D97 Byrne,Donald Fischer

ChessBase 10 Printout, A.J. Goldsby, 3/20/2014 1

D97 our observations.) Byrne,Donald . Fischer,Robert James Nearly 20 years has elapsed, 3rd Rosenwald 1956 (or - in some cases - even [A.J.G.] more time than this ...); since the first time that I . began to use chess engines "THE GAME OF THE CENTURY." to examine this game ... An important re-appraisal. they have become much (For my main chess website.) stronger, (exponentially so); . in the last 5-10 years. Due (This was ... originally ... ) to this advancement in the A BAG-lite game. overall technology, I thought January 10th, 2014. it would be fun to take yet {A new look at this classic another look at it. (I will and historic chess game ... stick to the lines of the I went back to a totally various chess engines.) clean sheet of paper for ************************** this game, and I tried to Another under-appreciated forget everything I knew fact was that, in 1956, about this game. The Bobby Fischer was a chess engines were the virtual nobody. However, leader here ... and I tried his opponent was one of the to always thoroughly top players in the USA ... follow their lead.} and #65 in the whole . world!!!!! (See below.) Another thing that gave #1.) Samuel Reshevsky (2752) added impetus to this project #2.) Larry Evans (2640) was that one of my PCC #3.) Arthur Bisguiser (2612) students and I looked at this #4.) Donald Byrne (2589) game on their laptop in the [ Notice that Donald ... fall of 2013. (I bought a spiral- in those days ... was even bound notebook and I higher rated than his recorded just about all of (later) much more famous

Copyright - A.J. Goldsby, 2014. (All rights reserved.) ChessBase 10 Printout, A.J. Goldsby, 3/20/2014 2 older brother!!!!!! Of course, XABCDEFGHY in 1974, the elder R. Byrne 8rsnlwq-trk+( went all the way to the quarter-finals of the 7zppzp-zppvlp' Candidates Matches, losing 6-+-+-snp+& only to GM Boris Spassky. 5+-+-+-+-% {Source: The CM website.} ] . 4-+pzP-vL-+$ ******************************** 3+QsN-+N+-# I have analyzed the opening 2PzP-+PzPPzP" before, I don't think that theory 1tR-+-mKL+R![ has changed that much since I first examined this game. xabcdefghy (The game begins as a Reti, One author actually criticized and then it will transpose this move, (at the time that this to a Grunfeld, Russian System.) game was first played); but the 1.Nf3 Nf6 ; 2.c4 g6 ; engines all agree that it was 3.Nc3 Bg7 ; 4.d4 0-0 ; 100% best and/or forced. 5.Bf4 d5 ; 6.Qb3 dxc4 ; ('!') . 6...c7-c6; is the choice 8.e4 Nbd7 ; (Maybe - '!?') advocated by the new This is a solid move ... (CB) "Power-Book." and I do not believe . that there is anything fundamentally wrong with it. However, I (Diagram) have to agree with many of the engines that 8...b5; was a slightly more . active move for Black. However, Fischer's move . is much sharper and leads to a different type of game. [ RR8...b5 ; ('!') - Fritz 13. ] . 7.Qxc4 c6™ ; (No choice.)

XABCDEFGHY ( 9...Nd5!? ; 10.Nxd5 cxd5 ; 8r+lwq-trk+( Now 11.QxP/d5, ('?') allows Black to play the surprising 7zpp+nzppvlp' shot of 11...NxP/e5! "=/+" 6-+p+-snp+& 11.Qb3™ Qb6! ; 5+-+-+-+-% 12.Qxb6 axb6!„ ). 10.Qc5! , (Best!?) 4-+QzPPvL-+$ This seems to be the move 3+-sN-+N+-# indicated as being best by 2PzP-+-zPPzP" all of the engines here. 1tR-+-mKL+R![ ( RR10.exf6!? Nxc4 ; 11.fxg7 Kxg7 ; xabcdefghy 12.Bxc4 Bg4³ ). . 10...Nfd5÷ , (mostly unclear) One thing that Fischer had and Black may be slightly in common with Morphy better in this position. ] as that if you got caught . with your King in the center, . they both could whip up a Now Black plays a pretty nice attack ... good move ... a young almost out of thin air! Bobby Fischer plays his . Knight to the b6-square, . in order to free his QB, . with a gain of time. 9.Rd1 , (Center.) Some pundits (also) Most engines prefer Be2, criticized this move as yet this move (also) well, however, most places Black under a great engines confirm that it is ... deal of pressure here. (ABSOLUTELY!!!) the best . move for Black in this particular position. [An interesting line would be: 9...Nb6 ; ('!') 10.Qc5! , (Yes!) RR9.e5!? Nb6! ; (hmm) Many of the authors/pundits Seemingly best. heavily criticized this move ...

(at the time when this game interesting observation with was first played); ... you, and this is one you would as being grossly bad or not be aware of ... unless you simply completely inferior. have been using engines for (I have always liked it and more than 10-15 years. (At a many of the better engines - minimum.) When the engines today - also choose Qc5 first came out, many of them for White in this position.) wanted to play Bg5 here ... . They also could think all day, and not discover anything [ RR10.Qb3!? Nh5! ; wrong with Bg5. Now they 11.Be3 Be6! ; immediately notice a fairly 12.Qa3 Qd6!= ] large downturn in the . "scores" of the position and . they also begin to see ... Now many of the engines - almost immediately - will want to play ...Be6; the win for Black. or even ...a5; here. Yet I . greatly prefer Fischer's move ... simply because [ ¹11.Be2! , "+/=" ] it greatly cranks up the heat/pressure in this game. 10...Bg4! ; 11.Bg5!? , ('?!'/'?') (Diagram) White (also) plays a move with the deliberate intention of playing sharp and . uncompromising chess. The stage is now set for However, (today); there some of the greatest is no doubt that this move tactical shots ever played is an error, and allows a by ANY chess prodigy! young Bobby Fischer a . chance to play brilliantly. . . . I also wanted to share an 11...Na4!! ; (Maybe - '!!!')

Copyright - A.J. Goldsby, 2014. (All rights reserved.) ChessBase 10 Printout, A.J. Goldsby, 3/20/2014 5 XABCDEFGHY XABCDEFGHY 8r+-wq-trk+({ 8r+-wq-trk+( 7zpp+-zppvlp' 7zpp+-zppvlp' 6-snp+-snp+& 6-+p+-snp+& 5+-wQ-+-vL-% 5+-wQ-+-vL-% 4-+-zPP+l+$ 4n+-zPP+l+$ 3+-sN-+N+-# 3+-sN-+N+-# 2PzP-+-zPPzP" 2PzP-+-zPPzP" 1+-+RmKL+R! 1+-+RmKL+R![ xabcdefghy xabcdefghy (Super chess!!!) will usually play something . mundane like 11...Re8; in A young Bobby does not this particular position. miss his chance to play a . (very good) surprise move 12.Qa3™ , (Best/box/forced.) in this position. (Students Again, Byrne plays the best are routinely stunned and move here, yet many authors show obvious disbelief when slammed Byrne for playing I show them this particular his Queen to "an inferior bolt of chess lightning.) square" at this juncture in . this game. (Maybe 12.Qa3!) .

(Diagram) [White gets into more trouble with the capture on a4 ...

15.Qxg5 Re8+ ; doomed as well.) ] 16.Kd2 , ("Box?") . This was probably forced. . ( Even worse would be: Black's next move appears ‹16.Be2? Qxg5 ; to strengthen White's center, 17.Nxg5 Bxe2-+ ). but even in chess, appearances 16...Bxf3 ; (P-structure.) can be >>> (sometimes ... very) 17.Qxd8 Raxd8 ; deceiving. 18.gxf3 Rxd4+ ; 12...Nxc3! ; 13.bxc3 Nxe4! ; 19.Kc2 Rxa4-+ ; Fischer does not hesitate to B) 13.Bxe7 , sacrifice. Meanwhile Byrne (*SIGH*) "Might as well." must either meet the challenge {White does not really here ... or slink away in defeat. have a good move at . this point.} . XABCDEFGHY . 8r+-wq-trk+( . (Back to the main line 7zpp+-zppvlp' of this whole variation.) 6-+p+-+p+& Nxc5! ; 14.Bxd8 Re8+! ; 5+-+-+-vL-% 15.Be2 Nxa4 ; 16.Bg5 Bxf3! ; 17.gxf3 Nxb2 ; 18.Rd2 Nc4 ; 4-+-zPn+l+$ 19.Rd1 h6 ; 20.Bc1 Rad8!-+ 3wQ-zP-+N+-# . 2P+-+-zPPzP" Black has a won game. 1+-+RmKL+R![ (Although the second player only has one Pawn, this must xabcdefghy be an overwhelming position for Black ... White's Pawn . structure is in tatters, the I wonder if Byrne was a little 1st player's pieces are in embarrassed here? C'mon, a state of confusion, and think about it! He has only White's d-Pawn is probably played 13 moves ... and he

Copyright - A.J. Goldsby, 2014. (All rights reserved.) ChessBase 10 Printout, A.J. Goldsby, 3/20/2014 7 is already in trouble! ‹18.Bc4 Bxf3 ; 19.gxf3 Nxc3+ . ; ***** ***** ***** ***** ***** when White simply gets to Now all the engines like Be3 play the endgame ... and in or Bf4 for White. (But Black many cases, the first player would still be much better.) will be down two pawns. ). 14.Bxe7!? Qb6! ; (Sharpest.) 18...Bxf3! ; 19.gxf3 Ng3+ ; According to several engines, 20.Be2 Nxe2! ; 21.Kd2 Nf4 ; 14...Qd5; might be best here 22.Rhe1 Ra8!-+ . "+/-" for Black. Yet this tame and Black has a won endgame: uninspiring play would NOT White has a busted Pawn have resulted in one of the skeleton and his opponent most memorable chess has two healthy minors for games ever played!!! the Rook. ] (I would even venture this . opinion at this point: . if Fischer had played White's next move, while 14...Qd5; ...... being identified as best by ... today, no one would just about all of the chess even care about this engines ... is also kind of particular game!) sad! (Poor Byrne!! Bobby is already dreaming of a direct attack on the White King. [The computer - which is not Meanwhile Donald Byrne hampered by emotions or has a little egg on his face, any predetermined prejudice - as he still has not completed chooses the following line: his opening development!) RR14...Qd5!? ; - Fritz 13. 15.Bc4 Nxc3! ; 16.Bc5! , 15.Bxf8 Bxf8 ; 16.Qb3 Qxb3 ; (Desperado?) 17.axb3 Re8 ; 18.Ra1!? , Once again, this move ... This is an attempt by White which might have been to avoid the disaster which best or forced for White ... is certain to arrive shortly. really looks like the only ( Even worse is: intelligent play that would

Copyright - A.J. Goldsby, 2014. (All rights reserved.) ChessBase 10 Printout, A.J. Goldsby, 3/20/2014 8 keep Byrne in the game. also feel that it is somewhat . under-appreciated. 16...Rfe8+!! ; (Artistry!!!) [ RR16.Qxc3?! Rae8 ; The excellence of this move 17.Qe3™ Qc7 ; should not be under-estimated. 18.Bxf8 Qa5+ ; (The box likes 16...Nb5!, which 19.Kf1 Rxe3 ; is OK, but it is NOT beautiful ... 20.fxe3 Bxf8-+ ] and is certainly not as brilliant nor as marvelous as what XABCDEFGHY Bobby Fischer actually played!!!) 8r+-+-trk+({ . Really great chess isn't about 7zpp+-+pvlp' just dry technique and perfect 6-wqp+-+p+& moves on the chess-board ... 5+-vL-+-+-% it is also about the beautiful and very unexpected moves ... 4-+LzP-+l+$ which thrill the very soul! 3wQ-sn-+N+-# . 2P+-+-zPPzP" 1+-+RmK-+R! [ RR16...Nb5! , - Fritz 13. (On a small, perhaps xabcdefghy weaker tablet/laptop.) ] . . . One might think that White 17.Kf1™ , (100% forced.) was slowly gaining the Byrne had no choice here ... upper hand in this game. no real choice at all. . . . . [Worse/inferior was: *** *** *** *** *** *** ‹17.Kd2? Ne4+ ; 18.Kc2 Qc7!-+ ; Fischer's next move is both and Black has a subtle and magnificent, I won game. ]

[Black can still lose here ... XABCDEFGHY as the following variation 8r+-+r+k+({ clearly proves: Checkmate.) ] . . . . Now Fischer plays one of the 18.Bxb6 , (S - the bait?) most amazing moves of the Byrne grabs the BQ, but whole of the 20th Century. by now "The Donald" did 17...Be6!! ; (Maybe - '!!!') not really have a good The shot heard round the alternative here. (chess) world ...... I also cannot help but mention [The machine prefers: that R. Fine awarded this move RR18.Qxc3 Qxc5! ; FOUR exclams in his book!!!! 19.dxc5 Bxc3-+ ; . Yet I can understand why D. Byrne did not like this

line for White ... the Queens 22.Kf1 Nc3+! ; 23.Kg1 axb6 ; are off and the first player (Really - '!') will be down one (or two!!!) Hits the WQ and does not Pawns for the rest of the leave D. Byrne a lot of choices. coming endgame. ] (I have studied this game [. with many students over ******************************** the years, they almost Another "comical" variation always pick the inferior would have to be:

Copyright - A.J. Goldsby, 2014. (All rights reserved.) ChessBase 10 Printout, A.J. Goldsby, 3/20/2014 11 XABCDEFGHY XABCDEFGHY 8-+-+r+k+( 8-+-+r+k+( 7+p+-+pvlp' 7+p+-+pvlp' 6-zpp+-+p+& 6-wQp+-+p+& 5+-+-+-+-% 5+-+-+-+-% 4rwQl+-+-+$ 4-+l+-+-+$ 3+-sn-+N+-# 3+-+-+N+P# 2P+-+-zPPzP" 2r+-+-zPP+" 1+-+R+-mKR![ 1+-+n+-mKR![ xabcdefghy xabcdefghy all that is left (for White) . is to "grub" one Pawn ... Now - in just a few moves - and it is a nearly useless, Black will begin an "all-out" doubled-pawn, at that ... King hunt. on the very unimportant . b6-square. . 25.Qxb6 Nxd1 ; 26.h3 Rxa2! ; . I like this ... and so does The rest of the game really Houdini. (I was analyzing needs no further commentary ... this game with a friend on if you have any questions, his laptop at a local book- I will simply refer you to store just a few days ago, my original analysis of this and his computer chose historic chess game. playing the Bishop to d5, (I should also add, for the instead of the text move.) sake of being complete, . that after 31.Nf3, Fritz 13 prefers 31...Kg7.) [ RR26...Bd5 ; - Fritz 13. 27.Kh2 Nxf2 ; 28.Re1 Rxe1 ; (On a newer laptop.) ] 29.Qd8+ Bf8™ ; 30.Nxe1 Bd5! ; 31.Nf3 Ne4 ; 32.Qb8 b5! ; 33.h4 h5! ; 34.Ne5 Kg7! ;

Of course, White is quite lost. 40.Kb1 Nc3+ ; . 41.Kc1 Rc2#! , Mate. (#) . XABCDEFGHY Donald Byrne could have 8-wQ-+-vl-+( resigned, but he gallantly allowed the mate to occur 7+-+-+pmk-' on the board, which further 6-+p+-+p+& adds to the charm of this 5+p+lsN-+p% epic struggle. . 4-+-+n+-zP$ "The GAME of The Century!" 3+-+-+-+-# - GM Hans Kmoch 2r+-+-+PmK" . 1+-+-+-+-![ . Copyright (c) A.J. Goldsby, 2014. xabcdefghy All rights reserved. . . . Now Black is prepared to . finish this historic contest . by hunting down the WK. . [Also possible was: 41...Ba3# . ] *** *** *** *** *** *** *** 0-1 White's next move was probably deliberate, (Nd3 would have slightly prolonged the game). [White, on his 36th move, should have played Kh2 ... when Fritz sees a mate in like 15-18 moves.] 35.Kg1!? Bc5+! ; Best. 36.Kf1!? Ng3+ ; 37.Ke1 Bb4+!? ; 38.Kd1 Bb3+ ; 39.Kc1 Ne2+ ;