Frequent walks gave Fischer’s brain a boost
Saturday, July 9, 2011 03:05 AM
Basic Chess Features
Many stories concern Bobby Fischer’s fondness for walking.
On three or four occasions during the 1960s, I met him by chance as he perambulated around New York. He was always friendly and eager to talk.
Late-night walks often took him to chess hangouts such as the Chess and Checker Club of New York, where he would frequently take on a player of master strength, offering up to 15-1 odds to his opponent and the gathering kibitzers.
He seemed to tremendously enjoy the fun and hilarity provoked by the impromptu exhibitions.
A champion boxer once described to me the difficulty of keeping up with Fischer’s walking tours. There seems to have been a method to his locomotion.
Rae Pica, author of A Running Start, wrote: “Movement increases blood vessels that allow for the delivery of oxygen, water and glucose to the brain. And this can’t help but optimize brain performance.”
Nocturnal walks – a wonderful combination of darkness and contemplation – offered Fischer a private laboratory to explore chess moves.
More here.
Nakamura is clearly better than Fischer and Morphy. He’s the best American player ever.
“Nakamura is clearly better than Fischer and Morphy….”.
Sure Naka is very good,but not a patch on Fischer! Naka could never in his dreams achieve Fischer’s dream run to the World Championships.So don’t be an idiot!.
How dare you compare the zeus of chess bobby fischer with naka … from Lagos Nigeria.