[Event "Botvinnik - Smyslov World Championship"] [Site "Moscow URS"] [Date "1957.04.13"] [Round "17"] [White "Mikhail Botvinnik"] [Black "Vasily Smyslov"] [Result "0-1"] [Annotator "mistr"] [Variant "Standard"] [ECO "A15"] [Opening "English Opening: Anglo-Indian Defense, Slav Formation"] [Source "https://lichess.org/study/nsspObqZ/pbbd7YT9"] [Orientation "black"] { 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. Nf3 Nf6 2. g3 g6 3. c4 c6 4. Bg2 Bg7 5. d4 O-O 6. Nc3 d5 7. cxd5 cxd5 8. 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... b6 { With 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. } { [%cal Gc8b7] } 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-O { Is seen more often nowadays, when after } 9... Bb7 10. Qa4 { or } (10. Bf4 { Are both viable options. })) 9... Bb7 { Continuing with the development of thee bishop and preparing to jump with the knight to e4. } { [%csl Ge4][%cal Gf6e4] } 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... Bxf6 11. O-O { I feel that after this move White doesn't have any advantage whatsoever. } (11. f4 Bg7 12. h4 { This 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 continued } 12... e6 13. h5 Nd7 14. hxg6 hxg6 15. e3 { When White had a small, but stable advantage, even though he ultimately ended up losing the game. }) 11... e6 12. 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). } { [%csl Gd4,Ge5,Gf4] } 12... Bg7 13. Rc1 f6 { Expelling the knight from e5 is possible, although not strictly necessary. } 14. Nf3 Nc6 15. e3 Qd7 16. Qe2 Na5 { A good move. The knight is eyeing the potentially weakened c4 square. } { [%csl Gc4][%cal Ga5c4] } 17. h4 { Also very typical move, expanding on the kingside and preparing Bh3, trying to pressure the e6 pawn. } { [%cal Gh4h5,Gg2h3] } 17... Nc4 18. Bh3 { [%cal Rh3e6] } 18... Nd6 { Now 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. } { [%csl Ge4][%cal Gd6e4] } 19. Kh2 a5 20. Rfe1 b5 { Very good play. White's play in the center and on the kingside is somewhat stuck, while Black improves the position on the queenside. } 21. Nd1 b4 22. Nf2 Ba6 { The 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. } { [%csl Ga5,Gb4][%cal Ra6f1] } 23. Qd1 Rfc8 { The 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. Rc5 { Hoping to double on the c-file in the future was interesting. }) (24. e4 { Trying to imbalance play by breaking through in the center was also a bit more combative than the text move. }) 24... Rxc8 25. Bf1 { Seeking further exchanges, but it transpires that this one is also to Black's benefit as now the light-squares are weakened. } { [%csl Gb5,Gc4,Ge4] } 25... Bxf1 26. Rxf1 Qc6 { Intending to play Qc2 and go for a nice endgame. } { [%cal Gc6c2] } (26... Qb5 { Trying 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... h5 { Securing some more light-squares, was also interesting. } { [%csl Gf5,Gg4] }) 27. Nd3 Qc2+ { This looks tempting, but the queen exchange actually relinquishes a significant part of Black's advantage. } (27... h5 { Once again, maintaining the tension with some sort of semi-waiting move was worth considering. }) 28. Qxc2 Rxc2+ 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. } { [%csl Gf2][%cal Gd3f2] } 29... Rxf2+ 30. Nxf2 Nc4 31. 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. } { [%csl Gb2][%cal Gd1e3,Gd1b2] } 31... Kf7 32. 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. } { [%csl Rc3][%cal Rb3c4] } (32. Kg2 h5 33. Kf2 { And it is hard for White to make further progress. }) 32... Nd6 33. Kg2 h5 { Clamping down on the light-squares! Black probably has to play this move sooner or later. } { [%csl Gg4] } 34. Kh3 { White tries to play g4 to eliminate some pawns, in return. } 34... Ne4 35. g4 hxg4+? { 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... Bf8 { It 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 if } 36. g5 (36. gxh5 gxh5 { Also gives the Black king g6-f5 route. } { [%cal Gf7g6,Gg6f5,Gf5e4,Gf5g4] }) (36. Ne1 Bd6 37. Nd3 Bc7 { Puts White in some sort of zugzwang as it gets more and more difficult to move the pieces, say } 38. Ne1 e5 { With a decisive opening of the position. }) 36... Bd6 37. gxf6 Kxf6 { The king can now infiltrate with f5 and e4/g4 in the future. } { [%cal Gf6f5,Gf5e4,Gf5g4] }) 36. Kxg4 f5+ { 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... Bf8 37. Ne1 Bd6 38. Nd3 Bc7 { White can simply move the king and not the knight on d3 } 39. Kf3 { And it is hard for Black to make progress here. }) 37. Kh3 Bf6 38. Ne1 Kg7 39. 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. } { [%csl Gd3] } 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... Be7 40. N1b2 { This is the computer solution. White gives up the c3 square but creates counterplay in an unexpected fashion, e.g. } (40. N3f2 { Is a more human way. After } 40... Nc3 41. a4 { White manages to remove the weakness on a2 and it is hard for Black to make progress. }) 40... Nc3 41. Nc5 Nxa2 42. Nb7 { And White has solved all the problems. }) 40. Nxc3 bxc3 { So, 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. } { [%csl Rc3] } 41. Ne1 { Missing the immediate opportunity to resolve all problems! } (41. b4 { This should lead to a draw, although the lines are far from easy. } 41... a4 { The more complex try leading to a very complicated endgame. } (41... axb4 42. Nxb4 { White 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. b5 { Is also sufficient as Black has to deal with the b-pawn. Play might continue } 42... Bd8 43. Kg3 Kh6 44. Kf2 Kh5 45. Ke2 { And now suddenly Black has to be careful with } 45... Ba5 (45... Kxh4 46. Nc5 { Is actually lost for Black as now } 46... Kg3 47. Kd3 Kf3 48. Nxa4 { And White will win in complications after } 48... c2 49. Kxc2 Kxe3 50. Nc5 Ba5 51. Nxe6 { The passed pawns on the queenside are too dangerous and the knight is perfect on e6. }) 46. Kd1 Kxh4 47. Kc2 (47. Nc5 Kg3 48. Nxa4 Kf3 { Is different compared to the previous variation as now c3 pawn has survived. } 49. Nc5 Kxe3 50. Nxe6 Kd3 51. Nc5+ Ke3 52. Ne6) 47... Kg3 { Although this endgame is still very tricky and complicated. White now has to be precise with } 48. Nc5 Kf3 { The Black king is just in time. } 49. Kd3 c2 50. Kxc2 Kxe3 { And this whole mess should end in a draw after } 51. Nxe6 Ke4 52. Kb2 Kd3 53. Ka3 Kc3 54. Kxa4 { White 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) } 54... Bb6 55. Ka3 Ba7 56. Ka4 Bb6 { And 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... Kh6 42. Nc2 { Maneuvering the knight to c2 is very sensible, though, as now the pawn is blockaded and the d3 square vacated for the king. } { [%csl Gc2,Rc3,Gd3] } 42... Be7 { Now 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. a4 { This would lead to a variation very similar to the one we will examine in notes to White's 45th move. }) 43... Kh5 { Black, of course, collects the h-pawn and tries to infiltrate with the king. } 44. Kf3 (44. a4 { Was once again a bit more precise as it would have forced Black to capture on h4 with the bishop. After } 44... Bxh4+ 45. Kf3 Bd8 { White 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... Kxh4 45. 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. a4 { At 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 after } 45... Kh3 (45... g5 { Is now also slow as after } 46. fxg5 Kxg5 47. Ke2 Kg4 48. Kd3 Kf3 49. b4 { Works, as after } 49... axb4 50. a5 b3 51. Ne1+ Kf2 52. Kxc3 { The 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. Ke2 Kg3 47. Kd3 Kf2 48. Kxc3 Ke2 { Here White has the saving advnace of the a-pawn } 49. b4 { In the game, we will see how this is losing, but here it saves White as Black is not winning the pawn endgame. } 49... Bd8 (49... axb4+ 50. Nxb4 Bxb4+ 51. Kxb4 { Is actually won for White as he is much faster }) 50. bxa5 Bxa5+ 51. Kb3 { And White is not lost here, e.g. } 51... Kd3 52. Kb2 Kc4 53. Kb1 Kb3 54. Na1+ Kxa4 55. Kc2 { And White manages to hold - all thanks to the a-pawn. }) 45... g5 { Now 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. fxg5 Kxg5 47. Nc2 Bd6 48. Ne1 { Trying to stay passive, but now Smyslov embarks on an instructive outflanking maneuver. } (48. Ke2 { Is now too slow as after } 48... Kg4 49. Kd3 Kf3 { Any ideas involving the advance of the b-pawn don't help e.g. } 50. a4 (50. Kxc3 Ke2 51. b4 Bxb4+ 52. Nxb4 axb4+ 53. Kxb4 Kxe3 { Leads 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. }) 50... Kf2 { And White is completely helpless here. } 51. b4 (51. Na1 Ke1 52. Nc2+ Kd1 53. Na1 Bb4 54. Nc2 Kc1 { Black will simply walk and pick up the b3 pawn. } { [%csl Rb3][%cal Gc1b2,Gb2b3] }) 51... axb4 52. a5 b3 53. Ne1 { Is now not check so White loses. }) 48... Kh4 49. Nc2 Kh3 50. Na1 Kh2 51. Kf2 Bg3+ 52. Kf3 Bh4 53. Nc2 Kg1 54. Ke2 { White is trying to stop the king from infiltrating at all costs. } 54... Kg2 55. Na1 Be7 56. Nc2 Kg3 57. Ne1 Bd8 58. Nc2 Bf6 59. a3 { Finally trying to create some counterplay, but it is too late. } 59... Be7 60. b4 a4 { The bishop will easily deal with the b-pawn and Black also has the f4 pawn push at the right moment, if required. } 61. Ne1 Bg5 62. Nc2 Bf6 { Black 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. Na1 f4 { Is already winning on the spot for Black as the d4 pawn falls. }) (63. b5 Bd8 64. Na1 Bc7 65. Nc2 Ba5 66. Na1 Bb6 67. Nc2 Kg4 { Is a very similar zugzwang again - either f4 happens or the king arrives at f3 e.g. } 68. Kd3 Kf3 69. Kxc3 Ke2) 63... Kf2 64. Na1 Bd8 65. Nc2 Bg5 { The final zugzwang. } 66. b5 { What else? } (66. Na1 Bxe3 { Wins on the spot. } 67. b5 f4 68. b6 f3 69. b7 Bf4) (66. Kxc3 Ke2 { Is also losing as White has no space to maneuver. } 67. b5 Bd8 68. Kb2 Ba5 { And White's king will eventually be supressed, e.g. } 69. Kc1 Bb6 70. Kb1 Kd2 71. Kb2 Kd3 72. Kb1 Kc4 { And once the b5 pawn falls, the rest is trivial, e.g. } 73. Nb4 f4 74. exf4 Kxb5 { And d4 will fall soon. }) 66... Bd8 67. Nb4 Bb6 68. Nc2 Ba5 69. Nb4 Ke1 { And 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