Articles from 1955 Index

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1944

1944, The earliest known photograph of Bobby Fischer sitting on his mother's lap when he was one year old.

1953

Bobby Fischer, January 1953. Original b/w photo source unknown. For fair use, all credits must be kept intact. Color photo version created by the developer (me, yours truly) of https://bobby-fischer-1955.blogspot.com

Bobby Fischer, January 1953. Original b/w photo source unknown. For fair use, all credits must be kept intact. Color photo version created by the developer (me, yours truly) of https://bobby-fischer-1955.blogspot.com

Dan E Mayers vs Robert James Fischer Blitz Game (1953) (blitz), New York, NY USA, Jan-?? King's Gambit: Accepted. Bishop's Gambit Bogoljubow Defense (C33) 1-0 1.e4 e5 2.f4 exf4 3.Bc4 Nf6 4.Nc3 c6 5.d4 Bb4 6.e5 Ne4 7.Qh5 O-O 8.Nge2 d5 9.Bb3 g6 10.Qh6 Bg4 11.Bd2 Nxd2 12.Kxd2 g5 13.h4 gxh4 14.Rxh4 Bf5 15.Rah1 Be7 16.Rg4+ Bg6 17.Qxh7# 1-0 https://www.chessgames.com/perl/chessgame?gid=1536486

The young chess prodigy, Bobby Fischer, 9 years old polishing off another hypothetical opponent.

Young Fischer at what he loves and does best!

1954

Jacob Altusky vs Robert James Fischer Offhand Game (1954), New York, NY USA, Dec-?? Spanish Game: Morphy Defense. Modern Steinitz Defense (C71) 0-1 1.e4 e5 2.Nf3 Nc6 3.Bb5 a6 4.Ba4 d6 5.d4 b5 6.Bb3 Bg4 7.Bxf7+ Kxf7 8.Ng5+ Qxg5 0-1 https://www.chessgames.com/perl/chessgame?gid=1536488

Offhand Game (1954), New York, NY USA, Dec-?? King's Indian Defense: Zinnowitz Variation (E90 1-0 1.d4 g6 2.c4 Nf6 3.Nc3 Bg7 4.e4 O-O 5.Bg5 d6 6.Nf3 Nbd7 7.e5 dxe5 8.dxe5 Ng4 9.Nd5 Ngxe5 10.Nxe7+ Kh8 11.Nxg6+ hxg6 12.Bxd8 1-0 https://www.chessgames.com/perl/chessgame?gid=1536487

1955

Anthony Wayne Conger vs Robert James Fischer Correspondence Game (1955) (correspondence), USA King's Indian Defense: Accelerated Averbakh Variation (E70) 1-0 1.d4 Nf6 2.c4 g6 3.Nc3 Bg7 4.e4 d6 5.Bg5 h6 6.Bh4 O-O 7.f4 c5 8.d5 Qa5 9.Qd2 Qc7 10.Bd3 e6 11.Nb5 Qb6 12.Nxd6 1-0 https://www.chessgames.com/perl/chessgame?gid=1536489

May 22, 1955

Albert Brown Humphrey vs Robert James Fischer US Amateur Ch (1955), Lake Mohegan, NY USA, rd 6, May-22 Indian Game: West Indian Defense (E61) 1/2-1/2 1.d4 Nf6 2.c4 g6 3.Nc3 Bg7 4.Nf3 O-O 5.e4 d6 6.h3 Nbd7 7.Be3 e5 8.d5 a5 9.Be2 b6 10.O-O Ne8 11.Qc2 Nc5 12.Nh2 f5 13.f3 f4 14.Bf2 Qg5 15.Kh1 Bd7 16.Rg1 Nf6 17.g4 fxg3 18.Rxg3 Qh6 19.Nd1 Nh5 20.Rg1 Bxh3 21.Be3 Nf4 22.Nf2 Bf6 23.Rg3 Bd7 24.Nfg4 Bxg4 25.Rxg4 Qg7 26.Rag1 Be7 27.Qd2 Rf7 28.R1g3 Raf8 29.Bxf4 Rxf4 30.Rh3 Qf7 31.Rgg3 Bh4 32.Rg4 Bf2 33.Bd1 1/2-1/2 https://www.chessgames.com/perl/chessgame?gid=1536490

Participants and Officials of he 1955 U.S. Junior Open. First row left to right: Bobby Fischer, Andy Staklis, Alexander Liepnieks, Ken Opp… Source: Unknown

USA Junior Chess Championship 1955, Lincoln, Nebraska, at the YMCA. From left: Robert Fischer, Andy Starlis, Alexander Liepnieks, Kenwood Opp, Henry Gross, Larry Remlinger, Green. Second row betw. A. Leipnieks & K. Opp-the winner of the tournament (9:1 score) Charles Kalme (Philadelphia). Source: Nebraska Chess. For fair use, all credits must be kept intact. Color photo version created by the developer (me, yours truly) of https://bobby-fischer-1955.blogspot.com

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Bobby Fischer plays a board game with the young Liepnieks. Source: Unknown

July 15, 1955

Robert James Fischer vs Kenneth Warner Lincoln ch-US jr (1955), Lincoln, NE USA, rd 1, Jul-15 Sicilian Defense: Classical Variation (B58) 0-1 1. e4 c5 2. Nf3 Nc6 3. d4 cxd4 4. Nxd4 Nf6 5. Nc3 d6 6. Be2 g6 7. Be3 Bg7 8. f3 O-O 9. Qd2 a6 10. O-O-O Qa5 11. Kb1 Rd8 12. g4 Nxd4 13. Bxd4 Be6 14. Qe3 Nd7 15. f4 Bxd4 16. Qxd4 Nf6 17. f5 Bd7 18. h4 Bb5 19. Bf3 Rac8 20. Nxb5 axb5 21. h5 Rc4 22. Qe3 Ra8 23. a3 Qa4 24. c3 Nxe4 25. Bxe4 Rxe4 26. Qh6 Re2 27. Rd2 Rxd2 28. Qxd2 Qe4+ 0-1 https://www.chessgames.com/perl/chessgame?gid=1044025

July 16, 1955

Lincoln ch-US jr (1955), Lincoln, NE USA, rd 2, Jul-16 King's Indian Defense: Saemisch Variation. Steiner Attack (E80) 1/2-1/2 1. d4 Nf6 2. c4 g6 3. Nc3 Bg7 4. e4 d6 5. f3 O-O 6. Bg5 Nbd7 7. Qd2 e5 8. d5 a5 9. h4 Nc5 10. Nge2 Bd7 11. Ng3 h5 12. Be2 Qc8 13. Bh6 Kh7 14. Bxg7 Kxg7 15. Rf1 Qd8 16. O-O-O Ne8 17. Rh1 f5 18. exf5 Bxf5 19. Nxf5+ Rxf5 20. g4 Rf4 21. gxh5 gxh5 22. Rdg1+ Kh8 23. Qc2 Ng7 24. Qg6 Qf6 25. Qxf6 Rxf6 1/2-1/2 https://www.chessgames.com/perl/chessgame?gid=1044402

• The Lincoln Star Lincoln, Nebraska Saturday, July 16, 1955 — Junior Chess Enthusiasts Begin National Play Here — Twenty-five young chess enthusiasts from all over the country scratched their heads and pondered their moves Friday evening as the first round of the 10th annual junior chess championship tournament got underway at the YMCA.
  𝑽𝒊𝒆𝒘 𝒂𝒓𝒕𝒊𝒄𝒍𝒆 ➦ Read More

July 17, 1955

Jimmy Thomason vs Robert James Fischer Lincoln ch-US jr (1955), Lincoln, NE USA, rd 3, Jul-17 King's Indian Defense: Normal Variation. Rare Defenses (E90) 0-1 1. d4 Nf6 2. c4 g6 3. Nc3 Bg7 4. e4 d6 5. Nf3 O-O 6. Bd3 Bg4 7. O-O Nc6 8. Be3 Nd7 9. Be2 Bxf3 10. Bxf3 e5 11. d5 Ne7 12. Be2 f5 13. f4 h6 14. Bd3 Kh7 15. Qe2 fxe4 16. Nxe4 Nf5 17. Bd2 exf4 18. Bxf4 Ne5 19. Bc2 Nd4 20. Qd2 Nxc4 21. Qf2 Rxf4 22. Qxf4 Ne2+ 23. Kh1 Nxf4 0-1 https://www.chessgames.com/perl/chessgame?gid=1044401

July 18, 1955

Robert James Fischer vs David Ames Lincoln ch-US jr (1955), Lincoln, NE USA, rd 4, Jul-18 Four Knights Game: Italian Variation. Noa Gambit (C47) 1/2-1/2 1. e4 e5 2. Nf3 Nc6 3. Nc3 Nf6 4. Bc4 Nxe4 5. Bxf7+ Kxf7 6. Nxe4 d5 7. Neg5+ Kg8 8. d4 h6 9. Nh3 Bg4 10. dxe5 Nxe5 11. Nf4 c6 12. h3 Nxf3+ 13. gxf3 Bf5 14. Be3 Bb4+ 15. c3 Ba5 16. Rg1 Qe8 17. Nxd5 Qf7 18. Nf4 Re8 19. Qb3 Bc7 20. Qxf7+ Kxf7 21. Nh5 g6 22. Ng3 Bxh3 23. O-O-O Rd8 24. Rxd8 Bxd8 25. Rh1 Bg2 26. Rxh6 Rxh6 27. Bxh6 Bxf3 28. Be3 1/2-1/2 https://www.chessgames.com/perl/chessgame?gid=1044023

July 21, 1955

Robert James Fischer vs Viktors Pupols Lincoln ch-US jr (1955), Lincoln, NE USA, rd 7, Jul-21 Latvian Gambit: Accepted. Bilguer Variation (C40) 0-1 1. e4 e5 2. Nf3 f5 3. Nxe5 Qf6 4. d4 d6 5. Nc4 fxe4 6. Nc3 Qg6 7. Ne3 Nf6 8. Bc4 c6 9. d5 Be7 10. a4 Nbd7 11. a5 Ne5 12. Be2 O-O 13. O-O Bd7 14. Kh1 Kh8 15. Nc4 Nfg4 16. Qe1 Rf7 17. h3 Nf6 18. Nxe5 dxe5 19. Bc4 Rff8 20. Be3 Nh5 21. Kh2 Bd6 22. Bb3 Nf4 23. Bxf4 exf4 24. Qxe4 f3+ 25. g3 Bf5 26. Qh4 Rae8 27. Rae1 Be5 28. Qb4 Qh6 29. h4 g5 30. Rh1 gxh4 31. Kg1 h3 32. dxc6 bxc6 33. Qc5 Qg7 34. Kh2 Qf6 35. Qxa7 Bd4 36. Qc7 Bxf2 37. Rxe8 Rxe8 38. Rf1 Bd4 39. Rxf3 Bxc3 40. bxc3 Re2+ 41. Kh1 Be4 42. Qc8+ Kg7 43. Qg4+ Qg6 44. Qd7+ Kh6 0-1 https://www.chessgames.com/perl/chessgame?gid=1044024

July 24, 1955

Robert James Fischer vs Franklin Saksena Lincoln ch-US jr (1955), Lincoln, NE USA, rd 10, Jul-24 Italian Game: Classical Variation. Alexandre Gambit (C53) 1-0 1.e4 e5 2.Nf3 Nc6 3.Bc4 Bc5 4.c3 f5 5.d4 exd4 6.Nxd4 Bxd4 7.cxd4 Nf6 8.e5 Ne4 9.Nc3 Nxc3 10.bxc3 d5 11.exd6 Qxd6 12.O-O Na5 13.Qa4+ Nc6 14.d5 O-O 15.dxc6+ Kh8 16.Ba3 Qf6 17.Bxf8 Qxf8 18.Qb4 Qxb4 19.cxb4 bxc6 20.Rfe1 Bb7 21.Re7 Rc8 22.Rae1 1-0 https://www.chessgames.com/perl/chessgame?gid=1917792

July 25, 1955

• Lincoln Journal Star Lincoln, Nebraska Monday, July 25, 1955 — Young Native of Latvia Wins Junior Chess Contest — A Philadelphia youth born in Latvia 15 years ago has won the 10th U.S. Junior Chess Championship. Charles Kalme earned $75 worth of prizes after winning nine of his 10 matches in the tournament at the Lincoln YMCA.

July 26, 1955

• The Lincoln Star Lincoln, Nebraska Tuesday, July 26, 1955 — Ex-Latvian Wins Title — A special trophy for contestants 12 and younger went to Robert Fischer, New York.

October 03, 1955

• New York Times, New York, NY, Monday, October 03, 1955 — Gets Park Chess Prize — Eastman Wins at Washington Sq.—Boy, 12, Near Top —Charles Eastman won first prize of a $100 savings bond yesterday afternoon in the final chess tournament of the season in Washington Square Park. But he had to share the limelight with 12-year-old Bobby Fischer, who had weather the month-long contest and thirty-two eliminations before being beaten.
  𝑽𝒊𝒆𝒘 𝒂𝒓𝒕𝒊𝒄𝒍𝒆 ➦ Read More

October 05, 1955

• Gettys Images - New York Daily News, Wednesday, October 05, 1955 — Young Bobby Fischer — Bobby Fischer, 12, of 560 Lincoln Place, knows how to move about home plate as a batter. Playmate Johnny Cohen is catching. Fischer also knows how to make his move on the chessboard. Already rated an expert player with an excellent chance of someday winning international chess titles, the youngster began playing at 6. (Photo By: C.O. Mamay/NY Daily News via Getty Images)
  𝑽𝒊𝒆𝒘 𝒂𝒓𝒕𝒊𝒄𝒍𝒆 ➦ Read More

Original photo by Daily News, New York, New York Sunday, October 05, 1955
At Chess, He's on Ball Bobby Fischer, 12, of 560 Lincoln Place, Brooklyn, knows how to move about home plate as a batter. Playmate Johnny Cohen is catching. Fischer also knows how to make his move on the chessboard. Already rated an expert player with an excellent chance of some day winning international chess title, youngster began playing at 6. Besides his baseball ability, he is a speedy swimmer.

https://www.gettyimages.com/detail/news-photo/bobby-fischer-of-560-lincoln-place-knows-how-to-move-about-news-photo/112203790 https://bobby-fischer-1955.blogspot.com/2018/04/at-chess-hes-on-ball.html https://www.newspapers.com/clip/24346921/at_chess_hes_on_ball/

October 09, 1955

• Daily News New York, New York Sunday, October 09, 1955 — At Chess, He's on Ball —Bobby Fischer, 12, of 560 Lincoln Place, Brooklyn, knows how to move about home plate as a batter. Playmate Johnny Cohen is catching. Fischer also knows how to make his move on the chessboard. Already rated an expert player with an excellent chance of some day winning international chess title, youngster began playing at 6. Besides his baseball ability, he is a speedy swimmer.
  𝑽𝒊𝒆𝒘 𝒂𝒓𝒕𝒊𝒄𝒍𝒆 ➦ Read More

November 26, 1955

Bobby Fischer simultaneous exhibition held at the Manhattan Chess Club, November 26, 1955, New York. The largest of the photographs have Bobby played 12 of 86 members of the group, ages 7-12 in the Yorktown Chess Club. NY Times, December 11, 1955 featured the story as Chess War on 12 Fronts. This photograph appeared on the January 1956 Chess Review Magazine, Small Time, Big Time. Bobby played two hours, twenty minutes and scored 12-0.

Fischer exhibition 11/26/1955. William Lombardy watches on.

Christmas Greetings to the Liepnicks Family of Nebraska. Postcard courtesy of Ruta York. For fair use, all credits must be kept intact. Color photo version created by the developer (me, yours truly) of https://bobby-fischer-1955.blogspot.com

They called him “Fish”. Bobby Fischer’s sub par performance during the 1955 USA Junior Chess Championship may be due to the “hazing” he received from fellow competitors who were staying with Bobby at the Liepnieks home. According to Ruta York, the daughter of Alex Liepnieks, Bobby was targeted by Charles Kalme and fellow New Yorker, Larry Remlinger. Bobby was called “fish” and “crybaby” and, as a result, Fischer would burst into tears and call his mother. Mrs. York cited an example of a ball that strayed into a thicket full of thorns and Bobby being made to retrieve it. Another example was the bed being divided in the guest room with Bobby being made to sleep on the box spring. –Editor’s comment.

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December 11, 1955

• New York Times, New York, New York, Sunday, December 11, 1955 — Chess 'War' On 12 Fronts — The simultaneous exhibition game is a common device for displaying the talents of a chess expert. Here, a particularly young one, Bobby Fischer, 12, of the Manhattan Chess Club, is shown playing twelve of the youth group (aged 7 to 12) of the Yorkstown, N.Y. Chess Club. He won all twelve games.
  𝑽𝒊𝒆𝒘 𝒂𝒓𝒕𝒊𝒄𝒍𝒆 ➦ Read More

December 1955 Bobby Fischer Chess Simultaneous Exhibition. The event was covered in Sunday, December 11, 1955, New York Times under the title, “Chess 'War' On 12 Fronts”

Chess 'War' On 12 Fronts

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New York Times, New York, NY, Sunday, December 11, 1955

Chess 'War' On 12 Fronts
The simultaneous exhibition game is a common device for displaying the talents of a chess expert. Here, a particularly young one, Bobby Fischer, 12, of the Manhattan Chess Club, is shown playing twelve of the youth group (aged 7 to 12) of the Yorkstown, N.Y. Chess Club. He won all twelve games.

Young Bobby Fischer

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Gettys Images - New York Daily News, Wednesday, October 05, 1955

Young Bobby Fischer
Bobby Fischer, 12, of 560 Lincoln Place, knows how to move about home plate as a batter. Playmate Johnny Cohen is catching. Fischer also knows how to make his move on the chessboard. Already rated an expert player with an excellent chance of someday winning international chess titles, the youngster began playing at 6. (Photo By: C.O. Mamay/NY Daily News via Getty Images)

Gets Park Chess Prize

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New York Times, New York, NY, Monday, October 03, 1955

Gets Park Chess Prize
Eastman Wins at Washington Sq.—Boy, 12, Near Top
Charles Eastman won first prize of a $100 savings bond yesterday afternoon in the final chess tournament of the season in Washington Square Park. But he had to share the limelight with 12-year-old Bobby Fischer, who had weather the month-long contest and thirty-two eliminations before being beaten.
Mr. Eastman, who lives at 128 West Eleventh Street, defeated Joe Livingston of 111 East Twenty-eighth Street in forty-five minutes. Mr. Livingston received a $50 bond. Charles Becker of 105-15 Sixty-sixth Road, Forest Hills, Queens, received a $25 bond for third place.
But many in the crowd of 400 onlookers seemed to think the best show was given by Bobby Fischer. Despite competition from his more mature and experienced adversaries, he was unbeaten until yesterday, when he came within fifteen players of the championship. He lives at 560 Lincoln Place, Brooklyn.
The contest, played under Swiss rules, involved sixty-six persons. Thirty-three were eliminated.

At Chess, He's on Ball

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Daily News New York, New York Sunday, October 09, 1955

At Chess, He's on Ball 09 Oct 1955, Sun Daily News (New York, New York) Newspapers.com

At Chess, He's on Ball
Bobby Fischer, 12, of 560 Lincoln Place, Brooklyn, knows how to move about home plate as a batter. Playmate Johnny Cohen is catching. Fischer also knows how to make his move (←) on the chessboard. Already rated an expert player with an excellent chance of some day winning international chess title, youngster began playing at 6. Besides his baseball ability, he is a speedy swimmer.
—Story on p. 20

Brooklyn Lad Rates High in Chess World
Brooklyn, whose Dodgers have scaled the baseball heights, might well have another world champ in the not-too-distant future.
Bobby Fischer, 12, of 560 Lincoln Place, is already rated an expert chess player with an excellent possibility of some day winning the international title.
Bobby, who has won quite a few awards, recently weathered a month-long competition and 32 eliminations at a tournament in Washington Square Park. He came within 15 players of the championship against adult competition.

Brooklyn Lad Rates High in Chess World 09 Oct 1955, Sun Daily News (New York, New York) Newspapers.com

Gift Started It
He began playing chess six years ago when his sister, Joan, now 18 and a student nurse at Brooklyn College, brought home a chess set and a book of rules.
Since then Bobby has spent all of his spare time with chess and has read just about every book he could find on the subject.
Two years ago he joined the Brooklyn Chess Club, which has its headquarters at the Brooklyn Academy of Music, and has been tutored by the club president, Carmine Nigro.
Under Nigro, who predicts a bright future for the lad, Bobby flashed big-time form at the U.S. Amateur Tournament at Mohican Lake, N.Y., and in the U.S. Junior Tournament at Lincoln, Neb.

Playing Right Now
Last February he tied for third, fourth and fifth place in the Brooklyn Chess Club Tournament, and he is slated for ever greater things, according to Nigro, in the club's current tournament.
An eighth grade pupil at Brooklyn Community-Woodward School, 321 Clinton Ave., Bobby stands out in athletics as well as studies. He is talented baseball player and a speedy swimmer.
And his teacher say he is one of the most promising painters among the students.

★

Young Native of Latvia Wins Junior Chess Contest

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Lincoln Journal Star Lincoln, Nebraska Monday, July 25, 1955

Young Native of Latvia Wins Junior Chess Contest 25 Jul 1955, Mon Lincoln Journal Star (Lincoln, Nebraska) Newspapers.com

Young Native of Latvia Wins Junior Chess Contest
A Philadelphia youth born in Latvia 15 years ago has won the 10th U.S. Junior Chess Championship.
Charles Kalme earned $75 worth of prizes after winning nine of his 10 matches in the tournament at the Lincoln YMCA.
Larry Remlinger, 13, of Long Beach, Calif., placed second with a 7½-2½ score. Third was Robert Cross, 20, of Santa Monica, Calif., with 7-3.
Andy Staklis, 16, of Lincoln and Ronald Gross, 19, of Compton, Calif., tied for fourth.
Other high finishers in the meet, which attracted 25 entries, were John Rinaldo, 16, of Long Beach, Calif.; Robert Lorber, 16, of Reseda, Calif., Sanford Greene, 18, of New York; Victor Pupols, 20, of Tacoma, Wash.; and Barton Lewis, 20, of Lincoln.
A special trophy for contestants 12 and younger went to Robert Fischer of New York.
Alexander Liepnieks was director of the tournament, which began July 15.

★

Junior Chess Enthusiasts Begin National Play Here

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The Lincoln Star Lincoln, Nebraska Saturday, July 16, 1955

Junior Chess Enthusiasts Begin National Play Here 16 Jul 1955, Sat The Lincoln Star (Lincoln, Nebraska) Newspapers.com

Junior Chess Enthusiasts Begin National Play Here
Twenty-five young chess enthusiasts from all over the country scratched their heads and pondered their moves Friday evening as the first round of the 10th annual junior chess championship tournament got underway at the YMCA.
The youngsters, many of them experts, range in age from 12 to 20 and come from as far away as New York City, Texas and California.
Under the joint sponsorship of the U.S. Chess Federation and the Lincoln Chess Club, the 10-round tournament lasts until July 24.
Tournament director is Alex Liepnieks of Lincoln who is also the Nebraska State Chess champion. Ten prizes will be awarded to the winners plus trophies.
Lincolnite
Four Lincoln lads are entered in the meet. They are Jim Dick, 15; Andris Staklis, 16; John Winkleman, 14, and Barton Lewis, 20.
First round results played Friday evening: Kenneth Warner, 17, Bakersfield, Calif., over Robert Fischer, 12, New York City.