Bobby Fischer’s Greatest Victory…

What do you consider to be Bobby Fischer’s greatest victory? There are many to choose from, but here are five games worth mentioning. Voice your opinion by voting in the poll below. Be sure to suggest additional games worthy of this list.

1) Byrne vs. Fischer - 1956 (Grunfeld, 41 moves, 0-1) Thirteen-year old Bobby Fischer upsets former U.S. Open Champion Donald Byrne with this brilliant queen-sacrifice victory. Noted chess author Fred Reinfeld described this game as "one of the most brilliant, pretty, and one of the most magnificent games of chess ever played." Winner of the first brilliancy prize in chess and soon labeled “The Game of the Century,” this game ranks as one of the all-time greatest games every played. It’s a must-have for any short-list on Fischer’s best game.

2) Fischer vs. Spassky - 1972 World Championship Game #6 (Queen's Gambit Declined, 41 moves, 1-0) In this classic win, Fischer surprises Spassky by playing the Queen’s Gambit for the first time in his life. Fischer’s play here is brilliant in its simplicity. Spassky himself was so impressed with the game that he joined the audience in applauding Fischer’s victory. Grandmaster Miguel Najdorf describes this game as a Mozart Symphony. With this win giving Fischer three victories, against Spassky’s two, the game is often considered the turning point of the world championship match.

3) Fischer vs. Tal - 1961 (Sicilian, Taimanov Variation, 47 moves, 1-0) This game is a classic gem against the beloved aggressor Mikhail Tal. Fischer calls himself “the moral victor” in this aggressive battle that Fischer lists among his 60 most memorable games. Fischer sacrifices his queen for a rook and a pawn and the ensuing positional advantage gives Fischer the victory.

4) Fischer vs. Benko – 1963 US Championship (Austrian Attack, 21 moves, 1-0) Fischer aggressively attacks Benko’s kingside in this Austrian attack ending in just 21 moves. With 19 Rook to f6, Fischer blockades Benko’s f pawn and prevents any defense or escape of Benko’s king. With this victory, Fischer completes a remarkable feat, winning the 1963 U.S. Chess Championship with a perfect score of 11/11. This finish remains the only perfect score in the tournament’s history.

5) Fischer vs. Reshevsky – 1958 A lesser known game of Fischer’s, but still one worth mentioning. When this game is played, Reshevsky is forty-seven years old and among the chess elite, having won the US Chess Championship five times. In just twelve moves, fourteen year-old Bobby Fischer wins Reshevsky’s queen. Fischer finds an opening trap that he reportedly read about in a Russian Chess Magazine. Reshevsky continues to play but eventually resigns after 42 moves.