AThe New York Times New York, New York Saturday, May 18, 1971 - Page 34
Fischer Defeats Taimanov in Chess by Al Horowitz
Vancouver, British Columbia, May 17 — The American chess paladin, Bobby Fischer (house-guest of Los Angeles area resident, Lina Grumette), an eight time United States champion, won the first game today in his 10-game match with Grandmasters Mark Taimanov of the Soviet Union.
The game, started yesterday in the movie theater auditorium of the students building of the University of British Columbia, was adjourned in a hopeless position for the Russian after 40 moves. This morning, Taimanov resigned without resuming play.
This match is one of four quarter-finals in a competition that will establish the challenger for the world title, now held by Boris Spassky of the Soviet Union.
Before the chess match began, Fischer played a round of tennis with a Vancouver chess expert, George Bryant. Fischer was on hand for his meeting with Taimanov five minutes after his clock had started. He shook hands and squared off.
Fischer Sets Up Defense. Spectators had expected 1. P-K4 and a classical opening. Instead, Fischer was confronted with 1. P-Q4 and he set up the King's Indian Defense, marked by the fianchetto of black's king bishop. It is now about a century since the pioneer appearance of this line.
In the eyes of enterprising players, the major advantage of this difficult opening is that its closed nature involves the minimum exchange of pieces and the maximum amount of complications. As a result, the positions in this defense give rise to a wide variety of combinational possibilities.
Hence, the continued popularity of the defense is among self-reliant and imaginative players who are willing to take their chances in midgame.
With 9. B-Q2, Taimanov introduced an original idea of his own. The bishop, however, would have been better deployed on some other square.
Bishops's Absence Felt. Only a few moves later, the absence of the bishop from its original square was felt and resulted in the loss of time. On moves 12 and 13, White relied on an old-time stratagem to anchor his knight on K6.
The plan lacked support and soon White was a pawn behind. In effect, White had introduced a gambit where no gambit had existed before. With little to hope for, White bided his time and waited a chance for countermeasures.
With 30 RxBch, white introduced a variety of forays and retreats, tactics to put up resistance. But from there on, Fischer cut down material as well as he could and at adjournment, there was little left for Taimanov to play for.
The second game is scheduled for tomorrow.
