Chess Assistant CD By Khalifman And Soloviev
Software Review By Prof. Nagesh Havanur
This CD offers 1069 games annotated in Informant style. Every tournament and match game played by Botvinnik may be found here. There are also training games (often secretly held!) of considerable theoretical importance.
Before considering the merits of this CD I would like to offer a bird's-eye view of books on Botvinnik's games available in English.
Until 1970s' Botvinnik's own early work 100 Selected Games was considered the standard text. The book written before he became the World Champion included only the games of the period 1926-1946. So it was followed by the sequel: Botvinnik's Best Games 1947-1970 (B.T. Batsford Ltd., 1972).
Both these books have been eclipsed by Botvinnik's new trilogy: Analytical And Critical Work. This work which first appeared in Russian during 1980s' has been translated into English: Botvinnik's Best Games: Volume 1, 2 & 3 (Published By Moravian Press).While the Batsford book bearing the same title has only 111 games covering Botvinnik's later career, the new trilogy has 409 games (381 tournament & match games + 18 training games).
Dr. Ken Neat, the translator and Editor has verified Botvinnik's annotations with computer analysis and included an addenda with corrections in each volume.
There is a certain irony about the whole method. Botvinnik was a pioneer in application of computer technology to chess. But he would not have depended on Fritz to do his analysis for him .He did rely on his seconds for adjournment analysis. However, he would insist on checking everything by himself in the end.
This brings us to the CD under review. The editors have cast their net far and wide to gather analysis of Botvinnik's games.
The former World Champion was a prolific writer. He wrote articles for chess magazines. He also edited books on Soviet Championships and World Championship Matches. Besides, there is considerable archival material in Russian chess periodicals of that period.
Khalifman & Soloviov have tapped every available source and subjected the analysis of both Botvinnik and his contemporaries to scrutiny in editing the annotations.
They have also offered references to games from recent times to follow the thematic link between the past and the present opening theory.
The database begins with a brief biographical sketch followed by 24 phtographs and cross tables of major tournaments and matches. Each year of his career from 1924 to 1970 is represented by a memorable combination from one of his games.
There are several hidden treasures in this database. Botvinnik challenged Levenfish the USSR Champion in 1937 and they played an exciting match which was drawn after 13 games (+5,-5 ,=3) and Levenfish retained the title. The games of this match are incredibly hard-fought, with both the players determined to win.
After winning the title in 1948 Botvinnik played as many as 7 World Championship Matches till he relinquished the crown to Petrosian in 1963. All the games from these matches may be found here with detailed annotations.
What is not so well-known is the fact that he lost to Reshevsky on the first board in the 1955 USSR - USA Match (+0, -1, =3). The solitary defeat itself was the result of Botvinnik missing a brilliant win in a tense battle.
The training module Play As Botvinnik offers 350 positions with a rich variety of strategic and tactical themes. The strategic problems deal with subjects like blockade, prevention and positional sacrifice. The tactical problems include some fascinating ideas like refutation of unsound combinations and counterattack in defence among others. In my view the training module should also include a section on missed opportunities. This would enable the aspiring player to test his tactical ability at an even higher level.
A case in point is the following position from the aforesaid Reshevsky-Botvinnik 1955 USSR-USA Match:
White: K-d3, R-b1,R-d3,B-d2,Ps- a5,b2,f2,g2, h2
Black: K-d7,R-c8,R-c2, N-d5,Ps-b3, e6,f7,g7,h5
Here Botvinnik played 29... R8c6? enabling Reshevsky to slip out with 30. Ke2! Rd6 31. Ke1! Instead he could have played 29...e5! gaining advantage in every variation. After 30.Rxd5+?? Ke6 ! White loses the exchange. Any other rook move by White would enable Black to play 30...R8c6 and ...Rd6 weaving a mating net. This possibility discovered by Max Euwe and analysed in Schach Echo has not been noticed by the CD Editors.
Otherwise, in terms of quality of annotations this CD is better than its predecessors on Lasker and Capablanca reviewed in this magazine.
Botvinnik was a splendid tournament fighter. He honed his combative skills in the USSR Championships. Consider the following game:
Panov - Botvinnik USSR Championship 1940:
French defence (C 00)
1.e4 e6 2.d3 c5 3.Nf3 Nc6 4.Nbd2 d5 5.Be2
5.g3 and 6.Bg2 is the more usual and thematic continuation of King's Indian Attack. But Panov wanted to avoid well-studied variations.
5... Bd6 6.c3 Nge7 7.Nf1
An artificial manoeuvre according to Botvinnik who suggests 7.d4 instead.
7.0-0 is also preferable.
7...0-0 8.Ne3 f5 !?
8...d4 9.Nc4 Bc7 10.a4 b6 is a complex alternative.
9.exd5 exd5 10.g3
10...f4 11.Ng2 Ng6
11...fxg3 12.hxg3 Qb6 13.Ne3 Re8 14.Rh5 is unclear.
12.Qb3 Be6 !?
Or 12...Bc7 13.Nxf4 Nxf4 14.Bxf4 Bxf4 15.gxf4 Rxf4. Black is better.
13.Nxf4
Not 13.Qxb7? Na5 14.Qa6 Bc8 15.Qb5 Bd7 16.Qa6 Rf6 with initiative.
13...Nxf4 14.Bxf4 Bxf4 15.gxf4 Rxf4
Or 15...Qe7!? 16.0-0-0 (16.Ne5 Rxf4 17.Nxc6 bxc6 Black wins.) 16...d4 17.c4 Rxf4 18.Rde1 Raf8 with the edge.
16.Qxb7 Na5 ?!
Better is 16...Bd7 17.Qb3 Bg4 18.Ng1 Rb8 19.Qc2 Ne5 with attack.
17.Qa6 Bc8! 18.Qb5 Bg4 19.Ng1 Qc7!
Threatening both 20...a6 and 20...Rb8 winning the queen. This move is strangely awarded only an !? by the CD Editors.
20.b4 !
White saves his queen. Now if 20...cxb4?? 21.Qxd5+ and 22. Qxa8 wins.
21.bxc5 ?!
21.Bxg4!? Rxg4 22.bxc5 Qxc5 23.Qxc5 Nxc5 24.0-0-0 Rg2 should have been tried. After the text move Panov expected 21...Nxc5 22.d4! Ne6 23.Qb2 Rb8 24.Qd2 and White stands better.
21...Nd6!
For some inexplicable reason this fine move merits only an !? from the CD Editors.
Now if 22.cxd6?? Qxc3+ and 23... Qxa1 +.
22.Qb2 Qxc5 23.Bxg4 Rxg4 24.Ne2 Re8!
The point of this move is to force White to castle on the queen's side after which the attack on the b-file should prove decisive. Now if 25.Kf1 Rf8 26.Nd4 Rgf4 and White's position is hard to defend.
25...a5
Not 25...Qxf2 26.Nd4.
With characteristic self-criticism, Botvinnik admits that he wrongly avoided 25...Re7 on account of 26.Nd4 (26.Qb8+ Kf7)Rb7 ? 27.Nb3. He had missed the tactical finesse 26...Rxd4!.
26.Kb1
Not 26.Rd2 Rb4 27.Qc2 Rb6 28.Nd4 Reb8 29.Nb3 Qa3+ 30.Kd1 Nb5 with attack.
26...a4!
26...Qxf2 27.Ng3 Qc5 28.Rde1 Rc8 is also good.
27.Nd4
Not 27.Ka1? a3 28.Qc2 Rxe2 Black wins.
27...Re7!
Again not 28.Ka1 Rb7 29.Qd2 (29.Ne6 Qc8!) 29...Rxd4 ! Black wins.
In a hopeless position Panov finds a brilliant combination which, alas, has a flaw.
28.f3 !
First, the Black rook must be driven off the g-file. Some times wordless annotations are inadequate as they do not explain the reasons for such moves.
28...Rh4
Not 28...a3? 29.Nb3.
29.Rhe1
Not 29.Rhg1 Rb7 30.Qxb7 Nxb7 31.Rxg7+ Kxg7 32.Ne6+ Kf6 33.Nxc5 Nxc5 Black wins.
29...Rb7 30.Re8+ Kf7 31.Rf8+! Ke7
Now if 31...Kxf8? 32.Ne6+
Or 31...Kg6 32.Rg1+( This is why the Black rook had to be driven away !) Kh5 33.Qxb7 Nxb7 34.Rf5+ Kh6 35.Rf6+!! gxf6 (35...g6 36.Nf5+ Kh5 37.Ng7+=) 36.Nf5+ Kh5 37.Ng7+ = Botvinnik.
32.Re1+
Hoping for 32...Kd7?? 33.Rf7+ !
32....Re4!!
"White has so many pieces en prise that Black too can afford himself the pleasure of offering his rook..." - Botvinnik.
33.fxe4 Rxb2+ 34.Kxb2 Qb6+ 35.Kc2 Kxf8 36.exd5 Nb5 37.Rf1+ Ke8 38.Ne6 Na3+ 39.Kd1 Qb1+ 40.Ke2 Qb2+ 41.Ke3 Qxc3 0-1
In the recent book On My Great Predecessors II (Available from Chess Mate) Garry Kasparov pays a rich tribute to Botvinnik, his old mentor and also offers a perceptive analysis of his character and games. The following game was considered by Botvinnik as one of his best achievements according to Kasparov. I have added a few comments from the book to the annotations in the CD.
Botvinnik-Smyslov 12th Game World Championship 1954:
Slav Defence (D 18)
1.d4 d5 2.c4 c6 3.Nf3 Nf6 4.Nc3 dxc4 5.a4 Bf5 6.e3
Subsequently Botvinnik preferred 6.Ne5. Here he opts for quiet development first and thereafter gain the advantage of two bishops after exchanging his knight for the Black bishop.
6... e6 7.Bxc4 Bb4 8.0-0 Nbd7 9.Nh4
9.Qe2 or 9.Qb3 is also played here.
9... 0-0 10.f3 Bg6 11.e4 e5
11...c5?! is met by 12.Nxg6 hxg6
13.Na2 Qb6 14.Nxb4 Qxb4 15. b3 with the threat of 16.Ba3. 11...Rc8!? preparing ...c5 is an interesting option.
12.Nxg6 hxg6 13.Be3 Qe7
Botvinnik thought that this was incorrect and recommended 13...Qb6! intensifying pressure on d4.
Nowadays 13...Qa5 is also played.
14.Qe2 exd4?!
Perhaps it is more precise to play14...Rfd8 15.Kh1 exd4 16.Bxd4 Bc5 17.Bxc5 Nxc5 18.Rad1 Rxd1 19.Rxd1 Rd8 20.Rxd8+ Qxd8 21.e5 Nd5 =( Gelfand-Anand Haifa Rapid 2000. )- Kasparov
15.Bxd4 Bc5 16.Bxc5 Qxc5+ 17.Kh1 g5 ?!
Botvinnik thought that this move inhibiting f3-f4 was justified . But the CD Editors consider this move doubtful and endorse instead Levenfish's suggestion 17...Qb4 preparing...Nc5 ,Re8 and Ne6.
18.g3 Rad8
Not 18...Ne5 19.Ba2 g4 20.f4 Nf3 21.e5 Nd5 22.Nxd5 cxd5 23.h3 winning a pawn.
19.Ba2
19.f4 is premature. 19... gxf4 20.gxf4 Nb6 21.Ba2 Rd4 22.a5 (22.e5 Nfd5 23.Ne4 Qe7!) 22...Nc4 23.e5 Nd5 24.Ne4 Rxe4! 25.Qxe4 Nd2 =
19...Rfe8 20.Rad1
Again, not 20.f4 gxf4 21.gxf4 Qh5 with counterplay according to Botvinnik. However, Kasparov thinks that White could create dangerous threats with
22.Qg2 preparing e5 and Ne4. If this assessment is right, the experiment with 17...g5 has not worked for Black.
20...Nf8 21.Rxd8 Rxd8 22.e5 Nd5
If 22...Re8 23.f4!(Kasparov)
23.Nxd5 !
With; 23.Ne4 Qe3 24.Qxe3 Nxe3 25.Re1 Nc2 26.Rc1 Nb4 27.Bc4 also White has a plus according to the CD Editors. But after 23...Qe7 this appears doubtful according to Kasparov.
23...cxd5 24.Qd2!
Not the immediate 24.f4 gxf4 25.gxf4 .Qd4 26.Qg2 Qe4 27.Qxe4 dxe4. With this attack on pawn on g5 White gains a tempo making the b4 and d4 squares inaccessible to the Black queen and prepares f4.
24...Ne6 25.f4 gxf4 26.gxf4 Qc6 ?
The decisive error. He should have sought exchange of queens with 26...Qd4!27.Qxd4 Nxd4 28.Rd1 Ne6 29.f5 (29.Bxd5 Kf8 30.f5 Nf4 31.Bf3 Rxd1+ 32.Bxd1 Nd3! Or 29.Rxd5 Rxd5 30.Bxd5 Nxf4 31.Bxb7 Nd3=) 29...Nc5 30.Rd4 Kf8 31.Kg2 Ke7 32.a5 g6 =
The prospect of going into an ending with a pawn down must have appeared unattractive to Smyslov, especially, when he saw prospects of counterplay in the middle game.
27.f5 Nc5 28.Qg5!
After the direct 28. f6? Ne4 29.Qg2 g6 30.Qh3 Qa6! White would have had problems with his own king. (Kasparov)
28.. .Rd7
If 28...Qe8 29.Rg1 Qf8 30.Qh4 and White wins (Kasparov).
If 28...f6 29.Qg2 (Not 29.exf6 Qxf6 30.Qg2 Nxa4 31.Bxd5+ Kf8 32.b3 Nc5 33.b4 Nd3 34.Be6 b6) 29...fxe5 30.b4! Nxa4 (30...Nd3 31.f6 Qd7 32.Qe4! Nf4 33.Qxe5 Ne6 34.Rf5) 31.f6 Qd7 32.fxg7 Nb6 33.Qg5 and White wins.
29.Rg1 f6
If 29...g6? 30.e6!
30.exf6 Ne4
Black only expected 31.Qg2? Nxf6 after which the d-pawn is firmly secured and all the White pawns are weak. Now comes a surprise.
31.f7! Rxf7
If 31...Kxf7 32.Qxg7+ Ke8 33.Qg8+ Ke7 34.Rg7+ Kd6 35.Rg6+ and White wins.
32.Qd8+ Kh7
If 32...Rf8 33.Bxd5+ Kh7 34.Rxg7+ Kxg7 35.Qe7+ and White wins.
33.Bxd5 Nf2+ 34.Kg2 Qf6 35.Qxf6 Rxf6 36.Kxf2 Rxf5+
37.Bf3 Rf4 38.Rg4 1-0
Recommended.