Author Archives: chessmusings

Review: PAWN SACRIFICE (2015) ‘Tobey Maguire is first-rate as the world’s greatest chess player’

He may have lacked social skills, but Bobby Fischer is regarded by most as the greatest chess player of all time…. Read the full article via http://ift.tt/1L7n9ZO

Der Fischer Konig vs. Der Burgermeister

I have been teaching more from the games of Bobby Fischer lately due to the recent release of the movie Pawn Sacrifice. Below are the notes to a lesson I gave last week about Bobby Fischer’s shortest recorded loss. Enjoy… [Event “Bobby Fischer’s Simultaneous Exhibition Tour”] [Site “San Francisco (USA)”] [Date “1964”] [Round “”] [WhiteContinueContinue reading “Der Fischer Konig vs. Der Burgermeister”

Interview: Steven Knight on Mastering the Game in “Pawn Sacrifice”

Of the many things Steven Knight has been up to in recent years as a writer, biographies have rarely been among them, but there was something different about “Pawn Sacrifice…. Read the full article via http://ift.tt/1Vl3jvn

‘Pawn Sacrifice’ Examines Genius Of Chess Champion Bobby Fischer

NPR’s Robert Siegel talks with chess writer and grandmaster Andy Soltis about 11th World Chess Champion Bobby Fischer and the movie Pawn Sacrifice. In the summer of 1972, the world’s attention was improbably focused on chess…. Read the full article via http://ift.tt/1NDQNIs

Pawn Sacrifice’s Tobey Maguire makes his independent move

After starring as the titular superhero in the first Spider-Man film franchise, Tobey Maguire went back to his roots as an independent movie player. Sure, Maguire made a big studio detour in 2013 portraying Nick Carraway opposite Leonardo DiCaprio’s Jay Gatsby in The Great Gatsby…. Read the full article via http://ift.tt/1WotUKF

Tobey Maguire vanquishes the difficulties of playing chess genius Bobby Fischer

It was one of the more memorable things ever said on late-night television. Toward the end of an uncommonly smart interview with a notoriously difficult man, Dick Cavett asked chess genius Bobby Fischer what, in chess, is the equivalent of a home run?… Read the full article via http://ift.tt/1OVwLse

Would chess champion Bobby Fischer have made it today?

The brilliant new Hollywood movie Pawn Sacrifice portrays the life of tormented chess genius Robert James “Bobby” Fischer from his early days as a prodigy to his historic 1972 match, at age 29, with Russian world champion Boris Spassky…. Read the full article via http://ift.tt/1MKpwnA

Tobey Maguire and Liev Schreiber great in ‘Pawn Sacrifice’

The challenge of “Pawn Sacrifice” was to capture the colorful Cold War ’70s, the inner strategies of one man’s paranoid mind and make chess cinematic. Check, and mate…. Read the full article via http://ift.tt/1KrPZT6

Interview | Ed Zwick on ‘Pawn Sacrifice’ and Bobby Fischer’s Superhuman Hearing

“Edward Zwick is a diverse director, to say the least. He came to major Hollywood fame in 1989 with the Civil War drama Glory, and has made several other impressive historical dramatic epics since, including The Last Samurai, Legends of the Fall, and Defiance. He examined modern day warfare with Courage Under Fire and TheContinueContinue reading “Interview | Ed Zwick on ‘Pawn Sacrifice’ and Bobby Fischer’s Superhuman Hearing”

Pawn Sacrifice Special Lesson: Fischer Channels Morphy

To celebrate the release of the movie Pawn Sacrifice, I have decided to put the spotlight on Bobby Fischer’s games in many of my group chess lessons. Below, I’ve attached my notes to the Fischer game that I presented this last Saturday at Achiever Institute in Fremont. If you missed this lesson there, I willContinueContinue reading “Pawn Sacrifice Special Lesson: Fischer Channels Morphy”

When Chess Was King of the City

In the summer of 1972, one of the city’s newspapers did an informal survey to see what patrons in local bars were watching on TV. It was a time before sports bars existed, yet it seemed reasonable to assume that most would be tuned in to watch the New York Mets, who were still inContinueContinue reading “When Chess Was King of the City”

California Chess Classes to Feature the Games of Bobby Fischer

In honor of the movie Pawn Sacrifice, National Champion Chess Coach Chris Torres is pleased to announce two new chess programs that will feature the games of Bobby Fischer.     Beginning September 19, 2015 The Fremont Achiever Chess Team Saturday from 1:00 until 3:00 43475 Ellsworth St. Fremont, CA 94539 (510) 226-6161 REGISTER HEREContinueContinue reading “California Chess Classes to Feature the Games of Bobby Fischer”

Pawn Sacrifice Movie Review

To this day, many consider Robert James Fischer to be the greatest chess player ever. With the entire world watching in 1972, the eccentric genius took on Boris Spassky of the U.S.S.R. in what was not just merely the “Chess Match of the Century”, but also the main battlefront of the Cold War. After theContinueContinue reading “Pawn Sacrifice Movie Review”

Rest in Peace Grandmaster Puggly

Below is chess expert Francisco Anchondo’s report on the passing of Grandmaster Puggly.     It is my sad duty to report that my infamous great lovely side kick has passed. On August 25 , 2015 at 1145 pm Puggly expired. (Unfortunately I was hospitalized in Vista California and my GM Puggly was with the bestContinueContinue reading “Rest in Peace Grandmaster Puggly”

Bobby Fischer’s Game of the Century

In honor of the upcoming release of Pawn Sacrifice, I present my lesson notes for Bobby Fischer’s Game of the Century. 1 GRUNFELD def. Byrne D. – Fischer R. 0:1, 1956. 1. ¤f3 The knight is correctly placed on f3 in so many openings that Donald Byrne is keeping his intentions hidden and not committingContinueContinue reading “Bobby Fischer’s Game of the Century”

Emory Tate’s Magnificent Mate in 4

Below is the conclusion to a chess game from International Master Emory Tate’s simultaneous exhibition at the Fremont Summer Chess Camp played on 7/21/2015. For the previous moves, please refer to “Mate in 4 Challenge from Emory Tate’s Simultaneous Exhibition at MSJE.”