Endgame Riddle Unzicker vs Botvinnik solved: Unzicker could have won!

by Karsten Müller
1/27/2022 – The German Grandmaster Wolfgang Unzicker was an amateur and a judge by profession but even for the world's best players he was a dangerous opponent. At the Chess Olympiad 1954 in Amsterdam he was close to winning against Mikhail Botvinnik but Botvinnik managed to save an endgame that seemed impossible to save. Karsten Müller invited ChessBase readers to take a look at this endgame, and now presents the solution of this endgame riddle.
Winning starts with what you know
The new version 18 offers completely new possibilities for chess training and analysis: playing style analysis, search for strategic themes, access to 6 billion Lichess games, player preparation by matching Lichess games, download Chess.com games with built-in API, built-in cloud engine and much more.

Endgame Riddle Unzicker vs Botvinnik, Amsterdam 1954

 
New ...
Open...
Share...
Layout...
Flip Board
Settings
MoveNResultEloPlayers
Replay and check the LiveBook here
48.h4 f5 After this move the game was adjourned and Botvinnik spent the night looking for a way to draw. First, with his second Salo Flohr, later on his own. 49.g3 Kf8 50.Rd7 e5 51.Kg2 Kg8 52.h5 Ra5 53.h6 Rb5 54.Rg7+ Kh8 55.Re7 Ra5 56.Kf3 Rd5 57.g4 e4+ 58.dxe4 fxg4+ 59.Ke2 d3+ 60.Kd2 Rd4 61.Re8+ Kh7 62.Re6 Ra4 63.Kxd3 Ra3+ 64.Ke2 Rf3 65.e5 Rf5 66.Ke1 Rf4 67.Rf6 Re4+ 68.Kf1 Rxe5 69.Kg2 Ra5 70.Kg3 Rg5 71.Kh4 Rg8 72.Kh5 g3 ½–½
  • Start an analysis engine:
  • Try maximizing the board:
  • Use the four cursor keys to replay the game. Make moves to analyse yourself.
  • Press Ctrl-B to rotate the board.
  • Drag the split bars between window panes.
  • Download&Clip PGN/GIF/FEN/QR Codes. Share the game.
  • Games viewed here will automatically be stored in your cloud clipboard (if you are logged in). Use the cloud clipboard also in ChessBase.
  • Create an account to access the games cloud.
WhiteEloWBlackEloBResYearECOEventRnd
Unzicker,W-Botvinnik,M-½–½1954C18Olympiad-11 Final A9

Apart from valuable input by the readers I received extensive analyses from Zoran Petronijevic, Helmut Kahovec and Wolfram Schoen.

Here are the conclusions by Zoran Petronijevic:

  • The adjourned position after 48.h4 is lost for Black.
  • After 50…e5 the game move 51.Kg2? is a mistake that should lead to a draw. Better was 51.h5 and White should win.
  • Black's 51st move 51…Kg8? is also a mistake. After 51…Ke8 Black should draw with best play.
  • In the game White played 52.h5, and in his analyses Botvinnik claims that the alternative 52.f4 is bad. However, after 52.f4 White is winning.
  • 53.h6? is a mistake that should lead to a draw. However, in this position, White has many winning moves. One of them is 53.Kh3.
  • Instead of 53…Rb5? (the game move) better was 53…Ra1. Black should be able to hold with best play.
  • After 61.Re8? the position is a draw. Better is 65.e5 and White should win.

Analysis by Zoran Petronijevic

 
New ...
Open...
Share...
Layout...
Flip Board
Settings
MoveNResultEloPlayers
Replay and check the LiveBook here
1.e4 e6 2.d4 d5 3.Nc3 Bb4 4.e5 c5 5.a3 Ba5 6.b4 cxd4 7.Qg4 Kf8 8.bxa5 dxc3 9.Nf3 Ne7 10.Bd3 Nd7 11.Qb4 Qc7 12.0-0 Nc5 13.Qxc3 Bd7 14.a4 Rc8 15.Ba3 Nxd3 16.Qxc7 Rxc7 17.cxd3 f6 18.Rfc1 Rxc1+ 19.Rxc1 Kf7 20.Rc7 Rd8 21.Bxe7 Kxe7 22.Rxb7 Rc8 23.Kf1 a6 24.Ra7 Rc2 25.Rxa6 Ra2 26.Ra7 Rxa4 27.Ke2 d4 28.Nd2 Ra2 29.Kd1 Kd8 30.exf6 gxf6 31.Ne4 Bc6 32.Nc5 Bd5 33.a6 Ra1+ 34.Kc2 Ra3 35.Kb2 Ra2+ 36.Kb1 Ra5 37.Nb7+ Bxb7 38.axb7 Rb5+ 39.Kc2 Kc7 40.b8Q+ Kxb8 41.Rxh7 Kc8 42.Re7 42.g4 Rc5+ 43.Kd2 Rb5 44.Rf7 Rb2+ 45.Ke1 Rb1+ 46.Ke2 Rg1 47.Rxf6 Rxg4 48.Rxe6 Kd7 49.Re4 Rg5 50.Rxd4++- 42...Re5 43.Kd2 Kd8 44.Rf7 Rf5 45.Ke2 Ke8 46.Ra7 Re5+ 47.Kf1 Rb5
Sources: 1, Baturinsky, Sakhmatnoe tvorcestvo Botvinnika II, FIS, Moscow 1966. 2. Botvinnik, Analiticeskie i kriticeskie raboty II, FIS Moscow 1985 3. Khalifman, Botvinnik II, Sofia 2001. 4. Milhalchishin Adrian, Mastering essential Rook endgames, Chess evolution 2018. 5. Jugoslavenski sahovski glasnik 1954/12 6. Sahmaty v SSSR 1955/1 48.h4 In this position the game was adjourned. Evaluation of this position is clear: Black is lost. f5 Sealed move. Black prevents g4. According to Botvinnik, active play cannot help as well: 48...Rb1+ 49.Ke2 Kf8 This move was analyzed by Schoen Wolfram. 49...Rb2+ 50.Kf3 Rd2 51.h5 Kf8 51...Rxd3+ 52.Ke2 Rb3 53.h6+- Botvinnik (1,2) 52.h6 Kg8 53.Rg7+ Kh8 54.Rf7 f5 55.g3 Rxd3+ 56.Kf4+- Mikhalchishin (4). Although the material is even, the difference between Kings decides the game. 49...Rh1 50.g3 e5 51.Kf3 f5 52.Ke2+- Botvinnik (1, 2). 50.g4 Also wins: 50.Kf3? This move is a clear mistake which leads to the draw: Rb3! the position is a draw 50...Rd1? This move loses. 51.h5? is a clear mistake White still wins on the following way: 51.Ra3! Although White leaves 7th rank, his position is still winning. f5 51...e5 52.g4 Rh1 52...f5 53.g5 Rh1 54.Ra5 Rh3+ 55.Ke2 f4 56.Rxe5 f3+ 57.Kd2 Rxh4 58.Rf5+ Kg7 59.Rxf3 Kg6 60.Rg3+- 53.Ra6 Ke7 54.h5 f5 55.gxf5 Rxh5 56.Re6+ Kf7 57.Rxe5 Rh2 58.Re6 Rh4 59.Ra6 Ke7 60.Kg3 Rh1 61.Kf4 Rf1 62.f3 Kf7 63.Ke4 Rd1 64.Kxd4+- 52.Kf4 Rd2 52...Ke7 53.f3 Kf6 54.g4 fxg4 54...e5+ 55.Kg3 f4+ 56.Kf2 Rd2+ 57.Ke1 Rh2 58.Ra6+ Kg7 59.h5 Rh1+ 60.Kf2 Rh2+ 61.Kg1 Rh3 62.Kg2 Rg3+ 63.Kf2 Kf7 64.Ra7+ Kf6 65.h6 Kg6 66.h7 Rh3 67.Kg2 Rh4 68.Ra6+ Kxh7 69.Re6 Kg7 70.Rxe5 Rh8 71.Rf5+- 55.fxg4 Rf1+ 56.Kg3 Rg1+ 57.Kf3 Rf1+ 58.Kg2 Rd1 59.Kh2 Kg6 60.Kg3 Kf6 61.h5 Rg1+ 62.Kf3 Re1 63.Ra5 Re3+ 64.Kg2 e5 65.h6 Re2+ 66.Kg3 Kg6 67.Ra6+ Kg5 68.h7 Re3+ 69.Kg2 Re2+ 70.Kg1 Re1+ 71.Kf2 Rh1 72.Kg3 e4 72...Rxh7 73.Re6+- 73.dxe4 Rxh7 74.Ra5+ Kf6 75.Rf5+ Kg6 76.Rd5 Rh1 77.Rxd4+- 53.Ke5 Kf7 54.Ra7+ Kg6 55.Kxe6 Rxf2 56.Ra8 Re2+ 57.Kd5 Kf7 58.Ra7+ Kg6 59.Ra6+ Kg7 60.Rd6 Rxg2 61.Ke5 Rh2 62.Rxd4 Kg6 63.Rd6+! Kf7 64.Rf6+ Ke7 65.Rh6+- Petronijevic 51...Rxd3+ 52.Ke2 Rb3 53.h6 Kg8= 51.Ke4 Rb2 52.h5 Rxf2 53.h6 Kg8 54.Rg7+ Kh8 55.Kxd4 Re2 56.Rf7 e5+ 57.Kd5 Rd2 58.Ke4 Re2+ 59.Kf3 Rd2 60.Rd7 f5 61.g4 fxg4+ 62.Kxg4 Rh2= 50.Rd7 wins easiest. e5 51.Kf3 f5 52.h5 52.g3 also wins Kg8 53.Kg2 Rc1 54.Re7 Re1 55.h5 Kf8 56.h6 Kg8 57.Rg7+ Kh8 58.Rf7 e4 59.dxe4 fxe4 60.g4 d3 61.Rd7 e3 62.Rxd3 exf2 63.Kxf2+- 52...Rh1 53.Rd5 Re1 54.Kg3 Kf7 55.h6 Ke6 56.Ra5 Rh1 57.Ra6+ Kf7 58.f3 Rh5 59.Kf2 Rh2 60.Kg1 Rh5 61.g3 e4 62.dxe4 fxe4 63.fxe4 d3 64.Rd6 d2 65.Rd7+ Kf8 66.Kg2 Rxh6 67.Rxd2+- 50...Rh1 51.Rh7! 51.h5? is a mistake which leads to the draw f5 52.gxf5 exf5 53.Rd7 Rxh5 54.Rxd4 Kf7= 51...e5 52.h5 Kg8 53.Ra7 Rh3 54.Rd7 Kf8 55.f4 Kg8 56.fxe5 fxe5 57.Rd5 Re3+ 58.Kd2 Rg3 59.Rxe5 Rxg4 60.Kc2 Rh4 61.Kb3 Kf8 62.Kb4 Kf7 63.Kc4 Kf6 64.Ra5 Ke7 65.Ra7+ Kf8 66.Rh7 Kg8 67.Rd7 Rxh5 68.Rxd4 Ra5 69.Re4+- 49.g3 49.Ke2 Kf8 50.h5 Kg8 51.Re7 Re5+ 52.Kf3 Re1 53.Kf4 Re2 54.Kg5 Rxf2 55.Rxe6 Rxg2+ 56.Kxf5+- Petronijevic 49.h5 Rb1+ 50.Ke2 Rh1 Botvinnik (1, 2) Mikhalshishin (4). 51.Rh7 e5 52.h6 Rh5 53.Kf3 Kf8 54.Rh8+ Kf7 55.h7 Rh6 56.Kg3 Kg7 57.Re8 Rxh7 58.Rxe5 Kf6 59.Rd5 Rg7+ 60.Kf3 Rg4 61.g3 Ke6 62.Rd8 Ke5 63.Kg2 Rg7 64.f4+ Ke6 65.Rxd4+- 49...Kf8 50.Rd7 50.h5 Kg8 50...Rb1+ 51.Kg2 Kg8 52.Re7 Re1 53.h6 e5 54.Kf3 Kh8 55.g4 e4+ 56.Kf4 e3 57.fxe3 fxg4 58.e4 g3 59.Rg7+- 51.Re7 e5 52.Kg2+- Smyslov (Source: Botvinnik 1, 2). 50...e5 51.Kg2? This natural move throws away his advantage. No one source notices that this move is a mistake. 51.h5 was winning move: Rb6 52.Kg2 Rb3 53.Rd5 Kg7 54.Rxe5 Kf6 55.Rd5 Rxd3 56.h6 Kg6 57.Rd6+ Kf7 57...Kh7 58.Rf6 Rd1 59.Kf3 Rc1 60.Rxf5 Kxh6 61.Ke2+- 58.Rd7+ Kg8 59.Rg7+ Kh8 60.Rf7+- Petronijevic 51...Kg8? Black does not take his chance: 51...Ke8! 52.Rg7 52.Ra7 e4 53.h5 Rb6 54.dxe4 fxe4 55.g4 d3 56.Ra4 Kf7 57.Rxe4 d2 58.Rd4 Rb4 59.Rd7+ Ke6 60.Rxd2 Rxg4+= 52...e4 53.Ra7 Re5 54.Rb7 Ra5 55.h5 Ra6 56.dxe4 fxe4 57.g4 d3 58.Rb4 Kf7 59.Rd4 Kf6 60.Rxe4 d2 61.Rd4 Ra4 62.Rd6+ Ke7 63.Rxd2 Rxg4+= 52.h5 52.f4 According to Botvinnik (1, 2) this move is bad exf4 53.gxf4 Rb2+ 54.Kg3 Rb1 55.Rxd4 Rg1+ "with counter play for Black." Botvinnik (1, 2). However, this is not true 55...Kf7 cannot help as well: 56.h5 Rh1 57.Rd7+ Ke6 58.Rh7 Rd1 59.Rh6+ Ke7 60.Kh4 Rxd3 61.Kg5!+- Petronijevic 56.Kf3 Kf7 57.Rd5 Rf1+ 58.Ke3 Kf6 59.h5 Rh1 60.h6+- Mikhalchishin (4). 52...Ra5
52...Rb1 53.Re7 53.f4 is easier. Petronijevic 53...e4 53...Re1 leads to an interesting win after 54.Ra7 Re2 55.Rd7 Re1 56.Re7 Kf8 57.h6 Kg8 58.Kf3 Kh8 59.g4 fxg4+ 60.Kxg4 Rf1 61.Rxe5 Kh7 62.Kg5 Rg1+ 63.Kf5 Kxh6 64.Ke4+- Petronijevic 54.Rd7 Rb3 55.dxe4 fxe4 56.g4+- Mikhalchishin (4). 56.Rxd4+- is easier. Petronijevic 53.h6? This move is a mistake which throws away win. No one source notice this moment. White has a win after 53.Kh3 Ra2 54.f4 exf4 55.gxf4 Ra1 56.Kh4 Rd1 57.Rxd4 Kf7 58.Rd6 58.h6 also wins: Rh1+ 59.Kg5 Ke6 60.Rd8 Rg1+ 61.Kh5 Rh1+ 62.Kg6 Rg1+ 63.Kh7 Rg4 64.d4 Rxf4 64...Ke7 65.Rb8 Rxf4 66.Rb7++- 65.d5++- 58...Ke7 59.Rc6 Rxd3 60.Kg5+- Petronijevic 53...Rb5? Again we cannot find in sources an amazing idea 53...Ra1‼ after which the position is even! Let us se a possible line 54.f4 54.Rd5 Re1= 54...exf4 55.gxf4 Ra6 56.Rxd4 Kh7 57.Rd8 Kxh6= 54.Rg7+ Easier was 54.Kh3 Rb6 55.Kh4 Rxh6+ 56.Kg5 Rh2 57.Kg6 Kf8 58.Rf7+ Ke8 59.Rxf5 Kd7 60.Rxe5 Rxf2 61.Re4 Rf1 62.Rxd4++- 54...Kh8 55.Re7 Ra5 55...e4 cannot help as well: 56.dxe4 fxe4 57.Rxe4 Rd5 58.Kf1 d3 59.Ke1+- 56.Kf3 Rd5 57.g4 Botvinnik is right that easier was 57.h7 e4+ 58.dxe4 fxe4+ 59.Rxe4 Botvinnik (1, 2). d3 60.Re1 Kxh7 61.Rd1 Rd8 62.Ke3+- Mikhalchishin (4). 57...e4+ Botvinnik ! (1). The position is lost anyway. 58.dxe4 fxg4+ 59.Ke2 d3+ 60.Kd2 Rd4 61.Re8+? 61.e5 Rf4 61...Rd5 62.e6 Rd6 63.Re8+ Kh7 64.e7 Re6 65.Kxd3 Re5 66.Kd4 Re6 67.Kd5 Re2 68.Kd6 Rd2+ 69.Ke5 Re2+ 70.Kf4 Rxf2+ 71.Ke3+- 62.Rg7 Rxf2+ 63.Kxd3 Rf1 64.Rxg4 Re1 65.Kd4 Kh7 66.Kd5+- Flohr,Salo 61...Kh7= 62.Re6 Ra4 63.Kxd3 63.f4 (!) V. Vukovic (5). In fact, this move loses! g3 64.Re7+ Kxh6 65.Re6+ Kh5 66.Re5+ Kh4! 66...Kg4 V. Vukovic - leads to draw. 67.Rg5 g2 68.e5 Ra2+ 69.Ke3 69.Kxd3 Ra3+ 70.Ke4 Rg3-+ 69...d2 70.Ke2 70.Rxg2 d1Q 70...Ra1-+ Petronijevic 63...Ra3+ 64.Ke2 Rf3 65.e5 Rf5 66.Ke1 Rf4 67.Rf6 67.Kf1 g3 68.Rf6 68.f3 Rxf3+ 69.Kg2 Re3 70.Kh3 Ra3 68...Rxf6 69.exf6 Kxh6 70.fxg3 Kg6 71.Kg2 Kxf6 72.Kf3 Kg5= Mikhalchishin 67...Re4+ 67...Rxf6? 68.exf6 Kxh6 69.Ke2 Kg6 70.Ke3 g3 71.fxg3 Kxf6 72.Kf4 Kg6 73.Kg4+- Mikhalchishin 68.Kf1 Rxe5 69.Kg2 Ra5 70.Kg3 Rg5 71.Kh4 Rg8 72.Kh5 g3 ½–½
  • Start an analysis engine:
  • Try maximizing the board:
  • Use the four cursor keys to replay the game. Make moves to analyse yourself.
  • Press Ctrl-B to rotate the board.
  • Drag the split bars between window panes.
  • Download&Clip PGN/GIF/FEN/QR Codes. Share the game.
  • Games viewed here will automatically be stored in your cloud clipboard (if you are logged in). Use the cloud clipboard also in ChessBase.
  • Create an account to access the games cloud.
WhiteEloWBlackEloBResYearECOEventRnd
Unzicker,W-Botvinnik,M-½–½1954C18Olympiad-11 Final A9

Wolfram Schoen explains the critical moments of the endgame in "human terms":

 
New ...
Open...
Share...
Layout...
Flip Board
Settings
MoveNResultEloPlayers
Replay and check the LiveBook here
A rook ending with 4 vs 3 pawns, all central or on the kingside. In general this offers the defender high chances for a draw. But White's h-pawn is already passed and most importantly Black's king is restricted to the back rank by White's strong rook on the 7th. Black's only plus is a possible counterplay against White's isolated d3 together with his connected pawns.
48.h4! Pushing the passed pawn immediately is in fact the only winning move. The deeper reason is, it helps defending the d3 indirectly. Thus no active play for Black, who can just choose a defensive set-up and wait for his chances. 48.g4? With the idea to follow up with h2-h4-h5. But it is too slow. Rb3! 49.Ke2 or 49.h4 Rxd3 50.h5 Rh3 51.Kg2 Rh4 52.f3 f5 53.Kg3 Rh1 49...Rb2+ 50.Kf3 Rb3! 51.Ke4 Rb2! 52.f3 Rxh2 53.Kxd4 In both lines White has lost almost all of his advantage. 48...f5 Countering White's plan of g2-g4 and h4-h5. 48...Rb1+ A serious alternative with some options in the next move. 49.Ke2 Kf8 The most important defensive set-up here is to flexibly place the rook on the first rank. 49...Rb2+?! This is the key line for the tactical defence of the d3. 50.Kf3! Rd2 51.h5! The passer simply threats to promote with the help of just his rook. So Black will defend with his king. Kf8 52.h6! Kg8 53.Rg7+! Kh8 54.Rf7 f5 55.g3! Rxd3+ 56.Kf4! Black could capture the d3, but now the white king can walk into Black's camp. Ra3 57.Ke5 Ra2 58.Kf6! e5 59.Rd7 f4 60.g4 e4 61.g5+- 49...Rh1 Black's rook tries to permanently annoy the white pawns. However White can calmly coordinate his forces and make progress step-by-step. 50.g3 Kf8 51.Kf3! Rd1 52.Ke4 Rd2 53.f3! Rh2 54.Rh7 Rh3 55.g4 Kg8 56.Rh6 Kf7 57.g5 fxg5 58.hxg5 Rg3 59.f4+- 50.Rd7 It will be helpful for White to provoke e6-e5, so his king will get inroads. 50.Kf3? This is too early and needs preparation. As Zoran Petronijevic pointed out, it actually spoils the win already. Rb3! 51.h5?! Rxd3+ 52.Ke2 Rb3 53.h6 Kg8= 50...e5 51.Kf3 Now this is possible, because of the weakness of the square f5. 51.h5 Alternatively to the main line this is another winning set-up. However it comes with a problem. Rh1 52.g4! Rh3 Cutting off White's king is rather unpleasant. 53.f4! This is the only way to make progress. Otherwise Black just waits with Kf8-g8-f8. It is getting really messy now. f5!? Black has at least 5 alternatives here. But I would like to give just one line as a demonstration. 54.g5! Rxh5 55.fxe5! Rxg5 56.Rxd4! Tablebases. White wins, but he has all hands full to coordinate his pawns and repel Black's counterplay. Rg3 57.Rh4 Ke7 58.d4 Ke6 59.Rh6+! Kd5 60.Rd6+! Ke4 61.e6! Rg2+ 62.Ke1 Ke3 63.Kf1 Rf2+ 64.Kg1! Kf3 65.Rd5 Rg2+ 66.Kh1 Rg8 67.Re5! Kf2 68.Rxf5+ Ke3 69.d5 Ke4 70.Rh5 Re8 71.Kg2+- 51...f5 Pluging the hole. 51...Rb3 52.h5! If Black goes for the d3 now, White's king can infiltrate. Rxd3+ 53.Kg4! Rd1 54.h6! Rh1 55.h7! e4 56.Kf4 f5 57.Rxd4 Rxh7 58.Rd5! Rh4+ 59.Kxf5 Rh2 60.Kf6! Rh6+ 61.Kg5! Rh2 62.Rf5+ Kg7 63.Kf4 e3 64.fxe3+- 52.g3 White can use here the same set-up as in the game. However the situation is a bit different due to Black's rook placement. Ke8 52...Rb3 53.Rd5 Now the weakness of the advanced pawns e5 and f5 will be Black's ruin. Rxd3+ 54.Ke2 Ra3 55.Rxe5+- 53.Ra7 Kf8 53...Rb3 Again Black could try this, but White can react with the resources seen before. 54.h5 Kf8 55.Ra5 e4+ 56.Kf4 exd3 57.Rxf5+ Kg7 58.Ra5 Rb2 59.f3 d2 60.Ra1 Rb3 61.Rd1 Rd3 62.Kg4 Kf6 63.f4+- 54.h5 Kg8 54...Rb3 transposes to 53...Rb3 54...Rh1 55.Kg2 Rxh5 56.Ra5! Ke7 57.Rxe5+ Kd6 58.Ra5 Rg5 59.f3 Ke6 60.g4+- 55.Re7 Re1 55...Rb5 is the last chance to switch back to the defence system from the game. We will see this position later on. 56.Kg2 A key position, zugzwang for Black. Kf8 56...e4 57.Rd7 e3 58.Rxd4 Rg1+ 59.Kf3! exf2 60.Kxf2 Rh1 61.Rh4+- 57.h6! Kg8 58.Rg7+ Kh8 59.Rf7! e4 60.dxe4! d3 60...fxe4 61.g4! Ra1 62.Kg3! Ra6 63.g5+- 61.Rd7! Rxe4 62.Rxd3 Re6 62...Kh7 63.Rd6 Ra4 64.Rf6 Ra5 65.Kh3+- 63.Rd5 Rf6 64.Kf3 Kh7 65.Kf4 Kg6 66.h7+- 49.g3 A fairly calm move, so White's king can use the g2 square now. Good play. 49.h5?! Overhasty and almost a blunder. Nevertheless winning. Rb1+ 49...Kf8 50.g3 transposes to 49.g3 Kf8 50.h5 50.Ke2 Rh1 51.Rh7! Not White's dream scenario, but just the only move. Rh2 51...e5 This counterplay will fail by one tempo. 52.h6! e4 53.Rh8+ Kf7 54.dxe4! fxe4 55.h7 Kg6 56.Re8! d3+ 57.Kd2! Rxh7 58.Rxe4!+- 52.Kf3 e5 53.h6 Rh4 54.Rh8+ Kf7 55.h7! Rh6 56.Kg3 Kg7 56...Rh1 57.f4 Kg7 58.Rd8! exf4+ 59.Kxf4 Rf1+ 60.Kg5! Kxh7 61.Rxd4 Kg7 62.Rd7+ Kf8 63.Rd5!+- 56...Rg6+ 57.Kh4 Kg7 58.Re8! Kxh7 59.Rxe5 Rxg2 60.Rxf5! Kg6 61.Rf4 Kh6 62.Kh3 Rg1 63.Rxd4+- 57.Re8! A technique we have seen before and we will see often again. White can exchange his h-pawn for one of Black's pawns and leave him with a shattered pawn structure. Rxh7 58.Rxe5 Kf6 For some time Black will be able to defend his two weaknesses d4 and f5. But sooner or later White will succeed by just improving in small steps. 59.Rd5 Rg7+ 60.Kf3 Rg4 61.g3 Ke6 62.Rd8 Ke5 62...Ke7 63.Rh8 Kf6 64.Rh4+- 63.Kg2 Rg7 63...f4 64.Kf3 64.f4+ Ke6 65.Rxd4 Even with two extra pawns White has some work to do. E,g. Rg8 66.Kf3 Rh8 67.Ra4 Rh1 68.Ra6+ Ke7 69.Ra3 Ke6 70.d4 Rd1 71.Ke3 Rg1 72.Ke2 Rg2+ 73.Kf3 Rd2 74.Ke3 Rg2 75.Ra6+ Kd5 76.Ra5+ Ke6 77.Re5+ Kf6 78.d5 Rxg3+ 79.Kd4 Rf3 80.Re6+ Kf7 81.Ke5+- 49...Kf8 Black's king moves towards g8 in anticipation of White's h-pawn advance. His rook stays on the 5th rank. 49...Rb1+ The routine check in case Black goes for the d3. 50.Ke2 50.Kg2 is also good Rd1 51.h5! Kf8 See the next side line after 49...Kf8 50.h5 Rb1+ 51.Kg2 Rd1. 50...Rb2+ 51.Kf3 Rd2 52.h5! Kf8 53.h6 Kg8 54.Kf4 King infiltration because of some holes in Black's position again. Rxd3 55.Kg5 Rb3 56.Kg6 Rb8 57.Rd7 e5 58.Kxf5 Rf8+ 59.Kg6+- 50.Rd7 50.h5 Smyslov's old proposal seems to be more precise, so White retains the option to place his rook either on d7 or e7 later. Rb1+ 50...Kg8 51.Re7 e5 52.h6 Kh8 53.Kg2 or 50...e5 51.h6 Kg8 52.Re7 Kh8 53.Kg2 both lead to the game after White's move 55. 51.Kg2 Rd1 52.h6! Kg8 53.Rg7+ Kh8 54.Re7 Re1 54...Rxd3 55.Rxe6 Kh7 56.Rf6! Rd1 57.Kf3 d3 58.Rxf5 Kxh6 59.Ke3+- 55.Rf7 This hampers e6-e5. White would like to play Kg2-f3-f4-g5 next. Kg8 55...Rd1 56.Rf6 Re1 57.Kf3 Kh7 58.Kf4!+- 56.h7+! Kh8 57.Kf3 e5 58.Rxf5 Kxh7 59.Rg5 Kh6 60.Rg4 Rd1 61.Ke4 Re1+ 62.Kd5 Re2 63.f4 e4 64.Kxd4+- 50...e5 51.Kg2? Too solid. First White needs to advance his passed pawn to h5, to restrict Black's pieces by threats of promotion. 51.h5! Very often this transposes to other lines. Kg8 51...Ke8 Just ineffective in the current situation. 52.Rg7! Rb6 52...e4 53.h6 Kf8 54.Rg5+- 53.Rg5 Rf6 54.Ke2 Ke7 55.f3 Ke6 56.g4 fxg4 57.fxg4 Kd5 58.Rg6+- 51...Rb1+ 52.Kg2 Rb3 As seen before, with both black e-pawn and f-pawn on the 5th rank this loses much of its effect. 52...Re1 53.h6 Kg8 54.Rg7+ is a position already seen in the 48...Rb1+ defence. 53.Rd5 Kf7 54.Rxe5 Kf6 55.Rd5 Rxd3 56.h6 Kg6 57.Rxf5 Kxh6 58.Kf1 Kg6 59.Rd5 Rd2 60.Ke1+- 52.Kg2 see the game after 51.Kg2 Kg8 52.h5 51...Kg8? Missing the chance to get counterplay for free out of nowhere. 51...Ke8! Kicking White's rook off the d-file and thus enabling e5-e4. After just a few moves Black will get rid of all his problems, thanks to his passed d-pawn. 52.Ra7 52.Rg7 e4! 53.h5 Rb6! 54.dxe4 d3!= 52...e4! 53.h5 Rb6! 54.dxe4 fxe4! 55.g4 Rd6 56.g5 Rd5! 57.f4 exf3+ 58.Kf2 Rxg5 59.h6 Rh5 60.h7 Kf8!= 52.h5 Back on track. 52.f4?! Opening up the position, but splitting all remaining white pawns. Unnecessary and allowing Black to offer more resistance. exf4 52...Rb3?! 53.fxe5! Rxd3 54.Kf2! Re3 55.Rxd4 Rxe5 56.Rd7!+- 53.gxf4 White is going to win a second pawn, but that is not the end of the story. 53.Kf3!? Very original. By some tricky tactics this will produce a close win by tablebases. Not to be recommended for humans. fxg3 54.Kxg3 Rb3 54...Rb1 55.Kf4! Rf1+ 56.Kg5! Rf3 57.Rxd4! Kf7 58.h5! Ke6 59.h6! Ke5 60.h7! Kxd4 61.h8Q+ Kxd3 62.Qb2+- 55.Rxd4! Kf7 56.Kf4 Ke6 57.h5! Rb1 58.h6! Rd1 59.Kg3! Kf6 60.h7 Kg7 61.Rd7+ Kh8 62.Kf4 Rf1+ 63.Ke5 Re1+ 64.Kd4 Re8 65.Rf7! Rd8+ 66.Ke3 Re8+ 67.Kd2 Rd8 68.Rxf5 Kxh7 69.Rg5! Kh6 70.Rg1 Kh5 71.Ke3 Re8+ 72.Kf4 Rd8 73.Ke4 Re8+ 74.Kf5! Rf8+ 75.Ke6 Rd8 76.Rd1!+- 53...Rb2+ 54.Kg3 Rb1 55.Rxd4 Kf7 55...Rg1+?! 56.Kf3 Kf7 57.Rd5 Rf1+ 58.Ke3+- is way easier for White. 56.h5! Rh1 56...Rg1+ 57.Kf3 Rh1 58.Rd7+ Ke6 59.Rh7 Rh3+ 60.Ke2 57.Rd7+! Ke6 58.Rh7! Rd1 59.Rh6+! Ke7 59...Kf7 60.Rd6! Ke7 61.Rd5! Ke6 62.Re5+ Kf6 63.Re3 Rh1 64.Kg2! Rxh5 65.Rh3!+- 60.Kh4! Rxd3 Tablebases. White will capture the f5 and restrict Black's king to the back rank. So this is a version of the infamous f + h pawn constellation, which is a white win. Humans have to go a very long and hard way until the last resistance will collapse. 61.Kg5! Kf7 62.Rf6+! Kg7 63.h6+! Kh7 64.Rf7+! Kg8 65.Rxf5! Rg3+ 66.Kh5 Rh3+ 67.Kg6! Rh4 68.Kg5! Rh1 69.Rd5 Rg1+ 70.Kh5! Re1 71.Re5 Ra1 72.Kg6 Ra6+ 73.Kg5! Ra1 74.Re8+ Kh7 75.Re7+! Kg8 76.f5 Now we are in a human theoretical position, solved by Maizelis in 1939. Very well worth noting. Rg1+ 77.Kf6! Ra1 78.Ke5 Re1+ 79.Kd6 Rd1+ 80.Ke6 Re1+ 81.Kd7 Rd1+ 82.Ke8 Rf1 83.Re5 Kh7 84.Kf7! Ra1 85.Re6! Ra8 86.Re8! Ra6 87.Re1 Ra7+ 88.Kf8! Kxh6 89.Re6+! Kg5 90.f6!+- 52...Ra5 52...Rb3 53.Rd5 Kf7 Now it is the same as after 51.h5 Rb1+ 52.Kg2 Rb3 53. Rd5 Kf7 52...Rb1 White should treat this the same way as the move from the game. 53.f4! 53.Re7 Re1 We have seen this position before, very early in the line 48...Rb1+. But then it was Black's turn and he was in zugzwang. As it is White to move, he has a problem. 53...exf4 54.gxf4 Rb2+ see 52...Ra5 53.f4 53.h6? Bad timing. We have seen this push already several times before. But in this set-up White's rook should be in e7 before going for h5-h6. As it is, Black's rook isn't tied to his e5 for a second and White's h6 is out of the supporting range of his other pieces. 53.Re7 White would like to place his rook here, but Black can simply repeat moves. Kf8 54.Rd7 Kg8 and White has to go for one of the other lines anyway. 53.f4! Now this is the big strike to crack the defence. One move before I condemned f2-f4. Since then one detail has changed, White's pawn is on h5 meanwhile. So the square h4 is available for White's king. Small difference - big effect. exf4 53...Ra2+ 54.Kf3 exf4 55.Kxf4 Rf2+ 56.Kg5 Rf3 57.Rxd4 Rxg3+ 58.Kxf5+- 54.gxf4 Ra2+ 55.Kg3 Ra1 56.Kh4! White isn't going for a second extra pawn, but a super active king. Rg1 56...Rd1 57.Rxd4 Kf7 58.h6 Ke6 59.Rd8 Rh1+ 60.Kg5 Rg1+ 61.Kh5 Rh1+ 62.Kg6 Rg1+ 63.Kh7 Rg4 64.Rg8+- 57.h6! Rg4+ 58.Kh5! Rxf4 59.Kg6 Rg4+ 60.Kxf5 TB, White will win the d4 and do a bit of consolidation. Thereafter he can use the standard technique of concentrating on his d-pawn, while using his h-pawn for distraction. Rh4 61.Kg5 Rh3 62.Rxd4 Rg3+ 63.Kf5 Rf3+ 64.Kg4 Re3 65.Rd6+- 53.Kh3! Starting with this king move is also good. Ra2 54.f4! exf4 55.gxf4 Ra1 56.Kh4! comes to the same as 53.f4 53...Rb5? 53...Ra1! By a sudden change to the flexible first rank rook set-up, Black can successfully defend. A key is the weakness of White's h6. 54.Rd5 54.f4 exf4 55.Rxd4 fxg3 56.Kxg3 Ra6! 57.Kf4 Rxh6 58.Kxf5 Kf7= 54...Re1! 55.Kh3 Rh1+! 56.Kg2 Re1! 57.Rd7 Ra1 58.Rg7+ Kh8! 59.Re7 After some non-forcing tries, White has to go for this one, allowing Black his counterplay with the central pawns. e4! 60.dxe4 60.Rd7 exd3 61.Rxd4 Kh7! 62.Rxd3 Kxh6= 60...d3! 61.Rd7 fxe4! 62.g4 Ra6! 63.Rd4 63.g5 Ra5 63...Kh7 64.Rxe4 Rd6! 65.Re1 d2 66.Rd1 Kxh6 TB, White can't win the d2 without losing one of his pawns. E.g. 67.f4 67.f3 Kg5 68.Kf2 Kf4 69.Ke2 Re6+= 67...Rd3 68.Kf2 Kg6 69.Ke2 Rg3! 70.g5 Kf5 71.Rf1 Rg2+ 72.Kd1 Rh2= 54.Rg7+ 54.Kh3! As before, infiltrating with the king decides matters more quickly. Rb6 54...Rb2 55.Kh4! Rxf2 56.Kg5 Rf3?! 57.h7+ Kh8 58.Kh6+- This mate attack with a small army is the key. 55.Kh4 or 55.h7+ Kh8 56.Kh4! Rg6 57.Rd5 e4 58.Rxd4 Re6 59.Kg5 e3 60.fxe3 Rxe3 61.Kf4 Re1 62.Kxf5+- 55...Rxh6+ 56.Kg5 Rh2 57.Kg6 Kf8 58.Rf7+ Ke8 59.Rxf5 Kd7 60.Rxe5 Rxf2 61.Re4 Rf3 62.Rxd4++- 54...Kh8 55.Re7! White's rook is on the right spot now to tie the black rook to the defence of his e5. Ra5 56.Kf3 56.Kh3 With Black's king on h8 this isn't effective anymore. Ra2 57.Kg2! White has to return and repeat moves once. not 57.Kh4? Rxf2 58.Kg5 Rg2 59.Kxf5 Rxg3= 57...Ra5 56...Rd5 The rook behind the d-pawn. Obviously the breakthrough e5-e4 is on Black's agenda now. 57.g4?! Complicating the win considerably, as White's pawn structure will be splitted now. 57.Rf7? Falls completely into the trap. e4+! 58.dxe4 fxe4+ 59.Ke2 Ra5 60.Rd7 Ra2+= 57.Ra7 A waiting move to force Black out of his optimal set-up. Rd6 57...Rb5 58.Rf7+- 57...Kg8 58.Rg7+ Kh8 59.Re7 Handing over the move to Black, zugzwang. Kg8 60.g4 With Black's king on g8, White's idea from the game works well. e4+ 61.dxe4 fxg4+ 62.Ke2 d3+ 63.Kd2 Rd4 64.Rg7++- 58.Rf7 This way it is possible to hit Black's f-pawn. But it needs some courage to play like this. e4+ 59.Ke2! Ra6 60.Rxf5! Ra2+ 61.Kd1 Ra1+ 61...e3 62.fxe3 dxe3 63.g4 Kh7 64.g5 Kg6 65.Re5 Rh2 66.Ke1 Kh5 67.d4 Kg4 68.d5 Kf3 69.Rf5+ Ke4 70.d6+- 62.Kc2 Ra2+ 62...e3 63.fxe3 dxe3 64.Re5 Re1 65.g4 Kh7 66.g5 Kg6 67.Kc3+- 63.Kb1! exd3 64.Kc1! Kh7 65.Rf6! Rc2+ 66.Kd1 Re2 67.g4! Re4 68.f4 Re2 69.g5 Rg2 70.Rd6+- 57.h7! Botvinnik's old recommendation is best. e4+ 57...Ra5 58.Rf7 Ra3 59.Rxf5 Rxd3+ 60.Ke4 Rd2 61.Kxe5 Kxh7 62.Ke4 Kg6 63.g4 Rd1 64.f3+- 58.dxe4! fxe4+ 59.Rxe4! White will pick up Black's weak d-pawn soon. d3 60.Re1 Kxh7 61.Rd1 Kg6 62.Ke4+- 57...e4+ Of course Black takes the chance to create some confusion. 57...fxg4+ In this case White can use his king more actively and achieve a standard win with his last pawn. 58.Kxg4 Ra5 59.Kf5 Ra2 60.Rxe5 Rxf2+ 61.Ke4 Rh2 62.Kxd4 Rxh6 63.Rg5 Ra6 64.Ke4 Re6+ 65.Kd5 Ra6 66.Rg1 Ra5+ 67.Ke4+- 58.dxe4! fxg4+ 59.Ke2! 59.Kxg4? For the sake of completeness, this blunders only half a point. d3! 60.exd5 d2! 61.Re3 d1Q+ 62.Kg3= White isn't losing because of the fortress with rook+f2 versus queen. 59...d3+ 60.Kd2 Rd4 61.Re8+? White wants to set up a zugzwang after his next move, but it is not very efficient. The price of releasing Black's king from his miserable state is too high and thus the win is gone. 61.e5! Botvinnik showed the way to victory. Rd5 61...Rf4 62.Kxd3 Rxf2 63.Rg7! Flohr's finding to cut off Black's king along the file. Rf4 64.e6 Rf6 65.e7 Re6 66.Rf7+- 62.e6 Rd6 63.Re8+! Kh7 64.e7 Re6 65.Kxd3 Re5 66.Kd4 Re6 67.Kd5 Re2 68.Kd6 Rd2+ 69.Ke5 Re2+ 70.Kf4! Rxf2+ 71.Ke3!+- 61...Kh7 62.Re6 Ra4 Active defence by giving up a second pawn. Nice and instructive, but not mandatory. 62...Rd7 This is another sufficient way to hold. 63.Rf6 Rd4 64.e5 64.Rf4 g3! 65.fxg3 Kxh6! 66.e5 Rd5! 67.Re4 Kg7! 68.Re3 Kf7= 64...Rd5 65.e6 Rd4! For a change it is White, who is in zugzwang now. but not 65...Rd6? 66.e7 Rxf6 67.e8Q Rxf2+ 68.Kc3!+- 66.Rf8 66.e7 Re4 67.Rf7+ Kxh6 68.Kxd3 Re1 69.Kd4 Kg6= 66...Re4! 67.Re8 Kxh6! 68.Kxd3 Re1 69.Kd4 Re2 70.Kd5 Kg7 71.Ra8 Kf6 72.Rf8+ Ke7! 73.Rf7+ Ke8 74.Rf4 Ke7= 62...Rd8 works the same way as 62. ..Rd7. 63.Kxd3 Ra3+! 64.Ke2 Rf3! 65.e5 65.Ra6 Rf4 66.Ke3 Rf3+ and White has made no progress. 65...Rf5 66.Ke1 Rf4 67.Rf6 67.Kf1 g3! 68.Rf6 Rxf6! 69.exf6 Kxh6!= with a drawn pawn ending. Somewhat unlucky for White. 67...Re4+ 68.Kf1 Rxe5 69.Kg2 Ra5 70.Kg3 Rg5 71.Kh4 Rg8 72.Kh5 g3 ½–½
  • Start an analysis engine:
  • Try maximizing the board:
  • Use the four cursor keys to replay the game. Make moves to analyse yourself.
  • Press Ctrl-B to rotate the board.
  • Drag the split bars between window panes.
  • Download&Clip PGN/GIF/FEN/QR Codes. Share the game.
  • Games viewed here will automatically be stored in your cloud clipboard (if you are logged in). Use the cloud clipboard also in ChessBase.
  • Create an account to access the games cloud.
WhiteEloWBlackEloBResYearECOEventRnd
Unzicker,W-Botvinnik,M-½–½1954Amsterdam Ol

Helmut Kahovec used Stockfish 14 to show the computer's point of view:

 
New ...
Open...
Share...
Layout...
Flip Board
Settings
MoveNResultEloPlayers
Replay and check the LiveBook here
1.e4 e6 2.d4 d5 3.Nc3 Bb4 4.e5 c5 5.a3 Ba5 6.b4 cxd4 7.Qg4 Kf8 8.bxa5 dxc3 9.Nf3 Ne7 10.Bd3 Nd7 11.Qb4 Qc7 12.0-0 Nc5 13.Qxc3 Bd7 14.a4 Rc8 15.Ba3 Nxd3 16.Qxc7 Rxc7 17.cxd3 f6 18.Rfc1 Rxc1+ 19.Rxc1 Kf7 20.Rc7 Rd8 21.Bxe7 Kxe7 22.Rxb7 Rc8 23.Kf1 a6 24.Ra7 Rc2 25.Rxa6 Ra2 26.Ra7 Rxa4 27.Ke2 d4 28.Nd2 Ra2 29.Kd1 Kd8 30.exf6 gxf6 31.Ne4 Bc6 32.Nc5 Bd5 33.a6 Ra1+ 34.Kc2 Ra3 35.Kb2 Ra2+ 36.Kb1 Ra5 37.Nb7+ Bxb7 38.axb7 Rb5+ 39.Kc2 Kc7 40.b8Q+ Kxb8 41.Rxh7 Kc8 42.Re7 Re5 43.Kd2 Kd8 44.Rf7 Rf5 45.Ke2 Ke8 46.Ra7 Re5+ 47.Kf1 Rb5 Karsten Mueller's text position. 48.h4 [40] 4.58: 48.h4 Rb1+ 49.Ke2 Rh1 50.g3 Kf8 51.Kf3 Rh2 52.Ra2 Kg7 53.Ke4 Rh1 54.Kxd4 Re1 55.Kc3 Rd1 56.Re2 Kf7 57.Kd4 Block analysis. [40] 0.45: 48.Ra1 [40] 0.21: 48.Ra4 [40] 0.13: 48.g4 Playing out Karsten Mueller's text position by Stockfish 14 NNUE gives LINE 1: 48.h4 Rb1+ 49.Ke2 Rh1 50.g3 Kf8 51.Kf3 Rh2 52.Ra2 Kg7 53.Ke4 Rh1 [30] 6.13: 53...Rh1 54.Kxd4 [30] 6.48: 53...Kf7 54.Kxd4 [30] 6.49: 53...Kg6 54.Kxd4 [30] 6.62: 53...Kf8 54.Kxd4 [30] 6.68: 53...Rh3 54.Kxd4 [30] 6.86: 53...Rg2 54.Kxd4 [30] 6.87: 53...Kh7 54.Kxd4 [30] 6.87: 53...Kh6 54.Kxd4 [30] 6.87: 53...Kg8 54.Kxd4 [30] 6.87: 53...Kh8 54.Kxd4 [30] 7.54: 53...f5+ 54.Ke5 [30] 8.49: 53...e5 54.Kf5 54.Kxd4 Re1 55.Kc3 Rd1 56.Re2 Kf7 57.Kd4 This position is the same as that at the end of the original block analysis above. Rb1 58.Ke3 f5 59.Ra2 Kf6 60.Ra6 Kf7 61.Ra7+ Kf6 62.Rd7 Re1+ 63.Kf3 e5 64.Rd6+ Ke7 65.Ra6 Kf7 66.h5 Rd1 67.Ke2 Rc1 68.h6 Rc8 69.Kf3 Rd8 70.Ke3 Rb8 71.Ra7+ Kg8 72.Re7 Rb5 73.Rg7+ Kh8 74.Rf7 f4+ 75.gxf4 exf4+ 76.Kxf4 Rb4+ 77.Ke5 Rb5+ 78.Ke4 Rb4+ 79.d4 Rb2 80.d5 Re2+ 81.Kf5 Rxf2+ This position is a Syzygy TB win for White. 48...f5 This is only the 7th-ranked candidate move for Black. [40] 5.21: 48...Rb1+ 49.Ke2 Rh1 50.g3 Kf8 51.Kf3 Rd1 52.Ke4 Rf1 53.Ra2 Kg7 54.Kxd4 Re1 55.Kc3 Rd1 56.Re2 Kf7 57.Kd4 Ra1 58.Rc2 Ra7 59.Ke3 f5 60.Rc6 Kf6 61.Rd6 Rg7 62.Ra6 Rg8 63.Ra7 Rd8 64.d4 f4+ 65.Kxf4 Rxd4+ 66.Kf3 Rc4 67.Ra2 Rc3+ 68.Kg2 Rc4 69.f3 Rc6 70.g4 Rd6 71.Kg3 e5 72.Ra7 Rd5 73.Rc7 Kg6 74.Rc6+ Kf7 [40] 6.37: 48...Kf8 49.Rd7 Rh5 50.g3 Ke8 51.Rxd4 Ke7 52.Ke2 Re5+ 53.Kf3 Rf5+ 54.Kg2 Rh5 55.Rb4 Rd5 56.d4 Rd7 57.g4 Rc7 58.h5 Kf7 59.Kf3 Kg7 60.Ke4 Re7 61.Rb6 Kf7 62.Ra6 Rd7 63.f4 Ke7 64.h6 Kf7 65.h7 f5+ 66.gxf5 exf5+ 67.Kxf5 Rd5+ 68.Ke4 [40] 6.37: 48...Rf5 49.g3 Kf8 50.Rd7 Ke8 51.Rxd4 Rh5 52.Rb4 Ke7 53.Kg2 Rd5 54.d4 Rd7 55.g4 Rd5 56.Kf3 Rd7 57.Kg3 Kf7 58.Kg2 Rd5 59.f3 Kg7 60.Kg3 Rd6 61.Kf4 Kf7 62.Rb7+ Kf8 63.Ke4 Kg8 64.h5 f5+ 65.gxf5 exf5+ 66.Kxf5 Rd5+ 67.Ke4 [40] 6.38: 48...Rh5 49.g3 Rh6 50.Kg2 Rh5 51.Rg7 Kf8 52.Rd7 Ke8 53.Rxd4 Ke7 54.Rb4 Rd5 55.d4 Rd7 56.g4 Rd5 57.Kf1 Kf7 58.Ke2 e5 59.Ke3 exd4+ 60.Rxd4 Rb5 61.Kf3 Ke6 62.Re4+ Kf7 63.Kg2 Rb6 64.Rf4 Rb5 65.f3 Ke6 66.Kg3 Ke5 67.Rf5+ Ke6 68.Rxb5 [40] 7.99: 48...Rc5 49.g4 Kf8 50.Rd7 Rc3 51.Ke2 Rc2+ 52.Kf3 Rd2 53.Rxd4 Ke7 54.Ke3 Rd1 55.h5 e5 56.Ra4 Re1+ 57.Kf3 Rg1 58.Rc4 f5 59.gxf5 Kf6 60.Rh4 Rd1 61.Ke2 Rg1 62.h6 Rg8 63.h7 Rh8 64.Rh5 Kg7 65.Ke3 Kf7 66.Rh4 Kf6 67.Ke4 Kg5 68.Rh2 Kf6 69.Rh6+ Kg7 [40] 8.09: 48...Rb3 49.h5 Rb1+ 50.Ke2 Rh1 51.g4 Kf8 52.Kf3 Rh3+ 53.Ke4 Rh2 54.f3 Rh3 55.Rd7 Rh4 56.Kxd4 Rh3 57.Ke3 Rh2 58.Ra7 Rh4 59.Ke4 Rh1 60.Kd4 Rh3 61.Kc5 Rxf3 62.Kd6 e5 63.h6 Rxd3+ 64.Ke6 Kg8 65.Kxf6 e4 66.Kg6 Rd6+ 67.Kh5 [40] 8.55: 48...f5 49.g3 Kf8 50.h5 e5 51.Rd7 Rb1+ 52.Kg2 Re1 53.Ra7 Kg8 54.Re7 e4 55.Rd7 e3 56.Rxd4 e2 57.Kf3 Kf7 58.Rf4 Rh1 59.Kxe2 Rxh5 60.g4 Rh7 61.Rxf5+ Ke6 62.f4 Ke7 63.Kf3 Ke8 64.g5 Rh5 65.Re5+ Kd8 66.g6 Rh3+ 67.Kg4 Rh8 68.g7 Rg8 69.Kf5 Kd7 70.Kg6 Kc6 71.f5 [40] 9.59: 48...e5 49.h5 Rb1+ 50.Ke2 Rh1 51.g4 Rh3 52.f3 Rh2+ 53.Kf1 Kf8 54.Kg1 Rb2 55.h6 Kg8 56.Rg7+ Kh8 57.Rf7 Rb6 58.Kg2 Kg8 59.Rd7 Rb8 60.Rg7+ Kh8 61.Rf7 Rb6 62.Kg3 Kg8 63.Rg7+ Kh8 64.Rd7 f5 65.h7 Rg6 66.Kh4 e4 67.gxf5 Ra6 68.dxe4 Ra1 69.f6 Ra8 70.Kh5 Rc8 71.e5 d3 72.Kg6 Rf8 73.e6 d2 74.Rxd2 Rb8 [40] 11.11: 48...Re5 [40] 23.15: 48...Rb6 49.g3 Kf8 50.Rd7 [32] 7.07: 50.h5 [32] 6.25: 50.Rc7 [32] 6.18: 50.Ke2 [32] 6.14: 50.Rd7 50...e5 This move is not among the four best-ranked candidate moves for Black. [30] 6.74: 50...Rb1+ [30] 6.92: 50...Ke8 [30] 7.05: 50...Rb3 [30] 7.25: 50...Kg8 51.Kg2? After this blunder by White Black can hold the game. [32] 7.32: 51.h5 Rb1+ 52.Ke2 Rb6 53.Rd5 Re6 54.h6 Kg8 55.Rd7 Rxh6 56.Re7 Rh1 57.Rxe5 Kf7 58.Rd5 Kg6 59.Rxd4 Kg5 60.Rd6 Rh2 61.Kf3 Rh8 62.Rd5 Rh3 63.Ra5 Kg6 64.Ra6+ Kf7 65.Rd6 Rh8 66.Rd4 Ke6 67.g4 Ke5 68.Ra4 Rh4 69.Ra5+ Kd4 [32] 7.23: 51.Ke2 Kg8 52.Kf1 Rb1+ 53.Kg2 Re1 54.Ra7 Rb1 55.Re7 e4 56.Rd7 Rb4 57.dxe4 fxe4 58.g4 Kf8 59.Kg3 Ke8 60.Rd5 Kf7 61.h5 d3 62.f3 Rb5 63.Rd4 Rb4 64.Rd6 Rb6 65.Rd7+ Ke6 66.Rd4 Rb3 67.Rxe4+ Kd5 68.Re8 Kc4 69.Rc8+ Kd4 70.Rd8+ Kc3 [32] 3.97: 51.Rh7 [32] 0.32: 51.Ke1 [32] 0.25: 51.Ra7 [32] 0.25: 51.Rc7 [32] 0.25: 51.Kg2 Ke8 52.Rc7 e4 53.h5 Rb6 54.Rc5 exd3 55.Rd5 Rh6 56.Kf3 Rxh5 57.Rxd4 Kf7 58.Rxd3 Block analysis. 51...Kg8? After this blunder by Black White wins the game. [30] 0.39: 51...Ke8 Playing out this position by Stockfish 14 NNUE gives LINE 2: 52.Rc7 e4 53.h5 Rb6 [34] 0.15: 53...Rb6 54.dxe4 fxe4 55.Rc4 Rd6 56.Kf1 Kf8 57.g4 Kg7 58.Rc5 d3 59.Ke1 Rf6 60.g5 Rf4 61.Rc7+ Kg8 62.g6 Rh4 63.Rc5 Kg7 64.Rd5 Kh6 65.Kd2 Rh3 66.Rg5 Kg7 67.Rc5 Kh6 68.Rd5 Rf3 69.Ke1 Rh3 70.Re5 Rh4 71.Kd2 Rf4 72.Ke3 Rf3+ 73.Kxe4 d2 Block analysis. [34] 7.84: 53...Kf8 54.Rd7 exd3 55.Rxd4 Kg7 56.Kf3 Rb2 57.Rxd3 Kh6 58.Rd5 Kg5 59.Kg2 Block analysis. [34] 52.00: 53...Kd8 54.Rc4 [34] 54.82: 53...f4 54.dxe4 [34] 152.54: 53...exd3 54.h6 Kd8 55.Ra7 Rb6 56.h7 Rh6 57.Ra8+ Kd7 58.h8Q Rxh8 59.Rxh8 Block analysis. [34] 152.55: 53...Ra5 54.h6 [34] 152.55: 53...Re5 54.h6 [34] 152.55: 53...Rd5 54.h6 [34] 152.55: 53...Rb8 54.h6 [34] 152.55: 53...Rb4 54.h6 [34] 152.55: 53...Rb2 54.h6 [34] 152.55: 53...Rb3 54.h6 [34] 152.55: 53...Rb1 54.h6 [34] 152.56: 53...e3 54.h6 54.Rc8+ 54.Rc5 exd3 55.Rd5 Rh6 56.Kf3 Ke7 57.Rxd4 Rxh5 58.Rxd3 End of the original block analysis. 54...Ke7 55.Rc4 Rd6 56.h6 Kf7 57.Rc5 Kg6 58.h7 Kxh7 59.Rxf5 exd3 60.Rf3 d2 61.Rd3 Kg6 62.g4 Kf6 63.f4 Re6 64.Rxd2 Re4 65.Rf2 Re3 66.Rb2 Re4 67.Kf3 Re3+ 68.Kg2 Re4 69.Kf3 Re3+ 70.Kf2 Re4 71.Kg3 Re3+ 72.Kf2 Re4 73.Rb6+ Ke7 74.Kg3 Re3+ 75.Kf2 Re4 76.Kg3 Re3+ 77.Kf2 Game over, draw by repetition after 77... Re4. [30] 8.06: 51...Rb3 [30] 8.88: 51...Ra5 [30] 9.06: 51...Kg8 52.h5 Rb3 53.Rd5 Kf7 54.Rxe5 Kf6 55.Rd5 Ke6 56.Rxd4 Ke5 57.Rh4 Kf6 58.h6 Rb8 59.Kf3 Kg5 60.h7 Rh8 61.Rh3 Kf6 62.d4 Ke6 63.Rh4 Kd5 64.Kf4 Kxd4 65.Rh5 Kd3 66.Kf3 Kc3 67.Rxf5 Kd2 52.h5 Ra5 This move is not among the four best-ranked candidate moves for Black. [28] 9.96: 52...Rb6 [28] 10.05: 52...Rb2 [28] 10.07: 52...Kh8 [28] 10.10: 52...Rb3 53.h6? After this blunder by White Black can hold the game. [30] 11.74: 53.f4 exf4 54.gxf4 Ra1 55.Rxd4 Ra7 56.Rd6 Kh8 57.Kf3 Re7 58.Rd5 Rf7 59.Ke3 Kh7 60.Rd6 Kg7 61.Kd4 Kh8 62.Ke5 Kg7 63.h6+ Kh7 64.Rd8 Ra7 65.Rd5 Rb7 66.Kxf5 Rf7+ 67.Ke4 Rc7 68.f5 Re7+ 69.Kf3 Re1 70.Rd7+ Kh8 [30] 10.18: 53.Kh3 [30] 8.65: 53.Re7 [30] 8.29: 53.Rc7 [30] 8.29: 53.Kf1 [30] 8.29: 53.Kh2 [30] 8.29: 53.Kf3 [30] 8.12: 53.Rb7 [30] 7.82: 53.Kh1 [30] 7.82: 53.Kg1 [30] 6.70: 53.Rd6 [30] 5.26: 53.Rd8+ [30] 0.34: 53.h6 Ra1 54.f4 Playing out this position by Stockfish 14 NNUE gives LINE 4: exf4 55.gxf4 Ra6 56.h7+ 56.Rxd4 Kh7 57.Kf2 Kxh6 58.Rd5 Kg6 59.Ke3 Kf6 End of the original block analysis. 56...Kh8 57.Rxd4 Kxh7 58.Rd5 Re6 59.Kf3 Kg6 60.Re5 Rb6 61.Ke3 Ra6 62.Kd4 Ra4+ 63.Ke3 Kf6 64.Rc5 Ra1 65.Rc6+ Ke7 66.Kd4 Ra4+ 67.Rc4 Ra2 68.Rc1 Kd6 69.Rh1 Ra4+ 70.Ke3 Ke7 71.Rh7+ Kf6 72.Rh5 Ke6 73.Rh6+ Ke7 74.Rb6 Ra1 75.Rb7+ Ke6 76.Rb5 Rf1 77.Re5+ Kf6 78.Ra5 Rg1 79.Ra6+ Ke7 80.Rh6 Ra1 81.Kd4 Ra4+ 82.Ke3 Ra8 83.Rh7+ Kf6 84.Rh6+ Ke7 85.d4 Ra3+ 86.Kd2 Ra1 87.d5 Kf7 88.d6 Ke8 89.d7+ Kxd7 This position is a Syzygy TB draw. 53...Rb5? This move is not among the four best-ranked candidate moves for Black. After this blunder by Black White wins the game. [28] 0.33: 53...Ra1 Playing out this position by Stockfish 14 NNUE gives LINE 3: 54.Rg7+ 54.f4 exf4 55.gxf4 Ra6 56.Rd5 Kh7 57.Kf3 Re6 58.Rxd4 Kxh6 59.Rd5 Kg6 60.Re5 Rd6 61.Ke3 Ra6 End of the original block analysis. 54...Kh8 55.Rd7 Kg8 56.f3 Ra2+ 57.Kf1 Ra1+ 58.Kg2 Ra2+ 59.Kf1 Ra1+ 60.Kf2 Ra2+ 61.Ke1 Ra3 62.Ke2 Ra2+ 63.Ke1 Ra1+ 64.Kf2 Ra2+ 65.Kg1 Ra1+ 66.Kh2 Ra2+ 67.Kg1 Ra1+ 68.Kh2 Ra2+ 69.Kh3 Rf2 70.f4 exf4 71.g4 Rf3+ 72.Kh4 fxg4 73.h7+ Kh8 74.Kxg4 Rxd3 75.Kxf4 This position is a Syzygy TB draw. [28] 14.40: 53...Ra6 [28] 16.93: 53...Ra4 [28] 17.51: 53...Ra2 54.Rg7+ [30] 12.16: 54.Kh3 [30] 12.16: 54.Re7 [30] 11.87: 54.Rg7+ [30] 1.81: 54.Rd6 54...Kh8 [32] 50.47: 54...Kh8 55.Re7 Rc5 56.Kf3 Rd5 57.h7 Block analysis. [32] 68.48: 54...Kf8 55.Re7 Ra5 56.Kf3 Rd5 57.g4 [32] 55.81: 57.g4 e4+ 58.dxe4 fxg4+ 59.Ke2 d3+ 60.Kd2 Rd6 61.Rg7 Rd4 62.Rxg4 Kh7 63.f3 Rd8 64.Rg7+ Kh8 65.Rg5 Kh7 66.Rd5 Rb8 67.Rd7+ Kh8 68.Rxd3 Kh7 69.Rd7+ Kg6 70.h7 Rh8 71.Rd3 Kg5 72.Ke3 Kh5 73.Rd6 Kg5 74.Rd5+ Kh6 75.Kd2 [32] 55.76: 57.h7 [32] 55.33: 57.Kg2 [32] 55.30: 57.Rb7 [32] 55.25: 57.Rc7 [32] 55.01: 57.Ra7 [32] 54.90: 57.Ke2 [32] 54.90: 57.Re8+ 57...e4+ 58.dxe4 fxg4+ 59.Ke2 d3+ 60.Kd2 That is the move played in the original game between Unzicker and Botvinnik 1954. Rd4 [40] 152.51: 60...Rd4 [40] 152.52: 60...Rh5 [40] 152.52: 60...Rd6 [40] 152.53: 60...Ra5 61.Re8+? After this blunder by White Black draws. [40] 152.52: 61.e5 Rd5 62.e6 Rd6 63.Re8+ Kh7 64.e7 Re6 65.Kxd3 Re1 66.Kd4 Re6 67.Kd5 Re2 68.Kd6 Rd2+ 69.Ke5 Re2+ 70.Kf4 Re1 71.Kxg4 Re2 72.f4 Re4 73.Kf5 Re1 74.Rd8 Rxe7 Block analysis. This position is a Syzygy TB win for White. [40] 152.43: 61.Kd1 [40] 152.42: 61.Ke1 [40] 152.42: 61.Kc1 [40] 0.00: 61.Re5 Kh7 62.Re6 Rb4 63.Kxd3 Rb3+ 64.Ke2 Rf3 65.Rc6 Rf4 66.Ke3 Rf3+ Block analysis. This is the same position as that after 66... Rf3+ in the next line. [40] 0.00: 61.Re8+ Kh7 62.Re6 Rb4 63.Kxd3 Rb3+ 64.Ke2 Rf3 65.Rc6 Rf4 66.Ke3 Rf3+ This is the same position as that after 66... Rf3+ in the previous line. 67.Kd4 Rxf2 68.e5 g3 69.Rc7+ Kxh6 Block analysis. This position is a Syzygy TB draw. 61...Kh7 62.Re6 Ra4 63.Kxd3 [40] 0.00: 63.Rd6 [40] 0.00: 63.Rb6 [40] 0.00: 63.Kxd3 Ra3+ 64.Ke2 Rf3 65.Kf1 g3 66.Re7+ Kxh6 67.Kg2 gxf2 Block analysis. This position is a Syzygy TB draw. 63...Ra3+ 64.Ke2 Rf3 65.e5 [60] 0.00: 65.Ra6 [60] 0.00: 65.Rc6 [60] 0.00: 65.Rd6 [60] 0.00: 65.e5 Rf5 66.Ke3 Rf3+ 67.Ke2 Block analysis. 65...Rf5 66.Ke1 [60] 0.00: 66.Ke1 Rf4 67.Ke2 Rf5 68.Ke3 Rf3+ 69.Ke2 Block analysis. 66...Rf4 67.Rf6 [60] 0.00: 67.Ke2 [60] 0.00: 67.Kf1 [60] 0.00: 67.Rf6 Re4+ 68.Kd2 g3 69.fxg3 Rxe5 Block analysis. This position is a Syzygy TB draw. 67...Re4+ 68.Kf1 [60] 0.00: 68.Kd1 Rxe5 69.Rf4 Rh5 70.Rxg4 Block analysis. This position is a Syzygy TB draw. [60] 0.00: 68.Kf1 Rxe5 69.Ra6 Re7 70.f4 gxf3 Block analysis. This position is a Syzygy TB draw. 68...Rxe5 69.Kg2 Ra5 70.Kg3 Rg5 71.Kh4 Rg8 72.Kh5 g3 [60] 0.00: 72...g3 73.Rf7+ Kh8 74.fxg3 Block analysis. This position is a Syzygy TB draw. ½–½
  • Start an analysis engine:
  • Try maximizing the board:
  • Use the four cursor keys to replay the game. Make moves to analyse yourself.
  • Press Ctrl-B to rotate the board.
  • Drag the split bars between window panes.
  • Download&Clip PGN/GIF/FEN/QR Codes. Share the game.
  • Games viewed here will automatically be stored in your cloud clipboard (if you are logged in). Use the cloud clipboard also in ChessBase.
  • Create an account to access the games cloud.
WhiteEloWBlackEloBResYearECOEventRnd
Unzicker,W-Botvinnik,M-½–½1954Amsterdam olm1

Links

Karsten Müller is considered to be one of the greatest endgame experts in the world. His books on the endgame - among them "Fundamentals of Chess Endings", co-authored with Frank Lamprecht, that helped to improve Magnus Carlsen's endgame knowledge - and his endgame columns for the ChessCafe website and the ChessBase Magazine helped to establish and to confirm this reputation. Karsten's Fritztrainer DVDs on the endgame are bestsellers. The mathematician with a PhD lives in Hamburg, and for more than 25 years he has been scoring points for the Hamburger Schachklub (HSK) in the Bundesliga.

Discuss

Rules for reader comments

 
 

Not registered yet? Register

We use cookies and comparable technologies to provide certain functions, to improve the user experience and to offer interest-oriented content. Depending on their intended use, analysis cookies and marketing cookies may be used in addition to technically required cookies. Here you can make detailed settings or revoke your consent (if necessary partially) with effect for the future. Further information can be found in our data protection declaration.