Modern Classics

Byrne-Fischer, 1956

Byrne-Fischer, New York 1956

Position after 11.Bf4-g5

The round robin traditional Rosenwald Memorial Tournament in New York 1956 was easily won by Samuel Reshevsky with 9 out of 11, two points ahead of second place. On the ninth spot in the final standings was the 13-year-old Bobby Fischer, who a few months previously had won the US Junior Championship. Although Fischer had not yet reached the level of some of his adult colleagues, in the 8th round of the Rosenwald Memorial Bobby produced a marvellous game with the black pieces against the former US-Champion Donald Byrne.

In the opening White neglected quick development and the king remained in the centre. However, Byrne controlled the centre and things seemed to be under control. What happened next was a real catastrophe for White. Fischer started an incredible sacrificial play, including a brilliant queen sacrifice. The former US-Champion took their opponent's strongest piece, hoping for a repetition of moves, but the young Bobby rejected the draw and grabbed more than enough material for the queen. It all ended with domination of Black's multiple pieces and mate on the board.

When seeing this game Botvinnik said: "We will have to keep an eye on this boy", while the journalists hailed it the "Game of the century".

 

New ...
Open...
Share...
Layout...
Flip Board
Settings
MoveNResultEloPlayers
Replay and check the LiveBook here
1.Nf3 Nf6 2.c4 g6 3.Nc3 Bg7 4.d4 0-0 5.Bf4 d5 5...d6 6.Qb3 6.e3 6.Rc1 6.cxd5 Nxd5 7.Nxd5 Qxd5 8.Bxc7 Nc6 9.e3 Bf5 6...dxc4 7.Qxc4 c6 7...Na6 8.e4 Nbd7 8...b5 9.Qb3 Qa5 9.Rd1 9.Be2 9...Nb6 10.Qc5 10.Qb3 Be6 11.Qc2 10...Bg4 11.Bg5 11.Be2 11...Na4‼ 12.Qa3 12.Nxa4 Nxe4 13.Qxe7 13.Qc1 Bxf3 14.gxf3 Qa5+ 13.Qb4 Nxg5 14.Nxg5 Bxd1 15.Kxd1 Bxd4 13...Qa5+ 14.Nc3 Rfe8 12...Nxc3 13.bxc3 Nxe4 14.Bxe7 Qb6! 14...Re8 15.Bxd8 14...Qe8 15.Rd3 15.Bc4 15.Bxf8 Bxf8 16.Qb3 Nxc3 17.Qxb6 17.Qxc3 Bb4 17...axb6 15.Be2 Rfe8-+ 16.0-0 Nxc3 17.Bc5 17.Qxc3 Rxe7 17...Nxe2+ 15...Nxc3! 15...Rfe8 16.0-0 Nxc3? 17.Bc5+- 17.Qxc3 Rxe7 16.Bc5 16.Qxc3 Rfe8 17.0-0 Rxe7 16.0-0 Nxd1 17.Bxf8 Bxf8-+ 16.Bxf8 Bxf8 16...Rfe8+ 17.Kf1 Be6‼ 17...Nb5 18.Bxf7+! Kxf7 18...Kh8 19.Bxe8 19.Bxb6 axb6 20.Bxe8 19.Qb3+ 17...Nxd1 18.Bxb6 axb6 19.Qb3+- 18.Bxb6 18.Bd3 Nb5-+ 18.Bxe6 Qb5+ 19.Ke1 19.Kg1 Ne2+ 20.Kf1 Ng3+ 21.Kg1 Qf1+ 22.Rxf1 Ne2# 19...Qe2# 18...Bxc4+ 19.Kg1 Ne2+ 20.Kf1 Nxd4+ 21.Kg1 Ne2+ 22.Kf1 Nc3+ 23.Kg1 axb6 24.Qb4 24.Qc1 Ne2+ 24...Ra4 25.Qxb6 Nxd1 26.h3 26.Qxb7 Bd5 27.Qd7 Re2 26...Rxa2 27.Kh2 Nxf2 28.Re1 Rxe1 29.Qd8+ Bf8 30.Nxe1 Bd5 31.Nf3 Ne4 32.Qb8 b5 33.h4 h5 34.Ne5 Kg7 35.Kg1 Bc5+ 36.Kf1 Ng3+ 37.Ke1 Bb4+ 38.Kd1 Bb3+ 39.Kc1 Ne2+ 40.Kb1 Nc3+ 41.Kc1 Rc2# 0–1
WhiteEloWBlackEloBResYearECOEventRnd
Byrne,D-Fischer,R-0–1 New York Rosenwald-038