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The Game of the Century
Thirteen-year-old Fischer gives up his queen for a decisive attack.
The idea
Young Fischer gives up his queen for an attack that wins the game.
- White’s bishop attacks Fischer’s queen.
- Instead of saving her, Fischer attacks the other bishop.
- If White takes her, this knight and a bishop give check after check.
In a game: When your queen is attacked, look for a stronger move before you save her.
How the lesson begins
In 1956 the thirteen-year-old Bobby Fischer played a strong master, Donald Byrne, in New York. The game is named the Game of the Century. It has a surprising knight move, a queen sacrifice and a king hunt.
In 1956 the thirteen-year-old Bobby Fischer played Black against Donald Byrne in New York. The game was later named the Game of the Century. Fischer puts his bishop on g7, castles and challenges the centre with ...d5. This set-up is called the Grünfeld Defence. Black takes on c4, and White takes back with the queen, which goes on to c5. Black’s bishop pins the knight on f3 to the rook on d1.
- 1. Nf3 Nf6 2. c4 g6 3. Nc3 Bg7 The bishop goes to g7, a move called a fianchetto.
- 4. d4 O-O 5. Bf4 d5 Black challenges the centre.
- 6. Qb3 dxc4 7. Qxc4 White takes the pawn back.
- 7... c6 8. e4 Nbd7 9. Rd1 Nb6 10. Qc5 The queen goes forward to c5.
- 10... Bg4 The bishop pins the knight on f3 to the rook on d1.
Find the move
Black to move. White’s bishop on g5 attacks the knight on f6. Find the knight move that attacks the queen and the knight on c3.
A hint
The knight on b6 can go to a square where it attacks two pieces.
Show the answer
11... Na4
Na4!! goes to the edge of the board, and attacks both the queen on c5 and the knight on c3. After Qa3 Nxc3 bxc3 Nxe4, Black has won a pawn.