[Event "Soviet Championship"] [Site "?"] [Round "0"] [White "Smyslov"] [Black "Botvinnik"] [Result "1-0"] [ECO "A05"] [Opening "Reti: KIA"] 1. Nf3 Nf6 2. g3 g6 3. Bg2 Bg7 4. O-O O-O 5. d3 c5 6. e4 Nc6 7. Nbd2 d6 8. a4 Ne8 {Botvinnik prepares a vigorous counterattack down the f-file. The safest and best treatment is 8...Rb8 followed by shifting the weight of the struggle to the queenside.} 9. Nc4 e5 10. c3 f5 { Rather too enterprising. Sounder is 10...h6 followed by 11...Be6.} 11. b4 { This time the Hypermodern idea comes with an offer of material. A well-founded sacrifice: the b-file is opened and White diminishes Black's influence in the center by attacking c5.} 11... cxb4 12. cxb4 fxe4 {12...Nxb4 13.Qb3! and the weakness of the a2-g8 diagonal is exploited. 12...h6 was a safer plan. The text was played with the idea of accepting White's offer later on.} 13. dxe4 Be6 14. Ne3 Nxb4 15. Rb1 a5 16. Ba3 Nc7 17. Bxb4 axb4 18. Rxb4 Bh6 {Botvinnik r eplies with an active defence. He intends 19 Rxb7 Bxe3 20 fxe3 Na6 and Nc5.} 19. Rb6 {The d-pawn is more important than the b-pawn.} 19... Bxe3 20. fxe3 Bc4 21. Rxd6 Qe8 22. Re1 {White's material advantage is of no significance, and Black can easily regain his pawn. The chief defect of Black's position is the exposed situation of his king and the lack of coordination between his other pieces.} 22... Rf7 {22...Rxa4? 23.Nxe5! Qxe5 24. Qxa4 Qxd6 25.Qxc4+ 22...Qxa4! 23.Qxa4 Rxa4 24.Nxe5 and Black has some prospects of survival.} 23. Ng5 Re7 24. Bf1 Bxf1 25. Rxf1 {Threatening Qb3+ and Rdf6.} 25... Qxa4 {25...h6 loses to 26. Rff6!! hxg5 27. Rxg6+ Kh8 28.Rh6+ Kg8 29.Rdg6+ Rg7 30.Qb3+ Qf7 31.Rxg7+ Kxg7 32.Rh7+ Kxh7 33. Qxf7+} 26. Rd8+ Re8 27. Qf3 Qc4 28. Rd7 1-0