A< Prev Index Next >
Chess 22 Jul 1972, Sat Star-Phoenix (Saskatoon, Saskatchewan, Canada) Newspapers.com
Star-Phoenix Saskatoon, Saskatchewan, Canada Saturday, July 22, 1972 - Page 26
Chess: Time Element Critical by Harry Mather
Every tournament player, at some time in his competition, faces two enemies: — the player across the board and the ever-present time clock. Under international rules each player must complete 40 moves in 2½ hours and failure to do this loses on time forfeit. Both games No. 3 and 4 would seem to indicate a certain amount of time trouble for Boris Spassky, and a better management of the time feature by his opponent. In game 3 Spassky had a difficult position for the last 12 moves and only 17 minutes to make them, while in game 4 he had a fine position but let Fischer get away with a draw probably on account of time pressure. But this is all part of tournament chess and Fischer's ability to leave himself more time in critical positions, paid off.
Game No. 3: Spassky opened with the Queen Pawn opening while Fischer defended with the Benoni Defense — but with an unusual novelty on his 11th move. 1. d4 Nf6 2. c4 e6 3. Nf3 c5 4. d5 exd5 5. cxd5 d6 6. Nc3 g6 7. Nd2 Nbd7 8. e4 Bg7 9. Be2 O-O 10. O-O Re8 11. Qc2 Nh5 12. Bxh5 gxh5 13. Nc4 Ne5 14. Ne3 Qh4 15. Bd2 Ng4 16. Nxg4 hxg4 17. Bf4 Qf6 18. g3 Bd7 19. a4 b6 20. Rfe1 a6 21. Re2 b5 22. Rae1 Qg6 23. b3 Re7 24. Qd3 Rb8 25. axb5 axb5 26. b4 c4 27. Qd2 Rbe8 28. Re3 h5 At this point Spassky had used 123 minutes while Fischer had spent only 102 minutes. White's position is not easy and he has to make 12 moves in only 17 minutes. 29. R3e2 Kh7 30. Re3 Kg8 31. R3e2 Bxc3 32. Qxc3 Rxe4 33. Rxe4 Rxe4 34. Rxe4 Qxe4 35. Bh6 Qg6 36. Bc1 Qb1 37. Kf1 Bf5 38. Ke2 Qe4+ 39. Qe3 Qc2+ 40. Qd2 Qb3 41. Qd4 Bd3+ and white resigned. Subsequent analysis might question Spassky's 14th move as it might well have been better to exchange the knights at this juncture.
In the 4th game it was Spassky who came out with an unusual pawn sacrifice on his 13th move. Fischer playing white opened with his favorite P-K4 and Spassky adopted the Sicilian Defense. 1. e4 c5 2. Nf3 d6 3. d4 cxd4 4. Nxd4 Nf6 5. Nc3 Nc6 6. Bc4 e6 7. Bb3 Be7 8. Be3 O-O 9. O-O a6 10. f4 Nxd4 11. Bxd4 b5 12. a3 Bb7 13. Qd3 a5 14. e5 dxe5 15. fxe5 Nd7 16. Nxb5 Nc5 17. Bxc5 Bxc5+. Black's two powerful bishops come into full play as a result of his 13th move. 18. Kh1 Qg5 19. Qe2 Rad8 20. Rad1 Rxd1 21. Rxd1 h5 22. Nd6 Ba8 23. Bc4 h4 24. h3 Be3. At this stage Spassky's elapsed time was 100 minutes against Fischer's 80 minutes with 16 moves to go before time control. 25. Qg4 Qxe5 26. Qxh4 g5 27. Qg4 Bc5 28. Nb5 Kg7 29. Nd4 Rh8. This rook move seems to allow White to equalize. Bishop to d6 seems possible here. 30. Nf3 Bxf3 31. Qxf3 Bd6 32. Qc3 Qxc3 33. bxc3 Be5. The time clock here shows Spassky with 14 minutes left and 7 moves to go, while Fischer has 38 minutes. The major attacking forces have been exchange, Spassky's advantage evaporated, and the game ended in a draw at 45 moves. Not likely that the world champ will list either of these games in his memoirs.
Saskatchewan Chess Assoc. president Gerald Wilson of Tisdale has advised that the 'Opportunities for Youth' group in that town have organized a tournament of 32 players from its members and are playing continually at their local headquarters. Mr. Wilson has assisted in the organization of this project and the Association will assist other such groups throughout the province when possible.
