From: helios!intercal.com!hwr@tssi.com (Hanon W. Russell)
Subject: Botvinnik Autobiography, Game 15
Organization: Chessnews list (chessnews-request@tssi.com)
Date: Wed, 8 Apr 1992 18:33:59 GMT


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

No. 15  Dutch Defense
I. Rabinovich  M. Botvinnik
5th USSR Championship
Moscow, 1927

1 d2-d4       e7-e6
2 c2-c4       f7-f5

The appearance of the durable Dutch Defense in my opening repertoire was 
no accident. During the championship Model and I were staying together and 
he taught me to play this complicated opening.

3 g2-g3       Nf8-f6
4 Bf1-g2      Bf8-e7
5 Nb1-c3      ...

This is often played today, although better is 5 Nf3, keeping open the 
possibility of developing the Knight on d2.

5 ...         0-0
6 Ng1-f3      d7-d5

6...d6 was also played then, the consequences of which had been worked out 
with all its details by Ilyin-Zhenevsky. But I was playing the Dutch 
"according to Model."

7 0-0         c7-c6
8 Qd1-c2      ...

Then considered the latest word in theory, and still recommended, although 
I think 8 Bg5 is simpler and better, as I played in the twenty-second game 
of my return match with Smyslov (1958), for after ...Nf6-e4 the exchange 
of the black-squared Bishops turns out in White's favor or, if Black plays 
h6, the pawn covering around the King is weakened.

8 ...         Qd8-e8
9 Bc1-f4      ...

On 9 Bg5, as Chekhover played against Riumin (Leningrad, 1936), then 
9...Qh5 and premature is 10 Bxf6 since after 10...Bxf6 11 cd cd Black has 
equalized.

9 ...         Qe8-h5
10 Ra1-d1     Nb8-d7
11 b2-b3      Nf6-e4

11...Kh8 is worth consideration (see game No. 60).

12 Nf3-e5!    ...

With the Black Knight on f6, this was not good: After the exchange on e5, 
Nf6-g4 would follow. Now White seizes the initiative and Black has to be 
careful.



12 ...        Ne4-g5

I did not like 12...Nxc3 13 Qxc3 Nxe5 14 Bxe5 Qxe2 15 Bf3 Bb4 (15...Qxa2 
16 Ra1) 16 Qxb4 Qxf3 17 Qd6 or 12...g5 13 Nxd7 Bxd7 14 Be5 Nd6 15 cd cd 16 
Nxd5 ed 17 Qc7, but perhaps I should have considered 12...Bf6. However, 
realizing that my opponent was uncomfortable when his King was under 
attack, I decided not to prevent the check by White or the exchange of one 
pair of Bishops.

13 h2-h4      ...

My hopes have been justified: White has refrained from the stronger 13 f3 
Nh3+ 14 Bxh3 Qxh3 15 e4. Having avoided the exchange of Bishops, he 
weakens the King's fortress.

13 ...        Ng5-e4
14 Bg2-f3     ...

Better was 14 Nxe4 fe 15 f3, not fearing the sacrifice of the Rook for 
Bishop on f4. After the text, Black experiences no further difficulties.

14 ...        Qh5-e8
15 Ne5xd7     Bc8xd7
16 Kg1-g2     Be7-b4
17 Bf3xe4     ...

White's nerves crack. After 17 Nb1, the equilibrium would not be 
disturbed. Without the white-squared Bishop, the White King's position 
becomes insecure.

17 ...        f5xe4
18 Rf1-h1     Qe8-h5

The first result: The Black Queen is able to return to the Kingside, and 
nothing White can do will drive her away.

19 f2-f3      Qh5-g6

After 19...e5 20 de Qg6 a position similar to the game arises. But now my 
opponent could escape and therefore I should have gone in for this forced 
line. Now 20...ef+ is threatened, but it is easily parried.

20 Kg2-f1     ...

20 Kh2 is worth consideration, not locking in the Rook and with somewhat 
more breathing room for the King.

20 ...        e6-e5

On 20...ef 21 Qxg6 hg 22 Rc1 fe+ Black wins a pawn but the outcome of the 
game would still not be clear.

21 d4xe5      ...



Correcting Black's inaccurate 19th move. White could have avoided this 
only by 21 h5 Qf5 22 de (22 fe Qg4) 22...ef 23 Qxf5 Bxf5 24 Rc1 d4 25 Nd1 
Be4, although White still would have no cause for joy.

21 ...        Rf8xf4!
22 g3xf4      Qg6-g3!!

23...e3 is threatened, and, for example, after 23 cd - 23...Bc5 24 Nxe4 
Bh3+ 25 Rxh3 Qg1X.

23 Nc3xe4     d5xe4
24 Rd1xd7

On 24 Qxe4 Bc5 25 e3, the game is effectively concluded by 25...Bf5!.

24 ...   Bb4-c5

It appears that the "decisive" 24...e3 actually loses to 25 Rxg7+!.

25 e2-e3      Qg3xf3+
26 Qc2-f2     Qf3xh1+

There should be no further difficulty with an extra piece, but White still 
has a dangerous passed pawn and a Rook on the seventh which demands care.

27 Kf1-e2     Qh1-h3
28 f4-f5      ...

White, of course, cannot leave the d-file (28 Rxb7).

28 ...        Qh3-g4+
29 Ke2-d2     Ra8-f8
30 e5-e6      Qg4xf5

Everything Black has worked for could still have been thrown away by 
30...Rxf5 (31 Rd8+ Bf8 32 Qxf5! Qxf5 33 e7).

31 Qf2xf5     Rf8xf5
32 Rd7xb7     Rf5-f2+
33 Kd2-e1     Rf2-f6
34 b3-b4      Bc5xe3
35 Ke1-e2     Be3-g1
36 e6-e7      ...

White gets two pawns for this one, but Black's passed e-pawn is sufficient 
to win.

36 ...        Kg8-f7
37 e7-e8/Q+   Kf7xe8
38 Rb7xg7     Rf6-g6


39 Rg7xh7     Bg1-d4

Ilya Leontevich did not want this novice's first tournament victory to be 
over one of the country's strongest masters. Otherwise, of course, he 
would have resigned.

40 c4-c5      Rg6-g2+
41 Ke2-f1     Rg2-f2+
42 Kf1-e1     e4-e3
White resigns

I had gotten into the championship by accident: There were five candidates 
on the waiting list, and, one after another, they were unable to 
participate. The length of the tournament (21 rounds) affected my pairings 
in that I finished playing black four times in a row. I exceeded the 
master's norm by two and one-half points and shared fifth and sixth places 
with V. Makogonov.