A Little Bit of Fischer
By 04 Jul 14 on
4090 views | 2 edits | Last edit on 06 Jul 14
Hi,
A game with Damiano’s Defence appeared in the Chess Forum
and this brought up a question and an interesting moment.
Some opening books claim that 3.Nxe5 is the best move here but if
Black knows what he is doing then White may play himself into trouble.
Bobby Fischer - Robert Finley McGregor, Simultaneous 1964
McGregor, unknown to Fischer, was his states champion. He played
the Damiano to lure Fischer into thinking he was a much weaker player.
First I always clear up a technical and historical point when Damiano’s name is mentioned.
I’ve seen comments that Damiano (birth date unknown but died in 1544) must have
been a pretty weak player to play 2…f6. Damiano actually said it was poor but because
he was the first to do so in writing , it bears his name. This is a but unfair but there it is.
Here is one of mine v this defence. I know me, I never underestimate anybody, except me.
greenpawn34 - Sovereignty RHP 2014
The Damiano Trap
queenknightrook - Koekwous RHP 2008
The RHP Championship has thrown up another couple of unnecessary stalemates.
danrose84 - Jayhawk34 RHP Ch2014
In this one White knocks back a standard Queen and Rook mate.
munichmick - Mr Forest RHP Ch 2014
This one, not from the Championship, shows the strengths (and dangers) of having to two Queens.
eroom - meglasdad RHP 2012
When I see a student of the game bringing out their Queen and using nothing
but the Queen to try and take on a whole chess set I give them this puzzle.
Black to play and checkmate White.
After a few moves they soon realise it cannot be done.
A lone Queen cannot checkmate a King. It needs help.
In the ‘Unknown Bobby Fischer’ by Donaldson and Tangborn
on page 48 we are told by Bill Haines from Vallejo, California, a player that
Fischer beat on his way to winning the 1957 U.S. Junior Championship
that Fischer was showing his fellow players in the tournament endgame studies.
He could remember this one.
OK. San Francisco 1957, you are sitting there minding your own business
when up pops this wee kid with a Brooklyn accent. ‘White to play and draw!”
The King is too far away from catching the running e-pawn so it is down to the Knight.
So now we see the instructive bit.
So how is the Red hot Pawn Championship going.
On the 5th of May this year 5460 game were started:
White Wins 1674
Black Wins 1535
Games Drawn. 128
The shortest game ending in a checkmate is golfnaturl - wildcat911 RHP Ch 2014
The longest game ending in a checkmate is seamusk - tsloan RHP Ch 2014
which went to exactly 100 moves. Don’t panic, I am not going to give all 100
moves. The critical bit happened here with the White King chasing the Black Rook
into a corner to nick a pawn and a Queenside pawn promoted. Game 10640231
A game with Damiano’s Defence appeared in the Chess Forum
and this brought up a question and an interesting moment.
Some opening books claim that 3.Nxe5 is the best move here but if
Black knows what he is doing then White may play himself into trouble.
Bobby Fischer - Robert Finley McGregor, Simultaneous 1964
McGregor, unknown to Fischer, was his states champion. He played
the Damiano to lure Fischer into thinking he was a much weaker player.
First I always clear up a technical and historical point when Damiano’s name is mentioned.
I’ve seen comments that Damiano (birth date unknown but died in 1544) must have
been a pretty weak player to play 2…f6. Damiano actually said it was poor but because
he was the first to do so in writing , it bears his name. This is a but unfair but there it is.
Here is one of mine v this defence. I know me, I never underestimate anybody, except me.
greenpawn34 - Sovereignty RHP 2014
The Damiano Trap
queenknightrook - Koekwous RHP 2008
The RHP Championship has thrown up another couple of unnecessary stalemates.
danrose84 - Jayhawk34 RHP Ch2014
In this one White knocks back a standard Queen and Rook mate.
munichmick - Mr Forest RHP Ch 2014
This one, not from the Championship, shows the strengths (and dangers) of having to two Queens.
eroom - meglasdad RHP 2012
When I see a student of the game bringing out their Queen and using nothing
but the Queen to try and take on a whole chess set I give them this puzzle.
Black to play and checkmate White.
After a few moves they soon realise it cannot be done.
A lone Queen cannot checkmate a King. It needs help.
In the ‘Unknown Bobby Fischer’ by Donaldson and Tangborn
on page 48 we are told by Bill Haines from Vallejo, California, a player that
Fischer beat on his way to winning the 1957 U.S. Junior Championship
that Fischer was showing his fellow players in the tournament endgame studies.
He could remember this one.
OK. San Francisco 1957, you are sitting there minding your own business
when up pops this wee kid with a Brooklyn accent. ‘White to play and draw!”
The King is too far away from catching the running e-pawn so it is down to the Knight.
So now we see the instructive bit.
So how is the Red hot Pawn Championship going.
On the 5th of May this year 5460 game were started:
White Wins 1674
Black Wins 1535
Games Drawn. 128
The shortest game ending in a checkmate is golfnaturl - wildcat911 RHP Ch 2014
The longest game ending in a checkmate is seamusk - tsloan RHP Ch 2014
which went to exactly 100 moves. Don’t panic, I am not going to give all 100
moves. The critical bit happened here with the White King chasing the Black Rook
into a corner to nick a pawn and a Queenside pawn promoted. Game 10640231
