Chess

Reader's Note: I really don't know much about chess other than I can play at an elementary level and thus I understand how the pieces move. What I find more fascinating is how the games are played at the very high level and how people find beauty in the way these games are played.

In the NY Times Magazine this week, there was an article on Bobby Fischer (he passed away in 2008). From an incredibly young age he developed into one of the world's finest chess players. His so-called coming out party was when he was just 13 (?) and took on a very accomplished US player named Byrne. In this match Fischer sacrifices his queen early in the game only to rally and defeat Byrne. In hindsight this was the only possible move but at the time it was rash decision that created quite a stir. In fact chess historians claim that this is one of the greatest matches ever played.  Amazing to think that a developing mind can play at such a high level so young.  The unbelievable quirk that led the young Fischer to a chess game and allowing him a life of controlling kings, queen, rooks, and pawns.  From my layman's point of view it seems like such a simple game and yet have it dissolve into such complexity humbles me.  With so many defenses and memorized plays and moves, can a game still surprise and amaze us?  Is there any imagination left?  Again it seems that as with many other historical events the Cold War put some things, like chess on more of stage when it became an us versus them event.  Any way the move below shows the board position before Fischer (black pieces) allowed his queen to be given up.  Instead of saving his queen he moves his bishop thus giving up the queen to his opponent's bishop.  Poetry in motion...