CHESS

Titanic

Raymond Keene

There are various scenarios possible if the heralded Fischer-Spassky match actual- ly takes place. Amongst these is the unfortunate possibility that these two chess titans may turn out to be a couple of bumbling geriatrics who cannot rub two pawns together. A more pleasant possibil- ity is that the giants will live up to their reputation and produce a truly sparkling clash. Fischer, after all, has a lot to prove and is, in the jargon of modern athletics, still 'hungry'. In fact, in Fischer's case 'famished' might be a more apt descrip- tion. For his part. Spassky, in spite of lacklustre performances in recent years, no longer has anything to lose and might well rise to the occasion.

In the past, both Spassky and Fischer have excelled in creating sparkling attacks. Can they still? The following positions show the delights which could be in store if they hit top form simultaneously.

Fischer — Benko: US Championship 1963164.

If 1 e5 then 1 . . f5! keeps Black alive, so Fischer played 1 Rf6! Kg8 (If 1 . . . Bxf6 or 1 . . . dxc3 then 2 e5 mates) 2 e5 h6 3 Ne2! (Not 3 Rxd6 Qxe5!) and there is no defence to the threat of Rxd6 as 3 . . . Nb5 4 Qf5 wins.

Letelier — Fischer: Leipzig Olympiad 1960.

1. . . Qxf4-1-! and White resigns. If 2 Kxf4 Bh6 mate or if 2 Kf2 Ng4+ gives a winning attack.

Fischer — Panno: Buenos Aires 1970.

1 Be4! Qe7 (If 1 . . . dxe4 2 N3xe4 with 3 Nf6+ coming) 2 Nxh7! Nxh7 3 hxg6 fxg6 4 Bxg6 and Nh5 will give White an irresistible attack, e.g. 4 . . . Ng.5 5 Nh5 Nf3+ 6 Kg2 Nh4+ 7 Kg3 Nxg6 8 Nf6+ Kf7 9 0h7+ Kf8 10 0g8 mate.

Spassky — Fischer: Siegen Olympiad 1970.

1 Rf8+! and if 1 . . . Kxf8 2 Qh84- Kf7 3 Qxh7+ wins the queen.

Spassky — Ciric: Amsterdam 1970.

1 Qxh6! Nf6 (1 . . gxh6 2 Rg6 mate) 2 Rxf6! and wins.

Spassky — Limgeweg: Sochi 1967.

I Nh6+! Kxg7 2 Qg4+ resigns If 2 . . • KII8 3 Qg8 mate or 2 . . Kxh6 3 RW+ or 2 . . . Kf6 3 Ng8 mate.