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Mikhail Botvinnik vs Bent Larsen
Oegstgeest (1970), Oegstgeest NED, rd 5, Apr-25
King's Indian Defense: Saemisch Variation. Normal Defense (E81)  ·  1-0

ANALYSIS [x]

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Kibitzer's Corner
Apr-27-06
Premium Chessgames Member
  Mateo: Sometimes a chess game is very mysterious.

60... Bh6? is a blunder because White could have played 61. Re8 winning another pawn. This is the reason why 60... Be7 was better.

But instead, Botvinnik played 61. Rh8?. This, I cannot explain because it is very simple.

64... Rc8? was really bad. It was obvious that White was planning 65. b5. So Larsen should have played 64... Kf7.

Jul-20-06  Gouki: perhaps the blunders came about as a result of time pressure? maybe that is the only logical explanation. Although in any event, I believe that black's position was lost anyway despite the blunders on moves 60, 61 and 64.
Apr-10-18  Toribio3: This game is very instructive. Passed pawns have enormous power during end game.
Aug-19-18  WorstPlayerEver: Blunder was 58... Bg5, 58... Be7 was needed.
Aug-13-19  BUNA: <Mateo: Sometimes a chess game is very mysterious.

60... Bh6? is a blunder because White could have played 61. Re8 winning another pawn. This is the reason why 60... Be7 was better.

But instead, Botvinnik played 61. Rh8?. This, I cannot explain because it is very simple.> Botvinnik explained in his annotations that he didn't play 61.Re8 because it would have allowed black's rook to enter white's camp with 61...Ra7 and 61... Ra3+

Aug-16-24
Premium Chessgames Member
  Honza Cervenka: <60... Bh6? is a blunder because White could have played 61. Re8 winning another pawn. This is the reason why 60... Be7 was better.>

After 60...Be7 white can play 61,Bd2! (Ph4 is untouchable for Rh8) 61...Ra7 62.Rh8+ Kg6 63.Rh6+ Kf7 64.Bg5 Kg7 65.Rxe6 and the game is over.

Aug-16-24
Premium Chessgames Member
  Honza Cervenka: <64... Rc8? was really bad. It was obvious that White was planning 65. b5. So Larsen should have played 64... Kf7.>

After 64...Kf7 white still can continue 65.b5! with idea 65...cxb5 66.c6 with next 67.Ba5 Rc8 68.c7 etc.

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