[Event "Botvinnik - Tal World Championship Matc"] [Site "Moscow URS"] [Date "1960.03.15"] [Round "1"] [White "Mikhail Tal"] [Black "Mikhail Botvinnik"] [Result "1-0"] [Annotator "USER"] [Variant "Standard"] [ECO "C18"] [Opening "French Defense: Winawer Variation, Classical Variation"] [Source "https://lichess.org/study/KJ5Vxrwu/aGeNdUlU"] [Orientation "white"] { In the previous game, we have already mentioned that Tal went on to win the Candidates tournament in 1959, which qualified him for the World Chess Championship match against Botvinnik, held in 1960. --- Even though the world has seen that Tal's style can very well work against the very best, everyone was curious to see if it can work as well against the formidable Patriarch, who was very dismissive of Tal's "gambling" style in the past. --- This match, dubbed "The War of Antipodes" by Garry Kasparov in his book On My Great Predecessors, was very much anticipated and historical, and we will be examining two games from it, starting with the very first game of the match. } 1. e4 { No hesitation. Very natural for Tal to go for his favourite move in the most important event of his career up to that point. } 1... e6 { The French was always one of Botvinnik's favourite openings throughout his career, although in this particular match, this was the only game where he dared venturing it, switching to Caro-Kann from the very next Black game. Apart from these two openings, he was also a Sicilian player, but it is quite natural that his match strategy didn't involve going for such a sharp opening against Tal. } 2. d4 d5 3. Nc3 Bb4 4. e5 c5 5. a3 Bxc3+ 6. bxc3 Qc7 7. Qg4 { The Winawer variation of the French remains to this day one of the most complicated, fascinating and most difficult variations to understand. I will not venture to dive deeply into its intricacies here. } 7... f5 { One of the possible replies, defending the g7 pawn, but one that has lost its popularity in the Modern day and age. } (7... Ne7 { Is the main move, leading to a major opening line. }) 8. Qg3 { The queen on g3 is nicely positioned as it defends the c3 pawn and still eyes the g7 pawn. } { [%csl Gc3][%cal Gg3c3] } 8... Ne7 { Black has to play this move sooner or later as otherwise it is difficult to develop the kingside. } 9. Qxg7 Rg8 10. Qxh7 { Now Black is claiming it is difficult ofr the queen to return in the game due to the pawn on f5. On one hand this is true, on the other hand, the advance of the f-pawn has weakened the king. } 10... cxd4 11. Kd1 { A very extravagant move, side-stepping the check on c3, but also the one on e5. From the opening principle viewpoint, it looks as if this move is total nonsense, so let's try to explain it. Apart from the fact it parries the direct threats, the king is actually not at all so badly placed in the center due to the fact that Black's pawns are keeping all the lines closed and it is not clear how Black will go about attacking it. } (11. Ne2 { With that being said, defending c3 with the knight was perfectly possible - especially since the pawn on e5 is also immune due to } 11... Qxe5 12. cxd4 { When White regains the central control and the dark-squares and is strategically already winning. }) 11... Bd7 { Black tries to develop quickly and create the threat of Ba4, pressuring the c2 pawn, but this is a bit too slow. } (11... dxc3 { For better or for worse, Black should have taken the pawn on c3, although after something like } 12. Nf3 { White suddenly has a pleasant position due to the bishop pair, passed h-pawn and possibility to include the rook via the b1 square. Still, the position is extremely complicated and sharp - which is very typical of this variation. }) 12. Qh5+ { An annoying disruptive check, bringing the queen closer to the main point of action with a gain of tempo. } 12... Ng6 (12... Kd8 { is also not at all so silly. }) 13. Ne2 { Covering c3 and potentially preparing Nf4. } { [%csl Gc3][%cal Ge2c3,Gc3d4,Ge2f4] } 13... d3 { A nice tactical move, trying to disrupt White's harmony and open up the position in front of the king on d1 a bit. } (13... Ba4 14. Nf4 { Is unpleasant for Black as now } 14... Kf7 { Loses to } 15. Qh7+ Rg7 16. Qxg7+ Kxg7 17. Nxe6+) (13... dxc3 { might be relatively the best as now after } 14. Nf4 { Black does have } 14... Kf7 { Although here White has numerous way of continuing, including the simple. } 15. Bd3 { Finishing the development and intending Rb1 Re1 and so on. } { [%cal Gh2h4,Gg2g4,Gh1e1,Ga1b1] }) 14. cxd3 Ba4+ { This turns out to be an empty check. } (14... d4 { For better or for worse, this move should have been played, opening up the d5 square and the long a8-h1 diagonal fo the pieces. After } 15. cxd4 Nc6 16. Bd2 O-O-O { Black definitely has more counterplay compared to what happened in the game, although here White should still be objectively better - after all, three pawns are three pawns. }) 15. Ke1 Qxe5 { Black regains one pawn and activates the queen, but it turns out that this e5 pawn is not at all so relevant in these positions. Furthermore the exposed state of the Black queen now allows White to quickly catch up on the development. } 16. Bg5 { Very powerful, taking the long diagonal under control and making it super difficult for White to castle. } (16. d4 { Immediately, was also quite good. }) 16... Nc6 17. d4 Qc7 18. h4 { And now comes the h-pawn. In these Winawer positions where White captures on g7 and h7, the passed h-pawn is a very big asset as very often it creates havoc in the Black camp and gets pushed very far very early in the game. Furthermore, this opens up the h3 square for the rook. } { [%csl Gh4][%cal Gh1h3] } 18... e5 { This move already feels somewhat desperate, but what else is Black to play? Due to the bishop on g5 they can't castle and it is hard to tell what else should be the plan. This move tries to exploit Black's lead in development at least, although White is not THAT far behind + Black's king is also quite weak. } 19. Rh3 { The rook is ready to join the action via the 3rd rank. This is not the only move in the position, mind you. } { [%cal Gh3e3] } 19... Qf7 { Trying to alleviate the pin and move the knight from g6 away. } (19... e4 { Would allow } 20. Nf4) (19... exd4 { also leads nowhere after either } 20. cxd4 (20. Nxd4 { Note how it is nice to have the rook on h3 defending c3 in these lines. } { [%cal Gh3c3] })) 20. dxe5 Ncxe5 { Trying to keep the position complicated. } (20... Ngxe5 { wouldn't have brought much relief after, say } 21. Nf4 Qxh5 22. Nxh5 { All WHite's pieces are active, White has weaknesses on f5 and d5 and White has the bishop pair and the passed h-pawn to top it all. }) 21. Re3 { Activating the rook and creating a nasty pin and the threat of f4. } 21... Kd7 22. Rb1 { Now the other rook is activate with the gain of tempo as well. } 22... b6 23. Nf4 { Now the knight as well. The only piece that is currently somewhat slumbering is the bishop on f1. White's coordination is perfect while Black is struggling. } 23... Rae8 24. Rb4 { Another move activating a piece with the gain of tempo. } 24... Bc6 25. Qd1 { Not the only move in this position, but not a bad one at all. Tal brings the queen in the center of the board and tries to put pressure on the d5 pawn. } 25... Nxf4 26. Rxf4 Ng6 27. Rd4 Rxe3+ 28. fxe3 { A very unconventional, but strong decision. White does ruin his pawn structure, but it prevents even a hint of counterplay involving the advance of the f-pawn. Now c4 is a major threat. } (28. Bxe3 f4 { Would be much more complicated, although White would still retain a significant advantage after } 29. Qg4+) 28... Kc7 29. c4 { Nevertheless! It seems strange that White is opening up the position when Black is the one ahead in development, but it turns out that White's position is very stable, while Black's king is extremely exposed and White's bishops are very powerful. } 29... dxc4 { It is probably better not to play this move, but it is already hard to offer Black some advice. } 30. Bxc4 Qg7 31. Bxg8 Qxg8 32. h5 { And here Botvinnik finally decided he has had enough and decided to resign a game. One of the most one-sided opening games of the World Championship Match and one of the worst defeats for not only Botvinnik, but any World Champion. This game is perhaps not the most typical Tal game, but it is one that encapsulates very well his splendid feeling for such complicated, sharp and tactical positions - a true Model Game for all Winawer afficionados. It is not surprising that Botvinnik decided to avoid the French for the rest of the match. } 1-0