Master Moves #16 – Botvinnik the World Champion

by ChessBase
9/1/2011 – All the deepest plans or endgame technique are useless if you fall victim to a shot that leaves you in a lost position. Likewise, sometimes that superior play will only offer a single window of opportunity to deliver that final blow, so it is vital to be ready for it when it does. All the shots here were played by Botvinnik from the 1948 World Championship and beyond. Are you world champion material?

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Master Moves #16

All the deepest plans or endgame technique are useless if you fall victim to a shot that leaves you in a lost position. Likewise, sometimes that superior play will only offer a single window of opportunity to deliver that final blow, so it is vital to be ready for it when it does.

All the shots below were played by Mikhail Botvinnik from the 1948 World Championship and beyond.

Position 1 - Jimenez Zerquera-Botvinnik
Black to play and win.

Position 2 - Botvinnik-Ciocaltea
Just when Black thought he had things under control.
White to play and win.

Position 3 - Botvinnik-Euwe
This game was played in th 1948 super tournament
that was to crown Botvinnik World Champion.
White to play and win.

Position 4 - Kan-Botvinnik
Botvinnik played many training matches in the 50s,
including more than one against Kan.Black to play and win.

Position 5 - Penrose-Botvinnik
Jonathan Penrose, who later became the world's
strongest correspondence player, was unable to
hold here in Hastings. Black to play and win.

Position 6 - Botvinnik-Schmid
Though best known for having been the arbiter of
several WC matches, Lothar Schmid was a GM in
his own right. White to play and win.

Position 7 - Smyslov-Botvinnik
This was played in their famous 1957 match
ultimately won by Smyslov, though avenged a
year later in their rematch. Black to play and win.

Position 8 - Botvinnik-Portisch
Played in Monte Carlo in 1968, this easily ranks
as one of Botvinnik's greatest attacking efforts.
White to play and win.

Click here to see solutions

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