by Plisetsky & Voronkov, 462pp., Hardcover (Everyman 2005)
This magnificent volume contains the extraordinary story of the prolonged battle between Bobby Fischer, the lone American genius who is perhaps the most famous chess player of all time, and the long-standing and all-dominating Soviet chess machine. For the first time readers will be able to view virtually all the secret documents on ,'the Fischer problem', many of which have never previously been published. These include papers from the archives of the KGB, the Communist Party Central Committee, the USSR Sports Committee and the Chess Federation. Together with this, there are reports and analysis of Fischer's personality and play, written at the demand of the Soviet authorities by the country's leading Grandmasters, legends such as Mikhail Tal, Tigran Petrosian, Vassily Smyslov, Paul Keres, Victor Korchnoi and Efim Geller.
Also contained in Russians versus Fischer are annotations and the stories on all of the 158 chess encounters between Fischer and his Soviet adversaries, and a large number of rare photographs and drawings. This book is a significantly enlarged and updated version of the one first published in Russia in 1994.
Review On Sep 28, 2005by Robert A. Karch of Tacoma, WA
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An epic work. In the words on the cover slip, "This book chronicles the struggle of the lone American genius Bobby Fischer to overcome the mighty Soviet chess machine, which featured the combined efforts of many of the greatest chess minds of the 20th century." Every game played against a Soviet opponent is given, often analyzed in detail, starting with the 1965 Capablanca Memorial (Cuba). For this event, Fischer needed US State Department approval to send his moves by radio.
While Fischer had early developed a hatred for the "Russian cheaters," by 1964 the directors of Soviet chess had acquired a "Fischer complex." The Soviets decided to make a scientific study of Fischer’s games, and they polled their Grandmasters. GM Korchnoi: Fischer aims for opening setups that bring enduring pressure in the middlegame and on into the endgame. GM Polugaevsky: a strong preference for the King’s Indian Defense as Black. GM Geller: Fischer often played 1. e4 and the Ruy Lopez as White. In 1970 Korchnoi said that Fischer’s opening play was not sufficiently solid, being largely designed for weaker opponents.
Unlike the Americans, the Soviets took their chess very seriously. When GM Taimanov lost to Fischer 6-0, he was stripped of his titles, not permitted to have his articles published nor to perform as a pianist.
One long chapter (pp 249-271) is devoted to a thorough analysis of Fischer’s play against all opponents. T. Petrosian (Fischer’s next opponent in the 1971 Final Candidates Match) gave the report covering the opening as White and Black, Fischer's creativity in the middlegame and his endgame. This did little good for Petrosian against Fischer, losing 2.5 -- 6.5.
Another long chapter (pp 335-380) covers in detail the games and the scandalous allegations about Fischer's chair during the 1972 World Championship Match in Reykavik. Fischer won 12.5 – 8.5. Fischer offered to play a return match in Texas or Las Vegas the following year, but this plan was squelched by the Soviet authorities. The return match did not occur until 1992 in Yugoslavia also won by Fischer. The 30 games are given, but with little commentary on the moves.
Overall, the authors give an objective survey of the events and the personalities involved, as seen from the Soviet perspective and, in some cases, using material previously in government records and declared "secret" at the time. The book makes for fascinating reading. Recommended for any fan of Bobby Fischer and his games.
Only a few chess players work at chess to the best of their abilities.
Boris Gelfand
Puzzle Answer
1.Rd7! Bxd7 2.Qxd7 Qb6+ 3.Kh1 Re8 4.Rxe7! Rxe7 5.Bd6 Qxd6 6.Qxd6+- Gelfand-Salov, Madrid 1996 (Source: Anthology of Chess Combinations)
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