Las 100 mejores partidas de Botvinnik comentadas por el mismo

(1) Botvinnik Mikhail - Stoltz G [D55] Sweden Match, Stockholm, 1926 [Botvinnik Mikhail] 1.d4 d5 2.c4 e6 3.Nc3 Nf6 4.Bg5 Be7 5.e3 0-0 6.Nf3 b6 Capablanca frequently resorted to this defence (with the preliminary 6. ... Ph6) and he was followed by Tartakower, Makogonov, and Bondarevsky. I knew it was customary to reply 7. cxPd4 but in those days my chief aim in the opening was to develop my pieces 7.Rc1 [7.cxd5 exd5 ] 7...Bb7 8.Bd3 Nbd7 9.0-0 Ne4 seems natural [9...c5 10.Qe2 cxd4 11.exd4 dxc4 12.Bxc4 isolating the Q pawn] 10.Bxe7 White made this move without stopping to think. It is best to avoid simplifications [10.Bf4! Avoiding simplications 10...-- /\11.cxd5 exd5 12.Bxc7 Qxc7 13.Nxe4 ] 10...Qxe7 11.cxd5 exd5 12.Nxe4 A combinative micalculation. True, Black already has a good game as ... Pf5 cannot be prevented [12.Bb1 f5 13.Nxe4 fxe4 14.Rxc7 exf3 15.Rxb7 Qg5 16.g3 Qg4 17.Kh1 Rf6 18.Rg1 Rh6 19.Qf1 Rh3-+ ] 12...dxe4 13.Rxc7 Bc8 Botvinnnik overlooked Stolz's simple but strong move [13...Bd5 14.Ne5+- ; 13...Rab8 14.Ne5+- ] 14.Bb5 [>=14.Be2! Better, allowing White play along the h1-a8 diagonal 14...Qd6 15.Qc1 exf3 16.Bxf3 Ba6 17.Bxa8 Bxf1 18.Rxa7 winning a third pawn for the Knight] 14...exf3 Black throws away all his advantage [>=14...Qd8 15.Rxc8 Rxc8 winning the exchange] 15.Qxf3 Qd6 An attractive move, but after it Black has a lost game [>=15...Rb8 16.Qc6 Rd8 17.Rxa7 White has three pawns for the piece and exerts strong pressure] 16.Qc6! Qb4 [16...Qxc6 17.Bxc6 White keeps two extra pawns 17...Rb8 18.Bxd7 Bxd7 19.Rxd7+- ] 17.Qxa8 Ba6 The whole point 18.Qxf8+! [18.Qd5 Nf6 19.Qe5 Bxb5 ] 18...Nxf8 19.Bxa6 h5 Black is helpless and condemned to passive defence 20.Rxa7 Qxb2 21.Bc4 Ne6 22.Bb3 h4 23.d5 Nd8 24.Rd7 Qf6 25.h3 b5 26.e4 Kh7 27.e5 Qb6 28.Re1 b4 29.e6 fxe6 30.dxe6 Nxe6 31.Rxe6 1-0

(2) Botvinnik Mikhail - Grigoriev N [E16] Russia Match, Leningrad, 1927 1.d4 Nf6 2.c4 e6 3.Nf3 b6 4.g3 Bb7 5.Bg2 Bb4+ 6.Bd2 Bxd2+ 7.Qxd2 0-0 8.0-0 d6 9.Qc2 This variation is often met with in tournaments. In those days I always played 3. Nf3 and studied the continuations arising from this move in all their finesses [9.Nc3 Ne4 Black has obstructed White's e-pawn] 9...Nbd7 [9...Be4 10.Qb3 -- 11.Nc3 ] 10.Nc3 Qe7 11.e4 e5 12.Rad1 g6 Black protects f5 from occupation by the Knight, and prepares the later advance of the f-pawn 13.Rfe1 c6 Necessary. True, it greatly reduces the Bishop's scope, but it completely eliminates the constant threat of Nd5 14.b3 Ne8 15.Qd2 Rd8 16.Bh3 f6 17.Qh6 attracted by a little trap [The better plan is >=17.Nh4+/- -- /\18.f4 ] 17...Nc7 [17...Qg7 18.Qxg7+ Nxg7 19.Bxd7 Rxd7 20.dxe5 winning a pawn, but White is not up to the mark] 18.Nh4 Rf7 [>=18...Ne6 >=19.Bxe6+ (19.d5 Ng5! hemming in the White Queen (19...Nd4 20.Ne2! ) ) 19...Qxe6 ] 19.d5 [19.f4 exd4! 20.Rxd4 d5 ] 19...cxd5 20.Nxd5 Bxd5 [‹20...Nxd5 21.cxd5 Nf8 22.Rc1+/- ] 21.cxd5 Rdf8 22.Rd2 f5 A mistake leading to defeat [>=22...a5! 23.-- Nc5 Black would equalize the game without difficulty] 23.exf5 gxf5 24.Qh5 f4 [24...Nf6 25.Qg5+ Rg7 26.Nxf5 winning a pawn; 24...Qe8 25.Bxf5! Rxf5 26.Qg4+ intermenzzo check] 25.Nf5 Rxf5 26.Bxf5 Nf6 27.Qh6 Kh8 [27...Nfxd5 28.Rxd5 Rxf5 (28...Nxd5 29.Be6+ ) 29.Rxd6+- ] 28.Rxe5! dxe5 [28...Qxe5 29.Qxf8+ Ng8 30.Qf7 Nf6 31.Rd1+- ] 29.d6 Qd8 30.dxc7 Qxd2 31.Qxf8+ Ng8 32.c8Q 1-0

(3) Botvinnik Mikhail - Ragozin V [C16] Russia Tournament, Leningrad, 1927 1.e4 e6 2.d4 d5 3.Nc3 Bb4 4.e5 f6 [>=4...c5 Well known that this is stronger and almost gives Black and equal game. But in those days this was not known, and chess players were influenced by Lasker-Marockzy (New York 1924) in which, after 4. ... Pc5 White obtained the better game ] 5.Nf3 c5 6.a3 Ba5 [6...cxd4 7.axb4 dxc3 8.Bd3 White has an excellent game] 7.b4 cxb4 8.Nb5 Nc6 9.axb4 Bc7 [9...Bxb4+ 10.c3 Be7 11.Ba3 Black is in a difficult position] 10.c3 Nge7 [10...fxe5 11.Nxe5 Nf6 (11...Bxe5 12.dxe5 Nxe5 13.Bf4 ) 12.Bf4! ; 10...f5 11.Ba3 -- /\12.Nd6+ Bxd6 13.exd6 Qxd6 14.b5 ] 11.exf6 gxf6 12.Bd3 0-0 13.0-0 Bd7 Now Black stubbornly attempts to advance the e-pawn, but this only hastens his defeat [13...e5 14.Nxc7 Qxc7 15.b5! e4 (15...Nd8 16.dxe5 fxe5 17.b6! ) 16.bxc6 Qxc6+/- ; 13...Bb8 ] 14.Bh6 Rf7 15.Qd2 e5 16.dxe5 White chooses the sharper continuation [16.Nxc7 Qxc7 17.dxe5 Nxe5 18.Nd4 ] 16...Nxe5 17.Nxe5 fxe5 18.Nxc7 Qxc7 19.Qg5+ Kh8 20.Qh5! Be6 It may seem Black, threatening ... Nf5 and ... Pe4 has achieved a good position 21.Rae1 e4 Black has realized one of his threats [21...Nf5 22.Bf4 ] 22.c4! White's superiority is obvious. Black's centre is crumbling, and White's Bishop begins to operate with great force along the open Black diagonals 22...Rf5 [22...exd3 23.Rxe6 ] 23.Qe2 Qe5 [23...exd3 24.Qb2+ ] 24.Bc1! [24.cxd5 Rh5 25.g3 (25.Bf4 Qxf4 26.Qxh5 Bg4 27.Qh4 Ng6 ) 25...Rxh6 26.dxe6 ] 24...Qd6 [24...Rh5 25.Bb2 d4 26.Bxd4! Qxd4 27.Qxh5 Qxd3 28.Qe5++- ] 25.cxd5 exd3 26.Bb2+ Kg8 27.Qg4+ Ng6 28.Rxe6 Qxd5 29.Rxg6+ The simplest way of winning 29...hxg6 30.Qxg6+ Kf8 31.Qg7+ Ke8 32.Re1+ Kd8 33.Qe7+ Kc8 34.Rc1+ 1-0

(4) Rabinovich I - Botvinnik Mikhail [A95] USSR USSR, 1927 1.d4 e6 2.c4 f5 3.g3 Nf6 4.Bg2 Be7 5.Nc3 0-0 6.Nf3 d5 7.0-0 c6 The result is the variation known as the "stonewall" in which Black has a difficult game, but White also has difficulty in exploiting his spatial advantage. Perhaps Black's task is more complicated if White develops Nh3 8.Qc2 Qe8 9.Bf4 Not till ten years after this game did V. Chekhover find an apparently better plan for White [Chekhover-Riumin, Young Masters 1936 9.Bg5! Qh5 10.Bxf6 Bxf6 11.cxd5 exd5 12.e3 By exchanging at f6, White averted any attempt on Black's part to attack on the Kingside, and prepared his own Queenside pawn advance ] 9...Qh5 10.Rad1 Nbd7 11.b3 Black could not advantageously capture the c-pawn because of Nd2. Now White decides to defend this pawn, in order to free his Knight, but later he suffers for this weakening of c3 [11.Ne5 Nxe5 12.dxe5 Ng4 reason why a premature Ne5 was not possible] 11...Ne4 12.Ne5! Playable since Black doesn't have Ng4 12...Ng5 [12...-- /\13.Nxe4 fxe4 14.f3 ; 12...-- The idea of playing Pe4 13.f3 Nef6 14.e4 ; Black can win a pawn here 12...Nxc3 13.Qxc3 Nxe5 14.Bxe5 Qxe2 15.Bf3 Bb4 16.Qxb4 Qxf3 17.Qd6+/- Centralized pieces give White an advantage; >=12...Bf6 in compensation for his restricted position Black wants to keep the two Bishops or force a weakening of White's King side ] 13.h4 [13.f3 White's game is centred around playing Pe4 13...Nh3+ 14.Bxh3 Qxh3 15.e4 with an excellent game] 13...Ne4 14.Bf3 [14.Nxe4 fxe4 15.f3+/- White would get a better game 15...Rxf4 16.gxf4 the exchange sacrifice gives Black no prospects] 14...Qe8 15.Nxd7 Bxd7 16.Kg2 Bb4! 17.Bxe4 [>=17.Nb1 with the possibility of defence] 17...fxe4 18.Rh1 Qh5 19.f3 Qg6 An error [>=19...e5 20.dxe5 Qg6 ] 20.Kf1 e5! [20...exf3 21.Qxg6 hxg6 22.Rb1 Black would hardly have an advantage] 21.dxe5 [>=21.h5 White could have saved himself 21...Qf5 22.dxe5 exf3 23.Qxf5 Bxf5 24.Rc1 d4 25.Nd1 Bg4 Black should have a won ending. But White shooses a continuation which enables Black to end the game with a dash; 21.Bxe5 Qg4 ] 21...Rxf4! 22.gxf4 Qg3!! fine example of the weakness of dark squares 23.Nxe4 There is no better move [23.-- Bc5 ; 23.-- e3 ; 23.cxd5 Bc5 24.Nxe4 Bh3+ 25.Rxh3 Qg1# ] 23...dxe4 [‹23...Bh3+ ] 24.Rxd7 [24.Qxe4 Bc5 25.e3 Bf5! overworked Queen ] 24...Bc5 [24...e3 25.Rxg7+! ] 25.e3 Qxf3+ 26.Qf2 Qxh1+ 27.Ke2 Qh3 28.f5 Qg4+ 29.Kd2 Rf8 30.e6 Qxf5 [30...Rxf5 31.Rd8+ Bf8 32.Qxf5! Qxf5 33.e7 ] 31.Qxf5 Rxf5 32.Rxb7 Rf2+ 33.Ke1 Rf6 34.b4 Bxe3 0-1

(5) Botvinnik Mikhail - Nenarokov V [D95] 10 Moscow ch-SU, 1927 1.d4 Nf6 2.c4 c6 3.Nc3 d5 4.e3 g6 K. Schlecter's Variation of the Slav Defence. It gives Black a restricted but stable game 5.Nf3 Bg7 6.Qb3 [6.Bd3 more usual, and is probably stronger] 6...0-0 7.Bd2 e6 8.Bd3 Nbd7 9.0-0 Nb6 Black's Knight manoeuvre (Nb8-d7-b6) recommended by E. Grunfeld, is dubious. So far no completely reliable defence for Black (in place of the Grunfeld manoeuvre) has been found, though some Soviet masters have obtained a satisfactory game by 7. ... Pb6 10.Ne5?! White plays for complications, which should have resulted in Black's favour [>=10.Rfd1 playing for Pe4] 10...Nfd7 11.f4 Nxe5 12.fxe5 dxc4 13.Bxc4 c5! Now Black forcedly loses the exchange for two pawns, but has two Bishops and good winning chances [13...Bxe5 14.dxe5 Qxd2 15.Rf3 (‹15.Ne4 Qa5 ) ] 14.Ne4 cxd4 15.Bb4 Bxe5 [15...Re8 16.Nd6 ] 16.Bxf8 Qxf8 17.exd4 Bxd4+ 18.Kh1 Qh6 Now the back rank is undefended, and White launches a direct attack on the King [The correct move >=18...Bd7 White could at best count on no more than a draw.] 19.Rad1 Be5 20.Rd8+ Kg7 21.g3 [21.h3 Qh4 ] 21...Bd7 The best chance. White threatened Qb4 with mating attack 22.Rxd7! [22.Rxa8 Bc6-+ ] 22...Nxd7 23.Bxe6! fxe6 Black condemns himself to a difficult defence, which none the less leads to salvation [23...Nf6 24.Nxf6 Bxf6 25.Qxb7 Rf8 26.Qxa7+/- White has an extra pawn] 24.Qxe6 Kh8 25.Qxd7 Rf8 26.Rxf8+ Qxf8 27.Kg2 Qb8 28.Ng5 Bg7 29.Ne6 [29.Nf7+ Kg8 30.Qe6 Qf8! ] 29...Bf6 [29...Bxb2 30.Nd8 h5 31.Nf7+ Kg7 (31...Kg8 32.Ng5 Bg7 33.Qf7+ Kh8 34.Qxg6 ) 32.Ne5+!+- ] 30.b3 Qg8 31.h4 b6 Now if the opportunity offers, Black threatens a very unpleasant check at a8, and the Queen gets to freedom 32.Kf2 h6 33.Nf4 The last attempt 33...Qg7! 34.Qe8+ Kh7 35.Qe4 Be5! 36.Nd3 [36.Nxg6 Bxg3+ saves Black] 36...Bd6 1/2-1/2

(6) Ilyin-Zhenevsky - Botvinnik 1927 1.e4 e6 2.Nc3 d5 3.g3 This system was suggested by Tartakower. In this game Black achieved at least equal play 3...dxe4 4.Bg2 Bd7 [4...f5 5.f3 Dangerous. At the cost of a pawn White holds the initiative for a long time] 5.Nh3 This move is not wholly good as the h3 Knight is out of play [5.Nxe4 Bc6 ; 5.d3 Bc6 6.dxe4 Qxd1+ 7.Nxd1= ] 5...Bc6 6.0-0 Nd7! [6...Nf6 7.Ng5 White's badly placed Knight comes into play] 7.Nxe4 Ngf6 8.d3 [8.Nxf6+ Nxf6 9.Bxc6+ bxc6 Black considered his doubled c-pawns were fully offset by White's weakness on light squares on his kingside and by the ineffective development of the Knight at h3. Later White took this course but derived no benefit from it ] 8...Be7 9.Nf4 0-0 10.Bd2 e5 Black has completed his development and turns to the attack 11.Nxf6+ [11.Ne2 Nd5 ] 11...Nxf6 12.Bxc6 bxc6 13.Ng2 Qd7 14.Ne3 Nd5 15.Nc4 f6 Black plans ... Re8, ... Bd6, ... Pf5 but does not hurry with ... Bd6 wishing to mask his scheme a little 16.Be3 [16.-- /\Rae8 17.-- Bd6 18.-- f5 ] 16...Rae8 17.a3 [17.Bxa7 c5 ] 17...a6 18.Kg2! Unable to prevent Black carrying out his plan, White sets up a strong defensive position, which proves anything but simple to break through 18...Bd6 19.f3 f5 20.Bg1 Rf6 [‹20...Re6 the e8-R is needed to defend the e-pawn] 21.Qe2 The Queen is badly placed on the e-file [>=21.Qd2 ] 21...h5! 22.Kh1 h4 23.gxh4! The only move! It would be suicide to let Black take at g6, it would completely break up the King's position 23...Nf4 Black should have continued with ... Rh6 and collected the h-pawn. Instead he plays weakly and his advantage begins to fade [23...Rh6 ] 24.Qd2 Rh6 25.Be3! Exactly! Now White will succeed in exchanging off Black's excellent Knight and will have an opportunity to improve his position considerably 25...Rxh4 26.Bxf4 Rxf4 27.Rae1 Qf7 28.Qg2 Qh5 29.Re3 [>=29.Qg3 ] 29...Re6 30.Rg1 Qh6 31.b4 Rh4 32.Qe2 An irrecoverable mistake [32.Re2 \/Rg6 ] 32...Qf4 [32...e4?? 33.Nxd6 exf3 34.Rxe6+- ] 33.Qg2 [33.Rg2 Reh6 34.-- Rh3 strangulation] 33...Rg6 34.Qf2 e4! The decisive move [‹34...Rxh2+ 35.Qxh2 Rh6 36.Qxh6 Qxh6+ 37.Kg2 ] 35.Nxd6 Rxh2+ 36.Qxh2 Rh6 37.Re2 We still had a long time to play after this. I had the impression that in the text continuation the White King must remain on h1! Victory would have followed quickly 37...Qxf3+ [37...Rxh2+ 38.Rxh2 Qxf3+ 39.Rhg2 cxd6 40.Kh2 Qh5+ 41.Kg3 g5! ] 38.Reg2 Rxh2+ 39.Kxh2 Qh5+ 40.Kg3 cxd6 In the variation above it would be Black's move, not Whites 41.dxe4 Qg4+ 42.Kf2 Qf4+ 43.Ke2 Qxe4+ 44.Kd2 Qd4+ 45.Ke2 Kf7 46.Rg6! To prevent Black's Queen from h6 where the win would be quite simple 46...Qc3! 47.Kd1 d5 [47...f4 48.Rxg7+ Qxg7 49.Rxg7+ Kxg7 50.c4! Kf6 51.a4 Ke6 52.a5 d5 (52...Kd7 53.Ke2 d5 54.cxd5 cxd5 55.Kf3 Kc6 56.Kxf4 Kb5 57.Ke5 Kc4 58.b5!= ) 53.b5! Kd6 (53...Kd7 54.bxc6+ Kxc6 55.cxd5+ Kxd5 56.Ke2= ) 54.c5+! Kc7 55.b6+ Kb7= ] 48.R6g3 After all White lets the Queen to h6, but that does not alter the situation, as in any other case the advance of f-pawn would decide 48...Qd4+ 49.Ke2 Qe4+ 50.Kd2 Qf4+ 51.Ke2 Qh6 52.R1g2 g6! [52...d4 53.Rxg7+ Qxg7 54.Rxg7+ Kxg7= ] 53.a4 f4 54.Rc3 g5 55.b5 Qh5+ 56.Kd2 cxb5 57.axb5 axb5 58.Rc7+ Kf6 59.Rc6+ Kf5 60.Rc5 Qf7 61.Rxb5 g4 62.c4 f3 63.Rg1 f2 64.Rf1 g3 65.Rxd5+ Kg4 66.Rd4+ Kh3 [66...Kf3 67.Rc1 g2 68.Rc3# ] 0-1

(7) Poliak A - Botvinnik Mikhail [D63] Moscow Educational t Moscow Educational t, 1929 1.c4 Nf6 2.Nc3 e6 3.d4 d5 4.Bg5 Nbd7 5.e3 c6 6.a3 This move prevents the Cambridge Springs Defence. It was played by Capablanca in the fifth and by Alekhine in the 34th game of their match in 1927 6...Be7 7.Nf3 0-0 8.Rc1 [8.Bd3 dxc4 9.Bxc4 b5 10.Bd3 a6 ] 8...b6 [8...dxc4 ; 8...Ne4 Capablanca's usual system] 9.cxd5 exd5 [‹9...cxd5 greatly weaken the Queenside] 10.Bd3 [10.Qa4 Bb7 11.Ba6 b5 ] 10...Bb7 11.0-0 A mistake, after which Black equalizes without difficulty [>=11.Qc2 Preventing Ne4 \/11...Ne4 ] 11...Ne4 12.Bxe4 Bxg5 In all other continuations Black would hold e4 with a good game 13.Nxg5 Qxg5 14.Bb1 Rfe8 15.Qd3 Nf8 16.f4 A rather risky move 16...Qf6 Causes complications [>=16...Qe7 ] 17.e4! dxe4 18.Nxe4 Qe7 19.Rce1! [There is nothing after 19.Ng5 h6 (19...Qe3+ 20.Qxe3 Rxe3 21.Ba2! ) 20.Nh7 Qe3+ ] 19...c5 At first glance a move of doubtful value, but in reality the only acceptable one [19...Rad8 20.Qg3 much unpleasantness of Black] 20.Ng5 [20.Nxc5 Qxe1 21.Rxe1 Rxe1+ 22.Kf2 Re7 with at least a draw for Black; 20.d5 f5 21.d6 fxe4 22.dxe7 exd3 23.exf8Q+= ] 20...Qd6 [During play I overlooked 20...Qxe1 21.Rxe1 Rxe1+ 22.Kf2 Re7 23.Nxh7 Be4! Affording every chance of a win] 21.Nxh7 [21.dxc5 Qxc5+ 22.Kh1 Rxe1 23.Rxe1 Qf2 ; 21.Re5! Depriving Black of the d5 square 21...Ng6 22.Nxf7! Qxd4+ 23.Qxd4 cxd4 24.Ba2! Nxe5 25.fxe5 Ba6! 26.Rf2 h6! 27.Nd6+ Kh7 28.Nxe8 Rxe8 29.e6 d3= ] 21...Qd5! Evidently White had not forseen the Black Queen's interesting manouevre. He was reckoning only ... QxP 22.Qh3 Qxd4+ 23.Kh1 Qf2 24.Rc1 [24.Rd1 Rad8 ; 24.Nxf8 Rxe1 The Black king retreats to e7] 24...Bxg2+ 25.Qxg2 Qxg2+ 26.Kxg2 Nxh7 27.Bxh7+ Refusal to exchange the smaller pieces would not bring any essential change 27...Kxh7 28.Kf3 Rad8 29.Rcd1 Kg6 30.Rfe1 Kf6 31.h3 Rxe1 32.Rxd8 Rc1 33.Rd2 c4 34.Rd6+ Deperation! 34...Ke7 35.Rd2 c3 36.Re2+ Kd6 37.Kf2 cxb2 38.Rxb2 Rc3 39.Rd2+ Ke6 40.Re2+ Kf6 0-1

(8) Botvinnik Mikhail - Sozin V [D46] Novgorod Novgorod, 1929 1.d4 d5 2.c4 c6 3.Nf3 Nf6 4.e3 e6 5.Bd3 Nbd7 6.0-0 At this time I was afraid of the Meran Variation, well known to Sozin [6.Nc3 Meran Variation] 6...Be7 [6...dxc4 7.Bxc4 Bd6 8.-- /\0-0 9.-- e5= ] 7.Nc3 0-0 8.e4 dxe4 9.Nxe4 b6 At that time this system was though quite good for Black. In this game White finds an original plan 10.Bf4 Bb7 11.Nc3! h6 [\/11...c5 12.d5 exd5 13.Nxd5 Nxd5 14.cxd5 Bxd5 15.Bxh7+ Kxh7 16.Qxd5 Black should have chosen this reply, as later the reply Pd4 makes ... Pc5 unplayable] 12.Bc2 Re8 13.Qd2 Nf8 14.Rad1 Bd6 15.Ne5 Qe7 16.Bxh6! A purely positional sacrifice. For his Bishop White gets two pawns. But the destruction of the Black Kside and the ease of which White can transfer his major pieces to that side make it justifiable to assume that White's attack will be almost irresistible 16...gxh6 17.Qxh6 Bxe5 Black realizes that sooner or later the White Knight will have to be eliminated. He decides to do so now, so as to have some counterplay arising from 18. ... Nb4 18.dxe5 [18.-- /\Ng4<=> ] 18...Ng4 [18...N6h7 19.Ne4+- ] 19.Qf4 f5 20.exf6 [20.h3 Ng6 21.Qg3 N4xe5 22.f4 Qg7 equality of material would be restored, but I prefered to continue the attack] 20...Nxf6 21.Rd3 e5 22.Qh6 N6h7 23.Rg3+ Kh8 24.Ne4 Rad8 25.Ng5 Choosing Ng5 I overlooked Black's 30th move [25.f4 exf4 (25...-- /\26.f5 ) 26.Rxf4 -- /\27.Rfg4 (/\27.Nf6 ) ] 25...Rd7 26.Nxh7 Nxh7 27.Bxh7 Qxh7 28.Qf6+ Rg7 29.Rd1 Bc8 30.h4 Reg8! The strongest! 31.Qxe5 [31.-- /\Qf5 seizing the initiative] 31...Qf5 But now the position is approximately equal, though Black must fight for a draw becaues of the three White linked passed pawns [31...Qxh4 32.Rd4 Qh6 (32...Qe7 33.Qxe7 ) 33.Rd6! ] 32.Qxf5 Bxf5 33.Rxg7 Rxg7 34.f3! Be6 35.b3 Kg8 36.Rd6 Bd7 37.g4 Kf8 38.Kf2 Ke7 39.Rd2 [>=39.Rd3 ; >=39.Rd1 ] 39...a5 [39...Bxg4 40.fxg4 Rxg4= ] 40.Kg3 Be8 41.Kf4 Rf7+ 42.Kg3 Kf6 43.Re2 Re7 After exchanging Rooks Black is lost [>=43...Bd7 although the three passsed pawns are very dangerous] 44.Rxe7 Kxe7 45.h5 Kf6 46.Kf4 b5 Foreseeing danger Black tries to exchange pawns 47.cxb5 cxb5 48.g5+ Kg7 [48...Ke6 49.Kg4 Bd7 50.f4 Kd5+ 51.Kh4 Ke4 52.h6 Bf5 53.Kh5+- ] 49.h6+ Kg6 50.Ke5 Bf7 51.f4 Bg8 52.Kd6 a4 53.bxa4 bxa4 54.a3 Black has secured the Queenside, but the denouement must come on the Kside 54...Bh7 55.Ke7 [55.Ke6 Bg8+ 56.Ke7 Bh7 57.Kf8+- ] 55...Bg8 56.Kd6 White tries to restore the position but now Black is on guard 56...Kf5 57.Ke7 Kg6 A position which deserves note. Obviously if it is Black to move he loses. So White must win a tempo 58.Ke8 White provokes Black to transfer his Bishop to the b1-h7 diagonal hoping for an easier win; but it transpires that the resulting position is inadequate [58.Kd7 Kf5 (58...Bh7 59.Ke6 ; 58...Kf7 59.f5 Bh7 60.g6+ Bxg6 61.fxg6+ Kxg6 62.Kc6 Kxh6 63.Kb5 Kg6 64.Kxa4 Kf6 65.Kb5 Ke6 66.Kb6 Kd6 67.Kb7 White wins by a tempo) 59.Ke8! Kg6 60.Ke7! ] 58...Be6 59.Kf8 Bf5 60.Ke7 Bc2 61.Kd6 Bd3 62.Ke6 Bc4+ 63.Ke7 [63.Ke5 Bd3 64.f5+ Bxf5 65.h7 Kxh7 66.Kxf5= Only now did White see that this was drawn as the Black K will reach h8 ] 1/2-1/2

(9) Botvinnik Mikhail - Silich B [E32] URS URS, 1929 1.d4 Nf6 2.c4 b6 3.Nc3 Bb7 4.Qc2 This well-known variation is of little benefit to Black, as it is difficult for him to prevent Pe4 4...e6 White gets a very strong centre [>=4...d5 sharpens the struggle] 5.e4 Bb4 6.Bd3 Bxc3+ This exchange, doubling the White pawns, is necessary [6...-- 7.Nge2 White would recapture the Bishop with Knight] 7.bxc3 d6 8.Ne2 c5 To block the doubled c-pawns 9.0-0 Nc6 10.f4 Qe7 Both side's plans are now defined. White intends to attack in the centre, Black intends to Castle on the Qside, an idea approximately that of Capablanca's game in an analogous position against Kmoch a little earlier (Budapest 1928) 11.d5 Na5! The White pawn on c4 is weak 12.Ng3 White regroups forces to attack in the centre and simultaneously to defend Pc4 [12.e5 Nd7 13.dxe6 fxe6 14.Bxh7 0-0-0-/+ ] 12...0-0-0 13.Qe2 h5 [13...-- /\14.e5 ] 14.e5 Ne8 [14...Nd7 15.Ne4 dxe5 16.fxe5 Nxe5 17.Bg5 f6 18.Nxf6! ] 15.exd6 Nxd6 [15...Qxd6 16.f5 exd5 17.Bf4 Qc6 18.cxd5 Qxd5 19.Rad1-> White has a strong attack] 16.f5 e5 Of course, the only chance. Black intends ... Ph4-3 to keep the centre closed, and exploit good prospects on the wings 17.f6! [17.-- /\h4 18.-- h3 ] 17...gxf6 18.Nxh5 f5 At first sight a brilliant move, which would seem to defeat Whit'es plan [>=18...e4 19.Nxf6 Qe5 20.h3 Qxc3 21.Nxe4 Nxe4 22.Bxe4 Nxc4 23.Bg5 White's game is to be preferred ] 19.Ng7 Apparently Black overlooked this manoeuvre [19.Bxf5+ Kb8!=/+ ] 19...e4 20.Nxf5 Nxf5 21.Rxf5 Qd6 [21...Qh4 22.Bf4 exd3 23.Qe5+- ] 22.Qxe4 Now the counterattack is repulsed and Black must lose 22...Qxh2+ 23.Kf2 Rde8 24.Qf4 Qh4+ 25.Qxh4 Rxh4 26.Bf4 Rf8 27.Bd6 Rg8 28.Rxf7 Kd8 29.Re1 1-0

(10) Ragozin V - Botvinnik Mikhail [C56] Russia Tournament, Leningrad, 1930 1.e4 e5 2.Nf3 Nc6 3.Bc4 Nf6 4.d4 exd4 5.0-0 Nxe4 6.Re1 d5 7.Nc3 This move was introduced by Canal. Recently several continuations have been found against it. But Black prefers to transpose the game back to the variation following 7. BxP 7...dxc4 8.Rxe4+ Be7 9.Nxd4 f5 10.Rf4 0-0 11.Nxc6 Qxd1+ 12.Nxd1 bxc6 13.Rxc4 Bd6 14.Be3 The beginning of all White's later difficulties [14.Rxc6 Bb7 ; 14.Bf4 Ba6 15.Bxd6 Rfe8!-/+ ; 14.Nc3 -- 15.Bf4 White would appear to have equalized the game] 14...f4 15.Bd4 Rf5 As before it is unprofitable to take the c-pawn 16.g4 This aggressive sally weakens the Kside [16.-- /\c5 ; 16.f3 c5 17.Bf2 Be6-/+ ] 16...Rg5 17.f3 h5! 18.h4 Rg6 White can equalize again [18...Rd5 19.Nc3 Ba6! 20.Ra4 (20.Rxc6 Rxd4 21.Rxa6 Bc5! (‹21...hxg4 22.Nb5 Rd2 23.Nxd6 cxd6 24.Re1! gxf3 25.Re7= ) 22.Kf1 hxg4 23.fxg4 f3 24.Rg6 Re8-/+ ) 20...Rxd4 21.Rxd4 Bc5 22.Rad1 Rd8-+ ] 19.g5 a5 necessary, as the a7-P is weak 20.Nf2 Re6 21.Ne4 Ba6 22.Rc3 This sacrifice of the Exchange is quite sound and should have led to a draw Owing to the closed nature of the position, the game acquires a drawn character [22.Nxd6 Rxd6 winning a piece; 22.Rxc6 Bb7 23.Nc5 (23.Rc4 Bxe4 24.fxe4 Rxe4 ) 23...Bxc6 24.Nxe6 Re8 25.Nxg7 Re2-> with the stronger attack] 22...Bb4 23.Rb3 Bc4 24.c3 Bxb3 25.axb3 Bf8 26.b4 a4 27.Kf1 Ree8 28.Ke2 c5 29.bxc5 Reb8 30.Ra2 Rb3 The King should have been brought up 31.Nd2 Rb5 After this White even has winning chances, as he captures the a-pawn 32.b4! g6 To exchange the Bishops at any rate 33.Kd3 Bg7 34.Nb3! Rbb8 35.Na5 Bxd4 36.Kxd4 Re8 37.Rxa4 Re3 At this, for Black, critical stage the game was adjourned. True, he gets the passed pawn, but even so the threatened advance of the White b-pawn is even more dangerous 38.b5 Rxf3 39.b6 cxb6 40.cxb6 Rd8+ The only possible! [40...Re3 41.b7 Rd8+ 42.Kc5 f3 43.Nc4!+- ] 41.Kc4 [41.Ke5 Rxc3 42.Kxf4 Rc5! 43.b7 Rb5 ] 41...Re3 42.Nc6 Unusually attractive, but dangerous. [White could force a draw by playing 42.Ra2 Rc8+ 43.Kb4 Re6 44.Kb5 (44.b7 Rb6+ ) 44...Re5+ 45.Kb4 (45.Ka6 Ra8+ ) 45...Re6 repetition] 42...Re4+ 43.Nd4 [43.Kb3 Rxa4 44.Kxa4 f3-+ ] 43...f3 44.Ra2 Rc8+ 45.Kb4! Again forced! The King has five ways of retreat, but only one sound way. [45.Kd3 Re7 46.-- /\Rb7 winning the pawn; 45.Kd5 Re7 46.Nxf3 Rd7+! 47.Ke6 Rb7 ; 45.Kb5 Re5+ 46.Kb4 Rb8-+ ] 45...Re1 46.c4 Re4 47.Kc3 Re3+ 48.Kb4 Re4 49.Kc3 Rd8 The only practical possibility of continuing the attempt to win This was found at the board, not at home. None the less I was very proud of this analysis, as hitherto I had been very weak in this branch 50.Nc6 Text mistake leads immediately to denouement [50.Nb3 Re2 51.Ra1 f2 52.Rf1 Rf8! 53.b7 Rb8 54.Na5= White draws] 50...Re3+ The only way. The White King is forced to occupy a disadvantageous position (on the file of his advanced pawn 51.Kb4 Re2 52.Ra1 f2 53.Nxd8 [53.Rf1 Rf8 54.b7 Rb2+ 55.Kc5 Rxb7-+ ] 53...Re1 54.Ra8 [54.b7 Rxa1 ] 54...f1Q 55.Nc6+ [55.Ne6+ Kf7 56.Rf8+ Kxe6 57.Rxf1 Rxf1-+ ] 55...Kg7 56.Ra7+ Kf8 57.b7 Rb1+ 58.Kc5 Qf5+ 59.Kd6 Rd1+ 60.Kc7 Qd7+ 61.Kb6 Rb1+ 62.Kc5 Rxb7 63.Ra8+ Kg7 Despite mistakes on both sides, this was an interesting game, especially in its closing stage. 0-1

(11) Rochlin J - Botvinnik Mikhail [C49] Leningrad Masters' Tournament Leningrad, 1930 1.e4 e5 2.Nf3 Nc6 3.Nc3 Bb4 4.Bb5 Nf6 5.d3 True, Black does not now obtain a decisive advantage which White gets in the analogous variation Black's opening difficulties are eliminated [the usual move is 5.0-0 d6 6.Nd5! ] 5...Nd4 6.Ba4 b5 7.Bb3 d5 [7...d6 8.a3 White has nothing to fear] 8.Nxe5 [8.-- /\Bg4 (/\8...Nxf3+ 9.Qxf3 d4 ) ] 8...Nxb3 The first mistake [>=8...Qe7! 9.f4 (9.Bf4 Nxb3 10.cxb3 d4 11.a3 Bd6 12.Nc6 Qd7 ) 9...0-0 White has a very difficult game] 9.cxb3 d4 [9...dxe4 Black would get at least an equal game ] 10.Nc6 dxc3 11.Nxb4 [11.Nxd8 c2+ winning the exchange] 11...c5! Black's following attempt to break through the White centre is a still better possibility [11...Qd4 I counted a winning a piece 12.Nc2 (12.bxc3 Qxc3+ 13.Bd2 The tactical point Botvinnik did not see ... the Knight is protected) 12...cxb2 ] 12.Nc2 c4 A very interesting position 13.bxc4 [13.dxc4 white gains no advantage 13...Qxd1+ 14.Kxd1 Nxe4 15.Re1 Bb7 16.f3 0-0-0+ ; 13.e5 cxd3! 14.exf6 d2+ 15.Bxd2 cxd2+ 16.Qxd2 Qxf6 and the doubled extra pawn is of no essential importance] 13...bxc4 14.e5! Ng4 [14...cxd3 15.exf6 d2+ 16.Bxd2 cxd2+ 17.Qxd2 Qxf6 White has an extra pawn] 15.d4 cxb2 16.Bxb2 Qa5+ 17.Qd2! Thouroughly sound! In returning the pawn White gets a very favourable endgame [17.Kf1 Rb8 18.Ba3 Bf5~~ ] 17...Qxd2+ 18.Kxd2 Nxf2 19.Rhf1 Ne4+ 20.Ke3 Bb7 21.Rf4 A stereotyped move, after which the advantage passes to Black [>=21.Rab1 exploiting the undefended Bishop 21...a5 22.Ba3 (\/22.Nb4 ) 22...Bd5 23.Rb5 Bc6 24.Rb6 Bd5 25.Rf4 with a difficult game for Black] 21...c3 Black seizes control of f1 and b1. To cap it all, the Rook at f4 is in danger 22.Ba3 Nd2 23.Bc5 White underestimates the seriousness of the Rook's position [>=23.h4 Nc4+ 24.Kd3 Rc8 25.Bc5 Nxe5+ 26.Kxc3 ] 23...g5 24.Rg4 [24.Rf5 Be4 ; 24.Rf2 Ne4 ] 24...h6 25.Rc1 Rc8 26.Bxa7 A losing move, as Black can bring the stranded King's Rook into play [26.h4 h5 (26...Nc4+ 27.Kf2! Nxe5 28.Re1 ) 27.Rxg5 Ne4 28.Rf5 Nxc5 29.dxc5 Rxc5 30.Kd4 Rc7 ] 26...f5! [26...Ra8 27.Bc5 Withe a probable draw] 27.exf6 Kf7 The whole point! Now White will not have the blocking move Be7 and the King's Rook comes into play with decisive effect 28.Bc5 Kxf6 29.Nb4 Rhe8+ 30.Kd3 Ne4 Winning the exchange at least 31.Rf1+ Kg6 32.Rxe4 [32.-- h5 ; 32.h4 Kh5 ] 32...Bxe4+ 33.Kxc3 Bxg2 34.Rf2 Bh3 [34...Be4 Simpler] 35.Nd3 Bf5 36.Nb4 Be4 37.Kd2 h5 38.a3 h4 39.Na2 g4 40.Nc3 Bf3 41.Bd6 Rcd8 42.Bc5 h3 43.Nb5 Bg2 0-1

(12) Botvinnik Mikhail - Gotthilf S [E22] Leningrad Masters' Tournament Leningrad, 1930 1.d4 Nf6 2.c4 e6 3.Nc3 Bb4 4.Qb3 c5 5.dxc5 Na6 Until this game I had always regarded ... Na6 as weak. 6.a3 Bxc5 [6...Bxc3+ Alekhine-Bogolyubov] 7.Nf3 0-0 [7...b6 When analysing this game I came to the conclusion that 7. ... Pb6 White has no advantage at all, and in the same year, playing Black, i adopted this system against I. Kann (15) ] 8.Bg5 Be7 The only way to relieve the pin at f6; in addition the Bishop vacates c4 for the Knight 9.e4 d6 [>=9...b6 10.-- Bb7 Black saves a tempo 11.e5 Ne8 ] 10.Be2 Bd7 11.0-0 [11.Qxb7?? Nc5 12.Qb4 a5 ] 11...Bc6 12.Qc2 h6 13.Bf4 Nc5 14.e5 The only move consolidating White's advantage [14.Nd2 d5! 15.e5 Nfe4 Black has a fair game] 14...Nfe4 The best continuation, as by exchanging Bishops Black makes defence easier. Now it seems Black has a perfectly satisfactory position, as in the struggle for e5 he has even emerged victor; however the ensuing discharge of tension in the centre reveals the weakness of his position [14...dxe5 15.Nxe5+/- ] 15.exd6 Bxd6 16.Rad1 Qe7 [16...Qc7 17.Rxd6 Nxd6 18.b4 Na6 19.c5 ] 17.Bxd6 Nxd6 18.Ne5! White's advantage is determined by this move. Instead of the strong Bishop at c6 Black is left with a weak pawn and his Knights, deprived of Bishop support, are driven out of the centre [18.b4 ] 18...Rfd8 [18...Bxg2 19.Kxg2 Qg5+ 20.Ng4 ] 19.b4 Nd7 20.Nxc6 bxc6 21.c5 Ne8 With this retreat Black condemns himself to passive defence [21...Nf5 22.Qa4 Rdc8 23.Ne4! a5 24.Nd6 ] 22.Qa4 [22.Ne4 ] 22...Rdc8 23.Ba6 Rc7 24.Ne4 Ndf6 25.Nxf6+ Qxf6 It is interesting that this natural move leads to a forced loss. But it has to be remarked that Black's position is now difficult to defend [25...Nxf6 26.Rd6 Qe8 27.b5! cxb5 28.Bxb5 Qe7 29.Qd4+/- Also lead to a difficult situation for Black] 26.Rd3 White seizes the d-file 26...Rd8 27.Rfd1 Rxd3 28.Rxd3 Qe7 Black is helpless! He cannot simultaneously defend himself against White's two threats [28...Qa1+ 29.Rd1 Qf6 30.b5! cxb5 (30...-- /\31.b6 ) 31.Bxb5 Black loses the Knight] 29.Qd1 Kh7 30.Rd8 g6 31.g3 Nf6 32.Qd6 Nd5 Now Black can move nothing but the King, and White has only to find the shortest road to victory. The Bishop's following manoeuvre is this road 33.Bc4 Kg7 34.Bb3 Kh7 35.Ba4 Kg7 36.Ra8 [36.Bxc6 Rxc6 37.Qxc6 Qxd8 White loses a piece] 36...Qxd6 [36...-- /\37.Bxc6 Qxd6 38.cxd6 Rxc6 39.d7+- ] 37.cxd6 Rd7 38.Bxc6 Rxd6 39.Bxd5 exd5 adjourned 40.Rxa7 d4 41.Kf1 Re6 [41...d3 42.Ke1 Re6+ 43.Kd1! Re2 44.Rd7 Rxf2 45.Rxd3 Rxh2 46.Rb3+- ] 42.b5 d3 43.Rd7 Re5 44.a4 Re4 45.a5 Re5 46.Rxd3 Rxb5 47.Ra3+- 1-0

(13) Botvinnik Mikhail - Kann I [E23] Leningrad Leningrad, 1930 1.d4 Nf6 2.c4 e6 3.Nc3 Bb4 4.Qb3 c5 5.dxc5 Bxc5 [At this time, the defence system beginning with 5. ... Na6 followed by ... Pb6 was not yet known (15) 5...Na6 6.-- b6 ] 6.Nf3 Nc6 A passive plan of development 7.Bg5 b6 Black underestimates White's ensuing reply [It would be risky to play 7...Na5 8.Qc2 Nxc4 9.e4 ; >=7...Qb6+/= forcing exchange queens. Of course, even now White's game is obviously better ] 8.e4 Nd4 [8...Bb7 9.0-0-0 Bxf2 10.e5 h6 11.exf6 hxg5 12.fxg7 Rg8 13.Ne4+/- ] 9.Nxd4 Bxd4 10.f3 With this simple move, eliminating the threat of 10. ... Bxf2+ White consolidates his advantage in the centre. Black's next move obviously is the only way of freeing his Nf6 [10.-- Bxf2+ 11.Kxf2 Ng4+ ] 10...h6 11.Bf4 [11.Bh4 Bxc3+ 12.bxc3 and the entire pawn position is spoilt (12.Qxc3 Nxe4 ) ] 11...e5 [11...-- /\12.Nb5 -- 13.Bd6 ] 12.Nb5 Nh5 [‹12...exf4 13.Nxd4 ; ‹12...Bxb2 13.Qxb2 exf4 14.Qa3! ] 13.Be3 [13.Nd6+ ] 13...Bxe3 [13...Qh4+ 14.g3 Nxg3 15.hxg3 Qxh1 16.Bxd4 exd4 17.Nc7+ (17.Nd6+ Kf8 18.c5 Qh5 19.g4 Qg6 20.Qd5 Rb8 21.cxb6 axb6 22.Rc1 ) 17...Kd8 18.Nxa8 Bb7 19.Nxb6 axb6 20.Qxb6+ Kc8 21.Kf2!+- ] 14.Nd6+ Kf8 15.c5! A very important intermediate move [15.Qxe3 Qh4+ 16.Qf2 could obtain an exchange of Queens (16.g3 Nxg3 17.Qf2 Qf6! loses a pawn) ] 15...Qe7 16.Qxe3 Nf4 17.Qa3 After this move Black must inevitably lose material, because of the threat 18. cxb6 17...bxc5 necessary, although this puts the Queen's Bishop in danger [17...-- /\18.cxb6 ] 18.Qxc5 Kg8 There is no other defence to Rc1 [18...-- /\19.Rc1 ] 19.g3 [19.Rc1 Kh7 ] 19...Ng6 20.Bc4 Kh7 21.0-0-0 There is no need to hurry about taking the f7-pawn [21.Qc7 Nf8! (21...-- /\22.Bd5 ) 22.Nxc8 Qb4+ 23.Kf1 Ne6 ] 21...a5 [21...f6 22.f4! ] 22.Bxf7 Ba6 23.Kb1 played carelessly! [>=23.Qa3 withdrawing the Queen from the threat of ... Rc8 and defending the f-pawn] 23...Be2 24.Rd5 Bxf3 25.Bxg6+ Kxg6 26.Rxe5 Qf6 27.Re1 [27.Rf5 Bxe4+ ; 27.Rf1 Bxe4+ ] 27...Rhb8 28.Nf5 Preparing to exchange Queens which Black cannot prevent [28.b3 ] 28...Ra6 29.Qe7 Qxe7 [29...Rab6 30.Nh4+ Kh7 31.Qxf6 Rxf6 32.Rxa5+- White has two extra pawns] 30.Rxe7 With an attack on the b-pawn White forces further simplification advantageous to himself 30...Bxe4+ [30...Rab6 31.b3 a4 (31...Bxe4+ 32.R7xe4 Kxf5 33.Re5+ ) 32.Re3 Bxe4+ 33.R7xe4 Kxf5 34.Rxa4 ] 31.R1xe4 Kxf5 32.Rf4+ Kg6 33.Rg4+ Kf5 34.Rf4+ Kg6 35.Rg4+ Kf5 36.Rgxg7 Rab6 37.Rgf7+ Kg6 38.Rg7+ [38.Rf2 Re6 with chances of a draw] 38...Kf5 39.Ref7+ Ke5 40.Rf2 d5 The game was adjourned in this position. The game judges Grigoriev and Romanovsky awarded White the win, taking into account the following variations put forward 41.Re2+ [41.Re7+ Kd6 (41...Kd4 42.Rd2+ Kc5 43.Rd7 (43.Rc7+ Kd6 44.Ra7 Rb5 45.Rh7 ) 43...Kc6 (43...Rd6 44.Rc2+ ) 44.R7xd5 Rxb2+ 45.Rxb2 Rxb2+ 46.Kxb2 Kxd5+- White wins the pawn ending easily) 42.Ra7 Rb5 43.Rh7 winning another pawn] 41...Kd6 42.Ra7 Rb5 43.Rh7 1-0

(14) Botvinnik,Mikhail - Kan,Ilya [A84] Leningrad, 1930 1.d4 e6 2.c4 f5 3.Nf3 Bb4+ 4.Bd2 Bxd2+ 5.Qxd2 Nf6 6.g3 b6 A mistake after which Black runs into serious difficulties. As is well known, here it is necesary to aim at e5, to achieve which Black should play 6. ... Pd6 [6...d6 ] 7.Nc3 d6 [7...Bb7 8.d5 excellent game for White] 8.Bg2 [8.d5 e5 ] 8...Bb7 [8...Ne4 9.Nxe4 fxe4 (9...Bb7 10.Qe3 ) 10.Ng5 d5 11.Bh3 Qe7 12.cxd5 ] 9.0-0 Qe7 Consolidating e6 [9...0-0 10.d5 e5 11.Ng5 Bc8 12.e4 Qe7 13.exf5 Bxf5 14.f4 ] 10.d5 e5 11.e4! The most energetic [‹11.Ng5 Nbd7 12.Ne6 Nc5= ] 11...fxe4 [11...Bc8 12.exf5 Bxf5 13.Rae1 0-0 14.Nd4 Bd7 15.f4 with obvious superiority] 12.Ng5 Nbd7 13.Ncxe4 0-0 [13...Nxe4 14.Bxe4 Nf6 15.Bf5 ] 14.Ne6 Nxe4 15.Bxe4 Rf6 No other way [15...Nf6 16.Nxf8 Nxe4 17.Qe3 Ng5 (17...Nc5 18.b4 ) 18.f4! Without sufficient compensation for the Exchange (18.Ne6 Nxe6 19.dxe6 Qxe6 Black has an excellent game) ] 16.Qc2 White attacks the h-pawn and simultaneously defends the c4 pawn; Black has two pawns under threat, and he cannot defend both at once [16.Nxc7 Rc8 ] 16...Rh6 Black seeks salvation in attack, which is predestined to failure [16...Nf8 17.Nxf8 Raxf8 18.Bxh7+ Kh8 19.Be4 Bc8 althought White should win, the exploitation of his pawn still involves great technical skill] 17.Nxc7 Rc8 18.Nb5 [18.Ne6 Nf6 19.-- /\Nxe4 (/\19...Nxd5 20.Bxd5 Bxd5 ) 20.Qxe4 Rxe6 ] 18...a6 19.Na7 Rf8 20.Nc6 Qg5 [20...Qf7 21.f4 ] 21.Bg2 Nf6 [21...Bc8 22.Rae1 Nf6 23.f4 Qh5 24.h4 exf4 25.Rxf4 g5 26.Bf3! ] 22.Qf5 Qh5 [22...Qxf5 23.Ne7+ Kh8 24.Nxf5 -- 25.Nxd6+- ] 23.Qxh5 Nxh5 [23...Rxh5 24.Bf3 Rh3 (24...Rg5 25.h4 ) 25.Kg2 Rh6 26.Ne7+ Kh8 27.Nf5 ] 24.f4! Re8 [24...exf4 25.g4 f3 (25...Nf6 26.g5 ; 25...Bxc6 26.dxc6 f3 27.gxh5 fxg2 28.Rxf8+ Kxf8 29.c7+- ) 26.gxh5 fxg2 27.Ne7+ Kh8 28.Rxf8# ] 25.Rae1 Bxc6 26.dxc6 Nf6 27.g4 Nxg4 28.fxe5 Nxe5 29.Bd5+ Kh8 30.c7 Rf6 [30...Rc8 31.Bb7 ] 31.Bb7 1-0

(15) Kann I - Botvinnik Mikhail [E22] Leningrad-Moscow Match, 1930 1.c4 Nf6 2.Nc3 c5 3.Nf3 e6 4.d4 cxd4 5.Nxd4 Bb4 6.Qb3 Bc5 [6...Nc6 7.Nxc6 Bxc3+ 8.Qxc3 bxc6 9.Bg5+/= White's position is unquestionably preferable; 6...Na6 7.Bg5 leads only to a transposition of moves] 7.Nf3 In sum we have a variation of the Nimzo-Indian Defence analogous to Game 12. Of course, I too continued to defend in the same manner as Gotthilf, with the difference that I refrained from the unnecessary Pd6 7...b6 8.Bg5 Bb7 9.Qc2 [9.e4 h6 10.Bh4 g5 11.Bg3 Nxe4 ] 9...h6 10.Bh4 0-0 11.e4 Be7 12.Be2 Na6 13.e5 [13.0-0 Nc5 White would not be in state to hold e4 14.Nd2 (14.e5 Nfe4 ) 14...d5 15.exd5 (15.Bxf6 Bxf6 16.exd5 Bxc3 17.Qxc3 exd5 ) 15...Nxd5! 16.Bxe7 Nxe7= ] 13...Nb4 14.Qd2 [14.Qb1 Nh5 15.Bxe7 Qxe7 16.g3 d6 (\/16...Nf4 ) 17.0-0 dxe5 18.Nxe5 Nf6 Black's game is no worse than White's] 14...Ne4 15.Nxe4 Bxe4 16.Bxe7 Qxe7 17.0-0 Rad8 18.Rad1 A faulty move, transferring the initiative to Black. [>=18.Rfd1 ; 18.Nd4 Nc6 (18...f6 19.Nb5 Nc6 20.Nd6 Bg6 21.exf6 Rxf6 22.Rad1+/- ) 19.Nxc6 simplification of the game] 18...Nxa2 19.Nd4 Now that White threatens invasion Black's Knight must hurry [‹19.Ra1 Nb4 20.Rxa7 Nc6 21.Ra6 Bxf3 22.gxf3 (22.Bxf3 Nxe5 23.Rxb6 Nxf3+ ) 22...Nxe5 23.Rxb6 d5! ] 19...Nb4 20.Nb5 Qc5 Black is compelled to take the a-pawn, regardless of the fact that his Knight is then out of play [20...Nc6 21.Nd6 Bg6 ] 21.Nxa7 f6 [Black was proposing to play 21...d5 22.exd6 Bc2 23.Rc1 (23.d7! Bxd1 24.Rxd1 And it is not so easy to deal with the passed pawn on d7) 23...Rxd6 ] 22.exf6 Rxf6 23.Qd4 [23.Nb5 d5 24.cxd5 Rxd5 25.Qe3 Qxe3 26.fxe3 Rxf1+ 27.Rxf1 Rd2+- ; 23.Qd6 e5 24.Qxc5 bxc5 with the subsequent transfer of the Black knight to d4 is not favourable to White 25.-- /\Nc2 26.-- Nd4 ] 23...d5 24.cxd5 exd5 25.Nb5 Nc6 With this move black unites his pawns and secures a superior endgame 26.Qxc5 bxc5 27.Rc1 Leads to a speedy defeat because of the forced march of the Black Queen pawn [>=27.Nc3 Nd4 28.Nxe4 Nxe2+ 29.Kh1 Rc6 but because of the passed pawn and the poor position of the enemy King Black would have adequate prospects of a win] 27...d4! 28.f3 [28.Rxc5 Results in a transposition of moves] 28...d3 29.Bd1 [29.fxe4 dxe2 30.Rfe1 (30.Rxf6 Rd1+ ) 30...Rd2 31.Nc3 (31.Rxc5 Rd1 32.Rc1 Rf1+ ) 31...Nd4 ] 29...d2 30.Rxc5 Bd3 31.Rf2 Bxb5 32.Rxb5 Re6 33.Rf1 Re1 34.Rc5 [34.Kf2 Rde8 35.Bb3+ Kh8 36.Rd5 R8e2+ ] 34...Nb4 [34...Nd4 35.Kf2 Rde8 36.Rd5!+/- ] 35.Rc4 Nd5 36.Re4 Ne3 37.Rxe3 Rxe3 38.Kf2 Rde8 39.Ba4 Re1 0-1

(16) Botvinnik Mikhail - Myasoyedov G [E23] Leningrad Leningrad, 1931 1.d4 Nf6 2.c4 e6 3.Nc3 Bb4 4.Qb3 c5 5.dxc5 Nc6 6.Nf3 Ne4 7.Bd2 Nxc5 8.Qc2 f5 9.a3 Bxc3 10.Bxc3 0-0 11.b4 Ne4 So far, as in the Stahlberg-Alekhine game (Hamburg 1930) which ended in White's defeat. 12.Bb2 Kmock suggested this is the best continuation, although this is also in Black's favour. The present game seems to show that even in that case Black's game is no better [12.e3 Stahlberg-Alekhine, Hamburg 1930] 12...b6 [12...d6 simpler, as in the game Winter-Sultan Khan (Hastins, Christmas 1930). Now a little suprise awaits Black] 13.g4 This interesting move had been previously studied in home analysis and, now at last, applied in practise. If I had forseen the complications this novelty would lead to I would have in all probability have given my preference to the calm continuation 13 Pg3 [13.g3 ] 13...Nxf2! All other continuations led to opening up the Knight file, after which White's position, with the Bishop at g2 and the Rook at g1 would look threatening. For that matter, White had taken this Knight sacrifice also into account. I foresaw that Black would not be able to recapture, and ended my analysis at that. But as often happens, mistakes occur in home analysis too, to be refuted in actual play. White does in fact retain his piece, but he comes under strong attack 14.Kxf2 fxg4 15.Rg1 Qh4+ 16.Ke3 [16.Rg3 gxf3 17.Kg1 Nd4 ; 16.Kg2 gxf3+ 17.Kh1 Nd4!-/+ ] 16...Qh6+ 17.Kf2 Qh4+ [17...Qxh2+ 18.Rg2! ; 17...gxf3 18.Rxg7+ Qxg7 19.Bxg7+/- ] 18.Ke3 Qh6+ 19.Kd3 d5! The strongest move! [19...Qg6+ 20.Kd2 ; 19...e5 20.Qd2! Qd6+ 21.Kc2 ] 20.Qc1! Now it may appear that White is getting out of the wood, but Black, consistenly developing his attack on the White King, in the final report achieves perpetual check [‹20.Qd2 Qg6+ 21.Kc3 Qe4! 22.Qg5 e5! White's position is critical] 20...dxc4+! 21.Qxc4 [21.Kxc4? Rf4+ 22.Kb3 e5 ; 21.Kc2 worth considering (leaving the c-file closed) though Black's three pawns for a piece made this continuation unconvincing] 21...Rd8+ 22.Kc2 Bb7 23.Qxg4 [23.Rxg4 Rac8 24.Bxg7 (24.Rxg7+ Qxg7 25.Bxg7 Nxb4+ 26.Kb3 Rxc4 27.Kxc4 Nc2 ) 24...Nxb4+ 25.Kb3 Rxc4 26.Bxh6+ Rxg4 the game would probably have ended in a draw] 23...Nxb4+! [23...-- /\24.Qxg7+ drives Black into the following combination forcing a draw] 24.axb4 [24.Qxb4 Rac8+ 25.Bc3 Bxf3 26.exf3 (26.Rd1 Rxc3+ 27.Qxc3 Be4+ 28.Rd3 Rxd3 (28...Bxd3+ 29.exd3 Qxh2+ 30.Rg2 Qh6 31.Be2+/- ) 29.exd3 Qxh2+ 30.Bg2 ) 26...a5! 27.-- /\Qd2+ ] 24...Rac8+ 25.Bc3 Rxc3+ 26.Kxc3 Qe3+ 27.Kb2 Rd2+ 28.Nxd2 Qxd2+ 29.Kb1 Qd1+ 30.Kb2 1/2-1/2

(17) Botvinnik Mikhail - Batuyev A [D40] Leningrad Championship Leningrad, 1931 1.d4 d5 2.c4 e6 3.Nc3 Nf6 4.Bg5 Be7 5.e3 0-0 6.Nf3 Nbd7 7.Bd3 [7.Rc1 more often playd but White is deliberately avoiding stereotyped variations] 7...dxc4 8.Bxc4 c5 This continuatoins, recommended by the chess primers, is apparently sufficient to equalize the game [8...a6 ] 9.0-0 cxd4 10.exd4 [10.Nxd4 A symmetrical pawn position is formed, and it is not then difficult for Black to equalize the game. But now White has a certain preponderance in the centre, though, truly at the cost of an isolated pawn. ] 10...Nb6 11.Bb3 Nbd5 Black wants to develop his c8-bishop to b7. Of course it is possibly to play imediately 11. ... Bd7 12.Ne5 Prevent ... Pb6 12...Nd7 Black is aiming at exchanging off the White Queen's Bishop, in order to weaken White's d4-pawn still more. It is difficult for White to avoid the exchange [\/12...b6 13.Nc6 ; 12...Bd7 ] 13.Bxe7 Nxe7 14.Qe2 [=14.Ne4 exploiting the weak Black squares] 14...Nf6 15.Rfd1 b6 16.Rac1 Bb7 Black intends to transfer his Ne7 to d5 and f4 pressuring the g-pawn. White forestalls this danger and simultaneously sets up a strong point for the Knight in the centre. In this game the Knight sacrifice met with in such positions proves unsound 17.f3! [Knight sac proves unsound 17.Nxf7 Rxf7 18.Qxe6 Ned5 ] 17...Rc8 [17...Ned5 18.Ne4 Rc8 19.Rxc8 Bxc8 20.Bc2= ] 18.Nxf7! Rxf7 19.Qxe6 Qf8 [19...Ned5 20.Nxd5 Nxd5 21.Bxd5 Bxd5 22.Rxc8+- ] 20.Ne4 Rxc1 [20...-- /\21.Qxf7+ Qxf7 22.Bxf7+ Kxf7 23.Nd6+ ] 21.Rxc1 Nfd5 22.Nd6 Ba8 23.Re1! Black is helpless against NxR and Qxe7 23...g6 24.Nxf7 Qxf7 25.Qxe7 1-0

(18) Chekhover V - Botvinnik Mikhail [A50] Russia Tournament, Leningrad, 1931 1.d4 Nf6 2.Nf3 b6 3.g3 Bb7 4.Bg2 g6 [I should have given preference to 4...c5 5.0-0 cxd4 6.Nxd4 Bxg2 7.Kxg2 g6= ] 5.0-0 Bg7 6.c4 0-0 7.Nbd2 Bad. Now Black manages to open the a1-h8 diagonal and thus hinder the development of the Bg2; in addition, White has closed the c1-h6 diagonal [>=7.Qc2 -- /\8.Nc3 -- 9.e4 Would give White some advantage; 7.Nc3 Ne4! White has trouble getting Pe4] 7...c5! 8.d5 e6 9.e4 exd5 [here Blumenfeld's idea would not succeed 9...b5 10.dxe6 fxe6 11.e5! (11.cxb5 Nxe4 12.Ng5 Nc3! 13.bxc3 Bxg2 14.Kxg2 Qxg5 ) 11...Ng4 12.cxb5 Nxe5 13.Nxe5 Bxg2 14.Kxg2 Bxe5 15.Nc4 Bg7 16.Qd6 ] 10.cxd5 White apparently assumed that his position was quite satisfactory. That would be so if the Nbd2 was at c3 Now Black gets an extra pawn on the Queenside with the Bishop excellently posed at g7. White's preponderance in the centre is easily neutralized [>=10.exd5 b5 11.Nh4 Not allowing Black Queenside pawn majority] 10...d6 11.Re1 To free the Knight from defence of the e-pawn 11...Re8 [11...Nbd7 12.Nc4 ] 12.Nh4 Qe7 An important move. He is forced to block the advance of the f-pawn with the Knight [12...-- /\13.f4 ] 13.Ndf3 [13.-- /\Nxd5 14.exd5 Qxe1+ ] 13...Nbd7 [13...Nxe4 14.Ng5+/- Only to White's advantage] 14.Bd2 b5 Black has completed his development and begins to advance on the Queenside, where he hs three pawns against two. Obviously, White's only counter-chance is an attack on the Kingside, as he is impotent on the Queenside. White tries to put this plan into effect, but his next move loses a tempo 15.Qc1 Qf8 Attacking the e-pawn 16.Qc2 a5 17.h3 b4 18.Nh2 Ba6 19.f4 Nh5! A little unpleasantness [19...c4 ] 20.Bf1! [\/20.Nf1 Bxf1 ; \/20.g4 Bd4+! 21.Be3 Nxf4 ] 20...c4 Now White is forced to defend with his King [20...Nxg3 21.Bxa6 Rxa6 22.Qd3 ] 21.Kg2 [21.g4 Ng3 22.Bg2 Nc5! 23.Kf2 b3 24.Qb1 c3! 25.-- /\Bd3 26.-- Ngxe4+ ] 21...Rec8 22.Be3 Nc5 Positionally Black's game is won; on the Queenside he has gained a real advantage, while White is not yet prepared for attack on the Kingside. Already Black could strike a decisive blow [22...b3 23.axb3 c3 24.Bxa6 cxb2 25.Bxc8 bxa1Q 26.Rxa1 Rxc8 and there can be no doubt about the result. But Black's position is so strong he can afford to take his time] 23.g4 Nf6 24.Bxc5 Rxc5 25.g5 White hastens to exploit the breathing-space and to renew his attack on the King, interrupted by Black's operations on the Queenside 25...Nh5 26.f5 Qd8 The simplest. Other continuations would probably win 27.f6 Nxf6! Sacrificing a piece, Black transposes into a won endgame 28.gxf6 Qxf6 29.N4f3 Qxb2 30.Qxb2 Bxb2 31.Rab1 c3 This move has the defect othat it blocks the Bishop at b2. The next six moves were made under acute-time trouble on both sides [31...Bg7 32.-- /\c3 ] 32.Bxa6 Rxa6 33.Nd4 a4 34.Rf1 a3 35.Rf2 Ra7 [35...b3 36.Nxb3 c2 37.Rbf1 c1Q 38.Nxc1 Bxc1-+ ] 36.Rbf1 Rc4 37.Nc6 Rc7 38.e5 [38.Rc2 b3! 39.axb3 R4xc6 40.dxc6 a2-+ ] 38...dxe5 39.Nxe5 c2! 40.Nxc4 Rxc4 41.Rxf7 c1Q 42.Rf8+ Kg7 43.R8f7+ Kh6 44.Rxc1 Rxc1 45.Ng4+ Kg5 46.d6 [46.Rb7 Rc2+ 47.Kf1 (47.Kf3 Rc3+ 48.Kg2 /\b3 ) 47...Bc3-+ ] 46...b3 47.d7 Rd1 48.Kg3! An amusing trap 48...h6! [48...-- 49.h4+ Kh5 50.Rxh7# ; 48...Rd3+ 49.Rf3 Rxd7 50.Rxb3 Black would have a prolonged endgame. But he has no less an interesting move at his own disposition] 49.Rf3 [49.h4+ Kh5 50.Rh7 Rd3+ (50...Bg7?? 51.Rxh6+ Bxh6 52.Nf6# ) 51.Kf4 Bc1+ 52.Ke4 Rxd7 53.Rxd7 bxa2-+ ] 49...bxa2 0-1

(19) Botvinnik Mikhail - Kasparian G [D37] Russia Ch URS, Moscow, 1931 1.d4 d5 2.c4 e6 3.Nc3 Nf6 4.Nf3 Nbd7 5.Bf4 Only in order to avoid the stereotyped continuation. However, this move is not without purpose; it is more difficult for Black to simplify the game than after 5. Bg5 5...Bb4 After all Black follows the Pillsbury system [5...dxc4 6.e3 Nd5 7.Bxc4 Nxf4 8.exf4 Nf6 9.0-0 Regarded advantageous to White. In this game Black seeks new roads] 6.e3 White cuts off his f4 Bishop from d2 and makes it possibly for Black to obtain practically an equal game [>=6.cxd5 exd5 (6...Nxd5 7.Bd2 ) 7.e3 Black would be unable to organise and attack on c3] 6...0-0 7.Qb3 c5 8.a3 It is necessary to relieve the tension [8.-- Ne4 9.-- Qa5 unpleasant] 8...Qa5 A faulty manoeuvre enabling White to obatin an advantageous endgame [>=8...Bxc3+! 9.bxc3 maintaining tension (9.Qxc3 Ne4 ) ] 9.Rc1 Bxc3+ 10.Qxc3 On the contrary, the endgame which now follows White's game is to be preferred owing to the pair of Bishops and strong central pawns [10.bxc3 b6 Black has the initiative of the Queenside. ] 10...Qxc3+ 11.bxc3 b6 12.cxd5 Nxd5 [12...exd5 The c8-Bishop has little scope. In addition, Black's only possibilities in the centre are by pressure with pieces] 13.Bg3 [13.Bd6 Rd8 14.Bb5 Bb7 15.Bxd7 Rxd7 16.dxc5 Rc8 Black is excellently developed] 13...Bb7 14.Bb5 N5f6 Black is playing very cautiously [14...Rfd8 15.Ba4 N5f6 16.Ne5! With advantageous complications] 15.Ke2 a6 16.Bd3 Rfc8 17.Rhd1 negligence [>=17.c4 safeguarding c3] 17...Ne4 Exactly! White has to permit the exchange of his excellently posted Queen's Bishop 18.c4 [18.-- /\cxd4 19.exd4 Nxc3+ ] 18...Bc6 now the game gradually passes into a crisis. White saves his Bishop, and then squeezes the Black pieces out of their central positions, while methodically strengthening his own position [>=18...Nxg3+ approximately equalizing] 19.Bf4 f6 20.h4 h6 21.Bh2 [21.d5 exd5 22.cxd5 Bxd5 (22...Bb5 ) 23.Bxe4 ] 21...Ra7 22.Ne1 f5 A new weakening, forced, however, by the threat of losing the Knight 23.f3 Nef6 24.Rd2 b5 For general positional reasons Black should have refrained from this breakthrough as it is well known that in open positions two Bishops are particularly strong 25.dxc5 bxc4 26.Bxc4 Nxc5 27.Bd6 Nfd7 The only way to defend the e-pawn 28.Rdc2 Re8 A shrewd defence against the threat of winning a pawn with 29.Kf2 [29.Bxc5 Nxc5 30.Bxe6+ Nxe6 31.Rxc6 Nd4+-+ ] 29...Nb7 Loses immediately, though it is doubtful any other continuation would save Black 30.Ba2! This cuning move escaped Black. His Bishop cannot escape as Rc7 and Black is paralysed 30...Nxd6 31.Rxc6 Nf7 32.Bxe6 Nde5 33.Rc8 Rae7 34.Rxe8+ Rxe8 35.Bxf5 Despite the early exchange of Queens the game was of a fighting nature to the end 1-0

(20) Botvinnik Mikhail - Sorokin N [D60] Moscow ch-SU Moscow ch-SU, 1931 1.d4 d5 2.Nf3 Nf6 3.c4 e6 4.Nc3 Nbd7 5.Bg5 Be7 6.e3 0-0 7.Bd3 c6 Strictly speaking, this move is unsound. It should only be made after White has played Rc1 After Black himself played ... Pc6 White of course does not develop his Rook, but castles, which in the given position is much more useful [7...dxc4 8.Bxc4 c5= ] 8.0-0 a6 9.a4 Puts difficulties in the way of both of these possibilities [9.-- /\dxc4 (9...b5 10.cxb5 cxb5 ) 10.Bxc4 b5 ] 9...dxc4 10.Bxc4 c5 The cause of all Black's later difficulties. The move is bad for the following reasons: after the exchange Black must recapture the pawn with a developed piece, so losing time; in addition, White will succeed in occupying the d-file The superiority in White's development will be still further increased because Black on the one hand must try to get rid of the unpleasant Bishop at g5, and on the other hand must hinder Pe4-e5 [>=10...Nd5 ] 11.dxc5 Bxc5 [>=11...Nxc5 ] 12.Qe2 h6 13.Bh4 Be7 14.Rfd1 Nh5 15.Bxe7 [15.Ne5 Bxh4 16.Qxh5 Qe7 17.Nxd7 Bxd7 18.Rxd7 Bxf2+ ] 15...Qxe7 16.Rd2 Now it is clear that Black has not succeeded in preventing White from realizing his plan 16...Nb6 17.Rad1 Qc5 [17...Bd7 18.Ne5 Nf6 19.a5 Nxc4 20.Rxd7 Nxd7 21.Rxd7 Qb4 22.Qxc4 ; 17...-- /\18.Rd6 ; ‹17...Qb4 18.Rd4 ] 18.Ba2 Nf6 19.e4 e5 Black now intends ... Bg4 or ... Be6 to solve the urgent problem of developing his Queen's Bishop 20.Qe3! This far from obvious move is the strongest in the given position. With the exchange of Queens, which he cannot avoid, the defects of Black's position grow more perceptible. in view of the backwardness of his development Black now certainly cannot oppose anything to the pressure along the d-file. His e-pawn becomes very weak. To defend it Black finds himself forced to exchange a Bishop for a Knight at f3, after which not only his Qside but square f7 is weakened. The doubling of white pawns on e-file is of no essential importance [20.-- /\Bg4 (/\20...Be6 ) ] 20...Qxe3 21.fxe3 Bg4 22.a5 Nc8 [22...Nbd7 23.h3 Bxf3 24.gxf3 Nc5 (24...Rfd8 25.Nd5! ) 25.b4 Ne6 26.Bxe6 fxe6 27.Na4! with an excellent game 27...-- /\28.Nc5 ] 23.Rc1 Renewing the attack on the e-pawn 23...Bxf3 Sad though it be, the exchange was necessary [23...Re8 24.h3 Bh5 (24...Be6 25.Bxe6 Rxe6 26.Rd8+ ) 25.Nh4! -- /\26.g4 ] 24.gxf3 Ne7 25.Nd5 White provokes further exchange, finally establishing his advantage 25...Nc6 fatal to him owing to the weakness of f7 [25...Nfxd5 26.Bxd5 (26.exd5 Nf5 27.e4 Nd6 blockade) 26...Nxd5 27.exd5 with a winning Rook endgame] 26.Nxf6+ gxf6 27.Rd7 Rab8 [27...Nxa5 28.Rcc7 ] 28.Kf2! After this Black must admit that he cannot save the f7 pawn, as there is no defence to 29. Rg1+ 28...Nxa5 [28...-- 29.Rg1+ Kh8 30.Bxf7 ] 29.Rcc7 Rbc8 30.Rxf7 Rxc7 31.Rxc7+ Kh8 32.Bd5 b5 [32...Nc6 33.Rxb7 loses more pawns; 32...Rb8 33.Rf7 ] 33.b3 Rd8 34.Kg3 [34.Rf7 Rd6 35.Kg3 Nc6 36.Kg4 White doesn't want black's Knight to come into play] 34...f5 35.Kh4 fxe4 36.fxe4 Rd6 37.Kh5 Rf6 38.h3 Rd6 39.h4 Rb6 40.Kg4 Rf6 41.Ra7 Rb6 42.Re7 Rd6 43.Rc7 Rf6 44.Ra7 Rb6 Of course, White's repetition was in order to gain time for consideration. Now he puts his plan into effect 45.Rc7 Rf6 46.Kh5 Rd6 47.Bf7! Rf6 [47...Kg7 48.b4 and the unlucky Knight is lost! The Bishop is transferred to g6 after which the King is caught in the net] 48.Bg6 Nxb3 49.Kxh6 Rf8 [49...Kg8 50.Kg5 Rf8 51.h5+- ] 50.Rh7+ Kg8 51.Rg7+ Kh8 52.Bf7 Rxf7 53.Rxf7 Kg8 54.Kg6 Nd2 55.Rd7 1-0

(21) Botvinnik Mikhail - Alatortsev V [E85] Moscow ch-SU Moscow ch-SU, 1931 1.d4 Nf6 2.c4 g6 3.f3 Bg7 Today no one is afraid of 3. Pf3. However, when this game was played it was a menacing weapon [3...d5 4.cxd5 Nxd5 5.e4 Nb6 leads to an equal game owing to the weakness of the White d-pawn] 4.e4 d6 5.Nc3 0-0 6.Be3 e5 7.Nge2 [>=7.d5 ] 7...Nc6 leads Black to a difficult game [>=7...exd4 8.Nxd4 c6 9.-- /\d5<=> Euwe-Hastings, 1938/9] 8.Qd2 Nd7 9.d5 White closes the centre, intending to organize an attack on the Black King [9.0-0-0 Nb6 10.b3 exd4 11.Nxd4 a5!|^ ] 9...Ne7 [>=9...Ncb8 10.-- /\Na6 11.-- Nac5 ] 10.g3 ... Pf5 is not dangerous itself. For White it is important only to hinder the further advance of the f-pawn and not himself to exchange at f5. If he succeeds in maintaining the existing pawn formation, which greatly cramps Black's pieces, his superiority will be unquestionable. The text move meets all these requirements [10.g4 f5! Black would force an exchange at f5 and his pieces would be freed 11.-- /\f4 ] 10...f5 11.Bg2 fxe4 Black still does not realize that his pieces are almost in zugzwang. This exchange is entirely in White's favour as it at once clears up the position in the centre. Having the worse position, Black should have aimed at complicating the struggle with 11. ... Nf6 [>=11...Nf6 ] 12.fxe4 Nf6 13.h3 b6 [13...Nh5 14.g4 ; \/13...Ng4 ] 14.b3 Kh8 15.g4! The signal for attack! White should not be in a hurry to Castle, as it would provoke Black's counterattack on the Qside. But if Black begins operations on the Qside before White castles long, White is able to change his plans, to Castle short and exploit Black's weakness on the Queenside. The manoeuvre Black has undertaken (... Kh8, Ng8) does not strengthen the Kingside. On the contrary, on the h-file the King is more in danger than on the g-file; however, Black aimed to control his h6 15...Neg8 16.Ng3 Bd7 17.0-0-0 h6 It was now, when White had castled, that Black's operations should have begun on the Queenside. True, White's attack (Qe2, Pg5 and Ph4-h5) would develop much faster, but even so the refusal to counter-attack greatly simplifies White's task [17...a5 /\18.Qe2 -- 19.g5 Ne8 20.h4 -- 21.h5 ] 18.g5 hxg5 [18...Nh7 19.gxh6 Bf6 surrenders a pawn but it defends the King most reliably of all] 19.h4 [19.Bxg5 also playable] 19...Bg4 [19...g4 20.h5 Kh7 relying on the Pg4 to hold up White's attack for a time. But even in this case it is doubtful whether Black could have held up for long 21.hxg6+ Kxg6 22.Rdf1 ] 20.hxg5+ Nh5 21.Nce2 Preventing any propitiatory sacrifices on the lines of ... Rf4 21...Ne7 [\/21...Rf4 ] 22.Rh4 Qd7 23.Rdh1 Kg8 24.Rxg4 The simplest 24...Qxg4 25.Bh3 Qf3 26.Rf1 Nxg3 27.Be6+ Kh8 28.Rxf3 Rxf3 29.Nxg3+- Rxg3 30.Qh2+ 1-0

(22) Botvinnik Mikhail - Kann I [A98] Russia Ch URS, Moscow, 1931 1.d4 e6 If Black wishes to play the Dutch Defence, this move is almost obligatory. [1...f5 2.e4! White has the dangerous Staunton gambit at his disposal 2...fxe4 3.Nc3 Nf6 4.Bg5 d6 5.Bc4© White has excellent development and a good attack in exchange for a pawn] 2.c4 f5 3.g3 Nf6 4.Bg2 Be7 The continuation Black has chosen is usually associated with ... Pd5. In this game Black usually played ... Pd6 [Theory also recommends 4...Bb4+ 5.Bd2 Bxd2+ 6.Qxd2 ] 5.Nf3 d6 6.0-0 0-0 7.b3 This move is usually chosen by Illyin-Zhenevsky's opponents, the object being to prevent Black's ... Pe5. However, they usually develop the Bishop at b2, not at a3 as in the present game. Developing the Bishop at a3 must be regarded as superior as then White not only renders ... Pe5 difficult, but also develops the QN at c3 where it is more active 7...Qe8 The Queen posted at e8, characteristic of the Dutch Defence, was an indispensable link in Ilyin-Zhenevsky's system. The Bishop for defence of the c7 pawn can retreat to d8, leaving the Queen the possibility from e8 of taking part in preparation of ... Pe5 [\/7...e5 ] 8.Qc2 Qh5 At first glance Black by the text move renounces the basic idea of advancing his central pawn, but in reality this is not so. Black's plan includes ... Nc6, ... Bd7, ... Rae8, ... Bd8 and ... Pe5 [8...Bd8 9.Ba3 (9.-- /\e5 ) 9...Nc6 10.Nc3 e5 11.dxe5 Nxe5 12.Nxe5 Qxe5 13.Rad1 in this variation Black's defence of the b-pawn is rendered difficult. ] 9.Nc3 [9.-- /\Nc6 10.-- Bd7 11.-- Rae8 12.-- Bd8 13.-- /\e5 ] 9...Nc6 10.Ba3 Bd7 It may seem strange that White so obstinately refuses to play Pe4. For it is known that a successful opening of the centre by way of Pe4 always gives White a tangible advantage in the Dutch Defence. That is unsound only when White's Queen's Bishop is at a3, for there it is undefended There is no necessity for White to try for Pe4, he has other no less possibilites at his command [>=10...a5 11.-- /\Nb4 At this time this manoeuvre was not thought of] 11.d5! [11.e4 fxe4 12.Nxe4 Nxe4 13.Qxe4 d5 White loses a piece] 11...Nd8 [11...Ne5?? 12.Nxe5 ] 12.Ne5 Attracted by the superiority of two Bishops over Bishop and Knight, White allows his opponent a breathing space [>=12.Rad1 increasing the pressure] 12...dxe5 [12...Bc8 quite joyless outlook] 13.Bxe7 Rf7 14.Ba3 [14.Bxd8 Rxd8 15.dxe6 Bxe6 16.Nd5 Black has a strong attack in exchange for the pawn; 14.d6 cxd6 (14...Nc6 15.Bxf6 Rxf6 16.dxc7 Rh6 17.h3 Nd4 18.Qd1 Bc6 ) 15.Bxd6 Bc6 16.f3 e4= ] 14...exd5 opening the diagonal for the Bishop 15.Nxd5 f4! Excellently played! A threat of ... Bh3 and then ... Ng4 16.Rad1 White sets up counterchances on the d-file [16.-- Bh3 17.-- /\Ng4 ; 16.Nxc7 Bf5! ] 16...Nxd5 After this White seizes the initiative [>=16...Bh3 17.Nxf6+ Rxf6 18.Bf3 Qf7 19.Rfe1 ] 17.Bxd5 Be6 18.Qd3 It appears Black underestimated the strength of this move. Now he is forced to renounce the transfer ...Nd8-e6-g4 which has been his objective [‹18.Qe4 c6 forcing an exchange on e6] 18...Bxd5 [18...-- /\19.Bf3 ] 19.Qxd5 White prefers to continue play along the d-file, which is greatly strengthend by his Bishop controll f8 [‹19.cxd5 Rf6 20.-- /\Nf7 21.-- Ng5 ] 19...Nc6 20.Bc5! The most difficult moment of the game. The Bishop move seems very simple. Yet it was not easy to find. [20.b4 Rd8 Playable since the a3-f8 diagonal is blocked 21.Qe6 Nd4 ] 20...Re8 [20...-- /\21.b4 (/\21.Qe6 ) ; 20...Qxe2 21.Qe6 Qh5 22.Rd7 Qf5 23.Qxf5 Rxf5 24.Rxc7 Rf7 25.Rxf7 Kxf7 26.gxf4 exf4 27.Rd1+/- better endgame] 21.b4 a6 [>=21...h6 22.b5 Nd8 and a long struggle ahead (22...Rd8 23.bxc6! ) ] 22.b5 axb5 23.cxb5 Na5 24.Qe6 immediately decides the game 24...Ra8 25.Rd7 Qg6 26.Qd5 h6 27.Rxc7 Re8 28.Bb4 Transposing to an easily won endgame 28...b6 29.Bxa5 bxa5 30.b6 Qe6 31.Qxe6 Rxe6 32.Rb1 Re8 33.Rxf7 Kxf7 34.b7 Rb8 35.gxf4 exf4 36.Kg2 Ke6 37.Kf3 g5 38.Ke4 1-0

(23) Rauzer V - Botvinnik Mikhail [D60] Russia Ch URS, Moscow, 1931 1.d4 Nf6 2.c4 e6 3.Nc3 d5 4.Bg5 Nbd7 5.Nf3 c6 6.Qb3 This system beginning with 6. Qb3 was invented and thoroughly analysed by Master V. Rauzer. The idea of the text move (not of the entire system, of course) is not original: White avoide the Cambridge Springs Variation. Black is compelled to resort to the orthodox defence [6.Rc1 Qa5 7.Bd2 published in Soviet periodicals, ideas being analogous to that of Rauzer's move. As is known, finally the analysts manages to refute this variation, chiefly because White's c-pawn can't be defended] 6...Be7 [‹6...Qa5 7.Bd2 ] 7.e3 0-0 8.Be2 After move six White's plan for further play was still not clear, but now his intention is gradually being disclosed: White refrains from the usual Bd3 as he proposes to develop pressure on the d-file. At first glance this seems impossible, as the d-file is closed with pawns; but with more thoughtful consideration of the position it is impossible not to admit that his plan is justified. Eg. if we assume that White's Knight at c3 reaches e5, exchanges on this square will be disadvantageous to Black, as they will partially open the d-file. Meanwhile Black still has difficulty in developing his Queen's Bishop. It is interesting to not that in those games of the USSR 1931 Championship in which Rauzer played 6. Qb3 he always had the better game, Black's following attempt to develop the Queen's Bishop may be recommended as best 8...b6 9.cxd5 Later is will become apparent that the immediate exchange at d5 was not provoked by necessity. In genearl to relieve the pawn tension in the centre (in reply to Black's ... Pb6) is only good if the Queenside can be weakened with Ba6. After the text move Black has a half-open e-file 9...exd5 10.0-0 [10.Qa4 Bb7 11.Ba6?? b5 ] 10...Bb7 11.Rfd1 Stereotyped! As already pointed out, White's plan included developing the Knight to e5. In that case, with the continuation Pf4, the Rook would be very useful on the f-file [>=11.Rad1 ] 11...Rc8 A very serious error! But at the board I departed from this intention, not wishing to simplify the position [>=11...h6 12.Bh4 Ne4 13.Bxe7 Qxe7 14.Nxe4 dxe4 15.Nd2 c5 With an equal game; 11...Ne4 12.Bf4 ; =11...Re8! \/12.Ne5 Nxe5 13.dxe5 Nd7 14.Bf4 Bf8! winning the d-pawn] 12.Ne5 Nxe5 Black is forced to exchange Knights as after 13. Pf4 White would recapture at e5 with the f-pawn [12...-- /\13.f4 Nxe5 14.fxe5 ] 13.dxe5 Nd7 14.Bf4! Excellent! White has no need whatever to exchange Bishops: he is already threatening Pe4 against which Black must take urgent measures From the combinative aspect Black's next move is hardly quite correct, and it was made partly because of general positional considerations. Black assumed that after the exchange of Bishops the pawn trio e5, f4, e3 would prove inadequately defended 14...Bg5 Provoking White into active operation in the centre and having in mind an interesting Queen manoevre which at first glance refutes White's attack [‹14...f6 15.exf6 Nxf6 16.Bg3 -- /\17.e4 ] 15.Bxg5 Unquestionably sound [15.Ne4 Bxf4 16.exf4 dxe4 17.e6 Rc7 18.Bg4 Kh8=/+ ] 15...Qxg5 16.f4 Qe7 17.e4! Qc5+ Inadequately thought out! White's move was of no suprise to Black. Seeeing it several moves ahead, he called check Black was confident that this led to a win. What he counted on can be seen from the note to the next move [17...Nc5! 18.Qa3 Rfd8 19.exd5 cxd5 20.Qxa7 d4 21.Nb5 Ra8 22.Qxb6 Ra6! 23.Qc7 Rd7 24.Qb8+ Rd8= draw by repetition] 18.Kh1 I had to seek a continuation which would allow me still to "fish in troubled waters" 18...Rcd8 [18...Qe3 Botvinnik's intention 19.Nxd5! easily refutes (19.-- /\d4 ) ; 18...d4 19.Na4 Qe7 20.Rxd4 c5 21.Rc4 Black would hardly have any hope of salvation (21.Rd6 ) ] 19.exd5 Qe3 [‹19...cxd5 20.Bf3! White wins a pawn with an easy position (20.Nxd5 Nxe5! ) ] 20.Qc4 Presumably reckoning that after winning the pawn the rest is a "Question of technique", White at that moment revealed his ignorance of the technique of exploiting his superiority. Black can count on the draw as almost secured [Easy win in 20.Bf3! not clinging to the f-pawn 20...Qxf4 21.dxc6 Nc5 22.Qa3 Bc8 23.Qxa7 ] 20...cxd5 21.Nxd5 A second mistake. White does not realize the danger of his position [>=21.Qd4 Qxd4 22.Rxd4 Nc5+/- ] 21...Bxd5! 22.Rxd5 Nc5!! The Knight is achieving brilliant success! 23.Bf3 [23.Rad1 Ne4 ; 23.-- /\Ne4 24.-- Nf2+ ; 23.-- Rxd5 24.Qxd5 Qxe2 ; 23.Rxd8 Rxd8 ] 23...Nd3 White has saved his piece but has not defended himself against the invasion of the Knight 24.h3[] Rxd5 25.Bxd5 [25.Qxd5 Nf2+ 26.Kh2 Qxf4+ 27.g3 Qe3 Black secures a sure but technically difficult win] 25...Qg3 26.Rf1 [A few years after this game one amateur found salvation by 26.Bxf7+!! Rxf7 27.e6! Nf2+ 28.Kg1 Nxh3+ 29.Kh1 draw] 26...Nf2+ 27.Kg1 Nxh3+ 28.Kh1 Nf2+ 29.Rxf2 [29.Kg1 Ng4 30.Rf3 (30.Rc1 Qh2+ 31.Kf1 Ne3+ ) 30...Qe1+ 31.Qf1 (31.Rf1 Qe3+ 32.Kh1 Qg3 ) 31...Qxf1+ 32.Rxf1 (32.Kxf1 Nh2+ ) 32...Ne3 White loses the exchange] 29...Qxf2 30.Bxf7+ Too late! 30...Rxf7 31.e6 Rxf4! 32.e7+ Rxc4 33.e8Q+ Qf8 34.Qe6+ Qf7+- 0-1

(24) Botvinnik Mikhail - Riumin N [D30] Moscow ch-SU Moscow ch-SU, 1931 1.d4 d5 2.c4 c6 3.Nf3 Nf6 4.e3 e6 5.Bd3 [As I have already said in my notes to Game 8 against Sozin, at this period I avoided the Meran Variation with Nc3 5.Nc3 Meran Variation] 5...Nbd7 6.0-0 [6.Nbd2 More consistent, in order to recapture with the Knight and prevent ... Pe5 for a long time. 6...dxc4 (6...c5 Semmering variation which almost entirely equalizes the game for Black. As will be seen later, the text move also yields no advantage if Black chooses a sound plan) 7.Nxc4 ] 6...Bd6 An oldfashioned manner of playing this defence. The idea of achieving freedom by advancing the e-pawn is sound, but tactically it should have been carried through differently [6...Be7 Theory; To carry out the e-pawn advance plan >=6...dxc4 7.Bxc4 Bd6 White is unable to prevent Black's liberating move ... Pe5 as in the 23rd game of the first match between Alekhine and Bogoljubov] 7.Nbd2 A highly important move! White parries Black's threat, indicating the ... Pxc4 and ... Pe5. Now we have the Semmering Variation with the difference that Black has played ... Bd6 instead of ... Pc5 7...e5 One cannot assume that Black was unaware of the theoretical argument against this highly dubious sally; it is obviuos that the play opens up to White's advantage. One cannot assume with confidence that, playing to win in this game, Black deliberately went for complications. But in doing so committed a double error. First, when facing an opponent who has fairly good knowledge of opening variations, one must not choose unsatisfactory continuations. Seconldy, the game must be complicated in such a manner that it is not associated with any risk of getting a lost position. In this regard many of Alekhine's games are highly instructive, for he had a mastery way of finding the road to complications at the right moment [Black should now have summed up the situation and given up the struggle for the centre 7...0-0 8.e4 dxe4 9.Nxe4 Nxe4 10.Bxe4 Emerging with a craped but strong position] 8.e4! 0-0 [‹8...exd4 9.e5 ; ‹8...dxc4 9.Nxc4 ; ‹8...dxe4 9.Nxe4 Nxe4 10.Bxe4 0-0 11.dxe5 Nxe5 12.Nxe5 Bxe5 13.Bxh7+ ] 9.cxd5 cxd5 10.exd5 exd4 A very interesting position has arisen, completely symmetrical, with the d-file queerly cluttered up with pieces. In such cases the advantage most often remains with the one whose turn it is to move. The present position excellently illustrates this rule. White's idea is very simple: to defend the d5 pawn, and to win the d4 pawn [10...Nxd5 11.Nc4 leads to the loss of a pawn] 11.Ne4 Nxe4 Black agrees to give up his d5 pawn without a struggle; however it is difficult to advise anything better [11...Nc5 12.Nxf6+ Qxf6 13.Bg5 ; 11...Nb6 ; 11...Ne5 12.Bg5 Bg4 13.Be2! Be7 14.d6+- ] 12.Bxe4 Nc5 Again a perfectly sound idea (in exchange for a pawn Black tries to get the advantage of the Bishop pair), but tactically it is so inexact that the two Bishops superiority turns out to be not Black's but Whites [>=12...Nf6! 13.Qxd4 (13.Bg5 Be7 14.Bxf6 Bxf6 15.Nxd4 Qb6 ) 13...Nxe4 (13...Re8 14.Bg5 Be7 15.Rfe1! ) 14.Qxe4 ] 13.Bc2 [13.Qxd4 Nxe4 14.Qxe4 Re8 15.Qd4 (15.Qd3 Qf6! ) 15...Bf5 Black would have excellent compensation for his pawn in the shape of his two Bishops. So White accepts the doubling of his pawns on the Kingside simply so that he may himself be left with two Bishops] 13...Bg4 [13...d3 14.Bxd3 Nxd3 15.Qxd3 Black would get two Bishops. But in doing so he would of course lose a tempo by comparison with the analogous continuation he could have forced earlier] 14.Qxd4 Bxf3 15.gxf3 Re8! Subtly played! White finds the right continuation, consolidating his material superiority [15...Qd7 16.Qh4+/- White, haveing secured his King, would himself havae the attack against the Black King; 15...f5 16.Kh1 promised Black unplesantness] 16.Rd1! [16.-- /\Be5 17.Qxc5 Qh4 drawing option (17...Rc8 winning the piece back) 18.f4 Qxf4 ] 16...Re2 [16...Be5 17.Qg4 ] 17.Bf5 g6 18.Bh3 Nd7! Black is manoeuvering with great artistry. He threatens ... Bc5 and ... Be5 with attack on one of the pawns. However, if the position is studied carefully it is easy to see that Black's initiative is of a temporary nature. Whie has only to return his opponent his pawn for Black's attack to dissipate, and with his two Bishops and the passed pawn at d5 White will be able to decide the game swiftly in his own favour. But it is not even necessary to return the pawn The first method, which White chooses, should yield fruit more quickly 19.Be3! [19.-- /\Bc5 (/\19...Be5 ) ; 19.Qd3 Re8 20.f4 is sufficient for a win] 19...Be5 20.Qc4 Rxb2 21.Rac1 [>=21.d6 exploiting the circumstance that in order to win the b-pawn Black has to raise his blockade of the d-pawn Black has no satisfactory defence 21...Nb6 (21...Rc8 22.Qe4 Bf6 23.Qg4! Black could not struggle for long against the d-pawn) 22.Qe4 Bxd6 23.Qd4 ] 21...Nb6 22.Qe4 Qd6 White's mistake is replied to with one by Black. It has long been known that the Queen is a bad intermediary, as any piece can drive her off. [>=22...Bd6+/= After which White would have the slightly better position, but not a forced win] 23.f4 Bg7 [23...Bf6 24.Bc5 Qd8 25.d6 Black would soon be forced to lay down his arms] 24.Bc5 Whie's pieces dominate the whole board. The rest is simple 24...Qd8 25.Be7 Qe8 26.d6 Qb5 27.d7 Nxd7 28.Bxd7 Qb6 29.Qe3 Qxe3 30.fxe3 Rxa2 31.Bc8 h5 32.Rd8+ Kh7 Here the time check ended, and Black resigned without waiting for White's reply 1-0

(25) Kirilov V - Botvinnik Mikhail [A34] Russia Ch URS, Moscow, 1931 1.c4 c5 2.Nc3 Nf6 3.g3 Experience has shown that this system gives White no advantage whatever, if Black succeeds in the exchanging of pawns in the centre and then posting his Knight at c7 where it occupies a useful position 3...d5 4.cxd5 Nxd5 5.Bg2 After this Black prevents Pd4 and White proves unable to set up a pawn centre. But even his piece development is not altogether satisfactory. His King's Bishop can do nothing alone, and if the Queen's Bishop is developed at b2 it will com up against the pawn outpost at e5. [>=5.d4 which leads to a quite satisfactory game for White] 5...Nc7 Often played by A. Rubinstein where the Knight doesn't block the b-pawn by ... Nb6, which might be needed to defend Pc5 [5...Nb6 ] 6.Nf3 Nc6 7.0-0 e5 With colours reversed we now have the "dragon" variation of the Sicilian defence, and that in a form advantageous to Black, as the c-pawn is already posted at c5. For the next few moves the opponents respective plans are fairly clear. White is organizing an attack on the c-pawn, while Black is aiming at rapid development and consolidation of the central outposts c5 and e5 8.b3 Be7 9.Bb2 0-0 10.Rc1 White is now threatening Na4 attacking Pe5 and Pc5. He has outstripped Black in development and holds the iniatitive. The only question is whether he will be able with an attack on Pc5 to achieve any real advantage. If this attack is repulsed the initiative will be ended and Black's superiority in the centre will tell at once 10...f6 [10...-- /\11.Na4 ] 11.Ne1 Neccesary! Assuming the c-pawn can be defended by other more energetic moves, Black first prevents Nd3 [11.Na4 b6! 12.Nxe5 Nxe5 13.Bxa8 Nxa8-/+ ] 11...Bf5 [11...Bd7 12.Na4 b6 ] 12.Na4 [\/12.Nd3 ] 12...Na6 13.Ba3 Qa5 14.Nc2 White cannot further increase the pressure on the c-pawn. Meanwhile Black has only to bring his Rooks into action to complete his development. [14.Bxc6 bxc6 Black has doubled pawns but with his two strong Bishops he would be able to develop operations on the weakened Kingside] 14...Rfd8 15.Ne3 Be6 [15...Rxd2 16.Qe1 Be6 17.Bxc6 depriving the Black Queen of defence 17...bxc6 18.Rd1 Rad8 19.Bc1+- ] 16.d3 An admission of bankruptcy of his plan associated with attack on the c-pawn. Meanwhile Black now develops his last piece, disposes of the threat BxN and passes to a decisive attack [>=16.Bxc6 bxc6 17.d3 Rac8 18.Qc2 Nb4=/+ ] 16...Rac8 17.Nc4 Qc7 18.Nd2 b6 19.Bb2 White is at a loss and playing without a plan 19...Qd7 20.Re1 Nd4 21.Nc3 Nb4! Black has achieved an ideal disposition of pieces and pawns. His Knights are posted invulnerably as ths moves Pa3 and Pe3 would fatally weaken White's position. Now White fails to see a fairly obvious combination, by which Black wins a pawn. But in any case it is hardly possible now to indicate any way to his salvation 22.Nf3 Nxa2! 23.Nxd4 [23.Nxa2 Bxb3 24.Qd2 Nxf3+ 25.Bxf3 Bxa2 26.Bxe5 Bd5-+ ] 23...Nxc3 24.Rxc3 cxd4 25.Rxc8 Rxc8 26.e3 Bb4 27.Re2 Bc3 28.exd4 Bxb2 29.Rxb2 Qxd4 30.Ra2 [30.Rc2 Rxc2 31.Qxc2 Qa1+ 32.Bf1 Bh3 33.Qc4+ Kh8 34.d4 exd4 35.-- Qxf1+-+ ] 30...a5 31.Ra4 Qc3 32.Rh4 Qc1 0-1

(26) Botvinnik Mikhail - Myasoyedov G [E23] Leningrad ch-city Leningrad ch-city, 1932 1.d4 e6 2.c4 Nf6 3.Nc3 Bb4 4.Qb3 c5 5.dxc5 Nc6 6.Bg5 I played this move in a game with Mazel in the USSR 1931 Championship. White aims at preventing 6. ... Ne4 which gives Black an equal game 6...Qa5 The defect of this move is that after 7. Bxf6 Black is left with a shattered pawn position [6...Bxc3+ White retained superiority. Myasoyedov chooses a different way of development, which also does not enable Black to equalize the game; >=6...h6 Botvinnik-Ragozin, Tournament of Leningrad House of Scientist 1932-33 7.Bh4 g5 8.Bg3 Ne4 9.e3 Bxc3+ 10.bxc3 Qf6 11.Ne2 e5! Black has excellent play] 7.Bxf6 gxf6 8.Nf3 Qxc5 [8...Bxc3+ worth considering] 9.a3 Ba5 Black withdraws his Bishop to a less effective diagonal [>=9...Qa5 10.Rc1 Be7 11.-- d6 12.-- /\Bd7 ] 10.e3 a6 11.Be2 [>=11.0-0-0! with a sharpo struggle] 11...Rg8 [11...d5! 12.Rc1 (12.cxd5 Bxc3+ 13.bxc3 Qxd5 ) 12...dxc4 freed Black's game a little. This shows that White too had played inexactly on the preceding move] 12.0-0 Bc7 [>=12...f5 preventing Ne4] 13.Ne4 Qe7 now the tempo of events quickened [no less a better move is 13...Qf5 14.Qd3! Ke7 (14...d5 15.cxd5 exd5 16.Qxd5 ) ] 14.Qc3 Rg6 [14...Ne5 15.c5! -- Black can't defend himself against 16.Rad1 -- /\17.Nd6+ ] 15.c5 A muderous move! Black's following attempt to free himself is also not very satisfactory 15...d5 [15...f5 16.Qh8+ Qf8 17.Nf6+ winning a pawn; 15...b6 16.cxb6 Bxb6 17.Rfd1 Bc7 18.Rac1 Black has no move.; 15...-- 16.Rad1 -- /\17.Nd6+ ] 16.cxd6 Bxd6 17.Rfd1 Bc7 18.Nc5 Kf8 [18...-- /\19.Nxa6 ] 19.Rac1 Again threatening Nxa6 [\/19.Nxa6 Rxa6 20.Bxa6 bxa6 21.Qxc6 Bb7-+ ] 19...Be5 20.Nxe5 Nxe5 [20...fxe5 21.Bf3+/- ] 21.f4 [=21.Qa5 Nc6 22.Qb6 Black would have great difficulty meeting the threat of 23. Bxa6 22...-- /\23.Bxa6 ] 21...Nc6 22.Bf3 e5 23.b4 Nd8 [23...f5 24.Bxc6 Rxc6 25.fxe5 b6 26.e6! Kg8 (26...f6 27.Rd7 Bxd7 28.Nxd7+ Qxd7 29.exd7 ) 27.exf7+ Kxf7 28.Qb3+ Be6 (28...Kf8 29.Qd5 ) 29.Nxe6 Qxe6 (29...Rxe6 30.Qd5 ) 30.Rd7+ Kg8 31.Qxe6+ Rxe6 32.Rcc7+- ] 24.Qd3 Ke8 [24...Bg4 25.Bxg4 Rxg4 26.Qf5 -- /\27.Rd7 ] 25.f5 Rg5 [25...Rg8 26.Nxa6 bxa6 ] 26.Ne4 Rg8 27.Nd6+ 1-0

(27) Rabinovich I - Botvinnik Mikhail [C01] Russia Ch Leningrad, Leningrad, 1932 1.e4 e6 2.d4 d5 3.Nc3 Bb4 4.exd5 With this continuation Black experiences no difficult whatever in development; so it is rarely played in tournaments 4...exd5 5.Bd3 Nc6 6.Nge2 Nge7 7.0-0 Bg4 8.f3 Be6 9.Be3?! [>=9.Na4 ] 9...Nf5 10.Bf2 Qd7 [10...Bxc3! 11.bxc3 (11.Nxc3 Nfxd4 ) 11...Qd7 (11...g5 ) ] 11.Na4 b6 [11...-- \/12.Nc5 Bxc5 13.dxc5 gaining the Bishop pair] 12.a3 Be7 13.Nac3 Bf6 14.Ba6 The further phase of the middle-game consists of a series of complicated manoeuvres by which White gains a slight superiority [although worth considering 14.Bxf5 Bxf5 15.Nf4 Ne7 16.Nh5 ] 14...0-0 15.Na2 Qd6 16.Qd2 h6 17.Rad1 Rad8 18.g4 Gaining advantage in space on the Kingside. This move is safe as the closed position does not allow Black to exploit the weakening of the pawn chain 18...Nh4 19.Bg3 Qe7 [19...Qd7 20.Bb5 with a dangerous pin] 20.Bb5 Na5 After this White decides to exchange Queens and pass to the endgame [20...Nb8 21.c3 c5 22.Bd3 Nc6 23.Bb1 White's position would be preferable] 21.Qb4 c6 22.Qxe7 Bxe7 23.Bd3 Bf6 24.c3 Ng6 25.Rfe1 Nc4 Hoping to complicate the game 26.Bxc4 dxc4 27.Nb4 c5 A cunning trap, the idea of which White discovers only some moves later 28.Nc6 [‹28.Nc2 Be7 29.Ne3 cxd4 30.Nxd4+/= ] 28...Rd7 29.dxc5 [29.Ne5 Bxe5 30.dxe5 Rd3 could not allure to White] 29...bxc5 30.Rxd7 Bxd7 31.Na5 The pawn cannot be taken because the piece would be lost [31.Nxa7 Ra8 ] 31...Be6 Gradually White's mistake at his 28th move is revealed. The Na5 is out of the game, the b-pawn is weak, and White's Kingside hardly inspires confidence. On the other hand the apparently bad Black c-pawns prove invincible 32.f4 White's move is clearly bad; the Black Bishops gradually dominate all the board, while White's Kingside becomes irrevocably weak [‹32.Nb7 Bd5 33.Nxc5 Nh4 ; ‹32.Bd6 Rd8! 33.Bxc5 Ne5 34.Nd4 Bd5 ; >=32.Rd1 Black would chose a pawn sacrifice line 32...Ne5 (32...Be5 33.f4 Bc7 34.f5 Bxa5 35.fxe6 fxe6 with a sharp game and an extra pawn) 33.Bxe5 Bxe5 34.Nc6 Bc7 35.Nxa7 f5 with excellent chances] 32...Bxg4 33.Nxc4 h5! [‹33...Re8 34.Ne5 Bxe5 35.fxe5 Nxe5 36.Nd4! f6 37.Bxe5 fxe5 38.Nc6 ] 34.Nc1 [34.-- /\h4 35.Bf2 Bxe2 36.Rxe2 Nxf4 ; 34.Ne3 Bxe2 (34...Bf3 keeping up strong pressure) 35.Rxe2 h4 36.f5 hxg3 37.fxg6 gxh2+ 38.Rxh2 fxg6 the win is problematic] 34...Rd8 [34...h4 35.Bf2 attacking the c-pawn. But Black has no need to hurry] 35.Ne3 Bh3 36.Rd1 Loses a pawn and the game [36.f5 Nh4! ] 36...h4 37.Rxd8+ Bxd8 38.Bf2 Nxf4 39.Nc4 Be7 40.b4 Be6 41.Na5 Nh3+ 42.Kg2 Nxf2 43.Kxf2 cxb4 A graphic example of the Bishops superiority fo Knights 44.axb4 Bd6 45.Kg2 h3+ 46.Kg1 g5 47.Nc6 Bd5 48.Nd4 [48.Nxa7 Bf4 49.Nc8 Be3+ 50.Kf1 Bg2+ ] 48...Bf4 49.Nce2 Be3+ 50.Kf1 Be4 51.Ke1 f5 The time has come when one Bishop can be exchanged against a Knight, which incidentally disposes of White's last chances 52.Ng3 Bxd4 53.cxd4 Kf7 54.Ne2 Ke6 55.Nc3 Bc6 56.Kf2 f4 57.Ne2 Bg2 58.Nc3 g4 59.Kg1 Bb7 60.b5 Kf5 61.Na4 g3 White resigns, as even Nc5 will not prevent Black from playing ... Pf3 0-1