I haven't done this in a while and decided to try it again.
My game choice was very difficult. I decided to do a game that I had never seen before. Then, I decided it would be nice if I had other annotations to compare it to.
My final decision was Botvinnik-Tal World Championship 1960 Game 8.
I may have played through this years ago, but it has been so long that I don't remember it. I also have this game annotated by both the players (Tal in World Championship book and Botvinnik in his best games collection 1947-1970). Note that I have NOT played through any of these annotations yet. I was saving them to see how close I get. I also have NOT used any computer engine for analysis. All of this is my own views/analysis.
Here is the match score up to this point:
1-T/2-D/3-D/4-D/5-D/6-T/7-T : Tal - 5 ... Botvinnik - 2 (No Wins)
On with the game ...
Botvinnik is White ... Tal is Black
1. d4 Nf6 2.c4 e6 3.Nf3
Botvinnik chooses to avoid the Nimzo Indian (3.Nc3 Bb4)
3. ... c5 !?
Not necessarily a good or bad move but fitting in Tal's dynamic style. 3. ... b6 is the more common "indian" approach. The positions tend to be less dynamic and more drawish with correct play. 3. ... d5 would lead to a classical Queen's Gambit Declined. Karpov would often play 3. ... b6 against his equals and 3. ... d5 against lesser masters when he wanted to avoid drawish positions and go for the win. The idea was to keep the more complicated and give them a chance to go wrong.
4.d5 !
Taking the bull by the horns. ... This grabs space in the center. The d pawn cramps black's game and makes development more difficult (4. ... Nc6 5.dxc6). A more conservative white player may choose 4.Nc3 transposing to the Symmetrical English after cxd4 (1.c4 c5 2.Nc3 Nf6 3.Nf3 e6 4.d4 cxd4). 4.e3 can also be played when 4. ... d5 looks best, transposing to a Tarrasch or Semi-Tarrach defense.
4. ... exd5 !
The Modern Benoni ... Usually, the Modern Benoni is reached via 1.d4 Nf6 2.c4 c5 3.d5 e6 4.Nc3 exd5 5.cxd5 d6 when 6.Nf3 will tranpose to the game. Tal's move order avoids various anti-Benoni systems and a dangerous variation (6.f4). I don't think Tal really feared this from Botvinnik. Tal was probably trying to reach a Nimzo Indian until Botvinnik played 3.Nf3. 4. ... b5 !? or ?! is the Blumenfeld Gambit. Although once popular (even employed by Alekhine), it really isn't used much today. Several refutations are floating around.
5.cxd5 g6
Usually, black plays first. Here he doesn't fear 6.d6 from white because of 6. ... Qb6.
6. Nc3 Bg7 7.Bg5 !?
Not knowing the Benoni very deeply, I am not familiar with the idea behind this move. Perhaps, the pin will be irritating to black and 7. ... h6 8.Bh4 g5 9.Bg3 Nh5 could turn out to be too loose. I think Fischer did actually play this with black a few times in this position or a very similar won, however.
7. ... 0-0 8.e3
Very conservative ... 8.e4 Re8 may be better ... After 8.e3, white can reinforce his d pawn (if necessary) with Bc4 and a4 (after a6). I'm having a hard time finding white's overall strategic goal here.
Black's plan (and the typical Modern Benoni plan) is to play d6 and try to activate his queenside majority with a timely b5, preparing it with a6 or Na6-Nc7-a6-Rb8-etc.
8. ... Re8 9.Nd2 !
Very nice ... Nde4 is a possibility now, but I think that white's main idea is Nc4 (meeting a6 with a4). The c4 square is an excellent post for the knight. It eyes the d6 pawn/square and, after a6/a4 the b6 square is also weak. Back to d6 ... The knight on c4 combined with say a bishop on f4 and/or a knight on b5 will dominate the d6 square. This could be the reason white chose 8.e3 instead of 8.e4. With 8.e4, the c3 knight can't hop to b5 because it is tied down to the defense of the pawn on e4.
The maneuver of Nd2 and Nc4 was first employed by Nimzowitch, I believe, in a game against Frank James Marshall.
9. ... d6 10. Be2
Botvinnik wants to castle before beginning operations on the queenside. Note that the bishop goes to e2 instead of c4 to preserve that square for the knight.
10. ... a6
Trying to get in b5 and get the majority rolling
11. a4 !
Slowing black down and keeping control of the c4 square. Black now has an awkward huddling of his pieces on the queenside.. If the d2 knight were still on f3, black could play Bg4 and swap the bishop off before Nb8-d7. Botvinnik's Nd2 had more than a few deep ideas behind it.
11. ... Nbd7 12.0-0 Qc7
Finally ridding himself of the pin on the f6 knight. The queen also eyes the d6 pawn (in the event of Nc4).
13. Qc2
Simply, connecting the rooks and waiting to see how black proceeds.
13. ... Nb6
Trying for something active (attacks d5). ... 13. ... Ne5 looks interesting but probably doesn't have a good follow up. My first instinct would be to meet 13. ... Ne5 with 14.h3, cutting out the knight's access to g4. A later f4 may be a possibility for white there.
14. Bf3
Protecting d5 ... Earlier, I said that it's hard to see white's strategic plan. Now, white's strategic plan is quite obvious. He has employed high level prophylaxis. All of black's typical maneuvers/breaks/bids for counterplay have been taken away. Black is having a hard time getting active. The d6 pawn and b6 squares are still weak. Once white finishes crippling black, he can go to work on these weaknesses at leisure.
More In A Few Minutes (Prewritten Just Typing)
14. ... c4
Tal tries desperately for activity. One idea may be Qc5 to win the d5 pawn. Also, the square c5 (now without a pawn) can be a springboard for a knight (Nb6-Nd7-Nc5-Nb3 or Nd3). This is a typical Modern Benoni maneuver. I saw an old Capablanca game where he had a similar structure and did this too. He could be the inventor of this maneuver (c4 to clear a springboard for a knight on c5).
15. Bxf6
Relieving some of the pressure on d5
15. ... Bxf6 16.a5 !
Forcing the knight back and gaining space. Note that black still has no use for his queenside pieces.
16. ... Nd7 17.Nce4 !
Botvinnik's 15.Bxf6 was deeper than I thought/looked. He wins the c4 pawn by force! (17. ... Ne5 18.Nxf6+) 14. ... c4 may have been a blunder. The blunder was a result of intense positional pressure (restraint of black's activity) that Tal was under.
17. ... Be5
Preserving the bishop
18. Qxc4
Grabbing the loot
18. ... Qd8
Tal obviously doesn't want to go into an endgame in such a miserable position. Perhaps, Tal plays on for a chance at a swindle somewhere.
One only has to imagine Smyslov's reaction to the following game.
Smyslov is white (and a piece up) against Tal.
He played 38.Qe5 to trade the queens and met a rude awakening.
38. ... Rg1+ !!
And after 39.Kh2 Rh1+, they called it a draw !!!
Back To The Game
19. Qa2 !?
Why 19.Qa2? This move guards both the a5 and b2 pawns, freeing the rook on a1. After the rook gets out of the fire of the bishop on e5, with say Rab1 or Rad1, white has the possibility of b4 (and maybe even b5).
19. ... f5
Tal wants activity.
20. Nc3
(Only Good Square)
20. ... g5
Trying a desperado kingside attack/storm to save the game.
21. Nc4 !
Botvinnik doesn't panic. He doesn't see a clear way for black to proceed, so he continues with his queenside play. If necessary, he can also play Nxe5 to remove a kingside attacker.
21. ... g4 22.Be2 Qf6
Developing with tempo. Black brings another piece to the kingside (for his attack) and attacks the c3 square (threatening to win a pawn in the process).
23. Na4
Defending against the c3 threat AND preparing to lodge a knight on b6.
Botvinnik has demonstrated a deep strategical sense throughout the entire game. This is positional chess at its best.
23. ... Kh8
The main idea is to clear g8 for a rook. Then, a rook lift will aid the attack (Rg6 and Rh6 or Rg5 and Rh5).
24. g3
Guarding against a possible battery/sacrifice on h2 from the bishop on e5. This also prepares the possibiliy of Kg2 and Rh1 for defensive purposes.
24. ... h5
To open the h file for black's rook(s)/queen. Note that a blockade attempt by white fails here. ... 25.h4? gxh3 26.Kh2 h4!, and the h file opens
25. f4
Attempting to block black out from another direction. 25. ... gxf3 26.Bxf3 or 26.Rxf3 look safe enough. The king could then take shelter on f2. One sample (possibly flawed), is 26.Bxf3 h4 27.Kf2 hxg3+ 28.hxg3 and WHITE'S rooks get the h file!
25. ... Bd4
A semi-tactic The idea is 26.exd4 Qxd4+ followed by Rxe2. Bxe3+ is also a threat.
More In A Minute ...
26.Qa3
Defending e3 and eyeing d6. 27.Qd3 may also be in the cards.
26. ... Rab8
I forgot black had queenside pieces. The idea may be to play b5. Note that the d4 bishop also defends b6.
27. Nab6
Restricting even more counterplay. The queenside is firmly locked down now.
27. ... h4
Tal is back to his kingside ambitions now. What else is there?
28.Rad1
Attacking d4
28. ... Bxb6
Defending the bishop and removing the worrisome knight from b6.
29. axb6
Keeping his other active knight on the board. d6 is still under fire
29. ... Nc5
Activity at last !!!
30. gxh4 !?
Interesting !!! 30. ... Qxh4 31.Nxd6 and the c5 knight and e8 rook are both hanging. * Edit 31.Nxd6 ?? g3 ! ... 31.Bd3! with advantage
30. ... Bd7
Developing the last queenside piece (on move 30 !!!)
31. Qc3
Forcing a trade of queens. This does several positive things. For one, without a queen, it is very hard to believe that black's kingside attack will succeed. For another, the black queen holds the d6 pawn/and much of the position together like glue. Without it, the cracks will show. Also, white's queen hasn't been particularly active. So why not Qc3 ???
31. ... Qxc3 32.bxc3 Bb5
Pinning the c4 knight
33. Rfe1
Defending e2 and freeing the c4 knight from the pin.
33. ... Ne4 !
Trying for as much pressure as possible. c3 is attacked. Rbc8 can aid in the attack as well. d6 is also defended now. If the knight on c4 moves, Bxe2 Rxe2 Nxc3 wins an exchange.
34. Rc1
Avoiding the loss of exchange mentioned above and defending c4.
34. ... Rbc8 ?
Attacking both c4 and c3 ... Edit Rec8 wins according to computer !!!
35. Na5
White is willing to give up c3 for b7. Perhaps, 34. ... Rec8 was better, keeping a rook on b7 and removing this option for white.
35. ... Bxe2 36.Rxe2 Nxc3
This looks very deadly. For instance, 37.Ree1 Ne2+ ! picks up an exchange. So does 37.Rec2 Ne2+ 38.Kf2 Nxc1 (more).
Botvinnik must have foreseen this and sacrificed the exchange on purpose.
37.Rxc3 Rxc3 38.Nxb7
Are the passed b pawn and d6 pawn enough compensation? We shall see.
38. ... Rexe3 39.Rxe3 Rxe3 40.Nxd6
The rook is cut off from his first rank. (The knight covers c8 and e8.)
The two passed pawns on d5 and b6 may be too much to handle.
40. ... Rd3
On 40. ... Rb3, maybe (I didn't look at this too long or computer check it.) 41.Nc8 Kg7 42.d6 Kf7 43.d7 keeps the king out 43. ... Rd3 44.b7 seems to win.
41. Nf7+ Resigns
The pawns are too much.
I must confess I haven't looked at the final position enough to quote the direct win. For this move, and only this move, I'll look in the books.
One line by Botvinnik is
41. ... Kg7 42. b7 Rb3 43.Nd8 Kf8 44.h5 Ke8 45.h6 Kxd8 46.h7
I hope you enjoyed this game as much as I did. I hope my annotations were helpful or at least not too irritating.
Now, I shall play over the game two more times - once with Tal's notes and once with Botvinnik's notes.
Originally posted by paulbuchmanfromficsHi Paul.
34.Rc1 was a real lemon according to the computer.
34.Rd4 or 34.Bd3 keep equality.
To keep white's advantage, you have to go all the way back to move 30 or 31.
Another labour of love I see.
(could have done with a few more diagrams - especially after 9,Nd2)
You hit it with the note after move 14.
"He [Botvinik] has employed high level prophylaxis."
Yes c4 is a lovely stable for Knight but suspect 9.Nd2 was played to
prevent Tal from playing hunt the Bishop with h6-g5 and Nh4.
(now no Nh4 or Ne4.).
The Bot was containing Tal and perhaps wanting the option of
playing Bxf6 at the correct moment.
see your note after move White's 17th move.
(though that is perhaps me going too deep even for Botvinnik).
I'd stick neck out and say as a bonus c4 is for the Knight but
reason it was played was to kept Tal from having Bishop hunt ideas.
Do either of them say anything after 9.Nd2 or is it one of them
moves they both glide past without comment cos the idea is so
obvious to Russian readers. Or am I just plain wrong?
Originally posted by greenpawn34Thanks for the kind comments.
Hi Paul.
Another labour of love I see.
(could have done with a few more diagrams - especially after 9,Nd2)
[fen]rnbqr1k1/pp1p1pbp/5np1/2pP2B1/8/2N1P3/PP1N1PPP/R2QKB1R b KQ - 0 9[/fen]
You hit it with the note after move 14.
"He [Botvinik] has employed high level prophylaxis."
Yes c4 is a lovely stable for Knight but suspect 9.Nd2 was p t without comment cos the idea is so
obvious to Russian readers. Or am I just plain wrong?
You were right about 9.Nd2.
Here are Botvinnik's remarks:
"After this the black knight can no longer occupy KR4 as that square will be controlled by the white queen should black play P-KR3 and P-KR4."
Tal makes no remark about 9.Nd2 but does have an interesting answer to it.
9.Nd2 Re5 with the idea of 10.Bf4 Rxd5, but Tal gives 10.Bh4 g5 11.Bg3 Rxd5 12.Nxd5 Nxd5 13.Nc4 - Tal's analysis
Also, I would like to note that the last part of the game was played in extreme time trouble for Botvinnik. Tal even blundered away the win 34. ...Rec8 by moving too fast in Botvinnik's time trouble.
Tal returned after the adjournment only to see if Botvinnik found 41.Nf7+. Upon seeing it, he resigned without resumption.
Originally posted by GoshenThat would perhaps be too difficult. 🙂
Maybe some of Carlsen's games?
I haven't studied many games of the modern players.
They start out with tons of opening preparation generated by computers.
Then, the positions are so wild that they require razor sharp calculations.
Most of the modern games that I have seen don't follow a set strategic pattern like the one above.
Carlsen is also pretty young. The younger they are, the sharper their minds/tactical/calculating ability is.
I'd probably have note after note with one extremely tactical line after another.
EVERYONE is annotating/examining the games of Carlsen, anyways. hehe
I'm too lazy for the job. 🙁