(The following is taken from the book �The Unknown Bobby Fischer�)
Fischer's annotations to the following game are very instructive. They are in the form of a novice asking Fischer questions as he plays through the game.
Fischer-Jovanovac
Vinkovci 1968
1.e4 d6 2.d4
Why this move, Bob?
I want to get control of the center.
2...Nf6
What was Black's idea here?
This is the Pirc defense. He has to get the Knight out so that he can later fianchetto his Bishop and castle his King into safety. The only other Knight move is ...Nh6. That's a terrible square for his Knight. It would be exposed to attack. For example, I could play h3 followed by g4 and storm that position. If Black castled later I'd win his Knight with g4-g5!
3.Nc3
Why a Knight move here?
It's a developing move, giving me a further grip on the center and defending my e-pawn.
3...g6 4.f4
Why this pawn move?
I now have three pawns in the center with a threat of a breakthrough on e5 later on.
4...Bg7 5.Nf3
This is to get a further grip on the center, isn't it?
Right.
5...O-O 6.Bd3
This is easy to see, Bob. You want to be free to castle your King into safety. But wouldn't your Bishop be just as effective on, say, c4 as it is on d3?
No, Black could drive it back by 6...c6, followed by 7...b5 etc. I'd be exposing the Bishop to harassment.
6...Nfd7?
This notation means that the Black Knight at f6 hops to square d7, right?
That's right. But it's a poor move. It breaks a couple of rules. The Knight is blocking his own Bishop on c8. Also, it's usually good to avoid moving the same minor piece (Knight or Bishop) twice before moving other pieces out. A better move would have been 6...Nc6, or 6...Na6 followed by 7...c5.
7.O-O e5
Black needs to fight back in the center, but, according to Fischer, this is not the right way to do it. He gives 7...c5 as better, as it doesn't block the Bishop's diagonal.
8.dxe5
Why not fxe5, Bob?
I'd be taking a little guard away from my King. More important, after I took 8.dxe5 and he took back ...dxe5, I wanted to attack with my f-pawn at f5. You'll see what I mean in a minute.
8...dxe5 9.f5
Fischer considers Black to be positionally lost here because of the wedge White has on the kingside.
9...c6
What's the point of this move, Bob?
To keep me out of d5, for one thing.
10.Ng5!
I notice you marked this move with an exclamation point, meaning you considered it a very good move. Why so? Looks to me as though you're just moving your Knight into a spot where it can be attacked by pawns or a Bishop and Queen.
I wanted him to play 10...h6. Then I'd have a winning combo, because I'd play 11.fxg6! he'd take my Knight with ...hxg5 (or 11...fxg6 12. Bc4+ Kh8 13.Nf7+ wins) and I'd play 12.Qh5, threatening mate at h7. Now he has two moves. First, if he plays 12...fxg6, then I play 13.Bc4+. That's practically the game right away, because he has to put his Rook on f7 to block mate. Second, if he moves 11...Nf6 to protect against mate, I simply capture his Knight at f6 with my
Rook.
10...Nb6 11.a4!
I see, Bob, that you've marked this move as very good. Why?
I want to drive his Knight away from its defensive position with a5.
11...a5 12.Be3 Bh6 13.Qd2 f6 14. Qf2
I see this, Bob. Your Bishop and Queen are now threatening his hanging Knight.
Right. I wanted to break through into his position. So I'm ready to get rid of his Knight at b6. This will hurt him, because he hasn't many pieces developed.
14...Bxg5
Why not the ...fxg5 move?
Because after 14...fxg5 15.Bb6 Qf6 16.Bc5 Rd8 17.Be3!, threatening 18.h4 followed by 19.Qd2 or, vice versa, 18.Qd2 and 19.h4, and White will win at least a pawn.
15.Bxb6 Qd7 16.Bc5 Re8 17.h4
Now you're after his Bishop and heading for the breakthrough of his King's protecting pawns, right Bob?
Right.
17...Bf4
If 17...Bh6, then Fischer gives 18. fxg6 hxg6 19.Qxf6.
18.g3 gxf5 19.gxf4 fxe4 20.Nxe4 Kh8 21.f5
Not 21.Nxf6?? Qg7+.
21...Na6 22.Bxa6 bxa6 23.Kh2 1-0
Wait a second, Bob. I don't see an immediate checkmate. Can't he get out of this bind?
Nope. If he moves 23...Qf7, I move 24.Nd6 and fork his Queen and Rook. If he moves 23...Qg7, then 24.Rg1 Qh6 25.Nd6 and he must move 25...Rf8 (If he goes ...Re7, I can simply take his Bishop with my Knight, threatening his Rook at e7 with my Bishop.) 26. Be3 Qh5 27.Qg3, threatening Qg7 mate.
Summing up this game Bob, what seemed the most critical mistake he made, besides playing you?
His downfall started on his sixth move. And he doubled his trouble on his seventh move, as we've mentioned. The moral is: Learn at least seven or eight sound moves for any defense you choose to play. That way, you won't lose almost before you've started.