[Event "Russia"] [Site "Match, Leningrad/Moscow (10)"] [Round "0"] [White "Flohr"] [Black "Botvinnik"] [Result "0-1"] [ECO "A40"] [Opening "Queen's Pawn: 1...e6 2.c4"] {Exchange at d5 usually achieves nothing against the Stonewall Defense} 1. d4 e6 2. c4 f5 3. g3 Nf6 4. Bg2 Be7 5. Nc3 d5 6. Nf3 c6 7. O-O O-O 8. b3 Qe8 9. Bb2 Nbd7 10. Qd3 Qh5 11. cxd5 {This exchange on d5 often gives some initiative in such position, for it enables White to start a minority attack on the Queenside. The present position, however, is an exception which provides us with a welcome chance of giving a warning against superficial thinking. How is it that the minority attack give White such a promising initative in many variations of the QGD? The reason must be that the Pb4-b5 of the minority attack is a means of breaking the half-open c-file fully open. But this is not the whole explanation. The essential point is that Black, who has the half-open e-file, cannot be so prompt with his counterattack. His thematic advance is ... Pf5-f4, and this need preparation. Preparation however needs time, and White can use this time to push forward his b-pawn without delay. In light of these considerations the difference between the present diagram and the normal QG positions, in which the minority attack has legitimate expectations of success, is clear enough. Black has already played ... Pf5 and so will probably be able to play ... Pf4 before White can play Pb5 on the other flank. In short, Black's minority attack gets in first} 11... exd5 12. Nd2 (12. Ne1 Ne4 13. f4 {Preventing Black's thematic ... Pf5-f4}) 12... Ne4 13. f3 (13. f4 Nxd2 14. Qxd2 Nf6 { Black works with gain of tempo - a typical proof he holds the initiative}) 13... Nxc3 $1 14. Bxc3 f4 $1 {It is evident that Black has taken charge. Little or nothing will come of White's minority attack} 15. Rfe1 (15. Rfd1 { followed by Nf1 and Be1} 15... -- 16. Nf1 -- 17. Be1) 15... Bd6 16. Nf1 Rf7 $1 {Freeing f8 for the Knight, so that he can develop his Queenside pieces without relaxing the pressure on White's position} 17. e3 { Forcing Black to exchange on e3 or g3.} (17. Bd2 Nf8 18. gxf4 Bxf4 19. Bxf4 Rxf4 20. e3) 17... fxg3 18. Nxg3 (18. hxg3 Qg5 19. Kf2 Nf6 $40) 18... Qh4 19. Nf1 Nf6 {In the alter circumstance the Knight naturally does better to go to f6 rather than f8} 20. Re2 Bd7 21. Be1 Qg5 22. Bg3 Bxg3 23. Nxg3 (23. hxg3 Nh5 24. Kh2 Nxg3 25. Nxg3 Qh4+) 23... h5 $1 {The storm toops advance - a sure sign that the pahse of initiative is giving way to phase of real attack} 24. f4 Qg4 25. Rf2 (25. Rf1 h4 26. Bf3) 25... h4 26. Bf3 (26. h3 Qe6 (26... Qxg3 27. Rf3 $19) 27. Nf1 Ne4) 26... hxg3 $3 27. Bxg4 gxf2+ 28. Kg2 Nxg4 29. h3 Nf6 30. Kxf2 Ne4+ 31. Kg2 Bxh3+ 32. Kxh3 Nf2+ 0-1