Wednesday, July 27, 2022

Holy Lands

Robert James Fischer – Uzi Geller
4th International Tournament; Netanya, June 29, 1968
King’s Indian Attack A07

Notes by Fischer, Shamat, August 1968, pp. 1–2.

1. e4 e6 2. d3 d5 3. Nd2 c5 4. g3 Nf6 5. Bg2 Be7 6. Ngf3 0-0 7. 0-0. These first few moves needed no comment since all this has been played many times before. White is playing a King’s Indian with a tempo in hand and against a rather passive setup of the Black pieces.
7. ... Nc6 8. Re1 Qc7! This is better than 8. ... b5 9. e5 Nd7 10. Nf1 as in the game Fischer – Myagmarsuren, Sousse 1967.
9. e5 Nd7 10. Qe2. Now White’s Queen may become subject to threats on this square, for example ... Nc6-d4.
10. ... b5 11. h4 a5 12. Nf1 Nd4 13. Nxd4 cxd4. Now both sides have weaknesses: White a backward Pawn on the c-file, Black an artificially isolated Pawn on d4. White, with latent Kingside attacking chances, however, still has an edge.
14. Bf4


14. ... Ra6!? Black decides to bring immediate pressure on White’s helpless Pawn c2, ignoring or overlooking, White’s threat of 15. Bg2xd5. But after some consideration I rejected this combination because after 15. Bxd5 Bb4! 16. Rc1? (16. Reb1 is better) 16. ... exd5 17. e6 Rxe6 18. Qxe6 Qxf4 19. Qxd7 Qxc1 and wins.
15. Nh2. 15. Bxd5 Bb4 16. Rec1 exd5 17. e6 Rxe6 18. Qxe6 Qxf4 19. Qxd7 Qxc1.
15. ... Rc6 16. Rac1 Ba6? It turns out Black was not ware of White’s tactical possibilities on d5. Correct was 16. ... Qb6.


17. Bxd5 exd5? Makes it easy, 17. ... Rc5! followed by ... Rf8-c8 still offered chances of saving the game.
18. e6 Qd8 19. exd7 Re6 20. Qg4 f5. After 20. ... Qxd7 21. Be5 wins a Pawn and eventually the game. Now the weakened “e” file proves Black’s downfall.
21. Qh5 Qxd7 22. Nf3 g6 23. Qh6 Bf6 24. Rxe6 Qxe6


25. Be5! Forcing by a little combination the exchange of Bishops, creating numerous holes on Black’s dark squares. This factor is decisive. Geller’s last hope was 25. Re1? Qxe1+!! 26. Nxe1 Bg7 27. Qg5 Bf6 and draws.
25. ... Bxe5 26. Re1 f4 27. Rxe5 Qd7 28. h5! Cracks Black wide open. If 28. ... gxh5 then 29.Rg5+.
28. ... fxg3


29. hxg6! gxf2+. Or 29. ... Rxf3 30. Re8+!! and the g-Pawn queens.
30. Kxf2 hxg6 31. Qxg6+ Qg7 32. Rg5. The finishing touch: exchanging Queen’s costs Black his Bishop on a6.
32. ... Rf7. And here, while I was trying to decide on 33. Qh6 or 33. Qh5 Black resigned. 1 : 0.

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