Chess lessons › Famous chess games
Vasily Smyslov
Calm, exact play: two of Smyslov’s wins from his world championship matches against Botvinnik.
The idea
Smyslov’s rooks on the e-file break into Botvinnik’s camp.
- The rook on e6 goes to e8 and attacks the rook on f8.
- The rook on e1 guards it on e8.
- Botvinnik resigned after 27...Kg8 28.Rxf8+.
In a game: With two rooks on an open file, see if the front one can go in.
How the lesson begins
Vasily Smyslov was born in Moscow in 1921. He played three world championship matches against Mikhail Botvinnik. The first, in 1954, ended 12 to 12, so Botvinnik kept the title. Smyslov won the second, in 1957, and became world champion. Botvinnik won it back in their return match in 1958.
His play looked calm and simple, and he was known for his endgames. Here is a game from the 1954 match. Smyslov has White.
Smyslov opens the e-file and puts a rook on e6. Later his knight goes into Black’s camp and takes pawns on b7 and c5.
- 1. e4 e6 2. d3 c5 3. Nd2 Nc6 4. g3 g6 5. Bg2 Bg7 6. Ngf3 Nge7 7. O-O O-O 8. c3 d6 9. a4 f5 10. Qb3 d5 11. exd5 exd5 12. Re1 f4 13. Nf1 Bg4 14. gxf4 Bxf3 15. Bxf3 Kh8 16. Bd2 Bh6 17. Re6 The rook goes to e6.
- 17... Bxf4 18. Rae1 Bxd2 19. Nxd2 Nf5 20. Bg2 Nh4 21. Qxd5 Nxg2 22. Qxg2 Qxd3 23. Ne4 Rf5 24. Nd6 Rf3 25. Nxb7 The knight takes on b7.
- 25... Raf8 26. Nxc5 And now on c5.
- 26... Qf5
Find the move
White to move. You have two rooks on the e-file. Use them.
A hint
The front rook can go all the way.
Show the answer
27. Re8
27.Re8 attacks the rook on f8, and the rook on e1 guards it. Botvinnik answered 27...Kg8, and after 28.Rxf8+ he resigned.