Chess move by move

Kenneth Blake vs Robert James Fischer
Philadelphia ch-jr (09) 1956 · Sicilian, Boleslavsky Variation, 7.Nb3 (B59) · 0-1

This is an interesting game. Not just because Fischer played it when he was 13, but because I wonder if you will see why his opponent resigned. Should he have resigned?

1. e4

Opening for the Queen, Bishop, King, Knight, and moving towards the center where pieces have the most mobility. “Controls”/”attacks” d5 and f5. What will Fischer play against his favorite opening move when he is playing White?

1… c5

The Sicilian Defence. “Attacks b4 and d4. Gets the pawn out of the way so that the Knight on b8 can come to c6 without blocking the pawn. Makes White think twice about playing a move like d4.

2. Nf3

Develops a piece towards the center. Attacks d4, e5, g6, and h4. He can now play d4 without worrying about capturing back with the Queen.

2… Nc6

Develops the Knight towards the center, attacking a5, b4, d4 and e5. Supports the pawn in putting pressure on b4 and d4.

3. d4

Fights for control of the central d4 square. If the pawns and Knights are exchanged, White would have a Queen on d4, pawn on e4. Black would have to pieces or pawns in the center of the board. This move opens for the Queen, King, both Knights, and the Bishop on c1.

3… cxd4

Fischer decides to exchange pawn. One reason could be to prevent it from advancing to d5 where it would chase away his Knight. He could have played e6. Of course, I will not go into the merits of that move if White went ahead and played d5.

4. Nxd4

White takes back with the Knight. (Of course taking back with the Queen would lose!)

4… Nf6

Instead of capturing the Knight on d4, which would get rid of his only developed piece, Fischer decides to develop another piece! (This is a good lesson for beginners). The newly developed Knight, on f6, attacks the pawn on e4. So instead of White thinking about just one thing (if Fischer had captured the Knight on d4), he will be thinking about several things: should he initiate the exchange of Knights? Should he defend the pawn? How should he defend the pawn. The more you make your opponent think about a lot of things, the better.

5. Nc3

White decides to protect the pawn on e4 and do so while developing a piece (towards the center). He could have played Nd2 defending the pawn, but this would have blocked all those pieces that the pawn had opened for.

5… d6

White opens for the Bishop on c8, the Queen, and the King. The pawn attacks e5 and c5. These squares become crucial as the game progresses.

6. Be2

White develops a piece, clearing the way for castling. Playable is Bc4; but it exposes the Bishop to attacks like Na5 which would force white to address the attack. Another possibility is Bb5 which would exert a lot of pressure on the Knight on c6.

6… e5

This opens for the f8-Bishop, the Queen and King, the Knight on c6 if it wants to move over to g6 for whatever reason. It attacks f4 and d4 (and the White Knight happens to be on the latter square).

7. Nb3

White decides to keep his Knight instead of exchanging in. He could have gone back to f3, but that would have blocked the pawn on f2, the Bishop on e2. I should have mentioned that the Bishop on e2 is preventing moves like Bg4 and Ng4.

7… Be7

White develops his last Kingside minor piece, so he can castle next move. The bishop move renders White moves like Bg5 harmless, (otherwise it the Knight would have been pinned).

8. O-O

This protects the King and brings the Rook into play.

8… O-O

Black castles and has similar advantages to White’s previous move.

9. f4

White launches a Kingside attack with this move. He would like to dislodge the black pawn from e5. This move opens the f-file for the Rook to get into the game. A possibility is f5, Rf3, Rg3 or Rh3, and somehow get the Queen and Bishop involved.

9… a5

Black starts a counter-attack on the Queenside. “The best form of defense is counter-attack” - especially if you can meet the attack HEAD ON. (Apply it directly where it hurts!)

10. a4

White decides to neutralize Black’s attempts to create an attack on the Queenside, before he continues with his own attack. Another good lesson here… knowing when to stop and look and see if you can take care of other business first before your wishes/dreams are carried out.

10… Be6

Black develops his last minor piece. He puts in a position where it can go to the Queenside or the Kingside as need be. Note that if Black captured the Knight on b3, White would have to capture with the c-pawn. The pawn would move away from the center, which is usually a disadvantage. If Black had not played a5, forcing a4, after the Bishop captures the Knight, White could capture with the a-pawn, towards the center. So the a5 move was not just a counter-attacking move, it had other “strategic considerations” to it.

11. f5

White decides to dislodge the Bishop from e6. If you take into account my previous comment, this seems ill-advised as it forces Black to exchange the Bishop for the Knight. White gets doubled pawns, backward pawns, pawns that are away from the center. Since the position is a little locked up, Knights may be preferable to Bishops.

11… Bxb3

It seems forced to me from my previous comments. It appears to have advantages than disadvantages. I have already talked about the disadvantages to White for allowing this exchange. Hence Black’s advantages can be found in exploiting White’s disadvantages. What are Black’s disadvantages in playing this move? One major disadvantage is that Black’s pawns are on dark squares, that being the case, it is preferable to have the Bishop of opposite color as it is not blocked by the pawns, and it also complements the pawns in covering squares that are not being covered by them.

12. cxb3

White captures back. Forced.

12… Nb4

If you see a backward pawn, (like in this case) see if you can put a piece in front of them. First, you stop them from advancing any further. Second, you cannot be chased away by the lowly pawns. Third, if you cannot be captured, you can stay there forever and control things.

13. Bg5

White develops his last minor piece, attacks the Knight on f6, and opens for the Rook on a1 to get into the game.

13… Re8

If I had played this move, I would have said… I needed to move something, and this seemed the least evil thing to do. Let’s see. If Black wants to play d5 at some point, he does not want the pawn on e5 to be unprotected. If White somehow attacks the Bishop on e7, he wants some place for the Bishop to retreat to. Lastly, it pays to move the Rooks to the central files. With practice you just know that they become more effective there. (Just like the other pieces.)

14. Bf3

May be Black really wanted to play d5! Let’s stop him!

14… Qb6+

Bringing the Queen out so that the Rooks can be united…. and if you can gain a move by giving a check, do it by all means! (Note tha if the Black Knight moves from b4, the Black Queen is attacking the pawn on b3.

15. Kh1

Looks like the least evil way to take care of the check.

15… Rac8

Bringing the Rook into play via the only open (=no pawns) file. If the Knight on c3 moves, the Black Knight on b4 can go to c2 attacking the Rook for the fun of it! Well, not really, but it is moves like that that you watch out for. (Just saying “bringing the Rook into play” didn’t seem enough!)

16. Rg1

Hmmnnn! Preparing for g4? Really? I am not sure about this move. Is he considering g4, Rg3, Rh3? I would start with g4 right away if that was my idea since the Bishop is protecting the pawn anyway. Why choke my King?

16… Qf2

Since the f2 square is no longer controlled by the Rook, why not go there to attack the pawn on b2? (and also enable Nc2?)

17. Qe2

The Queen seems to be a nuisance, let’s get it off the board by exchanging it with my docile Queen. Remember that when you seek simplification, you may sometimes benefit your opponent. When things become clearer for you, the also become clearer for your opponent!

17… Qxe2

Ok. I have nowhere else better to go, I will give you my Queen for yours.

18. Bxe2

White ought to take back.

18… Nc2

Remember I mentioned this move? But it is not just to attack the Rook. It is to move the Knight to a better post. If you can do it with the initiative (by giving a check or attacking a more valuable piece) then do it by all means!

19. Rac1

If you defend, and you can counter-attack while defending, …. (do so my all means!). The Rook attacks the Knight that attacked it!

19… Nd4

The Knight runs away, but with an attack in mind. It gets to a central, more favorable outpost, with the initiative by attacking the Bishop on e2.

20. Bc4

The Bishop runs away, gets to a more favorable post - generally speaking - on c4. Here, it defends the pawn on b3 - (did I say it was attacked?) - and it blocks the path of the Rook on c8. It cannot be attacked by pawns here. It attacks f7. d5 is almost permanently taken… Whew! But!!! remember when I said on move 6 or 7, that Be2 prevents moves like…

20… Ng4

this! Well, what did I say about choking the King? What’s up with the Bishop on g5? What do you think White did? Well, he resigned! Now, go back to my introduction and answer the questions! Hope you had fun!