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Must you always save the queen?

Bobby Fischer / 1956 / Nueva York

Fischer won the 1957/58 US Championship while still a teenager. He became the eleventh world champion by defeating Boris Spassky in 1972. His career combined meticulous preparation with outstanding endgame technique. He did not defend his title in 1975.

r . . . r . k .
p p . . . p b p
. q p . . . p .
. . B . . . . .
. . B P . . b .
Q . n . . N . .
P . . . . P P P
. . . R . K . R

Black to move · Can you improve your pieces’ activity before moving the queen away?

  1. Which white piece threatens the queen?

    The bishop on c5 threatens the queen on b6.

  2. Propose a move for Black and explain your plan.

    The historical decision is 17…Be6, developing the bishop.

  3. After …Be6 and Bxb6, which capture comes with check?

    18…Bxc4+.

  4. What information was missing when you counted only the queen’s value?

    The activity, checks and captures Black’s pieces obtain in the continuation.

The historic decision

17…Be6 develops the bishop and allows the queen to be captured. After 18. Bxb6, Fischer gains time with …Bxc4+ and his knight’s jumps. The decision’s value lies in the coordination and captures that follow, beyond the material of the first move.

Extension

Explore the complete game and record when each black piece becomes involved again.

World Chess Hall of Fame · Bobby Fischer: https://worldchesshof.org/inductee/robert-james-fischer/
https://rookhabit.com/en/classroom/fischer