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Mikhail Botvinnik vs Vasily Smyslov
Groningen (1946), Groningen NED, rd 3, Aug-15
Gruenfeld Defense: Russian. Smyslov Variation (D98)  ·  1-0

ANALYSIS [x]

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Kibitzer's Corner
Oct-16-06  McCool: Great technique from the future World Champion. Notes on this game:

7. ..Bg4 <this move was Smyslov's idea.>

<13...cxd 14.e5! Black's queenside is under pressure.>

20.dxc?! <an inaccuracy; correct was 20.e5!.>

21. ..Nh6? <Black misses: 21...Rac8! e.g., 22.Bh3 h5 23.f3 Ne3!! with equality.>

26.Rc4! <showing great patience about winning Black's P/b6.>

38.b4 <better is 38.Nc5!>

Aug-11-07  wolfmaster: Smyslov was not quite ready to challenge in 1946, but a decade later he was a star.
Sep-13-09  King.Arthur.Brazil: McCool: is very hard to see benefits of defensive move like Nc5, when you have 2 passed P to promote. White tried toa void Smyslov's nights checks and couter-play at same time move P to win.
May-29-10  whiteshark: Here is a game-related photo, Botvinnik thinking about <41.h3> (sealed move ?) http://www.tabladeflandes.com/zenon... (standing aside: Stolz and Yanovsky)
Feb-04-12
Premium Chessgames Member
  plang: The Smyslov System, characterized by 8..Nfd7, had not yet been developed; after the inferior 8..Nc6?! Botvinnik obtained a solid plus. 10 dxc could have been answered by 10..b5! with equality. 11..c6 led to a poor position after 13 Bg2 as 13..cxd would have been answered by 14 e5..Ne8 15 Bxd5. Botvinnik thought that 20 e5 at once would have been stronger and if 20..c5 21 a4 with, in effect, an extra pawn and the stronger position. Smyslov's error 21..Nh6? led to material loss; better was 21..Rac1 22 Bh3 (22 Rxd8+..Rxd8 23 Bxc6 and Black has compensation with counterplay on the d-file)..h5 23 f3..Ne3 24 Bxc8..Nxe1 25 Rxd1..Rxc8 26 Rd7 with some endgame advantage foe White. Smyslov counterplay on the kingside was never close to compensating for the strength of Whites a and b pawns.
Feb-04-12  RookFile: You get the feeling that Botvinnik was humoring Smyslov for much of this game. It was like: "Yeah, this is all nice - see those queenside pawns? They are your doom."
Jul-18-14  jerseybob: Whiteshark: No, that's Yanofsky seated in the background; you can even see his name on the table.
Jul-18-14  whiteshark: <jerseybob> Thanks! You are obviously right.

So who are standing behind the players? Stoltz, Lundin and/or Szabo?

pictures of tournament participants: http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Gronin... ; http://www.chesshistory.com/winter/...

Jul-18-14  jerseybob: whiteshark: I'd say it's Stoltz to the right and possibly Lundin to the left. And dig Botvinnik's North Korean-style 'do!

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