JRCR Supplement: Poprgebyssky-Botvinnik, Soviet Ch, Leningrad, 1939

[Jack Rabbit]

This game game was truncated when first posted in September. It is presented here complete.

Mikhail Moiseevich Botvinnik (1911-1995), a native of St. Petersburg, was the sixth world champion (1948-1957; 1958-60; 1961-63). On August 17, the chess world celebrated the 100th anniversary of his birth. Several memorial tournaments were held to honor the occasion.

Botvinnik took a scientific approach to all aspects of the game. He even kept files on potential opponents in order to study weaknesses in their play. He was basically a positional player who punctuated his strategy with tactical finesse.

Mikhail Moiseevich was perhaps the greatest connoissuer of the French Game ever, specifically the Nimzo-Winawer Defense.

Resource: Botvinnik, Mikhail (Stephen Garry, trans.), One Hundred Selected Games (New York: Dover, 1960), game 63.



Mikhail Botvinnik
Photo: from the Book of the Botvinnik-Flohr Match, 1933 in Wikipedia Commons.com (Public Domain in Ukraine)


Iosef Pogrebyssky - Mikhail Botvinnik
Eleventh Soviet Championship
Leningrad, April 1939

Closed French Game: Nimzo-Winawer Defense (Main Line)

1.e4 e6 2.d4 d5 3.Nc3 Bb4

BLACK



WHITE

French Game: Nimzo-Winawer Defense

Position after 3...Bf8b4

• This is the Nimzo-Winawer Defense. It is credited to one Szymon Winawer, a strong nineteenth-century Polish master. It was favored by Nimzovich in the years after World War I, but it was Botvinnik, starting in the thirties, who made it one of most popular variations of the French. Since the end of World War II, by which time Botvinnik was recognized as the world's strongest player and then the world champion, it has been the most played variation of the French. It is sometimes called the Botvinnik Variation.
• By pinning the Knight at c3, Black threatens White's e-pawn. This is usually dealt with by advancing the pawn to e5, stetting up the standard French pawn formation. The center is closed and opening play is quite slow. White has a natural advantage in space and will play against the Black King, assuming Black castles kingside (which he may not, as in the present game). Black will attempt to undermine White's center by playing ...c7c5 and ...Nb8c6, putting pressure on the d-pawn, and then develop counterplay on the queenside. Consequently, after a slow opening, the middlegame can be very sharp.
• In the opinion of your humble hare and his staff of chess playing cats, this is the sharpest of all the French lines. Black gives up the two Bishops in order to saddle White with doubled c-pawns; the closed nature of most Nimzo-Winawer positions make it questionable whether Black giving up the Bishops is any kind of concession at all. White's spoiled queenside pawns make it almost unthinkable for White to castle short. Black, on the other hand, typically castles long. The opposite-sided castling combined with long pawns chains for each side running through the center leads to a game with strong play on opposite wings.
• If you find yourself playing Black and needing a win, this is the kind of opening you might consider.

4.e5

• The advance is the the most effective to meet the Nimzo-Winawer, but White can also exchange on d5 or reinforce eith the guardian Knight or the e-pawn itself.
• (Exchange Opening) If 4.exd5 exd5 5.Bd3 Nc6 then:
• If 6.a3 then:
• If 6...Bxc3+ 7.bxc3 then:
• If 7...Nge7!? 8.Qh5 then:
• If 8...Be6 9.Rb1! then:
• If 9...b6 10.Nf3 Qd7 11.Ng5 then:
• If 11...0-0-0 12.Nxe6 Qxe6+ then:
• 13.Be3 g6 14.Qf3 Nf5 15.0-0 Nxe3 16.Rfe1 Qd6 17.fxe3 gives White command of two open fileand the advantage in space (Glek-Chenaux, Op, Saint Vincent, 1999).
• If 11...g6 12.Qf3 0-0 13.Nxe6 then:
• 13...fxe6 14.Qh3 Nf5 15.0-0 e5 16.dxe5 Nxe5 17.Bf4 Rae8 gives Black a better center and fewer pawn weaknesses; White has the b-file and the Bishop pair (Charochkina-I. Radziewicz Rajlich, Euro ChW, St. Petersburg, 2009).
• 13.Qe2 Nf5 14.Qxe6+ fxe6 15.0-0 Nd6 16.Re1 Kd7 17.Bf4 gives White the Bishop pair, command of the b- and e-files and control of e5; Black has command of c4 ().
• 13...Qxe6+?! 14.Kd1 Qd6 15.Re1! Qxh2 16.Bf4 Qh4 17.g4! gives White a fine game with command of the b- and e-files and a huge advantage in space in compensation for the pawn.
• If 9...Qc8 then:
• If 10.Ne2 then:
• If 10...Bf5?! 11.Nf4 then:
• If 11...Be6? then after 12.0-0 Nd8 13.Re1 c6 14.a4 h6 15.Ba3 White soon wns (Glek-Naumkin, Op, Cattolica, 1993).
• 11...Bxd3 12.cxd3 0-0 13.Nxd5 Nxd5 14.Qxd5 Re8+ 15.Be3 gives White an extra pawn and a clear advantage in space, but Black is still in the game.
• 10...Bg4 11.Qg5 0-0 12.0-0 Re8 13.Re1 Bf5 14.Ng3 gives White more space; Black can relieve the problem starting with 14...Bxd3.
• 10.Nf3 h6 11.h3 Bf5 12.0-0 Bg6 13.Bxg6 fxg6 14.Qh4 0-0 15.Re1 gives White command of two open files, but Black's pieces protect each other well (Tran Ngoc Lan-Larmuseau, World Jr Ch, Chotowa, 2010).
• If 8...g6 9.Qf3 Bf5 10.Rb1 then:
• If 10...0-0?! 11.Rxb7 then:
• If 11...Na5 12.Rb4 Re8 13.Ne2 Be4 14.Bxe4 dxe4 15.Qf6! gives White an extra pawn (Bykhovsky-Hort, IT, Moscow, 1962).
• 11...Qc8 12.Rb1 Qe6+ 13.Ne2 Be4 14.Bxe4 dxe4 15.Qf4 yields an extra pawn for White.
• Better is 10...Rb8 11.Ne2 0-0 12.0-0 Re8 13.Ng3 Bxd3 14.cxd3 when White has more freedom, command of the b-file and the advantage in space; Black has the e-file.
• If 7...Nf6 8.Ne2 0-0 9.0-0 then:
• If 9...Na5 10.Ng3 then:
• If 10...Bg4 11.f3 Bd7 12.Bg5 h6 13.Bf4 then:
• 13...Nc4 14.Qc1 Ne8 15.Nh5 Qh4 16.g4 f5 17.Bg3 Qg5 18.Bf4 Qh4 19.Bg3 Qg5 20.Bf4 draw (Wippermann-Jussupow, Bundesliga 0506, Germany, 2006).
• 13...Re8 14.Qc1 Re6 15.Nf5 Nh5 16.Be5 Nc6 is equal (Trygstad-S. Ivanov, Euro Club Cup, Saint Vincent, 2005).
• If 10...Qd6 11.h3 Re8 12.Qf3 then:
• 12...Qc6 13.a4 Nc4 14.Bxc4 dxc4 15.Qxc6 bxc6 gives White better targets among Black's weak pawns (Schöne-Mkrtchian, OlW, Dresden, 2008).
• 12...Be6 13.Bf4 Qc6 14.Be5 Nd7 15.Nh5 Nxe5 16.dxe5 is equal (Senff-Poldauf, Bundesliga 0607, Germany, 2006).
• 9...Re8 10.Bg5 h6 11.Bh4 Na5 12.Qd2 Qd6 13.Bg3 is equal (Nataf-Short, FIDE Knock Out, New Delhi, 2000).
• If 6...Be7 7.Nce2 then:
• If 7...Bf6 8.c3 Nge7 then:
• 9.Qc2 g6 10.Bf4 Bf5 11.Nf3 Qd7 12.Bxf5 Nxf5 13.0-0 is equal (Maze-E. L'Ami, Euro Ch, Aix-les-Bains, 2011).
• 9.Ng3 g6 10.Qf3 Bg7 11.Bg5 h5 12.Qf4 Qd7 is equal(Sanz Alonso-Mariotti, IT, Las Palmas, 1978).
• If 7...Nf6 8.c3 0-0 then:
• 9.Ng3 Re8 10.N1e2 Na5 11.0-0 c6 12.Bc2 Nc4 is equal(Cornette-E. Peterson, Euro Ch, Dresden, 2007).
• 9.Qc2 Re8 10.Bf4 Bg4 11.0-0-0 Bh5 12.f3 Bg6 is equal (E. Pähtz-Totsky, Op, Pardubice, 2001).
• If 6.Nge2 Nge7 7.0-0 Bf5 8.Ng3 then:
• If 8...Bxd3 9.Qxd3 Qd7 10.Nce2 0-0 then:
• 11.c3 Bd6 12.Bf4 Rae8 13.Qf3 Nd8 is equal (Spielmann-Dr. Euwe, IT, Zandvoort, 1936).
• 11.b3 Bd6 12.f4 f5 13.c4 b6 14.Bb2 Nd8 is equal (Spielmann-Sämisch, IT, Wiesbaden, 1925).
• 8...Bg6 9.Nce2 Qd7 10.f4 f5 11.a3 Bd6 12.b3 is equal (Spielmann-Nimzovich, IT, Copenhagen, 1923).
• (Kondratiyev Opening) If 4.Nge2 dxe4 5.a3 then:
• If 5...Be7 6.Nxe4 Nf6 then:
• If 7.N2g3 0-0 then:
• If 8.c3 then:
• If 8...Nbd7 9.Bd3 then:
• If 9...c5 10.dxc5 then:
• 10...Nxe4 11.Nxe4 f5 12.Ng3 Nxc5 13.Bc4 Qxd1+ 14.Kxd1 Bd7 15.b4 Na4 16.Re1 Nxc3+ gives Black an extra pawn and the initiative (S. Lalic-N. Pert, British Ch, Great Yarmouth, 2007).
• 10...Bxc5 11.0-0 Be7 12.Qe2 Qc7 13.Ng5 Re8 14.Re1 gives White a little more activity for her pieces, a queenside majority and the advantage in space (Vranesevic-Vasic, Yugoslav YouthW, Obrenovac, 2002).
• If 9...e5 then:
• 10.Nxf6+ Bxf6 11.d5 Nc5 12.Bc2 b6 13.0-0 Ba6 14.Re1 gives White a small advantage in space (Rogers-Zhong Zhang, IT B, Wijk aan Zee, 2003).
• 10.0-0 exd4 11.cxd4 Nb6 12.Be3 Nbd5 13.Bd2 Nxe4 14.Nxe4 is equal (Korbut-Grabuzova, TTW, St. Petersburg, 2003).
• If 8...Nc6 then:
• If 9.Bd3 e5 10.Nxf6+ Bxf6 11.d5 Ne7 12.c4 Ng6 then:
• 13.0-0 Nf4 14.Bc2 g6 15.Qf3 Bg7 16.Rb1 Qh4 17.Bxf4 exf4 is equal (Gluszko-Maier, Euro Ch, Warsaw, 2005).
• 13.Qc2 c6 14.dxc6 bxc6 15.0-0 a5 16.Be4 Qc7 17.Be3 gives White the advantage in space (Zelcic-Jussupow, ZT, Dresden, 1998).
• If 9.Nxf6+ Bxf6 10.Bc4 e5 11.d5 then:
• 11...Ne7 12.Ne4 Nf5 13.0-0 Nd6 14.Nxd6 Qxd6 15.Be3 is equal (Gheorghiu-Uhlmann, Alekhine Mem, Moscow, 1971).
• 11...Na5 12.Ba2 b5 13.0-0 c5 14.Ne4 c4 15.a4 gives White a better center and more freedom.
• If 8.Be2 Nc6 then:
• If 9.Nxf6+ Bxf6 10.c3 e5 11.d5 Ne7 then:
• If 12.c4 Ng6 13.Nh5 then:
• 13...Bg5 14.0-0 Bxc1 15.Qxc1 Qh4 16.Qc3 draw (Pachman-Bronstein, ITZ, Stockholm, 1948).
• 13...Be7 14.0-0 f5 15.f4 Bc5+ 16.Kh1 Bd4 17.fxe5 is equal (Pachman-Szabo, ITZ, Saltsjobaden, 1948).
• 12.Bc4 Ng6 13.0-0 Be7 14.Ne2 Bd6 15.f4 Qh4 gives Black the advantage in space (Gunnarsson-Maier, Op, Reykjavik, 2008).
• 9.c3 e5 10.dxe5 Qxd1+ 11.Bxd1 Nxe5 12.0-0 Nxe4 13.Nxe4 Nd3 gives Black a slight edge with more space (Kan-Alatorsev, Soviet Ch, Moscow, 1931).
• If 7.Qd3 0-0 8.Bf4 then:
• If 8...Nc6 9.0-0-0 b6 then:
• If 10.N2c3 Nd5 11.Nxd5 exd5 then:
• 12.Ng3 Be6 13.Qc3 Bd6 14.Nh5 Ne7 15.Bxd6 Qxd6 16.Qg3 Nf5 17.Qxd6 Nxd6 18.f3 f6 19.Bd3 Bf7 draw (Morky-Short, Ol, Thessaloniki, 1988).
• If 12.Nc3 Bf6 13.Qg3 Bh4 14.Qf3 Be6 15.Bc4 is equal (, Op, Philadelphia, 1987).
• If 10.h4 Nxe4 11.Qxe4 Bb7 12.d5 exd5 13.Rxd5 Bd6 is equal (Minisian-Asrian, Armenian Ch, Yerevan, 2005).
• If 8...Nbd7 9.0-0-0 then:
• If 9...b6 10.N2c3 Bb7 then:
• If 11.Be2 Nxe4 12.Nxe4 Nf6 then:
• 13.Ng5 Bd6 14.Be5 Bxe5 15.dxe5 Qxd3 16.Rxd3 Nd5 17.Bf3 gives White the advantage in space (Wolff-Morovic Fernández, Op, New York, 1987).
• If 13.Bf3 Nxe4 14.Bxe4 Bxe4 15.Qxe4 Bg5 16.Kb1 draw (Kavalek-Dr. Hübner, IT A, Wijk aan Zee, 1982).
• If 11.Nxf6+ Nxf6 12.Be2 Nd5 13.Nxd5 Bxd5 14.Bf3 Bg5 15.Qe3 Bxf4 16.Qxf4 Bxf3 draw (Ghaem Maghami-Korchnoi, Op, Isle of Man, 2004).
• If 9...Nxe4 10.Qxe4 c5 then:
• 11.Nc3 Nf6 12.Qe1 cxd4 13.Be5 Qa5 14.Rxd4 Rd8 15.Rxd8+ draw (Gipslis-Krogius, IT, Moscow, 1991).
• If 11.dxc5 Nxc5 12.Qe3 Qb6 13.Nc3 Rd8 14.Rxd8+ Qxd8 15.Be2 Bd7 16.Rd1 Qe8 17.Bd6 Rc8 18.Bf3 draw (Opl-Wagener, Austrian ChT, 2000).
• If 5...Bxc3+ 6.Nxc3 Nc6 then:
• If 7.Bb5 Nge7 8.Bg5 f6 9.Be3 0-0 10.Qd2 f5 11.0-0-0 then:
• If 11...a6 12.Bxc6 Nxc6 13.f3 then:
• If 13...exf5 14.gxf3 e5 15.d5 then:
• If 15...Na5 16.Qe2 b5 then:
• 17.f4 18.Bxf4 Bd7 19.Rhg1 Rf7 20.Rg3 is equal (Neelakantan-Harikrishna, Op, Calcutta, 2000).
• 17.Rhg1 Qd6 18.f4 e4 19.Qf2 Rf7 20.Bc5 Qh6 gives Black an extra pawn and White a small advantage in space (Ciocaltea-Ornstein, IT, Smederevska Palanka, 1981).
• 15...Nd4 16.Bxd4 exd4 17.Qxd4 Qd6 18.Rhg1 Rf7 19.Rg5 is equal (J. Polgar-D. Wood, Op, Hastings, 1988).
• If 13...e5 14.d5 Na5 15.Qe2 then:
• 15...b6 16.fxe4 f4 17.Bd2 Nb7 18.Rdf1 Nd6 19.g3 is equal (Stripunsky-Shulman, US Ch, St. Louis, 2010).
• If 15....b5 16.Bc5 Rf7 17.fxe5 f5 18.d6 c6 19.Qh5 is equal (So. Polgar-P. Olivier, Op, Val Maubuee, 1988).
• If 7.d5 exd5 8.Qxd5 then:
• If 8...Nge7 9.Qxd8+ Nxd8 10.Nxe4 Bf5 11.Bd3 then:
• If 11...Ne6 then:
• If 12.Bd2 0-0-0 13.0-0-0 Nd4 then:
• 14.Rhe1 Nec6 15.Bc3 Rhe8 16.Bxd4 Nxd4 17.Nc5 is equal (Daces-Drasko, Op, Metz, 2001).
• 14.Kb1 Nec6 15.f4 Rhe8 16.Rde1 Re7 17.Re3 Rde8 is equal (Zelcic-Psakhis, Euro ChT, Batumi, 1999).
• 12.Be3 0-0-0 13.0-0-0 Bg6 14.Ng5 Nxg5 15.Bxg5 f6 is equal (Olszewski-Dizdar, Euro Ch, Warsaw, 2005).
• 11...e5 12.Bxc6 bxc6 13.Bf4 Rb8 14.Bxe5 Be6 15.Qe2 is equal (Zeller-Rogers, IT, Deizisau, 2001).
• If 8...Be6 then:
• If 9.Qxe4 Nf6 10.Qh4 Qd4 then:
• If 11.Bg5 Qe5+ 12.Be2 Nd4 13.0-0-0 0-0-0 14.Bd3 then:
• 14...h6 15.Bxf6 Qxf6 16.Qxf6 gxf6 17.Rd2 Bd5 18.f3 gives White better pawns and leaves him threatening 19.Bc4, winning a piece (Solodovnichenko-Edouard. French ChT, Mulhouse, 2011).
• 14...Nf5 15.Qf4 Qxf4+ 16.Bxf4 Nd4 17.Rhe1 gives White the initiative and a small advantage in space.
• 11.Qxd4 Nxd4 12.Bd3 h6 13.Be3 0-0-0 14.0-0-0 Ng4 is equal (Hakki-Bong Villamyor, Asian Ch, Calcutta, 2001).
• 9.Qxd8+ Rxd8 10.Bf4 Nf6 11.Bxc7 Rd7 12.Bf4 0-0 is equal (Bronstein-Vaganian, IT, Tilburg, 1993).
• (Schwartz Opening) If 4.Bd3 dxe4 5.Bxe4 Nf6 6.Bf3 then:
• If 6...c5 7.Nge2 Nc6 then:
• If 8.a3 Bxc3+ 9.bxc3 e5 then:
• If 10.Bg5 exd4 11.cxd4 cxd4 then:
• 12.Bxc6+ bxc6 13.Qxd4 Qa5+ 14.Bd2 Qd5 15.0-0 0-0 16.Rfe1 Ba6 17.Qxd5 Nxd5 draw (Hort-Uhlmann, IT, Zagrab, 1970).
• 12.Bxf6 Qxf6 13.c3 0-0 14.0-0 Rd8 15.Qa4 Bd7 is equal (R. Ortega-Uhlmann, Rubinstein Mem, Polanica Zdroj, 1967).
• If 10.Bxc6+ bxc6 then:
• If 11.0-0 exd4 12.cxd4 0-0 13.Re1 Ba6 then:
• 14.Be3 Bxe2 15.Rxe2 Nd5 16.Qd3 cxd4 17.Qxd4 draw (Torán Albero-L. Schmid, Ol, Leipzig, 1960).
• 14.Ng3 cxd4 15.Nf5 Re8 16.Bg5 Qa5 17.Nh6+ Kf8 gives Black an extra pawn and the initiative (Tseitlin-Jussupow, TT, Moscow, 1983).
• 11.Be3 cxd4 12.cxd4 0-0 13.0-0 exd4 14.Nxd4 Qd5 15.Re1 gives White a better center; Black has a little more space, but White need only drive the Queen away to fix that (E. Vasiukov-Golz, IT, Gotha, 1957).
• If 8.Be3 cxd4 9.Nxd4 Ne5 then:
• 10.0-0 Nxf3+ 11.Qxf3 0-0 12.Rad1 Qa5 13.Nb3 Qa6 14.Bc5 Bxc5 15.Nxc5 gives White the advantage in space (Sterner-Golz, IT, Dresden, 1956).
• 10.Be2 Nd5 11.Bd2 Nxc3 12.bxc3 Be7 13.0-0 0-0 14.f4 Nd7 gives Black better pawn structure; White has a better center (Fichtl-Uhlmann, IT, Zinnowitz, 1966).
• If 6...0-0 7.Nge2 Nbd7 8.0-0 e5 then:
• If 9.Ng3 Re8 then:
• 10.Bg5 Bxc3 11.bxc3 h6 12.Bd2 e4 13.Be2 is equal (Houska-Fowler, British Ch, Swansea, 2006).
• 10.Be3 exd4 11.Bxd4 c5 12.Bxf6 Nxf6 13.Nd5 Ba5 is equal (Le Roux-Singh, Masters, Hastings, 2006).
• 9.Bg5 Be7 10.Ng3 h6 11.Be3 exd4 12.Bxd4 c5 (Nei-Bronstein, Tartu, 1962).

[Jack Rabbit]

1. Porgrebyssky-Botvinnik. part 2 of 3

4...c5

• (Margate Variation) If 4...b6 5.a3 Bf8 then:
• If 6.Nf3 Qd7 then:
• If 7.Bb5 then:
• If 7...c6 8.Ba4 Ba6 9.Ne2 Bb5 10.Bb3 then:
• If 10...a5 11.c3 then:
• 11...Ne7 12.0-0 h6 13.Re1 a4 14.Bc2 Qa7 15.Ng3 gives White the advantage in space (Zawadzka-Martínez, Euro ChW, Warsaw, 2005).
• 11...c5 12.a4 Ba6 13.0-0 Ne7 14.Re1 Nbc6 15.Bc2 gives White a small advantage in space (Zhang Pengxiang-Nadera, Asian Ch, Calcutta, 2001).
• If 10...c5 11.c3 Nc6 12.0-0 Nge7 then:
• 13.Re1 0-0-0 14.Bc2 Ng6 15.Ng3 Kb7 16.h4 gives White the advantage in space (Chandler-Timman, IT, Amsterdam, 1987).
• 13.Bc2 a5 14.Re1 a4 15.Nf4 g6 16.h4 is equal (So. Polgar-Molnar, IT, Rimavska Sobota, 1991).
• 7...Nc6 8.Ne2 Bb7 9.Nf4 a6 10.Ba4 0-0-0 11.0-0 gives White more space as a consequence of better development (Psakhis-Karlsson, IT, Tallin, 1987).
• If 7.b4 then:
• If 7...c6 8.Rb1 Ba6 9.b5 Bb7 10.a4 c5 then:
• 11.Be3 Qc7 12.Bd3 Nd7 13.Na2 Ne7 14.c3 gives White a clear advantage in space (Krzyzanowski-Bajarani, World Youth, Vung Tau City, 2008).
• 11.Be2?! Qc7! 12.Be3 Nd7 13.0-0 cxd4 14.Bxd4 is equal (Y. Vovk-Hortensius, Op, Capplle-la-Grande, 2010).
• If 7...Ne7 8.Rb1 c5 then:
• 9.bxc5 bxc5 10.dxc5 Nec6 11.Be3 Na6 12.Nd4 gives White an extra pawn, more space (Kovalev-Johansen, Ol, Bled, 2002).
• 9.Bb5!? Nec6! 10.dxc5 bxc5 11.Ba4 a6 12.0-0 still give White the advantage with the pin a c6 and more space, but Black now has some rom to maneuver.
• If 6.f4 Ne7 7.Nf3 h5 8.Be3 then:
• 8...a5 9.Be2 Ba6 10.0-0 Nf5 11.Qd2 a4 12.Bxa6 Rxa6 (Candela Pérez-Vaganian. Op, Oviedo, 1992).
• 8...Qd7 9.Bf2 Ba6 10.Bxa6 Nxa6 11.Qe2 Nb8 12.g3 Nbc6 is equal (Lanc-Morky, Tirnavia, 1985).
• (Petrosian Variation) If 4...Qd7 5.a3 Bxc3+ 6.bxc3 b6 then:
• If 7.Qg4 f5 then:
• If 8.Qg3 Ba6 9.Bxa6 Nxa6 then:
• If 10.Ne2 then:
• If 10...Nb8 11.Nf4 then:
• If 11...Kf7! then:
• 12.c4 Ne7 13.cxd5 Nxd5 14.0-0 Nc6 15.Rd1 gives White a comfortablde advantage in space (Guilleux-Brichard, French ChT, Mulhouse, 2011).
• 12.Qf3 Ne7 13.Qh5+ Kg8 14.Rg1 Nbc6 15.g4 Rf8 is equal (Khachiyan-Akobian, Armenian Ch, Yerevan, 1999).
• If 11...Nc6?! 12.Nxe6 then:
• If 12...Qxe6? 13.Qxg7 0-0-0 14.Qxh8 Qg6 15.0-0 Rd7 then:
• If 16.Re1 then:
• 16...Kb7 17.Bf4 Rg7 18.g3 Nge7 19.Qf8 h5 20.Qf6 gives White a material advantage and an easy win (A. Zhigalko-Mihajlevski, Belorussian Ch, Minsk, 2006).
• 16...Rg7 17.g3 Kb7 18.e6 Nf6 19.Qf8 Ne4 20.Bf4 White wins (Timmerman-Beulin, Dutch Ch B ½-final, Eindhoven, 1987).
• If 16.h4? Rg7 17.g4 then:
• 17...fxg4?? 18.h5 Qf7 19.e6 Qf6 20.Bf4 gives White a huge advantage; Black's Queen is pinned to the Rook that entombs White's Queen (Revesz-Rogers, Masters, Gibraltar, 2007).
• Black wins by 17...Qxg4+! 18.Kh1 Qg2#.
• 12...g6 13.Nf4 Na5 14.0-0 Ne7 15.Re1 Nc4 16.Nd3 gives White a strong game with a passed pawn and command of g5, which can be used as a pivot point to attack Black's center.
• If a) 10...Kf7 11.a4 Ne7 then:
• 12.Qd3 Nb8 13.h4 c5 14.h5 h6 15.a5 Nbc6 16.axb6 axb6 17.Rb1 Qc7 gives Black stronger pawns and a small advantage in space (Blomqvist-Martinovic, World Jr Ch, Chotawa, 2010).
• If 12.h4 c5 then:
• If 13.h5 h6 14.Qd3 Nb8 then:
• 15.Rh4!? Nbc6 16.Nf4 Rhc8 leaves Black with stronger pawns and her position will benefit from an opening of the queenside (Chumpitaz-Medic, OlW, Khanty-Mansiysk, 2010).
• 15.0-0 Nbc6 16.Bf4 g5 17.Bd2 Kg7 18.f4 c4 remains equal.
• 13.Qd3 Qb7 14.Bg5 cxd4 15.Bxe7 Kxe7 16.cxd4 Kf7 is equal (Sveshnikov-Gulko, Soviet Ch, Moscow, 1976).
• If b) 10...0-0-0?! 11.a4 then:
• If 11...Nb8 12.a5 Nc6 then:
• If 13.axb6 cxb6 then:
• If 14.Nf4 Kb7 then:
• If 15.Ba3 Ka8 16.0-0 g6 17.Rfb1 Na5 18.Qh4 gives White a strong game as he threatens 19.Nxe6!! when the threat of 20.Qxd8 prevents Black from taking the Knight (Chandler-Mack, Bundesliga 8788, Germany, 1987).
• 15.Qh4 Rc8 16.Ba3 Nh6 17.0-0 Na5 18.Rfb1 gives White an impressive advantage in space (Quinn-Novikov, Euro Club Cup, Ohrid, 2009).
• 14.0-0 h6 15.Qd3 Nge7 16.c4 dxc4 17.Qxc4 gives White a comfortable advantage in space (Zuidema-Planinc, IT, Wijk aan Zee, 1973).
• 13.Qd3 Kb8 14.0-0 Nge7 15.axb6 cxb6 16.Ba3 gives White a better center and more space; Black game is cramped not only by White's pawn at e5, but Black's own pawns on the central light squares (Young-Novikov, Euro Club Cup, Antalya, 2007).
• If 11...Kb7 12.0-0 then:
• 12...g6 13.Qd3 Ne7 14.Bg5 Rc8 15.Bxe7 Qxe7 16.a5 leaves Black building an an attack on Black's King (Soderberg-Kockum, Op, Taby, 2007).
• If 12...Nb8 13.a5 b5 14.Nf4 a6 15.Ba3 Nh6 16.Nd3 gives White the better ceter and more space; Black is cramped (Kholmov-Zilberman, IT, Belgorod, 1990).
• If 10.a4 Nb8 11.Ne2 Nc6 then:
• If 12.0-0 Na5 13.Nf4 0-0-0 14.Ba3 then:
• 14...g6 15.Bb4 Nc4 16.a5 Ne7 17.axb6 cxb6 18.Bxe7 Qxe7 19.Ra2 gives White a small advantage in space (J. Richter-Zagorovsky, Corres, 1965).
• If 14...Nc4 15.a5 then:
• 15...Kb7?! 16.axb6! axb6 17.Rfb1 gives White domination of the queenside and a comfortable advatage in space (D. Prasad-Rogers, Op, Calcutta, 1988).
• 15...Nxa5! 16.Bb4 Nc6 17.Rfb1 Qf7 18.Ra6 limits White to a small advantage in space.
• 12.Nf4 0-0-0 13.a5 Nxa5 14.Rxa5 bxa5 15.0-0 Kb8 (J. Polgar-Adams, Euro ChT, Haifa, 1988).
• If 8.Qh5+ Qf7 then:
• If 9.Qd1 Ba6 10.Bxa6 Nxa6 then:
• 11.Qd3 Nb8 12.c4 dxc4 13.Qxc4 gives White a better center and a comfortable advantage in space (Tal-Asmundsson, Op, Reykjavik, 1964).
• 11.a4 Nb8 12.a5 Nc6 13.axb6 cxb6 14.Ne2 Na5 gives White a slight edge (Antonio-Rogers, Op, Kuala Lampur, 2005).
• 9.Qf3 Ba6 10.Bxa6 Nxa6 11.Qd3 Nb8 transposes into Tal-Asmaundsson, above.
• If 7.a4 Ba6 8.Bxa6 Nxa6 9.Qg4 f5 10.Qh5+ then:
• If 10...g6 11.Qe2 Nb8 then:
• If 12.h4 h6 13.Nh3 Nc6 14.Nf4 Nge7 then:
• If 15.g4 0-0-0 16.gxf5 then:
• 16...Nxf5 17.Nxg6 Rhg8 18.h5 Na5 19.Qb5 Qxb5 20.axb5 c6 21.bxc6 draw (Razuvaev-Lebredo, Capablanca Mem, Cienfuegos, 1975).
• 16...gxf5 17.Ba3 Rdg8 18.Nh5 Na5 19.Bb4 Nec6 20.Nf6 gives White the initiative and a sizable advantage in space (Timman-Planinc, IT, Banja Luka, 1974).
• If 15.Ba3 Rg8 16.Bb4 then:
• 16...Nxb4 17.cxb4 a5 18.b5 Rc8 19.0-0 c6 20.Rab1 gives White a clear advantage in space, but somebody is going to have to commit to a pawn exchange or they can gree to a draw now (Velimirovic-Szabo, IT, Amsterdam, 1976).
• 16...Kf7 17.0-0 Nxb4 18.cxb4 Qc6 19.Ra3 Qc4 20.Qxc4 dxc4 21.Rc3 gives White the initiative; Black needs to find a way to maintain the material balance (A. Sokolov-Vaganian, Soviet Ch, Moscow, 1988).
• If 12.Nf3 Nc6 13.c4 then:
• 13...dxc4 14.Qxc4 h6 15.0-0 Nge7 16.Bb2 g5 17.Rfd1 then:
• 17...g4 18.Nd2 Rd8 19.Qf1 0-0 20.Nb3 Ng6 21.c4 gives White the better center owing to the overprotection of the backward d-pawn (Tringov-Spiridonov, IT, Varna, 1973).
• 17...0-0 18.Qe2 Nd5 19.g3 Rfe8 20.h4 g4 21.Ne1 gives White more freedom (Micheli-Cosulich, Italian Ch, Sottomarina, 1973).
• 13...h6 14.0-0 Nge7 15.cxd5 Qxd5 16.Bb2 0-0-0 17.Qa6+ gives White the more stable center and more space overall; Black's centralized Queen is an asset (Velimirovic-Raicevic, Yugoslav ChT, Zlatibor, 1989).
• 10...Qf7 11.Qe2 Nb8 12.c4 Ne7 13.Nf3 dxc4 14.Ng5 gives White a better center, the initiative and more space (Matulovic-Taimanov, TM, Leningrad, 1964).

5.a3

• Again, this is the simplest and best way to deal with the Bishop. White may also reinforce the Knight by playing 5.Bd2, freeing the Knight from the pin, or take advantage of the absence of the Bishop from Black's kingside and attack.
• (Icelandic Opening) If 5.Bd2 cxd4 6.Nb5 then:
• If 6...Bxd2+ 7.Qxd2 Nc6 then:
• If 8.f4 then:
• If 8...Nge7 9.Nd6+ Kf8 10.Nf3 then:
• If 10...Qa5 11.Qxa5 Nxa5 12.Nxd4 then:
• 12...Nac6 13.c3 Nxd4 14.cxd4 Nc6 15.0-0-0 Ke7 16.Be2 gives White a tremendous advantage in space (Weeramantry-Filatov, Op, Philadelphia, 2000).
• 12...Bd7 13.0-0-0 Nc8 14.Nxc8 Rxc8 15.h4 f6 16.f5 gives White a tactical edge and more space ( Mikhalchishin-Nogueiras, IT, Sarajevo, 1985).
• 10...Qb6 11.Bd3?! Bd7 12.0-0 Nc8 13.f5 Nxd6 14.exd6 e5! is equal (Fogarasi-Braun, 1st Saturday August, Budapest, 2006).
• If 8...Nh6 9.Nd6+ Kf8 10.Nf3 then:
• If 10...Nf5 11.Nxf5 exf5 12.Nxd4 then:
• If 12...Qb6 13.0-0-0 Nxd4 14.Qxd4 Qxd4 15.Rxd4 Be6 16.g3 gives White greater activity, more freeedom and healthier pawns (Movsesian-Veselsky, Op, Hlohovec, 1995).
• 12...Be6 13.Be2 g6 14.0-0-0 Kg7 15.h3 h5 16.Nxe6+ fxe6 17.g4 gives White a small advantage in space (Spassky-García Palermo, Rpd Op, Cologne, 1989).
• 10...Qa5 11.Qxa5 Nxa5 12.Nxd4 Ke7 13.Be2 f6 14.0-0 gives White teh advantage in space; Black can offer an exchange of Knights on c6 to his benefit (Schneider-Werle, World Youth, Oropressa del Mar, 2001).
• If 8.Nf3 Nh6 9.Bd3 0-0 then:
• If 10.0-0 f5?! 11.exf6?! then:
• If 11...Ng4 12.fxg7! then:
• If 12...Rxf3 13.gxf3 then:
• 13...e5?? 14.fxg4! Qh4 15.f3 Black is down a whole Rook and change; he resigns (Kashdan-Camarena, Pan-American Ch, Hollywood, 1945).
• Black may have been beyond hope even before this blunder: If 13...Nge5 14.Be2 Qb6 15.a4 Kxg7 16.f4 Ng6 17.a5 leaves White with a material advantage and Black's pieces in a chaotic retreat.
• 12...Kxg7 13.Qg5+ Qxg5 14.Nxg5 h6 15.Nc7 hxg5 16.Nxa8 gives White the advantage of the exchange.
• 11...Rxf6 12.Nbxd4 Nxd4 13.Nxd4 e5 remains equal.
• 10...f6! 11.exf6 Qxf6 12.Ng5 Nf5 13.Nc7 Rb8 14.Rae1 gives White a small advantage in space and a serious threat against Black's e-pawn, but Black's game is easily playable (Minasian-Hertneck, TM, Baden-Baden, 1996).
• 6...Bc5 7.Qg4 Kf8 8.Nxd4 Qb6 9.Bc3 Nc6 10.Ngf3 is equal (Heinrichs-de León, World Jr ChG, Puerto Madryn, 2009).
• (Moscow Poisoned Pawn Opening) If 5.Qg4 then:
• If 5...Ne7 6.Qxg7 Rg8 7.Qxh7 cxd4 8.a3 Qa5 then:
• If 9.Nf3? dxc3! then:
• 10.b3 Nbc6 11.Ng5 Nxe5 12.f4 Rxg5 13.fxg5 Bd6 gives White excellent winnig chances (Manik-Jussupow, IT, Warsaw, 2005).
• If 10.bxc3 then White is toast after 10...Bxc3+ 11.Bd2 Bxd2+ 12.Nxd2 Qc3.
• If 9.Rb1?? dxc3 10.axb4 Qa2 White must lose the Rook and resigns (Sylvan-M. Antosen, Op, Farum, 1993).
• 9.axb4 Qxa1 10.Nce2 b6 11.b5 Bd7 12.Qd3 Qa5+ gives Black a small advantage in space.
• If a) 5...Kf8 6.Nf3 then:
• If 6...Nc6 7.Bd2 cxd4 8.Nxd4 then:
• 8...Nge7 9.Nxc6 Nxc6 10.f4 Bd7 11.Bd3 g6 12.0-0-0 Rc8 13.a3 Bc5 14.Kb1 gives White a small advantage in space, concentrated on the kingside; Black is ready to counterattack on the opposite wing (Zakharchenko-Simkin, Ukrainian Ch, Kiev, 1999).
• 8...Bxc3 9.Bxc3 Nxe5 10.Nxe6+ Bxe6 11.Qb4+ Qe7 12.Qxe7+ Kxe7 13.Bxe5 Nf6 14.0-0-0 gives White stronger pawns and the Bishop pair (Friedel-Pappu, Op, Framingham, 2001).
• 6...cxd4 7.Nxd4 Qa5 8.Bd2 Nc6 9.a3 f5 10.Qf4 Nxd4 11.Qxd4 Bc5 12.Qf4 gives White greater activity and more space (Bogatyrchik-Botvinnik, Soviet Ch, Moscow, 1927).
• If b) 5...g6 6.dxc5 Bxc5 7.Bg5 Qb6 8.0-0-0 Bd7 9.Nf3 h6 10.Bf6 Nxf6 11.exf6 Bxf2 gives Black an extra pawn and more space (J. Berry-Brooks, Op, Oklahoma, 2003).

5...Bxc3+

BLACK



WHITE

Closed French Game: Nimzo-Winawer Defense (Main Line)

Position after 5...Bb4c3:N+

• The text is the Main Line.
• (Swiss Variation) If 5...Ba5 6.Qg4 Ne7 then:
• If 7.b4?! cxd4?! then:
• If 8.bxa5!? dxc3 9.Qxg7 Rg8 10.Qxh7 then:
• If 10...Nd7 11.Nf3 then:
• If 11...Nf8!? 12.Qd3 Qxa5 13.h4 Bd7 then:
• If 14.Bg5?! then:
• If 14...Rc8?! 15.Nd4 then:
• If 15...Nf5!? then:
• If 16.Rb1 then:
• If 16...Rc4? 17.Nxf5! exf5 18.Rxb7 then:
• If 18...Re4+ 19.Qxe4 then:
• 19...dxe4 20.Rb8+ Bc8 21.Bb5+ Qxb5 22.Rxb5 Ne6 23.Bf6 Rxg2 24.h5 Ba6 25.h6 Black resigns (Smyslov-Botvinnik, World Ch M, Moscow, 1954).
• 19...fxe4 20.Rb8+ Bc8 21.Bb5+ wins the Black Queen.
• If 18...Qxa3 19.Qxd5 then:
• If 19...Re4+ 20.Be3 Qc1+ 21.Qd1 then:
• If 21...Rxe3+ then White wins after 22.fxe3 Qxe3+ 23.Qe2 Qg3+ 24.Qf2 Qxe5+ 25.Qe2! when Black is out of checks.
• 21...Qxd1+ 22.Kxd1 Rxe5 23.Bg5 Rxg5 24.hxg5 wins the exchange.
• 19...Qa1+ 20.Ke2 Qb2 21.Rxb2 cxb2 22.Qb7 Rxc2+ 23.Kd1 leaves Black unable to queen the pawn.
• Black neglects his b-pawn and pays dearly. Correct is 16...b6 17.Nxf5 exf5 then:
• 18.Rd1! Ne6 19.Qxd5 Qxd5 20.Rxd5 Nxg5 21.hxg5 f4 22.g6 with equality.
• 18.Qa6?! Qxa6! 19.Bxa6 Rc5 20.Be3 Ra5 is equal.
• If 16.Nxf5 exf5 17.Rd1 then:
• If 17...Ne6 18.Qxd5 Qxd5 19.Rxd5 then:
• 19...Nxg5 20.hxg5 f4 21.Bb5 Bxb5 22.Rxb5 b6 23.Rh4 is equal.
• 19...Bc6?! 20.Bb5 Nxg5 21.hxg5 Bxb5 22.Rxb5 gives White the most active Rook.
• 17...Qxa3 18.Qxd5 Qb4 19.f3 f4 20.Bf6 Qb6 21.Qd3 leaves White with a passed pawn, two Bishops in an open center and more space.
• 15...a6 16.Rb1 b5 17.Rb3 Rc4 18.Qe3 Ra4 19.Ke2 gives White a better center and more activity for his minor pieces; Black has strength on the queenside.
• 14...Nc6 15.Bf6 Rg4 16.Be2 Re4 17.Ng5 Nb4 18.Qd1 Rd4 is equal (Tringov-Oren, Ol, Moscow, 1956).
• 14.Rb1! Qc7 15.Rb3 Rc8 16.h5 Ba4 17.Rb4 b5 18.Bf4 gives White an advancing passed pawn and a narrow advantage in space; Black's Bishop is entombed.
• If 11...Qc7! then:
• 12.Bb5 a6 13.Bxd7+ Bxd7 14.0-0 Qc4 15.Ng5 0-0-0 is equal (Vukcevich-R. Maric, Yugoslav Ch, Sombor, 1957).
• 12.Bf4 Nf8 13.Bb5+ Bd7 14.Bxd7+ Qxd7 15.Qd3 is equal (Ragozin-Botvinnik, Tng Trmt, Moscow, 1951).
• If 10...Nbc6 11.Nf3 Qc7 12.Bf4 Bd7 13.a6 0-0-0 14.axb7+ Kb8 15.Qd3 then:
• If 15...Rg4 then:
• If 16.g3 Ng6 17.Qxc3 Nxf4 18.h3 Nxh3 19.Rxh3 Nxe5 20.Qxc7+ Kxc7 21.Nxe5 Re4+ 22.Kd2 gives White an extra pawn and White can put his King's Rook on the seventh rank at will (Volokitin-Lputian, Ol, Palma de Mallorca, 2004).
• If 16.Bg3 Re4+ then:
• If 17.Be2?! Nf5! then:
• If 18.0-0?! Ncd4! 19.Nxd4 Nxd4 20.Bf3 Bb5 then:
• If 21.Bxe4 Ne2+!! 22.Kh1 Bxd3 23.Bxd3 Nxg3+ 24.fxg3 then:
• If 24...Qxe5?! 25.Rxf7 Qd6 then:
• 26.Raf1?! e5 27.R1f6 Qxa3 gives Black a slight material advantge and a better center against White's active Rooks, advanced passer and extra space (Elkin-Cioara, Euro Ch, Rijeka, 2010).
• 26.g4! Rd7 27.Rf6 Kxb7 28.g5 Re7 gives Black a slight material advantage and somewhat better center against White's active Rook, passed pawns and extra space.
• 24...Kxb7! 25.Rae1 Kc6 26.Rf4 Rg8 27.Bf1 a5 28.Re3 Kb6 give Black a slight material advantage and a moble d-pawn.
• 21.Qd1 Ne2+ 22.Bxe2 Bxe2 23.Qb1 Bxf1 24.Qxf1 Rd7 gives Black a better center and an active Rook.
• 18.Rd1 Ncd4 19.Nxd4 Nxd4 20.Qxd4 Rxd4 21.Rxd4is equal.
• 17.Kd1! Qa5 18.Qa6 Nf5 19.Qxa5 Nxa5 20.Bd3 gives White two extra pawns.
• 15...d4 16.Rb1 Rg4 17.Bg3 Nf5 18.Be2 Na5 19.0-0 gives White two extra pawns (Toro Solís de Ovando-Isslet, Corres, 2002).
• If 8.Nb5!! Bc7 9.Qxg7 Rg8 10.Qxh7 then:
• If 10...a6 11.Nxc7+ Qxc7 12.Ne2 Qxe5 then:
• If 13.Bb2 then:
• If 13...Qf6 then:
• If 14.f4 Nbc6 15.Qd3 Nf5 16.0-0-0 Qh6 17.Re1 Bd7 then:
• If 18.Kb1 Rc8 19.g3 then:
• 19...Ne3 20.Nxd4 Nxd4 21.Bxd4 Nxc2 22.Rc1 Nxd4 23.Rxc8+ Bxc8 24.Qxd4 Rxg3 gives Black an extra pawn and a small advantage in space; White has for the moment demobilized Black's center (Müller-Vaganian, Bundesliga 9394, Germany, 1993).
• 19...Kf8 20.h4 Nce7 21.Nxd4 Nxg3 22.Rh2 Qxf4 gives Black an extra pawn and more space (Yasudin-Lputian, Soviet Ch, Kiev, 1986).
• 18.Qd2 Rc8 19.Nxd4 Ncxd4 20.Bxd4 Rg4 21.Bc5 gives White the initiative owing to the pin at d5 (Hawelko-W. Schmidt, Polish ChT, Jachranka, 1987).
• 14.Qd3 e5 15.f4 Bf5 16.Qd2 Qh4+ 17.g3 gives Black the initiative and White the advantage in space (Cabrilo-Vaganian, ITZ, Manila, 1980).
• 13...Qc7 14.f4 Nbc6 15.Qd3 Nf5 16.0-0-0 Bd7 17.Re1 is equal (Dr. Nunn-Kinsman, Op, London, 1993).
• If 13.Qd3 then:
• If 13...Nbc6 14.Bb2 then:
• If 14...Bd7 15.0-0-0 Qf6 then:
• If 16.Nxd4 Qxf2 17.Nf3 Nf5 18.Qd2 Qe3 19.Bd3 then:
• 19...Nce7?! 20.Rhe1 Qxd2+ 21.Rxd2 Rc8 22.h4 gives White more freedom (Chandler-Vaganian, ITZ, Manila, 1990).
• 19...Rxg2! 20.Qxe3 Nxe3 21.Rd2 Ke7 clearly gives Black greater activity.
• 16.f4 Nf5 17.Re1 Rc8 18.g3 Qh6 19.Kb1 Kd8 20.Rc1 is equal (Curry-Madsen, Corres, 1991).
• 14...Nf5 15.0-0-0 Qf6 16.Nxd4 Nfxd4 17.Bxd4 e5 18.Bb2 give White an extra pawn and Black a center pawn duo (Liberaon-Vaganian, Euro ChT, Haifa, 1989).
• 13...Qc7 14.f4 Nbc6 15.Nxd4 Nxd4 16.Qxd4 Qxc2 17.Qd2 is equal (Kan-Botvinnik, Tng, Moscow, 1953).
• 10...Bxe5 11.Nf3 Bf6 12.Bf4 Rh8 13.Nc7+ Kf8 14.Bh6+ draw (León Cranbourne-Geo. Timoshenko, Grand Prix, Buenos Aires, 1991).
• 7.Qxg7 Rg8 8.Qxh7 cxd4 9.b4 dxc3 10.bxa5 Nd7 is the usual move order.
• (Maroczy-Wallis Variation) If 5...cxd4 6.axb4 dxc3 then:
• If 7.Nf3 then:
• If 7...Ne7 8.Bd3 Qc7 9.Ra3 cxb2 10.Bxb2 Nbc6 then:
• 11.Qd2 a5 12.bxa5 Rxa5 13.0-0 Bd7 14.Rfa1 is equal (Timmerman-Vanheste, Corres, 1990).
• 11.b5 Nb4 12.Rc3 Nxd3+ 13.Qxd3 Qa5 14.0-0 Bd7 15.Nd4 a6 is equal (Hartson-Wallis, British Ch, Coventry, 1970).
• 7...Qc7 8.Qd4 Ne7 9.Bd3 Nd7 10.0-0 Nc6 11.Qxc3 Qb6 12.b5 gives White the Bishop pair and a huge advantage in space; Black must retreat the attacked Knight (Rauzer-Alatorsev, Soviet Ch, Leningrad, 1933).
• If 7.bxc3 Qc7 8.Nf3 Ne7 9.Bd3 then:
• 9...Ng6 10.0-0 Nd7 11.Re1 Qxc3 12.Rb1 Nb6 13.Be3 Qc7 14.Bc5 Bd7 15.Ng5gives White a clear advantage in space (van den Bosch-Landau, Match, Amsterdam, 1934).
• If 9...Nd7 10.0-0 Nxe5 then:
• If 11.Nxe5 Qxe5 then:
• If 12.Re1?! Qxc3! then:
• If 13.Ra3? then:
• 13...Qf6? 14.Bb5+ Bd7 15.Rf3 Qg6 16.Rg3 Qf6 17.Bg5 gives White the initiative and a slight edge in space (Stellwagen-Soos, Op, Vlissingen, 2007).
• If 13...Qxb4! 14.Rb3 then:
• 14...Qh4!? 15.g3 Qf6 16.Bb2 Qh6 17.Ba3 b6 gives Black three extra pawns; White has more space (Kjartanson-Ingvason, Op, Reykjavik, 2008).
• If 14...Qa5! 15.Bb2 0-0 16.Ra3 Qc7 17.Be5 Qd7 still gives Black three extra pawns.
• 12.Ra3 0-0 13.c4 dxc4 14.Bxc4 Qc7 15.Bd3 e5 gives Black an extra pawn.
• 11.Bf4 Nf3+ 12.Qxf3 e5 13.Bb5+ Kf8 14.Bg3 Bf5 gives Black stronger pawns and a central duo; White has more space and will soon retrieve his lost pawn (Botvinnik-Model, Soviet Ch, Moscow, 1927).

6.bxc3 Ne7

• If 6...Qa5 7.Bd2 Qa4 8.Qb1 c4 then:
• If 9.Ne2 Nc6 then:
• If 10.Nf4 Bd7 11.g3 then:
• If 11...0-0-0 12.Bh3 f5 then:
• 13.0-0 Nge7 14.Bg2 Rdg8 15.Qb2 Nd8 16.Rfb1 Kb8 17.Qc1 gives White the advantage in space (Feygin-Lputian, Euro Club Cup, Kemer, 2007).
• 13.g4!? fxg4 14.Bxg4 Re8 15.h4 Re7 16.Rg1 is equal (Korneev-I. Ibragimov, IT, Montreal, 2006).
• If 11...Nge7 12.Nh5 Rg8 then:
• If 13.Bh3 0-0-0 14.0-0 Rdf8 then:
• 15.Qb2 Kb8 16.Rab1 b6 17.Rbe1 Nc8 18.f4 N8e7 is equal (Stellwagen-Sengupta, Op, Vlissingen, 2007).
• 15.Re1 Kb8 16.Qb2 Nc8 17.Re3 Qa5 18.Rb1 gives White a small advantage in space (Alvir-Zhu Chen, Ol, Torino, 2006).
• 13.Bg2 0-0-0 14.0-0 Kb8 15.Ra2 Nc8 16.f4 Nb6 is equal (B. Socko-Sánchez Jiménez, Anibal Op, Linares, 2003).
• 10.Ng3 Bd7 11.Be2 0-0-0 12.0-0 f6 13.exf6 gxf6 is equal (Swinkels-S. Berger, Bundesliga 0809, Dresden, 2008).
• 9.Nf3 Nc6 10.g3 Nge7 11.Bh3 Bd7 12.0-0 0-0-0 13.Re1 gives White a small advantage in space (Milev-Uhlmann, Blitz, 1954).
• If 6...Qc7 7.Qg4 f5 then:
• If 8.Qg3 cxd4 9.cxd4 Ne7 10.Bd2 0-0 11.Bd3 b6 12.Ne2 Ba6 13.Nf4 Qd7 14.h4 Bxd3 15.Qxd3 Rc8 16.Rh3 Rc4 17.Rg3 Nbc6 18.c3 Kh8 19.h5 Nd8 20.Kf1 Nf7 is equal (Luch-Jedynak, Rubinstein Mem, Polanica Zdroj, 2001).
• 8.Qh5+ g6 9.Qd1 Bd7 10.Nf3 then:
• 10...Ba4 11.Rb1 Nd7 12.Be2 h6 13.dxc5 Nxc5 14.Rb4 Bd7 15.0-0 Ne4 16.Bd3 Ne7 is equal (Timman-Shaked, IT, Merrillville 1997).
• 10...cxd4 11.cxd4 Ba4 12.Bd2 Nc6 13.Bd3 h6 14.h4 gives White the advantage in space (J. Polgar-Short, IT, Dos Hermanas, 1997).

[Jack Rabbit]

2. Pogrebyssky-Botvinnik, Part 3 of 3

7...Nbc6

• Black puts more pressure on White's pawn at d4. Exchanging at d4, even though White will recapture with cxd4, will weaken White's center. the square d4 will remain a focus of attack for Black throughout the game.
• If 7...Qc7 8.a4 then:
• If 8...b6 then:
• If 9.Bb5+ Bd7 then:
• If 10.Bd3 Nbc6 11.0-0 h6 then:
• If 12.Re1 0-0 then:
• If 13.Ba3 Na5 14.dxc5 bxc5 then:
• If 15.Nd2 Bxa4 then:
• If 16.Qg4 Bd7 17.Nf3 then:
• If 17...Nb7 18.Bc1 f5 19.exf6 Rxf6 20.c4 then:
• 20...dxc4 21.Qxc4 Nd6 22.Bf4 Nd5 23.Bxd6 Qxd6 24.Qe4 gives White command of open lines for attack (McDonald-Whiteley, Op, London, 1994).
• 20...Nc6 21.cxd5 exd5 22.Qh5 Be6 23.Bg5 Bf7 gives Black an extra pawn and the initiative (Kosenkov-Sloth, Corres, 1975).
• 17...Nc4 18.Bc1 f5 19.exf6 Rxf6 20.Bxc4 dxc4 21.Qxc4 is equal (Dr. Nunn-Nikolic, IT A, Wijk aan Zee, 1992).
• 16.Bxc5 Qxc5 17.Rxa4 Qxc3 18.Re3 Kh8 19.g4 Nac6 gives Black an extra pawn (Dr. Nunn-Jussupow, IT, Linares, 1988).
• 15.Nd4 Ng6 16.Bxg6 fxg6 17.Nb3 Nxb3 18.cxb3 Rf5 19.Qd3 g5 20.Qe3 Rc8 21.Rab1 draw (Grefe-Bradford, Op, Lone Pine, 1981).
• If 13.Bf4 Ng6 then:
• If 14.Bg3 cxd4 15.Nxd4 Na5 then:
• 16.h4!? Qxc3 17.Ne2 Qc7 18.Bxg6 fxg6 19.Nf4 Qc4 leaves Black with an extra pawn (Timman-Keene, IT, Orense, 1976).
• 16.Qg4 Qxc3 17.Red1 Rae8 18.Bxg6 fxg6 19.Qxg6 Nc4 gives Black a small advantage in space.
• 14.Bd2 a5 15.h4 cxd4 then:
• 16.h5 dxc3 17.Bxh6 gxh6 18.hxg6 fxg6 19.Bxg6 Be8 is equal (Nunn-Nikolic, Amber Blind, Monte Carlo, 1995).
• If 12.Ba3 Na5 13.Nd2 0-0 14.dxc5 then:
• If 14...bxc5 15.Nb3 Nxb3 16.cxb3 then:
• If 16...Rab8 17.Bc2 then:
• 17...Rfc8 18.Re1 Nf5 19.Bc1 Qd8 20.Bf4 a5 21.Qf3 Rb6 22.Rad1 Qe7 draw (Abramovic-Petrosian, Keres Mem, Tallinn, 1983).
• 17...f6 18.exf6 Rxf6 19.b4 e5 20.bxc5 Bc6 21.Qh5 is equal and the game was soon agreed drawn (Zhong Zhang-Berkes, TM, Taiyuan, 2006).
• 16...f6 17.f4 Rac8 18.Qe2 fxe5 19.fxe5 Qb6 20.Bc2 is equal (Bjornsson-Kristiansson, Icelandic Ch, Strandgotu, 2001).
• 14...Qxe5 15.cxb6 Rfe8 16.c4 axb6 17.Re1 Qf6 18.cxd5 exd5 19.Rb1!? is equal; Black is sacrificing a pawn for initiative (de Firmian-Nikolic, World Cup, Manila, 1990).
• If 10.0-0 then:
• If 10...Bxb5 11.axb5 then:
• If 11...a5 then:
• If 12.Ng5 h6 13.Nh3 Nd7 14.Nf4 then:
• 14...0-0 15.Nh5 Kh8 16.Qg4 Rg8 17.Qh3 Nf8 18.Qf3 Neg6 is equal (Ivkov-R. Byrne, ITZ, Sousse, 1967).
• 14...cxd4 15.cxd4 Qc4 16.Ba3 Nf5 17.c3 g6 18.Qf3 Qxb5 gives Black an extra pawn and a small advantage in space (Stein-R. Byrne, ITZ, Sousse, 1967).
• 12.dxc5 bxc5 13.c4 0-0 14.cxd5 Nxd5 15.c4 Nb4 (D. Swiercz-Firat, World Jr Ch, Chennai, 2011).
12.bxa6 Rxa6 13.Rxa6 Nxa6 14.Qe2 c4 15.Ba3 0-0 is equal (Kvon-Sengupta, World Jr Ch, Istanbul, 2005).
• If 11...Nd7 12.Qd3 h6 then:
• 13.Ra4 0-0 14.Bd2 Rfc8 15.Rc1 Nf8 16.Ra6 Qd7 17.Rca1 is equal (Karpov-Mednis, IT, Vienna, 1986).
• 13.Ba3 0-0 14.c4 dxc4 15.Qxc4 Rfc8 16.Qe2 Qb7 17.dxc5 bxc5 18.c4 is equal (Kavalek-Portisch, IT, Montreal, 1979).
• If 10...Nbc6 11.Ba3 Na5 12.Bxd7+ then:
• 12...Qxd7 13.dxc5 Nc4 14.cxb6 axb6 15.Bxe7 Qxe7 16.Nd2 Nxe5 is equal (Tseshkovsky-Gulko, Soviet Ch, Moscow, 1976).
• 12...Kxd7 13.Nd2 cxd4 14.cxd4 Rac8 15.Nb3 Nc4 16.Bc1 is equal (Green-Haygarth, British Ch, Coventry, 1970).
• If 9.Bd3 Ba6 10.0-0 Bxd3 11.cxd3 then:
• If 11...Nbc6 12.dxc5 bxc5 then:
• If 13.Ba3 Nxe5 14.Nxe5 Qxe5 then:
• 15.Rb1 Qc7 16.Rb5 0-0 17.Rxc5 Qd7 18.Rb5 Rfc8 is equal (Tseshkovsky-Ivkov, IT, Sochi, 1980).
• 15.Bxc5 Qc7 16.d4 0-0 17.Qd3 Rfb8 18.Rfb1 Nc6 is equal (Zufic-D. Schneider, World Jr Ch, Athens, 2001).
• 13.Re1 0-0 14.Ba3 Qa5 15.d4 cxd4 16.cxd4 is equal (Y. Gruenfeld-Vinke, Op, Hoogeveen, 2009).
• 11...Nd7 12.Ba3 0-0 13.Re1 Rfc8 14.dxc5 bxc5 is equal (Bertok-Geller, IT, Zagreb, 1955).
• If 8...Nbc6 9.Be2 then:
• If 9...Bd7 10.0-0 f6 11.Re1 fxe5 then:
• 12.dxe5 then:
• 12...h6 13.Bd3 0-0 14.g3 Be8 15.Nh4 Nxe5 gives Black an extra pawn (Klavins-Sliwa, IT, Riga, 1959).
• 12...0-0-0 13.Be3 Na5 14.Ng5 Rdf8 15.f4 h6 16.Nf3 gives White a narrow edge in space (Pavov-Bondarevsky, Soviet Ch, Moscow, 1948).
• If 12.Nxe5 Nxe5 13.dxe5 then:
• 13...0-0 14.Bg4 a5 15.Qe2 Nf5 16.Bd2 Be8 17.Reb1 b6 is equal (Spraggett-Zuk, Op, Ottawa, 1983).
• 13...0-0-0 14.Bg5 Rde8 15.Bh5 g6 16.Bf3 Rhf8 17.c4 gives White the advantage in space (Larsson-Schmitz, Op, Skelleftea, 2001).
• If 9...cxd4 10.cxd4 Nb4 then:
• If 11.0-0 Qxc2 12.Qe1 a5 13.Ba3 Bd7 then:
• 14.Bb5 Bxb5 15.axb5 Nd3 16.Qd1 Qxd1 17.Rfxd1 Nf4 gives Black an extra pawn (Zdebskaja-Dolzhykova, Ukrainian ChW, Odessa, 2006).
• 14.Bd1 Qc7 15.Bxb4 axb4 16.Qxb4 Nc6 17.Qa3 gives White a small advantage in space (Korotylev-Kubala, Op, Pardubice, 2001).
• 11.Kd2 Nbc6 12.Ba3 Na5 13.Re1 Bd7 14.Bd6 Qd8 is equal (Kriukov-Sakharov, Corres, 1977).
• If 7...Qa5 then:
• If 8.Bd2 Nbc6 9.a4 Bd7 then:
• If 10.Be2 c4 11.0-0 f6 then:
• If 12.exf6 12...gxf6 then:
• If 13.Nh4 then:
• If 13...0-0-0 14.Bh5 Rhg8 15.g3 then:
• 15...Ng6 16.Ng2 Nce7 17.Re1 Nf5 18.Bg4 Rde8 19.Bxf5 exf5 20.Rxe8+ Rxe8 21.Qh5 gives White the initiative; Black has more space (Bannik-Ivkov, TM, Rijeka, 1963).
• 15...e5 16.f4 e4 17.f5 Kb8 18.Qe1 Ka8 19.Bh6 Be8 gives Black healther pawns and a narrow edge in space (Becker-Uhlmann, IT, Halle, 1982).
• If 13...Ng6 14.Bh5 0-0-0 then:
• If 15.Bxg6 hxg6 16.Nxg6 Rhg8 then:
• 17.Nf4 e5 18.Ne2 Bg4 19.f3 Be6 gives Black better pawns and more space (Vasiukov-Savon, Soviet ChT, Riga, 1975).
• 17.Nh4 e5 18.dxe5 fxe5 19.Qe1 Rde8 20.f3 Qd8 gives White an extra pawn; Black has healthier pawns and more space (Hawley-Zlebcik, Corres, 1978).
• 15.Nxg6 hxg6 16.Bxg6 Qc7 17.f4 Rh6 18.Bh5 Rdh8 gives Black the initiative; White has more space, but Black has more opportunities to improve his position.
• 13.Re1 0-0-0 14.Bf1 Nf5 15.Qc1 h5 16.Qa3 Rdg8 gives Black the advantage in space (Suetin-Uhlmann, TM, East Berlin, 1967).
• 12.Re1 fxe5 13.dxe5 0-0 14.Bf1 Ng6 15.g3 h6 gives Black the advantage in space (Suetin-Uhlmann, TM, East Berlin, 1967).
• If 10.Bb5 Qc7 11.0-0 0-0 12.Re1 then:
• If 12...b6 13.Bd3 h6 14.Qc1 c4 then:
• If 15.Bf1 f6 16.g3 then:
• 16...fxe5 17.Nxe5 Nxe5 18.Rxe5 Nc6 19.Re3 e5 gives Black the advantage in space, but White must not be allowed to open the position (Suetin-Kummerow, IT, Biel, 1996).
• 16...Ng6 17.Bg2 f5 18.Bxh6 gxh6 19.Qxh6 Be8 20.Ng5 Qd7 is equal (Rogers-Nogueiras, IT, Szirak, 1986).
• 15.Be2 f6 16.Bf4 Ng6 17.Bg3 f5 18.h4 f4 gives Black stronger pawns, the initiative and more space (Dr. Nunn-Dolmatov, Op, Pardubice, 1993).
• If 12...f6 13.exf6 gxf6 14.Bh6 Rf7 then:
• 15.Qd2 Re8 16.c4 cxd4 17.cxd5 Nxd5 18.Nxd4 Nxd4 19.Qxd4 Qxc2 20.Bxd7 Rxd7 21.Rxe6 Rxe6 22.Qg4+ gives White a splendid initiative by which she takes back the Rook and ends Black's threat on the back rank (Arakhamia-Auillan, Masters, Gibraltar, 2009).
• 15.Nh4 e5 16.Bxc6 Qxc6 17.Qh5 e4 18.c4 cxd4 19.cxd5 Qxd5 20.Qxd5 Nxd5 21.Rxe4 Nc3 gives Black activity for her pieces the initiative (Colovic-Vaisser, French ChT, Chalons en Champagne, 2009).
• 8.Bd3 Nbc6 transposes into the text.
• If 7...b6 8.Bb5+ Bd7 9.Bd3 then:
• If 9...Ba4 then:
• If 10.h4 h6 11.h5 then:
• If 11...Qc7 12.0-0 Nd7 13.Re1 then:
• If 13...0-0-0 then:
• 14.Nh2 Kb7 15.Nf1 Ka8 16.Ne3 g6 17.g3 gxh5 18.Ng2 Ng6 19.Qxh5 cxd4 20.cxd4 Bxc2 gives Black an extra pawn; White has more active pieces, a better center and more space in compensation (Lanka-Hertneck, Austrian ChT, 2004).
• 14.Nh4 Kb7 15.Ra2 Qc6 16.Qg4 Rdg8 17.Rb2 g5 18.Nf3 gives White a comfortable advantage in space (Dolmatov-Nikolic, GMA Qual Final, Moscow, 1990).
• If 13...a6 then:
• 14.Rb1 Qc6 15.dxc5 bxc5 16.c4 Nb6 17.cxd5 Nbxd5 18.Bd2 gives White a respectable advantage in space (Sadvakasov-Shulman, Op, King of Prussia, Pennsylvania, 2007).
• 14.Nh4 Bb5 15.Qg4 Bxd3 16.cxd3 Rg8 17.Qe2 0-0-0 18.dxc5 bxc5 19.d4 gives White the advantage in space (Kuczynski-Hertneck, Bundesliga 9495, Germany, 1994).
• If 11...c4 then:
• 12.Be2 Kd7 13.0-0 Qg8 14.Nh2 Qh7 15.Ra2 is equal (E. Pähtz-Matseeva, Euro Club CupW, Kallithea, 2008).
• If 12.Bf1 then:
• If 12...Kd7 13.g3 Qg8 then:
• If 14.Bf4 Qh7 15.Rc1 then:
• 15...Nbc6 16.Bg2 a5 17.Nh2 b5 18.Qd2 Nf5 19.0-0 Nfe7 is equal (Shirov-Jussupow, Ol, Moscow, 1994).
• 15...Kc7 16.Bg2 Nd7 17.Nh2 a5 18.Nf1 Kb7 19.Ne3 gives White a threat to take the c-pawn and a small advantage in space (Shirov-Gulko, PCA, Groningen, 1993).
• 14.Bh3 Qh7 15.Ra2 Na6 16.0-0 Nc7 17.Nh4 Raf8 is equal (Spraggett-Rahul, Op, Tarragona, 2006).
• 12...Nbc6 13.g3 Qd7 14.Bf4 0-0-0 15.Qd2 Rdf8 16.Be2 gives White a small advantage in space (Gavrikov-Chernin, Soviet ChU26, Jurmala, 1983).
• If 10.0-0 c4 11.Be2 h6 then:
• 12.Nh4 g5 13.Nf3 Kd7 14.h3 Qg8 15.Nh2 Qg6 16.Bh5 Qxc2 17.Qxc2 Bxc2 18.Bxf7 is equal (Mareno Carnero-Adrian, French ChT, Mulhouse, 2001).
• 12.Ne1 Nbc6 13.g3 Kd7 14.Ng2 Qg8 15.Nf4 Qh7 is equal (de Firmian-Gulko, IT, San Francisco, 1995).
• If 9...c4 10.Bf1 Ba4 11.g3 h6 12.Bh3 then:
• 12...Nbc6 13.Nh4 g5 14.Ng2 Qc7 15.f4 0-0-0 16.0-0 gives White a slim edge in space, but it seem difficult to activate her pieces without removing protection from the weak queenside pawns (Petrova-Ivkina, Russian Ch HLW, Taganrog, 2006).
• 12...Kd7 13.0-0 Qg8 14.Ne1 Kc7 15.Ng2 Nd7 16.f4 gives White a small advantage in space (Jenni-Jussupow, Bundesliga 0203, Germany, 2002).

8.Bd3

• If 8.a4 Qa5 9.Bd2 Bd7 10.Be2 c4 11.0-0 transposes into Bannik-Ivkov in the notes to Black's seventh move.

8...Qa5 9.Qd2

• If 9.Bd2 c4 10.Be2 Bd7 11.a4 f6 12.0-0 then:
• 12...0-0-0 13.Re1 Ng6 14.Bf1 Rhf8 15.g3 Qc7 16.Qe2 Rf7 gives Black the initiative healthier pawns, against White's foremost c-pawn and a slight edge in space (Schneider-Shulman, US ChT, Parsipanny, 2002).
• If 12...fxe5 13.Nxe5 Nxe5 14.dxe5 0-0 then:
• 15.f4 Be8 16.Bg4 Qb6+ gives Black greater piece activity, better pawns and a comfortable advantage in space (S. Nikolic-Ivkov, IT, Sarajevo, 1967).
• 15.Qb1 Qc7 16.f4 Be8 17.Bg4 Qd7 gives Black healtier pawns and White more space (Arakhamia-N. Pert, British Ch, Swansea, 2006).

9...c4

• 9...b6 10.a4 Ba6 11.dxc5 Bxd3 12.Qxd3 bxc5 13.0-0 c4 14.Qd2 0-0 gives Black stronger pawns and a small advantage in space (B. Ivanovic-Vaganian, IT, Niksic, 1978).

10.Be2 Qa4

• 10...Bd7Botvinnik, who was not one to shrink from self-criticism, roundly upbraided himself for this move in an eatrlier round because it allows White to grab queenside space starting with White's next move) 11.a4 f6 12.Ba3 0-0-0 13.0-0 is equal (Rabinovich-Botvinnik, Soviet Ch, Leningrad, 1939).

11.0-0

• 11.h4 Bd7 12.h5 h6 13.Nh4 Nf5 14.Nxf5 exf5 is equal (Botvinnik-Smyslov, Soviet Absolute Ch, Leningrad/Moscow, 1941).

11...Bd7 12.Ng5! (N)

• A good move, to which Black's reply should probalby have been 12...0-0, with an approximately equal game. After Black's instinctive reply White's game is perhaps just a little the better (Botvinnik).
• 12.Ne1 0-0-0 13.f4 f6 14.Bg4 f5 15.Bd1 Rdg8 is equal (Posohov-Kurochkin, Op, Kharkov, 2002).

12...h6

• The game is equal.
• 12...0-0 13.Re1 Nf5 14.Nh3 f6 15.exf6 Rxf6 16.Ng5 is also equal.

13.Nh3

• 13.Nf3 then:
• 13...0-0 14.Ra2 Nf5 15.Rb2 b5 16.Rb1 Rab8 17.Re1 gives Black a slight edge in space.
• If 13...0-0-0 14.Rb1 f6 15.Rb2 Qa5 16.Qe3 Nf5 17.Qd2 gives Black a small advantage in space.
• 13...b5 14.Ra2 0-0 15.Qf4 Nf5 16.Qg4 b4 17.Bd2 gives Black a small advantage in space.

13...0-0-0!?

• Botvinnik believed that Black could not castle short "because of the maneuver Ng4-h5-xg7.
• If 13...0-0?! 14.Nf4 b5 15.Nh5 Rab8 then:
• 16.Re1 a6 17.Bg4 Rfe8 18.Nxg7!! Kxg7 19.Qxh6+ gives White s winning attack (Fritz).
• If 16.Rb1?! a6! then:
• If 17.Nf6+!! then White wins after gxf6 18.exf6 Nf5 19.Bg4 Nd6 20.Qxh6 (Fritz).
• 17.Nxg7? Kxg7 18.Qxh6+ Kg8 19.Qf6 Qxc2! 20.Bh6 Qg6 gives Black the advantage in space.
• (Maybe 13...Ng6 is sounder. (Botvinnk). If 13...Ng6 then 14.Bd1 Qa5 15.Qe3 0-0 16.Qg3 Nce7 17.Bg4 leaves White slightly better.

14.f4!?

• Only now is it clear that White's good move 12.Ng5 was made with a very bad idea behind it. It transpires that Whites intends Nh3-f2-d1-b2 to get his a-pawn into motion. It's not worth the trouble. Too much precious time is spent on this maneuver! (Botvinnik).
• I was expecting 14.Nf4! Rdf8 15.Nh5 Rh7 and the play would be about equal (Botvinnik) 16.Bg4 f5 17.Be2 Be8 18.Nf4 Bf7 19.Rb1 g5 is equal (Fritz); gives Black the advantage in space (JR).

BLACK: Mikhail Botvinnik



WHITE: Iosef Pogrebyssky
Position after 14.f2f4

14...f6

• In a theme typical of the French, Black begins nibbling at White's pawn chain. He is in no hurry to take immediate advantage of White's error, since, as he indicated in the note to White's 14th move, it is a long term error.
• If 14...Rdf8 15.Rb1 f6 16.Bf3 Nf5 17.Bg4 also remains equal.

15.Nf2 h5 16.Nd1

• The game is still equal.
• 16.Bf3 Rdf8 17.Rb1 Be8 18.exf6 gxf6 19.Nd1 Nf5 gives White slight stronger pawns, a little more freedom and a small advantage in space; White has command of the b-file.

16...Nf5 17.Nb2 Qa5 18.a4!?

• This cedes a slight edge in space to Black.
• If 18.Rb1 Be8 19.Bf3 Bg6 then:
• 20.Bd1 Rhf8 21.Re1 Rde8 gives Black the advantage in space.
• 20.Nd1 Nfxd4 21.cxd4 Qxd2 22.Bxd2 Bxc2 gives White a small advatage in space.

18...g5!

• Here I had to consider also the variation 18...Be8 19.Nd1 Bg6 20.Qe1 Nfxd4 21.cxd4 Qxe1 22.Rxe1 Nxd4 though Black gets three pawns for the piece, White is somewhat better (Botvinnik).

19.Nd1 g4 20.exf6!?

• This eases Black's task; through d6 his Knight can always get to e4. True, White wins a tempo for developing his Queen's Bishop, but now this is not so important (Botvinnik).
• If 20.Ne3 then:
• If 20...Nxe3 21.Qxe3 fxe5 22.fxe5 Rhf8 then:
• 23.Rf6 Rxf6 24.exf6 Rf8 25.Qh6 Qd8 26.Bg5 Qe8 is equal.
• 23.Re1 Rf5 24.Ba3 Rg8 25.Reb1 Qd8 26.Bc5 Qg5 is equal.
• If 20...Rde8!? 21.Nxf5 exf5 then:
• 22.Ba3 h4 23.Bd6 fxe5 24.fxe5 Reg8 25.Bb4 Qd8 is equal.
• 22.Re1 fxe5 23.fxe5 f4 24.Ba3 f3 25.gxf3 Reg8 is equal: after 26.f4 White will have two connected passers, while Black will have an advanced kingside majority supported by Rooks and aimed at the White King.

20...Rdf8 21.Ba3 Rxf6 22.Bb4 Nxb4!?

• A position blunder, after which the game is almost equalized (Botvinnik).
• If 22...Qc7! 23.Ba3 then:
• 23...Be8 24.Bc5 Rg8 25.Rb1 Nd6 26.Bxd6 Qxd6 gives Black a better center, rolling kingside pawns backed by heavy pieces and more space.
• If 23...Rh7 24.Ne3 Nd6 then:
• 25.Bxd6 Qxd6 26.g3 Rg6 27.Kg2 h4 28.Rh1 Qf8 gives Black a better center, rolling kingside pawns backed by heavy pieces and a lot more space.
• 25.Qd1 Ne4 26.Qe1 Rxf4 27.Bc1 Rxf1+ 28.Nxf1 Ne7 gives Black an extra pawn, stronger pawns and a lot more space.

23.cxb4!

• White repairs his pawn structure, takes the initiative and limits Black to a fair advantage in space

23...Qb6

• 23...Qc7 at once is better (Botvinnik).
• 23...Qc7 24.a5 Rhf8 25.Ra3 Bc6 26.Nc3 Nd6 gives Black only a small advantage with a better center and more freedom.

24.c3 Qc7 25.Nb2!?

• White removes the Knight from the King's defense.
• Better is 25.Ne3 Nd6 26.g3 Ne4 27.Qe1 Be8 28.a5 Bg6 gives Black a small advantage in space.

BLACK: Mikhail Botvinnik



WHITE: Iosef Pogrebyssky
Position after 25.Nd1b2

25...Rhf8!

• Black's plan is clear: he will crush White by advancing his kingside pawns and vaporizing the White King's pawn shield; then he will rush in with his heavy pieces.

26.Bd1 Ne7 27.g3 Rh8 28.Bc2?!

• White seems oblivious to the coming danger to his King.
• If 28.Qg2 h4 29.Re1 Rg6 then:
• If 30.Bc2 hxg3 then:
• 31.Bxg6 gxh2+ 32.Kh1 Nxg6 33.Qxg4 Nxf4 34.Re3 e5 gives Black an advanced passed pawn, an active Knight and Rook, the inititive and a small advantage in space
• 31.hxg3 Rgh6 32.Nd1 Qd8 33.Nf2 Qg8 34.Re2 Nf5 gives Black an active Knight, command of the h-file and a small advantage in space; White has the better Bishop.
• 30.Re5?! hxg3! 31.hxg3 Nc6 32.Re1 Be8 33.Re3 Qg7 gives White command of the h-file, more freedom and a small advantage in space; White's better Bishop is useless as it cannot penetrate Black's pawns.

28...h4!

• Black threatens to open the h-file for his heavy pieces.

29.Kg2?!

• There is nothing White can do to prevent the opening of the file.
• If 29.Qg2 then Black opens the file by 29...hxg3 30.hxg3.

29...Nf5!

• Black has Black's pawn chain completely blockaded.

30.Bxf5

• White thries to slow White's advance by exchanging, but to no avail.
• No better is 30.Rh1 Rfh6 31.Qf2 Be8 32.Bxf5 exf5 33.Rae1 Qh7 when Black coninues to assault by opening the h-file.

30...Rxf5 31.Qe2?

• Loses at once. White does even have the time later on to sacrifice the exchage at e4 (Botvinnik).
• If 31.Rh1 Rfh5 32.Rae1 Be8 then:
• 33.Nd1 Qh7 34.Nf2 Bg6 35.Qe3 Bf5leaves White teetering, but still on level ground.
• 33.Qe3? Qh7 34.Kf1 hxg3 35.Qxg3 Rh3 36.Qg2 g3 leaves nothing to do but put a fork in White.

BLACK: Mikhail Botvinnik



WHITE: Iosef Pogrebyssky
Position after 31.Qd2e2

31...Rfh5!

• Black prepares for the final assault.

32.Rh1

• 32.Qxg4 e5 33.f5 hxg3 34.h3 exd4 35.cxd4 Qb6 gives Black a strong initiative with the threat of 36...Qxd4, breaking through what's left of White's center for a brutal assault on the White King.

32...e5!

• A tactical stroke consummating the struggle. The Bishop breaks into the opponent's camp (Botvinnik).

33.dxe5

• If 33.fxe5 Bf5 then:
• If 34.Raf1 then Black wins after 34...Be4+ 35.Kg1 hxg3 36.Qxg4+ Kd8 37.h3 g2.
• If 34.gxh4 then Black wins after 34...Be4+ 35.Kg1 Rxh4 36.Rf1 Bxh1 37.Rf6 Qh7.

33...Bf5 34.Rag1 hxg3 35.Kf1 Rxh2 36.Rxh2 Rxh2 0-1

• White must lose piece.
• Iosef Benediktovich resigns.