chessgames.com
Members · Prefs · Laboratory · Collections · Openings · Endgames · Sacrifices · History · Search Kibitzing · Kibitzer's Café · Chessforums · Tournament Index · Players · Kibitzing
Mikhail Botvinnik vs Tigran Petrosian
5th Soviet Team Cup (1966), Moscow URS, rd 11, Oct-05
English Opening: Great Snake Variation (A10)  ·  0-1

8
7
6
5
4
3
2
a
1
b
c
d
e
f
g
h
White to move.
ANALYSIS [x]
0-1

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

Click Here to play Guess-the-Move
Given 41 times; par: 56 [what's this?]

explore this opening
find similar games 30 more Botvinnik/Petrosian games
sac: 25...fxe4 PGN: download | view | print Help: general | java-troubleshooting

TIP: You can display posts in reverse order, by registering a free account then visiting your preferences page and checking the option "Display newest kibitzes on top."

PGN Viewer:  What is this?
For help with this chess viewer, please see the Olga Chess Viewer Quickstart Guide.
PREMIUM MEMBERS CAN REQUEST COMPUTER ANALYSIS [more info]

A COMPUTER ANNOTATED SCORE OF THIS GAME IS AVAILABLE.  [CLICK HERE]

Kibitzer's Corner
Aug-20-04  morphynoman2: Incredible! 34. Rc3?? Be4!! and all is over.
Jan-06-05  jondoe: 34 Re1 is better?
Nov-14-06  stanleys: <34 Re1 is better?>

Of course.I believe it's even winning.

But apparently the 55 years old Botvinnik was extremely tired(it was the last round of an incredibly strong URSS team championship)

Dec-10-06
Premium Chessgames Member
  Pawn and Two: <stanleys> Botvinnik's missed win also meant 2nd place for his team, instead of a 1st place finish.

Here are the final team standings and the 1st board (5 World Champions plus Geller, Keres & Stein!) for each of the teams:

Armed Forces - 80.5 - Geller
Trud - 80 - Botvinnik
Spartak - 79 - Petrosian
Burevestnik - 78 - Smyslov
Avangard - 63 - Stein
Daugava - 58 - Tal
Lokomotiv - 57.5 - Spassky
Moldava - 47.5 - Lutikov
Kalev - 41.5 - Keres
Vodnik - 37.5 - Chernikov
Mehnat - 36.5 - Birbrager

Botvinnik won 1st prize for best score on board 1, with 6/9, Geller and Petrosian were next with 6.5/10.

Aug-24-08  ToTheDeath: Eyewitness to this game Ilya Figler talks about it in this interview:

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=loxy...

"I could see tears from Botvinnik when he lost to Petrosian."

Aug-24-08  ughaibu: There's a crosstable of games between the players mentioned by Pawn and Two, here: http://www.endgame.nl/spassky.htm
Apr-27-10  parisattack: <ToTheDeath: ...

"I could see tears from Botvinnik when he lost to Petrosian.">

I remember the first time I saw this game in Chess Review. I had just learned to play and Botvinnik was my hero... I almost cried, too.

Botvinnik played some of his best games after he lost the title...this was so close to being one of them!

Apr-27-10  Eisenheim: 14 ...bg8 - just lovde watching how tight he plays these defensive gems. this should be GOTD
May-01-10
Premium Chessgames Member
  keypusher: <To the Death>

Thanks for that link to Figler. I played him in one of my rare tournaments...he slaughtered me of course, but was so warm, pleasant and instructive in the post-mortem!

May-01-10  parisattack: <Eisenheim: 14 ...bg8 - just lovde watching how tight he plays these defensive gems. this should be GOTD>

I wouldn't consider a game where white blundered a win away on the last move GOTD material.

May-23-16  Fanques Fair: It´s a myth that Botvinnik was winning before the last move. 34- Rce1, Bb4 ! keeps the grip on White´s postion, despite being the exchange up.
Oct-01-16  ewan14: Another exchange sacrifice. !

I think. P v. the Elite said Qe2 was a poor move allowing P. to swap queens

Apr-07-18
Premium Chessgames Member
  keypusher: <Fanques Fair: It´s a myth that Botvinnik was winning before the last move. 34- Rce1, Bb4 ! keeps the grip on White´s postion, despite being the exchange up.>

I don't see Black's grip after 35.Rxd2 Bxd2 (35....ed 36.Re8+ Kg7 37.Rd8 is easier). It won't be an easy ending to win, though.

Oct-25-19  ewan14: 22 Qe2 losing move
Oct-25-19
Premium Chessgames Member
  PhillyCheapskate: Another exchange sacrifice by Petrosian
Jul-20-20  PJs Studio: I think that white still has to try and hold the balance after Re1 even being the exchange up. The d pawn is too big of a menace. Botvinnik didn’t see Be4 or the game would likely have ended in a draw.

Very exciting matchup of two legends

NOTE: Create an account today to post replies and access other powerful features which are available only to registered users. Becoming a member is free, anonymous, and takes less than 1 minute! If you already have a username, then simply login login under your username now to join the discussion.

Please observe our posting guidelines:

  1. No obscene, racist, sexist, or profane language.
  2. No spamming, advertising, duplicate, or gibberish posts.
  3. No vitriolic or systematic personal attacks against other members.
  4. Nothing in violation of United States law.
  5. No cyberstalking or malicious posting of negative or private information (doxing/doxxing) of members.
  6. No trolling.
  7. The use of "sock puppet" accounts to circumvent disciplinary action taken by moderators, create a false impression of consensus or support, or stage conversations, is prohibited.
  8. Do not degrade Chessgames or any of it's staff/volunteers.

Please try to maintain a semblance of civility at all times.

Blow the Whistle

See something that violates our rules? Blow the whistle and inform a moderator.


NOTE: Please keep all discussion on-topic. This forum is for this specific game only. To discuss chess or this site in general, visit the Kibitzer's Café.

Messages posted by Chessgames members do not necessarily represent the views of Chessgames.com, its employees, or sponsors.
All moderator actions taken are ultimately at the sole discretion of the administration.

This game is type: CLASSICAL. Please report incorrect or missing information by submitting a correction slip to help us improve the quality of our content.

<This page contains Editor Notes. Click here to read them.>

Home | About | Login | Logout | F.A.Q. | Profile | Preferences | Premium Membership | Kibitzer's Café | Biographer's Bistro | New Kibitzing | Chessforums | Tournament Index | Player Directory | Notable Games | World Chess Championships | Opening Explorer | Guess the Move | Game Collections | ChessBookie Game | Chessgames Challenge | Store | Privacy Notice | Contact Us

Copyright 2001-2025, Chessgames Services LLC