M. Botvinnik - L. Portisch
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***
(The ratings in this game are extremely conservative estimates ... compared to the much-inflated ratings of today.)
1. c4
, {Center, d5-square}
The English Opening. (Howard Staunton was an advocate of this line.)
(Played BEFORE the KP opening was all the rage.)
[ 1.e4!? ].
Black now defends with an
"asymmetrical" variation.
1...e5!?
; {Diagram.}
This line is a favorite of (former)
World Champion, GM Anatoly Karpov.
The pawn structure is now a Reversed Sicilian.
[ More common was/is the "Symmetrical Variation,"
with: 1...c5;
].
2. Nc3
Nf6; 3.
g3
d5!?;
(Hmmmm.)
This move can now lead to positions
where White is basically playing
the
open variations of the Sicilian Dragon,
but with colors reversed.
This extra tempo could become a significant factor.
[ 3...Nc6!? ].
Both sides now develop in a
(more-or-less) normal fashion.
4. cxd5
Nxd5; 5.
Bg2
Be6!?; 6.
Nf3
Nc6; 7.
0-0
Nb6;
8. d3
Be7; 9.
a3!
a5!?; 10.
Be3
0-0;
(Approximately equal.)
The position is pretty close to being level.
11. Na4!?,
('!' - Irving Chernev.)
White plays very actively and
seeks to weaken Black's hold
on the Q-side squares.
[ 11.Rc1!? ].
11...Nxa4; (Hmmm.)
Black exchanges - - - rather
than allow the White Knight to
reach the c5-square.
[ 11...Nd5!?, - Irving Chernev. (& GM's Soltis and Nunn.) ].
12. Qxa4
Bd5; {Diagram.}
Black tries to defend and perhaps
prepare ...Nc6 to d4.
[ Maybe better is: 12...f6!, "=" ].
White now logically mobilizes his
forces down the half-open c-file.
13. Rfc1!
Re8; 14.
Rc2
Bf8; 15.
Rac1!?, (Maybe - '!')
Continuing with his plan.
[ 15.Rd1!?, "+/=" ].
15...Nb8!?; (Probably too risky.)
Black thinks if White now plays
RxP/c7, he will trap the Rook
with ...Bc6.
(In actuality, this is probably the losing move. Maybe - '?!')
[ 15...f6!? ].
16. Rxc7!!, (Probably - '!!!')
A brilliant move, and the beginning of
one of the snazziest chess combo's
ever played on a chess board.
White does not seem to notice
that Black will try to trap a Rook
on the
c7-square.
[ 16.b4!? ].
16...Bc6; {Box?}
Now this is pretty much forced.
17. R1xc6!!, (Wow!)
Yet another brilliant shot that
appears - at first glance - to strand
a whole
Rook on c7.
(Dozens of annotators have given this move at least one exclam.)
[ 17.R7xc6!? bxc6; 18.Qe4, "~" ].
17...bxc6; 18.
Rxf7!!; {Diagram?}
Yet another incredible (& unexpected) shot.
White has now shifted his focus to Black's King.
[ 18.Rb7 ].
18...h6; {Box.}
This is pretty much forced.
(Black gains space, gets some 'air' for his King ... and prevents any
unwelcome intrusions to the g5-square by the White Knight.
[ If Black captures the Rook, he
loses by force. The MAIN LINE is:
18...Kxf7?!; ('?') 19.Qc4+!
Kg6;
20.Qg4+!
Kf7; 21.Ng5+
Kg8;
(21...Ke7??; 22.Qe6#).
22.Qc4+
Kh8; 23.Nf7+
Kg8;
24.Nh6+
Kh8; 25.Qg8#
].
19. Rb7!, (Nice.)
White disdains the win of more
material to maintain his active
Rook
on the 7th rank.
[ Most computers still pick the
move, (in this position):
19.Rf5!?, "+/" (Maybe "+/-")
White has a winning attack,
and pressure on Black's e-pawn. ].
19...Qc8; 20.
Qc4+
Kh8; 21.
Nh4!!, {Too much!}
Having already sacrificed a lot of
material, White gleefully asks Black
if he
would like to capture a Rook.
With Nh4!! the mating attack shifts into high gear.
[ Most MASTERS choose: 21.Rf7!, "+/" (Maybe "+/-") in this position. ].
21...Qxb7; 22.
Ng6+
Kh7; 23.
Be4!?, (Maybe - '!')
White sets up the threat of a
devastating discovered check.
[ 23.Nxf8+? Rxf8; 24.Qh4, "~" ].
23...Bd6; {Box.}
This is forced, Black has to cover
the g8-square.
[ 23...Ra6??; 24.Ne7+, and then Qg8# next move. ].
24. Nxe5+!, (Maybe - '!!')
{Diagram?}
White disdains the obvious perpetual
check and begins the final assault
on
Black's King.
[ 24.Nf8+ Kh8; 25.Ng6+ Kh7; 26.Nf8+ Kh8; 27.Ng6+, Draw. ].
24...g6; {Box.} This is completely forced.
[ 24...Kh8?; 25.Nf7+
Kg8;
26.Nxd6+, followed by
NxQ/b7,
with an easy win. ].
25. Bxg6+ Kg7; 26. Bxh6+!, (Maybe - '!!') Black Resigns. (1-0)
[ Black quit because he saw:
26.Bxh6+!
Kxh6; 27.Qh4+
Kg7; 28.Qh7+
Kf8; 29.Qxb7,
"+/-" ].
The game of a lifetime! And a real work of chess art!!!
1 - 0
Game first posted on my web site, March 13th, 2002.
This game is a much
shortened version of the game as it exists in my database.
(I have shortened it for publication. Even this shortened version took 4 to
6 hours of
work to prepare and ready it for publication on my web page. The long version
would
have required days - or even weeks - to finish!!)
If you would like a copy of the full, deeply annotated version
of this game to study, please contact
me.
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Copyright
(c) A.J. Goldsby I. © A.J. Goldsby, 1993 - 2005.
Copyright © A.J. Goldsby,
2006. All rights
reserved.
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