AThe Sheboygan Press Sheboygan, Wisconsin Wednesday, July 19, 1972 - Page 7
Spassky Nearly Defeated Fischer In Fourth Game by Isaac Kashdan
Following is an analysis of the fourth Fischer-Spassky chess game, written for The Associated Press by Isaac Kashdan, an international chess grandmaster.
Los Angeles (AP)—Boris Spassky came close to defeating Bobby Fischer in the fourth game of their world championship chess match.
Spassky was the aggressor for the first time, building up a powerful attack, but he missed his way by reversing moves at the critical point. On his 29th turn, Spassky should have played B-Q3, threatening mate. Fischer would be forced to move his king. Then on 30 R-R1 would follow.
This order of moves would avoid the exchange of queens that Fischer was able to effect in the game.
With the black rook coming into play, via R3 or R5, and the white king exposed, the attack would have proved irresistible.
After the exchange of queens, on the other hand, Fischer's king was quite safe. With the forces reduced on both sides, a draw was a proper result.
Spassky's first move was a surprise to the experts. He adopted the Sicilian Defense, which he rarely plays, but which is standard in Fischer's repertoire.
Fischer used the Sozin variation, a favorite of his marked by the development of his king bishop on the queen side.
Spassky evidently was well prepared. On his 13th move he offered a pawn which would open useful lines for his pieces if Fischer accepted. Fischer rarely refuses such challenges, and he took the pawn.
Wiser probably would have been 14. QR-K1, with a firm grip on the center pawns. With his 17th move, Fischer allowed Spassky to dominate two major diagonals with his bishop. Spassky's queen also had an effective post. At move 17, Q-K3 was probably superior for Fischer although he would have encountered difficulties in any case.
Spassky needed additional force to keep his attack going, and he found it in his king rook pawn, which he advanced on his 21st and 23rd moves.
Fischer found defensive measures and was able to hold the line and even maintain the pawn plus.
Spassky also found the best moves until the slip on the 29th. Curiously, it was on the 29th move that Fischer blundered in the first match game.
Spassky has never beaten Fischer with the black pieces. He has won four times and lost once with white. With black he has drawn three times, including the present game.
