Icannos/chess_studies huggingface dataset:
[Event "Absolute ch"]
[Site "Leningrad/Moscow"]
[Date "1941.??.??"]
[Round "3"]
[White "Smyslov, Vasily"]
[Black "Keres, Paul"]
[Result "1-0"]
[Annotator "JvR"]
[ECO "C99"]
[EventDate "1941.??.??"]
[PlyCount "143"]

1. e4 e5 2. Nf3 Nc6 3. Bb5 a6 4. Ba4 Nf6 5. O-O Be7 6. Re1 b5 7. Bb3 d6 8. c3 O-O 9. h3 Na5 10. Bc2 c5 11. d4 Qc7 12. Nbd2 cxd4 13. cxd4 Nc6 14. Nb3 Rd8 $6 { Keres lost twice with this novelty in this tournament. } 15. Bd2 Qb8 $6 ( 15... a5 { prevents a restriction of the queen's side. } ) 16. d5 Na7 17. Na5 Bd7 18. Bd3 Rc8 19. b4 Bd8 20. Nb3 Bb6 21. Nh4 g6 22. Qf3 Bd8 23. Bg5 Ne8 24. Bxd8 Rxd8 25. Qe3 Nc8 26. Nf5 $5 Qb6 ( { The exchange } 26... Bxf5 $1 27. exf5 Ne7 { tempers the attack on the king's side. } ) 27. Qg5 f6 28. Qg3 Kh8 29. Nh6 Kg7 30. Qh4 Ne7 31. Re3 Ng8 32. Nxg8 Kxg8 33. Rg3 Kg7 34. Kh2 Rdc8 35. f4 exf4 36. Qxf4 Qd8 37. Nd4 Qe7 38. Nf5+ Bxf5 39. exf5 Qe5 $6 ( 39... g5 40. h4 h6 { is good enough. } ) 40. Qf1 $1 h5 41. Re1 $1 h4 42. Rxe5 hxg3+ 43. Kxg3 dxe5 44. Qe2 $6 ( { Grabbing a second pawn } 44. fxg6 Nd6 $1 45. Kh2 $1 e4 46. Bb1 { keeps an advantage. } ) 44... g5 45. Kh2 Rc3 46. h4 gxh4 47. Qg4+ Kf8 48. Be4 Rd8 49. Qxh4 Kg8 50. Qg4+ Kf8 51. Qh5 Ke7 $2 ( { The blockade } 51... Rd6 { protects everything. } ) 52. Qh7+ Kf8 53. Bf3 $1 Rxf3 54. gxf3 Rxd5 55. Kg3 Ng7 56. Qh8+ Kf7 57. Qc8 Rd2 { White solves the cramped position of his king,
before he utilises his material plus. } 58. f4 $1 ( 58. Qb7+ Kg8 59. Qxa6 Nh5+ $1 60. Kg4 Nf4 61. Qxf6 Rg2+ { and perpetual check (Smyslov). } ) 58... exf4+ 59. Kg4 Rd4 $2 { Costs a pawn. } ( { The last chance is } 59... Rg2+ $1 60. Kf3 Rg3+ 61. Kxf4 Rg5 ) 60. Qb7+ $1 Kg8 61. Qxa6 Rxb4 62. Qxf6 f3+ 63. Kxf3 Rb1 64. Qd8+ Kf7 65. Qd5+ Kf8 66. Qd6+ Kg8 67. f6 Nf5 68. Qd3 Re1 69. Qxf5 Rf1+ 70. Kg4 Rxf5 71. Kxf5 Kf7 72. a3 { The pawn ending is won by one tempo. } 1-0
[Event "Absolute ch"]
[Site "Leningrad/Moscow"]
[Date "1941.??.??"]
[Round "4"]
[White "Lilienthal, Andor"]
[Black "Bondarevsky, Igor"]
[Result "1-0"]
[Annotator "JvR"]
[ECO "C89"]
[EventDate "1941.??.??"]
[PlyCount "60"]

{ Lilienthal and Bondarevsky were the victims of the match tournament. They
ended at the bottom. Lilienthal defeated Bondarevsky and Botvinnik in 1940. He
crushed Bondarevsky with 3 1/2 - 1/2 in 1941. It was insufficient for the
title, because Lilienthal lost of the other players. } 1. e4 e5 2. Nf3 Nc6 3. Bb5 a6 4. Ba4 Nf6 5. O-O Be7 6. Re1 b5 7. Bb3 O-O 8. d3 Bb7 9. c3 d5 $6 { The enterprising Bondarevsky wants to play the Marshall. } 10. exd5 Nxd5 11. Nxe5 Nxe5 12. Rxe5 Bf6 $6 ( 12... Qd6 13. Re1 Rad8 14. Nd2 c5 15. Ne4 Qg6 16. Qf3 Rfe8 { and Black benefits from the open files. } ) 13. Re1 Re8 14. Rxe8+ Qxe8 { Exchanges help White. } 15. Nd2 Rd8 16. Ne4 Be5 ( 16... Be7 { makes Bg5 less effective. } ) 17. Qf3 Ba8 18. Bg5 $1 f6 { White develops without problems. } 19. Bd2 Kh8 20. Re1 Qf8 $6 { White gains the advantage of two bishops. } ( 20... c5 $1 21. Qf5 ( 21. Nxc5 $2 Nf4 $1 ) 21... c4 { wins territory. } ) 21. d4 Bd6 22. Nxd6 Qxd6 23. Qh5 g6 { The threat of 24.Re8+ is prevented at a price. } 24. Qh4 Bc6 25. f3 Kg7 26. Bh6+ Kg8 27. Re4 { Lilienthal wants to win in an attack on the king. He played this
way against Duchamp, Bernstein and Tartakower in the Cafe de la Regence ten
years before. } ( 27. Bf4 g5 28. Bxd6 gxh4 29. Bxc7 { is too simple. } ) 27... g5 ( 27... Kh8 28. Qe1 $1 ) 28. Qh5 Qd7 29. Bxg5 $1 { The decisive combination. } 29... Qf5 ( 29... fxg5 30. Qxg5+ Kf8 31. Rf4+ Nxf4 32. Qg8+ Ke7 33. Qf7+ Kd6 34. Qxf4+ Ke7 35. Qf7+ Kd6 36. Qf6+ Qe6 37. Qxe6# ) 30. Qh6 Kh8 { Lilienthal showed his great talent for combinations. } 1-0
[Event "Karlsbad"]
[Site "Karlsbad"]
[Date "1941.??.??"]
[Round "1"]
[White "Bogoljubow, Efim"]
[Black "Euwe, Max"]
[Result "0-1"]
[Annotator "JvR"]
[ECO "B11"]
[EventDate "1941.??.??"]
[PlyCount "162"]

{ Euwe accepted the invitation for a match against Bogoljubow, because he was
interested to play with an old friend in another occupied country. } 1. e4 c6 2. Nc3 d5 3. Nf3 Bg4 4. h3 Bxf3 5. Qxf3 e6 6. d4 Nf6 ( { Euwe refuses the sacrifice } 6... dxe4 7. Nxe4 Qxd4 { and plays a new move. } ) 7. Bg5 ( 7. Bd3 { will become theory later. } ) 7... dxe4 8. Nxe4 Be7 9. Bxf6 Bxf6 10. O-O-O { Continuation of exchanges would have led to a weakness for Black. } 10... Be7 11. Kb1 ( { Euwe advices } 11. Qg3 O-O 12. Bd3 $1 { and 13.h4 with intiative. A confused phase begins. } ) 11... Nd7 12. c4 Nf6 13. Nc3 Bb4 14. g4 Qa5 15. Ne2 O-O-O 16. Bg2 Rd7 17. Qe3 Rhd8 18. a3 Bc5 19. g5 Ng8 20. Kc1 Bb6 21. c5 Bc7 22. Be4 Ne7 23. f4 Nf5 { Black has taken over the initiative. } 24. Qc3 $2 ( 24. Bxf5 exf5 25. Kb1 { (Kmoch). } ) 24... Qxc3+ 25. bxc3 Ng3 $1 { A pawn is won. } 26. Nxg3 Bxf4+ 27. Kc2 Bxg3 28. Rdf1 $6 ( { The immediate } 28. Rhg1 { is better. } ) 28... Bh4 $1 29. Rhg1 h6 { The endgame is won easily after the opening of a flank, despite the
bishops of different colour. } 30. gxh6 gxh6 31. Rg7 f5 32. Rxd7 Rxd7 33. Bd3 Rg7 34. Bc4 Rg2+ 35. Kb3 Kd7 36. Rf3 Bg5 37. Bf1 Rh2 38. a4 b6 39. cxb6 axb6 40. Ba6 Kd6 41. Kc4 Bd2 42. Bc8 f4 $1 43. Kd3 Be3 44. Ba6 Ra2 $1 45. Bc4 Rxa4 46. Rf1 Ra7 47. Bb3 Rg7 48. Bd1 Rg3 49. Bg4 b5 50. c4 b4 51. Ke4 b3 52. c5+ Ke7 53. Rb1 Bf2 54. Bf3 Bxd4 55. Rxb3 Bxc5 56. h4 Be3 57. Rb7+ Kd6 58. h5 c5 59. Rb6+ Kd7 60. Rb7+ Kc6 61. Rb8 Kc7 62. Ra8 Rg5 63. Ra6 Kd7 64. Be2 Rd5 65. Bb5+ Ke7 66. Rxe6+ Kxe6 67. Bc4 Kf6 68. Kxd5 Kg5 69. Be2 Kh4 70. Ke4 Kg3 71. Bc4 Bd4 72. Bd5 f3 73. Kd3 f2 74. Ke2 Kg4 75. Bf7 Kf4 76. Bd5 Be3 77. Bg2 c4 78. Bd5 c3 79. Bb3 Kg3 80. Kf1 Bc5 81. Bd1 Bd4 0-1
[Event "Karlsbad"]
[Site "Karlsbad"]
[Date "1941.??.??"]
[Round "2"]
[White "Euwe, Max"]
[Black "Bogoljubow, Efim"]
[Result "1/2-1/2"]
[Annotator "JvR"]
[ECO "D51"]
[EventDate "1941.??.??"]
[PlyCount "92"]

1. d4 Nf6 2. c4 e6 3. Nc3 d5 4. Bg5 Nbd7 5. e3 c6 6. a3 { The Cambridge Springs is avoided. } 6... Be7 7. Nf3 Ne4 8. Nxe4 dxe4 9. Bxe7 Qxe7 10. Nd2 f5 11. c5 O-O 12. Nc4 ( { Rejfir played } 12. Bc4 $1 { The text allows an exchange of bishops. } ) 12... b6 13. b4 Ba6 $1 14. Be2 ( 14. Na5 Bxf1 15. Nxc6 Qe8 16. Rxf1 Nxc5 17. Ne5 Nd7 18. Nc6 $11 ) 14... Bxc4 15. Bxc4 a5 16. Qb3 Rfe8 17. O-O b5 18. Be2 a4 19. Qb1 Nf6 20. f3 $6 e5 $1 { Black benefits from the opening of the centre. } 21. fxe4 fxe4 $6 ( 21... exd4 $1 22. exd4 Qxe4 23. Qxe4 fxe4 { and a better ending. } ) 22. d5 $1 { Bogoljubow missed this move according to Euwe. } 22... Nxd5 23. Qxe4 Rad8 24. Rae1 Qe6 25. Bg4 Qh6 26. Bf5 g6 27. Bh3 Qg5 28. Rf3 Qe7 29. Ref1 Kg7 30. g3 Rf8 31. Rxf8 Rxf8 32. Rxf8 Kxf8 33. Qg4 Qf6 34. Qc8+ Kg7 35. Qd7+ Ne7 $6 36. e4 $1 Kf7 37. Qd6 h5 $2 { Black has allowed an imprisonment. Now he weakens the king's side. } 38. Bd7 $2 ( { Kmoch analyses } 38. Qxf6+ Kxf6 39. Bd7 Kf7 ( 39... g5 40. Be8 $18 ) 40. g4 $1 { White is able to exchange all pawns on the king's side. Thereafter his king
enters and triumphs. } ) 38... Qg5 $1 39. Kf2 h4 40. Kf3 ( 40. Bxc6 hxg3+ 41. hxg3 Nxc6 42. Qxc6 Qd2+ $11 ) 40... hxg3 41. hxg3 Qh5+ 42. Ke3 Qg5+ 43. Kf2 Kg7 44. Kg2 Nd5 45. exd5 Qd2+ 46. Kh3 Qh6+ 1/2-1/2
[Event "Karlsbad"]
[Site "Karlsbad"]
[Date "1941.??.??"]
[Round "3"]
[White "Bogoljubow, Efim"]
[Black "Euwe, Max"]
[Result "1-0"]
[Annotator "JvR"]
[ECO "C58"]
[EventDate "1941.??.??"]
[PlyCount "45"]

1. e4 e5 2. Nf3 Nc6 3. Bc4 Nf6 4. Ng5 d5 5. exd5 Na5 6. Bb5+ c6 7. dxc6 bxc6 8. Qf3 $5 { Bogoljubow chooses a wild variation. } 8... cxb5 $6 { (Blackburne). } ( { Later } 8... Rb8 { became theory. } ) 9. Qxa8 Bc5 10. O-O O-O 11. b4 $5 Bxb4 12. Nc3 Nh5 $2 ( 12... Bxc3 13. dxc3 Qc7 14. Qf3 Bb7 15. Qe2 Nc4 { and Black has ample positional compensation. } ) 13. Nf3 Nf4 14. Rb1 ( { The retreat } 14. Qe4 $1 Bxc3 15. dxc3 { keeps a pawn. } ) 14... Bxc3 15. dxc3 Nxg2 $2 ( 15... Ne2+ $1 16. Kh1 Nxc3 17. Ba3 Re8 18. Rbe1 Nc4 { restricts the opponent. } ) 16. Rxb5 $1 { White neglects the invader and starts a counterattack. } 16... Nc4 17. Rc5 Nd6 18. Rd1 ( 18. Rxc8 $1 Qxc8 19. Qxc8 Rxc8 20. Kxg2 { (Euwe). } ) 18... e4 19. Bg5 Qd7 20. Qd5 Ne3 ( 20... Qg4 21. h3 $1 ) 21. Ne5 $1 Qh3 22. Bxe3 Bg4 23. Qxd6 { A wild game. } 1-0
[Event "Karlsbad"]
[Site "Karlsbad"]
[Date "1941.??.??"]
[Round "4"]
[White "Euwe, Max"]
[Black "Bogoljubow, Efim"]
[Result "1-0"]
[Annotator "JvR"]
[ECO "C85"]
[EventDate "1941.??.??"]
[PlyCount "77"]

1. e4 e5 2. Nf3 Nc6 3. Bb5 a6 4. Ba4 Nf6 5. O-O Be7 6. Bxc6 dxc6 { The Steenwijker Variation from Euwe-Kramer, Steenwijk 1940. } 7. d3 Nd7 8. d4 $5 ( 8. Nbd2 O-O 9. Nc4 f6 { becomes usual later. } ) 8... exd4 9. Nxd4 O-O 10. Nc3 Bf6 $5 ( 10... Ne5 { is more solid. } ) 11. f4 $6 Nb6 12. e5 Be7 { Black has gained counter-play after the provocation. } 13. Ne4 c5 14. Ne2 Qxd1 15. Rxd1 Bg4 16. Re1 Nd5 17. h3 Be6 18. N2g3 Nb4 19. Re2 Rfd8 { A capture on a2 is too risky. } 20. Be3 b6 21. f5 Bc4 22. Rf2 Bh4 23. Bg5 Bxg5 24. Nxg5 Re8 $6 { Black hesitates with ..h6. } 25. b3 $6 ( { The witty } 25. e6 $1 fxe6 26. b3 h6 27. f6 Rf8 28. f7+ Kh8 29. Nf3 Bxb3 30. cxb3 Rxf7 31. Re2 Rf6 32. Ne5 { is good for White. } ) 25... h6 $1 26. Nf3 Bd5 27. Nh2 $1 { A strange escape begins. } 27... Rxe5 28. Ng4 Ree8 29. f6 g6 30. Nxh6+ Kh7 31. Ng4 a5 32. Rd1 Bc6 33. a4 c4 34. Rd4 cxb3 35. cxb3 Bd5 36. Nh6 $1 Re3 $4 ( 36... Kxh6 37. Rh4+ Kg5 38. Rg4+ $11 ) ( 36... g5 37. Nhf5 Bxb3 { gambles. } ) 37. Rh4 $1 g5 38. Rh5 Kg6 39. Ng4 ( 39. Ng4 Rxg3 40. Rh6# ) 1-0
[Event "Karlsbad"]
[Site "Karlsbad"]
[Date "1941.??.??"]
[Round "5"]
[White "Bogoljubow, Efim"]
[Black "Euwe, Max"]
[Result "0-1"]
[Annotator "JvR"]
[ECO "C82"]
[EventDate "1941.??.??"]
[PlyCount "70"]

1. e4 e5 2. Nf3 Nc6 3. Bb5 a6 4. Ba4 Nf6 5. O-O Nxe4 6. d4 b5 7. Bb3 d5 8. dxe5 Be6 9. c3 Bc5 10. Nbd2 O-O 11. Bc2 f5 $5 12. Nb3 Bb6 13. Nfd4 Nxd4 14. Nxd4 Qe7 ( { The usual } 14... Bxd4 15. Qxd4 { gives White a slight advantage. } ) 15. Bb3 Bxd4 16. cxd4 f4 17. f3 Ng3 $1 18. Re1 Qh4 19. hxg3 fxg3 20. Be3 { The original
'grande variante' comes into being after an exchange of moves
(Fleissig-Mackenzie, Vienna 1882). } 20... c6 ( { Mackenzie lost a tempo with } 20... Qh2+ $2 ) 21. Rc1 $2 ( 21. Kf1 Qh1+ 22. Ke2 $1 ( 22. Bg1 $2 Bh3 $1 ) 22... Qxg2+ 23. Kd3 { (Euwe) } 23... Qxb2 24. Qd2 { exchanges to a pleasant ending. } ) 21... Bg4 $1 22. Rc2 $2 ( 22. Kf1 Rxf3+ $1 23. gxf3 Qh2 $1 ( 23... Rf8 24. Rxc6 $1 Bxf3 25. Qxf3 Rxf3+ 26. Ke2 $14 ) 24. Re2 Qh1+ 25. Bg1 Rf8 $1 26. Ke1 Qxg1+ 27. Kd2 Qxd4+ 28. Ke1 $11 ) 22... Qh2+ 23. Kf1 Rxf3+ $1 24. Qxf3 Qh1+ $1 { Bogoljubow missed this move. } 25. Ke2 Qxg2+ 26. Kd3 Qxf3 27. Rxc6 Rc8 28. Rxc8+ Bxc8 29. Kc3 a5 30. Bd1 Qe4 31. Bc2 Qg2 32. Bd3 b4+ 33. Kb3 a4+ 34. Kxa4 Qxb2 35. Rb1 Qa3+ 0-1
[Event "Karlsbad"]
[Site "Karlsbad"]
[Date "1941.??.??"]
[Round "6"]
[White "Euwe, Max"]
[Black "Bogoljubow, Efim"]
[Result "1-0"]
[Annotator "JvR"]
[ECO "D36"]
[EventDate "1941.??.??"]
[PlyCount "111"]

1. d4 Nf6 2. c4 e6 3. Nc3 d5 4. Bg5 Nbd7 5. e3 c6 6. cxd5 exd5 7. Bd3 Be7 8. Qc2 Nh5 $5 9. Bxe7 Qxe7 10. Nge2 g6 11. O-O-O $5 f5 12. Ng3 Ndf6 13. Nxh5 Nxh5 14. h3 O-O 15. g4 $5 Ng7 $1 ( 15... fxg4 16. hxg4 Bxg4 17. Rdg1 Nf6 18. Bxg6 $1 { leads to a great attack by White. } ) 16. Qe2 Bd7 17. f4 Rae8 18. Rde1 b5 19. Qg2 a5 20. Kb1 a4 21. Re2 a3 22. b3 Qd6 23. Rc1 Be6 24. Nd1 Re7 25. Rec2 Bd7 26. g5 Rfe8 27. Qd2 Kf7 28. Be2 Re6 29. Bf3 Qe7 30. Bg2 Nh5 31. Bf3 Ng7 32. Bg2 Qd6 33. Qf2 R6e7 34. Qd2 Kf8 35. Qc3 Ne6 36. Bf1 Nc7 37. Rh2 h6 $6 ( 37... b4 { and ..Bc8-a6 leads to equality. } ) 38. gxh6 g5 $2 39. Rf2 gxf4 40. h7 $6 ( 40. Rxf4 { is objectively better, but the text provokes a blunder. } ) 40... Kg7 $6 ( 40... Rxh7 { is okay. } ) 41. Rxf4 Rxe3 $4 42. h8=Q+ $1 ( { Black expected } 42. Nxe3 $2 Qxf4 { (Kmoch). } ) 42... Kxh8 43. Rh4+ Kg8 44. Nxe3 Qg6 45. Ng2 Ne6 46. Re1 f4+ 47. Qd3 Qf7 48. Re5 f3 49. Reh5 Kf8 50. Rf5 fxg2 51. Rxf7+ Kxf7 52. Bxg2 Rg8 53. Qf5+ Ke7 54. Rh7+ Ng7 55. Qe5+ Kf7 56. Bf1 { Boggie blundered three
times in a row under time pressure. Chess became too hard in his fifties. } 1-0
[Event "Karlsbad"]
[Site "Karlsbad"]
[Date "1941.??.??"]
[Round "7"]
[White "Bogoljubow, Efim"]
[Black "Euwe, Max"]
[Result "1/2-1/2"]
[Annotator "JvR"]
[ECO "C54"]
[EventDate "1941.??.??"]
[PlyCount "67"]

1. e4 e5 2. Nf3 Nc6 3. Bc4 Bc5 4. c3 Nf6 5. d4 exd4 6. cxd4 Bb4+ 7. Bd2 Bxd2+ 8. Nbxd2 d5 9. exd5 Nxd5 10. Qb3 Nce7 11. O-O O-O { This variation was usual in the nineteenth century. } 12. Rfe1 c6 13. Ne4 Qb6 14. Nc3 Qxb3 15. Bxb3 { An equal endgame is the result in the twentieth century. } 15... Be6 $6 ( 15... Bg4 16. Nxd5 Nxd5 17. Bxd5 cxd5 18. Re7 f6 $1 19. Rxb7 Rfb8 20. Rxb8+ Rxb8 21. b3 Bxf3 22. gxf3 Rc8 ) 16. Ng5 Bd7 17. Re5 h6 ( 17... f6 $2 18. Rxe7 { (Kmoch). } ) 18. Nxd5 Nxd5 19. Ne4 Rad8 $1 20. Nd6 ( { Euwe finds } 20. Bxd5 cxd5 21. Nc3 Bc6 22. b4 { stronger, but } 22... Rfe8 23. Rxe8+ Bxe8 24. Re1 Kf8 { is a great defence. } ) 20... Bc8 $1 { A pawn sacrifice solves the positional difficulty. } 21. Nxc8 Rxc8 22. g3 ( 22. Bxd5 cxd5 23. Rxd5 Rc2 ) 22... Rfd8 ( 22... Rfe8 $1 ) 23. Rc1 Kf8 $1 24. Bxd5 cxd5 25. Rc5 b6 26. Rcxd5 Rxd5 27. Rxd5 Rc2 28. Rd8+ Ke7 29. Ra8 $6 a5 $1 30. Ra7+ Ke8 31. b4 Rxa2 32. d5 Ra4 33. bxa5 Rxa5 34. Rb7 { Euwe needs another half point for a victory in the match. } 1/2-1/2
[Event "Karlsbad"]
[Site "Karlsbad"]
[Date "1941.??.??"]
[Round "8"]
[White "Euwe, Max"]
[Black "Bogoljubow, Efim"]
[Result "1/2-1/2"]
[Annotator "JvR"]
[ECO "B00"]
[EventDate "1941.??.??"]
[PlyCount "51"]

1. d4 Nc6 { The convicted has a last wish. } 2. Nf3 d6 3. e4 Nf6 4. Nc3 g6 5. Bb5 a6 6. Bxc6+ bxc6 7. O-O { White gained a good position quietly. } 7... Bg7 8. e5 Nd7 9. Qe2 O-O 10. e6 $1 fxe6 11. Ng5 Nb6 12. Nxe6 Bxe6 13. Qxe6+ { An odd blockade has come into being. } 13... Rf7 $6 ( 13... Kh8 14. Ne4 $1 Qd7 15. Ng5 { is less unfavourable. } ) 14. Ne4 Qc8 15. Ng5 Qxe6 16. Nxe6 Rc8 17. Re1 Nd7 18. Bg5 h6 19. Bd2 ( { Euwe does not like } 19. Nxg7 Kxg7 20. Bxe7 ) 19... Nf8 20. Nxg7 Kxg7 21. Re3 Nd7 22. Rae1 Re8 23. Ra3 c5 $2 ( 23... Ra8 24. Rae3 Re8 { and a repetition of moves. } ) 24. dxc5 Nxc5 25. b4 Nd7 26. Rxa6 { Bogoljubow was granted a draw. } 1/2-1/2
[Event "Karlsbad"]
[Site "Karlsbad"]
[Date "1941.??.??"]
[Round "9"]
[White "Bogoljubow, Efim"]
[Black "Euwe, Max"]
[Result "0-1"]
[Annotator "JvR"]
[ECO "D12"]
[EventDate "1941.??.??"]
[PlyCount "98"]

1. d4 d5 2. Nf3 Nf6 3. c4 c6 4. e3 Bf5 5. cxd5 cxd5 6. Nc3 e6 7. Qb3 Qc7 8. Bd2 Nc6 9. Rc1 Be7 10. Nh4 Be4 11. f3 $6 Bg6 ( { A forceful battle starts } 11... Ng4 $1 12. Nxe4 Bxh4+ 13. g3 Nxh2 $1 ( 13... dxe4 14. fxg4 Bxg3+ 15. hxg3 Qxg3+ ) 14. Rxh2 dxe4 15. gxh4 Qxh2 16. Qxb7 Qxh4+ { and great complications. } ) 12. Be2 Nh5 13. Nxg6 hxg6 14. Kf2 Bh4+ 15. Kg1 Be7 16. Bb5 O-O 17. Kf2 Bh4+ 18. g3 Be7 19. Kg2 Rfc8 20. Na4 Bd6 21. g4 ( { Bogoljubow wants to manoeuvre on both flanks. Stronger is } 21. Nc5 $1 { Maybe he feared } 21... Bxg3 $2 { but that is refuted by } 22. Nxb7 ) 21... Nf6 22. g5 Nd7 23. h4 Qd8 24. f4 Ne7 25. Rxc8 Rxc8 26. Bd3 Nb6 $6 27. Ba5 Bc7 28. Bxb6 Bxb6 $6 { An exchange on b6 keeps a smal advantage. } 29. Nc3 Ba5 30. Ne2 Nf5 31. Bxf5 exf5 32. Kf2 Qe7 $1 33. h5 $2 ( 33. Qxd5 $2 Bd2 34. Rh3 Re8 35. Qe5 Qd7 36. Qc5 Qe6 37. Qe5 Qc6 38. Qc5 Qe4 ) ( { A fortress builds } 33. Qd3 $1 Qb4 34. Rb1 Qd2 ( 34... Qa4 35. Rc1 $1 ) 35. Qxd2 Bxd2 36. Nc3 Bxc3 37. bxc3 b6 38. Rb3 { and Black makes no progress. } ) 33... Qe4 34. Qxb7 Re8 35. Rh3 Bd2 36. Qb3 $6 ( { The last chance offers } 36. hxg6 $1 Bxe3+ 37. Kf1 fxg6 38. Rxe3 Qxe3 $1 39. Qxd5+ Qe6 40. Qxe6+ Rxe6 41. Ke1 ) 36... gxh5 37. Rf3 h4 38. Ng1 Qb1 39. g6 fxg6 40. Nh3 Qe1+ 41. Kg2 Qe2+ 42. Nf2 Bxe3 43. Qxd5+ Kh7 44. b4 Bxf2 45. Rxf2 Qg4+ ( 45... h3+ 46. Kg1 Qe1+ { will mate. } ) 46. Kf1 Qd1+ 47. Kg2 Re3 48. Kh2 Rg3 49. Rg2 Rh3+ { Black wins a queen. } 0-1
[Event "Karlsbad"]
[Site "Karlsbad"]
[Date "1941.??.??"]
[Round "10"]
[White "Euwe, Max"]
[Black "Bogoljubow, Efim"]
[Result "0-1"]
[Annotator "JvR"]
[ECO "C87"]
[EventDate "1941.??.??"]
[PlyCount "100"]

1. e4 e5 2. Nf3 Nc6 3. Bb5 a6 4. Ba4 Nf6 5. O-O Be7 6. Re1 d6 7. Bxc6+ bxc6 8. d4 exd4 9. Nxd4 Bd7 10. Qf3 O-O 11. Nc3 Ne8 ( { The pieces are regrouped on the
king's side. An action on the other flank starts } 11... Rb8 ) 12. e5 d5 13. Bf4 g6 14. Bh6 Ng7 15. Nb3 Qb8 16. Rad1 a5 17. Na4 ( { The attack on the queen's side stops } 17. a4 $1 Qb4 18. Rd4 ) 17... Qb4 $1 { Euwe mentions the threats ..Qxa4 and ..Bg4. } 18. Qf4 ( 18. Rd4 $4 Qxe1# ) 18... Ne6 $1 19. Qxb4 axb4 20. Bxf8 Kxf8 { A knight is lost. } 21. c4 $1 Rxa4 22. cxd5 cxd5 23. Rxd5 Bc6 24. Ra5 Rxa5 25. Nxa5 Bd5 { Black has two minor pieces for rook and pawn. } 26. b3 c5 27. Nc4 Bxc4 28. bxc4 Bg5 29. Rd1 Nd4 30. g3 Bd2 $1 31. f4 Be3+ $1 32. Kg2 g5 33. Rf1 Ke7 34. fxg5 Bxg5 { White has three weak pawns. } 35. h4 Bh6 36. Rf6 { The last try. } 36... Bg7 37. Rd6 Bxe5 38. Rd5 Bd6 39. Rh5 Ne2 40. Rxh7 Nc3 $5 { Black prefers to capture the a-pawn. } 41. g4 Nxa2 42. g5 Kf8 43. Rh6 Bc7 44. Rc6 b3 $1 45. Rxc5 ( 45. Rxc7 b2 46. Rb7 Nb4 ) 45... Bd6 46. Rb5 Bb4 47. c5 b2 48. c6 b1=Q 49. Rb8+ Kg7 50. c7 Qc2+ { Euwe won the match with 6 1/2 - 3 1/2 (+5, =3, -2). } 0-1
[Event "Wch18"]
[Site "The Hague/Moscow"]
[Date "1948.??.??"]
[Round "1"]
[White "Euwe, Max"]
[Black "Keres, Paul"]
[Result "0-1"]
[Annotator "JvR"]
[ECO "C75"]
[EventDate "1948.??.??"]
[PlyCount "111"]

{ Games from modern matches are presented in this file. Jan van Reek.   Players
from the Soviet Union showed their superiority in the chess world immediately
after World War II. The USA was humiliated in a radio match. Soviet state
amateurs would dominate for decades, because little money was available for
chess in the West.  Alekhine was challenged by Botvinnik for a world
championship match in 1946, but the champion died a few days later. Important
decisions were made during a FIDE meeting in 1947. The world championship
would be organised under the auspices of FIDE. Botvinnik, Smyslov, Keres,
Reshevsky, Fine and Euwe would play a match tournament for the world title. A
qualification system was created for the next cycles.  When the match
tournament did not take place in 1947, Fine withdrew. The five remaining men
played two cycles in The Hague and three cycles in Moscow during the next year.
Botvinnik and Euwe started as favourites, considering their result in
Groningen 1946. The event began in the Zoo of the Hague on 2 iii 1948. } 1. e4 e5 2. Nf3 Nc6 3. Bb5 a6 4. Ba4 d6 5. c3 Bd7 6. d4 Nge7 $5 7. Bb3 h6 8. Nbd2 Ng6 { The fight for the centre begins. } 9. Nc4 Be7 10. O-O O-O 11. Ne3 Bf6 $5 ( { Keres will play } 11... Re8 12. Re1 Bf8 { against Bronstein in Moscow 1948. } ) 12. Nd5 $1 exd4 13. Nxd4 $1 Re8 14. Nxf6+ Qxf6 15. f3 Nf4 $6 { A loss of time. } 16. Nxc6 Bxc6 17. Be3 Rad8 18. Qd2 Ng6 19. Bd4 Qe7 20. Rae1 $6 ( { Restriction applies } 20. c4 $1 ) 20... Qd7 $1 21. c4 Ba4 22. Bxa4 Qxa4 23. Qc3 f6 24. f4 $5 Kh7 25. b3 Qd7 26. Qf3 $6 ( { Equality keeps } 26. Qd3 { (Euwe). } ) 26... b5 $1 27. Qd3 bxc4 28. Qxc4 $2 ( { Correct is } 28. bxc4 { (Euwe). } ) 28... Rxe4 $1 { Euwe has underestimated a fine combination. } 29. Rxe4 d5 30. Qxa6 dxe4 31. Be3 Qg4 $1 32. Qc4 Rd3 $1 33. Bc1 ( { The pointe is } 33. Qxe4 Qe2 $1 ) 33... Nh4 34. Qxe4+ f5 35. Qb7 c6 $6 ( { Kmoch analyses } 35... Rc3 $1 36. Qd5 c6 37. Qd2 Rxc1 $1 ) 36. Qxc6 Rc3 37. Qd5 Rc5 38. Qd2 Rxc1 $1 39. h3 $2 ( { Correct is } 39. Qf2 { (Euwe). } ) 39... Qg3 $2 ( 39... Nf3+ $1 { wins at once. } ) 40. Qe2 Qxf4 41. Rxc1 Qxc1+ 42. Kh2 Qf4+ 43. Kg1 Ng6 44. Qc2 Ne7 45. a4 Qd4+ 46. Kh2 Qe5+ 47. Kg1 Nd5 { The passed pawns are stopped. } 48. Qd1 Nc3 49. Qc2 Kg6 50. Kh1 Qe1+ 51. Kh2 Ne2 52. Qc6+ Kh7 53. Qc5 Ng3 54. Qd6 Nf1+ 55. Kg1 h5 56. Qf4 { (time)
Euwe began with five losses and would become last. } ( { Black wins by } 56. Qf4 Ne3+ 57. Kh2 h4 { 58...Nf4, 59...Ng3 and mate. } ) 0-1
[Event "Wch18"]
[Site "The Hague/Moscow"]
[Date "1948.??.??"]
[Round "8"]
[White "Botvinnik, Mikhail"]
[Black "Smyslov, Vasily"]
[Result "1/2-1/2"]
[Annotator "JvR"]
[ECO "D98"]
[EventDate "1948.??.??"]
[PlyCount "158"]

1. d4 Nf6 2. c4 g6 3. Nc3 d5 4. Nf3 Bg7 5. Qb3 dxc4 6. Qxc4 O-O 7. e4 Bg4 8. Be3 Nfd7 9. Nd2 Nb6 10. Qd3 c6 11. f3 Be6 12. Rd1 Na6 13. a3 Qd7 14. Qc2 Nc7 15. Nb3 Bc4 16. Be2 Bxe2 17. Qxe2 Rad8 18. O-O Qe6 19. Nc5 Qc8 20. Kh1 Nd7 21. Nb3 b6 22. Qc4 Qb7 23. f4 e6 24. Rc1 Nf6 25. Bg1 Rc8 26. Rc2 Rfd8 27. Qe2 Nb5 28. e5 Nxc3 29. bxc3 Nd5 30. c4 Ne7 31. Nd2 Nf5 32. Ne4 Nxd4 $5 { Black accepts the challenge. } ( 32... Bf8 { is more prudent. } ) 33. Bxd4 Rxd4 34. Nd6 Rxd6 $1 { A semi-sacrifice keeps equality. } 35. exd6 c5 36. Rd2 Rd8 37. Qf3 Qxf3 38. Rxf3 Bd4 39. g3 Rxd6 40. Kg2 f5 $6 ( { Euwe prefers } 40... h6 ) 41. a4 Kf7 42. Rb3 Kf6 43. Ra2 a5 44. Rd2 Ke7 45. Kf3 Kd7 $2 ( { Botvinnik had prepared the likely win } 45... h5 $1 46. h3 Ke8 47. g4 h4 $1 48. Rd1 Kd7 49. gxf5 gxf5 50. Rd2 Ke7 51. Rg2 Kf7 52. Rd3 Rd8 53. Rb2 $1 { but } 53... Rg8 $1 { draws. } ) 46. g4 $1 { White opens the position. } 46... h6 47. Rg2 Ke7 48. Rd3 Kf7 49. h4 fxg4+ 50. Rxg4 h5 51. Rg2 Rd8 52. Rgd2 Ke8 53. Rg2 Kf7 54. Rgd2 Ke8 55. Ke2 Ke7 56. Rd1 Rf8 57. Rf1 Bf6 58. Rb3 Bxh4 59. Rxb6 Bg3 60. Rb7+ Kf6 61. Rb5 Kf5 62. Rxc5+ Ke4 63. Re5+ Kd4 64. Rd1+ Kxc4 65. Re4+ Kc5 66. Kf3 h4 67. Rb1 Kd6 68. Rb6+ Kd7 69. Kg4 Rf5 70. Rd4+ $2 { Botvinnik allows a tactical escape. } ( { Zugzwang brings } 70. Ra6 $1 { The pointe is } 70... Bh2 71. Rexe6 Rxf4+ 72. Kh3 $1 Bg3 73. Rxg6 $18 ) 70... Ke7 71. Rb7+ Kf6 72. Rb5 e5 73. Rd6+ Kg7 74. Rxa5 Rxf4+ 75. Kh3 Kh6 76. Raa6 Kh5 $1 77. Rxg6 Rxa4 $1 78. Rh6+ Kg5 79. Rhg6+ Kh5 1/2-1/2
[Event "Wch18"]
[Site "The Hague/Moscow"]
[Date "1948.??.??"]
[Round "10"]
[White "Botvinnik, Mikhail"]
[Black "Keres, Paul"]
[Result "1-0"]
[Annotator "JvR"]
[ECO "E28"]
[EventDate "1948.??.??"]
[PlyCount "45"]

1. d4 Nf6 2. c4 e6 3. Nc3 Bb4 4. e3 O-O 5. a3 Bxc3+ 6. bxc3 Re8 7. Ne2 e5 8. Ng3 d6 9. Be2 Nbd7 10. O-O c5 11. f3 cxd4 $6 ( { Analysts prefer } 11... Nf8 ) 12. cxd4 Nb6 13. Bb2 exd4 14. e4 $5 Be6 15. Rc1 Re7 $6 ( { Better is } 15... Rc8 16. Qxd4 Qe7 ) 16. Qxd4 Qc7 $2 ( 16... Na4 17. Ba1 Nc5 { keps the c-file closed. } ) 17. c5 $1 dxc5 18. Rxc5 Qf4 19. Bc1 Qb8 20. Rg5 $1 Nbd7 { Botvinnik finds a great escape. } 21. Rxg7+ $1 Kxg7 22. Nh5+ Kg6 ( 22... Kh8 23. Bb2 ) 23. Qe3 { Standings after two cycles in the Hague: Botvinnik 6, Reshevsky
4 1/2, Keres and Smyslov 4, Euwe 1 1/2. } 1-0
[Event "Wch18"]
[Site "The Hague/Moscow"]
[Date "1948.??.??"]
[Round "11"]
[White "Smyslov, Vasily"]
[Black "Reshevsky, Samuel"]
[Result "1-0"]
[Annotator "JvR"]
[ECO "C75"]
[EventDate "1948.??.??"]
[PlyCount "103"]

{ The tournament was resumed in the Hall of Columns on April 11. } 1. e4 e5 2. Nf3 Nc6 3. Bb5 a6 4. Ba4 d6 5. c3 Ne7 6. d4 Bd7 7. Bb3 h6 8. Nbd2 Ng6 9. Nc4 Be7 10. O-O O-O 11. Ne3 Bf6 $5 12. Nd5 $1 Re8 $6 ( 12... exd4 13. Nxd4 Re8 { (Euwe-Keres in round 1). } ) 13. dxe5 $1 Bxe5 ( { Bad is } 13... dxe5 $2 14. Nxf6+ gxf6 ) 14. Nxe5 dxe5 $6 ( { Kasparov prefers } 14... Ngxe5 15. h3 Be6 16. f4 Nd7 ) 15. Qf3 Be6 16. Rd1 Bxd5 $6 ( { Stronger defends } 16... Qc8 { (Euwe). } ) 17. Rxd5 Qe7 18. Qf5 $1 Nf8 19. Be3 Ne6 20. Rad1 Red8 21. g3 Rd6 22. Rxd6 cxd6 23. Qg4 $1 Kh8 24. Bb6 $1 Nb8 $6 ( { The beleaguerment of d6 continues } 24... Re8 25. Ba4 Rf8 26. Rd2 ) 25. Bxe6 fxe6 26. Qh4 $1 { The d-pawn falls. } 26... Qd7 27. Qd8+ Qxd8 28. Bxd8 Nd7 29. Bc7 Nc5 30. Rxd6 Rc8 31. Bb6 Na4 32. Rxe6 Nxb2 33. Rxe5 Nc4 34. Re6 Nxb6 35. Rxb6 Rxc3 36. Rxb7 Rc2 37. h4 Rxa2 38. Kg2 a5 39. h5 a4 40. Ra7 Kg8 41. g4 a3 42. Kg3 Re2 43. Kf3 $1 Ra2 44. Ke3 Kf8 45. f3 Ra1 46. Kf4 a2 47. e5 Kg8 48. Kf5 Rf1 49. Rxa2 Rxf3+ 50. Kg6 Kf8 51. Ra8+ Ke7 52. Ra7+ { Smyslov showed his fine positional style. } 1-0
[Event "Wch18"]
[Site "The Hague/Moscow"]
[Date "1948.??.??"]
[Round "12"]
[White "Botvinnik, Mikhail"]
[Black "Euwe, Max"]
[Result "1-0"]
[Annotator "JvR"]
[ECO "D49"]
[EventDate "1948.??.??"]
[PlyCount "71"]

1. d4 d5 2. Nf3 Nf6 3. c4 e6 4. Nc3 c6 5. e3 Nbd7 6. Bd3 dxc4 7. Bxc4 b5 8. Bd3 a6 9. e4 c5 10. e5 cxd4 11. Nxb5 axb5 12. exf6 Qb6 13. fxg7 Bxg7 14. O-O Nc5 15. Bf4 Bb7 16. Re1 Rd8 $2 ( { Correct is } 16... Nxd3 17. Qxd3 Bxf3 18. Qxf3 O-O { (Bogoljubow-Schmidt, Salzburg 1943). } ) 17. Rc1 Rd5 ( { More resistance offers } 17... Nxd3 18. Qxd3 Rd7 $1 19. Ne5 Re7 ) 18. Be5 $1 Bxe5 19. Rxe5 Rxe5 20. Nxe5 Nxd3 21. Qxd3 f6 22. Qg3 $1 { White utilises the open g-file. } 22... fxe5 23. Qg7 Rf8 24. Rc7 Qxc7 ( 24... Qd6 25. Rxb7 d3 26. Ra7 $18 ) 25. Qxc7 Bd5 26. Qxe5 d3 27. Qe3 Bc4 28. b3 Rf7 29. f3 $1 Rd7 30. Qd2 e5 31. bxc4 bxc4 32. Kf2 Kf7 33. Ke3 Ke6 34. Qb4 Rc7 35. Kd2 Rc6 36. a4 { The future champion crushes his predecessor. } 1-0
[Event "Wch18"]
[Site "The Hague/Moscow"]
[Date "1948.??.??"]
[Round "14"]
[White "Euwe, Max"]
[Black "Smyslov, Vasily"]
[Result "1-0"]
[Annotator "JvR"]
[ECO "D99"]
[EventDate "1948.??.??"]
[PlyCount "83"]

1. d4 Nf6 2. c4 g6 3. Nc3 d5 4. Nf3 Bg7 5. Qb3 dxc4 6. Qxc4 O-O 7. e4 Bg4 8. Be3 Nfd7 9. Qb3 Nb6 10. a4 a5 11. d5 $1 Na6 ( { Success had } 11... Bxf3 12. gxf3 Qd6 { in Euwe-Smyslov, round 24. } ) 12. Be2 e6 13. h3 Bxf3 14. Bxf3 exd5 15. exd5 Qh4 $2 { Smyslov starts an encirclement. } ( 15... Qd6 $1 { defends properly (Euwe). Great complications brings } 16. Ne4 Qb4+ 17. Qxb4 Nxb4 18. Bxb6 Nc2+ $5 ) 16. Ne4 Rae8 17. g3 Qd8 18. d6 Nc8 19. dxc7 Qxc7 20. O-O Re6 $2 ( { Correct is } 20... b6 21. Rfd1 Nb4 22. Rac1 Qe5 ) 21. Rac1 Qe5 22. Qxb7 Ne7 23. Ng5 Rf6 24. Bf4 Rxf4 25. gxf4 Qxf4 26. Qxe7 Bf6 27. Qe3 Qxe3 28. fxe3 Bxg5 29. Rc3 f5 30. Rd1 Nc5 31. b3 Re8 32. Rd5 Bxe3+ 33. Kg2 Na6 34. Rd7 Bf4 35. Ra7 Nb4 36. Rxa5 Kg7 37. Rb5 Bd2 38. Rc7+ Kf6 39. Rd7 Be1 40. Rb6+ Kg5 41. h4+ Kf4 42. Rxb4+ 1-0
[Event "Wch18"]
[Site "The Hague/Moscow"]
[Date "1948.??.??"]
[Round "18"]
[White "Keres, Paul"]
[Black "Reshevsky, Samuel"]
[Result "0-1"]
[Annotator "JvR"]
[ECO "C81"]
[EventDate "1948.??.??"]
[PlyCount "81"]

1. e4 e5 2. Nf3 Nc6 3. Bb5 a6 4. Ba4 Nf6 5. O-O Nxe4 6. d4 b5 7. Bb3 d5 8. dxe5 Be6 9. Qe2 Nc5 10. Rd1 Nxb3 11. axb3 Qc8 $5 ( { Theory is } 11... Be7 12. c4 O-O { (Keres-Alexander, London 1947). } ) 12. Bg5 ( { Advantage gains } 12. c4 $1 { (Smyslov-Euwe, next round). } ) 12... h6 13. Bh4 Bc5 $6 ( { A useful exchange makes } 13... Bb4 $1 14. Nc3 Bxc3 15. bxc3 O-O ) 14. Nc3 g5 15. Bg3 Qb7 $5 16. Nxd5 O-O-O 17. Nf6 g4 18. Ne1 $6 ( { After } 18. Rxd8+ Rxd8 19. Ne1 Nd4 20. Qf1 { the h-pawn cannot move. } ) 18... Nd4 19. Qf1 h5 20. Bf4 h4 21. Be3 h3 22. Rd2 $6 ( { A fierce fight seeks } 22. g3 $1 Bb6 $1 23. Rd2 Nf3+ 24. Nxf3 Qxf3 25. Re2 $1 ) 22... hxg2 23. Qxg2 Nf3+ 24. Nxf3 Bxe3 25. Rxd8+ Rxd8 26. Ne1 $6 ( { Wiser battles } 26. Nxg4 Rg8 27. h3 ) 26... Bd4 27. Nd3 Bf5 28. Re1 a5 29. Ne4 Kb8 30. b4 a4 31. c3 Bxe4 32. Rxe4 Bxc3 33. Re3 Qxg2+ 34. Kxg2 Rxd3 $1 35. Rxd3 Bxb2 36. Rd5 c6 37. Rd8+ Kc7 38. Ra8 Kb7 39. Rf8 Bxe5 40. Rxf7+ Kb6 41. f4 { Reshevsky staged a great counter. } 0-1
[Event "Wch18"]
[Site "The Hague/Moscow"]
[Date "1948.??.??"]
[Round "25"]
[White "Keres, Paul"]
[Black "Botvinnik, Mikhail"]
[Result "1-0"]
[Annotator "JvR"]
[ECO "C15"]
[EventDate "1948.??.??"]
[PlyCount "77"]

1. e4 e6 2. d4 d5 3. Nc3 Bb4 4. Bd2 dxe4 5. Qg4 Nf6 6. Qxg7 Rg8 7. Qh6 Nc6 8. O-O-O $1 ( { Known is } 8. Nge2 { (Boleslavsky-Bondarevsky, Stockholm 1948). } ) 8... Rg6 9. Qh4 Bxc3 10. Bxc3 Qd5 11. b3 $1 Ne7 $5 12. f3 Bd7 13. Bb2 Bc6 14. c4 $5 Qf5 $1 { Black keeps control over the centre. } 15. d5 $5 exd5 16. fxe4 dxe4 ( { Even better is } 16... Nxe4 $1 17. Nf3 Rg4 18. Qe1 O-O-O ) 17. Nh3 Ng4 18. Qg3 $5 Qc5 $1 19. Qxc7 Rc8 20. Qf4 Qe3+ 21. Rd2 Qxf4 $5 ( 21... Qe1+ 22. Rd1 Qe3+ $11 ) 22. Nxf4 e3 23. Rc2 Rg5 24. Be2 $1 Nf2 25. Re1 Rd8 26. g3 Rf5 $2 ( 26... Be4 27. Rc3 Nf5 { is right. } ) 27. Bf1 $1 Rxf4 ( { The pointes are } 27... Be4 28. Rxf2 $1 ) ( { and } 27... Bf3 28. Ba3 ) 28. gxf4 Nd3+ 29. Bxd3 Rxd3 30. Rc3 $1 Rxc3+ 31. Bxc3 Nf5 32. Bd2 $1 Kd7 33. Bxe3 b6 34. Bf2 f6 35. Kd2 h5 36. Kd3 Nh6 37. Bh4 f5 38. Re7+ Kd6 39. h3 { The final score was: Botvinnik 14, Smyslov 11, Keres and
Reshevsky 10 1/2, Euwe 4. Botvinnik was feted as world champion on 18 v 1948. } 1-0
[Event "Match"]
[Site "New York"]
[Date "1949.??.??"]
[Round "1"]
[White "Fine, Reuben"]
[Black "Najdorf, Miguel"]
[Result "1-0"]
[Annotator "JvR"]
[ECO "D93"]
[EventDate "1949.??.??"]
[PlyCount "79"]

{ Fine refused and Najdorf was not allowed to participate in the world
championship. Instead they played a match in 1949. } 1. d4 Nf6 2. c4 g6 3. Nc3 d5 4. Bf4 Bg7 5. e3 O-O 6. Qb3 c6 7. Nf3 b6 8. Rc1 Bb7 9. cxd5 cxd5 10. Be2 Nc6 11. O-O Rc8 12. h3 h6 13. Qa4 a6 14. Ne5 Nxe5 15. Bxe5 Nd7 16. Bxg7 Kxg7 17. Rc2 e6 18. Qb4 Nb8 19. Rfc1 Nc6 20. Qa3 Qe7 $2 ( 20... b5 $1 { prevents the next move. } ) 21. Na4 $1 Qxa3 22. bxa3 b5 23. Nb6 $1 Rc7 24. a4 $1 { White decides the attack elegantly. } 24... bxa4 ( { The pointe is } 24... b4 25. Bxa6 $1 ) 25. Nxa4 Rfc8 26. Nb6 Rb8 27. a4 Rd8 28. Bxa6 Bxa6 29. Rxc6 Rxc6 30. Rxc6 Rb8 31. a5 Rb7 32. Nxd5 Rb1+ 33. Kh2 Bd3 34. Rb6 Ra1 35. Nb4 Bc4 36. a6 f5 37. Rc6 Bb3 38. Rc7+ Kf6 39. a7 g5 40. Nc6 1-0
[Event "Match"]
[Site "New York"]
[Date "1949.??.??"]
[Round "3"]
[White "Fine, Reuben"]
[Black "Najdorf, Miguel"]
[Result "0-1"]
[Annotator "JvR"]
[ECO "C90"]
[EventDate "1949.??.??"]
[PlyCount "142"]

1. e4 e5 2. Nf3 Nc6 3. Bb5 a6 4. Ba4 Nf6 5. O-O Be7 6. Re1 b5 7. Bb3 O-O 8. d3 d6 9. c3 Na5 10. Bc2 c5 11. Nbd2 Nc6 12. Nf1 d5 13. exd5 Qxd5 14. Bg5 Bb7 15. Ne3 Qd7 16. d4 exd4 17. Nf5 Bd8 18. cxd4 cxd4 19. N3xd4 Nxd4 20. Qxd4 Qxd4 21. Nxd4 h6 22. Bf4 Bb6 23. Nf5 Rfe8 24. Bb3 Bc5 25. Bd6 Ne4 26. Bxc5 Nxc5 27. Bc2 Rxe1+ 28. Rxe1 Rd8 29. b4 Ne6 30. Bb3 Kf8 31. Rd1 $6 Rxd1+ 32. Bxd1 Be4 33. Nd6 $2 ( { No pawn loses } 33. Ne3 Nd4 34. f3 Bb1 35. a3 ) 33... Bd5 34. a4 Nd4 35. axb5 axb5 36. f3 Ke7 37. Ne4 Bc4 38. Kf2 Nc6 39. Be2 Nxb4 40. Nc3 Nd3+ 41. Ke3 Ne1 42. Nxb5 Nxg2+ 43. Kf2 Bxe2 44. Kxe2 Kf6 45. Nd6 Ke6 46. Nc4 Kd5 47. Nb2 Kd4 48. Nd3 f5 49. Nb4 Nf4+ 50. Kd2 Ne6 51. Nc6+ Kd5 52. Ne7+ Ke5 53. Ke3 Kf6 54. Nd5+ Kg5 55. Kf2 Kh4 56. Kg2 g6 57. Ne7 Kg5 58. Kg3 f4+ 59. Kf2 Nd4 60. Nd5 Nc6 61. Nc3 Kh4 62. Kg2 Ne7 63. Ne4 Nf5 { Najdorf refuses a draw. } 64. h3 ( { Analysts regard } 64. Nf2 Ne3+ 65. Kg1 { as drawn. } ) 64... Ne3+ 65. Kh2 Nc2 $1 66. Kg2 Ne1+ 67. Kf2 Kxh3 68. Kxe1 Kg2 69. Ke2 h5 70. Ng5 h4 71. Ne6 g5 $1 { The match for $1700 ended equal (+2, =4, -2). } ( 71... g5 72. Nxg5 h3 73. Nxh3 Kxh3 74. Kd3 Kg2 75. Ke4 Kg3 $19 ) 0-1
[Event "Playoff for place 1 of candidates"]
[Site "Moscow"]
[Date "1950.??.??"]
[Round "1"]
[White "Bronstein, David"]
[Black "Boleslavsky, Isaac"]
[Result "1-0"]
[Annotator "JvR"]
[ECO "D89"]
[EventDate "1950.??.??"]
[PlyCount "63"]

{ David Bronstein made a dazzling climb at top level chess. He won the first
interzonal tournament, Saltsjoebaden 1948, and shared first place in the
Soviet championships of 1948 and 1949. The candidates' tournament, Budapest
1950, ended with a first place for Bronstein and Boleslavsky. A playoff
between the friends took place in Moscow. } 1. d4 Nf6 2. c4 g6 3. Nc3 d5 4. cxd5 Nxd5 5. e4 Nxc3 6. bxc3 c5 7. Bc4 Bg7 8. Ne2 O-O 9. O-O cxd4 10. cxd4 Nc6 11. Be3 Bg4 12. f3 Na5 13. Bd3 Be6 14. d5 Bxa1 15. Qxa1 f6 16. Bh6 Qb6+ 17. Kh1 ( { Bronstein differs from } 17. Nd4 { played versus Boleslavsky in Budapest 1950. } ) 17... Rfd8 18. Rb1 Qc5 19. Bd2 b6 20. Bb4 Qc7 21. Rc1 Qb7 22. Qb1 $1 { David sets a trap. } 22... Rab8 $2 ( { Correct is } 22... Bc8 23. Bxa5 bxa5 24. Qxb7 Bxb7 25. Rc7 Bc8 ) 23. dxe6 Nc6 24. Bc3 Ne5 25. Bb5 Rbc8 26. Bxe5 Rxc1+ 27. Qxc1 fxe5 28. Bd7 Qa6 29. Ng3 Qxa2 30. h4 Rf8 31. Qg5 Rf6 32. Qxf6 { A novelty created new problems. } 1-0
[Event "Playoff for place 1 of candidates"]
[Site "Moscow"]
[Date "1950.??.??"]
[Round "8"]
[White "Boleslavsky, Isaac"]
[Black "Bronstein, David"]
[Result "1-0"]
[Annotator "JvR"]
[ECO "C48"]
[EventDate "1950.??.??"]
[PlyCount "109"]

1. e4 e5 2. Nf3 Nc6 3. Bb5 Nf6 4. O-O d6 5. d4 Bd7 6. Nc3 Be7 7. Bxc6 Bxc6 8. Qd3 exd4 9. Nxd4 O-O 10. Bf4 Nd7 11. Rad1 Bf6 12. b4 Re8 13. Rfe1 Bxd4 14. Qxd4 b5 15. Rd3 Qf6 16. Qxf6 Nxf6 17. f3 a5 18. a3 axb4 19. axb4 Nd7 20. Nd5 Ra7 21. Red1 Ne5 22. Bxe5 Rxe5 23. Ne3 Bd7 24. Rc3 Be6 25. Rd4 g5 26. g3 Kf8 27. Kf2 f6 28. Rdd3 g4 29. Ra3 Rxa3 30. Rxa3 Rh5 31. fxg4 Rxh2+ 32. Kf3 Ke7 33. Ra8 Bc4 34. Nf5+ Kd7 35. Rh8 Rxc2 $6 { Bronstein takes a risk. } 36. Rxh7+ Kc8 $2 ( { Equality keeps } 36... Ke8 $1 37. Nd4 Rb2 38. Rxc7 Rxb4 ) 37. Rh6 Rb2 38. Rxf6 Rxb4 39. g5 Bd3 40. Re6 d5 ( { White consolidates in } 40... Bc4 41. Rh6 $1 Bd3 42. Rh4 $1 ) 41. Ne7+ Kd7 42. exd5 Rb3 43. Kf4 Rb4+ 44. Kf3 Rb3 45. Kg4 Rb4+ 46. Kh5 Re4 47. Ng6 b4 48. Nf8+ Kd8 49. g6 Rxe6 50. g7 Be2+ 51. Kg5 Re4 52. Kf6 $2 ( { Correct is } 52. Kf5 $1 ) 52... Rg4 53. Ng6 { Bronstein has a great escape. } 53... Rxg6+ $2 ( { He misses } 53... Bb5 $3 54. g8=Q+ Be8 55. Qh7 Rxg6+ ) 54. Kxg6 Bd3+ 55. Kh6 { Technics in the endgame were David's weakness. } 1-0
[Event "Playoff for place 1 of candidates"]
[Site "Moscow"]
[Date "1950.??.??"]
[Round "14"]
[White "Boleslavsky, Isaac"]
[Black "Bronstein, David"]
[Result "0-1"]
[Annotator "JvR"]
[ECO "C15"]
[EventDate "1950.??.??"]
[PlyCount "58"]

{ The score was (+2, =8, -2) after twelve games. Two extra rounds were played.
The second game begins. } 1. e4 e6 2. d4 d5 3. Nc3 Bb4 4. Bd2 dxe4 5. Qg4 Qxd4 6. O-O-O Nf6 7. Qxg7 Rg8 8. Qh6 Bf8 $5 { Bronstein and Boleslavsky have prepared a surprise. } 9. Qh4 Rg4 $1 10. Qh3 Qxf2 $1 11. Nb5 $2 ( { Better is } 11. Be2 $1 Rh4 12. Qxh4 Qxh4 13. g3 Qh6 14. Bxh6 Bxh6+ 15. Kb1 e5 { (Escalona-Bronstein, Oviedo 1993). } ) 11... Na6 12. Kb1 Bd7 13. Be3 Qf5 14. Nd4 Qg6 15. Nb3 Nb4 16. Ne2 Nfd5 17. Nc3 Nxc3+ 18. bxc3 Nd5 19. Bd4 Rg5 20. g4 e5 21. Bf2 Bxg4 22. Rxd5 Bxh3 23. Bxh3 Rd8 24. Rxd8+ Kxd8 25. Rd1+ Bd6 26. Be3 f5 27. Nc5 f4 28. Ne6+ Ke7 29. Bxa7 Rh5 { A novelty caused
confusion again. David won with 7 1/2 - 6 1/2. He became the challenger of
Botvinnik. } 0-1
[Event "Wch19"]
[Site "Moscow"]
[Date "1951.??.??"]
[Round "19"]
[White "Botvinnik, Mikhail"]
[Black "Bronstein, David"]
[Result "1-0"]
[Annotator "JvR"]
[ECO "D74"]
[EventDate "1951.??.??"]
[PlyCount "119"]

{ Botvinnik worked on a dissertation after his championship, like Lasker did.
Bronstein was better prepared for the match but missed mental power. Eighteen
games were rather poor. The score was 9-9. } 1. d4 Nf6 2. c4 g6 3. g3 Bg7 4. Bg2 d5 5. cxd5 Nxd5 6. Nf3 O-O 7. O-O c5 8. e4 Nf6 9. e5 Nd5 10. dxc5 Nb4 11. Nc3 N8c6 12. a3 Nd3 13. Be3 Bg4 14. h3 Bxf3 15. Qxf3 Ndxe5 16. Qe4 Qd3 17. Qa4 Qc4 18. Rad1 Rad8 19. Bd5 Qxa4 20. Nxa4 e6 21. Ba2 Nf3+ 22. Kg2 Nfd4 23. g4 h6 24. Rd2 Kh7 25. f4 f5 26. Nc3 e5 27. fxe5 Bxe5 28. Nd5 fxg4 29. hxg4 Rxf1 30. Kxf1 Rf8+ 31. Rf2 Rxf2+ 32. Bxf2 a6 33. Kg2 Kg7 34. Bc4 Ne6 35. b4 Bb2 36. a4 Ne5 37. Be2 Bd4 38. Bg3 a5 39. bxa5 Nxc5 40. Nc7 Nc6 { The game is adjopurned after
five hours of play and resumed in the Tchaikovsky Hall the next day. } 41. a6 bxa6 42. Nxa6 Ne4 ( { Bronstein had prepared } 42... Nxa4 $1 43. Bb5 Nc5 44. Nxc5 Bxc5 45. Bxc6 Be3 46. Bh4 h5 47. g5 Bc1 { The king stood on f3 during the
analyses. He notices the difference and changes his mind. } ) 43. Bc7 Nc3 44. Bf3 Ne5 { Bronstein can easily draw, despite the positional disadvantages. } 45. a5 h5 $4 ( { Correct is } 45... Nxf3 46. Kxf3 Kf6 { and 47...h5 (Botvinnik). } ) 46. g5 Nc4 $2 ( { Better is } 46... Nxf3 47. Kxf3 Kf7 ) 47. Nb4 Nb5 48. Bd8 Kf8 49. Nc6 Bc5 50. Be2 Ne3+ 51. Kf3 Nd4+ 52. Nxd4 Bxd4 53. Bd3 Ng4 54. Bxg6 Ne5+ 55. Ke4 Nc6 56. Bb6 Bxb6 57. axb6 h4 58. Bf5 Ke7 59. Kf4 Kd6 60. Be4 1-0
[Event "Wch19"]
[Site "Moscow"]
[Date "1951.??.??"]
[Round "21"]
[White "Botvinnik, Mikhail"]
[Black "Bronstein, David"]
[Result "0-1"]
[Annotator "JvR"]
[ECO "E69"]
[EventDate "1951.??.??"]
[PlyCount "128"]

1. d4 Nf6 2. c4 d6 3. Nc3 e5 4. Nf3 Nbd7 5. g3 g6 6. Bg2 Bg7 7. O-O O-O 8. e4 c6 9. h3 Nh5 10. Be3 Qe7 11. Nh2 Kh8 12. Re1 a6 13. a3 Rb8 14. Bf1 Nhf6 15. Qd2 b5 16. cxb5 axb5 17. Rad1 Nb6 18. Bh6 $2 Bxh6 19. Qxh6 Be6 { Black takes the initiative. } 20. Nf3 Bb3 21. Rd2 Nfd7 22. Qe3 Bc4 23. Bg2 f6 24. Rc2 Bb3 25. Rce2 Nc4 26. Qd3 Na5 27. Rd2 Nb6 28. Qb1 Nbc4 29. Rde2 b4 $1 30. axb4 Rxb4 31. h4 $6 ( { The queenside is better defended by } 31. d5 c5 32. Qc1 ) 31... Nb6 32. Na2 Bxa2 33. Qxa2 Nbc4 34. h5 Rfb8 35. hxg6 hxg6 36. Qb1 Kg7 37. dxe5 fxe5 38. Qc1 Nxb2 39. Qc3 Na4 40. Qc1 Rc4 41. Qg5 Qxg5 42. Nxg5 Nb3 { A swing of black pieces from the queenside to the centre begins. } 43. f4 Nd4 44. Ra2 Rb2 45. Rxb2 Nxb2 46. Kh2 Nd3 47. Re3 Rc3 48. Bf1 Rc2+ 49. Kh3 Nf2+ 50. Kh4 Rc1 51. Bg2 Rg1 52. Bh3 Rh1 53. fxe5 dxe5 54. Ra3 Kf6 55. Nh7+ Ke7 56. Ng5 Kd6 57. Nf7+ Ke7 58. Kg5 { Botvinnik ends the humiliation. } 58... Kxf7 59. Ra7+ Ke8 60. Bd7+ Kd8 61. Kxg6 Nxe4 62. g4 Rf1 63. Bf5 Nxf5 64. gxf5 Ke8 { Bronstein has played elegantly and equalised the score. } 0-1
[Event "Wch19"]
[Site "Moscow"]
[Date "1951.??.??"]
[Round "22"]
[White "Bronstein, David"]
[Black "Botvinnik, Mikhail"]
[Result "1-0"]
[Annotator "JvR"]
[ECO "A91"]
[EventDate "1951.??.??"]
[PlyCount "75"]

1. d4 e6 2. c4 f5 3. g3 Nf6 4. Bg2 Be7 5. Nc3 O-O 6. e3 d5 7. Nge2 c6 8. b3 Ne4 9. O-O Nd7 10. Bb2 Ndf6 11. Qd3 g5 $5 { Black shows ambition. Black reacts quietly. } 12. cxd5 exd5 13. f3 Nxc3 14. Bxc3 g4 15. fxg4 Nxg4 16. Bh3 Nh6 $6 17. Nf4 Bd6 18. b4 a6 { Bronstein has the initiative. } 19. a4 Qe7 20. Rab1 b5 21. Bg2 Ng4 22. Bd2 Nf6 23. Rb2 Bd7 24. Ra1 Ne4 25. Be1 Rfe8 26. Qb3 Kh8 27. Rba2 Qf8 28. Nd3 Rab8 29. axb5 axb5 30. Ra7 Re7 31. Ne5 ( 31. Nc5 $1 { supports the attack on the queenside. } ) 31... Be8 $6 32. g4 $1 fxg4 $2 ( 32... Rbb7 $1 { defends the seventh rank. } ) 33. Bxe4 dxe4 34. Bh4 Rxe5 35. dxe5 Bxe5 36. Rf1 Qg8 37. Bg3 $1 Bg7 ( { The pointe is } 37... Qxb3 38. Rf8+ Qg8 39. Bxe5# ) 38. Qxg8+ { The comeback kid took the lead. A large audience applauded. } 1-0
[Event "Wch19"]
[Site "Moscow"]
[Date "1951.??.??"]
[Round "23"]
[White "Botvinnik, Mikhail"]
[Black "Bronstein, David"]
[Result "1-0"]
[Annotator "JvR"]
[ECO "D71"]
[EventDate "1951.??.??"]
[PlyCount "113"]

1. d4 Nf6 2. c4 g6 3. g3 c6 4. Bg2 d5 5. cxd5 cxd5 6. Nc3 Bg7 7. Nh3 Bxh3 $5 8. Bxh3 Nc6 9. Bg2 e6 10. e3 O-O 11. Bd2 Rc8 12. O-O Nd7 13. Ne2 Qb6 14. Bc3 Rfd8 15. Nf4 Nf6 16. Qb3 Ne4 17. Qxb6 axb6 18. Be1 Na5 19. Nd3 Bf8 20. f3 Nd6 21. Bf2 Bh6 22. Rac1 Nac4 23. Rfe1 Na5 24. Kf1 Bg7 25. g4 Nc6 26. b3 Nb5 27. Ke2 Bf8 28. a4 Nc7 29. Bg3 Na6 30. Bf1 f6 31. Red1 Na5 32. Rxc8 Rxc8 33. Rc1 Rxc1 34. Nxc1 Ba3 35. Kd1 Bxc1 $5 36. Kxc1 Nxb3+ 37. Kc2 Na5 38. Kc3 Kf7 39. e4 f5 $2 ( 39... Nc6 { restricts the bishops. } ) 40. gxf5 gxf5 41. Bd3 Kg6 42. Bd6 ( { The expected resumption from the adjourned position is } 42. Bb1 $1 dxe4 43. fxe4 Kg5 44. exf5 exf5 ) 42... Nc6 43. Bb1 Kf6 $2 ( 43... Na7 $1 44. exd5 exd5 45. Ba2 b5 { achieves a draw. } ) 44. Bg3 $1 fxe4 ( { Botvinnik found at 8AM } 44... Nab4 45. Be5+ Kg6 46. Bd6 Na6 47. exd5 exd5 48. Ba2 ) 45. fxe4 h6 46. Bf4 h5 47. exd5 exd5 48. h4 Nab8 49. Bg5+ Kf7 50. Bf5 $2 ( 50. Bc2 $1 Na7 51. Bd1 Kg6 52. Bf3 ) 50... Na7 51. Bf4 Nbc6 52. Bd3 Nc8 $2 ( { Botvinnik regards the game as won, but } 52... Ne7 $1 53. Bc7 Ke6 54. Bxb6 Nac6 55. Be2 Nf5 { draws. } ) 53. Be2 Kg6 54. Bd3+ $6 Kf6 55. Be2 Kg6 $6 ( { A chance gives } 55... Kf5 $1 ) 56. Bf3 N6e7 57. Bg5 $1 { The game ends with
zugzwang.  Bronstein had beaten Levenfish in an endgame with two bishops twice
(Leningrad 1947, Moscow 1949). Why did he fail as the defender?  Jack Dempsey
once said: "You have to knockdown that guy in front of thousands of people!"
David could not do that in the Tchaikovsky Concert Hall.  The match ended with
12-12 (+5, =10, -5). Botvinnik kept the title by strong willpower. Both
players scored weakly in Moscow 1951. It showed their lacking superiority. } ( { Smyslov analyses } 57. Bg5 Nc6 58. Bxd5 Nd6 59. Bf3 Kf5 60. Bc1 $1 ) 1-0
[Event "Wch20"]
[Site "Moscow"]
[Date "1954.??.??"]
[Round "1"]
[White "Smyslov, Vasily"]
[Black "Botvinnik, Mikhail"]
[Result "0-1"]
[Annotator "JvR"]
[ECO "C17"]
[EventDate "1954.??.??"]
[PlyCount "116"]

{ Smyslov became second in the world championship of 1948. Thereafter he bacame
third in the candidates' tournament Budapest 1950. He could challenge
Botvinnik twice by winning Zuerich 1953 and Amsterdam 1956.  Smyslov has a
magnificent talent for positional play. He seems to win naturally without a
clear reason, as a silent killer. But he can be beaten by puting him under
great pressure. Botvinnik was well prepared for the first match against
Smyslov in 1954. } 1. e4 e6 2. d4 d5 3. Nc3 Bb4 4. e5 c5 5. a3 Ba5 6. b4 cxd4 7. Nb5 Bc7 8. f4 Ne7 9. Nf3 Nbc6 10. Bd3 Bb8 $5 ( { Botvinnik wants to fight and diverts from } 10... a6 11. Nxc7+ Qxc7 { (Simagin-Chistiakov, Moscow 1951). } ) 11. Nbxd4 a6 12. Be3 Ba7 13. O-O Nxd4 14. Bxd4 Bxd4+ 15. Nxd4 Qb6 16. Kh1 $5 Bd7 17. c3 Rc8 18. Qe1 h6 19. a4 a5 20. Nb3 ( 20. b5 $1 O-O 21. Rc1 { keeps a plus. } ) 20... Qc7 21. Nc5 Bc6 22. Qf2 O-O 23. Nb3 Bd7 24. Qc5 Qxc5 25. Nxc5 Rc7 26. Nxd7 Rxd7 27. bxa5 Ra8 28. a6 bxa6 29. c4 $2 { White gives away the control over the centre. } ( { Better is } 29. Rab1 { (Botvinnik) } 29... Rc7 30. Rfc1 a5 ) 29... dxc4 30. Bxc4 Rd4 $1 31. Be2 Nd5 32. g3 Nc3 33. Bf3 Rb8 34. Ra3 Nb1 $5 { Non-capture of a pawn keeps the game going. } 35. Ra2 Nd2 36. Rf2 Nc4 37. h4 g5 38. hxg5 hxg5 39. fxg5 ( { No improvement brings } 39. Be2 a5 ) 39... Nxe5 40. Be2 Rb1+ 41. Kg2 a5 42. Rc2 Rb3 $5 43. Rf4 $2 ( 43. Rc5 $1 Rd5 44. Rxd5 exd5 45. Rf5 Re3 46. Kf2 d4 47. Rf4 { forces a draw (Botvinnik). } ) 43... Rd5 $1 44. Re4 Kg7 45. Bh5 Ng6 46. Rg4 Re3 47. Bxg6 Kxg6 48. Rf2 Rf5 49. Rxf5 exf5 { The critical position. } 50. Rc4 $2 ( { White escapes by } 50. Rh4 $1 Kxg5 51. Kf2 Re4 52. Kf3 $3 Rg4 53. Rh7 $1 Rxa4 54. Rxf7 ) 50... Re4 51. Rc7 Rxa4 52. Ra7 Ra3 53. Kh3 ( { The defeat delays } 53. Kf2 $1 a4 54. Kg2 Ra1 55. Kf3 a3 56. Kf2 a2 57. Kg2 Kxg5 { The capture occurs after the restriction. } 58. Ra5 Kf6 $1 59. Kh2 Ke6 60. Kg2 Kd6 61. Kh2 Kc6 62. Kg2 Kb6 63. Ra8 f4 $1 { A weakness is created. } 64. gxf4 f5 $1 65. Ra3 Kb5 66. Ra7 Kc4 67. Ra8 Kd4 68. Ra7 Ke4 69. Ra4+ Ke3 70. Kh2 Kf3 { "A famous position" said Spassky, when he looked in one of my books. } 71. Ra8 Kxf4 72. Kg2 Ke4 73. Ra4+ Kd5 74. Ra5+ Kc6 75. Ra6+ Kb5 76. Ra8 f4 77. Ra3 f3+ 78. Kf2 Rh1 { (similar to Euwe). } ) 53... f4 54. Kh4 fxg3 55. Ra6+ Kf5 $1 56. Rf6+ Ke4 57. Kh3 Rf3 58. Ra6 Rf5 0-1
[Event "Wch20"]
[Site "Moscow"]
[Date "1954.??.??"]
[Round "2"]
[White "Botvinnik, Mikhail"]
[Black "Smyslov, Vasily"]
[Result "1-0"]
[Annotator "JvR"]
[ECO "E45"]
[EventDate "1954.??.??"]
[PlyCount "59"]

1. d4 Nf6 2. c4 e6 3. Nc3 Bb4 4. e3 b6 5. Ne2 Ba6 6. a3 Be7 7. Nf4 d5 8. cxd5 Bxf1 9. Kxf1 exd5 10. g4 $1 c6 ( { Theory will become } 10... g5 $1 11. Nh5 Nxh5 12. gxh5 c6 13. Qf3 ) 11. g5 Nfd7 12. h4 Bd6 $2 ( { A draw brings } 12... Nf8 13. e4 dxe4 14. Nxe4 h6 15. Nh5 Ne6 16. gxh6 g5 17. d5 cxd5 18. Qxd5 Qxd5 19. Nhf6+ ) 13. e4 $1 dxe4 14. Nxe4 Bxf4 15. Bxf4 O-O 16. h5 $1 Re8 17. Nd6 Re6 18. d5 Rxd6 19. Bxd6 Qxg5 20. Qf3 $1 Qxd5 21. Qxd5 cxd5 22. Rc1 Na6 23. b4 $1 { Botvinnik has a lot of success with his novelty on move ten. } 23... h6 $2 ( { But } 23... Re8 24. Rh3 Nf6 { defends well. } ) 24. Rh3 Kh7 $6 25. Rd3 Nf6 26. b5 Nc5 27. Bxc5 bxc5 28. Rxc5 Rb8 29. a4 Rb7 30. Rdc3 $1 { Botvinnik started with two wins. } 1-0
[Event "Wch20"]
[Site "Moscow"]
[Date "1954.??.??"]
[Round "9"]
[White "Smyslov, Vasily"]
[Black "Botvinnik, Mikhail"]
[Result "1-0"]
[Annotator "JvR"]
[ECO "C17"]
[EventDate "1954.??.??"]
[PlyCount "49"]

1. e4 e6 2. d4 d5 3. Nc3 Bb4 4. e5 c5 5. a3 Ba5 6. b4 cxd4 7. Qg4 $1 { Smyslov chooses a sharper line than in game one. } 7... Ne7 8. bxa5 dxc3 9. Qxg7 Rg8 10. Qxh7 Nd7 11. Nf3 Nf8 $2 ( { Correct is } 11... Qc7 $1 12. Bf4 Nf8 { and the knight wins a tempo, if it goes to g6 (Ragozin-Botvinnik, training
1951). } ) 12. Qd3 Qxa5 13. h4 $1 { Black seems to offer little resistance on the kingside. } 13... Bd7 14. Bg5 Rc8 $2 ( { A useful reorganisation makes } 14... Nfg6 15. Bf6 Nf5 16. g3 Nf8 ) 15. Nd4 Nf5 16. Rb1 Rc4 17. Nxf5 exf5 18. Rxb7 Re4+ 19. Qxe4 dxe4 20. Rb8+ Bc8 21. Bb5+ Qxb5 22. Rxb5 Ne6 23. Bf6 Rxg2 24. h5 Ba6 25. h6 { Smyslov also won the next two games and took the lead. } 1-0
[Event "Wch20"]
[Site "Moscow"]
[Date "1954.??.??"]
[Round "12"]
[White "Botvinnik, Mikhail"]
[Black "Smyslov, Vasily"]
[Result "1-0"]
[Annotator "JvR"]
[ECO "D18"]
[EventDate "1954.??.??"]
[PlyCount "75"]

1. d4 d5 2. c4 c6 3. Nf3 Nf6 4. Nc3 dxc4 5. a4 Bf5 6. e3 e6 7. Bxc4 Bb4 8. O-O Nbd7 9. Nh4 O-O 10. f3 Bg6 11. e4 e5 12. Nxg6 hxg6 13. Be3 Qe7 14. Qe2 exd4 15. Bxd4 Bc5 16. Bxc5 Qxc5+ 17. Kh1 { The television records a world championship
for the first time. It registers a solid opening. } 17... g5 $5 18. g3 Rad8 19. Ba2 Rfe8 20. Rad1 Nf8 21. Rxd8 Rxd8 22. e5 Nd5 23. Nxd5 cxd5 24. Qd2 Ne6 25. f4 $5 gxf4 26. gxf4 Qc6 ( { Easier draws } 26... Qd4 27. Qxd4 Nxd4 28. Rd1 Ne6 { (Botvinnik). } ) 27. f5 Nc5 $2 ( { Overprotection of d5 by } 27... Nc7 $1 { is needed. Now } 28. Qg5 f6 29. Qh4 { continues the hostilities. } ) 28. Qg5 Rd7 ( { Insufficient is } 28... f6 29. Qg2 Nd3 30. exf6 Qd7 31. Qe4 $1 { (Botvinnik). } ) 29. Rg1 f6 30. exf6 Ne4 { A 'Zwischenzug' decides. } 31. f7+ $1 Rxf7 32. Qd8+ Kh7 33. Bxd5 Nf2+ 34. Kg2 Qf6 35. Qxf6 Rxf6 36. Kxf2 Rxf5+ 37. Bf3 Rf4 38. Rg4 { Halfway the score is 6-6. } 1-0
[Event "Wch20"]
[Site "Moscow"]
[Date "1954.??.??"]
[Round "14"]
[White "Botvinnik, Mikhail"]
[Black "Smyslov, Vasily"]
[Result "0-1"]
[Annotator "JvR"]
[ECO "E68"]
[EventDate "1954.??.??"]
[PlyCount "66"]

{ This game highlights the second half of the match. } 1. d4 Nf6 2. c4 g6 3. g3 Bg7 4. Bg2 O-O 5. Nc3 d6 6. Nf3 Nbd7 7. O-O e5 8. e4 c6 9. Be3 Ng4 10. Bg5 Qb6 $1 { Smyslov brings a novelty. } ( { Theory is } 10... f6 11. Bc1 { (Kotov-Bronstein, Moscow 1944). } ) 11. h3 exd4 $1 12. Na4 Qa6 13. hxg4 b5 $1 14. Nxd4 ( { Equality keeps } 14. Be7 Re8 15. Bxd6 bxa4 16. e5 c5 $1 { (Yusupov-Kasparov, Linares 1992). } ) 14... bxa4 15. Nxc6 Qxc6 16. e5 Qxc4 17. Bxa8 Nxe5 18. Rc1 ( 18. Qxd6 Bxg4 19. Bd5 Qd4 { gives a worthy alternative. } ) 18... Qb4 19. a3 ( { The game elegantly draws in } 19. Be7 Bxg4 20. Bxd6 Qb6 21. Qd5 Bf3 $1 22. Qc5 Rxa8 23. Bxe5 Qe6 24. Qe3 { (Kasparov) } 24... Bd5 25. Bxg7 Qh3 26. f3 Qxg3+ ) 19... Qxb2 20. Qxa4 Bb7 $1 21. Rb1 $2 ( { Correct is } 21. Bxb7 Qxb7 22. Rc3 h6 23. Bf4 Nf3+ 24. Rxf3 Qxf3 25. Bxd6 { (Smyslov). } ) 21... Nf3+ 22. Kh1 Bxa8 $1 23. Rxb2 Nxg5+ 24. Kh2 Nf3+ 25. Kh3 Bxb2 26. Qxa7 Be4 $1 { The minor pieces stage an attack on the king. } 27. a4 Kg7 28. Rd1 Be5 29. Qe7 Rc8 30. a5 Rc2 31. Kg2 Nd4+ 32. Kf1 Bf3 33. Rb1 Nc6 { Visitors had an enjoyable day in the Tchaikovsky Hall. } 0-1
[Event "Wch20"]
[Site "Moscow"]
[Date "1954.??.??"]
[Round "23"]
[White "Smyslov, Vasily"]
[Black "Botvinnik, Mikhail"]
[Result "1-0"]
[Annotator "JvR"]
[ECO "A04"]
[EventDate "1954.??.??"]
[PlyCount "55"]

1. e4 e6 2. d3 c5 3. Nd2 Nc6 4. g3 g6 5. Bg2 Bg7 6. Ngf3 Nge7 7. O-O O-O 8. c3 d6 9. a4 f5 $5 { Although Smyslov trails by one point, he chooses a quiet
opening. Botvinnik accepts the challenge and takes the initiative. } 10. Qb3 d5 11. exd5 exd5 12. Re1 f4 $1 13. Nf1 Bg4 $1 14. gxf4 ( { Simple errors are } 14. Bxf4 $2 Bxf3 15. Bxf3 g5 ) ( { and } 14. Qxb7 $2 Rb8 15. Qa6 Rb6 { (Golombek). } ) 14... Bxf3 ( { Pressure keeps } 14... Qd6 $1 ) 15. Bxf3 Kh8 16. Bd2 Bh6 17. Re6 Bxf4 18. Rae1 Bxd2 $6 { Botvinnik needs a draw for the title, but he plays recklessly. } ( { More solid is } 18... c4 $1 19. Qd1 Bxd2 20. Nxd2 cxd3 21. Nb3 ) 19. Nxd2 Nf5 $6 20. Bg2 $1 Nh4 21. Qxd5 Nxg2 22. Qxg2 Qxd3 23. Ne4 Rf5 $4 { Black gives away two pawns. } ( { The exchange } 23... Qd5 24. Nd6 Qxg2+ 25. Kxg2 b6 { leads to a defendable endgame (Smyslov). } ) 24. Nd6 Rf3 25. Nxb7 Raf8 26. Nxc5 Qf5 27. Re8 Kg8 28. Rxf8+ { Botvinnik played for safety in the last game and
prolongated the title. The final score was +7, =10, -7. } 1-0
[Event "Wch21"]
[Site "Moscow"]
[Date "1957.??.??"]
[Round "1"]
[White "Botvinnik, Mikhail"]
[Black "Smyslov, Vasily"]
[Result "0-1"]
[Annotator "JvR"]
[ECO "A36"]
[EventDate "1957.??.??"]
[PlyCount "81"]

{ Three years later the rivals battled again in the Tchaikovky Concert Hall.
The 2000 seats were often sold out. } 1. c4 Nf6 2. Nc3 g6 3. g3 Bg7 4. Bg2 O-O 5. e4 c5 6. Nge2 Nc6 7. O-O d6 8. a3 Bd7 9. h3 Ne8 10. d3 Nc7 11. Rb1 Rb8 12. Be3 b5 13. cxb5 Nxb5 14. Nxb5 Rxb5 15. d4 Qc8 16. dxc5 dxc5 17. Kh2 Rd8 18. Qc1 Nd4 19. Nc3 Rb7 20. f4 Bc6 21. Rf2 a5 22. Qf1 Nb5 23. e5 Nxc3 24. bxc3 Bxg2 25. Rxg2 Rxb1 26. Qxb1 Qc6 27. Rd2 $2 { Little happened so far. } ( 27. c4 { avoids problems. } ) 27... Rxd2+ 28. Bxd2 c4 $1 29. Be3 f6 30. Bd4 Kf7 31. Qd1 a4 32. Qe2 Qd5 33. Kg1 Bf8 34. f5 $2 { Botvinnik panics about the weaknesses. } ( { The defence } 34. Qb2 fxe5 35. fxe5 e6 36. Kh2 { should be tried. } ) 34... fxe5 35. fxg6+ hxg6 36. Bxe5 e6 37. Qf2+ Ke8 38. Qf6 Bxa3 39. Qxg6+ Kd7 40. Qh7+ Be7 41. Bf6 { The a-pawn will decide the game. } 0-1