[Event "Mar del Plata"] [Site "Mar del Plata"] [Date "1960.03.31"] [Round "3"] [White "Fischer, Robert James"] [Black "Gadia, Olicio"] [Result "1-0"] [ECO "B87"] [Annotator "Martin"] [PlyCount "45"] [EventDate "1960.03.29"] [EventType "tourn"] [EventRounds "15"] [EventCountry "ARG"] 1. e4 c5 2. Nf3 d6 3. d4 cxd4 4. Nxd4 Nf6 5. Nc3 a6 6. Bc4 e6 7. Bb3 b5 8. O-O Bb7 9. f4 Nc6 10. Nxc6 Bxc6 11. f5 e5 12. Qd3 Be7 {and now Option B is believed by analysts to be the best (positional) move with} 13. Bg5 $1 { The dominating feature of the position is Black's backward d-pawn and the vacant d5 square. If White can prevent either any d5 move or any other form of counterplay then White should be strategically winning. In addition, it is important to think about what minor pieces should be exchanged and which ones should remain. If after any exchanges, White can be left with a dominating knight versus Black's weak dark squared bishop then this would be the best outcome. However, if all minor pieces are swapped off or if there are only a pair of bishops remaining the win may be more problematical to achieve. The move played by Fischer is aimed at swapping off the bishop for the Black knight then play the other bishop to d5 to be exchanged for the bishop on c6.} ({Option A -} 13. Be3 {Although} Ng4 {is not a threat due to 14.Bd5} ({Black can play} 13... O-O {instead when after} 14. Bd5 Bxd5 15. Nxd5 Nxd5 16. Qxd5 Rc8 17. c3 Rc4 {he appears to have sufficient counterplay.})) ({Option C -} 13. a4 {This is the weakest move as White's potentially powerful knight is swapped off and White's weak pawns on c2 and e4 are good Black targets. e.g.} b4 14. Nd5 Bxd5 15. Bxd5 Nxd5 16. Qxd5 Qb6+ 17. Kh1 O-O 18. Bd2 {This appears to be the best square for the bishop to eliminate the c2 pawn weakness.} Rfc8 19. c4 bxc3 20. Bxc3 Rab8 21. Qd3 Qb7 22. Rad1 Rc6 23. Rf3 Rbc8 24. a5 Rc4 {The chances are about equal due to White's weak e-pawn.}) ({Option D -} 13. Qg3 { This is an awkward move to meet and a good alternative to 13.Bg5.} Kf8 ({ We are sure some players would play} 13... g6 {but after} 14. fxg6 hxg6 15. Bg5 $18 {White will have too much pressure down the f-file.}) 14. Qd3 ({Note White cannot now play Fischer's plan as after} 14. Bg5 $2 Nxe4 $1 15. Nxe4 Bxe4 16. Bxe7+ Qxe7 $15) 14... Rc8 15. Bg5 b4 16. Bxf6 Bxf6 {White has to be careful about any Bb5 possibilities.} 17. Nd1 Bb5 18. Qd5 {threatens mate.} Qd7 19. Rf3 Bg5 20. Ne3 Be2 21. Rh3 h5 22. a3 {White has any advantage that may still be going.}) ({Option E -} 13. Kh1 {This is a sensible alternative safety first move but it gives Black a chance to avoid the good knight versus bad bishop endgame with} b4 14. Nd5 (14. Qc4 {is an interesting alternative.} O-O 15. Qxc6 bxc3 16. Qxc3 Nxe4 17. Qf3 d5 18. Be3 (18. Rd1 Bc5) 18... Nf6 {when the position is unclear and complex. Certainly Black has his chances with 3 results possible. White's central light squared grip is not as strong as in the game.}) 14... Nxd5 15. Bxd5 Bxd5 16. Qxd5 O-O {with approximate equality.}) 13... Qb6+ (13... Ng4 {to try and avoid the knight being swapped off and continue to fight for the d5 square looks logical but White can also play the same game with} 14. Qe2 Bxg5 15. Qxg4 b4 {A consistent move otherwise White plays Bd5} 16. Nd5 Bxd5 17. Bxd5 Rc8 18. Bb3 O-O 19. a3 bxa3 20. Rxa3 a5 { Even though Black has achieved his aim White still maintains a small but significant advantage due to Black's two pawn weaknesses on d6 and a5.}) (13... Nd7 {can also be tried to achieve the same objective but after} 14. Bxe7 Qxe7 15. Bd5 Qd8 16. Bxc6 Qb6+ 17. Kh1 Qxc6 18. Nd5 Nf6 19. Nxf6+ gxf6 {White's position is preferred due to the better pawn structure.}) 14. Kh1 O-O 15. Bxf6 $1 {Executing the simple plan!} Bxf6 16. Bd5 Rac8 17. Bxc6 Rxc6 18. Rad1 Rfc8 19. Nd5 Qd8 20. c3 {White has achieved his objective with a good knight v bad bishop. The game only last 3 more moves.} Be7 21. Ra1 $1 {This is brilliant vision, the a4 plan is unstoppable.} f6 22. a4 Rb8 $2 {This is an outright blunder but} ({after} 22... bxa4 23. Rxa4 a5 24. Rfa1 {White is positionally winning.} ({Chess engines love} 24. b4 $1 axb4 25. cxb4 {due to the open a-file and powerful b-pawn but this is perhaps a less natural way for a human to play.})) 23. Nxe7+ 1-0