[Event "Botvinnik - Smyslov World Championship"] [Site "Moscow URS"] [Date "1954.04.15"] [Round "14"] [White "Mikhail Botvinnik"] [Black "Vasily Smyslov"] [Result "0-1"] [Annotator "mistr"] [Variant "Standard"] [ECO "E68"] [Opening "King's Indian Defense: Fianchetto Variation, Classical Variation"] [Source "https://lichess.org/study/nsspObqZ/IzaW7X4z"] [Orientation "black"] { Thus, after winning the Zürich Candidates Tournament in 1953, Smyslov qualified for the match against Botvinnik that was held in 1954 in Moscow. This match turned out to be one of the most fighting and "bloodiest" in the entire history of chess. Out of 24 games, 14 had a decisive outcome and at some point there was a streak of 8- decisive games. Smyslov himself started extremely poorly, losing 3 out of the first 4 games. However, after winning game 7 and then scoring a hat trick in games 9-11, he took the lead briefly before losing games 12 and 13 and finding himself trailing by a point again. But then, in game 14, he managed to win again and level the scores again. This is probably his most impressive creative achievement from that first match and fully deserves to be mentioned here } 1. d4 { In this match, Botvinnik was varying between 1.d4 and 1.c4, with the former being seen in the majority of his White games. } 1... Nf6 2. c4 g6 { In turn, Smyslov played the Nimzo-Indian, Queen's Gambit Accepted, King's Indian and Grünfeld. In this game, though the King's Indian was seen for the very first time. } 3. g3 { The fianchetto variation was not a surprising choice for Botvinnik. } 3... Bg7 4. Bg2 O-O 5. Nc3 d6 6. Nf3 Nbd7 7. O-O e5 { This is a relatively old way of handling this variation that still has the right to exist to this day. Nowadays people have switched to the queenside pawn advances - either with c5 or even the exotic a6-Rb8-b5. } 8. e4 c6 { Black takes the d5 square under some control and opens up the path for the queen. A very standard move in this type of position. } { [%csl Gd5][%cal Gc6d5,Gd8a5] } 9. Be3 { One of the many possible moves here, developing the bishop and adding some more protection to the d4 pawn. } { [%csl Gd4][%cal Ge3d4] } 9... Ng4 { The most common move in this position, disturbing the bishop immediately, that is still being played to this day. } { [%csl Re3][%cal Rg4e3] } 10. Bg5 Qb6 { Black is trying to pressure the queenside and the central pawn on d4 and is already planning the creative sacrifice that appears later in the game. } { [%csl Rd4][%cal Rb6b2,Rb6d4] } 11. h3 { But what now? It seems as if the knight on g4 has to retreat and that Black's entire opening strategy has kind of failed. } { [%csl Rg4][%cal Rh3g4] } 11... exd4!? { A very creative and unexpected move, destroying the center after all and ignoring the attack on the knight on g4 for the moment. The drawback of this move is that it seemingly involves a piece sacrifice, although we will see it is only temporary. This move was repeated in a number of high-profile games even in 2021, so it is definitely playable, albeit a bit risky. } (11... Ngf6 { With that being said, some strong players such as Naroditsky have retreated the knight to f6 here, but after the calm } 12. b3 { I feel White has a dream scenario in this position as the position is very secure and it is not immediately obvious how will Black create some counterplay. }) 12. Na4 { This intermediate move, hitting the queen and gaining time to capture on g4, seems a bit problematic, but the line doesn't yet end here. } { [%csl Rb6][%cal Ra4b6] } 12... Qa6 13. hxg4 b5 { The point of Black's play! With this move, the piece is regained as the knight doesn't have anywhere to go. Alas, it transpires that the positional price for this tactical operation is a bit high as Black's pawn structure is in ruins and White should be able to fight for the advantage here. } { [%csl Ra4][%cal Rb5a4] } 14. Nxd4 { Of course, it is easy to criticize the pioneers that trailblazed the path, but this is objectively not the best move in the position. Botvinnik was surely tempted with the subsequent sacrifice on c6, but must have underestimated/misevaluated the resulting position. } (14. Be7 { From the modern viewpoint, this attack on the rook on f8 and the pawn on d6 can be regarded as best. } 14... Re8 15. Bxd6 bxa4 16. c5 { And White should have the objective advantage in this position due to the strong bishop on d6 and some clear targets in Black's position, although the position does remain very complicated. Nevertheless, it seems that the practical results at the grandmaster level favour White, which is probably one of the reasons why these concrete line is not as popular nowadays. } { [%csl Ra4,Rc6,Rd4,Gd6] }) 14... bxa4 15. Nxc6 { The point of Botvinnik's play - luring the queen to c6 and preparing e5 next, opening the light-squared bishop. } { [%cal Ra6c6,Ge4e5] } 15... Qxc6 16. e5 Qxc4! { A tremendous reply (although there is not much choice). Smyslov simply collects all the pawns that are offered and realizes he will receive a lot of compensation for the exchange. } 17. Bxa8 Nxe5 { This position is dynamically balanced. Black's active pieces, the weakness of the g4 pawn and the dominant knight on e5 more than compensate for the missing exchange. And even though the game is objectively within the drawing margins from the engine standpoint, it is very natural to expect it will not end in a draw in a game between two humans. I feel Black has better chances as his position is easier to play - and the subsequent course of the game confirms this. } { [%csl Ge5,Rg4,Gg7][%cal Gg7b2] } 18. Rc1 (18. Qxd6 { Maybe it was worth taking the pawn on d6, although that is not the most important pawn in this position, e.g. } 18... Be6 { Preventing Bd5 and threatening the bishop on a8. } 19. Bg2 Qxg4 { When Black has full compensation for the pawn and White is the one who has to play accurately to maintain the balance. }) 18... Qb4 19. a3 { Complicating the game a big by giving up the b2 pawn - which was not strictly necessary. } 19... Qxb2 { Maybe it was better not to take on b2, open the b-file and allow the a4 pawn to fall, but the evaluation of the position is not significantly affected - yet. } 20. Qxa4 (20. Be4 { Perhaps it was better to retreat the bishop here to avoid any Bb7 ideas due to } 20... Bb7 21. Bxb7 Qxb7 22. f4 { As now the queen on d1 is controlling the f3 square! }) 20... Bb7!? { A tremendous and creative move that tries to eliminate White's light-squared bishop and exploit the weak light-squares around the enemy king, but it seemingly invites White to win material on the spot by playing Rb1. } 21. Rb1?? { Botvinnik once again goes for the materialistic option, underestimating the dynamic, sacrificial possibilities available in the position - and it turns out to be the losing mistake. } (21. Bxb7 Qxb7 { Was now very unpleasant as the queen is on a4 and not controlling the f3 square. Nevertheless, after } 22. Be3 { White shouldn't fear the checks too much as after } 22... Nf3+ 23. Kh1 { Black has to go for } 23... Nd2+ (23... Nh4+ { Doesn't work due to } 24. Qc6) 24. Kh2 Nxf1+ 25. Rxf1 { When the game is very much within drawing margins despite Black's extra pawn - as the one on a7 is currently targeted and the one on d6 is also very weak. } { [%csl Ra7,Rd6] }) 21... Nf3+ 22. Kh1 Bxa8!! { A tremendous move, ignoring the attack on the queen and simply sacrificing it for three minor pieces. } 23. Rxb2 Nxg5+ 24. Kh2 Nf3+ 25. Kh3 Bxb2 { Black now obtains three pieces for the queen in a position where they coordinate perfectly and where White has a static pawn structure on the kingside that provides nice outposts (g5, f3) for these pieces. Thus, somewhat surprisingly, White is simply dead lost here. } 26. Qxa7 Be4 27. a4 { The a-pawn is the only hope, but it is easily dealt with. } 27... Kg7 28. Rd1 Be5 29. Qe7 Rc8 { Just look at this coordination. All Black's pieces are on good squares, protecting each other and participating in the game. The echoes of Bobby Fischer's famous Game of the Century are very much present here. } { [%csl Gc8,Ge4,Ge5,Gf3] } 30. a5 (30. Rxd6 { Trying to sacrifice an exchange to destabilize the pieces doesn't help here as after } 30... Rc1 { Forced mate is already threatened and White can't defend! }) 30... Rc2 { White's king is in mortal danger. } { [%cal Rc2h2] } 31. Kg2 (31. Rf1 Bd3 { Is also quite hopeless. }) 31... Nd4+ 32. Kf1 Bf3 33. Rb1 Nc6 { And now with Nxa5 and Bd4 being threatened, Botvinnik finally decided he has had enough and decided to throw in the towel. A beautiful sacrificial dynamic concept from a player many don't associate with such imbalanced, irrational games - but that definitely had the capability to play such games. After this game, the score in the match was again level. Alas, Botvinnik then won games 15 and 16, taking the two-point lead. Smyslov won games 20 and 23 but failed to win in the decisive, 24th game leaving the final score in the match at 12-12. According to the match regulations, in the case of the tie, Botvinnik would retain the title, so Smyslov had to wait for another three years before having another shot at the title. } { [%cal Rc6a5,Ge5d4] } 0-1