Robert James Fischer vs Vasily Smyslov, Ruy Lopez, Anderssen Variation (C77)
Havana 1965, Round 2
Havana ’65 was one of the most important chess tournaments in Fischer’s career. It was his comeback to chess, the first international event he played in 3 years, ever since Curacao ’62, during which his resolve to quit chess because of the Soviets finally resulted in his withdrawal.
Playing chess in Cuba was tough for US players, and most often they were refused permission to go. Larry Evans got to go because he was a reporter, and Fischer was supposed to write for a paper in order to go too, but he was denied in the end. It was a high paying tournament, with $3000 going to the winner, and Fischer even managed to get a participation fee of $3000 to go in the first place. After having been denied the trip he managed to agree to play the games by telex (a weird 60-es version of messaging) and his moves were reported to Capablanca’s son in Havana, who then told them to his opponents. During the 60-es the political situation was complicated so such events can be easily understood.
Vasily Smyslov was his biggest rival for 1st place, and he managed to beat Fischer to it. He won the event with 15.5, and Fischer shared 2nd place with 15 point. This game was played in round 2, and in it Fischer beat Smyslov with monster-like precision. If the tournament were to be judged only by this game, Fischer would have won it undisputedly.
Game moves:
1. e4 e5 2. Nf3 Nc6 3. Bb5 a6 4. Ba4 Nf6 5. d3 d6 6. c3 Be7
7. Nbd2 O-O 8. Nf1 b5 9. Bb3 d5 10. Qe2 dxe4 11. dxe4 Be6
12. Bxe6 fxe6 13. Ng3 Qd7 14. O-O Rad8 15. a4 Qd3 16. Qxd3
Rxd3 17. axb5 axb5 18. Ra6 Rd6 19. Kh1 Nd7 20. Be3 Rd8 21. h3
h6 22. Rfa1 Ndb8 23. Ra8 Rd1+ 24. Kh2 Rxa1 25. Rxa1 Nd7 26. b4
Kf7 27. Nf1 Bd6 28. g3 Nf6 29. N1d2 Ke7 30. Ra6 Nb8 31. Ra5 c6
32. Kg2 Nbd7 33. Kf1 Rc8 34. Ne1 Ne8 35. Nd3 Nc7 36. c4 bxc4
37. Nxc4 Nb5 38. Ra6 Kf6 39. Bc1 Bb8 40. Bb2 c5 41. Nb6 Nxb6
42. Rxb6 c4 43. Nc5 c3 1-0