[Event "Monaco"] [Site "?"] [Round "0"] [White "Botvinnik"] [Black "Portisch"] [Result "1-0"] [ECO "A22"] [Opening "English: Bremen, Reverse Dragon"] 1. c4 e5 2. Nc3 Nf6 3. g3 d5 4. cxd5 Nxd5 5. Bg2 Be6 6. Nf3 Nc6 7. O-O Nb6 { This move is directed toward preventing White from playing d2-d4, butBotvinnik had been here before, against Flohr.} 8. d3 Be7 9. a3 a5 10. Be3 O-O 11. Na4 Nxa4 {11...Nd4 would have been better, controlling the c2-square. The e- pawn is taboo because of the infiltration on the light squares.} 12. Qxa4 { White's pieces are more actively placed, and he has achieved an excellent "reversed Sicilian" position.} 12... Bd5 13. Rfc1 Re8 14. Rc2 { Botvinnik noted that this was the most difficult move of the game to find.} 14... Bf8 {14...b5?! looks tempting, but in fact the pawn can be safely consumed, e.g., 15.Qxb5 Rb8 16.Qa4 Nd4 17.Nxd4 exd4 18.Bxd5 dxe3 19.B} 15. Rac1 Nb8 {15...e4 16.dxe4 Bxe4 17.Rd2 would have been wiser, even though White would gain control of the d-file.} 16. Rxc7 Bc6 {Now it looks as though White must play 17.R7xc6, but in fact there is a much stronger plan.} 17. R1xc6 { 17.R7xc6 Nxc6 Black stands better.} 17... bxc6 {17...Nxc6 18.Rxb7} 18. Rxf7 { The decisive move, because the light-squares belong to White. The Bg2 will awaken and join the invading forces.} 18... h6 { 18...Kxf7? would lead to a quick kill after 19.Qc4+.} 19. Rb7 Qc8 20. Qc4+ Kh8 {20...Qe6 21.Nxe5 Qxc4 22.Nxc4 leaves White with an overwhelming advantage, since he can pick off the queenside pawns at will. Now White has a fine combination. Do you see it?} 21. Nh4 {A fresh sacrificial offering of a rook buys time for the bishop to enter the game.} 21... Qxb7 22. Ng6+ Kh7 23. Be4 Bd6 {Otherwise 24.Ne7+ and 25.Qg8++.} 24. Nxe5+ g6 25. Bxg6+ Kg7 26. Bxh6+ { Eliminating the final obstacle. 26.Bxh6+ Kxh6 27.Qh4+ Kg7 28.Qh7+ Kf6 29.Ng4+ Ke6 30.Qxb7} 1-0