Botvinnik vs Menchik
Hastings | ?
338
[Event "Hastings"] [Site "?"] [Round "0"] [White "Botvinnik"] [Black "Menchik"] [Result "1-0"] [ECO "E00"] [Opening "Queen's Pawn: Neo-Indian"] 1. d4 Nf6 2. c4 e6 3. Nc3 d5 4. Nf3 Nbd7 5. Bf4 dxc4 6. e3 Nd5 7. Bxc4 Nxf4 8. exf4 {White has doubled pawns, but they control important squares, and he enjoys a big lead in development.} 8... Bd6 9. g3 O-O 10. O-O Nf6 11. Qe2 b6 12. Rfd1 Bb7 {Black's only accomplishment is the establishment of control over the long diagonal, but she has no support for a kingside attack. Still, this position was already known to theory from one of Capablanca's games.} 13. Rac1 Qe7 {13...a6 had previously been played, but that was too slow, allowing White to attack on the kingside.} 14. a3 Rfd8 15. Ne5 c5 16. Nb5 cxd4 17. Nxd4 Bxe5 { A mistake. The bishop should have moved to c5.} 18. Qxe5 { Now White threatens Nf5 followed by Nd6.} 18... Qd6 19. Bb3 Qxe5 20. fxe5 Ne8 { Black defends both c7 and d6. But her forces are in no position to guard the pawns at f7 and e6, which now become targets as White advances the f-pawn.} 21. f4 a6 22. Kf2 Kf8 {22...Bd5 would have been a better defense. The control of the long diagonal cannot bring any real benefits.} 23. f5 Bd5 24. fxe6 Bxb3 { Black seems to have everything under control, as after White captures the bishop with the knight then the pawn on e6 can be recaptured. But White has a powerful intermediate move based on a fork at c6.} 25. e7+ { Here Black resigned, not waiting for the inevitable end.} 25... Kxe7 26. Nc6+ Kf8 27. Rxd8 Rxd8 28. Nxd8 Bd5 29. Nc6 { And White's advantage is sufficient for victory.} 1-0
1-0
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