[Event "England"] [Site "It, Nottingham"] [Round "0"] [White "Botvinnik"] [Black "Vidmar"] [Result "1-0"] [ECO "A13"] [Opening "English: 1...e6 2.Nf3 d5"] {The strength of the isolated d-pawn} 1. c4 e6 2. Nf3 d5 3. d4 Nf6 4. Bg5 Be7 5. Nc3 O-O 6. e3 Nbd7 7. Bd3 c5 8. O-O cxd4 9. exd4 dxc4 10. Bxc4 Nb6 $2 { In accordance with the principle of controlling as quickly as possible the square in front of the isolated pawn - in this case d5.} (10... a6 11. a4 Nb6 { White's weakened b4 square would have provided extra counterchances for Black}) 11. Bb3 {It is very important to maintain the Bishop on this diagonal, as the following play will make clear} 11... Bd7 12. Qd3 Nbd5 $2 {With this move , admittedly Black occupies the vital d5 square; but at the same time he is neglecting another important requirement - the need to simplify} (12... Nfd5 $1 13. Bc2 (13. Ne4 Ba4) 13... g6) 13. Ne5 Bc6 14. Rad1 {It is always difficult to judge how to make the best use of the Rooks in a case like this. They could be planted on the open file (c and e), but then the weakness of the d-pawn stands out Another placing would be c1 and d1; but the ideal arrangement is that chosen by Botvinnik. It will soon become clear why the Rook is best left at f1} 14... Nb4 {This merely drives the Queen to a better square} (14... Rc8 15. Nxc6 Rxc6 {Starting operations on the c-file}) (14... Qa5 15. -- Nxc3 16. bxc3 Ba4 {simplifying}) 15. Qh3 Bd5 16. Nxd5 Nbxd5 $2 { After this move, the White attack breaks with full intensity} (16... Nfxd5 17. Bc1 Rc8) 17. f4 $1 {Played at the right moment} 17... Rc8 (17... g6 18. Bh6 Re8 19. Ba4 {trapping the Rook}) (17... Ne4 18. Nxf7 Rxf7 (18... Kxf7 19. Rde1 $40) 19. Qxe6) 18. f5 exf5 19. Rxf5 {Now it is clear why the Rook stayed on f1, and what an important duty awaited the Bishop on b3. The White pieces now work together like components of a well-oiled machine} 19... Qd6 { Giving his opponent the opportunity to force the game prettily} (19... Rc7 20. Rdf1 a6 (20... Nb6 21. Qh4 Nbd5 22. Nxf7 Rxf7 23. Bxd5 Nxd5 24. Rxf7 Bxg5 25. Qxg5 {Overloaded Queen} (25. Rf8+ Qxf8 26. Rxf8+ Kxf8 27. Qxg5)) 21. Nxf7 Rxf7 22. Bxd5 Nxd5 23. Rxf7 Bxg5 24. Qe6 $1 {Panov}) 20. Nxf7 $1 {Always this same sacrifice. It is no accident that the offer is made on the square where the lines of action of the Rooks and Bishop meet. In problem terminology, this is a cutting-point, so we may describe this as a cutting-point combination} 20... Rxf7 (20... Kxf7 21. Bxd5+) 21. Bxf6 Bxf6 (21... Nxf6 22. Rxf6 Bxf6 23. Qxc8+) 22. Rxd5 Qc6 23. Rd6 $1 (23. Rc5 $2 Bxd4+) 23... Qe8 24. Rd7 1-0