[Event "match-tournament"] [Site "Ch URS , Leningrad/Moscow (Ru"] [Round "0"] [White "Botvinnik"] [Black "Lilienthal"] [Result "0-1"] [ECO "E46"] [Opening "Nimzo-Indian: 4.e3 O-O"] 1. d4 Nf6 2. c4 e6 3. Nc3 Bb4 4. e3 O-O 5. Nge2 d5 6. a3 Be7 7. cxd5 exd5 8. g3 Nbd7 9. Bg2 Nb6 {White's strategy is clear: he will try to advance his central pawn majority by Pf3 and Pe4.} 10. Qd3 (10. f3 {playable (Fine)}) 10... a5 $1 { fixing White's b-pawn and thus creating a strong square at c4 for his pieces} 11. a4 c6 12. O-O Nbd7 $1 {The Knight is aiming for another fine post on b4 - which can't be controlled by a pawn} 13. Rd1 $2 {This is rather insipid. Botvinnik later considered that Pf3 and Pe4 was not dangerous to Black. He later stated Pb3 was best} (13. b3 {Botvinnik's recommendation}) (13. f3 Nb8 ( 13... c5 $1 14. dxc5 Nxc5 {Euwe ... Black obtains satisfactory counterplay}) 14. e4 dxe4 15. fxe4 Na6 16. Be3 Nb4 17. Qd2 Be6 18. h3 Qd7 19. Nf4 Bc4 20. Rf2 {With good chances for White (Reuben Fine)}) 13... Nb8 14. b3 Na6 15. Na2 Re8 16. Bb2 Bd6 17. Re1 {Still thinking of playing Pe4} 17... Qe7 18. Rad1 g6 { A good idea, preparing ... Bf5 to increase his control of e4} 19. Nf4 Bf5 20. Qe2 Nb4 21. Nxb4 Bxb4 22. Rf1 Bg4 {Now Black has such control of e4 that White is induced to play Pf3, despite his earlier reservations. Since it is unlikely that White will be able to successfully enforce Pe4, the net result is that the e-pawn will be backward and vulnerable} 23. f3 Bf5 24. Bc1 Ba3 { The idea is to weaken the e-pawn by exchanging the defending Bc1} (24... h5 { Botvinnik's preference, restraining Pg4}) 25. Rfe1 Bxc1 26. Rxc1 h5 27. Qd2 Qa3 28. Qc3 Re7 29. Ra1 Qd6 30. Ra2 Rae8 31. Rae2 b6 32. Nd3 Bxd3 { practically forced} (32... Nd7 33. e4 $1) 33. Qxd3 c5 34. Bf1 Nd7 35. Rd1 Qf6 36. f4 (36. dxc5 Nxc5 37. Qxd5 Rd7) (36. Kg2) 36... cxd4 37. exd4 (37. Qxd4 Qxd4 38. Rxd4 {In the current position, White's central pawn majority no longer exists; though Black has some advantage. White should be able to hold. Botvinnik loses the game because of a later blunder}) 37... Rxe2 38. Bxe2 Qe7 39. Bf3 Nf6 40. Kg2 Rc8 41. Rd2 Qb4 (41... Kg7 42. f5 Ne4 { Black's only slight chance for victory}) 42. f5 Rc3 43. Qe2 g5 44. Qe5 $1 Rxb3 (44... Rxf3 45. Re2 $1 {shows Whiy Black should have played Kg7}) 45. Re2 Kg7 46. Bxd5 Rb2 47. Bc4 $2 (47. Rxb2 Qxb2+ 48. Kf1 {should have drawn}) 47... Rxe2+ 48. Bxe2 Qxa4 49. Bxh5 Qc2+ 50. Be2 a4 51. d5 Qc5 52. h4 Qxd5+ 53. Qxd5 Nxd5 54. hxg5 a3 0-1