![Bobby Fischer's Beautiful Bishops](https://images.chesscomfiles.com/uploads/v1/article/15258.c22962ef.668x375o.54c6bcf80139@2x.jpeg)
Bobby Fischer's Beautiful Bishops
Bobby Fischer was one of the most well-rounded players in history. He was at once a tactical wizard and a positional genius, a theoretical expert and a peerless endgame player.
He was essentially unbeatable in match play largely because his opponents found it impossible to adjust after losing a game -- Bobby was equally dexterous in every conceivable type of position.
A few years ago, I was perusing GM Mihail Marin's excellent work, Learn From the Legends: Chess Champions at Their Best (Quality Chess, 2006).
Marin dedicates each chapter to a world champion, and scrutinizes one particular aspect of their prowess -- Tal's handling of the rook against two minor pieces, Karpov's technique in opposite-colored bishop endings, Petrosian's exchange sacrifices, and so on.
In the introduction to the chapter on Bobby Fischer, Marin makes a fascinating observation: "I also discovered that [Fischer] had a predilection for the king's bishop (meaning the light-squared bishop as White and the dark-squared bishop when playing with the black pieces)."
Marin corroborates his remark with several deeply analyzed games, where Fischer's handling of the bishops in general -- and of the king's bishop in particular -- is nothing short of astounding.
In this article, I would like to shed some further light on Bobby's mastery of the bishop by examining several of his lesser-known efforts.
![](https://images.chesscomfiles.com/uploads/v1/images_users/tiny_mce/pete/phps22uki.jpeg)
My favorite Fischer game of all time is definitely his victory against GM Mark Taimanov in round four of their Candidates quarterfinal match.
A word of warning is in order: all of your preconceived notions about the bishop's limited scope will be overturned!
What needs to be said? I remember analyzing this game time and again, unable to believe that the bishop could perform such titanic feats before sacrificing itself for the greater good.
![](https://images.chesscomfiles.com/uploads/v1/images_users/tiny_mce/pete/phpdTDvcR.jpeg)
In Fischer's hands, the king's bishop acquired a greater power, flying around the board and wreaking havoc while its vis-a-vis could only watch in stupefaction.
In the following game, this power is put on full display once more, as Bobby turns lead into gold with a spectacular maneuver.
I can hear the question on the tip of your tongue: If one bishop is a three-headed monster in Fischer's hands, what happens when he has the two-bishop advantage?
Hopefully, the following magical display will provide a worthy answer!
Even at 13 years old, Bobby's matchless combination of positional acumen, tactical precision, and utter fearlessness shines through. Nash was a strong and experienced player (as well as a division chief at the Bureau of Labor Statistics), but Bobby's bishops sliced through his position like a knife through butter.
Bobby's attachment to his bishops is evident, but he certainly did not hesitate to use the bishop as a sacrificial lamb, jettisoning it or trading it to break through.
In our final game, he does just that, shattering the backbone of his opponent's position with a lovely tactic.
We can't all play like Bobby, but we can all remember that the bishop is a very special piece.
By itself, or working with a partner, the bishop can wreak unimaginable havoc simply by virtue of its existence.
Bishop on, my friends!
RELATED STUDY MATERIAL
- Read GM Naroditsky's last article, How To Save Yourself With Stalemate.
- Watch GM Ben Finegold's video: My Dad's Game With Bobby Fischer.
- Check out Bobby Fischer in the All-Time World Chess Champion Bracket.
- Practice creating deadly bishops in the Chess Mentor.
- Practice your bishop tactics in the Tactics Trainer.
- Looking for articles with deeper analysis? Try our magazine:The Master's Bulletin.