Master Class Vol.1: Bobby Fischer

by Diana Mihajlova
2/2/2015 – "Bobby Fischer Teaches Chess", a beginners book, is a bestseller. However, it is not clear how much Fischer is in this book. But the former World Champion still teaches chess. Through his games. The first volume of the ChessBase Master Class series shows how much you can learn from them. Diana Mihajlova had a look at the DVD which entertains and instructs.

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Master Class Vol.1: Bobby Fischer

Review by Diana Mihajlova

The ChessBase Fritztrainer compilers have regaled us with training DVDs based on the games of three chess giants: Alekhine, Tal and Fischer. I would consider this ‘trilogy’ an obligatory item in the chess library of any player at any stage of their development. Four important aspects in the play of each of the three greats – the opening, strategy, tactics and the endgame – are analyzed to detail, in videos of about 5 hours running time.

Four well known chess writers and trainers joined forces to present this indispensable learning material, each contributing in their own field of expertise: GM Dorian Rogozenco covers the opening, GM Mihail Marin strategy, IM Oliver Reeh tactics and GM Karsten Müller the endgame. The bonus material in each DVD consists of a short biography of the player studied, a database of all his games (yes, ALL!), White games as a tree, Black games as a tree, and more than 100 games with training questions.

One only needs to reserve time, sit down and study the DVD to improve. All experts agree that studying the classics is the best way of strengthening one’s understanding of chess. And here we have the choice of the undisputed best classics of all: Alekhine, Tal and Fischer.

In a way of biography of this tormented chess soul, the eleventh World Champion, I would rather just repeat some of his well known quotes, starting with the most telling and potent one: 'All I ever want to do is just play chess.' And so he did. Fischer gave chess his own self  and brought us some of the most memorable chess games. He was known to give short, laconic statements:

‘Genius. It's a word. What does it really mean? If I win I'm a genius. If I don't, I'm not.’
‘Don't even mention losing to me. I can't stand to think of it.’
‘Chess is war over the board. The object is to crush the opponent's mind.’
‘I don't believe in psychology. I believe in good moves. All that matters on the chessboard is good moves.’
‘Psychologically, you have to have confidence in yourself and this confidence should be based on fact.’
‘Tactics flow from a superior position.’
 ‘That's what chess is all about. One day you give your opponent a lesson, the next day he gives you one.’
‘Chess is life.’

Almost all great players of today, in one way or other, have built up their careers with Fischer as example. Anand said: ‘…I mean, most of modern chess is his offering. Myself and the rest had those moves ready for us when we started out, but it had to take someone to discover them first. Bobby Fischer was that person. He was that person for entire generations of chess players. His was a singular life in that sense. He's made it easier for us today.’

Anand’s assertion is being further endorsed by the four authors of this video, Marin, Müller, Reeh and Rogozenco, who are making it easier for us, improving chess players, to understand Fischer’s play. We can learn and marvel at Fischer’s geniality.

Dorian Rogozenco demonstrates Fischer’s opening techniques and the development of his repertoire.

Fischer studied many foreign chess sources, especially the Soviet chess literature, often astounding his Soviet counterparts when he would uncork an idea he found in their own chess manuals. But he also developed his own opening ideas. Fischer’s favourite opening move was 1.e4, about which he said: ‘Best by test!’ In fact, he almost always played 1.e4 with White and afterwards he usually followed the main lines of his time. Later in his career, and probably as a surprise weapon, he also occasionally played rare openings such as 1.b3. From Rogozenco’s presentation we learn that

  1. After 1. e4 e5 Fischer adopted the Spanish, usually the main lines but, later in his career, he would also apply the exchange variation.
  2. After 1.e4 c5 Fischer would play the move Bc4 in the main lines wherever possible.
  3. Against 1...e6 and 1...c6, it appears that Fischer had a few problems and Rogozenco shows that in these cases Fischer often reverted to the King’s Indian Attack.
  4. With Black, against 1.e4, Fischer almost always played 1...c5, the Sicilian, and more specifically, the Najdorf.  Against 1.d4, his main defence was the King’s Indian. He would, on occasions, play a Benoni with a great success.

Rogozenco reminds us that Fischer’s way to handle both the Najdorf and the Benoni influenced a lot of players, for instance Garry Kasparov.

Here is one of Fischer’s most famous wins with the Benoni: the third game of the World Championship match against Spassky in Reykjavik, 1972. It was the first time in his career that Fischer could win against Spassky.

 
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1.e41,172,27354%2421---
1.d4951,24355%2434---
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1.g319,77556%2427---
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1.Na34262%2482---
1.d4 Nf6 2.c4 e6 3.Nf3 c5 4.d5 exd5 5.cxd5 d6 6.Nc3 g6 7.Nd2 /\ Nc4 Nbd7 8.e4 8.Nc4 Nb6 8...Bg7 9.Be2 ≤9.Bd3 Schwarz droht gelegentlich: c4, Ne5 ≤9.Bc4 Schwarz droht gelegentlich: b5 9...0-0 10.0-0 Re8 11.Qc2 11.a4 11.f3 Petrosjan 11...Nh5!? 12.Bxh5 12.g3 Ne5 13.f4 Ng4 14.Nc4 >< >> Bxc3 /\ b5 Byrne 12.f4 Bd4+ 13.Kh1 Ndf6 /\ 14... Ng4 Purdy 12.Rd1 Nf4 13.Bf1 Ne5 14.Nc4 g5! Smyslov 12...gxh5 13.Nc4 13.a4 Ne5 14.Nd1! Qh4 15.Ne3 Ng4 16.Nxg4 hxg4 17.Nc4 Qf6? Nunn 17...g3 18.fxg3 Qxe4 19.Qxe4 Rxe4 20.Nxd6 Re5 21.Nxf7± Nunn 18.Bd2 Qg6 19.Bc3 Bxc3 20.bxc3 b6 20...f5 21.f3 Bd7∞ Byrne 21.Rfe1 Ba6 22.Nd2 Re5 23.f4!+- Gligoric-Kavalek/Skopje ol/1972/ 13...Ne5 /\ 14.Ne5 Be5-> Purdy 14.Ne3 14.Nxe5 Bxe5 15.Be3 Byrne 14...Qh4 15.Bd2 15.f3! Byrne 15.Nb5 Qe7 /\ 16... a6,17... b5 -/+ << 16.a4 a6 17.Nc3 b6 /\ Rb8, Bd7, b5 17...Rb8? 18.a5!± 18.a5? b5 Smith 15...Ng4 15...Nf3+? 16.gxf3 Be5 17.Rfc1+- Byrne 16.Nxg4 hxg4 17.Bf4 17.Ne2!? Bf5 17...f5 18.Ng3 fxe4 18...Be5! /\ 19... f4! 19.exf5 Rf8 20.f4 20.Bc3 Rf6! 21.Bxe5 Rh6-+ 20.Rfe1 Bxf5 21.Nxf5? Qxh2+ +- 20...Bd4+ 21.Kh1 Rf6 /\ Qg3 22.Be1 Rh6-+ Purdy 19.Rfe1 /\ 20.Bc3 Smyslov 18.Ng3 18.exf5 Rxe2 18...Bg6 19.Rae1 h5 20.Bc3= Smith 17...Qf6 18.g3? 18.Bg3 h5 19.f3! Byrne 19.Nb5! Kholmov 19.Nb5! Kholmov 19...h4 20.Be1 Purdy 20.fxg4 Qe7 18.Qd2 Smith/Smyslov Qg6 /\ 19... f5 ^^ Purdy 18...Bd7 /\ b5 19.a4 b6 /\ a6, b5 Smith 19...a6? 20.a5!± 20.Rfe1 20.a5 b5 20...a6 Smith 21.Re2 /\ Rad1, e5 b5! 21...Re7 22.Rae1 Rae8 23.Qd3! 22.Rae1 22.axb5 axb5 23.Rxa8 Rxa8 24.e5 dxe5 24...Ra1+ 25.Kg2 dxe5 26.Rxe5 26.Bxe5 Qh6! 26...b4 27.Ne4 Qh6-+ '/\ Qf1#' 27...Qa6 /\ Qf1# 25.Rxe5 b4 26.Ne2 26.Ne4 Ra1+ 27.Kg2 Qa6 /\ Qf1# 26...Qg6! Byrne 22...Qg6 23.b3 Re7 23...Bxc3 24.Qxc3 bxa4 25.bxa4 Bxa4 26.e5! Byrne 24.Qd3 Rb8 /\ 25... ba /\ Rb3 26.ba-/+ Byrne 25.axb5 axb5 /\ 26... b4 27... Bb5 Smith 25...Bxb5? 26.Nxb5 Byrne 26.b4 Smith c4 26...cxb4 27.Na2 27.Qd2 Rbe8 28.Re3 28.Bg5?? Bxc3 29.Qxc3 Qxg5+- 28...h5 28...Bxc3 29.Qxc3 Rxe4 30.Rxe4 Rxe4 31.Rxe4 Qxe4 32.Qf6 Byrne 29.R3e2 Kh7 29...Bxc3 Byrne 29...Bxc3 Byrne 30.Re3 Kg8 30...Bxc3 31.Qxc3 Rxe4 32.Rxe4 Rxe4 33.Rxe4 Qxe4 34.Qf6 31.R3e2 Bxc3 32.Qxc3 Rxe4 33.Rxe4 Rxe4 34.Rxe4 Qxe4-+ Smith 35.Bh6 35.Bxd6 Qxd5 /\ 36... Bc6 +- Byrne 35...Qg6 36.Bc1 Qb1 37.Kf1 Bf5 38.Ke2 Qe4+! 38...Be4 39.Bb2 Bf3+ 40.Kd2 Qd1+ 41.Ke3 Qe2+ 42.Kf4 Qe4+ 43.Kg5 Qxd5+ 44.Kh6! Kf8 45.Qh8+ Ke7 46.Bf6+ Ke6 47.Kg7∞ Matanovic 39.Qe3 Qc2+ 39...Qxd5 40.Qg5+= Byrne 40.Qd2 40.Ke1! Byrne 40...Qb3 41.Qd4? 41.Ke1! Qf3 42.Qg5+ Bg6 43.Qe3 Qh1+ 44.Kd2 Qxd5+ 45.Kc3 Byrne 41.Bb2 Qf3+ 42.Ke1 Qh1+ 43.Ke2 Bd3+-+ Gligoric 41...Bd3+! 41...Bd3+ 42.Ke1 42.Kd2 Qc2+ 43.Ke1 Qxc1# 42.Ke3 Qd1! 43.Qb2 Qf3+ 44.Kd4 Qe4+ 45.Kc3 Qe1+! /\ 46... Qe5# 42...Qxb4+ '-+' 43.Kd1 Qb3+ 44.Ke1 Qb1-+ 0–1
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WhiteEloWBlackEloBResYearECOEventRnd
Spassky,B2660Fischer,R27850–11972A77World Championship 28th3

One of the most legendary World Championship matches: Fischer against Spassky, Reykjavik 1972

Mihail Marin explains strategy

In the second chapter “Strategy” Mihail Marin explains Fischer’s style and his strategic talent. In four videos Marin shows how Fischer’s strategic skills developed over time. In one video Marin analyses game eight of the World Championship match Fischer-Spassky. After the game Soviet chess experts criticized Spassky harshly because Fischer had won it ‘so easily’. However, Marin explains that the win was due to Fischer’s ability to hinder his opponent’s plans, which provoked mistakes by Spassky who consequently was outplayed.

 
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MoveNResultEloPlayers
Replay and check the LiveBook here
1.c4 c5 2.Nc3 Nc6 3.Nf3 Nf6 4.g3 g6 5.Bg2 Bg7 6.0-0 0-0 7.d4 cxd4 8.Nxd4 Nxd4 9.Qxd4 d6 10.Bg5 Be6 /\ 11... Nd5 10...h6 11.Bxf6 11.Bd2 /\ 12.Qd3 Timman 11...Bxf6 12.Qd2 Bg7 13.Rad1 Qa5? 13...Rb8 14.c5!± 14.Nd5 Qxd2 15.Nxe7+ +/-/+- Purdy 11.Qf4 Qa5 11...Rc8 12.b3 Nh5 13.Qe3 b5 14.Nxb5 Bxa1 15.Rxa1 a6 16.Na7± Timman 11...Rb8 12.b3 a6 13.Rfd1 b5 14.c5 b4∞ Timman 12.Rac1 Rab8 13.b3 Rfc8 13...a6 14.Qd2 b5 15.Nd5± Timman 14.Qd2! 14.Rfd1?! a6 /\ 15... b5 Purdy 14...a6 15.Be3! b5 15...Bd7 16.Ba7 16.c5 Bc6 16...dxc5? 17.Bf4 17.cxd6 Bxg2 18.Kxg2 Rd8 19.Bf4± Timman 16...Ra8 17.Bd4 Bc6 18.Rfd1! 18.e4 b5 Smyslov 18...Bxg2 19.Kxg2 /\ 20.Bf6!, 21.Nd5! Qf5 20.f3 /\ 20.e4 +/- Purdy 15...Nd7? 16.Ba7 Ra8 17.Bxb7+- Timman 15...Ng4 16.Ba7 Ra8 17.Bd4 Bxd4 18.Qxd4 Rab8 19.h3 Ne5 20.f4± 15...Rc7 Gligoric 16.Nd5 16.Ba7?! Rbc8 16...Qxd2 17.Bxd2 Bxd5 18.cxd5 Rbc8 19.Rxc7 Rxc7 20.Rc1 +/-/+/= Timman 16.Ba7 bxc4 17.Bxb8 Rxb8 18.bxc4 Bxc4 19.Rfd1 Nd7??+- 19...Qh5 20.Nd5 20.Bf3 Qh6 20...Ng4 21.h4 Bh6! 22.e3 22.Bxg4 Bxd2 23.Bxh5 Bxc1 22...Qf5 +/=/<=> 23.h5 21.Nd5? Bxd5 22.Bxd5 Ng4-+ 20.Rb1 Rxb1 20...Rd8 /\ d5, e5 Timman 21.Rxb1 h6 22.Rb7 Qe5∞ Purdy 20.h3 Be6 21.h4 Bh6 22.e3 Bg4 23.Re1 +/=/= Timman 20...Bxd5 21.Bxd5 Nxd5 22.Qxd5 Qxe2 19...Kf8?? 20.Nd5 Qxa2 21.Nxe7+- Timman 20.Nd5 Qxd2 21.Nxe7+ Kf8 22.Rxd2 Kxe7 23.Rxc4 Rb1+ 24.Bf1 Nc5 25.Kg2 a5 26.e4 Ba1 27.f4 f6 28.Re2 Ke6 29.Rec2 Bb2 30.Be2 h5 31.Rd2 Ba3 32.f5+ gxf5 33.exf5+ Ke5 34.Rcd4 Kxf5 35.Rd5+ Ke6 36.Rxd6+ Ke7 37.Rc6 1–0
  • Start an analysis engine:
  • Try maximizing the board:
  • Use the four cursor keys to replay the game. Make moves to analyse yourself.
  • Press Ctrl-B to rotate the board.
  • Drag the split bars between window panes.
  • Download&Clip PGN/GIF/FEN/QR Codes. Share the game.
  • Games viewed here will automatically be stored in your cloud clipboard (if you are logged in). Use the cloud clipboard also in ChessBase.
  • Create an account to access the games cloud.
WhiteEloWBlackEloBResYearECOEventRnd
Fischer,R2785Spassky,B26601–01972A39World Championship 28th8

Oliver Reeh shows beautiful tactics

Part three is arguably the most interesting part of the DVD: Fischer’s combinations, compiled by Oliver Reeh. The exercises are chosen from 18 games and the new ChessBase interactive media format allows you to enter your solution on the board, after which you receive video feedback. Here’s the crucial position of the game Byrne-Fischer, one of Fischer’s most famous games. He played it when he was 13!

My first guess was …Nxe4, after which Reeh gently reprimanded me: ‘Robert Fischer found something better. Try to uproot the pawn on e4.’ I find these ‘conversations with the coach’ very appealing. Fischer played ...Na4! with the idea of deflecting the Nc3 which defends the pawn on e4.

Bobby Fischer in 1957

Several crucial points occur in the game where Fischer’s brilliancy sparkles; you are given an opportunity to find all of them while being helped with prompts by Reeh. All 18 games in this chapter are treated in a similar vein, which I find an exquisite way of improving your play while marvelling at Fischer’s mastery. The bonus material offers even more opportunities for training your tactical skills: 100 games with training questions.

Endgame expert Karsten Müller, who is also the author of a book on Fischer, talks about Fischer’s endgames. Müller chose 25 examples which he divided into four chapters:

1: Theoretical endgames
2: Rook endgames
3: R+B vs R+N
4: Famous endgames

During his enthusiastic analyses Müller often pauses to give you a chance to find the best move in a given position.

The wealth of material offered and the insightful analyses make this DVD a real gift.

Master Class Vol. 1: Bobby Fischer
by Dorian Rogozenco, Dr. Karsten Müller, Mihail Marin, Oliver Reeh

€29.90
€25.13 without VAT (for Customers outside the EU)
$28.45 (without VAT)

This DVD can be purchased as a hard copy or it can be downloaded directly from the Internet, that way sparing you the few days needed for it to arrive by post.

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A former university lecturer in Romance philology, she is currently a painter as well as a chess journalist, and reports regularly from the international tournament scene.

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