ANew York Times, New York, New York, Monday, October 25, 1971 - Page 30
Petrosian's Indisposition Common to Fischer Rivals by Al Horowitz
There is something about Bobby Fischer's winning ways that makes his opponents sick. The “nervous exhaustion” suffered by Tigran Petrosian of the Soviet Union last week that interrupted the original schedule of his match with Fischer for the right to play Boris Spassky of the Soviet Union marked the third straight time that one of the American's rivals in the eliminations had been taken ill.
Dr. Cecilio Skliar, the official physician of the Argentine Chess Federation, disclosed that the 48-year-old Petrosian was suffering from low blood circulation after having dropped his second straight game in the 12-game series to Fischer.
In the opening of the eliminations, Fischer found another Soviet opponent, Mark Taimanov, suffering from similar troubles after losing the first three matches of a 6-0 rout at Vancouver in May. The American's next 6-0 victim, Bent Larsen of Denmark, didn't become exhausted until he had lost four in a row at Denver.
A Dynamic Game
The game that preceded Petrosian's indisposition is appended. Petrosian played on the black side of a Sicilian Defense that proved dynamic, with new patterns of procedure evolving.
Black's fourth move, 4 … P-QR3, was not taxing. The alternative 4. … N-KB3 is more forceful. Against it, White may defend with 5. … N-QB3. But White has no time to develop his king-bishop and set up a new pattern of deployment.
The option 6. … QPxN threatens 7 … P-K4 and a relatively facile game. But 6. … NPxN relegates the line for Black to one that contains isolated and weak pawns.
With 12. … Q-Q2, Black introduces a tricky and trappy move, possibly at the cost of much time.
White, instead, can win the exchange. The move 13. … P-N5 is double-edged. Then, Black is forced into 13. … PxB; 14. … QxR, with an exchange plus.
With many minor men exchanged, White had two-for-one queenside majority, and Black's bishop was pinned. Moreover, White aimed directly at Black's queen-rook-pawn. To boot, Black's queen-pawn was isolated.
With 24. R-B7 begins the final incursion. And there is no good defense.
In the sixth game Petrosian was White in a Queen's Fianchetto Opening, a line often played by Fischer.
When White plays 2. P-QN3, presaging a wing or Fianchetto deployment of his bishop, he invites the occupation of the center. And Black accommodates him with moves 3, 4 and 5.
White's retreat, 14. Q-K2, is a matter of perversity. He reckons on Black's willingness to exchange. Hence, he expresses his unwillingness, on principle. The swap, 14. QxQ, and the chopping down of reserve force can only help Black.
By move 31. QxQch, White has effected the exchange of queens and an inferior ending. Black's passed queen pawn is a boulder.
With P-N4, White takes a choice of evils. Move 33. RxP can be met by 33. … P-Q6, with threats of queening the pawn. With 41. N-N1, the game was adjourned.
Black had no trouble bringing the game home. But a few critics imagined that Black would be compelled to exchange rooks, after which he could make little headway.
The exchange was totally unnecessary, as Black soon showed.
Robert James Fischer vs Tigran Vartanovich Petrosian Fischer - Petrosian Candidates Final (1971), Buenos Aires ARG, rd 7, Oct-19 Sicilian Defense: Kan. Modern Variation (B42) 1-0 https://www.chessgames.com/perl/chessgame?gid=1044351 17. … Rxe7
