Chess 24 Sep 1959, Thu The Guardian (London, Greater London, England) Newspapers.com
Chess
The Guardian, Chess, Thursday, September 24, 1959, Greater London, England Problem No. 543 From actual play. Petrosian...
Posted by Bobby Fischer's True History on Tuesday, May 17, 2022
Problem No. 543 From actual play.
Black (11)
White (11)
Petrosian (Black, to move) sacrificed a rook for this position against Keres in the candidates' tournament. How did he now force a win?
FEN 3q2k1/3b2r1/1p1p4/p1n2p2/1PPNpP2/P3Q1p1/1R1R2P1/5BK1 w - - 0 1
Solution: 49. Rfd2 …
Paul Keres vs Tigran V Petrosian
Bled-Zagreb-Belgrade Candidates (1959), Bled, Zagreb & Belgrade YUG, rd 4, Sep-11
Sicilian Defense: Accelerated Dragon. Maroczy Bind Breyer Variation (B39) 0-1
The eight candidates
The early stages of the candidates' tournament foreshadow the traditional Russian predominance: after eight rounds, Keres and Tal were leading. The four non-Russians have had to be content with occasional successes in an event which has produced a series of long positional games. Here is one of the exceptions, an incisive attack which calls to mind Fischer's win over Larsen at Portoroz.
Robert James Fischer vs Svetozar Gligoric
Bled-Zagreb-Belgrade Candidates (1959), Bled, Zagreb & Belgrade YUG, rd 4, Sep-11
Sicilian Defense: Classical Variation. General (B56) 1-0
- A favourite choice of Fischer's. The reply 6. … P-KN3 is inferior owing to 7. NxN PxN; 8. P-K5 PxP; 9. BxPch, while 6. … P-K3; 7. B-N3 B-K2; 8. O-O O-O; 9. B-K3, followed by 10. P-B4, gives White good attacking chances: Fischer has won several convincing games with this line.
- 8. … B-N2 is more accurate, for if 9. B-N5 O-O; 10. Q-Q2 NxP.
- A remarkable move: every beginner is taught the rule that WHite should never allow the exchange of his QB in the Sicilian except for the opposing KB, yet here White makes this “cardinal error” and wins the game. The alternative 13. BxN RxB; 14. P-KN4 Q-R4; 15. K-N1 P-QN4; 16. P-KR4 P-N5; 17. N(B3)-K2 threatening 18. P-N5, also gives White a promising attack.
- Black considers that he can now safely commit his king; but subsequent events prove him wrong. Better is 14. … Q-R4; and if 15. P-N4 P-QN4; 16. P-KR4 P-N5; 17. N-Q5 (not 17. N(B3)-K2 P-K4, winning a piece), NxN; 18. PxN Q-N3; 19. KR-K1, O-O; 20. QxKP QR-K1; 21. QxB RxR; 22. RxR QxN; favours Black.
- This weakening of the pawn front is unavoidable, for if 16. … R-B2; 17. P-N5 PxP; 18. PxP N-R4; 19. RxN PxR; 20. P-N6 is very strong.
- A radical confession of failure, for Black's major pieces are now forced into unnatural positions. The obvious counter-attack 21. … P-N4 would be met by 22. N-Q4 R-N3; 23. P-B5 P-N5; 24. PxKP PxP; 25. NxP PxN; 26. NxBdis.ch. KxN; 27. Q-Q4ch K-R2; 28. Q-B6 B-K1; 29. RxNch PxR; 30. Q-R6 mate.
- Capturing the pawn leads to quick defeat. However, if 23. … B-B1; 24. QR-KB1, threatening both 25. N-N3 and 25. P-B5.
- The final attack begins, highlighting the bareness of Black's king's side and the strength of White's bishop on QN3.
- If 27. … K-B1; 28. R-KB1 B-K1; 29. BxP R(B1)-B2; 30. N-Q5 RxN; 31. BxR, and White must win.
- This coup de repos deprives Black of the defence 28. … R(B4)-B2 because of 29. Q-B6, followed by 30. R-R1, while if 28. … R(B4)-B3; 29. P-N6 PxP; 30. BxPch B-B2; 31. QxPch
- For if 32. … K-B1; 33. R-B1ch forces mate.
