[Event "GRONINGEN"] [Site "GRONINGEN"] [Round "0"] [White "Botvinnik"] [Black "Vidmar"] [Result "1-0"] [ECO "D02"] [Opening "Queen's Pawn: 2.Nf3 Nf6"] {Mastery of the 7th rank} 1. d4 d5 2. Nf3 Nf6 3. c4 e6 4. g3 dxc4 5. Qa4+ Qd7 6. Qxc4 Qc6 7. Nbd2 Qxc4 8. Nxc4 Bb4+ 9. Bd2 Bxd2+ 10. Nfxd2 Nc6 11. e3 Nb4 12. Ke2 Bd7 13. Bg2 Bc6 14. f3 Nd7 15. a3 Nd5 16. e4 N5b6 17. Na5 Bb5+ 18. Ke3 O-O-O {It is often difficult to draw the line between the middlegame and the endgame. Here for instance, one might say that it begins to look like an endgame, with the Queens off; but equally it is true that with all the Rooks and most of the minor pieces still in play, plenty of middlegame character remains. The use that is made of the half-open c-file, makes this a very instructive game for our purpose} 19. Rhc1 Nb8 20. b3 Bd7 { Black is cramped, and therefore should not boject to further exchanges} (20... Nc6 21. a4 Nxa5 22. axb5 {The Knight is lost}) 21. Bf1 Nc6 22. Nxc6 Bxc6 23. a4 {Strictly, this is a minority attack, but it deviates sharply from the characteristic course taken by the previous examples} 23... Be8 { The threat is Pa5-a6} 24. a5 Na8 {Not a pretty square for a Knight, but it does provide an effective square for the c-pawn} (24... Nd7 25. a6 b6 26. Rc3) 25. a6 b6 26. b4 Kb8 (26... c6 27. Bb5 Kc7 { Barring Black's a8 Knight of freedom}) 27. Rc3 c6 28. Rac1 f6 29. Nb1 Bd7 30. Na3 {Threatening Pb5 to open the c-file} 30... Nc7 31. b5 $1 { By means of pawn sacrifice, White conquers the seventh rank} 31... Nxb5 32. Bxb5 cxb5 33. Rc7 {An interesting position, which provides an excellent demonstration of the power of a Rook on the seventh rank} 33... Rc8 (33... -- 34. Rb7+ Ka8 35. Rcc7 {The immediate threat - the usual result whenever two Roos get to the seventh rank in the middlegame}) (33... Bc8 34. Nxb5 Rd7 35. Rxd7 Bxd7 36. Nxa7 Kxa7 37. Rc7+ Kxa6 38. Rxd7 { The strength of Black's passed b-pawn could be a saving factor}) 34. Rb7+ Ka8 35. Rxd7 $1 {A pretty sacrifice of the Exchange, by means of which White definitely ensures complete mastery of the seventh rank} (35. Rxc8+ Bxc8 36. Rxg7 Bxa6 {Black has adeqate compensation}) 35... Rxc1 36. Nxb5 Rhc8 (36... -- 37. Rxa7+ Kb8 38. Rb7+ Ka8 39. Nc7+) 37. Rxg7 h6 38. Rxa7+ Kb8 39. Rb7+ Ka8 40. Ra7+ Kb8 41. Rb7+ Ka8 42. g4 {The last few moves were played only to reach time-control. Now White initiates the final phase. The idea is to play Ph4-h5, and then to win Black's h-pawn by Rh7} 42... e5 { Black does not await events. Now White treads a different path to victory} 43. d5 R1c5 44. Ra7+ Kb8 45. Rb7+ Ka8 46. Rxb6 Rb8 {Putting an end once and for all to the dangerous forays of the White Rook. The Rook has done his job well and what he has left of the Black position is now an easy prey to the Knight} 47. Rxb8+ Kxb8 48. a7+ Kb7 (48... Ka8 49. d6 {decides the game}) 49. Nd6+ Kxa7 50. Ne8 Kb6 51. Nxf6 Rc3+ 52. Kf2 Rc7 53. h4 Rf7 54. Nh5 Kc7 55. g5 hxg5 56. hxg5 Rh7 57. Nf6 Rh2+ 58. Kg3 Rh8 59. g6 1-0