Beginners often ignore using their Rooks, or don't know how to use them. To be effective, Rooks should usually be placed on open files. Here Fischer shows us another way by bringing them out in front of the pawn structure to pressure weaknesses.

Bobby Fischer-Joaquim Durao   Havana 1966

1.e4 e6 2.d3 c5 3.Nf3 Nc6 4.g3 g6 5.Bg2 Bg7 6.O-O Nge7 7.c3 8.d4 d6 9.dxc5

A strong move which makes it possible for White to advance his pawn
to e5, which will cramp Black's position.

9...dxc5 10.Qe2 b6

10...e5 would prevent 11.e5, but would leave a big hole at d5.

11.e5 a5

This makes it possible to place the Bishop on the a6-f1 diagonal,
but weaknesses at b5 and c4 are created of which White later takes
advantage.

12.Re1 Ba6 13.Qe4 Ra7 14.Nbd2 Bd3 15.Qh4 Nd5

Exchanging Queens to avoid the coming kingside attack, but the endgame
is much better for White because of Black's queenside weaknesses.

16.Qxd8 Rxd8 17.a4

It is important to fix the weaknesses before Black plays a5-a4 himself.

17...Rad7 18.Bf1

Exchanging light-squared Bishops makes it possible for White to use
the holes at b5 and c4 for his own pieces.

18...Bxf1 19.Kxf1 Nde7 20.Nc4 Nc8 21.Bg5 N6e7 22.Nfd2 h6

Black probably never thought when playing this move that the h-pawn
would later become a weakness that would tie him down.

23.Bxe7

The Knights are much stronger in this closed position.

23...Rxe7 24.Ra3

Fischer maneuvers his Rooks very nicely in this game to take advantage
of Black's weak pawns.  25.Rb3 Rb7 26.Nxa5 is threatened.

24...Rc7 25.Rb3 Rc6 26.Ne4 Bf8 27.Ke2 Be7 28.f4 Kf8 29.g4

With Black tied down to his weak pawn at b6, White starts a second
front on the kingside.

29...Ke8 30.Rf1 Rd5 31.Rf3

The other Rook pressures the weakness at h6.

31...Rd8 32.Rh3 Bf8 33.Nxa5!

After creating such a large positional advantage the inferior side
can often be cracked by a tactic.

33...Rc7

Question: What does White do against 33...bxa5. Solution below

34.Nc4 Ra7 35.Nxb6 Nxb6 36.Rxb6 Rda8 37.Nf6+ Kd8 38.Rc6 Rc7
39.Rd3+ Kc8 40.Rxc7+ Kxc7 41.Rd7+ Kc6 42.Rxf7 1-0


Solution to Question: 34.Nf6+ Ke7 35.Rb7+.

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