Fischer - Panno; BA, 1970.

This is a pure text-score page, you will definitely need a chess board to study this great game.

Click here if you would like to view this game on your computer ... where you can re-play the moves, and do not need a chess board.
(This is NOT one of my sites. If you have disabled java-script, you may not be able to use it.)

GM R.J. ("Bobby") Fischer (2685)
- GM Oscar Panno (2496)
[A04]
Buenos Aires, ARG (Round # 8), 1970

[A.J. Goldsby I]

Easily one of the greatest games ever played. (Certainly one of Bobby's best games.)

All the players who were present - many Top GM's were watching this game - failed to predict that Fischer would win. (Or how.)

From one of the most dominating tournament performances of all time. (Fischer scored just four draws, a monstrous 13 wins, and no losses. He buried a field that included about 10 of the best players in the world ... of that particular time in chess history.)

Panno was a strong player, and was having a very good tournament. (He finished third here, just a half point behind second-place Tukmakov. {10.5})

My annotations are my own. But I based them on GM S. Gligoric's work, and the work of the book: "The Games of Robert J. Fischer," edited by Robert G. Wade and also Kevin J. O'Connell. (Game # 523, page # 274.)

1.e4 c5; 2.Nf3 e6; 3.d3!?,
The King's Indian Attack, a favorite of Fischer's since his youth.
(See Fischer's book, "My 60 Memorable Games," for several examples
of his use of the King's Indian Attack.)

Panno is a great expert (as Black) in the open systems of the Sicilian Defense.
(Fischer decides to side-step Panno's best lines ...
and probably most of his preparation for this game, as well.)

Wade and O'Connell call this move an effective 'second-string'
answer to Black's opening system.

[ One of the main lines is: 3.d4 cxd4; 4.Nxd4 Nc6; 5.Nc3 Qc7; {Diag?}
with a good game for both sides.

      See the encounter: A. O'Kelly - O. Panno;
      Capablanca Memorial, 1969.
      (Black won a crisp game in just 32 sharp moves.)

       Fischer was undoubtedly familiar with this game and, perhaps
       having found no weaknesses in Panno's game, decides to
       avoid the entire line.
       (He also watched Panno's blitz games intently. Did he discover
        a weakness in his play?) ]

3...Nc6; 4.g3 g6!?;
"Black avoids the French type of position a la
Fischer - Miagmasuren; Sousse Interzonal, 1967."
- Wade and O'Connell. (Fischer scored a crushing win.)

To me, this fianchetto is both too slow and too weakening.
(But it is obviously playable, as dozens of titled players have
used this system.)

   [ The main line is: 4...d5; 5.Nbd2 Nf6; 6.Bg2 Be7; 7.0-0 0-0;
     8.Re1, "+/=" {Diagram?} White has just a very, very small edge
     in this position.

     Checking ChessBase's on-line database, (as well as my own); we find
     this position has occurred at the Master level over 1000 times! The first
     example was a game of Aaron Nimzovich vs. L. Forgacs from
     Ostende, (B) 1907.

A very good game is: V. Borjanovic - V. Cabarkapa;
JUG Championship (T2), 1994. (29) (Black won an interesting game.) ]

5.Bg2 Bg7; 6.0-0 Nge7; 7.Re1 d6; 8.c3!,
Fischer plays both simply and elegantly ... and in the pure
classical style.

[ After the continuation: 8.Nc3 0-0; 9.Be3 Nd4; "=" {Diagram?}
White has little or no edge.

K. Warhid - B. Wexler; FIDE Men's Olympiad, (Prelim.)
Leipzig/W. Germany/1960. (Drawn in 41 moves.) ]

8...0-0; 9.d4 cxd4!?;
Black decides to open the game. As Wade and O'Connell
note this is a monumental decision which determines the
nature of the game for a very long time.

10.cxd4 d5!?; 11.e5, ('!') {Diagram?}
The correct response, fixing the dark squares on the King-side.
(Fischer loves these types of position.)

[ The continuation of: 11.exd5!? Qxd5!?; 12.Nc3 Qd7;
13.Bg5, "=" holds almost no promise of an edge for White. ]

   [ According to Wade and O'Connell, Black could not have liked the looks
     of a line like: 11...f6!?; 12.exf6 Bxf6!?; 13.Bh6 Bg7!?; 14.Bxg7 Kxg7;
     15.Nc3, "+/=" {Diagram?}   White has a small, but clear edge.
     (Black has many weaknesses for Fischer to play against.) ]

12.Nc3 Rc8; 13.Bf4 Na5!?;
Last chance for ...f6? (So says Wade and O'Connell.)

[ In my mind, too risky is: 13...f6!?; 14.exf6 Bxf6; 15.Bh3, "+/=" {Diag?}
with a comfortable game for White here.

I like the continuation of: >/= 13...Nf5; 14.Rc1 h5!; "~" {Diagram?}
with a playable game for Black here. ]

White now plays slowly and logically to increase his edge.
14.Rc1 b5; 15.b3 b4; 16.Ne2 Bb5; 17.Qd2 Nac6!;
Black avoids exchanges, as he probably feels he is not ready for to
contest the c-file yet.

[ Interesting was: 17...Rxc1!?; 18.Rxc1 Nec6; 19.Bh6!?, "~" {Diagram?}
with a difficult game. ]

18.g4!, (Excellent.) {Diagram?}
Since White has an edge on the King-side, and has ambitions there;
it is natural - and good - for White to seek to increase his edge in
that sector.

Wade and O'Connoll advise Black should play BxN/e2 here, but
Panno said later he did not want to give Bobby the two Bishops!

   [ Maybe dangerous is: 18...Bxe2; 19.Rxe2 Qb6; 20.Qd3! a5;
      21.Rec2, "+/=" {Diagram?} with a growing advantage.
      (But maybe Black can defend.) ]

19.Ng3 Qb6; 20.h4!,
White continues his King-side demonstration, but later Panno
said he was unconcerned. (Against Fischer?!?)

20...Nb8; 21.Bh6 Nd7;
Black maneuvers to try and defend his King-side. The square, (f6);
is very vulnerable. Additionally, White will soon be able to consider
sacrificial ideas based on Nh5!?

[ An inferior line is: 21...Bd7?!; 22.Bxg7 Kxg7; 23.Rxc8 Rxc8;
24.Qf4, "+/=" {Diagram?} and White is much better. ]

[ Also interesting is: 22.Bxg7!? "+/=" {Diagram?}
with a slight edge for White. ]

This is maybe an inferior move, although six different Fischer
books give no comment here.

   [ Maybe a better defense was: 23...f6; 24.Qe3 Rf7; 25.Bxg7 Kxg7;
      26.h5, "+/=" {Diagram?} but White still holds a sizeable
      advantage in this position. ]

24.Qxh6 Rc8; 25.Rxc8+ Nxc8; 26.h5!,
The best say Wade and O'Connell, who also award this move
an exclamation point.

White continues to probe the pawn structure around Black's King.
He also softens Black up a bit and prepares a later tactical shot.

[ White could also play: 26.Qf4!? Qc7; 27.Ng5 Ndb6; 28.h5, "+/=" {Diag?}
with a clear, (small, but solid); advantage. {A.J.G.}

Wade and O'Connell give the variations of: 26.Qg5!?, "+/=" {Diagram?}
with a slight advantage.

      They also provide the line of: 26.Ng5!? Nf8; 27.N3e4?, {Diagram?}
      This is a mistake here.   (Necessary was: 27.Nf3, "=")    27...dxe4;
      28.Nxe4 Qd8; "-/+" {Diagram?} Black has a sizeable edge. ]

26...Qd8!?; (Probably - '?!') {Diagram?}
Black probably makes a slight error ... in an extremely difficult
position.

[ Another line is: 26...Qc7!?; 27.Ng5 Nf8; 28.Nxh7!!, {Diagram?}
and White has a virulent attack.

Blacks's faulty play now ... "enables Fischer to set in motion a most
elegant storming of the Black King's citadel."
- Wade and O'Connoll.
27.Ng5! Nf8; {See the diagram just below.}
Black appears to be defending and have all of his bases covered.

28.Be4!!, (Maybe - '!!!/!!!!') {Diagram?}
An incredible move, surely one of the most brilliant and shocking
moves ever executed on a chess board. In a GREATLY simplified
position, Bobby is attacking! (Offering to sack a piece!!) And now
he has found a way to involve all of his pieces in the assault.

   [ Nearly all the computers find the win for White with: 28.hxg6! hxg6[]; {Diag?}
     This is forced. (Even worse is: 28...fxg6?!; 29.Nxh7 Nxh7; 30.Qxg6+ Kh8;
       31.Qxe6 Ne7; 32.f4, "+/-" {Diagram?} with a probably winning pawn-roller
       for White.)    29.Qh8+ Kxh8; 30.Nxf7+ Kg7; 31.Nxd8 Na7;
     32.f4, "+/-" {Diagram?} and White is probably winning.

This works, but Fischer's win is much more accurate and
vastly more impressive. ]

28...Qe7;
This is both best and forced.
(Black dies horribly if he captures the Bishop.)

   [ A terrible blunder is: 28...dxe4?; (Maybe - '??') {Diagram?}
     This is a mistake, f6 is now indefensible. 29.N3xe4 Bc6; {Diag?}
     There is little Black can do.   (29...Nd7; 30.Qxh7+ Kf8; 31.Qxf7#.
        Or 29...f5; 30.Nf6+, ("+/-") Or 29...Qe7; 30.Nf6+ Kh8;
        31.Ngxh7, ("+/-") and White gives mate shortly.)
     30.Nf6+ Qxf6; {Diagram?}
     What else can Black do? (Except resign!)   (30...Kh8; 31.Nxf7#)
     31.exf6, ("+/-") {Diagram?} and it is mate next move. ]

29.Nxh7!!, (NO FEAR!)
Fischer continues his brilliant lesson in world-class tactics.

        Apparently, Fritz likes a move ... that I tried to analyze
        some 15 years ago. However, I always got lost in the
        mazes of the different variations. 29.Nf5!!, also will win
        for White. See the FREE download (link) below ...
        for more details. ]

31.Bxg6 Ng5?!; ('?') {Diagram?}
According to Wade and O'Connoll, this is Black's only real try.
But actually the move is a mistake, and allows White to win quickly.

To be fair, I should also point out Panno was running very low on
thinking time on the clock. The move looks logical, and Panno
thought he was winning here. But he is in for a very rude surprise.

   [ Black had to play: >/= 31...Qg7!?; 32.Bxh7+ Kh8; {Diagram?}
     This is forced.
      ( Bad is: 32...Qxh7?; 33.Qxe6+ Qf7; 34.Qxc8+, ("+/-") {A.J.G.} )
     33.Qxg7+ Kxg7; 34.Bb1! Ne7; 35.f4 Nc6; 36.Kf2, "+/" {Diag?}
     White has a comfortable extra pawn, and basically a won game.
     ( - Wade and O'Connoll)

     A nice try, but one that comes up short is:
      </= 31...Nf8?!; 32.Nh5 Nd7; 33.g5 Ncb6; 34.Nf6+ Nxf6;
      35.exf6! Qc7; 36.f7+ Qxf7; 37.Bxf7+ Kxf7; 38.g6+ Ke7;
      39.g7, "+/-"   {Diagram?}
      and White makes a new Queen. ]

32.Nh5 Nf3+; 33.Kg2 Nh4+; 34.Kg3 Nxg6;
Now if White takes the Knight, Black is clearly better.

35.Nf6+!, (Maybe - '!!') Another sacrifice!
Fischer pulls one more surprise from his bag of tricks.

   [ Panno expected something like: 35.Qxg6+ Kf8; {Diagram?}
     This is forced.   (35...Qg7??; 36.Qxg7#)   36.Nf4 Bd7; {Diagram?}
      and Black < appears > to be defending his position.
      (Actually, Panno is probably losing this position as well.
       He said after the game, he thought he was holding. But a deep
       computer analysis reveals he will eventually lose.) ]

Friday; October 2nd, 2009: Click HERE to get an updated analysis of this game! (A FREE download!!! See item # 4.)

Monday; October 5th, 2009: Click HERE to go to a blog page ... that looks at (and analyzes) a new move in this game.

Click HERE to go to (or return) to my "Annotated Games" (2) Page.
(Or press the "BACK" button on your web browser.)

This game is almost an exact copy of the ChessBase document, as it exists in my database. (I have not shortened it for publication.) If you want to obtain a copy of this to study on your own computer, you may contact me by clicking here.

More Resources (related links)

Game first posted (rough version) sometime during the month of October, 2002. Up-Dated: Monday; November 25th, 2002. Last edit or save on: Saturday, July 14, 2012 02:16 AM .

Fischer - Panno; B.A. 1970

GM R.J. ("Bobby") Fischer (2685)
- GM Oscar Panno (2496)
[A04]
Buenos Aires, ARG (Round # 8), 1970

[A.J. Goldsby I]

More Resources (related links)

Fischer - Panno; B.A. 1970

GM R.J. ("Bobby") Fischer (2685) - GM Oscar Panno (2496) [A04] Buenos Aires, ARG (Round # 8), 1970

[A.J. Goldsby I]

More Resources (related links)

GM R.J. ("Bobby") Fischer (2685)
- GM Oscar Panno (2496)
[A04]
Buenos Aires, ARG (Round # 8), 1970