Chess: Novelty Difficult In Opening Gambit

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Edmonton Journal Edmonton, Alberta, Canada Wednesday, September 30, 1964 - Page 43

Chess: Novelty Difficult In Opening Gambit
U.S. Champion
Much the most notable performance of this season has been that of Bobby Fischer in the U.S. championship. The title is something of a monopoly for Fischer: aged just 20 he has taken this event six times, never more convincingly (nor could it be) than on this occasion — winning all 11 games.
Illustrative of the kind of thing Fischer can unleash when really bent on scoring is this third round game, in which his opponent (one of the top-rated American masters) is made to look like a hesitant beginner.

Tel Aviv Chess Olympics

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The Los Angeles Times Los Angeles, California Sunday, August 16, 1964 - Page 87

Tel Aviv Chess Olympics
The major international chess event of the year will be the Chess Olympics, to be held in Tel Aviv, Israel, from Nov. 2 to 23. Teams from at least 40 countries are expected to participate.
Every effort is being made to have the United States represented by the strongest team possible. Your editor, who on a number of previous occasions has been captain of the American team, will again hold that position.
The first board clearly belongs to U.S. champion Bobby Fischer, who, although barely 21 years old, has long been in the forefront of the world grandmasters. His feat of winning the last American championship with a score of 11-0 was a phenomenal achievement.
Another virtual certainty for a place on the team is former U.S. champion Samuel Reshevsky. In the recent Interzonal Tournament Reshevsky just failed to qualify for next year's candidates' Tournament, after making a fine showing.
Others being considered are Pal Benko, Arthur B. Bisguier, Robert Byrne, Larry Evans, William Lombardy and Dr. Anthony F. Saidy. The team will consist of six players, of whom will compete in each match against another country.
We are in hopes this time of breaking the streak of the Russian chess stars, who have won the Chess Olympics six times in succession, every two years from 1952 through 1962.
Before the war the American team gained four successive victories from 1931 to 1937. Our best record since was second place in 1960.

Olympic Chess Tour
A chess tour is being organized for devotees who wish to accompany our team to Israel and also visit some of the great chess centers of Europe.
Members of the tour will have a unique opportunity to meet practically all the world grandmasters they have heard and read about, to see them in action, and to play with some of them in simultaneous exhibitions or casual games.
Your editor, who will be leading the tour, will arrange for masters to discuss some of the outstanding games, new openings or anything else of interest that may come up during the Olympics.
After witnessing the final rounds in Israel, we will visit Rome, Zurich, Paris and London. In each city a number of chess events are being arranged, in addition to the sight-seeing rounds.
There will be lectures, exhibitions, matches between members of our group and the local masters and experts. We will the leading chess clubs and get an idea of the great popularity of chess in Europe.
The tour will be on a round-trip basis from New York. Anyone interested can obtain a brochure with full details by writing to Chess Editor, Los Angeles Times.

Fischer's Gambit

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The Gazette Montreal, Quebec, Quebec, Canada Saturday, November 28, 1964 - Page 46

Fischer's Gambit
I. Kashdan, captain of the USA team in the Chess Olympics at Tel Aviv, says in the Los Angeles “Times”: “Missing from the team is Bobby Fischer, undoubtedly the greatest chess genius of the age, but sadly unpredictable. Earlier this year he had agreed to play, but apparently changed his mind, without stating any reason.”
L. Barden in “Manchester Guardian” says that Bobby asked a $5,000 fee to play. There are no cash prizes in this tourney and never have been. Only medals and honors, and a trophy for the winning team. In this sense it is amateur, but there is no discrimination between amateur and pro in chess and a number of pros have been enlisted to strengthen teams in the past. Who pays their fee, if any, has never been disclosed. It was probably privately arranged. It was widely published that a $15,000 fund was being sought to send the USA team. This is far in excess of traveling expense, and with hospitality provided by the host country, what happened to the rest of the fund, if fully subscribed? However, a $5,000 fee seems much too high for any individual member.

Fischer To Play 50 At Club Del Mar

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The Los Angeles Times Los Angeles, California Sunday, April 19, 1964 - Page 84

Fischer To Play 50 At Club Del Mar
Local chess fans have a final opportunity this afternoon to see U.S. champion Bobby Fischer in action. Starting at 2 p.m. he will tackle 50 opponents in simultaneous play at the Club Del Mar, 1910 Ocean Front, Santa Monica.
If he follows precedent, 21-year-old Fischer will walk continuously around the large room, pausing for a few seconds at each board to make his move. He will take no break, and allow his opponents none, during the three to four hours the exhibition lasts.
Spectators are invited, with no admission charge. They can participate in a question-and-answer period, which will start the proceedings.
One subject of interest is whether Fischer will play in the Interzonal Tournament, scheduled for Amsterdam, Holland, from May 20 to June 25. This is the next step in the three-year cycle to determine a challenger for a world championship match.
Fischer has stated that he will not participate, mainly on the ground that the Russians have dominated the championship play, and that no one else has a fair chance to break through.
Fischer is almost alone in this view. True, there are more Russian grandmasters than those of any other nationality, but no individual has any more chance than any other, according to the present rules.
For Fischer to become world champion, he has to 1 — be one of the top six in the Interzonal; 2 — win several successive matches in the Challengers' series, and 3 — win a match against titleholder Tigran Petrosian.
We are certain Fischer does not lack confidence in his ability. He evidently feels that sometime he will gain a match for the championship without all the preliminaries. This we regard as highly doubtful.
Fischer is by no means giving up international play. He will be on the U.S. team in the World Students' Team Tournament in Cracow, Poland, in July.
He will also be the first board for the US. in the Chess Olympics in Tel Aviv, Israel, in November. This is of particular interest to your editor, who will be captain of our team.
Last Sunday Fischer played simultaneously at the Knickerbocker Hotel, winning 47 games, losing one and drawing two.
The only winner was Donn Rogosin, junior member of the Herman Steiner Chess Club. which sponsored the event. The draws were contributed by another junior, Andy Sacks, and Nicholas Enequist. Both are members of the club.
Fischer had an excellent position in the following game, until he made one of his very few errors on the 23rd move, which lost a bishop.

Divinsky's Chess Charivari: Bobby Fischer vs. Boris Spassky

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The Province Vancouver, British Columbia, Canada Saturday, May 09, 1964 - Page 75

Divinsky's Chess Charivari: Bobby Fischer vs. Boris Spassky
“…Bobby Fischer will have to play at peak form to conquer grandmasters like Spassky.”

Interzonal Tournament Roll

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Daily Press Newport News, Virginia Sunday, June 14, 1964 - Page 82

Interzonal Tournament Roll
“…Representing the United States are Pal Benko, Samuel Reshevsky and Larry Evans, who qualified to take the place of Bobby Fischer. Why Fischer was unable to participate is puzzling, unless the 20-year-old wizard was still bitter about the alleged bloc spirit of Russian contenders at previous contests. It is hard to believe that Fischer considers his current “simultaneous” tour more worthwhile. His absence is doubtless a disappointment to American chess fans who regard him as this country's best hope to win the title.”

Fool's and Scholar's Mates Are Explained

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The Courier-Journal Louisville, Kentucky Sunday, June 07, 1964 - Page 50

Fool's and Scholar's Mates Are Explained
“This game was Round 6 in Robert J. Fischer's all-winning record in the 1963-64 United States Championship Tournament.”

Grandmaster's Exhibitions

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The Gazette Montreal, Quebec, Canada Saturday, February 29, 1964 - Page 42

Grandmaster's Exhibitions
Bobby Fischer, the American champion, in his simultaneous display at Sir George Williams University last Sunday encountered 56 players from Montreal, Quebec, Sherbrooke, Ottawa and Hull. He defeated 48, while losing to I. Zalys, H. Zizys, H. Feldman, D. Stockton and P. Jacob. Draws were scored by M. Cohen, G. Gerlei and E. Damien.
On Monday, at the Jewish Public Library, in a special simul against ten picked players, in which timing-clocks were used, he surprised by defeating all. R.A. Cayford was the last to hold out. The others were M. Cohen, J. Gersho, A. Garelick, E. Viires, W. Oaker, H. Kemper, D. Allan, D. Levavi and C. Nathan.

Robert Fischer vs. Pal Benko Robatsch Defense

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The Courier-Journal Louisville, Kentucky Sunday, March 08, 1964 - Page 40

“This is one of the 11 straight victories racked up by grandmaster Robert J. Fischer in winning the 1963-64 United States championship at New York. His sweeping triumph was unprecedented in the annals of modern chess tournaments.”

Positional Play Smothers Rough-and-Tumble Artist

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New York Times, New York, New York, Monday, February 24, 1964 - Page 22

Positional Play Smothers Rough-and-Tumble Artist
Paul Brandts of New York, following the example of Bobby Fischer, made a clean sweep against strong opposition in the Central Atlantic Open Championship held last week at the Henry Hudson Hotel.
In this six-round Swiss system in which 164 players participated, Brandts' 6-0 score stopped his nearest rivals…

A Prepared Surprise

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The Guardian London, Greater London, England Thursday, March 19, 1964 - Page 14

Chess By Leonard Barden

A Prepared Surprise
In modern tournaments, it is common practice to prepare a special variation against your opponent's favorite opening. if you choose a system where he has previously done badly, you are liable to come up against improvements he has thought up at home. The subtle approach is to play into a line where he has previously scored a crushing victory, and then to produce your prepared improvement.
A vital game from the Soviet zonal eliminator for the world title was decided in this way. Geller, as White, follows the same plan with which Fischer defeated him at Bled, 1961. Spassky has an improvement on the previous play and, faced with unexpected problems, Geller misses the best line and is brilliantly mated Spassky won the event with 7 out of 12 followed by Bronstein and Stein 6½ (these three qualify for the interzonal). Kholmov 6 Korchnoi and Suetin 5½ and Geller 5.

31 Resigns. An elegant game. Spassky, who was at one time thought a better prospect than Tal, is now again in the running for the world title; but can he stop Bobby Fischer?

Another Score from the Exhibition at Fitchburg

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The Boston Globe Boston, Massachusetts Sunday, March 29, 1964 - Page 37

The fifth annual New England Amateur Chess Tournament is to be played at Boylston Chess Club, 48 Boylston at., Boston, April 17-19. This tournament, originated by Frank Brady, is being carried on by Robert Goodspeed.
Tournament is open to any U.S.C.F. member whose latest rating is 2199 or under. Entry fees are based on ratings: $9 for Class A or better; $7 for Class B; $5 for Class C or lower. A $1 discount on any entry received before April 10. This leaves the question of what happens to unrated players unanswered. Mr. G. will have an answer before the deadline.
Registrations for this G-round Swiss close Apr. 17, 7 p.m. For details write to Robert Goodspeed. 981 Plymouth st., Bridgewater, Mass. 02324.

Anthony Suraci, Ct., is one of New England's most devoted tournament buffs. He rockets round the country playing anywhere and everywhere. He's speedy. But not as speedy as Chess Notebook made him appear last week. According to our report Suraci tied for second place in the Sturgis Memorial and also finished further down the list with Curdo and Scheffer. No man is fast enough to take two places in one tournament.
Eugene Solot was the man who tied for second place with Alex Keyes and Pat Eberlein.
But what do we do about Harlow Daly who won the Sturgis Memorial? The sage of Sanford, Me., has turned 80. He celebrated that milestone by winning the Maine Open and his third straight Portland city championship. And now the Sturgis, Daly was New England champion in 1908 and the way he's going he may be New England champion in 1968.
Ben Landey, Sharon, M.S.C.A. tournament director, grappled with the problem of handling a turnout of 120 hopeful players in the 1964 Mass. schoolboy tournament. The weeding out started March 14; the tournament will conclude at the Cambridge Y.M.C.A. on April 4.

John Cheevers, Cambridge, has large plans for an invitational tournament at the conclusion of the Met League season. Only the elite will be called. Milan Vukcevich. John Curdo, Robin Ault, Edmund Nash (distinguished visitor from Washington), Dr. Julian Keilson, Stephen Brandwein, David Scheffer, and those of similar stripe, etc. To hand is a copy of the Congressional Record for Monday, Feb. 24. Senator Hubert Humphrey, Minn., (pp A852 - A853) spoke of the Armed Forces Chess Championship and announced the plans for the 5th annual Armed Forces championship. the finals of which will he held in Washington, next Nov. 7-14.

Rocco Pasquale, West hinge, N.H., has favored us with more scores from the Bobby Fischer exhibition at Fitchburgh. Here is how Clarence Barber, Holden, took a point from the champion.

Kashdan to Captain Chess Olympic Team and Fischer to Visit Los Angeles

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The Los Angeles Times Los Angeles, California Sunday, February 16, 1964 - Page 78

Kashdan to Captain Chess Olympic Team and Fischer to Visit Los Angeles
“There will be no problem on the first board if U.S. champion Bobby Fischer accepts the position. He has excellent prospects against anyone in the world, at least if he maintains the form which resulted in his 11-0 victory in the recent U.S. title tournament.
Others who are likely to make the team are former champions Samuel Reshevsky, Larry Evans and Arthur B. Bisguier, Pal Benko, William Lombardy, and Dr. Anthony F. Saidy are also good prospects, as well as former team members Donald Byrne, Robert Byrne and Raymond Weinstein.
As to financing, which has been a sad stumbling block in the past, we have high hopes in the dynamic ideas of Maj. Ed Edmondson of Sacramento, president of the USCF, and the support of the other officers and directors of the federation.
We must make every effort this year to break the streak of the USSR, which has won the Chess Olympics six times in succession, every two years from 1952 through 1962.
The best result of the U.S. team in that stretch was second place in 1960, when your editor was team captain. We had better days before the war, gaining four successive victories from 1931 to 1937.

Fischer to Visit L.A.
Bobby Fischer is on a cross-country exhibition tour, and is planning to visit Los Angeles in mid-April. He will be in action on at least two public occasions.
The Club Del Mar, 1910 Ocean Front, Santa Monica, has arranged for a lecture and simultaneous exhibition by Fischer for Sunday, April 19, to start at 2 p.m.
The brilliant young grandmaster will play 50 boards, with a charge of $1 for each participant. Admission is free for spectators. The Club Del Mar is absorbing most of the cost of the event, which accounts for the unusually low fee.
Anyone wishing to play should write to the club, which will select the 50 participants, or call Alexander Bisno at EX. 9-9201.
Fischer will also play simultaneously on Sunday, April 12, with the Herman Steiner Chess Club as sponsor. The details will be announced later.
Following is Fischer's final game with Dr. Anthony Saidy in the recent U.S. Championship Tournament. Fischer had already clinched the title, with the phenomenal score of 10-0.
The game was even throughout the first session, drifting into what seemed a clearly drawn ending. Practically everyone else would have been content, but not Bobby.
When Saidy moved 41 K-Q3, Fischer found a way to break through on the king side. A clever knight maneuver netted a pawn plus for the champion, and the game was his, along with the perfect score.

Chess: Fischer Kept His Opponents Expecting The Unexpected

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New 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.
—
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.

Robert Fischer Coming to Montreal

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The Gazette Montreal, Quebec, Canada Saturday, January 18, 1964 - Page 27

R. Fischer Coming
The young American champion, Bobby Fischer, who astonished the chess world by making a clean sweep in the recent defense of his title at N.Y., will play here on the afternoon of Feb. 23rd against all comers (50 boards) in a simultaneous exhibition. The fee is $5.00 each and reservations may be made in advance with Leslie Witt, 2261 Prud'homme Ave., Montreal 28. The place of play will be announced later. Those who win or draw receive a one-year subscription to the American Chess Quarterly. If two or more wish to play on the same board, they may do so. One will be charged $5.00 and the others $1.00 each admission as spectators.
The next evening on Feb. 24th, Fischer will take on ten experts using clocks. The fee is $15.00.
The charge for spectators at each exhibition will be $1.00 and reservations can also be made in advance, as space may have to be limited.

Record Score For Fischer In U.S. Chess

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The Los Angeles Times Los Angeles, California Sunday, January 12, 1964 - Page 108

Record Score For Fischer In U.S. Chess
Bobby Fischer of Brooklyn, who will be 21 in March, made chess history when he scored 11 straight wins, without conceding so much as a draw, to gain the United States chess championship for the sixth time.
Only in the final round, against Dr. Anthony F. Saidy, was Fischer's streak in danger. The game was simplified by exchanges in the early stages, and seemed to be a draw after adjournment.
Saidy's sealed move was an error, however, and Fischer won in another 11 moves, then demonstrated to his opponent how the draw might have been forced.
In no previous tournament of this strength has one player so completely dominated the event. The 12 competitors were invited as the highest rated active American players. Among them were three former American champions and others who have held various chess titles.
Fischer won the U.S. title for the first time in 1957, at the age of 14. He has repeated his victory every year since with the exception of 1961, when he did not participate.
In 1857 Paul Morphy came out of New Orleans to conquer all opposition here and abroad. Not since those glorious days has any American proved himself so superior to his contemporaries.
Fischer, the youngest chess grandmaster in history, has had some remarkable successes abroad, and occasional setbacks. He is expected to enter the Interzonal Tournament later this year, the next stage in quest of the world championship. If he continues in his current form, he will be hard to stop.
Following are some of Fischer's games from the U.S. championship: