| Sep-03-04 | | wall: Can White play 23.Rxb4 and win a pawn instead of 23.Re4 as in the game? Perpetual check after 28...Kxf7 29.Qg6+ Kf8 30.Qxh6+ Kf7 31.Qg6+ Kf8. |
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Sep-22-04
 | | lostemperor: Seidman would have won with 15. ♖he1! against young Bobby Fischer. No further comment needed IMO. Now the piece sacrifice on move 17 was not good enough. |
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| Sep-22-04 | | clocked: <lostemperor> yes, Rhe1 is very strong because black is compelled to make the same moves... 15.e5 would have been interesting |
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| Dec-30-13 | | RandomVisitor: After 14...b5:
click for larger view Rybka 4.1 x64:
<[+0.75] d=19 15.e5> dxe5 16.fxe5 Nd5 17.Nxd5 exd5 18.Bxe7 Kxe7 19.Rhf1 Be6 20.Qf2 Kf8 21.Qf4 Kg8 22.Rf3 h5 23.Rdf1 d4 24.Rg3 h4 25.Rg5 Rh6 26.Ka1 |
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| Dec-30-13 | | RandomVisitor: After 19.Bxa6
click for larger view Rybka 4.1 x64:
<[-0.48] d=20 19...Ra8> 20.Rfe1 0-0 21.Qxe7 Rxa6 22.Re3 Qd8 23.Rg3+ Kh8 24.Qe4 Re8 25.Qxb4 Rb6 26.Qd2 Bf5 27.b3 Rb7 28.Re1 Rxe1+ 29.Qxe1 Rb5 30.Re3 Kg7 31.Qg3+ Kh7 32.Qf3 Rc5 33.Rc3 Qa5 34.Kb2 |
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| Dec-30-13 | | RandomVisitor: After the suggested 15.Rhe1
click for larger view Rybka 4.1 x64:
<[+0.52] d=19 15...Bd8> 16.e5 dxe5 17.fxe5 Nd5 18.Nxd5 exd5 19.Bxd8 Rxd8 20.g4 Be6 21.Rg1 d4 22.h4 Kd7 23.h5 Kc7 24.g5 Rhg8 25.b3 Qc5 26.Bh7 Rh8 27.gxh6 |
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| Dec-30-13 | | RandomVisitor: After the suggested 23.Rxb4
click for larger view Rybka 4.1 x64:
<[+0.08] d=19 23...f5> 24.Qd3 Bf6 25.Qxf5 Qc5 26.a3 Bg7 27.Re2 Qg1+ 28.Ka2 Qxh2 29.c3 Qg1 30.Qd3 Ra8 31.Rb7 Rfb8 32.Qb5 Rd8 33.Qb4 Qd1 34.Qe4 |
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| Oct-17-16 | | RookFile: Good game by Seidman. Nice to have a draw against Fischer on your resume. |
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| Jan-22-18 | | Granny O Doul: 15...Bd8 may well be Black's best after 15. Rhe1. I mean, I assume it is if Rybka says so. But it's an awfully weird looking move and I think most humans would have a mental block against really looking at it. How often does anyone move a bishop to his Q1 square other than to capture? |
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Apr-21-22
 | | KEG: This exciting early game by Bobby Fischer--for all its ups and downs--exemplifies a key component of what made Bobby one of the all-time greats; his ability to find tactical resources that in this case enabled him to save what looked like a scary position. Also fascinating in playing over this game is to read its commentary by Fischer when he was only age 15. Seidman and Fischer played four times. This was the only time Seidman had White and the only game Fischer failed to win. 1. e4 c5
Fischer even at age 14 favored the Sicilian Defense. 2. Nf3 d6
3. d4 cxd4
4. Nxd4 Nf6
5. Nc3 a6
Fischer had already settled on the Najdorf in this his first U.S. Championship. But was not yet ready to handle the variations he later favored. 6. Bg5
The most aggressive line against the Najdorf (Gligoric) and the most popular at the time according to Fischer. 6... e6
7. f4 Be7
click for larger viewFischer later settled on 7...Qb6?! (the poisoned pawn variation), but in his early commentary on this game he feared the "strong attack" it can yield to White. In fact, until Game 11 of his World Championship match against Spassky, Fischer never came to grief after playing 7...Qb6. The line Fischer played here against Seidman (7...Be7) is entirely sound and (usually less tactically wild. 8. Qf3 Qc7
The young Fischer, as he pointed out in his commentary, was well aware of the triple loss the Argentine trio of Najdorf, Panno, and Pilnik suffered against Keres, Geller, and Spassky at the Amsterdam Interzonal in 1954 after playing 8...h6 here. Theoretically, there is nothing wrong with 8...h6. But Fischer declined to enter into the complications that could follow 8...h6, only to find himself in an equally difficult position after his next few moves. 9. 0-0-0 h6
This move seems to have been a novelty at the time. It later was played by, amongst others, Najdorf and Stein. Most usual and safer is 9...Nbd7. 10. Bh4
click for larger view10... Nc6
"?"--(Fischer)(Wade/O'Connell)
"?!"--(Muller)
For all the negative reactions to Fischer's move, it in truth--though rarely played--is not meaningfully inferior to the more usual 10...Nbd7, which Fischer called "better" and which might have led into a variation similar to the one he played in his win against Bernstein two rounds later. White is indeed better after the text, but that is also true if 10...Nbd7 is played. In the instant game, Fischer's real troubles began with his next move, which was not the source of any criticism that I have seen. 11. NxN
click for larger view11... QxN?
In fact this is the weak move that created problems for Fischer. 11...bxN was correct. Fischer later said he feared 12. e5 after 11...bxN, but then he could just have played 12...dxe5 13. fxe5 Nd5 14. BxB NxB and now if 15. Rd6 Qa5 with a far better position than the one the text could have led him to. 12. Bd3
Hardly the most forceful line. With 12. Be2! (leaving his Rook open for action on the d-file), Seidman could have obtained a strong attack, e.g., 12...Qc7 (probably best) 13. Qg3 0-0 (Black's best chance) 14. e5. 12... Bd7
12...b5 with 13... b4 to follow was probably stronger. After the text, Fischer had a difficult but defensible position that promised sharp tactical chances for both sides: 
click for larger view |
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Apr-21-22
 | | harrylime: <<KEG: This exciting early game by Bobby Fischer--for all its ups and downs--exemplifies a key component of what made Bobby one of the all-time greats; his ability to find tactical resources that in this case enabled him to save what looked like a scary position.
Also fascinating in playing over this game is to read its commentary by Fischer when he was only age 15.>> Nothing fascinating here and there is ZERO FISCHER input re COMMENTARY Bobby is and never will be a ONE OF lol lol lol He is the Greatest chess player |
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Apr-21-22
| | KEG: Post II
13. Qe2
"A strong move. Now Black must worry about such moves as 35, f5, and Nd5." (Fischer) Even stronger for White may be 13. Rhe1 getting straight to work on the e-file ("!?--Muller(. Perhaps best of all is to prepare for the coming apocalypse with an immediate 13. Kb1 (the move he played next) 13... Rc8
Bulking up on the c-file looks like a good idea. The multi-purpose 13...Qc5 may be even stronger. 14. Kb1
click for larger view14... b5?
Although not faulted in any of the commentaries on the game I have seen, this was almost certainly a serious mistake that could have led to big trouble for Fischer. 14...Qb6 would have left him much better placed. After 14...b5?, one of the critical positions of the game had been reached:
click for larger view15. Rhf1
Seidman missed a chance here to put Fischer to the test. Fischer claimed that 15. Rhe1 was best here, and it certainly would have been superior to the text. <lastemperor> claims a win here for White with 15. Rhe1. <clocked? also calls 15. Rhe1 "strong," though he recognizes an even better alternative. As indicated in the computer analysis supplied on this site by <Random Visitor>, 15. Rhe1, though it gives White a nice edge, is far from winning (or even best). Fischer only considered 15...b4 in response to 15. Rhe1, and this indeed does lose after 16. Nd5! But Black can hold with either 15...Ng8 (probably best) or even 15...Bd8 (though White then gets a dangerous attack with 16. BxN [better than the tempting 16. e5 dxe5 17. fxe5 Nd5 18. NxN exN 19. BxB RxB after which Black likely holds] bxB [not 16...BxB 17. e5] 17. f5 or maybe 17. Qg4. But best for White here as has been pointed out by <Random Visitor> and Muller is 15. e5! (e.g., 15...dxe5 16. fxe5 Nd5 17. NxN exN (not 17...BxB? 18. Nb4 Qb6 19. Qg4) 18. BxB KxB 19. Qh5 with a still powerful even if not clearly winning attack. Seidman's 15. Rhf1 left the position as follows: 
click for larger viewNow, Fischer had serious counter-chances with:
15... b4!
16. BxN
Seidman could also have played 16. Nd5 immediately, which transposed into the game lines. The position was now:
click for larger view16... gxB!
Not falling for 16...BxB? 17. Nd5 and Black, even if not lost, is in great difficulties. 17. Nd5!
"!"--(Muller)
This pretty move is actually forced, since everything else loses. Now the real fun began: 
click for larger view |
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Apr-21-22
| | KEG: <harrylime>There most certainly IS commentary by Bobby Fischer on this game. It appears in Fischer's 1958 book entitled "Bobby Fischer's Games of Chess." If you don't think Fischer's commentary on this game is fascinating, read it again. I have given only selections of what Fischer wrote, but even what I have provided provides what at least I think is a revealing contrast with Fischer's later thinking (e.g., his early dislike of the Poisoned Pawn Variation which later became his mainstay). As to whether Fischer is the greatest chessplayer of all time as you claim; that is certainly at least arguable. But fans of Kasparov or Magnus Carlsen likely will disagree. I am more interested in enjoying Fischer's games than in trying to guess whether Fischer, Kasparov,or Carlsen in their respective primes would have prevailed in some hypothetical match that never did and--alas--never will occur. |
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Apr-22-22
| | KEG: Post III
17... exN
Anything else would have left Fischer in critical shape. 18. exd5
click for larger view18... Qc7
Although Fischer said it would have been "very dangerous to have done so, he could also have played 18...Qxd5. Then, if 19. Bxa6 (as given by Fischer), Black would be fine after 19...Qe6. If then White played 20. Qd3 as given by Fischer, Black would be better and even have winning chances via 20...Rc7! 21. Rfe1 Qf5 22. RxB+ (anything else loses for White) KxR 23. Qxd6+ Kd8 24. Bd3 Qe6 25. Qxb4 (probably best) Kc8 leavjng Black--though still under attack--with a full Rook for three pawns. The above line notwithstanding, White is fin in Fischer's line if he plays 20. Qd2 instead of 20. Qd3. Muller suggests 19. Rde1 instead of Fischer's proposed 19. Bxa6. This leads to great complications and an exciting unclear position on Muller's line: 19...Be6 20. f5 (forced) Qxa2+ 21. Kc1 Qa1+ (Black could also play 21...Kf8) 22. Kd2 Qxb2 23. fxB. Given the above highly complex line after 18...Qxd5, Fischer's decision to play 18...Qc7 was entirely reasonable and, over-the-board, the best practical option. This left: 
click for larger view19. Bxa6
This needlessly allowed Black dangerous play on the Queen-side. Simplest and probably leading to a draw were either 19. Rde1 or 19. Rfe1. 19... Rb8
<Random Visitor> correctly identifies 19...Ra8! as best. It gives some winning chances for Black, e.g., 20. Rfe1 (Muller's suggestion. Perhaps 20. f5 is a little better) 0-0 (looks scary, but the only way for Black to play for an advantage) 21. QxB RxB 22. Re3 (or 22. Rd3) Qd8 23. Rg3+ Kh8 leaving Black with his extra piece for two (and soon to be three) pawns and some chances to play for a win if he can survive the scary storm still brewing. Fischer's move should probably lead to a draw, but it's still extremely tricky. 20. Rfe1
click for larger view20... Bc8?
Black should be able to hold with the superior 20...Bf5. After the text, the position became exceptionally difficult for Black and required heroic defense by Fischer to avoid loss. 21. BxB RxB
22. Rd4
"!"--(Fischer)(Wade/O'Connell)
""The key move to White's attack, which threatens 23. Rc4 and 23. Re4." (Fischer) 
click for larger viewThat Fischer survived the White onslaught with his following three problem-like moves demonstrates his incredible tactical genius even at age 14. 22... 0-0
"The only defense..." (Fischer)
22...Qa7 may also hold, but Fischer's move--scary as it looks--was best. 23. Re4
"White must not let Black's Bishop to get free by 23...f5." (Fischer) Seidman could also have accomplished this with 23. f5 As <Random Visitor> again nicely pointed out, 23. Rxb4 would be answered by 23...f5 after which Black should be able to hold. After Seidman's 23. Re4, the position was:
click for larger viewAt first glance, it appears that Black is about to be crushed. But, as I will discuss in my next post on this game, Fischer found a defense that led to a draw in just six moves. |
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Apr-22-22
 | | HeMateMe: Seidman was a math guy, in real life. That was his day job. No one could make a living playing chess. Reshevsky was an accountant. Bill Lombardy was a priest. Bobby Fischer was a chess bum. |
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Apr-23-22
| | KEG: <HeMateMe>Fischer did eventually drop out of high school. But that was over a year after he played in the 1957-1958 US Championship. At age 14 when he played in this tournament, he was not a "chess bum"; he was a student at Erasmus High School. He did eventually quit school to play and study chess full-time. This put him on a par with the top Russian players who were essentially all full-time chess professionals. Thus, Fischer was no more or less a "chess bum" than those players. He just wasn't as well funded. Would Fischer have become world champion even had he remained in school? Hard to know. He would probably have been enhanced by further formal education and perhaps then would not have been seduced into some of the later weird and hateful beliefs that consumed and destroyed him. I would like to think that making it at least through high school coupled with his incredible talent would have made him an even stronger person and player, and maybe even allowed him to stick around not only long enough to win the world championship, but also to get to play against Karpov, Kasparov, and maybe even Carlsen. How would Fischer have done against these three chess titans? Alas, we will never know. |
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Apr-23-22
| | KEG: Post IV:
23... Rfe8!
click for larger viewAs Muller aptly said, this move (which may be the only way to save the game) may "look risky" but, as the sequel demonstrates, Bobby knew exactly what he was doing and almost certainly had calculated through to the finale. 24. f5!
The only winning chance for White. As is obvious, 24. RxB?? would lose instantly to 24...RxR. After 24. f5, the position was:
click for larger view24... Kh7!
"!!"--(Muller)
Subtle moves such as this one demonstrate the amazing genius of the 14 year-old Fischer. As with his 23rd move, this may be the only way to hold the game. 25. c3
25. b3 was a better way to try to keep his pressure going. As for the text, Fischer succinctly quipped that it allowed Black to force a draw immediately, the position now being: 
click for larger view25... bxc3
26. RxB Qb6
click for larger view27. Rxf7+
Anything else loses. As Fischer pointed out in his commentary, if instead 27. b3? Black wins with 27...c2+ 28. Kc1 Qd4 29. Rxf7+ Kg8 27... Kg8
And certainly not 27...Kh8?? 28. QxR+ and mates next move. Now White draws by perpetual check:
click for larger view28. Qg4+ KxR
click for larger view1/2 -- 1/2
29. Qg6+ or 29. Qh5+ clinch the draw. |
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Apr-23-22
| | HeMateMe: If there had been a father in the house I think Fischer would have had a much, much more normal life. The guy was living alone, no one else in the apartment, at age 16. That's very strange IMO. RJF would always have been an eccentric, but the worst of his life experiences would not have occurred had their been a well behaved mother and father present, from the get go. The two parents would have been an anchor, would have created a life foundation for their two kids. If Fischer was bipolar or schizophrenic it might have also helped if this had been diagnosed, medicines prescribed. In the 50s and 60s no one spoke of mental illness. It was something to be hidden. Parents would pretend their children had nothing wrong with them. |
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Apr-23-22
 | | perfidious: From the age of fourteen, I lived alone, in effect; there was, practically speaking, no parental presence in my life, which I thus mostly lived on my own terms. Guess that makes me stranger than Fischer; no mean feat, that. |
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Apr-23-22
| | HeMateMe: Of course people can be self sufficient but those like Fischer, who have serious problems doveetailing into the normal social fabric absolutely need a stable home life. He died because he wouldn't listen to a doctor and take medication for failing kidneys.the disconnect from reality was there his entire adult life. |
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Kibitzing
