Sicilian Defense Najdorf Variation Adams Attack

ROBERT JAMES FISCHER vs. MIGUEL NAJDORF
Varna Olympiad Final 1902

1. e4, c5
2. Nf3, d6
3. d4, cxd4
4. Nxd4, Nf6
5. Nc3, a6
6. h3 ....

The Adams Attack.

6. .... b5
7. Nd5, Bb7

If 7....Nxe4, 8. Qf3 and White controls the a8-f3 diagonal.

8. Nxf6, gxf6
9. c4, bxc4
10. Bxc4, Bxe4

White gives up the e4 pawn in exchange for control along the e-file.

11. 0-0, d5
12. Re1, e5
13. Qa4+, Nd7

Not 13....Qd7, because of 14. Bb5 axb5, 15. Qxa8+ which is favorable for White.

14. Rxe4 !! .....

A surprise move by Bobby Fischer!  The purpose of this move is to increase the control of the c4 Bishop.

14. .... dxe4
15. Nf5, Bc5
16. Ng7+, Ke7
17. Nf5+, Ke8
18. Be3, Bxe3
19. fxe3, Qb6
20. Rd1, Ra7
21. Rd6, Qd8
22. Qb3 ....

Now, we begin to understand why Fischer placed such importance on the c4 Bishop.

22. .... Qc7

If 22....Rf7, then 23. Ng7+ Ke7, 24. Qa3 .... Black's latest move intends to give room for the Black King at d8.

23. Bxf7, Kd8
24. Be6, Resigns

The Black Knight is pinned, and there is nothing else Black can do to relieve the situation.

A great lesson on material value.

Sicilian Defense, Fischer-Sozin Attack

ROBERT JAMES FISCHER vs. OLICIO GADIA
Mar del Plata (1960)

1. e4, c5
2. Nf3, d6
3. c4, cxd4
4. Nxd4, Nf6
5. Nc3, a6
6. Bc4 ....

The Fischer-Sozin Attack.  Introduced by Veniamin Sozin in the 1930s, this received little attention until Fischer regularly adopted it, and it was a frequent guest at the top level through the 1970s. White plays 6 Bc4 with the idea of playing against f7, so Black counters with 6...e6 7 Bb3 b5. The Sozin has become less popular because of 6...e6 7 Bb3 Nbd7 where Black intends to follow up with ...Nc5 later. It is possible to avoid the Nbd7 option with 7 0-0, but this cuts the aggressive possibility to castle long.  (Source: Wikipedia)

6. .... e6
7. Bb3, b5
8. 0-0, Bb7
9. f4 ....

The e4 is a poisoned pawn. If 9....Nxe4, 10. Nxe4 Bxe4, 11. Re1 Bb7, 12. Bxe6 fxe6, 13. Nxe6 .... White's attack becomes disastrous.

9. .... Nc6
10. Nxc6, Bxc6
11. f5, e5
12. Qd3, Be7
13. Bg5, Qb6+
14. Kh1, 0-0
15. Bxf6, Bxf6
16. Bd5, Rac8
17. Bxc6, Rxc6
18. Rad1, Rfc8
19. Nd5, Qd8
20. c3, Be7
21. Ra1 ....

Fischer prepares for a flank attack.

21. ... f6?

Black seals the f-file, but in so doing opens the a2-g8 diagonal.

22. a4 ....

The flank attack begins.  The intention is to divert Black's attention to the defense of the b5 pawn, and leave the c6 Rook at White's mercy.

22. .... Rb8
23. Nxe7, Resigns

Black loses a piece.  If 23....Qxe7, then 24. Qd5+ ....

Marvelous play by White.

Spanish Game, Morphy - Modern Steinitz Defense

ROBERT JAMES FISCHER vs. EFIM GELLER
Bled, 1961

1. e4, e5
2. Nf3, Nc6
3. Bb5, a6

In the Modern Steinitz Defence (also called the Steinitz Defense Deferred or the Neo-Steinitz Defence), Black interpolates 3...a6 4.Ba4 before playing 4...d6, which was frequently played by Alexander Alekhine, José Raúl Capablanca and Paul Keres. The possibility of breaking the pin with a timely ...b5 gives Black more latitude than in the Old Steinitz Defence; in particular, in the Old Steinitz, White can practically force Black to give up his strongpoint at e5, but in the Steinitz Deferred, Black is able to maintain his centre. Most plausible White moves are playable here, including 5.c3, 5.c4, 5.Bxc6, 5.d4, and 5.0-0. (Source: Wikipedia)

4. Ba4, d6
5. 0-0, Bg4
6. h3, Bh5
7. c3, Bf6
8. g4, Bg6
9. d4, Bxe4
10. Nbd2, Bg6
11. Bxc6 ....

Creating a double-pawn ....

11. .... bxc6
12. dxe5, dxe5
13. Nxe5, Bd6

Black's Queen cannot capture the Knight because of the threat 14. Re1.

14. Bxg6, Qxg6
15. Re1+, Rf1
16. Nc4, h5
17. Nxd6, cxd6

If 17....hxg4, then 18. Bf4 gxh3+, 19. Bg3... Here White wins the exchange because the Knight at d6 cannot be captured.

18. Bf4, d5
19. Qb3, hxg4
20. Qb7 ....

It is hard to believe that Fischer was not able to see the winning line 20. Qb4+ but there must a reason for the delay: he wants the Rook as well.

20. .... gxh3+
21. Bg3, Rd8
22. Qb4+, Resigns

Black's Knight and Rook will be lost in later moves, or face immediate mate.

King's Indian Attack

BOBBY FISCHER vs. PETER LAPIKEN
5TH US Open, 1956

1. Nf3, Nf6
2. g3, d5
3. Bg2, Bf5
4. 0-0, e6
5. d3, c6
6. Nbd2, Na6
7. a3, Nc5
8. c4, b5
9. Nd4! ....

Attacking both the c6-pawn and the Bishop at f5.

9. .... Qd7
10. Nxf5, exf5
11. Nb3, h6
12. Be3, Ne6
13. Nd4, g6

If 13....bxc4 dxc4, 14. dxc4 Bxc6! and Black loses his Queen.

14. Qb3, Rb8
15. Nxc6, Qxc6
16. cxd5, Nc5

17. Qc3!!, Qd6

White's pin on the Queen leaves Black has no other choice.  Now, if 18. Nxd5 Bxd5, 19. Qxd5 Qxh8.

18. Bxc5!!, Qxc5
19. Qxf6, Resigns

Black loses one Rook.  If 19....Rg8, then 20. Qe5+ followed by Qxb8.

Wonderful winning combination!

Sicilian Defense Scheveningen Variation Delayed Keres Attack Perenyi Gambit

ALEXEY SHIROV vs. VISWANATHAN ANAND
8th Amber Tournament, 1999

1. e4, c5
2. Nf3, d6
3. d4, cxd4
4. Nxd4, Nf6
5. Nc3, a6
6. Be3, e6

The Scheveningen Variation of the Sicilian Defense. Black's central pawn structure provides a solid defense, controls the important d5 square, and gives flexibility to break in the center using e5 or d5, providing richness in flexibility and variations.

7. g4 ....

The Delayed Keres Attack, with the intention of driving the Black Knight from the center.

7. .... e5
8. Nf5, g6
9. g5 .....

The Perenyi Gambit.  White sacrifice the f5 Knight in exchange for an attack.

9. .... gxf5
10. exf5 ....

If 10.....Nfd7, then 11. Bc4 and 12. Qh5 with a strong attack.

10. .... d5!

The table has turned.  Now, it is Anand who sacrifices his Knight in order to break in the center.

11. gxf6, d4!!
12. Bc4, Qc7

Of course, not 12....dxc3 or dxe3 because of 13. Bxf7 Kxf7 and Black loses his Queen.

13. Qd3, dxe3
14. fxe3, b5!!
15. Bb3, Bb7
16. Nd5, Qa5+
17. c3, Nd7
18. 0-0-0, Nc5!
19. Qc2, 0-0-0
20. Rhg1, Bh6
21. Rg7, Nxb3

If 21....Bxg7, then 22. fxg7, Rg8, 23. Ne7+ which is favorable for White.

22. Qxb3, Bxd5
23. Rxd5, Qb6

If 23......Rxd5, 24. Qxd5 Rd8, 25. Qc6+ and White gets a strong attack.

24. Rxe5 ....

White defends the e-pawn against Qxe3 which would be disastrous.

24. ..... Qd6!!

White resigns. He cannot avoid mate without losing his e5 Rook.

Superb play by Anand!

Queen's Indian Defense: Kasparov-Petrosian Variation, Romanishin Attack

MISO CEBALO vs. VISWANATHAN ANAND
7th Corsica Open, 2003

1. d4, Nf6
2. c4, e6
3. NF3, b6
4. Nc3, Bb7
5. a3, d5
6. cxd5, Nxd5
7. Bd2 ....

The Kasparov-Petrosian Variation, Romanishin Attack.  The move prepares for a Queenside castling.

7. .... Nd7
8. Nxd5, Bxd5
9. Qc2, Rc8
10. e4,Bb7
11. 0-0-0, Be7
12. Kb1, 0-0
13. Bc3, c5
14. d5, exd5
15. exd5, c4!
16. h4, Re8
17. Be2, Rc5
18. Ng5, Nf8

Protects the h7 pawn and adds pressure on d5.

19. Bf3, Bxg5
20. hxg5, Qxg5
21. Bb4, Rxd5

22. Rxd5, Bxd5
23. Rh5?? ...

To an untrained eye, this may look like a good move, winning an extra piece.  But Black's reply shows this to be a blunder.  White's best chance to equalize is 23. Bxf8 Kxf8, 24. Qxh7 f6, 25. Qh3 Be6, 26. Qh8+ Ke7, 27. Qh2 Qe5, 28. Qh4 Kd6, 29. Ka1 Kc7, 30. Qh7 Qg5, with a clear (but not yet decisive) Black advantage.

23. .... Qxh5!!

White resigns.  If 24. Bxh5, then 24..... Be4, 25. Qxe4 Rxe4 leaves Black with material advantage.  Impressive victory for Vishy Anand.