MARK RUBERY CHESS

The American GM Robert Byrne (1928-2013) was a long-time columnist of the New York Times (34 years) represented the United States nine times in Chess Olympiads from 1952 to 1976, winning seven medals. He became a Professor of Philosophy at the University of Indiana and only chose the path of a chess professional in the 1970s. He then reached his peak as a player by coming third in the tough Leningrad Interzonal in 1973 and qualifying for the World Championship Candidates stage where he was defeated in match play by Boris Spassky. He made original contributions in several opening systems. He was the first to play 6.Be3 against the Najdorf Variation of the Sicilian Defense (1.e4 c5 2.Nf3 d6 3.d4 cxd4 4.Nxd4 Nf6 5.Nc3 a6 6.Be3); this system has been named for him and has been very popular since the mid-1980s. He developed the Byrne Variation against the King’s Indian Defence in the Saemisch Variation, with a quick queenside expansion by Black. He used the Dutch Defence (1 d4 f5) with success when that opening was rarely seen at the top level.

His friend and colleague GM Lubosh Kavalek describes his playing style as thus:

‘Byrne was a positional player and valued sound pawn structures. He was also a stubborn defender, mastering Nimzowitsch’s prophylaxis: anticipating opponent’s attacks ahead of time. But he sharpened his style, shed off the Closed openings and in the 1970s became a dangerous king-pawn player. He had an all-around understanding of the game, evident in his writing.’

Fischer,Robert James - Byrne,Robert E [C03]

USA-ch New York (8), 1965 1.e4 e6 2.d4 d5 3.Nd2 Nc6 4.c3 e5 5.exd5 Qxd5 6.Ngf3 exd4 7.Bc4 Qh5 8.0–0 Nf6 9.Qe1+ Be7 10.Nxd4 0–0 11.Be2 Bg4 12.Nxc6? (12.Bxg4 Nxg4 13.h3 Bd6 14.N4f3 is equal) 12...Bd6! (This little move threatening mate was missed by the future world champion) 13.h3 Bxe2 14.Nd4 Bxf1 15.Qxf1 Rfe8 16.N2f3 a6 17.Bg5 Qg6 18.Rd1 Re4 19.Be3 Nd5 20.Bc1 Rae8 21.Nd2 R4e7 22.Nc4 Bf4 23.Nf3 c6 24.Nb6 Bxc1 25.Nxd5 cxd5 26.Rxc1 Re2 27.Rb1 Qc2 28.Rc1 Qxb2 29.Rb1 Qxc3 30.Rxb7 Rxa2 31.Kh2 h6 32.Qb1 Rxf2 33.Qf5 Qxf3 34.Qxf3 Rxf3 35.gxf3 Rd8 36.Rb6 d4 0–1

At the ches with me she [Fortune] gan to pleye; With her false draughts [pieces] dyvers/She staal on me, and took away my fers. And when I sawgh my fers awaye, Allas! I kouthe no lenger playe. (from The Book of the Duchess, 1369 - a knight mourning his wife compares that to the loss of a chess queen in a game against Fortune) - Geoffrey Chaucer