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Alexander Kotov vs Mikhail Botvinnik
USSR Championship (1939), Leningrad URS, rd 17, May-15
Nimzo-Indian Defense: Classical. Zurich Variation (E33)  ·  0-1

8
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h
White to move.
ANALYSIS [x]
Notes by Stockfish 9 v010218 (minimum 6s/ply)7.Bd3 was played in Kamyshov vs Ragozin, 1938 (1-0)7...Be7 was played in H Szapiel vs Keres, 1950 (0-1)8...Ne4 was played in Kaidanov vs M Kekelidze, 2012 (0-1)9.Bd3 was played in Spielmann vs P Romanovsky, 1935 (1-0) 11.b4 dxc4 12.Qxc4 Na7 13.e4 Bb5 14.Qc2 Bxd3 15.Qxd3 h6 ⩲ +0.66 (26 ply)= -0.20 (21 ply)better is 15.Be2 Ba4 16.Rfd1 c6 17.cxd5 Nxd5 18.Qd4 Qb6 19.Qxb6 = 0.00 (21 ply) ⩱ -0.75 (24 ply) 19.h4 Qg6 20.Qxc7 Bc6 21.Nd4 Nd2 22.Nxc6 bxc6 23.Rfd1 = -0.14 (25 ply) ⩱ -1.15 (23 ply) after 19...Qg4 20.f5 Bc6 21.Rae1 Qg5 22.Rf3 Nd6 23.Qf4 f6 20.Qxc7 Bh3 21.Qc2 Rac8 22.Qe2 Nd6 23.Rac1 Rxe3 24.Rxc8+ ⩱ -0.74 (26 ply) ∓ -2.36 (24 ply) 21.Qc5 Ba4 22.Rd5 Bxb3 23.Rg5 Ne4 24.Rxg6 Nxc5 25.Rxg7+ ∓ -2.04 (23 ply)-+ -2.82 (24 ply) 22...Bh3 23.Rd2 Ne4 24.Qc2 Nxd2 25.Qxg6 hxg6 26.Nxd2 -+ -2.89 (24 ply) ⩱ -1.14 (24 ply)better is 24...Be4 25.Qe2 b6 26.Nd4 Bb7 27.a4 Ba6 28.Nb5 Ne4 29.Rd4 ⩱ -1.27 (22 ply) ⩱ -0.75 (25 ply) 26.Nd4 fxe5 27.Nxf5 Qf7 28.fxe5 Rxe5 29.Ng3 Qe7 30.Rf2 ⩱ -0.67 (23 ply) 26...Be4 27.Qc4+ Kh8 28.Bb6 Nh4 29.Qf1 Nf3+ 30.Kh1 Nxd2 -+ -2.58 (25 ply) ⩱ -1.09 (24 ply)better is 28...Rh3 29.Nd4 Ne3 30.Qd3 Be4 31.f5 Qxg2+ 32.Rxg2 Bxd3 ∓ -1.52 (27 ply) ⩱ -0.90 (27 ply) after 29.Qd3 Qg4 30.h3 Qxf4 31.Rf1 Qg3 32.Rxf5 Re1+ 33.Rf1 better is 29...Nh4 30.Nd4 Bd5 31.a4 Rac8 32.Rf2 f5 33.a5 Rc3 34.Kh1 ⩱ -1.39 (24 ply) ⩱ -0.81 (22 ply) after 30.Qd3 Be4 31.Qh3 Ra6 32.Bc5 Ra4 33.Nd4 Rc4 34.Bb6 Nxd4 32.Bb6 h4 33.h3 Qg3 34.Rd3 Qxf4 35.Qxf4 Rxf4 36.Rc1 Re4 ⩱ -1.22 (28 ply) ∓ -2.30 (26 ply) 34.Qf1 Qf5 35.Qf2 b5 36.h3 Ra4 37.Kh2 b4 38.Bb2 b3 39.Rd4 ∓ -1.75 (25 ply) 34...Rf3 35.Ba7 Rxf4 36.h3 Rc4 37.Kh2 b5 38.Qg3 Qb1 -+ -2.65 (28 ply) ∓ -1.66 (26 ply) after 35.h3 Ra3 36.Kh2 Qf5 37.Qh4 b5 38.Rb2 Kg8 39.Rd2 b4 better is 35...Ra4 36.Be3 Qg4 37.Kg1 Ra1 38.Qxa1 Qxe2 39.Bf2 Qe4 ∓ -2.02 (27 ply) 36.Qg3 Ra4 37.Qxg6+ Kxg6 38.Rd2 Kf5 39.Kg1 Kxf4 40.Bc5 ∓ -1.51 (30 ply) 36...Qd3 37.Qd2 Qxh3+ 38.Kg1 Qg4 39.Qc2+ Kg8 40.Rf2 Rd8 -+ -2.93 (27 ply) 37.Qd2 Rxe2 38.Qxe2 Qf5 39.Kg1 b5 40.Be3 b4 41.Qc4 b3 ∓ -1.70 (35 ply)-+ -10.02 (34 ply)39.Qxc6 bxc6 40.Bc5 Kg6 41.Kg1 Kf5 42.Bf8 g6 43.Bd6 Rd2 -+ -9.57 (33 ply)0-1

rnbqkbnr/pppppppp/8/8/8/8/PPPPPPPP/RNBQKBNR w KQkq - 0 1
FEN COPIED

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Given 23 times; par: 68 [what's this?]

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Kibitzer's Corner
< Earlier Kibitzing  · PAGE 6 OF 6 ·  Later Kibitzing>
Aug-19-14  BOSTER: <What would be wrong> if we had the Rule : NO three time Repetition.
Sally Simpson-patzer2-and other.
Aug-19-14  Olavi: <best is 37. Qd2! The computers indicate Black with strong play eventually wins, but it's difficult to execute even with the best line 37...Rxe2! 38. Qxe2 b5!> Botvinnik gives 37...Rd8 38.Qe3 Qf5 39.Kg1 b5. And it is very natural to keep the rooks.
Aug-19-14  Olavi: Botvinnik also points out Guimard vs Kotov, 1946
Aug-20-14
Premium Chessgames Member
  Sally Simpson: HI beenthere240:

"chrisowen is starting to become understandable..."

I'm finding that too, however he could have used a diagram after:

"prise to black chubb free each in away ever tickle ground."


click for larger view

Aug-22-14  smitten: Was White's decisive mistake 34.♔h1? With this move he pins himself, which led to a defeat. How about simple 34.g3, and if 34..h4 White can maybe play 35.♗f2 to guard the pawn?
May-26-17  Saniyat24: amazing tussle...and a great move 37...Qg2+ by Botvinnik...Black's pseudo-threat 33...Ra3 brought about Kotov's mistaken move 34.Kh1?
May-26-17  paavoh: @beenthere240 & Sally Simpson: <chrisowen is starting to become understandable...>

He has started to include move numbers! They are like beacons in the stormy seas.

Mar-09-20
Premium Chessgames Member
  Knighthawkmiller: 37. Qd2 avoids the immediate loss of the exchange.
Dec-26-22
Premium Chessgames Member
  Knighthawkmiller: 36...Qd3 threatens the B an h pawn.
Dec-02-24
Premium Chessgames Member
  Korora: Easy. 37...♕xg2+ forces 38.♕xg2, pinning the ♕ to the ♗, so it's bye-bye birdie.
Dec-02-24  King.Arthur.Brazil: Mondays: easy ♕ sac: 37...Qxg2+ 38. Qxg2 Rxe2...
Dec-02-24
Premium Chessgames Member
  takebackok: Half a think Monday, 37...Qxg2+ and a forced material win.
Dec-02-24  mel gibson: Easy Monday.
White should have played better to not be in that situation.
Dec-02-24  saturn2: 37....Qg2 38.Qxg2 Rxe2 wins an exchange after
39.Qxc6 bxc6
Dec-02-24
Premium Chessgames Member
  perfidious: <mel gibson: Easy Monday. White should have played better to not be in that situation.>

One could say thus of a great many games, but few would have everything on the line as this did.

Who among us here would have done better than Kotov had they been in this spot?

Dec-02-24  mel gibson: <Who among us here would have done better than Kotov had they been in this spot>

Me - never permit a Bishop to bear down on your King. You have to: swap the Bishop off,
move the King or obstruct the Bishop with a pawn or piece. A pin from a Bishop is deadly.

Dec-02-24  TheaN: <37....Qxg2+> wins Black the exchange due to the somewhat rare pin magnet and Bc6 defended: <38.Qxg2 Rxe2 39.Qxc6 bxc6 -+> and the ending is trivial with an exchange and two pawns of which one is passed.

<mel gibson: <Who among us here would have done better than Kotov had they been in this spot>

Me (...)>

Bold statement... I don't know what your actual strength or OTB experience is, but I sincerely doubt you'd fair better against Botvinnik with all due respect.

Few aspects here: pressure on Kotov was immense considering it was for the championship with White against Botvinnik, there was probably time trouble because we're on moves ~30-37 when the combination occurred and lastly Black is significantly better through most of the played moves regardless... even 37.Qd2 Rxe2 38.Qxe2 Qf5 39.Kg1 b5 ∓ is a very unpleasant endgame to defend.

Dec-02-24
Premium Chessgames Member
  chrisowen: Laments her bow v it is Qxg2+ AEG og doh axiom juggle dud o Qxg2+ off :)
Dec-02-24
Premium Chessgames Member
  perfidious: <mel>, only with <fishie> at your side; your 'this was easy; hahahahaha' and 'I got this in five seconds! Hahahahaha!' would have a tough time at the board.
Dec-02-24  eblunt: < TheaN:> to be fair 37 Qf2 is a blunder, could have fought on a bit better, though the position is bleak
Dec-02-24  TheaN: <eblunt: < TheaN:> to be fair 37 Qf2 is a blunder, could have fought on a bit better, though the position is bleak>

I don't say anything else, I just find it bit disrespectful to Kotov to state 'White should have done better' or people here claiming they would not have made the same mistake in this situation. It was a tense game with a lot on the line and he messed up.

Dec-02-24  mel gibson: < perfidious: <mel>, only with <fishie> at your side; your 'this was easy; hahahahaha' and 'I got this in five seconds! Hahahahaha!' would have a tough time at the board.>

That Black Bishop had been aiming at g2 since move 22. White had time to do something about it -
at least 10 moves.

Dec-02-24  Lloyd Gross: mel gibson: <That Black Bishop had been aiming at g2 since move 22. White had time to do something about it - at least 10 moves.>

That’s what I thought. But this game is from 1939, so those players didn’t learn that lesson yet.

Dec-03-24  King.Arthur.Brazil: Some friends commented about 37. Qf2 ?? being an error, but let's see that being near to the 40th move, Kotov could had being in a time trouble. The alternative 37. Qf1?? Qd3! will be enough, while 37. Qd1 Qg3 which threats 38... Qxh3+ 39. Kg1 Qg4. So, W best reply seems to be: 37.Qd2, however, Rd8 followed by Qf5 seems also to give B best chances to win.
Dec-03-24
Premium Chessgames Member
  perfidious: The 40 moves in 2.5 hours was not yet standardised as the time check, but maybe it played a role; the tournament page offers no information on that.

It is interesting tho that Kotov won a game using the same motif, seven years on.

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