The Los Angeles Times Los Angeles, California Sunday, October 17, 1971 - Page 123
Fischer In 2-2 Tie With Petrosian
The score was tied at two points each after the first four games of the match in Buenos Aires between Bobby Fischer of the U.S. and former world champion Tigran Petrosian of the Soviet Union.
It was a far cry from the drubbings Fischer had administered to Mark Taimanov of the Soviet Union and Bent Larsen of Denmark, who had succumbed by 6-0 scores to the relentless drive of the 28-year-old American chess genius.
It was clear from the first game that Petrosian had thoroughly prepared for the match and that Fischer was in for a rough battle.
Fischer won the first game although he had the worst of it in the early part. In the second game Petrosian played perhaps his finest chess in years, gaining a victory that broke Fischer's record streak after 20 straight wins.
In the third game Fischer had the white pieces and started with his usual 1. P-K4. Petrosian used the French defense, varying from the Sicilian defense of the first game.
With his 10th and 11th moves Fischer showed that he was ready for an enterprising fight. He gave up a pawn and also offered a rook for a bishop.
Petrosian decided not to accept the sacrifice, which would put Fischer's queen on a powerful diagonal and started threats against the black king. The white knights would also have come into play very quickly.
Instead, Petrosian castled on the king side and brought his bishop back. He had retained the extra pawn, which was doubled and weak, but could become an asset. Having no better target, Fischer lined up his forces to regain the pawn. He succeeded, but when he finally captured the pawn on the 25th move, it was with the wrong piece.
Taking with the knight would have led to approximate equality. As played, Fischer's king side pawns were badly weakened. Petrosian had excellent winning chances in the resulting ending.
Fischer's one advantage in the situation was on the time clock. After 30 moves Fischer had about half an hour left for the 10 remaining moves on the time control, while Petrosian had about three minutes.
Petrosian started to move rapidly, trying to reach the 40th move without changing his favorable formation. He could then adjourn the game, with ample time to analyze and find the best winning method.
Though his moves varied, Petrosian missed the fact that the identical position occurred three times after Fischer's 30th, 32nd and 34th moves.
A special rule allows a draw to be claimed in such a situation. And Fischer, who had been alert to the possibility, immediately took advantage, gaining a rather fortunate half-point.
Though the first three games were hardly perfect chess, they were tense and exciting throughout. The same cannot be side for the fourth game, which resulted in a draw in 20 moves and just over an hour of play.
The opening turned into what is known as the Maroczy bind variation of the Sicilian Defense. White has an advantage in space, but the opening has been thoroughly analyzed, and chances are considered equal for both sides.
The queens were exchanged early, and in another few moves the rooks and knights also had disappeared. The resulting ending with bishops and pawns was quite equal in material and position. Fischer offered a draw when making his 20th move. Petrosian was agreeable and accepted, thus ending the game. The large audience was clearly disappointed at the early finish.
Petrosian is accustomed to peaceful draws of this character, but they are a rarity for Fischer. He probably decided it was a good strategy to draw with the black pieces, and go for a win when he has the slight advantage of the first move.
