The Los Angeles Times Los Angeles, California Friday, July 21, 1972 - Page 16
Inexplicable Blunder by Spassky Spells Defeat by Isaac Kashdan, Times Chess Editor
Bobby Fischer had a slight advantage after 26 moves of his fifth match game with Boris Spassky, but he could hardly have expected the world champion to resign two moves later.
Spassky's error on the 27th move was as inexplicable as the one committed by Fischer in the first game. It led to an even more disastrous finish.
Following is the diagram after Spassky's fatal move.
The queen retreated to B2 to protect the rook pawn. This was already guarded by Spassky's bishop, but Fischer had the option of Q-K1, to threaten the pawn for the second time.
Spassky must have completely overlooked Fischer's reply BxP, based on a keen tactical point. Having blocked his own bishop, Spassky could take the enemy bishop only with his queen.
That would leave his center unguarded for one moment, but Fischer needed nothing more. After 28. QxB, QxP, there would be two different threats of mate, and no adequate defense.
If Spassky moved his queen, then Fischer would exchange bishops and follow with QxP. Spassky would again be helpless.
Spassky had to play Q-K3 or Q-B3 on his 27th move, with the latter preferred. Fischer would still have tries for a win, but nothing decisive could be forced.
The opening followed the lines of the first game, until Fischer varied on his sixth move. Fischer avoided the balanced pawn formation and series of exchanges that had led to complete equalization in the earlier game.
Instead Fischer accepted a seemingly inferior position, allowing Spassky a more advanced pawn center. As compensation, Spassky's queen side pawns were separated and later proved weak.
Spassky's 11th move was probably inferior, as was the pawn exchange on the 13th move. The white KP became backward, as had the same pawn in the third game.
Spassky could not coordinate his pieces, and his two bishops were ineffective, blocked by pawns on both sides, the game was still tenable, however, until the final oversight.
