[Event "Venice"]
[Site "?"]
[Date "1950.??.??"]
[Round "?"]
[White "Kotov"]
[Black "Pachman"]
[Result "1-0"]
[Annotator "14: Minority Attack"]
[ECO "D65"]
[PlyCount "139"]
[Source "Hays Publishing"]
[SourceDate "1964.01.01"]

{ Passive defence offers drawing chances at best } 1. d4 e6 2. c4 Nf6 3. Nf3 d5 4. Bg5 Be7 5. e3 O-O 6. Nc3 Nbd7 7. Rc1 a6 8. cxd5 exd5 9. Bd3 Re8 10. O-O c6 11. Qc2 Nf8 12. a3 g6 13. b4 Ne6 14. Bxf6 { This exchange is notworthy in that
it permits White to push on with the minority attack without delay } ( 14. Bh4 Ng7 15. Rb1 Bf5 16. a4 Bxd3 17. Qxd3 Nf5 $132 ) 14... Bxf6 15. a4 Ng7 ( 15... b5 { This would weaken the c-pawn, but it will be weak in any case } ) 16. b5 axb5 17. axb5 Bf5 { This is the idea behind Pg6, to exchange White's
good Bishop for Black's bad one } 18. Bxf5 Nxf5 19. bxc6 bxc6 20. Na4 { The assault on the weak pawn now begins, which means that the minority attack
proper is over. What remains must be reagarded as the technique pahse, in
which the advantage gained is to be converted into a win  This technical phase,
however, is so closely integrated with the minority attack that the reader
should give it his attention. The whole procedure is very characteristic of
such positions } 20... Rc8 21. Qc5 ( 21. Nc5 { another scheme } ) 21... Nd6 22. Nd2 Re7 23. Rb1 Rb7 24. Rxb7 Nxb7 25. Qa7 Nd6 26. Qa6 Qc7 27. Rc1 { Keeping the c-pawn under siege } 27... Bd8 28. Nc5 Qa5 29. Qd3 { The exchange of Queens would afford some relief to Black } 29... Qb5 30. g3 Bb6 ( 30... Qxd3 31. Nxd3 Ba5 32. Nb3 ) 31. Rb1 Qxd3 32. Nxd3 Ba5 33. Nb3 Bd8 ( 33... Rb8 34. Ndc5 Rb6 35. Ra1 ) 34. Nbc5 Be7 35. Nd7 Rc7 36. Nb8 Nc4 37. Ra1 Rc8 38. Nd7 Rc7 39. Ra8+ Kg7 40. N7e5 Nxe5 41. Nxe5 Bd6 42. Nd3 { This is a vita
l moment. Black has found the best defence and reached a position in which a
draw seems probable. In practical play however, the task of the defender is
extremely arduous. Fatal consequences can follow the smallest inexactitude } 42... Kf6 { This is it. It was essential for Black to prevent the advance that follows } ( 42... h5 { Kotov } ) ( 42... f5 { Pachman } ) 43. g4 $1 { Creating a new weakness in
the enemy camp - namely the h-pawn.  White's strategic intention is to prevent
Black from playing ... Ph5, and to play Pg5 himself. Two advantages will
accrue from this:  1) The weak h-pawn will be fixed  2) The Black Bishop will
become "bad" with respect to the Kingside pawns } 43... Ke6 ( 43... Kg5 44. h3 h5 45. f4+ Kh4 46. Kg2 hxg4 47. Rh8# ) ( 43... c5 44. dxc5 Bxc5 45. Rd8 { The second weakness as a result of the backward pawn } 45... Ke6 46. Nf4+ { costs a pawn } ) 44. Kg2 Rb7 45. Re8+ Re7 46. Rh8 f6 47. h4 Rb7 48. Kf3 Rf7 49. Re8+ Re7 50. Rd8 $1 Ra7 51. Nc5+ { Now it begins to look serious } 51... Ke7 ( 51... Bxc5 52. dxc5 Ra6 ( 52... Rd7 $2 53. Rc8 ) 53. Rd6+ Ke7 54. g5 { White forces his way into Black's camp } ) 52. Rc8 Bxc5 53. dxc5 Kd7 54. Rh8 Ke6 55. Rd8 $1 Ke7 ( 55... Rc7 56. Rd6+ Ke5 57. Ke2 $1 g5 58. hxg5 fxg5 59. Kd3 Rc8 60. Rd7 h6 61. Rd6 { Winning a pawn (Kotov) } ) 56. Rd6 Ra6 57. g5 $1 { Forcibly freeing the square e5, and the White King will presently make
grateful use of the square } 57... fxg5 58. hxg5 Kf7 59. Kg3 $1 ( 59. Kf4 $2 Ra4+ 60. Ke5 $4 Re4# ) 59... Ke7 60. f3 Ra3 61. Kf4 Ra4+ 62. Ke5 Ra3 $1 ( 62... Ra6 63. Re6+ Kd7 64. Kf6 { The second weakness coming into play } ) 63. Rxc6 Rxe3+ 64. Kxd5 Rd3+ ( 64... Rxf3 65. Rc7+ Ke8 66. Rxh7 Rf5+ 67. Ke6 Kd8 68. Kd6 ) 65. Ke4 Rc3 66. f4 Rc1 67. Rc7+ Kd8 68. Rxh7 Rxc5 69. Rf7 Rc6 70. Ke5 1-0