*** (Had this game been played today, Bobby Fischer would have been rated around 2740 and I think Lajos Portisch would be at least 2625.)
(This game is from the tournament where Fischer ran away from a world-class field.)
***
{A mathematician told me that a rate of inflation for ratings of 5-10 points per year has occurred since ELO first introduced his system.} Fischer's rating of 2600, adjusted for inflation would be 2748. Portisch's rating of 2496, adjusted for inflation, would be 2665. (This actually does not really show the strength of these two players. Kasparov's mid-2001 rating was over 2800. A top 50 player is is closer to 2700 in 2001-2002.)
Fischer's 5-year peak rating, (average) - adjusted for inflation - would be close to 2875. Portisch's 5-year peak rating, again ... - adjusted for inflation - would be over 2730.
This entire diatribe only proves two things: # 1.) The numbers can be twisted to say anything. ("There are lies, damn lies ... and statistics." - Mark Twain.) # 2.) Arpad Elo was 100% correct in stating that the ONLY correct measure of a player was a yardstick which measured him by the standards of his own generation.
This is one of Bobby Fischer's very best games. But unfortunately, you won't find it any great book that contains some (or all) of the really great chess games.
MOST annotators have missed just what a great game this encounter really is!!! (MANY writers have written that Fischer played well, but that his opponent missed the best defence at some point. This is dead wrong!).
It is also - in my own ... (not-so-humble) ... opinion - ... ... ... ONE OF THE TEN GREATEST R+P END-GAMES ... EVER PLAYED!!!!
(Repeated computer analysis has failed to reveal any major improvements for either side. In particular, Fischer's play may have been ... PERFECT!!)
---> I have analyzed this game dozens of times over the years, going back to when I first checked out a book of Fischer's games from the public library. (Early 70's.) My notes reflect a deep familiarity with this game.
1. e4 c6; 2. Nc3 d5; 3. Nf3!? dxe4; {Diagram?} This was accepted opening theory, at the time this game was played.
[ Today, most players would play: 3...Bg4!?; {Diagram?} which modern opening theory considers a little better than the text. (See ECO, MCO-14, or any standard reference book.) ].
4. Nxe4 Nd7!?; 5. Bc4! Ngf6; 6. Neg5! Nd5!?; {Diagram?} Believe it or not ... this is the book move here!
(Black avoids ...e6; as he does NOT want to close in his QB. This is a very FUNDAMENTAL idea of this opening!!!)
[ Black avoids 6...e6!?; as in the Caro-Kann ... one of the fundamental ideas of this opening is to develop the QB OUTSIDE the pawn chain! Soltis says less good is: </= 6...e6!?; 7.Qe2! Nb6 ; ('?') {Diagram?} A natural-looking move ... but a mistake!
(Better was: >/= 7...Nd5; 8.d4!, "+/=" {Diagram?} but White still has a small - but solid - edge, as in the actual game.)
8.Ne5!, '±' {Diagram?} with a distinct edge for White. ]
Both sides now develop in (more-or-less) normal fashion ... at least for this opening! 7. d4 h6; 8. Ne4 N7b6; 9. Bb3!?, (Maybe - '!') Fischer maintains pressure on the center ... while still eyeing f7.
[ Playable was: 9.Bd3!? ].
Now both sides try to complete their development. 9...Bf5; 10. Ng3 Bh7; 11. 0-0 e6; Now that Black has finally developed his Bishop, he feels free to play this move.
12. Ne5! Nd7; {Diagram?} Black tries to exchange off the Knight, which is strongly posted on the e5-square.
[ </= 12...Be7!?; 13.Nh5 0-0?; 14.Qg4!, "+/=" - GM A. Soltis. ]
In the next few moves, White continues to develop while trying to avoid exchanges and 'grow' his space advantage.
13. c4! N5f6; 14. Bf4 Nxe5; 15. Bxe5 Bd6; 16. Qe2 0-0; 17. Rad1, ('!') "+/=" {Diagram?} White completes his development first, ... just a little before Black is able to complete the mobilization of his forces.
[ 17.f4!? ].
17...Qe7; 18. Bxd6! Qxd6; 19. f4!? c5!?; {Diagram?} Black looks to break down White's center. This is a normal and logical reaction for Black to play in this particular opening.
But in reality, the idea here may be of doubtful value, and seems to lead - virtually by force - to an ending where White is clearly better.
[ 19...Rad8!?; looks OK. Or 19...Rfe8!? ; - Kmoch. ]
20. Qe5!, ('!!') {Diagram?} A very good and alert move by Bobby Fischer.
White heads for an ending ... ---> One which Bobby felt was very good for him; ---> And an ending that Portisch felt that he should be able to draw, without any real problem. (He said this right after the game.)
'!' - GM Andrew Soltis.
[ 20.dxc5!? ].
20...Qxe5!?; {Diagram?} Black agrees to the exchange of Queens.
But, maybe Black should avoid this ending.
In retrospect - - - the 19th and 20th moves for Black - may actually be the only places in this game where Black can really look to find a substantial improvement in his play. (To avoid the loss.)
[ Maybe better was: 20...Rad8. ].
21. dxe5 Ne4; 22. Rd7!, (Very strong.) Seizing the key 7th rank, but at a cost of doubling his pawns on the King-side.
[ 22.Nxe4!? ].
The ending (now) progresses pretty naturally. 22...Nxg3; 23. hxg3 Be4; {Diagram} Black seems to be defending.
With his next move, White retains a clear advantage. 24. Ba4!, ("+/=") {Diagram?} This prevents ...Bc6; and neutralizes Black's Bishop ... AND enables White - by doubling his Rooks - to maintain control of the d-file.
[ If 24. Rf2!?, then 24...Bc6; "=" ].
24...Rad8; 25. Rfd1 Rxd7; 26. Rxd7 g5!?; {Diagram?} Soltis applauds this move. (It is difficult to find counterplay for Black in this position.)
27. Bd1!, {Diagram?} White now threatens Bf3. '!' - GM Andrew Soltis.
27...Bc6; 28. Rd6!, {Diagram?} Normally, a player would want to stay on the seventh rank with his Rook, here it is correct to maintain control of the file.
[ Or 28.Rc7 Rd8, "=" ]
28...Rc8; 29. Kf2 Kf8; {Diagram?} White has a nice advantage. He allows this advantage to grow.
(Several authors have mistakenly written that Fischer - in the next few moves - missed a good opportunity to liquidate his doubled pawns. He kept them; ... ON PURPOSE ... as part of his plan!)
30. Bf3 Bxf3; 31. gxf3!!, {Diagram?} One writer wrote here that Fischer missed his chance here ...
Fischer does this on purpose. This un-natural looking move is best and actually leads to a clear advantage for White.
[ Possible was: 31.Kxf3 Ke7, "=" ].
31...gxf4; 32. gxf4 Ke7; Now we have a very interesting position. (See the diagram just below.)
The actual game position, after 32...Ke7.
The Russian contingent - who were very interested in this game - felt Portisch should draw here with out any trouble!! (They were quite sure of this!)
Many computer programs consider this position better for Black!!! (Of course this is incorrect.)
Now comes a maneuver ... which White must have foreseen ... MANY moves in advance! (This maneuver gives White a small, but clear, edge.) 33. f5!!, {Diagram?} A brilliant UN-doubling of the Pawns, and one that leads to a very distinct edge for White. Kotov says such profound mastery of R+P endings at age 19, (as Bobby was here); is very rare. Kotov goes on to say that only Vassily Smyslov, in his experience, ever showed such a deep understanding of this very difficult end-game phase at such an age.
[ Possible was: 33.Ke3 ].
33...exf5; {Diagram?} This capture is forced.
(You can use any analysis engine to determine what happens to Black if White's pawn is allowed to advance to f6.)
[ </= 33...b6?; 34.f6+ Ke8; 35.Kg3, '±' ].
Now observe Fischer's fine technique in this ending. (Every move is a jewel to be lingered over.) 34. Rxh6 Rd8; {Diagram?} Black cannot trade Rooks here.
[ After the moves: </= 34...Rc6?; 35.Rxc6 bxc6; 36.Kg3! Kd7; 37.Kh4! Ke6; 38.f4 f6; 39.exf6 Kxf6; 40.Kh5 a6; 41.Kh6! a5; 42.b3 Ke6; 43.Kg6, ("+/-") White should win easily. ].
35. Ke2, {Diagram?} Soltis greatly criticizes this move, but does not tell us what move is clearly better. Here Bobby did not want Portisch's Rook to penetrate into his side of the board.
[ 35.Ke3!? ].
35...Rg8; 36. Kf2 Rd8; {Diagram?} Soltis criticizes this ... but I believe he is too harsh. (Portisch may have been in time trouble here.)
[ Possibly better was the move: 36...f4!?; {Diagram?} aiming for ...Rg5. "~" ].
37. Ke3!, {Diagram?} Now Bobby finds the right plan, and avoids any possibility of a draw.
[ Instead the move: 37.Ke2, {Diagram?} could lead to a draw by both sides repeating the position. (...Rg8; Kf2, Rd8; Ke2, etc.) ].
37...Rd1; 38. b3!, {Diagram?} This is correct ... NOT the cowardly Rook retreat of Rh2.
[ After the moves: 38.Rh2 Rd4; 39.b3 f4+; {Diagram?} the game is probably drawn. ].
38...Re1+; {Diagram?} Black feels compelled to make this move in this position.
[ Or 38...b6; 39.Kf4, "+/=" ].
39. Kf4 Re2; 40. Kxf5 Rxa2; 41. f4 Re2; 42. Rh3! Re1; {Diag?} "The Rook is best placed on the e-file, as we shall see." - GM Andrew Soltis.
43. Rd3, ('!') {Diagram?} Originally, I felt bad about giving this move an exclam ... although it is a tremendous move. But GM Soltis likes it so much, ... ... ... he gave it TWO exclams!
'!!' - GM Andrew Soltis.
[ 43.Rh8!? Re3; "="].
Now Soltis also awards an exclam to White's 44th move.
43...Rb1; 44. Re3 Rb2; 45. e6! a6; 46. exf7+ Kxf7; {Diag?} Now ... seemingly by some trick, or as if by magic; Fischer has produced a position that is clearly superior for White!!! (White has a passed Pawn where Black does not.).
Now a DEEP computer analysis ... on a super computer, ( SUN Micro-Systems, multi-processor platform; with two add-on cards, packed with "Reduced Instruction-Set, Chips." {RISC}); using the program Nimzo 8.0; and also utilizing a the ChessBase set of endgame CD-ROM's - reveals that both sides play this ending nearly perfectly. (There are NO improvements to save Black in this end-game, ...... despite what many writers have written!!!!!!!)
Soltis gives White exclams for BOTH his 47th and his 48th moves here.
47. Ke5 Rd2; 48. Rc3! b6!?; 49. f5 Rd1; {Diagram?} Black's Rook is attempting to keep White's King from crossing the board ... and gobbling up all the rest of Black's pawns! (This is almost forced.)
"Active defense fails," says Soltis, who goes on to point out a long variation where 49...Re2+ does not really accomplish anything.
50. Rh3! b5!?; (Maybe - '!') {Diagram?} Now we have a critical position. MANY authors and MASTERS have said that Black's last move was a mistake. (See the diagram just below.)
The actual game position, after 50...b5!?
Wade and O'Connell - in their [book] collection if Fischer's games - mistakenly give this move, (50...b5!?); a question mark. (BUT, ... they are gravely mistaken.)
It is actually the correct move on principle: # 1.) Black - the defender -should definitely try to exchange pawns... as many as possible! (To increase his drawing chances.) # 2.) By breaking up the Q-side pawns, Black hopes to isolate a Pawn, (structure) and then win it. (Counter-play.) # 3.) The move ...b5; is the first choice of 3 different analysis engines, when you give them 15-20 minutes to analyze this position.
---> GM Andy Soltis completely ignores ...b5 here, which is a little strange.
[ Wade and O'Connell give the line: 50...a5!?; (Maybe - '?!') (The computers do not like this move!) 51.Rh7+ Kg8; Forcing the Rook to move, as it is attacked. ( Or 51...Kf8?!; 52.Rb7, "+/" (Maybe "+/-") ) 52.Rb7 Rb1!?; (Maybe - '?!') Black attacks White's one weakness. 53.Rxb6 a4?; (Really probably - '??') {Diagram?} Wade and O'Connell stop here.
They (MISTAKENLY) claim this position is EQUAL ... and then blame this whole mess on some player named, "Cuellar."
(See the book:) ("The {complete} Games of Robert J. Fischer." By IM Bob Wade, and FIDE Arbiter, Kevin J. O'Connell. Pages # 370-371.)
Of course this is absolute garbage!!
(A little better is: 53...Rb2; 54.Rb5, "+/" ---> Maybe - "+/-").
Checking ANY computer program, you will find that White can play: 54.Rg6+!, (An obvious check.) ( NOT 54.bxa4?? Rxb6; "-/+" ) 54...Kf7; (Forced.) It does not matter where the King goes. He cannot capture the White Rook ... it is protected by a pawn! 55.bxa4, ("+/-) {Diagram?} ALL the computer programs correctly evaluate White's position as completely winning!!! (White is TWO Pawns ahead!)
(Another note is that this mistake has been reproduced nearly every time this game is mentioned!! This mistake has been repeated in DOZENS of books and magazines!) ].
Fischer continues with his flawless play. 51. Rh7+ Kg8; 52.Rb7 bxc4; {Diagram?} The correct way to play for Black. (See the long discussion after Black's 50th move.)
[ 52...b4!?; 53.Ke6!, "+/=" - Soltis. ].
53. bxc4 Rd4; 54. Ke6!, {Diagram?} This is the correct move, according to GM A. Soltis.
[ 54.Rb8+ Kf7; 55.Ra8 Rxc4; 56.Rxa6 Rc1; 57.Ra7+ Ke8; "~" ].
54...Re4+; {Diagram?} Wade and O'Connell do point out that it is a mistake for Black to capture the c-pawn. (And they are correct here.)
[ 54...Rxc4?; 55.Rb8+ Kh7; 56.f6 Re4+; 57.Kf5! Rb4; 58.Rc8! Rb2; 59.f7! Rf2+; 60.Ke6 Kg7; (The only try.) (60...Re2+?!; 61.Kd5 Rd2+; 62.Kc6 Rf2; 63.f8Q Rxf8; 64.Rxf8, "+/-" ). 61.Rg8+ Kh7; 62.f8Q Rxf8; 63.Rxf8 c4; 64.Rc8, ("+/-") with an easy win for White. ].
Now GM A. Soltis goes on to give exclams to the following moves for White: # 55, # 57, # 59, and also # 62.
Fischer now begins to wrap everything up. 55. Kd5! Rf4; 56. Kxc5 Rxf5+; 57. Kd6! Rf6+; 58. Ke5 Rf7; 59. Rb6! Rc7; 60. Kd5 Kf7; 61. Rxa6 Ke7; 62. Re6+! Kd8; 63. Rd6+ Ke7; 64. c5 Rc8; 65. c6 Rc7; 66. Rh6 Kd8; 67. Rh8+!, {Diagram?} White just avoided a really a nice trap.
[ 67.Kd6!? Rd7+!; A nice tactic. 68.cxd7??, {Diagram?} STALE-MATE! (Draw.) (White can still move his King back and try to win.) ].
67...Ke7; 68. Ra8!, Black Resigns. 1 - 0 (Black has to move his King when Kd6 wins easily for White - the White c-pawn will have a clear path to the promotion square.)
Wade and O'Connell call this: "A very fine R+P ending."
A nearly perfectly played ending by BOTH of the players here!
Fischer's performance here was both stellar - and as far as I can tell - without ANY flaws!! Easily one of the greatest endings in all of the annals of Master chess! (Especially in the extremely and VERY difficult field of Rook-plus-Pawn endings!!)
1 - 0
Copyright (c) A.J. Goldsby I; (c) 1999 - 2002 (c) 2003. © A.J. Goldsby, 2004.
A very, very fine game and an instructive piece of analysis by yours truly.
October 15th, 2003: I up-dated this game from GM Andy Soltis's new book: "Bobby Fischer - rediscovered."
This is NOT the complete version of this game as it exists on my hard drive in my endgame database, I have GREATLY shortened it for publication! (The full version contains LENGTHY comments after every move ... for the first 25 moves!! The ending is DEEPLY annotated with very deep and full coverage of the ending. ---> Some comments after a move runs over a dozen paragraphs!! The fully annotated version also contains a rather in-depth opening survey of all the lines in MCO-14. {After 1.e4, c6; 2. Nc3!?, d5; 3. Nf3. I found MANY new ideas!} It is probably the result of OVER SIX MONTHS of work. I can't even begin to estimate the number of hours involved!)
The main reason I shortened it, was it would be too difficult to turn this VERY lengthy document into a HTML page for my web-site. (Also, the web page would have been VERY - perhaps overly - long.)
If you would like a full copy of this game/endgame - in the ChessBase format - to study on your own computer, please drop me a line.
Thanks to the dozens of people who said they have gone over this game and written me e-mails about it. (I sent the HTML version out to over 100 of my friends and students ... BEFORE it was posted on my web page.)
If you enjoyed this position, and would like to study ANOTHER Rook-and-Pawn endgame, ("The LUCENA Position"); click HERE.
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(Page first posted on my web-site, March 16th, 2002. Updated and revised, July 10th, 2002.)
(Last up-date: October 15th, 2003.)
Copyright, (c) A.J. Goldsby I
© A.J. Goldsby, 1994 - 2004. Copyright © A.J. Goldsby, 2005. All rights reserved.
