater, still home of the footprints of the stars.
The hotel has a long and rich history of catering to the elite of the show biz world. It was built
in 1923 in Spanish Colonial style, and immediately became a meeting place of the stars.
Rudolph Valentino was a regular at its bar, and on Halloween of 1936, the widow of Harry
Houdini held a séance on its roof in hopes of contacting her lost legendary husband. Over the
years, its guests have formed a Who's Who of Hollywood, from Marilyn Monroe to Joe
DiMaggio to Elvis Presley, and on and on. Still today, walking into the lobby is like walking
into a time machine the takes one back decades into the golden age of American cinema.

Mrs. Piatigorsky, a fine chessplayer herself, was in a phase of very active chess sponsorship
and philanthropy, and was fresh from her and her husband's noteworthy success in organizing
the 1963 First Piatigorsky Cup international tournament. (It might be remembered that Gregor,
her husband, was an internationally acclaimed cellist and she was a member of the
distinguished and nearly unimaginably wealthy Rothschild family, the European banking and
finance dynasty.) She was the driving force behind the Hollywood simul, and was an active
participant in every stage of its preparation and organization.

On April 12, Fischer would play 50 opponents, and the fee for participation was reasonable.
Grandmaster Isaac Kashdan served as Director and Arbiter, as he had several months earlier in
the first Cup tourney (which was, incidentally, held at an equally distinguished and historic site,
the Los Angeles Ambassador Hotel). Mrs. Piatigorsky, with her customary energy and attention
to detail, was at the site early in the morning the day of the exhibition. Everything was to go as
planned and scheduled-which it did.

As the hour of the display drew closer, the converted ballroom filled with participants and
quite a number of spectators jostling for good views of the coming action. Fischer arrived on
time, and without a hitch-in contrast to scores of incidents in later years, and a few already-and
met with Gregor and Jacqueline as well as GM Kashdan and a couple of others involved in the
organizational end.

When all 50 boards were accounted for, Kashdan walked to the middle of the large rectangular
playing area and made his comments. He graciously thanked the organizers, Fischer himself,
and then reviewed the simple rules of simultaneous play etiquette and decorum. He introduced
the young Grandmaster, and the display began.

A few points of interest there were in the composition of both the aggregate of participants as
well as the large group of spectators. First, there were more young players facing Fischer than
one might expect. At least 8 or 10 of the boards were occupied by youthful combatants not over
the age or 16 or 17, and several obviously younger. The explanation is again tied to Mrs.
Piatigorsky, this time in her role as patron and "manager" of the Herman Steiner Chess Club, at
that time, and of its "Steiner Juniors" section. Several of the boys were members of this
organization, and were already tournament-tested and improving rapidly. (This fact was to be
demonstrated with startling clarity a few hours later, when the final tally was made.)

The audience featured a Who's Who of local Masters, perhaps not surprisingly. For one thing,
simul etiquette prohibits Masters from competing, and for another, an event of this high level of
interest and excitement was rare indeed in the world of Southern California chess. No, there
was no analysis room, no demonstrations boards set up anywhere for review by strong players
of interesting ongoing games: the Masters were present as chess fans only. Selecting several
and arranging a clock exhibition by Fischer would have created quite an interesting scenario
itself-and given the playing strength of many of them it is unlikely the young lion would have
emerged unscathed. The hours passed, and opponent after opponent fell, but several of the
youngsters continued to hold their own surprisingly well. Fischer's final result was notable in
more than one way. First, the only three to score against him were members of the Steiner
Juniors: Donn Rogosin, the lone win; and Nicholas Enequist and Andy Sacks draws. It was
+47, -1, =2 for Bobby, a typically high percentage for him on the tour. (Earlier, for example, it
was +48, -0, =0 in Quebec City; +30, -0, =0 in New York; and in Cleveland another whitewash
on 51 boards.) He played every game to win, even in his "ambassadorial" role. No courtesy
draws were donated.

The exhibition had apparently gone without incident, without controversy, without the type of
distraction that came to characterize so many of Fischer's playing engagements in later years.
However, there were two rather quiet occurrences that foretold much about the future.

In my game, I was able to force a perpetual check. There was no reasonable way for Fischer to
avoid repeating moves. When I checked for the first time, I quietly and respectfully offered a
draw. He looked at the board, made no expression or reaction to my offer, moved his King, and
walked on. On the next check I refrained from speaking. On the third, I had the assertiveness to
vocalize "Draw?" again. He looked at the board only, remained stock still for a few seconds,
and then used both hands to scatter the pieces. He walked to the next board without glancing at
me or showing any attention to anything but the position on that board. He was visibly peeved,
but within himself completely.

On my very left at this point, the space was open. Earlier it had been occupied by Donn
Rogosin, my fellow Steiner Junior and my friend. Against him, Fischer had made a fine and
creative Queen sacrifice early in a Sicilian Sozin-but had blundered horribly about 10 moves
later and had lost. The young Grandmaster's reaction at that time had been quite similar to his
behavior when my game ended: not a word, but extreme frustration and anger at himself
unmistakably evident. And no graciousness, no offer of handshake, nothing but directly on to the
next board.

But the most intriguing and foretelling detail of the display was less obvious still. No spectator
could have noticed it, and Donn and I learned of it only well after the day of the séance. It was
communicated to me by Isaac Kashdan months later at a chance meeting I had with him visiting
a local tournament. He revealed that in a little chat initiated by Fischer, just the two of them,
and just after the very last game concluded that April 12, Bobby asked him if he (Kashdan) had
noticed "those two kids," as he put it, discussing our games in progress or consulting in any
unethical way during play. Fischer himself had not noticed it, he was quick to point out, but he
was just wondering…

Incredible! And that was obviously the way Kashdan viewed it as well, as he offered the
information to me. There was a sadness and a shaking of the head by the kindly and worldly
wise old man. It was an early manifestation of the P word, which would progressively take and
hold Fischer in its clutches for the remainder of his life.

(135) Sicilian Sozin B87

Fischer - Andy Sacks
Hollywood (simul), April 12, 1964

1.e4 c5 2.Nf3 d6 3.d4 cxd4 4.Nxd4 Nf6 5.Nc3 a6 6.Bc4 e6 7.O-O Be7 8.Be3 Qc7 9.Bb3 O-
O 10.f4 b5 11. f5 e5

The position reached after 11.f5 is relatively uncommon, as Black normally plays ...Bb7 before
...Qc7. The two GMs who have played this position as Black, Igor Novikov and Roman
Dzindzichashvili, both went in for 11...b4. This drives the knight to a4, but allows White to
open up the position with c2-c3.

12.Nde2 Bb7 13.Ng3 Nbd7

One of the advantages for Black in this position is that the positionally desirable 14.Bg5 costs a
tempo (Bc1-e3-g5) compared to some lines in the Sozin.
14.Nh5 Nxh5 15.Qxh5 Nf6 16.Qf3 Rfd8 17.Bg5

White tries to increase his control over the d5-square. His ideal plan is to trade off two pairs of
minor pieces and be left with a knight on d5 against Black’s dark-squared bishop.

17...b4

This advance puts the question to the knight and ensures that White won’t have time to play
Bg5xf6, Bb3-d5xb7 and Nc3-d5.

18.Bxf6 Bxf6 19.Nd5 Bxd5 20.Bxd5

White has achieved some of the goals of the Sozin (6.Bc4) variation — control of d5 and the
better minor piece — but Black has compensation in his queenside pressure.

20...Rac8 21.Rf2 Qa7 22.Kh1 Qd4 23.Rb1 Rc7 24.Re2 Rdc8 25.Qb3 a5 26.g3 Ra7 27.a3
Rb8 28.a4 Rc8 29.Qf3 Rac7 30.Bb3 Rc6 31.Kg2 R8c7 32.h4 Rc8 33.Kh3 R8c7 34. Rg2 h6
35.g4?

Correct is 35.Rd1 with complete equality. Then not 35...Qxb2 36.c4. Now, just when it appears
that White is ready to crash through with g4-g5, Sack’s has a strong answer . . .

35...Rc3!

Winning.

36.bxc3 Rxc3 37.Qxc3 Qxc3+ 38. Rg3 Qd2 39.Rbg1

An interesting alternative is 39.c3 with ideas like 39...bxc3 40.Bd5 c2 41.Rb8+ Kh7 42.Bxf7.
39...Qe2 40.Bd5 Kf8?

Young Sacks misses a chance to finish with glory. The winning move was 40...Bxh4! 41.R3g2
Bf2 or 41.R1g2 Qf1 42.Kxh4 Qh1+. If White plays 41.Kxh4, then Black has 41... Qh2+.

41.R3g2

Offering to repeat moves, as 41.g5 is met by 41...hxg5 42.hxg5 Qh5+ 43.Kg2 Bxg5.

41...Qf3+ 42.Rg3 Qe2 Draw

Black could have kept playing with 42...Qf2 43.R1g2 Qf1 44.g5 hxg5 45.hxg5 Bd8.
 Herman Steiner holiday greeting card

Few individuals have had more impact on American chess than Herman Steiner (1905-1955).
Steiner was just one of many promising young players in New York
in the early 1930s when he was advised by Mary Bain to seek his fortune out West.

Few suggestions have worked out better. Soon after arriving in the City of the Angels Steiner
became the chess columnist for the Los Angeles Times. He used this position and his close ties
with Hollywood to generate tremendous publicity for the game. Chess Review devoted many
covers and ran plenty of stories involving Steiner and his friends in the film business,
Humphrey Bogart being the most prominent. It was a very sad day when Steiner died of a heart
attack while playing in the 1955 California State Open. He was so well loved that tournament
was cancelled midway through out of respect for his memory.

Mrs. Jacqueline Piatigorsky, who was a pupil of Steiner’s, kept his memory alive by continuing
to run the Steiner Chess Club until the 1970s. Steiner was especially fond of helping rising
young talents and was involved in the 1946 and 1947 US Junior Opens. To honor his
commitment to young American players, Mrs. Piatigorsky founded the Steiner Juniors. The most
prominent member was future Grandmaster James Tarjan.
 Isaac Kashdan and Herman Steiner at Hollywood 1952.
(Photo by Nancy Roos)

Donn Rogosin is the son of Hy Rogosin, who lost the famous “pawn game” against Marshall
where the latter didn’t move a piece until move 15 (New York, 1940).

(136) Sicilian Sozin B88

Fischer - Donn Rogosin
Hollywood (simul), April 12, 1964

1.e4 c5 2.Nf3 d6 3.d4 cxd4 4.Nxd4 Nf6 5.Nc3 a6 6.Bc4 e6 7.O-O Be7 8.Bb3 O-O

Fischer-Blackstone, Davis (clock simul), 1964, continued 8...Qc7 9.f4 b5 10.f5 b4 11.fxe6
(11.Nce2 e5 12. Nf3 Bb7 is bad for White, according to Fischer) 11...bxc3 12.exf7+ Kf8
13.Bg5 Ng4! and Black should win. Incidentally, California Junior Champion John Blackstone
was the most active player in the United States in 1964, playing 117 games. Right behind him
was New York expert Sam Sloan with 107. Blackstone scored 5.5/9 as second reserve for the
U.S. Student Olympiad team in Ybbs, Austria, in 1968.

9.f4 Qc7 10.Qf3 Nc6 11.Be3 Nxd4 12.Bxd4 b5 13.e5 dxe5 14.fxe5 Bb7 15.exf6 Bxf3
16.fxe7 Qxe7 17.Rxf3 Rad8 18.Be3 Qb7 19.Raf1 Rfe8 20. Ne2 a5 21.c3 Qe4 22.Ng3 Qg6
23. Rxf7?

Bobby plans 23...Qxf7 24.Rxf7 Kxf7 with the imbalance of three minor pieces for two rooks.
However, Rogosin has a simple reply which wins immediately.
23...a4 24.Bc2?

White’s best chance was 24.Bd4, but 24...Rxd4 25.Bxe6 Qxe6 26. cxd4 Qxf7 27.Rxf7 Kxf7 is a
fairly straightforward win for Black.

24...Qxc2 25.Nh5 Rf8 26.Rxg7+ Kh8 0-1

San Francisco, April 13

+38, -4, =8

Chess — 50 against 1
San Francisco News Call Bulletin, April 14th 1964:

A tall, sandy-haired youth, his arms moving rhythmically as he moved from side to side, played
chess with 50 opponents here last night.
This was Bobby Fischer, six times US Champion and at 21 this nation’s hope for its first world
title.

Last night Fischer moved decisively in the middle of a big L lined with 50 chess boards and 50
chess players.

Thirteen moves along Fischer lost to 32-year-old Bob Burger, an advertising man from
Layfayette and one of the top players in the Mechanics’ Institute Chess Club.

Then in rapid succession Fischer copped three victories as he moved through his third [sic] of
some forty exhibitions on a current nationwide tour.

Kurt Bendit, who arranged the matches, said Fischer had certain advantages to make up for
some of the opponents.

First, Bendit said, he gets White on each board which means first move, and second his
opponents must move when he arrives in front of their board while he can linger over his
moves.

“He sacrifices freely and yet acceptance of the sacrifice leads to certain doom,” explained
Bendit as he watched Fischer and another player exchange queens.

The Brooklyn youth’s unprecedented 11-0 victory January 4th in the US Championship led
many to acclaim him in terms Bendit seconded: “We all feel with his appearance on the scene
that chess is going to get a boost in the United States.”

Bobby Fischer vs. Home Team — Moral Victory

From the San Francisco Chronicle:

San Francisco chess buffs lost 38 out of 50 games Monday night to the United States chess
champion — a real triumph for the “home team.”

Bobby Fischer, 21, national title holder for the sixth consecutive year, took on 50 opponents
simultaneously at the Mechanics’ Institute Chess Club. He lost four, drew eight and won the
rest. He did much better in Los Angeles, losing only once and drawing twice.

The champion, this country’s hope for the international championship, is on a 40-city tour.

He lost to Robert L. Henry, Max Wilkerson, Michael Quinlivan, and Robert Burger. The
contestants ranged in age from 10-year-old Norman Symonds of Palo Alto to players in their
70s.

Editor’s Note: Other players who participated were David Blohm (draw), Paul Vayssie (loss),
and Tom Dorsch (loss). Dorsch was several pawns up in a French but blundered at the end
when forced to play quickly.

U.S. Chess King Rooked in S.F.

The chess champion of the United States came to San Francisco Monday night and promptly got
rooked.

Bobby Fischer, 21, who has won the national title six times, played 50 opponents
simultaneously at the Mechanics’ Institute Chess Club.

He lost four, drew eight and won the rest.

That would be about par for the average master, explained Kurt Bendit, who arranged the
matches, but not for Fischer. In Los Angeles, he was beaten only once and held to a draw twice.

But there were reasons why Fischer, the nation’s hope for its first world chess title, had a fairly
rough evening in San Francisco.

At some tables, Bendit chuckled, he was playing not one, but several, opponents. They would
hold little strategy conferences behind the board while Fischer moved down the line.

Also, it was the champion’s 20th exhibition of this type in the past two months, putting him
halfway through a nationwide tour.

His conquerors here included Robert L. Henry, 19, of 3940 Casanova Drive, San Mateo, who
took 22 moves to win; Max Wilkerson, 31 of 1927 Hayes Street, an artist, who did it in 30, and
Robert Burger, an advertising man from Lafayette, who won in 13.

Henry said Fisher wasted his time in pawn-grabbing and failed to consolidate his position.
Wilkerson said the champ blundered in an even situation.

Michael Quinlan, 18, of 1634 18th Ave., the fourth winner, attributed his victory to Fischer’s
sportsmanship.

The champion made a careless, fatal move. He recognized it instantly, and within in a fraction
of a second corrected it.

But, in the strict spirit of the game, he resigned at once, because he had left his king untouched
on a losing square. San Francisco Chronicle, April 14, 1964

(137) Orangutan A00

Fischer - Keith Walters
San Francisco (simul), April 13, 1964

1.b4 Nf6 2.Bb2 e6 3.b5 d5 4.Nf3 c6 5.e3 cxb5 6.Bxb5+ Bd7 7.Bxd7+ N8xd7 8.O-O Be7
9.d3 O-O 10.Nbd2 Qc7 11.c4 dxc4 12.Nxc4 Rac8 13.a4 Rfd8 14.Qe2 b6 15.Rfc1 Qb7 16.h3
Nc5 17.Nd4 Rxd4 18.Bxd4 Nb3 19.Rcb1 Nxa1 20.Rxa1 Nd7 21.Qb2 f6 22.Rb1 e5 23.Bc3
Nc5 24.Qa2 Qd5! 25.Rd1 Nxd3 26.Rxd3 Qxc4 27.Qd2 Qxa4

Walters has played very well up to this point but here 27...Rc7 was a little more exact.

28.Rd7 Qa3

28...Kf8 was simpler leaving Black two pawns up and White with negligible compensation.

29.Qd5+ Kf8 30.Bd2 h6

30...a5 was more direct.

31.Qe6 Re8 32.e4 b5 33.Be3 a5 34.Kh2 Qb4 35.Bb6 Qxe4??

Black would have won if he played 35...a4. A close escape for Bobby on a difficult night.

36.Bc5 Qf4+ 37.g3 1-0 (San Francisco Chronicle, April 14, 1964)

Guthrie McClain, co-founder of the California Chess Reporter, unknown, and

Robert Burger at Lone Pine in the mid-1970s. (Photo by Alan Benson)

The following game has a story behind it. National Master Bob Burger, the only person to beat
Bobby on the 1964 tour and later write a book on him, recalls that magic evening almost 50
years ago and the background behind it in an unpublished piece he wrote for Val Zemitis in
2008.

“In the fall of 1956 I happened to be in New York – earning my spurs, as they used to say, in the
advertising business. I stopped by one evening at the midtown hotel where the Rosenwald III
Tournament was under way. A youngster of about thirteen, from Brooklyn, was creating a
sensation – not because he was winning, but because he was jousting with the best. The game I
watched was one of only two he won, but I immediately forwarded it to Guthrie “Mac”
McClain, publisher of the California Chess Reporter, with notes and a wild guess that this was
a future world champion.

It was, in fact, the first of Fischer’ “immortal” games – both with the black pieces and both
against the Byrne brothers – in this case, Donald. Robert is, of course, the long-time chess
editor of the New York Times and without question the foremost chess journalist ever.

A year later, Bobby Fischer’s mother called Mr. McClain to ask him if he would “look out” for
her son in the U.S. Junior Championship scheduled to be played in San Francisco at the world-
famous Mechanics’ Chess Club. Mac took Bobby under his fatherly wing as the 14-year-old
cruised to the title.

Seven years later, Bobby, has come into his majority and is a GM with international conquests
and several U.S. Championships. In the spring of 1964 he embarks on a grand U.S. tour, the
length and breadth of the land. When he arrives in San Francisco he is again hosted by Mac and
the denizens of the Mechanics’ Chess Club.

On that particular Saturday evening I was going home from a day’s work (no rest for the
wicked) when I was intercepted at Harrington’s Bar and challenged to play in a simul. Over my
strongest protestations (I had to get home!), Joe Harrington inveigled me into not only playing,
and not only making a bet on the outcome, but shaking dice to see who got the odds. Joe did. I
was doomed.

Fifty players were arranged around the hallowed hall. Spectators were bunched behind their
favorites. Mac gave a brief introduction and Bobby swept along the tables. I dimly remember
that Fischer liked to “bust” the Two Knights, and I thought I might have a chance if I picked an
odd line. The Fritz! Ah, that’s my chance.”

Robert Burger

(138) Two Knights C57

Fischer - Robert Burger
San Francisco (simul), April 13, 1964

1.e4 e5 2.Nf3 Nc6 3.Bc4 Nf6 4.Ng5 d5 5.exd5 Nd4 6.c3 b5 7.Bf1 Nxd5 8.cxd4 Qxg5

It is interesting that in answer to 7...h6, Fischer had played his own 8.Nh7 in a clock simul in
Canada, winning easily.

9.Bxb5+ Kd8 10.Qf3 Bb7 11.O-O exd4

Here theory considers the natural 11...Rb8, but White has an easy time after the simple 12.dxe5
(if 12...Nf4 then 13.Bc6, or if 12...Ne3 13.Qh3, simplifying).
12.Qxf7??

12.d3 was necessary, but after 12...Qf6 Black has a satisfactory game. White threatens mate
twice, but . . .

12...Nf6 0-1

The queen is lost as well as the bishop. This was Fischer’s quickest loss on the tour.

Burger writes about the end of the game:

At a dinner in Chinatown after the simul (+38, -4, =8), Mac asked Bobby why he resigned. “I
lose a piece – 13.f3 Qxb5.” I nudged Henry Gross, the genial boxer-lawyer- bridge master –
chess master. He said at once, “Bobby what do you do about …Bd5?”

I have never written about this game before, but whenever I have told the story I have always
remarked on the gentlemanly, and rare, act of a Grandmaster in resigning on his thirteenth move
when he believed he was only a piece down. Grandmaster playing Grandmasters have played
on a piece down for sixty moves. Fischer’s act that evening convinced me forever that he is a
rare breed of gentlemen – all the media hoopla notwithstanding. For that reason I did include
this game in the book that I later wrote about Fischer, except as a footnote a variation …of the
Fritz.
Master Robert Burger is a noted problemist and the author of the well-received The Chess of
Bobby Fischer.

(139) Vienna C29

Fischer - Henry Gross
San Francisco (simul), April 13, 1964

1.e4

The last time these two players faced each other (U.S. Open 1957), Bobby opened with 1.Nf3
and the game ended in a draw.

1...e5 2.Nc3 Nf6 3.f4 d5 4.d3

This odd-looking line in the Vienna is attributed to Wilhelm Steinitz. John Collins writes in My
Seven Chess Prodigies about Bobby’s admiration for the Austrian-American World Champion.
Fischer often took opening ideas from the games of great players of the past, including
Steinitz’s 9.Nh3 (1.e4 e5 2.Nf3 Nc6 3.Bc4 Nf6 4.Ng5 d5 5.exd5 Na5 6.Bb5+ c6 7.dxc6 bxc6
8.Be2 h6).

4...dxe4

Keith Carson, in game 117, played the sharper 4...Bb4. Also possible are: 4... exf4 5.exd5
Nxd5 6.Nxd5 Qxd5 7. Bf4 Bd6=, Bronstein-Matanovic, Vienna 1957; 4...Nc6 5.fxe5 Nxe5 6.d4
Ng6=, Steinitz-Lasker, London 1899; 4...d4 5.Nb1 Nc6 6.Nf3 Bg4 7.Be2 Bxf3 8.Bxf3 Bd6 9.
fxe5=, Charousek-Pillsbury, Budapest 1896.

5.fxe5 Nd5

ECO gives 5...Ng4 6.Nxe4 Nxe5 7.d4 Nec6 (7...Ng6 8.Nf3 with a slight advantage for White,
Steinitz-Neumann, Baden-Baden 1870) 8.Nf3 Nd7 9.Bc4 Be7 10.Nfg5 O-O 11. O-O Nf6
12.Nxf7 Qxd4+ 13.Qxd4 Nxd4=, Bronstein-Gorenstein, USSR 1940.
6.Nxe4 Nc6

Experience with 5...Nd5 is greatly limited. One of the few examples is Steinitz-Den Hertog,
Haarlem (simul), 1896, which saw 6.Nxe4 Bf5 7.Ng3 Be6 8.Nf3 Be7 9.d4 c6 10.Bd3 Qc7
11.O-O with a clear advantage for White.

7.Nf3 Bg4 8.Be2 Bxf3 9.Bxf3 Nxe5 10.O-O Be7 11.d4 Nxf3+ 12. Qxf3 O-O 13.c3 c6
14.Ng3 Bg5

Black had a solid alternative in 14... Qd7 connecting his rooks.

15.Nf5 Bxc1 16.Raxc1 Ne7 17.Rce1 Nxf5 18.Qxf5 Qc7 19.Re3 Rae8 20.Rh3 g6 21.Qf6
Re6 22.Qh4 f5 23.Rhf3 Rfe8 24.Qf4 Qe7 25.R3f2 Re4 26.Qd2 Qe6 27.a3 Qc4

Fischer’s advantage has been declining for the last 10 moves and now he is at a disadvantage.
Perhaps even stronger than the text, is 27...Re3 with a complete bind on White’s position. Now
Fischer had a chance to escape from his troubles.

28.h3

White could have drawn after 28.Rxf5 Re2 29.Qg5 Rxb2 30.Qh6 Rxg2+ 31.Kxg2 gxf5 32.Qg5+
Kh8 33.Qf6+ with perpetual check.

28...Qb5?

Once again, Gross misses the opportunity to play 28... Re3, cutting off White’s queen from the
queenside.

29.Qg5?

Fischer misses 29.Rxf5, which would win a pawn, as 29...gxf5? is met by 30.Qg5+ Kh8
(30...Kf8 31.Rxf5+ Qxf5 32.Qxf5+) 31.Qf6+ Kg8 32. Rxf5, hitting the queen and threatening
33.Rg5+.

29...Re1 30.Rxe1 Rxe1+ 31.Kh2 Qd5 32.Qf6 Re6 33.Qh4 Draw (O.G.)
Arthur Stamer, Henry Gross and Charles Bagby at the Mechanics’ Institute Chess Club in 1958.
(M.I. Archives)

(140) Caro-Kann Panov-Botvinnik B14

Fischer - Max Wilkerson
San Francisco (simul), April 13, 1964

1.e4 d5 2.exd5 Nf6 3.c4 c6 4.d4 cxd5 5.Nc3 Nc6 6.c5 e6 7.Bb5 Be7 8.Nf3 O-O 9.Bxc6 bxc6
10.O-O a5 11.Bf4 Ra6 12.Re1 Nd7 13.Na4 Re8 14.Ne5 Nxe5 15.Bxe5 Bf8 16.Nb6 f6
17.Bg3 e5 18.dxe5 Bxc5 19.Nxc8 fxe5 20.Rc1 Bb4 21.Rxe5 Qxc8 22.Rxd5?? Re1+
23.Qxe1 Bxe1 24.Bh4 Qe6 25.Rd8+ Kf7 26.Rcd1 Ra7 27.a3 c5 28.R1d3 Bd2 29.g3 g5
30.Rxd2 gxh4 0-1 (O.G.)

Max Wilkerson served as chess director of the Mechanics’ Institute from 1980 to 1996.
Founded in 1854, the San Francisco based Mechanics’ is the oldest continuously operated
chess club in the United States.
 Max Wilkerson. (Photo by Val Zemitis)

George Kane represented the United States in the 1972 Olympiad and played in the 1973 US
Championship.

(141) Center Counter B01

Fischer - George Kane
San Francisco (simul), April 13, 1964

1.e4 d5 2.exd5 Qxd5 3.Nc3 Qa5 4.d4 c6 5.Nf3 Nf6 6.Bd3 Bg4 7.h3 Bxf3 8.Qxf3 e6 9.O-O
Bd6 10.Bd2 Qc7 11.Ne4 Nxe4 12.Qxe4 Nd7 13.c4 Nf6 14.Qf3 O-O-O 15.Be3 c5 16.dxc5
Bxc5 17.Rfd1 Bxe3 18.Qxe3 Kb8 19.Be2 Ka8 20.b4 Rxd1+ 21.Rxd1 Rd8 22.Rxd8+ Qxd8
23.a4 Qd6 24.c5 Qd8 25.b5 Nd5 26.Qe5 Qf6 27.Qd6 Qe7 28.Qe5 Qf6 29.Qd6 Qe7 30.Qg3
g6 31.Qe5 Qf6 32.Qg3 Qf4 33.Qxf4 Nxf4 34.Bf3 Kb8 35.a5 Kc7 36.Kf1 Nd3 37.b6+ axb6
38.axb6+ Kb8 39.c6 bxc6 40.Bxc6 Ne5 41.Ba4 Kb7 42.Be8 Kxb6 43.f4 Nd3 44.Bxf7 Nxf4
Draw

This was a solidly played game by Black. (O.G.)

No photos survive of Fischer's visit to the Mechanics' Institute but these pictures of Vassily
Smyslov in action in 1976 at the oldest continuously operated chess club in the United States
(since 1854) give an idea of how popular such events were at the M.I. The two photos at the
bottom show Smyslov making a move against future International Master Jay Whitehead.

(142) Sicilian Taimanov B44

Fischer - John Blackstone
San Francisco (simul), April 13, 1964

1.e4 c5 2.Nf3 Nc6 3.d4 cxd4 4.Nxd4 e6 5.Nb5 d6 6.Bf4 e5 7.Be3 a6 8.N5c3 Be6 9.a4 Nge7
10.Nd5 Bxd5 11.exd5 Qa5+ 12.Nc3 Nb8 13.Bd3 Nd7 14.O-O Nb6 15.b4 Qxb4 16.Rb1
Qxc3 17.Rxb6 Nxd5 18.Bb5+ axb5 19.Qxd5 Qc4 20.Qxb7 Qc8 21.Qd5 bxa4 22.Rb7 Be7
23.f4 f6 24.fxe5 dxe5 25.Rfb1 Rf8 26.Rxe7+ 1-0 (O.G.)

Alexander Alekhine in action at the Mechanics’ Institute Chess Club.

(M.I. Archives)
“I would consider the game between Robert Henry and Fischer to be a consultation game.
Robert Henry and Robert Thacker take credit for the win; and I gather that Fischer was not
pleased, since he was very sensitive about possible collusions three days later in his clock
simul at Davis on April 16, 1964. Simple talking or alleged suggesting of moves was quickly
protested by him perhaps because Duncan Suttles lurked behind us observing our games.” —
Erik Osbun

(143) Two Knights Wilkes-Barre C57

Fischer - Robert Henry and Robert Thacker
San Francisco (simul), April 13, 1964

1.e4 e5 2.Nf3 Nc6 3.Bc4 Nf6 4.Ng5 Bc5 5.Bxf7+ Ke7 6.Bd5 Rf8 7.O-O h6 8.Nf3 d6 9.Bxc6
bxc6 10.d4 exd4 11.Nxd4 Kf7 12.Nc3 Kg8 13.Nxc6 Qe8 14.Nd5 Nxd5 15.exd5 Ba6 16.c4
Bxc4 17.Bxh6 Bxf1 18.Qg4 Bxf2+ 19.Kh1 Bxg2+ 20.Qxg2 Qf7 21.Rf1 Rae8 22.h3 Bg3!
23.Rxf7 Re1+ 24.Qg1 Rxg1+ 25.Kxg1 Rxf7 26.Be3 a6 27.Kg2 Be1 28.b4 Kh7 29.a3 Rf5
30.Nb8 a5 31.bxa5 Bxa5 0-1 (Chess Life, February 1987)

Noted Berkeley tournament organizer and book collector Alan Benson remembers the night of
April 13, 1964 very well. That evening, Bobby chose to show the game Fischer-Tal,
Candidates 1959 to the audience at the Mechanics’ Institute. After the exhibition, Benson was
invited with fellow junior David Blohm (who drew Fischer) to join Mechanics’ luminaries
Guthrie McClain and Henry Gross at a special dinner for Fischer at a restaurant in Chinatown.

(144) Caro-Kann B11

Fischer - Alan Benson
San Francisco (simul), April 13, 1964

1.e4 c6 2.Nc3 d5 3.Nf3 Bg4 4.h3 Bxf3 5.Qxf3 Nf6 6.d4 dxe4 7.Nxe4?!

The text is considered to be a dubious pawn sacrifice. Theory judges 7.Qe3 to be slightly better
for White: 7...Nbd7 8.Nxe4 Nxe4 9.Qxe4 Nxe4 10.Qd3 Qd5 11.c4 Qe4+ 12.Qxe4 Nxe4 13.d5
e6 14.dxc6 Bb4+ 15.Ke2 bxc6 16.g3 Rc8 17.Bg2, Miles-Flesch, Dortmund 1976.

7...Nxe4

The way to try to refute White’s risky play is: 7...Qxd4 8.Bd3 Nbd7! 9.Be3 Qd5 10.Rd1 e6
11.O-O Be7 12.Nxf6+ Nxf6 13.Qg3 Bd6! 14.Qh4 Qe5 15.g3 Bc5 with a clear advantage,
Dubinin-Ilivitsky, USSR 1957. That said, it should be pointed out that taking such a pawn from
Fischer is a dangerous undertaking and the text is quite solid and playable.

8.Qxe4 Nd7 9.Bd3 Nf6 10.Qh4 e6 11.O-O Nd5 12.Qg3 Qc7 13.Qf3 Bd6 14.c3 O-O-O
15.a4 Bf4? 16.c4 Bxc1 17.cxd5 Bg5 18.dxc6 Rxd4 19.cxb7+ Kd8

A better try to resist was 19...Kb8.

20.Rfd1 Ke7 21.Ba6 Rb4 22.Qa3 Qc5 1-0

23.Rd3 with ideas like 24.Rb3 or 24.Rad1 looks pretty convincing. (O.G.)

National Master Alan Benson giving a blindfold simul at the Cherryland Cafe in Hayward in
the early 1970s. (Photo by Richard Shorman)

My Game with Fischer

by Mike Morris

In the summer of my 14th year I stepped into the Mechanics’ Institute Chess Room for the first
time. This venerable San Francisco institution is the oldest chess club in the West. Along the
walls were photos of past events at the club — prominent was one of Capablanca giving a
simul in the 1920s. The same wooden chess sets shown in the picture were on the tables, more
than a little worn from hard play over the years.

I was greeted by Arthur B. Stamer, the club’s director. His picture was also on the wall playing
in a radio match in the 1920s. He told me to play him to determine my starting rating on the
club’s rating board. Even though he was still expert strength I held him to a draw and he gave
me a position midway on the board. I was quite proud.

The chess club was actually overseen by Charles Bagby, a member of the Board of Trustees of
the Mechanics’ Institute. Bagby was a pompous and portly lawyer with a raspy voice and a
tyrannical manner. I heard that Bobby Fischer was going on tour and I asked Bagby whether the
club would be bringing him to San Francisco. Bagby asked how much money Fischer expected
and I told him $500 for his appearance. Bagby responded, “Tell Fischer that he can [expletive
deleted].” This came not only as a shock to my young (16 years old) ears but also as a
disappointment that our club would be bypassed.

Apparently more influential club members prevailed on Bagby to bring Fischer, and his simul
was scheduled for April 13, 1964. Fischer opened with a lecture on one of his recent games
and then proceeded to play 50 boards. Our club had the best record of the tour. We won 4 and
drew 8, as I recall. I definitely remember the sensation being Robert Burger’s victory with the
Fritz variation of the Two Knight’s Defense. It was the first time I ever heard of the variation
and the last time I have ever seen it played. Incidentally, this game was published in Larry
Evans’ column in the August 1999 Chess Life.

Fischer played rapidly except when he stopped at the board next to me, occupied by a boy
about 11 years old. Then he would look at the kid for a while before moving.

Even though a piece up, Fischer offered me a draw after 46 moves because he could make no
progress.

Mr. Stamer died shortly before the event, and in May the club held the first A.B. Stamer
Memorial tournament. My rating was 1863 but I beat a strong expert and an A-player, drew two
other experts and I lost only to Robert Burger. I didn’t mind — I was in good company. The
combination of these two successes hooked me on chess for life and provided enough
momentum to overcome all the unsound combinations, time pressure blunders and lost
opportunities that I have encountered since.

(145) French Rubinstein C10

Fischer – Mike Morris,
San Francisco (simul), April 13, 1964

Notes by the authors

1.e4 e6 2.d4 d5 3.Nc3 dxe4 4.Nxe4 Nd7 5.Nf3 Ngf6 6.Nxf6+ Nxf6 7.Bd3 b6 8.0-0 Bb7
9.Qe2 Be7 10.Rd1 0-0 11.c4 Qe8

Black wants to play ...c5, but needs to get his queen off the d-file. Besides the text, another way
to prepare ...c5 — though in fact it was never played in the game — is 11...Qc8; 12.Bg5 h6
13.Bd2 Re8 14.b4 a5 15.b5 c6 16.bxc6 Qxc6 17.Rab1 Rab8 18.Bf4 Bd6 19.Bxd6 Qxd6
20.Ne5 Nd7 21.Qe3 with equality, Psakhis-Akopian, Halkidiki 1992.

12.b3 c5 13.Bb2 Rd8 14.dxc5 Bxc5 15.a3

GM Reshevsky used the plan of 15.Bxf6 gxf6 16.Be4 in an analogous position to try to steer for
a better ending.

15...Qc6 16.b4 Bd6 17.Rac1 Rd7??

Morris overlooks a tactic. Better was 17...Bf4 with complicated play.

18.c5!

Black has no adequate answer to the threats of 19.b5 and 19.Bb5.

18...Bb8 19.Bb5?

Simply 19.b5, followed in most cases by 20.c6, wins material.

19...Rxd1+ 20.Rxd1 Qc7 21.cxb6

21.c6 Bxc6 22.Rc1 Bxb5

21...axb6 22.h3

22.Ne5 looks better.

22...Rd8

22...Bxf3 23.Qxf3 Qh2+ 24.Kf1 Nd5 threatens ...Nf4. White may be forced to meet this move
with g3 pitching the h3 pawn, but seeking compensation in the bishop pair, d-file and Black’s
off-side pieces.

23.Rxd8+ Qxd8 24.Bd3 Qd5 25.Bc4 Qf5 26.Qd3 Qxd3 27.Bxd3 Nd5 28.Bd4 Nf4 29.Bf1
It might look illogical to surrender the bishop pair when the opponent has a queenside majority,
but 29...Bxf3 makes some sense as after 30.gxf3 the white king has a hard time becoming
active.

29...Nxh3+ 30.gxh3 Bxf3 31.Bxb6 Bd6

Morris stops Bobby from activating his majority with 32.a4.

32.Bg2 Bxg2

A difficult decision as 32...Bd1 makes it hard for White to activate his queenside pawns.

33.Kxg2 Kf8 34.a4

White can go into a pawn endgame with 34.Bc5 but after 34...Bxc5 35.bxc5 Ke7 36.a4 Kd7
37.a5 Kc6 38.a6 g5 it’s hard for him to break through. The best try might be 34.Kf3 bringing the
king up the board to support the queenside pawns with the bishops on the board.

34...Bxb4 35.a5 Bxa5 36.Bxa5 f6

The reduced material guarantees that sensible play will draw for Black.

37.Kf3 Kf7 38.Ke4 Kg6 39.Bb4 Kf7 40.Kd4 Kg6 41.Bd6 Kf5 42.Bf8 g5 43.Be7 Kg6 44.Kc5
h5 45.Kd4 Kf5 46.Ke3 Draw (O.G.)

Mike Morris (wearing his Lowell High School jacket) playing Francisco Cardenas in round
five of the Hamilton Air Force Base Open in late April of 1963. Future FIDE Master Frank
Thornally is to the right of Morris. (Photo courtesy of Mike Morris)
 Sacramento, April 15
+47, -2, =1

Chess Titleist Beats 47 Simultaneously

Sacramento Bee, April 16, 1964:

United States Chess Champion Robert J. Fischer of Brooklyn played a 50-board simultaneous
exhibition last night at McClellan Air Force Base.

He defeated 47, a few of them this area’s stronger players, and drew one and lost two.

Winners were Marlon Sanders of Manteo, San Joaquin county, and Mark Holgerson of
Sacramento. The draw went to Airman Second Class Charles Singleton of McClellan, who
promoted Fischer’s appearance in the capital.

Chuck Singleton remembers Bobby’s visit well:

Bobby took the bus from San Francisco to Sacramento where I met him at the Greyhound station
at 6:45 p.m. the night of the exhibition. A big crowd was there to meet him at McClellan Air
Force base, site of the simul, and had he wanted to he could easily have played 75 to 100
boards. As it was, he made short work of the 50 who faced him, with the exhibition only lasting
2½ hours. My game was the last to finish and afterwards we went to Shakey’s for some pizza
and beer, where we talked about chess until three in the morning.

The following day we went over to Colonel Ed Edmondson’s (USCF President) home for a
cookout. Bobby played Las Vegas chess (a derivative of chess with dice) with Walter Harris,
the first black player to achieve a master rating. Later that day I drove him to Davis for his
clock simul. There I got to hear him give another great lecture. The night before, at the
suggestion of Dr. Alex Janushkowsky, he had demonstrated his game with Addison from the
1963-64 U.S. Championship. Despite having no time to prepare, Fischer ad-libbed perfectly.
At Davis he showed his game with Benko, another of his victories on the way to an 11-0 result
at the Championship.

When the last game in Davis ended I drove him back to McClellan where he was staying at the
Officer’s billets. The following morning he flew south for his next exhibition.

What follows is one amateur’s account of what it was like to beat Fischer.

(146) Caro-Kann B18

Fischer - Marlon Sanders
Sacramento (simul), April 15, 1964
Notes by Marlon Sanders.

1.e4 c6 2.Nc3 d5 3.d4

Seems like masters hate to play d4 on the second move but here we are by transposition.

3...dxe4 4.Nxe4 Bf5 5.Nc5 e6

His fifth move I had never seen. I questioned my 5...e6 at the time but it may have been the
winning move?

6.Nxb7

What now, chump? You are playing a Grandmaster with one pawn down. He can beat you with
that pawn. He can even beat you without it! Don’t quit now. Try to get a few pieces out.

6...Qc7 7.Nc5 Nf6 8.Nb3 Be7

You feel better now with eight moves on the board.

9.Nf3 h6

Ordinarily you would trade off his dangerous bishop but here it would only help him gain time.

10.Bd3 O-O 11.Bxf5 exf5 12.O-O Nbd7 13.Qd3 Ne4

The pawn cannot be defended directly.

14.g4 fxg4 15.Qxe4

Now you see that after 15...gxf3 he gets 16.Qxe7 and you can resign. He is coming closer to
your board. Quick: think of something! You thought very seriously of resigning here.
15...Nf6

The surprise is you ever thought of it.

16.Qf5 gxf3 17.Qxf3 Bd6

You are two moves ahead and still a pawn down.

18.Bxh6 Bxh2+

You were afraid to play 18...gxh6; maybe there was more there than you can see.

19.Kh1 Qd7

You thought any other move loses. Now if 20.Qg2 or 20.Kxh2, you play ...Ng4+ and ...Nxh6
next.

20.Bxg7 Kxg7 21.Nc5 Qxd4

Still covering your g4.

22.Rg1+ Bxg1 23.Rxg1+ Kh8

He is looking at your board a long time the last few moves.

24.0-1

You are more surprised than anybody! (Chess Correspondent, July 1964)

Fischer, like Alekhine, looked for new ideas wherever he could find them including the amateur
ranks. Northwest Chess, the official publication of the Washington and Oregon Chess
Federations, has been published continuously since 1947.

(147) Vienna C29

Fischer - Mark Holgerson
Sacramento (simul), April 15, 1964

1.e4 e5 2.Nc3 Nf6 3.f4 d5 4.Qf3?!

A move that has escaped ECO’s attention, although we know of at least one other game where it
was in played (Van Steenis-Tartakover, Baarn 1947). Whether it was a conscious attempt to try
something new or an accident is hard to say. Holgerson, who was 17 at the time, mentions that
he was playing with a red and white plastic set with the kings five inches tall. His metal board,
made by a friend in shop class, had copper and brass squares. An old Spielmann line in the
Vienna goes 4.fxe5 Nxe4 5.Qf3.

4...Bc5

4...dxe4 5.Nxe4 exf4 is a quieter way to handle the position.

5.exd5

White can win a pawn with 5.fxe5 Ng4 6.e6 Bxe6 7.exd5 Bd7 8.Qe2+ but Black gets
reasonable compensation after 8...Be7 followed by ...0-0.

5...Bg4 6.Qg3 O-O?

7...exf4 8.Qxf4 and only then castling is better.

7.h3

The simple and straightforward 7.fxe5 Re8 8.Be2 Bxe2 9.Ngxe2 Nxd5 10.d4 leaves White a
solid pawn up with the better position.

7...Bd7 8.Nge2 e4 9.Qh4 Na6 10.a3 c6 11.b4 Bd6?

Setting up a potential attack on the queen with 11...Be7 is much better as it allows Black to
recapture on c6 with his bishop. For example: 11...Be7 12. dxc6 Bxc6 13.b5 is strongly met by
13...e3!! 14.bxc6? Ne4 winning.

12.dxc6 bxc6 13.Bb2 Qb6 14.O-O-O

14.Qg5 Be7 15.Nxe4 was simpler and more effective. Castling queenside offers Black some
practical chances against White's king.
14...Rfe8 15.g4??

15.Na4 had to be played. The text is too slow and Black's attack is very fast.

15...c5

The text is not bad but the direct 15...Nxb4! 16.ab4 Qxb4 leaves White defenseless. One pretty
line is 17.Na2 Qb6 18.Nd4 Rad8 19.Nb3 Be6 20.Qg3 Bxf4! 21.Qc3 e3! 22.dxe3 Bxb3
23.Qxb3 Rxe3 24.Qxb6 Re1+ mating.

16.g5 Nh5?

This works out well but shouldn't. The direct 16...cxb4 leaves White hard-pressed to defend.

17.Bg2?

17.Qxh5 cxb4 18.Nd5 wins for White. Now Black finishes off nicely.

17...cxb4 18.Nd5 Qb7 19.Nf6+ Nxf6 20.gxf6 bxa3 21.Bc3 a2 22.d3 e3! 0-1

The queen sac decides the day: 23.Bxb7 Ba3+ 24.Bb2 Qa1 (or Ra1) mate. (O.G.)

(148) Sicilian B27

Fischer - Chuck Singleton
Sacramento (simul), April 15, 1964

1.e4 c5 2.Nf3 b6 3.d4 cxd4 4.Nxd4 Bb7 5.Nc3 e6 6.Bd3 Bb4 7.Qg4 Qf6 8.Be3 h5 9.Qg3
Bxc3+ 10.bxc3 Qg6 11.Qc7 Bxe4 12.Nb5 Bxd3 13.cxd3 Qxg2 14.O-O-O Na6 15.Qe5 f6
16.Qd4 Qc6 17.c4 Ne7 18.Nd6+ Kf8 19.Rhg1 e5 20.Qe4 Qxe4 21.dxe4 Nb4 22.a3 Nbc6
23.c5 Nc8 24.Nxc8 Rxc8 25.Rxd7 Rg8 26.Kb2 b5 27.Rgxg7 Rxg7 28.Bh6 Ne7 29.Bxg7+
Kxg7 30.Rxe7+ Kg6 31.Rxa7 Rxc5 32.h4 Rc4 33.f3 Rd4 34.Rc7 35.Rc3 Rd2+ 36.Rc2 Rd3
37.Rc3 Rd2+ 38.Kb3 Rh2 39.Kb4 Rxh4 40.Kxb5 f5 41.exf5+ Kxf5 42.a4 Rh1 43.a5 h4
44.Rc4 h3 45.Rh4 h2 46.Ka6 Kg5 47.Rh3 Kf4 48.Ka7 e4 49.fxe4 Kxe4 50.a6 Kd5 51.Ka8
Kc6 52.a7 Kc7 53.Rh8 Kd7 Draw

Sydney "Sid" Rubin was rated 1936 USCF when this game was played but would later
improve, averaging around 2200- 2250 the next few decades. He worked at Jet Propulsion
Labaratory at Cal Tech and played on its chess team along with fellow Masters Diane
Savereide and Julius Loftsson in the late 1970s and early 1980s.

(149) Center Counter B01

Fischer - Sid Rubin
Sacramento (simul), April 15, 1964

Notes by Sid Rubin.

1.e4 d5 2.exd5 Nf6 3.c4 c6 4.dxc6 Nxc6 5.Nc3 e5 6.d3 Bc5 7.Be2 Bf5 8.Nf3 Ng4 9.O-O
Qb6 10.Qe1 Nb4 11.h3 Nxf2

Why not 11...Bxf2+ 12.Rxf2 Nc2. If 13.Qf1 Qxf2+ and if 13.Nd5 Nxe1 14.Nxb6 Nxf3+ ?

Editor’s Note: It would appear that 15.Rxf3 axb6 16.Rxf5 Nf6 17.Rxe5+ Kd7 18.Bf3 leaves
White a piece up.

12.d4 exd4 13.Na4 Nxh3+ 14.gxh3 d3+

Better seems 14...Qb6+ 15.Kh1 Nc2 16.Qf2 Bd6.

15.Kh1 Qe6 16.Nxc5 Qxe2 17.Nd4 Qxe1+ 18.Rxe1+ Kf8 19.Nxf5 Rd8

As 19...Nc2? 20.Nd7+ mates.

20.Bf4 Nc2 21.Bd6+ Kg8 22.Ne7+ Kf8 23.Ng6+ Kg8 24.Nxh8 Nxe1 25.Rxe1 d2 26.Rd1
Rxd6 27.Ne4 Rd8 28.Nxf7 Kxf7 29.Rxd2 Rxd2 30.Nxd2 Ke6 31.Kg2 Ke5 32.Kf3 Kd4
33.Ke2 h6 34.b4 g5 35.c5 a6 36.a4 a5(?)

Hastening the end.

37.Nb3+ Kc4 38.Nxa5+ Kxb4 39.Nxb7 1-0 (O.G.)

The following article and game score come from a column by Richard Fauber and Frank Garosi
in the Sacramento Bee, June 15, 1980:

In January 1964, the legendary Bobby Fischer won another U.S. Championship by going 11-0.
The invincible Fischer squashed his leading American rivals like so many bugs. He then went
on to demonstrate his prowess to crowds of admiring amateurs.

Reader George W. Flynn has sent us some interesting observations on Fischer’s 50-board
simultaneous exhibition at McClellan Air Force Base, April 15, 1964.

“First of all, Bobby requested that absolutely no flash pictures be taken during the exhibition,
although such pictures were permitted before play. To me this is early evidence that Fischer’s
light sensitivity is entirely genuine and not a temperamental pose.

“Second, his memory is indeed photographic. In response to an audience question, Fischer

played over on a demonstration board his game, originally played months earlier with Bill
Addison. His comments were in depth and without notes.”

Even more revealing is the awe Fischer inspired in his opponents, Flynn continues: “About
moves 25 to 30, I offered to draw! I was a pawn-grabber’s pawn ahead and yet reasonably
certain the axe was going to drop on me sooner or later. I expected a display of Fischer
temperament, since I doubted the etiquette of my own action. Fischer showed no irritation
whatever. He even took the offer seriously … His eyes moved rapidly back and forth over the
board, obviously calculating the endgame. Satisfied, he smiled and said, ‘Let’s play a little
longer.’”

(150) Sicilian Hyper-Accelerated Dragon B27

Fischer – George Flynn
Sacramento (simul), April 15, 1964

1.e4 g6 2.d4 Bg7 3.Nc3 c5

This move order is a favorite of Canadian IM Lawrence Day.

4.dxc5

This move is the only real try to attempt to refute Black’s setup. 4.Nf3 cxd4 5.Nxd4 Nc6
transposes into the Accelerated Dragon and 4.d5 is a Schmidt Benoni.

4...Qa5 5.Nf3

This is natural, but there is also something to be said for 5.Bd2 Qxc5 6.Nd5 b6 7.Be3 Qc6
8.Bb5 Qb7 9.Bd4 f6 10.Nf3, with a big advantage for White, Mestel-Day, Lucerne Olympiad
1982.
5...Nc6 6.Bd3 Bxc3+

This move might look risky, but Black didn’t have a lot of choice, as 6...Qxc5 was strongly met
by 7.Nd5.

7.bxc3 Qxc3+

Going whole hog. Flynn wins a pawn, but White has excellent compensation.

8.Bd2 Qxc5 9.O-O Nf6 10.Re1 d6 11.Rb1 a6 12.Be3 Qh5 13.h3 Nd7

Here 13...O-O was safer.

14.Qd2 Nde5 15.Nxe5 Qxe5

If 15...Nxe5, 16.Be2 is awkward for Black’s queen.

16.f4 Qa5 17.c3 b5

Flynn fearlessly leaves his king in the center. 17...O-O was better.

18.e5 d5 19.a4 d4 20.Be4 dxe3 21.Bxc6+ Kf8 22.Qxe3 Rb8 23.axb5 axb5 24.c4 b4 25.c5
Bf5 26.Ra1 Qc7 27.Be4?

Bobby would have retained his advantage with 27.Bd5 Kg7 28.c6. The text blunders a pawn
and leaves Fischer fighting for the half-point.

27...Bxe4 28.Qxe4 Qxc5+ 29.Kh2 e6 30.Rec1 Qb5 31.Rc7 Kg7 32. Raa7 Rhf8 33.Rcb7
Rxb7 34.Rxb7 Qd5 35.Qxd5 exd5 36.Rxb4 Rd8 37.Rd4 f6 38.Kg3 f5 Draw

Flynn adds: “Fischer was very friendly to me. After the exhibition he hurried out into the
hallway, put his hands on the wall above his head and seemed to be panting from exhaustion.
He recovered quickly and started signing scoresheets. I was the second player to reach him and
he commented that I had played ‘a nice game.’ The first player to have his scoresheet signed
spoke up and said, ‘Say, you signed it “R. Fischer.” Can’t you sign it Bobby Fischer?’

“Bobby never replied, but his expression changed to complete disgust and he stared at the man
for a long 30 seconds, then turned away and began a brief but pleasant conversation with me.

“It was the only sign of ‘The Fischer Temper’ and I thought it not entirely without justification.”

The following fragment is included in Fischer's notes to his game with Celle in My 60
Memorable Games. It was played in the tour prior to the exhibition in Davis. Exactly when and
where is not known.

(151) Evans Gambit C51

Fischer-N.N.
??? (simul) 1964

1.e4 e5 2.Nf3 Nc6 3.Bc4 Bc5 4.b4 Bxb4 5.c3 Be7 6.d4 d6? 7.dxe5 Nxe5 8.Nxe5 dxe5 9.Qb3

9.Qh5! Fischer-Celle

9...Be6 10.Bxe6 fxe6 11.Ba3 Qd3! (remaining moves unavailable)

This is a perfect example of Fischer's famous statement, "you can even learn from a patzer".
Like Alekhine, Bobby was known to examine the games of amateur players for ideas, whether it
be in the tournament hall or in a foreign chess magazine. Soviet players in the 1960s expressed
major surprise when he showed familiarity with the games of some of their second tier female
players.

Davis, California, April 16

+10, -0, =0

Fischer Here Tonight

Davis Enterprise, April 16, 1964:

Undefeated United States Chess Champion and International Grandmaster Robert J. Fischer
will give a clock-simultaneous exhibition tonight, starting at 7 in Freeborn Hall, Room 26.
Admission for spectators will be 25 cents. The event is sponsored by ASUCD and the Davis
Chess Club. Fischer will play with the regular time limit, 40 moves in two hours, against a
team of ten, ranking from top rated experts, almost masters, to high B-class players .

In order of their rating points they are as follows: Experts: Roy Hoppe, 2190; Erik Osbun,
2183; John Blackstone, 2177; Serge von Oettingen, 2119; Ojars Celle, 2092 and Max
Wilkerson, 2024. A Class: Dr. Alex Janushkowsky, 1992 and Sidney Rubin, 1936. B Class:
Dr. Moshe Shifrine, 1791 and Edward McCaskey, 1769. The USCF rating of Fischer is the
highest in the United States and counts at the present time 2734 points.

Fischer Wins 10-0

Davis Enterprise, April 23, 1964:

More than 100 spectators watched the perfect performance of the United States Chess
Champion and International Grandmaster Robert J. Fischer in simultaneous play against a team
of ten here last Thursday. The young champion was introduced to the public by USCF president
Edmund Edmondson, an Air Force major from Mather AFB.

After that Fischer gave a half-hour lecture demonstrating one of his recent brilliant victories
against Grandmaster Pal Benko.

Then the actual play began, in which Fischer was never in danger. [Editor’s Note: This was not
actually true, as Fischer was in clear trouble against Blackstone.] In some of the games he
quickly checkmated his strongest opponents, beautifully sacrificing his own pieces. In other
games he gained material advantage and forced his opponents to resign. The longest resistance
against the champ was given by both local B-Class players, Dr. Moshe Shifrine and UCD
junior Edward McCaskey; but after three hours of play everything was finished and Fischer left
Davis for his next show in Santa Barbara.

The authors have long been curious when it was decided to hold the Davis exhibition as a clock
simul. After all Fischer gave over 40 exhibitions in the first half on 1964 but only two were
with clocks. The caliber of opposition in Davis was comparable to those that Bobby faced in
the Philippines (1967) and Greece (1968) but the event has never quite received its due even
though Fischer chose to include one game (Celle) from it in My Sixty Memorable Games.

Interestingly, Karsten Müller, in his comprehensive The Career and Complete Games of the
American World Chess Champion, which aims to present all of Fischer’s serious games,
includes the events from Manila and Athens but not Davis or the one on one exhibition game
played at a time control of G/60 against Pascual in the Philippines in 1967. Likely the reason
for the omissions is that Müller wasn’t aware these events were different from regular simuls.

We asked two of the participants in the exhibitions, NMs Erik Osbun and John Blackstone, what
they recall about that night and how the event came to be.

John Blackstone:

You ask about the Fischer simul to Davis, here is what I remember:

“I did not find out about it (Davis) until the simul at the Mechanics’. I think Edmondson got up
and announced it to all that was there. Edmondson was there at Davis and stated that there was
going to be another simul in Sacramento that upcoming weekend.

“The one thing that I do remember was after all was said and done and I was leaving I ran into
Fischer and offered him my hand to thank him and his reaction for a split second was as though
I was going to hit him. Strange!

“I and my wife (Julie), Don Steers, Rita Walker and Earl Pruner all went to his banquet at the
LA Press club after he had won the world title (In November if I remember right). After the
end of it, I and my party waited for him in the parking lot. When he came out with two women
(one on each arm), I walked up to him and said you probably do not remember me. His reply
was "Hello John. How have you been?" I then proceeded to ask if he would sign the books that
he had written and he did sign gladly. He then got into the limo with the two women and off he
went. I never saw him again.”

Erik Osbun remembers:

“I do not remember 100 spectators as we were in a relatively small room and only a few
people circulated through it. I do remember Suttles spectating. Fischer, knowing Suttles,
actually voiced objection to the possibility of him helping us. Suttles did not help me, that's for
sure.

“I don't remember when I got the invite and made no preparation as I was a full-time science
student at San Jose State. I do think it was always intended to be a clock simultaneous. No
analyses with Bobby afterwards. I remember John Blackstone talking to him, but I was
silent. John had a winning position at one point; maybe he can clarify that for you. Having seen
Fischer one day at the U.S. Junior in 1957, I was more impressed with his new height in 1964
(I guess it was six feet two inches).”

Donald Byrne analyzes with Duncan Suttles while Byrne’s Penn State students watch.
(Photo by Beth Cassidy)

The following games first appeared in the Spring 1964 issue of the American Chess Quarterly.

(152) Sicilian Sozin B87

Fischer - John Blackstone
Davis (clock simul), April 16, 1964
1.e4 c5 2.Nf3 d6 3.d4 cxd4 4.Nxd4 Nf6 5.Nc3 a6 6.Bc4 e6 7.O-O Be7 8.Bb3 Qc7 9.f4 b5
10.f5 b4 11.fxe6?

This isn’t sound. Objectively the knight had to retreat, but as Bobby points out in My 60
Memorable Games, 11.Nce2 e5 12.Nf3 Bb7 is good for Black.

11...bxc3 12.exf7+ Kf8 13.Bg5 Ng4!

This is a nice defensive move that sidesteps White’s attempt to complicate the game. According
to Bobby, “Black should win.”

14.Bf4 cxb2 15.Rb1 Nc6 16.Bd5 Nxd4! 17.Bxa8 Qa7 18.Kh1 Nb5 19.Qd2 Qxa8 20.c4 Na7

Three pieces for a rook is an overwhelming advantage but Black’s insecure king position offers
Bobby some chances. Here returning some of the booty with 20...Nf6 makes sense. After
21.cxb5 Kxf7 intending ...Rf8 followed by ...Kg8, Blackstone looks fine.

21.Bxd6 Nc6 22.Bxe7+ Kxe7 23.Qg5+ Kf8 24.Qc5+ Ne7 25.Qc7 Nf6 26.e5! Qc6 27.Qd8+
Kxf7 28.Qxh8 Bb7 29.Rxb2 Qxc4 30.R2f2 Ng6 31.Rxf6+ gxf6 32.Rxf6+ Ke7 33.Qxh7+
Kd8 34.Rd6+ Kc8 35.Qd7+ Kb8 36.Qd8+ Ka7 37.Qb6+ Ka8 38.Rxg6 1-0

The following game is number 50 in Fischer’s My 60 Memorable Games.

(153) Evans Gambit C51

Fischer - Ojars Celle
Davis (clock simul), April 16, 1964

1.e4 e5 2.Nf3 Nc6 3.Bc4 Bc5 4.b4 Bxb4 5.c3 Be7 6.d4 d6?

This is a serious mistake according to theory, which argues that 6...Na5 was essential, meeting
7.Nxe5 with 7... Nxc4 8.Nxc4 d5 restoring the balance in the center.

7.dxe5 Nxe5

If Black has any chance to rehabilitate this line his chances lie in 7... Bg4, returning some booty
to get his pieces developed.

8.Nxe5 dxe5 9.Qh5!

Fischer remarks that in an earlier exhibition game: "I played 9.Qb3 but got nothing after
9...Be6! 10.Bxe6 fxe6 11.Ba3!? (11.Qxe6 Qd6 is equal) 11... Qd3!.”

9...g6 10.Qxe5 Nf6

10....f6 11.Qb5+ c6 12.Qb3 Kg8 13.Bxg8! (Fischer).

11.Ba3!

This ties up Black completely.

11...Rf8

Celle moves his rook to unpin his knight and Fischer suggests that this is the only move to offer
Black relief.

GM Igor Zaitsev, writing in the unauthorized Russian-language version of My 60 Memorable

Games suggests that 11...Be6 12.Bxe6 O-O deserves consideration. Black sacrifices a piece to
trap White’s king in the center.

Zaitsev continues 13.Bb3 Bxa3 14. Nxa3 Re8 when White has no convenient square for his
queen. He then gives 15.Qg5 Qd3 or 15.Qb5 c6 and goes no further.

The position after 15.Qg5 Qd3 looks dangerous for White at first glance but he has a resource
in 16.Qd2 meeting 16…Qa6 by returning the extra piece to get his king to safety - 17.f3 Qxa3
18.0-0. Chances should be approximately equal. Black can try for more with 16…Rxe4+
17.Kd1 Qa6 18.Nc2 when Houdini assesses the crazy position after 18…c5 as offering equal
chances.

White can also try 15.Qb5. Zaitsev’s suggestion of 15...c6, trying to weaken White’s control of
d3, works well enough after 16. Bxf7+ Kg7! (16...Kxf7 17.Qb3+ followed by 18.O-O is better
for White) 17.Qb3 Qd3! (17...Rxe4+ 18.Kf1 Qd3+ 19.Kg1 and White’s king is safe) 18.Bxe8
Rxe8 19.f3 Nxe4, winning for Black. However, 16.Qxb7 seems like a simple refutation, e.g.,
16...Rxe4+17.Kf1 Qd3+ 18.Kg1 Qxc3 19.Qxf7+ Kh8 20. Rf1 consolidates and
16...Re717.Qxc6 Rc8 18.Qa6 Rxe4+ 19.Kf1 leaves Black without a satisfactory follow-up.

Black has much better in 15...a6 when after 16.Qg5 he can play 16…Qd3 transposing to the
position reached after 15.Qg5 Qd3 where the inclusion of …a6 does not affect the position.

Theory has always assumed that Black’s opening play starting with 6…d6 was very weak.
Could it be that Zaitsev’s 11...Be6 makes the line playable for Black? This will depend on
practical tests of the lines given above (to date only the game Ovetchkin-Zherdov, Samara
2002, has seen 11…Be6 and Black immediately followed 12.Bxe6 with the weak 12…fxe6.
The validity of 6…d6 will also depend on finding a good answer to 7.Qb3 when theory after
7…Na5 8.Bxf7+ Kf8 9.Qa4 c6 suggests that both 10.Bxg8 and 10.Bb3 are both a little better
for White. While 6…d6 may not completely equalize it does not deserve a question mark.

12.O-O Ng4

Fischer suggests that 12...Nd7, intending ...Nb6, is worth a look.

13.Qg3 Bxa3 14.Nxa3 Qe7!

Latvian-American expert Ojars Celle continues to find his best chances to resist.

“Apparently Black has freed his game. If now 15.Nc2, 15...Qe5 virtually forces the trade of
queens. 15.Nb5 is rendered harmless by 15...Ne5. How’s White to sustain the initiative?” —
Fischer, My 60 Memorable Games.

15.Bb5+!

Forcing Celle to weaken the d6-square.

15...c6 16.Nc4! Qe6!

Clearing e7 for the king. It’s doubtful that Black saw all the way to the end of Fischer’s main
line (16... cxb5 17.Nd6+ Kd8 18.Rfd1 Bd7 19. Nxb7+ Kc8 20.Nd6+ Kd8 21. Rd4! Ne5
22.Rad1 Kc7 23.f4 Ng4 24.h3 Nf6 25.f5 Kb6 26.Qe3 Kc7 27.Rc4+ bxc4 28.Qc5+ Bc6 29.
Nb5+, winning), but his intuition served him well.

17.Rad1!

“Piling on the pressure. White mustn’t amateurishly rush in with 17.Qc7, 17...Qd7!; and he is
then forced to simplify by 18.Nd6+ Ke7 19.Nxc8+ Raxc8 20.Qxd7+ Kxd7, and his advantage
has evaporated. Chess is matter of timing. It’s not enough to play the right move, you’ve got to
play it at the right moment. Restraint is one of the most difficult things for the average chess
player to learn.” — Fischer. Sage advice from one of the greatest chess players of all time.
17...cxb5 18.Qc7 Bd7 19.Nd6+ Ke7 20.Nf5+!

This adds fuel to the fire. Now 20... Ke8 is met by 21.Ng7+ and 20... Kf6 loses to 21.Rd6 gxf5
22.Qxd7.

20...gxf5

20...Qxf5 21.Qd6+ Kd8 (21...Ke8 22.Rfe1+ Be6 23.Qd7 mate) 22. Qxf8+ Kc7 23.Qxa8 ends
the game.

21.exf5 Rac8 22. Rxd7+! Qxd7 23.f6+!

“Originally I intended 23.Re1+ Ne5 24.Rxe5+ Kf6 25.Qxd7 Kxe5 26.Qxb5+ with a won
ending. But then I remembered Emanuel Lasker’s maxim: When you see a good move — wait
— don’t play it — you might find a better one.” — Fischer

In the American Chess Quarterly, Spring 1964, Bobby points out that 26.Qxb5+ Kf6 “leads to
an ending that I feel certain White can win, but it would still be a long haul, and in a
simultaneous exhibition it would be the easiest thing in the world to get swindled out of.”

23...Nxf6

As 23...Ke8 24.Re1+ Qe6 25.Qxc8 is mate.

24.Re1+

“Note the amusing piece configuration. All the black pieces are blocking each other in a
helpless position. Black has only one legal move — otherwise it’s mate!” — Fischer in
American Chess Quarterly.

24...Ne4 25.Rxe4+ Kf6 26.Qxd7 Rfd8 27.Qg4 1-0

Ojars Celle was born in 1929 in Riga, Latvia. (photo by Val Zemitis)

Researching the second edition of A Legend on the Road, the author received an interesting e-
mail from Mr. Celle in 2004, reproduced here somewhat condensed:

Dear Mr. Donaldson,

The day of the match is vivid in my memory not because of Bobby Fischer but for other
reasons. My wife … was far away [due to a family crisis]. For several hours I was
contemplating what to do with my promise to participate in the match. Finally I decided to go
but really I was in no mood for chess.
 Before the match Fischer, in his characteristic style, gave a lecture on a recent game with Pal
Benko. After [our] game Fischer asked if he could have the score.

Quite a few months later I met my L.A. friend, poet and chess player Olafs Stumbrs who had
returned from a trip to Latvia. He had brought a copy of the Riga chess magazine Sahs. To my
great surprise Fischer had published our game in that issue. He knew that I was from Latvia.

I should add a short comment on the game — never before or since have I felt such chess-
playing power coming across the board at me.

Sincerely,
/s/ Ojars Celle

Fischer frequently
lectured during the tour on his win over Pal Benko (pictured) from the 1963/64 US
Championship. (Photo by Beth Cassidy)

Roy Hoppe (1943-2014) was rated 2190 when this game was played and would soon become a
master, but it was bridge that was his true love and the game he taught and played most of his
life. He first saw (but did not play) Bobby at the 1957 U.S. Junior Open in San Francisco.

(154) French Winawer C16

Fischer - Roy Hoppe
Davis (clock simul), April 16, 1964

1.e4 e6 2.d4 d5 3.Nc3 Bb4 4.e5 Ne7 5.a3 Bxc3+ 6.bxc3 b6 7.Qg4 Ng6 8.h4 h5 9.Qg3 Ba6
10.Bxa6 Nxa6 11.Ne2 c5

Deviating from ECO’s 11...Nb8 12.Bg5 Qd7 13.Qf3 Qa4 14.Ng3 Qxc2 15.Rc1 Qb2 16.Nh5
with a clear advantage for White in Bogdanovic-Matulovic, Yugoslavia (ch) 1957. The text
challenges White’s center but runs the risk of opening up the game for White, who is the better
developed player.

12.Nf4 Nxf4 13.Bxf4 Kf8 14.Bg5 Qd7 15. O-O Rc8 16.f4 Nb8 17.Rad1 cxd4 18.cxd4 Nc6
19.c4!

Bobby opens the game to exploit Hoppe’s backward development.

19...Ne7

If 19...dxc4 then 20.d5! exd5 21.f5! with the threat of e6 is crushing.

20.Bxe7+ Kxe7 21.Qxg7 Rcg8 22.Qf6+ Ke8 23.f5 dxc4 24.d5! exd5 25.e6 Qe7

On 25...fxe6 26.fxe6 Qe7 White has 27.Qf7+ winning.

26.exf7+ Qxf7 27.Rde1+ Kf8 28.Qd6+ Kg7 29.Re7 Qxe7 30.Qxe7+ Kh6 31.Re1 Rg7
32.Qf6+ Kh7 33.Re7 1-0

Alex Janushkowsky (1922-2010) was born in Belarus, the son of a military officer in the
Russian Army under the Tsar who was executed in 1937 during Stalin's Great Purge. He and his
wife, who were both medical doctors, made their way to Sacramento after World War 2.
During the 1960s and 70s Janushkowsky was one of the strongest members of the Sacramento
Chess Club.

(155) Evans Gambit C52

Fischer - Alex Janushkowsky
Davis (clock simul), April 16, 1964

1.e4 e5 2.Nf3 Nc6 3.Bc4 Bc5 4.b4 Bxb4 5.c3 Ba5 6.d4 exd4 7.O-O d6 8.Qb3 Qe7

Morphy-Kipping, Birmingham, 1858, saw 8...Qf6 9.e5! dxe5 10.Re1 Bb6 11.Bg5 Qf5 12.Nxe5
Nxe5 13.f4 dxc3+ 14.Kh1 Bd4 15.Nxc3 Kf8 16.Rad1 Nxc4 17.Qxc4 Be6 18.Qd4 with a clear
advantage to White.

9.e5! dxe5

Safer was 9...Nxe5 trying to simplify. Now Black’s king is stuck in the center forever.

10.Ba3 Qf6 11.cxd4 e4 12.Ne5 Nh6 13.Nxc6 bxc6 14.Qa4 Bb6 15.Nc3 Bd7 16.Nxe4 Qf4
17.Nc5 Bxc5 18.Bxc5 Nf5 19.Rfe1+ Kd8 20.Bxf7 Nd6 21.Be6 Re8 22.g3! Qf6 23.Bxd7
Kxd7 24.d5 Nb5 25.Red1 Kc8 26.Qa6+ Kd8 27.dxc6+ Nd6 28.Bxd6 cxd6 29.Qb7 1-0

(156) Alekhine B03

Fischer - Edward McCaskey
Davis (clock simul), April 16, 1964

1.e4 Nf6 2.e5 Nd5 3.d4 d6 4.c4 Nb6 5.exd6 exd6 6.Nc3 Be7 7.Bd3 N8d7 8.Nge2 Nf6 9.b3
d5

This move allows White to achieve a tremendous bind that McCaskey is never able to
challenge.

10.c5 Nbd7 11.b4 c6 12.O-O O-O 13.Qc2 Re8 14.f4 Nf8 15.f5 b6 16.Bf4 Bd7 17.h3 Kh8
18.g4 Ng8 19.Qd2 h6 20.Kg2 Bg5 21.Ng1 Bxf4 22.Qxf4 Qg5 23.Qxg5 hxg5 24.Nf3 f6 25.h4
gxh4 26.Rh1 Nh6 27.Rxh4 Kg8 28.Kf2 Kf7 29.Ne2 Ke7 30.Ng3 Kd8 31.g5 fxg5 32.Nxg5
Kc7 33.Nf3 bxc5 34.bxc5 Rab8 35.Rb1 Rxb1 36.Bxb1 Rb8 37.Bd3 Rb2+ 38.Ke3 Rxa2 39.f6
Nf5 40.Nxf5 gxf6 41.Rh8 Ne6 42.Nd6 a5 43.Bf5 Ng5 44.Nxg5 Bxf5 45.Nxf5 fxg5 46.Rh7
Kd8 47.Ne7 a4 48.Nc6 Kc8 49.Ne7 Kd7 50.Nxd5+ Ke6 51.Ke4 a3 52.Re7 1-0

San Jose State College won the U.S. 1964 Intercollegiate Team Championship. Team members,
pictured left to right, are Len Hill, Jim Iwashita, SJS Chess Club Advisor Dr. Arthur Rogers,
Erik Osbun, Ray Schutt and alternate Peter Kelemen. Erik Osbun led the team scoring 5 1/2
from 7. This photograph was taken by Osbun's roommate Steve Starr who later won the Pulitzer
prize for photography in 1970.

The notes to the following game are by NM Erik Osbun of El Centro, California, who kindly
granted permission to reprint them.

(157) Evans Gambit C52

Fischer- Erik Osbun
Davis (clock simul), April 16, 1964
1.e4 e5 2.Nf3 Nc6 3.Bc4 Bc5 4.b4 Bxb4 5.c3 Ba5 6.d4 exd4 7.0–0 d6?

Better is 7...Bb6 avoiding the Waller attack. Fine played worse versus Fischer in 1963 with
7...dxc3?

8.Qb3 Qd7 9.cxd4?!

Consider 9.e5! Nd8 10.exd6 cxd6 11.Bg5! a6 12.Re1+ Kf8 13.Nxd4 Muir-Ormhaug, Postal,
1958-60.

9...Bb6?

Keres gives 9...Nd8! Followed by 10...Ne7. My method is more "Houdini-like" according to

Evans.

10.Bb5 Kf8 11.d5 Na5 12.Qa4 c6 13.dxc6 bxc6 14.Bd3 Nb7?

Not a good idea; better is 14...Ne7.

15.Nc3 Nc5 16.Qc2 Ne7

White is well off after 16...Nxd3 17.Qxd3. The d-pawn is a sitting duck.

17.Ba3 Ng6 18.Rfd1 Nf4 19.Bf1 Kg8 20.Ne5 Qc7 21.Nc4 Be6

Black has no better than to give back the pawn.

22.Nxd6 Rd8 23.e5 f6

Black tries his best to dispute the center.

24.Bxc5! Bxc5 25.Nce4 Bxd6 26.exd6 Qc8 27.Nc5 Bd5 28.d7 Qc7 29.g3 Ne6 30.Nxe6 Bxe6
31.Bc4 Kf7 32.Bxe6+ Kxe6 33.Re1+ Kf7 34.Qc4+ Kg6 35.Re7 Rhg8 36.Rae1 h5 37.Qf7+
Kh6 38.R1e6 Rdf8 39.Rxf6+!!

Nicely prepared.
39...gxf6 40.Qh7+ Kg5 41.h4+ Kg4 42.Re4+ Kh3 43.Qf5+ Rg4 44.Rxg4??

A mistake, correct is 44.Qf3 Rxe4 (44...Rxg3+ 45.fxg3! Qxg3+ 46.Qxg3+ Kxg3 47.Re8 and
White queens.) 45.Qh1+ Kg4 46.Qxe4+ Kh3 47.Qf5 mate.

44...hxg4??

After 44...Qe5 both 45.Rf4+ Qxf5 46.Rxf5 Rd8 47.Rxh5 Rxd7 48.Kf1 Kg4 49.Rc5 and
45.Qxe5 fxe5 46.Rg7 Rd8 47.Kf1 are better for White but Black is still fighting.

45.Qd3 1–0 Chess Correspondent, November-December 2006, pp. 127 and 136.
 Fischer after winning the 1965/66 U.S. Championship (Chess Review)

(158) Caro-Kann Panov-Botvinnik B14

Fischer - Sid Rubin
Davis (clock simul), April 16, 1964

1.e4 d5 2.exd5 Nf6 3.c4 c6 4.d4

Deviating from their game the night before (game 149) where Fischer played the unusual
4.dxc6.

4...cxd5 5.Nc3 e6 6.Nf3 Be7 7.c5 O-O 8.Bd3 Nc6 9.a3 a5 10.Na4 Nd7 11.Qc2 h6 12.O-O
Qc7 13.Re1 Bf6 14.Be3 b6?

Having achieved a thoroughly cramped position after only 14 moves Rubin adds to his
difficulties by committing a cardinal error — opening the game for the better developed player.
Note that the more plausible attempt to break out, 14...e5, would have been met by 15.Nc3!
Nxd4 (15...e4 16.Nxd5 exd3 17.Nxc7 dxc2 18.Nxa8; 15...exd4 16.Nxd5 Qd8 17.Bf4 with the
idea of 18.Bc7) 16.Bxd4 exd4 17.Nxd5 as 17...Qxc5? is strongly met by 18.Nxf6+ gxf6 19.Qd2
with a winning attack (analysis from the American Chess Quarterly, Spring 1964, p. 271).

15.cxb6 Nxb6 16.Rac1 Nxa4 17.Qxa4 Bb7 18.Bb5

This pin effectively ends the game.

18...Rfc8 19.Ne5 Bxe5 20.dxe5 Qd7 21.Bd4 Rab8 22.Rc3 Ba8 23.Rec1 Rxb5 24.Qxb5 Rb8
25.Qa4 Nxe5 26.Qxd7 Nxd7 27.Rc8+ Kh7 28.Rxb8 Nxb8 29.Rc8 Nc6 30.Bc5 Bb7 31.Rc7
Ba8 32.b4 axb4 33.axb4 d4 34.b5 1-0

Dr. Moshe Shifrine was a Professor of Immunology at the University of California at Davis
when this game was played.

(159) King’s Gambit C30

Fischer - Moshe Shifrine
Davis (clock simul), April 16, 1964

1.e4 e5 2.Nc3 Nc6 3.Bc4 Nf6 4.f4 Bc5 5.Nf3 d6 6.d3 Bg4 7.h3 Bxf3 8.Qxf3 Qe7 9.Bb5 a6
10.Bxc6+ bxc6 11.Ne2 Nd7 12.f5 h6 13.Bd2 a5 14.a4 Nf6 15.g4 d5 16.Ng3 dxe4 17.dxe4
Nd7 18.h4 f6 19.g5 O-O-O 20.gxh6 gxh6 21.O-O-O Bb4 22.Be3 Nb6 23.Bxb6 cxb6 24.Nh5
Rhg8 25.Rhg1 Rxd1+ 26.Rxd1 Bc5 27.Qd3 Bd4 28.c3 Bc5 29.Qa6+ Kb8 30.Nxf6! Be3+
31.Kb1 Rd8 32.Rxd8+ Qxd8 33.Qe2 Bc5 34.Nh5 Qxh4 35.f6 Qh3 36.f7 Qc8 37.Nf6 1-0

(160) Caro-Kann Panov-Botvinnik B14

Fischer - Serge Von Oettingen
Davis (clock simul), April 16, 1964

1.e4 d5 2.exd5 Nf6 3.c4 c6 4.d4 cxd5 5.Nc3 Nc6 6.Nf3 e6 7.c5 Be7 8.Bb5 O-O 9.O-O Bd7
10.Bf4 Ne4 11.Rc1 f5 12.Bxc6

This move, in conjunction with 13.Ne5 and 14.f3, guarantees White a clear positional
advantage (control of the e5-square and play against e6).

12...Bxc6 13.Ne5 Qe8 14.f3 Nxc3 15.Rxc3 Bf6 16.Re1 g5 17.Nxc6 Qxc6 18.Be5 Qd7 19.b4
a5 20.b5!

A strong positional sacrifice justified by Black’s weak pawns on b7 and e6.

20... Qxb5 21.Rb3 Qd7 22.Qb1 Bxe5 23.Rxe5 Rf7 24.Rb6 Re7 25.Qb3 a4 26.Qe3 Kf7
27.Qxg5 Ra6 28.Rxa6 bxa6 29.g4 Re8 30.gxf5 Qd8 31.fxe6+ 1-0
 A sketch of Fischer from Tal’s
Latvian magazine Sahs, circa 1964.

(161) Sicilian Sozin B57

Fischer - Max Wilkerson
Davis (clock simul), April 16, 1964

1.e4 c5 2.Nf3 Nc6 3.d4 cxd4 4.Nxd4 Nf6 5.Nc3 d6 6.Bc4 g6?!

This move enjoys a poor reputation despite Dutch GM Gennadi Sosonko’s attempts to
rehabilitate it.

7.Nxc6 bxc6 8.e5 Nd7?!

Sosonko’s attempt to resurrect the line was 8...Ng4 meeting 9.exd6 with 9...Qxd6 and 9.Bf4
with 9...Bh6. Although it’s a better try than 8...Nd7, Sosonko’s line also falls short of yielding
equality.

9.exd6 exd6 10.O-O d5

Walking right into a combination, but with 11.Re1+ threatened and 10...Be7 met by 11.Bh6,
Black had no good moves.

11.Nxd5 Nc5

As 11...cxd5 12.Qxd5 with a double attack on f7 and a8 is curtains.

12.Qd4 cxd5 13.Bb5+ Bd7 14.Bxd7+ Qxd7 15.Qxh8 f5 16.Re1+ Ne6 17.Qf6 1-0

Max Wilkerson won the New Mexico state championship in 1959, and tied for the second in the
1996 U.S. Senior Open. Directly behind him with silver hair is noted Blackmar-Diemer Gambit
aficionado Ernst Rassmussen, one of the standard bearers of Tacoma chess in the 1970s. (Photo
by John Hillery)

Santa Barbara, April 18

+49, -2, =1

Oxnard Youth Whips U.S. Chess Champion

An 18-year-old Oxnard youth defeated the six times U.S. Chess champion, Bobby Fischer, 21,
in Fischer’s exhibition against 52 opponents Saturday at Santa Barbara Recreation Center.

Bruce Allen, vice president of the Ventura County Chess Club and son of William A. Allen, 714
C. West Fifth St., Oxnard, was one of only two winners. The other was Tom McDermott of
Santa Barbara. Don Hansford was the only player to draw. [Note that this exhibition is given in
some sources as +46,-2,=2] Jack Tanner was the organizer.

Young Allen is one of very few challengers who have defeated the champion in his nationwide
exhibitions. Fischer is a “fabulous player,” in the estimation of Norman Lund, another member
of the Ventura County club. He said Fischer is sure to become the future world’s champion.

Bruce’s father is president of the Ventura County club.

A similar exhibition is planned Wednesday at the Civic Recreation Center, Ventura, with
George Soules, Ventura County Chess Club member and chess master, conducting the match.
Prizes will be U.S. Chess Federation memberships. Admission fee will be 50 cents.
Participants must bring their own sets.
Editor’s Note: This article, which was reprinted in The Chess Courier, June 1964, would
appear to be from an Oxnard or Santa Barbara paper.

(162) Sicilian Sozin B57

Fischer - Bruce Allen
Santa Barbara (simul), April 18, 1964

1.e4 c5 2.Nf3 Nc6 3.d4 cxd4 4.Nxd4 Nf6 5.Nc3 d6 6.Bc4 Na5 7.Bd3 e5 8.Bb5+ Bd7
9.Bxd7+ Qxd7 10.Nb3 Nc4 11.Bg5 Nxb2 12.Qf3 Qg4 13.Bxf6 Qxf3 14.gxf3 gxf6 15.Nd5
Rc8 16.Rb1 Rxc2 17.O-O Nd3 18.Nxf6+ Kd8 19.Rbd1 Nf4 20.Rd2 Rxd2 21.Nxd2 Be7
22.Ng4 h5 23.Ne3 Rg8+ 24.Kh1 Nh3 25.Nd5 Bh4 0-1

Santa Monica, April 19

+45, -3, =2

Isaac Kashdan in the Los Angeles Times of April 19, 1964:

Local chess fans have a final opportunity this afternoon to see U.S. Champion Bobby Fischer in
action. Starting at 2 p.m. he will tackle 50 opponents in simultaneous play at the Club Del Mar,
1910 Ocean Front, Santa Monica.

If he follows precedent, 21-year-old Fischer will walk continuously around the large room,
pausing for a few seconds at each board to make his move. He will take no break, and allow
his opponents none during the three to four hours the exhibition lasts.

Spectators are invited, with no admission charge. They can participate in a question and
answer period, which will start the proceedings.

One subject of interest is whether Fischer will play in the Interzonal Tournament, scheduled for
Amsterdam, Holland, from May 20 to June 25. This is the next step in the three-year cycle to
determine a challenger for a world championship match.

Fischer has stated that he will not participate, mainly on the ground that the Russians have
dominated the championship play, and that no one else has a fair chance to break through.
[Editor’s Note: The first place prize of approximately $250 for the Interzonal was not much of
an inducement.]

Fischer is almost alone in this view. True, there are more Russian grandmasters than those of
any other nationality, but no individual has any more chances than any other, according to the
present rules.

For Fischer to become world champion, he has to: 1) be one of the top six in the Interzonal; 2)
win several successive matches in the Challenger’s series, and 3) win a match against
titleholder Tigran Petrosian.
We are certain that Fischer does not lack confidence in his ability. He evidently feels that
sometime he will gain a match for the championship without all the preliminaries. This we
regard as highly doubtful.

Fischer is by no means giving up international play. He will be on the U.S. team in the World
Students Team Tournament in Cracow, Poland, in July. [Editor’s Note: He didn’t play.]

He will also be on board for the U.S. in the Chess Olympiad in Tel Aviv, Israel, in November.
This is of particular interest to your editor, who will be captain of our team. [Editor’s Note:
Again, Fischer didn’t play.]

Bobby scored forty-five wins, three losses, and two draws against 50 opponents. James House,
William Korst, and Jacques Masson were the winners with Charles Clement and Roger
Neustaedter drawing. Opening remarks were made by Al Epstein, manager of the club. Alex
Bisno introduced Fischer, and Isaac Kashdan served as referee.

Fischer at the Del Mar Club, Santa Monica, California. (Photo by Art Zeller)

(163) French Winawer C19

Fischer - Charles Clement
Santa Monica (simul), April 19, 1964

1.e4 e6 2.d4 d5 3.Nc3 Bb4 4.e5 Ne7 5.a3 Bxc3+ 6.bxc3 c5 7.a4 Qc7 8.Nf3 cxd4 9.cxd4
Nbc6 10.Qd2 Bd7 11.Ba3 Nf5 12.g4 Nfxd4 13.Nxd4 Qxe5+ 14.Qe3 Qxd4 15.Qxd4 Nxd4
16.O-O-O e5 17.Bb2 Bxg4 18.Rd2 Nc6 19.Rg1 Be6 20.Rxg7 O-O-O 21.Bb5 Rdg8
22.Rxg8+ Rxg8 23.Bxc6 bxc6 24.Bxe5 Rg1+ 25.Kb2 Rg4 26.Rd4 Rxd4 27.Bxd4 Draw

(164) Vienna C26

Fischer - James House
Santa Monica (simul), April 19, 1964

1.e4 e5 2.Nc3 Nf6 3.g3 d5 4.exd5 Nxd5 5.Bg2 Be6 6.Nge2 c5 7.O-O Nc6 8.f4 Nxc3 9.bxc3
Bd5 10.fxe5 Bxg2 11.Kxg2 Nxe5 12.Nf4 g6 13.Re1 Qc7 14.d4 cxd4 15.cxd4 O-O-O
16.Qe2 Nc4 17.c3 Bd6 18.Rb1 Rhe8 19.Qxe8 Rxe8 20.Rxe8+ Kd7 21.Re2 Qc6+ 22.Kg1 b5
23.Ng2 a6 24.Bf4 Qf3 25.Rbe1 Qxc3 26.Bxd6 Qxd4+ 27.Kh1 Qxd6 28.Ne3 Nxe3 29.Rxe3
Qd5+ 30.Kg1 Qxa2 31.Rd1+ Kc6 32.Rc1+ Kb6 33.Re7 b4 34.Rcc7 Qd5 35.Rcd7 Qc5+
36.Kg2 b3 37.Rb7+ Ka5 38.Rxf7 h5 39.h4 Qc2+ 40.Kg1 b2 41.Rf1 Ka4 0-1

(165) Sicilian Sozin B87

Fischer - Roger Neustaedter
Santa Monica (simul), April 19, 1964

1.e4 c5 2.Nf3 d6 3.d4 cxd4 4.Nxd4 Nf6 5.Nc3 a6 6.Bc4 e6 7.Be3 Nbd7 8.f4 b5 9.Bb3 Bb7
10.f5 e5 11.Nf3 Nc5 12.Bg5 Nxb3 13.Bxf6 Qxf6 14.axb3 Qd8 15.O-O Be7 16.Nd5 O-O
17.c4 bxc4 18.bxc4 Bxd5 19.Qxd5 Qb6+ 20.Rf2 Rac8 21.g3 Rc5
White has “won” the d5 square but has no way to exploit as Black has ample play on the
queenside that prevents a knight from ever reaching the dream square.
22.Qd3 Rfc8 23.b3 Rb8 24.Nd2 Bg5 25.Nf3 Be7 26.Nd2 Bg5 27.Nf3 Be7 28.Rb1 Ra5
29.Kg2 Ra3 30.Rfb2 a5 31.Qe2 Qb4 32.Qc2 Qc5 33.Ra2 Rxa2 34.Qxa2 Qe3 35.Qc2 h6
36.h4 a4!?
Play has been balanced the entire game but now the 15-year-old high school student takes the
fight to his famous opponent.
37.b4 d5!
This is the logical follow up to Black’s last move which only looks like it involves a swap of
pawns. In reality White must be very careful if he wants to hold the position.
38.cxd5 Rxb4 39.Rxb4?
This natural looking capture should have been the losing move. Bobby could have saved
himself with 39.f6 gxf6 (39…Rxb1?? 40.fxe7 Rb8 41.d6 and the pawns are on unstoppable).
40.Qc8+ drawing.
39… Bxb4 40.Qxa4
There was no way out as 40.Nxe5 is met by 40…Bd6 41.Nf3 a3 and the a-pawn decides the
game.
40…Qe2+ 41.Kh3 Qxf3 42.Qxb4 Qh1+ Draw
This was an impressive performance by Black but it would been even more so if he had
continued play as 43. Kg4 h5+ 44.Kxh5 Qf3+ 45.g4 Qf4 wins.
(O.G.)
Isaac Kashdan, pictured here in a 1950s North-South match playing Black against Imre Konig,
was a big supporter of Bobby. He served as U.S captain in 1960 when Bobby made his
Olympiad debut and the team took home silver. (Photo from Mechanics’
CC Archives)

(166) Sicilian Sozin B88

Fischer - J. Hunt
Santa Monica (simul), April 19, 1964

1.e4 c5 2.Nf3 d6 3.d4 cxd4 4.Nxd4 Nf6 5.Nc3 a6 6.Bc4 e6 7.O-O Qc7 8.Bb3 Nc6 9.Be3
Bd7 10.f4 Be7 11.f5 Nxd4 12.Bxd4 exf5 13.exf5 Bc6 14.Qd3 d5 15.Rae1 O-O-O 16.a4 Bd6
17.g3 h5 18.Bxf6 gxf6 19.Nxd5 Bc5+ 20.Kg2 Bxd5+ 21.Bxd5 h4 22.c4 hxg3 23.hxg3 Bd6
24.Rh1 Rhg8 25.Rh3 Be5 26.b4 Qd6 27.b5 a5 28.Re3 Qb4 29.Re2 Rg7 30.Qe4 Qe7 31.c5
Qxc5 32.Bxb7+ Kb8 33.Ba6 Rd5 34.Rh8+ 1-0 (O.G.)

The following game, one of Bobby's more convincing defeats on the 1964 tour, was first
published in the September 2015 issue of Chess Life (page 48) which also notes it can also be
found at the website korstvsfischer.onfo.

(167) Sicilian Sozin B57

Fischer - William Korst
Santa Monica (simul), April 19, 1964

1.e4 c5 2.Nf3 Nc6 3.d4 cxd4 4.Nxd4 Nf6 5.Nc3 d6 6.Bc4 Bd7 7.Bb3 g6 8.f3 Nxd4 9.Qxd4
Bg7 10.Be3 0–0 11.Qd2 b5

The game position, which started as a Sozin variation of the Sicilian, is now very similar to
that reached after 1.e4 c5 2.Nf3 Nc6 3.d4 cxd4 4.Nxd4 g6 5.Nc3 Bg7 6.Be3 Nf6 7.Bc4 0–0
8.Bb3 d6 9.f3 Bd7 10.Qd2 Nxd4 11.Bxd4 b5, but with one important difference - the White's
bishop is on e3 instead of d4. This detail appears to have been overlooked by Bobby.

12.h4?!

This is the main line with the bishop on d4 but does not work well here. 12.a4, 12.0–0 and
12.Bh6 are better choices.

12...b4

This is the point. White's knight does not have a good square to go to.

13.Nd5?

13.Ne2 was forced but after 13...a5 Black is doing well.

13...Nxd5 14.Bxd5 Bxb2 15.Kf2?

15.Bd4 offered more stubborn resistance. Taking the exchange gives White gets a great attack
after 15...Bxa1 16.Bxa1 Rc8 17.h5 but Black doesn't have to be so obliging. Instead 15...Bxd4
16.Qxd4 Rc8 17.h5 Qb6 18.Qd2 Ba4! with the point 19.hxg6 Rxc2! leaves Black in the driver's
seat.

15...Bc3

Preserving the bishop is quite understandable, but objectively there was nothing wrong with
immediately grabbing the exchange. For example: 15...Bxa1 16.Rxa1 (16.Bxa8?? Bc3)
16...Rc8 17.h5 e6 18.Bb3 Qh4+ 19.Kg1 a5 20.Qxd6 a4 21.Qxd7 axb3 22.cxb3 Rfd8 winning.

16.Qe2 Rc8 17.h5

17.Rad1 a5 preparing ...e6 and ...a4 hunting down the bishop.

17...e6 18.Bb3 Bxa1

Black does not need to be asked twice and wins the exchange under even better circumstances.
Bobby gets no chances to make a comeback in the concluding stage of this game.

19.Rxa1 Qh4+ 20.Kg1 Qxh5 21.Rd1 Bb5 22.Qf2 Bc4 23.Rxd6 Bxb3 24.axb3 Qe5 25.Rd7
Rfd8 26.Bd4 Qf4 27.Be3 Qe5 28.Bd4 Qf4 29.Be3 Qf6 30.Rxa7 Rd1+ 31.Kh2 Qc3 32.Bf4
Qxc2 33.Qxc2 Rxc2 34.Bh6 Rc8 35.Rb7 Rdd8 36.Kg3 Rb8 37.Ra7 Rd3 38.Kf4 Rxb3
39.Ke5 Ra3 40.Rd7 b3 0–1

Ken Hense, who was present as a spectator at this exhibition, located only a ten minute walk
from the Miramar Hotel, site of the 1966 Piatigorsky Cup, remembers Fischer being asked who
was the best player in the world (excluding himself). “He said Spassky. Then he was asked to
name the top 10 players of all time. His omission of Lasker was famous of course. Fischer
hated Lasker's openings.”
 Boris Spassky,
pictured here with Val Zemitis (standing) and Anthony Saidy at Reno
in 2006, was Bobby’s pick as the top player in the world in 1964 (himself excepted).
(Photo by John Donaldson)

(149) (#5591)
From: Alexander Bisno
To: Bobby Fischer
Date: April 19, 1964

Agreement between Robert Fischer hereinafter to be known as Fischer and Alexander Bisno,
hereinafter to be known as Bisno.

Whereas, Bisno has suggested to Fischer that if it can be arranged,

Fischer should play a match with one of the top Russian players.

Whereas, Fischer is agreeable to the playing of such a match and is hereby designating Bisno
to represent him in the negotiations for the playing of such a chess match.

Whereas, Bisno proposes to proceed with the negotiations through the United States
Department of State, Cultural Department, acting through the American Chess Foundation and
the United States Chess Federation.

It is therefore agreed between the parties Fischer and Bisno as follows:

(1) That Bisno shall do what he feels is necessary to initiate negotiations with the proper
chess federation in Russia and do what is necessary to complete successful negotiations for this
match.
(2) The match is to be between Fischer and one of the five top players in Russia, not
excluding Petrosian, the present Champion of the World, if the Russians will agree to designate
him. However, Fischer will play the match with anyone designated by the Russian authorities
as long as he is one of the top five players in Russia.
(3) The match is to be held either in Russia entirely, or in the United States of America
entirely; or, part of the match in Russia and part in the United States of America.
(4) Draws are not to be counted and the winner of the first eight or ten games — whatever is
agreed upon — shall be declared the winner of the match.
(5) The purse is to be $8,500.00, the winner of the match to get 80 percent and the loser to get
20 percent.
(6) The referee or referees to be appointed shall be persons that are acceptable and agreeable
to Fischer.
(7) The match is to take place at any time agreeable to both parties but at such time as will not
interfere with prior commitments of the players.
(10) Bisno is given four months from this date to make final arrangements for this match. In
addition to the prize money, Fischer is to get his transportation and food and lodging expenses
paid for.
Signed and sealed this 19th day of April, 1964.
/s/ Alexander Bisno
/s/ Robert Fischer
The exhibition tour was not the only thing that was on Bobby’s mind while he was in
California. Having decided not to participate in the FIDE World Championship cycle Bobby
tried to work from outside the system, as the document overleaf from the Hanon Russell
Collection shows.

Nothing came of this and it was not until Fischer went through the FIDE World Championship
cycle that he finally got a shot at the title.

Ventura, California, April (??)

The first edition of A Legend on the Road suggested that Bobby gave an exhibition in Ventura
on April 22nd, but that doesn’t seem to be the case as he gave one that same day in Las Vegas.
The Ventura County Star Free-Press of April 24th, mentions that local master George W. Soules
gave a simul two days before, defeating 28 opponents, losing three games, and conceding one
draw at the Ventura Civic Recreation Center.

Oklahoma chess historian Frank Berry theorizes that the high turnout suggests that Bobby’s
appearance was canceled with little notice. Otherwise why would so many players have shown
up? Since the players were expecting a simul, the strongest player available stepped forward
so as not to disappoint them.
The following game was played in one of Fischer’s exhibitions in California but the exact
location is unknown.

(168) Pirc B08

Fischer - Michael Bedford
California (simul), April 1964

1.e4 g6 2.d4 Bg7 3.Nf3 d6 4.Bc4 c6 5.Bb3 Nf6 6.Nc3 O-O 7.O-O Na6 8.h3 Nc7 9.Be3 Be6
10.d5 cxd5 11.exd5 Bd7 12.Nd4 Qc8 13.Kh2 b5 14.a3 a5 15.Qf3 Rb8 16.a4 b4 17.Ncb5
Nxb5 18.axb5 Bxb5 19.Nxb5 Rxb5 20.Qe2 Rb8 21.Rxa5 Nh5 22.g4 Nf6 23.Ra7 e6 24.dxe6
fxe6 25.Bh6 1-0 (O.G.)

The January 1964 issue of Chess Life lists Michael Bedford as being from California with a
rating of 1968.

Las Vegas, April 22

+34, -0, =1

NM Ken Smith, who played in it and drew, remembers about 35 players participating and
Bobby scoring +34, =1, -0. Larry Evans, who was living in Las Vegas at the time, also
remembers Bobby’s visit. Further confirmation comes from Bobby. The Dayton Chess Club
Review of June 1964 relates that during his lecture in Columbus Bobby talked about his
exhibition in Las Vegas and that the players there didn’t put up much resistance, only lasting 1½
hours.

The following is from the Las Vegas Review-Journal of April 15, 1964

Boy Wonder of Chess Will Play in Las Vegas

As local golf fans anticipate the forthcoming Tournament of Champions, Las Vegas will be
visited by a champion of the world's most cerebral competition.

Bobby Fischer, current U.S. chess champion, will take on all comers in a simultaneous
exhibition chess match sponsored by the Las Vegas Chess Club at the Desert Chess Club, April
22, at 7p.m.

Chess, originally contrived by Indian Buddhists as a substitute for war, is more like the real
thing to Fischer, six-time U.S. champion.

Edward Lasker, unofficial dean of the American chess community, in his book entitled "Chess
for Fun and Blood," describes Fischer as belonging in the latter category. "He always wants to
kill his opponent" Lasker said.

Reported to have a disposition much like that of Attila the Hun, Fischer has electrified the
chess world, not only for his daring, slashing play, but also for his occasional disregard for the
social amenities compatible with formal chess competition.

The 20-year-old boy wonder is a maverick among the chess elite. Unlike other international
grandmasters - almost all highly educated scholars or mathematicians - he never bothered to
finish high school.

Winning his first U.S. title at the precious age of 14, the "enfant terrible" of the American chess
community is to many authorities, a stronger player than the current world champion, Tigran
Petrosian.

At the U.S. Championship last December in New York, the boy from Brooklyn performed an
unparalleled feat by winning 11 straight matches - everyone he played.

In Las Vegas, Fischer will probably be playing more than 11 players - simultaneously.

Tickets are available through chess club members Jerry Cole, Herman Estrada, Stan Zajac, Art
Gamlin and G.M. Farnham.

Edward Lasker and friend, circa 1965. (Photo by Beth Cassidy)

Denver, April 26
+50, -1, =4

The simul was held at the Brown Palace West, Grand Ballroom, on Sunday, April 26th, starting
at 2 p.m. The cost for the event was $5 for players, $1 for adult spectators, and 50 cents for
junior spectators. The Denver Chess Club was the sponsor.
A poster announcing Fischer’s Denver exhibition.

Wesley Koehler (see game below) recalls that George Pipiringos was the primary organizer of
the simul and Fischer stayed at his home while he was in Denver. Koehler notes too that
Fischer said to Pipiringos he would never have said he could give knight odds to any woman in
the world (as had been attributed to him in the notorious Ralph Ginsburg “interview”) because
he was not in fact that much stronger than the top woman players. The knight odds remark is
routinely repeated but it is worth putting on the record that Fischer denied making this remark.
Koehler was the 1965, 1966 and 1971 Colorado State Champion. He later moved to Kansas
where he won its state championship in 1977 and 1980. He was rated 2064 on the March 1964
USCF rating list but later went over 2300.

(169) Sicilian Scheveningen B83

Fischer - Wesley Koehler
Denver (simul), April 26, 1964

1.e4 c5 2.Nf3 d6 3.d4 cxd4 4.Nxd4 Nf6 5.Nc3 a6 6.Be2 e6 7.f4 b5!? 8.Bf3 Ra7 9.Be3 Rc7
10.O-O b4?! 11.Na4 Bb7 12.c3 Nxe4 13.cxb4 Nd7 14.b5 Qa8?! 15.bxa6 Bxa6 16.Re1 d5
17.Rc1 Rxc1 18.Qxc1 Bb4 19.Rd1 O-O 20.Qc6 Ndf6 21.a3?! Bd6 22.Qxa8 Rxa8 23.Rc1
Rc8 24.Rxc8+ Bxc8 25.b4 Bd7 26.Nb6 Be8 27.Nb3 Kf8 28.a4? Bxb4 29.Be2? Nc3 30.Bd3
Nxa4 31.Nxa4 Bxa4 0-1 (O.G.)

(170) French Winawer C18

Fischer - M. Haskins
Denver (simul), April 26, 1964

1.e4 e6 2.d4 d5 3.Nc3 Bb4 4.e5 a5?! 5.a3 Bxc3+ 6.bxc3 c5 7.Qg4 Ne7 8.Qxg7 Rg8 9.Qxh7
Qc7 10.Qd3 b6 11.Nf3?! Ba6 12.Qd2 cxd4 13.cxd4 Bxf1 14.Kxf1 Nf5?! 15.g3 Qc4+ 16.Kg2
Nc6 17.c3 a4 18.Rb1 b5 19.Re1 Na5 20.Qe2 Rb8 21.Qxc4 dxc4 22.Ng5 Rg7 23.g4 Nb3!
24.f4 Ne7 25.h4!? Nd5 26.Kg3 Nxc3 27.Rb2 Nxd4 28.h5 b4 29.h6 Rg8 30.Rxb4 Rxb4
31.axb4 Nce2+ 32.Kf2 Nxc1 33.Rxc1 a3 34.Rxc4 a2 35.h7 Rh8 36.Rc8+ Kd7 37.Rxh8
a1=Q 38.Rd8+ Kxd8 39.h8=Q+ Kd7 40.Ne4 Qb2+ 41.Kg3 Qb3+ 42.Kh4 Draw

On 42...Nf3+ 43.Kh5 Qc2 44.Nc5+ Kc7 45.Na6+ Black must repeat moves with 45...Kd7.
(O.G.)

Barry Kraft later became a well-known actor who has been associated for many years with the
Oregon Shakespeare Festival in Ashland.

(171) Alekhine B03

Fischer - Barry Kraft
Denver (simul), April 26, 1964

Notes by Barry Kraft.

1.e4 Nf6 2.e5 Nd5 3.d4 d6 4.c4 Nb6 5.exd6 cxd6 6.Nc3 g6 7.Bd3 Nc6 8.Nge2 Bg7 9.Be3
Bd7 10.O-O Nb4 11.b3 Nxd3 12.Qxd3 Bf5 13.Qd2 Nd7 14.h3

Threatens to win my bishop by pushing g4 and then d5.

14...h5 15.Rad1 Nf6 16.d5 Qd7 17.Bd4 g5

A risky attempt to open lines to Fischer’s king. White dominates the center.
18.Qxg5 O-O-O

18...O-O-O offers the bishop, but Fischer doesn’t like 19.Qxg7 Rdg8 20.Qxf7 Rh7. His actual
move 19.Bxa7 is a beauty, as you’ll soon see.

19.Bxa7! Bh6 20.Qh4 Rdg8

My threat is 21...Bxh3.

21.Ng3 Bg5 22.Qd4

Here is one of the nice points of Fischer’s 19th move: the only escape square the white queen
has is the one the bishop vacated on move 19.

22...Bxh3

Here my attack really starts looking good. What is Bobby going to do? If 23.gxh3 Qxh3; and
Black has all kinds of threats, for example ...Ng4 or ...h4 or ...Be3.

23.Na4

Absolutely elegant! I was literally stunned by this move. Here I was, attacking like a mob of
maddened banshees down on his kingside, and Fischer, ever so gently, lifts his queen’s knight
and places it on a4, a square far removed from what I thought was the scene of the action. Not
only does he threaten to fork my king and queen with his knight, but he also plans to drive my
queen from the h3-c8 diagonal, and consequently from my marooned bishop on h3. Note also
that Fischer’s 19th move paved the way for the knight fork.

23...Qg4 24.Qxg4+ Bxg4 25.f3 Bh4 26.Ne2 Bd7

Since I am a pawn down, I should have held onto the bishop pair for the endgame. 26...Bf5
would have been better.

27.Nb6+ Kc7 28.Nxd7 Kxd7 29.Bd4 Rh6 30.b4 e5 31.dxe6+ fxe6 32.a4 Ne8 33.c5

Fischer presses ahead with his queenside majority of pawns. Obviously 33...dxc5 loses a rook
to 34.Be3+, but the pawn sacrifice of the actual game was to get my stalled kingside attack
rolling once again.

33...e5 34.Bxe5 Re6 35.f4 Reg6

The point of my pawn sacrifice: Bobby no longer has the square f4 on which to place his knight
for protection of g2.

36.g3 Bxg3 37.f5

The point I missed: 37.f5 both attacks the rook and uncovers an attack on my bishop.

37...Bh2+ 38.Kh1

If 38.Kxh2, Rg2+ regains the piece.

38...Rg2 39.Bxh2 Rxe2 40.f6 Rgg2 41.Bg1 Rg4 42.Rd4 Rxd4

This exchange of rooks is equivalent to resigning (which I do next move anyway). Once a pair
of rooks have left the board, my mating threats vanish and I cannot prevent the f-pawn from
queening. I should have kept the game alive by moving 42...Rg3, threatening checkmate in three
moves. If Fischer replied 43.Bf2, Rf3 picks up that dangerous f-pawn. If 43.Rh4 Nxf6 44.Rxf6
Re1. Best for White seems 43.Rh4 Nxf6 44.Bh2 with a still wild and woolly game.

43.Bxd4 1-0 (Chess Life, June 1986, p. 63)

Colorado Springs, April 28

+31, -0, =1
Reid Held Fischer To Draw in Meet Here
By Linda Duval
Gazette Telegraph Staff Writer

A 1964 chess match played at the Broadmoor Hotel took on a new measure of accomplishment
for a Colorado Springs man Friday after he learned that Bobby Fischer defeated Boris Spassky
for the world chess championship.

Juan Reid, directory of alumni affairs at Colorado College, played the newly-crowned
champion to a draw in their one meeting, eight years ago.

In April of 1964, Fischer was on a trans-continental tour playing matches against various chess
notables. Fischer played 32 games on the tour, won 31 and had a draw with Reid.

Following the Reid-Fischer draw, the two and author Marshall Sprague, another chess buff, had
dinner together at the Broadmoor.

Fischer had just won this sixth U.S. chess championship, Reid recalled, and was an
international grandmaster at that time.

“He was most affable, certainly not at all contentious,” Reid said.

An after-dinner chat revealed a lot of Fischer’s unhappy childhood and personal insecurity
which, Reid said, is the reason for his precise demands of the situation in which he plays chess.

In regard to Fischer’s antics in Iceland, Reid pointed out that Fischer has always been
meticulous about the atmosphere of his games.

“When things aren’t quiet, it bothers him,” Reid said. “After all, chess is his only security.”

Fischer doesn’t own a home. He literally lives out of a suitcase.

Reid theorized that Bobby’s lateness at matches is designed “to show disdain for his
opponent.”

The temper flare-ups and audacity shown in Reykjavik are outgrowths of the personal
insecurity he feels as a results of a childhood without a father and an adolescence without any
parent at all.

Reid pointed out an interview Friday that Fischer nearly raised himself.

As a result, “he fights for every advantage he can get,” Reid said. “He doesn’t play to be
gentlemanly. He was never raised that way.”

“The only thing he knows is chess. He’s nearly self-educated. He dropped out of high school at
16 and didn’t spend much time in school before that.”
He was too busy playing chess.

At the age of 13, Bobby Fischer won a game against Donald Byrne, a champion chess players.
It was termed “the game of the century.” Some of Fischer’s moves were recognized as “pure
genius.”

Reid said that marked the real beginning of Bobby’s career.

“He is one of the great chess geniuses of all time,” Reid said. “There is no question about that.”

Source: Colorado Springs Gazette Telegraph, September 2, 1972. See also Edward Winter's
Chess Notes 9219.

(172) Philidor C41

Fischer – Juan Reid
Colorado Springs (simul) April 28, 1964

1.e4 e5 2.Nf3 d6 3.d4 Nf6 4.Nc3 exd4 5.Nxd4 Be7

This variation of the Philidor has been played for over a hundred years, but it was the Soviet
Grandmaster Antoshin who made it respectable in the 1960s. Today many Grandmasters use it
including Mamedyarov and Bu. Black has rich strategical play with ...d5, .c5 and ...b5 breaks
plus pressuring the e4 pawn.

6.f3

A rare treatment.

6.Be2, 6.Bc4, 6.Bf4, 6.g3 and 6.Bd3 are all more common.

6...Nbd7 7.Be3 Ne5?!

7...0–0 8.Qd2 Nb6 9.0–0–0 d5 10.e5 Ne8 11.Nb3 c6 12.Kb1 Nc7 and 7…0-0 8.Nf5 Ne5
9.Nxe7+ Qxe7 10.Qd2 Be6 11.0–0–0 Rfd8 both offer equal chances.

8.Qd2 c5 9.Bb5+! Bd7?

This move is a serious mistake as it loses control of f5. Black had to play 9...Kf8.

10.Nf5 0–0 11.Bxd7 Qxd7 12.0–0–0

Not bad but 12.Bxc5 won a clean pawn.

12...Nc4 13.Qe2 Nxe3 14.Qxe3 Rfd8 15.g4 Bf8 16.e5 Ne8 17.Ne4?
Too fancy. The simple 17.exd6 wins material. For example 17...Nxd6 18.Rxd6 Bxd6 19.Rd1
Qc7 (or 19...Qe6 20.Qxe6 Bf4+ 21.Qe3 Bxe3+ 22.Nxe3 Rxd1+ 23.Kxd1) 20.Nb5 Bf4 21.Nxc7
Bxe3+ 22.Nxe3 Rxd1+ 23.Kxd1. In both cases White has excellent chances to win the ending.

17...Qc7?

17...Qe6 18.exd6 Nxd6 offered equal chances.

18.exd6?

18.e6! fxe6 19.Ng5 Rd7 (19...e5 20.Ne6 wins the exchange) 20.Qxe6+ Kh8 21.Rhe1 with a
dominating position.

18...Nxd6 19.Nexd6 Bxd6 20.Nxd6 Rxd6 21.Rxd6 Qxd6 22.Rd1 Qxh2 23.Qe7 Qb8 24.Rd7
Qf4+ 25.Kb1 g6 26.Qe2 b6 27.a3 a6 28.Qd3 b5?!

28...Re8 was more challenging. The forcing line 29.Rd8 Rxd8 30.Qxd8+ Kg7 31.Qxb6 Qxf3
32.Qxc5 Qxg4 favors Black after 33.b4 h5 and the h-pawn is very quick.

29.Qd5 Re8 30.Ka2 Re5

Black could safely continue a risk free pawn up.

½–½
Page 6 of the Colorado Springs Gazette Telegraph, 10 January 1973.

Edward Winter points out the position on the demonstration board is the conclusion of
Fischer’s win against Celle (Davis, CA, 16 April 1964 – game 50 in My 60 Memorable
Games). See Chess Notes 9213.

(173) French Winawer C16

Fischer – John Wallace
Colorado Springs (simul) April 28, 1964

In 1964 Fischer played numerous simultaneous exhibitions throughout the United States, and
among the hundreds of opponents he faced that year was a young teenage boy from Pueblo,
Colorado, named John Wallace. John and I were playing chess by mail at the time, and in his
correspondence he shared with me the excitement of playing this game. Not only that, he mailed
me the original autographed game score(!) in May of 1964, which I copied by hand (no
photocopy machines back then), and from which I traced an image of Fischer's hastily scrawled
autograph. I mailed the score back to him with an offer of selling it to me, which he of course
refused. John got his game score back, and a few months later he stopped writing, broke off our
correspondence games without any explanation, and I never heard from him again - Bill Price.

We are not 100 percent certain the following game was played in Colorado Springs (as
opposed to Denver), but think it very likely as the three cities are lined up on Interstate 25 with
69 miles separating Denver and Colorado Springs with Pueblo another 44 miles further south.

1.e4 e6 2.d4 d5 3.Nc3 Bb4 4.e5 Nc6 5.a3 Ba5 6.f4 f6 7.Nf3 a6 8.Bd3 Bd7 9.0–0 Bb6 10.Be3
f5 11.Kh1 Nh6 12.Ne2 Qe7 13.b4

Wallace's position looks solid enough but he is cramped with no counterplay.

13...Na7

Here he hopes to get rid of his bad bishop with ...Bb5 but this is easily prevented.

14.a4 c6 15.a5 Bc7 16.c3 0–0–0 17.Nc1 Be8 18.Nb3 Bh5 19.Nc5 Nb5 20.Qb3 Ng4

Trading off the bad bishop and simplifying the position with 20...Bxf3 made more sense.

21.Bg1 Bb8 22.c4!

Fischer opens the position to exploit his superior position.

22...Nc7 23.Rac1

Even stronger was the direct 23.b5 axb5 24.cxb5 cxb5 with 25.a6 b6 26.Nb7+- winning.
White's principal threat is to pile up on the c-file with his heavy pieces.

23...Nh6?

23...Ba7 (to give the king b8 and to meet...) 24.b5?! with 24...dxc4 25.Bxc4 axb5 26.Bxe6+
Kb8 27.Bxf5 Bxc5 followed by ...Rhf8 when Black is still fighting.

24.cxd5 exd5 25.Ng5

25.Nxa6! Nxa6 (25...bxa6 26.Rxc6 winning) 26.Bxa6 bxa6 27.Rxc6+ was crushing (Houdini).
25...Bf7 26.Na4

26.Nxf7 Qxf7 27.Nxa6! again does the trick.

26...Ba7 27.Rc2 Be6 28.Rfc1 Bd7 29.Nb6+

29.b5!

29...Bxb6??

29...Kb8 30.Bf2 Rde8 31.Bh4 would have confined White to a large advantage.

30.axb6 Na8 31.b5!

The End.

31...axb5 32.Qxb5 Kb8 33.Qa5 Nxb6 34.Qxb6 Rc8 35.Ra1 Qd8 36.Qb4

36.Qa7+ Kc7 37.Rb1 (37.Ra6 Ra8 38.Raxc6+ Bxc6 39.Rxc6+ Kd7 40.Qxb7+ Ke8 41.Bb5 Kf8
42.Ne6+ Ke8 43.Rc8 mate)

36...Qf8 37.Qa4 Kc7 38.Qa5+ b6 39.Qa7+ Kd8 40.Qxb6+ Ke8 41.e6 Ke7 42.exd7 Kxd7
43.Ra7+ Kd6 44.Qc5 mate 1–0

Lawrence, April 30
+42, -0, =1

Chess
Players!

Bobby Fischer
International Grandmaster
6 Time Winner, U.S. Championship

--------------------------------------------------------------------

Here's your chance to play against Bobby Fischer.

50 simultaneous games ending with a lecture on the game of chess. Only $4 a board to
play against the International Grandmaster. Spectators $.50

US Chess King

Fischer Beats 42 Challengers

By Gary Noland

Forty-three college chess fans last night pitted their skill against a high school drop-out, and
came out on the losing end.

But it was no ordinary school drop-out who played 43 games simultaneously in three hours,
sending bewildered amateurs home carting chess sets under their arms, after Bobby Fischer,
present U.S. Chess Champion, defeated 42 aspiring amateurs and drew only one game.

Fischer, considered by some chess experts to become the best chess master who ever lived,
was a guest of the KU chess club. After giving a lecture on his 1962 draw with the Russian,
Mikhail Botvinnik, in the world team championship in Bulgaria, Fischer confidently exhibited
his skill against anyone who might have any doubts about the 20-year-old lanky Brooklyn lad
who took up chess at the age of six because it was the only game he hadn't played.

The exhibition took place in the ballroom of the Kansas Union where at 25 tables, arranged in a
large oval, 43 amateurs sat in studied concentration, trying to analyze the seemingly hasty
moves of the young master.

Fischer, who dropped out of high school, in the middle of his junior year, calmly strode from
one checkerboard to the next, seemingly taking in the situation in one swift glance, and hardly
breaking his long stride as he would make what looked like an off-the-cuff move against each
opponent. It took him only three to five minutes to make a play against each of his 43
challengers, and even less after the number of players became smaller.

One player, with a look of disbelief and amazement on his face, walked up to a friend, and said,
"he took me in eleven moves."

Another, who managed to stay with Fischer for just about two hours, said: "He's just like a
machine, doesn't make a mistake."

Fischer, who has already performed 30 exhibitions this year, made it all look relatively easy.
Within three hours, the time that it takes many amateurs to finish one game, Fischer had played
43 games. He won all games except a draw to Jack Winters, a 24-year-old operator of a drive-
in-restaurant in Kansas City.

The University Daily Kansan (May 1, 1964)

Piecing together information from various sources we know that among the 42 players Bobby
defeated were Professor Henry Horak, Fred Huff, Clarence Edmonson, Jr., and Joe Steffen
while he drew with Jack Winters.

Expert Alan Anderson of Arizona found the following material on Bobby's stop in Lawrence,
Kansas, in 2005 shortly after the publication of the second edition of A Legend on the Road. It
was Alan that first alerted us to the existence of this exhibition.

Alan writes:

Hello John,

I talked with Fred Huff yesterday about the Bobby Fischer exhibition at the University of
Kansas at Lawrence on April 30, 1964. Fred confirmed Professor Horak's information as to the
date, April 30, 1964, and the location, although Fred refers to it as the University of Kansas
Student Union building. Fred remembers the exhibition as taking place on the second floor. He
also thought Horak's name "sounded familiar."

Fred has a very clear memory of the exhibition as being a 45-board exhibition; the fee for
playing was $5.00 a board. Fred says Fischer won 44 games and gave up one draw, "because it
was past Fischer's bedtime." Fred remembers Fischer moving instantly during the exhibition, in
some cases having his hand on his piece (or pawn) ready to make his move while his opponent
was in the process of completing their own move.

The person who wrote the following information about the Fischer exhibition and played in it is
Henry G. Horak, a former professor at University of Kansas. His website is dated Christmas,
1998 and he was 79 at the time of writing. The URL to his website is:
http://www.physics.ku.edu/astronomy/history/horak.html

This next few paragraphs may seem out of place, but they do pertain to the visit of an interesting
personality to K.U. My interest in the game of Chess developed when I was a teen-ager in the
1930's, and had the opportunity to learn the game and play against some strong players in
Kansas City. We chessplayers met regularly at the Y.M.C.A. every Saturday afternoon, and in a
few years I became rather proficient at the game, eventually winning a few tournaments there.
My rating was about that of an "Expert" (just below a "Master"). From time to time a touring
Grandmaster would visit us to give a simultaneous exhibition, and we would each invest a few
dollars to play against him. Israel Horowitz, the one-time U.S. champion, visited us at least
three times; I managed to draw the first two times, but the third time the exhibition wasn't
completed because half-way through the simultaneous event (I suppose about thirty of us were
there) one of the participants, Mr. Arthur Harris, a good friend of mine in his fifties, had a
sudden heart attack and died (January 20, 1941). It was quite shocking to see the dark shadow
move across his face, and his life disappear in just a minute. Indeed, it is not generally realized
that Chess can be a very exciting game, so I took a quick look at his position. I didn't see
anything there that would have particularly evoked stress, for his position seemed safe enough.
Now at K.U., at least as far as I could discover, there has never been much serious interest in
Chess; this is understandable, since competing in it is hard sedentary work, akin to academic
studying for a final, and students would rather participate in physical sports for their recreation.
However, early in the year 1964 some of the students got together and were able to entice the
International Grandmaster Robert (Bobby) Fisher to give a simultaneous exhibition on April 30
at the K.U. Union Building. Bobby was only twenty-one years old, and the strongest player ever
produced in the United States; he was destined to become the World's Chess Champion in 1972,
when he would decisively defeat the then World's Champion from the Soviet Union, Boris
Spassky. Fischer had learned Chess in the New York environment of strong master players, and
he had succeeded in besting all of them. His style was geared more to attacking than to
defending, and he played all phases of the game (opening, middle and end games) equally well.
His attitude towards the game was entirely practical, and he had studied very hard to attain his
goals. He also possessed a rather low opinion of so-called intellectuals (I sometimes think he
was right). When he played against us at K.U., he had about 50 or 60 opponents (I would
guess), and he completed his exhibition very quickly in only a few hours; I was one of the last
to go down in what to me was a difficult end game. I don't remember Fischer's total score
against us; if he had lost a game, we would undoubtedly have heard about it. Nevertheless it
was an interesting experience. I wonder how he would fare against the "Big Blue" computer
that recently (1997) defeated the present (human) World's Champion, Kasparov. Unfortunately
we'll probably never know, because Fischer retired from active competition immediately after
gaining the World's Championship.

Jack Winters
A Life Member of the USCF who once held the highest rating in six states, Jack Winters (1939-
2003) was a founding member of the Missouri Chess Association. He won many tournaments
throughout the Midwest from the mid-1960’s to the late-1970’s.

The author of two opening pamphlets: The Classical Defense to the Ruy Lopez and The French
Defense Tarrasch Variation, Jack Winter’s greatest contribution to the game was founding The
Chess House at 39th and Main in Kansas City. Opening its doors in 1972 it was an immediate
success both as a club and a mail order business. Among those who started their careers at The
Chess House was future International Master Michael Brooks. Later in the 1970s a second
location was opened in Chesterfield (St. Louis County).

Winters ran The Chess House at its original location and later 74th & Broadway for seven
years before selling the business to Don Oswald who ran the mail order business until he died
in 1994. The company was purchased by the Neff family of Washington State who are still
running it today.
Jack Winters

(174) Evans Gambit C52

Fischer – Jack Winters
Lawrence (simul), April 30, 1964

1.e4 e5 2.Nf3 Nc6 3.Bc4 Bc5 4.b4 Bxb4 5.c3 Ba5 6.d4 d6 7.Qb3

7.0-0 can be met by 7...Bb6 putting pressure on White's d-pawn and preparing ...Na5.

7...Qd7 8.dxe5 Bb6 9.Nbd2

9.a4 Na5 10.Qa2 Nxc4 11.Qxc4 Ne7 was Nakamura-Anand, London 2014 and Nisipeanu-
Caruana, Dortmund 2015. Black has returned the pawn but obtained a solid position and the
two bishops.

9...Nxe5?

The main line is 9...Na5 10.Qc2 Nxc4 11.Nxc4 d5. White has scored well after 9...dxe5
10.Ba3 Na5 11.Qb4 c5 12.Qb2 Nxc4 13.Nxc4.

The problem with 9...Nxe5?, is revealed after 11.Ba3!, when Black has no satisfactory way to
bring his king to safety. Note that after 11...Bxf2+ (11...Nh6 12.0–0–0) 12.Ke2 White has
fantastic compensation for the two pawns.

10.Nxe5 dxe5 11.Nf3?

The problem with 9...Nxe5?, is revealed after 11.Ba3!, when Black has no satisfactory way to
bring his king to safety. Note that after 11...Bxf2+ (11...Nh6 12.0–0–0) 12.Ke2 White has
fantastic compensation for the two pawns.

11...Qe7!

The moment of danger has passed. Now Winters has no problems.

12.a4 Nf6 13.Ba3 c5 14.a5 Bc7 15.Qb5+ Nd7 16.a6 Rb8 17.0–0 0–0 18.Rfd1 bxa6 19.Qc6
Bb6 20.Bc1 a5 21.Bg5 Nf6 22.Nh4

It's an indication of how things are going that Bobby decides to make this artificial looking
move.

22...Rd8 23.Nf5 Bxf5 24.exf5 Rbc8 25.Qf3 h6 26.Be3 Bc7

The thematic 26...e4! 27.Qe2 Qe5 was quite strong.

27.Qb7 e4

Now this doesn't work as well.

28.g3 Rxd1+ 29.Rxd1 Rd8 30.Rxd8+?

The rooks need to stay on the board. After 30.Re1 or 30.Ra1 White should hold the position.

30...Bxd8! 31.Qa8 Kh7 32.Bxf7 Qxf7 33.Qxd8 Qd5?

33...Ng4! 34.Bxc5 Qxf5 35.Bd4 e3 36.Bxe3 Qb1+ 37.Kg2 Qe4+ 38.Kh3 Nxe3 39.fxe3 a4
would have been unpleasant for Fischer. Black's queen is perfectly centralized, his king is safe
and the passed pawn is quite dangerous.

34.Qxa5 Qd1+ 35.Kg2 Qf3+ 36.Kg1 Draw (O.G.)

 Cheltenham, May 3
+70, -2, =1

Anthony Koppany remembers, “Fischer played 73 of us at the Cheltenham (a suburb of

Philadelphia) Art Center on Sunday afternoon. He scored 70 wins, 2 losses, and one draw. My
game was the last one, taking 7½ hours.”

(175) Pirc B09

Fischer - Anthony Koppany
Cheltenham (simul), May 3, 1964

1.e4 g6 2.d4 Bg7 3.Nc3 d6 4.f4 Nf6 5.Nf3 O-O 6.Bd3 c5 7.dxc5 Bd7?

Here 7...dxc5 8.e5 is better for White but preferable to dropping a pawn.

8.cxd6 exd6 9.O-O Bc6 10.f5 gxf5 11.exf5 Nbd7 12.Kh1 d5 13.Ne2 Kh8 14.Ng3 Qb6
15.Ng5 Rae8 16.Nh5 Bb5 17.Nxg7 Kxg7 18.Nh3 Rg8 19.Nf4 Kh8 20.b3 Bc6 21.Bb2 d4
22.Bc4 Re4 23.Bxf7 Rg4 24.Qd2 Rexf4 25.Rxf4 Rxg2 26.Qxg2 Bxg2+ 27.Kxg2 Qc6+
28.Kg1 Kg7 29.Bc4 b5 30.Bd3 Ne5 31.Raf1 Kf7 32.Bxd4 Nxd3 33.cxd3 Qc2 34.R4f3 Ng4
35.Rh3 h6 36.Rh4 Qe2 37.Bxa7 Ne5 38.Rh3 Ng4 39.a4 bxa4 40.bxa4 Qa2 41.Rh4 Qxa4
42.Be3 Qe8 43.Rxg4 Qxe3+ 44.Kh1 Qxd3 Draw (O.G.)

(176) Latvian Gambit C40

Fischer - Ross Nickel
Cheltenham (simul), May 3, 1964

1.e4 e5 2.Nf3 f5

Fischer has seldom faced the Latvian Gambit in his career and it may well be that the only other
occurrence was back in 1955 in the U.S. Junior Open in Lincoln, Nebraska. There the 12-year-
old Bobby, playing in his first tournament away from home, scored 5-5 including a loss on the
white side of the Latvian against Viktors Pupols of Tacoma, Washington. The game,
incidentally, is one of the very few in Fischer’s career that he lost on time.

3.Nxe5 Qf6 4.d4 d6 5.Nc4 fxe4 6.Nc3 Qf7

At this point Fischer spent a long time thinking before making his next move. (Nickel)

[Editor: Pupols played 6...Qg6 against Fischer.]

7.Be2 Nf6 8.O-O Be6 9.Ne3 d5 10.f3 exf3 11.Bxf3 c6 12.Ng4 Bd6 13.Nxf6+ Kd8 14.Na4
Qc7 15.Bg4 1-0 (O.G.)

(177) Evans Gambit C51

Fischer - H. McFarland
Cheltenham (simul), May 3, 1964

1.e4 e5 2.Nf3 Nc6 3.Bc4 Bc5 4.b4 Bxb4 5.c3 Be7 6.d4 d6 7.Qb3 f6 8.Bxg8 Bg4 9.Be6 Bxe6
10.Qxe6 Qd7 11.Qb3 Nd8 12.O-O a6 13.Rd1 Qe6 14.Qc2 Nf7 15.Be3 O-O 16.Nbd2 b5
17.Nf1 Rfe8 18.Ng3 c5 19.Rd2 Rac8 20.dxc5 dxc5 21.Rad1 Rc7 22.Rd5 Rec8 23.c4 b4
24.Nd2 Nd8 25.Nb3 Nb7 26.a3 a5 27.a4 Kf7 28.Qe2 Kg8 29.h4 Bf8 30.h5 Be7 31.Nf5 Bf8
32.Qg4 Qe8 33.Rd7 Kh8 34.Nxg7 1-0 (O.G.)

(178) King’s Gambit C30

Fischer - Anthony Killian
Cheltenham (simul), May 3, 1964

"Playing Fischer was a gift from my father for my 11th birthday, which was the next day May
4." - Anthony J. Killian Jr.

1.e4 e5 2.Bc4 Nf6 3.Nc3 Bc5 4.f4 d6 5.Nf3 0–0 6.d3 Nc6 7.f5 a6 8.Bg5 h6?

Since White will never capture on f6 this just makes a target for a future g2-g4-g5.

9.Bh4 b5 10.Bb3 Nb4?

10...Nb8 and 11...Nbd7 like in the Breyer variation of the Ruy Lopez makes a lot of sense in
view of the threat of Nd5.

11.a3 Nc6 12.Nd5 Nd4 13.Nxd4 Bxd4 14.c3 c6

14...Ba7 15.Nxf6+ gxf6 16.Qg4+ Kh8 17.Rf1 followed by a rook lift to the third. Black has no
defense.

15.Nxf6+ gxf6 16.cxd4 d5 17.Qh5 Kh7 18.dxe5 Qa5+ 19.Kd1 Kg8 20.Qxh6 dxe4 21.Bxf6
exd3 22.Qg7 mate 1–0 (O.G.)
(179) French Winawer C19
Fischer – Allyn Kahn
Cheltenham (simul), May 3, 1964

1.e4 e6 2.d4 d5 3.Nc3 Bb4 4.e5 c5 5.a3 Bxc3+ 6.bxc3 Ne7

6...Qa5 7.Bd2 Qa4 8.Qb1 c4 is a popular modern line.

7.a4 Qa5

This move usually transposes to the main line reached by 7...Nbc6 8.Nf3 Qa5 9.Bd2 Bd7.
Closing the center with ...c4 allows White to implement a classic knight maneuver: 9...c4
10.Ng5 h6 11.Nh3 Bd7 12.Be2 with Nf4-h5 coming. The knight on h5 hits g7, which is
awkward for Black to defend as he doesn't want to play ...g6, which would make it very
difficult to implement the important break ...f6 advantageously.

8.Bd2 c4?!

Closing the center is premature as White's knight is able to reach its ideal square on h5 directly.
Note that the only positions where ... c4 normally works well are when Black is able to
blockade with a piece on a4, stopping White from putting a bishop on a3.

9.Nh3 Bd7 10.Nf4 Nbc6 11.h4

The more traditional treatment would be Be2 followed by castling. This leaves White very
flexibly placed to meet any attempts by Black to break with ...f6.

The immediate 11.Nh5 may be even more testing. After 11...0–0 12.Qg4 Ng6 White plays 13.h4
Kh8 14.Nxg7 Kxg7 15.h5 Kg8 16.Rh3! (Silman) with the point that White frees the bishop from
the defense of c3 and prepares Bg5-f6.

He is in no immediate hurry to regain the piece. For example: 16...Nce7 17.Bh6 (the immediate
17.Bg5 is also possible: 17...Nf5 18.Bf6 Qb6 19.Qg5 Qb2 20.Rc1 h6 21.hxg6 Qxc3+ 22.Rxc3
hxg5 23.g4 Ng7 24.Rh3 fxg6 25.Ra1 preparing to double the rooks on the h-file with Rg6
followed by Ra3-h3.) 17...Rfe8 18.Bg5 Nf5 19.hxg6 fxg6 20.Qf4 Rf8 21.Bf6 and White is
winning.

11...Kf8 12.Qg4 Ng6 13.h4 would lead to similar play.

11...0–0–0 12.h5?!

This shouldn't work well as it takes h5 from White's knight.

12...f5?!

In this sort of position it’s obligatory to play ...h6, preventing h5-h6 by White. Now Bobby
grabs Black's dark squares.

13.h6 g6 14.Nh3 Rdf8 15.f4?!

This stops any potential idea by Black to play ...f5-f4. It might look like 15.f4 kills White's dark
squared bishop, but he has plans to bring it to life on a3 or h4.

This said, f2-f4 doesn't look the most exact as ...f5-f4 is not really a threat. Either 15.Qc1
intending Qa3 (as in the game) or 15.Be2 followed by 0–0 with Qe1 and Bc1–a3 to follow
look more logical. Black may win the pawn on a4 with ...Nc8-b6 and sometimes ...Nc6-d8, but
this costs a lot of time and White gets a tremendous initiative.

15...Kb8 16.Ng5 Nc8 17.Qc1

Normally White protects the c3 pawn with Qe1 and follows with Bc1–a3, but here Fischer's
plan looks better as he hasn't played Be2 and 0–0 yet.

17...Nd8 18.Qa3 Re8

Black sidesteps White's threat of Nxh7! For example, 18...Nb6 19.Qd6+ Ka8 20.Nxh7

19.Kf2 Re7

A more critical line is 19...Nb6 20.Be2 Nxa4 21.Rhb1 when White's initiative provides full
compensation for the sacrificed pawn.

20.Qb4 b6

20...Qc7 might have been expected but there was nothing wrong with the move played.

21.Bc1 Nf7 22.Nf3

White avoids trading queens as this would justify Black's play by giving him the b-file for his
rook and b6 square for his knight.

22...Bc6 23.Be2 Rb7 24.Rh4 Ne7 25.Ba3 Re8 26.Ng5 Nxg5 27.fxg5 Rd8 28.Rf4 Nc8 29.Bc1
Rf7 30.g4 Rdf8 31.Ba3 fxg4??

31...Re8 or 31...Qxb4 32.Bxb4 Re8 had to be played.

32.Rf6! Rxf6+ 33.exf6 Rf7 34.Bxg4 Bd7 35.Qxa5 bxa5 36.Re1 Kc7 37.Bxe6 1–0
Signed scoresheets of Allyn Kahn’s games against Fischer.

Bobby's opponent in the following was rated 1998 USCF on the January 1964 rating list and
was undoubtedly one of Fischer's strongest opponents in the exhibition. Ross Nickel was 1937
and Allyn Kahn 1854 on the same list.

(180) King’s Gambit C32

Fischer – Norman Canter
Cheltenham (simul), May 3, 1964

1.e4 e5 2.f4 d5 3.exd5 e4 4.Nc3 Nf6 5.Qe2 Bd6

5...Bf5 and; 5...Be7 are more commonly seen.

6.d3 0–0 7.dxe4 Nxe4 8.Nxe4 Re8 9.Qf3

9.Bd2 Bf5 10.0–0–0 Bxe4= Lasker-Pillsbury, Augsburg 1900.

9...f5

9...Bf5 10.Bd3 Bxe4 11.Bxe4 Steinitz-MacDonnell, London 1872. Now the chess engine
Houdini 4 likes 11...Qe7 assessing the position as offering equal chances. Canter notes on his
scoresheet he is playing a line given in Fletcher's Gambits Accepted, a book published in 1954.

10.Be3 fxe4 11.Qf2 Rf8 12.0–0–0 Qe8 13.Ne2 Bg4 14.h3 Bxe2 15.Bxe2 Na6
Objectively Black's position is not good but starting with the text he plays with great
imagination and takes the fight to his famous opponent.

16.Kb1 Nb4 17.a3 a5!? 18.axb4

18.Rhe1 was a more practical decision, especially when facing over 70 other opponents, but
Bobby was never one to back down from a challenge.

18...axb4 19.b3

This stops the threatened 19...Qa4, but Black has more tricks up his sleeve.

19...Be5!? 20.Bd4 e3!?

Canter continues to mix things up. Objectively his last few moves shouldn't succeed, but
practically they work wonderfully. Fischer has to find the right move in a tricky position with
very little time.

21.Qg3?

The refutation of Black's play was 21.Qe1! , but it would have been quite difficult to work out
the following lines in a simultaneous exhibition. This is why 18.Rhe1 was a more practical
choice, relying on technique rather than precise calculation. Games similar to this one indicate
that Fischer was always willing to mix it up during his exhibitions and not try to win all his
games by grinding down his opponents.

White is winning in all the following lines. 21...Rxf4 22.Qxb4 Qb8 23.c3 Bxd4 24.Rxd4 Rf2
(24...Qa7 25.Qa4 Qb8 26.Rxf4) 25.Re1 Qa7 26.Qa4 Qb8 27.Qc4 Qa7 (27...Kh8 28.Re4 Qa7
29.Qa4 Qb8 30.Qb5) 28.d6+ Kh8 29.Qa4 Qb8 30.dxc7.

21...Rxf4 22.Qxe3 Bxd4 23.Qxe8+ Rxe8 24.Bc4 Kh8 25.Rhe1

25.Rhf1 offered more chances to resist.

25...Ra8 26.Rxd4

26.c3 Bxc3 27.Re2 was more stubborn. Now Black concludes the game very nicely.

26...Rxd4 27.Kb2 g6 28.Bd3 Rxd5 29.Re7 Rda5! 30.Kc1 Rc8 31.g4 Ra1+ 32.Kd2 Rh1
33.Re3 Rh2+ 34.Kc1 Ra8! 35.Kb2 Rh1 0–1(O.G.)
 Boston, May 10
+50, -1, =2
The event, which was organized by Frank Ferdinand and held at the Harvard Club, was one of
the most difficult of all the exhibitions to track down. Steve Brandwein, who played in the
exhibition, and Bill Robertie, who spectated, both remembered the event but couldn’t supply
precise details. At the last moment, Joe Sparks, editor of Chess Horizons, found the following
information in Jim Burgess’ column in the Boston Globe:

Robert J. Fischer, chess champion of the United States, played 53 games simultaneously at the
Harvard Club May 10. He completed his appointed rounds in a shade under three hours, and
after the smoke had cleared he had won 50, lost one and drawn two. Russell Codman, Boston,
was the victor. F.G. Bemis, Brookline, and Stephen Brandwein, Boston, held the maestro even.

Fischer prefaced his whirlwind exhibition with an amusingly wry analysis of a game he won
from Russian Efim Geller at Bled, 1961. The champion’s flipping of the magnetic pieces on the
exhibition board was perhaps a mite too fast for some of the audience, but they were delighted
by his dexterity.

Efim Geller, pictured here facing a young Joel Benjamin at Lone Pine 1980, with Jay
Whitehead. (Photo by Jerry Hanken)

Fischer is reaching the end of his first national tour which has taken him from coast to coast and
into Canada. His most difficult task faced him, he said, in Chicago and Toronto. In those cities
the big guns of local chess apparently turned out en masse and this led to long hours and
arduous labor.

(181) French C00

Fischer - Russell Codman
Boston (simul), May 10, 1964
1.e4 e6 2.d4 Ne7 3.Nc3 g6 4.h4 Bg7 5.h5 d5 6.h6 Bf8 7.Bg5 a6 8.Bf6 Rg8 9.Nf3 Nd7 10.e5
Nxf6 11.exf6 Nf5 12.g4 Qxf6 13.gxf5 Qxf5 14.Bd3 Qf4 15.Rh4 Qf6 16.Qe2 Bd7 17.Ne5??
Qxh4 18.Qf3 f5 19.O-O-O Bxh6+ 20.Kb1 Qxd4 21.Qe2 Bg7 22.Nxd7 Kxd7 23.Bxf5 Qe5
0-1 (Boston Globe, May 24, 1964)

The following game, kindly forwarded by Boston Globe columnist Harold Dondis, shows
Bobby’s skill in fighting the Classical French. Gale, in his letter to the Globe, mentions that the
first simul he ever played in was against Frank Marshall at the City Club in Boston in October
of 1930 and the last, versus Arthur Bisguier in Billerica in June of 1982. He won both of these
games, but none in the 52 years between them, despite playing in many exhibitions!

(182) French Alekhine-Chatard C13

Fischer - Windsor Gale
Boston (simul), May 10, 1964

1.e4 e6 2.d4 d5 3.Nc3 Nf6 4.Bg5 Be7 5.e5 Nfd7 6.h4

This initiates the Alekhine-Chatard Attack. Everyone knows Alexander Alekhine, but Chatard
is another matter. The Oxford Companion to Chess by Hooper and Whyld mentions that
Frenchman Eugene Chatard (1850-1924) looked at 6.h4 around the turn of the century, and that
his analysis may have inspired Alekhine to give it a try (viz. Alekhine-Fahrni, Mannheim
1914), but that Romanian-born Adolf Albin was the real originator.

6...f6 7.Qh5+ g6?!

Theory prefers the less weakening 7...Kf8.

8.exf6 Nxf6 9.Qe2 Nc6

ECO gives only 9...c5 10.dxc5 Nc6 11.O-O-O O-O 12.Nh3 with a clear advantage for White,
Sanguineti - F. Benko, Buenos Aires 1954.

10.O-O-O O-O 11.Nf3 a6 12.Kb1 b5 13.Bh6 Re8 14.Ng5 Bf8 15. Bxf8 Kxf8 16.h5 h6
17.Nf3 Nxh5

Better is 17...g5 18.Qd2 Ne7 19.Ne5 c5 20.dxc5 Kg7 with advantage to White. After the text,
Fischer is winning.

18.Qe3 Ng7 19.Qxh6 Qf6 20.Bd3 Ke7 21.Bxg6 Rf8 22.Rhe1 Kd8 23.Ne5 Ne7 24.Re3?

This is an uncharacteristic bit of carelessness on Bobby’s part. The text costs White the
exchange, but not the game. Correct was 24.g4 Ne8 25.g5 Qxf2 26.Qh3 with a winning
advantage.

24...Ngf5 25.Qh7 Nxe3 26.fxe3 Nxg6?!

Gale considers this too hasty, preferring 26...Bd7 or 26...c6. For example, after 26...c6 27.Rh1
Nxg6 28.Nxg6 Rf7 29.Qh2 Bb7, the position is about equal. After the text, White is winning
again.

27.Nxg6 Qf7?! 28.Nxf8 Qxf8 29. g4 c5 30.dxc5 Qxc5 31.g5 Ra7 32. Qh8+ 1-0 (O.G.)

Pransky of Sharon, Massachusetts played this game at the Harvard Club venue.

(183) French Winawer C19

Fischer – Kermit Pransky
Boston (simul), May 10, 1964

1.e4 e6 2.d4 d5 3.Nc3 Bb4 4.e5 c5 5.a3 Bxc3+ 6.bxc3 Ne7 7.a4 0–0?!

Castling kingside is not normally associated with the Winawer variation of the French except
the line 7.Qg4 0–0. More common are: 7...Nbc6; 7...Qa5; 7...Qc7; 7...b6 and 7...Bd7.

8. Nf3 cxd4?!

This exchange only helps White by undoubling his pawns and making his dark-squared bishop
more active. More logical are 8...b6 (planning ...Ba6) and 8...Qc7.

9.cxd4 Qc7 10.Bd3 Nbc6??

Some of Black's previous moves might have been second best but the text just gets mated. It
was essential to play 10...h6.

11.Bxh7+ Kxh7 12.Ng5+ Kg6

12...Kh6 13.Qd3 Qa5+ 14.Kd1 Qd2+ 15.Bxd2 Rh8 16.Nxf7+ Kh5 17.Qh3+ Kg6 18.Nxh8 mate;
12...Kg8 13.Qh5 Rd8 14.Qxf7+ Kh8 15.Ra3 Nf5 16.Rh3+ Nh6 17.Qg6 Qa5+ 18.Bd2 Kg8
19.Rxh6 Qxd2+ 20.Kxd2 Nxe5 21.Rh8+ Kxh8 22.Qh7 mate.

13.h4 Nxe5 14.h5+ Kf5 15.g4+ Kf6

15...Nxg4 16.Qf3+ Qf4 17.Qxf4 mate.

16.Nh7 mate 1–0 (O.G. published in Fischer Uncensored, page 82)

Milwaukee, May 14
+48, -4, =5
Fischer Compiles 48-4-5 Record
Against a Mass of Chess Foes

by Terry Bledsoe

Two heads may indeed be better than one, but 57 aren’t — not when the one head belongs to
Bobby Fischer.

Fischer, the 20-year-old [sic — Fischer turned 21 on March 9)] who in eight years with the
game has grown to become its dominant force, took on 57 foes at once at the Pfister Hotel
Thursday night in an impressive show of mental gymnastics sponsored by The Journal and the
Municipal Recreation Department.

Some 250 chess buffs showed up, paying $2 to play Fischer or $1 to kibitz those who were
playing him, and to marvel at the brilliance, and the endurance, of the champion.

Five Tie Champion

There was some solace for the challengers. Four of them actually beat Fischer, and five more
tied him — an accomplishment which loses a bit of its luster when it is considered that Fischer
spent no more than 10 or 15 seconds on a move.

Two of the four who won were Marshall High School students — John Dedinsky, 19, the
Wisconsin state champion, and Dave Luban, 15. The other winners were Charles Weldon of
Milwaukee and Joseph Chabot. Draws were achieved by William Martz of Hartland, a
University of Wisconsin student; city champion Fred Zarse, county champion Henry Meifert,
Juris Zvers and Gregory Nowak.

All the others — 48 of them — were beaten. Fischer forced his first resignation in 10 minutes
flat, his second in 45 minutes. After that it was tougher.

25 Resign En Masse

About 35 boards were still in play at 12:15 a.m., some three and a half hours after play had
begun, but a majority of these were hopelessly outmanned. Officials asked all such trapped
players to stop postponing the inevitable and about 25 of them resigned, saving Fischer the time
needed to administer the coup de grace.

The last half-dozen games ended almost simultaneously, at 1 a.m., leaving the Pfister’s Fern
Room a litter of overturned chess pieces, reeking of cigar smoke and awash with brain waves.

Fischer spent his evening on the inside of a rectangle formed by tables on which rested the 57
chess boards of his opposition. He moved ceaselessly around the perimeter, analyzing in a
moment the strategic character of each board, snapping a pawn or a knight into position, moving
on to the next board.

He continued his walk for more than four hours, never stopping, never taking a drink from the
pitcher of water provided for him, never speaking.

He started with one move to each of the 57 — pawn to king four, and his first moves were gay
and casual. But as strategy developed, Fischer’s progress began to slow. His left hand tucked in
his pocket, he would rock from one foot to another as he plotted, his lips pursed, his cowlick of
brown hair at attention.

Before the contests began, Fischer spent 15 minutes recounting a match two years ago with
Mikhail Tal of Russia, a former world champion.

A tall youngster, Fischer is uncomfortable in conversation, and was uncomfortable as he sought

to make small talk with the crowd. A 20-year-old’s expressions crept into his comments — “He
had me down four to zip,” he said in explaining that Tal beat him the first four times they met;
and, “I just rammed the rook four down his throat,” in explanation of one attack pattern.

But as Fischer began to immerse himself in chess, his speech grew firmer. He diagrammed the
progress of the game on a board for all to see, and soon was tearing off on tangents to show
alternative moves.

Sometimes, in seeming disgust at his inability to talk about moves as fast as he could think
about them, he would lapse into silence as he and the imaginary Tal fought on.

When he had finished, and Tal was at last in check, Fischer stuck his left hand back in his
pocket, grinned briefly, and fled the stage. He walked a straight line to the playing area, and
made his first moves. He was obviously more comfortable there. (Milwaukee Journal,
5/15/1964)

Mikhail Tal was at the height of his powers when he defeated Fischer in all four games in the
1959 Candidates tournament. This drubbing understandably made Bobby especially proud of
his victory at Bled 1961, a game he showed on more than one occasion during the 1964 tour.
Surprisingly the two World Champions played no tournament games against each other after
1962. The lifetime score between them was 6 ½ - 4 ½ in Tal’s favor. Here Val Zemitis stands in
front of the great Misha’s grave in the Tal family plot in Riga.

(184) Sicilian O’Kelly B28

Fischer - Henry Meifert
Milwaukee (simul), May 14, 1964

1.e4 c5 2.Nf3 a6 3.c4 Nc6 4.d4 cxd4 5.Nxd4 Nf6 6.Nc3 e5 7.Nf5 d5 8.cxd5 Bxf5 9.exf5 Nd4
10.Bd3 Nxd5 11.Be4

Normally this is delayed until White has castled.

11...Bb4

ECO gives only 11...Nb4 12.O-O Rb8 with unclear play in Romanovsky-Litvinov, USSR 1959.

12.Bd2 Bxc3 13.bxc3 Nc6 14.Qb3 Nce7 15.Qxb7 O-O 16.Rd1 Rb8 17.Qxa6 Qc7 18.O-O
Rfd8 19.Qe2 Rb2 20.Qf3 Rxa2 21.Bg5 Nf6 22.Bxf6 gxf6 23.Qg3+ Kh8 24.Qh4 Ng8 25.Bd5
Ra3 26.c4 Ra6 27.Rd3 Qe7 28.Rh3 h6 29.Rg3 Kh7 30.h3 Qf8 31.Re1 Rdd6 32.Re4 Ne7
33.Rb3 Nxd5 34.cxd5 Ra5 35.Qh5 Ra1+ 36.Kh2 Rxd5 37.Rh4 Rd4 38.Rxd4 exd4 39.Qh4
Ra6 40.Qxd4 Ra2 41.Rd3 Qb8+ 42.g3 Qb7 Draw

Henry R. Meifert (1925-1998), who was still rated a master in his late 60s, was a pillar of the
Milwaukee chess community for over 50 years. He was wounded while serving as a U.S. Army
Infantryman during World War II and was awarded a Purple Heart with two Clusters.
Three Latvians who had a connection who Bobby Fischer are in this photo taken by Arturs
Graudins in 1961. They are (l-r) Nikoljas Kampars who drew with Bobby in the 1957 New
Western Open, Juris Zvers who drew in Milwaukee during the 1964 tour
and Alexander Liepnieks who hosted Bobby during the 1955 U.S. Junior Open in Lincoln,
Nebraska. Liepnieks organized the Junior, Bobby's first important tournament away from home,
and became a good friend. He was in attendance during the 1972 match in Reykjavik and even
translated some Soviet documents from Russian for the Fischer delegation. (Photo from Alex
Liepnieks archives)

(185) Philidor C41

Fischer - Juris Zvers
Milwaukee (simul), May 14, 1964

1.e4 e5 2.Nf3 d6 3.d4 ed4 4.Nxd4 Be7 5.Nc3 c6 6.Bc4 Nf6 7.a4 Bg4 8.f3 Bh5 9.Be3 Nxe4?!

Initiating complications favors the better developed player — White.

10.Nxe4 d5 11.Ng3 dxc4 12.Ndf5!

On 12.Nxh5 Zvers recovers the piece with 12...Qa5+ but now the white knight comes into play
with strong effect.

12...Bg6 13.Nxg7+ Kf8 14.Bh6 Qa5+ 15.c3 Qe5+ 16.Qe2 Qxe2+ 17.Kxe2 Kg8 18.N7f5 Bf8
19.Bxf8 Kxf8 20.Rhd1 Na6 21.Rd4 Nc5 22.Rxc4 Re8+ 23.Kf1 Re5 24.f4?! Rxf5 25.Nxf5
Nb3!

Black’s saving grace, with threats of ...Nxa1, ...Nd2+, not to mention ...Bxf5.

26.Rd1 Bxf5 27.Rd8+ Kg7 28.Rxh8 Nd2+! 29.Ke2 Nxc4 30.Rb8 Nxb2 31.Rxb7 Nxa4
32.Kd2 Nc5 33.Rxa7 Draw (O.G.)

Chess in Milwaukee
by Walter J. Boeyer

Milwaukee, Wisconsin, June 24, 1964

I just watched Fischer play at the Pfister Hotel here. He preceded his exhibition with a talk on
his game with Tal.

He played 55 games, losing 4. It cost $1.00 to watch the exhibition. $5 to play. Our local
newspaper, the Milwaukee Journal, co-sponsored the event so it only cost $2.00 to play: this
newspaper is very generous to chess and backs an annual chess event for all the local children
on the city play grounds — a big event. (Chess, August 20th 1964)
B. H. Wood, the editor and founder of Chess, notes, “Milwaukee has for decades been one of
the world’s leading chess centers; in fact we understand that FOUR THOUSAND youngsters
took part in the latest congress.”

John Dedinsky is the inventor of the well-regarded Chronos chess clock.

(186) French Winawer - C19

Fischer – John Dedinsky
Milwaukee (simul), May 14, 1964

Notes by John Dedinsky

1.e4 e6 2.d4 d5 3.Nc3 Bb4 4.e5 c5 5.a3 Bxc3+ 6.bxc3 Ne7 7.a4 Qa5 8.Bd2 c4 9.Nf3

I expected Qg4.

9...Nd7

I was trying to copy a plan of Botvinnik’s who used the knight to capture the a-pawn.
10.Ng5 h6 11.Qh5

White’s 14th makes this move clear.

11...g6

If 11...Ng6, then 12.Nxe6!.

12.Qh3 Nb6 13.Nf3 Bd7 14.Qh4

Now it’s hard for Black to castle.

Editors’ note: Fischer should have played 14.Be2 with some compensation for the pawn after
14...Bxa4 15.O-O. The text, at best, loses several tempi.

14...Bxa4

I changed plans. I intended Nxa4, but decided the knight could be useful at d7.

15.Qf6 Rh7 16.h4?

Editor’s note: Bobby completely overlooks Black’s threat. He had to play 16.Qh4 though
Dedinsky would still stand much better.
16..Nf5 17.h5

The queen has no escape.

17...Nd7 0-1

The white queen is trapped. On seeing Black’s last move, Fischer immediately, and with a
smile, tipped his queen. (O.G.)

Report by David Luban:

Alas! The score of my May 14, 1964 game against Fischer vanished mysteriously sometime
after the game, and my memory — usually good for chess games of yesteryear — isn’t up to
task. At the time, the affectation of our high school chess crowd was to notate our games using
Cyrillic (Russian) characters, and I suspect that when I went off to college in 1966 my mother
decided to do a general clean-up of my room, came across a page of gibberish, and threw it
away. But perhaps this might be useful for your book:

Fischer played an Evans Gambit against me, and after 18 moves had an overwhelming position.
With nothing to lose, and hoping to stay at the table for a few more minutes at least, I sacked a
bishop at f2 and drew his king into the fray. In the ensuing complications, Fischer allowed his
queen to be trapped at g4 and resigned. My combination was no means a forced win of his
queen, and a subsequent group analysis showed that it was doubtful even as a forced draw.
Players were arranged at the table in order of Elo ratings, and, as your diagram places me, I
was on the left side, not the bottom end. In any event, Fischer was spending mere seconds per
move at my end, reserving his longer thought for the strong end. I don’t take much credit for the
win, though my combination wasn’t simply silly.

Fischer was completely impassive as he turned over his king. He said only “I could have
drawn if I’d done this,” and showed me the drawing maneuver. He autographed my score
without further comment.

Flint, May 16
+53, -0, =5

The Flint Journal, May 18, 1964:

Nobody beat the champ. But five players were able to hold him to a draw. That was the result
of a Flint performance Saturday night by Bobby Fischer, U.S. chess champion. He took on 58
players simultaneously. Earning the draws in the exhibition at the YMCA were Wilmer Gray
and Norman Burns, both of Flint; Donald E. Dubois and Jack O’Keefe, both of Ann Arbor, and
William Kerscher of Toledo. O’Keefe is rated as a master player.
When play ended at 1:30 a.m. Sunday, Fischer’s comment was that the competition here was
tougher than he expected. He said Flint appears to be growing in stature as a chess community.
His appearance in Flint was sponsored by the Flint Chess Club and the Mott Program.

Letter from Bob Ciaffone:

I was one of those chessplayers who played against Bobby at Flint, Michigan in 1964. He was
awesome in both speed and accuracy of play. I have dueled with many chessplayers in simuls
over the years, including Paul Keres, Viktor Kortchnoi, David Bronstein, Bent Larsen, and
Mikhail Tal. Fischer was clearly the best at simul play.

Before the exhibition Bobby gave a chess lecture. He analyzed a game that he had played
against a Canadian master in a simul. The game was an Evans Gambit which Fischer had won.
At that time Bobby was quite interested in classical romantic openings.

Fischer faced about 60 players. He gave up a few draws, but no losses. There were at least two
masters in the field, as well as a number of experts. I was at that time rated around 1900.

My game was very interesting. Fischer of course opened with 1.e4, and we played a Ruy
Lopez. I played the Marshall Gambit against him. Through weak play I allowed a queen trade,
and was down a pawn for nothing. Then Fischer made a blunder and allowed me a combination
to win the exchange at the cost of another pawn. Fischer had been making all his moves
instantly against me, including his blunder, but as he walked away from me he realized the
error, although it was too late.

The endgame of rook vs. bishop looked tenable to me, although I was two pawns down. When
Fischer came to my board, he went into deep thought for about 15 or 20 seconds. This was the
only time in the entire game he did not make his move instantly. After thinking, he pushed a
pawn forward with a thump. I could tell from the way he made the move that he felt confident
the winning plan had been found. The pawn was sacrificed to lure my king to the side of the
board. Fischer was then able to break through on the other wing.

My game lasted a long time, but there were still a few games going when it ended. Fischer’s
rapid movement from board to board soon squelched the opposition. Finally, there was one
board left. Bobby’s opponent had a totally lost game, both materially and positionally, but he
wouldn’t resign. The fellow was taking at least 30 seconds a move, and excessively prolonging
Fischer’s evening. I was embarrassed that one of our Michigan players was being so rude.
Fischer, to his credit, said nary a word, and even kept a poker face. Finally the fellow gave up
and Fischer was able to conclude his exhibition.

Fischer’s prowess at simultaneous exhibitions showed his tremendously quick chess reflexes. It
is no surprise that his games were almost never in time pressure. But besides the obvious
talent, Fischer will always be remembered in Michigan for his gentlemanly behavior.

The 1999 June-August issue of Chess Horizons featured the following article on Bobby by
former Michigan Junior Champion Thomas Richardson. It offers a unique first hand glimpse of
what Bobby was like in 1964 through the eyes of a teenager.

When Bobby Fischer Stayed At My House

by Thomas Richardson

Bobby Fischer did not become world chess champion until 1972, but he was already famous
when I first saw him in person at the Western Open held in Bay City, Michigan in July 1963.
Although it would have been an almost certain loss for me, I was disappointed when I missed
being paired against him in the first round by about ten boards. (I was doubly disappointed
because the tournament director made a mistake in the pairings, and I ended up with a bye in the
first round.) Even so, it was a treat to watch him play, particularly on the last day when he
demolished the grandmasters Arthur Bisguier and Pal Benko after staying up all night playing
speed chess for money (Editor - memories often play tricks after long periods of time. Bobby's
last three opponents in Bay City were in order Bisguier, D.Byrne and Berliner - Benko did not
play). Little did I know at that time that less than a year later he would be staying at my house.

Fischer playing in the 1963 Western Open in Bay City, Michigan.

My father was president of the Flint Chess Club in Michigan, and he arranged for Fischer to
stay with us and give a simultaneous exhibition in Flint in May of 1964. I was in the tenth grade
at the time and rushed home from school on the Friday that Fischer arrived. It was a surprise to
see him in our backyard dressed in a gray suit and tie, which was his standard attire for the two
days he stayed with us. He and my father were seated at a chess board, and my father, who was
director of the Flint Public Library System, had brought home a newly released chess book that
Bobby hadn’t seen before. Bobby was playing through the games as fast as he could move the
pieces, often knocking them over in the process. He would make offhand comments like, “Of
course, you know this variation.” Or “That’s not a good move.”

Before long my father proposed that Fischer and I play a game and Bobby suggested pawn and
move odds. So I played White and Bobby removed his king bishop pawn. Although I had
managed to win the Michigan Junior Chess Championship at age twelve in my first-ever
tournament, I had only been playing seriously for about threeyears and expected to be soundly
trounced. Much to my surprise I didn’t make any huge blunders, and although I lost my pawn
advantage, I was able to hold a draw in the resulting endgame. I was walking on air, but
unfortunately didn’t think to write down the moves, so that game is only a memory. Maybe it is
partially as a result of this experience that I encourage younger players always to record their
games.

One incident that occurred that evening indicates Bobby's competitiveness, even in offhand
games. During this period of his life, Fischer was practicing some variant of the Jewish
religion, and from sundown Friday to sundown Saturday he would not study or play chess or
even talk about it. We had finished dinner and were sitting in the living room. The board with
the final position from our game in the afternoon had been moved inside and was placed across
the room from him. He was fidgeting and something was clearly bothering him. Finally noting
that although it was after sundown on Friday and that he shouldn't do it, he walked to the board
and removed any one of my pieces saying, "This is the piece that kept me from winning.“ After
that he was much more relaxed.

The Exhibition
Because of Fischer's religion, the simultaneous exhibition was not scheduled to start until 8:00
Saturday evening. My recollection is that Saturday was a long day because Bobby couldn't talk
about chess, and he really wasn't interested in any other subject. My parents took him to the
store so that he could replace the shaving cream and other items he left at the previous stop on
his simultaneous tour. He complained about the fact that the items he wanted were marked with
the price for two, not realizing that he could buy only one of them.

Having grown up in New York City, Bobby did not know how to drive. On the way to the
playing site at the local YMCA, he asked about the pedals on the floor of the car. He also
wasn't comfortable with the fact that my mother was driving him, and told her not to get them
killed on the way.

My recollection is that Fischer played 50 boards that Saturday night, although the caption on a
photograph from the Flint Journal indicates that 58 people opposed him. The event attracted a
number of strong players from southern Michigan, but he defeated all except four who managed
to hold him to draws. In my game I made positional blunders in the opening and should have
resigned much earlier than I did. It was more difficult playing him in the simultaneous
exhibition than in our backyard since you had to move every time he came to your board. By
the end of the evening, he was running from board to board, so that the remaining players were
forced to play speed chess. He completed all of the games in less than four hours.

Bobby Fischer was one of the fastest solvers of the Same Lloyd 15-Puzzle. He had been timed
to be able to solve it within 25 seconds; Fischer demonstrated this on November 8, 1972 on
The Tonight Show Starring Johnny Carson.

Sam Lloyd's Puzzle

On Sunday my younger brother and father took Fischer to the airport. While waiting for his
plane, he absent-mindedly pulled out of his pocket the well-known puzzle created by Sam
Lloyd. This puzzle is a 4x4 grid containing one blank space and fifteen tiles numbered from
one to fifteen. Using the blank space, the tiles can be moved on the grid, and the object is to put
the tiles in numerical order from left to right and top to bottom.

Fischer suggested that my brother mix up the tiles and asked him how long he thought it would
take to put them in order. My brother facetiously responded "about a minute," but it only took
Fischer twenty-two seconds! As m brother rearranged the tiles again, Fischer pointed out tiles
that were still in order. This second time Fischer completed the puzzle in about fifteen
seconds. He commented that he was a little rusty and that when he was in practice he could
complete it in as little as eleven seconds.

Bobby related that the first time he tried this puzzle as a boy, it had taken him several hours to
solve, and that made him mad! He apparently analyzed the puzzle to the point that he had the
solution totally memorized. His copy of the puzzle was high quality and lubricated so that the
pieces moved easily. He also indicated that it was better to move the tiles with the index finger
rather than the thumb, because one had more control of the former. In other words Fischer
attacked this puzzle with the same kind of determination and completeness that he applied to
chess. As he put the puzzle away, he commented, "I am also the world champion in this!"

Teenager Thomas Richardson studies his position against Bobby in Flint, Michigan. (Photo
courtesy of Thomas Richardson)

(187) Sicilian Paulsen B42

Fischer – Thomas Richardson
Flint (simul), May 16, 1964

1.e4 c5 2.Nf3 e6 3.d4 cxd4 4.Nxd4 a6 5.Bd3 Nc6 6.Nxc6 bxc6 7.O-O Nf6?

7...d5 or 7...e5 is a more solid way to play. Now Black’s knight gets kicked around.

8.e5 Nd5 9.c4 Nb6 10.Nc3 Qc7 11.Bf4 Bb7

The cramp in Richardson’s position is felt. Attempting to battle for space by 11...d6?, fails to
12.exd6 Bxd6 13. Bxd6 Qxd6 14.Ne4 followed by 15. c5 and 16.Nd6+ with a big advantage
for White.

12.Ne4

Fischer heads straight for the weakness on d6, but there was something to be said for
straightforward development with 12.Qg4 followed by Rad1.
12...c5 13.Nd6+

Having said “A” (12.Ne4), White follows with “B” (13.Nd6+), but 13.Qg4, maintaining the
pressure, was still a good alternative.

13...Bxd6 14.exd6 Qc6 15.f3 f6?!

Black tries to go after the pawn on d6 (...e6-e5). A reasonable alternative was 15...O-O.

16.Qb3 f5

Now it becomes apparent that 16...e5 isn’t possible, as 17.Be4 wins the knight.

17.Be5?!

This is not a bad move, but considerably more to the point is 17.Bxf5!. Here 17...exf5 walks
into mate after 18.Qe3+ Kf8 19.Qe7+ Kg8 20.Be5. Richardson also has no good defense after
18... Kd8 19.Qe7+ Kc8 20.Qxg7 Rd8 (20...Re8 21.Rae1) 21.Qxh7: Black is completely
paralyzed and 22.Rad1 with 23.Bg5 to follow are in the air.

17...O-O 18.Rad1 Nc8

This starts a long maneuver to get the knight into play on c6.

19.Qc3

White is clearly better so the challenge is how to open up the position to his advantage. The text
starts preparations to advance the b-pawn.

Rf7 20.Bc2 Na7 21.Qe3 Qb6?

Black faithfully follows the above-mentioned plan, but overlooks a tactic. He had to play
21...a5 and only then ...Qb6 and ...Nc6.

22.b4! Nc6

Nothing works for Black: after 22... Qxb4??, 23.Rb1 wins a piece, and on 22...Rc8 23.bxc5,
Black can’t capture the pawn, as 23...Qxc5 24.Bd4 picks up a knight and 23...Rxc5 24.Bd4, a
rook!

23.bxc5

White wins not only a pawn, but a highway for his rooks to enter the Black position. The rest is
very easy, as Richardson has no counterplay.

23...Qa7 24.Bc3 Rc8 25.Rb1 Ra8 26.Rb6 Rc8 27.Rfb1 Nd8 28.a4 Qa8 29.h4 Rc6 30.h5 h6
Black couldn’t allow 31.h6, opening the a1-h8 diagonal.

31.Ba5 Qc8 32.Rxc6 Nxc6 33.Bc3 Nd8 34.Rb6 Ba8 35.f4 Bb7 36. Bd4 Nc6 37.Bd1 Nxd4
38.Qxd4 Rf8 39.a5 Bc6 40.Qe5 Qa8 41. Rb3!

Bobby indirectly covers g2 (41... Bxg2? 42.Rg3!), and prepares to swing his rook over to the
kingside for the attack.

41...Qe8 42.Rg3 Qf7 43.Rb3!

More space equals more mobility. Now that Black’s pieces are bunched around his king,
Fischer decides to go the other way.

43...Ba4

Black gets to trade a pair of pieces, but loses his best-placed piece.

44.Rb1 Bxd1 45.Rxd1 Rb8

White was threatening 46.Rb1 followed by Rb6 or Rb7; so the text is understandable, but it
walks into a nice tactic. If 45...Qxh5, Bobby had 46.Rb1 Rc8 47.Rb7 Qe8 48.Rb6 Ra8 49.c6!
dxc6 50.Qc5 with a winning position.

46.c6! dxc6 47.d7 Rd8 48.Qc7 Qe7 49.Qxc6 Kf7 50.c5 Kf8 51.Qc7 Kf7 52.Qc6 Kf8

Since Black is helpless, Bobby takes time to safeguard his king so that after a future c5-c6 there
are no complications with ...Qc5+.

53.g3 Kf7 54.Kh2 Rb8 55.Qc7 Rd8 56.c6 Qf6 57.Qxd8 Qxd8 58.c7 1-0 (Chess Horizons,
June-August 1999, pages 6-7.)

(188) Caro-Kann Panov-Botvinnik B14

Fischer – Donald Dubois
Flint (simul), May 16, 1964

1.e4 d5 2.exd5 Nf6 3.c4 c6 4.d4 cxd5 5.Nc3 g6 6.Nf3 Bg7 7.c5 O-O 8.b4 Nc6 9.b5 Ne4
10.bxc6 Nxc3 11.Qb3 Ne4 12.cxb7 Bxb7 13.Qxb7 Qa5+ 14.Bd2 Nxd2 15.Nxd2 Bh6 16.Qb2
Rab8 17.Qc2 e5 18.Rd1 exd4 19.Be2 Rfe8 20.Kf1 Rxe2! 21.Kxe2 Qa6+ 22.Kf3 Qf6+
23.Ke2 Qa6+ 24.Kf3 Draw

Note: Twenty-eight years later, far removed from the pressure-filled atmosphere in Flint, it
looks like Mr. Dubois should have played on with 24...d3, as 25.Qc3 (otherwise 25...Qf6+ is
fatal) 25...Bg7 26.Qc1 Qf6+ 27.Kg3 (27.Ke3 Re8+ 28.Kxd3 Qf5+) 27...Qg5+ 28.Kf3 Qf5+
29.Kg3 Be5+ mates. (O.G.)

(189) Two Knights C57

Fischer - R. Snuske
Flint (simul), May 16, 1964

1.e4 e5 2.Bc4 Nc6 3.Nf3 Nf6 4.Ng5 d5 5.exd5 Nxd5 6.d4 Be7 7.Nxf7 Kxf7 8.Qf3+ Ke6
9.Nc3 Bb4? 10.Bxd5+ Kd6 11.Bxc6 Bxc3+ 12.bxc3 bxc6 13.O-O Be6 14.dxe5+ Kd7
15.Rd1+ Bd5 16.c4 Rf8 17.Qh3+ 1-0 (O.G.)

(190) Sicilian Dragon B70

Fischer - Walter Murdock
Flint (simul), May 16, 1964

1.e4 c5 2.Nf3 Nc6 3.d4 cxd4 4.Nxd4 d6 5.Nc3 a6 6.Bc4 g6 7.Be3 Bg7 8.Qd2 e6? 9.O-O-O
Nf6 10.Nxc6 bxc6 11.Qxd6 Qxd6 12.Rxd6 Bb7 13.f3 O-O 14.Na4 Ne8 15.Rd2 Nf6 16.Nc5
and White went on to win very quickly. Remaining moves on the score sheet are garbled. 1-0
(O.G.)

The late Jack O’Keefe of Ann Arbor kindly passed on the following three games from Bobby’s
exhibition in Flint, Michigan.

(191) French McCutcheon C12

Fischer - Norman Burns
Flint (simul), May 16, 1964

1.e4 e6 2.d4 d5 3.Nc3 Nf6 4.Bg5 Bb4 5.e5

Russian Grandmaster Igor Glek, who is a specialist on the black side of the McCutcheon
French, had an interesting story to tell about the opening in the French magazine Europa Echecs
(we found the story, as related by Dutch GM Hans Ree, on Hanon Russell’s Chess Cafe
website). In 1988, when he was doing his military service in the Soviet Union, Glek was
approached by Anatoly Karpov. The former World Champion was playing for the Red Army
team at the time and asked Glek for advice about what to do against the McCutcheon. Glek
compiled a small file on the line that starts with 5.exd5, which, of course, is not a refutation of
the McCutcheon, but very safe and, according to Glek, gives White good prospects for a
minimal positional advantage. Just what I needed, Karpov said. Glek was rewarded with two
weeks extra leave from military service. (In the Soviet Union power and influence — blat in
Russian — counted for everything. The world has changed since then and later Karpov had to
pay his helpers.)

5...h6 6.Be3

Fischer faced the McCutcheon twice in tournament play. Each time he answered 6.Bd2 and
after 6...Bxc3, he played the experimental 7.Bxc3 against Petrosian (Curaçao 1962) and the
main line 7.bxc3 Ne4 8.Qg4 g6 9.Bd3 vs. Rossolimo (U.S. Championship 1965). The latter is
game number 52 in My 60 Memorable Games.

6...Ne4 7.Ne2

Here White normally plays 7.Qg4.

7...c5 8.a3 Nxc3

8...cxd4 9.Bxd4 Nxc3 10.Nxc3 Be7 11.Qg4 O-O 12.Be3 f5 13.Qg6 Qc7 14.f4 favored White in
Nunn-Beaton, Walsall 1992.

9.Nxc3 cxd4

This move, in conjunction with Black’s next, loses time. Normally, Black plays 9...Bxc3+
10.bxc3 Qa5 with play reminiscent of the Winawer.

10.Bxd4 Be7 11.f4 Nc6 12.Bb5

Fischer could have aimed for a more complicated game with 12.Bf2.

12...Bd7 13.Bxc6 bxc6

Making the bad bishop even worse, but Black wants to get in ...c5. White wants to put his
knight there, which explains the following complications.

14.Na4 Qa5+ 15.c3 c5

Here, 15...Qb5 16.b4 Bc8 17.Bc5, meeting 17...Ba6 with 18.Bxf8 Kxf8 19. Nc5, gives Fischer
the advantage.

16.Nxc5 Bxc5 17.b4 Bxb4 18.axb4

Bobby could try to profit from the opening of the c-file with 18.cxb4, but this allows 18...Qa4.

18...Qc7 19.O-O Bb5 20.Rf3 g6 21.Bc5

This allows Black to further blockade the game. More accurate was 21. Ra5 a6 22.Bc5, though
the closed nature of the game makes a draw quite likely.

21...a5! 22.Qd4 a4 23.Ra3 h5 24. Rh3 Kd7 25.Re3 Qc6 26.Re1 Rhc8 27.Rd1 Kc7 28.Qf2
Kb7

Black’s king is safe and the potential breaks to open the game are few.

29.Qh4 Rh8 30.Qf6 Rh7 31.h4 Rg8 32.Kh2 Ra8 33.Qe7+ Qc7 34. Qg5 Re8 35.Qg3 Ra8
36.Qe3 Rhh8 37.Rda1 Qc6 Draw (O.G.)
Nicholas Rossolimo, whose famous loss to Bobby in the McCutcheon variation of the French is
game 52 in My 60 Memorable Games, is analyzing with the journalist and chess master Miro
Radoicic (chewing a swizzle stick). Radoicic lost to Fischer's 9.Nh3 in the Two Knight's
Defense at the 1963 New York State Open (the complete score is unavailable). To Rossolimo's
immediate left is Dr. Edward Epp. (Photo by Beth Cassidy)

National Master Jack O'Keefe of Ann Arbor, Michigan, died on July 31, 2008. One of the
greatest chess historians the United States has produced; O'Keefe was especially interested in
everything pertaining to the US Opens, long the most important event after the national
championship. He spent countless hours trying to locate games from the US Opens which did
not have bulletins, especially Detroit 1950.

O’Keefe’s historical knowledge was not confined to chess played in the country of his birth. He
also possessed a vast wealth of information about Soviet chess, much of it acquired during
visits to the John G. White Collection in Cleveland, the world’s largest repository of chess
literature.

Mr. O'Keefe was noted for his generosity in sharing his knowledge with others. To cite but a
few examples: Nick Pope's book on Pillsbury and the works on Rubinstein by IMs Nikolay
Minev and John Donaldson benefited greatly from his assistance.
NM Jack O’Keefe 1930-2008 (photos by Carla Campbell)

(192) Sicilian Accelerated Dragon B35

Fischer – Jack O’Keefe
Flint (simul), May 16, 1964

1.e4 c5 2.Nf3 Nc6 3.d4 cxd4 4.Nxd4 g6 5.Nc3 Bg7 6.Be3 Nf6 7.Bc4 Qa5 8.O-O a6?!

This is a bit early. Black should castle here.

9.Nb3 Qc7 10.Be2

White could have obtained a clear positional advantage with 10.Nd5 Nxd5 11.exd5 Na5 (11…
Ne5 12.Be2) 12Nxa5 Qxa5 13.c3 d6 14. Bd4. The pressure against e7 is unpleasant.

10...b5 11.f4

Once again, the idea of Nd5 was strong. For example: after 11.a4 b4 12. Nd5 Nxd5 13.exd5
Nd8 (13...Na5 14.d6! or 13..Ne5 14.Bd4 with f4 in the offing) 14.Bd4 Bxd4 15.Qxd4 O-O
16.Rac1 a5 17.c3 leaves White with a big advantage.

11...d6 12.Nd5 Nxd5 13.exd5 Na5

This is the right square for the knight now that ...d6 is in. Black needs to trade a second pair of
knights to relieve some of the pressure on his position.

14.Bd4 Nxb3

Black wants to make sure the knights come off the board. Here 15.Bxg7 is met by 15...Nxa1
16.Bxh8 Qxc2.

15.axb3 Bxd4+ 16.Qxd4 O-O 17.Bd3 Bb7

Black chooses this over 17...Bd7, because he favors putting pressure on d5.

18.b4

Fischer hopes to stop the trade of queens, but better was 18.Rae1. If 18..Rfe8, White has 19.f5
Rac8? (Black should play 19...Qc5, as 20. Qxc5 dxc5 21.c4 is better for Bobby, but not so easy
to break through) 20.b4 (to stop ...Qc5 at some point) 20...Ba8 21.fxg6 hxg6 22.Rf4 Qb7 23.
Bxg6 leads to a winning attack, e.g., 23...fxg6 24.Re6 wins. Bobby’s play on the queenside
allows Black to simplify.

18...a5!

Black alertly seizes the opportunity to grab counterplay on the queenside before White’s play
on the other wing gets too dangerous.

19.bxa5

Here sharp complications arise after 19.Rfe1 axb4 20.Rxa8 Rxa8 21.Bxb5 Qxc2 22.Rxe7 Ra1+
23.Bf1 Qc8, when Black holds. Bobby’s method leads to a small pull.

19...Rxa5 20.Rxa5 Qxa5 21.b4 Qa2 22.Re1 Qxd5 23.Qxd5 Bxd5 24.Rxe7 Rc8 25.Kf2

A sharper try is 25.Rd7 Rc6 26.Rb7 Bc4 27.Kf2 followed by Ke3 and Kd4. White still looks
better.

25...Rc3 26.Bxb5?!

He should have tried 26.Rd7 with play similar to the previous note. Now the game peters out to
a draw.

26...Rxc2+ 27.Re2 Rc3 28.Rb2 Bb7 29.Be2 Kf8 30.b5 Ke7 31.Bf3 Bxf3 32.gxf3 Kd7 33.b6
Kc8 34.b7+ Kb8 35.Rb6 Rc7 36.Rxd6 Kxb7 Draw (O.G.)

(193) Sicilian Accelerated Dragon B35

Fischer - Don Thackrey
Flint (simul), May 16, 1964

1.e4 c5 2.Nf3 Nc6 3.d4 cxd4 4.Nxd4 g6 5.Nc3 Bg7 6.Be3 Nf6 7.Bc4 O-O 8.Bb3

Bobby played 8.f3?! against Panno at the Portoroz Interzonal in 1958. Black instantly equalized
with 8...Qb6 (8...e6!? is also interesting), threatening b2 and d4.

8...Qa5 9.f3 d5

This variation has a reputation of leading to a difficult ending for Black.

10.exd5 Nb4 11.Qd2 Nbxd5 12.Nxd5 Qxd2+ 13.Kxd2

ECO (Kortchnoi) gives 13.Bxd2 as the main line with the following continuation: 13...Nxd5
14.Bxd5 Bxd4 15.O-O-O Rd8 16.Bb3 Bf6 17.Bf4 Bf5 18.g4 g5 (so far Suetin-Stein, USSR
Championship 1963) 19.Rxd8+ Rxd8 20.Be3 Be6 21.Bxe6 fxe6 22.c3 a6 23.Kc2 with a clear
advantage in the ending.

13…Nxd5 14.Bxd5 Rd8 15.Bb3

Tal-Kortchnoi, Moscow (m-7) 1968, saw 15.c4 e6 16.Be4 Bxd4 17.Bxd4 Rxd4+ 18.Kc3 Rd7
19.Rhd1 Rb8 20.Rxd7 Bxd7 21.Rd1 Be8 22.c5 with a big plus for White. Kortchnoi suggests
16...f5 17.Kc3 fxe4 18.fxe4 b6 as a way of keeping White’s advantage to a minimum. Bobby’s
move gives him a small, but clear, advantage.

15...Bxd4 16.Bxd4 Rxd4+ 17.Ke3 Rd8 18.Rhd1 Bd7 19.Rd4 Bc6 20.Rad1 Rxd4 21.Rxd4
Kf8 22.Bd5

Fischer steers for the rook endgame where he is favored by his more active king and rook plus
the queenside pawn majority.

22...Bxd5 23.Rxd5 Ke8 24.c4 Rc8 25.Kd4 e6 26.Rd6 Ke7 27.c5 b6 28.b4 Rb8 29.Rc6 Kd7
30.b5 bxc5+ 31.Kxc5 e5?
This leads to Black’s immediate demise. The position is pretty bad, but Black could have put
up more resistance with 31...h5, intending ...h5-h4-h3.

32.a4 f5 33.Ra6 Rb7 34.Kd5 e4 35.fxe4 f4 36.e5 1-0 (O.G.)

Here Michigan Expert (rated 2070 on the July 1964 USCF rating list) David Reynolds plays
excellent chess until the ending. Then, facing Fischer on one of the last remaining boards, he
falls apart.

(194) Sicilian Najdorf B86

Fischer – David Reynolds
Flint (simul), May 16, 1965

1.e4 c5 2.Nf3 d6 3.d4 cxd4 4.Nxd4 Nf6 5.Nc3 a6 6.Bc4 e6 7.Bb3 Be7 8.0–0 0–0 9.f4 Qc7
10.f5 e5 11.Nde2 b5 12.Bg5 Bb7 13.Bxf6 Bxf6 14.Nd5

This looks a classic Sozin dream position – an ironclad grip on d5 and good knight versus bad
bishop looming. The reality is that matters are not so simple as Black’s play down the c-file
gives him counterplay. The true verdict is White is slightly better. Note that 14.Bd5 (hoping to
trade bishop for bishop) is met by 14…Nc6. 14...Bxd5 15.Bxd5 Nc6 16.Nc3 Rac8 17.Bxc6
Qxc6 18.Rf2 Kh8 19.Nd5 Qc5 20.c3 Bd8 21.Qg4?!

If White has anything substantial here it must start with 21.f6.

21...f6 22.Re1 Bb6 23.Nxb6 Qxb6 24.g3 b4

Bobby has nothing. Black has completely equalized.

25.cxb4 Rc2 26.Ree2 Rc1+ 27.Kg2 Qxb4 28.Rd2 Rc4 29.Rfe2 Rd8 30.Rd5 Rd4 31.Rxd4
Qxd4 32.Qf3 d5 33.exd5 Qxd5 34.Qxd5 Rxd5 35.Rc2 h5 36.Kh3 Kh7 37.Kh4 Kh6 38.h3
g5+ 39.fxg6 Kxg6 40.g4 hxg4 41.hxg4 Rd4 42.Rc6 Ra4?!

This artificial placement of the rook is the first sign that Black is losing his way. Reynolds
might have been the last game going and the tradition in simuls is the last survivor plays the
exhibitor move on move. That likely explains Black’s collapse here after playing so well.

Here 42...Rd2 and 42...a5 were easy draws as the rook stays active.

43.a3 Kg7?!

There is no need to retreat and allow White’s king to advance. Instead 43...a5 44.Ra6 e4 was
the way to play.

44.Kh5 Kf7?!

The more active 44...e4 45.g5 fxg5 46.Kxg5 e3 47.Re6 Ra5+ 48.Kf4 Rb5 49.b4 (or 49.Kxe3
Rxb2 50.Rxa6 Kf7) 49...a5 was a simple draw.

45.g5 fxg5 46.Kxg5 Ra5?

This move prepares 47…Rb5 which will completely immobilize the rook.

The last chance was 46...Rf4, meeting 47.Rxa6 with 47…Rf2 48.b4 e4 49.Rc6 Rf3 50.a4 Rb3
51.Rc4 e3 52.Re4 e2 53.b5 Rb4 54.Rxe2 Rxa4 55.Kf5 Rb4 56.Re5 Rb2 and a draw.

47.Kf5 Rb5 48.b4 Ke7 49.Rxa6 Kd7 50.Ke4 Kc7 51.Re6 Rb8 52.Ra6 Rb5 53.Kd3 Rb8
54.Ra5 Re8 55.Ke4 Kc6 56.Rc5+ Kd6 57.Rd5+ Kc6 58.Rxe5 Rb8 59.Rc5+ Kb6 60.Rc3 Kb5
61.Kd3 Rh8 62.Rc5+ Kb6 63.Kc4 Rh4+ 64.Kb3 Rh3+ 65.Rc3 Rh5 1–0

Columbus, May 18
+48, -0, =2
Robert Fischer Scores Double Victory in Simultaneous

Dayton Chess Club Review, June 1964:

Columbus, Ohio — Mon. Eve., May 18, 1964 at Central YMCA Auditorium.

All 50 players’ tickets had been sold and a few would-be players had to content themselves to
watch. There must have been as many spectators as players.

The boards and pieces were set up by 7:15 p.m. but Mr. Fischer was delayed. It was 8:00 when
he arrived, breathless and exuberant.

Before play began, Jim Schroeder explained that while he had arranged the exhibition with
Fischer, it was the hard work of Mr. Holmes of Columbus which made it a success.

On introducing Mr. Fischer, Schroeder said that before the mid-April exhibition in Cleveland
he had a low opinion of Fischer, but seeing him in person, talking before the group of people
and in action over the boards, made him realize what a fine young man Fischer really is; the
kind of man, Schroeder said, we can be proud to have represent us before the world.

In his haste Mr. Fischer had forgotten to bring his demonstration board so instead of what he
termed “a dull chess lecture,” he gave us a brief but interesting and amusing account of his tour.

Fischer said he hadn’t thought about making a tour, but a friend advised him to make the tour at
this time to ride the crest of his popularity and to take advantage of recent publicity about his
exploits … that it would do him a lot of good, make a little money, and help chess movement in
the United States.

He said that in New Orleans he had given a short talk in which he compared Paul Morphy with
the Russians. He said that Morphy in his short 3-year-career had created more interesting and
beautiful games and had done more for chess than Botvinnik had done in 30-odd years of dull
plodding. “That made a hit with New Orleanders,” said Fischer (laughter).

He said his most difficult exhibition was one of his first, a 75-board affair in Chicago, in which
he took on several masters, a whole “raft” of experts, and some “so-called fish” (laughter). The
whole lecture and exhibition had consumed about 9 hours, and he found himself losing a few
games, even to high school students, and one of them a girl! [Editor: While Fischer lost to two
juniors in Chicago (Sax and Tobler) he didn’t lose to any females. Perhaps Bobby had in mind
his sharp struggle with Kate Sillars, game 53.]

Fischer mentioned that among the easier stops on his tour, in Las Vegas his opponents lasted
only an hour and 20 minutes. “They must have been anxious to return to the gaming tables,” said
Fischer (laughter).

In Los Angeles, Fischer said he met a few old friends — from his match with Reshevsky (more
laughter).
Fischer concluded his remarks by saying that he had recently learned from the pages of Chess
Life that he is supposed to wind up his tour with a 100-board exhibition in New York. That
should finish it for sure, he said, as he walked over to the first board to make his first move —
1.e4, of course — what else?!

Play began at 8:10 and before long the room echoed the groans of the players as Fischer rapidly
built up pressure. At most boards he paused for only a few seconds. At some boards he stayed
longer studying his moves, especially at Wendell Lutes’ for a record 1 min. 20 sec. Lutes had a
winning advantage at one point according to Schroeder, but misplayed it, managing only to
draw.

The match was all over by 11:45 p.m. In all, Fischer won 48, lost none, and drew two, to Lutes
and Dayton’s Ed Lense, who is now at seminary in Columbus studying for the ministry.

It was very impressive watching Fischer. I, too, believe he is maturing into a fine young man. I
believe the tour has been an education for him.

Mr. Fischer scored points in his exhibition, but more important, he scored a hit with every
player and spectator present.

The Young Maestro at Work . . .

The following position occurred in one of the games of Robert Fischer’s exhibition at
Columbus, May 18th. Player X had just moved his bishop from e4 to c6.

Fischer (White, naturally) calmly played Rc7. Player X, talking to himself (as were many
players present), said, “If I move ...Bb5 I’ll threaten mate, and what can he do?” Soon Fischer
had made his rounds and came up to the board. Player X reached out and played ...Bb5. With
hardly a moment of hesitation, and with a broad grin on his face, Fischer played a8=Q+ to
which Player X quickly replied ...Bf8 before Fischer had a chance to move on. As soon as
Fischer played h3 Player X resigned, with the statement that he probably should have moved
his king to h7 instead of ...Bf8. Fischer was kind enough to take a few moments’ time to point
out that if ...Kh7, then g3! saves the game.

(195) Alekhine B03

Fischer - Ed Lense
Columbus, Ohio (simul), May 18, 1964

Notes by Ed Lense.

1.e4 Nf6 2.e5 Nd5 3.d4 d6 4.c4 Nb6 5.exd6 exd6 6.Nc3 Nc6 7.Nf3

Up to here this line is given in MCO 9 . I prefer White’s move, since the N seems better posted
on f3 than at e2, where it ends up in MCO.

7...Be7 8.Bd3 Bg4 9.Be3 Qd7 10.O-O O-O 11.h3 Bf5

11...Bh5 12.Bxh7+ Kxh7 13.Ng5+ Bxg5 14.Qxh5+ Bh6 may be fairly safe, but Fischer’s attacks
tend to be one-sided, no matter how improbable they seem. 15.Ne4, for example, would be
rather entertaining, at least to the spectators — and Fischer.

12.a3 Bf6

Center pressure against the gathering Q-side attack. After 12...a5 13.Qd2 he gets a strong
queenside initiative anyway, and the early push would only make my defense less flexible.
(And who wants to be rigid and petrified, besides Goldwater?)

13.b4 a5 14.b5 Ne7 15.Rc1

Defending the knight. 15.Rb1 followed by Qd2 would be more “aggressive.”

15...c5 16.bxc6 bxc6 17.d5 Rab8 18.Bxf5

This series of exchanges is the most promising for White since Black has practically full
equality and can start his own exchanges if he wants to.

18...Nxf5 19.dxc6 Qxc6 20.Bxb6 Bxc3!

20...Rxb6? 21.Nd5 would be supremely not best.

21.Rxc3 Rxb6 22.Nd4 Nxd4 23.Qxd4 Qc5

Besides offering an exchange, this increases the range of the queen and cuts off such goodies as
24.Rg3.

24.Qxc5 dxc5

Best.

25.Rd1 a4 26.Rd7

Why not 26.Rd5 Rb3 27.Re3 Rc8? It probably wouldn’t win, but it would be a better practical
chance; the rest now is simple.

26...Rfb8 27.Rf3 R6b7 28.Rfxf7 Rxd7 29.Rxd7 Rb3 30.Rc7 Rxa3 31.Rxc5 Rc3 32.Kh2
Draw

The last 5 moves were played in a few seconds; the moves — and the outcome — were already
obvious. After 32...a3 33.Ra5 Rxc4 34.Rxa3 Kf7 the position would be as drawish as an
artist’s pencil.

The last 5 moves are also interesting because they’re probably the only time I’ll ever play
rapid transit with a grandmaster!

Now, how I felt during the game, as if you wanted to know. Skipping the classical starry-eyed
schmaltz, I was mainly sweating like a pitcher of lemonade in July, only not as cool, and I
smoked nearly a pack of Between the Acts cigars (which proves I’m a real man!). Fischer’s
acceptance of the draw before the cigars killed me was easily the biggest relief of my life.
(Dayton Chess Club Review, June 1964)

(196) Caro-Kann B18

Fischer - Tony Mantia
Columbus (simul), May 18, 1964

1.e4 c6 2.Nc3 d5 3.d4 dxe4 4.Nxe4 Bf5 5.Nc5!?

Fischer, in his My 60 Memorable Games, p. 303, had this to say about the text: “On tour (1964)
I experimented with the weird 5.Nc5!? Most of my opponents countered with 5...e5 6.Nxb7
Qxd4 (if 6...Qb6 7.Nc5 Bxc5 8.dxc5 Qxc5 9.c3 White’s better, Fischer-Petrosian, five-minute
game, Bled 1961) 7.Qxd4 exd4 8.Bd3 with the better ending. Some replied with 5...b6 6.Na6
Nxa6 7.Bxa6 Qd5!, others 5...Qc7 6.Bd3 Bxd3 7.Nxd3 e6. White has more space, but only
experience can tell whether he has the edge; however, the knight on d3 discourages the normal
freeing maneuver ...c5 and/or ...e5. At least it’s something to break the monotony.”

Players like Bronstein and Timman have enjoyed some success with 5.Nc5!?, but current theory
holds that Black should be able to equalize after 5...Qc7 6.Bd3 Bxd3 7.Nxd3 e6 8.Bf4 Qa5+
9.c3 Nd7 10.Nf3 Ngf6 11.O-O Be7 12.Re1 O-O 13.Bg5 Qd8 14.Qb3 Qb6 15.Rad1 Qxb3
16.axb3 a5 (Bronstein-Barcza, Tallinn 1971).
Hungarian Grandmaster Gedeon Barcza (1911-1986) is remembered for the opening system that
bears his name (1.Nf3,2.g3,3.Bg2 and 4.c4) which he used to defeat Smyslov in a memorable
game at the Moscow Olympiad in 1956. Noted for his skillful handling of knights and excellent
endgame play, Barcza is remembered for the comment he made after drawing Bobby in an
almost 100-move game at Zurich 1959. Fischer wanted to post-mortem from move one. Barcza
begged off, pleading "I have a wife and children. Who will feed them in case of my premature
death?"

5...e5 6.Nxb7 Qxd4

Here 6...Qe7 gives White a slight advantage after 7.Na5 exd4+ 8.Be2 Qb4+ 9.Bd2! Qxb2
10.Bd3 Bxd3 11.cxd3 Bb4 12.Nf3 (Klovans-Machulsky, USSR 1978).

7.Qxd4 exd4 8.Bd3 Bxd3 9.cxd3 Nd7 10.Nf3 Rb8 11.Na5 Bb4 12.Bd2 Bxd2+ 13.Nxd2 Nc5
14.Ke2 Kd7 15.Rhc1 Ne6 16.Nxc6 Rxb2 17.Ne5+ Ke7 18.Rcb1 Rxb1 19.Rxb1 Nh6 20.Ne4
Rc8 21.Rb7+ Kf8 22.Nd6 Rc7 23.Rxc7 Nxc7 24.Nc6

The tremendous activity of the knights and the weak black d-pawn offer Bobby excellent
chances to win.

24...Ne6 25.g3 a6 26.a4 f6 27.a5 Nf7 28.Nf5 g6 29.N5xd4 Nxd4 30.Nxd4 Nd6 31.Ne6+ Ke7
32.Nc5 h6 33.Ke3 Kd8 34.Kd4 Nb5+ 35.Kc4 Nc7 36.d4 f5
37.Nd3 Ke7 38.Kc5 Kd7 39.d5 g5 40.Ne5+ 1-0 (O.G.)

The Bobby that went on tour in 1964 was much different than the latter Fischer. He would not
become a household name for another eight years and the controversies that followed him after
he won the World Championship were far away. Many of those who interacted with Bobby
during the 1964 tour remember him as friendly and approachable.

Wendell "John" Lutes (1938-2013) was rated 1987 USCF when this game was played. He
would later go on to become a strong over the board expert and a master at correspondence
chess. An adherent of the Weaver Adams school of attacking chess, Lutes was the author of nine
well researched opening books that encouraged that attitude.
(197) Center Counter B01
Fischer - W. John Lutes
Columbus (simul), May 18, 1964

1.e4 d5 2.exd5 Qxd5 3.Nc3 Qa5 4.d4 c6 5.Nf3 Nf6 6.Bc4 Bg4 7.h3 Bxf3 8.Qxf3 e6 9.Bd2
Qc7 10.O-O-O Nbd7 11.Kb1 O-O-O 12.g4 Nb6 13.Bf4 Bd6 14.Bxd6 Rxd6 15.Bb3 Rhd8
16.Ne2 c5 17.c3 c4 18.Bc2 Nbd5 19.Ng3 Ra6 20.Ne2 Rd7 21.Nc1 Qa5 22.Ka1 b5 23.a3
Ne8 24.Na2 Nec7 25.h4 b4 26.cxb4 Nxb4 27.Nxb4 Qxb4 28.Rc1 Nb5 29.Qc6+ Rxc6
30.axb4 Rxd4 31.Kb1 c3 32.bxc3 Nxc3+ 33.Kb2 Rxb4+ 34.Bb3 Na4+ 35.Ka3 Rxb3+
36.Kxb3 Nc5+ 37.Ka2 Kc7 38.Rh3 e5 39.Rhc3 Kd6 40.Rd1+ Ke6 41.Rdc1 Kd5 42.Rd1+
Ke6 Draw (O.G.)

(198) French Alekhine-Chatard C13

Fischer - W. Kaufer + two consultants
Columbus (simul), May 18, 1964

1.e4 e6 2.d4 d5 3.Nc3 Nf6 4.Bg5 Be7 5.e5 Nfd7 6.h4 c5 7.Bxe7 Qxe7

Theory prefers 7...Kxe7. The text obliges Black to sacrifice material.

8.Nb5 Na6??

This move fails to meet the requirements of the position. Necessary was 8...O-O. White wins
the rook after 9.Nc7, but the complications that arise after 9...cxd4 10.Nxa8 f6 11. Qxd4 Nc6
12.Qd2 fxe5 13.O-O-O Nf6 14.f3 Qd6 (Bronstein - Stahlberg, Budapest (ct) 1950) are anything
but clear.

9.Nd6+ Kd8 10.Bxa6 bxa6 11.f4 Rb8 12.b3 a5 13.Qd2 cxd4 14.Nf3 Nb6 15.Nxd4 Qd7
16.Qxa5 a6 17.Qc5 Rb7 18.Nc6+ Kc7 19.Na5+ Kd8 20.Naxb7+ Bxb7 21.Qxb6+ Ke7
22.Nxb7 Rc8 23.O-O-O 1-0 (San Francisco Chronicle, December 31, 1975)

Thanks to Grandmaster Alex Yermolinsky, who shared his insights on the following game.

(199) Alekhine B03

Fischer – Arturs Zageris
Columbus (simul), May 18, 1964

1.e4 Nf6 2.e5 d5 3.d4 d6 4.c4 b6 5.exd6 cxd6

Fischer-Lense, from the same exhibition, saw 5...exd6 6.Nc3 Nc6 7.Nf3 Be7 8.Bd3 Bg4 with a
draw in 32 moves.

6.Nc3 g6 7.Bd3
This sideline was Fischer’s favorite against the Alekhine. The main strategic idea is to place
the king knight on e2 to take the sting out of ...Bg4.

7...Nc6 8.Nge2 Bg7 9.Be3 O-O 10. O-O e5 11.d5 Nb4 12.b3 Nxd3 13. Qxd3 f5?

This natural-looking move is, in fact, a serious positional error. Black kills his light-squared
bishop, as Bobby will never allow ...f5-f4-f3!. Anything else would be better, including the
recommendation 12...Re8! unclear, as given in Nunn’s Chess Openings.

14.f4!

Of course! Bobby fixes the black f-pawn in its tracks.

14...e4?

Now Black’s position loses all its vitality. White has a free hand to put his knight on e3 and
play for breaks with c4-c5 or g2-g4. It was absolutely essential for Black to leave his pawn on
e5.

15.Qd2 Nd7 16.Bd4 b6 17.Bxg7 Kxg7 18.b4

This denies Black c5 for his knight and prepares an eventual c4-c5. Note that it is not easy to
attack the c-pawn, as 18...Ba6 runs into 19.Nd4!.

18...a6 19.Rac1 Re8 20.Nd4 Nf6 21. Nd1 Bd7 22.Ne3 Rac8 23.a4!?
This is an interesting decision. Bobby realizes that his position is strategically winning, but he
wants to win quickly! By putting his pawn en prise, Fischer hopes to sucker Black into
capturing on a4. The immediate 23...Bxa4 is refuted by 24.Ne6+, so Black goes into contortions
to prepare ...Bxa4. We should mention that Bobby saw much deeper and knew that ...Bxa4
would always be a bad move.

23...Qc7 24.Qb2 Ra8 25.Rc3 Kf7 26.Rfc1 Bxa4?

This is a truly horrible move that quickly ends all chance of resistance. The bishop may not be
lost, but the text loses control of the e6-square and requires the black pieces to use a lot of
energy to keep a4-bishop alive. Black had to play 26...a5!, trying to clarify the situation on the
queenside. Bobby would have probably answered with 27.b5, intending to break through later
with g2-g4. In addition, the knight gets a huge outpost on c6.

27.Ne6 Qb7 28.b5 Rec8 29.h3!

Fischer shows admirable restraint. Instead of trying to hunt down the bishop he simply creates
Luft, prepares a future g2-g4, and waits for Black to commit suicide by opening the c-file.

29...axb5

It’s hard to suggest better, but the text loses instantly.

30.cxb5 Rxc3 31.Rxc3 Nxd5

Equivalent to resignation, but 31...Rc8 32.Ra3 wasn’t pretty.

32.Nxd5 Qxd5 33.Ng5+ Kg8 34. Rc7 1-0 (O.G.)

Cicero, May 20
+44, -1, =5

Bobby Fischer took only 3½ hours on May 20 to play 50 simultaneous chess games with
members of our League and a few guests. Bobby won 44 and there were 5 draws (J. Jackson, T.
DeParry, A. Puchals, J. Warren, and J. Bikulcius). Only Erwin Puto was able to win from the
champion.

About 100 spectators watched the exhibition. Bobby Fischer preceded the simultaneous play
with a wallboard demonstration of various short games he played on his nationwide tour. The
event was held at Western Electric’s Albright Gym and started at 7 p.m. (Chicago Industrial
Chess League Bulletin, Vol. VII, #8, June 1, 1964)

The Microphone, publication of the Western Electric affiliate, the Hawthorne Works in
Chicago, reports: “Nineteen of the twenty Hawthorne chess players who battled the U.S. Chess
Champion last month have heads ‘bloodied but unbowed’ by the contest. Mr. Fischer won in as
few as 16 and as many as 41 moves. The twentieth player, Erwin Puto of development
engineering, brought the champion down” … Says Louis Schriner, chess club president, “Mr.
Puto played an excellent game. We were proud that of the 50 people who played Bobby Fischer
it took a Hawthornean to beat him. But even the losers agreed that the contest was fun and they
learned a lot.”

All credit to Mr. Puto; but we suspect that Mr. Fischer must have been momentarily distracted
from his clear intention of 16.Bxf6+ and 17.Qxg4, winning. (Chess Review, Aug. 1964, p. 231)

(200) Vienna C30

Fischer – Erwin Puto
Cicero (simul), May 20, 1964

1.e4 e5 2.Nc3 Nc6 3.Bc4 Bc5 4.f4 Nf6 5.Nf3 d6 6.d3 0–0 7.f5

7.Na4 grabbing the bishop pair is the modern way of handling the position but the text also
poses problems for Black.

7...Nd4 8.Bg5 c6 9.a3 h6

9...b5 10.Ba2 a5, makes sense as Black doesn't weaken his kingside, but Puto has a different
idea in mind.

10.Bh4 b5 11.Ba2 a5 12.g4 g5?

And this radical attempt to break the pin is it, but 12...b4 was to be preferred.

13.fxg6 Bxg4 14.Bxf7+?

14.Nxd4 Bxd1 15.Nxc6 Qd7 16.Bxf6 Qxc6 17.Kxd1 d5 18.Nxd5 Ra7 19.Rf1 looks dangerous
for Black. One sample line offered by the Oracle goes 19...b4 20.Kd2 bxa3 21.Bxe5 axb2
22.Rab1 Be7 23.Nf6+ Bxf6 24.Rxf6 Qc5 25.Rf5 Qb4+ 26.Ke2 Qb6 27.Bxf7+ Raxf7 28.gxf7+
Rxf7 29.Rxb2 Qa7 30.Rb8+ Kh7 31.Rh8+ Kg6 32.Rg8+ Kh7 33.Rxf7+ Qxf7 34.Rg7+ winning.
The text appears to also do the job, but matters are not so simple.
14...Kg7??

Houdini 4 gives the remarkable line 14...Rxf7 15.gxf7+ Kxf7 16.Rf1 Qg8! 17.Bxf6 Ke8!
18.Bh4 Ra7 and despite White's being a rook up the position is very complicated. The first
player's pieces are completely tied up and the threat of ...Rg7 is quite strong. Houdini can find
nothing better for White than offering to sacrifice his queen with 19.Rg1 Rg7! 20.Nxd4, but
20…Bxd4! (20...Bxd1 21.Rxg7 Qxg7 22.Nf5 Qg1+ 23.Kd2=) 21.Rxg4 Rxg4 22.Bg3 Rxg3
23.Qh5+ Qg6 24.Qxg6+ Rxg6 25.0–0–0 Rg2 and Black has a clear advantage in the ending.

15.Nxd4! Bxd4 16.Ne2??

An inexplicable blunder for Bobby and definitely one of his worst moves on the Tour. 16.Bxf6+
Qxf6 17.Qxg4 Qf2+ 18.Kd1 is an easy win for White.

16...Bxb2??

The pretty 16...Nxe4! would have instantly decided matters. Now the tables are turned once
again.

17.Rb1??

17.Rf1! Bc3+ 18.Nxc3 Bxd1 19.Bxf6+ Qxf6 20.Rxf6 Kxf6 21.Nxd1 wins.
17...Bc3+ 18.Kf2??

18.Kf1 Qd7 19.Bxf6+ Kxf6 20.Kg2 Kg7 favors Black, but White can continue to fight. After the
text it is all over.

18...Nxe4+ 19.dxe4 Qxh4+ 20.Kg2 Qh3+ 21.Kg1 Qe3+ 0–1

Youngsters who started playing during the “Fischer Boom” became one of the strongest
generations in the history of American chess dominating U.S. Championships throughout the
1980s and 1990s. Here two of those future Grandmasters, Joel Benjamin (glasses) and John
Fedorowicz, enjoy a friendly game of blitz in between rounds of the 1984 U.S. Championship.
Legendary Washington state master Viktors Pupols (hand on chin) attentively follows the action.
(Photo by Val Zemitis)

The following games were published in the Chicago Industrial Chess League Bulletin (July 17,
1964).

Editor’s Note: The following game is only given up to White’s 39th move in Hays.

(201) French Winawer C19

Fischer - Joseph Bikulcius
Cicero (simul), May 20, 1964

1.e4 e6 2.d4 d5 3.Nc3 Bb4 4.e5 Ne7 5.a3 Bxc3+ 6.bxc3 O-O 7.Nf3 Nd7 8.Bd3 h6 9.a4 a5
10.O-O c5 11.Re1 Qc7 12.Bf4 Ng6 13.Be3 c4 14.Bf1 f6 15.exf6 Nxf6 16.g3 Qf7 17.Bh3
Bd7 18.Nd2 Rab8 19.f4 Rfe8 20.Bg2 Bc6 21.Rf1 Qd7 22.h4 Bxa4 23.h5 Ne7 24.g4 b6
25.Bh3 Rf8 26.Nf3 Bc6 27.Ne5 Qc8 28.g5 hxg5 29.fxg5 Ne4 30.Rxf8+ Kxf8 31.Qf1+ Nf5
32.Bxf5 exf5 33.Nxc6 Qxc6 34.Qxf5+ Ke7 35.Qe5+ Qe6 36.Qxg7+ Kd8 37.Qf8+ Kd7
38.Qxb8 Qg4+ 39.Kh2 Qe2+ 40.Kg1 Qg4+ Draw

(202) Vienna C25

Fischer - J. Fajkus
Cicero (simul), May 20, 1964

1.e4 e5 2.Nc3 c6 3.d4 Qc7 4.dxe5 Qxe5 5.Nf3 Qc7 6.Bd3 d6 7.O-O Be6 8.Nd4 Qc8 9.f4 d5
10.f5 Bd7 11.e5 Bc5 12.Be3 Bxd4 13.Bxd4 c5 14.Qg4 g6 15.e6 cxd4 16.exf7+ Kf8 17.Qxd4
Bxf5 18.Qxh8 Qc5+ 19.Kh1 Kxf7 20.Bxf5 1-0

Editor’s Note: The following game is only given up to White’s 35th move in Hays. In fact,
35.Kd3 and not 35.Kc3 was played.

(203) King’s Gambit C30

Fischer - W. Goranson
Cicero (simul), May 20, 1964

1.e4 e5 2.Nc3 Nf6 3.Bc4 Bc5 4.f4 d6 5.Nf3 Bg4 6.h3 Bh5 7.g4 Nxg4 8.hxg4 Bxg4 9.Na4
Nc6 10.c3 Qf6 11.f5 g6 12.Nxc5 dxc5 13.Rf1 gxf5 14.Qe2 Bxf3 15.Qxf3 Qh4+ 16.Kd1 f4
17.d3 O-O-O 18.Kc2 Rhg8 19.Rh1 Qg3 20.Qxg3 Rxg3 21.Rxh7 f6 22.Bd2 Na5 23.Be6+
Kb8 24.Rd7 Rxd7 25.Bxd7 c4 26.d4 c6 27.Rh1 Rg7 28.Bf5 Kc7 29.Rh6 Rf7 30.Be1 Rg7
31.Rxf6 Rg2+ 32.Bd2 exd4 33.cxd4 Nb3 34.axb3 cxb3+ 35.Kd3 Rb3+ 36.Kc4 b5+ 37.Kc5
1-0

American chess fans had mixed feelings about Bobby's 1964 Tour. While they were happy for
the opportunity to play him they were also sad that he was missing out on the 1964-1966 World
Championship cycle as the Amsterdam Interzonal started in May. Back in 1964 there was no
certainty he would be playing for the title in 1972.

Editor’s Note: The following game is only given up to White’s 16th move in Hays.

(204) French Rubinstein C10

Fischer - G. Kral
Cicero (simul), May 20, 1964

1.e4 e6 2.d4 d5 3.Nc3 dxe4 4.Nxe4 Nd7 5.Nf3 Ngf6 6.Nxf6+ Nxf6 7.Bd3 Be7 8.Qe2 O-O
9.Bg5 c5 10.dxc5 Qa5+ 11.c3 Qxc5 12.O-O-O b5?? 13.Bxf6 Bxf6 14.Qe4 g6 15.Qxa8 b4
16.c4 a5 17.Rd2 Bd7 18.Qe4 a4 19.Qe3 Qe7 20.h4 a3 21.b3 Bc3 22.Rc2 f5 23.c5 Qf6
24.Bc4 Bb2+ 25.Kb1 f4 26.Qe4 Kg7 27.c6 Bc8 28.Rd1 e5 29.Rd7+ Bxd7 30.cxd7 Rd8
31.Rd2 Qe7 32.Bb5 Qc5 33.Qc6 Qf8 34.Ng5 Qf5+ 35.Qe4 1-0

(205) King’s Gambit C30

Fischer - David Kumro
Cicero (simul), May 20, 1964

1.e4 e5 2.Nc3 Nf6 3.f4 d6 4.Nf3 Nc6 5.Bb5 Bd7 6.d3 Be7 7.Bxc6 Bxc6 8.fxe5 dxe5 9.Nxe5
O-O 10.Nxc6 bxc6 11.O-O Qd7 12.Qf3 Ng4 13.h3 Ne5 14.Qg3 Bd6 15.Bf4 f6 16.d4 Ng6
17.Bxd6 cxd6 18.Rad1 Qe6 19.d5 cxd5 20.Rxd5 Rfd8 21.Rfd1 Ne5 22.Nb5 Rab8 23.Nxd6
Rf8 24.Nf5 Ng6 25.Rd7 Qb6+ 26.Kh1 Rbd8 27.Rxg7+ Kh8 28.Rf1 Qxb2 29.Qg4 Rg8
30.Rxh7+ 1-0

(206) King’s Gambit C33

Fischer - W. Nyman
Cicero (simul), May 20, 1964

1.e4 e52.f4 exf4 3.Bc4 d5 4.Bxd5 Nf6 5.Nc3 Bb4 6.Nf3 O-O 7.O-O Bxc3 8.dxc3 c6 9.Bc4
b6+?

Safer is 9...Qxd1 10.Rxd1 Nxe4 11.Bf4 Nd7 when White is only slightly better in the ending,
Blackburne-Pillsbury, Hastings 1895.

10.Kh1 Nxe4 11.Qe1 Re8 12.Bxf4 Nd6 13.Bxd6 Rxe1 14.Raxe1 Bd7 15.Ng5 Na6 16.Rxf7
1-0

(207) French Winawer C16

Fischer - T. de Parry
Cicero (simul), May 20, 1964

1.e4 e6 2.d4 d5 3.Nc3 Bb4 4.e5 f6 5.a3 Ba5 6.Qg4 Qe7 7.Nf3 Nc6 8.Bb5 Bd7 9.O-O Qf7
10.b4 Bb6 11.Na4 h5 12.Qh4 g5 13.Qg3 g4 14.Nxb6 axb6 15.Bxc6 Bxc6 16.Ne1 f5 17.Nd3
Bb5 18.Rd1 h4 19.Qe3 Ne7 20.Nf4 g6 21.Nxg6 Qxg6 22.Qg5 Kf7 23.Qxg6+ Kxg6 24.Bf4
Ra4 25.c3 h3 26.g3 Rha8 27.Bc1

Fischer has been outplayed positionally, a very rare occurrence on the tour, but the position is
so closed that it is hard for Black to realize his advantage.

27...c5 28.bxc5 bxc5 29.dxc5 Rc4 30.Bd2 Rxc5 31.Rdb1 Ba6 32.Rb6 Kf7 33.Rd6 Rac8
34.Rd7+ Ke8 35.Rh7 R8c7 36.Rh6 Kd7 37.Rh7+ Kc6 38.Rh6 Re7 39.Rb1 Bd3 40.Rb4 Rb5
41.Be3 Rxb4 42.axb4 Kd7 43.Rh8 b5 Draw

(208) Philidor C41

Fischer – Albert Sandrin
Cicero (simul), May 20, 1964

1.e4 e5 2.Nf3 d6 3.d4 Nd7 4.Bc4 c6 5.O-O Be7 6.dxe5 dxe5 7.Qe2 Ngf6 8.Rd1 Qc7 9.Ng5
Rf8 10.a4 h6 11.Nf3 Nc5 12.Nc3 Bg4 13.h3 Bh5 14.g4 Bg6 15.Nh4 Bh7 16.Nf5 Rg8 17.Qf3
Ne6 18.Be3 a6 19.a5 c5 20.Nd5 Nxd5 21.Bxd5 O-O-O 22.Bxe6+ fxe6 23.Nxe7+ Qxe7
24.Qg3 Qc7 25.f3 Rgf8 26.Kg2 Rxd1 27.Rxd1 Rf7 28.Bg1 Rd7 29.Rxd7 Kxd7 30.Qe1 b5
31.axb6 Qxb6 32.Qc3 Qb4 33.Qxe5 Qd2+ 34.Bf2 Qxc2 35.Qxg7+ Kc6 36.Qxh7 Qxb2
37.Qxh6 Qb3 38.g5 1-0

This Russian-produced, Spanish-published, three-volume series with multiple authors offers

the best overall annotations to Fischer’s games.

(209) Sicilian Najdorf B90

Fischer - Kate Sillars and Larry Manter
Cicero (simul), May 20, 1964

1.e4 c5 2.Nf3 d6 3.d4 cxd4 4.Nxd4 Nf6 5.Nc3 a6 6.h3 e5 7.Nde2 Be6 8.g4 d5 9.exd5 Nxd5
10.Bg2 Nxc3 11.Qxd8+ Kxd8 12.Nxc3 Nc6 13.Be3 Bb4 14.O-O-O+ Ke7 15.Ne4 Rhd8
16.a3 Ba5 17.Bc5+ Ke8 18.Nd6+ Rxd6 19.Rxd6 Bc7 20.Rxc6 1-0

(210) Sicilian Sozin B88

Fischer - Jim Warren
Cicero (simul), May 20, 1964

1.e4 c5 2.Nf3 Nc6 3.d4 cxd4 4.Nxd4 Nf6 5.Nc3 d6 6.Bc4 e6 7.Bb3 Be7 8.Be3 O-O 9.O-O
Bd7 10.f4 Nxd4 11.Bxd4 Bc6 12.Qe2 b5 13.Nxb5

After this move, Fischer looked up from the board at me and said, “Didn’t I make this mistake
against you before?” Bear in mind this was two months after the first game many simuls and
hundreds of games later, as he was on tour through the country. What a memory! — Jim Warren.

13...Bxb5 14.Qxb5 Nxe4 15.f5 Bf6

15...e5 is more popular in recent practice.

16.Qd3 Bxd4+

16...d5 17. Bxf6 Nxf6 18.c4 dxc4 19.Qxd8 Rfxd8 20.Bxc4 e5 with equal chances, Fischer-
R.Weinstein, 1958/59 U.S.Championship.

17.Qxd4 d5 18.c4 dxc4 19.Qxe4

Fischer-Warren, Chicago 1964, (game 55) saw Bobby try 19.Qxd8. The text is a better try to
eke out a draw.

19...cxb3 20.fxe6 Qb6+ 21.Kh1 fxe6 22.axb3 Qxb3 23.h3 Qxb2 24.Qxe6+ Kh8 25.Qe7
Rxf1+ 26.Rxf1 h6 27.Rf8+ Rxf8 28.Qxf8+ Kh7 29.Qf5+ Kg8 30.Qc8+ Kh7 31.Qf5+ g6
32.Qa5 Qb6 33.Qa2 Qb7 34.Qa1 Qc7 Draw
 Indianapolis, May 21
+48, -1, =1
Bobby gave a simul on May 21, 1964 at the Shadeland Chess and Checker Club located in the
I.B.E.W. Union Hall, 6501 Massachusetts Ave. in Indianapolis. Fischer played 50 chess games
and won 48 during the lecture, losing to Stasy Makutenas and drawing with Joe Coperus of the
Indianapolis Chess Club. The games took about three hours. (Source: Indianapolis Star)

(211) Caro-Kann B11

Fischer - Gary Bookout
Indianapolis (simul), May 21, 1964

1.e4 c6 2.Nc3 d5 3.Nf3 Bg4 4.h3 Bxf3 5.Qxf3 Nd7? 6.exd5 Ngf6 7.dxc6 Ne5 8.Qg3 Nxc6
9.Bb5 g6 10.0-0 Bg7 11.Rd1 0-0 12.Bxc6 bxc6 13.d4 Nh5 14.Qd3 e6 15.Be3 Qc7 16.Ne4
Rfd8 17.c3 Nf4 18.Qc4 Nd5 19.b4 a6 20.a4 Qb7 21.Nc5 Qb6 22.Nb3 Bf8 23.Rac1 Rac8
24.Nc5 Nc7 25.Bg5 Rd5 26.Ne4 Ne8 27.Nf6+ Nxf6 28.Bxf6 c5? 29.dxc5 Qc6 30.a5 Rb8
31.Rxd5 exd5 32.Qd4 Rb7 33.Re1 h5 34.h4 Rd7 35.Re8 Qc7 36.Be7! f6

36...Rxe7 37.Rxf8+ Kxf8 38.Qh8 mate!

37.Qxf6 1-0 (O.G.)

New York, May 24

+34, -0, =0

Chess Tour reports that the first tour of simultaneous exhibitions by the 21-year-old champion
proved to be an incredible success. Culminating in a 34-0 sweep at the Chess and Checker
Club of New York against a strong field of amateurs and experts in only two hours and 28
minutes, it was reminiscent of Fischer’s 11 straight victories in the recent United States
championship. His faultless technique in simultaneous exhibitions amazed the chess world and
proved his adeptness at speedy play and also his good sportsmanship. The many offers of return
engagements which Chess Tours received from all parts of the United States testify to the
popularity of this young chess genius. (American Chess Quarterly, Spring 1964)

IM I.A. Horowitz’s column in the New York Times of July 12, 1964, had this to add:

“At the Chess and Checker Club, America’s ace played 1.e4 on every board. Any other first
move is cowardly, Fischer asserted. The champion mowed down the opposition effortlessly,
avoiding needless complications, and relied on positional niceties for his victories.

“Fischer, backed by faultless technique, played for superior development, control of the center,
the bishop pair, and pawn majorities. The games below from this event are deceptively simple,
but their professional efficiency is worthy of repeated study.”
The New York Chess and Checker Club, affectionately known as the “Flea House,” was a
Manhattan institution. Located at 212 W. 42nd Street, not far from Times Square, it offered not
only chess but also bridge and scrabble on a pay-by-the-hour system. The chess scene in the
Stanley Kubrick film “The Killing” was filmed at the Flea House. Kubrick, reputed to be of
expert strength, and one of his stars, Kola Kwariani — affectionately known as “Nick the
Wrestler” (a player of A strength, according to Steve Brandwein, who often gave him odds)
were regulars at the club. Owner John Fursa kept the club going till about the late 1970s. Note:
Brandwein mentions that The Killing may have been filmed across the street at a competing
games emporium called Fischer’s (!). You can find more information about the “Flea House” in
Bill Hook’s memoir Hooked on Chess.

Transposing from the Bishop’s Opening, to the Vienna, to the King’s Gambit, Bobby catches
McDermott in an old trap.

(212) King’s Gambit C30

Fischer – Mike McDermott
New York (simul), May 24, 1964

1.e4 e5 2.Bc4 Nf6 3.Nc3 Bc5 4.f4 d6 5.Nf3 Bg4 6.h3 Bxf3 7.Qxf3 Nc6 8.d3 Nd4 9.Qg3
Nxc2+?

The losing move. Necessary was 9...O-O when White is only slightly better after 10.fxe5 dxe5
11.Bg5 Qd6 12.O-O-O Nh5 13.Qh4 Nf4 14.Bxf4 exf4 15.Nd5 Ne6 16.c3 c6 17.d4.
10.Kd1 Nxa1 11.Qxg7 Rf8 12.fxe5 dxe5 13.Rf1 Be7 14.Bg5 Nxe4

An old analysis of Chigorin’s ends with 14...Nh5 15.Bxf7+ Kd7 16.Qxe5 with a winning
position.

15.Nxe4 f5 16.Qxh7 Bxg5 17.Qg6+ 1-0 (New York Times, July 12, 1964)

(213) Ruy Lopez C79

Fischer - James Terrone
New York (simul), May 24, 1964

1.e4 e5 2.Nf3 Nc6 3.Bb5 a6 4.Ba4 Nf6 5.O-O Be7 6.Re1 d6 7.Bxc6+ bxc6 8.d4 Nd7 9.Nbd2
Bf6 10.Nc4 Nb6 11.Na5 Bd7 12.b3 O-O 13.dxe5 dxe5 14.Ba3 Re8 15.c4! Be7 16.c5 Nc8

Alternatives fare no better: 16...Rf8 (to make room for the queen) 17.cxb6 Bxa3 18.b7 Rb8
19.Nxe5 or if 16...Qb8 then 17.cxb6 Bxa3 18.Qxd7. In both cases Black is lost (Horowitz).

17.Nb7 1-0 (New York Times, July 12, 1964)

(214) Vienna C28

Fischer - Steven Morrison
New York (simul), May 24, 1964

1.e4 e5 2.Bc4 Nf6 3.Nc3 Nc6 4.f4 Nxe4 5.Nf3 Nxc3 6.dxc3 Be7

This isn’t bad but 6...Qe7!, with the idea of meeting 7.Qe2 with 7...exf4 and 7.Qd5 with 7...d6!,
is stronger.

7.fxe5 d6

Theory gives only 7...O-O 8.Bf4 d6 9.O-O Bg4 with equality, Prins-Lokvenc, Helsinki (ol)
1952.

8.Bf4 dxe5 9.Qxd8+ Bxd8 10.Nxe5 Nxe5 11.Bxe5 O-O 12.O-O-O c6 13.Rhf1 Be7 14.Bxd6
Bxd6 15.Rxd6 Bg4 16.h3 Bh5 17.Rd7 b5 18.Bb3 a5 19.a4 Bg6 20.Rfd1 Be4 21.g3 Bf5
22.Rc7 Bxh3 23.Rxc6 bxa4 24.Bxa4 g6 25.Bb3 a4 26.Ba2 Bg4 27.Rd4 h5?

Up to this point Black has been playing quite well but here he blunders away a pawn and the
game. It may well be that he was forced to make a hasty move as Fischer normally didn’t allow
passes and by this point many players would have already been eliminated.

28.Rxg6+ Kh7 29.Rf6 Kg7 30.Rdf4 Ra7 31.Bd5 Re7 32.c4 Kg8 33.Kd2 Re2+ 34.Kc3 Re3+
35.Kd4 Re7 36.c5 Rc7 37.c6 Rd8 38.Kc5 R8d7 39.Ra4 Kg7 40.Rd6 Re7 41.b4 1-0 (New
York Times, July 12, 1964)
Ed Westing, chess columnist for the Towson Jeffersonian, recalls the day quite clearly. “34 of
us sat down to play surrounded by lots of spectators. When everyone was playing there was
enough time to think but as Fischer started to win game after game and began appearing at my
board with increasing rapidity things got much tougher. When Fischer came around and you
didn’t move instantly he would immediately say in a loud voice ‘Move!’ Passes were definitely
not allowed. As late as move 40 I could have drawn (according to Horowitz) but ultimately,
pressed for time and being only a B player, I fell apart.

(215) Caro-Kann B18

Fischer - Ed Westing
New York (simul), May 24, 1964

1.e4 c6 2.Nc3 d5 3.d4 dxe4 4.Nxe4 Bf5 5.Nc5 Qc7 6.Nf3 Nd7 7.Bd3 Bxd3 8.Nxd3 e6 9.O-O
Bd6 10.c4 Ngf6 11.Qe2 O-O 12.b3 c5 13.Bb2 cxd4 14.Bxd4 Rfe8 15.Nde5 Nxe5 16.Nxe5
Bc5 17.Bb2 Rad8 18.g3 Bd4 19.Bxd4 Rxd4 20.Nf3 Rd6 21.Rfd1 Red8 22.Rxd6 Qxd6
23.Re1 Qd3 24.Kg2 Qxe2 25.Rxe2 Kf8 26.h3 Ke7 27.g4 h6 28.Rc2 b6 29.b4 a5 30.a3 axb4
31.axb4 Rc8 32.Nd4 Nd7 33.f4 g5 34.f5 Ne5 35.c5 bxc5 36.Rxc5 Rxc5 37.bxc5 Kd7 38.Kg3
Nc6 39.fxe6+ fxe6 40.Nf3 Ke7?

“After 40.Nf3, Black stands well enough to draw. But he loses a vital tempo with 40...Ke7,
which is quite irrelevant. Best is 40...e5 followed by ...Ke6. Then, White draws. But any
attempt on his part to force a win would be dangerous. As the game goes, that one tempo is
enough” (Horowitz).

41.Kf2 e5 42.Ke3 Ke6 43.Ke4 Ne7 44.Nxe5 Nc8 45.Nc6 Kd7 46.Kd5 Kc7 47.Ne5 Ne7+
48.Ke6 1-0 (New York Times, July 12, 1964)

(216) Sicilian B29

Fischer – Dr. F.J. Rummel
New York (simul) May 24, 1964

1.e4 c5 2.Nf3 Nf6 3.Nc3 d5 4.Bb5+ Bd7 5.e5 Bxb5

5...Ne4 and 5...d4 are equally playable. Fischer had some tournament experience with the
latter. His games with Sherwin (1962-63 US Championship) and Pomar (1962 Stockholm
Interzonal) both continued 6.exf6 dxc3 7.fxg7 cxd2+ 8.Qxd2 Bxg7 and only now did Fischer
vary, trying 9.Bc4 against Sherwin and (9.Qg5 versus Pomar.)

6.Nxb5 Nfd7 7.e6 fxe6 8.Ng5 Na6?

8...Qb6 9.Qe2 e5 10.c4 as seen in Aagaard-Landa, Politiken Cup 2008, is critical. The text
lands Black in trouble right away.
9.Nxe6 Qb6 10.Qe2 Nf6?

This is the losing move. Black had to contest the knight before it could be reinforced. Now Dr.
Rummel has no way to untangle his kingside pieces nor to bring his king to safety. 10...Kf7
11.Ng5+ Kg8 is not pleasant but at least Black is still fighting.

11.0–0 Rc8 12.a4 Rc6??

On neutral moves White will build up with Re1, d3, Bf4/g5 and so on.

13.a5 Rxe6 14.axb6 Rxe2 15.bxa7 Kf7 16.a8Q 1–0 (O.G. published in Bobby Fischer
Uncensored, page 82.)

State College, May 31

+49, -0, =1

The terrible temper of a national chess champion is just a myth, according to those who
observed the young New Yorker yesterday at the University.

All the local chess buffs who encountered the 21-year-old Fischer during his visit to the
University had only the most complimentary things to say about both his skill and disposition.
This would be something of a contrast to many of the things which have been written about
Fischer, known in the past for his abruptness.

The six-time U.S. champion played 50 matches at Waring Lounge. He was tied by Mordecai
Treblow, coach of the Bloomsburg State College team and a former University faculty member.
Included among his opponents were the best chess players in the area, including Stephen Shutt
and Allyn Kahn, members of the University chess team, among others. The 50 games lasted 3¾
hour.

The young champion prefaced his exhibition with a lecture during which described his game
with Miguel Najdorf from the Varna Olympiad.

Those who dined with Fischer and talked with him during his stay said they were impressed by
his cordiality and patience and, especially by his sense of humor. He reportedly lost his temper
at no time. (The Centre Daily Times, State College and Bellefonte, PA, June 1, 1964)

Penn State University had a situation unlike that of any college in the country. Dr. Robert G.
Bernreuter, a high ranking figure in the university administration and chess enthusiast, had seen
fit that IM Donald Byrne was hired not only to teach his normal academic subject of English but
also chess, which was to be properly funded. Byrne coached the Penn State Varsity Chess Team
and was Faculty Advisor to Penn State's Chess Club from 1961 to January of 1976.

State College turned out to be the last stop on Fischer’s tour. The projected finale, the 100-
board exhibition in New York City scheduled for early June, never came off. Although Bobby
later gave several exhibitions, including one at the U.N., he never made another tour like the
one in 1964, which proved for many American players their one chance to meet a legend.

Sammy Reshevsky and Donald Byrne. (Photo by Beth Cassidy)

Penn State professor and chess coach IM Donald Byrne (1930-1976) is remembered as one of
the brightest stars in American chess history and one of its greatest gentlemen. Byrne first came
to worldwide attention when he defeated Yury Averbakh 3-1 in the USSR-USA in New York in
1954. A three US Olympian as a player (1962, 1964 and 1968), Byrne captained the American
team that took home the silver medals at Havana 1966. There is no question he would have
gone much further, certainly reaching the level of strong Grandmaster, had he not suffered from
ill health most of his adult life. He died of lupus at the tragically young age of 45.

(217) French Winawer C19

Fischer – Allyn Kahn
State College (simul), May 31, 1964

1.e4 e6 2.d4 d5 3.Nc3 Bb4 4.e5 c5 5.a3 Bxc3+ 6.bxc3 Ne7 7.a4 Qa5 8.Bd2 c4 9.Nh3 Ng6

The text stops Nf4 but at the cost of putting the knight on an inferior square (instead of f5).

9...Bd7 was played in the first game between these two players contested earlier in the month
where Black put up a great fight and only lost after a long struggle.

10.Be2 Nd7 11.Bh5 Nb6

How often do you see Black's knights on g6 and b6 in a French? Unfortunately this novel
strategy is not particularly good.

12.Ng5 Bd7

12...h6 13.Nxf7 Kxf7 14.Qg4 is game over.

13.Qf3 0–0

There is nothing better but now the attack commences. Black has no defense.

14.Qh3 h6 15.Nxf7 Rxf7 16.Bxg6 Raf8

16...Rff8 17.0–0 and there is no defense against Bxh6.

17.Bxf7+ Rxf7 18.0–0 Nxa4 19.f4 Qd8 20.f5! Rxf5 21.Rxf5 exf5 22.e6 Bc6 23.Qxf5 Qe7
24.Rf1 Nb6 25.Bf4 Nc8 26.Rf3 Kh8 27.Be5 Nd6 28.Qf8+ 1–0

My day with Bobby Fischer

by Allyn Kahn

The Call
On the day that Bobby Fischer was scheduled to give a simultaneous exhibition at Penn State
my roommate woke me up with "You have a phone call." It was Donald Byrne saying that he
wasn't feeling well. He wanted me and Stephen, the other chess team co-captain, to pick
Fischer up from the small State College airport and show him around the campus.
Of course I agreed immediately. I had great respect for Donald Byrne, not only because he was
one of the top chess players in the US, but also for his apparent carefree approach to life.
Wherever he went, Donald Byrne was able to effortlessly capture attention in his light-hearted
way, so that everyone in the room felt his positive energy. There was hardly any talk among our
chess team about the fact that Byrne had Lupus. Even the large floppy hat that Byrne always
wore as a necessary protection against the sun was viewed as a source of amusement and a
symbol of his eccentricity.
Before hanging up Byrne said “Tell Bobby I’m not picking him up because I am still mad about
that game.” To everyone who knew anything about chess no further explanation was needed. Six
years earlier at age 13, in his first US championship tournament, Fischer played a spectacularly
surprising and complicated queen sacrifice against Donald Byrne. That game, which became
known as the Game of the Century, would be published throughout the world, alerting every one
of his great potential, launching Fischer's career as a player to be feared, admired, and
respected.
At the airport I greeted Bobby Fischer with Byrne's tongue-in-cheek excuse over that game.
Fischer laughed. So began a day of easy conversation with the future world chess champion, a
title that would take another 8 years to achieve.

Ping-Pong
Fischer and I walked around the campus while I pointed out the key buildings, some very old
stately structures and some newer brick buildings with classrooms and lecture halls. We both
laughed at the posters plastered on the walls- Penn State is an Architectural Disaster!

Then we came to The Hub, which was the name for the modern looking student union building,
the center for all kinds of non-academic events from impromptu folk concerts to collegiate
chess tournaments.
We didn't spend much time in any one place until we came to a ping pong table in an out of the
way hall in the Hub. Without a word we started a game. I was confident I could beat him,
because that entire semester I played every night with my roommate as a break from studying.
In what seemed like just a few minutes I was winning 11-7.
Then I really hit my stride. I played some excellent volleys, deftly combining attack and
defense, returning shots with lightning fast reflexes, keeping Fischer off balance. At one point
during our ping pong game, Fischer and I came to the sudden mutual realization that I was about
to win! The score was 19-11.

Now it was his serve, and Fischer did something so strange and remarkable that I remember it
vividly even fifty years later. He held the ball in one hand and his paddle in the other. He was
standing with his knees slightly bent, arms at his side as if ready to serve. Then he just
stopped.
He didn't look at me, but had a far off stare as his demeanor completely changed. For a fraction
of a second it seemed like all the muscles in his face and body tensed at the same time, and then
completely relaxed again as he took a deep breath and quickly let it out. There was a complete
sense of focus and seriousness that came over him. Although Fischer didn't move, it was as if
a new person instantaneously entered the room, something like when someone is beamed down
into the Star Trek transporter room. This all took place in a just a few seconds.
From that moment on Fischer was a different player. After a few more minutes the score was
20-18 in my favor. I was able to get one more point due to a lucky slam that hit the edge of the
table and went in an unpredictable direction. I still felt confident that I could win. But that is
not what happened. I could not win another point. Fischer became invincible. A few more
volleys and Fischer won the game.

It never occurred to me at the time to ask Fischer what just happened. It is well known that an
essential quality of all top chess players is a tremendous 'will to win.' But I think I witnessed
something truly unique.
Years later a similar pattern could be seen in some of Fischer's Tournaments and matches,
including his 1972 world championship match with Spassky. Fischer would start off badly and
be facing insurmountable odds. Yet he would come from behind and suddenly appear
unbeatable. I have read a lot about Bobby Fischer, but I have never seen any discussion of his
ability to make such spectacular comebacks.

Humor
About an hour before Fischer’s simultaneous was to begin we headed over to the playing hall.
The tables and chairs in the room were already set up and people were milling about, waiting
for Fischer to arrive. Near the double door entrance there was an overstuffed leather chair that
I placed a few feet away for Fischer, where he could see all the room activity as well as
people entering the hall. Meanwhile I stood near him to greet people as they came into the hall,
partly shielding Fischer from view. He indicated he was very happy with this arrangement.

At one point a student I knew came by and began asking me questions about the upcoming event.
Fischer silently observed the conversation for several minutes. Then the student said he could
not believe one person could successfully play 50 games at once. “How can Fischer do it?” he
asked. I said “Why don’t you just ask him,” as I took one step back to reveal Fischer sitting
there behind me. The student’s jaw dropped and he just stood there stammering. Fischer just
laughed. After regaining his composure they had a brief conversation. Fischer clearly enjoyed
this little joke.

Memory
After some introductions, Fischer gave a brilliant presentation of a tournament game that he
played, going through all the game moves and variations entirely without notes. Then he
proceeded directly to the first board and began the simultaneous exhibition.

After it was all over, Fischer and I walked to Donald Byrne’s house for supper. Along the way
a girl stopped us and asked for Fischer’s autograph. He willingly obliged and struck up a
conversation with her. He remembered that she was in the hall and knew exactly where she
was standing. He observed all these details while demolishing all but one of his 50 opponents
(49 wins and one draw)!
After we had supper at Byrne's house, prepared and served by Byrne’s wife, Fischer invited me
to go over my game with him. There was a chess set already out in the living room, and he
began quickly playing the moves of the game for both sides from memory. I played the French
Defense, which Byrne told me after the game was a good choice against Fischer.
Suddenly at the 9th move, Fischer hesitated. He tentatively made a move for Black and said,
"Is that what you played." I said, "No, that's the move I played when you were in
Philadelphia." He said, "That's right" and then played the move I had played that day. That
other game was three weeks and about 300 games earlier, during the simultaneous exhibition
Fischer played against 75 players just outside Philadelphia. Fischer then continued playing all
the moves of the entire Penn State game for both sides without any more hesitation, making
helpful suggestions as we went along. It did not occur to me to see if he remembered the rest of
the moves of our Philadelphia game. I did not even have the other game score with me, as I
only found out that morning that I would be spending time with Bobby Fischer.
During the entire day, I felt that I was simply hanging out with an old friend, someone who was
easy to get along with, happy to share his vast knowledge, and possessing a great sense of
humor. I will always be grateful for Donald Byrne and his wife for this opportunity to spend
time with one of the greatest chess players the world has ever known.

Bibliography
Much of the material in this book came from letters and e-mails sent by players who faced
Bobby in 1964. The following is a list of the main publications and online resources that
proved most helpful.

Books:
Brady, Frank, Profile of a Prodigy, David McKay Co., New York, 1965 and 1973.
De Lucia, David and Alessandria, Bobby Fischer Uncensored, self published, Darien, CT,
2009
Donaldson, John and Tangborn, Eric, The Unknown Bobby Fischer, International Chess
Enterprises 1999.
Fischer, Bobby, My 60 Memorable Games, Simon and Schuster, New York, 1969.
Hays, Lou, Bobby Fischer: The Complete Games of the American World Chess Champion,
Hays Publishing, Dallas, Texas, 1995.
Platz, Joseph, Chess Memoirs, Chess Enterprises, Coraopolis, Pennsylvania, 1979.

Periodicals
American Chess Quarterly 1963-64
California Chess Reporter 1963-64
Canadian Chess Chat 1964
Chess 1964
Chess Correspondent 1964
Chess Courier 1964
Chess Horizons 1979
Chess Life 1963-2015
Chess Review 1963-69
Chicago Industrial Chess League Bulletin 1964
Cleveland Chess Bulletin 1964
Connecticut Chess Light 1964
Dayton Chess Club Review 1964
Echecs 2008
En Passant (Pittsburgh Chess Club) 1987
Georgia Chess Letter 1963-64
Illinois Chess Bulletin 1964
New in Chess 1998
Oklahoma Chess Bulletin 1996
Ohio Chess Bulletin 1964
Rhode Island Chess Bulletin 1964
Tennessee Chess News 1964
Terra Chess 1964
Washington Chess Letter 1964

Internet Resources:

http://en.chessbase.com/
http://www.chessgames.com
http://www.chesshistory.com

Players Index
(all index numbers refer to games)

Aker 122
Allan 12
Allen 162
Ballard 114
Barber 24
Barry 20
Bedford 168
Bell 81
Benson 144
Berry 113
Bikulcius 201
Bills 82
Bilodeau 16
Blackstone 142, 152
Blaine 48
Boatner 83
Bone, C.H. 80
Bone, E. 84
Bookout 211
Brieger 85
Briggs 123
Burger 138
Burns 191
Canter180
Carbonell 108
Carson 124
Celle 153
Chalker 86
Chaney 87
Chávez 74
Clement 163
Codman 181
Collins 34
Costaras 44
Crown 59
Cunningham 88
Dedinsky 186
de Gruchy 10
de Parry 207
Dibert 54
Dillard 46
Dockery 125
Dondis 22
Dubois 188
Dudley 89
Edgington 126
Ellison 42
Ermidis 90
Evans 32
Fajkus 202
Fink 49
Flynn 150
Fulk 52
Fusco 127
Gale 182
Garwin 63
Gloger 41
Goncharoff 62
Goranson 203
Gould 91
Grant 6
Greer 128
Gross 139
Gruenberg 64
Guay 17
Hale 78
Hart 121
Hartwell 133
Haskins 170
Heckathorn 131
Heising 92
Henry 143
Holgerson 147
Hoppe 154
House 164
Hucks 33
Hughes31
Hunt, J. 166
Hunt, S. 134
Hurt 110
Ina 39
Isely, K. 129
Isely, Q. 130
Jacobs 93
Janushkowsky 155
Jobin 11
Jones, B. 94
Jones, J. 3
Kane 141
Kahn 179, 217
Kaufer 198
Kelley 95
Killian178
King 19
Koehler 169
Koppany 175
Kord 4
Korst167
Kraft 171
Kral 73, 204
Kuberczyk 43
Kuhn 65
Kumro 205
Lense 195
Levin 77
Limoh (Pimoh?) 103
Lister 18
Lockett 76
LoCoco 56
Long 111
Longcobe 96
Lunenfeld 7
Lutes 197
Lynch 97
Manter 58, 209
Mantia 196
Martin 23
Matthews, D. 37
Matthews, S. 29
McCaskey 156
McDermott 212
McFarland 177
McGregor 98
McLaughlin 116
Mechem 115
Meifert 184
Michalopoulos 99
Mobley 45
Moffit 79
Morris 145
Morrison 214
Mott-Smith 51
Munzlinger 117
Murdock 190
Neustaedter 165
Nickel 176
N.N.151
N.N. (Montreal)14
N.N. (Washington D.C.)35
Noderer 26
Nuchold 100
Nyman 206
Oaker 13
Osbun 157
O’Keefe 192
Owen 25
Panzer 66
Parham 75
Patteson 101
Peil 102
Peters 132
Pierce 28
Plaster 104
Platz 27
Powell 30
Puto 200
Pransky 183
Redman 67
Reid 172
Reithel 5
Reynolds 194
Richardson 187
Richburg 2
Rogosin 136
Rouse 68
Rubens 8
Rubin 149, 158
Rummel 216
Sacks 135
Sanders 146
Sandrin 50, 208
Sax 55
Schmid 105
Schuch 21
Self 118
Shifrine 159
Sillars 53, 209
Silverman 57
Singleton 148
Sivitz 38
Smith, G. 106
Smith, M 36
Snuske 189
Staight 107
Sugerman 69
Sullivan 61
Terrone 213
Thacker 143
Thackrey 193
Thornell 70
Tordion 15
Travis 109, 119
Underhill 47
Von Oettingen 160
Wagenhals 71
Wallace 173
Walters 137
Warren 60, 210
Weaks 112
Westing 215
Wilkerson 140, 161
Wilson 120
Winters 174
Witeczek 1
Wolf 72
Zaas 40
Zageris 199
Zalys 9
Zvers 185

Openings Index
(all index numbers refer to games)

Alekhine’s Defense 20, 70, 115, 121, 156, 171, 195, 199
Caro-Kann 2, 10, 25, 34, 40, 45, 78, 79, 112, 140, 144, 146, 158, 160, 188, 196, 211, 215
Center Counter 141, 149, 197
Damiano’s Defense 98
Evans Gambit 13, 46, 55, 56, 63, 66, 69, 75, 83, 102, 108, 119, 151, 153, 155, 157, 174, 177
French Defense 4, 6, 8, 23, 24, 26, 27, 30, 31, 42, 48, 52, 54, 57, 73, 82, 84, 85, 104, 110, 118,
120, 125, 127, 145, 154, 163, 170, 173, 179, 181, 182, 183, 186, 191, 198, 201, 204, 207, 217
Irregular Opening 21, 72
King’s Gambit 1, 3, 9, 16, 36, 37, 47, 50, 51, 58, 88, 90, 99, 100, 106, 107, 126, 128, 132,
159, 178, 180, 203, 205, 206, 212
Latvian Gambit 176
Modern Defense 76
Nimzovich Defense 101
Orangutan 39, 41, 137
Petroff Defense 86, 105, 113
Philidor’s Defense 87, 172, 185, 208
Pirc Defense 71, 97, 168, 175
Ruy López 49, 81, 92, 97, 109, 123, 213
Scotch Game 59
Sicilian Defense 5, 7, 15, 18, 19, 28, 29, 32, 33, 35. 38, 43, 44, 53, 60, 61, 62, 74, 77, 80, 89,
93, 94, 95, 103, 111, 114, 117, 122, 129, 130, 133, 134, 135, 136, 142,148, 150, 152, 161,
162, 165, 166, 167, 169, 184, 187, 190, 193, 194, 209, 210, 216
Two Knights Defense 12, 14, 64, 65, 67, 68, 91, 116, 131, 138, 143, 189
Vienna 11, 17, 22, 124, 139, 147, 164, 200, 202, 214

ECO Codes Index

(all index numbers refer to games)

A00 39, 41, 137

A43 72
B00 21, 101
B01 141, 149, 197
B02 70
B03 20, 115, 121, 156, 171, 195, 199
154, 170, 174
B07 76
B08 168
B09 71, 97, 175
B10 2, 25, 40
B11 112, 144, 211
B14 140, 158, 160, 188
B17 78
B18 10, 34, 45, 79, 146, 196, 215
B20 15
B27 148, 150
B28 184
B29 94, 216
B32 44, 62, 129, 130
B33 74
B35 114, 192, 193
B42 33, 187
B44 61, 142
B46 111
B54 35
B56 43
B57 80, 161, 162, 167
B63 134
B70 190
B76 29, 93, 117
B77 133
B81 18, 89
B83 169
B84 95
B86 53, 77, 194
B87 38, 122, 135, 152, 165
B88 19, 28, 32, 60, 103, 136, 166, 210
B90 209
C00 181
C10 48, 73, 85, 145, 204
C11 6, 37, 82
C12 57, 191
C13 84, 118, 120, 182, 198
C14 104
C15 8, 110, 191
C16 127, 154, 173, 207
C17 23, 24, 27, 52, 125
C18 30, 170
C19 4, 26, 31, 54, 163, 179, 183, 186, 201, 217
C25 17, 202
C26 11, 164
C27 22
C28 214
C29 124, 139, 147
C30 3, 36, 47, 58, 90, 99, 100, 107, 126, 128, 159, 178, 200, 203, 205, 212
C31 16, 132
C32 106, 180
C33 9, 50, 88, 206
C36 1
C38 37, 51
C40 98, 176
C41 87, 172, 185, 208
C43 86, 105, 113
C44 59
C51 13, 46, 55, 66, 83, 119, 151, 153, 177
C52 56, 63, 75, 102, 108, 155, 157, 174
C57 12, 14, 64, 65, 67, 68, 131, 138, 143, 189
C59 91, 116
C60 81, 123
C62 96
C70 92
C79 213
C90 109
C92 49