Cover Story / GM Robert Byrne
Robert Byrne (left) playing GM Larry Evans circa 1965. Byrne’s brother Donald sits next to Robert.
Kh8 28. Bd3 Rg8 29. Bxf5 Rg6 30. Bxg6 fxg6 31. Ne4 b5 32. g5 Bb7 33. Nxf6 Nf8 34. Qh2 Bc8 35. Qe5 Ne6 36. Nd7+, Black resigned.
Byrne also defeated eventual winner
Bobby Fischer a few rounds earlier in the same tournament. Byrne had reportedly prepared the above line in the Najdorf Poison Pawn for Fischer. However, he drew the black pieces against Fischer, so he decided to try it against Evans instead.
French Defense, Tarrasch Variation (C04) GM Robert Fischer GM Robert Byrne
U.S. Championship (8), New York, NY December 23, 1965
1. e4 e6 2. d4 d5 3. Nd2 Nc6 4. c3 e5 5. exd5 Qxd5 6. Ngf3 exd4 7. Bc4 Qh5 8. O-O Nf6 9. Qe1+ Be7 10. Nxd4 O-O 11. Be2 Bg4 12. Nxc6 Bd6 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, White resigned.
Byrne was undefeated at the U.S. Open
in Seattle 1966. He compiled a score of 13- 2 with 11 wins and draws against Bisguier, Saidy, Canadian GM Duncan Suttles and co-champion Benko. Benko had one loss and drew with Suttles in addition to Byrne. Fischer was the dominant player in the
U.S. throughout the late sixties and early seventies and Byrne, who was 15 years older, remained in Bobby’s shadow through - out this period. Byrne attended the 1972 World Championship match between Bobby Fischer and Boris Spassky in Reykjavik as a correspondent for Chess Life & Review and co-authored a book about the match entitled, Both Sides of the Chessboard. I met GM Byrne, and his wife Maria, at
Donald Byrne’s induction into the U.S. Chess Hall of Fame in 2002. Byrne struck me as a very serious guy and a deliberate thinker, but he was certainly willing to share a story or two about his chess experiences when asked. He told me stories about Donald Byrne and the chess Olympiads in Havana 1966 and Haifa 1976. And he remarked that while in Reykjavik he was one of Fischer’s late- night tennis opponents. He explained that Bobby would warm up by hitting balls back and forth for 20 to 30 minutes or more until Byrne started to work up a sweat. Just before Byrne could say he
was ready to call it a night, Bobby shouted, “OK, let’s play.” Then he would volley for serve and begin keeping score. It was a pattern he followed each time they played. (see more about Fischer’s tennis on page 9. ~Ed.) Rumor has it that Byrne’s favorite tennis sparring partner over the years was Yasser Seirawan. Robert and Donald faced each other in
serious competition 14 times. Donald held the edge 9-5, and most people who knew both of them felt that Donald possessed the most talent at an early age. Robert, the elder brother, won the first two of their formal encounters and Donald dominated after that. Donald attained the interna- tional master title before passing away at the age of 45 in 1976. Robert Byrne possessed a dry sense of
humor, often missed by the casual observer. During one of the early New York Opens, Byrne reached a Philidor position in a rook and pawn ending a pawn down against a master who was 30 years his junior. After making his move, Byrne got up from the board and quietly walked over to greet his friend Paul Albert. After a long think, his opponent came over and softly said, “I think the game is a draw, isn’t it?” Byrne replied with a twinkle in his eye, “Against a grand master it is.” Then, as the player politely shook his hand and
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