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Mikhail Botvinnik vs Paul Keres
FIDE World Championship Tournament (1948), The Hague NED / Moscow URS, rd 20, May-04
Queen Pawn Game: Zukertort Variation (D02)  ·  1-0

ANALYSIS [x]

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Given 4 times; par: 137 [what's this?]

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Kibitzer's Corner
Dec-22-03  marekg248: It seems so simple when Botvinnik plays! In his book he wrote that black made a mistake moving 18. ... Nc8, weakening c6 square. Move 21. Nb4 is to prevent black knight to move to c4.
Aug-12-07  sanyas: <Benzol> why is this in your collection?
Aug-12-07
Premium Chessgames Member
  Benzol: <sanyas> <why is this in your collection?> Although Botvinnik regains the exchange next move it is still an exchange sacrifice which upsets the balance of play.
Aug-12-07  sanyas: In that case shouldn't you also have Bogoljubov vs Alekhine, 1929?
Aug-12-07
Premium Chessgames Member
  Benzol: <sanyas> It would certainly be possible to add that game to Game Collection: The Exchange Sacrifice and there are a great many others that could also be added and I may do so in future but the point of the collection is to focus mainly on games played by the players listed in the introduction.
Aug-13-07  sanyas: Well it certainly is a very beautiful game. What was Black thinking when he played 18...♘c8? After that, Botvinnik makes victory seem inevitable. A work of art.
May-08-08  Wone Jone: <sanyas> <What was Black thinking when he played 18...Nc8?> Perhaps, "I really don't want to get sent to the Gulag!"
Aug-27-09  WhiteRook48: a rather funny way to give your opponent doubled pawns without losing material
Mar-04-10
Premium Chessgames Member
  keypusher: <What was Black thinking when he played 18...Nc8? >

Something like "Life would be a lot easier after ...Nb6-c4." But Botvinnik spoiled it with the blockade on c6 and pressure on the d-pawn.

Dec-28-15  ColdSong: Nice technical artwork.
Apr-30-21  tbontb: 18....Nc8 heads for c4 but Botvinnik actively prevents this regrouping, then 23....Rxc6 (better Rad8) results in a difficult ending for Keres, particularly after the Q exchange (28....Qe8 is more stubborn). White is effectively a pawn ahead due to Black's compromised Q-side structure. In the game 42.Nd5 establishes a winning advantage but alternatives such as 41....Ke7 42.e5 fxe5 43.dxe5 Kd7 44.Ke4 are no real improvement. As a neat touch, 49.Ne6 offers Black various losing pawn endings e.g. 49....Ke5 50.Nxc5 bxc5 51.g4 intending moving the White K to c3 then playing b3.

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