AThe Los Angeles Times Los Angeles, California Sunday, May 30, 1971 - Page 30
Fischer Four Up In Taimanov Match
Bobby Fischer, the first American to have a real chance to gain the world chess championship in recent years, seems certain to overcome the current obstacle in his way, Soviet grandmaster Mark Taimanov.
Fischer won the first four games in succession in the 10-game series with Taimanov being played at the University of British Columbia in Vancouver. That put him close to the goal of 5½ points required to win the match.
The second game was much the longest to date, lasting 87 moves in three sessions. When first adjourned after 45 moves it seemed to be a clear win for Fischer, with a strong pawn ahead.
However, Fischer gave up the passed pawn on his 54th move, when B-N3 was much superior. He still won a pawn on the king side, but by the time of the second adjournment, on the 73rd move, the game had simplified and Taimanov had excellent drawing prospects.
Taimanov went wrong when he exchanged rooks, perhaps forgetting that a knight is particularly weak at holding back a rook pawn. A few moves later Fischer had advance the pawn, which could no longer be stopped.
The third game was also adjourned, but in a position that was hopeless for Taimanov, and he resigned without resuming play. The opening was identical with that in the first game for 10 moves.
Taimanov again sacrificed a pawn for possible chances on the king side. He might have had good chances with 20. Q-KR3. Instead he retreated and Fischer counterattacked quickly. Later Taimanov gave up his queen, but Fischer's superiority was already clear.
Taimanov asked for a postponement of the fourth game, scheduled last Sunday, when he was ill. The game was played Tuesday, with no better result for the Russian.
Once again an adjournment took place, with the forces even. Fischer had a somewhat better position in the ending. He found a sacrifice of a bishop to gain two passed pawns, and these were enough for victory.
