Fischer vs. Karpov

This didn't happen because of Fischer's unreasonable laundry list of demands, but had the game taken place...who would've won?

EDIT: According to some sources, Fischer and Karpov played a "a secret game". I don't know how true this is, but if anyone can find it, please post it.

More on the "secret game" here:

http://www.chessbase.com/newsdetail.asp?newsid=2286

If Fischer shows up in his 1972 form then he'd likely win. But I doubt he could still play that will by 1975, after years of not playing.

If such a game were to exist it would've caused quite a stir,yet I've never heard of it before.
The chessbase show where the secret game would be revealed ran in the week of april 1

I smell a hoax.

edit: Fischer would've won

Here is a slice of something I posted earlier on this matter.

In my opinion, Fishcer would have beaten Karpov in 1975 because
Karpov was not yet Kaprov and Karpov went to pieces in the '78 match
when the pressure and the off board antics flared up.
He allowed 5-2 to become 5-5 within 4 games.

Also right up until 1980 Karpov had a slight weakness when faced with off beat
though respectible openings.
Between 72 & 80 He lost to the Budapest, Centre Counter, Classical Defence
of the Lopez, c3 Sicilain, the grand Prix attack and don't forget Miles and the a6 game.

Fischer's run in in the World Championship from game 11 when he had the lead
he required (remember at one time he was effectively 3-0 down. 2-0 down
in the match but a tie would have been no good to him, so it was 3-0).

As White his game plan was to play it safe, no need for risks.
As Black Fischer played Pircs, Alekhine and non-Najdorf Sicilains to avoid the
Russian analysis and out-played Spassky.

Karpov I fear would has got caught up with the occassion and Fischer
who was at the time the best player in the world, would have out done him
both off and over the board.

The replay in 78 and Karpov without a doubt would have qualified would
have been different and then I'd tip the scales to Karpov.
After getting the title by default Kaprov's tournament success was incredible
as if he was showing the world that he was a worthy champion.
(and he was...but he never had to face Fischer.)

That was an opinion I always held until I saw this:

http://www.kramnik.com/eng/interviews/getinterview.aspx?id=61

by Kramnik.

(I know Kramnik is not to everyone's flavour but when these guys speak
as candid as he does in that interview then you listen.)

Kramnik mentions Karpov had a trump card. Geller!

He had a plus v Fischer and he could have tooled up Karpov in opening prep.
Karpov would have listened.

Geller was one of Spassky's second in '72 but Boris was wee bitty lazy in his prep.
When advised to look at some Queens Gambit lines by his team Boris said;

"Fischer would never play that." (oops) and went off to play tennis.

The Geller angle is something I never considered so now I'm not 100%
sure Fischer would have won, neither is Kramnik.

Kramnik in the linked article states:

" As for level of play Fischer would have been superior to Karpov. However,
if Karpov could have gained a real edge in the opening, the match would have
seen an even contest."

Edit: Sadly they never played a game.

Originally posted by vivify
This didn't happen because of Fischer's unreasonable laundry list of demands, but had the game taken place...who would've won?

EDIT: According to some sources, Fischer and Karpov played a "a secret game". I don't know how true this is, but if anyone can find it, please post it.

More on the "secret game" here:

http://www.chessbase.com/newsdetail.asp?newsid=2286

So there were more than one, and he only was allowed to see the one. I wonder who has the whole set? And statistics. The game didn't seem to be available on that site. When?

The "secret" game was an April Fool's hoax by Dennis. (The hoax actually didn't air on Playchess on April 1, but it was deemed to be "close enough" by Dennis.) The two never played each other. But I do seem to remember that they "sort of" played most of the game. They played two other people on different occasions, and just happened to play the same moves with different colors for a good part of the game. Or something like that.

Originally posted by greenpawn34
Here is a slice of something I posted earlier on this matter.

In my opinion, Fishcer would have beaten Karpov in 1975 because
Karpov was not yet Kaprov and Karpov went to pieces in the '78 match
when the pressure and the off board antics flared up.
He allowed 5-2 to become 5-5 within 4 games.

Also right up until 1980 Karpov had a slight weak ...[text shortened]... match would have
seen an even contest."

Edit: Sadly they never played a game.

Something I learned by watching a couple Fischer documentaries (confirm if true?) - Fischer faced Spassky alone with the weight of the world on his shoulders, whereas Spassky was accompanied by an entourage of his teammates to give advice between rounds, coaches and who knows whatelse. It was like a real life, Rocky IV of chess.

Set aside for a moment who would have one. Considering the amount of assistance and support the Russians had, does that bump Fischer up when comparing them as chess players? What place would you rank Fischer as for as chess players of all time?

Where would he rank for:

- Most dominant for their time?

- Best chess players regardless of period?

Originally posted by vivify
This didn't happen because of Fischer's unreasonable laundry list of demands, but had the game taken place...who would've won?

EDIT: According to some sources, Fischer and Karpov played a "a secret game". I don't know how true this is, but if anyone can find it, please post it.

More on the "secret game" here:

http://www.chessbase.com/newsdetail.asp?newsid=2286

That would have been a great match. I'd give a slight nod to Fischer. He may have been a self centered jerk, but he was still the strongest player at that time. I don't know about there secret game though.

Originally posted by bill718
I don't know about there secret game though.

Ah, but Dennis knows about it.

http://chessstuff.blogspot.com/2005/03/karpov-fischer-hoax_111214833424492252.html