The 2006 New Year Open-A Weekend and a Monday at the Chess Club

I've used the same format I employed in my comments on the 32nd Annual Eastern Open so the entry is split into 3 days with my impressions on anything and everything to do with the tournament that I experienced on those particular days.

Day 1: The first day of the biggest (to the best of my knowledge) open tournament to happen in Kansas City in awhile showed promise for a smoothly run event. My first game was an exhausting 3-4 hour 84 move marathon in which I barely managed to squeeze out a win but definitely an interesting battle! This was followed by a complete screw up in the second game which I managed to lose in a mere 23 moves but that provides an important lesson in playing to your strengths since I chose the Two Knights Defense when my track record with it is very poor. These long time controls have been brutal but allow for some very interesting games since you generally have the time to find creative moves.

Day 2: This was another smoothly run day with no major hiccups that I was able to notice and my play was fairly decent although I didn't play particularly well after gaining the advantage of a pawn in the second game but managed to rise to the occasion in a tense rook endgame with careful play to garner the point. The first game provided a reminder that one quick inaccurate move can kill an otherwise meticulously played slow paced game since a wrong relocating of the rook after easing the pressure in a tough position left me down a pawn with a subsequent loss of the game. There's been a phenomenal level of sportsmanship displayed by all of my opponents and I noticed this trend in observation of other player's encounters as well. This day was also marked by feverish bughouse activity in the skittles room that provided for a lively spectacle apart from the main event.

Day 3: The last day of the tournament wasn't nearly as packed as the first two because of the beginning of the work week and thus many people took byes to be at their respective places of employment but there was still a decent number of players. I ended up being reminded of the importance of having a fighting spirit and playing tough even in the face of what may appear as a hopelessly lost situation when I was faced with a bishop vs knight endgame with 3 pawns down but managed to create an outside passer. This led to a pawn race with both sides queening but I had the move and was thus able to continuously check my opponent's king with the outcome being a draw by perpetual check with proper play but I traded queens on the basis of visualizing the resulting king/pawn endgame as drawn but this turned out to be a misvisualization leading to a loss. There appeared to be no major problems in the operation of the tournament and the atmosphere was just as pleasant as the previous two days with excellent sportsmanship being displayed as far as I could tell.

The Manley Nick Takes a Stab at Annotating a Capablanca Classic

This represents my first attempt to seriously annotate a historical game and I put forth the best effort I could but a much more comprehensive analysis can be found here.

My source for this famous game is The Most Instructive Games Of Chess Ever Played:62 Masterpieces Of Chess Strategy by the late Irving Chernev who was and continues to be one of the most prolific chess authors of all time.The comments I make on moves will reflect the fact that my understanding of what is occurring is a combination of my own perceptions and what I have absorbed from Chernev's own annotations of this classic battle but the wording is always entirely my own unless otherwise indicated.

"Rook On The Seventh Rank"

Jose Raul Capablanca-Savielly Tartakower

New York 1924

Dutch Defense

1.d4 f5
2.Nf3 e6
I think Capablanca was aiming to prevent any ...e5 breaks in the center on black's part with Nf3 but my knowledge of the subtleties of the Dutch Defense is severely limited so I'll let Ray's comments inform..."2. Nf3 is mainly to prevent Bb4+ (or pin) lines that were popular at the time after the "usual" 2. c4. This is why sometimes it is better to go into a classical Dutch by way of 1...e6, then 2...f5, so White may already have committed to 2.c4...if that is an option you want to keep."

3.c4 Nf6
It's best to play c4 before Nc3 since it allows more pressure on the central d5 square while leaving the option of Nc3 open as a possibility for further pressure.
4.Bg5 Be7
The most active square for the bishop since it pins the knight which makes it superior to 4.Bf4
5.Nc3 0-0
The queenside knight hops into the fray with additional pressure on the central d5 square.
6.e3 b6
The black bishop has no scope along the c8-h3 diagonal so black opts for the b7-h1 diagonal while e3 creates an outlet for the light squared bishop while simultaneously propping up the central d4 pawn.
7.Bd3 Bb7
The kingside bishop takes up it's most active post.
8.0-0 Qe8
The logical and crystal clear play of Capablanca in this game is a pleasure to behold!
9.Qe2 Ne4
The queen moves to support an advance of white's king pawn that will accentuate his edge in central space.
10.Be7 Nc3
11.bc3 Qe7
The important feature about this position is that Capablanca possesses an edge in central space and he should restrict black's ability to challenge this.
12.a4 Bf3
The newly weakened pawn on c3 would have come under fire after ...Qa3 so Capa puts an end to that idea.
13.Qf3 Nc6
There is another significant positional feature on the board now in the form of the different minor pieces possessed by white and black.
14.Rfb1 Rae8
The black rook is positioned to support an ...e5 break in the center that would diminish the space edge white holds.
15.Qh3 Rf6
But Capa puts an end to this notion! The advance of the e-pawn will now be met by Bf5 with advantage to white
16.f4 Na5
This leaves a backward pawn on e3 but solidifies white's control of e5 thus securing white's superior center control for the time being.
17.Qf3 d6
The queen will support an e4 advance which should open up b1-h7 diagonal for white's bishop at some point.
18.Rbe1 Qd7
The battle rages in the center with both sides aiming for central breaks.
19.e4 fe4
and Capa beats Tartakover to the punch!
20.Qe4 g6
The scope of the bishop along the b1-h7 diagonal has been tremendously improved while black's knight languishes on the sidelines.
21.g3 Kf8
The important f4 pawn is given further support.
22.Kg2 Rf7
It seems that black has trouble finding a worthwhile plan.
23.h4 d5
This move lashes out at black's pawn on g6 with the intention of opening the h-file or weakening black's kingside pawn structure and this idea is helped by the fact that white's bishop points in the same direction so the feature of bishop vs knight seems to be taken into consideration in the choice of plan by Capablanca.
24.cd5 ed5
25.Qe8+ Qe8
26.Re8+ Ke8
The exchanges have left Capablanca with a kingside pawn majority and the plan of attack on that side of the board initiated by 23.h4 is still in the air.
27.h5 Rf6
The rook hastens to defend the twice attacked g6 pawn but Capablanca gains the h-file in the ensuing exchanges.
28.hg6 hg6
29.The h-file is immediately seized and an attempt to prevent the penetration of the rook to the seventh rank by ...Rf7 is met by the winning pin Bg6
30.Rh7 Rc6
The late but still great Irving Chernev had some wise words of wisdom to say about this move.
"Rook to the seventh-the magic move in Rook and Pawn endings.What is the secret in the strength of this move? It is this:
(a) The Rook is in perfect position to attack any Pawns that have not yet moved-those still standing on the second rank.
(b) The Rook is prepared to attack any Pawns that have moved,by getting behind them without loss of time. The Pawns would be under constant threat of capture,no matter how many squares they advanced on the file.
(c) The Rook's domination of the seventh rank confines the opposing King to the last rank,preventing him from taking any part in the fighting."
-Irving Chernev from The Most Instructive Games Of Chess Ever Played on pg.19
31.g4 Nc4
The c-pawn is still taboo because of Bg6 in response and the resulting connected passed pawns would be a force to be reckoned with.
32.g5 Ne3+
The g-pawn is locked down and is now a fixed target.
33.Kf3 Nf5
34.Bf5 gf5
A combined attack on the g-pawn by bishop and rook has been prevented but the exchange of bishop for knight has left white with a protected passed pawn.
35.Kg3 Rc3+
This is considered a particularly brilliant move on Capablanca's part as he willingly gives up a host of pawns for the purpose of obtaining a superior position.
36.Kh4 Rf3
The black rook is now far more active!
37.g6 Rf4+
The great Capa gives up another pawn but a spot for the king's journey to the tasty square f6 is vacated.
38.Kg5 Re4
The capture ...Rd4 leaves the rook on the wrong file to deal with the oncoming threats of mate.
39.Kf6 Kg8
The classic rook and king mate is threatened!
40.Rg7+ Kh8
Capa checks before threatening mate again.
41.Rc7 Re8
This rook retreat by black is forced as Rc8+ ...Re8 Re8++ was threatened if black took a tempo to capture the d-pawn or make an alternative move of any kind.
42.Kf5 Re4
The passed pawn must not be allowed to queen! So Capa snaps it off.
43.Kf6 Rf4+
The black rook is still given no time to capture the d-pawn as Rc8+ ...Re8 Re8++ is once again threatened
44.Ke5 Rg4
The king readies to snatch a black pawn to add a second passed pawn to his list of advantages.
45.g7+ Kg8
The variation ...Rg7 Rg7 ...Kg7 Kd5 is not pleasant for black as he will have trouble stopping white from queening his passed d-pawn.
46.Ra7 Rg1
The correct pawn to take first since the d-pawn is blockaded and not moving anytime soon.
47.Kd5 Rc1
The d-pawn falls and Capa is blessed with a pretty much won game.
48.Kd6 Rc2
The king gives the d-pawn some breathing room so it can triumphantly march up the board.
49.d5 Rc1
The d-pawn inches forward but the king will have to step out of the way for further progress to be made.
50.Rc7 Ra1
The exchange ...Rc7 Kc7 would be instantly disastrous for black as the d-pawn would quickly queen.
51.Kc6 Ra4
A passed pawn appears on the board for black but alas it is too late to change the outcome.
52.d6 Resigns

It won't be possible for black to stop the queening of the d-pawn without decisive material loss so Tartakower tipped over his king.

A Tribute to Mikhail Tal "The Magician from Riga"-8th World Champion of Chess From 1960 to 1961

The late Mikhail Tal (Nov.9th 1936-June 28th 1992) or Misha as he was affectionately called was known for his combinative flair, insatiable appetite for chess, and warm likeable personality which makes him a hell of a guy in my book. It's a pleasure to read about a man who treated the game of chess in a serious and professional manner while simultaneously exhibiting an ability to have a light hearted attitude towards it.

"His enthusiasm for the game he loved was unquenchable,In his later years he was afflicted by severe health problems which would have crushed a lesser man,but he never complained about his difficulties and continued to play chess right up to his death.Misha hated to postpone a game;even if he had to slip out of his doctor's grasp,he would try to make it somehow."
- Pg. 6 of The Life And Games Of Mikhail Tal-Everyman Chess Edition.

What a wonderful passion for Cassia!

"Generosity of spirit was natural to Tal.He seemed interested only in creating the fantastic on the chessboard,not in using the influence his achievements could have given him to wield power among his colleagues.Unlike many of his fellow chess Olympians,he remained unpresuming,accessible and good humored,willing to play chess with all comers.When other world champions would be too conscious of their ranking to indulge relative patzers,Tal would play blitz with nearly anyone.Since the universal club tradition at speed-chess sessions is that the winner keeps playing and the loser gives up his place,Tal was often to be seen at the board with a long line of players queued up behind his opponent,waiting for their turn against the legend.When he was relaxing in a local cafe or tavern between rounds wherever chess took him,he was both celebrity and one of the group.Complete strangers would recognize him of course,and invite him to their table.It would have been more than enough to shake hands and be pleasant but Tal would routinely join the group,swapping stories,and sharing laughs.No wonder he was loved by the public.
-Three Days With Bobby Fischer and other Chess Essays: How to Meet Champions and Choose Your Openings by GM Lev Alburt and Al Lawrence pg.37-38

It's truly a tragedy that heavy consumption of acholol and frequent smoking likely led to an early demise at age 56 for this terror on the chessboard.These bouts of ill health and kidney problems were thankfully never able to diminish his passion for the royal game and he continued to create interesting pieces on the board right up to his death.

Thank you Misha for your exciting play at the board and passionate commitment to chess!

R.I.P. Mikhail Tal

Chess as Art, Science, Sport, and War Combined

The inspiration for this piece was a shirt worn by a fellow chessplayer I made the acquaintance of at the 32nd Annual Eastern Open in DC which read "Chess is not Art, Science, or Sport-Chess is War" or something along those lines that led me to realize chess can represent a constellation of all of the above.

I am not trying to make the argument that one can't think of other apt descriptive terms for our beloved game but the above four are the exclusive focus of this post.

Chess as Art:

"From my close contact with artists and chess players I have come to the conclusion that while all artists are not chess players,all chess players are artists"
- Surrealist Artist Marcel Duchamp from pg.75 of Bobby Fischer Goes to War: How the Soviets Lost the Most Extraordinary Chess Match of All Time by David Edmonds and John Eidinow

There's a need to add the caveat that not all chessplayers are equally able artistically since the positions I create on the board are not of the same quality as say a Fischer or Capablanca creation but the quote has significance nonetheless.

It's true that the beauty of the positions and ideas that can potentially arise on the chessboard fully make the game deserving of the label artistic although not all positions are created equal artistically speaking.

I've taken the liberty of going through my game collections and selecting some choice positions that I find supportive of chess as an art form.

1. The end position of the fifth match game between Frank James Marshall and Jose Raul Capablanca is very picturesque since Capablanca's king is in the open but is impervious to all checks while mate in two is threatened with only the short delaying of the inevitable possible to white.

2. The final position of the second game from the classic text Three Hundred Chess Games that was played between the famous German player Siegbert Tarrasch and a fellow by the name of Mendelsohn.

Chess as Science: The game of chess can't be described as an exact science because of the immense complexities involved but it's possible to isolate a scientific element in the discovery and articulation of general principles to aid players in making decisions on the board. It's not possible to engage in a dogmatic application of abstract guidelines because the concrete or specific nature of the position before you must always be taken into account but they can certainly be useful in conjunction with specificity.

Chess as War:
The origins of the game of chess as a bloodless imitation of human warfare make this connection an obvious one to make but I'd like to discuss it within the specific context of the ideal of what I perceive as civilized chessic warfare.

I like to think of chess as a kind of civilized warfare when both players exhibit good sportsmanship and manners in dealing with one another while still retaining a warrior like resolve to win at the board. It's important to have a fighting spirit and strive to make things difficult for your opponent with the aim of defeating them in the war occurring on the 64 squares that make up the chessic battlefield but this can be done in an overall humane setting.There shouldn't be any diminishing of one's willingness to trimuph over their opponent but simply the practice of appropriate maturity, civility, and victory achieved within the boundaries of the game.

The Manley Nick's 4 Days of Chess at the 32nd Annual Eastern Open

This is a journalistic piece that I put together over a 4 day period during my attendance of the DC 32nd Annual Eastern Open tournament which contains my impressions on the atmosphere, operation of the tournament, play, and so on.

It's separated into 4 short journal entries(one or two were written the day after but reflected what I had experienced the previous day). I've modified the original wording I had written down on paper as I've transcribed it to the blog but the general content is still basically the same.

Day 1: The first day of the event left me with two losses but I enjoyed myself nonetheless.I felt like the tournament is being run smoothly and there appears to be a sizable turnout. The competition faced seemed strong so the games were stimulating and immensely enjoyable. I entered the skittles room in between rounds and was pleased to find a lively atmosphere where I was able to make acquaintance with a great bunch of guys who would look at games they had played in the tournament or from books together in between rounds.

Day 2: This day wasn't any more successful than the first since I didn't manage to win a single game but I had a hell of a time anyway so my spirits remained high.There was an interesting opposite colored bishop with one rook each endgame between GM Alexander Ivanov and a young master in the third round that I was able to catch the conclusion of.The material edge was in the young player's favor since Ivanov was down several pawns but he had the positional edge of a good dark squared bishop which controlled a splendid diagonal vs a bad light squared one with little scope as well as a protected passed pawn on the kingside so he was able to gain the point.

Day 3: I continued my losing streak but I ended up having a fun time analyzing the game Fischer-Taimanov from the 1970 Interzonal tournament that was held in Palma de Mallorca,Spain.It's always a pleasure to soak up the chess atmosphere with fellow enthusiasts of the game and I reveled in it when I was engaged in lively conversation with the aforementioned acquaintances.This event also has a superb chess vendor whose selection contains countless enticing books,DVD'S,and equipment! It made me wish I were rich but I know that not all chess study material is created equal so it's important to pick and choose for practical purposes but I am unapologetically materialistic when it comes to chess items ( :

Day 4: This day turned out to be the day when I finally managed to a gain a half point on the score table when I salvaged a draw from a tough position that I had managed to bring to an unclear rook ending. My opponent was kind enough to offer to anaylze the game afterwards and I accepted the invitation before heading off to a local pub for lunch. I was very content with my experience at the tournament despite not scoring well so I entered the 8th round in good spirits but was not paired correctly which was a slight blemish on what was otherwise a very well run tournament so I took a bye to be with family for my stepmother's birthday dinner.

New York Times Chess Related Editorials

A piece by IM Jennifer Shahade on what she thinks the chess community could learn from the poker scene that was sent to me by a close friend in NYC.

The issue of how to attract more cash into the chess scene in the U.S. that IM Jennifer Shahade raises is definitely an important one since sound finances are critical for hosting comfortable events and maintaining the existence of those chess professionals who make their living off of the game so her piece deserves attention.

"Chess tournaments, which are now closed gatherings of devotees, should include more basic commentary and instruction."

This would be a great way of providing introductory material to those who were intrigued by the goings on of a chess tournament they happened upon but had not previously been exposed to even the most basic rudiments of competitive chess.This provision of more basic instructional material shouldn't detract from the primary emphasis of ensuring a smooth and comfortable tournament for those already participating in the game but it could be possible to make sure that both of these concerns were taken care of.

"Funny, lively announcers can make the moves dramatic - and there's no question that chess is full of eccentric and engaging characters with made-for-TV stories."

This would certainly portray chess in a far more lively manner and wouldn't be a bad idea to implement as long as a desire to dramatize the game didn't lead to a watering down of the complexities that were occurring on the board in favor of flashy flair.

"Make its tournaments more exciting. Poker tournaments, the center of the poker boom, are "knockouts," meaning that players are eliminated one by one until the champion has all the chips. Most chess tournaments are now arranged so that everyone keeps playing till the end, and whoever amasses the most points is champion. "

I can see how this kind of tournament structure would lead to a more exciting atmosphere and a more climatic finish but I wouldn't want it to become the only way in which chess tournaments were organized since I wouldn't always want to play in events where one loss would lead to my expulsion from further play.I propose that any significant increase of cash into U.S. chess should be used to organize a variety of tournaments that cater to the differing tastes among chess enthusiasts from aficionados of blitz play to those with a penchant for longer time controls such as G/60 or G/120 as well as varied tournament structures from knockouts to traditional round robins or swiss systems.It will ultimately be up to individual chess players to decide what kind of events they want to fork their cash over too and this will have an influence on the nature of the events organized.I don't completely share IM Shadade's conviction that knockout events are the way to go but I do share her desire to see more fanfare for the sport of chess and a greater influx of cash to maintain the occupation of chess professional as an economically feasible option.

My father sent me this piece on sex appeal in chess.

It contains a link to a website that hosts a World Chess Beauty Contest but the focus is only on female players.

A suggestion I'd make to those with an interest in constructing rankings of chessplayers based on physical attractiveness would be to have a site that ranked the best looking among male chessplayers for the benefit of female or gay enthusiasts of the game.

I don't view such contests as particularly important in advancing chess but I'd make the above suggestion for those who think otherwise and wish to conduct such affairs.I don't wish to imply that chess players can't be considered good looking or that I am without any kind of sexuality but simply that it's not integral to the value of the game to trump up physical appearances.

A Saturday in Lindsborg, Kansas-A Chessic Event

The Chess For Peace event turned out to be a worthwhile venture that I was happy to attend. There were some technical difficultes in the Karpov-Polgar match that caused the audience to miss out on several games unless they could interepet the convulted digital interface with multiple pieces on screen. There were 4-5 white knights at once! I did enjoy the question and answer session though and I had no idea that GM Susan Polgar was only 36. The scholastic tournament turned out to be a blitz affair which was probably a disappointment to some but may have been done because of time constraints. There was a fairly sizeable turnout for the festival and I had a fruitful discussion with a parent who had concerns about the state of his son's school chess club.

Commentary Upon Selected Thoughts of Mikhail Botvinnik-World Champion from 1948-1957,1958-1960,and 1961-1963

The basis of this analysis was the foreword to a used copy of Botvinnik's One Hundred Selected Games that I purchased at a local bookstore.

The famous player and 6th world champion Mikhail Botvinnik authored a piece titled The Russian And Soviet School Of Chess in which he stated the following.....

"Tchigorin approached chess in the same manner as our modern Soviet players.He served the art disinterestedly and self-sacrificially." ( Note:Does he mean in a monetary sense? That would render my criticisms moot since I certainly would not judge someone for foregoing financial gain in the pursuit of chess excellence although I see nothing wrong with making money off of one's passion for the game)

I get the impression that Botvinnik's ideal player is someone who devotes themselves to chess without reaping any personal benefit.The term self-sacrificially seems to indicate that a player is sacrificing their own interests to chess instead of devoting their life to it out of passion which isn't a sacrifice since their benefiting from it.

"But even more important is that when we Soviet masters take part in tournaments and study the game we know we are performing a socially valuable,a cultural activity,that we are bringing benefit to the Soviet state"

I am uneasy with this statement because of Botvinnik's characterization of chess activity as a boon to the Soviet state since the honor of a tyranny should be of no concern.I realize what the situation of being at the subsidy and mercy of the Soviet establishment must have put him in but my criticisms stand if he genuinely views himself as a chess crusader on behalf of the Soviet regime.

The Drive to Win in Competitive Chess with Added Thoughts on Fischer

"I like to make them squirm"

"I like the moment when I break a man's ego"

"There are tough players and nice guys,and I am a tough player"

These famous quotes are from the infamous Bobby Fischer who contributed much to chess but whose outlook on the world leaves much to be desired. I won't fault Fischer for having a drive to win at the board (every player should feel confident in their ability to play and win if they want to develop a good mental attitude for success) but does it really require you to view your opponent as a human being whose ego must be utterly destroyed in the process?

I am much more inclined towards a view of competitive chess that sees it as a struggle between two sportsmen (used in a general sense to refer to both women and men chess players if that wasn't already understood) who both strive to win but without viewing each other as implacable enemies who must be mentally broken down in the process (outwitted on the chessboard perhaps but psychologically destroyed...no)

I'll give a recent example from my own experience to further drive home my point because I was at a local chess club this Wednesday to compete in a rated game which I ended up winning in 11 moves but which didn't stop us from doing a friendly analysis of the game after it was over. I was intent on winning and did but had no desire to project an image of the chess playing machine who took pleasure in utter demoralize by my opponent at their loss. I also take issue with Fischer's comment that being a tough player and a nice guy are mutually exclusive because I consider myself a tough player but I am a pretty friendly guy at the same time and make an effort to display good sportsmanship in both my losses and victories.

So thank you Robert Fischer for giving us the pleasure of your fine play but a pox upon your behavior towards other players, tournament organizers (see Bobby Fischer Goes To War by David Edmonds and John Eidinow for anecdotal accounts of Fischer's disgraceful behavior) ,and comments in support of the unspeakable tragedy of the September 11th attacks upon the Pentagon and World Trade Center as well as various anti-Semitic ramblings.

"Fischer: What I am really hoping for, Pablo, did you ever see that movie Seven Days In May

Pablo: Yes,yes Fischer: That's a movie about a general who tries to take over the USA. I think it was with Burt Lancaster and Kirk Douglas, it was based on a book. I saw that years ago.

Pablo: Yes I did Fischer: That was more than a plain gesture.

Pablo: Yeah,yeah.

Fischer: I was really for the generals, you know. But in the end the president of the so-called democracy won. But I'm hoping for some kind of a Seven Days In May scenario in the lakes of Ontario, where the country will be taken over by the military, all the civil guards, to close down all the synagogues, arrest all the Jews, execute hundreds of thousand of Jewish ringleaders, and ,you know, apologize to the Arabs for the killing, .. for all the Jews over there of that bandit state, you know Israel. I'm hoping for a totally new world."

This exchange not only reveals an apparent desire on the part of Fischer to see the U.S. descend into military rule but is also a prime illustration of his anti-Semitic nonsense that consists of frequently ascribing any grievances he may have to the "Jews".

"Bobby Fischer: Hi Pablo .. cause the god damn Jews.. who will use any fuckin trick to screw me .. fuckin bastards and liars.. I got the dough.. it was a conspiracy.. I worked my ass off for this memorabilia for years. I was in and out of those file cabinets and safes thousand and thousands of times.. there's no way.. I kept this stuff, this memorabilia, through thick and thin for decades.. I had twenty lean years where I hardly made any money.. the Jews blackmailed me from playing chess. And it was a hardship just to pay the storage, you know? I kept this stuff.. for twelve years it was in storage.."

He is making a reference to the selling off of items placed in a Pasadena,California storage unit that the owner says occurred because of a failure to pay the required fee for continued storage but Fischer contends otherwise.

An interesting twist in this story is that these items have recently allegedly appeared on ebay.

I have one last Fischer quote to drive home my point about the HUGE contrast between his play at the board and his world view.

"They're all weak, all women. They're stupid compared to men. They shouldn't play chess, you know. They're like beginners. They lose every single game against a man. There isn't a woman player in the world I can't give knight-odds to and still beat"
-Bobby Fischer

He should tell that to a WGM (Women's Grandmaster) and I recall seeing several strong women players at the 2005 North American Open in Oklahoma who definitely defeated their fair share of male opponents.

I've been very harsh on Fischer for what I regard as his extremely contemptible remarks on women to individuals of Jewish descent but I remain fascinated by his history, character, and chess play nonetheless.

I don't mean to excuse any of his obscene comments but Fischer ultimately remains a very complex character with acts of compassion such as his visit to a hospitalized Mikhail Tal during the 1962 Candidates Tournament held on the island of Curacao (see pg.30 of Bobby Fischer Goes To War) existing alongside his disgraceful view of women. I've read a great deal about him without ever feeling like I completely understand the engima that he tends to be.

The following works have been a bountiful source of information on this peculiar chess champion that I've absorbed much from.

Bobby Fischer Goes to War: How the Soviets Lost the Most Extraordinary Chess Match of All Time by David Edmonds and John idiom that contains many interesting biographical details and anecdotes.

Bobby Fischer: Profile of a Prodigy by Frank Brady which is a biography that I read many moons ago in middle school but likely contains some useful information.

Russians Versus Fischer by Dmitry Plisetsky and Sergey Voronkov that I received for Christmas this year and have found to be fascinating reading with many anecdotal accounts from Soviet grandmasters who interacted with him on the international tournament circuit as well as transcripts of anaylsis of Fisher's play by top Soviet players with sessions convened by the Soviet authorities to discuss the "Fischer problem"