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Vasily Smyslov vs Mikhail Botvinnik
USSR Championship (1951), Moscow URS, rd 7, Nov-22
Spanish Game: Closed. Kholmov Variation (C92)  ·  1-0

ANALYSIS [x]

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Kibitzer's Corner
May-25-05  ughaibu: I guess Botvinnik was planning 39....Rd3
May-25-05  Stevens: <aw1988> he what the pin?
May-25-05  aw1988: Holy god. Deep apologies, I typed that in a rush. He *missed* the pin. Post deleted.
May-25-05  Stevens: <aw1988> ha ha! You should have left it there. I nearly *missed* myself laughing.
May-25-05  aw1988: Yes, well, embarrasing mistake. :)
Jul-15-11  AVRO38: Botvinnik was already lost after 37...Kf6?? since after 38.Nd3! black cannot prevent the loss of material and the game.
Jun-17-15  zydeco: Up to this game, Botvinnik had a record of +7-1 in tournament games against Smyslov A nice smooth win by Smyslov to start solving his Botvinnik problem.

The threat of 37.Rxd8, simplifying to a winning king-and-pawn endgame, is a big problem for black. Maybe he can tread water with 36....Kf8.

Jun-17-15  zydeco: Actually, Smyslov says that black could have held with 36....Rd5! and if 37.Ke4 Rd2.
Jan-01-16  ColdSong: This quiet system chosen by Smyslov to counter Botvinnik's Spanish Kholmov is not without venom after all.
Apr-13-18  Toribio3: This game is a masterpiece. Smyslov is one of the greatest player of all time!
Jul-11-22  cehertan: Ye olde nagging edge. Smyslov made it look easy, kind of stunning to beat MB like a baby in a simple ending.
Jul-11-22
Premium Chessgames Member
  HeMateMe: I wonder if Botvinik didn't factor in the advancing f pawn? Back in the day, less theory was published, GMs had to figure it out OTB and during adjournments.
Jul-12-22  suenteus po 147: <zydeco: Actually, Smyslov says that black could have held with 36....Rd5! and if 37.Ke4 Rd2.>

36...Rd5 is a very nice in-between move that seems superficially pointless (the white king defends the knight easily), but actually creates an opening to attack.

Since Botvinnik blundered on move 38, I wonder if maybe he was in time trouble just before the control.

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