The Unstoppable American: Bobby Fischer’s Road to Reykjavik
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The Unstoppable American: Bobby Fischer’s Road to Reykjavik
Richard James has reviewed The Unstoppable American: Bobby Fischer’s Road to Reykjavik
by GM Jan Timman
from New in Chess
by GM Jan Timman
from New in Chess
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Re: The Unstoppable American: Bobby Fischer’s Road to Reykjavik
"....effectively ending Taimanov's career"?? Well up to a point, Lord Copper.
"Set up your attacks so that when the fire is out, it isn't out!" (H N Pillsbury)
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Re: The Unstoppable American: Bobby Fischer’s Road to Reykjavik
Not by the definition of sweeping I'm accustomed to.Fischer started out by sweeping the field at the 23-round Palma Interzonal
"Do you play chess?"
"Yes, but I prefer a game with a better chance of cheating."
lostontime.blogspot.com
"Yes, but I prefer a game with a better chance of cheating."
lostontime.blogspot.com
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Re: The Unstoppable American: Bobby Fischer’s Road to Reykjavik
It is not so easy to discover who writes the publisher's blurb but they do tend to "big things up a bit" in my experience.JustinHorton wrote: ↑Tue Aug 10, 2021 1:21 pmNot by the definition of sweeping I'm accustomed to.Fischer started out by sweeping the field at the 23-round Palma Interzonal
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Re: The Unstoppable American: Bobby Fischer’s Road to Reykjavik
I'm not going to risk reading the review in case it has spoilers for this very obscure part of chess history.
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Re: The Unstoppable American: Bobby Fischer’s Road to Reykjavik
Paul's comment begs the question: which World Championship games have been annotated most times in differing publications?Paul Cooksey wrote: ↑Tue Aug 10, 2021 5:12 pmI'm not going to risk reading the review in case it has spoilers for this very obscure part of chess history.
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Re: The Unstoppable American: Bobby Fischer’s Road to Reykjavik
"I'm not going to risk reading the review in case it has spoilers for this very obscure part of chess history."
That reminds me of the American woman queueing to see "Titanic" berating someone in the queue for discussing the scenes where Titanic sinks. "You've ruined the story now!"
That reminds me of the American woman queueing to see "Titanic" berating someone in the queue for discussing the scenes where Titanic sinks. "You've ruined the story now!"
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Re: The Unstoppable American: Bobby Fischer’s Road to Reykjavik
May I cite "Snakes on a Plane" as an excellent example of an appalling film killed by its very own title?Kevin Thurlow wrote: ↑Tue Aug 10, 2021 6:26 pm"I'm not going to risk reading the review in case it has spoilers for this very obscure part of chess history."
That reminds me of the American woman queueing to see "Titanic" berating someone in the queue for discussing the scenes where Titanic sinks. "You've ruined the story now!"
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Re: The Unstoppable American: Bobby Fischer’s Road to Reykjavik
I'm a sucker for anything about Bobby, so will probably buy the book. Anything written by Timman should be good anyway.
A word about Fischer's KID. It was historically dodgy. He was wise not to risk it against Botvinnik.
I have played through many of Fischer's games in the KID where he was positionally lost. But of course, having a positionally won game against him was not the same as ending up with the full point! And I don't believe that in the above game, Nf4 would necessarily have resulted in a win for White.
A word about Fischer's KID. It was historically dodgy. He was wise not to risk it against Botvinnik.
I have played through many of Fischer's games in the KID where he was positionally lost. But of course, having a positionally won game against him was not the same as ending up with the full point! And I don't believe that in the above game, Nf4 would necessarily have resulted in a win for White.
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Re: The Unstoppable American: Bobby Fischer’s Road to Reykjavik
"I have played through many of Fischer's games in the KID where he was positionally lost. But of course, having a positionally won game against him was not the same as ending up with the full point!"
Well, yes. He was a very good practical player. There was a chap called Tal who set his opponents problems and they struggled. Morphy played some dubious openings and still won. I don't think it's fair to get Stockfish considering the positions for hours and then say the human got it wrong...
Well, yes. He was a very good practical player. There was a chap called Tal who set his opponents problems and they struggled. Morphy played some dubious openings and still won. I don't think it's fair to get Stockfish considering the positions for hours and then say the human got it wrong...
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Re: The Unstoppable American: Bobby Fischer’s Road to Reykjavik
And this thing about Fischer never accepting short draws.
I give you RJF v Benko, US Champs 1960-61. Yes, Bobby was White! Not a game you will find in his 60 memorable.
I give you RJF v Benko, US Champs 1960-61. Yes, Bobby was White! Not a game you will find in his 60 memorable.
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Re: The Unstoppable American: Bobby Fischer’s Road to Reykjavik
And indeed
"Do you play chess?"
"Yes, but I prefer a game with a better chance of cheating."
lostontime.blogspot.com
"Yes, but I prefer a game with a better chance of cheating."
lostontime.blogspot.com
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Re: The Unstoppable American: Bobby Fischer’s Road to Reykjavik
How curious to see a draw in that particular opening.
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Re: The Unstoppable American: Bobby Fischer’s Road to Reykjavik
Those two games were played when Fischer was aged 17 and 15 respectively.
In my database I can find 284 Fischer draws, 35 of which were under 25 moves with just 2 of those being when Fischer was age 20+ (one of the two was against Petrosian in the Candidates final of 1971).
In my database I can find 284 Fischer draws, 35 of which were under 25 moves with just 2 of those being when Fischer was age 20+ (one of the two was against Petrosian in the Candidates final of 1971).
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Re: The Unstoppable American: Bobby Fischer’s Road to Reykjavik
That last game was when he wasn't feeling well, though he didn't use that as an excuse at the time.
"Set up your attacks so that when the fire is out, it isn't out!" (H N Pillsbury)