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In game 4, Botvinnik vs Smyslov, 1954, Botvinnik had now played 10. Nd2. In this game he played 10. f3-f4 with the idea of Bf3. But he was worried about White's lack of development, which was why he avoided 13. e4 0-0 14. e5.
*****
After 20...Kh8,
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White definitely has an advantage. He now played 21. Be2, and Botvinnik says this "loses all the fruits of his play hitherto." Stockfish 8 evaluates thus:
1. (1.15): 21.h3 Bxe5 22.dxe5 Rb7 23.Rg1
2. (0.97): 21.Rg1
3. (0.77): 21.Be2 Bxe5 22.dxe5 N8d7
4. (0.74): 21.Ke2 Qh5+ 22.f3 f5.
Furman thought that 21. Bd2 was best, so the White's queen can go to g3. Stockfish gives that a lowly 0.58. Botvinnik himself, with the serenity of a valley girl at a Givenchy sale, had his own idea. He said that 21. Nf3 was the best move.
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"Black wold have had to reply 21...Qh6, after which 22. Ng5 is very strong, since on 22...Qh4 white does not repeat the position by 23. Nf3 <but sacrifices a piece!>"
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23.e5 Be7
24. Nxf7+ Rxf7
25. Qxe6 ...
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Now SF8 thinks that
25...Rxf4 is dead level:
26. Bxf4 Qxf4
27. O-O, but Botvinnik says that it is "in White's favour." Botvinnik's alternative for Black, after 25. Qxe6, is the inferior 25... Rf8 26. d5 Rb7 27. Rg1, "Black has a difficult position". SF8 agrees: +1.58. |