Chess move by move

Robert James Fischer vs K Warner

Lincoln ch-US jr 1955 · Sicilian Defense: Classical Variation (B58) · 0-1

1. e4

Nice opening move. Going for the center, opening for Queen, Bishop, and King. Controlling d5 and f5.

1… c5

Sicilian defense. Avoids direct confrontation at the center. Control/attack b4 and d4. Opening for the Queen - diagonal to a5. The knight usually comes to c6; this move makes sure that the Knight is not blocking the pawn.

2. Nf3

Developing move towards the center. Clearing the way for castling. Fights for control of d4. Attacking e5 and g5 to name a few.

2… Nc6

Developing move towards the center. Another fight for the center. Contests control for d4 and e5. Supports the pawn in attacking b4 and d4.

3. d4

The d4-square is ‘attacked’ 3 times by the white pieces and 2 times by the black pieces. Thus white can afford to make this move. If the pawns are exchanged, white takes away Black’s only pawn at the center. If Knights are exchanged, Black will have no pieces near the center of the board. White will have a pawn and a Queen. This move opens for the Queen, Bishop, King and both Knights. White is also threatening to play d5 dislodging the Knight from c6.

3… cxd4

Black decides to exchange pawns.

4. Nxd4

Of course, don’t take with the Queen!

4… Nf6

A developing move towards the center, attacking the undefended pawn. Black leaves it to White to decide whether to exchange Knights.

5. Nc3

A developing move towards the center and protecting the pawn on e4.

5… d6

This opens for the Bishop on c8 as well as the Queen. Also playable is a6. This move “prevents” e5 (after the exchange of the Knights).

6. Be2

A developing move. Clears the way for castling. Also playable is Bc4 or Bb5.

6… g6

Looks like the Dragon variation to me. Fianchettoing the Bishop is one of the easiest ways to develop a Bishop. In addition to the development, the area around the King after castling is pretty tough to break. The Bishop comes into play once the Knight gets out of the way. Thus the fight for the d4 square is not finished.

7. Be3

Develops a piece towards the center. Adds support to the d4 Knight. If the Queen moves, White can castle short (o-o) or long (o-o-o). Note that if White had not played Be2, Black could have played Knight to g4 at this point. So Be2 was a prophylactic move.

7… Bg7

Develops a piece. Clears the way for castling. If Knight on g6 gets out of the way, the Bishop attacks everything that comes on the diagonal (h8-a1)

8. f3

It seems White is announcing that he may not castle short. In addition to supporting the pawn on e4, this move prepares for g4 to be followed by h4 and so on. Almost the only way to break the protective structure around the King with a fianchettoed Bishop.

8… O-O

Black seems not to mind the oncoming pawn assault. He tucks his King away the same side anyway. This move protects the King(?) and brings the Rook into play.

9. Qd2

Develops the Queen. Gets it out of the way for White to castle long. He is threatening to play Bh6 forcing the exchange of Bishops which would weaken Black’s defenses around the King.

9… a6

Prevents any Knight move to b5, AND prepares for b5. If White is going to attack my King with a kingside pawn storm, I am going to attack his Queenside with my own pawn storm. If the King goes that way, all the better. If the White King castles short, then he will have opened himself up anyway.

10. O-O-O

White castles long. This protects the King, and allows the Q-Rook to join the attack on the White King. I suspect that he things he will get to the Black King quicker than Black can get to the White King.

10… Qa5

This move not only attacks the Queen side, (for example, if the Knight on c3 moves, the Queen can take on a2), but it is a way to get the Queen to the Kingside if need be, to support the King. (if you take out the Knights on d4 and f6, the Black Bishop and Queen are attacking the Knight on c3. That is how dangerous the fianchettoed Bishop is. You always have to be mindful of its potential harm.)

11. Kb1

The King scoots over to protect the pawn on a2 thus freeing the Knight on c3 for other duties.

11… Rd8

If you take out the pawn on d6, the Rook pins the Knight on d4. Usually, when a player brings Rooks behind pawns like this, his intension is to open up the position so that the Rooks can become more effective.

12. g4

Better get on with the attack before Black consolidates his position.

12… Nxd4

Relieving the tension in the center. Getting rid of these Knights will allow Black to attack through the c-file.

13. Bxd4

Better to capture with the Bishop that way you don’t have to worry about a discovered attack (on your Queen).

13… Be6

If the Knight on c3 moves, the Black Queen and Bishop are attacking the pawn on a2. Mate is in sight! This moves also clears the way for a Rook to get to c8. However, it blocks the path for the pawn on e7, (not that it needs to be moved right away.)

14. Qe3

Strategically, this is a move preparing to get to the Kingside. Tactically, White is threatening to play Bb6 winning the exchange! (Where can the Black Queen go? …Qe5?? f4.)

14… Nd7

Preventing Bb6 and opening the way for the Bishop.

15. f4

Carrying on with the pawn attack on the King. If Black wants to trade Bishops, let him make the move!

15… Bxd4

Black trades Bishops. Sometimes the best way to defend is to make things a little clearer through exchanges. This cuts both ways, if it’s clearer for you, it is clearer for your opponent!

16. Qxd4

No choice, she has to take back.

16… Nf6

The White Bishop has been executed, so the Knight does not need to be on d7 any longer. He helps the Bishop on e6 attack the g4 pawn. If the Bishop was not on e6, this would have been an opportune time to play a move like e5, attacking the Queen and busting the pawn armada.

17. f5

One of the best way to defend is to counter-attack! In your face!

17… Bd7

Exchanging pawns by Black would have been dangerous as it would have opened up the g-file. The Bishop wisely decides to step back. He did not go all the way to c8 because he does not want to block the path between the two Rooks.

18. h4

Another pawn to join the attack. Send the foot soldiers first to soften up the target.

18… Bb5

Let’s get rid of another set of pieces so that White does not have enough pieces to attack my position with. The other reason is that the Black Bishop did not have a nice sanctuary, so why not get rid of it?

19. Bf3

Black needs his Bishop. Just to point out, White could not initiate the exchange with the Knight, as Black would have captured with the pawn - and the Queen and Rook would be attacking the pawn on a2.

19… Rac8

Black brings the Rook into play. He may sacrifice the Rook for the Knight in order to generate a Queenside attack and also remove a defender of the King. He may be thinking about bringing the Rook over to help in the attack, but that cannot be successful if the Knight is still on c3.

20. Nxb5

Since the Rook is no longer on the a-file, White decides to take the Bishop with his Knight! It also takes out the threat that Black posed - of giving up the exchange for an attack.

20… axb5

Interestingly, Black goes on to take with his pawn as if the Rook is on a8. This is probably because, he can bring the Rook back in one move. Notice that that move is a big deal for White. Previously, the Rook was already there, so he could not take the Bishop. After the Rook moved, it requires an extra move for Black to achieve the same result/position.

21. h5

Going on with the attack (before defending any attacks that have not yet materialized.)

21… Rc4

I am not sure about this move. The only thing I can think of is that he wants to have the Rook on e8 move to a8 instead of this Rook (that was on c8). Why? May be that way you have all the Rooks involved in the attack? For example, having Rooks on the c-file and a-file within 2 moves allows him to attack both the a2 and c2 pawns within 3 moves. Other than that, I miss the point.

22. Qe3

Gets away from the attack while eyeing h6.

22… Ra8

As previously explained, attacking a2.

23. a3

Easiest way to stop/delay the attack.

23… Qa4

Attacking c2 with Rook and Queen. Attacking e4 with Knight, Rook and Queen.

24. c3

Stopping the attack! Hopefully, you saw that 24.b3 forking Queen and Rook was a blunder… because???)

24… Nxe4

Yummy! On a serious note, apart from the attack on the White King (see next comment) this is a way to defend the Black King by opening the 4th rank so that the Rook and Queen can get to the Kingside.

25. Bxe4

Otherwise, the Knight could be sacrificed on c3.

25… Rxe4

Has to take back.

26. Qh6

Running away? Sort of! More like Attacking away! Threatening hxg6 followed by Qxh7 as it would be supported by the Rook on h1.

26… Re2

If you try to give me mate I will give you mate! Threatening to play Qc2+ followed by Qxb2# How would you defend this?

27. Rd2

Probably because he saw that after Rc1, Black would play Qb3 which might be a little hard to defend! But this does not see even two moves ahead! Aw!

27… Rxd2

Black has to take, because of a bigger winning move awaits!

28. Qxd2

White has to take… otherwise he will be mated sooner than he can checkmate Black.

28… Qe4+

Aw! That’s what Bobby “missed”- may be he should have played 27.Qc1 - May be.