Historic Fischer Game

    In 1956, Bobby Fischer was beginning to make a name for himself and his name was popping up with increasing frequency in Chess Life magazine. The following game appeared in John W. Collins’ column in the August 5, 1956 issue of Chess Life, Members Games; it was just the bare score without notes and it was the first game of Fischer's that was ever published in Chess Life. It was played in the 1956 U/S/ Open that was held in Oklahoma City, Oklahoma. As short games often do, it has some interesting points. 

    Fischer’s opponent was Dr. Peter Lapiken (1907-1983), a National Master. He was born in Riga, Latvia. His family settled in Harbin, Manchuria circa 1916 and in the 1930s he was the chess champion of Manchuria. He immigrated to the United States in 1939, settling in California and later in Montana. You can read his complete biography in the Northwest Chess magazine HERE. 

 

 

[Event "US Open, Oklahoma City"] [Site ""] [Date "1956.07.19"] [Round "?"] [White "Robert Fischer"] [Black "Dr. Peter Lapiken"] [Result "1-0"] [ECO "A04"] [Annotator "Stockfosh 17"] [PlyCount "37"] [EventDate "1956.07.16"] {A07: Reti Opening} 1. Nf3 Nf6 2. g3 d5 3. Bg2 Bf5 4. O-O e6 5. d3 c6 6. Nbd2 Na6 {This odd looking move was introduced by Smyslov in a game against Cvetkov in 1954. Black usually make room for his B with 6...h6} (6... a5 7. Qe1 h6 8. e4 Bh7 9. Qe2 Be7 10. e5 Nfd7 {is equal. Petersen,T (2324)-Savchenko,B (2615) Helsingor DEN 2011}) 7. a3 Nc5 {All this does is lose time, 7...Be7 was better. } 8. c4 {The key move of Reti..it puts pressure on bBlack's center.} b5 { This is a bad positional mistake that leaves c6 is undefended and weakens the long diagonal. Also, it allows white to exchange the B on f5 rather than g6 which results in black’s d-Pawn being a weak.} (8... a5 9. b3 Be7 10. Bb2 h6 {is about equal. Zaitsev,I-Korelov,A Yerevan 1962}) 9. Nd4 {This excellent move gains time by attacking the weakened c-Pawn and at the same time opens up the diagonal for his light squared B.} Qd7 10. Nxf5 exf5 {As a result of this exchange black;s position is further weakened.} 11. Nb3 {In annotating this game Fred Reinfeld stated that with this move white threatens 12.Bg5, with the further threat of inflicting a tripled and isolated f-Pawns on black. At the same time he undermining the support of black's d-Pawn and still further thought the removal of black's protective N. However, after 11.Nb3 much (but mot all) of white's advantage has disappeared. Both Stockfish and Dragon by Komodo agree that 11.b4 is much stronger.Reinfeld and Fischer can be forgiven for not seeing the merits of 11.b4 because the point is well hidden.} (11. b4 Ne6 12. cxb5 cxb5 {And here is a move that humans might not condiser because it looks impossible.} 13. e4 {This destroys black's center.} Be7 (13... dxe4 14. dxe4 fxe4 15. Nxe4 Nxe4 16. Bxe4 Qxd1 17. Rxd1 Rc8 18. Bb2 {This position may look equal, but engines declare that white has a decisive advantage. Here is the continuation...} Be7 19. Bf5 Rd8 20. Rxd8+ Bxd8 21. Bxe6 fxe6 22. Bxg7 { White is winning.}) 14. exf5 Nd8 15. Bb2 O-O 16. Qf3 a5 17. Bxf6 Bxf6 18. Qxd5 Qxd5 19. Bxd5 {White is winning. As mentioned, all this is too much for humans to take in and so let's not be too critical of Fischer and Reinfeld!}) 11... h6 {A useless move that give Fischer another free move.} (11... bxc4 12. dxc4 Nce4 13. f3 Nc5 14. Nd4 dxc4 {and at least black is still in the game.}) 12. Be3 Ne6 13. Nd4 g6 (13... f4 {offers stouter resistance.} 14. gxf4 Bd6 15. cxd5 cxd5 16. Bh3 O-O {White ois better, but black is still in the game.}) 14. Qb3 { Reinfeld called this very strong claiming black must give his b-Pawn's additional protection and Fischer gets the opportunity for a neat combination. It's a good move, but there was a better one.} (14. cxb5 cxb5 15. Rc1 Bg7 16. Nxe6 fxe6 17. Bf4 O-O 18. Qd2 {With the much more active position. About the only play black has is a feeble attenpt at generating some k-side play with 18. ..g5}) 14... Rb8 {This sensible looking move loses!} (14... bxc4 {is a better defense.} 15. dxc4 Nc5 {Demonstrating that 14.Qb3 was not a really great move after all.} 16. Qc2 Nce4 {White is better, but black is far from lost.}) 15. Nxc6 {[%mdl 512] Here is the flaw in black's last move. As Reinfeld eloquently pit it, "What makes this sacrifice particularly delectable is that it validates the basic theme: pressure on the long diagonal."} Qxc6 16. cxd5 Nc5 { A good practical choice in a lost position! Engines don't cotton to it, but from a practicl point of view it merits a couple of exclamation marks.} 17. Qc3 {Lapiken was hoping Fischer would capture the Q.} (17. dxc6 Nxb3 18. Rad1 Rc8 19. Bxa7 Bd6 {Black has a N vs, 2Ps and so stands just a bit better, but probably cannot win. Five Shootout games were drawn.}) 17... Qd6 18. Bxc5 Qxc5 19. Qxf6 {Black resigned. An amusing finish. If black moves his attacked R he loses the other one.} (19. Qxf6 Rg8 20. Qe5+ Kd7 21. Qxb8) 1-0