AThe Guardian London, Greater London, England Thursday, September 16, 1965 - Page 2
Fischer's Comeback
This week's games are Bobby Fischer's wins in the opening rounds of the Havana tournament. The 22-year-old United States champion is staging a successful comeback after giving up international play at the ripe old age of 19, though he lost in round 10 to Ivkov of Yugoslavia. After 12 of the 21 rounds the leaders are Smyslov 9½, Ivkov 9 and one adjourned, and Fischer 9. Fischer was rumored to have spent many days studying the games of nineteenth-century masters. These reports are strengthened by the opening which Fischer chooses against ex-world champion Smyslov: the variation had its heyday in the period of Steinitz some 80 years ago.
Dr. H. Lehmann (West Germany)
R. J. Fischer (United States)
… Opinions differ as to whether Black should prepare this typical advance by … Q-B2.
9 … A thrust considered favorable to White by Euwe and other theorists. In practice, masters have usually opted for the more conservative 10 P-QR3, when Black has a sound position with 10 … as in Tal-Smyslov from the 1959 Challengers' tournament.
10 … This pawn sacrifice is reckoned good for White by theory, but is found wanting at its practical test here. On the safety-first move 14 N-Q1 Black equalizes by 14 Q-N3 ch 15 K-Rl Q-N4.
14 … Black is a safe pawn up. Match players should note the improvement in Modern Chess Openings, page 210, column 116(c).
19 … Increasing his advantage. The tactical idea becomes clear three moves later.
23 … and White resigned because of 32 … RxRP! winning easily.
R. J. Fischer (United States)
V. Smyslov (Soviet Union)
1 … In modern tournaments it has been customary to castle and play R-K1 before bringing the QN to K3 or KN3.
8 … Capablanca played 9 B-B2 here in a game against Burn in 1911.
9 … Smyslov's plan is to control his Q4 and KB-4 squares and so keep out the white knights. The idea proves to be not quite good enough as Fischer builds up pressure against the weak black pawns.
13 … Smyslov resigned without resuming play after adjournment. … with an easily won knight ending would be a likely finish.
