[Event "Sweden"]
[Site "Match, Stockholm"]
[Date "1926.??.??"]
[Round "?"]
[White "Botvinnik Mikhail"]
[Black "Stoltz G"]
[Result "1-0"]
[ECO "D55"]
[Annotator "Botvinnik Mikhail"]
[PlyCount "61"]

1. d4 d5 2. c4 e6 3. Nc3 Nf6 4. Bg5 Be7 5. e3 O-O 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[%cal Gc8b7]} 7. Rc1 (7. cxd5 exd5) 7... Bb7 8. Bd3 Nbd7 9.
O-O Ne4 {seems natural} (9... c5 10. Qe2 cxd4 11. exd4 dxc4 12. Bxc4 {
isolating the Q pawn[%csl Gd4]}) 10. Bxe7 {White made this move without
stopping to think. It is best to avoid simplifications} (10. Bf4 $1 {Avoiding
simplications} -- 11. cxd5 $140 exd5 12. Bxc7 {[%cal Gc1c7]} Qxc7 13. Nxe4)
10... Qxe7 11. cxd5 exd5 {[%cal Gf7f5]} 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 {[%csl Rg2]} 16. g3 Qg4 {[%cal Gg4h3,
Gh3g2]} 17. Kh1 Rf6 18. Rg1 Rh6 19. Qf1 {[%cal Gf1h3]} Rh3 $19 {[%csl Rh2]
[%cal Gg4h5]}) 12... dxe4 13. Rxc7 Bc8 {Botvinnnik overlooked Stolz's simple
but strong move} (13... Bd5 14. Ne5 $18 {[%cal Gc7e7]}) (13... Rab8 14. Ne5 $18
{[%cal Gc7e7]}) 14. Bb5 (14. Be2 $142 $1 {Better, allowing White play along
the h1-a8 diagonal[%cal Gf3a8]} 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 $142 15. Rxc8 Rxc8 {winning the exchange}) 15. Qxf3
Qd6 {An attractive move, but after it Black has a lost game} (15... Rb8 $142
16. Qc6 Rd8 17. Rxa7 {White has three pawns for the piece and exerts strong
pressure}) 16. Qc6 $1 Qb4 (16... Qxc6 17. Bxc6 {White keeps two extra pawns}
Rb8 18. Bxd7 Bxd7 19. Rxd7 $18) 17. Qxa8 Ba6 {The whole point} 18. Qxf8+ $1 (
18. Qd5 Nf6 {[%csl Gb5,Gd5]} 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

[Event "Russia"]
[Site "Match, Leningrad"]
[Date "1927.??.??"]
[Round "?"]
[White "Botvinnik Mikhail"]
[Black "Grigoriev N"]
[Result "1-0"]
[ECO "E16"]
[PlyCount "63"]

1. d4 Nf6 2. c4 e6 3. Nf3 b6 4. g3 Bb7 5. Bg2 Bb4+ 6. Bd2 Bxd2+ 7. Qxd2 O-O 8.
O-O 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[%csl Ge2]}
) 9... Nbd7 (9... Be4 10. Qb3 {[%cal Gb1c3]} -- 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[%csl Yf5][%cal Gf7f5]} 13. Rfe1 c6 {Necessary.
True, it greatly reduces the Bishop's scope, but it completely eliminates the
constant threat of Nd5[%csl Rd5][%cal Gc3d5]} 14. b3 Ne8 15. Qd2 Rd8 16. Bh3 f6
17. Qh6 {attracted by a little trap} ({The better plan is} 17. Nh4 $142 $16 {
[%cal Gf2f4]} -- 18. f4 $140) 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 $142 19. Bxe6+ $142 (19. d5 Ng5 $1 {hemming in the White Queen[%csl Rh6]} (
19... Nd4 20. Ne2 $1)) 19... Qxe6) 19. d5 (19. f4 exd4 $1 20. Rxd4 d5 {[%cal
Ge7e1]}) 19... cxd5 20. Nxd5 Bxd5 (20... Nxd5 $143 21. cxd5 Nf8 22. Rc1 $16)
21. cxd5 Rdf8 22. Rd2 f5 {A mistake leading to defeat} (22... a5 $142 $1 {
[%csl Gb4][%cal Yd7c5]} 23. -- Nc5 {Black would equalize the game without
difficulty}) 23. exf5 gxf5 24. Qh5 {[%cal Gh4f5,Gh5f5,Gh3f5]} f4 (24... Nf6 25.
Qg5+ Rg7 26. Nxf5 {winning a pawn}) (24... Qe8 25. Bxf5 $1 Rxf5 26. Qg4+ {
intermenzzo check[%cal Gh4f5]}) 25. Nf5 Rxf5 26. Bxf5 Nf6 27. Qh6 Kh8 (27...
Nfxd5 28. Rxd5 Rxf5 (28... Nxd5 29. Be6+ {[%csl Rd5]}) 29. Rxd6 $18) 28. Rxe5
$1 dxe5 (28... Qxe5 29. Qxf8+ Ng8 30. Qf7 {[%cal Gf7h7,Gf5h7]} Nf6 31. Rd1 $18)
29. d6 Qd8 30. dxc7 Qxd2 31. Qxf8+ Ng8 32. c8=Q 1-0

[Event "Russia"]
[Site "Tournament, Leningrad"]
[Date "1927.??.??"]
[Round "?"]
[White "Botvinnik Mikhail"]
[Black "Ragozin V"]
[Result "1-0"]
[ECO "C16"]
[PlyCount "67"]

1. e4 e6 2. d4 d5 3. Nc3 Bb4 4. e5 f6 (4... c5 $142 {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 {[%cal Gf3e5]}
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[%csl Rd6]}) 10. c3 Nge7 (10... fxe5 11. Nxe5 Nf6 (11... Bxe5
12. dxe5 Nxe5 13. Bf4 {[%csl Rc7]}) 12. Bf4 $1 {[%csl Ge5]}) (10... f5 11. Ba3
{[%cal Gb5d6]} -- 12. Nd6+ $140 Bxd6 13. exd6 Qxd6 14. b5) 11. exf6 gxf6 12.
Bd3 O-O 13. O-O Bd7 {Now Black stubbornly attempts to advance the e-pawn, but
this only hastens his defeat[%cal Ge6e5]} (13... e5 14. Nxc7 Qxc7 15. b5 $1 e4
(15... Nd8 16. dxe5 fxe5 17. b6 $1 {[%cal Gf3e5]}) 16. bxc6 Qxc6 $16) (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 $1 {[%csl Rf7][%cal Gh5h7]} 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 {[%csl Re5][%cal
Ge1e6]}) 22. c4 $1 {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} Rf5 (22... exd3 23. Rxe6) 23. Qe2 Qe5 (23... exd3 24.
Qb2+ {[%csl Rg7]}) 24. Bc1 $1 {[%cal Gc1b2]} (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 $1 {[%cal Ge2h5]} Qxd4 27. Qxh5 Qxd3 28. Qe5+ $18) 25. cxd5 exd3 26.
Bb2+ Kg8 27. Qg4+ Ng6 28. Rxe6 Qxd5 29. Rxg6+ {The simplest way of winning}
hxg6 30. Qxg6+ Kf8 31. Qg7+ Ke8 32. Re1+ Kd8 33. Qe7+ Kc8 34. Rc1+ 1-0

[Event "USSR"]
[Site "USSR"]
[Date "1927.??.??"]
[Round "?"]
[White "Rabinovich I"]
[Black "Botvinnik Mikhail"]
[Result "0-1"]
[ECO "A95"]
[PlyCount "68"]

1. d4 e6 2. c4 f5 3. g3 Nf6 4. Bg2 Be7 5. Nc3 O-O 6. Nf3 d5 7. O-O 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 $1 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[%cal Gb2b4,Ga2a4]}) 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[%csl Gc3]} (11. Ne5 Nxe5 12. dxe5 Ng4 {reason
why a premature Ne5 was not possible}) 11... Ne4 12. Ne5 $1 {Playable since
Black doesn't have Ng4[%cal Gf2f3,Ge2e4]} Ng5 (12... -- 13. Nxe4 $140 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 $16 {Centralized pieces give White an advantage}) (12... Bf6 $142 {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[%cal Ge2e4]} Nh3+ 14. Bxh3 Qxh3 15. e4 {with an
excellent game}) 13... Ne4 14. Bf3 (14. Nxe4 fxe4 15. f3 $16 {White would get
a better game} Rxf4 16. gxf4 {the exchange sacrifice gives Black no prospects})
14... Qe8 15. Nxd7 Bxd7 16. Kg2 Bb4 $1 17. Bxe4 (17. Nb1 $142 {with the
possibility of defence}) 17... fxe4 18. Rh1 Qh5 19. f3 Qg6 {An error[%csl Rf4]
[%cal Ge4f3]} (19... e5 $142 20. dxe5 Qg6 {[%csl Rf4]}) 20. Kf1 e5 $1 (20...
exf3 21. Qxg6 hxg6 22. Rb1 {Black would hardly have an advantage}) 21. dxe5 (
21. h5 $142 {White could have saved himself} 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 $1 22. gxf4 Qg3 $3 {fine example of the weakness of dark squares
[%csl Rf2][%cal Yb4c5,Ge4e3]} 23. Nxe4 {There is no better move} (23. -- Bc5 {
[%csl Rf2][%cal Gg3f2,Gc5f2]}) (23. -- e3 {[%csl Rf2]}) (23. cxd5 Bc5 24. Nxe4
Bh3+ {[%csl Rg1][%cal Gh1g1,Gh1h3]} 25. Rxh3 Qg1#) 23... dxe4 (23... Bh3+ $143)
24. Rxd7 (24. Qxe4 Bc5 {[%csl Rf2]} 25. e3 Bf5 $1 {overworked Queen[%csl Re4]
[%cal Ge4e3,Ge4f5]}) 24... Bc5 {[%csl Rf2,Rg1]} (24... e3 25. Rxg7+ $1 {[%cal
Gg1g8]}) 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 $1 Qxf5 33. e7) 31. Qxf5 Rxf5 32. Rxb7
Rf2+ 33. Ke1 Rf6 34. b4 Bxe3 0-1

[Event "10"]
[Site "Moscow ch-SU"]
[Date "1927.??.??"]
[Round "?"]
[White "Botvinnik Mikhail"]
[Black "Nenarokov V"]
[Result "1/2-1/2"]
[ECO "D95"]
[PlyCount "72"]

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... O-O 7. Bd2 e6 8. Bd3 Nbd7 9. O-O
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 $6 {White plays for complications,
which should have resulted in Black's favour} (10. Rfd1 $142 {playing for Pe4
[%cal Ge3e4]}) 10... Nfd7 11. f4 Nxe5 12. fxe5 dxc4 13. Bxc4 c5 $1 {Now Black
forcedly loses the exchange for two pawns, but has two Bishops and good
winning chances} (13... Bxe5 14. dxe5 Qxd2 15. Rf3 {[%csl Rd2][%cal Ga1d1]} (
15. Ne4 $143 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[%cal Gd8h8]} ({The correct move} 18... Bd7
$142 {White could at best count on no more than a draw.}) 19. Rad1 Be5 20. Rd8+
Kg7 21. g3 {[%cal Gb3b4,Gb4f8]} (21. h3 Qh4 {[%csl Re4]}) 21... Bd7 {The best
chance. White threatened Qb4 with mating attack} 22. Rxd7 $1 (22. Rxa8 Bc6 $19)
22... Nxd7 23. Bxe6 $1 fxe6 {Black condemns himself to a difficult defence,
which none the less leads to salvation} (23... Nf6 24. Nxf6 Bxf6 25. Qxb7 {
[%csl Ga8,Rf7]} Rf8 26. Qxa7 $16 {White has an extra pawn[%cal Gb2b4,Ga2a4]})
24. Qxe6 Kh8 25. Qxd7 Rf8 26. Rxf8+ Qxf8 27. Kg2 Qb8 28. Ng5 Bg7 29. Ne6 (29.
Nf7+ Kg8 30. Qe6 Qf8 $1) 29... Bf6 (29... Bxb2 30. Nd8 {[%cal Gd7e8,Ge8f7]} h5
31. Nf7+ Kg7 (31... Kg8 32. Ng5 {[%csl Gf7,Gh7]} Bg7 33. Qf7+ Kh8 34. Qxg6) 32.
Ne5+ $1 $18) 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[%cal
Gg8a8]} 32. Kf2 h6 33. Nf4 {The last attempt} Qg7 $1 34. Qe8+ Kh7 35. Qe4 Be5
$1 36. Nd3 (36. Nxg6 Bxg3+ {saves Black}) 36... Bd6 1/2-1/2

[Event "?"]
[Site "?"]
[Date "1927.??.??"]
[Round "?"]
[White "Ilyin-Zhenevsky"]
[Black "Botvinnik"]
[Result "0-1"]
[SetUp "1"]
[FEN "rnbqkbnr/pppppppp/8/8/8/8/PPPPPPPP/RNBQKBNR w KQkq - 0 1"]
[PlyCount "132"]

1. e4 e6 2. Nc3 d5 3. g3 {This system was suggested by Tartakower. In this
game Black achieved at least equal play} 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 {[%cal Gf7f5]}) (5. d3 Bc6 6. dxe4 Qxd1+ 7. Nxd1 $11) 5... Bc6 6. O-O Nd7
$1 {[%csl Rg5][%cal Gd8g5]} (6... Nf6 7. Ng5 {White's badly placed Knight
comes into play[%cal Gg5e4]}) 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[%csl Gc6,
Gc7,Yf1,Yf3,Yg2,Yh1,Yh3]}) 8... Be7 9. Nf4 O-O 10. Bd2 e5 {Black has completed
his development and turns to the attack} 11. Nxf6+ (11. Ne2 Nd5 {[%cal Gf7f5]})
11... Nxf6 12. Bxc6 bxc6 13. Ng2 {[%csl Gc6,Gc7,Yf1,Yf3,Yg2,Yh1,Yh3]} 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[%cal Ye7d6,Ga8e8,Rf6f5]} 16.
Be3 (16. -- Rae8 $140 17. -- Bd6 18. -- f5) 16... Rae8 17. a3 (17. Bxa7 c5 {
[%csl Ra7][%cal Ge8a8]}) 17... a6 18. Kg2 $1 {Unable to prevent Black carrying
out his plan, White sets up a strong defensive position, which proves anything
but simple to break through} Bd6 19. f3 f5 20. Bg1 Rf6 (20... Re6 $143 {the
e8-R is needed to defend the e-pawn}) 21. Qe2 {The Queen is badly placed on
the e-file} (21. Qd2 $142) 21... h5 $1 22. Kh1 h4 23. gxh4 $1 {The only move!
It would be suicide to let Black take at g6, it would completely break up the
King's position} Nf4 {Black should have continued with ... Rh6 and collected
the h-pawn. Instead he plays weakly and his advantage begins to fade} (23...
Rh6 {[%cal Gh6h4]}) 24. Qd2 Rh6 25. Be3 $1 {Exactly! Now White will succeed in
exchanging off Black's excellent Knight and will have an opportunity to
improve his position considerably[%csl Ge3,Rf4]} Rxh4 26. Bxf4 Rxf4 27. Rae1
Qf7 28. Qg2 Qh5 29. Re3 (29. Qg3 $142 {[%csl Rf4][%cal Ge1e8]}) 29... Re6 30.
Rg1 Qh6 31. b4 Rh4 32. Qe2 {An irrecoverable mistake} (32. Re2 Rg6 $141) 32...
Qf4 (32... e4 $4 33. Nxd6 exf3 34. Rxe6 $18) 33. Qg2 (33. Rg2 Reh6 34. -- Rh3 {
strangulation}) 33... Rg6 34. Qf2 e4 $1 {The decisive move[%csl Rh2][%cal
Gd6h2]} (34... Rxh2+ $143 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} Qxf3+ (37... Rxh2+ 38. Rxh2 Qxf3+ 39. Rhg2
cxd6 40. Kh2 Qh5+ 41. Kg3 g5 $1) 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 $1 {To prevent Black's
Queen from h6 where the win would be quite simple[%csl Gh6]} Qc3 $1 47. Kd1 d5
(47... f4 48. Rxg7+ Qxg7 49. Rxg7+ Kxg7 50. c4 $1 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
$1 $11) 53. b5 $1 Kd6 (53... Kd7 54. bxc6+ Kxc6 55. cxd5+ Kxd5 56. Ke2 $11) 54.
c5+ $1 Kc7 55. b6+ Kb7 $11) 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} Qd4+ 49. Ke2 Qe4+ 50. Kd2 Qf4+ 51. Ke2 Qh6 52. R1g2 g6 $1
(52... d4 53. Rxg7+ Qxg7 54. Rxg7+ Kxg7 $11) 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

[Event "Moscow Educational t"]
[Site "Moscow Educational t"]
[Date "1929.??.??"]
[Round "?"]
[White "Poliak A"]
[Black "Botvinnik Mikhail"]
[Result "0-1"]
[ECO "D63"]
[PlyCount "80"]

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} Be7 7. Nf3 O-O 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 $143 {greatly weaken the Queenside}) 10. Bd3 (
10. Qa4 Bb7 11. Ba6 b5 {[%csl Ra6]}) 10... Bb7 11. O-O {A mistake, after which
Black equalizes without difficulty} (11. Qc2 $142 {Preventing Ne4[%csl Ge4]
[%cal Yf6e4]} Ne4 $141) 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} Qf6 {Causes complications} (16... Qe7 $142 {[%csl
Ge3]}) 17. e4 $1 dxe4 18. Nxe4 Qe7 19. Rce1 $1 ({There is nothing after} 19.
Ng5 h6 (19... Qe3+ 20. Qxe3 Rxe3 21. Ba2 $1 {[%csl Rf7]}) 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. exf8=Q+ $11) 20... Qd6 ({During play I
overlooked} 20... Qxe1 21. Rxe1 Rxe1+ 22. Kf2 Re7 23. Nxh7 Be4 $1 {Affording
every chance of a win}) 21. Nxh7 (21. dxc5 Qxc5+ 22. Kh1 Rxe1 23. Rxe1 Qf2 {
[%csl Rb2,Re1,Rg2]}) (21. Re5 $1 {Depriving Black of the d5 square[%cal Ge5d5]}
Ng6 22. Nxf7 $1 Qxd4+ 23. Qxd4 cxd4 24. Ba2 $1 Nxe5 25. fxe5 Ba6 $1 26. Rf2 h6
$1 27. Nd6+ Kh7 28. Nxe8 Rxe8 29. e6 d3 $11) 21... Qd5 $1 {Evidently White had
not forseen the Black Queen's interesting manouevre. He was reckoning only ...
QxP[%csl Rg2]} 22. Qh3 Qxd4+ 23. Kh1 Qf2 24. Rc1 (24. Rd1 Rad8) (24. Nxf8 Rxe1
{The Black king retreats to e7[%cal Gg8f8,Gf8e7]}) 24... Bxg2+ 25. Qxg2 Qxg2+
26. Kxg2 Nxh7 27. Bxh7+ {Refusal to exchange the smaller pieces would not
bring any essential change} Kxh7 28. Kf3 Rad8 29. Rcd1 Kg6 30. Rfe1 Kf6 31. h3
Rxe1 32. Rxd8 Rc1 33. Rd2 c4 34. Rd6+ {Deperation!} Ke7 35. Rd2 c3 36. Re2+ Kd6
37. Kf2 cxb2 38. Rxb2 Rc3 39. Rd2+ Ke6 40. Re2+ Kf6 0-1

[Event "Novgorod"]
[Site "Novgorod"]
[Date "1929.??.??"]
[Round "?"]
[White "Botvinnik Mikhail"]
[Black "Sozin V"]
[Result "1/2-1/2"]
[ECO "D46"]
[PlyCount "125"]

1. d4 d5 2. c4 c6 3. Nf3 Nf6 4. e3 e6 5. Bd3 Nbd7 6. O-O {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. -- O-O $140 9. -- e5 $11) 7. Nc3 O-O 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 $1 h6 (11... c5
$141 12. d5 exd5 13. Nxd5 Nxd5 14. cxd5 Bxd5 {[%cal Gd1d5]} 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 $1 {
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} 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 $140
$132) 18... Ng4 (18... N6h7 19. Ne4 $18 {[%csl Rg7][%cal Ge4f6]}) 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 {[%cal Gf4f5]} exf4 (25... -- 26. f5 $140) 26. Rxf4 {[%cal Gf4g4,
Ye4f6]} -- 27. Rfg4 $140 {[%csl Rg8]} (27. Nf6 $140)) 25... Rd7 26. Nxh7 Nxh7
27. Bxh7 Qxh7 28. Qf6+ Rg7 29. Rd1 {[%cal Gd1d7]} Bc8 {[%csl Rd7][%cal Gc8d7]}
30. h4 Reg8 $1 {The strongest![%cal Gh7f5]} 31. Qxe5 (31. -- Qf5 $140 {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 {[%cal Gd8c8,Gd8g8]}) 33.
Rd6 $1) 32. Qxf5 Bxf5 33. Rxg7 Rxg7 34. f3 $1 Be6 35. b3 Kg8 36. Rd6 Bd7 37. g4
Kf8 38. Kf2 Ke7 39. Rd2 (39. Rd3 $142) (39. Rd1 $142) 39... a5 (39... Bxg4 40.
fxg4 Rxg4 $11 {[%csl Rh4]}) 40. Kg3 Be8 41. Kf4 Rf7+ 42. Kg3 Kf6 43. Re2 Re7 {
After exchanging Rooks Black is lost} (43... Bd7 $142 {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 $18 {[%cal
Gg5g6]}) 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} Bh7
55. Ke7 (55. Ke6 Bg8+ 56. Ke7 Bh7 57. Kf8 $18) 55... Bg8 56. Kd6 {White tries
to restore the position but now Black is on guard} 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 {[%csl Ra4][%cal Gd7c6,Gc6b5,Gb5a4]} 62. Kc6 Kxh6
63. Kb5 Kg6 64. Kxa4 Kf6 65. Kb5 Ke6 66. Kb6 Kd6 67. Kb7 {White wins by a
tempo[%cal Ga3a4,Ga4a5,Ga5a6,Ga6a7,Ga7a8]}) 59. Ke8 $1 Kg6 60. Ke7 $1) 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 $11 {Only now did White see that this was drawn
as the Black K will reach h8[%cal Gh7a8]}) 1/2-1/2

[Event "URS"]
[Site "URS"]
[Date "1929.??.??"]
[Round "?"]
[White "Botvinnik Mikhail"]
[Black "Silich B"]
[Result "1-0"]
[ECO "E32"]
[PlyCount "57"]

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[%csl Ye4][%cal
Gc2e4,Gc3e4,Ge2e4]} e6 {White gets a very strong centre} (4... d5 $142 {
sharpens the struggle[%csl Ge4]}) 5. e4 {[%cal Yc4d5,Ye4d5,Yd4e5,Yd4c5,Ye4f5]}
Bb4 6. Bd3 Bxc3+ {This exchange, doubling the White pawns, is necessary} (6...
-- 7. Nge2 {White would recapture the Bishop with Knight[%cal Ge2c3]}) 7. bxc3
d6 8. Ne2 c5 {To block the doubled c-pawns[%csl Gc3,Gc4]} 9. O-O 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)[%cal Ge8c8,Yc4d5,Ye4d5,Yd4c5,Yd4e5,Yf4e5,Ye4f5]} 11. d5 Na5 $1
{The White pawn on c4 is weak[%csl Gc4]} 12. Ng3 {White regroups forces to
attack in the centre and simultaneously to defend Pc4} (12. e5 Nd7 13. dxe6
fxe6 14. Bxh7 O-O-O $17) 12... O-O-O 13. Qe2 {[%cal Ge4e5]} h5 (13... -- 14. e5
$140) 14. e5 Ne8 (14... Nd7 15. Ne4 {[%cal Ge4d6]} dxe5 16. fxe5 Nxe5 17. Bg5
f6 18. Nxf6 $1) 15. exd6 Nxd6 (15... Qxd6 16. f5 {[%cal Gc1f4]} exd5 17. Bf4
Qc6 18. cxd5 Qxd5 19. Rad1 $40 {White has a strong attack[%cal Gd3e4]}) 16. f5
e5 {Of course, the only chance. Black intends ... Ph4-3 to keep the centre
closed, and exploit good prospects on the wings[%cal Gh5h4,Gh4h3]} 17. f6 $1 (
17. -- h4 $140 18. -- h3) 17... gxf6 18. Nxh5 f5 {At first sight a brilliant
move, which would seem to defeat Whit'es plan} (18... e4 $142 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[%cal Gg7f5]} (19. Bxf5+ Kb8
$1 $15) 19... e4 20. Nxf5 Nxf5 21. Rxf5 Qd6 (21... Qh4 22. Bf4 {[%csl Gh2]}
exd3 23. Qe5 $18 {[%csl Rb8,Rc7]}) 22. Qxe4 {Now the counterattack is repulsed
and Black must lose} Qxh2+ 23. Kf2 Rde8 24. Qf4 Qh4+ 25. Qxh4 Rxh4 26. Bf4 Rf8
27. Bd6 Rg8 28. Rxf7 Kd8 29. Re1 1-0

[Event "Russia"]
[Site "Tournament, Leningrad"]
[Date "1930.??.??"]
[Round "?"]
[White "Ragozin V"]
[Black "Botvinnik Mikhail"]
[Result "0-1"]
[ECO "C56"]
[PlyCount "126"]

1. e4 e5 2. Nf3 Nc6 3. Bc4 Nf6 4. d4 exd4 5. O-O 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} dxc4 8. Rxe4+ Be7 9. Nxd4 f5 10. Rf4 O-O 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 $1 $17 {[%csl Ge1]}) (14. Nc3 {
[%cal Gc1f4]} -- 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[%csl Yf2,Yg4,Yh2]} (16. -- c5 $140) (16. f3
c5 17. Bf2 Be6 $17) 16... Rg5 17. f3 h5 $1 18. h4 Rg6 {White can equalize again
} (18... Rd5 19. Nc3 Ba6 $1 {[%csl Ge2]} 20. Ra4 (20. Rxc6 Rxd4 21. Rxa6 Bc5 $1
(21... hxg4 $143 22. Nb5 Rd2 23. Nxd6 cxd6 24. Re1 $1 gxf3 25. Re7 $11) 22. Kf1
hxg4 23. fxg4 f3 24. Rg6 Re8 $17) 20... Rxd4 21. Rxd4 Bc5 22. Rad1 Rd8 $19) 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[%csl Rd4]}) (22. Rxc6 Bb7 23. Nc5 (23. Rc4 Bxe4 24.
fxe4 Rxe4) 23... Bxc6 24. Nxe6 Re8 25. Nxg7 Re2 $40 {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
$1 g6 {To exchange the Bishops at any rate[%cal Gf8g7]} 33. Kd3 Bg7 34. Nb3 $1
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 $1 $18) 41. Kc4 (41. Ke5 Rxc3 42. Kxf4 Rc5 $1 {[%cal Gc5b5,Gb5b8]} 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 $19 {[%cal Gf3f2,Gf2f1]}) 43... f3 44. Ra2 Rc8+ 45. Kb4 $1 {
Again forced! The King has five ways of retreat, but only one sound way.} (45.
Kd3 Re7 {[%csl Rb6][%cal Ge7b7]} 46. -- Rb7 $140 {winning the pawn}) (45. Kd5
Re7 46. Nxf3 Rd7+ $1 47. Ke6 Rb7) (45. Kb5 Re5+ 46. Kb4 Rb8 $19) 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 $1 53. b7 Rb8 54. Na5 $11 {White draws}) 50... Re3+
{The only way. The White King is forced to occupy a disadvantageous position 
(on the file of his advanced pawn[%cal Gc3b2,Gc3b3,Gc3b4]} 51. Kb4 Re2 52. Ra1
f2 53. Nxd8 (53. Rf1 Rf8 54. b7 Rb2+ 55. Kc5 Rxb7 $19) 53... Re1 54. Ra8 (54.
b7 Rxa1 {[%cal Gb1b8]}) 54... f1=Q 55. Nc6+ (55. Ne6+ Kf7 56. Rf8+ Kxe6 57.
Rxf1 Rxf1 $19) 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

[Event "Leningrad Masters' Tournament"]
[Site "Leningrad"]
[Date "1930.??.??"]
[Round "?"]
[White "Rochlin J"]
[Black "Botvinnik Mikhail"]
[Result "0-1"]
[ECO "C49"]
[PlyCount "86"]

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. O-O d6 6.
Nd5 $1) 5... Nd4 6. Ba4 b5 7. Bb3 d5 (7... d6 8. a3 {White has nothing to fear}
) 8. Nxe5 (8. -- Bg4 $140 (8... Nxf3+ $140 {[%cal Gd5d4]} 9. Qxf3 d4)) 8...
Nxb3 {The first mistake} (8... Qe7 $142 $1 9. f4 (9. Bf4 Nxb3 10. cxb3 d4 11.
a3 Bd6 12. Nc6 Qd7) 9... O-O {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 $1 {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[%cal Gd2b4]}) 12... cxb2 {
[%cal Gb2a1]}) 12. Nc2 c4 {A very interesting position} 13. bxc4 (13. dxc4 {
white gains no advantage} Qxd1+ 14. Kxd1 Nxe4 15. Re1 Bb7 16. f3 O-O-O+) (13.
e5 cxd3 $1 14. exf6 d2+ 15. Bxd2 cxd2+ 16. Qxd2 Qxf6 {and the doubled extra
pawn is of no essential importance}) 13... bxc4 14. e5 $1 Ng4 (14... cxd3 15.
exf6 d2+ 16. Bxd2 cxd2+ 17. Qxd2 Qxf6 {White has an extra pawn[%csl Ga2,Ga7,
Gb2]}) 15. d4 cxb2 16. Bxb2 Qa5+ 17. Qd2 $1 {Thouroughly sound! In returning
the pawn White gets a very favourable endgame} (17. Kf1 Rb8 18. Ba3 Bf5 $13 {
[%cal Gf5d3]}) 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 $142 {
exploiting the undefended Bishop[%cal Gb1b7]} a5 {[%csl Gb4]} 22. Ba3 (22. Nb4
$141) 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[%csl Gb1,Gf1]} 22. Ba3 Nd2 {[%cal Gg7g5]} 23. Bc5 {White
underestimates the seriousness of the Rook's position} (23. h4 $142 Nc4+ 24.
Kd3 Rc8 25. Bc5 Nxe5+ 26. Kxc3) 23... g5 24. Rg4 (24. Rf5 Be4) (24. Rf2 Ne4 {
[%csl Rc5][%cal Ge4c5]}) 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 $1 Nxe5 28. Re1 {[%csl Re5]}) 27. Rxg5 Ne4 28. Rf5 Nxc5 29. dxc5 Rxc5 30.
Kd4 Rc7) 26... f5 $1 (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[%csl Gf6][%cal Gh8e8]} 28. Bc5 Kxf6
29. Nb4 Rhe8+ 30. Kd3 Ne4 {Winning the exchange at least[%cal Ge4f2,Ge4c5]} 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 {[%cal Gg4g3]} 0-1

[Event "Leningrad Masters' Tournament"]
[Site "Leningrad"]
[Date "1930.??.??"]
[Round "?"]
[White "Botvinnik Mikhail"]
[Black "Gotthilf S"]
[Result "1-0"]
[ECO "E22"]
[PlyCount "93"]

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 O-O (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[%cal Ga6c5]} 9.
e4 {[%cal Ge4e5]} d6 (9... b6 $142 10. -- {[%cal Gb7e4]} Bb7 {Black saves a
tempo} 11. e5 Ne8) 10. Be2 Bd7 11. O-O (11. Qxb7 $4 Nc5 12. Qb4 a5) 11... Bc6
12. Qc2 h6 13. Bf4 Nc5 14. e5 {The only move consolidating White's advantage
[%cal Gc4c5,Gb2b4,Ga3a4,Yb7b6,Ya7a6]} (14. Nd2 d5 $1 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 $16) 15. exd6 Bxd6 16. Rad1 Qe7 (16... Qc7 17. Rxd6 Nxd6 {[%cal
Gf4c7]} 18. b4 Na6 19. c5 {[%csl Rd6]}) 17. Bxd6 Nxd6 18. Ne5 $1 {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[%csl Gc6]} (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 {[%csl Gc6]} Rdc8 23.
Ne4 $1 a5 24. Nd6) 22. Qa4 {[%csl Gc6]} (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 {[%cal Gf6d5]} 26. Rd6 {[%csl Gc6]} Qe8 27. b5 $1 cxb5
28. Bxb5 Qe7 29. Qd4 $16 {Also lead to a difficult situation for Black}) 26.
Rd3 {White seizes the d-file[%cal Gd3d8,Gd3d1]} Rd8 27. Rfd1 Rxd3 28. Rxd3 Qe7
{Black is helpless! He cannot simultaneously defend himself against White's
two threats[%cal Gb4b5,Ya4d1]} (28... Qa1+ 29. Rd1 Qf6 30. b5 $1 {[%cal Gb5b6]}
cxb5 (30... -- 31. b6 $140) 31. Bxb5 {Black loses the Knight[%csl Re8]}) 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[%csl Rc6][%cal Ga6c4,Gc4b3,Gb3a4]} 33. Bc4 Kg7
34. Bb3 Kh7 35. Ba4 {[%csl Rc6]} Kg7 36. Ra8 (36. Bxc6 Rxc6 37. Qxc6 Qxd8 {
White loses a piece}) 36... Qxd6 (36... -- 37. Bxc6 $140 Qxd6 38. cxd6 Rxc6 39.
d7 $18) 37. cxd6 Rd7 38. Bxc6 Rxd6 39. Bxd5 exd5 {adjourned} 40. Rxa7 d4 41.
Kf1 Re6 (41... d3 42. Ke1 Re6+ 43. Kd1 $1 Re2 44. Rd7 Rxf2 45. Rxd3 Rxh2 46.
Rb3 $18) 42. b5 d3 43. Rd7 Re5 44. a4 Re4 45. a5 Re5 46. Rxd3 Rxb5 47. Ra3 $18
1-0

[Event "Leningrad"]
[Site "Leningrad"]
[Date "1930.??.??"]
[Round "?"]
[White "Botvinnik Mikhail"]
[Black "Kann I"]
[Result "1-0"]
[ECO "E23"]
[PlyCount "85"]

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 $142 $14 {forcing exchange queens. Of course,
even now White's game is obviously better}) 8. e4 Nd4 (8... Bb7 9. O-O-O Bxf2
10. e5 h6 11. exf6 hxg5 12. fxg7 Rg8 13. Ne4 $16 {[%cal Ge4d6]}) 9. Nxd4 Bxd4 {
[%csl Rf2]} 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[%csl Ge4]} (10. -- Bxf2+ 11. Kxf2
Ng4+) 10... h6 11. Bf4 {[%cal Gc3b5,Yf4d6]} (11. Bh4 Bxc3+ 12. bxc3 {and the
entire pawn position is spoilt[%csl Yc3,Yc4]} (12. Qxc3 Nxe4)) 11... e5 (11...
-- 12. Nb5 $140 -- 13. Bd6) 12. Nb5 Nh5 (12... exf4 $143 13. Nxd4) (12... Bxb2
$143 13. Qxb2 exf4 14. Qa3 $1 {[%csl Ge7,Gf8]}) 13. Be3 (13. Nd6+) 13... Bxe3 (
13... Qh4+ 14. g3 Nxg3 15. hxg3 Qxh1 16. Bxd4 exd4 17. Nc7+ (17. Nd6+ Kf8 18.
c5 {[%csl Rf7]} Qh5 19. g4 Qg6 20. Qd5 Rb8 21. cxb6 {[%cal Gc1c8]} axb6 22. Rc1
) 17... Kd8 18. Nxa8 Bb7 19. Nxb6 axb6 20. Qxb6+ Kc8 21. Kf2 $1 $18) 14. Nd6+
Kf8 15. c5 $1 {A very important intermediate move[%csl Rf7]} (15. Qxe3 Qh4+ 16.
Qf2 {could obtain an exchange of Queens} (16. g3 Nxg3 17. Qf2 Qf6 $1 {loses a
pawn[%csl Gd6,Gh1]})) 15... Qe7 16. Qxe3 Nf4 17. Qa3 {After this move Black
must inevitably lose material, because of the threat 18. cxb6[%csl Ra8][%cal
Gc5b6,Ya3d6]} bxc5 {necessary, although this puts the Queen's Bishop in danger}
(17... -- 18. cxb6 $140) 18. Qxc5 {[%cal Ga1c1]} Kg8 {There is no other
defence to Rc1} (18... -- 19. Rc1 $140) 19. g3 (19. Rc1 Kh7) 19... Ng6 20. Bc4
Kh7 21. O-O-O {There is no need to hurry about taking the f7-pawn} (21. Qc7 {
[%csl Gb8]} Nf8 $1 (21... -- 22. Bd5 $140 {[%csl Ra8]}) 22. Nxc8 Qb4+ 23. Kf1
Ne6 {[%csl Rc8]}) 21... a5 (21... f6 22. f4 $1) 22. Bxf7 Ba6 23. Kb1 {played
carelessly!} (23. Qa3 $142 {withdrawing the Queen from the threat of ... Rc8
and defending the f-pawn[%csl Gf3]}) 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 $18 {White has two extra pawns}
) 30. Rxe7 {With an attack on the b-pawn White forces further simplification
advantageous to himself} Bxe4+ (30... Rab6 31. b3 a4 (31... Bxe4+ 32. R7xe4
Kxf5 33. Re5+ {[%csl Ga5]}) 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+ {
[%csl Rd6]}) 44. R7xd5 Rxb2+ 45. Rxb2 Rxb2+ 46. Kxb2 Kxd5 $18 {White wins the
pawn ending easily}) 42. Ra7 Rb5 43. Rh7 {winning another pawn}) 41... Kd6 42.
Ra7 Rb5 43. Rh7 1-0

[Event "Leningrad"]
[Site "?"]
[Date "1930.??.??"]
[Round "?"]
[White "Botvinnik, Mikhail"]
[Black "Kan, Ilya"]
[Result "1-0"]
[ECO "A84"]
[PlyCount "61"]
[EventDate "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
{[%csl Ge5]}) 7. Nc3 d6 (7... Bb7 8. d5 {excellent game for White[%csl Ge5]})
8. Bg2 (8. d5 e5) 8... Bb7 (8... Ne4 9. Nxe4 fxe4 (9... Bb7 10. Qe3) 10. Ng5 d5
11. Bh3 {[%csl Re6]} Qe7 12. cxd5) 9. O-O Qe7 {Consolidating e6[%csl Ge6]} (
9... O-O 10. d5 e5 11. Ng5 Bc8 {[%csl Ge6]} 12. e4 Qe7 13. exf5 Bxf5 14. f4)
10. d5 {[%cal Gf3d4]} e5 11. e4 $1 {The most energetic} (11. Ng5 $143 Nbd7 12.
Ne6 Nc5 $11) 11... fxe4 (11... Bc8 12. exf5 Bxf5 13. Rae1 O-O 14. Nd4 Bd7 15.
f4 {with obvious superiority}) 12. Ng5 Nbd7 13. Ncxe4 O-O (13... Nxe4 14. Bxe4
Nf6 15. Bf5 {[%csl Ge6]}) 14. Ne6 Nxe4 15. Bxe4 Rf6 {No other way} (15... Nf6
16. Nxf8 Nxe4 17. Qe3 Ng5 (17... Nc5 18. b4) 18. f4 $1 {Without sufficient
compensation for the Exchange} (18. Ne6 Nxe6 19. dxe6 Qxe6 {Black has an
excellent game[%csl Yf1,Yf3,Yg2,Yh1,Yh3]})) 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[%csl Gc4,Rc7,Rh7]} (16. Nxc7 Rc8 {[%csl Rc4]
[%cal Gc8c4]}) 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 {[%cal Gf6e4,Gf6d5]} 19. --
Nxe4 $140 (19... Nxd5 $140 20. Bxd5 Bxd5 {[%cal Gc8c2]}) 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 $1) 22. Qf5 {[%cal Ge7g8,Ge7f5]}
Qh5 (22... Qxf5 23. Ne7+ Kh8 24. Nxf5 {[%csl Gd6,Gh6]} -- 25. Nxd6 $18) 23.
Qxh5 Nxh5 (23... Rxh5 24. Bf3 Rh3 (24... Rg5 25. h4) 25. Kg2 Rh6 26. Ne7+ Kh8
27. Nf5 {[%csl Gd6,Gh6]}) 24. f4 $1 Re8 (24... exf4 25. g4 f3 (25... Nf6 26. g5
) (25... Bxc6 26. dxc6 f3 27. gxh5 fxg2 28. Rxf8+ Kxf8 29. c7 $18) 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

[Event "Leningrad-Moscow Match"]
[Site "?"]
[Date "1930.??.??"]
[Round "?"]
[White "Kann I"]
[Black "Botvinnik Mikhail"]
[Result "0-1"]
[ECO "E22"]
[PlyCount "78"]

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 $14 {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} b6 8. Bg5 Bb7 9. Qc2 {
[%cal Ge2e4]} (9. e4 h6 10. Bh4 g5 11. Bg3 Nxe4) 9... h6 10. Bh4 O-O 11. e4 Be7
12. Be2 Na6 13. e5 (13. O-O Nc5 {White would not be in state to hold e4[%csl
Ge4]} 14. Nd2 (14. e5 Nfe4) 14... d5 15. exd5 (15. Bxf6 Bxf6 16. exd5 Bxc3 17.
Qxc3 exd5) 15... Nxd5 $1 16. Bxe7 Nxe7 $11) 13... Nb4 14. Qd2 (14. Qb1 {[%csl
Ge4]} Nh5 15. Bxe7 Qxe7 16. g3 {[%csl Gf4]} d6 (16... Nf4 $141) 17. O-O dxe5
18. Nxe5 Nf6 {Black's game is no worse than White's}) 14... Ne4 15. Nxe4 Bxe4
16. Bxe7 Qxe7 17. O-O Rad8 18. Rad1 {A faulty move, transferring the
initiative to Black.} (18. Rfd1 $142) (18. Nd4 Nc6 (18... f6 19. Nb5 Nc6 20.
Nd6 Bg6 21. exf6 Rxf6 22. Rad1 $16) 19. Nxc6 {simplification of the game})
18... Nxa2 19. Nd4 {Now that White threatens invasion Black's Knight must
hurry[%cal Gb5d6,Gd4b5]} (19. Ra1 $143 Nb4 20. Rxa7 Nc6 21. Ra6 Bxf3 22. gxf3 (
22. Bxf3 Nxe5 23. Rxb6 Nxf3+) 22... Nxe5 23. Rxb6 d5 $1) 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 {[%csl Gd6]} 23. Rc1 (23. d7 $1 Bxd1 24. Rxd1 {
And it is not so easy to deal with the passed pawn on d7[%csl Gd7]}) 23... Rxd6
) 22. exf6 Rxf6 23. Qd4 (23. Nb5 d5 24. cxd5 Rxd5 25. Qe3 Qxe3 26. fxe3 Rxf1+
27. Rxf1 Rd2 $18) (23. Qd6 e5 24. Qxc5 bxc5 {with the subsequent transfer of
the Black knight to d4 is not favourable to White[%cal Gb4c2,Gc2d4]} 25. -- Nc2
$140 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[%cal
Gd5d4]} (27. Nc3 $142 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 $1 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 $1 $16) 35. Rc4 Nd5 36. Re4 Ne3 37.
Rxe3 Rxe3 38. Kf2 Rde8 39. Ba4 Re1 0-1

[Event "Leningrad"]
[Site "Leningrad"]
[Date "1931.??.??"]
[Round "?"]
[White "Botvinnik Mikhail"]
[Black "Myasoyedov G"]
[Result "1/2-1/2"]
[ECO "E23"]
[PlyCount "59"]

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 O-O 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[%csl Rg7]
[%cal Gg1g7,Yb2g7]} (13. g3) 13... Nxf2 $1 {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[%cal Gf8f2]} 14.
Kxf2 fxg4 15. Rg1 Qh4+ 16. Ke3 (16. Rg3 gxf3 17. Kg1 Nd4) (16. Kg2 gxf3+ 17.
Kh1 Nd4 $1 $17) 16... Qh6+ 17. Kf2 Qh4+ (17... Qxh2+ 18. Rg2 $1) (17... gxf3
18. Rxg7+ Qxg7 19. Bxg7 $16) 18. Ke3 Qh6+ 19. Kd3 d5 $1 {The strongest move!} (
19... Qg6+ 20. Kd2) (19... e5 20. Qd2 $1 Qd6+ 21. Kc2) 20. Qc1 $1 {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 $143 Qg6+ 21. Kc3 Qe4 $1 22. Qg5 e5 $1 {White's
position is critical}) 20... dxc4+ $1 21. Qxc4 (21. Kxc4 $2 Rf4+ 22. Kb3 e5 {
[%cal Ge6b3]}) (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 {[%csl Rg7]} (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+ $1 (23... --
24. Qxg7+ $140 {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 $16) 29. exd3 Qxh2+
30. Bg2) 26... a5 $1 {[%cal Gh6d2]} 27. -- Qd2+ $140) 24... Rac8+ 25. Bc3 Rxc3+
26. Kxc3 Qe3+ 27. Kb2 Rd2+ 28. Nxd2 Qxd2+ 29. Kb1 Qd1+ 30. Kb2 1/2-1/2

[Event "Leningrad Championship"]
[Site "Leningrad"]
[Date "1931.??.??"]
[Round "?"]
[White "Botvinnik Mikhail"]
[Black "Batuyev A"]
[Result "1-0"]
[ECO "D40"]
[PlyCount "49"]

1. d4 d5 2. c4 e6 3. Nc3 Nf6 4. Bg5 Be7 5. e3 O-O 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. O-O 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[%csl Gc6]} 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
$141 {[%cal Ge5c6]} 13. Nc6) (12... Bd7) 13. Bxe7 Nxe7 14. Qe2 (14. Ne4 $144 {
exploiting the weak Black squares[%csl Gd6,Gf6]}) 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[%csl Rg2][%cal Ge7d5,Gd5f4]} 17. f3 $1 ({Knight sac
proves unsound} 17. Nxf7 Rxf7 18. Qxe6 Ned5) 17... Rc8 (17... Ned5 18. Ne4 Rc8
19. Rxc8 Bxc8 20. Bc2 $11) 18. Nxf7 $1 Rxf7 19. Qxe6 Qf8 (19... Ned5 20. Nxd5
Nxd5 21. Bxd5 Bxd5 22. Rxc8 $18) 20. Ne4 Rxc1 (20... -- 21. Qxf7+ $140 Qxf7 22.
Bxf7+ Kxf7 23. Nd6+ {[%csl Gb7,Gf7]}) 21. Rxc1 Nfd5 22. Nd6 Ba8 23. Re1 $1 {
Black is helpless against NxR and Qxe7[%csl Re7][%cal Gb3g8]} g6 24. Nxf7 Qxf7
25. Qxe7 1-0

[Event "Russia"]
[Site "Tournament, Leningrad"]
[Date "1931.??.??"]
[Round "?"]
[White "Chekhover V"]
[Black "Botvinnik Mikhail"]
[Result "0-1"]
[ECO "A50"]
[PlyCount "98"]

1. d4 Nf6 2. Nf3 b6 3. g3 Bb7 4. Bg2 g6 ({I should have given preference to} 
4... c5 5. O-O cxd4 6. Nxd4 Bxg2 7. Kxg2 g6 $11) 5. O-O Bg7 6. c4 O-O 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[%cal
Gh8a1]} (7. Qc2 $142 {[%cal Gb1c3,Ye2e4]} -- 8. Nc3 $140 -- 9. e4 {Would give
White some advantage}) (7. Nc3 Ne4 $1 {White has trouble getting Pe4}) 7... c5
$1 8. d5 e6 9. e4 exd5 ({here Blumenfeld's idea would not succeed} 9... b5 10.
dxe6 fxe6 11. e5 $1 (11. cxb5 Nxe4 12. Ng5 Nc3 $1 {[%csl Rd1]} 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 $142 b5 {[%csl
Gd5]} 11. Nh4 {Not allowing Black Queenside pawn majority}) 10... d6 11. Re1 {
To free the Knight from defence of the e-pawn} Re8 {[%csl Ge4]} (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 $140) 13. Ndf3 (13. -- Nxd5 $140 14.
exd5 Qxe1+) 13... Nbd7 (13... Nxe4 14. Ng5 $16 {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[%cal Gc5c4,Gb5b4,Ga7a5,Yb2b3,Ya2a3]} 15. Qc1 Qf8 {Attacking the e-pawn
[%csl Ge4]} 16. Qc2 a5 17. h3 b4 18. Nh2 Ba6 19. f4 Nh5 $1 {A little
unpleasantness[%csl Gg3]} (19... c4) 20. Bf1 $1 (20. Nf1 $141 Bxf1) (20. g4
$141 Bd4+ $1 21. Be3 Nxf4) 20... c4 {Now White is forced to defend with his
King} (20... Nxg3 21. Bxa6 Rxa6 22. Qd3 {[%cal Gd3g3,Gd3a6]}) 21. Kg2 (21. g4
Ng3 22. Bg2 Nc5 $1 23. Kf2 b3 24. Qb1 c3 $1 25. -- Bd3 $140 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 bxa1=Q 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[%csl
Ga1,Gc2]}) 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} Nh5 26. f5 Qd8 {The simplest. Other continuations
would probably win} 27. f6 Nxf6 $1 {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 $140) 32.
Bxa6 Rxa6 33. Nd4 a4 34. Rf1 a3 35. Rf2 Ra7 (35... b3 36. Nxb3 c2 37. Rbf1 c1=Q
38. Nxc1 Bxc1 $19) 36. Rbf1 Rc4 37. Nc6 Rc7 38. e5 (38. Rc2 b3 $1 39. axb3
R4xc6 40. dxc6 a2 $19) 38... dxe5 39. Nxe5 c2 $1 40. Nxc4 Rxc4 41. Rxf7 c1=Q
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 $140) 47... Bc3 $19 {[%csl Ga2]}) 46... b3 47. d7
Rd1 48. Kg3 $1 {An amusing trap} h6 $1 (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+ {[%csl Gg4]} (50... Bg7 $4 51. Rxh6+ Bxh6 52. Nf6#) 51. Kf4 Bc1+ 52.
Ke4 Rxd7 53. Rxd7 bxa2 $19) 49... bxa2 0-1

[Event "Russia"]
[Site "Ch URS, Moscow"]
[Date "1931.??.??"]
[Round "?"]
[White "Botvinnik Mikhail"]
[Black "Kasparian G"]
[Result "1-0"]
[ECO "D37"]
[PlyCount "69"]

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} Bb4 {After
all Black follows the Pillsbury system} (5... dxc4 6. e3 Nd5 7. Bxc4 Nxf4 8.
exf4 Nf6 9. O-O {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[%cal Gf4e3,Ge3d2]} (6. cxd5 $142 exd5
(6... Nxd5 7. Bd2) 7. e3 {Black would be unable to organise and attack on c3})
6... O-O 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+ $142 $1 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 {[%csl Yc3,Yc4,Yd4,Ye3,Gf1,Gf4]} 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 $1 {
With advantageous complications}) 15. Ke2 a6 16. Bd3 Rfc8 17. Rhd1 {negligence}
(17. c4 $142 {safeguarding c3[%csl Gc3]}) 17... Ne4 {Exactly! White has to
permit the exchange of his excellently posted Queen's Bishop} 18. c4 (18. --
cxd4 $140 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+ $142 {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[%csl Re6]} 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[%csl Ge6]} 28. Rdc2 Re8 {A shrewd defence against the
threat of winning a pawn with[%cal Ge8e2]} 29. Kf2 (29. Bxc5 Nxc5 30. Bxe6+
Nxe6 31. Rxc6 Nd4+ $19) 29... Nb7 {Loses immediately, though it is doubtful
any other continuation would save Black} 30. Ba2 $1 {This cuning move escaped
Black. His Bishop cannot escape as Rc7 and Black is paralysed[%cal Gc2c7]} 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

[Event "Moscow ch-SU"]
[Site "Moscow ch-SU"]
[Date "1931.??.??"]
[Round "?"]
[White "Botvinnik Mikhail"]
[Black "Sorokin N"]
[Result "1-0"]
[ECO "D60"]
[PlyCount "109"]

1. d4 d5 2. Nf3 Nf6 3. c4 e6 4. Nc3 Nbd7 5. Bg5 Be7 6. e3 O-O 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 $11) 8. O-O a6 {[%cal Gb7b5]} 9. a4 {Puts difficulties
in the way of both of these possibilities} (9. -- dxc4 $140 (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 $142) 11. dxc5 Bxc5 (11... Nxc5 $142) 12. Qe2 {
[%cal Gf1d1,Ye3e4]} 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} Nb6 17.
Rad1 {[%csl Gd6]} Qc5 (17... Bd7 18. Ne5 {[%cal Ge2h5]} Nf6 19. a5 Nxc4 20.
Rxd7 Nxd7 21. Rxd7 Qb4 22. Qxc4) (17... -- 18. Rd6 $140) (17... Qb4 $143 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 $1 {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 $140 (20... Be6 $140)) 20... Qxe3 21. fxe3 {[%csl Ge5]} Bg4 22. a5
Nc8 (22... Nbd7 23. h3 Bxf3 24. gxf3 Nc5 (24... Rfd8 25. Nd5 $1) 25. b4 Ne6 26.
Bxe6 fxe6 27. Na4 $1 {with an excellent game} -- 28. Nc5 $140 {[%csl Rb7,Re6]})
23. Rc1 {Renewing the attack on the e-pawn[%csl Ge5][%cal Yf3e5]} Bxf3 {Sad
though it be, the exchange was necessary} (23... Re8 24. h3 Bh5 (24... Be6 25.
Bxe6 Rxe6 26. Rd8+) 25. Nh4 $1 {[%cal Gg2g4]} -- 26. g4 $140) 24. gxf3 Ne7 25.
Nd5 {White provokes further exchange, finally establishing his advantage} Nc6 {
fatal to him owing to the weakness of f7} (25... Nfxd5 26. Bxd5 (26. exd5 Nf5
27. e4 Nd6 {blockade[%csl Gd6]}) 26... Nxd5 27. exd5 {with a winning Rook
endgame}) 26. Nxf6+ {[%csl Rf7][%cal Gd2d7]} gxf6 27. Rd7 Rab8 (27... Nxa5 28.
Rcc7) 28. Kf2 $1 {After this Black must admit that he cannot save the f7 pawn,
as there is no defence to 29. Rg1+} 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 {[%csl Rf6]}) 33. b3 Rd8 34. Kg3 (34. Rf7 Rd6
35. Kg3 Nc6 36. Kg4 {White doesn't want black's Knight to come into play[%csl
Rf6,Rh6]}) 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 $1 {[%csl Rh6][%cal
Gf7g6]} 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 $18 {[%cal Gh5h6,Gh6h7,Gh7h8]}) 50. Rh7+
Kg8 51. Rg7+ Kh8 52. Bf7 Rxf7 53. Rxf7 Kg8 54. Kg6 Nd2 55. Rd7 1-0

[Event "Moscow ch-SU"]
[Site "Moscow ch-SU"]
[Date "1931.??.??"]
[Round "?"]
[White "Botvinnik Mikhail"]
[Black "Alatortsev V"]
[Result "1-0"]
[ECO "E85"]
[PlyCount "59"]

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[%csl Gd4]})
4. e4 d6 5. Nc3 O-O 6. Be3 e5 7. Nge2 (7. d5 $142) 7... Nc6 {leads Black to a
difficult game} (7... exd4 $142 8. Nxd4 c6 {[%cal Gd6d5]} 9. -- d5 $140 $132 {
Euwe-Hastings, 1938/9}) 8. Qd2 Nd7 9. d5 {White closes the centre, intending
to organize an attack on the Black King} (9. O-O-O Nb6 10. b3 exd4 11. Nxd4 a5
$1 $36) 9... Ne7 (9... Ncb8 $142 {[%cal Gb8a6,Ga6c5]} 10. -- Na6 $140 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[%csl Gf7]} (10. g4 f5 $1 {Black would force an
exchange at f5 and his pieces would be freed[%csl Gf5]} 11. -- f4 $140) 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 $142) 12. fxe4 Nf6
13. h3 {[%csl Gg4]} b6 (13... Nh5 14. g4) (13... Ng4 $141) 14. b3 Kh8 15. g4 $1
{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} Neg8 16. Ng3 Bd7 17. O-O-O 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 $140 -- 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
[%csl Gf4]} Ne7 (21... Rf4 $141) 22. Rh4 Qd7 23. Rdh1 Kg8 24. Rxg4 {The
simplest} Qxg4 25. Bh3 Qf3 26. Rf1 Nxg3 27. Be6+ Kh8 28. Rxf3 Rxf3 29. Nxg3 $18
{[%cal Gd2h2]} Rxg3 30. Qh2+ 1-0

[Event "Russia"]
[Site "Ch URS, Moscow"]
[Date "1931.??.??"]
[Round "?"]
[White "Botvinnik Mikhail"]
[Black "Kann I"]
[Result "1-0"]
[ECO "A98"]
[PlyCount "75"]

1. d4 e6 {If Black wishes to play the Dutch Defence, this move is almost
obligatory.} (1... f5 2. e4 $1 {White has the dangerous Staunton gambit at his
disposal} fxe4 3. Nc3 Nf6 4. Bg5 d6 5. Bc4 $44 {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 {[%cal Ge6e5]}) 5. Nf3 d6 6. O-O O-O 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[%csl Re5][%cal Gc1a3,Yb1c3]} 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 $141) 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 {[%cal Ge6e5]} 9. Ba3 {[%csl Rf8][%cal Ga3f8]} (9. -- e5 $140) 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.[%csl Gb7]}) 9. Nc3 (9. -- Nc6 $140
10. -- Bd7 11. -- Rae8 12. -- Bd8 13. -- e5 $140) 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 $142 {[%cal Gc6b4]} 11. -- Nb4 $140 {At this time this manoeuvre was not
thought of[%cal Ge6e5]}) 11. d5 $1 (11. e4 fxe4 12. Nxe4 Nxe4 13. Qxe4 d5 {
White loses a piece[%csl Re4][%cal Ge7a3]}) 11... Nd8 (11... Ne5 $4 12. Nxe5 {
[%cal Ga3e7]}) 12. Ne5 {Attracted by the superiority of two Bishops over
Bishop and Knight, White allows his opponent a breathing space} (12. Rad1 $142
{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 $11) 14... exd5 {
opening the diagonal for the Bishop[%cal Gd7h3]} 15. Nxd5 f4 $1 {Excellently
played! A threat of ... Bh3 and then ... Ng4[%cal Gd7h3]} 16. Rad1 {White sets
up counterchances on the d-file} (16. -- Bh3 17. -- Ng4 $140 {[%csl Rh2]}) (16.
Nxc7 Bf5 $1) 16... Nxd5 {After this White seizes the initiative} (16... Bh3
$142 17. Nxf6+ Rxf6 18. Bf3 Qf7 {[%csl Ge7]} 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 $143
c6 {forcing an exchange on e6[%csl Ge6]}) 18... Bxd5 (18... -- 19. Bf3 $140)
19. Qxd5 {White prefers to continue play along the d-file, which is greatly
strengthend by his Bishop controll f8} (19. cxd5 $143 Rf6 {[%csl Rh2][%cal
Gf6h6]} 20. -- Nf7 $140 21. -- Ng5) 19... Nc6 20. Bc5 $1 {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 $140 (21. Qe6 $140)) (20... Qxe2 21. Qe6 Qh5 22. Rd7
Qf5 23. Qxf5 Rxf5 24. Rxc7 Rf7 25. Rxf7 Kxf7 26. gxf4 exf4 27. Rd1 $16 {better
endgame}) 21. b4 a6 (21... h6 $142 22. b5 Nd8 {and a long struggle ahead} (
22... Rd8 23. bxc6 $1)) 22. b5 axb5 23. cxb5 Na5 24. Qe6 {immediately decides
the game} Ra8 25. Rd7 Qg6 26. Qd5 h6 27. Rxc7 Re8 28. Bb4 {Transposing to an
easily won endgame} 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

[Event "Russia"]
[Site "Ch URS, Moscow"]
[Date "1931.??.??"]
[Round "?"]
[White "Rauzer V"]
[Black "Botvinnik Mikhail"]
[Result "0-1"]
[ECO "D60"]
[PlyCount "68"]

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 $143 7. Bd2) 7. e3 O-O 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} 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} exd5 {[%cal Ge8e4]}
10. O-O (10. Qa4 Bb7 11. Ba6 $4 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 $142) 11... Rc8 {A very serious error! But at the board I
departed from this intention, not wishing to simplify the position} (11... h6
$142 12. Bh4 Ne4 13. Bxe7 Qxe7 14. Nxe4 dxe4 15. Nd2 c5 {With an equal game}) (
11... Ne4 12. Bf4) (11... Re8 $144 $1 12. Ne5 $141 Nxe5 13. dxe5 Nd7 14. Bf4
Bf8 $1 {winning the d-pawn[%csl Ge5]}) 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 $140 Nxe5 14. fxe5) 13. dxe5 Nd7 14. Bf4 $1 {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} 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 $143 15. exf6 Nxf6 16. Bg3 {[%cal Ge3e4]} -- 17. e4 $140) 15. Bxg5 {
Unquestionably sound} (15. Ne4 Bxf4 16. exf4 dxe4 17. e6 Rc7 18. Bg4 Kh8 $15)
15... Qxg5 16. f4 Qe7 17. e4 $1 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 $1 18. Qa3 Rfd8 19. exd5 cxd5 20.
Qxa7 d4 21. Nb5 Ra8 22. Qxb6 Ra6 $1 23. Qc7 Rd7 24. Qb8+ Rd8 $11 {draw by
repetition}) 18. Kh1 {I had to seek a continuation which would allow me still
to "fish in troubled waters"} Rcd8 (18... Qe3 {Botvinnik's intention[%csl Gf4]
[%cal Yd5d4]} 19. Nxd5 $1 {easily refutes} (19. -- d4 $140)) (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 $143 20. Bf3 $1 {White wins a pawn with an easy
position[%csl Rd5]} (20. Nxd5 Nxe5 $1)) 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 $1 {not
clinging to the f-pawn} 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 $142 Qxd4 22. Rxd4 Nc5 $16) 21... Bxd5 $1 22. Rxd5 Nc5 $3 {The Knight is
achieving brilliant success!} 23. Bf3 (23. Rad1 Ne4) (23. -- Ne4 $140 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 $8 Rxd5 25. Bxd5 (25. Qxd5 Nf2+ 26. Kh2 Qxf4+ 27. g3 Qe3 {Black secures a
sure but technically difficult win[%cal Gf2d3]}) 25... Qg3 26. Rf1 ({A few
years after this game one amateur found salvation by} 26. Bxf7+ $3 Rxf7 27. e6
$1 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!} Rxf7 31. e6 Rxf4 $1 32.
e7+ Rxc4 33. e8=Q+ Qf8 34. Qe6+ Qf7 $18 {[%csl Gc8,Ge8]} 0-1

[Event "Moscow ch-SU"]
[Site "Moscow ch-SU"]
[Date "1931.??.??"]
[Round "?"]
[White "Botvinnik Mikhail"]
[Black "Riumin N"]
[Result "1-0"]
[ECO "D30"]
[PlyCount "64"]

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. O-O (6. Nbd2 {More consistent,
in order to recapture with the Knight and prevent ... Pe5 for a long time.}
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[%cal
Ge6e5]} (6... Be7 {Theory}) ({To carry out the e-pawn advance plan} 6... dxc4
$142 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[%cal
Ge6e5]}) 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} 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... O-O 8. e4 dxe4 9. Nxe4
Nxe4 10. Bxe4 {Emerging with a craped but strong position}) 8. e4 $1 O-O (8...
exd4 $143 9. e5) (8... dxc4 $143 9. Nxc4) (8... dxe4 $143 9. Nxe4 Nxe4 10. Bxe4
O-O 11. dxe5 Nxe5 12. Nxe5 Bxe5 13. Bxh7+ {[%cal Gh5h7,Gh5e5]}) 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[%csl Ge5]}) 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 $1 Be7 14. d6
$18) 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 $142 $1 13. Qxd4 (13. Bg5 Be7 14. Bxf6 Bxf6 15. Nxd4 Qb6 {[%csl
Gb2,Gd4]}) 13... Nxe4 (13... Re8 14. Bg5 Be7 15. Rfe1 $1) 14. Qxe4) 13. Bc2 (
13. Qxd4 Nxe4 14. Qxe4 Re8 15. Qd4 (15. Qd3 Qf6 $1) 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 $1 {Subtly played! White finds the right
continuation, consolidating his material superiority} (15... Qd7 16. Qh4 $16 {
White, haveing secured his King, would himself havae the attack against the
Black King[%csl Rh7]}) (15... f5 16. Kh1 {promised Black unplesantness[%cal
Gg1g7]}) 16. Rd1 $1 (16. -- Be5 $140 17. Qxc5 Qh4 {drawing option} (17... Rc8 {
winning the piece back[%csl Gc2]}) 18. f4 Qxf4) 16... Re2 (16... Be5 17. Qg4)
17. Bf5 g6 18. Bh3 Nd7 $1 {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[%csl Rd6][%cal Gd6c5,Gd6e5]} 19. Be3 $1 (19. -- Bc5
$140 (19... Be5 $140)) (19. Qd3 Re8 20. f4 {is sufficient for a win[%csl Ge5]})
19... Be5 20. Qc4 Rxb2 21. Rac1 (21. d6 $142 {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} Nb6 (21... Rc8 22. Qe4 Bf6 23. Qg4 $1 {
Black could not struggle for long against the d-pawn}) 22. Qe4 {[%csl Gb7]}
Bxd6 23. Qd4 {[%csl Gb2,Gd6]}) 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 $142 $14 {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}
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

[Event "Russia"]
[Site "Ch URS, Moscow"]
[Date "1931.??.??"]
[Round "?"]
[White "Kirilov V"]
[Black "Botvinnik Mikhail"]
[Result "0-1"]
[ECO "A34"]
[PlyCount "64"]

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}
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 $142 {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 {[%csl Yc5][%cal Gb7b6]}) 6. Nf3
Nc6 7. O-O 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[%csl Yc5,Ye5][%cal Gc1c5]} 8. b3 Be7 9. Bb2 O-O 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} f6 (10... -- 11. Na4 $140 {[%cal Yb2e5,Yf3e5,Ra4c5,Rc1c5]}) 11. Ne1 {
Neccesary! Assuming the c-pawn can be defended by other more energetic moves,
Black first prevents Nd3} (11. Na4 b6 $1 12. Nxe5 Nxe5 13. Bxa8 Nxa8 $17 {
[%csl Yf1,Yf3,Yg2,Yh1,Yh3]}) 11... Bf5 {[%csl Gd3]} (11... Bd7 12. Na4 b6 {
[%csl Gc6]}) 12. Na4 (12. Nd3 $141) 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[%csl Gc5,Gc6,Re7,Rf5]}) 14... Rfd8
15. Ne3 Be6 (15... Rxd2 16. Qe1 Be6 17. Bxc6 {depriving the Black Queen of
defence} bxc6 18. Rd1 Rad8 19. Bc1 $18) 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 $142 bxc6 17. d3 Rac8 18. Qc2 Nb4 $15) 16... Rac8 17. Nc4 Qc7 18. Nd2
b6 19. Bb2 {White is at a loss and playing without a plan} Qd7 20. Re1 Nd4 21.
Nc3 Nb4 $1 {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 $1 23. Nxd4 (23. Nxa2 Bxb3 24. Qd2 Nxf3+
25. Bxf3 Bxa2 26. Bxe5 Bd5 $19) 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+ $19) 30... a5 31. Ra4 Qc3 32.
Rh4 Qc1 0-1

[Event "Leningrad ch-city"]
[Site "Leningrad ch-city"]
[Date "1932.??.??"]
[Round "?"]
[White "Botvinnik Mikhail"]
[Black "Myasoyedov G"]
[Result "1-0"]
[ECO "E23"]
[PlyCount "53"]

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[%csl Ge4]} 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
$142 {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 $1 {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 $142 10. Rc1
Be7 11. -- d6 12. -- Bd7 $140) 10. e3 a6 11. Be2 (11. O-O-O $142 $1 {with a
sharpo struggle}) 11... Rg8 (11... d5 $1 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. O-O Bc7 (12... f5 $142 {preventing Ne4
[%csl Ge4]}) 13. Ne4 Qe7 {now the tempo of events quickened} ({no less a
better move is} 13... Qf5 14. Qd3 $1 {[%cal Ge4d6]} Ke7 {[%csl Rd6]} (14... d5
15. cxd5 exd5 16. Qxd5 {[%cal Gf6e8,Gf6d5]})) 14. Qc3 {[%csl Gf6]} Rg6 (14...
Ne5 15. c5 $1 {[%cal Ga1d1,Ye4d6]} -- {Black can't defend himself against} 16.
Rad1 -- 17. Nd6+ $140) 15. c5 {A muderous move! Black's following attempt to
free himself is also not very satisfactory} 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+ $140) 16. cxd6 Bxd6 17. Rfd1 Bc7 18. Nc5
{[%csl Rc6]} Kf8 (18... -- 19. Nxa6 $140) 19. Rac1 {Again threatening Nxa6
[%csl Rc6]} (19. Nxa6 $141 Rxa6 20. Bxa6 bxa6 21. Qxc6 Bb7 $19 {[%csl Rf3,Rh2]
[%cal Ge7b7]}) 19... Be5 20. Nxe5 Nxe5 (20... fxe5 21. Bf3 $16) 21. f4 (21. Qa5
$144 Nc6 22. Qb6 {Black would have great difficulty meeting the threat of 23.
Bxa6[%csl Ra6][%cal Ge2a6]} -- 23. Bxa6 $140) 21... Nc6 22. Bf3 e5 23. b4 Nd8 (
23... f5 24. Bxc6 Rxc6 25. fxe5 b6 26. e6 $1 {[%cal Gc3h8]} 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 {[%csl Ga8,Gf5]}) 30. Rd7+ Kg8 31. Qxe6+
Rxe6 32. Rcc7 $18) 24. Qd3 Ke8 (24... Bg4 25. Bxg4 Rxg4 26. Qf5 {[%csl Rd7]
[%cal Gd1d7]} -- 27. Rd7 $140) 25. f5 Rg5 (25... Rg8 26. Nxa6 bxa6) 26. Ne4 Rg8
27. Nd6+ 1-0

[Event "Russia"]
[Site "Ch Leningrad, Leningrad"]
[Date "1932.??.??"]
[Round "?"]
[White "Rabinovich I"]
[Black "Botvinnik Mikhail"]
[Result "0-1"]
[ECO "C01"]
[PlyCount "122"]

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}
exd5 5. Bd3 Nc6 6. Nge2 Nge7 7. O-O Bg4 8. f3 Be6 9. Be3 $6 (9. Na4 $142) 9...
Nf5 10. Bf2 Qd7 (10... Bxc3 $1 11. bxc3 (11. Nxc3 Nfxd4) 11... Qd7 (11... g5 {
[%cal Ge8c8]})) 11. Na4 b6 {[%csl Gc5]} (11... -- 12. Nc5 $141 Bxc5 13. dxc5 {
gaining the Bishop pair[%csl Yd3,Yf2]}) 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... O-O 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} Nh4 19. Bg3 Qe7 (19... Qd7 20. Bb5 {with a dangerous pin
[%cal Gb5d7]}) 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 $143 Be7 29. Ne3 cxd4 30. Nxd4 $14) 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 {[%csl
Gb5,Gc6]}) 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[%csl Ra5,Gb2]} 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 $143 Bd5 33. Nxc5 Nh4) (32. Bd6 $143 Rd8 $1 33. Bxc5
Ne5 34. Nd4 Bd5) (32. Rd1 $142 {Black would chose a pawn sacrifice line} 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 $1 (33... Re8 $143 34. Ne5 Bxe5 35. fxe5 Nxe5 36. Nd4 $1 f6
37. Bxe5 fxe5 38. Nc6) 34. Nc1 (34. -- h4 $140 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[%csl Rc5]}) 35. Ne3 Bh3
36. Rd1 {Loses a pawn and the game} (36. f5 Nh4 $1 {[%cal Gh3f5,Gh4f5]}) 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 {[%cal Ge3g1,
Ge3a7]} 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

[Event "Russia"]
[Site "Ch Leningrad, Leningrad"]
[Date "1932.??.??"]
[Round "?"]
[White "Botvinnik Mikhail"]
[Black "Alatortsev V"]
[Result "1-0"]
[ECO "D26"]
[PlyCount "93"]

1. Nf3 d5 2. d4 Nf6 3. c4 c6 4. e3 e6 5. Bd3 dxc4 {In sum we now have a
Queen's Gambit Accepted} 6. Bxc4 c5 7. O-O Nc6 8. Qe2 {An important move.
Black avoids ... Pa6 to no purpose; if White move to prevent ... Pb5 he must
play Pa4 weakening his Queenside[%cal Ge2e8]} (8. Nc3 Be7 {White has no
advantage} 9. Qe2 cxd4 10. Rd1 e5) 8... cxd4 9. Rd1 Be7 10. exd4 O-O 11. Nc3
Nb4 {A necessary manoeuvre, ensuring that Black controls d5; otherwise with
Pd5 White is delivered from his one weakness, the isolated pawn and also opens
up the game which is to his benefit as his development is more advanced[%csl
Gd5]} 12. Ne5 Nbd5 (12... Bd7 $142 13. d5 exd5 14. Nxd5 Nbxd5 15. Bxd5 Nxd5 16.
Rxd5 Bg4 17. Qc4 Qxd5 $1 18. Qxd5 Rad8 {Black equalizes the game. This
variation was found by master V. Chekhover[%csl Gd1]}) 13. Bg5 ({Worth
considering} 13. Qf3 {Again attacking d5[%csl Gd5]} Qd6 14. -- Bd7 {Black gets
a satisfactory game}) 13... h6 (13... Nxc3 14. bxc3 Nd5 15. Bd2 {The d-pawn is
well supported[%csl Gd4]}) 14. Bh4 Bd7 $1 {Black has prepared a shrewd
continuation, the object of which will be gathered from our further comments 
White can't allow ... Bc6 and his reply is forced[%cal Gd7c6]} (14... Nxc3 $143
15. bxc3 Nd5 16. Bxe7 Nxe7 (16... Qxe7 17. Ng6)) 15. Nxd5 Nxd5 (15... exd5 16.
Bxf6 gxf6 17. Nxd7 Qxd7 18. Bd3 {Black is in no condition to hold for long
[%csl Rd5,Rf6,Rf7,Rh6]}) 16. Bxe7 (16. Bxd5 exd5 17. Nxd7 Re8 $3 18. Bxe7 Qxd7
19. Re1 Rac8 $1 {Black wins back the piece with a probable draw} 20. Qf3 Rxe7
21. Rxe7 Qxe7 22. Qxd5 Rc2 23. Qb5 Qe4) 16... Qxe7 (16... Nxe7 17. d5 exd5 18.
Bxd5 Nxd5 19. Rxd5 Bg4 20. Qc4 $18 {[%csl Gd8,Gg4]}) 17. Ng6 fxg6 18. Bxd5 {
White has the better of it after all as Black's pawns are weakened and must be
defended by pieces; White's pieces are more actively posted} Rae8 {Indirectly
defending the b-pawn} 19. Re1 (19. Bxb7 Ba4 {[%csl Gb7,Gd1]} 20. b3 Bxb3 {
restores material equality}) 19... Qb4 20. Bb3 Rf6 {The defence Black has
chosen is wrong. He quite uselessly doubles the Rooks on the f-file, where
there is nothing for them to do. He should have withdrawn the Bishop to c8 and
prepared to double rooks on the d-file.   After Black has removed the Rooks
from Play White succeeds in forcing a Queen exchange and transposing to an
advantageous endgame} (20... Qxd4 21. Rad1) (20... Bc8 $142 21. -- Rd8 $140)
21. Rad1 Ref8 22. f3 Kh7 23. Qd2 Qb6 24. Re5 Rf4 25. Qe3 (25. Qa5 Rxd4 $1) (25.
Qc3 {[%cal Gc3c5]} Rc8) 25... R8f6 {This makes it possible for White to
transfer the Queen to c5, but it is doubtful whether Black has any better move
[%cal Ge3c3,Gc3c5]} 26. Qc3 {[%cal Gc3c5]} Bc6 27. Qc5 (27. Bxe6 Bxf3) 27...
Qxc5 28. dxc5 {White has practically an extra pawn, as the four Black pawns on
the Kingside can be held by White's three without difficulty. The result of
the game is beyond doubt} R4f5 (28... R6f5 29. Rde1 Rxe5 30. Rxe5 Rd4 31. Kf2
Rd2+ 32. Re2 Rxe2+ 33. Kxe2 $18) 29. Rde1 Rxe5 (29... Bd5 30. Bxd5 exd5 31.
Rxf5 Rxf5 (31... gxf5 32. Rd1) 32. Re7 d4 33. b4) 30. Rxe5 Rf5 {The
simplification is tantamount to surrender, but in any case there is no
salvation} 31. Rxf5 exf5 32. Kf2 g5 (32... f4 33. Bc2 {[%cal Gc2e4]} -- 34. Be4
$140) 33. Ke3 Kg6 34. Kd4 Kf6 35. Bd5 {Forcibly transposing into a pawn endgame
} h5 36. h3 g4 37. hxg4 fxg4 38. fxg4 hxg4 39. g3 Kf5 40. b4 Kf6 41. Ke4 Ke7
42. Bxc6 bxc6 43. Kf5 {White has various awys of winning} a6 44. a3 Kf7 45.
Kxg4 Ke6 46. Kg5 Kd5 47. Kg6 {White's pawn queens first} 1-0

[Event "Leningrad"]
[Site "?"]
[Date "1932.??.??"]
[Round "5"]
[White "Chekhover, Vitaly"]
[Black "Botvinnik, Mikhail"]
[Result "0-1"]
[ECO "E18"]
[PlyCount "72"]
[EventDate "1932.??.??"]

1. d4 Nf6 2. c4 e6 3. Nf3 b6 4. g3 Bb7 5. Bg2 Be7 6. O-O O-O 7. Nc3 d5 (7...
Ne4 $142) 8. cxd5 (8. Ne5 Nbd7 9. cxd5 exd5 10. Qa4 {disastrous for Black})
8... exd5 9. Bf4 {now Black satisfactorily completes his development} (9. Ne5)
9... Nbd7 10. Nb5 (10. Rc1 $142 c6) 10... Ne8 (10... a6 $2 11. Bxc7 $1 Qc8 12.
Bd6) 11. Rc1 c6 12. Nc3 Nd6 13. Qc2 {A passive move, allowing Black to obtain
the advantage} (13. Bxd6 $142 Bxd6 14. e4 $1 {opening up the game}) 13... f5 {
Now we have something on the lines of the Dutch} 14. Bh3 g6 {Black defends the
f-pawn so as to manoeuvre later with the Knight on e6[%cal Gd6f7]} 15. Rfd1 Nf7
$1 {Because of the threat of ... Pg5-g4 the Bishop at h3 must retreat. True,
even so, by advancing his pawn Black seizes out the White pawn and gains an
advantage in space[%cal Gg6g5,Gg5g4,Rg4f3,Rg4h3]} 16. Bg2 (16. -- g5 $140 17.
Bd2 g4) 16... g5 17. Bd2 Nd6 18. Ne1 $1 {White finds the right manoeuvre} Bf6
19. e3 Qe7 20. Nd3 Ne4 21. Be1 {A weak move, after which Black's game is easy}
(21. f4 $142 {In this case, too, Black retains the initiative, but by
occupying e5 White would at least slow up the tempo of the enemy attack[%csl
Ge5][%cal Yd3e5]} -- 22. Ne5) 21... Rac8 22. Qb3 {Black's next move is forced
[%cal Gc3e4,Ye1b4]} Rfe8 (22... -- 23. Nxe4 fxe4 24. Bb4 $140) 23. Bh3 g4 {
Simplest, Black secures the e4 Knight} 24. Bg2 Nf8 25. Nf4 Ne6 26. Nxe6 (26. --
N6g5 $140 {serious unpleasantness for White}) 26... Qxe6 27. Ne2 Bg5 {[%csl
Rf4]} 28. Qa3 a5 29. Qb3 {Leads to swift defeat} (29. Nf4 Bxf4 30. exf4 Ba6 {
[%csl Rd1][%cal Ga6e2]} 31. f3 gxf3 {White has a hard game}) 29... Ba6 30. Nc3
(30. Nf4 Bxf4 31. exf4 Be2 $19 {White loses the exchange[%csl Rd1]}) 30... Rb8
(30... Bc4 $142 31. Qxb6 Bd8 32. Qa7 Re7 $19 {[%csl Ra7]}) 31. Qc2 Rbc8 32. Ne2
{the Knight manoeuvre does not save the game} Qf7 {In any case there appears
no satisfactory continuation for White} (32... Qh6 $143 {[%csl Rf4]} 33. --
Bxe3 $140) 33. Nf4 Bxf4 34. gxf4 Qh5 {White resigns as there is no defence
against ... Re6-h6} 35. -- Re6 36. -- Rh6 $140 {[%csl Rh2]} 0-1

[Event "Russia"]
[Site "Ch Leningrad, Leningrad"]
[Date "1932.??.??"]
[Round "?"]
[White "Lisitsyn G"]
[Black "Botvinnik Mikhail"]
[Result "0-1"]
[ECO "A30"]
[PlyCount "88"]

1. Nf3 c5 2. c4 Nf6 3. g3 d5 4. cxd5 Nxd5 5. Bg2 Nc6 6. O-O {Now Black
prohibits Pd4 for a long time, which enables him to get an excellent game} (6.
d4 $142 {with a good game for White}) 6... e5 {The upshot is the "dragon"
variation of the Sicilian Defence, with colours reversed, but with the
advantageous move ... Pc5[%csl Gd4]} 7. d3 Be7 8. Nbd2 (8. Nc3 Nc7 $1 {
avoiding simplification}) 8... O-O 9. Nc4 f6 10. Be3 Be6 11. a4 {Consolidates
the position of the Knight, but weakens the Qside. The sound plan for White in
such positions is the preparation of Pf4 (as in the Kashdan-Nimzovitch, Bled
1931 and Botvinnik-Find, Nottingham 1936)  True, in the present game White has
already posted his pieces in such a mannter that it is not easy to carry out
this plan  Four of White's next nine moves are made with the Queen. That would
rather suggest that he is playing without a plan  Taking this into account,
Black does not hurry to organize his attac, but for the time being
methodically consolidates his position[%csl Gc4]} Qd7 12. Qd2 b6 13. Rfc1 Rac8
14. Qd1 Kh8 15. Bd2 Rfd8 16. Qb3 Nc7 17. Bc3 Rb8 18. Qc2 Nd5 19. Nfd2 Rbc8 20.
Nf1 Nd4 $1 {Black dominates the whole board. White cannot set up even the
ghost of a computer-game; he is forced to look on passively while his opponent
reogranizes his ranks for a decisive attack} 21. Qd1 Bg4 {Black's design is
now clear. White is to be compelled to exchange at d4; but this opens the
e-file after which the Rooks can attack the backward pawn. White can't advance
the e-pawn, for this would lead to the loss of the d-pawn[%csl Re2]} 22. Bxd4
exd4 {[%cal Ge8e2]} 23. Qd2 Bf8 {Clearing the e-file[%cal Ge8e1]} 24. Re1 Re8
25. h4 {The Knight must be developed at least "somewhere or other". With his
next move Black offers an exchange of Bishops, which White avoids for the
moment, as he wishes to keep the Bishop for defence of the e-pawn[%cal Gf1h2]}
Bh3 26. Bf3 Re7 27. Nh2 Rce8 28. Kh1 Be6 {With the obvious object of
transferring the Bishop to d5 where it will hold a stronger position. 
Incidentally, White might have had an opportunity to play Pg4 and Rg1 cutting
off the Bishop[%cal Ge6d5]} 29. b3 Nb4 (29... Nc3 $143 30. e4 {advancing the
backward pawn}) 30. Bg2 Bd5 31. Nf3 {Still avoiding the exchange} Rf7 {The
bishop at f8 must be brought into action[%cal Gf8d6]} 32. Kh2 Bd6 33. Bh3 Qd8
34. Rab1 Rfe7 35. Ng1 Bc7 36. Na3 Bb7 $1 $17 {White himself is forced to seek
exchange of Bishops as he mustn't allow Bg2. Black's pieces are splendily
placed, and he is ready for the decisive attack. White's position is hopeless
[%cal Gd8d5]} 37. Bg2 (37. -- Qd5 $140) 37... Bxg2 38. Kxg2 Nd5 39. Nc2 Qd6 $1
{There is no defence against ... Ne3+[%csl Rg3][%cal Gd5e3]} 40. Na3 (40. --
Ne3+) 40... Ne3+ 41. Kh1 Ng4 {[%csl Rf2]} 42. Qf4 (42. Rf1 Qd5+) (42. Kg2 Nxf2
43. Kxf2 Qxg3+ 44. Kf1 Re3 45. Nf3 Qh3+ 46. Kg1 Bh2+ $19) 42... Qxf4 43. gxf4
Nxf2+ 44. Kg2 Nxd3 0-1

[Event "Russia"]
[Site "Ch URS, Leningrad"]
[Date "1933.??.??"]
[Round "?"]
[White "Rauzer V"]
[Black "Botvinnik Mikhail"]
[Result "0-1"]
[ECO "B74"]
[PlyCount "64"]

1. e4 c5 2. Nf3 Nc6 (2... d6 {If Black wants to play the "dragon" variation} 3.
d4 cxd4 4. Nxd4 Nf6 5. Nc3 g6) 3. d4 cxd4 4. Nxd4 Nf6 5. Nc3 d6 6. Be2 {When
playing this particular game Rauzer had not made his researches} (6. Bg5 {
Rauzer's advice} g6 $141 7. Bxf6 exf6 {[%csl Gd6,Gf6]}) 6... g6 {For a long
time "theory" regarded the "dragon" variation as not very satisfactory for
Black, but it has reappeared in tournament practise} 7. Be3 Bg7 8. Nb3 {A
useful move, as otherwise Black frees his play with ... Pd5. Black's next move
is regarded as strongest} Be6 {[%csl Gd5]} (8... d5 $141) 9. f4 O-O 10. O-O (
10. g4 {See the Alekhine-Botvinnik (53) or Kann-Botvinnik (50)}) 10... Na5 {
[%csl Rc4][%cal Ga5c4]} 11. Nxa5 {The Black Knight could occupy a good
position at c4, but it should not have been exchanged off, especially as the
exchange had the effect of developing White's pieces} (11. f5 Bc4 12. e5 (12.
Bd3 $142 $1 {R. Spielmann}) 12... Bxe2 13. Qxe2 dxe5 14. Rad1 Qc7 15. Nb5 Qc4
$1 {[%cal Gc4e2]}) 11... Qxa5 $15 {The opening phase has ended, it would seem
in Black's favour. His further play is beset with few difficulties than White's
} 12. Bf3 (12. Qd2 $142) 12... Bc4 13. Re1 Rfd8 14. Qd2 Qc7 {In certain
variations Nd5 is unpleasante, forcing exchange of Queens} 15. Rac1 {After
this passive move White at once gets involved in serious complications} (15.
Qf2 $142 {distracting Black from his plan of threatening the a-pawn[%csl Ra7]})
15... e5 {If White had realized the point of this move he would have continued
Pxe5} 16. b3 (16. fxe5 $142 dxe5 17. Qf2 $11) (16. Qf2 d5 17. exd5 (17. fxe5
Nxe4) 17... exf4 $1 18. Bxa7 Nxd5 19. Bxd5 (19. Nxd5) 19... Bxd5 20. Nxd5 (20.
Bb6 Qc4) 20... Rxd5) 16... d5 $3 {It seems this sacrifice is sound in all
variations} 17. exd5 (17. -- d4 $140 {[%csl Rc3,Re3]}) 17... e4 $1 18. bxc4 {
White looks for counter-chances in acceptance of the sacrifice, choosing, it
would seem, the most expedient way. This is evident from the following
variations:} (18. Bxe4 Nxe4 19. Nxe4 Bxd5 20. Qd3 (20. Nc3 Bf3 $19 {[%csl Gd1,
Ge2]}) 20... Qc6 21. Bf2 Re8 {[%csl Rg2]} 22. Nd2 Bxg2) (18. Nxe4 Nxd5 19. Kh1
(19. -- Bc3 $140) 19... Nxe3 20. Qxe3 Bd4 21. Qd2 $1 {Now if Black attempts to
win the exchange} Bb2 $44 {the situation is extremely complicated, and
dangerous for Black owing to the weakness of his a1-h8 diagonal. But as Becker
showed, White's attack can still be repulsed} (21... Be6 22. c4 Be5 23. Qc2
Bxf4 $15) 22. Qb4 Bxc1 (22... Bd5 23. Rb1 Qxc2 {Tarrasch}) 23. Nf6+ $1 Kh8 $1
24. Qc3 Bd2 25. Qb2 Be6 $1 26. Nd5+ (26. c4 Qa5) 26... Bc3 27. Nxc3 Kg8 28. Ne4
Qxf4 29. Nf6+ Kf8 $17) 18... exf3 19. c5 Qa5 20. Red1 {this gives Black a
forced win} (20. d6 Ng4 21. Ne4 Qxd2 22. Bxd2 (22. Nxd2 Nxe3 23. Rxe3 Bd4)
22... f2+ 23. Nxf2 Bd4 $17) (20. gxf3 Nxd5 21. Nxd5 Qxd2 22. Bxd2 Rxd5 {White
gets a far from pleasant endgame with a weak pawn formation[%csl Ya2,Yc2,Yc5,
Yf3,Yf4,Yh2]}) (20. Qd3 $142 Ng4 21. Ne4 f5 22. Ng5 f2+ 23. Bxf2 Nxf2 24. Kxf2
Qxc5+ 25. Kg3 Qxd5 (25... Rxd5 26. Qb3 {[%csl Gb7,Gd5][%cal Yb3g8]}) 26. Qxd5+
Rxd5 {Opponents have approximately equal cahnces in the endgame}) 20... Ng4 $1
{[%csl Rc3]} 21. Bd4 {Now follows an unexpected mating attack with Queen and
knight, the Queen playing the decisive role, transferring in three moves from
the Queenside to the Kingside} (21. Ne4 Qxd2 22. Bxd2 Bd4+ 23. Kh1 fxg2+ 24.
Kxg2 Rxd5 {Black has every justification for counting victory in the endgame})
21... f2+ 22. Kf1 (22. Kh1 Rxd5 $1 23. Nxd5 f1=Q+ $1 {[%csl Rd2][%cal Gd1d2,
Gd1f1]}) 22... Qa6+ 23. Qe2 (23. Ne2 Rxd5) (23. Qd3 Bxd4 24. Qxa6 Ne3+ 25. Ke2
f1=Q+ 26. Rxf1 bxa6 $19 {[%csl Rc3,Rf1]}) 23... Bxd4 24. Rxd4 Qf6 $1 25. Rcd1 (
25. Qd3 Re8 26. Re4 (26. g3 Re3 27. Qd2 Rae8) 26... Rxe4 27. Nxe4 Qxf4 {[%cal
Gg4h2]} 28. -- Nxh2+) 25... Qh4 26. Qd3 Re8 27. Re4 f5 $1 28. Re6 Nxh2+ (28...
Rad8 29. Qb5 (29. Nb5) 29... Rxe6 30. dxe6 Rxd1+ 31. Nxd1 Nxh2+ 32. Ke2 f1=Q+ {
[%csl Rb5]}) 29. Ke2 Qxf4 30. Rf1 Nxf1 31. Kxf1 Rxe6 32. dxe6 Qe4 {This game
was awarded the brilliancy prize[%csl Re1]} 0-1

[Event "Ch URS, Leningrad"]
[Site "Ch URS, Leningrad"]
[Date "1933.??.??"]
[Round "?"]
[White "Botvinnik Mikhail"]
[Black "Yudovich M"]
[Result "1-0"]
[ECO "D96"]
[PlyCount "45"]

1. c4 Nf6 2. d4 g6 3. Nc3 {[%cal Gd1b3]} d5 4. Nf3 {Ragozin recommended this
move to be followed by 5. Qb3  After the USSR Eight Championship the system
with Qb3 was thoroughly studied by many masters, but so far no absolutely
reliable antidote has been found to it; the most serious reply is the
counter-system developed by Smyslove, involving ... Bg4} (4. Qb3 {
Botvinnik-Levenfish 1932}) 4... Bg7 5. Qb3 c6 6. cxd5 Nxd5 (6... cxd5 $143 7.
Bg5 {[%csl Rd5]}) 7. Bd2 (7. e4 Nxc3 8. bxc3 c5 $1 {[%csl Gd4]} 9. Bc4 O-O $11)
7... O-O 8. e4 Nb6 {At one time Tarrasch declared that in the Queen's Gambit
Knights are always posted badly at b6 whether White or black. This assertion
has long since ceased to be accepted as true, but in the given position the
Black Knight is in fact badly posted at b6. Its activity is reduced to the
minimum, it only interferes with the development of the Queenside, and serves
as a convenient target to be fired at[%csl Gd4]} (8... Nxc3 9. Bxc3 {leaving
White with an impercptible advantage}) 9. Rd1 $1 {It transpires Black can't
seize the initiative. He can't take the d-pawn so Black aims at e5. However,
later it transpires that this plan is also impossible} (9. -- Be6 10. Qc2 Nc4 {
White has a strong reply at his disposal, one which was after all not so
difficult to foresee, parrying both threats}) 9... N8d7 {With the idea of
playing ... Pe5 if opportunity arise. Before forestalling this move, White
forces a weakening of b6[%cal Ge7e5]} 10. a4 {[%cal Ga4a5]} (10. -- e5) 10...
a5 (10... -- 11. a5) 11. Be3 {A remarkable situation has arisen. The illfated
Nb6 is the cause of all Black's difficulties. It has not one move, and
moreover it has to be defended twice over, as White continually threatens Pd5.
As a result of five of Black's pieces - the Queen, a Rook, a Bishop and the
two Knights - are fettered. Now Black cannot even dream of a breakthrough with
... Pe5    However, it is not a simple matter to win[%csl Rb6][%cal Ge3b6,
Yd4d5]} Qc7 12. Be2 Qd6 {[%cal Gd6b4]} 13. Na2 {[%csl Gb4]} (13. -- Qb4 {to
eliminate the attack on the Knight, White must of course prevent this}) 13...
e6 (13... Qe6 14. Qxe6 fxe6 15. b3 Nf6 16. d5 Nbd7 17. dxe6 Nb8 18. Bc4) 14.
O-O h6 {Black's plan is to free a square for the Knight on b6. Only then will
he be able to develop the Queenside. By advancing Pf5 he proposes to liquidate
White's e-pawn thus get a base for his Knight at d5  White saw that if he
played Ne5 followed by Pf3 Black would be fettered and would be unable to free
himself. However he mistakenly decided that ... Pf5 was impossible for Black
in any case.  Unfortunately, as the result the game lost it's point[%csl Gg5]}
(14... f5 {[%cal Ge4d5,Ge4f5]} 15. Ng5 {[%csl Re6]} Re8 16. f3 $1 {guarding
the e-pawn[%csl Ge4]}) 15. Rc1 (15. Ng5 $141) (15. Ne5 $3 -- 16. f3) 15... f5
16. Nc3 {forced} ({White now noticed} 16. Ne5 f4 $1) (16. d5 cxd5 17. e5 Bxe5
$1 18. Nxe5 Qxe5 {[%cal Ge5e2]} 19. Bxb6 Nxb6 20. Qxb6 Qxe2) 16... Kh7 (16...
-- 17. d5) 17. Rfd1 (17. d5 fxe4 $1 18. dxc6 exf3) 17... fxe4 (17... -- 18. d5
$140 exd5 19. exd5 {[%csl Yd6]}) 18. Nxe4 Qb4 {Pawn hunting is equivalent to
surrending tthe game. it does not even call for any calculation to realize how
dangerous is the situation to Black's King} (18... Qe7 19. Qc2 Nd5 20. Ng3 $1 {
g6 has a very susceptible weakness[%csl Rg6]}) 19. Qc2 Qxa4 20. b3 Qa3 21. Nh4
$1 {[%csl Rg6]} (21. Neg5+ hxg5 22. Nxg5+ Kg8 23. Qxg6 Rf6 {Black has
everything guarded}) 21... Qe7 (21... a4 22. Rb1 axb3 23. Rxb3 Qa2 24. Rb2 Qa4
25. Qb1 {Black can't force exchange of Queens}) (21... Rf5 22. g4) 22. Nxg6 ({
also wins} 22. Ng5+ hxg5 23. Nxg6 {[%cal Gg6f8]} Qe8 24. Nxf8+ $18) 22... Kxg6
23. Bh5+ $3 {mate is inevitable} 1-0

[Event "Russia"]
[Site "Match, Leningrad/Moscow  (9)"]
[Date "1933.??.??"]
[Round "?"]
[White "Botvinnik Mikhail"]
[Black "Flohr S"]
[Result "1-0"]
[ECO "B13"]
[PlyCount "65"]

1. e4 c6 2. d4 d5 3. exd5 cxd5 4. c4 Nf6 5. Nc3 Nc6 6. Bg5 {I think this is
the first time this system has ever been played. It is not at all easy for
Black to defend d4  In the present game Black gives up altogether any attempt
to keep the pawn on d4 and at once gets a bad position. Of recent years many
and various systems have been proposed for Black. But I am still convinced
that 6. Bg5 is one of the strongest of continuations.} dxc4 {Black gives up
the centre and makes it possible for White to advance his centre pawn, which
makes Black's development difficult. Soon after this game theoreticians came
to the conclusion that here the best continuation} (6... e6 $142) 7. d5 Ne5 (
7... Na5 8. Nf3 $1 {White gets a stronger attack for the pawn sacrifice}) 8.
Qd4 Nd3+ 9. Bxd3 cxd3 10. Nf3 (10. Bxf6 {played in the first game and got the
worse.}) 10... g6 (10... e6 11. Bxf6 $1 Qxf6 12. Qxd3 {Black has a very bad
position (the c8 Bishop has no move and the King is stranded in the centre),
and I decided to play this variation again[%csl Gc8]}) (10... Bg4 $143 11. O-O
{Black can't resist for long. White's chief advantage lies in his superior
development. In all variaitons his attack grows threatening before Black can
bring his reserves into the battle.  Black's reply here can't be recommended
in any circumstances}) 11. Bxf6 {Naturally this is now very strong, as by
comparison with the first game of the match White has won an important tempo
and his Rooks begin to work along the central files with terrible strength. In
certain variations the passed d-pawn is also very unpleasant to Black} exf6 12.
O-O Qb6 {One can't confidently say that Black's game is lost} (12... Be7 13.
Rad1 $1 (13. Ne4 $143 Qb6 14. d6 Qxd4 15. Nxd4 f5 $1 16. Rfe1 fxe4 17. Rxe4 Kd7
) 13... O-O 14. Rxd3 Bf5 15. Rd2 Bd6 16. g4 Bc8 17. Ne4 {and Black must
surrender. It is possible that at one point or another Black could improve on
this play, but that can't modify in any essential this estimate of the
position. Black decided to reconcile himself to being unable to Castle, hoping
that at d1 the King would find a reliable haven. But unfortunately, in an open
position and with a completely developed army such play in the spirit of
Steinitz can't save the game}) 13. Rfe1+ Kd8 14. Qh4 $1 (14. Qxd3 Bd6 $1 {it
is doubtful whether White would be able to carry his positional victory}) 14...
g5 (14... -- 15. Ne5 $140 $1) (14... Bd7 15. Ne5 Be8 16. Ng4 Qa6 17. d6) (14...
Bg7 15. Ne5 Rf8 16. Qxh7) (14... Be7 15. d6 Qxd6 16. Rad1 $1 Bd7 (16... Bf5 17.
Nd4) 17. Re3) 15. Qh5 {An alternative "desperate" defence against Ne5 is the
one Black decides to adopt} Bd6 (15... Qc7 16. Ne4 {and the Black pawns vanish
one after another. Black "develops" two pieces, but at the price of two good
pawns, giving White superiority in material[%csl Gf6,Gg5]}) 16. Qxf7 Rf8 17.
Qxh7 g4 $1 {The sole chance of getting couterplay} 18. Nd2 (18. Nh4 Qc7 (18...
d2 $1 {and complications not entirely without possibilities for Black result.
So White's withdrawal of the Knight is forced})) 18... Qc7 (18... Qxb2 $143 19.
Qxd3 {with an unrelenting attack. But now White must play with great care}) 19.
Qh6 $1 {The Rook is not reliably defended, so Black hastens to cover it with
the Queen[%csl Rf8][%cal Gc3b5]} (19. Qxc7+ Bxc7 {it is far from simple to win
the d-pawn, and even if White did, the endgame would still present great
difficulties.}) (19. Qxd3 $143 Bxh2+ 20. Kf1 {And the White King would find
himself in a dangerous situation}) 19... Qf7 (19... -- 20. Nb5 $140) 20. Nc4
Be5 {Now White captures a second pawn, in doing so depriving Black of his
"bishop pair" and transposes into an endgame. The rest is a matter of
technique.} (20... Bb4 $143 21. a3 Bxc3 22. Nd6 Qg8 23. bxc3) (20... Bb8 21. d6
Rg8 22. Re7 Qg6 (22... Qxc4 23. Qxf6 {[%cal Gf6d8]}) 23. Qf4) 21. Nxe5 (21. Nb5
{Tarrasch showed that White could win with a direct attack. Yet I think that
if I had again to play White in this position I would play as in the game, for
in an elementary won position a master should choose the simplest road}) 21...
fxe5 22. Qg5+ Qe7 23. Qxe5 Qxe5 24. Rxe5 Bf5 25. Rf1 Kd7 26. f3 b5 {Yet
another attempt to complicate the game} 27. fxg4 Bxg4 28. h3 b4 29. Ne4 $1 {
Black allows the White King to pass into the centre, after which further
resistance is futile} (29. hxg4 bxc3 30. bxc3 Rxf1+ 31. Kxf1 Rc8 {The result
would be doubtful as the White pawns would fall one after another}) 29... Rxf1+
(29... Be2 30. Rxf8 Rxf8 31. d6 $1 Rf1+ 32. Kh2 Rd1 33. Re7+ Kc6 34. d7 Kc7 35.
Nc5 $1 {White queens his pawn}) 30. Kxf1 Rf8+ 31. Ke1 Bf5 32. g4 Bg6 33. Re6
1-0

[Event "Russia"]
[Site "Match, Leningrad/Moscow  (10)"]
[Date "1933.??.??"]
[Round "?"]
[White "Flohr S"]
[Black "Botvinnik Mikhail"]
[Result "0-1"]
[ECO "A95"]
[PlyCount "62"]

1. d4 e6 2. c4 f5 3. g3 {Theoretically this continuation (the King's
fianchetto) is regarded as White's best line against the Dutch Defence} (3. Nc3
{Fourth game Flohr-Botvinnik}) 3... Nf6 4. Bg2 Be7 {Black refrains from the
exchange of Bishops in order to avoid simplifications, and plans to employ the
stonewall formation (game 4). When this game was played it was considered that
this variation ceded White unquestioned superiority, but the system contains a
lot of poison, and against an opponent who has not throrough knowledge of the
game it can be applied confidently} 5. Nc3 d5 (5... O-O $142 6. Nh3 d6) 6. Nf3
({At one time Grunfeld recommended} 6. Nh3 {This was adopted by
Capablanca-Botvinnik, Hastings 1934-35 where White obtained superiority}) 6...
c6 7. O-O O-O 8. b3 {Ignorance of the variation is beginning to reveal itself.
Flohr doesn't choose the strongest continuation  The fianchetto of the Queen's
Bishop has one serious defect, the weakness of f4, after which Black's
pressure on the Kingside increases considerably[%csl Gf4]} (8. Bf4 {At the
time was considered the best system}) ({Chekohover's system} 8. Qc2 Qe8 9. Bg5
$1 Qh5 10. Bxf6 Bxf6 11. cxd5 exd5 {reducing to a minumum the forces available
for Black to attack on the Kingside.}) 8... Qe8 {The customary move in this
variation to transfer the Queen to h5 both for attack and to defend the f-pawn
[%csl Rf5][%cal Ge8h5]} 9. Bb2 Nbd7 10. Qd3 {Another slight inexact move. The
Queen is more effective on c2} ({simplest} 10. Ne5 Bd6 11. f4 {closing the
position and depriving Black his chances of attacking the Kingside}) (10. Qc2
$142) 10... Qh5 {Just in time, White threatened 11. cxd5} 11. cxd5 {White
should make this exchange only when it gives some advantage at once. Otherwise
it leads only to a deterioration of the position  It is evident that the
Bishop was badly placed at b2 and the mistake should have been recognised,
transferring it to f4, so eliminating any possibility of a breakthrough with ..
. Pe5} (11. Nd2 e5 $1 {take advantage of the e-square being undefende} 12. cxd5
e4) 11... exd5 12. Nd2 {This is also a mistake. White's sound plan consisted
of playing Pf4 and capturing e5. But now Black can prevent this manoeuvre[%csl
Re5][%cal Gf2f4]} (12. Ne1 $142 {[%cal Gf2f4,Ye1f3,Yf3e5]} -- 13. f4 -- 14. Nf3
-- 15. Ne5) 12... Ne4 {The knight can be exchanged now} 13. f3 (13. f4 Nxd2 14.
Qxd2 Nf6 {Black controls e4, while it is extremely difficult for White to
transfer the Knight to e5[%csl Ge4]}) 13... Nxc3 {the only way} (13... Nxd2 14.
Qxd2 {White would succeed in defending f4[%csl Gf4]}) 14. Bxc3 f4 $1 {The
signal for attack. Black develops contionous pressure on the kingside, and it
is not easy for White to free himself.} 15. Rfe1 {[%csl Rg3][%cal Gd2f1]} (15.
Rfd1 {leaving f1 free for the Bishop. The f1 square must be vacated for the
Knight to defend g3[%cal Gg2f1]}) 15... Bd6 16. Nf1 Rf7 {Black frees f8 for
his Knight[%cal Gd7f8,Gf8g6]} (16... Nf6 $143 17. Bd2 $1 {[%csl Gf4]} fxg3 18.
hxg3 {White's Bishop would operate actively along the c1-h6 diagonal[%cal
Gd2h6]}) 17. e3 (17. Bd2 $142 {[%csl Gf4]}) (17. e4 $143 dxe4 18. Qxe4 (18.
fxe4 f3 $1) 18... Nf6) 17... fxg3 18. Nxg3 (18. hxg3 Rxf3 $1 (18... Qg5 {[%csl
Rg3]} 19. e4 Bxg3 20. Nxg3 Qxg3 21. exd5 Nf8 $17 {[%cal Gc8h3]})) 18... Qh4 19.
Nf1 Nf6 20. Re2 Bd7 {White pins great hopes to the transfer of the Bishop to
g3, but it can't essentially improve his position[%cal Gc3e1,Ge1g3]} 21. Be1
Qg5 22. Bg3 Bxg3 23. Nxg3 (23. hxg3 Nh5 {[%csl Gg3]} 24. g4 (24. Kh2 Nxg3 25.
Nxg3 $1 Qh4+)) 23... h5 $1 {This is the beginning of the decisive attack
threatening to win a piece. White is forced to further weaken his pawn
position[%cal Gh5h4,Gh4h3]} 24. f4 (24. -- h4 $140 {[%cal Gh4h3]}) 24... Qg4
25. Rf2 (25. Rf1 $142) 25... h4 26. Bf3 {An obvious oversight} (26. h3 $1 Qe6
27. Nf1 Ne4 $19 {White's position is lost}) 26... hxg3 {The Queen sacrifice is
decisive} 27. Bxg4 gxf2+ 28. Kg2 (28. Kxf2 Nxg4+ {The King pawn is also lost
[%csl Ge3]}) 28... Nxg4 29. h3 Nf6 30. Kxf2 Ne4+ 31. Kg2 Bxh3+ (31... Re8 {
mating attack[%cal Ge8e6,Ge6g6]}) 0-1

[Event "Leningrad"]
[Site "Leningrad"]
[Date "1934.??.??"]
[Round "?"]
[White "Belavenietz S"]
[Black "Botvinnik Mikhail"]
[Result "1/2-1/2"]
[ECO "E18"]
[PlyCount "98"]

1. d4 Nf6 2. c4 e6 3. Nf3 b6 4. g3 Bb7 5. Bg2 Be7 6. O-O O-O 7. Nc3 d5 8. Ne5
Qc8 9. Bf4 {A single formal move can spoil any position. White loses the
initiative with Bf4 at the least} (9. cxd5 $142 {restricting the scope of the
Queen's Bishop's sphere of operations.} exd5 {[%cal Gb7d5]}) 9... dxc4 10. Nxc4
{This is a simply losing mistake. Now White gets a weak d-pawn[%csl Gd4]} (10.
Qa4 Bxg2 11. Kxg2 Qb7+ 12. Kg1 Nd5 13. Bd2 Nxc3 14. bxc3 c5 (14... b5 15. Rab1
a6 16. Qxc4) 15. Qxc4 Rc8 16. Qd3 Nc6 $15) 10... Bxg2 11. Kxg2 Qb7+ (11... Rd8
12. e3 c5 13. Qf3 $1 {saving the d-pawn[%csl Ra8]}) 12. Kg1 Rd8 13. Qc2 $1 {
The d-pawn is indirectly defended} Nc6 (13... Rxd4 14. Nb5 Rd7 15. Ne5 {White
wins Black's c7 square[%csl Rc7]}) 14. e3 {An extremely interesting situation.
At first glance it seems that Black can win the Bishop at f4.   Black decides
on the Rook sacrifice which gives him an all but irresitible attack} Rxd4 $3 (
14... Nd5 15. Nxd5 (15. Qe4 $142 $1 g5 16. Bxg5 Bxg5 17. Qg4 {[%cal Gg4g8]} h6
18. h4 {involves great complications}) 15... exd5 16. Ne5 Nxe5 17. Bxe5 f6 18.
Qxc7 Rd7 $17 {[%csl Re5]}) 15. exd4 Nxd4 16. Qc1 (16. Qa4 Nf3+ 17. Kh1 e5 $1 {
forestalling Nc4-e3-g2} (17... -- 18. Ne3 $140 -- 19. Ng2) 18. Be3 a6 $3 {and
there is no defence against Black's combined threats}) 16... Nf3+ 17. Kh1 e5
18. Be3 Ng4 {Being a Rook down, Black gets nervous and tries to force the game.
But there was no necessity. White is in a helpless position and so Black
should have intensified his pressure with ... Ph5 or ... Rd8} (18... h5 $142) (
18... Rd8) 19. Qc2 {Now Black wins back his piece, but finds himself forced to
transpose to the endgame, where his chances of winning are minimal} (19. Ne2 {
would be relevant to Black, for in that case White has abadoned control of his
e4[%csl Re4][%cal Ge2g1]}) 19... Nd2+ 20. Kg1 Nf3+ 21. Kh1 Nd2+ 22. Kg1 Nxc4
23. Bc1 Qf3 {Otherwise Qe2 is very unpleasant[%csl Ge2]} (23... -- 24. Qe2 $140
{[%cal Ge2c4,Ge2g4]}) 24. Qe2 Qxe2 25. Nxe2 e4 {fixing his f3 square[%csl Gf3]}
26. b3 Nce5 27. h3 Nf3+ 28. Kg2 Nge5 29. Be3 f5 30. Rfd1 Kf7 31. Bd4 {Very
weak. White loses several tempi. Later White is deprived of the possibility of
doubling Rooks, and he has to be content with passive defence} (31. Rac1 $142
c5 32. Rd5 g6 33. Rcd1 $15 {Black has a microscopic advantage}) 31... Nd3 32.
Bc3 Rd8 (32... g6 {simpler}) 33. Kf1 Bd6 34. Nc1 Nc5 35. Ne2 Nd3 36. Nc1 Nxc1
37. Raxc1 g6 38. Bb2 Ke6 39. Ke2 c5 40. Rc2 Rg8 {In this highly instructive
situation the game was adjourned and, in accordance with the rules of the
tournament, submitted for adjudication. The jury of the match - the master N.
Grigoriev, I. Rabinovich and P. Romanovsky - refused to make any edcision
without detailed analysis. However, the organizers of the match decided not to
await an analysis and declare the position draw} 41. b4 ({If White plays
passively} 41. Rcc1 Be5 42. Bxe5 Nxe5 $17 {Black's Knight on d4 easily decides
the game[%cal Ge5f3,Gf3d4]}) (41. Ke3 Rc8 {[%cal Gc8c2]} 42. -- Nd4 $140 43.
Bxd4 cxd4+ $19) (41. -- a5 {eliminating Pb4[%csl Gb4]} 42. b4 $141) 41... cxb4
42. Rc6 Rd8 43. a3 (43. -- {Black aims to gradually free himself with} Rd7 $140
44. -- Ke7 45. -- Be5 {and having three pawns for the exchange, should win})
43... b3 44. a4 Ne5 45. Bxe5 Kxe5 46. Rc3 b2 47. Rb1 (47. Rb3 Rc8 48. Rxb2 Rc4
{Black's superiority is sufficient to win}) 47... Bb4 48. Rc2 Bc5 49. Rbxb2 Rd3
{These variations essentially exhaust the position. Altogether it was an
interesting gmae, though it has to be admitted that neither player proved
quite equal to the problems confronting him} 1/2-1/2

[Event "Leningrad-Moskva"]
[Site "Leningrad-Moskva"]
[Date "1934.??.??"]
[Round "?"]
[White "Botvinnik Mikhail"]
[Black "Belavenietz S"]
[Result "1-0"]
[ECO "D49"]
[PlyCount "49"]

1. d4 d5 2. c4 e6 3. Nc3 c6 4. Nf3 Nf6 5. e3 Nbd7 6. Bd3 dxc4 7. Bxc4 b5 {The
so called Meran Variation introduced by Rubinstein} 8. Bd3 a6 9. e4 c5 10. e5
cxd4 11. Nxb5 Nxe5 12. Nxe5 axb5 13. O-O {White chooses Relstab's Attack. I
believe this promises White more chances} (13. Qf3 {Preferred today} Bb4+ 14.
Ke2 Rb8 15. Qg3 $1 Qd6 $1 16. Nf3 Qxg3 17. hxg3 Bd6 $1 18. Nxd4 Bd7 {Euwe
believed White had the better edngame}) 13... Qd5 14. Qe2 Ra5 $146 {Belaventz
had prepared this "novelty". But of course it is not by this means that the
Relstab Attack can be refuted! The Rook at a5 has no scope, and White has an
almost forced win} 15. f4 $1 {An indispensable prelimanary move. For if the
opportunity occurs Black plays ... Pg5 with an attack on the Knight e5, so it
is necessary to control this square at once. In doing so White defends the g5
square[%csl Ge5,Gg5]} (15. Bg5 $143 -- 16. f4 {The Queen's Bishop is necessary
for attack on the Rook at a5}) 15... Bd6 (15... Bb7 16. a4 $1 bxa4 17. Bd2 {
Black perishes because of the threat Bb5+}) 16. Bd2 b4 17. a3 $1 {Temporarily
surrendering a second pawn, in return for an overwhelming attack} (17. Nc4 Ra7
18. Nb6 Qb7 {does not lead to the desired result; Black has a satisfactory
defence}) 17... Bxe5 (17... -- 18. Nc4) (17... Ra7 18. Nc6 $1 {[%cal Gb5e8]})
18. fxe5 Qxe5 19. Qf3 Qd5 {Black loses a tempo by comparison with the
foregoing variation} (19... Ra7 20. Rae1 (20. Qc6+ $143 Bd7 21. Qb6 Qc7 22.
Qxb4 Nd5 23. Qxd4 O-O) 20... Qd5 21. Qg3 Bb7 (21... bxa3 22. Rxf6 gxf6 23. Qg7
Rf8 24. Bb4 Re7 25. Rc1 Bb7 26. bxa3 Bc6 27. a4) 22. Qb8+ (22. Bxb4) 22... Kd7
23. Bb5+ Qxb5 24. Qxa7 Qd5 25. Rf2 {White has all the winning chances}) 20. Qg3
Ra7 {Black's situation is hopeless. It's interesting that White's position is
so strong that he is ensured the win even if he gives the next move to his
opponent} (20... Nh5 21. Qc7 O-O 22. Bxb4) 21. Rxf6 gxf6 22. Qg7 Rf8 23. Bxb4
Re7 24. Rc1 Bb7 25. Rc5 1-0

[Event "Leningrad"]
[Site "Leningrad"]
[Date "1934.??.??"]
[Round "?"]
[White "Botvinnik Mikhail"]
[Black "Alatortsev V"]
[Result "1-0"]
[ECO "D61"]
[PlyCount "39"]

1. d4 e6 2. c4 d5 3. Nf3 Be7 {As Alatortsev explained after the game, the idea
of this move is that Black plays Nf6 only after White's Knight has gone to c3.
In essence it all amounts simply to a change in order of moves} 4. Nc3 Nf6 5.
Bg5 O-O 6. e3 a6 {This move is usually made only after Nbd7 and Pc6. True,
Black later had the option of returning to the usual variation, but to do so
would have needed very exact play. So the course taken by Black can hardly be
recommended} 7. cxd5 exd5 (7... Nxd5 {worth considering}) 8. Bd3 c6 {This
natural move turns out to be a serious mistake} ({Alatortsev pointed out the
correct continuation} 8... Nbd7 $1 9. Qc2 Re8 10. g4 Nf8 $1 {Black gets a
satisfactory game}) 9. Qc2 Nbd7 10. g4 $1 Nxg4 {Black chooses the weakest
continuation, at once opening files for White on the Kingside} (10... -- 11.
Bxf6 $140 Nxf6 12. g5 {[%csl Rh7]}) (10... Re8 11. Bxf6 Nxf6 12. g5 Ne4 13.
Nxe4 dxe4 14. Bxe4 g6 15. h4 Bd6 {gives Black some counterplay but White's
superiority in material should in due course make itself felt}) (10... h6 11.
Bf4 {White retains a strong attack}) (10... g6 $142 11. h3 -- 12. O-O-O $16)
11. Bxh7+ Kh8 12. Bf4 {White avoids premature exchanges} (12. h4 g6 13. h5 (13.
Bxe7 Qxe7 14. h5 g5 {[%cal Gg4h6]} 15. -- Nh6) 13... Bxg5 14. hxg6 f5 $1 {
Black should win}) 12... Ndf6 13. Bd3 Nh5 {Black's situation is serious, but
manoeuvres with the Knight are completely fruitless. In any case it is
doubtful whether any method of defence can be found for Black. White can
unhurriedly bring up reserves for the decisive blow} 14. h3 Ngf6 15. Be5 Ng8
16. O-O-O Nh6 17. Rdg1 Be6 18. Qe2 {[%cal Ge2h5]} Bf5 {An oversight which
hastens Black's collapse} (18... -- 19. Ng5 $140 (19. Nh4)) 19. Bxf5 Nxf5 20.
Nh4 {[%csl Rh5]} 1-0

[Event "Russia"]
[Site "Tournament, Leningrad"]
[Date "1934.??.??"]
[Round "?"]
[White "Botvinnik Mikhail"]
[Black "Rabinovich I"]
[Result "1-0"]
[ECO "D46"]
[PlyCount "153"]

1. c4 c6 2. d4 d5 3. Nc3 Nf6 4. e3 e6 5. Nf3 Nbd7 6. Bd3 Be7 {Black aims for a
so called "improved Slav Defence". However, White avoids simpflication} ({
Black avoids the Meran variation} 6... dxc4 7. Bxc4 b5 8. Bd3 a6) 7. O-O O-O 8.
b3 (8. e4 {Black hopes for} dxe4 9. Nxe4 b6) 8... b6 9. Qe2 Bb7 10. Rd1 Qc7 11.
Bb2 Rad8 12. Rac1 {White pursues a waiting tactic, planning to eventually
establish his Knight on e5; but he plays insufficiently exactly and only
induces Black to move his Queen to a better square} (12. h3 $142) 12... Qb8 13.
h3 (13. Ne5 $143 Nxe5 14. dxe5 Nd7 15. f4 Nc5 16. Bc2 dxc4) (13. e4 dxe4 14.
Nxe4 c5 $1 15. Nxf6+ Bxf6 {White's dark squared bishop is rendered harmless
[%cal Gf6b2]}) 13... Bd6 {A serious error! Evidently Black was preparing for
Pe5 but forgot White also might play Pe4. With the Black Bishop at e7 White
can't play Pe4 but now the position is different and although Black's Bishop
reaches f4 with a gain of tempo, it is not well placed there, a circumstance
which White later exploits} (13... c5 $142 14. Ne5 cxd4 15. exd4 dxc4 16. Bxc4
$1 {even though White's position is to be preferred}) 14. e4 dxe4 (14... Bf4
15. e5 $1 {White sacrifices and gets a stronger attack}) 15. Nxe4 Bf4 (15...
Nxe4 16. Qxe4 Nf6 17. Qh4 $16) 16. Nxf6+ {An important intermediary move} (16.
Rb1 Nxe4 17. Bxe4 f5 {Black has equal chances}) 16... Nxf6 17. Rb1 c5 {Black
can not delay} (17... Nd7 $143 {[%cal Gc6c5]} 18. b4 $1 {[%cal Gd4c5,Gb4c5]} c5
(18... Rfe8 19. Ba1) 19. dxc5 bxc5 20. b5 Bxf3 21. Qxf3 Be5 22. Qe4 g6 23. Bxe5
Qxe5 24. Qxe5 Nxe5 25. Be2 Rd4 26. Rxd4 cxd4 27. f4 d3 28. fxe5 dxe2 29. Kf2)
18. dxc5 bxc5 (18... Bxf3 19. Qxf3 bxc5 20. Re1 $1 {White still prevents ...
Be5[%csl Ge5]}) 19. Ne5 Qa8 {It is difficult to indicate any other possibility
of counteryplay. White intended to clear up the position with Pg3. This move
is possible now, but Black would be in possession of the long white diagonal.
However White finds a stronger continuation} 20. Ng4 Nxg4 21. Qxg4 Bh6 (21...
g5 22. Bc2 {leads only to a weakening of King pawns[%csl Yf7,Yg5,Yh7]} Rxd1+
23. Rxd1 Rd8 24. Bxh7+ $18) 22. Bf6 Rd7 (22... Rc8 {Black has surrendered the
d-file without a fight}) (22... Rxd3 23. Rxd3 Be4 24. Rg3 $3 Bg6 25. Qh4 {
White remains the exchange to the good}) 23. Bf1 {Neither player noticed the
Bishop sacrifice and the play passes to the endgame and is drawn out over many
moves} (23. Bxh7+ Kxh7 24. Rxd7 gxf6 (24... Bc8 25. Rd8 gxf6 26. Rbd1 Qb7 27.
Rxf8 Bxf8 28. Rd8 f5 29. Qh5+ Bh6 30. Re8 Qd7 {won ending for White.}) 25. Qxe6
Bxg2 26. Rxf7+ Rxf7 27. Qxf7+ Bg7 28. Re1 Be4 29. Qh5+ Kg8 30. f3 Bc6 31. Re7
Qf8 32. Rc7 $3 $18) 23... Qc8 {The d-file is surrended after all, but at least
the Queen position is improved} 24. Rxd7 Qxd7 25. Rd1 Qc7 {A crucial point.
White's attack has got into a blind alleay, and no ways of strengthening it
are evident  White does not fall for the "allure" of the "lone attacks" and
sets to work to realize his pawn superiority on the Queenside, exploiting his
domination of the open d-file} 26. Bg5 (26. Rd3 Be4 27. Bxg7 Bxg7 28. Qxe4 Rd8
29. -- a5 {a safe draw despite White's extra pawn}) 26... Bxg5 27. Qxg5 h6 28.
Qd2 Be4 {Black could keep the Bishop on the Queenside, but in that case he
could not compel White to exchange Queens, as in the game. On the other hand,
in the ensuing endgame the Bishop on the b1-h7 diagonal is out of play, and
White now exploits this} 29. Qd7 Rc8 30. f3 Bc2 31. Rd2 Bb1 {Black can compel
the Queen exchange only by this threat of winning a pawn. But now White gains
an important tempo for the advance on the Queenside} 32. Qxc7 Rxc7 33. a3 $1 {
White's superiority in the endgame takes on definite outlines  Black is forced
to allow further advance of the b-pawn} Rb7 (33... a5 34. Rd8+ Kh7 35. Rb8 {
[%csl Ra5,Rc5][%cal Gb8b5]} -- 36. Rb5 {Is clearly not to Black's advantage})
34. Rb2 Bg6 35. b4 Kf8 {Both now and later Black is faced with the choice:  1.
... Pa5 he can force Pb5 but then White will occupy the d-file and exploit the
weakness of Black's a- and c-pawns  2. He can exchange on b4. This too is bad,
as although the weak c-pawn is freed, White can get the a-file  3. Black can
pursue waiting tactics. This is sound and he does so} 36. Kf2 Ke7 37. Ke3 Kd7
38. Be2 Kc7 39. b5 Rb8 (39... a6 40. a4 axb5 41. axb5 $1 {and White occupies
the a-file[%cal Ga2a8]} (41. cxb5 Kb6 {leading to a draw[%cal Gb6a5]})) 40. a4
f6 (40... Kb6 41. Rd2 {Probably simplest}) 41. a5 (41. f4) 41... e5 {The Black
Rook can't abandon the b-file because of the constant threat of Pb6+. Now,
having posted his pieces his pawns to the best advantage, White improves the
position of his pieces} 42. Rd2 Bf7 43. f4 $1 {The only move, to realize
White's superiority on the Queenside. Whis is now transferrin his Bishop to
the h1-a8 diagonal. White threatnes to win with Bg4[%cal Ge2f3,Gf3c6,Ye2g4]}
exf4+ (43... -- 44. f5) 44. Kxf4 Re8 45. Bf3 {White now transfers the Bishop
to d5 after which Black's c-pawn is hopelessly weak. Black's next move had an
object to transfer the Bishop to defend b7} Be6 (45... Bxc4 46. Rc2 Bd3 47.
Rxc5+ Kb8 48. Rc1 {White wins back the pawn and has every reason to win the
game}) 46. Bc6 (46. b6+ Kb8 {White has nothing forced in prospects} (46... axb6
47. a6 Bc8 48. a7 Bb7 49. Rd7+ Kxd7 50. Bxb7)) 46... g5+ 47. Kf3 Rf8 48. Bd5
Rd8 49. Ke3 Bc8 50. Ra2 Bb7 51. Rd2 Re8+ (51... Bxd5 52. Rxd5 Rxd5 53. cxd5 c4
54. a6 $1 $18) (51... f5 52. Bxb7 (52. Rd3 $142 Re8+ 53. Kd2 Rd8 54. h4 Rd6 55.
hxg5 hxg5 56. a6 $1 Bc8 57. Rh3 $18) 52... Rxd2 53. Kxd2 Kxb7 {forces a draw})
52. Kf2 Rd8 53. g4 Bc8 54. Rd3 Rf8 55. Re3 f5 56. gxf5 Rxf5+ 57. Kg2 (57. Kg3
$142) 57... Bd7 58. b6+ {Leads to the win of a piece} axb6 59. a6 Kb8 (59...
Bc6 60. Re7+ Kd8 61. Rh7 Rxd5 62. cxd5 Bxd5+ 63. Kf2 Kc8 64. Rh8+ {White comes
out with an extra rook[%cal Ga7a8,Ga6a7]}) 60. Re7 Ka7 61. Bb7 Bc6+ {Exactly!
White wins only a minor piece whereas with the King posted at g3 he would now
win the Rook with Bc9+} 62. Bxc6+ Kxa6 {This is of course a wons position for
White, but it is not without technical difficulties    White has two plans at
his disposal:  1) keep the Bishop on b5 to kill off Black's b-pawn   2) Give
Black the possibility of advancing the b-pawn but to keep the Bishop in play ..
. White prefers the second} 63. Be4 Rf4 64. Bd3 Rf6 (64... g4 65. h4 Rf5 66.
Rh7 {White saves the h-pawn}) 65. Be2 Ka5 66. Kg3 Kb4 67. Re3 Rf4 (67... Ka5
68. Kg4 Rf4+ 69. Kh5 Rh4+ 70. Kg6 Kb4 71. Kf6 Rf4+ 72. Kg7 Rh4 73. Kg6 Ka5 74.
Bh5 Rxc4 75. Kxh6 $18) 68. Re6 Kc3 69. Rxb6 (69. Rxh6) 69... Re4 (69... Rh4 70.
Rf6 Kd4 71. Rd6+ Kc3 72. Rd5 Kb4 73. Bf1 Rf4 74. Kg2 Rh4 75. Kh2 Rf4 76. Kg1
Rh4 77. Kg2 Rf4 78. Rd6 Rh4 79. Rf6 Rh5 80. Rb6+ Kc3 81. Rb5 Kd4 82. Rb3 $1 Rh4
83. Rf3 Ke4 84. Rf8 $18) 70. Bf1 Rf4 71. Kg2 h5 72. Rg6 g4 73. h4 Kd2 74. Rg5
g3 75. Rxh5 Rf2+ 76. Kg1 Rf4 77. Rd5+ 1-0

[Event "Leningrad-Moskva"]
[Site "Leningrad-Moskva"]
[Date "1934.??.??"]
[Round "?"]
[White "Yudovich M"]
[Black "Botvinnik Mikhail"]
[Result "0-1"]
[ECO "A95"]
[PlyCount "100"]

1. c4 f5 2. d4 Nf6 3. g3 e6 4. Bg2 Be7 5. Nf3 d5 6. O-O O-O 7. Nc3 c6 8. Qc2
Qe8 9. Bf4 {Chekhover's move} (9. Bg5 $142 $1 Qh5 10. Bxf6 Bxf6 11. cxd5 exd5 {
[%cal Gb2b4]}) 9... Qh5 10. b3 Nbd7 11. Rad1 Kh8 {A well-known variation of
the Dutch Defence, in which the play is usually of a closed nature. In this
variation Black tries with ... Rg8 and ... Pg5 to seize the initiative as
quickly as possible. However, this leads to a sharpening of the game, which
shows that the system is not solid enough[%cal Gf8g8,Yg7g5]} 12. Kh1 {A loss
of a tempo; in addition, at h1 the King is not so well placed as at g1} Rg8 13.
e3 g5 14. Bc7 (14. Be5 g4) 14... Ne8 {It is necessary to clear up the position,
for White planned 15. cxd5 opening up the c-file} 15. Be5+ Nxe5 16. Nxe5 Nf6
17. f3 {It would seem that Black was threatened with great danger as with his
next move, Pe4 White opens up the centre, after which his better development
and advantage in space should play a decisive part. But it is just here that
the insufficiently considered White Kh1 has its effect, and Black finds a
cunning variation with a pawn sacrifice, which happily gets him out of his
main difficulties[%cal Ge3e4]} Bd6 18. e4 Nd7 {This is the whole point! White
can't take the Knight because of the h-pawn pin. So he is forced to go in for
a pawn capture, which leads to a serious weakening of his position[%cal Gd6g3]}
19. g4 (19. Nxd7 Bxg3) 19... Qe8 {Otherwise Nf7+[%csl Gf7]} 20. Nxd7 Bxd7 21.
e5 Bb4 22. gxf5 exf5 23. cxd5 Bxc3 24. dxc6 {Very risky, as Black is fully
compensated for the pawn by the more satisfactory disposition of his pieces
ready for a direct attack on the White Kingt whose castled position is upset} (
24. Qxc3 cxd5 $11) 24... Bxc6 25. Qxc3 Qe6 {[%csl Gd5]} 26. Qd2 Bd5 27. Rc1 Rg7
28. Rc2 f4 {White's situation is serious. Black proceeds to prepare a decisive
brekthrough} 29. Qc1 Rag8 30. h3 {A sharp-witted idea, which even so should
not have saved White. Now, in order to break through at g5, Black is forced to
expose his King, which gives White the possibility of counterplay[%cal Gh7h5,
Gg5g4]} h5 31. Kg1 g4 32. hxg4 hxg4 33. Kf2 Rh7 34. Rh1 g3+ 35. Ke1 Rxh1+ 36.
Bxh1 Qh6 37. Bg2 Bc6 {The last move before the time check, and as is often the
case inexact} (37... Be6 $142 $1 38. -- Bf5 $140 $19) 38. a4 {defending b5
[%csl Gb5]} (38. -- Qh2 39. Kf1 Bb5+) 38... Bd7 {Black decides on "wild"
complications, as the result of which White could have forced a draw. Black
should have admitted his mistake and returned the Bishop to d5} (38... Bd5 $142
39. Rc8 Bxb3 40. Rxg8+ Bxg8 41. Qc7 b6 42. Qd8 Qg6 $15 {Still keeping advantage
}) 39. d5 {The counterattack on Black's King should have led to a draw} Bf5 40.
Rc7 Qh2 41. Qb2 {Threatening a deadly discovered check[%cal Gb2h8]} Qg1+ 42.
Bf1 Qe3+ 43. Be2 Be6 {No other defence possible. The Bishop can't be taken
because of mate[%cal Gg3g2,Gg2g1]} 44. Qc2 Rg7 (44... Qg1+ 45. Kd2 Qh2 46. dxe6
g2 47. Qf5 $1 g1=Q 48. Qf6+ Rg7 49. Qf8+ (49. Rxg7 Qe3+) 49... Kh7 50. Rxg7+
Qxg7 51. e7 Qxe5 52. Qf7+ Kh6 53. Qf8+ Kg5 54. Qg8+ Kh6 55. Qf8+ {despite two
Queens Black must reconcile with a draw}) 45. dxe6 (45. Rc8+ Bg8) (45. Rc8+ Bg8
46. Qf5 $1 {There is no defence against Rxg7+ perpetual check[%csl Rg8][%cal
Gf5h5,Gh5e8]}) 45... Qf2+ 46. Kd2 Qd4+ {Now White loses the checking square
and Black's pawn queens[%csl Gd8]} 47. Ke1 Rxc7 48. Qxc7 g2 49. Qc8+ Kg7 50.
Qc7+ Kh6 {Black's King escapes from checks} 0-1

[Event "Russia"]
[Site "Tournament, Leningrad"]
[Date "1934.??.??"]
[Round "?"]
[White "Botvinnik Mikhail"]
[Black "Kann I"]
[Result "1/2-1/2"]
[ECO "D63"]
[PlyCount "96"]

1. d4 Nf6 2. c4 e6 3. Nc3 d5 4. Nf3 Be7 5. Bg5 Nbd7 6. e3 O-O 7. a3 Re8 8. Rc1
c6 9. Bf4 h6 {An incomprehensible move, to say the least. Black should have
played simply 9. ... Pa6. Now White clearly outstrips Black in development.
Later the weakening of Black's Kingside also has its effect} (9... a6 $142) 10.
Bd3 dxc4 11. Bxc4 a6 12. e4 b5 13. Ba2 Bb7 14. e5 Nd5 (14... Nh5 15. Be3 c5 16.
O-O $1 {the Nh4 is in a dangerous situation[%csl Rh5][%cal Gd1h5]}) 15. Nxd5
exd5 {A positional error. Black now first gets a backward pawn at c6, secondly
yields pawn superiority on the Kingside to White (the Pe5) and most of all, is
deprived of the possibility of exploiting the c-file for exchanges[%csl Rc6]} (
15... cxd5 $142 {it would be much more difficult for White to organize an
attack on the Black King[%cal Gc8c1]}) 16. Bb1 {Drawing the Knight away from
c4[%csl Gc4]} Nf8 17. O-O Qb6 18. Qc2 Rec8 19. Be3 a5 {Black is completely
helpless and undertakes a desparate attempt at counter-attack.  White rightly
assumes that the time has already arrived for decisive action, and so he takes
no notice of Black's counter operations} 20. Qf5 (20. Rfd1 b4 21. a4 $16) 20...
b4 21. Qg4 {This is an unnecessary waste of time} (21. Bxh6 $1 gxh6 22. e6 $1 {
vacating the square[%cal Gf3e5]} fxe6 23. Qg4+ Kf7 24. Qh5+ Kg7 25. Ne5 Qxd4
26. Qf7+ Kh8 27. Bh7 {[%csl Rg6,Rg8]}) 21... c5 22. Bf5 Rc6 (22... Rc7 $142)
23. dxc5 Bxc5 24. Nd4 (24. Rxc5 Rxc5 25. Qd4 Bc8) 24... h5 $1 25. Qh4 (25. Qd1
Bxd4 26. Rxc6 Qxc6 27. Bxd4 g6 28. Bb1 Ne6) 25... Ng6 26. Qxh5 {White decides
on a piece sacrifice but this too proves inadequate for a win} Bxd4 27. Rxc6
Bxc6 28. e6 Be8 (28... Bxe3 29. exf7+ Kf8 30. Bxg6 Bh6 31. Re1 $3 {[%cal Gf5f8,
Ye1e8]} -- (31... Qd8 32. Re8+) (31... Qd4 32. Qe2 {[%csl Re8]}) 32. Qf5 $140
-- 33. Re8+ {double check}) 29. exf7+ Bxf7 30. Bxd4 (30. Bxg6 $142 Qxg6 31.
Qxg6 Bxg6 32. Bxd4 bxa3 33. bxa3 Rb8 {although here too it is difficult for
White to exploit his extra pawn}) 30... Qxd4 31. Bxg6 Bxg6 32. Qxg6 Qxb2 33.
Qe6+ Kh8 34. Qxd5 Rc8 35. Qh5+ Kg8 36. axb4 axb4 37. Qd5+ Kh8 38. Qh5+ Kg8 39.
Qd5+ Kh8 40. g4 {The last attempt} (40. Qg5 b3 $11) 40... Rc1 41. g5 Rxf1+ 42.
Kxf1 Qb1+ 43. Ke2 b3 44. Qd3 Qa2+ 45. Kf3 Qc2 (45... b2 46. g6 b1=Q 47. Qd8+
Qg8 48. Qh4+) 46. Qd7 Kh7 47. Qh3+ Kg6 48. Qe6+ Kh7 1/2-1/2

[Event "Russia"]
[Site "It, Moscow  (1)"]
[Date "1935.??.??"]
[Round "?"]
[White "Botvinnik Mikhail"]
[Black "Spielmann R"]
[Result "1-0"]
[ECO "B13"]
[PlyCount "25"]

1. c4 c6 2. e4 d5 3. exd5 cxd5 4. d4 Nf6 5. Nc3 Nc6 6. Bg5 Qb6 {Recommended by
the Czech master G. Reifir. I knew Qb6 before this game took place, and had
the opportunity to analyse the resulting position thoroughly.  I spent
altogether twenty minutes considering the whole game, and that only in order
to check my home analysis. Reifer's move is unsatisfactory chiefly because
instead of developing his pieces Black tries to laucnh an attack with his
Queen alone} 7. cxd5 Qxb2 (7... Nxd5 8. Nxd5 Qa5+ 9. Nc3 Qxg5 10. Nf3) (7...
Nxd4 8. Nge2 $1 Nxe2 9. Bxe2) 8. Rc1 {Black had not forseen this reply. Now
Black Knight has four ways of retreat but they all lose} ({Probably Spielmann
expected White to play to win a piece as in a variation previously published} 
8. Na4 Qb4+ 9. Bd2 Qxd4 10. dxc6 Ne4 11. Ke2 bxc6 $1 {[%cal Gc8a6]}) 8... Nb4 (
8... Nb8 9. Na4 Qb4+ 10. Bd2 {[%csl Rc8]}) (8... Na5 9. Qa4+ {[%csl Ra5]}) (
8... Nd8 9. Bxf6 exf6 10. Bb5+ Bd7 11. Rc2 Qb4 12. Qe2+ $1 Be7 13. Bxd7+ Kxd7
14. Qg4+) 9. Na4 {The Black Queen is caught, and she can be saved only by
sacrificing a piece} Qxa2 10. Bc4 Bg4 11. Nf3 Bxf3 12. gxf3 Qa3 13. Rc3 1-0

[Event "Russia"]
[Site "Moscow"]
[Date "1935.??.??"]
[Round "?"]
[White "Capablanca J"]
[Black "Botvinnik Mikhail"]
[Result "1/2-1/2"]
[ECO "D90"]
[PlyCount "48"]

1. d4 Nf6 2. c4 g6 3. Nc3 d5 {In the Hastings Christmas tournament of 1934
Capablanca played unconvincingly against Flohr's Grunfeld Defence. So I too
adopted the Grunfeld Defence against him} 4. Nf3 {Unquestionably the system
which gives White most initiative here is the one associated with Qb3} Bg7 5.
cxd5 Nxd5 6. Qb3 {In this position Qb3 is no danger to Black, as he develops
strong pressure on the centre squares} Nxc3 7. bxc3 c5 8. e3 O-O 9. Be2 Nd7 {
Black plans to fianchetto the Queen's Bishop, but meanwhile he is subjected to
a strong attack with Pa4-a5. The plan he has chosen is only sound in
conjunction with ... Nc6 where it prevents Pa5} (9... Qc7 10. O-O b6 11. a4 Nc6
{Goglidze-Botvinnik, Black has an excellent game[%csl Ga5]}) 10. O-O Qc7 11. a4
{White has in mind Pa5, Ba3, Rfb1 to exert prlonged pressure on the Queenside.
To prevent this Black agrees to the isolation of his a-pawn, hoping that his
superior development and long range Bishops are sufficient compensation[%cal
Ga4a5,Yc1a3,Rf1b1]} b6 (11... -- 12. a5 $142 -- 13. Ba3 -- 14. Rfb1) 12. a5
bxa5 13. Qa3 Bb7 14. Qxa5 Rfc8 {After any move Black would still continue ...
Pe5, attacking the White centre[%cal Ge7e5]} 15. Qxc7 Rxc7 16. Ra5 e5 17. Rd1
cxd4 {An exactly calculated drawing manoeuvre. In making this move Black has
to foresee the closing of the psotion} 18. cxd4 Rac8 {The entire manoeuvre is
based on the fact that the White Queen Bishop has no good square to retire to
[%csl Rc1]} 19. Rxa7 $1 {A cunning trap. Black has forseen a different
combination} (19. Ba3 Bxf3 20. Bxf3 exd4 21. exd4 Bf8 22. Bb2 Nb6 {[%cal Gb6c4]
} 23. -- Nc4 $140 {with an at least equal game}) 19... Bxf3 (19... Rxc1 20.
Rxb7 Rxd1+ 21. Bxd1 Rc1 22. Kf1 $1 Rxd1+ 23. Ke2 {winning a pawn}) 20. Rxc7
Rxc7 21. gxf3 (21. Bxf3 exd4 22. exd4 Bxd4 23. Bf4 Be5 24. Rxd7 Bxf4) 21...
exd4 22. exd4 Bxd4 23. Bf4 Be5 24. Rxd7 Bxf4 (24... Rxd7 25. Bxe5 Re7 26. f4 f6
27. Bc4+ Kg7 28. Bd6 Rd7 29. Bb8 Rb7 30. Bd6 {The game would still be a draw})
1/2-1/2

[Event "4"]
[Site "Moskva Alekhine-mem"]
[Date "1935.??.??"]
[Round "?"]
[White "Romanovsky P"]
[Black "Botvinnik Mikhail"]
[Result "0-1"]
[ECO "C68"]
[PlyCount "118"]

1. e4 e5 2. Nf3 Nc6 3. Bb5 a6 4. Bxc6 {In 1928 P. Romanovsky published
analysis in which he put forward the system of development now played in this
game. White refrains from the Queen exchange and, later, according to
circumstances, prepares a breakthrough at f4 or d4} dxc6 5. Nc3 f6 6. d3 (6. d4
exd4 7. Qxd4 Qxd4 8. Nxd4 {intention of exploiting the endgame pawn structure 
(4 pawns to 3) on the Kingside. However, as time transpired Black's two
Bishops offset this disadvantage}) 6... Bd6 7. Be3 c5 {To prevent Pd4[%csl Gd4]
} 8. Ne2 {[%cal Gf3d2,Yc2c4]} Ne7 (8... -- 9. Nd2 (9. c3 -- 10. d4) 9... -- 10.
c4) 9. Ng3 (9. Nd2 Ng6 10. O-O O-O 11. Ng3 b6 12. Kh1 Qe7 13. f4 f5 $1 14. fxe5
Nxe5 15. exf5 Ng4 $15) 9... Be6 10. c3 Qd7 11. O-O O-O 12. Qc2 (12. d4 cxd4 13.
cxd4 exd4 14. Nxd4 Bc4) 12... Nc6 {Decisively preventing the breakthrough of
Pd4[%csl Gd4]} ({another system is} 12... Ng6 13. Nd2 (13. d4 $142) 13... Nf4
14. Bxf4 exf4 15. Ne2 f5 16. f3 Rae8 17. exf5 Bxf5 18. Ne4) 13. Nd2 Rad8 14.
Rad1 b6 15. f3 (15. f4 exf4 16. Bxf4 Bxf4 17. Rxf4 Ne5 $1) 15... Be7 {Black
has already planned the advance of the f-pawn, but he has to find the right
moment  Black should play Pf5 only when White can't exchange Knight at f5 with
advantage[%cal Gf6f5]} ({It was impossible to play straightforwardly} 15... Ne7
16. Rfe1 f5 17. exf5 Nxf5 18. Nxf5 Bxf5 19. Ne4 {And Black's Bishops have only
imperceptible superiority}) 16. Nb3 a5 17. Nc1 (17. f4 f5 $1 $17) 17... Bd6 18.
Qf2 Ne7 19. Rd2 f5 $1 {It is useful now to make certain deductions with regard
to the opening system White has chosen. White's basic idea (the breakthrough
at d4 and f4) has not been realized. In the future also White is continually
forced to pursue waiting tactics.  Black has the initiative, but it is not
easy for him to find a sound plan    Black's ... Pf5 looks rather risky, as
the e-pawn is weakened and White gets e4. But in reality Black can avoid the
weakness at his e4 (by transferring the Knight to f4, where White will have to
exchange it) while the e4 square is far from Black's camp, and its occupation
by White is more than offset by the opening of the f-file and Black's freer
position} 20. exf5 Nxf5 21. Ne4 h6 22. Qe1 Be7 {Tactically unsound; it would
have been better to keep the Bishop at d6 and double the Rooks on the f-file,
preparing a pawn attack on the Kingside. After the text move Black has to lose
time defending his e-pawn. Now White manoeuvres skillfully, gradually
intensifying the pressure on this pawn} 23. Bf2 Bd5 24. Qe2 Rfe8 25. Rdd1 Qe6
26. Rfe1 Bf8 (26... Bxa2 27. c4) 27. Qc2 Qf7 (27... c4 28. dxc4 Bxc4 {
eliminating double pawns and undermining Ne4. But in this case the exchange of
major pieces on the d-file would predetermine a draw}) 28. Rd2 Re6 29. Rde2
Rde8 30. Qa4 {White still plays a waiting game, gradually posting his pieces
in the most favourable manner for an attack on Black's e-pawn[%csl Ge5]} Ne7 {
Black decides that to eliminate White's pressure on the e-pawn he must
transfer the Knight to f4[%cal Ge7d5,Gd5f4]} 31. Bg3 Bc6 32. Qc2 Nd5 33. Nb3 g5
{To defend the e-pawn and to prepare for play on the Kingside[%csl Ge5][%cal
Yg7e5]} 34. Nbd2 Bg7 35. Nf1 (35. Nc4 $142 {[%csl Ge5]} Nf4 36. Bxf4 exf4 37.
Nf2 $1 {to exchange Rooks with approximate equality reached}) 35... R6e7 36.
Rd2 Rd7 37. Ne3 (37. a3 $142 {if played soundly the game would have generally
been of the same nature as Nc4 earlier}) 37... Nxe3 38. Rxe3 Qxa2 39. h4 (39.
c4 $142 a4 $1 {The Queen isn't caught[%cal Ga2b3]} 40. h4 (40. d4 Bxe4 41. fxe4
Rxd4 42. Rxd4 exd4 43. Ra3 d3 $1 $19) 40... a3 41. bxa3 Qxa3 42. hxg5 hxg5 43.
Kh2 (43. Nxg5 e4 {[%cal Gd4g1]} 44. Kh2 Bd4 45. Ree2 Rg7) 43... Qa8 {White can
count on a draw}) 39... gxh4 40. Bxh4 Qf7 41. Rde2 Rf8 42. Bg3 {[%cal Ge4f2]}
Qg6 $1 {Preventing Nf2 and beginning the attack along the g-file} 43. Kf2 {
Weak, as here the King occupies a highly insecure position} (43. Rf2 $142 h5 (
43... Bxe4 $2 44. Rxe4 Qxg3 45. Rg4) 44. Bh2 Rfd8 $1 {[%csl Re3][%cal Gg7h6]}
45. Rf1 (45. -- Bh6 $140 46. Re1 Rxd3 47. Bxe5 Bxe4 48. fxe4 Be3 $1) 45... c4
$1 46. dxc4 Bh6 $1 47. Re2 Rd2 $1 $19 {[%cal Gg6c2]}) 43... h5 {The beginning
of the decisive attack} 44. Nd2 {To meet the threat of ... Bh6} Bh6 45. Rxe5
Rg7 46. Nf1 h4 47. Bxh4 Bxf3 $1 {Leads swiftly to the goal} 48. Kg1 (48. gxf3
Rxf3+ 49. Ke1 (49. Kxf3 Qf7+ 50. Bf6 Qxf6+ 51. Ke4 Rg4+ 52. Kd5 c6#) 49...
Rxf1+ 50. Kxf1 Qg1#) 48... Bxe2 49. Rxe2 (49. Qxe2 Qg4 {exchange of Queens})
49... Qh5 50. Re4 Rf4 51. Rxf4 Bxf4 52. Qb3+ Kh7 53. Bf2 Qf3 54. g3 Qxd3 55.
Qe6 Bh6 56. Qh3 Rf7 57. Ne3 Qb1+ (57... Rxf2 58. Ng4 $1 Rf1+ 59. Qxf1 Qxg3+ $1
60. Qg2 Qxg2+ 61. Kxg2 Bc1 62. b3 c4 63. bxc4 a4 64. Nf6+ Kh8 65. Nd5 c5 $19 {
[%csl Gb4]}) 58. Nf1 Qf5 59. Qh2 a4 {Exchanges at f2 are inevitable followed
by Bc1. White resigns} 0-1

[Event "Russia"]
[Site "It, Moscow"]
[Date "1935.??.??"]
[Round "?"]
[White "Botvinnik Mikhail"]
[Black "Levenfish G"]
[Result "1-0"]
[ECO "D23"]
[PlyCount "83"]

1. d4 d5 2. c4 dxc4 3. Nf3 Nf6 4. Qa4+ {Bogljubov continued thus in one of the
games of his second match with Alekhine for the world championship. It is
doubtful if the move is any stronger than 4. Pe3, but at that time it had the
advantage of being a comparative innovation} (4. e3) 4... c6 {And this was
Alekhine's defence in the same game.} ({the more natural} 4... Nbd7 {was
played by Lasker during the same tournament} 5. -- c5 {variations of the
Catalan opening}) 5. Qxc4 Bf5 6. Nc3 Nbd7 7. g3 Ne4 {Not a bad move. It is
very useful to exchange of White's c3 Knight, making it more difficult for him
to prepare Pe4, while Black can play ... Be4 forcing exchanges[%csl Gc3]} 8.
Bg2 Nd6 {Inexpedient} (8... Nxc3 $142 9. bxc3 Nb6 10. Qb3 Be4 11. Ne5 {[%csl
Rf7]} Bd5 12. Bxd5 Qxd5 13. f3 $11) 9. Qa4 {This manoeuvre seems rather
strange, but it is necessary} (9. Qb3 Qb6 $1 10. Qd1) 9... Nb6 (9... -- {Black
must play resourcefully otherwise} 10. Nh4 $140 Bg6 11. e4 {[%csl Gc5,Gd5,Ge5,
Gf5]}) 10. Qd1 Qc8 11. O-O (11. h3 {White would have great difficulty in
castling[%csl Rh3]}) 11... Bh3 {Black estimates the position unsoundly. Qc8
could have exceptionally prophylactic value: it would take the sting out of
Nh4, because Black could reply with Bh3!. In the given position there is no
justification for linking up an attack on the White King with ... Qc8 (in such
cases it is often useful to exchange off the fianchettoed Bishop} (11... g6
$142 12. Re1 {[%cal Ge2e4]} Bh3 $1 (12... Bg7 13. e4 Bh3 14. e5 Bxg2 15. exd6
Bxf3 16. Rxe7+) 13. e4 Bxg2 14. Kxg2 Bg7 {Black retains equal chances of play})
12. e4 Bxg2 (12... g6 $143 13. Bxh3 Qxh3 14. e5 Ndc8 15. Ng5 Qf5 16. g4 Qd7 17.
Qf3 {[%csl Rf7]} e6 18. Nge4 {[%cal Ge4f6]} Bg7 19. Bg5 {[%csl Rd6,Re7,Rf6]})
13. Kxg2 e6 {Now Black gets into a difficult situation} (13... g6 $142 14. a4
a5 15. Bg5 Bg7 16. Qc1 {White has every reason to make such a manoeuvre, as he
dominates the centre and is better developed[%csl Gc5,Gd5,Ge5,Gf5]}) 14. d5 $1
Be7 {A crucial decision. Black allows the formation of the defended passed
pawn on d6, hoping that his closed position will be difficult to break through}
(14... cxd5 15. exd5 Be7 16. Bf4 O-O 17. dxe6 Qc6 {[%csl Gd6]} (17... Qxe6 18.
Re1 Qd7 19. Rxe7 Qxe7 20. Bxd6) 18. exf7+ Rxf7 19. Kg1 {Black loses a pawn
without adequate compensation}) 15. e5 Nb5 (15... Nf5 16. d6 Bd8 17. g4) 16. d6
(16. Nxb5 cxb5 17. d6 Bd8 {Black's remaining Knight could be established
excellently at d5[%csl Rd5][%cal Gb6d5]}) 16... Nxc3 17. bxc3 Bd8 18. Qd4 c5
19. Qg4 Rg8 (19... O-O 20. Bh6) (19... g6 20. Ng5 (20. Bg5)) 20. Qe4 (20. Bg5
Qc6 21. Bxd8 Rxd8 22. Qh4 {[%csl Re7][%cal Gh4e7]} Kd7 23. Qxh7 (23. Qe7+ Kc8
24. Qxf7 Rgf8 25. Qxe6+ Rd7 26. Qg4 h5 {deflecting the Queen off the pin} 27.
Qxh5 Rdf7 {White loses a piece[%csl Rf3]}) 23... Kc8 {Black has a very
promising game}) 20... Rh8 21. Be3 {aimed against ... Qc6[%csl Rc6][%cal Gc8c6]
} Nd7 (21... Qc6 $141) 22. Nd2 f5 (22... Qc6 23. Qxc6 bxc6 24. Nc4 $16 {
winning endgame[%csl Gc5,Gc6]}) 23. Qa4 (23. exf6 Nxf6 24. Qe5 Qc6+ 25. Kg1 Qd5
) 23... Kf7 24. f4 a6 25. Kg1 (25. c4 b5 26. Qc2 (26. cxb5 Qb7+) 26... Qc6+ 27.
Kg1 {as in the game}) 25... b5 26. Qc2 Qc6 (26... c4 {an example of a pawn
move weakening a square (d4)[%csl Gd4][%cal Yd2f3,Yf3d4]} 27. Nf3 Bb6 28. Qf2
Bxe3 29. Qxe3 Qc5 30. Nd4 h5 31. a4 {and it is much easier for White to break
through}) 27. c4 Rf8 {An interesting position has been reached. From the 14th
move onward Black, in a dangerous position has defended himself excellently,
and now, because of the closed nature of the position, he is justified in
counting on a draw.} ({He should have tried to close the game on the Queenside,
while retaining the utmost mobility for his pieces, which is necessary in
order to repel White's breakthrough on the Kingside} 27... b4 $142 $1 28. a4 (
28. a3 a5 29. axb4 cxb4 (29... axb4)) 28... a5 $1) 28. Nb3 (28. a4 b4 29. a5 {
White could finally smother the Black Bishop and work at once to achieve a
breakthrough on the Kingside[%csl Rd8]}) 28... b4 $1 (28... Bb6 29. cxb5 axb5
30. Nd4 $1 {White wins a pawn[%csl Rb5]}) 29. a3 bxa3 {Despite Black's
shortcomings in the preceding phase, this is his first decisive blunder.
Opening a file on the Queenside leads to the loss of a pawn} (29... a5 $142 30.
axb4 axb4 31. Rxa8 Qxa8 32. Qf2 {[%csl Rc5]} Bb6 33. Ra1 Qc6 {one can't see
how White can improve his position}) 30. Rxa3 a5 (30... -- 31. Rfa1 $140 -- 32.
Qf2 {[%csl Ra6,Rc5]}) 31. Qg2 {The simplest! It forces Black into an endgame
which is hopeless} Qxg2+ 32. Kxg2 a4 (32... Bb6 33. Rfa1) 33. Nxc5 Nxc5 34.
Bxc5 Rc8 {The pawn is lost just the same} 35. Bf2 Rxc4 36. Rfa1 Rc2 37. R1a2
Rxa2 38. Rxa2 Kg6 39. Rxa4 Rf7 40. Ra8 Rd7 41. Kf3 Kf7 42. Ke2 {Black can't
prevent the White King from marching to c6[%cal Ge2d3,Gd3c4,Gc4c5,Gc5c6]} 1-0

[Event "It, Moscow"]
[Site "It, Moscow"]
[Date "1935.??.??"]
[Round "?"]
[White "Riumin N"]
[Black "Botvinnik Mikhail"]
[Result "0-1"]
[ECO "C86"]
[PlyCount "72"]

1. e4 e5 2. Nf3 Nc6 3. Bb5 a6 4. Ba4 Nf6 5. O-O Be7 6. Qe2 {intending Pc3, Pd4
with Rd1 intensifying pressure on Black's e-pawn[%cal Gc2c3,Gd2d4,Yf1d1]} (6.
Re1 {usual}) 6... b5 7. Bb3 d6 8. c3 O-O 9. d4 {White goes straight ahead with
his plan, which is not justified by the position.} (9. a4 $142 $1 {considered
better by theory and Black still have several awkward opening problems}) 9...
Bg4 10. Rd1 exd4 {As is well known, the centre pawns are strongest when side
by side, but in this position it is not of great importance, as with the
manoeuvre that follows Black obtains control of the strong central squares} 11.
cxd4 d5 $1 12. e5 (12. exd5 Nb4 13. Nc3 $11) 12... Ne4 13. h3 Bh5 14. a4 {now
this is simply bad} ({White should have exchanged off the e4 Knight} 14. Nc3
$142 Nxc3 15. bxc3 Qd7 {giving Black rather the better game (Reti-Stolz,
Stockholm 1928)} (15... Bg6 {[%cal Gc6a5,Ga5c4]})) 14... b4 $1 {Very strong!
Black has deprived White's Knight of c3 and he can't play Nbd2 as the d-pawn
is left hanging[%csl Gc3]} 15. a5 {Necessary to deprive the Knight of a5[%csl
Ra5][%cal Gc6a5]} (15. Nbd2 Nxd4) (15. Bc2 f5 16. exf6 Rxf6 17. Bxe4 dxe4 18.
Qxe4 Bxf3 19. gxf3 Qd7 $1 {[%csl Rh3]}) (15. Be3 Na5 16. Bc2 (16. Ba2 b3) 16...
f5 {and the e4 Knight is safely consolidated[%csl Re4][%cal Gf5e4,Gd5e4]}) (15.
g4 {White would not win a tempo as Black would not have to withdraw his to to
h8} Bg6 16. Kh2 Na5 $1 17. Bc2 f5 {a strong position, as now the Queen pawn is
not under threat[%csl Gd5]}) 15... Kh8 {[%cal Gf7f5]} 16. g4 {Understandably,
this is not an attacking but a defensive move aimed against ... Pf5[%csl Gf5]}
(16. Qc2 Na7 {White's pieces would become even more inchoate[%cal Ga7b5]} (
16... Qd7 17. Ba4 {[%csl Rc6]})) 16... Bg6 17. Nh2 Bh4 {Black is already
contemplating ... Bg3[%csl Rg3][%cal Gh4g3]} 18. Be3 f5 19. f4 Bg3 {It was not
easy to decide on this manoeuvure; in the moves which follow the Bishop is
more than once in danger, a circumstance which compelled Black to calculate
the possibilities very exactly} 20. g5 (20. Rf1 fxg4 21. hxg4 Bxf4 $3 22. Rxf4
Rxf4 23. Bxf4 Nxd4 24. Qe3 c5 25. Nf3 Nxb3 26. Qxb3 Qd7 {[%csl Rg4]} 27. Nh2
Rf8 {Black wins without difficulty[%csl Rf4]}) (20. -- fxg4 $140 {White is
forced to play Pg5 to avoid an attack on the f-pawn[%cal Gg3f4,Gf8f4]}) 20...
h6 {opening the g-file for a decisive attack and for defence of the Bishop at
g3, under cover of which Black will concentrate his forces[%cal Gg8g1]} 21.
gxh6 gxh6 22. Nd2 Ne7 $1 {The most difficult moment in the game. To ensure a
successful attack Black most post his Bishop at h5. This can be achieved only
with the Queen's cooperation. But the Queen is burdened by defence of the
Queen pawn; hence arises the necessity to defend the pawn with the Knight[%csl
Rd5][%cal Yd8e8,Gg6h5]} 23. Kh1 (23. Nxe4 fxe4 24. Ng4 (24. Qg4 Rg8 25. Qxg3
Bh5 $1 26. Ng4 Nf5 27. Qf2 Bxg4 28. hxg4 Rxg4+ 29. Kf1 Rg3 $19 {[%csl Re3]
[%cal Gd8h4,Gg3f3]}) 24... Nf5 25. Nf6 Rxf6 26. exf6 c6 $1 {[%csl Gd5]}) 23...
Qe8 {[%cal Gg6h5]} 24. Rg1 Bh5 25. Nhf3 Rg8 26. Nf1 {White is forced to
separate his Rooks, as if he attempts to intensify the attack on g3 ...} (26.
Rg2 Bf2 {[%cal Ge4g3]} 27. Bxf2 Nxd2) 26... Qf7 27. Bd1 Rg7 28. Rc1 c6 29. Rc2
{Both sides are in extreme time trouble; this explains why neither now or
later does Black not play ... Pb3! forcing the Rook to retreat. However this
does not affect the issue} Rag8 {[%cal Gg3f2,Gg3f4]} (29... b3 $1 {forcing the
Rook to retreat}) 30. Rg2 {White has no satisfactory defence} (30. -- Bf2 $140)
30... Bxf4 31. Qxa6 (31. Rxg7 Qxg7 32. Bxf4 Bxf3+ {[%csl Rg1]} 33. Qxf3 Qg1#) (
31. Qd3 Bxe3 32. Qxe3 f4 $19) 31... Rxg2 32. Rxg2 Rxg2 33. Kxg2 Qg6+ 34. Kh1
Bxe3 35. Nxe3 Nf2+ 36. Kh2 Nxd1 {This game was awarded a brilliancy prize} 0-1

[Event "Moscow"]
[Site "Moscow"]
[Date "1935.??.??"]
[Round "?"]
[White "Goglidze V"]
[Black "Botvinnik Mikhail"]
[Result "0-1"]
[ECO "D90"]
[PlyCount "58"]

1. d4 Nf6 2. c4 g6 3. Nc3 d5 4. Nf3 Bg7 5. cxd5 Nxd5 6. Qb3 {The
Capablanca-Botvinnik game developed in the same manner  This system cauess
Black no difficulties whatever. White's threats on the Queenside in
conjunction with the open b-file are repulsed easily} Nxc3 7. bxc3 O-O (7... c5
$1 {Played in the Capablanca-Botvinnik game which is undoubtedly more exact})
8. e3 (8. Ba3 $142 {[%csl Rc5][%cal Gc7c5]} c5 $141) 8... c5 9. Be2 (9. Ba3
cxd4 10. cxd4 Nc6 {[%cal Gd8a5]} 11. -- {White needs to take defensive
measures against ... Qa5+} Qa5+ $140) 9... Qc7 10. O-O b6 {This move
fundamentally improves the whole variation in Black's favour.  Now in the
present game White's Pa4 is entirely without force, as Black will be able to
control a5} (10... Nd7 11. a4 {Capablanca-Botvinnik, White obtained prolonged
initiative}) 11. a4 (11. Bb2 $142 -- 12. c4 $140 {exchanging off Black's
fianchettoed Bishop[%csl Rb2,Rg7]}) 11... Nc6 {[%csl Ga5]} 12. Qa3 Na5 13. Nd2
{White wants to drive off the Na5, and succeeds[%cal Gd2b3]} Bb7 (13... cxd4
14. cxd4 e5 15. Nf3 $1 {[%csl Ge5]}) (13... Be6 14. Bb2 Rfd8 15. Rac1 $11) 14.
Nb3 cxd4 15. cxd4 (15. Nxa5 d3 $1 {[%cal Gb7g2]} 16. Bxd3 bxa5 17. Bb2 Qc6 18.
e4 $1 Rfd8 $36) 15... Nc4 (15... Nxb3 16. Qxb3 e5 17. Ba3 {White saves himself}
) 16. Qb4 Rfc8 17. a5 {just in time. White frees himself from his one weakness,
the Pa4 and, despite some backwardness in development can fully count on a draw
} e5 {With the obvious intenation of increasing the activity of his King's
Bishop[%csl Rg7]} 18. axb6 (18. Bxc4 $142 Qxc4 19. Qxc4 Rxc4 20. axb6 axb6 (
20... Rc3 21. Nc5 axb6 22. Bb2 $1 {[%cal Gf1a1]}) (20... Rb4 21. Nc5 axb6 22.
Rxa8+ Bxa8 23. Nd3 {[%csl Gb4,Ge5]}) 21. Rxa8+ Bxa8 22. dxe5 Bxe5 23. Rd1 Bc6
24. Nd4 $1 {With a probable draw}) 18... Nxb6 $1 19. Na5 ({White could have
avoided the isolaged d-pawn} 19. Bd2 Nd5 20. Qa5 Nc3 21. Bxc3 Qxc3 22. Nc5 Qxa5
23. Rxa5 Bc6 $15 {Bishop pair[%csl Rc6,Rg7]}) (19. Nc5 Bc6 20. Bb2 exd4 21.
Bxd4 Bxd4 22. exd4 Nd5 {[%csl Rg2][%cal Gd5f4]} 23. -- Nf4 $140) 19... Bd5 20.
Bb2 {Leads to an almost forced loss} (20. Ba6 $142 Rd8 21. Bb2 (21. Qc5 Qd7 22.
Bb5 Qe6) 21... exd4 22. Bxd4 Bxd4 23. exd4 Qf4 $1 $17 {[%cal Gd5g2]}) 20... Bf8
21. Qb5 (21. Qd2 Qc2 22. Rfd1 Qxd2 23. Rxd2 Bb4 {[%cal Gc8c2]} 24. Rdd1 Rc2 {
[%csl Rb2,Re2]}) 21... a6 22. Qd3 e4 23. Qb1 (23. Qd1 Bb4 $1 24. Rc1 {
forestalling c2[%csl Gc2]} Qd7 {Black dominates the position}) 23... Qc2 $1 24.
Ba3 {Allows Black a brilliant finish} (24. Bd1 Qxb1 25. Rxb1 Nc4 26. Nb3 (26.
Nxc4 Bxc4 27. Re1 Bb4) 26... Rab8 $19) 24... Bxa3 25. Rxa3 Qxe2 26. Qxb6 Rab8
27. Qd6 Qxf1+ $3 28. Kxf1 Rb1+ 29. Ke2 Rc2# 0-1

[Event "Russia"]
[Site "It, Moscow  (3)"]
[Date "1936.??.??"]
[Round "?"]
[White "Botvinnik Mikhail"]
[Black "Lilienthal A"]
[Result "1-0"]
[ECO "A30"]
[PlyCount "87"]

1. Nf3 Nf6 2. c4 b6 3. g3 Bb7 4. Bg2 c5 5. O-O g6 6. d4 cxd4 7. Nxd4 ({The
attempt to avoid the Bishop exchange would be disadvantageous to White} 7. Qxd4
Nc6 8. Qd1 Bg7 9. Nc3 Na5 {White's c-pawn is noticeably weak[%csl Gc4]}) 7...
Bxg2 8. Kxg2 Bg7 {Inexact, and creating difficulties for Black} ({the usual
continuation} 8... Qc8 {[%csl Gc4]} 9. b3 Qb7+ 10. f3 d5 $11) 9. Nc3 O-O {A
second, even more serious piece of inexact play. He should still have played ..
. Qc8 as the need to defend the c-pawn diverts White from operations in the
centre} 10. e4 Nc6 11. Be3 Qc8 ({no better is} 11... Ng4 {[%csl Rd4][%cal
Gg4e5]} 12. Qxg4 Nxd4 13. Rad1 {[%csl Rd7]}) 12. b3 Qb7 13. f3 Rfd8 14. Rc1
Rac8 15. Qd2 a6 {White has achieved considerable positional superiority. Black
is cramped and so is forced to attempt to break free. This this end he
prepares to advance ... Pb5[%cal Gb6b5]} ({The alternative plan, to free
himself by ... Pd5 would swiftly lead to disaster} 15... e6 {[%cal Gd7d5]} 16.
Rfd1 d5 17. cxd5 exd5 18. Nxc6 Rxc6 19. Bg5) 16. Rfd1 Nxd4 (16... b5 $143 17.
cxb5 Nxd4 18. bxa6 {winning a pawn}) 17. Bxd4 d6 {Necessary. Black first
defends the e-pawn but in doing so gives White time to prevent ... Pb5[%cal
Gb7e7]} (17... b5 18. cxb5 axb5 19. Bxf6 Bxf6 20. Nd5 {Black is left at least
with a weak isolated d-pawn[%csl Yd7][%cal Ge4e5]}) 18. a4 {[%csl Gb5]} Ne8 19.
Nd5 Rc6 {defending the b-pawn[%cal Gc6b6]} (19... b5 $143 20. cxb5 axb5 21. a5
{[%cal Ga5a6,Ga6a7]}) 20. Bxg7 Nxg7 21. h4 {If Black plays ... Ph5 it weakens
the Kingside considerably. Nor can he transfer the Knight to the centre for
White plays Ph5[%cal Gh4h5]} Re8 22. Rc3 Nh5 23. Qd4 b5 {The attempt to
freedom only hastens the denouement: with a passive defence Black could still
put up prolonged resistance, as it is not easy for White to organize an attack
on the King} (23... Nf6 $142 24. Rdc1 {[%csl Rb5]} Nxd5 (24... b5 $141) 25.
exd5 Rc5 26. b4 Rc7 27. h5 {and the attack swings over to the Kingside[%csl
Rg8]}) 24. cxb5 axb5 25. Rdc1 Rxc3 26. Rxc3 bxa4 {Black has no defence against
the Rook's irruption into his second rank} 27. Rc7 Qb5 28. bxa4 $1 (28. Nxe7+
Rxe7 29. Rxe7 axb3 {White still has to neutralize the pawn[%cal Gb3b2]}) 28...
Qe2+ 29. Qf2 Qxf2+ 30. Kxf2 e6 {Black will have to surrender a piece for the
passed pawn} (30... Ra8 31. Rc8+ Rxc8 32. Nxe7+ $18) 31. Nb6 Nf6 32. a5 Rb8 33.
Rc8+ Rxc8 34. Nxc8 Ne8 35. a6 Nc7 36. a7 Na8 37. Nxd6 Kf8 38. e5 Ke7 39. Ke3 f6
40. Kf4 h6 41. Nc8+ Kf7 42. Ke4 Kg7 43. Kd4 Nc7 44. Kc5 1-0

[Event "Russia"]
[Site "It, Moscow  (5)"]
[Date "1936.??.??"]
[Round "?"]
[White "Botvinnik Mikhail"]
[Black "Kann I"]
[Result "1-0"]
[ECO "E33"]
[PlyCount "80"]

1. d4 Nf6 2. c4 e6 3. Nc3 Bb4 4. Qc2 Nc6 5. Nf3 O-O {premature} (5... d6 $142 {
[%cal Ge6e5]}) 6. Bg5 Re8 (6... h6 7. Bh4 g5 8. Bg3 g4 9. Nd2 Nxd4 10. Qd3 Nf5
11. e4 {Black's King side is very weak[%csl Yf7,Yg4,Yh6]}) 7. e3 (7. e4 e5 8.
d5 Nd4 9. Qd3 c5 {Black has control of d4[%csl Gd4]}) 7... d6 8. Be2 e5 9. O-O
{[%cal Gc3d5]} Bxc3 {The Knight must be destroyed, or Nd5 will follow} 10. bxc3
h6 {The pin of the Knight restricts all Black's game, and to get rid of this
pin he is forced to weaken his Kingside perceptibly} (10... Bg4 11. Nxe5 Nxe5
12. dxe5 Bxe2 13. Bxf6 gxf6 14. Qxe2 fxe5 15. c5 dxc5 16. Qg4+ Kh8 17. Rad1 {
[%csl Rf7][%cal Gd1d7]} Qc8 18. Rd7) 11. Bh4 Qe7 (11... g5 $142 12. Bg3 Nh5 {
exchangingn off the unpleasant Bg3[%csl Gg3,Gh5]}) 12. Rae1 (12. h3 {to avert
the exchange of Bishop for Knight[%cal Gh4g3,Gg3h2]}) 12... Bd7 {another
passive move} (12... g5 $142 13. Bg3 Nh5) 13. Nd2 {Preventing ... Nh5 and also
preparing Pf4 which it will be very difficult for Black to get free of the pin
[%csl Rh5][%cal Yf2f4]} g5 14. Bg3 Kg7 15. f4 e4 16. h3 {preventing ... Ng4
[%csl Gg4][%cal Yf6g4]} Nh7 (16... Ng8 $142) 17. fxg5 {a preliminary exchange
of pawns is necessary} (17. Nxe4 $2 Bf5) 17... hxg5 {White has gained
considerable positional superiority} (17... Nxg5 $142 {it is difficult to
exploit} 18. h4 Nh7 19. Nxe4 Qxe4 20. Bd3 {[%csl Rh7]} Qg4 $19) 18. Nxe4 f5 (
18... Qxe4 19. Bd3 {in this variation the pawn guards g4[%csl Gg4]} Qe7 20.
Bxh7) 19. Nd2 Nf6 (19... Qxe3+ $143 20. Bf2 Qxe2 (20... Qf4 21. g3) (20... Qe7
21. Bh5) 21. Rxe2 Rxe2 22. d5 {[%cal Gf2d4]} Na5 (22... Ne5 23. Qd1 {[%csl Re2]
}) 23. Bd4+ Nf6 24. g4 -- 25. Rxf5 $140 {[%csl Rf6]}) 20. Bd3 Ne4 21. Bh2 Nd8 {
With an extra pawn and unceasing initiative White has every chance of winning}
22. c5 Nf7 23. cxd6 cxd6 24. c4 Rac8 25. Qb2 Nxd2 26. Qxd2 Nh6 27. Qb4 Rc6 28.
Qxb7 Rb6 29. Qxa7 Reb8 30. Qa3 (30. Bxd6 $142 {simpler[%cal Gc4c5]} Qxd6 31. c5
) 30... g4 {Black has improved the position of his pieces, but alas at the
cost of three pawns. The attempt to complicate the game when at such material
disadvantage can only complicate the outcome. White's win is only a question
of time} 31. c5 Rb2 32. Bxd6 Bc6 {loses at once} (32... Qg5 33. h4 Qxh4 34.
Bxb8 Rxb8 (34... g3 35. Bxg3 Qxg3 36. Qxb2 Ng4 37. Rf2) 35. Qa7 Rd8 36. c6 g3
37. Rf4) 33. d5 Bxd5 34. e4 Qg5 35. h4 (35. -- Rxg2+ 36. Kxg2 gxh3+) 35... Qxh4
36. Re3 Rxa2 {Black in time tourble, overlooks the loss of the Rook but in any
case the game was hopeless} 37. Qc3+ Kh7 38. Bxb8 fxe4 39. Bxe4+ Bxe4 40. Rxe4
Qd8 {Black resigned without waiting for White's response} 1-0

[Event "Moscow"]
[Site "Moscow"]
[Date "1936.??.??"]
[Round "?"]
[White "Botvinnik Mikhail"]
[Black "Flohr S"]
[Result "1-0"]
[ECO "B05"]
[PlyCount "131"]

1. e4 Nf6 2. e5 Nd5 3. d4 d6 4. Nf3 Bg4 5. Be2 c6 {Flohr intentionally avoids
the well-known variations} (5... Nc6 {theory}) 6. O-O (6. Ng5 $1 {proved later
White has the better game}) 6... dxe5 {These exchanges lead to a loss of two
tempi for Black, after which White has an obviously superior position} (6...
Bxf3 $142 7. Bxf3 dxe5 8. dxe5 e6 {[%csl Gd5]}) 7. Nxe5 Bxe2 8. Qxe2 Nd7 9. f4
e6 10. c4 ({the piece sac is unsound} 10. f5 Nxe5 11. fxe6 Ng6 12. exf7+ Kd7 $1
) 10... N5b6 11. Be3 Be7 12. Nc3 O-O 13. Rf3 {With the intention of the
straightforwardly Rh3 and Qh5. This little demonstration on the Kingside is
intended to force the Black Queen to occupy the not very favourable position
at e8[%csl Rh7][%cal Gf3h3,Ye2h5]} Qe8 (13... -- 14. Rh3 {[%cal Ge2h5]} -- 15.
Qh5) 14. Rd1 (14. Rh3 f5 {preventing Qh5[%csl Rh5]}) 14... Rd8 15. b3 f5 {The
weakness of the Kingpawn is not important and White's attack on the Kingside
is no longer possible[%csl Ge6]} 16. Nd3 {Avoiding simplify exchanges. Now
both sides manoeuvre, to get the most advantageous position for their men} Bf6
{[%cal Gf3d3]} 17. Bf2 Qf7 18. Ne1 Rfe8 19. Rfd3 Nf8 20. Nf3 Qc7 21. Ne5 {
premature} (21. g3 $142) 21... Nbd7 22. Qd2 Be7 23. Nf3 {White avoids
exchanges as it would give Black a little freedom. Nor is the time right for a
breakthrough in the centre} (23. d5 Nxe5 24. fxe5 Qxe5 25. Bg3 (25. d6 Bxd6 26.
Rxd6 Rxd6 27. Qxd6 Qxc3) 25... Bc5+ 26. Kh1 Qf6) 23... Nf6 24. Qc1 {necessary
to forestall ... Bb4 and ... Ne4} Ne4 (24... Bb4 $142 25. Nb1) 25. Ne5 {
Black's second Knight should try to get to e4, so it would have been more to
the point to exchange at c3. now White can defend his e4 satisfactorily} Nxf2
26. Kxf2 Nd7 27. Qe3 Nxe5 28. fxe5 Qa5 {[%cal Ge7b4]} 29. a4 (29. -- Bb4 $140)
29... Rd7 30. g3 Qd8 31. Kg2 Bg5 32. Qf3 Qe7 33. c5 {As the result of these
prolonged manoeuvres White has increased his positional superiority. While
Black is condemned to passive defence, White can establish a Knight on d6 or
by advancing the b-pawn can create real threats on the Queenside. With his
next move Black prevents the pawn advance, but he is impotent against the
Knight transfer[%csl Rd6][%cal Gc3b1,Gb1a3,Ga3c4,Gc4d6]} a5 34. Nb1 Qf8 35. Na3
Bd8 36. Nc4 Bc7 37. Nd6 Rb8 38. Rb1 ({White could have sacrificed a piece for
three pawns} 38. Nxb7 Rxb7 39. Qxc6 Bb8 40. Qxe6+ {the passed pawns should
ensure a win[%cal Gd4d5,Ge5e6,Gc5c6]}) 38... Qd8 39. b4 axb4 40. Rxb4 Bxd6 41.
exd6 Qa5 42. Rdb3 Re8 43. Qe2 (43. Rxb7 Rxb7 44. Rxb7 Qxa4 {Black's Queen
would get freedom[%cal Ga4a1,Ga4d1,Ga4d4]}) 43... Qa8 44. Re3 Kf7 45. Qc4 {
Inexact! The King should first have been withdrawn from the a8-h1 diagonal,
and then White could have started decisive operations. Black exploits White's
negligence, and finds an interesting tactical stroke} b5 $1 {[%cal Ga8g2]} 46.
Qc2 {It was fortunate for White there was a move retaining his superiority} (
46. cxb6 c5+) (46. Rxb5 cxb5+) 46... Rxd6 {Black's combination proves unsound
and he quickly loses} (46... Ra7 47. axb5 Ra2 48. Rb2 cxb5+ 49. Kh3 {White's
two passed pawns gurantee his win[%cal Gc5c6,Gd6d7]}) (46... bxa4 {more
stubborn}) 47. cxd6 c5+ 48. Kh3 cxb4 49. Qc7+ Kg8 50. d7 Rf8 51. Qd6 (51. Rxe6
b3 52. Qd6 {[%cal Ge6e7]}) 51... h6 52. Qxe6+ Kh7 53. Qe8 b3 (53... Qh1 54. Re1
) (53... Qd8 54. Qxf8 Qxf8 55. Re8 Qf7 56. d8=Q Qh5+ 57. Kg2) 54. Qxa8 Rxa8 55.
axb5 {There is a possibility of forcing and easily won endgame} (55. Re8 b2 56.
Rxa8 b1=Q 57. d8=Q Qf1+ $19) 55... Rd8 56. Rxb3 Rxd7 57. b6 Rb7 58. Kg2 Kg6 59.
Kf3 Kf6 60. Rb5 Ke6 61. Ke3 Kd6 62. Kd3 Kc6 63. Kc4 Kd6 64. Rd5+ Kc6 65. Rc5+
Kd6 66. Kb5 1-0

[Event "Russia"]
[Site "It, Moscow  (14)"]
[Date "1936.??.??"]
[Round "?"]
[White "Kann I"]
[Black "Botvinnik Mikhail"]
[Result "0-1"]
[ECO "B72"]
[PlyCount "96"]

1. e4 c5 2. Nf3 d6 3. d4 cxd4 4. Nxd4 Nf6 5. Nc3 g6 6. Be2 Bg7 7. Be3 Nc6 8.
Nb3 {An idea deserving serious attention. White has in mind an immediate pawn
attack on the kingside, while Black has no better continuation than ... Be6
and 0-0, as otherwise White will castle short, and thn a well-known variation
unfavourable to Black will result} Be6 9. f4 O-O 10. g4 Na5 {In replay to
White's flank attack Black should have undertaken an active counterattack in
the centre. Now White's attack grows dangerous} (10... d5 $1 {Alekhine-Botvinni
lekhine-Botvinnik}) 11. g5 Ne8 {Better than ... Ne7 since the Knight can
occupy g7 where it is useful for defence[%cal Ge8g7]} 12. Qd2 {White
determines the Queen's position prematurely} (12. Bd4 $142 {Voltliss-Eliskases,
Podebrad 1936}) 12... Rc8 {[%csl Rc4][%cal Ge6c4,Ga5c4,Gc8c4]} 13. Bd4 {
Sacrificing the a-pawn. White refuses the sacrifice for it would lose several
tempir and relinquish the initiative to Black} (13. Bxa7 Bc4) 13... Nc4 (13...
Bc4 14. O-O-O (14. Nxa5 Qxa5 15. O-O-O Bxd4 16. Qxd4 Bxe2 17. Nxe2 Qxa2) 14...
Bxe2 15. Nxe2 (15. Qxe2 Nc4 {the strong position of Black's Knight gives
counterattacking opportunities})) 14. Bxc4 Rxc4 15. O-O-O Qd7 16. Qd3 Rc8 {
After this passive move the initiative passes to White} (16... b5 $142 $11) 17.
h4 Bg4 {Black must prevent the opening of the h-file[%cal Gg4h5]} 18. Rd2 {The
Rook's position on the same diagonal as the King provides Black with
combinative possibilities[%cal Gh6c1]} (18. Rde1 $142) 18... b6 19. Nd5 (19.
Bxg7 Nxg7 20. Nd5 Be6 21. Nd4 Rc5 $11) 19... e5 {With passive play Black would
be slowly asphyxiated after Pf5} 20. Bc3 (20. f5 exd4 (20... f6 21. Rg1 Bh5 22.
Be3 {Black can move nothing}) 21. f6 Nxf6 22. Nxf6+ (22. gxf6 Bh6 23. Ne7+ Kh8
24. Nxc8 Rxc8) 22... Bxf6 23. gxf6 Qe6 24. Rf2 Kh8) 20... f5 {An extremely
sharp and complex position has arisen} 21. gxf6 {gives Black the advantage} (
21. fxe5 dxe5 22. Nf6+ Nxf6) (21. exf5 Bxf5 22. Qe2 {White preserves his
Knight on d5[%csl Gd5]}) 21... Nxf6 22. Nxf6+ Rxf6 23. Qd5+ (23. fxe5 Rf3 24.
Qd5+ Be6 25. Qxd6 Bh6 26. Nd4 Rh3 {White doesn't get adequate compensation for
the exchange}) 23... Rf7 24. h5 {Now White makes a pawn sacrifice which gives
him nohting and only speeds up the loss} (24. Qxd6 Qxd6 25. Rxd6 exf4 {[%cal
Gf4f3]}) (24. fxe5 Be6 25. Qxd6 Bh6) 24... gxh5 25. Rg1 (25. fxe5 dxe5 26. Qxd7
Bxd7 27. Rxh5 Rf1+ 28. Rd1 Rxd1+ 29. Kxd1 Bg4+ {[%csl Rd1,Rh5]}) 25... Qc6 26.
fxe5 dxe5 {The strong passed Rook-pawn secures Black the win. So there is no
sense in complicating the game by winning the exchange at the price of laying
his King's position bare[%cal Gh5h4,Gh4h3]} 27. Qxc6 Rxc6 28. Rd5 Rcf6 29. Nd2
(29. Bxe5 Rf1+ 30. Rxf1 Rxf1+ 31. Kd2 Rd1+ $19) 29... Bh6 30. b3 Rf2 31. Kb2 (
31. Rxe5 Rh2 32. -- Rff2 $140) 31... Re2 32. Nc4 Rff2 33. Rd8+ Bf8 34. b4 {
White's game is lost, but even so he should have chosen Rc8 although here the
advance of the h-pawn is decisive} Rxc2+ 35. Kb3 Rg2 36. Rf1 Rcf2 37. Rxf2 Rxf2
38. Nxe5 Be6+ 39. Ka4 Rxa2+ 40. Kb5 Rc2 41. Rd3 h4 42. Bd4 Bg7 43. Ra3 h3 44.
Rxa7 h2 45. Ra8+ Bc8 46. Ra1 Bh3 47. Nf3 Bxd4 48. Nxd4 Rf2 0-1

[Event "It, Nottingham"]
[Site "It, Nottingham"]
[Date "1936.??.??"]
[Round "?"]
[White "Bogoliubov E"]
[Black "Botvinnik Mikhail"]
[Result "0-1"]
[ECO "E14"]
[PlyCount "50"]

1. d4 Nf6 2. Nf3 b6 3. e3 {Here Pg3 is admitted to be the strongest
continuation. With the system White has chosen Black can easily equalize} c5 4.
c4 Bb7 5. Nc3 {White prepares Pd5 which forces Black to exchange in the centre.
After the exchange the advance of White's d-pawn will not have its previous
force[%cal Gd4d5]} (5. d5 b5 6. Nc3 b4 7. Ne2 e6 {gives Black the advantage})
5... cxd4 6. exd4 e6 7. Bd3 Be7 8. O-O O-O 9. b3 (9. -- d5 10. -- dxc4 11. Bxc4
{isolating the d-pawn[%csl Gd4]}) (9. Qe2 d5 10. Bg5 {White would have some
compensation in the better disposition of his pieces}) (9. d5 $1 {White
rejects this move while Black still has to overcome certain difficulties} exd5
10. cxd5 Nxd5 11. Nxd5 Bxd5 12. Bxh7+) 9... d5 10. Be3 {Now Black seizes the
initiative} (10. Qe2 $142 Nc6 11. Rd1 {preventing ... Ne4[%csl Ge4]}) 10... Ne4
11. Rc1 Nd7 12. Qe2 {White continues his development but in two or three moves
it will be clear that his game has reached a dead end.} (12. cxd5 Nxc3 $1 13.
Rxc3 Bxd5 {isolating the d-pawn[%csl Gd4]}) 12... Rc8 13. Rfd1 (13. Nb5 a6 14.
Na7 Rc7 15. Bf4 Nd6 {the Knight at a7 is by no means enviable[%csl Ra7]}) 13...
f5 14. Bf4 {A decisive mistake} (14. Nb5) (14. Nb1 $142 {with exchanges along
the c-file} -- 15. cxd5 exd5 16. Rxc8 Qxc8 {White could relieve the tension a
little}) (14. Nb5 a6 15. Na7 Ra8 16. cxd5 Rxa7 17. dxe6 Ndf6 {Black gets a
superiority in material}) 14... g5 $1 15. Be5 (15. Be3 Bb4 $1 (15... f4 $143
16. Nxe4 dxe4 17. Bxe4 Bxe4 {With more than adquate compensation for the piece}
) 16. Nb1 f4) (15. Bd2 g4 16. Ne1 Nxd2 $1 17. Qxe6+ Kh8 18. Rxd2 Bg5 {White
gets too little for the loss of the exchange}) 15... g4 16. Ne1 Nxe5 17. Bxe4 (
17. dxe5 Qc7 {[%csl Re5]} 18. Bxe4 {only an interchange of moves}) 17... dxe4
18. dxe5 Qc7 {The only move. If White succeeds in establishing his Knight at
d6 he will have the better position. However, with the capture of the pawn at
e5, White is deprived of strong points in the centre[%csl Rd6]} 19. Nb5 Qxe5
20. Rd7 Bg5 21. Rcd1 {Equivalent to surrender, but there is nothing better} (
21. Rxb7 Bxc1 22. Nd3 (22. Qd1 Bh6 23. Qd7 Bg7 $19) 22... Qa1 $1) (21. Nd3 Qf6)
21... Bc6 22. Rxa7 {Otherwise Black would keep the pawn, and White would be
condemned to slow destruction. The continuation chosen loses at once, as Black
captures the d-file} Rcd8 23. h4 {There is no defence} Rxd1 24. Qxd1 Rd8 25.
Qc2 (25. Qe2 Rd2 26. Qf1 e3) 25... Bd2 {Whit resigns as he can't defend
against ... Qa1 and Pe3[%cal Ge4e3,Ge5a1]} 0-1

[Event "England"]
[Site "It, Nottingham"]
[Date "1936.??.??"]
[Round "?"]
[White "Botvinnik Mikhail"]
[Black "Tartakower S"]
[Result "1-0"]
[ECO "A55"]
[PlyCount "59"]

1. Nf3 Nf6 2. c4 d6 3. d4 {Tartakower was fond of playing Philidor's Defence 
(especially against weak opponents). As the game proceeds we get fundamentally
this defence, only White has made the unusual move Pc4. But in this game his
calculation proves unsound} Nbd7 {Black sets up a strong point in the centre
at e5[%csl Re5][%cal Ge7e5]} 4. g3 {This system is undoubtedly the best, as
the fianchettoed Bishop at g2 will be a reliable defence for the King} e5 5.
Bg2 Be7 (5... g6 $142) 6. O-O O-O 7. Nc3 c6 {The only way of developing the
Queen's Bishop. After the Queen's transfer to c7 the Knight at d7 will no
longer be necessary for the defence of the e-pawn and can be moved to release
the Queen's Bishop[%csl Ye5][%cal Gd8c7]} (7... exd4 8. Nxd4 (8. Qxd4) 8... Nb6
9. Qd3 d5 10. cxd5 Nbxd5 11. Nxd5 Nxd5 12. Rd1 {White commands much more space}
) 8. e4 Qc7 9. h3 Re8 10. Be3 Nf8 11. Rc1 h6 {An unsound plan. Normally in
Philidor's Defence Black can attempt a Kingside attack with pawns; but here
this is out of place, as the Bishop at g2 defends the King excellently.
Moreover, as the King is covered by this Bishop White can himself go over to
the counter-attack, even at the cost of destroying the pawn screen of the
castled position} 12. d5 Bd7 (12... g5 13. h4 Ng4 14. hxg5 Nxe3 15. fxe3 hxg5
16. Nh2 Ng6 17. Qh5 {Black's Kingside is hopelessly weak[%csl Yf7,Yg5]}) 13.
Nd2 {[%cal Gf2f4]} g5 {Black needs to make only one move ... Ng6 and his
position is excellent, as White can't then play Pf4. But at this very moment
White plays Pf4 and breaks through the Black Kingside, where it is very
difficult for Black to organize defence[%csl Gf4][%cal Yf8g6]} (13... Ng6 {a
sound waiting tactic, but White operates on the Queenside[%csl Gf4]} 14. b4)
14. f4 gxf4 15. gxf4 Kg7 (15... exf4 16. Bxf4 {with the threat of Pc5 and the
h6 pawn is lost. Even so this would be a better way out of the present
situation, as now Black saves the pawn, but loses the game[%csl Rh6][%cal
Gc4c5]} -- 17. c5 $140) 16. fxe5 dxe5 17. c5 {With the serious threat of Pd6.
Black cannot allow the passed d-pawn so he is forced to allow White a Knight
on d5[%cal Gd5d6]} cxd5 18. Nxd5 (18. exd5 $143 Bxc5) 18... Qc6 19. Nc4 Ng6 20.
Nd6 {The Knight at d6 is invulnerable} Be6 {Here it was possible to win the
exchange, but it was still simpler to decide the game by a direct attack on
the Black King[%csl Gf7]} (20... Bxd6 21. Rxf6) (20... -- {Black must defend
against f7} 21. Nxe7 $140 Nxe7 22. Rxf6 Kxf6 23. Qf3+ {[%csl Rf7]}) (20... Rf8
{White intended to continue as in the game.}) 21. Nxe7 Nxe7 (21... Rxe7 22.
Nf5+ Bxf5 23. exf5 {White wins Black's Knight[%csl Rg6][%cal Gg2c6]}) 22. Rxf6
{An obvious sacrifice} Kxf6 23. Qh5 Ng6 {The only way of freeing the King's
road of retreat to the Queenside, without giving up defence of the f-pawn. If
the King succeeds in slipping away Black will have chances of salvation. But
how can White prevent the Black King from fleeing?[%cal Gf6e7]} 24. Nf5 $3 {
[%csl Ge7]} Rg8 (24... Bxf5 25. exf5 {The knight is lost[%csl Rg6][%cal Gg2c6]}
) (24... Rh8 25. h4 {[%cal Ge3g5]} Bxa2 26. Rd1 Rad8 27. Bg5+ hxg5 28. Qxg5+
Ke6 29. Ng7#) 25. Qxh6 Bxa2 26. Rd1 Rad8 27. Qg5+ Ke6 28. Rxd8 f6 29. Rxg8 Nf4
30. Qg7 {This game was awarded the brilliancy prize in the Nottingham
tournament} 1-0

[Event "England"]
[Site "It, Nottingham"]
[Date "1936.??.??"]
[Round "?"]
[White "Alekhine A"]
[Black "Botvinnik Mikhail"]
[Result "1/2-1/2"]
[ECO "B72"]
[PlyCount "40"]

1. e4 c5 2. Nf3 d6 {If Black intends to play the "Dragon" variation this is
the order of moves he must choose} (2... Nc6 3. d4 cxd4 4. Nxd4 Nf6 5. Nc3 d6
6. Bg5 {preventing ... Pg6[%csl Gf6]}) 3. d4 cxd4 4. Nxd4 Nf6 5. Nc3 g6 6. Be2
{A little later Rauzer introduced the strong Pf3 into tournament practise. At
the time of the Nottingham tournament this move was not yet known.  At this
point I had a feeling that Alekhine had prepared some novelty in the vigorous
variation which Kann had applied against me in Moscow} Bg7 7. Be3 Nc6 8. Nb3
Be6 9. f4 O-O 10. g4 d5 {This counterstroke in the centre is absolutely
correct from both the combinative and the positional aspect} (10... Na5 $143 {
Botvinnik-Kann}) 11. f5 (11. e5 d4 12. Nxd4 (12. exf6 Bxf6) 12... Nxd4 13. Bxd4
Nxg4 {White achieves nothing, Levenfish-Botvinnik, Moscow 1936}) 11... Bc8 12.
exd5 Nb4 13. d6 $146 {This was Alekhine's novelty} (13. fxg6 hxg6 14. Bf3 Bxg4
15. Bxg4 Nxg4 16. Qxg4 Bxc3+ 17. bxc3 Nxc2+ 18. Kf2 Nxa1 19. Rxa1 Qxd5 20. Rd1
Qe5 $15 {Black's position is better}) (13. Bf3 {Keres advised this move, but
it must be assumed that in this case Black has an adequate game in prospect 
(Bondarevsky-Alatortsev 1937)}) 13... Qxd6 (13... exd6 $143 14. a3 Nc6 15. g5 {
[%cal Gf5f6]}) 14. Bc5 {A very strong move} (14. Qxd6 exd6 15. g5 Nfd5 {White
achieves nothing}) 14... Qf4 {With a two piece sacrifice Black gets perpetual
check} (14... Qxd1+ 15. Rxd1 Nc6 16. g5 Nd7 17. f6 Bh8 18. Nd5 $16 {Black's
situation is not enviable}) 15. Rf1 Qxh2 16. Bxb4 Nxg4 (16... Qg3+ 17. Rf2 Nxg4
18. Ne4 $1 {And White has gained the tempo necessary to his defence}) (16...
Bxf5 $143 17. gxf5 Qh4+ 18. Rf2 Qxb4 19. Bd3) 17. Bxg4 Qg3+ 18. Rf2 Qg1+ 19.
Rf1 Qg3+ 20. Rf2 Qg1+ {Drawn, as White can't decline perpetual check} 1/2-1/2

[Event "England"]
[Site "It, Nottingham"]
[Date "1936.??.??"]
[Round "?"]
[White "Botvinnik Mikhail"]
[Black "Vidmar M"]
[Result "1-0"]
[ECO "D40"]
[PlyCount "47"]

1. c4 e6 2. Nf3 d5 3. d4 Nf6 4. Bg5 Be7 5. Nc3 O-O 6. e3 Nbd7 7. Bd3 {Over the
usual Rc1 this move had only the advantage that it had been less studied. With
his following manoeuvre Black isolated the central White d-pawn} c5 $1 8. O-O {
White is forced to accept the isolation of the d-pawn} (8. cxd5 Nxd5 {
exchanges easing Black's defence are inevitable}) 8... cxd4 9. exd4 {Now White
has the isolated d-pawn. But in the middlegame it greatly cramps Black. Black
can best exploit its weakness in the endgame, but as it happens, the game
doesn't get that far} (9. Nxd4 $143 Ne5 10. -- Nxd3) 9... dxc4 10. Bxc4 Nb6 (
10... a6 $142 11. a4 Nb6 {White's Queenside would be weakened[%csl Ya4,Yb2]})
11. Bb3 Bd7 12. Qd3 Nbd5 {Black is afraid of phantoms} (12... Nfd5 {fearing}
13. Bc2 (13. Be3 Nxc3 14. bxc3 Ba4) (13. Ne4 Ba4 {simplications favourable to
Black would be forced}) 13... g6 {White achieves nothing[%csl Gc3,Gg5]}) 13.
Ne5 Bc6 14. Rad1 {Black's position is now not easy} Nb4 {loses time and White
strengthens his position still more} (14... Nh5 15. Nxc6 bxc6 16. Bc1 {with an
excellent game}) (14... Qa5 $142 15. -- (15. Bc1 Nxc3 16. Nxc6 bxc6 17. bxc3 {
White's game is to be preferred}) 15... Nxc3 16. bxc3 Ba4) 15. Qh3 {[%csl Ge6,
Gf5]} Bd5 16. Nxd5 Nbxd5 (16... Nfxd5 $142 17. f4 (17. Bc1 Rc8 {Black can
breathe more easily, Evidently he has no suspicion how dangerous was his
situation}) 17... f5 $1 {White's attack is repulsed}) 17. f4 {[%cal Gf4f5]} Rc8
(17... g6 18. Bh6 Re8 19. Ba4 {winning the exchange}) (17... Ne4 18. Nxf7 $3
Rxf7 (18... Kxf7 19. Rde1 $3) 19. Qxe6 {White wins back the piece, while
retaining his crushing positional superiority}) 18. f5 exf5 (18... Qd6 19. fxe6
fxe6 (19... Qxe6 20. Qf3) 20. Rfe1 {Black has difficulty in defending e6[%csl
Re6]}) 19. Rxf5 Qd6 {This loses out of hand} (19... Rc7 20. Rdf1 {White's
preponderance is obvious} a6 (20... Nb6 21. Qh4 {sacrificing both rooks at f6
[%csl Rf6]} Nbd5 22. Nxf7 Rxf7 23. Bxd5 Nxd5 24. Rxf7 Bxg5 25. Qxg5 $3 {[%csl
Rf8]}) 21. Nxf7 Rxf7 22. Bxd5 Nxd5 23. Rxf7 Bxg5 24. Qe6 $1 {In these
variations the Knight sacrifice plays the decisive role}) 20. Nxf7 Rxf7 (20...
Kxf7 21. Bxd5+) 21. Bxf6 Bxf6 (21... Nxf6 22. Rxf6 {[%cal Gh3c8]} Bxf6 23.
Qxc8+) 22. Rxd5 Qc6 23. Rd6 (23. Rc5 Bxd4+) 23... Qe8 24. Rd7 {This game was
awarded a prize for the best game of the round} 1-0

[Event "1/2 final"]
[Site "Ch URS , Leningrad (Russia)"]
[Date "1938.??.??"]
[Round "?"]
[White "Sokolsky A"]
[Black "Botvinnik Mikhail"]
[Result "0-1"]
[ECO "D94"]
[PlyCount "80"]

1. c4 Nf6 2. Nc3 d5 {If Black wishes to turn the English Opening into the
Grunfeld than this is most simply achieved by ... Pd5} 3. d4 g6 4. Nf3 Bg7 5.
e3 {A quiet and reliable continuation} (5. Qb3 {more energetic}) 5... O-O 6.
Be2 e6 {This move followed by the ... Nc6-d7 was introduced into tournament
play by Alatortsev (Levenfish-Alatortsev, Leningrad 1929). In the present game
Black associates the move with the fianchetto of the Queen's Bishop[%cal Gb8c6,
Gc6e7]} 7. O-O b6 {[%cal Gc8b7]} 8. cxd5 {Probably premature; it gives Black a
half-open e-file and strong points at e4, while White has no good squares for
his pieces on the half open c-file} (8. Qb3 $11 {Flohr-Botvinnik, Leningrad
1933 and Bronstein-Santasierre, Moscow-New York Match 1945)}) 8... exd5 {[%csl
Re4][%cal Ge8e4]} 9. b3 {A blunder, after which Black's Queenside position
becomes invulnerable. Now the White Queen is unable to occupy squares on which
she would be posted actively} (9. Qb3 $142 -- 10. Bd2) 9... Bb7 10. Bb2 Nbd7
11. Qc2 {It is gradually becoming apparent that White has no plan of play
whatever, and is occupied only with the "development" of his pieces. Perhaps
this was sufficient fifty years ago, but in our day, when at the sixth to
eigth move every master formulates his plan for the middlegame, there is no
"better" way of getting a cramped and passive position than by aiming only at
development} (11. Ne5 {Would could still occupy the central e5 with his Knight
which would lead to a struggle with double-edged possibilities. In a move or
two this will prove impossible and the control of the central squares will
pass to Black}) 11... a6 12. Rac1 Rc8 13. Rfd1 Qe7 {It is not without interest
to note that none of White's pieces can pass beyond the fourth rank[%cal Gh4a4]
} 14. Qb1 Rfd8 15. Bf1 c5 16. dxc5 {Another positional blunder. The weakness
of Black's c- and d-pawns cannot be exploited merely by attacking them from
the back rank when both sides still have minor pieces on the board. Meanwhile
White parts with his last stronghold in the centre, his Queen's pawn, which
leads to a livelier activity from the Black Bishop at b7, and the tempo of the
"struggle" accelerates} bxc5 {[%cal Gb7f3]} 17. Ne2 {White rightly decides
that Black's main blow will be aimed against his Kingside, and brings up the
knight to defend the King} Bh6 $1 {The beginning of an attack which rapidly
develops into an all-out assault and leads to a won-position for Black. The
first blow is aimed at the badly defended f2 square. En route Black avoides an
exchange of dark-squared Bishops which would ease White's situation somewhat
[%cal Gd5d4,Rh6c1]} 18. Ba3 {averts Black's threat of ... Pd4 but in doing so
his Bishop retires from the a1-h8 diagonal which quicky has its effect[%csl
Gd4]} Ng4 {Sacrificial threats exist on f2 and e3[%csl Re3,Rf2]} (18... d4 19.
Nfxd4) 19. Qd3 {In defending the d-pawn with his Queen White gives Black yet
another tempo for attack} (19. -- Bxe3 20. fxe3 Qxe3+ 21. Kh1 Nf2+ 22. Kg1 Nh3+
23. Kh1 Qg1+ 24. Nfxg1 Nf2#) 19... Nde5 20. Nxe5 Qxe5 {Now the White Knight
will defend his King, but in order to do so he must occupy a not very
convenient position ... at h1! Black exploits the lack of a Knight in the
centre and advances the pawn[%csl Rh2]} 21. Ng3 Qf6 $1 {[%csl Rf2]} 22. Nh1 (
22. Rc2 Qh4 {[%csl Rh2]} 23. h3 Nxe3 {[%csl Rg3]}) 22... d4 $1 23. Qe2 Ne5 {
All of Black's pieces are acting in harmony and the menacing Bishops are
especially good. How can White defend himself?} 24. exd4 (24. f4 Nd7 25. exd4 (
25. -- Re8 $140) 25... Bxf4 26. Rc2 Re8) (24. Rxc5 Rxc5 25. Bxc5 Nf3+ 26. gxf3
Bxf3 27. Qc2 Bxd1 28. Qxd1 Qg5+ {[%csl Rc5][%cal Gg5c5]}) (24. Bxc5 Bf3 25.
Qxa6 (25. gxf3 d3 26. Rxd3 Nxd3 27. Bd4 Nxc1) 25... Qxa6 26. Bxa6 Bxd1 27. Rxd1
Rxc5 28. exd4 Rcd5 {Black's extra piece assures him a win}) 24... cxd4 {Given
the energetic support of all Black's pieces the passed d-pawn is quickly
queened![%cal Gd4d3]} (24... Bxc1 25. dxe5) 25. Rxc8 Bxc8 {Unquestionably the
Black Rook must be left at d1 where it supports the passed d-pawn; in addition
Black wins an essential tempo} (25... Rxc8 26. Bb2 {White could still hold out}
) 26. Re1 (26. -- Bg4) (26. h3 d3 27. Qe4 d2) 26... d3 27. Qd1 (27. Qxe5 Qxe5
28. Rxe5 d2 29. Be2 d1=Q+ 30. Bxd1 Rxd1+) 27... Bg4 28. Qa1 (28. f3 Nxf3+ 29.
gxf3 Bxf3 30. Qb1 d2 31. Rd1 Be3+) 28... d2 29. Rxe5 d1=Q 30. Re8+ Rxe8 31.
Qxf6 Be2 32. Ng3 Bg7 33. Qc6 Bb5 34. Qc1 Qxc1 35. Bxc1 Re1 36. Be3 Ra1 37. a4
Bd3 38. f4 Rb1 39. Kf2 Bxf1 40. Nxf1 Rxb3 0-1

[Event "1/2 final"]
[Site "Ch URS , Leningrad (Russia)"]
[Date "1938.??.??"]
[Round "?"]
[White "Botvinnik Mikhail"]
[Black "Chekhover V"]
[Result "1-0"]
[ECO "E21"]
[PlyCount "85"]

1. d4 Nf6 2. c4 e6 3. Nc3 Bb4 4. Nf3 {A continuation which has no serious
difficulties for Black in the opening; but the opening is usually followed by
the middlegame} O-O (4... b6 {Keres and Lisitsin's preference}) 5. Bg5 d6 6. e3
Qe7 {In this variation it is not easy for Black to release himself from the
pin at f6. As he proceeds Chekhover improves Black's game somewhat, playing ...
Pc5, which increases the pressure on White's centre, but simultaneously
weakens the central d5[%cal Gc7c5]} 7. Be2 e5 8. Qc2 {[%csl Ge4]} (8. O-O Bxc3
9. bxc3 h6 10. Bh4 g5 11. Bg3 Ne4 {Black is completely free}) 8... Re8 9. O-O
Bxc3 10. bxc3 h6 11. Bh4 c5 12. Rae1 {It is necessary to defend the Bishop
before carrying out Nd2 followed by Pf4. By the way, by mistake this game was
originally published with the move 12. Rae1, which is without sense, for White
must aim at opening the f-file. It is interesting to note that not one
commentator (and there were quite a few commentators on this game drew
attention to White's obvious "blunder", which was fortunately a blunder on the
part of the reporter who transcribed the game[%cal Yf3d2,Gf2f4]} Bg4 {The Nd2
manoeuvre is impossible so White must find new ways. It is quite natural that
White should decide to centre play round the weak d5 square, to do which he
must exchange off the Black Knight at f6[%csl Gd5,Re2][%cal Yf3d2]} 13. Bxf6 {
[%csl Gd5]} (13. Nd2 $141 Bxe2 14. Rxe2 exd4 15. cxd4 cxd4) 13... Qxf6 14. Qe4
Bxf3 {Black is taking the line of least resistance  Now White has easy play
and a clear plan, for by the Bishop exchange Black has weakened his centreal
white squares} ({Botvinnik was afraid of} 14... Bf5 15. Qxb7 Nd7 {White's
pieces lose their cohesion}) (14... Bc8 15. Nd2 Qd8 (15... Nc6 16. f4 Bf5 17.
fxe5 $1 {This is where the Rook at f1 comes in useful}) 16. dxc5 dxc5 17. Rd1
$14) 15. Bxf3 {[%csl Yc4,Yc6,Yd5,Ye4,Ye6]} Nc6 16. dxc5 $1 dxc5 {[%csl Gd5]}
17. Rd1 Rad8 18. Rd5 b6 {Black's position is difficult  Chekhover's design was
wily: he was aiming at a Rook Exchange at d5 and wanted to provoke White to
obtaining a passed d-pawn which it would be possible to blockade} (18... Rxd5
19. cxd5 Ne7 20. d6 Qxd6 21. Qxb7 {and his pawn chain on the Queenside is
shattered[%csl Ya7,Yc5]}) (18... Qe7 $142 19. Rfd1 b6 20. g4 {centralizing his
Queen[%csl Gf5]}) 19. Rfd1 Na5 20. h3 Rxd5 21. Rxd5 {The exchanging of oe pair
of Rooks does not improve Black's situation} (21. cxd5 Qd6 $1 {Black's
position would be no worse[%csl Rd5]} (21... Nb7 22. Qa4 $1)) 21... Qe7 {At
the moment it may seem that Black has succeeded in putting up a satisfactory
defence, but the following shrewd manoeuvre with the Bishop dispels all
illusions} (21... Rd8 22. Rxe5 Nxc4 23. Re8+ Rxe8 24. Qxe8+ Kh7 25. Qe4+ {
[%cal Ge4c4,Ge4h7]}) 22. Bg4 $1 {[%cal Gd5d7]} Qb7 23. Bf5 $3 {Essentially the
decisive move. The White Queen is defended, and Black is unable to resist the
Rook inruptoin into the seventh rank. Then Black will be forced into Queen
exchange (otherwise he risks being mated) and White has only to transfer the
Bishop to d5 to deprive Black's pieces finally of mobility} Qb8 (23... g6 24.
Rd7 (24. Bxg6 fxg6 25. Qxg6+ Kf8 26. Rd6 $1)) 24. Rd7 Rd8 {Now the game
transposes to an endgame difficult for Black} (24... -- 25. Bh7+ Kf8 26. Qd5)
25. Qxe5 Nxc4 26. Qxb8 Rxb8 27. Be4 $1 {Of course White should not be turned
aside from his plan just for the sake of taking the a-pawn} (27. Rxa7 Nd6 28.
Bd3 c4 29. Bf1 Ne4 30. Ra3 Rc8 {suits Black perfectly}) 27... Na3 {Black
cannot hinder the King's pawn advance and so he resorts to various tactical
devices to maintain balance in material somehow or other} 28. Bd5 Rf8 29. e4 a5
(29... c4 30. Rxa7 Nb5 31. Rb7 Nxc3 32. Bxc4 Nxe4 33. Rxb6 $18 {Black is a
pawn down[%cal Ga2a4]}) 30. c4 b5 31. cxb5 Nxb5 32. e5 a4 33. f4 $1 {When the
game was finished Chekhover remarked that down to this point he still felt
confident of a draw, but now he realized that his position was hopeless. If
Black prevents the formation of a passed Kingpawn he loses the pawns on the
Queenside. In any case White can transfer the King to the centre} Nd4 34. Kf2
g5 35. g3 gxf4 36. gxf4 Ne6 37. Ke3 c4 {Desparation!} 38. f5 Nc5 39. Rc7 Nd3
40. e6 fxe6 {Here the game was adjourned ad Black didn't trouble to renew} 41.
fxe6 Re8 42. e7+ Kg7 43. Bc6 1-0

[Event "Netherlands"]
[Site "It, Amsterdam"]
[Date "1938.??.??"]
[Round "?"]
[White "Botvinnik Mikhail"]
[Black "Reshevsky S"]
[Result "1-0"]
[ECO "A25"]
[PlyCount "73"]

1. c4 e5 2. Nc3 Nc6 {The result is the close Variation of the Sicilian with
colours reversed. In the Sicilian Defence this variation leads to complicated
play; here his possession of an extra tempo should lead to a defenite
advantage for White} 3. g3 g6 4. Bg2 Bg7 5. e3 {Of course it is more
convenient to develop the Nf1 to e2; in view of the possible Black ... Pf5 and
the Knight would be badly placed at f3[%cal Gg1e2,Yf7f5]} d6 6. Nge2 Nge7 7. d4
exd4 {not a bad plan. Although Black relinquishes his pawn centre he plans to
get compensation by exerting pressure with his pieces} 8. exd4 O-O 9. O-O Nf5 {
In this game Black failed to solve the problem of developing his Queen's
Bishop[%csl Gd4]} ({The dogmatic rule that a Bishop is superiori to a Knight
is wo widespread that Reshevsky would not play the variation} 9... Bg4 10. h3
Bxe2 11. Nxe2 Nf5 12. d5 Ne5 {[%csl Gc4]} 13. Qc2 Re8 {Black's task of
equalizing would be simplified.}) 10. d5 Ne5 {[%csl Gc4]} 11. b3 a5 {A
stereotyped plan. Black aims to secure c5 for his Knight, but that proves
impracticable, as White will play Pb4[%csl Yb4][%cal Ge5d7,Gd7c5]} (11... a6
$142 12. Bb2 b5 13. cxb5 axb5 14. Qc2 b4 15. Ne4 Ba6 $132 {It is easier to
find this plan in home analysis, after the game is finished, than at the board}
) 12. Bb2 Nd7 13. a3 Nc5 {All this takes time, and so Black cannot exploit the
weakening of White's pawns on the Queenside} 14. b4 Nd7 (14... axb4 15. axb4
Rxa1 16. Bxa1 Na6 {[%csl Gb4]} 17. Ne4 $1 Nxb4 18. g4 $1 Nh6 (18... Ne7 19.
Bxg7 Kxg7 20. Qa1+ f6 21. Nxf6 {[%cal Gg4g5]}) 19. Bxg7 (19. g5 Bxa1 20. Qxa1
Ng4 21. h3 f5) 19... Kxg7 20. Qd4+ f6 21. g5 Ng8 22. N2g3 {with a dangerous
initiative}) 15. Qb3 Nd4 {A serious blunder on Black's part after which
White's superiority is apparent} (15... axb4 16. axb4 Rxa1 17. Rxa1 {achieving
simplification at the cost of the loss of the a-file[%cal Ga1a8]}) 16. Nxd4
Bxd4 17. Rad1 {A quite timely avoidance of the Rook's exchange on the a-file,
for Black's Rooks will be separated for some time by the awkward position of
his Queen's Bishop. White is guaranteed possession of the e-file; and the Rook
at d1 will prove very useful} Bg7 18. Rfe1 axb4 19. axb4 Nf6 20. h3 {With one
move depriving the Black's Queen Bishop of two squares for its development
[%csl Gf5,Gg4][%cal Yc3b5,Yb5d4]} h5 {Black temporarily secures f5 for his
Bishop, but Nb5-d4 leads to its retreat, and d7 will be under fire after
Pc5-c6. It is not suprising that in the end the Bishop will be forced to
return to c8[%csl Gg4]} (20... Bf5 21. g4) 21. c5 Bf5 22. Nb5 {[%csl Rf5][%cal
Gb5d4]} Bd7 (22... g5 {securing the b1-h7 diagonal. Evidently Reshevksy could
not bring himself to make such a "desparate" move[%cal Gh7b1]}) 23. c6 bxc6 {
After this White's win is only a question of time. After the exchange of his
d-pawn for Black's b-pawn White's light squared bishop and d-file Rook will
become active, which is of course of decisive importance} (23... Bc8 $142) 24.
dxc6 {[%cal Gg2d5,Yd1d8]} Bc8 (24... Be6 25. Rxe6 fxe6 26. Nd4 Qe7 27. Nxe6 Qf7
28. Bxf6 Bxf6 (28... Qxf6 29. Nxf8+ Kxf8 30. Rd3 {[%cal Gd3f3]}) 29. Bd5 Kh8
30. Nf4 Qg7 31. Qd3 $18 {[%csl Rg6]}) 25. Nxd6 {The natural outcome of Black's
23rd move. White has a won position, of course but decided on this move only
at the variation} Be6 {Reshevksy is in great time trouble, and he makes a
useless move, as White could reply simply Nc4. Taking into account his
opponent's time difficulty White prefers to go in for complications} (25...
cxd6 26. c7 Qxc7 27. Bxa8 Bxh3 28. Bh1 {gives Black some counter-chances.
However the passed b-pawn should decide the outcome[%cal Gb4b5,Gb5b6]}) 26.
Rxe6 fxe6 27. Nf5 (27. Qxe6+ Kh7 {the Knight at d6 is lost[%csl Rd6][%cal
Gd8d1]}) 27... Qe8 (27... Qxd1+ 28. Qxd1 exf5 {drags out the struggle}) 28.
Nxg7 Kxg7 {Now White has only to capture the c-pawn in order to liquidate the
opposition. The finish shows what menacing force the Bishops acquire to open
positions} 29. Rd7+ Rf7 30. Be5 $1 {[%csl Gc7,Gf6][%cal Yb3f3]} Kg8 {Further
resistance is useless} (30... Rxd7 31. cxd7 {[%csl Re8][%cal Gg2a8]}) 31. Rxc7
Rxc7 32. Bxc7 Ra1+ 33. Kh2 Ra7 34. Be5 Rf7 35. c7 Nd7 36. Qc2 $1 Rf8 37. c8=Q
1-0

[Event "AVRO"]
[Site "AVRO"]
[Date "1938.??.??"]
[Round "?"]
[White "Botvinnik Mikhail"]
[Black "Alekhine A"]
[Result "1-0"]
[ECO "D41"]
[PlyCount "101"]

1. Nf3 d5 2. d4 Nf6 3. c4 e6 4. Nc3 c5 {This variation arose three times in
the Alekhine-Euwe Return Match. Black aims at simplification, in order to
facilitate his defence} 5. cxd5 {I chose another road, more modest, and often
followed by Soviet masters} ({Alekhine was well acquainted with Euwe's
continuation} 5. Bg5 cxd4 6. Nxd4 e5 7. Nb3 $1) 5... Nxd5 6. e3 {This is a
very reliable continuation, but it appears to lead to equality. In one game of
his return match with Euwe, Alekhine played Pg3 but that also should lead to
an equal game} ({main variation} 6. e4 Nxc3 7. bxc3 cxd4 8. cxd4 Bb4+ 9. Bd2
Bxd2+ 10. Qxd2 {has no dangers for Black}) 6... Nc6 7. Bc4 ({I considered} 7.
a3 Be7 8. Bd3 O-O 9. O-O cxd4 10. exd4 Bf6 11. Be3 Nxc3 12. bxc3 e5 {brings no
gain to White}) 7... cxd4 {Alekhine let slip the opportunity to go into a
mainline and moves into a difficult situation} (7... -- 8. Bxd5 $140 exd5 9.
dxc5 {[%csl Gd5]}) (7... Nb6 {This move leads to a well known position in the
Queen's Gambit Accepted, rightly regarded as leaving an equal game}) 8. exd4
Be7 9. O-O O-O 10. Re1 {White's position is superior. Thought the d-pawn is
isolated, it cramps Black considerably. But above all White has a wealth of
possibilities with his pieces, the direct result of 7. ... Pxd5, whereas Black
still have to solve the problem of developing his Queen's Bishop[%csl Gc8]} b6
{Probably this is a decisive mistake. Now White reduces the game to a prosaic
pressure on Black's Queenside, weakened by ... Pb6, a task which is
facilitated by White's perceptible superiority in development. First and
foremost the long diagonal must be closed} (10... Nxc3 $142 {securing the long
diagonal for his Queen's Bishop} 11. bxc3 b6 {True, even so the White d-pawn
is strengthened and White has obtained fair chances on the Kingside, but Black
should have played thus (Botvinnik-Szabo, Groningen 1946)[%cal Gb7f3]}) 11.
Nxd5 exd5 12. Bb5 Bd7 {leads to inevitable exchanges, after which White's
superiority grows very clear} (12... Na5 $142 13. Ne5) 13. Qa4 Nb8 $8 {White's
superiority in development increases still more} (13... Rc8 14. Bd2 $1 {[%cal
Gc1c8]} (14. Bxc6 $2 Bxc6 15. Qxa7 Bb4 {[%cal Gc8a8]}) 14... a6 15. Bxc6 Bxc6
16. Qxa6 {Black gets not compensation whatever for the pawn.}) 14. Bf4 Bxb5 15.
Qxb5 a6 16. Qa4 {Keeping the Black Knight from c6. Black is forced to offer
the exchange of Bishops[%csl Gc6]} Bd6 (16... -- 17. Bxb8 Rxb8 18. Qxa6) 17.
Bxd6 Qxd6 18. Rac1 Ra7 {[%cal Ga7c7]} 19. Qc2 $16 {With this move White
hinders ... Rc7 and also firmly captures both the open files. Black's Knight
is badly posted, and it is difficult to bring it inot play. These factors
permit the conclusion that Black has a lost position and White has only to
find a good plan for exploiting his superiority[%csl Gc7]} Re7 (19... f6 20.
Qf5 $16 {an endgame favourable to White is forced[%csl Ge6]}) 20. Rxe7 Qxe7 21.
Qc7 Qxc7 {Of course the exchange is forced; the White Queen occupies too
strong a position at c7} 22. Rxc7 f6 $1 {Well played. The White Rook will have
to retire from the seventh rank and that relieves Black's situation a little.
[%cal Gf8f7]} 23. Kf1 (23. Rb7 $143 Rc8 $1 24. Kf1 b5 {And the c-file is
dominated by black[%cal Gc8c1]}) 23... Rf7 24. Rc8+ Rf8 25. Rc3 $1 {An
intriguing situation. Black can't move a single piece. Black's best chance is
to bring the King to the centre. To do this he must advance the g- and h-pawns
from his second rank} g5 (25... Nd7 26. Rc7) (25... Re8 26. Rc7) 26. Ne1 h5 {
It seems as though Black has escaped the direct threats. Now White exploits
the weakening of the Black's Kingside} (26... h6 27. Nc2 Kf7 28. Ne3 Ke6 29. g4
$1 {[%csl Gf5][%cal Ye3f5]}) 27. h4 $1 (27. Nc2 Kf7 28. Rc7+ Ke6 29. Rh7 Nd7)
27... Nd7 (27... gxh4 28. Nf3) (27... Kf7 28. hxg5 (28. Nf3 g4 29. Ne1 Ke6 30.
Nd3 Kf5 31. g3 Ke4 32. Nf4 $16 {Botvinnik's recommendation}) 28... fxg5 29. Nf3
g4 30. Ne5+ {Alekhine feared this}) 28. Rc7 Rf7 29. Nf3 g4 30. Ne1 f5 31. Nd3 {
[%cal Gd3f4]} f4 {Otherwise Nf4, but now Black will be finally in zugzwang.
There is not even any point in White winning a pawn by play Nb4} 32. f3 gxf3
33. gxf3 a5 34. a4 {[%csl Gb5]} Kf8 35. Rc6 Ke7 36. Kf2 Rf5 37. b3 Kd8 38. Ke2
Nb8 {a trap} 39. Rg6 (39. Rxb6 Kc7 {follwed by ... Nc6[%cal Gb8c6]}) 39... Kc7
40. Ne5 Na6 {White's game is won just as he wishes} 41. Rg7+ Kc8 42. Nc6 {At
last the "harvest" begins. White comes out with at least two extra pawns} Rf6
43. Ne7+ Kb8 44. Nxd5 Rd6 45. Rg5 Nb4 46. Nxb4 axb4 47. Rxh5 Rc6 (47... Rxd4
48. Rf5 Kb7 49. Rf6 Kc7 50. h5 $18) 48. Rb5 Kc7 49. Rxb4 Rh6 50. Rb5 (50. Kd3
Re6 $1) 50... Rxh4 51. Kd3 {One of those games which have no brilliant moves
whatever; every move seems very simple, yet it is impossible to cut out any
one of them, for they are all closely interlocked.  Of course the difficulty
of creating such a game lies not in the complexity of calculation involved,
but that, when calculation, the position arising must be soundly appraised} 1-0

[Event "Netherlands"]
[Site "It, Amsterdam  (11)"]
[Date "1938.??.??"]
[Round "?"]
[White "Botvinnik Mikhail"]
[Black "Capablanca J"]
[Result "1-0"]
[ECO "E49"]
[PlyCount "81"]

1. d4 Nf6 2. c4 e6 3. Nc3 Bb4 4. e3 {The Nimzo-Indian Defence is not to be
refuted in this way, but recent practise has shown that it is doubtful whether
there is any refutation. With 4. Pe3 White aims only at consolidating his
centre, hoping that a strong centre will be useful to him in the middlegame} d5
{So "theory" recommends", but this game shows that the move has certain
disadvantages. Now White can take this continuation, for the c-pawns can
always be exchanged} (4... O-O 5. a3 Bxc3+ 6. bxc3 {May be disadvantgeous to
White because of the c-pawns weakness;[%csl Gc3,Gc4]}) 5. a3 Bxc3+ (5... Be7 6.
Nf3 {One of the positions arising out of the Queen's Gambit Declined but with
an extra move Pa3 for White}) 6. bxc3 c5 {The most natural. White's basic plan
is later to play Pf3 and Pe4 and break through in the centre. This will not be
easy to carry through if Black in his turn organizes pressure on White's
d-pawn, which his sixth move is calculated to do} 7. cxd5 exd5 {A debated
question is how to recapture the d-pawn. Black decides to take with a pawn, in
order to make Pe4 almost impossible for White[%csl Ge4]} 8. Bd3 O-O 9. Ne2 {So
far the game recalls that between Lilienthal-Ragozin, Moscow 1935, but in that
game White had already played Pf3. With the system White has adopted in this
game he does not need to play this necessary move in the opening; a very
important circumstance  The piece most unpleasnt to Black is the Bishop at d3,
so he plays to exchange it} b6 10. O-O Ba6 {Perhaps the Bishop should have
been kept and retired to c2, but the Black Bishop at a6 is then quite strong.
But if Bishops are to be exchanged, it is best to do so as in the game, for it
is difficult for Black's Knight at a6 to reach the strong squared c4    We may
note by the way, that after this game all this variation was checked in
practise again and again, with changin fortunes for both sides} 11. Bxa6 Nxa6
12. Bb2 {Passively played} (12. Qd3 $142 $1 {[%csl Ga6]} Qc8) 12... Qd7 $1 {
[%cal Gd7a4]} 13. a4 {It is difficult for White to correct his inexact play of
the last move. It is necessary to prepare Qd3} (13. Qd3 Qa4 $1) 13... Rfe8 {A
suprising mistake for Capablanca to make} (13... cxd4 $142 14. cxd4 Rfc8 {
White has difficulties along the c-file. However, White would probably have
sufficient resources available for his defence[%cal Gc8c1]}) 14. Qd3 c4 {This
is a really serious positional blunder. Black evidently assumed that White
would be unable to advance the d-pawn later, and Black's superiority on the
Queenside would tell. Capablanca had in mind ... Nb8-c6-a5-b3 after which it
is difficult for White to defend the a-pawn  However, Black's superiority on
the Queenside happens in this case to be of no great consequence, and the
breakthrough Pe4 proves inevitable.[%cal Ga6b8,Gb8c6,Gc6a5,Ga5b3]} (14... Qb7
$142 {Black should have contented himself with the modest defence}) 15. Qc2 Nb8
16. Rae1 {Psychologically understandable: White aims to show that he has no
intention of defend the a-pawn at all.} (16. Ba3 Nc6 17. Bb4 $11 {[%csl Ga5]})
(16. Ng3 $142 {preventing ... Nh5[%csl Yh5][%cal Gf2f3,Ge3e4]} Nh5 $141) 16...
Nc6 {Black mistakenly assumes that the struggle will be decided by his winning
the a-pawn, otherwise he was bound to play ... Na5 preventing Ng3 (the Knight
exchange is disadvantageous for White} (16... Nh5 $142 {suggested by Romanovsky
} 17. h3 f5 18. Bc1 Nc6 19. f3 Na5 20. g4 fxg4 21. hxg4 {Black's position on
the Kingside gives cause for anxiety}) 17. Ng3 Na5 {An interesting moment:
Black can't prevent Pe4} (17... Ne4 18. Nh1 $1 {White temporarily transfers
his Knight to h1[%cal Gf2f3,Ge3e4]}) 18. f3 Nb3 19. e4 Qxa4 20. e5 Nd7 {[%cal
Gb3c5]} (20... Nc5 21. Re2 $1 {Leads to a loss of a piece[%csl Rc5,Rf6]}) 21.
Qf2 {Forced because of the threat ... Nbc5; but the Queen transfer to the
kingside comes into White's plan. Now Black must defend himself against Nf5-d6,
and against the advance of the f-pawn. Black's pieces cannot come quickly to
their King's aid; and at the moment it is still far to the exploitation of his
extra pawn. With his next manoeuvre Capablanca gains the opening up of the
e-file, in the hope that simplification will be his advantage[%cal Gg3f5,Gf5d6,
Yf3f4]} g6 22. f4 f5 23. exf6 {The only way to continue the attack} Nxf6 24. f5
Rxe1 25. Rxe1 Re8 (25... Rf8 26. Qf4 $1 Qa2 (26... Qd7 27. Re6 Na5 (27... Ne4
28. Qe5 Nxg3 29. Re7) 28. Ba3 Rf7 29. Qg5 $1) 27. fxg6 Qxb2 (27... hxg6 28. Qg5
) 28. g7 Kxg7 (28... Rf7 29. Qb8+ Kxg7 30. Nf5+ Kg6 31. Qg3+ Kh5 32. Qh4+ Kg6
33. Qh6+ Kxf5 34. Re5+ Kg4 35. Qg5#) 29. Nf5+ Kh8 30. Qh6 Rf7 31. Qxf6+ {[%cal
Ge8h8]} Rxf6 32. Re8+) 26. Re6 $1 (26. fxg6 hxg6 27. Rxe8+ Nxe8) 26... Rxe6 (
26... Kf7 27. Rxf6+ Kxf6 28. fxg6+ Kxg6 (28... Ke7 29. Qf7+ Kd8 30. g7) 29.
Qf5+ Kg7 30. Nh5+ Kh6 31. h4 Rg8 32. g4 Qc6 33. Ba3 $1 {[%cal Ga3f8]}) 27. fxe6
{Now White gets a threatening pawn on e6[%cal Ge6e7]} Kg7 28. Qf4 $1 {[%cal
Gg3f5,Yf4g5]} Qe8 {preventing Nf5+ and Qg5[%cal Ge8g6]} 29. Qe5 Qe7 (29... Na5
30. Bc1 {[%csl Rh6][%cal Gc1h6,Ye5c7]}) 30. Ba3 $3 Qxa3 (30... Qe8 31. Qc7+ Kg8
32. Be7 Ng4 33. Qd7 $18) 31. Nh5+ $1 gxh5 (31... Kh6 32. Nxf6 Qc1+ 33. Kf2 Qd2+
34. Kg3 Qxc3+ 35. Kh4 Qxd4+ 36. Ng4+ $1) 32. Qg5+ Kf8 33. Qxf6+ Kg8 (33... Ke8
34. Qf7+ Kd8 35. Qd7#) 34. e7 $1 {the d-pawn is defended[%cal Gf6d4]} (34. Qf7+
$143 Kh8 35. e7 Qc1+ 36. Kf2 Qd2+ 37. Kg3 Qxc3+ 38. Kh4 Qxd4+ 39. Kxh5 Qe5+ {
perpetual check}) 34... Qc1+ 35. Kf2 Qc2+ 36. Kg3 Qd3+ 37. Kh4 Qe4+ 38. Kxh5
Qe2+ 39. Kh4 Qe4+ {even now care is needed} 40. g4 (40. Kh3 h5 $3 {a draw is
inevitable}) 40... Qe1+ 41. Kh5 1-0

[Event "Russia"]
[Site "Ch URS, Leningrad  (2)"]
[Date "1939.??.??"]
[Round "?"]
[White "Tolush A"]
[Black "Botvinnik Mikhail"]
[Result "0-1"]
[ECO "D82"]
[PlyCount "76"]

1. d4 Nf6 2. c4 g6 3. Nc3 d5 4. Bf4 Bg7 5. e3 O-O 6. Rc1 {This strong move was
played by Capablanca against Reshevsky in Amsterdam 1938.  Capablanca did not
arrive at this continuation straightaway. In earlier games of the same
tournament against me and Flohr he had played 6. Qb3 and only when he was
convinced that this does not give White superiority did he find Rc1 so
strengthening White's entire variation.  In this variation with Bf4 Black's
basic opening problem is associated with Pc5. If Black manages to achieve this
painlessly he at once gets an equal game. The advantage of Rc1 is that ... Pc5
is made difficult to the maximum} c5 7. dxc5 {And none the less. Until this
game I had never analysed Rc1 and was influeced by this game. But the moment
Tolush unhesitatingly played Rc1 it was clear that he had found some new
"strong" resource". Before making my sixth move I had to recall the Amsterdam
Tournament and thoroughly analyse the position. I came to the conclusion that
White had better chacnes, but moved by curiousity decided to repeat all
Reshevsky's moves, for I was deeply interested to find out what Tolush's
discovery was} Qa5 (7... Be6 $1 {Ragozin game. Since then Capablanca's move is
rarely played in tournament play}) 8. cxd5 Rd8 9. Qd2 {This is Tolush's
"improvement". However, when making his analysis he saw by no means all the
finesses. Now White gets an inferior game.  None the less Tolush did a service
in drawing attention to this position which really did provide great scope for
analytical research} (9. Qa4 Qxa4 10. Nxa4 Nxd5 $11 {Capblanca-Reshevsky}) (9.
Bc4 {It is highly unpleasant for Black to defend the d-pawn and it was this
move I was afraid at the board. It was not easy for Black to find a sound
continuation, if one exists[%csl Gd5]}) 9... Nxd5 10. Bc7 (10. Nxd5 Qxd2+ 11.
Kxd2 Rxd5+ $17) 10... Qxc7 11. Nxd5 Rxd5 $1 {In all probability Tolush did not
foresee this shrewd yet inviting sacrifice of the exchange. White is left
hopelessly behind in development, and the Black pieces come into play with
gains of tempo} (11... Qd7 12. Rd1 e6 (12... Nc6 13. Qc2) 13. Nc7 $18) 12. Qxd5
Be6 (12... Bxb2 13. Rc2 Be6 14. Qd2 {Black must lose time in withdrawing his
Bishop, and in this particular situation "delay is death".}) (12... Nc6 $142
13. Qd2 (13. Bc4 Be6) 13... Bf5 {But this later variation called for
calculation, and I was afraid of squandering time, which might be required in
later complications}) 13. Qd2 {White must withraw his Queen to d2} (13. Qe4
Bxb2) 13... Nc6 14. Rd1 {to meet the unpleasant threat ... Rad8. The pieces on
the Kingside will not be able to come to the king's aid, so White mobilizes
the Rooks for defence[%csl Gd8]} (14. Bc4 Rd8 15. Qc2 Qa5+ 16. Kf1 Rd2) (14.
Bd3 Rd8 15. Qe2 (15. Nf3 Bf5) 15... Ne5 16. Rd1 Qa5+ 17. Kf1 Rxd3 (17... Nxd3
18. Rxd3 Bc4 19. Rxd8+ Qxd8 {[%csl Gd1]} 20. Qxc4 Qd1#) 18. Rxd3 Bc4 {White is
in a bad way}) (14. Rc3 $142 Rd8 (14... Bxc3 15. Qxc3 Bxa2 16. Nf3 $11) (14...
Nb4 15. Nf3 Rd8 16. Nd4 Bxa2 {White's position remains difficult}) 15. Rd3)
14... Rd8 15. Qc1 Qa5+ 16. Rd2 Rd5 $1 {The most energetic! White will be
forced to surrender all the pawns on his Queenside} 17. Ne2 (17. Nf3 Rxc5 18.
Qb1 Bxa2 19. Qa1 Rc2 20. Bd3 Rxb2) 17... Rxc5 18. Nc3 Bxc3 (18... Rxc3 19. bxc3
Bxc3 $13 {Black has only two pawns to compensate for the loss of the more
valuable Rook}) 19. bxc3 Rxc3 20. Qb2 Ra3 {With the murderous threat of ...
Rxa2 after which White's King will be stranded in the centre defenceless[%cal
Ga3a2]} 21. Qb5 Qc3 22. Qb2 Qc5 23. Qb1 (23. Qxb7 Qc1+ 24. Ke2 Bc4+ 25. Kf3
Qxd2 26. Bxc4 Ne5+ 27. Kg3 Rxe3+ $1 28. f3 Nxc4 29. Qc8+ Kg7 30. Qxc4 Re2 $19 {
leads to swift defeat}) 23... Bxa2 24. Rxa2 Qa5+ 25. Rd2 Ra1 26. Bd3 Rxb1+ 27.
Bxb1 {The two linked passed pawns should give Black a simple win. By retaining
the Knight it would be easy to get the pawns queened. The continuation
actually chosen, provoking an exchange of minor pieces, seems rather risky,
but as will be seen it is the simpler road to victory[%cal Gb7b5,Ga7a5]} Ne5
28. Ke2 Qb5+ 29. Bd3 Nxd3 30. Rxd3 a5 $1 {If White succeeded in developing his
pieces while Black's pawns remained at a7 and b7, he would have chances of a
draw, for the Black King is cut off from the Queenside, and the two Rooks
would hold up the enemy pawns. But as the King and the Rook at d3 are
awkwardly placed, Black succeeds in advancing his infantry quite a long
distance} 31. Rhd1 Qc4 {the a- and b-pawns should advance together[%cal Gb7b5]}
32. Kf3 b5 33. Rd7 b4 34. Ra7 (34. Rxe7 b3 {Black Queens a pawn[%cal Ga5a4,
Ga4a3]}) 34... a4 {the bad position of the White King facilitates a win} 35.
Rd8+ Kg7 36. Rda8 a3 37. g3 Qb5 38. Ra4 Qb7+ {and then the b-pawn advances to
be queened[%cal Gb4b3,Gb3b2]} 0-1

[Event "Russia"]
[Site "Ch URS, Leningrad  (4)"]
[Date "1939.??.??"]
[Round "?"]
[White "Rabinovich I"]
[Black "Botvinnik Mikhail"]
[Result "0-1"]
[ECO "C19"]
[PlyCount "134"]

1. e4 e6 2. d4 d5 3. Nc3 Bb4 4. e5 c5 5. a3 Bxc3+ {The master V. Rauzer has
performed exceptional service in thoroughly analysing for White this variation
of the French Defence.} (5... cxd4 {From about the year 1924, the time of the
Lasker-Maroczy New York 1924 this was always played} 6. axb4 dxc3 7. Nf3 Qc7 8.
Bd3 {White could get the stronger attack}) (5... Ba5 {Reshevsky-Botvinnik,
Moscow 1946}) 6. bxc3 Ne7 (6... Qc7 {preferred by some players} 7. Qg4 f5) 7.
Nf3 {The system of development associated with this move is also due to Rauzer.
In reality, is White obliged to force the game? He has the freer position and
the two Bishops; he can, if necessary, exploit the d6 square. The defect of
his position is in the doubled c-pawns; at a convenient moment Black plays ...
Pc4, closing the position and then the two Bishops superiority will be
imperceptible.     For this reason is not the entire variation ideal for Black,
as viewed by a present-day player? A game with counter chances adequately
cancels out the advantage of the first move} (7. Qg4 {Rauzer investigated this
position in 1934 which leads to very sharp play. This move frightened some
players so much that they even rejected the defence ... Ne7} cxd4 8. Qxg7 Rg8
9. Qxh7 {Alexander-Botvinnik 1946}) 7... Nbc6 8. Bd3 {Now Black can play ...
Pc4 with gain or tempo, but Black need not hurry with ... Pc4} (8. Be2 {White
doesn't lose a tempo}) 8... Qa5 9. Qd2 (9. O-O Qxc3 10. Bd2 Qb2 11. Rb1 Qxa3 {
with a draw}) 9... c4 10. Be2 Bd7 {A fundamental error} (10... Qa4 $142 {
preventing White's Pa4 and the Bishop can't develop at a3}) 11. a4 {White gets
the Bishop outside the pawn chain and Black gets a difficult game[%cal Gc1a3]}
f6 12. Ba3 O-O-O (12... Qxa4 $143 13. O-O) (12... O-O $143 13. exf6 Rxf6 14.
Bxe7 Nxe7 15. Ne5 {[%csl Ge5]}) 13. O-O Nf5 {Of course Black is not averse
from consolidating his Knight at f5  During the game there were many 
(including myself) that considered this move a mistake, as by replying Pg4
White could drive the Knight back, in other words win a tempo. But afterwards
I came to the conclusion that the move is quite logical. White is forced to
weaken his position with Pg4 (otherwise ... Ph5) and in such a position a
weakening is more fundamental that the loss of one tempo.  It must be said
that the position of the pawns on the c-file makes it difficult for White to
manoeuvre; his Queenside communicates with the Kingside only on the back rank 
(c1)} (13... h5 {attempting to secure f5[%csl Gg4]} 14. exf6 gxf6 15. Nh4 {
Black lacks the necessary ... Ng6 due to a pawn missing at h7[%csl Gg6]}) (
13... Rdf8 $5 14. -- Rf7 {was worth considering, for a Rook at f7 is better
posted than at d8. During the game I did not consider this continuation}) 14.
g4 Nfe7 15. Rfb1 Qa6 {Now this is unnecessary! In fact White is still not
threatening at all; doubling Rooks on the b-file would have no sense, as the
Black b-pawn is safely defended. But now Black gets into a difficult situation}
(15... Rdf8 $142 {and the weakening of the f4 square would soon have its
effect[%csl Gf4]}) 16. a5 $1 {Beautifully played. As of course the a-pawn
can't be taken, the Black Queen is in a trap. This gives the game quite a new
direction. The combinational threat Ne1-d3-c5 forces both sides to switch over
to a consideration of definite variations[%csl Ra6][%cal Gf3e1,Ge1d3,Gd3c5]}
Rdf8 (16... -- 17. Ne1 $142 -- 18. Nd3 -- (18... cxd3 19. Bxd3) 19. Nc5) 17.
Ne1 {Very many critics criticized Rabinovich for this move. They all 
(including myself) assumed that the simplest course was Bd6. A closer study of
the position leads to different conclusions: Black has considerable
counter-play because of the weakness of White's f4. He has only to resolve on
a sacrifice of the exchange, in other words to choose the course he actually
took in the game} (17. Bd6 fxe5 18. dxe5 (18. Nxe5 Nxe5 19. Bxe5 Ng6 {one
can't assert that White's material advantage guarantees him victory[%csl Gf4]})
18... Ng6 19. Bxf8 Rxf8 20. Qe3 Rf4 $44 {the weakness of the f4[%csl Gf4]})
17... fxe5 18. Nd3 {Now White wins the exchange by force, but that
unexpectedly leads him into difficulties[%cal Gd3c5]} (18. dxe5 Rf7 (18... Ng6
19. Bxf8 Rxf8 20. Ng2 Ncxe5 21. f4 {White has all the prospects of a win due
to the opening of the game}) 19. Bd6 (19. Nd3 cxd3 20. Bxd3 Nxe5 $1 {[%cal
Ge5f3]}) 19... Ng6 20. Qe3 Nf4 21. Bf3 g5 {In my view Alatortsev was mistaken
in considering that "the connection between Black's pieces is broken". The
struggle still lies ahead, though the unfortunate position of Black's Queen
justifies the assumption that White has the better play}) 18... cxd3 19. Bxd3
Qxa5 20. Bxe7 Qc7 (20... Nxd4 21. Be2 $1 Nxe2+ 22. Qxe2 Qxc3 23. Bxf8 Rxf8 24.
Rxa7 $18 {[%csl Rb7][%cal Ga7a8]}) 21. Bxf8 Rxf8 22. Bb5 {The position has
been simplified. Despite White's superiority in material, his chances are
inferior, for there are many weaknesses in his camp. The exchange he has
prepared involves no change in the estimate of the position} (22. dxe5 Qxe5 {
Black has the initiative}) 22... Rf4 23. h3 a6 24. Bxc6 Bxc6 25. Re1 {An in
conspicious error, which leads to a lost position for White. In no
circumstances should he allow ... Pe4, as after it he is condemned to passive
defence} (25. dxe5 Rf3 (25... Qxe5 $143 26. Re1 Qf6 27. Rxe6 Rxg4+ 28. hxg4
Qxe6 29. Qd4) 26. Qd4 Rxh3 {[%cal Gc7e7,Ge7h4]} 27. Kg2 Rxc3 $1 {[%cal Gc6g2]})
25... e4 {White's game is lost because of the weakness of the f-file and the
existence of Black's passed a-pawn. however, before he can advance his pawn
Black has to block the Kingside} 26. Re3 Bb5 27. Rg3 g5 28. Kg2 Qf7 29. Qe3 Qf6
30. Re1 {Later White does not even have Pf3 as a possibility. All the
difficulty of his situation consists in the fact that two pieces, apart from
the King, are tied up in defence of the squares f2 and f3, which makes him
impotent against the threat of the a-pawn[%csl Rf2,Rf3]} (30. f3 $142) 30...
Be8 31. Qe2 (31. f3 Bg6 {the bishop transfers to e4[%cal Gh6e4]}) 31... Kb8 32.
Rb1 Bb5 33. Qe3 Be8 34. Qe2 Kc7 35. Rh1 Bg6 36. Re1 Be8 37. Rh1 h5 $1 {Just at
the right time. The h-pawn will great cramp White} 38. Kg1 (38. gxh5 Bxh5 39.
Qxh5 Rxf2+ $19 40. Kg1 Rf1+ 41. Kh2 Qf2+ 42. Rg2 Qf4+ 43. Rg3 Rf2+ 44. Kg1
Qxg3#) 38... Bb5 39. Qe1 h4 40. Re3 Bc4 41. Rh2 {White intends to defend the
f2 and f3 with Rooks, and to stop the advance of the a-pawn with his Queen.
Probably the most expedient decision[%csl Gf2]} b6 42. Qa1 Qf8 {Preventing Qa3
[%csl Ra3][%cal Gf8a3]} 43. Rg2 a5 44. Qa4 Qe7 45. Qa1 Kb7 46. Qa4 Rf8 47. Re1
Qd6 {White has no defence against ... Ka6 and ... Pb5[%cal Gb7a6,Yb6b5]} 48.
Qa1 (48. -- Ka6 $140 49. -- b5) 48... Ka6 49. Re3 b5 50. Qb2 $1 {Very well
played} Rf3 (50... a4 51. Qb4 Qxb4 52. cxb4 Rf3 53. Kh2 $1 (53. Rxf3 $2 exf3
54. Rh2 Bf1 $3 $19) 53... a3 54. Rxf3 exf3 55. Rg1 {Black ought not to win as
his King can't break through}) 51. Kh1 $8 {Black plays a waiting game in order
to gain time on the clock and meanwhile transfer the King to a better position}
(51. Rxf3 exf3 52. Rh2 a4 53. Qb4 Qxb4 54. cxb4 Bf1 $1) 51... Rf6 52. Kg1 Kb6
53. Rh2 Rf7 54. Rg2 Rf3 55. Kh1 Rf8 56. Kg1 Rf6 57. Rh2 Kc6 58. Rg2 Rf3 59. Kh1
Bf1 $1 {A mortal blow. White is forced to exchange Rook} 60. Rxf3 (60. Rh2 a4 {
Nothing will stop the a-pawn[%cal Ga4a3,Ga3a2]}) (60. Rg1 Rxf2 {[%cal Gd6h2]})
60... exf3 $1 {Decides at once} 61. Rh2 (61. Rg1 Bxh3 62. Rb1 (62. Qc1 Bg2+ 63.
Rxg2 fxg2+ 64. Kxg2 Qf4 $1 {And the Queen endgame is hopeless} 65. Qxf4 gxf4
66. g5 Kd7 {And the g-pawn is easily stopped by Black. This is why it was
necessary to transfer the King to c6[%csl Gg5]}) 62... Bg2+ 63. Kg1 b4 64. Re1
h3 65. Re5 h2+ 66. Kxh2 Qf8 67. Rxe6+ Kc7 $19 {[%cal Gf8h8]}) 61... a4 62. Kg1
a3 63. Qc1 Bc4 64. Qxg5 a2 65. Qc1 e5 {[%cal Ge5e4,Ge4e3]} 66. dxe5 {Forced,
else the pawn advances} Qxe5 67. Qa1 Qe2 {[%cal Ge2f1]} 0-1

[Event "Russia"]
[Site "Ch URS, Leningrad  (10)"]
[Date "1939.??.??"]
[Round "?"]
[White "Botvinnik Mikhail"]
[Black "Kann I"]
[Result "1-0"]
[ECO "E24"]
[PlyCount "81"]

1. d4 Nf6 2. c4 e6 3. Nc3 Bb4 4. Nf3 {Strictly speaking the "strongest" here 
(according to Tarrasch) is Qc2. But Nf3 leads to variations which have been
less studied} c5 {One of the strongest replies} 5. a3 Bxc3+ 6. bxc3 Qa5 {The
development of the Bishop to b7 is playable here. Black tries to facilitate
his defence by exchanges} (6... d5 7. e3 Nc6) 7. Bd2 Ne4 8. Qc2 {Necessary} (8.
e3 $143 Nxd2 9. Qxd2 cxd4 10. exd4 b6 {Black obtains good play[%cal Gc8a6]})
8... Nxd2 9. Nxd2 d6 {Too passive} (9... cxd4 $142 10. cxd4 Nc6 11. e3 e5 $1 {
Black has good counter chances}) 10. e3 e5 {This is the prime cause of all of
the later difficulties! Black unthinkabingly weakens d5, which may serve as a
good base for White pieces. In addition, Black loses an important tempo[%csl
Rd5]} (10... Nc6 {The right move}) 11. dxe5 dxe5 {A typical position. At first
glance White has the inferior pawn structure, and so Black has nothing to fear.
This would be correct if we could take all the pieces from the board. But
there are still a lot of them left, and so the weakness of Black's d5 is more
serious than the doubled White c-pawns. Morever, even benefecial to White: the
point is that to secure d5 firmly White needs to advance his e-pawn to e4, and
then the doubled pawns will defend his d5 against the Black pieces.    I have
been able to prove the convenience of such a pawn arrangement in a number of
games (Sorokin 20) and Chekhover (56) and against Panov in the 11th USSR Chps
[%csl Rd5]} 12. Bd3 {[%cal Gd3e4,Ge4d5]} h6 {Otherwise Black can't castle and
in certain cases if Black doesn't castle White can take the pawn} (12... g6 {
inadvisable because of} 13. Ne4 {[%csl Gd6,Gf6]}) 13. O-O O-O {This position
is highly instructive!} 14. f4 {White makes an attempt to liven up the game a
little} ({White's natural plan is to transfer the Knight to d5} 14. e4 {[%csl
Rd5][%cal Gd2f1,Gf1e3,Ge3d5]} Nc6 15. Rfd1 Be6 16. Nf1 Rad8 17. Ne3 Ne7 {White
gains nothing of value. d5 is in his power, but that is all. If he plays Nd5
Black exchanges the Bishop for Knight and transfers his Knight to d6. If White
doesn't play Nd5, and exchange of Rooks will take place along the open d-file
and a draw becomes inevitable.}) 14... Nd7 (14... exf4 15. exf4 {The game
would open up along the e-file and White, being better developed, could
exploit it before Black[%cal Ge1e8]}) (14... Nc6 $142 {but Black has already
though of his next mistaken move}) 15. f5 Nf6 {Maybe this is the decisive
error! Black's move is directed against the further advance of the f-pawn. 
Black rejects ... Pf6 but the result is that one of his pieces holds f6 all
the time. But this chief trouble is that now White is able to exchange Knight
and then the White Bishop in the centre will dominate the board} (15... f6 $142
{White's position is to be preferred, as the central squares d5 and e4 are
under control, and greatly facilitate the manoeuvering of his pieces[%csl Gd5,
Ge4]}) 16. Ne4 $1 Qd8 {Exploiting the fact that the c-pawn is invulnerable} 17.
Nxf6+ (17. Nxc5 Qb6 {[%csl Ge3]}) 17... Qxf6 18. Be4 Rb8 19. Rad1 b6 20. h3 {
By opening an escape route for the King, White strengthens all of these
variations. So Black avoids them and goes for the pawn break ... Pb5[%cal
Gg1h2]} ({Nothing is gained by} 20. Bd5 Bb7 21. Qe4 (21. Bxb7 Rxb7 22. Qe4 Rbb8
23. Rd7 Rbd8) 21... Bxd5 22. Rxd5 Rbd8 {White wins a pawn but victory remains
in doubt.}) 20... Ba6 $1 {[%cal Gb6b5]} 21. Bd5 b5 22. cxb5 Rxb5 (22... Bxb5
23. c4 Bc6 $1 24. Qe4 Bxd5 25. Rxd5 {Whtie would win a pawn, but because of
the Bishop exchange the open b-file would give Black counter-play. But now
White keeps the d5 Bishop, his chief hope, and at once Black is in a bad way
[%csl Gc5]}) 23. c4 Rb6 24. Rb1 {Preventing both Black's capture of the open
b-file and ... Bb7[%csl Gb7]} Rd8 (24... Rfb8 25. Rxb6 Qxb6 (25... Rxb6 26. Qa4
Qe7 (26... Kf8 27. Qa5 Qe7 28. f6 gxf6 (28... Rxf6 29. Rxf6 Qxf6 30. Qxc5+ Qe7
31. Qc6 $1 Qxa3 32. Qa8+) 29. Qe1 {White also has good attacking possibilities}
) 27. f6 gxf6 28. Qc2 {[%csl Rg6]} Kg7 29. Rf3 {strong attack}) 26. f6 $1 {
[%csl Rg6][%cal Gc2g6]}) 25. Rxb6 axb6 (25... Qxb6 26. Rb1 (26. f6 Rxd5 27. Rb1
Rd2) 26... Qf6 27. e4) 26. e4 {Parrying the threat of ... Rxd5[%cal Ge4d5]} Bc8
{[%cal Gc8d7]} (26... b5 27. cxb5 Bxb5 28. Rb1 {winning a pawn[%csl Gc5]}) 27.
Qa4 {Otherwise ... Bd7 and Black would prevent the Queen's entry[%csl Gd7]} Bd7
28. Qa7 Be8 29. Rb1 Rd6 30. a4 {Thus White wins a pawn, which at once decides
the outcome[%csl Gb6,Gc5]} Kh7 31. a5 bxa5 32. Qxa5 (32. Qxc5 $2 a4 {with
complications}) 32... Ra6 33. Qxc5 Ra2 34. Qe3 {... Qg5 could not be allowed
[%csl Gg5]} Qa6 35. Rb8 Qa4 36. Kh2 {An important move! Black lacks one tempo
for doubling his pieces on his eighth rank} Ra3 (36... Qc2 37. Qg3 Ra1 38. Rxe8
Qd1 39. Qg6+ $1 fxg6 40. Bg8+ Kh8 41. Bf7+ Kh7 42. Bxg6#) 37. Qc5 Ra2 38. Ra8
Qxa8 (38... Qc2 39. Rxa2 Qxa2 40. Qe7 $18) 39. Bxa8 Rxa8 40. Qxe5 Bc6 41. Qc7
1-0

[Event "Leningrad"]
[Site "Leningrad"]
[Date "1939.??.??"]
[Round "?"]
[White "Pogrebyssky I"]
[Black "Botvinnik Mikhail"]
[Result "0-1"]
[ECO "C19"]
[PlyCount "70"]

1. e4 e6 2. d4 d5 3. Nc3 Bb4 4. e5 c5 5. a3 Bxc3+ 6. bxc3 Ne7 7. Nf3 Nbc6 8.
Bd3 Qa5 9. Qd2 c4 10. Be2 {[%cal Ga3a4,Yc1a3,Ya3d6]} Qa4 {preventing Pa4 and
Ba3 and hence the darksquared Bishop can't reach d6} 11. O-O ({White could
provoke ... Pb6} 11. Rb1 b6 {But matters are substantially the same}) 11... Bd7
12. Ng5 {A good move to which Black's reply should probably have been 12. ...
0-0, with an approximately equal game. After Black's instinctive reply White's
game is perhaps a little better} h6 (12... O-O $11) 13. Nh3 O-O-O (13... O-O {
Black' can't castle short} 14. Nf4 -- 15. Nh5 -- 16. Nxg7 {[%csl Rh6]}) (13...
Ng6 $142) 14. f4 {Only now is it clear that White's good move Ng5 was made
with a very bad idea behind it. It transpires White intends via Nf2-d1-b2 to
get his a-pawn into motion. It's not worth the trouble, too much precious time
is spent on this manoeuvre  Pf4 suits Black find as it still further cramps
White's Queen Bishop[%cal Gh3f2,Gf2d1,Gd1b2]} ({I had expected} 14. Nf4 Rdf8
15. Nh5 Rh7 $11) 14... f6 15. Nf2 h5 {Black gets an excellent position for his
Knight at f4; in this variation it is the first symptom showing that White has
chosen an unsound plan[%csl Yg4][%cal Ge7f5]} 16. Nd1 Nf5 17. Nb2 (17. Bxh5
Rxh5 18. g4 {leads to an irreperable weakening of White's Kingside}) 17... Qa5
18. a4 g5 $1 {White must allow ... Pg4 due to e5 pressure, after which the
Bishop at e2 will be blocked.  Black has a positionally completely won game.
The only question is where he should break through. I think on the Queenside,
for here the breakthrough is facilitated by White's awkward pawn position} (
18... Be8 19. Nd1 Bg6 20. Qe1 Nfxd4 21. cxd4 Qxe1 22. Rxe1 Nxd4 {Black gets
three pawns for a piece but the position still favours White}) 19. Nd1 (19.
fxg5 fxe5 $1) 19... g4 20. exf6 {This eases Black's task; through d6 his
Knight can always get to e4. True, White wins a tempo for developing his
Queen's Bishop, but this is now not so important, and so it would have been
better to refrain from Pxf6[%cal Gf5d6,Gd6e4]} (20. Qe1) (20. Ba3 Nfxd4) (20.
Ne3 Nxe3 21. Qxe3 Ne7 $1 {[%cal Ge7f5]} 22. exf6 Nf5 23. Qd2 Nd6 {[%cal Gd6e4]}
) 20... Rdf8 21. Ba3 Rxf6 22. Bb4 Nxb4 $2 {A positional blunder, after which
the game is almost equalized! The White c-pawns will be parted, and Black's
prospects on the Queenside amount to nothing, while White so far has no
weaknesses on his Kingside. In addition the Bishop at e2 returns to life.} (
22... Qc7 $142) 23. cxb4 Qb6 (23... Qc7) 24. c3 Qc7 {Black has only one hope
of a win: breakthrough along the h-file. To do this he must provoke Pg3[%cal
Gh5h1,Yg2g3]} 25. Nb2 Rhf8 26. Bd1 Ne7 {[%csl Rf4]} 27. g3 {The first plart of
Black's plan has been carried out; Pg3 has been forced. Now the Black pieces
are transferred to the h-file} Rh8 28. Bc2 h4 29. Kg2 Nf5 {Doubling the major
pieces on the h-file is insufficient for victory. With the next move Black
begins to clear his second rank for his Queen's passage to h7[%cal Gc7h7]} 30.
Bxf5 {This only facilitates Black's win for it weakens e4} Rxf5 {[%csl Ge4]}
31. Qe2 {Loses at once. White does not even have time later on to sacrifice
the exchange at e4} Rfh5 32. Rh1 e5 $1 {A tactical stroke consummating the
struggle. The Bishop breaks into the opponent's camp[%cal Gd7f5,Gf5e4]} 33.
dxe5 Bf5 34. Rag1 hxg3 35. Kf1 Rxh2 0-1

[Event "Leningrad ch-SU"]
[Site "Leningrad ch-SU"]
[Date "1939.??.??"]
[Round "?"]
[White "Kotov A"]
[Black "Botvinnik Mikhail"]
[Result "0-1"]
[ECO "E33"]
[PlyCount "76"]

1. d4 Nf6 2. c4 e6 3. Nc3 Bb4 4. Qc2 {At this period of this game Kotov always
played Nf3 or Pe3. But against me chose Qc2, and this was not a haphazard move.
The point is that in a game against Makogonov I had adopted the system, for
Black ... Nc6 and ... Pd5. It is obvious that White would find it very
attractive to provoke me into these same variations, which theory reckoned to
be in White's favour} Nc6 (4... d5 {worked at in too great detail, did not
suit me for by my position in the tournament I had to play to win this game})
5. Nf3 d5 6. e3 {Kotov prefers to transpose the play from the Nimzo-Indian
Defence to a well-known variation of the Ragozin Defence, which is generally
regarded as favourable to White} (6. a3 Bxc3+ 7. Qxc3 Ne4 8. Qc2 e5 {Makogonov
continued as such, and Black has counter initiative.}) 6... O-O 7. a3 Bxc3+ 8.
Qxc3 Bd7 {So the result is Ragozin's Defence with moves interchanged. This is
a characteristic a of modern defence system against 1. Pd4. Black yields his
opponent the advantage of two Bishops and goes for a rather cramped
arrangement of his pieces. Why does he do all this? Basically for the sake of
swift development. And in fact so far as Black is concerned the opening is
ended, whereas White's development is far from completion. Black is ready for
any operations, while White must play with great caution, as he is lagginst in
development  With such a method of playing the opening, ie. ignoring
symmetrical moves and aiming at counterplay, the advantage of the move is less
perciptible. This, in my view is what present-day players aim at when playing
Black} 9. b3 (9. b4 a5 $1 10. b5 Na7 11. a4 c6 {the play is opened up, and
Black is already prepared for that}) 9... a5 10. Bd3 {The first inexact move!
Black's plan is quite simple: exploiting the fact that White has made the move
Pa3, he aims to capture the white squares on the Queenside.} (10. Bb2 a4 11. b4
dxc4 12. Bxc4 Na7 $11 {[%cal Gd7b5]}) 10... a4 11. Nd2 {The second inexact
move! White did not like the variation of Pb4, though it was perfectly
playable. Black immediately exploits the weakening of pressure on the central
square e5[%csl Ye5][%cal Ge6e5]} (11. b4 dxc4 12. Bxc4 {Black gains an
important tempo}) 11... Re8 12. O-O {A sound decision: White does not prevent .
.. Pe5. He is too backward in development to permit himself} (12. f4 {which
would involve a further weakening of the white squares} Na5 13. O-O axb3 14.
Nxb3 Nxc4 15. Bxc4 dxc4 16. Qxc4 Bc6 {White's Kingside arouses serious anxiety
[%csl Yd5,Ye4,Yf3,Yg2,Yg4]}) 12... e5 13. dxe5 {The third inexact move!} (13.
Bb2 e4 14. Be2 Na5 {Black's superiority is undoubted, as he forcedly obtains
an excellent base at d5 for his pieces; but with this continuation events
would develop at a slower tempo. Probably, in exchanging at e5 White intended
to develop pressure on g7 along the closed diagonal a1-h8. However, just the
reverse happens: White has difficulties with the defence of his Kingside})
13... Nxe5 14. Bb2 {For that matter, Black has no intention of yielding his
excellently centralized Knight so readily} ({White can't even dream of keeping
both his Bishops} 14. Be2 Ne4 15. Nxe4 dxe4 16. Bb2 Qg5 {with an increasing
attack}) 14... axb3 {An important move! White intended to play Rfd1 with
pressure along the d-file} 15. Nxb3 {The fourth inexact move, and this time
devisive! Black forces a won position. White should have taken with the Queen}
(15. Qxb3 {White rejected this because the Rook can't get to d1 due to ... Ba4.
[%cal Ga4d1]}) 15... Ne4 $1 {Immediately exploiting the absence of the White
Knight from the centre. Now White has only on reply} 16. Qc2 (16. Bxe4 dxe4 {
[%cal Gd8g5]} 17. -- Qg5) (16. Qd4 c5 17. Qxd5 Nf6 $19) 16... Nxc4 {Black
intends to put pressure on White's g2. So the Bishop at d3 must be exchanged
off, and the remaining Bishops of opposite colours only facilitate Black's
attack[%csl Gg2]} 17. Bxc4 dxc4 18. Qxc4 Qg5 $1 {A threat of ... Bh3 and ...
Bg4 winning the exchange in either case. To defend g2 with his Queen at c2
White is forced to play Pf4 and reconcile himself to a decisive weakening of
his pawn structure, as it will be difficult to defend the h1-a8 diagonal[%cal
Gd7h3]} 19. f4 (19. Qc2 {To parry ... Bh3} Ba4 20. Rfd1 Ra6 $19) 19... Qg6 {
This position must be reckoned as won for Black. One can imagine the general
astonishment when, annotating this game in the newspaper "64" Belavenietz (who
in gneral was one of the most outstanding Soviet analysts) wrote that after
Qxc7 "there is nothing decisive apparent for Black" and backed up his opinoun
with a large number of variations} 20. Rfd1 {Rebutts Black's threat of ... Be6}
(20. Qxc7 Bh3 21. Qc2 Rac8 22. Qe2 Nd6 {Belavneietz did not notice this move,
and White can hardly save himself[%csl Re3]} 23. Rac1 $1 (23. Nd4 Rxe3 24. Qf2
Ne4 25. f5 Qg5 $19) (23. Rf2 Bg4 24. Qe1 Ne4 25. Rf1 Rc2 26. Qb1 Re2) (23. Bd4
Rc2) (23. f5 Nxf5) 23... Rxe3 24. Rxc8+ Nxc8 25. Qd2 Rd3 26. Qe2 Qxg2+ 27. Qxg2
Bxg2 28. Re1 Bc6) (20. -- Be6 $140 21. Qc2 Bxb3 22. Qxb3 Nd2) 20... Nd6 {At
all costs Black must avoid exchanging off his excellent bishop} (20... Be6 $141
21. Qc2 Bxb3 22. Qxb3 {[%csl Gd2]}) (20... Bc6 21. Qc2 {After Nd4 White
succeeds in exchanging of his excellent Bishop[%cal Gb3d4]}) 21. Qd3 (21. Qxc7
Bc6 $19 {[%csl Rg2]}) 21... Bf5 22. Qc3 Be4 (22... Bh3 $142 23. g3 h5 {[%cal
Gh5h4]}) 23. Rd2 Bc6 24. Qd3 Nf5 {[%csl Ge3]} (24... Be4 25. Qc3 Nf5 26. Nc5 $1
) 25. Be5 (25. -- Be4 26. Qc3 Nh4) 25... f6 26. Bxc7 (26. e4 Nh4 27. Bxc7 Rxe4
28. Qg3 Qf7 29. Bb6 Nf5 $19) 26... Rxe3 27. Qc4+ Kh8 28. Bb6 Ree8 {Simplest!
White must defend against ... Nh4[%cal Gf5h4]} 29. Qf1 h5 30. Nd4 {Black
readily exchanges Knights, as that would strengthen the position of the Bishop
at c6. With the Knight exchange White is condemned to complete passivity} (30.
Na5 Be4) 30... Nxd4 (30... Ne3 31. Qd3 $1) 31. Bxd4 (31. Rxd4 $142 {Preventing
... Re4[%csl Ge4]}) 31... Re4 {[%csl Re2][%cal Ga8e8,Yg6g4]} 32. Re1 {The only
move else Black invades with ... Rae8, ... Qg4 and ... Re2} (32. -- Rae8 $140
33. -- Qg4 34. -- Re2) 32... Rxe1 33. Qxe1 Rxa3 34. Kh1 Ra8 {Both sides had
little time for thought; this explains the inexact play which can be easily
detected in recent moves of both Black and White  Thus White should not have
withdrawn his King to h1, while after this move Black could have won another
pawn with ... Rf3.  However, this does not affect the estimate of the position:
White can't save the game} (34... Rf3 $142) 35. Re2 Kh7 36. h3 Re8 37. Qf2 {
White falls into an artful trap which Black had thought of at the 34th move.} (
37. Qd2 Rd8 38. Qe3 Qf5 39. Kg1 g5 {he could not have put up resistance}) 37...
Qxg2+ $1 {It is an interesting fact that seven years later, in a game against
Himar (Groningen, 1946) Kotov (remembering the foregoing game!) himself caught
his opponent in a similar trap; with the sole difference that in the later
game the pin was not along a diagonal, but along a vertical} 38. Qxg2 Rxe2 0-1

[Event "Russia"]
[Site "Match, Leningrad  (3)"]
[Date "1940.??.??"]
[Round "?"]
[White "Botvinnik Mikhail"]
[Black "Ragozin V"]
[Result "1-0"]
[ECO "D94"]
[PlyCount "63"]

1. d4 d5 2. c4 c6 3. Nc3 Nf6 ({Since the eighth game of Keres-Euwe 1940 this
is rarely played} 3... dxc4 4. e4 e5 5. Nf3 exd4 6. Qxd4 $16) 4. e3 g6 (4...
Bf5 {due to the move order with Nc3 rather than Nf3 this is not possible} 5.
cxd5 cxd5 6. Qb3 {[%csl Gb7,Gd5]}) (4... e6 {Meran variation}) 5. Nf3 Bg7 6.
Bd3 O-O 7. O-O Bg4 {A dubious system of development in use 25 years ago. True,
Black has solved the problem of development of the Queen Bishop, but he leaves
White the advantage of the Bishop pair} 8. h3 Bxf3 9. Qxf3 {[%csl Yc1,Yd3]}
dxc4 {A positional error. White two Bishops may be powerful if the game is
opened, so Black should not have excanged in the centre} (9... e6 $142) 10.
Bxc4 Nbd7 11. Rd1 e5 {Now, of course, it is not in White's interest to play 12.
Pxe5 Nxe5; but he can operate on the d-file with Pd5. This has the advantage
that Black's Bishop remains blocked} (11... Ne8 {Bogoljubov-Marshall,
Baden-Baden 1925 didn't equalize}) 12. d5 c5 13. d6 {This move should be made
before Pe4 as White, in attacking the b-pawn with his Queen, gains tempo[%csl
Gb7]} Rb8 14. e4 Ne8 {Black makes an attempt to capture the d-pawn, but
nothing comes of it. Moreover, even if he were to succeed, White would still
have the better position, as he would control files for his own pieces.
White's sole danger would arise if Black could transfer one of his Knights to
d5, but he cannot[%csl Gd6]} 15. Be3 a6 16. a4 Rc8 (16... Qb6 17. Nd5 Qxd6 18.
Bg5 Kh8) 17. Rd2 h6 {The attempt to win the pawn could still be refuted by
various means  Black aims to transfer his Knight ... Ne8-g6-h7-g5-e6[%cal
Ge8f6,Gf6h7,Gh7g5,Gg5e6]} (17... Rc6 18. Rad1 Nb6 19. Bd5 Nxd5 20. Rxd5 {White
breaksthrough Black's front}) (17... Nef6 18. Bg5) 18. Rad1 (18. Qd1 -- 19. a5
-- 20. Nd5 {could be stronger}) 18... Nef6 19. Nd5 {Finally, with this move
White prevents the Knight manoeuvre above mentioned, and secondly, every
exchange increases the strength of the d-pawn} Nxd5 20. Bxd5 Rb8 21. Qe2 Kh7
22. Rc2 Qf6 {This is a serious error. The c-pawn needs protection, so Black
should have played ... Qa5[%csl Rc5]} (22... Qa5 $142 23. b3 {All of Black's
pieces occupy passive positions, there is no obvious threat to them. Even so,
because of the Pd6 White's win is only a matter of time}) 23. Ba2 {White
prefers to keep the d-pawn and exploit the weakness of Black's f-pawn} (23.
Bxc5 Nxc5 24. Rxc5 Qxd6 25. Rdc1 $16) 23... Rbc8 24. b4 {Black has no way of
defending the c-pawn, so he is forced to let the White Rook penetrate to the
seventh rank} cxb4 25. Rc7 Rxc7 {This of course speeds up the denouement, but
it is obvious that against White's two powerful Bishops, the pawn on d6, a
Rook on the seventh rank, and equality in material the "struggle" would not be
very interesting} 26. dxc7 Nb6 (26... Qc6 27. Qc4) 27. Bxb6 Qxb6 28. Qc4 Rc8
29. Rd7 {The rest is obvious - there is no escape} Qc6 30. Qxc6 bxc6 31. Rxf7
c5 32. Be6 1-0

[Event "Russia"]
[Site "Match, Leningrad  (5)"]
[Date "1940.??.??"]
[Round "?"]
[White "Botvinnik Mikhail"]
[Black "Ragozin V"]
[Result "1-0"]
[ECO "A28"]
[PlyCount "65"]

1. c4 e5 2. Nc3 Nf6 3. Nf3 Nc6 4. d4 e4 {The general attitude to this move is
critical and rightly so. The advanced e-pawn causes Black a good deal of
trouble, and White has an easy game} (4... exd4 {more circumspect}) 5. Nd2 Bb4
{This move which Ragozin played against Riumin (Moscow 1935) enables White to
retain a strong pawn centre} (5... Nxd4 {more prudent as Flohr played against
me in the fifth round of our Moscow 1933}) 6. e3 O-O 7. Be2 (7. Qc2 {played by
Riumin, recaptured the Knight with Queen and castled Queenside with
double-edged chances. In the present game White pursues a different plan: the
immediate undermining of the e-pawn, Black's one strong point in the centre})
7... Re8 {Ragozin also played thus against Riumin; in that case it was
obligatory, here perhaps he should have resolved on ... Pd6} 8. O-O Bxc3 {
Sooner or later the exchange was necessary} 9. bxc3 d6 10. f3 {White
consistently pursues his attack on the e-pawn. It transpires Black can't hold
the centre} exf3 (10... Bf5 11. fxe4 Bxe4 12. Nxe4 Nxe4 13. Bd3 {Black has no
time to play Pg6 and Pf5, consolidating e4 for himself. Even so perhaps he
should have chosen this variation; he might have been a pawn down but he would
have counterplay[%cal Gf1f4]} -- 14. Bxe4 Rxe4 15. Rxf7 {[%cal Gd1f3]}) 11.
Bxf3 $1 {This is the contination in mind when he played Be2. The e4 square has
been won from Black[%cal Ge3e4]} Rxe3 {Black accepts the sacrifice which is
clearly imprudent, as White Queen Bishop will come into play with great force}
({If Black doesn't except the sacrifice} 11... Ne7 12. Ne4 Nxe4 13. Bxe4 $36)
12. Nb3 Re8 (12... Rxc3 13. Bg5 -- 14. Qd2) 13. Bg5 Ne7 {Even so the doubling
of pawns on the f-file can't be avoided. White in turn is in no hurry to
exchange at f6, for he doesn't want to simplify the play, and he exploits the
lull to bring up reserves} 14. Qd2 c6 {Black is forced to lose yet another
move defending d5 and the b-pawn} (14... Ng6 15. h4 $16 {White's pawn advances
to h6 with an easy win[%cal Gh4h5,Gh5h6]}) 15. Rae1 Bf5 (15... Nd7 16. Bh5) 16.
Bxf6 gxf6 {It appears Black has found a means of defence. After retiring the
Bishop to g6 he intends to begin exchanges on the e-file} 17. h4 d5 18. cxd5
cxd5 (18... Nxd5 19. Rxe8+ Qxe8 20. Bxd5 {loses a piece[%csl Rf5]}) 19. Bd1 {
Black's bishop must move due to the threat of Rxe7[%csl Rf5]} Be4 20. Rxf6 Ng6
21. Qf2 {[%cal Gh4h5,Yb3c5]} Re6 {The only move else Ph5 and Nc5} 22. Rxe6 fxe6
23. h5 (23. Nc5 Qxh4 24. Qxh4 Nxh4 25. Nxe4 dxe4 26. Rxe4 Ng6 27. Rxe6 $18)
23... Nf8 (23... Nh4 24. Nc5 Bxg2 25. Qg3+ $18) 24. Qg3+ Kf7 (24... Kh8 25.
Qe5+ Kg8 26. Re3 $18 {[%cal Ge3g3]}) 25. Rf1+ Bf5 26. Qf4 {All that remains
now is to breakdown the last feeble barrier on the f-file} Nd7 27. Bc2 {White
in time shortage chooses another way} (27. g4 Qh4 28. Qh2 Qg5 29. Kh1) 27...
Qb8 (27... Qf6 28. Qc7 Qe7 29. Bxf5 exf5 30. Qxb7) 28. Qh6 Qg8 (28... Nf6 29.
Bxf5 exf5 30. Rxf5 Qh8 31. Nc5 $18) 29. Bxf5 exf5 30. Rxf5+ Ke7 31. Rg5 Qe6 32.
Rg7+ Kd6 33. Rxd7+ {After Black accepted the pawn's sacrifice White's pressure
increased gradually but inexoerably} 1-0

[Event "08"]
[Site "Leningrad"]
[Date "1940.??.??"]
[Round "?"]
[White "Ragozin V"]
[Black "Botvinnik Mikhail"]
[Result "0-1"]
[ECO "D82"]
[PlyCount "81"]

1. d4 Nf6 2. c4 g6 3. Nc3 d5 4. Bf4 Bg7 5. e3 O-O 6. Rc1 {Capablanca was the
originator of this manoeuvre (Capablanca-Reshevsky, Amsterdam 1938). The idea
was to make it as difficult for Black to play ... Pc5} c5 7. dxc5 {When
preparing for this game I made a critical study of Reshevsky's play, and after
several trials I hit upon this move. Instead of sacrificing the d-pawn, and
the recapturing it with difficulty, Black defends it in advance. It is not
expedient for White to exchange at d5, as that surrenders the initiative to
Black} Be6 {Black's immediate task is the rapid development of all his forces;
this is much more difficult for White} (7... Qa5 8. cxd5 Rd8 9. Bc4 {White's
intention, but a slight disillusionment awaited him}) 8. Nf3 Nc6 9. Qa4 {
Forestalls ... Qa5 but in doing so loses precious time. Black has completed
development of his minor pieces, and immediately turns to active operations
[%csl Ga5]} (9. Be2 $142) 9... Ne4 10. Be2 {Now White plans to complete his
development} (10. Nxe4 dxe4 11. Nd2 Bxb2) (10. cxd5 Nxc3 11. bxc3 Qxd5 {[%csl
Ra2]}) 10... Bxc3+ {It was difficult to decide on giving up the excellent
Bishop, but the possible variaations confirm the soundness of the exchange. By
destroying the Knight and retaining his own centralized Knight, Black gains a
great advantage in the centre, which is bound to influence later events} (10...
Nxc3 11. bxc3 dxc4 12. Bxc4 {Can't give Black initiative .. how should he
continue}) 11. bxc3 dxc4 12. Nd4 (12. Bxc4 Nxc5 13. Qb5 Bxc4 14. Qxc5 (14. Qxc4
Nd3+) 14... Qd3 15. Ng1 Rad8 $19 {[%csl Rf1]}) (12. O-O Nxc5 13. Qb5 Qa5 14.
Bxc4 Qxb5 15. Bxb5 Bxa2 $17 {White is a pawn down. Even so, castling was
White's best course}) 12... Bd5 {simplest; because of the threat ... Pe5 White
must threat[%cal Ge7e5]} 13. Bh6 (13. -- e5 14. Nxc6 Bxc6) 13... Re8 (13... e5
14. Nxc6 (14. Bxf8 exd4 15. Bd6 (15. cxd4 Qxf8 16. Bxc4 $16) 15... d3 {[%cal
Gd3d2]}) 14... Bxc6 15. Qc2 Qh4 {very attractive}) 14. O-O e5 {[%cal Gd8h4]}
15. Nf3 {Otherwise ... Qh4 follows[%csl Gh4]} Nxc5 16. Qb5 b6 {Leads to an
unexpected sharpening of tension, as White is able to pin Black's pieces to
the d-file. However, Black has grown so strong in the centre that he need not
be afraid of the pin} ({Black could have chosen} 16... Qa5 17. Bxc4 Qxb5 18.
Bxb5 Bxa2) 17. Rfd1 {White must now defend the c4 pawn[%csl Gc4]} (17. Bxc4 $4
a6) (17. Rcd1 a6 18. Qb1 b5 19. Bg5 Qd7 (19... f6 $1 20. Bxf6 Qxf6 21. Rxd5 Na4
22. Qc2 e4 23. Nd4 Ne7 24. Rd7 Nc5 25. Rc7 Qe5 {White loses the exchange[%csl
Rc7]}) 20. e4 Bxe4 21. Qxe4 Qxd1 22. Qxc6 Qxe2 23. Qxc5) 17... a6 (17... e4 18.
Bxc4) 18. Qb1 b5 19. Bg5 Qd7 {The decisive move![%cal Ge5e4]} 20. a4 (20. e4
Bxe4 21. Rxd7 Bxb1 22. Rd5 (22. Rc7 Be4) 22... Ne4 23. Rxb1 Nxc3 $11 {White
has lost three pawns for the piece}) 20... e4 21. axb5 axb5 22. Nd4 (22. Qxb5
Ra5 {[%csl Rf3]}) 22... Nxd4 23. exd4 Nb3 24. Qc2 {Rc2 is also hopeless;
besides the extra pawn Black has a dominating position. The question
involuntarily arises, what was White hoping for? The explanation is quite
simple: Black was under acute time pressure. Perhaps he played his next few
moves not quite exactly, but he did not let the victory slip out of his hands}
Nxc1 25. Qxc1 Ra2 26. Qe3 Qc6 27. h4 f6 28. Bh6 Rea8 29. Kh2 Rb2 30. Bg4 b4 31.
cxb4 c3 32. Rc1 c2 33. f3 Rb1 34. fxe4 Bxe4 35. d5 Qd6+ (35... Qxd5 36. Rxc2) (
35... Bxd5 36. Qe7 {[%csl Rg7]} Bf7 (36... Qb7 37. Be6+) 37. Bf3) 36. Bf4 Qxb4
37. Be6+ (37. Rxc2 Bxc2 38. Qe6+ Kg7 39. Qd7+ Kh8 40. Bh6 Rh1+ 41. Kxh1 Qe1+
42. Kh2 Qxh4+ 43. Kg1 Qxh6 $19) 37... Kh8 38. d6 Rxc1 39. Qxc1 Qd4 40. d7 Bc6
41. h5 {A game crameed with interesting variations} 0-1

[Event "Leningrad"]
[Site "Leningrad"]
[Date "1940.??.??"]
[Round "?"]
[White "Ragozin V"]
[Black "Botvinnik Mikhail"]
[Result "0-1"]
[ECO "C98"]
[PlyCount "80"]

1. e4 e5 2. Nf3 Nc6 3. Bb5 a6 4. Ba4 Nf6 5. O-O Be7 6. Re1 b5 7. Bb3 d6 8. c3
O-O 9. h3 Na5 10. Bc2 c5 11. d4 Qc7 12. Nbd2 cxd4 13. cxd4 Nc6 14. Nf1 {All
this has been met with often enough before. The continuation with 14. Nb3 is
admitted to be the best for White. However, he chooses another, long familiar
continuation which was played as long ago in the Lasker-Tarrasch match, Munich
1908 and is associated with the sacrifice of the d-pawn} exd4 15. Bf4 {
Recommended by Tartakower. The same move was played in Kasparian-Panov 
(Tsilisi 1937)} Qb6 (15... Be6 16. Rc1 Qb6 17. Bb1 Rac8 18. Ng3 Rfd8 19. Nf5
Bxf5 20. exf5 Nd5 21. Bg5 Bxg5 22. Nxg5 Nf6 23. Ne4 Nxe4 24. Rxe4 d5 25. Re1
Na7 26. Rxc8 Nxc8 27. Qe2 Kf8 28. Qe5 h6 29. h4 f6 30. Qf4 Re8 31. Rxe8+ Kxe8
32. Bd3 Qa5 33. Qxd4 Qxa2 34. Kh2 Ne7 35. Be2 Qa5 36. Qa7 Kd8 37. g3 Nxf5 38.
Bg4 g6 39. h5 Qb4 40. Qb6+ Ke7 41. Qc7+ Ke8 42. Qc6+ Ke7 43. Qb7+ Ke8 44. Qa8+
Ke7 45. Qa7+ Ke8 46. Qb8+ Ke7 47. Qc7+ Ke8 48. Qc8+ Ke7 49. Qc7+ Ke8 50. Qc8+
Ke7 51. Bf3 Qxb2 52. Qb7+ Ke8 53. Qa8+ Ke7 54. Qa7+ Kd6 55. Qb6+ Ke5 56. hxg6
Qd2 57. Bg2 Nxg3 58. Qb8+ Kf5 59. Qxg3 {1-0 Kasparian,G-Panov,V/Tbilisi 1937})
16. e5 {From this point Black has a good game. One cannot understand why White
avoided the plan Nf1-g3-f5 which Kasparian used successfully in the game
already mentioned. The exchange of the e-pawn for the Black pawn on d6 should
have been made only when this forced definite advantages for White. But now
Black has won a pawn without any adverse effects} dxe5 17. Nxe5 Be6 {
Developing the light squared Bishop and covering the dark squared Bishop. The
Queen pawn is invulnerable since White's c2 Bishop hangs} 18. Nxc6 Qxc6 {[%csl
Gc2]} 19. Be5 Rfd8 20. Rc1 Qd7 21. Qd3 {Shrewd, yet suprisingly enough leads
to a loss. True, after this move Black had to calculate quite a number of long
variations} (21. Bc7 Re8 22. Be5 Rad8 23. Bc7 Rc8 24. Be5 Red8 {refutes an
attempt to play for a draw}) 21... Bc4 22. Qxd4 {The whole point. White
compelled by 21. ... Bc4 by threatening BxN, and now he has captured Black's
central passed pawn, so restoring equality of material} Qxd4 23. Bxd4 Rxd4 {
The only move leading to retention of his advantage} 24. Rxe7 Bxa2 {Unexpected,
as the Bishop would appear to be shut out of play and caught in a trap.
However, Black's pieces manage to come to its rescue in time, and the
resulting endgame with an extra pawn is not so difficult technically} 25. b3
Nd5 {With his next move White must pin the Knight else ... Nb4 will follow and
the Bishop is protected[%cal Gd5b4]} (25... Rc8 26. Bxh7+ Kf8 27. Rxc8+ Kxe7
28. Bc2 {leads only to a draw}) 26. Rd7 Nc3 {It can be accepted the first
attack on the Bishop is repulsed![%cal Ge2g1,Ge2d4,Yb5b4]} 27. Rxd4 {Otherwise
... Pb4} Ne2+ 28. Kh2 Nxd4 29. Be4 (29. Nd2 f5 {Providing the K and escape
square freeing the R[%cal Gg8f7]} 30. Bd1 Re8 31. Ra1 Re1 32. Rxa2 Rxd1 $19)
29... Nxb3 {Black's pieces appear to be in a dangerous situation, but it
transpires that White is unable to exploit the circumstances} 30. Rc7 (30. Rc3
Rb8 31. Bd5 b4 32. Rc2 (32. Rxb3 Bxb3 33. Bxb3 Rd8 $19) 32... Bb1 33. Rb2 Bd3)
30... Rb8 31. Bd5 Nc1 32. Bb7 (32. Be4 Ne2) 32... Be6 33. Bxa6 Na2 34. Nd2 Nb4
35. Bb7 Nd5 36. Bxd5 Bxd5 37. f4 g6 38. Rc5 Ba2 39. g4 b4 40. Rc2 Be6 {At this
point the game was adjourned. White sealed Rb2 but did not resume play.
Black's pieces cooperated in great harmony} 0-1

[Event "Russia"]
[Site "Ch URS, Leningrad"]
[Date "1940.??.??"]
[Round "?"]
[White "Botvinnik Mikhail"]
[Black "Boleslavsky I"]
[Result "1-0"]
[ECO "E68"]
[PlyCount "97"]

1. d4 Nf6 2. c4 d6 3. Nc3 e5 {After a number of games played by Boleslavsky
and Bronstein we all know how many finesses are concealed in this opening. But
when this game was played (it was my first meet with Boleslavsky) all one knew
was that the Kiev players (Boleslavsky is an Ukranian) were fond of playing
this defence, and that they had got hold of some new idea or other associated
with the later breakthrough ... Pd5  Pe5 has point if White wishes to avoid
the Samisch} (3... g6 4. e4 Bg7 5. f3 O-O 6. Be3 e5 7. Nge2 exd4 8. Nxd4 c6 {
Pirc's innovations 1939 the continuation for White has become less convincing
[%cal Gd6d5]}) 4. Nf3 (4. dxe5 dxe5 5. Qxd8+ Kxd8 $11 {Najdorf-Boleslavsky 
(Groningen 1946). Black "had" to make more than one blunder after this Queen
exchange in order to lose the game} 6. Nf3 Nfd7 7. g3 f6 8. Bg2 Na6 9. O-O c6
10. b3 Kc7 11. Bb2 Nac5 12. b4 Ne6 13. c5 Be7 14. Ne4 b6 15. cxb6+ Nxb6 16. a3
Na4 17. Bc1 Ba6 18. Re1 Rhd8 19. Be3 Nb6 20. Bh3 Nf8 21. Rac1 Nfd7 22. Be6 Bb5
23. Nfd2 Na4 24. Nb3 Ndb6 25. Na5 Re8 26. Bh3 Rad8 27. Rc2 Rd5 28. Nxc6 Bxc6
29. Rec1 Kb8 30. Rxc6 Red8 31. Kg2 Rd1 32. R1c2 Nd5 33. Bc5 Nab6 34. Be6 Ra1
35. Rd2 Kb7 36. Bxe7 Re8 37. Rxd5 {1-0 Najdorf,M-Boleslavsky,I/Groningen 1946})
4... Nbd7 5. g3 g6 6. Bg2 Bg7 7. O-O O-O 8. e4 Re8 {Black, if allowed
threatens to seize the initiative with 9. ... Pxd4. At the board I could not
find a sound continuation and decided to liquidate this threat by resort to
the most radical method} 9. d5 (9. -- exd4 $140 10. Nxd4 c6 {[%cal Gd6d5]})
9... Nc5 10. Ne1 a5 11. h3 (11. b3 Bd7 12. h3 Rf8 13. Be3 Ne8 14. Rc1 b6 15.
Qd2 f5 16. exf5 Bxf5 {White demonstrated the ... Bxf5 idea was not so good} 17.
g4 Bd7 18. Nf3 Rb8 19. Ng5 Bf6 20. Nge4 Bg7 21. Rce1 Nf6 22. Ng3 Kh8 23. f4 Ng8
24. Nce4 Nxe4 25. Nxe4 Qe7 26. Ng5 Rbe8 27. fxe5 Bxe5 28. Nf3 Bg7 29. Bxb6 Qxe1
30. Rxe1 Rxe1+ 31. Qxe1 cxb6 32. Qg3 a4 33. Qxd6 axb3 34. axb3 {1-0 Flohr,
S-Lilienthal,A/Moscow 1936}) 11... Rf8 12. Be3 (12. Nd3 Nxd3 13. Qxd3 {White's
second Knight would be transferred to c5 to an excellent position.[%cal Gf6d7,
Gd7c5]}) 12... Ne8 (12... Nfd7 $142 {but Boleslavsky didn't want to close the
h3-c8 diagonal[%cal Gd7c5]}) 13. Nd3 {White aims at once to exploit a
convenient opportunity to propose a Knight exchange} (13. f4 f5 14. exf5 gxf5
15. fxe5 Bxe5 {White would have had the initiative}) 13... b6 14. Qd2 (14. f4 {
no longer possible} exf4 15. gxf4 f5 $1 {With great complications}) 14... f5
15. exf5 gxf5 $1 {Perfectly sound} 16. f4 Nxd3 {Boleslavksy is playing very
thoughtfully, if not too much so!} (16... e4 17. Nf2 $1 {Boleslavsky feared
this. However, in this continuation Black would retain his Knight on c5, while
in all probability he could prevent the advance of the g-pawn[%cal Gg3g4]}) 17.
Qxd3 e4 18. Qd2 {All the commentators estimated the position here as in
Black's favour; in my view this was due to a misapprehension.  On the
Queenside, where White can initiate a pawn advance with Pa3, Pb4-5, his
superiority is obvious. Black's passed pawn at e4 brings Black no advantage
whatever while so many minor pieces are left on the board, and his only
comfort is the weakness of the White g-pawn. However, this weakness is only
apparent, for Black's minor pieces cannot attack it[%csl Re4,Yg3][%cal Ga2a3,
Gb2b4,Gb4b5]} Qf6 19. Rf2 Bd7 20. Rd1 Qg6 21. Ne2 Nf6 22. Bd4 Rae8 23. Qe3 h6
24. Nc3 Rf7 25. Bf1 Kh7 26. Be2 h5 {All these manoeuvres are easy to
understand. White has disposed his Bishops to the best advantage and has
blocked the e-pawn; now he has only to place his Rooks so as to secure the
Kingside. Black is preparing to double his Rooks on the g-file[%csl Re3][%cal
Gg8g3]} 27. Rg2 Bh6 28. Rf1 Rg8 29. Rff2 Bg7 30. a3 h4 {An unfortunate idea.
Boleslavsky evidently a little pertubed by White's slow manoeuvres, was under
the impression that he had the better game. He was afraid of being too late
with this breakthrough; and "supposing White suddenly decided to close the
position with Ph4?"  Now White is the first to gather the fruits of opening
the game on the Kingside} (30... Bf8 $142 31. -- Be7 32. -- Qh6 33. -- Rfg7 {
though I think even then White was left with greater possibilities.}) 31. gxh4
Qh6 32. Rg5 Qxh4 33. Rfg2 {[%csl Rf6][%cal Gg5h5]} Be8 {The only defence. As
soon as White's second Rook reached the g-file a threat of capturing the Queen
arose[%cal Ge8h5]} (33... -- 34. Bxf6 Rxf6 35. Rh5+) 34. Rxf5 Bh6 35. Rfg5 {
The simplest. In the last resort White retains superiority in material with a 
crushing position} Bxg5 36. fxg5 Nh5 (36... Nd7 37. Rg4 (37. Nxe4 {[%cal Ge2d3]
} -- 38. Bd3) 37... Qe1+ 38. Kg2 $18) 37. Bxh5 Qxh5 38. Qxe4+ Rg6 (38... Qg6 $4
39. Qh4+ $18) 39. Qxe8 (39. Rg4 $142 Kg8 40. Qxe8+ Rf8 41. Qe3) 39... Rxg5 $1
40. Qh8+ Kg6 41. Qg8+ Kf5 {At this point White sealed his move. His
superiority is great, but the finish was not without interest} 42. Qc8+ Kf4 (
42... Kg6 43. Qe6+ Kh7 44. Rg4 $3 (44. Qxf7+ Qxf7 45. Rxg5 {Leads to technical
difficulties due to the open position of White}) 44... Rxg4+ (44... Rf1+ 45.
Kxf1 Qxh3+ 46. Ke1 Qxg4 47. Qf7+ Kh6 48. Be3 $18 {White wins an extra piece})
45. hxg4 Qg6 46. Ne4) 43. Qe6 {An amusing move. Despite the exposed nature of
White's King, he succeeds in avoiding perpetual check, whereas it is
impossible to save the Black King from attack} Rxg2+ 44. Kxg2 Qf3+ 45. Kg1 Qg3+
(45... Rf8 46. Ne2+ Kg5 47. Be3+) 46. Kf1 Qf3+ 47. Bf2 Qh5 (47... Rf8 48. Qh6+
Ke5 49. Qg5+ Qf5 (49... Rf5 50. Qe7+ Kf4 51. Qh4+) 50. Qe7+ Kf4 51. Qe3#) 48.
Ne2+ Kg5 49. h4+ 1-0

[Event "Russia"]
[Site "Ch URS, Moscow  (4)"]
[Date "1940.??.??"]
[Round "?"]
[White "Botvinnik Mikhail"]
[Black "Levenfish G"]
[Result "1-0"]
[ECO "A28"]
[PlyCount "53"]

1. c4 e5 2. Nc3 Nf6 3. Nf3 Nc6 4. d4 exd4 5. Nxd4 Bb4 6. Bg5 h6 7. Bh4 Bxc3+ 8.
bxc3 Ne5 {This exchange, in conjunction with the later Knight manoeuvre ...
Nc6-e5-g6, was played by Nennarokov as long ago as 1933 in the Leningrad
Master's Tournament. By so playing Black succeeds in exchanging off the Bishop
at h4} 9. e3 Ng6 10. Bg3 Ne4 {Black has gained his end, the Bishop exchange is
unavoidable} 11. Qc2 Nxg3 12. hxg3 d6 13. f4 $1 {During the analysis of my
game with Nenarokov I came to the conclusion that it is simplest of all for
White to play Pf4 at once, depriving Black's Knight of his e5[%csl Ge5]} (13.
Rd1 Qe7 14. Be2 {Nenarokov allowed the pawn advance Pe4 and Pf4, and found
himself in a difficult situation owing to the awkward position of his Knight
at g6.} (14. c5 dxc5 15. Bb5+ Kf8 16. Nf3 Be6 {The analysis of Nenarokov in
Chess in the USSR wrote "There is nothing in the inviting pawn sacrifice})
14... a6 15. e4 Bd7 16. f4 Rd8 17. Kf2 Qf6 18. Bf3 Ne7 19. Qd2 b6 20. g4 g6 21.
Rh2 Qg7 22. Rdh1 f6 23. Nc2 g5 24. Ne3 Be6 25. g3 a5 26. a3 Kd7 27. Qe2 Rb8 28.
Qd3 Ke8 29. Bd1 Ng6 30. Ba4+ Kf8 31. Kf3 Kg8 32. Qd4 Rf8 33. Nf5 Bxf5 34. exf5
Ne7 35. Bd7 Rh7 36. fxg5 fxg5 37. Be6+ Rf7 {1-0 Botvinnik,M-Nenarokov,V/
Leningrad 1933}) 13... Qe7 {This move is pointless as White was intending to
transfer the King to f2 in any case[%cal Ge1f2]} 14. Kf2 Nf8 {Of course, it is
tempting to transfer the Knight to c5, but this move to f8 gives White the
possibility of striking an unexpected blow. The Knight blocks the King's move
to f8[%cal Gf8d7,Gd7c5]} 15. c5 dxc5 16. Bb5+ Nd7 {This leads to a completly
lost position. True, Black's situation cannot be regarded as entirely
satisfactory in any case} (16... c6 17. Nxc6) (16... Kd8 17. Rad1 cxd4 18.
Rxd4+ Bd7 19. Bxd7 Nxd7 20. Rhd1 Kc8 21. Rxd7 Qxd7 22. Rxd7 Kxd7 23. Qf5+ Ke7
24. Qe5+ Kf8 25. Qxc7 {White has every reason to count on a win since Black's
Rooks are separated}) (16... Bd7 17. Nf5 Qf6 18. Qe4+ Ne6 (18... Kd8 19. Rhd1
c6 20. Rd6) 19. Bxd7+ Kxd7 20. Rhd1+ Kc8 21. Rab1 Rb8 22. Qa4 Rd8 (22... Ra8
23. Qd7+ Kb8 24. Rxb7+) 23. Rxd8+ Nxd8 24. Rd1 Qxf5 25. Qe8) 17. Nf5 Qf6 18.
Rad1 g6 {The only possibility. Black gets a momentary breathing space} (18...
a6 19. Qe4+ Kd8 20. Bxd7 Bxd7 21. Qxb7 Rc8 22. Rxd7+ {[%csl Rc8][%cal Gh1d1]})
19. Nxh6 Rf8 {Defending the f-pawn and removing the Rook to a safer position} (
19... Qe6 20. Nxf7 Rxh1 21. Ng5) 20. g4 {Black's position is lost, as White
will be able to fix the weakness of his f6 square[%csl Rf6]} a6 21. g5 Qe6 22.
Be2 Nb6 23. Ng4 Ke7 24. Nf6 Qc6 25. Rh7 (25. g4) 25... Bf5 26. e4 Be6 (26...
Bd7 {the game would drag on a little longer}) 27. f5 1-0

[Event "9"]
[Site "Moscow ch-SU"]
[Date "1940.??.??"]
[Round "?"]
[White "Panov V"]
[Black "Botvinnik Mikhail"]
[Result "0-1"]
[ECO "C00"]
[PlyCount "82"]

1. e4 e6 2. d3 {This move has a simple explanation: To begin with, White wants
to avoid the prepared variations, and secondly, he wants to transpose the game
to the King's Indian Defence (with the colours reversed) of which he is a
great devotee.  Generally speaking, in such continuations White does not
attempt to exploit the advantage of the first move and concentrates on the
middlegame. This Master V. Panov's aim: he is one of those players who readily
go in for any complications (even disadvantageous ones) in the confidence that
in such positions he is bound to outplay his opponent!} c5 3. Nf3 Nc6 4. Nbd2
d5 5. Be2 {This play in the style of Philor's Defence is rejected by modern
masters. It is now well known that the fianchetto development of the e2 Bishop
is fundamental to the King's Indian Defence} Bd6 6. c3 (6. O-O Qc7 7. Re1 Nge7
8. c3 O-O 9. a3 f5 10. Bf1 Bd7 11. exd5 exd5 12. b4 Rae8 13. Bb2 b6 14. d4 c4
15. Nxc4 dxc4 16. Bxc4+ Kh8 17. Ng5 Bxh2+ 18. Kh1 Bf4 19. Nf7+ Rxf7 20. Bxf7
Rf8 21. Bh5 Ng8 22. c4 Qd8 23. Qf3 Qh4+ 24. Qh3 Qxf2 25. Re2 Qg3 26. Qxg3 Bxg3
27. c5 Nce7 28. Bf3 Bb5 29. Rc2 Nf6 30. a4 Bd3 31. Rcc1 Ne4 32. b5 Rf6 33. Bxe4
Bf2 {0-1 Nimzowitsch,A-Capablanca,J/San Sebastian 1911}) 6... Nge7 7. Nf1 {
Evidently White has come to the conclusion that the game is developing too
"normallY' without difficulties for either side. So to begin with he decides
to create difficulties for himself. This is the only possible explanation of
the extravagant manoeuvre which he is conemplating} (7. d4 $142) 7... O-O 8.
Ne3 f5 {It transpires that the manoeuvre Nf1-e3 only helps Black to advance ...
Pf7-f5-f4 and to take the initiative; however, this does not disturb White; he
has deliberately gone in for this continuation.  If during the game Panov had
guessed that his striving to depart from the thoroughly studied variations
were all for nothing, and that Black was simply following Capablanca in his
game with Nimzowitsch he would have been in despair. We not only that
Nimzowitch didn't embark on the manoeuvre Nc1-e3![%cal Gf5f4]} 9. exd5 exd5 10.
g3 {White has decided that the complications are now entered upon and he must
play with all his might. He has in mind Ng2, followed by Bf4xd6 in order to
weaken the black squares on Black's Kingside. So Black is bound to advance the
f-pawn further, and the "battle" of the middle-game is joined[%cal Ge3g2,Yc1f4]
} ({Nothing comes of} 10. d4 c4 11. b3 f4 12. Nc2 b5 13. a4 Na5) 10... f4 (
10... -- 11. Ng2 $140 -- 12. Bf4) 11. Ng2 Ng6 12. Qb3 {A cuning psychological
sally. Of course, White had no doubt that Black would sacrifice the b-pawn,
and the extra pawn would give him some compensation for the Black attack} Be6 (
12... Bc7 {Black prefers to accept White's challenge and pass immediately to
active operations}) 13. Nxf4 Nxf4 14. Bxf4 Bxf4 15. gxf4 Rxf4 {[%cal Gb7b6]}
16. Qxb7 {White has no choice, he must take the pawn else Black would have
continued ... Pb6 or ... Bg4 retaining the initiative with equality in
material  Now Black must play very exactly, as after any simplification
White's extra pawn is a weight factor} Na5 17. Qa6 Bc8 18. Qb5 Bg4 19. Ng1 {
Forced. Of course, such "manoeuvres" do not make for activity among White's
pieces; his Queen remains in a dangerous position} Qc7 {[%cal Gb8b5]} 20. b4 $1
{Panov discovers an ingenious way of complicating Black's task and avoids
threats to his Queen} (20. -- Rb8 $140 (20... a6) 21. Qa6 Rb6) 20... Nb7 (20...
cxb4 21. Qxd5+ {[%csl Ra8]}) 21. bxc5 Nd6 $1 {A fitting reply. As White must
defend the c-pawn he can retire the Queen only to b2} (21... Nxc5 22. d4 {
[%csl Rd5]}) 22. Qb2 (22. cxd6 Qxc3+ {[%csl Ra1]}) 22... Qxc5 23. Bxg4 {Both
now and later Pd4 leads to a permanet weakness of c4} Rxg4 24. Ne2 Re8 $1 {A
not very striking, yet probably decisive move. Now White is bound to determine
his King's position and to Castle long. In this case the open b-file
guarantees Black speedy success!} 25. O-O-O a5 {So far Black has played
irreproachably, but when he had only to inflict the final blow he did not
discover the simplest method  I decided to mobilize the a-pawn also, in order
to prevent the Knight transfer to White's b3, and also if occasion offered to
seize his b2 square} ({If my memory does not betry me I didn't play} 25... Re7
$1 {[%cal Ge7b7]} 26. Nd4 {but forgot about the pin} (26. Qb8+ Kf7) 26... Rxd4
{Unfortunately, in the 12th USSR Chps my play was marred by a number of such
oversights}) (25... Qxf2 26. Nd4 {Eases White's situation}) 26. Kb1 {Avoiding .
.. Rb4 variations and preparing Nd4[%cal Ge2d4]} (26. -- Rb4 $140 27. Qc2 Rxe2
{[%csl Rc3]} 28. Qxe2 Qxc3+ 29. Qc2 Qa3+ 30. Kd2 Rb2) 26... a4 27. Nd4 (27. Ka1
a3 28. Qc2 Rxe2 29. Qxe2 Qxc3+) 27... Re7 $1 {Delayed by two moves, this Rook
manoeuvre none the less is decisive} 28. f3 (28. Ka1 Rb7 29. Qd2 (29. Ne6 Qc8 {
winning a piece[%csl Rb2,Re6]}) 29... Rxd4 $1 {the White King cannot find
safety in the corner of the board[%cal Gd4a1]}) 28... Rh4 {Necessary. Pavov
devises an extraordinary combination which all but saves the game} 29. Rhe1 {
Brilliant, though, alas, mistaken. As in any case there was no defence. White
has had to decide on the Queen sacrifice} Rb7 30. Re8+ $1 Kf7 (30... Nxe8 31.
Qxb7) 31. Rf8+ {Now Black must play very carefully[%cal Ge6f8,Ge6c5]} Ke7 $1 (
31... Kxf8 32. Ne6+) (31... Kg6 32. Rg1+ Kh5 33. Qxb7 $3 Nxb7 34. Rf5+ Kh6 35.
Rf6+ $3 gxf6 (35... g6) 36. Nf5+ Kh5 37. Ng7+ {White forces a perpetual check.
A good idea}) 32. Re1+ (32. Nf5+ Nxf5 33. Qxb7+ Kxf8) 32... Re4 $3 {White
pieces are disunited, and he is in a helpless situation. The only explanation
of his further resistance is that he was slow in recovering from this
unexpected overthrow of all his combination} (32... Kd7 33. Rf7+ $18) 33. fxe4
Rxb2+ 34. Kxb2 Qb6+ 35. Kc2 Kxf8 36. exd5 Nb5 37. Rf1+ Ke8 38. Ne6 Na3+ 39. Kd1
Qb1+ 40. Ke2 Qb2+ 41. Ke3 Qxc3 {In this game Panov clearly aimed at
complicating the struggle, but, sowing the wind, he reaped the whirlwind!} 0-1

[Event "match-tournament"]
[Site "Ch URS , Leningrad/Moscow (Ru"]
[Date "1941.??.??"]
[Round "?"]
[White "Botvinnik Mikhail"]
[Black "Lilienthal A"]
[Result "1-0"]
[ECO "E68"]
[PlyCount "57"]

1. d4 Nf6 2. c4 g6 3. Nc3 Bg7 4. Nf3 d6 5. g3 Nbd7 6. Bg2 O-O 7. O-O e5 8. e4
Re8 9. Be3 {This move presents Black with a difficult problem. It will be
fully appreciated only by those devoted to the King's Indian Defence. The
point is that in recent years a system of play was found for Black (... exd4, .
.. Pc6, ... Pd5). With Be3 this is hardly practicable.  So Black has to think
of something different} exd4 (9... Ng4 10. Bg5 f6 11. Bc1 {It is doubtful
whether this improves Black's position at all}) 10. Nxd4 Ne5 11. b3 Nfg4 {
Temporarily Black has the initiative. But the position of his pieces in the
centre is insecure, while White's central pawn at e4 cramps Black's play[%csl
Gd5,Gf5]} 12. Bf4 Nc6 13. Nde2 f5 {Black gets rid of the e-pawn, but White's
pawn majority developing on the Kingside gives him good chances} 14. h3 Nf6 15.
exf5 Bxf5 16. Qd2 {Inconsistent} (16. g4 $142 {White's superiority would have
been unquestionable} Nxg4 17. hxg4 Bxg4 {White would have to go over
temporarily to the defence, but gradually his material advantage would have
told}) 16... h5 $1 {of course[%csl Gg4]} 17. Rae1 Qd7 18. Kh2 Kh7 (18... Ne4
19. Qd5+ {[%csl Re4]}) 19. Bg5 Ne5 {Black's situation is not easy and he seeks
counterplay} (19... Ne4 20. Nxe4 Bxe4 21. f3 Bf5 22. g4 Be6 23. Nf4) 20. Nf4 {
After White's weaker reply the direct threat to Black is eliminated} (20. Nd4
Be6 21. Rg1 Nfg4+ 22. Kh1 {Black's minor pieces are insecurely placed} (22.
hxg4 Nxg4+ 23. Kh1 Bxd4)) 20... c6 21. Bxf6 Bxf6 22. Ne4 Be7 (22... Bxe4 23.
Bxe4 Kg7 $14 {White would have somewhat the better position because of the
weakness of the Black g-pawn[%csl Rg6]}) 23. Qc3 Qc7 24. Ne2 {White transfers
his Knight to d4 in order to force the exchange of Black's Bishop[%cal Ge2d4]}
Rad8 {Offers White new chances} ({Black could make his defence easier} 24...
Bxe4 $142 25. Bxe4 Bf6 26. Qc2 Qf7) 25. f4 Nf7 26. Nd4 Nh6 {Black's last slip
leads immediately to the showdown!} (26... Qc8 27. Nxf5 Qxf5 28. Ng5+ Bxg5 29.
fxg5 Qd7 {Black's position is defensible.[%cal Gf7e5]}) 27. Ng5+ Bxg5 28. fxg5
Nf7 29. Nxf5 {White wins a pawn and launches a very strong attack} 1-0

[Event "03"]
[Site "Leningr/Moscow ch-URS"]
[Date "1941.??.??"]
[Round "?"]
[White "Keres P"]
[Black "Botvinnik Mikhail"]
[Result "0-1"]
[ECO "E35"]
[PlyCount "44"]

1. d4 Nf6 2. c4 e6 3. Nc3 Bb4 4. Qc2 d5 {This move is not in harmony with the
main idea of this defence: struggle for the centre with pieces. But, since
White has made the unenterprising Qc2 and temporarily left the d-pawn without
defend ... Pd5 initiating energetic play in the centre, is entirely justified}
5. cxd5 exd5 6. Bg5 h6 7. Bh4 {Of course White tries to keep the Knight pinned,
but after this move he cannot avoid a sharp struggle} c5 {Perfectly logical.
Black exploits the temporary weakness of White's d4 in order to seize the
initiative.  I thought of this move during my game with Kotov (Moscow 1940)
and I employed it then, mainly to avoid awkward variations associated with ...
Be6. Several rounds later in the same tournament I employed it against
Mikensas. He replied 0-0-0 came out of the opening with the better game, and
after mistakes on both sides gained victory  Keres evidently was impressed by
my game with Mikenas and without much hesitation castled Queenside. It is
worth adding that Ragozin reminded me that I had analyzed the move ... Pc5 as
long ago as 1936, and I had then convincingly refuted it! To my regret, I
forgot the refutation.  More recently I discovered that I had employed the ...
Pc5 as long ago as 1931 (Lebediev-Botvinnik, semi final Soviet Chps Moscow
1931) but without the preceding ... Ph6)} 8. O-O-O {This apparently strong
move leads to defeat. In reality, with an undeveloped Kingside, to expose the
King to the possibility of a direct attack by Black's pieces from the c-file
as well as the b1-h7 diagonal is to say the least risky!  Against Mikenas I
continued 8. ... 0-0 without any worthwhile result.  In Novermber-December
1940 I discovered the best course for Black. Great way my chagrin when in one
of the January issues "64" (1941) I saw the Belavenietz-Simagin game, in which
Simagin made the first two moves of the correct plan! Keres did not notice
this game, or he would of course have seen the light! So I was able to employ
the prepared variation after all[%cal Gh7c2,Yc8c1]} (8. e3 cxd4 9. exd4 Nc6 10.
Bb5 O-O 11. Nge2 Qb6 12. Qd3 Bxc3+ 13. bxc3 Ne4 14. O-O Bf5 15. Ba4 Rfe8 16.
Rfe1 Qa5 17. Bb3 g5 18. Bg3 Re6 19. Be5 Nxe5 20. dxe5 Rxe5 21. Qd4 Rae8 22. Ng3
Bg6 23. f3 Nxg3 24. Rxe5 Rxe5 25. hxg3 Qc7 26. Bxd5 Re2 27. Kh2 b6 28. Bc4 Re8
29. Rd1 h5 30. Bb3 h4 31. Qd6 Qxd6 32. Rxd6 hxg3+ 33. Kxg3 Kg7 34. Rd7 Rc8 35.
Rxa7 Rxc3 36. Rb7 Rc6 {1/2-1/2 Kotov,A-Botvinnik,M/Moscow 1940}) 8... Bxc3 {
The Nc3 is enemy No. 1. It has to be destroyed in order to secure the centre,
and also open up the c-file} (8... O-O 9. dxc5 Bxc3 10. Qxc3 g5 11. Bg3 Ne4 12.
Qa3 Be6 13. f3 Nxg3 14. hxg3 Qf6 15. e3 Rc8 16. Kb1 Nd7 17. Ne2 Rxc5 18. Nd4 a6
19. Bb5 Rac8 20. Bxd7 Bxd7 21. g4 Qg6+ 22. Ka1 Qf6 23. Qd3 Ba4 24. Rde1 Bc2 25.
Qd2 Bh7 26. Rc1 b6 27. Rxc5 bxc5 28. Nb3 c4 29. Nd4 Re8 30. Re1 Bd3 31. Qc3 Qe5
32. Nc6 Qd6 33. Nb4 {Mikenas,V-Botvinnik,M/Moscow 1940/1-0 (73)}) 9. Qxc3 (9.
Bxf6 Qxf6 10. Qxc3 Nc6 {Black retains the initiative, but this is the very
continuation White should have chosen}) 9... g5 {While the White Knight had to
be eliminated, I had to prepare my own Knight to protect the centre. The
weakening of the pawn formation is of no great significance. Events develop
with such speed that time is of prime importance. White's immoblized pieces on
the Kingside have no time to come to their King's aid} 10. Bg3 cxd4 {This move
suggests itself. The c-file must be opened up. In the Belavenietz-Simagin game
Black continued ... Ne4, which is contrary to the correct plan of attack[%cal
Gc8c1]} 11. Qxd4 Nc6 12. Qa4 {In the given situation this is, probably, even
better that withdrawing the Queen. White, by pinning the Knight, artificially
closes the c-file and tries to compel Black to lose a tempo in freeing the
Knight[%cal Ga4e8]} Bf5 {And so White's b1-h7 diagonal is occupied. Now Black
merely has to occupy the c-file. Which is more dangerous? which should be
parried first?[%cal Gf5b1]} 13. e3 Rc8 14. Bd3 {Keres tries to secure the
King's retreat and closes the diagonal, an imperceptible mistake leading
immediately to disaster} (14. Ne2 $142 a6 15. Nc3 b5 16. Qxa6 b4 17. Bb5 Bd7
$17) 14... Qd7 {With the serious threat of a discovered check. White has no
choice} 15. Kb1 Bxd3+ 16. Rxd3 Qf5 {The pin can be broken only at the cost of
material[%cal Gf5b1]} 17. e4 Nxe4 18. Ka1 O-O (18... Nc5 19. Re3+) 19. Rd1 b5 {
The thrust that crowns the attack. The Black Knight secures d5, which leads
immediately to mate[%csl Gd4]} 20. Qxb5 Nd4 21. Qd3 Nc2+ 22. Kb1 Nb4 {White's
Kingside pieces took no part in the game} 0-1

[Event "match-tournament"]
[Site "Ch URS , Leningrad/Moscow (Ru"]
[Date "1941.??.??"]
[Round "?"]
[White "Smyslov V"]
[Black "Botvinnik Mikhail"]
[Result "0-1"]
[ECO "C19"]
[PlyCount "84"]

1. e4 e6 2. d4 d5 3. Nc3 Bb4 4. e5 c5 5. a3 Bxc3+ 6. bxc3 Ne7 7. Nf3 Nbc6 8.
Bd3 (8. a4 {recognized as more subtle[%cal Gc1a3]}) 8... Qa5 9. Qd2 c4 10. Be2
Qa4 {This is as in the Pogrebyssky-Botvinnik Leningrad 1939. Smyslov went in
for this variation to try out a new idea - an immedate pawn attack on the
Kingside. However, even in that case Black probably has equal chances} 11. h4
Bd7 12. h5 h6 13. Nh4 {With the exchange of Knights White's chances of success
decrease} (13. g4 $142 {It was still not too late to play[%cal Gf3h4]} -- 14.
Nh4) 13... Nf5 14. Nxf5 {This is entirely inconsistent, since the Black Bishop
now comes into play. White hopes to open the position with Pg4 (after the
Black pawn reaches f5) but it doesn't not lead to his advantage.} (14. Nf3 {
[%cal Gg2g4,Yf3h4]} -- 15. g4) 14... exf5 15. Rg1 Ne7 16. g4 {A cursory glance
at the board is sufficient to reveal the weakn features of White's position:
his Bishops are inactive, and Black will get a good base at f5 for his pieces.
Also, one should not lose sight of the organic defect of White's pawn
formation - his Queenside can only keep in touch with the Kingside via c1[%csl
Gf5]} fxg4 (16... g5 17. hxg6 fxg6 18. gxf5 Bxf5 {Black still has an excellent
position}) 17. Bxg4 Bxg4 {In one move Black loses all his advantage!. The
White Rook should not have been allowed to reach the fourth rank. Because of
this "trifle" the entire picture changes} (17... Bf5 $142 {[%csl Gf5]}) 18.
Rxg4 Nf5 19. Qe2 Qd7 20. Rf4 Qe6 {Since Black does not suceed in exchanging
his f-pawn for the h-pawn, the position of the Knight at f5 proves to be not
so impregnable as might appear, for the Knight cannot be defended by the Rook}
({Black cannot force the exchange of White's h-pawn} 20... g5 21. e6 $1 {White
wins a piece} (21. hxg6 fxg6 {leads to a won position for Black due to the
passed h-pawn and the strong Knight at f5[%csl Yf5][%cal Gh6h5]})) 21. Qf3 g6
22. a4 O-O-O 23. Ba3 {Now Black cannot initiate any aggressive action, as he
continually has to reckon with Ke2, Rg1, Pxg6 and Rxg6, Rxf5. Black has to be
ready to lose the exchange and so he cannot even think of aggressive play. On
the other hand, if he puts up a sound defence the loss of the exchange leads
to double edged play - it is not always favourable for White.  Here Black
offered a draw, which White declined} b6 (23... -- 24. Kd2 -- 25. Rg1 -- 26.
hxg6 fxg6 27. Rxg6 Qxg6 28. Rxf5) 24. Kd2 Rhg8 25. Rb1 Kb7 26. a5 Rc8 27. axb6
axb6 28. Qg4 {White does not notice the sacrifice at g6 and undertakes an
unnecessary and cumbersome shift of the Queen's Rook to f3 (in order to
threaten some exchange sacrifice)} Kc6 29. Rh1 Kd7 {[%csl Ge6]} (29... -- 30.
hxg6 fxg6 31. Rxh6 {[%csl Re6]}) 30. Rh3 Rce8 31. Rhf3 Kc7 32. Qh3 {The Rook
sacrifice involves some risk. White evidently makes a routine decision to draw
the game out to 40th move and the adjournment in order to analyse the endgame
at his leisure} (32. hxg6 fxg6 33. Rxf5 gxf5 34. Qxf5 Rg7 35. Qxe6 Rxe6 {
complicated endgame}) 32... Rg7 33. Qh1 Ra8 34. Qc1 {Useless. The Queen is
needed on the kingside} Rgg8 35. Qb2 {White feels so confident that
unwittingly he makes a losing move.  Now Black exploits the unhappy position
of the White Queen and with tempi thus gained transfers his Rooks to the 8th
rank to carry out a mating attack. Meanwhile White's Rooks play a sorry role}
Ra4 {Firmly tying down the Queen to the Bishop (if the Bishop remains where it
is)[%csl Ra3]} 36. Bd6+ (36. Qc1 Rga8 37. Bb2 Ra2 {Doesn't help White as Queen
transfers to b5[%cal Ge6d7,Gd7b5]}) 36... Kc6 37. Qb1 Rga8 38. Qh1 Ra1 39. Qh3
Rg1 {There is no satisfactory defence against the threat of ... Raa1, Rd1+ and
Re1+[%csl Rd1,Re1][%cal Ga8a1]} 40. hxg6 Raa1 41. Re3 Rad1+ 42. Ke2 Nxd4+ 0-1

[Event "match-tournament"]
[Site "Ch URS , Leningrad/Moscow (Ru"]
[Date "1941.??.??"]
[Round "?"]
[White "Bondarevsky I"]
[Black "Botvinnik Mikhail"]
[Result "0-1"]
[ECO "C02"]
[PlyCount "58"]

1. e4 e6 2. d4 d5 3. e5 {Probably the oldest variation of the French Defence.
It was dropped because it was obvious that White has difficulty in retaining
the pawn centre. In the second and third decade of this century Nimzovitch
revived the variation. He did not hold the centre with pawns, but defended it
with pieces, readily exchanging off the central d- and e-pawns. After one of
the games in the Levenfish-Botvinnik match (1937) in which Black succeeded in
evolving a satisfactor defence system, the move 3. Pe5 has rarely been met
with in tournaments. Bondarevsky did not know that 1937 ame, and so this
present game is not of much value from the aspect of opening theory} c5 4. Nf3
{Nimzovitch's system. White avoids Pc3} Nc6 5. Bd3 {White sacrifices a pawn
hoping to recover it later and simultaneously capture d4 with his pieces} (5.
dxc5 Bxc5 {assists Black's development.}) 5... cxd4 6. O-O Bc5 {This makes it
difficult for White to recover the pawn and easier for Black to mobilize his
forces} 7. a3 {This move would be to the point if White continued with Pb4.
But he rejects this move in order not to weaken his Queenside[%cal Gb2b4]} Nge7
8. Nbd2 (8. Bf4 $142 Ng6 9. Bg3) 8... Ng6 9. Nb3 Bb6 10. Re1 Bd7 11. g3 {White
has missed the moment for the move Bf4 and now begins to run into difficulties.
He prepares for this idea of Bxg6 and Bf4. In addition he threatens the attack
Ph4-h5. However, he left his Knight at f3 without defence, which of course
inspires Black with the idea of opening the f-file} ({White can't play} 11.
Bxg6 hxg6 12. Nbxd4 Nxd4 13. Nxd4 Qh4 {[%csl Rd4,Rh2]}) 11... f6 {[%cal Gf8f2]}
12. Bxg6+ {To defend the centre White is forced to exchange the King's Bishop}
(12. exf6 Qxf6 {Black's pressure along the f-file is unavoidable[%csl Rf2,Rf3]}
) 12... hxg6 13. Qd3 {Some critics criticzed Bondarevsky for not regaining the
pawn with Nbxd4} (13. Nbxd4 Bxd4 (13... Nxd4 14. Nxd4 fxe5 15. Rxe5 Qf6 16. f4
g5 17. c3 gxf4 18. Bxf4 Bc7 {White can hardly save himself}) 14. Nxd4 Nxe5 15.
f4 Nc6 16. Nxe6 Bxe6 17. Rxe6+ Kf7 $15) 13... Kf7 14. h4 {Preparing ... Bf4.
White, of course cannot give up the centre[%csl Gg5][%cal Yc1f4]} (14. exf6
gxf6 15. Nfxd4 Nxd4 16. Nxd4 e5 {the pawn centre and Bishop pair would settle
matters quickly[%csl Rb6,Yd5,Rd7,Ye5,Yf6]}) 14... Qg8 $1 {I think this is
probably the decisive move of the game. Setting up threats to White's Kingside,
Black forces the exchange of Queens, after which he inevitably captures the
centre[%cal Gg8h7]} 15. Bd2 (15. Bf4 $143 Qh7 16. Nbxd4 Nxd4 17. Nxd4 g5 $1 {
[%cal Gh7h1]}) 15... Qh7 16. Bb4 {Hoping by way of Bc5 to exchange off one of
Black's Bishops. But Black gives back the pawn and captures the e4 square[%cal
Gb4c5]} g5 17. Qxh7 Rxh7 18. exf6 ({no better is} 18. hxg5 fxe5 19. Nxe5+ Nxe5
20. Rxe5 Bc7 21. Re2 e5 {[%csl Gd4,Gd5,Ge5]}) 18... gxf6 19. hxg5 e5 20. gxf6
Kxf6 21. Bd6 Re8 22. Nh4 Rg8 23. Kh2 {Of course it is difficult for White to
struggle against Black's pawn predominance in the centre and the excellent
disposition of his pieces, but now comes a rapid denouement} (23. Kf1 $142 {
stronger resistance}) 23... Bf5 24. Re2 d3 25. Rd2 (25. cxd3 Bxd3 26. Rd2 Bc4
27. Nc1 Nd4 {[%csl Rf3]}) 25... dxc2 26. f4 Be3 27. Bxe5+ Nxe5 28. fxe5+ Ke7 {
[%csl Rh4]} 29. Rf1 {There is no other defence against ... Rxh4} (29. -- Rxh4+
30. gxh4 Bf4+ 31. Kh1 Be4+) 29... c1=Q 0-1

[Event "match-tournament"]
[Site "Ch URS , Leningrad/Moscow (Ru"]
[Date "1941.??.??"]
[Round "?"]
[White "Botvinnik Mikhail"]
[Black "Boleslavsky I"]
[Result "1-0"]
[ECO "C09"]
[PlyCount "129"]

1. e4 e6 2. d4 d5 3. Nd2 c5 4. exd5 exd5 5. Bb5+ Nc6 6. Ngf3 Bd6 7. O-O Nge7 8.
dxc5 Bxc5 9. Nb3 Bb6 10. Be3 Bxe3 11. Bxc6+ {This move (in my first game with
Boleslavsky in this tournament I played 11. fxe3) led the commentators to draw
the most profound deductions. They explained it as meaning that Botvinnik did
not wish to repeat the same variation a second time, and that he was afraid of
some improvements that Boleslavsky had prepared.   All this was of course,
sheer imagination. The fact is that after 11. fxe3 I got no tangible advantage
whatever, and so Boleslavsky was not averse from my repeating the variation 
This time of course, I corrected my mistake and played 11. Bxc6+. So I was not
avoiding any non-existent resource prepared by Boleslavsky himself; on the
contrary, Boleslavsky himself, who had not analysed our previous game
carefully, fell victim to the strengthened system I had prepared} bxc6 {[%csl
Gc5]} (11... Nxc6 12. Re1 d4 13. fxe3 (13. Nbxd4 {wins a pawn, Botvinnik
missed this}) 13... dxe3 14. Rxe3+ Be6) 12. fxe3 O-O 13. Qd2 Qb6 14. Qc3 {
[%csl Gc5]} Rb8 {Temporarily preventing the occupation of c5. White in his
turn immediately insures the possibility of Nc5[%csl Rb2]} 15. Rab1 {[%cal
Gb3c5]} Re8 16. Rfe1 {This move in the Nimzowitsch style - "overprotection" of
the e-pawn throws away a good 50% of White's advantage[%csl Ge3]} (16. Nc5 $142
Nf5 17. Rfe1) 16... Ng6 {The correct plan. In conjunction with ... Bg4 Black
gains the central e5 square for his Knight[%csl Ye5][%cal Gc8g4]} 17. Nc5 Bg4
18. Nd4 ({It was hardly possible to play} 18. b4 Bxf3 19. Nd7 Qc7 20. Nxb8 Nh4)
18... Ne5 19. b4 Rbd8 20. e4 {White chooses another plan, leading to lively
combinational play, but less in accordane with the nature of the position. By
exchanging the e-pawn White opens up the e-file for pressure on the adverse
knight. But on the other hand, Black gets counterplay on the d-file.} (20. Nde6
$142 Bxe6 21. Qxe5 {The struggle would have been simplified, but White would
also have firmly established himself on darksquares}) 20... dxe4 (20... f6 $142
{reinforcing the Knight. The exchange at e4 aids the development of White's
initiative[%csl Ge5]}) 21. Rxe4 a5 {This move is very risky, of course, as it
allows the sortie Qg3 with an attack on two pieces} 22. a3 (22. Qg3 {[%csl Ge5,
Gg4]} Rxd4 (22... axb4 23. Rxe5) (22... f6 23. Rxg4 Nxg4 24. Qxg4 h5 (24...
axb4 25. Nde6) 25. Qf4 (25. Qxh5 Re5) 25... axb4 26. Nde6 Qb5 {So Kotov's
comment, in the special issue No. 9 of "64", to the 22nd move of this game, in
which he states that 22. Qb3 leads to a win for White is without much
justification}) 23. Rxd4 axb4 24. Qc3 $1) 22... axb4 23. axb4 f6 24. Rbe1 Kh8 (
{Black has his last chance to consolidate the position with} 24... Bh5 $142 {
taking advantage of the fact that Nde6 is impossible[%cal Gh5f7]} 25. -- Bf7
$140 {The Bishop at f7 would have convered e6 and protected the Rook on e8.
The last-mentioned circumstances is important because of the possible opening
of the e-file}) 25. Kh1 Bd7 {Leads to the loss of a pawn but Black is already
in great difficulties. It is difficult for Black to defend himself against 26.
Ph3 followed by Nf3} (25... Bh5 $143 26. Nde6 Rb8 27. Rxe5 fxe5 28. Qxe5 {
[%csl Rg7,Rh5]}) (25... -- 26. h3 Bd7 27. Nf3) 26. Nxd7 Rxd7 27. Qxc6 {[%cal
Ge4e8]} Qd8 {Black's game is lost, but the struggle is not without interest}
28. Nf3 Rc7 29. Nxe5 fxe5 {Now comes a combination which leads to a won Rook
and pawn endgame} (29... Rxc6 30. Nf7+ Kg8 31. Nxd8 Rxd8 32. c4 f5 33. Rf4) 30.
Qxe8+ Qxe8 31. Rxe5 Qg8 32. Re8 Rxc2 33. Rxg8+ Kxg8 34. Rb1 Kf7 35. b5 {White
ties up the adverse King and Rook with the passed pawn and strengthens the
position of his own King} Ke6 36. b6 Rc8 37. h3 ({Also possible is} 37. Kg1 {
[%cal Gg1f2,Gf2g3]}) (37. b7 $143 Rb8 38. Kg1 Kd6 39. Kf2 Kc7 40. Kg3 Rxb7 41.
Rxb7+ Kxb7 42. Kf4 Kc6 43. Ke5 Kd7 {Probable draw}) 37... Rb8 38. Kh2 Kd5 39.
Kg3 Kc6 40. Kg4 Kb7 {The rest of the game is simple exploitation of advantage}
(40... Rb7 $142) 41. Re1 Rg8 42. Re6 Ka6 43. Kg5 Kb7 44. h4 Ka6 45. h5 Kb7 46.
g4 Ka6 47. Kh4 Kb7 48. h6 gxh6 49. Rxh6 Rg7 {Now h6 is won for the King and
the Black pawn is doomed[%cal Gh4h5,Gh5h6]} 50. Kh5 Ka6 {Speeds up the loss of
the pawn} 51. Rc6 Re7 52. Rc7 Re5+ 53. g5 Kxb6 54. Rxh7 Kc6 {The "struggle"
could have been abadoned now} 55. Kh6 Kd6 56. g6 Re1 57. Rf7 Ke6 58. Rf2 Ra1
59. g7 Rh1+ 60. Kg6 Rg1+ 61. Kh7 Rh1+ 62. Kg8 Ke7 63. Re2+ Kd7 64. Re4 Rh2 65.
Kf7 1-0

[Event "match-tournament"]
[Site "Ch URS , Leningrad/Moscow (Ru"]
[Date "1941.??.??"]
[Round "?"]
[White "Smyslov V"]
[Black "Botvinnik Mikhail"]
[Result "0-1"]
[ECO "C77"]
[PlyCount "120"]

1. e4 e5 2. Nf3 Nc6 3. Bb5 a6 4. Ba4 Nf6 5. d3 {An old continuation. White
does not attempt to keep the initiative in the opening but relies on a
favourable middlegame} d6 6. c3 Be7 7. O-O O-O 8. Re1 b5 9. Bc2 {White want to
prevent the manoeuvre ... Na5 followed by ... Pc5 but Black delivers a blow in
the centre (... Pd5) and gets an equal game} (9. Bb3 {we get a Ruy Lopez
Variation which was the favourite weapon of A. Ilyin-Zhenevsky}) 9... d5 $11
10. Nbd2 dxe4 {White secures his own central pawn at e5} 11. dxe4 Be6 12. h3 {
[%cal Gf3g5]} h6 13. Nh2 {This protracted manoeuvres undertaken by White are
harmless for Black} (13. Nh4 g6 {Black would have a quite reliable position
[%csl Gf5,Gh5]}) 13... Nh7 14. Ng4 Bg5 15. Qe2 {White avoids exchanging Queens}
(15. Nb3 $142 {exploits Black's weakened c5[%csl Gc5]}) 15... Qd6 16. Ne3 {
Avoiding the exchange of Black Bishops White persists in his resolution to
make a direct attack on the Black King} Rfd8 17. Nf3 Bxe3 {Of crouse, this
active Knight should be destroyed, especially as it is disadvantageous for
White to play 18. Bxe3 Bc4} 18. Qxe3 (18. Bxe3 Bc4) 18... Qe7 {Parrying Nh4
[%csl Gh4]} 19. Nh2 Nf8 {As a result of the manoeuvres the game has even gone
in Black's favour: on the kingside all is quiet while Black can start
operations along the d-file.} (19... Rd7 $142 {[%cal Ga8d8]}) 20. Qf3 Rd7 21.
Nf1 {Black cannot prevent the White Knight reaching f5. In order to secure the
Queen's transfer to f6 Black must return the Knight to h7[%cal Gf1e3,Ge3f5]}
Nh7 22. Ng3 Rad8 23. Nf5 Qf6 24. g4 {Having posted his Knight at f5, it is
difficult to avoid supporting it by Pg4.} (24. Qg3 $142 {[%cal Gf2f4]} Qg6)
24... Ne7 25. Qg3 Bc4 {The pressure along the d-file is now real, for Black
threatens to capture the centre of resistance (d3). White's next move prepares
the development of the Bishop to e3[%csl Gd3]} 26. f3 Bd3 27. Bb3 c5 {Black
drives the Bishop back to d1 and separates the White Rooks. But the struggle
is of such a closed nature that this has no decisive significance[%cal Gc5c4]}
28. Be3 ({No advantage to White is} 28. Nxe7+ Qxe7 29. Bd5 Bc4) 28... c4 29.
Bd1 Ng5 30. h4 (30. a4 $142) 30... Ne6 31. a4 b4 {Only thus can Black avoid
the opening of the a-file. The struggle is so complicated that for some time
White's extra pawn will not be of much significance} 32. cxb4 Nf4 {White
doesn't part with two Bishops, so he doesn't play[%cal Gf4e2]} 33. Kh1 (33.
Bxf4 exf4 34. Qf2 (34. Qxf4 Qxb2)) (33. -- Nxf5 34. gxf5 Bxe4 35. fxe4 Rxd1 36.
Raxd1 Rxd1 37. Rxd1 Ne2+) 33... g5 34. b5 a5 35. Bc5 {A mistake which could
easily become fatal. White's situation is difficult, but in no circumstances
should he have withdrawn his Bishop from an important defensive post. Any
other move (for instance Rc1) would have been better} Nxf5 36. gxf5 Kh7 37. Qg4
{Very weak. White cannot close up the position} ({White cannot play} 37. hxg5
hxg5 {because of the attack on the h-file[%cal Gh8h1]}) (37. Qh2 $142 {
Continuation recommended by Abramov in No. 8 of "64"} Bc2 $1 38. hxg5 Qxg5 39.
Be2 Nxe2 40. Rxe2 Rd1+ 41. Rxd1 Bxd1 42. Be3 Qf6 43. Rf2 Rd3 44. Rf1 Rxe3 45.
Rxd1 Rxf3 {White's situation is grave}) 37... gxh4 38. Rg1 (38. Bf2 Rg8 39.
Bxh4 Qa6 {White missed this move}) 38... h5 (38... Bf1 {[%cal Gf1h3]} 39. Bf2
Bg2+ 40. Rxg2 (40. Kh2 Rd2) 40... Nxg2) 39. Qg5 Qxg5 40. Rxg5 f6 {It would
seem that in any case Black has a won position, but Smyslov finds a remarkable
way of saving himself} (40... Bf1 {Leads at the very least to the winning of
the exchange}) 41. Rg1 Nh3 {sealed move. Black captures the g-file for an
attack on the White King} 42. Re1 Rg8 43. Ra2 $8 {By interchanging moves White
avoids this win of a piece and secures the transfer of the Rook to h2 to
defend the King.   So Black discards the plan he had in mind} (43. -- {Black
had planned} Rdg7 44. -- Rg2 $140 45. -- Nf2+) (43. b3 $143 c3 44. Ra2 Rc8 {
[%cal Gc3c2]}) 43... Bb1 44. Ra1 Bd3 45. Ra2 Nf4 46. b4 {Black threatened ...
Rg2. White also tries to take advantage of his pawn superiority on the
Queenside, but Black has sufficient resources for defence} Rc8 47. b6 Rb7 {
White is now forced to give up the pawn at b4, which leads to further keen
play - two far advanced passed pawns on each side} 48. Be3 axb4 49. a5 b3 50.
Ra3 {This mistake turns out to be decisive. White relies on his pawns, but
Black's pawns prove to be more dangerous} (50. Rb2 Ra8 (50... c3 51. Rxb3 c2
52. Bxc2 Bxc2 53. Ra3 $16) 51. Bd2 Ra6 52. Bb4 {Black cannot breakthrough
anywhere}) 50... b2 51. Ba4 c3 {Preventing Pa6[%cal Gd3a6]} 52. Rb3 Ne2 53. Bb5
Bxb5 54. Rxb5 Nd4 {The decisive manoeuvre - Black obtains three linked passed
pawns} 55. Bxd4 exd4 56. a6 Rxb6 $1 {The pawn is worth a Rook. Now the Black
pawns cannot be stopped!} 57. Rxb6 d3 {Smyslov pondered over his next move for
50 minutes - but there is no salvation. White lacks only one tempo} 58. Rg1 d2
59. Rxf6 Rc7 (59... c2 60. Rf7+ Kh8 61. Rf6 {[%cal Gf6h6]} Kh7 $11 {draw by
repitition}) 60. Rfg6 d1=Q (60... c2 61. R1g5 $11) 0-1

[Event "match-tournament"]
[Site "Ch URS , Leningrad/Moscow (Ru"]
[Date "1941.??.??"]
[Round "?"]
[White "Lilienthal A"]
[Black "Botvinnik Mikhail"]
[Result "0-1"]
[ECO "D49"]
[PlyCount "110"]

1. d4 d5 2. c4 e6 3. Nc3 c6 4. Nf3 Nf6 5. e3 {White avoids the usual
continuations of the Queen's Gambit associated with the move 5. Bg5 and goes
over to variations of the Slav Defence. Black chooses the most active
variation of this defence - Rubinstein's Meran Variation} Nbd7 6. Bd3 dxc4 7.
Bxc4 b5 8. Bd3 a6 {The main idea of the variation is far from new - Black
intends to develop his Queen's Bishop to b7 and attack White's centre by
playing ... Pc5. Thus Rubinstein merely introduced a previously known idea
into the Slav Defence.    In the given instance the struggle immediately
becomes exceptionally sharp, since White, taking advantage of the fact that he
has not, as in other variations of the gambit, lose a tempo on developing the
Bishop to g5, can launch a dangerous offensive in the centre[%cal Gc8b7,Yc6c5]}
9. e4 c5 10. e5 cxd4 11. Nxb5 {Black's last move is Sozin's rejoinder to
Blumenfeld's plan} Nxe5 12. Nxe5 axb5 13. O-O {This position can be found in
any textbook on openings. The question arises: why did Lilienthal go in for
all this variation? The further course of the game provides no clear answer.
Most probably he counted on discovering something over the board. But in such
sharp variations one discovers only when well acquainted with theoretical
research and games previously played; but that knowledge was lacking in this
case} (13. Qf3 {recommended by theoreticians}) 13... Qd5 14. Qe2 Ba6 15. a4 {
The initiative passes to Black} (15. Bg5 {Rellstab attack, older but also
dangerous for Black}) 15... Bd6 16. axb5 Bb7 17. Rxa8+ Bxa8 (17... Ke7 18. Nc6+
Bxc6 19. Ra7+ {White has won the exchagne}) 18. Nc6 {White gives up a pawn in
order to exchange off the Bishop at a8. Left with two Bishops he hopes for
counterplay} ({not very satisfactory} 18. f4 Bxe5 19. fxe5 Nd7 20. Bf4 Nc5 {
[%csl Rd3]} 21. Rf2 O-O) 18... Bxc6 19. bxc6 Ke7 {Black reckoned that with the
King at e7 the chances of a draw were reduced. So castling has the natural and
best move. But now White secures Bishops of opposite colours, which make it
very difficult for Black to win} (19... O-O 20. Bb5 Rb8 21. Ba4 d3 22. Qf3 Qxf3
(22... Qd4 $142 23. Qd1 Ne4 24. Be3) 23. gxf3 {White has chances for draw}) 20.
Bc4 Qxc6 21. Bg5 Qc5 {Forcing events. Because of the threat ... Qe5 with
exchange of Queens, White has no time to withdraw his Black Bishop[%csl Rh2]
[%cal Gc5e5]} 22. Bxf6+ Kxf6 {Only by retaining his good pawn formatoin can
Black count on exploiting his pawn advantage} 23. b3 (23. Qf3+ Qf5) 23... g6
24. Rd1 Rd8 25. g3 Kg7 26. Qf3 Be5 {If the Black pawn were at d5 instead of d4,
Black would have no difficult in winning. He would advance Pe5-e4 which in
conjunction with the good diagonals available to the Bishop would immediately
settle the issue.  Now this plan is impossible, and he has to try to increase
his advantage.   Obviously the struggle must flare up around the open a-file.
It is curious that White does not pay due attentino to Black's attempt to
capture this important file.  With ... Be5 Black frees his Queen and Rook from
protecting the pawn and will command a1, preventing Ra1[%csl Gd4]} 27. Qb7 Rb8
28. Qe4 Bf6 29. Kg2 Qa5 {So the a-file is Black's. As White is avoiding
exchange of Queens (there is no point in avoiding it, as extra pieces with
opposite colour Bishops increase, as a rule, the winning chances), he moves
the Queen from his h1-a8 diagonal[%cal Ga5a1,Ga5a8]} 30. Qe2 Ra8 31. Rd3 Qc5 {
In such positions it is advisable to keep the Rook in front of the Queen. So
Black reaaranges his pieces} 32. Qe4 Ra1 33. Rd2 Qa5 {White's unsystematic
manoeuvering have led to a further deterioration of his position} 34. Qe2 Qa8+
35. Kh3 (35. Qf3 Rg1+) (35. f3 {possible, but leads to a further weakening of
the position}) 35... Rg1 36. f4 Qc8 {[%cal Ge6e5]} 37. Ba6 Qc5 38. Bd3 Qd5 {A
trap. Attempting to provoke the exchange of Rooks, he loses a second pawn,
which decides the struggle} 39. Rd1 (39. Bc4) (39. b4 Qd7 40. Qf2 {White could
have resisted stubbornly}) 39... Rg2 $1 {An unpleasant suprise} 40. Qe4 (40.
Qe1 Rb2) 40... Rxh2+ 41. Kxh2 Qh5+ 42. Kg2 Qxd1 43. Bc4 h5 {[%cal Gh5h4]} 44.
Qf3 {Otherwise ... Pa4 is unpleasant} Qxf3+ 45. Kxf3 Be7 46. Ke4 Bc5 47. Bb5
Kf6 48. Be2 Ke7 49. Bb5 {By exchanging his d-pawn for the adverse g-pawn,
Black speeds up the achievement of three linked passed pawns[%csl Gd4,Gg3]} Bb4
50. Kxd4 Be1 51. Ke4 Bxg3 52. Kf3 Be1 53. Bc6 Bb4 54. Ba4 Bd6 55. Bc6 f5 {
[%cal Ge6e5]} 0-1

[Event "4"]
[Site "Sverdlovsk"]
[Date "1943.??.??"]
[Round "?"]
[White "Botvinnik Mikhail"]
[Black "Boleslavsky I"]
[Result "1-0"]
[ECO "B83"]
[PlyCount "107"]

1. e4 c5 2. Nf3 Nc6 3. d4 cxd4 4. Nxd4 Nf6 5. Nc3 d6 6. Be2 e5 {One of
Botvinnik's shrewd innovations in the opening. Black achieves satisfactory
development and equalizes the game; in this case the weakness of d5 square is
immaterial} 7. Nb3 Be7 {Wasting no time on ... Ph6} 8. O-O (8. Bg5 Nxe4 9. Nxe4
Bxg5 10. Nxd6+ Ke7 {Black has a quite satisfactory position}) 8... O-O 9. f4
exf4 {Very subtly played. Otherwise Pf4 and then even if Black managed to play
... Pd5, White would get a good base at e4 for his minor pieces} 10. Bxf4 Be6
11. Bd3 Ne5 {this is also perfectly satisfactory} (11... d5 {perhaps simplest
as in the given position the opening up of the d3-h7 diagonal is of no real
importance[%cal Gd3h7]}) 12. Kh1 Qb6 13. Qe2 {A shrewd idea. White sacrifices
a pawn, but gains several tempi and exchanges off Black's active Bishop at e6}
Nxd3 14. cxd3 $1 {This is better, of course, than QxP} Bxb3 15. Be3 {With gain
of tempo opening up the f-file and transferring the Bishop to a better
position[%cal Gf1f8]} Qb4 {The appetitie comes with eating! But now the
initiative passes to White for a long time} (15... Qc6 16. axb3 d5 {with
counterplay}) 16. axb3 Qxb3 17. Ra5 {White does not waste time capturing the
a-pawn but transfers his Rook to the Kingside for an attack. In exchange for
the pawn sacrifice he gets excellently placed pieces and keeps the initiaitive
for a long time[%cal Ga5g5]} Qe6 18. Bd4 Bd8 {Boleslavsky consolidates his
superiority in material} 19. Raf5 {[%csl Rf6]} (19. Rxa7 Rxa7 20. Bxa7 b6 {
dangerous for White}) 19... Nd7 {Forced} (19... -- 20. Rxf6 $140 $1 Bxf6 21.
Rxf6 $1 gxf6 22. Nd5 {with a strong attack}) 20. Qg4 Ne5 21. Qg3 ({unsound is} 
21. Rxf7 Qxf7 $1 22. Rxf7 Nxg4) 21... f6 22. Nd5 a6 {Although in this position
it is difficult for Boleslavky to display any activity, White's task is not
easy, as Black has dug himself in well. The only possibility of success lies
in the bayonet charge Pg4-g5. As will be evident later, the immediate 22. ...
Pa5 would give Black greater possibilities of exploiting his pawn superiority
on the Queenside} 23. Qh3 {[%cal Gh3e6]} Re8 {Not allowing Rxf6!} 24. g4 h6 25.
Qg3 {White cannot breakthrough without Ph4[%cal Gh2h4]} Rc8 26. Bc3 a5 27. h4
b5 {White play seems to have come to a dead end. In fact, Pg5 is not possibile
for the time being, while Black threatens ... Pb4 followed by ... Rc2. But
Whie still has one other hidden possibility} 28. Qh3 $1 {A quite move, but
unpleasant for Black. In view of his unstable position of his Queen at e6
there is the threat[%cal Gh3e6,Yg4g5]} Nf7 {This move enables White to
transpose to the endgame with a Queen against two Rooks. the endgame is
unfavourable to Black because of his King's open position and his broken pawns}
(28... -- 29. g5 fxg5 30. Bxe5 dxe5 31. hxg5 Bxg5 32. Rf8+ $1 {[%csl Re6]}) (
28... Nd7 {in order to meet the Rook check by taking with the Knight} 29. Nf4
$1 Qb3 30. g5 fxg5 31. hxg5 Bxg5 32. Rxg5 hxg5 33. Ng6 {mating attack}) (28...
Kh7 {Only salvation for Black and in his turn exploiting the unsatisfactory
position of the White Queen. In this case Black would get equal play} 29. g5
fxg5 30. hxg5 Bxg5 $1 {[%cal Ge6h3]}) 29. Bxf6 {An unpleasant suprise!} Bxf6
30. Nxf6+ gxf6 31. Rxf6 Qd7 32. Rxf7 Qxf7 33. Rxf7 Kxf7 34. g5 {As unsound as
it is attractive. Of course, it quickly wins a pawn, but Black manages to cut
off the White King's retreat from the Kingside, and then the King is
insecurely placed} (34. Kg2 $1 Rc2+ 35. Kf3 Rxb2 (35... d5 $1 36. g5 dxe4+ 37.
dxe4 Rf8 38. Ke3) 36. g5 {White would be justified in counting on the win})
34... hxg5 35. Qf5+ (35. Qd7+ Kg6 $1 36. Qxd6+ Kh5 37. hxg5 Rcd8 {The passive
position of White's King makes it difficult to exploit his material advantage})
35... Kg7 36. Qxg5+ Kh7 37. Qxb5 Rf8 38. Qd7+ Kg8 39. Qe6+ Kg7 40. Qd7+ Kg8 41.
Kg2 {White improves his King position at the cost of tempo} (41. Qxd6 Rc2)
41... Rc2+ 42. Kg3 Rcf2 {This is a decisive blunder. Now White will be able to
repulse Black's Rook attack and win the game, combinig defence with the
advance of his central pawns} (42... Rxb2 $142 43. Qxd6 Rbf2 44. Qd5+ R8f7 45.
e5 a4 {It is possible that Black could have obtained a draw, as he could check
along the f-file because of his passed pawn}) 43. Qxd6 R2f7 44. Qd5 Kh8 45. e5
Rg7+ 46. Kh3 Rg6 47. d4 (47. e6 Re8 48. e7 Kg7 {counting on the win of the
e-pawn}) 47... Rf1 {Again making Pe6 difficult} 48. Qe4 (48. e6 Re1) 48... Rgg1
49. d5 Rh1+ (49... Re1 {more "resistant"}) 50. Kg4 Rhg1+ 51. Kh5 Rf7 52. e6 $1
Rh7+ 53. Qxh7+ Kxh7 54. d6 {and the pawns are queened. A game not free from
mistakes but interesting and characteristic of Boleslavsky's inventive style}
1-0

[Event "Russia"]
[Site "Sverdlovsk"]
[Date "1943.??.??"]
[Round "?"]
[White "Makagonov V"]
[Black "Botvinnik Mikhail"]
[Result "0-1"]
[ECO "D45"]
[PlyCount "110"]

1. d4 d5 2. c4 e6 3. Nc3 c6 4. e3 Nf6 5. Nf3 Nbd7 6. Ne5 {This "anti Meran"
variatino of the Rubinstein's is entirely in Makogonov's style. However,
probably Rubinstein employed it simple to avoid revealing the secrets of a
sound White attack in his "own" Meran variation, whereas Makogonov always
prefers continuations in which book knowledge is of little hlep and positional
sense is everything!  6. Ne5 has the defect that White will be forced to
weaken e4[%csl Ge4]} Nxe5 7. dxe5 Nd7 8. f4 Bb4 9. cxd5 {A serious blunder, as
now the development of Black's Queen's Bishop is made easier. Here Rubinstein
continued Bd2, which is more to the point. Makogonov set himself the task of
transferring his King's Bishop to c2, and for this the exchange at d5 is
certainly indispensable.  Psychologically Makoganov's mistake is quite
understandable; in a game against Yudovic (Leningrad 1939) in which Black
played 8. ... Be7 he continued 9. Pxd5 followed by Bd3 and won. Naturally he
would not want to revise such a "successful" plan of development} exd5 {[%cal
Gc8h3]} 10. Bd3 Nc5 11. Bc2 {Quite obviously White has not calculated all the
possibilities at Black's disposal; otherwise he would play 11. 0-0 which would
be perhaps, a lesser evil} Qh4+ {The critical moment. Even now by continuing
12. Kf1, White would preserve a defensible position, as his basic weakness 
(square e4) is not so easily exploited. But Makogonov automatically replies
Pg3 after which an exchange of the white square Bishops is inevitable and, in
conjunction with the weakness of e4, White gets a completely lost game (from
the positional aspect)} 12. g3 Qh3 {Because of the possibility of ... Qg2
White is not able to avert ... Bf5; it would seem that Black should win easily.
So it would have been, in all probability, if Makogonov had not suddenly begun
to play with extraordinary power. He succeeded in "almost" equalizing the game,
and Black had to play very subtly and exactly in order to carry the work, once
begun, to its logical conclusion[%cal Gh3g2]} 13. Kf2 $1 Bxc3 {Perfectly sound,
as Black intends to occupy e4, the Knight must be removed[%csl Ge4]} 14. bxc3
Bf5 15. Bxf5 Qxf5 16. g4 $3 {Uncommonly well played: now White's weakness in
his own squares will be less perceptible. Black is faced with the dilemma
where should the Queen go? e6 or e4} Qe6 {Black decides on e6, perhaps d7 may
have been more accurate as will be evident from the following play} (16... Qe4
17. Ba3 $3 Nd3+ 18. Kg3 Qxe3+ 19. Qf3 {The initiative passes to White}) 17. Ba3
$1 Ne4+ 18. Kf3 {On the other hand White intends to continue Pc4. Black's
situation has suddenly become not quite so brilliant. However, he finds a way
out[%cal Gc3c4]} h5 ({It is doubtful whether Black should accept the pawn
sacrifice} 18... Nxc3 19. Qb3 {This is where it would have be useful if
Black's Queen occupied d7 As Black could have played Ne4 and retained the
extra pawn with a centralized Knight!} Nb5 20. Bb2 O-O-O 21. f5 {White would
again have the initiative}) 19. h3 f6 {This not very noticeable move decides
the struggle. White cannot exchange at f6 for it leads to the exposure of the
White King's position, his pawns.  So Black in the lst resort wins a pawn,
while preserving his centralized Knight} 20. c4 hxg4+ $1 {An important
intermediary exchange; White threatened 21. Pxd5 which would lead to an
endgame. Black deflects the White Queen from d5 winning a tempo} 21. hxg4 Rxh1
22. Qxh1 O-O-O {White is force to lose time on Rd1. losing the e5 pawn in
doing so![%csl Rc4][%cal Ge4d2]} 23. Rd1 (23. cxd5 Qxd5) 23... fxe5 24. cxd5
cxd5 25. Rc1+ Kb8 26. Qh4 Re8 27. f5 Qf7 (27... Qa6 28. Qh5 {With a strong
attack .. the threat Qf7-c7+[%cal Gh5f7,Gf7c7]}) 28. Rc2 {For fifteen moves
Makogonov has been playing brilliantly, and of course he is not averse from
making one quiet move, for a "rest". Meanwhile he should have taken steps
against Black's imminent attack, offering the endgame 28. Qh5. Now the game is
decided by a direct on the White King} (28. Qh5 $142) 28... g6 29. Bb2 {
Makogonov again begins to exploit tactical subtelties but they do not save the
game} a6 (29... gxf5 30. Bxe5+ $1 Ka8 31. g5) 30. Ke2 (30. Bxe5+ Rxe5 31. Qd8+
Ka7 32. Rc8 Rxf5+ $3 {Black mates first!}) 30... Ka7 $1 {This quiet move,
robbing White of a tempo for doubling major pieces on the 8th rank finally
determines the outcome} 31. Qh2 Qf6 32. fxg6 Qxg6 33. Qg2 Rf8 34. Bxe5 {The
last trick; but White has overlooked Black's 39th move} Rf2+ 35. Qxf2 Nxf2 36.
Bd4+ b6 {The only move} 37. Rc7+ Kb8 38. Be5 Nxg4 {Now after 39. Rg7+ Black is
left with an extra Knight} 39. Bf4 (39. Rg7+ Nxe5 40. Rxg6 Nxg6) 39... Ne5 {
This is the move White had not noticed. Probably White continued his further
"heroic" resistance through sheer inertia, for with the loss of the a-pawn his
outlook is hopeless} 40. Re7 Qc2+ 41. Ke1 Kc8 42. Bxe5 Qxa2 43. Rc7+ Kd8 44.
Rc1 a5 (44... -- 45. Bc7+ Ke8 46. Bxb6 Qb2) 45. Bd4 b5 46. Ra1 Qb3 47. Kf2 (47.
Bf6+ Kd7 48. Rxa5 Kc6 {Leads to a further loss of material fo White}) 47... a4
48. Kf3 Qc2 49. Kf4 Kd7 50. Ke5 Qe4+ 51. Kf6 Qe7+ 52. Kg6 a3 53. Rf1 b4 {White
can win Black's Queen!} 54. Rf7 Qxf7+ $1 (54... b3 $4 55. Rxe7+ Kxe7 56. Bc5+
$1) 55. Kxf7 b3 {In this game Makonov displayed exceptional tenacity, which is
not suprising: this game played in the last round of the first part, decided
the leadership of the tournament} 0-1

[Event "Sverdlosk Masters' Tournament"]
[Site "Sverdlosk"]
[Date "1943.??.??"]
[Round "?"]
[White "Botvinnik Mikhail"]
[Black "Kann I"]
[Result "1-0"]
[ECO "B84"]
[PlyCount "101"]

1. e4 c5 2. Nf3 e6 3. d4 cxd4 4. Nxd4 Nf6 5. Nc3 d6 {In the Scheveningen
Variation there are two main schemes of development for the Black pieces on
the Queenside: Nc6 and Bd7 OR the fianchetto of the Queen Bishop and Nb8-d7-c5.
In this game Kann chooses the second system. From the viewpoint of pressure
with pieces on the centre it is quite logical} 6. Be2 a6 7. a4 Qc7 8. f4 Nbd7
9. O-O b6 10. Bf3 Bb7 11. f5 {An unexpected blow for Black. White exploits the
absence of the Bishop at c8 to attack the e-pawn. As Black cannot allow a file
to be opened so long as he has not completed development, he is forced to
weaken his e5[%csl Re6]} e5 {[%csl Gd5]} 12. Nb3 Nc5 {Kann probably assumed
that this move would force an exchange at c5 which would ease his defence. But
he was to suffer a disappointment.} (12... Be7 13. Qe2 O-O 14. Kh1 Rac8 {
followed by ... Pd5 led to a favourable position for Black. However, that game
is unconvincing as Romanovsky did not decide on the logical continuation[%cal
Gd6d5]} 15. g4 {It is permissible to ask why White went in for all this
energetic variaiton, if he could not bring himslf to move Pg4 after Black has
castled on that side?}) 13. Qe2 $1 {A second unpleasantness! It transpires
that 13. ... Nxb3 14. cxb3 is unfavourable to Black, and White is the first to
exploit the open c-file} Be7 (13... Nxb3 14. cxb3 {[%csl Yd5][%cal Gc1c8]}) 14.
Kh1 h6 {Here Black is faced with a difficult question? On which side should he
castle? On the Kingside is dangerous as a pawn storm for his Kingside begins
Pg4-g5. The Queenside also is not safe, owing to the lack of a reliable pawn
screen. So Kann decides to leave the King in the centre; but here too the King
comes under fire!} 15. Bd2 Rd8 16. Be1 {After Black has deprived the Queen's
Bishop of g5 this is the only, and a good means, of bringing the Bishop into
the fight[%cal Ge1g3]} Qc8 {An unfortunate idea which uses several tempi and
costs Black the game. As early as the 12th move Kann had attempted to provoke
a Knight exchange at c5; now he genuinely "compels" this exchange after the
transfer of the Queen to a8, and gets a lost position. Better is 16. ... 0-0}
17. Rd1 {[%csl Gd5]} Qa8 18. Nxc5 dxc5 {After this move events develop
violently} (18... bxc5 $16 {better, but even then White has a clear positional
superiority owing to the weakness of Black's White squares c4 and d5[%csl Gc4,
Gd5]}) 19. Bg3 $1 Rxd1 20. Rxd1 Qb8 {Black is unable to defend the e-pawn with
the Knight, it would weaken his d5. But now White, forcing the exchange at d5,
intensifies ths pressure on e5, which, in conjunction with the unsatisfactory
position of the Black King, is of decisive importance[%csl Ge5]} 21. Nd5 Nxd5
22. exd5 {[%csl Re5]} Bd6 {Now Black proposes to close up the position with
Pf6 and so get a satisfactory defence} (22... Bc8 23. d6) (22... f6 23. d6 Bxf3
24. d7+ Kd8 25. Qxf3) 23. f6 $1 g6 (23... gxf6 24. Be4 {followed by Bh4 and
Rf1 White wins back a pawn while retaining all the advantages of his situation
[%cal Gg3h4,Yd1f1]}) 24. Bxe5 {The obvious move, which of course Black foresaw.
And so Black loses an important central pawn, but he does not yet lose hope of
saving the game, as the White d-pawn is blocked} Kd8 (24... Bxe5 25. d6 (25.
Re1)) 25. Bxd6 Qxd6 26. Qe7+ $1 {A terrible check! The endgame is hopeless for
Black, though it is by no means simple for White to win owing to the closed
nature of the position} Qxe7 27. fxe7+ Kd7 (27... Kxe7 28. d6+) 28. d6 Bxf3 29.
gxf3 Rc8 30. Kg2 g5 {Facilitates the win. The weakening of Black's f5 and h5
opens up the ways for the White King's breakthrough[%csl Gf5,Gh5]} 31. Rd5 $1 {
On this square the Rook is invulnerable} Rg8 32. Kg3 f6 33. Kg4 Ke6 34. Kh5 $1
{White's plan is simple: to win one more pawn, and then surrend the d- and
e-pawns to transpose into a pawn endgame. The h-pawn is indefensible} a5 (34...
Rh8 35. Kg6) 35. Kxh6 Kf7 36. Kh5 Rh8+ 37. Kg4 Rh4+ 38. Kg3 (38. Kf5 Rf4#)
38... Rh8 39. f4 gxf4+ 40. Kxf4 Ke6 {The time has come to transpose to the
pawn endgame[%csl Rh2][%cal Gh2h4]} 41. d7 Kxe7 42. d8=Q+ Rxd8 43. Rxd8 Kxd8
44. Kf5 Ke7 45. Kg6 $1 {most simple} Ke6 46. h4 f5 47. Kg5 {[%cal Gh8e5]} Ke5
48. h5 f4 49. h6 f3 50. h7 f2 51. h8=Q+ 1-0

[Event "Russia"]
[Site "Tournament, Moscow"]
[Date "1943.??.??"]
[Round "?"]
[White "Ljublinsky V"]
[Black "Botvinnik Mikhail"]
[Result "0-1"]
[ECO "C77"]
[PlyCount "106"]

1. e4 e5 2. Nf3 Nc6 3. Bb5 a6 4. Ba4 Nf6 5. Bxc6 {This continuation leaves
White barely any advantage} bxc6 (5... dxc6 6. Nc3 {Black can't play ... Pf6
which is regarded as strongest[%cal Gd7d6]}) 6. Nc3 d6 7. d4 Nd7 8. dxe5 dxe5
9. O-O Bd6 {A positoin has arisen similar to those which were frequently met
with in Tchigorin's games playing this opening; as it is well known, the open
b-file and Bishop pair completely make up for the weakness of Black's pawns on
the Queenside. Possibly Black's play has the greater prospects} 10. Ne2 O-O 11.
Ng3 Rb8 12. b3 (12. Nf5 Nc5) 12... Re8 13. Be3 g6 14. c3 a5 15. Qc2 Qe7 16.
Rfd1 Nc5 17. Ne1 Ne6 {This manoeuvre takes a lot of time and the initiative
passes to White} (17... Ba6 18. c4 {Black transfers the Knight to d4 without
delay[%cal Gc5e6,Ge6d4]}) 18. Nd3 Nf4 19. f3 Ba6 20. c4 c5 {Almost forced} 21.
Qd2 {Excellently played. In view of the threats 22. Qxa5 and Nxf4 Black must
exchange the Knight after which the c- and a-pawns will be very weak[%csl Ra5,
Rf4]} Nxd3 22. Qxd3 Red8 23. Ne2 c6 24. Nc3 Bc7 25. Qc2 Rd4 $3 {The only way
of saving the c-pawn. It is difficult for White to exploit his material
superiority when there are no open files, and Black has good chances on the
Kingside. Best of all for White would be to take the Rook with the Bishop and
then transfer the Knight to d3.  We must remark that this sacrifice of the
exchange is possible only because Black will still have one Rook, without
which his Bishops would not be dangerous. This is why Black could not delay
with this sacrifice: if White exchanged one pair of Rooks he would ensure
himself of the win} 26. Ne2 (26. Bxd4 $142 cxd4 27. Na4 {[%cal Ga4b2,Gb2d3]})
26... Bc8 27. Nxd4 cxd4 28. Bf2 c5 29. Rf1 f5 30. Bg3 Bd7 31. Rad1 f4 32. Bf2
g5 33. g4 {White's nerves fail him. The threat ... Pg4 was very unpleasant but
this weakening of the Kingside helps Black in his attack} fxg3 34. Bxg3 Bh3 35.
Rf2 h5 36. Rfd2 h4 37. Bf2 Rf8 {Black's attack is developing step by step.
White's pieces are placed very unsatisfactorily} 38. Rd3 Rf4 39. Kh1 Kh7 40.
Rg1 Bd8 41. Qe2 Qf7 42. Qd1 (42. Be1 g4 43. fxg4 Bxg4 44. Rxg4 Rxg4 45. Qxg4
Qf1+ 46. Qg1 Qe2 {leads to loss of e-pawn[%csl Rd3,Re4]}) 42... Qh5 {[%cal
Gg5g4]} 43. Be3 {Else ... Pg4 is decisive. The endgame with Bishops of
opposite colour is lost for White as Black gets two united passed pawns} Qxf3+
44. Qxf3 Rxf3 45. Bxg5 Rxd3 46. Bxd8 Re3 47. Bb6 Rxe4 48. Bxc5 Re2 49. Rd1 Bg4
50. h3 Bxh3 51. b4 Bf5 52. Bd6 d3 53. bxa5 h3 0-1

[Event "Moscow ch [Botvinnik"]
[Site "Moscow ch [Botvinnik"]
[Date "1943.??.??"]
[Round "?"]
[White "Tolush A"]
[Black "Botvinnik Mikhail"]
[Result "0-1"]
[ECO "C19"]
[PlyCount "84"]

1. e4 e6 2. d4 d5 3. Nc3 Bb4 4. e5 c5 5. a3 Bxc3+ (5... Ba5 {seems playable})
6. bxc3 Ne7 {One of the most telling variations of the French Defence. Tolush
goes on to play the opening with the "last word" of theory, as it stood on
January 1st 1944! Present day theoreticians recommend Qg4} 7. Nf3 Nbc6 8. a4 {
A very useful move, securing the good position at a3 for the Queen's Bishop
[%cal Gc1a3]} Bd7 9. Be2 Qc7 10. O-O b6 (10... h6 11. Ba3 b6 12. dxc5 bxc5 13.
Bxc5 Nxe5 14. Nxe5 Qxc5 15. Nxd7 {led to a difficult position for Black} Kxd7
16. Bb5+ Kc7 17. Qh5 g6 18. Qe5+ Qd6 19. Qf6 e5 20. Qf3 e4 21. Qxf7 Raf8 22.
Qg7 Qf6 23. Qxf6 Rxf6 24. Rad1 Rd8 25. Rfe1 Nf5 26. Bf1 Re6 27. g3 h5 28. f3
Re7 29. Bg2 Rd6 30. fxe4 dxe4 31. Rxd6 Nxd6 32. Kf2 Re5 33. Ke3 Ra5 34. Bxe4
Nxe4 35. Kxe4 Rxa4+ 36. Kd5 Ra5+ 37. Kd4 Kd6 38. c4 Rf5 39. Re8 Rf2 40. h4 Rg2
41. c5+ Kd7 42. Re3 a5 43. Ra3 Kc6 44. c4 a4 45. Ke4 Kxc5 46. Kf3 Rd2 47. Rxa4
Rd3+ 48. Kf4 Rd4+ 49. Ke3 Rd6 50. Ra1 Kxc4 51. Kf4 Rd4+ 52. Ke5 Rd3 53. Rc1+
Kb5 54. Rg1 Rf3 55. Ke6 Kc4 56. g4 Rf4 57. g5 Kd3 58. Ra1 Ke3 59. Ra7 Ke2 60.
Rh7 Ke3 61. Rh6 Rxh4 62. Kf6 Ra4 63. Kxg6 h4 64. Kh5 Kf3 65. g6 h3 66. Kg5 {1/
2-1/2 Smyslov,V-Botvinnik,M/Sverdlovsk 1943}) 11. Ba3 Na5 {Many master
considered 11. ... Na5 to give Black good play} 12. Nd2 $1 {An important
improvement by Tolush. White plans to play 13. Ng3, provoking the Knight
exchange after which White's pawnformation on the Queenside is corrected[%csl
Ya5][%cal Gd2b3]} Bxa4 13. c4 $1 {Finely played. White clears the central
squares and his two Bishps become a threatening force.[%csl Ga3,Ge2]} (13. Bxc5
$143 bxc5 14. Rxa4 c4 {Black has to all intentns and purposes an extra pawn at
a7[%cal Ga7a5]}) 13... Bd7 {An inexact move} (13... O-O $142 14. dxc5 bxc5 15.
cxd5 exd5 16. Bxc5 Qxc5 17. Rxa4 Nac6) 14. cxd5 exd5 15. c4 O-O 16. dxc5 Qxe5
17. cxb6 {Leads to an equal game} (17. cxd5 $142 bxc5 (17... Nxd5 18. Bf3) 18.
Bxc5 Nb7 19. Nc4) 17... axb6 18. Bf3 Rfe8 19. Re1 Qf6 20. cxd5 Nf5 21. Ne4 Qd4
22. Qe2 Nh4 {risky} (22... Qc4 {simpler}) 23. Qd2 Qc4 24. Qe2 Qd4 25. Rad1 Qc4
26. Qd2 {[%cal Gb2g7,Yd2g5,Re4f6]} Qa4 $1 {A difficult, but the only reply. In
view of the potential Knight transfer ... Nc4 White's Bishop at a3 cannot
reach the a1-h8 diagonal[%cal Ga5c4]} (26... -- 27. Bb2 $140 -- 28. Qg5 -- 29.
Nf6+) 27. Bc1 Nc4 28. Qf4 {Now the initiative passes to Black} (28. Qd4 $142)
28... Ng6 29. Qg3 Bf5 30. Rd4 {mistaken as it weakens the first rank} (30. --
Bxe4 $140 31. Bxe4 Rxe4 {[%csl Rd1]}) (30. Nc3) 30... Qc2 31. h4 {Hazardous
and quite in Tolush's style. He always aims at counterplay} Ra1 32. Nf6+ {
Loses swiftly, but it is doubtful whether White has any satisfactory defence}
gxf6 33. Rxe8+ Kg7 34. h5 (34. Bd1 Rxc1 35. Re1 Nd2 36. Bxc2 Rxe1+ 37. Kh2 Nf1+
) 34... Rxc1+ 35. Kh2 Qb1 36. Qb8 {An interesting position} Rh1+ 37. Kg3 Qg1 {
Black's attack is more weighty} 38. Rg8+ Kh6 39. Bg4 Qh2+ 40. Kf3 Nce5+ 41. Ke2
Bxg4+ 42. Rxg4 Qxh5 {A stormy game, but not without mistakes!} 0-1

[Event "6"]
[Site "Moscow ch-SU"]
[Date "1944.??.??"]
[Round "?"]
[White "Veresov G"]
[Black "Botvinnik Mikhail"]
[Result "0-1"]
[ECO "E35"]
[PlyCount "90"]

1. d4 Nf6 2. c4 e6 3. Nc3 Bb4 4. Qc2 d5 5. cxd5 exd5 6. Nf3 {Now if Black
plays ... Pc5 White exchanges at f6 without losing time} (6. Bg5 h6 7. Bh4 c5
8. Bxf6 {White loses a tempo}) 6... c5 7. Bg5 h6 8. Bxf6 Qxf6 9. a3 Ba5 {A
weak reply. In the hope of winning still greater superiority White avoids
these continuations and goes in for complications. But he chooses such an
unfortunate plan that the "complications" prove difficult only for White} (9...
Bxc3+ $142) 10. O-O-O {Here the King will be far from secure, but most of all
White has lost precious time and has not taken the c-pawn. Of course Black
does not miss the chance of eliminating this threat} (10. dxc5 Bxc3+ 11. Qxc3
Qxc3+ 12. bxc3 {Black must work very hard to win back the pawn}) (10. b4 $1 {
pointed out by Veresov immediately after the game had ended} cxb4 11. Qa4+ Nc6
(11... Qc6 12. Nb5 Bb6 13. Ne5 $18) 12. Nxd5 Qd6 13. axb4 Bxb4+ 14. Nxb4 Qxb4+
15. Qxb4 Nxb4 16. Nd2 {Black's pawns on the Queenside come under attack[%csl
Ga7,Gb7]}) 10... Bxc3 11. Qxc3 c4 $1 {The only convincing continuation} 12.
Qe3+ {After long consieration White chooses another - and perhaps erroneous
plan, associated with reinforcing the Knight at e5 and advancing the Kingside
pawns[%cal Gf3e5]} (12. b3 {very dangerous for White because his King is on
the Queenside}) (12. e4 {suggests itself} dxe4 (12... Bg4 $1 13. exd5 O-O 14.
Bxc4 Nd7 {and despite White's temporary superiority in material, Black's game
is to be preferred}) 13. Ne5 $1 {[%cal Gf1c4]}) 12... Be6 13. Ne5 Nc6 14. g4 {
Assuming that Black would castle short, Veresov begins a pawn advance on the
Kingside} (14. Nxc4 dxc4 15. d5 O-O-O $17) 14... O-O-O $1 {This is now quite
obvious! Of course Black does not Castle short, as on that side his King's
position would swiftly be shattered} 15. f4 {This "energetic" move proves to
be a fatal mistake, as it irrevocably weakens e4 and e3 squares along the
half-open e-file. White still assumes that his central Knight gives him
superiority. But in reality Black had to make only three moves (... Rhe8, ...
Qe7 and ... Pf6) and then White would be left with only the memory of his
strongly-placed Knight. If White had forseen this threat he would not of
course have wasted time on 15. Pf4.   It is quite common for a Knight at e5 to
lead one into error when estimating a position. On studying Game 92 which I
played against Lilienthal, a year later, the reader will be convinced that
history sometimes repeats itself.[%csl Ge3,Ge4]} (15. Bg2 $142) (15. h4 $142)
15... Rhe8 {Winning a tempo because of the threat ... Bxg4[%csl Rg4][%cal
Ge8e3]} (15... Qe7 $143 {... Pf6 is not possible because of the Knight fork})
16. Qf3 Qe7 {[%cal Gf7f6]} 17. e3 {In fighting to defend his weak e3 square,
White has fallen into such a great error that the decisive blow comes only
three moves later - his Queen is cut off from the Queenside[%cal Gf3e3,Ge3b3]}
(17. f5 Bd7 18. Qxd5 Nxe5 19. dxe5 Bxf5 20. Qxc4+ Kb8 {unsatisfactory for White
}) (17. Nxc6 bxc6 {Lesser evil, but this now leads to an open b-file and leads
to new dangers for the White King[%cal Gb8b2]}) 17... Na5 $1 {Immediately
exploiting White's blunder. At a5 the Knight will be very active; White's
central Knight will be driven off to the Kingside where now there is a
complete lull.} 18. Bg2 (18. f5 Bd7 19. Qxd5 Nb3+ {Black wins the Queen[%csl
Rd5][%cal Gd7f5]}) 18... f6 19. Ng6 Qc7 20. Kb1 c3 $3 {An unexpected stroke;
it might seem that so long as the King and Queen are on the c-file this move
is impossible, becuase of 21. Rc1, but White is foiled by the awkward position
of his Queen at f3  Now Black's c-pawn threats to advance farther  Veresov
decides to surrender the exchange in hope of saving himself int eh endgame.
This, of course, drags out the struggle for 25 moves by cannot alter the
result[%cal Ga5c4]} 21. Rc1 (21. bxc3 Nc4 {threats of ... Bd7 and ... Rxe3
[%cal Gc7b6,Re6d7]}) 21... Nc4 22. Rxc3 Nd2+ {The two Queens are
simultaneously doomed, but Black wins the exchange!} 23. Kc2 Nxf3 24. Bxf3 Bf7
25. Nh4 Rxe3 26. Rxc7+ Kxc7 27. Kd2 Rde8 28. Rc1+ Kb6 29. Rc3 Rxc3 30. bxc3 g6
31. Ng2 Kc7 32. Ne3 Kd6 33. h4 {Despite Black's superioriy in pieces he still
has to overcome quite a few technical difficulties, owing his Rook being
insufficiently active. Now he experiences some difficulty owing to the
weakness of his h-pawn; so he decides to defend it.  If White were to play a
waiting game the struggle might go on for a long time yet. But during time
trouble for both players he decided to "fish in troubled waters", and now
loses quickly} Rh8 34. h5 gxh5 35. gxh5 Be6 36. c4 dxc4 37. Bxb7 Rb8 {Now the
Rook as gained freedom of action} 38. Be4 Rb2+ 39. Kc3 Rb3+ 40. Kd2 Rxa3 41. d5
Rxe3 42. Kxe3 {Now in any case White could have resigned for the time check
was past} Bxd5 43. Bc2 Kc5 44. Bf5 a5 45. Bc2 Bc6 0-1

[Event "07"]
[Site "Moscow ch-URS"]
[Date "1944.??.??"]
[Round "?"]
[White "Botvinnik Mikhail"]
[Black "Flohr S"]
[Result "1-0"]
[ECO "A09"]
[PlyCount "135"]

1. Nf3 d5 2. c4 d4 3. e3 Nc6 4. exd4 Nxd4 5. Nxd4 Qxd4 6. Nc3 c6 7. d3 e5 {
Since one of the games in the Alekhine-Euwe return match, 7. ... Pe5 has been
recommended as the strongest. It is unquestionably sound, but now I decided to
try out a certain "new idea"} 8. Be3 Qd8 (8... Qd6 $142) 9. Be2 Nf6 10. O-O Be7
11. Kh1 {A little later in this same tournament Lisitsin playing Mikenas
continued 11. Pf4 at once. Probably this is more exact as now Flohr could play
11. ... Bf5 achieving satisfactory development} (11. f4 exf4 12. Rxf4 Bd6 13.
Rh4 Bf5 14. Qf1 Bg6 15. Qf2 Nd7 16. Bh5 O-O 17. Bxg6 fxg6 18. Qe1 g5 19. Rh5 h6
20. Bxg5 hxg5 21. Qe6+ Rf7 22. Qh3 Qb6+ 23. c5 Qxc5+ 24. Kh1 Kf8 25. Ne4 Qf5
26. Qxf5 Rxf5 27. Nxd6 Rd5 28. Rh8+ Ke7 29. Rxa8 Kxd6 30. Rxa7 b5 31. Rd1 Ne5
32. Rxg7 Nxd3 33. Kg1 c5 34. Rg6+ Kc7 35. Rd2 c4 36. g3 Rf5 37. h4 gxh4 38.
gxh4 Ne5 39. Rg7+ Kb6 40. Rf2 Nf3+ 41. Kg2 Nxh4+ 42. Kg3 Rxf2 {1-0 Lisitsin,
G-Mikenas,V/Moscow 1944}) 11... O-O 12. f4 {This is the opening idea I had in
mind. The flanking f-pawn is exchanged for the central e-pawn. White obtains a
half open f-file; and finally, the backward d-pawn will become a strong
central pawn[%cal Ge5f4,Yd3d4]} exf4 13. Rxf4 Be6 14. d4 Qd7 {A sound scheme
of defence. Black transfers the Bishop to g6 after which his Kingside will be
securely covered[%cal Ge6f5,Gf5g6]} 15. Bd3 Bg4 16. Qd2 Bh5 17. Bf5 Qc7 18.
Raf1 Bg6 19. Rh4 {A quite harmless demonstration; after the Bishop's transfer
to g6 the Black King has become very inaccessible} Rfe8 20. Bf4 Qd8 21. Bxg6
fxg6 {By keeping the h-pawn Black foils all White's attempts to attack the
King. However, arising out of his pawn superiority on the Queenside, White has
some cause to reckon on success in the endgame} (21... hxg6 22. Be5 {The
Knight is pinned because of the potential Rh8+ and Qh6+[%cal Ge5h8]}) 22. Rh3
Qd7 23. a3 {Safeguarding the e4 square[%csl Ge4]} Rad8 24. Rd3 Qe6 $1 {Quite
in Flohr's style. Black provokes the formation of a passed d-pawn and securely
blocks it and develops counter-play with pieces} 25. d5 cxd5 26. cxd5 Qa6 {As
the Rook at f1 is undefended Black gains a tempo to block the d-pawn[%cal
Ga6f1]} 27. Rd1 Bd6 28. h3 h6 29. Bxd6 Qxd6 30. Re3 Rxe3 31. Qxe3 a6 {Flohr
has always played such positions artistically; take as an example his game
against Steiner at Hastings in 1932/3 and the first game of his match in 1933,
It would be difficult to improve on the position of White's pieces} 32. Qd3 Nh5
33. Re1 Ng3+ 34. Kg1 Rf8 35. Qe3 (35. Ne4 $142) 35... Kh7 36. Ne4 Nxe4 37. Qxe4
Rf5 {The inexact play of both sides at this stage was the result of time
trouble} (37... Rf4 $142 $1 38. Qd3 Qc5+ 39. Kh1 Rd4 {wins a pawn and even has
the slightly superior position.[%csl Rd5]}) 38. Rd1 Rf6 39. Qb4 Qxb4 40. axb4
Rd6 {The last move in the timc-check. It was pychologically diffiult to decide
on ... Kg8 as throughout the game Black had aimed to block the d-pawn at d5;
but the King's move would have been better, as to begin with, the d-pawn could
always have been halted at e7; secondly Black King would come up in time; and;
thirdly the White King would fail to support the passed pawn} 41. Kf2 Kg8 42.
Ke3 Kf7 43. Rf1+ $1 Rf6 {A blunder, after all the more suprising because it
was made immediately after the adjournment, in other words, after there had
been opportunity for analysis} (43... Ke7 44. Kd4 Rb6 45. Kc5 Rb5+ 46. Kc4 Rb6
47. Rf4 {Flohr thought this position was lost} (47. Re1+ {White attempts to
transpose play into a pawn endgame} Kd7 48. Re6 Rxe6 49. dxe6+ Kxe6 50. Kc5 {
An exceptionally interesting pawn finish would result. Despite Black's extra
pawn White's position is superior becuase of his King's active position. As
will be seen from the following variation Black plays a waiting game and
defends the Queenside wiht this King, he loses through Zugzwang} Kd7 (50... g5
{Black plays actively, with the object of capturing the White b-pawns at the
cost of his own Queen pawns, he still loses as White can capture all Black's
Kingside pawns while preserving his on g-pawn} 51. Kb6 Kd5 52. Kxb7 Kc4 53.
Kxa6 Kxb4 54. g4 $3 ({a draw follows if} 54. Kb6 Kb3 55. Kc5 Kxb2 56. Kd5 Kc3
57. Ke6 Kd4 58. Kf7 h5 59. Kxg7 g4 60. hxg4 hxg4 61. Kg6 Ke3 62. Kf5 Kf2 $11)
54... Kb3 55. Kb5 Kxb2 56. Kc4 Kc2 57. Kd5 Kd3 58. Ke6 Ke4 59. Kf7 Kf3 60. Kxg7
$18) (50... Ke5 51. Kb6 Kd4 52. Kxb7 Kc4 53. Kxa6 Kxb4 54. Kb6 Kb3 55. Kc6 Kxb2
56. Kd6 Kc3 57. Ke6 Kd4 58. Kf7 g5 (58... Ke3 59. Kxg6 Kf2 60. Kxg7 Kxg2 61. h4
$18) 59. g4) ({However, a certain little known amateur pointed out that Black
could save the game} 50... h5 $3 51. Kb6 {Black gets a draw as White lacks Pg4}
(51. h4 Ke5 52. Kb6 Kd5 53. Kxb7 Kc4 54. Kxa6 Kxb4 55. Kb6 Kb3 56. Kc5 Kxb2 57.
Kd4 Kb3 58. Ke5 Kc4 59. Ke6 Kd4 60. Kf7 Ke4 61. Kxg6 Kf4 62. Kxh5 Kg3 63. Kg5
Kxg2 64. h5 Kg3 65. Kg6 Kg4 {Black draws easily})) 51. Kb6 Kc8 52. h4 $3 Kb8
53. b5 axb5 54. Kxb5 Kc7 55. Kc5 Kd7 56. Kb6 Kc8 57. b3 Kb8 58. b4 Ka8 59. Kc7
Ka7 60. b5 Ka8 61. b6 h5 62. g3 $18 g5 63. hxg5 g6 64. Kd7) 47... h5 {[%cal
Gb6f6]} 48. -- Rf6 {Black has every reason to count on a draw}) 44. Rxf6+ gxf6
45. g4 $1 {White immediately takes steps to clear the b1-h7 diagonal for the
King[%cal Gb1h7]} Ke7 46. h4 {[%cal Gh4h5]} Kd6 47. Ke4 b6 48. h5 gxh5 49. gxh5
a5 50. Kf5 (50. bxa5 $11 bxa5 51. b3 $1 Kc5 52. Kf5 Kxd5 53. Kxf6 Kd4 54. Kg6
Kc3 55. Kxh6 Kxb3 56. Kg6 a4 57. h6 a3 58. h7 a2 59. h8=Q $18 {[%cal Gh8a1]})
50... axb4 51. Kxf6 Kxd5 52. Kg6 Ke6 53. Kxh6 Kf6 54. b3 Kf7 (54... b5 55. Kh7
Kf7 56. h6 $18) 55. Kg5 Kg7 56. Kf5 Kh6 57. Ke5 Kxh5 58. Kd5 Kg5 59. Kc6 Kf5
60. Kxb6 Ke6 61. Kc5 Kd7 62. Kxb4 Kc6 {This position is to be found in all
beginner's textbooks} 63. Ka5 Kb7 64. Kb5 Ka7 65. Kc6 Ka6 66. b4 Ka7 67. b5 Kb8
68. Kb6 {The value of this game was diminished by mistake on both sides during
the 35th to 40th move. But for these mistakes it would have been a decidely
interesting endgame} 1-0

[Event "8"]
[Site "Moscow ch-SU"]
[Date "1944.??.??"]
[Round "?"]
[White "Smyslov V"]
[Black "Botvinnik Mikhail"]
[Result "0-1"]
[ECO "C19"]
[PlyCount "80"]

1. e4 e6 2. d4 d5 3. Nc3 Bb4 4. e5 c5 5. a3 Bxc3+ 6. bxc3 Ne7 7. a4 {[%cal
Gc1a3]} (7. Nf3 Nbc6 8. Be2 Bd7 9. O-O Qc7 10. Rb1 c4 11. Ne1 O-O-O 12. f4 f6
13. Nf3 Nf5 14. Qe1 h5 15. Nh4 Nce7 16. Nxf5 Nxf5 17. Qf2 Be8 18. Bd2 Qa5 19.
Rb4 Qxa3 20. Rfb1 Qa6 21. Qe1 b6 22. Ra1 Qb7 23. Bf3 Qe7 24. Ra6 Bc6 25. Qa1
Kb8 26. g3 Qb7 27. Ra2 Rc8 28. Qe1 Qf7 29. Rb1 Kb7 30. Qf2 Ra8 31. Bc1 Rhg8 32.
h4 Rh8 33. Qg2 Qc7 34. Kh2 Rh6 35. Bd2 Rg6 36. Rg1 Rxg3 37. Qxg3 Nxg3 38. Rxg3
Qf7 39. Ra1 Rg8 40. Rag1 fxe5 41. fxe5 Qf5 42. Bd1 Ba4 43. Rf3 Qh7 44. Rf7+ Ka6
45. Rg5 Bxc2 46. Bf3 Qd3 47. Rg2 Qf1 48. Bxh5 Bf5 49. Bg4 Rh8 50. h5 Qd3 51.
Be2 Qh3+ 52. Kg1 Rxh5 53. Bxh5 Qxh5 54. Rfxg7 Be4 {0-1 Milner_Barry,
P-Botvinnik,M/Hastings 1934}) 7... Nbc6 8. Nf3 {I first employed this
variation for Black in a game agaisnt Milner-Barry, at Hastings in 1934. It
has since been regularly adopted in master play. Smyslov had frequently
expressed his view that the system is bad for Black, so I now had particular
satisfaction in employing it here} Qa5 9. Bd2 {White aims to decide the game
by an attack on the Kingside} (9. Qd2 {logical}) 9... c4 10. Ng5 {I pointed
out the manoeuvre Ng5-h3-f4-h5 in the notes to Pogrebyssky-Botvinnik. Black
here does not allow the Knight to reach h5[%cal Gg5h3,Gh3f4,Gf4h5]} h6 11. Nh3
Ng6 {[%csl Gf4]} 12. Qf3 Bd7 13. Nf4 Nxf4 14. Qxf4 Ne7 {The result of the
opening can be summarized as not favourable to White. He must lose his a-pawn.
True, he can launch a pawn atttack on the Kingside, but Black has sufficient
defensive resources.[%csl Ra4]} 15. h4 Bxa4 16. h5 Qb5 {attacking the pawn at
c2[%csl Rc2]} 17. Kd1 Rc8 {The simplest means of bringing the a-Rook into play.
After this White must lose several tempi in dealing with an attack on his King
[%cal Gc8c6,Gc6a6]} 18. Bc1 Rc6 19. Be2 {A number of masters condemned this
move and recommended 19. Pg4 immediately. I think that if Black plays soundly
this is of no essential importance} Ra6 20. Kd2 {A great achievement for
Black! Now the c1-h6 diagonal is closed to White's Bishop[%cal Gc1d2,Gd2f4]}
O-O {This move definitely plays into White's hands, as Black is forced into 21.
... Pf6, and the White Queen gets freedom to move along the h2-g8 diagonal. So
far Black was not exposed to any danger; his King was adequately secure in the
centre} (20... Qd7 $142 {Playing for simplification[%cal Ga4b5]}) (20... Qb6
21. -- Bd7) 21. g4 f6 22. exf6 Rxf6 23. Qc7 Rf7 24. Qd8+ Kh7 25. f4 $1 {With
the strong threat of Pg5-g6. None the less I decided to try my luck and took a
cunning, but extremely dangerous variation[%cal Gg4g5,Gg5g6]} Qa5 {Offering an
exchange of Queens without disarranging the pawn formation} ({I came to the
conclusion that one should play} 25... Qd7 26. Qxd7 Bxd7 27. Rxa6 bxa6 28. Ke3
Bb5 $11 {If the g-pawn advances the Knight always has f5}) 26. Qb8 Nc6 27. Qe8
Re7 28. Qg6+ {Smyslov made this move without thinking. Evidently he assumed
that 28. Qf8 led to an exchange of Queens, while the text move left White the
possibility of making a decisive attack on the King. This was a very serious
error. White's Queen is drawn into a trap} (28. Qf8 Qd8 29. Qxd8 Nxd8 30. g5 {
White retains good prospects as it would not be so simple to transfer the
Knight to f5[%csl Gf5]}) 28... Kg8 29. Ba3 {White still does not notice the
danger threatening his Queen, otherwise he would have played Pg5xh6 at once,
securing the Queen's retreat. True, even in this case Black has the better
game, but now his task is simplified} e5 {Very riskily played} (29... Qc7 30.
Rhf1 Ne5 {[%cal Ga4e8]} (30... Nb4 $142 31. Bxb4 Be8 {It is doubtful whether
White could save the game}) 31. fxe5 Be8 32. Rf8+ Kxf8 33. Qh7 {Bad for Black})
30. fxe5 {This is a decisive error} (30. dxe5 {White should by no means lose.
For if Black continued as in the game White's f-pawn would guarantee White
equal play}) 30... Nxd4 31. Bb4 Qd8 32. Qxa6 bxa6 33. cxd4 Rb7 {The winning
move; this is where the lack of the c-pawn tells!} 34. Rxa4 Qg5+ 35. Kd1 a5 (
35... c3 {also playabl}) 36. Bf3 Rxb4 37. Bxd5+ Kf8 38. Rf1+ Ke8 39. Bc6+ Ke7
40. Rxb4 Qxg4+ {White sealed Kc1 but did not bother to resume. The struggle
developed interestingly, but the game would have been of even greater interest
if there had not been errors on both sides in the final stage} 0-1

[Event "Russia"]
[Site "Ch URS, Moscow  (9)"]
[Date "1944.??.??"]
[Round "?"]
[White "Botvinnik Mikhail"]
[Black "Boleslavsky I"]
[Result "1-0"]
[ECO "C04"]
[PlyCount "91"]

1. e4 e6 2. d4 d5 3. Nd2 Nc6 {This defence against the Tarrasch system first
appeared in Soviet master play in 1940. Boleslasky's employment of it is it
best recommendation. Unfortunately, in the present game he did not overcome
the difficulties of the opening} 4. Ngf3 Nf6 5. e5 Nd7 6. Nb3 {The basic idea
of the 3. ... Nc6 defence is a struggle for White's e5. In the present game
White attempts to counter this idea with free development of his pieces} f6 7.
Bb5 Be7 8. Bf4 {White has achieved a good arrangement of pieces. Now he can
exchange at c6, as his command of the half open e-file is at his command and
the h2-b8 diagonal enables him to control his e5[%csl Ge5][%cal Ye1e6]} O-O 9.
exf6 gxf6 {If Black recaptures with a piece, White gets a base at e5. But even
now Black is not free from difficulties. To advance the e-pawn would lead to
White's capture of f5, and it is impossible to advance the f-pawn because it
would weaken e5[%cal Gf6e5]} 10. O-O Nb6 11. Re1 Bd6 12. Bg3 a6 13. Bd3 Na4 {
Not only attacking the b-pawn but preventing Nc5[%csl Gb2,Gc5]} 14. Rb1 b5 {It
would seem that Black has played quite sensibly, for he prevents the
undermining move Pc4. But this is offset by the weakening of his c4. So long
as the Bishop is at d6 this weakness is not perceptible; Black assumed that if
Whtie took the Bishop he would reply with ... cxd6 and all would be well. But
by tactical devices White soon succeeds in forcing Black to take at d6 with
his Queen[%csl Gc4,Yc5]} 15. c3 Bd7 16. Nh4 {A vital moment. Exploiting the
fact that the Black e-pawn cannot be advanced because it would weaken the f5
square, White starts active operations against the Black King[%csl Gf5]} Rf7
17. Re3 Rg7 18. Qe2 {A fresh unpleasantness for Black: a sacrifice of exchange
at e6 may become possible. If in doing so White succeeds in winning two pawns,
it will be clearly to his advantage, taking into account the weakness arising
at f5[%csl Re6]} Qf8 19. Bxd6 Qxd6 {necessary, Black has suffered defeat in
the fight for his c5} (19... cxd6 20. Rxe6 Bxe6 21. Qxe6+ {one of the two
d-pawns is lost[%csl Rd5,Rd6]}) 20. Rg3 Rxg3 {This too is necessary} (20... --
21. Bxh7+ Kxh7 22. Qh5+ Kg8 23. Ng6) 21. hxg3 Qe7 22. Re1 Qg7 23. Qc2 Nd8 24.
Nc1 {Preventing the c-pawns advance to c5, and if the opportunity offers,
planning to carry through the manoeuvre Ne2-f4[%cal Gc7c5,Yc1e2,Ye2f4]} Rc8 25.
b3 Nb6 26. b4 {[%csl Gc5]} Ra8 27. Nb3 (27. Ne2 e5 {because of the awkward
position of the Knight at e2 White's superiority would be less perceptible})
27... Nb7 {An imperceptible error which proves to be decisive. Now Black's
Bishop is thrust back to c8.} (27... Na4 $142) 28. Nc5 Nxc5 29. bxc5 Na4 (29...
Nc4 $142 {gives stronger resistance as the Knight would be more actively placed
}) 30. c6 Bc8 (30... Bxc6 31. Rxe6 {White would have f5[%csl Rf5]}) 31. c4 $1 {
Getting rid of the weakness at c3 and supporting the pawn at c6} bxc4 32. Bxc4
Nb6 33. Bd3 Rb8 34. Qc5 Qf8 {Black hopes to ransom himself at the cost of the
h-pawn and bring about the endgame. In fact he does succeed in exchanging
Queens, but in circumstances unfavourable to himself} 35. Bxh7+ Kg7 36. Nf5+ $1
exf5 37. Re7+ Kh8 38. Bg6 Be6 39. Rxe6 Qxc5 40. dxc5 Na4 {It was high time to
bring down the curtain} 41. Bxf5 Nc3 42. Re7 Nb5 43. Bd3 Rc8 44. a4 Nd4 45.
Bxa6 Nxc6 46. Re6 1-0

[Event "16"]
[Site "Moscow ch-SU"]
[Date "1944.??.??"]
[Round "?"]
[White "Lisitsin G"]
[Black "Botvinnik Mikhail"]
[Result "0-1"]
[ECO "A06"]
[PlyCount "82"]

1. Nf3 d5 2. b3 c5 3. Bb2 {A well known opening error. It is strange that
Lisitsin should have commited it, for he had thoroughly studied the Reti
Opening} f6 {White cannot prevent the formation of Black's pawn centre[%cal
Ge7e5]} 4. e3 e5 5. Bb5+ (5. d4 cxd4 6. exd4 e4 7. Nfd2 f5 $15) 5... Nc6 6. O-O
Bd6 7. Be2 {White wants to play Pd3 and at the same time preserve his King's
Bishop so this move is perfectly natural[%cal Gd2d3]} Nge7 8. d3 Be6 9. Nbd2 b6
{As a prophylactic against Pc4 followed by Ne4 in reply to which the Bishop's
retreat to c7 is now possible[%cal Gd6c7,Yb6c5]} 10. Re1 Qd7 11. Bf1 O-O 12. c4
d4 13. Ne4 Bc7 14. Qd2 {Imprudently played. Now Black can intensify the
pressure in the centre. White should first have played Pxd4} Bg4 15. Be2 f5 16.
Ng3 e4 {The text move seems the most promising, as Black gets a passed d-pawn}
(16... f4 17. exf4 exf4 18. Ne4 Ng6 {[%cal Gg6e5]}) (16... dxe3 17. fxe3 Bxf3 (
17... f4 {[%cal Ge7f5]}) 18. Bxf3 e4) 17. dxe4 Bxg3 ({very attractive is} 17...
fxe4 18. Nxe4 Bxf3 19. gxf3 (19. Bxf3 Rxf3) 19... Ng6 $40) 18. hxg3 fxe4 19.
Nh2 Bf5 20. g4 Bg6 21. Nf1 Rf7 {Not an entirely successful manoeuvre} (21...
Rad8 $142 22. -- Ne5 $140) 22. Ng3 Raf8 23. Rf1 Qc7 24. Rae1 d3 25. Bd1 Ne5 {
Black needs only make one more move N7c6 for White to be in Zugzwang. However,
Lisitsin finds a shrewd way of freeing his pieces} 26. Bxe5 $1 Qxe5 27. Nh1 $1
{Black is not able to prevent Pf4 after which chances are almost equal. So he
opens the game on the Kingside, in order to create a few tactical complications
} h5 28. f4 exf3 29. gxf3 hxg4 30. f4 Qd6 31. Rf2 {So far Lisitsin had
conducted a difficult defence very well, but now his positional sense betrayed
him. He evidently assumed that the pawn at g4 could be won at any time, so he
did not play Bxg4, though this was the one move that would have made it
difficult for Black to set up direct threats. Now Black exploits the existence
of this very pawn, and develops vehement pressure} Be4 $1 {Now already it
would be dangerous to take the pawn!} 32. Ng3 Bb7 33. Rh2 {White hopes the
blocked pawn will securely cover his King. The ensuing exchange eliminates the
block, and White loses at onec} Nf5 34. Nxf5 Rxf5 35. Rh4 g3 36. Rf1 {To
render harmless with Bf3[%cal Gd1f3]} g5 $1 37. Rg4 Qh6 38. Bf3 Qh3 $3 {Just
at the right moment! The White Rook has got lost in the pawn "forest"} 39. Qg2
Qxg4 40. Bxg4 Bxg2 41. Kxg2 R5f6 0-1

[Event "Russia"]
[Site "Ch URS, Moscow  (2)"]
[Date "1945.??.??"]
[Round "?"]
[White "Tolush A"]
[Black "Botvinnik Mikhail"]
[Result "0-1"]
[ECO "C19"]
[PlyCount "81"]

1. e4 e6 2. d4 d5 3. Nc3 Bb4 4. e5 c5 5. a3 Bxc3+ 6. bxc3 Ne7 7. Nf3 {If 7.
Qg4 is not played then Pa4 is at once more exact} Qa5 8. Bd2 c4 9. a4 {
Although this pawn may not be lost, the move is necessary in order to secure
a3 for the darksquared Bishop, else ... Qa4 would follow[%cal Gd2c1,Gc1a3]} Nd7
10. Be2 {White's opening plan is too slow} (10. Ng5 $142 h6 11. Nh3 {[%cal
Gh3f4,Gf4h5]}) 10... Nb6 {In the Smyslov-Botvinnik game (86) the a-pawn was
captured ... Bd7xa4. The manoeuvre ... Nbd7-b6xa4 has the advantage that at a4
the Knight is well placed} 11. O-O Nxa4 12. Nh4 {An unfortunate sally. As the
result of the exchange of Knights Black's h-pawn is transferred to g6 and the
breakthrough Pf4-f5 becomes practically impossible. So for some time White can
attack only with pieces, a sure sign that he has not found a sound plan in
this variation of the French Defence[%cal Gf2f4]} Ng6 13. Nxg6 hxg6 {[%csl Gf5]
} 14. Re1 Bd7 15. Bf1 {[%cal Ge1e3,Yd2c1,Yc1a3]} b5 $1 {Despite White's
unenterprising play, it would be wrong to presume that Black's task is simple.
White already intended to transfer his Bishop to the effective diagonal by
means of Re3 and Bc1-a3.  The position is closed to such an extent that it is
extremely difficult for Black to exploit his material superiority. Difficult,
but possible! Now he is preparing a pawn advance on the Queenside, so the
White Rook at e1 will be forced to take up a passive position} 16. Qf3 Rb8 17.
Reb1 Qc7 18. Bc1 $1 {After all White succeeds in transferring the Bishop to a3,
preventing the advance of the b-pawn and so averting immediate catastrophe
[%cal Gc1a3]} a5 19. Ba3 Rb6 $1 {The winning plan is now clear. Black
sacrifices for White's Queen's Bishop, in the final account getting two pawns
in exchange for the loss. Without his good Bishop White cannot prevent the
exploitation of Black's pawn superiority on the Queenside} 20. Qg3 Qd8 21. Bd6
{White assist in the execution of Black's plan, but to be fair we must remakr
that otherwise with 21. ... Qb8 and the threat of ... Pb4 would in any case
have forced Bd6} Rxd6 22. exd6 Bc6 23. h3 Kd7 (23... Qh4 {A fine variation is
possible} 24. Qe5 Qf6 25. Qxf6 gxf6 26. Rxa4 bxa4 27. Rb8+ Kd7 28. Rxh8 a3 $19)
24. Re1 Qh4 25. Qe5 Qf6 26. Qg3 Rh4 $1 {With this manoeuvre Black parries the
transfer of the White Rook to f3 and, in addition, prepares to advance ... Pb4,
which in conjunction with the attack on the d-pawn becomes decisive[%cal Gh4f4,
Ye1e3,Ye3f3]} 27. Re3 Rf4 {[%csl Gf3]} 28. Be2 Qh4 29. Bf3 b4 $1 30. Qxh4 (30.
Qh2 Qf6 31. cxb4 axb4 32. Rb1 Qxd4) (30. cxb4 axb4 31. Rb1 Qxg3 32. fxg3 Rxd4
33. Rxb4 Kxd6 $17 {Black would quickly get two united passed pawns}) (30. Bxd5
exd5 31. Re7+ Kxd6 $17) 30... Rxh4 31. g3 (31. cxb4 axb4 32. Rb1 Rxd4 33. Rxb4)
31... Rh8 ({Hoping for} 31... Rxh3 32. cxb4 axb4 33. Rb1) 32. cxb4 axb4 33. Rb1
Rb8 34. h4 Rb7 {Preparing ... Nc3[%cal Ga4c3]} 35. Kh2 Kxd6 36. g4 Nc3 37. Ra1
{Now Black quickly captures the a-file} (37. Rb2 f6 {quickly wins[%cal Ge6e5]})
37... Nb5 38. Rd1 Ra7 39. h5 g5 40. Kg2 Ra2 {Here the game was adjourned.
White cannot defend c2. He sealed Be2 but resigned without playing  The game
was awarded the share of the 2nd-3rd prizes for the best games in the
tournament[%csl Rc2]} 41. Be2 0-1

[Event "Ch URS, Moscow"]
[Site "Ch URS, Moscow"]
[Date "1945.??.??"]
[Round "?"]
[White "Romanovsky P"]
[Black "Botvinnik Mikhail"]
[Result "0-1"]
[ECO "B62"]
[PlyCount "76"]

1. e4 c5 2. Nf3 Nc6 3. d4 cxd4 4. Nxd4 Nf6 5. Nc3 d6 6. Bg5 {This System,
including castling on the Queenside, was worked out by the Soviet master
Rauzer (known as the "Rauzer attack")} e6 7. Bb5 {Romanovsky rejects Qd2
followed by 0-0-0. But if White castles short there is little point in Bg5.
Nor can the text move give White any advantage. In general it can be said that
Bg5 in the Sicilian Defence is of benefit only in exceptional cases, as it
leads either to simplification favourable to Black, or to a loss of tempo} Bd7
8. O-O Be7 9. Kh1 h6 {doesn't spoil anything yet} (9... O-O {simpler and better
}) 10. Be3 a6 {Now this move is simply feeble! Now the ordinary Scheveningen
Variation is obtained, with the only difference that Black's position has been
weakened by ... Ph6 and the attack Pg4-g5 may be quite dangerous} (10... O-O
$142 11. f4 Nxd4 12. Qxd4 Bxb5 13. Nxb5 d5 $1 {Black's game is to be preferred.
}) 11. Be2 e5 {Making an attempt to change over to the Boleslavsky Variation
but in this position this is of doubtful expediency} 12. Nb3 O-O 13. Nd5 (13.
f4 {more dangerous for Black (Botvinnik-Boleslavksy, Sverdlovsk 1943)}) 13...
Nxd5 {Black chooses a difficult position for him} (13... Nxe4 14. Bb6 Qc8 15.
f3 Nf6 16. Nxe7+ Nxe7 17. Qxd6 Qxc2 {White achieves nothing.}) 14. exd5 Na5 15.
Nd2 $1 {Black's Knight is pressed back to g7 where its activity will be at the
minimum} b5 16. b4 Nb7 17. c4 f5 18. f3 {The critical point of the game; White
passes the initiaitive to Black} (18. f4 Bf6 19. Rc1 exf4 20. Bxf4 bxc4 21.
Nxc4 Bb5 22. Be3 {looks more energetic, and then Black's position is far from
happy because of the unfortunate position of his Knight at g7 and the
potential Nb6}) 18... Bg5 {Black offers an exchange of Bishops, in order to
get rid of the most unpleasnt of White's minor pieces} 19. Qb3 (19. Bg1 {The
exchange of Bishops is unavoidable as Black easily deals with the threat of
Pc5 as he would control his c8 square[%csl Gc8]}) 19... Bxe3 20. Qxe3 Qg5 {Of
course it was difficult to foresee all the consequences of Pf4 but Black
assumed that in the ensuing complications the opportunity would arise of
exploiting the defenceless state of White's Bishop and Knight. White in turn
was quite prepared for these complications, as the exchange of Queens would
lead to an approximately equal endgame} (20... bxc4 $143 21. Nxc4 Bb5 22. Rfe1
Rc8 23. Nb6 Rc7 24. Bxb5 $1 axb5 25. a4 bxa4 26. Rxa4 {and one cannot see how
to make the Knight at g7 more active[%csl Rb7]}) 21. f4 exf4 (21... Qe7 22.
fxe5 dxe5 23. c5 $16) 22. Qb6 $3 {An interesting move. However, Black finds a
saving manoeuvre based on the defenceless state of White's minor pieces} Rab8
$1 23. Qxa6 {Black's position would seem hopeless as White has considerable
superiority on the Queenside} Qe7 $3 {unexpectedly the White Queen is in a
critical situation. For the moment White has to defend the Bishop at e2[%csl
Ra6,Re2]} 24. Rae1 {Evidently, until the last moment White had no inkly of
Black's design. The commentators condemned Romanovsky for this move, and
probably without justification.} (24. Rfe1 Qe3 25. Nf1 Qf2 26. Qa3 (26. Bf3 Ra8
27. Qxb7 Ra7 28. Re2 Qd4 29. Rd1 Qxd1 30. Qxa7 Qxf1+ 31. Qg1 Qxg1+ 32. Kxg1 $17
) 26... Rfe8 27. Qf3 {Black has the choice between} Qxf3 (27... Qb6 28. cxb5
Re4 29. a3 Rbe8)) 24... Qe3 {Now White has to defend a second piece} 25. Nf3
Ra8 $1 {An unpleasant suprise! White was counting only on ... Qc3 which would
not achieve its end because of Pa3} 26. Qxb7 Ra7 {Black has been rid of his
one weakness, the inactive Knight} 27. Bd3 {The unexpected turn of events
threw White off balance to such an extent that he overlooked one intermediate
move} (27. Bd1 Rxb7 28. Rxe3 fxe3 29. c5 dxc5 30. bxc5 Rc7 31. c6 Bxc6 32. dxc6
Rxc6 33. Bb3+ Kh7 34. Nd4 Rd6 35. Nxf5 Rd2 {would be a draw.}) 27... Rxb7 28.
Rxe3 bxc4 $1 {It is pardonable not to notice such a suprise} 29. Re7 (29. Bxc4
fxe3 {hopeless for White}) 29... cxd3 30. Ne1 Rf7 31. Rxf7 Kxf7 32. Nxd3 Bb5
33. Rd1 Bxd3 34. Rxd3 Rxb4 35. Rd1 Ra4 36. Rd2 Kf6 37. h4 g5 38. Kg1 (38. Re2
Re4 $1) 38... Ke5 0-1

[Event "11"]
[Site "Moscow ch-SU"]
[Date "1945.??.??"]
[Round "?"]
[White "Botvinnik Mikhail"]
[Black "Boleslavsky I"]
[Result "1-0"]
[ECO "C79"]
[PlyCount "95"]

1. e4 e5 2. Nf3 Nc6 3. Bb5 a6 4. Ba4 Nf6 5. O-O d6 6. c3 Bd7 7. d4 g6 {Black
avoids the Kecskemet Variation which may follow Be7. The development of the
Bishop at g7 has the defect that by exchanging the centre pawns, White may
restrict the activity of Black's King's Bishop} 8. Nbd2 Qe7 {Well played. The
e-pawn was already under threat because of 9. Bxc6. Now Black will succeeed in
completing his development safely[%cal Ge7e5]} 9. Re1 Bg7 10. Nf1 O-O 11. Bg5
h6 12. Bh4 {It is not easy for Black to defend himself against the manoeuvre
Ne3-d5[%cal Gf1e3,Ge3d5]} Qe8 {With the idea of winning a pawn; and also of
transferring the Knight to f4. White should calmly play Kh1 parrying the first
threat and taking no noitce of the other. The text retreat of the Bishop eases
Black's defence[%csl Rd4][%cal Ge8a4,Yf6h5,Yh5f4]} (12... g5 {leads to an
irrevocable weakening of his White squares[%csl Yd5,Ye6,Yf5,Yg6,Yh5]}) 13. Bc2
(13. -- Nxd4 $140 14. Bxd7 Nxf3+) 13... Nh5 14. Ne3 Ne7 15. dxe5 $1 {This
guarantees White a small but undoubtful positional superiority. The Bishop at
g7 is shut out of the play, and the struggle for the open d-file should end in
White's favour as it is easier for him to double his Rooks} dxe5 16. Bg3 $1 {
Black has again to look to the defence of the e-pawn; so he is forced to the
following exchange. The attendant transfer of the h-pawn to g3 makes it
difficult for Black to get active play on the Kingside[%cal Gf3e5,Gg3e5]} Nxg3
17. hxg3 Rd8 18. Qe2 Nc8 {Boleslavsky's decision to keep control of d5 lies
behind his next move Pc6. It is difficult to recommend anything better for
Black[%cal Gc7c6]} (18... Bg4 19. c4) (18... Be6 19. Bb3 {The Bishop exchange
suits White}) 19. Rad1 c6 20. Rd2 Qe7 21. Red1 Nb6 {Black evidently had no
suspicion of the gathering danger. The text move entails an advance of teh
pawns on the Queenside, and White's advantage becomes decisive} (21... b5 $142
22. b4 {After Bb3 and Ne1-d3-c5 White would still have the advantage[%cal
Gc2b3,Yf3e1,Ye1d3,Yd3c5]}) 22. b4 $1 Be6 (22... f5 23. exf5 gxf5 24. Rxd7 Rxd7
25. Nxf5 {White develops a strong attack}) 23. Bb3 Rxd2 {Alas! Black cannot
contest the open file, as his King's Bishop must guard the d-pawn} 24. Qxd2
Bxb3 25. axb3 Qe6 26. c4 Bf6 27. c5 $1 {This leads to White's invasion of the
seventh rank and capture of a pawn[%cal Gd2d7]} Nc8 (27... Rd8 28. Qxd8+ Bxd8
29. Rxd8+ Kg7 30. cxb6 $18) 28. Qd7 Qxb3 (28... Rd8 29. Qxe6 (29. Qxb7 Rxd1+
30. Nxd1 Ne7 31. Ne3 Qxb3 32. Qb8+ Kg7 33. Ng4 {adequate superiority}) 29...
Rxd1+ 30. Nxd1 fxe6 31. Ne3 {followed by the capture of the e-pawn[%csl Re5]
[%cal Ge3c4]}) 29. Qxb7 Bg5 (29... Ne7 30. Rd6 {[%cal Ge3g4]}) 30. Nxg5 hxg5
31. Qxa6 Ne7 32. Qb7 Re8 33. Qd7 {Black is defending himself dourly, but of
course it is too late to save the game} Kf8 34. Qd6 Qxb4 35. Ng4 {this should
lead to a quick win} Ra8 36. Qxe5 {After White's inexact move the struggle is
prolonged a little} (36. Nxe5 $142 Qxe4 37. Qf6 Qf5 38. Nd7+) 36... Qb3 $1 37.
Rd7 Ng8 38. Qd6+ (38. Kh2 $142) 38... Kg7 39. Qd4+ (39. Ne5 Nf6 $3 40. Rd8 (40.
Rxf7+ Qxf7 41. Nxf7 Ra1+ 42. Kh2 Ng4+ 43. Kh3 Nxf2+ 44. Kh2 Rh1#) 40... Rxd8
41. Qxd8 Qb1+ 42. Kh2 Qxe4 43. Qc7 Qd5 {analysis by G. Ravinsky}) 39... Kh7 40.
Nf6+ Nxf6 41. Qxf6 Kg8 (41... Rf8 42. e5) 42. Kh2 Rf8 43. Qxc6 $1 {Decides at
once, as the passed pawn inevitably advances} Kg7 (43... Qb2 44. Qd6 Qxf2 45.
c6 Kg7 46. Qxf8+ {Black is left without a Rook}) 44. Qd5 Qb1 45. Qd4+ Kh7 46.
c6 Rh8 47. Qxh8+ Kxh8 48. c7 1-0

[Event "12"]
[Site "Moscow ch-SU"]
[Date "1945.??.??"]
[Round "?"]
[White "Lilienthal A"]
[Black "Botvinnik Mikhail"]
[Result "0-1"]
[ECO "D35"]
[PlyCount "73"]

1. d4 d5 2. c4 e6 3. Nc3 c6 4. Nf3 Nf6 5. cxd5 {In previous games against me
Lilienthal had played 5. Pe3 and 5. Bg5 in this position. This time he chose
opening play in the style of the Carlsbad Variation} exd5 6. Bg5 h6 7. Bxf6 {
A erious and surely unjustified decision. If White did not want to withdraw
the Bishop to h4 then Bf4 is quite acceptable. now Black with his two good
Bishops can face the future with confidence} Qxf6 8. Qb3 Bd6 $1 {After this it
is clear that White has no advantage whatever.} 9. e3 (9. e4 $1 {White's only
chance is to play actively} dxe4 10. Nxe4 Qe7 11. O-O-O Bf4+ {White has to
protect the Knight and hence his position is inferiori}) 9... Nd7 10. Bd3 Qe7 {
Necessary. The Knight must be transferred to f6 to control e4, while the Queen
will guard the b-pawn, after which it will be possible to develop the Queen's
Bishop[%csl Ye4][%cal Gd7f6,Re7b7]} 11. O-O-O Nf6 12. Rhe1 Be6 {It is not easy
to find the best plan here. As a rule, in such positoins it is disadvantageous
to allow White's Knight to be established at e5, so 12. ... 0-0 or 12. ... Ne4
seems logical} (12... O-O 13. h3 $1 {White doesn't have bad attacking
prospects[%cal Gg2g4]}) (12... Ne4 13. Bxe4 dxe4 14. Nd2 Bf5 15. f3 exf3 16.
gxf3 Be6 17. d5 {White has outstripped Black in development}) 13. Qc2 O-O-O 14.
Ne5 {An inviting, but completely unsound plan. At e5 the Knight will be out of
touch with the course of the game. To be fair we must observe that it was
difficult to forsee that} Kb8 15. f4 {"If you go a mile, you must go two". But
what in general is White to do?} (15. Na4 {With the object of preventing ...
Pc5[%csl Gc5]} Bxe5 16. dxe5 Ng4 17. f4 Nxh2 {White is a pawn down}) 15... c5 {
It is just because of the Knight's position at e5 that this move is so strong}
16. Kb1 (16. dxc5 Bxe5 17. fxe5 Nd7 18. Nb5 Rc8 {White can't establish a
knight at d4}) (16. Nb5 c4 17. Qa4 a6 18. Nxd6 Qxd6) 16... c4 17. Bf5 Bxf5 18.
Qxf5 Bb4 19. Qc2 Rd6 (19... Ne4 20. Nxd5 $1 Rxd5 21. Qxe4 Rhd8 (21... Qe6 22.
f5) 22. Re2 f6 23. a3) 20. Re2 Bxc3 {Strategically, Black's game is won as
White's e4 is irrevocably weak. White will have to take steps to exchange the
proud Knight at e5 for it's Black opposite. Alas, as will be seen from what
follows, he fails to do this} 21. bxc3 {Now White comes under attack with
pieces, as a result of which the c-pawn becomes indefensible} (21. Qxc3 {Black
wins by advancing his Queenside pawns.[%cal Yb7b5,Ya7a5]}) 21... Ne4 22. Ka1
Ra6 23. Qc1 Rd8 {It is clear Black should transfer the h8-Rook to b6. This
could be achieved most exactly by ... Rh6 and ... Rh6-b6[%cal Gd8d6,Gd6b6]} (
23... h5 {[%cal Gh8h6,Gh6b6]}) 24. Rc2 (24. -- Rdd6 25. -- Rdb6 {Let us
imagine for the moment this was the position with Rg6. Black would win at once
with} 26. -- f6 27. Nf3 Qa3 28. Rc2 (28. Qxa3 Rxa3 29. Rc1 Rbb3 {[%csl Rc3]})
28... Nxc3) 24... Rdd6 25. Ng4 {An "heroic attempt to exchange off the Black
Knight} (25. Nf3 Rdb6 26. Re1 Rb3 (26... Ra3 27. Ree2 Rbb3 28. Nd2 Nxc3 {[%cal
Ge7d7,Gd7a4]})) 25... Rg6 26. h3 h5 27. Ne5 {Tantamount to capitulation} Rgb6
28. Nf3 Qa3 29. Ng5 (29. Ne5 Nxc3 30. Qxa3 Rxa3 31. Nd7+ Kc7 32. Nxb6 Nxd1 33.
Nxd5+ Kd6 34. e4 Ne3 35. Nxe3 Rxe3 36. Rxc4 Rxe4 {The endgame is hopeless for
White}) 29... Nxc3 30. Qxa3 Rxa3 31. Rdc1 Nb5 32. Nxf7 Rxe3 33. Ne5 Kc7 34. g4
Nxd4 35. Rd2 Ne2 36. Re1 Nc3 37. Rc1 {White resigned without waiting for
Black's reply} 0-1

[Event "01"]
[Site "radio USA-URS"]
[Date "1945.??.??"]
[Round "?"]
[White "Denker A"]
[Black "Botvinnik Mikhail"]
[Result "0-1"]
[ECO "D44"]
[PlyCount "50"]

1. d4 d5 2. c4 e6 3. Nc3 c6 4. Nf3 Nf6 5. Bg5 {This leads to complex and but
little investigated play} (5. e3 {Quieter}) 5... dxc4 6. e4 {[%cal Ge4e5]} b5
7. e5 h6 8. Bh4 g5 9. Nxg5 hxg5 (9... Nd5 {Alatortsev's System has not kept
its place in tournament practise since Belavenietz-Ragozin, Leningrad 1939)}
10. Nxf7 Qxh4 11. Nxh8 (11. Nxh8 Bb4 12. Qd2 c5 13. dxc5 Bb7 14. Be2 Nd7 15.
Ng6 Qg5 16. Qxg5 hxg5 17. Rc1 Kf7 18. Bh5 Kg7 19. O-O Bxc3 20. bxc3 Kh6 21. g4
Rg8 22. f4 Rxg6 23. Bxg6 Kxg6 24. fxg5 Nxc5 25. h4 Nd3 26. Rc2 N5f4 27. Kh2 Be4
28. Kg3 Nd5 29. Rf6+ Kg7 30. h5 Nxe5 31. Re2 Nxc3 32. Re3 b4 33. Rxe6 Nd3 34.
R6xe4 Nxe4+ 35. Rxe4 c3 36. Re7+ Kg8 37. Rc7 a5 38. g6 Ne5 39. Kf4 Nd3+ 40. Kf5
c2 41. Rxc2 {1-0 Belavenets,S-Ragozin,E/Leningrad 1939})) 10. Bxg5 Nbd7 (10...
Be7 {Played in Van Scheltinga - Grunfeld, Holland 1940 leads to less
complicated play}) 11. exf6 ({Euwe regards this as a very strong continuation} 
11. Qf3 Bb7 12. Be2 Rg8 13. Bxf6 Nxf6 14. Qxf6 Qxf6 15. exf6 Rxg2 16. a4 Rg6
17. Ne4 c5 18. Bf3 O-O-O 19. dxc5 Bxc5 20. Ke2 Bxe4 21. Bxe4 Rxf6 22. f3 Rg8
23. axb5 Rg2+ 24. Kd1 e5 25. Ra4 Rxb2 26. Rxc4 Rxb5 27. Ke2 Kd7 28. h4 Rb2+ 29.
Rc2 Rxc2+ 30. Bxc2 Ke6 31. h5 Rh6 32. Bb3+ Ke7 33. Rh4 Bd4 34. f4 f6 35. Kf3 a5
36. Ke4 Kd6 37. Rh1 Kc5 38. Rc1+ Kb4 39. Bf7 a4 40. Rc4+ Kb5 41. Kd3 Rh8 42.
Rc2 a3 43. Rh2 Rh6 44. Ke4 Bb2 45. Rh3 Kc5 46. Ba2 Kd6 47. Kf5 Ke7 48. Rh1 Kf8
49. Rh4 Kg7 50. Rg4+ Kh8 51. Rh4 exf4 52. Kxf4 Rh7 53. Kf5 Rd7 54. Ra4 Kg7 55.
Rg4+ Kh7 56. Ra4 Rg7 57. Bb1 Kh6 58. Ra8 Rg5+ 59. Kf4 Bc1+ 60. Kf3 f5 61. Rh8+
Kg7 62. Rc8 Bb2 63. Ba2 Kh6 64. Rc6+ Kh7 65. Rc7+ Rg7 66. Rc5 {1/2-1/2 Szabo,
L-Euwe,M/Hastings 1938}) (11. g3 $1 {Lilinthal's innovation is best and sets
Black the most problems} Bb7 12. Bg2 Qa5 13. exf6 O-O-O 14. Qf3 Nb6 15. O-O
Rxd4 16. Rfd1 Rxd1+ 17. Qxd1 Nd5 18. Ne4 b4 19. a3 bxa3 20. Bd2 Qb6 21. bxa3
Qd4 22. Qc1 Bc5 23. Rb1 Rd8 24. Nxc5 Qxc5 25. Qb2 Qb6 26. Qa1 Qc5 27. Rc1 Ba6
28. Bf1 Nb6 29. Be3 Qf5 30. a4 c5 31. Qa3 Rd5 32. Bg2 Nd7 33. Bxd5 Qxd5 34. Bf4
e5 35. Bg5 Nf8 36. f3 Ne6 37. Qe3 Bb7 38. Rc3 e4 39. fxe4 Qxg5 40. Qxg5 Nxg5
41. Rxc4 Nxe4 42. h4 Kd7 43. g4 Bd5 44. Rc1 Ke6 45. g5 Ke5 46. a5 c4 47. Kf1 c3
48. Ke2 Kd4 49. Rd1+ Kc4 50. Ke3 c2 51. Rg1 Kc3 52. Kf4 Nf2 53. Ke5 Nd1 54. g6
c1=Q 55. Rg3+ Kb4 56. Kxd5 Qc5+ 57. Ke4 fxg6 {0-1 Lilienthal,A-Botvinnik,M/
Moscow 1944}) 11... Bb7 12. Be2 Qb6 13. O-O {In his game against me Zhivtsov
castled long, but then Black managed to develop a strong attack on the King.
Evidently Denker thought his King would be safer on the Kingside; however, the
open g- and h-files also provide Black with good prospects for an attack[%cal
Gg8g2,Gh8h2]} O-O-O 14. a4 {Shrewd, but, evidently, insufficient to overcome
the difficulties that have arisen. White tries to open up play on the
Queenside, and in passing "invites" Black to win the Queen} b4 {From this
point Black seizes the initiative and holds on to it. As Na2 or Nb1 would be
too passive, White is forced to play Ne4, providing Black with an important
tempo for bringing the Bishop at b7 into action} (14... Ne5 15. dxe5 $1 Rxd1
16. Raxd1 {White's position in all probability is to be preferred because of
the threat Ne4-d6+[%cal Gc3e4,Ge4d6]}) 15. Ne4 c5 {[%cal Gb7h1]} 16. Qb1 $1 {
Not an obvious move} (16. Qc2 c3 $3 {[%cal Gc5d4]} 17. bxc3 (17. dxc5 Nxc5 18.
Nxc5 Bxc5 {[%csl Rh2][%cal Gb6c7]} 19. -- Qc7 $140 {mate is unavoidable}) 17...
Qc7 $1 {[%csl Rh2]} 18. Ng3 cxd4 19. c4 Nc5 $17 {Black has a completely won
game}) 16... Qc7 {[%csl Rh2]} 17. Ng3 {Leads to forced material loss} (17. g3
Bh6 {leads to exchange of dark squared Bishops and an irresistible attack
along the h-file[%cal Gh8h2]}) 17... cxd4 {In order to draw off the Bishop
from command of f3[%csl Gf3]} 18. Bxc4 Qc6 {Forcing the opening of Black's
h2-a7 diagonal, which in conjunction with the open h-file is of decisive
importance[%cal Gb6g1]} 19. f3 d3 $3 20. Qc1 (20. -- Bc5+ $140 21. Kh1 Rxh2+
22. Kxh2 Rh8+) (20. -- Qc5+ {capturing the Bishop[%csl Rg5]}) (20. Be3 Bc5 21.
Bxc5 (21. Qc1 d2 {[%cal Gd7e5]} 22. Qxd2 Ne5 {[%csl Rc4,Re3]}) 21... Qxc5+ 22.
Kh1 Rxh2+) (20. Ne4 Qc7 {[%csl Rh2]} 21. g3 Bxe4 22. fxe4 Qc5+ $19) 20... Bc5+
21. Kh1 Qd6 $1 {Black threatens a sacrifice on h2 and when the Bishop blocks
on h6 he has an interference tactic with ... Pd2[%csl Rg3][%cal Gd3d2]} (21...
Rxh2+ 22. Kxh2 Rh8+ 23. Bh6) 22. Qf4 (22. Bf4 Rxh2+ 23. Kxh2 Rh8+ 24. Nh5 Rxh5+
25. Kg3 e5 26. Be3 (26. Bg5 e4+ 27. Kg4 d2 $1 28. Qxd2 Nxf6+ 29. Bxf6 Qxd2 30.
Kxh5 Qxg2 $19) 26... e4+ 27. f4 (27. Kf2 d2 28. Qc2 exf3) 27... Qxf6 28. Kf2
Qxf4+) 22... Rxh2+ 23. Kxh2 Rh8+ 24. Qh4 Rxh4+ 25. Bxh4 Qf4 {A short, but
tense struggle!} 0-1

[Event "02"]
[Site "radio USA-URS"]
[Date "1945.??.??"]
[Round "?"]
[White "Botvinnik Mikhail"]
[Black "Denker A"]
[Result "1-0"]
[ECO "D13"]
[PlyCount "61"]

1. d4 d5 2. Nf3 Nf6 3. c4 c6 4. cxd5 {The exchange variation of the Slav
Defence guarantees White a minute but indubitable superiority, as in
symmetrical half-open play the advantage of the move may tell} cxd5 5. Nc3 Nc6
6. Bf4 Qa5 {Black tries to seize the initiative. In the position obtaining
this was harldy a sound decision} (6... Bf5 {usual}) (6... e6 {Lasker}) 7. e3
Ne4 8. Qb3 e6 9. Bd3 Bb4 10. Rc1 {sets Black more difficult task} (10. Bxe4
dxe4 11. Nd2 {after which at the cost of the e-pawn Black had counterplay[%csl
Ge4]}) 10... Nxc3 {Equal to admission that the attack on c3 has not achieved
its object} (10... f6 {complicated play, though probably in this case also his
good development guarantees White the better game[%cal Gg7g5]}) 11. bxc3 Ba3 {
Black should have chosen ... Be7 as at a3 it will need continual protection} (
11... Be7) 12. Rb1 b6 {Black weakens his Queensdie and, in addition, cuts off
the Queen's last line of retreat. He hoped to play ... Ba6 exchanging off
Bishops, but White easily parries this[%cal Gc8a6,Ya5b6]} ({still playable is} 
12... Be7 13. -- Qd8) 13. e4 dxe4 {it is doubtful Black could defend himself
successfully, owing to the exceptionally unfortunate position of his Queen} ({
Black now sees that ... Ba6 leads to a loss of a pawn} 13... Ba6 14. Bxa6 Qxa6
15. exd5 exd5 16. Qxd5) 14. Bb5 $1 {An unexpected stroke. Black cannot avoid
losses of material: his Queen is finally stalemated and White manoeuvre Nd2-c4
acquires terrible force[%csl Ra5][%cal Gf3d2,Gd2c4]} (14. Bxe4 Bb7 {
satisfactory game for Black[%cal Gc6d4]}) 14... Bd7 15. Nd2 a6 {Black's
attempt to sacrifice his Queen is ingenious, but even this doesn't save the
game} 16. Bxc6 Bxc6 17. Nc4 Qf5 18. Bd6 ({doubtful with the following is strong
} 18. Qxa3 Qxf4 19. Rxb6 Bd5) 18... e3 $1 {In this way Black prolongs the game
for some ten moves} (18... Bd5 19. Bxa3 b5 20. Nd6+) 19. Nxe3 Qxb1+ 20. Qxb1
Bxd6 21. Qxb6 Kd7 22. Qb3 ({Hoping for} 22. O-O Rhb8 23. Qa5 Rb5) 22... Rab8
23. Qc2 Rb5 24. O-O Rh5 {Black's initiative is casual, for as soon as the
White Rook comes into action Black will be in a hopeless situation} 25. h3 Rb8
26. c4 g6 {Exchanging of one of the Bishops facilitates White's task} 27. Ng4
Rf5 28. Ne5+ Bxe5 29. dxe5 Rxe5 {An oversight which doesn't make any essential
difference} (29... Ke8 $1) 30. Qd2+ $1 {[%csl Gb8,Ge5]} ({Black reckoned only
with} 30. Rd1+ Ke8) 30... Ke7 (30... Ke8 31. Qd6 {[%csl Rb8,Re5]}) 31. Rd1 {
[%csl Rd6]} 1-0

[Event "Netherlands"]
[Site "It, Groningen"]
[Date "1946.??.??"]
[Round "?"]
[White "Botvinnik Mikhail"]
[Black "Smyslov V"]
[Result "1-0"]
[ECO "D98"]
[PlyCount "99"]

1. d4 Nf6 2. c4 g6 3. Nc3 d5 4. Nf3 Bg7 5. Qb3 dxc4 {With this exchange Black
relinquishes the centre to White; this signifies that Black has "something up
his sleeve", and this "something" should open up clear prospects for
counter-play. Smyslov did in fact have in mind a certain system of development
which (in 1946!) proved inadequate to get Black equality. A year later he
brilliantly succeeded in proving the soundness of his system} 6. Qxc4 O-O 7. e4
Bg4 {This is the key move of Smyslov's system. After the exchange of Nf3 Black
has solved the problem of developig his Queen's Bishop, and as soon as the
Queen's Knight comes into play all his minor pieces will be developed.
Moreover White's pawn centre proves by no means so powerful as it seems at
first glance} 8. Be3 (8. Ne5 {avoiding the exchange} Be6 9. d5 {doubtful as it
leaves the Ne5 hanging[%csl Ge5]}) 8... Nc6 {Alas! In 1946 Smyslov had not yet
found the subtle manoeuvre ... Nbd7! Now Black finds himself in a difficult
situation} 9. d5 {White must play very carefully as Black has already
mobilized his forces} (9. h3 Bxf3 10. gxf3 e5 11. d5 Nd4 $1 {Black is very
active in teh centre, so White must not lose any time}) 9... Bxf3 $1 {During
the game I though Smyslov was on an unsound road and that this exchange was
not yet forced} (9... Na5 10. Qa4 c6 11. e5 (11. Rd1 $142 $3 {Black is left
with a bad game because of his Knight's unfortunate position at a5[%csl Ga5]})
11... Bxf3 12. gxf3 cxd5 13. exf6 Bxf6 {Despite White's extra piece, it would
be difficult to say who had the better position, as White's pawn chain is
shattered, while Black's two extra central pawns are unassailable[%cal Gd5d4]})
10. gxf3 (10. dxc6 b5 {White is forced to part with his central e-pawn; and
then Black has fully equal play. However, White safely negotiates this
"submarine reef" retaining positoinal superiority[%csl Re4]}) 10... Ne5 11. Qe2
c6 12. f4 Ned7 13. Bg2 $1 {Now it is clear that Black's opening plan
associated with ... Nc6 was mistaken. White reatins the central d-pawn and is
able to complete the mobilization of his forces} Nb6 (13... cxd5 14. e5 $1 Ne8
15. Bxd5 {Black's b-pawn is hopeless[%csl Rb7]}) 14. Rd1 Qc7 (14... cxd5 15. e5
{[%csl Rd5][%cal Gg2d5]}) 15. O-O Rfd8 (15... cxd5 16. e5) 16. Rc1 {A useful
regrouping of the Rooks} Qd7 17. Rfd1 Qg4 {A sound decision, as otherwise
Black has no room for activity and must look on while White strengthens his
position. The move leads through a series of exchanges to the endgame, and
though this is unfavourable to Black it is perhaps his only hope of salvation.
At this point, on calculating the exchange variation which follows in the text,
I came to the conclusion that it leads to a won endgame with White a pawn up:
I did not check this variation further, after each of Black's move (an
unforgivable negligence) but swiftly played the moves I had worked out} 18.
Qxg4 Nxg4 19. Bxb6 axb6 20. dxc6 {surrenders much of White's advantage} (20. e5
$142 c5 21. a4 {[%csl Gb5]} -- 22. b3 $140 -- 23. Nb5 {giving intents and
purposes an extra pawn with better position}) 20... bxc6 21. e5 {I had closely
analysed this position at my 18th move, and had the impression that it is
highly favourable to White as  (1) the Bishop at g7 is inactive. ... Bh6, Ph3 
(2) Black must use two tempi to bring his Knight into play ... Nh6-f5  (3)
Black's c-pawn cannot be defended ... Rac8, Bh3  However, Smyslov was so
demoralized by the speed with which I made the moves through all these
exchanges that he did not bother to check his opponent's calculations and
reconciled himself to the loss of the c-pawn} Nh6 (21... Rac8 22. Bh3 (22.
Rxd8+ Rxd8 23. Bxc6 {Black is left with the d-filfe for counterplay[%cal Gd8d1]
}) 22... h5 23. f3 Ne3 $3 {retaining material equality} 24. Bxc8 Nxd1 25. Rxd1
Rxc8 26. Rd7 {White must go for the better endgame}) 22. Bxc6 Rxd1+ 23. Rxd1
Rc8 24. Nd5 $1 {Of course White uses every device to maintain his Bishop at c6,
as by doing so Black's Rook remains out of play[%cal Gd5e7]} Bf8 25. Rc1 Nf5
26. Rc4 $1 {In an endgame with opposite coloured Bishops, and pawn weaknesses
on both sides, it is not desireable to chase after great material superiority.
The b-pawn will not run away} (26. Nxb6 Rb8 27. Na4 (27. Nc4 Nd4 {[%csl Gc6,
Ge2]}) 27... Rb4 {Leads to increased activity of Black's pieces}) 26... e6 (
26... Rb8 27. a4 $1 {[%csl Gb5]}) 27. Nxb6 Rb8 28. Na4 Rd8 {Smyslov exploits
the very first opportunity of counterplay} 29. Be4 Nh4 30. Kf1 Bh6 $1 {White
also has weaknesses, but apart from that he also has two linked passed pawns,
which should decide the game[%csl Rf4][%cal Gb2b4,Ga2a4]} 31. Bb7 $1 Nf5 32.
Ke2 Nd4+ 33. Ke3 Nf5+ 34. Kf3 Nd4+ 35. Ke4 Ne2 36. Rc8 Rxc8 37. Bxc8 Nxf4 38.
b4 {Black is impotent to prevent the queening of the a-pawn. But now some
small complications follow} (38. Nc5 {Simpler and having the possibility of
transferring the Knight to d3, to defend the e- and b-pawns;[%csl Yb2,Yf2]
[%cal Gc5d3]}) 38... Nh3 $1 39. b5 Nxf2+ 40. Kd4 Bf4 {Here the game was
adjourned.} 41. h3 $1 (41. b6 Ng4 42. b7 Bxe5+ 43. Kc5 Bxh2 {Makes the win
difficult}) 41... f6 {Smyslov tries to improve his King's position[%cal Gg8f7]}
(41... Nxh3 42. b6 {one of White's two passed pawns reach the eigth rank}) 42.
Bxe6+ Kg7 43. exf6+ Kxf6 44. Nc5 Ke7 45. Kd5 {Black is helpless and further
resistance is useless} g5 46. a4 Nd1 47. a5 Nc3+ 48. Kc6 Nxb5 49. Kxb5 Bb8 50.
Kb6 1-0

[Event "juniors"]
[Site "Ch Europe , Groningen (Nether"]
[Date "1946.??.??"]
[Round "?"]
[White "Steiner H"]
[Black "Botvinnik Mikhail"]
[Result "0-1"]
[ECO "A90"]
[PlyCount "56"]

1. d4 e6 2. c4 f5 3. g3 Nf6 4. Bg2 Bb4+ {This check is useful only if White
does not play 5. Bd2. If Bd2 Black's best policy is to withdraw the Bishop,
losing a tempo, which in the given position is not so important} 5. Bd2 Be7 6.
Nc3 {The system associated with Nh3 is worth consideration} O-O 7. Qc2 d5 8.
Nf3 c6 9. O-O Qe8 10. Bf4 {Perhaps the Bishop stands best at f4, but now Black
is compensated for the loss of tempo at move 5} Qh5 11. Rae1 {Steiner is
aiming to breakthrough in the centre with Pe4, not a new, but neither is it a
very successfuly plan in this position[%cal Ge2e4]} Nbd7 12. Nd2 {Consisten,
but not good! White plans to continue Pf3 and Pe4, but this move, which
weakens his control over the central e5 square, hands the initiative to Black
and leads to a difficult position for White[%cal Gf2f3,Ge2e4]} g5 13. Bc7 Ne8
14. Be5 Nxe5 15. dxe5 f4 $1 {It is necessary to prevent Pf4. It is difficult
to say at this juncture that White's game is lost, but after his next,
imprudent move, opening the g-file and weakening the pawn at e5 still further,
Black has every chance of victory.  One must remark that all this system for
Black (... Pg5, exchange of minor pieces at e5 followed by ... Pf4) is not new.
So far as I remember, in a Levenfish-Model game (Leningrad 1930), Model
successfully applied it in an analogous position. Levenfish played Pe4 and
allowed ... Pf3[%csl Rf4]} 16. gxf4 (16. e4 f3 $17) 16... gxf4 {For White the
first unpleasant consequence of the exchange at f4 is the weak pawn at e5. The
second consequence, which will have its effect only some moves later, is
Black's attack along the g-file, which at the moment seems problematic, but
which will be fatal to White![%csl Ge5][%cal Yg8g1]} 17. Nf3 Kh8 18. Kh1 {A
useful move as White cannot play Pe3} (18. e3 Rg8 {[%cal Gh5h3]} 19. Kh1 Rxg2
20. Kxg2 Qg4+ $19) 18... Ng7 {As White has no other active plan he is forced
simply to look on as Black brings up forces for the decisive blow} 19. Qc1 (19.
e4 fxe3 20. fxe3 Nf5 21. Qf2 Rg8 22. Ne2 Qh6 {[%csl Re3]}) 19... Bd7 20. a3 Rf7
21. b4 Rg8 22. Rg1 Nf5 23. Nd1 (23. Qxf4 Ng3+) 23... Rfg7 $1 {It is only seven
moves since the g-file was opened, but Black has already mobilized all his
forces except his light squared Bishop for the attack, and in any case this
will not be required. White has practically now move (Bf1 Qxf3+).  "In his
misery" White decides to take the f-pawn, which pyschologically is quite
understandable: it may be possible to repulse the attack; and besides, this
pawn has continually cramped White's game, and under it's cover Black has
prepared a decisive blow. However, taking the pawn leads forcedly to defeat}
24. Qxf4 (24. Bf1 Qxf3+) 24... Rg4 25. Qd2 Nh4 {Exchanging off White's chief
defenisve piece, the Knight at f3. Now the Bishop is under threat[%csl Rf3]}
26. Ne3 (26. Nxh4 Rxh4 $19 {[%csl Rh2]}) 26... Nxf3 27. exf3 (27. Bxf3 Qxh2+ $1
) 27... Rh4 28. Nf1 Bg5 {Steiner resigned, as after the Queen's retreat ...
Bf4 and there is no escaping mate[%csl Rh2][%cal Gg5f4]} 0-1

[Event "GRONINGEN"]
[Site "GRONINGEN"]
[Date "1946.??.??"]
[Round "?"]
[White "Botvinnik Mikhail"]
[Black "Vidmar M"]
[Result "1-0"]
[ECO "E01"]
[PlyCount "123"]

1. d4 d5 2. Nf3 Nf6 3. c4 e6 4. g3 dxc4 5. Qa4+ Qd7 {A well known variation of
the Catalan System, in which Black tries to simplify play by exchanging Queens}
6. Qxc4 Qc6 {Forcing the Queen exchange, as the Queen's Bishop is undefended}
7. Nbd2 Qxc4 8. Nxc4 Bb4+ {Black does not want to slip the possibility of
exchanging Bishops too, but he doesn't notice that he will get into a
difficult situation, for White retains the strong central d-pawn} (8... c5 $142
) 9. Bd2 Bxd2+ 10. Nfxd2 $1 {A sound decision. The Knight is transferred to
the Queenside, and the great diagonal opens for the Bishop.} Nc6 11. e3 Nb4 {
This seems very strong, as at first glance no satisfactory defence against ...
Nc2+. However, White has a simple way of retaining the initiative[%cal Gb4c2]}
12. Ke2 Bd7 13. Bg2 Bc6 14. f3 {After all Black has gained some success. He
has developed his minor pieces and compelled White to close the diagonal to
the Bishop. But his pieces are cramped in their operations, and Pf3 aids the
formation of a pawn centre and the centralization of the White King[%csl Ge4,
Gg4]} Nd7 15. a3 Nd5 16. e4 N5b6 17. Na5 Bb5+ 18. Ke3 O-O-O {Well played.
Black realizes that White's main blow will be directed against the Queenside
along the half-open c-file, and the King is required on that side for defence.
Black's immediate anxiety is to relieve himself of the unpleasant Knight at a5
by Nb8-c6[%cal Gd7b8,Gb8c6,Yc1c8]} 19. Rhc1 Nb8 20. b3 Bd7 {Vidmar is playing
thougtfully.} (20... Nc6 21. a4 $1 Nxa5 22. axb5 {Black loses a piece[%csl Ra5]
}) 21. Bf1 Nc6 22. Nxc6 Bxc6 23. a4 {[%cal Ga4a5,Ga5a6,Ga6b7]} Be8 {The
Black's Bishop's manoeuvres are interesting. This last move is necessary now,
in order prevent Pa5-a6 after which the a-file would be opened and the
disunited pawns on the Queenside would become a target for attack} 24. a5 Na8
$1 {Black is again equal to the situation} (24... Nd7 25. a6 b6 26. Rc3 Kb8 27.
Rac1 Rc8 28. Nc4 {[%cal Gc4d6]} Rd8 29. Na3 Rc8 30. Nb5 $16) 25. a6 b6 26. b4
Kb8 (26... c6 27. Bb5 Kc7 28. Rc3) 27. Rc3 (27. b5 $142 {perhaps one criticism
of Black's game}) 27... c6 28. Rac1 f6 {Forestalling the manoeuvre Nc4-e5  Now
it seems as though White's initiative has come to an end, Black has succeeded
in putting up a defence. Black offered a draw, but White managed to find an
interesting way of renewing the attack[%csl Ge5][%cal Yd2c4,Yc4e5]} (28... Nc7
29. b5 Nxb5 30. Bxb5 cxb5 31. Rc7 $1 {White doubles his Rooks on the seventh
rank[%cal Gc7f7,Gc7a7]}) 29. Nb1 $1 (29. Nc4 $11 Nc7 30. Na3 Bd7 {leads to
same position as in game} (30... b5 31. Ra1 {[%cal Ga3b1,Gb1d2,Gd2b3]})) 29...
Bd7 30. Na3 {What is Black to do? Black is forced to play Nc7, enabling White
to to organize a breakthrough on the c-file} Nc7 (30... -- 31. b5 cxb5 32. Bxb5
Bxb5 33. Nxb5 {Black is helpless because of the weakness of his a-pawn[%csl
Ra7]}) (30... b5 31. Nb1 Nc7 32. Ra3 {[%cal Gb1d2,Gd2b3,Gb3c5]}) (30... Rc8 31.
Nc4 $16 {White breaks into d6 and obtains a clear superiority[%csl Gd6]}) 31.
b5 $1 Nxb5 32. Bxb5 cxb5 33. Rc7 {Black's position is critical} Rc8 {Black's
reply enables White by sacrificing the exchange, to achieve a rare, though not
easily exploited position} (33... b4 34. Rb7+ Ka8 35. Rcc7 $1 Bc8 36. Rxa7+ Kb8
37. Nb5 $18 {mate in three}) (33... Ka8 34. Rb7 Bc8 35. Rxc8+ $1 Rxc8 36. Nxb5
$18) (33... Bc8 34. Nxb5 Bxa6 (34... Rd7 $3 35. Rxd7 Bxd7 36. Nxa7 Kxa7 37.
Rc7+ Kxa6 38. Rxd7 Rc8 {Black can draw in all probability}) 35. Nxa7 Bb7 36.
Nb5 Rc8 (36... Ba6 37. R7c6 $1) 37. Kd2 $1 Rxc7 (37... Ba6 38. R1c6) 38. Nxc7
Bc8 39. d5 exd5 (39... Rd8 40. Rc6 exd5 41. Nxd5 Ka7 42. Rc7+ Bb7 43. Rxg7) 40.
Nxd5 b5 41. Rc5 Bd7 42. Kc3) 34. Rb7+ Ka8 35. Rxd7 $3 Rxc1 36. Nxb5 Rhc8 {As a
result both Black's Rooks are forced to keep guard along the c-file} (36... --
37. Rxa7+ $140 Kb8 38. Rb7+ Ka8 (38... Kc8 39. Na7+ Kd8 40. Rb8+) 39. Nc7+) 37.
Rxg7 h6 38. Rxa7+ Kb8 39. Rb7+ Ka8 40. Ra7+ Kb8 41. Rb7+ Ka8 42. g4 {With the
intention of winning by Ph4-h5 and acquiring passed pawns on the Kingside. So
Black makes a desperate attempt to get rid of the unpleasant Knight[%cal Gh2h4,
Gh4h5]} e5 43. d5 R1c5 44. Ra7+ Kb8 45. Rb7+ Ka8 46. Rxb6 Rb8 {Only move as
otherwise Rb7 and Black is again hopeless} 47. Rxb8+ Kxb8 48. a7+ Kb7 $1 (48...
Ka8 49. d6 Rc8 50. Kd3 $1 (50. Nc7+ Kxa7 51. Ne6 Rc3+ $1) 50... Kb7 (50... Rc1
51. Nc3) 51. Nc7 Kxa7 52. Kc4) 49. Nd6+ (49. d6 Rc8 50. Kd3 Rc1 51. Nc3 Ra1)
49... Kxa7 50. Ne8 Kb6 51. Nxf6 Rc3+ 52. Kf2 Rc7 53. h4 Rf7 54. Nh5 Kc7 55. g5
hxg5 56. hxg5 Rh7 57. Nf6 Rh2+ 58. Kg3 Rh8 59. g6 Rh6 60. g7 Rg6+ 61. Kf2 Rxg7
62. Ne8+ 1-0

[Event "Netherlands"]
[Site "It, Groningen"]
[Date "1946.??.??"]
[Round "?"]
[White "Botvinnik Mikhail"]
[Black "Euwe M"]
[Result "1/2-1/2"]
[ECO "D27"]
[PlyCount "101"]

{During the first half of the Groningen tournament I played more than one good
game, but probably the foregoing was the best of all. The value of this
difficult, though perhaps not entirely fautless game was greatly increased by
Black's ingenious defence. He can be criticized only for inexact play at the
eighth move in the opening, and for his blunder at the 33rd move in a
difficult position, where it was not easy to find the hidden road to the draw} 
1. d4 d5 2. Nf3 Nf6 3. c4 dxc4 4. e3 e6 5. Bxc4 c5 6. O-O a6 7. a4 {The old
continuation, favoured by Rubinstein, is now out of fashion as it has been
proved that in allowing ... Pb5 White retains the opening advantage without
weakening his b4} Nc6 8. Qe2 Be7 {A good system of defence adopted in the
Semmering-Baden tournament 1937. Previously it had been customary for Black to
exchange in the centre} (8... cxd4 9. Rd1 {White has no difficulty in
developing his Queen Bishop[%cal Yc1g5]}) 9. Rd1 Qc7 10. Nc3 (10. h3 {
Botvinnik-Keres, Leningrad 1941. At this stage is not customary}) 10... O-O 11.
b3 {If White permits the exchange at Bc4 with Ph3 Black can continue with Rd8
and again White doesn't achieve anything} (11. dxc5 $143 Bxc5 12. h3 (12. e4
Ng4 $1 {[%cal Gg4e5]}) 12... Ne5 13. Nxe5 Qxe5) 11... Bd7 12. Bb2 {[%cal Gd4d5]
} Rac8 {A routine move, which leads to a difficult position for Black.} ({To
prevent Pd5 he should have continued} 12... cxd4 13. exd4 Na5 14. Ne5 {He
would have had serious counterplay on the Queenside}) 13. d5 $1 {The c-file
remains closed and White's superiority in the centre becomes very important}
exd5 14. Nxd5 Nxd5 15. Bxd5 Bg4 {Essentially the only move! It is now clear
that because of Black's 12th move White has the better of the middlegame.
Black has been unable to consolidate his position in the centre, and White's
Bishops are very dangerous} (15... Nb4 16. Be5 $1) 16. Qc4 {[%csl Gg4]} ({
tempted in the game to play} 16. h3 Bh5 17. g4 Bg6 18. h4 h6 (18... h5 19. Ng5)
) 16... Bh5 17. Bxc6 {Quite logical. White surrenders the Bishop, but gains
still more space} (17. g4 Bg6 (17... Na5 $6 18. Qf1 $1 {[%cal Gf1g2]} Bg6 19.
Rac1) 18. h4 h5 {Gives Black some counterplay}) 17... Qxc6 18. Ne5 Qe8 19. Rd5
(19. g4 Bf6 20. Rd5 b5 {Black is well} (20... Bg6 21. Rxc5 Rxc5 22. Qxc5 Bxe5
23. Qxe5 Qxe5 24. Bxe5 f6)) 19... Rd8 {Played with excessive caution, and as
often happens in such cases Black's position deteriorates as the result} (19...
b5 $142 $1 {The White Queen must be driven from her excellent position} 20. Qc2
(20. Qf4 Rd8 (20... Bf6) 21. Rxd8 Qxd8) (20. Qc3 f6 21. Nd7 Qf7 $1 22. e4 Rfd8)
20... Rd8 21. Rxd8 Qxd8 $11) 20. Nd7 {White decides to play for mate; but he
lacks "only" one tempo. The initiative passes to Black, and Euwe begins to
play with great energy} (20. g4 Bg6 (20... b5 21. Rxd8 $1) 21. Rad1 Rxd5 22.
Qxd5 Qc8 23. Nd7 Rd8 24. Bxg7 Bc2 25. Bc3 Bxd1 26. Qe5 f6 27. Qe6+) 20... Rxd7
21. Rxh5 Qd8 $1 {If White's a1-Rooks were at f1 he would win at once with Bxg7.
He is forced to lose a highly important tempo[%cal Gd7d1]} 22. Rf1 g6 $1 {Very
good: White's Rook is shut out of play} 23. Rh3 Rd1 {White's pieces have lost
their interaction, and Euwe plays for simplification. It must not be forgotten
that Black's three pawns to two on the Queenside gives him tangible
superiority in the endgame} 24. g4 Rxf1+ 25. Kxf1 b5 {Black makes use of the
favourable moment to advance the pawn, and White cannot take twice because of
the Black Queen's possible check} 26. axb5 axb5 27. Qf4 f6 {Ensuring the
King's safety. Now White has to defend the b-pawn[%csl Rb3][%cal Gd8d1,Gd1b3]}
28. e4 Qd1+ 29. Kg2 Bd6 {Euwe is deliberately playing for the endgame. Black
can hardly achieve more} (29... Qc2 30. Bc1 {[%csl Rh7]} Rf7 {[%cal Gf7h7]} 31.
Rf3 {White maintains the balance of power}) 30. Qf3 Qxf3+ 31. Rxf3 Be5 32. Bxe5
fxe5 33. Rc3 (33. Rxf8+ Kxf8 34. Kf3 g5 $19 {Black wins by transferring his
King to a5[%cal Gf8e7,Ge7d6,Gd6c6,Gc6b6,Gb6a5]}) (33. Rd3 Rc8 34. Rd5 c4 35.
bxc4 bxc4 36. Kf1 Kf7 (36... c3 37. Rd1 $11) 37. Ke2 Ke6 38. Ra5 $11) 33... Rc8
34. Kf3 Kf7 35. Ke3 Ke6 36. f4 {This part of the game was spoilt a little by a
time-scramble: on the other hand without it this game would not have had it's
valuable finish! White's last move is weak, as Black gets the central e5
square for his King. It is possible that this move does not really lose, but
the simple Kd2 suggested itself, and Black, despite his advantage, could
hardly force the win} exf4+ 37. Kxf4 c4 38. bxc4 {Else ... Pb4} bxc4 39. h4 h6
{It may seem strange that this natural move should give White new chances of
salvation} (39... Rc5 40. e5 Kd5 41. Re3 Rc6 (41... c3 42. e6 c2 43. e7 Rc8 44.
Re1 Kd6 45. Kg5 Kd7 46. Rc1 Kxe7 47. Kh6) 42. h5 {White still has hopes of
avoiding defeat}) 40. g5 $1 h5 {White had to seal his move at this critical
point. I regarded the game as lost, as I knew that Rubinstein had lost to
Lasker in an analogous position. But when during the adjournment I set up the
pieces analysis, I at once saw a hidden possibility of a draw. The game was
resumed after a break of an hour and a half} 41. Ke3 Ke5 42. Rc2 $3 {The only
move} c3 43. Kd3 Rd8+ {Here my opponent was lost in though; he saw that the
game should end in a draw. In the Lasker-Rubinstein game there were no h-pawns
(identical position)} 44. Ke3 $1 {After Kxc3 Black retains the possibility of
playing for a win, as the White King is cut off from the pawns} Rd4 45. Rxc3
Rxe4+ 46. Kf3 Rxh4 47. Rc6 $1 {The last finnese} (47. Rc5+ Ke6 48. Ra5 Rc4)
47... Rf4+ (47... Kf5 48. Rc5+ Ke6 49. Rc6+ {either perpetual check or wins
the g-pawn}) 48. Ke3 Re4+ 49. Kf3 Kf5 50. Rf6+ Kxg5 51. Rxg6+ {A fighting
game! Without doubt its ending will be gicen in all future textbooks on the
endgame} 1/2-1/2

[Event "GRONINGEN"]
[Site "GRONINGEN"]
[Date "1946.??.??"]
[Round "?"]
[White "Stoltz G"]
[Black "Botvinnik Mikhail"]
[Result "0-1"]
[ECO "C00"]
[PlyCount "70"]

1. e4 e6 2. Qe2 {Master Stolz avoids the usual variations, and adopts the move
the great Russian player, Tchigorin. However, as play proceeds it transpires
that Stolz does not know all the finesses of Tchigorin's opening idea} c5 3. g3
(3. b3 $142 {Hinders the development of Black's dark square Bishop[%csl Gf8]})
3... Nc6 4. Bg2 Nge7 5. Nc3 g6 6. d3 Bg7 7. Be3 {This plays into Black's hands,
and he provokes the exchange of the central e-pawn and then consolidates his
Queen Knight in the centre} d5 $1 8. exd5 (8. Bxc5 Qa5 {[%cal Gd5d4]}) 8... Nd4
9. Qd2 (9. Bxd4 cxd4 {Black has easy play after ... Nxd5[%cal Ge7d5]}) 9...
exd5 10. Nce2 h6 (10... Nxe2 11. Nxe2 Bxb2 12. Rb1 Bg7 13. Bxc5 {not dangerous
for White}) 11. Qc1 {White prepares both Pc3 and the exchange at d4.[%csl Yd4]
[%cal Gc2c3]} (11. Nxd4 cxd4 12. Bf4 g5 {[%csl Rf4]}) (11. c3 Nxe2 12. Nxe2 d4
13. cxd4 cxd4 14. Bf4 g5) 11... Bf5 12. c3 {A losing move!} (12. Nxd4 cxd4 13.
Bd2 Rc8 14. Qd1 {still has a strong position}) 12... Nxe2 13. Nxe2 d4 $1 (13...
Bxd3 14. Bxc5) 14. Bd2 Bxd3 15. Bxb7 O-O $1 {It transpires that in the given
situation the Bishop is much more important than the Rook. In sum Black wins a
decisive tempo for attack} (15... Rb8 16. Bf3 O-O 17. O-O {[%cal Gf1e1]}) 16.
Bf3 g5 {Depriving White's pieces of the f4 square and preparing the final
Knight manoeuvre ... Ne7-g6-e5-d3[%csl Gf4][%cal Ye7g6,Yg6e5,Ye5d3]} 17. O-O
Ng6 18. Re1 Ne5 19. Bg2 Ba6 20. Qd1 Nd3 21. Qa4 Qf6 {White cannot avoid the
loss of material} 22. f4 Rae8 23. Bc6 Nxe1 24. Bxe8 Nf3+ 25. Kf2 Nxd2 26. Bc6
Bxe2 27. Kxe2 dxc3 28. bxc3 Qxc3 29. Rd1 Rd8 30. Be4 gxf4 31. gxf4 Qh3 32. Rg1
Qxh2+ 33. Rg2 Qh5+ 34. Ke3 Qh3+ 35. Ke2 Nf1 0-1

[Event "13"]
[Site "GRONINGEN"]
[Date "1946.??.??"]
[Round "?"]
[White "Tartakower S"]
[Black "Botvinnik Mikhail"]
[Result "0-1"]
[ECO "C01"]
[PlyCount "108"]

1. e4 e6 2. d4 d5 3. exd5 exd5 4. Nf3 {The plan of play Tartakower has chosen
is interesting. In order to exclude any suprises in the opening, he has gone
in for the exchange variation (usually this variation is chosen as a
convenient base for a draw). But in this game he cleverly finds a way of
complicating the struggle} Bd6 5. c4 Nf6 6. c5 {Hardly the strongest as Black
forces the exchange of this pawn} Be7 7. Bd3 b6 8. cxb6 axb6 9. O-O O-O 10. Nc3
Bg4 {It is not easy for Black to find a sound plan} (10... c5 {inviting but
leads to a weakening of b5[%csl Gb5]} 11. Bb5 Bd6 12. Ne5 {White has the
initiative}) 11. h3 {A double edged continuation} Bh5 12. g4 Bg6 13. Ne5 Bxd3
14. Qxd3 c6 15. Bg5 {Now there is a sharp struggle; but it must be remarked
that, as the further course of the game shows, White did not foresee Black's
reply} (15. Bf4 {more cautious}) 15... Nxg4 {An unexpected stroke, which Black
decided upon after twenty minutes consideration. White mistakenly rejects the
hxg4 continuation indicated, he decided to preserve material equality, which
hands the initiative to Black. If the initiative passes to Black the weakness
of White's Kingside begins to tell and his game proves to be lost} 16. Nxc6 (
16. Bxe7 Nxe5 17. Bxd8 Nxd3 18. Bxb6 Nxb2 $17) (16. hxg4 Bxg5 17. Kg2 (17. f4
Bf6 18. Kg2 Bxe5 19. Rh1 f5) 17... f6 18. Rh1 Bh6 19. Ng6 Rf7 (19... hxg6 20.
Rxh6 $1) 20. Nh4 Bg5 {despite Black's extra pawn, White retains the initiative}
) 16... Nxc6 17. Bxe7 Nxe7 18. hxg4 f5 $1 {A great unpleasantness for White!
There is no sound way of defending the g-pawn. Tartakower chooses the best
course: he sacrifices the g-pawn to gain time to double his Rooks on the e-file
} 19. Rae1 $1 (19. gxf5 Nxf5 {Black swiftly transfers his forces for an attack
on the King.}) 19... fxg4 20. Re5 Rf3 $1 {An important move shutting the White
Queen out from defence of the King} 21. Qb5 Ng6 $1 {Fundamentally decides the
game} (21... Qd6 22. Rxe7 {[%cal Gd5g8,Gd5a8]} Rg3+ $11) 22. Rxd5 {White gains
equality in material, but he can't hinder the development of Black's attack} (
22. Qxd5+ Qxd5 23. Rxd5 Nf4 {The endgame is hopeless for White[%cal Ya8f8,
Rg4g3,Gf4h3]}) 22... Qf6 23. Rg5 {Now the g-pawn is threatened and White has a
tempo check with his Queen} (23. Rh5 Rd8 {preventing the check at d5 and Black
should consumate his attack without difficulty.[%csl Gd5]}) 23... Rf8 24. Ne4
Qf4 25. Qd5+ Kh8 26. Rh5 {At first glance this move serves only as defence
against ... Rh3 but it is associated with a counterthreat Ng5[%csl Gh3][%cal
Ye4g5]} Rh3 (26... g3 27. Ng5 gxf2+ 28. Kh1) ({White was in severe time
trouble, and Black had fifteen minutes in hand} 26... h6 27. Qe6 Re3 $1 {I
failed to find this move and spent ten minutes on ... Rh3, so I too, found
myself in time trouble and all but let the win slip out of my hands} 28. Qxg6
Rxe4 {[%csl Rd4][%cal Ge4e2]}) 27. Rxh3 gxh3 28. Ng3 (28. Ng5 Ne7 29. Qe5 Qg4+
30. Qg3 Qxg3+ 31. fxg3 h2+ $19 {[%csl Rf1]}) 28... Nh4 29. Qe4 Nf3+ 30. Kh1
Qxe4 31. Nxe4 Rf4 32. Rc1 h6 (32... g5 33. Rc8+ Kg7 34. Rc7+ Kf8 {simpler}) 33.
Rc3 g5 {An inexact move caused by time trouble} (33... Nxd4 $142) 34. d5 g4 35.
Re3 Rf5 36. Nc3 Rf6 37. Re6 Kg7 38. Rxf6 Kxf6 39. d6 Ke6 40. Nd5 Kxd6 41. Nxb6
h5 $1 {The sealed move. It is obviously the most logical. White's misfortune
consists in the desperate position of his King, under the mortal threat of
Ph4-g3-g2+} 42. Nc4+ (42. a4 Nd2 $3 {Pointed out by Bronstein} 43. a5 h4 44. a6
g3 45. a7 g2+ 46. Kh2 Nf3+ 47. Kxh3 g1=Q 48. a8=Q Qh2+ 49. Kg4 Ne5+) 42... Kd5
43. Ne3+ Ke4 44. a4 (44. b4 Kd3 (44... Nd4 $1) 45. b5 Ke2 46. b6 Kxf2 47. Nf5
h4 48. Nxh4 g3 49. Nxf3 Kxf3 50. b7 Kf2 51. b8=Q g2+ 52. Kh2 g1=Q+ 53. Kxh3 {
The g3 square is undefended}) 44... Kd3 45. Nd5 {further advance of the pawn
is hopeless as Black mates at h3} Ke2 46. Nf4+ Kxf2 47. Nxh3+ (47. Nxh5 g3 48.
Nxg3 Kxg3 49. a5 h2 50. a6 Ne5 51. a7 Ng4 52. a8=Q Nf2#) 47... Kf1 (47... gxh3)
48. Nf4 g3 49. Ng2 Kf2 50. a5 h4 51. Nf4 Kf1 52. Ng2 h3 53. Ne3+ Kf2 54. Ng4+
Ke2 {White resigns as the mate is unavoidable. A struggle not without mistakes,
but also full of interest} 0-1

