Hint and Explanation: Force Checkmate
Bobby Fischer famously once explained that he believed in good moves, not psychology.
Despite this statement — which attested to his not deliberately distracting, disturbing or denigrating an opponent — Fischer was a superb psychologist.
Sitting a few feet across from each other for hours at a time, there is no place for protagonists to hide during a chess game. As a result, they develop different techniques to handle the ongoing contretemps.
A common one is to display a feigned impassivity concealing the emotions within. This is a tactic familiar from most human interaction — with sports, business and love the most notable.
Fischer once observed that Boris Spassky was exceptionally difficult to read. Whether winning or losing, his expression appeared the same. But, with time, Fischer apparently solved the Spassky conundrum.
After their 1972 title match in Iceland, the Russian confessed that Fischer — who peered at him through slits formed by fingers of a hand, ostensibly placed to hide his own face — seemed to read Spassky’s emotions easily.
This was true especially when Spassky was uncertain or lacking confidence.
Trickery or not, Fischer was palpably intimidating. His confidence, preparedness, energy and eagerness to do battle created no little uncertainty and anxiety in those who faced him.
Below is a win by Wesley So against Vassily Ivanchuk from the Tata Steel international tournament in Wijk aan Zee, Netherlands.
Ivanchuk So
1. e4 e5
2. Nf3 Nc6
3. Bb5 a6
4. Ba4 Nf6
5. O-O Be7
6. Re1 b5
7. Bb3 O-O
8. h3 Bb7
9. d3 d5
10. exd5 Nxd5
11. N(b)d2 Qd7
12. Nxe5 Nxe5
13. Rxe5 Nf4
14. Nf3 Nxg2
15. Kxg2 a5
16. Rxe7 Qxe7
17. c3 Ra6
18. d4 Rf6
19. d5 a4
20. Bc2 Rd8
21. Qe1 Qd7
22. Ng5 h6
23. Ne4 Rg6ch
24. Kh2 f5
25. Ng3 Qxd5
26. Qg1 Qf3
White resigns.
Solution to Beginner’s Corner: 1. ... Re5! (threatens both ... Ne7 and ... Nf4 mate).