The Post is proud to present its centennial chess puzzle this week. The best possible way to celebrate this unique record is to recall in full one of the greatest ever games in the history of chess.

Donald Byrne played a 13-year-old Bobby Fischer at the Third Rosenwald Trophy in 1956 in what became to be known as “The Game of the Century”. Fischer made an outstanding move midway through the game that sent shockwaves through the chess community.

The game began with the Gruenfeld Defence: Three Knights Variation, Hungarian Attack.

1. Nf3 Nf6

2. c4 g6

3. Nc3 Bg7

4. d4 O-O

5. Bf4 d5

6. Qb3 dxc4

7. Qxc4 c6

8. e4 Nbd7

9. Rd1 Nb6

10. Qc5 Bg4

11. Bg5 Na4

12. Qa3 Nxc3

13. bxc3 Nxe4

14. Bxe7 Qb6

15. Bc4 Nxc3

16. Bc5Rfe8

17. Kf1

Take a good look at this position on the board to the right. White’s last move was Kf1. Here comes the Fischer thunderbolt ... Be6!!

If this is the game of the century, then 17... Be6!! must be the counter of the century. Fischer offers his queen in exchange for a fierce attack with his minor pieces. Declining this offer is not so easy.

18. Bxe6 leads to a ‘Philidor Mate’ (smothered mate) with ... Qb5+

19. Kg1 Ne2+

20. Kf1 Ng3+

21. Kg1 Qf1+

22. Rxf1 Ne2#

Other ways to decline the queen also run into trouble. For example, 18. Qxc3 Qxc5

Or if, 18. Bxb6 Bxc4

19. Kg1 Ne2

20. Kf1 Nxd4

This tactical scenario, where a king is repeatedly revealed to checks, is sometimes called a “windmill”.

Instead, this is how the game is played out:

18. Bxb3 Bxc4+

19. Kg1 Ne2+

20. Kf1 Nd4+

21. Kg1 Ne2+

22. Kf1 Nc3

23. Kg1 axb6

24. Qb4 Ra4

25. Qxb6 Nxd1

26. h3 Rxa2

27. Kh2 Nxf2

28. Re1 Rxe1

29. Qd8 Bf8

30. Nxe1 Bd5

31. Nf3 Ne4

32. Qb8 b5

Every piece and pawn of the black camp is defended. The white queen has nothing to do.

33. h4 h5

34. Ne5 Kg7

35. Kg1 Bc5

36. Kf1 Ng3

Now Byrne is hopelessly entangled in Fischer’s mating net.

37. Ke1 Bb4

38. Kd1 Bb3

39. Kc1 Ne2

40. Kb1 Nc3

41. Kc1 Rc2

White resigns.

Game courtesy of www.chessgames.com.