ANew York Times, New York, New York, Sunday, October 28, 1962 - Page 126
Chess: Bright Olympic Novelties
Interesting departures from the usual opening routines are illustrated in four games from the recently completed Chess Olympics at Varna, Bulgaria.
Two victories by Bobby Fischer, who played top board for the American team, are convincing examples of his fighting style. He's always ready to launch a speculative attack, even at the cost of material, when his chess intuition persuades him that is the way to garner the point.
Donald Byrne is an elegant stylist who knows how to exploit the second-best moves of any opponent.
Larry Evans, a cagey tactician, finds his Bulgarian adversary in a stout defensive mood.
The opening of the game, Fischer versus Miguel Najdorf of Argentina, must have taken the South American veteran by surprise. Witness 6 P-KR3!? Najdorf quickly plays 6 …P-QKt4. Then 7 Kt-Q5! should have alerted Black that Fischer was shooting for the works. Definitely bad for Black would be 7 …KtxP because of 8 Q-B3 with a big attacking edge.
Soon, 9 P-QB4 gives White a fine initiative, and is an invitation (or a challenge) to win the white king's pawn. Najdorf accepts. A few moves later Fischer sacrifices the exchange with 14 RxB. On the acceptance of the material, Black is soon left with no adequate defense.
An alert victory for Fischer, an unusual lapse of judgment on Najdorf's part.
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In the game Max Blau, Switzerland, versus Fischer, the opening is given a novel touch with White's 4 QxP. Subsequently a sort of “Maroczy bind” is established for White, but the idea is too time-wasting. Besides, Black has obtained a permanent two-bishop advantage.
Note, if White, instead of the text, plays 11 KtxKtch, then 11 …PxKt 12 B-B4, BxP and the ensuing complications favor Black mainly because White has not yet castled.
Note also if 15 PxP, then 15…RxRch 16 QxR, Q-R4ch 17 Q-Q2, QxRP with a definite edge for Black.
During the middle game, White's two isolated pawns are hard to defend. Blacks contiguous pawn skeleton is superior. The fact that one of the white pawns is passed is meaningless in this case.
The wind-up, an amusing but fruitless series of queen checks against the black king, might have paid off if Black had played carelessly on his 39th move—…K-R4 instead of the text.
