Icannos/chess_studies huggingface dataset:
[Event "Holland Championship"]
[Site "?"]
[Date "1952.??.??"]
[Round "?"]
[White "Euwe"]
[Black "Kramer"]
[Result "1-0"]
[PlyCount "69"]

1. d4 Nf6 2. c4 e6 3. Nc3 Bb4 { With his third move Black enters the Nimzoindian defense. } 4. Qc2 { Played with the idea of stopping the doubling of his c-pawns in view of Black's threat Bxc3+ which now can be answered by recapturing with the queen. } 4... Nc6 5. Nf3 d6 6. Bd2 O-O 7. a3 Bxc3 8. Bxc3 Re8 { 8...a5, with the idea of hampering White's queenside play, would be met with 9.e4 when White has a slight pull due to his space advantage. } 9. b4 e5 10. dxe5 Nxe5 11. e3 Bg4 { 11...Nxf3+ 12.gxf3 when White has good chances of a kingside attack with the open g-file and two bishops. } 12. Nxe5 dxe5 13. f3 Bh5 14. Be2 Bg6 { 14...e4 15.f4 Bxe2 16.Qxe2 White's bishop dominates the a1-h8 diagonal, while, Black's knight has no central outpost. } 15. Qb2 Nd7 16. O-O f6 { Black plays to blunt White's battery on the a1-h8 diagonal. } 17. c5 Qe7 18. Rfd1 Red8 19. Be1 Nf8 { 19...c6 20.Rd6 Nf8 21.Rad1 Rxd6 22.cxd6 Qd7 23.b5 would give White a powerful passed d-pawn. } 20. Rxd8 Rxd8 21. Qb3+ Kh8 { 21...Bf7 still allows White to weaken the Black queenside pawns with 22.Qa4 a6 23.c6 Be8 24.Qb3+ Bf7 25.Qc2 } 22. c6 { 22.Qa4 With Black's king on h8 this would be a mistake because of a6 23.c6 Be8 when the c-pawn is pinned. } 22... bxc6 { 22...b6 23.Qa4 Ra8 24.Ba6 Be8 25.Bb7 White wins the a-pawn with 26.Qxa7. } 23. Qa4 { White will regain his pawn while keeping the better pawn structure. } 23... Bd3 24. Bxd3 Rxd3 25. Qxa7 Qd7 26. Kf2 h6 27. a4 { With White's queen out of play this is a mistake. 27.Qc5 bringing the queen back into play while clearing the a-file was better. } 27... Ne6 28. a5 Kh7 { 28...c5 29.Qa8+ Kh7 30.Qe4+ Kh8 31.a6 when the a-pawn is well on the way to promotion. } 29. a6 c5 { A good move which cuts the White queen off from protecting the king. } 30. Qb7 Rxe3 31. a7 Qd4 { This is the wrong square for the queen. 31... Qd3 gaining control of the e2 square was correct. } 32. a8=Q Nf4 33. Kf1 Rxe1+ 34. Rxe1 Qd3+ 35. Kg1 { Black resigned. } 1-0
[Event "Budapest"]
[Site "?"]
[Date "1952.??.??"]
[Round "?"]
[White "Petrosian"]
[Black "Keres"]
[Result "1-0"]
[PlyCount "71"]

1. d4 Nf6 2. c4 e6 3. Nc3 Bb4 4. e3 O-O 5. Nf3 d5 6. Bd3 c5 7. O-O b6 8. dxc5 bxc5 9. Ne2 { 9.cxd5 exd5 would leave Black with hanging pawns. } 9... Nbd7 10. b3 { White wishes to keep an eye on the Black center with 10. b3 and Bb2. Although strategically correct 10. b3 has a tactical flaw. 10.Ng3 would be better, since, it would allow White to control the center after 10... e5 11. cxd5 e4 12. Nxe4. } 10... e5 11. Bb1 e4 { 11...d4 looks strong. However, White would get good play after 12.Ng3 Bb7 13.a3 Ba5 14.b4 } 12. Nd2 Ba6 13. Bb2 { 13.cxd5 would drop material after 13...Bxe2 14. Qxe2 Bc3 winning the rook. } 13... Qa5 { Qa5 looks good at first since Black has a double attack on the White knight. However, it does nothing to increase Black's main advantage of time and space. Furthermore, White has a strong tactic to save the piece. 13... Nb6 would put more pressure on White's position for example 14.cxd5 Qxd5 15. Bxf6 Qxd2 winning material because of the pin at e2. } 14. Nxe4 { With this tempo rary sacrifice, White is able to trade his knight for the Black bishop. } 14... dxe4 15. a3 Bd2 16. b4 cxb4 { 16...Qb6 17.Qxd2 Bxc4 would leave chances for both sides. } 17. Qxd2 Bxc4 18. axb4 Qg5 { Better was 18...Qb6 not losing a tempo with the queen. } 19. Ra5 { With this move White gains a tempo on the Black queen. } 19... Qh4 { 19...Qg4 wo uld be better. The idea is to centralize the Black queen after 20.Re1 Qe6 } 20. h3 Rfb8 21. Ng3 Rb5 { 21...Bxf1 would drop the Black queen after 22.Nf5 Qh5 23.Ne7+ Kf8 24.Rxh5 when White is winning on account of his material advantage. } 22. Rxb5 Bxb5 23. Rc1 Bd3 24. Bxd3 exd3 25. Bd4 Ne4 26. Qxd3 Nxg3 27. fxg3 Qxg3 28. Qe4 { White takes advantage of Black's weakened back rank. } 28... Rd8 29. Qe7 Qb8 { Forced. Here White uses a deflection theme combined with the back rank weakness to achieve victory. Do you see White's next move? Try to find it! } 30. Bxa7 Qxa7 { Taking the bishop loses the exchange, but Black would still be lost, because of his inactive pieces and material deficit. 30...Qa8 31.Rc7 would leave Black in Zugzwang. } 31. Qxd8+ Nf8 32. Qe8 { White must not bring the rook down to the 8th rank too quickly! 32. Rc8 Qxe3+ 33.Kh2 Qe5+ 34.Kg1 Qe1+ } 32... Qa3 33. Rc7 { Threatening to mate in two with 34. Qxf7+ and 35. Qxg7++. } 33... Qb3 34. Qe7 Qd5 35. Kh2 h6 36. Rc8 { Black resigned as he has no way of defending the knight on the back rank. } 1-0
[Event "Helsinki"]
[Site "?"]
[Date "1952.??.??"]
[Round "?"]
[White "Smyslov"]
[Black "Barcza"]
[Result "1-0"]
[PlyCount "41"]

1. e4 e5 2. Nf3 Nc6 3. Bb5 Bc5 4. c3 Nf6 5. d4 exd4 6. e5 Nd5 { Although th e knight at d5 seems to occupy an important post in the center, it will be difficult for Black to maintain the outpost as White increases the pressure. } 7. O-O O-O { 7...dxc3 is not playable because the knight at d5 can be captured by the queen. } 8. cxd4 Bb6 9. Bc4 { Since the bishop occupies b6, there is no good square for the knight to retreat to. } 9... Nce7 { 9...Nde7 10.d5 Nb8 Black's forces are driven backwards and White dominates the center. } 10. Bg5 { An important pin, which indirectly reduces the support of the knight at d5. } 10... Qe8 { What else? The pin must be broken! 10...c6 11.Bxd5 cxd5 12.Nc3 Here the weakness at d5 will be critical. } 11. Qb3 { The consistent application of pressure at d5 means that Black can do little but try to hold things together. } 11... c6 12. Nbd2 { White continues to develop all of the pieces, while Black lags far behind. We can see that this knight is headed for d6, via e4. } 12... h6 { 12...Bc7 13.Ne4 Nb6 14.Nd6! Bxd6 15.exd6 Nxc4 16.dxe7 Black's failure to develop has resulted in a loss of the rook at f8. } 13. Bxe7 Nxe7 { Even a quick glance at the board reveals White's domination, thanks to the superior mobilization of the forces. } 14. Ne4 d5 { 14...Nf5 15.Nd6 Nxd6 16.exd6 The bishop at c8 is trapped and White will quickly bring two rooks on to the e-file. } 15. exd6 Nf5 { Black is too preoccupied with regaining the little bit of material. The pawn at d6 is weak, and more counterplay could have been achieved by sacrificing a second pawn in order to get some pieces into play. 15...Nd5 16.Bxd5 cxd5 17.Qxd5 Be6 18.Qxb7 Bc4 19.Rfc1 Rb8 20.Qe7 Qb5 Black might have had a little bit of counterplay here. } 16. Rfe1 { The threat is Nf6+, exposing the queen on e8 to attack. } 16... Qd8 { 16...Qd7 17.Ne5! } 17. Ne5 Nxd6 18. Nxd6 Qxd6 19. Bxf7+ Rxf7 { 19...Kh8 20.Ng6+ Kh7 21.Nxf8+ } 20. Qxf7+ Kh7 21. Nc4 { Black, already down the exchange, resigned. } 1-0
[Event "Riga"]
[Site "?"]
[Date "1952.??.??"]
[Round "?"]
[White "Tal"]
[Black "Segal"]
[Result "1-0"]
[PlyCount "57"]

1. c4 f5 2. Nf3 Nf6 3. g3 d6 4. d4 e6 5. Bg2 Be7 6. O-O O-O 7. Nc3 c6 { The main drawback of Black's opening strategy is the weakness at e6, which, appropriately, will prove to be the decisive factor in this game. } 8. Qc2 a5 { The purpose of such moves is generally to take control of the b4 square, and often to provide direct assistance to a knight at b4, or, if White plays d5, to place the knight at c5, where White will be unable to chase it with b4. } 9. e4 fxe4 10. Nxe4 Bd7 { White now has control of the center and somewhat more space. This gives him the "right" to attack. } 11. h4 Na6 12. Nfg5 { The knight keeps one eye on h7 and the other on e6. } 12... g6 13. Bh3 { The pressure mounts. } 13... Qc8 14. Rd1 e5 { Black solves the problem of the weak pawn at e6 but the square remains vulnerable. } 15. Bxd7 Nxd7 16. h5 Qe8 { What would have happened had Black captured the pawn instead? 16... gxh5 17.Nxd6 Bxd6 18.Qxh7++ } 17. Ne6 { The weak square is occupied at last. The rook has no useful flight square. } 17... gxh5 { 17...Rf3 18.Kg2 Qf7 19.N6g5 } 18. Nxf8 Qxf8 { White has won the exchange, but the kingside attack has fizzled. } 19. c5 { A clever move which opens up a new attacking diagonal (a2-g8). } 19... Nb4 { 19...dxc5 20.Qb3+ Kh8 21.Qxb7 } 20. Qb3+ d5 21. a3 Kh8 { Black breaks the pin on the pawn at d5, so that the knight can be captured on e4. } 22. Nd6 { Black resigned, since he will lose more material. } 22... Na6 23. Qxb7 Nf6 24. dxe5 Ne4 25. Be3 Naxc5 26. Bxc5 Nxc5 27. Qxc6 Ne4 28. Nxe4 dxe4 29. Qxe4 1-0
[Event "Bucharest"]
[Site "?"]
[Date "1953.??.??"]
[Round "?"]
[White "Spassky"]
[Black "Smyslov"]
[Result "1-0"]
[PlyCount "67"]

1. d4 Nf6 2. c4 e6 3. Nc3 Bb4 4. Bg5 { The Leningrad Variation of the Nimzoindian, which Boris Spassky used to love to play. } 4... h6 5. Bh4 c5 6. d5 { This reduces the flexibility of White's center and should not lead to any advantage for White. } 6... d6 7. e3 exd5 8. cxd5 Nbd7 9. Bb5 O-O { 9...Bxc3+! 10.bxc3 a6 11.Bxd7+ Bxd7 is at least equal and possibly even better for Black, who is poised to expand hisqueenside } 10. Ne2 Ne5 11. O-O Ng6 12. Bg3 Nh5 13. Bd3 Nxg3 14. Nxg3 { Black has removed one of the potential attackers of his weak d- pawn, and the other, the Nc3, departs quickly. } 14... Ne5 15. Be2 Bxc3 16. bxc3 { Black's strong outpost at e5 and queenside majority might seem to give him the advantage here but the strongpoint cannot be maintained and it is hard to find useful employment for the B at c8. } 16... Qh4 { This wrongheaded plan allows White to obtain a better game. There simply isn't enough attacking force here to make a dent in White's armor. } 17. f4 Ng4 18. Bxg4 Bxg4 { Capturing with the queen would have saved precious time, as will become obvious. } 19. Qa4 Bc8 20. e4 { Having eliminated the attack, Spassky establishes a dominating center. } 20... Qg4 21. Qc2 h5 22. Rf3 b5 { Smyslov, the harmonist, is now simply flapping his wings to no effect. } 23. e5 h4 24. Nf1 Bf5 25. Qd2 dxe5 26. fxe5 Bg6 27. Re1 h3 28. d6 { Although Black has the bishop, it is White who threatens to dominate the light squares. Black should now try to place pressure on the pawn at e5, but first he has to reposition the bishop. } 28... Be4 29. Ne3 Qe6 { 29...Qg5 30.Rg3 Qxe5? 31.Ng4 Qe6 32.Rxe4 Qxe4 33.Nf6+ } 30. Rf4 Bxg2 31. Nf5 { Threatening mate in a few moves after 32.Ne7+. } 31... Rfe8 32. Re3 Rad8 33. Nxg7 Rxd6 { 33...Kxg7 34.Rg3+ Kf8 35.Rfg4 } 34. Nxe6 1-0
[Event "Candidates Tournament"]
[Site "?"]
[Date "1953.??.??"]
[Round "?"]
[White "Smyslov"]
[Black "Stahlberg"]
[Result "1-0"]
[PlyCount "65"]

1. e4 e6 2. d4 d5 3. Nc3 Nf6 { The Classical Variation of the French Defense which gives Black a solid but somewhat passive position. As with most French's Black's light squared bishop is a bad piece since it is blocked by his own pawns. } 4. Bg5 dxe4 5. Nxe4 Be7 6. Bxf6 { Not 6.Nxf6+ Bxf6 7.Bxf6 Qxf6 when all the exchanges give the cramped Black army room to move. } 6... Bxf6 7. Nf3 Nd7 8. Bc4 O-O 9. Qe2 Nb6 10. Bb3 Bd7 11. O-O Qe7 12. Rfe1 Rad8 13. Rad1 { White has finished his development while enjoying control of more space, which allows the pieces to move about the board more freely. } 13... Ba4 14. Bxa4 Nxa4 15. Qb5 Nb6 16. c4 { With the advance of the c-pawn White threatens to drive away the Black knight and then take the b-pawn. } 16... c6 17. Qb3 Qc7 { This move is a mistake since it allows White to weaken the Black kingside. Better was 17...Rd7. 17...Rd7 18.a4 Rfd8 19.a5 Nc8 would give White an even greater space advantage. } 18. Nxf6+ gxf6 19. Qe3 { The queen heads for h6 which is no longer defended by Black's g-pawn. } 19... Kg7 20. Ne5 { White uses his space advantage to prepare a rook lift if Black takes the knight. } 20... Qe7 21. Ng4 Rg8 { A mistake which costs Black the exchange. However, some material loss was unavoidable. 21...Kh8 22.Qh6 Rg8 23.Nxf6 Rg7 24.Re3 when White is a pawn up while retaining his kingside initiative. } 22. Nh6 Qc7 { 22...Rgf8 would allow White to win Black's queen. } 23. Nxg8 Rxg8 24. b3 { White has won the exchange and for a player with Smyslov's technique the rest is easy. } 24... Kh8 25. Qh6 Rg6 26. Qh4 Nd7 27. Re3 Qa5 28. Rh3 Nf8 29. Rg3 Qxa2 30. Rxg6 Nxg6 31. Qxf6+ Kg8 32. Qf3 Qc2 33. Qd3 { Black resigned, since there is no compensation for the missing exchange. } 1-0
[Event "Zurich"]
[Site "?"]
[Date "1953.??.??"]
[Round "?"]
[White "Geller"]
[Black "Euwe"]
[Result "0-1"]
[PlyCount "52"]

1. d4 Nf6 2. c4 e6 3. Nc3 Bb4 4. e3 c5 5. a3 Bxc3+ 6. bxc3 b6 7. Bd3 Bb7 8. f3 Nc6 9. Ne2 O-O 10. O-O Na5 { While White is gearing up for a kingside attack, Black calmly wins the pawn on c4. } 11. e4 Ne8 { Black avoids the nasty pin 12 Bg5 and prepares to meet 12 f4 by 12...f5. White's next move prevents this, but takes another tempo. } 12. Ng3 cxd4 13. cxd4 Rc8 14. f4 Nxc4 15. f5 f6 { Black couldn't let White play 16 f6, when 16...Nxf6 17 Bg5 followed by 18 Nh5 would be just as bad as 16...gxf6 17.Nh5 and 18 Bh6 or letting White take on g7. } 16. Rf4 { White gets ready to break in on h7, but Euwe has seen that White will still be a long way from mate. While Geller is getting ready to hit h7, Euwe will get his own pieces into position to invade on the queenside. } 16... b5 { Now Black has b6 for his queen, and it becomes apparent that White's king may come under long range fire. } 17. Rh4 Qb6 18. e5 Nxe5 19. fxe6 Nxd3 20. Qxd3 Qxe6 21. Qxh7+ Kf7 22. Bh6 { Now White threatens 23 Nh5, and it's not clear how Black will stop this but... } 22... Rh8 { Geller must have missed this. Black gives up a whole rook just to deflect the queen from c2, and all of a sudden it's White who's getting mated. } 23. Qxh8 Rc2 24. Rc1 Rxg2+ 25. Kf1 Qb3 26. Ke1 Qf3 0-1
[Event "Candidates Tournament"]
[Site "?"]
[Date "1953.??.??"]
[Round "?"]
[White "Keres"]
[Black "Smyslov"]
[Result "0-1"]
[PlyCount "56"]

1. c4 Nf6 2. Nc3 e6 3. Nf3 c5 4. e3 Be7 5. b3 { White chooses to play unambitiously in the opening and Black is not challenged at all. } 5... O-O 6. Bb2 b6 7. d4 cxd4 8. exd4 d5 9. Bd3 Nc6 10. O-O Bb7 11. Rc1 { 11.Qe2 allows Black to take advantage of White's weakened d-pawn after 11...Nb4 12.Bb1 dxc4 13.bxc4 Bxf3 14.Qxf3 Qxd4 } 11... Rc8 12. Re1 Nb4 13. Bf1 Ne4 14. a3 Nxc3 15. Rxc3 { White hopes to lift the rook over to the kingside for a mating attack. 15.Bxc3 Na2 16.Rc2 Nxc3 17.Rxc3 dxc4 18.bxc4 would give the advantage to Black because of his two bishops and White's weakened pawn structure. } 15... Nc6 16. Ne5 Nxe5 17. Rxe5 Bf6 18. Rh5 { The White rooks are preparing for a kingside attack. } 18... g6 { 18...a6 would allow White a tremendous attack after 19.Rxh7 Kxh7 20.Qh5+ Kg8 21.Rh3 Bh4 22. Rxh4 f5 23.Qh7+ } 19. Rch3 { Although this attack on the h-file looks impressive Black breaks through the center with a winning counter attack. Conventional wisdom holds that a flank attack is best met by reacting in the center of the board. } 19... dxc4 { 19...gxh5 and the Black king falls to a mating attack after 20.Qxh5 Re8 21.a4 The point is that White's dark-square bishop will go to a3, taking away the f8 square from Black's king. } 20. Rxh7 { 20.Qg4 c3 21. Bxc3 Rxc3 22.Rxc3 Qxd4 23.Qxd4 Bxd4 24.Rc7 gxh5 25.Rxb7 A draw is likely since the bishops are of opposite color. } 20... c3 21. Qc1 { 21.Bxc3 allows Black a winning decoy sacrifice. } 21... Qxd4 { Black takes a pawn while strengthening his defense on the a1-h8 diagonal. 21...cxb2 allows White a mating attack. } 22. Qh6 { Although, White's tripling looks impressive on the h-file, Black has all the squares defended and in ready for the counter attack. } 22... Rfd8 23. Bc1 Bg7 24. Qg5 Qf6 { Because of his strong passed c-pawn Black would like to exchange queens. } 25. Qg4 c2 { Now the c-pawn is only one square from promoting. } 26. Be2 Rd4 { Black provokes White to play pawn f4 in order for his counter attack to open the g1-a7 diagonal for his queen. } 27. f4 Rd1+ 28. Bxd1 Qd4+ { White resigned as Black's c-pawn promotes to a queen after 29...cxd1=(Q). } 0-1
[Event "Candidates Tournament"]
[Site "?"]
[Date "1953.??.??"]
[Round "?"]
[White "Smyslov"]
[Black "Averbakh"]
[Result "1/2"]
[PlyCount "49"]

1. c4 Nf6 2. Nf3 e6 3. Nc3 d5 4. d4 Bb4 5. cxd5 exd5 6. Bg5 h6 7. Bxf6 Qxf6 { This variation has become more popular for White in recent years. Despite giving up the bishop pair, White can hope for the advantage because the pieces can be developed quickly. } 8. Qb3 Qd6 9. a3 Bxc3+ 10. Qxc3 O-O { The minority attack. The idea to provoke weaknesses in the enemy pawn structure by advancing pawns. This strategy is characteristic of the Queen's Gambit lines where White exchanges pawns at d5. } 11. Rc1 c6 12. e3 Bf5 { To off set White's coming minority attack Black will prepare a piece attack on the kingside. } 13. Be2 Nd7 14. O-O a5 { Played with the idea of impeding White's minority attack. The pawn tears itself away from the group and itself comes under fire. However, This will give Black the chance to create threats on the kingside. } 15. Ne1 Nf6 16. Nd3 Bxd3 17. Qxd3 Rfe8 { Black will use the e-file to swing his rook over to White's kingside. } 18. Bf3 Ne4 19. Bxe4 Rxe4 20. Qb3 Qd7 21. Rc5 Rg4 22. h3 { 22.Qc3 attacking Black's a-pawn would allow Black to draw by 22...Rxg2+ 23.Kxg2 Qg4+ 24.Kh1 Qf3+ 25.Kg1 Qg4+ 26.Kh1 Qf3+ 27.Kg1 Qg4+ } 22... Rg6 23. Kh1 { 23.Qc3 Qxh3 } 23... a4 24. Qb4 Rf6 25. Kg1 { Agreed drawn. White could have tried to win the a-pawn but it would not have mattered because Black would obtain sufficient counterplay on the kingside. } 1/2
[Event "Belgrade"]
[Site "?"]
[Date "1954.??.??"]
[Round "?"]
[White "Czerniak"]
[Black "Petrosian"]
[Result "0-1"]
[PlyCount "79"]

1. e4 c5 2. Nf3 d6 3. c3 Nf6 4. Qc2 Qc7 5. d3 g6 6. Be2 { White is playing the opening with no ambition whatsoever, and Black achieves a comfortable game effortlessly. } 6... Bg7 7. O-O O-O 8. h3 b6 9. Bf4 Nbd7 10. Nbd2 Bb7 11. Bh2 e5 12. Nh4 { 12.Nc4 would be more solid. } 12... d5 { After White has taken a piece away from the center, Black wastes no time in grabbing the initiative. } 13. f4 { 13.Nhf3 White should admit his last move was a mistake and bring the knight back into play. } 13... exf4 14. Bxf4 Qd8 15. Nhf3 Re8 16. Rad1 { White uses -on-man" coverage by setting up an opposition between this rook and the enemy queen. This indirectly prevents Black from taking the e- pawn. } 16... c4 { White will be unable to maintain his center against the powerful blows being hammered upon it. 16...dxe4 17.Nxe4 Nxe4 18.dxe4 Bxe4 19.Qa4 Bf5 20.Bb5 } 17. e5 cxd3 18. Bxd3 Nh5 19. Bg5 Qc7 20. Bb5 Qc5+ 21. Nd4 { With this blockade White locks the Bb7 out of the game. } 21... Rxe5 { Black has won a pawn. However, some tactical complications come with it. } 22. Nf3 Rxg5 23. Bxd7 { 23.Nxg5 Bxd4+ 24.Rxd4 Qxb5 25.Rxf7 Rf8 26.Rxf8+ Nxf8 27.Qf2 Qd7 } 23... Rg3 24. Qf2 Qc7 25. Bg4 Nf6 { 25...Re8 26.Bxh5 gxh5 27.Nf5 } 26. Nb5 Qb8 27. Nh2 h5 28. Bf3 Rg5 { The main tactics are over with Black keeping his pawn advantage. } 29. Rfe1 a6 30. Na3 { The White knights are misplaced away from the center. } 30... Qc7 31. c4 Ne4 32. Qe3 Bh6 33. Qd4 Bf8 { White has no way out of the coming pin. } 34. Qe3 Bc5 35. Rd4 Re8 36. Nc2 Rge5 37. Qh6 Ng5 38. Qxg5 Bxd4+ 39. Nxd4 Rxe1+ 40. Nf1 { White resigned as Black is two exchanges ahead. } 0-1
[Event "Great Britian vs USSR"]
[Site "?"]
[Date "1954.??.??"]
[Round "?"]
[White "Milner Barry"]
[Black "Petrosian"]
[Result "0-1"]
[PlyCount "58"]

1. e4 c5 2. Nf3 d6 3. d4 cxd4 4. Nxd4 Nf6 5. Nc3 a6 6. Be2 e5 7. Nb3 Be7 8. O-O O-O 9. f4 b5 { A typical reaction to White's kingside play. } 10. fxe5 dxe5 11. Bg5 { 11.Qxd8 Rxd8 12.Bg5 b4 13.Nd5 Nxd5 } 11... Nbd7 12. Bd3 { 12.Nd5 Nxd5 13.Qxd5 Bxg5 14.Qxa8 Qb6+ 15.Kh1 Bb7 would trap the White queen. } 12... b4 { 12...Bb7 Finishing his development is also good. } 13. Ne2 a5 14. Ng3 a4 15. Nd2 Nc5 16. Nc4 Be6 { A mistake which should cost Black the initiative. 16...Ne6 17.Bd2 Qc7 when Black dominates the dark squares. } 17. Bxf6 { A very grave mistake. White parts with his good bishop and is left defenceless on the dark squares. 17.Nf5 Bxf5 18.Rxf5 With chances for both sides. } 17... Bxf6 18. Qe2 g6 19. Rad1 Bg5 { Black's king bishop takes control of the dark squares. } 20. Qf2 Qc7 21. Be2 Rfd8 22. b3 Rxd1 23. Rxd1 axb3 24. axb3 Ra2 { The occupation of the seventh rank is always a good idea. Now the pawn at c2 is a target, despite the fact that the c-file is closed. } 25. Qe1 Qb8 26. Bd3 h5 { With pressure on both wings White's position collapses. } 27. Nf1 Nxd3 28. cxd3 Bg4 { With this move Black wins material and the game. The control of the seventh rank limits the squares available to the White pieces. } 29. Ra1 Qa7+ { White resigned. } 0-1
[Event "Leningrad"]
[Site "?"]
[Date "1954.??.??"]
[Round "?"]
[White "Spassky"]
[Black "Melik Peshayev"]
[Result "1-0"]
[PlyCount "43"]

1. e4 e6 2. d4 d5 3. Nc3 Bb4 4. e5 c5 5. Qg4 { This was once considered a sharp weapon for White, but now it has lost its sting. } 5... Ne7 6. dxc5 { The main line these days is 6.Nf3, a solid developing move. } 6... Bxc3+ { 6...Nbc6 7.Bd2 O-O 8.Nf3 f5 is considered a more reliable method of reaching a level game. } 7. bxc3 { White's tripled pawns are a real weakness, but there is some compensation in terms of pressure on the kingside. } 7... O-O 8. Nf3 Nbc6 9. Bd3 Ng6 { The knight can be chased away by the advance of the h-pawn, a typical strategy in such positions. } 10. Qh5 Nce7 11. h4 Qa5 { Black attac ks on the queenside, but White is not really concerned about that part of the board. } 12. O-O Bd7 13. Qg4 { The White queen gets out of the way so the h-pawn can advance. } 13... Bb5 { It is usually a good strategy to trade a piece which is not actively taking part in the defense for a piece which is part of the attacking force. } 14. h5 Bxd3 15. cxd3 Qxc3 { 15...Nh8 16.Qb4 White retains the extra pawn with a good position. } 16. hxg6 Qxa1 17. gxh7+ { White has given up an idle rook, which played no part in the attack, for the important defender at g6. Now Black cannot afford to take the pawn at h7. } 17... Kh8 { 17...Kxh7 18.Ng5+ Kg8 Otherwise there will be a discovered check which wins material.19.Qh5 Rfc8 20.Qxf7+ Kh8 21.Qh5+ Kg8 22. Qh7+ Kf8 23.Nxe6+ Kf7 24.Ng5+ Ke8 25.Qh8+ Kd7 26.Qxg7 With the nasty threat of 27.e6+, with a discovered attack on the queen at a1. } 18. Bg5 { Black must now give up the queen for the rook, or lose the knight for nothing. } 18... Qxf1+ 19. Kxf1 Nf5 { Now Spassky finishes with an elegant combination, based on the weakness of the g7 square. The knight at f5 seems to hold things together, but remember that White can play Nd4. Now find the solution.. } 20. Bf6 Rac8 { 20...gxf6 21.exf6 Rg8 22.hxg8Q+ Rxg8 23.Qh5+ } 21. Nd4 gxf6 22. exf6 { Black resigned, as there is no defense. } 1-0
[Event "Riga"]
[Site "?"]
[Date "1954.??.??"]
[Round "?"]
[White "Saigin"]
[Black "Tal"]
[Result "0-1"]
[PlyCount "72"]

1. d4 Nf6 2. c4 c5 3. Nf3 e6 4. g3 cxd4 5. Nxd4 d5 6. Bg2 { White's strategy is clear: pressure the pawn at d5. } 6... e5 7. Nf3 d4 { Black drives the White forces back and takes control of the center. At f3, the knight blocks the bishop at g2. } 8. O-O Nc6 9. e3 Be7 10. exd4 exd4 { Now White has a new target at d4, but the passed pawn is well-supported and exerts a cramping influence on the White forecourt. } 11. Nbd2 Be6 12. Re1 O-O 13. b3 Qd7 14. Bb2 Rad8 { Both sides have brought their forces into the game. } 15. a3 a5 16. Ne5 Nxe5 17. Rxe5 b6 18. Nf3 { This square should have been occupied by the queen, which would have given White complete control of the a8-h1 diagonal. Now the bishop sits idly at g2. } 18... Bc5 19. Qd2 { 19.b4 axb4 20.axb4 Bd6 A very strong intermediate move. If Black had taken the pawn at b4 right away then White would have captured.21.Re1 Bxb4 Now White can't take the pawn at d4 because the rook at e1 is attacked. } 19... Ng4 20. Ree1 d3 { The weak f2-square is now under attack. } 21. Rf1 Qd6 22. Qc3 { Black must now take time out to deal with the threat at g7. } 22... f6 23. Rad1 Rfe8 { A move indicative of the young (16 year old) Tal's talent. There is nothing happening on the e-file yet, but Tal appreciates that the e3-square will play an important role. In any event, the occupation of the e-file is useful. } 24. Rd2 { 24.Ng5 Nxf2 25.Rxf2 Bxf2+ 26.Kxf2 Qc5+ 27.Kf1 Qxg5 } 24... Bf5 25. Ng5 { Now Black employs a decoy tactic to lure the pawn at f2 to e3. } 25... Ne3 26. fxe3 Bxe3+ 27. Kh1 Bxd2 28. Qxd2 Re2 { This is even stronger than capturing the knight at g5. } 29. Qc3 { 29.Bd5+ Qxd5+ 30.cxd5 Rxd2 31.Rxf5 Rxb2 32.Ne4 d2 33.Rf1 Rxd5 34.Rd1 Re5 35.Rxd2 Rb1+ 36.Kg2 Rxe4 } 29... Rxg2 { White resigned, because the passed pawn cannot be stopped. } 30. Kxg2 d2 31. Rd1 Bg4 32. Nf3 Qd3 33. Qxd3 Rxd3 34. Rxd2 Bxf3+ 35. Kf2 Rxd2+ 36. Kxf3 Rxb2 0-1
[Event "World Championship"]
[Site "?"]
[Date "1954.??.??"]
[Round "9"]
[White "Smyslov"]
[Black "Botvinnik"]
[Result "1-0"]
[PlyCount "49"]

1. e4 e6 2. d4 d5 3. Nc3 Bb4 4. e5 c5 5. a3 Ba5 { Normally Black captures at c3, but this retreat leads to complications with a very unbalanced pawn structure. } 6. b4 cxd4 7. Qg4 Ne7 8. bxa5 dxc3 { White's queenside pawns are very weak, and the pawn at c3 is an annoyance, but White will pick up g7 and h7 and have an outside passed pawn. } 9. Qxg7 Rg8 10. Qxh7 Nd7 { This knight belongs on c6. Now White will execute a very simple plan: advance the h-pawn until it becomes a queen! Of course he will have to be careful in the execution of the strategy. } 11. Nf3 Nf8 { Botvinnik proposed 11...Qc7 as an improvement, but Smyslov correctly points out that White has a strong reply: 11...Qc7 12.Bb5! Rxg2?! 13.Kf1 Rg8 14.Rg1 Rxg1+ 15.Kxg1 and the pin makes it very hard for Black to develop. } 12. Qd3 Qxa5 13. h4 { Here we go! It turns out that Black's pawn at c3 just gets in the way. } 13... Bd7 14. Bg5 { Black is prevented from castling, and the control of the h4-d8 diagonal keeps Black pinned down. Smyslov uses this fact and his h-pawn to win the game in fine style. } 14... Rc8 15. Nd4 { Black was going to try and wiggle out with a combination of Rc8-c4- e4+ and the placement of a knight at f5. This stops both plans. } 15... Nf5 { Now White does not want to capture immediately, because the Nf8 would occupy the new hole at e6. But how to answer the threat of Nf5xd4 and Bb5? } 16. Rb1 Rc4 { Smyslov considers 16.. .b6 best, but it is hard to blame Botvinnik, for what follows is truly inspired. } 17. Nxf5 exf5 18. Rxb7 Re4+ { How does White win? If White is to move in this position then Rb8+ is fatal. That's really all one needs to know in order to finish the game brilliantly. } 19. Qxe4 dxe4 20. Rb8+ Bc8 21. Bb5+ Qxb5 { 21...Nd7 22.Rxc8+ } 22. Rxb5 { Now the game is over, not because of the exchange, but rather because of the flying h-pawn which was the cornerstone of White's strategy. } 22... Ne6 23. Bf6 Rxg2 24. h5 Ba6 25. h6 { It is only fitting that the pawn has the final say. After the bishop captures the rook there is no way to stop the pawn from queening. } 1-0
[Event "World Championship"]
[Site "?"]
[Date "1954.??.??"]
[Round "2"]
[White "Botvinnik"]
[Black "Smyslov"]
[Result "1-0"]
[PlyCount "59"]

1. d4 Nf6 2. c4 e6 3. Nc3 Bb4 4. e3 b6 5. Ne2 Ba6 6. a3 Be7 7. Nf4 d5 { Black has chosen an aggressive opening plan, placing immediate pressure on White's position. This course is justified by the fact that his development is equal to that of his opponent. } 8. cxd5 Bxf1 9. Kxf1 { 9.dxe6 Ba6 10.exf7+ Kxf7 11.Qb3+ Ke8 12.Ne6 Qd7 13.Nxg7+ Kd8 14.Ne6+ Kc8 } 9... exd5 { 9...Nxd5 10.Ncxd5 exd5 11.Qh5 c6 12.Ne2 g6 } 10. g4 { This was a portion of Botvinnik's home cooking. In World Championship matches both players usually come well-prepared, working with a team of analysts for a period of months. And better opening preparation can turn into points! } 10... c6 11. g5 Nfd7 { White continues the kingside aggression. The weaknesses on the light squares are not so important because Black does not have a light-squared bishop. } 12. h4 Bd6 13. e4 { White now controls the center. } 13... dxe4 14. Nxe4 Bxf4 15. Bxf4 O-O { Black must castle before White can play Nd6, but now the pawnstorm continues. } 16. h5 Re8 17. Nd6 Re6 18. d5 { The pawn cannot be captured, but the rook has no comfortable retreat square. It is not easy to see why 18...cxd5 19.Qxd5 Na6 is unplayable, but try to find the solution yourself. } 18... Rxd6 { 18...cxd5 le ads to a long forcing variation which wins for White: 19.Qxd5 Na6 20.Nxf7 Kxf7 21.g6+ hxg6 22.hxg6+ Ke7 23.Bd6+ Kf6 24.Qf3+ Kxg6 25.Rg1+ Kh7 26.Qf5+ Kh8 27. Rh1+ Kg8 28.Qxe6+ } 19. Bxd6 Qxg5 { It looks like Black has weathered the storm. He is down the exchange but has an extra pawn and the White king position looks suspect. Botvinnik now plays an excellent move which takes control of a number of key squares. } 20. Qf3 Qxd5 { Now we have an endgame, where the security of White's king is not an issue. } 21. Qxd5 cxd5 22. Rc1 Na6 23. b4 h6 24. Rh3 Kh7 25. Rd3 Nf6 { The bishop t d6 dominates the knight at a6. Now White wins another pawn and the rest is easy. } 26. b5 Nc5 27. Bxc5 bxc5 28. Rxc5 Rb8 29. a4 Rb7 30. Rdc3 1-0
[Event "Hastings"]
[Site "?"]
[Date "1954.??.??"]
[Round "?"]
[White "Smyslov"]
[Black "Fuderer"]
[Result "1-0"]
[PlyCount "73"]

1. c4 e5 2. Nc3 d6 3. Nf3 c6 4. d4 Qc7 5. g3 Nf6 6. Bg2 Be7 { Black strange development leave his pieces passively placed. 6...g6 trying to activate the bishop on the a1-h8 diagonal would be met with 7.O- O Bg7 8.e4 with a space advantage to White. } 7. O-O O-O 8. e4 a5 { 8...Bg4 Followed by Nbd7 would at least give the Black pieces some room to breath. } 9. h3 { This keeps both bishop and knight off of g4. } 9... Na6 10. Be3 { If White hadn't played 9.h3 Black could now play Ng4 harassing the dark squared bishop. } 10... Re8 11. Rc1 Nd7 12. Qe2 Bf8 13. Rfd1 { White stands better due to his quick development While Black's pieces are still looking for there correct positions. } 13... exd4 { Although, Black stands worse because of his backward development he shouldn't open up the position since White is more than ready for the fight. 13...g6 keeping the position closed until he gets fully developed was a better idea. } 14. Nxd4 Ndc5 15. Kh2 Bd7 16. Qf3 a4 17. Nf5 { While Black has been chasing after imaginary play on the queenside White has been building up a kingside initiative. } 17... Re6 18. Qf4 Rf6 19. g4 Re8 { 19...Bxf5 20.exf5 With the immediate threat of pawn g5 trapping the Black rook. } 20. Qg3 h6 21. Rd2 Bc8 22. Rcd1 Qa5 23. Bf4 Bxf5 { Black must part with the two bishops while opening up the g-file due to his weak d-pawn. Which the knight on f5 was overpowering. } 24. gxf5 Qb4 25. Bxd6 Rxd6 26. Rxd6 Bxd6 27. Rxd6 { White has won a pawn while keeping his kingside initiative. } 27... Kh7 { 27...Qxb2 28.Rxh6 when Black would have no good response to stop White's threat of pawn g6. } 28. e5 Qxc4 { 28...Qxb2 29.e6 fxe6 would allow White to win material. } 29. Rg6 Rg8 { 29...fxg6 30.Qxg6+ Kg8 31.Qxe8+ Kh7 32.Qg6+ would also be hopeless for Black. } 30. Rg4 Qd3 31. Be4 Qd2 { The final mistake after which Black gets clobbered on the light square 31...Qxg3+ 32.Kxg3 Nxe4+ 33.Nxe4 Re8 34.Kf4 was a better try for Black. However, White's pieces are much more active for the endgame. } 32. e6 fxe6 33. fxe6+ Nxe4 34. Nxe4 Qxb2 35. Qf4 { The queen prepares to take over the light squares while standing by to help the passed e-pawn. } 35... Nb4 36. e7 Nd3 37. Nf6+ { Black resigned. 37.Nf6+ Black resigned as the White e-pawn promotes after 37...Qxf6 38.Qxf6 gxf6 39.Rxg8 Kxg8 40.e8Q+ } 1-0
[Event "World Championship"]
[Site "?"]
[Date "1954.??.??"]
[Round "9"]
[White "Smyslov"]
[Black "Botvinnik"]
[Result "1-0"]
[PlyCount "49"]

1. e4 e6 2. d4 d5 3. Nc3 Bb4 4. e5 c5 { The Winawer variation of the French Defense where Black tries to undermine the White center. } 5. a3 Ba5 { Black preserves his bishop temporarily and retains pressure on the a5-e1 diagonal. 5...Bxc3+ 6.bxc3 Ne7 7.Qg4 Qc7 8.Qxg7 Rg8 9.Qxh7 cxd4 Leads to sharp play with chances for both sides. } 6. b4 { With this pawn advance White tries to punish Black's dark squared bishop for leaving the kingside. } 6... cxd4 { 6...cxb4 7.Nb5 Also leads to sharp play. } 7. Qg4 Ne7 { 7...Kf8 8.bxa5 dxc3 9.Nf3 Ne7 10.Bd3 Nd7 11.Qb4 Qc7 12.O-O Nc5 13.Qxc3 would be better for White because of Black's awkward king position. } 8. bxa5 dxc3 9. Qxg7 Rg8 10. Qxh7 Nd7 { Played with the idea of bringing the knight to f8. However, the knight proves to be passive on the back rank. Better was 10...Nbc6. } 11. Nf3 Nf8 12. Qd3 Qxa5 13. h4 { White advances his passed pawn while holding the g5 square for his dark squared bishop. } 13... Bd7 14. Bg5 Rc8 15. Nd4 Nf5 16. Rb1 { White offers his a-pawn in exchange for the Black b-pawn. } 16... Rc4 { 16...Qxa3 17.Nxf5 exf5 18.Rxb7 when Black has too many weaknesses to cover. } 17. Nxf5 exf5 18. Rxb7 { White has a big advantage thanks to his passed h-pawn and dark squared bishop which restrict the options of the Black king. } 18... Re4+ 19. Qxe4 { A startling queen sacrifice which is a small investment for what follows. } 19... dxe4 20. Rb8+ Bc8 21. Bb5+ Qxb5 22. Rxb5 { White has won the exchange and for a player with Smyslov's technique the rest is easy. } 22... Ne6 23. Bf6 Rxg2 24. h5 Ba6 25. h6 { Black resigned because he can't stop White's passed h-pawn from promoting. } 1-0
[Event "Riga"]
[Site "?"]
[Date "1955.??.??"]
[Round "?"]
[White "Rovner"]
[Black "Tal"]
[Result "0-1"]
[PlyCount "52"]

1. e4 e6 2. d4 d5 3. Nd2 Nf6 4. e5 Nfd7 5. Bd3 c5 6. c3 Nc6 7. Ne2 Qb6 { Black's opening strategy is clear: pile up pressure on the pawn at d4, and try to undermine the pawn chain. } 8. Nf3 cxd4 9. cxd4 f6 { This is a typical idea in such formations. Black will open up the f-file, castle, and then attack. } 10. exf6 Nxf6 11. O-O Bd6 12. Nc3 O-O 13. Re1 { White tries to discourage Black from playing e5, which will allow him to get the bad bishop into the game. } 13... Bd7 14. Nb5 Bb8 { A temporary inconvenience. The knight won't stay at b5 forever and the bishop can return to d6. } 15. Nc3 Bd6 { Why can't Black take the pawn at d4? 15...Nxd4 16.Nxd4 Qxd4 17.Bxh7+ } 16. Bg5 Rae8 { The battle for the e5-square resumes. } 17. Re2 { White defends the pawn at b2. } 17... Ng4 18. h3 { Although there are several White pieces on the kingside, only one actually participates in the defense of the king, and this is now eliminated by an exchange sacrifice. } 18... Rxf3 19. gxf3 Nh2 { The threat is Nxf3+, forking the king and bishop at g5. } 20. Kg2 Nxd4 { With the defending knight at f3 gone, the pawn falls. } 21. Re3 { Necessary, to defend f3. } 21... h6 22. Bh4 Bf4 { Now White must give up the exchange. } 23. Bg6 { A desperate counterattack. The next few moves are forced. } 23... Bxe3 24. Bxe8 Nhxf3 25. Bxd7 Nxh4+ 26. Kf1 Qxb2 { Finally this pawn can be captured, and the dual threats of Qxf2 mate and Qxc3 force White to resign. } 0-1
[Event "Soviet Championship"]
[Site "?"]
[Date "1955.??.??"]
[Round "?"]
[White "Petrosian"]
[Black "Taimanov"]
[Result "1-0"]
[PlyCount "47"]

1. d4 d5 2. c4 e6 3. Nf3 Nf6 4. Nc3 c6 5. e3 Nbd7 6. Bd3 Bb4 7. O-O O-O 8. Qc2 Bd6 { Black plans to challenge the White center by playing 8...Bd6, dxc4 and e5. However, a better move order was to start with 8...dxc4. As played White is able to give support to his c-pawn. } 9. b3 { White plans on answering 9...bxc4 with 10. bxc4. Thus lending support to his central pawns. While, at the same time allowing both his bishops to aim at the Black kingside. } 9... dxc4 10. bxc4 e5 11. Bb2 Re8 12. Ne4 { White offers Black an exchange on e4. Which will remove an important defender from the Black kingside. } 12... Nxe4 13. Bxe4 h6 14. Rad1 exd4 { A mistake which opens up the position for the White attack. 14...Qe7 Trying to keep the position closed should be preferred. } 15. Bh7+ Kh8 16. Rxd4 Bc5 { 16...Nf6 17.c5 Nxh7 18.Rxd6 Qe7 19.Rxh6 This takes advantage of the Black g- pawn being pinned by the White bishop on b2. } 17. Rf4 Qe7 { 17...Nf6 18.Bxf6 gxf6 would fatally weaken the Black kings position. } 18. Re4 Qf8 19. Rh4 f6 { 19...Nf6 20.Rxh6 gxh6 21.Bxf6+ Wins the Black queen. } 20. Bg6 Re7 21. Rh5 { 21. Rh5 frees the h4 square for the White knight. } 21... Bd6 22. Rd1 Be5 23. Ba3 c5 24. Nh4 { Black resigned as he has no good way of meeting the intended light-squared onslaught. } 1-0
[Event "Soviet Championship"]
[Site "?"]
[Date "1955.??.??"]
[Round "?"]
[White "Smyslov"]
[Black "Botvinnik"]
[Result "1-0"]
[PlyCount "55"]

1. Nf3 Nf6 2. g3 g6 3. Bg2 Bg7 4. O-O O-O 5. d3 c5 6. e4 Nc6 7. Nbd2 d6 8. a4 Ne8 { Botvinnik prepares a vigorous counterattack down the f-file. The safest and best treatment is 8...Rb8 followed by shifting the weight of the struggle to the queenside. } 9. Nc4 e5 10. c3 f5 { Rather too enterprising. Sounder is 10...h6 followed by 11...Be6. } 11. b4 { This time the Hypermodern idea comes with an offer of material. A well-founded sacrifice: the b-file is opened and White diminishes Black's influence in the center by attacking c5. } 11... cxb4 12. cxb4 fxe4 { 12...Nxb4 13.Qb3! and the weakness of the a2-g8 diagonal is exploited. 12...h6 was a safer plan. The text was played with the idea of accepting White's offer later on. } 13. dxe4 Be6 14. Ne3 Nxb4 15. Rb1 a5 16. Ba3 Nc7 17. Bxb4 axb4 18. Rxb4 Bh6 { Botvinnik replies with an active defence. He intends 19 Rxb7 Bxe3 20 fxe3 Na6 and Nc5. } 19. Rb6 { The d-pawn is more important than the b-pawn. } 19... Bxe3 20. fxe3 Bc4 21. Rxd6 Qe8 22. Re1 { White's material advantage is of no significance, and Black can easily regain his pawn. The chief defect of Black's position is the exposed situation of his king and the lack of coordination between his other pieces. } 22... Rf7 { 22...Rxa4? 23.Nxe5! Qxe5 24. Qxa4 Qxd6 25.Qxc4+ 22...Qxa4! 23.Qxa4 Rxa4 24.Nxe5 and Black has some prospects of survival. } 23. Ng5 Re7 24. Bf1 Bxf1 25. Rxf1 { Threatening Qb3+ and Rdf6. } 25... Qxa4 { 25...h6 loses to 26.Rff6!! hxg5 27. Rxg6+ Kh8 28.Rh6+ Kg8 29.Rdg6+ Rg7 30.Qb3+ Qf7 31.Rxg7+ Kxg7 32.Rh7+ Kxh7 33. Qxf7+ } 26. Rd8+ Re8 27. Qf3 Qc4 28. Rd7 1-0
[Event "USSR vs USA Match"]
[Site "?"]
[Date "1955.??.??"]
[Round "?"]
[White "Horowitz"]
[Black "Petrosian"]
[Result "0-1"]
[PlyCount "74"]

1. d4 Nf6 2. c4 c5 3. d5 e5 4. Nc3 d6 5. e4 g6 6. g3 Bg7 7. Bg2 O-O 8. Nge2 Nh5 9. O-O Nd7 10. Be3 f5 11. f4 exf4 { Since White has more room for his pieces, it wouldn't make sense to maintain the central tension. While after these exchanges Black gains the e5 square for his pieces. } 12. Nxf4 Nxf4 13. Bxf4 { 13.gxf4 fxe4 14.Nxe4 Nf6 is fine for Black due to the holes in White's position. } 13... Ne5 { This outpost at e5 is the foundation of Black's winning strategy. } 14. Qe2 a6 15. Bh3 { Played with the idea of exchanging his bad light squared bishop. } 15... Bd7 16. exf5 gxf5 { Takes away the e4 square from White's pieces. 16...Bxf5 would play into White's hands after 17.Bxf5 Rxf5 18.Ne4 } 17. Rae1 Qe8 18. Nd1 Qg6 19. Ne3 Rae8 20. Qc2 Qh5 { Black eases the pressure against his f-pawn by driving back the light squared bishop. } 21. Bg2 Re7 22. b4 b6 23. bxc5 bxc5 24. Qb3 Rfe8 25. Nc2 a5 { Before beginning play in the center Black locks up the queenside. } 26. h3 a4 27. Qb6 Qg6 28. Qa6 Bh6 29. Kh1 { Very nice Black exchanges off White's best minor piece. } 29... Bxf4 30. gxf4 Nd3 31. Rxe7 Rxe7 { White has no way of opposing the invasion of the Black army. } 32. Qa5 Re2 33. Qd8+ Be8 34. Bf3 Rxc2 35. Bh5 Nf2+ { White resigned, since he gets checkmated after. } 36. Rxf2 Rc1+ 37. Kh2 Qg1# 0-1
[Event "US Open"]
[Site "?"]
[Date "1956.??.??"]
[Round "?"]
[White "Dale Ruth"]
[Black "Fischer"]
[Result "0-1"]
[PlyCount "48"]

1. e4 c5 2. Nf3 d6 3. d4 cxd4 4. Nxd4 Nf6 5. Nc3 a6 6. Be2 e5 7. Nf3 Be7 8. O-O O-O 9. h3 Nbd7 10. Re1 b5 11. a4 { Provoking an advance he isn't ready to meet. } 11... b4 12. Nd5 Nxd5 13. Qxd5 Qc7 14. Qb3 { White can't take the rook because of 14...Nb6, but the queen is still misplaced and exposed on b3. It was best to retreat to d1 and suffer quietly. } 14... Nc5 15. Qxb4 d5 16. exd5 { Now White loses by force. Black would have a huge edge after 16 Qc3 d4 17 Qd2 Nxe4, but no immediate win. } 16... e4 17. Nd2 Nd3 18. Qxe4 Nxe1 19. d6 Bxd6 20. Qxa8 Bb7 21. Qxf8+ Kxf8 22. Kf1 Nxc2 23. Rb1 Nd4 24. Bd3 Bb4 0-1
[Event "Moscow"]
[Site "?"]
[Date "1956.??.??"]
[Round "?"]
[White "Botvinnik"]
[Black "Szabo"]
[Result "1-0"]
[PlyCount "53"]

1. c4 g6 2. g3 Bg7 3. Bg2 e5 4. Nc3 Ne7 5. d3 c6 6. e4 { A more hypermodern approach would be to allow Black to play d7-d5. } 6... d6 7. Nge2 a6 8. a4 a5 9. Be3 Be6 10. O-O Qd7 { This interferes with the development of the knight at b8. } 11. b3 h5 12. h4 Bh3 { Black's attack has too little force to cause any concern. } 13. d4 { White takes complete control of the center, which will give him a solid base from which to conduct operations on the flank. } 13... O-O 14. Ra2 Bxg2 15. Kxg2 d5 { Black allows the game to open up, even though his pieces are not well placed to do battle. } 16. dxe5 dxc4 17. bxc4 Bxe5 { 17...Qxd1 18.Rxd1 Bxe5 19.Rb2 } 18. Qxd7 Nxd7 19. Rd2 { White now controls the only open file, and will use it to infiltrate the seventh rank. } 19... Bxc3 { 19...Rfd8 20.Rfd1 } 20. Rxd7 Bb4 { Black seems to have coordinated his pieces, but this coordination can be disrupted. } 21. c5 Rfe8 22. Rfd1 f5 { 22...Ra7 23.Rc7 Kf8 24.Rdd7 } 23. Rxb7 fxe4 24. Rd6 Kf7 25. Nf4 Reb8 26. Rbd7 Ke8 27. Ne6 { Black resigned, since Bg5 is coming. } 1-0
[Event "US Open"]
[Site "?"]
[Date "1956.??.??"]
[Round "?"]
[White "Fischer"]
[Black "Lapiken"]
[Result "1-0"]
[PlyCount "37"]

1. Nf3 Nf6 2. g3 d5 3. Bg2 Bf5 4. O-O e6 5. d3 c6 6. Nbd2 Na6 7. a3 { White deci des to play on the queenside rather than the normal 7 Qe1, 8 e4 and kingside play. } 7... Nc5 8. c4 b5 { Creating a weakness on c6, which White exploits immediately. } 9. Nd4 Qd7 10. Nxf5 exf5 11. Nb3 h6 12. Be3 Ne6 13. Nd4 { Once again White attacks both c6 and f5. Now Black should play 13...Nxd4 14 Bxd4 Be7 and try to defend b5 and d5. } 13... g6 { Trading the weak pawn on f5 for an entire weak diagonal a1-h8. } 14. Qb3 Rb8 { This loses, but he had to drop something. His best chance was 14...Bg7. } 15. Nxc6 Qxc6 16. cxd5 Nc5 { Black must have counted on this, but White has another double attack coming. } 17. Qc3 Qd6 18. Bxc5 Qxc5 19. Qxf6 1-0
[Event "Moscow Olympiad"]
[Site "?"]
[Date "1956.??.??"]
[Round "?"]
[White "Botvinnik"]
[Black "Golombek"]
[Result "1-0"]
[PlyCount "39"]

1. c4 Nf6 2. Nf3 c5 3. g3 g6 4. b3 Bg7 5. Bb2 O-O 6. Bg2 Nc6 7. O-O b6 { This is weak, since after White's next Black won't be able to trade knights and thus he'll get stuck with a permanent cramp. } 8. d4 cxd4 9. Nxd4 Bb7 10. Nc3 Qc8 11. Nc2 { Avoiding exchanges and preparing Ne3-d5. } 11... d6 12. e4 Nd7 13. Qd2 Nc5 14. f4 Ne6 15. Rad1 Ned4 { Black finally trades knights, but in the meantime White has got his pieces to very active squares. } 16. Nxd4 Nxd4 { Black should have recaptured with the bishop, as the knight can't stay on d4. } 17. Nd5 { White lets Black take his knight, but the price is a strong c- file and an even better center. Black must now try 17...Nc6 and suffer. } 17... Bxd5 18. cxd5 Nb5 { Losing at once. He had to play 18...e5, though White is winning after 19 dxe6 Nxe6 20 Bxg7 and 21 Qxd6. } 19. Bxg7 Kxg7 20. Rc1 { Black loses his knight after 20...Qany 21 a4 and 22 Qb2+ or Qc3+. } 1-0
[Event "Moscow Olympiad"]
[Site "?"]
[Date "1956.??.??"]
[Round "?"]
[White "Botvinnik"]
[Black "Gligoric"]
[Result "1-0"]
[PlyCount "59"]

1. c4 g6 2. g3 c5 3. Bg2 Bg7 4. Nc3 Nc6 5. Nf3 Nh6 { A rather artificial formation. } 6. h4 d6 7. d3 Rb8 8. h5 Bd7 9. Bxh6 Bxh6 10. hxg6 hxg6 { White's tactical operations on the kingside have resulted in an open h- file and a pin on the bishop at h6. } 11. Qc1 { This forces Black's reply, since the queen cannot be captured because of mate at h8. } 11... Bg7 12. Rxh8+ Bxh8 13. Qh6 { White is attacking effectively with the queen, to be supported by a knight. } 13... Bxc3+ 14. bxc3 { Now the Black king has no defense. We soon have an example of a king hunt, where the enemy monarch will be chased all over the board and finally snared far from home. } 14... e6 15. Ng5 Ke7 16. Kd2 { The White king will be safe here and now the rook can transfer to the h-file. } 16... Be8 17. Qg7 Kd7 18. f4 { 18.Nxf7 Qe7 } 18... Qe7 19. Rh1 Nd8 20. Ne4 Kc7 21. Rh8 Bc6 22. Nf6 { What happens if Black captures the bishop at g2? } 22... Kb6 { 22...Bxg2 23.Re8 } 23. Bxc6 Nxc6 24. Rh7 Nd8 { Now White exploits the pin on the seventh rank. } 25. Qxg6 Ka6 { Black appr eciates the danger. Once White captures at f7 there will be a fork available at d7. } 26. a4 { Keeping the Black king hemmed in. Otherwise b7-b5 would be possible. } 26... Ka5 27. Qg5 Kxa4 28. Rh1 { The threat is Kc2, depriving the enemy king of another flight square. } 28... Kb3 29. Qh4 Kb2 30. g4 { This is the simple way, but Botvinnik could have finished more elegantly. 30.Rb1+ Kxb1 31.Qh1+ Kb2 32.Qc1+ Kb3 33.Qb1+ Ka3 34. Kc2 and mate next move. } 1-0
[Event "Moscow Olympiad"]
[Site "?"]
[Date "1956.??.??"]
[Round "?"]
[White "Botvinnik"]
[Black "Padevsky"]
[Result "1-0"]
[PlyCount "63"]

1. d4 Nf6 2. c4 g6 3. g3 Bg7 4. Bg2 O-O 5. Nc3 d6 6. Nf3 c5 7. d5 Na6 { This move is not as strange as it looks. In positions with this sort of pawn structure, the knight serves well at c7, where it can support the advance of the b-pawn to b5. } 8. O-O Nc7 9. Nd2 Rb8 10. Qc2 e5 { Why does Black change plans? He should have simply continued with his original idea. 10...b5 11.cxb5 Nxb5 12.Nxb5 Rxb5 } 11. dxe6 Bxe6 12. b3 d5 13. cxd5 Nfxd5 14. Bb2 { The theme of this game is now set. Whoever makes best use of the a1-h8 diagonal will win. } 14... b6 15. Nxd5 Bxd5 16. Bxg7 Kxg7 17. Rad1 { White will ccupy the long diagonal a1-h8 with the queen, but only at the most appropriate moment. There is no rush. Right now there is more interesting action on the d-file. } 17... Bxg2 18. Kxg2 Qe7 19. Ne4 { This is an important move, since it covers the critical f6-square. } 19... Rbd8 20. h4 { Better was 20...f6. } 20... Rxd1 21. Rxd1 Rd8 { Black is expecting to exchange pieces and draw. But f6 is weaker than it seems . } 22. Qb2+ { Now! } 22... f6 { The f6-square is pinned. Note that the word "square" is used, rather than "pawn". That is your hint. Can you find the win? } 23. Nxf6 Kf7 { 23...Qxf6 24.Qxf6+ Kxf6 25.Rxd8 or 23...Rxd1 24.Nd5+ or 23...Rd4 24.e3 } 24. Rxd8 Qxd8 25. Nxh7 Ne6 26. Qe5 b5 27. Ng5+ { White has two extra pawns, and that is enough to win the queen and pawn endgame. } 27... Nxg5 28. hxg5 Qa8+ 29. e4 Qc6 30. Kf3 c4 31. bxc4 Qxc4 { This makes it easy by allowing White to exchange queens. } 32. Qd5+ { Black resig ned. If you think that you can save the position, go ahead and play it out with Gambit as your antagonist! } 1-0
[Event "Moscow"]
[Site "?"]
[Date "1956.??.??"]
[Round "?"]
[White "Uhlmann"]
[Black "Smyslov"]
[Result "0-1"]
[PlyCount "36"]

1. d4 Nf6 2. c4 e6 3. Nf3 b6 4. g3 Ba6 { This has become a very popular move, especially since the 1984/85 World Championship match. If the bishop at f1 is going to be fianchettoed at g2, then the Black bishop will attack the undefended pawn at c4. } 5. b3 d5 6. Bg2 Bb4+ 7. Nfd2 { White violates the opening principle that one shouldn't move the same piece twice. 7.Bd2 } 7... c5 { Being better developed Black wastes no time in attacking the White center. } 8. dxc5 { This move is a mistake since it drives Black's dark squared bishop to a better diagonal. 8.a3 Bxd2+ 9.Nxd2 Nbd7 10.dxc5 bxc5 White has gained the bishop pair but this is offset by Black's advantage in the center. } 8... Bxc5 9. Bb2 O-O 10. O-O Nc6 11. Nc3 Rc8 12. cxd5 { 12.Na4 Bb4 13.cxd5 would have been a better move order since White would keep control of his d4 square. } 12... exd5 13. Na4 Nd4 14. Nc3 { Because of White's poor move order the knight must return to protect his e- pawn. 14.Re1 Nc2 15.Qxc2 would allow Black to win White's queen. } 14... Qe7 15. Re1 Nc2 16. Rf1 Nxa1 17. Qxa1 Rfd8 18. Bf3 Ba3 { White resigned, since there is no compensation for the missing exchange. } 0-1