BOTVINNIK'S BEST GAMES Volume 3: 1957 -1970 Mtkhatl Bolvinnik
Mikhail Botvinnik
BOTVINNIK'S BEST GAMES
Volume 3: 1957-1970
(Analytical & Critical Works)
Translated and Edited by Ken Neat
Olomouc 2001
Published in the Czech Republic in 2001 by PUBLISHING HOUSE MORA VIAN CHESS P.O. Box 101, 772 11 OLOMOUC 2 Czech Republic
This book is an authorised translation ofMM Botvinnik Analiticheskie i kriticheskie raboty 1957-1970 (Moscow 1986) ©English translation copyright Ken Neat 2001
Chess Agency CAISSA-90
All rights reserved ISBN 80-7 1 89-405-2
Contents
From tournaments and matches - to understanding the essence of the game ...
7
Selected Games 1957-1970 252 253 254 255 256 257 258 259 260 26 1 262 263 264 265 266 267 268 269 270 27 1 272 273 274 275 276 277 278 279 280 28 1 282
Botvinnik-Smyslov, 1 957, 5th match game Botvinnik-Smyslov, 1 957, 9th match game Botvinnik-Smyslov, 1 957, 1 1th match game Botvinnik-Smyslov, 1 957, 13th match game Smyslov-Botvinnik, 1 957, 18th match game Smyslov-Botvinnik, 1 958, 1 st match game Botvinnik-Smyslov, 1 958, 2nd match game Botvinnik-Smyslov, 1 958, 6th match game Smyslov-Botvinnik, 1 958, 7th match game Smyslov-Botvinnik, 1 958, 9th match game Botvinnik-Smyslov, 1 958, 12th match game Botvinnik-Smyslov, 1 958, 14th match game Botvinnik-Smyslov, 1 958, 16th match game Smyslov-Botvinnik, 1 958, 21st match game Smyslov-Botvinnik, 1 958, 23rd match game Botvinnik-Raizman, 1958 Citrone-Botvillllik, 1 958 Botvinnik-Pomar, 1 958 Botvinnik-Alexander, 1 958 Botvinnik-Duckstein, 1 958 Uhlmann-Botvinnik, 1958 Botvinnik-Donner, 1 958 Tal-Botvinnik, 1 960, 3rd match game Tal-Botvinnik, 1 960, 5th match game Botvinnik-Tal, 1 960, 8th match game Tal-Botvinnik, 1 960, 9th match game Botvinnik-Tal, 1 960, 20th match game Tamburini-Botvinnik, 1960 Tarnows!Q-Botvinnik, 1960 Neikirch-Botvinnik, 1 960 Portisch-Botvinnik, 1 960 3
22 25 27 29 32 36 40 44 48 49 53 58 63 66 68 71 73 75 81 83 85 87 90 93 96 99 102 105 107 . 108 111
283 284 285 286 287 288 289 290 291 292 293 294 295 296 297 298 299 300 301 302 303 304 305 306 307 308 309 310 311 3 12 3 13 3 14 315 316 3 17 3 18 3 19 320 321 322 323
Botvinnik-Schmid, 1 960 Botvinnik-Paclunan, 1 960 Botvinnik-Tal, 1 961, 1st match game Botvinnik-Tal, 1 961, 3rd match game Botvinnik-Tal, 196 1 , 7th match game Botvinnik-Tal, 1 96 1, 9th match game Tal-Botvinnik, 1 96 1 , 1 0th match game Botvinnik-Tal, 1 96 1, 1 1th match game Botvinnik-Tal, 1 96 1 , 1 3th match game Botvinnik-Tal, 1 96 1, 1 5th match game Tal-Botvinnik, 1 96 1 , 18th match game Botvinnik-Tal, 1 96 1, 2 1st match game Botvinnik-Paclunan, 1 96 1 Botvinnik-Unzicker, 196 1 Botvinnik-Wade, 196 1/62 Littlewood-Botvinnik, 1 96 1/62 Robatsch-Botvinnik 196 1 /62 Botvinnik-Bisguier, 1 96 1 /62 Skold-Botvinnik, 1 962 Botvinnik-Lundin, 1 962 Botvinnik-Soderborg, 1 962 Unzicker-Botvinnik, 1962 Filip-Botvinnik, 1962 Botvinnik-Robatsch, 1 962 Botvinnik-Fischer, 1 962 Petrosian-Botvinnik, 1963, 1 st match game Botvinnik-Petrosian, 1963, 4th match game Botvinnik-Petrosian, 1963, 8th match game Botvinnik-Petrosian, 1963, 10th match game Petrosian-Botvinnik, 1963, 1 3th match game Botvinnik-Petrosian, 1963, 14th match game Botvinnik-Petrosian, 1963, 16th match game Krutikhin-Botvinnik, 1 963 Gipslis-Botvinnik, 1963 Taimanov-Botvinnik, 1 963 Kholmov-Botvinnik, 1 963 Botvinnik-Van Scheltinga, 1 963 Botvinnik-Donner, 1 963 Botvinnik-Petrosian, 1 964 Botvinnik-Smyslov, 1964 Botvin,nlk-Stein, 1964
4
1 12 1 15 1 17 1 20 1 22 125 1 29 132 135 137 141 143 146 1 49 153 155 1 57 160 162 165 1 67 169 171 174 177 184 1 87 1 89 1 93 1 95 1 98 203 206 208 2 10 2 13 217 219 22 1 225 227
324 325 3 26 327 328 329 330 33 1 3 32 333 334 335 3 36 337 338 339 340 341 342 343 344 345 3 46 34 7 348 349 350 351 352 353 354 355 356 357 358 359 360 361 362 363 364
Botvinnik-Medina, 1 964 Letelier-Botvinnik, 1 964 Aloni-Botvinnik, 1 964 Yanofsky-Botvinnik, 1 964 Botvinnik-Gligoric, · 1 964 Ciocaltea-Botvinnik, 1 964 Botvinnik-Larsen. 1965
Trifunovic-Botvinnik, 1 965 Botvinnik-Donner, 1 965
Botvinnik-Langeweg, 1965 Gipslis-Botvinnik, 1965
Botvinnik-Tolush, 1 965
Yudovich-Botvinnik, 1 966 LiberLon-Botvinnik, 1 966
Botvinnik-Szilagyi, 1966 Sz.abo-Botvinnik, 1966
Botvinnik-Pomar, 1 966
Botvinnik-Zuidem� 1 966 Botvinnik-Robatsch, 1 965 Botvinnik-Smyslov, 1 966 Botvinnik-Keres, 1966
Spassky-Botvinnik, 1 966
Botvinnik-Balashov, 1 9666/67 Liberzon-Botvinnik, 1 967 Levit-Botvinnik, 1967
Botvinnik-Polugayevsky, 1 967 Taimanov-Botvinnik, 1 967
Botvinnik-Boleslavsky, 1 967 Botvinnik-Toran, 1 967
Medina-Botvinnik, 1967 Botvinnik-Diez del Corral, 1 967 Botvinnik-Bednarski, 1 967
Gligoric-Botvinnik, 1967
Botvinnik-Matulovic. 1 967 Donner-Botvinnik, 1967 Botvinnik-Larsen, 1 967
Botvinnik-Padevsky, 1968 Botvinnik-Larsen, 1968 Benko-Botvinnik, 1 968
Botvinnik-Portisch, 1 968
Botvinnik-Kholmov, 1969
5
230 232 234 238 240 245 247 250 253 257 259 262 264 266 269 27 1 273 275 279 28 1 285 287 29 1 294 297 2·99 302 305 308 311 3 13 3 15 3 19 32 1 324 .326 330 333 336 338 341
365 Ostojic-Botvinnik, 1969 36.6 Botvinnik-Ree, 1969
·
367 Botvinnik-Van Scheltinga, 1969 368 Medina-Botvinnik, 1969 369 Botvinnik-Lombardy, 1969
353 357 359
370 Ciric-Botvimtlk. 1969 371 Langeweg-Botvinnik, 1969
362 365
372 Botvinnik-Kavalek, 1969 373 Botvinnik-Kurajica, 1969 374 Matanovic-Botvinni� 1969
368 372 377
375 Botvinnik-Ostojic, 1969 376 Matulovic-Botvinnik, 1969
380 383
377 Botvinnik-Suttles, 1969 378 379 380 381
344 348 351
387
Matulovic-Botvinnik, 1970 Botvinnik-Spassky, 1970 Botvinnik-Larsen, 1970 Spassky-Botvinnik, 1970
389 391 396
Training Games Postscript Tournament and Match Cross-tables
401 428 429
Summary of Tournament and Match Results (1957-1970)
457
Translator's Notes
459
Index of Openings
463
6
From tournaments and matches - to understanding the essence of the game ...
from my final competitive appearances. This was a highly intense period. Over a
return match. The question was - should this right be used? Pressure was put on me - they tried
period of 14 years I played five matches
to persuade me to give up the return
Collected in this book are the games
for the World Championship, and I took
match. But the decision depended on
part in many international tournaments,
one thing alone: could I be confident
four Olympiads, and also other team
that I would be successful in a new
competitions.
encounter?
In parallel with this I continued my
After analysing the games from the
scientific work in the field of electrical
match I decided that 'a cat may look at a
engineering, and from 1960 in the field
king', and that it was possible to com
of cybernetics. I also directed a junior
pete with the new champion: The return
chess school, and a considerable amount of time was taken up by writing. It all began with a failure in a World Championship match. The battle pro ceeded with alternating successes, but then I failed to withstand a difficult test, and Vasily Smyslov brilliantly won the
match took place in the Spring of 1958.
I made complete use of my analytical powers and was excellently prepared. It was easy to prepare - the lost match had given a wealth of preliminary infor mation. The champion, moreover, was over-optimistic, and also he had become accustomed to searching only when
title of champion. Possibly I underestimated my oppon
sitting at the chess
ent - much to my cost! In the period
board during a
game ...
By the 15th game I already had an
from 1953 to 1958 Smyslov did not know any failures; this was the summit
advantage of four points, and this game
of his chess achievements. At the end of
was adjourned in a position that was hopeless for White. It only remained for
the event I was aiming only to 'rid myself of the match as soon as I could.
m� to go off to my dacha for a night
It was no longer possible to save it, but by the FIDE rules then in force a
time analysis - this procedure had invariably proved · successfhl. But the
defeated champion had the right to a
difference in the scores had its effect: I 7
stayed in Moscow, analysed super ficially, and during the resumption became rattled. Even so. when ·1 was considering my 55th move, there were probably still hopes of winning.
I learned about this when the FIDE Congress of 1959 abolished the right of the champion to a return match (begin ning in 1963). Although this decision was against the interests of the chess world, on egotistical grounds I did not protest - how long can one go on fight ing for the chess crown! Two years passed� and I faced a new opponent in a match (Vasily Smyslov had twice won the Candidates Tourna ment, but on the third occasion he was unsuccessful). In the late 1950s Mikhail Tai stag gered the chess world with a series of brilliant tournament successes. He won enormous popularity not only with his competitive results, but also his except ionally lively and clever play. His first prizes in two USSR Cham-· pionships, the Interzonal Tournament and the Candidates Tournament were fully justified. All this was crowned by Tai' s victory in our 1960 match, which brought him the title of World Champion, a result which was fully expected by chess enthusiasts. However, if one analyses things from the creative viewpoint, our match also gave a wealth of material for studying the deficiencies in the young champion's play. Even when it was not in the spirit of the position, Tal would aim for open play. He would go in for difficult positions, merely in order to obtain great mobility for his pieces, when his unique ability to calculate variations might tell, as well as... the opponent's lack of time for thought. Such a utilitarian approach . to chess secured the achievement of his goal, but
Botvinnik
Smyslov The resumption had taken a tense course, but finally the queens had been exchanged, and I breathed a sigh of relief - a feeling which arises when the time control has been reached. And so here I decided that the right number of moves had been made, and... I over stepped the time limit! Instead of being five points ahead, I had to be content with three. My mood was spoiled, of course, but the title of champion was regained. My colleagues (and not only they) were unhappy about this. They realised that in a match it was possible to defeat the old champion� but in a return match the art of preparation might still tell ... And behind my back a campaign to abolish the return match was begun.
8
at a high price. It led to a prejudiced style of play, to a narrowing of his creative possibilities, and harboured the possibility of future failures. A year later, in the return match, I was able to demonstrate that the creative defects in the young Latvian ' s play were more significant than his phenomenal calculating ability. In the first match I had been able to demonstrate this only once - in the 9th game. The return match was coming to an end. To general surprise, the young world champion, who everyone regard ed as a genius, was losing. . . Towards the end of ·the match some curious things happened. Before the 20th game the score was 1 1 Y2-7Y2. White had the advantage, but after the first adjourn ment I was able to analyse the position better, and I could have gained equal chances. But I made an incorrect move, and Tal again achieved a winning position. Then in a rook ending White played insufficiently energetically, the game was adjourned for a second time, and again analysis was required. I faced a second successive sleepless night. For a few hours the position seemed hopeless. The f5 and c6 pawns are weak, and the passed a6 pawn is powerful. But the thing that Black has to fear most is the possibility of the white king invading at b6 .. Even so, by morning an unexpected tactical chance was found: if White were to go in for a natural variation, Black would be saved by stalemate! And again the agonising search continued: what if White were to notice this stalemate? Finally, here too drawing chances were found.
Botvinnik
Tai I was in no doubt that my opponent would have slept peacefully all night. But Tal was Tal, and even at the board he might have noticed this tactical trick and chosen the correct, stronger contin uation. In order to lull my opponent's vigilance, when the game was resumed I did not take with me my usual thennos flask of coffee - to suggest that within a few moves I would be resigning. And so the game was resumed. 89 90
�a2 a7
l:lb5
My analysis had shown that the strongest continuation was to lure the black rook to a6: 90 l:f8 %%.a5+ 9 1 �b3 llxa6 92 llxf5 �d7 93 l:t f6 J:l.a l 94 f5 .D.d l 95 'ittc3 l:c l + 96
d2 :!fl 97 l:tt7+ 'it>d8 98 'it>c3 l:tb 1 .
Even so, it would appear that here too Black gains a draw, e.g. 99 f6 :n 1 00 'it>b4 'it>e8, or 99 c2 llb4 100 �d3 l:.b3+ 101 �e2 :h3 102 f6 l:th4 103 e3 l:.e4+ 104 @d3 : r4.
90 9
•
•
•
lla5+
91 92
@bJ
.D.f8
ci>b7 llb5+
95 96
It is important here to force White to decide where .to take his king, since it is on this that Black's further actions depend. For example, if 93 �c3 there would have followed 93.. Jla5. in order to attack the enemy king from the side (93 ... �xa7 94 l:.xf5 :as 95 :n+ a6 96 1lc7 or 95 ... b8 96 'iti>b4 :b5+ 97 �a4 is bad for Black) 94 l:.xf5 rl;xa7 95 :n+ (95 l:tf6 b7 96 f5 :a3+) 95 ... a6 96 l:tc7 l:a3+ 97 b4 l:.a4+. and the black king, and this is very important, is not driven onto the eighth 4Ulk. White, however, continues playing 'more naturally'.
93 94
a4 llxf5
Af6 f5
'it>b7 l:lal+
First the king is driven away from the queenside, so that there should be no question of it invading at b6.
97 98 99 100
'it>b4 cJ d2 eJ
:bt+ Itel+ :n
xa7 llbl
And only here did Tal notice that after 95 l:tf7+ 'iii>a6 96 :c7. as he was intending to play, there follows 96 ... .:tb4+! ! 97 �xb4 - stalemate (see
Now the king is safely cut off along the f-file, and Black can wait.
diagram).
There was no longer any way of gaining winning chances, although White could still hope for some mistake by his tired opponent.
100 101 102 103 10
:.n+ e2 �dJ
c7 ds :r4 . l:lfJ+ .
104
�d2
not for chess. Tasks, which people have to try and solve every day and every hour, ·are search problems.· This applies in· particular to economics, where well known mathematical efforts prove ineffective. Chess is a very complicated search problem of great dimension (I happened to read an article by a foreign ex"Pert on cybe�etics, abo1=1t the fact that chess is more complicated than even economics or politics). So if one could identify how a master plays, and employ similar methods in applied search problems, this would be both a great theoretical, and a practical achievement! This is the problem to which I have devoted myself since 1 964. When I sensed that taking part in competitions prevented me from wor king successfully, I gave up tournament play ( 1970). And when I realised that my engineering work was also limiting my successes in creating a chess com puter program, I also gave up. directing the laboratory ( 1 974 ). What is the cru.x of the problem? It is positional understanding. It is this factor that distinguishes the play of a master from the play of the existing chess programs. And although, in searching for a move, mathematicians used computers that could perform on average as many as 2 50 million oper ations a second, due to the absence of positional Wlderstanding the optimum results were not achieved; I set myself the objective of develop ing a chess program which would act like a chess master, i.e .. possessing positional understanding. Most of the
�cs
And a draw was agreed on the 12 1 st move! To celebrate (after the return match) I played in the Christmas tournament in Hastings. Here in 1934/35 I had made my first appearance abroad, and .. . failed! On this occasion I rehabilitated myself, easily winning first prize. But in the following match, against Tigran Petrosian, I lost. And, it would seem, justifiably - I had already lost matches against both Smyslov, and Tai.'.. Age has its effect. And there was no longer any return match, thank God. In style Tigran Petrosian was not like other players. Only Flohr can be called his predecessor, and possibly Karpov Iris successor. What .unites them is a subtle and original positional under standing, and also a striving to achieve success without undue risk. It was always difficult to get at Petrosian's pieces, so skilfully did he defend his position. In· the first half of the 1960s Petrosian played exceptionally strongly, but the features of his style reduced his popularity among the broad mass of players. Before the match with Petrosian, doubts arose: should I play, or not? I had become fascinated by the problem of the artificial chess player, and matches for the World Championship took a great deal of effort. And only a year had passed after the loss of my title when I began finding the essence of the 'mysterious' way that a chess master searches for a move. This problem is of exceptional practical significance, and, of course, 11
experts regarded this as utopia. But the years have passed, and the first results have been obtained. The computer is now capable (this has been tested on several examples of various types) of choosing, on the basis of positional principles, 3-4 moves (out of 25-30), which are worth considering. Evidently the time is not far off when a computer will play like a chess master. On the basis of this research, . a method of retrieviJ,1.g algorithms for sol ving search problems was formalised. Practical tasks began to be solved using tliis method: the planning (with com puter aid) of the repair of power station equi ment �d the load levelling of electrical power system schedules. But let us return to chess. After I had opted out of the battle for the World. Cham ionship, for the first time since 1 948 I had time for events that were not even indirectly associated with official competitions for the champion's title. A small tournament in Amsterdam ( 1 963) was the first such 'free' event. The 1 965 tournament in the small Dutch town of Noordwijk was a happy event in my career. Wonderful walks across the deserted sandy North Sea beaches, good playing conditions, and tlie grandmaster's calculating apparatus - his head - working excellently. Tiris tournament was dedicated to the 70tl1 a.Ilniversary of the Leiden Chess Club . I won first prize, and together with it I received a certificate stating that I was an honorary member of the Leiden Chess Club.
And then came my final appear ances... After 1 963 I sharply cut down on my· research work (in the field of preparing for competitions). From the creative standpoint I largely· had to live off my old (research) know ledge. And I played quite successfully, because I emp.loyed openings that I had studied and prepared before 1 963 . The USSR Spartakiad ( 1 967) was quite a good training event before the tmunament in Palma-de-Mallorc� which began at the end of November. Unfortunately, as often happens, Smys lov and I flew in late to Spain. Mean while, it was obvious that, on account of the difference between December in Moscow and the Mediterranean, we shoii.19-· have arrived in good time. The weather was Hot, we played in a stuffy building and we had to live in a room with the blinds drawn, in the semi darkness, to make it a little cooler. At the start I suffered a disaster.
p
p
Botvinnik
Damjanovic
12
In this position with an over whelming adv_antage for Black (two pawns up!) I contrived to lose. More over, it cannot be said that I blundered anything away. It was simply that with every move I worsened my position. Then I nevertheless adapted and offered serious competition to Bent Larsen, who in those years was enjoying his best results. In the 14th round we met. I had an overwhelming advantage in the middlegame, missed at least five winning continuations, but after an error by Black I reached an ending where, on the resumption (with Smyslov's help in the analysis of the adjourned position) I nevertheless won. There now seemed to be real chances of catching the leader, since we were separated by only half a point, but a weak finish by me (draws with Tatai and Calvo) led on the final day of the tournament to Bent being more fortunate and becoming the winner. A few months passed, and again Smyslov and I set off. for an inter national tou rnament, but whereas in November we flew via Paris to Spain, this time in April we flew to Monte Carlo. There was roughly the same group of players (only .instead of the Spanish national masters, here they were French), the same heat, and almost the same results. I played two very interesting games (with Portisch and Benko), but on this occasion I was unable to convert a winning position against Larsen, and as a result he again finished half a point ahead. In January 1969, along with Keres and Geller, I took part in tl1e main
tournament of the Beverwijk Festival, which was being held for the 31st time. I should like to say a few words about these Dutch festivals. They are financed by the Hoogoven metallurgical firm, which then employed nearly 19,000 staff. Its products were largely exported, including to the Soviet Union and the USA. Wo_rking in the administration of the factory was an engineer by the name of Rueb, the son of the late Alexandre Rueb, the first President of the Inter national Chess Federation (and, which is less well known, a problem composer). Rueb-junior was the director of the festival committee (sometimes, and in particular in 1969, the tournaments were held in the neighbouring resort of Wijk aanZee). An interesting line-up had been assembled in the main tournament. Apart from the Soviet grandmasters, particular mention should be made of Lajos Portisch and Fridrik Olafsson. The Soviet players firmly held the lead. But our trio was closed on by Portisch, who after a poor start had as though acquired a second wind. A tense situation arose when he won against Keres. Portisch became especially danger ous, when he gained a winning position in his game with me. After somehow holding out until the time control, I adjourned the game, but I did "riot even bother to analyse it - the position was hopeless. During the first adjournment session the play became somewhat more complicated, but prospects . remained poor. After the seco�d adjournment
.13
'No, that too does not help' came the unconsoling reply. Analysis showed · that Geller had evaluated the position correctly. By 'normal' means it could not be saved, but was there not some exceptional possibility? There was a knock at the door, and Keres came in. It turned out that he too had agreed a quick draw. 'Well, shall we have a look at your position?' And so we began analysing: I in bed, on my pocket set, and Paul Petrovich sitting at a table, on a big set... We quickly established that only one move could have been sealed.
session there was no time to analyse it I had to eat quickly and again sit down at the board: round 13 was beginning. Portisch agreed a quick draw in his next game and disappeared . Of course, he had huni.ed off to analyse his end game with me. There was nothing I could do, and so I offered Benko a draw - the game would be resumed within five hours! I was lying on my bed. Towards the end of the tournament I had caught a chill, and after the illness I still felt weak. On my pocket set I tried to establish the truth.
-
. .
;Botvinnik
73
.1\a2
73 74 75
'it>e4 e6
Now White must be forced advance his e5 pawn. Therefore
to
li)c6 li)e7
Now the g5 pawn is lost, but Black improves the position of his king:
'iti>c5 a5 d6 e5
75 76 77 78 79
'it>e5 �6 'iti>xg5 .i.b3
Portisch
White is preparing zugzwang.
When Portisch was sealing his move, it seemed to me that Black had every chance of gaining a draw, but during dinner Geller gave me some unpleasant news: Black would lose due to zug zwang. 'Excuse me', I tried to object, 'can't the black king blockade the white e-pawn?'
79 80 81
.i.al .i.bJ!
a4 a3
Here we both fell silent and sank into thought. Indeed, what can Black do? If he moves his king, White will occupy f6, and if the knight moves, the white king will break through via g6 ... 'Paul Petrovich', I remarked timidly� 'there is one drawn.position: if White's
14
king is at f7 and his pawn at g5, Black can play .. . @e5-f5, and after g5-g6 give check with his knight from e5, with a draw . . . Only how can this be achieved? Keres, an experienced study com poser, immediately formulated the idea:
Only here did Portisch deviate:
83
�g7
83 84 85 86 87
g5 h6 .la2
But this problems.
81 82 83 84
a2.
@g6
thc6! the7+! thc6
87 88
caused any
thc6 'iit>f5 the7 e5! 'IW5
thg6 'iW7 88 . ..l'Dc6 was also possible. Here the players agreed a draw in view of the variation 89 .i.b1 + xg5 90 .ltxg6 a2 9 1 e7 al 'if 92 e8'i' 'i'f6+. As a result, Geller and I shared first place, with Keres and Portisch half ·a point behind. This was my last successful tourna ment. By this time I had come round to the thought that it was time to give up playing chess. And when I was visiting my friends from the Leiden Chess Club (the reader will no doubt remember that in· 1965, after the toumament in Noord wijk, I was made an J1onorary member of this club), and they suggested that in
g5
g6
longer
Or 87 g6 �6 88 g7 tt:tl"5+.
Or 84 e7 ED.xe7 85
8.4 85
no
'IW5 the5+!
We laughed for some ten minutes - it turned out to be a very simple and elegant solution! When the game was resumed, strictly speaking, nothing new occurred: for the first l 0 moves both players followed exactly the given analysis. It rarely happens that in analysis both -players agree on the same 10-move optimal variation, but it is even more rare for their evaluations of it to be different. 15
the Spring of 1970, to commemorate the
Fischer had again demanded that the
75th anniversary of their club, l should play
a
friendly
match
with
match be staged with att!unlimited num
Bobby
ber of games, with which, as before, I
Fischer, I promptly asked:
could not agree. It has to be assumed that the future World Champion was
'But are you sure that with the intrac table grandmaster it will be possible to find a common language?' 'Yes, yes', I heard in reply. 'We have considered everything� all the negotia tions will be made through lawyers, and everything will be fine.' 'Then it will be the last .event I will
seeking a pretext for avoiding the match. Apparently already then it was hard for Fischer to overcome that psy chological barrier, which often preven ted him from beginning an event. At the end of this year, which had
take part in.'
to take part in an international tour
begun so successfully, I also happened
The negotiations proceeded favour
nament in Yugoslavia (for the first and last time). It was an extremely poor
ably. First Fischer insisted that we should play to six wins with an un
tournament for me. However I tried, I could not force myself to put up a
restricted number of games; I suggested
genuine fight. It was evident that in my sub-conscious the thought had taken
that the 'players should meet 16 times at the age of 59 I would be unable to withstand a longer event. Finally the
root that within a few months I would
two sides reached a compromise: the
be giving up playing chess. For a long time I lagged behind the
winner would be the player who scored
other participants, after suffering two
more points out of 18 games.
successive
I took with me several hundred of
defeats.
Then
I
slightly
Fischer's games and set off to the Black Sea for two weeks to prepare for the
improved my affairs, only to lose again, to Janosevic.
match. Fischer's games did not provide any surprises with their strategic ideas.
Botvinnik
These were known to any experienced player from old games (even before Fischer). But the American grand master's
tactical
resourcefulness,
his
energy in carrying out his plans. and his striving for activity at the very first opportunity were staggering. In September I received from the Leiden Chess Club's lawyer the formal agreement to the match, which had to be signed by the participants and organ isers. However, soon the Dutch sent me
Janosevic
a letter, ·in which I was informed that
16
This defeat was especially unpleas ant, both in terms of the play, and the competitive consequences. Although I am temporarily two pawns up, it is obvious that I have to fight for a draw - Black's position is so cramped, and he has numerous weak nesses. ·After a number of poor moves, Black finally makes a good one, removing his king from the eighth rank.
27 28 29
l:ttbt .i.xb5
h7! b5
.D.xb5
32 33 34
:b7 :d7 lba7
34 35 36 37
i.g5 :ds+ :.xd6
•
•
•
i.f6
38 39
fxe3
.
.
e3!
•
Or 3 9 :xn e2 40 :xg7+ �h6. 1
Or 2 9 �xb5 i..xa6 30 J:txb8 .i.xc4 as in the game, Black sacrifices the exchange in order to eliminate the dangerous passed a-pawn.
29 30
38
But strangely enough, altb.ough this move is undeniably pretty, .: it throws away the win. Black cannot take the bishop, since then he loses. his f7 bishop, and after it his pawns, one after another. But for the first time since the 20th move (! ) Black gains an oppor tunity to activate his king's bishop, and this gives him sufficient counterplay.
39 40
•
.
.i.h6
•
l:laJ White defends against the threat of 40 . . . i.xe3+ 4 1 @hi lifl mate. He is also not afraid of 40 . . .tf8 in view of 4 1 l:ta8 ! (4 1 . . . .i.xd6? 4 2 l:th8 mate). Another possible continuation - 40 J::lxf7+ @g8 41 i..gS ! @xf7 42 i.xh6 �h5, which in fact later occurred in the game, should also have led to a draw.
llxb5 .i.xa6
.
The aim is achieved, but at a high price - the white rooks will operate very strongly along the 7th and 8th ranks. .tc4 31 :aS
.i.xd5 i.f7
34 �a6 was simpler, when the d6 awn is immediately lost.
@g8 l!f5
�h7 c4
Although Black has sufficient mater ial compensation for the exchange, his position is lost, since all his pawns are isolated. It would have been simplest for White to play his bishop to c3 (at the 4ame time it would be useful to place ·the king on e2), and then a concerted attack on the e5 pawn would have decided the outcome.: :' .
Here I still had 1 5 minutes left for my. last move before the time control, but I made a mistake that had a psy chological context. . The.: .point is that Black as though buried himself alive ! If 17
I had only imagined that a drawing con tinuation .existed, I would have found it: 40 ... c3! 4 1 l:txc3 i.c4! 42 l:ld7+ @gs 43 l:dl (the interposition of 43 h3 g3 or 43 g3 llf3 does not change anything) 43 .. J:txf6 44 l:xc4.txe3+ 45 @h l.td4 46 lk7 :n 47 :xf7 �xf7 48 g3
The sealed move. Since 42 :a3 c3, as has already been established, leads to a draw (during the break before the re sumption, this also became clear to the Yugoslav grandmaster), White makes another attempt to convert his slight positional advantage. . 42 ltxf7+ g8 . 43 .i.g5 In this way White obtains a superior rook ending; Black cannot play 43 ... .i.xg5 44 llxf5 gxf5 (44...i.xe3 + 45 llf2), since after 45 ltg6+ he remains a rook down. 43 e6 46 :b7 c3 ! But he tries to obtain as much as possible for the piece! 45 n! A subtle move, which· I under estimated in my adjournment analysis. After 45 l:c6 l:xh6 46 llxc4 l:h4l 47 g3 l:h8 48 J:.xg4 l:ta8 and 49... l:a2, or 45 .i.f8 :hs ! 46 lk6 <46 :d7+ �xf8 4r7 lk7 c3) 46...l:txf8 47 l:txc4 :as � l:xg4 l:a2 Black would ·have gained a draw without difficulty. llxh6 45 46 � g3 Here I calculated a lengthy variation: 46 ... c3! 47 l:tc6 e4! 48 :xc3 'iitf6 49 l:tc8 :h7 50 :£8+ �e5 51 l:f4 g5 52 l:xg4 �5 53 h4 gxh4+ 54 l:txh4 l:tg7+ 55 � (or 55 'it?h3 :a7 56 g4+ e5 57 l:h5+ e6 58 �g3 :f7 59 l:h3 e6 60 'itif4), but I was. unable to
However, let us return to the previous diagram, where Black made a move that demonstrated his low spirits. lLg7 40 41 :a7 A comedy of errors! After 41 i.xg7 �xg7 42 l:ta5!, in view of the threat of 43 e4 l:tf6 44 l:td7 l:.e6 45 l:aa7 l:tf6 46 l:te7 Black would have lost his e5 pawn (in the event of 42 ... e4 his position is also hopeless). i.h6 41 •
•
•
•
•
•
18
•
•
•
•
•
.
·
neither player had won 6 games, the player who was leading at that point would be declared the ·winner. Fischer also turned down this initiative. Then, instead of a match, the Dutch organisers decided to hold a tou rnament of four grandmasters in four cycles, which in fact took place in the Spring of 1970. However, before this event I also took part in the so-called 'Match of the Century'. In it a team from the Soviet Union met a team from the rest of the world. This was an old idea. Although earlier I had been opposed to it, now, since I considered that the Soviet team faced a difficult task, I decided to take part. I learned to my surprise that I had been assigned board eight in the team. This was clearly unreasonable, since on results (after all, the tou rnament in Belgrade had been my only failure) I should have been given board four (on average my successes were superior to at least four participants who played higher than me). Apparently, in the USSR Chess Federation they were so confident of the success of the Soviet team, that did not consider my participation to be obliga tory. But I held a different opinion, and I considered myself obliged to play in the match. The Yugoslav Chess Union staged the match on a grand scale, and it pro voked enormous interest. Unfortunately, my suppositions were justified. Between our participants there was not that writy, which is so necessary in a team compe tition. The top boards of the Soviet team suffered a fiasco. The mate� was won
evaluate correctly the resulting position. It appears that the e4 pawn is weak and that the g4 pawn is very dangerous. But in fact, if this variation is continued slightly- 58 :f8 l:tb3 59 l:te8+ 'ittd5 60 g5 :a3 61 g6 I:ta7 ! , it can be seen that Black must be able to save the ending. After missing this opportwrity, the ending is completely lost for Black, since both his pawns are weak, and his king is passive.
46 47 48 49
:c6 �xc4 l!e4
llh8 :as �a3 etc.
Towards· the end of the Belgrade tournament I to some extent pulled myself together, but even so I finished only seventh - the worst result in my entire chess career. During the tournament the question was again raised about a match between me and Fischer. The Leiden Chess Club returned once more to the problem of a match with an wrrestricted number of games. I suggested another compro mise: the winner should be the first to win six games, but if after 18 games
19
with a minimal advantage,' thanks to those participants on whom they had not been depending, the greatest contri bution being made by Paul Keres, who had only been assi ed the bottom board. .. .Leiden, April 1970. Apart from the two Soviet participants, Spassky and Botvinnik, also playing were Bent Larsen and Jan Hein Donner. We lived by the sea in Noordwijk and played in Leiden. This decision of the organisers was regrettable, since a car journey before a game is something one can do without. In addition, the tournament was held in a damp, unheated school hall. I was also hindered by being conscious of the fact that this event was my last. In the first cycle I suffered an 'accident' in my game with Larsen.
threat of 34 :as+ would have been most simply eliminated by the energetic 33.. .g5! The f6 pawn is immune (34 'i'xf6+? "i'xf6 35 l::txf6 .t.xf2+ 36 �h l .i.d4, and in view of the threat of 37 l:.xh2 mate, White can resign), and disaster on the f2 square is unavoidable. But I decided to defend the back rank without gaining a tempo.
Botvinnik
A move which I overlooked in time trouble.
gn
.. .
'33 34
•
•
•
<.t>hl
11fd8 .i.xf2
34 ... l:xf2 was more energetic, and if 35 :xf2 :xn (35....txf2 leads to a position that occurred in the game), then White cannot play 36 'flxc7 on account of 36 ... :txfl+ 37 g2 1id2+ 38 @h3 'i'h6+ etc. This means that the queen must modestly retreat, and Black's attack continues. Now the "initiative passes to White.
35
35 36
ltd3!
•
•
•
i.xd3
l:bd3 ltb2
A new mistake, due to the fact that I again overlooked White's reply. Best in the given position was the counter threat 36 ... .i.d4, after which there would have still have been all to play for.
37 38 39 40 41
11fxc7 'ffxb7 l:tcl l:tc7 1!fd5
1!fg8 lla2 l:ta8 Jitb8
And White won. Thus my last tournament ended in failure. . . Some consolation was provid ed by the fact that I was proclaimed an honorary member of the Dutch Chess Union.
Larsen White has been completely out played. He cannot defend his f2 pawn, and as a result his second rank will inev itably be exposed. The only counter-
20
Since that time a master's playing
This book concludes the publication
of my games, and it is possible to try
algoritl� has in principle changed little. All that has occurred is a·-deepening and
and answer the question: what, strictly
speaking, was the contribution of the author to chess, and what did he do that others did not do? This is not an easy question. But first
·
expanding of positional understanding, and here in the 1930s to the 1950s
Soviet :qiasters made a weighty contri
bution to the theory and praxis of chess.
most
The art of preparing for competitions
the
became so refined, that a master, in the
history of chess. Chess achieved a high
quiet qf his study, unrestricted by time
a
slight
significant
digression, that has
about
the
occurred
in
level when masters acquired a thorough
(not like during a game!), was able to
positional understanding.
It was then
find more complete evaluations of a
that they began to create games which
variety of chess positions. This also
made an artistic impression, even from
developed positional understanding and
the viewpoint of a strict appraiser. Paul
simultaneously led to good practical
Morphy was a pioneer of this positional
results.
trend; he acted intuitively and did not
It is this� evidently, that constitutes
explain how he played chess. However, he played only open games, as was
my contribution to chess. And the reader, after studying the games in these
accepted in those days.
three volumes, will certainly be able to
Wilhelm Steinitz not only extended
understand why I was victorious (when
positional understanding to the closed
this happened). It was because I was
games, but he also explained how to act.
superior to my opponents in the under
After this masters began playing more
standing of positions of the most varied
strongly.
nature.
21
Selected Games 1957-1970
7 8 9 10 11
Game 252
Botvinnik-Smyslov World Championship Match Moscow 1957, 5th game King's Indian Defence
1 c4 2 . lbcJ J g3 4 .A.g2 5 d4 6 lbfJ
.i.g2 e3 d5
.i.xf3 lbc6 lbd7 e5
It would seem that, in order to exploit the advantage of the two bishops, White should aim to open up the position, but in fact his lack of development rules out this plan. For example, 1 1 0-0 exd4 12 exd4 tt'Jxd4 1 3 ..txb7 �b8 14 ..tg2 ltJe5, and Black has an excellent game. By blocking the position, White completes his development without hindrance, and the d5 pawn will control the light squares in the enemy camp.
li)f6 g6 .A.g7 0-0 d6 .i.g4
In the Griinfeld Defence this man oeuvre is quite good, but here it is dubious. Black achieves a comfortable mobilisation of his forces, but the absence of his light-square bishop may tell. Black's early castling al�o does not go well with the exchange on f3, since White's chances of attacking on the kingside are improved. Even so, at present the text move occurs, along, of course, with the more popular continuations 6 . . . tiJc6, 6 . . . c5, 6 . . . tt'Jbd7 and 6 . . . c6, which, incidentally, was played in the next game.
7
.lxf3
11
•
•
•
lbe7
It is well known that in the Ki.Jig's Indian Defence the activity of a knight at e7 is limited. Therefore Petrosian was correct in recommending 1 1 ... tiJcb8.
12 13
e4 h4!
f5
This refutes Black's opening strategy. Now the exchange ·in the centre ( 13 . .. fxe4 14 tt'Jxe4) would weaken still further the light squares in his position. The threat of h4-h5xg6 is also unpleasant - this is where Black's castling is S\.tn to be premature. Smyslov takes the correct decision and restricts· the mobility of White's
h3
I thought that this was the only way to play, since after 7 0-0 'i'c8 Black's idea would be justified. However, later theory gave a new recommendation: 7 'ib3 1fc8 8 ti)es dxe5 9 .i.xb7.
22
18 19 20
queen's bishop, although now his knight at e7 has altogether no future.
13 14
.ilh3
f4 l:tf6! .
.i.d2
.ll.xd2+ lL\�6
White's advantage on the queenside and control of the h3-c8 diagonal, to gether with the weakness of the enemy f3 pawn, should guarantee him a win.
Apparently played merely in order to vacate the f8 square for the knight, but in fact Black provokes his opponent into the variation 1 5 .i.e6+ 'it>h8 1 6 h5 g5, after which the possible exchange sacrifice on e6 would have led to him seizing the initiative. 15 1fe2 .i.h6
16
20 21 22 23
c6 ifdJ l:tab1 l:thcl
lt\c7
l:tb8 a5
This merely leads to the creation of a new weak pawn at a5. 23 . . . b6 was somewhat better.
lDc5
Superficially played. Of course, it is tempting to prevent the opponent from castling, but iil the given case it is not worth it. Black parts with his last chance of gaining counterplay on the f-file, wastes time on· an unsuccessful knight manoeuvre, and presents White with a tempo for connecting his rooks. Is this not too much? It was essential to play 16 . . . a5. although after 1 7 etJa4 Black has a difficult position
24
b5
25
b6
c5
After 24 . . .cxb5 25 cxb5 b6 26 ltJa4 the a-file would have been under White's control. An essential move, otherwise Black consolidates his position on the queen side with . . . b7-b6. 25 lhe8 lt\g7 26 :el 2 7 l:Ie3 First the enemy heavy pieces. are tied to the defence of the f3 ·pawn.
f3 b4 iffl Only not 18 ii'd l because of 1 8 . . . 17 18
.
tt:\d3+ 1 9 'it>f1 .i.xd2 20 Wixd2 liJxb4.
23
27
1if8
28 29
l:tb5 lha4
It becomes clear that one of the two pawns f3 or a5 - will be lost. 'ilfi
h5 kl.b8
'lfb3 lhdJ :.et
9a4 �c2 1b7 ..i.xg4
45 46 47 48 49
ile7 :ff8 li)eS
1!i'b5
tiJb2 li)dl
1id8 tiJd7 li)f6
11fb5 a5 d3 11fb2 l:tgt
1We7 'tlb7 lUi
ltlh5
In order to radically neutralise the possible threat of . . . ttlxg3.
49 50 51
At just the right time. After 39 ...tLlef6 the exchange would have no longer been so effective.
39 40
1!f a5!
Black had to reject the capture of the b6 pawn, since after 44... 1Wxb6 45 'ifxb6 ttlxb6 46 ttle3 or 44 .. . tt:lxb6 45 ttle3 the game would have gone into an ending where he is bound to lose material.
�b7 lhg8 lh1l6 ttJg4
Black has finally managed to block the h3-c8 diagonal, but now this is merely of 'academic' interest.
36 37 38 39
42
42 43 44
The piece sacrifice (3 2 ttlxc5 dxc5 3 3 'i'xe5 :es 34 �d7 1%£8) would have merely led to a sharpening of the play, for which, of course, White has no need.
32 33 34 35
a4
This manoeuvre was found in analysis. Now if 42 ...'i'h7, in order to attack the e4 pawn by . . . g6-g5, there follows 43 'i'd.2. As for the b6 pawn, it is invulnerable� as will become apparent.
-
29· 30 11c3 31 lha5 32 lhb2
41
hxg4 li)f6
hxg5 'ird2
g5 11bf8 llf4
An attempt to complicate the play at any cost. Alas! White pays no attention . 24
insufficiently well-prepared for them. Since White must not allow ... lbe4, and 8 lLxi2 and 8 tbel are less· forcing, his next move is fairly obvious. .
8
lLlb4
.i.e6
In the event of 8 . .i.d7 both Uhlmann's recommendation of9 f4, and 9 e4 are- possible. .
9 10
52 53
�c3
l:txg3
d5 cxd5
.
cxd5 .td7
lDxgJ 1ih2
But suppose the opponent does not notice the 'threat' of 54 ... 'iixg3 55 fxg3 f2 ...
54
'tiel Black resigns.
He noticed it!
Game 253
Black's position could be considered quite satisfactory, were it not for the energetic plan available to . White involving the advance of his e-pawn. However, first White establishes his bishop at d4, exploiting the fact that this important square cannot be controlled by the black knights.
Botvinnik-Smyslov World Championship Match Moscow 1957, 9th game King's Indian Defence
1 2 3 4 5 6
c4 ti)cJ gJ .i.g2 d4 lDfJ
lDf6 g6 J..g7 0-0 d6 c6
11 12 13
0-0
lDa6 'iia5 lDc5
13 . . .:tfc8 came into consideration.
In Game 252 6 ... �g4 was played.
7
.i.e3 .i.d4 l:tel
.
14
.itf5
e4
Thus, White has successfully advanced this central pawn. In order to reduce somewhat the pressure of the enemy pieces, Smysldv tries to simplify the game.
7 . 'i'a5 or 7 ... a6 is more usual, inunediately beginning preparations for ... b7-b5. Contin�tions such as the one chosen here by Black have only one point the opponent may be . .
25
14 15 16
thxa4 b3
19 20 21
itla4 if xa4
White. naturally, avoids the exchange of queens, since in an ending Black's objective of gaining a draw would not have been so difficult.
16 17
• • •
f4
•
•
.
e5
ifa3
21 22 23
dxe6 :act
fxe6 l£if6 1i'h5
23 . . . 'i'xd4+ 24 itlxd4 would have led to the loss of a pawn (24 . . . .i.a6 25 :c7). Now too Smyslov loses a pawn, but at least he avoids the exchange of queens, hoping to complicate the situation in his opponent's time trouble.
.ilb5 itld7
White faces the dilemma of whether or not to advance his e-pawn. After all, this will involve a simplification of the position.
24
l£ig5
With the threats of 25 .i.xb7 and 25 :c7. Black immediately gives up a pawn, but he achieves the exchange of bishops, after which he may be able to e:\.-ploit the weakening of the white king's position.
24 25 26 27
19
.i.xd4+ 1lc5
White advantageously brings into play his knight, which for 12 moves has been id.le on the edge of the board. It unexpectedly transpires that the ex change of queens will involve loss of material for Black.
Preparing a further pawn advance in the centre. Here Black should definitely have played 17 . . . l:.fc8, in order after 1 8 e 5 to retreat the latlght to e8. At d7 it will be less well placed.
17 18
1i'xd4 itlf.J!
.i.xc6 lhc6 h4
.i.c6 bxc6 itlg4
It would have been safer, and hence more sensible when short of time, to choose 27 h3 . Then after 27 . . . ttJe5 28 l:!c3 the exchange of knights is in evitable, and it would have been very hard for Black to find counter-chances.
e6
Now, after the exchange of the "fl pawn for the e6 or d5 pawn, White's positional advantage will be obvious. Smyslov had pinned his hopes on the exchange of que�ns, but apparently he had not antici ted his opponent's clever reply.
27 28
•
• •
tht7
h6 'it>h 7
Here White had at least two ways to win. The most obvious was 29 itlxd6. Now 29 . . . :ads is met by 30 'ii'xa7, and 29 . . . fl.fd8 by 30 1k7, while if 29 . . . 1i'a5,
i}a
26
then 30 !te2 (it was this move that I did not find during my short think). Black is forced to play 30 . . . exd6 (or 30 . . . l:lad8 3 .l lDb7 2), when there follows 3 1 :xd6 :ctfd8 (if 3 1 ...lDf'6 32 e7) 32 l:.d7+ :xd7 3 3 'i'xd7+ h8 34 e7.
does nevertheless have one advantage it safeguards White against losing on time.
31 32
•
•
•
11xa7+
exd6 b8
Of course, not 3 2 . . . g8 in view of 3 3 'i'f7+ h8 34 e7.
33
1ld7
Or 33 'i'd4+ �h7 34 e7 l!e8 3 5 'i'xd6. 'ib 5 3 6 li'e6 h5, and Black i s out of danger. 33 . . l1c3 Creating mating threats and forcing White to conclude the game with perpetual check. •
34 35 36 37 38 39 40
The second way begins prosaically: 29 :tc7 'ifa5 30 �ee l , but here it did not occur to me that if 30 . . . :fc8 White wins by 3 1 lDg5+! After 30 . . . 'ii'xa2 3 1 :xe7 'i'h2+ White's king has to embark on a lengthy journey (3 2 'Et>fl 'i'hl + 33 c:te2 'ilg2+ 34 <&t>e l 'i'xg3+ 35 <&t>d2 'i'g2+ 36 c3 l:fc8+ 37 b4). Of course, in time trouble it was not easy to judge how safe it was, and so I decided to prepare this last variation, after first taking control of the a5 square.
29 30
b4 :.xc8
Ganie 254
Botvinnik-Smyslov World Championship Match Afoscow 1957, 1 1 th game Grtinfeld Defence
l:.tac8
After 30 '11c3 l:txc6 3 1 'ifixc6 White's winning chances are highly problematic: with 3 1 . . . 'i'fS 32 ltJxd6 'l'd3 3 3 �e4 'i'd4+ Black acquires real counterplay.
30 31
•
•
•
1'd8+ h7 'it>h8 'ifd7+ ifd8+ 'it>h7 ci>h8 ife7+ ifeS+ h7 1ie7+ 'it>h8 ci>h7 1fe8+ Draw agreed
1 2 3 4 5 6
�f3 gJ i.g2 c4 d4 cxd5
�f6 g6 �g7 c6 d5
6
...
cxd5
At that time this manoeuvre was considered to be quite dangerous for Black.
l:xc8
tbxd6
Alas, this sacrifice is too late and now leads only to a draw. However, it 27
7 8
thcJ the5
0-0
11 12
An. essential move. After 8 0-0 tDe4 9 'i'b3 tDc6 ! , as occurred (with a transposition of moves) ten years later in the game Donner-Botvinnik (No.3 58), Black equalises easily. In the last round of the 1 93 5 international tournament in Moscow, playing Black against Ilya Rabinovich, I failed to find this manoeuvre.
8
•
•
.
12 i.g5 or 12 .i.f4 was also possible. White chooses a different plan. By threatening to play ..i.a3, he forces Black to advance . . . e7-e5, after which the weakness of the c6 and d5 pawns, and also the c5 and d4 squares, becomes obvious. If after this White also sue.: ceeds in playing e2-e4, his advantage will be undisputed.
12
/l)c6
.
•
e5
•
White also has an advantage after 1 2 . . . c5 13 i.b2 cxd4 14 i.xd4 e6 1 5 l'.1c l .
In the 2 1 st game of the same match, Smyslov played more accurately 8 . . . i.f5, and after 9 0-0 tl:\e4 the position became equal
9
�d7
tha4 bl
13 14
0-0
Jl.xe5 lle8
dxe5 .i.h6
In the event of 1 4 . . . i.xal 15 'ifxal 'ii'f6 16 'i'xf6 tiJxf6 17 i.xf8 <.t?xf8 1 8 :i c 1 White has the better ending.
15 16 17
The 'solid' 9 . . . e6 also came into consideration. On the other hand, it can not be recommended that Black should try to simplify by 9 . . . tDxe5 10 dxe5 ltJg4 1 1 ltlxd5 ltJxe5 (completely bad is l l . . .e6 12 tDf6+ ll'ixf6 13 ·'i'xd8 :.xd8 14 i.g5, Barcz.a-Trifunovic, 1 948), when White gains the advantage by both 12 ifb3 , and 12 i.g5 lDc6 13 l:k l !
10
�xc6
l:t.c8 1!fe7
Already 1 8 e4 is threatened. i.d6 17 18 1fd4 By threatening mate, White seems to win a pawn. but although Black has only one defence, it is sufficient. 18 1ff6 Now if 1 9 1fxa7 there follows 19 . . . g5, and White loses his bishop.
i.f5
9
Itel 1!fd2 llfel
19 20
•
•
•
•
•
•
ifxf6 t[)c5
�xf6 thd7
It was here that White · could have carried out the advance in the centre, prepared long ago. After 2 1 e4 iDxc5 (2 1 . . . dxe4 22 liJxe4) 22 exf5 ltxe 1 + 23 :xe 1 gxf5 24 i.h3 the endgame is in White 's favour. Why then didn't I play this? I imagined that in the variation ·
bxc6 28
admitted that it is not so easy for Black to achieve complete equality.
2 1 .. .ltJxc5 22 �xf5 Black would reply 22 . . . tiJQ3 , and that White loses the exchange!
6
.i.xc3+
a3
6 . . . i.e7 occurred and was analysed in detail in Games 1 93, 1 96 and 2 1 9. The last of these was played in my previous match with Smyslov and ended badly for him. And so he decided to readjust. Returning to Game 2 1 9, I should mention "that after 6 . . . !il.e7 7 ttJf4 d5 8 cxd5 .txfl 9 @xfl it was suggested that it was unfavourable for Black to play 9 . . . ttJxd5 10 ttJcxd5 exd5 1 1 ilh5 c6 12 ttJe6 g6 1 3 'ii'e5 .i.f6 1 4 liJxd8+ .i.xe5 1 5 lfJxf7 when White wins a pawn. However, in the game Hiibner-Tinunan ( 1 979) there followed 1 5 . . . rJ;xf7 1 6 dxe5 �d7 17 f4 t[)c5 1 8 b 4 llJe4 1 9 .i.b2 c;lre6, and Black gained a great positional advantage. It should be mentioned that in the event of 1 8 .i.d2 llJe4 1 9 e2 h5 20 ..i.e l ! �e6 2 1 h4 ! @f5 22 @f3 followed by l:thgl and g2-g4+ it would not have been easy for Black to gain a draw. 7 tLlxcJ d5 �
21 22
ltJxd7 e4
.ilxd7
Too late. After the exchange of knights, Black's bishops have become active.
22 23
.i.aJ .i.g4 l:.cdl Draw agreed Gaine 255
Botvinnik-Smyslov World Championship Match Moscow 1957, 13th game Nimzo-Indian Defence
1 c4 2 lllc3 3 d4 4 e3 5 . lhge2
ttJf6 e6 .i.b4 b6 .i.a6
A variation in which Black hopes to compensate for the opponent's two bishops by the comfortable mobilisation of his forces. Even so, it has to be
8
b3
This move essentially signifies that ,' ! .
29
Now 1 4 . . . a6 is threatened.
White is giving up the opening battle, which is transferred to tl1e iniddlegame, where �e will hope to exploit the strength of his two bishops. However, here other continuations too would not have given anything real: 8 cxd5 .txfl 9 �xfl exd5.. 8 b4 .i.xc4 9 .i.xc4 dxc4 10 'i'e2 a5 l 1 b5 4-Jd5, or 8 'i'f3 0-0 9 .te2 c5 IO dxc5 lbbd7 ,
8 9
.
.
0-0
•
14
.i.f3
15 16
f3
:
lhg5
This is the cause of all Black' s misfortunes. The resulting position with opposite-colour bishops will be advan tageous to White, since his bishop is more active than its opposite number. 14 . . . lba5 was advisable, when Black has a comfortable position.
a4
This advance is perhaps slightly premature. 9 i..e 2. as I played in the 15th game of the same match, is more accurate.
9 10
.i.a3
c5 dxc4
11
bxc4
lbc6
· Black is aumng to exploit the weakness of the c-pawn, but. of course, in the battle for the centre the d5 pawn was playing a greater role than the white b3 pawn, for which it is exchanged. A subtle move. The loss of the c5 pawn would be temporary, · since Black would easily regain the sacrificed material. by exploiting , his lead in development. White, however, has a satisfactory way of defending his central pawn.
12
16
i..e2
..
a6
lhcJ
f5
•
This makes it easier for White to advance d4-d5, which is more dangerous for Black than the loss of the c5 pawn. Therefore the immediate 16 . . .fS was more correct.
17
.
13
.t.xc6
It was more logical to castle immediately, but it was very tempting to shut the enemy knight out of the game.
.i.b7
lhb5
Smyslov quite rightly avoids the ex change sacrifice. For example: 12 . . . cxd4 1 3 Jl.xf8 ifxf8 ( 1 3 . . @xf8 14 lDxd4) 1 4 exd4 :ds 1 5 'ib l lbe4 16 i..d 3, and Black's initiative comes to a standstill. Even so, tl1e manoeuvre with the retreat of the bishop and . . . a7-a6 involves a loss of time, thanks to which White is able to complete his development.
.i.xc6!
The sacrifice would not have achieved anything: l 7 . . ttJxf3+ 1 8 gxf3 . 'i'h4+ 1 9 'it>e2. .
18 19
0-0 11fd3
1ff6 llfd8
Now White e�tablishes his pawns on d5 and e4, restricting the mobility of the
lhe4
30
28
enemy pieces (in particular the bishop), and also · securing him control of the centre and of the. long diagonal. At t11e same time, Black�s passed pawns on the queenside are easily blockaded.
1:'%:1, •.,!
�;fe1
,,,.,i.t;
;,�
���
1fj%.�
20 21 22 23
d5 e4 cxd5 .i.b2
1110&!
ife2
t'j)fi
exd5 .i.d7 t'i)e5
29
23 . . . b5 there axb5 axb5 25 'i'c3 ) 26 'i'e2 white pawns
ll'ldl lbf2
29 30 31 32 33
f4
axb5
.tcJ hl l:[a2 ?:.cal
:eS l:c7 llb7 h5
Now the threat of an invasion on the a-file is so unpleasant, that Black tries to complicate t11e play somewhat by sacrificing one of his passive pawns.
b5 c4
33 34 35 36
The threat of 27 llld3 could also have been parried by 26 . . . 'i'd6, but then 27 �Jc 1 , and 2 7 . . . ltJc4 is met by the exchange sacrifice with a decisive advantage.
27
�fcl
This move and the following one emphasise best of all the helplessness of Black, who is completely deprived of any counterplay.
Black temporarily keeps his blockading knight on its centralised position, but subsequently it cannot be maintained there, since he is unable to defend the long diago·nal.
25 26
l:tac8
�� IF9' ;.� fi$M � ��
After the immediate would have followed 24 ll'ia4 ll'ie5 (25 ... 'ii'd6 26 bxa4 27 f4, and the become irresistible. 3
24
'li'd2
Black tries to retain both rooks; after the exchange of one pair, White's pressure on the knight at e5 would have become even more intense. But even this subtlety is unable to prevent the further intensifying of the positional pressure by the white pieces.
.txb4 .i.cJ ll'ldl
b4 'ifb6 ife3
Let it be an endgame. After all, this can no longer change anything!
axb5 31
36 37 38 39 40 41
:xd2 .i.d4 li)cJ h4 l:ta8+
11xd2 liJd3 :eb8 h!b3 �8b7
in 1936 I played this as Black against Ragozin (see Training Games). Then many years later in my previous match with Smyslov (Game 228) I replied 9 . lhc6. On thi.s occasion, as in Game 229 (and even earlier in the 7th game of my 1 954 match with Smyslov), Black chooses an accurate move order. .
This move was sealed� but Black resigned without resuming. What can
.
9 10
he do to oppose the inevitable advance of the white d- and e-pawns? A game in the style of Capablanca himself. Of course� it was pleasant to play a game in tl1e style of the great Cuban, especially against Smyslov!
ltg6 1'e3
In Game 229 White retreated· his queen to d2, which proved less success ful.
10 11
•
•
•
lL\c6
.i.d2
In the afore-mentioned 7th · Smyslov played 1 1 dxc5, when could have followed 1 1 . . 'i'a5 good prospects for Black. 1 1 .i.d2 to more interesting play.
Game 256
.
Smyslov-Botvinnik "ftVorld Championship Match .Moscow 1957, 18th game
11
.
•
.
game there .with leads
lL\e7
French Defence
1 2 3 4
e4 d4 li)cJ aJ
4 5 6 7 8 9
bxc3 Vg4 ifxg7 1ih6 ll)e2
e6 d5 �t.b4
The favourable score � the match for my opponent (91h- 71h) influenced the opening of this game. Smyslov avoids the more complicated 4 e5 and chooses a variation that is quite safe for White. in which I still have to fight for equality.
.ixc3+ dxe4 lL\f6 l1.g8 c5
Black needs to resolve the problem of the development of his queen's bishop, and he vacates the c6 square for it. Since from here it will defend the e4 pawn, White immediately attacks this pawn, in order to try and frustrate his opponent's plan.
This opening and the given specific position were well known to me. Back
32
12 ' ltlg3
i.. d7
It transpires that Black 's central pawn is invulnerable. After 1 3 tLixe4 lDxe4 14 'ii'xe4 llc6 he achieves an excellent position. White decides to win another pawn - at c5. This leads to the tripling of his pawns, which somewhat devalues his material advantage, but even so. these pawns control important squares.
13 14 15
dxc5 c4 .ll.e2
1lc7 .i.c6 ltJg4
19
This practically forces the e xchange of White's king's bishop, after which Black can consider himself to be out of danger. The point is that after 16 'i'd4 :ds 17 'i'h8+ :gs the threats of 1 8 . . . ltJxf2, 18 . . . �xd2. or. finally, . . . e4-e3, are highly unpleasant. And after 16 'W'c3 0--0--0 Black 's position is perfectly sound.
16 17 18
.ixg4 h3 ltJxe4
l:txg4 �g6
20 21 22
The capture of this pawn cannot be delayed, since if Black were able to play . . . f7-f5, he would obtain an easily convertible pawn majority in the centre and on the kingside. And at the same time White's two extra pawns on the queenside would not play any sig nificant role. However, now the game transposes by force into an ending with opposite-colour bishops that is favourable to Black.
18 19
·• •
•
. . •
'i'xd6!
The basic tactical subtlety of Black 's entire plan. Perhaps White had only reckoned with 1 9 . ..tiJ xd6 20 c xd6 'i'xd6, but then he would probably have gained a winning position - 21 i.b4 'ilic7 22 0-0--0. Now, however, tlrings reduce to an ending in which, despite being a pawn down, Black's chances are better. Smyslov immediately realised this, and offered a draw, but the game continued . . .
cxd6 .i.xeJ l:gl
�xeJ .i.xg2 'ifild7
After 22 ... i.. xh3 23 %!xg6 hxg6 (23 . . . fxg6 24 0-0--0 �d7 25 %:thl ) Black would have lost all winning chances due to the exchange of one pair of rooks.
23
h4
White avoids 23 c5 i.xh3 24 l:txg6 fxg6. since the passed h-pawn could have caused him considerable trouble (in this variation the e xchange of rooks no longer eases his position).
ltlf5
l£ld6+
The only move. If 1 9 'ife2 Q:...0--0 , with the extremely c:langerous threats of 20 . . Jlxg2 and 20 .. ltJd4.
23
• • •
h5
Avoiding the capture oi1 d6, which allows White to activate his pieces.
.
33
24 25
c5 llbt
:ag8 i.f3
after which the f2 pawn will become hopelessly weak. Therefore Smyslov decides himself to advance his f-pawn,'· thereby forcing the opponent to switch to the calculation of concrete variations� A sensible decision, considering that for the nine moves to the time control Black had very little time left.
White was threatening 26 l:xg2 l:.xg2 27 lbb7+, when it is he who has winning chances. Now, after the exchange of one black rook, the other will be very active.
26 27 28
:xg6 'it>d2 d3
lbg6 e5 f6
32
29
i.d2
:g2
�e3 .tel
llxc2
33
'it?d3
D.g2
Naturally, the g-file must not be conceded .
After the immediat� 29 . . . l:tg4 White can reply '30 l:tb4.
30 31
f4
Black avoids continuations involving the capture of the f-pawn, and chooses a course such that the e- and f-files remain blockaded, and the white rook remains passive.
After 28 . . . f5 29 �g5 there could not be any question of an advantage for Black. Now� however, the potential threat of . . . lilg4 forces White to take urgent measures.
.tc6 �e6
34
fxe5
f5
Thus White is again a pawn up, but all of his pawns, arranged on dark squares, are immobile.
35 36
White has readjusted. Not wishing to return with his bishop to e3 he has put his king on this square and his bishop on c3 , which has its advantages. Now . . . a7-a5 is not possible, and hence the b4 square is. secured for his rook. But the new position has its defects. There is the very strong threat of . . . f6-f5-f4+,
ltb4 d4
i.e4+
�
36
ltg4
The lack of time has its effect. The not so complicated continuation pointed out by Stahlberg was· stronger: 36 ... l:h2
34
37 .iel l:!h3, and White's position is critical (38 !ta4 a6, or 3 8 a4 i.c6 etc.).
37 38 39
/Let llb2 �dJ
a5 .i.d5+ l:ta4
@e2 lld2
.i.xdJ .i.b5 <&t>e6
49 50 51
.tb2 .i.al
i.d7 �d5 .i.c8
52
i.ct !
Now Black has to reckon all the time with the possibility of the enemy king advancing further.
Winning the a3 paWll, which, it would appear, should have led to the win of the game.
40 41
46 llxd3 47 i.ct 48 <&t>e3 49 f4
l:Xa3
Here the game was adjourned. 42 :txd5 or 42 d7 is threatened, and after 4 1 . . .i.c6 42 d7! .ixd7 43 l:td6+
41 42 43
.i.c4+ <&t>d7
cli>f2
lld4
During my home analysis I was mitially afraid of 43 c6+ bxc6 44 l:tb2, but then I established that 44 . . . ilb5 45 �d2 (with the threat of 46 e6+) 45 . . . i.d3 or 45 . . . c5 leaves Black with real winning chances. Smyslov' s decision to exchange rooks came as something of a surprise to me, since I considered the ending with opposite-colour bishops to be won: Alas, things turned out to be much more complicated . . .
43 44 45
iid2 i.g5
Now 52 . . . xc5 is dangerous for Black, e.g. 53 g5 @d5 54 @xh5 @xe5 55 @gs
• • •
-
.i.aJ i.ct
.i.e6 .i.d7 <&t>d4
55 56
.taJ i.b4
.le6 i.c8
Black's objective is to drive the white bishop off the short c l -a3 diagonal, but such that during this time the white king is unable to come to the aid of its passed pawns. Alas, in the game Black's king did not in fact manage to advance any further.
..i.b5 a4
With the unpleasant tl;rreat of 46 e6+ �xe6 4 7 d7 i.xd7 48 .J:d6+ and 49 l:.xd7. But, as I have already said, the exchange of rooks seemed to me to be advantageous, and therefore my reply was also obvious.
45
52 53 54
l:ld3
35
57 .i.aJ 58 . .i.b4
.li.e6
I found the paradoxical move 67 . . . 'itb3 ! , when I thought that Black was winning: 68 g5 @c4 69 .i.b2 @d5 ! The results of a lengthy analysis were embodied in a study, which was published in 1 958. Later Euwe and Konstantinopolsky found an improve ment for the defence, and it turned out that the study was incorrect. 4 However, it is hard to say how the play would have gone, if Black had continued this way at the board.
On this diagonal the bishop is ideally placed, fQ.�fllling two functions: it con trols the a3 square and simultaneously defends the c5 pawn.
58 59 60 61 62
.taJ .i.cl i.aJ i.cl
.i.d7 ..t.c8 'it>d5 .i.d7
Here too 62 . . . 'it>xc5 is unavailing due to 63 'it>g5 'it>d5, and then as indicated in the note to White's 52nd move. At the board · I also examined 62 . . . .te6 63 .i.a3 i.c8 64 i.c l 'it>d4 65 i..a3 'it>d3 66 i.b2 d3 69 i.a l !, and White saves the game. Not finding any possibility of strengthening my position, I offered a draw, which was accepted. It was annoying not to win this game, in which. I had invested a number of interesting ideas. Returning to this ending a few months later, in the position after 67 i.d4
Game 257
Smyslov-Botvinnik World Championship Return Match Afoscow 1958, 1st game
·
Caro-Kann Defence
1 2
e4
c6
lhcJ My opponent made this move almost without thinking. Some theoreticians (perhaps not without justification) op pose an early d2-d4, as easing Black's defence.
2 3
•
•
•
tLlfJ
d5 .i.g4
In the 17th game of this return match I played 3 . . . dxe4 (the continuation was 4 t'bxe4 tiJf6 5 tiJxf6+ gxf6 6 .i.c4 ), which can hardly be recommended.
4 5
h3 1fxf3
.i.xfJ
Regarding 5 gxf3, see Game 2 74 (Tal-Botvinnik, 3rd match game, 1 960).
5
•
•
•
/£if6
This move is perhaps more accurate than 5 . . . e6, although then too ·the
36
1'.,]1c_vclopaedia* considers that Black
equalises . 6 d3 After 6· d4 dxe4 7 'i'e3, as, for example, in · the game Fischer-Keres ( 196 1) the play is more lively. e6 6 7 .i.e2 This system of development is not dangerous for Black. Stronger is 7 a3 (as in the 19th game of the return match) or 7 .i.d2 followed by g2-g4, in both cases with the fianchetto of White's king's bishop (it is well known that the immediate 7 g3 is advantage ously answered by 7 . . . i..b4. Therefore, during the game I natur ally concluded that my opponent was insufficiently well-prepared for the Caro-Kann Defence. ti)bd7 7 8 1Wg3 A 'harassing' move - White prevents the obvious development of the black bishop on the f8-a3 diagonal. but, on the other hand, at g7 the bishop will also be quite well placed. 8 g6 Jl. g7 9 0-0 10 .i.f4 I was expecting the more energetic, in my view, 10 f4 , but White tries to solve his problems with piece play alone. This cannot prove successful, of course. since Black's position is sufficiently solid, and White's tactical two-move threats are easily parried. •
.
•
.
•
10 . . . 'i'b6 Of course, not 10 ... 0-0 on account of 1 1 .i.d6 l:.e8 12 e5, when Black has no satisfactory reply. 0-0 1 1 liabl 12 il..c7 Continuing the same tactics, in the hope that the opponent will move his queen to the wrong square: 12 . . .'ib4 1 3 .i.d6 or 12 . . . 'i'a6 1 3 d4 ! Gligoric' s recommendation also came into consideration: 12 e5 tDe8 1 3 l:!fe l followed b y h3 -h4, but at that time it was not known! 1fd4 12 . 13 li.f3 e5 Now the bishop at c7 is cut off from its main forces, and White must urgently move it to a safer place. The exchange in the centre is not un favourable for Black: if 14 exd5 he can play either 14 . . . �xd5, or 14 . . . cxdS (15 ltJb5 '11>4 16 c4 dxc4 17 tlld6 1Wc5). Ilfe8 14 .i.d6 15 .i.aJ On this occasion White creates a well camouflaged trap: 1 6 ' exd5 cxd5 17 liJxd5! t!Dxd5 1 8 c3 · ·(18 . . . 1ixd3 19
•
.
*
Here and subsequently this refers to the Encyclopaedia of Chess Openings, published in Yugoslavia. 37
•
:lfd 1 r This variation could have followed, for example, after 1 5 . . . a6. Black, naturally, avoids this contin uation.
19
•
•
•
dxe4
•
•
•
11.fdl b3
W'b6
22 23
The natural reply. 18 li.d6 was dubious on account of 1 8 . . . %le6 ( 1 9 :gd3 c 5 2 0 l:.bdl c4 2 1 tiJd5 lDxd5 2 2 �xd5 lDf6 23 .:t5d2 .i.h6).
18 19
... i.cl
'i'c7
ii.el a4 b4
ti)e6 a6
Despite his great time trouble, White acts logically: by preventing . . . b5-b4 he ensures that he can play i.e2 and then f2-f3 , after which his queen will be able to return to the centre. However, b3 -b4 involves a weakening of his queenside pawns.
b5
TI1e threat of . . . b5-b4 is highly unpleasant. Incidentall�, White already had little time left on the clock!
17 18
•
dxe4
White imperceptibly makes a serious error and ends up in a difficult position. It was essential to play 16 lDxe4 ! lDxe4 1 7 .ixe4 with approximate equality. My opponent evidently assumed that he had nothing to fear, and on general grounds he avoided simplifying the position.
16
•
..
20 21 22
15 ' 16
•
Black incorrectly avoids 1 9 .b4 20 lDa4 lDxa4 2 1 bxa4 1i'c5, when to 22 .te3 there is the reply 22 . . . 'i'c4 ! with an obvious advantage. However, he preferred not to clarify the position, in order to make things more difficult for White, whose time trouble by this point had intensified . . .
... i.e2
.:ad8 1fe7
The e5 pawn is immune, since if 24 'i'xe5 the knight moves from f6, and the knight at c3 is lost.
lDc5
24
axb5
It was hardly correct for White to hurry with this exchange, since due to the weakness of the b4 pawn, and the
The manoeuvre of the bishop to e3 is inadvisable, since it will be badly placed there. 1 9 i.b2 was preferable.
38
35
need to defend it, he has to concede the open rook's file to Black.
24 25 26
l:txd8 .i.b6
axb5 :xd8
36
lta8
f3 'lfel
hla3
36 37 38
Of course� not 28 tiJd I because of
28 . lhxe4. . .
28 29
.
•
i.h6
•
Ji.fl Another lost tempo� and yet . . . one less move to be made in time trouble!
29 30 31
.*.c5 .i.d3
cxd3
11ff3
lt:\xd3 llxd3 lld2
.
39
llfl
White also gives up a second pawn, to gain at least some counterplay.
lbd4 11'e6 lDd7
39 40 41
e5 tElgJ
'it'xb4 ilc4 D.c2
The sealed move. The exchange of rooks is unavoidable, and a prosaic ending with a material advantage is reached by force.
42 43
Now the exchange of White's dark square bishop is unavoidable, and his game becomes strategically "lost.
ii.xd4
f5 e6
l:.cl fxe6
43 . . . l:.xfl+ 44 liJxfl .i.g5 45 fxg6 'i'xe6 46 gxh7+ xh7 suggested itself, but my second Grigory Goldberg rightly pointed out that then White would gain some chances with 47 liJg3 ! By control ling the f5 square, the knight might yet prove dangerous. Therefore it was decided to take play into a queen ending. 44 fxg6 l:xfl+
�i1J0 : ti � %�
exd4
i.eJ+ tDe2 ltle5 �bl On this occasion Black too does not disregard some two-move threats (35 . . lhxf.3 and 35 lhxd3). .
f4
39 e5 is easily parried by 39 . . 'i'd5.
.'{:.:>..:1
32 33 34
'lld6
White decides to give up a pawn. Hardly any better was passive defence 36 'i'd l � when Black, naturally, would have continued the attack with 36 . . . l2Jc4.
A pointless move. At b6 the bishop is worse placed than at e3 .
26 27 28
"i'fl
35 . . . ltJxd3 36 cxd3 l:xd3·was prema ture on account of 3 7 ttJf4, but now Black has renewed the attack on d3.
45 46
l£lxf1 1ff6
hxg6 b4
It is hard to find an antidote to the advance of this pawn; · The capture of the g6 pawn would merely lead to the black
...
39
king slipping away to the queenside. Also bad was 47 1Wd8+ @f7 48 'i'd7+ 'iti>r6 49, ,'ifd8+ 'it>e5 50 'i'h8+ �e4, and nothing would be changed by 47 lDg3 g5 48 ft)h5 'ifcl+ 49 h2 Jlf4+. Therefore White's next move is the strongest.
55
1if6
1fd5
The queen must be centralised!
56 57 58 59 60
1ff3+ 1id1+ 1'e2+ 1fa6+ 1i'a7+
Cit>d4 ci;;e5 f6
And again there are no more checks.
61 62
1fh7 ci;;b l
1fe5+ b2
Only one more step needs to be made, and the black king can .always avoid possible checks. White resi gn s . Game 258
Botvinnik-Smyslov 47
�h2
g5!
Even so the laright is WUlble to come into play, . since if 48 lhg3 there follows · 48 . . . J..f4. The exchange of minor pieces is forced.
48 49 50 51
lDxeJ 11'xg5+ 'ifxe3 1ie5
dxe3
1fc7+ 'lfb8
bJ
4 5
. .• •
•
d4 c4 tLlcJ
lDf6 g6 J..g7
e4 f3
d6
The Samisch Variation is one of th: most active continuations: Black has t• counter definite problems.
cs �g6
5 6
. . •
.tel
0-0 a6
Smyslov quite often carried out the · flank attack involving . . . b7-b5, an idea that also occurred in the games of other · players.
The checks would also come to an end after 5 3 1i' g3 +
53_ 54 1ff8+
1 2 3
In the previous matches Smyslov was content to employ the Griinfeld Defence, but here he goes in for a more complicated opening.
rbf7
White refrains from advancing his pawns; in this case his king would merely be exposed. But equally, his lone queen is unable to stop Black's passed pawns.
51 52 53
World Championship Return Match Moscow 1958, 2nd game King's Indian Defence
�f5
7 40
.i.dJ'
lLlc6
The usual continuation here is 7 . . . c6 followed by . . . b7-b5, as, for example, was played against me by Smyslov . in the 6th game of the match (No.259) and by Larsen (No.380). The move in the game leads to more complicated play, and would appear not to have occurred previously.
8
tLlge2
Now Black has to do something active. Waiting tactics will lead to an obvious advantage for White.
10
•
•
tLla5
•
Smyslov decides to play his knight from c6 to c4. It would hardly have been any better to use the d7 knight for this, e.g. 10 . . . b5 1 1 cxb5 axb5 12 b4 lbb6 13 ..ta2 ltJc4 ( 1 3 . . il.d7 14 'i'd3) 14 .i.xc4 bxc4 15 'i'a4.
llb8
.
11
.la2
b5
Essential: any other move would have been answered by 1 2 b4, driving back the enemy knight.
12 13 14
9
cxb5 b4 clxc4
axb5 lDc4 bxc4
a3
White falls into a slight psycholog ical trap. He prevents 9 .t[)b4 10 ii.bl b5 . Meanwhile, the exchange of the c6 knight for the d3 bishop is not dangerous for White, and for Black it involves a loss of time. 9 0-0 or 9 1fd2 was simpler. However, the further course of the game )\ shows that Black cam1ot extract any 1� gains from the weakening of the b3 ..
Here White had to stop and think. He would appear to have a clear advantage: on the queenside he has a passed pawn, whereas tl1e black c4 pawn is securely blockaded. But Black' s two bishops are a latent strength, which could be revealed if he were able to play . . . e7e5xd4 followed by . . . ti)e5-d3 and . . . c7c5 . Then not a trace of White's advai1tage would ·remain. And if (after 1 5 . . . e5) White chooses d4-d.5, there
square. 9 10
tLld7 il.bl
The bishop had to retreat, in order to defend the d4 square (in view of the threat of 10 . . . e5), and to a square from where it will be . transferred to a favourable post - a2.
41
follows another manoeuvre: . . . f7-f5-f4 followed by . . . g6-g5-g4 with a dangerous att.ack for Black. Finally I managed to find the correct pl� bnt I was careless in the way that I carried it out
15
compensated by the weakness of the c4 pawn, and also by the fact that the game is opened up, and the position of the black king proves insecure:
0-0
I was sure that Black · would play l 5 . . . e5, and had prepared 16 b5, when after 16 . . . exd4 17 lDxd4 ttJe5 1 8 'ifd2 he does not have 18 . . . c5. However, my opponent finds a stronger continuation. Therefore White should have played 15 b5 inunediately.
15 16
.d2
c6 ttlb6
Black, in tum, misses the strongest move. and aft.er the exchange of the dark-square bishops his position goes sharply downhill. 16 . . . 1le8 was essential.
17 18
.i.h6 1rxh6
23 24
24 . . . ltf5 looks more subtle. Indeed, after 25 tiJd4 .:es 26 'iff2 .i.b7 27 ltJc6 ..txc6 28 dxc6 d5 Black would have gained definite counterplay. However, in the variation 25 it'd4 .ib7 26 ttJf4 (26 . . . g5 27 �5 or 26 . . . 'i'f8 27 l:tfl) the d5 pawn is defended. and the c4 pawn remains under attack. 25 1%.fl And now, since the d5 pawn is indirectly defended (25 . .. ttJxd5 26 Ve6+, or 25 . . . i.xd5 26 tDxdS lDxd5 27 'i'e6+), White prevents the activation of the black rook.
.i.xh6 f6
A useful move., guaranteeing the safety of the black king.
19 20
a4 I:tfbl
tl)a8
Now, when White's 'king's rook has been diverted to the queenside, Black tries to seize the initiative on the opposite wing.
20 21 22
1fe3 fxe4
f5 fxe4 Cjjc7
22 . . . 'ifb6 was more circwnspect. for the moment preventing White from creating two connected passed pawns.
23
cxd5 .i.b7
exd5
25 26
•
•
'ii d7
•
11d4
26 'i'a7 was tempting, with the threat of 27 l:txf8+, but White preferred a simpler continuation.
d5 .
This move . seems to give Black counterplay due· to the weakness of the white pawn at d5, but this is more than
26 27 42
.
dxe6
e6 ltlxe6
It is now too late for 27 'ifxe6 28 �f4 'i'e5 . on account of 29 l:ad1, when Black has everything 'hanging' . ...
33 34
11'xc4+ 'ifxc6
d5 . l1d8
35 36 37
1ib6 1fd4 llfel
1le7 11fd6
Black could not leave the eighth rank unguarded (34 .. J�xb4) in view of 3 5 ctJxd5.
In the end White allows . t'De6 and the advance of the passed d-pawn, but the white pawn proves to be quicker. For the moment it is useful to reduce the number of pieces on the board. .
37 38 39
Ilxe5 b5
.
llde8 lixe5 lhe6
2 8 1ig4!
This is, of course, stronger than 28 'i'xc4 d5, when Black has some com pensation for the sacrificed pawn.
2s
...
30
nadl
:res
Black goes in for all sorts of tactical tricks, to try and eliminate the block ading knight at c3 (as will be seen from what follows) . 1!fg7 29 ltld4 This is simpler than 30 ttJxe6 'i'xc3 .
30
•
•
•
liJc7
Smyslov did not like the endgame position arising after 30 . . . li:Jxd4 3 1 'iWxd4 'i'xd4+ 3 2 %!xd4 d5 3 3 b5 .
40 'lra7! Avoiding a trap - 40 ltle4? l:txe4 4 1 'iixe4 'ifc5+.
In a difficult position Smyslov over looks the loss of a pawn.
Or 40. . . !lhS 41 g3 (4 1 . . . li:Jf4 42 l:fl ). 41 ltJe4 When this sealed move was revealed, Black resigned. The reason: 4 1 'i'f8 42 b6 ttJ!4 (or 42 . . . �d8 43 b7 lDc6 44 'iib6) 43 b7 Jil.e8 44 b81i' lbb8 45 ltJgS .
31
32
1lf4
ltlc6
:es
40
.ixc6
The mutual pins after 3 2 li:Je6 3 3 'iYxc4 l:k8 34 l:.�dq i are no danger to White, and two pawns have already been won. ...
•
. •
d4
. . .
43
Game 259
Botvinnik-Smyslov
c4
The simplest way of avoiding the Griinfeld Defence!
1
•
•
•
g6
Smyslov also played this in the 1 9th game of our 1957 match. However, this move has the drawback that White can now transpose into the King's Indian Defence. ll.g7 2 e4!
3 4
d4 ltlc3
.i.e3 f3
8 9 10 11
.i.xc4 JlbJ ttlxe4
b5
bxc4 d5 dxe4
d6 a6
Black was evidently not very happy with the way the opening developed in the 2nd game (No.258), and he does everything possible to deviate from the Samisch Variation. However, after White's ne�i move it cannot be avoided.
5 6
.i.dJ 1id2
In a similar situatidn· Sokolsky played b2-b3, which is dubious in view of the reply . . . c6-c5 . Modem theory recom mends 8 e5 and then 9 f4, which leads to a sharper game.
World Championship Return A1atch A1oscow 1958, 6th game King's Indian Defence
1
7 8
A mistake, which was prepared . . . in my home analysis ! There I established that in the event of 1 1 fxe4 e5 1 2 dxe5 White did not achieve anything, and the obvious move 12 CD:f3 ! , after which White has a clear lead in development, was not even considered. Now Black has a reasonable game.
liJf6 c6
In the 2nd game Smyslov did not play this. but preferred to develop his , queen's knight at c6. However� it has to be said that the set-up with . . . c7-c6, . . . a7-a6 and . . . b7-b5 is more soundly based. It can be mentioned, for example, that this plan had occurred in games by Taimanov, and also in the game Sokolsky-Petrosian ( 1 957). And, as already mentioned, Larsen played this against me (No.380). White basically follows Sokolsky' s plan: he does not prevent . . . b7-b5xc4 followed by . . . d6-d5, but aims for tl1e rapid development of hi� pieces.
11 12
.
..
ltJe2
0-0 a5!
Well played.
13
0-0
Here castling is a Joss of time, which hands Black the initiative. 1 3 tlJ2c3 CZJxe4 14 fXe4 .i.a6 1 5 0-0--0 was logical, although . it would have led to double-edged play. However, it is not so 44
easy to decide on such a continuation in a match for the World Championship, when you already have an advantage in points . . .
13 14 15
i.c4 l:t.acl
a4 /t)bd7 l:tb8
Black's position is the more active. The weakness of the d4 pawn and the d5 square are balanced by the similar defects of the c6 pawn · and the c5 square, but what compensation does \Vhite have for the weakness of the b2 pawn and the e3 square? So that the e3 square should not be soon attacked, White exchanges one pair of knights. It is hard battling against such a subtle positional player as Smyslov, but subsequently I was able to surpass myself
16
lDxf6+
.ltxf6!
17 18 19
lDcJ i.e2 l:lfdl
lDb6 .ie6
The white knight is tied to the defence of the a2 pawn, and a2�a3 cannot be played, since this wouid weaken the light squares. There would follow . . . i.e6-b3, when the d4 pawn would be in danger, to say nothing about the possibility of continuing the manoeuvre with . . . .ib3-c4, fixing the weakness of the light squares. Therefore 19 . 'i'd7 ! and 20 . . . :fds, intensifying the pressure, suggests itself, after which White's position would have remained difficult. ..
19
• • •
.i.g7
It really would have been better to give the opponent the move with any non-committal manoeuvre, than to re treat the bishop to g7. White, of course, could only dream of exchanging his passive bishop for the opponent's active dark-square bishop, and only this mis take by Black allows this dream to be realised! Incidentally, now the weakness of the c5 square will be more sensitive. It is curious that Smyslov made the same mistake in a similar position in the 2nd game of the return match.
The remaining knight is needed on the queenside.
20 21
i.h6 'ifxh6
.i.xh6 f6
22 23
ltd2 h4
.i.f7
Smyslov used the same method to defend his castled position in the afore mentioned game. Preventing . . . g6-g5, just in case.
23 24
•
•
•
al!
W'd7
This move proves possible, since 24 . . . .i.c4 25 thxa4 i.xe2 26 thc5 'i'd5 2 7 1he2 'i'xd4+ 28 · �h 1 is clearly in White's favour. After all, the black
Black _ has played very subtly, and now his position is clearly preferable. 45
During the game I thought that after 30 . . . l:td6 (it was this move that was later suggested by the commentators) 3 1 l:.dc2 �e8 3 2 i.b5 or 3 I ..J:lb8 3 2 'ittf2 (32 . . . i.b3 33 :xc6) Black also had a difficult position. However, analysis showed the possibility of a defence in the variation 30 . . . l:td6 3 1 ztdc2 �e8 3 2 .ib5 by 32 . . . �d7 ! 3 3 tiJxd5 tiJxd5 3 4 ..txa4 tiJb6 ! 3 5 .i.b3 :xd4.
pawns are fixed on light-squares, the same colour as the bishops, which is a highly unpleasant indication for the endgame. As a result of 24 a3 ! the white knight is freed from having to defend the a2 pawn, and the complex of weak squares (b4, c5) and pawns (a4, c6, e7) is in jeo pardy. All this is the direct consequence of the unfortunate move 1 9 . . . Ji..g7.
24 25 26
� i.fl
:fd8 11'e8 .i.d5
A natural continuation, since other wise Black cannot consolidate his position. 26 . . . J:td5, for example, was hardly any stronger in view of 27 1if4, with the unpleasant threat of 28 '&c7.
27
lDc5
'iff8
In the endgame, at least, Black will easily be able to cover his weaknesses on the e-file, but White too, true to his match tactics, does not avoid a favour able ending! It was not so easy to decide on such tactics for the match, since Smyslov is a supreme expert in the field of the endgame . . .
28 29
'ilxf8+ lDa6
31 32 33
The alternative 3 3 tiJb4 looks less well-founded, since after 33 . . . e5 34 d5 rJJe7 (if 34 . . . ii.xd5 or 34 . . . lDxd5, then 3 5 ..ib5 ! ) 3 5 i.b5 f5 Black, by retaining control of the b3 square and blockading the d5 pawn, would have had better chances of a successful defence.
xf8
Beginning pressure on the c6 pawn.
29 30
•
•
.
lDb4
1bc6 �xc6 �a5
:bc8 i.b3
In this way Black prevents the doub ling of the white rooks on the c-file and e:\.'J)loits the undefended rook at d2 to create tactical threats. Even so� this counterplay is insufficient compensation for the pawn that he sacrifices. But was there anything better that he could have done? .
33
.
•
.
.i.a2
For the moment 33 . . . e5 did not achieve anything for Black: 34 tDxb3 axb3 3 5 l!d3 ! , and White, by gaining a tempo for the defence of the d4 pawn, retains the initiative. After 3 3 . . . ..i.d5 Black would have . altogether given up his last counter-chance - advancing
46
40 41 42
. . . e7-e5. Now he could have hoped for 34 @f2 e5 3 5 �e3 ttJd5+, but because of White's knight manoeuvre the situation becomes less favourable.
34 35 36
lDb7! lDc5 llle4
:.xd4 tLlxf6
lDxh7
42 43 44
lDg5+ llle4
e6 d5
If now Black avoids the exchange, he will be forced to play a prosaic ending two pawns down, whereas after the exchange White's material advantage is reduced. Even so. it is possible that, had Smyslov foreseen White' s 46th move, he would have rejected the win of the pawn. However. it is appropriate here to once again remember Tarrasch' s saying: in a bad position all moves are bad. It is interesting to note the except ional activity of White's king's knight, which has made 15 moves following the route g l -e2-c3 -e4-c5-a6-b4xc6-a5-b7c5-e4xf6xh7-g5-e4. In the end it peri shes on the field of battle, but not with out first securing victory for its army!
l:txd4 exd4 cl;e7
i.bt
44 45
With the unpleasant threat (for example, after 40 �) of 40 . . . d3 4 1 lllg 5 (4 1 �el lllc4) 4 1 . . .d2 42 �e2 .td3+! And White still has to make one more move in severe time trouble. This is Black' s main "trump'.
40
.ie2
.
l:td5 e5
Black gives up a second pawn, but diverts the knight further from the centre and activates his d-pawn.
39
/i)d5 llleJ
Since the d4 pawn can no; longer advance (the knight is left undefended), this move is very useful.
With two threats - 37 ltJc3 and 37 CDxf6. Black exchanges rooks, in order to remove the blockader of the passed d-pawn that he now creates.
36 37 38
f2
.ta6!
Now the c4 square will be under control even afteL . . . d4-d3, and as a result Black's counterattack is repulsed. 47
fxe4+
i.xe4 '&t>xe4
�6
g4!
This fearlully strong move was foWld during analysis by my second Grigory Goldberg. After 46 . . . d3 4 7 .i.f3+ f'4 48 h5 gxh5 49 gxh5 d2 50 h6 the h-pawn cannot be stopped.
9
h5
d5
46 �4 47 h5 gxh5 <"bg5 48 gxh5 49 w Black resigns, since the a4 and d4
pawns are doomed. A technically diffi cult game!
Smyslov-Botvinnik World Championship Return Afatch Afoscow 1 958, 7th game Sicilian Defence
1 2 3 4 5 6 7
e4 lLlfJ d4 li)xd4 �cJ .i.e2 '
c5 lLlc6 cxd4 tLlf6 d6 g6
.t.eJ Yefim Geller rightly considered that this quiet continuation gives White no advantage.
7 8
h4
10
hxg6
10 11 12
exd5 lDxd5
The afore-mentioned 5th game con tinued 10 . . . hxg6 1 1 exd5 tLlxd5 12 t2Jxc6 bxc6 1 3 lLlxd5 if'xd5 14 'i'xd5 cxd5 . White, s advantage is so insig nificant that, not expecting a repetition of this variation, I somewhat casually prepared for this game. But at the board it became clear to me that 10 . . . hxg6 . 1 1 tLlxc6 bxc6 1 2 e5 favours White, e.g. 12 . . . t2Je4 1 3 ltlxe4 dxe4 14 i.d4 'i'as+ 15 i.c3 'ifd5 16 ifc 1 . Therefore I had to 'change tune', in order to avoid a plan that had most probably been prepared by my opponent in the quiet of his study.
Game 260
.i.g7
Smyslov repeats the opening from the 5th game of the retum match, and from what follows the reader will understand what, in all probability, my opponent was hoping for. 8 . .. 0-0 Stronger here is 8 . . . h5, as I played in the ne�1 odd-numbered game (No.26 1 ).
fxg6 li)xd5
The surprise effect operates. White makes an error, after which he runs into difficulties, whereas Black has an easy game. Meanwhile, 1 2 i.c4! e6 13 t2Jxd5 exd5 14 .i.b3 liJxd4 1 5 .i.xd4 :es+ 16 fl would . have definitely been in White's favour!
.
12
48
•
.
.
'ifxd5
variation 1 9 l:lc l 1i'e6 20 b3 l:tf8 is also in Black's favour. How did I mi ss this po·ssibility? What Threatening by 1 5 'ilb3 W'xb3 16 told here was my old 'illness'"" """ weak ltJxb3 to obtain a favourable ending, so ness of combinative vision. During the that Black has no choice . game · I considered the exchange sacri thxd4 14 fice only after the preparatory exchange 15 cxd4 of queens, overlooking after 16 . l:xf3 This reply is also forced: after 1 5 17 'i'xc4 tl1e zwischenzug 17 l:xe3+ . .itxd4 ltd8 it i s hard for White to find a good response.
13 14
·
1fc4
.i.f3 c3 .
.
.
•
•
·
•
.
.
. . .
15
•
•
•
i.e6
Now 1 5 . . . :d8 16 Wcl ! 'i'xcl+ 17 �xc 1 .i.xd4 18 i..xd4 Jlxd4 19 :c? was not dangerous for White. Here my opponent offered a draw, but, in accordance with the rules then in force, I asked him first to make a move
Game 261
Smyslov-Botvinnik World Championship Return Match Moscow 1958. 9(h game Sicilian Defence
.
16
11'b3
1 e4 2 tllf3 3 d4 4 · l0xd4 5 �c3 6 .i.e2
cs lLlc6 cxd4 lLlf6 d6
6 7 .i.e3 8 h4
g6 JL g7
.·
I think, · nevertheless, that the development· of this bishop at c4 is more promising for White.
Since analysis of the 5th and 7th games (the latter No.260) had shown that White could have gained a clear advantage from the opening, Smyslov aims to play this same variation again. -
Black accepted the offer, and, as soon transpired. incorrectly. From my old friend Abram Model I learned that by 16 . l:txf3 17 gxf3 'i'c6 1 8 'i'dl i.d5 1 9 :h3 'i'e6 Black would have won the a2 pawn for the exchange. and then, by creating a second passed pawn on the queenside and a:ttacking the poorly protected enemy king, he would have gained excellent winning chances. The
8
. .
.
.
•
b5
Obligatory! 8 0--0 9 h5 d5 10 hxg6 proved to be not in Black's favour: either the h-file or the a2-g8 diagonal is opened. . . .
9 f3 10 1id2
49
. 0-0
Of course, the. . , opponent's attack could have been eli.minated by 1 3 . . . f5, but then, thanks t · hls · control of c5, White would have had an obvious advantage on the queenside,' 'without any counterplay for Black.
It would be interesting to test 1 0 tl)b3 .
. .io
.
..
�
d5
Black has no other active counter play.
11 12
thxc6!
bxc6
e5
Now White's basic plan is revealed: it is to play f3-f4, hindering the opening of the centre, and then to make the bold pawn thrust g2-g4, attacking Black's castled position that has been weakened by . . . h7-h5.
12
.
•
•
�e8
After 1 2. . . t£xi7 13 f4 J6 Black would have to reckon with the further advance of the e-pawn. Therefore I chose an apparently less active retreat. Besides, in this case it is easier for Black to calculate variations: the plan of counter play against the centre by . . . f7-f6 is obvious.
13
f4
. .
• • •
0-0-0
14 15 16
fxe5 g4
17 18
.i.xg4 hS
fxe5 .i.xe5 .i.xg4
Black accepts all the sacrifices, but in the process he aims not to fall behind in development, and for this reason he takes the pawn with the bishop.
The e-pawn cannot be given up, since even 13 .i.116 would have been met by 1 3 . .i.xe5 ! . 14 .i.xf8 'iti>xf'S with an easy game for Black.
13
14
During the game this seemed to me to be the most subtle and energetic continuation, but in fact it allows Black to seize the initiative. As for the alternative 14 exf6 trucf6, it seemed harmless for Black. A definitive evaluation of the position can be given only by a practical testing of the variation 14 g4 ! hxg4 1 5 0--0-0 ; which may prove favourable to White. It is interesting that this recommen dation, which I published soon after the return match, was tested a quarter of a century later in a correspondence game Omelchenko-Heemsoth. There followed 15 . . . fxe5 16 fxe5 'iia5 17 hS i:xe5 18 hxg6 .i.xc3 19 l:hS+ ! .i.xhS (after 1 9 . . . xhS 20 .i.d4+, in view of the inevitable 2 1 'i'h6+ it all ends in mate) 20 Wxa5, and White won. After 14 g4 Black should probably reply 14 . . . fxe5 1 5 fxe5 .txe5, with unclear complications.
.
hxg4 g5!
Black must preserve at any cost the white h-pawn, since_ �n it will become
f6 . 50
22 Jbg4+ �h8 This is where the h5 p�wn comes in · useful !
the only pawn covering . . . the black king! After . t�mporarily strengthening in 1 his way his ·castled position� and with his control of the centre and also his extra pawn, Black will laWlch a counter offensive. Now it appears that, in view of the inevitable (immediately or later) . . .i.f4 Black will simplify the game, retaining his material advantage. 19 .i. xg5 it'd6
23
. .
.
20
�bl
Accurately played - Smyslov is in his element. Of course, the immediate 23 l:tg6 was bad in view of 23 . .t.f4, but now even after 23 . . . .tlab8 it is possible to play 24 l:g6 ! After 24 . . . llxb2+ White does nof accept the sacrifice (25 'iti>xb2? .i.xc3+ 26 1fxc3 l:tb8+), but wins by 25 tlra l ! Therefore Black must gain control of g6. ltg8 23 Now Black could have hoped for the better endgame after the obvious 24 l:r.g6 .tlxg6 25 hxg6 r:i;;g7 26 llh l %lh8 27 :xhs �xhs 2s 'i'h6+ gs 29 'ilh7+ @fS, but here too Smyslov finds a remarkable method of defence.
:h4
•
After lengthy reflection White finds a plan that saves the game. First of all, it transpires that he has no reason to fear the exchange of the bishops and even the queens. After 20 . . . .if4 2 1 .txf4 'i'xf4 22 1ixf4 (or even 22 :el ) 22 :xf4 23 �e2 l:a4 2 4 b 3 :xa2 2 5 �bl :a6 26 1=txg4+ �h7 27 l:tg5 or 27 �dg l Black has no advantage. How ever, this variation was not part of my intentions. I was aiming to return the extra pawn, but in the process to force the advantageous exchange of bishop for knight.
• •
...
20 21
. • •
.i.xf6
24
:lb4!
White defends against the combined attack on his king along · the b-file and the al-h8 diagonal (24 l:ab8 25 l:.b3 ), the b2 square is ·securely defended, and he obtains a good gam�. It should not be forgotten that the position of the black ...
ti)f6 1'xf6 51
king is less secure, and knight and queen (after the exchange of rooks) are nonnally more dangerous than bishop and queen . . . Therefore Black takes the logical decision to exchange the minor pieces, to spoil the opponent's queenside pawns, as well as one pair of rooks, to gain play on the b-file. It is extremely doubtful whether the alternative plan - 24 ... ltg3 25 �2 ltg2 26 1ie3 - was more justified. 24
•
• •
a5!
By creating the possibility of the further advance . . . a5-a4, Black does not allow the enemy rook to establish itself at b3, and White will be forced to concede the b-file. 25
ltb6
26
bxc3
.i.xc3
29 30
•eJ a3
ltg4
The immediate 30 'ifilb2 could have been met by 30 . . . ltb4+. l:e4
JO 31
1i'd3
32
lifi>b2
lteJ
33 34
•d4 cxd4
'ffxd4
• • •
.e5
26 tLlxdS was tlrreatened, but this merely hastens the implementation of Black's plan.
Also after 3 1 . . . ifd6 32 b2 lta4 33 Ila 1 it is not apparent how Black can strengthen his position.
The .match situation forced White to avoid simplification if possible, which is why he did not play 26 'iixc3 .
The threat of 3 3 :g 1 is unpleasant, and Black forces the exchange . of queens.
26 27 28
.
. •
ltxb8
ltab8 ' lbb8+
ci>g7 34 . . . e5 was simpler and stronger. 35 %1.gl+ t:Rf7
Here the king is safer than at c 1 . Now Black's possession of the b-file no l:th3 36 h6 longer gives him anything. White is 37 llg7+ �6 J:lb4 threatening to play 29 :g1 with 38 J:lh7 counterplay, which Black prevents. White now stands slightly more 28 llg8 actively, and Black goes for a repetition This position, with its insecure kings · of moves. 39 'iftcJ and mutual pawn weaknesses, must be considered roughly equal. Before ex If 3 9 c3 there would have followed changing queens it is dangerous for 39 . . . a4, while if 39 :th8 %Ixd4 40 h7 Black to advance his e7 pawn, as this 'l;g7. J:lh3 39 would expose the seventh rank. ·
•
• •
• • • :
52
ilh4 40 'it?b2 Draw agreed:' A good game! Game 262 Botvinnik-Smyslov
World Championship Return Match Moscow 1958, 12th game Reti Opening
1 2
c4 gJ
2 3 4
thfJ bJ
11
1fc2
11 12
.i.c3
Following the example of Reti, here White could have employed the manoeuvre 1 1 l:kl-c2 followed:by Wal (�a2 has also been played, with the same idea of allowing the queen into the comer). But he decided to follow the example of. . . Smyslov, perhaps a rather naive psychological ploy. As a result, Black handles the opening very confidently!
/i)f6 .
White avoids 2 �c3 , to give some variety to the play. Without much hesitation, Smyslov transposes into a well-known variation of the Reti c >pcning, since theory quite justifiably considers it to be safe for Black.
.i.h7
c6! d5 .i.f5
This was played by Emanuel Lasker
w i th Black against Reti back in 1924.
.i.g2 .i.b2 7 ·0-0 8 d3 5
6
e6 lhbd7 h6 i.e7
A similar plan (White intends b3-b4 or 'ib2) was carried out by Smyslov in a game with Durasevic ( 1956), but there the plan was fully justified, since Black had developed his queen at b6 (instead of 1 1 . . . .i.h7). Here, on the other hand, Black has the possibility of advancing his b-pawn and obtaining satisfactory play. However, the other continuations that have occurred (12 tLle5, 12 cxd5, 12 l::tadl, 1 2 J:acl) have also not achieved anything significant for White.
In the afore-mentioned game the hi s hop was developed at d6, but
subsequently it was shown that the 1 1 1 1dcfended bishop on this square merely aids White's e2-e4. Therefore fo r a long time now . Black has been pl aying 8 .. .i.e7, or occasionally x �c5, to provoke 9 d4. .
. . ..
9 10
�bd2 a3
0-0 a5
Too direct. A more subtle contin uation occurred in a game Panno Karpov ( 1 973) - l'O ... .i.h7 1 1 b4 a5, and B l m.:k seized the initiative.
12
• •
•
b5·?
It should be mentioned that in a game with Hartoch ( 1970) Polugayevsky 53
played 12 . . . 'iibs , and after 1 3 ifb2 1 3 . . . li.d6, also achieving a satisfactory position. ·
. 13 14
cxb5 b4
•
•
.
9b2
li)bJ!
17 18 19
axb4 llxal
i.e5
21 22
l:bct+
22
li)xcl
•
• •
li)e8
A careless move, all the more surprising for the fact that Black spent a. long time considering it. Simple and good was 22 . . . 'i'cS (or 22 . . . 'i'b7) followed by . . . ttlf6-d7-b8-a6 (or c6). In this case White's queen's bishop would have been driven from e5 without any weakening of Black's pawns, and the pressure on the b4 pawn would have intensified. Now, however, it is rather White who will have some initiative.
Wc7
Black gains an important tempo by threatening i5 . . . l:tfc8.
15 16 . 17
llc8
Essential, although it involves a significant loss of time. If 2 1 .i.h3 , then 2 1 . . . 'i'b7 ! (with the threat of 22 . . . ttld7) is highly unpleasan� and since Black controls the c-file, the b4 pawn will be more difficult to defend.
cxb5
A serious error. By preventing . . . b5b4 in the most primitive way, White is saddled with a weak pawn at b4 without any compensation, and .the initiative passes to Black. It is surprising that, although I expressed this opinion long ago, Psakhis, annotating a game of his with Ubilava in lnformator No. 37, attaches an exclamation mark to 14 b4 without any substantiation, and eval uates the resulting position in favour of White. This episode once again demon strates that modem grandmasters are not interested in games from the past. It is also clear that chess information should be created with the help of computer technology. Meanwhile, by continuing 14 i.d4 (in order to answer 14 . ..b4 with 15 a4 !) and if 14 . . . ttJe8 - 1 5 i.h3, White would possibly have retained some advantage.
14
20 . ifd2 21 l:lcl
li)b6 W'd7
The best way out. With the help of a tactical trick, White forces his opponent to clarify the position.
23
axb4 l:lxal li)a4
li)d4!
This move proves possible in view of the fact that 23 . . . f6 24 i.h3 is extremely dangerous for Black. He should have reconciled himself to the fact that it was not possible · 10 drive the bishop at e5
If 1 9 . .. i.xb4 White would not have played 20 i.xf6, but 20 'i'd4 !, winning a piece. 54
from its centralised position, and played, for example, 23 . . . /£Jc7, when all would have turned out well. But Smyslov is so canied away by the plan of driving away the bishop by . . . il-f6, that he undertakes artificial manoeuvres, merely in order to achieve . . . a serious · weakening of his own position ! 23 f8 Renewing the threat of 24 . . . f6. •
Now parried.
.i.hJ
25 26
lLldb3 .i.al!
. . . ti-f6
.i.g8
can no longer be
f6
26 .i.d4 was worse because of 26 . . . 'ifc7 ! The truth is that there are dt�fects in Black' s pawn formation. After the inevitable d3 -d4 White's control of c5 will be highly unpleasant for Black on account of the weakness of his e6 pawn, whereas the occupation of c4 by a black knight is not dangerous for White. Incidentally, when White establishes a knight at c5, this will also automatically solve the problem of the defence of his b4 pawn. .
.
•
d4
1fa7 lLld6
Many commentators criticised Black for this move and suggested playing 27 . . . 1:£Jb6. This recommendation would not have changed the evaluation of the position. As the reader already knows, due to the. weakness of the e6 pawn and the inevitable invasion of his knight at c5, White stands better.
28 29
adv�tage. This knight move is prema ture. I was afraid that 29 t'Dd3 would be met by 29 . . . li'a6 !, but then 30 .i.c3 followed by .i.el would have retained all the advantages of White's position.
• •
24
26 27
t o rise to the occasion and lets slip his
'lfa2 lLlc5
29 30
• • •
.i.xc5
dxc5
Alas ! Initially White had been intending to play 30 bxc5, but then he had to reject this in view of 30 . . . 'i'a5 ! 3 1 � tDd2+ 3 2 �g2 t'Dc4 (or 32 . . . tDe4) 33 t'Dd3 'ifd2, when the white bishop at a l is in danger. But now . . . e6-e5 is llllavoidable, and the game becomes equal.
JO
.
.
•
e5
Over-hasty. Simpler was 30 ... 'i'fi! (3 1 'i'c2 'ifb5 32 .ig2 e5), since the black queen is already needed on the kingside. Now White again seizes the initiative.
31
t!lbl
The queen will take up an active position at f5 .
lLlc4
31
After his error on move 1 4 White has achieved much, but now he again fails
• •
•
d4
It would have been more prudent to refrain from opening the hl -a8 diagonal.
55
,
1fc7 32 1lf5 Of course, not 32 ... lllxc5 in view of 33 'if c8+ c3ilf7 3 4 bxc5 'ifxal 3 5 .i.e6+ g6 36 We8+ with inevitable mate.
33
was still unfavourable in view of 3 9 .i.xc3 dxc3 40 'i'al c2. .4. 1. J1i'c l . . But this entire variation is an obvious delusion. This became · known to me a few months after the game, when in November of that year I was playing in the Dutch town of Wageningen. In a conversation with Lodewijk Prins, the Dutch master told me that back on 1 7th May he had published a newspaper article entitled 'The height of chess skill', in which he had given an analysis of this highly interesting position.
�d3
Bringing the last piece into play (not counting the bishop at a l , which, like the knight at a4, is firmly shut out of the game). 33 'i'd7 'i'xd7 34 ..i.xd7 would have been a mistake on account of 34 . . . lDa3 3 5 c6 �e7.
33
• • •
.i.f7
3 3 . . .'i'c6 appears to be stronger, but this could have become dangerous after 34 f4 (34 . . . t'De3 35 t'Dxe5 !). 34 1t'h7 Of course, the black king must not be allowed to move to a safer position at g8 or h8.
34
·
.•
.i.g8
In time trouble Black plays un inventively, but it is already hard to offer him any good advice. Also after 34 . . . 'ile7 White would have occupied the long diagonal with his queen.
'it'e4!
35
Now the white queen breaks into the enemy position.
35 36 37
11a8+ .i.g2
However, first it should be mentioned that 3 8 f4 is necessary, since otherwise it is impossible to open up the position of the enemy king and to bring into play the bishop at a 1 . But at the same time f2-f4 weakens the a7-g l diagonal, and to exploit this Black should have immediately played 3 8 . . . t'Dc3 ! It transpires that, because of the weakening of this diagonal, the variation 3 9 fxe5 fxe5 (but not 3 9 . . . tlJxe5 40 tlJf4) 40 il.xc3 dxc3 4 1 1lfa l c2 42 'ii'c l i s completely harmless for Black in view of 4L . .i.c6 (or 42 . . . 'i'd7) 43 .i.xc6 'ifxc6 44 ttJe 1 ife4.
.ll.f7 .i.e8
The h 1 -a8 diagonal is completely under White's control ! 37 @e7 37 . . . t'Dc3 is hopeless in view of 3 8 i.xc3 dxc3 3 9 11'al. -
.
38
• • •
f4!
I must confess to the readers that initially I made a quite different com ment on this move · than the one that I am now giving. I was sure that 38 . .. t'Dc3
56
II
And yet 3 8. f4 is not a mistake! Only, after 3 8 . . . ltJc3 39 fxe5 fxe5 White must exploit the latent pe�sibility 40 c6 ! !
40 ltld6 41 e3 (it is important to retain this pawn) 41 e4 42 lDc5 1fxc6. If 42 . . . ttJe2+, then 43 'it>fl d3 44 .i.xe4 ! ttJxe4 45 'i'b7 5, or 42 . .. ii.xc6 43 'i'g8. 43 1fa7+ f6 44 h4 (44 . 'i'd5 45 xc7 44 the6+ and 45 lDxd4. Thus 38 f4 was both necessary, and sufficient, and 38 . . . t£lc3 would not have saved Black in view of the remarkable plan involving 40 c6 ! ! , found by Prins. .•.
•••
-
. .
The point is that 'i'b7 is threatened, when the queen at c7 is attacked, and it will only be possible to defend it with the king from d6 or d8, which entails new problems. Prins gives the following variations:
38
.
• •
ltJe3
In great time trouble Black merely accelerates his defeat; his threats prove to be illusory.
39 40
I
40 ltlxe2+ 41 f2 ltlc3 42 1!fb7 �d6 43 .i.xc3 dxcJ 44 ltlc5 .i.xc6 If 44.: . i.g6, then not Prins' s 45 .i.e4
fxe5 1fe4
fxe5 thxg2
Black also stands quite badly after 40 . . . ltJc2 4 1 li)xe5 ttJxal 42 ltJg6+ 'it>d8 43 'i'h4+ c8 44 liJe7+ 'it>b8 45 'i'e4.
.•.
c2 46 i.xg6 on account of the perpetual check pointed out by Konstantinopolsky (46 . . . c 1 'if 4 7 ltle4+ �d5 48 ifxc7 'i'c2+ 49 @f3 'iid l +), but 45 ifxb5 ! 'i'f7+ 46 .tD ! e4 47 l2Jxe4+ i.xe4 48 'i'c5+, or 44 . . . 'i'f7+ 45 �e2 ! (but not immediately 45 'it>e l c2 46 l2Je4+ �e6 47 .i.h3+ 1if5 ! or even 47. . . �d5 !) 45 ... 1i'h5+ 46 'it>el c2 47 ifb8+ 'it>e7 48 'iic7+
45 .i.xc6 1fxc6 46 tlle4+ d5 47 lllxc3+ �d6 48 thxb5+
and White wins.
57
Here the game was · adjourned, and White sealed his move. 41 · l£lxe5
Game 263 Botvinnik-Smyslov
World ChampionshipReturn Match Moscow 1958, Nth game
Less strong was 4 1 .i.xd4 .i.c6 42 'i'xe5+ 'i'xe5 43 tLlxe5 .i.d5 44 � g5. But now after 41 tl\xe5 ttJc3 42 Jlxc3 dxc3 43 xg2 or 4 1 . ..CDe3 42 Jlxd4 CDd 1 43 ltJc4+ followed by CDd6 things are completely bad for Black. Therefore no one was surprised at Black's decision to curtail the struggle and resign the game. It was only the fol lowing circumstances that were strange. When the second game of the match was adjourned in a lost position for Smyslov, he turned up for the reswnp tion merely in order to see if the· correct move had been sealed. On this occasion Smyslov acted differently, and, without even seeing the sealed move, he resigned the game. Why did this happen? If it was because Black's position appeared to my opponent to be so hopeless, then why did he have to announce his resignation so late, that the arbiters, organisers and the other participant with his seconds had already set off to the resumption in the chess club? Naturally, they were all able to learn of Black's decision, only when they arrived fo r the resumption. It seemed to the author of these lines that all the persons associated with the match were somewhat disappointed by the fact that in the given situation the World Champion restricted himself to a telephone call, and did not consider it necessary, like all the rest, to come to the match venue.
English Opening
1 2 3 4 5 6
c4 �c3 cxd5 g3 .i.g2 bxc3 llbl
8
c4
l£lf6 d5 l£lxd5 g6 l£lxc3 .i.g7
l£ld7 7 In this way the b7 pawn is indirectly defended (8 .i.xb7 .i.xb7 9 l:txb7 l'Llb6), but now the black knight is badly placed.
This plan cannot give White any advantage. In a later game from the same match (No.264) I played 8 00 with the idea of subsequently creating a pawn centre: d2-d4 and e2-e4. 0-0 8 .
9
• •
lt)fJ
ltb8
Black should not have neglected the possibility ·of 'J>reventing d2-d4 by 9 e5 . ...
58
10 0-0 1 1 :)d4
b6 e5
Sooner or iatq · this has to be played,
so that White . should not have free
control of the centre.
12 13
.t.aJ dxe5
18
l:td5
18 19
l:txe5
20
:dt
White had prepared in advance this way of countering the. iinpleasant 18 . . . l:th5.
ile8
'ife6 i.xe5
Carelessly played. I was expectinf , when it is hard to imagine anything better for White, but I overlooked my opponent's more than convincing reply. However, also after 13 ltJxe5 ltJxe5 14 dxe5 'i'�dl 15 �.fxdl i..f5 16 e4 .i.g4 I 7 f3 .i.e6 Black would have easily equalised. l 3 ltJxe5 14 ttJxe5 .ixe5. 15 .ic6 . . .
The conclusion of the manoeuvre begun with 18 :d5. Now 20 'iVc6+ 2 1 l!d5 b 5 i s not dangerous for White, since he advantageously replies 22 'i'e4 ...
.
The e5 pawn will not run away, and for the moment Black completes his tkvelopment. The variation 14 'i'a4 1/ \xc5 1 5 �xe5 i..xe5 16 l:fdl 'i'c8 is not dangerous.for him.
14 15 16 17
11c2 ltfdl �xe5 . @xg2
17
' lhe5
21 22 23
"flxe6 CJ
i.f6 l:t.xe6 l:tc6
In an equal ending, Smyslov endeavours to win a dangerous course. Although White's queenside pawns are slightly weak, the activity of his king fully compensates for this defect.
lL'lxe5 'i'c8 .txg2
I f 1 7 ltJxg6 Black replies 17
1i'e4
White precisely aims for exchanges (with an advantage of three points, playing for a draw was psychologically fully justified, since it was my opponent who had to aim for a win).
.i.b7!
13
lle8
20 21
-
. . .
.ie4.
24 25
59
:ct ; eJ
ild4 ·..tcs
26
..i.b2
26 27 28
It transpires that in the event of 3 l . . .fxg4 32 hxg4 Black�s passed pawn is easily blockaded,: wherea.s the white pawns will avalanche, •· . forward. But avoiding the exchange leads to difficulties for Black, since it is White who will choose a moment that is convenient for him to exchange on f5 . ltc5 31
Of course, with the bishops on the board the black rook is somewhat restricted, and it is easier for White to defend his isolated pawns.
f5 @f7
Given the opportunity, White may be able to make use of his pawn majority, for which he prepares g3 -g4. Initially Smyslov sensibly reckons with this threat.
28 29
•
•
•
.
i..e7
33
:gt!
33 34 35 36
�c2 gxf5 .i.xf6
38
�CJ
:c6
Now the white rook breaks through on the g-file.
a4
.
@dJ
•
il.cJ
It was now essential to play 32 . . . .tf6, in order after the exchange of bishops to retain the threat of . . . l:a5 .
Now the white pawns will be quite safely defended, e.g. 29 . .lk5 30 �d3 :as 3 1 llal i.f6 32 ..i.c3 ilxc3 3 3 e6 3 4 �b4.
29 30
.
32
h5 h4
:.d6+ .i.f6 g�-f5 �xf6
Or 36 . . . llxf6 3 7 ltg5, with a sig nificant advantage to White. l:c6 37 ltg8 38 @b3 seems stronger, so that the c-pawn should not be pinned, but then Black has the reply 38 . . . l:td().
38
• • .
a6!
But now, naturally, there is the threat of 39 . . . b5.
39 40 41
klh8
�g5 �6
When I was sealing this move, I realised that White stood better: Black's king is tied to the defence of the weak h4 pawn and is therefore more passive than the white king. White can create a passed pawn in the centre, where he has a pawn majority, whereas it is hard for Black to do this on U.ie queenside. As a
When you want without fail to win a drawn position, it is easy imperceptibly to make a bad move. Black assumed that the reply 3 1 g4 was impossible, since he would create a passed h-pawn, but this was a delusion.
31
lih8
l:g8+
g4!
60
result of a painstaking analysis, I drew up a very subtle positional plan, with which I arrived for the resumption. Tiris plan was so well-camouflaged, that it was overlooked even by Smyslov, a supreme specialist in the endgame and . in positional play in general (although, · perhaps he was simply lazy in his analysis?). �g5 41 42 �d4 For the moment White has to avoid . . . b6-b5, and it was less advisable to do this by 42
•
But how can Black be forced to play . . . a6-a5 ? This cannot be done by 43 l:.a8: there follows 43 . . . %:.aS . This means that White must first occupy the d-file, to prevent counterplay by Black along this file, and the rook must go to d4, so that the h4 pawn is attacked. 43 l:th7 �g6 The correct reply was 43 ... l:tc6f, and after �4 .:.d7 'ifiif6 45 l:d5 e6 46 �c3 :d6 Black forces the exchange of rooks, . transposing into a drawn pawn ending. But it turns out that Black has not yet guessed his opponent's plan. As for the pawn sacrifice offered, White, of course, declines it (44 .:.xh4 l:a5). 44 l:td7 , �6 1lc6 45 :ds Black hurries to correct his mistake and to play . . . �e6 and . . . :d6, but he does not succeed. 46 �CJ The king makes way for the rook, 46 . . . 'iSre6 is not now possible due to 47 l:ld4, and in the given situation the rook exchange loses: 46 . . . lld6 47 ltxd6+ cxd6 48 'it>d4 'iti>e6 49 f3 @e7 50 'ittd5 ltd7 5 1 f4 a5 52 e4 with an easy win. ·
46 47 48
%td4
lld7
Jle6
�g5 ltc6
49 �b4 Now this is possible, since Black cannot reply 49 ... .:.d6. It only remains for White to transfer his rook to a8, which will finally force . . . a6-a5. 49 �6 50 :d4 Diverting the king to the flank. If immediately 50 l:.d8, then . . . �e5-e4 is possible.
Now about my plan. Since all the time White has to reckon with . . . b6-b5, his main objective is to provoke . . . a6-a5. If, for example, this move had already been made, 43 f4+ �g6 44 llxh4 would lead to a win. But for the moment this is inadvisable in view of the reply 44 . %la5 45 :b8 :xa4 46 l:c8 c5+! 47 �d5 :a3 .
• • •
. .
61
50 · 'ifi>gS 51 l:d8 l:e6 Now it has all become clear to Smyslov, ',and he, naturally, decides to •
•
to avoid mistakes. It can happen, how ever, that precisely at this moment a reaction sets in after the tension of time trouble and fatigue tells. Thus here this led to a mistake: instead of 57 l:xa6 bxc4 58 l:tc6 c3+ 59 bHii?xf2 60 l:xc3 followed by playing his rook at a3 and
•
try and complicate matters.
52
llc8
f4
If Black's rook were not on the e-file,
53 e4 would be possible, whereas now
advancing his passed a-pawn, White decides to retain his c-pawn.
the exchange of pawns is forced.
53 54 55 56
exf4+ lbc7 lth7! lth6
xf4
57 58 59
�
:.e4
•
•
•
axb5
axb5 g2
When I played 57 axb5, I expected that now there would follow 59 . . . �xh3 60 cs �g2 6 1 c6 h3 62 c7 :es 63 .:h6 h2 64 �c6 hl 1li' 65 :txh l 'ilrxhl 66 �d7, and Black would resign. But now I saw something else; How can White win after 59 . . . :e l ? If 60 c5 �bl + 61 h4 71 c7 lfi>h5 72 l:g8 l:xf6.
56 . . . �g2 57 l1xb6 �xh3 58 llxa6 �g2 59 as h3 60 :tg6+ � 6 1 l:h6 <1tg2 62 a6 ltel 63 c 5 :al was analysed by Averbakh. He showed that White wins: 64 �b5 :b l+ 65 q.,c6 h2 66 a7 D.al 67 �b7 :b l+ 68 @as l:.cl 69 c6 h l 'i' (69 . . . l:xc6 70 ltxh2+ and 71 a6 lta l+ 73 �b6 :lbl + 74 �cs %:.c l + 75 q;,b4 :lb l+ 76 �c3 :al 77 c7.
56 57
l:if6+ 'iflxb5
b5
It would seem that, after reaching the nex1 time control at move 56, there should be more opportunity to think and
62
5
My opponent thought for a long time, then, alas,. picked up his rook, but . advanced it �i:tly·as far as e2. From there it can no tonger be played to hl (as in the preceding variation), . which means that it is all ends quickly. As often hap pens, a mistake by one side provoked an error in. reply by the other.
6
. .
59
60 61
c5
a6
Or 6 1 . . .xh3 62 :f4.
62 63
64 65 66 67 68
c6
7
8
bxc3 l:tbl ll}f3
ll}xc3 .i.g7 ·
�d7
The strongest move (in Gune 263 I played 8 c4). For the moment White does not advance his c-pawn, so that after . . . e7-e5 he has the possibility of attacking Black's central pawn with d2-d4.
:e2 :b2+
:a2+
8
lJ.b2+ Ac2
10
9
0-0 d4!
0-0 e5
If 63 . . Jhf2� then first 64 :b3 .
[
c7
�xhJ
g2 lib2+ l:c2
1k6 llb6 f4 Black resigns
One of the deepest positional plans that I found during the analysis of an · adjourned position. Game 264
Since the further advance of the e5 pawn would be advantageous only to White, Black will be forced to exchange on d4, in order to release his knight at d7 from its defensive duties. Now 1 1 .i.g5 is tbreatened, and so Black has little choice.
Botvinnik-Smyslov World Championship Return Match Moscow 1958, 16th game English Opening
1 2
3 4 5
c4 t2:\c3 cxd5 g3
lhf6
d5 'Dxd5
g6
.i. g2 When the previous _game from a match, in which the players had the same colours, . is exactly repeated, there is heigbte�ed interest in the question of · who will be the first to deviate. 63
10 11
•
•
e4
•
c6 1ia5
The only possibility of counterplay. With this demonstration on the queen side, Black tries to force his opponent to switch to defence. If · 1 1 . . .b6 White would advantageously · · reply 1 2 .i.gS, and then 'i'd2.
12
11'c2 cxd4 ' 14 -*.d2 13.
remains tied to the defence of the b7 pawn. 18 e5 would have been · wrong, since� by replying J8 . . . :t7 ! , Black would have freed his queen's bishop, and White would have been left with nothing but weaknesses!
exd4 tClb6
This move is not bad, but 14 Jle3 ! was perhaps stronger and more subtle, in order to answer 14 . . . i.e6 with 1 5 a4 ! ( 1 5 . . . .t.c8 · 16 :al, or 15 . . .ttlxa4 16 :xb7 £Db6 1 7 ifxc6), when Black has a difficult position. Now, however, he succeeds in exchanging queens, when the worst for him is over.
l4
...
•a4
Playing for complications by 14 'abs would. have been inapprop riate: after 15 a4 .lg4 16 l'.De5 .ixe5 17 dxe5 i.:f3 1 8 .if4 (or 18 a5 ttld7 19 i.xf3 'i'xf3 20 :xb7 ttJxe5 21 .tc3 ) White's position is preferable. ...
15 16
11xa4 l%fc1
/l)xa4
18 19
White needs to be careful. 1 6 :b4, for example, suggests its�lf. hoping for 16 . . . ttlb6 17 a4, but after 16 . . .bS Black gets rid. of his weakness at b7, retains his. knight at c4, and µis . queenside pawns begin advancing. Now 17 :b4 is threatened.
16 17
•
•
.
•
.
·
.
fxe4 .i.f5
.
20 21
.ixf5 g4!
.
l:xf5 •
An important interposition. White succeeds in driving the rook off the fifth rank, and after this the a2-a4 advance looks quite different.
f5
The correct decision: it is true that subsequently Black reaches a difficult ending, but he does manage to gain a draw . . .
18
•
.
.ie3 White arrives at that very idea which he did not find at the proper moment on move 14. He waits for Black's bishop to move from c8, and then plays a2-a4.
17
•
.i.xe4
The whole point is that after 20 .i.xf5 :xrs 2 1 a4 Black forces simplification (2 1 . . . .i.xe5 22 dxe5 l:xe5 23 hb6 axb6 24 J:xb6 :e7) and can hope for a draw. White� however, finds a way of gaining a dangerous initiative I should merely add that it is doubtful whether Black had anything else.
ttlb6
•
•
21 22
.
.
a4
•
.:ff8 l:ae8
The only way to defend the b7 pawn was by 22 . . . .lxe5 23 dxe5 :ti, but then after 24 .i.xb6 axb6 there would have followed 25 J!tc4 :a6 · 26 f4, and the
thes!
TI1e only active possibility - White takes control of n, and the · bishop at c8
64
active placing of his pieces, White takes measures to ensure that the black king remains . on the back rank (incidentally, after 28 llxf7 g8 30 %%xa7 l:.xe3 3 1 a6 l%.e6 and then . . . g6-g5, when · the white king is shut in on the king side).
white pawns become extremely danger ous. Therefore Black gives up a pawn, but brings ·his�1ast piece into play. tnd5 23 .ias
" 24 :.l:xb7 25 26
fxe3
dxeS
lhxe3
.txe5 �xe5
28 29
:xeJ Itel+
a6 Jlcc7
An elegant solution. another way to draw pointed out in the 29 . . . llxc7 30 %txc7 l:te6
30 31 32 33 34 35
�g2 'ifilg3 g2 gJ h4 lbc7
After the game was found as previous note: 3 1 Iha? g5f
lteZ+
l:te3+ l:e2+ :tel+ l:bc7
Despite its apparent simplicity� the · position is not without its subtleties. After 27 :xa7 .:te4 ! 28 h3 l:xe3 29 itxc6 g5 White does not aclrieve any thing - perpetual check is threatened. But when I was considering my 2 1 st move, I had prepared a different move.
ltfi! ! 2 7 lbc6 A splendid defence, thanks to
which Black prevents the doubling of rooks on
I he seventh rank. I have to admit
overlooked this move when
that I I played 2 1
g4. The tempting 27, . .J:e4 would have lost to 28 .b3 l:txe3 29 :cc7 l:xh3 30 nxa7 �h4 31 �g2 ! (3 1 . . . 1txg4+ 32 .JJh3 ). But now, since after 28 ltxf7 �xf7 n �c7+ �6 30 l:xa7 llxe3 31 :xh7 lla3 32 :a7 'iti>g5 33 .lla6 :a2 Black's material lo sses are . made up for by the
h6!
35
Here too tile white king is shut in on the kingside. h5 36 g5 D raw agreed, on White's proposal. Smyslov saved the e with truly . i;: , virtuoso play !
gaib ·.
65
Game 265
·
Smyslov-Botvinnik
World Championship Return Match Moscow 1958,
21st game
Sicilian Defence
1 2
3
4 5
e4 lllfJ d4 tllxd4 ltlc3
c5 ltlc6 cxd4 tht'6 g6
When White needs to win without
fail, such tactics are justified. The simplification and exchange of pieces
9
tllxc6
dxc6
10
such tactics back in 1 93 5 by Salo Flohr
e4 pawn, and, in addition, Black need not fear the doubling of pawns on the
e-file� since one of the doubled pawns
'i\>xd8
can always be exchanged. 10 f3 was correct.
Not only to attack the f7 pawn, but also in order to prevent 8 . .i.e6. The Encyclopaedia also recommends 8 i.f4.
10
. .
8 9
•
•
•
f4
positional mistake, since it weakens the
International Tournament
8
e5!
This reckless move is essentially a
in our game from the second Moscow
11xd8+ .i.c4
•
out of the game, whereas now the development of the bishop at e6 cannot be avoided.
Naturally, Black does not object to the exchange of queens. I was taught
7
•
.
for example 6 i.c4.
6
•
9 .. i.e6 would have been an irre parable mistake in view of 1 O .i.xe6 fxe6 1 1 e5, when the bishop at f8 is shut
would seem to favour White> but this subsequently demands more accurate play! Perhaps for this reason Smyslov should have chosen a different move,
.
. •
.i.e6!
As a result Black's fl is defended, and the opening of the f-file cannot give White anything.
ci>e8
a4
A natural, but� apparently, inaccurate move: it was hardly worth preventing . . . b7-b5. It was more important to
11 12
.txe6
J:(f1
fxe6
Since the a7-gl diagonal is open,
prevent the activation of Black, s central
kingside castling is dubious ( 12 0-0
quently this continuation was analysed in detail by Boleslavsky).
After the exchange .of bishops the
.i.c5+ 1 3
pawn by either 9 li.f'4, or 9 es (subse
12
In the game White's opening advan
•
•
•
.i.h6!
black king will occupy a secure position
at e7. Weaker was 12 . . .i.b4 1 3 fxe5
tage now disappears.
66
{,i)xe4 1 4 l:lf4 .li.xc3+ 15 bxc3 when the white bishop becomes very active. 13 f5 After 13 :i:xe5 .i.xc l 1 4 .r:.xcl lDg4 1 he black knight would have occupied a n excellent position at e5. .i.xcl 13 14 :xct e7! Now it would appear that White can effectively gain an extra pawn, but this can only be exploited in a pawn ending.
!tad8 exf5 Jbd8 %lxd8 · 1s b3 :gS.. b5 ;. 19 g3 1 9 tl'ig4 would seem to be more .dangerous for White, but then he could have responded actively: 20 tiJe4 exf5 (20 . . . ttlxh2 2 1 f6+ and 22 %th l) 2 1 Jlxf5 e6 22 :Its. xe6 20 fxe6 h4 21 :n 2 1 .. .l:.g4 22 ttJ
�
•
...
. •
The weakening of the e4 pawn tells: White cannot play 15 fxg6 hxg6 16 h3 i n view of 16 J lh4. After 15 fxe6 Xhd8 !, with the threat of 16 'at>xe6 and 1 7 . :d4, Black's initiative would have grown. However, Smyslov finds a s��nsible defence. 15 lldl! In this way White gets ri d of his weak e4 pawn. Black is obliged to occupy the d-file� but it is dubious to do this inunediately: after 15 ... l:ad8 16 Zlxd8 :xd8 1 7 fxg6 ! hxg6 18 %tf3 lDg4 I 9 :g3 White would have gained a pawn majority on .the kingside. There fore he must fir$$. ex�hange on f5. 15 gxf5 . .
Here Smyslov offered a draw, and after, in accordance with the rules then in force, I had asked my opponent to make a move� he played: 23 li)dt Now Black does not achieve any thing with the natural 23 . . . lDg4 24 :g2 l%xh4 25 h3 ! �6 26 %lg7 (26 . . . l:xh3 27 lhb7), but by 23 . .. %lxh4 24 lDe3 l:h3 he would have maintained some pressure. However, here too White, of course, has every chance of gaining a draw. But how could Black reject the opportunity to take his score to 12
...
. .
.
• •
67
points, leaving himself with the task of adding just half a point in the remaining three gaJlles? And Black accepted the offer without much hesitation.
Game 266
World Championship Return Match Moscow 1958. 23rd game
Reti Opening
q)fJ gJ b4
ltlf6 g6
It is well known that this opening, which occurred back in the game Reti Capablanca (1 924), and which caused a sensation at the time, does not bring White any particular gains. Smyslov chose it at a decisive moment in the match, hoping that the author of these lines would have forgotten the above game. However, my opponent was un lucky: during the Return Match I made a thorough study of 3 b4, in the hope of employing it as White. It need hardly be added that in the opening Black felt quite confident!
3 4 5
..lb2 thaJ
.i.g2 0-0 c4
ltlc2 d3 e4 t£le3
•c7 lhbd7 · e6
Smyslov considers himself obliged to prevent . . . d6-d5, but perhaps there was no need for this. Moreover, he apparently wanted to sacrifice the b4 pawn, although the capture of this pawn would probably have been not a bad plan for Black. However, the conse quences of the refusal of the sacrifice also had to be envisaged!
12 13 14
.i.xg7 fxeJ
thg4 lhxeJ ciixg7
b6 !llb7
The position has simplified, and the doubled e4 and e3 pawns restrict White's offensive possibilities; it is now Black who has a positional advantage.
Reti developed his queen's knight at d2. The move· in the game has its point, since .from a3 the knight can easily be transferred to a strong position - at e3.
5 6 7 8
9
10 11 12
Smyslov-Botvinnik
1 2 3
then advanced his central pawn ( . . . e7-e5); the text move is, of course, more circumspect.
15
..lg7 0-0 d6 c5
q)gS
This two-move threat (16 :xt7+ and 1 7 tllxe6+) is easily panied. · l:lae8 15 ·
16
Capablanca first played . . . illbd7 and
68
a3
dS!
As is well known, doubled pawns are bad not only because it is hard to attack with the� but also because they are easy to attack. In the given case White cannot exchange in the centre - then the l!-file is opened.
17
bxc5
bxc5
Such an occurrence (and Black made t h is move after 20 minutes' thought! ) is one that could be seen only . . . in the last ga me of a match! Black spent a long t i me studying the variation 17 . .. ilxc5 I x d4 ! 'fle7 (18 . . . 'ifxc4 19 I:.c l and 20 tl:c7) 1 9 h4, and failed to notice that w ith 1 9 . . . h6 he could have won the i mportant central e4 pawn . . .
18
11i'b3
exd4
c5
20 21 22
lCif3 ltact
h6 e5 .i.c6
Even now White's position is dif ficult: he can play only with his pieces, his centre is fixed, and his d3 and c5 pawns are weak. Black' s position, meanwhile, is without any defects.
Cleverly played. White wants to acti va te his game somewhat, using the t h reat of 1 9 exd5 exd5 20 cxd5 followed hy d5-d6 (for example, after 20 . . . l:.xe3). Therefore Black blocks the centre, after w hich White's pawns in the centre and his bishop become passive, an attack by h i m on the king is not possible, and any 1..� 1 1dgame will favour Black.
18 19
20
If the black knight were at c5, block ading White's c4 pawn, he would be in a desperate position. Therefore the pawn sacrifice is sensible, especially since its . acceptance after 20 . . . tDxc5 2 1 :tac 1 (or 2 1 'i'c4) 2 1 . . .'i'eS 22 'ifb5 would allow the white pieces to become active. Black, naturally, avoids the opening of the posjtion.
23 24
ltlh4
ifdl
llb8 1i'd8!
After playing his queen onto the d8-h4 diagonal, Black can always parry 'i'g4 with . . . 'ifg5.
25 26 27 28
d4! cxd4
28 69
li.hJ ltlf3 1ic2 ltld2
thf6 1!fe7 :lb7
llc7!
Of course, not 28 . . . llfb8 because of 29 tDc4 ! 'i'xG5 30 tlJxe5. Now, how ever, 29 l2Jc4.-. is not possible, and it is inevitable that White will have prob lems over the defence of his c5 pawn.
29 30 31
tJJo
ttlh7 :bs �g5
32
ttlxg5
hxg5
1i c4
l:f2 This exchange is also in Black's favour, since one of White's few active pieces disappears from the board. 32 . . . 'ii'xg5 would perhaps have been stronger.
33 34
a4 .li.g4
Here White sealed his move; his position is difficult, but on this occasion Black did not repeat the mistake made in the 1 5th game, when he took a light hearted approach to the analysis of the adjourned position. I worked almost right through the night and for several hours during the day - it was demon strated that White's position was lost. My second found the most crafty move for White: 4 1 h3, in order to exchange the bishops by .i.g4. How ever, in this case Goldberg rightly thought that Black would gain a decisive attack on the king: 4 1 . . . .i.xh3 42 g4 l:lxc5 43 'i'xc5 ltxc5 44 l:lxc5 'i'f6 ! (threatening 45 . . . 'i'f4) 45 'i;h2 i.fl . And after 4 1 'ib3 (4 1 'i'a6 :l.xc5 42 'i'xc8+ ltxc8) 4 1 . . � (41 . . .l:txc5 42 'i'a3) 42 'i'c4 (if 42 'ib6 there follows 42 . . . i.xa4, while after 4� 11i'a3 i.e6 ! and then . . . l:tb8-b3 White is helpless) 42 . . . ii'e6 ! (with the threat of 43 . . . 'i'xc4 44 lhc4 .i.e6) 43 ifxe6 .i.xe6 44 c6
i.e8 a5
A new weakness has appeared in White's position - the a4 pawn. 35 .i.dl On the one hand, White should not have lifted his control of the d7 and c8 squares, since Black's bishop and rooks become even more active, but, on the other hand, 3 5 'iia6 l:a7 was by no means any better. And what else could White do?
35 36
•
•
•
l:lfc2
l:lbc8 Ad7!
Of course, there was no point in
Black exchanging two rooks for the queen (36 . . . %lxc5). White now does not have many moves: he has three pieces tied to the defence of his c5 pawn.
37 38 39 40
i.e2 �g2 'i;gt i.dt
.
The last move in time trouble. As will be ·evident from the following com ments, 40 ... 'ii'e6 ! would have immed iately forced a won ending. 70
manoeuvre of thebishop to c6 and then . . . fi-f5 is even wore quickly decisive) 50 :c6 (50, .. 'iti>c7 5 1 :a5) 5 1 l:xc6+ c,;?;xc6 52 b6 53 ®d2 ctia:s 54 .�.dl �b4 55 .1'.c2 f5 White is unable to save the bishop ending. Therefore it came as a great surprise when, 50 minutes before the game was due to be resumed, the arbiter Harry Golombek informed me by telephone lhat Smyslov had offered a draw. Not without some pressure from my friends ( in which I was 'reminded' of the adjournment session of the 1 5th game) I accepted the offer. . . .
41
'i'b3 Draw agreed
With this concluded.
the
Return
6 . . . a6 7 'i'xc4 c5 was essential, so as not to carry out the advance of the c-pawn in two stages.
7 8 9
'if xc4 ..ie2 0-0
Jl..e7 0-0
Match
lDb6
9
9 c5 10 dxc5 would have led to roughly the same situation as in the game. After I O e5 ttlb6 1 1 exf6 lDxc4 12 -fx.e7 'i'xe7 1 3 .i.xc4 cxd4, on the other hand, Black does not stand badly, since 14 itJxd4 'i'c5 is wlfavourable for White. ...
Game 267
Botvinnik-Raizman Olympiad, Munich 1958 Queen's Gambit Accepted
1 2 3 4 5
c4 li)cJ
�f3
d4 'i'a4+
lDf6 e6 d5 dxc4
After 5 e3 the normal variation is reached, while 5 e4 leads to a more complicated battle, but. since my opponent was largely a tactical player, I avoided this sharp continuation, pre rcrring play · in which positional errors hy Black might accumulate. .
5 6
e4
10
'i'bJ
c5
11 12 13 14 15
dxc5 ilg5 i.h4 l:Ifdl tbb5
il..xc5 h6 JJ..e7 1fe8 1fc6
16
e5
lDfd5
It is hard to offer Black any good advice, but now the position is opened, and White, exploiting his lead in development, seizes more space.
Otherwise 16 li:Jc7 cannot be prevented, but here the queen soon comes under attack.
©bd7 c6
71
lla8 23 .*.c4 7 1fg5 24 &f)d4 There is nothing else with which to defend the e6 pawn. 25 l:lxf8+ 'i>xf8 26 l:tdl �g8 27 .ixe6+
17 .i.xe7! 17 l:tacl 'i'e8 18 i..xe7 iixe7 was more favourable for Black, when his knight would have remained on its central post at d5. 17· &f)xe7 1le4 18 l:lact 1fg6 19 l:ld4 After 1 9 . . . 1!fxe2 20 l:tel Black would have been forced to give up his queen for rook and bishop� but perhaps this was not worse for him than the game continuation. 20 li)xa7 A simple exchanging combination, allowing the white pieces to invade the enemy rear. llxa7 20 llxa2 21 1fxb6 22 :ds f5 The only possibility of avoiding major loss of material. If 22 ... lLlc6 there would have followed 23 l:txf8+ xf8 24 iic7 (24 l:Xc6 is weaker on account of 24 . . . :a 1 + 25 i..fl l:lxfl + 26 xfl iid3+ 27 el We4+ 28 d2 'i'xc6) 24 ... :as 25 :xc6 (25 . . . �al+ 26 l:.c l). •
.
•
72
opponent decided to see how I would defend with Black.
3 4 5
tLlfJ .i.f4
cxd5 tLlf6
White normally plays 5 t[)c3, but if he had wanted, things could have merely led to a transposition of moves.
5 6
37
Thus 6 t'.Dc3 would have led to a stan dard position, whereas now Black also gains the opportunity for a different decision.
1fd2
6
White has a sufficient material ad ,· antage, and so, naturally, he avoids complications.
37 38
�h2
l£ic6 e3
lDh5
l£ixh3+ g5
After 3 8. . . t[)g5 3 9 &Llxg5+ hxg5 40 'ii'xg5 White would have easily won the ending, but now the position of the black king is exposed.
39 1fd7+ g8 40 'i'c8+ �g7 41 liJd4 1ixb2 42 l£ixf5+ Black resigns. Mate is inevitable:
(42 . . . g6 43 'i'e6+ h5 44 lDg7+ <&t>h4 45 g3 mate).
I carried out a similar idea back in 1 952 against Tigran Petrosian (cf. Volume 2, Training Games), and later in 1966 in the USSR Team Championship in a game with Birbrager. In the latter game e2-e3 had not yet been played, and White could have retreated his bishop to d2. Here he could have played either 7 .i.g5, as Petrosian did, or 7 i.e5, provoking 7 . . . f6, which weakens Black's position. But after the unpreten tious retreat of the bislwp. to g3 Black has no difficulties.
Game 268
Citrone-Botvinnik O�vmpiad, Munich 1958 Slav Defence
1 2 3
d4 c4 cxd5
d5 c6
Usually I myself used to employ this exchange. Therefore, most probably, my 73
' .." 8
7
il.gJ hxgJ
lhxg3 g6
9 10
�cl �e2
.i.g7 e6
11 12 13
0-0 :ct �a4
0-0 i..d 7
Sooner or later Black will have to safeguard his kingside in this way. In the middlegame this set-up allows Black to open up the game by ad vancing his pawn to e5, but before completing his development this would be premature.
Forcing a weakening of Black' s position ( . . . b7-b6), which, however, cannot be e�']>loited. Because of his mistake on move 7, White has no active plan.
13 14 15
b3 �c3
16
ll.\bl
1fb8
17 18 19
'ii'd 2 i.. b5 .i.xc6
ifb7 l:t.ec8
b6 l:e8
J.f8 .
i..b5 l:t.xc8 f6
23 24
l:txc8
1fxc8
25
�d3
g5
26 27 28
a4 li'id2 �fJ
29
lhb2
W'b7 1i'c3 Avoiding further simplification, but if Black wishes he can always exchange queens. For the moment he will con tinue to strengthen his position. Nothing would have been achieved by 24 . . . 'ifxc3 25 t'L\xc3, when the bishop at b5 is attacked.
The queen is transferred to b 7, to gain control of the a6 square. Otherwise Black cannot begin operating with his rooks on the c-file.
Further restricting the mobility of the white pieces.
White plays for simplification, hop ing that in the endgame it will be easier for him to main the balance. The position is indeed simplified, but it is in the endgame .:that the two black bishops will be particularly effective.
...
�e5 lhc8 %tel
In the given situation this advance is quite safe for Black, since the passive placing of White' s pieces does not allow him to mount an attack on the enemy king.
After the weakening of the a3 and b4 squares in White's position, it makes sense for Black to move his bishop onto this diagonal.
19
20 21 22
The black king is the first to come into play - a good omen for the coming endgame. In the ending .too White has no active
�xc6
74
continuations, and all he can trust in is . · passive play. ·-
35
•
•
•
e5!
Even further restricting and tying down the enemy pieces.
29 30 31
•
•
•
�d3 ltlb2
"1e7 'ifi>d8 1!fc7
1ixc7+ 'it>f1
• . .
�et �ed3
38
ltl3b2
i.h5
bishops are attacking the helpless white knights, neither of which can now move.
39 40 41
b5
Clearing the way for the approach of Black's king to the white pawns on the queenside. 34 ... .i.a3 is threatened, and after 34 axb5 i.xb5+ 3 5
34 35
bxa4 e4
A picturesque position - Black's
Earlier, in view of Black's active pieces and with the queens on, it would have been dangerous for the white king to move towards the centre.
33
ltldt bxa4
But not 37 . . ..i.xa4 because of 38 ttJc3 .
The king has approached, and the exchange of queens has become timely. Subsequently the activity of the king on the queenside will be decisive.
32 33
36 37
el .lb4+ 'it>ft b6 f3 White resigns Game 269
Botvinnik-Pomar Olympiad, Munich
1958 Caro-Kann Defence
.i.a3
1· 2 3 4 5
It was easy for Black to act - such positions were played in masterly fashion by Akiba Rubinstein.
75
c4 e4 exd5 d4 lhc3
c6 d5 cxd5 ltlf6 e6
6
ttlfJ
resulted from 1 1 h4 with the threat of 12 ltJxb6 t'.Llxb6 1 3 i.xh,7+, and if l l . . .f5 1 2 ltJg5, or l l . . .h6 1 2 fl.h3 .
!i.e7 ·
Later, by the efforts of many grand masters, in particular Tigran Petrosian, it was · shown that the simplest is 6 i.b4 (b.y analogy with the Nimzo Indian Defence), when Black has a comfortable game.
11 12
...
7
After 12 . .txc5 (Black loses immed iately in the variation 12 . ltJxc5? 1 3 t2Jxc5 .ilxc5 1 4 .i.xh7+ 'it>xh7 1 5 liJg5+) 1 3 .i.xh7+ lttxh7 14 liJg5+ lttg 8 15 ltlxc5 White has good prospects of an attack. .
• • •
13 14 15
0-0
1O
b4 ltJa4
e4 ltlxd7 exf3
c6 cxd7 0-0
In the afore-mentioned game Sokolsky played 1 5 . . i..f6, after which White retained · some advantage. Apparently for this reason Pomar chooses a different way. 16 • xf3 lLle5
il.d3
In the event of 8 b4 Black had the reply 8 . . . t'.Lle4, but even so this was the most logical continuation. 8 ilf4 also came into consideration. Now, however, Black gains the opportunity to under mine the opponent' s pawn chain.
8 9
.
..
c5
A committing move. Perhaps White should prefer 7 cxd5 exd5 (if 7 . . . tiJxd5 8 j/_d3) 8 i.b5+ .i.d7 9 .ixd7+ t'.Llbxd7 1 0 'itb3, when he has a slight, but enduring advantage.
7 8
.. ' . bxc5 e5 dxc5
•
.
17
1i'g3
17 18
1fxd3
Of course, not 17 i.xh7+ lttxh7 18 'i'b5+ lttg8 1 9 1fxe5 on account of 1 9 . i.f6.
b6 a5 liJfd7
.
.
lLlxdJ .i.d6
With the prosaic threat of l 9 . .i.xh2+ ( 1 9 . 'i'h.4 20 f4) 20 �xh2 'i'h4+ 2 1 . .
..
lttg l 'i'xa4. However, ·several years later in a correspondence game Sokolsky Simagin the more interesting 1 8 . . . d4! was played, with approximate equality.
19
i.aJ
19 20 21 22
.i.xd6 11fd1 ltlcJ1;
Tying the bishop at d6 to the defence of the rook at f8.
11 ' b5
A continuation which was lrnown from the gam� Kopaev-Sokolsky ( 1.950). Complicated play would have
llb8 1fxd6 .le6
Naturally, the ..white knight should occupy the d4 square, but for the 76
go in for the exchange of the queenside pawns and to pin his hopes on the strong position of his lalighi in comQination with his active rooks. At this point Pomar, evidently taking account of his opponent's shortage of time, offered a draw. But the game continued . . .
moment White wants to consolidate his queenside r;dvantage with · a2-a4. It stands to reason that Pomar prevents this.
·
29 30 31
22 23 24 25
ltabt l1b3 ttle2
28
ttld4 lta3 11re3
i.d7 i..xb5
1f a3 ltfc8 1lc5
Wc2
If 25 . . . d4 White could have replied 26 :b2. If White's knight is able to take up a dominating position in the centre with material equal, and with him also having a protected passed b5 pawn, tltlngs will be hopeless for Black. Therefore he takes the opportunity to eliminate the a2 pawn, since 26 a4 loses to 26 . . . .i.f5 ! Nevertheless White is prepared to sacrifice a pawn
26 27
1fd2 lh:a5 bl
31
32
lta7
.li.e6
It is hard to suggest anything better. For example, 32 ... :eds is not possible
9xa2 1i'c4 l:te8
on account of 3 3 :cl Wb4 34 'i'xb4 lixb4 3 5 l:xd7.
By skilfully manoeuvring, Black has retained his material advantage. The obvious 29 :c1 leads after 29 . i..d7 30 iid2 11b4 to. a worsening of White's position (he also has to reckon with the threat of 29. . . i..g4). Therefore he has to .
i.. d 7
A serious mistake, as a result of which White regains the .pawn and invades by force with his rooks onto the seventh rank. 3 L.:b7 3 2 :c 1 1id3 33 'lb4 .i.c6 etc. was correct.
33 34 35
.
llcl 11'xb4 lhxe6
11b4 ·:xb4 fxe6
llcc7
:h4
Black is forced to give up the g7 pawn.
36 77
Finding the only way of defending the h-pawn.
37 38 39 40 41
lbg7+ �h2 .D.ge7 f3 %lad7
'it>h8 litf8 lth6
sacrificing a pawn, . by answering 4 1 .. JUI6 with 42 g4 :xf3 .43 �g2 1:.f8 44 !it>g3 followed by llg7+ and g4-g5, but it soon transpired �t with 43 lUu6 ! 44 %tg7+ � 45 ltxh7 :r? ! Black can defend satisfactorily. Closer to midnight I found something approaching zugzwang, but my analysis companions Keres, Kotov and Flohr quickly dispelled all my illusions. When it became clear that, with the four rooks on the board, White could not achieve anything real, positions with one pair of rooks were studied. It was only around four o'clock in the morning 1hat I finally ' suspected' that one of these positions was won. An hour later everything had become ' clear', and I was able to go off to sleep, but a consultation with Flohr was set for seven o'clock in the morning . . . The analysis was approved, and all that we had to decide was the practical aspect: how to conduct the resumption psychologically, in order to win in the most certain way this point that was so important for the team? It was decided to divide the resumption into three stages: 1) mark time initially, so that the opponent should gain the impression that no winning plan had been found; 2) then imperceptibly try to create a position of fictitious zugzwang, and finally, if nothing positive was achievect, then 3) as if despairing of success, exchange one pair of rooks and switch 'to the real plan. Such tactics would cause Black the maximum disorientation, and a mistake on his part was probable. When at ten o' clock ·the game was resumed, the Spanish master (now ..
...
g8
It seemed to me that White had a great advantage, but Black has good defensive possibilities.
This last move was sealed at the adjournment. The first impression is that White should win easily: his rooks have complete control of the seventh rank, whereas Black's rooks are tied down. One of them has to keep watch on the h-file, guarding the h7 pawn, while the other has to safeguard the king against mate on the back rank. In addition the e6 pawn is weak. However, analysis showed that in the event of passive defence by Black ( . . . l:f8-f6-f8-f6) it is not so easy for White to strengthen his position. The whole problem is that the white pawns cannot advance . . It is true that as soon as the analysis of, the adjourned position began, Flohr . suggested immediately
78
grandmaster) had p.o suspicion, of course, of our cunning plot He played quickly and cqnfidently.
41 42 43
:tr6
.
ltg7+ l:lge7
Thus a repetition of moves - the first part of the plan - is carried out.
43 44 45 46 47
g8
�gl
l:lf8 l:lff6 llf8
f2
l:td8+ Ad6
With this move White imperceptibly switches to the second part of his plan. lUJ6 47 f8 .48 ltb6
49 50
ltd7 l%a6
White would finally have had to. reveal his hand and to switch to the main plan. However, the talented Spaniard was insufficiently experienced, �d he sue. cumbed to the clever tactics devised by two players, whose combined length of service as grandmasters already exceed ed half a century . . . Pomar thought for a long time, but, ' lulled' by White's unconvincing manoeuvres, he was unable to overcome all the dangers.
50 51 52 53
:as+ ltxf8+ llxh7
53 54
f4
e8 d4
55 56
:a7 'it>gJ
llf6 llf5
l:tb g6
:rs
�xf8
Black can no longer save the game.
'&t>g8
The advance of this pawn forces White in the end to release the black king from the back rank.
· Intending 57 .. Jid5.
57 58 59 60
Thus, White has managed to create a position in which Black can no longer routinely ·continue 50 :t'S in view of 5 1 l1xd5, and 50 ... lthg6 is also bad because of 5 1 :as+. However, the zugzwang is, alas, only apparent: by continuing 50 . .l:t�5 ! (pointed out by Keres) Black wowp have maintained a defensible · position: After this reply ...
.
79
Ital
ltd2 �
e4
q.,d6
�c5
Or 44 ... r!hg6 45 g4. 45 ll.g7+! (the g2· pawn has to be defended) 45 h8· 46 �d4 l:l g8 (otherwise White strengthens with impunity the position of his king) 47 lbg8+ �xg8 48 eS llg6 49 g4 h5. If 49 . . .l:Ch6, then 50 f4 llxh3 51 xe6.
61 llc2+ d6 Now Black,s counterplay with his passed d-pawn is neutralised� and White can begin advancing his kingside pawns. 62
g4
.••
l:ta5
The only active possibility, but now Black loses another pawn. 63 lld2
64 65 66 67 68 69
lixd4 ltd3 � :eJ
g5+ cli>g4
50 l:te7
lla3 lla4+ CiW6 llal
I am sorry to say that during the analysis I thought that 50 lla7 was also good enough to wi� but after the game Tal found that in this case White does not achieve anything in view of 50 . . . hxg4 5 1 hxg4 llg7 ! 50 bxg4 51 hxg4.
'ifa>f7
This would evidently have been the most convenient moment for Black to tenninate his resistance.
69 70 71 72 73
h4 lle5 l%a5 hS
•••
1:a4 xtb4 l%bl ltgt+
The black king cannot avoid return ing to the eighth rank, and then even reducing the material deficit will do nothing to help.
73 74 75 76 77 78
lta7+
Despite the material equality and the limited number of pieces, Black's position is difficul�. If 5 1. . .�hS White wins by 52 l:lxe6! l:Xe6+ 53 'ati>x� d4 54
But what would have happened if Black had defended correctly? Let us return to the adjourned position� in order to demonstrate the third stage of the plan, which in fact remained 'off-stage,.
41 l:Z.tT6 42 �gt ltf8 43 @fl ltff6 44 e3 lif8. •••
•••
'1tf7
80
54 g5 g8 55 f4 g8
57 :at � 58 �d6 �.
case i n the King's fudian Defence, the knight would be badly placed.
But not 58 . . . ®g7 59 <:/Je7 �h7 60 rJ;n, which had seemed inevitable to me during our night-time analysis. 59 :.a7 �e8 (or 59 . . . g8)� and a draw is nevertheless unavoidable ! It is probable that, if it had not been a team event, White would have immed iately gone into this ending1 but in an Olympiad� at a point when the tourna ment situation was very tense, even a chance opportunity could not be neglected!
9
f3
It is doubtful whether 9;, exf5 was stronger: 9 . . . gxf5 (of course, not 9 . . . i.xf5, as will be evident from the further course of the game) 10 .i.h5+ @f'S, and it is not so easy for White to find a good plan.
9 10
•
•
l£if6
•
0-0
11fd2
Black should himself exchange on e4, when the open f-file allows him to hope for simplification.
11
exf5
Game 270
Botvinnik-Alexander Olympiad, Munich 1958 King's Indian Defence
1 2 3 4 5
g6 i.g7 d6 ltlc6 e5
d4 e4 c4 lDcJ i.e3
Black simplifies the game, but this involves a loss of time.
6
d5
This is more energetic than 6 tbge2 .
6 7
.
.
•
tDge2
11
If 7 . . il.g4 White could play either 8 f3 . forcing a problematic piece sacrifice (8 . . . i..xf3 9 gxf3 ll)xf3+ 1 0 ct>f2 iff6 1 1 �g3)� or simply 8 'i'd2 Jtxe2 9 t'.bxe2 ttJxe2 10 i.xe2 tiJf6 1 1 f3 with a slight advantage. ·
.i.xe2
..
i.:d·s
-
.
8
.
A typical strategic mistake in the King's Indian Defence. On no account should the central base the e4 square have been left under White's control. l 1 .. .gxf5 was essential, retaining chances of counterplay. Now, however, White ' s plan is clear: an attack on the kingside.
l£id4 lLlxe2
12 13
f5
Practically forced: after 8 . . . ttJf6 the advance . f7-f5 · would have been hindered, while at. .e7, as is usually the
g4 hJ
-
.*.d7
There is no reason to hurry . First White must neutralise the advance
. .
81
. . . e5-e4, which would allow Black to activate his bishop at g7.
. · 13
•
•
•
22 23 24 25
a6
Alexander tries for activity on the queenside, but here he has insufficient forces to create any real threats.
14
0-0-0
h5 hxg6 'ifdJ
. .i.c8 ..tf5 .txg6
b5
This essentially concludes the game, e.g. 25 . 1i'f7 26 :xh7 .i.xe4 27 1Wxe4 Wxf3 28 'i'g6 iif7 29 ::th8+ ! , or 28 . . . 'i'xe3+ 29 bl :n 30 l:dhl . Black finds a clever reply, but even this is no longer able to halt the nonnal ...development of events. ..
15
c5
Now Black cailllot avoid c5-c6� which will split his position into two poorly connected parts.
15 16 17 18 19
ttle4 .i.dJ c6 h4
b4 a5 'l'e7 .i.c8 ..ta6
28
1fe4
l:txf3 bxg6
The simplest. By temporarily block ing the bishop at g7� White takes play into an endgame� and when his rook subsequently reaches f7, -it.- wi �l all be over. 28 flf7 .
·
ttlxf6+ g5 .i.e4
.i.xg6 1lxg6
'iftf8 Or 27 . . Jhe3 28 l:.dfl with inevitable mate.
Black is hoping to weaken the pressure on his position by exchanging the light-square bishops, but White exchanges knights� and the vacated central e4 square will be occupied by his bishop.
20 21 22
25 26 27
.txf6 .i.g7
29 30 31
The position is blockaded, and in view of the threat of h4-h5 Black must urgently return his bishop to f5.
g6 11'xf5+ 11df1r.
11f5 ltxf5
Now the rook · penetrates by force onto the seventh rank.
82
variation is of considerable significan�e in the opening, and therefore his prospects are better.
6 7
tiJfJ al
7 8
d3
9
b4
tLlc6
White is annmg to play b2-b4 as soon as possible.
31 32 33 34 -·
lb.ft+ :n c2
l:bfl+ 'it?g8 :cs e4
The bishop gains its freedom too late when it can no longer be of any help.
35 b3 36 d l 37 @e2 38 i..a7 Black resigns: the
�e7
0-0 Black has thought up an interesting counter with the sacrifice of a pawn, and therefore he does not prevent 9 b5. It would have been more circumspect, however, to eliminate this threat by 8 . . . a5, as was played against me in later games by Flohr (Wageningen 1958) and Portisch (No. 363).
f5
By continuing 1 O . . jlf6, Black intends to obtain a perfectly good position; of course. White has no reason to reject the win of a pawn. The alternative was 9 . . . a6. .
.lc3 i..e5 Ac3
white king will win the e4 pawn and then continue its victorious advance.
[
Game 27 1
Botvinnik-Duckstein
O�ympiad. Munich 1 958 English Opening
�=------i
1 2 3 4 5
c4 lbc3 g3 cxd5 i.g2
e5 lbf6 d5 lbxd5 lDb6
10 b5 1 1 ·lDxe5 12 f4
This is essentially a variation of the Sicilian Defence with reversed colours. The extra tempo that. White has in this
Threatening 1 3 . . . .i.b3 .
83
both
lDd4 .i.f6 li.e6 1 3 . .. ltJb3,
and
13 14
llbl fxe5
.i.xe5 f4!
18
Cleverly played. In the event of 1 5 i.xf4 l:l xf4 16 gxf4 'B.h4+ 1 7 d2 1i'xf4+ 1 8 · e3 Wf2+ 1 9 �e2 'ifxg2 20 exd4 .i.d5 2 1 l:lgl 'ii'xh2 the position of the white king would have given serious cause for alarm. Therefore castling is forced.
15
0-0
18
d4
20 21 22
ltb4 lle2 d5!
11fxc3 11c4
...
f3
.a2 1fa1
Another tactical subtlety. This move proves possible, since due to the position of his king at g8 Black cannot take the pawn. And after the d4 pawn has advanced, White has both an extra pawn, and the better position.
.
exfJ lbf3
• • •
19
19 'i'aS is also bad, if only because of 20 .id2.
Black continues to 'tangle' with his opponent, but in the end it is he who becomes entangled. Simpler was 15 . . . fxg3 16 hxg3 (or 16 l:lxf8+ 'i'xf8 17 hxg3 Wc5) 16 . Jlxfl + 17 'i'xfl ttJd5 with some initiative for the pawn.
16 17
%le3!!
Titis move leads to a won position. Now Black's queen's rook remains out of play for some time, and his queen is driven to a l .
�xf3+ 1f d4+
In a fit of emotion Duckstein im perceptibly commits a decisive error. Essential was 1 7 . . . l:lxf3 18 'i'xf3, and only then 1 8 . . . 'ii'd4+. After the ex change of rooks Black could have been confident about the safety of his queen, and his queen's rook would have quickly come into play. In avoiding the simplification� Black overlooks White ' s reply and ends up i n a hopeless position.
22 23
.
•
.
lld2
llad8
23 l:ld4 was weaker, since on this square the rook would have come under attack.
23 24 25
-*.b2 l:lxdl
.i.f5 'l'xdl+
The endgame is, of course, easily won.
84
25 life8 25 ... c6 was S(ftheWhat better. 26 .i.fJ Defending the rook at dl. ttld7 26 ttlc5 27 e6 28 llf4 .i.g6 h5 29 h4 Or 29 . ttJd3 30 lixd3 i.xd3 3 1 l:.f7. ttld3 30 lk4 31 -*.d4 3 1 l:txd3 .i.xd3 3 2 :xc7 was also good enough for a win. lie7 31 c5 32 l:tc3 33 bxc6 bxc6 34 lldxd3 Of course, 34 J:xc6 could also have been played, but the forcing variation in the game wins most simply. .i.xd3 34 l:tee8 35 .i.c5 cxd5 36 :xd3 l:.d7 37 e7 38 .ixh5 3 8 :xd5 would have led to the same result. ltexe7 38 lbe7 39 Jl.xe7 40 llxd5 It is not often that one has to play an ending with an extra piece and a pawn. Black's aim of winning back at least a pawn leads to mate. lleJ 40 11.xaJ 41 f8 42 i.g6 43 :e5 Black resigns •
•
Game 272 Uhlmann-Botvinnik
•
Olympiad, Munich 1958 '
Nimzo-Indian Defence
1 d4 e6 2 c4 ttlf6 3 ttlcJ ii.b4 4 e3 b6 5 i.dJ The variation employed by White as though implies 5 t'.Dge2. Now the worst for Black is already over. 5 i.b7 6 ttlf3 ttle4 7 0-0
. .
f5 7 Was it not possible to win a pawn? After 7 ... ti)xc3 8 bxc3 .ixc3 9 :b 1 Black loses too much time and ceases to control the centre, which is :fraught with danger. 7 ... -*.xc3 8 bxc3 tt:lxc3 9 'ifc2 i.xf3 10 gxf3 'l'g5+ 1 1 'it>hl 'i'h5 12 l:tgl 'i'xf3+ 13 l:tg2 f5 is also risky, as White has not only a draw ( 14 'i'xc3), but also the possibility of an attack:· 14 i.a3 ti)e4 15 :n l:t.g8·· 16 i.e2 'i'h3 1 7 f3 ti)f6 18 d5 (Keres-Spassky, 1 965). __
85
8
the game is quite . sensible, but there was no reason to avoid the exchange of pawns on b6 .
1fc2
Here Svetozar Gligoric used to make the pawn sacrifice 8 d5 . The acceptance of ii involves some danger (e. g. 8 . ltJx:c3 9 bxc3 i..xc3 10 l:!bl Ji.f6 1 1 e4 0--0 1 2 l:e l fxe4 1 3 Jlxe4, as in a game Gligoric-Hecht, 1 969), but it can also be declined (say, by 8 . . . .i.xc3 9 bxc3 ltJc5). . .
8 9 10
bxc3 l:tbl
•
•
•
i.. xd2 :b2
16
:at
/i)xd2 /i)d7
And now avoiding the capture on b6 is a serious mistake, allowing Black unexpected tactical possibilities . 15 bxa5
.i.xc3 0-0
.
•
•
Otherwise 16 . . . ltJb6 and 17 . . . a4, creating a securely defended passed pawn.
White is threatening c4-c5, but Black could have gained good counterplay by immediately switching his king's rook via f6 to the h-file. Incidentally, back in 1 924, playing against Abramovich, in a Dutch Defence, I carried out a similar victorious raid with my rook along the route f8-f6-g6.
10
13 14 15
16 17
•
.
•
/i)b6
lba5 As the further course of the game shows, it would have been better to allow . . . a5-a4.
c5
This decision to block the c4 pawn leads merely to a weakening of the b6 pawn, and White intensifies the pressure.
11
a4
1ic7
Halting the further advance of the rook's pawn by 1 1 . . . ttJc6 would have allowed the possible 12 i..xe4 fxe4 1 3 'i'xe4. d6 12 a5 After 12 . . . bxa5 White would soon have won back the a5 pawn, and Black would have been left with a weak pawn at a7.
13
17
Ji.e4! !
Of course, Black avoids 17 . . .ltJxc4 1 8 .i.xc4 if xa5 1 9 ..ixe6-f!. and 20 �xb7 ' but, by moving the b7 bishop out of the line of fire and pinning the bishop at d3 , h e creates the irresistible threat o f taking with the knight on c4.
ltJd2
Initially 1 3 tDel seemed very danger ous, but after finding the variation 1 3 . . ltJd7 14 f3 ltJef6 1 5 d5 g6, I came to the concl�iOn that Black's position was defensible. The idea of the move in .
18 19
86
.txe4 ·' 'ii'b J';f· .
fxe4
corrections into this evaluation. Donner knew about this, of ,.co�se, but he decided to test an idea of his own.
After 1 9 'i'xe4 ltlxc4 20 iYxe6+ Vif7 the fork remains in force, and Black wins the exchange.
19 20 21 22 23
'Ifxc4 ifxe6+ :a2 1Wxe4
tDxc4 •xa5 h8 'Ifc7
s 9
tDas c5
In the notes to the afore-m�ntioned game it was shown that 9 . . . c6 loses by force after 10 b4.
In a hopeless position, such over sights tend to happen.
23
d5 lDd2
... ifti White resigns
This game is not typical of the play of Wolfgang Uhhnann (born 1 93 5). In later years he was one of the world' s leading grandmasters (he was a World Championship Candidate in 1 97 1 ), and he had a significant influence on the development of chess in East Gennany. His play is distinguished by great energy, and he is especially dangerous in attack and counterattack, as I myself was to experience at the following Olympiad, in Varna.
10 11 12
'i'c2 b3 .ilb2
13
bxc4
llb8 b5 bxc4
A necessary preparation for Black' s nex1: move. He creates a pawn weakness for his opponent at c4.
Game 273
Botvinnik-Donner
13
Wageningen 1 958
1 2 3 4 5 6 7
c4
tl)f3
tDf6 g6 i.g7
gJ ..tg2
0-0
ttlc3 d4
d6 a6 lDc6
0-0
• •
•
..th6
This is Donner' s idea, which he had already tried in practice. In order to understand the chara�ter of this game, it should be borne in mind that it took place in the last round, and only a win would secure White victory in the tournament. Therefore it has to be acknowledged that Black's choice of opening was psychologically subtle. He has now created the threat of 14 . . . .txd2 and 1 5 . . . ttJxc4, and if J4 e3 he has the unpleasant reply 1 4 . . . .ilf5 .
King's Indian Defence
For a long time this variation was considered safe for1Black, but the game Botvinnik-Geller (No. 2 1 3 ) - introduced
87
White chooses the most active con tinuation, although it also assists the development of the opponent's counter play.
14
16
17
f4
...
e5
15 16
�ael gxf4
exf4
l:le8
Subsequently, instead of this, Robert Wade recommended 1 7 e3 !
17
14. i'Llcb 1 followed by .i.c3 also came into consideration.
14
• • •
lLldl
• • •
J:Cb7
As soon as White transfers his bishop to c3, Black's position deteriorates, since tl1e basic defect of the entire variation is revealed - the poor position of the knight at a5 . Therefore Black was obliged at any cost to continue playing actively, and, as Boleslavsky rightly pointed out, by first playing l 7 . . . ltJh5, and only if 18 e3 - 18 . . . :b?. Then after 1 9 .i.c3 :be? 20 ii'a4 lDb7 Black succeeds in gaining counterplay in the centre and on the kingside.
If 14 . . . ttlg4 White would have par ried the immediate threats by 15 ttldl .
18
.i.cJ
19
eJ
.i.d7
Here the threat of 1 9 ifa4 already had to be parried. Now that . . . .i.f5 is no longer a tlrreat (the bishop has to guard the a4 square), White need not hurry.
19 20
After the game I suggested that 16 . . . ttlh5 would have been the most ' dangerous for White. forcing the reply 1 7 e3 . Eight years later this recommend ation was tried by Petrosian in a game with Portisc]\ but after 1 7 . . . :es 1 8 liJce4 ! .i.f5 1 9 .i.c3 White consolidated his advantage, since the e4 square remained under his control. The whole point is that the correct way for .Black to exploit this idea is a different one: 17 . . . Jtg? 18 liJdl .ifs . For example, the game Ree-Sax ( 197 6) continued 19 .i.e4 .i.xe4 20 liJxe4 .i.xb2 2 1 ttJxb2-ite�t . with equal chances. Donner, however, played differently.
.
•
•
l£1h5
ltJf2 It only remains to play this lrnight to d3 � and everything will be ready for the offensive.
20 21 22
.i.xg7 "ifcJ
22 23
.i.fJ
.*.g7 lhxg7
Here the queen successfully fulfils those functions that were previously carried out by the bishop, .and the weakening of the f6 square assists the development of White' s attack and the advance of his central pawns. It is the latter that Donner tries to prevent.
88
f5
A delay at the critical moment. White wastes time on taking control of the h5 square. Meanwhile, in the event of 23 e4 fxe4 24 tt1fxe4 Black would · have been unable to defend simultaneously his f6 and d6 squares. And if he replies 23 . lLJhS, then after 24 tiJd3 fxe4 25 t2Jxe4 J.f5 26 th'Cd6 l:txe 1 27 ltxe 1 'i'xd6 28 :es+ <1;;n 29 1i'h8 White's threats are irresistible. Now, however, Black is able to parry the advance of the e-pawn, and the worst for him is over. .
His only chance is to exchange queens, after which he will be able to switch his pieces to the queenside am.d exploit Black's numerous weaknesse� (a6, b6, c6 and d6). Therefore White provocatively moves his knight from d2 to fl , which in the event of the exchange of queens allows Black, and not White, to gain temporary control of the b-file. But this, as soon transpires, is of no significance.
.
23 24 25
tild3 �fl
.i.c8 :n
25 e4 is no longer a danger for Black, in view of the fact that, after the ex change of pawns on e4, his knight at g7 could go via f5 to occupy the important d4 square. As a result, for the moment it is not clear how White can strengthen his position.
25 26
27
lEifl
1i'a5
28 29 30 31
'l'xa5 ltc2 l£id2 l:t.cJ!
lhxa5 llb7 lhe8
31 32 33 34
l:taJ l[bl thxbl
This reaction came immediately - the bait has worked.
The start of the decisive manoeuvre.
�b6 thb7 l:txbl+
lbb7
l:t.fe2
llef8
Black's only real fighting piece has been exchanged, and the remainder are quite incapable of any activity.
It cannot be ruled out that soon Black will go onto the offensive with . . . g6-g5. White resorts to a psychological trick.
34 35
89
&/jc7
&/jd2
�
36 37 38
38 39 40
llb3 :b6
cl;e1 h6
My opponent, ·like many other players. thought that my ...main trump was my ability to prepare. . In so doing, they did not take ac(a;ount ·. of another, possibly more important component of my chess strength - positional under standing. It was this that enabled me to find good plans in original situations.
Now White is threatening to play his bishop to c6 . To prevent this, Black is forced to weaken the defence of his b7 and a6.
.i.d7 l£la5 :as
5 6
An oversight in a hopeless position.
41 42
e6
d4
6 d3 followed by f3-f4 came into consideration.
l£lxc5 dxc5 <"llf7 d6+ Black resigns
6 7
•
.
•
l£ld7
ilf4
In a small tournament every game is worth its weight in gold. It was this one that enabled me to win first prize.
Carelessly played, since as a result of the subsequent manoeuvre . . . lhg8-f6-h5 Black gains a tempo. 7 J.e3 was stronger.
Game 274
This assists the above manoeuvre, and, in addition, here the bishop feels · safe, since a2-a3 and b2-b4 would make it impossible for White to castle queen side.
7
Tal-Botvinnik ftVorld Championship Match Moscow 1960, 3rd game Caro-Kann Defence
1 2 3 4 5
e4 l£lc3 t[)fJ h3 gxf3
•
•
.
8
h4
9
e5
J.b4
lbgf6
c6 d5 .i.g4 ..txfJ
After 5 'i'xf3 White has some advan tage, so that there is no point in inventing such an artificial course. Both in this, and in other games of the match, such a method of playing by Tai was aimed at creating an original situation in the opening, in which the first concern was not the correctness of his conceptio� but to force his oppon ent to spend more time, time which would be so needed . . . in time trouble.
Unexpectedly White changes plans. If he had been · intending to block the 90
advantage. Therefore Black chooses the prosaic manoeuvre of his knight to a strong post at f5 .
centre, he could have done this without 7 �f4 He should have played 9 'i'd3. .
9 10
.
•
•
.i.g5
tl'lh5 1ia5
15 16
Already in this match I was trying to employ a strategy that was highly un pleasant for Tal - to avoid the opening of the position, after which his cal culating skill would give · him a big advantage. It was for this reason that I refrained from 10 . . f6. However, I employed this method insufficiently consistently. and, in addition, my poor form prevented me from utilising the benefits of this way of combatting Tal.
..ad2 al Jl..eJ
1t'b6 Jl..e7 g6
tl'la4
'ilfd8
tl'lg7 h6
The inevitable opening of the h-file will be to Black's advantage, since the weakness of the f-pawns becomes real.
17 18
.i.xh6 .i.f4
tl'lf5 nxh4
19 20
l:lxh4
tl'lxh4
If Black takes with one of his minor pieces, it will be pinned on the h-file.
.
11 12 13
... i.g5
0-0-0
Of course. not 1 3 . . . 'i'xb2 14 etJa4.
14
.
20
15
•
•
•
b5!
At the appropriate moment - now, after White has castled - this thrust is fully justified. In the event of 2 1 ctJc3 lLlb6 Black's attack is very strong. The other possibility - taking the f3 pawn was inadvisable, since it would have handed the initiative to the opponent. Tai employs an idea that is typical of his play: he aims to open the position at any cost, in order to make the calculation of variations harder for his opponent.
W'd2
Tempting Black into 1 5 . . . .ixh4 1 6 Xtxh4 ii'xh4 17 Jl..g5 Vh2 1 8 1Wb4. When you are playing Tai, it is waste of time considering such variations. Even if they are objectively unfavourable for him� subjectively they are to his
21 91
tLlc5
lhxc5
22 23
dxc5 .i.e2
ilxc5 il.e7
Thus, in a quiet position Black is a pawn up, and the outcome of the game would appear to be decided. Alas, this was not the case: he still had 17 moves to make before the control, and already had little time left on the clock.
24 25 26
©bl l:thl .tgJ
ilc7
0-0-0
tl)f5
27 �h7 :f8 The invasion of the seventh rank by the white rook is not dangerous. It has merely created a threat, which would have been most simply parried by 27 . . . .tc5, when if necessary the f7 pawn can be protected by the rook from d7. The move in the game is more passive, although it does not yet spoil anything.
28 29
ii.f4 .i.d3
30
lhh8
Here Black could have won by 3 1 . . .'iitb8 32 .ltx:f5 (32 .ixb5 ild8) 32 . . . 'i'hl + 33 �a2 'i'xf3 34 .ie3 d4 (35 i.xd4 'i'd5+). Unfortunately, in time trouble I missed 34 . . . d4 (it was later pointed out by Petrosian). True, Tal later tried to show that White could nevertheless have gained a draw, by playing 32 a4 (instead of 3 2 .txfS). I will not try to cast doubts on the nwnerous and complicated varia tions that he gives, but will mention that Black can simply force the transition into a favourable endgame: 32 . . . 1i'd8 3 3 ilxd8+ .i.xd8 34 axb5 ltld4 3 5 bxc6 tbxf3 , with the threats of 36 ... i.c7 and 36 . . . ltJd4.
1fd8 'lh8
The further course of the garne and subsequent analyses confirmed that this move is quite logical. It parries the threat of 30 i.x:f5 gxf5 3 1 .i.h6 and leads to simplification. 29 . . . g5 30 .i.h2 rlh8 was weaker in view of 3 1 ..ixf5 exf5 32 'i'd3, when White is out of danger.
31
Tai rightly pointed out in his commentary that after 30 l:txf7 'i'e8 3 1 iVa5 'iixf7 . 3 2 ii'xa7 nh7 3 3 a4 .id8 Black would have parried all the threats, while in the event of 3 1 �xe7 White has insufficient compensation for the sacrificed exchange.
30 31
11'a5
l!fhl+
Now White has finally achieved his aim: the position of the black king is exposed, and things end in perpetual check.
32 33 34 35
'1i>a2 11a6+ 1fxc6 .txb5
Wxfl ci>b8 'iWxf4
Already here White could haye gained a draw - by 35 'ifxb5+ cj;c7 36
"i'xh8
92
10
ifa5+, but he tries to go fishing in troubled waters.
35 36 37
'ife8+ 1fc6+
1i'xe5 ¢>b7 ..
Tal's hopes of gaining an advantage in
this variation of the Caro-Kann Defence were not realised.
In time trouble White might have tried 37 .ta6+ 'it>xa6 38 'i'c6+ a5 39
10 11
c3 ,
since here only one move 3 9 . . . 'i'e2 leads to a draw (40 'i'c7+ �b5 41 'i'b7+).
[
37
•
..i.d6
game
Keres-Olafsson
World Championship �Match Afoscow 1960, 5th game
suggested itself. with sufficient compen sation for the sacrificed pawn.
11 12 13
Caro-Kann Defence
_______,
c6 d5 dxe4 .tf5 .i.g6
lhgh5 tllxh5
ll'lbd7 il'lxh5
It is easy to understand that Tal
considered this position to be in his
favour : after the natural reply 1 3 . . . 0-0
White would have gained chances of an
attack on the black king. But Black finds another possibility.
More often this knight is played to f4 which, of course,
does not
change anything.
6
...
7
h4
e6
A subtle point of this variation is that
if 7 lDf4 is played immediately, and if
7 . . . ..t d6 - 8 h4. then after 8 . . . Vc7 the position of the knight at f4 is insuffic iently secure. Now. however, Black has time to ensure a retreat for his bishop to h7. 7
8 9
h6
�f4 i. c4
( 1 961).
Although after 12 . . . fxe6 the opening battle developed satisfactorily for Black, .i.xd7 lbxd7 instead 12 . . . 0-0 13
Game 275
via h3,
.
. .
Tal-Botvinnik
e4 d4 lbc3 lbxe4 lhgJ lhte2
.
.te3
11 i. xe6 is refuted by 1 1 . 0-0, e.g. 1 2 .i b3 .r!e8 1 3 i..e3 .txf4. After 1 1 c3 tDbd7 the sacrifice 1 2 .i xe6 was made
b8 Draw agreed
in the
1 2 3 4 5 6
1ie2
In the 9th game (No.277) Tal played 1 0 0-0, which is also not dangerous for Black. It can be definitely' stated that
.i.h7 lbf6
13 93
• • •
ll.g8!
Starting with the present game� this became . a standard way of defending Black· s' g7 in the given situation. Black will castle queenside, where he has nothing to fear, since White too can only castle on that side.
14 15
g4 g5
20
ifc7 .i.g6
!tlgJ i.xg5
21 22 23
•
.
•
23 24
1i'h6 ff Black had ex
ii.dJ l:hd3 'ifxh6
.il.xd3 1£lb6
•
.
•
:o
gxh6
Provoking . . . f7-f5, in order to gain counterplay.
hxg5
f5 l:td6 llg4
24 25 26 27
lle1 c3 ltle2!
27 28 29
l:thl l:tg3
tL\d5 l:td8 l:lxg3
30 31
fxg3 d2
lt g4
The only possibility. Black. of course, must avoid the variation 27 :;m4 28 t2Jf4 c.fi>d7 29 ltJg6 :112 30 t2Jf8+ @e7 3 1 l:xf5 .
i.f4+
i.xf4
. . .
After 1 9 '.t>b 1 ii..xg5 20 hxg5 the g5 pawn would have been weak.
19 20
.
Otherwise there would have followed . . . tiJd5-f4.
After 1 8 hxg5 Black would have had a pleasant choice between 18 . . . i..xg3 and 18 ... :hs.
18 19
•
changed queens on:-e3., White's position would have been preferable. Now, however, after the practically inevitable exchange on h6 the g-file is opened, and White's weak f- and h-pawns cause him considerable trouble.
Now 16 gxh6 is not possible in view of l 6 . . . 'ii'a5+. 16 0-0-0 0-0--0 Now too the h6 pawn is indirectly defended, since if 1 7 gxh6 gxh6 1 8 Jtxh6 there follows 1 8 . . . l:th8. The knight at h5 proves to be out of play, and White is obliged to improve its position.
17 18
.
A necessary fineS.$P.
1i'xf4+ 11t'e3
This improves White's pawn for mation, but Black rejected 29 . . J�dg8 30 .:t.hg 1 , since he wanted to keep one pair of rooks on the board.
1lg8
A loss of time. Black should have immediately advanced his· 'king to d6 and then played . . . b7-b6 and . . . c6-c5, intensifying the pressure on the enemy position. After the manoeuvre of . the rook to e4 it will occupy a pretty, but less active position, than at g8.
94
32 33 34 35
l:l.el �cl
ci>d7 lie4 d6
If my opponent had thought for a little longer, he would undoubtedly have seen the clanger awaiting him after the natural reply 41 e4+. It was this that I examined in the 17 minutes before I sealed my move. but I did not find a win. This is what could then have happened: ••.
In the knight ending too Black· s chances are better, but the exchange of rooks eases White's defence.
35 36 37
@xel 'it>e2
38 39 40 41
cxd4 d3 �e2 a4
l:txel c5 cxd4
42 'it>c4 b6!
It is very important to take control of the c5 square. Both in his night-time analysis before the resumption, and in his detailed comments, Tai missed some subtleties in the resulting position and gave only the variation 42 . . . a5 43 b4 axb4 44 xb4 liJf6 45 tiJf4 tbd5+ 46 liJxd5 ®xd5 47 �c3 with a draw. Meanwhile. by continuing 44 . . . �d5 (instead of 44 . . . liJf6) Black would have won: 45 a5 ( 45 @c3 b6) 45 . . . e3 46 �c3 �e4 47 @c4 (4 7 d5 d3 @es 49 @xe3 lLJxg3 50 l"Dxg3 f4+ etc. 9) 47 . . . �f3 48 �d3 ltixg3 . Therefore White must reply to 42 . . . as with 43 b3 ! 43 ...b6 44 b4 axb4 45 �xb4 liJf6 46 b5, with sufficient counter-chances in view of the weak ness of the b6 pawn.
37 . . . c4 would have created greater difficulties for White.
�f6 �h5 e5
A moment typical of Tai' s match tactics. He played this quickly, merely in order to force Black to seal his move, in the hope that after five hours of play it would not be easy to find the strongest reply. I personally do not like such methods, and I prefer moves that are in keeping with the logic of the position. I th.ink that, from the �·practical viewpoint too� this is the soundest way.
95
7 . . . d6 8 e3 h6 9 .i.h4 g5 10 .i.g3 tiJh5 1 1 i.b5+ ( 1 1 . . . .td7 . 12 i.xd7+ 'i'xd7 1 3 l'he5), but now · the . manoeuvre . . . lDh5 is parried even more simply.
43 b4 a6 44 d5!
There is no other possibility.
44 e5 45 as bxa5 46 bxa5 ti:)f6 47. lbf4 e3 48 <.t>dJ with a draw. •••
Also taking account of the fact that Tai had not exchanged on e5, obviously fearing the centralisation of the black king, I sealed another move, thus mis sing this chance, which unexpectedly could have appeared after 4 1 . . .e4+ 42 rbc4 b6 or 42 . . . a5 . Alas!
41 42
42 43
lDf6
dxe5+
8
This would be the result after the obvious variation 43 . . . lllli5 44 b5 f4 45 gxf4+ ltJxf4+ 46 etJxf4 xf4 47
9 10
8th game
King's Indian Defence
1 2 3 4 5 6 7
d4 c4
tlJf3
d5 cxd5 ll'lc3 i.g5
•
•
•
.i.e2
d6 a6
A dangerous symptom in the given variation. The threat of . . . b7-b5 is easily parried. and the weakness of the b6 square may tell. If Black is forced to make such a move, it follows that his position is difficult.
Botvinnik...:...Tai World Championship Afatch
1 960,
lle8
Now the black knight can no longer occupy h5, since it is controlled by the queen (in the event of . . . h7-h6 and . . . g6-g5), and later this duty will be taken over by the king's bishop.
Game 276
A.foscorr1
e3 ll'ld2
9
ll'lf6 e6 c5 exd5 g6
11
a4
tLlbd7
1fc2
�b6
. Finally, after a change of inove order, the position has become fully theor etical, but things are no easier for Black as a result the evaluation is clear White stands better. 12 0-0 1lc7
.i.g7 0-0 An insignificant finesse, since sooner or later Black will be forced to play . . . d7-d.6. Evidently Tai wanted to avoid
.
13
96
14
.i.f3
18 19
This caution is necessary. After 14 e4 ttlli:d : 5 1 5 exd5 .i.xc3 16 ilxc3 %he2 it would not have been easy for White to demonstrate that the weakening of · Black's kingside is worth the sacrificed pawn.
14
...
•
•
•
1ia2
W'd8 fS
It was essential to play l 9 . . .b5, in order to bring the queenside pieces into the game. At the same time, the advance of the kingside pawns that Black under takes is not in the spirit of the position.
c4
20 21 22 23
lt:\cJ lLlc4 .i.e2 llJa4
23 24 25
gJ f4
�h8 h5 i.d4
26
ifaJ
:lb8
g5 g4 'ilf6
The white pieces have taken up the standard positions� typical of this variation, brought into practice by Averbakh. The opponent' s weaknesses on the queenside are fixed, and it could have been considered that the game was essentially decided. However, as in many other games of this match, my uncertain play led to 'miracles' . One gains the impression that Black overlooked the loss of this pawn. Any other move would have been better, e.g. 14 . . . .if5 1 5 e4 i.d7 followed by . . . ttJc8.
15
It was unfavourable for Black to take en passant, since after 25 . . . gxf3 26 :xn his king would have been in danger. But now he loses any chance of an attack against White's kingside.
.i.xf6
In order to win the pawn. White has to exchange his good bishop. 15 a5 liJbd7 16 tiJa4 was dubious on account of 16 . . . 'i'xa5 17 tCixc4 'i'c7 with the threat of . . . b7-b5.
15 16 17
Now the defended. 17
a5 llJce4 c4
26 . . . Jtxe3+ 27 tt:Jxe3 'ii'd4 was not possible because of 28 @£2. Now White had an elementary win, for which he should have gone into an endgame: 27 exd4 'i'xd4+ (27 . . . l:xe2 28 'i'd3 :e4 29 .:.ae l ) 28 :fl Itxe2 29 Wc3 Wxc3 30 bxc3 l:t.xf2 3 1 @xf2. Instead of this he makes a move that has no particular point, which. however, is typical of supem.cial play in time trouble. •f
ilxf6 l£ld7
pawn
cannot
be
-*.e5
1 8 llxc4
After 1 8 lt:Jxc4 b5 1 9 axb6 ctJxb6 Black would have gained some compen sation for the material deficit. 97
was made on purely practical grounds: to ease the defence in · · severe time trouble.
31 32 33 34
bxc3 l:lfel :ct
11xc3 .i.b5 l£\e4
Instead of this move, which could have lost, with 34 :d4 ltlxc3 35 .id3 White would have retained his extra pawn and winning chances.
27
�ab6
Why leave the important c5 square undefended?
27
h4
White's mistake could have been exploited immediately by 27 . . . .ixb6 28 axb6 ttJcs. Instead, for the second time Black allows his opponent the oppor tmtity to force a win by exchanges (28 exd4), but White is 'consistent' . . .
28
l:tadl
.i.xb6
On the second occasion Tai does not miss his chance.
29
axb6
30
gxh4
30
...
l£\c5
Black can be content: his pieces have finally come into play, there are numer ous weaknesses in White's position, and the extra pawn is of no significance. A sensible decision: White avoids the creation of a weak pawn at g3 .
i.d7
In the event of 30 . . .'i'xh4 White could have replied 3 1 l:lfl or 3 1 1i'c3+ and 3 2 1'e l .
31
llbc8
34
Although Tai had thirteen minutes remaining, he made this move instantly, evidently reckoning that the most important thing was not to allow the opponent time to think. After 34 . . . :ec8 ! (not leaving the b7 pawn undefended) Black would have won the exchange, without allowing White any significant compensation. Now, however, the pic ture changes sharply.
35 36 37
tt.\a5 llxe2 lbcJ
Le2 tbxcJ
Of course, White 'voluntarily' gives up the exchange, wjnning an important tempo, since after 37 :ec2 (or 37 l:leel)
'lfcJ
White had only three minutes left for ten moves, and the exchange of queens
98
37 . . . lDe2+ 3 8 l:xe2 .Ihcl+ his position is hopeless. 37 J:lxc3 •
38
•
and so I sealed my move only after 30 minutes' thought.
41
•
lLlxb7
Now it is clear what Black's thought less 34th move has cost him. Were the b7 pawn defended here, it would be time for White to resign.
38
•
•
•
Itexe3
In his commentary Tal suggests that 38 . :bs 39 ltJxd6 l:td3 40 ltlxf5 l:txd5 4 1 e4 :xrs 42 exf5 J:xb6 would have led to a drawn ending. This seems insufficiently convincing: after 43 � White has a clear advantage. In this variation Black should not return the exchange (4 1 . . . l:t xf5), and then, perhaps, he retains chances of continuing the fight. ..
39 40
l:beJ �xd6
lt)f7+! !
The knight makes way for the d-pawn with gain of tempo. Now after 4 1 ... h7 42 d6 one of the pawns queens immediately, while if 4 1 . . . r:i;;g7 (or 4 1 .. . �g8) there follows 42 b7 l:b3 43 liJd8. Here 43 . . . a5 44 d6 a4 45 d7 a3 46 ltJe6+ or 43 . . . fS 44 h5 �e8 45 h6 . xd8 46 h7 is possible. To complete the picture, it should be pointed out that the seemingly tempting 4 1 b7 would even have lost: 4 1 . . J lb3 42 M+ h7 ! 43 ltJd8 a5 44 d6 a4 45 d7 a3 46 ltJe6 a2.
Black resigns.
%ixe3 lld3
Game 277
Tal-Botvinnik World Championship Match Moscow 1960, 9th game Caro-Kann Defence
1 2 3 4 5 6
e4 d4 t£ic3 tDxe4 tDg3 ltlle2
c6 d5 dxe4 .*.f5 .lg6 lhf6
The two players repeat the 5th game of the match (No.275).
7 8 9 10
Here I had to seal my move. I was able quite quickly to find the winning plan, in which Black's king and rook are unable to cope with White's knight and three passed pawns. Even so, I decided to check all the variations at the board,
h4 lhf4 .tc4 0-0
h6 .i.h7 e6
In the afore-mentioned game Tal played 1 O 'i'e2 and did not gain any advantage, but after h2-h4 kingside . castling also seem unjustified. 99
10
• . .
ild6
these considerations did not occur to either of the players during their home preparations.
Now Black wants to castle, after which the position of the white pawn at -h4 would .give him an obvious advan tage. Therefore, when I was preparing for the game, I anticipated that Tai would without hesitation sacrifice a knight for two pawns, in addition obtaining fine piece play. 10 . lDd5, the move recommended by the Encyclopaedia. looks more risky.
13 14
/i)xe6 .i.xe6
-
.
14 15 16
il.xh7 �f5
16
...
� Ibh7
fxe6 ifc7
A natural move, but perhaps not the strongest, after which there could have followed 13 �5 and then f2-f4, when it is not so easy for Black to find an acceptable plan. I should mention that the attempt by White to play differently: 1 3 ttJh5 :tf8 14 c4 (instead of 1 4 f4) 14 . . . �g6 1 5 l£lg3 liJbd7 16 c5 i.xg3 17 fxg3 liJd5 1 8 :le 1 0-0-0 would have led to an inferior position for him. Instead of the move in the game, it would have been better to reply 1 2 . liJbd7, and only after 1 3 l:el ( 13 li)h5 f'S) 1 3 . . 'i'c7, not fearing the discovered check. It is amusing that . .
tLlbd7
White, of course, could not allow his opponent to castle queenside, and he ex1racts the maximwn from the opposition of rook and king - he exchanges the light-square bishops, to gain the f5 square for his knight.
..
11 12
:tel .tg8+
g6!
A move, as it seems to me, in the
style of Capablanca. Black agrees to material equality (a piece for three pawns), but quickly completes the mob ilisation of his forces, and his pieces will be well coordinated. The following variations looked less · . convincing: 16 . . . Jth.2+ 1 1 @hl g6 t8· �xh6+ llxh6 ( 1 8 . ®g8 19 g3 gxf5 20 Ji.f4) 1 9 liJxh6 'i'f4 20 .l:.e3 (but not 20 g3 .ixg3 2 1 fxg3 'i'xg3) 20 . . 'ii'xh6 2 1 xh2 'i'xh4+ 22 @gl (22 . tlJg4 2 3 ilf3+ and 24 'i'g3).
1 00
..
.
. .
. 17 : . .i.xh6+ 18 l£lxd6 . ·
g8 "i'xd6
After 1 8+l:t,di6 1 9 :e6 the storm clouds would have been gathering over the black king, e.g. 1 9 . . l:.xh4 20 10 �Yd3 . .
19
.i.g5
lite7
The exchange of rooks reduces the attacking potential of the white pieces. 1 1 is significant in this position that for the moment White does not have any passed pawn. And if. with this aim, he plays 20 lhe7 'ilxe7 2 1 h5, then Black will have good chances both in the endgame (2 1 .. .gxh5 22 'i'xh5 ltJxh5 23 .�1.xe7 CDf4), and in attack (2 1 . . . rJ;;g7 22 hxg6 �h8).
20 21
1id3 Wg3
rJ;;g7
A positional mistake, since in the endgame, on account of his doubled g pawns, White will have little chance of saving the game. It would have been better to try and maintain the position.
21
.
.
•
l:txel+
Incidentally, 2 1 . . . 'ii'xg3 22 :xe7+ \M'8 23 fx.g3 @xe7 is also possible, but Black chooses a rather more cunning continuation.
22 23
lhel fxg3
.•
•
•
c4 d5 cxd5 d6
27 28 29 30
:ct :c7 .lxf6
lllg4 cxd5 ltldf6
This entire pawn breakthrough is essentially a diversionary operation to gain freedom for the white king.
ltfi I:td7
White also has to part with his bishop, in order to be able to advance his kingside pawns.
30 31 32
1fxg3
f2
llxd7
l£lxf6 �e6
Nothing is changed by 3 2 'ifi>f3 xd6 .
Although Black is a piece up (for three pawns). White has a good bishop, and if he should succeed in bringing his king into play, the outcome will be unclear.
23
24 25 26 27
32 33 34 35 36
� 'iti>f4
g4 @e4
rJ;;x d7 �xd6 i;t>e6 l£ld5+
By playing 36 'it>g5 c3;Il 37 h5 White would not have achieved anything on the kingside, but after 3 7 . ltJb4 he would have lost both of his queenside pawns.
l:tf8!
Making it harder for the white king to come into play, whereas White's control of the e-file cann�t. .achieve anything for him.
.
101
.
36 37 ' 38 39
f4 �e4 a3
ll'if6+ ll'id5+ l£lb4
The white pawns would have been more diffi cult to attack after 3 9 a4, but their loss could not have been avoided.
39 40 41
h5 h6
l£ic6 g5
Tal again hurries to make his 4 lst move on the board, to force Black to seal his move.
45 46
st?d6 �d5
a5 �xh6
47 48 49 50 51 52
c4 b5 b3 �xa5 �b4 �CJ
lDct lDdJ ibcl lDxbJ+ lDcl
52 53 54
�c2 dJ
g6 ltle2 ltlct +
55 56
ttle2 tLlf4+
57 58
�6 �c4 g3 ltle2 White resigns
Since Black has time for this, by no means urgent, capture, it means that on the other side of the board his lmight is successfully opposing the king.
A final attempt - White pursues the knight. But such an operation normally succeeds only in studies.
The reader already knows that for the resumption I had very little time left (less than 20 minutes), and now my flag was already hanging. In such circwn stances I never reject an opportunity to repeat moves.
41
•
•
•
Here the time control was reached.
'it>f6
I spent a great deal of time consider
ing this move, but I sealed it, after convincing myself that the raid by the white king on the queenside did not present any danger. Analysis, and then the resumption of the game, confirmed this.
42 43
@d5 'it>e6
�g6
World Championship}.,fatch Afoscow 1 960, 20th game Nimzo-Indian Defence
Or 43 d6 ttJa5 44 �c7 b5 45 �b8 lbc4 46 <3lxa7 (46 b3 a5) 46 . . . tbxb2 47 �a6 liJc4 48 'it>xb5 liJxa3+ etc.
43 44
a4
Game 278
Botvinnik-Tal
1 2 3
ll'ia5 lbb3 102
d4 c4 lDcJ · ·
ttlf6 e6 il.b4
4 5
a3 bxc3
�xc3+ lhe4
7 8
.
•
.
1ih6
g6 d6
At first sigtlt _this seems an unnatural move, whiclt�hould be easy to refute, but this impression is deceptive. The knight thrust has some positional basis: Black is aiming for . . . f7-f5, transposing into a variation of the Dutch Defence that is not Wlfavourable for him. It is true that the knight will be forced to retreat, which loses Black tempi, but if White plays 'iic2, then this loss .of time will to some degree be compensated. In the previous games of the match where this variation occurred, I did not find the correct system of development. Finally, in home analysis I was able to do this, but at a time when the fate of the match was already decided. Even so, I thought it useful to check my con clusions, reckoning that such an oppor tunity might not present itself again.
If 8 ... lllxc3 there would have followed 9 f3 with the threat of IO a4, while if 8 . 'i'g5 9 �3 and then f2-f3. After a long �ink Tai prefers to continue his development.
Now there is a threat to the c3 pawn. In the event of Black avoiding this main idea (for example, after 6 ... 0-0)� he would have had to reckon with the possible manoeuvre ..td3, llle2 and f2-f3, forcing the knight at e4 to abandon its central position� without provoking 'i'c2.
Of course, not 10 ... fxe4 1 1 fxe4 liJxe4 12 llJf3� when Black stands badly.
6
7
e3!
f5
'ifh5+
This is the point. If Black does not want immediately to give up the right to castle (7 ... c.t>f'8), he has to weaken his dark squares, which may prove especially sensitive in view of the absence of the bishop covering these squares. The play becomes more lively, and Black has to give up ideas about the c3 pawn. 103
.
.
9 10
10
lhf6
f3 e4
•
•
•
11 12
..tg5 i.d3
13
lhe2
e5
'iie7 llf8
The need for such moves indicates that the opening has not gone in Black's favour. The natural choice, but not the best. Tai rightly considers that 13 'i'h4 was stronger, and Llien Black would not have gained counterplay on the f-file (if 13 . . . 'i'f7 there would have followed 14 ..th6). 13
•
•
•
iff7
The subtle point of this move is that after 14 �xf6 ifxf6 15 exf5 .i.xf5 16 i.xf5 gxf5 17 'i'xh7 ttJa6 18 'i'h5+
'i'xc4 1 8 'ifxh7 exd4 with compli cations. There is no need to demonstrate that this was advantageous to White. Meanwhile, with 16 . . . h6 17 .td2 g5 18 'i'g3 tDc6 1 9 h3 tiJf6 Black could have achieved a good game without any complications.
@d7 ! Black has sufficient compensation for the sacrificed pawn.
14
Wb4
This move is based on an oversight: White was convinced that the opening of the f-file was in his favour. Meanwhile,. after 14 0-0 the opening of the f-file would have become impossible, and if 14 . . . thg8 1 5 'ii'b.4 f4 he could have begun play on the opposite wing, e.g. 1 6 c5 'i'g7 1 7 cxd6 cxd6 1 8 'i'el h6 1 9 Sl.h4 g5 20 ii.fl, and it transpires that the black king is insecurely placed.
14 15
.
•
16
fxe4
..
1ff2+
17 18 19
d2 .i.xh4 :hfl
19 20 21
l:lxf8+ xd3
22
lDgJ
'ilfxh4 lDf2
There is no point in giving up the active dark-square bishop.
fxe4 l£lg4
•
.
Of course, not 16 . . . tiJf2 because of 1 7 0-0.
Here I checked once more the variation 16 d2 h6 1 7 .i.e3 g5 18 'i'g3 ltlxe3 19 xe3 (but not 19 'i'xe3 1i'f2). and realised to my regret that, when considering my 14th move, I had overlooked the clever 1 9 . . . 'i'f4+! White is therefore forced to allow th� exchange of queens, and with opposite- . colour bishops his advantage is slight.
lDxdJ xf8 .te6
·
A poor manoeuvre, after which it can
16
h3
Tai writes that if 16 :gl he was intending to play 16 . lDfl 1 7 i.c2 .
be considered that the battle is over After lDgl -f3 in the end Black would have been forced to exchange pawns on d4, and he would have had to overcome considerable difficulties in order te maintain the balance.
22 23
.
104
lDfl
ti)d7 a6
24 .i.f2 . 25 ' lDd2
@g7 lif8
Now the knight can reach f3 , however, not in two moves, a s indicated earlier, but in four, and . White can no longer achieve anything With this, since his opponent has succeeded in mobilising all his forces.
26 27
�el b6 lllf6 l:lbl Draw agreed Game 279
Olympiad, Leipzig 1960 King's Indian Defence
1 2 3 4 5 6 7
d4 c4 lll cJ e4 f3 .i.e3 .i.dJ
lLlf6 g6 �g7 d6
0-0
b6 a6
• • •
c5
Threatening to intensify the pressure in the centre - 9 . . . liJc6.
9
d5
e6
10 11 12
exd5 lLlgJ
12 13
exd5 lllbd7
• • •
0-0
lle8
This allows Black to seize the initiative. It was essential to play 13 .i.e2, preventing the following knight thrust, then ttlce4 and Ji.f4.
1'd2
8 tllge2 c5 9 es is also played, after which Black does not succeed in forcing d4-d5.
8
lll ge2
White prepares a retreat for his bish op (after 12 . . . tlle 5), but significantly weakens his d4 square. This is wrong, since the exchange of the lmight for his bishop did not present any danger.
The variation beginning with 6 . . . b6 is usually associated with . . . c7-c5. However, Black must be careful. For example, the immediate 7 ... c5 loses material after 8 e5 in view of the threat of i.e4. The move in the game vacates the a7 square for the rook, and in some cases . . . b6-b5 will be possible.
8
10
Now after the exchange on d5 White will have to recapture with the e-pa� and the opening of the central file is unfavourable for him. This could have been avoided by 1 O a4, in order to have the possibility of playing 1 1 cxd5. It should be added that after 10 dxe6 .i.xe6 Black also has no difficulties.
Tamburini-Botvinnik
13
• • .
lLlg4
Irrespective of whether White retains his dark-square bishop, as in the game, or chooses 14 fxg4 .:t.xe3, the advantage . is already with Black..
105
14 15 16
i.g5 .i.f4 .i.e2
f6 /i)ge5
21 22
.i.fl
r
h5 h4
Routine play. As has already been mentioned, White should not have avoided the exchange of his d3 bishop.
16
.
•
.
f5!
Black has achieved a pawn formation that is ideal for the given variation. In addition his knight occupies an ex cellent post at e5. whereas the e4 square is unavailable to the white knights. It only remains for Black to complete the mobilisation of his forces before l�mnching a decisive offensive.
17 18
.i.g5 .i.h6
llfdl �abl i.eJ
:a7 lbf7
This move is possible. since the d4 square is defended by a white rook (2 1 ltJg4 22 fxg4 l:txe3 23 'i'xe3 .i.d4 24 �xd4). ...
23 24
lbge2 �f4
lbh5
An oversight, leading to the loss of a piece. However, it is already doubtful whether White's position can be defended.
lDf6 il.h8
In view of the weakness of the d4 square. there is no point in Black exchanging bishops.
19 20 21
The board is full of pieces, but Black is successfully playing for domination. Therefore it can be concluded that this method of play was known even before the appearance in the chess arena of Anatoly Karpov. At the time of the Olympiad in Leipzig, the future World Champion was just nine years old.
24 �xf4 25 .i.xf4 .i.d4+ White resigns: after 26 'iii>h l g5 he •
•
•
loses a piece. The opening variation that occurred in this game used previously to be con sidered favourable for White, Thanks to the efforts of the young ·�andmasters Geller and Petrosian, a reassessment of values occurred, and on this occasion I was able to make use of their interesting ideas. 106
in the game Evans-Dorfman ( 1978), he would have retained a reasonable game.
Game 280
Tarnowski-Botvinnik
9 10
Olympia'1. Leipzig 1960
Catalan Opening 1 2 3 4 5
d4 g3 .tg2 c4 cxd5
5 6 7 8
lllcJ lt:\f'J 0-0
.i.f4 h3
0--0
This move is of little use. Thanks to the tempo presented to him, Black is the - first to begin play in the centre.
it)f6 d5 i.f5 c6
·
10 11 12
�cl g4
'Lle4 l::tc8
Now the point of White's 10th move becomes clear: he wants to maintain his bishop on the h2-b8 diagonal, even at the cost of weakening his kingside.
In this situation the exchange in the centre practically cleprives White of any opening adva..�tage. cxd5 lllc6 e6 J.e7
12 13
•
•
.
tDxe4
Jl.g6 ilxe4
In the event of 13 ... dxe4 14 tDe5 the d4 pawn cannot be taken in view of the loss of a piece: 14 . . . 'ii'xd4 15 tDxc6 'i'xdl 16 tDxe7+.. or 14 ... tiJxd4 15 J;.xc8 'i'xc8 16 'i'xd4 .
The reader will probably already have noticed that the game has trans posed into a well-known variation of the Gliinfeld Defence with reversed colours, and hence with an ex'tra tempo for White. However, the drawback to his position is the .fact that his king's bishop is restricted by the pawn at d5, whereas Black's king's bishop has more of a future. If White had shown caution here and played 9 tDh4, as, for example,
14
tiJe5
White aims straightforwardly for simplification, hoping in this way to gain a draw. However, he fails to take account of certain subtleties in the position.
107
14
tLlxe5
15
i.xe5
15 16 17
�xg2 flb3
After tlie exchange 26 'i'xc4 dxc4 (26 ...bxc4 is also good) Black would immediately have · cr�ted a decisive pawn majority on the queep.side.
15 . .llxe4 was hardly any better, if only because of 15 . . . tbc6 and 16 ... �6. il.xg2 'Ifa5 b5!
26 27 28
Tlueatening 18 .. J:Ic4. White decides to concede the c-file, after which Black's advantage becomes obvious. 18 19 20
l:.xc8 a3 lldl
l:I.d2 eJ i.gJ f3
i.f2 'ildJ
•
a4! 1fxd3 b4
.
llxc8 l!Cc4 'lfb6
'ifc6 a5 �cl f6
3 3 l:ta8 i.e 1 he loses a piece. A textbook game. Such an ending could have been played in former times by Capablanca or Rubinstein . . .
The first rank is also under Black's control. With his domination of the pos ition, he can permit himself the luxury of spending a tempo on this prophyl actic move. The blockaded white a- and b-pawns will soon come under attack. 25 26
.
Forcing the exchange on b4, after which the white rook will no longer be able to return to the second rank. 28 ... !k2 was weaker on account of 29 b4!
The start of a manoeuvre, aimed at securing complete control of the open file and continuing the pawn offensive on the queenside. 21 22 23 24
•
e4 l:t.xd3
.i.xb4 29 axb4 exd5 30 exd5 31 l:leJ :.c2 White resigns. After 32 l:e8+ cJ;f7
Game 281
Neikirch-Botvinnik O�ympiad, Leipzig 1960
Sicilian Defence
1fc4
1 2 3 4 5 6
e4 tl)fJ d4 tL'lxd4 lllc3 i.c4
c5 l£lc6 cxd4 tL'lf6 d6
This, the Sozin Variation, is still popular, although its history dates back to the 6th USSR Championship (Odessa, 1929). ·
6
•
•
•
e6
Perhaps the soundest reply, although the more risky 6 ... 'ib6 is also popular. 7
108
i.b3
The other common continuation here is 7 .i.e3 i..e7 8 'i'e2 followed by queenside castling, which usually leads to mutual attacks on opposite wings. But my game with Padevsky (No.246) took a different course: 7 0--0 ..te7 8 ..te3 0--0 9 ilb3 l'.Da5 10 f4, which may be the strongest for White (but not for Black, who instead of 7 . . , i..e7 should have played 7 . . . a6, immediately creating counterplay on the queenside).
7
. . •
if necessary be exchanged for the bishop.
9 10 11
And this is now a positional mistake . Since the move does not give White any tactical advantages, it plays into Black's hands (it opens the a8-hl diagonal).
11
0-0
il.e7
•
.
lLle8
check for himself.
12
ktf3
12 fS is a move known to theory, when instead of 9 �hi White has played 9 ..t.e3 . Here, however, such an attack is unfavourable.
0-0
::•r:,z�:z I��;::;�: 9
.
If l l . ..dxe5 1 2 fxe5 �d7, then White wins by 1 3 ktxf7, as the reader can
Nowadays 7 . . . a6 is more often played. for reasons explained in the previous note.
8
lLla5 b6
f4 e5
12
•
•
•
lLlxb3
After 12 . . . i..b7 1 3 :h3 Black would have been unable either to exchange the bishop, or to consolidate with . . . g7-g6, since 1 3 . . t'Dxb3 would allow the inter position of 14 'l'h5 (14 . . . h6 1 5 t2Jxb3), and if 13 . . . g6 14 lDxe6 with a very strong attack. By his timely' elimination of the bishop, Black weakens the pressure on the a2-g8 diagonal. .
A loss of time. which is not in accor dance with Sozin 's plan. White cannot now count on an opening advantage. 9 .i.e3 was better. transposing into a position from the afore-mentioned Game 246. Now the most convenient way for Black to mobilise his forces is by developing his bishop at b7, for which it is very useful for him to place his queen's knight at a5. From there it may
13
lt:\c6
13 14 15
tt:lxe7+ axbJ
1 3 axb3 i.b7 14 .1Ih3 g6 is also in Black's favour. White is counting on the opposite-colour bishops, but it is well known that this factor favours the side whose bishop is the more active.
1id7 1ixe7 f6!
An important move. Black exchanges tl1e e5 pawn, and his seemingly passive knight comes into play, · coordinating excellently with his bishop.
109
16
exd6
White wrongly decides against the sacrifice of his e5 pawn. In this case his bishop would be activated, whereas in the game it remains blocked in by its own pawn at f4.
16 17 :dJ 18 lia4
20
lla5
20 21
�d6
21 22
ltxd6
20 l:ta l was more circumspect.
.fl.b7
2 1 ltJc5 .i.xg2+ would have led to loss of material.
lDxd6 lDf5
lDxd6
Played not for an attack, of course, but to transfer this rook to e l , i.e. for defence.
22
l:d8!
With the deadly threat of 23 . . . 'i'c6.
1ffe8!
18
An imperceptible, but highly signifi
cant move. Now the bishop moves onto the long diagonal, which was not possible earlier because of l:Ld7.
19
tne4
Black would also have retained an imposing positional advantage after 19 l:r.e4 .ilb7 . Now, however� he also gains a decisive attack� since� unfortunately for White, his rooks remain un connected.
19
b5!
The rook has to move off the fourth rank, and it remains cut off from White's remaining forces.
23
Wd2
23 24
'ifxd6
lhd6 'i'd8
25
1fxe6+
..
23 J:xd8 'i'xd8 24 'i'el (24 'i'xd8 l:xd8 25 .i.e3 l:td l + 26 ..tg l l:r.d2) 24 . . . Wd5 25 'i'e2 l:.d8 26 .ie3 would have led to the same won ending for Black as in the variation with 24 'i'xd8.
Begi nning with this move, Black operates with two threats: mate on the back rank and the capture of the un protected rook. Soon the�e threats will be impossible to parr�y-siinultaneously. Or 25 'i'd2 'i'xd2 26 .ixd2 r!d8, which would have led to a position examined earlier.
l lO
25
ltti
26
Wet
l:te7
7 8
The fate of the game is decided: Black's pieces· �e; acting concertedly, · whereas White�s.are disunited.
• • •
0-0
.i.d2
Here too 8 a3 is better, in order to answer 8 . . . i.d6 with 9 e4 1 8 ... •e1 · It will be recalled that in Game 236 Black decided to retain his bishop, and he immediately retreated it to d6. The two moves are more or less equivalent. ·· '
White resigns. The concluding position is interesting for the fact that, although all Black's pieces are on the edge of the board, they are dominant. From the standpoint of chess composition, the artistic effect would be stronger, if the black bishop were at a8, and the rook at e8.
Game 282
Portisch-Botvinnik O�ympiad, Leipzig 1960 Queen's Gambit
1 2 3 4 5 6 7
d4 c4 ltlf3 lDc3 eJ i.d3 0-0
ltlf6 e6 d5 c6 ltlbd7 .i.b4
7 a3, as I played against Euwe
(No. 175), is more energetic.
9
/l)e5
9 10 11 12 13
cxd5 al i.xc3 dxe5
Only after 9 'ife l , which leads to more complicated play, does theory consider (on the basis of a game Ivkov Kolarov, 1957) that White can retain a slight opening advantage. Now, how ever, far-reaching simplification begins.
c5 exd5 .i.xc3 �xe5 llie4
If 1 3 lbg4 there could have followed 14 i.e2 (if there is nothing better) 14 . . ltJxe5 1 5 'ifxd5 with an obvious advantage to White. Now he is forced to part with one of his bishops, and he prefers to retain the more promising one at c3 . ...
.
111
14
il.xe4
15
�ht
dxe4
This move does nothing to improve the placing of the white pieces, and therefore it is a waste of time. The only way to fight for the retention of the initiative was by 1 5 'i'h5, controlling the f5 square and intending f2-f4. If the white pawns had been able to advance, this could have caused Black some problems.
15
•
•
.
1fa4
ltadl
18 19 20
exd6 ltdl
%hd6 11xd6
a5!
White, gaining a tempo by the attack on the e4 pawn, wants to win the battle for the open central file. However, he no longer has control of the g4 square, and the bishop will feel perfectly safe at f5.
16 17
:d6!
The final subtlety. After 20 'i'xaS J:.d8 Black would have occupied the d-file. Draw agreed.
Black exploits the time granted to him, and brings his queen's rook into play, in order to have the opportunity of switching it to the kingside. After 1 5 . . . .i.fS 16 f4 ! the black bishop could have become a target. However, now too it would have been better for White to play 16 f4, forcing 16 . . . exf3 .
16
18
At just the right time. White prevents the switching of the enemy rook to the kingside.
.i.f5 .:a6
Game 283
Botvinnik-Schmid Olympiad, Leipzig 1960 King's Indian Defence
1
d4
c5
2 3 4
d5 e4 ltlf3
d6 .g6
The young Lothar Schmid was noted for being very enterprising, and he al ways aimed for a. lively game. Thus here Black endeavours to seize the - initiative from the very first move.
After c2-c4 (now or a little later) it is harder for Black to create piece play, 1 12
but is this something that White should avoid? After weighing up everything 'for' and 'against', I was tempted by the possibility of obtaining some training in a piece battle, which I would certainly be faced with in a few months' time in my World Championship return match with Tai. Therefore the c2 pawn was left in its place.
4 5 6
.i.e2 tLlc3
Black appears to have achieved much, but the insecure position of his king in the centre allows White to land a spectacular counter-blow.
11
.i. g7 tLlf6 tLla6
Now (after 5 .te2) this move is pos sible, since if White wanted to double the enemy a-pawns, for this he would not only have to exchange his bishop for a knight, but it would also lose a tempo. And the black knight will be excellently placed at c7, supporting . . . b7-b5-b4 and attacking the white d5 pawn, which hinders e4-e5.
7 8
0-0 a4
tLlc7 a6
Fully in keeping with Schmid' s style. By saving time on castling, he at once begins active play on the queenside.
9 10
ttld2 ttlc4
e5!
My opponent had not been afraid of this, thinking that after 1 1 . . .bxc4 12 exf6 .i.xf6 he was not threatened in ·any way. But when he continued the variation with 1 3 ilh6, he easily established that Black's defences would be disorganised. He had to go in for the exchange in the centre, allowing the fur ther activation of White' s king's knight.
11 12
•
•
•
axb5
dxe5 axb5
12 . . .l£lxb5 was more circumspect, not allowing d5-d6 and d6xc7. But could the obstinate Lothar be expected to deviate from his intended plan?
13 14
l:txa8 l£ixe5
1fxa8 b4
Again (as after 10 . . . b5) it appears that Black has achieved his goal (indee� where can the knight go to?).
il.d7 b5
15
d6!
And again White finds an elegant reply, which unexpectedly changes the
1 13
evaluation of the position. First he left his king's .lqiight en prise. and now he does not 'move away his queen's knight.'. . :
the simpler 23 'it'a4, when the black
king becomes easy boGty for the white
pieces.
;
15
.
.
•
bxc3
One cannot, of course, object to the fact that the Encyclopaedia attaches a question mark to this move, but in the event of 1 5 . . . exd6 16 'i'xd6 bxc3 I thought that I would win with 17 .i.f3 'i'c8 ( 1 7 . . . 'i'a6 1 8 ti)c6) 1 8 l/_Jxd7 ti)xd7 19 .tg5. Later it was recommended that White should fir.st follow a game Larsen-Szabo ( 197 1): 17 .1ixc7 0-0 18 li:)xd7 li:)xd7. and then try by 1 9 b3 to exploit his minimal advantage. Without any evidence, it is hard to agree with this re".'evaluation of the position. I still consider that tl1e varia tion given by me, ending with 19 il.g5, is convincing enough.
. 16 . dxc7 l7 .i.f4
23 24 25 26 27 28 29 30
lic8
Now the c7 pawn is invulnerable.
17 18
lDxd7
cxb2 lDxd7
19
.i.b5
J.d4
20 21 22
cJ cxd4 .txd7+
e5 exf4
1 8 . . . 1i'xd7 would also have been answered by 19 .ib5. White was threatening 20 'i'xd7+ 'i'xd7 2 1 c8'if mate.
The simplest way to win.
22 23
.
•
•
'ilfe2+
'iixd7
Only here, when the position is now absolutely won, can White be re proached for the fact that he did not find
•e5
g8 f6 l:.bl '&xc5 �g7 lte8 :xb2 :bt f3 gxf3 Wh3 W'c6 Black resigns
It was no accident that this game appealed to Tal. He rated it highly, since it was conducted in his style. The Olympiad in Leipzig was the only open training event for the par ticipants in the coming match in the Spring of 196 1 . After this it only remained for them to prepare in the quiet of their studies for the return match, which by a FIPE · decision of 1 959 was being held for . the last time.
1 14
This move too was not obligatory. Now White advantageously places his knight at h4 and prepares f2-f4, espec ially as . . . g6-g5 is bad because of lDr5 .
Game 284
Botvinnik-Pachman OlympifJld, Leipzig
1960
King·' s Indian Attack
1 2 3 4 5 6 7
gl tilf3 -*.g2 0-0
dJ tilbd2 e4
9 10 11
d5 g6 -*.g7 e5 tlle7
tllb4 f4 f5
.i.e6 tild7
White provokes a weakening of the g6 square and secures control of the h3-c8 diagonal.
0-0
11 12 13
fxg6 -*.bJ
-*.f7 bxg6 tllc5
Black brings up this knight to the defence of his kingside, at which the enemy pieces are aimed.
14 15 16
A slight chance for White in this King's Indian position with colours reversed is provided not only by his extra tempo, but also by the poor position of the black knight at e7 (compare it, for example, with the position from Game 201 Botvinnik O'Kelly, where Black played . . . tiJf6 and . . . ttJc6, and . . . e7-e5 only later). Even so, if Black had quietly played 7 . . . tiJbc6, it would not have been easy for White to find a good plan. After Black's next move this problem is simplified.
7 8
a4
d4 f6
b4 tllc4 .i.xg5
lile6 tilg5 fxg5
It may appear that in this way Black eases his defence. In reality, the position with opposite-colour bishops that soon arises is advantageous to White, since Black's bishop is restricted and his pawns are weakened.
17
�f3
.lxc4
Otherwise the e5 _pawn cannot be defended.
1 15
18 19
dxc4
..d2
i.f6 <:/;g7
25
And now White carries out a manoeuvre which I first noticed in a similar situation in a game of Capablanca (playing his knight to d3 ). 20
thel !
After 2 0 ltlxg5 Axg5 2 1 'i'xg5 ltlc6 22 W'xd8 (22 'ii'd2 a5) 22 ...llaxd8 23 llab l Z!xfl + 24 �xfl a5 (or 24 ... d3), Black, despite being a pawn up, would have quite good drawing chances. White avoids this continuation, preferring to maintain a positional advantage. 20 21
•
•
•
lhd3
a5 b6
White was threatening ttJc5-e6. 22
c5
In this way White retains a good pawn formation. 22 23
l£.c6
b5
cxb6
This preparatory action is essential:i after 25 'ii'xb4 Black would have regained his pawn (25 . . . !Le7). 25 26 27 28 29
1fc4 �g2 .i.e6
30 31 32
ltxfl ltxf8 1fd5
33
ii.g4
1ffxb4
cxb6 ite7 Ji.cs · 1fd6
llxfl The exchange of rooks does not ease Black's position, but perhaps even makes it worse, since his rear is weakened. l:tf8 1f xf8 �h6
32 . . . d3 33 'i'xd3 'i'f2+ 34 �h3 would not have given Black anything, since the fl square is defended. But here after 33 'i'xe5 in the new situation 33 . . . d3 would have saved Black. 33
•
•
•
1Wd6
Black is pinning his hopes on the endgame. but they prove unjustified. 34 35
23
.
•
.
thb4
Black sacrifices a pawn, in order to exchange knights, and with opposite colour bishops to restrict the opponent's initiative. 24
ltlxb4
axb4
1 16
f3 1f xd6
@g7 .i.xd6
36
�e2
36 37 38 39
d3 �c4 d5
The king immediately heads for the queenside, o! course, and Black cannot gain control of the d5 square, since in this case he loses his g6 pawn.
i.b4 f6 .tel .i.b4
Here and later Black commits an inaccuracy, by allowing the white bishop to penetrate without difficulty to e8. He should have played 39 . . . .i.c3 (indirectly defending the e5 pawn), in order after 40 il.d7 to have the reply 40 . . . e7.
40
..id7
Grune 285
Botvinnik-Tal Ttflorld Championship Return Match Afoscow 1961, 1st game Nimzo-Indian Defence
i.el
40 . . . �e7 was nevertheless better, although after 4 1 �c6 .i.a5 42 �c7 � (or 42 . . . i.b4 43 �xb6 ! �xd7 44 a5 �c8 45 a6 @b8 46 a7+ �a8 47 a6, and Black loses) 43 �d8 White's bishop would have reached e8, which, as will be seen, would have ensured the win. . .l\cJ 41 i.e8
42
There could have followed 42 . . . .ta5 43 h 5 46 i.c4 'iii>g5 4 7 .i.e2 'iii>h5 48 h3) 44 d6 �6 45 i.xg6 ! (this is . where the weakness of the g6 pawn tells) 45 . . . @xg6 46 'itixe5 ..ic3 47 'itie6 g4 48 e5 .i.b4 49 d7
c6
White sealed this move, and Black
resigned without resuming.
1 2 3 4 5 6 7
c4 lDcJ d4 eJ i.d3 a3 i.xc4
lDf6 e6 .i.b4 0-0
d5 dxc4
It is well known that 7 i.xh7+ 'iti>xh7 8 axb4 lDc6 does not give White any advantage.
7
.
•
•
..i.d6
As was shown by my games with Barcza (Budapest 1 952) and Furman (Moscow 1955), after 7 . . . i.xc3+ 8 bxc3 c5 9 ilb2 White has a clear advantage.
8
lDfJ
8 9
. lDb5
8 f4, which was tried in Game 346, proves unsuccessful after the energetic reply 8 . . . c5. •
•
lDc6
A rather naive attempt to refute the variation. Correct here is 9 b4, as played in the 3rd game of the match (No.286). 1 17
Naturally, he chooses a more compli cated continuation.
9
•
•
•
e5
The most active continuation.
10
lDxd6
16
10 dxe5, which occurred in the game Ilivitsky-Lipnitsky ( 1 952), seems more logical.
'ifxd6!
10
The right way! After 10 . . . cxd6 1 1 dxe5 ttJxe5 ( 1 1 . . .dxeS 1 2 'i'xd8 -'lxd8 1 3 ttJg5) 12 i.e2 White has the advan tage. But now the exchange on e5, which he cannot avoid. involves the loss of castling and Of several tempi.
11 12 13 14
dxe5 @xdl e2 .i.d5
'ifxdl+ lDg4 lDcxe5
Played in order to hinder . . . b7-b6 possible.
14 15
•
•
•
.i.e4
if
17 18 19 20
c6 .i.e6
White is behind in development and, despite the two bishops, his position is clearly inferior. He could of course have played for a draw: 16 t:Dxe5 l'.bxe5 1 7 f4 .i.c4+ 18 � lt\d3+ 1 9 �.xd3 .i.xd3 20 i..d 2, but · in this variation he is completely deprived of counterplay.
lDd2
llad8
White nevertheless has a pawn majority in the centre, and in order to hinder its exploitation, Black should definitely have played 1 6 . . . f5 . Then in some cases he would also have been threatening . . . f5-f4, which would have been highly unpleasant for White in view of the dangerous position of his king in the centre. Now, however, making use of the respite afforded him, White completes his development, and in the approaching endgame the position of his king is transformed from a negative factor into a positive one.
h3 .i.c2 b3 .:d1
lDf6 lld7 ll.fd8
It only remains fo� i.b2 to be played, and Black will · be in difficulties. Therefore Tal is forced to exchange the bishop at c2 . .
20 21
1 18
.i.xd3
thdJ :xdJ
22
.i.b2
White, however, decided to exchange both pairs of rooks, since he assumed (not without reason) that in the ending with knight against bishop his winning chances would be considerable.
:Jd7
Of course, not 22 ... �xb3, which would have lost a piece, but the move in the game also indicates that Black is underestimating the �gers of his position. 22 ... cs was essential, activ ating his queenside pawns and fixing the weakness of the b3 pawn. 23 24
.i.xf6 b4
ttlb3
·
26 27 28
et ltacl f3
b6 .t.e4
:xdl+ ttxdl +
30
..td5
The last chance was 30 ... .tfS, in order to defend the c6 pawn from d7. Now the knight breaks into Black's position and begins wreaking havoc there.
..tf5 ..td3+
A temporary and insignificant achievement. It is clear that the bishop will soon be forced to retreat.
:xdl xdl
And so, the planned exchange of heary pieces has taken place.
gxf6
How the position has changed within just a couple of moves! Black is left with weak pawns, and the ending (with or without the rooks) will be difficult for him. Now it would perhaps have been best to try and restrict the enemy knight by 24 ... �d5. 24 25
28 29 30
31
lDd4
c5
32 33
bxc5 lDb5
bxc5 a6
3 2 e4 was threatened.
Or 33 ... as 34 ltJc3 ..i.c6 35 d2. and. the white king penetrates unhindered to c4. 34 35 36 37 38
It is possible that 28 �xd7 :!xd7 29 'it>e2 (but not 29 f3 iii view of 29 . . . :d3) 29 . . . .i.d3+ 30 f3 was even stronger. 1 19
lDc7 lDe8 h4 ttld6 gJ
-*.c4 f5 @f8
.i.fl
All Black' s pawns are isolated, and his bishop is unable to defend them. Before beginning the 'gathering of the harvest', · White places nearly all his pawns on dark squares.
38 39 40 41
was already at b3, thanks to the fact that the bishop had reached c4 not in two moves, but in one.
d2 Black resigns Game 286
Botvinnik-Tal World Championship Return Match Moscow 1 961, 3rd game Nimzo-Indian Defence
1 2 3 4 5 6 7
c4 lhc3 d4 e3 li.d3 a3 .i.xc4
9 10
lElfJ b4
•
e5 .i.g4
•
.i.b2
After 10 . . . a6 1 1 .i.e2 White would have retained some advantage (Botvinnik-Hecht, Belgrade 1 969).
lhf6 e6 .i.b4 0-0 d5 dxc4 .i.d6
11
d5
In the 5th game I chose a more logical continuation - 1 1 dxe5 thxe5 1 2 .i.e2, but here I was testing my pre match preparations (incidentally, instead of 1 1 . . . tDxe5, Konstantinopolsky re commended 1 1 ....txe5 for Black).
It was no accident that Tai employed this variation of the Nimzo-Indian Defence against me. Black gives up his pawn centre, aiming for piece play.
8 9
•
11 12
/i)c6
The simplest way of developing the queen's bishop. Incidentally, White does not achieve any advantage with either 9 ltlb5 (as I played against Tai earlier in the same match - No.285), or 9 i.b5. In order to appreciate how old this variation is, it will be recalled that this latter move (9 .i.b5) occurred back in the game Capablanca-Ragozin (Mos cow 1 936). Only, there the white queen
CD.e7 il.d7
h3
12 . . . i.h5 would have led to more complicated play, but, since Tai guessed that I was prepared for this variation, he chooses a less obvious move. In addi tion, Black is aiming to play his knight to g6, and in this case the position of the bishop at h5 will be unfavourable in view of g2-g4. ·
13
lhg5
thg6
While the lmight was at e7, Black could have safely made the prophylactic
1 20
move 1 3 . . . h6. Now, however, White carries out a tactical operation, ex changing the· enemy light-square bishop and gaining a significant positional advantage..
14 15
lDe6 dxe6
An important move, restricting still further the opponent's pieces. White can easily defend the f4 square, and if Black wants to transfer a knight to d4, which has been left without pawn control, an exchange on this square may merely increase White's positional advantage.
fxe6 'ifi>h8
With the knight at e7, here the bishop would have been able to move.
16 17 18
exd7
0-0
'ilfxd7 llf5
ifg4
ifc2
Black, of course, avoids the exchange of queens, since in the endgame White's advantage would be obvious.
20 _21 . 22 23
'ife2 1fg4 WeZ e4
'W'f5 1fc2 11ff5
27 28 29
1fh5 1!fe2 lDeJ!
ltlg8 ltl6e7
.. lDg4!
lDh6 l'.Llxg4
hxg4
ltlc6
1fd7 :ad8 'ife8 lDh6
White now avoids the exchange of knights on d5, since the exchange of the same pieces on g4 is even more favourable to him.
lDg8
For the same reason� Black avoids the exchange.
19
l:tadl ifg4 g3
There is no way for Black to achieve any activity. If, for example, 26 . . . c6 27 lbe3 lbf6, then 28 1i'f3 .
lDd5
By offering the exchange of knights, White aims to gain control of the impor tant squares d5, e4 and g4, which will suppress the activity of the opponent's pieces.
18
23 24 25 26
29 30
•
This is equivalent to suicide, since it opens the h-file. 30 . . . ifb5 3 1 . �g2 (3 1 'Dxe5 ifxh3) 3 1 . . .lLlc6 really would have been better.
31 121
32
33
-*.d5!
33
...
�d4
34 35
.*.xd4 .i.c4!
exd4
ile7
The exchange of rooks would have hindered White's attack on the enemy king. Tai was unable to refrain from this 'activity'. but the resulting opposite colour bishops are in White's favour, since Black has no way of opposing the activity of the light-square bishop.
The afore-mentioned plan has been carried out unhindered, and now with every move the threats intensify. 41 �g7
42 43
...
c5
36 37
b5 f4
.i.f6 d3
38 39 40 41
l:lxd3 i.xdJ e5 :ht
l:txd3 .i.d4 g6
Game 287
Botvinnik-Tal World Championship Return A1atch Moscow 1 961, 7th game Nimzo-lndian Defence
After this Black has some slight con solation: two connected passed pawns, but they are blockaded. Black sacrifices a pawn, in order to ex.change one pair of rooks.
b6
The sealed move. After 43 . . . 'ifd7 White wins by 44 'i'c6 'ii'xc6+ 45 bxc6 l'k8 46 e6, while if 43 . . . 'fie7 44 g5 l:tc8 (otherwise 45 'i'c6 and 46 'i'f6+ ! ) 45 f5 gxf5 46 l:txh7+ �xh7 47 ii'h4+ rl;g7 48 1i'h6 mate. Black resigns .
The simplest. It only remains for White to play i..d3 , f2-f4, l:thl and e4-e5 .
35
'ife4 .i.c4
1 2 3 4
c4 �CJ d4 a3
�f6 e6 i.b4
In the earlier games ·or the return match I chose 4 e3 . Now I decided to check what my opponent had prepared in this variation, which had occurred 122
several times in the games from our previous match.
4 5
.. bxcJ
.
i:.g5 h6 9 i.h4 �xc4 10 .ixc4 dxc4 1 1 'i'a4+.
8 9 10
i.xcJ+ b6
Black avoids 5 . . . liJe4 6 e3 f5 7 'i'h5+ (No. 278). A good alternative is 5 . . . c5, as played, for example, in Game 100 and · also a training game with Kan (see this volume).
6 7
.i.xft exd5
A plan typical . of such positions, which I employed, for example, against Tal in the 4th game of our first match, although in a somewhat different situati9n.
il.a6
f3 e4
�xfl i.g5
10
h6
The pawn exchange
10 . . .dxe4 1 1 fxe4 would have given White pre dominance in the centre and the possibility of conveniently developing his pieces at f3. Tai tries to complicate matters with a pawn sacrifice ( 1 1 i.xf6 1i'xf6 - of course, not l l . . .gxf6 - 12 exd5 0-0, with a comfortable game for Black). True to my match tactics, I declined the pawn sacrifice, so as not to concede the initiative to my opponent.
7
11 • •
•
This move can be considered a positional mistake, since it allows White to immediately get rid of his weak c4 pawn. I have to admit that already then I knew that 7 . . . liJc6 gives Black a good game, and after 8 .id3 t2Ja5 9 'i'e2 d6 ! followed by . . . 'i'd7-a4 (or c6) his position is perfectly sound. One gains the impression that, from the standpoint of opening · preparation, my opponent had not made very fruitful use of the ten months separating our second match from the first.
8
1fa4+
d5
cxd5
11
c6
Avoiding the endgame, since after l 1 . . . 'i'd7 1 2 'i'xd7+ liJbxd7 13 i.xf6 (or 1 3 i.h4 dxe4 14 �e l ) 1 3 . liJxf6 14 e5
Another plan was carried out in the game Alekhine-Eliskases ( 1 93 3/34) : 8
.
123
.
White's advantage is obvious. But the course chosen by Black leads to a difficult middlegame. Now the bishop can be retained, and Black will have no time to think about occupying c4 with one of his knights.
12
J.h4
Of course, here too White avoids 12 i.xf6 'i'xf6 1 3 exd5 0-0.
A
dxe4
12
highly dubious decision. The opening of lines in the centre merely assists the development of White's initiative.
13
:et
g5
This is now forced.
14
.tf2
The only move. In the event of the routine 14 !atg3 Black's position would not have been so bad after 14 . . . 'i'd5. But now if 14 . . . 'ii'd5 there can follow 1 5 c4 (the d4 pawn is defended) 15 . . . "i'e6 16 'ifc2 (16 fxe4 tlJxe4 17 ifc2 f5 18 g4 is unconvmcmg on account of 1 8 . . . �d8 ! 1 9 gxf5 Wxc4+ 20 'i'xc4 tlJd2+) and 17 fxe4 with a decisive advantage for White. This is the subtle point of the manoeuvre, begun with 1 2 i..h4.
14 15
•
•
•
White aims as quickly as possible to bring into play his last reserve, the rook at h l . If now 1 7 . . . g4 1 8 fxe4, and g4 remains inaccessible to the black knight. After 17 . . . l::tg8 (as should have been played) 18 hxg5 hxg5 White's king's rook is immediately activated. Black's reply also allows the bishop to come into play with decisive effect.
17 18 19
1!fe7
lLle2 ... 'i'c2
b5 1ixa3
If 16 . . . e3, then 1 7 i.xe3 CLld5 1 8 .te l . Convinced that the positional battle is lost, Black tries at least to retain a material adv{Ultage.
17
gxh4 ttlbd7
0-0-0
On the queenside too the king will not find a quiet refuge, and loss of material for Black becomes inevitable.
But not 1 5 fxe4 in view of 1 5 . . . tL1xe4 16 'ifc2 f5 17 g4 t'Dd7 1 8 gxf5 �df6.
15 16
.i.xh4 ttlgJ
h4 1 24
20
tLlxe4
20 . . . ttJxe4 is not possible on account of 2 1 'i'xe4 with two threats: 22 Wxc6+ and 22 ..i.xd8. Therefore Black offers a piece sacrifice.
20 21
lthe8
�!
White is not in a hurry to gain material� After 2 1 ctJxf6 J:.xe 1 + 22 ct>xel 'i'al + 23 'i'd l 'ili'xc3+ 24 fl ctJe5 some complications would have arisen. It is more important to retain the initiative.
21 22 23 24
fxe4 l:lal ltxa7
ttlxe4+ f6 11fe7 'If xe4
1!f xe4 %la8+
llxe4 tLlb8
27 .igJ 28 11.hal
�b7
•
•
•
30 31 32 33
b4 .id6 bxc3
From the character of the play, one might imagine that it was Tal playing White, and Botvinnik playing Black.
World Championship Return Match Moscow 1961, 9th game English Opening
1 2 3
c4 li)cJ g3
lDf6 e5 c6
4 5 6
tLlfJ lDd4 cxd5
e4 d5 1fb6
7 8
ihb3 -*.g2
cxd5
A well-known continuation of Keres. Although White can hope for an open ing advantage, the play becomes sharp, which always suits Tai. My opponent was in a fighting mood, since in the preceding game of our match he had won in good style.
At that time this was almost an innovation. It had been played not long before this match by Mikenas against Taimanov ( 1 960). In that game there followed 7 ltJc2, which is more common even now, although the continuation chosen by me is sound enough.
llc8
Defending against the threat of 2 9 % Ua7+ �b6 30 i.c7 mate.
29 , l:l8a7+
=
Gatne 288
Of course, not 26 . .. �c7 27 li.g3+.
28
.i.xb8
Botvinnik-Tal
The exchange of queens does not weaken White's attack.
25 26
30
Again threatening mate (3 1 l:t la6). Black loses a piece.
�b6
125
i.xc3+ 1 5 @fl .i.xd4, sine� the queen is won at too high a cosL · · ' 'ifxb4 14 .
15
.
•
.i.xf6
Of course, not 1 5 dxe4 tt:Jc6.
15 16
8
•
•
•
d3 .i.eJ llld4
12
lLlc2!
a4 1fb4 al
No better was l l . . . 'ifxb2, to which the simplest reply would have been 12 0-0. An obvious refutation of the rook' s pawn's swift advance.
12 13
.
.
•
ii.d4
The diagram demonstrates clearly the failure of Black' s play.
16 17
avoids
14
:b l
.i.e6 l:lcl
17 'iic l , suggested by Bronstein, would seem to be more logical, in order to use the rook on the b-file (e. g. l 7 . . . tt:Jc6 18 :b l 'fie7 19 dxe4 dxe4 20 tt:Jxe4, and the threat of 2 1 l:Xb7 can hardly be parried). However, White would have had to reckon with the 11• possible reply 1 7 . . . 'ifb2 At the same time, as will be seen from what follows, the move in the game by no means throws away the win.
17 18 19
'ilfxb2 �b4
Only in this way can the 'would-be attacker' queen be saved. 14 · /i)xb4 Naturally, White
gxf6
a5
In view of Black's retarded develop ment, he had no justification for wasting two tempi on this and the further ad vance of his pawn. Such an ' initiative' can be parried without difficulty. The correct plan of development was demonstrated by Black in the game Reshevsky-Keres ( 1 963): 8 . .. .i.f5 9 d3 i.b4 10 0-0 .i.xc3 1 1 bxc3 0-0 12 .i.e3 'i'c7, but the quiet play resulting after 8 . . . ..i.f5 evidently did not suit the World Champion.
9 10 11
0-0
dxe4 lllxe4
lllc6 dxe4
After 1 9 tt:Jd5 'fid4 20 Cl1c7+ cJite7 2 1 t2Jxa8 (the outcome would also be unclear after 2 1 :xc6 'i'xd l 22 lixe6+
1 26
23
a-pawn would have caused White con siderable problems.
19
•
•
•
.i.xa2
The boldness of desperation Other wise Black would simply have been a pawn down and in a difficult position. � 20 lhd6+
21 22
lhxb7 lhc5
24 25 26
22 .. J::tc 8 was completely bad in view of 23 ifd6+
lha6
•
•
.i.b3!
ltlxb4 l:lfxdl :at
.i.xdl llxb4
lhe5 l:tb8
26
23
•
White cannot avoid the exchange of queens.
The tempting 23 f4 ltJg4 24 e4 (or 24 tiJd7+ '3;;g7 25 ltJxb8 l:txb8 ! ) 24 ... ltJe3 2 5 'i'd6+ <:/;;g7 26 e5 did not hold any great danger for Black, since instead of 24 . . . l'De3 he would reply 24 ... h5 ! White takes the correct decision to go into an endgame, where he has every chance of winning, since the a3 pawn is doomed.
•
• •
�b2
Was it possible to make things more difficult for White, by aiming to give up the a3 pawn at the cost of the exchange of minor pieces? In a rook ending the conversion of a material advantage is not easy when the pawns are all on one wing. It turns out that White could have avoided such simplification, for example 26 ... .:a4 27 f4 ltlc4 28 1:.d4 (but not 28 l:td7 ttJe3) 28 . . . 'it>g7 29 i.c6 :b4 30 i.e4 ! (threatening 3 1 :xa3) 30 . . . l:a4 3 1 i.c2 llb4 32 i.d3 l:tc8 33 l:txa3. Therefore Black gives up the a3 pawn without a figh� and the game enters a purely technical phase, which, however, lasts a further 45 moves. But in such positions is it worth hurrying? 'l;g7 27 <:Ji;f1 28 lbaJ l:tc8
1 27
29
.i.e4
lle8
A rather surprising move, especially since it was apparently planned by Tai in his home analysis. 43 . . .t'Llc4 would have offered a more tenacious resist ance.
If 29 . . . ltJc4 White would have won by 30 l:k3 ! (30 ltld2+ 3 1 l:txd2). . . .
30 l:la4 31 . .i.f5 32 l!b4
l:le7 ltc7
Forcing a weakening of the h-pawn.
32 33 l:t a4 34 h3 35 . .i.d3
44
The repetition of moves is explained
convenient strong-point other than e5 . White, naturally, is aiming to reach the time control, to avoid taking any com mitting decisions before home analysis.
.i.e4 .i.d3 .i.e4 el
45 46 47 48 49 50
ttlc4 ttle5 ttlc4
The incautious 39 .i.d3 would have
repeated three times, and so to a draw.
llad4 l:lld2 lld1 f4
lLle5 llc3 :ct+ l:tcJ
f5
l:t4d3 .i.g4 :b3
llcc2 lia2
g6 ihd2 lhc4 ihd2
f2
lle3 "1b3
The two extra pawns guarantee White a win. He only needs to be careful not to make a mistake, and for this it is useful to gain time for thought.
led after 39 . . . ltle5 to the position being
39 40 41 42 43
ttlc4
gave up the pawn, Tai had in mind 44 . . . tlm+ 45 exf3 l:te3+ 46 � l:lxfJ+ 4 7 g 1 l:t.xg3+ 48 lt>hl , but not without reason he avoided it, since Black has no compensation for the piece. Or perhaps he hoped that I would be afraid of this continuation?
by the fact that Black's knight has no
36 37 38 39
.i xf5
It can only be assumed that, when he
h6 %lc5 �c4 �e5
51 52
ttlc4
lte3 lie8
52 llb3 would have led to a repetition, allowing Black to claim a draw.
52 53 54 55 56
ttld2 c.t>f6
l:te5
Jlf5+ :Ie5 .i.h5
�g6
c.t>t"6 llc3
. The next time control has been reached, and White, after calm reflec tion, can begin advancing his pawns, without which he cannot get by.
57 h4 58 .to 59 ·JL d5 60 .i.f3
1 28
, llc4 .:cc2 lla4 .
hiaa2
·
61 62
:et h5
l:!a4 J:l.c3
on the clock, and in addition, the advance g3-g4-g5 can no longer be avoided. These are more than sufficient reasons for Black to curtail his resistance.
Game 289
Tal-Botvinnik Ulorld Championship Return Match Afoscow 1961, 1 0th game Caro-Kann Defence
The black rooks have finally left the second rank, in order to hinder the advance of the white pawns. But at the same time this relieves the white pieces of any concern about the e2 pawn.
63 64 65 66 67
·
.i.g2 l:r.dl .i.d5 el .i.g2
:c2
%ta4 l1.d4
1bd4 f2
.i.e4 l:.f5+
lld5 @f3
ll:\bJ lbxd4 tDe6
:b2 rl;g7 'i&>f6
Black resigns
Tai satisfied himself that White was not intending to inake any error. Besides, from the 73rd move the two players had each gained an extra hour
e4 d4 e5
c6 d5
For many years this continuation was considered to be harmless for Black. White's next move reveals that it has some positional basis.
3 4
lla3
The pin inevitably leads to the exchange of one pair of rooks, which is useful for the conversion of the material advantage.
67 68 69 70 71 72 73
1 2 3
... h4
.i.f5 h6
4 . . . h5, which looks more active, is also often played, as, for example, in the 14th game of the Return Match. However, the text move is quite logical. Black wants to play . . . e7-e6, after which he will be out of danger. There fore it is not surprising that White immediately takes vigorous action.
5
g4
Here Boleslavsky recommended the quieter continuation 5 �d3 .itxd3 6 'i'xd3 e6 7 h5.
5
...
.i.d7
After 5 . .Jth7 6 e6 fxe6 White would have had a certain compensation for the pawn, which was confirmed, in par ticular, in the game Gufeld-Spiridonov ( 1 96 1) : ·7 .td3 .ixd3 8 'i'xd3 'i'd6 9 f4. .
.
6
1 29
h5
12
This too is useful, in order to prevent . . . h6-h5. However, in the 1 8th game (No. 293) Tal refrained from this move, restricting himself to the prophylactic 6 c3 , while in the same year Bronstein played 6 c4 against Portisch. Now Black must not delay his attack on the centre.
12
6 7
8 9
c3 i..h3
9 10
...
libJ
1'b6
Usually Tai avoids the exchange of queens, but here he changed his habit, and wrongly so, since in the given situation tl1e exchange favours Black.
10 11
iixb6
11
...
•
•
•
cxd4
After 1 1 cxd4 �b4+ 12 tLlc3 liJxd4 1 3 'i'd 1 .i.c5 White would have lost a pawn.
axb6
•
.
•
l£la5
But now, of course. Black avoids the win of a pawn ( 1 2 . . . tbb4 1 3 �d2 l:xa2 1 4 I:txa2 ti:)xa2), since then the initiative would have passed to the opponent. Instead of this he rapidly advances his b-pawn, imitating the plan that Capa blanca demonstrated in his encounter with Janowski ( 1 9 16). This game was given by the third World Champion in his book Afv Chess Career.
c5 l£lc6 e6
..ieJ Inconsistent, to say the least. 9 f4 . came into consideration. to place the knight at f3, from where it would have securely defended the central d4 pawn.
cxd4
lJ 14
lDcJ .ifl
b5 b4
14 . . .t:Dc4 could also have been played, but Black has no objection to the white knight occupying an insecure position at b5 and even penetrating to d6 . All this will merely assist the mobilisation of Black· s forces.
15
l£lb5
�d8
A rather rare occurrence, when by the 1 6th move none of the kingside pieces of both White, and Black, have left their initial squares. . It is true that the white bishop left its post at fl for a · short ti.me, but then thought it best to return.
1 30
bxc3 b3. White is therefore forced to give up a pawn, so that his bishop can participate in the blocking of Black's queenside pawns.
16
ltlfJ
lbc4
Again rejecting, and not without reason, the win of the a2 pawn (16 . . . lt:\b3 17 !!bl lixa2), since it would be hard to Black to bring his bishop at f8 into play.
17 .i.xc4 18 lt:\d6
23 24 25 26 27
dxc4 .i.xd6
There was no point in sacrificing the exchange (18 ... SLc6 19 �xf7+ �e8 20 lDxh8 i.x:f3 etc.), since in any case Black's position is good enough.
19 exd6 20 lt:\e5
exd5 lbf6 �d7 @e6
Here we can take stock: Black is a pawn up and has the better position. Tai' s subsequent clever attempts to complicate the play are unable to change the course of events.
.i.c6
White appears to be creating compli cations, but in the end it all reduces to further simplification, and this is merely playing into Black's hands. The white knight proves to be out of play in Black's territory, and in general the World Champion's pieces become disunited.
d5 .i.d4 �d2 {fjf7 lt:\e5
·
20 il..xh l 21 lbxf7+ �e8 22 li)xh8 .i.e4
There is the unpleasant threat of 23 . . . c3 24 a4 c3, which is not parried by 23 it.d2 on account of 23 . . . c3 24 13 1
28 f3 29 g5 30 h6 31 {fjf7+ 32 ltJxh6
.i.h7 hxg5 gxh6 @e6 ICigS
lbg4 34 liJe3 35 l£ig4
.i.f5 .i.g6 ilf5
36 ltJe3 37 l£ig4
.i.g6 d6
3 3 l:te 1 + was threatened, when Black loses a piece. 33
Now all Black's thoughts are aimed at safely escaping from time trouble.
38 the5
.*.f5 .
quick draw. In so doing,. he quite reasonably assumed that. .White would not avoid the Exchaiig� Variation of the Slav Defence, but he failed·: to appreciate that it is not so easy for Black to gain a draw even in this variation, if he does not have a prepared plan of action.
4 cxd5 5 lf)tJ 6 .i.f4
cxd5 li)c6 .i.f5
Two experts on the Slav Defence, Emanuel Lasker and Vasily Smyslov, used to prefer 6 . e6, although in this case too Black does not have an easy game. ..
Black unhesitatingly gives up his g5 pawn, since the passed f3 pawn is not dangerous. The outcome will be decided by the breakthrough of his pawns on the queenside, which White is unable to avoid.
7 e3
e6
39 lDt;+ 'it?d7 40 thxg5 the7 thc6 . 41 f4 42 ti)fJ d6 This last move was sealed by Black. White resigned, without resuming the game.
8 .i.b5
Game 290
Botvinnik-Tal World Championship Return Match Moscow 1961, 1 1th game Slav Defence ·
1 d4 2 c4 3 li)cJ
li)f6 c6 d5
A psychological mistake. After losing the two preceding games, Tal decided to take a breather and make a
The system associated with this move was one that I prepared · back in 1 946, i.e. 15 years before the present game, but I had never managed to employ it in practice. Only late in 1947 could I have played this against Trifunovic in the Chigorin Memorial Tournament, but I refrained: the tournament situation was such that I was quite ·�ppy with a draw. There I played 8 'ib3 .tb4 9 �b5 0--0, and the chances quickly became equal.
132
It should be added, only, that 8 .i.b5 is by no means a new move. A game in which it o.ccurred was given in Griinfeld's Taschenbuch der Eroff nungen im Schach. There 8 . . . t'.Dd7 was recommended, and if 9 ifa4 l:tc8, after which Black's position is· not worse, since the acceptance of the sacrifice ( I O i.xc6 �xc6 1 1 'i'xa7 ii'.c8) i s not without its dangers for White. All this was established long ago, but I not unreasonably thought that my opponents would avoid the pawn sacrifice� since White was apparently ready to go in for this variation. This assumption proved justified . . .
8 .i.b4 'iia5 9 tiJe5 10 ..txc6+ bxc6 ..txc3 11 0-0 'fixc3 12 bxcJ
Black continues to stick to his direct drawing tactics. However. it should be mentioned that Pomar' s attempt to improve Black' s play by 1 2 . . . :cs did not prove satisfactory in view of 13 c4 with the threat of c4-c5 (Game 340).
Now the exchange of queens is in evitable, since if 1 3 . . . ..i.c2 there follows 14 J;lb l followed by 1 5 ::tb2 or 1 5 :b3 1 2 • Because o f this, th e white rook moves to the c-file with gain of tempo.
13 14 llfxcl
This leads to a further deterioration of .Black ' s position. His main defensive trump . is the centralised position of his king. After removing it to the wing, apart from anything else he will have to reckon with the threat of ttJxc6. lLle7+ was and lLlxf5. Therefore 14 . . preferable. .
tLlci.7
15 f3 16 lLlxc6 17 a4
h6
17 18 .i.d6
lDd7 lDb6
:res
Exploiting his spatial advantage, White selects the a7 pawn as a target, since it will not be easy for the black bishop to come to its aid.
19 .i.c5
13 'lfcl!
'irxct
0-0
After Black has prepared to occupy c4 with his knight, the threat of ttJe7+ and ltJxf5 has lost its strength, since
133
White would have problems over the defence of his e3 pawn. However, for the momenh 9 .. ltlc4 is unfavourable on account of 20 e4 �g6, and now either 2 1 exd5 exd5 22 l'De7+ and 23 ft.)xd5, or simply 2 1 iJ.xa7. Black also has a difficult game after 19 . . . t'.Llc8 20 lla3 ! This means that he has to agree to the loss of a pawn, but at least he is able to give it up in such a way as to provoke the exchange of knights. Then the only minor pieces left on the board will be opposite-colour bishops. .
19 20 ltlxa7 21 .i.xb6
i.dJ rlxa7 l:ta6
Now White's plan becomes apparent: to play e4-e5 and exchange on f6, after which the advance of the f-. and g-pawns will enable him to achieve his goal.
Although it is natural that Black should want to blockade the passed a-pawn, the rook is not well placed on this square.
22 a5 23 lla3
e4 <&t>e3 :.ac3 g4 ct>f2
28 29 -h4 30 h5
llab8
lic6
32 hxg6+ 33 :Jc2
<&t>xg6 fxe5
After this the white bishop also gains the opportunity to participate in the play on the kingside.
34 dxe5 %th8 35 lth2 l:tcc8 Of course, not 3 5 . . . h5 36 :chi . 36 @d2 iJ.b3
.J::t aa8 :eb8 r!c8
After strengthening the placing of his pieces and pawns on the queenside and in the centre, White intends to open up the game on the kingside, in the hope of either penetrating with his rooks into the opponent's rear, or of creating another passed pawn.
llbc8 g6
Passive waiting is not to Tal 's liking, but the move played merely assists White's intentions.
.i.c4 f6
This decision also cannot be approved. The development of White's initiative would have been hindered by 23 . . . f5 .
24 25 26 27 28
30 . . . 31 e5
But now the a-pawn will be able to advance directly to a7 .
37 38 39 40
a6 a7 ltal .i.e3
.i.c4 l:.h7 :as
It only remains to 'piay l:tb l -b8 or
l:tahl, but Black's next' move - his last
in time trouble . - · 1e_qds to a different outcome. 134
40 l:r.b7 41 l:!xh6+ 'lig7 ; 42 l: ahl ktb2+ Black resigns •
•
l l . . .cxd5 1 2 .ixd5 lDc6, which was known from the game Boleslavsky Najdorf ( 1 953). Alas, such a prosaic decision does not suit Tai, and he plays for complications, i.e. for the worsening· of his own position.
•
{.
�
.
·
11 12 i.b3
Game 291
Botvinnik-Tal
b5 ilb7
World Championship Return Match Moscow 1961, 13th game King's Indian Defence
1 2 3 4 5 6
d4 c4 lDcJ e4 f3 .ie3
lDf6 g6 .i.g7 d6 0-0 e5
Whereas after the I 0th game my opponent was definitely aiming for a draw, after his victory in the 1 2th game he was in an aggressive mood, as indicated by his choice of opening. Taking this into account, White takes a psychologically correct decision: he first of all exchanges the queens.
13 0-0-0
If 1 3 l:.c 1, according to analysis by Boleslavsky, Black gains the better game with 1 3 . . . aS ! (avoiding traps such as 1 3 . . . cxd5 14 :c7 l:td7 1 5 l:xb7. or 1 3 . . . �d7 14 liJe2 cxd5 1 5 .ixd5 i.�d5 16 l:k8+ i.f8 17 exd5). Therefore White sets a more substantial trap - a positional one.
7 dxe5
Of course, 7 d5 or 7 l2Jge2 leads to more interesting play.
7
8 'ifxd8 9 lDd5
dxe5 l:txd8
13
White, naturally, avoids 9 ti:Jb5 lba6 1 0 l2Jxa7 lDb4 or 9 ftd l :xd l + 10 @xd l i.e6. which would have been in Black's favour.
9
•
•
•
lDxd5 c6
If 9 . . . tDe8 the strongest is 10 0-0-0.
10 cxd5 11 ..tc4
•
•
•
c5
To my surprise, Tai, makes the position a closed one, which is not in keeping with his style. Of course, he should not have left White with a protected passed pawn and restricted the possibilities of his queen's bishop. After 13 . . . as ! 14 dxc6 lLlxc6 1 5 .:t.xd8+ l:xd8 1 6 l2Je2 a toughly equal position would have been reached.
14 .i.c2
Inviting Black to choose the variation
135
White's plan was not difficult to find. It was · successfully implemented in a similar �osi_tion in a training game Boleslavsky-Botvinnik (Voronovo 1 952), and consisted in the preparation of an attack on the black pawn chain by b2-b3 and a2-a4. It is surprising that, although White does not conceal his intentions, my opponent essentially does not even attempt to counter them.
14 15 ttle2 16 ltlc3
tl)d7 .i.f8 a6
Perhaps the losing move. The bishop at b7 is shut out of play for a long time, and, more important, White is able to carry out his idea without hindrance. Black should have played 16 . . .b4 17 �a4 c4 followed by ... ..ta6, leading to unclear complications.
17 b3 18 il.d3 19 .i.e2
l:tac8 ltlb6 :l d6
Now the threat is parried: in the event of 20 . . .b4 2 1 ttJbl c4 22 bxc4 ttJxc4+ 23 .i.xc4 :xc4 24 .tk l white breaks through on the c-file. ·
20 21 llcl 22 a4
f5 ltf6 bxa4
Since after 22 . . . b4 23 ttJb l Black is left with numerous weaknesses, he takes another decision, also, however, a painful one: he opens the b-file, which will soon be occupied by White.
23 bxa4
White, of course, does not exchange knights (23 tt:Jxa4 ttJxa4+ 24 bxa4), since the black knight is badly placed.
23 . . .
a5
23 . . . c4 24 'tt>c2 �b4 25 l:.b l .i.xc3 would not have changed anything, since both 26 ..i.xb6 and 26 'it>xc3 �xa4+ 27 �c2 are good for White.
24
This move creates the concrete threat of 20 . . . b4 2 1 lDb l c4 (the knight at b6 is defended), but the rook at d6 is no adornment to the position.
20 @b2 136
I saw that by 28 f4 I could gain a material advantage, since it is hard for Black to defend his minor pieces (28 . . . fxe4 29 fxe5 30 �d.2 .:Ixd.5+ 3 1 @e3 etc.). But at this tense moment, in the fifth hour of play' r did not want to allow my opponent even the slightest tactical counter-chances.
�f2
28 29 l:tb2 •
•
Slightly more tenacious was 29 . . . fxe4 30 fxe4 (30 ttlxe4 JL.f5) 30 ... ..td7 3 1 :hb 1 .ixa4+ 3 2 tiJxa4 ttlxa4 3 3 l:tb8+ l:f8 (in the game on the 32nd move this could not be played because of 3 3 f4). Even so, after 3 4 d6 l:kc8 3 5 l:.xc8 l:xc8 36 l:tb7 there is no doubt that White is winning.
30 l:t.hbl
ltti l:l.xb7 'it>f6 l:tc8
37 38 39 40 41
d7 rld8 .lxc4 ltlc5 :n+ @g5 .tb5 fxe4 fxe4 Black resigns Game 292
Botvinnik-Tal World Championship Return Match Moscow 1961, 1 5th game King's Indian Defence
..ixa4+
If 30 . . . ttlc8 there would now have followed 3 1 f4 - a possibility which would have been excluded by the preparatory exchange 29 . . . fxe4 30 fae4.
1 2 3 4 5 6
ltlxa4
31 ltlxa4 32 l:tb8+
.:1b7+ d6 �xb7+ 11xh7
Or 3 6 . . . l:.c6 37 d7 lld6 3 8 hc4 ttlb6 39 l:If7+ �g5 40 i.b5.
.i.c8 .i.d7
•
33 34 35 36
d4 c4 lhc3 e4
f3
lhf6 g6 .i.g7 d6 0-0 c6
..te3 Avoiding the exchange of queens which occurred in the 13th game after 6 . .. e5 (No.29 1). The situation in the return match obliged Tal to think only in terms of winning.
32
•
•
•
'
�g7
It is already known that if 32 . . .l:f8 there would.have followed 3 3 f4.
7 i.d3
e5
8 lhge2
exd4
Usually after 6 . . . c6 Black transposes into the variation involving . . . a7-a6 and . . . b7-b5. This was how Smyslov played against me in the 8th game of our 1958 return match (No.259), as did Larsen in · Leiden ( 1970) - see No. 3 80. This exchange can hardly be ap proved, since White can advantageously 1 37
Only after his rook has left the comer square does White make · this move, strengthening his c4 pawn, since now the weakening of the al-h8 diagonal is of no significance.
recapture with his bishop. 8 ...lLlbd7 was better. 9
.i.xd4
14 15 ii.bl
9
•
•
•
c5
Black takes on too great obligations. Such a plan would have chances of success, if he could compensate for the defects of his position in the centre with piece pressure, but he has no such prospects, in view of the fact that he is behind in development. 9 ... tDbd7 I 0 0-0 lDe5 1 1 f4 tDxd3 1 2 'ifxd3 also cannot be recommended for Black. Subsequently this variation occurred in the game Hiibner-Gligoric ( 1973 ), and the Yugoslav grandmaster demon strated the correct method of play for Black: 9 . . . d5 10 cxd5 cxdS 1 1 e5 ttJfd7 12 f4 tDc6.
10 11
ilf2 0-0
tbc6
White ignores the threat to exchange his bishop ( ...l£lc6-e5xd3), which would merely be playing into his hands.
11 12 1id2 13 l:.ad1 14 bJ
�ab8 llfd8
16 f4!
At this point, when the two sides have completed their development, White, 'as is his right', is the first to begin active play. There is immediately the prospect of an attack on f6 (f4-f5, ..ih4 etc.). In order to parry it, Black decides on an exchanging operation, as a result of which White gains the advantage of the two bishops, and also a very active position in the centre and on the kingside. It need hardly be said that the dis appearance of the queens signifies the wrecking of Tai' s plans, made in his preparations for the game!
16 17 18 19 20
a6 i.e6 'lfa5
138
hJ it)xel :xd2 ll'igJ
.i.g4 i.xel 1ixd2 :eS
Naturally� Black would have been quite happf to exchange his d- and c pawns for the . white e- and f-pawns (20 e5 dxe5 2 1 ..txc5). To avoid this, White has to make a rather awkward move. i..f8 The variation 20 . . hS 2 1 �xd6 h4 22 li:Jhl ltJxe4 23 .i.xe4 I:txe4 24 ..i.xc5 (or 24 i.xh4) would have led to the loss of a pawn� therefore Black is forced to spend a tempo defending his d6 pawn.
20
.
21 Itel 22 t[}fl
lie6
22 23 :de2
libe8 J.g7
At the first opportunity the knight leaves the g3 square, since at the given moment it is not needed for the defence of the e4 pawn.
White's coming offensive have been hindered by 23 . . . h.5 .
should
26 lDh2
t[}f8 All Black's efforts are concentrated on occupying the d4 square. Meanwhile, in such situations this manoeuvre does not play any particular role, and it is unable to prevent the development of White' s initiative on the kingside (cf., for example, Game 87).
27 J.h4 2s .:n
lDe6 ll d7
A serious error, after which Black's position becomes difficult to defend. One can understand Tal not wanting to restrict his most active piece, the bishop at g7, but 28 . . .f6 was nevertheless necessary. Then White would have had a choice between 29 f5 liJed4 30 llef2 and 29 i..g3 f5, in both cases with counterplay for Black. Apparently my opponent evaluated the position somewhat routinely, and did not sense just how dangerous it was. Later Tai said that he lost the return match, not imaging that the former champion would act so decisively.
29 g5
24 g4
White .not only restricts the space available to the opponent's pieces, but he also prepares the activation of his own king.
24 lDd7 25 ��2'_.�,... lt6e7
After this seemingly · · paradoxical move� shutting in the bishop at h4, 139
White forces the exchange of his opponent's bishop at f6� after which it is doubtful whether Black can save the game.
29 . . .
h5
30 gxh6 31 lDg4
i.xb6 .i.g7
32 33 34 35
..i.xf6 lf)g7 lDh5 l:r.ed8
Preventing ttJg4 for one instant. After 29 . . . b5, which, incidentally, Black was also free to play earlier. the develop ment of events would not have changed. After 3 1 . . . lbxf4+ 3 2 ltxf4 i.xf4 3 3 t'ill'6+ White would have won a piece.
lDf6+ -*.xf6 nd2 ll.cJ
40 f6 41 l:td5 42 bxc4 43 f3
b5 bxc4 ltb7 :b4
44 .i.xb4 45 .i.xb5 46 exd5
lDxb4 lDxd5 gxh5
This exchange sacrifice also does not save Black: White immediately takes play into a won rook ending, rejecting a material advantage.
47 .:bt
The last move in the game that required accuracy!
Black has no useful moves, and he can only passively await the outcome.
36 37 38 39
i.c2 i.dl Jl.g4 f5
�
White had only one more move to make before the time control, and, instead of 40 l::tdf2 with the threat of 4 1 fxg6, he was tempted into playing for 'suffocation'. 140
47 48 :b6 49 f4
g8 h7
50 g5 51
llg8+ l:g3 %te3
�
How can Black hope to save an endgame, in which he has had to spend so many tempi on decentralising his king?
52 . . . :c3 was no bettei; on account of 53 Itxd6 l:hc4 54 :ct? 'iti>g8 55 l:td8+ @h7 56 etc. lle5+
�f8 53 :xd6
54 55 56 57 58
�g4 ct>f'4 �el %ba6 d3
�g6 i:tf5+ l:h5 llxh4 �5
7
Checks to the white kiiig do not help, since he hides from them at a4.
11h2 59 :Ic6 60 llxc5 %lxa2 61 l:tc7 �xf6 ci>e5 62 lld7 63 lle7+ Black resigns. Naturally, he
could not be satisfied with either 63 . . . �6 64 d6, or 63 . . . 'itd6 64 l:.xf7.
Game 293
World Championship Return Match Moscow 1961, 18th game Caro-Kann Defence
e4 d4 e5 h4 g4 cl
• •
e6
8
lLle2
8 9
lLlaJ
8 ltJa3 would perhaps have been safer, to prevent the black bishop from reaching the fl -a6 diagonal. •
..
.i.b5
But now this is simply unfavourable, since it allows Black to force useful exchanges. 9 .i.e3 should have been played.
9 10 11fxe2 11 cxd4 12 bxa3
Tal-Botvinnik
1 2 l 4 5 6
•
So, in the centre we have a pawn formation, typical of a variation which was employed in the 1 9th century by Steinitz, and in the 20th century by Nimzowitsch. The analogy can be con tinued with the fact that now Black does not experience any opening difficulties.
.i.xe2 cxd4 .i.xa3
c6 d5 .i.f5 h6 il.d7
In the 10th game Tai played 6 h5, preventing . . . h6-h5 . But now he had evidently decided that after 6 . . . h5 he could well accept the pawn sacrifice. For the same reason Black prefers to avoid this continuation.
6 7 .i.g2 • • •
c5
White aims to provoke . . . e7-e6 as soon as possible, to rid him of his con cerns about the g4 pawn. However, at g2 the bishop has' no particular future. 14 1
A semi-open position has been reached, in which the black knights will be no weaker than White's bishops, which are condemned to defending his numerous weaknesses (a3 , c4, d4, g4).
12
• •
•
lLlc6
13 .i.e3 14 'iWl
lia5+
14
lDge7
For the moment White avoids the exchange of queens, hoping to develop an attack. Over the course of several moves Black does not take the a3 pawn (and White does not defend it)� both players rightly consider tliat it is more important for them to complete their development.
15 l:t.bl 16 .i.bJ
l:tb8
16 17 Itdl
11a4
A loss of time. This square would be better used for the rapid inclusion in the play of the rook at h 1 .
knight to c4, or to exchange · queens and play a cheerless ending. In the latter case the doubling of the enemy pawns cannot provide any consolation, since in the end the exchange of rooks on b6 will be inevitable, and Black's pawns will resume their normal form.
19 20 21 22
'if xa6 h5 l:tbl gJ
bxa6 d7 ltb6 lDa5
23 :xb6 24 f4
axb6 li)c4
Let the move 22 . . .l�hb8 remain in reserve.
Of course. the d4 pawn had to be defended, but not in such a passive way. Therefore 1 7 d2 tiJa5 should have been played, although this continuation did not look very tempting for White.
'if
17 18 �g2
'ilxaJ Wa6!
25 ..i.cl
White tries to retain the two bishops, which are his only consolation in this position.
25 26 27 28 29
This sets White a difficult choice: either to allow Black to transfer his
lldl aJ f5 ltxct
tDc6 li)b4 lDa2 tDxcl
So, White has also been deprived of his last trump - the tWo bishops.
.. . b 29 5
142
37 l:cl
Just in case, Black moves his king off the diagonal Qn which the enemy bishop is operating.
31 xg5 34 .*-xf5
37 a4 was stronger. Even so, after 37 . . . b4 3 8 i.:f3 liJd2 ! (but not 3 8 . . . tiJb6 39 a5, or 3 8 . . J:k7 39 :c l ! ) 39 · i.xd5 %k3 40 .i.e4 (or 40 ktd l ltd3) 40 . . .b3 ! (weaker is 40 . . J�c4 4 1 �e3 t2Jxe4 42
:.cs hxg5+ exf5 :c6
37 . 38 .i.f5 •
.
f6
In time trouble White makes an error, leading to the loss of a second pawn, but, generally speaking, in this position the conversion of Black ' s material advantage is not very difficult.
38
•
..
fxe5+
Weaker is 38 . . . t2Jxe5 39 llgl (39 l:te l flc4). What is there for White to do in this position? The attempt to hold on with 35 l:c l is refuted by 3 5 . . . ttJxe5 36 :e l f6+ 37
35
36 .i.g4
39 dxe5 40 l::td l
Or 40 :e l �6 (4 1 lhe5 J:tc4+).
40
41
lth6
llc6
Otherwise 3 7 i.f3 ltJb6 3 8 ltc 1 , and White seizes the initiative.
lLlxe5
�d6 D.c5 White resigns .i.e4
Game 294
Botvinnik-Tal World Championship Return Match Moscow 1 961, 21st game King' s Indian Defence
1 2
3
d4
c4
lLlcJ
ltlf6 g6 ilg7
Before this game Tai was still the World Champion, since I had only 1 2 points and my opponeµt still had theor etical chances of drawing the match by
143
winning the remrurung four games. Therefore he chose a complicated open ing - a draw was of no interest to him at all.
4 e4 5 f3
d6 l£lbd7
In avoiding simplificatio� Tai chooses a not very successful variation. It should also be mentioned that we had spent three days on the previous game, in which for a long time he had been hoping to win, and after I had saved it he was, naturally, rather depressed.
6 .i.eJ 7 l£lge2
8
e5
0-0
9
10
.
•
•
f5 a6 .
0-0-0 Played to control the b5 square for counterplay with . . . b7-b5, and also to free the queen from having to defend the c7 pawn in· view of a possible lbb5. Even so, 10 ... l£lc5 is probably stronger (Boleslavsky-Keres, 1 952).
11 'ifi>bl
l£ldf6
Black intensifies the pressure on the central e4 pawn, and in view of the threatened . . . b7-b5 White is practically forced to exchange on f5 .
12 exf5 13 l£lg3
gxf5
13
'l'e8
·
Now B iack does not have a great choice. If 1 3 . . . f4 14 liJxh5 fxe3 1 5 ltJxf6+ 'i'xf6, then White emphasises his positional advantage by 16 'i'c2, avoiding the double-edged play after 16 'ii'xe3 e4 ! 1 7 fxe4. The manoeuvre 16 'i'c2 (instead of 16 'i'xe3) was one that I later carried out in a game with Medina (No. 324). The exchange of knights on g3 leads to the opening of the h-:file, and that says everything. •
•
•
d5
White accepts the challenge and goes in for a complicated game. However, there was no particular risk in this, since Tai did not like closed positions. The Encyclopaedia considers 8 'i'd2 to be stronger.
8 9
.. lid2 .
l£lh5
White avoids the win of a pawn (9 g4 tt)f4 1 Q �xf4 . exf4 1 1 ..txf4), which after 1 1 . . . f5 12 exf5 gxf5 13 g5 would have handed the initiative - to Black.
14 1 44
i.clJ!
�xg3
21 :dbl 22 fhgs+ 23 :h6
In the spirit of the position was the pawn sacrifice l4 . . . e4 ( 1 5 · ctJxh5 fol lowed by fxe4)� although it could hardly give sufficient compensation, as Biack' s pieces are not mobilised. )4 . . . f4 would still have not given anything, while after 1 4 . . . Wfg6 1 5 liJxh5 'i'xh5 1 6 h3 the unpleasant g2-g4 cannot be avoided. Even so, it is hard to agree with Black's decision. In the game White's attack becomes virtually irresistible.
15 hxg3
This is the whole point. White controls the g6 square, which is of decisive importance. ·
23
c5
ilg6 b5
18 19 klh4
'it>xg7 bxc4
•
.
.
fxg4
Even so, Black should not have given up the b l -h7 diagonal without a fight. After, for example, 23 . . . e4 24 gxf5 .i.xf5 25 fxe4 .th? he could still have held the position. However, even in this case White had the decisive contin uation 24 fxe4 tt:lxg4 25 l:txd6.
A standard advance in the King's Indian Defence, after which the . . . b7-b5 counterblow could have gained in strength. However, White ' s offensive develops more quickly.
16 i..h6 17 g4 18 ..txg7
1lg5 hxg5
Of course, it was tempting to ex change the bishop defending the enemy king, but the h6 square should not have been given up without a fight. The pre paratory 1 8 %th4 was more consistent. .
.
•
24 fxg4!
Now White sacrifices a pawn (by retreating his bishop), but on the other hand his king will be completely safe. However, the alternatives 19 . . . C'Dg8 20 gxf5 .ixf5 21 Itg4 and 19 . . . e4 20 gxf5 .ixf5 2 1 fxe4 were equally hopeless.
20 i.c2
the simplest. The pressure on the ffile will be irresistible.
24 25 lig6+ 26 :n 27 llg7+
h6!
Cleverly played. Black covers the h6 square and forces the exchange of queens, which, alas, can no longer halt White' s attack. It becomes clear why White should not have been in a hurry to exchange the dark-square bishops (cf. the note to White' s l �th move).
.i.xg4 e8
Other replies were equally hopeless: 27 . . ':f7 28 l:xf7+ r:l;xi7 29 tt:le4, or 27 . . . �d8 28 lhe4 (but not 28 l:xf6? llxf6 29 l:g8+ and 30 ltxa8 on account of 30 . . . l:.tfl+) 28 ... lhd7 29 J:ixf8+ thxf8 30 iDxd6.
145
.
28
lDe4
li:ld7
The white knight is immwie because of 29 .i.a4+.
8
e4
c6
29 lihd6+ �d8 30 lbf8+ iCixf8 31 . ·lCixc4 .i.d7 32 :n 'l;c7 33 d6+
Black resigned
Here the game, and with it the title of World Champion.
So, by transposition we have reached a well-lrnown variation, which is gen erally considered satisfactory for Black. It may be remembered that it occurred in two games from world championship matches (Botvinnik-Smyslov, 14th game, 1954, and .Botvinnik-Tal, 6th game, 1 960), and both ended in a win for Black. Regarding 8 . . J:te8, see Games 1 13 and 2 10.
9
Game 295
Botvinnik-Pachman European Team Championship Oberhausen 1961 King's Indian Defence
1 2 3 4 5 6
i£if3 g3 .i.g2 c4 thc3 d4
i£if6 d6 e5 g6 ll.g7
Only this move transforms the game from an English Opening into a King' s Indian Defence.
6 7
0-0
iCibd7 0-0
h3
In Game 1 50 I played 9 b3 .
9 10 :et
1fb6
10 11 ihxd4
exd4 thg4
.
•
•
White avoids d4-d5 and maintains the tension in the centre - a method that was employed in this position by Semion Furman. •
•
.
10 . . . l:Ie8 was also possible.
After l 1 . ..l:te8 12 :e2 the lunge 12 . . . �g4 can be countered well by 1 3 l'.:td2.
12 like2 ,
.
After 1 2 hxg4 ifxd4 Black has an excellent game. 146
12 . . . 13· b3
psychological ones, at that time it was the strongest! In a
If 13 c5 White has the convenient
later
...
game Portisch-Gligoric
retreat 14 tt:Jc2, defenrung the rook at
( 1 964) the continuation 16 £Cic3 'i'd8 17
al.
l:te2 We7
a5 lte8
14 i.eJ 15 :bt
1 8 f4 £Cied7
19
· .:tf2
also
proved advantageous to White.
16
•
•
ll'c7
•
Subsequently Black in fact fails to find a good plan. The only question is whether White will find one . . .
17 18 19 20
Steinitz
'ifc2 lDcJ l:tbdl ltlde2
long
ago
lDed7 lDf8 lDfe6 recommended
refraining from exchanges, when the opponent has a cramped position.
20 21 1fd2 •
. •
.i.f8
The plan involving f2-f4 appears to At that time this position was little
known among the broad mass of regular
be the most logical. Reckoning that in the given position there is no reason to
players, although it had already occur
hurry , for the moment White adopts
red in master games. Black is counting
waiting tactics.
on exploiting the strength of his piece pressure on the centre, while White is hoping in time to restrict the activity of the black pieces.
16 llft!
This
paradoxical
move
was
em
ployed by Furman not long before the present game, and it probably came as a surprise to my opponent. White removes his rook to a passive position. in order to deprive Black of tactical chances involving
an
attack by
one
of his
knights on the rook at e l . For example: 16 'i'c2 lDed3
17 .l:ted l £Cib4 etc. It
cannot be asserted, of course, that 16
%tfl are
is the only move, but if all factors taken
irito
account,
including
147
21 22 i.b6 23 .ttfel
�d7 �g7
Of course, this is a weake1ung of the position, but Black is preparing . . . lDe5f7. However. White himself retreats his bishop �thout any compulsion. il.eJ
24 25 .i.f4 26 lhd4 27 'fic2
lhc5 l%d8 .*.d 7
27 28 .i.eJ 29 a3
lDge6 :eS
30 31 exf5 32 g4
The white pawns are very strong. Black's scattered pieces and exposed king make his position critical. 1'e5 It is clear that sooner or later Black will have to return his extra knight, and he intends to do this in an advantageous way or to force simplification. How ever, after the next move, which came as a surprise to him, it transpires that he should have returned the piece immediately with 32 . . ltJxf5, since all the same the knight at g7 is out of play.
32
Finally a concrete plan is contem plated - White intends to drive away the knight from c5 by a2-a3 and b3-b4.
gxf5 ltlg7
.
•
•
.
33 .i.d4!
Decisive. It soon becomes clear that the exchange of one pair of rooks does not ease Black's position, and a counter sacrifice will no longer be possible.
lbel+ .i.c8
33 34 llxel 35 :dt
.f!e8
36 b4 37 axb4
axb4 lDa6
Black must strengthen his control of f7, in view of the tlrreat of f5-f6-f7+.
f5
29
Black tries to free himself, but he overlooks a tactical blow. However, after 29 . . . l2Jxd4 30 �xd4 it would also have been bad to play 3 O . . . f5 because of 3 1 b4 axb4 32 axb4 ltlxe4 3 3 ii.xe4 ! fxe4 34 ltlxe4.
30 lhxf5?
But now in the event of 30 b4 axb4 3 1 axb4 lLlxe4 or 30 exf5 ltlxd4 and 3 1 .. . .i.xf5 Black would have success fully defended. At the same time, the positional sacrifice of a piece made by White does not leave Black any choice. ·
148
38
ltle4!
l:lxe4
39
.i.xe4
ltJxb4
to bring it out to f5 or even g4, whereas 7 . . . i..e7 is in any case necessary.
Othernrise the terrible threat of 39 0\f6+ cannot be parried.
40 'lfd2 41 cxd5
Or 40 . . . tiJa6 4 1 'i'g5.
42
.i.f3
8 9
d5 cxd5
Here Black was due to make a sealed move. However, in view of his numer ous weaknesses and the bad placing of his pieces. together with the strong white pawns on the kingside. further resistance is pointless. Therefore resigned .
Black
ti:lcJ
.ieJ
il.e7 ·
In the first half of this event, playing White, Unzicker defeated me in excellent style in a French Defence. In order to take first place on the team leaders' board, I was obliged to gain my revenge. Hence the decision to avoid well-known continuations and from the very start to prevent the opponent from using his opening knowledge. 9 dxc5 ii.xc5 I 0 i.g5 or I 0 l£ia4 is usually played.
Game 296
Botvinnik-Unzicker European Team Championship Oberhausen 1 961 Queen's Gambit
1 2 3 4
5
6
c4
ll)fJ g3 .ig2 0-0
cxd5 d4
li)f6 e6
d5 c5 li)c6 exd5
9
7 An opening transformation typical of modem tournament play. After the first move the game was an English Opening, then a Reti� then it seemed to I ransfonn into a Catalan� but in the end a Tarrasch Defence was reached, and that means a Queen's Gambit.
7
•
•
•
i..e6
Black should not have been in a hurry to develop this bishop. since in some cases it might be more advisable
...
c4
My calculation proves correct. Now a complicated battle ensues. and White advantageously establishes his knight in the centre of the board. 10 /l)e5 0-0 After 10 . . . 'ifc7 1 1 .i.f4 ilb6 White could have begun an attack 12 e4.
11
li)xc4
-
A few decades earlier I had observed one of Levenfish 's games, in which he carried out such a combination. The position is opened up, and the white
149
bishops prove more active than Black 's. The alternative was 1 1 b3 .
11 12 d5 13 lllxd5
Black Wlderstandably aims for sim plification, but this move !eads to the loss of a pawn. After 16 . . . .i.e6 ! i..c 3 Wb6 he would have had a reasonable chance of occupying the open file and e>..i>loiting the weak d3 square. ·
dxc4 l£ixd5 .i.f6
Since 1 4 l£ixf6+ 'i'xf6 followed by . . . l:tfd8 and . . . lDd4 is quite safe for Black, White cannot prevent 14 . . . .ild4. Ten years later another plan for Black, 1 3 . . J:k8 14 :c 1 b5, was tried by Spassky in a game with Taimanov, but with 1 4 'ifd2 followed by Itfd l White could have gained a clear advantage. 1 4 ttlf4, a s suggested by Polugayevsky, i s also good.
17 .i.xe4 ttlxd4 17 . . . 'iixd4.. then White has
If instead
a pleasant choice: 18 'i'xd4 �xd4 1 9 �xc4, or 18 .i.xc6 'i'xdl 1 9 llixd l bxc6 20 l::t.xc4. in both cases with an imposing advantage.
14 :ct
i.d4
15 .txd4
..lxd5
lDe6
18 .:.xc4
Black retreats his knight and assumes that after 1 9 .ixb7 l:tb8 he will be able to regain the b2 pawn. However, my opponent overlooked a tactical subtlety.
14 'I'd2 would also have been answered by 1 4 . . . .i.d4, and if 1 5 lDf4 'i'b6 16 .t.xd4 lD.xd4 !
14 . . .
17
'l!!' ;.�;:.y.: A ;:r1;· J;:
: (::
..
;;�,w.� �
I
;;;,' /?,'� ��*
Of course. not 1 4 . . . .txb2 1 5 :xc4, and White' s initiative increases.
�}rtJ iJ��:-W%-. JJ'f/, � �:}PJ' ffx�%ffl!"' : :),� �JrtJ
:M.f(4, ,-, .-/.-..
..
f
Wr ·�-'.;/N/ e :;(.::'/,.' t
19 W'c2! Defending the b2 pawn with gain of tempo, after which one of the black pawns - b7 or h7 - is lost.
16 e4!
17
19 20 .i.xb7 21 il.g2
Exchanges - 16 i..c5 .llxg2 'it>xg2 :es l1xc4 1fxd 1 1 9 l:.xd 1 Ihe2 could in no way have satisfied White.
18
16 . . .
i.xe4
g6 llb8
When the opponent' has a queen and knight, a fianchettoed bishop covers best of all the approaches to the king's position.
1 50
21 . 22·. · . bl 23 11e4 24 l:tel
1!ff6 tt:\d4 i!fd8 tt:\f5
25 l:tc6 26 l:tc2
'ifb2
29 .i.d5
The enemy rook must not be allowed to go to e6.
29 30 .ic4 31 '9e4
In this situation it is unfavourable for Black to win the queen for two rooks (24 . l:le8?). . .
1fb5+ 'ifd7
A prophylactic move. Since the bishop is no longer defending its king, instead the long diagonal is covered by the queen.
The place for this rook is at e2, about which, however, I soon forgot!
l:ld6 31 32 J:ce2 lhd4 �f5 33 l:e3 34 ll3e2 �d4 35 :b2 Not agreeing to a draw . . . 'lfhJ+ 35 36 1ig2
Va3 26 . . . 27 'i'e5 Intending to continue 28 ct.d5. 1i"b4 27
A natural move but 36 'it?gl was preferable. In the game Black could have developed an initiative by 36 . . . ii'h5, forcing, in view of the threat of 37 tDfl , the reply 37 .i.e2. ,
...
28
'iff5
The obsessive idea of transferring his bishop to c4 leads White into difficult ies. This was the reason for his last move, since the immediate 28 i.d5 would have been answered by 28 . l:txd5; He should have connected his rooks with 28 %lce2, and after 28 lDd4 29 :e4 'i'd2 30 'i'f6 ! he would have gained a virtually irres istible attack, to say nothing of his material advantage .
36
.
. . .
28
.
•
•
.
•
ltb6
37 f4!
In this way White eliminates the weakness of his f3 square and co ordinates the actions of his pieces.
151
'itb.5
37 . 38 nf2 39 g4
After arranging his kingside pawns in the most advantageous way, White takes play into the endgame
it'a5
46 47 xel 48 gxf5
Restricting the mobility of the black knight, which at a propitious moment might have gone via f5 to e3 .
39 40 f5 •
•
ttle6
•
ife4 ifeJ
lhel+ f5
48 g5 would have led to more com plicated play, but, having little time for thought, I chose a simpler continuation.
TI1is leads to an abrupt sharpening of the play, which is fully justified, since the white pieces are now well placed.
40 41 42
. .
48
gxf5
lldl :sd4
The sealed move. I also considered the combination 42 fxe6 1!xe4 43 exf7+ @f8 44 l:xd l :xg4, but 45 :e l is parried by 45 . . . :gl +, and I was unable to find a forced variation, leading to a win.
42
'i'xel+
• • •
A clever move, which I overlooked in my analysis during the brief dinner break. However, it did not prove so difficult to find a way to win. I was expecting 42 . . . l:txel + 43 Wxel 'i'xe l+ 44 �xel gxf5 45 gxf5 ltJg5, when I was intending to win as follows: 46 f6 h6 4 'iti>e2 l:.e4+ 48 �d2 and then .i.d3.
7
43 'ii' xel
ltJf4
Nothing immediately can be done 44 :xf4? ltxf4+, or 44 ifxdl ? Ihdl mate, but Black has no active moves, and White is after all a pawn up!
44 fxg6
An essential exchange. Black was threatening by 44 . . gxf5 45 gAf5 to give White a weak pawn at f5 . .
44 45 h4 46 Ac2
hxg6 �g7
White has a minimal material advan tage, the exchange of the f- and h-pawns is inevitable, and with play on one wing, as the experts teach, a knight is stronger than a bishop. Also, it should not be difficult to exchange the knight for the, two remaining white pawns, and this will lead to an ending with rook and bishop against rook, which by no means always reduces to Philidor s winning position. However, let us see how events develop. ·
49 ii.fl!
Vacating the c-file for the rook and relieving it of the need to control the g2 square, to where the knight could have gone.
49
152
@h6
50 llc5! 50 51 52
:a5
53
•
•
•
h5 'it>xh4 �d7
Alas, Black has nothing else. lhf5+
thg4
57 l:la6 57 58 .id5 59 .i.e4
'it>h5 the5
With the deadly threat of 58 :g6.
Black has achieved his aim, but only apparently. The tragedy is that his king is not only cut off from the queenside, but may also be in danger.
Threatening 60 :as. Black has several possible moves, but they all merely · worsen his position. For example: 59 . . . @h4 60 11116 mate, or 59 . . . tt\f7 60 i.f3 + 'iti>h4 6 1 :as, or 59 . . . tt\g4 60 i.f3 .:tf7+ 6 1 g3. As for the rook, it has to guard the knight and the pawn. It follows that mate or loss of material is unavoidable, and so
'!J.e7
Trying, in tum, to cut off the white king from the queenside, for where, however, it is not aiming. f3 After 54 !tf7 55 i.c4 the black rook would have been unable to defend simultaneously the knight and the pawn.
tlJg6
54
56 @£4
The rook ending after 56 . . .�xc4 57 bxc4 would have been hopeless for Black, while after 56 . . .ttJg6+ 57 fs his knight would have been shut out of the game.
Preventing . . . a7-a5-a4 and tempting Black to exchange · the kingside_ pawns as quickly as possible.
. . .
Black
resigned.
55 il.c4
Grune 297
Botvinnik-Wade Hastings 1961162 Ruy Lopez
e4 thf3 3 .i.b5 4 i.a4 5 .ixc6
1 2
Here it can now be guessed that White is intending to encircle the enemy king. For this it is important to take control of the f7 square, after which the white king can no longer be driven off the f-file.
55
.
..
e5 thc6 a6 thf6
A continuation that was employed many times by Flohr, and then also by Kholmov. In recent years it has gained a nwnber of other supporters.
tbe5+
5 dxc6 6 d3 6 0--0 or 6 lDc3 is equally good. 6 . thd7 • • •
.
153
•
The most sensible way of defending the e5 pawn.
. 7 lhbd2
f6
In the Exchange Variation of the Ruy Lopez, this is usually played before . . . liJf6. Here, however, for the moment the e5 pawn is not threatened and . . . f7-f6 weakens Black' s position. 7 . .. J.e7 or 7 . . . g6 was preferable.
8 0--0
.*.c5
It will not be possible to maintain the
bishop on this square, and hence White gains a further tempo.
9 c3 10 d4 11 tLlbJ
exd4 �b6
Black probably thought that White would be forced to take on d4 with his paw� but his main concern is to hinder the exchange of the opponent's doubled pawn.
kingside, which will aid the develop ment of his initiative . l£lg6 Of course, not 12 . c5 (in the hope of exchanging queens) because of 1 3 lDxc5 .i.xc5 14 'i'h5+.
12
.
•
•
..
13 .i.eJ
0-0
13 . . . c5 could now have been played, but after 14 li:lf5 the c5 and g7 pawns would have both been attacked.
14 11fc2 15 tLlf5
W'e7
The exchange on f5 is unavoidable� and White seemingly devalues some what his pawn majority. But on the other hand, for his other knight he acquires an excellent strongpoint at e6.
15 16 exf5 •
•
•
.i.xf5
lDe5
Perhaps Black should have gone in for 16 . . . i.xe3 1 7 fxg6 i.a7 1 8 gxh7+ �h8, since in time the h7 pawn would be lost, he would retain his active bishop, and the white knight would no longer be able to reach e6.
17 .i.xb6 18 l£td4 19 lDe6
12 tLlfxd4!
After 12 cxd4 .i.g4 Black would have achieved a comfortable development. Now. however, for the moment his light-square bishop has no future, whereas White has a clear pawn majority in the centre and on the
1 54
cxb6
llti
19 20 :ret
llfc8 b5
20 . . tbd7 followed by .
into consideration.
21 22 23 24
lleJ l:tael f4 %lh3
.
The position is such that, despite the
. . �f8 came
Wear
material equality, White' s forces a
to be more numerous. Now he is threat ening to take the c5 pawn, arid for the
c.ti>b8 .S:g8 tDg4
moment Black indirectly defends it.
31 32 11'g2
11'c6 1Fd7
After the exchange of queens Black
It is obvious that the black knight
would have similarly been llllable to
will have to retreat to h6, to weaken the
avoid soon losing material. He evidently
opponent' s pressure on the rook' s file.
thought that after the exchange of rooks
But this signifies that it will be shut out
he would gain some hopes of perpetual
of the game.
24 25 26 27 28
1fe2 g4 l:td3 �fl
check.
liae8 lDh6 1id7 'ifc8
33 34 35 36
tDxc5 1if7 llxe8 :.xe8 lhe8+ 'ifxe8 'ife4 'i'd8
Now it is obvious that Black must . . . g7-g6
avoid the exchange of queens - he is
threats to his king may arise along the
already one pawn down, and the loss of
g-file. It is curious that at fl the king
a second is inevitable.
White reckons that after
37 1id4 Ve7 38 tDe4 tDg8 39 g5 Black resigns
feels more safe than on the customary
hl square, since Black has in reserve . . . c6-c5 followed by . . . 'i'c6.
28 29 h3 30 fxg6 31 l:leJ
c5 g6 hxg6
Grune 298
J.Littlewood-Botvinnik Hastings 1 961162 Sicilian Defence
1 3 4 5 2
e4 ttlt3 d4 ttlxd4 tllcJ
c5 d6 cxd4 tllf6 g6
In the Dragon Variation Black carries out
a plan that
was
introduced by
Reshevsky, in which the position of the queen's knight is determined later.
155
6 .i.eJ 7 f3 8 .lc4
i.g7 a6 b5
begin play on the file that is then opened on the queenside. Therefore Black castles on the kingside.
i.b7 �bd7
In order to create counterplay, Black must push back both white knights, but it must be done only in this order, since after 1 5 . . . eS 16 llJc2 and the inevitable 1 7 ltJe3 White has a good game.
12 13 cxb3 14 i.h6 15 1lxb6
Sticking to the afore-mentioned plan. Black (when White has already dev eloped his bishop at c4) develops his bishop at b7, and then plays his knight from b8 via d7 to c5. .in order to exchange White's king's bishop on b3 .
9 .lb3 10 il'd2
lDxbJ 0-0 i;xb6 b4!
16 e5
In keeping with his style of play� Littlewood goes in for great complica tions and . . . loses. More cautious was 16 tlJce2 e5 1 7 ttJc2 a5 with a double edged game.
16 . . .
lhd7
If 16 . . . dxe5 1 7 tDf5, and White wins the queen.
17 h4
Now the immediate 1 1 .th6 is the most unpleasant for Black� and after 1 1 . . . �xh6 1 2 1i'xh6 t2Jc5 1 3 0-0-0 llJxb3+ 14 cxb3 'i'b6 1 5 'iti>bl 0-0-0 1 6 b 4 I encountered certain difficulties i n a game with Krutikhin (No. 3 15). The attempt by Reshevsky in a game with Bisguier ( 1 957) to avoid the exchange of the dark-square bishops by 10 . . . h5 did not prove successful. White simply replied by castling kingside.
11 0-0-0 12 b t
�cs
Preparing after the exchange on b3 to recapture with the c-pawn (Boles lavsky' s well-known manoeuvre) and to
After 1 7 exd6 e5 or 1 7 . . . bxc3 White would have lost substantial material without any compensation. But now, since the black knight is pushed back, the opening of the h-file is unavoidable, and it would seem that White is bound to conclude the game with mate. How ever, Black finds a way of returning his knight to f6 and of parrying the threats on the kingside.
17 . . . 18 h5
bxc3 dxe5
18 c2 + 19 <&tixc2 dxe5 would have led to a transposition of moves, but White could have changed the course of events: 1 9 ttJxc2 g5 20 'i'xg5+ h8 2 1 exd6, and for the piece · he has three pawns plus a positional advantage. . . .
19 hxg6
1 56
26 llcl
1ixa2+
The simplest - an extra bishop is sufficient.
27 1ixa2 lhxa2 28 %t.xd8 :xd8 White resigns Game 299
Robatsch-Botvinnik Hastings 1961162 French Defence
Other continuations too would not have maintained the attack, e.g. 19 tiJc2 (with the threats of 20 hxg6 and 20 lhd7) 1 9. . . g5 20 'i'xg5+ �h8 2 1 h6 ilg8 22 ii'f5 i'..c 8, or 19 bxc3 exd4 20 :txd4 'i'a5 21 :Ixd7 'i'f5+ 22 'it>al .i.c6.
19
•
..
lDf6
A move which was hard to foresee
when White began his cavalier attack with 16 e5. Boleslavky's idea is a good one, of course, but in the given situation the absence of the pawn from c2 allows Black to achieve the impossible (if 20 QJf5 or 20 tt:Je6 there follows 20 . . . c2+! 2 1 �xc2 'i'c8+).
20 bxc3 21 gxh7+
exd4
21 22 �xd4 23 9'e3
�f8. Cit>h8 1i'a5 lDd5
The attack would also have petered out after 2 1 lhd4 'i'a5 22 :tf4 fxg6 23 klxf6 htxf6 24 ii'xh7+
1 2 3 4 5 6
e6 d5 i.b4 c5 .i.xcJ+ 1fc7 Since lengthy tournament experience has shown that after 6. . . t:De7 7 1"g4 it is
not easy for Black to equalise, I began playing 6 . . . ii c7, in order to answer 7 ifg4 with 7 . . . f5. True, even in this case, as shown, for example, by Game 1 8 1 , after 8 'i'g3 Black still ha s some difficulties. But when on his ne:x1 move White plays 7 ttJf3 , this leads to the usual variations, in which Black feels comparatively secure.
lhxc3+ 1lad8
7 lhfJ
.*.d7
8 a4 9 .i.aJ
l£ic6
Regarding 7 . .. l:i'Je7, see Game 235. Black prevents 8 i.d3 , on which there could have followed 8 . . . c4 9 i..e2 .ta4, and after castling long, his king will find a secure shelter on the queenside. Therefore White immediately advances his rook's pawn.
Black has not only two extra pieces. but also the initiative.
24 1fd2 25 �al
e4 d4 lhc3 e5 a3 bxc3
The Encyclopaedia considers that 9 .i.d.3 is stronger. 1 57
13 14 ifh4
f5
ci;f7 ; The logic of this move is that Black s king' s rook is more useful at h8 than at f8. The threat of . . . g7-g5 becomes highly unpleasant.
15 g4
White hopes to find salvation in complications, and not without reason.
15
9
• •
•
tLlc4
Driving back the dark-square bishop, since the light-square bishop at d3 is more valuable.
16 .tel 17 %!.et
b6
Here 9 . . .cxd4 10 cxd4 11f'a5+ can hardly be recommended, since after 1 1 °Wd2 'ii'xa4 12 ii'g5 Black ends up in a difficult position, and after 1 l . . .ifxd2+ 1 2 xd2 White's chances in the end game are clearly preferable.
l:tag8 g5
10 11fd2
In a similar situation in a 1943 game, Tolush played against me 10 i.e2, which, of course, is more advisable.
10 11 i.d3
tLlge7 h6
12 0-0 13 11rf4
tLlaS
If Black wants to castle kingside� this move is obligatory, since the g5 square must be controlled.
This indirectly defends the a4 pawn ( 1 3 . . . .txa4? 14 dxc5), but allows an un pleasant reply, after which the situation changes in favour of Black - he acquires good chances on the kingside. White should have simply played 1 3 i.b2. However, Robatsch evidently assumed that White's plan should involve an attack on the black king. Alas, now Black seizes the initiative.
18 1ih3
But this is a mistake. White should definitely have opened up the position by 1 8 'i'h5+ f8 1 9 gxf5 . Then after both 1 9 . . . �xf5 20 i.xf5 exf5 2 1 e6 .i.e8 22 'ii'h 3, and 19 . . . exf5 20 e6 .te8 2 1 'i'h3 (2 1 . . . g4 22 .ixh6+) great com plications arise. Now Black is able to shut the kingside and then to occupy himself with the weak a4 paWll.
15 8
18 19 1ig2
f4 tLla5
29 ttllr4
To carry out his plan, Black is forced to move his knight from its strong post at c4.
20 b4 21 .i.e2 22 h5
c4 1id8
30 /i)xe6
White voluntarily eliminates all possibilities of activity on the kingside, but this essentially does not change any thing, since the opening of the h-file would merely have been playing into Black ' s hands. 9e8
22 23 hl 24 ..tdt 25 li)gt
lt:Je7
By playing 27 . . . liJg8, in anticipation of the knight sacrifice Black defended his h6 pawn (to free his rook at h8 from this task). Now the knight returns, to defend the g6 square. Although in this way White regains a pawn, the simplification is hardly in his favour: Black retains a solid material advantage.
30 31 llxa4
'i'xe6 1if7
32 33 34 35
1if4 ltxf4 :hf8 /i)ec6
•
..txa4 1i'd7 e8
•
•
Black nips in the bud any possible advance of White 's kingside pawns, and then he forces the exchange of queens.
It has now become clear that White wants to make use of his last chance, a piece sacrifice on f4, and so Black removes his king in advance from the danger zone.
f3 'i'xf4 'it>g2 g3
26 li)bJ 27 'i'h2
28 .i.xf4
Possibly 28 t;Jxf4 gxf4 29 Xi.xf4 was stronger, when it would have been easier for White to advance his f-pawn.
28
0
0
0
\V
gxf4
Black begins what appears 'to be a logical manoeuvre. He defends his a7 pawn, in order to restore the mobility to his knight at a5. However, soon it trans pires that this plan has to be abandoned. Even so, the situation on _the board is such that the four wasted tempi do not change anything.
1 59
36 .i.e2 37 l:lbl
i£1b7
A clever counter-chance. Now the 'natural' 37 . . .
37 38 l:tb5 39 ltaxa5
lllba5 llle7
44 l:tb6 was not possible in view of 44 . . . l:.4f7! 45 llxc6 l:.a7 46 l:b6 a3 . 47 l:ibl a2 48 :al
4;c7 44 l£la7 45 :at White resigns. After 46 l:.xa4 ttlb5 • • •
the c3 pawn cannot be defended, and his entire position collapses.
White has no other possibility. He cannot wait while Black consolidates his forces and exploits his material advantage.
39 40 l1b8+ 41 l1b7+
bxa5 �d7 'it>d8
42 l:lxa7 43 l:lb7
l£lc6
Game 300
Botvinnik-Bisguier Hastings 1 961162 Reti Opening
4 1 .. .e8 could have been met by 42 :bs+ c:l;f7 43 l::tb7 (but not 43 !1xf8+ xf8 44 xf4 because of 44 . . . a4 ). Of course, the rook cannot leave the seventh rank, but now Black activates his a-pawn.
43 44 :bt •
• •
a4!
1 gJ llltJ .i.g2 4 0-0 5 c4 6 bJ
d5 ltlf6 e6 .i..e7 0-0 c6
7 .*.bl
b5
2 3
6 . . . c5 is more active. 6 . . . d4, see Game 230 .
Regarding
Such a manoeuvre makes sense when there is a white pawn at d4, but in the given situation it merely restricts 160
Black's
forces.
7 . . . l'Llbd7
was
more
natural, and after, for example, 8 'ii'c2
b6 9 tlJc3 i.b7 10 e4 dxe4 1 1 ti:Jxe4 c5 the
chances
are
equal
gain a material advantage. But here it is
already hard to offer him any good advice.
(Botvinnik-
0 'Kelly, 1 962).
8 dJ
1i'c7 i.c6
16 . . . a5 was preferable. Then it would
A logical reply. White defends his c4
8 9 ltlbd2 1 0 1i'c2 11 e4
have been more difficult for White to carry out the plan involving a2-a3 and
pawn and prepares e2-e4.
i£lbd7 .i.b 7 llc8
the blockade of the queenside, and after 1 7 'i\b5 Black's queen' s bishop would have been activated.
17 :lfel 18 a3
out this advance, he has nevertheless achieved a slight advantage.
This may not be the strongest contin
'ifb6 �e8 c5
11 12 e5 13 d4
uation, since even without it White can always prevent the activation of the black pawns,
Despite Black' s artificial play in the
by controlling the b4
square. But in this position, how many
14 bxc4 c5
players would have been able to reject
things would not have been so bad for
the possibility of blockading the queen
him.
But
he
13 . . . bxc4
g6
Here too 1 7 . . . as was probably better.
Since White has managed to carry
opening, after
15 c5 16 1id3
overlooks
a
curious
manoeuvre, involving a pawn sacrifice.
side ! In the given situation, the
fact that
Black has two connected passed pawns is of no significance.
18 19 1ha3 20 i..c3 21 i£lb3 22 ll.a5
bxaJ lta8 i.d8 lCJg7
After the exchange of bishops the white pieces will be free to occupy the dark squares.
14 b4! ·
·
22 23 .ixd8 24 lLla5 25 l:.e2 26 lEiel
cxb4
White's king ' s laright is aiming for
Black allows his opponent a pro
tected
passed
pawn
at
c5,
ifb7 l:fxd8 1'c7 a6
the blockading square b4·.
26 27 'i'cJ
which
seriously cramps his pieces, merely to
161
�f5
27
•
.
•
38 39 40 41
b4
This attempt to gain counterplay merely leads to Black returning his exira pawn, and remaining even without that slight consolation which he had for his positional problems.
28 'ifxb4 29 1Wc3 30 :ea2
ltdb8 1!b5
30 31 ltlxc6 32 ii.fl
f6 Ylxc6 fxe5
As a rule, the superiority of a rook over a knight is especially appreciable in the endgame.
41 11fxd8 42 l:txd8 ltlb5 43 tLle5 'iti>g7 44 tLlc6 Black resigns. He loses
Now, in view of the inevitable .i.fl , Black is bound to lose material.
i.xb5 dxe5 1i'd3 ltxa6 1i'xa6
1ixb5 d4 'ihc5 %ha6 'I' xe5
another
pawn.
After the retreat of his rook, Black would have lost not only the a6 pawn, but also immediately the e6 pawn, and this would have been even more serious than the loss of the exchange.
33 34 35 36 37
1if6 ltl:f8 tLld6
tLldJ 1ic8+ lta8 'iid8
Game 301
Skold-Botvinnik Stockholm 1962 Sicilian Defence
1 e4 2 ti)fJ 3 d4
It would appear that Black can still resist, but with his next move White pushes back the enemy pieces, and the rest becomes clear.
c5 g6 Jl.g7
This move is perhaps more accurate than 3 . cxd4, when not only 4 ltlxd4, but also 4 1Wxd4 is possible. ·
162
..
4 tLlc3 5 lLlxd4
cx.ci4 d6
6 i..eJ 7 i..c4
In the given situation this natural developing move is an error, which Black immediately exploits. Rauzer's move 7 f3 or else 7 i.e2 is correct.
7
8
•
•
•
.i.b5+
lt)xe3 lt b8 tlfb6
12 13 'ifxe3 14 .i.b3
. l£lf6
l£lg4 ct>f8
After Black's knight manoeuvre he is forced to give up the right to castle, but this is not dangerous.
15
'i'f3 White avoids going into a slightly inferior ending, hoping to create some threats thanks to the weakness of Black's fl. It is hard to say which decision is the more rational.
15 16 17 18 19
9 ifd2
If the bishop moves from e3 there can follow 9 . . . 'ib6, while the active 9 i.g5, preventing 9 . . . 'ifb6 because of 10 i.xe7+, can be met, e.g., by 9 . . . h6 10 i.h4 g5 1 1 .i.g3 with a double-edged game (Ljubojevic-Sosonko, 1 978).
9 10 .i.c4
g4 h4 l:tgl 0-0-0
.i.f6 h6 1fc5 g5 h5!
With a temporary pawn sacrifice Black parries the opponent's threats and regains the initiative.
a6 liJc6
20 gxh5 21 'iidJ 22 f4
g4 a5
22 23 1ixc3
.i.xc3
1 0 . . . tDxe3 was more accmate. Now White could have avoided the exchange of his bishop.
This leads to a favourable endgame for Black, but White is already deprived of any active possibilities.
White should have played 12 .i.d4, and if 12 . . . .i.h6 13 'ii',d3 e5 14 .ic5, or 12 . . . tt:Je5 1 3 i.e2.
After 23 bxc3 a4 the position of the white king would have looked very dangerous.
11 liJxc6 12 hJ
bxc6
163
·
23 .24 bxc3
11xc3
f5
In this way Black securely defends his passed pawn.
25 e5 26 c4!
d5
26 .i.e6! cxd5 27 cxd5 28 i.xd5 � 29 J.xe6+ x;e6
For the moment Black is two pawns down. and yet there is no longer any doubt that he will win.
30 :d4 31 l:tc4
l:txh5 l:tb4
32 l:bb4
axb4
The exchange of one pair of rooks nips in the bud the opponent's attempts to create counterplay.
d5
34 35 lldt+ 36 l:td7 37 'it?e2
llxh4 c5 Iih3+
The enemy king cannot, of course, be allowed to go to e4.
A clever move, which does credit to my opponent. It is not easy for Black to find a reply.
The position is not a simple one, but Black finds the correct plan. He is prepared to give up material, to force a rook ending in which he will inevitably be able to create two connected passed pawns.
33 'it>d2 34
l:tf3
The concluding stage of the plan, begun by Black back on the 26th move. l:bf4
38 :xe7 39 �e3 40 d3
lte4+ d5
41 a3 42 �e3 43 e2
!td4+ f4+ bxa3
There is no defence against the advance of Black's connected pawns.
Apart from anything else, Black is now a pawn up.
44 l:!a7 �xe5 45 .:xa3 fJ+ White resigns
A disregard for material loss for the sake of positional gains in a rook ending was demonstrated by ·capablanca in his famous game with · Tartakower (New York 1 924).
1 64
to switch earlier than normal to the consideration of tactical variations.
· Grune 302
Botvinnik-Lundin
8
Stockholm 1962
English . Opening
1 2 3 4 5
c4 lDcJ g3 cxd5 li.g2
9
7
l[}f3
a3
.ll.e6
.
.
..
now the white queen will be able to _/ move to d2.
9
•
•
•
f5
This game too shows that it is advisable for Black to prevent b2-b4 by 9 . a5, as Portisch played against me (Game 363). . .
10 b4 11 .i.d2
.i.f6
Ignoring the threat of 1 l . ..e4, when there could have followed 1 2 dxe4 fxe4 1 3 ltlxe4 .i.xal 14 'i'xal with more than sufficient compensation for the ex change. But if White had routinely played 1 1 i.b2, B lack would have advantageously replied 1 1 . . . e4 12 dxe4 fxe4 1 3 ltld2 e3 14 fxe3 0-0. 0-0
lDc6
0-0 A successful attempt to defer castling and to immediately make the pawn advances a2-a3, d2-d3 and b2-b4 was made in Game 27 1 . There White' s king remained in the centre until the 1 5th move.
7 8
d3
9 b4 was premature on account of 9 . . ltld4 with the threat of I O . .tb3 . Brit
e5 lDf6 d5 lDxd5 lDb6
Black was not yet forced to make this move, and he could have played 5 . . . i.e6 (cf. , for example, Game 363), but subsequently he would all the same have had to either retreat the knight, or exchange it for the knight on c3 .
6
. • .
ll.e7
11 12 llcl
b8
13 b5
lDa5
•
•
.
If 12 . . .ltJd4 White could have played 13 ltJxd4 exd4 14 lDa4 ltJxa4 1 5 'i'xa4 with the initiative.
The knight is insecurely placed here, but after 1 3 . . . ltld4 White also has a clear advantage.
14 :.b1
Defending the b3 square. Now it appears that Black's position is un promising, but Lundin, a resourceful tactician, finds an interesting possibility.
14
, White intends to advance his b-pawn, saving time on d2-d3. This forces Black
.
.
•
e4
A clever attempt to· gain counterplay. Black exploits the fact that the d3 pawn 1 65
has to defend the c4 square ·against the invasion of the enemy knight.
15 . lDel
lhac4
With this temporary piece sacrifice Black rids himself of his badly placed knight, but ends up with a weak pawn in the centre. 15 . . . exd3 would have been dangerous for him� on account of the opening of the long diagonal and the increased activity of White's king's bishop.
16 dxc4 17 ltlxe4
ltlxc4
17 18 i.b4 19 il.xe4!
fxe4 �e8 .i.h3
White is forced to return the piece, but with favourable consequences, the chief of · which is the weakness of Black's central pawn.
20 ifc2! hoping, then 20 . . ifxdl 2 1 .:txdl .i.xg2
If 20 .i.g2, for which Black was .
22 ttJxg2 i:.xe2 and the outcome is unclear. The move played is a subtlety, which Black did not anticipate. White sacrifices the exchange, but his pieces will dominate the board, which, in
combination with his kingside pawn majority, decides the outcome.
20 21 <&ti?xfl 22 .i.xd6 23 .i.xh7
.i.Xrl lDd6 1ixd6
Of course, one black pawn will be unable to hold four enemy pawns on this sector of the front, but even more significant is the weakening of the king's position, which is furthered by the presence of opposite-colour bishops.
23 24 lDf3 25 .i.g6 26 <&ti?g2
l:ad8 11'e6 l:d5
:f8
Black's pieces have covered the breaches in his king's fortress, but the advance ofjust one white pawn destroys the defence.
27 e4 28 lib4
%td6
28 29 .i.f5 30 llc4 31 e5
i.e7 1lh6 .i.d8
Threatening to win immediately by 29 e5 .txe5 30 :h4+.
1 66
Now there is no defence against tt:lli4 .
31 32 �b4 33 1Wc3 34 11.f4
Covering the
lld5 l::td2 @g8
f2 pawn and setting up
an ambush (35 .i.h7+ 'i'xh7 36 'i'c4+).
34 35
lld5 Black resigns 11f3
Initially 9 ilh6 looked tempting, but after 9 . . .i.xh6 10 liJxf6+ White does not achieve anything significant, as is also the case after 9 tiJxf6+ .i.xf6 10 il.h6 ltJg8.
Game 303
Botvinnik-Soderborg
.
Stockholm 1962 English Opening
1 2 3 4
c4 ltlcJ e4 g3
ltlf6 g6 e5
9
This arrangement of White's pawns in the English Opening was first employed by Nimzowitsch. I copied this same idea from him and used it for Black in the Closed Variation of the Sicilian Defence (for example, Game 224 ). I also later played this way with White, although in Game 306 Black developed his king's knight at e7.
4 5 .lg2 6 ltlge2 7 dJ
8 lhd5 .i.g5
. 9
ltle7
.
•
ltlfg8
10 'l'd2 11 Ji.el 12 ltldc3 13 f4
b6 c6 ltlf6 ltld7
14 bJ
c5
15 Ilbl 16 0-0 17 lhb5 18 b4
llb8 .i.g4 lhc8
If 13 . . . ltJg4 there followed 14 ..igl .
would
have
The stabilisation of the centre is to the advantage of White, who has the possibility of pawn breakthroughs on both wings.
ltlc6 d6il.g7 il.e6
Black should not have been in a hurry to make this move; now the advance of the white knight to d5 acquires greater strength.
•
Now White further increases his lead in development, but Black has nothing better.
So, White switches to positive actio� and after the first blow there soon follows a second .
18
167
•
•
.
b6
19 f5
.ilxe2
not so easy for White to ,take advantage of this. lDc6
A forced exchange, as otherwise the position of the bishop at g4 may prove insecure. But without this bishop the light squares in Black's position are weakened.
20 'ifxe2
28 il.g4 29 lDd5
lDd4
g5
30 .i.xd4
White happily exchanges his inactive bishop; opposite-colour bishops nor mally favour the active side.
21 f6
White sacrifices a pawn� to gain the opportunity for play on the h3-c8 diagonal and the half-open f-file. Whether this compensation is sufficient is for the moment an open question.
21 22 23 24 25
li.h3 lDc3 a3 'iid l
cxd4 lDxd5
32 cxd5 33 �c2
a5 b5
34 35 36 37 38
1fxa5 lla8 :xa5 :xaJ
And this exchange is even more advantageous to White: it opens the c file. of which he seizes control, thanks to the dominating position of his bishop on the h3-c8 diagonal.
lDxf6 a6 lDe7 0--0
Hoping to weaken the opponent' s pressure by exchanging the queens.
Threatening fia4 in some cases, and simultaneously preparing l:b2-f2 .
25 26 l:.b2 27 l!bf2
30 31 1ia4
tDe8 '1:ic7 f6
27 . . . CiJe6 was not possible because of 28 l:.xf7 l'J.xf7 29 i.xe6� so Black decides to strengthen his position still further. Although his position is passive and his light squares are weakened, it is
1f xa5 bxa5 lk7 .flfcl �b7
The final subtlety. Black was threat ening to exchange on,e . pair of rooks by 3 8 . . . l:c3, but now this is met with 3 9 .&!a l followed by :aa7.
168
Generally speaking, in the King's Indian Defence Black has to solve more difficult problems, and from this stand poin� preference should be given to 4 c4. However, Unzicker, a staunch sup porter of open games, did not want to go into a closed opening.
4 �f6 0-0 5 .i.e2 6 i.f4 6 0-0 or 6 h3 is more often played. 6 �c6 7 d5 •
38 39 :cc7
Beginning some checks.
40 � 41 d2
h5 :at+
so-called
'spite'
l%a2+ l+ lUa8 l:t a
Even such a massive sacrifice is unable to save Black from being mated.
43 Jbg7+ ©f8 44 l:tbf7+ e8 45 .i.d7+ @d8 46 :g8+ Black resigns. Mate is just
•
•
My opponent must probably have overlooked my reply. There was no point in freely allowing the advance of Black's central pawn. However, another development of events - 7 0-0 .i.g4 8 d5 lDb8 9 h3 i..xf3 1 O .ixf3 c6 1 1 'i'd2 also did not bring White any advantage (Lehmann-0 'Kelly, 1 966). 7 -
•
•
•
e5
four moves away: 46 . . . @c7 47 .i.c6+ �b6 48 l:b7+ a5 (48 . .. <&t>cs 49 l:xb5 mate) 49 l:txb5+ and 50 :xa8 mate.
Game 304 U O�vmpiad, Varna 1962 Pirc-Ufimtsev Defence
nzicker-Botvinnik
1 e4 2 d4 · 3 Q)fJ 4 lDc3
g6 �g7 d6
8 dxe6
8 i..g5 is more logical, since in the game Black rids himself of any opening difficulties.
8 9 0-0
169
.t.xe6 lle8
10 !tel 11 h3
h6 g5
minimal advantage, ficient for a win.
19 .i.xd4 20 .i.xc6
White faces a choice: he has to re treat his bishop either to h2, after which it will be cut off from the queenside and the central square d4, or to e3, but then the attack on the c7 pawn is removed, and Black can advantageously open the centre.
12 J..e3 13 exd5 14 lLlxd5
15 c3 16 �exdl
'lfxdl llad8
a6
My opponent quite naturally relies on the drawing character of endings with opposite-colour bishops, especially since retreating the bishop would have allowed Black to develop his initiative.
20 i.xc6 21 ltel f5 22 f3 .i.b5 23 b4 b6 24 lhe8+
d5 lbxd5 11f xd5
Since Black's kingside is slightly weakened, it is useful for him to exchange queens:. in order to rule out the possibility of an enemy attack.
although insuf
It cannot be said, of course, that the manoeuvre begun with this move is incorrect. Even so, it is excessively direct, which creates the preconditions for subsequent omissions. 24 �f2 suggests itself.
24 25 a4 26 a5
:xe8 .i.c4 l:.e6
17 .i.b5
White is fully justified in aiming for further simplification. The point is that Black's bishops are slightly more active, and their pressure on the queenside pawns is appreciable.
17 . . . 18 lbd4
J.d5 .ixd4
Black goes in for an ending with opposite-colour bishops, where he has a
The outcome is that the black pieces are slightly more activ�, although White has not yet any reaso.n to be concerned. But the following exchange on b6 must be criticised, since it gives Black the
1 70
theoretical possibility of creating an outside passed pawn.
27 axb6 28 �
cxb6
�
Nothing is achieved by 28 . . . :e2+ 29 �g 1, when the b6 pawn is under attack.
29 !tel 30 xet
l:Xet a5
A slight surprise. Since after 3 1 .ixb6 a4 3 2 �d2 i.fl Black could also have created a passed pawn on the kingside, White is forced to reject the Greek gift.
31 bxa5 32 g3 33 �d2
bxa5 a4
A significant inaccuracy. It would have been better to restrain the pawn not with the king, but with the bishop (3 3 i.c5). The magical drawing power of opposite-colour bishops (and with equal material ! ) apparently caused my oppon ent to relax.
33 34
a3 h5
f-pawns would also have guaranteed Black a win, but probably the game could still have been saved by the manoeuvre i.b6-d8.
35 36
.
. •
.i.e5
f4
3 6 i..f2 was no better on account of 36 . . . gxh4 37 gxh4
36
•
• •
<&t>e6!
Gaining an important tempo for the defence of the f4 pawn.
gxh4 37 J..c7 38 .i.xf4 Or 38 gxh4 �5 etc. h3 38 . . . 39 g4 h4!
The only way to win. The h-pawns, although doubled. are strong. White will have to give up his bishop for one of them, and the other will queen.
40 i.h2 White resigns.
lte2
If 4 1 xa3 i.xg4 43 @b4 'it>d5 44 c4+ 'it>e4 etc. In this game my experienced oppon ent played too passively, openly aiming for a draw. Game 305
Filip-Botvinnik O�vmpiad, Varna 1962 Queen's Indian Defence
1 d4 2 c4 3 lDt3 4 e3 5 il..d3
35 h4
The losing move. After 3 5 f4 h4 36 gxh4 (36 ii.fl g4) 36 . . . gxf4 the two
�f6 e6 b6 .i.b7
d5
It would appear . that the vanauon chosen by White caimot bring him any 171
particular benefit, since, compared with similar lines of the Slav Defence, Black has the possibility of advancing his pawn to c5 not in two moves. but in one.
6 0-0 7 bl 8 ..tb2 9 tDe5
'flc7
11 . . . 12 ti:}cJ
tDe4 lbdf6
13 lbb5 14 lDxd6
'fle7 lbxd6
15 dxc5 16 .:act 17 ltfdl
bxc5 l£ife4 a5
After 1 1 lDxd7 lDxd7 1 2 dxc5 !txh2+ 13 �hl ..ie5 White would not have achieved anything, but the move played weakens the central e4 square and allows Black to exploit this to gain counterplay.
..i.d6 0-0 iDbd7
Although this lmight invasion must be deemed premature, the. chances are also equal after 9 lDc3 c5 1 0 cxd5 exd5 1 1 :c l 'ile7 1 2 Vi'e2 :ads (Petrosian Polugayevsky. 1970),
9
10 11 f4
It stands to reason that Black does not object to the exchange of the c3 knight for his d6 bishop, since this makes it easier for him to control e4. A year later I carried out a similar idea in a game with Taimanov (No.3 17).
c5
In order to occupy the e4 square with the other knight, and to drive back White's centralised knight by . . . f7-f6.
10 11'e2
After 10 lL\xd7 lL\xd7 1 1 dxc5 l2Jxc5 the standard sacrifice of two bishops would not even have given perpetual check: 12 i.xh7+ �xh7 1 3 'i'h5+ �g8 14 ii..xg7 @xg7 1 5 'iig4+ �h6 16 'i'h3+ �g6 1 7 'i'g4+ 'i'g5. A slightly different plan 10 lDd2 cxd4 1 1 exd4 lDe4 1 2 ttJdf3 lDxe5 1 3 dxe5 i.c5 14 iic 2 lDg5 15 l2Jxg5 iixg5 16 cxd5 h6 was tried in Vaganian Polugayevsky (1976), and again Black gained a satisfactory position.
18 l£if3!
White recognises the imminent danger and takes the correct decision to exchange his fine-looking but
1 72
·
ineffective knight for one of the black knights. With this he weakens the opponent' s pressure in the centre, which became possible due to 1 1 f4. In this respect it is interesting . to draw an analogy with games 134 arid 1 49.
18 19 itld2 20 9xd2
lUd8 ltlxd2
dxc4
Now 2 1 'i'c3 f6 22 .i.xc4 suggests itself, when White equalises without any problems, and he has the prospect of subsequently exploiting the half-open c-file. The decision taken by Filip is faulty, since Black is again able to occupy the e4 square.
21 bxc4 22 ifc3 23 .ifl
24 25 26 27
llfb3 lhd8+ lldl 'iixdl
'lfc7 l:xd8 l:xdl 'iic6
Both white bishops are restricted, and Black gradually intensifies the pressure.
After . 20 l:.xd2 dxc4 2 1 bxc4 (2 1 Axc4 l2Jxc4 22 bxc4 Ae4) 2 1 . . . .te4 Black would have retained a minimal advantage.
20 . . .
which his advantage in the endgame assumes real proportions.
28 .i.c3 29 h3 30 <3i>h2
a4 h6 lLld6
With the WleqUivocal threat of 3 1 . . .ti:)fS 32 1fd2 h5, when White will no longer be able to play g2-g4 because of . . . �h4-f3 . Therefore White hurrie s to play g2-g4, but in so doing he weakens the position of his king.
31 g4 32 . 'iid3
.i.f3
ile4 t'6
33 g5 33 . . . hxg5 lLle4 34 fxg5 Threatening 35 . . . 'W'c7+ 36
23
ltlb7!
Defending the a5 pawn and the important d8 square. Black invites his opponent to exchange the rooks. after
1 73
Black is a pawn up with the better position.
13
Game 306
Botvinnik-Robatscb
'ifd7
O�ympiad, Varna 1962 English Opening
1 2 3 4 5 6
c4 g3 i.g2 lElcJ d3 e4
g6 Ji.g7 e5 l£le7
0-0
I had already played this in Game 303 , in ·the notes to which I described the origin of this plan. It is based on the conviction that in the given situation the weakening of the d4 square is of no great significance.
6 7 l£lge2 • •
•
d6 f5
Now 14 @h2 f4 15 gxf4 h6 would have . led to complications, which White preferred to avoid, and so he relieves the situation somewhat.
Later I employed this active idea of Robatsch in a game against Benko (No.362). It would appear to be Black's best plan. 8
0-0
In the afore-mentioned game I dev eloped my queen's knight at c6, which is perhaps more promising.
9 i.eJ b3 11 ild2
10
l£lf6 l£lh5 l£lc6
Black's knight manoeuvres are not very efficient. This set-up .could have been achieved in three moves. whereas he has spent five. In addition, White can now play his knight to d5, where it will hinder . . . f5-f4. However, for the mom ent Black retains a defensible position.
12 l£ld5 13 . i.g5
i.e6
A dubious manoeuvre. since at g5 the bishop is badly placed.
14 15 16 17 18
e.xf5 f4 @b2 .:ael .tfJ
:ae8
18 19 20 21 22
cxd5 l£lc3 .i.b4 1i'f2
i.xd5 li)f6 lt)f7 li)g8 l£le7
gxf5
Because of Black's cramped position, it is not easy for him to parry even such a simple threat. If he retreats (18 . . . il)f6) he loses the exchange ( 19 i.xf6 .i.xf6 20 .i.h5). Since 1 8 . . . .i.f7 seems too passive, Black exchanges the centralised knight at d5, which, however, weakens somewhat the light squares in his position.
Black sacrifices a pawn in the hope of gaining some counterplay. His idea would be justified irt the event of 23 'i'xa7 lDg6. but 23 �xe7 and 24
'i'xa7
174
30
was possible. But White does not want
to part with his queen's bishop, and he
prefers to exchange his king's bishop.
. •
•
lDe5
It becomes clear that Black has
·achieved his goal: his pieces are active, and the enemy king is exposed. ltlg6
31 i.g3 32 'l'fJ
1fg5
33 i.f4 34 1ixf4 35 :gt
illxf4 1ih5
35 36 :1g5 37 11f3 38 l:tg2 39 �e2
l:tf6 'tlb7 .i.b6
39 40 41 42 43
:!g8 :xg2+ ffg7+ 'ifxd4 Jl..g7
Avoiding 32 . . . �xd4 3 3 'i'h5+ followed by l:.xf5 13. Now White prevents . . . f5-f4.
The alternative, 35 �e 1, was not easy to assess in time trouble.
23 24 25 26 27
.i.b5 .ixg6 11'xa7 gxf4 .i.xel
ltlg6
hxg6 exf4 :Ixel
The exchange of rooks will all the same be necessary.
27 :!xel could also have been answered by 27 . . . g5.
27 28 'Iffl 29 d4 30 1ixf4
l::t g6
g5 gxf4 'l'e7
l:tg2 xg2 fl 1ixf5
30 ..id2 came into consideration.
This position must be considered drawn, for the main reason that both 175
king lack any pawn protection. Even so, White makes some active attempts, in which he is prepared to sacrifice material, since he has the draw 'in hand' .
44 �g2 45 g3
1id2+ 1fxb2
46 ltle4 4 7 ltlg5
c6 •e5+
48 11fxe5 49 'iifi'f3
il.xe5+ cxd5
53 ltle6
d3
54 55 56 57
d5 h5 h4 @xh3
All the same the pawn cannot be saved, and now at least the white king will have to move from its active position.
45 . . . i.xc3 was not possible on account of 46 'ifc8+, 47 ifxc7+ etc. 1 4
�xd3 a4 l£ic5 l£ixb7
Black has managed to exchange White's kingside pawns, and he hopes to stop the passed a-pawn with his bishop, without the help of his king.
Black is forced to go in for the ex change of queens, since White' s queen and knight have created irresistible threats� in full accordance with Capa blanca' s rule, that queen and knight are stronger than queen and bishop.
Logic suggests inevitable. If 58 58 . . . j_c7 59 a6 succeeds in cutting from the d5 pawn.
58 ltlc5
Now Black is a pawn up, but this is only a temporary situation.
50 ltle6 51 �f4
With a final threat: 59 a5 i.c7 60 a6 i.b6 6 1 �d4, and the white king breaks through.
�h7
58 . . 59
White exploits his main trump: a pawn ending will always be won for him, thanks to his outside passed pawn.
51 52 @e4
d4 @h6
that a draw is a5 there follows .i.b6, and Black off the white king
il.c7 �g4
A curious mistake, giving the ending a textbook character. · After 59 . .ias the bishop would have occupied the longer a5-e l diagonal, from which it could . not
1 76
..
I have already mentioned many times that success in chess is decided not only by talent, but also other qualities, including the character of a player. And Fischer's character was always in adequate, as the reader will probably agree, after playing through our game. In later years Fischer gained some outstanding successes, but illness apparently tore him away from . chess, . which was very, very regrettable: the chess world suffered a loss tliat was very hard to bear.
be driven of(.; and then Black would have approached with his king, easily gaiping a draw.· Now, however, White immediately gains control of the critical a5 square.
60 ltlb7! 61 'it>xd5 62 �c6 63 ltld6+ 64 ltlc8 Black resigns. The
f5 .il.b6 .i1..a7 @e.6
a-pawn queens by force. In this game grandmaster Robatsch underestimated the dangers in an ending with bishop against knight, just as Unzicker did in Game 304 in an ending with opposite-colour bishops. However, it has to be admitted that my opponent played more resourcefully here than he did in Hastings (Game 299).
1 c4 2 d4 3 ltlc3
g6 lLlf6 d5
So, the Grtinfeld Defen�e. Interest ingly, it was only in this game that I was able to use some analysis that I had prepared for the return match with Smyslov ( 1 958).
4 ltlf3 5 ffbJ
Game 307
Botvinnik-Fischer O(ympiad, Varna 1962 Grtinfeld Defence This was my only meeting at the chess board with Robert Fischer (born 1943). True, seven years later the Leiden Chess Society held urgent dis cussions with us about staging a training match, but they were unsuccessful. Ten years after the Olympiad in Bulgaria, the young American won the title of . World Champion, but already long before this he enjoyed great popularity. I think that tlris was assisted not so much by his eccentric opinions and actions, as by the lively, dynamic play which he demonstrated in Iris games.
.i.g7
Fischer knew, of course, that I employed the Ragozin Variation, which begins with this move. Soon it also transpires that the Smyslov Variation suits us both.
5 6 1fxc4 7 e4
dxc4 .i.g4
0-0
It is this move that characterises the Smyslov Variation - one of the most original methods of piece play against a pawn centre.
8 .i.eJ 9 �e2
ltlfd7
It would seem to be more promising for White to castle on the queenside, than on the kingside (and also than to refrain temporarily from castling), but
1 77
he chooses a more cautious plan. Later I came to the conclusion that 9 'ib3 should be considered.
9
...
and I did not know this ! Now White tries to seize the initiative.
14 d5
li)c6
But not 14 llJb5 on account of 14 . . . 'i'xc5 1 5 dxc5 �4, and not 14 e5 1fxc5 15 dxc5 lbcl7 16 f4 g5.
Black too does not follow the recom mendations of theory, which considers that the fate of the queen's knight can be determined later. and that for the moment 9 . . . ltlb6 should be played.
10 :d1 11 1lc5
li)b6
11 12 h3
1ld6
•
.i.xf3
13
%tfd8
1lf6
16 . . . 17 e5
lhed7
•
The f-pawn is forced to advance, so that it should not be under attack.
Of course, White could not be satisfied with 17 "Wixc7 'i'xb2.
If 1 3 i.xf3 there would have followed 1 3 . . . 'ifxc5 14 dxc5 liJc4 !
It was this position that I had analysed in the Winter of 1958. True, in Varna, Semion Furman later told me that by playing 1 3 . .. e6 Black could equalise, but during the game Fischer
15 . . . 16 f4
•
Of course, 1 5 f4 is bad for White on account of 15 . . . ltJec4, e.g. 16 .i.xc4 'i'xc5 17 .txc5 ltJxc4 1 8 e5 lDxb2 1 9 :d4 f6.
After 1 2 d5 ltJe5 1 3 ltJb5 'i'xc5 14 i.xc5 Black would have eliminated the threats by .. 14 . . . c6.
i2 . . . 13 gxf3
lt)eS
.
1 1 'i'd3 .i.xf3 1 2 gxf3 e5 13 d5 ltld4 leads only to an equal game. • •
14 15 li)b5
In my analysis I had examined two continuations: 17 . . . 'i'h4 18 ila3 g5 19 l:d4, and 17 . . . ilf5 18 ilb4 a5 19 'i'd4 c5 20 dxc6 bxc6 2 1 .i.g4 c5 22 'i'xd7, and I came to the c<;>nclusion that White retains the advantag�. Fischer, however, found a third. possibility.
178
17
.
.
•
11xf4
A move, typical of Fischer's energetic style. It is true that here too White still has a good game, but the surprlse shocked me. I was extremely vexed by my poor analysis, and so sub sequently I made several weak moves. i.xf4 The point is that if 1 8 'ii'xb6 Black could have continued 18 . . . 'i'e4 1 9 f3 'i'h4+ 20 .tf2 'i'b4+.
after 24 .i.c4 (with the intention of continuing llel-e7) White would have activated his pieces still further. Fischer thought that he could have forced a draw by playing 24 . . . ltle6 25 i.h2 tfJ.d4 (with the threat of 26 . . .ttJf6) 26 :bl i.c3 27 %kl .ib2 etc. (here and sub sequently, Fischer's opinions are cited from the Russian edition of his book My 60 Memorable Games, Moscow 1 972). However, it is not clear why White should repeat moves, when instead of 25 i.h2 he can play 25 i.g3 (25 . .. ctJd4 26 :d1).
18
18 19 tfJ.xc7 20 d6 21 exd6 22 0-0
tfJ.xc5 lt.ac8 exd6 i.xb2 tfJ.bd7
23 ltd5 23
Now White controls the e5 square. •
.
•
b6
24 25 lLlxe6
lLle6
25 26 :d3 27 lle3
fxe6 lbc5 e5
28 29 30 31
i.xe5 :xd6 :d7 thxd7
•
Black is a pawn up, but the white pieces are very active. Black tries to restrict their mobility by preparing . . . �e5, but he commits an inaccuracy. Correct was 22 ... ttJcd7 23 i.f3 i.e5 24 i.xe5 ltlxe5 25 .ltxb7 llb8, when White has only a minimal advantage.
•
•
White completely loses his head. He assumed that the alternative 25 ..ih2 ltJd4 26 i.g2 lDf6 was even worse for him, but Geller pointed out 26 l:txd4 i.xd4 27 l:.el, with which Wl.&_te retains a good game. Here too Fischer did not agree: he continued the variation by one move - 27 . . . i.c5. But we too can continue the variation - 28 ltld5. Now, however, after the exchange of the c7 knight, things · reduce to a prosaic endgame.
Before this move I was still hoping for 27 . . . i.d4 28 :a3 e5 29 .ig5 l:txd6 30 i..e7 l:.d7 3 1 .i.g4, whereas now Black eliminates White· s passed pawn without loss of time and obtains a won ending. 24 .i.f3 A poor move, since there is nothing for the bishop to do here. Meanwhile,
179
Jl.xe5 l1xe5 lle7 llxd7
3 8 . . . lle l , after which the white bishop is unable to occupy the favourable c2 square (39 i.c2 llcl).
39 il.c2 40
cilf6 'iti>g5
41 <.t>gl
lhe4+
42 .i.xe4
lbe4
� An endgame specialist of the class of Capablanca or Smyslov would have immediately transferred his king to d6, defending the knight, after which the advance of the queenside pawns would have decided the outcome.
This is when the defects in the character of my opponent began to tell. Reckoning that the game was easily won for him, he was angry with me for playing on, and in his fervor, already after the time control, he talces a rash decision. By 4 1 . . .%:tb4 42 a3 :d4 43 f3 a5 Black could have created a zugzwang position: White' s king has to guard the h4 square, his rook - c4, and his bishop - dl. A s for the resulting rook ending, in the last few moves Black has worsened the position of his king, and this is of great significance.
32 .i.g4 This move is wrong, since the rook ending does not leave White with any chances of saving the game. 3 2 l:ie 1 f8 33 i.d5 was stronger, when he is still prepared for a prolonged resistance.
32 33 ltet 34 �g2
l:lc7 �
White misses a chance to move his bishop from its bad position by 3 4 i.e6+.
34 35 lteJ 36 ltf3+
thc5 %le7
36 37 llcJ 38 .i.dl
�g7 l:e4 l::td4
•
•
•
36 �f3 suggested itself. so as after the exchange of rooks to occupy the central d4 square with the king, and place the bishop at c2 and the pawn at f4. Alas, then the bishop would be lost 36 . . . h5 37 l:.xe7+ (37 ..ic8 %:tc7) 37 . . . @xe7 38 ..ic8 �d8.
After this carelessness by my young opponent I acquired some hopes of saving the game. I was expecting
1 80
Although 42 moves had already been made, play . continued. I was not in a hurry to adjourn the game, since I thought that, in such a position, further play at the board gave more chances of drawing than after home analysis. And Fischer's entire behaviour expressed his indignation at White continuing to resist in this 'hopeless' position. .He clearly wanted to demonstrate both to the players in the Olympiad, and to the spectators, that such a position did not require any analysis. But let us see how the game continued.
43
l:taJ
From what follows, if we look at the next diagram, it is evident that the immediate 43 lk7 was correct, not fearing 43 . . . l:ta4. But, as the reader will see, to find such a difficult decision at the board was impossible. However, Fischer too promptly pays the cost of playing on without home analysis, mis sing the winning continuation 43 . . .a5, and if 44 :b3 :b4. The whole point is that the pawn ending is hopeless for White: 45 !txb4 axb4 46 f4+ �5 47 @f3 �e6 48 �e4 d6 49 �d4 b5. But if he avoids the exchange, then the rook ending too is won for Black.
43 44
•
•
•
l:tfJ
lle7 J:lc7
After 44 . . . h6 and 45 . . . �g7 White would have had to seek other ways of saving the game, and perhaps he would have been altogether unable to find any.
45 a4
The time for play had expired, and Fischer had to seal his move. After dinner I began �y night-time analysis, one of the mosfprolonged· in my career.
45 . . . llc4 did not concern me, on account of the immediate 46 a5 bxa5 (or 46 . . . b5 47 J:tf7) 47 %If7 a6 48 h4+ 'ifi>h6 49 :d7 with a draw. 45 . . .h6 46 %td3 :cs 47 h4 %:ta5 48 l:ld4 is also not dangerous for ·white. But what was White to do after 45 . . . :cs ? For a long time the future appeared gloomy, until Geller found for White a unique idea of counterplay. When deep into the night he left me, it only remained for me to work out the · details of this find.
45
•
• •
l:r.c5
This means it was not in vain that we spent so much time on this move.
46
l!ti
�a5
It can be seen that, if the immediate 43 :tc7 :a4 had been played, basi�ally the same position would have ari�en. But what is the secret of the analysis?
47 :xh7!!
' I overlooked this defence', Fischer later wrote. There is nothing surprising about this - after the game it transpired that during the night my opponent had slept soundly. In addition, the decision to allow · the opponent two connected
181
passed pawns looks extremely paradox ical. It is base(:! . on the fact that, when these pawns begin advancing, the b6 square is weakened. Then, using checks, the black king will be forced away from the g6 pawn and it will be won, when White too will have two passed pawns on the kingside.
47 48
•
•
51
52
A thematic variation, giving concrete form to the previous note, would have looked like this: 48 .
49 50 51
.n.n+ l:g7
�
�es flat
52 53 54 55 56
What can Black do now? We have al ready seen that nothing worthwhile comes of 5 1 . . . �6 52 �b7. Had Fischer made a thorough analysis of the ad journed position, he would most prob ably have reached this position and chosen 5 1 . . . d4, the most unpleasant move for White. However, he was confident of winning, and had analysed the ending light-heartedly.
•
•
b5
h5!
The surprising thing about this move is that White does not pick up the undefended g6 pawn, but temporarily sacrifices another pawn himself. Fischer admitted that he ioverlooked this reply when he playe4 5 1 . . . b5 - a rare instance for the future World Champion. Incidentally, after this move I could not restrain myself. and, going up to our team captain Lev Abramov, I said to him one word: ·praw' . Great was the general astonistu:nent when later we learned that at this point Fischer had protested to the; deputy arbiter, that 'Botvinnik was being prompted during the game' !
ltxa4 f5
•
h4+
•
Towards morning I had found a worthy reply to this move.
g2 ltg5+ l:txb5 f4
llaJ+ gxh5 'ifi>d6 h4 c6
The reader should not be surprised at how long the play dragged on in this theoretically drawn ending. There are players who find it hard to adjust to a tum of events that is unexpected for them.
57 58 59 60 61 62 63
:bs 'ifi>h2 f5 ltb5 f6 :b6+ lta6
hJ+ a5 cl;c7 '3;d6 cl;e6 rM7
· Here Black should have offered a draw. After all, being a pa� down, QY the unwritten· laws of sporting ethics I
182
could not be the initiator of peace negotiations.
63 · 64 65 66 67 68
�g6 a4
ltc6 l:ta6 l:r.c6 l:la6 @gt
.&tg6 + 'iit> a5 60 ltg5+ 'it>a4 61 l1g4+ a3. Here 62 l:h4 b2 63 b7 blif 64 h8'1'
is inevitable. My evaluation of the position was as follows: 'Black cannot win, since his rook is restricted by his king. ' Fischer continued the analysis:
�
l:t d3 a3
64 'ii b3+ 65 e2 W'dl+ 66 �e3 ltbl . • •
Only here, with his face a white as a sheet, did Fischer shake my hand, and with tears in his eyes he left the hall. However, our battle did not end at this point. The main topic was the question of whether or not 51 �d4 would have won. •••
After 52 l:lxg6 Black begins advan cing his pawns: 52 b5 53 h5 b4 54 b6 • • .
b3.
54 . . . J::th l 55 c4 59
55 l:tg4+ c5 56 J:lg5+ �c6
(56 . . . b4 57 l%.g7 b2 5 8 h7 llhl 59 :Ixa7) 57 :g6+ �b7 58 llg7+ �.a6 59 183
and, after making the further moves 67 iff8+ a2, he concluded that 'White's king will be without she�r from the coming avalanche of checks' . Here, however, there are straight away two mistakes. First of all, as I established, after 68 1lc5 White can successfully defend. This was later demonstrated in detail by the Moscow master Anatoly Kremenetsky in the magazine Shakhmaty v SSSR ( 1 977, No. 2). And the 1 3-year-old Garry Kasparov (later to be World Champion) found an elegant way to draw in the diagram position: 67
l:tc4! �bl+ 68-:cJ 11e1+ 69 d3 1ffl+ 70 �d2 (70 e3? 1ib3+! ) 70 W'xf2+ 71 �d3. .•.
This, it would seem, put an end to the lengthy arguments involving our game. They forced much racking of brains,
plan is to develop his · bishop at e2, castle kingside, and then ·begin the standard pawn attack on the queenside. Incidentally, this is what happened in the game Reshevsky-Geller ( 1953), where after l 1 . . ...i.f5 White carried out this plan unhindered. The course of events ex-plains, how ever� why theory considers it more sensible to develop the knight at f3 .
both during the play, and especially in analysis. After exanfuring this game and the associated eve"nts, the reader will prob ably agree that Fischer' s human charac ter did not match his great chess talent.
Game 308
Petrosian-Botvinnik World Championship Afatch Moscow 1 963, 1st game Nimzo-Indian Defence
1 2 3
4
d4 c4 lLicJ 'ii'c2
4 5 6 7
cxd5 ..tg5 .i.xf6
lLif6 e6 .
i.b4
This continuation was popular in the 1 930s, but then it went out of fashion. It guarantees White against any surprises. but it is hard to expect any real achieve ments from it.
If White wants to avoid compli cations. this move is necessary, since after 7 i.h4 c5 Black can try to seize the initiative. This is well illustrated by Game 1 14, Keres-Botvinnik ( 1 94 1). Now, however, a further exchange of minor pieces is unavoidable.
7 8 9 10
aJ 1fxc3 eJ 11 �2
1fxf6 i.xcJ+ c6 0-0
White decides that the best square for his knight will be f4 . His subsequent
lte8
11
d5 exd5 h6
This simple move prevents the knight from going to f4, and now the plan, which White had apparently outlined before the game, proves impossible. Was this the reason for Petrosian' s subsequent uncertain play?
12
ltlgJ
The natural solution - the knight has to make way for the bishop! It is doubt ful whether 1 2 ltJcl would have been any better.
12
•
•
•
g6!
Only this energetic move, creating the threat of . . . h6-h5-h4, can cause difficulties for White. .Anything else would have left him free to complete his development. 184
As a result, it has to be acknow ledged that the entire opening idea, involving 1 1 ll'le2, can hard:ly be approved. 13 f3 This move could be understood, only if White were intending to castle queen side, since then the f2 pawn would have to be safeguarded. But since White subsequently avoids (quite reasonably! ) this possibility, f2-f3 proves to be a loss of time, to say nothing of the fact that it weakens his position.
13 14
... .te2
h5 lDd7
Black is not in a hurry to play . . . h5h4, as long as the lrnight has a retreat square at fl . But if 1 5 0-0 there would have inunediately followed 15 . . . h4 16 tiJh l 'i'g5 (but not 16 . . . 1i'e7 because of 17 e4 dxe4 1 8 fxe4 'ifxe4 19 1Lc4) and then, for example, 17 e4 . dxe4 18 f.xe4 Itxe4 1 9 �c4 (or 19 'i'f3 CDf6) 19 . . . ltlf6 20 'i':f3 �f5 with an obvious advantage. Therefore White altogether gives up the right to castle, defending the e3 pawn with his king and leaving fl free for his lrnight.
15 16 17
@f2 tDfl tDd2
17 18 19
l:hel h3
h4 lt:)f8
It is obvious that White must bring his king's rook into play. It is no less obvious that Black should double his rooks on the central file.
lle7
�f5
This move has only one plus: White is freed from the need to calculate every time the variations with . . . h4-h3. But its positional minuses are also obvious: the g3 square is weakened, and · the possi bility of advancing g2-g4 is no longer on tl1e agenda.
19 20 21
tLln 1'd2
kiae8 lDe6
Sticking, and not without reason, to waiting tactics. If, for example, 2 1 i.d3, then 2 1 . . . cS ! 22 .ixf5 cxd4 23 exd4 'i'xf5 24 .U.e5 'i'f4 25 .:tae l :c7, and White has serious difficult�s.
21 I spent a
tDg7
long time considering 2 1 . . .iDgS followed by a piece sacrifice 185
on h3. After 22 hl tbt2+ 27 @gl 'ilg3+ 28 @fl (or 28 ltJg2 h3 29 i..fl h2 mate) 28 ... tt:lli3 29 ..tdl ifgl+ 30 xh3 :!xe3, when it was not easy to suspect that despite his two extra pieces, White is helpless - he does not have a single satisfactory move; (c) 24 \tig2 lhe3 25 @xh3 (25 l2Jxe3 'iig5+) 25 ... :xe2. True, White could have tried to parry the attack by 22 ifdl (instead of 22 @gl), but then all the same there would have followed 22 . . . il.xh3. and if 23 gxh3 t:De4+! There can follow 24 @g2 'i'g5+ 25 'it>h2 t:Df2 26 'i'd2 (26 f4 'i'f6, but not 26 ... 'i'f5 27 iLg4) 26 ... l:lxe3 27 .ltdl 'i'f4+ 28 @g2 lbxdl 29 !%.axdl 'i'xf3+ 30 gl l:e2 3 1 lhe2 .D.xe2 32 'ifg5 'i'f2+ 3 3 h 1 lhb2. and White would have to resign (variation by Averbakh). This would have been a logical conclusion to the game, and would have vividly demonstrated the danger of such ill-founded waiting moves as 13 f3 and 19 h3. Now, however, Black has merely some positional advantage. and the battle continues. ·
22 lladl 23 :ct 24 :c3 25 �gt 26 .i.dt
tZ\h5 ild6 lbg3 tZ\h5 :e6
27
'i'e7
1if2
Black has completed all the neces sary preparations for beginning the advance of his kingside pawns - without this White's fortress cannot be taken. 28 29 30
.i.b3 Jl.dt g4
g5 .*.g6
It is very curious that, at precisely the moment when White does not face any immediate threats, Petrosian, who throughout the game has stuck to cautious tactics, tmexpectedly and in correctly launches into complications. Who knows. perhaps he was hoping to exploit his opponent's imminent time trouble? 30 31
•
•
•
li)xg3
hxgJ lDf4
Apparently White overlooked or underestimated this move, after which a lengthy resistance is impossible. 32
'ii'h 2
33
1id2
c5
32 ...llJd3 would also have won. Of course, not 33 . dxc5 d4, or 33 �xc5 l:txe3 . ·
33
186
•
•
•
c4
34
i.a4
34 35
... .i.c2
Merely provoking the advance of the b-pawn, which is advantageous to Black.
b5
Or 35 i.xb5 :bs 36 i.a4 liJd3 .
35 36 37 38
t'l �g2 exf4
6
exd4
d5
7 8
cxd5 'ifb3
lhxd5
This position could have been reached from a well-known variation of the Caro-Kann Defence. if instead of the strongest move . . . i.°g4 Black had played . . . g7-g6.
lBxb3+ 'fff6 lBf4+
Practically forcing the exchange of knights. since 8 . . . liJb6 9 d5 or 8 . . . e6 9 ii.gs is advantageous to White.
Otherwise 3 8 . . . i.xc2 and 39 . . . ltJd3.
lhel 38 39 fxg5 lie6 40 f4 lie2+ White resigns, as he loses a piece.
8
...
9
.i.c4
tLlxcJ
Grune 309
Botvinnik-Petrosian World Championship Match Moscow 1963, 4th game English Opening
1 2
c5
c4
t;)cJ lLJc6 This game shows that if Black wants to fianchetto his king's bishop, he should do this immediately: 2 . . . g6 3 tDf3 i..g7 4 d4 cxd4 5 lDxd4, and only now play 5 . . . ltJc6.
3 4
lLJf3 el
A cunning move. pr�ared in the quiet of my study. Black cannot play either 9 . . . lDe4 10 .ixfi+ @d7 1 1 'iie6+. or 9 . . . i..g7 10 i.x:f7+ � 1 1 bxc3 lDas 1 2 'i'd5.
9
g6 .
An important subtlety! The threat of d2-d4-d5 forces Black to take cow1ter measures.
4
•
•
.
lBf6
If 4 . . . i.. g7 there would have followed 5 d4, and White will. :always be able to play d4-d5. This occurred in Game 349.
5
d4
cxd4
•
•
•
e6
9 . . .lDd5 10 i.xd5 e6 1 1 i.xc6+ bxc6 was also possible, but Petrosian prob ably chose the right course.
10
bxcJ
i.g7
If 10 . . . l'.Da5, then 1 1 i.b5+ i.d7 1 2 1Wa 4 liJc6 1 3 d 5 ! ! exd5 1 4 0-0 with a
strong attack for White. This trap, also found in home analysis, is successfully avoided by Petrosian. 1 87
As a result of the opening · battle, White has provoked . . . e7-e6, weak ening Black's position, and has also gained a tempo.
11
.i.aJ
This exchange safeguards White against the threat of t'.1Ja5, since he will have a queen check at b4. After 1 5 0-0 tDa5 1 6 'i'a4 .ixa3 1 7 .i.xd7+ 'i'xd7 1 8 'i'xa3 lbc4 Black has nothing to fear. It is interesting to note that with out 1 5 . . . tDa5 Black cannot equalise: 1 2 .i.b5 Ad7 1 3 0-0 .i.xa3 14 'ifxa3 "fle7 1 5 'i'b2 0-0 16 .:tfe l (Andersson Huguet, 1 973 ). . . .
�f8
15
.
.
•
�xf8
16 0-0 <:J;;g7 The surprise in the opening has not unsettled my opponent.
This quite well-known manoeuvre, which forms the basis of Black's defen sive plan. was one that I underestimated during my preparations for the game, and, frankly speaking, I was surprised that Black was able to avoid the itmnediate danger. I needed time to gather my thoughts, and with this aim White repeats moves, but even so he does . not take the optimal decision.
12 il.cl· .
Tai played more strongly against Pohla ( 1 973) : 12 0-0 i..xa3 1 3 'i'xa3 'i'e7 14 'i'c l , and Black was unable to eliminate the defects of his position. Sl.g7
12
.
.
•
13
.ii b5
i.. d 7
14 15
i.aJ · .ixf8
.i.f8
After 13 . . . 0-0 14 .i.xc6 bxc6 15 .ia3 :es 16 0-0 White has an obvious advantage.
17 il.e2
The turning point. Despite his resourceful defence in the opening, Black would still have had to overcome considerable difficulties in the event of the prosaic 1 7 .i.xc6 i.xc6 1 8 lDe5 ifd5 19 f3 ! (1 9 . . . f6 20 lDxc6). Now the ex change of queens on b3 leads to a better ending for White, but if Black avoids the exchange, the position of the white queen at b2 will be highly unpleasant. Unjustifiably avoiding tl:iis variation; White allows his opponent to gain com plete equality.
1 88
17 18 19 20 21
c4
'i'e3
li)e5
Jladl
b6 'iff6 :he8 :ad8 ile7
6 7
0-0 a4
7 8
'ife2
a6
Petrosian knew that in this variation of the Queen's Gambit . Accepted I preferred this move of Rubinstein. My opponent was happy to go in for this line, assuming that nothing new could be devised here. Even so, it should be said that 7 'i'e2 is more often played. •
•
•
�c6 iJ.e7
In the opinion of theory, 8 . cxd4 is stronger, but after Petrosian had gained reasonable play in the 6th game of the match, he decided to repeat 8 .i.e7. ..
...
9
dxc5
Here the avoidance of simplification by 22 f4 f6 2 3 tiJf3 ti'd6 would have led to double-edged play. Therefore White takes a wise decision - to force a draw.
lDxe5
22
c5
23 24
11xe5+ 'iff6 cxb6 axb6 Draw agreed
Black is obliged to exchange on e5, in view of the threat of lbc4-d6.
9
Game 3 10
Botvinnik-Petrosian World Championship Match A1oscow 1 963, 8th game Queen's Gambit Accepted
1 2 3 4 5
d4 c4 lt)f3
el .i.xc4
d5 dxc4 tiJf6 e6 c5
.itxc5
Annotating my game with Keres from the 194 1 Match-Tournament, I pointed out than that if 9 dxc5 Black can advantageously reply 9 . . . lLle4. Just in case, Petrosian avoids this move, fear ing some surprises, especially on the principle of ' let well alone', since in the afore-mentioned 6th game 9 . . . i..xc5 fully justified itself. For my part, I did not fear 9 . . . lbe4, for the reasons outlined in the notes to
189
all, Black is threatening to win the e5 pawn only with his knight, and his centralised queen may become a target.
Game 1 6 1 , and although there was a mistake in the analysis, the overall evaluation remained accurate. The point is that Polugayevsky would appear to be right, in recommending that if 9 . . . CDe4 White should immediately play 1 0 ltJd4 ! tL\xc5 ( 1 0 . . . ltJxd4 1 1 exd4 'i'xd4 1 2 :ct1) 1 1 lDxc6 bxc6 1 2 4Jc3 .
10
li:)g4
e4
After 10 . . . 'i'c7 1 1 e5 ltJg4 1 2 .if4 f6 1 3 liJbd2 ! (but not 1 3 exf6 'i'xf4 1 4 i.xe6 i.xe6 1 5 1 5 'i'xe6+ @fK although according to theory White can never theless count on a draw) a position from the game Botvinnik-Vilner (Leningrad Championship, 1 930/3 1 ) is reached. A possible continuation is 1 3 . . . ltJgxe5 (Vilner preferred first to play 1 3 . . . 0-0) 14 tL\e4 i..e7 (or 1 4 . . . ila7) 1 5 lDxe5 fxe5 ( 1 5 . . . ttJ.xe5 16 �ac l ) 1 6 ilg3 0-0 1 7 'i'g4 with the initiative for White.
11
e5
Up till here we had repeated the previous even-numbered game, where after 1 1 i.f4 'i'f6 1 2 .tg3 lbge5 1 3 ltJxe5 tL\xe5 14 ltJd2 Black achieved good play. I should mention that Tal recommended playing 14 �a2 0-0 15 ltJc3 . with the intention by
11
•
•
•
li:)d4
Since. White cannot reply 12 'i'e4 on account of 12 . . . lDxf3+ 1 3 gxf3 lDxf2. he is forced to exchange knights.
12
t£ixd4
13
l£ia3!
13 14 15
l::t xaJ bJ
The simplest. While defending his bishop. White creates numerous threats: 14 lDc2 and 14 h3. It can also be considered that for the moment his central pawn is immune: 13 . . . ltJxe5 14 i.e3 (14 l:d l 'i'g4) 1 4 ... 'i'd6 1 5 l:tfdl 'ilc7 16 i.xc5 1 6 ifxc5 1 7 i.b5+ axb5 18 :ac 1 ltJc4 1 9 ltJxb5 etc. Here my opponent realised that he had walked into a prepared variation. To his credit, he chose a continuation which, although dangerous, was the most logical, depriving White of his king's bishop.
1f xd4
This position had to be analysed in · detail before the game. of course, and I came to the conclusion that previously it had been incorrectly evaluated. After
.i.xaJ t£ixe5
In search of something better than this prosaic move, I thought for 45 min utes. since I realised that the decision taken in my preparatory :;malysis was not ideal. After the game it seemed to me that it would have been better to play 1 5 :Cdl
1 90
White would have retained some advan tage thanks to the poor position of the enemy king. Now, however, the advantage passes to Black.
'i'g4 ( 1 S . . . 'ifxc4 16 'ii'xeS 0--0 17 .i.h6 'ifg4 1 8 :Iad3 'i'g6 1 9 .i.xg7 f6 20 ..txf6 'ilxf6 2 1 .:1.g3+, or 18 . . .f6 19 'Wic7 'i'g6 20 i.xg7) 16 'i'c2 (but not 16 f3 'i'fS) 16 . . . tDxc4 ( 16 . . . ifxc4 17 :c3, 16 . . . i.d7 17 ..te2, or 16 . .. 0-0 17 ..te2 'i'fS 18 'i'c7) 1 7 l:tg3 'lbs 18 :gs 'i'h4 19 l:txg7 with the threat of 20 i.gS. Failing to find these possibilities at the board, I made the previously planned move (the drawback to which is that the rook is temporarily shut out of the game), after, alas, wasting much time in thought. There were also other recommend ations. After l S �dl 'i'g4 Aronin suggested playing 16 'i'd2 0--0 17 .i.e2, Keres mentioned lS ..ia2, and Matanovic - 15 !tc3 0-0 16 %Xdl. But would this have given White a clear advantage? 'ilc5 15 .
16
.
16 17 18 19
bxc4 .i.a3 l:td2
if)xc4 .i.d7 iff5
Hardly any better was 19 'i'd2 f6 (20 'ilb4 .0--0-0), but Polugayevsky con sidered 19 'ilb2 to be stronger.
19
•
.
.
.i.c6
Black avoids queenside castling on account of 20 i.e7 J:de8 2 1 i.d6, when his king feels uncomfortable, and parries the_ threat of 20 :cts.
20
:et
h5!
White's uncertain play has been excellently e;...-ploited by Petrosian. With the intention of finally safeguarding his king by . . . f7-f6, he prevents a possible g2-g4. 21 'i'e3
•
l:la2
Sensing that the fruits of my home analysis had been wasted� as in my game with Fischer I begin playing weakly. By continuing 16 ..tb2 ltJxc4 (or 16 . . . f6 1 7 'i'hs+ g6 18 'i'h6) 17 bxc4 i.d7 18 !tg3 0-0-0 19 l:xg7 191
21
•
•
•
f6
Since 2 I.. .i:th6 is risky in view of 22 I;ld5 (or perhaps even 22 'ib6 kig6 23 'i'c7 l:xg2+ 24 'it>fl l:tgl+ 1 7 25 �xgl 'i'g5+ 26 fl. when Black can only
simpler. when it is hard for Black to strengthen his position.
hope for a draw), Petrosian prefers to take play into an ending, where he will have a ininimal advantage. Here I offered a draw, but there was no reply, and the game continued.
22 23 24 25
1ixe6+ l:txe6+ l:Ie7+ a5
The immediate possible.
26 27
.i.d6 .:txe8
'If xe6 <3Jf7 lt>g6 �ad8
25 .. J:the8
33 34 35 36
... fJ
was
l:.he8
c.t>f2
Jl.b4 i.a3 i.d6
'ittf4 g4
.i.c4 .i.b5 l:ic3
40
lte3
:c4+
And now the highly important fourth rank is in Black's possession.
lixe8 �el+
l:tal ltbl :b3 l:tc3
36 37 38
After the g-pawn has advanced, another pawn comes under threat. 39 :le4 .i.c6
111.is is the whole point: White has not managed to play �f2.
29 30 31 32
Ji.e6
All the same the c-pawn would have had to advance, but now Black can threaten the g2 pawn.
White incorrectly activates the black rook. After 2 7 J:.e3 It.xe3 28 fxe3 :es 2 9 f2 the draw would have been obvious.
27 28
l:t.c2+ .i.d7
'iitg3 h4 c5
41 42 43
@gJ il.c7 fxg4
44
ll.f4
�a4 bxg4 .i.d7
Now White can no longer defend all his weak pawns: one of them is lost. If 44 h5+, then 44 . . <:Jilf7. .
Of course, not 44 . :xas, when there would have followed 45 l::te7 J:.a3+ 46 i.e3 .i.c6 47 h5+
33
:d4
White incorrectly concedes the · second rank. 3 3 c5 :a3 34 i.c7 was 1 92
45
l:lb3!!
Game 3 1 1
The obvious 45 h5 l:xa5 46 i.d6 i.e6 47 g5 £xg5 48- :f3+ �e8 49 .f:.e3 @d7 50 :Le5 l!af+ 5 1 @fl g4 52 :gs would probably have lost to 52 . . Jlf3+ and 53 . . l:lf7. The move played, which was found in adjournment analysis, lures the black bishop to c8, since from c6 it will not be attacking the g4 pawn. And this is sufficient for a draw.
Botvinnik-Petrosian World Championship Match Moscow 1963, 1 0th gaine Queen' s Gambit Accepted
.
45 46
.
•
.
g5 .
...
fxg5
Now the draw is obvious: after the exchange of rooks, Black will not have the two widely separated passed pawns at a6 and f6, necessary for a win in the ending with opposite-colour bishops.
47 48 49 50 51 52
hxg5 .i.eJ :b6+ c6 lhc6 lk5+
d5 dxc4 ltlf6 e6
8
1i'e2
cxd4
After his lack of success in the opening of the 8th game (No. 3 1 0.), Petrosian avoids 8 . . . .ie7 and reverts to the continuation that occurred in the 2nd game.
lba5 @g6 f5 bxc6 l:laJ
9 10 11
In the event of 52 llxc8 11.xe3+ Black would have retained an advantage. But if now 52 . . . �e4, then 53 :xc8 l:xe3+ 54
53 54 55
d4 c4 tDf3 el .i.xc4
c5 There has probably been no impor tant event, other than the 1 963 World Championship Match, in which the given variation occurred so frequently, although the course of the play showed that in this opening too it is not so easy for Black to equalise. a6 6 0-0 ltlc6 7 a4
.i.c8
White rids himself of his weak pawn, and threatens after 47 gxf6 gxf6 to obtain a passed h-pawn.
46
1 2 3 4 5
%1.dl exd4 lDcJ
il.e7 0-0
And here White deviates from the afore-mentioned game ( 1 1 .i.g5).
11
• •
.
"" ltlb4
1 1 . . . tiJd5 deserves preference, as my opponent played in the 1 6th game of the match (No.3 14).
Itc6+ �h5 l:.a4+ f4 g3 Draw agreed
12
A game, typical of my play in the match with Petrosian. Interesting ideas, but unsuccessfully implemented.
.i\g5
A slight surprise, the true worth of which was not immediately appreciated by the future World Champion. Earlier I had played 1 2 tiJe5 (see, (or example, Game 44), when " with 12 . . . .i.d7,
193
suggested by Chekhover, Black could have quickly equalised.
bishop has moved from c 1 and the d l square is defended by the rook).
15 16 17
.i.xd5 l:Cxd5 tl\xg5
lDxd5 .i.xg5 h6
The only defence against the threat of 1 8 'i'd3.
18 19
11d2 l:bd7
hxg5 11f6
20 21 22 23
l:l.xb7 1la5 1i'b4
:ad8 :d6 %lfd8 l:td4
24 25 26
'l'b3 ifc2 1fc7
1 9 . . . 'ilib6 would not have saved the pawn on account of 20 a5 1i'b3 (20 . ifbs 2 1 I;ld5) 2 1 :l.a3, when Black has merely lost time. . .
12
...
.i.d7
:n The simplest way of defending is to attack the white queen.
This leads in surprising fashion to the loss of a pawn. 1 2 . . . t'hfdS was perhaps stronger� as Petrosian played against Reshevsky in 1 970 (the continuation was 1 3 tDxdS lDxd5 14 jLxe7 t'iJxe7 1 5 "i'e4 tDds 1 6 tDes t'fil6 17 Wf4 with equal chances). I need hardly tell the reader that this entire variation and the following con tinuation were prepared by me before the game. Nevertheless, I made my next move not without some hesitation, since I foresaw that the conversion of the extra pawn would entail great difficulties.
13
d5
exd5
14
tDxd5
lDbxd5
In this way White removes his queen from further attacks, but Black's pieces are active and well coordinated.
This and the following exchanges are forced. If instead 14 . . . ti:)fxdS 15 jLxe7 t'iJxe7 16 lDe5 ltJbdS 17 .itxd5 lDxd5 1 8 :xd5, then Black does not have Chekhover's saving manoeuvre 18 . . . .ilg4 19 11'c4 1ixd5 20 'i'xd5 l:tad8 (in contrast to the afore-mentioned Game 44� the white
Black cannot implement his threat of 26 .. J�xfl. ( 2 7 .Uxf2 :tcil+) because of 27 'iixd8+. Therefore he offers to go into a
194
double rook ending, where he has grounds for hoping �or a draw.
26 27 28 29
11'xf4 h4 :b4
30 31 32 33
gxf3 b3 'it>g2 :.b8+
1!ff4 gxf4 lt.c8 tJ
So, throughout the game White has maintained the advantage that he gained in the opening, but a draw would appear to be inevitable.
39
Black temporarily sacrifices a second pawn, to break up White' s pawn chain on the kingside and to hinder his defence of f2 .
licc2 lib2 .U.d3
39 40 41 42 43
All the same the two extra pawns cannot be held, and White makes an attempt to activate his second rook.
'it>h7 f6 ltb7 :dxb3 11.el llxb3 After 36 lia7 l!b4 37 l:ee7 l:lxa4 38 33 34 35 36
lle6 l:lxa6
�g2 l:ta8
g5! �g6 :r4 :a4
a5 a6 Draw agreed Game 3 12
Petrosian-Botvinnik
l:.xg7+ 'it>h6 Black would also have retained every chance of securing a draw.
36 37 38
'it>g3
By 39 �l White could have tried to activate his king, without prematurely advancing his a-pawn. Now, however, moving the king into the centre will involve the loss of the f3 pawn. Alas, this was the penultimate move in time trouble!
World Championship Match Moscow 1963, 13th game Queen' s Indian Defence
�xb3 l:lb4 l:lxh4
1 2 3 4
d4 c4 lDtJ
�f6 e6 b6
gJ
In the following game (the 17th) where the Queen' s Indian Defence occurred, Petrosian avoided the fianchetto of his king's bishop. '-.i.b7 i.g2 /Le7 0-0 0-0 lhe4 thc3 I have already written in my not'es to
4 5 6 7
•
•
•
Game 1 56, where I played 7 . . . d5 (as also in Game 45), that when I was not
1 95
obliged to play for a win with· Black, I was more inclined to continue 7 . . . ttJe4 . That was the case in my game with Alekhine (No.96), who chose 8 'i'c2.
8
9
�xe4
d5
•
.
•
.i.f6
9 exd5 10 cxd5 .i.f6 1 1 ltle l i.xg2 1 2 ltlxg2 c5 1 3 lLlr4 d6 is also not bad for Black. . . .
10
lDel
No better was 10 lDd4 .i.xg2 1 1 �xg2 'ife7 1 2 ltlc2 d6.
10
•
. •
ll.. xg2 exd5
1 1 �xg2 This exchange could . also have been delayed. After 1 1 . . .:es 1 2 lDr4 a5 1 3 e4 ctJa6 1 4 i:te 1 exd5 1 5 ctJxd5 ltlc5 16 lic2 c6 in the game Lilienthal Taimanov ( 1 954) Black maintained the balance.
12
cxd5
prospects
13
dxc6
14
1!fc2
15
l:t.dl
on
the
dxc6
ilxe4
White played more consistently in the 3rd game of the match - .9 ttJe l , but 9 .i.f4 is also possible.
9
gammg clear queenside.
c5
Forcing �te to take this pawn en passant, as otherWise Black continues . . . d7-d6, . . . ltld7 followed by . . . b5-b5,
If instead 14 'i'xd8 :xd8, then Black, in contrast to White, easily mobilises his forces. c5 14 • •
•
Possibly 15 'i'e4 would have been more far-sighted, practically forcing Black to reply 1 5 . . . ctJa6 (or 1 5 . . . ltld7). Then his knight would have been unable to reach c6 so easily. 1'e8 15 .. .
16
i..f4
White foresees that he will have to play e2-e3 to defend the central d4 square, and so he develops his queen' s bishop i n advance. tbc6 16 17 .i.d6 Jl.e7 The tempting 17 . . . lDd4 did not achieve anything because of 1 8 1hd4 (less good is 1 8 Wc4. i..e7) 1 8 . . . it.xd4 1 9 lDf4 followed. by·.i.xf8. .
18
•
e3
.
·
A forced move, although it weakens
1 96
immediately develops a dangerous attack, . and he is always assured of a draw. Therefore Petrosian tries to block the long diagonal.
the light squares (in particular f3). Generally speaking, White has not de rived anything from his opening idea of 9 d5, and in addition Black's queenside pawn majority is a significant factor. 18 19 20 21
llxe7 lDf4 ila4
After 2 1 CDd5 :xd5 22 J:lxd5 �b4 23 'i'd2 ltlxd5 24 'i'xd5 .:.ds Black would have seized control of the d-file, but it would have been simpler for White to begin exchanging rooks immediately.
22
:xd8+ 1fxb5 �g2 'it>gl
'if xd8
30 31
gl ild5
'iixe4 ·
Vdt+
it'f3+
1fdl+
l:bd8
If 22 'i'e4 f5 23 'i'g2, then 23 . . .c4! (securing a favourable post for the knight at d3) with the threat of . . . g6-g5g4. After the immediate 23 . .. g5 24 tt:Jd5 'iff7 25 f4 White achieves a good game, since he drives back the enemy knight. 22 23 24
25 . 26 27 28
This check and the following one are to gain ti.me on the clock. 29
li)eS
21
b5!
24
Black nevertheless gains control of the a8-hl diagonal, but the exchange of his b-pawn for the e-pawn reduces the sharpness of the play in the coming ending.
:ds 1ixe7 g6
%id1 e4
'1xd8 c4
It was dangerous for White to accept the pawn sacrifice - 24 l!xd8+ 'i'xd8 25 'i'xa7, since after - 25 . . . g5 Black
11xd5
31
3 1 .. . 'ib l + 32
197
32
tllxdS ·
· tlld�
33 34 35
b4 axbJ b4
cxb3 f5
Since his king catulot go to e2 (because of . .. lDc 1 +), White seeks (and finds) a way to draw by using his queenside pawn.
35 36
•
•
•
b5
b6
�1
b7 ltlc7+
ltla6 'l&>e2 lhb4
43 44 45 46
�dJ 'l&>c2 bJ
a4 a3
The saving move.
ltlb8 'l&>c7 'l&>xb7 b6
Black tries i�ediately to penetrate with his king into the white pawns. The preparatory 46 . . . lDc6 would also not have won.
If 36 . . . 4itte6, then 3 7 b6 !
37 38 39 40
41 42 43
a5 e6 ltlc6
When I began my adjournment analysis. I immediately discovered that 40 lDb6 ! would have quickly led to a draw: 40 . . . 'it>e7 (40 . . . d6 4 1 b8'i'+ lDxb8 42 lDc4+) 4 1 @e2 d8 42 llld5 etc. However, this inaccuracy on the last move before the time control does not have serious consequences. The impression is that White is losing, since after the elimination of the a-pawn his king will be too far from the kingside. In fact, it is able to return just in time.
47 48 49 50 51
xa3 'l&>b3 c2 
