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Milan Matulovic vs Robert James Fischer
Herceg Novi blitz (1970) (blitz), Herceg Novi YUG, rd 11, Apr-08
Sicilian Defense: Najdorf. Poisoned Pawn Variation (B97)  ·  0-1

ANALYSIS [x]

FEN COPIED

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Given 26 times; par: 71 [what's this?]

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Kibitzer's Corner
May-12-04  somethingstrong: after 27. c4?, Black's endgame technique is exemplary. I vote for changing the name of the Sicilian Najdorf to the Sicilian Fischer variation after watching him dominate these lines so often.
Jan-20-08  fischeranian: the way Fischer outplays a strong Matulovic in this complicated opening is impressive
May-13-08  Lt.Columbo: Hello kibitzers, and fellow woodpushers. Forgive my somewhat novice level but doesnt Bobby make chess look too easy. Have a goodnight gentlemen
May-13-08  Cinco: Indeed he did, <Lt.Columbo>. In this game, as in others he played, he also showed how the b2 pawn in this line wasn't always poison :)
May-14-08  Lt.Columbo: Hello Cinco Ive heard that recently that b2 isnt necessarily a poisoned pawn ;-)
May-17-08  Cinco: <:0!>
Sep-20-09  kurtrichards: The b2 pawn is really poisonous except to Fischer.
Sep-04-13  Sebastiaan: It's not poisoned if white can't figure out a way to make an advantage out of his better position.
Oct-27-21  jerseybob: In the book "Leonid Stein: master of risk strategy", it's alleged that Bobby wasn't very good at blitz. Really!?
Oct-27-21  RookFile: Maybe when he was younger, compared to the very top Russian players, but that was all gone by Herceg Novi.
Oct-27-21
Premium Chessgames Member
  perfidious: Had read of such comments after Fischer's visit to Moscow in 1958, but this event put paid to all that.
Oct-27-21  sudoplatov: The point of capturing at b2 in this variation is to exploit the absence of White's Queen Bishop from that area. Taking the Pawn does give up a lot of time. The position is very unbalanced.
Apr-19-22
Premium Chessgames Member
  PawnSac: Compare the position after 26. ..Rxa8 with the final position. It is obvious Bobby's superior end play won a lot of these controversial lines, but that should not be confused with the virtues of the line itself. Maybe today with such strong engines we could argue the worth of the poisoned pawn line, kind of like the Marshall, which has gone thru a transformation..

In any event, Spassky's team of GM's ganged up on him in 72. I think this is one line I would have avoided in that match, but.. Fischer was always Fischer.

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