Byrne, Donald – Fischer, Robert James [D97]
New York Rosenwald, New York, 1956
1.Nf3 Nf6 2.c4 g6 3.Nc3 Bg7 4.d4 0-0 5.Bf4 d5 6.Qb3 dxc4 7.Qxc4 c6 8.e4 Nbd7 9.Rd1 Nb6 10.Qc5 Bg4 11.Bg5 Na4 12.Qa3 Nxc3 13.bxc3 Nxe4 14.Bxe7 Qb6 15.Bc4 Nxc3 16.Bc5 Rfe8+ 17.Kf1 Be6 18.Bxb6 Bxc4+ 19.Kg1 Ne2+ 20.Kf1 Nxd4+ 21.Kg1 Ne2+ 22.Kf1 Nc3+ 23.Kg1 axb6 24.Qb4 Ra4 25.Qxb6 Nxd1 26.h3 Rxa2 27.Kh2 Nxf2 28.Re1 Rxe1 29.Qd8+ Bf8 30.Nxe1 Bd5 31.Nf3 Ne4 32.Qb8 b5 33.h4 h5 34.Ne5 Kg7 35.Kg1 Bc5+ 36.Kf1 Ng3+ 37.Ke1 Bb4+ 38.Kd1 Bb3+ 39.Kc1 Ne2+ 40.Kb1 Nc3+ 41.Kc1 Rc2# 0-1
I discussed and analyzed this game in my Fischer DVD (Bobby Fischer’s Most Brilliant Games and Combinations). Like him or hate him, one must admire his genius on the chess board.
Isn’t that “The Game of the Century”?
Fischer was asked after he arrived in Iceland, what was his best game, to which Bobby replied this game vs Donald Byrne, because his opponent didnt seem to make any mistakes, and he was beaten easily. Fischer also said there is no such thing as a perfect game of chess.
I agree with bertilo; the Immortal Game is Andersson-Kieseritzky. tfk, really? Byrne’s 11.Bg5? was weak, moving a developed piece again instead of preparing to castle — which I’m sure he sorely regretted a few moves later. Are you sure Fischer didn’t say his (much more impressive) game against Donald’s brother Robert Byrne — the one where GM Rossolimo and IM Sherwin announced that Fischer was dead-lost, and were rather embarrassed when Byrne then resigned?
On an a Averbach’s book Byrne’s name is reported to be David ?!
I agree with the statement that the quality of games are to be analyzed by chess professionals.
I (being an amateur) don’t think that Kramnik’s style is boring. At least on this champ. Rather practical.
New moves by Topalov are more likely to be home preparations rather than insight.
Seems it me it needs more talent to handle this new attacking moves rather than produce.
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By the way, the board looks to be the position after 17. …Be6. That’s where the brilliance of this game really takes off.
One of the most amazing series of checks we’ll ever see, as well as a beautiful example of the benefits of a good sacrifice (even if it’s your Queen).
Susan, Good memory: Exactly 50 years later (Oct. 17, 1956)! I like the way you explained this game on your Fischer DVD. –JF
11.Bg5 is the first White mistake. Better 11. Be2 preparing 0-0.
14. Be3 instead of 14. Bxe7
14 … Qd5 instead of 14 … Qb6 (small error by Fischer).
15. Qxc3 instead of 15. Bc5
18. Qxc3 instead of 18. Bxb6? This is the big blunder.
Fischer could have mated 2 moves earlier.
indeed – he could … but R.J. Fischer was and still is human – so he took the SAFE way!
Frankly spoken: i like this Fischer stuff herein … and the superman talking – and the objectivity some bloggers have – about chess as being the art of logic – like music to be the art of accustic … and hearing about Fischer to be the greatest artist of the royal game for ever – AMEN – and i wonder, whether Fischer has given up his US citizenship – and i wonder whether his play is full of blunders – proven by Fritz! – and i enjoy to be an amateur …!
BLASPHEMY! ^^
This is a great game by a very young Fischer. He was what? 17 years old… Remember, this was before we all got the religion of Fritz, Shredder, Junior, etc. Think about it. His genius shines brightly when looked at through the pre-computer-assisted-age lens. He’s way ahead of the rest because he was bright and obsessed. He found out what would happen in a given position by studying each and every possibility. This is truly amazing if you think about it. He played to win….so what if Fritz 9 finds errors? Fischer won and that is what he wanted.
>>Isn’t that “The Game of the Century”?
>>
Yeah. “The Immortal Game” was Anderssen-Kieseritzky.
This game is great, but mainly because a 13 year old played it. The Queen Sac isn’t that hard to find, nor are the moves after that. It’s a great game that would deserve a place in any collection, but it’s not the game of the century, or even Fischer’s best game.
For Fischer’s best, I’d still nominate his game with *Robert* Byrne from 1963.
He cheated in this game. He used a time machine to go forward to next year and used Fritz 10.
Its obvious Vohaul is anti-American and has a hatred for Robert Fischer. I wish he would just go away! I love some of his foolish statements like when Vohaul said he played Fischer, “he killed me but he’s not that much”. LOL Alas Vohaul people that actually understood chess like Mikhail Tal once said of Fischer, “Bobby Fischer is the greatest genuis ever to descend from the chessic skies”!!! Tal also said after his first loss to Fischer “It’s not easy beating Einsteins Theory”!! hahah. But Vohaul could probably refute Tal’s genuis also, using fritz 9, shredder, hiarcs, and rybka, but ‘Your Vohaul’ hindsight is 20 20.