MARK RUBERY CHESS

Some years ago the Chessbase site conceived the following elaborate hoax detailing Fischer’s communications with numerous players during pivotal times in their chess careers…

‘After the death of the great chess legend Bobby Fischer, the examination of his legal estate has yielded some intriguing information, gleaned from the hard disk of his notebook computer. Apparently the reclusive former World Champion followed the chess activities of his colleagues quite closely, and in fact corresponded with a few of them. Today we received copies of his letters of which this is the first…’

Date: 29 Sept 1978 02:12:07 -0700

From: Robert J Fischer <61713.1244@compuserve. com>

To: [Deleted]

Subject: Your match against Karpov Manila, 9/28/1978

Dear Viktor,

I was glad to see that you followed my advice and played the King’s Indian Attack. 10 P-KB3 against his stupid Tartakower was nice, wasn’t it, even if you lost that game. But playing 10 P-KB3 in the Open Ruy Lopez was going too far. The 17th game was a cheapo. The Russians use all kinds of tricks. Forget the 27th game, these things happen. I think that the psychologist made you nervous. You have to fight back on that front as well. Complain about everything, about the color of his shoes, the flavor of his yogurt, everything.

You asked me for advice, I can only say just play the Open Ruy again.

He will be nervous and think that you have prepared something for him.

With white you should continue to play 1 P-QB4 and then try 3 P-K4.

Against Queen’s Gambit play the Exchange. The idea of playing the Pirc which comes from your second Keene I think is very bad. Whatever you do, don’t play that. It doesn’t fit your style and Karpov knows it very well. I repeat: DO NOT play the Pirc.

Robert

PS: If you tell anybody about our correspondence I will personally deal with you. My greetings to Petra.

I guess the Internet (compuserve!) not being as accessible in the late 70s as it is now might have been a clue to the authenticity of the e-mail, although the use of descriptive notation was a nice touch. But then again had there been such a communication and had Korchnoi not essayed the Pirc in that critical 32nd game, Mr Korchnoi might well have been world champion. Then a match between the two would have been a distinct possibility…

WHITE TO PLAY AND WIN

Rubinstein was an artist whose masterpieces are the priceless legacy of an unhappy genius. – Reuben Fine