ANew York Times, New York, New York, Monday, January 20, 1964 - Page 40
Chess: Fischer Kept His Opponents Expecting The Unexpected
Bobby Fischer's versatility in opening play gave him a pregame edge against every opponent in the recent 12-man round-robin United States Championship, which he won without a defeat.
Always expecting the unexpected, his opponents were on the defensive mentally, strategically and tactically.
Fischer's game, on the black side of a closed Sicilian against Donald Byrne, illustrated his ability to capitalize against overly cautious play.
Two long-range weaknesses on White's part highlighted the issue. Note, for example, 13 N-R4. This knight remained at its inconsequential post for the rest of the fray. (Such abortive maneuvers occurred quite frequently in games with Fischer).
White Concedes a Square
Probably White's most questionable play was 14 P-B4. This conceded Black's Q5 to Black. Superficially, Black lost time after 18 … B-N2. The bishop had moved three times, and White, apparently, had control of the queen rook file.
But White, by 19 R-QN1, admitted the potency of the bishop forays.
After 26…P-K4 Black was on top. The exchange of queens and rooks left White with more pawn targets. Above all, White's end-game chances were curtailed by the inadequacy of his minor men. Fischer had no trouble in gaining material, and his passed pawn forced the win of an exchange.
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Fischer will be presented with the Frank J. Marshall trophy tomorrow night at the Marshall Chess Club, 23 West 10th Street. Cleveland Armory, author and critic, will be the guest speaker.
