How to Defeat Bobby Fischer with the French Defense

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Robert James Fischer vs Vladimir Kovacevic
Rovinj/Zagreb (1970), Rovinj/Zagreb YUG, rd 8, Apr-21
French Defense: Winawer Variation. Winckelmann-Riemer Gambit (C15)
1. e4 e6 2. d4 d5 3. Nc3 Bb4 4. a3 Bc3 5. bc3 de4 6. Qg4 Nf6 7. Qg7 Rg8 8. Qh6 Nbd7 9. Ne2 b6 10. Bg5 Qe7 11. Qh4 Bb7 12. Ng3 h6 13. Bd2 O-O-O 14. Be2 Nf8 15. O-O Ng6 16. Qh6 Rh8 17. Qg5 Rdg8 18. f3 e3 19. Be3 Nf8 20. Qb5 Nd5 21. Kf2 a6 22. Qd3 Rh2 23. Rh1 Qh4 24. Rh2 Qh2 25. Nf1 Rg2 26. Ke1 Qh4 27. Kd2 Ng6 28. Re1 Ngf4 29. Bf4 Nf4 30. Qe3 Rf2
Bobby Fischer won the "Tournament of Peace" by a full two points over his nearest competitors, which included 10 other Grandmasters in a field of 18 players. The tournament was held in two different cities in Yugoslavia; Rovinj from April 12th to April 26th, and Zagreb from April 27th to May 8th. Fischer jumped quickly into the lead, winning 6.5/7 points to claim first place. In the eighth round, Fischer was defeated in 30 moves by a little known Yugoslav by the name of Vlado Kovacevic (Fischer vs V Kovacevic, 1970). This was Fischer's first loss since losing to Efim Geller in Skopje (1967). He defeated Gligoric in the next round and had a point and a half lead over the field through nine rounds. His final three rounds were tough draws against Browne (who should have won), Korchnoi and Petrosian.
The tournament followed the USSR vs. Rest of the World (1970) match in Belgrade and the Unofficial Speed Chess Championship in Herceg Novi (which was also won by Fischer). Several players that played in both of these tournaments made the trip to play in Rovinj/Zagreb: Fischer, Hort, Ivkov, Korchnoi, Petrosian, Smyslov and Uhlmann. Svetozar Gligoric also made the trip from Belgrade to Rovinj/Zagreb, but did not enter the blitz tournament.
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[@domjon9797]

9:30 According to Kovacevic himself, Petrosyan's wife apporached to him (as he was under great tension and couldn't sit in the chair but was walking all over the room) and tried to tell him a few words, but he couldn't understand her at all. Not only beacause he doesn't speak Russian, but also because he was completely focused on what to do next. So, Kovacevic actually brought all the game on his shoulders by himself, learning only from mistakes made by previous player who tried to play French defense against Fischer two days earlier.

[@ijij8191]

@gJb 1 yeah you sound like you are using your head right? So tell me if the russians were so good (they could tell moves to some croatian player to beat fischer) why did they lose every single game to fischer in that tournament. Kovacevic obviously knew that opening just a bit better then fischer. Use your head. Idiot

[@rafaelkovac4211]

The player Kovačević watched against Fischer and remebered all his mistakes in the French was legendary Wolfgang Ullman.

[@domjon9797]

@gJb 1 You should see how Kovacevic described that game in his own words. Even after so many years, his voice trembles when describing his feelings and what he went through while playing against Fischer. It's was a rollercoaster of emotions for him. What is highly more probable is soviet propaganda tried to "steal" his victory and portray it as their own. On the top of what was already said up there: no russian player could beat Fischer during that tournament. And last but not least: why Fischer didn't react if there was something weird going on? Fischer did two things that goes in favor of Kovacevic's story: first, after Kovacevic attacked Fischer for the first time, Fischer was thinking about his next move for more than half an hour. Kovacevic said he felt how Fischer was off the track and wasn't sure what to do next. And second, when the game was over, Fischer shaked hands with Kovacevic and said "Very good!" to him. There was no ANY sign of his doubt or suspicion. So, when you put all that into equation, it's easy to conclude Kovacevic beat him fair and straight.

[@domjon9797]

@@rafaelkovac4211 Thx man, I wasn't sure who he was, thanks for the update!

[@crab_striker1961]

Ah, finally... Some toxic idiots in an agadmator video's comment section

[@Laenthal]

You know it's gonna be an exceptional game when a loosing player is Fischer playing whites.

[@babykevinxoxo]

Fischer was young

[@TheImadoglu00]

@@babykevinxoxo he was young but also undefeated for 3 years at the time

[@jasonmichael3676]

@@babykevinxoxo This was 1970. Fischer was in his prime.

[@shubhendranathsingh9888]

Yeah he was young for his whole life

[@ChocolateMilk..]

Loosing is not a word.

[@greg939]

I love how all the best moves are pawn moves...

[@TheLordoftheDarkness]

That's why I never find them.

[@SadParting97]

Cuz there's nothing to play but the pawn

[@ZrtvaKvalitete]

I just watched Kovačević comment this game for Croatian tv couple years ago.It is amazing how excited he still is talking about this game after all those years.He explains that the Winaver variation 3...Bb4 was not his main opening choice at that time but rather 3...Nf6 but he decided to play it because of the game Fischer-Ullmann which was played 3 rounds earlier in the same tournament and Fischer won that game pretty easily.He said he had a feeling black can play much better in the opening so he went for the move 3...Bb4 just because he knows Fischer didnt like playing 4.e5 and entering those kind of blocading positions in French and that he will play 4.a3 and sac the e4 pawn just like he did against Ullmann.He also talks about that cold war conspiracy theory that the Russians were telling him the moves and he explains how that theory came about.Kovačević explains he was so excited to play Bobby and he was consantly walking around the hall for that reason.At the moment Fischer played his move pawn to f3 he says to himself : " Is Fischer really such a big Patzer to allow me Nh4?Wait a minute,Bobby is not Patzer at all!Let me see what is he up to.And than i realized he wants to sac a queen for a rook and a minor pice and to open up the f-file and have a real good compesation."He says Rona Petrosian did say something in Russian to him passing by in the tournament hall but he didnt know russian and he didnt understand what did she say to him.He also said after he played his last move Rook to f2 Fischer resined,stood up and said: "Really good" and he left the hall.He also says that he bearly have time to sign the score sheet because Tigran Petrosian tried to take his score sheet away saying:" For Moscow ! This must be sent to Moscow right away so russian chess fans could see Fischer can be beaten!" Here is the link kzbin.info/www/bejne/fqqoqYN_gcqVitk

[@animezoneamv9116]

Soviets are so immatured 😂 at that time. All soviets were simply crushed to tiny pieces by Fischer and Petrosian also.

[@mr.barnes2630]

I am 15 and I just began to play chess a week ago. Thanks for the video! It motivates me :)

[@agadmator]

+Edward Karim Glad to hear it :)

[@entityzero1269]

Let me challenge u i am also fifteen

[@jandom9008]

Edward Karim 😂😂😂😂

[@jandom9008]

Edward Karim you will hate it

[@abnerlouischarles]

Edward Karim that's the same age I learned it. I'm 17 now

[@zoodidwa]

Hello. Im a long time sub over at MatoJelic. Just discovered your channel. I dig your style. Short, concise, informative, and entertaining analysis. Great job. Subbed.

[@agadmator]

Thanks :)

[@furkankarakaya26]

:))

[@arunavamaulik19]

Hello Antonio..you have no idea how much i look forward to your videos everyday! Please keep up the good work for years to come....!

[@Dragonball7seven]

Im 22 i just started playing. Watch these videos every night and it has really trained my mind to operate differently when playing and its been winning me a lot of low level games lately, thanks

[@xyon9090]

*How to troll Agadmator* . . . . Play the French defense against him.

[@arnabnath6601]

😂😂😂😂😂

[@krileym]

E6 was played, and it was in this position that Agadmator resigned.

[@kukass333]

lots of fun watching your videos !!! been watching at least one every day, very nice and entertaining. keep up the good work :)

[@richardfeynman5560]

Amazing game and also amazing how well everything is explained on this great channel!

[@bilaldeveci6499]

Agadmator I love u and Mikhail tal for the beautiful times you giving to me in my mind. So keep those Mikhail Tal matches coming!

[@chazkennedy2919]

Hey Agadmator, I just got home from work here in the USA and in my mailbox was the book you suggested I buy , The life and games of Mikhail Tal .Can't wait to start reading , thx and keep up the great work with your channel !

[@tusharbasra9724]

Hey Agad. Thanks man. Thanks to you i can finally understand whats going on

[@raven801]

thank you very much for this game. keep up the great work..

[@michaele.2583]

This goddamn french-defence, indeed - often you get the feeling with white, you get into such strangleholds even with the best play possible (without intending to compare myself with Fischer, but if it happens to him, there might be some truth in this impression)!

[@SSmitar]

Well, finally a game where Booby Fisher loses and that too in French defense? O_o That was a bit of shock to be honest. As always, excellent commentary.

[@eastweymouthchris]

He was known for underperforming against the French defense.

[@ShermanSitter]

"before this he hadn't lost a game in 3 years" ...wow

[@jmtluimem6427]

excellent analysis, thx ..

[@anuragpratt3375]

hey man.. Houston ,TX, USA here.. I'm drunk for unknown/undisclosed reasons.. but..,, your game analysis is the best there is.. keep up the good work agadmator. hope to meet u one day in person.. good luck.. god bless..

[@chazkennedy2919]

Hey Agadmater, I just got home from work here in the USA and in my mailbox was ...The life and games of Mikhail Tal ...which you suggested when I asked you which book of Tals I should read .So, thanks for the suggestion .I cant wait to start reading !

[@leovinci3149]

I was just thinking when you will upload :D

[@nathananthonybarber8861]

Same here

[@GoranRadic]

This is why I always play French against agadmator. Even today I did it. :)

[@agadmator]

+Goran Radic I will secretly master it and destroy everyone :D

[@jmtluimem6427]

(french is all about women .. everybody knows it)

[@jmtluimem6427]

can you find a queen jumping to g4 in another opening this is french cancan..

[@arnabnath6601]

@@agadmator 😂😂😂😂😂😂

[@arnabnath6601]

😜😜😜😁😁😂😂😂

[@oscaro.172]

Hey Agadmator! I hope I'm early enough for you to read this: I love your commentary! I think you and Suren and Mato make the top 3 :) please never stop!

[@agadmator]

+Oscar O. Thanks Oscar. I'll do my best :)

[@vernie7882]

Oscar O. I fuckin' hate Suren, not sure how you can put him up there with those 2.

[@ClarkPotter]

No love for Danny King?

[@MrSupernova111]

Please post the other game from Kovačević #suggestion

[@agadmator]

+MrSupernova111 Yes, yes. I will :)

[@srikanths7873]

@ 10:59 why didn't the bishop move to *d2* - very poor move to protect the bishop with the King, giving up the pawn to the rook :( sorry Fischer, something fishy :)

[@Norpan506]

good

[@spoileralert227]

Here it is: kzbin.info/www/bejne/d3uUfGCdbdWljsU

[@CaptainsvLogs]

I can't get over how many SUBS you have.

[@vasakeidruzina7338]

Kovacevic played it for the first time in his life then. You have a video where he talks about it on balkan language but he says that he never played it before. Video is called " Iz ličnog ugla - Kako sam pobedio Fišera".

[@martinbrkic14]

It was the first time in his life that he played Winaver variation of French defense, not the French defense. He was lifetime practitioner of French, but before the game against the Fisher, according to him, he had almost exclusively responded by 3...Nf6 to 1.e4 e6 2.d4 d5 3.Nc3 (the so called Classical variation of French)

[@plenumguy11]

You rock. Good job buddy.

[@mrblacky6882]

#suggestion Vassily Ivanchuk - Viktor Moskalenko, 1988. Pozdrav :D

[@bezzlebedeviled4756]

4:11 -- This is where Bobby's slips off the rails. He had just played Ne2 last turn, presumably with Ng3 in mind -- and that is his best move now. Ng3, Bb7, Be2, and suddenly it is Black who is feeling cramped, as while White is ready to castle, the Black queen would have to go to e7 to get out of the way, and it she does, then a4 followed by Ba3 are coming post-castle.

[@anugrahitshukla759]

I really like it whenever you say a good piece at good position a "monster". I'm just saying what I like you're great! That French defense was amazing! Will you show that immortal game as well?

[@BeerdyBruceLeeCentral]

Wow great game

[@mikestyon5396]

Can you show some Svetozar Gligoric games ?

[@johnnygks]

hey agadmator i hope you make a tournanment again i want to play against you i have just begun playing chess and i really enjoy it cheers!

[@Shockprowl]

Amazing game, thank you.

[@omarwhite2198]

Thank you

[@fairytalejediftj7041]

Yes, please show the Kovačević immortal. :)

[@TeddyIV_777]

#Suggestion Please make more videos about the french defense... thank you

[@whateverybodyknowswebuiltt3785]

He always know so much about the back stories to the games

[@kylescottjohnston]

Love your vids enough to download chess with friends again after a year of not playing. First game corrupted. Can yall recommend an app. Also I like to try the French defense for some reason

[@hnalike7778]

Master piece

[@michaelshaw8778]

Wow, what a sweet game. I would like to see more from Vladimir

[@justindam8089]

4:05 "LIKE DIS" - Agadmator

[@merapi236]

Any chance you could find a couple of games where obscure openings are played like the clemenz opening 1.h3 or the Andersson opening 1.a3? Just to see the game played in a different way. Brilliant show, love it.

[@chengzhou8711]

Sometimes, I really love it when very strong players lose badly especially here. I totally respect all types of brilliance.

[@velvety2528]

I would love to see Kovačević's immortal game

[@MrSupernova111]

Use the hashtag. Look on the bottom of the video.

[@jasonmitchell5148]

I can't watch chess games on other KZbin channels anymore. Your's is my favorite.

[@vitakyo982]

In your analyze , at 6:34 , after rook to h8 , white can play bishop takes knight on f8 ...

[@zeljosarajevic]

So Yugoslavia was a Mordor for Fischer, first Skoplje than Rovinj. Were there any more games he lost in Yugoslavia, or by Yugoslavian chess player? Greetings from Sarajevo to amazing KZbin channel!

[@dariobarisic3502]

#LetsMakeChessASubjectInSchools :D

[@iceinhuman9139]

at my school in the USA, we made chess theory an official subject, and elective! i was in the very first one years ago and it was awesome.

[@aregn9661]

It is a school subject in Armenia now

[@SSmitar]

@Areg N: Oh that sounds pretty cool. Is it because of Levon Aronian?

[@aregn9661]

Not only him but also Tigran Petrosian who popularized chess in Armenia so his impact is unforgetable here.

[@aaronalfer2615]

#MakeChessGreatAgain

[@lucag.b.5994]

first off thank you for another amazing video and yes please #Kovačević

[@MrSupernova111]

use the proper hashtag. See the bottom of the video

[@alekssavic1999]

Agadmator YOU LEGEND

[@watersgilmour43]

After white f3, what di you think about playing knight d5? Seems good too and was my guess for the great move for black

[@kingmakerbull]

@Antonio, The Best defense against the French was played by Fischer himself twice. The legendary game against Myagmarsuren where he dismantles the French with King's Indian Attack (KIA) and again he demonstrates the same against Oscar Panno. I have used it many times now and it holds up amazing well against the French, getting black into a lot of trouble. If you so desire, it would be nice to show the Fischer Myagmarsuren game in your channel so that many people will benefit immensely. Thanks

[@agadmator]

+kingmakerbull I did the first game already

[@kingmakerbull]

Ah, I see..The one against Panno is also an amazing game! Also check this KIA out against Sicilian French of Irina Krush... www.chessgames.com/perl/chessgame?gid=1802491 Black was busted before a blunder by white.. Maybe this can be shown on your channel.. The main thing is very few people play KIA, maybe a word around will help!

[@ninjaong87]

He mentioned this game so many times I just had to check this out in 2023.. lol

[@agadmator]

It's incredible!

[@Sarothis]

show the immortal game of kovacoboy

[@SSmitar]

When you are suggesting a game use #suggestion hashtag to make it more readable.

[@xyon9090]

Sarothis, Yes. Would love to see it.

[@alexandruepuran]

Fabulous Kovacevic. Fischer was like a boxer in the corner, getting punched and badly protecting himself... thanks for showing this. We have our own Romanian, Mr. Florin Gheorghiu who has an equal score after four matches with Bobby. In the first meeting, Gheorghiu won: it was the Olympiad in 1966. Maybe a #suggestion?

[@backlogguru3710]

French is my favourite opening , Emanuel Berg and Rubelovsky are great French player also simon William has many model games

[@jordan22031991]

who came here after watching pragga and topalov 's game?

[@ashokafedorava9414]

MEEE

[@sahali14]

The only video where Agad thanks his supporters for contribution to the channel but doesn't appreciate it

[@drnantz]

Love this guy.

[@rmendeljacobs2832]

"The last game Fischer lost before this one was to Effin Geller!"

[@cektek1]

Ho sgamato. One #suggestion after watching lots of your video. What about adding a speedy version of just the game. I usually find myself watching the game but spending other ten minutes is too much for me. Maybe adding some slowmo when important moves are shown... Anyway nice videos!

[@davidjesse8689]

Please show more French Defense games .. those which are instructional. Thank you.

[@amyalindaily3781]

Thanks.

[@TheMilos1984]

#suggestion Why don't you show that Bernstein - Capablanca game from 1914 where Capa won with a wonderful queen sacrifice? Love your work btw!

[@TheBarnabascolins]

In Classical formats, i find people can take their time to refute much of it, but in blitz and bullet, you can often leave poisoned pieces which allow you great counterplay. You can also just defend without the need for a fianchetto allowing your bishop to stay in center and attack opponents king. I love the french and if you like London, the french and slavs give you much more defensive resources with the ability to counter-attack than the traditional e5.

[@bezzlebedeviled4756]

2:57 -- It's debatable exactly when Fischer starting losing this game, but I'd say it was all the way back here, where a3 is a much weaker play than Bd3, which was needed to inhibit black's imminent Pxe4 after BxN, PxN. Castling to the side of the board where exactly all of Kovačević's pieces would soon be predictably present certainly didn't help matters either; Fischer's king was a lot better protected underneath his pair of bishops than anywhere else, and this particular turn (the one in which he castled) is the last in which Fischer would enjoy any sort of tempo. Instead of castling, the time was right for Bxh3, as black can no longer follow with Rg4 (bottling up the white queen) since the white bishop is now covering g4. If, following Bxh3, then Rh8 (seemingly pinning the bishop), then Bxf8 -- gobbling the knight the black just moved there while threatening his queen. The queen cannot take the bishop (because then the other knight is seized by white's queen), and so probably eRxB, followed by white's queen escaping to the black diagonal formerly occupied by his bishop.

[@Moronvideos1940]

I see your wonderful little dog is not having a fit today ! He or she is really cute !

[@ivandragicevic6786]

Hi Antonio, You can find a nice Kovacevics pic from that period in Viktor Moskalenkos book The Wonderful Winawer. The game against Fischer is the very first game in the book. Kovacevic still had almost all of his hair and some cool sideburns ha ha. Oh yes, and his tie on that pic was as ugly as hell. Pozdrav!

[@Norpan506]

Interesting game!

[@nebilm8947]

that h6 move is nowadays pretty common in this variation but in these times it was unknown and if kovacevic found it over the board well then congrats

[@piotrekz4032]

Beautifull game

[@shzs1823]

#suggestion can you plz show gary kasparov vs deep blue game. i would love to see you analyze it.

[@chantzcoleman7482]

Can you post some Vasilly Evanchuk?! #suggestion

[@paulpatricio2427]

Post a video of the game he's considering three years after this game. please Agadmator!!

[@Wi11daThri11]

@ 6:08, why doesn't white capture knight with Bishop Bxf6 and then either trade Queens or escape with his own depending on Black's response?? (The bishop can't be lost if it's traded off..)

[@gerard1867]

I see medo!

[@franciscopareja2919]

But in 12:07, if white make a waiting move, for example a pawn, how the black continues with the atack?

[@georgetodd5795]

what would have happened if Fischer had played bishop captures knight at 4:35?

[@manuelodabashian]

Very nice game

[@abiliodepaula3832]

impressionante Jogo !

[@avinashnayak7398]

#suggestion Garry Kasparov vs Viswanathan Anand 1991 Reggio Emilia tournament This game also features the French Defense, and black won that game. Please do this game as well.

[@kickdogseal]

Wow. I instantly pushed for the pawn myself.

[@jasonmichael3676]

Great game.

[@shantoreywilkins651]

👑

[@yusufnasser3676]

What program do you use ?

[@vinicius3938]

First of all I opened the video to see you speaking the name on the tittle hahahahah

[@agadmator]

+vinicius richter How was it? :D

[@NYCBG]

PESEK! Srce malo! Was utterly bored and left the couch at 3:47.

[@leonardobaracchi7040]

At 10:18 cant you play the Queen to F2?

[@bojanvesic1845]

Kovacevic played first time French defence against Fischer.

[@Sevenigma777]

I think i can still feel the rage that Bobby felt after loosing this match half a century later lol

[@michaelblankenau6598]

How do you know what Fischer was feeling ?

[@pmwanjohiKing]

#suggestion Kovačević Immortal Game

[@AshishTiwari-mz7yl]

Hey agadmator!! I have one suggestion ..why don't you give us puzzles everyday..n next day its answer and other puzzle...what u say??

[@agadmator]

+Ashish Tiwari I'm preparing to create my own puzzles so you'll get some soon :D

[@AshishTiwari-mz7yl]

agadmator's Chess Channel ohhk..see we both think in a same direction ..give a high 5✋

[@agadmator]

+Ashish Tiwari It is given :D

[@MrSupernova111]

That's not a bad idea. Maybe a daily puzzle with tactic description a difficulty rating.

[@thedoctor3151]

#suggestion show us the game against matulović :D

[@AM-sp6je]

Immortals FTW! Also, there are about 20 deleted videos in the magnus Carlson playlist. Do correct it. Thanks.

[@spaceghost7807]

I hate to ask but can we see a vid where Fischer beats this same opponent now :)

[@Jonathan-ec9pp]

I love the French Defense. No. 1 pick against 1.e4 :)

[@noahwilliams2662]

sometimes ppl try to avoid my Scandinavian by pushing 2. e4 and I simply feed them the French. They are surprised and I am happy. :)

[@YingTou1]

High art.

[@modestoquinto1911]

Some say Fischer had difficulties vs french defense. Likewise vs Gm Mednis..