A< Prev Index Next >
Chess 25 Jan 1958, Sat The Montreal Star (Montreal, Quebec, Canada) Newspapers.com
Let's Play Chess
'Bolt From Blue' Is Success
By William Oaker
In this position, white, who is United States champion Bobby Fischer, had worked long and hard to advance his queen-pawn to its present resting place on the seventh rank. Unfortunately, it looks like it has been all in vain. It appears to be lost.
Bobby has become notorious for his “bolt from the blue” moves. This position is a good example. White plays.
1. B-B7!
It is a sad fact that the bishop cannot be taken. For example: 1. … RxB, 2. R-K8 check, QxR 3. PxQ making a new queen, and leaving black helpless. Or 1. … QxB, 2. R-K8 check K-R2, 3. P-Q8 making a new queen, leaving white miles ahead in material.
It is worse than that. Black's queen is attacked by the offensive bishop. He can not now take the QP because of 2. QxQ and the rook is cut off by that horrible bishop, from the defence of the queen.
The unkindest cut of all of course is the fact that when the queen moves white promotes a new queen.
Bobby Fischer
An interesting antecdote has come our way from William Hornung, currently tournament director of the Montreal Championship.
Bobby Fischer, who was then 13, was staying at Mr. Hornung's home while taking part in the Montreal Open Championship two summers ago.
In the last round he was playing Frank Anderson, champion of Canada and both players agreed to an early draw. After it was over and Bobby went back to the Hornung home, all he could think about was his position with Anderson. It was bothering him.
He set it up on the board, and after a few minutes came to the conclusion that he might have won it if he had played on.
A good blindfold player, the uncertain position stayed in his mind during supper, and throughout the evening. “Did he want to go to a ball game, or see a bit of Montreal?” No. He could only sit and think about his position.
Bedtime came. Bobby, like most boys, fell instantly asleep, and like most boys, was a terror to get up in the morning. Finally, with Mrs. Hornung hauling him on his feet, and the swirls of fog clearing from his brain, he opened his eyes.
A sleepy look greeted Mrs. Hornung, when suddenly, as if struck by a pin, he exclaimed, “I've got it!” he raced to a chess board, rapidly reconstructed the position from memory, and rattled off a series of grandmasterish and complicated variations.
“I knew I should have beaten Anderson,” he said.
Commented Mr. Hornung: “That boy! He even plays expert chess while he's sleeping.”
