[Event "USSR"] [Site "Moscow ch-SU"] [Round "0"] [White "Botvinnik"] [Black "Kan"] [Result "1-0"] [ECO "A04"] [Opening "Reti: 1...c5"] {White masters the d-file by means of a pawn sacrifice} 1. Nf3 c5 2. c4 Nf6 3. g3 b6 4. Bg2 Bb7 5. O-O g6 6. d3 Bg7 7. e4 O-O 8. Nc3 Nc6 9. Ne1 Ne8 10. Bg5 Nc7 11. Qd2 Nd4 12. Bh6 e6 13. Bxg7 Kxg7 14. Nc2 Nxc2 15. Qxc2 Rb8 16. Rad1 Qe7 17. d4 cxd4 18. Rxd4 Bc6 {In this position, nine out of ten players would move 19. Rfd1, intensifying the pressure on the backward d-pawn. Botvinnik selects an entirely different method} 19. e5 $3 {This move involves a pawn sacrifice which Black is virtually bound to accept, in view of the positional threat Ne4 - preceded perhaps by the exchange of Bishops. The Knight would then threaten to penetrate permanently into the Black position on d6 or f6} 19... Qc5 20. Qd2 Qxe5 21. Bxc6 dxc6 22. Re1 {Before occupying the seventh rank, White forces the Black Queen to an unfavourable square} 22... Qf5 23. g4 $1 {Driving the Queen back to f6, so that later on the White Knigt can gain a tempo by attacking the Queen as it crosses over} 23... Qf3 24. Re3 Qf6 25. Rd7 { Over the years this idea of playing a Rook to the seventh rank has become a standard objective. It is the consummation of play in an openfile} 25... Rfd8 26. Red3 Rxd7 27. Rxd7 Ne8 (27... Rc8 28. Ne4 Qf3 29. Nd6 Qxg4+ 30. Kf1 Qh3+ 31. Ke1 $18 {tactic of removing the guard}) 28. Ne4 { the tempo set up earlier by Pg4} 28... Qf3 29. Qd4+ Kg8 30. Ng5 c5 31. Nxf3 cxd4 32. b3 (32. Nxd4 Nf6 33. Rxa7 Rd8 {Black develops activity. Recognizing possibilities to reduce opponent's counterplay is a fine art}) 32... Rc8 (32... Nf6 33. Rxd4 Rb7 34. Ne5 g5 35. Kg2 Kf8 36. Rd8+ { Black can not move a finger to help himself}) 33. Nxd4 Nf6 34. Rxa7 Nxg4 35. Rb7 Rd8 36. Nf3 Rd1+ 37. Kg2 Ra1 38. h3 Nf6 39. Ng5 Rxa2 40. Kf3 $1 (40. Rxf7 Ne4 $19 {tactic of removing the guard}) 40... Rb2 41. Rxb6 { White connected passed pawns must be decisive} 41... h6 42. Ne4 Nd7 43. Rb5 Kf8 44. Ke3 f5 45. Nd2 Ke7 46. c5 Nf6 47. Rb7+ Kd8 48. Nc4 Nd5+ 49. Kd4 Nc7 1-0