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Chess by Isaac Kashdan 04 Jan 1959, Sun The Los Angeles Times (Los Angeles, California) Newspapers.com
Chess by Isaac Kashdan
International Grandmaster
FISCHER IN LEAD, BEATS RESHEVSKY
In the most sensational game to date in the tournament for the United States Chess championship, 15-year-old Bobby Fischer, playing in defense of his title, defeated former champion Samuel Reshevsky, according to a report from the New York Times.
Playing in the sixth round of the tournament at the Manhattan Chess Club in New York, Reshevsky countered Fischer's P-K4 with the Sicilian Defense. On his eighth turn Reshevsky moved his knight to the QR file, to exchange it for Fischer's bishop. This turned out to be a blunder.
Fischer promptly seized the opportunity for a subtle combination, based on the lack of mobility of the black queen. He sacrificed his bishop and followed with a move of his knight that imprisoned the queen. Reshevsky was forced to abandon that powerful piece in exchange for two minor pieces.
Reshevsky fought on but with virtually no hope. Fischer soon won a pawn and established a passed pawn on the queen side which could not be halted in the long run. Reshevsky resigned the struggle after 42 moves.
In two other completed games last week Fischer drew with Paul Benko and Donald Byrne to lead the tournament with a score of 4½-1½. He had previously defeated James T. Sherwin and Charles Kalme and drawn with William Lombardy.
Reshevsky came back in the seventh round with an important victory over Larry Evans who had been in the lead for the first week. Playing the white pieces against the Nimzo-Indian Defense, Reshevsky started a king's side attack, sacrificing a pawn to obtain control of the king's bishop's file.
Step by step Reshevsky gained ground until his pursuit of the black king was rewarded. Faced by a threatened checkmate, Evans gave up his queen for a rook but obtained only temporary relief. He was actually checkmated on the 39th move.
As a result Evans and Reshevsky were tied for second at 4-2, a score which was equaled by Arthur B. Bisguier. The latter is the only undefeated player beside Fischer.
Following are last week's results and games from the tournament:
ROUND FIVE—
Benko ½, Fischer ½;
D. Byrne 0, Sherwin 1;
Mednis ½, Lombardy ½;
R. Byrne ½, Bisguier ½;
Weinstein 0, Reshevsky 1;
Kalme vs. Evans adjourned.
ROUND SIX—
Fischer 1, Reshevsky 0;
Evans 1, Weinstein 0;
Bisguier 1, Kalme 0;
Lombardy ½, R. Byrne ½;
R. Byrne ½, Sherwin ½;
Mednis ½, Benko vs. D. Byrne adjourned.
ROUND SEVEN—
D. Byrne ½, Fischer ½,
Kalme ½, Lombardy ½,
Weinstein ½, Bisguier ½;
Reshevsky 1, Evans 0;
Mednis vs. Benko and R. Byrne vs. Sherwin adjourned.
STANDING AFTER SEVEN ROUNDS Fischer 4½ 1½ Bisguier 4 2 Evans 4 2 Reshevsky 4 2 Sherwin 3½ 2½ Lombardy 3½ 3½ D. Byrne 3 3 R. Byrne 2½ 3½ Weinstein 2 4 Mednis 1½ 2½ Kalme 1½ 4½ Benko 1 4
Robert James Fischer vs Samuel Reshevsky
US Championship (1958/59), New York, NY USA, rd 6, Dec-??
Sicilian Defense: Old Sicilian. Open (B32) 1-0
Robert James Fischer vs Charles I Kalme
US Championship (1958/59), New York, NY USA, rd 2, Dec-19
Spanish Game: Closed Variations. Chigorin Defense (C98) 1-0
Larry Evans vs Donald Byrne
US Championship (1958/59), New York, NY USA, rd 2, Dec-19
King's Indian Defense: Fianchetto Variation. Immediate Fianchetto (E60) 0-1
Samuel Reshevsky vs Charles I Kalme
US Championship (1958/59), New York, NY USA, rd 4, Dec-??
King's Indian Defense: Fianchetto. Yugoslav Variation Exchange Line (E66) 1-0
CLUB TOURNEYS TO START
Entries may still be made in three tournaments being staged this week at leading chess clubs. Following are the details: Invitational tournaments for masters and experts will start Wednesday at the Santa Monica Bay Chess Club, Lincoln Park, 7th and Wilshire in Santa Monica. The entrance fee is $10. A Class B tournament will start tomorrow evening, with a $2.50 fee. For further information call Herbert T. Abel at EX. 4-9162.
The East Side Open Chess Tournament will start Wednesday at 7:30 p.m. at the City Terrace Chess Club, 3875 City Terrace Drive. The entrance fee is $2.50. It will be a six-round Swiss system, played Wednesdays. To register call Bernard Oak at A.N. 1-6567.
The master tournament of the Herman Steiner Chess Club will start at 12:30 p.m next Sunday at 108 N Formosa Ave. The entry fee is $10.50. About 20 players are expected to compete in a 10-round Swiss system. Call Gene Rubin at OL, 5-6072.
SPANN AT CHAMPIONSHIP
Jerry Spann, president of the U.S. Chess Federation, was present at the opening ceremonies of the current tournament for the U.S. chess championship, which for the second year has been combined with the annual Rosenwald Trophy Tournament.
Following are excerpts from Spann's remarks, which should be of interest to all chess players:
I think we can all agree that organized chess, as well as general chess interest, has taken a decided leap forward during this past year. How many times lately have you seen a chess board and pieces In a movie or TV production, either as part of the plot or in the setting? … or in a slick magazine ad? or in a fabric or jewelry design? or in an interior decor? I am sure all of you have read Al Horowitz's new chess column in the Saturday Review. These are all indications of the rising surge of interest in chess in America.
Of course, there are more graphic and significant manifestations, and the outstanding success of the USCF - Rosenwald Tournament is one. A year ago tonight I stood before you when we opened the first such event, and strong as it was it is certainly eclipsed by the second annual tournament, for this is the strongest chess championship ever organized in the United States.
During the past year we have seen our two representatives play at Portoroz and distinguish themselves with top flight play, followed by well-deserved promotions in their international ranking. This coming year we will see one of our sons and an adopted son play in probably the strongest of the candidates tournaments.
Last fall we sent a team to the Chess Olympics for the first time in six years and made a creditable showing. During the last year the federation membership has been increased by 1000 new members, and the American Chess Foundation has launched a drive for sustaining members who will contribute tax-exempt dollars to a general chess fund.
The impact and import of all these events is self-evident. But not so self-evident as the vital causal relationship! The single significant contributing factor is the effective co-operation of the American Chess Foundation and the U.S. Chess Federation to which I say bravo, and long may it live!
The Los Angeles Times Los Angeles, California Sunday, January 04, 1959 Times Problem 3029 by W. L. Barclay. White mates...
Posted by Bobby Fischer's True History on Tuesday, February 4, 2020
Times Problem 3029 by W. L. Barclay. White mates in two.
FEN 2r5/5pb1/b1n1r3/1n3BR1/7B/4p2K/7p/R3N2k w - - 0 1
Solution: 1. Bg4 Bxa1 2. Bf3#
The Los Angeles Times Los Angeles, California Sunday, January 04, 1959 Times Problem 3030 By S.C. Dutt. White mates in...
Posted by Bobby Fischer's True History on Tuesday, February 4, 2020
Times Problem 3030 By S.C. Dutt. White mates in three.
FEN 2Q1R1NK/1n3NPp/r7/1P1k4/5B2/2P3PB/q7/4r3 w - - 0 1
Solution: 1. Bf1 Rxe8 2. Qf5+ Re5 3. Qxe5#
Black interference is the theme in both our problems today. In 3029 the long diagonal is blocked at several points, while in 3030 the black pieces interfere with each other both on the rank and file.
Solver's List
Five points—W. S. Aaron, F. Aks, C. Cresswell, M. Chutorian, C. Fostner, G. T. Hambaugh, J. Kaufman, M. Margolis, M. Morris, R. Neumann, E. E. Pener, W. L. Rankel, J. Roper, M. Rosen, R. D. Sylvester.
Three points—E. B. Bacon, J. C. Beaver, F. R. Dussubleux, J. Gotta, J. Haidostian, A. E. Hampel, G. W. Poitevin, Maj. H. Triwush, L. A. Victor, D. Weglein.
Two points—N. Lesser, M. H. Meierhans, R. L. Turley, D. S. Washington, A. E. Wood.
One point—B. Feyer, F. J. Lucas, T. C. Waters.
Bobby Fischer Nearing Second U.S. Chess Title 04 Jan 1959, Sun The Los Angeles Times (Los Angeles, California) Newspapers.com
Bobby Fischer Nearing Second U.S. Chess Title
NEW, YORK, Jan. 3 (AP)—Fifteen - year - old Bobby Fischer of New York moved within one-half point of winning his second straight national chess title tonight when he defeated Arthur B. Bisguier of New York in 86 moves.
The victory in a 10th round adjourned match gave Fischer an 8-2 standing compared to 7-3 of veteran Samuel Reshevsky.
In other matches today, world junior champion William Lombardy of New York defeated Larry Evans, New York, in 41 moves and Robert Byrne of Indianapolis turned back Edmar Mednis, New York University student, in 48. Charles Kalme, Philadelphia, and Paul Benko, Hungarian exile, played 50 moves to a draw.
