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Viktor Korchnoi vs Robert James Fischer
Sousse Interzonal (1967)  ·  Zukertort Opening: Sicilian Invitation (A04)  ·  1/2-1/2
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Kibitzer's Corner
Jun-24-03  drukenknight: jonber: yes this game was a draw but it has some nice desperado moves in the middle game and some deep thinking in the end game. This interzonal in Souza in 1967 I think Fischer maybe playing his strongest chess. THere are at least a couple pts of interest.

it looks like Korchnoi has plenty of time to pursue k side attack w/ h4/h5 etc. But instead he advancs on the q side w/ his 14/15th moves.

observers were taken aback by 21...Bxa4, why doesnt Korchnoi go 22 Rxb7 Bb6 23 Rxf7?

The pt of 33 e4 was that if 33...Bxf4 34 Rf1 Bxd2 35 exf5+ to establish a pawn majority on the k side.

Whatever; this particular sequence was apparently explained to OCOnnel by Korchnoi in broken english after the game. It may be a little over optimistic to think that Bobby will be ready to exchange B for N even before Korchnoi gets his check in.

Our checks always work better when they remain hanging out there for a while, yes? Well okay, white will be able to defer the check but obviously black can see this too.

It's interesting to consider the two personalities involved. Bobby is always reluctant to trade B for N; Korchnoi is apparently convinced he will do this. But why?

perhaps Fischer would have played instead 34...Bg3 and after the check on f5, the Bishops go after the Rook and the pawns.

ANyhow, he didnt do it and played 33...Nb6

Jun-24-03  Larsker: Thanks for the comment, DK. Interesting clash between two chess giants.
Apr-25-05  offramp: Fischer might have won after 33...Bxf4. I wonder what he saw that scared him off?
Apr-25-05  sneaky pete: Comments by R.G.Wade from the tournament book:

33.e4 .. "After 40 minutes thought."

33... Nb6 "Korchnoi was distinctly taken aback when Fischer immediately, without any further thought, answered thus. This, as Korchnoi described it, saved the game psychologically for the American champion. If 33... Bxf4 Korchnoi intended 34.Rf1 Bxd2 35.exf5+ .. establishing a strong 2-1 pawn majority on the K-side."

If 33... Bxf4 34.Rf1 Bg3 as <drukenknight> suggests 35.exf5+ gxf5 36.h5 .. looks strong. Before the bishops "go after" the rook and the pawns, black has to deal with the threat g5-g6-g7 etc.

Apr-25-05  offramp: But Fischer could have played 33...Bxf4 34.Rf1 and then 34...c4+ 35.bxc4 bxc4+ 36.Nxc4 Bxe4+ 37.Kc3 and only now 37...Bg3. Isn't that winning?
Apr-25-05
Premium Chessgames Member
  Boomie: <offramp> 35. Rc1 not 35. Rf1. For example:

33... Bxf4 34. exf5+ Kxf5 35. Rc1 Kg4 36. Rxc5 Nb6 37. Ne4 Kxh4 38. Nf6 Bd6 39. Rc1 Kxg5 40. Ne4+ Bxe4+ 41. Kxe4

And white is in good shape.

Apr-25-05
Premium Chessgames Member
  Boomie: I meant exf5+ first followed by Rc1.
Apr-25-05  offramp: <Boomie: <offramp> 35. c1 not 35. f1. For example:> But after 33... Bxf4 34. exf5+ surely gxf5 is better?
Apr-25-05  drukenknight: This probably where Wade and Korchnoi got into their discussion as they looked over the game, post mortem..
Apr-25-05
Premium Chessgames Member
  Boomie: <offramp> Looks like 34... gxf5 35. Re1+ Kd7 36. Be5 Bxd2 37. Kxd2 Bd5 is pretty drawish, too.
Apr-26-05  sneaky pete: <offramp> After 33... Bxf4 34.Rf1 c4+ 35.bxc4 bxc4+ 36.Ke2 Bxd2 (or ... Bg3 if you insist) 37.exf5+ .. only white has winning chances. Black's queenside pawns are worthless, white's g-pawn supported by Bb2 will be very dangerous.
Apr-27-05  drukenknight: why are you not playing ...Bg3 in that line? Here is what I get:

33...Bxf4
34. Rf1 Bg3
35. exf5+ gxf5
36. h5 Ne7
37. g6 hxg6
38. h6 g5
39. h7 Ng6
40. h8=Q Nxh8
41. Bxh8 g4

still very close to equal.

Apr-27-05  sneaky pete: <drukenknight> In the line you give there's no hurry to promote the pawn. White plays 40.Nf3 .. first when after ... Bxf3 (forced) 41.Rxf3 .. the rook must be superior to the 4 pawns.

I think 33.e4 .. was a great conception of a great player, it would have brought him victory against nearly every player other than Fischer.

May-14-07
Premium Chessgames Member
  Ulhumbrus: After 5...cxd4 6 exd4 Black has not played ...Nf6 and so cannot play 6..d5 and on 6...Nf6 White does not wait for ...d5 but plays 7 d5 first.
May-14-07
Premium Chessgames Member
  Ulhumbrus: An interesting alternative to 16...d5 is 16...Nxg5 17 fxg5 Qxg5 starting an attack on White's King
Nov-03-11  kbob: As for declining the sacrifice at move 33, I remember Fischer being quoted at the time: "I trusted him."
Nov-04-11
Premium Chessgames Member
  HeMateMe: This is certainly interesting. It looked like Fischer would create another nice game where the pawn roller would make up for the sac exchange. Korchnoi found the most efficient way to break into black's position, after trading off one pair of Rooks.

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