ANew York Times, New York, New York, Thursday, July 13, 1972 - Page 31
Experts Expected Fischer Defeat at Adjournment by Isaac Kashdan
Los Angeles, July 12 (AP) — When Bobby Fischer and Boris Spassky resumed play in the second session of their first match game for the world chess championship. It was clear to the experts that Spassky should win.
Fischer continued the game today for 15 more moves, then resigned. He might have carried on for a few more moves, or resigned earlier. There was no longer any hope for a draw.
Spassky's task was not particularly difficult. He had gained a bishop late in the first session because of an error by Fischer. Fischer had two pawns as compensation for the bishop, but they were separated and weak. The pawns soon fell as a result of Spassky's good coordination of his king and bishop.
There were then two courses open to Fischer. Unfortunately for the American, there was no real hope with either one.
The one he chose was to attack Spassky's rook pawn. Spassky had no objection, going after Fischer's queenside pawns as the quickest winning method.
Spassky would free his one remaining pawn and in a few moves advance it to queen. Whenever Fischer's pawn moved up, the long-ranging bishop was there to hold it.
The alternative for Fischer was to retreat his king to QB1 or thereabouts to defend his remaining pawns. This would have led to a draw if Spassky's pawn had been on R5 instead of R4. In that case, all the pawns on the queen side would have been blocked and immobile. Fischer's king could never have been driven off, with a constant danger of stalemate.
This is an unusual, little-known position, in which White cannot force a victory, despite the fact that he has position. Fortunately for Spassky, the one square between the pawns can be utilized. In the game, had Fischer chosen the retreat indicated, Spassky would stalemate the black king, forcing the pawn to move.
He would then release the stalemate with his bishop and move to capture the pawn. With his second pawn free, Spassky would win routinely.
Kashdan is one of 10 American chess grandmasters.
