As we have seen previously, in the 1954 match, Smyslov failed to win the title by the narrowest of margins. And even though by drawing the match he proved he is Botvinnik's equal, he had to go through the grueling process of qualification once again and repeat the feat of winning the Candidates tournament - which he duly managed to do so by winning the 1956 Amsterdam Candidates tournament - 1.5 point ahead of Keres (who once again came second).
Thus, in 1957, the 2nd Botvinnik - Smyslov match was held in Moscow. This time, Smyslov was in control virtually from the start of the match. After winning the 1st game, he did lose games 4 and 5 only to immediately level the score in game 6 and then seize a two-point lead by winning games 8 and 12.
Nevertheless, Botvinnik wasn't to go away so easily as he managed to reduce the lead by winning the 13th game. Thus, after 3 subsequent draws, by game 17 the tension had reached its peak. It is at this particular moment that Smyslov played the following marvelous game that virtually clinched the match in his favour. In contrast to the previous game, which was a tactical masterpiece, this game was a pure positional/strategic battle.1.Nf3Nf62.g3g63.c4c64.Bg2Bg75.d4O-O6.Nc3d57.cxd5cxd58.Ne5...This time, instead of the King's Indian seen in the previous
game, we see a relatively quiet variation of the Fianchetto Grünfeld defence.8....b6With this move Black intends to develop the bishop to b7, but it is a little bit passive, although it is still played at the grandmaster level to this day.9.Bg5...I am not 100% sure I understand this move. The idea is potentially to eliminate the knight on f6 that can sometimes jump to e4, but I am not sure if that is the most dangerous idea of all time. Furthermore, the bishop is exposed to Ne4 jumps on this particular square.9.O-OIs seen more often nowadays, when afterBb710.Qa4or(10.Bf4Are both viable options.)9....Bb7Continuing with the development of thee bishop and preparing to jump with the knight to e4.10.Bxf6...The point of White's play. I guess the argument is that the knight on f6 is very valuable here and that Black's dark-squared bishop doesn't have that much scope, but still - White does give up the bishop pair voluntarily.10....Bxf611.O-O...I feel that after this move White doesn't have any advantage
whatsoever.11.f4Bg712.h4This aggressive kingside expansion was seen in a game between my two compatriots - Zdenko Kožul and Ivan Šarić - and it seems it is a more principled and dangerous way of posing some problems compared
to the timid kingside castling. That game continuede613.h5Nd714.hxg6hxg615.e3When White had a small, but stable advantage, even though he ultimately ended up losing the game.11....e612.f4...A standard plan of reinforcing the e5 knight and creating a dark-square bind in these positions. But Black can play around this knight and in some very distant future - White might regret that he weakened his kingside (as we will see in the endgame in this game).12....Bg713.Rc1f6Expelling the knight from e5 is possible, although not strictly necessary.14.Nf3Nc615.e3Qd716.Qe2Na5A good move. The knight is eyeing the potentially weakened c4 square.17.h4...Also very typical move, expanding on the kingside and preparing Bh3, trying to pressure the e6 pawn.17....Nc418.Bh3Nd6Now the knight reroutes and also eyes the weak e4 square. Black shouldn't be worse here as both sides have some weaknesses and weak squares, although a complex strategic battle is in front of us.19.Kh2a520.Rfe1b5Very good play. White's play in the center and on the kingside is somewhat stuck, while Black improves the position on the queenside.21.Nd1b422.Nf2Ba6The passive bishop is now activated and space advantage has been secured on the left hand side of the board. It is very instructive to observe how Smyslov quietly outplays his formidable opponent.23.Qd1Rfc8The next step is the occupation of the open file.24.Rxc8+...This is a bit too cooperative. As usual, exchanging on our opponent's ground helps them more than it helps us to relieve the tension.24.Rc5Hoping to double on the c-file in the future was interesting.24.e4Trying to imbalance play by breaking through in the center was also a bit more combative than the text move.24....Rxc825.Bf1...Seeking further exchanges, but it transpires that this one is also to Black's benefit as now the light-squares are weakened.25....Bxf126.Rxf1Qc6Intending to play Qc2 and go for a nice endgame.26...Qb5Trying to maintain the tension by keeping the queens on the board and trying to exploit some light-squares with, say, Nf5 next, came into consideration too.26...h5Securing some more light-squares, was also interesting.27.Nd3Qc2+This looks tempting, but the queen exchange actually relinquishes a significant part of Black's advantage.27...h5Once again, maintaining the tension with some sort of semi-waiting move was worth considering.28.Qxc2Rxc2+29.Rf2...This is the problem for Black. White manages to deal with the infiltration of the rook to c2 and now Black almost has either exchange or retreat, meaning that a large part of the advantage is now gone.29....Rxf2+30.Nxf2Nc431.Nd1...Now all weaknesses are covered and without the heavy pieces on the board, it is hard to make progress for Black. Still, the game is far from over and now we enter a completely new stage of the game.31....Kf732.b3?...But this is a mistake. It is natural to want to kick the knight from the c4 square, but in the process, White is weakening the c3 square.32.Kg2h533.Kf2And it is hard for White to make further progress.32....Nd633.Kg2h5Clamping down on the light-squares! Black probably has to play this move sooner or later.34.Kh3...White tries to play g4 to eliminate some pawns, in return.34....Ne435.g4hxg4+?But this exchange also turns out to be a mistake as it changes the character of the structure on the kingside. Smyslov probably thought White's h4 pawn would be a weakness in the long-run, but it transpires that this is not necessarily true.35...Bf8It was better to simply continue waiting and improving the position as it is not entirely clear what White will do with the g-pawn. Say if36.g5(36.gxh5gxh5Also gives the Black king g6-f5 route.)(36.Ne1Bd637.Nd3Bc7Puts White in some sort of zugzwang
as it gets more and more difficult to move the pieces, say38.Ne1e5With a decisive opening of the position.)Bd637.gxf6Kxf6The king can now infiltrate with f5 and e4/g4 in the future.36.Kxg4f5+I guess this was the point of Smyslov's idea. Now the d8-h4 diagonal is open and Black can potentially try to attack the h4 pawn (which is what happens in the game). But it transpires that this is less strong than what was considered in the previous note.36...Bf837.Ne1Bd638.Nd3Bc7White can simply move the king and not the knight on d339.Kf3And it is hard for Black to make progress here.37.Kh3Bf638.Ne1Kg739.Nd3...Now once again, White's pieces are doing a good job of defending everything and it is hard to make progress. That is why Smyslov decides to sharply alter the character of the play and go for the transformation of the position.39....Nc3!?Sharply changing the character of play at the verge of the first time control (which usually happened on move 40). Smyslov invites the exchange of the knight and transformation into a bishop vs. knight endgame and seemingly there is no way for Botvinnik to refuse it!39...Be740.N1b2This is the computer solution. White gives up the c3 square but creates counterplay in an unexpected fashion, e.g.(40.N3f2Is a more human way. AfterNc341.a4White manages to remove the weakness on a2 and it is hard for Black to make progress.)Nc341.Nc5Nxa242.Nb7And White has solved all the problems.40.Nxc3bxc3So, let us stop for the moment and ask ourselves - why exactly should Black pretend to be better in this endgame? Well, the pawn on c3 is a temporary distraction for our opponent and needs to be dealt with. The only way in which White can do so is by going with the king all the way to d3 and then capturing it. This, in turn, should allow Black to capture the h4 pawn (which is something he can do anyway, actually) and run with the king to f2, threatening to capture on e3. Furthermore, Black can also push g5 and then f4 at the appropriate moment. Thus, White has to defend accurately as Black has a clear plan of going forward.41.Ne1...Missing the immediate opportunity to resolve all problems!41.b4This should lead to a draw, although the lines are far from easy.a4The more complex try leading to a very complicated endgame.(41...axb442.Nxb4White will very likely collect the c3 pawn at the right moment and the passed a-pawn will be a big enough nuisance to secure equality!)42.b5Is also sufficient as Black has to deal with the b-pawn. Play might continueBd843.Kg3Kh644.Kf2Kh545.Ke2And now suddenly Black has to be careful withBa5(45...Kxh446.Nc5Is actually lost for Black as nowKg347.Kd3Kf348.Nxa4And White will win in complications afterc249.Kxc2Kxe350.Nc5Ba551.Nxe6The passed pawns on the queenside are too dangerous and the knight is perfect
on e6.)46.Kd1Kxh447.Kc2(47.Nc5Kg348.Nxa4Kf3Is different compared
to the previous variation as now c3 pawn has survived.49.Nc5Kxe350.Nxe6Kd351.Nc5+Ke352.Ne6)Kg3Although this endgame is still very
tricky and complicated. White now has to be precise with48.Nc5Kf3The Black king is just in time.49.Kd3c250.Kxc2Kxe3And this whole mess should end in a draw after51.Nxe6Ke452.Kb2Kd353.Ka3Kc354.Kxa4White does get connected passed pawns, but Black's king is far more active and restricting the enemy king (it doesn't allow it to go to b4 and then push the a-pawn)Bb655.Ka3Ba756.Ka4Bb6And neither side can make any progress here and the game should end in a draw. A fascinating variation that
demonstrates the full complexity of this endgame.41....Kh642.Nc2...Maneuvering the knight to c2 is very sensible, though, as now the pawn is blockaded and the d3 square vacated for the king.42....Be7Now Black does prevent the b-pawn from advancing before assaulting the h4 pawn.43.Kg3...Not yet losing, but it does demonstrate Botvinnik was not aware of the key idea in this position (which will end up costing him later). He could have advanced the a-pawn here at once.43.a4This would lead to a variation very similar to the one we will examine in notes to White's 45th move.43....Kh5Black, of course, collects the h-pawn and tries to infiltrate with the
king.44.Kf3...44.a4Was once again a bit more precise as it would have
forced Black to capture on h4 with the bishop. AfterBxh4+45.Kf3Bd8White has something similar to the variation that could arise in the notes to the next move, but with the Black king still being on h5, which is maybe a minor difference, but a difference nevertheless.44....Kxh445.Ne1?...But this is now the losing moment. Botvinnik decides to stay passive and keep waiting, but it transpires that this is the wrong strategy as Black is now able to outmaneuver him, put him into zugzwang and infiltrate his king into the position.45.a4At this particular moment, it was absolutely necessary to advance the a-pawn. As mentioned earlier, it would have allowed White to have a nice defensive resource at the exact moment as the a-pawn is now closer to queening than it is in the game. If we follow the same variation as in the game, then afterKh3(45...g5Is now also slow as after46.fxg5Kxg547.Ke2Kg448.Kd3Kf349.b4Works, as afteraxb450.a5b351.Ne1+Kf252.Kxc3The a-pawn once again manages to save White. Of course, not an easy variation to see, which is why it was simpler to play a4 on one of the two previous moves.)46.Ke2Kg347.Kd3Kf248.Kxc3Ke2Here White has the saving advnace of the a-pawn49.b4In the game, we will see how this is losing, but here it saves White as Black is not winning the pawn endgame.Bd8(49...axb4+50.Nxb4Bxb4+51.Kxb4Is actually won for White as he is much faster)50.bxa5Bxa5+51.Kb3And White is not lost here, e.g.Kd352.Kb2Kc453.Kb1Kb354.Na1+Kxa455.Kc2And White manages to hold - all thanks
to the a-pawn.45....g5Now this move is very powerful as Black removes one obstacle on the kingside and White also needs to lose a tempo to get the knight back to c2 and initiate the whole idea with a4-b4 and so on - which means that White is now objectively completely lost. Still, it is very instructive to observe how Smyslov goes about outmaneuvering Botivnnik and winning this position.46.fxg5Kxg547.Nc2Bd648.Ne1...Trying to stay passive, but now Smyslov embarks on an instructive outflanking maneuver.48.Ke2Is now too slow as afterKg449.Kd3Kf3Any ideas involving the advance of the b-pawn don't help e.g.50.a4(50.Kxc3Ke251.b4Bxb4+52.Nxb4axb4+53.Kxb4Kxe3Leads to a lost pawn endgame for White as now a-pawn is on a2 and Black managed to get in g5 earlier, paving the way for the f-pawn.)Kf2And White is completely helpless here.51.b4(51.Na1Ke152.Nc2+Kd153.Na1Bb454.Nc2Kc1Black will
simply walk and pick up the b3 pawn.)axb452.a5b353.Ne1Is now
not check so White loses.48....Kh449.Nc2Kh350.Na1Kh251.Kf2Bg3+52.Kf3Bh453.Nc2Kg154.Ke2...White is trying to stop the king from
infiltrating at all costs.54....Kg255.Na1Be756.Nc2Kg357.Ne1Bd858.Nc2Bf659.a3...Finally trying to create some counterplay, but it is too late.59....Be760.b4a4The bishop will easily deal with the b-pawn and Black also has the f4 pawn push at the right moment, if required.61.Ne1Bg562.Nc2Bf6Black is in some sort of zugzwang. They wouldn't really love to move the knight or the king - but there is not much choice.63.Kd3...Finally giving up and letting the king further.63.Na1f4Is already winning on the spot for Black as
the d4 pawn falls.63.b5Bd864.Na1Bc765.Nc2Ba566.Na1Bb667.Nc2Kg4Is a very similar zugzwang again - either f4 happens or the king arrives at f3 e.g.68.Kd3Kf369.Kxc3Ke263....Kf264.Na1Bd865.Nc2Bg5The final zugzwang.66.b5...What else?66.Na1Bxe3Wins on the spot.67.b5f468.b6f369.b7Bf466.Kxc3Ke2Is also losing as White has no
space to maneuver.67.b5Bd868.Kb2Ba5And White's king will eventually
be supressed, e.g.69.Kc1Bb670.Kb1Kd271.Kb2Kd372.Kb1Kc4And once
the b5 pawn falls, the rest is trivial, e.g.73.Nb4f474.exf4Kxb5And d4 will fall soon.66....Bd867.Nb4Bb668.Nc2Ba569.Nb4Ke1And here Botvinnik finally resigned as the king will penetrate either to e2 or to the queenside and White will end up in a similar zugzwang as in the variation analyzed on move 66. A tremendous game and absolutely mesmerizing endgame play by Smyslov - at such an important and crucial moment of the match.
-After this game, Smyslov also won the 20th game and clinched the match after 22 games with a score 12.5-9.5, becoming, thus, the 7th World Champion. Alas, his reign would last only for one year as he would lose the title the very next year in the 1958 rematch, although his career would continue for a loong loong time after that.0-1