Botvinnik, Mikhail - Gerstenfeld, Eduard Issakovich [A34]

URS-ch12 Moscow, 1940

1.Nf3 Nf6 2.c4 c5

Black prefers the symmetrical approach. Generally speaking, this is preferred by players
who play the “Gruenfeld Defense” (which, as in this game, can head for the thematic
“d5” advance) or the “Nimzowitsch Defense” where they typically head for the
Hedgehog.

3.Nc3
White can fight for the center at once with 3.d4 cxd4 4.Nxd4 e5. (This is the aggressive
approach since black will sacrifice a pawn.)
Another alternative is 4...e6 5.g3
After 5.Nc3 Bb4 6.g3 0–0 7.Bg2 d5 the game heads for a complex position with
an isolated pawn.
5...d5 6.Bg2 e5 7.Nf3 d4 8.0–0 Nc6 9.e3, leading to a complicated position. (Black’s
slightly inferior pawn structure is offset by his space advantage).
After 5.Nb5 d5 6.cxd5 Bc5 black has long term compensation for the missing pawn since
his pieces will be developed on good squares and can press the “d5” pawn (as the practice
has shown).

3...d5
So, it is black who starts active operations in the center first.
The alternatives 3...e6 4.g3 b6 (leading to a Hedgehog type of position) or 3...g6 4.g3
(leading to a symmetrical structure) will be examined later.

4.cxd5 Nxd5 5.e4

At the time this game was played, this was considered the main line weapon against
black’s choice (white too is fighting in the center). Still, the practice has shown that white
has no real chance of gaining an opening advantage (as this game also demonstrates),
therefore today top white players typically renounce it.
Nowadays the preferred line is 5.g3 Nc6 6.Bg2 Nc7 7.0–0 e5 8.d3 Be7 leading to a sharp
struggle. (This is a line from the Maroczy Bind with reversed colors where white is a
tempo up.)

5...Nb4
The alternative 5...Nxc3 6.dxc3
After 6.bxc3 g6 the game enters into the main lines of the Gruenfeld Defense.
6...Qxd1+ 7.Kxd1 leads to an endgame that is slightly better for white. (The practice has
shown that with a careful defense, black holds without any particular difficulty).

6.Bc4 e6
This is the solid approach. Black prefers to delay his development in order to maintain a
healthy pawn structure.

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The alternative 6...Nd3+ leads after 7.Ke2 Nf4+ 8.Kf1 Ne6 9.b4 cxb4 10.Ne2 to a
complicated struggle where control over the center and a lead in development offer more
than enough compensation for the missing pawn.
After 6...Be6 7.Bxe6 Nd3+ 8.Kf1 fxe6 9.Ng5 white has an edge due to his better pawn
structure.

7.d3
Slightly better is 7.0–0 (threatening “d4”, which was not possible earlier because of
“Nc2” after taking twice on “d4”) since after 7…N4c6
After 7...N8c6 8.d3 Be7 9.a3 Na6 10.Be3 white has an edge due to the misplaced
“a6” knight (on “c7” it stays equally bad).
8.d3 Be7 9.Be3 and with “d4” to come, white has an edge.

7...Be7 8.0–0 a6
Black prepares to develop his bishop on “b7”.

9.a3
White makes room for the bishop, defending against the “b5” threat.

9…N4c6 10.Ne2
After 10.Bf4 0–0 11.Qd2 b5 12.Ba2 Bb7 we reach the same type of position as in the
game.

10...Nd7 11.Bf4
Playing in the center with 11.d4 gives white nothing since after 11…cxd4 12.Nexd4
Nxd4 13.Qxd4 0–0 14.Bf4 b5 15.Be2 Nf6 with “Bb7” to come, black fully equalizes.

11...0–0 12.Ng3 b5
This is the “normal” approach: black is finishing his development. At this point he had an
interesting (and unexpected) idea of gaining space on the kingside (and control over the
“e5” square).
After 12...g5 13.Be3 g4 14.Ne1 Nde5 the game is extremely sharp, but black probably
wasn’t ready for such a dramatic change of events and preferred the safer solution.

13.Ba2 Bb7 14.Qe2 Qb6 15.Rad1

This move (which defends the “d” pawn in advance) shows white’s future intent: he will
play on the kingside, keeping the center closed.
The alternative 15.Rac1 (placing the rook on a semi-open file) allows black to trade the
rooks after 15…Rac8 16.h4 Nd4 17.Nxd4 cxd4 18.h5 Rxc1 19.Rxc1 Rc8 20.Rxc8+ Bxc8
leading to an equal position.

15...Rfd8 16.h4
White continues his original plan and advances the pawn in order to weaken black’s
kingside pawn structure, thereby increasing his chances of attack.

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16…Nf8
Black decides to over-defend his kingside, so he brings his knight in defense while at the
same time exerting more pressure on the “d’ file. Still, getting counter play on the
queenside is a better alternative (as you already know). Since white is far from creating a
real threat on the kingside (he doesn’t have enough pieces in place for an attack), black
can focus on the queenside. (Note that white’s 15th move makes any play in the center
futile.) The only way to improve his chances on the queenside is by advancing the pawns
to gain space and try to open files there.
After 16...a5 17.h5 h6 18.e5 a4 19.Ne4 b4 the game remains complicated, but black
seems to make more progress. He already threatens either “b3” followed by “Nd4”
(closing white’s bishop forever) or “Nd4” (if white takes it, his queenside pawns become
a major weakness).

17.h5 Rd7
Again, black prefers the safer solution; he is not weakening his kingside pawns.
After 17...h6 18.e5 a5 19.Ne4 a4 20.g4 white is the first to create threats since he will
open the kingside. (The game is sharp.)

18.h6 g6 19.e5
White increases his influence over the dark squares and vacates the “e4” square for the
knight. Still, this allows black favorable trades and opens the long diagonal (increasing
the scope of black’s light squares bishop).
Slightly better was 19.Qe3 (intending “Bg5”) since after 19…Nd4 20.Nxd4 cxd4
After 20...Rxd4 21.Be5 Rdd8 22.Qf4 white has an edge since he has pressure on
the kingside.
21.Qf3 white has a small advantage since his light pieces are better placed.

19...Nd4
This is the right decision; black trades for one of white’s attacking pieces and opens the
light squares bishop.

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20.Nxd4 Rxd4
Worse would have been 20...cxd4 since after 21.Ne4 Rc8 22.Nd6 white has the
advantage due to his strong knight. Note that it is quite dangerous to play 22…Bxd6 since
after 23.exd6 black has real trouble defending his king. (The dark squares are too weak.)

21.Be3 Rh4
After playing it safe for the whole game, black decides to head for a sharp game. This
move (which intends to win the “h6” pawn) is quite dangerous since the rook is out of
play here.
The safest solution was 21...Rd7 22.f4 with a roughly equal position.

22.f4
From a positional point of view, white’s decision looks good since it leaves black’s rook
out of play for a long time. Still, this is a bit too slow and allows black to activate his
pieces, getting at least an equal game where white has to fight to maintain the balance.
Therefore, a more appropriate response would have been to take advantage of black’s
misplaced rook and open the game at once. This could be done with a “b4” advance,
taking advantage of the pin along the “a7-g1” diagonal.
After 22.b4 Rc8
22...Qc6 is simply met with 23.Ne4
23.Rc1 Nd7 24.bxc5 Rxc5
Bad would be 24...Nxc5 25.d4 Na4 26.d5 since with “d6” to come, white has a
large advantage.
25.Rxc5
Gaining the exchange is bad since after 25.Bxc5 Bxc5 26.Rc2 Bxa3 black has a
large advantage. He has two quite dangerous connected pawns on the queenside
and white is left with no attack or counter play.
25...Bxc5 26.Rc1 Bxe3 27.Qxe3 Ra4 28.Qxb6
The alternative 28.Qg5 Kf8 29.Ne4 Rxa3 30.Bb1 leads to a sharp struggle where
white has good compensation for the pawn due to his attacking chances.
28...Nxb6 29.Rc7 Ba8 30.Ne4 Bxe4 31.dxe4 Rxa3 32.Rb7 Nc8 33.Rc7 Nb6 the game is
equal. (If white avoids repeating moves, black will play “Nd7-f8” defending his king.)
Generally speaking this line was better since it doesn’t give white any reason for concern.

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22...Qc6
Taking the pawn at once 22...Rxh6 isn’t that great since after 23.f5 Rh4 24.f6 Bd8 25.b4
Nd7 26.bxc5 Qc7 27.d4 the game remains complicated.

23.Bb1 Nd7 24.d4

Activating the knight allows black to gain the advantage.
After 24.Ne4 Qc7 25.Qf2 Rh5 26.g4 Rxh6 black gains the pawn since the tempting 27.f5
is bad due to 27…Rh4 with a large advantage.

24...f5
From a positional point of view this move is almost forced. If white manages to play
“Be4” he gains the advantage due to black’s misplaced rook.

25.dxc5
Also after 25.exf6 Nxf6 26.Rfe1 Rd8 black has an edge due to his pressure in the center
and slightly better-placed pieces.

25...Bxc5 26.Bxc5
Slightly better was 26.Rf2 Nb6 27.Ba2 since black doesn’t have enough time to get
control over the “d5” square.

26...Qxc5+ 27.Qf2 Bd5 28.Ba2

White decides that an active approach offers the best chance. This is quite normal since
black’s kingside rook is out of play for a long time. Still, a passive defense is enough for
holding without any particular difficulty.
After 28.Ne2 Qxf2+ 29.Rxf2 Nb6 30.Nc3 the game is equal.

28...Qxf2+ 29.Rxf2 Nb6 30.Bxd5 Nxd5

In the endgame black is slightly better due to his better placed pieces, but white can
generate enough activity to hold.

31.Ne2 Rc8
Activating the king with 31...Kf7 also allows white to get compensation after 32.Rc1
Rxh6 33.Rc6 due to his active pieces.

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32.Nc3
White is going ahead with his original plan for an active defense. His last move gives up
some pawns for the sake of penetrating black’s camp with the rooks. Although it proved
to be the right decision at the end of the day, it is quite risky. Black gains material, so if
white fails to generate enough counter play he has a difficult game ahead. Still, white’s
idea of an active defense is the right one (otherwise black will simply win the “h” pawn),
but it has to be done in better circumstances. As we already know, for all endings except
those with opposite colors bishops, a rooks endgame offers the best chances for a draw,
therefore white should head for such an endgame.
After 32.Rf3 Rxh6
The active 32…Rc2 is bad since after 33.Nd4 (with Nxe6 to come), white has a
large advantage.
33.Nc3 Nxc3 34.bxc3 g5 (getting the rook back into play)
Less accurate would be 34...Rh4 35.Rd6 Kf7 36.Rd7+ Ke8 37.Rfd3 since white
will manage to double his rooks on the 7th rank getting more than enough
compensation. (It is black who will have to fight for a draw.)
35.fxg5 Rg6 36.Rd6 a5 37.Rb6 the endgame is equal with a massive trading of pawns
about to happen).

32...Nxf4
After this normal move, white has to be extremely careful in order to hold.

33.Rd7 g5 34.g3
White intends to leave black with his passive rook.
The alternative 34.Rg7+ leads after 34…Kh8 35.Rd2 Rxh6 36.Rxg5 Rg6 37.Rxg6 hxg6
38.Rd6 to a position were white’s active rook is sufficient compensation for the missing
pawn.

34...Nh3+ 35.Kg2 Rxh6

Bad would have been 35...Nxf2 since after 36.gxh4 Ng4 37.Rg7+ Kh8 38.hxg5 Nxe5
39.Ra7 white has an edge due to black’s poorly placed king.

36.Rfd2 g4
Black (correctly) is in a hurry to bring his misplaced kingside pieces back into play (after
“Ng5”, “Nf3”).

37.Rd8+ Rxd8 38.Rxd8+ Kf7 39.Rd7+ Ke8 40.Ra7

The alternative 40.Rg7 (trying to keep the knight and rook out of play by taking control
over the “g5” square) 40…Kf8 41.Ra7 doesn’t change much.

40...Ng5 41.Rxa6 Nf3 42.Kf2

White pays attention to his opponent’s threats: leaving the king passive.
Bad would have been 42.Nxb5 Rh2+ 43.Kf1 f4 44.Nd6+
After 44.gxf4 g3 white loses on the spot.
44...Kd7 45.Ne4 fxg3 46.Nxg3 Rxb2 and black has a large advantage due to white’s
passive king.

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42...Nxe5
Worse would have been 42...Rh2+ 43.Ke3 Rxb2 44.Rxe6 since with such active pieces,
white has nothing to fear; the game is equal.

43.Nxb5 Kf7 44.Nd4 Rh2+ 45.Kf1

But not 45.Ke3 Nc4+ since black wins the “b2” pawn with a gain of tempo, getting a
decisive advantage.

45...Rxb2 46.Nxe6 Nf3

After a more or less forced line, we have reached an endgame where white has to defend
accurately in order to hold. (His active pieces give white good reason to hope for a
favorable outcome.) Therefore, generally speaking the game should end up in a draw
since black’s kingside pawns are vulnerable and well blocked.

47.Nf4 Nd2+ 48.Kg1 Ne4 49.Ra7+

White is not troubled that black brings his king to the queenside since then, he can attack
the kingside pawns more easily.
Protecting the pawn at once with 49.Nh5 Rb3 50.Kg2 also leaves black with the
advantage, but he will have real trouble finding a plan to improve his position.

49...Kf8
After 49...Kf6 50.Ra6+ Ke7 51.Ra7+ Kd6 we reach the same position as in the game.

50.Ra8+
Here too white could have played 50.Nh5 Rb3 51.Kg2 with compensation.

50...Ke7 51.Ra7+ Kd6 52.Ra6+ Kc7 53.Nh5 Ra2

Also after 53...Rb3 54.Kg2 Kb7 55.Ra5 Rf3 56.Re5 Ka6 57.a4 black’s position wouldn’t
improve much.

54.a4 Ra3 55.Kg2 Kd7

Here black could try 55...Kb7, but after 56.Rh6 Rxa4 57.Rxh7+ Kc6 58.Rf7 Ra2+
59.Kg1 Ra5 60.Ng7 Nd6 he has few winning chances since white’s pieces are
sufficiently active. (In addition he has the idea of giving up the knight for both of black’s
kingside pawns.)

56.a5
Quite tempting would have been to head for the rooks endgame that arises after 56.Nf6+
Ke7 57.Nxe4 fxe4 58.a5 h5 59.Kf2 where black has an edge, but hardly enough for a
win. Probably (since he didn’t see how can black improve his chances), white didn’t
intend to change the character of the game.

56...Ke7 57.Ra7+ Ke6 58.a6 Nc5

This leads to a forced draw.
Neither would 58...Kd5 59.Rd7+ Kc6 60.Rxh7 have offered black chances to win.

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59.Rxh7 Ra2+ 60.Kf1 Nxa6
After 60...Rxa6 61.Ng7+ Ke5 62.Nxf5 (this sacrifice ensures a theoretically drawn
endgame) 62…Rf6
62...Kxf5 leads to an immediate draw after 63.Rh5+ Ke4 64.Rxc5
63.Kg2 Rxf5 64.Rg7 Ne4 65.Rxg4 and since black is left with no pawn, the position is a
draw.

61.Nf4+ Ke5 62.Re7+ Kf6 63.Re6+ Kf7 64.Re5 Kf6 65.Re6+

Since black must repeat moves to avoid losing the “f5” pawn, the players agreed to a
draw.

½–½