At first, I was looking at the seemingly dangerous position of the Black King and was trying to figure out how the white Rook could go to the 8TH rank, while the e5-pawn disapears, the white Bishop lands to d4 AND the 8TH rank becomes clear of black pieces. But it looks like it is hard to find a variation to achieve everything. Although the presence of the g6-pawn and g5-pawn sugests that a mating net exists, I just do not see how to exploit it. Thus, 40.Rxe7 and 41.Rxe5 (reversible) always provokes 40. ...Qxg4 and then, how to bring the Bishop to d4 AND the Rook on the 8TH rank AND evicting the black one from that same rank ? It seems like a mate threat is not part of the solution here.

But White is still a whole piece up. We must find how to save the Rook AND the Queen.

Again 40.Rxe7. When 40. ...Qxg4 41.Bd7 shows that the Black Queen does not have many options, here. It can escape, but this variation shows that the d7-square might have its point.

40.Bd7. I think this is it, as 40. ...Qxd7 41.Rxg6+ hxg6 42.Qxd7 and White is +5. Or 40. ...fxe6 41.Bxe6+ Kg7 (41. ...Qxe6 42.Qxe6+ Kg7 43.Qxc4 is +6) 42.Bxc8 Rxc8 is again +5.

Thus, 40.Bd7 Qc7 (40. ...Qd8 41.Rxe5 is +4) 41.Rc8 and White is still a piece up.

White to move (40.?) "Medium/Easy"

White is up a piece, but Black has a nasty-looking pin on the e6 rook, about to win the rook and go ahead an exchange. Fischer has seen farther than his opponent, and has a bishop ready to come to the rescue!

40. Bd7!

I think its about equal.
(of course I would give the edge to Fischer
because he's Fischer)

Black can just play 39...Kg7
(you pass, I'll pass)

One thing to remember Shocron
played well, he blundered with
38...Qd8???

The key point is Fischer's win has
that study like, white to move and win
quality.

However, we cant go back before
the blunder and make all lines win
for white.

39...Ra8 looks good enough to keep the position equal. If 40 Ra6 then 40...Qc8. White can repeat the sequence with 41 Rc6 to get the draw.

However, 38...Qd7 39 Kh2 Ra8 40 Bb5 is no good for white because of 40...Ra5, below, forcing white to give up a rook for a bishop and pawn.

click for larger view

I would rather be white and the position after 38...Qd7 is probably . White has a bind on the kingside and 2 bishops. My point was I don't think black should be resigning after 39 Kh2.

All that being said aside from other moves like 39...Ra8 instead of Kg7.

In your line:

<After 39.Kh2 Kg7 white can play 40.Ra6 when 40..Qc8 41.Ra7 Rb7 42.Ra5 intending Rd5 after 42..Qc7 with big advantage. And after 40.Ra6 Qc7 41.Bc6 intending Bd5 again white is better.>

I think 42...Qb8 is better than your Qc7.

Also 41...Bc5 needs to be looked at instead of Rb7.

<jimfromprovidence> Yes 39.. Ra8 does refute the kh2 idea. I could see Bb5 looked a little suspect,the rook and bishop having to do some delicate tip toeing together, but just looked at Rb8 Rb6 ect..Still, 38.Ra6 immediately avoids all this.. just walks into 38..Nf4+., which I assessed as equal before, but will now have another look at.

Show me the win after 42.Bd7!
Show me the win after 42...Qb8

42...Qb8 allows different tactics.
(its not about the b file)

In your original line:

<After 39.Kh2 Kg7 white can play 40.Ra6 when 40..Qc8 41.Ra7 Rb7 42.Ra5 intending
Rd5 after 42..Qc7 with big advantage.>

After 43.Rd5 if the queen is on b8 instead of c7

43...Nxg5 and 43...Bxg5 start to become viable
moves because after Bxg5 black has Qa7
hitting the lose bishop on a4 and
an attack against f2.

After 38..Qd7 39.Rb6 Qc7 40.Rb8 leads nowhere.

38..Qd7 39.Ra6 walks into 39..Nf4+ 40.Kf3 (40.Qf4 gf 41.Bd7 fe and it's equal) when after 40..Qg4 41.Kg4 either 41..Ne2 or Nd3 give at least equality for black.

Likewise after 38..Qd7 39.Rb6 Qc7 40.Ra6 black can head into similar lines with 40..Qc8 41.Ra7 Rb7 (41..Bc5 42.Bd7 Qf8 43.Be6 Ba7 44.Ba7 Ra8 45.Be3 fe 46.Qe6+ Qf7 48.Qe5 Re8 49.Qd4 and white is better) 42.Ra5 Nf4+ 43.Kf3 Qg4 44.Kg4 Nd3 and black is fine.

Finally 38..Qd7 39.Rc4 Qd3 40.Rc6 Rb1! is good black. as 41.Re6 loses to 41..Qf1+ 42.Kf3 Rb2 43.Qh4 fe and 41.Rb6 to Qf1+ 42.Kf3 Re1 43.Rb8+ Kg7 44.Qh4 Re3! 45.Ke3 Bg5+. All I can see is 41.Qf3 Qf1+ 42.Kh2 Bg5 43.Re6 Be3 44.Re8+ (44.Re5 Rb2!)Kg7 45.Re7 forcing Qf2+ which should draw.

I can't see any other tries for white. 39.Qe2 Qd3 as has been mentioned. 39.Kh2 ( to avoid the Nf4+ lines)then 39..Ra8, as Jim mentioned.

Notice how in all these lines the bishop on a4 is a bystander.The key for white was to get it more involved.

You're right though, white would have the edge in the ensuing queen/bishop/knight ending simply because he's Fischer lol...