July 6, 2011 Featured Game

This game is now one of Idaho's most famous games (this was not always the case). Ted Hartwell had just come off a very active time as ICA President (two terms from 1962 to 1963). Ted Hartwell was very active and passionate about the Idaho vs. Utah matches. He frequently played in tournaments not only in Idaho, but also in Utah. And Ted was a big fan of Bobby Fischer. And so it was quite natural for him to want to play Bobby Fischer in a Simultaneous Exhibition on April 8, 1964 in Ogden, Utah when the opportunity presented itself. In later years (I knew Ted from 1980 forward), he spoke of this game often and with much fondness of memory.

As games go, it is actually pretty good. Hartwell came very close to winning. I think it hints at just how great both Bobby Fischer and Ted Hartwell really were. After all, it was just three months earlier Fischer won the 1963/4 U.S. Championship with a perfect 11-0 score!!! I have decided to present the game here with notes as they were originally written in Descriptive Notation by Ted Hartwell in 1964.