IM Jeremy Silman presents
THE STUDY OF MASTER GAMES Part IV A FEW PERSONAL FAVORITES
Like every other player, I followed Fischer’ s career with a certain amount of awe. To me, it seemed like he had the will to win of an Alekhine, the technique of a Capablanca, and the finest opening preparation ever seen. He insisted on better playing conditions and prizes for the other grandmasters, crushed all his competition without mercy, won the World Championship, and then … quit. Mental illness ended his career and prevented him from crossing swords with a prime Karpov and, later, Kasparov. Such a pity! In general, Fischer’ s style was delightfully clear, so the following game is all the greater for the intense complications that both sides courted: Fischer and Larsen( a wonderful gentleman and the greatest story teller I’ ve ever met) had both claimed to be the best Western player for many years; now that difference of opinion would be settled with a head to head match. This first match game saw
both players fighting for the win from beginning to end. Proper notes would span many pages, so I’ m only giving a minimal amount of information. In my opinion, this game is one of the greatest battles of all time. After losing it, Larsen more or less collapsed and went down a startling 6-0. His confidence shattered, he was never the same player after that.
R Fischer-- Larsen Candidates Match, 1971 1. e4 e6 [ The French Defense wasn’ t a Larsen favorite, but Fischer had always had trouble against it, making it an excellent psychological choice.] 2. d4 d5 3. Nc3 Bb4 4. e5 Ne7 5. a3 Bxc3 + 6. bxc3 c5 7. a4 Nbc6 8. Nf3 Bd7 9. Bd3 Qc7 10.0 – 0 c4 11. Be2 f6 12. Re1! Ng6 13. Ba3 [ Fischer sacrifices a pawn and Larsen, who feared nobody, refuses to back down.] 13... fxe5 14. dxe5 Ncxe5 15. Nxe5 Nxe5 [ Less good is 15... Qxe5?! 16. Bxc4 Qxc3 17. Bxd5, with advantage for White.] 16. Qd4! [ Fischer plays with his customary energy. Inferior is 16. f4? Nc6 17. Bg4 0 – 0 – 0 with good play for Black.] 16... Ng6 17. Bh5 Kf7!? [ Larsen continues to court danger in an effort to get the most out of the position for himself. On 17... 0 – 0 – 0, White has both 18. Qxa7 and 18. a5!?, in both cases with the superior chances.] 18. f4 Rhe8 [ And not 18... Bc6? 19. f5 exf5 20. Re7 + Qxe7 21. Bxe7 Kxe7 22. Qxg7 +] 19. f5 exf5 20. Qxd5 + Kf6 [ Forced, since both 20... Be6? 21. Rxe6! Rxe6 22. Qxf5 + Rf6 23. Qd5 + Re6 24. Rf1 + and 20... Re6 21. Qxf5 + Rf6 22. Re7 + are unacceptable.] 21. Bf3 [ A tremendous amount of analysis has been devoted to 21. Bd6, though it’ s still not clear if that move is better than Fischer’ s choice.] 21... Ne5 [ Thought to be best, though 21... Bc6 22. Qd4 + Kg5!? might deserve a look.] 22. Qd4 Kg6 23. Rxe5! [ This seems to be the only way to play for a win, though Fischer had to look very deeply to en-