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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

ANALYSIS [x]

FEN COPIED

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

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sac: 37...Qxg2+ PGN: download | view | print Help: general | java-troubleshooting

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Kibitzer's Corner
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Aug-19-14
Premium Chessgames Member
  kbob: What would be wrong with 16. Bxe4 , dxe4; 17. f4, exf3; 18. Rxf3, f6; 19. Rg3 etc.? Am I the only one who likes white's attacking chances?
Aug-19-14
Premium Chessgames Member
  Bubo bubo: Luring a piece into a pin again: 37...Qxg2+ 38.Qxg2 Rxe2 wins a pawn and the exchange.
Aug-19-14  awfulhangover: Ouch..very easy, but it took me long time to solve. Strange, maybe not that easy after all, I hope.
Aug-19-14  lost in space: 37...Qxg2+ 38. Qxg2 Rxe2 and time to resign
Aug-19-14
Premium Chessgames Member
  Sally Simpson: Hi kbob,

"What would be wrong with 16. Bxe4 , dxe4; 17. f4, exf3; 18. Rxf3, f6; 19. Rg3 etc.? Am I the only one who likes white's attacking chances?"

I like Black's attacking chances after 18.Rxf3


click for larger view

Now not 18...f6 but 18....Nxf3 (check!).

Hi scormus:

"Most unlike Kotov, or any other seriously strong player for that matter. I wonder what sort of time pressure he might have been in."

Time trouble is not a viable excuse - the clock is your 17th piece. If you have misplaced time then it's the same as misplacing a piece.

Here: Black has just played 36...Re8


click for larger view

The threat is 37...Qxg2+ 38.Rxg2 Rxe1+. Kotov spotted that and stopped the x-ray attack on the White Queen by moving it and holding the e2 Rook. The idea of Qxg2+ had been nulled.

Kotov most likely expected Botvinnik to swap Rooks on e2 and slipped up thinking Qxg2+ was no longer a move.

Aug-19-14
Premium Chessgames Member
  Penguincw: Well that seemed simple enough. I thought my method was simple (just exchange rooks and then push the passed pawn).
Aug-19-14  Stormbringer: I thought 37 ... Qb1+ was better, but I see now that the white queen doesn't have to interpose, the king can just go to h2 instead.
Aug-19-14  Nick46: <agb2002:.. A very overworked puzzle.> But then chess is a very overworked game, when all is said and done.
Aug-19-14  David2009: Here's the position with White to play at move 37:


click for larger view

35.Qd2 (instead of 35.Qf2?) prevents immediate disaster, but presumably Black wins the ending.

Kotov vs Botvinnik, 1939

Aug-19-14
Premium Chessgames Member
  beenthere240: <penguincw>
The trouble with just exchanging rooks and simply pushing the passed pawn is the bishops of opposite colors - if white can later force a queen exchange, the game is probably drawn.
Aug-19-14  Strelets: Botvinnik's games: deep maneuvering to either realize a combination or a won endgame. If it meant shattering his pawn structure or giving himself some other long-term weakness... Oh well.
Aug-19-14  kevin86: Queen sac leaves white queen trapped and pinned and the rook unguarded. After the rook goes, white can only get a bishop for the kidnapped lady.

Black is up and exchange of rook for bishop: black wins.

Aug-19-14
Premium Chessgames Member
  beenthere240: chrisowen is starting to become understandable -- meaning either that his language is reverting to the norm or I am beginning to understand it. Both alternatives are sad.
Aug-19-14  Mating Net: Tremendous use of the pin by Botvinnik. User <notyetagm> did a great job of explaining the ins and outs of this position on page 4.
Aug-19-14  patzer2: <kbob> <What would be wrong with 16. Bxe4 , dxe4; 17. f4, exf3; 18. Rxf3...?.>

Here, 18...Nxf3+ (diagram below) wins


click for larger view

as White is in check and 19. gxf3 Qg5+ is clearly decisive.

Aug-19-14  Garech: How to lose like a Grandmaster!

Lolz

-Garech

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.
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