Vasily Smyslov vs Mikhail Botvinnik (1957)

Vasily Smyslov vs Mikhail Botvinnik
Botvinnik-Smyslov World Championship Return Match (1957) · Gruenfeld Defense: Russian. Smyslov Variation (D98) · 1-0

To move:

Last move:

Given 19 times; par: 35 [what's this?]

explore this opening	find similar games	105 more Smyslov/Botvinnik games
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Jan-14-04		ughaibu: This game 6 is quite an efficient slaughter.

Jan-15-04		catfriend: When I analysed some games from world-matches, I chose this one to represent the 1957 match. It's very deep BTW

Jan-15-04		catfriend: for a nice game between the two go to Botvinnik vs Smyslov, 1945

Sep-22-06		slomarko: i think Nc4 is wrong. (f4!?)

Sep-22-06		Alexander I: <slomarko: i think Nc4 is wrong. (f4!?)> 15...f4?! 16.Nxf4 Bxe5 17.Ne6 looks much better for white.

Sep-22-06		slomarko: what about 15...f4 16.Nf4 Nc4 ?

Sep-22-06		nikolaas: <slomarko> 15...f4 16.Nf4 Nc4 17.Bc4+

Sep-22-06		slomarko: yeah that seems to be the refutation

Sep-22-06		slomarko: then maybe 16....Na4?

Sep-22-06		Alexander I: <slomarko: then maybe 16....Na4?> 17.Ne6 with Bb5 to follow is practically winning for White.

Sep-22-06		slomarko: ok then 11...Qc5? is a mistake correct is 11....Qd5 and if 12.Nc3 then Qc5 13.dc5 f4

Apr-24-07		Pacificknight: Botvinnik employs Smyslov's own variation. Is there anything in the literature about this psychological ploy? Smyslov played 1 d4 twice in the match. Once here and again in game 14 which transposed to a French. Why didn't Smyslov attempt to challenge this variation more often? Smyslov's 9 0-0-0 remains a strong attacking option today.

Mar-20-08		Knight13: 18...Nb4 sucks. Letting White take on c6 would be better since his bishop's a lot stronger, and knight on c6 can take on d4 if White's knight ever go there and then lock it up with ...c6.

Oct-30-08		dwavechess: 23/28 Smyslov`s moves concur with Rybka 3 w32 at 3 minutes per move.

Mar-25-09		notyetagm: <Pacificknight: Botvinnik employs Smyslov's own variation. Is there anything in the literature about this psychological ploy? Smyslov played 1 d4 twice in the match. Once here and again in game 14 which transposed to a French. Why didn't Smyslov attempt to challenge this variation more often? <<<Smyslov's 9 0-0-0 remains a strong attacking option today.>>>> Looks like a good plan.

Mar-25-09		parisattack: <<<<Smyslov's 9 0-0-0 remains a strong attacking option today.>>>>> According to Golombek (in the book of the match) the move was discovered by a Soviet master, Oossi who had played it recently against Simagin. He also gives if 18. ...e6; 19. Bc6:,bc:; 20. Nd4 'with an easily won game for White.'

Jun-18-11		AVRO38: The moral of this story: Don't play the Smyslov variation against Smyslov!

May-15-13		dmvdc: <Pacificknight: Botvinnik employs Smyslov's own variation. Is there anything in the literature about this psychological ploy?> Here's what Smyslov himself had to say about Botvinnik's choice, in his annotation after 7...Bg4 (from p. 108 of Smyslov's 125 Selected Games): <<One of the most sharp and problematic variations in modern opening theory. I have to admit that the choice of this opening system on the part of Botvinnik came as a surprise to me, since up till then he had normally preferred to play this variation as White, whereas I had been willing to try to vindicate the plan of piece development for Black. Now the roles were reversed, and I had to seek a way of countering my own theoretical weapon.>>

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