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Mikhail Botvinnik vs Vasily Smyslov
Botvinnik-Smyslov World Championship Match (1954)  ·  Nimzo-Indian Defense: Normal. Bronstein (Byrne) Variation (E45)  ·  1-0
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Given 17 times; par: 53 [what's this?]

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Kibitzer's Corner
Aug-07-04  fred lennox: Interesting game. Botvinnik moves pawns a little less than half the moves (14) Like Staunton and Petrosian, he is a pawn pusher. Smyslov, as Capablanca and Karpov, pushes pawns mainly to develop pieces or make the bishop good.
Aug-07-04  samvega: Yeah, very interesting. 18.d5 cd 19.Qxd5 Na6 20.Nxf2 Kxf2 21.g6+ etc.
Aug-07-04  Shah Mat: i too am a 'pawn-pusher'. few things make my day like cramming a couple of pawns down my opponent's throat. all you need is one or two to screw his whole game...which is why openings like the French Winnawer are so appealing.
Jun-13-05  fred lennox: This is one of the finest games between these two. 10.g4 shows black's position to suddenly be inferior judging from the play. The pawn majority in the center is solid enough to create a remarkable wing attack. The economy of bringing the king rook into play is masterful.
Jun-13-05  Kangaroo: <<fred lennox>: This is one of the finest games between these two.> Sorry to argue, but the finest game, in my opinion, is

Botvinnik vs Smyslov, 1954

Jun-13-05
Premium Chessgames Member
  keypusher: If A says <Game X is <one> of the finest games between these two.> and B says <Sorry to argue, but Game Y is the finest game between these two>, then A and B are not even disagreeing, much less arguing.
Jun-13-05  Kangaroo: Good point!
<<keypusher>: If A says <Game X is <one> of the finest games between these two.> and B says <Sorry to argue, but Game Y is the finest game between these two>, then A and B are not even disagreeing, much less arguing.>

I agree that both are the <finest>. And perhaps there are <several more> games between <these two champions> to be <titled> this way.

Jan-11-06  HillGentleman: Consider 9...Nxd5, 10 Nxd5,exd5.
After the exchange of a pair of knights, the pawn thrust seems less potent.
Apr-23-06
Premium Chessgames Member
  Ulhumbrus: The attack 10 g4 is unsound on the face of it, and can be forecast to fail. Of the options available to him, Smyslov chose a mistaken one at at least one point. In which case, which were the right ones?
Apr-23-06
Premium Chessgames Member
  Ulhumbrus: Instead of 11..Nfd7, 11...Ne4 may be better.
Apr-23-06
Premium Chessgames Member
  Ulhumbrus: Instead of 10...c6, 10...Ne4 or 10...c5 warrants a look at.
Apr-23-06
Premium Chessgames Member
  Ulhumbrus: 10 g4 exposes White's king side, a most considerable concession. Black therefore loses less on balance, in the event that Black sacrifices a pawn.
Apr-28-06  Cyphelium: <Ulhumbrus> I remember reading somewhere that 10. g4 was prepared by Botvinnik before the game. Though perhaps black can equalise somewhere, it's certainly a move putting black under pressure. 10.- Ne4 loses a pawn to 11. Ncxd5 and 10.- c5 drops one too after 11. dxc5 bxc5 12. Ncxd5. On 11.- Ne4 I suggest 12. Nxe4 dxe4 13. h4 with the idea to play 14. Qc2 next. I'm not sure how black will cover that e4 pawn.
Jun-29-07
Premium Chessgames Member
  Tomlinsky: According to trainer and Botvinnik associate Mikhalchishin the great man of course had prepared this. He also had a response mapped out for 10...g5 as well. 11.Nh5! and now 11....Nxh5 12.gxh5 followed by Qf3 poses a number of strategical problems for Black. If he castles h4/Rg1 start a powerful attack and if he prepares for long castling then White opens up the centre with e4 retaking with the queen. White's king is much safer than its counterpart.

It's a very clever strategy having forfeited castling rights by trading off light bishops with Black unable to immediately take advantage of light-squared weaknesses as he is too busy defending.

Mar-21-08  Knight13: 10. g4 Botvinnik starts king side attack early. He must've realized that Black can't blow up the center and get to his king. That move must've took a lot of preparation.
Jul-11-09  ToTheDeath: In Secret Weapons of the World Champions Mikhalchishin demonstrates this game as an example of Botvinnik using the Flank attack 10. g4! to take control of the center.

If 10...h6 11.Qf3 c6 12.h4 and g5 is coming with more force- White's king is safe enough on f1 and Black will not be able to castle short. If 10...g5!? 11.Nh5 as elaborated by <Tomlinsky> above.

11...Ne4 12.Nxe4 dxe4 13.h4 h6!? may have been better, with sharp and not so clear play- Black's e pawn is vulnerable but he is activating his rook and challenging White's pawn advance.

Kasparov: <10. g4 Goes without saying! The right moment cannot be missed. By pushing the knight from f6 White creates disharmony among Black's pieces, which becomes a crucial factor when the position is opened.>

12... Bd6? <This mistake multiplies the effect of White's main idea. 12...O-O 13. Qg4 - the massive concentration of the enemy's forces make the black king feel pretty nervous. The next not obligatory but colourful line shows the potential for White's attack: 13... Na6 14. e4 dxe4 15. Nxe4 f5 16. gxf6 Nxf6 17. Qe6+ Kh8 18. h5! Nxe4 19. Ng6+ hxg6 20. hxg6+ Bh4 21. Qxe4 Rxf2+ 22. Kg1 Kg8 23. Rxh4 Qf6 24. Rf4 (The tempting 24. Bg5? even loses- Qxg5+ 25. Kxf2 Rf8+ 26. Ke2 (26. Ke1 Qg1+) 26... Qb5+ 27. Ke3 Qb3+ etc.) 24... Rxf4 25. Bxf4 Rf8 26. Bg3 Nb8 27. d5 with a big advantage.

Undoubtedly Black had a number of other opportunities with reasonable chances to defend.>

18. d5! Rxd6

<A desperate exchange sacrifice to avoid immediate disaster that comes after 18... cxd5 19. Qxd5 Na6 20. g6 Nc7 (20... Nf8 21. gxf7+ Kh8 22. h6 Nc7 23. Nf5) 21. gxh7+! Kxh7 22. Qf5+ etc.>

20. Qf3 <Now the primitive 20. dxc6 Nxc6 gives Black a glimpse of hope, so Botvinnik maintains his domination, adding a quality advantage to his material one.>

20... Qxd5 <Queens on the board did not offer any relief- 20... cxd5 21. Rg1 Qd2 22. Rd1 Qxb2 23. Qxd5>

23. b4! <finishing the hapless knight off>

30. Rdc3 <and the rook exchange is inevitable so Black resigned> 1-0

Dec-28-11
Premium Chessgames Member
  PinnedPiece: Guess the move score 54 Par 52.
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