Annotated Fischer 002: Fischer – Bolbochan

In the following game, Fischer plays White against the Sicilian Najdorf. This game was annotated by Fischer.
Four things stood out for me in this game:

1. Fischer knew the game was won by move 20, because he had a “Knight Outpost” on d5. It took another 17 moves to execute his win. As some people say, “winning from here is just a matter of technique”. Recognizing that you have a winning position, is a mark of a good player. Finding and executing a plan to turn the winning position into a win is a what separates the boys from the men.

2. Even Fischer has to make prophylactic (preventive or cautionary) moves… he has a comment when he makes the first such move on move 15. He says, “One never knows when lightning will strike!” A second such move is made on move 31. when he plays 31. a3. I was wondering whether that was prophylactic or a waiting move since Black appears to be in “zugzwang”.

3. I thought the position after Black played 30. ..Qh8 was interesting. The most powerful piece on the board is chased around until it finds solace in the corner! Lesson: watch where you place your pieces. If you play passively, you end up playing forced moves.

Black Queen is a sorry sight! Fischer - Bolbochan 1962 Stockholm Interzonal After 30...Qh8

4. Fischer did not fear exchanging pieces as he tried to convert the advantage into a win. A nice book on such a topic is “Exchanging to win in the end game” -

I hope you enjoy the game. You ideas and comments are welcome.

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