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March 26, 2002:
Since the Nezhmetdinov game (vs. Polugaevsky)
is grossly and blatantly
unsound,
(IMO); I believe I shall offer this game as one of
the "Ten Most Beautiful Games of Chess Ever Played."
You definitely
will need a chess set to play over this game.
( There are NO diagrams. )
Click HERE to go to a page with this game on a js re-play board.
(See the bottom of this page for escape links, or click the "Back" button on your web browser.)
Click HERE to see my explanation of the symbols that I use.
Click HERE to go to my channel on YouTube. Click HERE to see my video on this game.
The 10th Greatest Chess Game Ever?
GM Mikhail Botvinnik
(2700) - GM Vassily Smyslov
(2675)
[E68]
(FIDE) World Championship
Match, (Game # 14)
Moscow, U.S.S.R.
(Russia) 1954.
[A.J. Goldsby I]
This is game # 14,
(played on Mar. 16th?); of the (1954) FIDE World Championship Match, played
between Smyslov and Botvinnik. (These two played a monumental FOUR {4} WCS
matches.)
(Actually, I am counting their clash in 1948 as well ...
some people don't see this a true match, even though they played "mini-matches" against each of the other
contestants in the "Match Tournament" played at <The Hague> and also Moscow in 1948. In
the end, however ... Smyslov and Botvinnik did play in {at least} four World Championship
events. They also played three of the "old-style" {FIDE} 24 game matches ... Of course, all three
of these matches were for the world title as well.)
Just simply one of the best games of chess ever played. I first saw this game as a very young person. (I also was very low-rated then. It had a profound impact on me ... I looked at this game probably every day for over 3 months.) It makes a deep impression upon me as a Master as well.
This game is
ranked by GM A. Soltis as being the # 11 game ... out of the whole of the
twentieth (20th) Century!! (See his book, "The 100 Best.")
{Many
regard this encounter ... "AS THE FINEST GAME (!!!) ... ever played in a
World Championship Match." - GM Andrew Soltis. (My
emphasis.)}
A poll of Soviet Masters in a magazine during the 1950's was asked to pick the three best chess games ever played in a modern, World Championship Match. (This was one of the games that was chosen by nearly every person who responded!)
I was unable to confirm this, but a player who was also a student of Jack Collins, told me, (that Collins told him); that this game was also a favorite of a young Bobby Fischer.
Smyslov, in one interview, picked this as one of his all-time best games. (He told the famous Russian {chess} historian, Issak Linder, that this one game ... more than any other ... gave him the most aesthetic pleasure to play.)
***
(The
ratings are simple estimates, and have been translated into 2001
terms.
---> I first started on this game late in the year. {2001}
After working on this game - analysis and research - for quite some time, {at least 6-8
weeks}; I then laid it aside. I made no serious efforts on this game until almost a whole year later.)
*******
Editors
note: Jeff Sonas
gives the following ratings for
these two players in March
of 1954:
Mikhail Botvinnik - 2779;
(# 3 in the world.) || Vassily
Smyslov - 2790.
(The World's #1 player!)
FIDE
... had no rating
system in 1954. A friend ... who is both
a trained mathematician, and an amateur chess historian ... calculated the FIDE
ratings of both of these players ... and this is what he came up with. (I have
no idea of the accuracy of these ratings.)
GM Mikhail Botvinnik - 2680;
and GM Vassily Smyslov - 2695.
(Strangely, both of these ratings are pretty close ... and approximate the work
of Professor Arpad Elo. (See his book, "The
Ratings of Chessplayers, Past & Present."
Published © 1978. Especially, see the graph on pages # 88-89.) Friday;
May 20th, 2005. (July, 2013: These
ratings would not look impressive today, however, in 1972, these two ratings
would have put them near the top of the rating list ... so try to bear that in
mind.)
1.d4 Nf6;
2.c4
g6; 3.g3,
This leads to the fianchetto variation of the
King's Indian Defense.
This was a favorite of many strong GM's of the 40's and
50's.
(Like Botvinnik, Smyslov, Geller, Reshevsky, etc.)
A note about move
order: IMPORTANT!! This move order, with the early
concentration on the
d5-square, virtually prevents the Gruenfeld Defense.
(A favorite of many masters
and GM's like Fischer & Kasparov.)
Smyslov is was and is a great expert in
this line.
---> My books are full of references to his beautiful victories.
(To see another game of this line that is carefully analyzed, click here.)
[ The main line (today) probably is the
variation: 3.Nc3 Bg7; 4.e4 d6;
5.Nf3,
5...0-0;
6.Be2 e5; 7.0-0 Nc6; 8.d5 Ne7; 9.b4!?,
"~" {Unclear} {Diag?}
This has occurred literally hundreds
of times at the master level.
(Over 1000 matches on one on-line
database. Some books call this,
"The
Spike Variation," or MCO-14 calls
it, "The Bayonet Attack."
{cf. page # 588} )
The latest example of this line that I could find - at the GM level - was
the
encounter: GM
E. Bacrot (2660) - K. Sasikiran (2650)
FIDE (Men's) Olympiad; [f2] Bled, Slovenia;
2002.
(Drawn in under 30 moves.)
( A lot of Fischer's opponent's would play
the move: 9.Nd2!?; {Diagram?}
with the idea
of simply transferring this Knight over to the Queen-side.
(With a pawn
on d5, this is where White's play will be.)
See the
game: GM V. Korchnoi - GM R.J. Fischer;
(Click here.)
World Blitz
Championships. Hercig Novi, YUG; 1970. )
]
***
3...Bg7;
4.Bg2 0-0;
The King's Indian. I both played this and studied this as a youngster.
(Probably primarily because of one person - Bobby Fischer!)
One
of the main ideas of the King's Indian Defence - and one of the reasons
it is so popular - is that Black gets to attack on the K-side; while White
is
pursuing his thematic Queen-side play/expansion.
(See Korchnoi - Fischer; see the link in the note above.)
5.Nc3
d6; 6.Nf3 Nbd7!?;
An older move, not as popular as ...Nc6; or 6...c5.
(But still just as playable.)
And
it is occasionally played - see the contest:
GM A. Baburin - GM V. Spassov;
FIDE Olympiad, (5th Round). Bled, SLO; 2002.
A
funny note: One opening survey book I have shows that Black has
something like FIFTEEN (15) different and distinct moves that the
second player can use here! (LOTS of choices!)
[ A popular line (was) is: 6...c5!?;
7.0-0 Nc6; 8.d5 Na5; 9.Nd2 a6;
10.Qc2 Rb8;
11.b3 b5; "<=>" {Diagram?} and Black has good play.
This position has
been cropping up in tournament games, (using many
different move orders!); since
the mid-1950's.
There were nearly 1500 examples of this position according to
a search
of my own database.
An interesting game was: GM K. Georgiev - GM A.
Shirov;
Villar-Robledo Open, (rapid) Villarrobledo, ESP; 1997.
***
Black can
also play: 6...Nc6; 7.0-0 a6;
8.h3, {Diagram?}
The main line.
( The line I
played as a teen-ager in tournaments was: 8.d5 Na5;
9.Nd2 c5; "~" with an
interesting position. (The "Panno Variation.") )
8...Rb8; 9.Be3, "+/=" {Diagram?}
Practice has tended to favor White ...
in this position. (Nearly 500
matches in ChessBase's on-line database.)
The first time this position
occurred - between strong players - was:
GM V. Smyslov -
GM T. Petrosian; (FIDE)
Candidates Tourn. 1956.
(White won a very long game.)
The most current GM
example is: GM J. Nogueiras - GM A. Khalifman;
(FIDE?) World Championship Tournament
- Lucerne, Switzerland; 1997.
(A long game that was eventually drawn.)
]
7.0-0
e5; 8.e4,
The more Classical response, as White fills the center with his pawns.
[
Today it is often more popular to play the line beginning with:
8.Qc2,
"+/=" {Diagram?} with a good game for White.
(See any good opening book.)
***
White
also (often) plays the move: 8.h3,
"~" {Diagram?} trying to
do without e4 - to
keep his Bishop on the long diagonal unfettered.
This position has occurred
many times in real, OTB chess.
(Over 1000 matches according to the CB on-line
database.)
The earliest example was: V. Berger - G.
Koltanowski;
Hastings,
ENG; 1928.
The most recent all-GM game was the contest:
U. Andersson - V. Tumakov;
Biel SKA, Switzerland; 1996. (78)
That game proceeded: 8...c6; 9.dxe5 dxe5;
10.Be3 Qe7; 11.Qc1 Re8;
12.Rd1 Nc5;
13.b4 Nce4; 14.Nxe4 Nxe4; 15.Nh2 f5!?; 16.Bxe4!? fxe4;
17.Bc5 Qf7;
18.Ng4 Be6; 19.Nh6+!? Bxh6; 20.Qxh6 Bxc4;
21.Rd2 b6;
22.Be3 Rad8;
23.Rxd8!? Rxd8; 24.Qh4!? Rd5!; 25.Qg4?! Qf5!;
26.Qxf5,
26...gxf5; 27.Kf1
Kf7; "=/+" {Diagram?} Black is clearly better
here,
(Maybe - "/+"); and went on to win a VERY long game.
{Annotations by - A.J.G.}
This game may have some theoretical importance, this
is why I have
commented on it here. ]
8...c6!?;
This move is interesting ... and leads to an older formation.
(One that is not
real common in tournaments today.)
[ Black can also play: 8...Re8!?;
9.Be3, "+/=" {Diagram?}
with a slight advantage for White, in this position.
(GM Andy Soltis.)
And Black can also play: 8...exd4!?;
"~" {Diagram?}
with a fair game as well. ]
9.Be3!?,
This is certainly playable, but today it is customary to play h3 first, to
prevent
Black from playing ...Ng4.
"This
move is fine against 8...Re8; but it can create huge complications here."
- GM Andy Soltis.
" 9.d5, or 9.h3, is usually played." - GM Vassily Smyslov.
[ The 'book' line is: 9.h3,
{Diagram?} This prevents any pins by a Bishop
to ...
or any nonsense by a Knight sally on ... the important g4-square.
Now Black
has close to 10 different (reasonable) moves, just about all of which
have been
tried in tournament chess.
9...Qb6; {Diagram?} The main line according to
one of my best books, it is also
the move that is played the most often in this
position; - according to "Power-Book."
*****
( Many strong chess
programs pick the move: 9...exd4; {D?}
which is also the
main line given
in "Modern Chess Openings." [MCO] (I am not a big fan of this
move, as
White's center often now becomes very mobile. If Black is not careful,
White
will play f2-f4-e5, and run the second player right off the board.)
Now play can
proceed with: 10.Nxd4 Re8; 11.Rb1 a5;
12.Re1 Nc5; 13.b3
Nh5!?;
14.Be3 Qe7;
15.Qd2 Qf8; 16.Rbd1 Nf6; {Diagram?} The end of the column.
17.Qc2 Nfd7;
18.f4, "+/=" {Diagram?} White has a slight edge here.
"As often happens in this variation, White
has a space advantage."
- GM N. de
Firmian.
GM A. Wojtkiewicz - Bjarnason;
New York Open, (USA); 1994.
[ See MCO-14; page # 608, column # 61, & note
# (b.). ]
***
Black could try: 9...a6!?; {Diagram?} with a flexible position. )
*****
(Returning to the main line of our analysis; 9...Qb6.)
10.c5!?
dxc5; 11.dxe5 Ne8[]; 12.Be3! Nc7!; 13.Qc2 Ne6;
14.Na4!?,
14...Qb5!?;
{Diagram?} This seems like Black's 3rd best move here.
( A more logical try would
seem to be the move: 14...Qa5; "=" {Diagram?}
which would have been better. )
15.Rfd1 c4!?; {Diagram?} I don't know about this move.
( It would seem
that a small improvement would be: >= 15...Re8!;
16.Rd2 Qa6!?; 17.Nxc5 Nexc5; 18.Bxc5 Nxe5!?; 19.Nxe5 Bxe5;
20.a3, "+/=" {Diagram?} when White is a little better.
)
16.Nd2 Qa6; {Diagram?} The
end of the column. 17.f4 b5; 18.Nc3 Bh6;
19.Nf3 Ndc5;
20.b3 Qa3; 21.Rab1 Nd3; 22.Bf1!, "+/="
{Diagram?}
"White had the better of a very complicated
struggle." - GM Nick de Firmian.
Mikhalchishin - Kotronias; Yugoslavia,
1997.
[ See MCO-14; page # 608,
column # 64, and note # (i.). ] ]
9...Ng4!;
{Diagram?}
Black plays the most active move in this position.
(GM A. Soltis does NOT give this move an exclam ... but I think it
certainly
deserves one. If for no other reason that Smyslov had to fear a
possible
prepared variation - something that Botvinnik was justly famous
for!)
[ Black could also have played: 9...exd4; "=" {Diagram?} with a fair game. ]
10.Bg5,
{Box?}
This is positionally forced.
(If White gives up his dark-squared Bishop in this position,
he will have no advantage at all.)
[ 10.Qe2!? f5!?; "~" ]
10...Qb6!;
{Diagram?}
The most active and vigorous move in this position, but not one
without some dangers associated with it.
Black
had not only depend on a great deal of calculation, but also be winning to trust
in his judgment and positional intuition - to be able to play this move with
confidence.
'!' - GM Andrew Soltis. '!' - GM Svetozar Gligoric.
***************************************************************
As GM A.
Soltis has already noted, we are headed ...
for a pit of
complications - that is nearly bottomless!
***************************************************************
[ One writer suggested the line:
10...f6!?; 11.Bd2 h5!?; 12.h3
Nh6!?; "~" {Diag?}
as a playable alternative here. ( I
much prefer White here.) ]
11.h3,
Once again, White cannot sit idly by, otherwise Black will play
moves like ...h6,
and then ...f5; with a good game.
"Nothing new so
far!" - GM V. Smyslov.
(He goes on to note this had all been played before.
A. Lillienthal - Konstantinpolsky; Sochi, 1952.)
I also wish to note that the
pawn advance of 11.c5, does not work in this position.
(The e5-square is too
well defended. See the MCO lines above, for an example
of what I am talking
about.)
[ An inferior continuation was: 11.Be7?! Re8;
12.Bxd6 exd4; 13.Na4,
13...Qa6;
"=/+" {Diagram?}
... "and Black has threats of ...b5."
- GM
A. Soltis.
Even worse was: 11.a3? exd4!; 12.Na4
Qa6; "=/+" {Diagram?}
with a clear
edge for Black. (Maybe - "/+") ]
11...exd4!;
(TN)
{Diagram?}
"The ever-suspicious Botvinnik was annoyed by this improvement
over the
previously played move, 11...Ngf6." - GM Andy
Soltis.
Botvinnik
thought that for Smyslov to be this well-prepared, someone in his camp
must have
leaked secrets. (But he was not giving Smyslov enough credit for his
extensive
pre-match preparations.)
"A highly unpleasant surprise ..." - GM Vassily Smyslov.
'!' - GM Andrew Soltis. '!' - GM Vassily Smyslov. '!' - GM Svetozar Gligoric.
[ The continuation of: 11...Ngf6;
12.Rb1, {Diagram?}
Supposedly
the best move here.
( The book, "The World
Chess Championship(s)," by R. Wade
and
GM Svetozar Gligoric provides the following line: 12.Qd2!?
exd4;
13.Nxd4 Nc5!?; 14.Rad1 Re8; 15.Rfe1 Nfd7; 16.Be3, "+/=" {Diagram?}
and White is a little better here. (So many people contributed
to this book,
it is difficult to determine who is mainly responsible for this
piece of analysis.
I think it was either Gligoric, Wade, or even Les Blackstock.
I also think that
13...Nxe4; is OK for Black, but I am not certain.) )
12...exd4; Black releases the tension.
13.Qxd4 Qxd4; 14.Nxd4 Ne5;
15.b3,
"~" had been thoroughly analyzed in a Soviet magazine, and was
thought
to be slightly better for the first player here. ]
White's next move
seems forced.
12.Na4 Qa6; 13.hxg4 b5!;
The most energetic move
here for the second player to try. (But it is possibly -
inherently - risky, due
to the opening of the long diagonal which now occurs.)
Soltis does not give
this move an exclam here, but I feel - quite confidently - that
this move is
worthy of this award. (The move is NOT obvious or forced. It even
appears
somewhat dangerous.)
"This energetic manoeuvre regains Black his lost
material, since the attacked
Knight has no good retreat square" - GM
Vassily Smyslov.
[The book: "125 Selected Games,"
by V. Smyslov. Pergamon Press.
Translated by K.P. Neat. (c) 1983.]
'!' - GM Vassily Smyslov.
[ Definitely not: 13...Qxc4?;
14.Rc1, "+/" {Diagram?}
with a clear edge for White.
If Black plays: 13...Re8!?; {Diagram?}
then White plays: 14.b3,
"+/=" {Diag?} White is a
touch better. ]
14.Nxd4,
{Diagram?}
This could be best - I am not at
all certain, though. But it is certainly NOT the
only move at White's disposal
here!
[ According to GM Andy Soltis, after the continuation:
14.Be7!? Re8;
15.Bxd6,
15...bxa4; 16.e5, ('!?')
{Diagram?} Is this best?
***
( 16.Nxd4!? Ne5; "~" {Diagram?}
The book, "The World Chess Championship(s)," by
R. Wade and
GM
S. Gligoric rates this as hugely better for Black, ("/+")
but that
is
questionable.
(Some programs think White is a tad better in this position.)
)
16...Qxc4!?; {Diagram?}
"Black has fine compensation." -
GM
Andrew Soltis.
(But I am not so sure.)
( Black could also try: >=16...c5!?; "~" {Diagram?}
with a strange position.
{Several programs rate this as better
for Black.} )
But after: 17.Nxd4 Nxe5; 18.Rc1 Qxa2;
19.Bxe5 Bxe5;
20.Bxc6,
"+/=" {Diagram?} White seems to be at least a little better here.
***
White could also try: 14.cxb5 cxb5; 15.e5, {Diagram?} The best try?
( Another author
gives the line: 15.Nxd4!? bxa4; 16.e5?!,
{Diagram?}
Both Be3 and Qd2 are maybe better
than this, and probably offer White
a small edge.
(16.Be3!?) 16...Bb7;
"~" {Diagram?}
... "and Black's game is preferable."
- V. Smyslov.
(Playable is: 16...Rb8!?; "~") )
15...bxa4; 16.Be7, {Diagram?}
This is probably the best try in this position.
(16.Nxd4 Rb8; "~") 16...Re8;
17.Bxd6 Bb7; 18.Rc1, "~" {Diagram?}
A very UN-balanced position ...
that probably offers equal chances for both sides.
***
According to GM A. Soltis, after the moves:
14.c5 bxa4; 15.Be7 dxc5; "~"
{D?}
Black is OK.
The 2nd player has good compensation for the material invested.
(I am not so
sure, however. If the c4-square gets blockaded, Black could have some
problems.
Many annotators evaluate this position as much better for Black.
{See Gligoric's
books on the match and The World Championship Series.
There is also an English book on
this match that I used to own, but have
mis-laid it over the years.}
I have
conducted many comp.-vs.-comp. tests of this position, and I would say,
at this
point in the analysis, that the evaluation of "unclear" is MUCH more
closer to being correct.) ]
14...bxa4;
15.Nxc6!,
The most
accurate move here, according to our esteemed writer.
'!' - GM Andrew Soltis.
(This move was also praised in book on the match, and in many Soviet chess magazines.)
[ White could also try: 15.Be7!? Re8;
16.Bxd6 Ne5; "~" {Diagram?}
but the
results are not clear.
***
The continuation of: 15.b3 Ne5; 16.f3,
{Diagram?} This
looks forced.
(A little worse is: 16.Be7?! Bxg4; 17.f3
Rfe8; 18.Bxd6,
18...Rad8; "Comp." ("=/+") {Diag?} with excellent play
for Black.)
16...d5!;
"<=>" {Diagram?} gives Black the initiative,
according to GM A. Soltis.
(This line is also quoted by Botvinnik, and also
Wade, Gligoric, and L. Blackstock.) ]
15...Qxc6!;
This
looks terrible, but turns out to be the correct move here.
"Far superior to 15...Bb7; 16.Ne7+." - GM Andy Soltis.
'!' - GM Andrew Soltis.
Botvinnik - albeit somewhat grudgingly - praised this move as well.
(The
magazine, "64.")
This move is actually an EXTREMELY deep exchange
sacrifice.
What the second player gets out of this sack is not clear. Black's
play
is very subtle and deeply hidden.
[ Completely inferior was the line: 15...Bb7;
16.Ne7+ Kh8; 17.Rc1 Bxb2;
18.Rc2 Bg7;
19.Nd5, "+/=" (Maybe -
"+/") {Diagram?}
which is much better for White in this position.
]
The
next few moves seem forced for both opponents.
16.e5 Qxc4; 17.Bxa8 Nxe5; "Comp." {Diagram?}
"Black has excellent play for the sacrificed
exchange."
- GM Vassily Smyslov.
18.Rc1!,
A very good
move, and much better than many of the possible
alternatives at this point.
"What is often forgotten is how well Botvinnik handled the arduous defense
in this game." -
GM Andy Soltis.
'!' - GM Andrew Soltis.
[ Botvinnik
saw - and rejected - many continuations at this point of the game.
One possible
line was the variation: 18.Bg2 Be6!?;
(18...Nd3!?) 19.Qxd6,
19...Qxg4;
20.Bf4 Nf3+; 21.Bxf3 Qxf3; 22.Qd1 Qb7; "=/+"
{Diagram?}
... "with an edge for
Black." - GM Andy Soltis.
(Maybe even - "/+")
This line is
also quoted by Wade and Gligoric on their book that covers all
of the Chess
World Championship Series. (1948 - 1972.)
***
Perhaps playable was: 18.Bd5!? Qb5; "~" ("=/+")
{Diagram?}
which might be o.k. for Black.
***
Another
possibility was: 18.Qxd6!? Bxg4;
19.Bf4!? Nd3; "~" {Diagram?}
with unclear results.
***
Not
so good was: 18.Be7?! Bxg4; 19.Bd5!?,
{Diagram?}
Is this the best ... or forced?
( Instead Soltis gives the line:
19.Qd5?! Re8; "/+" {Diagram?}
and Black
is clearly better. (Maybe "-/+")
(This may be winning for the second player here.) )
19...Qc7;
20.Bxf8, {Diagram?} This could be forced here.
(20.f3?! Bxf3; 21.Bxf3 Qxe7; "/+" {Diagram?}
Black has tremendous 'comp' for the exchange.)
20...Bxd1;
"/+" {Diagram?} This is clearly better for Black.
(Indeed! Black could
be winning in this position.) ]
18...Qb4!;
(Maybe - '!!')
Soltis
gives no comment here, but simply awards this move an exclam here.
I like this
move ... very ... VERY MUCH!! If for no other reason than Black had
so many
promising moves here. (I would have probably chosen 18...Bxg4!?)
How did Vassily
Smyslov choose this move here? It could NOT have been pure
calculation. Maybe
intuition ... plus?
'!' - GM Andrew Soltis. '!' - GM Svetozar Gligoric.
[ Black could also play: 18...Qxa2!?; "=/+" {Diagram?} with some compensation.
Also good for Black was: 18...Bxg4!; 19.f3,
{Diag?} This could be forced.
(19.Rxc4? Bxd1; "-/+") 19...Qb5;
20.fxg4 Rxa8; "=/+" {Diagram?}
with a pretty
fair game for the second player from here.
Probably not as good for Black is
the line: 18...Qb5!?; 19.Be7 Bxg4!; {Diag?}
Probably the best move.
(19...Re8!?; 20.Qxd6 Bxg4; "~")
20.Qd5!, "~" {Diag?}
White might be a tiny bit better
in this position.
( - Wade and Gligoric. From their book: "The World Chess
Championship(s).") ]
19.a3!,
{Diagram?}
Once again, Botvinnik
finds the best - maybe the ONLY! - practical chance
for White in this particular
position.
"The best. After 19.Bg2, Ba6; 20.Re1,
Nd3; White is
clearly worse."
- GM Andy Soltis.
'!' - GM Mikhail Botvinnik. '!' - GM Andrew Soltis. '!' - GM Svetozar Gligoric.
[ A little worse is: =/<
19.Bg2 Ba6; 20.Re1 Nd3; "=/+" {Diagram?}
And Black has a small, but solid edge here. (I think this line
originates
with some analysis published in a Soviet magazine.
It is also quoted
by Gligoric and Wade.) ]
19...Qxb2!;
I am sure this is the
best move for Black.
(Soltis does NOT give this move an exclam.)
I have tested
this game rather extensively on many boxes, programs, etc.
Just after the
program, Fritz 6.0 first was released, I tested this position on
the 'gorp.' It
thought for over 12 minutes, and clearly picked the move,
19...Bxg4; as best.
[ Boxes usually pick: 19...Bxg4!?; {Diagram?} in this position.
And if Black
had played: 19...Qb6!?; then 20.Be3,
"+/=" {Diagram?}
and White is a little better.
Much
less accurate - than the move played in the game - was:
19...Qb8;
20.Be4, "+/=" {Diagram?} & White looks to be better.
]
20.Qxa4!?,
(Maybe - '?!')
Soltis provides no commentary to guide us here.
Botvinnik, very
understandably, is in a hurry to pick off the (possibly)
dangerous BQRP.
{Black's Pawn on the a4-square.}
But was this forced? Even necessary? (I am not sure.)
[ White seems better after: 20.Qxd6!? Bxg4;
21.Rb1, "+/=" {Diagram?}
with an
interesting position.
Or White could try: 20.Bg2!? Bxg4; 21.Qxa4,
"+/=" {Diagram?}
also
with a viable game.
(Both of these lines appear, -
at least superficially - to
be better than
what actually took place in the game.)
]
20...Bb7!!;
(Q-sack)
In my opinion, this is one of the most brilliant, daring and brave
combinations
ever played at this level. [WCS]
(GM A. Soltis gives this just one exclam ... I feel very strongly that it deserves two.)
'!' - GM Andrew Soltis. '!' - GM Vassily Smyslov. '!' - GM Svetozar Gligoric.
To a lesser
extent, some psychology is involved here.
Is Smyslov daring Botvinnik to play
Rb1 here?
A very strong play ... notes the great Smyslov.
[ Was the move: 20...Bxg4!; "Comp." {Diagram?} also good for Black? ]
21.Rb1?!,
White
... perhaps seeing that all the alternatives were bad for him, (he thought a
while
before playing this); decides to ... 'mix it up' ... a little.
But the
move is inferior, and also allows Black a stunning refutation.
('?' - GM Andy
Soltis.)
I think to give this move a whole question mark, is not to realize
some
of the factors that may have led Botvinnik to play this move:
# 1.) He
could - quite possibly - see ALL the other continuations were just plain
bad for
him;
# 2.) He had been three points ahead at one point in this match, perhaps he
was
a tad over-confident ... or trying to make a statement with this game;
# 3.) Up until this point in his career, Smyslov had never played a combination that
was particularly outstanding - perhaps
Botvinnik felt Smyslov was incapable
of
pulling off such a tremendous idea against him;
# 4.) Botvinnik always confessed
he was poor at long variations, perhaps he simply
made a mistake in his
calculations of this line? (To me - only looking a few
moves deep - it does not
appear that Black will get enough for his Queen. His
pieces appear a little
scattered.)
"The move played in the game meets with a convincing
refutation."
- GM Vassily Smyslov.
[ It would seem that the following line
was pretty much forced for Botvinnik - that
he had to play: 21.Bxb7,
{Diagram?} Soltis called this move:
"White's last hope."
21...Qxb7; 22.Rb1!?, {Diagram?}
I thought this was forced,
yet White may have an
improvement in this position.
( GM A. Soltis gives the line: >= 22.Rc3! Nf3+!?;
{Diagram?}
I prefer ...h6 here. (A little better seems to be:
>= 22...h6!; 23.Bf4 Nf3+;
24.Rxf3 Qxf3; 25.Bxd6!? Rd8!; "=/+" {Diagram?} which seems to be slightly
better for Black here.)
23.Rxf3 Qxf3;
24.Be7 Ra8; 25.Bxd6, "~" {Diagram?}
I do not think that White should lose this
particular position. {Although several
computers rate Black as dramatically
better.}
Gligoric and Wade quote this line as well, but stop with: 24.Be7
"=" )
22...Nf3+!; 23.Kh1, {Diagram?} This is forced.
(23.Kg2? Ne1+!; 24.Kh3 Qg2+; 25.Kh4 Nf3#)
23...Qa8; "/+" {Diagram?} and Black is clearly better. ]
21...Nf3+;
22.Kh1, {Diagram?}
This
looks like the safest move.
[ 22.Kg2!? ]
22...Bxa8!;
An idea
of unusual brilliance. Not only does Black offer to give up his Queen,
but this
combo has a "slow-motion" quality that is hard to describe.
(It will
take many more moves before it becomes clear whether or not this
idea was really
sound.) Maybe - '!!'
'!' - GM Andrew Soltis. '!' - GM Vassily Smyslov.
NOTE:
About a year ago, I analyzed this game (briefly) on my friend's computer.
(It is
very powerful, it has multi-processor support.) A strong chess program,
(Fritz 7.0); had just come out. I zipped to this position and let the computer think
for over 45 minutes. (We went to get something to eat.)
It also chose ...Bxa8! -
virtually proving this is absolutely the best move here.
[ The continuation of: 22...Nd2+!?;
23.Bxb7 Nxb1; 24.Bc6!?,
24...Nxa3;
"=/+" (Maybe - "/+")
{Diagram?} is quite a bit better for Black.
This is relatively simple. I am sure
that a player of Smyslov's caliber - especially
if he had plenty of time - could
easily calculate a line like this. This is one of the
reasons this game is so
brilliant. If Black were a coward, he could have played
a line like this one,
and had a slight advantage.
(Smyslov does NOT analyze at all here. {in his book}
He simply gives the
move 22...Bxa8; an exclamation point - and then just moves
on.)
Wade and Gligoric also quote this line, but stop with 24.Bc6
"="
(This is obviously incorrect. I played CM 8000 (W) vs. Fritz 6.0.
(B)
Out of six games, Black won FIVE, and the other game was drawn!!)
***
It
looks promising, (at least at first); but a complete failure for Black was:
22...Qxb1?!; ('?')
23.Rxb1 Bxa8; 24.Be7 Nd2+; 25.Kh2 Nxb1; 26.Bxf8,
26...Bxf8;
27.Qb4!, {Diagram?} Wade and Gligoric
stop here, and conclude
that White is winning.
(easily) (27.Qxa7 Be4;
"~") 27...Nxa3[];
28.Qxa3,
28...Bd5;
29.Qxa7, "+/" {Diagram?} White is clearly better here.
(Maybe winning? A lot of research here
did NOT yield any conclusive results.
My endgame books do NOT contain this
position, or anything remotely like it!
Also several test games ... computer-vs.-computer
... were also very inconclusive.
My guess is with perfect play, White could win.
BUT!!!!! ... ... ... ... ... ...
with all the material on the same side of the board, I would say
Black has a fair
amount of drawing chances.) ]
The
next few moves all appear pretty much forced - and Soltis gives
no commentary - to guide us in this position.
23.Rxb2 Nxg5+; 24.Kh2!? Nf3+; 25.Kh3 Bxb2;
"The exchanging operation has brought Black considerable gains:
his three minor pieces are more than sufficient compensation for the
Queen.
In Addition, The White King continues to come under attack."
- GM Vassily Smyslov.
[
The
book: "125 Selected Games," by
V. Smyslov. Pergamon Press.
Translated
by K.P. Neat. (©) 1983. ]
26.Qxa7
Be4; "=/+" (Maybe - "/+") {Diagram?}
Black is clearly better, maybe even winning here.
'!' - GM Svetozar Gligoric.
(Just a guess, but ... Is this the move Botvinnik may have missed?)
[ Maybe also good was: 26...Ng5+!?;
"=/+" ("/+") {Diagram?}
with a good game for Black. ]
27.a4,
Soltis
says that White's a-pawn is his ONLY source of counterplay.
Black has THREE
minor pieces for his Queen, and White's King is still
not safe. Once Black gets
some piece co-ordination, the game will be over.
[ 27.Qa6!? Ra8!; "-/+" ]
27...Kg7!?;
Black gets his King to safety, he may also be entertaining some
ideas like ...h5.
(To get at the White King on the exposed h3-square.)
[ Also playable was: 27...Bd4!?; "/+" {Diagram?} & Black is clearly better. ]
28.Rd1
Be5; 29.Qe7 Rc8!; {Diagram?}
The great player and e.g. artist himself provides the following comment here:
"Black's minor pieces have taken up ideal positions in the center, and now
his
Rook comes into play (and) quickly decides the outcome of this tense
battle."
- GM
Vassily Smyslov.
'!' - GM Vassily Smyslov.
(Soltis does not give this move an exclam, but Smyslov does.)
'!' - GM Svetozar Gligoric.
The
book on this match describes the wonder and admiration just about all the
GM's who were watching this game felt for the great Smyslov's play - at this
point.
30.a5,
White continues to shove his Queen Rook's Pawn.
"Black
can ignore the threat of Rxd6, because of ...Rc1; and mates."
- GM A. Soltis.
[ If 30.g5!? d5; "-/+" (Black is winning.)
Much worse was: 30.Rxd6? ('??')
30...Rc1!; 31.g5, {Diagram?}
White must give his King an escape
square.
(31.a5? Rh1+; 32.Kg2 Ne1#)
31...Nxg5+!; 32.Qxg5 Rh1+; 33.Kg4,
33...h5+;
34.Qxh5[] gxh5+; 35.Kg5 Bxd6; ("-/+") {Diagram?}
and White is strangely helpless
against the coming threat of (Black)
Pawn to the f6-square, (MATE!!); on
the next move. ]
Black
now wraps things up.
30...Rc2; 31.Kg2!? Nd4+!?; 32.Kf1 Bf3; 33.Rb1
Nc6!?; ("-/+") {Diagram?}
White Resigns.
It is hopeless for White after Black plays ...Bd4.
***
I
used like 10 different books to annotate this game, but my main guide for this effort was the book: "The 100 Best,"
by GM A. Soltis.
[Copyright (c) 2000, McFarland Books; and Publishing Company.]
(To a lesser extent, I also used the book: "125 Selected Games,"
by GM Vassily Smyslov.)
Copyright
(©) A.J. Goldsby I. Copyright (c) A.J. Goldsby, 2002.
(I started on this game several times. I did some serious work on it in
2001, but laid it aside ...
and did not begin actively working on it again
until the latter part of the year, '02)
0 - 1
Simply one of the best chess games ever played in a WCS event! Outstanding!!
(All HTML code initially) Generated with ChessBase 8.0
This game was
(first) posted on my web-site on: October, 2002.
(Last up-dated on: Wednesday; December 31st,
2003. Last edit/save on: 11/08/2015
.)
*******
Copyright (c) A.J. Goldsby I
Copyright
(©) A.J. Goldsby, 1975-2015.
Copyright (©) A.J. Goldsby, 2016. All rights reserved.
I first saw this game
as a very young lad. (Someone had a collection of the World Championship
games that was played during the 1950's.) I have gone over it many times. I was
VERY pleased
to see that GM Andy Soltis had included in his book on "The 100
Best."
This game, in
ChessBase format; is
probably one of the best annotation jobs anyone has ever done
on this particular game. It also contains a fairly decent survey of the
opening. If you would like a copy
of this game to study on your computer, I hope that you would contact
me.
Click HERE
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***
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