Books by Fischer

Here is a 1972 ad for a reprint of "Bobby Fischer Teaches Chess" -




Below is a provocative review of "My 60 Memorable Games" by Jude Acers in 1969:

BOOK REVIEW by Jude Acers
     "My 60 Memorable Games" by Bobby Fischer $6.95 Simon 6. Schuster, N.Y. 1969. 384 pages, index of openings and opponents. Introductions to all games by Larry Evans.

     The volume is a masterpiece in our time. It ranks with the game collections of Tarrasch and Alekhine in the category of objectivity and scope. It surpasses any English games collection issued to this date and, along with Botvinnik's collected games, is of primary in-terest to the chess student as nothing else printed since World War
     Included arw three of Fischer's losses and eight incredible, hair-raising draws. Contrary to rumor and Jealous tongues, Larry Evans did not write the book for Fischer. Evan's style and wording appear all throughout the text of the games but analytical work and phrasing ("I didn't see it!," " "the sealed move seals Black's fate," 'I still couldn't believe it,"  I had to play on to make sure I was losing a piece!") are clearly done by the phenomenal analyst Fischer.   Anyone who knows Fischer will tell you that he would never allow ghost writing.   Extremely interesting is the truth about some of Fisher's most sensational games -his wonderful analysis proving that Botvinnik's drawn ending was actually lost, and (a vindication to this reviewer who was laughed at for suggesting 20. Q-Kg4 in Fischer-Geller, Skopie 1967) .  Fischer proves a crushing win and justifies his opening play and pre-game preparation. There is distinct evidence that Fischer is the most thoroughly prepared professional in the world analytically.    Emotionally prepared?  That is cause for debate. But the research, love. of chess study, and accuracy under fire are all funneled to the reader through Bobby Fischer's pen,  
     The volume is actually priced reasonably. It is exciting, interesting, instructive and what one would expect from a first-rate grandmaster who has paid the price of specialization in our world. It is, in short, an absolutely vital book and to be purchased by the quickest possible means, we suggest that you do anything short of holding up a bookstore or robbing your grandmother to obtain it.
     There are a few technical and personal notes I should mention at this point.  First, designer Andor Braun erred in planning the annotative separation of the comments made by Fischer on moves actually played.   As one of our leading master pointed out, the deep study of some games produces problems, as the analysis is not presented in a printed form suitable for tired eyes.  I scoffed at this criticism upon casual examination of the book, but after playing through the entire text, I can confirm this optical effect.   Second, we note that our own John Blackstone is mentioned in the notes to Game 17, Fischer-Tal.   In a Davis, California, clock exhibition in 1964 Blackstone achieved a quickly winning position against Fischer's mechanical B-QB4 (Bc4) anti-Sicilian system.  Third, we feel that the author's integrity is carefully shown by inclusion of full credit on all quotations or re-published analysis throughout. He is indeed as Larry Evans told us last year," always very careful to give credit."
     We should mention very special highlights it the book.  Notable is the unbelievable Fischer-Walther game (P.67) where Fischer threw away the win as shown by Swiss end game composer Fontana.  Fischer was a clear two united passed pawns to the good with Bishops of opposite colors. Other points of extraordinary interest include a super secret win which Olafsson and Fischer discovered Gligorich could have executed vs. Fischer.   Fischer stayed up all night analyzing in disbelief "and incidentally learning a lot about Rook Pawn endgames" - page 85. Annotative masterpieces are; No. 39, Botvinnik.,Fischer, Varna Olympics 1962;  No. 40, Fischer-Najdorf, Varna Olympics 1962;   No. 44, Fischer-Fine, N.Y. 1967, skittle game;  No. 45, Fischer-Bisguier, N.Y. State Championship 1963;  No. 56, Fischer-Gligorich, Havana 1966;   No. 58, Fischer-Geller, Skopje 1967; and No. 60, Fischer-Stein, Sousse 1967.

     The tragedy of Fischer everywhere underscores the pages. Why cannot he compete day in and day out against the world's leading prayers?   
     His withdrawal from the Olympiad and Sousse 1967 are not those of a coward - he is simply deeply interested in chess and is an occasional player!
     We must all learn to accept this and look elsewhere for a six-player U.S. team.   Fischer's games are to be studied by those six players of tomorrow.  We suggest that this wonderful book is the beginning milestone in American quality chess publication and that a better American chess scene is its natural, inevitable consequence.   His critics, including this reviewer, were wrong.    Better an inactive Robert Fischer than no Robert Fischer. He is one of the most important analysts of all time.

Two dollars!   

An interesting ad for BFTC. Of course, the cheap, small format paperback copies of BFTC that you can buy these days don't have the print quality that the original hardcover had.

They also produced a PC DOS version of BFTC. (I have a copy.) I wonder if Bobby knew about that one.

From what I've heard, it's a classic. However, it's not for the average club player. The annotations assume a fairly high skill level. I'll probably never get good enough to get much out of the book.

I once asked a well known and respected American GM how I could be as good as him one day. He noticed I had Fischer's M60MG's in my hand and he told to open it.

He then showed me some analysis that ended with something like "...with advantage" and another with something like "...equalizes."

The GM then said, "When you can explain why Fischer came to these conclusions, you'll be very happy with your chess."

IMO, only some of Kasparov's annotated works comes close to Fischer's usefulness for the practical player.

I heard that Fischer didn't actually have much to do with the book.

Which book? Two of his books have been discussed here.

Any master could have put together "Bobby Fischer Teaches Chess" and Fischer's contribution was probably mainly name and cover photo.

M60MGs likely a different story. Analysis is almost assuredly Fischer's. Though I suspect some of text wording was spruced up by Evans or an editor. Fischer wasn't the most articulate guy and I find it hard to believe he might've come up with some of the phrases. But who knows.

Bobby Fischer Teaches Chess

I don't really know. (If anyone has hard evidence one way or the other, I'd like to see it.) Fischer is on record in one of his videos saying he wrote the book, but it was just a passing comment, and it could just be his warped memory or a bit of braggadocio. Somehow I just don't envision Bobby sitting down and coming up with a huge number of simple back-rank mates for 10 year olds. I'm thinking it's more likely that the others actually came up with the content and then had Bobby approve it.

Stuart Margulies wrote Bobby Fischer Teaches Chess. It was rooted in innovative pedagogies about which Fischer knew nothing. Larry Evans did some of the grunt work for My 60 Memorable Games, which nevertheless is much more Fischer's work than Bobby Fischer Teaches Chess.

Apart from his 60 memorable games, this is Fischer's other classic:

https://www.chess.com/clubs/forum/view/i-was-tortured-in-the-pasadena-jailhouse

"Bobby Fischer Teaches Chess" is nothing special.

"My 60 Memorable Games" is a masterpiece.

I note that the reviewer is confused:

     "We should mention very special highlights it the book.  Notable is the unbelievable Fischer-Walther game (P.67) where Fischer threw away the win as shown by Swiss end game composer Fontana.  Fischer was a clear two united passed pawns to the good with Bishops of opposite colors."

That game was NOT Fischer - Walther, with Fischer up two Pawns in an ending. The game was Walther - Fischer, and Fischer was DOWN two Pawns.

I strongly suspect that you're correct. I went back and reread the BFTC page titled "A Word from Bobby Fischer". Even that text doesn't seem like it came from Bobby's pen.

I'm reasonably certain that he employed no ghost writer for that pamphlet. The writing and paranoia are wholly his. I've seen copies on eBay for several hundred dollars. Occasionally, I search through the stacks of papers in the dark corners of my office, where there is a copy. I could exchange it for several bottles of premium wine.

Move 54. a4 -- The wrong pawn move and now black can drawn.
I keep meaning to see where Fischer went wrong in the main line Najdorf, I think 12. ... b5
Zurich 1959 Finished:  Tal, Gligoric, Fischer, Keres, Larsen.

"Bobby Fischer teaches chess" has as much to do with Fischer as the movie "Searching for bobby Fischer" has... Deceptive title.

Neither has this one :(

No Fischer, no kings, only naked people busting clouds at night in the park.

The Fisher King explores the myths expounded in Jessie L. Weston, From Ritual to Romance (1920), which was made famous by a footnote that T. S. Eliot wrote as part of his long poem, The Waste Land  (1922). The poem does have two chess players in one of the scenes--the struggles of a married couple whose romance has gone cold, IIRC. It's been twenty years since I've read the poem, so I could be off a bit.