Boris Spassky 1937 - 2025
By on 02 Mar 25 08:18
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Boris Vasilievich Spassky, 10th World Chess Champion, 1937 - 2025
(picture from chess.com)
The last chapter on that wonderful summer in 1972 has been written.
(Which is exactly how I was determined not to start off this wee tribute.)
But failing to mention Bobby Fischer when writing at length about Boris
Spassky is nigh impossible, as is mentioning Fischer without adding Spassky.
If you were not into chess or even born in 1972 then you can imagine what
a coaster ride it was. Those of us who were there still go misty eyed over the
world wide coverage and drama of probably the most famous match in history.
Trust me. Every ‘official’ obituary or column will mention Fischer and 1972.
.
Now that is out of the way next is a solid recommendation that you get a
book of Spassky’s games. I have two, one by Soltis, the other by Cafferty.
Treats galore, inspiration and ideas drip off the pages, such wonderful games.
Spassky never a wrote a book of his own games and is the only World
Champion not to do so. This is a great pity because in his interviews
he comes across as having a very lucid and ironic sense of humour.
Here I am reminded about Spassky replying to a question regarding
his first marriage; “We were like Bishops of opposite colour..”
Whether or not he could have dropped these wee pearls into his game
notes we can only surmise. I think he would have, but alas...not to be.
We can log that one under ‘One of the great chess book never written.’
A child prodigy (like Fischer!) he beat Botvinnik in a simul and at 15
years old was the youngest Soviet player to obtain the Master title.
His progress to the title stuttered but he was given a chance to win it
in 1966 only to lose in the final to Petrosian. Three years later he again
battled his way into final this time beating Petrosian thus becoming one
of the few players who won the title after losing a previous final.
This week three positions from game played by Boris Spassky We start
off with an easy one especially considering in the previous blog I advised;
“.When you have a open Rook file v a castled King and a
pawn on g3 or g6 then always, on every move look at Rh8+”
This one has a neat twist to it. Two solutions.
B. Spassky - A. Matanovic, Capablanca Memorial, 1962 (White to play)
A)
B)
In this next one Spassky did not find the best move but still won a few moves later.
I’m including it because it won’t be well known. The move is regulated to a note.
B. Spassky - B. Vladimirov, USSR Championship 1961 (White to play)
This last one is a good (and tougher) a cool head is needed here.
B. Spassky - R. Ortega, Chigorin Memorial 1966 (White to play)
Black is threatening and actually played on their next move 31...Qxa1. White
allowed this. What did White play seemingly missing or ignoring the threat.
Choosing a Spassky game to play over was no easy choice because like all great players
he has a vast C.V. of wonderful games including a large collection of ‘Wham-Bam
and Thank You Ma’am’ tactical brilliancies which are typical Blog fodder for me.
I stayed away from the famous games like the 1.b3 Larsen game, the King’s Gambit
against Bronstein which appeared in the move ‘From Russia with Love.’ That game
against Averbakh in the play off the for 1956 USSR Championship - in this position.
Spassky played 16...Nc6?! giving up a Knight because he did not like passive position.
Averbakh thought for 50 - 55 minutes before taking it. The game ended in a draw.
(That move appeared in episode 11, Series One of the TV programme The Endgame.)
Eventually I went for the following game. Geller has the chance of playing a Queen
sacrifice for negligible chances. Later Spassky offers his Queen and obtains a won game.
Efim Geller - Boris Spassky, Moscow 1964
OOPS! Edward Winter has this one. Paul Morphy was a hero of Spassky
so perhaps if he ever saw it I suspect Boris would have been amused.
The thread accompanying this blog is Thread 202143
