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Mikhail Botvinnik vs Vasily Smyslov
Botvinnik - Smyslov World Championship Match (1954), Moscow URS, rd 16, Apr-20
King's Indian Defense: Fianchetto Variation. Immediate Fianchetto (E60)  ·  1-0

ANALYSIS [x]

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Kibitzer's Corner
Feb-25-07  mircea88: In both game 12 and game 16 of this match, Botvinnik uses the same attacking motif: advance of e and f pawns. Romanovsky (in his book "Middle game planning") discusses an older game of Alekhine where the idea was used: Alekhine-Bogolyubov 1921.
Apr-29-11  bronkenstein: I prefer such silent ˝where did black go wrong ?˝ wins to tactical firework anyday.

25. ...Bf8? seems to be the first direct blunder , losing a pawn by force ( since 26. ... Nxd8 27.Nf6+ Kg7 28. Nd7 is even worse than the gameline ) , but black is in deep trouble already.

Apr-11-12  Zugzwangovich: This was the eighth (!) consecutive decisive game between these two, which must be a record for post-WWII world championship matches. Next best (as far as I know) is seven straight decisions in Botvinnik-Tal '61.
Apr-18-21
Premium Chessgames Member
  plang: The first of three consecutive Whites (games 16,18 and 20) where Botvinnik played the quiet e3 against the Kings Indian; apparently a reaction to Smyslov's successful opening preparation and pretty win in game 14. 12 c5! effectively contained Black's plan of ,,a6 and ..Rb8; already White had gained a positional edge. Perhaps 13..Qxd1 and only then ..b6 would have been more accurate. 21 Ne4! prevented counterplay by ..f6 or ..g5 and led to a fairly effortless endgame win.

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