From: helios!intercal.com!hwr@tssi.com (Hanon W. Russell)
Subject: Botvinnik Autobiography, Game 16
Organization: Chessnews list (chessnews-request@tssi.com)
Date: Wed, 15 Apr 1992 21:56:18 GMT


Translated by Hanon W. Russell
Copyright 1988, 1991 Hanon W. Russell
All Rights Reserved

No. 16  Slav Defense
M. Botvinnik  V. Nenarokov
5th USSR Championship
Moscow, 1927

1 d2-d4       Ng8-f6
2 c2-c4       c7-c6
3 Nb1-c3      d7-d5
4 e2-e3       g7-g6

The Schlechter system, which gives Black a solid but cramped game.

5 Ng1-f3      Bf8-g7
6 Qd1-b3      ...

For another plan of development (without the Queen move) see games 76, 85 
and 102. When Black plays c7-c6 in response to the Schlechter system in 
the Gruenfeld (as, for example, in game No. 4), a position arises which is 
identical to one from the Slav.

6 ...         0-0
7 Bc1-d2      e7-e6
8 Bf1-d3      ...

This system of play for White, comprised of the last four moves, has been 
around for a long time, successfully holding its own with other more 
current continuations.

8 ...         Nb8-d7
9 0-0         Nd7-b6

Theory has a slight preference for the move 9...b6 followed by c6-c5 in 
comparison with the Knight maneuver carried out in this game, which is a 
recommendation of Gruenfeld.

10 Nf3-e5     ...




By avoiding the majority of effective continuations (10 Rac1, 10 Rfd1 and 
10 e4, which is considered best) White plays for complications - but 
incorrectly so, since they should lead to Black's advantage.

10 ...        Nf6-d7
11 f2-f4      Nd7xe5
12 f4xe5      d5xc4
13 Bd3xc4     ...
13 ...        c6-c5!

Black had another continuation: 13...Bxe5 14 de Qxd2, but after 15 Rf3! 
(worse is 15 Ne4 Qa5, and the pawn on e5 cannot be defended) 15...Qd8 16 
Ne4, White's attack quickly attains its goal. In the game, Black gives up 
the exchange, but for it gets two pawns and the two Bishops, giving his 
opponent something to be concerned about.

14 Nc3-e4     c5xd4
15 Bd2-b4     Bg7xe5

After 15...Re8 16 Nd6 the Rook is lost to the Knight, while now Black 
successfully eliminates the enemy Bishop.

16 Bb4xf8     Qd8xf8
17 e3xd4      Be5xd4+
18 Kg1-h1     Qf8-h6

A superficial move. Only 18...Bd7 and then Bd7-c6 remained to be played to 
force me on the defensive. Now White bursts onto the eighth rank 
immediately placing the Black King in a critical position. Black's attack 
will not be successful.

19 Ra1-d1     Bd4-e5
20 Rd1-d8+    Kg8-g7
21 g2-g3      ...

On 21 h3 there would follow 21...Qh4 with a double attack. Now 22 Qb4 Nd7 
23 Qe7 is threatened. However, now two surprises folow, one after another. 
First, from Black, a clever defense:

21 ...        Bc8-d7

The point is that on 22 Rxa8, there is the reply 22...Bc6!, after which 
great complications arise. Here are several possible variations: 23 Rxf7+ 
Kxf7 24 Qf3+ Bf4 (24...Ke7 25 Qa3+ Kd7 26 Qd3+ or 25...Kf7 26 Qf3+) 25 Rd8 
Ke7 (25...Nxc4 26 Rd4, but not 26 gf Qh4 27 Rd1 Nd2 28 Rxd2 Qe1+ 29 Kg2 
Bxe4) 26 gf (26 Rd4 Be5 27 Rd1 Nxc4 28 gf Qh5) 26...Kxd8 27 Bxe6 g5. But 
White has other ideas...

22 Rd8xd7!    Nb6xd7
23 Bc4xe6     f7xe6



If 23...Nf6, then 24 Qxb7 Rf8 25 Nxf6 Bxf6 26 Qxa7 and White has an extra 
pawn with the better position.

24 Qb3xe6     Kg7-h8!

A clever defensive resource.

25 Qe6xd7     Ra8-f8
26 Rf1xf8+    Qh6xf8
27 Kh1-g2     Qf8-b8

Black has defended against material loss, and although it might seem that 
his King is confined to solitary and the attack of the Queen and Knight is 
quite energetic, there is still nothing concrete.

28 Ne4-g5     Be5-g7
29 Ng5-e6     ...

Or 29 Nf7+ Kg8 30 Qe6 Qf8!.

29 ...        Bg7-f6

Should greed rear its ugly head (29...Bxb2), it would be cut off: 30 Nd8 
(with the threat of 31 Qe8+ Kg7 32 Ne6+) 30...h5 31 Nf7+ Kg8 (31...Kg7 32 
Ne5+) 32 Ng5 Bg7 33 Qf7+ Kh8 34 Qxg6 etc.

30 b2-b3      Qb8-g8
31 h2-h4      b7-b6

Threatening a check from a8, after which the Black Queen springs to 
freedom.

32 Kg2-f2     h7-h6
33 Ne6-f4     ...

The last threat which can be created.

33 ...        Qg8-g7!
34 Qd7-e8+    Kh8-h7
35 Qe8-e4     Bf6-e5!

The only, but fully satisfactory, defense. On 36 Nxg6 there follows 
36...Bxg3+.

36 Nf4-d3     Be5-d6
Drawn