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Mikhail Botvinnik vs David Bronstein
Botvinnik-Bronstein World Championship Match (1951)  ·  Nimzo-Indian Defense: Normal. Bronstein (Byrne) Variation (E45)  ·  0-1
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Kibitzer's Corner
Mar-31-04  Prophylaxis: Enormous tactical oversight at the end, although Bronstein was already winning.
Aug-15-04
Premium Chessgames Member
  suenteus po 147: <Prophylaxis:> <...although Bronstein was already winning.> Sometimes we don't see how close we are to losing until something like this happens to us. Botvinnik resigns, of course, because he finally saw that the queen is immune to capture: 35. exf6 Rxe1+ 36. Qxe1 Rxe1+ and now, if 37. Kf2, then 37...Nd3#! mates, and if 37. Kh2 then 37. Nd3 wins the exchange of the bishop. After facing a few losses like this, I'm always under the assumption that my position is tenuous and easily lost, forcing me to make the best move possible. It only takes one or two moves to lose if your opponent knows what he is doing.
Sep-21-06
Premium Chessgames Member
  Resignation Trap: April 22, 1951

Botvinnik tried to reassure himself before this game with comments very much like those before game 16:

"There is no other way - than to play well.

Try to force him to think in the opening.

Work with cunning, watch for threats. In so doing the main thing is time. Let's go! Things need to be finished off."

Sep-21-06
Premium Chessgames Member
  Resignation Trap: Botvinnik probably internalized most of his disgust for this game, for his post-game comment was really short:

"Up to move 25 played well; then - lost my head."

Dec-20-06
Premium Chessgames Member
  Ulhumbrus: With 11...Nc6 Bronstein shows contempt for his backward c7 pawn and Botvinnik's potential threat of organizing an attack on the c file. Bronstein will defuse this attack with the move ...Be7-d8!! whereupon the c7 pawn will be defended by a minor piece, rendering useless an attack upon it by a Rook on the c file. One interesting question is why the disconnection of Black's Rooks does not matter. Apparently there are no open files for White's Rooks. A lesson which this suggests is that when there are no open files for one's Rooks, the opponent can take liberties, or play around like this.
Mar-23-08  Knight13: Botvinnik is very passive here. He let Bronstein set up the best position for a blow-open and Bronstein exploited it the best he could. 29. f4!! is very good. 34. d4 adds control to the c3 and e3 square, and Bronsteain probably was planning to trade with ...Nh6 and then play ...Nd5 and jump on d3 or c3 when the time is right.
Feb-28-12  Everett: Bronstein is the ultimate chameleon, and showed a modern level of flexibility that was virtually unknown in the 50's.

This game is a case in point. One could imagine Petrosian or Karpov playing the sequence of moves for Black from 12..g6 (limiting the scope of Ng3) through 25..Bf6. The patient reorganization of his position after a provocative opening (at the time) rendered Botvinnik unrecognizable. I'm quite curious what the computer thinks about the position after 25 moves.Botvinnik seemed satisfied with his play, but Bronstein seemed to be in complete control at this point.

Feb-28-12  anjyplayer: Flexible pawn moves are behind some of the upsets.
Sep-12-12  csmath: Botvinnik played passive game obviously confused by strange manouvres from Bronstein and to top it all he badly blunders in the end.

This has to qualify for one of the worst Botvinnik's games ever.

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